Top accolade for engineering student
A SOUTH Eastern Regional College (SERC) apprentice has been crowned the UK’s best Heavy Vehicle Engineer. Michael Kelly from Ballynahinch travelled to Stephenson College to compete at the National Qualifiers of the IMI Skills Auto Competition which took place from July 5-7. The competition, organised by the Institute of the Motor Industry, aims to find...
‘STEAM’ ahead for job prospects
BY incorporating the Arts into the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) curriculum Northern Ireland can use creative innovation to ensure a prosperous future, according to local teachers. “For some time the focus has been on STEM subjects but now a movement is gaining momentum in the UK, in the wake of what’s happening in...
Recruitment difficulties revealed
A RECENT survey has revealed that 81 per cent of manufacturers and 71 per cent of services businesses who were recruiting say they had difficulty filling positions in the second quarter of this year. That is just one of the findings in the latest Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) and BDO...
Northern Ireland employers take on international talent
EMPLOYERS from across Northern Ireland are strengthening global links through an international exchange scheme. Businesses, including Translink, Armagh Planetarium and CDE Global, have taken on 20 international students through the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), a programme managed by the British Council. Through the initiative, these students, from science...
New lab lends support to Health & Life Sciences sector
A NEW multi-million pound Advanced Biomedical Engineering Laboratory has been officially opened at Ulster University. The laboratory is a strategic partnership between Invest Northern Ireland, Ulster University, Randox Laboratories and Heartsine Technologies and will offer expertise and equipment to assist companies to develop prototypes for the biomedical, engineering, electronic device and aerospace sectors. Welcoming the...
Training scheme fast tracks legal talent
TWO ambitious school leavers have been selected for a scheme that fast tracks promising talent towards employment in the legal sector. Brooke Wardlow and Sean McAdorey beat stiff competition to secure places on the intensive six-month programme at Allen & Overy’s (A&O) Belfast Support Services Centre. Designed for school leavers, it offers experience of working...
College academy prepares graduates for employment
SIXTEEN participants have completed a five week academy at North West Regional College (NWRC) designed to equip them with skills to secure employment with a global packaging company. Bemis Company recently announced that they are establishing a European Business Service Centre in Campsie, Derry ~ Londonderry creating up to 95 positions. To help recruit for...
Summer camp develops IT skills
FOLLOWING its successful first year in 2016, Novosco Cloud Camp has returned to Belfast Metropolitan College’s Titanic Quarter Campus. The free five-day summer camp in partnership with Almac Group for students aged 16-17 who are enrolled at schools and colleges throughout Northern Ireland, provided first-hand experience in the management and development of IT infrastructure in...
10 new jobs provided by National Construction Skills Academy
A NEWLY launched National Construction Skills Academy (NCSA) is to provide 10 fulltime jobs for its first intake of students. The NCSA, based at Industry Training Services (ITS) in Portadown provides tuition across several trades including groundworks, joinery, bricklaying, plastering, tiling, structural steel erection and steel-fixing. Its initial course in groundworks – a unique qualification...
Software firm provides online solution to recruitment challenges for pharmacies
A BELFAST software firm has designed a website to help pharmacies across the UK find locum pharmacists at short notice to help cover leave or staff illness. Locum Match Ltd’s website helps pair hundreds of pharmacists around the UK with over 8,000 pharmacies and the company has already secured business with the UK’s four largest...