Sophie Metcalf spent 15 years in education before deciding to become a software developer. She's just become our first Tech Track apprentice to complete the Level 4 Software Developer Apprenticeship with Distinction.
Justice Digital, Data & Science (JDDS) Decision
JDDS was the first department to back TechTrack - committing to the programme's first cohort before it had a single graduate or result to point to.
The department's case for taking that risk was straightforward: TechTrack doesn't require candidates to already have technical skills, only the right aptitude. That upskilling model is what convinced Justice Digital to get involved, as Emma Stephens, Digital Talent Specialist at MOJ Justice Digital, explains:
"I was instantly drawn to it, mainly because of the upskilling opportunities and the fact that you didn't have to have skills already - the candidates just needed the right aptitude."
Emma Stephens, Digital Talent Specialist at MOJ Justice Digital
Getting the department's bid approved wasn't simple. Headcount and contracting held things up before a joint effort across JDDS, GDS and Makers got it over the line - work that has since made the process considerably easier for the departments that followed. JDDS also saw the potential of bringing more women into the engineering profession where they were under-represented, and it suported building a workforce that better reflects the public it serves.
Why Tech
After a rewarding 15-year career in education, Sophie was ready for something new:
"I was in a place in my life where I wanted to try something new and experience a different way of working, so I made the decision to make a big career change and move into the world of tech."
Sophie Metcalf, Junior Software Engineer at Justice Digital
She spent time talking to other developers - including some who, like her, had switched careers - before deciding software development was something she could see herself doing and enjoying. She was drawn in particular to the problem-solving side of the job, and felt her previous career had given her a lot of the skills needed to thrive in it. The one gap:
"The thing that felt like the biggest barrier for me was my almost non-existent technical experience!"
She began researching tech training, and found Makers.
A Fork in the Road
Sophie hadn't seriously considered an apprenticeship before - nothing she'd seen previously felt like the right fit. TechTrack was different:
"I immediately felt like TechTrack was something that I would be really suited to as it would enable me to build more on my previous experience (especially the leadership elements), and I also really liked the idea of working for the Civil Service as I knew it would enable me to get involved in meaningful and important work."
She applied into TechTrack's very first cohort, where competition for places was fierce. It paid off: she was accepted, and got her first choice of placement - the Ministry of Justice.
Starting the Programme
"The Maker's bootcamp was a brilliant experience; the coaches and wider team at Makers were incredibly skilled and supportive."
That support carried into placement. Starting at Justice Digital came with the usual first-day nerves, but they didn't last - a warm welcome from her new team had Sophie contributing to real work within weeks.
"I quickly realised that I knew more than I thought I did."
Beyond the Distinction
Building a portfolio alongside live placement work pushed Sophie to take on roles and tasks she might not otherwise have attempted this early in a new career - and it paid off. She passed with Distinction, one of the achievements she's proudest of.
She's since moved into a new team within Justice Digital, taking on more responsibility as she builds her career in tech. It's a retention result as much as a training one: TechTrack didn't just produce a qualified developer, it kept her in the department that took the chance on her.
What This Means for Justice Digital
For Justice Digital, Sophie's result - and the strength of the wider cohort behind her - is early proof that backing the first TechTrack intake was the right call:
"The calibre of applicants we had on this first
cohort has been amazing. What they’ve learned,
considering they’ve just come in with the aptitude
and not the skill set, is fantastic."
Asked what she'd tell other departments still weighing up whether to bid for a place, Emma's answer was direct:
"Do it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain."
Get Involved
Interested in bringing TechTrack to your department?
