Focusing on professional services, the Assured Skills Academy is open to people with a Level 5 qualification and relevant experience, or a 2:2 degree in any discipline.
Successful applicants receive eight weeks of industry-relevant pre-employment training at Belfast Met and Ulster University. Participants who complete the training have the opportunity to gain industry-recognised qualifications.
Gordon Lyons, Economy Minister said: “I am pleased to announce another fantastic opportunity with the launch of this Assured Skills Academy that is organised and facilitated in collaboration with Ulster University, Belfast Metropolitan College and PwC. This Academy is an excellent development opportunity that provides people with a potential route to employment.
“As our economic sector continues to recover, developing the local skills base is a key element to not only our initial recovery but to our long term economic growth. The Assured Skills Academies have a very strong track record of success in upskilling people and helping them secure employment.”
The Minister added: “Those successful applicants to the Academy will not only benefit from a fantastic training opportunity, they will also receive £155 per week training allowance. They will also be guaranteed an interview with PwC in Belfast on completion of the training.”
Deborah Stevenson, Operate Director at PwC, said: “These Academies continue to be an important part of our growth plans and we're always impressed with the talent they introduce us to. In order to ensure the continued growth in the region, it's really important that people are able to find opportunities like this to upskill and to ultimately ensure businesses can invest further.
“Supporting the Academies is a great example of what we mean when we talk about living our purpose in the region: they provide access for people to gain exceptional training in the classroom as well as practical application and insight into working with PwC. All while complementing our own culture of continued learning and development.”
The Assured Skills Academy, focusing on professional services, will cover a range of areas including Financial Crime, Compliance Testing, Customer Management, PMO Services and Business Operations.
Training is likely to be a blend of onsite and online learning delivered by Belfast Met and Ulster University. Successful applicants will require appropriate IT access in order to link to the online tuition.
Louise Warde Hunter, Principal and Chief Executive at Belfast Met, said: “Belfast Met is delighted to continue to deliver this successful series of Assured Skills Academies. Further education can be a first choice for learners in helping them secure their pathway to career success. Belfast Met is committed to working with industry partners and learners so that the future workforce will have vital industry skills that are in demand by employers. The career boosting training that participants receive will provide essential skills and life-changing employment opportunities vital in driving our economy.”
Dr Helen Foster, Course Director of Accounting Pathways at Ulster University Business School, said: “Assured Skills Academies have been running for a number of years with growing success and Ulster University is pleased to continue our involvement in the delivery of the Academies. The unique combination of learning and focus on professional services skills has been a huge success over the years, as we run Assured Skills Academies in conjunction with PwC and Belfast Met. The current teaching arrangements of virtual delivery makes use of the latest remote learning technology to ensure participants in the Academy gain the knowledge and skills they require for employment in the growing financial services sector.”
Applications for the PwC Future Business Skills Assured Skills Academy are open until noon on 8 November 2021. The selection process will include a video interview, to be held 16-18 November 2021. Training will commence for successful applicants on 6 December.
Applicants must hold a Level 5 qualification (HND or Foundation degree) and some experience in an office/banking/professional environment or a minimum 2:2 degree in any discipline.
More information and details on how to apply can be found on nidirect