Techmix Magazine December 2016 by Digital Skills Agency

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SPECIAL WI T H

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TIM PEA K E

WHAT IS IT LIKE LIVING ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION? HOW DO YOU MAKE SPAGHETTI BOLOGNAISE IN SPACE?

HUMAN SPACE TRAVEL Big Debate: Should Humans Colonise Mars? SPACE SPIN-OFFS Which Household Essentials Were Originally Designed For Space? 5

WORKING AT NASA ◆ HOW GPS WORKS ◆ SPACE ENTREPRENEURS ◆ ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHY CAREERS AT TFL ◆ SPACE FOR CREATIVES ◆ PATHFINDER ◆ APPRENTICESHIPS ◆ DIGITAL DIRECTORY

in Digital Technology

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[our team] Techmix is published by: Digital Skills Agency Ltd 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX info@techmixmag.com Publisher Edward Baker Commercial Director James Greene Technical Director Damian Marciniec Editor Hope Lowe Sub Editor Savannah Whaley Creative Direction Charlotte McKay Nicholas McKay Website Creative Rik Hopkinson Contributing Writers Lorelei Hunt Catherine Knivett Kate Woolgrove Event Producer Pauline Menini Programme Manager Abdul Ali Community Engagement Charlie Digpal Creative Contribution Jessica Heale Special Thanks Paul Alison Katharine Bowden Dr Chris Bridges Dan Chaput Adam Cooper Nik Fisher Sam Mann RJ Noble Olivia Ralevski Grace Seller Dave Wiseman

Hello! I hope this Space Special edition of Techmix finds you well. As winter draws in and the frost settles down to stay, it’s a good time both to reflect on the year that has passed, and look ahead to the future. In London, the pace of life feels consistently set to ‘full-throttle’, and 2016 has been no exception. Google DeepMind created AI smarter than a human being, Virtual Reality has become a reality, the World’s first reusable rocket spectacularly returned to Earth, and Britain sent its first astronaut to live in Space. So, where else will technology take us – to Mars and back? Perhaps. Some notable deep-pocketed tech mavens are betting on just that: Elon Musk of SpaceX, Jeff Bezos of Blue Origin and Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic. In her latest speech, our very own Queen announced plans for Europe’s first space port to be built on UK shores. This bold ambition builds upon an established industry; The UK space sector contributes £11.5bn to the UK economy, currently creates 100,000 jobs, and is pioneering small-satellite technology across the world. On course to reach £40bn and 200,000 jobs by 2030, this issue of Techmix explores careers in the space and satellite sector proudly championed by the inspirational astronaut Tim Peake. Supported by the Mayor of London, Techmix Digital Careers Roadshow blasts off for the final time this year on December 13th. ‘Shaping The Workforce of Tomorrow’ is your chance to hear twelve leaders in the technology industry explore the future of enterprise, entrepreneurship and the tech economy. For more information flick to Page 2, head to www.TechmixMag.com to see the line-up as it’s announced and register online for free. As Star Treks’ John-Luc Picard would say: “Engage”. Ed Baker, Publisher

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Techmix is published by Digital Skills Agency Ltd Digital Skills Agency Ltd, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX. All rights reserved. Copyright © Digital Skills Agency Ltd 2016. Printed by Wyndeham Press Group. Techmix is distributed by The Education Company. Whilst every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and the publisher does not take responsibility for omissions or errors. Techmix does not take responsibility for unsolicited material. Permission to use any of the material contained in this magazine and associated websites should be obtained from Digital Skills Agency Ltd. The views expressed by contributors and advertisers in this publication and on our website do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial team or the publisher. CIRCULATION: 30,000 PER ISSUE / 120,000 PER YEAR JAN-DEC

DIGITAL CAREERS SHOW CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER 13 DECEMBER 2016 9 A M

4 P M

SHAPING THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW Techmix, supported by The Mayor of London, proudly presents Techmix Digital Careers Show in Westminster. A thought-leadership summit dedicated to inspiring the young technology leaders of the future.

TWELVE INSPIRATIONAL LEADERS EXPLORE THE FUTURE OF ENTERPRISE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE TECH ECONOMY IN THE HEART OF WESTMINSTER.

IGNITE YOUR CAREER. REIMAGINE THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY. SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

HOST Sam Mann

‘This Morning’ Showbiz Presenter

The Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP Minister of State for Digital and Culture

Bruce Daisley

Senior Vice President, Twitter Europe

Rebecca Garrod-Waters Chief Executive, Ufi Charitable Trust

CONTENTS

TIM PEAKE: THE GREAT BRITISH ASTRONAUT Britain’s first astronaut to live on the International Space Station shares his tales, his missions, and the secret to showering in zero gravity!

MAN-MADE SATELLITES: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

FLYING SOLO, FLYING HIGH

PATHFINDER

From the first radio transmitter in 1957, to sat-nav, military defence and weather forecasts. Where did it begin and what do we use satellites for?

Meet the entrepreneurs who are rocketing Britain’s space industry up beyond the stratosphere.

Learn from the routes of others; find your career pathway today. 27 Grad Life: Life in the Fast Lane with TfL Graduate Grace Platt. 28 Nothing’s as Cool as Space School. 29 Internships and the Arts: Another route into the Space Industry. 31 A Day in the Life of… An Earth Observation Specialist.

BUSINE

INSIDER

BUSINESS INSIDER Behind the doors at some of the world’s leading tech companies. 40 A nation of freelancers. How to work on your own terms. 44 The tech industry’s most common misconceptions.

46 Use space technology with your feet firmly on the ground.

50 How to get the most out of your work experience placement.

DIGITAL DIRECTORY The latest courses, opportunities and jobs in the digital industry. 58 Games Design, TV & Film Production. 59 IT Apprenticeships. 60 Co-working for entrepreneurs and young businesses. 61 Digital Marketing Apprenticeships, Web Design, Social Media Internships.

Plus ...

16 TOP 8 SPACE SPINOFFS

32 5 THINGS I LEARNT FROM…

37 TECH TALKS

Life on Earth wouldn’t be the same with this tech, and it’s all thanks to the space industry.

Starting my career in a start-up company.

You grill industry high-flyer Chris Minas, CEO of mobile marketing agency Nimbletank.

19 JOIN THE DOTS

33 REAL LIFE DREAM JOBS

Space Take-Over: What job in the space industry suits your personality?

Leo Teeney the 26-year-old engineer designing 62 CAREER CAMP London’s 5-day fast-track into the tech industry. our new 3D printed homes on Mars.

ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2016

YOUNG COMPETITION: HIGHLY COMMENDED

“JUST MISSED THE BULLSEYE” BY SCOTT CARNIE-BRONCA, AGE 14, AUSTRALIA On 12 January 2016, Scott shot this image, “While taking this star trail, a bright light slowly traversed the sky. I realized that it was the International Space Station, and that it was seemingly aiming for the south celestial pole.”

This image of the night’s sky shows the Earth rotating around the south pole’s axis, and the ISS with Tim Peake on board, aiming straight for it. Shot using a Canon 70D camera with 17 mm f/5.6 lens, at ISO 1600 with 30-second exposure, in southern Australia.

See all 140 shortlisted images at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, for free. Open now until 25 June 2017.

M E G A BY T ES SPACE TOURISM TO HIT THE UK The government is looking to build a spaceport in the UK by 2020, which would provide thousands of new jobs and become a central European hub for testing out new experimental spacecrafts – and for space tourism! Five locations are being considered – with Newquay in Cornwall looking the most popular. Space AND surfing, anyone?!

AN EVEN CLOSER LOOK AT OUTER SPACE The James Webb telescope is set to be launched in October 2018 to replace the loyal 26-year-old Hubble. It’s got lots of mission goals, including looking for other galaxies and working out how they were formed, and measuring the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems – and investigating the potential for life in those systems. Aliens…?!

DRIVERLESS TAXIS FROM UBER In September, Uber became the first car company to commit to developing a fully autonomous car that will be ready for the road by 2021. It’ll only set them back a mere $300 million too! They join a race that includes Tesla, Google, Ford and Apple – though Uber doesn’t plan on making the car themselves, just the software.

WANT TO BE THE NEXT JAMES BOND? Always dreamed of being a spy? OK, this isn’t quite James Bond but it’s the next best thing… MI6 are looking to increase their staff team from 2,500 to a little under 3,500. These extra 1,000 jobs are necessary because of fast development of the internet and technology, meaning security systems need to be updated continuously. Anyone want Q for a boss?

ADIDAS PRINT THEIR LATEST DESIGN Adidas is using 3D printing and knitting technology to create football boots of the future. It’s Future Lab – the place where they develop their newest innovations – has spent 3.5 years designing a laceless boot, made out of Primeknit; A digitally printed yarn that gives the player a genuine feel for the ball, almost like playing barefoot.

megabytes news

▲

GOING UP GOING DOWN ▼ s UP: HARMONIX MUSIC VR

Virtualised music from the makers of Rock Band use VR to let players ‘feel’ their music, fully equipped with environment changes and 3D drawing.

CODING COMING TO A SCHOOL NEAR YOU 1 million UK school children have already been given Micro:bits to learn coding in school. These credit-card sized coding aids are now going global. First stopping off in Iceland and the Netherlands, now they’re being given out in 20 more countries. Were you one of the million?

3D PRINTED HEART COULD MEAN END OF ANIMAL TESTING For the first time ever, bioengineers have developed a ‘heart on a chip’ that is completely 3D-printed, and able to collect data on how strongly the organ is beating. This innovation could rapidly and precisely reproduce a heart affected by certain disorders or conditions and be used to test drugs and procedures without needing to use animals in the process.

100 MILLION CONSUMERS WILL USE AR TO SHOP BY 2020 Already used in Ikea, Converse and by Topshop at London Fashion Week, Augmented Reality (AR) is hitting the retail industry with great success. The recent popularity of AR apps like Pokémon GO have brought it to the mainstream. From trying on makeup to virtually placing a sofa in your living room, by 2020 100 million shoppers will be aided by immersive technologies to virtually try before you buy.

s UP: Nintendo Switch

A hybrid between traditional and handheld consoles, it allows seamless transition from house to on-the-move gaming. Check it out in 2017.

t DOWN: iPhone Apple has reported its first decline in annual sales and profit in 15 years. They’re hoping the iPhone 7 will turn things around…

t DOWN: Smartwatches Smartwatch shipments have dropped by a mammoth 51.6% yearto-year, and with smart analogue watches about to hit the market, change doesn’t seem likely.

LONDON PHONEBOXES: WIFI HOTSPOTS AND CHARGING BOOTHS Abandoned phoneboxes across London will soon become sleek, super-modern Link kiosks offering WiFi, free calls, and digital services including charging points and access to maps and directions. Ultrafast WiFi will be available to all passers-by, with the first Link kiosk set to arrive in the borough of Camden in 2017.

BOEING BUILDS 737 IN 9 DAYS! Producing 42 planes a month, the Boeing team build their famous 737 in only 9 days. What starts as a shell is kitted out from the inside-out, with the plane coming alive on day 6 as it gets power and all of its mechanical and electrical functions can be tested. Think that’s fast? They’re planning to increase it to 57 a month by 2019!

T H E G R E AT B R I T I S H

A STR

N AUT

he first British astronaut to live and

work on the International Space Station, Tim Peake represented his country and the European Space Agency for 6 months from 15th December 2015 to 18th June 2016. Just 1 month into his trip, a power regulator failed on the outside of the station which meant only one thing: A Tim & Tim spacewalk! Accompanied by his NASA counterpart, Tim Kopra, they completed a 4 hour and 43-minute-long spacewalk, replacing the power regulator, installing some cabling, and even finding time to take this selfie. We delve into his missions, and learn what it’s really like to live in zero gravity, zooming high above the Earth.

“Life in orbit is spectacular” Tim Peake, January 2016

Photo: NASA/ESA

TIM PEAKE - FIRST BRITISH EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY ASTRONAUT

D A I LY

“You wake up in the morning, have a cup of tea, eat a bacon sandwich and get to work”

TIM PEAKE

TIM’S TIME IN NUMBERS

26 3 23 11 50 WEEKS

DAYS

HOURS

MINS

SECS

11,495,000,000 MILES TRAVELLED

2,911

SUNRISES & SUNSETS

2,500

ORBITS OF EARTH

LIFE

ASTRONAUT T

he International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable human-made satellite that orbits Earth between 205 - 270 miles above us - about the same distance as London to Paris. Life on board is mainly about conducting experiments, but living in zero gravity certainly isn’t easy. So just what is it like to live in space?

TIME With 15.5 orbits in 24 hours, 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets, you can’t rely on the sun to tell you it’s night time. So, the ISS is set to GMT - a good split between US and Russian time – which means whatever time it is in London, that’s what time it is for the ISS astronauts

DAILY SCHEDULE HYGIENE Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, an astronaut’s day is mapped out on the computer. Monitored by mission control back on Earth, they race to work at the pace of the red line as it moves across the screen. Experiments change but lunch and two hours of exercise remain the same.

FOOD With ovens but no fridges, astronauts make their own meals but in a slightly different way. Spag-bol for dinner? Just add water. Scrambled eggs for breakfast? Add heat and water. Brownies? Ketchup? It’s all there. Meals are planned to ensure each astronaut gets the right nutrition for the extreme conditions. 10 10

AS AN

When water doesn’t run, it sticks to your skin instead, showering suddenly becomes a little trickier. So instead, damp wash cloths are the best alternative. And of other bathroom hygiene, Tim’s only comment is “When going to the toilet, gravity is your friend”.

FREE TIME TO BE CREATIVE Whilst in space, Tim found his creative side and a new passion for photography. He spent most of his spare moments in the Cupola, gazing out of its 7 windows and capturing breath-taking images like the ones on Page 13.

250+ EXPERIMENTS // 6 MONTHS Weightlessness, extreme radiation, vacuum, isolation and other factors mean the conditions in space are completely different to on Earth. Using these conditions, science can be tested and results compared, to see the effects these factors have when on Earth.

Experiments cover everything from the human body to fluid physics. The results are used to improve life on Earth across all areas: new medical techniques, strong, lightweight materials, the human body and disease, plants and agriculture, and the future of human space travel.

TIM’S ESCAPADES ARE FULLY DETAILED ON HIS MISSION WEBSITE, WWW.PRINCIPIA.ORG.UK. HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS:

MARROW: The human body is accustomed to having the forces of gravity inflicted upon it. When those are removed, the body changes - but how exactly? To research how zero gravity affects bone density and blood health, Tim took regular samples of his blood, saliva and urine for testing.

EXPOSE-R2: Racks of plants are attached to the outside of the ESA’s Columbus lab to investigate how organisms survive in the vacuum of space. Extreme conditions of radiation, lack of oxygen and heightened temperatures help us understand the origins of life and where to look for it.

Tim worked on 30+ education projects with the UK Space Agency, including: METERON: The “Multi-Purpose End-To-End Rover Operations Network” is a remote-controlled rover. Tim took control of rover “Bridget” from the ISS, and drove her around a cave in Stevenage identifying targets with limited contact to Earth. He proved that humans can operate rovers whilst in orbit, meaning we could do the same thing on Mars.

ORGANISMS IN ORBIT: By night, Columbus is bathed in the pink glow of the greenhouse, where Tim studied how plants grow in orbit. The pink colour comes from LEDs emitting only the wavelengths of light used by plants: blue for plant structure and orientation in microgravity, and red for photosynthesis.

ROCKET SCIENCE: 2kg of rocket seeds spent 6 months on board the ISS, and were then distributed into classrooms across the UK. Students grew the seeds next to ones that had remained on Earth, to directly see the effects that living in Space has on organisms.

11 11

THE INTERNATIONAL

SPACE STATI N

F U N FA C T S : Launch Date: 20th November 1998 Space Agencies Collaborating: NASA, European Space Agency, Roscosmos, JAXA, Canadian Space Agency Speed: 17,500mph - fast enough to go to the moon and back in a day Orbits per day: 15.5 Size: Larger than a 6-bedroom house Bathrooms: 2 Cost: $150 billion… and counting

COLUMBUS - This is Europe’s main contribution to the ISS. Attached on 11th February 2008 and used every day since, it was Tim’s office whilst on board. Roughly the size of a double decker bus, it is protected from the sun, radiation and debris, and fully equipped with power, water and life support.

ZARYA - This Russian module was the very first part of the ISS, and was launched into orbit on 20th November 1998. Two weeks later, NASA’s Unity joined it. It is a ‘Functional Cargo Block’, and provided electrical power, storage and thrust whilst the station was slowly built around it. It is still used today.

Build: 136 space flights… and counting Manned Since: 2nd November 2000 Crew Members: 6 Total Past Crew: 105 The ISS can be seen from Earth with the naked eye

CUPOLA - The cabin with 7 windows is a favourite with the astronauts, but it almost didn’t make it up there. As its only purpose is a viewing platform for Earth, the cost of sending it up to Space nearly overruled its value. This was where Tim spent most of his free time.

“My buddy Tim Kopra and I waiting for the approaching darkness until it’s safe to disconnect the SSU from the solar panels!”

“London midnight Saturday - I’d rather be up here…but only just!”

“More stars in the Universe than grains of sand on Earth – easy to believe from up here”

15th JANUARY 2016

30th JANUARY 2016

13th MARCH 2016

After taking this shot of SpaceX’s Dragon, with Dubai’s Palm in the background, Tim took control of the ISS’s robotic arm and caught the spacecraft, attaching it safely to the station. “It looks like we’ve caught a dragon”

“Often asked if the International Space Station is hit by space debris. Yes – this is the chip in one of our Cupola windows, glad it is quadruple glazed!”

28th MARCH 2016

10th APRIL 2016

21st APRIL 2016

“Have a great St. Georges Day England!”

“My ride home! Soyuz TMA-19M looking as good as the day she was launched into orbit”

“Station passed through magnificent aurora Australis last night”

23rd APRIL 2016

26th APRIL 2016

12th JUNE 2016

“I was looking for Antarctica – hard to spot from our orbit. Settled for a moonset instead”

All images are credited to: ESA/NASA, More images are available on Tim’s flickr page

TIM’S PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY

We dare to imagine a time before the Big Bang, when the entire Universe was compressed into a space smaller than an atom. And now we can do more than imagine: we can understand.

BIG DEBATE S

“ SHOULD WE COLONISE MARS? ”

cientists, innovators and explorers all agree; if the human race has a next destination in space, Mars is it. In December 2015, SpaceX successfully created the world’s first reusable rocket, Falcon 9. This invention is estimated to reduce the cost of spaceflight 100 fold, immediately allowing the possibility of return trips to Mars become a reality. Since then, both SpaceX and NASA have announced plans to send humans to Mars, with the ultimate aim of colonising the planet:

“I think there are really two fundamental paths... One path is we stay on Earth forever, and then there will be some eventual extinction event… The alternative is to become a spacefaring civilisation and a multi-planet species.”

“Mars is the next tangible frontier for human exploration, and it’s an achievable goal. We [will] become Earth Independent, building on what we’ve learned on the International Space Station and in deep space to send humans to lowMars orbit in the early 2030s.”

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, the world’s most successful private space company.

NASA, Journey to Mars, www.nasa.gov

These announcements spark a major debate around practical logistics, potential risks, and moral dilemmas; Should we colonise Mars? What’s your view? We asked students from Tech City College to explore the pros and cons of human life on Mars.

DETTA WADDAY, Science Student Tech City College

The many problems with Mars start with no surface water and an atmosphere that is deadly to humans. Plus, lethal solar radiation, incredibly low temperatures and none of the natural resources we have here on Earth. However, humanity is the real problem. If we cannot live on our own planet without destroying it, morally is it right for us to go to another and potentially cause more damage? To get around these problems, advocates of Mars colonization talk about “terraforming” - increasing its temperature to make it more like Earth. Antarctica has the closest temperatures to the red planet, an average of -49°C (56°F) compared to an average of -55°C (-67°F) on Mars. Despite having a completely breathable atmosphere and plenty of fresh water, Antarctica has no permanent residents; so what really makes Mars so appealing? To successfully colonise Mars, we will need self-sustaining, resource neutral systems using solar energy. Seemingly impossible even here on Earth. Perhaps we should put our efforts into conserving and appreciating our own planet first. Earth is teeming with fascinating life forms and covered with mind-blowing geographic features. If we start treating Earth with respect, we may not need Mars as a back-up plan.

YES

AYUB MAPARA, Engineering Student Tech City College

History suggests that, someday, the Earth will no longer be a suitable home for us. With five mass extinctions already recorded, it’s inevitable another will happen eventually. So we should colonise neighbouring planets to ensure our survival, and become an interplanetary species. But why Mars? First, it’s similar to Earth. Mars has immense amounts of water frozen underground, along with the same rotational patterns. Second, we can develop sustainable fuel there through fusion technologies. A millilitre of liquid hydrogen can produce energy equivalent to 20 tons of coal. But we must consider the planet’s toxic atmosphere. Pushing the boundaries of science and technology industry leaders have come up with ways of making Mars’ atmosphere more like Earth’s, including: using giant space mirrors to reflect sunlight and melt the polar ice caps into oceans; redirecting and smashing asteroids into Mars to release trapped air, water and heat to speed up the melting process; and growing plants to release greenhouse gases, reducing CO2, and making the atmosphere more habitable. Once all of this is done, travelling to Mars will offer a fresh start for the human race to become a more intelligent and civilised species. Becoming an interplanetary species is inevitable.

WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF WWW.TECHMIX.COM 15

TOP 8 SPACE INDUSTRY SPINOFFS 1.

WATER PURIFICATION In space, there’s not much room for storing bottles of Evian. So someone, somewhere invented proper water purification. Now, astronauts in space can have a wash or a drink using water that was once… well, probably someone else’s wee. Turning wastewater pure means people in remote, poorer locations have access to clean water.

FIREFIGHTER GEAR As far as work outfits go, an astronaut’s get-up isn’t exactly light years away from a firefighter’s. Which makes sense, as firefighting equipment in the United States is actually based on lightweight materials developed for the U.S. Space Program. Lightweight, breathable, and looks pretty good too.

16 16

hink it’s not rocket science? Often – it is! Lots of technology that we use every day was originally invented to be used in space. Check out the top 8 space industry inventions that life on Earth just wouldn’t be the same without.

TEMPER FOAM

SCRATCH-RESISTANT LENSES

SPACE BLANKETS

Scratch-free sunnies are all thanks to outer space! NASA couldn’t have their astronauts heading out on a spacewalk with scratched-up visors, so they hired Foster Grant to develop a way of protecting space equipment from getting scuffed-up in space. Now, the same materials are used in our everyday sunglasses.

You know those silvery sheets that people wear after running a marathon? They are not tin-foil, but are in fact ‘space blankets’! Developed in 1964 they are super lightweight, reflect infrared radiation and keep the human body very warm. These days they are a must-have in first aid kits.

Designed as a padding concept to improve crash protection for astronauts, NASA’s Ames Research Center created what we mere terrestrials call memory foam. It’s now used all over the place – from mattresses to cars, theme park rides to horse-riding saddles, furniture to human and animal prosthetic limbs!

ARTIFICIAL LIMBS

PORTABLE CORDLESS VACUUMS

Engineers are developing more functionally dynamic artificial limbs thanks to NASA. Artificial muscle systems with robotic sensing and motion capabilities was initially for space robotics, and now it’s used to create the kind of prosthetic limbs that some Paralympians wear when competing.

When NASA needed a portable, self-contained drill capable of extracting core samples from below the moon’s surface they headed to Black & Decker. Whilst designing, the brains behind moon drilling also came up with the idea of a cordless miniature vacuum cleaner. Enter, the Dustbuster.

INFRARED EAR THERMOMETERS We’re feverishly excited about an ear thermometer that measures the thermal radiation emitted by the eardrum. In space, it’s used to measure the temperature of stars and planets, but here on Earth it takes our internal body temperature. So thank the stars next time you’re ill!

CAREERS T

IN SPACE AN OVERVIEW

£11.3 BILLION 100,000 JOBS

2016

he space industry is more than just rockets and astronomy; The technology developed affects every part of our lives on Earth.

£40 BILLION 200,000 JOBS

2030

“SPACE CAN AND DOES SUPPORT SO MANY OTHER SECTORS; THINGS LIKE AGRICULTURE OR FINANCIAL SERVICES. AS A NATION WE ARE TRYING TO JOIN UP ALL OF THESE DOTS AND MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT SPACE IS RELEVANT TO EVERYBODY, EVERY DAY.” COLIN BALDWIN, UK SPACE GATEWAY PROGRAMME MANAGER, UK SPACE AGENCY

DOWNSTREAM Using and applying the research and technology from Upstream ventures. Broadcasting Communication Finance and Risk

UPSTREAM

Defence

A focus on sending objects up into space, and space exploration.

Transport and Navigation Agriculture

Design

Resources exploration

Build

Environment monitoring

Launch

DREAMS AND INSPIRATION LEAD TO INNOVATION

Management and Maintenance Research and Development

WHY? The UK is the world-leader for small satellite technology, telecoms, robotics and Earth observation. The industry is about to explode! Jobs in the sector will double over the next 14 years. The space industry is growing 3x faster than any other non-finance sector: 8% per year. Average starting salary is competitive with other high tech sectors. Be at the cutting edge of technology and development. It is rocket science!

Scientific Research Space Exploration Human Spaceflight

KEYS TO SUCCESS: A love for space! Astronomy, space travel, robotics, or understanding the Earth and improving our quality of life; Whichever grabs you, a job in this industry is for you. Good grades and developing experience. Team work. Attention to detail. Second Language is useful as it’s an international industry, and it shows you have commitment to working in another culture.

TOP TIPS: Studying Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths helps! Explore Apprenticeships and Graduate Entry Schemes. Know your skills and strengths and show them off. Acquire language skills and cultural understanding. Find out about placements and funding opportunities. Talk to people and keep in touch. Get out there, get involved and get competitive.

How To Overcome Your Confidence Gremlins

Anyone that tells you that they don’t experience self-doubt is a liar or a sociopath. The tools that Sarah and Helen have developed can help anyone and everyone to understand how they can get on the frontfoot in developing their self-confidence and self-belief Mark Evans- Marketing Director - Direct Line What a fantastic read! Sarah & Helen have created a book jam packed with practical and simple solutions that can be applied to all manner of situations to overcome those pesky confidence gremlins. It doesn’t matter where you are in your career journey, you’ll find something in this book that will help you overcome those hurdles and enjoy an even happier career Clare Beaumont-Adam, Co-owner: Independents United Recognising, owning and taming your Gremlin is essential in developing your confidence - This book does exactly that in a fun, easy, yet extremely powerful way. Jo Simpson, Executive Leadership Coach, Speaker and Author of ‘The Restless Executive

Buy now: £4.99 from Amazon 18

@Amazing_If www.amazingif.com

JOINING UP THE DOTS

ith Mars missions announced by NASA and SpaceX this year, your chances to become an astronaut are quite literally rocketing up. But don’t worry, being an astronaut is far from the only option to join the Space Industry.

No, not all the time

DO YOU LOVE TO BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE AT WORK?

DO YOU LIKE TAKING THE LEAD? Sometimes, but I don’t need to be in charge

Yes, I enjoy leading a team

HELPER

PERSUADER

• Disaster Management • Disaster Response

• Mission Controller

• Environmental Management

• Project Manager

YES

CREATOR You need a career that lets you express your creativity through innovation • Marketing • Designer • Website Builder

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION?

Love it but I’m not technical

ARE YOU CREATIVE?

• Business Development

ENGINEER

• Test Pilot / Astronaut • Mechanical Engineer • Electrical Engineer

• Software Engineer

• Apprentice Engineer

Yes, that sounds interesting

It’s not my main strength

THINKER

It’s for nerds! Maybe space isn’t your thing, but there’s plenty more options!

You’re at home learning & exploring complex ideas • Scientist • Researcher • Physician • Data Interpreter

Yes, I like ideas and detail

You’d like a career that’s hands-on and practical

You seek influence and suit a position of power

• Psychologist within Human Spaceflight • Agriculture

To succeed, you need to be someone who: is a team player and has great attention to detail – that’s it! If that sounds like you, take this careers quiz to pick out your personality and examples of just a few roles that would suit you. This way you can join the Space Industry without having to embark on a one-way mission…

Yes, most of the time

You love to help and take care of others

SPKAE-OCVEER

HOW ABOUT SCIENCE MORE GENERALLY? @techmixmag

www.TechmixMag.com

19 19

MAN-MADE SATELLITES: P A S T ,

P R E S E N T

A N D

s you read this, the International Space Station is completing one of its 15.5 orbits a day, NASA’s huge robotic Juno probe is orbiting Jupiter, and over 21,000 tracked objects are speeding around within the Earth’s orbit.

F U T U R E LOW EARTH ORBIT: 160KM-2,000KM ABOVE EARTH

An orbit of Earth in LEO takes between 88-127 minutes. This is the closest safe orbit for satellites; high enough to miss all of the mountains and to escape the atmosphere’s drag pulling it back down to Earth. It is used for things that we want to visit often, like the ISS and the Hubble Space Telescope.

• Over 1,400 active satellites currently orbit the Earth. • +100 million km2 of images are captured from satellites every single day. • The 3 main uses for satellite data are: Defence, Government, Commercial. • At 420,000kg the ISS is the biggest and heaviest man-made object in space.

MEDIUM EARTH ORBIT:

• At around 10,000kg, American spy satellites are the heaviest un-manned satellites.

+/- 20,000KM ABOVE EARTH

• The UK is developing the world’s newest, lightest satellites: Cubesats.

An orbit in MEO takes between 2 and 24 hours. Navigation satellites such as GPS sit here and orbit the Earth once every 12 hours.

• The average life-span of a satellite is between 5-10 years. • Once satellites stop working, they become space debris; Redundant but continue to orbit.

GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT:

DESIGN

35,786KM ABOVE EARTH

Satellites here orbit at the same speed as the Earth turns, meaning they hang over a single location at all times, travelling West to East across the equator. Satellites in this orbit are often used for communications and weather.

The basic components of a satellite are: an antenna, to send and receive information; a power source, usually solar panels or a battery; a computer, for data crunching; and payload, i.e. the reason for the mission. After that they can be modified for purpose by adding cameras, sensors, probes and much more.

HIGH EARTH ORBIT:

LAUNCH

+36,000KM ABOVE EARTH An orbit at HEO takes over 24 hours. The highest Earth orbiter is the Russian Radio Telescope, Spektr-R, which reaches 330,000km at the highest point in its elliptical orbit.

HISTORICAL

Satellites are launched into orbit on board a rocket, and released at a precise location to send them on course for their specific orbit route. Orbit routes are designed in fine detail to ensure there are no collisions.

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SPUTNIK 1

TELSTAR 1

IRIDIUM CONSTELLATION

4 OCTOBER 1957 RADIO TRANSMITTER MASS: 83.6KG

23 JULY 1962 TELECOMMUNICATIONS MASS: 171KG

5 MAY 1997 COMMUNICATIONS MASS: 680KG EACH

The first artificial satellite. The size of a beach ball, it broadcast radio waves for 21 days.

First transatlantic TV signals, a US/UK collaboration. The BBC broadcast an American Baseball game, followed by John F Kennedy speaking from Washington DC.

Network of 66 satellites have been providing mobile phone communication across the entire surface of Earth since 1998.

A satellite is “a moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or star”. Earth and its Moon are both natural satellites as they orbit the sun and the Earth, but usually, “satellite” refers to a man-made machine that is launched into space.

SPACE DEBRIS

MODERN

Nothing degrades in the vacuum of space. There are more than 500,000 pieces of debris the size of a marble or larger flying around in Orbit, plus millions more that are too small to be tracked. A collision with a piece of space debris the size of a marble can cause the same amount of destruction as a nuclear explosion. The only safe ways to remove old satellites are by burning them up in the atmosphere or sending them to orbit the sun.

MICROSATELLITES

NANOSATS

MASS: 10-100KG

MASS: 1-10KG

The smaller the satellite, the less money and time it takes to build. More launches, better technology, faster developments. These are the future of satellites.

Growing more popular, these small but powerful satellites reduce costs down from +£300 million to £6,000/kg allowing poorer countries to join the space industry.

CUBESATS

MASS: <1.33KG These shoe-box sized NanoSats are cubes of 10cm3. They attach like Lego in orbit, combining to add new functions or build a larger satellite. Affordable and easily modified, uni students at Surrey Space Centre are putting their 21 fingerprints in space. 21

FLYING SOLO, FLYING HIGH ENTREPRENEURS ARE ROCKETING BRITAIN’S SPACE INDUSTRY OFF THE LAUNCH PAD

here are more than a hundred million km2 of new images of Earth taken by satellites every day. Speeding around within Earth’s orbit, they photograph clouds, city lights, fires, auroras, sand storms, dust storms, snow cover, boundaries of ocean currents and so much more. The data they record is used to measure the effects of pollution, map land, monitor volcanic ash movement, detect smoke from large-scale fires, show change in the Earth’s vegetation, sea state, ocean colour, and ice fields and to track man-made disasters such as oil spills. These satellites have a view of the whole of Earth, and yet most of these images are lost in space. At the moment, it costs thousands of pounds to buy satellite images, but the UK is pioneering the way for low-cost satellite imagery. Soon, this data will be readily available. In the meantime, we meet the space entrepreneurs who are ahead of the curve, leading the UK to a new frontier by bringing space technology down to Earth, and improving life on terra firma.

“THE UK GOVERNMENT PLANS TO GROW THE SPACE INDUSTRY FROM £19BN TO £40BN BY 2030.” DR DAVID PARKER, CEO UK SPACE AGENCY

The 19th Defence Meteorological Satellite successfully launched on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-3, U.S.A, on 3 April 2014. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force

SPACE satellite images is on its way to becoming a reality.

CORENTIN GUILLO, FOUNDER

Corentin Guillo thought of Bird.i even before Google thought of Maps. But working in the French Space Industry, it was difficult to try out new techniques. Having moved to the UK and working within the satellite industry for many years, his dreams of giving everyday people access to the world’s best

FRANCESCO LIUCCI, CO-FOUNDER

Francesco Liucci was working in business when he entered the Hackathon Space Solutions Competition 2012. Little did he know that hackathon would change his career path drastically. The challenge set for the hack was to design a

Glastonbury from above. Credit: Bluesky International Ltd

“You want to book your holiday for next week. How do you know that the hotel you’re going to book isn’t right next door to a construction site? You go on Google Maps but the image you see is years out of date. Why is this when we know that there might be a photo taken of that exact spot just yesterday? Why can I not see that image instead?” Working with the world leading satellite and airborne operators, Bird.i has access to an unprecedented wealth of fresh and accurate observation imagery that would otherwise go unused. His vision? To make the world’s most incredible images, and the insights they bring, accessible to absolutely everyone. By creating a simple interface that curates and disseminates images, businesses and individuals will be able to see things like Glastonbury festival being built day-by-day at the click of a button. business that uses satellite data to address environmental challenges in Rwanda. In just two days, Weather Safe Ltd was born. By analysing satellite imagery in combination with other datasets, the solution provides coffee producers with accurate, user-friendly crop husbandry recommendations. It offers early warnings for extreme conditions, the spread of disease, and it suggests an appropriate use of water and fertiliser based on those conditions. Ultimately, this means less risk higher yields and income for coffee producers. And it all started with a hack! Francesco is now part of the Satellite Applications Catapult, actively engaged in business coaching with the start-up and SME community in the space sector, helping other entrepreneurs climbing up the market ladder.

“A SINGLE SATELLITE IMAGE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SHOW THE SPREAD OF AIR POLLUTION ACROSS A CONTINENT, THE PRECISE DAMAGE DONE IN A REGION STRUCK BY AN EARTHQUAKE OR FOREST FIRES, OR THE ENTIRE SPAN OF A 500KM HURRICANE FROM THE CALMNESS OF ITS EYE TO ITS OUTERMOST STORM FRONTS.” EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

Countryside, Rwanda

With smaller missions, more aggressive timeframes, a willingness to embrace innovative and risky technology; it is entrepreneurs and start-ups like these ones that have the power to explode the space industry.

www.hibirdi.com

www.weathersafe.co.uk

Y O U R Y O U R

D I G I T A L D I G I T A L

F U T U R E F U T U R E

Learn from the routes of others; find your career pathway today.

26 27

PATHS APPRENTICESHIPS: Is a combination of work and study the best option for you? GRADUATE SCHEMES: Life in the fast lane with TfL.

SPECIALIST COURSES: Nothing’s as cool as space school. Find out why from a student at the International Space University.

INTERNSHIPS: Can an internship help you discover jobs would never have considered?

PEOPLE 31

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF… An Earth Observation Expert

5 THINGS I LEARNT FROM… Beginning My Career in a Start-Up Company

REAL LIFE DREAM JOBS… with NASA Research Scientist and Forbes’ 30 under 30 Engineer: Leo Teeney

PATHFINDER

SPACE

APPRENTICE

YOU’RE HIRED

orried about heading straight from school into the world of work? Not sure you want three more years of full-time education? With an apprenticeship, you can do both – enhance your skillset while advancing your career. They offer the chance to gain confidence, increase motivation, and get the guidance necessary to kick-start a career in tech. We spoke to a current apprentice about their experience – so you can learn more and work out if an apprenticeship is the right choice for you. Dupind Bhangu has recently started her IT Application Specialist Apprenticeship at Acer, which she secured with the help of Holts Digital Academy, a professional apprenticeship service. We discussed apprenticeships with her, and this is what we learnt: APPRENTICESHIPS COMBINE EDUCATION WITH PRACTICAL WORK EXPERIENCE. I decided to choose an apprenticeship because I still wanted to be in education but to work at the same time and gain experience. YOU CAN FIND CAREERS YOU LOVE. Marketing Assistant suits my personality because I’m a very creative person, I’m hands on, and I enjoy travelling! That’s everything that my job role offers. I enjoy taking on new challenges and overcoming obstacles. YOU LEARN FAST IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. I’m really enjoying my placement at Acer. It’s only been three months and I’ve already learnt so much, and feel like I’m growing as an individual. My boss recognizes my capability and potential, 26

and wants me to learn, to succeed, and to seek out all of the opportunities marketing has to offer. HOLTS ACADEMY MAKES THE PROCESS SIMPLE AND THE EXPERIENCE REWARDING. The process has been easy and helpful with Holts, from my very first interview to studying there. Everyone wants you to succeed and most importantly to be happy with what you’re doing, which I’ve found really encouraging and supportive. I’m so glad I chose the apprenticeship and I would www.holtsdigital.com

happily recommend Holts to anyone who wants to study and work at the same time.

CONTACT THE APPRENTICESHIP TEAM TODAY Phone: 0203 588 0520 Email: apprenticeships@ holtsacademy.com Website: www.holtsdigital.com

PATHFI N D E R

SPACE

GRAD LIFE: LIVE LIFE IN THE FAST LANE WITH TfL

race Platt is on TfL’s graduate scheme, and is currently working within bus operations. Her previous placements have been in the London River services, Cycling Strategy, and Outcome Planning. We talk to her about what it’s like working for the company that keeps London moving. Tell us how the TfL General Management Scheme works? The scheme works by providing graduates with a range of different opportunities and experiences within the organisation. These vary from office-based placements, such as working in finance or human resources, to more operational roles, including in buses or on the London Underground.

Which has been your favourite placement so far and why? My favourite placement so far has been working in the London River Services. People often think of TfL as just running the bus and Tube networks, but TfL is also in charge of piers, roads, cycle routes, and so much more. I got involved in a number of river projects, including upgrading the signage and installing new shelters for our customers.

Are there any good perks for working for TfL? One of the best perks has been the extra opportunities provided through volunteering – for example, being a travel ambassador for the Rugby World Cup 2015 and getting to make announcements on the Underground. Best of all was helping customers on the river on New Year’s Eve, right opposite the fireworks display. One of the main reason I enjoy working for TfL is that you can make a real difference to people’s lives. What does an average day look like? There are no average days at TfL. My experiences have been incredibly varied, ranging from office-based strategy work through to on-site project meetings. Why did you choose a Grad scheme over any other path? I wanted thorough training in a broadbased management scheme and the TfL General Management scheme has been perfect for that. Once I complete the graduate scheme, I am hoping to work in an operational role within buses and stay within the company.

www.tfl.gov.uk

GRACE PLATT, Graduate Trainee, General Management Scheme Transport for London

PATHFINDER

SPACE

NOTHING’S AS COOL AS

SPACE SCHOOL SEMA HUSSEYIN MSc in Space Studies International Space University

Age: 26 Home town: Kent Current Job title: Recent graduate

aving graduated with a Masters in Aerospace Engineering, Sema went on to work for an engineering consultancy within traffic management. She has always dreamed of being an astronaut, and when she heard about the International Space University, she decided to make that dream a reality and apply for a place. We chatted to her, and here’s what we learnt:

things like GPS systems, internet, and communications. Learning about space helps us live on Earth better. Studying the stars and other planets helps us to better understand and care for our Earth – and we rely on space so much without realising it!

“I am a big believer in following your dreams and that anyone can do anything they want, the only thing stopping them is themselves.”

At the ISU, you work with real life astronauts. The Space Studies course covers all aspects of the space industry including; space engineering, space science, space economics, space law and space business management. Alongside studies, you must choose a project to work on throughout the year. I worked with Astronaut Jean-Jacques Favier and helped him with his research on lunar Internships can be pretty damn cool. regolith implementation for 3D printing This summer, I completed the purposes in space. internship requirement for my course at NASA Ames Research Centre. Whilst You don’t have to be an engineer. there I visited Virgin Galactic and NASA Literally anyone with a passion and Armstrong, and had the opportunity to excitement for space can study at ISU. work with the man behind the new Mars In my year, we were 50 students, and copter, Larry Young, on a future mission only 10 were engineers. Others were concept to Venus. physicists, economists, architects, philosophers, and even artists. Sema is one determined woman. Currently my dream is to work in a The next big thing is satellite data. systems engineering role which would The most important field in the space include designing future space missions industry today is satellite technology, and spacecraft design and contributing which nowadays we can’t live without – to the future of space technology.

SPACE

PATHF I N D E R

HOW THE

& ARTS INTERNSHIPS CAN ROCKET YOU TO SPACE

ot many people associate the space industry with artistic jobs, but creativity can be key to the success of space missions and research. We talked to intern Nibia Waheed, who is launching her career in design at the Institute for Environmental Analytics (IEA) – a world-leading applied research and development organisation that uses data from environmental sources, including space, to help companies manage risk, improve business operations, and open up new markets. She told us about being creative in the space industry, and how internships can pave the way to your future career. Why are creative skills important in the space industry? Like many, I hadn’t considered a role within the space sector as I didn’t think that a design degree was relevant to a scientific industry. But I saw an advert for a Designer at the IEA in Reading, near where I live, and seized the opportunity. Now I realise that there are numerous non-scientific roles within this sector including marketing communications, languages, and many more. How do you use creativity in your role? For my specific role it is important to find creative ways to make complex technical information easy to access across different platforms – from social media to formal presentations. I create

engaging material for reports, webbased demonstrations, social media, and the IEA website. I work on things ranging from Infographics and graphs to a cartoon for the online training material! Why did you choose an internship? What do you like about it? I wanted more experience to help me decide on my future career. This placement at IEA has broadened my idea of the career paths I could go into and allowed me to experience the industry before I graduate from university. I now feel I have many more options open to me. What does an internship offer that a classroom doesn’t? Crucially, it offers practical experience to complement and enhance what you learn in an educational setting. I’ve learnt a lot about what goes on behind the scenes, and I now feel passionately about the value of translating complex data onto different media platforms. I’ve learnt so much from my colleagues, and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me with this experience.

Top tip: Keep a record of the different projects you have been working on to build a portfolio that you can refer to in the future for job interviews. www.the-iea.org

NIBIA WAHEED Age: 21 Home town: Berkshire Education: Currently studying Digital Media Design at Bournemouth University Job title: Digital Media Intern / Student

Y O U R

D I G I T A L

F U T U R E

Equality Empowerment Education Employment Enterprise

SPACE

PATHFINDER

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF… ... AN EARTH OBSERVATION EXPERT T

he space industry is a great place to work. One of the best aspects of my job, other than being able to say I work in the space industry, is the variation of projects and the interesting people I work with. Rarely are any two days alike. Whilst the company is fastpaced, often with tight deadlines or important visitors, the atmosphere is very supportive and team-lead. On a ‘regular day’ in the office, I start before normal working hours, allowing time to check any satellite image processing I have left running over night. The Satellite Applications Catapult, where I work are focused on developing new platforms and technologies using satellite data, or

Name: Steve Spittle Job Title: Senior Earth Observation and Technology Specialist Company: Satellite Applications Catapult Hours per Week: 37-50 Approx. starting salary: £17-25k depending on where in the country, previous experience and size of company Qualifications: Degree in Remote sensing/ Physics/ Environmental science or similar (beneficial to have an MSc)

helping other organisations to do so, so I can spend a high proportion of my day in front of a wall of monitors identifying and extracting the key details from large satellite derived geospatial datasets. An important and enjoyable part of my job is to give demonstrations and presentations on our most recent projects; this is often a great excuse to ‘show off’ the latest developments in technology. Recently I’ve been excited to integrate high resolution satellite imagery within gaming engines, creating an immersive user experience that can literally move through and roam in the data.

Top Tip: For any graduates with an interest in this area, the industry is growing and companies will be keen to hire. Jobs like this can be competitive and to stand out from the crowd it is important to be enthusiastic and proactive: work with satellite imagery and Geographical tools in your spare time, get experience whenever possible!

PA T H F I N D E R

SPACE

IG,t, S L A U nalys

A R LAUote Sensing Rem .i Bird

Imag

gita e: Di

l Glo

… M O R F Y N T A P N M R O C A P E U T L R I A T S S A G N I N R I E E 5 THNING MY CAR BEGIN

Image: Glastonbury Festival

aura Ulsig graduated this summer with an MSc in Earth Observation and Geoinformation Management. Instead of opting for a grad scheme in a large company, she began working as a remote sensing analyst at Bird.i – a small start-up company that bring satellite images to the mass market.

Although a start-up can’t offer the long-term job security that a large company can, Bird.i’s vision really excited me.

Knowing that the small team you’re a part of is fully responsible for the success of the business is an awesome motivator.

The first couple of weeks at When looking for your first careerthe company can be quite related job, keep an open mind overwhelming. You’re given lots of and seek out opportunities in as responsibility from the very beginning. many different directions as possible We asked Laura about the benefits of – working for a startup is a fantastic beginning her career in a start-up, and You have to adapt the way you opportunity to fully explore what you what the 5 most important things are approach problems and learn new are capable of. that she’s learnt so far: things very quickly because there’s no fixed training programme or Why would you recommend starting out A young company’s vision and the firmly-defined procedures; you have in a start-up? prospect of taking part in realising to figure things out for yourself and It’s intense, challenging, and you might those goals can be highly motivating. in your team. find yourself part of something big! 32 32 www.hibirdi.com

st,

PATHFINDER

SPACE

REAL LIFE DREAM JOBS

eo Teeney is a British graduate of the International Space University. Now, he is part of a team building a 3D-printing device which will create buildings and roads autonomously. At the NASA Ames Research Park in Silicon Valley, he attends LaunchPad, a start-up incubator run by Singularity University (SU). The technology developed here will enable buildings to be printed anywhere in space, making space exploration a more realistic option. The same technology will be used on Earth. When we spoke to Leo, we asked him what makes his job a dream one…

I was a key member of the team at the European Astronaut Centre while we developed as a top centre for human lunar exploration expertise worldwide.

In January 2016 I was named in Forbes’ 30 under 30 Europe list following my success in the NASA 3D Printed Habitat Challenge for our concept, ‘LavaHive’, amongst other work.

Working in human spaceflight allows me to contribute to the future of space exploration. I love the way human spaceflight brings together humans and machines – and gives us the capacity to go further than we’ve ever gone before!

I’ve worked in the Airbus Future Projects Office in the UK where I worked on future aircraft concepts.

Full Name: Leo Teeney

I recently worked at the European Space Agency/European Astronaut Centre investigating enabling technologies for lunar exploration in the ‘Spaceship EAC’ team.

Most recent job Title: Research Engineer – Young Graduate Trainee Company: European Space Agency, European Astronaut Centre Hours per week: 40 Approx. starting salary: €28,000

I was part of Team Hakuto in Japan who are a leading team in the Google Lunar X-Prize to land a commercial mission on the Moon.

Qualifications needed: Masters degree, subject depending on role

And what about the future?

LavaHive Team, New York Maker Fare, 2015

“I’m very optimistic about the future of the space industry in the UK. It was really exciting to see Tim Peake spend 6 months on the ISS last year as the first British ESA astronaut and is a positive sign for the future.” 33

Y O U R

D I G I T A L

F U T U R E

fdmgroup.com

HOW TO: BREAK INTO CODING Want to get into coding? To ﬁnd out how best to start, we asked one of the UK’s leading IT graduate employers, FDM Group, for some tips:

KEEP IT SIMPLE

There is no point trying to start something complicated and getting annoyed with yourself then giving up before you really began. Find an easy project, keep it light and easy; walk before you can run! Work out what needs to be in there for it to work, make a list, it’s surprisingly easier than trying to do everything at once!

CHOOSE A TECHNOLOGY

There are no right answers, no superior programming languages and nothing is permanent. Some will be easier to learn and ﬁnd solutions for as they are more common (Java, C#, JavaScript e.c.t., Python) it all depends on why you want to code. Find out which language is best for you here https://goo.gl/ZI6dHy.

THE INTERNET IS YOUR FRIEND JUST KEEP GOING

You will encounter problems but more than likely someone has made the same mistakes and found the solutions. So just ask a question on places like stackoverﬂow.com, where you can make the most of everyone else’s experience. It’s like anything, it might be hard at the start and you will make a load of mistakes but just keep doing it and you will soon be great. You never know where it could lead. FDM Consultants from our business and IT Graduate Programme go on to work on engaging projects like ﬁngerprint technology, facial recognition systems, supporting investment banking platforms and testing mobile banking applications.

www.fdmgroup.com

LIVE

YOUR QUESTIONS. ANSWERED LIVE.

COMING SOON… Techmix LIVE is a series of live Q&A’s with CEOs of the UK’s leading tech businesses. Techmix LIVE offers you the opportunity to get face-to-face with your career icon and ask them the questions you want answering. We need tech-enthusiasts, keen entrepreneurs and future leaders to come down and be part of the first ever Techmix LIVE event. As an audience member at our Central London location, you will have the chance to meet a CEO, learn about their career path, ask your questions directly, and gain the confidence to start your career on the right track. Who knows, there might even be a job in it. Help shape the industry’s newest pathway into digital careers and secure your place now. GET INVOLVED: LIVE@TECHMIXMAG.COM MORE INFO: WWW.TECHMIXMAG.COM

TECH TALKS YOUR QUESTIONS. THEIR ANSWERS.

NAME: Chris Minas JOB TITLE: Founder & CEO COMPANY: Nimbletank TYPE: Independent Company TIME IN POSITION: 6 years EDUCATION: College Level: Computer Science & Software Engineering CAREER PROGRESSION: Systems Engineer – Production Manager – CTO – Founder & CEO

What makes a good entrepreneur? - Charlie, Holloway There isn’t one single thing or a standard blueprint that can answer that. But I do believe that successful entrepreneurs possess some or all of the following traits: good problem solvers, desire to stay sharp with a constant thirst for learning, determination, a risk taker; strong self-belief, learn from failure, passion for their vision, the ability to adapt and change ideas, and a great people person. What careers advice would you give to your 17-year-old-self? - Lisa, Ilford Be confident, be ambitious, think big and have self-belief. Anything is possible and there are no limits to what you can do. How can I make myself stand out to an employer when I don’t yet have any experience? – Zadie, Brent It is all about personality. Having www.nimbletank.com

a keen, positive, friendly, hungry, ambitious, eagerness to learn attitude will make you stand out. Experience can be gained over time, personality cannot. Where do you see mobile technology going in the future? - Asha, Peckham Technology is evolving faster than ever before. Not just the device hardware but the software as well. Augmented Reality will soon have phones scanning the street with the camera, instantly suggesting places to eat, price options and online reviews. Phones will slot into Virtual Reality headsets and instantly transport you – cheaply – to another reality. Artificial Intelligence will become integrated into apps as standard to make them smarter, voice controlled and more intelligent. After that, it’s 2D and 3D smartphones, holograms, projective devices… shall I go on? 37

edge of the box club the chelsea foundation business start-up club Are you a young entrepreneur or keen to develop the entrepreneurial skills needed to start your own business? Then come along and join a community of collaborative innovators at the home of Chelsea Football Club. If you are studying Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, please get in touch to arrange a visit to one of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exciting start-up scenes.

Venue:

Stamford Bridge

Date:

Every last Wednesday (9.30-12.30pm)

Contact: Carl Southwell Enterprise and Employability Manager carl.southwell@chelseafc.com 020 7958 2813

S S E N I S U B

R E D I S N I Behind the doors at some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading tech companiesâ&#x20AC;Ś

American titans of the gig economy, FIVERR, talk about the freelance world and give their top advice on how to be successful on your own terms.

World-leading communications company BT cover common misconceptions in the tech world and explain how tech can help you to get ready for work.

UFI TRUST are using technology to help improve vocational skills across the UK. Find out how you can join the space industry with your feet safely on the ground.

Global leaders in skills development, CITY & GUILDS talks through how to get the most from your work experience placement.

BUSINESS INSIDER

WHAT IS A

FREELANCER? The freelancers union defines a freelancer as, “an individual who has engaged in supplemental, temporary, project or contract-based work.”

WHO IS PART OF THIS REVOLUTION?

13%

MOONLIGHTERS

255,000

FREELANCE ON THE SIDE, BUT HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB

HOW DO THEY COMPARE IN THE UK?

87%

12% - Arts, entertainment and recreation

TRADITIONAL FREELANCERS, WORK PROJECTTO-PROJECT AS MAIN JOB

2008 40

10% - Information and communication

1.65MILLION

1.4 million

WHAT INDUSTRIES DO FREELANCERS WORK IN? UK Freelance workers are present in all major industry groups:

CONTRACTORS

1.91 million

he Gig Economy is booming, and being a freelancer can allow you to work on projects you’ve chosen, doing the work you want to do. But it’s not always easy. More and more people are working freelance, and they already make up a significant portion of the UK workforce - hugely benefiting the UK economy. But what exactly does being a freelancer mean, and what does the growth in freelance work mean for the future?

20% - Professional, scientific and technical activities industry with 384,000 people.

(36%(

21% - Education, and health and social work

increase

36% - Other industries 2016 www.fiverr.com

BUSINESS INSIDER

The life of a freelancers is never the same. We spoke to two Fiverr super-sellers to find out what their lives are really like.

FROM SCHOOL STUDENT TO SUCCESSFUL PUBLISHER

Morissa Schwartz, feefeertr on Fiverr, finished her degree a year early, and is now pursuing a graduate degree in Corporate and Public Communications. She writes for the Entertainment Weekly Community, is a bestselling author and owns her own publishing company. “Fiverr taught me that a

traditional 9-5 job is not the only way to be successful, and that you can use your talents and passions daily – and actually earn money for doing so! I started selling on Fiverr while I was still in high school, so while my friends were getting traditional jobs in shops and internships, I focused on building

my online businesses. I’ll write an article for somebody in France, edit a paper for someone in California, and provide a voiceover for a client in Canada all in the same day. That’s the norm. I experience other cultures just through my work online in ways that I never could with an office job.”

services from literally anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection, which means we can do what we love most – travel! A few months ago, we decided to travel to South America to escape the cold Canadian winter. We spent most of the trip staying in hostels, where we would have access to Wi-Fi and be able to work. We did a ton of three-day treks with incredible people and incredible views, but always made

sure to be back in three days so we could answer our Fiverr messages.

TRAVEL THE WORLD WHILE YOU WORK

Gal and Marianne, WordAndRecord on Fiverr, are professional animators, delivering explainer animation videos, whiteboard animations, custom animated music videos and more. They currently work fulltime on Fiverr, and they recently had enough money left over after paying bills to take a four-month trip to South America. “We can offer animation video

www.fiverr.com

With Fiverr, we went from working part-time jobs to traveling the world in just a few months. Our next project? We plan to purchase a van, convert it into a mobile home with a kitchen, bed, etc., and drive from Toronto to Vancouver, discovering beautiful landscapes throughout Canada.” 41

BUSINESS INSIDER

O T W HO BECOME A

FREELANCER

empted by the freelance lifestyle? But don’t know where to start? To be successful, you’ll have to put in 100%. Find your niche, figure out what you’re good at, and decide how you will differentiate yourself from the droves of other entrepreneurs looking to do the same thing. Full-time freelancing can be challenging, but follow these seven steps and you’ll be on the road to success.

KEEP YOUR DOLLAR IN CHECK Save up your funds to avoid stress in the down times. When starting out, Fiverr sellers save for an average of 6 months to a year before quitting their full-time jobs. Get advice from financial experts, whack your name on a business credit card, and set up a secure independent contractor agreement with a lawyer. Then people will really take you seriously. 42

PRICE YOURSELF RIGHT Experience, difficulty and time all contribute to how much you should be charging. Calculate expenses per project and be sure to include them in the quote. For your standard rate, check other people’s rates for a guide then count the hours per week you are able to work and work backwards to find a rate that works for you. Value yourself.

BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO Creating a website with a domain to match your name or brand is key. Keep this up-to-date with a professional portfolio and clients will see you as a real deal. WIX, WordPress or SquareSpace are great DIY options, or pay a professional to design it for you. Make sure to include contact information, areas of specialty and testimonials.

www.fiverr.com

BUSINESS INSIDER

FIND YOUR FLOW Working at home is ideal for some, but for others, having your fridge and TV so close is a big distraction! Anywhere and everywhere with Wi-Fi can become your new office. Spread your wings and find the environment that makes your creativity flow. Libraries, coffee shops or co-working spaces, try them all and find the spot that maximizes your productivity.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS:

MARKET YOURSELF Be bold, be brave and tell everyone who will listen. Friends, social network announcements, business cards and freelancing platforms and meet-ups will begin to spread the word and could lead to referrals. Meeting other freelancers adds an important social aspect to your job, plus advice and mentorship are invaluable.

NEW WORK Every person you meet, and every new job you take is a potential lead to more work. Even if you later decide the client isn’t a good fit for you, retaining their respect could mean a referral. Staying on top of trends, educating yourself and being over prepared ensures you set you up to deliver impressive work and navigate any challenges smoothly.

VALUE YOURSELF Value, value, value. Value yourself, and so will others. Pricing your work correctly is a key difference between make and break. Early on you might have to offer lower prices, but as your portfolio and experience grow, up your prices accordingly. Although it’s tempting to constantly undercut your competitors, potential clients may see it as a reflection on quality, so be careful!

“Always be in constant learning mode. Be open to improving yourself or changing your Gig as you go along, but know why you are making the change and give it time to take effect. Be patient and don’t give up.”

ALFREDO, BILINGUAL VOICE-OVER ARTIST “The best advice we can give to new sellers is approach every project with a positive vibe. We also give tons of bonuses to our clients, simply to keep them happy every time. Doing these things has helped us create strong relationships with our buyers, who keep returning to us for more work.”

WORDANDRECORD, PROFESSIONAL ANIMATORS

www.fiverr.com

Get Ready for Work with BT

ARE YOU READY FOR A BT TRAINEESHIP? WHAT IS A BT TRAINEESHIP?

WHAT CAN I GET OUT OF IT?

WHO’S IT FOR?

The BT Traineeship programme is designed to support young people, like yourself, into employment. The seven week programme is a mix of classroom time working on employability skills and hands-on work experience.

• Build your confidence

• 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training

• Learn how to nail an interview, create a great CV and communicate better • Valuable work experience and can even help you with your Maths and English • Gain a Level 1 BTEC qualification • Three months of follow on support

Find out more

www.bt.com/workready 44

cisco.co.uk

• Young people keen to get an insight into business • Those willing to learn and keen to get into employment or training • People who can commit to five days a week for seven weeks 10am-4pm (we pay travel costs and fund lunch each day)

BUSINESS INSIDER

ARE YOU READY FOR A BT TRAINEESHIP? WHAT IS A BT TRAINEESHIP?

WHAT CAN I GET OUT OF IT?

WHO’S IT FOR?

• Build your confidence

• 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training

Find out more

www.bt.com/workready

TECH HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE

GET WORK READY

Sports people monitor their own and their competitors’ performance via tech. Engineers also rely increasingly on tech for example, regularly using 3D technology to create models to assess their viability pre-construction. The list goes on.

You would be very hard pushed to pinpoint a career that does not rely on HERE ARE A NUMBER OF tech. And it will become more and more MISCONCEPTIONS about difficult to find a tech-free job in the technology skills in the workplace. near future. They run along the following lines: TECHNOLOGY SKILLS ARE FOR GEEKS • Technology skills only help Virtually everyone uses and relies you get technology jobs upon tech every day. It’s the golden thread in our lives. • Technology skills are only for

a few geeks Let’s look at each in turn and bust the myths. TECHNOLOGY SKILLS ONLY HELP PEOPLE WHO WANT TECH JOBS This is not true. Technology is already widespread in virtually every workplace. Sports people, builders, accountants, charity workers, those in the creative industries… These diverse careers all have one thing in common: technology.

81% of employers said employees need tech skills. Those employers were in fields as diverse as sport, music, architecture, manufacturing, business and law. If four out of every five employers insists on tech skills today, just imagine how many will be asking for tech skills just five years from now! The fact is, everyone moving into the workplace needs to get to grips with tech, or they’re highly likely to get left behind. www.bt.com/workready

TECH SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT – BUT SO IS CONFIDENCE Confidence is a vital asset for anyone entering the workplace. Those becoming the most confident in the interview room are people with relevant skills, including those increasingly critical tech skills, and experience in the world of work. BT CAN HELP YOUNG PEOPLE GET WORK READY As the UK’s biggest tech company, BT understands the importance of tech better than most. This is why BT has a long-term commitment to build a culture of tech literacy for the UK, to make sure young people have what it takes to thrive in a digital world. And it’s why BT has invested in a number of schemes to help young people get Work Ready. Work Ready is aimed at equipping 16 – 24 year olds with tech and work skills, including seven-week traineeships and work placements across the UK. Young people, through these schemes, can explore BT’s wide range of opportunities – from Sports Broadcast and Media, to Sales, HR, Finance and Engineering. To find out more about how BT can help, visit: www.bt.com/workready 45

BUSINESS INSIDER

fi is an independent charity dedicated to increasing vocational learning that is delivered using digital technology. You might be wondering what this has to do with work in space, and the answer is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everything!

WORKING IN SPACE

Ufi funds small companies with ideas for innovative new learning technologies. Always seeking out new ideas for using all types of digital tech to help people learn the skills they need for work, they are currently running a new scheme to find ways to help to train people in manufacturing industries. This includes space technology industries such as communications, aerospace, and defence, amongst lots of others.

WITH YOUR FEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUND!

46 46

www.ufi.co.uk/projects

SPACE

BUSINESS INSIDER

As of 2016, there have been 552 humans who have travelled in space. Of course, only a small number of the people working in the space sector actually do what Tim Peake has done and rocket off into outer space. Thousands more are working on the ground in a very wide range of jobs – as technicians, scientists, and engineers of all kinds who have to work together before anything (or anyone) gets off the ground! Here’s the list that SpaceCareers UK has on its website:

ASTROBIOLOGISTS

An astrobiologist looks for life throughout the universe, andand theythey search for and study environments the universe, search for and study that might be prior, current, future homeortofuture life. environments that might beor prior, current, home to life.

ASTRONOMERS

Astronomers study our solar system and everything in it, as well as other galaxies and stars – they study physics physics throughout throughout the the entire entire universe. universe.

ASTROPHYSICISTS

An An astrophysicist astrophysicist researches researches light, light, motion motion and and natural forces termsinofterms their of relationship to the universe. naturalinforces their relationship to the They use theoretical physics tophysics try to understand universe. They use theoretical to try to more about the cosmos. understand more about the cosmos.

ASTRONAUTS

Astronauts are people trained to travel in and fly spacecraft, to carry out research in space, and do various activities related to human space exploration.

ENGINEERS

Engineering is a huge field, and very broadly speaking means the application of mathematical, scientific, and practical knowledge to invent, design, or maintain structures, machines, and tools. There are lots of different kinds of engineer that are relevant to space; mechanical, electrical, software, aerospace and aeronautical engineering.

PLANET SCIENCE

This is the study of planets and planetary systems, that includes aspects of astronomy, atmospheric science, geology, space physics, biology, and chemistry.

SPACE LAWYERS

Space Lawyers are legal representatives who work with the international and national laws and customs that govern human activities in outer space.

SPACE MEDICINE

This is the practice of medicine on astronauts in outer space, which is actually very different to practicing medicine on earth! www.ufi.co.uk

SPACE

BUSINESS INSIDER

So, how is Ufi helping to advance people’s learning about and access to these exciting work opportunities by using digital technology? By funding projects that are hugely beneficial to the future of the space industry, and to those who want to work in it. Here are some examples:

NANOSIMBOX

is changing how people learn science and go on to careers in science. Some people find it easy to learn within a traditional classroom setting – but this doesn’t work for everyone. For those who don’t respond so well to conventional (and often stuffy and outdated!) teaching, they can get left behind at school and then at work. Nanosimbox uses simulation technology to help students in colleges, doing BTEC or access to HE courses, to learn complex, abstract, difficult science concepts but in a way that is fun, accessible and relevant.

ELECTRONICS FOR EVERYONE

can see that work is changing as new industries emerge and existing ones are revolutionised by technology. Almost all of these new jobs need people to have digital skills, and in the space industry digital knowledge and aptitude is vital. Electronics for everyone helps learners of all ages to improve their technology capability and their learning skills. By using 3D printed robotics projects, online platforms and educational makerspace, anyone can learn concepts of 3D design, electronics, Internet of Things (IoT) and programming, and apply them practically.

COMM SIM

aims to integrate multi-player 3D games simulation with voice analysis tools so that you can rehearse situations you could encounter at work. This prepares you for similar situations that you might face when under pressure. Working in the space industry carries a lot of responsibility, and involves many high-pressure environments where a good relationship with your team is essential. It’s currently being used in the hospitality industry, and will be adapted for other vocational sectors – including the space sector. It could be key to improving the team working that is so crucial to the space industry.

www.ufi.co.uk www.ufi.co.uk/products

SPACE

BUSINESS INSIDER

AUGMENTED REALITY TRAINING MEDIA is developing a new augmented/virtual reality learning environment that displays fully interactive 3D models of `real world` industrial robots on mobile tablets. The models will provide a realistic training experience where the learner can view important functional components and interact with key features. This application will be trialled by the next generation of robot technicians and facilitates a trialand-error learning approach within a safe, cost-effective environment. This could mean learning how to use the latest, most sophisticated space machinery safely and effectively before actually getting your hands on very, very expensive tech…!

PRIORITIES is a digital literacy-intervention project that helps learners to unlock new vocational opportunities. It uses big data, machine learning and linguistics to give people access to the subject-specific language they need for any course or job. Even complex technical language can be made more accessible using this system. By simplifying the vocabulary and grammar rules underpinning any topic, Priorities can accelerate people’s learning of new subjects, meaning that the complex world of space can be made accessible to a whole range of people – bringing a broader range of thinkers, ideas, and approaches to space.

CLEARLESSONS is an inspirational video learning library free to everyone working in the charity sector in the UK. ClearLessons videos are designed to help everyone to become better at their job and improve the performance of their organisations. Each 3-5-minute video is of a real person, telling real stories, to share their work-based wisdom. The videos help people at all levels, in all sorts of businesses and cover a range of things you need to know at work, like presentation skills and time management. For those people looking to climb the career ladder, ClearLessons’ videos can share crucial knowledge you need to progress, like leading a meeting and how to train someone new. All of these skills are core to any kind of work – and are just as important in the space industry as anywhere else!

No matter the role you choose, employers in the space sector need people with a range of technical, practical and personal skills. So, don’t overlook the opportunities that might be waiting for you in space – even if you don’t see yourself as the next Tim Peake. And look for ways to use digital learning to build up your skill set and aim HIGH - REALLY HIGH!

www.ufi.co.uk www.ufi.co.uk/products

BUSINESS INSIDER

How to get the most of your work experience placement By Tiana Locker – Youth Engagement Executive City & Guilds Group

ime and time again we hear employers say that when they’re recruiting it’s not just about the grades that you’ve got, it’s also about the experience you have as well. That’s why work experience is so important. By doing a work experience placement you’re in a stronger position to enter the tech workforce.

make a decision around whether this is really the route you want to go down. Ask organisations about the placements they offer and try to find out if they have a clear structured programme that will help you to learn lots of transferrable skills that you can talk about at your next interview.

Here are my some of my top tips that will help you to secure a placement and get the most out of it:

Get stuck in! Two weeks of unpaid work experience can feel like a drag unless you make the most of the opportunity. Let your new colleagues know that you are available (and willing) to help. Don’t be afraid to ask if you can get involved in something. And don’t forget to speak to people about their own experiences – it’s a great way to learn.

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH Research some different companies that offer work experience placements in the tech industry. This will help you to 50

2. MAKE IT WORTHWHILE

BUSINESS INSIDER

3. GET NOTICED Remember you can add value by sharing your ideas and views. If you land yourself a good placement, the company is likely to value the views and ideas of young people. If you’re in a meeting or just have an idea in general, don’t be afraid to share your opinions on how you think things could be done better / differently. 4. ASK FOR FEEDBACK All feedback is important – good and bad. One of the worst things you can do is finish your work experience placement and not know what your strengths and areas for development are. Talk to people that you have worked with and ask them to give you feedback on your performance, so you know how you can improve. You should also take some time to reflect on what you enjoyed most about your experience, and use that insight to shape any of your future career decisions.

HOW DO YOU GET A WORK PLACEMENT? One question you might be asking is how do you even go about getting a good work experience placement in the first place? Well the good news is that although work experience isn’t compulsory on the national curriculum any more, most schools do offer students the opportunity to do a placement for one or two weeks as they see real value in it. And if your school doesn’t, then don’t be afraid to ask. Quite often, the world of work can be a case of who you know and not just what you know. And that can be scary if you don’t know anyone who can help you – or if you don’t know where t

o start. One thing you can do is start to build an account on LinkedIn that will enable you to showcase your skills and connect with people who might be interested in offering work experience placements. You can also go along to careers fairs and work experience events and then connect with the people you meet on LinkedIn to keep in contact and organise a placement. Finally, don’t be afraid to write letters to companies that catch your eye – there is no harm in asking. Just remember to tell them why you’re a great fit for their company and what skills you bring with you.

HAPPY JOB HUNTING!

To contact Tiana about work experience placements at City & Guilds email TIANA.LOCKER@CITYANDGUILDS.COM WWW.CITYANDGUILDS.COM 51

Cyber security

Technical Engineer

Software Developer

Average salary

£57,500pa

£35,000pa

£40,000pa

WANT TO GET INTO TECH? See where City & Guilds could take you . . . For jobs like these and hundreds more, City & Guilds has a study option that’s right for you. We have full time college courses like the City & Guilds TechBac which can lead to on-the-job learning with our apprenticeships. Employers have told us exactly what skills they need so you can be sure you’ll be learning the right things to land your dream job. Our courses can also help you get to uni or into a higher apprenticeship equivalent to a Foundation or Bachelor’s Degree.

Find out more about the wide range of digital carers City & Guilds can help you access. Visit www.cityandguilds.com

Are you looking for valuable

work experience within a real business environment? At the City & Guilds Group we are committed to supporting people aged 14-25 to take their first step into the workplace. 53

SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL MARKETING

APPRENTICESHIPS

APPLY NOW

I WANT TO

BE INSPIRED

We have lots of exciting opportunities to work locally or in creative marketing agencies in London. Salaries range from £200 / £300 per week. You will be able to develop your skills whilst working with industry experts.

HAVERING COLLEGE

For more details call: 01708 462 787

www.havering-college.ac.uk 54

In partnership with:

VIEW FROM THE TOP Mayor of London’s Digital Talent Programme

igital skills will be essential for all future jobs. That’s why the new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is investing £5million to help young Londoners take advantage of the digital economy. The Mayor’s Digital Talent Pipeline will help young Londoners into exciting careers in digital, technology and creative roles. City businesses are eager to invest in bright, young talent from a wide range of backgrounds and increase the number of women in their workforce. This means there are more opportunities than ever before! Keep an eye out for new opportunities including courses, apprenticeships, work experience and events coming your way in 2017.

Catherine Knivett Principal Policy Officer Digital Skills Mayor of London’s Office

www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/business-and-economy/ science-and-technology/smart-london/mayor-and-tech/ digital-talent

THINK. CREATE. DEVELOP. WITH ADA, THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS Ada, the National College for Digital Skills, is England’s first new Further Education College since 1993, based in Tottenham Hale. Our mission is to work with industry to design and deliver an education that empowers all its students, especially women and those from lowincome backgrounds, to progress into highly skilled digital roles and lead flourishing lives. At Ada we provide many paths. And with the digital sector in epic growth, hungry to fill 130,000 tech jobs every year in the UK alone,

these paths are bursting with opportunity. For students 16-19, our sixth form gets you to the next level. You’ll complete the core Ada curriculum, a BTEC in computing designed and co-delivered with industry plus complementary A-Levels. For students 19+, Ada is launching its 2-year Higher Level Apprenticeship Programme in 2017 with intakes in May and October. Our unique curriculum is focused on creating a new generation of high quality entry-level software engineers with the technical, creative and entrepreneurial skillsets to meet industry’s evolving needs. Forget theory, this is proper hands-on learning, using the very latest in technology and equipment. Curious? Come to one of our events and apply now at www.adacollege.org.uk to join us.

london.gov.uk

DIGITAL

INTERNSHIPS. APPRENTICESHIPS. JOBS. Flick the page to the digital directory, pick your favourite and get applying. YOUR CAREER STARTS HEREâ&#x20AC;¦

COURSES

DIGITAL D I R E C T O R Y

DIGITAL DIRECTORY

COURSES

JOBS

DIGITAL D I R E C T O R Y

Your startup, supported Affordable London workspaces with business advice & mentoring in a supportive community.

Two brilliant central London locations near Bank and Old Street offering all the below... Great value • Affordable workspace • Flexible memberships • Meeting rooms included

New business support • Entrepreneur mentors • Financial, Legal & IP advice • 100+ other startups

Purpose over profit • Not for profit • Bursary programme • Education programme

It’s hard to think outside the box when you’re stuck in one Theo, Founder of Biztour, on struggling to remain motivated and inspired when working from home.

www.bathtub2boardroom.com 60Bathtub_Flyer_vertical AT.indd

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DIGITAL DIRECTORY

JOBS

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER (paid intern) You are passionate about social. In fact, you live social. You’re using the latest platforms, getting the ins and outs and you can see how Social is changing the media landscape. But you’ve got an extra edge: you can see how it’s changing business and you’re keen to help a growing digital agency take Social to the the next level for us and for our clients. Want to ﬁnd out more?

www.visu.al/careers

#SOUNDGOOD

SELLING MUSIC

hungry and humble salespeople email harley@ambie.fm

VOLO helps students develop the necessary skills to become successful members of the workforce of the future. Locate skilled volunteering activities, track your impact and connect with socially minded companies for job opportunities.

DO GOOD. BUILD SKILLS. GET AHEAD.

Become a VOLO volunteer today! 61

CAREERCAMP SUPERCHARGE YOUR SKILLS AND FAST-TRACK YOUR CAREER

TECHMIX CAREER CAMP: Personally meet hiring employers Learn new digital skills Showcase your talent

LONDON’S 5-DAY FAST-TRACK PROGRAMME TO DEVELOP YOUR DIGITAL SKILLS AND CONNECT YOU TO LEADING TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYERS

Work in iconic buildings Develop networking skills Build confidence and have fun!

Spend each day working at a different head office of a leading digital company in iconic buildings across London. Learn about digital marketing in the gherkin. Present your business idea to business directors. Meet the CEOs of global corporations.

Michelle, August 2016

Rajan, September 2016

Ilana, October 2016

“Techmix Career Camp has helped me so much. The briefs and challenges set at each company across the week taught me about the design process of creating user experiences and apps and the experience of working in a team. The work I produced was great content for my portfolio, which has helped me to secure a job in UX design.”

“The importance of learning programme languages such as HTML, Python and Java is no really clear. It is a highly sought after skill by many employers, and having this makes you stand out in the highly competitive job market. Throughout the week I also developed confidence and skills in presentations and creative thinking.”

“Thanks to Techmix Career Camp, I have started to build a professional portfolio to showcase my work to employers. The networking sessions were a great introduction to the world of tech, and receiving positive feedback was a huge confidence boost, inspiring me try harder at the next.”

Paul Frampton, CEO, Havas Media Group, May 2016 “Really impressive work from a fantastic group of candidates. Can’t wait for the next one.”

GET INVOLVED

Contact Programme Manager Abdul Ali on Abdul@techmixmag.com

NEXT EDITI

TRANSPOR

GET AHEAD, GET TECHMIX – SUBSCRIBE NOW! Techmix Magazine reports only on the things that matter most:

Technology and Innovation. Business and Careers. Creativity and Success. We are here to inform and to inspire. The content of Techmix is gently mapped to the curriculum to compliment studies and provoke interest outside the classroom. It is created to support educators and bridge the gap between education and industry.

TEACHERS – KEEP INSPIRING! SUBSCRIBE YOUR SCHOOL NOW. Sign up for an annual subscription to Techmix Magazine and have class sets of 30 copies of the next 4 issues delivered to your school for only £120 EMAIL SUBSCRIBE@TECHMIXMAG.COM NOW

Together we can inspire passion in the next generation.

If you’re a school, college, university or community group, and want to connect with companies in the technology, digital, media and creative industries who are looking to inspire the younger generation and hire fresh new talent.

LOOKING AHEAD

WWW.TECHMIXMAG.COM

5 NORTH

6 SOUTH

DIGITAL SKILLS FESTIVAL | UPLOAD LIVE FREEFORMERS 10TH EDITION!

LARGE HADRON COLLIDER UPDATE

Freeformers are hosting a day of hands-on workshops in an amazing interactive festival of digital. You’ll start coding and prototyping your very own app, learn how to conquer the web, and also learn how to protect yourself online. Freeformers’ mission: to create the future workforce, now. Lift Islington, 45 White Lion Street, London, N1 9PW Sat 3 December 2016 09.30 – 1700 Free www.freeformers.com

TURING LECTURE: STATS, DECISION MAKING AND PRIVACY In this Turing Lecture, the UK’s National Statistician, John Pullinger, explains how data is helping us make better decisions about our futures, and asks important questions about data ethics and security. After this, Microsoft Research’s Cynthia Dwork will discuss the challenges of privacy and how we can combat them. The Alan Turing Institute, British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB Mon 5 December 2016 13:30 – 17:00 GMT Free www.turing.ac.uk/events

An open lecture where John Nash, the head of the Department of Physics at Imperial College London, will talk about how the Higgs boson was found at CERN, what experiments have been done since, and what might lie ahead. Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ Thursday 8th December 2016 19:00 £12 www.friendsofimperial.org.uk

BRIAN COX PANEL DEBATE: MACHINE LEARNING AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE How and when will machines be able to explain themselves? Should we be worrying about an artificial intelligence taking over our world or are there bigger and more imminent challenges that advances in machine learning are presenting here and now? Join Professor Brian Cox as he puts your questions on machine learning to a panel of experts. Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AG Tuesday 10 January 2017 19.30 – 21.00 £10 - £15 www.royalsociety.org

EMAIL: EVENTS@TECHMIXMAG.COM

4 EAST

3 WEST

ROBOTS VS HUMANITY

DEMYSTIFYING TECH JOBS WITH FDM

Join robot engineers, inventors, psychologists and entrepreneurs as

An inspirational and revolutionary new type of career fair educating young people on jobs within the creative industries. Covent Garden 6th November 2016 Free www.ericfestival.com

they explore the future of robots, assistive technology and humanity. Campus London, 4-5 Bonhill Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4BX Thu 1 December 2016 19:00 – 22:00 GMT Free www.chiron.org.uk

TECHPITCH 4.5 The evening will feature a keynote presentation followed by eight tech startups presenting their business ideas and revenue models during a three-minute pitch, then a five minute Q&A by a panel of judges. A winner will be scored by the judges, and there will be a general vote to pick the audience favourite. The Auditorium, Pinsent Masons, 30 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4ES 31st January 2017 18.30 – 22.00 £22.50 – £34.50 www.4pt5.co.uk/workshop.html

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER WORKSHOP A workshop based around the concept of “software-carpentry” which will allow participants to build their own models with guidance from the presenters, ensuring first-hand familiarisation with the implications and benefits of a model-driven approach. Wellcome Collection Conference Centre, 183 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2BE 2nd December 2016 9.00 – 18.00 Free www.pericles-project.eu

Shaping the Future of the Network Infrastructure Industry INTRODUCING THE INDUSTRY APPROVED CERTIFICATION FOR THE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR

The Certified Network Cable Installer (CNCI®) program is a globally recognised education program that has been approved and specified by the industry as the must have operational level certification. The CNCI® Program: u Is just one of the renowned programs from the Global Data Centre and Network Infrastructure Education Framework u Is the industry approved certification for those within the network cabling industry u Certifies skills to an approved, advanced standard and demonstrates the highest levels of knowledge, skills and expertise u Provides confidence in the market that you will deliver consistent quality of service u Is a comprehensive 10-day program encompassing the very latest technical information

u Includes in-depth theory and practical knowledge of preparing, installing, testing, troubleshooting and fault finding copper and fibre systems u Is endorsed by many manufacturers, installers, consultants and associations as the new ‘must have’ official certification for the industry u Successful completion of the program provides: u u u u

Official CNCI® certification Use of the CNCI® post nominal letters i.e. Martin Smith CNCI Provides use of the official CNCI® logo Two Level 3 BTEC qualifications

Delivered by CNet Training - The Global Leader of Technical Training and Education for the Data Centre & Network Infrastructure Sectors info@cnet-training.com | +44 (0) 1284 767100 | www.cnet-training.com

CNCI_297x210 Print.indd 1

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What You Study Matters Computer science opens doors to careers across industries like no other subject. Master must-have skills and enhance your academic experience with industry-leading software, Java development environments, curriculum, and certifications.

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