Workskill Praise
NORTH West Regional College has held a special presentation to recognise the achievements of learners from its Workskills programme, a versatile one year course delivering a qualification equivalent to four GCSE grades, including essential skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT. The programme also focuses on personal development of students. Some of this year’s activities included...
Top Pupil Named
ENGINEERING student Josh Mens has been named the Northern Ireland VQ Learner for the Year 2014. He completed his BTEC Level 3 Diploma in engineering and his NVQ Level 3 Diploma in engineering operations as part of his apprenticeship with Kiverco Recycling Systems and South West College in Dungannon. He is one of the only...
Student Awards
TWO Northern Regional College Students in the vocational areas of construction and business have received awards from the Honourable Irish Society. Arlene McMullen excelled in the BTEC Extended Diploma in construction and the build environment, while Amy Doherty received her honour for her work in the BTEC National Diploma in business.
Kelly’s Heroes
SOUTHERN Regional College brickwork students Keelan Cunningham from Newry, and Caolan McAvoy, from HiIttown — both apprentices with Kelly Brothers Building Contractors — scooped first and second places, respectively, in the recent SRC inter-campus Skill-build competition. Lindsay Bronte, head of school for construction and built, said: “We are now seeing signs of an increase in...
University of Ulster Lauded for Proactive Support
EMPLOYMENT Minister Stephen Farry has commended the University of Ulster for its ongoing commitment to boosting skills and employment opportunities for its students and graduates. Minister Farry was speaking at the annual Ulster Placement Employer of the Year Awards ceremony. Annually, over 2,000 University of Ulster students undertake a placement, with approximately 1,200 students completing...
Small Firms get insight into Tendering Process
LOCAL businesses are ready to take advantage of new sales opportunities within the public sector thanks to targeted training hosted through Belfast City Council’s Smarter Procurement Programme. The programme was open to 14 small companies or social enter-prises with less than 20 employees in the city to help them identify procurement opportunities and develop the...
Ministers Engineer 44 Apprentice Placements
A NEW scheme will offer up to 14 apprenticeships in the Department for Regional Development (DRD) and other departments within the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS). Announcing the development of the pilot higher level Civil Engineering Apprenticeship were Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry and Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy. Within DRD, apprentices will get...
Jobs Scheme ‘is Paying off for the Young’
AN employment scheme to help young people gain skills and experience in the relevant sectors is paying off, according to the minister for Employment and Learning, Stephen Farry. The focus of the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) is to ensure that young people are provided with the skills needed to gain jobs and compete for jobs...
Academy Encourages Entrepreneurs Of The Future
STUDENTS are seeing their business ideas become a reality thanks to an enterprise programme funded by Belfast City Council. Over 20 students took part in the Belfast Enterprise Academy (BEA), designed for degree students living in the city who want to become entrepreneurs. As part of the academy, they met established entrepreneurs and received one-to-one...
Union Welcomes Rise In FE Student Numbers
NORTHERN Ireland’s biggest locally-based teaching union has welcomed the rise in the numbers of students opting for further education (FE) courses. Avril Hall Callaghan, general secretary of the Ulster Teachers’ Union, was speaking following the release of the latest further and higher education statistics which show an increase of 2% in those choosing the FE...