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Chandler’s House in Rathfriland has become an incredible venue for artists and on 22 Marc the venue is hosting a concert of young emerging talent as a fundraiser to help students from the SRC Music Department in Armagh travel to Berlin in April.
Twelve young students from the SRC Music Department in Armagh will travel to Berlin in April to perform, visit world-renowned venues such as Berlin Philharmonie and Funkhaus, and experience being an artist on the international music scene.
They have been fundraising since October to help meet their goal of £4000 to help cover essential travel costs. They have been putting on local concerts and gathering sponsorships to help reach their goal of £4000, which they have nearly gathered.
On Saturday, 22 March, two bands travelling to Berlin will perform in Chandler’s House, Rathfriland, from 8pm to 10pm to help them reach their goal. Get ready for an evening of upcoming talent with something for all tastes to enjoy. You can purchase tickets on Eventbrite or pay £10 at the door.
Molly & The Magic are a three-piece pop-funk band originating from Armagh. They have developed their original groove using recording techniques similar to those from the 60s while still capturing a fresh sound. Molly Bermudez is an Irish singer/songwriter who has been singing from an early age.
SARAN Band + Special Guest Laura Woods are also performing at Chandlers. SARAN is an emerging singer/songwriter from Co. Armagh. He has played sold-out shows at prestigious venues like The Market Place Theatre, Black Box Belfast, and Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen. He has performed widely across Ireland and in Lopera, Spain. They will perform a mixture of originals and covers inspired by American Folk, Blues, and Country sounds.
Laura is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter from Co. Down. From an early age, she has performed in competitions, showcases, and, most recently, original music at the SRC Showcase at the Market Place Theatre. Laura’s music is inspired by country, folk, indie-rock, and pop.
Get your tickets at www.eventbrite.co.uk
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Southern Regional College’s March Open Days have attracted many young people and adult returners eager to explore new opportunities. Over the first two weeks of March, the College opened its doors to welcome attendees, offering them the chance to hear directly from current students and lecturers about how an apprenticeship, further education, or higher education course at Southern Regional College can boost their job prospects. Tonight is the last Open Day event at Lurgan SRC campus from 5pm to 7pm.
Over 600 attendees visited the Newry East and West campuses on Wednesday, 5 March, to explore their options. Attendees enjoyed a variety of activities, including sampling culinary creations prepared by professional cookery students, viewing beauty therapy and upstyling demonstrations, observing science practicals and fingerprint analysis, participating in robotics and programming demonstrations, and experiencing a virtual welding machine. These activities provided a glimpse into life at the College. Additionally, attendees had the chance to spin the wheel to win free goodies, such as water bottles, t-shirts, and hoodies.
With fully funded further education, apprenticeships, and higher-level apprenticeship courses, the College has seen a surge in interest from potential students. Among the attendees were Alannah Murchan and Molly O'Gorman. Alannah hopes to pursue a childcare qualification, while Molly was seeking a qualification in beauty therapy.
Raymond Sloan, Director of Client Services commented: “With young people and adult returners on the verge of making crucial career decisions, we were thrilled to welcome attendees and their families to our Newry campuses to explore their options”
“SRC Open Days showcase the passion, dedication, and diverse opportunities that we offer, and it was wonderful to see so many prospective students and their families engaging with our staff and learning about the unique pathways we provide. This Open Day at Newry truly highlighted the strength of our community and the commitment the College has to empowering the next generation of learners”.
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A pupil from St Paul's High School, Bessbrook has won the NI finals of the annual Springboard FutureChef competition and will now travel to London next month to represent Northern Ireland at the UK wide finals.
Lubo Mulkerns returned to the competition for a second year and took on competition from six other finalists from schools across the north, including Sofia Pajer from Dalriada School in Ballymoney; Wiktoria Skowronski from St. Aidan’s, Derrylin; Isabella McAuley from Our Lady & St. Patrick’s, Knock; Chloe Leacock from Rainey Endowed, Magherafelt; Aoise Taggert from St. Ciaran’s College, Ballygawley; and Cicilly Dixon from Wallace High School, Lisburn.
The winning menu designed by Lubo to impress the judging panel made up of local chefs, highlighted local produce and impressed with simple flavour packed dishes. For his main course, Lubo prepared baked supreme of free-range chicken, variety of beetroot, steamed leek, pommes maxim, herb salad and white wine cream. For dessert, Lubo created a sweet sensation with deep fried breaded poached apple, almond brittle, salted caramel sauce and Chantilly cream.
The judging panel featured Business Development Chef, Geoff Baird from Henderson Foodservice, sponsors of the competition. Speaking of this year’s competition Geoff said; “We say it every year, but the competition just continues to get bigger and better, and we were all thrilled to see Lubo return and put everything he had learned from last year into his dishes for this year’s competition.
“The level of skill and creativity the students bring to the competition is so impressive, and they are dedicated to learning more and soaking up as much as they can from their professional mentors who put so much time and effort into helping their students learn more about provenance, presentation, taste and of course, minimising waste throughout the process.”
Lubo was mentored by Darragh Dooley, Executive Chef at Killeavy Castle Estate in Newry and he will fly to London to take part in the UK-wide Springboard FutureChef finals on 24 March, competing against the other regional finalists from Wales, Scotland and England.
FutureChef is the annual initiative from Springboard, the charity that is committed to nurturing young talent and promoting the hospitality industry as a great place to work. It is the flagship competition of Springboard’s wider UK educational programme, and is also supported by the Savoy Educational Trust.
Caitriona Lennox, Head of Springboard in Northern Ireland also commented; “Out of 1,100 students from 37 schools across Northern Ireland, we found seven incredible finalists whose passion for local food, cooking and hospitality has only grown throughout this competition.
“Lubo is a worthy winner who has shown confidence in returning to the competition after making it through to the finals last year, and just missing out on being crowned the NI winner. We are all thrilled he returned with even more confidence and knowledge and impressed our judges with his skills and passion. Our students are aged between 13 – 15 years old and continue to display such creativity and composure while under pressure, producing a main course and a dessert for two people within 90 minutes. The endless support from their teachers, parents and guardians and their chef mentors mean they get the best possible start to what we hope will develop into fantastic hospitality careers, nurtured by their schools as our engagement between education and industry continues to thrive."
Catriona thanked sponsors Henderson Foodservice as well as Chef Geoff Baird for his support.
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The annual SkillBuild competition at Southern Regional College took place at the end of January with apprentices and traineeship students from various trades and disciplines showcasing their skills.
Contestants from across the College’s campuses competed against peers at the College’s Greenbank and Portadown campuses, to be in with the chance of making it to the Northern Ireland regional finals, where they will compete against students from Northern Ireland’s five other Further Education Colleges and specialist training centres. Students placing at the intercampus competition received medals, Amazon vouchers and certificates for their accomplishments.
Categories participating in the SkillBuild competition included brickwork, cabinet making, carpentry, joinery, wall & floor tiling, painting & decorating, plastering, plumbing pipework, electrical installation and light motor vehicles, automotive paint refinishing and automotive body repair.
The regional competition is set to take place on Tuesday 20 May at SERC’s Downpatrick campus. Students participating in the automotive paint refinishing and body repair categories will compete in a separate regional final at the start of February.
Success at the inter-campus competition is the first step towards competing on the WorldSkills stage. Successful competitors at SkillBuild will be benchmarked against competitors from Northern Ireland’s other Colleges by the Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI). The results will determine who will represent the region at this years’ SkillBuild UK and SkillElectric UK finals to be held in Wales this November, once results from the other UK regional competitions have concluded.
Local students successful in the SkillBuild competition hoping to progress include:
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Competition Area |
Student Name |
Course |
Campus |
Hometown |
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1st place |
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Brickwork |
Sean Crawford |
Level 3 Bricklaying (Construction) Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Newry |
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Electrical Installation |
Josh Porter |
Level 3 Electrotechnical (Electrical Installation) Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Newry |
|
Furniture & Cabinet Making |
Aaron Werk |
Level 2 Carpentry & Joinery Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Kilkeel |
|
Plastering |
Thomas Maguire |
Level 2 Brickwork (Wet Trades) Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Newry |
|
Plumbing Pipework |
Jordan Nummy |
Level 3 Domestic Plumbing & Heating Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Newry |
|
Welding |
Robert Johnston |
Level 2 Engineering (Fabrication & Welding) Apprenticeship |
Armagh |
Newtownhamilton |
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2nd place |
|
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Automotive Refinishing |
Amy Wilson |
Level 2 Automotive Paint & Refinishing Apprenticeship |
Portadown |
Hamiltonsbawn |
|
Carpentry |
Oliver Magee |
Level 2 Carpentry & Joinery Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Newry |
|
Furniture & Cabinet Making |
Zac Shepcar |
Level 2 Carpentry & Joinery Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Kilkeel |
|
Plastering |
Matthew McCready |
Level 2 Brickwork (Wet Trades) Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Kilcoo, Newry |
|
Plumbing Pipework |
Matthew Cartmill |
Level 3 Domestic Plumbing & Heating Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Bessbrook |
|
Wall & Floor Tiling |
Josh Doran |
Level 2 Wall & Floor Tiling Traineeship |
Greenbank |
Rostrevor |
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3rd place |
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|
Brickwork |
Aidan Rock |
Level 2 Brickwork (Wet Trades) Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Newtownhamilton |
|
Furniture & Cabinet Making |
Odhran Campbell |
Level 2 Carpentry & Joinery Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Newry |
|
Plastering |
Aidan McCabe |
Level 2 Brickwork (Wet Trades) Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Newry |
|
Plumbing Pipework |
Cathal Meehan |
Level 2 Domestic Plumbing & Heating Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Poyntzpass, Newry |
Rachel Dorovatas, Director of Industry Training & Support at CITB NI, who attended the SkillBuild competition commented: "We are consistently impressed by the high level of skills displayed by the apprentices and trainees participating in the Inter Campus College Competitions across the college and training network.”
Gareth Mone, Curriculum Area Manager at Southern Regional College added: "The 2025 Inter-campus SkillBuild competition saw over 70 participants showcasing their talents in construction skills and motor vehicle repair skills, which included automotive body and paint skills. We were pleased to host visitors from CITB NI and judges at our Greenbank campus, where they observed the construction trades. Meanwhile, separate competitions for the automotive paint, refinishing, and bodywork were held at the College's dedicated spray booth at the Portadown campus.
“Once again, students have demonstrated exceptional workmanship, impressing both judges and faculty lecturing staff. We are hopeful that many of our students will advance to the regional and national finals later this year."
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The Southern Regional College’s Big Apprenticeship Event last week at the College’s Newry West Campus saw almost 1000 people attending the showcase event locally for prospective apprentices.
Apprenticeships and higher level apprenticeships offer potential students the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification, while gaining relevant experience with an employer. There’s currently a huge range of qualifications available which includes foundation degree and top-up degree programmes. Degree programmes are externally validated by leading universities.
Current Southern Regional College apprenticeship students spoke at the event, as part of the ambassador programme.
Apprenticeships are open to applicants of all ages, from school leavers to adult returners and those seeking a career change. There are no tuition fees associated with pursing an apprenticeship or higher level apprenticeship due to funding provided by DfE. While undertaking an apprenticeship or higher level apprenticeship, students earn a wage, so therefore there remains no financial burden or student loans to consider while undertaking one of these programmes.
Many local school pupils were in attendance. Year 14 St. Mary’s High School, Newry students Sarah McGinn and Katie Havern were there investigating career and course options post A-levels. Sarah is keen on pursing a foundation degree higher level apprenticeship in business and Katie was torn between foundation degree higher level apprenticeships in sport and accounting.
Attendees at the event heard about upcoming apprenticeship and higher-level apprenticeship opportunities starting September 2025 with over 40 employers and support organisations in attendance at the event.
Local Newry accountancy practice Mooney Matthews, with offices also in Armagh and Belfast attended the event, hoping to recruit an accounting technician higher level apprentice to their drive business forward. Speaking on value of higher level apprenticeship routes, Lisa Garvey from Mooney Matthews commented: "At Mooney Matthews we have been hiring apprentices for the last 7 years. We believe they are invaluable members of our team and vital in helping our firm to grow."
Dylan Mooney, Recruitment Consultant at Randox commented: "We are actively recruiting apprentices in several main areas including life sciences, accounting, engineering and mechatronics. We are offering apprentices the opportunity to gain professional hands-on experience at a global company that makes a difference."
Jodie Crooks, a current life science foundation degree higher level apprentice at the College and employed with Randox Laboratories added: "From the perspective of an apprentice it's really beneficial to gain corporate experience before entering the workforce full-time. I am gaining valuable experience that will set me apart from peers and gaining in-depth knowledge at the same time."
DfE’s theme for this year’s apprenticeship week was “Getting it Right for You” highlighting the many varied and flexible opportunities that exist with an apprenticeship. Southern Regional College offer 12 distinct level 2 apprenticeship opportunities and 13 level 3 apprenticeship opportunities across the College’s 5 campuses. Popular sectors include business, children’s care, construction, engineering, hairdressing & barbering, hospitality & food manufacturing to motor vehicles.
For apprentice’s seeking to pursue degree level foundation and top-up degree qualifications, higher level apprenticeships are available in 20 areas including accounting, business, finance and marketing, computing, construction, engineering, bioscience, analytical science, sports & exercise and tourism, hospitality & events management.
Lee Campbell, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College commented: “It has been incredible to witness the increased interest and enthusiasm for all things apprenticeships. The College has continuously developed the range of apprenticeship opportunities available, catering for the diverse interests and career pathways of people within the southern region.
Apprenticeship and higher level apprenticeships offer participants the distinct opportunity to train for a career in a chosen field, whilst being in employment. Our aspiration is to enable as many people as possible to start a career they enjoy and are passionate about. We look forward to September when we will be welcoming new apprentices starting their journey with Southern Regional College.”
Councillor Pete Byrne, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council further commented: “SRC’s Big Apprenticeship Event was truly inspiring! It was wonderful to witness the enthusiasm and engagement from both prospective participants and local employers in our District. Events like these not only provide valuable opportunities for apprentices to engage with potential employers, but also enable our businesses to innovate and grow with new talent and skills. The partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership highlights the collaborative effort towards fostering meaningful career pathways and job creation in the District. It's great to see such initiatives shaping the future for both individuals and businesses alike!”
The event was held in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership and took place during the Department for the Economy’s (DfE) Apprenticeship Week 3 – 7 February 2025.
A full list of apprenticeship opportunities is available at www.src.ac.uk
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Southern Regional College held their annual Schools Partnership Programme intercampus competition series across their campuses at the end of January. One hundred and thirty-eight secondary school students from across County Down and Armagh participated in a range of vocational skills competitions.
Schools in attendance included Markethill High School, City of Armagh High School, Brownlow College, Craigavon Senior High, Lismore College, St Ronans, Newry High School, Newtownhamilton High School, St Joseph’s Boys School, St Louis Grammar School, St. Marks High School, St. Pauls High School, St. Joseph’s High Crossmaglen, Newbridge Integrated College, Rathfriland High School, St. Patricks College, Banbridge High School and Dromore High School.
Students competed in a vast range of disciplines which included brickwork, joinery, tiling, fabrication, hairdressing and up-styles, blow-drys, childcare, plumbing, motor vehicle, plastering, catering, beauty, manicure nail art and graphic design.
The Schools Partnership Programme enables participating secondary school students undertaking GCSEs the opportunity to experience a wide range of vocational and academic areas and gain accredited qualifications through access to a broad and balanced curriculum at Southern Regional College. Not unusually, young people learn best by experiencing practical scenarios. The programme and the intercampus competition make the learning process more engaging, by linking theoretical knowledge with practical application.
Speaking on the competition Majella Kelly, Schools Partnership Programme Manager at Southern Regional College said: “The College was delighted to host the much-anticipated Schools Partnership Programme intercampus SkillBuild competition. This year we had 18 schools enter students in 13 disciplines covering a broad spectrum. The competition provides secondary school students the opportunity to develop personal, professional, and academic growth during a crucial developmental stage.
"It is encouraging to see students honing their skills through real-world experiences, building confidence and self-esteem, and exploring various career paths to make informed decisions on available career pathways. The competition not only serves to boost young peoples’ sense of accomplishment but also adds significant value to their CVs. Congratulations to all students who participated within the competition. We look forward to hearing of your future successes.”
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A major careers fair hosted by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has successfully connected over 1500 local students with potential employers and educational institutions. The event, held at Newry Leisure Centre on 21 January brought together students from 12 post-primary schools across Newry, Crossmaglen, Kilkee and Newtownhamilton.
More than 50 exhibitors participated in the fair including First Derivative, Viltra, Norbook, Wood Innovations, Collins Aerospace, NIE, NIHE, NI Bodyshop Alliance, Re-Gen, BT and CAFRE. Queen's University and Ulster University also provided information about higher education pathways.
The event was organised through the Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership (NMD LMP), with funding from the Department for Communities. This year the fair collaborated with the Newry and Mourne Area Learning Community for the first time.
Speaking at the event, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne said, "It is fantastic to see so many young people in attendance as the Careers Fair eager to find out more about the variety of opportunities available to them as they progress through their school years and plan for their next steps.
"Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership was delighted to host this Careers Fair in partnership with the Newry and Mourne Area Learning Community which is a new initiative this year and certainly proved to be very worthwhile given the feedback I received from pupils, teachers, principals and exhibitors alike".
Mr Cormac McKinney, Principal of St Colman's College and Chair of the Newry and Mourne Area Learning Community, said, "The Newry and Mourne Area Learning Community (ALC) was delighted to join with the Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership in the very successful Careers Fair.
"The event allowed Year 12 students to engage with representatives from a wide range of further and higher level colleges and universities, employers and training groups. The students found the event to be very informative, which provided many with food for thought at this very important stage of their educational journey. Teachers and members of staff alongside students from schools in the ALC, took the opportunity to hear about the wide range of opportunities which are available locally in terms of training and employment, and the wide range of apprenticeships and third level courses which are available through the regional colleges and universities."
Students received one-on-one guidance from the Careers Service and local support agencies, covering essential skills such as CV writing and interview preparation. Representatives from regional further education colleges SERC and SRC were also present to discuss training opportunities, while the 'Go Succeed' team provided guidance on self-employment options.
The overwhelming positive feedback from all participants has established this collaborative initiative between the Area Learning Community and NMD LMP as a valuable addition to the region's educational calendar.
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A Dundalk Institute of Technology-led project involving the Southern Regional College and other higher education faculties has been awarded almost €10 million in PEACEPLUS funding to transform education and industry in the area.
The project will be run by Southeast Higher Education/Further Education/Industry Cross-Border Alliance (SECBA), a collaboration between Higher Education, Further Education and Industry.It will directly address regional skills challenges through a strategic cross-border skills partnership with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), Southern Regional College (SRC), Monaghan Institute, Cavan Institute as well as industry in the area.
Dr Diarmuid O’Callaghan, President, DkIT, said: “We are delighted to receive this PEACEPLUS funding in collaboration with our valued partners Southern Regional College, Monaghan Institute and Cavan Institute. This initiative will be invaluable in addressing skills challenges in the region. The programmes which will be specifically developed for skills advancement and employment security in the region and cluster areas will provide the regional workforce with skills to address the immediate needs of businesses and mitigate employment risks due to technological advancements. I look forward to seeing the significant impact that SECBA will have in the Eastern border region between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.”
Approximately €9.74 million in PEACEPLUS funding has been awarded and the collaboration, which will commence this year is designed to transform the region, strategically bridging the gap between educational outputs and industry's evolving needs. The project will directly address regional skills challenges through a strategic cross-border skills partnerships with three DkIT Schools- Informatics and Creative Arts, Health and Science and Business and Humanities, and the Institutes of Further Education.
Commenting on the initiative SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “The programme and the joined-up approach will enable cross-community and cross-border collaboration between education and training-based collaborations that maximise the capacity of the programme area to address existing and emerging skills gaps, and opportunities for reskilling."
SECBA will develop and implement an area-based skills strategy that aligns with both national and sub-regional government strategies, while catering to the specific needs of local industries and the public participants. This initiative is expected to significantly boost employability, reach out to under-represented groups, spur innovation, and stimulate sectoral growth, aiming to improve cross-border labour mobility. SECBA will also develop an employer-focused brand for employers to ensure it meets their needs.
A Cross-Border Skills Strategy will be established encompassing three clusters. These include:
The jointly developed strategy led by industry experts will be translated into actionable steps that outline specific initiatives for skills development and employment security in the region and cluster areas. The project will concentrate on equipping the workforce with skills to address the immediate needs of businesses and mitigate employment risks due to technological advancements.
Educational Pathways will be implemented through structured educational levels from basic to advanced skills, including Return to Education (ROI NFQ Level 4, NI Level 2), Fundamental Skills (ROI NFQ Level 5, NI Level 3), Introductory Skills (ROI NFQ Level 6, NI Level 4), and Advanced Skills (ROI NFQ Level 7-9, NI Level 5-7). Bridging 2+2 will also be implemented, enabling students performing a Level 6 (NI Level 4) programme in one of the SECBA partner FE institutions to perform an additional 2 years in DkIT and obtain a Level 8 (NI Level 6) qualification and a new work-based degree shall be developed for the Biopharmaceutical sector.
SECBA will deliver tailored training for 2,459 participants, offering a new cross-border "SECBA Certificate," updating curricula with key topics, and forming industry-academia partnerships for real-world innovation, benefiting participants, local industries, educational institutions, and the broader regional economy.
SECBA will introduce cutting-edge subjects into traditional education, establish an industry-education feedback loop, and embrace a collaborative governance model with clear cross-border efforts. The project’s strategy and cross-border collaboration will set a new benchmark for regional development. Governance measures ensure transparent and effective management, supported by the PEACEPLUS Programme for cross-community collaboration and resource efficiency. With a focus on both businesses and minority communities, SECBA aims to address immediate industry needs while fostering long-term regional growth and competitiveness.
Professor Fergal Mc Caffery, Head of School of Informatics and Creative Arts at DkIT said:
“We are delighted to work closely with our Further Education partners and industry stakeholders within this region. These institutions have been carefully selected to contribute their unique strengths and capabilities and bring a wealth of experience in vocational training and further education to this collaboration. With a strategic focus on fostering cross-border collaboration, advanced research capabilities and technological innovation, the initiative aims to develop a workforce aligned with industry needs and prepared for the evolving business landscape.”
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Southern Regional College in Newry has announced the date for its Open Day in March offering the opportunity for prospective students to explore their future educational pathways.
The SRC West and East Campus will hold their Open Day on Wed 5 Mar from 5pm to 7pm
Showcased will be the diverse range of courses, state-of-the-art facilities, and industry partnerships that make Northern Ireland's further education colleges the ideal choice for both school leavers and those wishing to return to education. The Open day is designed to inspire, inform, and ignite passion in potential students, helping them make informed decisions about their educational journey.
Key Highlights
In 2024, FE Colleges throughout the north welcomed a staggering 14,000 visitors to their open days
Southern Regional College Open Day Dates
Portadown Tue 4 Mar: 5pm to 7pm
Newry (West & East) Wed 5 Mar: 5pm to 7pm
Armagh Mon 10 Mar: 5pm to 7pm
Banbridge Tue 11 Mar: 5pm top 7pm
Lurgan Wed 12 Mar: 5pm to 7pm
More information can be found at www.src.ac.uk
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