Fourteen students have received their certificates after completing the Eishtec Training Academy.
Following the announcement that Eishtec UK Ltd was creating 320 jobs in Northern Ireland, the three week Training Academy was designed by DEL, Eishtec UK Ltd and Southern Regional College (SRC) under the Assured Skills initiative, to prepare the successful students to compete for customer service positions within the company.
Speaking prior to the event Employment and Learning Minister, Stephen Farry said: “I wish to congratulate all the Academy graduates.
“Through the Assured Skills programme, my department will ensure that Eishtec has the necessary support for training initiatives to develop the skills required for these new customer service roles.
“The creation of a vibrant economy is at the heart of the Northern Ireland Programme for Government.
“I am committed to working with our inward investors and local companies to help them meet their skill needs and help grow our local economy.”
The event was held in SRC’s Portadown campus and the 14 graduates will now be interviewed for a position within the company.
Heather Reynolds, Chief Operating Officer, Eishtec UK Ltd, said: “I am thrilled to congratulate the graduates on successfully completing the programme.
“I am proud that we’ve had the chance to engage such a passionate group of graduates and to support the development of business skills and talent acquisition.
She continued: “By helping us to develop and nurture enthusiastic, talented individuals, programmes like those at the Eishtec Training Academy help us to deliver on our promises and to delight our blue-chip clients — today and into the future.”
SRC’s Assistant Director for Employer Engagement, Claire Byrne, said: “SRC is delighted to work with DEL and Eishtec UK Ltd on the delivery of the training academy to the first cohort of learners.
“The academy offers a tailored training programme, to help develop learners to become potential employees of Eishtec whilst achieving a qualification which further enhances their personal development.
“The College’s partnership with Eishtec demonstrates how an academy model can successfully work for both learners and employers.”