Free week-long courses are being held during the school holiday teaching youngsters in London’s East End how to build apps for Facebook, smartphones and the web.

Entrepreneurs from high-tech companies around Old Street are involved in the project at Bethnal Green’s Rich Mix arts centre for youngsters from 14 to 18 to learn skills to prepare them for the jobs market when they leave school.

The ‘Devcamp’ basic coding skills project at the centre in Bethnal Green Road is running until August 31, supported by the Mayor of London. It has returned after a successful pilot last year.