Youth strategy ‘will encourage more volunteering and leadership schemes’
The Department of Education’s new Priorities for Youth policy will encourage the youth service to provide young people with positive volunteering and leadership opportunities, according to Minister John O’Dowd. He was addressing at a recent event in Armagh where he presented certificates to recipients of the Millennium Volunteers Awards of Excellence. Speaking after the...
Translink drive for dyslexia awareness
The Transport and Salaried Staff Association (TSSA) has launched a Dyslexia Awareness Campaign targeting Translink employees. The new campaign aims to raise awareness of support available within the workplace to deal with dyslexia and is supported by the Department for Employment and Learning. Catherine Mason, Translink groupc chief executive, said: “We are very much...
McDonald’s staff lead the fight against litter bugs
Staff from McDonald’s restaurants in Belfast volunteered for a clean-up operation to rid unsightly litter blighting the Lagan Towpath area recently. Tying in with Tidy NI’s Big Spring Clean campaign and led by shift manager and Planet Champion Mateusz Wasielewski, the McDonald’s tidy crew of 15 volunteers filled 12 bags of litter. Speaking at the...
New staff as firm sweeps contracts
Cleaning and security firm Robinson Services is to expand its workforce by 300 following the purchase of 180 cleaning contracts from Resource Group. The deal, thought to be worth over £1m, will bring Robinson Service’s total workforce to 1,500 and, it said, makes it the largest private support services business in Northern Ireland. The deal...
Food firm’s expansion will bring over 150 new posts
An international food company is creating over 150 new jobs in its Co Tyrone factory as part of an £11.5m investment. Vion in Cookstown produces pork, sausages, bacon and cooked meats and is the largest pig processing plant in Ireland. Now its Netherlands-based parent is investing in new equipment to improve animal welfare and increase...
Scheme helps companies take a Bite out of waste
Belfast City Council has launched its latest round the BITES (Business Improvements Through Environmental Solutions) Programme. Supported by the European Regional Development Fund it is a business development initiative to help companies reduce waste and energy, boost profits and help the environment. Running for the last two years in the city, the programme’s success has...
Young leaders event aims to inspire our up-and-coming professionals
Northern Ireland’s first Young Leaders’ Conference will take place in Belfast on May 25, with key note addresses from leaders of UK Industry and some of Northern Ireland’s most successful businesses. The conference is a major new initiative from Young Leaders NI, an organisation formed by the Institute of Directors -Young Directors’ Forum, Belfast Junior...
High demand for Irish speaking staff as education sector expands
The Irish medium sector needs qualified employees, with demand for new staff outstripping supply, according to a new social enterprise. Known as GaelChúrsaí it was launched recently to provide jobs for the growing number of young people being educated in Irish. The company is the only training and employment provider geared solely to preparing young...
Forces seek hundreds of new recruits to move up the ranks
The Forces are looking for 750 new recruits from Northern Ireland in the next year. The positions, which are both full and spare time in the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army, cover a wide range of trades and professions, including engineers, medics and logistical personnel. Lieutenant Colonel Dick Rafferty, head of Army recruiting...
Minister talks up local skill strategy
Europe could learn from Northern Ireland’s regional skills strategy, according to Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry. He was speaking during a recent visit to Brussels this week in support of the Executive’s commitments to increase engagement with European policy development and funding programmes. The Minister explored a range of issues with EU Commissioner...