Lyons announces latest Assured Skills Academy in welding with SRC

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons today launched a new Assured Skills Collaborative Welding Academy at Southern Regional College, with 12 training places.

Assured Skills Collaborative Welding Academy at North West Regional College

Successful applicants to the Academy will receive industry standard welding training that will provide them with the skills to take up potential welding roles with companies in Armagh, Craigavon and the surrounding area.

This is the second in a series of three welding Assured Skills Academies with Southern Regional college, with a further one planned for the current financial year.

Welcoming the Academy, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons said:

“I am pleased to announce this collaborative Assured Skills Welding Academy at Southern Regional College.

“Businesses in the local engineering and fabrication sectors are continually seeking new people with these specialist skills. This collaborative approach at Southern Regional College will enable participants to gain valuable skills and, on successful completion, receive a Level 2 City & Guilds welding qualification which will give them a great opportunity to pursue a rewarding career.

“With no previous experience in welding required and £155 per week training allowance provided to participants on the Academy, I urge anyone who is interested to apply.”

The pre-employment Academy consists of a seven-week intensive training course during which participants will study a Level 2 City and Guilds Award in MIG Welding Skills. Following completion of the training, participants will be guaranteed an interview to take up a welding position at one of the participating companies.

Brian Doran, Principal and CEO of Southern Regional College, said:

“SRC is delighted to be working in partnership with DfE to offer this fantastic opportunity for people to learn the skills they need to start a rewarding career in welding. We are pleased to partner with seven local manufacturing/engineering businesses who will provide real-world training consolidation and experience to participants on this upcoming Academy, with the guarantee of a job interview for those who complete the course.”

It is planned to deliver the Academy over the following dates:

• Monday 22 November 2021 to Friday 7 January 2022 – college learning
• Monday 10 January 2022 to Friday 21 January 2022 – workplace consolidation

Applicants must be at least 18 years old by Monday 22 November 2021 and eligible to work in the UK.

This opportunity is not open to anyone currently employed within the manufacturing and engineering sector.

Applications are open until noon on Friday 29 October.

For more information and to apply, visit nidirect. 

Notes to editors: 

1. The participating companies are:

• Agnew General Engineering, Craigavon
• Hyster-Yale Group, Craigavon
• K-Space NI Ltd, Craigavon
• NC Engineering Ltd, Hamiltonsbawn
• SFM Engineering, Keady,
• Total Batching Solutions Ltd, Armagh
• Walter Watson Ltd, Castlewellan

2. Assured Skills is a pre-employment training programme run by the Department for the Economy. More information is available on the DfE website. 

3. Follow us on Twitter @Economy_NI  

4. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk .

5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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