Graduates of NWRC’s Assured Skills Welding Academy pictured with NWRC staff and lecturers. (Pic Martin McKeown)
The dozen young men, who were among the almost 200 applicants for the Academy, will now be working with local companies Fleming Agri, GES, Crossland, AE Global and SGS NI Ltd, who partnered with the college to offer paid employment for the participants.
Sinead Hawkins, Business Development Manager at NWRC’s Business Support Centre congratulated everyone involved with the academy, which she said has been one of the most successful to date.
She added: “We had in excess of 190 applications for 12 places on this Academy, and it is encouraging to see such a high level of interest in this highly skilled area.
“We are delighted to see all 12 of our participants complete the five-week course at our Springtown Campus, followed by their two weeks of consolidation training at an engineering company in the North West.
“Our thanks to all of the employers who gave their support to the Academy and our congratulations to all the students who are now taking the next step to what I am sure will be very successful careers.
“We thank our partners at the Department for the Economy for their support with the academy and we hope to announce details of a second similar academy in the near future.”
Paul McGarrigle, Curriculum Manager at NWRC Springtown said: “Interest in Apprenticeships in all areas continues to grow and we are regularly in contact with employers across the North West whose businesses are in urgent need of skilled workers in areas such as Fabrication and Welding, Electrical, and Carpentry and Joinery.
“Skilled welders are in high demand in our local engineering and manufacturing sector.
“This Academy has equipped participants with these skills, through an industry-recognised qualification, allowing them to kick-start a new career in welding.
“The welding academy offers a fantastic opportunity for new fresh talent to progress in the industry by addressing the skills shortage.
“This will have a positive impact on the North West City Region’s local economy by feeding into local business anchors.
“We are committed to providing a skills guarantee for a post-Covid economy and future labour market.”
For information on apprenticeship courses and Assured Skills visit: www.nwrc.ac.uk
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