Gardiner highlights skills strategy at opening of Larne campus

Barry Gardiner MP, Minister for Employment and Learning, has emphasised the importance of vocational skills to the Northern Ireland economy during the official opening of a new £1.8m Further Education campus in Larne, County Antrim.

Speaking to guests and local representatives at the opening ceremony, Mr Gardiner said: “If we are to compete in the knowledge-based world economy, we need more vocational skills. In that context, I will soon be publishing a Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland.

“The Skills Strategy will take a comprehensive and coherent approach to improving the skills of the workforce here at all levels. In particular, it will focus on a number of key areas, from the essential skills of literacy, numeracy and ICT, through to the intermediate skills required for our manufacturing and service industries.

“To achieve this will require a combination of interests including government, businesses, trade unions and individuals, and of course the Further Education sector will have a pivotal role to play.

“The East Antrim Institute is clearly committed to the people of Larne. More importantly, it is clearly investing in their future, through the development of a sound skills base in the area.”

The Minister was welcomed to the campus by John Blayney, Director of East Antrim Institute and taken on a tour of the facilities, where he viewed the IT suites, classrooms and the open access learning centre.

The campus has been opened on the site of the previous Larne campus building, which closed in 1999. The new facility provides 1095 sq m of accommodation and currently caters for over 750 part-time and 100 full-time students.

(CL)