County Antrim-based companies Terex (www.terex.com) and McAuley Engineering (www.mcauleyengineering.com) are collaborating with Northern Regional College (NRC) to give 10 trainees the opportunity to become skilled in welding, by means of a seven-week pre-employment Skills Academy at NRC’s Ballymena campus (supported by the Department for the Economy).

After five weeks of training at the college, the students will undertake a two-week placement at one of the companies.

Ann Williamson, head of employer skills at the DfE, said: “This pre-employment Skills Academy will give participants the skills they need to become a welder plus valuable experience in the workplace.

“The engineering sector is hugely important to the local economy, and the academy will provide employment opportunities in the local community, while ensuring that companies have access to the talent they need.”

Paddy Wallace, NRC’s assistant head of engineering (www.nrc.ac.uk) , said: “We are very pleased to collaborate with the DfE and businesses to deliver this valuable opportunity to local people.

“Academies of this type give participants a real-world learning experience and an opportunity to secure full-time employment.

“NRC staff have extensive industrial experience, matched with theoretical teaching skills, to deliver a first-class programme to all candidates.”