Scion Success Stories 

Breaking into web or software development can feel challenging without clear routes, industry experience, or the right support. The Scion scheme was created to help address those barriers. 

In this article, we’re spotlighting a few of our recent Scion graduates and letting them tell their stories in their own words. From tackling real-world projects and tight deadlines to developing the mindset employers look for, their experiences show what’s possible when talent meets the right opportunity, support, and challenge. 

Brandon

1. What made you decide to join the web development course?

The web development course was an invaluable opportunity for me to upskill myself in web development and software engineering. I had already acquired key skills from my time at university, but I was not entirely certain of how to put these skills into real-world applications. This is where this course came in. It was a chance for me to prove to myself that I could become a developer and acquire new skills which I was not able to acquire at university.

2. What was your technical background before starting the course (career, education, experience)?

In terms of my technical background, I have been learning and upskilling myself in computer technologies for the past few years, achieving my A-Levels and a degree in Computing Science which allowed me to step into the world of web development and software engineering.

3. What were your main goals when enrolling?

My main goal for this course was to get a real understand of what it would be like to be treated as an employee of a company. To be working 8 hours a day, having my own responsibilities and tackling different tasks that would turn me into a strong developer. I also wanted to learn new technologies which are in high demand in the world of development.

4. What skills or technologies did you learn that were most valuable?

Laravel, React, Java and Python were the most valuable technologies that I got to learn. They are the most in demand technologies in the development world, and mastering them would put me in a fantastic position in terms of employment.

5. How did the course prepare you for real-world projects?

Being my own project manager allowed me to truly understand how to really go about a project. At university, most of the larger projects were tackled in teams, and the projects were not the most challenging. This course took those projects to another level and required me to be innovative and well organised to make the project a success. Having a shorter deadline of 1-2 weeks per project gave me a great insight of how real-world projects are handled. Setting my own deadlines to implement certain features was a crucial skill which I was able to pick up.

6. Were there any challenges you faced during the training, and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge of this course was my organisation skills and lack of understanding of project architecture. I used to be the type of person who would keep performing trial and error when it came to coding, but this course was not something where I could just guess and hope that it is right. I had to repeatedly return to my drawing board and come up with a new way to tackle these highly demanding projects. I learned how to manage my time on certain features as well as the architecture of a project, whether it was a Laravel project or a React project. Acquiring these new skills, I was able to go about a project in a much more organised way, with confidence that I would achieve a great result.

7. What did you enjoy most about the course?

The best part about the course was spending time with the other Scions. We would always join a call together to check how everyone is doing in terms of their own tasks. Whenever I had an issue, there would always be somebody who would work closely with me to resolve it. This gave me the confidence to reach out to others for help whenever I really needed it, as well as reaching out to people who needed help.

8. How did the course help you secure your current role?

This course was a huge confidence boost in terms of understanding the world of development and what it would be like to be a developer. It gave me strong understand of how websites are made, whether they are developed using modern technologies or made using a content-management system. Using this understanding, I was given the opportunity to work on and maintain a website for a company local to my area. I am someone that they are confident that they can rely on when it came to putting their company out there for locals to see and use.

9. Can you share details about your new position (job title, company, responsibilities)?

I am a web developer for a company called Bliss Eco Energy. Though it is not a major role, it is a great start into gaining experience of working on and maintaining a website. I am responsible for the website design and maintenance, as well as the SEO score to get more people to visit the website.

10. What advice would you give to someone considering this training?

If I had to recommend this course to someone, I would tell them that if they wanted to step into the world of web development and software engineering, this course is the golden ticket. It is a course which treats you as a real employee, with your own responsibilities and tasks to complete. You will attend meetings during the week which are fantastic opportunities to reach out if you have any problems. They should be ready for some challenging projects which would require you to step out of your comfort zone, but in return would turn you into a strong developer. Doing your own research is key for this course, especially if you want your projects to stand out on your portfolio, don't be shy, and try to be innovative, it will pay off.

11. Would you recommend the course to others? If so, why?

I was lost in the job market before I discovered this course. Yes I had the opportunity to put my uni degree to good use, but I was unsure whether or not I had the competence to take on a real role for a company. This course filled in the gaps of my competence, confidence and understanding of real-world project and what it would really be like if I was a web developer or a software engineer. I could not recommend this course enough to anyone who wants to kickstart their career in computer science and technology.

12. What are your next steps or aspirations in web development?

I don't want to stop here. This course gave me the hunger to explore different technologies that are used in their own way when it comes to development. I have new and ambitious ideas for my portfolio and my own projects. I want to go far. I want to become someone who can work in more demanding roles and take modern day websites and software to the next level.

13. Are there any areas you'd like to continue learning or improving?

Backend frameworks and programming languages are my key areas which I want to excel in. There are many frameworks which are always used in different companies. I want to learn and understand as many of them as possible to allow me to broaden my opportunities for my exciting career path.

Max 

1. What made you decide to join the web development course?

I chose this course because I wanted to develop in-demand technical skills and create new career opportunities in IT and web development.

2. What was your technical background before starting the course (career, education, experience)?

Before the course I only had 1 job with no coding experience. I have A-levels and a Certificate of Higher Education from Durham University.

3. What were your main goals when enrolling?

My main goal was to improve my technical abilities, learn modern web development tools, and prepare for potential career growth.

4. What skills or technologies did you learn that were most valuable?

The most useful technologies I learned were HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, along with basic web design principles, which gave me confidence in building websites. Learning these three core languages helped me understand the fundamentals of how websites are structured, styled, and made interactive. They also laid a strong foundation for learning more advanced web development languages, frameworks, and technologies in the future.

5. How did the course prepare you for real-world projects?

The course prepared me for real-world projects by giving me hands-on experience building websites and applying what I learned through practical assignments. It also gave me the confidence and foundational skills to start creating real-world projects on my own after finishing the course.

6. Were there any challenges you faced during the training, and how did you overcome them?

One challenge I faced during the training was getting my code to work exactly the way I wanted, especially when debugging errors or trying to achieve a specific result. At times it could be frustrating, but I learned to troubleshoot problems step by step and keep experimenting with different solutions. The support from other people on the course was also very helpful, as they were always willing to offer advice or guidance, and they helped me a few times when I got stuck.

7. What did you enjoy most about the course?

What I enjoyed most about the course was learning front-end languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, especially when it came to styling the assessment projects and seeing ideas come to life visually. I also really enjoyed the group project with peers, as it simulated a real-world working environment where we collaborated, shared ideas, and worked together to complete a project.

8. How did the course help you secure your current role?

The course helped me secure my current role by giving me the skills and confidence to pursue self-employment opportunities. It provided me with a strong foundation in web development, allowing me to build websites independently and feel more prepared to take on real projects for clients.

9. Can you share details about your new position (job title, company, responsibilities)?

I became self-employed as a web developer to gain real world experience, where I am responsible for designing and building websites independently. My role involves creating the entire website myself, including planning the layout, developing the structure with HTML, styling with CSS, adding functionality with JavaScript, and making sure the final product is user-friendly and responsive.

10. What advice would you give to someone considering this training?

My advice would be to stay consistent, practice regularly, and not get discouraged if coding feels challenging at first, as the more you work on projects, the more confident you become. It’s also important to remember that you’re not learning alone — the course supervisor and peers are usually willing to help when needed, and collaborating with others can make it easier to overcome challenges and keep progressing.

11. Would you recommend the course to others? If so, why?

I would recommend this training to anyone interested in web development because it provides a strong foundation in essential skills and gives you hands-on experience through practical projects.

12. What are your next steps or aspirations in web development?

My next step is to continue building my skills in web development by learning more advanced languages, frameworks, and tools while gaining experience through real projects. I also hope to grow as a web developer by taking on more freelance and self-employed opportunities to expand my portfolio and strengthen my experience.

13. Are there any areas you’d like to continue learning or improving?

I’d like to continue learning more about website hosting and deployment so I can better manage and launch websites independently. I also want to improve my skills in the languages I’ve already learned while expanding my knowledge of additional tools and technologies that may be useful for future projects or job opportunities.