Aerospace trainees get off to a flying start at NRC

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Above: The second cohort of aerospace trainees complete their training at NRC before moving into their four-week placements in various aerospace engineering companies. From left to right, Robert Hutchinson, ADS NI; trainees Lewis Milligan from Ballymoney, bound for McAuley Engineering; Seamus McGillian from Antrim, bound for Smiths Engineering; Adam Crothers from Carrick, bound for IPC Mouldings; and Karolina Wlodarczyk from Belfast, bound for Laser Prototypes; Rachel Coural, Employee Development Co‐ordinator of McAuley Engineering; and Gordon Kane, NRC.

Funded by the Department for the Economy, the Academy gave the trainees the opportunity to complete a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) course, followed by a four-week placement in a range of local aerospace companies.

The trade association which represents Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries (ADS) in Northern Ireland teamed up with NRC to develop a nine‐week course designed to give individuals specialist skills and practical experience to prepare them to work in the growing local aerospace, defence and security sector.

Robert Hutchinson, Business Development Manager, ADS Northern Ireland, said: “ADS NI is very proud that the second cohort of the CNC Assured Skills Academy has now completed training at NRC and is ready for placement with member companies which include IPC Mouldings, Laser Prototypes, McAuley Engineering and Smiths Engineering.

“This follows on from the first cohort, five of whom are now in full time employment with GEE Precision, McGreevy Engineering and Smiths Engineering. The Academy has proved to be a very positive model for not only getting people back into employment and on a good career path but also supporting the local aerospace industry and our members’ needs.

“Many thanks to training provider Gordon Kane and his team at NRC and to the Department for the Economy for fully funding the training Academy to provide valued skills in this industry.”

Ann Williamson, Head of Employer Skills at the Department for the Economy, said: “An appropriately skilled workforce is crucial to the local labour market and to supporting economic growth in Northern Ireland. The Department has responded to the skills needed in the Aerospace Industry through the Assured Skills pre-employment training model.”

Gordon Kane, Assistant Head of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering at NRC, added: “NRC is very pleased to have delivered two CNC milling academies in association with ADS NI under the Department for the Economy’s Assured Skills programme.  Each academy recruited six candidates and put them through five weeks of intensive training at NRC Ballymena.

“This is followed with a four-week placement in a precision engineering company, with a guaranteed job interview for those who successfully complete the Academy.  It has been a pleasure to work alongside ADS NI in developing this programme and supporting the local precision engineering industry. From NRC, a big thank you to Robert Hutchinson of ADS and the member companies for choosing NRC.”