We launched our apprenticeship programme as part of our long-standing commitment to grow digital capability and deliver social value through our work. Since founding Made Tech, we’ve invested heavily in early career pathways, including our engineering academy. Apprenticeships were a natural next step, combining learning with real-world delivery experience. 

The goals of our apprenticeship programme are simple but ambitious:

• Develop future-ready digital talent
  
• Create accessible entry routes into tech careers
  
• Build long-term capability for public sector delivery
  
• Raise standards in practical, work-based technical training
  
• Support business and client outcomes through a strong talent pipeline

Innovation is at the heart of the technology sector, and our apprenticeship programmes are no different. Our Learning & Development team has worked hard to integrate several innovative approaches into our programme delivery to ensure that our apprentices expand their consultancy skills alongside their technical training. 

A blended model built around delivery

We use a blended learning model that combines traditional classroom-based learning with hands-on, client-facing work. Apprentices balance their time between structured learning sessions and practical project delivery, allowing them to apply their learning in real-life scenarios. This approach helps consolidate their understanding and keeps learning grounded in the realities of modern digital delivery. Instead of learning theory first and practice later, apprentices build confidence by doing both simultaneously.

Developing consultants, not just engineers

Great public sector digital delivery relies on more than technical skills alone. It requires collaboration, communication, and sound judgment too. That’s why our apprentices work on cross-functional teams, which allows them to interact with other specialisms and gain a deeper understanding of how Made Tech operates. This helps them develop strong communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills – consulting skills that matter just as much as technical capability. 

Learning through gamification

To further enhance apprentice engagement, we have incorporated gamification elements into our curriculum to make learning more interactive. These practical exercises give apprentices a chance to test their thinking, strengthen their technical skills and tackle problems in a more dynamic format.

Competitions and events

We encourage apprentices to test their skills beyond their day-to-day work whenever possible. Recent cohorts have participated in external competitions such as the NASA Space Challenge, which provided them with the opportunity to showcase their talents and challenge their abilities, whilst also engaging with individuals outside of Made Tech. We believe that these competitions and external events will foster healthy competition and drive excellence, enabling apprentices to benchmark their skills against peers across the industry whilst gaining confidence and experience under pressure. 

Assessments that mirror real work

Our assessments are not abstract tasks. They are designed around real-life challenges that we encounter at Made Tech and the work we do for our clients. To make the experience as authentic as possible, we involve relevant stakeholders and, at times, clients throughout the project milestones so the work feels authentic and outcome-focused. By doing this, we aim to give apprentices a clear understanding of the impact of their work and how their contributions can make a meaningful difference for our clients and the broader community. 

Continuous feedback

Feedback shouldn’t be something that only happens at the end of a module. At Made Tech, we implement a continuous feedback system built into the rhythm of the programme. Through regular check-ins, learning reviews, and weekly journals, apprentices receive ongoing feedback, enabling them to adjust quickly, build self-awareness and keep progressing steadily. This approach ensures learning remains ongoing and helps our apprentices stay on track, with support provided where required. 

Career guidance from day one 

Starting a career in tech can feel exciting – and overwhelming. We support our apprentices with structured career information, advice, and guidance throughout their apprenticeship. Our CIAG (Careers Information, Advice and Guidance) programme is a dedicated initiative that supports our apprentices as they build a confident, informed pathway to their future careers. The transition into the workforce is both exciting and daunting, and our programme is designed to provide clear, consistent, and high-quality guidance every step of the way.

Looking ahead

National Apprenticeship Week is a celebration, but it’s also a reminder that workforce development is long-term work. Strong programmes are built through iteration, feedback and partnership.

We’re proud of what our apprentices have already achieved, not just in qualifications gained, but in services improved and teams strengthened. As we grow the programme, our focus remains the same: high-quality learning, real delivery impact and genuine career progression.

If you’re interested in starting a career in digital and technology, we’d love to hear from you.

The post How our innovative apprenticeship programme is building the next generation of public sector technologists appeared first on Made Tech.

I came into tech as a career changer. After seven years working in the NHS as a Physiotherapist, I took a leap into coding through a bootcamp, which led me to a role as an Apprentice Software Engineer at Made Tech. 

The Made Tech apprenticeship programme

From the very start, it was clear that this apprenticeship was about far more than just learning to code. While technical skills are essential, the programme takes a holistic approach to development. Early on, we explored topics such as Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, British Values, Power, Privilege & Responsibility, and Non-Violent Communication, among many others. Learning about these subjects showed me that this apprenticeship isn’t just about becoming a better engineer, but it’s about becoming a more well-rounded, capable professional. 

You might think that, after years in healthcare, I would have already honed my communication and teamwork skills, and, to some extent, I thought I had too. Yet, this apprenticeship has shown me that learning never stops, and there are always new ways to grow both professionally and personally. 

Turning learning into practical experience

A highlight for me has been joining a delivery team where I get hands-on experience every day, not just with coding, but with collaboration, communication, and teamwork. Pairing with senior engineers allows me to learn in real time, gaining practical insights and guidance that you simply can’t get from textbooks alone. It also inspires me to see the career path I hope to follow one day. 

Having completed a university degree in the past, I can honestly say that this apprenticeship offers a different and incredibly valuable way of learning. Being immersed in ‘on-the-job’ experience has given me confidence, practical skills, and a sense of contribution from day one. While it can feel like being thrown into the deep end initially, that challenge quickly becomes an opportunity for rapid growth. Moments of discomfort or imposter syndrome are normal, but learning to navigate them is part of the process, and it’s what enables true development. 

The value of apprenticeships

Apprenticeships don’t just fill skills gaps for businesses; they transform lives, opening doors to careers and personal growth that might once have felt out of reach. My journey is proof of that, and I am proud to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week by sharing it.

Since 2023, our apprenticeship programme has been part of our long-standing commitment to broaden access to digital and tech careers while strengthening the skills base that public sector delivery depends on. To find out more about building a career in tech through the Made Tech apprenticeship programme.

The post Celebrating Growth and Opportunity: My Apprenticeship Journey appeared first on Made Tech.

In 2017 we launched our first Made Tech Academy and since then we’ve trained and employed over 100 aspiring software engineers. We strive to create pathways for career growth that empower individuals to create change in society.

To amplify our social value, in 2023 we made the move into offering a Level 4 DevOps apprenticeship programme.

Shaping tech careers through apprenticeships

Apprenticeships open doors for people from all backgrounds, particularly those who may not have followed the traditional university route. Nurturing early career talent through apprenticeship programmes allows the tech sector to equip individuals with the technical, professional and soft skills needed to thrive – while creating tangible social value through a more diverse, skilled and equitable workforce.

UK digital skills and economic growth

The UK government sees apprenticeships as a key part of its strategy to boost productivity, increase employment and close the digital skills gap – all of which are core to improving social value.

Initiatives like the apprenticeship levy reflect a national push to promote alternative routes into high-skilled careers, especially in technology. Apprenticeship programmes like ours align with the government’s strategic goals by:

• offering high-quality apprenticeships aligned to Level 4 digital standards
• supporting career changers and underrepresented groups into tech
• promoting regional growth and levelling up by offering opportunities across England, not just in London

Apprenticeships play an important role in contributing to a stronger, more inclusive digital economy that helps shape the future of tech talent in the UK.

An apprenticeship designed for social value

Wanting to offer our apprentices something different, we take an industry-first approach. This means apprentices work on real-life, impactful client projects early in their journey, gaining hands-on experience alongside senior engineers.

By delivering real software to communities, apprentices not only gain a better understanding of users but also help increase social value by having a positive impact on real-world problems. Programmes like these shouldn’t just be about learning to code, they should always aim to deliver value into society.

When backed by structured support, mentors and a tailored progression framework, apprentices can create a positive impact in the public sector while they learn. It’s about developing the person, not just the skillset.

Increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups

Apprenticeship programmes should always be designed to create meaningful employment opportunities, for all. By actively encouraging applicants from underrepresented backgrounds the tech sector can play an important part in making sure the services and products we design are shaped by people from all areas of society. This can include women in tech, ethnic minority groups, career changers and those without university degrees.

Traditional tech roles often require prior experience or formal education. This can disadvantage capable people who don’t have access to those opportunities. Removing that barrier to instead focus on potential, curiosity and drive is central to reaching many more aspiring individuals, while creating social value through the promotion of equal opportunity.

By creating inclusive access to tech careers and supporting people throughout their journey, apprenticeship programmes like this contribute to reducing inequality and promoting equal opportunity, delivering lasting social value in every sense.

Real impact in local communities

From week 12 of the programme, our apprentices are placed on real client projects. This is where they contribute to essential public sector digital initiatives.

So far that has included projects such as digitising patient records with NHS England and enhancing the consistency of energy compliance checks for building regulations with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Embedding apprentices in socially impactful projects and supporting their growth within the sector not only invests in them but also strengthens the digital infrastructure of the public services that communities rely on every day.

This approach delivers local impact and long-term wellbeing outcomes for people, places and the public sector – a significant and important driver of social value.

Social good beyond company walls

Following a successful Ofsted inspection, we’re welcoming our next 2 cohorts of apprentices. Our first group joined this week and the next cohort will be joining us in October 2025. We’re incredibly excited to support them as they begin their careers in tech.

We believe investments in apprenticeships like this go well beyond developing internal talent. They reflect broader commitments to driving long-term, positive impact and social value across the public sector, local communities and the wider technology industry.

Stay up to date with Made Tech apprenticeship news.

The post Tech for good: how apprenticeships can drive social value appeared first on Made Tech.

Q: Hi Bil, what led you to our talent team and building tech careers?

When I was younger I decided not to go to university. This took me to the agency recruitment world where I spent 5 years before transitioning to an internal recruitment role. 

I’ve realised in recent years that this is where I want to be – helping organisations like Made Tech make effective decisions. That’s not just through hiring but also how we build an effective culture of hiring practices. For me it’s about building skills, commitments and new frameworks that align with our hiring goals and vision. 

I began to realise that when you’re a recruiter, you’re 100% recruiting. When you work in talent acquisition, 25% of your job is hiring. The rest involves a lot of fun stuff like strategic decisions, helping people recognise their full potential and progressing careers. 

Q: You played a big role in hiring our apprentices, can you tell us a bit more about that?

One of the topics I’m very passionate about here is definitely our apprentices. Last year I was involved in building Made Tech’s first software engineering apprenticeship programme. Witnessing the growth and confidence of our apprentices since they started with us and throughout the programme is incredibly rewarding. We filmed a video with them when they first started, and it’s great to see how far they’ve come since.

It was a valuable project to be involved in. We started the whole process by defining clear goals and creating a structured timeline. To handle the large number of applicants we used AI tools for initial assessments – but we always kept a human-centred approach. This meant human review, coding assessments with our team and in-person immersion days. 

During the process I was delighted to see so many candidates with great learning potential and a real passion for using technology for good. It’s inspiring to me to see how all candidates really do bring their authentic selves to the immersion days and interviews – demonstrating their eagerness to learn and contribute to the team.

Q: What’s your approach to hiring new team members?

I don’t usually start by asking candidates what they know about Made Tech. I don’t think that’s authentic. I’m trying to find out what’s happening in their lives career-wise and what brings them to the interview. We want to make sure that we’re the right fit for you too. 

Q: Are there any topics that come up a lot during career development conversations?

I hear a lot about the work we’re doing in the public sector and the topic of tech for good has been a common trend as well. 

Candidates often ask about our culture, values and how we practice agile ways of working – both internally and with clients. Learning and development opportunities are also a common topic, with candidates interested in how Made Tech supports their growth beyond salary. 

We try to be as open as possible, our benefits are listed on our careers page and we’re always happy to provide more information.

Q: In your experience, what makes Made Tech stand out?

Without a doubt, it’s the people. The talent team at Made Tech is incredibly supportive and collaborative. They always create a safe environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. The leadership team is also highly supportive of the work we do and are great at fostering that culture of continuous learning and development.

If you’re interested in hearing more about our culture, a good place to start is our Life at Made Tech blog posts. The team frequently write about their experiences, what they’re learning and their career journeys.

Q: You’ve worked with a lot of career changers, do you have any advice?

The most important advice I can offer is to be curious and embrace a learning mindset. Ask questions, seek feedback and continuously expand your knowledge. Remember, there’s no such thing as a stupid question.

Explore our careers page, blog and our case studies. That will help you gain a deeper understanding of our culture, values, projects and if we sound like somewhere you’d like to work.

Follow us on LinkedIn to learn firsthand about our team’s experiences and stay up to date on what our subject matter experts are talking about. For example, a great piece of content we released last year is full of helpful tips and guidance on what you need to know ahead of a software engineering interview.

Lastly, don’t hesitate to reach out to those of us in team talent directly if you have any questions or need reasonable adjustments during the application process. We’re always happy to help.

Q: You mentioned reasonable adjustments, is inclusivity something you’re personally passionate about?

Absolutely. Inclusivity is core to how we do things at Made Tech. Inclusivity is never ‘complete’. It’s an area we’re consistently looking to improve, so if you have any feedback please do let us know. 

So far we’ve taken several steps to make sure our recruitment process reflects that thinking. A couple of ways we do this is through our certifications and partnerships.

For example, we’re a Disability Confident employer. That means if you’re living with a disability, meet the minimum job requirements and if you’re comfortable doing so, we encourage you to let us know. That way we can progress you to the next stage of the process. This is something which I think is really awesome. I haven’t seen this being a regular practice at other businesses I’ve been part of.

Another thing which is pretty great is the communities we work with. We’ve partnered with many organisations over the years. A couple to point out are Coding Black Females and Tech She Can (our current charity partner of the year – as voted for by the Made Tech team). They offer sponsorships, talks and grassroots initiatives. I find the community-led approach to diversity and inclusion truly inspiring. 

Instead of relying solely on online tools and platforms, engaging directly with communities dedicated to promoting diversity in the workplace, like Coding Black Females, feels much more impactful and authentic to me. 

Events hosted by these communities are really great too. They give women who are looking to break into tech a space to network with organisations who want to close that gender gap – because there’s a challenge there, even today. 

Being able to have our women in the Made Tech team go to these events and advocate their own personal experiences to that community is great too. It’s especially encouraging to see our female tech talent sharing their experiences and knowledge.

Q: Any final thoughts on building tech careers?

If you’re passionate about using tech for good and making a positive impact on society, I encourage you to consider a career at Made Tech. We’re always looking for talented individuals who share our values and are eager to contribute to our mission.

If everything Bil said in this post was a green flag for you, take a look at our open roles. We’re looking for passionate people to help us make a positive impact in society.

The post Tech careers with purpose appeared first on Made Tech.

If you’re looking to sharpen your programming skills and learn to ship high-quality code on projects that make a difference, we’re opening applications for our new Level 4 DevOps programme on 13 November 2023. 

Why choose an apprenticeship?

Modern apprenticeships have come a long way since they were first introduced in the 90s. There’s now over 800 apprenticeship standards and they cover all types of careers across many different sectors. One of the great benefits of apprenticeships is that they’re designed by employers to meet the needs they’re seeing in the workplace. This means you’ll be learning in-demand skills from experts in your field – while earning!

Apprenticeships are a popular option over traditional university courses and can work for any education level. They span from level 2 GCSE, right through to level 7 Masters degree, so there’s something for everyone. Our DevOps apprenticeship is level 4, which means we require you to have a level 2 Functional skills (or equivalent) in Maths and English and not hold a degree in a related subject. 

There’s also no age limits on apprenticeship programmes, so they’re a great option for school leavers and careers changers alike. As long as you meet the criteria, you can take your first steps and earn while you learn.

“Creating rewarding careers in digital for people from all backgrounds regardless of their access to formal education is something we feel truly passionate about.“

Chris Blackburn, Chief Operating Officer at Made Tech

Start your career in tech

For years we’ve been helping train and support people on their journey to a career in tech. Making sure we’re bringing new talent into our sector with people from different careers and lived experiences is how we see new ideas and perspectives. Launching our own apprenticeship programme felt like the natural next step. 

We’re excited to open this programme to people from all backgrounds, whether this is your first job, a change of direction or a return to work. As long as you’re excited by the idea of shipping high-quality code that can make a real difference to the public sector  – we want to hear from you.

You’ll learn from team members who have spent years perfecting their software engineering knowledge and skills. Our apprenticeship also comes with the added benefit of giving you experience of working with a variety of client organisations solving a range of societal challenges – from housing to healthcare. Our expert mentors will teach you everything you need to know to grow in your role as a great consultant. 

“Having taken over 100 people through our Academy since 2017, we’re really excited to launch the next chapter as an accredited apprenticeship. With digital and technology skills in short supply in the UK, as a society we need to do more to grow our own.“

Chris Blackburn, Chief Operating Officer at Made Tech

What to expect 

We’re taking a blended approach to this programme, which means you’ll experience a mix of face-to-face learning and virtual sessions and tutorials over 18 months. The first 10 weeks will act as a bootcamp, helping set you up with a strong foundation. During this time we’ll teach you the software engineering basics you’ll need before you go on to live projects, including responsible coding, test-driven development and consultancy skills. 

To make sure you’re getting the most out of the programme, you’ll have a review with your technical coach and line manager every 6 weeks. They’ll also be ongoing assessments during and after each module so we can make sure you’re on track, provide any extra support if it’s needed and prepare you for your final assessment. 

From week 11 you’ll start working as part of a team on real client projects. This is where you’ll apply everything you’ve learnt so far. From this point in the programme you’ll also attend structured learning days where we’ll teach you theoretical knowledge on 7 modules that you can apply to your new day-to-day role. Learning days will take place every month and be a mixture of in-person and virtual learning. 

Once you’ve successfully completed your final assessment and the apprenticeship programme, you’ll have earned a level 4 DevOps qualification and have developed a clear pathway for your career at Made Tech. 

If you have any questions about the apprenticeship you can reach out to Bil Badul from our talent team at bilal.badul@madetech.com. Or if you’d like to know a bit more about what life is like at Made Tech, you can take a look at recent blog posts by the team. 

The post Launching our new DevOps apprenticeship programme appeared first on Made Tech.

The academy teaches you the basics of coding and you don’t need professional experience to join. It runs for 12 weeks and then you go on to work with clients on amazing projects that make a difference. Never in a million years did I think I’d be able to do that in such a short space of time. 

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on how far I’ve come and share my journey. I truly hope it inspires others to think, “I can do that, too”!

Don’t settle for jobs that don’t fulfil you

What I was doing before joining the academy wasn’t fulfilling for me. I used to get Sunday dread about going to work each Monday – no one wants that. We spend a lot of time at work and it’s exhausting and demotivating to do something you don’t enjoy. 

In my previous roles I often found myself watching the clock and counting down the minutes until the end of the day. That doesn’t benefit you, the organisation or your clients. I believe being passionate about what you do makes you better at it. 

I felt stuck, like I’d dug myself into a hole that I couldn’t get out of. The pandemic cemented how I felt about my career. It took away the little things that were still great about work, such as the social aspects. But in hindsight I’m glad as it gave me the motivation I needed to make a change. It came to a tipping point when I thought, “OK, Emma. You can either accept this is your life now, or you can make a change and start again.” Of course, I chose the second option.

Find what you enjoy and don’t be afraid to fail

I’d be lying if I said it was super easy to find what I enjoy and be sure I could make a career out of it. So I did it in phases to make it a little less overwhelming. This really helped me and I hope what I’m about to share will help you, too.

Phase 1

If you can’t figure out what you do enjoy (like me before joining Made Tech), write down what you don’t enjoy. For example, I know I don’t like doing the same thing every day. I like variety in my role. I also know I love working as a team rather than independently, so I’d need to go into a career that would allow me to collaborate with others. 

Figuring these things out got the ball rolling. I realised how much I love problem solving and learning new things. And that’s what I love most about being a software engineer.

Phase 2

Look into career paths that relate to what you figured out in phase one. Don’t be afraid to try new ways to help get you there – like courses or training programmes. But also, remember it’s okay to fail or accept you may not get it right the first time around.

After I did these things I came to the conclusion that a career in tech would be a perfect fit for me – and more specifically, a career in software engineering. 

Being a woman in tech is a superpower

Changing careers can be really scary, especially as a female wanting a career in an industry that’s dominated by men. According to Tech Nation, 50% of workers in the labour market are women. In tech, it’s about half that at 26%. But being a woman in tech can be your superpower.

There may be more men in the industry, but there’s so much support out there to help women. I started my learning journey with a company called Code First Girls (CFG), the largest provider of free coding courses for women in the UK. I completed their Web Dev Coding Kickstarter course and within 8 weeks I was able to build a simple website which had me hooked on coding. If you want to have a look, it’s called North West Escapes. 

I loved every minute of it. So I took the leap and completed a CFG degree. This was by far the most challenging part of changing careers as I was working full time as a finance officer during the day then spending my weeknights and weekends learning to code.

One of the biggest challenges was the major work/life imbalance that comes from deciding to work full time while doing an intensive course. I usually play netball 3 times a week. For 3 months I was unable to play while I completed the course. But if you want something enough, you make it work.

I visualised the long-term gains I’d get from doing this and how I’d finally feel satisfied with my career. Of course, I didn’t want to burn out. So I made sure I was still taking care of my wellbeing, whether that was relaxing in front of the TV when time allowed or taking my dog for a walk around the park. 

You have more transferable skills than you think

If you’re thinking of changing careers but believe you don’t have the right skills for your dream job, in a lot of cases, you’re probably wrong. There are so many transferable skills you can draw on. You can then fill in the gaps.

Organisations like Made Tech really value those transferrable elements and appreciate that it’s not just your technical skills that make you a great engineer. For example, I had local government experience which is a big focus for Made Tech and I’d also developed a continuous improvement mindset which is highly valued here too. 

Another transferable skill is my attention to detail given my heaps of finance experience. Looking at the small details really helps when you’re racking your brains trying to figure out what your code is missing – it could end up being something as minor as a comma. 

Growing my confidence

My confidence has grown a lot since joining Made Tech. I’ve been given the training and time to explore my working and communication styles. It’s given me more insight into what works best for me. I’ve also been given opportunities to grow the skills I was less confident in before, like presenting and facilitating meetings. 

I’ve worked alongside some amazing people on similar journeys into tech, which has made me feel really supported. And I also want to give a shout out to the more experienced engineers who have shared their knowledge and experience with me. Learning from my teammates has been a game-changer.

I’ve been putting into practise what I’ve learned so far, including new computer languages and systems. It’s been awesome seeing how everything comes together to build something great.

The next part of my journey 

I can’t wait to start working on a range of different client projects. For now I have some time to work on my skills and gain some extra qualifications.

It’s a daunting but exciting place to be. There are so many different routes to explore. I’m excited to get stuck into projects that are helping make society better. Don’t be scared to take the leap and change careers if it’s something you really want to do. I promise, it’s worth it! 

Thinking about joining the Made Tech team? Learn more about our academy and see our open roles.

The post Changing careers: my journey to becoming a software engineer appeared first on Made Tech.

Less than a year later, we’ve graduated and are working on client projects to improve lives for public sector teams, citizens and society. I’m delighted to have found a project that suits my skills and interests with the Met Office, helping to improve the accessibility of their website. 

Reflecting as you often do when a new year rolls around, this got me thinking about my journey and where I am now. 

My journey into content design 

Before coming to Made Tech I worked as a clinical animal behaviourist both in a private practice and for an animal welfare charity. After developing severe allergies to animals I decided to take a step back and explore other, more hypoallergenic career opportunities. 

I discovered user-centred design (UCD) while microtasking to make some extra cash as a stay at home mum. I took part in different types of user research studies like face-to-face interviews, card sorts and website user testing studies. My husband who works in software was familiar with Made Tech and told me they’d created a user research and design academy.

The academy gave us a grounding in the world of UCD, covering everything from user research, service design, interaction design and content design. The emphasis was on design that solves the needs of real people in the public sector. It gave us a safe space to learn through workshops and tutorials with exercises alone, in pairs and groups. Experienced design and user research teams ran specialist workshops on their areas of expertise. 

At the end of the academy I joined Made Tech as a permanent member of the team. I have a real interest in climate change and sustainability, so I showed my interest in working on a project with the Met Office exploring accessibility and content design. 

Here’s the thing about accessibility

Accessibility is about making your digital service work for as many people as possible. At its core accessibility is usability for all – everyone can face challenges when accessing a website. 

Many people change their settings to make websites and apps easier to use – maybe you do, too? Someone might increase the font size, zoom in or navigate with a keyboard instead of a mouse. And some people use assistive technologies like screen readers or voice recognition to access the internet. This includes people with impaired vision, motor difficulties, cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, deafness or impaired hearing. 

Good digital accessibility means that everyone can perceive, understand and use websites and mobile apps.

Accessibility in the public sector

Digital accessibility is an important part of inclusion. Following good accessible design practices benefits everyone and makes user experience better, quicker and less frustrating.

When it comes to public sector services, accessibility is a legal requirement. Citizens don’t have a choice when accessing public services – they have to use your site. Since September 2018 public sector services need to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to at least AA standard. The WCAG outlines ways that websites can be made more accessible and is broken down into three levels: A, AA and AAA. Each additional ‘A’ gives us more criteria to follow. 

Public sector organisations must also audit their website, publish an accessibility statement and review it regularly. This statement tells users:

• how accessible the site or app is
• about any inaccessible parts of the website or app
• how they can get alternatives to content that’s not accessible
• who to contact to report accessibility issues

Accessibility in the public sector means making your content and design clear and simple enough so most people can use it without needing to adapt it, while supporting those who do. 

Making the Met Office website more accessible 

Beginning my first ever client project at Made Tech, it was great to feel like a key member in a truly multidisciplinary team. Working closely with others who have skills in programming, project management, user research and content design; learning was a daily occurrence. 

I hadn’t worked on an agile project before and the initial sprint felt difficult to navigate as I adjusted to the new ceremonies, processes and language involved. My team was patient, understanding and supportive. As I became used to the agile methodology, I started to understand its benefits. Of these, there were plenty of opportunities to discuss our work, figure out how complex tasks were and discuss together how long they would take. 

Getting stuck into all things accessibility I was able to work closely with the Met Office team. I helped solve some accessibility challenges with their website content that included:

• page titles which didn’t accurately describe the content
• lack of headings within articles which created large blocks of text, making the page difficult to read
• images without alt text (a description of the image) meaning users unable to see visual content couldn’t use this information

We helped make these parts more accessible by:

• creating new page titles that describes content of the page – helping users decide whether that content is relevant to them
• dividing pages into easy to read sections with descriptive headings
• adding alt text to images to help screen reader users understand images – this also helps those who need to use settings which turn off visual images and can improve search engine optimisation (SEO)

The wider team are also working on a content strategy to upskill those creating content for the Met Office in accessibility. This means any future content or edits are created with accessibility in mind from the very start.

The value our work is going to add to not only the Met Office but those who use their services is clear. And it felt good to be part of something that’s improving inclusivity in the public sector.  

Looking to the future

Reflecting on my first piece of user-centred design work I had a great experience. I was empowered to take responsibility from the very start and during collaborative discussions the sense of autonomy was clear. I had opportunities to recognise new areas of work where greater clarity and consistency within the content might improve the user experience while helping the client meet their goals. 

On my first ever project, working with a great client, having a clear culture around collaboration and agile principles has really supported my development as a content designer. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow my skills , knowledge of content design and accessibility and working on sustainability and climate projects I’m passionate about. 

The post Accessibility at the Met Office: my first Made Tech project appeared first on Made Tech.

Now – whether you want to launch a career in coding, design, or user research – we have an academy for you. Unlike other academies, here you’re an employee not a customer. You’ll earn a full salary while you learn.

Dates for your diary

• 7 February – academy applications open ?
• 20 February – academy applications close 
• 16 May – academy begins ?
• 5 August – academy ends
• 8 August – the first day of your new career as a practitioner in your field ?

What to expect

We’ve designed the new academy to give you a grounding in all areas of user-centred design (UCD). Don’t worry if that’s not a term you’re familiar with. It just means that our approach to design is all about solving real needs of real people – it’s how we approach design at Made Tech.

The academy will give a grounding in:

• user research
• service design
• interaction design
• content design

We think it’s important for our design team to be familiar with all aspects of user-centred design. So we’ve designed the academy to do exactly that.

Maybe you have a particular discipline you’d like to specialise in. Maybe you haven’t made up your mind. Either way, the academy is the perfect place to start a career in user-centred design. It will help you choose a specialism if that’s what you want. Or it will give you a great foundation as a UCD generalist if that’s best for you.

We provide a safe space to learn. As well as our workshops and tutorials, you’ll do exercises solo, in pairs and in groups. You’ll learn from experienced design and user research practitioners. And you’ll get hands-on experience on real-world cases – potentially, live projects. If all goes well, you’ll join Made Tech as a permanent member of the team when the academy finishes. You’ll join a project team as a UCD practitioner.

Open to all, regardless of experience

We’re not looking for professional experience. Above all, we’re looking for an eagerness to learn. If you care about collaborating, communicating and working hands-on to solve problems, we’d love to hear from you.

Though the academy is a great way to kick off a career in design or user research, this doesn’t have to be your first job. We’re keen to hear from people changing careers, or coming back to work after some time out.

And we’re particularly keen to hear from people from under-represented backgrounds.

Apply for the academy

The academy is one way we can do our bit to build digital skills in the UK. And we’re doing what we can to open up design and  technology careers to people from all backgrounds. One way we do that is to remove as many barriers to entry as we can. The main thing we’re looking for is a desire to learn. 

I’m so proud that we’ve been able to encourage 51 people into a new career. By adding design and user research to our academy, I hope we can push that number much much higher.

The post Announcing a new Made Tech academy for design and user research appeared first on Made Tech.

When we started this journey, things like test-driven development, agile ceremonies, sprint backlogs and clean architecture were new and scary. But we’ve just finished a 5-week project where we designed and created our own web applications using all of these and more. At the same time, we’ve learnt about working together to find the right solution, giving and receiving feedback and picking up new tech stacks on the fly. If someone had told me at the beginning of the Academy that I could do all that, I don’t think I would have believed them! 

In the last three months, we’ve learnt so much about what it takes to become a software delivery expert. Now going forward into our new lives as Software Engineers at Made Tech, we look back at what drove us to apply in the first place and what we’ve gained from the experience. 

Q: Why did you apply to the Academy?

CHLOE: I really wanted to work in software engineering but I hadn’t done much coding before so the Academy seemed like a great opportunity because no prior experience is needed. A big factor was also that Made Tech works with the public sector and there’s a sense that with the projects you do you are really making a difference in people’s lives and that was really important to me. 

BELLA: I applied to the Academy because it was really encouraging to see that they were specifically looking for applicants with no commercial experience but who were passionate about coding. I saw a posting in my local coding group so I thought ‘hey, why not give it a try?’

CLAIRE: I applied to the Academy because I wanted to change careers into software development. I was also interested in the projects Made Tech have done and the Academy seemed like a great opportunity to develop my knowledge. 

DEREK: The reason why I applied for the Academy was because I wanted something that was going to help foster my learning and development as a developer. I have gone down the self-taught path and I didn’t feel like I was completely ready to apply for a ‘proper’ developer role. I saw the Academy as a place where I could enhance those technical skills and technical knowledge to get me to that place.

DUNCAN: I applied for the Academy because it was a chance to learn practices used in the industry before joining live projects. Also because Made Tech puts a strong emphasis on continuous learning not just during the Academy, which is important to me as it was my first job in tech.

EMMA: I applied to the Academy because I’ve always been interested in software development and I’ve done a lot of programming whenever I’ve had the chance. I would try to teach myself how to do the next thing and I wanted to transfer into the tech industry but I was struggling to bridge the gap between self-taught and the software industry. The Academy sounded perfect because that’s exactly what it taught.

RICHARD: The reason I applied to the Academy was I was looking for an opportunity to move into software development. I really liked the fact that the Academy meant there would be a big group of us starting from the same sort of point. I liked Made Tech’s mission statement and the projects it was involved with. 

ZACK: I applied to the Academy because I wanted to be a software professional. I liked the content, I liked the focus on good software design, engineering practices and meeting user needs and not so much about following the latest fads or fashions in technology. Although we do use the latest stuff as well.

Q: How is the Academy benefiting you?

CHLOE: The Academy has hugely boosted my confidence with coding, writing clean code, running retrospectives, pair programming, and so much more. I’m also feeling a lot happier in general because I’m doing a job that I love and it doesn’t even feel like a job, at least for now. 

BELLA: Before I joined the Academy, my primary experience with coding was doing front-end web development. I didn’t really know how to work in a team, what constituted good code, whether my applications were well organised or even what the point of testing was, among other things. The Academy has taught me the immense value of all these things and has encouraged good coding practices.

CLAIRE: I’ve learnt a lot from the Academy already and it’s been great learning alongside the other Academy engineers. It means there is always someone to bounce ideas around with. 

DUNCAN: I’m learning new ways of programming and implementing them immediately in projects, which helps to consolidate my knowledge. I feel that I am really benefiting from both teaming up with other members of the Academy and receiving guidance from experienced engineers. 

EMMA: I’m finding the Academy really beneficial. There were a lot of gaps in my knowledge when it came to how to write scalable software, software that can be maintained. I always just wrote hacky scripts to do what I wanted and would often have issues later on. Learning practices like TDD and clean architecture have been really beneficial and will really help me going forward.

RICHARD: I feel like the Academy is benefiting me because I’m learning new programming skills, I’m working collaboratively, which is something I hadn’t done a huge amount before with software, which is great. Also learning how to deliver projects, not just code. They’re all going to be really important things going forward.

ZACK: I’m really happy now! I can’t believe I get paid to learn alongside fantastically intelligent and talented people. Every morning I wake up raring to go.

Q: How are you finding the Academy?

CHLOE: It’s great! The Academy is basically like uni, but normal working hours and you get paid. The atmosphere is so supportive and everyone is willing to help which makes it the perfect place to learn. Even though it is virtual, we’ve gotten to know each other really well because we’re chatting all the time and we also like to play fun games with each other. 

BELLA: The progress I’ve made in the six weeks I’ve been with the Academy has been immense. Not only in terms of technical know-how, but my own approach to working with others. My colleagues are some of the most positive and approachable people I’ve worked with. There is a huge culture of feedback here that really helps us grow. I couldn’t imagine a better start in software engineering than at Made Tech. 

CLAIRE: I’m really enjoying the Academy so far. Every day feels like we have something new and interesting to explore. Clare and Charlene, our Academy mentors, have been amazing. 

DUNCAN: It’s been a really great experience as although we are learning so much, there is a relaxed atmosphere where everyone is helpful and we’re focused on the learning process rather than worrying about the outcomes. 

EMMA: I’m finding the Academy really fun. It’s really great to work with other Engineers. I’ve only ever really done software stuff by myself. It’s been really great to hear from other people’s perspectives and do pair-programming. Solve problems together, mobbing, katas, that sort of thing. That has been really great. Also, just learning loads and having it all broken down for me because it is very easy to get bamboozled by all the words in the software development cycle.

JOANNA: I’m loving the Academy so far. Everyone is so friendly and willing to help. I’ve learnt more in six weeks than in six months of learning to code by myself. Not just about how to write clean and efficient code, but also about working in a team, giving feedback, and how coding an unbeatable AI in tic tac toe is a lot harder than it sounds. 

RICHARD: I’m really enjoying the Academy. It’s great fun. It’s really supportive with the other people who are in the Academy and also the wider Made Tech community. All the Senior Engineers and Lead Engineers I have spoken to have been really helpful and more than willing to help us progress which has been absolutely brilliant. 

ZACK: It’s great! I like that there’s social interaction. We’re not just alone programming at home. We spend a lot of time pair programming and comparing our work. The remote party games that we’ve been playing fairly regularly are pretty good fun too. It’s all good.

BEN: So far, the Academy has been a very enjoyable experience. What I find most exciting is that we get to work on our own small projects and integrate with the wider Made Tech team which really helps accelerate our growth. Made Tech puts a strong focus on personal development as well as feedback, which I think is a really important foundation to build.

Looking ahead

The Academy has been a great learning experience for all of us, the skills we’ve gained will be useful for years to come. It will be a big change to not log in every morning and see everyone’s smiling faces, ready to play a team game or tackle a new challenge together. The next chapter is going to be just as exciting, if not a little scary, but I reckon the Academy has given us the tools we need to tackle anything that’s thrown at us. 

I think we’re all raring to go! ?

The post Academy Week 12: Looking Back appeared first on Made Tech.

The Made Tech Academy is a 12-week programme that trains beginner coders to fully-fledged software engineers who go on to work on exciting Made Tech projects with real-life clients.

What did you do before you joined the Academy?

AZLINA YEO: I was a secondary school mathematics teacher before I joined the Academy. Before that, I was a full-time mum at home. I spent the bulk of my career in Apparel Merchandising.

BELLA COCKRELL: I worked for six years as an editor at an illustrated, non-fiction publishing house, working with authors and designers to create gorgeous craft books. I’m a mean knitter, me!

BEN DALTON: Prior to the Academy and post-uni, I was a revenue executive in a large hotel company. I had worked in the hospitality industry for about two years.

CLAIRE GUEST: My degree was in Chemical Engineering. Before joining the Academy, I worked as a technical consultant, with a lot of my work involving data processing and analysis.

CHLOE WONG: I just graduated this summer from Imperial College London where I studied Chemical Engineering.

EMMA BLOTT: I studied Physics and then Geophysics at university. I worked and travelled for a couple of years between my undergraduate and master’s degrees and then I worked as a geophysicist doing seismic processing for the last four years. Software development is a complete career change for me!

ZACK ADLINGTON: I managed supply chains in the Royal Navy. Getting engine parts flown out to us in exotic locations was an ongoing challenge, if a nice problem to have. My last job was procuring services to move fuel to the Armed Forces around the world.

What made you want to get into software engineering?

AZLINA YEO: I got into software engineering because I enjoy coding, debugging and optimising code. I find it quite addictive and I gain great satisfaction when the code works as expected.

BELLA COCKRELL:  I didn’t know the first thing about coding before I joined a web development course for fun, but then I caught the bug and spent a lot of my spare time coding websites and animations. It’s not so dissimilar to making books, but at least I know there’s a typo in my code because the program won’t work.

BEN DALTON: Out of curiosity, and having a strong desire to learn new skills, I began learning to code in my spare time. I knew I could apply my problem solving skills to what I have come to realise is my area of passion and commitment professionally. I’m thrilled at the prospect of delivering value in one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

CLAIRE GUEST: A small part of my previous job involved programming, which I really enjoyed, and inspired me to learn more in my own time. Because I enjoyed it so much, I was keen to make it the focus of my career.

CHLOE WONG: During the first year of university, I had a very bad experience with coding (MATLAB, if you know you know) and after that I decided to NEVER code again. As time went on though, I started to hear the word ‘Python’ floating around a lot from my course mates, and how absolutely amazing it is, so I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about at the start of lockdown. It didn’t take long for me to realise that this was a ton more fun than anything I’ve learnt on my course and software engineering is what I want to do with my life! 

EMMA BLOTT: I dabbled in coding when I was at university and always found it really fun. In all my previous jobs I have found some way to introduce coding into my work, usually by automating repetitive tasks. I’ve always been really interested in technology and knew I wanted to make the switch into software engineering at some point, now seemed like the perfect time!

ZACK ADLINGTON: I’ve been fascinated by technology since I was a child, but by my teens it wasn’t getting me invited to many parties, so I found other interests! Around 18 months ago I fell back in love with solving problems through software and decided to make it my career.

What made the biggest impact on you during your first week at Made Tech?

AZLINA YEO: The biggest impact was how surprised I was that writing good code was not our first priority in Made Tech. Yes, it is important to write good code. However, what took precedence was the importance of continuous self improvement as an individual, as a team and as a company. 

BELLA COCKRELL: I was really surprised one of the first workshops was about how to give feedback – I now realise that an open feedback culture is the only way we will be able to improve quickly, not only as engineers but also as kind human beings, inside and outside of work. Giving and receiving praise and constructive feedback make us more confident coders.

BEN DALTON: Definitely the people! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming – I immediately felt part of a team. Made Tech embraces such a positive and supportive learning environment.

CLAIRE GUEST: Definitely the people, both the other Academy members and the rest of Made Tech. With the current pandemic, the Academy is being run remotely, but everyone has been friendly and supportive despite the difficulties.

CHLOE WONG: How kind and friendly everyone is! Also, after an extended summer of not doing much, it’s great to be back in a learning environment (especially one where everyone is so supportive).

EMMA BLOTT: It was really great to dive into feedback culture from the get-go. On day one we had a presentation about how to give and receive feedback. Coming from a very different industry it was really great to see the emphasis on feedback being a positive thing that’s used to help us grow!

ZACK ADLINGTON: We had a workshop on how to give and receive feedback on our first day, before we’d even been set up with our Made Tech email addresses. This really hammered home to me how much people and self-improvement are valued here.

What are you most excited about going forward?

AZLINA YEO: I am excited about starting my journey at Made Tech, most importantly growing and developing skills as a software engineer, to create meaningful programs and make a difference in the public sector. It will be interesting to see how much I will improve in one or two years’ time.

BELLA COCKRELL: I’m really excited to learn everything that the Academy has to offer and become a better engineer! We’ve got workshops on user research, clean architecture, test-driven development and data engineering plus lots more coming up in the next few weeks – I can’t wait!

BEN DALTON: I’m most excited about my growth, the fact that I will have a positive influence on the lives of others and on the success of the company. The learning never stops, the goals will be measurable and the opportunities really are endless!

CLAIRE GUEST: I’m looking forward to the last part of the Academy, where we get to have a go at our first project.

CHLOE WONG: In two short weeks I’ve learnt more than I could have imagined, so the thing I’m most excited about going forward is to see how much progress I will have made by the end of the Academy!

EMMA BLOTT: I’m super excited to get going building some software and work with a team of developers. Being self taught, I’ve only really coded alone so it will be great to build something and learn from more experienced developers than me. I’m also excited about working in the public sector and building tech that helps people.

ZACK ADLINGTON: Learning how agile projects deliver complex but well-designed systems. I love trying to make code clean, and I’m really excited to take it to the next level and learn good software design principles.

The post Getting to know the September 2020 Academy cohort appeared first on Made Tech.