Author: Jim O Brien/CEO

CEO and expert in transport and Mobile tech. A fan 20 years, mobile consultant, Nokia Mobile expert, Former Nokia/Microsoft VIP,Multiple forum tech supporter with worldwide top ranking,Working in the background on mobile technology, Weekly radio show, Featured on the RTE consumer show, Cavan TV and on TRT WORLD. Award winning Technology reviewer and blogger. Security and logisitcs Professional.

First Look – Skullcandy ‘Inequality Crusher’ headphones

The Skullcandy x To Write Love on Her Arms Inequality Crusher Evo wireless headphones is now on sale, exclusively on Skullcandy.co.uk. A portion of proceeds will help To Write Love on Her Arms fund LGBTQIA+ mental health programs. The latest headphones have landed in for review on techbuzzireland and we love the colours here and they are very vibrant and stand out and that is how I like my earbuds and headphones.

“The LGBTQIA+ community faces higher-than-average rates of depression, PTSD and anxiety disorder. This reality, coupled with Skullcandy’s support of equal rights for all, is why this collaboration with To Write Love on Her Arms is so important to us,” said Jessica Klodnicki.

Chief Marketing Officer, Skullcandy. “The limited-edition Inequality Crusher celebrates all love, all year. We’re proud to do our part by raising awareness, enabling resources and expressing unconditional love and support for the
LGBTQIA+ community.”

Check out the unboxing below for more and see them in-hand and compared to the previous model which we still use and love today, if you have not tested out these headphones you are missing out if you are a bass lover. Any questions hit us up as usual and check out the crusher evo review 

• 40 hours total battery + Rapid Charge
• Crusher adjustable Sensory Bass
• Personal Sound via Skullcandy App
• Call, track and volume control via touch controls
• Built-in Tile Finding Technology
• Flat-folding and collapsible

To Write Love on Her Arms exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment
and recovery. For more information, please visit twloha.com.

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Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Intel rank highly with students across Business/Economics, Engineering & IT disciplines

Leading multinational companies located in Ireland are the employers of choice for third-level students across the country, according to research published today by leading employer branding specialists, Universum, part of IrishJobs.

The Most Attractive Employers Index Ireland 2022, which was conducted among 8,000+ students in Ireland across Business/Economics, IT, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Law, and Medicine, reveals that top multinationals in the technology and pharmaceutical sectors remain the most desired employers for Gen Z and Millennial students.

Tech Giants
Improving slightly on their rankings from last year, multinational tech giants Google, Microsoft and Apple all feature within the top five employers for Business/Economics, IT and Engineering students.

IT students rank them in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively, followed by Amazon and Intel in 4th and 5th place. Meanwhile, Intel has moved into 1st place as the top preference amongst Engineering students with Google ranked 2nd and Microsoft coming 3rd.

The main attributes that students associate with the top-performing tech multinationals is market success, a willingness to embrace new technologies and innovation.

Top 10 employers among IT students

Employer Rank 2022 Rank 2021
Google 1 1
Microsoft 2 2
Apple 3 3
Amazon 4 4
Intel 5 5
Facebook 6 6
IBM 7 8
Samsung 8 9
Dell Technologies 9 7
PayPal 10 13

 

Top 10 employers among Business/Economics students

Employer Rank 2022 Rank 2021
Google 1 1
Apple 2 2
KPMG 3 3
Microsoft 4 6
Deloitte 5 4
J.P. Morgan 6 10
Amazon 7 7
Facebook 8 9
PwC 9 5
Ernst & Young 10 8

 

Top 10 employers among Engineering students

Employer Rank 2022 Rank 2021
Intel 1 4
Google 2 1
Microsoft 3 7
Apple 4 6
Pfizer 5 2
Boston Scientific 6 3
Jacobs Engineering 7 5
Johnson & Johnson 8 8
Aer Lingus 9 11
Stryker 10 10

 

Airline resurgence
Bouncing back from last year’s rankings, Irish airlines Aer Lingus and Ryanair have enjoyed a resurgence in 2022 following the lifting of travel restrictions and a return to full flying capacity earlier this year. This is particularly apparent among Business/ Economics students, with Aer Lingus climbing to 12th position (up seven places) and Ryanair moving up the rankings by 11 places to come in at number 20.

For Engineering students, Aer Lingus has moved up two places to 9th place while Ryanair has moved up six places and now sits in 15th position.

Pharmaceutical giants
Although some have dropped slightly on the positions they held last year, many of the pharmaceutical and healthcare companies that enjoyed a surge in 2021 due to their high-profile engagement with the Covid-19 vaccine development effort, continue to perform strongly in the Index. Multinational pharmaceutical giant Pfizer continues to rank in first position among Natural Sciences students, while taking 5th place among Engineering students and moving up 14 places to 15th position among IT students.

Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific feature in 2nd and 3rd place respectively for students in the Natural Sciences sector, maintaining the rankings they held in last year’s Index, while the HSE has moved up one place to take 4th spot for students in this sector, followed by consumer goods employer Glanbia.

Top 10 employers among Natural Sciences students

Employer Rank 2022 Rank 2021
Pfizer 1 1
Johnson & Johnson 2 2
Boston Scientific 3 3
HSE 4 5
Glanbia 5 4
Google 6 8
Kerry Group 7 6
MSD 8 10
Dairygold 9 12
Regeneron 10 7

New entries & greatest employer gains
New entries to the Index in 2022 include homegrown Irish companies An Post and Irish Rail, which rank among all the student disciplines, as well as top international group, AXA Insurance. Meanwhile, the greatest gains in 2022 versus 2021 were for brewery manufacturer Heineken and ESB, both of which went up by 40 places among IT students.

Commenting on the research, Steve Ward, UK and Ireland Business Director, Universum said: “As the world of work continues to evolve and the competition to attract talent remains high, The Most Attractive Employers Index offers an important snapshot of the type of companies and attributes that current students and graduates are searching for in their future employer.

“With renowned tech and pharmaceutical multinationals leading the way in this year’s Index, it’s clear that third-level students are keen to play their part in helping to shape the growing digital and scientific transformation that is underway across our economy and society, not only in Ireland, but across the globe.

“Both science and technology played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling people to work from home, businesses to continue functioning and healthcare to take place virtually, while also resulting in the development of a number of vaccines to help protect people during what was an extremely unsettling and uncertain period.

“The success of tech leaders such as Google, Microsoft, Apple and Intel in the market, and their ability to embrace new technologies and drive innovation during this period, have emerged as key drivers for students in choosing these companies, something which should help to give an indication of the type of attributes graduates today are searching for in their future employer.

“It’s also encouraging to see Irish companies continue to rank well among students in this year’s Index, with the emergence from the pandemic having a particularly positive impact on the Irish airline sector. It is also good to see longstanding homegrown companies An Post and Irish Rail enter the rankings for the first time.

“Through the Index today we want to help employers who are looking to attract up-and-coming talent with an insight into student preferences so they can take this on board when planning their talent acquisition strategies. Every company, no matter what sector it operates in, can illustrate an ability and willingness to embrace new technologies and innovate to drive their company forward. The findings today show us that by demonstrating the role a company is playing in helping to shape and drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution that is now underway, employers will be better positioned to attract and retain talent into the future.”

The Core Value of Market-Based Pricing and Its Application in the Retail Industry

Competition is one of the primary forces driving the market growth. When there is high competition, one can ensure companies are looking for appealing prices and presenting products of higher quality. When there is no competition, one can speak of conditions for a monopoly to emerge, which is frowned upon and often illegal. Here, we would like to explore competitive-based pricing from the angle of its nature and the benefits it can bring to retail and any other business. 

The defining aspects of competitive based pricing

Competitor-based pricing strategy can have many angles and elements to include. However, when it comes to the gist of the approach, its core relies upon using smart pricing to adjust to particular market conditions and competitors’ strategies. A greater number of firms use various innovative pricing approaches to get ahead of the competition. Some use product matching software and other kinds of software because the ability to collect and analyze data fast is extremely valuable. 

In simple terms, competitive-based pricing uses price to deal with competitors and various market conditions. You can raise or lower the price depending on what your company intends to achieve. 

Why might businesses consider competitive based pricing?

 

There is a great number of reasons businesses may consider competitive based pricing. It is often considered one of the most common practices for retail firms. The conditions for the emergence of competitive pricing occur when a market includes several companies offering similar products of approximately the same quality and pricing. In such regard, companies can compare the prices of their competitors to adjust their pricing. 

Essentially, companies need competitive based pricing to understand how the market shifts and what rivals intend to do in terms of pricing. However, there are always some obstacles to consider when implementing market based pricing. What is more, firms need to be extremely careful when pricing SKUs compared to competitors. 

Finally, businesses might consider competitive pricing to keep up with technological innovation. There are currently various tools available that can grant firms an edge in competing against rivals. Product matching is an example of one of such instruments. It is an advanced software using top-notch algorithms to analyze different variables and product best pricing strategies one can find on the market. 

Pros and cons of competitive based pricing

As with any pricing strategy, competitive pricing has particular advantages and disadvantages. Starting with the pros, one should refer to the following:

 

  • Revenue increase. Proper pricing results in companies selling more products, which naturally translates into revenue growth.
  • Competitive advantage. Setting more attractive prices gets the attention of consumers, which results in a greater competitive advantage. 
  • Flexibility. Competitive pricing is great because it grants the ability to choose between various price points.
  • Consumer loyalty. Offering prices that customers like is a sure way to win their loyalty and create the conditions for prolonged cooperation.

From a contrasting perspective, there are certain cons to competitive based pricing. Referring to the most prominent ones, there are the following to mention:

 

  • Margin cost losses. A company can focus too much on competitors’ strategies, thus forgetting other important factors. As an outcome, it can lead to margin cost losses.
  • Categorization of competitors. It can be difficult to properly categorize rivals in markets with many competitors to know which ones to follow. 
  • Inaccurate data. A firm can make calculations based on inadequate data or the one obtained from noncredible sources. 
  • Improper decision-making. Competitive pricing is all about making decisions based on several variables and factors. If they are inaccurate, it will translate into improper business decisions. 

 

At this point, competitive pricing has its advantages and disadvantages. The importance of choosing a proper pricing approach is hard to overestimate. Always 

Guideline for competitive based pricing implementation

Adoption of a competitive strategy requires the following several steps:

 

  • Consider all the prices, deals, and benchmarks available. It is crucial to collect all the factors required to correlate competitive pricing to what a company intends to achieve. 
  • Align business objectives to competitive pricing strategy. Competitive pricing should be linked to the firm’s objectives. In such a case, if a business does not align its prices to business goals, one will receive a decrease in customer loyalty. 
  • Evaluate the data available and estimate the sources of data accessible. Competitive pricing works with massive volumes of data. However, data can be different, as well as it can present various insights. At this point, determining high-quality data is vital at this step.
  • Collect and analyze the data to further its synthesis into pricing suggestions. One should choose methods to collect data, for instance, use advanced software based on AI and ML algorithms. Yet, one should determine whether data sources are credible before collecting the data. 

Following these steps is the foundational approach to ensuring competitive pricing brings benefits or harms. 

Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi 

There is a notable example to consider to see how competitive pricing pans out in real life. Coca-Cola and Pepsi are two giant companies existing in the same market and having similar products delivered through identical price points. In standard conditions, Coca-Cola and Pepsi would have difficulty gaining a competitive advantage. Respectively, in such a case lowering prices is one of the key aspects of dealing with competition. 

Since the products of these two companies are relatively similar, Coca-Cola employed a pricing strategy that set lower prices than the competitor Pepsi. As a result, Coca-Cola managed to increase its revenue through the high production volumes and yet with a lower price. The example shows how a simple measure of lowering prices can have a massive competitive advantage. 

Recommendations and Conclusions

To get the most out of competitive pricing, it is crucial to get accurate data, assess data sources’ credibility, use innovative data analysis instruments, align the approach with current business objectives, and not rely too heavily on competitors. It is all about balancing being overly reliant on competitors’ strategies and underestimating them. 

5 new technologies influencing the entertainment industry

Technology drives the vast majority of modern industries, and the entertainment industry is the one to benefit a lot from that. The high-tech solutions allow people to experience incredible moments while watching movies, listening to music or playing online casinos. The pandemic, when there were a few outlets to have fun live, was a factor as well. During that time, there was a significant raise of events that moved to a digital space, when many people visited music concerts, played board games or played safe and secure online casinos like CasinoLuck. As a result, the industry experienced a burst of fresh ideas, solutions and tools to make entertainment process more and more fascinating and affordable. Below there are 5 significant technological consequences of a recent breakthrough that shall be covered and discussed in more details.

  1. Virtual Reality Technology

Virtual Reality (VR) technology, as well as Advanced Reality (AR) is being one of the most popular gaming technologies so far. The simulated environment allows people to experience something that was beyond our imagination just 10 years ago. The VR concerts by Lindsey Stirling and Marshmello got extremely positive feedback by hundreds of thousands of visitors, and allowed them to feel the emotions that would never happen in a practical real show. The thing there is still the same – the full VR immersion might be reached only by using a VR headset. But using this, you will definitely experience something absolutely new for you, let it be a videogame, theater events, exhibitions or casinos, like OnlineCasinoGo, where you can find games according to your gambling needs and desires.

  1. Artificial Intelligence

The AI continues to change the comprehension of the world around us, and it keeps developing itself and usual events around us. The popularity of streaming services and their huge AI investments make the developing of Artificial Intelligence even more precise and rapid. According to Netflix, more than 80% of its content delivery is achieved through recommendation. The chatbots that help you to solve some technical issues faster than it was ever before, and voice recognition systems are one of the most obvious achievements of the AI that we use every day. Don’t forget about AI usage in medicine, Machine Learning and Data Science, that let us hope to achieve something that we can’t imagine being true today.

  1. Cloud gaming

Not so popular topic, comparing to VR and AI, but still very significant. Cloud gaming is designed to give players access to virtual machines in the cloud. You don’t need to install any software or do anything like this, all you need there is a stable and fast internet connection. You can connect the game to your phone, tablet, or desktop computer. As a result, you can play whenever and wherever you want. Many online casinos use cloud gaming technology because it boosts user experience and provides access to various games, including slot machines.

  1. NFT

Non-fungible tokens are controversial but undeniably revolutionary. Blockchain-dwelling certificates are being used to record the ownership of digital assets and enable “unique” digital content. NFT Artwork is the most widely known type of NFT. There are also collectibles, trading cards, event tickets, music, gaming, charity, big sports moments (digital video clips), internet memes, virtual fashion, etc. Ethereum is the blockchain example for NFTs due to its believed blue-chip status in the cryptocurrency world and its possible reputation for smart contracts. Each NFT is unique, and there is a market for collectible NFTs. There is an auction where people can list and bid on their newly minted NFTs. There are even NFT promotion companies to help market your NFTs for you to get better prices for them.

  1. Social media 2.0

The “traditional” social networks, like Facebook and Twitter are still extremely popular, but 2022 is another year for these giants to announce that their audience is dwindling at an alarming rate, especially if we talk about younger generation. The way that people prefer to consume the information today paves the way for new social medias, like TikTok. The recent privacy quarrels also influenced a lot, as well as fake news cases made many people to give up reading some classic networks and look for alternatives. The AI helps to detect fake news, but the reputation of some resources already suffered a lot. The process of new social medias popularization is only beginning, experts say, so we might expect news from that industry very soon.

In conclusion, we can state that modern technology is making the entertainment industry better and more sensitive to consumers’ desires, but it also makes it more competitive. We can expect that there will be more players on the fields of social media or tech suppliers, especially if the currents ones won’t be able to adapt their development strategies to the new reality.

Expleo Ireland announces 200 new jobs and plans for regional hubs

Expleo, a global technology, engineering and consulting service provider, today announces 200 jobs and the opening of its first regional hub in Mahon, Co. Cork. The company is investing €10M in the expansion of its workforce, along with the establishment of a network of regional hubs as part of the investment.

Expleo has been operating in Ireland for over 20 years. Working with enterprise clients to fast-track value-driving innovation, futureproof their businesses and innovate consistently at scale, the company has seen a 25% growth in Irish revenues over the last two years, spurred by widespread digitalisation across all industries. To facilitate this, and further growth, the company will grow from 800 to 1,000 employees in Ireland over the next two years.

The majority of the 200 jobs will be highly skilled IT roles in disciplines including software development, DevOps, software engineering and technical engineering. The new hires will work on transformative technologies and projects such as hyperautomation, robotic process automation (RPA) and agile transformation in industries including life sciences, financial services and aviation.

To support the recruitment process, and to ensure that it attracts the best talent from across Ireland, Expleo will establish a series of regional hubs that will be complementary to the company’s Irish HQ in Dublin and its base in Belfast. The first office in Mahon, Co. Cork, is now open, with subsequent hubs planned for Galway and Limerick.

Team members based in the hubs will be offered the same flexible working arrangements as those in the Dublin and Belfast offices, allowing them to split their time between working from home and working from Expleo’s hub offices or client sites. Regular team collaboration days, meanwhile, will ensure that all new hires will feel included and part of the core Expleo team.

Phil Codd, Managing Director, Expleo Ireland, said: “We’re thrilled to announce our expansion plans as Expleo continues to go from strength to strength on the island of Ireland. Following extensive research of available resources and skills throughout the country, it was evident that regional hubs would provide Expleo with the additional talent and impetus we need to deliver on our ambitious growth plans.

“Our new hires in Cork will have access to all the benefits our current employee base enjoys including competitive salaries, flexible working, world-class training programmes and a highly supportive working culture. We’re also looking forward to expanding our national footprint further with new hubs in Galway and Limerick also expected to open this year.”

You don’t need to go to the cinema, because the i-box Impulse brings the cinema to you

The Impulse sound bar by the audio brand i-box is stylish and compact, with a sleek design and excellent audio response. With the latest, state-of-the-art sonic technology, it packs a powerful punch. With a full-on 100W sound experience that will give you crystal highs, rumbling bass, and a mid-range to bring the dialogue to life –movies will move you like never before.

A dark room, some popcorn and an immersive audio-visual experience that transports you to a different world; there’s nothing quite like a trip to the cinema. Imagine taking all the best things about going to the movies and leaving out all the worst bits like finding a parking space, queueing up at the snack counter and that incessant sound of crinkling crisp packets. Well, now you can with the i-box Impulse TV Dolby Digital Bluetooth sound bar.

So, what makes the i-box Impulse the best sound bar? Let’s start with the six, full spectrum 100W speakers. Our sound bar has two mid-range and four full-range drivers designed to create the ultimate immersive effect by adapting the acoustic output to the dimensions of the room. To truly complete the experience, the legendary Dolby Digital surround sound will draw you right in, making you feel a part of the action.

The Impulse has a wealth of features that will complete your home cinema set up

  • Six speakers to give you a crystal-clear sound with a deep bass
  • Dolby Digital for a superb surround sound experience
  • A stylish fabric finish and modern design that will complement any room decor
  • Flexible input audio sources including HDMI (ARC), optical, coaxial, AUX In and USB
  • Multiple EQ modes can be set to optimise audio output
  • Bluetooth 5.0 so you can wirelessly stream music, podcasts, and audio books from any mobile device
  • +/-5 levels bass and treble adjustments

When it comes to connectivity, we understand that not all home cinema set-ups and televisions were created equal. So, we’ve made sure the Impulse sound bar supports almost any audio source including optical, coaxial, HDMI (ARC), AUX IN and USB MP3 playback.

Of course, you’ll want the flexibility to make adjustments to the output, because watching Godfather II will not require the same head-exploding bass as Apocalypse Now. The Impulse sound bar’s Multiple EQ modes can be set to optimise your audio allowing you to tweak the bass and treble fine tuning.

And the fun doesn’t have to stop just because the film has. The i-box Impulse can still play a starring role in your home entertainment even after the credits have rolled. With Bluetooth 5.0, you can wirelessly stream music, podcasts, and audio books from any enabled mobile device.

They say the devil is in the detail, we know how annoying it is when you buy a new piece of kit and there are basic functionality problems. While you might think it’s an obvious choice to include a remote, the fact remains that too many sound bars don’t come with a remote control. But ours does and it gives you full control over volume, mode, output, EQ and audio settings.

While the premium fabric finish might seem like the least important feature of the Impulse sound bar, you should never underestimate the value of style. The sleek, luxe design looks as good as the speaker’s sound and will look at home in any living room.

How slots will adapt with technology

Out of the many casino games available, traditional slot games have by far been one of the most popular throughout time. Offering a simple game of chance that doesn’t require any complicated knowledge or strategy behind the game, online slots are a way for players to relax and let go of their day, while getting a thrill out of the chance to win the jackpot. 

Over the years, new and developing technologies have innovated casino games, in which today’s casino offerings are now online. This has created a huge opportunity for the world of online slot games. Games have become more innovative than ever before, with players able to truly immerse themselves in the world of the game, even though they’re playing through a screen. 

What’s more, the multitude of providers now on offer who are constantly innovating these services is giving players so much choice. Providers like Megaways Slots are leading the way when it comes to the latest technologies for online slot games, but what technologies are behind these innovations?

Below, we’ll take a look at new technologies that are adapting slot games. 

The history of online slots

Slots machines were first introduced in the early 19th century and offered a simple design. There were usually 3 reels with a few different fruit or cash symbols, including the liberty bell which was a slot game classic. The earliest slot machines only offered one payline and were most popular in bars and pubs across the UK, Europe, US and Canada. 

These early slot machines didn’t offer much in the way of a jackpot, with the prize simply being a few coins or sometimes not even a monetary prize but something like bubblegum instead. In 1963, the first electromagnetic slot games were introduced, offering larger payouts of up to 500 coins. 

As technology became more widespread in the 1990’s, slot games began to incorporate digital technology. As a result, new and innovative video slots came about, creating a whole different experience. 

Today’s online slots

Today, there is a huge amount of technology that goes into slot games, in which online and mobile offerings are by far the most popular. The added convenience of mobile slot games has meant that more players than ever before are now able to access online slots, including those that would have never dreamed of stepping foot inside a brick and mortar casino. 

Not only is there a wider audience than ever for digital slot games, the whole slot game experience itself has been rethought and is now a vastly different experience from what it used to be in the early 19th century. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the technologies that are continuing to innovate online slot games. 

Mobile gaming

Video slot games are one thing but being able to play on a mobile device has been a game changer. In today’s modern world, people have less and less leisure time to spend on playing games, so it’s been critical that the industry came up with a way to make traditional casino games more accessible.

By being able to access a smooth mobile experience on online slot sites, players can easily squeeze in a game of their favorite slots while on the go, whether that be on the way to work on the train, while doing chores around the house, or even from a remote beach while on vacation if there’s Wi-Fi. 

Random Number Generators

Random Number Generators, or RGN’s for short, are a tool that determine the outcome of each spin, making it almost impossible to predict what will happen next. This keeps the game exciting and keeps players coming back for more so it’s vital that this technology is constantly reviewed. 

Today’s RGN technology has improved significantly since the days of the old fruit machine in a pub. The latest technology has made gameplay even fairer for players, ensuring a smooth experience every time. 

More banking choices

While the slot game itself is incredibly important, another vital feature is how players can pay and also withdraw funds to their bank account. While earlier online payment methods were limited to simply credit or debit, today, there are a large number of options available from online wallets like PayPal and Venmo, to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and even mobile payments.

These options make it easier for players to access online games while keeping their online identity safer and reducing the risk of payment card fraud. 

Graphics

Many of us remember the simple graphics of traditional slot games. In fact, they could hardly be called graphics. Yet today, motion picture technology means that many online slot games are more like a video gaming experience than a simple slot game.

Players have access to a variety of themed games where they can get up close and personal with their favorite tv and movie characters. This makes the game much more interesting, while also adding a clever level of nostalgia that keeps the payer coming back for more each time.

Overall, the amount of technology now innovating online casino games, and particularly slot games has transformed the industry. These technologies are developing at an incredible rate, in which we can;t wait to see how the industry is innovated next. 

First Look – instax mini Link 2 Smartphone Printer

It is that time of year again when instax launch a new smartphone printer and last years model was a big hit and I would expect the same this year, we also have new prints this time to make you more creative and not forgetting the really cool app that is available on Android and iOS, A key USP here is portability and also it is a robust printer that can fit in your pocket.

Today we will do a quick unboxing and tour of the latest on offer from FujiFilm and if you have any questions feel free to ask on all our channels and we will have a full hands on review with samples and a look at the app. For more information about the instax mini Link 2, visit https://instax.ie/printers/mini-link-2/
Where to buy? – Available at FUJIFILM stockists nationwide or visit instax.ie

See here for more.

VIdeo Link 

 

Microsoft Ireland & FIT mark One Year Anniversary of Digital Skills Training Programme, #StepIn2Tech

Microsoft Ireland today announced that more than 6,000 people have taken their first StepIn2Tech by signing up to participate in the digital skills training programme that was launched in collaboration with Fastrack to IT (FIT) just over one year ago.

StepIn2Tech was initially developed by Microsoft Ireland in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in an effort 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.

Through StepIn2Tech, 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 StepIn2Tech 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, which Microsoft Ireland employees are delivering, in order 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.

Free training places remain available through StepIn2Tech as the initiative embarks on its second year.

James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Lead and Vice President of Microsoft International Operations, said: “It’s hugely encouraging to see that over 6,000 people have engaged with StepIn2Tech, one of a number of education and training initiatives that Microsoft Ireland has developed to empower learners – 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. It’s inspiring to hear about the experiences of StepIn2Tech graduates, such as Ilona, and to see how their lives and career paths have been enhanced through this programme. By empowering people to acquire digital skills, StepIn2Tech is aiding the transition to a digital-first economy, which must be inclusive for all.”

 

Speaking about her experience of StepIn2Tech, Ilona Tkachenko, said: “Quite soon after the pandemic hit, I was made redundant from my job and found myself at home with my family minding my two kids. As we navigated our way through that strange time, I came across this advertisement for total IT beginners to start a cyber security course. That turned out to be StepIn2Tech. The course worked brilliantly for me as I was able to do it at my own pace and, with the support of the FIT digi-chaperones. I really surprised myself with everything that I learned, and how much I wanted to keep learning and keep discovering. At the end of the course, I graduated with certificates in security fundamentals and CompTIA Security. I also engaged in the Microsoft mentoring sessions, which have been invaluable in helping me to prepare for job opportunities. I’m currently interviewing for a number of security operations analyst positions and am hoping to secure a job very soon. StepIn2Tech has opened up a whole world of opportunities for me and I’d encourage anyone who is out of work or looking to change career to take that first step.”

Peter Davitt, CEO, Fastrack to IT, said: “We’re delighted that more than 6,000 people have signed up to, quite literally, take their first step into technology since the launch of StepIn2Tech one year ago.

“With learners coming from a diverse range of backgrounds and sectors that had been negatively impacted by the pandemic, such as hospitality and retail, StepIn2Tech 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.”

For more information on #StepIn2Tech or to register to participate in the programme, visit: https://fit.ie/stepin2tech/.