FD Technologies Announces Assured Skills Academy

Twenty new training places have been created on the new Assured Skills Academy with Newry company FD Technologies, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has announced.

Funded by the Department for the Economy, the FD Technologies Data/Systems Analyst Assured Skills Academy will see 20 successful applicants receive eight weeks of industry-relevant, pre-employment training at Southern Regional College's Newry campus.

Participants who complete the Academy will be guaranteed an interview for a role as a Data/Systems Analyst in the First Derivative business area within FD Technologies.

Highlighting the opportunity, the Minister said: "I am very pleased to announce 20 high quality training places on this Assured Skills Academy with FD Technologies and Southern Regional College.

"This is the first Assured Skills Academy with FD Technologies. It is an excellent opportunity to gain training in a cutting edge sector and be strongly positioned for a role with the company.

"No experience is needed – I urge everyone who is eligible and interested to apply."

Mark McGivern, Senior Vice President at FD Technologies, commented: "We're delighted to engage with our very first Assured Skills Academy. Across FD Technologies, especially in our consulting business First Derivative, we are committed to recruiting and developing local talent to support our next phase of growth. The Academy offers a tremendous opportunity for successful applicants to learn and enhance key data and systems analysis skills while also building broader technology and digital capabilities for the FinTech industry. We look forward to the Assured Skills Academy playing an important role in the ongoing growth and development of our local workforce."

The Academy will deliver training in a range of areas, including project management, Python, software fundamentals, software testing, introduction to cloud technologies, RDBMS/SQL and Excel.

Applications for the FD Technologies Data/Systems Analyst Assured Skills Academy are open until midnight on Sunday 2 October 2022. Training for successful applicants will commence on 21 November 2022 and run until 27 January 2023.

No experience is required but applicants must hold at least a 2:2 in any degree discipline, or have a Level 5 qualification in an ICT or STEM related subject.

Artist Sought To Design Frederick Douglas Sculpture

Belfast City Council has issued an appeal for an artist to design and install a sculpture of abolitionist and campaigner Frederick Douglass in Belfast city centre.

Douglass, a former slave who became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in America, first visited Belfast in 1845 at the invitation of the Belfast Anti-Slavery Society and returned for a second visit in 1846.

The artist who is appointed will be required to design and produce a permanent, life-size or larger figurative sculpture which will be installed in Rosemary Street in the city centre, subject to planning permission being granted.

The project is funded by Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Christina Black said: "Frederick Douglass is an inspirational historical figure, famous for his oratory and anti-slavery writings. He delivered at least 11 lectures during his four weeks in Belfast in 1845, including in the Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church, close to where it is intended that the sculpture will be installed.

"Douglass was aged 27 when he visited Ireland, so it is appropriate that the statue will depict him at that age. I am sure that the project will help increase footfall in this part of the city centre as locals and tourists, interested in Douglass and his campaigning in this part of the world, visit the sculpture."

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said: "I am delighted my Department is contributing toward this fitting tribute to Frederick Douglass who is being recognised for the important and significant work he undertook and the contribution he made across America and also here in Belfast. The statue will be a lasting tribute to this prolific slavery abolitionist and in doing so will serve as an inspiration and reminder to current and future generations of the struggles of those who have come before us to create a better future for all. This statue will add to and act as a focal point for the many parts of the city which represent Douglass' time spent in Belfast."

SDLP Urged Education Minister To Avert Strike Action

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has been urged to intervene and prevent teachers' strike action.

SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter made the call as teaching unions in the North ballot members over strike action following prolonged disputes around pay and working conditions.

She urged the Minister to negotiate with teachers and unions to reach an agreement to prevent disruption in schools.

Ms Hunter said: "As pupils return to school it is deeply disconcerting that a number of teaching unions in the North are balloting for strike action in an attempt to obtain fair pay and working conditions, with the only comment we have had from the Education Minister on this pressing issue being a threat to cut the pay of the teachers who decide they have no choice but to strike.

"This matter should have been resolved before the beginning of the school term so that it doesn't continue to hang over our teachers, pupils and their families. If Minister McIlveen had used the summer break to negotiate positively with teaching unions and seek a resolution then this matter could have been settled, but now the threat of disruption continues and mass school closures is that last thing we need, particularly with so many of our young people having their education impacted in recent years by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Our teachers have been overworked and underpaid for far too long and for many the increasing pressures as a result of the cost of living crisis have been the final straw. Teachers are expected to educate and nurture our children and we can't expect them to do this and then go home to a cold house as they worry about how they will put food on the table or pay their bills.

"Minister McIlveen needs to recognise the situation our teachers are in and the pressures they face and reach a fair pay agreement so that we can avert the potential for strike action and teachers can continue their work and pupils their education without any interruption."