Ballymoney Firms Create Welding Academy

Ballymoney-based Terex and McAuley Engineering have announced the creation of a new pre-employment Skills Academy in collaboration with Northern Regional College

The seven week pre-employment Skills Academy will offer 10 trainees the opportunity to become skilled in welding, supported by the Department for the Economy's Assured Skills programme, will be delivered by Northern Regional College at its Farm Lodge Ballymena campus. After five weeks of college training, participants will then undertake a two-week placement at either Terex or McAuley Engineering.

Launching the Welding Academy, Ann Williamson, Head of Employer Skills at DfE, said: "This pre-employment Skills Academy will provide participants with the skills they need to become a welder while also giving them valuable experience in the workplace, allowing them to gain a real insight into the role.

"The engineering sector is hugely important to the local economy. This Academy will help improve the skills of our workforce and provide employment opportunities in the local community while ensuring that companies have access to the talent they need."

Academy participants will receive a weekly training allowance of £150. Upon successful completion of the Academy training and company placement, trainees will be interviewed for a position with one of the companies.

Paddy Wallace, Assistant Head of Engineering at Northern Regional College, added: "We are very pleased to collaborate with the Department and businesses to deliver this valuable opportunity to local people. Academies of this type give participants a real-world learning experience and an opportunity to secure full-time employment. Northern Regional College staff have extensive industrial experience matched with theoretical teaching skills to deliver a first class programme to all candidates.

"Participants successfully completing the course will also achieve a City & Guilds Level 2 Award in MIG Welding. The College has a long tradition of working with companies to design and deliver training programmes across a range of skills. The relationships developed with our training partners provide an excellent springboard into employment for our graduates."

Further information on the Welding Academy and how to apply can be found at nidirect website. Closing date for applications is Friday 12 October 2018. Applicants must be over 18.