Business

New ‘Skill Up’ scheme aims to kick start career prospects

ON the day he welcomed new Australian investor Tribe Technology into Northern Ireland, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons also launched 'Skill Up', a new initiative which will deliver free training places.

The £23 million investment will fully fund FE colleges and universities to deliver 15,000 training places in more than 250 subject areas for qualifications ranging from Level 2 up to Level 7.

The initiative is aimed at reducing the skills imbalance in key growth areas such as digital, green technologies, life and health sciences, advanced manufacturing and engineering, and health and social care, and up to 7,000 places will be available in the first year.

Mr Lyons said: “Since May 2020 my department has funded more than 7,000 training places for people whose careers were affected by the pandemic.

“These courses were fully taken up and helped many people to upskill and reskill to boost their career prospects and employability.

“Skill Up will build on that success, with courses even more accessible – if you meet the entry criteria, you can apply.”

He added: “Courses will be available in a diverse range of subject areas including digital marketing, childcare, engineering, management skills and many more. This could set people's career on the path they’ve always wanted.”

The programme has been made possible through a £15m investment from the UK government and £8m from the Department for the Economy.

John D’Arcy, director of The Open University in Northern Ireland said: “We are passionate about opening higher education to all, and this funding will enable people across Northern Ireland to access higher education as an option to upskill which they may not have considered before.

“Regardless of background or previous educational experience, people are now able to enter Open University study at no cost in the key areas of management and leadership, computing and cyber security, and sustainability and begin to pursue the next step in their ambitions.”