Silicon Valley’s top execs on hunt for Irish digital media interns

The initiative, in partnership with Belfast City Council and Invest Northern Ireland, will support successful candidates in securing an internship with a host company in Silicon Valley or Hollywood for a minimum of six months.

The interns will gain practical training and hands-on experience, and will receive mentorship from ITLG representatives in Silicon Valley, who will help guide them through the programme.

The interns will be handpicked 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 embark upon the programme in early 2012.

“There is a very strong creative technology sector in Belfast and a clear sense of entrepreneurial spirit,” ITLG president and founder John Hartnett explained.

“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.”

Investor meetings on agenda

Also as a part of their visit to Belfast this week, the delegation will host a series of private investor meetings at University of Ulster with a number of innovative start-up companies tomorrow (5 November) followed by the ITLG Hollywood Comes to Belfast event in the afternoon at the University of Ulster campus in the historic Cathedral Quarter of Belfast.

Established in October 2007, the ITLG is an independent organisation comprised of high-level technology leaders in Silicon Valley who are Irish or Irish-American. The group includes senior executives from some of the Valley's leading corporations, each of whom are committed to promoting the technology connection between Ireland and Silicon Valley.

Alderman Christopher Stalford, chairman of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee, added: “This announcement reflects the dynamism and talent that exists in our indigenous creative industries sector in the city which is thriving.

“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,” Smith said.

John Kennedy | |