SERC Apprentices Optimistic About Future

There was much excitement around Lisburn Campus yesterday, Tuesday 13 October, when BBC Newsline’s Clodagh Rice stopped by to interview Dr Michael Malone and Level 2 Refrigeration and Air Condition Apprentices for BBC Newsline.

The BBC team had contacted SERC about a report they were doing which looked at quarterly employment figures released by NISRA, which indicated that unemployment has increased by 3.7%, the largest quarterly rise since 2012. The BBC were keen to hear how SERC and the FE sector were helping people who were furloughed, made redundant or facing redundancy, and to hear how young apprentices felt about the future given the current employment situation.

Dr Michael Malone, Director of Curriculum at SERC said, “Students are well aware that the labour market is going to be very difficult for the foreseeable future, but they still remain optimistic about their career choices.” Dr Malone also outlined a range of Skill Intervention Programmes the College are offering to help people retrain or upskill.

Matthew Mann (16) from Tandragee, a Level 2 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Apprentice who is employed by A & N Shilliday in Armagh, not only gave an interview for BBC Newsline but was asked to join the Evening Extra Team on BBC Radio Ulster for another short interview.

Matthew had decided early on he wanted to go down the apprenticeship route. Before coming to SERC he did his GCSEs at Craigavon Senior High School. He chose the Refrigeration & Air Conditioning course because he thought it was a bit different and he was seeing more and more jobs in this area and could see it was an expanding sector.

Matthew said, “I chose the apprenticeship route because I thought I was more suited to learning on the job rather than being in the classroom all the time. I am learning something new every day. It is challenging but I am picking it up and learning new skills.

He added, “I overly concerned just now about being made unemployed. I think I have to take it one step at a time and if I was to be made unemployed, my plan would be try to find another placement or do a similar qualification at college to keep my skills up.

Matthew concluded, “I would recommend the apprenticeship route and would encourage other young people to do the research and look at all their options to find the best role for them with a suitable employer.”

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