Couch to Coder 2024 is officially live
Bright Network Technology Academy introduces 6,000 students to tech this summer.
This summer, Bright Network Technology Academy is making bold strides towards introducing a fresh wave of top talent to the world of tech.
As the demand for tech skills continues to grow, particularly given the recent surge of activity around AI, Technology Academy is launching an ambitious initiative to introduce more talented people to tech.
Our “Couch to Coder” initiative aims to broaden and diversify access to tech education for those who might not have traditionally pursued a career in this field.
With almost 6,000 members already signed up, it’s a programme that promises to go further than ever before to create the next generation of technologists.
What is Couch to Coder?
A short, but intensive five-week coding camp designed to ignite the tech curiosity of students and graduates across the UK, the Couch to Coder course offers participants the opportunity to delve into key programming languages, including HTML, CSS, Java, and JavaScript.
It’s more than just a crash course in coding though; it’s an open invitation aimed at those who don’t come from a computer science background.
By nurturing curiosity and providing foundational skills, Couch to Coder aims to make tech more open and accessible to a wider audience with fresh perspectives and eager minds.
Focusing on individuals outside of the traditional tech pipeline means the Bright Network Technology Academy is opening doors for many who might have otherwise felt excluded from the tech community.
Why we launched Couch to Coder
The technology sector has long faced a shortage of diverse talent, a problem rooted in systemic issues including the narrow university pipeline and a widespread perception of tech as an inaccessible career path for anyone without the right connections.
Despite the increasing demand for tech professionals, the number of computer science graduates hasn’t seen significant growth for years. Even more concerning is the stagnant percentage of women graduating with computer science degrees, which is projected to remain at around 20-25% over the next three years.
Accessibility is the key to addressing this tech skills shortage, with our annual research revealing that over 50% still perceive tech as an inaccessible field. This perception dramatically impacts the desirability of tech careers.
When seen as inaccessible, tech ranks 8th out of 10 sectors in terms of attractiveness. However, when perceived as accessible, it leaps to the top spot as the most desirable field to work in.
This represents a major opportunity for the sector to reshape its own future by flinging its doors wide open and making tech careers more approachable for all.
The amazing response from our network
The response to the Couch to Coder programme has been overwhelmingly positive. In just a month, almost 5,750 members have signed up, marking a 45% increase in participation to the pilot programme run in 2023.
This surge in interest highlights a significant appetite among students and graduates to enter the tech sector. It also demonstrates that by breaking down the barriers of accessibility, we can attract a wealth of diverse talent to the industry that would have otherwise taken their skills elsewhere.
Joined by incredible sponsors
This year’s programme has been made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, Amazon, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and CFC.
These industry giants have teamed up with us to provide participants with unparalleled insights into the tech industry during an exclusive Insights Week, which will lift the lid on the various pathways into tech and showcase the diverse opportunities available.
This is just the beginning
Couch to Coder is just the beginning of a broader effort to make tech a more inclusive field that aims to whet the appetites of students and demonstrate that a career in technology is well within their reach.
As such, we expect to see even more individuals pursuing tech in the coming years. However, this also means that as a sector, we must continue to champion alternative pathways into tech.
At Bright Network Technology Academy, we are committed to this cause through our Career Accelerators, and we will continue to innovate, expand and evolve our programmes to change the face of the UK tech industry.
To all those who have already signed up for Couch to Coder, we wish you the best of luck! Remember, you have the potential to be tomorrow’s tech leaders, and we couldn’t be more excited to see where this journey takes you.