Get started and advance in coding

Today kicks off #NationalCodingWeek which aims to inspire everyone to explore coding – whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced professional looking to enhance your skills. Coding isn’t just for tech experts – it’s a valuable skill that can benefit anyone, both in their personal and professional life.

This year’s National Coding Week theme is Artificial Intelligence (AI) raising an important question: will AI eventually replace Programmers and Software Engineers? The short answer is no. The future of programming is not a competition between humans and AI, but a collaboration. Human creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving are unique human skills that AI can’t fully replicate. Code is required to create AI models so, in fact, Programmers and Software Engineers are at the forefront of driving many of the AI advancements we use today.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to get started with coding, earn industry-recognised qualifications, and advance your career by utilising AI. While it’s unlikely that AI will replace Programmers, gaining a broader understanding and proficiency in AI skills, together with integrating them into your work, will strengthen your expertise and help future-proof your career.

Coding is a great career due to its high demand and competitive salaries, (with code heavy job titles such as Developer, Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Data Engineer and Machine Learning Engineer averaging a salary from £44k – £57k¹). Salaries increase with experience and expertise. Coding offers varied opportunities across different industries, along with flexibility, with many remote working options and continuous learning as technology evolves. Additionally, coding allows for creative problem-solving and innovation, with paths in Web Development, AI, and Data Science. Overall, coding is a future-proof career that remains relevant and rewarding.

We’ve asked our expert tutors about their coding thoughts and experiences…

One of our free* tech courses trainers, Lesley, says

“I think coding is a great career. It’s fantastic for developing and enhancing those problem-solving skills we need in all aspects of our life. In a way, it’s a little like being a detective. You have a problem you need to solve, and you work through the different clues; for example, user requirements or bugs, to come up with a solution that fixes it. For me, the best feeling is figuring out the solution to a bug in my code that I’ve spent ages trying to fix.”

Technical Trainer, Sally comments

“I’ve worked as a Data Analyst and Data Scientist for seven years. Early in my career, the first coding language I self-taught was Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) in Excel. VBA felt so slow and clunky that I thought this was what all coding languages were like! It took me another couple of years to start coding in languages like Python and R. I wish I’d known about these languages initially as it would have saved a lot of frustration waiting for spreadsheets to calculate! I love coding because, by nature, I consider myself a bit lazy. As Bill Gates famously said, “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.” Coding aligns perfectly with this philosophy. Since computer software is written in code, it’s the most efficient way to communicate with your computer. When there isn’t a button for a specific task or you need to click on numerous buttons, you can use code to streamline processes and achieve greater control over your work. Code allows you to automate repetitive tasks and do cool things like AI that can only be built with code. The use of coding languages is constantly changing and that’s what I find most exciting.”

Absolutely you can! Lesley, one of our trainers, spent 15 years in the IT industry, first as a system administrator and then moving into software development, before transitioning into teaching. She knows many people who successfully moved into coding as a second career or moved from other areas of the IT industry into coding. It’s never too late to start learning and pursuing a career in coding. Our free* tech courses don’t require any previous coding knowledge or experience and some coding apprenticeships are suitable for complete beginners too. If you have enthusiasm and commitment to learn these pathways could be for you!

Our apprenticeships and free* tech courses offer excellent learning pathways for aspiring coders. While experimenting with your own projects online is a fantastic way to practice and gain experience, obtaining formal qualifications is the key to progress in a coding career.

We offer two pathways to learn coding:

• An apprenticeship, e.g. Level 4 Data Analyst, Level 5 Data Engineer and Level 7 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Specialist
• Free* Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications e.g. Level 2 Understanding Coding and Level 3 Coding Practices

An apprenticeship is great as it gives you the best of both worlds – theoretical and practical learning. Apprentices benefit from being taught by a specialist tech trainer, covering all essential coding knowledge, while also gaining hands-on experience as a Developer in a real workplace.

You spend most of your week working on actual development projects and collaborating with tech professionals in the workplace, while typically dedicating around one day per week to training and development with your apprenticeship programme.

Sally, LearnTech technical trainer, says

“I completed a Master of Research in Data Science over two years, part-time, while working – a structure very similar to an apprenticeship. I applied my learning from the course directly in the workplace. During and after the Masters, I mentored and supported fellow learners, interns and colleagues who were studying or had completed their Masters full-time, often without opportunities to apply their learning practically. I noticed that full-time learners without data science work experience had theoretical knowledge, but struggled to apply it to real business problems. They found it challenging to understand business needs, conduct data science or AI projects, and lead such projects as specialists. In contrast, for example, our Level 7 AI Data Specialist apprenticeship produces work-ready individuals by allowing them to apply their skills in real work settings during the programme. This apprenticeship not only provides technical AI training but also covers workplace skills such as legislation, governance, collaboration, and the practical application of theory, plus project management and leadership. Apprentices are empowered to influence their businesses as AI Data Specialists, and receive support to navigate their industry and overcome challenges on their learning journey.”

An apprenticeship is tied to employment. Here are the three main ways to start an apprenticeship…

1. Apply for an apprenticeship vacancy. Visit learn-tech.com/vacancies to view our current opportunities. You can also explore all available apprenticeship vacancies in England at www.findanapprenticeship.service.gov.uk, where you can filter by your interests and location, plus save your searches and get email alerts for new vacancies.
2. Talk to your current employer. If you’re interested in an apprenticeship as part of your career development, speak with your employer. Following this, you can contact us to book an information session to find out more about the programmes you’re interested in.
3. Approach another employer. Consider approaching a potential employer with a proposal to join their team as an apprentice. Many have succeeded with this approach, showing their enthusiasm for work and learning.

For more information about becoming an apprentice, visit www.learn-tech.com/apprentice-guide.

Our free* tech courses are an excellent way to learn coding, especially if you have little or no prior experience and are looking to begin a tech career or change careers. We have monthly start dates and they’re available for Level 2 (8 weeks) and Level 3 (12 weeks) qualifications, with the sessions delivered through live virtual learning. We guide you through the coding journey at a challenging yet supportive pace. You’ll also have access to W3Schools resources for more information, plus W3Schools certifications are included as part of our Level 3 qualification.

Your trainer is highly experienced, both in teaching, coding and the IT industry. They bring real-world experience and practical examples to the coursework, enriching the learning experience.

Our free* tech courses are also available for Cyber Security, Data Analysis and Web Design & Development.

Check out these resources:

• Code First Girls | Empowering Women in Tech through Education
• Careers advice – job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service
• BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT | BCS
• Learn Data Science and AI Online | DataCamp
• W3Schools – Online Coding Tutorials
• https://skillsforall.com/course/python-essentials-1
• https://skillsforall.com/course/python-essentials-2
• https://www.codewars.com/
• Events – NHS-R Community (nhsrcommunity.com)
• https://wiki.python.org/moin/LocalUserGroups

If our blog has inspired you and you have any questions, we’re here to help – feel free to contact us. To explore your learning options, click on the links provided in this blog. We hope your coding journey starts with us!

For organisations interested in hiring a tech apprentice, check out our Employer Guide to get started. Additionally, to learn how to stay ahead of the AI curve, read our blog, The Importance of Embracing Artificial Intelligence.

*Eligibility applies

¹ https://uk.indeed.com/career/salaries