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Looking Beyond the STEM Degree
For many years, hiring for tech roles has often defaulted to one thing: the STEM degree. Computer Science, Engineering, Physics – if it wasn’t printed on a CV, some hiring managers wouldn’t even consider the candidate.
Now, with AI-enabled Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) increasingly used to sift applications, this bias can be baked into automated systems, instantly excluding brilliant candidates without the “right” degree. But with large-scale digital skills gaps globally, that approach is not only outdated, it is actively limiting your access to exceptional, high-performing talent.
At Code First Girls, we’ve proven time and again that quality doesn’t come from a piece of paper. It comes from the right training, the right mindset, and a drive to build meaningful solutions. When employers stop filtering by STEM degrees, they don’t lose quality. They gain diversity, loyalty, and an entirely new pipeline of brilliant technologists.
Why skills matter just as much as degrees
Tech is evolving faster than ever, and traditional education pathways are struggling to keep up. That’s why skills-first hiring is growing across every sector, from finance and healthcare to gaming and government.
At Code First Girls, we work with talent from a wide range of backgrounds. Some of our candidates have STEM degrees, but the majority do not. What unites them is their technical capability, not their university transcript. They’ve mastered the languages, tools, and ways of working needed to succeed on real engineering teams. That is exactly what we train them to do.
When you limit hiring to STEM graduates, you shut the door on exceptional candidates who are ready to perform from day one.
A curriculum built with employers, proven by employers
So, how do we ensure that CFG candidates, regardless of their background, are truly job-ready?
It starts with our curriculum. Created with input from over 130 partner employers, our programmes are built to reflect the real-world skills teams need today, from software and data engineering, to data science, cyber security, DevOps and cloud, and AI/ML. We’re not focused on theory for theory’s sake. Every course includes practical projects, technical assessments, and collaborative teamwork to ensure learners are prepared to contribute from day one.
This approach delivers results, such as:
- At Capital One, our upskilled junior engineers were promoted within five months.
- At Flutter UK & Ireland, our training helped build a pipeline of internal mid-level talent.
- At IPO, 100% of the women placed into tech roles through our programme were still in role 18 months later.
Unlike higher education institutions, Code First Girls can iterate and make agile adjustments to our curriculum based on client needs and industry trends. Even Computer Science students who have completed our training say they benefited from the curriculum because of the hands-on approach and exercises that bring the theory to life, helping our candidates apply the skills they have learned into a real-world context.
Across sectors, our partners consistently tell us CFG talent delivers quickly, stays longer, and adds measurable value. And the data backs it up with 98% of our candidates moving from our education programmes into full-time employment.
How we guarantee candidate quality
Every candidate who completes our programmes has been through a robust selection, training, and evaluation process. We assess technical aptitude at the point of entry, provide hands-on learning in high-demand skills, and track performance throughout the course. Our learners complete regular assessments and produce real-world projects. Only those who meet rigorous standards complete the programme, ensuring you’re accessing candidates who are truly ready to hit the ground running.
And they stay. NatWest, one of our long-standing partners, saw a 95% retention rate over 2.5 years.
Let’s build a better tech workforce together
The best teams are not built by filtering for degrees. They are built by finding people with the skills, passion, and support to succeed.
At Code First Girls, we help employers access a rigorously trained, diverse, and global talent pool that is ready to meet your digital ambitions. From recruitment to upskilling, our programmes deliver real results.
If you’re ready to build your future tech team, we would love to help.
GET IN TOUCH WITH CODE FIRST GIRLS
Get in touch with Code First Girls to learn more about how we can help you build a diverse talent pipeline, and upskill your employees, to create a future-ready workforce.