A brand new coding school has launched in Manchester, giving anyone with an appetite for digital the chance to learn to code.
Code Nation has been created to help curb the mounting digital skills shortage facing businesses across the region. The school has also partnered with business leaders in the North West, including N Brown trading as JD Williams who have, amongst others, pledged their support to Code Nation, be it through advice, insight, or crucially – by offering future work placements for students – Code Nation’s biggest USP.
Alex Belford, managing director at Code Nation, explains: “There’s no getting away from the fact that every business – regardless of sector – has had to transform and digitalise itself in recent years.
“A lack of digitally skilled workers though, means that technical advancements have been both a help and a hindrance to businesses who want to embrace the changes, but just don’t have the people to do it. Code Nation will help leaders in their quest to fill this gap; we’ll be training people across the North West region, teaching them how to code so they can help to reshape the way business is done round here.
“Add to that the supporters we have already lined up from the business world, and we’re confident that Code Nation will be a great success in the region – and hopefully across the whole of the UK in the near future.”
Over the summer, Alex has been assembling his Code Nation team with lead teacher Stuart Kirby brought in from Amaze; Alex has also enlisted the support of university academics from around the country who will lend their knowledge to Code Nation’s programmes.
Code Nation students will be able to begin applying for their places straight away, with two types of course available; the one-week ‘Begin’ course and the 12-week ‘Master’ course. Alex continued: “We have decided to offer two types of courses so that we can accommodate more students; whether they’re graduates looking to embark on a 12-week course to top up what they’ve learnt at university, or someone already established in a similar industry who wants to add to their skills with a one-week course. The more people we train to code, the better for businesses in the region!
“There’ll be an inevitable entry criteria to ensure students can grasp the digital basics, but beyond that we’re open to welcoming people of all abilities to sign up. Upon completing their courses, students will be awarded a diploma and accreditation, as well as joining Code Nation’s alumni community.”
Code Nation is a subsidiary of global recruitment and talent business Rethink Group; explaining his decision to invest in a school of this kind, Rethink’s CEO Andy Lord explained: “We operate in multiple markets in Europe, the UAE and Australia so it’s fair to say that we’re acutely aware of the failings of businesses, government and the education sector in getting people interested in digital.
“Digital has permeated every aspect of business now. We see this across Rethink clients; massive organisations which just a decade ago looked and operated completely differently. The change brought on by the digital revolution keeps on coming for them and right now, there simply aren’t enough tech skilled people to actually make the transformation happen. Code Nation’s been a big ambition of mine for a few years, especially as I’ve seen that skills shortage become more prevalent and bizarrely fall to the back of the queue in terms of business priorities.
“It’s time to change that. And Code Nation students will be a big part of the revolution moving forward. Why not come and be one of them?”
For further details about Code Nation including fees and course dates, visit: http://wearecodenation.com/ – the pilot one week ‘Begin’ course kicks off in October, with the first 12-week ‘Master’ course starting in January.
