Other News In Brief

New Welding Academy Announced At South West College

A new Assured Skills Collaborative Welding Academy at South West College (SWC), offering 12 training places, has been announced by Economy Minister Conor Murphy.

Fully funded by the Department for the Economy, SWC is offering industry standard welding training that will provide participants with the skills to take up potential welding roles with companies in Dungannon and the surrounding area.

Welcoming the Academy, the Minister said: "The engineering sector is hugely important to the local economy and people with welding skills are in high demand in our local engineering and manufacturing sector, as demonstrated by the number of local companies supporting this Assured Skills Academy.

"The training provided by South West College will enable participants to gain the valuable skills and qualifications required to pursue a rewarding career in this important sector."

Successful applicants will attend a six-week intensive training course delivered by SWC at its dedicated training facility in Cookstown where they will study ETCL Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations and Certified Abrasive Wheels Training. Following completion of the training, participants will be guaranteed an interview to take up a welding position at one of the participating companies.

Ciaran McManus, Director of Development and Support at South West College, said: "We are thrilled to partner with DfE and various local employers to offer this incredible opportunity for individuals to gain the skills needed for a rewarding career in welding."

Participants will receive a £175 weekly training allowance for the duration of the Academy, as well as help with travelling and childcare costs.

The online application form must be completed by 12.00 noon on Monday 2 September 2024 and the Academy will be delivered from Monday 23 September to Friday 1 November 2024.

Further information and how to apply is available on the nidirect website.

All applicants must be at least 18 years old by Monday 23 September 2024 and eligible to work in the UK at the time of application.

Fleur Anderson Visits Local Organisations In Cookstown

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Fleur Anderson, has visited Cookstown to meet with local organisations Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network (NIRWN) and Super Stars Café.

NIRWN is a membership based organisation with a mission to amplify and articulate the voice of rural women at local, regional and strategic level. The Minister took the opportunity to hear directly from service users and members of NIRWN, discussing the most pressing priorities of rural women in Northern Ireland.

Founded in 2005, Super Stars Café is a unique and dynamic charity whose purpose is to provide learning opportunities and new skills for people with learning disabilities which are not available elsewhere.

Speaking following her visit to Co Tyrone, Minister Anderson said:

"Northern Ireland's community sector is united on many issues and I've been privileged to meet many groups across Northern Ireland already.

"I wanted to take today as an opportunity to focus on the fantastic work of NIRWN and hear about the issues most pressing to women in rural communities.

"It was also great to hear about the work of the Super Stars Café and how they enable young people in the local community to reach their full potential." Titanic Denim Launch New Sustainability Initiative

Titanic Denim has launched a new project converting used textiles destined for landfill into high-end corporate merchandise for leading companies.

The expansion for the Belfast-based sustainable design studio comes after the business participated in the government-backed Go Succeed enterprise programme.

It is the latest venture for the multi award-winning company, founded over a decade ago by Marie Nancarrow with a vision to challenge fast fashion by transforming discarded jeans and other reclaimed denim garments into luxury items including tote and messenger bags.

Already, major businesses such as Smiley Monroe, Survitec and Heron Bros have worked with Titanic Denim through the 'Rescued' initiative to create bespoke corporate items including turning old lorry tarpaulin curtains into laptop folder and high-vis construction vests into drawstring bags for schools.

Marie said: "Titanic Denim has always been about promoting sustainability and through our new initative 'Rescued', we're partnering with businesses across Northern Ireland to boost their sustainability too.

"For companies that have textile waste that might normally go to landfill, whether it is old uniforms, post-production material, discarded fabric or deadstock, we can give the material a new life by transforming it into merchandise or other new products that can be reused in the business.

"Businesses work with us so that they can really showcase their ESG credentials, address their indirect and scope three emissions, telling the world that they're making an effort to reduce textile waste.

"We are also in the process of setting up a 'Rescued' digital hub where new clients that have any textile waste can register their interest to have it transformed into new corporate merchandise or products rather than it end up in landfill. I have also worked closely with International Synergies NI who deliver resource matching workshops and their support has been outstanding.

"None of this however, would have been possible without the support of Go Succeed through which I was assigned an amazing mentor and had access to masterclasses that have helped me focus on building and launching the Rescued proposition."

Services from Go Succeed are delivered completely free of charge via each of Northern Ireland's 11 councils.

Councillor Sam Nelson, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: "Belfast has always been home to new ideas and business ingenuity, and this latest initiative from Titanic Denim is a perfect indicator that innovation is alive and well in our city.

"Given our focus on supporting enterprise and business growth, we're delighted to see the impact that Go Succeed is having on companies of all sizes across Belfast and beyond and send our congratulations to Marie Nancarrow. With Titanic Denim's sustainable values and vision, her company's success is doubly impressive."

Marie added: "Go Succeed has opened doors that are already taking my business to the next level.

"It has given me a newfound confidence to move forward, and many opportunities to meet with new clients, that will grow with the business."

Go Succeed www.go-succeed.com is funded by the UK Government. The service supports entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses with easy-to-access advice and support including mentoring, master classes, peer networks, access to grant funding and a business plan, at every stage of their growth journey.