Jim is a Tech Lead at Northcoders and worked on the creation of the curriculum for the new Data Engineering, AI and Machine Learning 2025 bootcamp. This bootcamp will start on 16th June 2025, and students will learn the fundamentals of data engineering, build foundations for working with AI and machine learning, and graduate ready for success in tech. 

We asked Jim to tell us more about the bootcamp he developed: 

Why is Northcoders launching this new bootcamp?

Jim: The landscape of the tech industry over the past two years has seen a huge shift. We are seeing innovation in the tools technologists are using as well as in the types of systems they are building. That’s why we’re proud to announce our 2025 curriculum for Data Engineering & AI/Machine Learning (ML). This programme teaches technical understanding and provides essential project experience, making it the launchpad graduates need for a successful career in a quickly evolving field. 

What makes this bootcamp stand out?

Jim: The big change is AI. It's certainly a hot topic in the industry right now. At Northcoders we formed an AI research team, who have been keeping track of changes to product development in AI/ML. Developing a curriculum in a rapidly changing field has been an exciting challenge. We have taken the same approach we always have: teaching a deep foundational understanding of the underlying principles. This gives graduates mental models for prediction and core algorithms necessary to reason about the wider discipline and the confidence to pivot with the ever changing landscape.

Can you tell us more about the AI and ML content?

Jim: The AI/ML block of the programme sees students develop their own retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system, an example of one of the systems being created by many employers today. They will explore decision trees, neural networks, embeddings, large language models (LLMs), and fine-tuning, all while working on challenging and engaging projects.

How will this bootcamp boost the careers of graduates?

Jim: Graduates will be ready to become part of the next generation of technologists who won’t simply use AI as a tool to write code, but will instead build systems that incorporate AI and ML in ways that push the boundaries of what products can be created.

What is the schedule like?

Jim: The bootcamp is intensive and runs Monday to Friday for 14 weeks, with core hours from 9:30am to 3pm. These hours include live interactive workshops, as well as pair programming. This prepares students for technical interviews and collaboration in the workplace. There is also around 3 hours of self-study expected each day, which students can fit into their own schedule. Our dedicated team will be on hand from 8:30am to 5pm to support students with their learning.

What payment options are available?

Jim: We are committed to bringing this opportunity to as many people as possible. As such we are offering a range of options for students to fund their studies, including discounted advance payment, interest-free payment plan, and income-sharing agreement. The first applicants can even get an additional £1,000 discount by completing their enrolment before the end of March. 

Ready to join the next generation of data engineers? You can take the first step towards your new career and apply here.