Groves Solutions

12/09/2025

Windows 10 Sunset
Worried about Microsoft sunsetting Windows 10 in October? Want to find a way to keep using your expensive hardware without paying for un-required upgrades? We can help you install a Linux operating system and train you and your staff how to use it.

Tired of paying a subscription to just do word processing, simple spreadsheets and email? We can help you install Open Source alternatives which have similar functionality but zero costs. Why pay more?

03/09/2025

Learning online, on your own is tough. A majority of online learners do not complete their courses. We believe that, with some learner-led offline support, the motivation and confidence to continue with learning can be maintained.

On Thursday 11th September 2025 we will be re-launching our Code Canteen events. Canteen visitors will have access to two hours of support and collaborative learning. Mentors and fellow learners will be available in a virtual chat room to assist anyone self-teaching online. Support can be provided for learning of coding (especially Python) and its use in data analysis and some AI.

Canteens will be open on Thursday evenings from 5 pm to 7 pm, in our virtual online space (Spatial Chat), with a very small fee to reserve a place.

To book a place at a Canteen table, visit the Code Canteen event page (bring your own drink and snacks)

Photo by Ra Dragon on Unsplash

-paced

01/09/2025

Check out Code Canteen!

Supporting digital talent

Our mission at futureCoders is to empower young people to pursue careers in software development, particularly those facing disadvantages. We aim to ease the transition from education into the industry, addressing the significant shortage of qualified professionals in this challenging field.

We believe that there is a wealth of untapped talent among young people from diverse backgrounds, often stifled by a lack of opportunity. Various factors contribute to this, including geographical location where adequate technical digital learning provision, especially beyond A-level, is often scarce. Even when opportunities exist, barriers such as lack of transport, parental support, financial resources, or necessary participation support can prevent young people from accessing them.

We have witnessed the incredible dedication of self-taught programmers and those who have independently funded their bootcamp education. Our goal is to provide young adults with the skills and confidence to pursue careers they are passionate about.

To further this mission, we are re-launching Code Canteen on September 11th, 2025. This regular virtual event will run every Thursday evening from 5 pm to 7 pm, offering two hours of support and collaborative learning. Mentors and fellow learners will be available in a virtual chat room to assist anyone self-teaching online. A small fee will be charged for these bookable sessions, representing a worthwhile investment in their future.

(Bookable sessions link: https://lnkd.in/eB3CC73G)

28/07/2025

We are really excited to be working with our two market research interns, with us as part of the b-Experienced programme run by Birmingham University.

We asked Ashley and Sophie to sum up how they had found the first week. Here’s what they said:

“It has truly been an incredible experience so far working with Karen and the rest of the team and I have already learned so much. I look forward to learning and developing even more in the upcoming weeks.” (Ashley)

“It’s been a really rewarding first week at futureCodersSE! I’ve been diving into market research to better understand how non-profit organisations engage with impact measurement tools — exploring what helps, what hinders, and where improvements can make a real difference. I’ve loved working on research and contributing my ideas to the team. Looking forward to what’s ahead!” (Sophie)

They have already contributed some valuable insights and we look forward to working with them to help us to gain valuable insights into the digital needs of micro and small not-for-profits.

Internships by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free

28/07/2025

Do you hear the cooling fan(s) on your laptop or desktop more than you used to? We cleaned a MacBook Pro today which was struggling to breathe to the absolute delight of the owner.
Be aware, you often need specialist tools to open computers and you need to clean very carefully to avoid causing damage - it’s not just a case of squirting air everywhere…
Give us a call if we can help getting your computer breathing clearly again!

07/07/2025

We needed to create an Excel automation (triggered by Power Automate) to wrangle some formulæ on-the-fly for a valued Customer. Things have changed a lot in this area and a flavour of JavaScript (known variously as Office Script, ExcelScript or TypeScript) is the norm. This is far more powerful than the old VBA model and we are pleased with how the finished script performs.

04/07/2025

You should see what these guys have been up to! 😄😄😄

04/07/2025

The first of three signs for a lovely new Customer.

04/07/2025

Monitoring Costs and Reporting Insights in Web Applications

When building a web application, there's more to consider than just keeping it functional. For public-facing apps, clients often want usage reports and user demographic insights. For internal tools like CRMs, summarising customer activity becomes key.

But across all cases, one factor remains critical: cost.

Cloud hosting, such as with services like AWS, comes with a mix of fixed and usage-based charges. These can add up quickly if left unmonitored. At futureCoders, we understand the importance of closely tracking these costs and delivering clear, actionable reports to our clients.

Using AWS Cost Explorer’s API, we automate the collection of cost and usage data across all services tied to an application. This allows us to:

* Track daily usage and spending per service
* Monitor trends over time
* Calculate and forecast monthly costs

By automating this process, we ensure that clients receive just the right level of detail, whether that’s a simple monthly overview or in-depth breakdowns by service or user activity. Smart cost monitoring helps drive smarter decisions.

04/07/2025

ALL IN?

If you are in a ‘good job’, what opportunities did you have that allowed you to get there?

The UK Industrial Strategy's focus on digital, technology, and data skills is encouraging. It aims to align skills with industry needs, encourage employer investment in training, and support growth in cities and clusters.

While not central, diversity and inclusion oversight is hoped for, as excluding a significant portion of the population from "good jobs" (fairly paid, purposeful, skill-developing roles) limits growth. Access to these jobs requires comprehensive education, training, cultural experiences, and support for all, regardless of background. A good industrial strategy ensures nationwide access to opportunity.

futureCoders helps by offering diverse, project-based learning to open doors to "good jobs."

Photo by Ann H: https://www.pexels.com/photo/dream-big-work-hard-label-on-black-background-3546358/