Free courses in how to make mobile phone apps will soon be available to young people on the Island following the announcement of Sheppey’s first digital academy.

It will initially see vocational training in developing games for Apple mobile and tablet devices offered to young people with the long-term goal of helping them find careers in programming and even set up their own independent teams.

Matt Heaney, of Sunnyfields Drive, Minster, will be delivering the course.

He has previously taught people how to code iPhone games on his YouTube channel which has more 17,000 subscribers and 1.1 million combined views.

The 23-year-old is also the owner of Red Sneakers Gaming and Matt Heaney Apps which last year launched the successful Santa Calls You app which allows users to give their children a pretend phone call from Father Christmas.

"I think it’s the best job in the world" - Matt Heaney, programmer and course tutor

It was downloaded more than 20,000 times broke into the top 10 in Apple’s entertainment chart.

The buzz generated from in the community generated interest from people wishing to learn more about careers in the creative digital industry.

Mr Heaney said: “I would love to see young people in the area get into programming. I think it’s the best job in the world and if we can get more young people doing that and building up a digital hub on the Island I think it will be a great thing for everyone involved.”

The coder has joined forces with Andrew Deeley, founder of Innov8 on Sheppey, which helps fledgeling firms get off the ground, and youth worker Tony Duke, of Sheppey Street Studio.

The project has received £48,000 from the Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust to go towards providing equipment at the current Innov8 on Sheppey work space in the old council offices in Trinity Road, Sheerness.

It is hoped the course will be rolled out from September and there are a limited number of spaces, estimated to be around 20, available to 16 to 24-year-olds from the Island.

Tuition may be extended to those over the age of 24 in the future.

Mr Duke said: “It is clear that digital technology plays a critical role in every industry and is opening up career opportunities, especially for young people, who have a key role to play in the evolution of our digital economy.”

Mr Deeley said: “I’m particularly excited about this project because I myself started out writing computer games back in the Eighties.

“The world is going digital and mobile gaming and entertainment is a massive global market, so it is great that we can help create an environment from which hopefully much bigger opportunities will arise.”