Employers offering top flight placements honoured
Employers offering top-flight work placements to students have been honoured at a University of Ulster gala awards ceremony. Employers in the public and private sectors and Ulster students and staff were invited to nominate ‘placement partners’ who had provided exemplary student experience for the fifth Ulster Placement Employer of the Year (PEOTY) awards. Senior officers...
Budding engineers put themselves into pole position
AN engineering competition hosted by the University of Ulster helps companies build their reputation as an ‘employer of choice’, according to one of its organisers. Ronald Laird, who is industrial placement co-ordinator for the UU School of Engineering, said the event – for first year engineering students – would also help build students’ CVs towards...
Allstate scores a treble at inaugural HR awards night
Software services specialist Allstate Northern Ireland secured a memorable treble at the inaugural Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) Northern Ireland Awards. The company, which is a subsidiary of US insurance giant Allstate and has operations in Belfast, Londonderry and Strabane, won the team prize, the health and wellness award and the individual accolade for...
It’s full stem ahead for local college
Northern Ireland is at the forefront of delivering a skilled workforce to meet the future needs of employers, according to national STEM organisation, the Intelligent College Network. The UK-wide educational think-thank met this week at South West College in Dungannon to explore how colleges can meet future skills demands and accelerate economic growth. The Intelligent...
Adults urged to join free skills course
Adults of all ages are being urged to enrich their lives through learning. Speaking during Adult Learners’ Week, the Employment and Learning Minister, Stephen Farry, called on adults to take full advantage of his Department’s free Essential Skills courses and the services of the Careers Service as a way to open up new opportunities, whether...
Young Scoops Gong
A SERC student has overcome adversity to scoop a gong at the recent Essential Skills award ceremony in Hillsborough Castle. Brenda Young from Bangor clinched a Highly Commended plaudit at the event which recognises outstanding achievement in literacy, numeracy and ICT learning. She returned to education to gain qualifications which would enable her to help...
College gets social
Belfast Met has hosted symposium designed to share learning across educational institutions and boundaries. Queen’s University social work director and author of a recent report (Translating Learning into Action: An Overview of Key Learning from Case Management Reviews, 2003-2008) Dr John Devaney headlined the event. Met social work lecturer Gerry Skelton said: “This Case Management...
Course to support disabled children and their families
Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) has launched new training programmes to increase childcare capacity for children with disabilities. The courses are open to childminders, day care and after schools staff, parents and family members, including grandparents. Pauline Leeson, Chief Executive of CiNI – the regional umbrella body for the children’s sector in Northern Ireland said:...
Programme success is just wee buns for entrepreneurs
Local entrepreneurs have been celebrating their success at a special ceremony in Belfast City Hall. The celebration was hosted by Belfast City Council for local craft industries who completed the its Market Start-Up Programme. Twenty entrepreneurs took part in the popular business programme earlier which was launched to provide support to people in the city...
Farry launches leadership schemes to boost business
Just a 1% increase in productivity, achieved through upskilled management, can add £200million in GDP, according to Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry. He made the claim while announcing a package of free leadership and management programmes for local businesses. The Department for Employment and Learning will provide 100% financial support to businesses and...