Episode Guest:

Nick Bent is the CEO of upReach, a UK-based social mobility charity helping university students from less-advantaged backgrounds secure top graduate jobs. With a background spanning government, business, and the third sector, Nick co-founded upReach to level the playing field for talented young people.

German Bencci is the CEO and founder of CodeYourFuture, a volunteer-driven organisation training individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to launch successful careers in tech. Originally from Venezuela, German built CodeYourFuture into a global community offering accessible, flexible, and impactful tech education.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:41 Why mentoring and informal conversations matter

1:26 Meet Nick Bent and German Bencci

2:03 First jobs and early career lessons

4:00 Nick's pivot from law to public policy

5:00 German's journey from Venezuela to Europe

6:42 Taking leaps before you're ready

7:49 The power of asking for help

8:13 How mentors shaped Nick and German

9:32 Why in-person learning still matters

11:00 Role models and mindset shifts

12:02 Mentorship at CodeYourFuture and upReach

13:37 From volunteering to founding a charity

16:03 Turning passion into full-time purpose

17:31 Spotting a gap and launching CodeYourFuture

19:02 How young people can start volunteering

21:03 Volunteering as work experience

22:54 The real value of giving your time

24:04 What upReach does for young people

25:26 The graduate job gap and social mobility

27:36 How CodeYourFuture supports career changers

29:54 Removing barriers: childcare, laptops, and support

32:00 How the HG Foundation makes it possible

33:19 What is the Tech 500 programme?

35:12 VIP access to Google HQ

37:05 Restarting CodeYourFuture’s software programme

39:52 How corporate partners can get involved

42:31 Paid internships and practical pathways

44:59 Final question: What's your duvet flip?

Episode Partners:

Hg Foundation

Together with The Hg Foundation, we’re on a mission to motivate and inspire young people like you to explore, or even start a career in technology through inspirational talks from industry.

https://bit.ly/4mwzRGs

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CEO at CodeYourFuture & CEO at upReach:

My Duvet Flip by Jack Parsons