Conservative Executive Member for Transport and Planning, Councillor Ian Gillies, has welcomed news that the #CodeYork programme which aims to develop the IT skills of people across the city in a fun and engaging way, has been nominated for a prestigious national award.
The shortlisted programme will be representing the city and region in the O2 NextGen Digital Challenge 2016 awards which look to celebrate the best in digital innovation.
The #CodeYork programme, which was launched in 2014, looks to use the city’s world class connectivity to engage people of all ages and provide the opportunity for them to learn to code, with the aim of helping learners to take up opportunities within the local digital industry.
Since its launch the council’s Digital York team have held numerous events and clubs across the city, including at venues such as West Offices and the National Railway Museum, and over 350 children, young people and adults have participated in #CodeYork sessions, many of which have involved fun and challenging activities such as creating music through code, Raspberry Pi’s, games, and robotics.
Cllr Ian Gillies, with responsibility for Digital Infrastructure said: “Congratulations to the Digital York team on being shortlisted for such a prestigious award. This is thoroughly deserved and recognises the great work done to harness York’s connectivity and use it to encourage people to develop their skills. It is particularly encouraging that the courses have had an equal gender split in a field which is normally male dominated and we hope attendees have been inspired to take their interest further and to go on to study and even have a career in the digital sector.
“The aim of coding is to teach children how to programme computers, software, programmes and games, and to build skills in problem solving and logic, as well as develop skills that can be hugely beneficial in other activities, hobbies and careers and I would like to thank the partners and volunteers who are supporting this programme and are helping it to become a success.”