News Archive

Over 140 certificates and 27 special awards were presented to Jobskills participants. The qualifications covered a wide range of NVQ courses which included Business Administration, Early Years Care and Education, Retail Operations, Hairdressing, Distribution Warehousing and Stores, Health and Social Care, Vehicle Fitting, Wood Occupations, Making and Installing Furniture, Key Skills certificates, Technical Award certificates, Life Skills, Essential Skills and Initial Access certificates, Health & Safety certificates and First Aid certificates

Branch Manager of Rutledge Joblink Coleraine Caroline McClelland opened the ceremony and congratulated all participants on achieving these qualifications. She said "these were not achieved without a lot of hard work and commitment by the young people as well as their workplace providers and tutors" and spoke of those who were continuing to train to the advanced level in their occupational areas.

Caroline paid special thanks to the strong training partnership which exists between Rutledge Joblink and the local employers. The success of Rutledge Joblink's Jobskills programme is strongly dependent on the commitment from employers to offer real workplace opportunities to assist trainees to practise important work skills and develop competence.

The NVQ's certificates were presented by Mr Tom Skelton from Coleraine College who offered his sincere congratulations to all successful recipients. He acknowledged all the hard work and dedication required to achieve their NVQ qualifications and reminded all recipients that this was simply the start of their careers. He also thanked Rutledge Joblink staff for their help and support within the school and stated how nice it was to see young people who had left his school now achieving their NVQ qualifications and making excellent progress in their chosen careers.

The Modern Apprenticeship certificates were presented by Mr Artie Beales from the Department for Employment and Learning. Mr Beales congratulated all those who had achieved their MA certificates.

The Keyskills certificates were presented by Mr Timothy Deanes the Mayor of Coleraine. Mr Deanes said, "he was very pleased to see trainees receiving so many certificates. But that learning did not cease once you have completed you qualifications. It is life long learning process which never stops".
Mr Dean's also stated that it was nice to see so many employers present at the awards ceremony supporting their trainees and thanked the employers for taking the trainees on and giving them valuable experience in the workplace.

The Life Skills, Essential Skills and Initial Access certificates were presented by Kathleen Grego from Opportunity Youth. Mrs Grego congratulated all the young people and explained the work of Opportunity Youth. She praised the good relationship that opportunity youth and Rutledge Joblink have developed.

The tutors of Rutledge Joblink presented the special awards to those who won trainee of the Year Award per occupational area.

Mr Tom Skelton presented an award to two young students from Coleraine College who are completing an Occupational Skills course within Rutledge Joblink's hairdressing section in conjunction with the school. Mr Skelton spoke about the occupational skills course offered to Year 11 & Year 12 pupils within the school, and how beneficial it is for students to gain hands on experience within different occupational areas.

Local employers were presented with Employer of the Year Awards and certificates for Continuous support of Young People by Mr Sam McCartney, Director of Operations for Rutledge Joblink. Mr Sam McCartney paid tribute to all employers stating their commitment to providing quality work placements and support to Young People.

The ceremony came to an end with Mr David Graham a trainee at Rutledge Joblink speaking on behalf of all trainees and saying a big thank you to all employers for their excellent guidance, help and support throughout their training. He also gave small tokens of appreciation to each guest speaker.

Trainee of Year Awards winners:
Vehicle Fitting L2 - Nigel Inglis, Making and Installing Furniture L2 - Timothy Rice, Early Years Care and Education L1- Leah O'Connell, Early Years Care and Education L2 - Naomi Cochrane, Early Years Care and Education L3 Modern Apprenticeship - Patricia McElhinney, Retail Operations L2 - Alistair Stewart, Retail/Stores Operations L2 - Steven Friel, Health and Social Care L2 - Aislinn McGowan, Health and Social Care L3 Modern Apprenticeship - Arlene Quigley, Administration L1 - David Graham, Administration L2 - Lisa Stinson, Administration L3 Modern Apprenticeship - William Connor, Hairdressing L2 - Jolene Gail.

Endeavour Awards and Special Awards Winners:
Making and Installing Furniture L2 - Ryan Friel, Children's Care Learning and Development L1 - Emma Ross, Life Skills L1 - Steven Savage, Early Years Care and Education L1 - Aileen McCollum, Early Years Care and Education L1 - Cathy McQuillan, Early Years Care and Education L2 - Danielle McLay, Early Years Care and Education L2 - Zanesse McNeill, Early Years Care and Education L3 Modern Apprenticeship - Julie Ann McKeown, Hairdressing L2 - Julie Doherty, Administration L2 - Danielle Carey, Administration L2 - Judith Henry, Administration L2 - Angela Gallagher, Wood Occupations L2 - Ryan Moore, Occupational Studies Hairdressing - Danielle Boyd and Lyndsey Yates.