Skills centre will boost economic recovery, says Empey

Brian Donaldson • Published 3 Dec 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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Facilities such as the South West College's new Technology and Skills Centre will play and increasingly important role in the recovery of the Northern Ireland economy through giving skills to young work and those already out of work, according to the Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey.

The Minister was speaking at the official opening of the Centre at Killyhevlin, Enniskillen which has been constructed at a cost of £9 million and which opened in September for a new range of vocational courses.

At the event, the Minister said: "I am determined our economy will not be hampered by a shortage of skilled people in the future. Collaboration, where employers, government and the colleges are all at the table, is the key to success in recovery from a recession. This new building establishes a modern skills training facility for everyone in Fermanagh and is a landmark for the South West College and everyone who will use it in years to come."

He said he did not want to see the difficult economy hampered by unskilled workers. He noted how the local Jobs and Benefits Office has seen a 114 per cent rise in the numbers of people out of work over the past year. It was that these reasons that courses such as programme led apprentice schemes were re-introduced at the Technology and Skills Centre here and at equivalent centres throughout the Province and they have attracted almost 3,000 people.

"Are they not better in these facilities than left with no opportunities?" he asked, confirming that they had made the right choice.

He said those in further education had to be ready for the upturn in the economy and to prepare people for it.

Earlier, Mr. Joe Martin, Chairman of the Board of Governors at South West College said; "This opening marks a most important milestone in the development of Further Education in Fermanagh. The provision of this new centre has been the first major capital priority of the new South West College. I am grateful to the Department of Employment and Learning for their swift and generous response to the College's representations on behalf of the community in this area. I am confident that this Centre will open up a wide range of vocational opportunities for young people and that it will make a major contribution to the local economy. It is a clear indication of the commitment of the South West College to provide the very best facilities for the people of Fermanagh".

The College has a strong tradition of working with local employers, the unemployed, local Jobs and Benefits offices, organisations such as Invest NI, SERP, FEDO and the District Councils including Fermanagh District council to continually strive to meet the training needs of the local community.

The Director of South West College, Mr. Malachy McAleer, praised all those involved in the construction of the new Centre which included the contractors, Tracey Brothers from Enniskillen.

"This facility will provide a high quality learning environment for the people of Fermanagh and its surrounding counties. The new building demonstrates South West College's commitment to the local community. It will provide specialist training in modern facilities with hi-spec industry standard equipment," he stated.

He said the Technology and Skills Centre will play a major role in providing training to supply highly qualified employees for many of the ongoing new developments in Fermanagh such as the Waterways Ireland Headquarters, the new hospital, the vibrant Tourism and Hospitality sector, and the strong retail offering provided by Fermanagh's unique mix of indigenous and multi national retailers.

He noted the contribution which South West College made to the local region, saying that 5,400 trainees were enrolled on a wide range of courses. These included school pupils on a day release scheme, hundreds of unemployed people wanting to get new skills, apprentices, and by the end of this year, 128 FAS apprentices contracted from Sligo Institute of Technology.

Mr. McAleer also announced that Skillbuild Northern Ireland will be held at Enniskillen's Technology and Skills Centre in May 2010 which would be a major boost for the Fermanagh economy requiring a considerable number of bed nights in terms of accommodation.

He praised the quality of students on courses exemplified by Trevor Woods' bronze medal at the World Skills competition in Canada in the joinery section.

Among the specialist courses offered by South West College include the vocational areas of construction, engineering, motor vehicle, electricial and plumbing and has a provincewide contract for training apprentices in road builiding, highways maintenance and blasting. The College also holds the training contract for agricultural machinery for areas west of the Bann and for motor vehicle Level 3 for Tyrone, Fermanagh and Londonderry. Another specialist programme on offer is an apprenticeship in financial services as the College is working in partnership with a large Enniskillen company.

Mr. Bertie Kerr, Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, speaking at the opening, welcomed this latest facility which he said was a major boost to Fermanagh.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Tom Elliott, has welcomed the official opening of South West College's new Technology and Skills Centre and said it was important to have a facility of this nature training local people to a point where they can contribute to the skill base.

"As we look forward to the development of a new hospital, and the opportunities afforded by a booming cross-border trade, I would anticipate that the centre will be very much in demand," he said.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 03 Dec 09

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