THE BRING IT ON NATIONAL ICT DAY CROWNS IT3SIXTY’S SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN NORTHERN IRELAND

The National ICT Day held at Titanic Belfast has been the culmination of the seventh year of success for Bring IT On in Northern Ireland to encourage more 15 – 18 year olds to consider further education and careers in tech. The event attracted more than 600 young people, gaining an insight into Northern Ireland’s fast growing and dynamic tech sector. Inspirational activities included presentations from leading industry figures, demonstrating leading edge technology applications; while on a practical level students met employers, attended CV and interview clinics, and learnt about graduate programmes, apprenticeships, and other career pathways.

The National ICT Day is part of the Bring IT On programme, delivered by IT3Sixty in conjunction with the Department for Employment and Learning, Invest NI and Sentinus. The multi-faceted initiative includes direct outreach into schools, with more than 5000 students in 150 schools hearing a tech careers presentation or taking part in an employability workshop. Nearly three quarters of those who attend the careers presentation say they are more likely to take up a career in IT as a result. Indeed applications for computing-related degrees in Northern Ireland have increased by more than 90% over the last seven years, demonstrating the impact of programmes such as Bring IT On.

Recent enhancements to the Bring IT On website include tutorials that teach students the basics of coding, app design and website creation. Employer pages showcase the variety and excitement of tech careers, and universities and colleges detail the specialist courses they offer. Meanwhile a section for parents provides facts and figures on the demand for highly skilled people in the province.

Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry said: “The NISkills Barometer indicates that the ICT industry will be one of the top ten growth sectors over the coming years. A vibrant ICT sector can be the driving force of a globally competitive economy, underpinning innovation, competitiveness and long-term prosperity. Events like today illustrate the wide range of opportunities and fulfilling careers available to our young people in ICT and aims to support the future growth of this sector.”

To build on its success and reach a younger audience, Bring IT On has now been joined by Junior Bring IT On, designed for 8 – 12 year olds. On the website, would-be tech wizards can practise being cyber detectives in an online game; take their first steps in web design; and learn about the world of tech though quizzes and competitions. At the same time a programme of Cyber Security Workshops has been going out to junior schools: more than 500 10 – 11 year olds have found out about staying safe online, beating cyber-bullying, and a day in the life of a cyber-professional.

David Mawhinney, Managing Director of Equiniti ICS and a supporter of the National ICT Days, says: “As a growing IT company, it is important for us to be fully involved in promoting digital careers from an early age, helping ensure that there are enough skills out there to enable sustainable growth for the IT industry as a whole. Events like this are a great way to get in front of students to influence their career choices with real-life experiences from people who already successfully work in the industry.”