Belfast Digital Skills & Employability Programme
The Belfast Digital Skills & Employability Programme is an inclusive new initiative designed to help develop digital skills and boost employment potential. Funded by the Bank of America, this programme aims to increase participation of under-represented individuals in gaining industry relevant skills and access to education and employment opportunities.
Throughout this 3-year programme, Belfast Met will deliver 30 Digital Skills Academies to 600 participants. Working with local employers and organisations, 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.
What Digital Skills will the programme develop?
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 will improve your confidence in both the workplace and in your daily life.
Through this programme, we will support you to build a foundational knowledge of using digital devices with a focus of those used most commonly in a work setting, for example, how to write and format a document such as a report or how to use a spreadsheet to manage a budget.
These exciting new academies have been designed to give you industry relevant digital skills, enhance your employability and provide opportunities for you to progress into employment or education.
Each academy will last an average of 8 weeks, during which you may qualify for a training allowance and assistance with travel and childcare.
The Digital Skills Academies will be open to all, but with a focus on assisting those most in need of support.
To be eligible to join a Digital Skills Academy, you will need to:
• Be aged 18 or over on commencement of the academy (With the exception of the Creative Technology Academy for the 16-24 age group).
• Be eligible to work in NI.
Other eligibility criteria may be applied to individual academies.
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 partner by emailing us at digitalskills@belfastmet.ac.uk.
