Digital Skills Academy with Version 1 - Application

Overview

The Digital Skills Academy with Version 1 is fully funded by the Department for the Economy and delivered in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC).

Version 1 is a Business Transformation and Technology Innovation business that has proven it can make a real difference to our customers business through delivering technology services and innovative solutions. We have celebrated over 26 years in the Technology Industry and plan to continue delivering technical solutions that drive customer success with our fantastic people and strong culture.

Over nearly three decades, Version 1 have formed strategic and award-winning partnerships with global hyper-scalers such as Microsoft, AWS, Oracle Outsystems and Snowflake to ensure that we provide our customers with the highest quality solutions and services. Our people are at the heart of Version 1. We welcome ambitious people that are driven to progress their career with support from our Early Careers Team.

The Assured Skills Digital Skills Academy with Version 1 is an eight-week intensive course aimed at providing participants with the best foundation to progress into a successful career as an IT professional.

Training for successful applicants will be delivered using a hybrid approach, with onsite learning being held at a Belfast Metropolitan College campus combined with some virtual classes.

There are 15 training opportunities available.

Once selected for the academy, you'll receive practical skills, training, and industry-recognised qualifications in:

• Cloud technologies like Microsoft Azure Fundamentals or AWS
• Software Development languages - Java
• Software Testing methodologies and Tools
• DevOps Solutions
• Cyber Security
• Project Management and Agile Delivery

 

On successful completion of the course, you will be offered a job interview with Version 1, for an Associate role working across a range of services, such as Dev Ops and Software Development.

Salaries on offer commence at £25,500 with a 5% increase after 6 months, a further 5% increase after 12 months and a further 10% increase after 18 months based on your performance.

 

Please note that successful completion of the academy is not a guarantee of employment.

 

Application Process

The Academy application process comprises an online application form and psychometric assessment. 

A link to the psychometric assessment can be found at the end of this application form and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Applications must be submitted by noon Friday 1^st November 2024. The online assessment must be submitted by midnight on Friday 1^st November 2024.

If you do not receive an email about your application by 12th November 2024 please contact assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk and put Digital Skills Academy with Version 1 in the subject line.

 

Selection Process

The selection process comprises an online interview and an in-person assessment day.

Interviews will be held between the 22nd – 29^th November 2024. The assessment day will be held on the 11th December 2024, with successful candidates being offered a place on the Academy.  

An information session for successful applicants will be held on 21^st November 2024, with the opportunity to meet representatives from the Department for the Economy, Version 1 and Belfast Metropolitan College.

 

Training

The Academy training commences on Monday 13^th January 2025 and finishes on 7^th March 2025. Applicants must be available to attend training for the entire duration of the training period.

During the training academy, you:

• Will receive a weekly training allowance of £175
• Will be reimbursed weekly travel expenses
• May be eligible for childcare allowance

 

Essential criteria:

No previous experience is required however, at point of application, applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have been awarded at least a level 5 qualification in a relevant STEM subject or a 2:2 in any degree discipline
• Have a right to work and to undertake Assured Skills Training in the UK and not be disqualified from doing either by reason of their immigration status. 
• Be eligible for UK Security Clearance – should you be successful and gain employment with Version 1 you will be working on some exciting customer projects, and you will be asked to apply for security clearance. For more information visit www.gov.uk/National security vetting: clearance levels
• Have appropriate IT access to link to the online tuition.

 

Evidence of the above criteria will be required to progress to interview if selected and should be submitted not later than 14th November 2024.

 

If a large number of applications are received, Version 1 reserve the right to enhance the minimum criteria, if necessary, to generate a manageable shortlist for interviews.

If living outside Northern Ireland – by accepting an offer of a place on this pre-employment training Academy, you are committing to attending training and pursuing a job opportunity with Version 1 which is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

 

Applications Open

Applications are welcome from everyone who meets the essential criteria and are particularly welcome from persons returning to work from a period of caring for their children or other family members.

If you have a disability and require assistance in completing this form please email Assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk or by telephoning 028 9041 6972.

 

Correspondence Regarding Your Application

All correspondence relating to your application will be via email from assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk. It is your responsibility as an applicant to act as required within the given time frame.

Email whitelisting helps ensure that important messages from known senders won’t end up in the spam folder.

To whitelist the assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk email address, you may wish to:

• Open your email client and navigate to the settings.
• Find the option to create a new filter or add a new contact.
• Add the email address assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk as a known contact/safe sender
• Save the changes.

The exact steps may vary depending on the email client you are using.

To find out how we manage your information please see privacy notice below:

https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/assured-skills-academies-privacy-notice

If you wish to make a complaint about the Assured Skills programme, please email assured.skills@economy-ni.gov.uk or telephone 028 9041 6941.