Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bringing IT career to life at virtual event
MORE than 400 young people, parents and teachers from across Northern Ireland tuned into Bring IT On Live this week.
They were able to find out more about IT Apprenticeships and Foundation Degree routes available through the NI Further Education Colleges.
The event was an important centrepiece of the wider NI Apprenticeship Week activity.
Sara Lyons from the Bring IT On team said: “With a huge demand for skills already in the IT and technology sector and that demand growing all the time it has never been more important for young people to understand the many career opportunities and the various paths into the sector.
“We are delighted that we have been able to bring so many young people and teachers from across Northern Ireland
together to hear more about the huge opportunities in the sector. We would like to thank our partners and our speakers for providing such insight and inspiration to our audience today.”
Bring IT On Live is part of the overall Bring IT On programme funded by the
Department for the Economy (DFE) and delivered on their behalf by Belfast Metropolitan College.
Designed to encourage new entrants into the IT sector the event was delivered virtually this year due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and targeted postprimary and further education students as well as their teachers.
It was hosted by Emer Maguire an award-winning BBC NI presenter, science communicator and musical comedian.
Keynote speakers included Sheree Atcheson, founder of Women who Code Belfast @Wwcbelfast, considered one of the UK’S most influential women in tech and an international multi-award winner.
Phil Allen, a Curriculum Area Manager at Belfast Metropolitan College, delivered an information session about the exciting range of IT Apprenticeships and foundation degree options at Further Education colleges.
Attendees also heard from Andrew Trimble, former Ulster and Ireland rugby legend, who joined with his business partner Gareth Quinn to tell the story of their sports technology company Kairos.