Our Skills Audit has identified that, once again, companies in Greater Manchester are struggling when it comes to finding developers.
If the region’s tech sector is to develop into a world-leading region of tech excellence, we need to address this problem.
As such, we thought it would be helpful to help more people get into our industry by creating an article that compiles the various coding boot camps, meetups, clubs and resources available within Greater Manchester – of which there are many.
Before we let you get on with investigating this list, we wanted to quickly remind you that as a membership organisation, we’re working tirelessly on behalf of our members to do all that we can to plug the skills gap and help them to succeed.
We do this by
- Giving members unlimited access to our thriving jobs board
- Publishing research such as the Skills Audit and Salary Benchmark to scope the problem
- Running our industry-backed Level Four Software Developer Apprenticeship
- Encouraging young people into considering tech careers through Digital Futures and Digital Her
- Encouraging tech talent to move to the region via our #RelocateMCR campaign
- Facilitating member discussion and action via our Employer’s Forum
- Promoting initiatives that are already taking place within the region
Joining Manchester Digital, whether you’re a global company, a medium-sized tech company or digital agency, or a freelancer, means that you're playing your part in closing the skills gap and securing the region’s future.
Manchester Code Clubs and Meetups
Code Up
What is it? - CodeUp is a learner-led monthly meetup for adults learning how to code where once a month, anyone wanting to learn how to code can come and get advice and support.
How much is it? - Completely free
Where is it? - Manchester/ Salford/ Oldham /Stockport
Website - http://codeup.org.uk/
Social - @CodeUpUK
codebar Manchester
What is it? - codebar is a non-profit initiative that facilitates the growth of a diverse tech community by running regular programming workshops.
How much is it? -codebar’s regular workshops and events are free in line with codebar’s desire to make technology and coding more accessible.
Where is it - Central Manchester
Website - http://www.codebar.io/manchester
Social - @codebarManc
Full Stack of Pancakes
What is it? - Full Stack of Pancakes is a collective of creative technologists that want to break down some of the barriers of learning how to code. They organise free, accessible, and fun coding workshops for adults in Manchester.
How much is it? - Free
Where is it? - Central Manchester
Website - http://www.eventbrite.com/o/full-stack-of-pancakes-14858329308
Social - @fspmcr
Code and Stuff
What is it? - A weekly coding community for women and non-binary people
How much is it? - Attendance is free
Where is it? - Central Manchester
Website - http://codeandstuff-manchester.github.io/
Social - @Codeandstuff_uk
Manchester CoderDojo
What is it? - Manchester CoderDojo is a volunteer-led community group for young people learning to code and make things.
How much is it? - Completely free
Where is it? -The Sharp Project
Website - http://mcrcoderdojo.org.uk/
Social - @McrCoderDojo
Trafford CoderDojo
What is it? - Running once a month with free computing and coding- based activities for children in Trafford.
How much is it? -Completely free
Where is it? - Sale Library
Website - http://www.facebook.com/TraffordCoderDOJO/
Social - @TraffordCDojo
Wigan STEAM
What is it? - A monthly Saturday-morning session for children and young people aged 8 – 13. Coders work through a set of resources that will take them through HTML, Python and CSS. award.
How much is it? - Completely free
Where is it? - Wigan
Website - http://www.wigansteam.com/code-club/
Social - http://twitter.com/wiganSTEAM
Leigh Hackspace
What is it? - A free code club to develop programming skills among children and adults who want to learn to code.
How much is it? - Completely free
Where is it? - Leigh
Website - http://www.leighhack.org/cc/
Social - @leigh_hackspace
Manchester Code School and Bootcamps
Manchester Codes
What is it? - Manchester Codes is the UK’s original part-time coding school and currently the only one that covers full-stack software development (both front-end and back-end). Over the course of 24 intense weeks, they cover all of the fundamentals required for you to be able to obtain an entry-level Software Development role.
How much is it? - £5000
Where is it? - Central Manchester
Website - http://www.manchestercodes.com/
Social - @ManchesterCodes
Special info - 10% discount to female applicants.
Code Nation
What is it? - Business-led coding school and apprenticeship providers committed to creating talent that will fill the digital skills gap.
How much is it? - Their 12-week Master course costs £7200.
Where is it? - Central Manchester, Trafford, Chester and Cambridge.
Website - http://wearecodenation.com/
Social - @wearecodenation
Special info - Code Nation’s website tells us that they work with over 200 businesses across the UK and have found employment for over 90% of their graduates - with starting salaries ranging from £18k to £35k. Code Nation also provide all students with a MacBook Pro for the duration of their course!
Northcoders
What is it? - A coding boot camp that will teach you to code from scratch in as little as 12 weeks and then find you Software Developer work.
How much is it? - £6000
Where is it? - Central Manchester
Website - http://northcoders.com/
Social - @northcoders
Special info - Northcoders’ website tells us that their average graduate starting salary is £25k
Recode
What is it? - Recode provides a 14-week, full-time free coding education for individuals who belong to underrepresented groups within the technology industry and to anyone for whom adversity or financial hardship acts as a barrier to entry.
How much is it? - Completely free
Where is it? -Bolton
Website - http://recode.org.uk/
Social - http://twitter.com/recodeuk
Special info - Recode operate a ‘pay it forward’ model, where they encourage learners to pass on the benefits that they have gained once they have graduated from the course.
Code Your Future
What is it? - Code Your Future is a non-profit organisation supporting refugees, asylum seekers and underprivileged individuals with the dream of becoming software developers.
How much is it? - Free but participants have to be ready to commit over 30 hours of learning per week.
Where it is? - Started in London but now expanding into Manchester
Website - http://codeyourfuture.io/
Social - @CodeYourFuture_
Special info - Code Your Future need professionals from the tech industry to join their mentorship programme and give student guidance and support.
Tech Returners
What is it? - Tech Returners aims to remove the barriers that returners of all ages, genders and life circumstances face after a career break and, as a result, help to tackle the skills shortage in tech. Their course takes participants through a structure that covers both the fundamentals of software development, frontend development skills and backend development skills.
How much is it? - Free 15 week course
Where it is? - Central Manchester
Website - http://techreturners.com/
Social - @techreturners
Firetech
What is it? - Fire Tech teaches 9-17-year-olds the in-demand skills they need to take the digital world by storm. From coding in Python, and Engineering robotics, to designing video games and building their personal brands on YouTube. They've taught over 12,000 courses. All classes are taught in small class sizes by specialist tutors who come from some of the UK's best universities.
How much is it? - Courses range from £320 - £420 (childcare vouchers accepted and scholarships are available)
Where is it? - Central Manchester / Salford
Website - http://www.firetechcamp.com/manchester-tech-camps/
Social - @firetechcamp
Django Girls
What is it? - Django Girls is a free programming workshop for women.
How much is it? - Completely free
Where is it? - Central Manchester
Website - http://djangogirls.org/manchester/
Social - @DjangoGirlsMCR
Special info - Travel costs may be provided for those who cannot afford to get into Manchester
Online Coding Schools and Resources
Code Possible
What is it? - Code Possible is a software development learning resources platform
How much is it? - Completely free
Website - http://codepossible.bitbucket.io/
Codeacademy
What is it? - Codecademy is an online interactive platform that offers free coding classes in 12 different programming languages including Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, C++, and Sass
How much is it? - Courses start from £23.99 per month
Website - http://www.codecademy.com/
FreeCodeCamp
What is it? - Free online courses, programming projects, and interview preparation for developer jobs.
How much is it? - Completely free
Website- http://www.freecodecamp.org/
Microsoft Virtual Academy
What is it? - Free IT training for Developers, IT Pros, Data Scientists, and students.
How much is it? - Completely free
Website - http://mva.microsoft.com/
Get in touch
If you would like to become a member of Manchester Digital and help us support our work in the tech sector, you can do so here.
Or, if you would like to speak to us about sharing your news across our network, or you think your coding initiative should be added to this article, please contact thom@gdcarno.com.
