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In the digital age, computer programming is everywhere – from the software on your laptop, to the apps on your phone and the websites you browse – all are created using code.

With a current skills gap in the UK tech sector, coding and coders are now in high demand, especially within the North East’s growing tech hub.

Now 51���� has teamed up with IT training company QA Consulting to offer a series of free coding workshops, providing the skills required to explore a career in technology, or develop existing skills further.

The events have been organised as part of the Institute of Coding (IoC) – a consortium of universities, including Northumbria, which are working together to develop the next generation of digital talent, at degree level and above.

The workshop announcement coincides with the first anniversary of the launch of the IoC, which has already seen more than 5,000 people sign up for tech courses at partner universities across the UK.

Dr Huseyin Seker, project lead for the Institute of Coding at 51����, said: “We are proud to be one of the founding members of the IoC and pleased to be celebrating our first anniversary nationwide.

“We are now working in collaboration with our partner institutes and industrial partners to close the digital skill gap in the UK and help the nation continue being the world leader in the digital age.

“To mark this first anniversary of the IoC, we are inviting people to come along to our free Teach the Nation to Code events; just bring your laptop and a willingness to learn and we'll teach you Python for free!”

The first of the Teach the Nation to Code workshops takes place on from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 February 2019. Future workshops will then take place on a monthly basis.

The workshop will outline how to install the Python programming language and create Python applications. Attendees will learn how to code fundamentals in Python, understand how to process problems and solve them with Python code, use Python for database applications and much more.

The event is well suited to those with little to no knowledge of Python or other programming languages. It would also act as a good refresher for those who want to stay up to date in their skills, as well as for those who would like to expand their knowledge of the libraries available in Python.

For more information about the Teach the Nation to Code workshops, and to book a place, please visit /about-us/news-events/events/2019/02/ioc-event/

The IoC aims to develop specialist skills training in areas of strategic importance, boosting equality and diversity in technology-related education and careers and producing research, analysis and intelligence to anticipate future skills gaps.

Under the Future Projects Fund, funded by the Office for Students, the IoC will soon allocate £2.3million to further proposals from industry and academia to help fill the digital skills gap and support the work of the IoC.

Rachid Hourizi, Director of the Institute of Coding comments: “The Institute of Coding is dedicated to driving digital skills and widening access to high quality learning to thousands of people from all walks of life. After a year of hard work and determination, we’ve made huge progress in tackling the skills shortfall, but there is still much more to do. 

"It’s vital that industry works closer with the IoC and our academic partners to design and build new courses for graduates and existing employees, spreading opportunity and upskilling workforces across the country.”

Find out more about the IoC at