Other News In Brief

New £1m Household Recycling Facility Opened In Carrickfergus

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has officially opened a new £1 million household waste recycling facility in Carrickfergus.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) awarded the funding to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to build the new recycling centre.

Speaking at the official opening of Sullatober Household Recycling Centre, Minister Poots said: "This £1million investment is part of our Household Waste Recycling Collaborative Change Programme and brings the total invested so far to almost £5million. The most recent Northern Ireland household waste recycling statistics were published on 28 April 2022, for the period 1 October 2021 – 31 December 2021. These figures reveal that the household waste recycling figure for the last 12 months is 50.2%. I am determined to build on this success with investments like this, which will help to increase recycling, as well as the range of materials that can be recycled."

DAERA Staff Raise Vital Funds For Air Ambulance NI

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, staff, families and friends, challenged themselves in April to increase their personal daily steps and raise valuable funds for Air Ambulance NI.

The inspiration behind this challenge was Kevin Murphy, who was highly esteemed by his colleagues in DAERA and by his community in Magherafelt. He passed away unexpectedly in December 2021. His colleagues wanted to do something positive to commemorate his life and in doing so raised £9,680 for this local life-saving charity.

Thanking the staff whose efforts raised the money, Kevin's wife Siobhan Murphy said: "One of Kevin's mottos was to "Live every day as if it were your last". He did just that by being very active. He would be very proud indeed of what this challenge has managed to achieve for so many."

Air Ambulance NI works in direct partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, in delivering the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) for the region. The service operates seven days a week, from 7am – 7pm and since its inception in July 2017, HEMS have been tasked to over 2,916 incidents.

DAERA Minister Poots MLA also thanked his staff, saying: "I feel very proud of my staff and their families and friends who challenged themselves in April to raise these funds and to be more active. In total, 114, 233,729 steps were recorded by most of those who took part. That equates to 1,831 marathons or 47,972 miles. The physical and mental health benefits they gained in this challenge have been fantastic."

Breige Mulholland, Air Ambulance NI Head of Operations & Finance said: "I want to thank DAERA for their tremendous support over the month of April. The first quarter of 2022 has been the busiest since the service began, with an average of two call outs each day. This donation will help to fund the service for nearly two days, potentially saving the lives, brains and limbs of four individuals right here in Northern Ireland. That could be anyone's family member in the future. It is such an amazing gesture in Kevin Murphy's memory."

More Training Places Created In Seventh PwC Assured Skills Academy

Twenty new training places have been announced in the seventh PwC Professional Services Assured Skills Academy.

Funded by the Department for the Economy, this PwC Professional Services Assured Skills Academy will see participants receive eight weeks industry-relevant pre-employment training delivered by Belfast Met through a combination of attended and virtual learning.

This exciting opportunity is open to people who have been awarded a Level 5 qualification (HND or Foundation degree) and some experience in an office / banking / professional environment or a 2:2 degree in any discipline. Successful Academy participants will be part of Operate, PwC's operational delivery business which provides future-focused solutions to challenging operational issues.

Encouraging those who met the entry criteria to apply, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons said: "This Academy is an excellent opportunity for people with a degree in any discipline, or a relevant Level 5 qualification plus experience, to reskill for a career in professional services and potentially gain employment with one of the largest professional advisor firms in Northern Ireland.

"Strengthening our local skills base will play a key part of our economic growth and my Department's Assured Skills Academies have a proven successful track record in providing people with high quality training while helping employers access the skilled people they need to grow. These training places will position participants strongly to compete for a job with PwC in this exciting sector and I would encourage anyone who is eligible to consider applying now."

Candidates selected to join the Academy will learn and develop skills and knowledge across project management, business analysis, commercial awareness, financial accounting, Microsoft and Google tools, data visualisation and design thinking.