EIGHT engineering companies have come together in a collaboration to offer welding jobs to a total of 48 apprentices who come through four Assured Skills welding academies at the North West Regional College.
The first two academies will see 24 successful applicants receive industry-standard welding training during a five-week course at the college’s Limavady and Springtown campuses, followed by two-weeks of consolidation training at one of the eight firms participating in the initiative.
Participants who complete the Academy are guaranteed an interview for a welding position at one of the eight companies - Terex, OBG, AE Global, Crosslands, EMES, Fleming Agri-Products, GE-Spares or SGS.
Each successful applicant will receive £155 a week training allowance, travel expenses and, where eligible, assistance with childcare costs.
The academies will be delivered over seven weeks at Limavady (October 4 to November 19) and Springtown (November 8 to December 24).
Applications must be made online (details at www.nidirect.gov.uk/assured-skills) by noon on Friday August 27.
Economy Minister Gordon Lyons said: “Welding skills are in high demand in our local engineering and manufacturing sector and these academies will help equip participants with these skills, through an industry-recognised qualification, and position them very strongly to kick-start a new career in welding.
“This collaborative approach will enable as many participants as possible to gain valuable skills and on successful completion receive a Level 2 City & Guilds welding qualification, thus giving them a great opportunity to pursue a rewarding career in the engineering sector.”
Sinead Hawkins, business skills manager at NWRC, 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 economy by feeding into local business anchors.”
