Photo caption: Front (L-R) Belfast Met Principal & CEO Louise Ward Hunter, Tirzah Pollock (L3 Plumbing apprentice), Andrew Owens (Former apprentice and guest speaker), Sarah Keenan (L2 Plumbing apprentice), Michelle Corkey (Board of Governors Chair) Back (L-R): Damian Duffy, Belfast Met Deputy Chief Executive and Aidan Sloan, Belfast Met Chief Operating Officer.
Forty students training at Belfast Met have been recognised for their achievements in the college’s annual Apprenticeships Awards.
The annual awards are a recognition of the hard work and dedication of those undertaking an apprenticeship, as they learn on the job and from highly skilled tutors. The awards ceremony took place at Belfast Met’s e3 campus on Thursday evening, with apprentices presented with trophies in the presence of family, tutors and employers.
Apprenticeships play a huge role in contributing to the Northern Ireland economy, as part of investing in the skills base to equip people so they are ready to step into employment with the appropriate knowledge and skills.
Belfast Met is committed to offering the pathways people need to gain those skills and realise their potential as well as helping industries find the trained professionals they need.
The awards reflect the wide range of apprenticeships on offer at the college, including traditional sectors such as construction, engineering and vehicle maintenance, as well as cutting edge sectors like software, fintech, IT and advanced manufacturing.
Congratulating the award winners, College Principal and Chief Executive Offer Louise Warde Hunter said:
“It is so important to recognise the fantastic achievements of all our apprentices who are not only learning high level skills through the college, but also contributing so much to our economy.
“The number of apprenticeships has grown at Belfast Met. We currently have 700 people being trained to an exceptionally high standard and that’s evident from the achievements of tonight’s award winners.
“It has been great to celebrate those who are thriving in this learning environment, making the most out of their training and work experience. I would like to congratulate all the award winners on their achievements so far and am certain they will step into their new careers with confidence thanks to the skills and guidance gained through an apprenticeship at Belfast Met.”
Award winners were as follows:
Level 2 Apprentice Award Winners
1. Leah Bird, Business Administration, Spence & Partners
2. Thomas Cooney Magee, Brickwork, AMC Construction
3. Piaras Dunbar, Providing Financial Services, Abbey Autoline
4. Tom Gallagher, Joinery, Mivan
5. Tomas Neeson, Plumbing & Heating, CMK Mechanical
6. Jonathan Presho, Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, Audi Agnew
Level 3 Apprentice Award Winners
1. Georgina Auld, NVQ Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership, Premier Inn
2. Shannon Blair, Engineering, Spirit Aero Systems
3. Rachel Campbell, Scientific Technologies, Queen’s University
4. Daniel Clarke, Electrotechnical, Irwin Mechanical & Electrical
5. Brendan Devlin, Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, OC Autos
6. Milosz Dabrowski, Joinery, Branniff Joinery
7. Robert Darragh, Civil Engineering, FP McCann
8. Ewan Forsythe, Electrotechnical, Michael Nugent
9. Daniel Hamilton, Fabrication & Welding, Cimpina
10. Kathleen Healey, Networking Infrastructure, Queen’s University
11. John Hicks, Business Administration, Fieldfisher
12. Leah Howe, Engineering, Spirit Aero Systems
13. Rachel Johnston, Software Development, Citi
14. Harrison Jones, Fire & Security, Scan Alarms
15. Ethan Kelly, Professional Cookery, Stock Kitchen & Bar
16. Sarah Keenan, Plumbing & Heating, Equans
17. Benjamin McKeown, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Artemis
18. Cormac Murray, Engineering, Spirit Aero Systems
19. Tirzah Pollock, Plumbing & Heating, Greenview Gas
20. Jonathan Presho, Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, Audi Agnew
21. Hayleigh Russell, Providing Financial Services, Lloyds Bank & Babbington
22. Chris Smith, Business Administration, RNLI
23. Darragh Wharry, Electrotechnical, J D McGeown
24. Conn Wilson, Plumbing & Heating, Burgoyne
Higher Level Apprenticeships
1. Georgia Abernethy, Culinary Arts, Posh Nosh
2. Sharon Boardman, Childcare Management, Rockport School
3. Jay Cully, Accountancy, Allen & Overy
4. Pamela Dunseath, Business Data Management, Belfast Harbour
5. Claire Gatson, Procurement and Supply, Spirit Aero Systems
6. Orrin Heaney, Print Management, James Hamilton Group
7. Anita McKenna, Childcare Management, Mencap
8. James Magill, Cyber Security and Networking Infrastructure, WR Barnett
9. Jennifer Malone-Kelly, Software, Cloud and Application Development, NIE
10. Maria Moodie, Providing Financial Services, Investments pathway, Citi
11. Patrick O’Brien, Civil Engineering, eSmart Networks