Case study – Punam Devi – Level 1 Bootcamp

A qualified language teacher in her home country, Punam moved to the UK over ten years ago from India with her husband’s work and now lives in Coventry. Alongside looking after her young son, Punam has been working in logistics but was keen to gain new skills and make plans to re-energise her career.  

She spotted the opportunity to join the Digital Skills Academy’s Level 1 bootcamp for beginners in coding and programming but was uncertain about her ability to complete the course. Punam said, “English is my second language, and I was concerned that I wouldn’t understand enough to succeed on this course. But my tutor Brady was very patient and understanding. He explained everything to me so well and I got on better than I had expected. 

“I work full time as a warehouse operative, so I booked two weeks’ holiday from work to attend the bootcamp which took place at the Digital Skills Academy campus on the Coventry University. I only had a basic knowledge of computing and I am keen to learn so this was a perfect opportunity to test my skills and see whether this might be the right career path for me. Because I live in a West Midlands Combined Authority postcode, I didn’t have to pay for the training. 

“I gained in confidence during the two weeks and have already learned a great deal. Now I need to practice at home when time allows before taking the next step in my journey. I enjoy my job in logistics and I have a good deal of flexibility and can work shifts that work around my family. But I am already qualified to degree level and want to make plans to boost my career when time and family commitments permit.”