Time to raise skills level of our workforce: Minister
Now is the time to raise skill levels and prepare for future opportunity, according to Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning. He was speaking at an awards events to honour the latest 28 organisations from across Northern Ireland today to be awarded the prestigious Investors in People (IiP) accreditation. He continued: “It is heartening...
Building programme brings jobs hope
A £500 million-plus roads and hospital building programme in Northern Ireland will provide a 3,000 job boost to the region’s beleaguered construction industry, Stormont ministers have pledged. Leaders of the powersharing executive heralded the range of infrastructure projects due for completion in the coming four years at a cost of £584 million as proof they...
Republic aims to create 200,000 new jobs through eight-year plan
An ambitious action plan to create 200,000 jobs over two four-year enterprise cycles has been unveiled by the Irish government. Taoiseach Enda Kenny claimed radical improvements in the way Irish government and business interact would result in a much-needed workforce boost in two swathes by 2020. The Action Plan on Jobs includes restructuring the country’s...
£4.2m ferry refurbishment contract puts wind back into joinery firms sails.
A government apprentice scheme has helped a Co Down firm almost double its workforce and more than treble its turnover in just three years, according to the latest figures. The MJM Group, a specialist joinery sub-contractor, now plans to expand its workforce in 2012 having secured a €5million refurbishment contract for a Scandinavian ferry operator....
Ulster Business Awards celebrate our high achieving entrepreneurs
The high achievement of entrepreneurial local companies has been celebrated at a prestigious awards event in Belfast. Eight Ulster firms, including new businesses and successful exporters, have received prizes in the provincial stage of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards, run in association with Invest Northern Ireland and InterTradeIreland. Seven firms from across Northern Ireland and one...
Training scheme calls on engineers to go for GOLD
A high calibre apprenticeship programme is paying dividends for a Co Tyrone packaging company. Greiner Packaging Limited, Dungannon, is now recruiting for the second year of its GOLD programme for people interested in a career in engineering. This four-year apprenticeship programme has been designed by the company and partners the South West College as well...
Cancer charity calls on schools to ‘veg out’ in health awards bid
The Health Action Awards are braced for a bumper entry this year to celebrate their tenth birthday. Organisers Action Cancer and independent retail group Centra are calling on all 1,600 of Northern Ireland’s schools to get involved. Action Cancer’s Health Promotion Manager Emily Magrath said the unique awards scheme gave nurseries, schools and colleges the...
Thousands flock to Met’s Essential Skills courses
Numbers enrolling on Essential Skills courses at Belfast Met are exceeding all expectations, it was claimed today. Last year close to 4,000 people enrolled on the free courses and now, only half way through the academic year, the college has matched that number. The Met hopes even more people will sign up to English, Maths...
New jobs at building supplier
Six new jobs have been created at a building supplier after it opened a new store in Lisburn in an investment of nearly £450,000. Murdock Builders Merchants (MBM), which now employs 200 people, said its ninth branch would offer a free landscape design service in partnership with Acheson and Glover. Ann Morgan, chief executive of...
Subway to create 6,000 posts at its new stores
Sandwich chain Subway has announced it is to create 6,000 jobs across the UK over the next three years, including some in Northern Ireland. The fast food franchise – famed for its foot-long submarine rolls – will open 600 new branches in the UK and Ireland by 2015, its president and co-founder Fred DeLuca said...