‘Bring IT On’ ran a live online event this week to promote STEM careers to hundreds of students, parents and teachers across Northern Ireland.
Over 400 people tuned in this week to find out more about what the future of IT careers is in Northern Ireland. The event was organised as part of NI Apprenticeship Week and showcased some of the upcoming IT Apprenticeships and Foundation Degree routes into industry available through Northern Ireland's Further Education Colleges.
The ‘Bring IT On’ programme is designed to help guide students toward future careers in the local IT and tech industries. The programme is run by Belfast Metropolitan College and funded by Department for the Economy (DfE), but its normal activities were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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BMC adapted to the changing circumstances by launching Bring IT On Live, a virtual event targeting young people in post-primary and further education, their parents, and the teachers who support them. The live event was hosted by award-winning BBC NI presenter, comedian, and science communicator Emer Maguire.
The event included a talk from former Ulster and Ireland rugby player Andrew Trimble on how he moved into tech with sports technology company Kairos. BMC Curriculum Area Manager Phil Allen also discussed the range of IT Apprenticeships and foundation degree options at Further Education colleges in Northern Ireland, and there was a keynote speech from influential local tech speaker Sheree Atcheson, founder of Women Who Code Belfast.
Bring IT On representative Sara Lyons commented on the event: "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."
Source: Written based on press release
