Murphy announces Assured Skills Welding Academy at South West College

Economy Minister Conor Murphy today launched the latest Assured Skills Collaborative Welding Academy at South West College (SWC), with 12 training places.

Assured Skills Collaborative Welding Academy at South West College.

Fully funded by the Department for the Economy, SWC is offering industry standard welding training that will provide participants with the skills to take up potential welding roles with companies in Dungannon and the surrounding area.

Welcoming the Academy, the Minister said: “The engineering sector is hugely important to the local economy and people with welding skills are in high demand in our local engineering and manufacturing sector, as demonstrated by the number of local companies supporting this Assured Skills Academy.

“The training provided by South West College will enable participants to gain the valuable skills and qualifications required to pursue a rewarding career in this important sector.”

Successful applicants will attend a six-week intensive training course delivered by SWC at its dedicated training facility in Cookstown where they will study ETCL Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations and Certified Abrasive Wheels Training. Following completion of the training, participants will be guaranteed an interview to take up a welding position at one of the participating companies.

Ciaran McManus, Director of Development and Support at South West College, said: "We are thrilled to partner with DfE and various local employers to offer this incredible opportunity for individuals to gain the skills needed for a rewarding career in welding."

He highlighted the significance of engineering as a key employment sector in the south-west region and reiterated the college's dedication to working with local employers to attract, develop, and nurture new talent. Ciaran views the new pre-employment Assured Skills Academy as a strong reflection of this commitment, offering local individuals the chance to acquire valuable skills and potentially secure job offers.

He concluded by urging those interested and eligible to apply for the programme, emphasising its potential to unlock fulfilling welding careers for participants.

Participants will receive a £175 weekly training allowance for the duration of the Academy, as well as help with travelling and childcare costs.

The online application form must be completed by 12.00 noon on Monday 2 September 2024 and the Academy will be delivered from Monday 23 September to Friday 1 November 2024.

Further information and how to apply is available on the nidirect website.

All applicants must be at least 18 years old by Monday 23 September 2024 and eligible to work in the UK at the time of application.       

Notes to editors: 

1. The participating companies in this Academy are:

• Bruce Engineering, Cookstown
• Kennedy Engineering, Dungannon
• NC Engineering, Hamiltonsbawn
• QMAC Engineering, Stewartstown, Dungannon
• Turco Engineering, Cookstown
• Specdrum/Specfab, Dungannon
• TBC Conversions, Dungannon
• Tracey Concrete, Enniskillen

2. Assured Skills is a pre-employment training programme run by the Department for the Economy. More information is available on Assured Skills Programme page on the Department’s website.

3. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk.

4. To keep up to date with news from the Department for the Economy you can follow us on the following social media channels:

• X – @Economy_NI
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• LinkedIn – Department for the Economy NI 

5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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