HERizon EDGE – Women into Advanced Manufacturing Academy is a fully funded programme supported through the Department for the Economy’s Inclusive Edge programme. Inclusive Edge is the inclusion strand of the Enhanced Investment Zone skills programme.
HERizon EDGE is specifically designed for economically inactive women, including female returners, carers and career changers, who want to build their confidence, develop new workplace skills and explore opportunities.
HERizon EDGE combines industry recognised digital training with mentoring, confidence building, employer engagement, workplace experience and personalised progression support.
Participants will work towards the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Excel certification. The qualification develops practical Microsoft Excel skills that are relevant across modern Advanced Manufacturing environments, including production planning, scheduling, quality monitoring, reporting, inventory management and data analysis.
By joining HERizon EDGE, participants will gain:
Microsoft Excel Skills – Develop practical workplace skills in Microsoft Excel, including managing worksheets and workbooks, working with data, using formulas and functions, creating tables, analysing information and presenting data effectively.
Microsoft Industry Standard Certification – Work towards the Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate certification. This is a recognised Microsoft industry-standard qualification and is being delivered within HERizon EDGE as a Level 3 equivalent qualification.
Advanced Manufacturing Insight – Develop an understanding of the Advanced Manufacturing sector, the range of careers available and how digital skills such as Excel are used within modern manufacturing businesses.
Employer Engagement – Meet employers and industry representatives, take part in employer led activities and gain insight into workplace expectations, recruitment opportunities and the skills currently required by the sector.
Workplace Experience – Participate in structured workplace experiences and industry engagement activities with Advanced Manufacturing employers, providing practical exposure to real working environments and job roles.
Career Readiness and Employability – Build confidence and develop skills to support progression into employment. This will include CV development, interview preparation, professional presentation, workplace confidence and understanding transferable skills.
Mentoring and Personalised Support – Receive structured one to one mentoring and support throughout the Academy to help identify goals, overcome barriers and develop an individual progression plan.
Industry Visits and Networking – Take part in industry visits and networking opportunities designed to broaden awareness of modern manufacturing, emerging technologies and potential career pathways.
Progression Support – Receive support to progress towards employment, apprenticeships, further learning, additional Microsoft qualifications or other relevant Belfast Metropolitan College programmes.
Course Days and Times
The HERizon EDGE Academy will run over approximately nine weeks, with activity taking place across classroom-based learning, employer engagement, mentoring, industry visits, workplace experience and independent learning.
The Academy is planned to commence in October 2026, subject to final Department for the Economy approval.
Training will primarily take place at Belfast Metropolitan College, with additional activity delivered at employer and partner locations as part of the Advanced Manufacturing employer-engagement and workplace experience elements of the programme.
Participant Support
HERizon EDGE has been designed to help reduce barriers that may prevent women from participating fully in the programme.
Needs led support may be available to eligible participants to help with costs such as travel, childcare, caring responsibilities, subject to individual assessment and programme requirements.
Participants enrolled on HERizon EDGE will also become Belfast Metropolitan College learners and will have access to relevant College support services, including Student Wellbeing, Careers Guidance, Learning Support, safeguarding, pastoral support and digital learning resources.