Frequently Asked Questions

The 12-week programmes started on Saturday 22nd June

The 6-week programmes started on Saturday 22nd June.  A further course 6-week programme will start on Saturday 7th September.

Applications are open now.

The courses are 12 weeks or 6 weeks.

12-week programme: we ask all learners to commit to seven hours per week, made up of four hours of live online teaching with your tutor, one hour of industry guest speaker and two hours of self-study and assignments. There will be a choice of days for your live online teaching and all sessions will be recorded for catch-up via our online learning portal TechUPOnline.

There are also two weekend in-person events in Durham.

6-week programme: learners are asked to commit to 13 hours per week, made up of eight hours of live online teaching with your tutor, one hour of industry guest speaker and four hours of self-study and assignments. There will be a choice of days for your live online teaching and all sessions will be recorded for catch-up via our online learning portal TechUPOnline.

There are also up to two weekend in-person events in Durham.

No, however it is strongly recommended that participants try to attend to benefit from the opportunities available – networking, peer to peer support and meeting potential employers. Some programme content is also delivered at the in person events so you may risk missing content if you do not attend.

All sessions will be recorded for catch-up via our online learning portal TechUPOnline.

Parents with breastfeeding children are able to bring their baby and an additional adult to care for them during sessions.  We are unable to accommodate older children or others you may be caring for.

If you have other concerns regarding your caring responsibilities please talk with your career coach who will be able to advise further.

If you feel you can keep up with the course programme you can participate.

After completion of active teaching phase of ClickStart, the learners move into 6-month employment support from Catch22 career coaches. The coaches offer tailored support both for the job search and after employment is secured.

All our learners become alumnae of TechUP and are encouraged to participate in alumnae activities. There will be a series of online webinars following the active teaching phase. There will also be an optional Git Hub portfolio challenge to support development of soft technical skills and portfolio.

The nationwide ClickStart project run by the University of Leeds: Click Start scholarships | University of Leeds offer a selection of short online courses.

There is no cost to enrol on the programme, and accommodation and catering at the residential weekend is provided free of charge. Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses.

Bursaries are available on request from Catch22 to help with travel costs and tech equipment.  Ask your career coach for more information.

Applicants must be aged 18–40yrs, but priority will be given to those aged 18–30yrs.

Yes, applicants must live in one of the following postcodes:

• BB – Blackburn
• BD – Bradford
• BL – Bolton
• CA – Carlisle
• DH – Durham
• DL – Darlington
• FY – Blackpool
• HD – Huddersfield
• HG – Harrogate
• HX – Halifax
• L – Liverpool
• LA – Lancaster
• LS – Leeds
• M – Manchester
• NE – Newcastle
• OL – Oldham
• PR – Preston
• SR – Sunderland
• TS – Teesside/Cleveland
• WA – Warrington
• WF – Wakefield
• WN – Wigan
• YO – Yorkshire

No, anyone in employment can be eligible for the programme as long as you meet the pre-requisites, including the personal income cap of £25,000 per annum.

Yes, if you are currently eligible to work in the UK without sponsorship and have a permanent address within the North of England, you are eligible to apply for the programme.

Yes, as long as you meet the pre-requisites and are looking to train in entry level IT skills you can apply at any stage in your career.

Yes, as long as you meet the pre-requisites and are looking to train in entry level IT skills you can apply.

Similar Institute of Coding courses can be found on their website.

The application involves a three-stage process:

• Completing the initial contact form

• Engaging with a Catch22 career coach

• Completing a full application form, writing a personal statement, and submitting a selfie video

Yes, you do need to have contact with a Catch22 career coach to complete your application, however the level of support they provide is flexible, so those needing less support will be able to complete the application form and submit the required documentation quite quickly. Those needing more support will have access to that.

The curriculum provides a strong foundation in general IT and IT support, plus workplace readiness skills, equipping you for a level 3 or 4 apprenticeship.

There are 2 main types of content:

• Technical (problem solving; critical thinking; computer systems; the IT support role; Accessibility, Inclusion & Diversity; introduction to coding, Software Development, Data Analysis and User Research/Design).

• Professional (teamwork; tech career pathways; technical CVs and digital badges; responsive cover letters; elevator Pitches and selling yourself; mentoring; job search skills; interview skills; presentations skills; group interviews and assessment days; preparation for work)

The final curriculum is confirmed as part of your learner agreement when you are offered a place on the programme.

A career coach (provided by Catch22) talks to you, providing guidance for your development, often focused on soft skills rather than technical skills. They will work with you from the point of showing interest in the programme.

A mentor (provided by TechUP) will meet with your for an average of 30 minutes per week to discuss any queries you have about working in the tech sector. You will be matched with a mentor partway through the programme and continue meeting beyond the end date of the teaching programme.

A TechUP tutor will deliver all your weekly live technical teaching sessions and will be your first point of contact for any queries in relation to technical course materials. Your tutor is available via email and Slack or can arrange a one-to-one for any technical teaching support you may need. Your tutor will work closely with your career coach to ensure all your support needs are met.

The online content is delivered through live online tutor session via Zoom and via our online learning platform TechUPOnline. You will require no specialist software to access these platforms.

All technical sessions are 3-hours long (with breaks). They are delivered via Zoom by a tutor.

The majority of the content is delivered online through live video tutor sessions, but the welcome event and celebration weekend are in-person events held in Durham.

During the last session, you will complete a 30-question multiple-choice assessment. Throughout the course you will have a series of quizzes as a form of revision for this final assessment.

The Click Start by TechUPWomen programme has a Tech10 Accreditation from the British Computer Society (BCS).