Why We’re Proud to Stand Behind This Initiative

Since 2020, we have had an ongoing partnership with the DCU Access to the Workplace (ATTW) programme, run by the DCU Educational Trust. We have welcomed students into paid summer internships across Engineering, Data, IT Operations, Product, and Finance, giving them the chance to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in real-world environments.

For me, this programme is about much more than internships. It’s about:

Reducing structural barriers to employment
Empowering students to reach their full potential
Strengthening diversity and inclusion across the Irish tech and business sector
Equipping the next generation of talent with the confidence and skills they need to thrive

The impact is clear. In 2025, 71% of students secured full-time employment in their field within six months, with over 90% moving directly into employment or further education. Many credit their internship as the pivotal step that opened doors they once thought were closed. Gains in communication, teamwork, technical skills, and self-confidence were consistently reported, and students themselves described the programme as “transformative.”

This year, we were delighted to welcome Phuong into our IT Operations team. From day one, Phuong demonstrated curiosity, adaptability, and strong results on real-world challenges. We are thrilled that he will be rejoining us in early 2026, and I hope he continues his journey with ESW after graduation.

At ESW, we believe that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. That’s why initiatives like ATTW matter so deeply.

Read the full DCU ATTW impact report here.

Eoin Fleming

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Transforming Futures Through the DCU Access Programme