Training elite honoured at gala awards night in Belfast

Eleven Northern Ireland entrants in this year’s National Training Awards competition have been recognised for their outstanding excellence in training.

During a gala ceremony held in the Belfast Harbour Commissioners’ Office on Tuesday evening 13 October, a total of 15 prizes were presented before an enthusiastic audience of business leaders and public sector representatives.

The new-look glittering Awards ceremony, hosted by the Olympic hurdling silver medallist and World Champion Colin Jackson, honoured 11 regional winners. Four of these organisations achieved UK National winner status and go forward to represent Northern Ireland at the UK National Ceremony in the Royal Horticultural Halls in London in December.

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, highlighted the exceptional performances of this year’s winners and their commitment to training and said: “The current economic downturn makes this a hugely challenging time for Northern Ireland businesses and organisations who remain steadfastly committed to training and developing their people. The success of the winning entries is a clear reflection of the importance that is being placed on the development of people through education, training and teamwork.

“Harnessing people to capitalise on better business performance, improve customer service and develop personal skills is a recipe for success and is a welcome boost as our economy prepares for recovery. Here in Northern Ireland we are determined that, with well trained managers and staff, we can match the rest of the world and put our goods and services into the market with pride and confidence.”

Sir Reg added: “You can be justifiably proud of your achievements in what has been a most difficult year and I congratulate each and every one of you on your success.”

The National Training Awards, organised by the Department for Employment and Learning, recognises and rewards excellence in training and is one of the national awards operating in Northern Ireland. The Awards are open to organisations of all sizes and from any industry sector – public or private, training organisations and individuals – and the programme allows the best of Northern Ireland's businesses and people to showcase their achievements and benchmark their successes against firms and bodies of all types. There is a rigorous judging process involved in selecting the winners each year and winners receive recognition on a UK scale which sets these awards apart from all others.

Underlining the economic importance to Northern Ireland of a well trained and skilled workforce, Sir Reg concluded: “Now, more than ever, we need to invest in workplace training so that we have a knowledgeable, skilled and adaptable workforce to help us move forward and out of recession. Now is the time to invest in our people so that we can come out of this downturn stronger and with the determination to succeed.”

If you are interested in attending a National Training Awards information seminar for the 2010 competition please log on to the National Training Awards website

Notes to Editors:

1. The National Training Awards are sponsored by City & Guilds and celebrate organisations and individuals that have achieved really outstanding business and personal success through investment in training. Entries come from all sectors, industries and areas across the UK and provide an unique opportunity to have organisations’ training judged against the best in the UK.

2. The National Training Awards were introduced in Northern Ireland for the first time in 1986 and provide a mechanism for rewarding and promoting employers, individuals, partnerships and training organisations who have achieved outstanding success in the application of training.

3. The competition is organised and promoted by UK Skills and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland. The award categories are as follows: Large Employer; Medium Employer; Small Employer; Providing Education and Training; Partnership and Collaboration; and Individuals.

4. The 11 winners for 2009 from Northern Ireland are:

LARGE EMPLOYERS: Schrader Electronics; GEM; and Ulster Bank Ltd.

MEDIUM EMPLOYERS: St Mary's Grammar School, Magherafelt.

PROVIDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING: Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma & Transformation; and The Orchardville Society Ltd (OS).

PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION: Northern Regional College and Schlumberger; Belfast Metropolitan College and Belfast Boys Model School; The Bytes Project and Tides Training; Age Concern Northern Ireland, Interaction Institute for Social Change and Beeches Management Centre; and Coca-Cola HB Northern Ireland and Whitewater Consulting Ltd.

5. This year, four Northern Ireland entrants will represent Northern Ireland at the National Awards ceremony in the Royal Horticultural Hall in London on 10 December 2009. These are - Bytes, the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation, St Mary’s Grammar School, Magherafelt and the Ulster Bank.

6. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Employment and Learning Communications Branch on 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.