--- I'm Dan Sofer of Founders and Coders, a CIC founded in 2014, now based in Finsbury Park. --- ## A bit of background on the software industry --- The number of software developers in the UK doubled in the 10 years to 2021. There are now about half a million of them. ###### https://www.statista.com/statistics/318818/numbers-of-programmers-and-software-development-professionals-in-the-uk/ --- Unlike medicine or law or accountancy, there are no widely-accepted qualifications (or even job titles) in software development. --- Also, the supply of software developers is not restricted to people living in the UK. A significant proportion of software developed for the UK market is produced offshore. --- Despite this flexibility of supply, there are a large and growing number of unfilled software developer vacancies in the UK. --- There are a number of routes into software development, including university, coding schools, apprenticeships, and self learning. --- In theory, apprenticeships offers a great route into the industry, however few employers are willing to take on developers with no relevant experience or no relevant degree. --- Recognising this, the government has recently introduced ***"Accelerated Apprenticeships"***, where the learner does some of their learning before starting an apprenticeship. This takes some of the risk away from the employer and potentially makes an apprenticeship a viable route for wider range of candidates. --- ### The new route > Skills Bootcamp -> Accelerated Apprenticeship --- ## Software developer apprenticeships at Founders and Coders --- It's a Level 4 Software Developer apprenticeship. --- ### Steps 1. Application 2. Part-time Skills bootcamp 3. Accererated apprenticeship --- ### The apprenticeship - 12 weeks training in Finsbury Park - ~12 months with employers - End-point assessment --- ### Strengths of the programme - Very high level of job readiness - Designed for building modern Web applications - Team-work based with a strong user focus - Software for social impact --- ## Software development in the public sector? ---  --- > *"a prioritization of policy over implementation leads to government tech that doesn’t meet the needs of citizens or the expectations of policymakers."* --- > “Government needs to own the code and needs to be able to change it to meet their needs.” --- At local government level, that might mean... --- ### 1. being more actively involved in the development process. Don't just see yourselves as passive customers for software built elsewhere. --- ### 2. Prototyping teams? Hire a couple of apprentices to work with staff, residents and service users to identify needs and design possible solutions. --- ### 3. Collaborate To keep costs down and allow the creation of a relevant curriculum. --- ## A dedicated programme for local government? We're very interested.