There are launches planned in Cambridge, Oxford and Edinburgh before the end of the year
As demand for Greater London territories continues, savvy entrepreneurs in Cambridge, Oxford and Edinburgh are following suit, with three launches in those regions planned before the end of this year.
“With The University of Edinburgh being in the top per cent in the country – and one of the Russell Group schools - Edinburgh was such a sought-after territory so we’re so pleased to have been selected as the team to bring the programme to Scotland,” explained Mark Higgins, co-owner of the soon-to-launch Scottish franchise location and experienced app developer and IT professional (pictured).
“Both my business partner and I have senior executive corporate backgrounds, so we’re more than aware of the need for digital literacy and for softer skills too. As parents ourselves, we know all too well just how much parents are willing to invest in setting their children up with the best start in life – my eight-year-old son is probably going to be one of our best customers!”
Based in central Edinburgh, the pair’s plans include establishing their Code Ninjas location as the hub of the community for tech-loving kids living locally. The entrepreneurially minded duo are currently in the process of recruiting a team of specialists to support them in delivering the curriculum.
“We see so much value in supporting the generation of young coders - those in their teens and early twenties - looking for a way to explore their own skills in a valuable setting,” added Mark. “I was exposed to relevant, on-the-job experience when I was training in specialist accounting systems which was so valuable when developing my career in the emerging coding-savvy world. Although our number one priority is obviously delivering our programme to our ninjas in a credible, educational – and fun! – way, we’re very passionate about equipping our instructors with life skills.
“And in a city with such a rich heritage and so many esteemed higher education establishments, we can’t wait to meet the wealth of talent looking to join us!”
Like Mark and his business partner, entrepreneurs and tech specialists alike are recognising the growth potential in the children’s services sector. Justin Nihiser, CEO, is keen to point out that a background in the industry isn’t a prerequisite for success with Code Ninjas.
He said: “Mark and his partner’s combined experience in technology and leadership, coupled with their business ownership skills, make them a great addition to the UK network – and fantastic leaders to spearhead our growth across Scotland! But, whilst we certainly value our prospects’ digital literacy, we’re equally impressed by those that have an innate understanding of the need for our programme in the UK and shared passion for our brand.
“It’s important that anyone looking to join our network feels just as strongly as we do about improving children’s lives through coding education. That’s really what Code Ninjas is all about.”