Telefónica Tech UK&I has supported an ambitious digital skills programme for young people, led by Impact Training and Queen’s University Belfast, for a third year in a row.
The programme is aimed at providing young people with the chance to learn software skills that will help them work towards a future in the tech sector.
The intensive coding academy training programme is for 16-19-year-olds across North and West Belfast. Taking place across six months, the academy is designed to open pathways into IT careers. Participants taking part this year explored software development, data science, AI, cyber security, and more, guided by expert mentors from Impact Training and Queen’s University Belfast, with support from Telefónica Tech UK&I. The programme is designed to help young people to gain essential workplace skills and learn about the latest technologies and opportunities within the IT industry.
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To celebrate their achievements, a graduation ceremony for those who completed the course took place recently at Telefónica Tech UK&I’s office in Titanic Quarter. As part of the event, awards were presented to the young people. The top prize for outstanding achievement was awarded to Emily Swain who undertook the Coding Development Course, recognising her exceptional commitment, progress and potential. Each student was also provided with a Raspberry Pi for graduating, a compact and affordable computer used to learn programming, which they can use to continue to develop their coding skills.
Ellen Dickson, Vice President of Enterprise Health at Telefónica Tech UK&I, added: “Telefónica Tech are proud to once again continue backing this vital programme. Every year it’s a joy to see students from Belfast stepping into the world of IT with real skills and ambition and it’s incredible to see that previous graduates from the programme now have jobs within the IT industry. Their success is not only a personal victory for them but a boost for the tech sector in Northern Ireland as we it helps to boost the skills required to work in this ever-evolving sector. Congratulations to all this year’s graduates, we wish them every success in their future endeavours.”
Fiona North, Connected Learning Tutor at Queen’s University Belfast, said: “Great systems are built when diverse voices and experiences come together and this programme brings together young people from a wide range of backgrounds, many of whom have faced adversity, trauma, or exclusion. By equipping them with the tools to code, to question, and to create, we’re helping shape leaders who will define the future of AI, robotics, and digital innovation. My colleague Dr Ose Igene represented me at the event, and his contribution has been invaluable in nurturing this collaborative, hopeful vision.”
Gerard Fox Vocational Employment Manager at Impact Training, added: "The continuing development of this programme has given us the opportunity to immerse our trainees in aspects of technology that help explore and intensify their understanding and awareness of advancements and industry requirements. Our aim is to empower our young people to succeed, and this programme certainly helps deliver on this. Impact Training are very grateful for the ongoing support across all aspects of this programme and look forward to developing our programmes further."
A former participant, David Cumberland, who took part in the first year of the programme, is now working in the IT industry in Denmark. David credits the programme for helping to transform his prospects:
“The programme gave me exactly the foundation I needed – both professionally and personally. The coding experience has opened new doors, and I’m now working in software thanks to the opportunities it provided. I am grateful to Impact Training, Queen’s University Belfast and Telefónica Tech UK&I for joining forces and delivering such a fantastic programme, as it has equipped me with the skills and confident to work in my current job within the IT sector.”
Delivering training opportunities for young people in Greater Shankill, West and North Belfast for over 45 years, Impact Training, provides training options for school leavers who have chosen to pursue a more vocational path. In addition to the core programme, Impact Training has extended its reach this year through a new schools initiative, sponsoring and delivering a 12-week Technology and Coding Development Course in partnership with Belfast Boys’ Model and Girls’ Model Schools. This allowed young learners to gain hands-on experience with Python, scripting, AI, and cyber security - a first step toward a possible career in the IT sector.
Now in its third year, this partnership continues to evolve, shaping the future of tech in Belfast.
Sync NI's Summer 2025 magazine celebrates women in tech across Ireland as we continue to encourage more women to enter the thriving sector and address the current gender imbalance. Read the Summer 2025 Sync NI Magazine online for free here.
