Other News In Brief

UUP Congratulate Rishi Sunak On Becoming New Prime Minister

Ulster Unionist Party leader, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has congratulated Rishi Sunak on becoming leader of the Conservative Party and next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Mr Beattie said: "I congratulate Rishi Sunak on becoming leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is desperate for a strong and stable Government which will focus on doing what`s right for all four corners of our Nation.

"Northern Ireland needs better Government and that means the restoration of the devolved institutions. One of the new Prime Minister`s priorities must be resolving the political impasse and dealing with the issues caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol. Northern Ireland cannot continue to be used as political football between the United Kingdom and the EU. The Protocol must be replaced with a deal that works for everyone. There should be no checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland that are staying here. Everyone knows what needs to be done and now is the time to be getting on with it.

"If there is another Assembly election, the Ulster Unionist Party will be ready to fight it. However an election will do absolutely nothing to deal with the foremost challenges facing Northern Ireland. An election won`t deal with the Protocol and it won`t provide an easier path to the restoration of an Assembly and an Executive. It will only cause the trenches to be dug deeper and make the path to political progress even more difficult. The Prime Minister should use the next few days to reflect and consult on what is the best way forward for Northern Ireland. Too many decisions have been taken in the past which destabilise this part of the United Kingdom rather than helping its people."

Over 70% Of Tech Employment Academy Participants Secure Employment

More than 70% of those completing Belfast City Council's first ever Tech Employment Academy immediately secured employment in the sector.

Demand for skills in Belfast's booming tech sector is significantly outstripping supply – so Belfast City Council has joined forces with the city's private sector to help meet that need. The first ever Tech Employment Academy was co-designed and delivered with Allstate and Citi, with support from the Belfast Labour Market Partnership and the Learning & Work Institute.

As well as investing in and tailoring the programme design, these major employers have offered valuable work experience and guaranteed job interviews for those who successfully completed the 16-week course.

Academy participants were immersed in the essentials of software development, product management, gained vital employability skills, including employer coaching and mentoring – and most importantly, have secured – or are in the process of securing - high quality jobs, with the help of Belfast City Council's Employability and Skills team.

Councillor Gareth Spratt, Deputy Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: "I'd like to congratulate the first graduates of our Tech Employment Academy – the majority of whom secured employment in the sector as soon as the programme ended. We made a commitment in the Belfast Agenda to help residents reach their full potential and to empower those furthest removed from the labour market to progress in employment. We also want to support business growth and help Belfast employers with current recruitment challenges.

"So we were delighted to receive 100 applications for 15 places on our first Belfast Tech Employment Academy – there's a real appetite for work in this fast-growing sector. We reached out to people who weren't currently working, or who were underemployed, people who wanted to restart their career after a break or setback, those who were keen to reboot or change direction in their professional lives – and of course those impacted by Covid-19.

"We made the decision to carry out an aptitude assessment as part of our application process, instead of having a requirement for high-level, formal qualifications, because we want to remove as many barriers to employment as possible. For the same reason, we're offering significant wrap-around care to support travel and childcare costs, as well as making sure that participants aren't missing out on any benefits that they're eligible for.

"Our Employment Academies are only going to become more important as we see more high value employment opportunities created by new investment in our city, including the Belfast Region City Deal – and the creation of our Smart District and Innovation District. We need to connect people living here to those opportunities and provide the high-quality talent pipeline that investors expect."

Paul Cassidy, Global Senior Learning & Development, Allstate said: "Allstate is delighted to have partnered on the design of this pathway to employment in conjunction with Belfast City Council and Citi.  Right from the start, Allstate recognised the benefit of the Tech Employment Academy and we're excited for future, successful participants.

"As one of the largest employers in technology in Northern Ireland, Allstate continues to strive to ensure an open and diverse recruitment strategy encouraging motivated and talented individuals to explore a career within the technology sector. The demand for skills and talent is a challenge, and this employability programme is a great example of how we can build that bridge to employment and get people working in technology. We've seen a committed, motivated and keen to learn cohort over the last 16 weeks and they've demonstrated the ability to embrace new skills that will equip them for now and the future as a successful route into employment."

Leigh Meyer, Citi Belfast Site Lead said: "At Citi we are challenging the stereotypical idea of finance professionals by continuing to develop a number of career pathways. Citi's team members are supported, mentored, provided with excellent training, and given opportunities to connect with global teams to develop expertise. We want people to build their careers here, not just apply for a job.

"We were delighted to work closely with the Belfast City Council to develop their first ever Tech Employment Academy to collaboratively develop and identify future skills required for successful careers within the finance sector. It has provided the opportunity to remove entry barriers and dispel the perception that working in financial services means you need a certain type of qualification or accent.

"We understand that diversity of skills and backgrounds adds value to the entire 3700+ Belfast team and lends itself to a supportive, vibrant, and positive working environment for everyone in Citi Belfast, as we continue to give our people the opportunity to live locally and work globally supporting businesses around the world."

SDLP Calls For Armagh And Down To Be Included In Ireland's Ancient East

The SDLP has launched a campaign to have Counties Armagh and Down included in Ireland's Ancient East.

Ireland's Ancient East is a flagship international tourism initiative marketed by Tourism Ireland, with four key pillars: Ancient Ireland, Early Christian Ireland, Medieval Ireland, and Anglo Ireland.

Newry & Armagh SDLP MLA Justin McNulty said: "Ireland's Ancient East is a hugely successful international initiative which celebrates Ireland's ancient myths and legends and presents them alongside the modern and vibrant Ireland that we have today.

"As it stands, Ireland's Ancient East stops at the border, and we in the SDLP are determined to change that. Between the two counties of Armagh and Down, we boast the resting place of Brian Boru in Armagh City, Cú Chulainn's stomping ground in the Ring of Gullion, and St. Patrick's grave in Downpatrick. We have an immense amount to bring to the table which will serve to considerably strengthen the tourism offering of Ireland's Ancient East."

Slieve Gullion SDLP Councillor Pete Byrne continued: "I'm excited to be launching this campaign to have Armagh and Down included in Ireland's Ancient East. Along with my SDLP colleagues, I have been engaging with the Irish Government, Tourism Ireland, the NI Tourist Board, and Newry Mourne and Down District Council to bring this vision to life.

"At this time of economic uncertainty, when businesses and households across our area are struggling, we need to demonstrate leadership and grasp every single opportunity we can to boost this area and enhance our communities.

"We have been working hard to shape the council's tourism strategy to ensure that South Armagh is represented within it, and this drive to bring Ireland's Ancient East across the border will fuel an exponential growth in our tourism industry."

SDLP Slieve Gullion Representative Killian Feehan concluded: "The launch of this campaign is part of a broader strategy by the SDLP in our area to drive sustainable and substantial growth in our local tourism industry.

"The SDLP will be delivering a Tourism Conference on 1st December in Newry where we will be connecting key tourism stakeholders with the local tourism industry. This initiative is a key priority for the SDLP – not only will it put our area on the map internationally, but it will serve to enhance our tourism industry and boost our local economy.

"Our message is very simple: a rising tide lifts all boats, and we will be working with other political parties to build consensus around this campaign, so that our vision becomes a reality."