Northcoders – the coding bootcamp for the North – is launching a new “Study Now, Pay Later” initiative as part of its Developing Diversity programme that aims to address the gender imbalance that exists in the tech sector.
20 places will be available on Northcoders’ September, October and November cohorts and will help women and gender minorities – people who identify as non-binary, transgender or intersex – start their career in tech by not having to pay tuition fees up front.
Successful applicants can study in Manchester (Federation House) or Leeds (Platform) and will only start to repay their fees once they start earning a regular wage. Payments will be 10% of their gross income each month until the balance is paid in full with no interest being charged. The only contribution being asked for up front is a £300 deposit to show commitment to their place on the course.
There are no formal entry requirements and applicants don’t even need to know a line of code. It’s more about having an aptitude for coding and having the passion to learn and then start a career in the industry.
The launch of the scheme is the latest initiative from Northcoders to help address the gender imbalance of people working in the development and tech communities. In May, the business partnered for a second time with global technology consultancy ThoughtWorks to offer four fully-funded scholarships for women and gender minorities.
Chris Hill, CEO of Northcoders, said: “After months of hard work behind the scenes I feel incredibly proud to be able to announce the launch of this scheme. We know it’s going to make a significant difference to gender diversity in tech across the region. Everyone at Northcoders is passionate about addressing diversity in tech, and we’re looking forward to helping more women and people who belong to gender minorities enter the tech industry.”
