Coding
Skills Bootcamp
Learn to code for FREE and become a software developer in just 12 weeks with our government-funded course for aspiring programmers in the West of England.
Course summary
Duration
Fees
Locations
Contact
Overview
Your tech career starts here
The Coding Skills Bootcamp is a free online coding course for learners in the West of England packed with all the knowledge and skills you need to become a professional software engineer.
Join us for 12 weeks of intensive remote training and kick-start your new career in tech.
View the course curriculumTL;DR
What's so great about it?
Curriculum
What you'll learn
Our industry-approved curriculum packs all the essential knowledge you’ll need to start working as a software developer into just 12 weeks.
Through a combination of theory sessions and practical projects, we’ll make sure you graduate with the skills you need to get stuck in straight away and the ability to confidently learn new tech in the future.
For the first two weeks, you’ll use a range of resources including videos, blogs and practical exercises to explore HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and start building your own interactive web pages.
This part of the course is self-directed but don’t worry, you’ll still be able to check in with your trainer and classmates for support.
It’s time to dive into the real-time sessions with one of our experienced trainers. You’ll expand on the skills from the first two weeks, begin building more complex layouts and make the transition from web pages to web applications.
We’ll also look at tools such as Bash and Git so you can start coding to industry standard best practices.
It’s time for your first project week. You’ll build your own personal portfolio website ready to fill with the work you complete throughout the course and beyond.
Your portfolio is the perfect way to say “Hello, World!”, showcasing your skills and personality to potential employers as you continue your journey as a software engineer.
There’s more to modern applications than just HTML and CSS so this week we’ll take a deeper look at front-end technologies. You’ll explore CSS preprocessors, modern JavaScript methodologies, and start learning React, a JavaScript framework.
For your second project, you’ll be working as a team as you experience building a scalable, maintainable React application using a range of modern libraries and use a backend API to send and receive data.
In (sort of) the words of Bon Jovi: “Woah, you’re half way there!” It’s the midpoint of the course and time to switch from learning front-end to back-end (or server side) development.
You’ll be introduced to PHP, server side development concepts and set up a local Docker environment.
This week you’ll build on your back-end knowledge as we introduce databases. We’ll explore storing and retrieving information from MySQL databases using SQL, and discuss complex data structures along with related cyber security concerns.
It’s time for another project: building your first API. Using PHP and MySQL you’ll create a JSON API that interacts with a React front-end.
By now, you’ll be ready to take on some more advanced topics like object-oriented programming and design patterns. We’ll also explore application architectures and the SOLID principles.
This week we take things to the next level with PHP frameworks. You’ll learn the principles, patterns and skills to pick up any modern framework with ease. We’ll cover MVC, autowiring, factories, Dependency Injection Containers and much more.
In the last week of the course you’ll be just a few days from graduating as a fully fledged software developer. But not before you undertake one more practical assignment. This is your chance to really flex your coding muscles, utilising everything you’ve learned to complete your final showcase project.
Fees and funding
The financial stuff
Funding from the UK government means we’re able to offer places on this course completely FREE to applicants living in and seeking work in the West of England (Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire).
Application does not guarantee an offer and spaces are strictly limited, so apply now to get started!
If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria, don’t worry; check out our Software Developer Essentials coding bootcamp.
The Skills Bootcamps Programme is funded and managed by the West of England Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris, and delivered by iO Academy.
Unsure if you're eligible? Contact us.From our students
Katy Evans
Website Developer at DoodleLearning
I chose to enrol on a remote course with iO Academy. It was the best decision that I've ever made! I would not be where I am now without it - a full time web developer.
Tech industry partners
Get connected
Landing a role in a new industry isn’t just about what you know, but who you know. We’re connected with 80+ Industry Partners, from startups to SMEs and international corporations, who know the value that our graduates can bring to their business.
We partner with iO Academy to find the best talent for our entry-level roles. Their foundational training is exactly what we are looking for when growing our team.
Rosie Connors People & Operations Lead, ON
Staff and alumni
Our coding community
All of our trainers have stacks of industry experience and know exactly what it takes to be a successful developer, so you’ll be in the best of hands! Throughout the course they’ll also provide support, mentorship and specialist careers advice.
Once you graduate, you’ll have access to our Alumni Network where our former trainees – many now in mid and senior level positions – keep in touch, sharing tips, advice and relevant vacancies.
Meet our trainers