We’re thrilled to announce an exciting new collaboration with Portsmouth-based tech firm Radweb as they launch the RadWeb Coding Academy supporting 16-19 year old young people who are interested in a career in the technology sector.
Six exceptional students from Portsmouth College have been recruited, and will be intensively trained by experts at the company over the coming year, with further students being recruited to the programme in February 2021.
The digital work placement will see students learn and build their own commercially viable app or website which will be launched for consumers to use. As well as working with Radweb’s 18 expert programmers and technology specialists, we’ll be delivering 6 skills-focused Unloc training sessions to help them develop their life skills alongside their technical knowledge.
One of the first students to be recruited into the academy is Portsmouth College student Paul Kurdo, Paul said:
“It’s a great pleasure to have this experience with Radweb. It’s a huge opportunity to allow young aspiring programmers to show their creativity and talent. Every little bit you contribute to your project will construct a tangible product in the real world. It is an absolute privilege to be able to work with professionals within the industry”.
Students that excel on the programme will gain an interview at the end, providing a direct career route into the technology sector.
The programme is helping to tackle the UK’s technology skills shortage head on. Youth Employment UK estimate that hi-tech roles such as software programmers and developers have increased by 72% since 2011, but there simply aren’t enough suitably skilled young people to fill all those roles.
The European Commission has suggested that the European economy could be short of 900,000 ICT professionals by the end of 2020.
Radweb Managing Director, Steve Rad, commented:
“Radweb is committed to giving back to the city we are based in, and in the process – develop a pipeline of new talent for our business. There is a significant skills shortage in the city for high quality computer programmes and designers, and we’re doing our bit to help address this issue. Both me and my co-founder James studied at the University of Portsmouth and are passionate about helping young people to follow our footsteps and find successful, fulfilling careers”.
Hayden Taylor, Managing Director of Unloc, said
“We’re delighted to be working with Radweb – a brilliantly talented team of designers, programmers and marketing experts. The Radweb Coding Academy will make such a difference to the young people taking part, and addresses a crucial talent shortage in the city”.
The Radweb Coding Academy will make such a difference to the young people taking part, and addresses a crucial talent shortage in the city, we’re absolutely thrilled to be a part of this fantastic new initiative.
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About Radweb
Radweb was founded in 2007 by Steve Rad and James Taylor, both of whom graduated from the University of Portsmouth with degrees in Digital Media Marketing and Computer Science and a passion for all things technical.
Over the year’s the business has developed into a team of 18 passionate, qualified specialists, from designers to programmers to marketing experts.
Radweb are experts in finding creative solutions for interactive website applications, eCommerce and digital marketing.
About Unloc
Unloc was founded in 2013 by award-winning young leaders and advocates Hayden
Taylor and Ben Dowling. Our mission is to empower young people to be innovative
changemakers who seek to build stronger communities and sustainable businesses.
We develop young people’s skills, enhance their potential and boost their determination to succeed. This is encapsulated in our Developing Young Potential tagline. We work towards our mission by delivering inspiring educational programmes in our growing network of schools and colleges. In the 2018-19 academic year, Unloc’s programme reach increased by over 40% on the previous year to 10,910 young people.
