A Growth Engine for the UK

Guillermo Orellana has wanted to be an Android Developer since the platform first arrived in his home country of Spain in 2009. “As soon as I saw it, I was so impressed. I already knew then that it was my vocation in life,” he says. Guillermo taught himself the basics of Android development while studying to be a sound engineer, but realised he would need to fill the gaps in his knowledge if he was ever to consider pursuing it as a career. After hearing about Udacity and Google’s co-created Android Developer Nanodegree programme, he leapt at the chance to build his practical skills and knowledge. The course gave Guillermo the opportunity to cover the aspects of Android he had been unable to teach himself, and he got valuable advice along the way. “You get really good, direct feedback. Udacity mentors look at your assignments and make comments on your code line by line,” says Guillermo. “The course also covered the soft skills I needed to get through interviews. Udacity taught me how to get hired, and I got a new job as a result.” The Nanodegree helped Guillermo secure an Android Developer role in London, at the social networking site Badoo. He is now solely responsible for creating an Android version of a new product, which involves him working with the latest technologies. “For me, the long-lasting impact is the community I built around the programme,” he says. “The course also encouraged me keep up with my blog, where I talk about different aspects of coding, which helps me keep in touch with the online community.”