In today’s NiJobfinder more than 50 ICT apprenticeship places are available as part of a new scheme.
The Public/Private ICT Apprenticeship Scheme, involving government and a number of local ICT employers, will see over 50 individuals recruited as apprentices and taking up various software development and IT infrastructure roles in both the public and private sector. Nine private sector, seven Government Departments and three public sector organisations are participating in the programme.
This is the second year of the scheme following its initial launch in August of last year. The pilot scheme proved successful with32 apprentices being employed in the local ICT industry throughout a number of private sector companies and the public sector.
The Minister for Employment and Learning, Stephen Farry said: “The ICT sector is of critical importance to the growth of the Northern Ireland economy and to achieving the aims set out in the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy. If we are to realise the ICT sector’s full potential, it is clear that more needs to be done to improve the match between the skills of those people in the workforce and the skills our employers need to help our companies grow.”
The scheme will allow the successful recruits the opportunity to develop skills, achieve qualifications and enhance their career prospects while helping employers develop their business and raise the prosperity of Northern Ireland.
Minister Farry concluded: “The Executive is committed to supporting young people into employment by providing skills and training. This innovative apprenticeship scheme presents an excellent opportunity to offer young people an exciting career in ICT and to ensure that when they are seeking employment they have the necessary skills to take advantage of potential opportunities. In addition this consolidated approached by the public and private sector demonstrates that we can work effectively together for the betterment of Northern Ireland.”
For information on how to apply for the apprenticeships turn to page 44 of today’s NiJobfinder.
Meanwhile unemployment rates have decreased in Northern Ireland in the last quarter.
Official figures show the unemployment rate for the period April-July 2013 decreased by 0.7 percentage points to 7.5%.
Other figures for July 2013 show that the number of unemployment benefit claimants decreased by 500 over the month., contributing to the total fall of 2,500 in the claimant figures over the last 6 months.
Commenting on the figures, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: “The decrease in the Northern Ireland unemployment rate to below that of the UK (7.8%) is welcome. This also compares favourably to the equivalent rates in the European Union (11.0%) and Republic of Ireland (13.6%).
“The more recent unemployment benefit figures for July continue to show encouraging signs as this is the sixth consecutive monthly decrease, the first time this level of sustained decrease has occurred for nearly six years. “