e: info@pressrefresh.co.uk

Free Women Returners, Data Analytics Programme

Pursue a career in the Tech sector.

Study with other women to achieve qualifications that will help you return to work. Press Refresh on your career today. You can do this.

*Please note that 2021 applications have closed*

Apply Now

This project is funded and delivered by

Press Refresh | Free Women Returners 17 Week Programme

Return to work with other women, pursue a career in the Tech sector

You are ready
You can do this
We will help you

This fully funded programme is for YOU!

Career Opportunities

Participants from 2020 have secured interviews or jobs in leading organisations:

Press Refresh is a free supportive and intensive 17-week training programme to give women who are currently out of work or in part time casual employment, the opportunity to learn new skills, explore data analytics, build confidence, and enter the Tech sector with support from female role models in Tech.

Maybe you have an interest for the Tech sector but thought that it’s not for you – Press Refresh allows you to explore the opportunities that exist in the rapidly growing industry and give you confidence, skills, and know-how to advance into the sector.

No previous experience in the Tech sector is required, you will also be given £31.00 daily training allowance upon attendance! To help you decide if this is the right path for you, the application process includes a psychometric test.

The Women’s Press Refresh Programme is supported by the Department for the Economy and delivered in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College and Women in Business (WIB)

Childcare

We will endeavour to support a level of Childcare costs.

Online learning

Accessible online learning with Belfast Metropolitan College, with the aim to introduce a number of in person sessions to encourage participants to connect!

Qualifications

Successful completion of the programme will provide entry level qualifications that will prepare you to seek employment in Tech Sector. Qualifications include: MTA Programming in Python, MTA Database Fundamentals, Prince2 Agile and DA-100, Analysing Data with Microsoft Power BI

Press Refresh Programme Timetable

  • Week 1 - Women in Business Welcome Week

    16/11/2021

    10.00 -12.30

    Welcome to Press Refresh

    In Person Workshop

    · Overview Of Press Refresh Aims & Activities

    · Introduction to Women in Business & Advance Team

    · Getting to know your Press Refresh Peers

  • Week 2 - Belfast Met Welcome Week

    24/11/2021

     9.30-4.30

    Belfast Met Welcome to Course

    25/11/2021

     9.30-4.30

    Team Activities

    26/11/2021

     9.30-4.30

    Technology Awareness Session

  • Week 3 - Big Data/ Excel in Data Analytics

    01/12/2021

     9.30-4.30

    What is Big Data?

    02/12/2021

     9.30-4.30

    How to use Excel in Data Analytics

    03/12/2021

     9.30-4.30

    How to use Excel in Data Analytics

  • Week 4 - Career Onboarding/ Confidence and Excel in Data Analytics

    07/12/2021

    Career Ready Onboarding

    Virtual Module

    9.30 – 11.30 

     

    Participants will learn:

    1. Overview of Career Ready aims, structure and support.
    2. Gain a deeper awareness of own and others learning styles
    3. Shape and agree the group learning contract & set up Peer Support Network

    Building Blocks of Career Confidence

    Virtual Module

    12.00 – 14.00

     

    Participants will learn:

    1. Explore common career blockers & how to overcome them
    2. Motivation – Keeping momentum
    3. Confidence – Building it
    4. Resilience – Getting through the low points
    5. Wellbeing – Keeping a focus on self-care 

    08/12/2021

     9.30-4.30

    How to use Excel in Data Analytics

     

    09/12/2021

     9.30-4.30

    How to use Excel in Data Analytics

     

    10/12/2021

     9.30-4.30

    How to use Excel in Data Analytics

     

  • Week 5 - CV/ LinkedIn and Data/ Databases

    13/12/2021

    9.30 – 11.30

    CV & LinkedIn  

    Virtual Module

    Participants will learn:

    1. The building blocks of a great CV
    2. How to produce precision application forms and cover notes
    3. Shaping a LinkedIn Profile

    15/12/2021

     9.30-4.30

    Why is Data Important?

     

    16/12/2021

     9.30-4.30

    What is a Database?

     

    17/12/2021

     9.30-4.30

    What is a Database?

     

  • Week 6 - Energy Management and Programming using Python

    04/01/2022

    9.30-11.30

    Energy Management

    Virtual Module

    Participants will learn:

    1. Refocus learning and career expectations
    2. Tips from PR1 Candidates
    3. Managing energy & setbacks

    05/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Introduction to Programming using Python

     

    06/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Introduction to Programming using Python

     

    07/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Introduction to Programming using Python

     

  • Week 7 - Intro to Programming using Python Exam/ Why is Data Important?

    12/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Introduction to Programming using Python

    13/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Introduction to Programming using Python

    14/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    AM Introduction to Programming using Python Exam

    PM Why is Data Important

  • Week 8 - Fundamentals of Databases

    19/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    What are the Fundamentals of Databases?

    20/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    What are the Fundamentals of Databases?

    21/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    What are the Fundamentals of Databases?

  • Week 9 - Interviews and Fundamentals of Databases

    25/01/2022

    9.30 – 14.00

    You’re Hired – Brilliant Interviews Opportunities Orientation

    In Person Workshop

    Participants will learn:

    1. Learn how to prepare successfully for interviews
    2. How to self-market and harness nerves for interview success
    3. Have an opportunity to practice in a safe supportive space
    4. Meet a wide range of women working in Technology
    5. Learn about their companies and the types of roles on offer
    6. V1, Deloitte, PWC, Allsate, CITI, Puppet

    26/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    What are the Fundamentals of Databases?

     

    27/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    What are the Fundamentals of Databases?

     

    28/01/2022

     9.30-4.30

    MTA Database Fundamentals Exam

     

  • Week 10 - Intro to Project Management and Personal Skills for the IT Sector

    02/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Intro to Project Management/ PRINCE2 Agile Induction

    03/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Personal Skills for the IT Sector
    (Building Resilience Personal & Professional)

    04/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Personal Skills for the IT Sector
    (Emotional Intelligence)

     

  • Week 11 - The Magic of Mentoring and PRINCE2 Agile Training

    08/02/2022

    The Magic of Mentoring

    Virtual Module

    9.30 – 11.00

     

    Participants will learn:

    1. Be introduced to the benefits of career mentoring
    2. Learn how to get the best outcomes from group mentoring
    3. Begin to plan their own specific group mentoring plan.

    Group Mentoring

    Virtual Module

    12.00 – 2.00

     

    Meet and begin to work with your group mentor

    Set up a further two group mentoring sessions – March & April 2022

    09/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    PRINCE2 Agile Training

     

    10/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    PRINCE2 Agile Training

     

    11/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    PRINCE2 Agile Training

     

     

  • Week 12 - Communicating with Impact/ Brave Conversations and SQL/ How to Visualise Data Differently

    15/02/2022

    Communicating with Impact

    Virtual Module

    9.30 – 11.30

     

    Participants will learn:

    1. Understanding your own and others communication styles
    2. The building blocks of communicating with presence and impact

    Brave Conversations

    Virtual Module

    12.00 – 14.00

    Participants will learn:

    1. Identify barriers and solutions to brave career conversations
    2. Setting boundaries & being assertive
    3. Managing conflict

    16/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    SQL: What is SQL and what is it used for?

     

    17/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    SQL: What is SQL and what is it used for?

     

    18/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    How to Visualise Data Differently

     

  • Week 13 - How to Visualise Data Differently/ Microsoft Power BI

    23/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    How to Visualise Data Differently

    24/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    How Microsoft Power BI can be used to create Reports and Dashboards

    25/02/2022

     9.30-4.30

    How Microsoft Power BI can be used to create Reports and Dashboards

  • Week 14 - New Start Tool Kit and Microsoft Power BI

    28/02/2022

    9.30 – 11.30

    New Start Tool Kit

    Virtual Module

    Participants will learn:

    1st 100 days road map 

    Managing Change

    Building Trust & Relationship

    02/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    How Microsoft Power BI can be used to create Reports and Dashboards

     

    03/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    How Microsoft Power BI can be used to create Reports and Dashboards

     

    04/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    How Microsoft Power BI can be used to create Reports and Dashboards

     

  • Week 15 - Critical Thinking/Problem Solving for IT Professionals

    09/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Critical Thinking/Problem Solving for IT Professionals

    10/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Critical Thinking/Problem Solving for IT Professionals

    11/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Critical Thinking/Problem Solving for IT Professionals

  • Week 16 - Microsoft Power BI/ DA-100 Analysing Data  with Microsoft Power BI Exam

    16/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    How Microsoft Power BI can be used to create Reports and Dashboard

    17/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    How Microsoft Power BI can be used to create Reports and Dashboard

    18/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    DA-100 Analysing Data  with Microsoft Power BI Exam

     

  • Week 17 - Solving a Business Challenge using Data Analytics and Celebration Event!

    22/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Solving a Business Challenge using Data Analytics

    23/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Solving a Business Challenge using Data Analytics

    24/03/2022

     9.30-4.30

    Solving a Business Challenge using Data Analytics

    25/03/2022

    10.00 – 12.00

    In Person Celebration Event!

Criteria!

Essential:

  • You must be a resident of Northern Ireland
  • You must hold a bachelor’s degree (an undergraduate degree) in any discipline
  • You must be currently out of work or in part time/ casual employment

Desirable:

  • 2 years work experience

In the event that a large number of applications are received, we reserve the right to enhance the minimum criteria

Qualifications

Study towards the following Data Analytics qualifications that you can gain upon successful completion of the programme

MTA Programming in Python. MTA (Microsoft Technical Associate) is the first level of qualifications in this area and will cover the fundamentals of programming. You will also be introduced to Python – a programming language used in Data Analytics

MTA Database Fundamentals will introduce you to how data is stored in a computer and how to how to manipulate it

Prince2 Agile course is an internationally recognised qualification for Project Management

DA-100, Analysing Data with Microsoft Power BI will introduce you to Power BI – one of the leading software packages used internally for Data Analytics

Commitment

Please ensure that you read the Press Refresh Programme Timetable before application. Complete attendance is necessary as there will be no recordings of the sessions. It is important to understand the time commitment, workload and independent learning that comes with achieving great results to Press Refresh on your career!

Mentor

Receive mentor support from women already in the sector throughout the programme

Work Ready

Confidence building, resilience, communications, CV and interview skills training will ensure you are ready to return

Interview

We will engage with employers throughout the course of the programme and on completion we will work with participants to help secure an interview, where possible. Please note that jobs are not guaranteed

Application

The application is very straight forward; you just complete some personal information and then do the psychometric assessment. There is no preparation required to undertake the assessment. This is a user-friendly tool designed to help define and measure participants’ personality preferences, natural aptitudes, and motivational interests. Please allow 45 minutes to complete the assessment. Confirmation of your registration and a link to the online psychometric assessment will be sent to your registered email account. Please note that dependent on your inbox settings, this may appear in your junk/ spam folder. 20 programme places will be awarded on Tuesday 2nd November 2021 and successful applicants will have until Friday 5th November 2021 to confirm their acceptance of a place on the programme.

Things to know…

Successful applicants will require appropriate IT access in order to link to the online tuition. Webcams and mics can be provided and there may be an option to borrow a laptop from Belfast Metropolitan College.

To find out how we manage your information please see the Belfast Metropolitan College privacy notice

Please note that both delivery partners Belfast Metropolitan College & Women In Business will have access to any information shared.

Successful applicants will be required to forward a copy of your degree certificate or evidence that you have attained a degree within 2 days of being offered a place. If your degree was obtained outside the United Kingdom or Ireland please upload a comparability statement from NARIC to prove the equivalence classification. More information