Ambassador status was awarded to 50 leading businesses in Northern Ireland who demonstrate a significant commitment to the development of the future workforce for their sectors at an event at Beech Hill Country House Hotel today, 23 June 2011. The initiative is headed up by School Employer Connections, a social enterprise set up by business leaders in 2001 to establish meaningful connections between schools and employers so that employers could play a part in preparing students for the world of work.
While many people now struggle to find employment in Northern Ireland, a number of sectors (life and health sciences, engineering and manufacturing, digital technology, financial services, hospitality and tourism) have been identified as having workforce gaps, which could reach crisis level in the next few years as these areas develop. The ambassador businesses will be an example of best practice for the rest of their sector and they will continue to lead the way in which they engage with students and highlight the range of exciting careers in their sector.
During the event, Director of School Employer Connections, Máire Gallagher, highlighted past achievements in building bridges between schools and the business community, the current situation and strategies for the future. She says:
“These businesses demonstrate, through consistent participation in our programmes, their commitment to workforce development and corporate social responsibility and we felt it was important, as part of our tenth anniversary celebrations to recognise their work in this area.”
Representatives from priority sectors were also on hand to talk to the audience about their own experiences including Simon Hunter from Hunter Apparel Solutions, which was named as an ambassador for the Engineering and Manufacturing sector. Simon explains why a business in the increasingly pressured textiles industry would feel it is so important to take time to work with teenagers:
“We not only have the opportunity to influence and prepare our potential future workforce, but it is a great way to develop our existing staff as they share their expertise and develop new skills. By raising the profile of Hunter Apparel Solutions, we can attract the very best talent, all while giving something back to the community and supporting our corporate social responsibility goals.”
Check out some photos from the event below!
