George Best Belfast City Airport has added two new firefighters to its team following the successful completion of its High Flyers Apprenticeship programme.
Katie Wilgar aged 20 from East Belfast, and Dean McGlade, aged 23 from Carrickfergus, have become the latest recruits to find employment with the Airport Fire Service after beating off tough competition from across Northern Ireland for the coveted roles.
The apprentices faced a range of training before passing through to become fully fledged firefighters, including a written assessment, fitness test, and various courses such as the Chemistry of Fire.
Chief Fire Officer at Belfast City Airport, Seamus Mac Mahon, was responsible for overseeing the training of the apprentices. He commented: “Belfast City Airport is passionate about supporting the local community, and the High Flyers Apprenticeship provides young people with a variety of transferable and job-specific skills, helping them realise their potential and giving them the tools to succeed in the future.’’
The High Flyers programme extends beyond the firefighting department to include placements in administration, retail, human resources, and hospitality.