Children and young people across Warwickshire are preparing for a tech-driven future and having plenty of fun in the process with the launch of new computing and tech clubs and classes from award-winning children's activity provider, ComputerXplorers.

Ashley Marks, aged 36, is bringing hands-on computing, coding, and digital skills to children across the region with classes accessible to children of all abilities.

ComputerXplorers Warwickshire offers an educational programme of after-school clubs, in-school workshops, classes, themed learning days, school holiday camps and weekend academies.

Children learn coding, app building, 3D animation and modelling, Minecraft, robotics and game design. Ashley launched the business in May this year. ComputerXplorers Warwickshire holiday clubs ran across five of the six weeks of the summer break, welcoming 20 local children each day to sessions designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and introduce digital skills in a fun, accessible way.

"I've coached kids' football as a volunteer for many years as well as multisports coaching in school PE and after-school sessions. Combining working with children and technology just felt like the perfect fit," said Ashley.

"I've had parents tell me they've been searching for a STEM or coding club for ages, and schools often say they don't have the time, staff or budget to run what we offer themselves. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and our holiday camps this summer went down so well with both kids and parents."

Ashley previously spent over a decade working in operations management for an electronics manufacturer supplying control systems for lifts.

He and his wife are currently in the process of adopting, and looking ahead to a more family-focused future, he's enjoying the flexibility and purpose of working with children and tech.

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ComputerXplorers Warwickshire is now running after-school clubs at local schools and community venues, including Kineton C of E Primary School in Warwick, The Thorns Infant School in Kenilworth and Park Hill Junior School and David Lloyd Gym in Coventry, plus weekend academy classes at Kings High School, Warwick.

There are also sessions being delivered in partnership with the children's charity Barnardo's at Claremont Children and Family Centre in Rugby. Stuart Harley, Managing Director at ComputerXplorers, said: "Ashley's business experience and qualifications, coupled with his previous experience delivering activities for children, makes him a fantastic addition to our ComputerXplorers family.

"We look forward to working with him to bring our classes to the children of Warwickshire. "ComputerXplorers equips our youngsters with the key technology skills for future career paths, some of which may not even exist yet.

"We help children learn to create, rather than just consume technology and at the heart of that is fun, curiosity and capturing their imaginations."

Ashley is looking forward to welcoming new children to after-school clubs and academy classes this month, with Warwickshire schools and nurseries also able to book in-school workshops and classes.

October half-term holiday clubs are also now booking at Houlton School, Rugby and Kings High School, Warwick. The parents of a child who attended one of ComputerXplorers Warwickshire's recent holiday club commented: "This was my daughter's second class - for her to attend anything twice is unusual so it's a true sign that she was very happy and comfortable that she has been again.

"It's such an accessible and accepting environment."

Warwickshire parents who want to find where ComputerXplorers is nearby, or a school or community partner looking to host or book clubs, workshops or classes, should visit here.

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To mark National Coding Week, Ashley is encouraging teachers, parents and community group leaders to introduce children to coding with the help of a free resource available here.