Belfast Institute of Further and HIgher Education
The Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education launched its award winning Engineering Skills for Industry programme in September 2003. The programme, which targeted areas of West Belfast and Greater Shankill (where unemployment was 14.5%), was designed to equip unemployed people with the basic skills required by the engineering industry and to help them gain employment in this field.
A number of local engineering companies had been reporting difficulties in finding suitable recruits. Belfast Institute then developed a 19 week training programme in partnership with the Department for Employment and Learning, the Engineering Training Council, Bombardier, FG Wilson and other employers. The programme was specifically designed to build trainees’ confidence and self-esteem, enhance the image of engineering as a career, provide engineering skills training, and develop a good work ethic.
The programme gave them practical skills, such as bench fitting and sheet metal working, and one or more elements including welding, electrics, pneumatics and hydraulics, underpinning knowledge of health and safety, quality, engineering standards, IT and soft skills such as team-building. Companies report that trainees recruited from the programme required only four further weeks “in company” training before they could contribute to production output.
125 trainees started the programme, with the incentive of a guaranteed interview with an employer on completion. In all, 79 completed the full-time course with 91% obtaining employment or further education places. A total of 62 gained the Engineering Skills Competency Certificate and 43 achieved NVQ Level 1 in performing engineering operations.
For further details on Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, please contact DEL Press Office on 028 9025 7872.