The IT industry is booming – here’s how to click start your career in tech

CLICK start your working life in the tech industry.

It is a growing sector, with research from network alliance Tech Nation showing that almost five million people are employed in it, up from 2.18million in 2011.

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But there are still 870,000 vacancies nationwide.

On average, tech salaries are nearly 80 per cent higher than for non-tech jobs.

Now a new scheme from the Institute of Coding and Bath University aims to plug the skills gap and boost social mobility right across the country.

The £12million Click Start Initiative offers 26,000 places on a series of free digital skills programmes targeting learners from low income and minority backgrounds.

‘So many avenues you can go down’

Hosted on the Coursera platform, learners can access up to 30 courses remotely from home.

Each module takes six to eight hours to complete.

There are also hybrid in-person/online courses to help trainees develop their digital skills, grow their confidence and boost their chances of employment.

These include one by Dundee’s Abertay University and group Salute My Job aimed at ex-Armed Forces personnel.

Another is run by TechUPWomen at Durham University for women and non-binary people across the North and North East.

Charity worker Samara Laboriel, from Newcastle, recently attended the TechUPWomen course to boost her digital skills.

The 28-year-old said: “This is a really inclusive initiative, which is very much needed in the tech industry.

“Tech is in a period of growth at the moment and there are so many avenues you can go down.

“Attending this course will propel me in my career and give me that extra skill set that I need.”

The initiative comes as PM Rishi Sunak pushed plans for the UK to be “an island of innovation” at his London Tech Week speech.

Director of the Institute of Coding Professor Rachid Hourizi said: “The UK faces significant digital skills and recruitment challenges, compounded by a fragile talent pipeline, insufficient growth and insufficient diversity.

“This launch will see thousands more people from disadvantaged and under-represented groups achieve their true potential in this field by offering different pathways to skills and employment, and entry into digital careers.”

Model tips for success

HAVING a positive role model is a well-known way to improve your career confidence, but how do you find one?

Sue Vinnicombe, professor of Women and Leadership at Cranfield School of Management, shares her five top tips.

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1. Don’t expect your role model to be just one person: Rather than trying to find a single, “perfect” role model, broaden your search to a mix of people in your work environment that you look up to.

2. Create your internal board of directors: This should be a small group of colleagues and friends who advise you as you navigate your career.

They may change throughout your career, as priorities evolve.

3. Go for “near” role models, not celebrities: The people you work closest with will have a greater impact on your development, because you can see how they handle challenging situations and learn from them.

4. Don’t be limited by gender: Look to both male and female leaders to learn from how they behave daily in different work situations.

5. It’s OK to outgrow your role models: You are not limited by the number of seats at the table, so recruit as many as you want.

So long as you value their opinions or see traits within them that could offer valuable insight to your decision-making.

A cheeky Nando’s?

IN a flap about leaving school?

Then sign up for Nando’s new School Leaver Apprenticeship programme.

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The chicken chain is offering 15-month Level 2 apprenticeships at over 200 of its restaurants, with applications for ages 16 and up.

Trainees will study for a Hospitality Team Member qualification covering customer service, leadership and personal development.

Seven in ten managers are promoted from within the business.

Claire Smith, head of people at Nando’s, said: “We are passionate about providing opportunities for young people to take their first step into work and build a career.”

Apply at tinyurl.com/233sjj69.

Taking time to reflect

ONE in five workers have experienced burnout over the last year – but could a “Shultz Hour” be the solution?

Made famous by former US Secretary of State George Shultz, it involves taking one hour a week to sit and focus on quiet reflection.

Searches for the term have soared by 223 per cent on social media this month as employees look for solutions to help combat work-related stress.

Dr Catherine Carney, a psychiatrist at private rehab clinic Delamere, in Cheshire, explains: “Using ‘Shultz Hours’ during your working day may just be the key to taking a breather, and being able to reassess your tasks at hand without getting overwhelmed.”

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk