‘Get Online Week’ 2014 - UPC Ireland Supports the Launch of New YouRock Employability Platform for Young People

Dublin, 27th March 2014 – UPC, Ireland’s leading TV, broadband and communications innovator, is supporting the launch of the new free employability networking site, YouRock (see www.yourock.jobs), officially launch during Get Online Week 2014 (24th – 30th March, 2014).

Get Online Week is part of the EU’s e-Skills for Jobs Campaign to raise awareness of the need for people to improve their command of information and communication technology (ICT) skills for work. Supporting the e-Skills campaign, UPC Ireland will promote YouRock as part of the group’s pledge to address the shortage of workers in the digital sector.

Speaking at the beginning of Get Online Week 2014, UPC Ireland CEO, Magnus Ternsjö said, “Despite constant reports of Ireland’s booming digital sector, there is still a considerable gap between the supply and demand of skilled talent. According to FIT, ‘Fastrack to IT’, there are over 4,500 immediate ICT vacancies in Ireland.

It is our responsibility, as well as being in our interest, to boost the next generation talent pool by educating young people not only in the skills they will need, but also in recognising those they already possess. It is crucial that they perceive technology not only as an intrinsic part of their lives, but also as a potential area for career development.”

Dedicated to helping young people aged 15-24 improve their employability, YouRock helps young people to discover and demonstrate the work skills they may already have, in the language of employers. The site encourages users to upload their interests to create a dynamic ‘career’ profile of skills. It also allows employers to search for people with specific skills combinations.

Ian Clifford, Founder of YouRock said, ““I am really happy that UPC Ireland is sponsoring YouRock, as it will help us to reach deep into the country and build a system that will engage with young people. It’s critical to ensure that young people keep, or regain, the belief that they do have the skills that employers want, and to give employers a place to look for them.” FIT, alongside UPC Ireland, will demonstrate the YouRock platform at sites including AIB’s ‘The Lab’ at Dundrum Town Centre today.

UPC’s Internet Buttons will also be showcased throughout the week. Launched during Get Online Week 2013, Internet Buttons is a free webtool that allows anyone who is already web-confident to create an easy-to-use customised web browser for family members, friends or neighbours who are new to the internet or find it confusing.

At www.internetbuttons.ie users can set up a page of Buttons, or pick from ready-made buttons, which link to sites and services the person they’re helping might find useful or enjoyable. Internet Buttons removes all the complicated bits of the internet and makes it easy to keep going back to the places to the websites users like.

ENDS