Another year over. Another January full of possibility.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been thinking about a career change for a while now. Maybe months. Maybe years. You’ve watched people around you transition into tech roles. You’ve seen the opportunities. You’ve wondered if it could work for you.
2026 could be the year you stop wondering and start doing.
Here’s why this year is different, why tech careers are more accessible than you think, and how to actually make it happen.
Why 2026 matters
The tech skills gap is creating opportunity
Every year, we hear the same thing: organisations need more tech talent. Digital transformation. Cloud migration. AI integration. Data-driven decision making.
But here’s what’s genuinely shifted. The gap between available roles and qualified people isn’t narrowing. Research shows that 94% of the UK workforce will need some form of upskilling or reskilling by 2030. Over a billion jobs globally will be affected.
What does this mean for you? Opportunity.
Organisations can’t wait for universities to produce enough computer science graduates. They can’t fill roles with only traditionally qualified candidates. They need capable people who can learn, adapt and contribute, regardless of background.
The doors are open wider than they’ve ever been.
Your experience is valuable
Here’s something that’s changed dramatically in recent years: tech organisations have realised that diverse backgrounds strengthen teams.
Data analysts with business experience ask better questions. Business analysts with industry knowledge bridge technical and commercial teams more effectively. Testing professionals with domain expertise catch issues others miss.
Your years in retail, healthcare, finance, education – whatever your background – bring context that pure technical training can’t provide. Organisations are actively seeking this combination of transferable skills and fresh technical capability.
The infrastructure exists to support you
You don’t need to figure this out alone anymore. Structured pathways exist now that didn’t a decade ago. Intensive training programmes. Placement-based models. Apprenticeships. Routes specifically designed for career changers.
The support systems to help people transition into tech have matured significantly. Which means 2026 genuinely offers more accessible routes than any previous year.
What’s holding you back
Let’s talk honestly about the barriers. Because often, the biggest ones aren’t external.
“I’m too old for this”
I hear this constantly. And I understand the concern. But here’s what I see in practice: we’ve trained people in their 40s who’ve gone on to brilliant tech careers. Age brings advantages younger candidates don’t have yet.
Professional maturity. Communication skills. Understanding of how organisations actually work. Ability to manage stakeholders and navigate complexity.
Yes, you might be learning alongside people in their 20s. But you’re bringing decades of professional experience they don’t have. That matters enormously.
“I’m not naturally technical”
You don’t need to be “naturally technical” before you start. The whole point of training is to build capability from wherever you’re starting.
The real question isn’t whether you’re technical now. It’s whether you enjoy problem-solving, can think logically, and are willing to learn. If you’ve navigated any reasonably complex career successfully, you have these capabilities.
“I can’t afford to retrain”
This genuinely depends on the route you choose. Some paths require significant upfront investment. Others operate on entirely different models.
Some programmes are free to attend because they’re funded through employer partnerships. Some let you earn whilst learning through apprenticeships. Others offer flexible payment options.
Before you rule it out based on cost, explore what’s actually available. The financial barrier might be lower than you think.
“I don’t have the time”
This one’s more nuanced. Intensive training does require real time commitment.
But let’s put it in perspective. We’re talking about 9-12 weeks of focused effort that could change your career trajectory for decades. When you look at it that way, it becomes about priorities rather than availability.
You might not have time right now, this month. But could you create time in your calendar over the next six months? Often the answer is yes, with planning.
“What if it doesn’t work out?”
This is a legitimate concern. Career change involves risk. But let’s look at both sides.
Worst case: you spend a few months learning valuable skills and decide tech isn’t for you. You return to your current path with new knowledge and clearer understanding of what you want.
Best case: you launch a career that offers better opportunities, growth and satisfaction than your current trajectory.
The risk-reward calculation here often tilts more favourably than it initially appears.
What tech careers actually offer
Beyond the abstract idea of “working in tech”, what does this path genuinely provide?
Continuous learning and development
Tech roles require ongoing learning. For some people, this sounds exhausting. For others, it’s the entire appeal.
If you’re someone who thrives on challenge and gets bored doing the same thing repeatedly, tech offers constant evolution. New tools. New approaches. New problems to solve.
Flexibility in how and where you work
It’s not universal, but flexibility is far more common in tech than many industries. Remote work. Hybrid models. Flexibility around hours.
This can be genuinely transformative for work-life balance, particularly if you have caring responsibilities or simply prefer working from home.
Clear progression frameworks
Tech careers tend to have more transparent progression than many fields. You can see the path from junior to senior to lead to principal. Or from individual contributor to management.
Competency frameworks make expectations clearer. You know what capabilities you need to develop for advancement.
Problem-solving at the core
Most tech roles centre on solving problems. Building something new. Fixing something broken. Improving something inefficient.
If you get satisfaction from figuring things out and seeing tangible results from your work, tech roles deliver this regularly.
Transferable skills across industries
Tech skills transfer across sectors in ways many skills don’t. Learn data analysis in retail, and you can move to healthcare, finance, or media. Learn software development in one sector, and those skills work everywhere.
This transferability provides genuine security. You’re not locked into one industry’s fortunes.
What routes actually exist
So you’re interested. You can see why 2026 makes sense. What are your actual options?
The good news? There are more routes into tech than ever before. The key is finding the one that fits your circumstances, learning style and goals.
Self-directed learning
If you’re disciplined and self-motivated, this can be an incredibly cost-effective route. Countless quality resources exist online – from free platforms like freeCodeCamp to paid courses on Udemy and Coursera.
The benefits? You learn at your own pace. You can fit it around work and life. You’re in complete control.
The reality? It requires serious self-discipline. You need to create your own structure, decide what to learn in what order, and push through when you hit obstacles without support.
Self-directed learning works brilliantly for people with strong independent learning skills. If that’s you, it’s absolutely a valid path.
University degrees
The traditional route. Three years studying computer science or a related degree gives you deep theoretical knowledge and time to explore different areas before specialising.
This makes perfect sense if you’re early in your career, have the time and funding, and want the comprehensive academic foundation a degree provides.
For career changers, it’s worth considering whether three years and significant tuition fees align with your goals. But if you value the depth and breadth of university education, don’t rule it out.
Online bootcamps
Structured learning delivered remotely, usually over 12-24 weeks. These have exploded in popularity because they offer flexibility alongside structure.
You’re following a curriculum, working through projects, often with peer support. You can typically continue working whilst training, fitting learning around your schedule.
Quality varies across providers, so research thoroughly. Look for verified outcomes, speak to graduates, understand what support you’ll receive. Good bootcamps can be transformative. The right one for you depends on your learning preferences and circumstances.
Intensive training programmes
These compress learning into focused periods (typically 9-12 weeks full-time equivalent), then connect you directly with employment or placement opportunities.
Many are designed specifically for career changers and operate on models where training is funded through employer partnerships rather than charging candidates upfront.
The advantage? You’re training knowing there’s a clear path to employment. The programme’s success depends on your success, so incentives are aligned.
The consideration? They require dedicated time and commitment over a compressed period. You need to be ready to prioritise training intensively for that window.
Apprenticeships
Increasingly popular for career changers. You’re earning whilst learning, combining structured training with real work experience over 12-18 months typically.
This route works brilliantly if you find the right employer match. You’re building skills in context, getting paid, and you have guaranteed employment throughout.
The key is finding programmes and employers that genuinely invest in apprentice development. When it works well, it’s an excellent route.
Which route is right for you?
Honestly? It depends on your circumstances.
If you need to keep earning whilst training, look at part-time bootcamps, apprenticeships, or self-directed learning.
If you can commit to a focused period of full-time training, intensive programmes might be ideal.
If you value independent learning and have strong self-discipline, self-directed routes could work well.
If you want comprehensive theoretical foundations and have time and funding, consider degree programmes.
There’s no universally “best” route. There’s the route that works for your situation, your learning style, and your goals.
What La Fosse Academy offers
I lead the Academy, so I’m obviously not impartial here. But I want to be transparent about what we’ve built and why it might work for you.
Nine-week intensive training
We run structured programmes covering different tech pathways: software development, data analysis, testing and QA, business analysis, cloud and DevOps, and security.
You’re learning fundamentals, then deepening into a specific area, then building real projects that demonstrate capability. Nine weeks of focused, intensive training.
Placement-based model
Following training, you’re placed into client organisations for typically 2+ years. You’re working on real projects, earning a salary, continuing to develop your skills in a professional environment.
Our clients include organisations like Coca Cola, Ford, Mastercard, British Red Cross, and UCL. You’re getting genuine experience with established teams on meaningful work.
Ongoing support throughout
This isn’t “train and forget”. Throughout your placement, you receive continued mentoring, training and support. Monthly one-to-ones. Career coaching. Bespoke development roadmaps tailored to where you want your career to go.
We remain invested in your success and development throughout your journey with us.
Free to attend
We don’t charge for training. Our model is funded through employer partnerships. We assess based on capability and potential, not ability to pay.
This removes the financial barrier that stops many people attempting career changes who would be brilliant in tech roles.
Built for diversity
38% of our associates are female. 57% represent ethnic minorities. 85% come from lower-income backgrounds. 46% are career changers.
We’re specifically focused on opening tech careers to people from all backgrounds. We genuinely believe diverse teams build better technology.
Making 2026 actually different
You’ve had this thought before. “This could be the year I make a change.” Then life gets busy. The moment passes. Nothing changes.
What makes 2026 different?
Give yourself a decision deadline
Not a “start training” deadline. A decision deadline.
By end of January, you will have decided whether you’re genuinely pursuing this or not. You’ll have researched options. Looked at programmes. Understood what’s involved. Made the call.
Either you’re doing this, or you’re consciously choosing not to. No more indefinite “maybe someday.”
Talk to people who’ve done it
Most training programmes will connect you with people who’ve completed transitions. Talk to them. Ask honest questions. Understand what it actually involved.
This removes the mystery and fear. You’re not making decisions based on imagination. You’re basing them on other people’s real experiences.
Look honestly at your current trajectory
Project forward five years on your current path. Not worst case. Not best case. Realistic case.
Are you genuinely excited about where you’ll be? If yes, brilliant. Stay where you are.
If not, what are you waiting for? Permission? The “right” time? Someone to tell you it’s okay to want something different?
Consider the cost of not deciding
Everyone calculates the cost of attempting career change. Time. Money. Risk.
But what about the cost of not attempting it? Another year in a role that doesn’t excite you. Another year wondering “what if.” Another year of letting fear make decisions for you.
Not deciding is still a decision. It’s just a passive one.
What the journey actually looks like
If you decide 2026 is your year, here’s what typically happens:
Months 1-3: Training phase
Intensive skill development. You’re learning core concepts, building projects, developing capability in a specific area. It’s demanding but structured. You know what you’re working on each day and why.
Month 3-4: Transition to employment
After supporting you to refine your portfolio, preparing for interviews, understanding what employers are looking for, once you’ve been successful in securing a placement, you’re moving from training into professional roles.
Months 4-6: First tech role begins
You’re now in a professional tech role. You’re still learning (you always will be in tech), but you’re doing it whilst earning and contributing to real projects.
Year 1-2: Building expertise
You’re deepening your capabilities in your chosen area. Building experience. Understanding what you enjoy most and what you want to focus on long-term.
Year 2+: Established in tech
You’ve made the transition. You’re no longer a “career changer”. You’re a data analyst, developer, business analyst – whatever role you’ve moved into. Your previous career is interesting context, not a limitation.
Why I believe in this
I’ve worked with hundreds of career changers through the Academy. People from every imaginable background. Ex-forces personnel. Retail managers. Healthcare professionals. Teachers. Parents returning to work. People who thought tech wasn’t for them.
What I’ve learned: capability isn’t about background. It’s about attitude, willingness to learn, and having the right support.
The people who succeed aren’t necessarily the ones with the most technical aptitude at the start. They’re the ones who commit, who push through when it gets difficult (it will), who ask for help when they need it, and who genuinely want to build a career in tech.
If that’s you, 2026 could genuinely be your year.
This is your decision
I can’t tell you whether to do this. That’s your call entirely.
What I can tell you is that the opportunity exists. The pathways are there. The support systems are in place. The doors are open.
But they won’t stay open indefinitely. As more people recognise these opportunities, competition increases. The organisations building these pathways will become more selective.
You can spend another year thinking about this. Watching other people make moves whilst you stay in place. Reaching December 2026 wondering where the year went.
Or you can make this the year you actually do it.
Ready to explore what’s possible?
La Fosse Academy trains career changers for tech roles. Nine-week intensive programmes. Free to attend. Real placements with organisations like Coca Cola, Ford and Mastercard. Ongoing support throughout.
Find out if it’s right for you.