Unique apprenticeship offers local people new career opportunities
The first ever technical engineering apprenticeship for gas in Northern Ireland was recently launched to tackle the serious skills shortages in the North-West's fast-growing gas industry and to offer people in Limavady the opportunity to kick-start an exciting new career.
The apprenticeship is funded by the Department for Employment and Learning and was developed by Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) in collaboration with the North West Employer Cluster. This new Engineering Technical Apprenticeship will be delivered in partnership with local NW employers, PMST and North West Regional College, to ensure that gas technicians graduating from the scheme will be equipped with the academic and practical skills that businesses need.
The apprenticeship is supported by local natural gas company firmus energy and Mark Prentice, general manager for firmus energy explains, “Natural gas is relatively new to the North-West. In December 2005 we connected our first customer and we now have more than 4000 business and domestic customers in local towns and cities including Derry, Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney and Ballymena.
“The arrival of this new energy source in these areas has created new job opportunities in the gas industry and this apprenticeship is an ideal platform for local people to launch a successful career. This is particularly important at a time when job security is a concern for many people and unemployment is rising.
“We congratulate EU Skills on introducing this initiative. It is important for new people to gain skills in working with natural gas to ensure the industry in the North-West continues to be as developed as quickly as possible. This means as many homes and businesses can then take advantage of this economic and environmental alternative to oil and other traditional forms of heating.”
Ronnie Moore, Skills Director National for EU Skills comments, “The scheme is open to both men and women, aged 16-65 years, and is ideal for school leavers or those who want to learn a new trade. The qualification will train apprentices in gas technician roles in addition to offering them the chance to add ‘bolt-on’ skills in services such as plumbing, electricity and residential renewable energy. This will enable those taking part to finish the course well rounded in all the skills necessary for a career in residential and commercial central heating.
“This apprenticeship is employer led, meaning all apprentices are employed from day one and the NW employers actively involved with this scheme must be congratulated for their support.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank firmus energy for their commitment and input into developing this scheme and I am glad we can offer local people this exciting new opportunity.”
Apprentices will spend two days a week in the North West Institute and the remainder of their time on-the-job training. To find out more about the apprenticeship, please contact enquiries@euskills.co.uk.
For more information, please contact Josephine Lamb of Davidson
Cockcroft Ltd on 9040 2296 or josephine.lamb@dcppr.co.uk
