Could coding be your new flexible career?

When thinking about your flexible work options or a new career change, have you ever considered coding?  

Most of the websites and apps you use every day have been built from code. Essentially, coding is telling a computer how to perform complex tasks through different programming languages. Everyone can learn to code, you really don’t need to be a maths genius or tech geek - these are just outdated stereotypes. 

23 Code Street is a women’s coding school. For every paying student, we teach digital skills to a woman in the slums of India. Below, we’ve rounded up our top 4 reasons about why coding makes a great flexible career. 

1. Work remotely and banish the 9-5

How does no longer working from 9-5 sound? 

To be able to code you just need a laptop and some good wifi!  Due to this, lots of coding jobs can be done remotely either at home, in a cafe or wherever you prefer within the hours that suit you. If you don’t want to work for a specific company, you could freelance and work with different clients that interest you. Lots of our graduates are working mums who learnt to code to be able to work from home flexibly and have a better work/life balance. 

    2.  Learn an in-demand skill

There’s currently a huge digital skills gap; employers are looking to hire people who know how to code and have a technical understanding. As our world becomes more and more digital, the number of tech jobs is increasing. This report found there are over 7 million jobs which require coding skills and programming jobs overall are growing 12% faster than the market average. By learning to code, you’ll know an in-demand skill and have plenty of jobs to apply for. 

3.  Put your previous skills to good use

Coding is a great way to combine your old and new skills. All our students come from different backgrounds and apply the skills they’ve gained from their previous jobs when learning to code. One of our current students is a language teacher which is helping her understand the syntax and functions of the code. Some of our graduates have gone on to use code to enhance and upskill their current professions too. 

4.  Enjoy a rewarding career

Let’s face it, not all flexible working options are that rewarding. Coding definitely is. You can’t help but feel excited after you’ve started to learn to code and build your first webpage or feel proud after you’ve been working on a project for weeks and see the finished outcome. You’ll definitely feel a sense of achievement and want to show off your work!  Read how passionate our graduate Halimatou felt after learning to code. 

If you're interested in learning to code, click here to find out about  our new pilot webinar course starting in July and if you’ve  got any questions just drop us an email via hello@23codestreet.com

#dadsflextoo - A blog by Greg

Written by Greg, dad to two, husband to one...doing the best he can!

I spent last weekend with my family, enjoying the weather ( a lot) and the cut and thrust of Chessington World of Adventures (a lot less...). This weekend, however, I am working late shifts both days and will be home from work long after my two young children have gone to bed. And so it goes with shift work…

When most people hear that I work 6 on, 3 off shifts, they normally comment on working six consecutive days. Usually, it goes something like this:  “You work SIX days per week?! I couldn’t do that.” But it doesn’t take long for people to soften their view. As a result of my shift pattern, I work fewer days per year than someone on a more ‘standard’ Monday to Friday pattern and my leave goes further too. These two revelations get people’s attention but there are other benefits too… 

I’m sitting on my sofa, it’s a Thursday, and in addition to shoehorning in a bit of NETFLIX I have done half the school run, taken my son to his swimming lesson, enjoyed a meal out with my family, helped with homework, read a bedtime story, put the bins out and worked a 7.5 hour shift. Oh, and cobbled together this badly written diatribe... A good example of how you can make shift work...work, and work well. 

I have had a number of jobs over my relatively short working life most of which have maintained what you would call normal business hours, apart from the odd temp job in retail-there is definitely therapy in stacking shelves.

You know when the best time to do almost anything is? On weekdays. Everything is a touch less crowded, which makes the shops nicer, the roads quieter and taking my daughter to the park a little bit more peaceful (sometimes). Admittedly I quite like spending time by myself and also seek quieter environments with my family so perhaps I am a little biased but I find I spend less time in competition with others for space, or jostling for my place in the queue... 

I don’t know how people get to the doctor or dentist or get their car serviced etc when at work during the traditional work pattern, I find an awful lot more flexibility in my work rhythm despite essentially being contracted to the same number of hours a week. These more mundane tasks tend to be far easier to sort with my current regime.

If there is a downside, perhaps sleep patterns are one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I get enough sleep, but the timing can change depending on work. Some people probably benefit from greater routine on that front. Also, the rest of the world arranges many things for the weekend (obviously) which means I can regularly miss them unless I deem them vital enough to take annual leave... 

Work-life balance. I will finish with this as this is what most people strive to achieve when it comes to their lives. I certainly have it and consider myself very lucky as a result and get this, it certainly doesn’t involve a 9-5.

#whereskat competition - terms and conditions

Thank you for entering our exciting competition. Please check below for the terms and conditions relating to this. Please note that by entering this contest, you agree to a complete release of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram from all liability in connection with this competition.

    1. How to Enter

1.1. Facebook - To join in the competition on Facebook, entrants will need to like AND comment on a photo posted via 9-2-3 Jobs of our colleague Kat. She’s been photographed at numerous landmarks in and around Manchester and Greater Manchester and you have to guess where she is by liking and commenting on the post with your answer, using the hashtag #whereskat to enter the competition.

1.2. Twitter - To join in the competition on Twitter, entrants will need to ReTweet a photo posted via 9-2-3 Jobs of our colleague Kat. She’s been photographed at numerous landmarks in and around Manchester and Greater Manchester and you have to guess where she is by liking and ReTweeting with comment on the post with your answer, as well as using the hashtag #whereskat to enter the competition.

1.3. Instagram - To join in the competition on Instagram, entrants will need to like AND comment on a photo posted via 9-2-3 Jobs of our colleague Kat. She’s been photographed at numerous landmarks in and around Manchester and Greater Manchester and you have to guess where she is by liking and commenting on the post with your answer, using the hashtag #whereskat to enter the competition.

1.4. One winner who has guessed the correct answer will be chosen at random over all three platforms – entrants can enter the competition more than once and comment on any of the photo’s we post over the two week period.

1.4. The winner will be announced on Monday 5th November 2018 on 9-2-3 Jobs Facebook, Instagram and Twitter social media channels.

    2. When to Enter and Who can Enter

2.1. The Competition opens on Monday 22nd October and closes Sunday 4th November 2018

2.2. Entrants can enter at any point between these dates

2.3. Entrants can enter the Competition as many times as they would like, across any of the platforms to be in with a chance of winning. 

2.4. The Competition is only open to UK residents aged 21 or over, excluding employees of 9-2-3 Jobs and anyone professionally connected with the administration of the Competition.

2.5 Automated or bulk entries from third parties will be disqualified.

2.6 We reserve the right to exclude serial competition entrants who have entered more than 4 competitions in the last month

    3. Prizes

3.1. The prizes for winning the competition will be one hours free coaching from Power of the Parent  - coaching and talent consultancy services

3.2. The prize winner will be invited to share their story of why they entered the competition, which will be shared on both Facebook, Instagram and Twitter platforms.

3.3. The prize is as stated and they cannot be sold or exchanged for cash, goods or services. The winners details will be passed on to Power of the Parent  - coaching and talent consultancy services who will then make contact with the winner to make the arrangements.

    4. Data Protection and Publicity

4.1. You consent to your surname, photograph and basic information about you being disclosed on 9-2-3 Jobs channels or other media if you win any Prizes under the Competition

4.2. Any personal data relating to participants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation. By entering the Competition, you agree that 9-2-3 Jobs may contact you in relation to the Competition

4.3. Competition winners will be contacted by 9-2-3 Jobs. You must provide accurate contact details on notification.

4.4. 9-2-3 Jobs reserve the right to use the voice, image, photograph, name and likeness of the winners for publicity and in advertising, marketing or promotional material without additional compensation or prior notice to the winners. In entering the Competition, all participants consent to such use of their voice, image, photograph, name and likeness

    5. Competition Rules

5.1. The Competition will be run as a sweepstake draw and a prize will be awarded at random by 9-2-3 Jobs for one entrant.

5.2. We reserve the right to change the Competition rules and these Terms and Conditions from time to time. If we do so, we will always have the most up to date terms and conditions on the Website and in the case of a discrepancy between these terms and conditions and those on the Website, the Website terms and conditions will apply. Your continued use of the website will constitute your acceptance of the new rules and/or Terms and Conditions

5.3. All intellectual property rights in the images and materials on the Website, and used in the services provided by 9-2-3 Jobs and no person may make any use of them without 9-2-3 Jobs express permission.

    6. Liability and Indemnities

6.1. Except in the case of death or personal injury arising from its negligence, or in respect of fraud, and so far as is permitted by law, 9-2-3 Jobs and its associated companies and agents and distributors exclude responsibility and all liabilities, whether direct or indirect, arising from:

6.1.1. any postponement or cancellation of the Competition;

6.1.2. any changes to, the supply of or use of the Prize; and

6.1.3. any act or default of any supplier, which are beyond 9-2-3 Jobs’ reasonable control.

6.2. 9-2-3 Jobs does not accept responsibility for any liability arising from technical incompatibility, problems relating to the internet, or technical difficulties of any kind

6.3. 9-2-3 Jobs shall not be liable, whether in tort, contract, misrepresentation or otherwise for loss of profits, loss of anticipated savings, loss of goods, loss of use, loss or corruption of data or information, or any special, indirect, consequential or pure economic loss, costs, damages, charges or expenses

6.4. You agree to indemnify 9-2-3 Jobs against all liabilities, claims and expenses that may arise from any breach of your agreement with 9-2-3 Jobs

    7. Jurisdiction

7.1. The Competition and these Terms and Conditions are governed by English Law. England & Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions.

So what is flexible working anyway?

You’ve most likely heard the term a million times, especially of late, but some of you may be wondering what it means to work in a flexible role.

It’s our speciality, we recruit for roles that support this way of working and won’t accept anything less for our candidates, so we’ve seen a variety of methods offered by companies to help supply the work/life balance and flexibility modern working families require.

Flexible is the future!

We have a large pool of talented parents, men included, that absolutely need this way of working. Most feel that they’re unable to work due to the inflexibility most roles offer - add this to the growing number of employers we speak to who are in need of finding talented individuals and what’s the solution….Flexible working!

9-2-3 helps businesses tap into this pool of talent. Our candidates are motivated, driven, keen – they WANT to be in the workplace. Research by Workplace Flexibility shows that flexible workers are more engaged – they also have fewer sick days, there’s greater staff retention and increased productivity! The climate is right for 9-2-3!

So what is it?

So we’ve established – I hope – that flexible working is a good thing. Good for both employees and employers. But what is it? It’s not just part-time hours… 

Here we list some of the most popular ways of flexible working:

• Working from home / Remote working is one of the most popular and productive ways of working flexibly - it avoids the commute to and from the office, better using this time to work. Many employers will offer this one or two days of the working week which allows time for the all-important nativity or sports day and means you can fulfil your working duties at times that suit you and your family.

• Flexible hours - It can mean so many things! We speak to businesses who have core offices hours and allow employees to flex at either end of the day. It can even mean that you can do the school run back and forth each day, working in-between these hours and perhaps working additional hours in the evening - making that juggle a little easier.

• Compressed hours – If you don’t mind working long days, then this could be the perfect arrangement for you, working all your contracted hours in fewer days. For example, fulfilling full-time hours over 4 days. Some companies are even offering Annualised hours which can really help with the school holiday juggle – allowing employees to work all their hours in term time.

• Job sharing - It makes so much sense when you think about it! The business essentially needs a person to do a full-time role, yet they’re unable to fulfil this due to the inflexibility of the hours. So how about hiring two people to share the job? Two brains and two lots of experience in one role. The salary is divided, as well as the hours and we’re seeing this method rise in popularity. If you’re coming along to our NatWest Markets day on June 27th you’ll see this for yourself as we’re lucky enough to have two senior NatWest Markets employees join us to tell us how they make this work. (Why not come and join us for the morning – we still have some tickets left: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-9-2-3-club-at-natwest-markets-tickets-45973658450 )

So the workplace is changing…

It’s not just about mums wanting to have flexible working arrangements. It’s about dads wanting to do a weekly school run. It’s about those who have caring responsibilities for elderly/sick parents. It’s about those wanting to fit in a bit more exercise or healthy cooking or general life! Younger “millennials” are increasingly looking at 9-5 desk jobs as old-fashioned…and we can totally see why.

Flexible working is for everyone.

We’ve explained the most popular ways of flexible working, however, there are so many other ways that this can be implemented within a business, as showcased by insurance giant Aetna…

Aetna

Aetna is a company that uses flexible workspaces to boost its bottom line…

• 35,000 employees
• 14,500 do not have a desk 
• 2,000 employees work from home a few days a week
• 47% of the company’s workforce uses flexible workspaces.

Thanks to these policies, the company has been able to get rid of 2.7 million square feet of office space, giving the company savings of about $78 million per year (once you add utilities, housekeeping, mail service and document shredding). Not to mention a reduced carbon footprint.

Amazing stuff and I feel that it’s only getting better!

Check our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for the latest news of what we’re all up to, as well as our jobs page for the most recent roles.

Global Day of Parents

Friday June 1st celebrates the UN recognised global day of parents. So to us, this is a day where we should all give ourselves a huge pat on the back, Mums, Dads, Grandparents, carers - it's a day to realise all that you manage to achieve with your little ones! WELL DONE!

This is especially true following a half term week...we're all parents too at 9-2-3 and we know that each day doesn't always go to plan...you've booked the time off work, but somehow return back feeling more exhausted than when you turned on your out-of-office!

According to the Office for National Statistics, approximately 57% of all working households in the UK are home to at least one dependent child, aged 15 or under, which makes you realise just how challenging taking time off with little ones can become (let's not even think about the summer holiday break...yet)!

With a growing awareness of flexible working, we hope that 9-5, 5 days a week will soon be a thing of the past. Although it still feels a long way off, more and more companies and employers are beginning to see the first-hand benefits that flexible working can bring to the table. As part of the #fortheloveofflex campaign we've been running, it's clear through our video testimonials from placed candidates and businesses, that flexible working can bring an increase in sales, employee happiness and loyalty. 

An article from Human Results showcases some fantastic ways of how companies are implementing this working practice and making it easier to balance work with the never-ending juggle of childcare. Most notably, we have seen brilliant results from some of the large financial companies such as Deloitte and NatWest Markets who are offering returner programmes, all of which offer flexible roles once graduated and heaps of support along the way to ease you back to the workplace.

Shared parental leave has also been a hot topic of conversation - in this article from The Conversation, it highlights that 'Motherhood is the key reason that the gender pay gap exists'  and suggests that flexible working is one way to tackle this through allowing Fathers to spend more time with their children, and in effect allow for 'tag-team' parenting when it comes to balancing work and childcare.

As a mum myself with two small children, taking a career break seemed like the only option for me five years ago. Childcare was too expensive and my role at the time was far too inflexible to ensure that the kids were picked up on time and cared for properly. Now that I'm returning to work, it's so refreshing to see flexible work in action and how companies, large and small are making this possible for parents, instead of losing a huge pool of talent from the workforce.

We're happy to see that things are moving in the right direction. We campaign hard for it and persistently educate the business' we work with to implement this way of thinking for the future - we feel it's working so watch this space.

We currently have lots of lovely flexible roles available - take a look at our jobs page for more details and we'd be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have surrounding any of the roles listed.

#LetsAllFlexTogetherDay Launch!

The hashtag says it all, lets ALL flex together day is a chance for us to celebrate two things;

• The love of flexible working

• And the 1st birthday of the 9-2-3 Club!

So what better way to commemorate the birth of our unique networking Club by bringing people and business together to give flexible working a go, for one day and see the benefits unfold.

By flexible work we mean a few things:

• Flexible hours - so logging on between school drop-offs i.e. 9am-3pm, or even finish off work at home when the kids are in bed

• Remote/ home working

• Part-time hours - for example, 2/3 days a week, of five hours, five times a week

• Something simple like working through your lunch hour so that you can leave an hour earlier

Just recently, the Financial Times shared an article about a firm that had initiated a 5-hour work week, they ditched the 9-5 and said it was ‘life-changing’ for the business with fewer sick days and record levels of new business. It highlighted two brilliant things, that firms are willing to shake things up and give this a go and that flexible working actually can and does work.

So how can you join in?

Celebrate with us ONLINE:

Employees

If flexible working isn’t on the table in your current job then this is the perfect opportunity to ask them to give flex a go, just for one day and let them see how productive you can be - show them the benefits through the articles we’ll be posting and prove that you can get exactly the same work done (or more), whether this is at home or through flexible hours and perhaps this could help reassure them that this is future-proof - fight for it, it makes complete sense.

Employers

We understand that this is a complete break from the normal 9-5, it may send heads into orbit but this is just one day out of the year for your employees to prove to you how this can work for you as a business. Flexible working is known to encourage employee productivity, improve happiness, so we’re asking you to give flex a go on the 12th September, 2018.

What you need to do:

• Lets ALL flex together on the 12th September and shout about it by using our hashtag #LetsAllFlexTogetherDay

• Let us KNOW about it - post your photo’s to our page, wherever you’re working, whatever time you’re working, join in and engage!

• Tag yourselves and your businesses if you’re working flexibly that day.

We want everyone to know just how great flexible working really is!

Come and celebrate with us in person!

As well as joining our online community, you can come and celebrate with us in person at Unipart's HQ in Oxford (more details to come soon).

We’re planning a great day with some great speakers and as well as all flexing together, we’ll be celebrating the 9-2-3 Club’s birthday!

The 9-2-3 Club was launched 12th September 2017 in Westminster (check us out here), we had a fantastic day launching the club with some great attendees and speakers and we plan to do the same this year, looking at how far the Club has come and how it’s grown with the fab networking events we’ve had the chance to deliver.

The Club has given us a great opportunity to meet fantastic people and business’ and the feedback we commonly get from Club attendees is overwhelmingly supportive, that’s why we want to celebrate with as many of you as we can on the 12th September.

We hope to see you there and for those who can’t, we want to see you ONLINE so we can all flex together and celebrate!

Keep an eye our Facebook and Twitter page as we release more details about the upcoming day!

 

#LetsAllFlexTogetherDay