Belfast tech firm Totalmobile has taken on the latest recruit in its No Fees Degree scheme which employs trainee software developers while they complete a part-time degree, in a package worth up to £100,000 over five years.
Chris Gormley from Belfast will take up a position at the Pilot Point-based company as a software developer intern next month at the same time as he starts studying for a part-time BSc Hons in Computing Systems at Ulster University’s Jordanstown campus.
Unlike many students, not only will he graduate without any debt as Totalmobile will pay for his course fees, exams and study materials, but the company will also pay him a competitive salary which will increase each year of his degree, as well as guaranteed employment on graduation.
By the end of the degree, participants in the scheme will reach the market-rate salary for a graduate as well as having the advantage of workplace knowledge and experience built up during their studies.
Chris, who has just completed a foundation degree in software engineering at Belfast Metropolitan College, said: “This is a natural progression onto the degree without the stress of having to pay for fees. With student debt at an all-time high, an offer like this from TotalMobile really is like a golden ticket into my chosen career.”
“It’s great to be working with a cutting-edge tech company which provides innovative software solutions to revolutionise the way frontline healthcare staff work and I’m certainly the envy of my fellow students!”
Olga Pollock, Human Resources Manager at Totalmobile, said: “We’re always looking for fresh new talent to join our team and as a successful local software company we are keen to do what we can to fill the IT skills gap that exists in Northern Ireland.
“Having enough people with excellent IT and software development skills will be crucial in ensuring that Northern Ireland stays competitive on the global stage in the coming decades.
“We have worked closely with Belfast Met and Ulster University on the No Fees Degree scheme and believe it is a great example of a partnership between the IT industry and academic institutions.
“We recognise that it’s expensive for students to study for degrees so we’re very pleased to be able to be able to offer a great deal for talented prospective developers to get a head start in industry while supporting them with their studies.”
It’s the second year TotalMobile has run the No Fees Degree scheme and details of next year’s scheme will be publicised in the spring. Anyone who is applying for the part-time BSc Hons in Computing Systems at Ulster University’s Jordanstown campus can apply to be considered for the TotalMobile scheme. For more information email humanresources@totalmobile.co.uk
About Totalmobile
Totalmobile is a 30-year-old software provider which specialises in innovative mobile-working solutions for public and private sector field workers. Its solutions are especially popular in health, social care and local government, being ideally suited to frontline workers who spend much of their time completing tasks in the community. The fast-growing company has over 25,000 users around the world, with customers spanning the UK, Ireland, Europe and North America.
Crucially, Totalmobile mobile-working solutions are designed from the user’s perspective, and shield frontline workers from technology complexity. The software, now in its 5th generation, supports all major platforms including iOS, Android and Windows and works offline, so workers remain productive without a connection.
Totalmobile has a strong network of partners including Vodafone, Fujitsu, Civica, Capita and Serco, giving customers access to a complete, end-to-end enterprise-class mobile-working solution. More at www.totalmobile.co.uk
