US Special Envoy visits Portview as $100,000 digital skills programme launches
The Irish American Partnership launched a $100,000 digital skills programme with FIT at Portview, designed to support 350 participants over three years.
In June 2024, Portview hosted the launch of SparkStart Digital, a new digital skills programme developed by the Irish American Partnership in partnership with Fasttrack Into Information Technology (FIT).
The Irish American Partnership committed $100,000 to the initiative, which was designed to support 350 participants in Belfast over three years. The programme was aimed at unemployed and marginalised young people, helping participants build confidence, gain recognised digital skills and access routes into further learning and technology careers.
US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs Joseph P. Kennedy III joined Irish American Partnership President and CEO Mary Sugrue and FIT CEO Peter Davitt at Portview for the launch.
The initiative connected international investment with practical delivery in East Belfast and sat alongside a wider programme of learning partnerships already developing through Portview, BURC, LMETB and other organisations.
Hosting the launch at Portview reflected the growing role of the former mill as more than a business address: a place where partnerships can bring education, employability and new economic opportunities directly into the community.
Contemporary coverage / source: Irish American Partnership – SparkStart Digital launch
