New Food Scheme
A pilot food engineering apprenticeship has been designed by a number of leading Northern Ireland food manufacturing companies in partnership with the Department of Employment and Learning, Southern Regional College and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise. Launching the apprenticeship recently, the Employment Minister Dr Stephen Farry said: “The importance of the agrifood sector to Northern Ireland’s economy cannot be underestimated. As Co-Chair of the Food and Drink Future Skills Action...
Equipping Industries to Compete on World Stage
Semta, the sector skills council for science, engineering and manufacturing, is an employer-led organisation responsible for equipping the UK’s vital industries with theb skills to compete on the global stage. Representing 13,800 companies with a 1.66 million- strong workforce which generates annual revenues of £309bn for the UK economy, Semta provided the following statistics for...
Enhancing Skills in Engineering
A new multi-million pound engineering competence centre in Northern Ireland will focus on developing innovative solutions within the sector. The £6.8m Advanced Engineering Competence Centre, based at the Northern Ireland Advanced Composites & Engineering Centre (NIACE) on Airport Road, Belfast, will help companies to develop advanced technologies across a range of sectors including aerospace, automotive,...
Preparing For Your First Job
When you first enter the world of work after spending years in education, it can seem a little daunting. That is why it is important to prepare as much as you possibly can for your first job. It is an exciting time, but make sure that you do your best to avoid distractions and remain...
Retail Management Training Programme Seeks Students
THE Census 2011 Ireland and Northern Ireland revealed that the wholesale and retail sector employed the highest proportion of persons of all sectors north and south. It stated that 18% of the NI workforce is employed in this sector, with the minister for Employment and Learning, Stephen Farry describing it as “one of the priority...
Top Restaurant’s Scheme To Find Aspiring Chefs
ONE of Belfast’s leading restaurateurs is launching an apprentice programme for aspiring chefs. Niall McKenna, owner of James Street South, The Bar & Grill and Hadskis, is offering successful hopefuls the chance to work with an award-winning team. The search is now on for eight apprentices, aged between 16 and 24 who have the drive...
Diploma Delight
TWELVE staff from estate agents Templeton Robinson have successfully completed the City & Guilds Level Three Diploma in residential property sales, thanks to the South Eastern Regional College. They were presented with their certificates recently by Patricia Calhoun, Skills Solutions Programme Manager from the Department for Employment and Learning. SERC is the first college in...
New APM Chair
THE Association for Project Management (APM) has appointed Gerry Coghlan (above) chairman of its Northern Ire-land branch. Previously the treasurer, he is a senior associate at the Belfast office of URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd. A senior project manager and quantity surveyor Gerry has extensive experience in the building and infrastructure sectors. Recently completed...
Export Technologies Expanding its Workforce
E-COMMERCE consultancy Export Technologies, which has transacted £1bn worth of online sales for Northern Ireland customers, has grown its workforce thanks to a hat-trick of new customers. The Belfast-based company has recruited developers, de-signers and project managers as part of a Elm plus investment in staff and development in its award winning technology, the International...
CodeCamp To Seek Out Tomorrow’s STEM Stars
THERE is still time to apply for a place on a digital summer camp. ‘CodeCamp’ from digital solutions company, Kainos, is a free two-week course, aimed at year 11- 14 students (aged 16-18) of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The annual camp is an intensive course in software development during the summer break....