Software For All Bootcamp
Turning AI and software skills into real jobs.
What is it?
Closing the gap between AI skills and AI jobs
Demand for AI-enabled software skills is growing rapidly across Northern Ireland. Yet employers can struggle to find and shape entry-level talent with the right skills, while individuals can find it difficult to turn their training, qualifications and potential into meaningful employment.
The Software For All Bootcamp is designed to bridge that gap.
Individual
Employer
What is it?
Build practical AI skills. Show employers what you can do.
This programme is ideal for someone in a software related degree who has not benefitted from third year placement or who has graduated and is not currently not employed in a software role.
AI Bootcamp
A focused two-week bootcamp (4-15 January 2027) designed to help you build practical software, AI and workplace skills.
Apply to opportunites
We will connect you with employers who have 16 week (min) full-time opportunities
Interview with employers
Employers will shortlist, interview and offer to successful individuals
The Bootcamp
More than theory, built around real work.
4-15 January 2027, in person, Belfast.
What the bootcamp will cover:
• Engineering: how software gets built, end to end
• AI: building faster, and knowing when to trust it
• Product: working out what's worth building
• Sales & commercial: pricing, outcomes, client needs
• Marketing & distribution: getting your work seen
Pathway
From the AI Bootcamp to work
Step 1
Are you eligible?
Check the eligibiltiy criteria before applying to the bootcamp
An employer-led programme creating real, AI-enabled entry-level jobs across Northern Ireland, connecting SMEs who need entry-level talent with candidates ready to work in AI-native software roles.
Individuals attend an in-person 2-week bootcamp 4-15 January 2027. These individuals have the opportunity to apply to software 16-week full-time vacancies. Employers will shortlist, interview and appoint successful candidates.
Who is the AI Bootcamp for?
To be eligible to be considered for the bootcamp, Indviduals must:
Be currently enrolled on, or have graduated from, a software-related Bachelor’s degree (e.g. Software Development or Computer Science) at a Northern Ireland university or college, with study commencing May 2022 or later.
Not currently be in full-time employment in a software role.
Be available to attend the in-person bootcamp in January 2026.
Have an existing right to work in the UK.
Be available to take up a relevant employment opportunity for at least 16 weeks following the bootcamp, or on completion of your final year of study.
Apply through the Workplus platfrom before 12 noon on Friday 13 November
Will I get a job at the end of the bootcamp?
The bootcamp will give you practical, industry-relevant skills and real evidence of what you can do, helping you build your confidence and improve your prospects of securing a job in the future.
At the end of the bootcamp, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for 16-week, full-time paid placements with participating employers. Employers will shortlist and interview candidates based on the skills and experience they’re looking for, so while the bootcamp gives you the opportunity to apply, a placement is not guaranteed.
Everyone who completes the bootcamp will leave with valuable skills and practical experience they can use when applying for future roles – not just a certificate.
Start dates of opportunities will depend on employers.
What's involved?
Meet emerging talent ready to contribute in an AI-enabled workplace.
Our Forward-Deployed Engineering (FDE) Bootcamp develops the technical, commercial and customer-focused skills that modern AI-enabled businesses need.
Could your organisation offer a role to an emerging professional? You’ll have the opportunity to interview people who have completed the bootcamp and hire someone with the potential to add value to your team from day one.
Local talent, built for what's next
This talent is job-ready, Northern Ireland-based, and matched to roles that matter to you. Candidates arrive ready to contribute from day one.
A low-risk way to access new AI talent
With a minimum 16-week employment commitment, it's a low-risk way to bring brilliant new talent into your organisation and see what they can do.
Connect. Collaborate. Grow.
Join like-minded employers and raise your profile with Northern Ireland’s emerging software and AI workforce.
What's involved?
4 Simple Steps
Step 1
Are you eligible?
Find out if you are eligible to take part in the project
Create an entry-level software role on the Workplus platform or send us your vacancy link
Step 4
Shortlist & Interview
Shortlist and interview AI Bootcamp graduates after 15 January
Inter-Company Exchange (ICX)
Learn from companies already doing it
Monthly sessions, running for the length of the programme, where larger tech companies share how they're using AI so SMEs like yours can adopt it faster instead of starting from scratch. It's also where a lot of employers first spot where an AI-enabled entry-level role could fit their business.
An employer-led programme creating real, AI-enabled entry-level jobs across Northern Ireland, connecting employers who need entry-level talent with candidates ready to work in AI-native software roles.
Individuals attend an in-person 2-week bootcamp 4-15 January 2027. These individuals have the opportunity to apply to paid, 16-week full-time software vacancies. Employers will shortlist, interview and appoint successful candidates.
Who is the AI Bootcamp for?
To be eligible to be considered for the bootcamp, Indviduals must:
Be currently enrolled on, or have graduated from, a software-related Bachelor’s degree (e.g. Software Development or Computer Science) at a Northern Ireland university or college, with study commencing May 2022 or later.
Not currently be in full-time employment in a software role.
Be available to attend the in-person bootcamp in January 2026.
Have an existing right to work in the UK.
Be available to take up a relevant employment opportunity for at least 16 weeks following the bootcamp, or on completion of your final year of study.
Apply through the Workplus platfrom before 12 noon on Friday 13 November
What is the bootcamp content?
Week one rotates participants through five pillars, Engineering, AI, Product, Sales & commercial, and Marketing & distribution, working in pods inside a fictional business. Week two puts them to work on a real, anonymised employer challenge: a discovery clinic and build plan on Monday, building with AI-native tools Tuesday to Thursday, then demonstrating their work on Friday.
Am I eligible as an employer to hire someone from the AI Bootcamp?
You'll need an operating base in Northern Ireland and the ability to create at least one entry-level software-related role for a minimum of 16 weeks, full-time (paid). You'll need to register your interest, confirming that you will advertise the role on the Software For All platform and commit to reviewing applications and interviewing candidates.
What is the commitment for employers?
Employers participating in the project commit to:
Sign up noting they have a minimum 16-week vacancy starting no later than August 2026
Advertise an eligible role on the SoftwareForAll platform
Reviewing applications and interviewing candidates
Give indication if they are willing to offer permanent place (not essential)
What kind of roles are suitable?
Roles suitable for someone in or who has graduated from a software related degree.
Roles that offer a paid employment opportunity of at least 16 weeks with a start date between February - August.
Who pays for what?
The bootcamp is fully funded, so there is no cost to employers or candidates for the training. If your organisation chooses to hire a candidate after the bootcamp, you will be responsible for paying their salary or wages and any associated employment costs.
Funded by
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