Since the start of this year, The Coders Guild has been providing free digital skills training in web and app development, UX, and software testing for over 100 learners here in Yorkshire.

These training courses are part of an innovative project led by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and the Department for Education, following a £2.5 billion investment into the National Skills Fund.

Today, we're incredibly proud to congratulate all those participants for completing their training, marking their successful graduation from these bootcamps!

An important project paves the way for a brighter future

These remote training courses have been delivered through several interactive sessions per week, for 12 weeks, since the start of January. They officially came to an end yesterday on Wednesday, March 31, and we've been so pleased with how positive the experience has been all across the board.

These courses were completely free for people from our local community, as part of an important push to close the digital skills gap and help the UK economy begin to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The project has also promoted greater diversity and equality in the tech industry, with over 50% of the trainees being female, and a large number of participants also coming from the BAME community and other under-represented groups.

This is a big step in the right direction, making career opportunities in tech equally available for everyone regardless of gender, race, or background.

Congratulations to our graduates

After 12 weeks of hard work, all the grads who have completed their training are now up to speed with some of the most sought-after skills for employers in the current digital-first business landscape.

We're also happy to report that the industry-led curriculum, hands-on learning, and community-driven support network provided by the project have all been really well received by everyone involved.

Gary Tate, a self-employed events co-ordinator by trade, decided to take the Web and App Development with JAMStack Bootcamp because the COVID-19 lockdowns put him in a position where he needed to consider a career change. Gary said:

The JAMstack Bootcamp has been amazing. I ve really benefited from how flexible the course is and being able to learn from home is a real advantage. I ve loved the remote classes and being able to learn through Zoom has been great."

The bootcamp is interactive and I ve learnt so much from some incredible coaches. I ve also really enjoyed connecting with other people, spending time with other students on Zoom calls, sharing screens and working collaboratively to solve problems together.

Huge congratulations to everyone who has taken part in this project. The team here at The Coders Guild has been so impressed with all the effort and hard work of the trainees over the past few months.

Needless to say, massive thanks are also in order for our outstanding trainers and mentors for their help in making this project happen. We re so lucky to have such a dedicated, experienced team of experts delivering this training with us.

A unique opportunity for employers

This project is a perfect example of how influential digital skills training can be in unlocking the full potential of the tech industry in a post-pandemic world.

Suman Bala, QA Lead at Sky, who helped us teach the bootcamps, said:

I was amazed to see the learners aptitude and attitude. You can teach people skills, but you can t teach them how to be passionate. The learners on these bootcamps have all been passionate, hardworking, and full of energy.

All of the learners on the Software Testing Bootcamp, for instance, now have a strong foundation of testing. They've come a long way, and I m 100% sure they ll be adding quality to any team they join with the tester s mindset. I can t wait to see them grow and shine in their testing careers, and I can highly recommend every single one of them!

As of today, this new generation of future tech superstars are trained and ready to make an impact in their next roles. For any readers from a business currently looking to hire new talent, find out more about the unique value these bootcamp graduates can add to your team by clicking and reading on here.

What comes next?

We re excited to announce that the project has been so successful that we ve now been given an extension to continue teaching right through to the summer.

This is fantastic news, because it means we'll be able to continue making tech education more accessible, create more career opportunities within the local community, and provide businesses with the skills and qualities they need to carry them into the future.

The extension is a testament to the amazing effort of this first round of participants, as well as the phenomenal work put in by the trainers and mentors.

Thanks to all involved

It s been a genuine pleasure delivering this training for the WYCA and the Department for Education, and we re looking forward to keeping that going for the next group of participants over the coming weeks and months!

For anyone interested in learning a new digital skill or pursuing a change in career, we have a range of opportunities available right now. Get in touch with us directly to discover the options for digital skills training, tech education, and apprenticeship programmes to progress your own career.