Representing an investment of £4.6million, the courses will have a focus on digital skills and be delivered by the local colleges and universities, including at Queen's University Belfast.

Encouraging people to apply, the Minister said: “I am keenly aware of the impact Covid-19 has had on the employment of so many people across a wide range of sectors. These 3,000 online training places will provide people with the opportunity to upskill and reskill, enabling them to pursue a career in what are growing local sectors.

“Developing the skills of our people right across Northern Ireland is a key priority for me as we begin the process of rebuilding our economy. This investment builds on my previous announcement in June of £1.7million for online training places and I am determined to keep skills at the centre of our long term strategic plans.

“Courses will be available from both further and higher education institutions and I urge anyone who is eligible to access this free training.”

Professor David Jones said: "We warmly welcome the announcement by the Minister of these fully-funded skills training places for members of our community directly impacted by this pandemic, in addition to our successful postgraduate programmes in Software Development and Operations and Supply Chain Management. This announcement will allow them to upskill or reskill, develop their employment opportunities, and support the regrowth of our economy, both locally and globally."

More details of the courses are available here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/free-short-term-courses-improve-skills

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