Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 02 June 2025

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Luke Rushe, a second-year higher level apprentice foundation degree student at Southern Regional College has been awarded ‘Apprentice of the Year’ at the Insider Made in Northern Ireland Awards held at the Titanic Museum in Belfast last month.  Luke currently studies the Engineering (Technical Design & Manufacture) foundation degree higher level apprenticeship at the College in Newry whilst working with Lisburn based conveyor belting manufacturer Smiley Monroe as a design engineer.

In scooping the award, Luke faced stiff competition from four other finalists but was delighted to receive the title as ‘Apprentice of the Year’.  Speaking on his win, Luke said: “It was amazing to even be nominated for the award.  Sitting there at the awards ceremony, I thought my chances of winning were slim to none, so when I heard my name called out it was a real shock.  I honestly didn’t think I was going to win.”

When selecting the winner for ‘Apprentice of the Year’, judges were on the lookout for the individual who showed the greatest achievement, contribution to their employer’s business and overall potential.  

Luke mainly works in the product development team at Smiley Monroe but also supports the manufacturing engineering team. His role involves designing new products, improving existing products and supporting day-to-day engineering tasks. In awarding Luke with the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ title, the judges were hugely impressed with Luke’s skill levels, as well as his enthusiasm and determination. This was exemplified by him going into the workplace each week showing new sketches and prototypes he made at home. 

This year’s Insider Awards marks the tenth year of the awards and celebrates the most successful and inspiring manufacturing businesses across Northern Ireland.  As the Northern Ireland regional winner, Luke will now progress to the ‘Made In the UK Awards’ national event which takes place on Thursday 19 June in Liverpool.

Caitriona Hamilton, Lecturer in Engineering at Southern Regional College commented:

“Luke winning Apprentice of the Year at the Made in Northern Ireland Awards is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to his hard work, dedication, and talent. It’s wonderful to see his efforts being acknowledged, and we wish him every success as he goes on to represent the region at the Made in the UK finals. We’ve no doubt he’ll do himself, his company, and the College proud.” 

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 27 May 2025

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A decision by the Economy Minister to roll back on a potential increase to tuition fees has been seen as a vindication of the voices of young people by Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty. It comes after universities jointly called for an increase.

Mr McNulty was speaking after the Economy Minister said she would not increase fees, having initially refused to rule it out.

Mr McNulty said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the work of student activists who have left the Economy Minister and Executive with no choice but to abandon plans to increase student fees. Without the pressure exerted by our students and the SDLP Opposition over the past few weeks, it appears the Minister was willing to consider placing the burden of cost on our young people.

“The SDLP wants to see a fair funding settlement for our universities who contribute so much to life here. If they are to continue to deliver high quality education and research then it is essential that the Executive provide certainty through leadership and decision-making that is all too often lacking.

“This climb down demonstrates the value of a constructive Opposition, determined to hold the Executive accountable for their decisions and to provide a voice to groups such as young people who all too often struggle to have theirs heard. Sinn Féin had repeatedly committed not to increase fees for students in the North and by holding their feet to the fire on this, we are relieved they have seen sense on this important issue.”

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 24 May 2025

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Students from Southern Regional College (SRC) took part in The Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI) annual SkillBuild NI Regional Qualifier Competition 2025 competition at South Eastern Regional College (SERC), Downpatrick campus earlier this week.

The competition is designed to test skills, technique, ability within tight timeframes, and identifies the top performers in 11 different trade areas within construction apprenticeship programmes from across Northern Ireland. It is a showcase of the wealth of talent, and professionalism from the brightest recruits throughout the industry. 

Over 100 of the top performers within construction apprenticeship programmes across Northern Ireland, competed against each other, with SRC student apprentices building on previous strong competition performances with 20 students competing.  Competition trade categories were Brickwork, Furniture & Cabinet Making, Carpentry, Electrical Installation, Fire Installation, Security Installation, Joinery, Plastering, Drylining, Plumbing, Wall & Floor Tiling. 

SRC students placing at the competition were: 

Barry Neilson OBE, Chief Executive CITB NI, said:

“A huge congratulations to all the apprentices who took part in the SkillBuild NI Regional Competition 2025. This competition is an opportunity for young people to meet with other like minded people, who are dedicated to being involved in the future direction of the industry. It is also an opportunity to encourage and continue to develop the work force of the future – this is crucial for industry growth and shaping the future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners CITB (GB) and SERC and look forward to the SkillBuild UK National Finals in November.”

Lee Campbell, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College added:

“Congratulations to all the apprentices who took part in the SkillBuild NI Regional qualifier. These competitions are a true test of determination, resilience, and skill, and the results are a credit to both the apprentices and our dedicated lecturers who continue to prepare students for success at regional and national levels. We now look forward with anticipation to the announcement of the UK national finalists in July. Well done to everyone who earned a place in this highly competitive regional event.”

The SkillBuild NI Regional Competition serves as a qualifier for the national finals of SkillBuild UK, SkillPLUMB, and SkillELECTRIC, which will be held in November this year. Students who perform well in the regional heats may have the chance to represent Northern Ireland at the national level. However, they’ll have to wait until July to find out if they’ve made it through. Only the top eight highest-scoring competitors across all regional events will progress, with the final regional qualifiers wrapping up in July.

SkillBuild is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB GB) and showcases some of the brightest talent in construction. Supported by the Department for the Economy and local construction companies, the competition provides an opportunity to showcase the high level of skills and the impressive talent within the workforce, as well as raising the status and standards of professional and technical education and training.

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 11 May 2025

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Three courageous Business Level 3 Advanced Technical Award Extended Diploma students from Southern Regional College entered the Dragon’s Den this week to pitch their business proposition to five judges, both internal and external, representing a cross section of business expertise.

Facing the Dragons on  7 May were students from across the College’s Newry, Armagh and Portadown campuses, who had all previously faced first round competition activity on their respective College campuses.  

The final round, brought together top students from the three campuses, all of whom had advanced through earlier rounds of campus-based competition. Each finalist had just 10 minutes to present their idea, justify their strategy, and convince the judges that their micro-business had real potential. 

Representing the Newry campus was Tiernan Patterson McKnight from Banbridge whose business plan consisted of a home organisation and decluttering service.  From the Portadown campus was Sophie Vernon from Craigavon who planned to set up a yoga and Pilates studio, and from the Armagh campus Clodagh Tennyson from Annaghmore.  Building on the current sustainability movement Clodagh pitched a sustainable fashion business aimed at reviving thrifting and challenging fast fashion culture.

The entrepreneurs were rigorously questioned on every aspect of their business plans to ensure they had fully considered the current business environment.  This included who their competitors were, competitors’ strengths and weaknesses and where the current market niche existed to enable their business to succeed. 

Judges went into minute detail examining and questioning the entrepreneurs on their pricing structures, sales forecasts, cash flow position and anticipated income and expenditure analysis with no detail left to spare.  The entrepreneurs were challenged on how they planned to market their businesses and succeed in an often-crowded competitive online sphere, with questions flowing on marketing businesses to succeed.

In a close contest, Sophie Vernon emerged as the overall winner. Drawing from her experience as a qualified gymnastics coach, she outlined a business model focused on delivering inclusive and enjoyable movement-based classes, including yoga, Pilates, and baby gymnastics. Her detailed presentation, which included identified premises and staffing plans, impressed the panel with its depth and clarity. Tiernan and Clodagh were both commended for their compelling ideas and finished in joint second place.

Commenting on Sophie’s win, Louise Groves, Lecturer at Southern Regional College, said: “Sophie delivered a passionate and inspirational presentation. She was exceptionally well prepared and demonstrated outstanding verbal and non-verbal communication skills. The panel was fully engaged and captivated by her delivery from start to finish.”

All three students undertook the Dragon’s Den competition as part of their Business Level 3 Advanced Technical Award Extended Diploma assessment on pitching a business.  All students are advancing to higher education courses at the College.

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 07 May 2025

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Students from Southern Regional College have demonstrated their exceptional culinary skills, securing top of the leaderboard in the Rotary Generation Chef final.  

The competition which took place on 1 May at Belfast Met, brought together students from Northern Ireland’s six Further Education Colleges, who had previously excelled in local competitions to earn their place at the final.

Southern Regional College's team consisted of Level 2 Professional Chef Traineeship students Callum McElarney from Newry and Leon Ruddy from Bleary and Danielle Grant, a Level 5 Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management Foundation degree student from Carryduff.

The team prepared an epic three course meal that wowed the judges. The starter featured pan seared Kilkeel monkfish and Carlingford mussel fricassee with a seaweed dusted crisp oyster, accompanied by a warm tartare sauce and Mourne sea vegetable.  This was followed by a main course of Hannan’s sugar pit pork loin, together with a pork and truffle honey croquette, turnip fondant, spring cabbage, sweet potato puree and Long Meadow cider jus.  

To conclude this culinary delight, students served a desert of Neary Noggs chocolate delice, with elements of stacked liqueur ice-cream, a milk crumble and sea buckthorn gel.  

Prior to the competition, students were required to design a three-course menu considering locality, seasonality and sustainability, with the front of house student designing a mood board which provided a rationale for the chosen dish and ingredients used.

Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager at Southern Regional College commented: “What a fantastic result for Danielle, Callum, and Leon. Callum and Leon put in an immense amount of effort in planning and executing their award-winning dishes and Danielle excelled in the Front of House service. This result is a testament to their hard work and passion for Culinary Arts and the Hospitality Industry.  This credit also extends to their Culinary Arts and Hospitality Lecturers. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and excited to see what the future holds for these talented individuals.”

The Rotary Clubs of Northern Ireland collaborated with the six Further Education Colleges across Northern Ireland to offer a unique opportunity for aspiring chefs to hone their skills, gain industry exposure, and compete at a national level. The competition embodies Rotary’s mission of fostering community growth, connecting people and supporting young talent.

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 02 May 2025

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Northern Ireland's Further Education (FE) sector continues to lead the way in developing skilled professionals through its apprenticeship programmes. With strong industry partnerships, colleges such as Southern Regional College offer high-quality training that creates a job-ready workforce supporting the region's economic growth.

Apprenticeships NI, funded by the Department for the Economy, provides support at both Level 2 and Level 3. Level 2 programmes offer learners their first step into careers with practical experience while earning, while Level 3 apprenticeships deliver advanced technical skills and leadership training for those seeking specialist roles. These programmes span numerous sectors including engineering, IT, construction, health and social care, hospitality, and digital technologies.

On the World Stage

The quality of training is evidenced by outstanding performances in WorldSkills UK competitions, often described as the "Olympics of skills." At the most recent competition in Manchester (November 2024), Northern Ireland's FE sector secured an impressive 5 gold medals, 3 silver medals, 6 bronze medals and 1 highly commended, with one college placing second on the UK college leaderboard.

Why Choose an FE College Apprenticeship?

FE colleges offer distinct advantages for apprenticeship training:

• Quality Assurance: Colleges operate under strict quality standards with robust support structures for learners
• Industry-Standard Facilities: State-of-the-art workshops and training environments that mirror real workplace settings
• Expert Instruction: Highly qualified staff with both teaching credentials and industry experience
• Clear Progression Pathways: Options to advance to Higher Level Apprenticeships or degree programmes
• Enrichment Opportunities: Access to competitions, networking events and additional qualifications
• Strong Employer Connections: Established partnerships with local, national and multinational employers

Mel Higgins, Chair of the FE Sector Principals Group and WorldSkills UK Trustee said: "Apprenticeship programmes delivered within the FE sector are transforming lives and businesses across Northern Ireland. They empower individuals with meaningful career pathways and provide employers with a skilled, job-ready workforce. The continued success of our apprentices in WorldSkills competitions is a testament to the high standards of teaching and training delivered by our colleges."

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 01 May 2025

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Five exceptional students from Southern Regional College (SRC) have been selected by WorldSkills UK to join Team UK at EuroSkills Herning 2025 in Denmark.  

Caolan McCartan, Newry; Jason McVerry, Belleeks; John Doherty, Portadown; Jonathan Gough, Warringstown and Patrick Sheerin, Portadown will compete against Europe’s top talent in the ultimate test of skill and expertise at this prestigious event  from 9-13 September.

Held every two years, EuroSkillls is Europe’s largest skills competition, bringing together hundreds of young people under the ages of 25 from across 33 countries come together to compete for the coveted title of ‘Best in Europe’ in their respective fields. These students, who were recently named to Team UK, will now face the challenge of proving their talents on an international stage.

Students from Southern Regional College form the largest group of participants from any UK college.

The Students

The five students earned their place on Team UK following their success in national WorldSkills UK competitions. Having already navigated months of rigorous competition and selection processes, they are now in the final stages of an intensive training programme by industry experts to ensure they are fully prepared for the challenges ahead at EuroSkills Herning 2025.

EuroSkills Herning 2025 will serve as an important benchmark for the UK’s readiness to compete globally at the upcoming WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China in September 2026. Following EuroSkills, each student will have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the UK team representing the country at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

Lee Campbell, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College commented: “What an achievement for five of our talented students to be selected to represent Team UK at EuroSkills 2025 in Denmark. This remarkable achievement speaks volumes of their dedication, skill, and the high standard of education we provide at Southern Regional College.”  

“These students embody the spirit of excellence that we strive for, and their hard work and passion will undoubtedly shine on this international stage. We wish them every success as they compete, and we are confident they will continue to make us all proud."

Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK added: “We are so excited to be supporting and nurturing this fantastic group of young professionals as they head for Denmark to compete.”

“They will be tested to the highest standards, showcasing the skills that global employers are looking for, and will return to the UK with the knowledge and experience that will turbo charge their careers.”   

“EuroSkills is ultimately a test of how internationally competitive UK skills are.  It gives us the impetus to raise standards at home and help more young people get high quality jobs.” 

Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications, said: “We are incredibly proud to support this inspiring group of young people as they prepare for the EuroSkills challenge this year.   Celebrating the best of technical and vocational education and raising the prestige of the sector is very important to us.  I wish Team UK the best of luck as they prepare to compete in Denmark in September."

Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for EuroSkills Herning 2025 and WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, following a successful partnership at WorldSkills Lyon in 2024.  

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 20 April 2025

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Ten current and recent students from Southern Regional College have been handpicked to be part of WorldSkills UK squad, joining WorldSkills UK’s 18-month intensive training programme aiming to be selected for the final squad representing the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai, to be held from 22-27 September 2026.

Caolan McCartan and Jason McVerry from Newry and John Doherty who works at Norbrook are just three of the ten.

Southern Regional College (SRC) has produced the highest number of competitors in training among colleges across the UK for this prestigious competition.   The students and apprentices were selected after excelling in the WorldSkills UK National Finals.

Joining the squad are:  

These talented students represent a cross-section of the College’s diverse offerings, with participants from levels ranging from level 3 apprenticeships to degree students. Their selection highlights the depth of skills fostered at the College.  

It is the first time China has hosted the prestigious WorldSkills competition.   The event will see 1,500 young people travel to Shanghai from over 80 counties to compete in technical skill disciplines from engineering, manufacturing and technology through to creative, digital and hospitality in front of an audience of 250,000.  

The WorldSkills competition is considered by global experts as the ultimate test of a nation’s ability to meet future skills needs.   It is attended by government representatives, educationalists and leading employers from across the globe.  

WorldSkills UK uses its participation in the international WorldSkills competition to promote skills excellence across the UK, and by working with education, industry and UK governments it is embedding world class training standards throughout the skills sector.   This is helping to meet the demand for a highly skilled workforce in crucial sectors including engineering, digital, manufacturing and construction.    

The UK will be competing in over 30 skills at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, including 3D Digital Game Art, Robot Systems Integration and Renewable Energy.

Lee Campbell, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College commented: “We are incredibly proud to see ten of our students selected to train with the Team UK squad for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.   Each student has put in an arduous amount of work and demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill to have excelled in their respective category at a national level.   To be selected to be in the running for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is a phenomenal achievement but also a unique opportunity to take their talents to a global stage.”  

“At the College, we are committed to providing students with opportunities for continuous skills development, and I encourage all those selected to embrace this life-changing journey.”

Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to all on being selected for our training programme for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Together with the other members on our programme, SRC students will be developing the right skills to fuel business growth across our economy.  With WorldSkills being hosted in Shanghai next year, it provides a fantastic platform for us to work closely with China, where we know skills excellence is a priority, to collaborate, innovate and learn from the very best in the world.”  

Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications added: “Pearson is proud to sponsor Team UK!   Boosting the profile and prestige of technical and vocational education is incredibly important to us and I wish this talented group of 86 young people from across the country the best of luck as they begin their training programme towards competing in Shanghai."

Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai, following a successful partnership at WorldSkills Lyon in 2024.  

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 19 April 2025

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Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership recently hosted a ‘Get Into Tech’ event in partnership with Bring IT On to promote the various pathways to start a career in Technology. 

Local school and Further Education college pupils were given the opportunity to hear from a high-calibre panel of industry professionals, including Alan McEneaney from PayPal, Tina Calder of Excalibur Press, and Eammon Brankin of Digital IT. The session provided an insightful deep dive into pursuing technology as a viable and rewarding career path.

Speakers offered an overview of the diverse range of roles available in the tech sector, including software development, cyber security, and artificial intelligence. They also highlighted the various pathways into the industry, from academic routes to hands-on experience. A key takeaway was the importance of developing in-demand skills—many of which can be cultivated from an early age through interests and hobbies, such as gaming, coding, and digital creativity.

Local employers were also in attendance and actively engaged with participants about current and future career opportunities, with a particular focus on technology. These included representatives from PayPal, Collins Aerospace, First Derivatives and Re-Gen Waste. In addition, local colleges SERC and SRC were present, alongside the Careers Service, offering further guidance on educational and career pathways in the sector.

Addressing the event on behalf of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne and Councillor Alan Lewis, Chair of the Council’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee, said, “Recognising that technology is the future and the future is now, Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership has provided this fantastic opportunity to help our residents to find out more about the endless possibilities in Technology and how they can be part of it. Attendees were presented with a clear pathway towards starting or developing a fulfilling career in technology, even if they have no prior experience or qualifications in the field."

The Bring IT On programme seeks to address the skills shortage and employability issues within the IT sector in Northern Ireland. Talking about the importance of the event, Bring IT On representative, Diana Atchison said, “Our mission is to ensure that IT businesses have a pipeline of skilled talent fit for industry needs. Events like this are a great way to harness that talent.” 

Funded by the Department for Communities, Labour Market Partnerships create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.