Amazon Web Services Announces AWS re:Start

Boost Cloud Computing Training, Skills, and Employment in the UK

Following the launch of the AWS Europe (London) Region, AWS announces a new programme to provide free training and job placements to military veterans, reservists, and their spouses.

In January 2017, Amazon Web Services announced the launch of AWS re:Start, a free training and job placement programme for the UK to educate service leavers, reservists, veterans, cadets, cadet force adult volunteers and their spouses on the latest software development and cloud computing technologies. Working with QA Consulting and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), AWS re:Start also brings together AWS Partner Network (APN) partners and customers to offer work placements to each of the participants that graduate from the training. The AWS re:Start programme furthers AWS’s commitment to helping organisations of all sizes and developers of all skill levels transition to cloud computing.

AWS re:Start is designed to accommodate differing levels of experience – even those with no previous technical knowledge can sign up. Participants who join AWS re:Start will complete technical training classes, led by AWS certified instructors, and will complete work experience to gain on-the-job training. They will learn about cloud computing and how to architect, design, and develop cloud-based applications using AWS. They will also learn how to set up new cloud environments using proven best practices in security and compliance and to build applications using software development toolkits for popular languages, such as Python. In addition to the technical training, the programme will support students with mentoring, soft work skills, and help in applying for jobs including resume writing and interview skills.

“AWS re:Start provides a platform from which individuals, no matter what their background, will be able to launch a new career and build a future for themselves in technology,” said Gavin Jackson, UK Managing Director at AWS. “We made a significant investment on behalf of our customers with the launch of a new infrastructure region in the UK and today, with AWS re:Start, we are deepening that commitment through training and hands-on experience in the latest cloud computing technologies, helping to provide an ‘on ramp’ for the UK workforce into highly-skilled digital roles.”

Karen Bradley, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, says, “Increasing digital skills in the UK is a major priority for the Government and we are working to make sure that everyone has the skills they need. We welcome the launch of AWS re:Start which is a fantastic initiative bringing together employers from different sectors and providing the foundation on which they can continue to train and grow the UK’s digital workforce.”

Organisations that have pledged job placements to AWS re:Start include, Amazon.co.uk, BBC, Direct Line Group, EDF Energy, Sage, SecureStorm, Splunk, Telegraph Media, Tesco Bank, Zaizi and Zopa. Graduates from the programme can expect to be eligible for many highly sought after entry-level technical positions within these companies, from first line helpdesk support to software developer, network engineer or IT recruitment and sales based roles, amongst others. They will also have the fundamental knowledge needed to immediately start working with AWS and building their own technology startup business.

As part of this announcement AWS has also signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which establishes how businesses support members of the UK armed forces community and guards against discrimination returning service men and women may face when entering the civilian workforce.

“The launch of AWS re:Start, and AWS’s signing of the Armed Forces Covenant, validate the company’s commitment to our servicemen and women. The programme recognises the value that reservists, veterans, service leavers, and their spouses can contribute to UK businesses, and provides them with a clear path for learning, and applying some of the technology skills in most demand across industries,” said General Sir Chris Deverell, Commander, Joint Forces Command, who co-signed the Covenant on behalf of Defence.

Training content for the AWS re:Start programme will be curated by AWS in collaboration with QA Consulting, who will also deliver the training courses. QA Consulting is an AWS Partner Network (APN) Training Partner.

“At QA we have been delivering AWS training since 2013 and during this time have witnessed the tremendous impact AWS has had on the way UK businesses innovate and develop new services,” said Tony Lysak, Managing Director at QA Consulting. “When we were asked for our support to launch AWS re:Start, we jumped at the opportunity to build a customised training programme that takes individuals from knowing nothing about IT, to competent technologists and highly-desired employees for the numerous organisations moving to the AWS Cloud as fast as they can.”