Almost400 apply for new jobs scheme

ALMOST 400 people applied for a new initiative aimed at combating regional unemployment in the South East, according to the The Irish Medtech Association, the Ibec group which represents the medtech sector.

Irish Medtech Association, Skillnets, the Waterford Institute of Technology ( WIT), INTREO and IDA are collaborating on the special new upskilling initiative designed to meet needs of the medical technology industry in the South East.

The Process Technician programme will run for six months and will provide the opportunity for 16 students to take a focused selection of manufacturing engineering modules over three months at WIT followed by a three-month industrial placement with key employers including Boston Scientific, Bausch+Lomb, Waters, Schivo and Nypro.

It is funded by the Irish Medtech Association Skillnet.

INTREO reviewed 372 potential candidates from Tipperary, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, North Cork, Cork City, Carlow and North Limerick with 60 being invited for interview. Manager of the Irish Medtech Association Skillnet Pauline O’Flanagan said: ‘Ireland is the second largest employer of medtech professionals in Europe and has created more 2,000 jobs in the past couple of years.

‘With the sector showing continued strong growth, there’s never been a better time to start a career in medtech which employs 29,000 people in Ireland across 450 businesses.’

Department of Social Protection South East Area Manager Con Quinlan, said: ‘We are delighted to work with the Irish Medtech Association Skillnet, IDA Ireland and Skillnets to find people on the Live Register who would be suited to a future career working in the medical technology industry (and) the candidates are delighted with the career prospects they have been offered by these businesses and have shown great enthusiasm for the programme.

‘ The growing medical technology industry in Ireland needs skilled people, and we are delighted to help our members fill upcoming positions with students trained by WIT.’

WIT Head of Department of Lifelong Learning Neil Quinlan said:

“There are many more ways WIT can work with industry to develop training programmes for employees and for prospective employees.

This is one of the examples of how we work closely with industry and state organisations to meet real needs and help increase job creation in the south east region.”