School of Coding and AI ramps up recruitment drive - setting sights on creating 1,000 new jobs

A computer science and coding company has set its sights on growing its workforce to 1,000 employees within the next five years as it continues a rapid expansion in the UK and overseas.

School of Coding and AI (SoC) has taken on 50 new staff in the past four months alone - with a further 40 to 50 roles currently open, and it has plans to recruit even more as student numbers grow.

The latest wave of hiring builds on a strong period of expansion for SoC, which has bases in Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Last year, the business created around 100 jobs as it scaled operations across the UK and internationally.

Recruitment manager Andrew Wright has overseen the increase in headcount as demand for digital and AI education continues to rise.

“This is a really exciting time to join the organisation,” Andrew said. “We’re growing quickly, taking on bigger opportunities and building an environment where people can develop, contribute and progress.

“Last year, we recruited across every part of the organisation, from academic leadership and lecturing roles through to student support, operations, finance, HR and recruitment.

“We’re currently rolling out an apprenticeship scheme to create routes into professional work for people finishing college, while also attracting experienced specialists in key areas who can help take the organisation to the next level.

“SoC is also working with the government-backed Shaw Trust to support individuals who have been out of work for more than six months, while developing our own open days and exploring new ways to attract diverse talent.”

Recruitment is predominantly focused in the UK, but the business is also hiring internationally, including in Dubai and India, reflecting its growing global influence.

Currently employing around 170 people, SoC is preparing for further expansion later this year.

“We’ve got 42 current roles and when we go into September, and we take on an additional 2,500 students, there’s going to be a need for even more staff,” said Andrew.

“By the end of the year, I anticipate us taking on an additional 100 people.”

The recruitment drive reflects the organisation’s continued investment in talent as it expands its delivery of coding, AI and emerging technology training to learners of all ages - from school pupils to adult learners and businesses.

Andrew added: “As the business continues to grow, our ambition is clear: to become a Midlands-born unicorn. That creates exciting projects, meaningful challenges and real opportunities for our people to help shape the future of the organisation.

“We are very competitive in the sense of purpose, value and being able to contribute to something where you can physically see the impact you can have on students and other people around you.”

The growth comes during a milestone year for the organisation and its founder, Manny Athwal, who was recently named Education Leader of the Year at the West Midlands Leadership Awards.

Over the past 12 months, SoC has significantly expanded, including opening a £2.5 million state-of-the-art tech lab in Birmingham, redeveloping its Wolverhampton headquarters, and launching a new international campus in Dubai.

It has also continued to grow its Alternative Education Provision (AEP), supporting young people who face challenges in mainstream education by offering tailored learning pathways and hands-on digital skills training.

Manny said: “Our continued expansion and job creation underlines our role as a key contributor to the growing digital economy in the Midlands, while also helping to address the UK’s widening skills gap in technology and AI.”

Anyone interested in working for SoC can visit the website or email [email protected]