A New analytics training academy launched in Belfast will help upskill graduates for jobs in this growth sector of the ICT industry.
Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry, did the honours in conjunction with the Belfast studio of the professional services firm, Deloitte. The Deloitte Analytics Training Academy aims to provide graduates with the skills and experience required to take up new opportunities being created by Deloitte in analytics.
The Minister said: “The ICT Action Plan challenges Government to help match the skills of the workforce with the skills our employers need. This new innovative Deloitte Analytics Training Academy is an excellent example of how we are doing exactly that.
“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 require to help our companies and the local economy grow.
“This programme proves that Government and our further education colleges can respond quickly to design a bespoke programme to fill a skills gap identified by business.” This pilot programme has been designed by the Department for Employment and Learning, Deloitte and Belfast Metropolitan College under the Assured Skills initiative. Targeting degree graduates from any discipline, the academy will offer an intensive nine-week training programme to 20 successful applicants who will gain an industry recognised qualification and a potential offer of employment with Deloitte.
The Minister continued: “The results of the Academy style approach have been outstanding. For example with the Software Testers Academy some 92% of the participants, who were all from non-IT backgrounds, secured ongoing employment in software testing.
“Following on from this success, we expect similar results with the Analytics Training Academy, and I would encourage any unemployed graduate to consider a career in the vibrant and growing local ICT sector.”