Borders Tech Connect: Workshop 1

A Strong Start!

May 12, 2025

Last Friday, we took the next step in building the Borders Tech Connect community with our first hands-on workshop at Borders College — and what a great session it was!

With 20 attendees — a mix of students, local businesses, and tech enthusiasts — we explored how no-code tools can empower anyone to build working digital solutions without writing a single line of code.

What We Covered

Led expertly by Oli Littlejohn, Workshop 1 introduced attendees to the fundamentals of no-code database building, using Airtable as our starting point.

During the session, participants:

Built a simple expenses management app with user roles and departments
Created multiple linked tables (Users, Expense Items, Departments)
Set up their first automations inside Airtable
Began to understand how no-code workflows mirror the logic behind traditional software development

Oli’s detailed workshop guide is available online:

Workshop 1 Resource

You can also view Oli’s workshop slides here

Slides on Canva

Some Highlights

Every attendee successfully built a working database, and many stayed curious, asking how they could extend their builds further.
The workshop atmosphere was very engaged, supportive, collaborative, and practical — exactly what Borders Tech Connect is all about.
For those ready to keep learning, we recommend exploring automations even further with this excellent resource:
Zapier Basics: Build Your First Zap

In Dale Clancy’s Words:

🚀 “Exciting innovation at Borders College supporting Borders Tech Connect! We hosted a free No Code workshop that brought together 20 enthusiastic attendees from both the College and local businesses. Participants explored a range of powerful no code tools designed to streamline workflows, boost productivity, and bring digital ideas to life — without a single line of code!”
👏 “Expertly led by Oli Littlejohn, the first session was very engaging and practical. Oli’s supportive guidance helped every participant cross the finish line of their first No Code build. With Workshop 2 just around the corner, we’re already excited to see these early concepts evolve into fully functioning apps!”
🌍 “Borders College is proud to back Borders Tech Connect — a regional movement committed to creating real opportunities for our community.”

🙌 A Huge Thank You to Borders College

We want to offer our sincere thanks to Borders College for hosting and supporting the event. Their enthusiasm, space, and encouragement made the first workshop possible — and their backing is vital to growing a sustainable, locally-rooted tech ecosystem.