Three students from the NOW Group’s Digital Academy have successfully completed 12-week placements with Danske Bank as part of a programme designed to help people with neurodiverse conditions find a pathway into a career in the technology sector.
Launched in 2021, NOW Group’s Digital Academy was devised as a digital inclusion programme that would help bridge the skills and diversity gap within the digital sector by delivering qualifications in data analytics and providing participants with an opportunity to undertake work placements with leading employers.
After undertaking 12 weeks of training in data analytics, Danske Bank hosted three participants who spent a further 12 weeks working primarily with the bank’s data team, putting their education into practice and developing their skills in data analytics and visualisation whilst getting hands-on experience using systems such as Tableau and Alteryx.
To mark the completion of the placements Danske recently hosted a graduation event at its headquarters, attended by Danske’s Deputy CEO Stephen Matchett, Chief Information Officer Liam Curran, members of the NOW Group’s employment team, and colleagues from the bank’s Technology & Digital Development department.
Sean Hanna, Programme Manager at NOW Group said: “We know that businesses across Northern Ireland need staff with digital experience. Our academy is specifically targeting people with disabilities who don’t always feel that they fit in mainstream provision but provide a valuable service in entry-level digital positions. NOW Group works with businesses like Danske Bank to help them understand the value of having a neurodiverse workforce and the competitive advantages this brings. We are delighted that Danske Bank funded and participated in this important programme and provided our participants with an invaluable work experience that will support them to gain a digital job with a future.”
The Digital Academy is sponsored by Danske Bank and Leaf IT and is the only one of its kind in Northern Ireland.
Source: Written from press release
