Tech Returners, an initiative which develops the skills of people returning to or entering tech roles after a career break, is launching a brand new Introduction to Coding course.
Based at The Landing MediaCityUK, Tech Returners has partnered with Barclays Eagle Labs and Northcoders to offer the course, which starts this month.
Lasting 11 weeks, the free course is designed to help break down barriers for those wanting to return to work and develop new skills – including those who have taken a break to raise children or been away from work due to long-term illness.
Rebecca Taylor, founder of the Tech Returners programme and co-founder of CLOS and Women in Tech North, said: “We are excited to be able to offer this course to people in our community and hope to be able to help bridge the challenges that people face in coming back from a career break – both practically in terms of building a network and confidence, as well as an introduction to working in code.
“Eagle Labs and I had a very similar idea with the programme. We worked together with Northcoders to create a programme to cover personal development, skills development and creating a network.
“We’re also offering a creche on site to help with childcare as we know people may not have access to it or may not want to go too far from young children – so we have space near the course and a qualified nursery team to help.”
Tech Returners is part of a bigger project which will see further workshops take place and the launch of an app in the New Year. The skills gap in tech is on the Northern Powerhouse agenda, focused on finding future leaders and talent.
Taylor continued: “This is a chance for us to make returnships accessible to everyone. The Landing at MediaCity has an extremely strong community and is fantastic at bringing talented businesses together to offer opportunities.”
Maya Dibley, head of programmes and partnerships at The Landing, said: “CLOS was one of our first business partners on site and we were delighted to help bring Rebecca together with other tenants Barclays Eagle Lab and Northcoders to deliver Tech Returners.
“We want The Landing to be the go-to environment for emerging tech and digital companies and we offer unique incubation and superb facilities.
“Our businesses contribute more than £25m to the Greater Manchester economy, as well as over 600 jobs in the Salford community. We are pleased to help our tenants in any way we can.”