Technocamps at Swansea University has received a significant funding boost from local authorities in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to deliver innovative digital skills training to young people and adults. The funding, totalling over £700,000, will be used to provide a wide range of courses in both English and Welsh, aimed at improving digital literacy in the region.
Swansea Council and Neath Port Talbot Council have collectively allocated more than £400,000 from The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is funded by the UK Government to support Technocamps' Digital Skills Pathways initiative. This initiative focuses on equipping students with the essential digital skills needed to thrive in Wales' growing tech industry. The funding will enable the delivery of tailored training courses designed to prepare participants for the demands of the modern workforce.
Additionally, the Institute of Coding, the business arm of Technocamps, has secured nearly £300,000 from Neath Port Talbot Council. This funding will support digital upskilling programs for adults of all ability levels across the county borough. The courses will range from basic digital literacy, such as getting connected and setting up email accounts, to more advanced topics like machine learning and data analytics. These professional development short courses are aimed at building in-demand skills and knowledge, helping people to excel in the competitive tech job market.
Professor Faron Moller, Director of Technocamps, emphasised the importance of this funding in expanding access to digital training across the region. He said: "This funding enables us to deliver training to those who are looking to upskill digitally to access the support they require, whether it be to feel more in control with the increasing reliance on technology in everyday life, to look for a change of career in new and exciting areas of the workforce, or to spark a new interest and motivation in a topic that has previously not been accessible to them.”
The funding will support several key initiatives, including:
Interactive School Sessions: These workshops will teach pupils the importance of digital skills and how they can benefit their future applications to universities or jobs. Topics covered include Open-source Intelligence, AI, 3D Modelling for Art and Industry and Website Building.
Micro-Credentials and Digital Skills Bootcamps: These short courses, held at Swansea University Singleton Park and Bay Campus, cover a wide range of topics, from beginner to more advanced, such as Python Programming, Cybersecurity, and the Fundamentals of Machine Learning. The new October micro-credentials have just been launched and can be booked here.
Digital Skills workshops: These workshops, held at libraries across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot for ages 16+, offer exciting opportunities for the community to expand and learn new digital skills through workshops such as Creating with Canva, The Power of Graphics Cards, and Game Development. More information can be found here.
Technocamps Advanced Summer School: Free workshops designed for young people aged 16-19, covering topics such as Canva, website building, and programming LEGO robots.
"This funding will help us to expand on the impact we have had over the past couple of decades within the digital sector in Wales," added Professor Moller. "Our mission is to create a pipeline of people with the digital skills required to help the tech industry locally and across Wales to prosper. This funding allows us to create more opportunities for local people and businesses to develop themselves and in turn generate more job opportunities and economic development within the region."
For more information on Technocamps please visit Home - Technocamps
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.