My Journey Through CodeClan: From Redundancy to Software Development

In the the changing world of technology, learning and adapting are key to staying relevant. In 2016, I found myself facing an unexpected turn in my career path when redundancy knocked on my door.

Changing careers into software development can feel daunting, but structured learning environments like coding bootcamps can provide a clear path forward.

Little did I know that this seemingly unfortunate event would lead me to discover CodeClan, a Scottish gem that would shape my future and transform my skillset. 

As I pen down this blog post, I reflect on my personal journey with CodeClan, an institution that has sadly gone into administration, leaving a void in the Scottish tech education scene.

Discovering CodeClan

In the heart of Edinburgh, nestled amidst the city's rich history, lay CodeClan – a small yet impactful institution committed to teaching software development skills. The news of my redundancy in 2016 marked the beginning of a new chapter, one that was paved by chance, leading me to this haven of knowledge. CodeClan was not just a place of learning; it was a community, a hub of creativity, and an avenue of endless opportunities.

Learning to Code: The Bootcamp Experience

Embarking on a 16-week bootcamp at CodeClan was an exhilarating and intensive experience. Alongside approximately 25 other students, I delved headfirst into the world of coding, navigating my way through intricate algorithms, debugging conundrums, and the art of crafting elegant code. The days were long and demanding, but the atmosphere was brimming with camaraderie, support, and a shared passion for programming.

A Day in the Life

Each weekday was a whirlwind of learning and collaboration. Mornings were dedicated to classroom sessions where our talented tutors guided us through the intricacies of software development. The afternoons brought paired projects, where we honed our skills by working together to tackle real-world coding challenges. Through the highs and lows, CodeClan became more than just a learning institution; it became a second home, a place where we fostered lasting friendships and shared in each other's victories.

Changing Career Direction

The 16 weeks I spent at CodeClan were transformative, and the skills I acquired became the cornerstone of my career shift. Breaking free from the confines of the oil and gas industry, I stepped into a new realm, armed with the ability to craft digital solutions and contribute to the ever-evolving world of technology. CodeClan had not only equipped me with the tools of the trade but had also empowered me with the confidence to embrace change and thrive in a dynamic industry.

Looking back, the most valuable part of the experience wasn’t just learning to code—it was learning how to think differently, solve problems, and adapt to a completely new field.

That shift in mindset is something I still rely on today.

The Closure of CodeClan

However, like all good things, my time at CodeClan came to an end, and it is with a heavy heart that I learned of the institution's recent closure. With immediate effect, the staff bid their farewells, and the ongoing courses were abruptly terminated. The news was a blow not only to the dedicated team behind CodeClan but also to the countless students who had benefited from its expertise and guidance.

The Lasting Impact of CodeClan

While the details of CodeClan's downfall remain elusive, one thing is certain – its impact on Scotland's tech landscape and the countless lives it touched are immeasurable. CodeClan's legacy lives on in the alumni who have gone on to make meaningful contributions to the tech industry, and the employers who have benefited from the well-trained talent pool it nurtured.

Conclusion

As I reflect on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for the time I spent at CodeClan. The memories, the friendships, and the skills I acquired will forever hold a special place in my heart. While CodeClan's doors may have closed, its spirit lives on in each student it empowered. As we bid farewell to this cherished institution, I am reminded that the end of one chapter marks the beginning of another. The knowledge, the connections, and the passion ignited within those walls will continue to shape our lives and the tech industry for years to come. Thank you, CodeClan, for the incredible journey. You will be missed.  So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.

Changing direction—whether in a career or a project—can feel uncertain, but it often leads to better outcomes.

I spend a lot of time helping people navigate change, simplify complex situations, and get things working in a more practical way.

You can take a look at my TechFix service if that sounds relevant.

The Year I Took Back Control and Changed Career at 46

Last week CodeClan contacted me and asked if I would write them an article for their website. Of course, I would be delighted to. Apparently, someone had been in touch and was looking to change careers, they hated their job and would like to study coding. However, they thought at 46 they were too old. Well I am 46 (old?) and I did it (I actually started at CodeClan when I was 45, but that's splitting hairs)

When Everything Changed

So almost a year ago my work life took a turn for the worse and came crashing down. My "position was put at risk". Redundancy was inevitable. I was caught up in a failing Oil and Gas industry, failing department, and failing management.

Looking back now, this was one of the biggest turning points in my life. At the time it felt frightening, uncertain, and financially risky. But it also became the start of an entirely new career, new friendships, and a completely different direction in life.

The situation gradually became unhealthy and unsustainable, and eventually I decided it was time to leave.

There I was 46, had a wife and kids to support, had a poor job market (Aberdeen), and had lots of free time. I was tired of having busted a gut for the same company for the past 22. I needed a change.

Discovering CodeClan

A few chance meetings and a conversation led me to look up CodeClan. A small education facility in Edinburgh offering a software coding boot camp. It sounded interesting. I'd heard about boot camps, it's all about coding, pizza, and table tennis.

The CodeClan course was 16 weeks of full-time study and when (if) you finish you will have a new qualification in software development. A chance for me to get out of Oil and Gas, change an industry and get into Tech.

I love Tech, and 30 years ago I learned some coding at university (Pascal and assembly language) as part of my BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. However, I have never had any proper code training. Things have moved on a lot. Being able to retrain would great and possibly a chance for a rest (I wish!).

I applied and was asked down for an interview at the CodeClan office in Edinburgh. I found a super friendly bunch of people, a real buzz, and the atmosphere was exciting. There were discussions of employee partners doing new things with code. As I looked about I could imagine I was in Silicon Valley.

I was offered a place in cohort 7 and I was lucky to be granted funding from the Transition Training Fund (woohoo! Go me). This is a fund set up to help oil and gas workers retrain having been made redundant. That's me so I applied. It paid for the bulk of my course fees.

I discussed it with my family if they would survive without me during the week for the next 16. Happily, we all agreed, and if there was a chance to improve my prospects in Aberdeen why not.

Starting Again at 46

So I accepted the place and my start date was set at a few months away. I had the whole summer school holidays with my boys to enjoy first (how many people can do that?).

Of course, summer rushed by, and before I knew it I was on a train to Edinburgh to meet the rest of my cohort and pick up my Mac Book Pro (you get one to borrow for the duration of the course). There I met 20 other cohorts all eager to get started. It was a half-day warmup session to make sure your Mac is working and meet each other. Back on the train home, I had my first chance to work on the 3 weeks of homework before the real start (that takes the course to 19 weeks in total, plus I had two two-week breaks at Christmas... So I guess it was 21 weeks for us).

The three weeks whizzed by and I was back down to Edinburgh to start for real. This time I was a commuter, up at 4am on a Monday morning, driving or train to Edinburgh and heading home to Aberdeen on a Friday afternoon. It was hard. I stayed with friends, some weeks in Edinburgh and some weeks in Stirling. I was now a student so keeping costs down was super important, I had no income.

I met up again with my cohorts and we had a day of induction and team building before we were thrown headlong into code.

Life Inside the Bootcamp

16 weeks of intense study took over my life. I had to eat sleep and breathe code. The commuting was a pain but I got comfortable in my new routine.

Coding is also hard! It's mentally exhausting. It's a journey of peaks and troughs. Peaks when you spend ages trying to get something working and it finally clicks. Troughs when you spend ages trying to get something working.

But I gradually became familiar with the format of the boot camp and coding became easier.

Lectures and code along in the morning then paired programming in the afternoon, and finally the joy of joys more coding as homework. Thursday nights were a chance to cry into your beer with your cohorts or to discuss how brilliant your code was. Thursday night was social night and homework-free.

The rest is a bit of a blur and thankfully I did a weekly blog (encouraged by CodeClan) to record my time.

Week 1 - Code Clan

Week 2 - and we are putting the band back together

Week 3 - Program like Efen Reys

Week 4 - Frank Sinatra

Week 5 - Training the Dragons

Week 6 - They put Java in my Ferrari!

Week 7 - Java + Android = Cool Apps

Week 8 - Android - Like putting your pants on two legs at a time!

Week 9 - Happy 1st Birthday CodeClan!

Week 10 - JavaScript... use a semicolon if you want!

Week 11 - Meeting the DOM...

Week 12 - Worshiping at the Cathedral of code

Week 13 - Group Project Week

Week 14 - Speed Dating with potential Employers

Week 15 - This baby corners like it's on Rails

Week 16 - The Gladiators have been thrown into the pit!

Before I knew it I was graduating and had a new SQA qualification in software development. More important than that I'd had a ball and I'd gained 20 brilliant new friends. This was a surprise but so glad, and it alone made it all worthwhile.

What surprised me most was how energising learning something completely new could be.

Back home in Aberdeen at the end of January, it was all over and I was back to having lots of free time and spending time with my family.

I had my new bit of paper with my SQA on it.

It was time to start thinking about working again. I was refreshed and ready to get back to it.

From Oil and Gas to Web Development

I was keen on web development so applied for some jobs in Aberdeen and at the same time started putting myself forward for some freelance work under the guise of www.udnysolutions.co.uk

I'd say my friends in Edinburgh had it easier (don't tell them) as there is a tech boom down there and plenty of CodeClan employer partners to choose from.

Aberdeen doesn't yet, but it's trying. I expected a long wait and many rejections.

While I applied for a few jobs I received a freelance contract to update and refresh a local business website. That kept me busy. Udny Solutions had its first job.

I was then thrilled to be invited for an interview with Aberdeen City Council as a Web Developer (perfect!). Suit and tie on I went for an interview with some super nice people and it must have gone well as I was offered the position the following day.

I was chuffed to bits to accept. I am now a Web Developer and I have a shiny new badge with my picture and big bold letters "Web Developer" on it.

I'm loving my new job.

Looking Back on the Decision

So do I miss my old job? Not really, I miss some of the people. It ended up being more about faff than engineering.

Was being made redundant a bad thing? For me I'd have to say in hindsight, No, I needed a change. I was stuck in a rut. I had spent too long with one company and got little back for it.

Was going to CodeClan worth it? Definitely. Well worth it in fact. I now have a qualification, I had a great experience and gained lots of new friends, and now a new job in tech.

Looking back now, it’s strange to realise how much of my later career started from that single decision to retrain. The path eventually led into web development, accessibility, digital services, automation, civic technology, AI, and many of the systems and projects I still work on today.

So yeah I'm a Web Developer with a newfound passion for tech.

Big thanks to CodeClan and my fellow cohorts. I miss you guys.

A lot of the same themes around learning differently and problem solving also appear in my reflections on visual thinking.

Changing career also eventually reshaped how I think about work, flexibility, and balance in posts like working from home.

The same curiosity that pushed me into coding also led to personal projects like my browser-based text adventure game Redcastle.

Looking back, many of the same ideas around creativity, systems, and building things also connect closely to my posts about the maker mindset.

Changing career at 46 felt risky at the time, but looking back it completely changed the direction of my life.

A lot of the same curiosity, problem solving, and love of technology that started during this period still shapes the systems, projects, and digital work I do today.

If you'd like to explore more of my work and projects, you can find out more here.

2016 - A GOOD YEAR WITH ONE TINY EXCEPTION

So to get the exception out of the way first. Redundancy! After a number of odd events, I found myself at risk in the 3rd round of redundancies at Aker Solutions Aberdeen.

I'd been there for 23 years and for the most part, had a great time. It was a great company to work for. However, in the year up to redundancy, the cracks were showing, Little in the way of new or interesting work, a lack of any real direction in the department I worked for, and a total lack of leadership.

So on the day after I was put at risk, or should I say my ‘position’ was put at risk, I was asked to work overtime, work the weekend and cancel a week's holiday…

So it was time to take some control back.

I could possibly have put up more of a fight and argued but I was done. It's a strange feeling having to give up something you had worked for and enjoyed for so long.

The timing couldn't have been better. It was the start of the school summer holidays and I had as much free time as I wanted to spend with my boys (Jamie 8 and Thomas 5). We had a brilliant summer riding bikes, playing in the garden, playing with Lego, going to the park, and camping. I noticed quickly my health was improving, I was sleeping better and generally feeling good…was I ill?

During the summer I also attended some career events and met with a few people who made some good suggestions as to what to do next.

Become a teacher? Yeah, that sounds good where do I sign. I applied and was rejected! I don't have higher English. Unfortunately 30 odd years ago when I was planning to become an Engineer I chose Technical Drawing over Higher English. The rejection letter was interesting in that it had quite a few grammar errors in it which made me laugh, My English isn't the best but hey I was going to be teaching computer programming.

Work for me? I attended a number of brilliant training courses run by the Business Gateway in Aberdeen. With the theme of Digital Boost, they provide free courses that help with setting up your own business. They also provide a coach to help you through the process. I have one waiting on the sidelines till I'm ready.

Go back to School? I found out about a facility in Edinburgh called CodeClan that offers a 16-week software development boot camp. This sounded like a good way to bring my software and coding skills back up to scratch. Learn Ruby, Java, and Javascript. So on the same morning, I applied for both CodeClan and the Transition Training Fund (TTF). The TTF provides funding of up to £4000 for redundant oil-related workers to help with retraining.

I was invited for an interview with CodeClan and had to provide further info to the TTF to back up my application. As it happens I was offered a place on Cohort 7 at CodeClan and secured my funding on the same morning. So if you have read my other blog posts you will already know this is what I decided to do for the next 4 months.

So I am writing this on New Year's Eve 2016 and am very thankful for the year I have had.


I have a brilliant family, a supporting wife, and two fantastic boys who are growing into brilliant little humans.

I have met so many new people this year, my fellow students at CodeClan, and people at Business Gateway, reconnected with some old friends and met some new ones. My health is better, I'm sleeping well and enjoying life.

I am super excited about what 2017 will bring. I have a plan and will go through that next week… Watch this space.