Cornwall’s tech revolution is gathering pace – and at Tech Cornwall, we’re proud to help fuel that growth. We’re here to open doors, offer skills, and support every step of the journey into the world of tech.
One brilliant example? Emily Kershaw. Back in 2019, Emily took part in our Mission to Mars programme. Today, she’s studying Computer Games Production at Portsmouth University – and her journey’s only just getting started.
We caught up with Emily to find out where her tech adventure has taken her – and how her time with Tech Cornwall continues to shape her path.
First steps into tech
Our Mission to Mars programme invites budding software developers to take on a unique challenge: programming real Mars rover robots.
Emily, already passionate about electronics and robotics, heard about the opportunity through a friend’s mum – and jumped right in.
It wasn’t always easy, but it pushed her outside her comfort zone, grew her confidence, and planted the seeds for her future in tech.
Lessons that stick
Fast forward to today, and Emily’s in her final year at university. But some lessons from Mission to Mars still stand out. In particular, the fact that things don’t always turn out the way you expect.
She points to The ‘Straight Line’ task as a great example of this.
“You’d think it would be easy to program a robot to drive in a straight line,” Emily laughs, “but it’s much more complicated than you expect!”
Of course, with her talent for problem solving and support from our Mission to Mars leaders, Emily got the robot going straight.
Elsewhere on Mission to Mars she gained experience in creating agile workflows and learned how to develop simple games and mods for games like Minecraft. An activity that was right up her street.
Real-world tech skills
Another standout moment was a chatbot workshop run by our friends at Hi9. It combined creativity and technology in a way that just clicked for Emily – making her decision to study Game Development an easy one.
“AI wasn’t nearly as advanced back then,” she says, “but it was exciting to work with something new and different.”
It was more than just a fun workshop – it led to Emily becoming Hi9’s AI Intern.
Balancing college and real-world experience
While studying for her Level 3 Extended Diploma in Game Development, Emily spent one day a week interning at Hi9.
Balancing coursework and work experience was no small task, but Emily rose to the challenge.
The internship gave her a real taste of what it’s like to work at a startup – from problem-solving on the fly to collaborating with a small, agile team. It boosted her confidence and gave her invaluable industry contacts.
University life – and beyond
Emily’s hands-on experience with agile workflows and team management proved a huge advantage when she started at Portsmouth.
Now in her third and final year, she’s branching out for her dissertation – combining her love of electronics, robotics, and AI into a single project.
Even though it’s been six years since Mission to Mars, Emily’s still part of the Tech Cornwall family. She often returns to support our events and share her experiences with the next generation.
“Tech Cornwall played such a huge part in shaping my journey,” says Emily. “It means a lot to give back and help other young people realise what’s possible.”
Our youth programmes are designed to inspire, connect, and empower the next wave of Cornish tech talent. From hands-on workshops to award-winning work experiences, we’re opening doors to new skills and careers every day.
Want to see what’s possible? Find out more.
