ICT Scheme To Recruit 50 Apprentices

50 people are to be recruited into a new ICT Apprenticeship Scheme that will offer the chance to take up various software development and IT infrastructure roles.

Nine private sector, seven government departments and three public sector organisations are participating in the programme.

Employment and Learning Minister Dr 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 individuals who are successful in being recruited as ICT Apprentices on this scheme will be given 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."

The pilot Public/Private ICT Apprenticeship scheme was launched in August 2012 and has already seen 32 apprentices employed in the local ICT industry.

Willie Hamilton, Managing Director of Liberty IT, one of the groups involved in the scheme, said: "The ICT sector in Northern Ireland has the potential to expand and grow exponentially in the future and in order to maximise this potential we need to recruit and develop a suitably skilled workforce. Following the success of the scheme last year, and the high quality of apprentices we recruited, we see the ICT apprenticeship as an important pathway to recruit passionate and talented individuals into the local IT industry."

(IT/CD)