21 Belfast Residents Complete First Ever Stena Line Employment Academy

Twenty one Belfast residents could be launching a new career at sea having becoming the first participants to complete the Stena Line Employment Academy in partnership with Belfast City Council.

The free academy provided intensive training and qualifications, aligned to the employer's recruitment needs, including all the mandatory training that candidates need to work at sea. Candidates then participated in commercial training with Stena Line, beginning with an observation day on the company's Superfast VII vessel on the Belfast to Cairnryan route to prepare them for a career onboard.

After meeting the participants, Councillor Clíodhna Nic Bhranair, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: "We're delighted with the success of this first academy with our partner Stena Line. These residents have developed relevant, practical, and transferable skills – and many will be starting a new, exciting career at sea as a result.

"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 into employment. We also want to support business growth and help Belfast employers with current recruitment challenges. Our Employment Academies are helping us to achieve those objectives and providing the high-quality talent pipeline that both investors and local businesses expect.

"I'd like to wish all the participants the very best of luck as they take the next step in their future careers. We're looking forward to developing our partnership with Stena Line in the months and years ahead."

The Stena Line Employment Academy covered:

• First Aid at sea

• Personal safety and social responsibilities

• Firefighting and fire prevention

• Crisis management and human behaviours

• Security awareness

• Personal survival techniques

Charlene Banda, People Manager Irish Sea at Stena Line added: "Working with Belfast City Council on the Stena Line Employment Academy has helped us to raise awareness of the benefits of a career at sea to new audiences and provide access for those who maybe had never considered it as an option.

"The intensive training provided by the council has equipped participants with the qualifications and skills required to board our ships and undertake our commercial training, which will prepare them for a role with Stena Line as part of our Onboard Services Team.

"We hope to develop this programme and our relationship with Belfast City Council to encourage more residents to consider a maritime career."

For more information on Belfast City Council's range of employment academies including construction, health and social care, technology and transport, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/employmentacademies.