Aspiring web developers are getting a foothold in the burgeoning tech industry through a training scheme which is supported by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.
The Scion Coalition Scheme, led by Netmatters in Norfolk, has 39 learners on board, eight of whom have already found jobs, with another four being lined up to join the business.
Created to bridge the gap in the local tech sector and create opportunities for people wanting careers in web development, it teaches technical skills technical skills to individuals from a range of backgrounds, as well as training them to work appropriately in a professional environment.
Most participants have so far been referred by the Department for Work and Pensions, but funding is also available for people who are not in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
The initiative was awarded £100,000 from the LEP’s Innovative Projects Fund, a revenue grant programme for projects that support the delivery of the themes and activities identified in the Norfolk and Suffolk region’s Economic and Industrial Strategies. Around 95 per cent of the scheme’s participants have found employment.
Adam Lyon (left) joined the scheme having worked in unskilled jobs since leaving school and never having felt a passion for the work he was doing. “Coming in as an outsider and relatively inexperienced in terms of the skills required to work in the tech industry, I learned the fundamentals of multiple different coding languages and essential skills for obtaining a job in the sector,” he said.
“Thanks to the support offered and my own hard work while on the course, I have since secured a job as a software developer and am enjoying every moment. I feel as though a lot of doors have been opened and am excited to see what the future brings.”
Skye Breeze (pictured above) has meanwhile secured a role at 4C Offshore in Lowestoft after successfully graduating from the course, while Samuel Merritt has joined Norwich company Blink SEO.
As well as Netmatters, the initiative partners with a number of companies in the region and beyond, including Engage Health Systems Ltd, Tech East, and Modality Systems. These organisations have taken on a number of graduates of the scheme, working with Netmatters to shape the direction of the training that takes place.
To find out more about working with Netmatters on the Scion Scheme, contact [email protected]
