My Department participates in the ICT Apprenticeship scheme which is run by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. My Department has 3 apprentices under the current iteration of the scheme.
In addition, my Department partakes in the Willing, Able, Mentoring programme (WAM), which is an initiative of AHEAD, that aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities. The civil service WAM placement unit offers graduates with disabilities temporary paid work experience on a full-time basis at the 1st point of the Executive Officer (EO) payscale. For the 2023 cohort there will be an opportunity for candidates, following successful completion of their placement and having met the required competency standards for the Confined Competition at the end of the placement, to move into work placements where there is an identified permanent role at EO grade.
Finally, my Department facilitates the North East Inner City Work Experience Placement Programme for a small number of two week placements annually.