Foster calls on bosses to unleash fresh talent by giving scheme the thumbs up
ENTERPRISE Minister Arlene Foster has said apprenticeships are an “excellent way” of helping unleash the talent of young people. The Minister urged employers to find out more about apprenticeships and how they can help businesses grow. She spoke as unemployment figures this month showed that 20,000 of 18 to 24-year-olds in Northern Ireland are...
Tackling the skills gap
NORTHERN Ireland’s six regional colleges are the biggest providers of training and apprenticeships in Northern Ireland, and umbrella body Colleges NI says taking on an apprentice helps address the skills shortage by ensuring apprentices receive quality training. Training is subsidised by the Department for Employment and Learning, which covers 100% of off-the-job training for under...
A bold step for the future
THE Belfast Telegraph’s campaign to create 100 apprenticeships in 100 days is in full swing with businesses queuing up to find out how they can get involved. Now we are in day 32 (FRI 29), and commitment to create apprenticeships has been given by companies large and small in a range of sectors. In the...
Schools ‘need to look East’
The Department of Education should look to the East for lessons on improving teachers’ career progression, it was claimed today. Gillian Dunlop, who teaches at Donaghadee primary in North Down, said Far Eastern countries, such as South Korea, Singapore and Japan constantly outperformed the UK in international studies on maths and science. “It is no...
Multi-million funding to help young unemployed
Multi-million funding to help young unemployed A multi-million pound cash boost targeting youth unemployment here is one of the largest of its kind in any UK region, according to a Department of Employment and Learning source. This additional funding includes £8million for Steps to Work, DEL’s main adult return to work programme and £5.8million...
NIW creates 16 new posts
ONE of Northern Ireland’s leading utility companies is creating 16 new posts. NI Water, responsible for the delivery of all water and sewerage services across the province, has announced six engineering graduate opportunities and a further 10 operational apprenticeships across the organisation. Chief Executive Trevor Haslett said: “NI Water recognises that our people are...
Extra funding set to boost traditional building skills
CITB-ConstructionSkills NI has secured additional funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through its Skills for the Future Programme to expand training in traditional building skills here. The £240,000 HLF grant will provide 10 work-based training placements with experienced practitioners working on traditional (pre-1919) buildings. It will also fund four heritage ambassadors to act as...
Leading IT firm brings 26 jobs to Belfast with new support centre
A leading IT company is creating 26 new jobs in Northern Ireland. Version 1’s new Oracle Competency Centre will be based in Belfast to provide support to both local and international businesses. Version 1 made its announcement alongside Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arlene Foster MLP. Invest Northern Ireland has offered £359,000 of support,...
Pilot programme for adult learners delivers big results
The Learner Access Engagement pilot programme has delivered around 3,000 qualifications to some of Northern Ireland’s hardest to reach adults who would otherwise have slipped through the educational net, a new report claims. The findings were delivered through an evaluation report into the pilot programme announced by Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry. The...
Fashion stars of tomorrow shine at Met’s glittering student showcase
Northern Ireland’s up and coming student fashionistas have been celebrating in style as they mark the end of term. Fashion students, hair and beauty stylists, performing artists and industry experts all came together recently for Belfast Met’s spectacular end of year fashion show. The glamorous occasion, held in the Andrews Gallery in the Titanic Building,...