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‘The Graduate’ training restaurant and kitchen at the Southern Regional College in Newry was officially opened yesterday folowing a £600,000 ‘Graduate’ investment.
The refurbishment will power new careers and business support in food, hospitality and tourism locally and much further afield.
Confirming its reputation for excellence in hospitality and tourism the SRC officially opened the hatch on the new, ultra-modern training restaurant and kitchen with a evening of culinary delight for local business and political figures.
Creatively remodelled and newly-equipped to meet the critical training needs of a new generation of leaders in food preparation, production, safety and customer service, ‘The Graduate’ restaurant and kitchen will be key to underpinning the College’s chief role in delivering local and regional success in its support of the food, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Powering thousands of exciting careers and directly supporting award-winning businesses including Ireland’s largest hospitality group, Beannchor, Tayto NI, Linden Foods, ABP, Mourne Seafood and Yellow Door Deli, Southern Regional College already provides a comprehensive range of industry-related courses and apprenticeships opportunities.
Brian Doran, Chief Executive of Southern Regional College said the new state-of-the-art restaurant and kitchen was part of a wider programme designed to enhance its expertise in the sector and underpin its prowess in hospitality and culinary arts.
“Our hospitality, tourism, agri-food and food production sectors are critically important for the wider economy and for providing exciting job opportunities and career progression. Southern Regional College is steadfastly committed to ensuring that the skills, knowledge and experience are always immediately available to ensure that this can continue.
“With an extensive course and apprenticeship provision and proven excellence in supporting ambition, this important investment reflects our vision to further expand our enviable links and collaboration with businesses who themselves also remain committed to quality, growth and recognition for the hard work that they do.”
Head chefs Barry Smyth and Alex Greene, who both lead Michelin-starred local restaurants were on hand to launch the new restaurant and they along with ex student David Meade received recognition awards for their contribution to the hospitality industry.
Barry Smyth is currently the Managing Partner for the Yellow Door at Hillsborough Castle and also a former lecturer in Culinary Arts and Professional Cookery at Southern Regional College. Alex Greene, who is now Head Chef at Deanes Eipic, also worked at Claridge’s and Petrus in London – two of Gordon Ramsey’s flagship restaurants.
“Professionalism and experience are key and Southern Regional College is proud of what it has achieved and excited about what more will come,” Brian Doran said.
Broadcaster, speaker, ‘mentalist’ and lecturer David Meade, who hosted the event, also began his stellar career at Southern Regional College, where he too was enrolled on a course in hospitality.
SRC Newry Campus is the only Further Education college in Northern Ireland to offer the Foundation Degree in International Culinary Arts, which is the only qualification available to provide a career progression pathway for chef lecturers in Culinary Arts.
Michele Shirlow, the Chief Executive Officer at Food NI, which with a membership of over 450 companies is dedicated to enhancing the reputation of Northern Ireland’s vibrant food and drink industry, welcomed the latest investment.
“The aim to draw more visitors and boost employment opportunities can only be built on the provision of good skills and training – which is why investment in the sector is crucial. I’m delighted that Southern Regional College continues to support our local and regional food and hospitality industry with such commitment and I congratulate all the hardworking staff, students and businesses involved.”
Students and staff at Southern Regional College, which is also the only Further Education college to offer qualifications in Butchery and Food Manufacturing in Northern Ireland, have also been recognised locally, nationally and internationally with a string of awards for its leadership and commitment to a range of food-related sectors.
The College was awarded the Institute of Meat - Training Centre of the Year UK as well as triumphing at the recent WorldSkills UK competitions where they picked up 2 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.
Southern Regional College helps students turn their passion for food and hospitality into long-lasting, exciting careers that enable them to succeed in the work place with the essential skills and knowledge required to succeed in the hospitality and tourism sector.
The curriculum offer is delivered by experienced professionals and in collaboration with the College’s Innovation Specialists in the Business Support Unit which focuses on developing necessary industry skills and professional image sought by employers.
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More than 300 businesses attended a major cross-border conference in the Carrickdale Hotel yesterday. The conference focused on, Brexit – The Future For Border Businesses.
At the conference, Helen McEntee TD, Minister of State for European Affairs dispelled any suggestion of a hard border and committed her government’s support for border businesses stating:
"The Irish Government is not planning for, thinking about or will allow a hard border."
Reflecting on the publication of the UK government’s position on tariffs in a no deal scenario, the Minister said:
"Both the UK and Irish Government have obligations as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, an international binding agreement."
The conference was a cross-border partnership between Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade and Dundalk Chamber of Commerce. Businesses were provided with a range of practical advice and support on issues such as tax, customs, transport and logistics as well as HR issues.
Speaking at the conference, Chief Executive Officer of Newry Chamber, Colm Shannon said:
“The conference demonstrated the cross-border cooperation that exists at a local level between the Chambers in Newry and Dundalk. Irrespective of the outcome of Brexit we are determined to continue to work together to support our businesses and improve the local economy.”
The conference was supported by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Louth County Council, Local Enterprise Office Louth and InterTradeIreland.
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The integrated agri-business ABP, which has a beef and lamb processing site in Newry, is celebrating the recent success of a number of graduates and bursary winners in securing work with the company.
23-year old student, Simon Dowey, from Lurgan, has been accepted onto ABP UK’s Graduate Programme. He will graduate this summer with an MSc. in Food Science & Food Security from Queen’s University and is already working part-time in ABP Newry. 21 year old Mei Lee, who lives in Newry and is originally from Malaysia, is currently working with ABP on her placement year from Queen’s University where she is studying for a BSc. in Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition.
Previous ABP CAFRE Loughry bursary winner Sarah Jane Huston from Kilkeel is starting a job with ABP Newry in June as Technical Supervisor. Whilst last year’s bursary winner, Ryan McConnell, also from Kilkeel, is now on his placement year with the company. Danielle McGee from Kilkeel, is the most recent bursary winner from Loughry’s Food Technology Degree Course. She will start a placement year in ABP Newry in June.
ABP’s Technical Manager Dawn Speers said “ABP has exciting pathways for graduate talent to enter the company and progress. The company offers six food technical graduate jobs per year. The calibre of students from CAFRE and Queen’s University is excellent and we are delighted to be able to support their students with ABP bursaries. This year the company will also be sponsoring a prize for top marks in the final year module in Environmental & Quality Management at CAFRE.”
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The integrated agri-business, ABP, which has a site in Newry, has announced that it has developed an innovative renewable energy sourcing model which will enable the company to power all of its meat processing sites on the island of Ireland, exclusively from wind energy.
The company has entered into an arrangement with Natural Capital Partners to match its electricity consumption of its island of Ireland sites with wind power.
The arrangement includes the eight processing sites located in Newry, Lurgan, Bandon, Cahir, Waterford, Nenagh, Rathkeale and Clones. It also includes the company’s Pet Food production facility in Edgeworthstown and the Proteins sites in Waterford and Cahir.
This development will help ABP achieve its ambitious 2020 carbon reduction goals almost two years ahead of schedule with a cumulative CO2 emission reduction of 350,000 tonnes across ABP’s operations since 2008. The company will now introduce science-based targets to its carbon reduction model setting even more ambitious targets. The new science based reporting will be against a 2016 baseline.
Commenting on the announcement, Dean Holroyd, Group Technical and Sustainability Director, ABP, said: “We are delighted, ahead of schedule, to have achieve our target of becoming a lower carbon business. Not only are we sourcing 100% renewable energy to power our operations in Ireland, but we are significantly driving down our consumption, thereby helping our customers to source meat produced with a lower carbon footprint. We are now in a great position to adopt a science based target reduction model that will closely align ABP’s sustainability agenda with the Paris climate accord.”
Natural Capital Partners’ Chief Product Officer, Oliver Crouch, commented: “We are very pleased that ABP has taken the opportunity to source its power from wind energy, credibly meeting its renewable energy goals while supporting a technology that is driving the transition of the European grid.”
In January, ABP’s Renewables Division, Olleco, beat 40 other innovative organisations from across the globe to become one of just two finalists for a prestigious global environmental award at the World Economic Forum. The company was recognised for its outstanding contribution in helping develop circular economy solutions with respect to food waste in the food service and hospitality sectors.
Furthermore, ABP has previously achieved quadruple accreditation from the Carbon Trust in recognition of the progress it has made in reducing its environmental impact. The Carbon Trust Standard is the world’s leading independent certification of an organisation’s impact on the environment, verifying action on energy use, Co2 emissions, water use and waste output. It recognises continuous excellence and year on year improvements in the area of environmental performance.
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has hosted a ‘Meet the Buyer’ breakfast workshop with the construction industry to encourage more building contractors to tender for Council projects.
The free event allowed those interested in construction opportunities to meet directly with the Council’s Capital Projects Team and gain a detailed insight into the procurement process.
Those attending the workshop in King’s Inn, Castlewellan on Wednesday 20 March received a presentation on the Council’s obligations in terms of procurement policy as well as guidance on tendering for Council construction projects.
The topics covered included guidance on how submissions are assessed in relation to quality and cost, the judging of relevant experience, and common mistakes made in submissions. Details of upcoming construction opportunities with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council were also provided. An open floor discussion followed, with the construction industry also providing valuable feedback on the tendering process to the Council.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin said, “The aim of ‘Meet the Buyer’ was to encourage better engagement with building contractors.
“The event is part of our strategy to deliver the Council’s Capital Programme over the coming years. It allows the officers in the Council to engage directly with the construction sector and, in particular, with small to medium sized enterprises.
“The high turnout and engagement at today's event was very encouraging and the discussions also particularly constructive. Hopefully these discussions will benefit all in attendance.
As a result we hope that with a greater understanding of the procurement process, more contractors will be encouraged to compete for upcoming projects.
“Ultimately, our aim is to continue to deliver high quality projects within the district and provide value for money to the ratepayer, and we cannot achieve this without such input from the private construction sector.”
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Over Fifty social entrepreneurs from across Newry, Mourne and Down district gathered at Finegan & Son in Newry to celebrate the success of social enterprise in the district. They were all participants on the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council funded, Social Enterprise Newry, Mourne Down programme. As part of the evening a Social Entrepreneur of the year award was presented to Rosemary McGuigan Deans from Centred Soul.
The social entrepreneurs heard Council Chairperson Mark Murnin congratulate them on how Social Enterprises makes an important and unique contribution to the local economy of the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area.
How they have created jobs for people who would otherwise be left out; provided vital services for people who might not get them otherwise, they were reinvesting their surpluses back into community projects and protecting the environment.
There are well over 100 organisations in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area involved at some level in social enterprise activity.
The programme of start up support was delivered by Newry & Mourne Co-Operative & Enterprise Agency in partnership with Down Business Centre. Dr Conor Patterson, Chief Executive praised the staff of both agencies for successful delivery of the programme and the tremendous social and economic impact it had. Dr Patterson reserved his warmest comments for the social entrepreneurs and the volunteers from their organisations who were making a real and sustainable impact improving the lives many people in the district.
The programme delivered over 1000 hrs of mentoring to individuals mentored from over 50 organisations. 11 new social enterprise companies were set up this year creating 15 new jobs and 60 new volunteers. The programme also levered in an additional £721,000 of financial support to new social enterprises. But most importantly over 1,500 are receiving a service where no service previously existed.
Some examples of the work of the social enterprises:
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The Secretary of State for NI earlier this week signed the Heads of Terms for the Belfast City Deal, alongside the Belfast City Region Deal partners and the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
Speaking about the move Cllr Mark Murnin, Chairperson, Newry, Mourne and Down Council said "Locally it means that we can finalise details for our project proposals for the development of the Southern Relief Road, Regeneration of Newry City and the development of our Newcastle Gateway to the Mournes project. These projects, combined with the wider City Deal investment initiatives, will create jobs and bring economic investment and tourism into our district making it a better place to live and work for all our residents."
The Belfast Region City Deal will see the UK Government invest £350 million into the Belfast Region over the next 15 years.
It is proposed that this figure will be matched by the Northern Ireland Executive once the devolved institutions are restored.
The City Deal will be further bolstered by co-investment of upwards of £150m from Belfast Region City Deal partners and investment by the private sector is anticipated to bring the total investment package to over £1 billion.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP said, “I am absolutely delighted to sign the heads of terms for the Belfast City Deal today.
The UK Government has committed £350 million of funding to support and encourage economic development across the region, creating jobs and boosting prosperity.
I am also engaging closely with the Chancellor to secure a financial announcement for the Derry-Londonderry Region City Deal and help unlock the huge potential that Derry-Londonderry has to offer.
The UK Government is committed to developing a comprehensive and ambitious set of City Deals across Northern Ireland and delivering a stronger economy that works for everyone.”
Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, said, “This is tremendous news for the communities and businesses living and operating in the Belfast City region.
“This transformative deal will bolster innovation, productivity and prosperity across the region, and I am delighted to see the hard work which has gone into this deal come to fruition.”
The ambitious programme will help grow the region’s business strengths in life and health sciences; ICT, digital and creative industries, and advanced manufacturing. It will also support digital development and tourism-led regeneration across the entire region, underpinned by infrastructure developments and investment in skills to connect people to jobs and services.
For more information on the proposed programme of investment, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk
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ABP, which has processing facilities in Newry and Lurgan has been awarded the Agri-Food Supply Chain Excellence Award for its Blade Farming programme at the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association’s annual Awards event. The award was sponsored and judged by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEARA) to recogniseimprovements in supply chain linkages that deliver clear benefit to producers and innovative initiatives that show co-operation within the supply chain.
Congratulating ABP, Michael Bell, Executive Director, NIFDA said: “When it comes to innovation, quality and commercial success, Northern Ireland’s food and drink industry is truly world leading. These awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the sector’s achievements and to showcase those companies whose products are putting Northern Ireland on the map as a centre of food and drink excellence.”
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A new Scholarship Scheme has been launched to attract more apprentices into the Northern Ireland carbody repair industry, following a link up between a leading accident management firm and training provider.
The CRASH Services “Bodyshop Apprentice Scholarship” in partnership with Riverpark Training and Development, which will see two awards each year for an initial three year period. The Scholarship is worth £10,000 to each apprentice during their three year training.
Jonathan McKeown, CEO of CRASH Services, said “It is vitally important that new apprentices are encouraged to come into the car bodyshop industry. This is a highly skilled trade and we want to ensure there is vibrant repair sector.
We are very impressed with the passion and commitment of Colin Hagan and his team at Riverpark, to develop the next generation of talent for the trade. We would encourage anyone with a keen interest in cars to consider this scholarship.
Colin Hagan, Managing Director at Riverpark Training; “We are the leading provider in Northern Ireland that trains predominately for the Automotive Industry. We have a long history of working closely with industry partners to ensure apprentices are developed to a high standard. Indeed, our trainees regularly achieve International Awards for their skills.
We very much welcome the Scholarship scheme that CRASH have launched and it will be good incentive to those apprentices who are selected”.
CRASH Services is Northern Ireland’s Leading Accident Management company. They work with over 12o bodyshops to assist their clients involved in collisions. They offer a one stop shop service including collision investigation, replacement vehicles, legal and medical assistance.
For information on car body apprentices and details of how to apply for a scholarship, please contact 028 90 342400 or visit riverparktraining.com. Applications are now being invited and should be submitted by 30th June 2019.
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