At the dusk of 2021, I decided to make a big change in my career and join the small but rapidly growing team at Knoma.
Knoma is a company with a mission very close to my heart – empowering people to kick-start and advance fulfilling careers in the tech industry.
They make lifelong learning possible for more people through ethical 0% finance. Their "Knowledge Marketplace" makes it easy for budding technologists to find the course they need to kick-start or fast-track their careers, and the finance to make it happen. And they're the UK’s fastest growing education finance solution. Very cool!
It's not a million miles away from what I have done throughout my career.
In one sense, I've always found my place helping others discover rewarding careers in the tech industry. I've worked in tech since finishing full-time education, and I believe the tech industry should be enjoyed, and contributed to, by all kinds of people. In another sense, it really is just "going around the corner" for me as Knoma is a proud partner of Northcoders, where I have spent the last five years – indeed, Northcoders students have benefitted from being able to use Knoma to fund their programme, and have gone on to start rewarding careers as software developers.
Equality, diversity and inclusion matter to me. Pursuing them promotes social progress, elevates individuals and make business sense too. I try to do my bit to challenge prejudice and empower others, wherever I work. So to join a business where making opportunities to learn in tech and digital more accessible to as many people as possible is at the heart of what they do feels so natural.
I'm taking the role of Marketing Manager, where I'll help grow the number of people who take up a course through Knoma and empower our lifelong learners.
With Knoma recently benefitting from investment, and the tech education industry booming through a shortage of people with tech skills that costs the UK alone ]tens of billions every year, it's such an exciting time to be joining the close-knit Knoma team, who are ready to scale.
After five years at Northcoders, it is hard to leave. But I know it isn't goodbye – I'm looking forward to taking up my place in the wider Northcoders community as a long-time alumnus! I know I can be proud of how much we achieved together and look forward to seeing what the future holds for them. If they can float the London Stock Exchange in 6 years, the sky is the limit.
But for now, it's on to a new adventure...