Click Start receives further funding
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BSU awarded further funding for Click Start programme
Friday, 13 December, 2024Bath Spa University is excited to announce that they have been awarded further funding for their Click Start course for 2025.
Click Start by Bath Spa University in Creative Digital Skills is a free eight-week course that provides young people in the West of England with next-level digital skills needed to launch their tech or creative career, whether that involves getting a job, voluntary role, an apprenticeship or further education.
In just 18 months, 275 learners have been supported by the course, with over 60% of alumni already having a positive post-course outcome, such as starting a new career. The extension will help an additional 75 learners improve their skills in digital marketing, web development and UX/UI design.
Click Start by Bath Spa University is part of the nationwide Click Start training programme developed by the Institute of Coding (IoC) – a national collaboration of universities, charities and employers, and funded by Nominet - the public benefit company and guardians of the .UK web domain, which works with charities and organisations that seek to improve lives through technology.
The programme, which launched in 2023, helps to tackle the UK’s digital skills gap by offering skills and training to more than 26,500 learners across the country who may not have previously had opportunities.
Charlotte, who recently finished her Click Start course, commented:
“I was feeling lost after finishing my degree, struggling to find work or even a direction to focus my career. I felt engaged and often challenged throughout Click Start, developing my skills in wireframing, project development and HTML.
I have a bunch of ideas and projects I want to pursue after finishing the course, and my lecturers and career coach have ensured I have loads of resources to get started with that!”
Bath Spa University has partnered with Catch22, a not-for-profit business that delivers high quality tailored employability programmes, and techSPARK, a not-for-profit community dedicated to connecting, educating and strengthening tech ecosystems, to provide each Click Start learner with a personal employability coach that supports them for six months after they finish their course.
Catch22 provides career coach wrap around support alongside the technical content delivered by Bath Spa University. Catch22 helps learners to identify their skills and build upon their existing experience to secure employment in the ever-evolving tech landscape. The Catch22 career coaches provide tailored advice on selecting the right progression routes and learning paths, ensuring that all learners are equipped with the employability skills that align with industry demands.
Additionally, career coaches offer guidance on building a strong portfolio, preparing for technical interviews, and networking with industry professionals. By leveraging the expertise of the Catch22 career coaches, learners can navigate the complexities of the tech job market more effectively, boosting their confidence and increasing their chances of securing a desired role.
Clea Wood, Head of Marketing and Communications at the Institute of Coding, said:
”We are delighted to continue working with Bath Spa University on the Click Start programme, made possible thanks to funding from Nominet. This programme is transforming the lives of young people in the West of England, equipping them with vital digital skills and the confidence to pursue careers in tech and creative industries. It’s inspiring to see the real-world impact, and we’re delighted that Click Start will benefit even more learners."
Looking to the future of the programme, Jason John, Short Course Unit Programme Manager at Bath Spa University, said:
“Click Start has been a fantastic programme to work on. It clearly meets a need for beginner/intermediate level digital skills amongst young people and most pleasing of all for us is that employers have jumped at the opportunity to take on such new talent. We are delighted to be able to enroll another 75 learners in 2025 and help them to get into and develop their careers in tech. We thank our superb funders, Nominet for their continued support.”
The next cohort of Click Start will start on 14 January. Visit Bath Spa University’s website to find out more and apply.