Accenture Ireland Creates €100,000 Skills to Succeed Fund to Support Partner Groups

Nonprofits focused on skills-building for the socially disadvantaged and long-term unemployed to receive funding


DUBLIN; – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) Ireland today announced that it has created a €100,000 fund to support its Skills to Succeed initiatives. Monies in the fund will be given to three not-for-profit organizations – Fastrack to IT (FIT), Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and Trinity Access Programmes (TAP) – to support initiatives aimed at re-skilling unemployed or socially disadvantaged individuals so they can enter the workforce.

Accenture’s Skills to Succeed initiative aims to equip 250,000 people around the world with the skills to get a job or build a business. The new fund will directly benefit more than 1,350 people through programmes focused on IT, business and general education:


*As part of the FIT/Accenture Emerge project, 300 people will partake in new training programmes in mobile technology, programming and cloud computing. FIT programmes are aimed at individuals from marginalised or disadvantaged backgrounds and those experiencing long-term unemployment.
*1000 young people will have the opportunity to participate in the NFTEprogramme, where they will study business and entrepreneurship and receive a seed grant to start their own business. As part of the process, these young people, many at risk of early school-leaving, will present their business plans to a panel of judges and engage with business leaders, other entrepreneurs and community groups.
*Over two years, 50 individuals aged 23 or older will partake in TAP Foundation programmes for Higher Education in association with Trinity College Dublin. Aimed at those whose social and economic experiences have prevented them from reaching their full potential, these one year courses help unemployed people enhance their skills, or re-skill, and develop their career potential.

Mark Ryan, country managing director, Accenture Ireland said, “At Accenture, we want to contribute to the regeneration and growth of our communities and the overall economy. Our business strategies therefore include investment in, and collaboration with, community groups that share our skill–building goals. Together we can make a difference in people’s lives by equipping them with the skills to get a job or build a business.”

Carmel Halpin, Corporate Citizenship Lead, Accenture Ireland added, “Supporting these organisations helps bring to life Accenture’s commitment to building skills. This funding is specifically geared toward re-building our economy, with a focus on IT and business. We believe Accenture’s contributions will have a significant impact on the economic well-being of the individuals, their families and communities.”

In Ireland, Accenture also works with Jobcare to help long-term unemployed people gain the skills necessary to find employment through their Employment Preparation Course.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 223,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. Through its Skills to Succeed corporate citizenship focus, Accenture is committed to equipping 250,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. The company generated net revenues of US$21.6 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2010. Its home page is www.accenture.com.