A NEW training programme has been launched for black women to learn how to code.

The course, which is provided by Niyo Enterprise – a platform that seeks to economically empower black women through technology and skills – is in partnership with Black Female Coders and is expected to run for six months.

The bootcamp style course, which is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), was created because black women are underrepresented in the technology sector.

Despite a small increase from 0.3% in 2019 to 0.7% in 2020, founders Oyin Adebayo , Olaolu Dada and Charlene Hunter – believe that more needs to be done to up-skill black women in tech.

The course was first launched in 2020 and took on 50 black females aged 18 and above that were unemployed or in low skilled employment. They were enrolled on the 30 week programme.

29-year-old Ciara joined the programme last year when she felt she had reached a “dead end” in her everyday job.

She said: “I was a working mother of one working full time as a counter manager in retail. I really wanted a career change. Something challenging, something to get my brain working again and potentially something better paid for me and my kids.

“If you’re looking to get into tech through the bootcamp, I’d say do it! You have nothing to lose, it is so interesting and great to just have the skills. Coding is literally behind almost everything we do so understanding it and being able to work it is an amazing skill.”

Through intense online learning, the Black Codhers programmes aims to have their graduates eligible for higher paying roles in Full Stack Development.

As 40% of the UK’s black households experience income poverty or work in low skill employment, getting their graduates into higher-paid roles is an integral part of the programme.

34-year-old Charlene was a freelance graphic designer before becoming unemployed due to the pandemic. She sought help through the black-owned initiative.

She said: “I was ready to retrain and invest in a career path that would provide security, creative expression and social change. The bootcamp has been amazing – so hard, yet so fulfilling. The lightbulb moments have been great for my self esteem. I can see the potential in tech and in what we have been learning.”

Deadline for applications is February 28 and the course is due to commence in July 2021.

To find out more and to apply for the Black Codhers programme, please visit Niyo Enterprise