Murphy announces 15 high quality training places on Assured Skills Academy with Version 1

Economy Minister Conor Murphy has announced 15 training places on a new Digital Services Assured Skills Academy with IT services provider Version 1.

Version 1 Assured Skills Academy

Fully funded by the Department for the Economy, the Academy has been developed in partnership with Belfast Met and will allow 15 successful applicants to develop their IT skillsets and earn industry-recognised qualifications.

Participants who successfully complete the eight-week Academy will be guaranteed an interview for a role with Version 1 in Belfast.

The Minister said:
“This is a great opportunity to develop an exciting career with a company that provides IT services for a wide range of global brands.

“The provision of cutting-edge training delivered by Belfast Met on the latest technologies will equip those seeking to upskill or reskill with an industry-recognised qualification, and position them very strongly to kick-start a new career in a much sought after occupation.”

Uzma Ahmed, Head of Early Careers at Version 1, commented:
“This marks our sixth Assured Skills Academy, building on the tremendous success of the Early Careers programme we’ve run over the past two years. These Academies are testament to our ongoing commitment to Northern Ireland and our goal of becoming a leading IT company in the region. Investing in local tech talent, who can support our customers in accelerating their digital transformation, is critical to this ambition. We are proud to have been recognised with the Princess Royal Training Award this year by HRH Princess Anne, honouring our dedication to the learning and development of our Early Careers people."

Participants in the Version 1 Digital Skills Academy will study for industry-recognised accreditation and skills in areas such as Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), Cisco Cybersecurity Essentials and Java.

Siobhan Lyons, Interim Director of Development and Partnerships at Belfast Met, said:
“The college is delighted to continue to deliver a successful series of Assured Skills Academies, enabling participants to gain industry-recognised qualifications, supporting them on their journey towards great careers in the thriving industry of IT. We look forward to welcoming our new cohort of learners.”

Experience is not required but applicants must be at least 18 years old and hold at least a 2:2 degree in any discipline, or a level 5 qualification in a relevant STEM subject at the point of application.

Training for successful applicants will be delivered using a hybrid approach, with onsite learning being held at a Belfast Met campus combined with some virtual classes. Training will commence on 13 January 2025 and complete on 7 March 2025 with a proposed employment start date of 10 March 2025.

Participants will receive a weekly training allowance of £175 for the duration of the Academy, as well as help with travel and childcare costs.

Applications are open now and close at noon on Friday 1 November 2024.

For more information and details on how 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. To keep up to date with news from the Department for the Economy you can follow us on the following social media channels:

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