National Coding Week: Local digital expert helps bridge West Midlands skills gap
Research from FutureDotNow and the Centre for Economic and Business Research suggests that the UK economy could see an annual boost of more than £23 billion from increasing digital skills in the workforce, yet over half of working-age adults (52%) currently lack essential digital skills. The West Midlands alone needs around 280,000 more people with essential digital skills to meet national benchmarks.
That’s where professionals like Alexander Hamilton come in. A former gaming entrepreneur, Alex is now Subject Lead in Creative & Digital at Stoke-on-Trent College, bringing industry tools like VR, 3D printing, and creative coding into his teaching. He’s not just closing the regional skills gap; he’s inspiring others to do the same. Having taught for over five years, Alex found FE more challenging, rewarding, and flexible than anything he’d done before - and chose to stay. For him, the highlights are helping students overcome challenges and seeing them thrive, whether on their learning journey or later in the industry.
Alexander Hamilton is Subject Lead, teaching Further Education courses in IT, Programming and Graphic Design at Stoke on Trent College. He shares: "Teaching in Further Education (FE) isn’t just a job; it’s a chance to make a meaningful difference and grow alongside my students. Helping them grasp the key principles of programming is something I genuinely love, and I am proud to pass those skills onto the next generation of tech innovators.
"The skills I gained from working in the fast-paced games industry - particularly in design and programming - have shaped my approach to teaching in Further Education. I didn’t realise you don’t need formal teaching qualifications to get started in FE. I was able to train on the job, and there are both full- and part-time roles available for people with industry experience who want to support learners. I now teach full-time and have progressed into a Subject Lead role. I’d really encourage others to go for it!
"National Coding Week is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the importance of digital skills and celebrate the FE teachers who are helping shape the next generation of tech professionals. Coding is about solving problems, thinking creatively, and developing critical thinking - skills that are vital not only in digital industries but in everyday life. I’m passionate about equipping my students with the tools and confidence they need to thrive in their careers.”
About the FE Teacher Recruitment campaign
The Department for Education’s Teach in Further Education (FE) campaign is calling on those with industry experience to teach in FE by sharing their skills and training the next generation of workers in their field.
FE teachers are needed across many subject areas, with particular demand for professionals from the following sectors: Health and Social Care, Construction, Engineering and Manufacturing, Digital and IT.
Practical experience gained from industry is highly sought after and prior teaching qualifications or an academic degree isn’t always needed to start teaching in further education. Teacher training can be completed on the job, meaning FE teachers can begin earning straight away.
There are full-time, part-time and flexible contracts available, allowing FE teachers to balance their hours alongside their current job or personal responsibilities.
To find out more about teaching in FE visit: teachinfurthereducation.education.gov.uk
