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Opportunity for women-returners, lone parents and unemployed people in the Greater Belfast area to gain free ICT qualifications.
NET-ARCS is a once in a lifetime opportunity for unemployed people, lone parents and women-returners in the Greater Belfast area to gain free ICT training and qualifications so that they can access employment in the ICT sector.
The project has been developed by the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre (BURC), which won the 2001 UK Microsoft Best Community Project Award for its innovative ICT training programme for women returning to work.
The NET-ARCS project aims to produce confident network administrators and e-commerce professionals with skills that meet the needs of local employers.
Simon Thompson, senior ICT trainer at the project , said “To date the course has been very successful and has now run for one year with thirty-three globally recognised qualifications having been achieved by the 11 students, and with more exams scheduled this figure will grow .”
Qualifications
Starting in June 2004, participants will gain high grade training and qualifications in internet and networking technologies – including i-Net+ (CompTIA), Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
This is supported by a personal and professional development course to enhance the participants’ technical skills, and followed by a placement at a local IT company to build on the skills developed in the classroom.
Simon continues, “I would like to encourage people who have faced barriers in accessing training and education in the past and feel they have the drive and ability to succeed in gaining these technical qualifications . ”
The course is full time, free and lasts for 40 weeks. NET-ARCS can help participants with childcare and travel costs. The closing date for applications is 7 May 2004. It is funded by the Belfast Local Strategy Partnership through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
For further information contact:
Dave Somerville
Project Leader
NET-ARCS
Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre
Cathedral Quarter
109-113 Royal Avenue
Belfast BT1 1FF 
Dave.Somerville@burc.org 
028 9093 5945 
028 9093 5941
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