Member Article

Tomorrow’s software developers supported by new company

A NEW company which will train the next generation of North East software developers is launching.

Code Academy plans to capitalise on the growth of the North East Technology Sector and help to narrow the digital skills gap in the North East.

Code Academy is part of the SGP Technology Group and will put graduates through an intensive, 12-month training and work-based programme with the potential to be placed within some of the North East’s most prestigious technology companies at the end of it.

The year-long training programme acts as a career accelerator, producing high quality, software development ready individuals that are equivalent to a graduate developer with three years’ experience.

Headed up by newly recruited Managing Director Peter Chalder-Wood, Code Academy has been created to solve the shortage of middle-weight developers in the North East and to give companies the facility to train graduates in the specific skills they require. For graduate developers, Code Academy will provide them with real world coding experience, bridging the gap between university and employment.

By working in collaboration with high profile businesses, Code Academy will also support the drive to retain talent in the region by ensuring graduates have the opportunity to secure work related to the degree they’ve undertaken.

Peter Chalder-Wood said: “The North East is home to one of the fastest growing technology and software sectors in the country with employers expecting to create over 2,000 jobs next year.

“However, they are struggling to fill the posts from the pool of graduates within the region, as some lack the more rounded work-based skills at the level required to meet the needs of businesses.

“What Code Academy will offer is training and work-based learning specific to their needs, so that at the end of the programme they have a ready made workforce to tap into.

“It means our talented graduates are much more likely to stay in the region as there are genuine career opportunities for them, and employers have the skilled individuals to tap into rather than recruitng people from elsewhere in the country.

“We are keen that the North East plays a significant part in the Northern Powerhouse agenda and that Code Academy helps address the digital skills gap, especially in the post-university and early careers space.”

The first tranche of 16 graduates, will begin their training in March with a further 25 recruited to start in September. Graduates interested in finding out more can download the company brochure from the website Codeacademyuk.com.

The Code Academy is the latest business launched by the SGP Technology Group, which also includes SGP Consulting, Technical Duedil and SGP Investments, and is based at Newburn Riverside in Newcastle.

The company will initially employ Peter plus three software mentors, with plans to add to the team in 2016.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Felicity Collinson .