Covid-19 and social distancing measures have left some people with more time on their hands. Some people are using this time to learn or develop new skills, or perhaps consider switching to a new career. If this sounds like you, there’s really no better time to learn to code, as many organisations have published free resources online to help you learn with just your laptop. If you’d like to get started with learning technical skills from home, we’re here to show you what’s available.
Why coding?
In March 2020, Manchester was named the fastest growing European tech city, with an 277% increase in investment. Whilst the impacts of Covid-19 across all sectors are not yet clear, we expect to see this trend continue. The tech sector has been essential to ensure that businesses are successful in their digital transformation, so that employees can work remotely. Organisations have also been pitching in to help the crisis, with Covid-related hackathons, and tech companies who are directly supporting the NHS.
Did you know that to start a career in tech, you don’t need a background in computing or coding? You can switch at any time, from any background. In fact, we’ve been speaking to people who have done exactly that.
With this in mind, we thought it would be helpful to update our coding bootcamp guide with a list of free online workshops, meetups, clubs and resources available – of which there are many.
Before we let you get on with investigating this list, we wanted to quickly remind you that as a membership organisation, we’re working tirelessly on behalf of our members to do all that we can to support them during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We’re offering three months free Manchester Digital membership to all digital and technology businesses in Greater Manchester. Whether you’re a global company, a medium-sized tech company or digital agency, or a freelancer, you can get the support that you need.
Find our more about membership benefits and join here.
Code with KPMG
What is it? - KPMG is offering free live lessons in Python coding, open to any age from school-children to adults.
Courses will be hosted on Tuesdays & Thursdays 2pm BST for 10 weeks, beginning Tuesday 7 April.
How much is it? - Completely free
Website - Watch the introduction video at https://t.co/Ttk5AXVBBf?amp=1..
CodeNation
What is it? - CodeNation is offering a free 2 day online course that will walk you through the basics of HTML and CSS, whilst teaching you how to build your own website.
The course will be held on Monday 6th April and Tuesday 7th April, 10.00am - 3.00pm.
How much is it? - Completely free. CodeNation also offer a 12-week coding course for £3600, a 3-week course for £899, and provide opportunities for any furloughed member of staff to be retrained.
Register - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-virtual-coding-course-tickets-101901945462
Website - wearecodenation.com
GCHQ - Open Source Project
What is it? - Open source project #CyberChef allows you to create & break coded messages with Typex, used by Allied forces during #WWII. You can show them the recipes you come up with using Typex & other operations. CyberChef encourages both technical and non-technical people to explore data formats, encryption and compression. For those comfortable writing code, CyberChef is a quick and efficient way to prototype solutions to a problem which can then be scripted once proven to work. It should also appeal to the academic world and any individuals or companies involved in the analysis of digital data, be that software developers, analysts, mathematicians or casual puzzle solvers.
How much is it? - Completely free
Website - gchq.github.io/CyberChef/
CodeUp
What is it? - CodeUp is a learner-led monthly meetup for adults learning how to code where once a month, anyone wanting to learn how to code can come and get advice and support. CodeUp are based in Greater Manchester and their next monthly meetup will be held remotely.
How much is it? - Completely free
Register - https://www.meetup.com/CodeUpManchester/events/269714187/
Website - http://codeup.org.uk
Manchester Codes
What is it? -
Code and Stuff
What is it? - A weekly coding community for women and non-binary people. Based in Central Manchester, their next monthly meetup will be held online.
How much is it? - Completely free
Register - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/code-and-stuff-womennon-binary-online-tickets-101827548940
Website - https://codeandstuff-manchester.github.io/
FutureLearn Online IT & Computer Science Courses
What is it? - A diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world
Website - https://www.futurelearn.com/subjects/it-and-computer-science-courses
Unity Learn Platform: Courses and Tutorials
Computing courses and tutorials.
How much is it? - Covid-19 support: all-access learning - three months of complimentary access to Unity Learn Premium.
Website - https://learn.unity.com/
FreeCodeCamp
What is it? - Free online courses, programming projects, and interview preparation for developer jobs.
How much is it? - Completely free
Website - https://www.freecodecamp.org/
Microsoft Virtual Academy
What is it? - Free IT training for Developers, IT Pros, Data Scientists, and students.
How much is it? - Completely free
Website - https://mva.microsoft.com/
Digital Future Stars - Level 4 Software Developer Apprenticeship
What is it? - If you think software development might be for you, why not apply to join Manchester Digital’s apprenticeship - Digital Future Stars?
This degree-level apprenticeship is designed to train a carefully selected group of wannabe software developers each year, who can demonstrate the right attitude and aptitude for becoming excellent software developers.
If selected, you'll be hired by well-known tech companies and brands in the region and undertake a Level 4 Software Developer Apprenticeship.
How much is it? - Completely free. You’ll be paid up to £24,000 per year to learn.
Website - https://www.manchesterdigital.com/level-4-software-developer-apprenticeship
Manchester Codes
What is it? - This 24 part-time week course is designed to transition people from beginners - with no prior coding experience - to a job-reading Software Engineer in 24 weeks. This course will teach you all the necessary skills to be able to build fully-functioning web applications from end-to-end.
The next course will begin on Monday 1st June 2020.
How much is it? £5000 all inclusive.
Website - https://www.manchestercodes.com/
NorthCoders
What is it? - This interactive, fully supported 8 week course is designed to teach you all of the front-end skills that you need to build complex websites properly - without leaving your home.
How much is it? - £4500 all inclusive.
Website - https://northcoders.com/web-development-remote
Get in touch
If you would like to become a member of Manchester Digital and take advantage of 3 month’s free membership, you can do so here.
Or, if you would like to speak to us about sharing your news across our network, or you think your coding initiative should be added to this article, please contact thom@manchesterdigital.com.
