A TRAINING academy has celebrated its first batch of successful graduates.
Seventeen students successfully completed the Deloitte Analytics Training Academy (DATA) and have graduated with the skills and accredited qualifications identified by Deloitte for new job opportunities in their Belfast office.
DATA is a Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) initiative involving a nine week intensive training programme targeted at graduates, developed jointly by DEL, Deloitte and Belfast Metropolitan College.
Speaking at an awards ceremony for the graduates the Minister for Employment and Learning, Stephen Farry said: “The ICT sector is the driving force of a globally competitive economy, underpinning innovation, competitiveness and long-term prosperity. It is imperative that we support this sector locally to enhance the quality of our workforce, maximise employment opportunities and give our businesses a competitive edge in the global market place.
“The academy model has been very successful and is now being offered in a number of areas, including data analytics, software testing and cloud technologies. It is also being further developed to meet employer demands in other sectors. We have a vast wealth of skills and qualifications among those who are currently out of work, and the academy model is an extremely effective way of harnessing those skills, and vital in encouraging economic growth in Northern Ireland.”
Garry Carpenter, operations manager at Deloitte Analytics, Belfast, said: “Analytics is a key growth area for Deloitte in Belfast and we have big plans to develop a team of professionals who are passionate about providing analytical insight to better help our clients with their ever increasing data challenges in this fast changing technological age.
We knew the talent existed in Northern Ireland and that we needed an innovative approach to tap into graduates of all disciplines. The academy has more than exceeded our expectations in regards to the quality of the programme and the calibre of the candidates taking part.
It has been a hugely positive experience and Deloitte are very proud to have been associated with the project.”