Graduates excel in training academy

Choeun Kim, Liam Henry and Ciara Montgomery were among 20 local people to graduate from Ernst and Young’s (EY) Data and Analytics Academy.

During the nine week programme the 20 graduates received training which would provide them with the skills and accredited qualifications identified by EY to be considered for data and analytics roles with the company.

The Academy is the first of several that will be delivered by the Department for Employment and Learning in partnership with EY and Belfast Metropolitan College. This follows the announcement in April 2014 that EY were creating 486 jobs in Northern Ireland.

Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry hosted the ceremony. He paid tribute to those who had graduated from the academy, and explained how beneficial the programme is.

“We are delighted to be able to assist EY to expand its current workforce in the Northern Ireland and provide quality well paid jobs that will help to grow the local economy,” he said.

Mike McKerr, Managing Partner, EY Ireland believes that the inaugural academy has been a success.

”We are delighted to have partnered with the Department for Employment and Learning and Belfast Met to successfully deliver the inaugural EY Data and Analytics Academy training programme, which will deliver exceptional career paths for graduates,” he said.

Marie-Thérèse McGivern, Principal and Chief Executive of Belfast Met was impressed by the graduates who had taken part in the programme.

“They have achieved skills that will benefit them in the Data Analytics industry and they have demonstrated motivation, creativity and lateral thinking within the academy,” she said.