Belfast Digital Skills & Employability Programme
The Belfast Digital Skills & Employability Programme is an inclusive initiative designed to develop digital skills and support learners into employment.
With the support of Bank of America Belfast Met is working with local business and support organisations to deliver Digital Skills Academies over the 2024 – 27 period. Each Digital Skills Academy has been developed to include a mix of digital and employability skills training with industry recognised qualifications, as well as practical work experience and project-based learning, guest speakers and insights from employers and industry leaders.
Digital Skills provide the ability to communicate, collaborate and share content using devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones. Building your knowledge and capability to use digital devices and applications will improve your confidence in both the workplace and in your daily life.
Digital Skills Academies are fully funded accessible pathways to employment or training for those with little or no digital skills.
Our academies focus on a breadth of interesting topics and provide wrap around support to ensure that you feel welcome and have the assistance you need to take your first steps into the digital world.
Through a Digital Skills Academy, you will learn new skills and gain accredited, industry recognised qualifications.
You will meet new people, build friendships, confidence, and opportunities through our placements, masterclasses and direct industry engagement.
Belfast Met work with expert delivery partners to provide tailored support including CV support and career guidance to develop progression pathways for you.
The Digital Skills Academies are the perfect place to challenge yourself in a safe and supported learning environment.
In addition, Digital Skills Academies may provide financial support* towards training, travel, and childcare.
*(If you are in receipt of universal credit or benefits, it is your responsibility to speak directly to your support officer to discuss any potential impacts that this financial support may have.)
We have new Digital Skills Academies opening throughout the year. If there are no applications open at the moment, register on this form and we will email you when a new Digital Skills Academy is open for applications.
Eligibility criteria for each Digital Skills Academy can be found on the course application page.
Examples of Digital Skills covered in our programmes
Data Analytics
Gain the skills to collate and manage data sets and put in place systems that will allow you to identify trends and solve problems.
Software Development
Learn software development tools such as Python and SQL and how to develop websites.
Artificial Intelligence
Define key concepts of AI and understanding the common applications and ethics.
Cyber Security
Understand how you can identify online security threats and techniques you can put in place to protect your information.
Creative Technology
Get experience using technologies that support developing and editing video content that can be used in marketing campaigns or film and tv production.
Digital Marketing
Utilise search engine optimisation and mobile technologies to market products and services. How to use Social media to market products.
IT Applications
Learn how to access and run different IT programmes and services used in everyday workplace including Microsoft tools such as Word and PowerPoint.
As an employer, you can help support participants to break down the barriers they face by engaging with Belfast Met on the Digital Skills Academies. There are many ways you can become involved, for example:
-
-
-
Hosting work experience placements.
-
Providing an employer led project.
-
Delivering industry masterclasses.
-
Providing career guidance.
-
Aligning pathways to employment for participants.
-
-
To enhance your reputation as a socially responsible and inclusive employer and support the next generation of talent, join the Belfast Digital Skills & Employability Programme as an employer via the form below:
Digital skills Academy employer placement at Pytilia
Digital Skills Academy Graduation
Digital Skills Academy Kainos Visit
We work with partners who are experts in their field and at delivering specialised services.
Delivery partners over 2024/25 include:
Cinemagic
Fit
Women in Business
Specialisterne NI
Shankill Women's Centre
Stranmillis
Now Group
Partners and employers who have provided guest speakers, placements and insight days include:
Vanrath
FinTrU
EY
Version1
Allstate
Thales
Deloitte
Pytilia
Microsoft
Kainos
Perforce
Liberty IT
PwC
Rapid 7
StormHarvester
Hayward Hawk
Farset Labs
Vertical Structure
Aflac
Graham
Past students describe their favourite part of the academy they took part in.
Cyber Security Digital Skills Academy
Attending the academy was an incredible experience. The learning environment was both supportive and challenging, pushing me to grow both personally and professionally.
Data Analytic Digital Skills Academy
It's great to be furnished with understanding of AI, practical experience of data analytics, and generally a reintroduction into education.
IT skills Digital skills academy – Women Returners
Meeting with the other participants and hearing their stories and experiences. I also really enjoyed the WIB (Women in Business) days the tutors where very inspiring and empowering in their encouragement.
Software Development Fundamentals Digital Skills Academy
My favourite part of the Belfast Met Digital Skills Academy was SQL and Python. Together, these two modules gave me a deeper appreciation for how back-end logic and data management support the functionality of modern software. 
Data Analytic Digital Skills Academy
Data visualization, power bi and data files/coding.
Creative and Digital Film Production Digital Skills Academy
I found the course to be a great way of networking with industry professionals and like minded people.
Courses closed
Digital Skills Academy -
Digital Marketing & Employability
Skills for Women
Starting 21st July 2025
