More than 6,000 people have taken their first "StepIn2Tech" move by signing up to participate in the digital skills training programme that was launched in collaboration with Fastrack to IT just over a year ago.
StepIn2Tech, initially developed by Microsoft Ireland in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, aimed to equip 10,000 learners over a two-year period with the digital skills required to gain in-demand jobs in the digital economy.
The initiative also supports those who have either recently left school or college or are mid-career and interested in developing their digital skills.
Learners can participate in up to five starter courses focused on productivity, coding, infrastructure, cloud, and design, helping to deepen their knowledge and skills levels in these areas.
Each course is free to access and can be completed online at the learner's own pace and with the guidance and support of FIT's team of "digi-chaperones".
On completion of one or more of the StepIn2Tech starter courses, graduates are invited to participate in the StepIn2Tech mentoring programme to develop the soft skills that are required to maximise new employment opportunities.
As part of the programme, Microsoft Ireland employees provide one-to-one advice and guidance on interview techniques and CV writing.
Over 400 learners have completed the mentoring programme so far with 84 Microsoft employees volunteering almost 3,000 hours between them to date.
James O'Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Lead and Vice President of Microsoft International Operations, said it was hugely encouraging to see that over 6,000 people have engaged with StepIn2Tech - irrespective of their age, background or experience - to participate fully in Ireland's digital economy.
"With the World Economic Forum predicting that 90% of all jobs will require digital skills by 2030, it's crucial that dedicated pathways are made available for people to acquire the training and skills needed to access the increasingly technology-based job opportunities of today and tomorrow," Mr O'Connor said.
"By empowering people to acquire digital skills, StepIn2Tech is aiding the transition to a digital-first economy, which must be inclusive for all," he added.
Peter Davitt, CEO of Fastrack to IT, said the initiative has proven that it can help people to develop their digital skills and avail of either new career opportunities in the digital economy or take further steps on their learning pathway.
"We're very grateful to Microsoft Ireland for collaborating with us on the development of this programme and look forward to supporting many more learners through the StepIn2Tech course and mentoring programme over the coming year," he stated.
Free training places remain available for StepIn2Tech as the initiative embarks on its second year.
