ITLG announces internship programme during Belfast visit

The announcement was made today in Belfast on the first day of a trade mission by a delegation of senior executives from Hollywood and Silicon Valley.

The initiative, which will be carried out in partnership with Belfast City Council and Invest Northern Ireland, will support successful candidates in securing internships with host companies in Silicon Valley or Hollywood for a minimum of six months.

According to the ITLG, the interns will gain practical training and valuable hands-on experience as well as receiving mentorship from ITLG representatives in Silicon Valley, who will help guide them through the programme.

The interns will be selected to interview for the scheme by representatives from Belfast City Council, Invest Northern Ireland and university partners who work with young people in the community. Once selected, each candidate will meet with a panel of ITLG members who will select two interns to take part in the programme in early 2012.

“There is a very strong creative technology sector in Belfast and a clear sense of entrepreneurial spirit,” said ITLG president and founder, John Hartnett. “Young talent is the strongest pillar of any future economy and we want to give these exceptional youngsters the opportunity to seek experience and guidance from some of the most successful business leaders based in Silicon Valley and Hollywood.”

“This announcement reflects the dynamism and talent that exists in our indigenous creative industries sector in the city which is thriving,” said  Alderman Christopher Stalford, chairman of Belfast City Council’s development committee. “We, at the council, have supported the sector with a number of programmes and initiatives this year such as the Digital Media Connections Programme and the Creative Entrepreneurs Club which brings creative industries together for regular networking meetings to develop products and learn from leading industry experts.”

As part of the delegation’s Belfast visit it will host a series of private investor meetings at University of Ulster with a number of innovative start-up companies tomorrow, followed by the ITLG Hollywood Comes to Belfast event in the afternoon.