DUBLIN, November 25, 2020 – Today, Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ: AMZN), announced the launch of AWS re/Start in Ireland. AWS re/Start is a skills development and job training program which aims to build local talent by providing AWS Cloud skills development and job opportunities at no cost to learners from unemployed, underemployed, and under-represented members of Ireland’s communities. The AWS re/Start program is designed to accommodate differing levels of experience – even those with no previous technical knowledge can apply.
AWS re/Start is a 12-week skills-based training program that covers fundamental AWS Cloud skills as well as practical career skills such as effective communication, time management, collaboration, interviewing, and CV writing. With the support of professional mentors and accredited instructors, learners build programming, networking, security, and relational database skills through real-world-scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, and coursework. The program also prepares and covers the cost for participants to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam, validating their cloud skills with an industry-recognized credential. On completion of the program, individuals will be able to apply for entry-level cloud roles such as cloud operations, site reliability, infrastructure support, and technical adjacent business support functions.
In Ireland, AWS re/Start is working with Generation, a non-profit organization, which specializes in recruiting, training, and placing young people in jobs. Generation will deliver the learning experience, provide a pathway to earning AWS Certification, and support the learners as they launch their careers in cloud computing. They will also support graduates by connecting them directly with potential employers.
“AWS re/Start is building a diverse pipeline of new cloud talent by engaging unemployed, underemployed, and under-represented young people in Ireland who otherwise might not have had access to this exciting career path,” said Mike Beary, AWS Ireland Country Manager. “AWS re/Start creates a win-win-win scenario for individuals, local communities, and our customers and partners. It connects individuals to in-demand cloud and tech opportunities, and provides AWS customers and partners with a means to build a loyal and diverse workforce.”
Welcoming the announcement, Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Mr. Niall Collins T.D., said: “As demand for new and more digital services increases, so will the demand for high tech skills. Ireland has long been a home to leading technology firms which employ thousands of workers across the country. We want to see that industry develop further and for more high-quality jobs to be created in growth areas. Programs like AWS re/Start will give Irish people the opportunity to re-skill and up-skill through an alternative training route where they can develop specific cloud-computing skills to help secure a career in the tech industry and fulfill their professional potential.”
“We are excited to launch AWS re/Start in Ireland. Widening access to jobs, improving social mobility, and providing support for under-served groups is a high priority across Ireland, made even more important by the economic and social impact of COVID-19,” said Michael Houlihan, CEO of Generation UK & Ireland. “We believe AWS re/Start will make an important contribution to bridge the gap between young people looking for meaningful employment and companies who are struggling to fill entry level technical positions. This programme will benefit young people, the tech sector, and communities in Ireland for years to come, all starting with this first class.”
Interested applicants are invited to apply for the first AWS re/Start cohort here. The program is scheduled to begin at the end of November 2020.
To learn how you can get involved in AWS re/Start, fill out an employer interest form or contact aws-restart-employers@amazon.com.
About Amazon Web Services
For 14 years, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. AWS offers over 175 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR), media, and application development, deployment, and management from 77 Availability Zones (AZs) within 24 geographic regions, with announced plans for 15 more Availability Zones and five more AWS Regions in India, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, and Switzerland. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit aws.amazon.com.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit aboutamazon.eu and follow @AmazonNewsEU.
About Generation
Generation recruits, trains, and places young people in career-launching jobs—and then measures the return on investment for both graduates and employers. Generation works with private sector, non-profit, and government organizations to support learners in gaining job-specific technical, behavioral, and mindset skills, connect learners with employers, and support them as they embark on careers. To find out more about Generation, or to apply to our programs in Ireland, visit https://ireland.generation.org/.
