Ask most people who they picture in an entry-level tech role, and they will probably describe a recent graduate. In my experience, that picture is out of date. Across technology and data, a growing number of people starting out are not graduates at all. They are professionals a decade or more into their careers, choosing to retrain from scratch.
The changing face of entry-level tech
It’s less about age and more about career changers generally. Around half of the people who join La Fosse Academy are changing careers rather than entering the workforce for the first time. Most are still in their 20s and 30s, but we’ve also supported plenty of people in their 50s who have gone on to retrain successfully into technology careers.
I see people who are ten or more years into their careers looking for a fresh start, people returning after a break, people who have recently moved to the UK and need a route into the job market here, and professionals whose previous industries no longer offer the same opportunities they once did.
What is driving the shift towards reskilling
The employment market has become significantly more challenging. Many experienced professionals are finding that years of experience alone is no longer enough when industries are evolving so quickly.
Technology is changing almost every role, AI is reshaping job requirements, and people recognise they need new skills to stay competitive. Rather than waiting to be forced into a change, many are proactively reskilling into sectors with stronger long-term demand, such as technology and data.
How employer expectations have changed
Hiring has slowed in many sectors, businesses are under pressure to increase productivity, and AI is changing the skills organisations value. That makes it harder for people to move sideways into new careers without evidence of relevant, current skills.
This puts experienced professionals in a tricky position. They bring valuable transferable skills, but employers increasingly want to see practical, current technical capability too. That’s exactly the gap structured reskilling programmes are designed to close, pairing existing experience with the technical skills employers need today. The most successful employers also recognise that age diverse teams bring different perspectives, stronger problem solving and greater resilience.
My advice for career changers
Don’t assume you’ve missed your opportunity. Your professional experience is still incredibly valuable. Skills like communication, leadership, stakeholder management and commercial awareness transfer across industries. The challenge is pairing those strengths with the technical skills employers are looking for now.
I’d encourage anyone considering a change to explore structured learning routes, particularly apprenticeships and employer-led programmes, where you build practical experience while you learn. They’re no longer just for school leavers. They’re one of the most effective ways for adults to retrain into an entirely new career.
My advice for anyone facing competition for entry-level roles
The days of relying on a degree alone are gone. Employers increasingly want evidence that candidates can apply their skills in a real environment.
Focus on continuous learning, build practical experience wherever you can, and don’t overlook apprenticeships or industry training programmes. These routes give candidates both technical capability and commercial experience, which makes them far more attractive to employers.
We’re also seeing exceptional graduates struggle to secure their first role simply because competition has increased. Apprenticeships and academy-style programmes help bridge that gap, but there still isn’t enough awareness that they’re open to people at every career stage, not just school leavers.
Whatever stage you’re at, there’s a route in
Whether you’re weighing up your first move into tech or your third career, my message is the same: experience is never wasted, and there has never been a better time to build on it.
If you’re starting out and want to build your skills and experience from the ground up, find out more about Academy. If you’re already working and want to build new capability through a funded, role-based route, take a look at our apprenticeship programmes or book a call with the team to talk through your options.