Aislin secures her future with Fire & Security Apprenticeship at SERC

Aislin McDaid, 21, a past student of St. Dominic’s College for Girls, is one of the first females to enrol on SERC's Security & Alarm Systems Apprenticeship.

Speaking on her decision to come to the college, Aislin said, “My plan was A Levels then university, but I missed the grades necessary. I needed find another route to get to where I wanted to go. My mum had studied the Access to University course at SERC and had a very positive experience, so after a bit of research, I knew it was the right route for me. I enrolled in the Level 3 Electrical and Electronic Engineering course and I found that I really enjoyed the theory and practical elements that it offered.”

After completing the course, Aislin secured employment with ATLAS Fire and Security and started to think about further qualifications. She said, “My original plan was to pursue a degree in electrical/electronic engineering at a local university. However, I knew that I would rather be out working and getting hands on experience, so I started the Level 2 Security & Alarm Systems Apprenticeship at SERC and have now progressed to Level 3.”

She continued, “The facilities at SERC are fantastic, I have access to state-of-the-art equipment and the lecturers are friendly and encouraging. The workshop in SERCs Professional Skills Centre at Dundrod allows us to gain vital experience using industry standard tools and equipment that we can use out on site in the workplace.”

“I am one of only two females in the class, but this does not intimidate me. We are treated as equals.  All of my classmates have made me feel welcome from the second I walked through the door.”

Aislin has proven her skills and talent and was a part of the winning team for NI Regional Fire Engineering at Skillbuild NI and was recently awarded Apprentice of the Year at SERC’s Student Excellence Awards for the Lisburn Campus.

“My parents are supportive of my career path; they see that is something I am passionate about and have a real skill for the role.  I would recommend this course to anyone with drive and a strong work ethic. It is essential to stay very focused. Balancing work and education can be challenging at times, but the experience I am gaining makes it worth it.”