Our founder, Dan Wallman, gave a brief introduction to the event and the story of TechNative. He talked about the early stages of the program, when he and Pete G had an idea, but not much more. They started this challenging bootcamp from scratch because they were passionate about increasing tech education, even in the face of uncertainty. Dan also gave a summary of the other initiatives that TechNative oversees outside of the bootcamp, such as Tech Teachers Events and Tech Jumpstart meetups, which have been crucial in creating a welcoming tech community.
Following Dan’s introduction, our graduates took the stage to share their experiences. Jo Pickering, Chloe Sabrina Anthony Page, and Conrad Gregory spoke about their journeys and the growth they experienced during the bootcamp. Elyas Faiq joined via Zoom, ensuring he could participate in this special day. Their stories underscored the transformative impact of the program and the strong bonds they formed along the way.
Jamie Matthews, one of our sponsors, then gave a speech about his experience as a sponsor supporting the bootcamp. He spoke about the positive impact the program has had on the community and the importance of such initiatives. His words highlighted the crucial role of sponsorships in making educational programs like ours possible.
The certificate ceremony followed, where we honored our graduates for their commitment and hard work over the previous 16 weeks. Cheers and clapping burst around the room as each graduate took a step forward to pick up their certificate. With this ceremony, the bootcamp came to a conclusion and their bright futures in the tech industry began. For all those involved, it was a moment of pride as it marked the end of months of growth and learning.
Following the certificate ceremony, there was a more relaxed evening with food, drinks, and lots of networking. Everyone had a great chance to have fun, think back on their journey, and spend quality time with one another as a result. There was a strong sense of community at the center of our program, reinforced by the warm and friendly atmosphere, interesting talks, and shared laughs. It was an occasion to commemorate successes, exchange stories, and look ahead to the future.
Running this bootcamp entirely on business funding and support was a significant challenge, but it was made possible by the unwavering support of our sponsors. We owe a special thank you to Certn, DabApps, and key individuals like Catrina Baker-Bassett, Jamie Matthews.
We're still committed to encouraging more people to seek jobs in technology as we go forward. In an effort to give our interns the greatest learning experience possible, we will keep improving and growing our programs. This bootcamp's accomplishment is simply the start of many more wonderful things. We have a lot more bootcamps and activities planned, all aimed at promoting opportunity, growth, and innovation in the tech community. So, keep an eye out for upcoming announcements.
By working together, we can close the skills gap in digital and tech and encourage more people to pursue exciting jobs in the field.