Large companies are relying on online learning more and more, to improve the career goals of their employees, and upskilling can be an important way of retaining staff while adding to existing expertise.

But the public sector has lagged behind the private sector on this front, and is currently experiencing record churn and vacancies. 410,000 staff quit social care in 2021, and care roles around the country are now short of approximately 165,000 staff.

This week, we spoke to Hadi Moussa, General Manager and Managing Director for EMEA at one of the largest online learning platforms, Coursera, to unpack how virtual upskilling courses can help improve staff retention in social care, as well as the prospects of roles within the sector.

Highlights

“The objective is to drive quality improvement among the UK health care professionals, and also to help address some of the knowledge gaps among the NHS staff to help meet and of the future public health challenges.”

“Creating more of a culture of learning, and effectively having people find the time for learning, is a major challenge that we also hear from many of the companies that we work with. I think it's really about embedding it into the way that staff operate, because you need to show really the value of gaining those additional skills in terms of your ability to do your job better, your ability to drive better outcomes, your ability to, for example again, get promoted over time.”

“One of the key components that is really required for the UK to become a technology superpower is around skills. And that is why we believe that there is this need to continue investing in skills, even in this type of environment, to be able to drive the outcomes that both the private sector and the public sector are looking for in this case.”

Read the full transcript here.

Footnotes

• How to digitally upskill your staff on a budget
• Upskilling a remote workforce
• How to upskill your existing workforce to beat the talent drought
• Beating the IT brain drain: How to break the cycle of vanishing skills
• Why reskilling isn't just about learning new technology
• Google to offer US businesses $100,000 worth of digital skills courses
• Tech skills in the UK lag behind most of Europe
• Global Skills Report 2022 - Coursera

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​​This automatically-generated transcript is taken from the IT Pro Podcast episode ‘How upskilling is driving staff retention'. We apologise for any errors.

Rory Bathgate

Hi, I'm Rory Bathgate.

Jane McCallion

And I'm Jane McCallion.

Rory

And you're listening to the IT Podcast, where today we're shining a light on virtual upskilling.

Jane

Increasingly, large companies are relying on online learning to improve the career goals of their employees, and upskilling can be an important factor in retaining staff who might otherwise seek out opportunities elsewhere.

Rory

But while this has been embraced by the private sector, the public sector has lagged behind, and is currently experiencing record churn and vacancies. 410,000 staff quit social care in 2021, and care roles around the country are now short of approximately 165,000 staff. With the cost of living crisis driving some to search for new roles, it is clear that NHS-wide retention and training schemes are needed.

Jane

Today, we're speaking to Hadi Moussa, General Manager and Managing Director for EMEA at one of the largest online learning platforms, Coursera, to discuss how virtual upskilling courses can help improve staff retention in social care, as well as the prospects of roles within the sector.

Hadi Moussa

Thank you for having me.

Rory

Thanks so much for being on the show. So just to start off, as a kind of a broad question. For those who don't know, could you explain the line between upskilling and reskilling?

Hadi

Yeah, it's a good question. I think one that, you know, we get asked all the time. I think if you look at kind of the overall trends and what's happening, you know, more broadly across different industries, you see that there are some major trends happening today. There are many industries that now are being disrupted to some extent, we are seeing a significant level of automation that is happening across multiple different industries. There is a lot of research on this topic. If you look at what McKinsey has been doing for example, we see this large shift, where many of the lower skilled jobs are getting automated today, jobs typically in food service, in customer service, agriculture, office support roles, but at the same time, we see, you know, significant demand for higher skilled jobs, you know, these are things like jobs in STEM or in health, for example, and, you know, to be able to kind of really make that transition, there is a requirement for investment in a different set of skills. And this is where, you know, we start to look at things like reskilling right, people who effectively are in one of these jobs that are at high risk of automation, or who are looking to make the a career transition, would need to develop these new skills, to be able to take on these new roles that are being created right now. And, you know, this is where we are seeing a significant expansion in the number of digital jobs, for example. And so this is where, you know, we would be talking about effectively, a major reskilling and basically acquiring new skills, to be able to move into a completely different sector, for example. And that's a key focus area of many governments, also many companies as well. I think upskilling is, you know, typically more within the same domain, where you have kind of developed skills, you have domain expertise, but you're looking at adding to those skills. You're looking at making sure that those skills remain current with the fast pace of change that we see across different jobs. And again, we see a lot of investment in that space as well, because of how fast things have changed, both in terms of the increase and kind of the change in the nature of some of the jobs that we are seeing today. But also general trends around, for example, remote working. And, you know, this is a trend that maybe accelerated with COVID, but is a trend that we expect to continue and many studies show that it's actually continuing to increase over time. So two I think really important areas, that many companies, many governments, universities as well, are really thinking about how to adapt to this fast changing world.

Jane

So we spoke a little bit, me and Rory, about the public sector in our introduction. Earlier in the year Coursera partnered with Imperial College London, to provide three free online courses for all NHS workers. Could you explain the courses on offer and a little bit more detail of how it's going so far and just kind of what's going on?

Hadi

Yeah, absolutely. And I think kind of going back to something you mentioned as well, we see many unfilled roles right now in posts within the NHS. And if you look at recent data, I think one in ten nursing posts, for example, and one in seventeen doctors' posts are currently unfilled. And I think at least 100,000 NHS clinical posts are also unfilled at this point. So, you know, that shows a couple of things I would say. One is there is a need, obviously, to increase staff wellbeing and motivation, again something that you alluded to in the introduction, but also upskilling and reskilling are now key requirements for the NHS as well. And you know, it's the same for other UK social and health care institutions in general. So to bridge this upskilling gap we have actually partnered with the NHS, to offer 1.2 million employees free access to three online courses. The three courses are 'participatory approaches in public health', 'introduction to quality improvements in health care', and then 'using data for healthcare improvement'. These courses were created by Coursera, and Imperial College. And really, the objective is to drive quality improvement among the UK health care professionals, and also to help address some of the knowledge gaps among the NHS staff to help meet and of the future public health challenges. So that's really kind of the key objective of these courses that we've worked with Imperial College on.

Jane

And do you know, is there a sort of particular profile of people who this is aimed at or who are taking up this training? For example, nurses do a very different job to clerical back office staff. Is it aimed at all of them? And if so, is everybody taking the courses up equally?

Hadi

Yeah, so I mean, we're aiming this, I would say at kind of a broad range of occupations. So it is aimed at, you know, everyone, everyone within the NHS effectively. And again, like we have looked at how we can design something that really can help engage the largest number of employees. And in terms of what we want to help with effectively, we want to help the staff engage with, you know, relevant communities, we want to help them critique the role of social cultural factors in health contexts, we also are helping design an approach to public health challenges, which are more participatory by nature, so that the nature of the courses are really aimed at reaching kind of a large part of the NHS staff at this point.

Rory

I think of the three courses that you named, it's interesting that when you talk about upskilling, what comes to mind often is quite technical courses. So 'using data for healthcare improvement', that seems in line, but yeah, it's interesting that you mentioned these social and cultural courses as well, such as 'participatory approaches in public health'. Would you say that the upskilling through online courses, virtual upskilling, has a very broad range of potential applications as a result, it's not just the technical subjects?

Hadi

Yeah, absolutely. And I think, again, depending on the specific job category, specific domains, the skills that are needed are very different, right? In some cases, obviously, it's really important to upskill with additional technical skills. In other cases, it may be kind of more practical, I would say, which is, what these courses are about, they really help NHS, the NHS staff's development of knowledge and more practical skills in terms of how you involve patients and the public in the research in quality improvement in healthcare. And also how to understand and use health data as well. So there is an element, obviously, of how do you use the data within healthcare, but also a lot of focus on the practical skills that are needed.

Jane

So are there challenges that are unique to providing upskilling courses in the public sector versus the private sector?

Hadi

I think, yes. Obviously, when you work within a company, typically you have a process that is set in terms of how you develop learning and development that is still changing, but I think within kind of a predefined area, right? Where you have a clear way of how you want to deliver that. And you also have specific metrics that you're setting within the organisation. You can to some extent, you know, mandate, what you expect in terms of learning. You can set specific targets for people that they need to meet from a learning perspective. You can link it potentially to performance management, you can link it to how people, you know, get new jobs within the organisation or get promoted within the organisation. So there is a lot more structure that already exists, I think within the private sector. I think in the in the public sector, governments are really looking I would say very closely at this area right now. But there isn't always the infrastructure in place. And that's where, you know, governments need to do some work to set that infrastructure, to kind of put these workforce development programmes in place, to reach kind of the right target segments, to create the right incentives for people to to build these additional skills that are needed. And so I think that delivery of it, the infrastructure that is required, is something that governments effectively really need to work on in a world where skills and roles and the nature of jobs is shifting very rapidly.

Jane

Yeah, because one of the things that strikes me when we're talking about clinical staff in particular, is that they're quite often time poor. Doctors can and nurses can do shifts that last sort of 12 hours plus, and when they're going to find them, I guess my question, concern on behalf of clinical staff, is when they're going to find the time to do this training on top of everything else that they have to do in their day to day.

Hadi

Yeah, absolutely. And I would say this is also a challenge for private companies, it is not just kind of in the public sector. Creating more of a culture of learning, and effectively having people find the time for learning, is a major challenge that we also hear from many of the companies that we work with. I think it's really about embedding it into the way that staff operate, because you need to show really the value of gaining those additional skills in terms of your ability to do your job better, your ability to drive better outcomes, your ability to, for example again, get promoted over time. And that is a big challenge. And again, a big challenge both for private and public sector. But it's really about how you create that culture where people see learning as part of the job itself, and they see learning as a way of delivering much better outcomes. And it needs to become, you know, become effectively embedded into in the day to day, versus something that is seen as a, you know, completely separate activity from your day to day job.

Rory

It's interesting, would you say that upskilling should be seen as a kind of ongoing process in any role, that's part and parcel of the responsibilities of the role itself, or is something to add on to the role periodically?

Hadi

No, I think absolutely the first one, right? You need to see it as something that is a core part of the role, because kind of the roles are also changing. And in a world where roles are changing, the skills required for roles are also changing, it is important to maintain the skills that are relevant for that role. And the best way to do it is to see it as a core part of your day to day. I think the key though, is really to be able to show that this drives outcomes as well. Right? By, you know, having evidence that upskilling, continuous learning, helps you drive outcomes both in your current job but also in terms of your long term career as well, helps build that buy-in, so it becomes embedded in and of your day to day activity, versus something that you see as just an add on.

Jane

So how is Coursera, beyond just providing the learning materials, how is Coursera supporting the NHS in this process? What's your role I guess?

Hadi

Yeah, our role in this was to help kind of create these courses with Imperial College right? And, you know, defining what are some of the key areas where we could support in terms of upscaling? What are some of the key, you know, skills gaps that we could support with? And really, our goal would be to involve as many people as possible, both kind of clinical and non clinical staff, to have them go through these courses. And again, which would help them respond to you know, future public health challenges. So, that's really kind of the the objective here, really helping in terms of how we can further enhance their skills. And you know, we're always looking at opportunities in terms of how we can continue to support going forward and where there are specific skills areas Coursera can support with alongside some of the both industry partners, but also university partners that we work with. And maybe just kind of to set the context a little bit more about Coursera. The way we think about Coursera, it's a skills based platform, right. And we help kind of companies, we help universities, we help you know, the public sector to develop the skills that are needed for, you know, the specific roles within the areas that they operate in. And we're always again, looking at opportunities where we can support the public sector, in this case, we'll continue to look at opportunities in terms of where we can support the NHS.

Rory

It's interesting when you're talking about liaising directly with the NHS, liaising directly with Imperial College to support skills and the specific needs of roles. Are upskilling courses generally better suited like this on a company by company basis, or on the whole are they better as sort of broad industry specific training, which can be accessed by the employees of many different companies?

Hadi

Yeah, no, I think it's a very good question. And overall, I would say we see some of the same gaps across companies, right? And across the public sector. If you look at, again, many of the research that has been done, the World Economic Forum for example has done a lot of research on this, if you look at kind of the top 10 jobs where there is increasing demand, and so the key skills that are required it is typically things like data scientist, machine learning specialists, digital marketing. We consistently see the need for these types of skills across many of the companies. And so as a result, that is what our platform can help provide in this case, it's the skills specifically for those jobs. Now, we can deliver that across companies, but some companies will also have some very specific needs for roles within their enterprises. And in that case, they would develop effectively a programme that incorporates some of the content that we provide to help develop those skills with, you know, training that is much more specific to those companies. And so we do we see companies that you know, adapt a hybrid model where they can effectively use this content that applies across the board, but then complement it with, you know, skills that may be much more specific to their needs?

Jane

Hadi, is it worth companies investing in young employees who are newly qualified? So I don't mean people who are coming into apprenticeships, or just people who have finished their A-Levels coming in. I'm thinking more of, say, graduates who have literally just left university, whether that's coming into really any kind of job these people have just had a whole bunch of training, do they need new training on top of that? Or do they need to bed in for a bit before getting underway with some kind of CPD.

Hadi

I think we do see kind of this need to start developing talent, even at a younger age. And I think specifically around the, bridging the gap in terms of the skills that are needed for your job, versus you know, what you are taught at uni right? And I think we do see that there is some gap that can be bridged, especially as part of your onboarding to a new company, by getting access to more of the practical skills, or the specific skills that you need for that job. We're actually also seeing many universities adopt a model where they integrate into their curriculum, some of the industry content, for example that we have on the platform, or content from other universities, as well as a way to really help prepare and have those graduates going into specific jobs. But we do see a need from companies to really invest in the skills that are needed for that specific job when they have new talent and young talent that joins their company.

Rory

So with the cost of living crisis happening right now, a lot of companies are reevaluating their strategies, they're looking at ways of increasing retention on staff or looking at cost cutting measures. How does upskilling factor into this industry wide reevaluation of spending?

Hadi

Yeah, it is a very important factor, I would say what we are seeing, you know, with a lot of the companies that we work with, they are very focused on retention in the current environment. And as a result, they see providing a learning upskilling solution, and helping people and their employees to continue to develop their skills as a key part of that retention proposition. Because, you know, effectively employees will see it as the company really investing in them, helping create opportunities for them. And also investing in their long term career as well. And many companies would also look to tie it into how they can help them progress, even within the company too. And so we are seeing a really big focus, and I guess, in this kind of environment an increasing focus on retention, and using upskilling and helping the employees develop their skills as a key part of that retention proposition.

Jane

And I guess following on from that, there are some companies who are very invested in continuous professional development, they believe in upskilling their employees as part of a retention thing, and just, you know, it can benefit the company as well. The more knowledgeable your employees are, the more they have to offer effectively. But other companies are far more hesitant. They're worried that they're going to upskill these employees, and then the employees are going to leave with all that information. What would you say to the second category of companies who have these fears?

Hadi

Yeah, I mean in general what we see around retention is your talent leaves due to lack of career development, right? And that is kind of a problem that we see, you know, across across the board. And that's something that many of our customers and, you know, our clients share with us. So if that is kind of one of the fundamental reason why you lose some of the talent that you have, I think investing in skills, and then investing in their career development is really the best way to be able to retain that talent. It's a little bit of a circular argument to some extent. So if you don't kind of invest in your talent, there is a sure way of losing that talent to, you know, your competition, to other industries, etc. But if you really fundamentally believe that people are going to drive your business, the best way to retain them is to help them build the skills, and then create the right career development opportunities for them. And that's what many of our customers again, and clients we see, are adopting this at this point and more significantly investing in upskilling and in general learning and development for their people.

Rory

And do you find that most upskilling courses that companies are signing up to are more on the technical side? Is that dominating courses right now? Or is there quite a lot of focus on the social, maybe environmental and governance, EDI courses?

Hadi

Yeah, I think we see a combination. So again, if you go back to some of the key skills that are in demand and where we expect, you know, that demand to continue, it is very much around those technical areas, especially around data analysis, machine learning, these are areas that we are seeing companies across all industries effectively, require those types of skills and are investing very heavily in data and digital skills. Same thing, you know, with the general trend towards more remote working and making sure that, you know, the workforce is digitally literate as well, that again applies across all industries. And we see, you know, companies investing those skills. But you know, at the same time I think there is a big focus, especially in this type of environment where things are changing quickly, it is sometimes difficult to manage in this type of environment, where company, there are also a lot of changes within companies. We see a lot of investment in leadership, for example, and our leadership academy and courses within that is another big area of investment that we see today. And then the other area is what you mentioned around D&I, and I think diversity and inclusion has absolutely become top of the agenda for many companies. And as a result, that's another area where we are seeing significant investment. And a lot of these really apply across different industries. And you know, our priorities for very different types of clients at this point.

Jane

I read this morning that we are entering into, or possibly are already in, a recession that is going to be shallow, but long. So coming out of it roughly 2024. How is this going to impact the level of investment in technical and other skills that businesses, and indeed the public sector, are willing to put in to their employees?

Hadi

It's a very good question, and one actually that we have discussed also with many of the private and public sector customers that we work with. I think we are heartened to hear that in many cases, you know, most of them would really want to continue to invest in upskilling, in developing the skills in learning and development. For many of the reasons that we mentioned earlier, some of the long term trends that are really having an impact on businesses in the public sector. So I do believe that they will maintain that investment. There is also, if you look at the UK government for example, one of the commitments from the Prime Minister during the campaign was making the UK a technology superpower. And I think it is hard to see how that can be achieved without a significant investment in in upskilling. Because at the end of the of the day, the UK has many of the components to become that technology superpower right? There is, when you look at the research infrastructure that exists, when you think that there are four out of the top 10 universities based here in the UK, when you see how the tech ecosystem in general is expanding, and the level of funding that many of the startups in the UK are attracting at this point, and then even the number of unicorns that are being created in the country. So there are many of the components. But I think it still lacks a really key and very important component here. And that is the skills, right? If you look at kind of the UK technology skills proficiency, it is still underdeveloped. We have something called the Coursera Global Skills Report that effectively ranks learner competency of 100 countries across different sets of skills like business technology, data science. And we've actually found in our 2022 report, which we released recently, that the UK actually lags behind most of Europe, and it only places 42nd globally, when it comes to technology proficiency. Even in the strongest category, which was data science for the UK, it's still placed at number 28. Right. That kind of shows, I guess, that one of the key components that is really required for the UK to become a technology superpower is around skills. And that is why we believe that there is this need to continue investing in skills, even in this type of environment, to be able to drive the outcomes that both the private sector and the public sector are looking for in this case.

Rory

Hadi, thanks so much for your time and for being on the show.

Hadi

Thank you for having me.

Jane

As always, you can find links to all of the topics we've spoken about today in the show notes and even more on our website at itpro.co.uk.

Rory

You can also follow us on social media, as well as subscribe to our daily newsletter. Don't forget to subscribe to the IT Pro Podcast wherever you find podcasts. And if you're enjoying the show, leave us a rating and a review.

Jane

We'll be back next week with more from the world of IT. But until then, goodbye.

Rory

Goodbye

The importance of retraining your staff can’t be understated. Not only does doing so ensure that employees are able to learn in-demand skills and develop their capabilities, but it can also lead to greater job satisfaction, and ensures organisations don’t fall foul of the widespread digital skills shortage.

Indeed, according to the Open University, almost 69% of IT employers are struggling to recruit new staff members with adequate digital skills, and 77% say they are currently facing a digital skills gap in their organisation. At the same time, a recent poll from software company EDP found 54% of tech workers are open to new opportunities. They also found that one in three employees would move for greater training and certification opportunities – so it’s crucial companies offer training if they want to attract the best talent.

In the UK, employers invest roughly £42 billion in training each year, with an average spend of £1,530 per employee, according to 2020 government figures. This means, although crucial, retraining staff can also be a costly exercise for businesses, with many already feeling the pinch of the current economic storm. The worsening conditions have already forced even the biggest organisations within the tech industry to make cuts, and instigate sweeping layoffs.

Dr Alex Young, the founder of Virti, an NHS Innovation Accelerator, tells IT Pro retraining staff has traditionally been an expensive endeavour that can be tough to scale. Businesses, however, with the right strategy in place and a willingness to embrace cutting-edge technology can deliver high-quality staff training on a budget. “My best advice to small, medium and large organisations is to explore how you might best harness the emerging potential of new immersive technologies,” he says.

Immerse yourself in opportunities

On the face of it, adopting new technologies in order to retain staff might not sound particularly cost-effective. Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), however, may hold the key to the future of training – and help save money in the process. Not only has the cost of VR hardware significantly reduced over the past few years, but it can also allow employees to be retrained no matter where they are – which is ideal for organisations embracing hybrid working.

VR can also be easily updated to adapt to in-demand skills needs or changing working practices, which gives your training programme longevity and lowers long-term redevelopment costs.

Looking for off-the-shelf solutions, rather than forking out on bespoke hardware, can also help organisations to increase their return on investment. As Young tells IT Pro, while VR is typically associated with futuristic-looking headwear and expensive PC hardware, immersive training simulations can now be accessed on existing devices, such as smartphones and laptops, thanks to the growing number of cloud-based platforms.

“As well as providing a low-pressure, effective, scalable, consistent way to upskill, immersive training has a higher engagement rate that reduces the total number of sessions that each learner needs – and time investment,” he says. “The only costs involved for the employer are the licences for the platform and an investment in the creation of the personalised training content itself.”

Embracing peer-to-peer learning

Depending on the size of your business, the thought of digitally retraining your entire workforce might seem like a daunting – and expensive – task.

One simple way to overcome this is to embrace peer-to-peer learning, whereby if an employee attends a training session or seminar, they share their key learnings with other members of the team. This is something Aiona, a Newcastle-based marketing agency, has embraced; learnings are shared in a Slack channel, and then other employees can decide whether they’d be interested to attend the same course.

Aiona, which also records all training sessions to be used at a later date, also uses co-mentoring, which sees teams swap their expertise on various topics in one-to-one sessions. Similarly, rather than making use of the services of external experts, the company makes use of staff that already have digital skills in certain areas. If somebody wants to learn a new skill that exists within the company, it asks them to have a session with that team member to establish whether they want to learn before they embark on any training programme.

This could be particularly useful for cyber security training. Regular awareness training is critical to ensure that employees are clued-up on the latest risks. If you have an in-house cyber expert, therefore, who can show employees how to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) and how to spot phishing emails, it could prove much more effective than hiring an external provider.

Looking for freebies

If you know where to look, it might even be possible to retrain your staff in digital skills at no cost whatsoever. Not only do some organisations offer free professional development seminars on platforms such as LinkedIn, but there are also a number of online tools that you can employ.

Google’s Digital Garage, for example, offers personalised digital training in a number of areas, such as digital advertising and speaking in public, that can help your staff to upskill for free. Similarly, the government’s National Careers Service offers a number of no-cost digital courses, from beginner courses such as how to use Word and PowerPoint to expert-level courses in data science and coding.

Of course, before adopting any of the above, it’s crucial that your business first assesses its needs and goals. Look at what you want to accomplish by training your employees, and figure out which digital skills your business needs the most. It’s important to prioritise. Once you’re aware of those gaps, you can explore your training options and figure out which pathway is the best and most cost-effective method for you.

There has been a 450% increase in the number of people looking to learn skills around decentralised blockchain applications, according to a new report.

The Q1 2022 Workplace Learning Index, carried out by online learning portal Udemy, found that in 2022, lessons on decentralised blockchain applications were the leading courses among global learners in technology and power skills.

Technology skills in decentralised apps (dApps) and platforms such as Binance, in particular, saw more than a 450% increase in usage compared to Q4 of 2021.

Globally, interest in learning skills in Openstack Cloud grew by 444%, while FastAPI skills increased by 304%.

The report also found that people taking courses in learning skills in work efficiency and personal success also saw increases of 98% and 92% respectively, as people looked to enhance their leadership capabilities.

Courses for AWS Certified DevOps Engineer and Laravel were the top two skills surging in popularity in the UK (202% and 168% respectively). The next three were Cucumber Software (118%), GitHub (108%), Apache Maven (107%).

Bill O’Shea, Udemy EMEA vice president, said that ensuring workforces have access to learning materials and opportunities to upskill has “never been more relevant than in this ever-changing corporate landscape”.

“For British employees, we’re seeing a rapid rise in blockchain upskilling, which demonstrates that this continues to be one of the fastest-growing areas within the employment market. Learners are being savvy in preparing themselves for further developments and understanding of this area as it continues to dominate,” he added.

The latest index is based on data from the learning behaviour of thousands of companies across the globe using the Udemy Business platform. Skills data compares the consumption of courses in the Udemy Business collection from Q4 2021 to Q1 2022.

The firm said that the report highlights skills corporate leaders and employees see as must-haves tools to “accelerate their growth and maintain a competitive edge”.

Gamification and game-based courses can help virtual education providers enhance student performance, app engagement, referral growth – and revenue.

In this eBook, you’ll learn why gamification is critical for bolstering EdTech growth and how to incorporate it. Topics include:

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Find out how you can deliver hyper-interactive learning experiences for your students through gamification.

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The following article originally appeared in Issue 14 of IT Pro 20/20 as part of a new series that invites industry experts to share their experience of tackling some of the most pressing issues facing businesses today. To sign up to receive the latest issue of IT Pro 20/20 in your inbox every month, click here. For a list of previous issues, click here.

Universities are typically ahead of the curve when it comes to consumer demand around connectivity. It’s no question that the consumerisation of technology has been one of the key drivers of enterprise IT trends for decades, but trying to keep up with the expectations of young, tech-savvy stakeholders that have new tastes every year is another ball game altogether.

This is a challenge that we’ve proudly invested in at Edinburgh Napier University. We understand that our students need secure and continuous access to all the relevant applications and resources that form part of their studies; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After all, there is no 9-5 university experience. Many of our students are studying around families, jobs, and – in more normal times – an animated social life. Some are also in different time zones.

Now, of course, we’re also operating remotely. At Edinburgh Napier, we have more than 19,500 students that come from over 140 different countries, in turn supported by 1,500 university employees. Meeting all the different IT needs when the majority of stakeholders are on campus is challenging, and having an IT infrastructure that meets them when they’re at every corner of the globe even more so.

It's without question that the investments we made to provide secure, remote access to university services before the crisis have been critical to our ability to quickly adapt from our students physically attending lectures to attending online courses. We had previously implemented VMware’s Horizon solutions, which provide virtual desktops and applications through a single platform. We also deliver virtualised applications through a technology called AppsAnywhere, which allows students to run them within a web browser. This means that students can access any application from any device at any time, exactly as they would if they were interacting with a desktop on campus. We have also been able to give secure remote access to specialist Apple Mac labs using a technology called Leostream. All this in an attempt to replicate the on-campus experience the students would normally enjoy in non-pandemic times.

The shift towards empowering students with seamless remote access has undoubtedly served us better in the crisis than we could ever have anticipated, but I believe that this is just the beginning of universities’ shift towards more remote learning. We’ve certainly seen the trend bubbling up over the past few years starting with Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), but I believe that the transformation starts now for our more traditional institutions.

E-learning improves the accessibility to university services and, just as we’re seeing shifts in the corporate world towards more hybrid workplace models, there will be an expectation that the learnings and benefits of this experience are harnessed in higher education too.

That said, there are a few key learnings we’ve taken away from this experience that have made our shift to remote education a success.

The first is that we benefited enormously from our IT architecture being simple and versatile. There’s no way that we could have adapted as fast as we did without having a single platform for virtual desktops and the technology we have for accessing applications. It took so much complexity out of the process: there was no mad scramble to create new services. Our students and staff were already experienced and comfortable using these platforms, and when we can all return to campus, I have no doubt that the shift back will be equally seamless.

Security was also a key focus for us in the shift to remote learning. VMware NSX has been key to keeping the cyber challenge manageable with the use of security bubbles of services and apps. This allows the IT team to provide specific bespoke solutions for a variety of individual research projects and departments. It also allows us to separate the environments of the different institutions we support; for instance, we have separate hosted learning environments for Edinburgh College and for the University of St Andrews. This makes our attack surface much more manageable, which is critical when there are even more variables to control in the remote learning environment.

It’s impossible to predict the long-term changes to the higher education sector that have been catalysed by the shift to remote learning. But preparing for the future is what we do, and any IT teams that are looking at this move to e-learning as a “temporary fix” are missing out on key learnings that will empower them to provide a more connected experience for their students and staff in years to come - no matter where they are.

Google has announced the launch of its online courses for UK job seekers in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The Google Career Certificates courses cover a range of in-demand skills, from IT support and UX design, to project management and data analytics, which are open for enrolment starting today.

The Google Career Certificates courses usually take up to six months to complete, with some possible to finish within three to five weeks if done full-time. Recognised by industry experts and employers, including Google, the courses don't require any prior experience or a degree in the topic in order for someone to enrol.

Originally priced at around $39 per month, the courses will also be available to some job seekers for free with financial aid, thanks to the 9,500 scholarships offered by Camden Council and the DWP. Universal Credit claimants will also be able to access the courses for free using a referral from their Work Coach, while the Prince's Trust and the INCO Academy are set to provide another 1,500 scholarships aimed for young people from underrepresented and disadvantaged communities across the UK.

Ben Marson, director of Partnerships at The Prince's Trust said that the organisation's partnership with Google will contribute to its "efforts to close the digital skills gap, allowing The Trust to provide a pool of young, diverse talent for businesses across the UK".

"Young people have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, accounting for over 60% of the fall in employment, with young people who were already facing disadvantage and adversity being hit harder still," he added.

The Career Certificates were first introduced in the US in August 2020 as an alternative pathway to conventional education for budding tech workers constrained to their homes due to the pandemic. However, the courses could continue well after lockdown restrictions are lifted, with Google reopening enrolment for its flagship training and certification programme earlier this year.

The tech giant also expanded its employer consortium as part of wider efforts to boost digital skills, which include more than 130 businesses, such as Verizon, Deloitte, and SAP.

Commenting on the announcement, chancellor Rishi Sunak said that "nothing is more important than helping people get new jobs".

"That is the mission of our Work Coaches day in and day out, and I'm delighted they'll be working with Google to give people the digital skills they need to do exactly that," he added.

Salesforce has announced a new online training programme that aims to improve young people’s business and IT skills.

Launched in partnership with free online learning tool Classof2020, the ‘6 Weeks of Salesforce’ programme covers a range of topics that are deemed in-demand, if not essential, for the contemporary job candidate.

Released over the course of six weeks, the training programme covers marketing, business, developer skills, admin, analytics, finance, career development, Salesforce CRM, as well as skills inherent to starting a career as a Salesforce consultant.

In addition, the training programme will include a six-week podcast series titled ‘A Day in the Life of’, where Salesforce professionals will provide insight into a typical day to demonstrate the skills they have developed and use in their careers. The first episode of the podcast series is now available to stream on the Classof2020 website.

Salesforce also announced plans to create 4.2 million new roles through its ecosystem, which it says will be available by 2024.

By providing young people with the necessary skills, Salesforce aims to close the UK’s digital divide which has been further worsened by the ongoing pandemic. With many students forced to learn from home, many cannot afford proper hardware or don’t have access to a stable internet connection.

Students who have graduated in the last 12 months have had a difficult time finding employment due to the strained financial situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Many young people have had their contracts terminated, while companies including Sky, Virgin, and Vodafone reportedly cancelled internships and grad schemes, leaving recent graduates with limited opportunities for employment or work experience.

Earlier this year, the UK government was accused of failing to invest “a single pound" to adults below the digital divide. Helen Milner, chief executive of social change charity The Good Things Foundation, said that the focus of the digital divide has mainly been on children since going into a third lockdown, while deciding to snub those over the age of 18.

"The government has done quite a lot around the child part of the digital divide. But for adults, the government have not invested a single extra pound on adult digital inclusion, be that around devices, or be that around skills,” Milner told IT Pro.

The demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to skyrocket and so there's never been a better time to either get into the industry or improve your skills. Whether you are looking to start a new career in cybersecurity, upskill your team, or earn a globally recognized certification, the right training can make all the difference.

This guide compiles the best online cybersecurity courses available today, catering to total beginners, entry-level security professionals, right up to experienced professionals trying to take their knowledge to the next level.

The majority of the courses below offer comprehensive coverage of the world of cybersecurity, including network security, threat detection, incident response, and understanding malware, while others are dedicated to boosting your skills you might need to specialize. Regardless of your existing capabilities, this list has a course perfect for you to continue in your journey to becoming a skilled cybersecurity professional.

Our list of the best online cyber security courses has been picked based on a combination of factors, including their community reviews, their convenience, and whether they cater for absolute beginners or a current professional looking to up-skill or retrain. Our goal is to provide a broad range of options.

Best online cyber security courses for 2025

The Complete Cyber Security Course: Hackers Exposed

Best for cyber security beginners

Organisation: Udemy

Course cost: £64.99 / $79.99 (but can often be found on sale)

Course link: The Complete Cyber Security Course for Beginners: Hackers Exposed

Udemy is a well-known online education platform that has a wide range of courses on cybersecurity and could be the perfect place to start if you are a beginner looking to enter the field.

The Hacker Exposed course has been one of the top cybersecurity courses available on Udemy for a number of years. The course was developed by Nathan House, an award-winning cybersecurity expert and educator who is currently the CEO at StationX, which is a training platform dedicated to teaching cybersecurity.

Featuring 12 hours of on-demand video content, this course will give you a basic grounding in cybersecurity, running the full gamut of security issues that businesses face on a daily basis. If you are looking to start your journey in cybersecurity and build a practical skill set that security professionals will need including learning about encryption, physical and virtual compartmentalization, tracking, and the infrastructure used in cyber attacks.

In addition to the basic tenets of cyber defense, you will also receive up-to-date information on the latest malware and attack techniques so you can help keep organizations safe and forge your career in cybersecurity.

Although you won't receive any formal accreditation except for a certificate of competition, this course is ideal for those with little existing knowledge looking to get to grips with the industry and go on to achieve more in-depth certifications that will help you land your next security role.

The Complete Cyber Security Course: Network Security

Best introduction to networking

Organisation: Udemy

Course cost: £64.99 / $79.99 (but can often be found on sale)

Course link: The Complete Cyber Security Course: Network Security

If you want to get into cybersecurity, understanding the basics of networking is essential and this course, also found on Udemy, is a perfect companion to the course above that focuses solely on network security.

The corporate network is the lifeblood of any organization's digital infrastructure, and thus having a firm grasp of how this part of the IT estate works and how attackers might try to exploit it to infect your systems is vital.

Also created by Nathan House, this training program will teach you how to detect security vulnerabilities, configure and architect a small network to maximize security, as well as monitoring techniques to detect hackers and malware lurking on the network.

You will also learn how to configure firewalls, the fundamental tool in the arsenal of the network defender, across all major platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

The 12.5 hours of video content also covers helpful skills like how to get the most out of different authentication methods such as multi-factor using soft or hard tokens, as well as password management, and Wireshark –useful for analyzing network traffic.

As with the previous entry, this course will help give you the grounding you will need to go on and qualify for more intensive certifications, but even if you choose to go no further down the network security pathway, it's very helpful to have a base level understanding in any security role.

Cybersecurity Courses for Beginners My Training Academy

Best for those looking to retrain quickly

Organisation: Open University (OU)

Course cost: £895 (also often on sale currently at £395) / $1,191 (conversion)

Course link: BSc (Hons) Cyber Security from the Open University

For those looking to get a more holistic level of training in all of the important aspects of security, and trying to do so quickly, My Training Academy's (MTA) CyberSecurity Courses for Beginners may be for you.

This course from MTA is a brilliant option for the uninitiated cyber professional looking to get up to speed in the industry and accredited through the CompTIA cybersecurity career pathway, considered by many to be the gold standard for entry-level cybersecurity qualifications.

The MTA program is highly customizable, allowing students to choose exactly which modules they want to take in their order of preference and get certified across all of CompTIA's core skills courses: Tech+, A+, Network+, Security+. These four courses will give you a strong foundation in the fundamental principles of cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, networking, risk management, and threat mitigation.

The program runs over the course of a year with 116 hours of training including online video tutorials, workbooks, mock exams at the end of each module, as well as revision materials for the actual exam.

This course will set you back quite a bit more than both Udemy courses put together, and that doesn't include the actual fees to take the exams themselves, but it will take you a bit further in becoming proficient as a cyber professional and pick up the certifications you will need to progress through the industry.

Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate

Best budget option to get hands-on experience with security fundamentals

Organisation: Google

Course cost: $49 / £49 per month with a free 7-day trial

Course link: Google Cyber Security training

If you can't afford to fork out for the MTA training program then the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate offers a more budget-friendly option to earn a professional cybersecurity certificate that will also help prepare you for the CompTIA Security+ exam.

The self-paced study program hosted on Coursera features 170 hours of instruction broken up into eight different courses and is charged with a $49 monthly fee and a seven-day free trial period, meaning at a moderate pace you could complete the course within three months and achieve the certification for under $200.

In addition to the expert instruction covering the entire security workload from managing risks, network security, vulnerabilities, detection and response, and automation, the Google program also includes hundreds of practical assessments.

These hands-on labs help mimic real-world cybersecurity scenarios to help you get a feel for how to successfully defend threats in the field. Students will gain a firm grounding in Python, Linux, SQL, security incident and event management (SIEM) tools, and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), all vital tools of the trade for any budding security professional.

On top of this, once you complete the program you will get access to Google's private job boards that feature positions at the company as well as 150 other major US organizations including American Express, Deloitte, T-Mobile, and Walmart. Many of these openings will appear first in this exclusive area making this course a valuable option for those looking to get upskilled as well as a headstart on the competition.

Hack The Box Certified Defensive Security Analyst

Best intermediate-level cybersecurity certification

Organisation: Hack the Box

Course cost: $490 / £362 (conversion)

Course link: Hack The Box Certified Defensive Security Analyst

If you are looking to bridge the gap between foundational knowledge and the more advanced defensive tactics possessed by a SOC analyst, Hack The Box's Certified Defensive Security Analyst (CDSA) is an excellent choice.

To be eligible for the CDSA, candidates need to complete Hack The Box's SOC Analyst job-role path which is a guided learning experience that not only covers some of the more foundational concepts covered in other courses but quickly ramps up to more advanced topics such as malware analysis in much more detail.

Much like the Google certificate, the CDSA includes hands-on training and goes a step further by testing your practical skills requiring students to perform actual security operations and incident handling activities across a number of different environments.

Although the course is aimed at entry-level security personnel, the CDSA is more advanced than some of the more beginner-friendly courses listed previously but manageable for intermediates with basic cybersecurity knowledge like the CompTIA Security+ or Network+.

With its combination of hands-on labs simulating enterprise environments under attack, guided exercises breaking down defensive techniques step by step, and challenge-based assessments, it will quickly help you make strides in progressing toward a more advanced understanding of security operations and incident handling.

Overall the certification costs $499, which while not cheap will stand you in good stead in becoming a more proficient security professional and help you on your way to achieving more advanced level qualifications.

Cybersecurity for Managers: A Playbook

Best for course business executives

Organisation: MIT Sloan School of Management

Course cost: $2,950 (£2,350) - early registration discount available

Course link: Cybersecurity for Managers: A Playbook

Firmly aimed at business owners and managers who need to expand and enhance their cyber security skills and knowledge, this course is far-reaching and offers comprehensive modules that cover all cyber security topics, focusing on developing a strategic in-depth cyber security defence policy for businesses.

Based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, the course is ideal for CISOs and CTOs looking to enhance their skills. The topics offer an overview and more detailed training across six modules that begin with understanding the threat landscape and conclude with ethics and cyber security.

Students who complete the course will gain a verified digital certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management. This program also counts towards an MIT Sloan Executive Certificate.

The six modules included provide an opportunity to test out different budget scenarios for protection, detection, and response using interactive cyber security simulation, as well as offering various case studies and examples to maximise the experience. Additionally, you’ll be able to create a personalised cyber security playbook that ties these insights together into a robust action plan for your business.

NextGenT Cyber Security Program

Best intensive cyber security course

Organisation: NextGenT

Course cost: $10,500 (£8,366). Early registration discount available.

Course link: NextGenT Cyber Security Program

If you have ambitions to become a cyber security specialist, this detailed course could land you your first job. The course is described as 'military grade' as IT instructors from the US Air Force and Navy have designed the course. Students over 14-24 weeks develop their skills, which includes hands-on training.

The course designers are confident that their students will gain high-salary jobs as one of the payment plan options is an income-based loan that allows you to take the course by paying back 10% of your salary.

Only some courses offer a mix of theory and practical application. Indeed, more than half of this course is delivered via hands-on training. Students can access mentors, regular live training and coaching sessions and workbooks. The organisers are confident that the course they have designed will result in a cyber security job, which has become some of the highest paying tech jobs across the industry.

Post Graduate Program in Cyber Security

Best post-graduate cyber security course

Organisation: Simplilearn, MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and EC Council

Course cost: $3,000 or $264 per month (£2,552 / £212.67)

Course link: Post Graduate Program in Cyber Security

As winners of the Course Report’s Best Cyber security Bootcamp in 2022 for the second year in a row, this course lasts six months (students must allocate between 5-10 hours per week) and boasts a comprehensive syllabus delivered by experts in their field.

With modules designed by MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and EC Council, students can gain world-class knowledge. Over 25 hands-on projects are included, with additional live sessions throughout the course. This post-graduate course concludes with a certified certification in cyber security, application and policy.

Designed as an online boot camp, students will cover general hacking approaches today's threat actors take to network packet analysis, IDS firewalls and honeypots to network security.

Cyber Security Foundations

Cyber Security Foundations

Most flexible online cyber security course

Organisation: EC-Council via Future Learn

Course cost: £36 / $39 per month

Course link: Cyber Security Foundations

Cyber security is just one of the many courses offered by FutureLearn. As part of the more extensive IT and computer science subject, this course consists of four modules in the ExperTrack that cover an introduction to the subject before moving on to more in-depth topics, including how to combat malware attacks, concluding with identity and access management.

The credentials for this course are world-class, coming from the EC Council, which has built a reputation as a renowned international consultancy for e-commerce and is the world's largest cyber security certification body.

Each module runs for four weeks with a commitment of two hours per week. After completing the 15-week course, students will gain practical skills and knowledge to navigate today's cyber security risks. This course is ideal for small enterprises looking to enhance their cyber security skills within their company.

Higher education institutions have worked tirelessly to make an impressive shift to digital learning and teaching. The move has been fast and it has seen many education institutions undergo impressive learning curves. While not all moves to digital and remote learning have been seamless, they have been now been in place for long enough to have many institutions are wondering – what’s next?

The first rush to transition from in-person to remote learning is mostly complete, but what about the courses that demand high-end computers and the students that have struggled to get value due to limited access and capability? What needs to be done to fill in the last gaps to create a seamless experience for student and educator as the world approaches a new way of teaching?

Welcome to the eighth issue of IT Pro 20/20, our digital magazine that brings all of the previous month's most important tech issues into clear view.

The A-levels fiasco is by no means the first example of UK leadership woefully misunderstanding technology or viewing it as a panacea. Whether it's arrogance over the development of a centralised coronavirus contact-tracing app, or senior ministers accidentally leaking Zoom IDs over Twitter, the public sector is not exactly inspiring confidence in its ability to create a tech-savvy society.

As ever with technology, it's going to be down to the private sector to drive this change. The coronavirus has forced many companies to shrink or close entirely, leaving likely hundreds of thousands of people out of work – although unemployment is notoriously difficult to monitor.

Yet, what we're also seeing is a surge in the number of schemes offering retraining or courses in highly-sought after skills. In fact, in this month's issue we argue that the coronavirus pandemic is likely going to create a learning revolution. Whether it’s a surge in the use of coding websites or encouraging veterans into technology, the fractured job market could prove fertile ground for those retraining into STEM-based roles.

The next IT Pro 20/20 will be available on Wednesday 30 September – previous issues can be found here. If you would like to receive each issue in your inbox as they release, you can subscribe to our mailing list here.

The Department of Education has launched a free online learning platform to help people pick up digital skills while in lockdown.

The Skills Toolkit offers digital and numerical courses to boost skillsets, progress in work and boost job prospects, according to the government.

The courses range from basic digital skills, such as email shortcuts and social media best practices, to more intermediate subjects like cyber security and coding.

Due to the rapid impact of the coronavirus, more and more people are having to adopt digital skills, either to continue working or to connect with friends and family. For those that have been furloughed, the government suggests that it could be an opportunity to get ahead of the curve and pick up skills for the future.

"The high-quality and free to access courses on offer on our new online learning platform, The Skills Toolkit, will help those whose jobs have been affected by the outbreak, and people looking to boost their skills while they are staying at home, protecting the NHS and saving lives," said education secretary Gavin Williamson.

"I want businesses to encourage their furloughed employees to use The Skills Toolkit to improve their knowledge, build their confidence and support their mental health."

From today, people will be able to access courses from basic maths to tutorials in creating online content developed by the University of Leeds and the Institute of Coding. There are also courses on digital marketing from Google Digital Garage and learning to code for data analysis from the Open University.

All of the courses are flexible, according to the government, so people can work through them at their own pace.

"techUK is pleased to see Government taking an active role in signposting and motivating the public to take advantage of the digital skills training industry offers, techUK has long advocated for a move in this direction," said Julian David, CEO of techUK. "Digital skills will be crucial to the future of the UK economy and our recovery from the COVID crisis."

Microsoft has announced that it will assist all UK schools in getting set up for remote learning, in order to help students continue to learn while at home.

The company has pledged to work with the 27,000 schools in the UK, helping them run lessons remotely using Microsoft Teams, Office 365, as well as software such as Minecraft: Education Edition, Flipgrid, Skype in the Classroom and InTune.

The tools are available to use on mobile devices, tablets, PCs and browsers, and focus on encouraging teamwork by allowing collaborations, communication and file sharing in real-time. Microsoft emphasised that the tools “offer a safe and secure learning environment, using intelligent security features enhanced by machine learning to protect data and identities”.

Microsoft UK’s director of education, Chris Rothwell, praised teachers for “showing incredible resilience, imagination, and passion to ensure that they can help keep children safe and can keep learning while they at home”.

“Technology is helping teachers keep in touch with students and to maintain a connection to the school and each other,” he said. “This offer to support any school get fully set up for remote learning is so that every school and pupil can benefit, and that learning can continue while schools are closed.”

In order to support teaching staff, Microsoft has also launched webinars aiming to promote the benefits of Teams. The topics covered include creating an online classroom, keeping students engaged with online meetings, as well as assisting IT Administrators in setting up Teams for online collaboration.

Schools across the UK have been closed since 20 March, allowing only vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers, such as NHS staff, to attend. Latest reports indicate that schools are not planning to reopen after Easter break.

Acquiring robust coding skills through free coding courses in the UK offers a significant opportunity for individuals looking to pivot their careers or enhance their current technological expertise. Proficiency in coding is increasingly vital across numerous industries, empowering professionals to automate processes, boost efficiency, and maintain a competitive edge.

The career prospects in software development are compelling. Junior software developers in the UK can expect starting salaries of £30,000.00 per year or £14.42 per hour, while senior or lead roles can command on average £52,720. This strong demand and earning potential make programming an attractive field for sustained career growth.

Fortunately, learning to code does not require a substantial financial investment. A wealth of free resources caters to both beginners and seasoned learners. Whether your goal is to master a new programming language, upgrade existing skills, or delve into specialized areas of software development, free coding courses provide a flexible and cost-effective path. Below is a curated list of some of the top free coding courses accessible in the UK to kickstart your learning journey.

The best free coding courses in the UK

FreeCodeCamp

Website: https://www.freecodecamp.org/

FreeCodeCamp, a charity, offers an extensive, entirely free learning platform where individuals can master coding through hands-on projects and interactive challenges. With a vast library boasting over 9,000 tutorials and growing, learners can progress at their own pace. 

The curriculum is project-based, enabling practical application of learned skills. Key certifications, which are internationally recognized, cover areas such as Responsive Web Design, JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures, Data Visualization, Back End Development and APIs, and Quality Assurance. A vibrant community forum provides robust support for collaboration and assistance, enhancing the learning experience.

User review insights: Highly praised for its comprehensive curriculum and hands-on approach. Users on platforms like Course Report and SwitchUp consistently rate it highly (often 4.5-4.9 out of 5 stars) for its practical projects and supportive community. G2 reviewers give it an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Other sources continue to recommend it as a strong starting point for web development fundamentals.

Code First Girls

Website: https://www.codefirstgirls.org.uk/

Code First Girls, co-founded by Alice Bentinck and Matthew Clifford, is a social enterprise dedicated to closing the gender gap in the tech industry. It has provided free coding education to over 80,000 women across the UK and beyond. 

The enterprise's CFGdegree programs and other free courses cover foundational topics such as web development, Python, data science, and SQL. These programs are designed to be flexible, enabling women to gain job-ready skills while balancing other commitments. Code First Girls partners with major corporations to connect participants with employment opportunities in tech.

Among these courses are introductions to web development, Python programming, data science, and SQL programming.

User review insights: Participants often highlight the supportive environment and the direct pathways to employment opportunities. Testimonials on their website and in industry articles consistently reflect the positive impact on career progression in tech. While large aggregator review scores are less common, their partnerships with major companies and the increasing number of women trained (over 100,000 as of early 2023) attest to their effectiveness and reputation.

Code Your Future

Website: https://codeyourfuture.io/

CodeYourFuture, founded in 2016, is a UK-registered charity dedicated to empowering refugees and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds by training them to become software developers. The organization offers free, part-time coding programs in several UK cities, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. It has also expanded internationally, with active programs in Rome (Italy), Medellín (Colombia), Cape Town (South Africa), and Tunis (Tunisia).

Its full-stack curriculum covers essential technical skills such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, and React, alongside soft skills development in areas like teamwork, problem-solving, and agile methodologies. The program is designed to be inclusive, offering introductory modules that lead into their core Software Development course. A second, much more substantial course also covers full-stack web development. 

To support accessibility, students who complete an initial introductory course may be eligible for financial assistance covering expenses such as Wi-Fi, travel, and childcare in certain circumstances. 

User review insights: CodeYourFuture earns high regard for its profound social mission and its intensive, supportive training environment focused on refugees and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Graduates frequently praise the strong sense of community and the dedication of volunteer mentors. Reviews on platforms like Google Reviews for its various chapters and numerous testimonials emphasize its life-altering impact. Its recognition as a Digital Public Good (DPG) further validates its quality and open-source curriculum

Codecademy

Website: https://www.codecademy.com/

Codecademy, founded in 2011 by Zach Sims and Ryan Bubinski, has helped millions of learners worldwide acquire coding skills. The platform offers a free ‘Basic’ tier, granting access to introductory coding courses, enabling beginners to learn foundational concepts at their own pace. This makes it an excellent entry point for those curious about programming but not yet ready for a financial commitment.

Codecademy is known for its interactive, hands-on learning environment, where students build real-world projects, such as websites and applications, reinforcing their understanding. The platform provides courses in a wide range of programming languages, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, SQL, and more.

For learners seeking structured and in-depth training, Codecademy offers paid subscription plans: ‘Plus’ and ‘Pro’, which unlock career paths, skill paths, interview preparation, and extensive project work designed to develop job-ready skills.

With its mix of free and paid options, Codecademy remains a popular and accessible choice for aspiring coders, offering both foundational skills and pathways to advanced knowledge.

User review insights: Codecademy is widely recognized for its interactive, browser-based learning platform, making it easy for beginners to start coding without a complex setup. Its free 'Basic' tier is often praised as an excellent entry point. Users appreciate the immediate feedback and hands-on exercises. While some advanced content and career paths are behind a paywall ('Plus' and 'Pro' plans), the free offering remains substantial for learning foundational skills in various languages. 

Coursera

Website: https://www.coursera.org/

Coursera is a major online learning platform that partners with leading universities and corporations to offer a vast catalogue of courses, specializations, and degrees, including numerous options in coding and computer science. Many individual courses on Coursera can be audited for free, providing access to lecture materials and readings. However, to earn a formal certificate of completion for a course or Specialization, a fee is typically required, which varies by program. These certificates can be valuable additions to a professional profile. 

Coursera's coding content spans a broad spectrum of tech skills, from beginner-level introductions to languages like Python and Java, to advanced topics such as machine learning, data science, and cybersecurity. While some content is self-paced, many courses offer structured learning with assignments and community discussion forums. For comprehensive access, Coursera offers a subscription model, Coursera Plus, which provides unlimited access to a large portion of its catalog for a recurring fee.

User review insights: Coursera is valued for providing access to courses from prestigious universities and companies. The ability to "audit" many courses for free is a significant benefit, allowing learners to access high-quality lecture materials and readings. While certificates and graded assignments typically require payment, the free audit option is excellent for exploration and learning specific topics. Users appreciate the breadth of subjects, from beginner coding to advanced specializations, such as AI and data science.

Founders & Coders

Website: https://www.foundersandcoders.com/

Founders & Coders is a UK-based charity that provides tuition-free, peer-led training programs in full-stack web development. Their distinctive learning model emphasizes collaborative learning and employability.

Its primary offering is an intensive, full-time 16-week coding boot camp, designed to equip individuals with the skills needed for a career in software development. The curriculum includes HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, and PostgreSQL, with a strong focus on project-based learning and agile practices.

A unique aspect of their model is the expectation that graduates contribute back to the community, mentoring prospective applicants and supporting subsequent cohorts, fostering a sustainable, community-driven learning environment. Additionally, profits from their graduate placement services are reinvested into funding the training programs.

User review insights: Founders & Coders is recognized as a unique, tuition-free coding academy in the UK, emphasizing peer-led, collaborative learning. Reviews often praise its intensive, community-driven bootcamp model. Graduates highlight the strong focus on employability and the supportive environment. Its non-profit nature and the requirement for graduates to contribute back to the community are seen as distinctive and positive aspects. Course Report gives it a rating of 4.49 out of 5 stars.

Microsoft Learn

Website: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/

Microsoft Learn is Microsoft's official platform for free, interactive, self-paced learning, designed to help individuals and professionals build expertise in Microsoft products and services. It offers a vast collection of learning paths and modules, covering technologies such as Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform (including Power BI), and SQL Server, as well as broader topics like AI, cybersecurity, and data science.

Each learning path is structured into modules, which include instructional content, hands-on lab exercises in a sandbox environment, and knowledge checks to reinforce learning. The platform caters to learners of all levels, from beginners exploring fundamental concepts to advanced professionals seeking specialized knowledge.

Upon completion of specific learning paths and associated assessments, learners can prepare for Microsoft Certifications — globally recognized credentials that validate expertise in various Microsoft technologies. These certifications can significantly enhance a professional's resume, career prospects, and earning potential in the IT industry. Additionally, Microsoft Learn provides community-driven resources, including forums, study groups, and expert-led training sessions, to support learners throughout their journey.

User review insights: Microsoft Learn is highly regarded as an authoritative and comprehensive resource for mastering Microsoft technologies. Users appreciate the structured learning paths, hands-on labs in sandbox environments, and the direct alignment with Microsoft Certifications. The platform is praised for being entirely free and regularly updated with the latest information on Azure, Power Platform, Microsoft 365, and other MS products. It's considered invaluable for IT professionals working within the Microsoft ecosystem.

W3Schools

Website: https://www.w3schools.com/

W3Schools is a widely recognized online educational resource, offering extensive tutorials and references for a broad range of web development technologies. Its content covers programming languages and frameworks such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, PHP, SQL, Java, jQuery, React, AngularJS, XML, and Bootstrap.

Unlike structured learning platforms, W3Schools provides detailed explanations and examples for individual programming elements, allowing learners to study specific topics at their own pace. A key feature is its integrated "Try it Yourself" editor, which enables users to experiment with code examples directly in the browser and see immediate results. This hands-on approach enhances practical understanding and encourages interactive learning

While the majority of its learning materials are free, W3Schools also offers paid certification programs for users who wish to formally validate their skills in specific areas, which can be beneficial for career advancement. Additionally, the platform offers interactive coding challenges and exercises, helping learners reinforce their knowledge through practice.

User review insights: W3Schools is a long-standing and widely used resource, valued for its straightforward tutorials and "Try it Yourself" editor, which allows for immediate practice. It's often recommended for quick lookups and learning the basics of web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. While some find its explanations a bit simplistic for deep understanding, its ease of use and breadth of topics make it a popular free resource for beginners and as a handy reference for experienced developers.

Code.org

Website: https://code.org/

Code.org is a charity dedicated to expanding access to computer science education, particularly for schoolchildren. While its primary audience is younger learners, its resources also serve as an excellent starting point for adults seeking a gentle introduction to coding concepts without any prior knowledge.

The platform offers a variety of free resources, including its widely recognized "Hour of Code" tutorials, which are one-hour introductory activities available in over 70 languages. These activities introduce basic programming principles through engaging, often game-like interfaces, making coding accessible and fun.

For those looking to delve deeper, Code.org provides structured courses tailored to different age groups. Its curriculum is designed to demystify coding, foster problem-solving skills, and encourage participation from underrepresented groups in technology. Additionally, Code.org plays a key role in advocating for computer science education policies, partnering with schools and policymakers to integrate coding into core curricula.

User review insights: Code.org is highly praised for its mission to expand access to computer science, especially for schoolchildren. While its primary focus is on younger learners, its "Hour of Code" tutorials and introductory courses are often cited as excellent, non-intimidating starting points for adults with absolutely no prior coding experience. Users appreciate the fun, game-like approach to learning fundamental programming concepts.

Microsoft is capitalising on the widespread popularity of hit Netflix TV series Stranger Things to encourage teenagers to take up an interest in technology and learn essential digital skills.

Among several franchise tie-ins, the software giant will launch a series of STEM workshops in all its Microsoft stores from 20 July, including the newly-opened flagship Oxford Circus-based site.

Branded Camp Know Where', the course involves two programmes for students aged 13 and above at Microsoft Stores in the US, Canda, Australia and the UK. These will set challenges for its participants centred on coding and games.

The first two-hour programme, named rule the arcade', will involve students learning gaming and coding concepts from Microsoft systems to write a playable arcade simulation. The second, meanwhile, will see students pick up 3D modelling and special effects skills to create a Stranger Things-inspired mini-movie.

Additional details about these courses are scarce, but Microsoft is hoping to tap into the huge cultural relevance Stranger Things has attained since first airing to promote an interest in technology. Students can register to attend the STEM workshops from today through the Microsoft website.

As part of the Stranger Things series tie-in, the company has also developed a special edition PC app inspired by the Windows 1.0 operating system (OS) - first released in November of 1985. This free Windows 10 app, known as Windows 1.11, was mysteriously teased by the firm last week on social media.

The Windows re-release is also themed on Stranger Things, with users given the chance to find unique show content and easter eggs by navigating the app's retro UI.

It's a similar venture to one launched by Slack developer Felix Rieseberg, who relaunched the classic Windows 95 OS as a desktop app for MacOS, Windows and Linux systems last year. This app, however, was written for nostalgic purposes as opposed to serving as a promotional tie-in.

The Institute of Coding (IoC) has chosen six university-led consortiums to benefit from 5 million of investment, half of which is government-backed, to launch localised digital skills initiatives across the UK.

The University of Leeds, Durham University and Birkbeck University are among the six institutions heading up the winning collectives, and will use fresh funding to develop courses targeting specific areas of need.

The government's Office for Students (OfS) will provide 2.4 million in funding, matched pound for pound by the winning consortiums themselves, as part of the IoC's Future Projects Fund.

The initiative, announced in August, sought up to ten university-led groups to hand grants to develop initiatives geared towards tackling the UK's digital skills crisis. The bidding groups, if successful, would then have to equally match the IoC's grants with self-generated funding.

The successful projects were chosen by the IoC's industry advisory board, appointed in September 2018 and comprising a host of huge players in the tech industry including Microsoft, Google, Cisco and IBM.

The University of the Arts London's (UAL) Creative Computing Institute, one of the chosen beneficiaries, will use 581,000 to advance "creative digital solutions" in manufacturing, engineering and creative industries, with a portfolio of online courses addressing key questions. These include how creative technologists are transformation modern firms, and how workers can tap into creative technology skills to change career direction or avoid losing out to automation.

A consortium led by Birkbeck, similarly, will offer a course in Computing for the Cultural Heritage sector which aims to give professionals across galleries, libraries, archives and museums the skills digitally transform Britain's cultural backbone.

"These courses will give thousands of people access to high-quality learning opportunities and practical support at a time when employers need it most," said chair of the IoC industry advisory board Sheila Flavell.

"Our extensive programmes, built in partnership with industry leaders, will widen access to the technology industry, spreading opportunity to people from a range of diverse backgrounds and strengthen our digital economy at a crucial time."

The announcement marks the first set of concrete measures the IoC has taken to fulfil its remit of tackling the skills gap since its launch in June last year.

The consortium of universities, academics and industry representatives, backed by government, was set up forge closer ties between key stakeholders in the UK's digital economy and impart digital skills onto a wider number of people and marginalised groups especially.

It's an ambition manifesting in the chosen projects, with Durham University, for example, using 517,846 with its more than 16 partners to launch a 'TechUp' course to retrain underrepresented women from the Midlands and the North of England.

The University of Chester, meanwhile, has devised a fresh conversion course to combining data science and machine learning with entrepreneurial skills that can be undertaken by graduates without any computer science experience.

The Universities of Coventry and Leeds will benefit from close to 500,000 each to design an online platform for resources as well as career opportunities, and develop 15 short online courses centring on employability, respectively.

"This funding is a key part of our work to address skills gaps and improve graduate employability, particularly for students from groups who are under-represented or disadvantaged," said the OfS' director for fair access and participation Chris Millward.

"Digital skills are vital for the economy, now and in the future, which is why we are backing this important initiative to boost equality and diversity in STEM education, develop the workforce that employers will need to meet future digital challenges, and open up the jobs of the future to graduates from all backgrounds."

The IoC estimates that the newly-funded courses will train tens of thousands of learners when they are implemented in full during the next 12 to 18 months.

The Institute of Coding (IoC) has appointed an advisory board comprising senior executives from the UK's largest organisations, and small business representatives.

Executives from Google, Cisco, Microsoft and IBM are among 18 members who will provide direction and insight on wider industry needs to shape the development of digital skills courses which the IoC sponsors.

"The IoC board will enable industry to have a strong voice in the creation of new academic courses and training programmes," said techUK non-executive director Sheila Flavell.

"With UK companies crying out for digitally-adept graduates with high levels of technical proficiency, the board will help communicate specific requirements to ensure the next generation are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in the workplace."

She added the 20 million government-backed digital skills group will gain insight into the needs of the tech industry, which will, in turn, inform its mission to plug the UK's widening digital skills gap.

Other organisations advising the IoC include the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), techUK, FDM Group, Go Compare, AWS, BP Downstream, JP Morgan, Channel 4, Deloitte, Wipro, Shell Downstream, BT Group, Design Council, and HMRC.

This development comes after the IoC launched a 2.3 million scheme in August to fund initiatives geared towards improving access to digital skills, and boosting graduate and employability outcomes.

The Future Projects Fund will see up to ten collectives, comprising at least one university or college with an existing IT or computer science course and an industry partner, benefit from funding to develop their ideas.

"Gaining access to high quality education and training is absolutely critical to tackling the UK's digital skills shortfall," said the IoC's director Dr Rachid Hourizi at the time.

"The IoC's new fund will enable academic institutions and industry organisations to work together, developing cutting edge education to promote digital excellence and improve the technical skills for a new generation of workers.

"This initiative is the latest in a wide array of activity from the IoC to launch new services and spread digital skills across the country."

The Industry Advisory Board, chaired by Flavell, met for the first time in early September, three months on from the IoC's official launch in June.

Its first task was to assess the 2.3 million Future Projects Fund, and provide guidance to potential bidding groups from the point of view of the industry's needs.

The board has decided that promoting diversity and inclusivity must be integral to any successful proposal, alongside initiatives that help individuals and businesses identify routes to degree-level education, and subsequent employment.

The IoC was launched with 20 million of government funding, and 20 million of industry funding, to bring together the tech sector and academia to drive up digital kills across the UK, and lower the barriers of entry for women, ethnic minorities and poorer students.

The consortium is made up from more than 60 organisations and 25 universities, and aims to build and maintain partnerships between universities and businesses.

The IoC also hopes to publish research and analysis that can fuel strategies to raise workplace diversity, and achieve gender equality in the industry.

Although the Samsung Galaxy J5 is neither the most advanced nor the newest phone in Samsung's collection of Android smartphones, it is one of the highest ranking budget smartphones around, more than worthy of a place beside the Huawei P Smart, the Lenovo P2, the Moto G4 and Vodafone's range of low-cost smartphones.

It isn't the most immediate device to spring to mind when you think of budget smartphones, though, and that's because Samsung hasn't really been blowing the budget trumpet, preferring to shout about and push its pricey flagships.

However, look deeper into its feature set and it's hard to argue that this isn't a fantastic smartphone. Priced at just a touch above 100, you'll be hard-pushed to find a device with the same specification and performance in that bracket - even the Huawei P Smart and Lenovo P2 cost double that.

So what makes the Samsung Galaxy J5 deserve consideration if you're looking to refresh your Android device without breaking the bank?

Samsung Galaxy J5 review: Appearance and casing

The majority of budget devices swap out premium metals for cheap looking - and feeling - plastic. But not the Samsung Galaxy J5. The Galaxy J5 takes many elements from the flagship lineup of Samsung's devices, such as a pill-shaped home button and curved edges. Its sturdy finish doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart if you drop it either - definitely a break away from other budget devices.

This gives it a rather luxurious style compared with some of the cheaper and aesthetically dull designs of rival devices in the budget bracket. Naturally there is some compromise, most notably in the use of plastic rather than metal, but this does mean the back plate is removable, granting access to a replaceable battery and micro SD slot.

It also lacks waterproofing, which has become somewhat of an industry standard in high-end devices. Yet this is a budget device after all, and the J5 still has a very attractive design with an equally impressive build quality.

Samsung Galaxy J5 review: Display

When you consider the Samsung J5 is such a low-cost device, it's pleasing to see such a high-end display packed into a handset. Instead of using a run-of-the-mill LCD panel, Samsung as opted to up the ante with a 5-inch Super AMOLED screen.

In fact, the same panel is used for the much more premium Samsung Galaxy S7 and although the tech isn't as sophisticated as the display on the newer Samsung flagships, just the fact it's AMOLED gets the thumbs up from us.

Brightness is also not as impressive as that found on the Samsung Galaxy S7, so you may struggle to see a lot of detail on the screen on sunny days, but its contrast ratios and vibrancy make up for this in normal conditions.

Samsung has cut back on the Samsung J5's screen resolution too. So although it presents an almost excellent all-round performance, it's not as crisp as some of Samsung's lineup, but at 1280x720 pixels, it's still not to be sniffed at.

Samsung Galaxy J5 review: Performance and battery life

Packed inside the Samsung J5, you'll find a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor with 1.5GB of RAM. This is where you start to realise that the J5 really is a low-end device. Although performance wasn't awful and was OK for getting the majority of everyday tasks done, anything particularly demanding was quite a struggle. We certainly wouldn't recommend playing any high-intensity games.

That being said, it can run some lower-end games, especially the standard timewaster ones. Web pages load fast enough to get by, but don't expect anything to be ground-breaking on this device.

The Samsung J5 did have a hard time loading more media-rich pages and PDFs with images. The device found scrolling in these pages challenging as there was a noticeable lag between swiping down and content loading. If you;re a designer, or work with pictures and heavy content, you're probably want to jump to another device before your contract is up.

However, one positive aspect of the device that we should mention is its battery life. It has a 2,600mAh capacity battery compared to the bigger 3,000mAh of its competitors, the low resolution screen and efficient processor means the Samsung J5 can survive for 18 hours. This is way above similar-specced devices and a definite advantage.

Samsung Galaxy J5 review: Camera

Unfortunately, the J5's camera is the main area in which it falls over. Although it has a 13 megapixel sensor and an f/1.9 aperture - which should in theory be perfectly adequate - the results were often decidedly mixed.

The problem stems from the J5's sensor. If a scene has too much light then it will bleed over and overexpose the photo. But if it's too dark, then most of the detail will be obscured.

Better image processing and a good HDR mode would likely go a long way in fixing this problem, but for now taking photos on the J5 is basically a gamble. When you do get the right conditions, however, pictures can be packed with crisp detail and vibrant colours.

Samsung Galaxy J5 review: Verdict

The Moto G series has been the gold standard in budget smartphones, but the Samsung Galaxy J5 is a great alternative thanks to its superlative screen and long lasting battery. It's an excellent choice for anyone who's looking for quality on a budget.

Having said all that, it's worth waiting for the new 2016 Moto G4 (the fourth generation Moto G) which is due any day now. Unless you need a cheap phone right away, it's worth waiting to see if the now Lenovo-owned Motorola can continue its success streak.

This review was updated on 16/02/2016.

As more and more of Britain's industry becomes reliant on technology and coding, there is a growing concern over the widening skills gap facing the country's workforce.

Government initiatives like 2014's Year of Code' have been trying to address this problem, by placing greater emphasis on educating the nation's children in these areas. As part of this, the government has allocated resources including a 500,000 fund for training teachers in the area.

Chip maker Intel is also hoping to improve the situation, and has put considerable weight behind its education division. The company provides end-to-end IT education solutions, providing equipment and training to help encourage and support teaching and learning around IT.

One example of this is through the use of Galileo. A cheap, single-board computer similar to the Raspberry Pi, Intel's Galileo is intended to get students interested in programming and tech, and has been used in institutions like Burntwood School in Wandsworth.

Using LEDs, propellers and basic sensors, the kids learn about programming fundamentals like inputs and outputs to create projects like night lights, powered by Galileo. IT Pro spoke to Dr. Jennifer Osodo, a teacher using Galileo in her lessons, about integrating the device with her classes.

"It has been tremendous," she says. "It makes teaching really exciting, because it makes the students develop models that they think about themselves, and they spend time figuring out how they're going to control the devices, and I think that's a really important part of computing."

"The advantage with Galileo is it enables children to do the unplugged activities. Apart from just coding, they develop their models, which is unplugged, then they go into coding and think about how they're going to control it."

Dr. Osodo is part of the Digital Schoolhouse project, which is an initiative run by games industry trade body Ukie to get kids interested in computing before they hit secondary school. "We want to make learning playful", she says. "Children in primary school have been exposed to computers as a box, where they just control it from the outside."

Instead, they want kids to get hands-on with tech at an early age. The programme and its use of Intel's Galileo board has parallels with the BBC Micro:Bit and Raspberry Pi's ever-cheaper devices, all of which want to inspire children to join the growing wave of home makers and hobby coders.

Rather than simply dropping affordable computing devices on schools and leaving them to their own devices, however, Intel's focus is much more on providing a support network to enable continuous development.

"Through Intel's work in education, we're equipping teachers to create and mentor the next generation of lifelong learners," said Roz L. Hudnell, vice president in Human Resources, director of Corporate Affairs at Intel and president of the Intel Foundation.

"Increasingly, businesses have a key focus on technology, and it's essential that students are prepared with digital skills to achieve economic empowerment."

Oracle and Raspberry Pi Foundation are collaborating on a project aimed at training children how to code and learn about their world at the same time.

The Oracle Academy Raspberry Pi Weather Station initiative for Schools encourages schools to teach programming skills by inviting them to apply for a weather station hardware kit for children to build and develop.

Students can choose how to build their application using SQL elements developed in collaboration with Oracle and data will be hosted on the company's cloud.

Oracle Giving, the firm's philanthropic arm, has funded the first 1,000 kits, meaning schools can get their hands on the kits for free while stock last.

In addition to the crafting skills the schoolchildren will need to build the weather station, it will also teach them how to write code to track wind speed, direction, temperature, pressure, and humidity.

The scheme, which is targeted at children aged between 11 and 16, will also encourage students to build a website to display local weather conditions. Kids can connect with other children participating in the scheme via a specially built website that will also provide technical support.

Jane Richardson, director of Oracle Academy EMEA, said: "From application programming to database management, computer science skills can lead to rewarding and fulfilling careers.

"Our goal with the Oracle Raspberry Pi Weather Station project is not only to show students how computer science can help them measure, interrogate and understand the world better, but also to give them hands-on opportunities to develop these skills. We believe this is one of the best ways to inspire the next generation to take up the computer science roles that economies around the world need filled."