Interview guaranteed for welding scheme trainees
A NEW Assured Skills Academy will see 12 successful applicants receive industry-standard welding training.
Comprising of a five-week course at North West Regional College’s Springtown campus, followed by two-weeks of consolidation training at one of four engineering companies in the north west area, participants who complete the Academy are guaranteed an interview for a welding position at one of the companies.
Highlighting the opportunity, the Economy Minister, Diane Dodds said: “People with welding skills are in high demand in our local engineering and manufacturing sector. This Assured Skills Academy will equip participants with these skills, through an industry-recognised qualification, and position them very strongly to kick-start a new career in welding.”
No experience is needed and participants will be given £150 per week training allowance, travel expenses and, where eligible, assistance with childcare costs. On completion of the course participants will receive a level 2 City & Guilds introductory welding skills qualification award.
Paul Mcgarrigle, Curriculum Manager at North West Regional College, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for new fresh talent to progress in the industry by addressing the skills shortage. This will have a positive impact on the North West City Regions local economy by feeding into local business anchors. We are committed to providing a skills guarantee for a post-covid economy and future labour market.”
Meanwhile, financial software company, Glantus is to set up a Sales and Marketing Hub in Newry, creating up to 15 new jobs.
The Republic of Ireland-based tech firm provides enterprise software solutions to finance departments and shared services organisations which support one-stop data integration, automation and advanced analytics.
Glantus recognised the potential to grow its business as more and more businesses accelerate digital transformation to enable them to respond to Covid-19. The new team in Newry will provide the resources needed to allow Glantus to capitalise on this opportunity and respond to the increasing needs of businesses to work remotely in a more agile and efficient manner.
The roles to be created range in experience from graduate level to more senior and include opportunities in sales, customer care, marketing, and technology. As well as providing valuable employment opportunities in the Newry, Armagh and South Down areas, this investment will contribute nearly £450,000 in additional salaries to the economy once all the roles are filled.
Invest Northern Ireland has offered £75,000 of support toward the new roles, three of which are already in place.