‘The most valuable people I've worked with never stop being students'
Commodity trader turned academic Professor Rachid Hourizi MBE is director of the Institute of Coding, a national network of 35 universities, 20 charities and a wide consortium of employers aiming to boost the nation's digital skills. Committed to widening access to tech, here's his programme to make it happen.
1. Be stubborn about what you believe in: Conviction is underrated. If you believe in something, hold your ground, especially when others don't yet see it. Progress begins with quiet persistence.
2. Relevance is a moving target: The most valuable people I've worked with never stop being students. Whether it's reading, retraining, or just asking questions, learning keeps you adaptable — and relevance is a moving target. Never let your last qualification be your final one.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Mobile network offering DOUBLE data SIM-only deal – get 200GB for £12p/m
For anyone looking to switch networks, it's a great time to upgrade. Smarty has some seriously good data boosting SIM-only plans right now, with up to 200GB of data for just £12. 1 Smarty SIM-only deal, 100GB 200GB data for £12/month BUY FROM SMARTY I've covered SIM-only deals for a while now, and over time, you learn to spot the real gems from the overhyped fluff. This latest offer from Smarty is easily one of the better ones to pop up in recent months. Right now, Smarty is running two impressive promotions that boost data without hiking up the price. If you're someone who chews through mobile data, these are well worth a look. The first is its 16GB plan, which has just been bumped up to 50GB per month, all while staying at just £8. The real eye-catcher, though, is Smarty's 100GB plan, which has now been doubled to 200GB for just £12 a month. That's a huge amount of data for a great price, especially since there's usually a big leap between low GB plans and Unlimited. Deals like this make Unlimited plans feel less necessary, and are ideal if you're not a heavy user but still want peace of mind. It's also a great time to join Smarty, as the provider runs on Three's network, which is in line for some major improvements following Three's merger with Vodafone. That means better coverage and faster speeds are likely on the horizon as the networks start sharing infrastructure. Best SIM-only deals from Smarty If you want to spend less and use less data, or if Unlimited is what you need, Smarty has plenty of other budget-friendly deals going right now. Smarty plans are all rolling 1-month contracts, meaning you're never locked in and can switch or cancel easily. It's another reason the network is a favourite for budget-savvy shoppers. And if you're in the market for a new handset too, this week has delivered some tempting extras in the Android world. One major provider is offering a free tech bundle worth £410 when you pick up the latest Honor phone, with plans starting from just £20 per month. If these deals aren't quite the right fit, check out our roundup of the best SIM-only deals across the big networks.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Saturday's briefing: Liverpool agree club-record deal for Florian Wirtz
Liverpool agreed a club-record deal with Bayer Leverkusen for playmaker Florian Wirtz. The much-anticipated move could break the British record, with the Germany star set to join his former team-mate Jeremie Frimpong at Anfield. Elsewhere, Thomas Frank reacted to his move to Tottenham, while Matheus Cunha spoke of his desire to help turn around Manchester United's fortunes. Wirtz capture close Premier League champions Liverpool are set to pay up to £116million to sign Wirtz after Leverkusen finally settled on a fee. The Reds had two bids rejected, the last one of £113m, which would have seen £100m paid up front with performance-related add-ons, but have finally got the deal over the line. Liverpool will still pay an initial £100m – comfortably surpassing their own record outlay – but the performance-related add-ons, if achieved, would make it a potential British record. Liverpool's overall outlay could surpass the £115m Chelsea paid Brighton in 2023 for Moises Caicedo. Striker Darwin Nunez was the Reds' previous record signing in 2022, although they have not paid the full £85m as he has not met all the requirements for certain add-ons to be due. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is next on Liverpool's list, which could take their summer spending close to £200m. Frank gets to work Tottenham are prepared to rival Manchester United for Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo this summer after the appointment of Frank, the PA news agency understands. Spurs announced former Brentford boss Frank as their new head coach on Thursday night on a three-year deal. One of Frank's first moves in charge could be to try and tempt Mbeumo to follow him across London. The Dane declared 'a big piece of my heart' would always remain at Brentford in an emotional message posted on their official website. 'The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters,' said Frank. 'I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one.' Dream move for Cunha Matheus Cunha is delighted to have joined his 'dream' team and determined to help Manchester United bounce back from their worst season in 51 years. The 20-time English champions are in the midst of a rebuild under Ruben Amorim, having limped home 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to fellow strugglers Tottenham. The Red Devils' issues did not deter Brazil international Cunha, who completed his eagerly-anticipated £62.5million switch from Wolves on Thursday. 'It is the most common phrase that you can say at this moment, but this is the dream come true,' he told MUTV. 'Maybe outside, I think maybe my decision, they don't understand. But when you have always dreamed to play here, it's easier to pick this decision. 'For me, no-one else is like United. Of course, I know it's been a hard season for everyone. I think my decision shows what this club is for me and what I believe this club can be.' Mikey eyes more silverware One player hoping to impress Frank is Spurs youngster Mikey Moore, but the teenager's immediate focus is ending an unforgettable breakthrough campaign with another European trophy. The highly-rated 17-year-old made 19 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club, with five of those coming in the Europa League. The winger was on the bench for the final in Bilbao and three weeks on has more continental glory in his sights as England kick off their bid for Under-19 European Championship glory. 'It was a top experience – some of the best times of my life on that Wednesday night,' Moore told PA. 'Hopefully going on to win another medal and another trophy with these boys here would be a brilliant feeling and experience for everyone. 'There's some top players. We think we can go on and hopefully win the tournament. It's been a good little build-up but excited to get into the games now.' What's on today? The Club World Cup gets under way on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Stadium, with Inter Miami playing in their home city against Egyptians Al Ahly in Group A. Moore will hope to star when England Under-19s begin their Euro campaign against Norway in Romania.
Business News Wales
2 hours ago
- Business News Wales
Tramshed Tech CEO Louise Harris Awarded MBE in King's Birthday Honours
Louise Harris, co-founder and CEO of Tramshed Tech, has been awarded an MBE for services to digital entrepreneurship in the King's Birthday Honours list. The recognition celebrates Louise's exceptional contribution to Wales' technology sector and her pioneering work in supporting entrepreneurs, particularly women and underrepresented groups in tech. Under her leadership since 2016, Tramshed Tech has evolved from a single Cardiff workspace into a tech startup hub operating locations across Wales and supporting hundreds of tech, digital, and creative businesses. 'I'm deeply honoured to receive this recognition,' said Louise. 'This award reflects not just my work, but the incredible achievements of my team and the wider Welsh tech ecosystem. From the entrepreneurs taking bold risks to build innovative businesses, to the partners and team members who've helped create the infrastructure to support them – this recognition belongs to all of us who believe Wales can be a global force in technology and innovation.' Under Louise's leadership Tramshed Tech has delivered more than 20 business growth programmes, supporting entrepreneurs from initial ideation through to investor readiness and international expansion. The organisation's three core pillars – Spaces, Ventures, and Skills – have created a comprehensive ecosystem that aims to address the full spectrum of tech business needs. Louise's vision extends far beyond Wales' borders through initiatives such as the Tech Export Programme and Soft-Landing Programme. Under her leadership, Tramshed Tech has also hosted hundreds of international delegations, strengthening Wales' position on the global tech stage. As strategic partners of London Tech Week, Tramshed Tech annually showcases Welsh innovation at the UK's biggest tech event and attracts new investment to come to Wales. Lord Mervyn Davies, chairman and main investor in Tramshed Tech and former trade and business minister, said: 'Louise exemplifies the tenacity and ambition that defines truly exceptional entrepreneurs. Her vision for Tramshed Tech and unwavering commitment to building Wales' tech ecosystem has been remarkable to witness. I've seen firsthand how Louise's leadership has transformed not just a single company, but an entire regional innovation landscape. This MBE recognition is thoroughly deserved.' Louise launched Wales' first Female Founder Investor Readiness Programme in 2024 in partnership with British Business Bank, building on Wales' foundation where 12.1% of high turnover growth companies are female-led – the highest rate across all UK devolved nations and regions. She has also co-created the Data Inclusivity Network in partnership with Cardiff Capital Region. Most recently, Louise has been supporting the Invest in Women Taskforce, a government-backed initiative to create a £250 million investment pool deployed by female investors to accelerate investment into female-powered businesses across the UK. Louise's expertise has made her a sought-after advisor across public and private sectors. She serves on the Welsh Economic Growth Advisory Group, UK Tech Cluster Group, and contributes to Pearson's AI and Innovation board, helping shape the future of personalised learning through generative AI integration. Her leadership has secured strategic partnerships with major organisations including Barclays as their Ecosystem Partner for Wales, British Business Bank Wales, Google for Startups, Microsoft, Welsh Government, and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Beyond Tramshed Tech, Louise founded Big Learning Company, pioneering digital skills training partnerships with leading brands including LEGO Education. This expertise has been integrated into Tramshed Tech's Skills pillar, delivering work-based learning and digital upskilling programmes. Louise has been recognised by both UK and Welsh Governments for her contributions to the tech sector and has spoken at digital and tech events worldwide, including at the British Embassy in Paris and No.10 Downing Street. She was selected as one of 15 women to front a national campaign by NatWest and Getty Images to improve representation of female entrepreneurs in media and advertising.
