FINANCIAL services company FinTrU is considering further expansion in Northern Ireland thanks to the success of its re-cent Financial Services Academy, according to chief executive officer Darragh McCarthy.
The academy, designed by the Department for Employment and Learning, FinTrU, Belfast Metropolitan College and the University of Ulster under the Assured Skills initiative, targets graduates from any discipline and offers an intensive four-week training programme covering a range of training in financial regulations, analytics and capital markets.
The academy graduates have already been offered 20 of the 80 new jobs announced for Northern Ireland by FinTrU earlier this year.
Mr McCarthy said: “FinTrU is delighted by the success of our inaugural Financial Services Academy in Belfast. The quality of applicants was exceptional and has reinforced our strong belief in Northern Ireland’s talent pool.
“The Assured Skills programme has enabled FinTrU to successfully partner with DEL, BMC & University of Ulster to develop bespoke skills that will be essential in allowing our academy graduates to be productive from day one.
“FinTrU is already considering further expansion plans in Belfast and the Financial Services Academy, in partnership with DEL, will be key in driving our growth.” Jonathan Heggarty, head of school, Belfast Metropolitan College said: “We’re delighted with the success of the FinTrU Academy and see it as another great example of Belfast Met’s flexible and rapid response to industry.”
The University of Ulster had overall responsibility for the delivery of the Investment Operations Certificate (IOC) element of the Academy. Professor Gillian Arm-strong, of Ulster Business School, University of Ulster said: “The Ulster Business School prides itself on delivering courses which enable students to not only reach their academic potential but also allows them to experience the practical application and professional orientation of areas such as accounting and finance.”
Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry attended the last training day of the academy recently and said: “The results of the acad-emy-style approach in other sectors have also been very positive in terms of up-skill-ing and creating employment opportunities.
“Programmes such as the FinTrU Financial Academy, with the offer of a job to graduates, will ultimately assist with the expansion and growth of our economy at the same time creating newly skilled talent pools.”