Capgemini has partnered with Code Your Future to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including refugees, to foster digital skills, increase confidence and offer support through mentors to fast-track their career in tech.
“Our partnership with Capgemini UK is really exciting. As one of the world’s leading technology companies and our first major blue-chip partner to sponsor a course, they are uniquely placed to help us support some of the most vulnerable people in society in developing specialist digital skills. The mentoring and expertise they will provide will be critical. We also hope that we can work with them to create replicable programmes around the UK,” said Germán Bencci, Code Your Future’s Managing Director.
Learning vital programming skills
Thanks to sponsorship from Capgemini, Code Your Future is running a six-month training course in London focused on JavaScript programming, a skill currently in high demand. The training course supports twenty-five working age people who are disadvantaged and underrepresented in the technology industry, including refugees. The group also includes five students from Capgemini's long-term collaboration with The Prince’s Trust.
Capgemini expects an extraordinary seventy percent of course participants to find employment within six months of finishing the course - with ten of those taken on directly by Capgemini in the UK on permanent contracts.
A flexible study enviroment
Capgemini uses the support of its technical mentors, business coaches and open source software to allow participants more flexibility to study around family and other commitments. The participants can learn from home, attend regular weekend lectures and draw support from collaborative tutor groups. As well as vital programming skills, students will also learn how to increase their employability through digital interview techniques, communication, team working and problem solving.
“As a technology company, we have a responsibility to ensure that everyone benefits from the digital revolution. Demand for deep technical expertise including programming skills is growing," says Paul Margetts, Managing Director of the UK Business Unit of Capgemini and Chair of the UK Corporate Social Responsibility Board.
"Working with Code Your Future will enable us to use our expertise to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds develop the skills they need to be included in society. In this way, we will support the participants with gaining employment, address the skills gap and help both our business and the wider UK economy. This programme builds on a solid foundation of using our skills to enable societies to address the impact of the digital and automation revolution."
Benefiting from the digital revolution
"We believe people should not be limited in work and life by a lack of digital skills and that the next generation of digital innovators should be supported," adds Sally Caughey, UK Head of Digital Inclusion. "It is this human centred approach to technology that will make a difference."
Make a difference at Capgemini
If you want your career to make a positive social impact, Capgemini employees are committed helping communities harness the opportunities of digital technology. If this sounds like something for you, take a look at Capgemini's exciting job vacancies and see where your career will take you.
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