The pilot Welding Academy will allow 30 trainees to become skilled in high quality, specialised welding fields. The project is supported by the Department for Employment and Learning’s Skills Solutions Service with training delivered by Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC) and Northern Regional College (NRC). The initiative will be aimed at unemployed people with a background in welding to provide training in modern techniques.
The Minister said: “I welcome the fact that my Department’s Skills Solutions Service has been able to work closely with Harland and Wolff, Belfast Metropolitan College and Northern Regional College to develop this highly specialised welding training opportunity for initially 30 people from our local community.
“The specialised nature of the work carried out by Harland and Wolff, and the high quality which the industry demands, has presented the opportunity to further enhance the skill set of the Northern Ireland workforce and to expand the training provision currently offered through the further education colleges to the engineering trades.
“It will ensure that one of Northern Ireland’s most well known employers will be able to access a high quality, high calibre and highly skilled pool of welders. Looking forward, this improves the overall skill set in our workforce significantly and will help to ensure that other Northern Ireland employers can also draw on this expertise and help them to remain competitive in a demanding global economy.
“This training academy clearly demonstrates DEL’s commitment to up-skill the Northern Ireland workforce and through the Skills Solutions Service, help employers to access and benefit from relevant, tailored training.”
Commenting on the announcement, Robert J Cooper, Chief Executive for Harland and Wolff said: “The manufacturing quality stipulated by our customers in the offshore oil, gas and renewable energy sectors is among the most demanding anywhere. This training project is essential to continue to develop the core skills necessary to compete on the international stage and bring these high value projects to our shores.”
The training programme will last approximately six to eight weeks and will be advertised shortly. The best thirty candidates will be selected from those who pass a trade test to demonstrate that they have the necessary fundamental skills to benefit from the training. Further details will be available in due course from Jobs and Benefits Offices.
The Department remains in regular contact with Harland and Wolff and other stakeholders throughout Northern Ireland in order to understand the working practices within the engineering and manufacturing sector and to respond rapidly to the training needs that a changing global industry demands.
Harland and Wolff to benefit from pilot Welding Academy
Monday
28th July 2014
Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry, today announced that his Department would be working in conjunction with the local further education sector to address specialist welding needs for Harland and Wolff.
