Creating a more diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem is the mission of TechMeUp. Despite the fact that many people are eager to improve their skills and retrain to become tech professionals, not everyone has the financial means to do so. That's why TechMeUp offers interest-free loans to motivated students, giving more people access to a tech education.
Saskia Verstege, Interim Director of TechMeUp, says, "We partner with seventeen IT training providers. When students enroll in a tech course and realize it will be financially challenging, the training providers refer them to TechMeUp. When we look at the demographics of the students we help, the average age is 34, almost 60% are women, and about 80% are from immigrant backgrounds.
"Almost 60% of our students are women, and about 80% are from immigrant backgrounds." - Saskia Verstege
"We offer interest-free loans to students with an average of €4,500, depending on their needs. This loan can be used to cover the cost of the course itself, as well as living expenses during the course. For many people, finances are an obstacle to (re)starting their studies, as they may have to work less or not at all, while still paying their mortgage or rent. With the help of a loan from TechMeUp, these financial concerns are alleviated. After completing their education and finding a job, they gradually repay the loan amount in installments. With the money repaid, we help new students retrain."
Results
HeadFirst Group supports TechMeUp with a financial contribution. Thanks to this contribution, eleven students received TechMeUp student loans in 2023. Nine of the students are still studying, and two have since graduated. In addition to the achievements made possible by HeadFirst Group's contribution, TechMeUp helped another 140 students last year with an interest-free loan. "Besides making the tech world more diverse, our work also contributes to students' financial self-sufficiency. The average salary of students before receiving a loan is €1,100, and the average salary after completing a tech training program is €2,884."
Future
"By 2024, we aim to help two hundred students with loans. In addition, we are committed to helping everyone get a job after graduation." TechMeUp's interest-free loans help more people access tech education and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem.
"We aim to help two hundred students by 2024, with 'a job for everyone' as our main goal."
Want to read more about how we at HeadFirst Group contribute to diversity, inclusion and other social issues? Download the 2023 Annual Report here.