Retraining as a web developer

[schmalex]

I am thinking about retraining as a web developer. Has anyone done this? Is it possible to get work after building your own portfolio even if you don't have direct work experience? What is the best route for training?

For background, I previously worked in finance so did modelling in Excel and I am logically minded. I have a maths degree and enjoy coding. I have built my own website using Wordpress but I'd like to be able to design my own themes rather than using somebody else's.

My DP did this. He first taught himself basic code & Wordpress but struggled to get jobs as the only real sites he found were things like peopleperhour which pay pennies. In the end he did a masters in Creative Technologies so that he could learn at a higher level. Through one of his projects he met a web designer who offered him work as a freelancer, he still works for him now 5 years later as well as a number of other clients. It's definitely possible!