Fourteen students and employers from the IT sector attended an IT career networking event at Noa’s Bake House.

The event was organised by Career Ready initiative co-ordinator Jo Davies.

The focus of the evening was for the students to develop and nurture their contacts with employers within the IT sector.

The evening began with Career Ready mentor Tom Gough (Thomas Patrick Creative Agency Ltd.), who is also hosting an internship this summer, sharing his career experiences and explaining the importance of creating and maintaining networking relationships.

He outlined his career history to date.

Tom left Ramsey Grammar School at 17 years to start up his own IT business and he is still only 19 years old!

Owen Cutajar, Futuretech Ltd and ICT champion for the Isle of Man who will be providing an internship this summer, said: ‘I thought Noa’s Bake House event was a really good idea and worked very well indeed.

‘Good timing and venue for the audience.’

Owen explained the importance of IT and inspired the students with his career history to date.

Jack Burgess from University College, Isle of Man (UCM) said: ‘I am not comfortable talking to employers but the relaxed atmosphere broke down these barriers.

‘Thanks to all the employers for giving up their time this evening – I really enjoyed it!’

Jannah Amil and Natalie Murphy from UCM, started the programme in September 2016. Their networking skills were non-existent however their relationship with their Career Ready mentors and the networking events that they have attended has nurtured this skill.

Ian Wakely, Lloyds Bank International who is a mentor and will host an intern this summer finished the evening outlining his career history to date and motivating the students by explaining that ‘someone he met 20 years ago recruited him at Lloyds Bank which emphasises the importance of networking throughout your career’

The students spent the rest of the evening chatting to other students on the programme and local IT employers.

The evening had a relaxed atmosphere and this made the students very comfortable and happy to mingle with perspective employers.

What is Career Ready?

The Career Ready programme offers practical learning to help young people develop the skills they need for a career in IT which is linked to their academic studies or interests.

The Career Ready programme has been running on the island since 2014 and involves all schools working together to deliver an IT-themed Career Ready programme.

Classroom learning is married to direct contact with the workplace and employers that makes the Career Ready programme stand out.

The Career Ready programme consists of four pillars – masterclasses, mentoring, workplace visits and internships.

It provides the opportunity for schools, colleges and employers to work together in highly productive ways to develop future talent pipelines, to ensure the curriculum is meeting the local employer skill needs and to help transform young people’s life chances.

Businesses involved in the Isle of Man

Employer support is growing for the programme as more and more local companies recognise the value in developing future talent for the island’s growing ICT industry.

Good and enthusiastic collaboration between Government departments, third sector volunteers and the Manx ICT Association has been the key to success of the programme.

The Career Ready initiative has been backed by the Department of Economic and Development and Department of Education and Children and is also supported by employers on the Isle of Man.

These include: PDMS, Noc396, Hansard Global, GTS (IOM Government Cabinet Office), AFD Software Ltd, IT Works, WiManx, FutureTech Ltd, Netcetera, Isle of Man Post Office, Annexio, Galileo Fund Services Limited, Lloyds Banking Group, Thomas Patrick Creative Agency and Lloyds Bank International.

Recruitment for the next cohort will start in September 2017. If you would like further information contact Jo Davies (Career Ready coordinator) on 497355 or [email protected]