Capital City College Group, which includes Westminster Kingsway College alongside the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London and City and Islington College, has partnered with Founders Forum to launch the first tuition-free coding school in the UK to improve diversity in tech and bridge the digital skills gap.

01Founders is an innovative free coding school that is unusual because it does not feature teachers. Instead, students will be taught by 01 Edu software, solving gamified projects at their own pace while learning from their peers.

Students completing the two-year course will also be guaranteed a job at the end of the course as part of 01Founders’ commitment to train 100,000 software engineers by 2030. 01 Founders is now accepting applications for its first London cohort of 250 students to start in October 2021.

Roy O’Shaughnessy, CEO of the group, said: “Capital City College Group is delighted to be a partner in this exciting new educational venture – a first for the UK. We were the pioneers of free further education courses in London and 01Founders’ new coding school takes this concept to the next level. It will give anyone, regardless of their background, previous experience or educational level the key coding and digital skills they will need to transform their career chances and their lives. The school is a real innovation in education and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”

01Founders was co-founded by Brent Hobermann, the face behind online brands including lastminute.com and Made.com, and is backed by entrepreneurs, tech firms and educationalists.

The course is powered by 01 Edu, an internationally acclaimed pedagogy co-founded by Nicolas Sadiric, which has built similar coding schools with an alumni of more than 25,000 globally. Students complete core coding training for 18 months and then choose a specialism for the final six months from game development, artificial intelligence and augmented reality.

Joysy John, CEO of 01Founders: “We believe that digital skills give you the ability to shape the world around you. But, for too long, women, ethnic minorities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds have been underrepresented in technology. 01Founders is starting a nationwide movement that removes the barriers to job-ready technical training. It’s a coding school for ambitious individuals from every background, regardless of experience.”

Students are pre-selected based on a short cognitive test followed by a month-long selection process over the summer. Applicants must be over 18 by 1 September 2021. No previous experience or academic qualifications are required.

For more information, and to apply, please visit our 01Founders page.

Three apprentice chefs from Westminster Kingsway College rubbed shoulders with royalty after being invited to the 40^th anniversary of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA).

Gerry Sands, Simon Trodd and Sean Reeves met HRH Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at the celebratory event at the Michelin star Trinity restaurant in Clapham.

Charles and Camilla spoke to all three aspiring chefs and Sharon Barry, Head of School for Hospitality Apprenticeships at the college, during their royal visit on 27 May.

Gerry, 18, from Barnet, who is on a Chef de Partie Level 3 Apprenticeship, said: “I felt very honoured to meet the Prince of Wales and Camilla. They asked me about where I was working and wished me the very best for the future. It was a real highlight of my career so far.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship. I’ve been entering competitions written my own cookbook for family and friends on lockdown. I’ve learnt a huge amount and had a lot of support to practice and get my skills up at college and in work.”

Simon, 24, and Sean, 21, were among seven chefs offered an RACA apprenticeship through the Prince’s Trust to celebrate Prince Charles’s 70^th birthday in 2018. They have been undertaking a Culinary Skills course while their apprenticeship was put on hold in lockdown.

Simon, who lives in Lewisham, said: “Meeting Charles and Camilla was a quite a surprise. It’s not something that happens to you every day. Camilla asked about starting my apprenticeship and what I’d been making so far. It was great to talk to them and it would be amazing to cook for them one day.”

Sean, from Islington, added: “It was very exciting to meet the royals. They were very much engaged about what had been happening in the industry and what the future might be. It’s been quite intense doing the course as it’s only one day a week and there’s a lot to do, but it’s fun and good to be learning at that level.”

The celebratory event brought together RACA members and leading chefs as the hospitality industry begins to reopen as the country moves out of the pandemic. Attendees also included Brian Turner CBE, President of the RACA; Raymond Blanc OBE, Chef Patron of La Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, and many other leading figures from across the culinary and hospitality industry.

The Prince of Wales has been patron of the RACA since 1999 and is a keen advocate of its work to promote and recognise culinary and hospitality excellence, and to support young talent though apprenticeships and training.

John Williams MBE, Chairman of the RACA and Executive Chef of The Ritz, said many of the attendees at the event highlighted the “incredible breadth of talent” in the industry, and gave particular praise to its future stars on RACA apprenticeships.

Sharon Barry, Head of School for Hospitality Apprenticeships at WestKing, said: “It was a such a privilege to attend the RACA’s anniversary celebrations. It was fantastic occasion for the apprentices, and they represented the college wonderfully.” 

Apply now for Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses and apprenticeships.

Students boosted their fitness and skills when they took part in an exciting day of mountain biking, treetop pursuits and outdoor challenges with the Royal Navy.

Around 35 students from the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) joined in the activities at Swinley Bike Hub and Go Ape in Swinley Forest near Bracknell, Berkshire.

They were led by Lieutenant Commander Russ Haines and Warrant Officers Philip Bolton and Janice Scott from the Royal Navy, and Brendan Berry, CONEL’s Curriculum Manager for Public Services.

The students from the college’s Public Services, Sport and Key Stage 4 courses cycled through the forest, climbed trees, swung through woods, crossed rope bridges and whizzed down zip wires.

The Royal Navy officers also ran several group challenges including finding a casualty in the forest and taking them to a designated location where they could be rescued.

Zee Coskun, 19, from Hackney, who has aspirations to join the Metropolitan Police, said: “The mountain biking was great, and it felt good to be out and around people again. It really put us to the test, but we kept on going and motivated each other and I’m glad I did it.

“The team building and leadership exercises with the Royal Navy gave me more confidence in my communication and motivational skills. I learnt a lot, and I am sure other students have as well.”

Justice Bonsu, 21, from Greenwich, who hopes to join the Armed Forces, said: “It was an amazing experience and has given me so much more confidence. It was my first time leading a small team. It improved my communication and problem-solving skills.

“The ziplining was incredible. I was terrified the first time I went down it, but I am very proud that I did it. I couldn’t have done something like that a few years ago.”

Public Services and Sport students are required to undertake several fitness activities during their studies, which they are assessed on as part of their diplomas.

COVID-19 has meant some activities had to be cancelled over the past year or had to take place on college sites instead, such as public order training with the Metropolitan Police.

Lt Cdr Haines was impressed with how well the college had worked with the Royal Navy to provide activities for students in a COVID-safe environment.

He said: “It’s been great working with an organisation that shares the Royal Navy’s passion for developing others and helping a diverse range of young people to learn fundamental life skills such as teamwork, leadership and communication that will help them in defining their future careers.”

Brendan Berry, Curriculum Manager for Public Services, said: “During the second lockdown it was clear that to rebuild the morale and mental health in our students we had to re-engage them in practical activity in a COVID-safe environment.

“To get the students back out into the great outdoors has been our key driver since March and working with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines we looked at the best way to create a range of activities that would re-energise them academically and holistically.

“Swinley Forest was perfect for providing outstanding days for our students after the year of all years. To see our students engaged in practical activity and growing their teamwork, leadership and individual practical skills has been fantastic.”

This activity was funded by the Young Londoners Fund.

Apply now for Public Services and Sport courses.

A former business student who impressed on a work experience placement with BP while at college has landed a job with the oil and gas giant.

Elizabeth Daka, 22, undertook a six-week internship with the company while studying a Business Level 3 Extended Diploma at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) in 2016.

She was supervised on placement by Christina O’Donovan-Rossa, BP’s then Head of HR Global Functions – Integrated Supply and Trading, and Sue McKenzie, then PA to the company’s UK HR Director, as part of the Career Ready programme.

After successfully passing her Business diploma, Elizabeth went on to graduate with a degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Hertfordshire.

She kept in touch with staff at BP while at university and has now landed a job as a Trading Operations Co-ordinator after being directly approached by the company.

Elizabeth, from Enfield, said: “I remember receiving a call asking if I would be interested in this role as they thought I would be a suitable candidate. I went for an interview and after a few weeks they called to say I had been offered the role. I was so excited.”

In her new job Elizabeth is responsible for all aspects of oil and gas trading across Europe including processing invoices, shipping contracts and product transportation.

She said: “I was looking to pursue a career in HR for a long time, but one thing I’ve learnt is that you actually never know where your career will go. You have to be open to exploring different options because so many skills are transferable. You never know where they will take you.”

Career Ready is a charity that works with educators and employers to help prepare young people for work. While on the programme Elizabeth organised a careers event at CONEL and invited BP staff to talk about their roles.

She said: “Career Ready really prepared me for working in the corporate world. My mentors helped me through my time at BP and both motivated me in different ways. I went from being shy and timid to being more confident and striving for greater things for myself.

“As long as you have a positive mindset and work hard, the sky’s the limit.”

Elizabeth also praised the help and support she received from her tutors at CONEL, that helped her to gain her diploma and the skills and knowledge needed for her career.

Betty Benjamin, Lecturer in Business at CONEL, said: “Through her studies at college and on the Career Ready programme, Elizabeth discovered her skills and career path. We are glad to have made such an impact on her life.”

Click here to apply now for Business courses.