North West Regional College (NWRC) has won the award for Best Employer Engagement at the Times Educational Supplement (Tes) Further Education Awards 2020. This prestigious award, open to Further Education colleges across the UK, recognises strategic and innovative approaches to delivering employers’ workforce development needs.
Judges said that the College had given staff and students a real chance to engage with employers, while simultaneously responding to the needs of businesses. Technology Innovation Manager at NWRC, Dr. Fergal Tuffy said: “The team at NWRC’s Business Support Centre (BSC) are delighted to receive this award in the category of Employer Engagement.
“When we opened our dedicated Business Support Centre in 2015 it was as a direct response to the region’s economic and employment challenges.
“Today, it has supported more than 1,300 companies, providing bespoke upskilling and training opportunities, and is working with local employers to source funding for innovation and research projects. The centre has a specialist team of 23 staff, who receive regular training and keep abreast of new technologies to keep their industry knowledge and skills up to date.”
He added: “Despite the arrival of Covid, the BSC has trained more than 185 employees from 116 businesses to level 2 or above, and undertaken more than 75 specialist interventions to assist businesses in developing new products, processes and services in food and drink, engineering and product design, IT and augmented reality. The BSC was recently awarded an Outstanding grade by InnovateUK for a knowledge transfer project with AE Global.”
Chief Executive and Principal at NWRC, Leo Murphy said the award was recognition of the role that is played within FE colleges to support local employers and the economy.
He commented: “Our aim at NWRC is to continue this work by developing skills, fostering innovation and driving applied research, coupled with supporting the wider college community to ensure an industry relevant professional and technically skilled curriculum, all with the aim of growing the economy in Northern Ireland.”
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