RED Academy

RED Academy was a private technology and design school founded in 2015 by Colin Mansell and Mandy Gilbert. The academy was established to address a perceived skills gap in the technology industry, a vision Mansell was passionate about. Gilbert, already a successful entrepreneur who founded the recruitment firm Creative Niche in 2002, co-founded RED Academy with Mansell in 2015, sharing the vision of providing students with relevant, hands-on education. Mansell previously founded the digital agency Drive Digital, which he sold in 2015, and brought his experience from the agency world to the school's educational model.

The institution operated on a bootcamp model, offering intensive, full-time and part-time programs in high-demand tech fields such as digital marketing, UX/UI design, and web and app development. With campuses that eventually expanded from Vancouver to Toronto and London, RED Academy's business model was centered on tuition fees for its diploma programs, which could range from $12,000 to $21,000. The core of its educational philosophy was a project-based curriculum where students worked with real-world clients, often startups, to build a professional portfolio. This hands-on approach was designed to make graduates industry-ready, learning practical skills in subjects like HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, PHP, and Google Analytics.

The target clients were career-changers and aspiring tech professionals seeking to gain the necessary skills to enter the digital economy. The academy structured its programs to be immersive, with options like a 12-week intensive course or longer 24-week work-study programs that included a work placement. However, the academy's branded course certificates were not supported by globally recognized accreditations.

Despite initial success and positive student reviews praising its instructors and project-based learning, RED Academy faced significant financial difficulties. The company abruptly ceased operations and declared bankruptcy in March 2020, closing its campuses. The closure left students and staff with significant financial losses from unpaid tuition and salaries. Following the shutdown, founder Colin Mansell went on to establish Skills Union, a new digital learning company.

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