Summary
Hippo, a technology company, supported Manchester Digital's T Connect programme by running a problem-solving session for students, then selecting Ahmed Abdul Karim and Edu Samuel Manuel for 36-day industry placements at its Leeds office. The students worked alongside Hippo's teams on live projects for the Department for Education, gaining practical experience in technical development, problem-solving and team collaboration.
Both students gained significant professional insight during their placements. Ahmed developed technical skills including C# programming and later participated as a panel speaker at a Hippo-sponsored mentoring event. Edu described the experience as helping him clarify his future career direction and appreciate being treated as a full team member rather than a student.
Holly Onstenk, ESG & Social Value Lead at Hippo, noted that Manchester Digital's coordination and support infrastructure made the partnership manageable for the business while maximising value for students. The scheme illustrates how education providers, employers and industry bodies can collaborate to create meaningful career pathways for young people entering Greater Manchester's digital sector.
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Common questions
- What is this article about?
- Tech firm Hippo has partnered with Manchester Digital to offer industry placements to students on the T Connect programme, with two learners completing 36-day placements working on real projects for clients including the Department for Education. The scheme demonstrates how employer partnerships can build the region's digital talent pipeline.
- When was this published?
- This article was published on 8 August 2026.
- Who published this article?
- This article was published by Manchester Digital.