A NEW training programme will provide graduates with the skills and experience required to take up innovative opportunities being offered in Northern Ireland by financial services business FinTrU.
Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry recently launched the FinTrU Financial Services Academy which will target graduates from any discipline.
The minister said: “The financial services sector is a billionpound market that touches the lives of almost every family in Northern Ireland. We therefore have a vested interest in making sure this highly competitive market works as effectively as it can.
“The sector is an important sector which can help local businesses in other sectors to expand and grow, as we work towards rebalancing the economy.”
The academy has been designed by the Department for Employment and Learning, FinTrU, Belfast Metropolitan College and the University of Ulster, under the Assured Skills initiative.
Targeting graduates from any discipline, it will, for this cohort of graduates, offer an intensive fourweek training programme to 20 successful applicants.
Successful participants will gain an industry recognised qualification and a potential offer of employment with FinTrU.
The minister continued: “The results of the academy-style approach in other sectors have been very positive in terms of upskilling and creating employment opportunities.
“Following on from their success, we expect similar results from this year’s FinTrU Financial Services Academy and I would encourage any unemployed graduate to consider a career in this growing sector.”
Darragh McCarthy, chief executive officer of FinTrU, said: “The FinTrU Financial Services Academy is a unique opportunity to prepare for a dynamic career in Financial Services in Northern Ireland.
“The academy is adopting an innovative approach to recruiting talented young individuals from all backgrounds and providing them with tailored professional development to attain the skills required to have successful long term careers.
“This is a unique opportunity to join an entrepreneurial company with significant potential for personal growth and development. The academy provides the base for a number of accredited external qualifications such as the Investment Operations Certificate.”