23 Belfast Residents Complete BCC Tech Employment Academy

Belfast Lord Mayor has marked the achievements of the participants of a Belfast City Council Tech Employment Academy.

Councillor Ryan Murphy hosted a City Hall reception for the 23 Belfast residents who have now completed the specially tailored training scheme.

Launched in 2022, the council's Technology Employment academies are designed to provide an alternative route into the sector, by supporting people to achieve the qualifications and experience sought by tech employers.

Applicants participate in an aptitude process which assesses their suitability for technology roles and then complete an almost full-time academy over a period of 14-16 weeks through a blend of classroom-based and on-the-job learning.

Speaking at the reception event, Councillor Murphy said: "I'd like to thank Learning and Work Institute and the Covid-19 Support Fund for funding these important employment academies and their New Futures team in particular for their support and recognising the innovation in our approach here in Belfast.

"These individuals are now equipped with the skills, qualifications and workplace experience they need to take the next step and compete for tech employment opportunities. It's important to acknowledge success – and today marks an important milestone on their journey to a career in technology. They've now completed their formal training and our employability and skills team will support them on a one-to-one basis over the next six months as they seek to secure employment.

"The results of our first Academy, which ran from June 2022 to September 2022, were outstanding, with an almost 100% into employment rate. We're helping to build a talent pipeline for opportunities which will only continue to grow, thanks to programmes of investment including the Belfast Region City Deal."

Stephen Evans, CEO of Learning and Work Institute added: "It's great to see the difference New Futures in Belfast has made in helping to retrain and prepare people for new careers in tech. Our partnership with Belfast City Council has allowed a new approach to retraining to be tested. Longer working lives and an aging population means the need for retraining is only going to grow as 50-year careers increasingly become the norm. We hope that New Futures can help to inform future policy development and practice in helping people to make the most of the opportunities ahead."

The academies were designed to support workers who need to reskill or change career as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.