The Digital Engineer Education Programme (DEEPer) is a bootcamp style course designed to upskill Lancashire residents and enable them to enter the digital and software engineering industry.  It is an intensive course focusing on PHP, but also covering HTML, CSS and JavaScript.  Additionally, it teaches development workflow, version control, testing and other skills required to enable students to enter the fast-developing digital sector. 

Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have many transferable skills; the current cohort includes people who have had successful careers in other sectors and recent graduates.

Feedback from local companies in the sector cited that there was generally a lack of work readiness in those wanting to enter the industry.  Therefore, alongside the technical instruction, students are coached in employability skills to ensure they are “work ready”.

The ultimate aim is for former students to find employment in the digital industry, with a local company.  This is where you can help - if you have any suitable vacancies, please let us know!  You could be entitled to financial assistance to help with any workplace training or mentoring, should you choose to recruit a DEEPer graduate.  Additionally, we are looking for companies who could offer short work placements opportunities, offer mock interviews or review CV’s and provide feedback in order to help prepare graduates for their future careers.  We understand your time is precious and many companies are facing difficulties at present, therefore we may be able to offer financial compensation for your time.   

Lancashire consortium DEEPer is one of 14 projects to receive funding from the Fast Track Fund, £3million joint venture between the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership. The course was created by Enterprise4All (North West) Ltd and Community & Business Partners working alongside industry specialists Magma Digital. 

To find out more about how your company can get involved, visit www.deeper.digital or email deeperlancs@gmail.com.