THOUSANDS more jobseekers looking to upskill or land a new job can take part in bootcamps after additional funding was secured by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
An extra 4,000 space have been made available after the authority was handed £15.5million from the Government to continue providing bootcamps until at least 2024 to encourage new learners and those keen to fast track onto the employment ladder.
These bootcamps are for learners and equip West Midlands residents with digital skills, giving them to access roles in areas like coding, cybersecurity and digital marketing.
Participants include Moheeb Noor, who completed the free digital bootcamp course after losing his job during the pandemic.
Since graduating from the course he has secured a job as a junior service desk analyst at digital transformation company, Methods.
He said: “I previously taught English as a foreign language, but when the pandemic hit, work became scarce, and I wanted to make a change to pursue a career in IT.
“I signed up for a digital bootcamp after attending a ‘Discover Tech’ event and hearing testimonials from past students who had graduated the programme. Not only did the course introduce me to a network of employers, but it also helped me in various technical aspects, soft-skills support and aided me with my CV writing.
“The course feels like a complete A-Z for learners, and I would recommend it to anyone. I am now counting down the days until I can start my exciting new job, and it would not have been possible to do this on my own if it were not for the bootcamp.”
In the past year, WMCA has supported over 2,000 adults who were unemployed or looking to upskill to get a better paid job.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “These WMCA backed bootcamps help our residents onto the career ladder and encourage employers to invest in local talent. I cannot wait to see lives changed for the better in the months and years ahead.”
