Skip the NI Direct Bar
Skip navigation

£6.9million Employer Support Programme launched at award winning South West College

Employment and Learning Minister, Dr. Stephen Farry, today launched a £6.9million Employer Support Programme for further education colleges.
~ Wednesday, 22 February 2012

The Minister launched the programme at a celebration event for South West College which has won three UK Beacon Awards, including the coveted President’s Award for its work with employers and schools in the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and a gold ‘International Green Award’ for its work in sustainable technologies.

Speaking at the event in South West College’s STEM centre, Dr Farry said: “Today, I can confirm that I have approved funding of £6.9million for a further four years to continue the Employer Support Programme. As a result of this funding, the further education sector will be able to continue to provide a wide range of support for local employers, through sector-wide initiatives and projects, to encourage businesses to engage with, and embrace innovation and sustainability. Further education colleges will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting employers as key drivers of local and regional economic and workforce development.”

Congratulating the college on their accolade, the Minister concluded: “Indeed, the Department’s Innovation Fund: Employer Support Pilot Programme provided the financial support for South West College’s InnoTech and STEM Centres, and the sector’s Carbon Zero NI project. The Beacon awards recognise these as exemplars of best practice in further education.

“This recognition is testament to the innovative work of South West College and its staff across a spectrum of services, ranging from effective engagement with employers, to its work with schools right across Northern Ireland in the promotion of STEM. To win these awards, the college has faced stiff competition from right across the UK, and, in the case of the gold International ‘Green Award’, from around the entire world.”

Also speaking at the event, Mr Malachy McAleer, Director of SWC, said: “The STEM Centre and InnoTech Centre are two landmarks for industry-focused education in Northern Ireland. We are proud that our work has been benchmarked against the very best colleges in the UK. These honours belong to all our staff who have achieved exceptional standards.”

Lord Willis of Knaresborough, President of the Association of Colleges Beacon Awards Charitable Trust said: “The South West College STEM Centre project encapsulates all that is good about a Further Education college seizing the moment and recognising the huge employment and career opportunities there are in STEM-related industries.”

The additional funding of over £6.9million is being made available to the further education sector, over the next four years, through the mainstream Employer Support Programme, commencing in this financial year (2011/12).

This funding stream will ensure the further education sector has the capacity and expertise to deliver the skilled workforce required for the future in collaboration with the business sector. The fund will also increase the role the further education sector has in supporting economic development and developing entrepreneurship.

Notes to editors:

  1. The Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards is held annually, with the aim to highlight the breadth and quality of education in colleges, throughout the UK.
  2. The South West College won a Beacon Award for Economic Engagement, and an award for College/Schools partnerships. In addition, the College/Schools partnership was also awarded the President’s Award.
  3. The South West College Sustainability Team was awarded a Gold International Green Award for the college’s wide range of industrial assistance, undertaken through the InnoTech Centre and Carbon Zero NI programmes.
  4. The Department for Employment and Learning’s Innovation Fund: Employer Support Pilot Programme ran from 2008-2011 and provided over £6.6 million funding to the further education sector to support employer engagement.
  5. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Employment and Learning Communications Branch on 028 9025 7466. Out of office hours, please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699715 440 and your call will be returned.