Work experience
one-week placements
For our October 2024 work experience programme we are working directly with local pre-selected schools and therefore will not be opening applications for work experience this year. Please check back here or else on our LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter pages for updates about any future Work Experience programmes.
Softwire typically runs one-week work experiences, during the October half-term holidays for students doing GCSEs or in sixth-form (years 10-13). This is an in-person work experience, which consists of a boot-camp, led by dedicated software developers.
You’ll be learning coding and software development, plus getting an insight into how Softwire and the tech sector generally work. No coding experience is required, but an interest in computing is essential! To apply, please send us your CV and write a cover letter to tell us why you are interested in this placement and computing!
For our October 2024 work experience programme we are working directly with local pre-selected schools and therefore will not be opening applications for work experience this year.
Frequently asked questions:
How do I apply?
Applications open about a month before a new cohort starts and should be made directly through our website.
Who can attend?
The work experience placements are for GCSE and sixth form students (typically years 10-13) interested in a career in Software Development. We have partnered with local schools in Manchester and London and will not be taking public applications at this time.
When does it happen and how long does it last?
Work experience placements lasts for one week (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm each day). They usually take place during the February and October half-term school holidays however for 2024 we will not be running a February workshop.
Where does it take place?
Currently, we only run in-house cohorts in our London and Manchester offices, however we hope to expand to our Cambridge office soon.
What will you learn?
Students will develop a game of Tetris based on CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and a little NodeJS.
What money is involved?
Work experience weeks are all unpaid placements. Also, no money is required to attend a work experience week.
What do I need to bring?
Just you. Laptops are provided for you, and you’ll get free lunches for the week. The office has a lot of additional food and drink, including a well-stocked snack drawer, coffee and tea facilities and fresh fruit. Travel expenses are not included, but can be reimbursed.
I’m not in one of the work experience partner schools or I’m not in years 10-13. How can I gain work experience at Softwire?
We offer several other routes into tech, including our summer internships, apprenticeships, Techswitch programme and Softwire bootcamp.
If you’re in doubt about which option is right for you, please send a message to [email protected].
What do our past attendees think?
I certainly had a wonderful and insightful time, and I am sure the others did too. I had very limited experience in web development. However, by the end of the week, I was able to confidently use HTML, CSS, and JS. My first interaction with SQL also happened on that Tuesday morning. Despite my lack of experience, I learned quite quickly, thanks to the help from you guys.
Past work experience attendee, Year 11
Say hello to some of our past trainers:
Cameron McCormack
Technical Lead
With a variety of front- and back-end stacks, Cameron couples broad technology expertise with experience from a range of industries.
Carly Gilson
Senior Software Developer
Carly works across new streams of work and technologies as a developer, working with complex client projects and products.
Joseph Walker
Software Developer
Joseph is a proactive person who makes instant impact on client software projects, solving logic problems quickly and effectively.
About Softwire
Softwire is a leading digital software consultancy. We offer services in software engineering, design, innovation, cloud, mobile and data.
Trusted by well-known organisations, including the BBC, David Lloyd Clubs, LNER and The Cabinet Office, Softwire has grown into a business that consistently delivers large, high-profile digital projects for the UK’s leading brands.
But who are we actually?
We’re innovators. We’re passionate problem-solvers in both software engineering and digital design. We are dedicated. And we love what we do.
It all started when our founders Pete, Dan, and Phil realised that there was a better way to do things. A way that delivers results without squeezing the fun out of what we do. A way that is never corporate, but always professional.
When you work with Softwire, you’re not only becoming part of a team with in-depth technical skills and delivery expertise – you’re joining a team filled with passion, guile, and an absolute dedication to producing the best work possible.
Voted in the Sunday Times as one of the Top 100 Companies to Work For (now known as Best Companies), you’ll be working in a thriving environment full of innovation, devotion, and outright electricity.
What we stand for
Here at Softwire, we hold four key values at the core of everything we do:
- We really care about what we do
When we say we care, we honestly mean it. Our work is our passion, and everything that comes through our doors is treated with the utmost respect and with the same level of care that we’d treat our own work. Because honestly – we really do care. - We trust and are trustworthy
We’re not micromanagers. We place a level of trust in each member of our team to work their hardest and produce the best they can achieve. This is an innovative but fun place to work – and we trust that you’ll meet our standards. - We are kind
Clients come to us with complex, exciting, but often challenging projects. And we are the friendly face that will help them reach their goals – and be with them for the long run. Our team is open, accepting, and always ready to accept new ideas. Because after all, in a world where being kind is free – why be anything but? - We are fun
When you’re working at the forefront of technology, every day is different. And in this fast-paced environment, we realise that work isn’t always going to be fun. Some days can be stressful, but despite this, we know the importance of enjoying ourselves. Because at the end of the day, we spend a lot of time at work – so we might as well have fun while we’re there.
Equal-opportunities employer
Softwire is an equal-opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender including gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. All matters related to employment are decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.