Skills Academy to Provide Skilled Welders for Local Engineering Firms

A seven week pre-employment Welding Academy, supported by the Department for the Economy’s Assured Skills programme has commenced at the South West College (SWC), Dungannon Campus.

Twelve trainees will spend five weeks at the College undertaking a range of industry specific practical and theoretical skills training including a City and Guilds Level 2 Welding qualification.

Trainees will then spend the final two weeks of the programme at one of four local manufacturing companies involved in the Academy – Mallaghan Engineering, Terex GB, Nugent Engineering and Strickland Ireland.

County Tyrone has a strong tradition of excellence in engineering and the Academy has been established in response to the shortage of local skilled welders. Upon successful completion of the Academy training and work placement, trainees will be interviewed for a position with one of the companies.

Welcoming the trainees to SWC, Ciaran McManus, Head of Industry and Training at the college said:

“South West College is committed to working in partnership with local employers to help them attract, develop and nurture new talent. This new pre-employment Skills Academy is an example of this commitment and is a great opportunity for local people to gain new skills and a potential offer of employment.”

Ann Williamson, Head of Employer Skills at the Department for the Economy said:

“The Engineering sector is hugely important to the local economy. This Academy will help improve the skills of our workforce, provide employment opportunities in the local community while at the same time ensuring that companies have access to the talent they need.”