Meeting employers' needs through partnership

19 December 2007

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today helped to re-launch an innovative partnership between Michelin Tyre PLC and Northern Regional College.

Located on the Ballymena Campus of Northern Regional College, the Michelin Technical Training Centre combines advanced engineering technologies with modern training resources. In 2003, the company relocated to the College in a move that has helped it maximise production space, broaden its skill base and enhance its training delivery.

Earlier this year Michelin committed to a further capital investment through the purchase of new equipment for the training facility.  This has been matched by similar investment by the College in workstations for mechatronics, production engineering and industrial systems.  

Sir Reg welcomed the opportunity to see the Training Centre and meet some of the key players involved in this innovative partnership.  He said: “For such a major and successful employer to locate its Training Centre within a Further Education College demonstrates clearly the confidence local employers have in the quality of provision and resources available in our Further Education Colleges.

“To ensure continued economic growth we need business and industry to be at the leading edge in terms of equipment, technology and the skills of their workforce.  This partnership between Michelin and Northern Regional College underlines the role that Further Education can play in making this happen.”

The Minister commended Michelin and also Festo AG & Co who has supported this partnership through the supply of automated equipment.  Partnerships such as this represent the way forward for the Further Education sector and are an example to other employers and colleges of the mutual benefits to be obtained.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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