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Public, private and voluntary sector organisations join forces to boost software skills in North and West Belfast

Leading organisations in IT, training and education have joined forces to provide young people from North and West Belfast with the chance to learn software skills that will help them work towards a future in the tech sector.

Over six months, Queen’s University Belfast and Impact Training, supported by Telefónica Tech UK&I, delivered a coding academy training programme to help 16-19-year-olds from the Greater Shankill, West and North Belfast gain essential workplace skills and learn about the latest technologies and opportunities within the IT industry.

This is the second year that the programme has run, and it saw the young people attend a series of regular coding sessions, delivered by Queen’s and Impact Training, with a graduation for the students held in the Telefónica Tech Belfast offices, which employ 330 people in Belfast. Sponsored by Telefónica Tech, each student was also provided with a Raspberry Pi for graduating, a small and affordable computer used to learn programming, which they can use to continue to develop their coding skills.

The graduation ceremony for those who completed the course took place on Wednesday 24^th April at Telefónica Tech UK&I’s office in Titanic Quarter. As part of the event, awards were presented to the young people, including an outstanding achievement award to recognise a participant who went above and beyond and demonstrated true potential and dedication to learning new skills. This year’s winner was Justin Clarke.

Delivering training opportunities for young people in Greater Shankill, West and North Belfast for over 45 years, Impact Training, provides training options for school leavers who have chosen to pursue a more vocational path.

Ellen Dickson, Strategic VP of Enterprise Health at Telefónica Tech UK&I, commented: “Congratulations to all of the young people who completed this year’s course. Telefónica Tech UK&I is incredibly proud to once again support and be part of such a fantastic programme that will hopefully mark the beginning of an exciting career in IT for those who participated. As well as providing young people with essential skills to widen their career options, the programme will also help boost the pipeline of skills that is needed to enable our IT sector to continue to thrive.”

Dr David Cutting, Director of Education in the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queen’s University Belfast, said: “We are delighted to join forces with Impact Training and Telefónica Tech UK&I to deliver something so worthwhile, helping young people discover their love for IT and embark on careers in the sector. We are proud to see our peer mentors support the next generation of experts in coding and share their love and enthusiasm.”

This has been an outstanding programme to help the young people of Belfast kickstart their IT careers. It is incredible to see how quickly the participants took up coding and the amount of talent and passion that each of them had. It is fantastic to see our students helping to train the next generation of experts in coding.”

Gerard Fox, Vocational Employment Manager at Impact Training, added: “It is fantastic to witness how much students can grow and reach their full potential when completing the course and it is fantastic to offer it once again to young people in Belfast. It not only gives them an insight into the IT sector but it is also a fantastic way for them to gain confidence and grow as they begin the journey towards their future careers. Congratulations to everyone who completed the course.”

Transform Your Irish Skills with Free AI Language Coach – Gaeilgeoir AI

Speak Irish fluently with the launch of Gaeilgeoir AI, a groundbreaking language learning tool arriving just in time for Seachtain na Gaeilge. This cutting-edge technology leverages the power of AI, backed by research, to revolutionize the way people learn Irish.

A recent McKinsey study highlights the immense potential of AI in education, suggesting it can enhance learning outcomes by as much as 20-30%. Specifically for language learning, AI tools have been shown to help learners develop conversational skills up to 6 times faster than traditional methods.

Key Features: A New Era of Irish Language Learning

Intelligent AI Conversations: Practice realistic, everyday Irish with an adaptive AI partner that tailors the experience to your skill level.
Personalized Learning: Receive customized feedback and targeted lessons that focus on your individual needs.
Engaging & Accessible: The interactive and gamified approach makes learning Irish enjoyable and keeps learners motivated.

Founder’s Vision: Empowering a New Generation of Irish Speakers

“The essence of language is communication. Yet, traditional methods for teaching Irish often overemphasize memorization of poems and vocabulary, often leaving learners unable to actually hold a conversation. Gaeilgeoir AI aims to change that,” says David, founder of Gaeilgeoir AI.

The launch couldn’t be more perfectly timed. With Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations underway, Gaeilgeoir AI provides an innovative and accessible way for people worldwide to connect with the Irish language and culture.

Experience the future of Irish language learning – for free! Visit www.gaeilgeoir.ai and start your journey to fluency today. We welcome media inquiries and are open to interviews and demonstrations.

About Gaeilgeoir AI

Gaeilgeoir AI is on a mission to make Irish language learning accessible. Our AI tools are designed to empower learners from all backgrounds.

Bainigí taitneamh as Seachtain na Gaeilge!

(“Enjoy Seachtain na Gaeilge!”)

Skills Shortage impacting Technology Growth in Ireland

New findings from Morgan McKinley, the Irish global talent services company, reveal that 25% of hiring managers have identified a lack of skilled candidates as their main challenge in 2024.

Research conducted as part of Morgan McKinley’s 2024 Salary Guide indicates that the recruitment landscape in Ireland’s technology sector remained tight in 2023, with 76% of hiring managers experiencing tough competition in making new hires.

The guide identified key challenges for 2024, with 25% of hiring managers citing a shortage of skilled candidates as their primary obstacle. Other challenges included difficulties in competing on pay and benefits (22%) and a lack of organisational approval for new headcount (19%).

For 2024, the outlook is more optimistic, with 50% of technology hiring managers planning to expand their teams in the first six months. Additionally, 46% of tech workers are considering new opportunities during this period, with another 31% contemplating a job change.

In terms of career moves, tech professionals prioritise a higher salary (40%), followed by opportunities for career advancement (14%) and the option to work remotely (13%).

The value placed on flexibility, such as working from home and flexible hours, remains high among tech workers, ranking as the most and third most important benefits respectively, along with bonuses, health insurance, and pension plans. Notably, the tech sector has the highest percentage of individuals who consider remote work as a top benefit (71%).

When it comes to workplace preferences, 4-in-10 tech professionals would like to work in the office 1-2 days per week, while only 8% prefer being on-site full-time. Over half (53%) would forgo a salary increase for more flexibility. In response to the competitive hiring environment, 69% of employers anticipate raising salaries for hard-to-fill tech roles, with an additional 20% planning to increase salaries across all tech teams.

Eoin Connolly, Operations Director, Morgan McKinley Ireland, commented: “While the technology market as a whole definitely softened during 2023, we also saw several areas such as Cybersecurity and Data Science experience strong growth. This was coupled with growth in contract opportunities, across multiple facets of technology. Throughout Q3 and Q4, we saw a marginal increase in both permanent and contract jobs available, which bodes well for positive levels of hiring activity in 2024.”

“Technology salaries in Ireland increased slightly in 2023, partially due to the impact of inflation, but also due to the shortage of talent. This has also increased the prominence of counteroffers, with employers offering their top performers 15-20% increases to stay on board.”

“The sentiment from organisations is generally positive for 2024; there is still some cautious decision making when it comes to hiring budgets for the year, but by and large, the fight for top talent is still a real issue for most companies. January started slowly as it always does but it has been a very busy month for us, which is an indicator of a strong quarter, and hopefully year ahead.”

How Team-Based Video Games Help Build Communication Skills

The Evolution of Team-Based Video Games

Team-based video games have been an integral part of the gaming landscape for decades, evolving from primitive text-based interfaces to advanced multiplayer platforms with live voice chat capabilities. In recent years, the introduction of communication tools has become an industry standard, with almost every game released offering some form of player interaction. But a question that often arises is: how can team-based video games help improve your communication skills?

To answer this question, let’s start with the concept of communication in gaming environments. Players often have to discuss strategies, negotiate actions, and coordinate movements. Let’s take the example of a popular game, Minecraft, where players can use tools such as the Minecraft skin editor to customize their in-game appearances. This not only helps to build a sense of team identity, but also opens the door for conversations about individual creativity, taste, and design skills.

The Role of Communication in Team-Based Video Games

Communication is crucial in team-based video games, where players must coordinate with each other to achieve a common goal. These interactions often mimic real-world situations, like working in a team to solve problems or dealing with stressful situations. Therefore, being a part of these in-game scenarios can help players build and refine their communication skills.

For instance, in an intense game scenario, a player might need to quickly relay information to their team to devise a strategy. This experience can help improve their ability to communicate under pressure, a skill highly valued in real-world situations. Also, a team player’s ability to listen, understand, and react to others’ perspectives and ideas is improved, thereby enhancing their interpersonal skills.

Enhancing Communication Skills Through Video Games

Learning how to effectively communicate in team-based video games can have several real-world applications.

Problem Solving and Decision Making: In many team-based games, players face complex problems that require them to communicate with their teammates to devise and implement strategies. These situations help improve their problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills, two crucial aspects of effective communication.

Negotiation Skills: In a game setting, players often have to negotiate with others to reach a common understanding or goal. This experience can help develop effective negotiation skills, which are valuable in various life scenarios, such as conflict resolution, business, or relationships.

Leadership Skills: A team-based video game often requires a leader to guide the team’s strategy. This leader must be able to clearly and effectively communicate their ideas and strategies, facilitating the development of leadership skills.

Language Skills: In multiplayer games that connect players from around the world, there’s an opportunity to interact with people from different linguistic backgrounds. This experience can enhance language skills, including vocabulary, grammar, and conversational fluency.

Cultural Understanding: Through interactions with players worldwide, gamers get exposed to different cultural perspectives, making them more empathetic and understanding. This global exposure aids in developing cross-cultural communication skills, which are becoming increasingly important in our interconnected world.

In conclusion, team-based video games provide a dynamic environment for improving a wide range of communication skills. They not only provide fun and entertainment but also serve as a platform for personal growth and skill development. So next time you jump into a multiplayer game, remember, you’re not only enjoying a thrilling digital experience, but you’re also honing your real-world communication skills.

Logicalis UK & Ireland survey reveals security threats & skills are the biggest concerns for IT experts

Logicalis UK&IRL the leading technology service provider, today reveals the challenges that IT professionals are most concerned about in 2023, with security threats taking the top spot (47%). This was followed by skills and resourcing (46%) and budgetary pressure (36%).

The survey of IT professionals across Ireland and the UK also found that more than a third (35%) are concerned about upgrading legacy infrastructure systems, while almost a fifth (18%) are worried about IT supply chain shortages.

Given the challenges causing the most concern, it’s perhaps unsurprising that some 71% of respondents are planning to focus their IT strategy this year on security. The other two most cited focus areas were public cloud (46%) and automation (41%).

Clearly, cloud remains a key focus for 2023 with a quarter (25%) of IT experts also honing in on cloud backup. Some 30% will prioritise hybrid (multi) cloud, with 34% set to focus on Software as a Service (SaaS) or cloud applications.

A similar proportion (35%) are setting their sights on data protection and compliance as a primary focus area of their 2023 IT strategy, while workplace modernisation is a priority for 26% and remote working is high on the list for 30%. The same amount (30%) cited end user computing and environmental sustainability as key areas.

In terms of IT budgets for 2023, the research revealed that 35% of IT professionals are expecting theirs to increase – this is down considerably from 2022 when 51% expected their IT budgets to increase. Meanwhile, some 40% are expecting theirs to stay the same, with a quarter (25%) anticipating a decrease – rising from 16% who expected a decrease the year previously.

When it comes to making strategic IT decisions, 76% said the input of the internal IT team is most valuable. Moreover, half (50%) value the input of their peers/personal network most and 46% identified independent tech specialists.

The study also found that 95% of organisations are currently using Microsoft as the technology vendor most aligned with their IT strategy for 2023. The other vendors in the top five were VMware (83%), Azure Cloud (82%), Dell (78%) and Cisco (73%).

Alex Louth, Managing Director, Logicalis UK&I, said: “Given the concerns around rising threats and lacking skills, where IT leaders allocate their spend is more critical than ever. Furthermore, there is a balance to be found between securing company systems and supporting the modern workplace.

“This will mean choosing not just the right technological solutions and vendors, but having an approach which can evolve to meet the needs of the team and the business as a whole – both today and moving forward.

“After all, workplace modernisation is a continuous process and change is required. However, if organisations can successfully master and implement their IT strategy, they can protect their data, encourage team innovation and drive business growth.”

To download the Logicalis IT Survey Results, Independent Survey of IT Priorities, UK and Ireland, click here.

How To Be A Human Writer In An AI World

ChatGPT originating in November 2022 has triggered massive AI trends with other software like it emerging in the marketplace. As more bloggers rely on AI-generated content rather than the work of human writers, freelance writers risk losing clients and earnings.

Here, we discuss different AI news stories in Ireland. We also offer tips on how to be a human writer in this new AI world and still make a living doing what you love.

Trying to find new clients who value human writing can be challenging and exhausting. Take a break by watching a fun, thrilling sports game. Visit this site to learn about the most recent local sports games and how you can place a bet.

The Cost Effectiveness of AI

Bloggers, influencers, and other content creators are shifting to using AI software to automatically write content quickly and effortlessly by inputting a description of their intended article subject and some supporting details. Of course, the person may have to do some research on their end to increase the piece’s overall credibility and link to external articles.

Overall, paying for the full benefits of AI software is usually cheaper than outsourcing to human writers affiliated with a content writing company. The drawback of saving money using AI is that the final piece may not feel as humanly generated because it lacks the unique nuance that human writers bring to the table.

Irish Times Accidentally Publishes An AI-Generated Article

In May 2023, the Irish Times worked with a guest writer that gave them AI-written content. The subject of the article was fake tans. With thorough analysis, the editorial team found that part of the article and even the image provided to supplement writing were AI-generated.

Hence, the newspaper company is now buckling down on its screening process to be sure guest writers deliver vetted, thorough, fact-checked work. It goes to show that many news outlets and their readers still appreciate and value human writing.

Ireland Teachers Use AI Software To Generate Student Progress Reports

AI trends are affecting more than the online writing industry. The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) reported in April 2023 that many local educators purchased an AI software called the Real Fast Report.

The AI software will assist in writing student progress reports. The teachers type in details about the child’s performance, grades, and overall progress that are auto-generated into a full report.

Sure, this is convenient for the teachers who can now spend less time generating reports for a class of 20 or more students every semester. However, parents are skeptical because they feel their children’s progress will be misinterpreted.

Tips for Being A Human Writer In An AI World

If you write content for a living, this section is for you! Writing is your art form and chosen career path and it’s best to learn what’s best to keep your passion and livelihood strong while being mindful of the new AI trends.

Here are some tips on how to be a successful human writer in this new AI-driven world.

Get To Know AI Platforms

While you want to still generate human-written content, AI can assist you along the way. Learn the software and discover how to generate blog topics. Ask for title suggestions if you hit writer’s block on what to generate content about and go from there.

Do you have a large list of clients to email, but you do not have time to write carefully generated correspondence? AI programs can also help you write emails in a pinch.

Learn New Writing Skills

You can write for many years and still not know all the techniques of the trade. If you are a blog writer, learn about blog writing recipes. Social media writers can always learn how to enhance their content strategy to be more effective in writing posts for clients.

Enhance Your Creative Thinking

While AI can help you with the general tasks of developing topic ideas, don’t forget to tap into your creative thinking. Ask yourself:

What does my audience want to hear about this topic?
What research anecdotes will support this topic and build my credibility?

START FROM SCRATCH – Pioneer DJ workshops set to celebrate the LGBTQI+ community

Pioneer DJ announces an upcoming series of workshops to celebrate the LGBTQI+ community. Throughout the months of June and July, aspiring DJs and producers from the LGBTQI+ community will have the chance to learn new skills and gain insight into effective ways to pursue a career in music at the in-person workshops in the UK.

With 20 places available for each workshop, topics will include: An Introduction to DJing, An Introduction to Scratching, An Introduction to Music Production and How to Build a Music Identity – which focuses on career progression in the music industry (DJing or otherwise). Participants will learn to use Pioneer DJ equipment under the guidance of international artists, DJ schools, and Pioneer DJ product experts.

The intention behind the Start From Scratch programme is to support minoritised and underrepresented communities. The goal is to create a safe and productive space to nurture talent. Pioneer DJ has a commitment to making sure that there is increased diversity within the industry. Research shows that targeted events like these help to close the gap. Check out the dates, times, and locations for the workshops in the table below and sign up here.

Special thanks go to the incredible partners for supporting this celebratory moment and facilitating workshops and training: On the Rise DJ School, Plastic DJ Academy, BoxPark Wembley, FOL Sound & Vision, Bluedistribuition, Point Blank, Make Me a DJ and The Rouge Room.

The Rouge Room.

Country	Session	Format	Host	Artist	Location	Date
UK	Intro to DJ	In-Person	On The Rise	DJ Sweetpea	BoxPark Wembley	16.07.23
UK	Intro to DJ	In-Person	On The Rise	DJ Sweetpea	BoxPark Wembley	16.07.23
UK	Intro to DJ	In-Person	Point Blank	DJ Ritu	Point Blank	20.06.23
UK	Intro to DJ	In-Person	Point Blank	DJ Ritu	Point Blank	21.06.23
UK	Intro to DJ	In-Person	The Rouge Room	Rio	The Rouge Room	24.06.23
UK	Intro to DJ	In-Person	Make Me A DJ	Blasha & Allatt	Make Me A DJ	27.06.23
UK	Intro to DJ	In-Person	Make Me A DJ	Blasha & Allatt	Make Me A DJ	28.06.23
UK	Intro to Scratch	In-Person	On The Rise	NikNak	Terry @ On The Rise	11.07.23
UK	Intro to Production	In-Person	On The Rise	Tayylor Made	Terry @ On The Rise	12.07.23

To find out more information, go to www.pioneerdj.com.

94% of businesses in Ireland suffer from IT skills shortages despite tech layoffs

Expleo, a global technology, engineering and consulting service provider, today announces the results of a new survey which has found that 94% of businesses on the island of Ireland are struggling to find IT staff, despite recent layoff announcements from many of the world’s largest tech companies. The research found that business leaders believe that the issue is widespread, with nearly three-quarters (74%) saying that Ireland is struggling to attract top technology talent.

Expleo carried out independent research* of 141 business leaders on the island of Ireland and found that organisations face internal and external challenges when it comes to tech talent. Most (86%) business leaders believe their organisations have under-invested in the skills base of their employees. A further 74% believe that automation must be part of their organisation’s solution, as there simply won’t be enough skilled people to get the necessary work done.

As they struggle to recruit and retain talent, the vast majority (83%) of business leaders are finding themselves under pressure to meet rising salary expectations amid ongoing inflation. More than one-third (38%) said that candidates are receiving salary offers that are 20% higher, or more, elsewhere.

The ease at which employees can change jobs to take on a more senior role or receive a higher salary is a key challenge for business leaders, along with their ability to meet employee expectations regarding modern workstyles. The research found that the top challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining tech talent are: offering a better work/life balance and reduced workload (47%), offering competitive promotion and career advancement opportunities (36%), and meeting expectations relating to flexible or remote working arrangements (35%).

As they continue to be challenged by IT skills shortages, 70% of business leaders on the island of Ireland say these shortages are impacting their business and transformation plans, with one in five saying they are having a significant impact.

To address the issue, more than one-third (38%) of businesses are now outsourcing more functions to third parties or consultants. Internal measures, meanwhile, include investing in external training for staff (42%), hiring more for remote roles (39%) and adopting hyperautomation principles to automate as many business processes as possible (39%).

Paul O’Malley, Chief Operating Officer, Expleo Ireland, said: “Our research highlights that business leaders in Ireland are acutely aware of the role that technology talent plays in their growth and success. With this in mind, and despite some very high-profile layoff announcements in recent months, businesses are continuing to struggle to find and retain the IT talent that will be pivotal to their – and the economy’s – future.

“While organisations can only do so much when it comes to external pressures such as inflation and salary competition, our research shows that businesses who are suffering from IT talent issues must take a bolder approach and tackle this issue head-on. We can see that business leaders in Ireland are open to this, with almost three-quarters saying that part of the solution lies in automation, while others are outsourcing more functions.

“At Expleo, we are helping businesses with the successful blending of internal and external expertise. In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, business leaders are under increasing pressure to keep their organisations ahead of the curve to remain competitive. By providing them with the best technology solutions, teams and talent – such as highly-skilled software teams or agile pods – we are ensuring that businesses are equipped with the right resources to work on the right projects, at the right time.

“With such an overwhelming majority of business leaders admitting that their company has under-invested in the skills base of their employees, now is the time to pave the way to a successful, sustainable future by investing in employees, their potential and their wellbeing.”

Skills shortage and low budgets considered biggest challenges for managing incident detection and response

Integrity360, Ireland and the UK’s largest cyber security services specialist, has today announced findings from a Twitter poll gaining visibility into the value of managed detection and response services (MDR). The poll, with 2,000+ responses and conducted between 8-10 March, highlights the pitfalls of existing detection and response, with the skills shortage and low budgets cited as the biggest challenges when it comes to managed detection and response – 28% respectively.

Furthermore, a third (33%) of respondents believe that threat detection is lacking most when it comes to cyber security and incident detection and response. This was closely followed by training and testing (27%). Meanwhile 26% of respondents said slow response times and 18% selected lack of visibility.

Richard Ford, CTO, Integrity360, comments: “Preventative measures, to protect and prevent threats targeting our critical systems and data are important, but not enough in this increasingly sophisticated cyber threat landscape. Organisations need security solutions and services that are effective peri-incident, that can detect, analyse and respond to threats that have bypassed preventative controls – threats both internal and external. Training and testing of these solutions, including platform tuning and training employees, is equally critical to maintaining a strong security posture.

“There remains a huge skills shortage in the cyber security industry, and particularly in high value skills and experience such as threat detection and incident response. MDR helps close the gap. In fact, organisations bridging the skills gap and utilising MDR services have a 62% reduction in the average number of security incidents per year”.

The poll did reveal that respondents look set to take action to address issues around incident detection and response, agreeing that MDR should be prioritised and highlighting that they will allocate the most cyber security budget to managed security (29%). A further twenty five percent noted that cyber security testing (25%) would receive a budget boost.

This is positive given that four in ten (40%) believe cyber security testing is best outsourced over handling in-house. Additionally, over a third (35%) believe a service provider better manages cloud computing security.

It appears in-house approaches may also require investment or improvement with the poll revealing that almost a third (31%) of respondents said that thirty percent of their cyber security budget is allocated to tools and solutions that are not used to their full potential.

When it comes to what people see as the most damaging impact of a cyber security breach, financial loss came top of the list (46%), followed by loss of trust (28%). Meanwhile, reputational damage was selected by twenty percent of respondents.

Ford adds: “We’re currently experiencing a time of economic downturn, when cyber security budgets are tight, and risks are heightened. However, slashing cyber security budgets can put a company at risk of losing their cyber security professionals which are already in short supply and can result in gaps in an organisation’s defences. Organisations are visibly assessing the value and efficiency of their security solutions and it’s great to see that they are looking to put budgets to good use by investing money and trust in service providers.”

Further, the poll found that over a third (36%) see increased defences as the most significant benefit of cyber security collaboration, with (36%) also seeing faster response times as being the biggest benefit of a managed detection and response service.

Integrity360’s MDR offering delivers real-time threat detection, proactive threat hunting, incident containment and response, security incident analysis and threat intelligence, compliance reporting, and 24/7 monitoring to businesses across Ireland and the UK. As well as enhancing organisations’ detection and response capabilities and enabling the protection of systems and data, the service provides businesses with access to on-demand and proactive support via Integrity360’s experienced security team.

Integrity360 leverages the latest threat intelligence and state-of-the-art solutions to deliver its MDR service to identify new threat actor Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) across networks, endpoints, servers, and the cloud.

Integrity360 has also recently announced that it has been named as a Representative Vendor in the 2023 Gartner Market Guide for Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Services.

Ford added: “As cyber threats continue to evolve in frequency, sophistication and efficacy, companies must roll out a comprehensive service to meet their security needs. That’s where MDR comes in. Through our offering we aim to deliver even deeper technical expertise and innovative technologies which enable companies to secure their operations and allow us to serve as an extension of their team.”

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The Cost Effectiveness of AI

Irish Times Accidentally Publishes An AI-Generated Article

Ireland Teachers Use AI Software To Generate Student Progress Reports

Tips for Being A Human Writer In An AI World

Get To Know AI Platforms

Learn New Writing Skills

Enhance Your Creative Thinking

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