Tag: initiative

Datapac launches Pathways Inclusion initiative to widen tech talent pool

Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, is today announcing the launch of Pathways Inclusion, a new initiative which aims to expand access to technology careers through diversity and inclusion.

With the Pathways Inclusion initiative, Datapac plans to widen the talent pool within the technology industry by targeting largely untapped talent groups. These include career-changers with transferrable skills and rich work experiences, and those seeking direct entry into the workforce after secondary education. The initiative will also encourage more women and young girls to consider careers in technology. With a focus on collaboration rather than competition, Datapac aims to create a more inclusive environment within the indigenous IT industry in Ireland. This new initiative builds on Datapac’s successful work and graduate placement programmes, which have taken on over 220 candidates in the last 18 years.

Pathways Inclusion will seek to reach, empower, and support individuals throughout all the stages of their education.

  • Primary school: Much of the inequality in the technology sector, particularly the gender gap which is still prevalent, can be traced back to the very root of education. Datapac recognises the importance of early education in shaping perceptions and aspirations and will collaborate with key organisations to promote a more inclusive narrative about to children from a young age, helping to broaden their horizons for what’s possible during their life trajectory.
  • Secondary school: Mentorship and exposure to lived examples during the formative secondary school years can have a significant impact on career choices. Datapac, in partnership with Maynooth University, will participate in the STEM Passport programme from September 2024 to provide mentorship to Transition Year girls, encouraging their pursuit of STEM careers and culminating in a level 6 STEM qualification. Additionally, Datapac is embarking on roadshows at local secondary schools to inspire students by sharing first-hand experiences
  • Third level: Datapac’s third-level work placement programme offers students diverse, real-world experiences within the tech sector, exposing them to various roles and opportunities for growth
  • Post-graduation: The Graduate Development Programme at Datapac provides tailored career experiences and mentorship to graduates from a broad array of disciplines, equipping them with industry-recognised certifications and skills necessary to excel in the tech sector

Datapac, in close collaboration with its talent acquisition partner Intellect Talent, employs inclusive hiring practices to attract candidates from diverse backgrounds, focusing on transferrable skills and potential for growth over traditional qualifications.

Datapac employees benefit from a range of support systems designed to enhance their professional skills and personal growth. These include an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), continuous learning and upskilling opportunities, and a Community Contribution Initiative which encourages employees to engage with and contribute to charitable causes, supported by additional leave for volunteering. They can also avail of flexible working and a range of initiatives aimed at promoting work-life balance.

Karen O’Connor, General Manager, Datapac: “At Datapac, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential for driving innovation and success in the technology sector. The modern technology landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, but a significant portion of the talent pool remains untapped due to outdated barriers to entry. To help address this inequality and evolve the narrative, Datapac is launching the Pathways Inclusion initiative as a movement towards greater industry-wide inclusivity.

Bronagh Murphy, HR Generalist, Datapac: “This goes beyond merely attracting talent at the recruitment stage and looks to how individuals can be supported once they enter the industry, and through an investment in the root of the talent tree. Through our Pathways Inclusion initiative, we are committed to creating opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to thrive in the industry and, in turn, create a vibrant and diverse technology talent pool in Ireland.”

Viatel’s Discovery Initiative – a gateway to the future for Irish businesses

Viatel Technology Group, a market leader in comms and digital services, has announced a groundbreaking initiative to accelerate Irish organisations on their path to automation and innovation. Throughout November, Viatel is offering exclusive, complimentary ‘Discovery’ consultations, where one fortunate company will win their dream project.

Damien Lee, Director of Software Services at Viatel Technology Group, sets the stage for this exciting initiative, “Irish businesses are still slogging through time consuming manual processes, grappling with old Access databases, and struggling with apps and systems crafted by ex-employees that no longer serve their companies.

“At Viatel we understand the transformative potential of technology. As a Gold Microsoft Partner we’ve successfully guided hundreds of businesses on their digital journeys. From building an online passport application system for the Department of Foreign Affairs, to collaborating with the National Lottery, and reconstructing Chill Insurance’s online quote engine, we’ve proven our commitment to innovation and excellence.”

Damien explains the Discovery Initiative, “This is an open invitation to all companies: bring us your pain! Tell us about your repetitive processes, your outdated apps, and your unscalable systems. We will assess your issues and tailor a solution from an array of options, from off-the-shelf solutions like Power Automate and Power BI, all the way to customised software.”

Following a comprehensive hour-long consultation with a seasoned technical lead and an experienced business analyst, participating companies will receive an outline project scope, including costs. Damien underscores the vital role of pricing, “Companies might believe that this level of technical development is beyond their reach, but the landscape has evolved dramatically, with low-code apps proving to be a game-changer.”

With organisations currently in the midst of planning their 2024 budgets, discovery consultations make it easy to showcase the substantial savings and long-term positive impacts these projects can deliver to the bottom line.

Damien continued “Our commitment to digitisation and development will enhance a company’s efficiency. It’s also fantastic news for employees. This shift can transform how they spend their working hours, increasing job satisfaction and freeing them up for higher-value tasks.”
From every consultation scheduled from now until the end of November, Viatel will select one lucky company to receive five days of free development work. To learn more visit www.viatel.com/discovery-initiative.

Expleo launches initiatives to attract women in Ireland back to the workplace

Expleo, a global technology, engineering, and consulting service provider, is today announcing that it is launching progressive initiatives aimed at attracting women back to the workplace. The Return@Expleo programme, in partnership with Women Returners, along with an expanded leave policy and a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Programme, aims to empower female professionals seeking to return to work.

Expleo’s Return@Expleo programme is aimed at professionals who have taken extended career break. Participants will be equipped with the resources they require to refresh their skills, re-establish industry connections and pursue their career progression. On completion of the five-month paid career returners programme, successful candidates will have a view towards permanency within Expleo. This will help Expleo fill current job openings in the areas of Quality Assurance, Business Analysis, and Engineering.

Expleo’s commitment to diversity is further exemplified through its generous leave policies, which the company has expanded this year to include menopause leave, fertility treatment leave, volunteer leave and special leave relating to important life situations, such as a child starting school. Team members can also avail of fully-paid maternity, paternity, adoption, and parent’s leave. In addition, Expleo’s life enrichment programme offers unpaid leave for traveling, research or education.

Expleo’s award-winning Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Programme, meanwhile, has long been a champion for female voices in the workplace. With a dedicated D&I Committee and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), Expleo ensures that all employees have a voice in shaping D&I initiatives. The company’s commitment to continuous learning is demonstrated through its annual D&I training for the leadership team and employees. Expleo’s dedication to gender diversity has been recognised with award wins including the recent Diversity and Inclusion Award at the Tech Excellence Awards. It has also previously been awarded the Best Large Workplace in Ireland.

Aimee Farrell, Project Manager at Expleo, who went through the programme said: “I joined Expleo as a Project Manager through the Return@Expleo programme in March 2022 following a five-year career break to stay at home with my young children. From the very first contact I had with Expleo and the team at Women Returners, I knew that my career was in good hands. They made the transition back to work very straight forward and provided support including webinars on brushing up your CV and job interview preparation, through to a five-month programme of workshops specific to my needs. This personalised approach helped me regain confidence and update my skills. Connecting with the other participants on the programme created a supportive community, offering shared experiences and valuable insights. I recommend this programme to any woman seeking to return to the world of work.”

Eimear Fitzsimons, Head of Recruitment, at Expleo, said: “At Expleo, we are dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We understand that many women desire to return to the workforce, but may lack confidence and feel that their skills are outdated – particularly when it comes to our fast-moving technology industry. Through our initiatives, we aim to provide the encouragement and support that career returners need to step back into the professional realm and carve out successful careers.

“Helping women to get back into the workplace is just one element of ensuring greater gender diversity in our industry. We understand that life happens and that is why we have extended our leave policies to include menopause leave and special leave, which can cover unexpected or unique events. We stand by our employees through every stage of their lives, continually assessing and enhancing our benefits to meet their evolving needs year after year.

“We have also taken measures including the removal of gender-biased language from job ads; implementing internal mentorship programmes; offering a flexible model for working parents, Expleo Fusion; and hosting impactful workshops and webinars. Our goal is to empower female professionals, dismantle barriers, and foster an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive and make meaningful contributions.”

 To find out more information or to apply for the roles, visit https://expleo.to/ReturnAtExpleoProgramme

Bolt to ramp up regional ebike schemes and trial rider safety score initiative

Bolt, the European mobility champion, is adding additional electric bikes to each of its regional schemes in anticipation of demand this Spring and Summer. Sligo and Kilkenny will benefit from 30 additional electric bikes each, bringing the total in each town to 100 and 80 respectively.

Bolt Operations Manager for Rentals in Ireland, John Buckley, said, “We have been thrilled by the success of our shared electric bike schemes in Sligo and Kilkenny. Our team at Bolt assesses a location, we agree on a max number of bikes with its Local Authority, and we gradually ramp up supply based on how riders, pedestrians, and other road users become accustomed to the scheme. This allows for controlled and responsible operations. With the additional parking bays in place, Sligo and Kilkenny are ready for the final tranche of electric bikes. Since launching in the summer of 2022, over 120,000 KM has been travelled on our Electric Bikes across our locations and, with additional schemes to come in 2023, we hope to reach 300,000 KM by the end of the year.”

Bolt surveyed electric bike users in Sligo and Kilkenny that opted for this sustainable mode of transport over cars and found that the shared scheme has saved 16,913 km of car trips in Ireland to date, approximately 1,765 kg of CO2.

Each town has successfully utilised over 40 designated parking bays thanks to town councils and local businesses that recognised the demand for infrastructure. To ensure the continued growth of the schemes, 10 more parking bays have been earmarked for each town.

Sligo Councillor Marie Casserly said, “This initiative is so positive for Sligo town. The feedback has been universally positive from locals and visitors alike. To see these bikes being used so often is heartening. It also shows that Sligo County Council take our Active Travel and Climate Action plan responsibilities seriously and we are all playing our part.

There is a positive progressive image with the inclusion of the Bolt electric bike scheme.”

Gerard Moore, Director and General Manager of Sligo Park Hotel said, “We are thrilled with the news that Bolt bicycles are increasing the number of bicycles in Sligo up to its full complement of 100. The bicycles have been used and are being used by our guests and employees and the feedback has been fantastic. We’re delighted to be associated with Bolt and Sligo County Council on this initiative.”

Bolt has previously earmarked up to €5m in its bid to roll out electric bike operations across Irish cities and towns with up to 2000 bikes available to deploy immediately as required. The European Mobility Champion recently announced upcoming launches of shared electric bike schemes in Bray and Wexford.

The Government recently committed to promoting e-mobility solutions in cities and towns and will be relying on such schemes to provide essential alternatives for commuters as Demand Management solutions are considered in the coming year.