New York

October 15–17, 2025

Berlin

November 3–4, 2025

Let them learn! How to nurture great software engineers

Clare Sudbery shares some of the principles and techniques we used to help Made Tech build a highly successful and effective training programme.
December 20, 2022

How do you recruit great software engineers?

How do you recruit great software engineers?

For two years, I curated and delivered the Made Tech academy programme. Two or three times a year, we recruited between twelve and twenty-two individuals with minimal coding experience. They earnt a salary while training full time in modern software development techniques, followed by a new job as a software consultant.

We deliberately targeted under-represented groups and did not expect candidates to have any qualifications at all, or even any work experience. All we asked for was a commitment to tech and a small amount of coding experience.

From modest beginnings and over a period of five years, Made Tech have built a highly successful and effective training programme which is still going strong. In this talk I share some of the principles and techniques which make it work.

Key takeaways:

·         How to recruit fledgling engineers

·         How to use an academy programme to nurture new talent and maximise diversity

·         How to curate and deliver effective learning content

·         How to build an ongoing learning culture