Money talks - Empey meets Wall Street financial skills expert
11 October 2007
Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey today met with a Wall Street expert to discuss skills development in the financial services sector.
He began his three day US visit by meeting with John Hennesy, Senior Director of International Education and Training with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). During the meeting the Minister learned about the full range of FINRA training activity and training needs analysis. Mr Hennesy outlined what skills are needed for the financial sector, how they are developed and what future trends are expected.
Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said: “The financial services sector is of particular interest to us in Northern Ireland. The Bank of Ireland has recently created 149 new jobs in Belfast, so it is clear this is a developing area and one in which I am keen to maximise potential. Mr Hennesy’s insight into the sector can provide us with valuable advice on how to take this forward at home.”
Also during his visit the Minister will meet with Patricia Smith, Commissioner of Labor for New York, to explore the connections between the Department of Labor and training and education providers in the state. The New York State Department of Labor is a US leader in the provision of integrated customer service to jobseekers, workers and employers in the highly competitive workforce of the 21st century.
The Minister will also visit La Guardia Community College which is one of the largest and most diverse community colleges in the US. The college has a number of successful initiatives that provide tailored support to local industry including the Center for Corporate Education and its Small Business Development Center.
Commenting on his visit to the US, the Minister said: “In order to compete in a global market, Northern Ireland must learn from examples of best practice from around the world. I want to see how the education and training system in New York works closely with employers to produce a workforce with the right skills sets that has resulted in New York State being ranked as one of the top ten State economies in the USA. These are lessons which can be learned and utilised at home.”
During the trip the Minister will also attend the Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the United States (ICCUSA) American Celtic Ball with his Executive colleagues Martin McGuinness and Edwin Poots.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Sir Reg Empey is in New York City from 10 – 12 October.
2. The Irish Chamber of Commerce USA (ICCUSA) is celebrating its 19th anniversary in 2007. It is a registered non-profit, non-political organisation whose membership consists of business executives, professionals and individuals in the US, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. ICCUSA facilitates and fosters business development on both sides of the Atlantic and encourages Irish business to expand into the UK.
3. The New York State Department of Labor is the lead agency for workforce development in the state. Commissioner Smith is a member of the “I Live New York” Talent Task Force that was established in September 2007 to develop strategies for attracting and retaining young professionals in Upstate New York. The Task Force has brought together public and private sector interests to expand internship opportunities that provide young people with essential skills, develop employee recruitment strategies and provide workers with continuing education services to enhance career mobility.
4. La Guardia Community College is located in Long Island City, Queens in New York and is one of the largest and most diverse community colleges in the US. The college has 13,500 credit and 30,000 non-credit students from 160 different countries speaking 110 languages. Named as one of the top three community colleges in the US in 2003, La Guardia is the largest provider of Adult and Continuing Education in the City of New York university system.
5. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
6. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
