Introducing the Mid-Level Accelerator. An opportunity to accelerate your tech career.
Born out of a request from our amazing Ambassadors to help them develop their careers in tech, the Mid-Level Accelerator aims to help more women drive their tech careers forward and create future tech leaders across multiple industries. It is pretty grim when it comes to gender diversity in mid- and senior-level roles in tech – so we are here to drive change!
WHY DO WE NEED THIS COURSE?
We are pretty sure we are speaking to the converted here, but in case you need some key stats to convince your bosses or wider network why we need this course, check out the key stats below.
Introducing the Mid-Level Accelerator. An opportunity to unlock your own developer velocity and accelerate your tech career.
Born out of a request from our amazing Ambassadors to help them develop their careers in tech, the Mid-Level Accelerator aims to help more women drive their tech careers forward and create future tech leaders across multiple industries. It is pretty grim when it comes to gender diversity in mid- and senior-level roles in tech – so we are here to drive change!
WHY DO WE NEED THIS COURSE?
We are pretty sure we are speaking to the converted here, but in case you need some key stats to convince your bosses or wider network why we need this course, check out the key stats below.
Applications will open on October 9th 2023, to be notified when applications go live register with your email.
Only 5% of leadership positions in tech are held by women. That is incredibly low and we want to see this change!
For every 100 men, only 52 women in technical roles are being promoted to manager. Women are being overlooked.
Women volunteer to do “non-promotable” work 48% more often than men, doing important “glue work” that goes unrecognised.
60% of our career switchers have left their roles due to no clear career pathway or progression.
81% of our career switchers would have stayed in their roles if given the opportunity to upskill.
Only 5% of leadership positions in tech are held by women. That is incredibly low and we want to see this change!
For every 100 men, only 52 women in technical roles are being promoted to manager. Women are being overlooked.
Women volunteer to do “non- promotable” work 48% more often than men, doing important “glue work” that goes unrecognised.
60% of our career switchers have left their roles due to no clear career pathway or progression.
81% of our career switchers would have stayed in their roles if given the opportunity to upskill.
Open to those already in tech with 1.5+ years technical/coding experience with language experience in either Python, JavaScript or Java or Data experience, this course will empower you with the skills, knowledge and career-proofing to take your tech career to the next level.
Each candidate will complete a part-time 16-week course (with a break week included) to allow for flexibility around full-time work or other duties. Candidates who successfully pass the Mid-Level Accelerator will receive a certification and go on to roles within our sponsoring partner organisations.
Just like all of our courses, the Mid-Level Accelerator is 100% free for all students. There are no secret or hidden fees, or pay us upon completion, and no debt. We work with our partner companies to ensure this education is free for all learners.
The Mid-Level Accelerator will be linked to opportunities at our partner partners. These roles will be Mid-Level technical roles. For internal employees, the MLA will give you an opportunity to progress your career to the next level!
Each candidate will complete a part-time 12-week course (with a break week included) to allow for flexibility around full-time work or other duties. Candidates who successfully pass the Mid-Level Accelerator will receive a certification and go on to roles within our sponsoring partner organisations.
Just like all of our courses, the Mid-Level Accelerator is 100% free for all students. There are no secret or hidden fees, or pay us upon completion, and no debt. We work with our partner companies to ensure this education is free for all learners.
The Mid-Level Accelerator will be linked to opportunities at our partner partners. These roles will be Mid-Level technical roles. For internal employees, the MLA will give you an opportunity to progress your career to the next level!
Open to those already in tech with 2+ years technical/coding experience with language experience in either Python, JavaScript or Java or Data experience, this course will empower you with the skills, knowledge and career-proofing to take your tech career to the next level.
All the companies below have or are supporting CFG members with sponsored places on our MLA cohorts (with this list continually growing!).
We want you to unleash your own developer velocity and we’ll be helping you do this through the Mid-Level Accelerator in numerous ways you can see below. Our course has been developed with a HUGE amount of research as well as insights and focus groups with both our community and clients.
Empower a ‘future-tech’ way of thinking to drive innovation and develop future tech solutions through focussed modules on:
Be part of the next generation of tech leaders and build technical leadership and product development skills:
Future-proof your career by building a t-shaped skill set and growing your knowledge and confidence across:
95% WOULD RECOMMEND TO THOSE WANTING TO IMPROVE THEIR CAREER IN TECH
Our 16-week program includes T-shaped skills development, technical professional skills and career progression support with live lab sessions where you get to experience a full modern software development life cycle.
What makes the Mid-Level Accelerator even more unique? You’ll get unmatched support from our team of instructors and coaches!
"The topics were really helpful, Especially the soft skills, DEI, accessibility and career proofing.”
- MLA GRADUATE
"MY JOB OFFER wouldn’t have been possible without your support during my MID-LEVEL ACCELERATOR journey."
- MLA GRADUATE
As part of the sponsored Mid-Level Accelerator, some companies will also be offering additional learning opportunities with our +Masters. With this additional learning specialisation, candidates will be able to upskill across areas such as Cyber Security and AI&ML, putting these skills to use inside their sponsoring partner company.
The MLA application process has a few stages to ensure all candidates have the right level of knowledge and are a good fit for the company and role/s they are applying for. Our MLA is an intensive course, so we want to give all candidates the best chance of being successful on the course!**
Submit your application via the links below.
Choose one company sponsor with a linked role.
You will need to meet the eligibility criteria for the MLA. This includes minimum 1.5+ years experience in a tech role (e.g. Junior Software Developer, Data Analyst etc). You will also need to meet the eligibility criteria for the company you are applying for.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be invited to complete a technical assessment. You will be able to choose from either: Python, Data, Java or JavaScript. You will need to achieve 50% or more to pass and move to the next stage.
Upon successful completion of the tech assessment, you will be invited to complete a short video interview. In this video interview we will want to understand more about your motivations for applying and see your personality shine!
Ahead of your invite to interview with a sponsor company – we will provide you with Confidence Coaching. At this stage, you may also be asked to complete a company-specific assessment.
The last stage is an interview with the company sponsoring your place and linked job role.
Internal candidates start their journey here.
Excitement plus! All confirmed candidates will receive all the details they need to start the MLA!
Applications for our Mid-Level Accelerator Autumn’24 cohort are now closed.
Please make sure you check out the application requirements and only submit one application. Applications are open until 26th July but may close earlier due to high demand.
For more help understanding the MLA and our application process, please check here!
ABOUT THE ROLE & ELIGIBILITY
Thales is sponsoring places on the Java or Python specialisation for this role in Cheadle (Manchester), Crawley (West Sussex) and Templecombe (South-West). They are looking for candidates with some experience or willing to learn and upskill in Java, C++, Rust, Linux, building programmes in OOP manner, Agile methodology, how to interface to hardware etc; however would be open to candidates from different technical backgrounds.Candidates with any technical skill level are welcome to apply, as long as they are ready to work in a team, have a can-do attitude, and are eager to learn and advance their Java skills.
Candidates who currently work in IT or would like to return, we’d love to read your applications! If you have any questions surrounding the role before applying, please reach out to talent@codefirstgirls.com .
Read more about the job description here:
Underwater Systems Software Engineer
IS THERE VISA SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE?
No, Thales will not be sponsoring visas. You will need to have the right to work in the UK.
SECURITY CLEARANCE AND ADDITIONAL INFO
Candidates will need to be eligible for full Security Clearance level, meaning they must have must have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years with no significant periods overseas, and be a UK national only. For this role, due to government security requirements, the term ‘UK Nationals’ must exclude anyone who is a dual national or naturalised British (i.e. originally a foreign national)
WHAT IS THE ROLE START DATE?
Roles with Thales will commence in February 2025.
Thales operates on a hybrid policy. Candidates must be willing to attend the office 4 days per week due to the security nature of the role.
MORE ABOUT THALES
For more than a century, Thales has exploited technology for the nation’s benefit, developing world-leading capabilities that help our customers think smarter and act faster.
We’re a global business with over 7,000 people in the UK, working across every country of the Union. For many years, Thales has contributed to the security and stability of this nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers in Government and industry.
Operating across aerospace, defence, digital security, transport and space, we help keep the nation safe and secure while contributing £1.6bn in economic value each year. But with such scale comes responsibility.
To achieve sustainable growth we must take a holistic approach to our business and create value beyond our bottom line; we need to consider the wider impact of our activities on our customers, employees and communities.
WHY CHOOSE THALES?
At Thales, we work in diverse sectors generating exciting and creative solutions for our customers. We believe the best way we can serve our people as well as our customers is to ensure that we continuously work to build an environment in which you and all your colleagues feel respected for who you are and the value that your individuality brings to the organisation. Collectively, Thales people make the company and its culture what it is and we all deserve to feel that we belong and can be at our best.
We are striving to create a workplace in which you can authentically Be You, With Us. This requires on-going, deliberate attention from all of us and is something you’ll have the opportunity to help shape as we share much more about this in the months and years ahead.
As a business we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries, our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process.
We’re committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.
For more information on Thales’ careers click here.
Please note: Only apply for ONE Mid-Level Accelerator role.
Would love to benefit from the Mid-Level Accelerator program but not ready to jump into a new role?
Applications for our Mid-Level Accelerator Autumn’24 cohort are now closed.
ABOUT THE ROLE & ELIGIBILITY
CFG is offering a limited number of spots for motivated individuals, with 1.5 years of tech experience, to enroll in the MLA program, enhance their skills and take their career to the next level.
100% free, the MLA will prepare you for the next step in your tech journey and can also open up doors to contracting opportunities with CFG partner companies.
This opportunity is open to all candidates with a wide range of tech experience, whether you’re looking to upskill, develop further, or re-enter the tech industry after a leave of absence.
We seek candidates who can take ownership of tickets and projects, are innovative, creative, and passionate about developing in the tech industry. Successful candidates must be able to work effectively in a team, support others, and have the potential for future leadership roles.
A minimum of 18 months to 2 years of experience in the tech industry is preferred.
IS THERE VISA SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE?
No, candidates must be based and living in the UK only.
Please note: Only apply for ONE Mid-Level Accelerator role.
Our MLA is currently scheduled to take place twice a year.
Applications for each of these cohorts open approximately three months prior to the start date to allow for assessment and interviews. You can find out more about the application and selection process above.
16-week course including a 1-week break as part of the course duration.
2 live sessions + 2 evenings of independent learning a week (Monday - Thursday)
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
16-week course including a 1-week break as part of the course duration.
2 live sessions + 2 evenings of independent learning a week (Monday - Thursday)
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSES
With this being a completely new programme for Code First Girls, we anticipate that you may have loads of questions!
We’ve done our best to compile a list of the most common ones (follow the button link below to our community FAQ page), but for any others, please do reach out!
The Mid-Level Accelerator (MLA) programme is open to any candidates with a minimum of 1.5+ years in a tech role, who wish to upskill their technical and professional skills to progress into mid-level roles within the tech industry.
The programme aims to develop and accelerate women with coding experience to the next level and help you move forward on your career path, no matter where you are in your career.
The MLA programme lasts for 16 weeks but can be boosted (depending on the opportunity being offered by the sponsoring company) with a 4-week +Masters that aims to upskill individuals into a new specialism and/or develop mid-level specialists.
You are eligible to apply for the MLA as long as you :
Each sponsoring company has different requirements, so it’s important that you read each application carefully – especially regarding location, educational background and eligibility to work in the UK.
To apply for the MLA you will need to complete the following steps:
If you have completed and passed the CFGdegree, and been in your tech role for over 1.5 years, you are eligible to apply for the MLA.
You are also welcome to speak to your own company and ask if they would be willing to sponsor you on the course themselves.
It is not a requirement to have completed the CFGdegree with Code First Girls to apply for the MLA, but you must have at least two years experience in a tech role.
Yes! There are many reasons that somebody who is already mid-level would like to apply – returning to tech after a long break, redundancy, a desire to change specialism. We are open to this – please just make sure to carefully check the company requirements when applying to ensure you fit the criteria.
Yes, to accept a place on the MLA you will need to give notice to your current employer.
Please read each company application criteria carefully, and do not resign from your current role until you have written confirmation from the company.
However, if you would prefer to stay in your current role, you are welcome to ask your current company if they would sponsor you on the programme. Please speak to your manager about your interest in completing our training and if they are keen to find out more they can request a meeting with us via the following form.
Please read our CFGdegree Visa guidelines here. The guidelines are the same for both opportunities. We would also ask that you read the company requirements prior to applying, and ensure you meet this criteria to avoid being rejected further down the line. If there are no opportunities that meet your current circumstances, please check the company requirements next cohort to see if there are opportunities for you.
Our first ‘pilot’ MLA began in January 2024 with a smaller cohort and number of partners.
This allowed us to collect valuable feedback from our candidates, clients and wider team.
After the first pilot cohort we intend to run two full cohorts per year in the future.
- MLA GRADUATE
As part of the sponsored Mid-Level Accelerator, some companies will also be offering additional learning opportunities with our +Masters. With this additional learning specialisation, candidates will be able to upskill across areas such as Cyber Security and AI&ML, putting these skills to use inside their sponsoring partner company.