Applications Are Now Open!

Overview.

Welcome to the Click Start Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone (DAZ), a pioneering collaboration between the Creative Computing Institute at University of the Arts London, UKBlackTech, and the London Borough of Southwark. This course is part of the new nationwide Click Start training programme developed by the Institute of Coding (IoC) and funded by Nominet.

We are delivering comprehensive digital skills training to 200 young people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds in Southwark and across south London. The Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone helps to guide learners, place them in work, and enable them to meet the digital transformation needs of local communities. It is aimed specifically at those who already have technical knowledge or an enthusiasm for technology and are currently seeking employment.

Are you:

• Aged 18 – 30?

• From a black or ethnic minority background?

• Living or working in south London?

• Interested in developing your technical skills?

• Looking to take the next step in your career?

Our mission is to empower and educate the next generation of tech talent in Southwark and across London, and to equip you with the skills needed to make a tangible impact on the local economy and your community.

“Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone program to me has been the game changer to me when it comes to bootcamp and software development.” - Peckham DAZ Participant, September 2024

The
Course

Customise your learning journey and explore in-demand skills including Web Development, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence, creating a tailored learning experience that aligns with your career goals.

Career preparation workshops and networking events will build your industry awareness, equipping you for success in the digital field. You will develop essential skills in personal branding, Scrum Methodology and GitHub portfolio building, and gain access to digital job opportunities through GetMyFirstDigitalJob.

Upon successful completion of the Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone, you will be awarded a certificate recognising your participation.

Web Development
Advanced Creative Coding
4 days

Daytime
(9am – 1.30pm or 2 – 6pm)
Online only

• 4 x 1-hour lectures, followed by 2-hour small group tutorials plus independent study

• Sessions starting w/c 11th November 2024, 2nd December 2024, 6th January 2025, 3rd February 2025, and 3rd March 2025
  

In this unit, you will learn about:

- Working with HTML and CSS to create simple websites.

- Popular tools for web design.

- Creating interactive website elements with JavaScript.

- Web accessibility standards, accessible web design and checking your website’s accessibility.

Expected workload: Class: 4 hours / class

Independent work: 2-4 hours per week to meet the standard project brief, 4-6 hours per week to meet the advanced project brief

Application deadline: 7 days before the start date of each session

Web Development
Advanced Creative Coding
4 Weeks

Evening (6pm – 9.30 pm)

Online only

• Complete the course across 4 weeks

• 4 x 1-hour lectures, followed by 2.5-hour small group tutorials plus independent study

• Sessions starting w/c w/c 25th November 2024 and w/c 27th January 202z
  

In this unit, you will learn about:

- Working with HTML and CSS to create simple websites.

- Popular tools for web design.

- Creating interactive website elements with JavaScript.

- Web accessibility standards, accessible web design and checking your website’s accessibility.

Expected workload: Class: 3 hours / class
Independent work: 2-4 hours per week to meet the standard project brief, 4-6 hours per week to meet the advanced project brief

Application deadline: 7 days before the start date of each session

Introduction to Data Science
Programming with Data
5 Weeks

Daytime (9am – 1.30pm or 2 – 6pm)

In person

• 5 x 1-hour lectures, followed by 3-hour small group tutorials plus independent study

• Session starts w/c 13th January 2025
  
  

In this unit, you will learn about:

- Setting up Python, basic data types and operations.

- Popular Python Libraries.

- Automated data collection from the web, including web scraping, web crawling, and working with web APIs, as well as approaches to cleaning data.

- Simple data analysis and visualisation.

- Ethical issues around algorithms and data.

Expected workload: Class: 4 hours / class
Independent work: 4-6 hours per week
Application deadline: 6th January 2025

Artificial Intelligence
Natural Language Processing for creatives
5 Weeks

Daytime (9am – 1.30pm or 2 – 6pm)

In person

• 5 x 1-hour lectures, followed by 3-hour small group tutorials plus independent study

• Sessions starting w/c 17th February 2025

Please note: You must have completed Introduction to Data Science to participate in this course, as Natural Language Processing builds on knowledge from this course. 

In this unit, you will learn about:

- Working with and editing text in Python.

- Popular applications of Machine Learning.

- Using Machine Learning classification techniques.

- Comparing text data using word vectors.

- Working with pre-trained AI chatbots and adapting them for your own needs.

Expected workload:Class: 4 hours / class
Independent work: 4-6 hours per week

Apply Now

Submit your application for courses running from November 2024 to March 2025.

Please note that each course has its own application deadline. These are set out in the course information above.

Future Pathways

After completing the Peckham DAZ course, you could undertake a number of different pathways to accelerate your career:

Self-Employment
Fuel your entrepreneurial spirit with the freedom to create your own digital ventures, leveraging our training to turn passion into profit.

Employment (internships, apprenticeships, entry level roles) 
We're also offering challenges from Southwark Council so if you attend the programme and do well, you could benefit from the opportunity to deliver on an industry live brief. There is the potential for you to be paid to deliver on these and be assessed on them as part of your training.

Further Education – Peckham DAZ Masters Level Qualification Route
In addition to free training on the Click Start Peckham DAZ programme, if you achieve a B Grade or above for any of the modules, you will be eligible to gain learning credits for UAL's MA/MSc Computing and Creative Industry (Modular) should you decide to apply.

Volunteering
Utilise your digital skills to contribute to meaningful causes and address community challenges. Volunteering offers a chance to make a positive impact, expand your skill set, and build a strong sense of social responsibility.

“AMAZING great tutors and support. The content is really good and it was paced very well.”
Peckham DAZ Participant, September 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Q – What are the entry requirements?
A - This programme is targeted toward learners who are 18-30 years old in Peckham and the wider south London area, from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and currently seeking employment.

Q – What mentorship support will I get?
A – You will receive employability skills workshops and mentorship from UK Black Tech.

Q – What is the application process?A – To apply for the Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone, simply complete the online application form before the deadline for your chosen course(s). We will review your application and let you know as soon as possible whether you have been successful.

Q – When is the deadline?
A – The application deadline for each course is different, so please check each course you wish to apply for above.

Q – Will I get a certificate at the end of the course?
A – Yes, if you have an attendance of at least 80% you will receive a certificate of completion.

Q – Is it possible to take the course remotely?
A – Courses will take place in person, only the Fast-Tracked Creative Coding course will take place remotely.

Q – Can I change groups after the course starts?
A – We will try to accommodate requests to change groups, but this may not be possible once your course has started.

Q – Will equipment be provided?
A – To take part in the Peckham DAZ courses you will need a laptop. If you do not have access to a laptop, please indicate this on your application form.

Q – What happens after I’ve completed the course?
A – After you've completed a Peckham DAZ course, you will be awarded a certificate of participation. If you achieve a B grade or above, you will be eligible to gain learning credits for the MA/MSc Computing and Creative Industry Modular Programme, if you decide to apply. You will also have access to job opportunities, 1:1 coaching, exclusive events, and employability support.

Q: What are the requirements to receive a certificate at the end of the course?

• Attend at least 80% of the teaching sessions,
  wrap-around support events and Pass their final project.

How You Can Get Involved?

Industry

Sponsors
Do you want to sponsor homegrown talent within Peckham and Southwark?

Tech Organisations
Are you a tech organisation looking to collaborate with us?

The Institute of Coding (IoC), led by the University of Bath, is a collaborative national consortium of industry, educators and outreach providers that are working together to respond to the UK’s digital skills gap through the delivery of employer-led digital skills education. Through this collaborative approach, IoC partners have created more than 150 new courses that have engaged over 1 million diverse learners to date.

Nominet is a public benefit company, driven by a commitment to use technology to improve connectivity, security and inclusivity online. For 25 years, Nominet has, developing an expertise in the Domain Name System (DNS) that now underpins sophisticated threat monitoring, detection, prevention, and analytics that is used by governments to mitigate cyber threats. Our social impact programme provides funding, support, and opportunities to help tackle some of the most important digital issues facing young people in the UK today.

This course is part of the new nationwide Click Start training programme developed by the Institute of Coding (IoC) – a national consortium of industry, educators and outreach providers and funded by Nominet. The new programme rolls out through 2024 and helps to tackle the UK’s digital skills gap by offering skills and training to more than 25,000 learners across the country who may not have previously had opportunities.

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