No, you don’t need your own project to join the Programme. The Foundation’s relationship with its corporate partners enables us to source projects with significant commercial potential. We also welcome members of the Programme who want to bring their own projects.
The Foundation normally takes responsibility for team selection. Typically we combine three software developers and a graduate drawn from a business discipline.
The Foundation does not have its own residential premises. It does though have a relationship with a Newport landlord that provides student accommodation for the local university and can introduce members of the Programme.
Applicants to the programme all need to submit their university and career details via the website’s Apply page. On the basis of the information provided we will take a decision whether or not to invite a candidate in for an interview. Before submitting their formal applications prospective Programme members are encouraged to call us for an informal chat or to visit the Foundation. Typically it takes 1 month from the date of the submission of an application to being informed of the result.
The investment fund is not actually part of the Foundation’s charitable activities. On graduation teams have the opportunity to pitch their business plan to the fund. All teams have accepted this option and typically in exchange for an equity investment of £250,000 the team is gifted 25% of the equity in the company.
These vary according to the role each individual performs within a team. Because teams develop software based solutions 3 of the 4 positions in a team require a high level of technical coding skill. For applicants for a coding position, who have yet to attain the required level of technical proficiency, the Foundation operates an intensive 6 week ‘Boot-camp’ programme. In addition we recruit graduates from a business discipline to work alongside software developers. The Programme provides graduates with entrepreneurship training. Therefore it encourages the equally important human qualities required in a successful entrepreneur such as self-confidence, communication skills, empathy, recognition of the shared strength of team work and the capacity for persistence in the face of adversity.
The ‘Boot-camp’ is a 6 week software development training programme. It provides an opportunity for graduates to boost their skills to the point where they have acquired a level of coding skill necessary to join the Programme. To secure a place on the ‘Boot-camp’ you need to demonstrate an aptitude and passion for coding. The ‘Boot-camp’ takes place in Newport, usually in August. The Foundation does not charge a fee for attendance on the ‘Boot-camp’. It also provides free accommodation for the period of the ‘Boot-camp’. Participants are expected to pay their own day to day living expenses.
Our experience shows many products have been developed as web-based solutions. For this reason you would find it valuable to learn PHP, html, JavaScript and CSS. We would also encourage you to become familiar with object oriented programming languages such as Python, Java and C++.
The Programme has an excellent record of success. A very small number of teams have failed to graduate, typically because it has not been possible to overcome internal team disagreements. Experience of the Programme is seen as an asset by employers and in every case so far people leaving the Foundation have moved into full-time employment almost immediately.
If you haven't found the answer to the question that you were looking for, please get in touch and ask. You can contact us via : contact@alacrityfoundation.com or via 01633 421545