08 October 2021
Looking to enter the world of tech? You could retrain for free
Our world is increasingly driven by technology, this is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that tech allowed a whopping 46% of us to work from the safety of our homes when the Coronavirus Pandemic forced a national lockdown . While advances in technology have their benefits they also come with certain detriments – more than half of the people who were furloughed last year were in roles that are under threat of automation.
It’s thought some common job types we know well today won’t exist at all in 10 years. While technology is leading to job losses, paradoxically there is an ever-increasing number of jobs being created by the technological sphere.
Whether you’re currently working in a position that is under threat of automation, you’re unemployed or you simply want a better paying job, you may well be wondering how you could make the move into IT or technology – especially if you don’t already have any experience or formal training. Well, thanks to the Government’s Skills Bootcamp initiative you could receive up to 16 weeks of training completely free.
What are Skills Bootcamps?
Part of the government’s Plan For Jobs, The Skills Bootcamps are a nationwide series of 16-week training courses created to help people develop in-demand skills that will enable them to get better jobs, and many of these are in the world of tech. These courses are created in partnership with employers, local authorities and training providers such as the University of Bath.
What kinds of jobs could a Skills Bootcamp help me get?
Skills Bootcamps have been created only for jobs that are in demand, so they largely focus on digital roles, construction and green energy. Here are some of the job roles these technical courses could help you get:
- IT Technician
- Web Developer
- Microsoft IT Engineer
- Cyber Security Expert
- Software Developer
- Software Tester
- Data Technician
- Microsoft Azure Data Engineer
- CAD Technician
Click here to see the full list of courses and locations.
Who is eligible for these courses?
As a general rule, anyone over the age of 19 can apply for a Skills Bootcamp no matter if they are: employed, self-employed, recently unemployed or returning to work after a break. However, certain courses may have additional eligibility criteria which will be clearly explained on specific course pages.
You can find out more about eligibility and additional Plan For Jobs information on the government’s webpage here.