Unemployed local residents taught to code by Westminster City Council in collaboration with Amazon Web Services

Unemployed local residents taught to code by Westminster City Council in collaboration with Amazon Web Services

Westminster City Council is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to equip local people, particularly those who are unemployed or from underrepresented groups, with highly sought-after skills in cloud computing.

Westminster City Council is excited to work with AWS in the UK on its global skills-based development and training programme, AWS re/Start.

AWS re/Start is a free, full-time, classroom-based skills development and training programme that prepares individuals for careers in the cloud and connects them to potential employers.

The council launched its first AWS re/Start cohort in October 2021, which focused on unemployed or underrepresented individuals. The group of trainees consisted of twenty-five learners: 76% were unemployed, 92% from ethnic minority groups and 36% female.

Over the twelve-week programme, at a Westminster Adult Education Service facility in Pimlico, the learners were taught fundamental and transferable cloud computing skills by an expert trainer from Westminster Adult Education Service, with ongoing support from AWS, including working knowledge of the Linux operating system, scripting, automation, programming languages focused on Python, and knowledge of security fundamentals.

Alongside learning technical skills, Westminster Employment Service (WES) provided coaching in various soft skills such as writing a CV and interview coaching, time management and effective collaboration.  Learners also had the opportunity to meet with prestigious employers such as Accenture to explore potential career opportunities and pathways.

Justyna, one of the learners, who is a Westminster resident from Maida Vale, said:

“I had been unemployed for over a year before starting AWS re/Start. I found out about the programme through Westminster’s resident newsletter. I then went along to the council’s next job fair to find out more and signed up.

“It’s been a great opportunity. I have learnt so much and for me, learning to code has been the most exciting bit”.

After the success of the first group, the council is now recruiting for its second group of learners to start on Monday 21^st February.

Councillor Matthew Green, Cabinet Member for Business, Licensing and Planning at Westminster City Council said:

“Westminster City Council is committed to giving our residents the skills that they need to get into work or to access better, higher paying jobs. This opportunity for the Council to join forces with Amazon Web Services has offered fantastic opportunities to our residents, especially as Westminster is home to 8% of all software-as-a-service businesses in the UK.

“As a result of the expert training received, I’m confident that the first group of learners will secure exciting employment opportunities and I encourage more local residents, particularly those who are underrepresented in the cloud computing industry, to apply for the next round of the programme”.

Applications are now open to Westminster residents interested in joining the next AWS re/Start cohort. The programme is free and applicants do not need any technical background or knowledge. The deadline for applications is 31^st January: AWS re/Start (waes.ac.uk).