Business community backs new Manchester coding school

A coding school has opened in Manchester to give anyone with an interest in digital the opportunity to learn how to code.

Created to help alleviate the digital skills shortage facing North West businesses, Code Nation will offer two programme options – a one-week ‘Begin’ course and a 12-week ‘Master’ course.

The school launched in partnership with a number of North West businesses, among them e-tailer JD Williams, which will support Code Nation with advice, insights and work placement opportunities for students.

Code Nation MD Alex Belford said: “There’s no getting away from the fact that every business – regardless of sector – has had to transform and digitalise itself in recent years.

“A lack of digitally skilled workers though, means that technical advancements have been both a help and a hindrance to businesses who want to embrace the changes, but just don’t have the people to do it.”

He continued: “Code Nation will help leaders in their quest to fill this gap; we’ll be training people across the North West region, teaching them how to code so they can help to reshape the way business is done round here.

“Add to that the supporters we have already lined up from the business world, and we’re confident that Code Nation will be a great success in the region - and hopefully across the whole of the UK in the near future.”

Code Nation will operate as a subsidiary of recruitment firm Rethink Group.

Andy Lord, chief exec of Rethink, commented: “Digital has permeated every aspect of business now. We see this across Rethink clients; massive organisations which just a decade ago looked and operated completely differently.

“The change brought on by the digital revolution keeps on coming for them and right now, there simply aren’t enough tech skilled people to actually make the transformation happen.”

He added: “Code Nation’s been a big ambition of mine for a few years, especially as I’ve seen that skills shortage become more prevalent and bizarrely fall to the back of the queue in terms of business priorities. It’s time to change that.”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →