The colleges can also help businesses access funding for business development and can provide technical expertise to bring new products to market. The support is available to both well established businesses, as well as business start-ups and budding entrepreneurs who need help to turn their idea into a commercial reality.
The six Colleges already provides a broad spectrum of bespoke business development activities and, to date, they have supported over 10,000 businesses and helped provide a well-trained and highly skilled workforce for the future in terms of Apprenticeships, Higher Level Apprenticeships and work placements.
Professor Terri Scott, Principal & Chief Executive of Northern Regional College, has welcomed the ‘Let’s do Business’ initiative:
“Northern Regional College, like all the local FE Colleges, is a valuable resource for the business community and employers, offering support to develop a wide range of new technologies and specialisms.
“The FE sector is committed to creating a globally competitive economy. On a day-to-day basis, the Colleges are working with businesses right across Northern Ireland, from large multi-nationals to SMEs and micro businesses which are at the very heart of our local economy. Successful collaboration with the FE sector can help businesses improve their productivity, innovation, creativity and competitiveness.
Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd is one of the County Antrim companies to have accessed business development support from Northern Regional College. The Ballycastle based company used the 75% funded Skills Focus programme from the Department for the Economy to train two staff members in ‘Search Engine Optimisation’ and another member of staff in ‘ Using Social Media to Market Products and Services’. Both training courses were part of the OCN NI Level 2 Award in Digital Marketing.
Company owner, Mary O’Driscoll commented: “This has proved to be the most beneficial course undertaken by the company. We have since put time and effort into our social media, especially Facebook. The feedback and interaction from our customers is priceless and our sales have increased because of this. I cannot recommend Northern Regional College highly enough and thank them for their help in improving our business. I look forward to working with them in the future again.”
Beverley Harrison, Director of Further Education at the Department for the Economy said: "Further Education plays a vital role in enhancing and strengthening the skills profile of Northern Ireland by addressing the skills deficit and so underpinning the creation of a successful regional economy. It assists businesses to innovate and grow which in turn increases competitiveness across the region. The FE sector provides a strong collaborative offering across the region aligned strongly to the economic priorities at regional and sub-regional level. I would encourage businesses, both small and large, to explore how hey can benefit from the assistance and expertise of the colleges.”
A new dedicated website, www.yourcollegeni.com has been created to help employers identify the college best suited to their business’s needs, provide information on funding opportunities and establish better collaborative relationships.
‘Let’s Do Business’ at Northern Regional College
Monday
4th December 2017
Northern Regional College has joined forces with other Further Education (FE) Colleges across Northern Ireland to launch ‘Let’s do Business’, a new marketing campaign designed to promote the sector’s business development services. Further Education colleges offer a range of funded training and mentoring programmes, bespoke training and business development initiatives. The ‘Let’s do Business’ campaign aims to make FE Colleges the ‘first port of call’ for local employers and businesses who want to re-skill or up-skill their workforce or who are interested in how they can diversify and innovate.
