Thinking about a career in tech? The Academy is nine weeks of intensive training, followed by a paid client placement of at least two years. You don’t need a technical background, you don’t need a degree, and there’s no upper age limit. Below are the questions people ask us most often before they apply.
About the programmes
Yes. The La Fosse Academy is a full time programme, running Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm throughout the 9 week training period.
We understand that candidates may have other commitments and responsibilities alongside the programme. However, you will need to be able to commit to the full training schedule to get the most out of the Academy and successfully complete the programme.
You can work outside of the Academy’s core hours, for example in the evenings or at weekends, provided this does not affect your ability to fully participate in the training.
Please consider your existing commitments carefully before applying, as attendance and engagement throughout the 9 weeks are an important part of the programme.
The overall structure of the La Fosse Academy is generally consistent between cohorts, with the training designed to give you a broad foundation in technology before progressing into your chosen specialism.
However, the exact structure, content or delivery format can sometimes vary depending on the requirements of a particular cohort or client. For example, we may run a bespoke cohort for a specific client, where the training programme is adapted to focus on particular technologies or skills, or where the delivery format differs from our standard programme.
Any significant changes to the programme, including the training format, schedule or requirements, will be communicated clearly to you before you commit to joining the cohort.
For this reason, the week-by-week structure shown on our website should be viewed as a typical example of what you can expect, rather than a fixed programme that will be identical for every cohort.
Eligibility
Yes. You must have the unrestricted right to work in the UK to be considered for the La Fosse Academy.
We are unfortunately unable to provide visa sponsorship. If you are currently in the UK on a visa, you must have at least 2.5 years remaining on your visa at the point you start the programme. This ensures that you remain eligible to work throughout both the 9-week training programme and your subsequent placement.
Please make sure you meet these requirements before applying, as we are unable to progress applications where the right to work requirements are not met.
No. We look for potential, not a CV that already looks technical.
Curiosity, problem solving, communication and the willingness to work hard at something new matter more than whether you’ve written code before. A lot of our associates come from completely different industries.
No. You do not need a degree or previous experience in technology to apply to the La Fosse Academy, and there is no upper age limit.
We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. You could be a recent school or college leaver, have a degree in any subject, have experience in another industry or be looking to make a career change later in your career.
What matters most is your motivation to build a career in technology, your willingness to learn and your ability to develop new skills independently.
We believe that people from different backgrounds bring valuable perspectives to the technology industry, which is why we are committed to creating equal opportunities and supporting greater diversity across the sector.
Applying
The technical assessment is designed to understand how you approach technical problems and your potential to develop your skills. You do not need to be an experienced software developer or already know everything covered in the assessment.
The assessment is made up of a combination of multiple-choice questions, open questions and practical coding exercises. You will be given instructions throughout, so you know what is expected at each stage.
The assessment includes:
- Multiple choice and open questions covering a range of technical concepts
- JavaScript coding exercises using Node.js
- Problem solving questions designed to assess your approach and understanding
- A mixture of timed sections, with individual sections ranging from around 5 to 15 minutes
The coding element includes four JavaScript exercises, with the individual exercises allocated between 10 and 15 minutes.
While you are not expected to have mastered the technical skills you would learn during the Academy, it is still worth taking some time to prepare. If you have limited experience with JavaScript, we recommend familiarising yourself with the basics of JavaScript and Node.js, as well as practising simple coding and problem-solving exercises.
Most importantly, don’t be put off by the technical assessment if you don’t have a traditional technical background. The Academy is designed to develop people into technology professionals, and we are interested in your ability to learn, think logically and solve problems, not simply what you already know.
Absolutely. We are committed to making the Academy as accessible and inclusive as possible.
We understand that applicants may have different needs, particularly when completing assessments or taking part in interviews and training. Reasonable adjustments can be considered on a case-by-case basis to help ensure you have a fair opportunity to demonstrate your skills and potential.
For example, where appropriate, we may be able to provide additional time or an extension for the technical assessment, or make other adjustments to the recruitment process based on your individual circumstances.
If you require an adjustment at any stage of the application process, please let us know as early as possible. You do not need to wait until you have received an assessment to tell us about your requirements.
Our aim is to ensure that the assessment process measures your potential rather than creating unnecessary barriers to applying.
If you are unsuccessful at any stage of the application process, you are welcome to reapply after six months. We would be happy to review your application again when you are eligible to reapply.
We understand that the Academy may be your first step into a career in technology, and your skills, experience and circumstances can develop significantly over time. If you are not successful on your first application, we encourage you to keep developing your skills and pursuing your goals before considering another application.
Being unsuccessful does not mean that a career in technology is not right for you. If you decide to reapply, we recommend using the time to build your technical knowledge, gain relevant experience and reflect on any feedback you received during your previous application.
During the Training
Nine weeks of intensive training, split between our London Victoria office and remote learning.
Training runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. A typical cohort looks like this:
- Week 1: five days in the office
- Week 2: Monday and Tuesday in the office
- Week 3: five days in the office
- Week 4: Monday and Tuesday in the office
- Week 5: Friday in the office
- Weeks 6 and 7: depends on your chosen deep dive. Some are fully office based, some include remote learning. DevOps is office based.
- Weeks 8 and 9: mostly remote, with some office days depending on your final project. You’ll graduate in person on the Friday of week 9.
By the end you’ll have built your technical skills, your confidence and your professional experience, ready for your placement.
The nine-week Academy training is completely free, there is no fee to take part. You are not employed or paid during the training period. Once we secure a suitable client project for you, you will be employed and paid by La Fosse, and begin working with one of our clients.
You will need access to an up to date laptop throughout the Academy, as you will use it regularly during the 9 week training programme.
If you do not have your own laptop, don’t worry. We can provide a temporary laptop for you to use for the duration of the programme.
If you need to use a La Fosse laptop, please let us know before the programme starts so we can make sure everything is set up and ready for you from day one.
You should not be discouraged from applying simply because you do not currently have access to a suitable laptop.
Not usually. The programme is full time and intensive, and nine weeks is a short window to cover a lot of ground.
We do understand that life happens. Talk to the training team in advance and we can accommodate a small number of days for things like a graduation, a wedding or a religious celebration.
During the first part of the Academy, you will be introduced to different areas of technology and develop a broad range of technical skills. This gives you the opportunity to understand where your interests, strengths and career goals lie before choosing a specialism.
By week 6, you will make an informed decision about which area of technology you would like to specialise in. The choice is ultimately yours, and we will support you in making a decision based on your interests, strengths and the type of career you would like to build.
Our trainers will also provide guidance based on your progress throughout the programme. If they feel that another specialism would be better suited to your skills or development, they may recommend an alternative route and discuss this with you.
The aim is not simply to place you into the area you initially choose, but to help you identify the specialism where you have the strongest potential to succeed and build a long-term career.
If your interests or career goals change as you learn more about technology, we will discuss your options with you and help you make the most appropriate decision based on your development and the opportunities available.
Placements
No, and we want to be clear about that.
Following the training, our team will work with you to identify suitable client projects and put you forward for opportunities that match your skills, interests and the needs of our clients. You’ll start being considered for projects from around week 5, with interviews taking place throughout the rest of the programme and into the post-training period.
Client projects are competitive and depend on successfully completing the Academy, your skills and assessment results, the opportunities our clients have available and the client’s final decision.
We match you to opportunities based on your strengths, and staying open-minded about the types of projects and roles available can increase the number of opportunities we can put you forward for.
Once you secure a suitable client project, you’ll be employed by La Fosse as part of our two-year programme, working with the client while continuing to receive support and development from La Fosse.
The Academy is nine weeks of intensive, completely free training. Following the training, we’ll work with you to identify suitable client projects and put you forward for relevant opportunities. Once you secure a suitable project, you’ll be employed by La Fosse as part of our two-year programme, working with the client and gaining hands-on experience in a real technology environment.
Our aim is to accelerate your progression into a mid-level technology role, giving you the technical experience, professional skills and industry exposure you need to build a long-term career in technology.
At the end of the two-year programme, there may be an opportunity to continue working with your client or move into a permanent role.
However, this is ultimately at the client’s discretion and cannot be guaranteed.
Throughout the two-year programme, you’ll continue to have access to La Fosse’s management support and community, helping you develop your career and make the most of the opportunities available to you.
Our client projects are historically concentrated in London and the South East of England, but we work with clients across the UK, so opportunities aren’t limited to London.
The location and working arrangements will depend on the client project. Some opportunities may require you to commute to a client site, while others may offer hybrid or remote working. In some cases, you may need to consider relocating for the right opportunity.
We understand that location is an important consideration, particularly if you have caring responsibilities or other commitments. Our team will talk you through the location, working arrangements and requirements of a potential client project before putting you forward.
If you’re considering applying, it’s worth thinking about the locations and working arrangements you’d realistically be able to commit to, and how flexible you could be if a suitable client opportunity became available.
Your journey doesn’t end when training does.
What happens next:
- Training
- Client opportunities
- Client project
- Paid employment with La Fosse
- Career progression
Our project team will continue to support you throughout the three-week post-training period, putting you forward for client interviews and looking for opportunities that match your skills and interests.
If you haven’t secured a placement by the end of that period, we can keep putting you forward for suitable roles for as long as you would like us to.
Our team will work with you throughout the Academy to understand your strengths, interests and career goals. From around week 5, we’ll start identifying client projects where we think you could be a good fit and put you forward for relevant opportunities.
We’ll talk you through the role, project, location and working arrangements before putting you forward. The more open you can be about the types of opportunities you’re willing to consider, the more potential projects we’re likely to be able to put you forward for.
We’ll always talk you through the details of a potential client project before putting you forward, including the role, location and working arrangements. We want to make sure the opportunity is a good fit for both you and the client.
As part of the programme, you’ll need to be open to the client opportunities that are available and work with us to find a suitable project. The more flexible you can be about the types of projects, roles and locations you’re willing to consider, the more opportunities we’re likely to be able to put you forward for.
Securing a client project isn’t guaranteed, and projects can become available at different points. Our team will continue to work with you to identify suitable opportunities and put you forward for relevant client projects.
You’ll have three weeks of dedicated support after completing the nine-week Academy. If you haven’t secured a project within those three weeks, we’ll continue to put you forward for suitable opportunities for as long as you’d like us to.
There are no fees if you don’t secure a client project, and you won’t be required to pay anything back for the training.
No. There are no exit fees, at any point.
Once you move into your placement you can focus on the job: developing your career, building experience and making the most of the opportunity.
Support
You’ll have the Academy team supporting you throughout your training and as you move towards securing a client project.
The technical skills are only part of it. Alongside those, you’ll build your confidence, communication, interview technique and understanding of how a professional tech environment actually works. For a lot of our associates, that second list is what makes the difference.
From around week 5, our team will start working with you on suitable client opportunities, preparing you for client interviews and helping you understand which projects and roles could be a good fit for your skills and interests.
Once you’re working on a client project, you’ll continue to have access to La Fosse’s support and development throughout the two-year programme.
Getting started
Our cohorts typically run throughout the year, with new intakes planned on a regular basis.
Our final cohort of the year will begin in October, with training starting the week commencing 12 October.
Specific application deadlines may vary depending on the cohort and number of places available. We recommend checking the latest information on our website or getting in touch with the Academy team if you are unsure which cohort you could be considered for.
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Still have a question?
Our team can help with eligibility, the application process and next steps. No obligation, just an initial conversation.