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Southern Regional College sponsored the ‘Best Apprenticeship Employer’ Award at the recent Greater Newry Business Awards.
Of the six businesses shortlisted, the outright winner this year was MJM Marine. MJM Marine were recognised for fostering a nurturing learning environment with a clear focus on building experience for their apprentices, allowing them to stand out from others.
On presenting the award, Brian Doran Chief Executive at Southern Regional College commented “This year’s Business Awards was another brilliant event celebrating the success of so many innovative and thriving businesses in the greater Newry area. I congratulate MJM Marine on winning the award for Best Apprenticeship Employer.
"MJM is a world leading company that has used apprenticeships to further enhance their workforce and I look forward to continuing to work with MJM to promote future apprenticeship opportunities across a wide range of disciplines.
"We are delighted at the success of the apprenticeship programs at SRC which continue to grow year on year and are grateful for the support we receive from all our employers and their commitment to developing local talent.”
Apprenticeships are the way forward as they provide businesses with the skills required to drive the local economy forward. In recent years the College has seen a massive uptake in businesses seeking to recruit Apprentices and Higher Level Apprentices. Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) offer businesses the chance to recruit local talent and train staff to meet the unique technical requirements within their industry.
The College has been instrumental in creating over 770 jobs in the local economy for HLAs and has, in previous years 1,374 students enrolled on a HLA programme, within a diverse range of subject areas including: Science, Cloud Computing, Engineering, Mechatronics, Hospitality, Mechatronics, Accountancy, and Digital Marketing, Advertising and Communications. The success of the HLA programmes has meant the College has expanded its HLA offering to include the new areas of Quantity Surveying, Electrical & Electronic, FinTech, Construction Engineering, Sport & Exercise and Computing for Industry, due to commence this September.
HLA programmes are open to all, aged 18 plus and the programme has seen many adult returners participate on the programme, as they enable students to earn a full-time wage whilst gaining new skills.
With the high talent evident within recent HLA graduates, and many more employers coming on board, next year’s ‘Best Apprenticeship Employer’ Award promises to be a tough competition.
To take on new talent, businesses can register to view the HLA talent pool via: bit.ly
