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The Higher Level Apprenticeship team at Southern Regional College has been named as a finalist in the Business Excellence Awards, with the results set to be announced at a ceremony in Belfast next month. The Newry-based college's team has been shortlisted in the 'Excellence in Skills & Workforce Capability' category.
The team, which was first established in September 2024 with a single HLA programme, seven apprentices and four employers, has expanded considerably since its inception. At the start of the 2025/26 academic year, the team recorded its largest ever intake, with 272 apprentices enrolled across 20 Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes spanning sectors including Accounting, Science, Business, Computing, Construction, Digital Marketing, Engineering, Fintech, Hospitality and Sport, supporting 209 businesses across the workforce.
A key part of the team's growth has been the development of a purpose-built digital HLA portal, which connects employers directly with HLA applicants. The platform has reduced administrative burdens and improved the experience for both businesses and prospective apprentices by streamlining the recruitment process.
The team has also focused on employer and community engagement through its annual 'Big Apprenticeship Events'. The most recent events, held in February 2026 in Newry, Mourne and Down and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, attracted almost 2,000 attendees over two nights, with participants engaging with more than 80 employers and support organisations.
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, said: "We are absolutely delighted to see our Higher Level Apprenticeship team recognised as finalists in these prestigious awards. This achievement reflects the dedication, innovation and hard work of staff who continue to drive the programme forward.
"The growth the team have experienced, highlights the real demand for high-quality apprenticeship pathways that directly support industry needs while creating meaningful career opportunities for people across the region.
"We are particularly proud of the strong partnerships we have built with local businesses and the impact our HLA programmes are having in developing the skilled workforce. To be shortlisted in this category is a significant recognition of the College's aim to be at the forefront of providing a positive learning environment and working with local employers to meet the needs of the economy."
The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 4 June at Titanic Belfast, where the final results across all categories will be announced.
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Almost 4000 young people throughout the Newry, Mourne and Down district have taken part in a Building Aspirations Programme, developing skills in confidence, teamwork, communication and problem-solving. The programme, delivered across 14 post-primary schools, was completed through 50 sessions combining interactive workshops with real-life enterprise experiences.
Councillor Philip Campbell, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, said: "The success of the Building Aspirations Programme demonstrates the power of partnership in shaping brighter futures for our young people. By working alongside Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, Go Succeed and the James Kane Foundation, we are providing meaningful opportunities that build confidence, develop key skills and inspire ambition. The impact across our schools and communities is clear and we are proud to support initiatives that help our young people realise their full potential."
The programme was delivered by Young Enterprise Northern Ireland in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Go Succeed, with support from the James Kane Foundation. Students gained practical skills in preparing for work, managing money and understanding how business works, with many reporting increased confidence and a greater awareness of career options and entrepreneurship.
Carol Fitzsimons, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise charity, said: "The support of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Go Succeed for the Inspiring Futures project has been vital in providing this support to students and schools in the local area. Young people have a strong interest in starting and running businesses and it is important we equip them with the skills to succeed on this pathway."
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St Colman's College in Newry has become the joint first school in County Down to be awarded the prestigious Gaelbhratach flag, receiving the honour at a special ceremony in Limerick on 12 May. The college was also the only school in Ulster to attend this year's ceremony, marking a significant milestone for the Irish language in the school and the wider county. Glenlola Collegiate School, Bangor also received an award.
The Gaelbhratach flag award recognises the vibrant use of Irish throughout the entire school community over the past academic year, driven by a student-led Gaelbhratach committee made up of pupils from first through to seventh year. The committee was chaired by Seán Devlin, with Fionn McCaul as secretary and Finn Cumiskey as PRO.
Sixth and seventh-year A-Level Irish students played a central role in the initiative, acting as ambassadors for the language among younger pupils and staff. Among the highlights was an outreach programme in which students taught Irish to pupils at two local primary schools, St Patrick's Primary and St Joseph's Primary. Staff from across the school, including secretaries, receptionists, classroom assistants, canteen staff, cleaners and teachers, also took part in a six-week beginner Irish-language programme taught by the students, which culminated in a Christmas outing.
The college's calendar of Irish-language activities included céilís with Sacred Heart Grammar School and Our Lady's Grammar School, quizzes, games, a Bingo Loco event, Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations, a presentation to the Irish language committee in Dáil Éireann and a trip to TikTok headquarters in Dublin. The PE department also contributed, with senior students delivering Irish-language football training sessions for junior pupils using Irish as the sole language of communication.
The committee launched an Irish-language TikTok account, GaeilgeCC, posting daily content during the 17 days of Seachtain na Gaeilge which amassed tens of thousands of views and likes.
Students travelled to Limerick on 11 and 12 May for the Gaelbhratach awards celebrations, where they took part in treasure hunts, interviews, workshops and collaborations with TG4, and even stepped in as weather presenters for the day. In addition to the Gaelbhratach flag, the college returned with an Award of Excellence Plaque for its outreach work with local schools and staff. The awards were presented to Principal Mr McCormac McKinney and Vice-Principals Kevin Franklin and Helen Doherty.
The college was also awarded a special prize - Most Inclusive Committee, for particularly outstanding work in ensuring all students were involved in the Gaelbhratach initiative within the school. This award was revealed as a surprise during the presentation of flags.
Speaking at the event, a past pupil on the scheme, Máire Ní Churraoin, TV presenter, sean-nós singer and social media influencer said: “Gaeilge is such an important part of my life and identity, and it continues to open doors for me in so many ways. It’s a real privilege to be here today celebrating the passion and energy Down students bring to the language.
“When I was in school, being part of the Gaelbhratach committee was an experience I’ll never forget. It gave us the confidence to take ownership of Irish and to make it part of our everyday lives in a fun and meaningful way. It’s fantastic to see that same spirit alive and growing stronger every year.”
Funding of £500 from scheme funders Gael Linn and Foras na Gaeilge supported the purchase of promotional resources throughout the year. The college also expressed thanks to the local Irish-language community, particularly Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail, and to Gaelbhratach officers Dean Sloan and Corey Hanna.
This year's Gaelbhratach motto, "Díograis agus Dúchas," meaning hardwork and heritage, was said to have captured the spirit of the initiative.
Also speaking at the presentation ceremony, Edel Ní Bhraonáin, Bainisteoir Gaelbhratach, said: “We are delighted to return to Mary Immaculate College for the third consecutive year to celebrate the achievements of post-primary schools involved in Gaelbhratach from Down. The continued growth of the programme is a testament to the enthusiasm, hard work and love of the language displayed by students and teachers alike.
“At the heart of Gaelbhratach is the student voice. Through their committees, students lead and shape the scheme within their schools, finding creative and meaningful ways to use Irish in their daily lives. This year’s record number of participating schools, including those from Down, along with the outstanding standard of work recognised through our special awards, shows just how impactful that approach can be.
“It is incredibly encouraging to see Irish being embraced in such a positive and authentic way by young people in Down and across the country. The feedback we receive highlights not only increased confidence in using the language, but also a genuine enjoyment in bringing it into everyday life.”
With these St Colman's College initiatives the future of Irish at the school looks brighter than ever.
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Six hairdressing students from Southern Regional College's Newry campus have qualified for the regional stage of WorldSkills UK, a record for the campus, being the first time six students from the one campus have progressed to the regional competition in the same year.
The six were shortlisted after successfully completing an initial entry stage assessment, which required entrants to create a fashionable festival-inspired look for long hair. They will now travel to North West Regional College in Derry on 28 May, where they will compete against around 15 of the norths top emerging hairdressing students for a place in the UK national finals.
The Newry campus students competing are Aoife Hanna (19) from Kilkeel, currently working at Shade Hairdressing in Kilkeel; Kayla Larkin (19) from Mullaghbawn, currently working at Thee One Hair Salon in Warrenpoint; Ella McMahon (20) from Bessbrook, currently working at Hair by Tracy Smyth in Whitecross; Niamh Boyle (18) from Warrenpoint, currently working at Michelle Mallon Hair and Beauty in Meigh; Aoife O'Malley (20) from Newtownhamilton, currently working at Studio Quinn Hair on the Old Dublin Road in Newry; and Matthew McMullan (18) from Dromintee, currently working at Haus of Hair in Camlough.
At the regional qualifier, each competitor will complete two live assessments. The first is a ladies' long hair bridal styling challenge, to be completed within one hour and 30 minutes. The second is a cut, colour and styling test lasting three hours. Scores from all stages of the competition will be combined to determine who progresses to the national finals.
Regional winners will be announced on the day, though those who advance to the national finals will not be confirmed until mid-July, after all regional qualifiers have concluded.
SRC lecturer Caroline O'Neill said: "Reaching this stage of the competition is a huge achievement for all students and a real reflection of the time, effort and creativity they put into their work every day. Competitions like WorldSkills UK push students outside their comfort zones and provide them with valuable experience in a professional, high-pressure environment. We're incredibly proud of how far they've come already and excited to see their progress as they represent SRC, their employers and themselves at this upcoming regional competition."
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Secondary school pupils gathered at Southern Regional College's Newry West Campus on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 for a special Females in Engineering event aimed at encouraging more young women to consider careers in STEM. Schools represented on the day included Our Lady's Grammar School Newry, St Mary's High School Newry, St Malachy's High School Castlewellan and St Catherine's College Armagh.
The event featured keynote speaker Bernie Collins, a Sky Sports Formula 1 analyst and former Head of Race Strategy at Aston Martin, alongside three students from the College's championship-winning STEM Racing Car team. Engineering Level 3 Extended Diploma students Chloe O'Hare, Sophie Houston and Ellie Magee each shared personal insights into their journeys within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Ellie Magee spoke about her role as Graphic Designer for Team SCAR, explaining how she leads on visual elements including the team's portfolio layout and pit display. She highlighted that engineering extends well beyond technical calculations, pointing to the importance of "teamwork, creativity, communication and sometimes arguing about what shade of red looks best."
Ellie said: "For years, women weren't encouraged to go into engineering. We didn't see many women in these roles, so it's easy to think, maybe that's not for me. But that's changing, and it needs to keep changing. The truth is engineering needs us. It needs different perspectives, different ideas, and different ways of thinking. When you bring more voices into engineering, you get better solutions, more innovation and designs that work for more people."
Pupils also took part in a range of interactive activities on the day, including a 20-metre two-lane racing track where they could test miniature race cars, a reaction time challenge, a smoke trace visualisation demonstration and a wind tunnel experiment showing the effects of drag and airflow on racing performance, as well as a variety of other STEM displays.
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, said: "The engineering industry needs more than technical ability, it needs creativity, communication, leadership and fresh perspectives. Events like 'Females in Engineering – I am an Engineer' are about showing young women that there is absolutely a place for them within engineering and other STEM career routes. Seeing our students speak so confidently about their experiences and achievements is proof of what can happen when talent is encouraged and supported."
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Students from Southern Regional College have won the Northern Ireland Generation Chef final for the second consecutive year, with the grand final held at the SRC Newry East campus on Thursday 30 April.
The final was assessed by six industry judges, including chefs from Hastings Hotels, Regency House, TMR Windham Hotel Group and Henderson Foodservice, with front of house judged by representatives from Michelin-starred Ox Belfast and Regency House.
The winning team consisted of chef students Eva Newell (18) from Kilkeel and Leon Ruddy (18) from Bleary, alongside hospitality student Katie Gray (17) from Collone, Armagh. They were selected following six regional heats held across the north's further education colleges.
The title of Rotary Ireland Generation Chef 2026 came with a significant prize package, secured through Northern Ireland's eleven Rotary Clubs. Winners will receive industry placements and mentorships with the Hastings Hotel and Windward Hotel Groups, as well as a four-day Culinary Tour of Ulster. The tour will include masterclasses with leading executive chefs and suppliers and visits to some of Northern Ireland's award-winning food and drink producers.
Now in its second year, the competition is a collaboration between 11 Rotary Clubs and six Regional Colleges, spanning 10 hospitality campuses. It is designed to highlight the culinary arts as a career path in Northern Ireland. Key sponsors included Henderson Foodservice, Hastings Hotels and, new for 2026, TMR Windward Hotel Group.
Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager of Hospitality and Tourism at Southern Regional College, said: "I am immensely proud of Leon, Eva and Katie on winning this very prestigious competition. Their lecturers, Lynette, Keith and Seamus, worked hard to mentor and support them.
"Winning this competition for the second year in a row is extremely rewarding and is a true testament to our commitment to developing and nurturing talent within the Hospitality and Catering industry.
"It was a huge honour for SRC to host the Northern Ireland Final and to welcome so many highly regarded figures from the Hospitality sector. I would like to thank the Rotarians for organising such a brilliant competition, and our students are very much looking forward to their upcoming Culinary Tour to broaden their culinary knowledge."
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Students from two local schools have been recognised among the prize winners in this year's 72nd Texaco Children's Art Competition, one of the longest-running arts sponsorships in Ireland.
Katie McAleavey (18) from St. Paul's High School, Bessbrook, and Ryan Campbell (13) from St. Colman's College, Newry, both received Special Merit Awards. Final Adjudicator Pauline O'Connell, an Irish visual artist, curator and educator, said the winning works "were imaginative and demonstrated high levels of skill and creativity."
The Texaco Children's Art Competition has an unbroken history dating back to the very first competition held in 1955 and is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland. This year, as throughout its history, it has provided a platform for young artists from Down and counties across Ireland to have their talents recognised and their creativity commended.
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Southern Regional College (SRC) is to have more competitors at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 than any other university or college across the UK, with five talented young professionals selected for Team UK ahead of the global event this September.
Known as the "Skills Olympics," WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 takes place from 22-27 September with around 1,500 young people competing from over 80 countries and is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors, alongside government leaders, global employers and education experts.
Among those flying the flag for Team UK is Caolan McCartan, aged 24, from Camlough, who will compete in the Industry 4.0 category alongside teammate Patrick Sheerin, aged 24. Caolan is currently training with employer Pronto Engineering and studying for his Engineering (Technical Design and Manufacture) Foundation Degree at SRC. Patrick, who has graduated with an Engineering BEng (Hons) degree, is currently employed with AJ Power.
The other three SRC competitors are Oisin McKerr, aged 22, from Lurgan, who will compete in Car Painting having completed his Vehicle Accident Paint Repair Level 3 Apprenticeship with the College and is currently employed with Porters Body Shop; Ruth Douglas, aged 21, from Banbridge, who will compete in Chemical Laboratory Technician having completed her Applied Industrial Sciences Chemical Foundation Degree at SRC last August and is now employed by the Almac Group; and Jonathan Gough, aged 22, from Waringstown, who will compete in Electrical Installation and has undertaken the Electrotechnical (Electrical Installation) Apprenticeship with the College and is currently self-employed.
The five competitors will also be supported by two SRC lecturers travelling to Shanghai as Training Managers for Team UK. Dr Deidre Murray will continue to train Ruth in the Chemical Laboratory Technician specialism, while Stephen Chapman will train Team UK's selected representative in bricklaying.
Each competitor's place on Team UK has come after years of preparation, progressing through WorldSkills UK regional and national competitions before undergoing intensive specialist training both in the UK and abroad. Further high-performance preparation is planned in the months ahead of the Shanghai event.
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive of WorldSkills UK, said: "Congratulations to Oisin, Ruth, Jonathan, Caolan and Patrick on being selected for Team UK, it is a huge achievement and a proud moment for Northern Ireland."
He added: "At a time when employers are sceptical about employing young people Team UK show just how important it is to have young professionals in the workforce. These young technicians have an incredibly valuable mix of world-class technical skills, impressive employability skills and a mindset to succeed."
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, said: "We are incredibly proud of each of these outstanding individuals and their achievement in reaching the global stage."
She added: "To have the highest number of competitors representing the UK is a remarkable accomplishment for the College and highlights the strength of our educational provision. We wish them every success as they take on the world in Shanghai and showcase the very best of Northern Ireland's talent."
WorldSkills is recognised globally as the benchmark of skills excellence, and SRC's representation at this year's event underlines the college's standing as one of the leading providers of vocational and technical education in the UK.
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Hospitality and Professional Cookery students from Southern Regional College have qualified for the 2026 Generation Chef grand final after competing in a regional heat at the College's Newry campus, the venue for the Northern Ireland final at the end of April.
The regional heat, held at the end of March, saw two student teams put through their paces in both kitchen and front of house settings, with a panel of industry judges assessing their performance throughout. Among those on the judging panel were Michelin-starred chef Danni Barry and Gerard McClelland, General Manager of the Maghera Inn.
Danni Barry focused her assessment on communication within the kitchen and between the kitchen and front of house teams, as well as the thinking behind menu choices and how the students performed under pressure. Gerard McClelland concentrated on the front of house operation, looking closely at customer interaction and the overall standard of table presentation.
After a closely contested competition, the winning team of Eva Newell (18) from Kilkeel, Leon Ruddy (18) from Bleary and Katie Gray (17) from Collone, Armagh secured their place in the Northern Ireland final. They narrowly edged out a competing team of Lubo Mulkearns (17) from Jonesborough, Simona Nagrodskyte (18) from Silverbridge and Olivia Kaminska (16) from Newry, with judges commending both teams for their professionalism and teamwork.
Eva Newell said after the event: "Today's experience was challenging but really enjoyable. I'm looking forward to pushing myself further in the grand final and seeing how far we can go."
Leon Ruddy added: "I'm absolutely delighted to be representing SRC in the Generation Chef competition. We're expecting strong competition from other colleges, and it's going to be an amazing experience."
Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager at Southern Regional College, said: "Generation Chef is an excellent competition that provides aspiring chefs and front-of-house students across all six further education colleges in Northern Ireland with a valuable platform to showcase their talent, creativity, and professionalism. These events are made possible through the continued dedication and support of our Culinary Arts Lecturers, Lynette and Keith, and our Hospitality Lecturer, Seamus."
She added: "Last year, we were exceptionally proud of our staff and students at SRC when we were crowned the Northern Ireland Final winners of Generation Chef. This year, we are delighted to be hosting the NI Final on 30 April, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and guests to what promises to be another outstanding event, with student prizes sponsored by Henderson Foodservice, TMR Hotels, and Hastings Hotels."
The Generation Chef competition is supported by Northern Ireland's eleven Rotary Clubs and aims to identify and promote emerging talent within the hospitality and food industry. As winners of the 2025 final, SRC will host this year's grand final at its Newry campus on 30 April, with student teams from across Northern Ireland's Further Education College network taking part. The winning team's menus remain under wraps as they continue to prepare ahead of the event.
The heat was sponsored by WBR Credit Union and Fisher and Fisher Solicitors.
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