Good practice Imported

Code4jobs

Spain · Bilbao · Local · See the Spain profile

Initially based in Spain, Code4jobs will provide intensive training on digital skills (Coding Bootcamps), a technical training model created in the United States in 2012 and replicated in other parts of the world with an average of 73% employment rate after course completion. Mai

Students in first bootcamp (2018)

>80%

Graduates employed after first cohort (June 2018 cohort)

12 weeks

Bootcamp duration

3000 EUR

Bootcamp cost

75%+

Target employment insertion rate (programme goal)

Details

Maturity: Scaling
Promoter: BBK Bootcamp — website
Type: Service
Status: Ongoing
Target groups: Unemployed and those facing social problems
Period: 2017-01-01
Region (NUTS): ES21
Keywords: digital skills, employment, unemployed, qualifications, software developer

Context

Code4jobs is a startup created in Bilbao in 2017 to train people for the jobs of the 21st century born of the digital revolution. In early 2018, Bilbao City Council, GAIA and Icaza Colaborando joined as partners, aiming to prepare the Basque Country for future jobs so that no one runs out of necessary skills and companies do not struggle to hire the profiles they need.

Objectives

To provide intensive digital-skills training (coding bootcamps) mainly to unemployed and underemployed people, with a regional focus on building partnerships with major regional economic agents to ensure the bootcamp's sustainability and students' job placement, aiming for an employment insertion rate of more than 75%.

Activities

The first coding bootcamp was a coalition between the BBK Foundation and Code4jobs. Over 12 intensive weeks, 20 students become junior software developers; the course costs 3,000 euros, payable via BBK scholarships, and if a student does not find a job within the 6 months after finishing the bootcamp, they do not have to pay. The first bootcamp ended on 29 June, with the next cohort starting 1 October. The training includes developing a final project to showcase and fully practical training covering teamwork, public communication, and critical thinking.

Results

More than 80% of the June cohort were reported to be working after completing the bootcamp.

Conclusions

The model emphasises partnerships with regional economic agents to sustain the bootcamp and ensure job placement for participants.

Implementation

Indicative cost: Low (< €50k)
Time to results: Long (> 3 years)
Staffing & skills: 8 operational staff

Conditions for success

Partnership with regional economic actors (foundations, city council, industry clusters) for funding and job placement
Scholarship funding (BBK Foundation) removing the upfront cost barrier for unemployed participants
A 'no job, no pay' guarantee aligning the programme's incentives with employment outcomes