Assured Skills Corporate Travel Academy Well Underway at SERC

The Department for the Economy’s (DfE) Assured Skills Academy offering pre-employment training places at South Eastern Regional College’s (SERC) Lisburn campus is well underway.  

SERC has joined forces with two companies, Selective Travel Management and Jurys Inn Hotels, to offer pre-employment training in Northern Ireland’s growing tourism sector. On successful completion of the training will result in a guaranteed interview for employment with Selective Travel Management and/or Jurys Inn Hotels.  

Catherine Anderson, Deputy Head of School, Hospitality, Management, Tourism and Languages at SERC said, “We have 12 participants on the Corporate Travel Academy ranging from age 20-plus, they come from a variety of working backgrounds  and different stages of their life, but all have experience and an interest in the hospitality industry.  Participants have travelled from across Northern Ireland to avail of this fantastic training and potential employment opportunity. It is an exciting programme, not only because they have the opportunity to gain some highly sought-after qualifications, but an interview for employment at the end with the chance the step into a new career in a growing sector.”  

Toni Martin, from Saintfield, who has recently completed a Tourism and Hospitality Management course, said, “It is never too late to update your skills.   With the offer of qualifications and potential employment I decided there was nothing to lose, but only gains, by taking part.   I am really enjoying the programme and the in-depth insight I am getting in Selective Travel and Jury’s Inns.”  

Desmond Campbell, from North Belfast said, “My background is in tourism and I have a degree and postgraduate qualifications and experience in the industry and recently I have been doing agency work.  I was attracted to the programme because of the time-frame - gaining a qualification and getting a real insight into this part of the tourism sector in six weeks has been brilliant.   The course is intensive but, hopefully, will lead to an offer of employment on completion.”  

Sonia Watson, from Belfast, a busy working mother said, “I have been working part-time for a number of years in order to juggle family life.  The Corporate Travel Academy came along at just the right time for me.  I am getting ready to move back into full-time employment and so it suited me perfectly.   She added, “I love travel and have always worked in customer service, so the programme gave me the opportunity to combine both these interests with an opportunity to work with one of two key players in the sector.   I am looking forward to what is ahead for me having had this chance to move up a gear.”  

Pictured above:

Participants of the Department for the Economy’s (DfE) Assured Skills Academy Corporate Travel programme currently taking place at South Eastern Regional College’s Lisburn Campus with (front middle), Stephen Corr, Selective Travel Trainer, and (right) Catherine Anderson, SERC.  

Pic 2 Toni Martin

Pic 3 Desmond Campbell

Pic 4 Sonia Watson