National Coding Week, the week-long event offering adults an insight into digital industries, kicks off today, September 21.
Events are being planned up and down the country, giving adults with little or no experience an opportunity to learn how to write computer code, understand the role coding plays in our daily lives and spark an interest that could potentially lead to a brand new career.
Tech organisations across the UK have pledged their support in a bid to tackle the coding skills crisis by encouraging more people to simply “have a go”. Among the organisations taking part are Decoded, Women Who Code, Codeclan, SpacePortX, Sky, Microsoft, and international tech conference organisers, Future Insights. This years event is sponsored by telecommunications firm JT Group Global.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, will also be supporting the event for the second year.
Coding is a language that is increasingly important for both young people and adults to understand, but it can be an intimidating prospect,” says Johnson.
“National Coding Week will help to make whole generations of Brits more comfortable with coding, allowing them to embrace the business opportunities of the future.”
UK government representatives have been showing their support for the week-long call to action, with the Welsh government staging a total of 22 events across the country one in each unitary authority.
The key aims of National Coding Week are to encourage adults of any age to learn an element of computer coding, to encourage digital experts to share their skills, and to collaborate, share, learn and have fun! If I can learn to code at age 51 then anyone can,” says Richard Rolfe, co-founder of National Coding Week.
From London to Glasgow, Jersey to the Isle of Man, adults from across the UK can join local free-to-attend training sessions where theyll be taught the basics of coding alongside other beginners with little, or no previous knowledge. Here are just some of the events that will be taking place over the week:
London
- Free Ruby Crash Course: Build your first game (hosted by the Iron Yard)
Manchester
- Getting Started: Programming with Raspberry Pi (hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University)
Cardiff
- Coding for Adults – A Beginner’s Guide (hosted by Wea Cymru, Chepstow Library)
Guernsey
- Free Coding Taster (hosted by Digital Greenhouse)
Belfast
- Family Code Hour (hosted by Digital Northern Ireland, Whose Art Caf )
Jersey
- Digital Skills for Business Leaders (hosted by JTGlobal)
For entrepreneurs keen to get involved, you can tweet your support using the hashtag #NationalCodingWeek, or you can follow @CodingWeek for regular updates.
