Coding bootcamp Northcoders has announced plans to expand as it celebrates its first year of operation due to overwhelming demand.
Based in Manchester’s digital and creative complex The Sharp Project, the company has doubled the size of each cohort and created a second classroom to accommodate the extra 20 students.
The start-up, which runs an intensive 12-week course every 3 months, has also taken extra office space a converted shipping container.
Established to help satisfy the rapidly increasing demand in Manchester for developers, Northcoders aims to give individuals of any age the opportunity to learn coding to an industry-standard level.
Of the students that have so far graduated, 80 per cent have become employed in a range of companies from web development agencies and data companies to start-ups.
Co-founder James Brookes said: “There is a massive need for talented developers with nearly half UK companies in the sector desperate to fill multiple vacancies.
“We’re helping plug that skills gap. More than a million new digital jobs are being created every year and many of them will be in the north-west and east of England.
“That’s why we chose Manchester for our first coding bootcamp. And the obvious place in Manchester for us was The Sharp Project.
“It was absolutely the right choice and we’re extremely excited to be expanding our facilities here.”
Northcoders offers a full-stack JavaScript course designed to get passionate beginners into entry-level software engineering roles.
The first half of the course teaches students the technical skills and the second half is spent honing those skills by working on live projects for real clients.
Chris Hill, Northcoders co-founder, added: “We are also very committed to teaching more women to learn to code. It will redress the balance and create a healthier and more natural working environment.
“We believe balanced teams are better teams. We have a female tutor, Harriet Ryder 26, and last year offered nine #womenintech scholarships for women, eight of whom have got jobs as software developers.”
Adrian Bleasdale, chief executive of The Sharp Project, said: “Northcoders is a great addition to our tenant portfolio and a huge asset to have onsite.
“What’s great is that Northcoders encourages people of all ages and from diverse backgrounds to come together and learn skills that will change their lives.
“Making the creative and digital sector more accessible and developing Manchester’s talent pipeline are key aims for The Sharp Project and the fact Northcoders share our ethos is fantastic.
“We wish them continued success.”