CONNECTED EXTRA Issue 4

EXTRA ISSUE 4

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF LONDONDERRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Accounting Lecturer Clodagh Hegarty appointed as Chair of ACCA Ireland Clodagh Hegarty, Lecturer in Accounting, in the Department of Global Business and Enterprise has been appointed as Chair of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Ireland.

Clodagh is based in the Ulster University Business School on the Magee campus and during her term as Chairman, she will support the ACCA Ireland committee in delivering strategic objectives throughout the year in the area of education, social media and the continued delivery of ACCA’s school initiative.

ACCA is a large global professional accountancy body with more than 208,000 fully qualified members and 503,000 students worldwide, and the Ireland branch is made up of over 20,000 members and students.

The committee is elected at the AGM each year for a one-year term, and as Chairman, Clodagh will oversee seven members’ network panels. Every year, the Committee of ACCA Ireland organises a diverse annual programme of events, offering members and guests the opportunity to network, develop skills and update knowledge whilst raising the profile of ACCA and its members throughout Ireland. Clodagh looks forward to representing the committee to build local relationships with the business community and education sector in order to raise the profile of the profession and our members in the region.

For more information on the work of ACCA Ireland, contact Clodagh by email to c.hegarty1@ulster.ac.uk

Young People Recognised at the Derry Credit Union Young People’s Awards The 2019 Derry Credit Union Young People’s Awards took place in the City Hotel on Monday, 15th April. In front of 250 guests, 32 individuals and 13 groups were recognised for making a positive difference in their schools and communities, setting an example to others, and encouraging their peers to strive for their best.

All nominees received certificates while runners-up and winners received prizes and plaques.

Originally developed by the credit union’s Youth Committee to highlight the positive contribution of young people to the city, the scheme has, in the past 15 years, paid tribute to nearly 700 young people.

This year, guests were treated to a keynote speech by local entrepreneur Aoife Doherty, of Sass Halo, who delivered a motivational talk which encouraged the young people to have the courage to work hard and follow their dreams. Guests were entertained by Robert Goodman’s youth jazz band consisting of local music pupils, the Studio 2 Dancers and local singing sensations the Doherty Sisters. A prize draw for Easter Eggs and a finger buffet concluded the event.

But the highlight of the evening was when youth committee members opened the envelopes to announce the runners-up and winners in each of the seven categories as well as the winner of the 2019 Youth Committee Award.

The 2019 Winners were: Contribution to the Arts – Caoishe McLaughlin, Lisneal College Language Leaders Business & Entrepreneurship – ACT Enterprise Carer – Brianna McDaid Courage – Dylan Wade Leadership – Rossa Smallman, Cloud Mind Sport – Veronica O’Neill, Bud Fitness Volunteering – Caitlin O’Connor, Diocesan Ambassadors Thornhill College Youth Committee Award – Sean Davis

Business In The Community is holding a seminar aimed at business leaders and senior managers who wish to raise awareness of, and address, unconscious bias in the workplace.

DATE: 06 Jun 2019 TIME: 10:00 - 11:30 am LOCATION: Bank of Ireland, 15 Strand Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 7BT PRICE: BITC members £25 + VAT; Non-members £35 + VAT About this Event There is an increasing requirement for Unconscious Bias awareness in the workplace, as Business Leaders and Senior Management are encouraged to monitor their business behaviour more closely.

Bringing inclusion into business development conversation is critical to securing bottom-line results.In the shift towards conscious inclusion, Walter Hegarty (Walter Hegarty Solicitors) and Superintendent Gordon McCalmont (PSNI) will outline how the impact of unconscious bias can severely challenge, and have profound effects on, management decisions. If we understand some of the many ways in which our biases can seep into our work behaviours, we may be better equipped to improve those behaviours.

The seminar content will include: Unconscious bias case studies Recognising biases and blockages The shift to conscious inclusion Enabling personal investment to create an inclusive culture Q&A panel Booking your place is essential as places are limited to 12. Book online at https://www.bitcni.org.uk/post-events/ unconscious-bias-in-the-workplace-seminar/ Another accountancy practice is now on their cloud accounting journey thanks to Kieran Phelan FCA, founder and managing director of Cloud 360 Accounting.

A medium-sized practice based in Omagh have just completed the Digital Transformation Programme provided by Kieran.

The programme is specifically aimed at providing consultancy, coaching and mentoring to other accounting firms across the country, helping them get up to speed with cloud accounting systems for both their own benefit and for the benefit of their clients. Cloud accounting is now the main tool driving the accounting profession and firms are seeking help on how to start using cloud systems, how to onboard their clients to cloud accounting tools and how to change their internal procedures for maximum efficiency. One staff member attending the programme commented that “I really enjoyed the session, I got a great insight to the workings of Xero which was very beneficial but, even more than that, made me feel positive about making the switch over to digital. Your comments on attitude/approach to clients/mindset really hit home. It was great all round, you are very engaging on the subject and the time flew by. Thank you!”

To see more about the services Kieran offers to other accounting firms, visit Kieran’s new website at www. kieranphelan.com

DS Store Eglinton recently held a Charity fashion show for the launch of the new DS 3 CROSSBACK - which is the second of the new generation of DS products, where Savoir-Faire Meets Advanced Technology. This luxury compact SUV combines refinement and advanced technology, with its striking design, DS 3 CROSSBACK stands out as modern, sophisticated and elegant – hence a fashion show was the perfect launch!

Local clothing boutiques Inside Out Limavady and Different Class Menswear partnered with DS Store Eglinton, as did Nebo Luxury Fine Art by Steven Hanna, who had his outstanding work on display. The evening was hosted by DS Brand Ambassador and Cool FM Breakfast host, Pete Snodden and lots of fantastic prizes were won on the evening, but most importantly, £1900 was raised through kind donations for DS Store Eglinton’s chosen charity - Children’s Heartbeat Trust.

Andrew Miller, Dealer Principal commented: “The DS 3 CROSSBACK fashion show was a fantastic evening, many thanks to all our partners who were involved and a special thanks for the generosity of all on the evening, raising a fantastic £1900 for our chosen charity, Children’s Heartbeat Trust, who do such fantastic work!”

The DS 3 CROSSBACK is available to test drive now at DS Store Eglinton, wo why not drop by today, we look forward to welcoming you! www.dsstoreni.com Tel: 02871 812277.

Andrew Miller (Dealer Principal) at DS Store Eglinton presenting a cheque for £1900 from the DS 3 CROSSBACK launch Charity Fashion Show to Lynne Cowan at Children’s Heartbeat Trust.

DYCW ANNOUNCES NEW S.E.E.D.S. YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMME Derry Youth and Community Workshop, established in 1978 as a social enterprise with care, respect, equality, independence and success as the core values we strive for in meeting the needs of the local community. The S.E.E.D.s programme delivered as part of Derry Youth and Community Workshop’s extensive training provision is designed for young people not in Employment, Education or Training.

A tailored mentoring programme aimed at developing attitudes, competencies, values and social skills that will carry a young person forward to successful adulthood. Through the approach of informal learning, accredited training, 1-1 mentoring and a person centred support plan; young people are supported with tools and choices to take the next positive steps forward.

Participants can take part in job tasting opportunities, volunteering opportunities, Essential Skills Mathematics and English support, CV building, application support and interview skills. Within the last year, S.E.E.D.s has facilitated almost 43% of young people into employment, with a further 30% into further education or training.

The Hospitality Sector across the Derry/Londonderry area is booming, with increasing tourism numbers creating new opportunities for a long-term career.

We are now delivering a City & Guilds Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Working in the Food Service Industry; targeted at individuals with limited or no knowledge/experience of working in the hospitality sector with opportunity to job taste/work sample in local hotels and restaurants. Upon completion of this qualification participants will be able to: • Understand and demonstrate suitable hospitality and catering skills, personal skills, attitudes, thinking and behaviour skills • Confidently undertake an interview and complete an application For more information contact: Derry Youth & Community Workshop, 6 Society Street, Derry. Tel: 02871 268891

As part of the International Year of the Salmon, Loughs Agency hosted a celebration event at its Headquarters in Derry~Londonderry last month which was hosted by TV presenter Joe Mahon. There was lots to celebrate including the 21st Anniversary of the historic signing of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement, two decades of Loughs Agency and the launch of SeaMonitor, a ground breaking research project funded by the EU INTERREG VA Programme, led by Loughs Agency.

Since the implementation of the 1998 Agreement, Loughs Agency has been protecting, enhancing and improving the quality of the cross border fisheries in the Foyle and Carlingford Areas. Over the last 20 years the Agency has gone from strength to strength. Working closely with its Sponsor Departments and other stakeholders, the Agency has successfully delivered a multitude of projects and programmes aimed at creating better environments, supporting sustainable development and protecting the rich, diverse natural environment, fisheries and resources under its care.

Speaking at the event Sharon McMahon, Designated Officer at Loughs Agency said “We in the Agency are very conscious that globally, there is a demand for collaborative structures to ensure effective and ethical stewardship and protection of some of our most precious and valued shared environmental and natural resources. We are very fortunate that we are the product of the foresight of both Governments on this island, North and South, that such a structure was and remains necessary for the effective conservation, protection, enhancement and promotion of such amazing but fragile environmental assets.”

During the event, guests were informed of the achievements and current work of the Loughs Agency including how the Agency has developed and deployed an internationally recognised evidence based fisheries management approach for Atlantic salmon to enable sustainable management decisions. Other elements of the Loughs Agency work was celebrated with speakers sharing the achievements made in areas such as conservation, protection, restoration, aquaculture, marine tourism, angling development, environmental education and community engagement.

FinTrU launches #WalledCityOnWallStreet campaign A new FinTrU Assured Skills Academy in Derry/Londonderry is offering 20 training places in financial services for graduates. Funded by the Department for the Economy, the latest FinTrU Assured Skills Academy will provide successful applicants with six weeks of industry-relevant pre-employment training at North West Regional College and Ulster University. Participants who complete the training successfully are guaranteed a job interview with FinTrU. Leah McStravick, FinTrU Academy Manager, said: “This is our third Assured Skills Academy in the North West as we look to build on the success of our Academies to date in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry.

The six-week course at North West Regional College will provide participants with real world skills in fields including compliance, risk, legal, operations, KYC and consultancy.

“To date we have employed around 215 people who have graduated through Assured Skills Academies. With no experience required, this is a fantastic opportunity for graduates in the North West to start a career in financial services and we look forward to welcoming the next cohort of successful applicants.”

37 companies employing 226 staff benefit from major telecoms upgrade One of Northern Ireland’s largest and most successful social enterprises, The Workspace Group, has laid the groundwork for a new era of business growth after investing in the transformation of its telecommunications network to support more than 37 businesses and 226 employees.

Partially funded by the UK Government’s Gigabit Voucher Scheme and completed in partnership with Northern Ireland’s largest independent telecoms provider, Rainbow Communications, Workspace has rolled out a new super high-speed digital data network.

By converging its landline network with a new highspeed network, The Workspace Group will benefit from greater productivity and reliability; with the cost savings will start to accumulate immediately.

Workspace provides business support services to a wide variety of new and growing small and medium-sized businesses.

Adele McIvor, Marketing & Business Development Manager for the Workspace Group, said: “Northern Ireland’s SMEs remain the lifeblood of our local and regional economy and are vital for maintaining and growing employment.

“We are delighted with the transformation achieved and by the confident expertise shown by Rainbow Communications in delivering this major project and their support in helping us achieve our objectives.”

Stuart Carson, Sales and Marketing Director at Rainbow said: “SMEs across Northern Ireland are fast realising the benefits of transitioning from in-house data and systems management to cloud computing. It’s highly efficient, saves money and future-proofs in uncertain times.

“We are delighted that Workspace, which is visionary in its outlook and committed to growth, engaged us to spearhead this important.”

Software Tech Company, Modern Democracy, Celebrate Successful Delivery of Modern Polling Solution in 2019 UK Elections Derry company, Modern Democracy, is celebrating the successful deployment of its revolutionary new digital technology in the UK’s 2019 local elections.

Established in 2014, Modern Democracy already employs a team of 20. Its award winning Modern Polling platform, the first of it’s kind, was successfully deployed in 143 Polling Stations in England.

Modern Polling brings an online electoral register to the Polling Station and a dashboard with real time information displaying statistics such as number of ballots and voter turnout.

Founder Siobhan Donaghy says she owes the successful delivery of the Modern Polling software to a loyal and dedicated team: “Our people developed the cutting edge software and delivered first class services to our customers. Plus. We’re backed by incredible local support of InvestNI. We also have the confidence of our investors, a number of NI based business angels, and recently completed a £750,000 funding round which was supported by Techstart and Crescent Capital.”

Modern Democracy employs more than 20 people in Derry City and continues to expand. Right now, that expansion is creating a number of exciting new vacancies for talented individuals. For more information please visit www.moderndemocracy.com or email info@moderndemocracy.com.

In Your Space Circus Takes Back the Streets In Your Space Circus (IYSC) is delighted to be running a brand-new crosscommunity Street Arts project for the young people of Derry-Londonderry, Strabane and Donegal. Teaming up with Jump NI, UV Arts and Create Dance, IYSC is delivering a project involving circus, parkour, street dance and graffiti art, culminating in a city-wide festival in July, celebrating our streets.

The exciting Take Back the Streets project will also be aligning with Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Youth 19 campaign which is set to work with hundreds of young people this year, giving them ownership of awe inspiring arts and cultural events across the region.

Take Back the Streets is funded by the PEACE IV Programme which is supported by the European Union, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

The festival aims to showcase our city’s young talent, whilst questioning and exploring the ideas of identity, belonging and borders, all relevant topics at this time of uncertainty over our own border.

It is a completely free project, grounded in good relations themes, and with the North West’s young talent at its heart, open to residents of Derry-Londonderry, Donegal and Strabane districts. Participants do not need any prior experience, but need to come with an open mind and a willingness to get involved and push their comfort zone.

This exciting opportunity will involve a number of workshops, a week-long academy at the start of July, and the Youth Street Art Festival which will showcase all the young people’s work alongside industry professionals.

The project is open to all young people aged 12-24, and in particular we are very keen to reach children and young people who, for whatever reason, don’t get a chance to take part in something like this.

Cath McBride, Company Director for In Your Space Circus said: “We are absolutely delighted to be delivering this project for local young people, and to be working alongside such dynamic and exciting arts-based companies. We anticipate that the project will have significant legacies for those taking part and may lead to further involvement in events and festivals such as Carnival of Colours and Derry-Londonderry’s Halloween celebrations. We would also aspire for the project to enthuse young people to pursue careers in the arts and the creative industries. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in a future in performance or events, this might be right up your street - it’s going to be a belter!”

There are still FREE places available - if you have any questions or need more information, contact streetarts@ inyourspaceni.org or please give the office a ring on 028 7137 7113.

Positive Job Market in Londonderry amidst Challenging Backdrop The latest NIJobs.com Jobs Report with Ulster Bank reveals encouraging news for jobseekers in Londonderry despite local political and Brexit deadlock.

Jobs in Derry are up 23% year on year for the first three months of this year with leading locally based employers such as Concentrix, Allstate, Kofax, Radius Housing, MJM Marine, Sperrin Metal Storage Solutions and more all actively recruiting in the North West.

Across NI, software developers, Chefs, Maintenance Engineers and Accountants are all in demand with the NIJobs.com Job Report for Q1 indicating fresh record high with listings rising by 13% y/y and over one-third (36%) in four years.

Sam McIlveen, General Manager of NIJobs.com comments “Our data indicates that many employment categories are performing well, companies are investing in business development and hiring staff for a wide range of roles.

However, skills shortages are still an issue for some sectors currently and our research indicates that jobs in Science and IT will increase even more over the next ten years so action needs to be taken now to provide the skilled workforce these jobs will require.”

“The marketplace is extremely competitive right now, so candidates are becoming more selective when looking for a good employer. Brexit again may also be a contributing factor making people more cautious when considering their next career move. We would be advising companies to continue to focus on how they are recruiting the right people in order to sustain business growth long-term.”

Interested in exploring new opportunities to grow and expand your business in overseas markets?

Invest Northern Ireland is partnering with Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce to host a Learn Grow Excel, Explore Export Conference to encourage local business growth through exploring exporting.

As part of the event you will learn: • Learn practial export advice from industry experts • Explore drivers for growing your business • Network with other growth and export focused businesses • Explore overseas opportunities with 30 international trade advisors • Learn how Invest NI can assist you with your export journey As well as networking with industry experts and local export focused businesses, there will also be an opportunity to pre book one to one meetings with up to 30 of Invest NI’s International Trade Advisors, who cover 60 countries across Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa.

To register visit https://myini.investni.com/events

AISR TO OFFER CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS The Academy for International Science and Research is able to offer workshops to enable employees in local businesses and companies to further their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). These workshops are tailor-made for different types of businesses in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Through CPD workshops, employees will acquire job-specific skills to enhance their performance in the workplace.

Developing CPD workshops for businesses is a key aspect of AISR Learning’s innovative approach. AISR Learning designs programmes for CPD to enable companies to help their employees with problem-solving, analysis and critical thinking skills, preparing those in the workplace for further learning.

Critical thinking skills are honed together with industry representatives in order to enhance employability in industry-specific areas.

Because of its innovative approach, AISR Learning provides a dynamic learning and workshop environment.

Clients participate in tailor-made projects that promote the transfer of knowledge and best practice. AISR Learning also engages in a variety of outreach activities to promote public engagement with B-STEMM careers, including talks, workshops, demonstrations and promotional activities. The Academy is currently planning a series of CPD workshops to take place in local business premises.

If you would like further details and to explore ways in which AISR Learning can contribute to your company’s CPD activities, contact details and more information can be found at www.aisr.org.uk.

AISR receives ASIC accreditation for learning The Academy for International Science and Research (AISR Learning) is pleased to announce that it has received the stamp of approval after inspection by from the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC).

The inspection grade was a commendation for the Academy. For the following areas the Academy was commended by ASIC during our last inspection: Management and Staff Resources; Learning and Teaching; Course Deliver; Student Welfare; Marketing and Recruitment. ASIC is an independent, government approved accreditation body.

ASIC specialises in the accreditation of schools, colleges, universities, training organisations and online and distance education providers, both in the UK and overseas. AISR Learning is ISO 9001:2015 certified to ensure high quality service and quality assurance.

The ASIC accreditation process examines an academic institution as a whole including the administration systems, teaching and delivery of the courses to ensure that the required standards are being met. ASIC accreditation is recognised by the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI), part of the Home Office, as a qualifying requirement for UK institutions wishing to enrol international students (from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland) on the Shortterm study visa and Standard Visitor visa.

ASIC has also been invited to accredit many overseas institutions and has undertaken accreditations in countries across the globe in Asia, America, Australia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Amongst others, ASIC is recognised by UKVI in the UK as an approved accrediting body, is a member of the CHEA International Quality Group in the USA, and are members of the British Quality Foundation.

Learning Pool acquires HT2 Labs to create unique Learning Experience and Analytics Solutions Leading online learning company, Learning Pool, has today announced the acquisition of HT2 Labs, the Oxfordshirebased learning innovation company best known for its marketleading Learning Locker and Curatr products. HT2 Labs, led

by Dr Ben Betts, is the third business to join the Learning Pool Group in the last three years following the acquisitions of Mind Click in Nottingham and MediaCorp in Glasgow.

HT2 is a true pioneer in learning technologies, with a well earned reputation for creating leading edge learning solutions that use modern technology to deliver innovative business outcomes. Globally, HT2 Labs has more than twelve thousand installations of Learning Locker, making it the world’s most-installed Learning Record Store (LRS), and its Curatr Learning Experience Platform (LXP) scooped gold for ‘Best advance in Social Learning’ in the Brandon Hall Group Excellence awards last year. The company recently won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation and their incorporation strengthens Learning Pool’s own portfolio of innovative technology whilst further enhancing domestic and international operations with offices near Oxford, UK and Boston, Massachusetts.

Learning Pool is already an HT2 Labs partner; reselling Learning Locker to customers and using the technology as a core part of Headstream; the company’s own next-generation LXP. This acquisition will see the rapid deployment of the world’s first technology platform that offers genuine learning in the workflow through social learning and curation, AI-recommendation and natural language processing, advanced analytics and chatbot technology.

Speaking about the acquisition, Learning Pool’s CEO Paul McElvaney said, “ We’re delighted to welcome Ben, Alan and the HT2 Labs team to Learning Pool. We’ve been admirers of HT2 Labs’ products for a long time and are excited to be working even more closely with a team who share our passion for innovation; creating positive business impact and driving customer service. Our ambition remains to be at the forefront of L&D innovation; delivering world-class learning technologies and content for our growing, diverse network of customers. By bringing HT2 Labs into the Learning Pool Group, we’re positioning ourselves to fully deliver on that.”

Ben Betts, CEO at HT2 Labs said, “Joining forces with Learning Pool will enable us to quickly deliver the innovation we’re known for but at a much greater scale. Both businesses have a passion for learning and an incredible focus on delivering exceptional customer service and measurable results for our clients around the world. Our vision is effective, seamless, right-sized e-learning delivered at the moment of need on the most appropriate device, using the most appropriate learning approach. The combined product roadmap we’ve drawn up means that we can make that future available to customers right now.”

Ben is reinvesting in Learning Pool as part of the transaction and will join the executive team at Learning Pool as Chief Product Officer with lead responsibility for the company’s innovation strategy. Central to this will be the creation of Learning Pool Labs, an ambitious initiative that offers Learning Pool staff and customers an opportunity to investigate real-world problems and develop pioneering learning solutions that improve business outcomes.

Find out more about Learning Pool at www. learningpool.com.

Double win for NWRC at City’s Business awards North West Regional College (NWRC) has scooped two prestigious awards at the local annual Business Awards.

The college’s Business Support Centre picked up the top gong for their Contribution to the North West Economy (sponsored by City of Derry Airport), while the Marketing & PR team won the Best use of Marketing, Digital and/or Social Media award (sponsored by BHP Security Solutions).

Patrick McKeown, Director of Finance and Economic Engagement at North West Regional College said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to both of our teams on the huge success achieved at Friday night’s North West Business Awards. To receive two awards on the night is deserved recognition of the sterling work that takes place across all five of our campuses.

“The level of professionalism, skills, and commitment in both our Marketing & PR and Business Support teams is a credit to our college.

“I would commend all the local businesses who were nominated for these awards, many of whom we work closely with. I would also like to congratulate the City Centre Initiative and Derry and Strabane District Council on a very successful event.

“We want to position ourselves as a key driver for economic growth across the greater North West region, not only in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area but also in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area, where we have campuses in Limavady.

“We are also delighted to announce that we will sponsor the ‘Technology Business of the Year’ award at the Causeway Chamber Awards which take place on Friday 21 June, which shows our commitment to the continued development of the whole North West and Causeway Coast region. We offer our best wishes to all the nominees.”

NWRC’s Business Support team fosters a culture of innovation and industry upskilling, supporting the creation of jobs for the North West. The Business Support Centre responds to industry through training and innovation.

Examples of successes and contribution that the NWRC BSC has made to the NW economy and the business community are; Workforce Development and Up-Skilling, Bespoke tailored training aimed at meeting specific needs of companies; Innovation and Research & Development Support and Foreign Direct Investment Support.

North West Regional College’s Marketing & PR team were commended for the vigorous and bold approach they took to marketing communications in support of its student recruitment activities and campaigns, and the outcomes have resulted in record volumes of media coverage, increases in course applications from College events, and significant growth in social media reach and engagement. The College’s ‘Your Future Starts Here’ brand is now an established identity within the areas of learning, training and education across this city and region.

Issue 9 Out Now!

Read oNline on the chamber website www.londonderrychamber.co.uk/connected-mag

NWRC’s PBL awards inspire new ‘Olympic Village’ design for Sports Complex A student studying for a career in Architecture at North West Regional College (NWRC) has won the top prize at the 2019 Project Based Learning (PBL) awards. Ryan McCracken picked up first prize at the awards ceremony for his plans to redesign Templemore Sports Complex, and will now go on to compete at the Northern Ireland Sectoral PBL awards with the four runners-up from NWRC. Project Based Learning at the college enables students to undertake real life skills projects working directly with local industry. This is second year the awards have run at the college, inspiring students to be innovative, creative and take that first step in work directly with local businesses and employers.

Ryan, who is the final year of a Foundation Degree in Architectural Technology at NWRC, created what he describes as an ‘Olympic Style Village’ masterplan for the Cityside Leisure Centre, designed to provide the most up to date facilities for the local community, as well as encourage more athletes and sports men and women into the city.

He explained: “Derry City & Strabane District Council requested me to look into plans to design a sports leisure centre for the city which can accommodate an extensive range of school and sports activities that can benefit the whole community and the surrounding areas.

“The Templemore site has huge potential for a sports complex masterplan as it is currently a sporting area.

“It would be fantastic for this area of the city to have a sports complex that it deserves and the building that I have designed is a new sports hub for Templemore. If this proposed redevelopment of Templemore goes ahead it will boost the local area massively helping to sustain local sporting groups, people within the city and the local areas around it. It will also encourage athletes from around the country to visit this sporting area and that can only be a good thing in the long run for the city.”

The PBL Awards which took place at the college’s Strand Road campus were sponsored by Connected Talent, Seagate Technologies, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Enterprise North West and Foyleside Shopping Centre.

The judges saw a diverse number of entries ranging from a revolutionary Hydraulic Robotic arm, to a study into whether Eczema creams really work.

The Innovation Award, went to William Whiteside, Weronika Sekula and Gillian Goodman for their project - Soil microorganisms the solution to our plastic problems. The Entrepreneurial award went to Tina Downey and Kylie McGavigan for their invention – the Speedy Recovery Bandicator. The pair, who study Applied Science at the college created a wound dressing that changes colour when infection is present.

The Communication award went to Fidgety fish story sacks, designed by Maria Bonner, Shauna Doherty, Natalia Wroblewska, Kornelia Krawczyk and Caoimhe McCallion. This resource was designed to promote the communication skills of children in their early years.

The Academic achievement award went to the entire Level 3 year 1 Diploma in Art and Design class for their Make Art Not War Project.

Annette Smith, Project Based Learning Mentor and Co-Ordinator, North West Regional College, thanked all of the participants and sponsors for supporting the event. She said: “To be able to work on live projects has been hard work for the students, but it has been a thoroughly enriching experience for all of them. It is fantastic to see their work now completed. The judges were overwhelmed by the level of innovation and creativity in the projects, and indeed said that many of them have the potential to go on and be further developed.

“This event was designed to be more than a competition. It gave the students the opportunity to further develop their skills in planning, problem-solving, communication and presentation which are key outcomes of the experience.”

Award winning musician ROE to share stage with 250 learners at NWRC’s Best in FE celebrations An award winning musician who chose to study at North West Regional College (NWRC) after achieving straight her GCSEs, will be the special guest at the college’s Best in Further Education (FE) celebrations at the Millennium Forum next week.

NWRC graduate Roisin Donald (ROE), who studied the BTEC Level 3 in Music at Strand Road campus, and later the Higher National Certificate in Music, has gone on to support some of the world’s most famous music stars including Snow Patrol and Kodaline, at their live gigs.

The 20 year-old multi-instrumentalist from Derry was also named Best Emerging Artist at the 2018 Northern Ireland Music Prize, and last year performed on the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury.

Her latest single Down Days was released on February 1st, and featured on a number of prominent streaming playlists including “New Music Friday UK” and “New Pop Revolution” on Spotify, racking up 20,000 streams in its first week of release.

But despite her huge success blazing a trail for young female indie artists across the world, home, is an important place for ROE. Her voice was recently part of UK wide advertising campaign to promote her hometown, and ROE is delighted to return to her roots at NWRC, to be part of the Best in FE celebration event.

The NWRC graduate, who will sing live at the Best in FE celebrations, added that the support she received at the college was pivotal in helping to shape her music career.

She said: “The Music department at NWRC were so supportive to me. They helped me develop myself as a musician and I felt like I could always go to them for advice and guidance.

“NWRC is where I met my now manager/producer Liam Craig who is also the head of Level 3 Music Technology, so without NWRC I wouldn’t be where I am now. It’s helped me become a better musician by giving me the experience I needed and helped me meet so many of the people who have supported me throughout my career so far.”

Hosted by BBC presenter and weatherman, Barra Best, the Best in FE Awards will celebrate the achievements of more than 250 Further Education graduates from the College’s campuses across Derry~Londonderry, Strabane and Limavady.

The students will be accompanied by their families and friends and will be joined by other special and invited guests.

The event is always one of the highlights in the College calendar, and will involve the presentation of certificates and prizes to students from the four main curriculum departments across all College campuses.

NWRC Staff and students raise £15,150 for Foyle Search and Rescue Staff and students at North West Regional College have raised a staggering £15,150 for Foyle Search and Rescue.

The money was raised through a number of student and staff fundraising activities which took place across College campuses during the past year.

These activities included College Craft Fair, College Cookery Book, Christmas Festivities, Cake Sales & Quiz Nights, 5K Run and Foyleside Roadshow. Pictured presenting the cheque to Pat Carlin, Vice-President of Foyle Search & Rescue are Donna Hyndman and Danny McFeely from North West Regional College’s Health & Well-being team.

Riada Resourcing have been shortlisted for 2 Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Business Awards Awards Riada Resourcing has been shortlisted for 2 awards at the upcoming Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Business Awards, in partnership with Randox Health, taking place on Friday 21st June. The 2019 business awards recognise the growth, success and passion of the Causeway Coast and Glens business community as it continues to reach new standards of excellence locally, regionally and internationally. Riada specialise in temporary and permanent recruitment across Northern Ireland. With 102 permanent placements last year and 690 temporary workers payrolled every week we are honoured that our dedication, drive and commitment to excellence has been recognised and shortlisted for ‘Best Marketing Initiative’ and ‘Training and Development’ Awards at this years event.

Sponsored by Armstrong Medical, the ‘Best Marketing Initiative’ Award celebrates companies who utilise a variety of marketing disciplines in fresh and exciting ways. Over the past 24 months they have achieved significant growth due to our delivery of innovative marketing techniques which have contributed to securing 4 major contracts. Combined with their existing long term client base, they have been able to deliver cost effective, recruitment strategies to companies with a turnover of over £400 million per annum. They are delighted their Marketing has been recognised as a strong business development tool, successfully promoting their company culture and impacting positively on our turnover, growth and candidate database.

The ‘Training and Development’ Award, sponsored by Ulster University highlights local companies who successfully promote and implement a learning and development culture to achieve outstanding organisational and individual success. As a company Riada Resourcing are passionate about nurturing employee talent and gain tremendous job satisfaction from seeing their workforce develop personally and professionally. Riada Resourcing have been an Investors in People accredited company since 2008, achieving Gold against the new standard in 2018, so to be shortlisted for our training and development is something they are all extremely proud of. The official awards ceremony took place in The Lodge Hotel Coleraine on Friday 21st June 2019.

City of Derry Airport celebrates new Manchester service It is a joyous occasion for City of Derry Airport as Loganair’s inaugural flight to Manchester took off on Friday 24th May amid celebrations at City of Derry Airport. The new daily service is available from just £39.99pp one way and brings fantastic news for the North West as it provides direct connectivity to one of the main hubs in the North of England and creates onward connectivity to an abundance of international destinations via Manchester.

Charlene Shongo, Airport Manager at City of Derry Airport, stated: “We are absolutely delighted to be celebrating Loganair inaugural flight to Manchester. This is excellent news for the airport and our customers as Loganair’s new daily service to Manchester, on top of their existing services to London Stansted and Glasgow International, is evidence of the airlines commitment to maintain frequent, conveniently scheduled air services from City of Derry Airport. This is a very welcome boost for both the Airport and the wider North West region. A direct air link with Manchester is important for the economic development of the region.

Loganair offer all-inclusive fares, which includes 20kg hold baggage and 6kg hand luggage at no additional cost as well as complimentary in-flight refreshments. Loganair also offer discounts on child fares and frequent flyers can benefit from the Clan Loganair loyalty programme. The airport already has a long-standing relationship with Loganair dating back over the last 40 years and I would encourage local people to visit the airline’s website to learn more about their flight times and fares from City of Derry Airport to London, Glasgow and Manchester.

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