New £2.5m facility will open in the city centre this September and will offer young people coding, software development and a range of other digital skills, including online marketing and games design.
City of Liverpool College is to open the UK’s first dedicated digital academy with the £2.5m cost jointly funded with the Government.
The academy will teach young people coding, software development and a range of other digital skills, including online marketing and games design.
It will open this September and 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.
The college anticipates 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.
Students at the new academy 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.
Elaine Bowker, principal and chief executive of the City of Liverpool College, said: “This investment means we will be better equipped than ever to deliver a pipeline of young people with the kind of skills which are essential for businesses in the 21st century.
“It is a signal of our focus on providing skills and qualifications which meet the needs of businesses and which directly contribute to the city region’s economic growth ambitions.
Part of the 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.
Paul Hollywood, product development director for Liverpool-based entertainment and technology company Starship, said the sector needed to develop the skills required for ever-changing technology advances.
He explained: “This development will enable the city region to nurture the best talent to help us maintain and build the city region as a global force in technology and software, with a talent pool which will attract companies in the sector and help in the creation of new businesses.”