The Bootcamp Launch Event
Introducing the first School of Code cohort to the world…
On Tuesday 26th September, we hosted our Bootcamp launch event at Innovation Birmingham’s iCentrum building. People came from Birmingham and beyond in their lunch hour to hear more about what we’re doing and why. (Or maybe it was just to meet the mayor, but either way, we’ll take it.)
Once the room was packed with tech enthusiasts, Bootcamp supporters and big-names of Birmingham, SoC founder Chris Meah kicked off the event with the main mission behind the School of Code and his reason for starting the Bootcamp. Responding to the tech skills gap and the fact that there are 125,000 unfilled tech jobs in the UK every year, Chris announced:
“There are so many jobs in technology, but coding is difficult to learn on your own and typically only appeals to the coder stereotype. We want to open these skills up to everyone, and make coding fun, social, collaborative and engaging.”
While teaching a classroom of complete beginners to code in 16 weeks is a task on its own, the SoC Bootcamp is also making sure its recruits are industry ready by the end of the course. In order to do this, the cohort are developing on communication and presentation skills, constantly working in teams and networking with people in the industry. We hope that this will help to produce the “creative, collaborative coders” that industry currently feels a shortage of. Read more about our focus on collaboration here! Chris went on to thank headline sponsors Packt for supporting the course, allowing it to be free for the cohort. Bootcamps of this kind typically cost anywhere between £6,000 — £9,000 in other cities in the UK, so by removing these financial barriers, Packt is helping make the technology industry accessible to people from all backgrounds. Thanks again to Packt for their ongoing support!
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street then took to the stand and commended us tackling both the tech skills shortage and the lack of diversity in the industry. As the Bootcamp consists of school leavers, graduates, career converters, return to work parents and individuals who were previously unemployed, it’s not your typical coding dynamic. Andy spoke about the importance of the tech world and his plans for the West Midlands, highlighting that:
“There is nothing more important to the future of our economy than the digital sector, it’s changing every single company in Britain, if not the world. We’re determined that this region should be the leading digital region…Thank you [School of Code] for being part of what is going to become a very successful part of our economic future.”
It was very promising to see the mayor at the event taking a passionate interest in tech start-ups trying to make a difference in the region. We’re very grateful for Andy’s support and hope to see him again when the Bootcamp cohort graduate in January.
We then heard from Joanna Mason, Head of Publishing at Packt! Joanna believes a career in developing technology can be for anybody, stating that “we need more people from all backgrounds to feel this could be a career for them”. Packt offer the Bootcamp esteemed experience in teaching IT professionals, with over 1 million software developers using their services to keep them at the forefront of tech’s ever-changing landscape. We have a bookcase dedicated to Packt and their books in Bootcamp HQ, as well as full-access to their Mapt platform to keep the recruits at the top of their game.
One by one, the members of the first cohort stood up and introduced themselves to the audience. Public speaking is rarely in a job description for a programmer, let alone to a crowd of 150 people, so bravo to all! Ranging in age from 18–45 and with a mix of gender, ethnicity and professional backgrounds in the group, they have all been brought together on a journey into tech. There was a great energy in the room, with the crowd being very supportive and welcoming! Bootcamper Victoria Bate then spoke about her particular journey, making the transition from baker to coder after selling the coffee shop she’d owned and ran for the past decade:
“While I’ll no longer be making bread, I might create the robot that makes it better than I did!”
Victoria told us that pair programming is her favourite way to learn on the course, highlighting the social and collaborative aspects at the heart of the Bootcamp. Well done to Victoria for taking up the mic and sharing her story!
David Hardman, CEO of Innovation Birmingham spoke about the campus hosting and supporting the Bootcamp. Surrounded by cutting-edge digital businesses, the thriving hub of iCentrum is the perfect location to hold the first School of Code Bootcamp, providing the recruits with the opportunity to grow a strong network in the industry. Simon Jenner and Joel Blake from Silicon Canal finished the speeches for the afternoon, leaving the room inspired to take action and come together to tackle the region’s talent gap. Stating that the Bootcamp’s success is “vital for the ecosystem”, Simon made all the employers in the room agree to hire the Bootcamp recruits once they graduate from the course in January!
The event wound down into lunch and networking, with people grasping the chance to chat to the Bootcampers and find out more about them. It was highly promising to see an event full of individuals passionate about the growing tech community in Birmingham.
If you want to find out ways that you can get involved with the Bootcamp, email bootcamp@schoolofcode.co.uk.
