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Southern Regional College (SRC), and local farmers from Armagh, Newry, Mourne and Down celebrated the success of the Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF) programme Protect your Sons and Daughters. Financed by HRH the Prince of Wales, the PCF was a new initiative aimed at delivering Farm Health & Safety as well as Business Enterprise Skills to local farm families.
The programme was aimed at young farmers and members of the farming family but particularly those living in the border areas of Northern Ireland, isolated areas such as the Mourne Mountains and those young farmers who for various reasons were unable to attend agricultural college.
The aim of the PCF programme was to provide 60 farmers with accredited training, workshops and study visits to enhance their management skills and to support the sustainability of the agri-food industry. The programme also addressed the need for health and safety, raising awareness of the many dangers of working in the rural community and the hazards faced by farmers on a daily basis.
David Vint, SRC Assistant Director commented “It is great to see programmes like this having a genuine positive influence within our farming communities. It is our ambition at SRC to be actively promoting community education within our region and be an agent for economic change. This project had a real impact on farmer families lives and helped farmers gain skills and confidence that will sustain farming in our local community”.
Noel Lavery, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development said that “Education is key to DARD strategy and we have worked hard on the Farm Safety Partnership with the UFU and HSENI. We are absolutely committed to improving safety on farms. SRC’s initiative is something we are glad to support”.
Also speaking at the celebration event was Mr Ian Marshall, President of the Ulster Farmers Union. “It has been a privilege for the UFU to be associated with the work the SRC has delivered for the benefit of those in the agri-food sector. Training, education and knowledge transfer with a focus on health and safety on farms has proved extremely beneficial to all that participated'
For further information on the Prince’s Countryside Fund please contact Heather Kavanagh kavanaghh@src.ac.uk 0300 123 1223
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SRC Student and Norbrook employee Ryan Tully from Rathfriland, was named as a Finalist at the Apprentice of the Year Awards in Belfast.
He is currently on an apprenticeship programme in Plumbing and Heating at Southern Regional College, Newry Campus and is employed by Norbrook, Newry.
The awards ceremony, organised by the Department for Employment and Learning, was held at the Titanic Signature Building, Belfast and was hosted by local radio presenter Pete Snodden.
Congratulating the award winners, Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry said: “These Awards highlight how Apprenticeships and the new Higher Level Apprenticeships are supporting our local economy by ensuring our workforce is getting the skills needed and valued by local employers.”
ApprenticeshipsNI is part funded by the European Social Fund. The Apprentice of the Year Awards were part supported by City & Guilds and Fujitsu.
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Over 150 Students from local high schools celebrated their success recently at an awards ceremony for students participating on the School Partnerships’ Programme (SPP) at Southern Regional College, Newry Campus.
Southern Regional College welcomed Year 12 students from Kilkeel High School, Newry High School, Newtownhamilton High School, Rathore School Newry, St Columban’s College Kilkeel, St Joseph’s High School Crossmaglen, St Joseph’s Boys High School Newry, St Mark’s High School Warrenpoint, St Mary’s High School Newry and St Paul’s High School Bessbrook to celebrate their achievements at this special awards ceremony.
The School Partnership Programme enables Year 11 and 12 students in the school sector to sample areas including, digital imaging, joinery, beauty, hospitality, hairdressing and motor mechanics to name a few, in order to make a more informed career decision. The students on the SPP programme attend SRC one day per week for two years and achieve recognised qualifications on completion of their studies.
Guest Speaker on the day was Ms Breda McAteer, Senior Human Resource Manager, O’Hare and McGovern
Best in School Awards were presented to Pavlina Zapletalova from Kilkeel High School, Plamen Atanasov from Newtownhamilton High School, Tom Martin from Rathore School Newry, Tiernan O’Hare from St Columban’s College, Alanna O’Neill from St Joseph’s High School, Nathan Fegan from St Joseph’s Boys High School, Kelly-Anne Beggs from St Mark’s High School, Caoimhe Quinn from St Mary’s High School and Liam Mackin from St Paul’s High School Bessbrook. SPP Student of the Year was awarded to Plamen Atanasov from Newtownhamilton High School. The Endeavour award was awarded to Sarah Wright from Kilkeel High School.
Brian Doran, Chief Executive, Southern Regional College, commenting on the close partnership working between local schools and SRC said: “The partnership between Southern Regional College and the schools in the Newry and Mourne Area Learning Community provides opportunities to pupils to benefit from a wider curriculum by undertaking a range of courses not available to them in school. The various courses lead to nationally-recognised qualifications that will not only help pupils make better career choices but will also help them get employment in the continuing challenging economic environment.”
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The Business Support Centre (i3) at Southern Regional College has recently launched a collaborative project with Teeling Whiskey Company, a Dublin-based independent Irish whiskey manufacturer. Teeling Whiskey Company was established in 2012 and a new distillery was developed and opened in the Newmarket area of Dublin in 2015 – the first new distillery to be opened in Dublin in over 125 years.
The FUSION programme is a cross-border collaboration facilitated by InterTradeIreland with Southern Regional College acting as the knowledge base for the project. Páraic Kelly, a talented engineering graduate, has been recruited and partnered with industrial mentors Iain Wood and Alex Chasko from Teeling Whiskey Company, and academic mentor Alistair Quinn from the Business Support Centre (i3) at Southern Regional College. The project is of 18 months duration and is focused on the development and improvement of operational processes, both at the Dublin distillery site and the company’s warehousing facility in Greenore, Co. Louth.
Having been launched in March 2016, the project has already shown promising potential for success. Examples of early progress at the distillery site include preparation for Origin Green compliance, a national sustainability programme, and the investigation of dust extraction systems for the grain silos, while examples of advancement at the warehousing facility include a redesign of the process paperwork and the initial development stages of a single cask emptying station. This exciting partnership is set to deliver significant operational improvements for the industrial partner.
For more information on the support available from The Business Support Centre (i3) contact 028 3025 9664 or alternatively email i3@src.ac.uk
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The province's top future innovators had their work recognised recently at the prestigious BEST Awards ceremony. Now in its sixth year the BEST Awards recognise innovation in a wide range of areas ranging from creative industries, to visual design and life sciences being cultivated by students and lecturers across Northern Ireland’s six Further Education Colleges.
The Awards are organised by Colleges NI who are the representative body for all six of Northern Irelands Further Education Colleges. The Awards are linked to the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
This year there were 103 entries from across Northern Ireland competing for 11 category prizes and four grand prizes covering the age range from 16 to 19+.
Southern Regional College students scooped 3 out of the 4 grand prizes!
Winner of the 16 to 18 Age Category was Dermot Savage from SRC who created an incubator for lambs to increase survival. The runner up was Amy Anderson from SRC who examined the antibiotics lifespan in the veterinary industry. The winner of the 19+ age category was Nadine Gollogly from SRC who developed an alerts system to tell you when to change your child’s nappy.
The projects include: app development, games; stem cell research, drone technology, beauty therapy and cancer research.
The winners have been chosen by a panel of 39 judges drawn from some of Northern Ireland’s leading businesses including Seagate, Dupont and Bank of Ireland as well as Universities, Government Departments and the MATRIX the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel.
Gerry Campbell, Chief Executive of Colleges NI said “Our congratulations go to each of the winners and all the finalists who were shortlisted for the BEST Awards. The calibre of submissions this year points towards a very bright future for young and mature innovators in the FE sector as well as positive news for our local economy. The ideas put forward were inspiring to the judging panel and all of us here.
“Northern Ireland desperately needs the skills that our young people have put on show today. They will help us face the economic challenges of the global marketplace.
The devolution of Corporation Tax will create a new positive and pro-business invitation to not only the global investment community but also indigenous businesses in Northern Ireland.
I welcome and am grateful for the participation and support of our new Department for the Economy and the new Department for Communities. The Further Education sector wishes you and your new Ministers Simon Hamilton and Paul Givan every success.
I will make an early plea that your Departments and the forthcoming Programme for Government recognise that investment in skills is the basis for economic growth and will enable us to take full advantage of the benefits that Corporation Tax will bring. Cuts to investment in skills will directly equate to a cut in the economic success of Northern Ireland that will be the key measure of success for the new administration in Stormont.
Colleges and universities together will be your key partners in delivering the foundations of an economy that will see an increase in employment, an increase in our competitiveness and an increase in innovation. Many if not all of the projects on show here today have the potential to help you and us reach that goal. We look forward to working with you.”
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St Joseph's Boys High School, Newry held their annual Sports Day with the beautiful weather adding an extra sparkle to the performances of the pupils.
School records were well and truly smashed as the level of competition reached an all-time high!
Win, lose or draw, it was the taking part that was important and great praise must be given to each and every pupil for the great sportsmanship that was on display throughout the day.
For many more images from Brendan Fearon check out www.stjosephsnewry.com
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The Queen's Birthday Honours List gave cause for double celebration for the Southern Regional College (SRC) as a formers student and a lecturer were named in the awards this week.
Former student, Gary Doyle received a British Empire Medal (BEM) while lecturer, Ronnie Ferris received a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
The list, which recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the UK, sees Gary being the youngest person in the UK to receive an honour!
The 21 year old plumbing apprentice from Ballyward, triumphed at the global skills competition WorldSkills Sao Paulo 2015, winning a gold medal in the Plumbing and Heating category and is now crowned the ‘Best Plumber in the World’. Gary’s success followed four days of intense competition against more than 1000 of the world’s most skilled young people.
Ronnie, from Newry, was Gary’s lecturer and mentor throughout the process. He guided Gary throughout his training at the College and on his journey to Global success. He has been awarded for his “services to schools development and the community in Co.Down.”
Mr. Brian Doran, Chief Executive, SRC, commented: “I am delighted that both Gary and Ronnie have been honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours. For Gary to be selected to represent the UK at the WorldSkills competition last summer in Brazil was in itself a great achievement for but to have been crowned the best plumber in the world exceeded all our expectations. Gary has been a wonderful ambassador for the college and the wider region and I have no doubt that his success will help inspire other trainees and apprentices in future skills competitions. Mr Doran continued “It was also fitting that Ronnie was honoured with an MBE in recognition for his services to skills competitions and the wider community here in Northern Ireland. Whilst Gary’s success last summer was the icing on the cake, Ronnie has mentored and supported many other trainees in local and national competitions over many years and I am delighted that his work has been formally recognised. Gary and Ronnie worked as a team to achieve global success and we are delighted to be able to share in their success.”
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Six schools from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council were recently presented with Green Flags by Council Chairperson, Gillian Fitzpatrick as part of the Eco-Schools Programme.
St Colman’s Primary School Kilkeel, Sacred Heart Grammar School Newry, Bun Scoil an Iúir, St Marys Primary School Newcastle, Bessbrook Primary School, St Brigid’s Primary School Glassdrummond and St Joseph’s Primary School Strangford, received their first green flags this year, taking the total number of schools throughout the district proudly flying the Green Flag to 32.
Council Chairperson, Councillor Fitzpatrick speaking to the teachers and pupils attending the presentation ceremony said, “This is a tremendous achievement. The Green Flag award is internationally recognised and only obtained by those schools who have reached the highest of environmental standards”.
Councillor Fitzpatrick continued, “Well done to all the staff and pupils whose hard work has resulted in these awards. A special word of congratulations to the members of the Eco Committees present here today. You have taken the lead by making sure that your school cares about the environment.”
Cathy Gorman, Eco-Schools Officer, who attended the reception on behalf of Eco-Schools NI said, “It is a great pleasure to see the continued success of the Eco-Schools programme in the Newry, Mourne and Down District. Local Councils provide very important encouragement and support to schools and in Newry, Mourne and Down this is apparent in the increasing number of schools achieving the prestigious Green Flag award.”
For further details of the programme, contact Cathy Gorman, Eco-Schools NI on
028 90 736 920 or visit www.eco-schoolsni.org.uk
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St Patrick's Primary School in The Meadow, Newry officially opened their Sensory Garden this week just before they headed off for their summer break.
The garden will provide a place of relaxation and learning, with a range of different colours, sounds and smells, with facilities for pupils to grow their own plants and learn about different flora and fauna.
The Friends of St Patrick's group worked along with 'Work It' participants to develop the garden.
Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Cllr Gillian Fitzpatrick who performed the official opening stated "On behalf of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council I would like to thank the NI Executive for providing us with the opportunity to lead on this fantastic programme and through the Community Projects element be able to support such a valuable resource for not only the school but also the local community. I congratulate the staff, pupils and participants for all their hard work in bringing this project to fruition.
Funding was allocated from the NI Executive's Social Investment Fund via the Work It programme.
St Patrick's Primary School would also like to thank Haldane Fisher for providing paving stones and Gerard McQuillan for donating the gravel for the garden.
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