UK’s first digital academy to open in city

THE UK’s first dedicated digital academy is to open in Liverpool in a £2.5m scheme being jointly funded by the Government and the City of Liverpool College.

The academy will teach young people coding, software development and a range of other digital skills, including online marketing and games design.

Opening in September, it will be the first purpose-designed digital and coding academy in the country.

The academy is to take over two floors of the City of Liverpool College’s Myrtle Street campus.

The floors are being re-designed and will be equipped with the very latest digital technology and software.
    
Student numbers in the School of Computer Science and Digital will grow from their current level of about 300 at any time to up to 500.

They will be able to pursue a range of qualifications, from Level 1 right through to higher degree level. The academy will also be used by apprentices.
 
Part of the overall funding for the project is due to be received from the Liverpool City Region Skills Capital Investment Fund, which is part of the Government’s Local Growth Fund.

In 2014 the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership secured £232m from the first round of Local Growth Fund from Government, of which £41m has been ring-fenced for skills funding.