Apps course
New Prince's Trust STEM programme, Get Started with Apps, began in Summer 2015 and aims to introduce young people to the world of app design and development.
there's never a repetitive day
In setting up the Get Started with Apps programme, we identified it as an area in which many young people are interested, and is also a sector rich with opportunities.
Capgemini was a founding partner of Get Started with Apps, helping develop the programme content in collaboration with Prince’s Trust and delivery partner Made by Milk. Since having been involved with Get Started with Apps since 2016, Capgemini have supported 158 young people through the programme, with Capgemini employees also volunteering hundreds of hours to support young people improve their employability and digital skills throughout the week.
During a recent course, funded by ARM and delivered by technology education company Steer, young people worked in teams, developing soft skills such as communication and problem solving, as well as becoming more comfortable using complex software and design tools. After creating an initial app idea, then teams undertook market research to finesse the idea, and then designed and developed a prototype, which they presented to an audience of tech industry professionals.
The young people were asked to create an app that filled a 'gap in the market' or addressed a community need. From 'Animatics', which aims to help filmmakers storyboard and shot list their films, and 'Cooky‘ which helps coordinate and locate local people willing to cook free meals for free for others in need, to ‘Skills Swap,’ a service app for people to exchange their skills with others, the young people’s creative ideas ranged far and wide.
"I’m not really nervous,” said Drew, 21, shortly before his presentation of the 'Animatics' app.
Other young people were convinced their app had true market potential as well. Joe, 22, who helped develop the 'Skills Swap' app said:
Joe recently accepted a full time job in construction, and hopes to use the skills he learned during the Get Started with Apps week to kick off his role in a professional and confident manner.
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