“
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Entrepreneurial Spirit Soars as Students Face the Dragons at SRC
Three courageous Business Level 3 Advanced Technical Award Extended Diploma students entered Dragon’s Den on Wednesday 7th May to pitch their business proposition to five judges, both internal and external, representing a cross section of business expertise.
Facing the Dragons were students from across the College’s Armagh, Portadown and Newry campuses, who had all previously faced first round competition activity on their respective College campuses.
Representing the Newry campus was Tiernan Patterson McKnight from Banbridge whose business plan consisted of a home organisation and decluttering service. From the Portadown campus was Sophie Vernon from Craigavon who planned to set up a yoga and pilates studio, and from the Armagh campus Clodagh Tennyson from Annaghmore. Building on the current sustainability movement, Clodagh pitched a sustainable fashion business aimed at reviving thrifting and challenging fast fashion culture.
The entrepreneurs were rigorously questioned on every aspect of their business plans to ensure they had fully considered the current business environment. This included who their competitors were, competitors’ strengths and weaknesses and where the current market niche existed to enable their business to succeed.
In a close contest, Sophie Vernon emerged as the overall winner. Drawing from her experience as a qualified gymnastics coach, she outlined a business model focused on delivering inclusive and enjoyable movement-based classes, including yoga, Pilates, and baby gymnastics. Her detailed presentation, which included identified premises and staffing plans, impressed the panel with its depth and clarity. Tiernan and Clodagh were both commended for their compelling ideas and finished in joint second place.
Commenting on Sophie’s win, Louise Groves, Lecturer at Southern Regional College, said:
“Sophie delivered a passionate and inspirational presentation. She was exceptionally well prepared and demonstrated outstanding verbal and nonverbal communication skills. The panel was fully engaged and captivated by her delivery from start to finish.”
All three students undertook the Dragon’s Den competition as part of their Business Level 3 Advanced Technical Award Extended Diploma assessment on pitching a business. All students are advancing to higher education courses at the College.
Pictured are the judges alongside the students (L–R): Kieran Swail – Business Support and Innovation Specialist, Eamonn Rea – Lawyer and QUB Tutor, Louise Groves, lecturer of the winning student, Clodagh Tennyson, Sophie Vernon, Michelle Reilly – Curriculum Area Manager for Level 3 Business, Tiernan Patterson McKnight and Fola Smith – Armagh Level 3 Business Coordinator.
Project Based Learning
HND Students Contribute to “Celebrating Our Heritage” Video
Congratulations to our HND Film & TV students for their contribution to the creation of the ‘Celebrating our Heritage’ video as part of the Dromore living memories project in collaboration with Libraries NI and Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council.
The video was showcased at the Dromore Place Plan launch event last week and our students got the opportunity to attend this event. Excellent work by everyone involved! Well done students!
Back Row L – R
Lissa O’Malley, Place and Strategic Manager ABC Council, Jennifer McKibben, Project Officer, ABC Council, Gordon Graham (Resident), Nigel Gribben (Resident), Victoria Ruddell Manager of Dromore Library.
Fundraising Efforts by our Students
Pictured are the Year 1 Foundation Degree Hospitality students alongside Matt Turner, Head of Faculty for Professional Services, Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager - Hospitality & Tourism, Caroline Chambers, Course Coordinator, and Emma McGivern, Southern Area Hospice.
Congratulations to our Year 1 Foundation Degree Hospitality students for hosting a successful Cocktail and Canvas evening at the Graduate Restaurant in support of Southern Area Hospice - a charity very close to their hearts. Their efforts raised an impressive £552.00! A big well done to all the students and staff who made it happen!
Pictured at the LEAP students with lecturer Oonagh Mcconville.
Congratulations to our LEAP students at the Model Campus for their outstanding achievement in raising an impressive £570.00 for Alzheimer’s Society during a recent coffee morning event! Great job students!
Front Row L – R
Corey Doran, Aaron Mitchell, Marchell Stachurski, HND Film & TV Year 1 Learners
Hospitality Students Triumph in Rotary Generation Chef Final
Pictured (L-R): Kiera Campbell, Sales Director, Henderson Foodservice; Alain Kerloch, Co-Founder of OX Restaurant Belfast; Alan Griffin, President of Newry Rotary Club; Danielle Grant, Callum McElarney and Leon Ruddy (SRC students and winners of The Rotary Generation Chef Final) Eoin McConville, Sponsor of the Competition.
Three hospitality students faced the heat in the kitchen, demonstrating exceptional culinary skills, securing top of the leaderboard in the Rotary Generation Chef final. The competition which took place on Thursday 1st May at Belfast Met, brought together students from Northern Ireland’s six Further Education Colleges, who had previously excelled in local competitions to earn their place at the final.
Southern Regional College’s team consisted of Danielle Grant, a Level 5 Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management Foundation degree student from Carryduff, and Level 2 Professional Chef Traineeship students Callum McElarney from Newry and Leon Ruddy from Bleary.
The team prepared an epic three course meal that wowed the judges. The starter featured pan seared Kilkeel monkfish and Carlingford mussel fricassee with a seaweed dusted crisp oyster, accompanied by a warm tartare sauce and Mourne sea vegetable. This was followed by a main course of Hannan’s sugar pit pork loin, together with a pork and truffle honey croquette, turnip fondant, spring cabbage, sweet potato puree and Long Meadow cider jus.
To conclude this culinary delight, students served a desert of Neary Noggs chocolate delice, with elements of stacked liqueur ice-cream, a milk crumble and sea buckthorn gel.
Prior to the competition, students were required to design a three-course menu considering locality, seasonality and sustainability, with the front of house student designing a mood board which provided a rationale for the chosen dish and ingredients used.
Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager at Southern Regional College commented:
“What a fantastic result for Danielle, Callum, and Leon. Callum and Leon put in an immense amount of effort in planning and executing their award-winning dishes and Danielle excelled in the Front of House service. This result is a testament to their hard work and passion for Culinary Arts and the Hospitality Industry. This credit also extends to their Culinary Arts and Hospitality Lecturers. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and excited to see what the future holds for these talented individuals.”
Well done to all three – we are very proud of your success!
Get to know the people behind Business Support and Innovation
As Business Support & Innovation continues to grow and welcome new faces, we are excited to launch our “Meet the Team” series. This is your chance to get to know the talented individuals who drive our success.
Step Up Training Programme Opening Doors for Participants
Step Up participants alongside Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Department for the Economy, Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive and Jason Moles, Programme Manager – Step Up.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has commended the impact of the Step Up (Skills, Training and Employment Programme), which continues to create vital opportunities for individuals facing barriers to education, training, and employment.
During a recent visit to Newry East campus, Minister Archibald met with our Principal and Chief Executive Lee Campbell, staff working within the programme and participants who have benefited from Step Up in areas such as literacy and numeracy, confidence building, childcare, construction, and hair and beauty.
The visit included a roundtable discussion where staff shared insights into the programme and participants shared their personal journey and future plans.
Speaking at the event, Dr Archibald said:
“Step Up has been very successful in enabling people who were not in employment, education or training, or who were economically excluded, to access fully funded training right across the north.
Participants have gained new skills and, in doing so, have returned to the world of training and work while greatly enhancing their employment prospects.
I congratulate all participants and their mentors on their hard work and wish them the very best for their future learning and employment paths.”
Many thanks to all involved for facilitating this event.
Step Up participants alongside Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Department for Economy Minister, Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive.
Empowering and Attracting Future Educators to the Further Education Sector
Pictured L-R:
Dr Séamas O’Donnghaile, Cathal O’Doherty, Principal St. Clare’s Primary School, Kathleen Simpson, Deputy Head of Human Resources Belfast Met, Helen O’Connor, Deputy Head of Human Resources and Development Southern Regional College, Prof Finn, Principal St Mary’s University College Belfast, Carol McCann, Dr Donna Hazzard, Principal Lecturer St Mary’s University College Belfast, Mr Stephen Rafferty, Principal St Malachy’s PS Bangor Belfast
On Wednesday 30th April, St Mary’s University College hosted an Employability Conference welcoming final-year students for a dynamic day of professional development, practical preparation, and career-focused insight as they now prepare to enter the teaching profession.
Helen O’Connor, Deputy Head of Human Resources and Development, alongside Kathleen Simpson, Deputy Head of Human Resources at Belfast Metropolitan College led a pivotal session which offered students to gain valuable insights into employment opportunities within the Further
Education Sector and beyond traditional school settings. Their session delved into exploring the unique demands and rewarding career pathways available in and equipped attendees with actionable advice on applications, interviews, and career progression.
“Finish
the Sentence”
“If I had a superpower, it would be….”
The best answer wins! Email marketing@src.ac.uk with your answer to enter to win a prize!
Upcoming Events
28th May
Thur 29th May N/A
Tues 3rd June N/A
10th June
Wed 11th June N/A
Tues 17th June Newry Campus
22nd Aug
29th Aug
Upcoming Exhibition
Come and celebrate the exciting launch of our HE Graphic Design/Creative Imaging Exhibition!
Mark your calendars for Thursday 29th May at the Millennium Court in Portadown and experience first-hand the amazing creations by our talented students.
If you can’t attend the opening event, don’t fret! The exhibition will continue until Saturday 28th June to honour their accomplishments!
Who’s Who
with Matthew Trouton
Course Administrative Officer, Portadown Campus
What enticed you to pursue a career in IT?
To be honest, when I applied, I thought it said MI5. However, once I was in through the door, I was hooked on EBS, and couldn’t get enough of timetabling. The team are also a brilliant bunch and delight to work with.
What enticed you to pursue a career in IT?
The last book I read was ‘The Protector’ A biography of Oliver Cromwell by Jean-Henri Merle d’Aubigné (1847).
If you could switch lives with one person for a day, who would it be?
Donald Trump. I would get to eat exclusively McDonalds (as he likes to do), make lots of big decisions and say lots of funny things.
Best piece of advice you have received?
What’s one thing people don’t know about you?
Me and my wife Olyvia just bought our first house and hope to move soon, although we have only moved about 100 yards up the road as we are Portydown through and through.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Obviously, my beautiful wife Olyvia (and also YouTube premium.)
‘For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ – Jesus Christ (Mark 8:36)
Staff Changes
Role Changes or New Starts
Name Contract Description Location Department
Jennifer Carolan Permanent Invigilator
Rachael Donaldson Permanent Technician Demonstrator - Hairdressing and Beauty
Laura Ferris Permanent Invigilator
Sarah Maria Hughes Permanent Invigilator
Annmarie Kelly Temporary Senior Organisational Development Administrator
Catherine Lavery Permanent Invigilator
Nicola Matthews Temporary PT Lecturer - L2 &L3 Photography
Norah McCorry Permanent Invigilator
Tara McKibben Permanent Invigilator
Conor O’Hagan Permanent Caretaker
Conor O’Hare Temporary IT Technical Officer
Emma Trainor Permanent Skills Training Administrator
Leavers
Melanie Boyce Permanent Lecturer - Construction Engineering
Examinations
Professional Services
Examinations
Examinations
Human Resources and Development
Examinations
Computing Design & Academic Studies
Examinations
Examinations
Estates
ICT
Skills Training
& Engineering