主播大秀

This month Design + Engineering in partnership with our external training provider – Tech Returners – kicked off the inaugural Step into Tech programme in Salford. This 14 week, part-time, programme will teach women, external and internal to the 主播大秀, the basic concepts around software engineering and the course curriculum has been designed around a new role in the Software Engineering job family, Associate Software Engineer. At end of this programme, the cohort will have the necessary skills needed to apply for an entry level role of Associate Software Engineer within the 主播大秀 Design + Engineering Division.

The programme kicked off with several D+E colleagues welcoming the group to the 主播大秀. Following introductions from Sue Mosley, the HR Business Parter who is leading the programme, Matt Grest, Director of Platform provided an overview of Design + Engineering and the areas within the division and Sam Hill, Head of Software Engineering, gave an engaging outline of what software engineering at the 主播大秀 looks like. Charlotte Hoare, Software Engineering Team Lead and Laura Howarth-Kirke, Senior Software Engineer, who are mentors on the Step into Tech programme, also shared their journey into Software Engineering with the group.

Lots of colleagues from the various job families across D + E have volunteered their time to go along to talk about their job function and what it means to be part of 主播大秀 D+E – thank you to everyone who has got involved so far.

Sue Mosley, HR Business Partner, said: "It's so pleasing to have witnessed first-hand the enthusiasm from this group of women during the Step into Tech kick-off session. It is amazing to see how engaged they are with the programme already. From this group, 14 out of the 16 are from non-technical backgrounds with non-related degrees or qualifications – the fact we have encouraged such a positive group of budding software engineers to join the scheme shows that we are in a great position to increase gender diversity across D+E"

Charlotte Hoare, Software Engineering Team Lead and mentor on the programme said: "I was excited to be asked to mentor on the Step into Tech programme, and am even more excited now having met the 16-strong cohort! The curriculum we have lined-up and the enthusiasm in the room on day one have made me feel like we're taking real, tangible steps towards redressing the gender balance in the tech sector. I'm excited to follow the progress of this cohort and of Step into Tech in the future."

One of the new students on the programme, Emma, said: "When I heard I had been selected to join the first Step Into Tech programme I was so excited to get started. I have always wanted to get into technology but didn't know how I could break into the industry without going to University. This programme is giving me the opportunity to not only learn the skills required to get started in a technology career, it also helps me to understand and feel more confident in how I could apply for an entry level role, hopefully within the 主播大秀."

Register your interest for our next Step into Tech programme email: schemes@bbc.co.uk

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