David Beatty, Chief Executive of Thales in Belfast and Basil McCrea, Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning today launched sector skills body Semta's service in Northern Ireland, bringing together training providers, funders and Government agencies to give employers practical help, advice and easier access to resources.
Semta NI will introduce a series of initiatives aimed at tackling the skills gap in engineering, science and manufacturing across the country, working in partnership with the public and private sector.
The move brings together Semta, representing employers in Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies and the Engineering Training Council in Northern Ireland (ETCNI), an employer-led body.
Semta’s UK Operations Director, Lynn Tomkins said: "This partnership means greater collaboration between the two organisations, making it easier for firms to access the resources they need to upskill and re-skill their workforce, as well as to attract new talent.”
Gillian Winters, Semta NI National Manager said: “Performance improvement can only be achieved through the people employed by the organisation. To be successful or indeed remain successful an organisation must invest in the education, training and development of all its people. Very simply put, ‘productivity’ is the outcome of education and training.”
Youth unemployment is at a record high, around 3,000 skilled workers are due to retire in the next six years and a further estimated 6,700 employees need to improve their skills to ensure Northern Ireland can compete in the global marketplace.
Semta NI is made up of like-minded businesses across the UK representing aerospace, automotive, bioscience, electrical, electronics, maintenance, marine, mathematics, mechanical, metals and engineered metal products sectors.
It researches and represents employer skills needs to governments and works with those who plan, fund and deliver education and training to raise sector competitiveness.
For further information on how Semta can help your business, please contact Gillian Winters on 0845 643 9001 0845 643 9001 or by email .
Picture shows L – R: David Beatty – CEO, Thales Belfast; Lynn Tomkins – UK Operations Director, Semta; Gillian Winters – National Manager, Semta NI; John Leighton – Production Manager, Thales Belfast
- 25.01.12 Press Release Semta NI Launch Thales Air Defence Belfast