Skills Forward is an online learning academy launched in 2018 to help adults retrain in software engineering and digital marketing. This platform allows individuals to complete self-paced technical projects and receive mentor feedback entirely from home. The courses are free for all UK residents, offering certified pathways designed by industry leaders to ensure curriculum relevance. Last year, Skills Forward attracted over 1.5 million active learners, with peak engagement during regional retraining drives.
CodeNation is a freely accessible interactive coding platform launched in 2021 to help bridge the digital skills gap. Backed by £35 million of public devolution funding over the next four years, CodeNation offers practical video tutorials, interactive development environments, and community-led peer reviews aligned with modern employer demands. It specifically targets unemployed individuals and those in low-income employment to boost social mobility.
With reference to Extract C, discuss the likely private and external benefits of accessing free online adult digital skills and coding platforms.
