Techmix Magazine February 2016 by Digital Skills Agency

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S B E S T J O BT C O U R S E S COOLES NEWS L AT E S T

SPOR HEAL T & T TECH H SPEC IAL

GEORGE T H E

POET 450 MILLION & ME

George The Poet, the voice of the Rugby World Cup

DIGITAL CAREERS ROADSHOW Meet 100 digital employers at Camden Roundhouse!

IS GAMING A SPORT?

eSports: The Big Debate

Plus...

FOOTBALL GOES DIGITAL Tech careers at the FA

1 WORKING AT BBC SPORT ◆ BARCLAYS APPRENTICESHIPS ◆ LATEST APPS ◆ UNI COURSES 1 ◆ CAREERS AT CISCO ◆ CAREER CAMP ◆ DR WHO GAMEMAKER

[our team]

re em T cr p o ui lo p tin y g ers no w info@techmixmag.com Publisher Edward Baker

Apprenticeships

% to bs 94 on e jo go tim llfu

Techmix is published by: Digital Skills Agency Ltd 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX

Hello! THINKING ABOUT YOUR

Commercial Director James Greene Technical Director Damian Marciniec

FUTURE CAREER?

Production Editor Alasdair Lees Assistant Editor Kris Pathirana Creative Direction Charlotte Mckay, Nick Mckay, Rik Hopkinson Strategic Direction Henry Baker Content Producer Emma Tarrant Contributing Writers Catherine Knivett Charlie Digpal Punita Maisura Pete Lines Elizabeth Ogunfidodo Hope Lowe Assistant Producer Pauline Menini Programme Manager Ellen Kerr

Special Thanks Adam Cooper Justin Squires Paul Alison IT Systems Analyst Dan Chaput Name: Ryan Toby Hurd Dave Wiseman Salary: £170 p/w Gavin Lucas Location: Glasgow RJ Noble Phil Barker Tom Woodnut Nick Defty Karen Wilson Cover image Ebury Press Demo Day image Andy Day Virtual Reality image Sergey Galyonkin Printers Wyndeham Press Group Distribution The Education Company

MonkeyBoy! ‫@‏‬ If, like me, you’ve already broken some of your Jackanarious A masssssive tha New Year resolutions, or you’re about to, then don’t nkyou to @edward_bake r_ from @ TechmixMag despair! This edition of Techmix, a perfectly timed for the amazing and legendary week at #TechCamp wish it was sta sport and health tech special, looks at the best tech rting again:( solutions to help you steer yourself back on track in 2016. Here at Techmix HQ we know that a contributing factor to professional success (landing the job of your dreams) is a healthy heart and mind. So this edition we explore some of the best digital tools and tech products to get you workready and into shape: intelligent tech to help you achieve the en89 ScoJ perfect night’s sleep, wearable kit to get you match fit and gs ‫@‏‬ y in n reall t Jen s pUK Scot Cam ew idea ible h the latest apps to reduce digital overload. Kicking things off c e on #T ed 3 at y mind t ths. Incr y a D e pa ed m is north London cover star George the Poet, who opened the open lternativ rience. @ ixMag m e a and s on exp @Tech n Rugby World Cup (read the interview on page 8). hand bLondo a FabL It wouldn’t be Techmix without showcasing the most exciting new career opportunities: the hottest live vacancies, latest apprenticeship opportunities and leading graduate schemes. Whatever stage of the career ladder you’re on we hope that this edition of Techmix inspires you to learn new skills and explore new career opportunities this year. To help you on your way, we’re proud to be hosting the Mayor of London’s Digital Careers Roadshow – connecting Ellen Kerr ‫@‏‬ell en_Kerr1 you to the world’s best digital, creative and media Want to get a job in the #digi tal, #creative and companies – at the iconic Camden Roundhouse. If you’d like #media indus try? gain digital sk ills and meet wo rld -leading comp to meet leading employers and course providers, read our anies? u can @TechmixMag preview on page 26 and register online for free. Network Security Developer Name: Hannah Edward Baker, Publisher Salary: £200 p/w Digital Marketing Assistant Location: Greater London Name: Alex Salary: £150 p/w Location: Birmingham

Say hello to our TECH TEAM of contributing writers...

Find out more about IT, tech, and digital apprenticeships Elizabeth Ogunfidodo

Pete Lines

Punita Maisuria

Charlie Digpal

I am a King’s College English language and communications graduate. I enjoy reading and writing in my spare time and my favourite book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

I am a classics graduate with a passion for new media and technology. I currently work as a media reader for Gorkana, as well as a freelance writer for publications.

I aspire to obtain a fruitful career in media and marketing. I am a creative individual who is passionate about media and learning.

I am a young, fun, forward-thinking individual with a major passion for technology, music and food.

tel: 0345 074 7825

web: apprenticeships.qa.com

Techmix is published by Digital Skills Agency Ltd Digital Skills Agency Ltd, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX. All rights reserved. Copyright © Digital Skills Agency Ltd 2016. Printed by Wyndeham Press Group. Techmix is distributed by The Education Company. Whilst every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and the publisher does not take responsibility for omissions or errors. Techmix does not take responsibility for unsolicited material. Permission to use any of the material contained in this magazine and associated websites should be obtained from Digital Skills Agency Ltd. The views expressed by contributors and advertisers in this publication and on our website do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial team or the publisher.

Meet the Makers

Roar talent

CONTENTS 26

Roundhouse trip

Plus...

4 BIG PICTURE Parkour hits the ground running in London 6 MEGABYTES Latest tech and gadget news 8 WORD ON THE STREET Spoken word star George the Poet tells us how the Rugby World Cup kickstarted his career 14 SPORT AND HEALTH TECH SPECIAL: FA Lionesses Work for the FA 16 SPORT AND HEALTH TECH SPECIAL: CALM How to stress less 19 SPORT AND HEALTH TECH SPECIAL: BIG DEBATE – is gaming a real sport

26 DIGITAL CAREERS ROADSHOW comes to the iconic Camden Roundhouse 30 TECH PARTNERSHIPS QuikSilva 31BANKING ON IT What it’s like to work for Barclays 36 WHY A CITY & GUILDS APPRENTICESHIP is a capital idea 40 QUICK FIX The rise of Rapid English

Doctor’s orders 50 LEARN TO... be Doctor Who gamemaker 52 TECHMIX TECH CAMP The place to learn about your future digital role

60 TECHMIX TECH CAMP Find your perfect digital job 62 UP TO SPEED Career Camp with Nimbletank

54 LEARN TO... be a design guru at MakerClub

64 LEARN TO... design and win, at Kin

56 LEARN TO... be a music product manager at Yamaha

67 COURSES & SKILLS DIRECTORY The only place to look for where you need to study

57 LEARN TO... be a musician, with a young multi-instrumentalist

76 MEC TIME Career Cap with MEC

20 SPORT AND HEALTH TECH SPECIAL: YOUTUBE FITNESS

45 GO SOMEWHERE WITH THE MAYOR The Mayor of London’s Digital Talent Programme

25 SPORT AND HEALTH TECH SPECIAL: ZZZZZ... the best sleep apps

58 LEARN TO BE... an app developer, 46 GO CISCO The global tech firm wants you to sign up with a man at the top of his game

80 LOOKING AHEAD The upcoming tech events you have to go to

CONCRETE PLAYGROUND

Parkour is the urban running craze that’s gaining ground in the UK, and gaining... fast! Popularised in movies and often referred to as free running, Parkour was founded in France in the 1980s by nine young men led by David Belle. Parkour is a non-competitive discipline of training and the object is to move through any terrain using only the abilities of your own body – running, jumping and climbing – to test your physical and mental limits. Parkour Generations are the leading practitioners, or traceurs, in the UK. Check out pp24-25 to find out what happened when Techmix spent a Saturday hanging out with them in south London. parkourgenerations.com 4

DEMO D S E E PA G

X APPR

E 2 7- 2 8

OVED!

Photo Credit: Andy Day / kiell.com

TECHMI

M E G A BY T ES THESE ARE THE DROIDS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR Star Wars: The Force Awakens became the fastest movie to gross $1 billion at the global box office, despite only being released on 17 December. The film starring London's own Daisy Ridley and John Boyega has wowed moviegoers and delighted critics after much initial scepticism. In fact, the film has been so successful Disney is rumoured to have plans to release a new Star Wars movie every year until people stop going to see them. Fancy yourself a career in film and maybe even a job on Star Wars: Episode XV? Then check out our profile of London Film School on p68 to find out how.

SANTA'S OTHER SLEIGH IS A DRONE Father Christmas could soon be out of a job. Amazon Prime Air is developing a future delivery system to send packages door-to-door in less than 30 minutes using small, unmanned aerial drones. Designed with sophisticated 'sense and avoid' technology and flying under 400 feet, Amazon hope that their Prime Air vehicles will one day be as normal as seeing the postman's van on the road. But not yet. Amazon will only deploy once it’s got the regulatory support needed to safely realise its vision. So watch this space. Actually don't. Watch the skies. http://www.amazon.com/b?node=8037720011

THREE’S NOT A CROWD

Mobile giant Three’s unique training programme Reimagined Learning offers uni students all-expenses-paid training,

with a twist. As part of the experience, participants deliver workshops to GCSE students on the career opportunities in the telecoms sector. The course is unique, partnering students with Three employees, enabling all participants to develop their network, skills and confidence and concludes with a final presentation to Three senior leaders. Are you a university student looking to develop your skills and CV in an innovative way? Want to step behind the scenes of a business and find out more about your career options? Apply by 26 February 2016. www.mykindacrowd.com/Challenges/reimagined-learning-2016

HUG ME, I’M A ROBOT

DIGITAL DETOX Vinaya, the Shoreditch startup brainchild of 27-year-old Kate Unsworth, seeks to limit the curse of being 'always available', by creating a range of jewellery (and soon men's

Research carried out at the University of Denver suggests that robots can help autistic

wristbands) to help better manage our digital lives. In addition

children learn social behaviour and even support their ability to interact. The study involves

to being sleek and stylish, these accessories act as modern-day

children with high-functioning autism playing games with the robot NAO that are designed

pagers, designed to filter out the calls, texts and notifications

to teach them to replicate human social behaviour. Early indications suggest that NAO

that don't require our immediate attention, and vibrating for

helps autistic children maintain eye contact for longer periods, because even though it is

the alerts that do. All this as a means to be more present in

humanoid in scope, NAO lacks the complex features that a human does, making it easier for

our face-to-face interactions, so we can focus on what really

the kids to focus on one social aspect of communication at a time.

matters.

aldebaran.com/en/humanoid-robot/nao-robot

vinaya.com

megabytes news

▲

ROLL OVER DYSLEXIA Students with dyslexia now have a portable ally in the C-Pen Reader, courtesy of ed tech specialists Scanning Pens. With the C-Pen Reader, kids aged six and up can roll over any text and have it read back to them, allowing learners with dyslexia, reading difficulties or English as a second language (ESL) to read books and do homework alone. There’s a mic and headphones included, so students can crack on with their work without feeling embarrassed to have to ask for help. scanningpenshop.com

RUN, ROCKET MAN! British astronaut Tim Peake is going to run the

GOING UP GOING DOWN ▼ s UP: Mark Zuckerberg The Facebook CEO has put 99 per cent of his Facebook shares ($45 billion) into the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a legal entity dedicated to “advancing human potential” through personalised learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities.

London Marathon this year... and oh yeah, he's in space. Peake will run 26.2 miles on a treadmill aboard the International Space Station, while nearly 40,000 runners race through the streets of London. To compensate for his lack of gravity, he will wear a rucksack-like harness to keep him secured tightly to the treadmill. His progress will also be tracked on a virtual reality iPad app that will show the streets of the capital, as if he were running the London Marathon on Earth. Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be watching Netflix and feeling bad about ourselves.

TECH MAKEOVER L’Oréal, the cosmetics company better known for tousled locks than technology, have partnered with logistics leader PCH to create a new range of wearable tech. The first fruit of this novel partnership is a stretchable patch worn on your skin like a plaster, which can be scanned using a smartphone app to track the strength of the sun’s UV rays. Now there's no excuse to get sunburned, unless you forget your phone.

BUGGIN’ OUT Insects should become a dietary staple as an environmentally friendly alternative to meat, according to a report by the UK government’s waste agency. With more than 2,000 edible species already identified, the 'buzz' (sorry) about this protein-heavy, vitamin-rich food source has already reached the health and fitness community. Protein bars made of cricket flour – yep, ground-up crickets – have already hit the start-up scene. Even mega US entrepreneur Mark Cuban has invested in gourmet cricket bars. So who knows? Perhaps we'll soon be trading the chippy - for the chirpy (not sorry).

s UP: Elizabeth Holmes At just 31, Holmes is the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire after founding Theranos, a bloodtesting company that has developed a device that needs only a few drops of blood obtained from a simple finger-prick.

t DOWN: Nurofen An Aussie court ordered Nurofen to stop selling some of its painkillers after finding tablets marketed for specific complaints were misleading and all contained the same active ingredient. Ouch. t DOWN: Greek Yoghurt The two-billion-dollera-year industry creates copious amounts of acid whey, as a by-product. This can have devastating effects if it seeps into waterways, removing oxygen from the water and wreaking disaster on aquatic ecosystems.

WORD STREET ON THE

Words by Alasdair Lees

oetry, rap and rugby are not three words you’d usually see in one sentence. Why? Well, poets are typically shy, retiring types who pen odes to flowers and love, right? Rappers are self-aggrandising egomaniacs obsessed with bling, sex and guns, while rugby players are enormous human freight trains who slam and bash into each other, perform strange war dances and drink lots of beer. Three completely different worlds, with absolutely nothing in common, right? Wrong. A global TV audience of millions tuned in to watch the opening ceremony of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the world’s third largest sporting event, last September. There were fireworks, human pyramids of sporting heroes, an opera singer, a video of Prince Harry and Jonny Wilkinson dressed as a pair of Victorian gardeners and a giant rugby ball that broke through the middle of the pitch like a stricken 8

Millennium Falcon. But these bizarre spectacles paled into insignificance compared with the appearance of a single charismatic figure who went on to recite a rousing, eloquent tribute to “a time of elation, a time of destiny, respect, integrity, a special kind of beauty”. George the Poet had truly arrived. This remarkable moment – a welcome reminder that poetry and sport have been linked since the times of the early Olympic Games – crowned an exciting year for the 24-year-old. He came fifth in the influential BBC Sound of 2015 list last January, and the following month had his first collection of verse, Search Party, published to glowing reviews, comparing him to British spoken word legends such as Benjamin Zephaniah and John Cooper Clarke. His skilfully delivered ‘musical poetry’ – influenced by his hip-hop

iamgeorgethepoet.co.uk

heroes such as 2Pac and Nas – fuses, he says, “the communicative potential of poetry with the euphoric quality of music”. His pungent verse provides a potent commentary on social issues ranging from inequality in London to premature fatherhood, and he was signed to a major record label at the age of 22 after attracting more YouTube hits than the real poet laureate, around 500,000 to date. His story is even more extraordinary if you consider that from growing up on one of London’s most deprived estates, St Raphael’s in Harlesden, north-west London, he went on to attend one of the UK’s top grammars school, Queen Elizabeth’s in Barnet, and win a place to study at Cambridge. “The Rugby World Cup was the most electrifying performance moment of my life,” he muses, with a touch of wonder. “There were 450 million people watching around the world. There were 82,000 people present all listening

sport and health tech special to me. Just by uploading videos to YouTube, I was given this incredible opportunity. It was a beautiful thing.” The Rugby World Cup, in fact, is the second major sporting tournament he has been artistically involved with, having written a thought-provoking response to the 2012 London Olympics called ‘My City’, a reflection on the ‘social tensions’ hidden behind the glossy PR clichés. “As a journalistcommentator from my community,” he says, “it’s my responsibilty to balance the conversation.” Mpanga took up rapping at the age of 15, penning lyrics at home before trying them out in the playground with his friends. “It was tacitly frowned upon,” he says. “Teachers used to make jokes, and insinuate that we thought we were ‘hard’, but this was our form of artistic expression. If I’d taken that to heart I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now. I was always adamant that there was something inside of me that deserves to be presented. That is something I’d love to instil in every

single young person in the world.” Studying sociology honed his belief in independent thinking and offered him the opportunity to reflect on life on the estate and possibility of escaping the fate that was befalling some of his friends. “They were getting into trouble with the law and there became an increasing distance between myself and the people I grew up with,” he says. “There was a lot of crime. But I was

always clear that I wanted to do the very best in school.” A quote from one of the poems in Search Party – which he calls his ‘manifesto’ – provides a vivid snapshot of what his other choices were: “I’m from Raph’s, home of guns and staffs, shooters running up on dons in caffs.” It’s not the kind of environment a typical Cambridge graduate is forged in. Setting an example for young people is a vitally important part of what he sees as his duty as an entertainer. “What I want to put across about my own experiences is that it’s not about going to a particular university or getting certain grades,” he says. “I took care of my education. It changed me as a person.” It was at Cambridge, where he studied politics, psychology and sociology, that he decided to stop rapping and write poetry. While he was studying he also set up a programme of poetry workshops for under-privileged secondary school pupils in London after winning The Stake, a social enterprise competition run by Channel 4 and Barclays. It was an experience he talks about with passion. “A lot of working class young people struggle with literacy. That goes hand-in-hand with alienation in the classroom and consequently from society because education is young people’s first experience of society,” he says. “The poetry workshops I ran were very important in terms of engaging young people with language. I debuted them in a school with children from some of the most challenging backgrounds. People told me to be careful, but when I went in there it was nothing but fun, discovery and growth.” He works with charities such as the National Literacy Trust because, he says, “if you can’t find a firm grounding in that world it’s going to have massive implications”. “The world is yours,” he explains. “And you have a right to be everything you can be. Education is the key. You have to take control of your

iamgeorgethepoet.co.uk

future.” Touchingly he talks about the difficulties his younger brother, who is autistic, faced at specialist school, another emotional motivation for his support for those in education. As a young artist whose career sky-rocketed because of the power of YouTube, he talks perceptively about what media and the digital world can offer young people. “It’s one thing to say to them, ‘yeah, stand out, don’t follow your friends,’” he says. “But when you’re young, your friends are your reality. That’s the most difficult thing to get through. That’s why social media is so important. You need to be able to step back and look at your reality, as an out-of-body experience. And it won’t look so set in stone. We need to nurture our social needs in the healthiest way possible. Everything’s a question of balance.” Among the many important things the internet has offered him as an artist, through those 500,000 Youtube hits and counting, is that incredible opportunity to perform in front of 450 million people. “Sport, like education and the digital world is a great leveller,” he says. “It presents massive opportunities for personal and social progress. Every day I get people saying I’ve just discovered you as a poet, your music resonated with a certain area of my life. The digital world has given me a pathway into the hearts and minds of people who wouldn’t access me in my social setting or any other entertainment space.” 9

SPEAK UP

POETRY

WORKSHOP

Techmix had the privilege of sitting in on an impromptu poetry workshop when George the Poet visited St Thomas the Apostle College secondary school in Nunhead, south-east London, on a sunny Friday afternoon. The boys of St Thomas had been tasked with writing their own original poems, with the best verse invited to be performed to George in person. The young poets were sensitive and passionate, shy and confident, and impressed George with their take on current affairs and their own personal experiences. More keen minds joined the class as the floor was opened up for the poetry workshop. Starting with just one line, George engaged the group to write their own poems instinctively in under an hour. The results were amazing, the boys surprising even themselves with how good they could be. There was talent in that room, and with George’s guidance the boys were able to channel it and express themselves without fear. Check back in to Techmix in 2021 for an-in depth report of how an afternoon visit from George the Poet inspired the nation’s youngest poet laureate. georgethepoet.com stac.uk.com 10

George the Poet's

Five Cs of communication Confidence Clarity Consideration Creativity Comfort George won a social enterprise competition organised by Barclays and Channel 4 called The Stake, and used his £16,000 prize to fund The Jubilee Line, a series of poetry workshops for underprivileged children in London.

stac.uk.com

George attended Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet and went on to study politics, psychology and sociology at Cambridge University.

“If there is no one talking about their own story, nobody is ever going to know.” “Communication is important because once I put an idea in your head, we can reason about it.” “Indecision is a decision.” “I started rapping without music. I didn’t call it poetry... the audience did.”

Q&A

WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU BEGAN AT IBM AND HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE TECH PARTNERSHIP APPRENTICESHIPS SCHEME? I was on the gap-year (Futures) scheme at IBM and working as an L2 tools automation and workload manager. During my year I got involved in the different giveback schemes at IBM and heard about the degree apprenticeship. WHAT EMPLOYMENT POSITION DID YOU TAKE IN THE FIRST YEAR? I started the degree apprenticeship in September, working in the cloud software sales division. Initially, I focused on familiarising myself with IBM Bluemix and shadowing engineers and sellers, but now I have a more specific role within the IBM Bluemix Garage team. WHAT WAS THE LIFE-WORK BALANCE LIKE AND WHAT DO APPRENTICES USUALLY EARN? I’m at university for two days and IBM for the rest of the week. It’s difficult to separate university work from IBM work sometimes, but it’s useful to have days dedicated to each. Having the days at university means I have time to complete projects and study after my lectures/labs, which frees up the weekend for my social life. Salary wise, an IBM apprentice’s starting wage is £15k per year.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE WANT A DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP? Degree apprenticeships enable young professionals to gain real workplace experience while earning a salary and being sponsored to study for a full bachelor’s degree in a very interesting and beneficial course at a Russell Group university. You get to be part of two very distinct social environments and apply your university learning to your job, making you a very valuable employee. IS THE APPRENTICESHIP ONLY SUITABLE FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS A CAREER AT IBM? The IBM apprenticeship scheme requires you work at IBM for four years, so if you don’t want to work in a global technology and business services company, then it’s not for you. However, IBM is such a large company, with such a variety of job roles available, that I think it can be attractive to anyone. Plus, after the four years, you’re guaranteed a job with IBM.

Amy Magistris WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOING A DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP AT A MASSIVE CORPORATION SUCH AS IBM AND AT AN SME? I won’t be able to compare the two personally, but I’d imagine the opportunities available at a company like IBM to be more significant. Funding for the scheme itself would be easier, meaning more students can be employed and the range of roles available would be more varied. WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS ARE YOU LEARNING? I’m learning how to use the IBM Bluemix platform, which is a service built to rapidly create, manage and deploy applications. I’ve also been exposed to MobileFirst, Sublime and Eclipse.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Time management is always something I’ve struggled with since school. With a full-time job, university learning and personal responsibilities to juggle, managing my time and prioritising my tasks is very important.

WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE? My ambitions are simple: I want to finish my degree with outstanding results, achieve high standards at work and be a worthy ambassador for the degree apprenticeship. I would also love to be nominated for Apprentice of the Year award.

The Tech Partnership is a growing network of employers creating the skills needed to spur the growth of the digital economy. They work to inspire young people about technology, to accelerate the flow of talented people from all backgrounds into tech careers and help companies develop the technology skills they need for the future. The Tech Partnership recently launched its degree apprenticeships scheme in collaboration with a plethora of high-profile corporations and exciting SMEs. One of the stars of the programme, Amy Magistris, took a time-out from her busy schedule as an IBM apprentice to reveal all...

www.thetechpartnership.com/choosetech

www-05.ibm.com/employment/uk/school-leavers/index.shtml.

SPORT & HEALTH TECH SPECIAL

Dive in...

The verdict is in: technology in sport is here to stay. But sports tech isn’t just for pro athletes any more – it’s on your feet, on your smartphone and wrapped around your wrist. The tech industry has never been keener to keep you fit in body, and by tapping into the billion-dollar health and well-being industry, calm in mind too! So warm up, stretch out, as Techmix puts you through your paces. Marks. Set. GO!

“Just heard that goal-line technology will be used in the Premier League next season. I think this is a very good idea, and will hopefully stop all the controversial goal-line decisions.”

WAYNE ROONEY

“The biggest and most important change in my lifetime.”

SIR ALEX FERGUSON

“I think Hawk-Eye’s great.”

ANDY MURRAY

“Technology, in particular, has changed the way we train for sporting events, how we take part in them and how we experience them as spectators.”

LORD SEBASTIAN COE

“Technology is as much a part of an athlete’s armoury as nutrition, training and coaching.”

THE INSTITUTE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

In Focus

TWEET FOR ENGLAND

Want to know what it’s like to work with the FA? Yes, the FA. Want to know how to run a social media campaign where the eyes of a nation are glued to your every tweet? Then talk to the man in the know.

Glenn Lavery is a digital producer in the marketing division of the FA and is responsible for its main social media channels, including the @FA and @england Twitter accounts, and producing content for the FA website and match-day programmes. Glenn had a break from promoting England’s Lionesses to play a few games of keep-uppy with Techmix (NB, keepyups may not have happened).

newspapers’ back pages, that got the ball rolling. But England’s success at last year’s World Cup in Canada has taken that to a different level. Even after their first win against Mexico, the players could sense the public were really getting behind them, and that was mainly through social media, as we were a little cut off from what was happening in England.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? Working in football every day. I don’t take the job for HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO THE SPORTS INDUSTRY? granted because I know I’m in a very fortunate position. I started in the customer relations department of the FA in Although I’ve travelled the world with England and been privileged to cover amazing events like the World Cup, I’ve 2005. They have been my only employer since university. always been a huge fan of the FA Cup. To say I’ve worked on DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE WORKING WITH THE LIONESSES. six FA Cup finals is something I would have never believed when I was younger. I’ve been working with the England women’s team since 2010. I’m responsible for showcasing the players through all our various channels and helping promote matches and WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? To stay on top of the latest social media and digital trends. tournaments through print, social media and FATV. I stay The digital world is changing every day, as are analytics with the team in the build-up to every fixture and use this tools, so you always want to be ahead of the curve in terms time to generate content from the players. of what other leading organisations are doing. HOW IMPORTANT ARE DIGITAL SKILLS IN WORKING AT THE FA? Digital skills are crucial across the FA and county FAs, not just within my own team, from e-mails and the content we produce to our numerous football databases and video analysis that the England coaching staff use.

HOW DID THE WORLD CUP CHANGE THE PUBLIC’S PERCEPTION OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL? I think the perception started to change at the London Olympics. When Women’s Team GB beat Brazil 1-0 at Wembley in front of 70,000 people and were all over the 14

WHAT WAS YOUR PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE LIONESSES RECENT WORLD CUP? The full-time whistle at the bronze-medal match. Having been around the team for so long and and having got to know most of the players well, I know just how much they had to sacrifice to get here. It was great to see that hard work and dedication being rewarded with a historic World Cup run, and for the girls to have something tangible to show for it.

thefa.com

sport and health tech special

WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE LIONESSES RECENT WORLD CUP? To be held up as an example of best practice by Twitter Sports. I had arranged for a giant flag to be sent to Canada in the design of a St George’s Cross with #Lionesses written across the middle. The plan was for it to be hung in the players’ hotel corridor, but the Lionesses’ manager [Mark Sampson] liked it so much that he hung it up in the dressing room instead. I asked Getty Images to photograph it, and when I tweeted these pictures from @england, they were retweeted and praised by @TwitterSports. It was also nice to think that one of the last things the players would see before stepping out on to the pitch was a flag that I had designed and produced. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ABOUT RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN? Planning is key. Whether it’s promoting tickets, participation initiatives or editorial content, you must have a good idea of when your audience is active and how each platform operates. Our policy is that all ‘big-hitting’ editorial content be promoted at least four times on Twitter – morning, lunchtime, evening and late at night. The shelf life of a tweet is about 15 minutes, so you’re relying on all your followers to be online during that exact period for them to see it. If you don’t re-promote your message, the majority of your audience will never see it and therefore you’re not working efficiently. On Facebook, we tend to re-post strongly-

performing content a few days after it’s originally been posted, in the form of a recap update. With Instagram, we have a less frequent posting policy as it is not a ‘news feed’ platform, so we populate it with vibrant, eye-catching imagery and great short-form video content. Every platform acts differently, so it’s important to tailor your strategy to suit each one. WHAT QUALITIES DOES THE FA LOOK FOR IN A GOOD FIRST-JOBBER? People with drive and ambition and who are willing to learn and go the extra mile. It sounds obvious, but having a passion for and knowledge of football will obviously help. Being willing to work anti-social hours is also a benefit because football matches seldom take place at 9-5 on a weekday. Having exceptionally good digital skills won’t do you any harm either…

thefa.com

WHY THE TECH INDUSTRY WANTS YOU TO RELAX

ccording to the Centre for Data Research, the average... aaaaand I’ve lost you. You’ve switched off. Actually, you’ve switched over. You’re checking Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter – sure, you’re connected – but you’re not here. Not present. Not focused. It’s easy to be distracted by an endless, evolving stream of information. The next time you’re writing an essay, tally up exactly how many times you pick up your phone. What does your tally look like? Embarrassing, right? Especially because you cheated (we noticed). But so what? You got the essay done. The problem is you worked half as hard for twice as long. At Techmix, we believe you should work smarter, not longer, particularly when these constant diversions affect your personal life. It is impossible to be 100 per cent present with your family and friends when you’ve got one foot out the virtual door. Fortunately the tech industry is here to help us use tech... less. There is now a burgeoning market of innovative products explicitly designed to help us to get more R&R, so we become more productive in our work time and less distracted in our down time. At the forefront of this movement is Moshi Monsters creator Michael Acton Smith, who in 2012 co-founded Calm.com, designed to be an oasis of er... calm in an online desert. Even a

PLUG IN... TO CHILL OUT visit to their homepage is like taking a quick dip in Lake Zen. Million Dollar Homepage creator and Calm co-founder Alex Tew believes the necessity for the site stems from something more serious.

“I read somewhere there is evidence that our brains are being re-wired by the internet, because we get a little dopamine kick every time we check our e-mail or Twitter or Facebook and there’s a new update. So we’re all developing a bit of ADD.”

If our anti-social digital addictions mean we’re not present in the company of those most important to us, or so disconnected from ourselves that we can’t even stand alone in public without reaching for our phones like some digital security blanket, then it’s diminishing who we are. So whether you unplug or plug in, the important thing is that you chill out. Take five minutes of pure, unadulterated me time. Right now. You earned it. In fact, we’ll join you...

Now how exactly does one get their Zen on? Apple creator Steve Jobs was Wait... it’s cool, there’s an app for that. a well-known practitioner of mindfulness – a type of meditation taught in Zen Buddhism – believing it to reduce stress, increase clarity and enhance his creativity. So the idea of tranquillity has been in the tech zeitgeist for some time. Now we’re not expecting you to delete your Facebook account and take up meditation, but if Steve Jobs can take five, then your Instagram feed can probably wait. Perhaps the reason that well-being is so hot in tech right now is because it’s a reaction against the culture of connectedness (yes, that’s a word now) that tech helped create in the first place. Being constantly contactable means by definition that you can never truly switch off, and nobody is feeling the need to unplug more than techies themselves. Look, we get it, it’s cool to be mainlined into the digital world. But the internet and social media were designed to make us more connected, not disconnected, to make the world smaller, not turn us into our own island.

Calm.com

MEET THE ENTREPRENEUR AND MIND CANDY FOUNDER, NOW COOKING UP A STORM... OF CALM. WHAT WAS THE CATALYST BEHIND THE CREATION OF CALM.COM AND WHY DID YOU WRITE THE BOOK? My good buddy Alex Tew [founder of the Million Dollar Homepage] and I wanted to share the many benefits of mindfulness meditation with a wider audience. The world is becoming increasingly stressful and our vision is to make it a happier and healthier place. WHAT LESSONS CAN YOUNG PEOPLE AT SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY TAKE FROM CALM? Rushing around and trying to cram in everything can have a very negative effect on your health. Learning to meditate can greatly improve everything from your relationships, to how well you sleep and even to your enjoyment of your studies. HOW CAN YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WORKING TIRELESSLY ON THAT NEXT BIG THING, INCORPORATE THE CALM PHILOSOPHY TO BETTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR BUDDING BUSINESSES? It might sound counter-intuitive but sometimes slowing down can make you more effective and sharper. There’s no point building a huge business if your health suffers and you don’t enjoy the journey.

FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT MICHAEL ACTON SMITH Awarded an OBE in 2014 for services to the creative industries. Listed in The Times Magazine’s Best Dressed Men 2013 list. Won Tech Guru 2012 at The Guardian’s Digital Innovation Awards. Voted fifth in Wired magazine’s UK Top 100 Digital Power List in 2012. Ranked within the Twitter elite as part of The Independent’s Twitter 100. Follow him @acton.acton.

WHAT DID YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN WHEN YOU WERE 18 THAT WOULD HAVE AIDED YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? How long have you got? One simple piece of advice is to be more confident at asking for things. You never know what will happen when you politely ask for something, the worst-case scenario is you get turned down but sometimes amazing things can happen. WHAT NEW IDEA ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW THAT MOST EXCITES YOU? I love Calm but we’ve also got some great new projects cooking away at Mind Candy that we’ll be releasing in 2016.

Calm.com

How to…

BE A BBC PROJECT MANAGER AMY WILLIAMS Project leader, Younger Audiences Team DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER PATH AT THE BBC. My first role was as a part-time moderator reading kids’ messages and creating games on the CBBC message boards. I then grew to working on magazine shows, managing interactive projects, teams and website relaunches, as well as TV shows and events. WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THE 16-24 AGE MARKET? I love how fast digital culture moves in terms of trends and platforms and 16- to 24-year-olds are often at the heart of it. I enjoy seeing what’s out there and what’s coming next. I like problem-solving and innovation and my job has this in abundance. If you’re in a role where you’re clock watching, something’s wrong. HOW DO YOU PITCH A PROJECT TO THE BBC? It differs depending on department but personally it’s about having an idea that’s relevant to society or about something that you feel is being missed. Research well and prepare for all potential scenarios – you need to be able to answer any question thrown at you. The key to selling your pitch is passion. If you believe in your idea, others will believe in it too. DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE. I look at content opportunities and manage projects for 16- to 24-year-olds at BBC Sport. This could be across platforms such as YouTube, working with partners such as BBC Three or Radio 1, or investigating fresh topics such as fitness or gaming. My typical day depends on which project needs

prioritising, but usually it’s communication within the department, presenting findings and brainstorming. WHAT ARE ESPORTS? eSports is a term used for competitive gaming where a player or team will go head-to-head. Some of the most popular games are League of Legends, CS:GO and StarCraft. Many events have thousands of fans in attendance and even more watching on streaming platforms such as Twitch.

WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED YOU TO CREATE CONTENT AROUND ESPORTS? The popularity of eSports is growing every year and already has a huge fan base. While looking at what 16- to 24-year-olds were into, it seemed obvious to look at gaming in some capacity. eSports brings a whole new level to gaming – the commitment and training of the players, the crowds – it’s really easy to get sucked in. HOW HAS THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF GAMING CHANGED AND WHY? What we’re finding is that a much larger audience are into gaming – be it competitive or for fun, and this automatically changes public perception. I think it is being embraced slower in the UK, partly because PC gaming was less popular than console gaming to begin with. In the past there was always a ‘geek’ stereotype that followed gaming, but this is rapidly disappearing, and in other countries this stereotype doesn’t even exist. Gaming is now mainstream.

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HOW DID COVERING LEAGUE OF LEGENDS AT WEMBLEY DIFFER FROM COVERING OTHER SPORTING EVENTS? We wanted to make sure that we were offering something to an audience new to eSports while ensuring we didn’t alienate its fans. I think we’d have the same considerations for any sporting event: Who’s the audience? How do we appeal to them? How do we make this great to watch? HOW IMPORTANT ARE DIGITAL SKILLS IN YOUR ROLE? To understand the 16- to 24-year-old audience you need to be in the same forum – online digital skills play a major role in this. Having an understanding of social media, YouTube and gaming obviously helps, as well as the digital project management skills I’ve picked up during my career, which aid me in thinking constructively and productively. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE LOOKING TO PRODUCE INNOVATIVE ONLINE CONTENT? Know what’s out there and think about what’s not. There are so many outlets to create content and collaborate online, make sure you are part of it, be it by YouTube, blogging or social media. Companies always shark for new talent online so it’s a perfect window to be found – you just need to make sure you stand out. WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN EMPLOYEE? I look for people who will bring something new to the team. The last thing you want is everyone thinking and doing the same. Someone who demonstrates initiative, shows passion for their field and works hard. When you find people like that, strong content and unique ideas tend to follow.

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“

BIG DEBATE IS GAMING A REAL SPORT?

The tech industry is in a constant state of flux, changing, evolving and often disrupting the status quo. But these developments also have a knock-on effect on how society views itself and the world. With the surging popularity of competitive gaming, now officially called eSports, which actually take place in major sports stadiums, we ask:

YES

”

Elizabeth Ogunfidodo –blogger, writer, King’s College graduate Gaming requires skills such as concentration, competitiveness and knowledge just like any ‘real’ sport. Although gaming may be criticised for not involving physical activity, games such as chess and pool also involve no real exercise but are still considered sports. This suggests that physical activity is not a determining factor when classifying a sport. In South Korea, pro eSports players train up to 10 hours a day, which suggests a dedication comparable to that of any sport. The cognitive development that can result – decisionmaking under pressure, working within a team, problemsolving – also show how beneficial gaming can be. eSports is officially classified as a professional sport in the US. The fact that players are able to enter the States on a professional athlete sports visa shows just how credible gaming now is. Top players can earn annual salaries of up to $100,000, and in some championships, the winners can pocket up to $400,000. They can game for a living, which adds further evidence to gaming not just being a sport but a professional sport.

eSPORTS LEAGUE OF LEGENDS • First League of Legends season was in 2011 • In 2012, more than one billion hours were played each month • In 2013, 32 million people watched the world championship • In 2013, 11,000 finals tickets sell out in one hour • 2014 finals held in Seoul’s World Cup Stadium • 40,000 fans see it live, with a peak online audience of 11.2 million • League of Legends now has 67 million players each month

Daryl Selby – pro squash player, former world no. 9, England world champion 2013 If you look at any definition of a sport, it will normally include the words ‘physical exertion’ or ‘athletic’. These are crucial and important factors when deciding if something is or is not a sport. Although gaming has been called eSports in recent times, I think this is merely to convey the level of competition and professionalism that goes into top-level gaming. There is no doubt that top gamers have incredible reaction times and strategic awareness, but you can still be an expert gamer and weigh 130kg. For all real sports, this is simply not the case. There’s also the fact that all gaming is competition in a virtual world. Playing sports through a hand-held device is not actually playing sport, it’s pretending to play sport. Imagine if school kids lying in front of a computer for 12 hours straight was classified as PE. That would be crazy. I am a traditionalist. I grew up playing ball sports both indoors and out. I also played computer games, but even as a kid I saw a clear distinction between what was a sport and what was merely a game. Times may have moved on but the fundamental difference between the two has not. There is no doubt that gaming will continue to grow as technology advances and with its huge live audiences, may even become popular on television. But popularity does not a sport make.

WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF WWW.TECHMIX.COM 19

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YOUTUBE FITNESS GURUS 1. BLOCKWORKOUT Terroll Lewis is everywhere these days; when he isn’t being showcased in The Evening Standard, the ex gang member-turned trainer is being photographed showing eager to please MPs around his native Brixton estate. Lewis is pioneering a Callisthenics movement - the body weight only exercise – for and with the young people in his area. What started as Lewis doing chin ups on a bar in his local park is now open to all – both online and in BlockWorkOut’s new facilities in Bricky. But BlockWorkOut is more than just a channel to train the body, it’s a channel to train the mind; building discipline, focus and a positive attitude. Check out the ‘Human Flag’ (it’s immense).

2. ELLE DARBY At the opposite end of the spectrum is Elle Darby, who won wide-spread attention while documenting her journey from fitness-phobic student at Bristol UWE to fitness trainer and model. What began as a personal journey to shape up became a journey shared, as she became an inspiration to young girls just like her. Darby is personable and upbeat, who wants not only to share her workout routines with you, but also beauty advice, motivational tips to beat stress and even what groceries to buy.

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3. SCOLA DONDO Welcome to That Fitness Life. At the tender age of 20, Scola is already a YouTube veteran, having decided aged 14 that she wanted to lose weight. Having dropped 50lbs herself, Scola wants to continue the fight against obesity, but is more concerned that you feel good in yourself, than feel pressure to look a certain way. With uploads like ‘Motivational Monday’ and ‘Workout Wednesday’, Scola also opens up about her battles with anxiety, as well her day-to-day struggles - like being denied a student loan. A London based, negativity free zone.

4. THE LEAN MACHINES Join best friends John and Leon for classic bantz and get cut along the way. But Lean Machines are about more than just smashing out reps with your mates and having a proper giggle. As well as wicked workout routines, there’s easy to digest dietary tips and uploads to debunk exercise myths. Yet what separates these guys from the bulk of male fitness gurus, is how sincerely they tackle issues of body insecurity at both ends of the scale, from anorexia to the newly coined ‘’bigorexia’ – the fear of not being muscular enough. Lads.

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5. AMANDA RUSSELL The sole trans-Atlantic expert on the list, perky pixie girl Amanda Russell adds a touch of Hollywood glamour to online fitness. Get lean through cardio and interval training and choose from such aspirationally named routines as the ‘Coachella’ or ‘Oscar Party’ workouts. Russell also offers style, nutrition and beauty advice to help get you ‘red-carpet-ready’. But there’s more to Russell than meets the eye; not only has she spoken out against ‘thin-shaming’, but she’s also the co-founder of Digital Marketing Agency Kronologie, in Manhattan. Techmix swoon.

sport and health tech special You want to make the right impression. You’ve researched the company, you’ve prepped for the role and you’ve perfected your best ‘hire me’ smile... but what to wear?

JOBS JURY

If, as Shakespeare suggests in Hamlet, the “apparel oft proclaims the man” or clothes make the man (or woman), then you should probably make sure you’re wearing some decent threads when you meet a potential employer. But nowadays what does that even mean? Do people outside of finance even wear suits any more? Steve Jobs made a black turtleneck and a pair of New Balance his uniform. Mark Zuckerberg made a hoodie and flip-flops his signature look. Dressing down has become a status symbol of the tech elite. But what if that’s just for CEOs of billion-dollar corporations? We asked four young digital leaders and four tech employers for their take. This court is now in session: @SeetalRihal @TechmixMag What to wear to an interview? Always research the company to get a feel for a dress code - and then make it even smarter/formal!

@Feoblack @TechmixMag Although I don’t wear a suit, I believe it’s very important to dress professionally to an interview to make a good impression.

@CharlieDigital1 @TechmixMag Wear a suit but play with styles depending on the company. Old = formulaic. New = smart casual.

@BertramsL @TechmixMag It’s easy - don’t wear a suit for a techy role, definitely do wear on for a formal office. Try to fit the environment.

SHOULD YOU WEAR A SUIT TO A TECH INTERVIEW? Victoria Lennon – Marketing Director @MintTwist @TechmixMag If for agency no, yes for other companies. If unsure, ask about the dress code or check the company's people photos on website.

David Hore – MD @RapidEnglish @TechmixMag Be appropriately dressed for interviews. Ask the company questions about it before attending. It shows you care about the position.

THE VERDICT

Phil Stuart – Creative Director @ Preloaded @techmixmag What you wear to interviews should be based on the company. For the record, we’re a little bit smart casual #AlanPartridge

Anne-Marie Gough – Head of HR @vmllondon @TechmixMag Jobs Jury: No, its definitely not a neccessity. Dress smart casual. Always dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

According to our Jury – smart casual is the way forward. But do your research and make sure you understand the dress code before you set foot in the door... 21

DEMOwith DAY Welcome to Demo Day! The spot where we test the latest and greatest in cutting-edge technology! Fitness bands are all the rage these days, but can often be a tad pricey. Fortunately, Misfit has just released the swish new Misfit Flash band for less than 30 quid. But what do you get for your money? We roped in Thuli Lamb and Peter Clark from London-based parkour club Parkour Generations to try it out for you (they’re good like that...). THULI LAMB – Dog Behaviourist What is your fitness/sport background? I played a variety of sports at school and university. What made you decide to take up parkour? It looked like a fun way to get functionally fit, engage with the urban environment and look way cool! What was the best part of using the Misfit Flash band? The watch face is great aesthetically, having no buttons, although orientation is confusing regarding clock function. I especially like that if you haven’t met your fitness goal for the day, it tells you how long you’d need to run, swim or walk to achieve it. A six-month battery life is also a massive plus.

Thuli is also a member of shecanTRACE, a Parkour Generations initiative to raise awareness about the vibrant female parkour community. The initiative’s goal is to inspire more women to get moving and explore their potential. Check out shecantrace.com to get involved.

Is the Misfit Flash band something you’d use in the future? Yes, for swimming as I find it very difficult to gauge how hard I’m working in water. I think probably not for parkour, because the band has trouble reading the nature of the exercise. What are your favourite sport tech wearables (if any)? I have a Nike sports watch for distance running. And you can’t beat a good, old-fashioned stopwatch function for interval training.

Functionality: 6/10 Comfort/ease of use: 8/10 Looks: 7/10 Value for money: 7/10 22

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sport and health tech special PETER CLARK – Theatre Lighting Manufacturer What is your fitness/sport background? I played football throughout my childhood before joining Kent Athletic Club at 15 as a long-distance runner. I joined Bangor ju-jitsu club while at university before starting parkour six months ago. What made you decide to take up parkour? I saw an episode of Ninja Warrior and noticed how the parkour enthusiasts were better able to adapt to the obstacles and thought it would be a fun way to develop all-round fitness. What was the best part of using the Misfit Flash band? The band was light and comfortable and after a while you forget it’s on your wrist. This made sleep monitoring a lot more relaxing than with the smartphone apps that require you to sleep with your phone on your pillow.

Like what you see?

What features would you also like to see? A numbered display. Not having one meant I couldn’t use the band when timing laps, meaning I had to bring my watch as well as the Flash band.

Visit parkourgenerations.com to run, climb and leap in a friendly and welcoming environment, and hang with some cool cats.

Is the Misfit Flash band something you’d use in the future? Yes, for the sleep monitor and for logging daily activity such as the step counter. This product would be ideal for anyone looking to casually get fitter as the band is a simple way to keep you motivated at a bargain price. What are your favourite sport tech wearables (if any)? My trusty Timex Ironman Triathlon watch, which allows me to store and recall times for 30 laps.

Functionality: 5/10 Comfort/ease of use: 8/10 Looks: 6/10 Value for money: 7/10

MISFIT FLASH BAND

This fitness tracker measures your activity and sleep, syncs with your smartphone and comes in a variety of colours. Press Flash to see a halo of lights showing your progress toward your daily fitness goals. Flash tracks all kinds of sports and exercise, while the Misfit app turns your fitness data into clear charts. Crafted out of a special soft-touch plastic and the same polycarbonate used in space suits, Flash is durable, water-resistant up to 30 metres and comes with a long-lasting battery. Want your own Misfit Flash band? Get it here at: store.misfit.com/products/flash

misfit.com

parkourgenerations.com

DEMOwith DAY Are you a fantastic music teacher who’d love to have your school or college profiled while your bright, energised students test some sensational new Yamaha equipment? Demo Day is Techmix’s day in the sun. Every issue we take a thought-leading school, college or University and pair them with a worldleading technology company to test their latest products. In our next music special issue, we’re looking for some eager, musical aficionados to test Yamaha’s brand-new and exclusive reface mini-keyboards. With its reimagined interface of classic Yamaha keyboards, now you can find inspiration anywhere, any time. Why should acoustic guitarists have all the fun? What’s more, get profiled and win a Yamaha keyboard for your school.

some class r u o st y e late o get h t t t h n a it ce w ve a you w h, ha erien c p So, if e x t e ase c s-on musi howc s n i d t hand n s to oot a reate ment to-sh t and g o r h a p p l rs, de cato siona usic u s d e m f e c o i pr st . s and fanta .com ader e l l your a mag t i x i g i m d tech 000 300, ch at u o t get in

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DIGITAL CAREERS SHOW GET CONNECTED AT DIGITAL CAREERS ROADSHOW - MEET 100 LEADING EMPLOYERS! NORTH LONDON - TECH CAMDEN CAMDEN ROUNDHOUSE Did you know that London is one of the best places in the world to build a career in digital, creative and media? Whether you want to be a games designer, film producer, animator, app designer, software engineer or project manager, there are more than 38,000 digital creative and media companies leading the digital revolution. Much of this exciting activity takes place in North London, in an area that’s becoming known as ‘Tech Camden’, home to leading companies such as AOL, Viacom (MTV), Associated Press and hundreds more!.

REGISTER FOR FREE We’ve limited tickets for this event, and expect the demand to be sky-high, so please be quick and register for the event asap to secure your ticket at booking@TechmixMag.com.

In partnership with the Mayor of London’s Office, we’re proud to be hosting the next Digital Careers Roadshow event at the iconic Camden Roundhouse. This legendary event venue will be home to more than 100 digital creative and media employers, showcasing their new products and services (their cool tech and innovations) and career opportunities with their organisation: live vacancies, apprenticeships and graduate programmes. If you want to learn new skills – how to produce a short film, learn how to code or to hone your Hollywood animating skills – then you’ll have the chance to meet leading learning institutions, to explore short courses and longer programmes of study to help you up the career ladder. Come and say hello.

TECH MENTORING This year we are hosting a fantastic new feature to help you get the most out of your day. Our tech mentoring sessions are one-to-one sessions where you will get the chance to sit face-to-face with a tech mentor (our tech entrepreneurs and experts) – five minutes to discuss your business idea, your career or new skills that you are keen on learning.

INDUSTRY PRESENTATIONS We are excited to be hosting a series of presentations from learning companies such as Barclays, Cisco, City & Guilds and Ufi Charitable Trust. The workshops and presentations will be hosted by experts and entrepreneurs from these businesses, sharing wisdom and industry insight.

MEET OVER 100 LEADING DIGITAL EMPLOYERS, THIS FEBRUARY 23RD AT THE LEGENDARY CAMDEN ROUNDHOUSE IN NORTH LONDON.

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UNIQUE INDUSTRY INSIGHT Any good event has to have a fringe, and a buzz of excitement is growing over the Speaker Summit at Digital Careers Roadshow, which will run alongside the main action on the show floor, bringing together leading tech experts and entrepreneurs in discussion in our special Roundhouse presentation theatre. These speakers will each give their own take on the future of the digital world, and plot where they think careers, skills and

industry will be heading in 2016: exploring entrepreneurship (helping you shape your business ideas), giving you first-hand careers advice (our speakers, have been there, done that) as well as suggesting new digital skills to learn (tips and techniques to help you get your next role). We introduce you to just three fantastic keynote speakers et to take centre stage this February.

NAME: LIAM TOOTILL

NAME: BARRY WHYTE

NAME: YONATAN RAZ-FRIDMAN

Since graduating from Sheffield University with an MA in music in 2009, Liam Tootill has undertaken a number of roles in the UK creative industry. A director at SB.TV, Liam has played both a creative and business development role and continues to drive growth strategy for the brand. Liam also consults for Syco Entertainment and Odd Child Recordings, contributes to i-D magazine and is a co-founder of Supa Academy.

Barry is COO of Decoded. Having spearheaded Decoded’s expansion to New York and Australia, Barry is leading further growth into new geographies as part of his strategic role. He also leads a number of client relationships, working with the most exciting leaders, innovators, disruptors & visionaries in the business world. A self-confessed teenage geek, Barry taught himself the basics of coding from computer magazines in his bedroom. Those fundamental coding skills continually proved to be useful in his subsequent career, first in advertising at Ogilvy & Mather and Havas Worldwide, and then in consulting at Bain & Company. Barry holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Yonatan is co-founder of Kano, a DIY

IN THEIR WORDS:

IN THEIR WORDS: “I’m really excited to be speaking at DCS so that I can share some personal stories and experiences, from my early career, with an inspired crowd who are about to embark on an exciting adventure of their own.”

ear ke to h natan i l ’d u If yo ry and Yo over Bar a i L m, - and meet ers, speak ital employ g 100 di en please free, th for attend mag.com o t r e Regist ts@techmix n at: eve

INTRODUCING

MOBILIZE:LDN

“It’s essential that we dismiss the myths and clichés stating that digital skills are only for a certain few. Decoded’s belief is that technology is for everyone – no matter their age, job, academic background or gender. We are in a period of radical change - and it will take brave and digitally empowered people to navigate and then excel within this new landscape. When taught in the right way, it’s possible to unleash the inner coder, data scientist and hacker within everyone.”

computer kit designed to help people of all ages assemble a computer from scratch, and learn basic coding skills. Conceived in November 2012, Kano is on a mission to give young people - and the young at heart – a simple, fun way to make and play with technology, and take control of the world around them. Yonatan is an Israeli entrepreneur with a strong desire to grow educational opportunities on a global scale. Inspired by Kelvin Doe, a 16-year-old inventor from Sierra Leone, he has a strong desire to equip young people all over the world with tools to create the innovation technology of the future by making what they play with.

“With over 1.3 billion children born since YouTube was launched, there is a whole new generation that can be engaged, connected and creative. If we give them the tools, skills and inspiration, we can empower them to: learn, not just play; make, not just consume; share, not just create, and ultimately, shape the world around them, regardless of age, gender and geographic location. We would have a world of curious, creative and productive citizens – ultimately, making the world a better place.”

MOBILIZE: LDN is an economic growth programme, supported by the London Enterprise Panel to help businesses with the challenge of hiring talent with the correct tech skills (the ‘digital skills gap’). The intervention programme brings together the best young digital leaders aged 15-25 years (1ST - 3RD jobbers) with thought-leading SME employers keen to address recruitment challenges, drive diversity in their work place, and raise career ambitions in their local community. Supported by Barclays LifeSkills, Cisco, City & Guilds, UFI Trust and Qtone Education MOBILZE: LDN aims to unite tech talent with leading tech employers in five Digital Careers Roadshow events in the five tech clusters of London - resolving in an end of programme Westminster summit in December 2016.

DISCOVER DIGITAL CREATIVITY AT THE ROUNDHOUSE The Roundhouse offers career-launching opportunities and creative projects for 11 to 25-year-olds to work with industry professionals and get skills, experience and contacts in performing arts, music and the media. Studio members can take advantage of the 24 industry-standard studios and three professional performance spaces, as well as get access to all the kit and tech they need to produce amazing work. Members have gone on to showcase their talent at stages at the Roundhouse or across UK and international festivals and have been featured on blogs and websites visited by thousands. We meet some artists whose careers have been shaped by The Roundhouse and give you some inspiration...

Photo Credit: futuristudios

LILLY NEUBAUER AGE: 21 MUSICIAN, PRODUCER & SOUND ENGINEER

How did you get into music production? I had no sense that I was going to do this as a career at all. It was something that I liked doing but then I started getting to know more about the technology involved in music production. I went to sixth form and then I lived abroad for a bit, which is something that really influenced my music. When I came back I was a totally different person and decided not to go to university. Instead, I started a course at the London School of Sound and doing stuff with The Roundhouse, which has given me the confidence to get working as a music producer. Now I produce for a number of people and I’m an artist myself so I make my own stuff and perform it. I’m also a part of the Roundhouse Audio Collective. What do you do in the Roundhouse Audio Collective? We meet up every week with music technologist Gawain Hewitt and make electronic music together. Everyone is into computers and music and we get to experiment with technology. At the moment I’m trying to use an Xbox Kinect to track movement and control the computer. It’s really amazing technology. 28

Have you formed any new collaborations since joining the collective? Yeah, definitely. I was in the Music Collective at the beginning of this year and there was a singer who was looking for someone to produce music for her, so I did that. Then we ended up getting two of the other guys to be musicians and now we’re performing and gigging together as a band called Blue Eyes. We’re about to launch our debut EP and we’ve just signed a publishing deal, so we’ve had a really great response. What advice would you give to people considering a career in sound and music production but don’t know how to go about it? There are a lot of resources out there and if you start on something basic like GarageBand (music software) it’s very easy to move on to Logic, which is what I did. Some software can be quite expensive but with places like The Roundhouse you can come and learn and practise your skills. I think studying can also be a really good thing to do and there are lots of schools in London which teach sound and audio production.

roundhouse.org.uk

At 24 years old, Mawaan Rizwan has shaped an incredible career so far. Opting out of university, he found his own way into making his dreams a reality. From starting out in the confines of his bedroom making videos and twerking his way to more than 250,000 views on his YouTube channel, he’s gone on to land stand-up comedy stints with the BBC Asian Network, moved on to script writing for CBBC and presented his first BBC documentary in 2015. Mawaan tells us a bit more about the skills he needed to break the film and TV industry… I’d like to say that I’ve shaped my own career by not waiting around. I’ve realised that opportunities just won’t land in my lap – I have to go out there and do it myself. I remember I was live gallery mixing for a really big event that was happening in the main space in The Roundhouse with over 3,000 people there and all the graphics that were showing up on the screen

Photo Credit: Valeria Meng, Eyes on the Wall

MAWAAN RIZWAN AGE: 24 YOUTUBER, COMEDY WRITER AND FILMMAKER

was stuff that I was mixing. And I was so excited, to not just be on the course but to actually be in the real world, with a job, with a bit of responsibility and pressure and that was the first time where I was like, ‘oh, maybe I can do this.’ The skills I needed to become a filmmaker were to be able to tell a story, film [and] edit. I tried looking for courses, I came across The Roundhouse and I was part of the Bloomberg Broadcast Programme. I could just get on with making stuff as well as getting running jobs and working in the industry and doing side jobs. But there’s an artist that you want to be and you need skills, you need equipment, you need resources and you come to a place like The Roundhouse and these things are given to you. You’re making some really powerful step towards your career. The advice I would give to someone starting out would be to just make stuff. Just make it.”

Get more info and explore your creativity at Roundhouse.org.uk/young-creatives roundhouse.org.uk

Q&A HOW IS YOUR JOB AND DEGREE EVOLVING OVER THE THREE YEARS? My role will change regularly within the company in order to match my studies at university. This is something I’m really excited about as practical work experience really helps me to understand the complicated topics we study at university. Because my university course is based around industry, this also helps me to relate my studies to how things are completed at work.

Callum Gunston

WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU BEGAN AT QUICKSILVA AND HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS SCHEME? I was at college, but in Year 10 I completed a week’s work experience at Quicksilva. I really enjoyed my time there and they kindly invited me back to do more work experience in the subsequent summer holidays. It was actually at Quicksilva that I heard about the Degree Apprenticeship scheme. I knew what an incredible opportunity it would be to progress my education as well as gain invaluable employment experience. RGB (0,158,160)

WHAT DO YOU STUDY AND WHAT EMPLOYMENT POSITION DID YOU TAKE IN THE FIRST YEAR? I’m currently studying a degree in digital and technology solutions at Winchester University while working in technical roles at Quicksilva. In my second semester I’ll be working in projects and I’m looking forward to learning all I can in this area.

WHAT WAS THE LIFE-WORK BALANCE LIKE AND WHAT CAN APPRENTICES EARN? My days are certainly busy but I still make time to socialise with my friends at the weekend. An apprentice’s salary can vary depending on which company they work for, but the fact that I don’t have to pay university fees to get a degree in addition to a salary is amazing. WHY SHOULD SOMEONE WANT A DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP? If you want to gain four years of relevant work experience and come out the other end with no student debt this is definitely the right choice for you. The support I have been given at both Quicksilva and university has given me the opportunity to excel at both my degree and my future career, and I could not be happier with how it has turned out.

Tech Partnership’s degree apprenticeships include a fully integrated honours degree to facilitate both academic learning and on-the-job training. This gives young people the opportunity to pursue academic learning alongside real-life work experience and top companies the opportunity to homegrow the talent they need to fill their higher-level skills gaps. Callum Gunston, a degree apprentice at Quicksilva in Wiltshire, which provides IT Integration solutions to the NHS and the private healthcare industry, explains more... WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOING A DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP AT AN SME INSTEAD OF A BIG CORPORATION? I have found that at an SME I have a closer relationship with the people I work with. I know every person in the company and they know me, and because of that I feel like I am part of the team. I gain support and advice from vastly experienced people and this has had a massive impact on my studies.

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE? So far it has been the opportunity to pair my learning and my work. The fact that I learn a new skill and then get to use it right away at work reinforces the learning in my mind. Everything you learn is relevant to your job.

UNIVERSITIES OFFERING DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMMES FOR 2016 BPP University, University of Chichester, University of Essex , University of Exeter, University of Hertfordshire, University of the West of England Aston University, University of Greenwich, Manchester Metropolitan University, Northumbria University, Queen Mary University of London, Ravensbourne College, University of Roehampton, University of Sunderland and University of Winchester.

www.thetechpartnership.com/choosetech

qxlva.com

h So you want a degree, but you don't want to be riddled with debt. Or maybe you want a degree but are concerned about your job prospects after graduation? The Barclays Higher Apprenticeship could be just what you're looking for. Learn, earn and get a degree or equivalent qualification, all in just three to four years, without the debt. The Higher Apprenticeship provides you with a combination of academic study and practical experience. You’ll receive 100 per cent funding, along with a competitive salary while you develop your job-specific skills during a series of structured placements.

rity and the Prudential Regulation ef: MCT206. Created: 10/15 WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU BEGAN AT BARCLAYS AND HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME? I was at school, studying my A-Levels. I became aware of the programme through a project Barclays was running with my school. I was already intrigued by the idea of doing an apprenticeship and when I became aware of the Barclays scheme I knew this was the path that I wished to follow. WHAT EMPLOYMENT POSITION HAVE YOU TAKEN? I am only three months in now and have already had a variety of roles. My first was out in the banking hall, greeting and helping customers with the machines and dealing with any queries they might have. I then moved on to the counter and am now learning how to operate the counting house. WHAT IS THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE LIKE? Life-work balance is key when doing an apprenticeship. Barclays are very aware of the difficulties so they actually implemented a study day, which is available every two weeks to higher apprentices, which is a huge help towards getting your degree work done and still having a life.

LOUIS PAYNE Apprentice, Personal Banking

11/11/2015

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE WANT A BARCLAYS APPRENTICESHIP? It’s a huge opportunity. You get the best of both worlds. There are not many people out there who have three years experience and a degree at 22. A Barclays apprenticeship is great, particularly now because Barclays are the first company in the UK to roll out a new scheme where graduates get the opportunity to build a portfolio to qualify to become a Higher Apprenticeship in Leadership. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE? I am a people person, so being in retail banking at the forefront of Barclays is something that I very much enjoy. I also get to network and meet new people through my programme.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Keeping on top of my workload. At Barclays I may be deeply involved in a project, but then when I go home I have two degree deadlines. It's important to have a solid plan of action and not to let too many things build up at once.

joinus.barclays.com/emea/higher-apprenticeships

my business using the theory I learned during my degree, while also giving me a great subject for my dissertation. I managed to implement changes rudential Regulation Authority and regulatedand byimprove the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation branch performance ered No. 1026167. Registered office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP. so the work-study structure reallyItem ref: MCT206. Created: 10/15 does go hand in hand. You also have opportunities to undertake projects that interest you and it’s a great platform to network and build your brand within the company.

Created with

JAMALA OSMAN Graduate/Branch Manager WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU BEGAN AT BARCLAYS AND HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME? I was studying for my A-levels and working part-time in retail. Due to my personal circumstances, university was not an option for me. Luckily I won a competition to make a presentation to the then chairman of Barclays in 2011, and it was there that I met a graduate of the apprenticeship scheme. I went home that day and applied. WHAT DID YOU STUDY AND WHAT EMPLOYMENT POSITION DID YOU TAKE IN THE FIRST YEAR? I studied leadership and management and in my first year I was placed in customer-facing roles such as cashier and personal banker. HOW DID YOUR JOB AND DEGREE EVOLVE OVER THE THREE YEARS? It evolved massively each year, giving me the opportunity to grow and develop my skills. The programme structure allows you to progress into more senior roles as your degree work becomes increasingly specialised, supplementing the work you undertake in the business. For example, while completing the final year of my degree I was also a branch manager. This gave me an opportunity to assess 32

WHAT WAS THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE LIKE? The work-life balance is great. On paper it looks a heavy workload but you really learn to balance your time effectively. My cohort were really close and we would socialise whenever we could. To an extent you do miss out on that campus university experience, but there are benefits from going straight into work. It gives you a different life experience because you’re socialising with colleagues of different ages and backgrounds. Plus, as well as paying for your degree, Barclays also pay you a decent salary, which means when we do go out, we are not on a student budget. WHY SHOULD SOMEONE WANT A BARCLAYS APPRENTICESHIP? If you’re ready for the workplace and keen to develop, then this is the perfect opportunity. You are really given licence to own your career and work at a pace that is right for you. There are amazing leaders in this business who are passionate about developing people and uncovering their talents. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE? Becoming branch manager, I had spent two years prior preparing for the position, working with different leaders and completing a variety of projects. This job gave me the opportunity to put everything I had learned into practice and really prove myself as a young leader. You are also given the opportunity to develop others, which is perhaps the most rewarding thing about the role.

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WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Definitely managing my time in my final year. This really stretched my organisational skills as well as forcing me to learn how to work under pressure. Fortunately the support network I had in place – my lecturers and business mentors – helped get me through. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORKING WEEK. Every week is different – that’s why I love this scheme. It’s so dynamic and constantly keeps you engaged. As a branch manager, a typical working week consists of emails, meetings, one-to-ones with my team as well as spending time in the banking hall assisting customers. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? Having been a branch manager for a year, I now have the choice to either continue my leadership journey or try something different. I am currently looking at leadership roles in different business units within the company, while I support my area manager on various projects.

joinus.barclays.com/emea/higher-apprenticeships

BARCLAYS APP FOR THE COMMUNITY COMPETITION In support of EU Code Week, Barclays ran a competition for all users of their Digital Driving Licence platform to find an app that could help solve a social problem and benefit the community.

The winning entry won the opportunity to meet IBM’s app development team and have their idea turned into a reality. This year’s winner:

THE BRIEF 1.) WHAT THE APP DOES 2.) THE SOCIAL PROBLEM IT SOLVES 3.) WHY IT’S INNOVATIVE The top 15 shortlisted won a spot at Freeformers’ innovation day workshop at Somerset House, London, where the team helped finalists develop their storyboards and advised them on app design and coding, through to pitching and launching it to market.

WORKSHOP INNOVATE Learn how to think like a startup BUSINESS MODEL Create a business strategy for the product IDEATE Understand the fundamentals of digital product creation PROTOTYPE Bring the ideas to life by creating a prototype PITCH Deliver the pitch

WHO ARE FREEFORMERS? Freeformers helps companies fulfil the people part of their digital strategies, and for every business person it trains, Freeformers trains a young person for free. Freeformers is passionate about inspiring young people often under-served by traditional approaches to learning. Young people are the digital talent of the future and Freeformers is committed towards giving them the skills and know-how to work in the digital economy.

OLUWADAMIL OLA FASOYIRO EDUCATION-WISE APP My app focuses on helping primary school children learn more effectively at home. Although there are similar apps already on the market, I believe my app is unique. The main difference is that it will be integrated into a child’s daily learning, as it will be connected to their own educational institution. The contents of the app will be based on what the child is learning at school – teachers will then be able to track their students’ progress and parents will have easy access to what their children are learning at school, enabling them to aid in their progress. In simple terms it’s a digital school. Dami Fasoyiro ‫@‏‬damifas I can surely say dreams do come true. Thank you @freeformers_uk @IBM @Accenture @Barclays and @AppsforGoodCDI #bestdayever

freeformers.com

TECH TWIN CONNECTING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS The UK leads the world in the digital, creative and media industries, and is seen by many as the place to get a fantastic job, and to build a successful career. Great Britain is an outwards-facing nation and UK companies have always been comfortable creating opportunities abroad. By 2020, it is forecast that 30 per cent of digital, creative and media companies in the UK will be doing business with new clients in Asia. Powering this economic revolution is an education revolution. Educators around the UK are now teaching digital skills in UK classrooms, fuelled by native student interest. Computing science is now an integral part of the British curriculum. But as UK companies look to the other countries to do business,

how are UK schools, colleges and universities aligned? Are they preparing students for a career without traditional geographic borders, where international clients prefer a Skype meeting, to a coffee? While the UK drives the classroom coding revolution, there is a huge groundswell of international organisations teaching digital skills in the community, from First Code Academy in Hong Kong, which has taught 2,500 young people to code in the past year, to Code School, teaching students to code in war-torn Sierra Leone, to Code Astra in Hyderabad, India’s first 15-week coding boot camp. What lessons can be learned and best practice shared to help schools collaborate and prepare their students for a career without borders?

TECH TWIN - PROGRAMME Tech Twin is a new educator exchange programme that invites technology educators from schools around the word to the UK, to share international perspectives on teaching technology, showcased at the Mayor of London’s Digital Careers Roadshow event series. The programme aims to share best practice between international educators through an inter-school twinning process that supports the teaching of digital skills through education technology, creating new opportunities for students and forging long-lasting school links.

TECH TWIN - CHINESE PARTNER The Tech Twin programme is proud to be in partnership with Qtone Education, one of the most respected education technology companies in China. Qtone Education is a leading technology company whose products are used in more than 20,000 schools across China. As part of the Tech Twin programme, Qtone will be showcasing its technology and innovations at the Mayor of London’s Digital Careers Roadshow, and twinning five schools across the capital with five schools in China.

TECH TWIN: NORTH LONDON The Tech Twin programme starts this February in north London in partnership with Camden Local Authority, twinning La Sainte Union Catholic School (www.lasainteunion.org.uk) in Highgate with the Affiliated High School of South China Normal University, located in Guangzhou District, close to Hong Kong, in the south of China (www.hsfz.cn).

qtone.cn lasainteunion.org.uk

INTRODUCING QTONE EDUCATION Established in 2002, Qtone Education is one of the most successful education technology companies in China. Each year more than 3 billion Chinese students log on to a Qtone technology product. Qtone Education aims to build the largest K12 internet and education platform in China and provides the latest courses for teachers and students. In 2014, it successfully floated on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. OUR PRODUCTS Qtone’s TronClass is an interactive learning management system that provides a variety of teaching resources that can be used easily by teachers and students on PC, tablet and mobile. The platform supports MOOCs, SPOCs (small online private courses) and smart classrooms. ROOMIS is a smart space management and environmental monitoring solution for university classrooms and businesses. ROOMIS AIR, which is currently in development, monitors air quality, temperature and humidity. A NOTE FROM OUR CHAIRMEN “Qtone is the leading K12 education technology company in China,” says Chairman Chen. “By developing state-of-theart IT and internet solutions, Qtone has been making education a more joyful and creative process for more than 10 years. China has its own education system, but the goal of education is the same as it is in the United Kingdom and the United States. It helps people build a better life.”

CHAIRMAN ZHICHANG CHEN, THE FOUNDER OF QTONE EDUCATION

MEET QTONE – AT DIGITAL CAREERS ROADSHOW, NORTH LONDON As part of the Tech Twin programme, Qtone will be showcasing its technology and innovations at the Mayor of London’s Digital Careers Roadshow. If you are interested in meeting one of China’s leading technology companies, please register for our first event at Camden Roundhouse at TechmixMag.com

qtone.cn lasainteunion.org.uk

Who we are We are a global leader in skills development, providing services to training providers, employers, FE colleges and trainees across a variety of sectors, to meet the needs of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workplace. Our qualifications and apprenticeships are valued by employers across the world, helping individuals develop their

create an education system that equally values

talents and abilities for career progression.

technical and academic education, working with partners to develop professional qualifications that provide young people with an alternative path to a great career. Prepare people for work throughout their careers A job for life is a thing of the past. Now people must continually develop their skills throughout their career. By combining knowledge and on-thejob training through apprenticeships and courses that include work experience, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t merely

What we do

provide young people with a first step on to the employment ladder, we provide them with the

Develop the skills that

tools and support for long-term career success.

industry demands To tackle the skills gap, we work closely with

Support the sector through change

thought-leading educators and global employers

Employers are telling us that young people

to make sure all our learning programmes

are leaving education without the skills that

and services meet the shifting skills needs of

employers demand. We work closely with

businesses today and tomorrow.

employers to help develop students with the skills they need new ways of learning, such as

Champion skills education

our TechBac programme, and looking at how we

We promote a broad range of skills education

can embrace digital technology to best teach our

available at all ages. We are committed to

young people the skills they need to compete in

professionalising skills education and seek to

the marketplace.

To find out more about the wide range of digital careers City & Guilds can help you access, visit www.cityandguilds.com 36

FARZANA IS A CURRENT TECH UP NATION APPRENTICE, STUDYING A CITY & GUILDS QUALIFICATION... WHAT WERE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE YOU BEGAN THE TECH UP NATION APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME? I had just finished college and decided I didn’t want to go to university. I then got involved in a voluntary project – building a database for a startup girl’s football club – but as there was no income, I ended up joining the jobcentre. HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE TECH UP NATION APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME? AND WHAT WAS THE INTERVIEW PROCESS LIKE? During my period signing on, I applied for several different roles with few responses. One of my advisers recommended I attend a Tech Up Nation pitch to encourage people to join their apprenticeship programme. I already had a big interest in the IT sector and Tech Up Nation’s presentation won me over. At the end of the two-week induction I was told that I had been invited for an interview with Conker Group.

Farzana Taybah that I have learned and developed but right now my focus is coding. I knew nothing of coding before I started, but already I’ve been introduced to several different languages and their functions. My manager at Conker Group also recommended the City & Guilds modules that she felt would be most useful in gaining a better understanding of the work I do in my employment role.

WHAT QUALIFICATION ARE YOU STUDYING FOR ? I am training for a City & Guilds qualification in software, so two evenings a week I leave work at 3.30pm and attend training till 7pm. WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS HAVE YOU LEARNED THUS FAR? Throughout my apprenticeship there are many skills

“In five years, I want to have my own self-made App!”

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE WANT AN APPRENTICESHIP? There are many reasons, one of the biggest being that you get to work and study at the same time. So you actually have a proper job, gaining lots of experience while at the same time learning and training, to perform your role better. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR? Seeing how an app is made behind the scenes from scratch. App users only get to see the front end, user interface, but I get to see how the app is created and what each button triggers to get the user’s desired outcome. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY My first task is to see if the app users are facing any problems. I will break down the problem and find out who the best person would be to fix the issue. I would then focus on testing the app we are creating. On Wednesday and Thursday I leave at 3.30pm for training and to work on my projects for my City & Guilds qualification.

techupnation.com

Shah is a City & Guilds Level 3 graduate and Optimity success story. After winning Apprentice of the Year at the London Employment Awards, he is now a junior telecommunications engineer at Optimity. confidence grew, and I was able to perform my duties to a high standard. GIVEN THE HEAVY WORKLOAD, HOW DID YOU BALANCE YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES WITH YOUR WORK RESPONSIBILITIES? Throughout my apprenticeship I had constant support from my colleagues and MD Anthony Impey. Any issues I had Optimity would always help to accommodate me and shape my work life around my personal life. They truly shaped my future and I am incredibly grateful.

Shah Alam WHAT WERE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE YOU BEGAN YOUR APPRENTICESHIP? I did not have much going for me in my life. At 19, I was working four part-time jobs to try to make ends meet for my family. Being the eldest of three I had pressure from my parents to find a full-time job and a stable income to take on the responsibilities of the household.

WHAT CITY & GUILDS QUALIFICATION DID YOU STUDY AND DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE? I studied Level 3 IT support and networking, which was a great learning experience for me. I was never good academically but through my apprenticeship, I discovered that learning could be fun. After every work session I was left with the feeling of wanting to learn more.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP WITH OPTIMITY? Through a friend who was an employee at the time. He mentioned that a role had just become available and told me to give in my CV. I was asked to come in for an interview and it was there that I was offered an opportunity as an apprentice.

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR APPRENTICESHIP? When I went to Switzerland on an exchange programme with Swiss apprentices. I had six weeks in Zurich working for Swisscom. It was the opportunity of a lifetime and would not have been possible without my apprenticeship.

WHAT DIGITAL AND BUSINESS SKILLS DID YOU LEARN ON YOUR APPRENTICESHIP? When I began my apprenticeship I had no technology background whatsoever. I didn’t even know how to connect a computer up properly. But during my apprenticeship I learned a lot of different skills as a whole new world of IT was introduced to me. Every day I would learn something new. My first role at Optimity was as a client service adviser, which involved me interacting professionally with clients on a day-to-day basis. I was really shy and afraid to even speak to customers over the phone, but as time went on my self-

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORKING WEEK. A typical working week involves me programming and installing VoIP phones for clients and customers. I deal with any issues they may have with their systems or changes they may request. It can get really busy – I never realised telecoms played such an important role for businesses.

WHAT IMMEDIATE AMBITIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE? I plan on taking the Level 4 City & Guilds qualification in networking to increase my knowledge and better prepare myself for becoming a network telecoms engineer.

optimity.co.uk

Q&A WHAT IS RAPID ENGLISH AND WHAT IS ITS MISSION? Rapid English is a targeted literacy intervention project for adults and young people to bring literacy to hardto-reach places. Our company gives people the language skills they need to transform their perceptions about education in a matter of hours, and bridge the gap between social exclusion and social engagement.

DAVID HORE RAPID ENGLISH Every so often, you come across a company and a cause that moves you to the point where words simply don’t do it justice. Fortunately, words are Rapid English’s trade and justice is merely one of the many areas where they excel as a genuine force for good. David Hore, managing director of Rapid English, explains... 40

Most of us take the ability to read, write and talk for granted. Life can be very difficult for those who can’t read and write well, leading to isolation from the rest of society. Our aim is to remove literacy issues as a barrier to social engagement and employment. A lot of young people fall behind at an early age in school and never recover. We intend to change that.

HOW DOES RAPID ENGLISH WORK? Teachers often focus on what students are ‘supposed’ to know. At Rapid English, we focus on what students ‘need’ to know. We analyse language and count how often the average person uses certain grammar and vocabulary. We then prioritise the language our learners need most. For example, we rely on 300 words to conduct 75 per cent of all our communication. We start with that. Then we examine the grammar rules we use. If a grammar rule is used in 100 per cent of sentences, we prioritise it. If a grammar rule is only used in three per cent of sentences, we put a pin in it until the more important rules are understood. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR LEARNERS? We make them fully operational with the most useful parts of language in an incredibly short space of time.

We often see students go from understanding almost nothing to understanding 80 per cent of what’s HOW DID RAPID ENGLISH BEGIN? Rapid English started as a consultancy going on within 10 to 20 hours of exposure to our methods. It also means to teach English to French business that learners quickly gain the confidence people. A decade ago we realised the to start producing their own content. same techniques that made us so effective for foreign students could HOW DOES DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AID really work to boost educational YOU IN YOUR BUSINESS? attainment for people in the UK. We never looked back. We are dependent on digital

rapidenglish.com

sport and health tech special

technology. Our business runs entirely in the cloud, and today, our team of eight can do what 50 could to do back in the 1980s. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? We work in a truly inspiring sector. No one’s in it for the money. Those involved really care about the young people they work with, particularly because they understand they may well be the last line of defence for young people who have fallen out of education and who are at a high risk of falling into crime. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Like any small business, it’s the workload. Even if you only have a small team, you still have to create new ideas, develop your tools, build your internal systems and develop marketing strategies as if you were a giant company, all the while managing your cash flow. WHAT DIGITAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN EMPLOYEE? As a company dedicated to the improvement of communication, our communication requirements are obviously high. Public speaking is a big

deal, and this isn’t addressed nearly enough in school. As far as digital skills go, it is rare to come across prospective employees who aren’t computer-savvy, so it is very important to develop your digital confidence if you want to compete in the workplace. FAVOURITE PIECE OF SPORT TECH/ WEARABLES My wife swears by her Fitbit activity tracker, which means I will probably have one in my future. WHAT ARE YOUR EXERCISE/FITNESS/ SPORT PURSUITS? Summertime jogger, but I prefer the gym as I just want to get the exercise done. 2016 SPORTING EVENT YOU’RE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO. Olympics in Rio (sadly, only from our front room). DO YOU USE ANY TECH FOR HEALTH/ WELL-BEING? IF SO, WHAT? A Withings scale. It allows you to digitally track your weight and body fat, which is both useful and mildly depressing.

ufi.co.uk

We believe that the UK must increase the number of people with the right skills for work – these vocational skills help UK industry compete in the global economy. And we believe that the best way to do this is by using innovative digital technologies to change how people learn and build skills. Digital learning can make use of exciting developments from social media, gaming, digital design, app development and video production. New, flexible learning could enable people to choose where and when to study and what to learn throughout their working lives. New approaches can help those who’ve struggled with traditional, classroom style learning and open up opportunities to those who feel they’ve been left out. For these reasons, we are proud to support Rapid English.

We're at

DIGITAL CAREERS ROADSHOW! Meet us at the Roundhouse, Camden on 23rd February 2016. 41

FOSTERING DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

It’s often said that the UK is a nation of shopkeepers. But really, how many shopkeepers do you know? Rather, the UK is a nation of small businesses, with a staggering 4.9 million small businesses, accounting for 50 per cent of the growth and 50 per cent of the employment in the UK. So, do you know a small business owner – much more likely, right? Whether that business be a design consultancy, nail salon, architects or plumbers, one thing they all have in common is the need for a strong online presence, a digital footprint to help them be successful in a technology age. With such a high number of small businesses in the UK, there is a strong chance you will work for an SME (small, medium enterprise) in your future career. But what about starting your own business? With 21-year-old Brits three times more likely to be unemployed than the average worker perhaps you might join the 26,400 Brits aged 21 or under that

INTRODUCING WATIFY WATIFY is an EU wide innovative project to foster digital entrepreneurship, inspire, and encourage new creative businesses to offer the products and services of the future. If you have plan to start a business, have already started-up – or need further support to scale-up your business, then WATIFY can help – by plugging you into a series of mentoring platforms across the UK, to meet other founders, and connect you to new mentors and advisors to share their knowledge to help you overcome barriers to growing your business.

ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/dem/watify

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started a company last year – with many of these businesses built around a technology solution, product or service. Starting a company requires hard work, dedication and an unshakable belief in your idea and ambitions. One such person that overcame all doubts was Nick D’Aloisio. Nick was just 15 when he started work on his news app Summly, selling it five years later to to Yahoo for $30m. But as you set out on your journey, where can you find help and support to grow your business?

INTRODUCING techUK techUK represents the companies and technologies that are defining today the world that we will live in tomorrow. More than 880 companies are members of techUK, collectively employing over 750,000 people – about half of all tech sector jobs in the UK. techUK works in partnership with WATIFY creating a series of activities to help early tech entrepreneurs start businesses and help them grow and flourish into the companies of the future. These events and activities focused on subjects such as sharing information about new technologies, sharing success stories – and sharing skills, guidance and face to face mentoring.

https://www.techuk.org/focus/programmes/watify-techuk

WATIFY 2015 ROUND-UP Across 2015 the UK WATIFY programme, led by techUK, was proud to have supported 2,000 tech founders, providing guidance, sharing skills and mentoring at over twenty events across the UK. From East Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tech City to Glasgowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buoyant creative community, hundreds of tech company founders shared collective wisdom and discussed smart solutions to common problems.

DECEMBER DOUBT SESSION Wrapping up a fantastic year, the WATIFY team headed to Scotland to host a large dedicated WATIFY event for 250 Scottish tech founders, at the fantastic Glasgow Kelvin College. The event also supported some notable names and large local employers, from HP Enterprise, Google Digital Garage and Barclays LifeSkills. The December Doubt Session took over the entire college campus, and packed out the lecture hall, inviting local tech companies to reflect on the seasoned advice provided by our experts and entrepreneurs, and to share their own knowledge.

If you are considering starting a technology business or wish to accelerate the growth of your tech company, then WATIFY can help. Take a look at WATIFY today: https://www.techuk.org/focus/programmes/watify-techuk

techuk.org

https://www.techuk.org/focus/programmes/watify-techuk

FORCE FOR GOOD London has always been a gateway city to Europe, America and beyond. From the industrial revolution to the digital revolution, its strategic riverside location made London a commercial success, attracting pioneering businesses. Today, the pulse of the city beats in Tech City, east London.

Now home to 6,000 digital, creative and media companies, Tech City is a melting pot of disruptive tech startups and established digital businesses competing on a world stage. At the apex of this hotbed of talent and innovation is a company called Salesforce. Founded in America in 1999, Salesforce helps businesses be more productive through smart technology, allowing them to prioritise business tasks and connect with their community through technology. But Salesforce have also pioneered a unique business philosophy to support smaller community organisations, an approach

that is impacting the buoyant Tech City ecosystem and beyond.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE As a successful $50bn business, Salesforce runs a unique programme that donates one per cent of its company resources – ITS profit, employee time and company equity – to support organisations that make the world a better place, organisations like CoderDojo, the only free of charge, volunteer led, coding movement for young people in the world. THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL So why does a market-leading tech titan give back in this way? In the fast-moving world of technology, isn’t supporting community initiatives a distraction from a company’s original mission statement? But great cities, like great companies, are built on talented individuals – so to stay at the top, businesses needs to employ the very best digital talent. Unfortunately

SPOTLIGHT ON: CODERDOJO CoderDojo give kids and young people all over the world better access to the magic behind the technology that surrounds us, and touches almost everything that we do in our lives. We are a global community of free programming clubs for young people, teaching not only coding, but how to work with and create technology and develop all of the related skills of innovation, communication, teamwork and leadership. 44

there is currently a huge skills-gap – too many jobs, and not enough people to fill them. It’s estimated that in the next 10 years another 12,000 digital, creative and media businesses will be founded, bringing the total number of ‘tech businesses’ in London to 52,000, which means a huge amount of employers will have to compete for a very limited number of skilled employees. This is why Salesforce have intervened, actively supporting community companies like CoderDojo who are working hard to close this gap. If you are interested in learning news skills, or learning more about Salesforce and their fantastic partners, please visit salesforce.org

“Every day we’re contacted by parents and kids who want to get involved in CoderDojo, they are desperate for their kids to have the opportunity to develop much needed technical skills. With Salesforce support, we aim to reach as many kids as possible. It’s our vision that every child in the world should have the opportunity to learn how to code and discover the magic behind the technology, which they interact with in their everyday lives.” MARY MOLONEY – CEO CODERDOJO

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VIEW FROM THE TOP Mayor of London’s Digital Talent Programme

Catherine Knivett Principal Policy Officer – Digital Skills There are huge opportunities for young, talented Londoners to get great jobs with high salaries in all kinds of businesses that have digital roles. To capitalise on this, the Mayor of London is investing £5m to help the next generation of London talent aged 14 to 24 gain the qualifications and experience they need to get ahead. Digital skills will be essential in the future marketplace. The Mayor’s Digital Talent Programme will help London educators connect with businesses so they can usher the future of the capital’s digital economy into the fantastic careers that await them.

THINK. CREATE. DEVELOP. WITH ADA, THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS. At Ada, we believe in the power of collaboration. We provide each of our students with the skills to unlock their toolbox of talent, navigate the digital landscape and conquer the unknown. We provide a collaborative space in the most exciting tech capital of the world, where diverse minds can explore, co-create, experiment and achieve. It’s a unique learning environment designed to teach you hard skills, personal mastery and ultimately prepare you for the working world. We provide many paths. And with the digital sector in epic growth, hungry to fill 130,000 tech jobs every year in the UK alone, these paths are bursting with opportunity. We’ve cultivated an active network of digital thinkers, industry experts and leading tech companies, including IBM, King and Gamesys. This is a community that goes way beyond our college. Our network will set you up for life, by opening portals to soughtafter work placements and apprenticeships. The whole point of college? To get a great job! That’s why Ada’s rebooting the system with a digital college that’s right for today,

london.gov.uk

City businesses are eager to invest in bright, young talent from a wide range of backgrounds and increase the number of women in their workforce. This means there are more opportunities than ever before. The Mayor will be working with schools, colleges, private training providers and universities across London to ensure its young digital leaders learn the skills and gain the relevant work experience to benefit from this digital boom. Keep an eye out for new opportunities, including courses, apprenticeships, work experience and events coming your way.

tomorrow and beyond. It’s a unique type of immersive education that offers experiential learning from tech-savvy teachers and industry experts. Forget theory, this is proper hands-on learning, using the very latest in technology and equipment. Learn with Ada and we’ll get your mind ticking in new ways. You’ll become fluent in at least two programming languages, whether you’re starting from scratch or already a budding coder. We’ll teach you to use design thinking to create and develop ideas through a broad range of subject choices. This is where your academic self gets interactive with your creative self, because magic happens at the intersections. Our sixth form gets you to the next level. After two years you’ll have the skills to go on to a higher level apprenticeship, which will enable you to learn and earn by working full-time with a top employer and gain a foundation degree accredited by a Russell Group university. This will provide you with knowledge, skills and qualifications without you needing to rack up university-related debt. Alternatively, you will have the opportunity to gain enough UCAS points to progress on to the university of your choice. Curious? Then come to one of our events and apply to join us in Tottenham Hale in September. www.adacollege.org.uk

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For 30 years, Cisco has changed the way the world works, lives, plays and learns. Our edge doesn’t come from technology, it comes from our people and the amazing things that happen when we connect the unconnected. At Cisco we look for people who take smart risks, thrive in diverse environments, inspire their colleagues and are committed to having an impact on the world. Our business is all about disruption and reinventing the way people do business and connect with the world. This creates a working environment that is both inspiring and exciting, one that young people at the start of their career, whether they’re an apprentice or graduate, tend to thrive in.

the workplace. At Cisco, we have delivered the network infrastructure for the world’s largest sporting events, including the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, ensuring that billions of viewers around the world don’t miss a second of the action. The challenge of finding individuals with the right skills is greater than ever, which presents a great opportunity for young people. I urge you all to consider a career in technology – it truly offers a world of fantastic opportunities.

PHIL SMITH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CISCO UK AND IRELAND

Today a career in technology is far more than sitting behind a desk coding. While that’s still important, the industry is now so broad that it requires a similarly diverse mix of people to take it forward. Skills in subjects such as maths and science will always be important, but the industry also requires people who are able to demonstrate good communication skills, logical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making. I’ve had a lot of roles at Cisco. I’ve been in charge of marketing and business development, analyst relations and PR. I ran the dotcom team during the boom and I’ve managed relationships with big clients such as BT. It just shows the variety of openings there are in a hi-tech company – it’s not just about people writing code. As innovations in technology continue, and with the emergence of the Internet of Everything, seemingly everyday items are increasingly becoming connected to the web. Only about one per cent of the things that could be connected to the Internet currently are. In future we’ll connect everything from cars and fridges to animals and people, creating a massive sensor that will know everything that’s going on in the world. This will allow people to work with technology in a way that aligns with their passions, from sport to fashion or wildlife. I’m an avid triathlete and sport holds a close place to my heart. But I don’t have to embrace this passion just outside 46

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VIRTUAL REALITY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD ALISON VINCENT, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER OF CISCO UK AND IRELAND

clunky and will become more visually appealing and comfortable to use.

Imagine if you could take a trip to the rainforest from your sofa or see the Pyramids and learn about the Egyptian Pharaohs from your classroom. Well, it turns out you no longer have to imagine. Virtual reality (VR) technology is making this type of experience a real possibility.

VR could even end the need to travel to impressive geographical sites, such as the Grand Canyon or the depths of the ocean. Why go to the hassle of boarding a plane when you can wander around ancient Rome from the comfort of your own living room?

It’s amazing to see how quickly VR, the idea of a computer-generated 3D environment where you can interact with an artificial world, has developed in such a short space of time. The technology is becoming more immersive, meaning you really believe you’re in the virtual world you’re viewing and these experiences are set to get increasingly more impressive.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT GAMING While the easiest way to imagine a use for this technology is through gaming, it has the potential to deliver so much more than that. It could easily change how you learn, for example, helping you understand the way the body works by actually taking you on visual journey through the internal workings of the body, or by allowing you to be taken to a prominent time in history to see it for yourself. It also has huge potential to change how we shop, design new cars, visualise new interior designs – ultimately change the way we live. WHAT WILL VR IN THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE? As technology changes, the power of virtual reality technology is only going to grow. At the moment the leading technology requires a headset, headphones, hand-held controllers and a computer powerful enough to run the programs that deliver the content. But in time, the headsets will get lighter and less

The same goes for sports and music events. VR could give you the best seats in the house at Wembley, without spending hundreds of pounds to be there, or even allow you to wander around your favourite history museum and see the artefacts at much closer range than you would be allowed to in real life.

You can start to see VR having a big impact on how we behave as a society. At the moment, it’s the kind of technology that until you’ve tried it can be hard to imagine, but with the launch of the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR and PlayStation’s Project Morpheus pencilled in for early this year, prepare to see and hear a lot more about virtual reality in 2016. The future looks like it’s going to be a virtual one and it’s going to be a different world to the one we experience today.

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SAVING ELEPHANTS WITH THE INTERNET that when her heartbeat stops, the armed scouts can immediately go to the area to catch the poachers if she has been shot.

SARAH ECCLESTON, HEAD OF ENTERPRISE NETWORKS, CISCO UK AND IRELAND Every 15 minutes an elephant is killed for its ivory. It’s not only tragic, it’s a complete waste, because there is no substance in an ivory tusk that is not in our fingernails. In total, 35,000 African elephants are killed every year, most of them leaving behind orphans who are alone, with no food and terrified. So I got to thinking, if we can connect cars, fridges, pens and cows to the Internet, then why can’t we connect elephants? Because, if we could do this using sensors, then when an elephant does get shot by poachers, the ranger would know where it is and have a good chance of catching the poachers. Maybe the idea of connecting all the elephants in Africa to the Internet is a crazy one, but rather than drop the idea I acted on it instead. I just don’t believe that technology can’t help somehow. To find out how, I travelled to Zambia to spend a month living in an elephant orphanage.

Sensor technology will develop. Like most things computer-related, over time things get smaller and smaller (have a look and see how big your parents’ first mobile phones were), and the same will happen with sensors.

I left Zambia with more questions than I came with. Perhaps instead we could connect the soil to the Internet with sensors, which would track elephants as they walk over the ground. Or could we use second-hand mobile phones, leaving them across the national park with an app – like Shazam – which could ‘listen’ to the surroundings, and when it hears a gunshot it can alert the nearest patrol station.

Unsurprisingly, trying to connect elephants to the Internet was not straightforward and did raise a number of challenges. The first problem is where is the Internet? I was based in the Kafue National Park, which at six million hectares is about the size of Wales. To overcome this, I connected a Cisco internet router to a satellite, ensuring we had Internet access wherever we were. Next, how do you get a sensor on an elephant? Connecting 600,000 African elephants is just not feasible. This could be reduced by putting a sensor only on the leader of the herd, because the other elephants are never far from her. So when you know where she is, you know where the herd is. However, connecting elephants is not just for location, it is also for information like her heartbeat and stress levels, so

This is the amazing thing about working in a technology, it can overcome so many problems we face in today’s world in endless and exciting ways. Whether that is saving elephants, building cars more quickly or stopping queues in our shops, the power of technology can provide the answer.

Introduce yourself to Phil (Alison or Sarah as applicable) on Twitter @phsmithuk (@DrAliV / @CiscoSarahE) 48

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INTRO BBC MAKER CLUB

LEARN TO... Welcome to Techmix’s brand new workshop ‘LEARN TO’ section.

YAMAHA

You’re curious. That’s why you’re here. You want to know something – want to be something – but don’t know where to start? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Here you’ll get a taste of what’s cutting edge in digital skills and careers, brought to you by the experts in the know.

KIN DESIGN

So whether you’re looking to dip your toe into the 3D printing revolution, run a social media campaign for a global corporation, or just want to find out what it takes to be a Hollywood film editor, we’ve got you covered from A to Z.

VML

We’ll show you the cracking companies with the goals you aspire to, before our elite panel of terrific teachers teach you the digital skills you’ll need to succeed in the role.

LEARN TO...

be an

ONLINE CONTENT PRODUCER with BBC’s Matthew Rogers WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN THE BBC AND HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB? I am a content producer in the Online & Learning department of BBC Cymru Wales and my role is to produce and create digital content for such brands as Doctor Who and Sherlock. I started at BBC Wales on work experience in 2010 and subsequently gained employment as a web assistant on The Sarah Jane Adventures. WHAT IS DOCTOR WHO GAME MAKER? The Doctor Who Game Maker allows you to manipulate the universe of Doctor Who by creating your own adventures in time and space. Within minutes you can create a fun game from 50

scratch or use one of our selection of templates to get you started. There’s a vast array of assets on offer to help create your own unique game, including stunningly designed environments, monsters new and old, friends, foes and spaceships from across the galaxy. You can then instantly publish your creation to the arcade and play games made by other makers from around the world.

digital skills are key. Obviously it’s vital to keep up with developments in technology, gaming, broadcasting and media production, but there are also technical production skills such as design, filming, editing, and coding. Even though I work as a producer, these are still important, as they allow me to create content when needed and also communicate effectively with the dedicated workers in those fields.

DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE WORKING ON DOCTOR WHO GAME MAKER? I was the BBC Wales producer, so I helped develop and pitch the idea in the beginning, before moving on to manage the production and delivery of the game. WHY WAS DOCTOR WHO GAME MAKER BUILT? WHO IS IT FOR AND WHAT WERE ITS AMBITIONS? It was built as part of the BBC’s Make It Digital initiative and aims to inspire a new generation to get creative with digital technology. Playing the Game Maker introduces users to computational thinking, the software development process and game design. The Game Maker is aimed at a 10-plus audience in terms of game-play, but the pick up and play nature of it allows all ages and levels of ability to make their own game. WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND DOCTOR WHO GAME MAKER? We used the same game engine as a great CBBC game called Make It: Technobabble and then tweaked the functionality, adding a range of new features and redesigned the look and feel to suit the Doctor Who universe. The underlying game engine was built using a desktop and mobile html 5 game framework called Phaser. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? One of the biggest challenges working in digital media is keeping up with the constant changes in technology and evolving audience trends, and then balancing that with the development of new projects that hit the sweet spot between what is new and innovative, and what the audience is ready for. HOW IMPORTANT ARE DIGITAL SKILLS IN YOUR ROLE? Working in the online department,

bbc.co.uk/doctorwho

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE LOOKING TO BECOME A GAME DESIGNER? Start making your own games in order to practise and learn, but also because it means you have something to show potential employers. It doesn’t have to be flashy – it could just be a simple level, a cool control mechanic or some artwork. And if you only have one specialised skill, find people to collaborate with; if you’re a coder, team up with a designer or vice versa. WHAT QUALITIES DO THE BBC LOOK FOR IN A FIRST-JOBBER? I think more than anything the BBC want to employ people who are passionate about what they do and are willing to put the work in to create the best possible content. You don’t have to have all the skills and experience from the outset, but it is important to show that you possess the enthusiasm, dedication and initiative to become good at what you do.

INTRO RUSSELL FORREST

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING PART OF YOUR STUDY? Being able to make links between the content of other courses, For example,

WHAT TECH PROGRAMS DO YOU USE IN YOUR COURSE AND WHY? Since we do a lot of programming in computer science, we use Python Scripter to help us write Python code. It helps by pointing out any errors in our program, which makes life so much easier as the programs are sometimes long and complex. WHAT SKILLS DO YOU NEED IN THE DESIGN INDUSTRY? I think a working knowledge of graphic design programmes such as Photoshop and being able to create and design websites with HTML and CSS will go quite far.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? I admire success stories like that of Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, who started his company from a Harvard dorm room. HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED A CAREER IN COMPUTER GAME DESIGN? As I’m obsessed with programming, I’ve always considered a career in game design. The advances in the gaming world and computing technology make the industry very dynamic. HOW HAVE YOUR IMPROVED CODING SKILLS HELPED SHAPE YOUR DESIGN IDEAS? As I’ve learnt different, faster methods of doing certain things, I think the quality of my designs have improved, as the code tends to be a bit more concise.

HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH DESIGN IDEAS? When creating an app or website, I always think the interface must make the user’s tasks as simple as possible. The aesthetic must also relate to the purpose of the application and WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR LIFE AFTER sometimes even take advantage of colour psychology to help improve users’ SCHOOL? experience. I plan on studying computer science at Cambridge University, and then I would HOW HAVE THE SKILLS YOU’VE like to start my own tech company or LEARNED HELPED SHAPED YOUR sell an app to a larger business. If plan A CONCEPTION OF YOUR FUTURE? doesn’t work out, I’d love to work I’ve been teaching myself to program at a large tech company such as for over two years, so I have quite a bit of Google or Facebook.

stac.uk.com

YAMAHA

programming experience now. However, I’ve also learned a few new tricks with the Python programming language, and because of this, I’ve realised that if do end up working in the tech sector, I’ll be consistently learning new things.

VML

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU DOING AT ST THOMAS AND WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS ARE YOU LEARNING? I’m currently studying maths, further maths, physics and computer science. In my computer science class, we’re learning how to write programs using the Python programming language, which ties in well with the theory side of the course, as it requires us to know how to use certain algorithms for specific tasks. Studying at St Thomas is a challenge, but fortunately it has the right environment and teachers.

in further maths, we’ll often have to work with Dijkstra’s algorithm to solve problems, and since computer science also requires us to use algorithms to solve problems, a lot of this knowledge is transferable.

KIN DESIGN

Russell is one of St Thomas’s bright young digital stars. Here he talks about his ambitions and how coding is going to get him there...

MAKER CLUB

BBC

I’M LEARNING

ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE COLLEGE

TECH CAMP

WEEK ONE

BY PETE LINES

WHAT IS TECH CAMP?

MY TECH CAMP GOALS

Tech Camp is a fun-filled, five-day course that gives you a taste of life in the digital, creative and media industries, where you’ll learn career-relevant digital skills and visit cutting-edge digital companies.

As a journalist with an interest in new media and technology I joined to discover how the rapid pace of technology shapes our working landscape and to further my own opportunities.

DAY ONE Located in Old Street’s Tech City, we visited start-up Ustwo, creators of iPad app Monument Valley. We quiz ‘Magic’ Mike Anderson, the Quality Assurance lead for Monument Valley, on his career path in the gaming industry. Despite having worked as a tester for giants such as Sega, Mike believes the mobile market to be the major employment growth sector. 52

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jobs.natwest.com

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DAY TWO We visited the intimidating headquarters of Royal Bank of Scotland, but Kate, the NatWest brand manager, was anything but. Kate stressed the role of technology in recruitment and encouraged us to think of ourselves as a brand; using social media such as LinkedIn to promote that brand, and stand out in a competitive market where thousands can apply for a job with just a click.

DAY FOUR Journeying to mobile phone giant EE in Hatfield, I’m excited to engage with a company who employ nearly 15,000 people. Product manager Mike explains his work on the EE app and guides us through the creation of our own. Later we design a mock-mobile launch marketing campaign with social media manager Andrew, who also discussed how as a result of the advertising industry shifting online, it’s actually research abilities and knowledge of data analysis and complex algorithms that are now the most in-demand skills. EE has also invested in more than 800 apprenticeships, providing on-the-job training and NVQ qualifications. Recent product of the scheme Omar quashes the misconception that you’d need in-depth tech knowledge for the position; it’s an open, positive attitude and a solid work ethic that’s required.

DAY THREE Fab Lab offers a London space to experiment with a new, potentially disruptive technology called 3D printing. Disruptive, meaning a technology that displaces an established one, like the way music downloads have all but replaced CDs. 3D printing allows us to cheaply and quickly print any object we can imagine, from crockery to acoustic guitars. If this goes mainstream, it may mean that object-producing businesses will struggle to survive.

DAY FIVE We conclude with a successful networking session. Our bustling group eagerly swap ideas, as well as shiny custom business cards (courtesy of Moo), with a plethora of employers who come to meet us. I interact with a range of successful people from computer programmers to a BBC journalist.

HOW HAS TECH CAMP AFFECTED ME? Tech Camp provided an incredible opportunity that I’d highly recommend. I grew my network, saw the variety in which businesses operate in the digital

world and finished the week with a new job at a media company. No doubt due to the knowledge and confidence garnered 53 from my week at Tech Camp.

DO TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS INSPIRE YOU TO THINK DIFFERENTLY

LEARN TO...

be a

DIGITAL DESIGNER

with Maker Club’s William Brett-Atkin WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT MAKERCLUB? Head of product, which means that I am in charge of product development, from physical kits to our digital web e-learning platform. DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER PATH. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a product designer. I remember watching a TV show about inventors and saying that that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up. I studied product design at the University of Sussex and 54

WHEN DESIGNING? Of course. Technology is constantly changing and improving so you need to adapt and continue learning to keep up. Take 3D printers; a few years ago they didn’t even exist and making prototypes would take forever. Now it’s so simple, our design process takes only a fraction of the time. then worked my way up from product design engineer at Eschmann Equipment WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU to UX/UI designer at Mind Candy (read WISH YOU’D KNOWN AT 18? interview with Mind Candy founder That the easiest route is not always Michael Acton Smith on p17). the best route. You need to work hard to reach your potential. WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK AS A 3D DESIGNER AT MAKER CLUB? I’ve always had a fascination with technology. It felt like magic when I was young and like all magic tricks, you want to know how they work. My role at MakerClub isn’t solely 3D design but CAD (computer-aided design) plays a major role. I find CAD modelling really satisfying, but being able to design your own products and then print them out for real on one of our 3D printers is amazing!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE LOOKING TO BECOME A 3D DESIGNER? Experience is the key to success. Get as much experience designing as you possibly can, whether it’s interning or designing for free for a friend or family. It’s all relevant and will really make you stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs.

WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS DO YOU USE IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY? Working for a digital company you obviously need to have an array of digital skills. I use CAD and 3D printing software every day for the 3D design portion of the job and then software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Sketch3 and Balsamiq for the graphic design, UI/ UX side. WHAT QUALITIES DO MAKERCLUB LOOK FOR IN A FIRST-JOBBER? HOW WOULD YOU BEST DEMYSTIFY We’re always on the look out for creative and ambitious people. We’re still YOUR DESIGN PROCESS? a small company, so versatility is really Always consider the end user first. If they find your product confusing or important as you’ll often end up working difficult to use, they won’t try it again, on multiple projects with different which is bad for the company and bad needs. I think the most important thing for you, the designer. Designing is never is having a passion to learn. We don’t easy, that’s why it’s such a great job. You expect you to know everything when you can always improve something and there start, but we do expect you to have a is no limit to what you can imagine. thirst for knowledge.

makerclub.org

INTRO NATALY VASCONCELOS

Nataly, a pupil at La Sainte Union WHY DID YOU JOIN CODING CLUB? Catholic School, one of our tech-twinned As our class was no longer coding schools (p34-35), talks to us about during lesson time, I wanted to coding club and being a digital leader... continue developing my skills. It was an opportunity to have fun and get to WHAT COURSE ARE YOU DOING AND actually program rather than focusing WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS ARE YOU on writing up and documenting LEARNING? programs. It was also an opportunity We started off doing the AQA to spend longer exploring different computer science course, but due to languages and asking the teachers for time constraints we have since been help when I get stuck. Plus, it means completing a digital skills course. This I get the chance to have a look at my course focuses on using applications friends’ programs and learn from them. that will help us in business. Previously I have learned how to create mobile WHAT TECH PROGRAMS DO YOU USE applications using App Inventor as well AND WHY? as learning Python. We began learning how to use

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED A CAREER IN 3D DESIGN? IF SO, WHAT INTERESTS YOU MOST ABOUT THE INDUSTRY? Yes, I have. What interests me the most is how clever it is in the way it approaches design and the new visionary ideas that are created through it. Another thing I really love is the mathematical involvement and how it combines logical and creative thinking. That’s what I love about coding, it gives me the power to express my ideas.

BBC MAKER CLUB

HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH DESIGN IDEAS? When I have an idea for a program, I like to create a flow chart. Making a flow chart is a great way to visualise how a program will work and helps to flag up what problems we may come across before writing the actual code.

YAMAHA

Scratch, which helped us understand the basics of coding. We also used App Inventor, which allowed us to create our own apps, and experiment with different ideas in the process. Recently we have focused on developing our coding skills in Python, which has been fascinating, and Unity, in order to learn how to create 3D games.

VML

I’M LEARNING

LA SAINTE UNION

Ufi supports new companies like MakerClub and new products in this fast moving world – supporting early stage ideas, showcasing the importance of skills for work and demonstrating how technology can be used to reach many new learners.

lasainteunion org.uk

KIN DESIGN

Our aim is to create a community of developers and learning providers working at the cutting edge of learning technologies to make vocational learning an attractive market for future investment, creating new companies and new jobs in a new sector for digital technologies. ufi.co.uk

an air of confidence and pride. Yamaha Music is a company bursting at the seams with talented people – players and designers – and that’s just on the instrument side. We’re not a company content with standing still, so innovation and quality are at the forefront of everything we do, from the products we make, to the way we market and support them.

LEARN TO...

be a

MUSIC PRODUCT MANAGER with YAMAHA’S Chris Irvine WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT YAMAHA AND HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB? Product manager for music production and pro audio equipment. I joined Yamaha in 2003 after completing my BSc in audio and music technology. I was originally taken on as a temp, but this was made permanent after proving my worth during my probation period.

in keeping with the times. Our reface keyboards, for example, offer an on-theWHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? go solution for the keyboard player who Getting stuck into something hands-on wants the same freedom afforded to an acoustic guitar player. is always a good way to spend my days. I also love meeting customers who use DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WEEK. our products. The conversations you Sadly (or happily), there is no such have with individuals at music shows, thing as a typical week in my world. But finding out what they’re doing and how this week, for example, I am in the office they use your products, make it all on Monday and Tuesday to catch up on worthwhile. admin. On Wednesday I have conference If I was to single out one experience, calls with colleagues in Japan and this year I headed up a team to launch Europe to discuss future products and the new reface series keyboards in the marketing strategies, and then I will UK. We arranged a VIP event at Abbey head into London to meet a new artist to Road studio two for dealers, press and artists to check out our products. It was discuss working together. Then Thursday a lot of hard work but studio two, Abbey and Friday I will be working with a video Road? Not a bad place to call your office company to produce two promotional movies for some new products we will be for the day. launching next year. HOW IMPORTANT ARE COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN YOUR ROLE? When you work in sales and marketing, communication is everything. It is one thing to know that a product is great and why, but if you cannot relay that message to your target audience then that’s a problem. Of course, the way we communicate with our audience changes rapidly these days. When I first joined the company the internet was still young and social media didn’t even exist. We relied heavily on the press and artists to tell our story. Now our audience themselves play a pivotal role and so we are always looking at new ways to inspire and engage them.

DO TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS INSPIRE YOU TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT CONCEPTUALISING A PRODUCT? Indeed. While great sound and quality will always remain at the top of our wish list for what a new product should offer, WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK AT YAMAHA? it is also of utmost importance that we It’s so nice to know that the product are up to speed with how our audience your company makes is so great. It is playing, making and enjoying music, allows you to approach your job with so that we produce products which are 56

yamahamusiclondon.com

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE LOOKING TO WORK IN THE TECH/PRODUCT SIDE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? It is OK not to know exactly what you want to do when you leave education. But if you have an idea of the field you want to work in then try to gain the skills and hands-on experience you need to progress. This will probably mean volunteering and occasionally working for free. If you want to be a sound engineer, find a local venue or summer festival and help out as stage crew or join the college theatre team as a technical hand. You will pick up things that come in handy further down the line, but more importantly you’ll learn how to work with other people. And ask questions.

INTRO to be a

MUSICIAN

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO STUDY MUSIC AT LEIGHTON PARK? It’s great. I love the balance between formal lessons and extracurricular activities, performances and largescale shows. There are a huge variety of ensembles and choirs to join: jazz and brass, acapella, orchestras and loads more. The teaching staff are also fantastic. They’re enthusiastic, knowledgeable and always available to listen, encourage and help. The music technology equipment in the department and recording studio are also among the best I’ve ever seen. WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS ARE YOU LEARNING? Audio recording in the studio, MIDI sequencing, MIDI inputs, different types of reverberation (convolution, plate) and more. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING PART OF STUDYING MUSIC AT LEIGHTON PARK? The freedom. We can explore whatever style of music we want. I began taking drum lessons but have been equally encouraged in my singing and piano playing – we don’t have to specialise in only one instrument. The school has top-of-the-range equipment, both instruments and technology,

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? I enjoyed school plays and choirs from a very young age. Then as a teen I imagined myself being on The X Factor – cheesy, I know. Since then, I’ve taken inspiration from lots of places, including films like Whiplash, clips on YouTube, and listening to artists on the radio. Panic! At the Disco and Ed Sheeran are a few of my guilty pleasures right now. I’ve also come to realise that I really like singing and writing ballads because they really suit my vocal range.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE SKILLS YOU’RE LEARNING AT LEIGHTON PARK WILL HELP YOU TO ACHIEVE THIS? I’ve had first-rate music lessons throughout my years at Leighton Park, both inside and outside the classroom. Again, I want to stress how supportive the staff are of every aspect of my development as a musician. The technical skills I’m gaining will only support the creative side of my compositions and performances. In WHAT AREA OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY addition, I’m also learning from my music ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT teachers’ professional experience about AND WHAT SKILLS WOULD YOU how to think about myself in a broader REALLY LIKE TO LEARN? professional music context with all the At present, my passions are composing skills that being a musician requires. and songwriting, but I’m getting more confident about performing in public. I am intrigued by the current pop industry, especially about how artists write for their audiences, and how they form that connection with the listener. HOW DO MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY FULFILL YOU CREATIVELY? When I’m involved in music, whether that be singing, drumming or listening,

leightonpark.com

BBC MAKER CLUB

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE AND WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR CAREER IN 10 YEARS TIME? In an ideal world, I’ll be making a decent living out of singing, songwriting and drumming, and will already have a wellreceived album out. I’d be signed to a record label and playing in the West End, with the flexibility and freedom to make my own music in the way that Leighton Park has encouraged me.

YAMAHA

Will is an aspiring musician studying AS-level Music and Music Technology at Leighton Park School, who has an education partnership with Yamaha.

WHAT DIGITAL PROGRAMMES DO YOU USE IN YOUR COURSE AND WHY? We use Logic Pro X because it is an industry-standard programme and ticks so many boxes in terms of multitrack recording, mixing and especially arranging and sequencing. The entire music department runs on Apple gear, so there is a good progression starting on GarageBand in the early years to the more advanced features of Logic.

I feel alive – there is no other way to explain it. Fortunately, the access to technology at Leighton Park offers me more opportunities to be creative in my compositions, as well as allowing me to work anywhere and collaborate with anyone.

VML

thanks to its education partnership with Yamaha. We recently had 19 brand new Yamaha pianos delivered, including a CFX Concert Grand, which I am really enjoying.

KIN DESIGN

I’M LEARNING

with Will Mackay

LEARN TO...

be an

APP DEVELOPER with Ross Patman - VML VML is a full service marketing agency whose culture is based on the philosophy that leading digital lives leads to smarter digital minds... App development is just one string to their bow. Ross Patman tells us more... WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT VML AND HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB? I am an apps developer, working predominately with iOS, although I am also learning Android. I started in May 2015 after deciding to switch career paths and searched for a company where I could gain experience and learn a broad range of skills, which I believe are both prerequisites to success in this field. 58

DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER PATH. I studied computer science with business management at the University of Birmingham. After graduating, I began a consultancy role in the test automation sphere. I worked in this capacity for two years on high-profile governmental and financial projects, until I realised that I wasn’t actually enjoying my work as I was not creating anything tangible. I had been learning iOS development in my free time, and upon returning from travelling, I created a few apps in order bugs. Outside of development work, I to learn more and then started jobam often involved with more creative hunting. activities and meetings about projects across the company. WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? Without doubt it is the opportunity WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU to work on such diverse projects. I also WISH YOU’D KNOWN AT 18? work closely with some very clever I wish I’d known to get varied work people and have learned a lot from them. experience and try hobbies that could later be turned into meaningful work. WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS DO YOU USE IN If I had started experimenting with app YOUR DAY-TO-DAY? development at a younger age, it would Anything from databases to 3D have augmented my studies and given graphics and animations. Due to the me a huge head start. nature of our work, a broad range of skills can be called in to play on a daily basis. Predominately I develop in Swift or Objective-C. HOW WOULD YOU BEST DEMYSTIFY YOUR DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT PROCESS? Break down the problem as small as you can. If you are still confused, you haven’t broken it down enough. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WEEK. A typical week involves mainly development work for the current sprint of my assigned project. I will also likely be reviewing code by other team members and possibly fixing

vml.com

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE LOOKING TO BECOME AN APPS DEVELOPER? Think of something that you would find useful and build it. It will start off messy and you will be confused, but I found this the most efficient way to learn. There are also plenty of resources online that can point you in the right direction if you are stuck, but experience is key. WHAT QUALITIES DO VML LOOK FOR IN A FIRST JOBBER? We look for people who are hard working, eager to learn and can communicate well.

INTRO

TAMARA BAILEY BBC WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING PART OF STUDYING COMPUTER SCIENCE? Programming. I like solving problems

because I relish a challenge. You also have the freedom to create what you want. It’s like doing a creative subject but with more maths. I also enjoy working with binary. WHAT TECH PROGRAMS DO YOU USE IN YOUR COURSE AND WHY? We use Visual Basic. It’s an easy language to learn so we got used to it quite quickly. I like the ease of design. It’s extremely straightforward to create a user-friendly interface for the programs made. As all the products we use at school are Microsoft, it’s compatible with everything we need. We also use Access for database work as it can be linked with work created in Visual Basic. HOW HAVE THE SKILLS YOU’VE LEARNED ON YOUR COURSE HELPED SHAPED YOUR CONCEPTION OF YOUR FUTURE? Before starting the computing course I was considering doing psychology or medicine in the future. But after I learned to code and discovered all the possibilities in programming, I decided I would like to go into the computer science field. As technology is rapidly improving all the time there will always be a lot of job prospects.

sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

YAMAHA

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU DOING AND WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS ARE YOU LEARNING? I did a GCSE in computer science and continued at A-level. It’s an interesting course. We learn about things like programming, data representation and even computer components.

The course also contains a practical project, where we have to make a program that performs a task for a client. In addition, I go to a creative technologies club where we do more html and Java-type activities. I’m also a school digital leader.

VML

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO STUDY AT SYDENHAM HIGH? It’s great. I’ve been at Sydenham since Year 7 and it was top of my list of possible secondary schools. It’s quite small, so people know everyone in their year groups, and it’s a great community. Now I’m in sixth form I enjoy it even more, as it’s very easy to get a teacher’s help and the study and common rooms are great.

MAKER CLUB

One of the shining lights of Sydenham High’s computer science course talks to Techmix...

KIN DESIGN

I’M LEARNING

Sydenham High School

TECH CAMP

WEEK TWO

BY PUNITA MAISURIA MY TECH CAMP GOALS

My week at Tech Camp was great and incredibly informative. I believe that when you are placed outside of your comfort zone, you can really learn a great deal about yourself. The experience involved five different companies across five days, with a networking session at the end. During each day we had group activities and then presented our findings to the companies.

DAY ONE

We visited global media giant Mindshare. I learned how each department operated and how they worked to achieve the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals. We then learned how to construct a media planning strategy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it was a fantastic exercise. We also got advice on how to improve our CVs, which was both helpful and eye-opening.

DAY TWO

We visited Fujitsu. The first activity focused on IT infrastructure and product development. In the afternoon session we learned to configure security measures to protect our products and inventions from cyber attacks. This was a great day and it was then that I realised I had a passion for IT. Figuring out solutions to problems can be a very creative process. My group even won the prize for best cyber security.

mindshareworld.com/uk/join-us fujitsu.com/uk/about/local/jobs fablablondon.org 8.hp.com/us/en/jobs/index.html sapient.com/en-us/careers.html

DAY THREE DAY FOUR DAY FIVE We ventured to Fab Lab London and I got to see a 3D printer for the first time, as well as a real-life laser cutter. This was a fun day and I was given a bracelet as a souvenir. Fab Lab are amazing, as they enable children, schools and aspiring entrepreneurs to use their tools inhouse and learn how to incorporate these skills into both their business and recreational lives. This fantastic creative space was a timely reminder that possibilities really are endless, and that your mind only restricts you if you let it. EE and RBS also spoke to the group about life at their companies and the opportunities available.

We had the pleasure of going to HP and were given a presentation on technological advancements and how HP have had to adapt to consumer trends. I was shown around the office and liaised with different members of staff. We also discovered the part social media plays when deciding whether to hire a potential candidate.

HOW HAS TECH CAMP AFFECTED ME? At Mindshare we are inventing the future of media and to do this we look for a diverse range of skills that fit into different parts of our business. Tech Camp is a great opportunity for businesses to open up conversations and educate future talent about the types of roles available in our industry. Jennifer Healy Mindshare Chief talent officer

Hewlett Packard Enterprise proudly supports a number of programmes to help boost the digital skills of young people from primary school to graduate age. Career Camp gives Hewlett Packard Enterprise the opportunity to meet talented young people and showcase what working in tech might be like, and what opportunities might be available in digital careers. Charlene Brennan Hewlett Packard Enterprise UK corporate affairs manager

We met with Sapient and I was dazzled by the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diversity. We discovered how the company evolved from humble beginnings to become more than just a media tech company. I presented my groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s findings from the customer profiling activity we were set and we learned how best to storyboard results. The week concluded with a special networking event, where we met apprenticeship providers, educators and many prospective employers. Tech Camp was an experience I shall never forget. I became much more confident as a result of people seeing my potential to grow within the media industry. It also taught me that hard work, networking and determination are tools that every individual needs to succeed. I now work as a digital assistant for a leading broadcaster.

At Sapient, we are focused on enabling human potential. Running a workshop on user experience design at Career Camp provided our team with the challenge of reframing what they do on a daily basis for a different audience. We certainly got a lot out of it, and the enthusiasm and engagement of the attendees was really inspiring. Paul Bevan Sapient London CSR lead Sapient 61

THE UK’S

CAREERWITH MOST CAMP

CAREER CAMP WITH

AWARDED

MOBILE AGENCY

best Career Camp candidates, so we expect you to bring a fresh perspective and arrive bursting with energy and Career Camp is a unique, five-day innovative ideas. Our partner will set you training programme run by the Techmix a business brief, and across the week, team and leading industry partners, as you build new skills and gain industry designed to connect you directly to the insight, you will work hands-on as a team employers that you want to work for. A to develop a new business idea that will week-long ‘camp’ that brings 40 of the be presented to the executive board at best young business leaders together the end of Camp. and challenges teams to develop nextOur goal at Career Camp is to give generation business ideas mapped to the you unique industry insight and help products or services of our partners. accelerate your career while helping our Our programme will give you direct industry partner to identify the most insight into a career with our partner company, but also offers you an incredibly promising candidates and those that would benefit from further (financial and valuable understanding of their industry – the needs, challenges and, of course, the in-kind) support. opportunities (perfect for your LinkedIn profile). Before Camp starts, we take ABOUT NIMBLETANK you into related businesses so you can develop a rounded view of the industry. Nimbletank is a highly innovative This will help you fine-tune your ideas award-winning mobile agency based so they are relevant to the needs of the in London, encompassing in-house industry and our partner while helping you strategic, creative, UX, front end, back build your contacts and explore exciting end, native developers and QA teams. We new roles, first-hand. help transform businesses via the power Our partners want to meet the very of mobile and pride ourselves on a unique WHAT IS CAREER CAMP?

nimbletank.com

iterative, customer-first development process that clients love. We work with the likes of Santander, Travelex, Thomson Reuters, BBC and ASOS, along with hot start-ups such as soundjack, minicabit and Ovo Energy. As a successful business, we are always hiring and keen to meet ambitious new talent. We also invest in our own products and software, so are hugely delighted to host Career Camp.

sport and health tech special It’s no wonder that quite a few Nimbletank clients over the past years have been leading financial institutions. We are interested in all things mobile, particularly for our financial (FinTech) clients. New products include peer-topeer payments, b2b payments, data visualisation and innovative mobile banking for the next generation.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK AT NIMBLETANK? Georgio Serakleous, Junior iOS developer

Working at Nimbletank really allows me to learn and expand my knowledge, meaning that I am growing professionally all the time. Currently I’m working on many exciting new projects that will set the bar for the mobile industry. Everyone at Nimbletank is really great to work with and we push each other to create the best possible product for our clients.

OUR BUSINESS BRIEF

Just a stone’s throw from the Nimbletank office is London’s Square Mile, famous for its 13,000 financial businesses.

The 2016 Nimbletank business brief – over the five days of Career Camp – is to innovate a new kind of mobile banking app to help young people at secondary school, college and university. Nimbletank want to see great strategy and innovative solutions put into place. NIMBLETANK - RECRUITMENT Nimbletank is actively recruiting for three entry-level roles. We hope to meet people with creative, coding and strategic skills and commercial ambitions. Successful applicants may be awarded with a permanent role at the agency. NIMBLETANK CAREER CAMP – WEEK BREAKDOWN

ass solution to the Nimbletank business brief. We’ll provide you with whiteboards (for prototyping), computer kit (to get hacking and making), beanbags (for the odd powernap) and endless Haribo (for endless energy… of course, we provide healthy lunches too). To help shape your idea further, our drop-in mentors (two entrepreneurs per day) will help you to shape an idea that could win you a job or see an investment into your team.

DAY FIVE – BOARD PRESENTATIONS At the start of Day Five, things DAY ONE - DAY TWO switch up a gear as you prepare for the To help you better understand the evening presentation to the Nimbletank fast-moving world of FinTech, during board, industry investors, angels, the first two days at Nimbletank Career gurus, experts and VIPs. After five Camp, we’ll take you into our partners’ days of building and making, planning and clients’ offices, to immerse you and perfecting, we hope your team’s in the world of world of banking, business idea (and own individual investment and trading, giving you an contribution) will be based upon the exclusive insight and helping you to first-hand insight and knowledge you’ve shape industry-relevant ideas, sensegained at Nimbletank Career Camp, and checked by industry professionals. knock the board off its feet. You’ll benefit from seminars from industry experts, and intimate chats WHEN? with Career Camp mentors. At the end The Nimbletank Career Camp will be of Day Two, you’ll know everyone on hosted in July. We expect demand for Camp – and everything about FinTech – places to be sky high, so please apply and all the incredible opportunities to early to avoid disappointment. work in this area of tech. DAY THREE - DAY FOUR During the third and fourth days, you will be divided into teams and pool your collective experience and inspiration to develop a kick-

nimbletank.com

Take a look at Nimbletank’s website (nimbletank.com) and go to techmixmag.com to apply. We’ll send you an extended Nimbletank business brief, detailing the week, and answering your questions. 63

time employees made up of designers, developers, producers and a studio assistant, and we all collaborate on a variety of projects. What makes Kin different is that as a designer, I don’t just design. I am also involved in client meetings, researching, budgeting, student workshops and installation.

LEARN TO...

be a

DESIGNER with Claire Campion Kin Design

Kin Design is an innovative research and design studio that gives regular talks at Ravensbourne. Claire Campion, a designer at Kin, explains more...

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? I get the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects that allow me to develop a variety of skills. Working at Kin has meant that I haven’t had to narrow my interests and focus purely on graphic or UX design, for example. This means that on a project to project basis, my work varies, from illustrating and researching to model-making and testing. Also, the total immersion in a project. I’ll be involved in a project from start to finish and that will mean researching, budgeting, sourcing materials, client meetings, testing and installing. Although these are all aspects of the design process, this may not always fall under the remit of other digital designers. HOW IMPORTANT ARE COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN YOUR ROLE? Essential, as we work so collaboratively. A lot of our designing process occurs through casual conversations. Putting research images on the wall is a great way to invite conversation, as is a simple coffee and a chat. On a technical level, it is also important that as a designer I am able to understand the tool box of the developers so that we can communicate effectively.

screen. Making physical models, executing drawing exercises, and just experimenting can all be good ways of getting started. WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN AT 18? That how you work as part of a team is as important as the technical skills you learn, or the qualifications you have. Inquisitiveness and enthusiasm can get you further than knowing the latest InDesign plug-ins.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE LOOKING TO BECOME A HOW DID YOU GET YOUR JOB AT KIN DESIGNER? DESIGN? Intern. There is no better way to move HOW WOULD YOU BEST DEMYSTIFY One of the Kin co-founders was my YOUR CREATIVE DESIGN PROCESS? from university into the design world external examiner at the university in Research things , notice things, make then to learn how a studio really works. Dublin. I moved to London soon after I things. Researching is a key part of every Only include pieces in your portfolio graduated and got in touch with him. I did project we work on. Not just researching that you are confident in talking about. Practise talking about these projects on computers but as an active process. a month-long internship and was then as this is how you are advertising offered the position of studio assistant. This can mean getting away from your yourself as a designer. Understanding desk and out into the world to see what’s I carried this role out for a year before I going on. This leads on to noticing things what you’ve done is really key to making became a full-time Kin designer. and paying attention. Its so important to better work in the future so take the time to reflect and understand your be receptive to moments of inspiration WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK AS A DESIGNER AT KIN? own work too. Include notebooks, that are around you. Making things is sketches as well as physical pieces in I’ve worked at Kin for five years now, another part of the creative process your portfolio. which says a lot. There are nine fullthat gets you up and away from your 64

kin-design.com

INTRO

MILTON DE PAULA

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO STUDY AT RAVENSBOURNE? I enjoy it. The tutors are open to suggestions and easy to talk to. I’ve spoken to a few friends who are also attending university and they were surprised to hear that our tutors were so welcoming to suggestions. Ravensbourne is pretty laid-back so I don’t ever feel like there’s a barrier of communication between me and my tutors. WHAT COURSE ARE YOU DOING AND WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS ARE YOU LEARNING? I’m a first year BA (Hons) Design and Coding student. Despite having some industry experience (in coding) I’ve learned a lot in the past few months and have just been introduced to CAD software, which is a vital digital skill.

HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH IDEAS? That’s a hard question. I can rarely come up with ideas at will. They just seem to pop in my head at random. Even as I write this, an idea just popped into my head for a clock project for my course! I’ve been struggling to come up with a good idea for weeks, and then suddenly – puff – it pops into my head.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR LIFE AFTER GRADUATION? I hope to go to the Fabrica research centre in Italy for a year. I was recommended it by Joel from Hellicar & Lewis earlier this year. It looks like a great way to further my development, not only in terms of career but also on a personal level.

HOW HAVE THE SKILLS YOU’VE LEARNED ON YOUR COURSE HELPED SHAPED YOUR CONCEPTION OF YOUR FUTURE? It’s still early days, but it has shined a light on areas that I need to improve on. I always knew I had to work on my drawing skills, but I never realised how crucial that ability was to convey an idea or concept visually. One of the things I’ve discovered is how subjective words can be.

ravensbourne.ac.uk

BBC MAKER CLUB

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS TO HAVE WHEN DESIGNING? Empathy. That’s what’s been drilled into us by our tutors, and I couldn’t agree more. A designer needs to put himself in the shoes of his target audience. He or she needs to understand and be able to meet their requirements.

YAMAHA

Milton studies at Ravensbourne, a university-sector college that specialises in digital media and design. Celebrated alumni include Jay Osgerby, of Barber Osgerby, the design duo behind the Olympic Torch and Makerversity founder Joe Smith.

WHAT DIGITAL SKILLS DO YOU NEED IN THIS INDUSTRY? CAD is essential. It helps with rapid prototyping and demonstrating ideas in a visual way. Image editing software like Photoshop and Vector graphic software like Illustrator, are also great to have in your tool belt.

HOW HAS YOUR IMPROVED CODING SKILLS HELPED SHAPE YOUR DESIGN IDEAS? Knowing how to code helps to understand the boundaries of what can and can’t be achieved. It also helps with logical thinking which can aid in design.

VML

WHAT TECH PROGRAMS DO YOU USE AND WHY? I use SolidWorks as it’s the CAD software taught on my course. SolidWorks is a Windows-only program so I’m currently experimenting with two different virtualisation software (as I have a Mac): VMware Fusion and Parallels. For editing code I use Atom Text Editor or Vim, depending on the task. Atom is a nice and simple text editor and looks good as well. I use Vim when I SSH into my Raspberry Pi.

KIN DESIGN

I’M LEARNING

with RAVENSBOURNE

OUR EDUCATORS - THIS ISSUE

Mark Martin

Sydenham High School

John McGuire

St. Thomas The Apostle College

Chris Mitchell Leighton Park School

WANT TO HAVE YOUR SCHOOL OR COLLEGE PROFILED IN THE NEXT ISSUE? Are you a forward-thinking educator who teaches cutting-edge digital skills? Want to show how the skills you teach are transferable to industry and connect your students to the top companies in tech? This issue’s thought leaders were Mark Martin (Sydenham High School), Chris Mitchell (Leighton Park School) and John McGuire (St Thomas the Apostle College). Join them and get in touch NOW! info@TechmixMag.com

OUR INDUSTRY EXPERTS - THIS ISSUE

Are you a thought-leading digital or tech company or looking to engage a diverse young audience or recruit the next generation of UK digital talent? Want to have your boundary-pushing business showcased in the next issue of Techmix and be promoted to 300,000 of the most exciting young digital minds?

DROP US A LINE NOW AND WE’LL PUT YOUR BUSINESS FRONT AND CENTRE TO THE FUTURE OF THE NATION’S DIGITAL ECONOMY! 66

info@techmixmag.com

INTRO