Learner achievements celebrated by sector

The first students of an Essential Skills initiative in the building services engineering (BSE) sector were celebrated last week at a glittering event held at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. The event was attended by employment and learning minister, Sir Reg Empey and brought together some of Northern Ireland's leading employers in the sector, as well as representatives from employer federations, trade associations and training providers.

Essential Skills, funded by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), is run as a partnership between SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the BSE sector, Unite the Union and the Electrical Training Trust. A fully funded and customised workplace learning programme, Essential Skills allows students to achieve a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification in ICT. Those embarking on the course are able to make an important step in their career in the sector, which comprises the electrotechnical, heating and ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing industries.

Speaking at the event, Sir Reg Empey said: "In the current economic climate the focus on training can be low on some employers' agendas. However the celebration event here tonight reiterates the importance and benefits of upskilling our workforce to maximise performance and productivity as well as increasing job satisfaction and progression for the individual learner. The future success of our economy depends on our ability to develop new or improve existing skills. Engaging in programmes such as Essential Skills will ensure that we, as a progressive economy, are prepared for the upturn. I congratulate the learners for their achievements and am delighted by the turn out of so many interested employers."

The Essential Skills classes are run as functional workplace-based qualifications in numeracy, literacy and ICT, with the purpose of upskilling learners to contribute to their employers' business outputs and performance. The scheme has already shown benefits through its focus on areas such as performance and quality of work, increased compliance with regulations, enhanced staff development and morale within the workplace during the current economic downturn. With a flexible approach to the individual's learning structure, the scheme ensures minimum disruption to the employer's day-to-day operations.

Keith Marshall OBE, Chief Executive of SummitSkills, said: "The Essential Skills initiative is designed to help employees learn core skills that will ultimately help their career development and allow them to contribute to their employers' performance. We congratulate this first wave of learners today."

Now in its second year, the scheme is expanding across Northern Ireland to offer the courses to all employers and companies within the BSE sector. Companies currently enjoying the success of their graduates include KNI, Fire NI, Wrightbus, Dowds Electrical and Glenavy Electrics among others.

Pictured are learners from Wrightbus, one of the employers based in Ballymena, pictured with employment and learning minister, Sir Reg Empey, centre.