What Institute of Coding does

The Institute of Coding (IoC) is a UK national consortium led by the University of Bath that develops and delivers digital skills education and training, addressing the UK's digital skills gap by connecting learners, universities, employers, and charities. Founded in January 2018 with a £20 million grant from the Office for Students, the IoC coordinates a network of more than 35 UK universities, 200+ employers (including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Deloitte, and Siemens), and 20+ outreach charities to produce 150+ courses spanning coding, web development, data science, AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, blockchain, and professional skills. Core programmes include Click Start (a free nationwide digital skills programme funded by Nominet), the Industrial Masters for AI (IMAI) postgraduate programme, Skills Bootcamps backed by the Department for Education, Your Digital Pathway with Santander, and the award-winning CTRL Your Future diversity campaign. To date the IoC reports 1 million+ learners enrolled, with measurable diversity outcomes including 47% women learners (versus a 25% UK tech average) and 54% underrepresented ethnic participation.

The IoC does not build proprietary learning technology but operates as a programme aggregator and consortium coordinator, distributing courses through partner universities (in-person and online), the FutureLearn platform (500,000+ enrolments on the Digital Skills for the Workplace collection), and Coursera. The central team at the University of Bath handles operations, finance, and marketing, while content and delivery are produced by partner universities. Revenue is dominated by government and philanthropic grants — Office for Students, Department for Education, Nominet, Santander — with course fees described as minimal (e.g., £39 for an optional FutureLearn certificate). The organisation has no independent legal entity separate from the University of Bath and functions as a public-good consortium rather than a commercial enterprise.

The business model is best understood as a grant-funded national-skills platform with three beneficiary classes: individual learners (especially underrepresented groups and career changers), employers seeking a diverse talent pipeline and workforce upskilling, and universities co-creating industry-aligned curriculum. Reported learner outcomes include 21% promoted or offered a new role after completing courses, 66% feeling better prepared for future roles, and 32% of starters being unemployed at enrolment. Strategic positioning centres on being the UK's coordinating vehicle for digital skills delivery, with brand credibility reinforced by PR Week and The Drum Social Buzz Awards in 2020, governance leadership by Jacqueline de Rojas CBE and Professor Sarah Hainsworth OBE, and CEO Debbie Forster MBE driving the diversity and inclusion agenda.

Name

Institute of Coding

Legal name

Institute of Coding

Website

https://instituteofcoding.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute of Coding is a UK national consortium led by the University of Bath that delivers digital skills education through 35+ universities, 200+ employers, and 20+ charities, serving over 1 million learners with 150+ courses in coding, AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Skills Education and Training

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Coding & Programming Learning Platforms (EDAFANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

AI & Machine Learning (Foundations & Applied) (EDAMACAG), Text-Based Programming (Python, Java, C/C++) (EDAMACAB), Information Technology & Cybersecurity Certification Prep (CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, ISC2/ISACA) (EDANAIAF), IT, Systems & Tools Onboarding (Access, Apps, Security Basics) (EDABAOAE)

Keywords

• Digital skills training
• Higher education consortium
• Coding bootcamps
• Workforce upskilling
• Online learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bath

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary funding from government sources including the Office for Students (£20 million grant), Department for Education (Skills Bootcamps funding), and other public sector bodies. These grants support programme development, course delivery, and learner bursaries.
2. Corporate Sponsorship and Philanthropy: Funding from industry partners such as Nominet (funder of Click Start programme), Santander (Your Digital Pathway), and individual employer contributions for degree apprenticeships and IMAI programme student sponsorships.
3. Course Fees: Some courses are free for eligible learners while others charge nominal fees. For example, Learn to Code for the Web is free for 3 weeks or £39 for a certificate. Revenue from course fees is minimal as most programmes are grant-funded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Institute of Coding (IoC) is a national educational consortium led by the University of Bath that delivers digital skills courses, bootcamps, and career-focused training programmes through partnerships with 35+ UK universities, 200+ employers, and online learning platforms FutureLearn and Coursera. It offers 150+ courses covering technical skills (coding, AI, cybersecurity, data science, cloud computing, blockchain) and professional skills (digital marketing, career development), serving over 1 million learners across the UK.

Product overview

The Institute of Coding (IoC) is a national educational consortium (not a traditional software company) led by the University of Bath, comprising 200+ employers, 35 universities, and 20 outreach partners. Its portfolio consists of educational programmes and campaigns aimed at reducing the UK's digital skills gap. Core offerings include Click Start (free digital skills courses), CTRL Your Future (diversity campaign), Skills Bootcamps, and the Industrial Masters for AI (IMAI) programme. The IoC has engaged over 1 million learners across 150+ courses covering technical skills (coding, AI, cyber security, cloud computing) and professional development. Courses are delivered through partner platforms including FutureLearn and university partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Click Start: A nationwide training programme offering free digital skills courses to young people, funded by Nominet.
• CTRL Your Future
• Shift CTRL
• Your Digital Pathway
• Industrial Masters for AI (IMAI)
• Skills Bootcamps

Products and services

• Click Start
• Industrial Masters for AI (IMAI)
• Skills Bootcamps
• Your Digital Pathway
• IoC Course Catalogue
• GetMyFirstDigitalJob

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million+ learners enrolled across all IoC programmes
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

45 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Santander UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Funded the 'Your Digital Pathway' free digital skills course, developed in collaboration with IoC and TechUP initiative at Durham University to support people taking first steps in building digital skills.
• University of BathflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Lead institution and consortium coordinator for the Institute of Coding since its launch in January 2018. Professor Rachid Hourizi serves as IoC Director. The university hosts the central team and oversees management and distribution of IoC funds across the consortium.
• University of LeedscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Key university partner delivering online education and professional learning. Holly Shiflett serves as Dean of Online Education & Professional Learning at University of Leeds and is on the IoC Governance Board. Delivers Click Start by Leeds and TechUPWomen programmes.
• Aston UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018University partner developing degrees, Masters-level courses and Degree Apprenticeships. Professor Tony Clark serves as Associate Pro Vice Chancellor and Deputy Head of College for Engineering and Physical Sciences at Aston University.
• Birmingham City UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Large and diverse university with over 30,000 students from around 100 countries, focused on practice-based learning. A key partner in the IoC consortium delivering digital skills courses.
• Cardiff UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner engaging with IoC to develop opportunities to promote digital skills and digital careers. One of the 35+ universities in the consortium.
• Amazon (AWS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Christina Cole serves as Head of Skills to Jobs and Cloud Education Business Development for EMEA. AWS supports IoC's mission to prepare young talent for emerging technology roles by building national alliances between private and public sector.
• Abertay UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerModern university emphasising innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry partnerships. Partners with Salute My Job to deliver Click Start cybersecurity training for ex-armed forces community.
• Bath Spa UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers Click Start in Creative Digital Skills course in the South West, providing UX/UI and Web Development training through combination of face-to-face and online teaching.
• Birkbeck UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing a range of data science courses with the IoC. London-based university partner.
• Microsoft UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHugh Milward, General Manager Corporate External and Legal Affairs, sits on the UK management board and is a member of the IoC Advisory Board. Microsoft is one of 300+ industry leaders contributing expertise to IoC courses.
• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 300+ industry leaders including Amazon, Google and Microsoft providing expertise to the IoC. Contributes to course development and industry alignment.
• Goldman SachscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmploys Degree Apprentice Software Engineers through IoC programmes. Derek Joyce, Managing Director, focuses on using experience to shape global technology talent strategy. Believes great software engineering is critical to all industries.
• J.P. MorgancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDerek Joyce shapes global technology talent strategy. J.P. Morgan is passionate about building expertise and great talent pipeline for software engineering in the UK.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDave Tansley serves as Practice Senior Partner for Deloitte in Southwest and Wales and is a member of the IoC Governance Board. Deloitte conducted research with IoC on digital skills and diversity. Shilpa Shah leads Deloitte's Women in Technology Network.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephen Warwick serves as Vice President UKi Technology & Head of R&D, heading IBM's largest European R&D campus at Hursley Park. IBM provides expertise and supports AI education through the IMAI programme.
• Siemens AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScot Gardner serves as Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing for Siemens Digital Industries and is an advisory board member of the IoC. Passionate about STEM skills and supporting digital education.
• CapgeminicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the industry partners in the IoC consortium contributing to digital skills education and career pathways.
• BCS, The Chartered Institute for ITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJulia Adamson MBE serves as Managing Director, Education and Public Benefit. BCS manages Computing at School (CAS) teachers' network with 25,000+ teacher members. BCS' Barefoot scheme has reached 3.3 million children. BCS is a strategic partner delivering GetMyFirstDigitalJob platform.
• FutureLearncoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline learning platform hosting IoC digital skills courses. The Digital Skills for the Workplace collection accounts for over 500,000 enrolments. Platform provides global reach and flexible learning options.
• Karmarama (Accenture)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative agency partnered with IoC for the Shift CTRL and CTRL Your Future campaigns. Provided creative design for award-winning diversity and inclusion campaigns.
• Plan for JobsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment programme supporting the Shift CTRL campaign to empower and support diverse people into careers in digital through Skills Bootcamps.
• Catch 22minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partner working with Bath Spa University to deliver Click Start UX/UI and Web Development training in the South West.
• Tech Talent ChartercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebbie Forster MBE serves as CEO of Tech Talent Charter and chairs IoC's Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board. organisation committed to improving diversity in UK tech workforce.
• Code First: GirlscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnna Brailsford serves as CEO of Code First: Girls, a multi-award winning social enterprise working to increase the number of women in tech. Member of IoC's Diversity & Inclusion Network.
• Be the BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnthony Impey MBE serves as Chief Executive. Be the Business enables small businesses to boost performance and productivity. Anthony chairs IoC's Postgraduate AI Governance Board.
• ADA National College for Digital SkillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmali de Alwis serves as Board member. College focused on digital skills education. Mark Smith works at ADA, having been part of inaugural Teach First cohort in 2003.
• FDMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKate Hawthorn serves as Director of Consultant Talent. FDM is a global PLC and multi award-winning employer with mission to bring people and technology together, with strong commitment to diversity and social inclusion.
• SwireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDavid Jones serves as Chief Digital Officer of John Swire & Sons. Leads global technology agenda across Swire group of companies.
• KISS Publishing LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKish Hirani serves as CTO of independent video games publisher. Has 25+ years experience in video games industry including 8 years at Sony PlayStation. Also founding Chair of BiG (BAME in Games).
• Aztec GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharlotte Light serves as Chief Technology Officer, working with boards and executive teams on technology decision-making. Passionate about diversity and inspiring next generation.
• Design CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCat Drew serves as Chief Design Officer, championing Design for Planet. Previously co-founded UK Government's Policy Lab. Advisory board member of IoC.
• techUKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJacqueline de Rojas CBE serves as President Emeritus & Board Member and is IoC Chair. techUK's Creating Digital Futures conference was where CTRL Your Future campaign launched on Ada Lovelace Day 2019.
• BT GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKerensa Jennings serves as Director of Digital Impact. Previously CEO of Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award (iDEA). Professor and Executive Coach passionate about helping people unlock potential.
• AtosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeil Milliken serves as Chief Accessibility Officer and Head of Accessibility & Inclusion. Representative on Business Disability Forum Technology Task Force.
• PwC UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSam Mills serves as Manager in PwC's People & Organisation practice, leading work on City of London Socio-economic Taskforce and social mobility initiatives.
• Deloitte ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShilpa Shah serves as Director, leading multi-award-winning Deloitte Women in Technology Network. Passionate about driving sustainable change and diversity in tech.
• Core Value ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraig Walker serves as Chair of IoC's Industry Advisory Board, SVP and Strategic Customer Advisor. Founder and director of Veles Consulting.
• Nous GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJulie works at all levels of the education system in UK and internationally, transforming education to support young people achieve potential and governments/business access needed skills.
• Durham UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with TechUPWomen at Durham University offering flexible IT skills programmes for women and non-binary people across the North and North East.
• Northumbria UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university organising Coding Club teaching HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, Python, data visualization, machine learning, and mobile app development with Flutter.
• The Talent PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilt GetMyFirstDigitalJob platform with BCS to support the Click Start programme, providing online platform for jobs, support, guidance, and career coaching.
• DIGI-GXLminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLed by Cat Taylor, DIGI-GXL is an inclusive community supporting women, trans and non-binary people in 3D design and animation. First partner for CTRL Your Future campaign.
• London GaymersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK's biggest LGBTQ+ gamer community providing safe and inclusive space for gamers. Partner in CTRL Your Future campaign.
• STEMettesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial enterprise inspiring young women to pursue careers in STEM, founded by Anne-Marie Imafidon. Partner in CTRL Your Future campaign.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ada National College for Digital Skills: UK specialist digital skills college focused on training underrepresented groups into tech roles. Highly comparable to IoC's mission and learner demographic, though operates as a single institution rather than a national consortium. IoC partner.
• Multiverse: UK-based digital skills training and apprenticeship provider matching learners with employer partners including major enterprises. Direct competitor in the same UK digital upskilling and apprenticeship market, with overlapping employer relationships and learner segments.
• Code First: Girls: UK social enterprise offering free coding courses targeting women and non-binary people into tech careers. Highly comparable mission and audience to IoC's TechUPWomen and CTRL Your Future initiatives. IoC partner.
• National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE): UK government-funded £84M programme delivering computing education to teachers and schools. Overlaps with IoC's digital skills training mission and shares BCS and DfE funding relationships, though focuses on school-age rather than adult learners.
• Decoded: UK digital skills training company offering bootcamps in data, AI, and coding for enterprise workforces and individuals. Direct competitor in the same UK digital skills bootcamp and corporate training market.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Global online learning platform that distributes IoC's Click Start by Leeds courses. Functions as both a distribution partner and a broad competitor in online digital skills content at global scale.
• General Assembly: Global digital skills training provider (now part of Adecco/Akkodis) offering bootcamps in coding, data, and UX. Competes in the same UK corporate upskilling and career-changer segments IoC serves.

Emerging players

• FutureLearn: UK-headquartered online learning platform hosting 500,000+ IoC enrolments on Digital Skills for the Workplace courses. Functions as a primary distribution channel for IoC content and a partial competitor for paid online certifications.
• Makers: European software engineering bootcamp focused on career changers into tech, with operations relevant to UK market. Comparable product offering (intensive coding bootcamps) for similar career-changer learner segment.

Others

• BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT: UK professional body for IT offering certifications, the Barefoot scheme (3.3M children reached), and Computing at School teacher network. Strategic partner of IoC delivering the GetMyFirstDigitalJob platform, providing adjacent professional credentialing rather than direct course delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iocoding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-of-coding
• Instagraminstagram.com/instituteofcoding
• TikToktiktok.com/@institute_of_coding

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institute of Coding