Whether you want to be a software developer, a data analyst or a testing expert, these Leeds tech academies will help you make it happen.
The UK tech industry is growing at a rapid pace. It now employs over five million people – that’s two million more than in 2019, which just goes to show the speed of change. There’s never been a better time to get into the sector, and the great new is, there are loads of tech academies and graduate schemes in Leeds that will help you make the move from uni to unicorn.
Answer Digital Academy
Answer Digital is known for delivering customer-centric, growth-driven digital experiences. It’s a powerhouse in the Leeds tech scene and the perfect place to start your career. They have their own Answer Academy and offer 12-week programmes on everything from development and delivery to testing and integration, so you can hit the ground running.
You don’t need a computing degree – you’ll learn the basics, then develop a deeper understanding of your chosen discipline through training, self-learning and mentorship. Then, if you’ve passed all your ongoing checks and assessments, you’ll work on a live project with a team of digital experts. Once you’ve completed the last phase, you’ll graduate and become a permanent employee of Answer, with a salary increase and the promise of rapid succession if you work hard. There’s no deadline to apply, just keep an eye out for junior roles that include the graduate scheme.
Answer Digital, Union Mills, 9 Dewsbury Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5DD.
Infinity Works Academy
Want to join a full stack tech academy in Leeds? Apply to Infinity Works. They’re one of the UK’s leading management consultants. They’ve worked with all sorts, from Yorkshire Building Society to Moonpig, and specialise in digital transformation – which is why their academy is so popular. It’ll kickstart your career and start your journey towards becoming tech agnostic.
Infinity Works has a team of experts dedicated to the academy. It’s intense, it’s demanding – but it’s also incredibly supportive and rewarding. You’ll learn everything from cloud and infrastructure through to front end and mobile, all with the latest tech in mind. They run academies four times a year, so you’ll have a whole cohort of graduates to share the experience with. You’re a fully paid employee from day one, and after you graduate from the scheme, you’ll get a day a month to work on your skills with your cohort, as well as a career mentor to help you make the most of your time at Infinity Works.
Infinity Works, Apsley House, 78 Wellington Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2EQ.
NHS Digital
NHS Digital is an incredible place to start your career. Their work makes healthcare better for everyone and their graduate scheme in Leeds gives you an opportunity to help. On this two year, multi-disciplinary programme, you might be helping to analyse data from GPs, protecting the institution from cyber attacks or working to transform NHS services.
The scheme is designed to bring out the best in you and to develop your skills and capabilities as a future leader or specialist. You’ll get four six-month rotations, where you could be working with IT operations, data services, cyber security or product development, among others. Career progression is clear and tailored to you, whichever route you’d like to take. You don’t need a computing degree to apply, but you do need to be able to code from the get-go. It’s a paid placement, and once you’ve completed it, you’ll go into your role with a varied portfolio and a substantial pay rise.
NHS Digital, 7 Wellington Place, Whitehall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4EG.
BJSS Academy
Credit: BJSS
BJSS is a world-class tech company. They’ve worked with the likes of the NHS, Specsavers, even the Home Office on everything from software engineering to digital transformation. As part of their recruitment strategy, they hold an intensive four-week academy that gets budding software developers work-ready, whether you’re a gradate or a career changer.
Their academy teaches you professional skills, like agile working and how to collaborate effectively to deliver software engineering projects. You’ll get experience in a variety of roles, like testing, data and DevOps, as well as learning how to code, build databases and even how to present the finished article to the customer. The sessions aren’t just informative, they’re interactive, fun and engaging. Once you’ve graduated, you’ll join a multi-disciplinary team to deliver advanced tech solutions across the globe. Not sure what you want to specialise in? The academy will help you figure it out.
BJSS Leeds, 1 Whitehall Quay, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4HR. Applications for the academy are open all year round.
FDM
FDM is a company that recruits, trains and places IT professionals into businesses. They’re global leaders in their field, so you could find yourself working with huge companies like BP, HSBC and Virgin Media. To apply for their graduate scheme, you just need a university degree and a passion for tech – and you’ll be paid from the very start, even while you train.
The two year programme starts with a six to 14-week training academy. You’ll learn the fundamentals of tech, including data engineering, robotic process automation and cloud computing, then when you graduate, you’ll become an FDM consultant. You’ll be placed in a client team, where you can put your new skills to good use on live projects. They’ll offer support and guidance as you move from placement to placement and, at the end, you can stay on as a senior consultant or you might even be offered a full-time job with one of the clients you’ve been working with.
FDM, No. 1 Whitehall Riverside, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4BN. Applications for the graduate scheme are open all year round.
Pentest People
Ever wanted to be an ethical hacker? Here’s your chance. Pentest People is the fastest-growing security provider in the UK, and you could be a part of that growth. This is your chance to help companies like SpaceNK, Jet2 and Honda to identify and protect against cybersecurity threats. Their graduate scheme is very hands on, so you’ll get right into the nitty gritty of it.
Their senior penetration testers have written a series of Academy Paths for you to follow, each with modules around specific concepts, techniques and tools. In your first few weeks, you’ll be shadowing a consultant as they complete an assessment. Once you’ve completed a path, and feel confident, you’ll perform your own assessment under supervision. You’ll be assigned a buddy to guide you and a mentor to give you structured career advice. You don’t need a computing degree, but you will need to demonstrate an ability to code by showing them something you’ve built.
Pentest People, Coach Works, 21 Calls, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7EH. Applications for the graduate scheme are open all year round.
Sky
Sky’s reputation precedes it. They’re one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, with 23 million customers across six countries – that’s a huge opportunity. Much of their digital operations are based in Leeds, which is why you’ll find their tech academy here. This is your chance to work with cutting-edge technology on game-changing products.
Their world-leading digital academy is seven-month programme with three streams – software development, automated testing or DevOps. It starts with a five-week bootcamp that covers engineering principles, test-driven development, continuous build and integration – then you’ll get a chance to put your newly learned skills to good use. You could be working on anything from building video streaming platforms to creating software technology that influences the way people watch their favourite shows. You don’t need a relevant degree, but you will need to be able to code.
Sky, Leeds Dock, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1QG.
