Dodds announces 20 high quality training places with FinTrU in the north west

Date published: 09 March 2021

Economy Minister Diane Dodds has launched a new FinTrU North West Assured Skills Academy offering 20 high quality training places for people with degrees.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds
Economy Minister Diane Dodds

The Assured Skills Academy will offer a four-week intensive online training course to develop core skills for the business services sector. Participants who complete the training are guaranteed an interview for a role at FinTrU’s NW Centre of Excellence.

Highlighting the opportunity, the Minister said:

“FinTrU is a successful business services provider and a major employer in the north west. This Assured Skills Academy offers people with degrees the opportunity to position themselves strongly for a career in what is an exciting and fast-paced sector, with no experience needed.

“I encourage anyone who meets the eligibility criteria, and who is interested, to apply.”

The Minister added:

“Skills development has a key role to play in the economic recovery. I am keen to bring forward as many initiatives in this sector as possible, to offer training opportunities to people to help boost their career chances.

“Assured Skills Academies have a track record of success in securing employment for those who complete them and my officials are continuing to work hard to bring through more Academies in the near future.”

Greg McCann, Executive Director and Head of FinTrU North West, said:

 “The FinTrU North West Financial Services Academy is a fantastic opportunity for those who have recently graduated or wish to change career to an exciting industry. We are looking for those who are ambitious and want to work on the global investment banking stage with FinTrU. No experience is required to apply for this programme.

“Last year saw over 300 people join FinTrU, with many coming through our Financial Services Academies. FinTrU has recently been named by the Financial Times as one of the fastest growing companies in Europe and our Financial Services Academy offers applicants the opportunity to join our journey right here in the north west.”

The online training course will be delivered by North West Regional College and Ulster University and will cover areas including compliance, risk, legal, operations, Know Your Customer (KYC) and consultancy. Participants will also receive £155 per week training allowance.

Sinead Hawkins, Business Skills Manager at North West Regional College, said:

“We are delighted to continue working with FinTrU to deliver the new online academy model. These academies are supporting the financial services industry and are providing quality job opportunities. At this time of economic downturn these academies provide hope and career direction for many individuals.”

Michael Pogue, Senior Lecturer in Financial Services at Ulster University Business School, added:

“Ulster University, alongside partners FinTrU, the Department for the Economy and North West Regional College, have worked together to combine further education and industry expertise to create more opportunities for graduates in the north west and a vital skills pipeline to support the growing fintech industry in Northern Ireland. 

“There is an extremely high level of talent in the area and the Assured Skills Academy has been formulated to ensure by the end of the course, participants will be newly equipped with industry-relevant skills and the knowledge to help them secure employment amid the current economic climate.”

Applications for the latest FinTrU North West Assured Skills Academy are open until 31 March 2021. No experience is required but applicants must hold a 2:2 degree or better in any discipline.

Telephone interviews will be held 7-8 April 2021. Those who progress to the second stage will have a video interview conducted 13-15 April. Training will start on 26 April 2021.

For more information and to apply visit nidirect

Notes to editors: 

  1. Assured Skills is a pre-employment training programme run by the Department for the Economy. More information is available on the DfE website
  2. Follow us on Twitter @Economy_NI  
  3. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk
  4. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

Share this page

Back to top