Skills Bootcamps designed to boost opportunities return to Teesside University

Skills Bootcamps delivered by Teesside University in collaboration with industry partners to improve career prospects for people in the North East are returning next month.

The 16-week Skills Bootcamps are designed to enhance digital skills and improve career opportunities for people living and working in the Tees Valley, in line with the government’s levelling up initiative.

Bootcamps on offer include:

• Creative Producing Production Management
• Digital Marketing Content Production and Campaigns
• Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
• Data Analytics and Visualisation: from Advanced Excel to PowerBI
• UI/UX Design for Games
• Introduction to AI: from Coding to Machine Learning
• Strategies for a Sustainable and Circular Economy

The courses are delivered by Teesside University academics and industry experts as a combination of lectures and practical sessions, culminating in an employability programme which gives participants the opportunity to interview for a role in the tech sector.

Open to people of all employment backgrounds who live or work in the Tees Valley, the Skills Bootcamps are available fully funded to those who meet the eligibility criteria, with the option of employer funding for participants who are already in work.

Participants achieve a University Certificate in Professional Development (UCPD) upon successful completion of any of the Tees Valley Combined Authority-funded Skills Bootcamps.

With more courses available than ever before, Teesside University is proud to play a pivotal role in improving opportunities for local people, honouring its civic duty as an anchor institution within the region.

Siobhan Fenton, Associate Dean (Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange) in the School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, said: “The levelling up initiative seeks to improve opportunities throughout the country, and Teesside University is a driving force behind implementing this in the Tees Valley and nationally.

“The Skills Bootcamps are an excellent example of the real work we are doing to facilitate upskilling, empower individuals and open up doors to new and exciting ventures in an increasingly digital world.

“We have already helped a number of participants from previous intakes to achieve new heights in their careers, and we are looking forward to welcoming the next cohort so that we can do this once again on an even larger scale.”

The Skills Bootcamps were developed by the government in partnership with employers and providers as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee and launched as part of an Institute of Coding-led programme.

The Institute of Coding (IoC) is a national consortium fronted by the University of Bath, made up of industry, educators and outreach providers working to address the country’s digital skills gap through education. Teesside University joined the IoC in March 2021.

The Skills Bootcamps start on Tuesday 4 October and applications close on Friday 23 September, with limited places available.

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