Lyons announces 20 high quality training places on Assured Skills Academy with Version 1
Date published:
Economy Minister Gordon Lyons today announced 20 training places on a new Assured Skills Academy with IT services provider Version 1.
Successful applicants to the Department for the Economy’s fully funded Assured Skills Academy will receive eight weeks of industry-relevant pre-employment training at Belfast Metropolitan College. Completing the Academy guarantees an interview for a role with Version 1 in Belfast.
The Minister said:
“I am delighted to announce the third Version 1 Assured Skills Academy in partnership with Belfast Met. Twenty people will receive high quality training that will help prepare them for a professional career in the dynamic local IT services sector.
“My Department’s Assured Skills Academies offer participants the skills that they and employers need to flourish and grow within the IT sector. Version 1 offers IT services to a variety of global brands, and to do so the company needs people with specialist skills.
“Anyone interested and eligible should apply for the high-quality, well-paid positions available.”
Lorna McAdoo, Director of Operations Version 1 NI, said:
“This is our third Assured Skills Academy following on from the hugely successful Academies this year. These Assured Skills Academies will continue to run over the next two years and represent our ongoing commitment to Northern Ireland and our ambition to be one of the most successful IT companies here. Investment in local tech who can help our customers accelerate their digital transformation is paramount to this ambition.”
Participants in the Version 1 Assured Skills Academy will study areas including Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, Cyber Security, Software Testing, Design Thinking and programming languages including .net and C#.
Experience is not required but applicants must hold at least a 2:2 degree in any discipline, or a level 5 qualification in an ICT or STEM Subject.
Louise Warde Hunter, Principal and Chief Executive of Belfast Met, said:
“Belfast Met is delighted to deliver this series of Assured Skills Academies in partnership with DfE and Version 1. Participants will receive the most up-to-date, industry-relevant training in this growing sector, equipping them to gain employment after completing the course to kick start their careers, vital to our economy.”
Applications for the third Version 1 Assured Skills Academy are open now and close on Monday 18 July. Training for successful applicants will run from Monday 5 September 2022 to Friday 28 October.
For more information and details on how to apply visit the Assured Skills Academies page on the nidirect website.
Notes to editors:
1. More information on Version 1 is available on their website.
2. Assured Skills is a pre-employment training programme run by the Department for the Economy. More information on Assured Skills is available on the Assured Skills Programme is available on the Department's website.
3. To keep up to date with news from the Department you can follow us on the following social media channels:
- Twitter – @Economy_NI
- Facebook – @EconomyNI
- Skills to Succeed Facebook
- Instagram – economy_ni
- LinkedIn – Department for the Economy NI
4. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk .
5. 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.