Bombardier boost job skills in West Belfast

Bombardier Aerospace has announced two more programmes as part of a major skills initiative to improve employment prospects for people in the West Belfast/Greater Shankill area.

The programmes will focus on improving engineering skills, as well as adult literacy and numeracy skills, and are part of Bombardier’s support for the West Belfast/Greater Shankill Task Force recommendations.

The initiative will provide training for up to 150 unemployed young people and adults over the next year.

Announcing the programmes, Michael Ryan, vice-president and general manager, Bombardier Aerospace in Northern Ireland, said: “We are committed to supporting the economic regeneration of this area which has the highest unemployment levels in Northern Ireland. Last month we announced the first phase of this major initiative – a training programme directly linked to our Adult Craft Trainee 2002 intake. We are announcing an Engineering Skills for Industry programme and an Essential Skills for Working programme.

"All three programmes are being carried out in conjunction with the Department for Employment and Learning, the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, the Engineering Training Council, Impact Training (Greater Shankill), and Springvale Training (Springfield Road and Springbank Estate).

“Our objective is to help improve the skills base in the area so that employment prospects are significantly improved. We also encourage companies from other sectors to initiate similar schemes.”

Welcoming the introduction of these programmes, Carmel Hanna, Minister for Employment and Learning, said: “One of my highest priorities is to help people, particularly those disadvantaged within the labour market, to become more employable and find jobs.

"I am, therefore, delighted to be associated with these training initiatives by Bombardier Aerospace. They clearly demonstrate Bombardier’s commitment to addressing the needs of the people of West Belfast and the Greater Shankill in a direct and practical way. Michael Ryan and his team are to be congratulated for their tangible contribution to improving the job prospects of so many people in these areas.”

Bombardier’s Engineering Skills for Industry course will equip people with basic engineering skills and will be an industry recognised standard, linked to units within a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). It will involve the establishment of a Bombardier School of Mechanical Engineering within the new Belfast Institute complex at Millfield, and will include work experience and visits to Bombardier and other engineering companies.

It is envisaged that all three training programmes will get underway in the autumn.

(MB)