‘Skills for Retail’ success at Southern Regional College

A group of students have successfully completed the Skills for Retail programme, run through the Southern Regional College. As well as gaining work experience to help them secure long-term employment, each student has obtained a BTEC First Certificate in Retail, OCR Computers for Beginners and Essential Skills in Maths and English.

The Skills for Retail programme is co-financed by the NI European Social Fund 2007-2013, the Department of Employment and Learning and Southern Regional College and is FREE to unemployed and part-time employed. The aim of this programme is to address local unemployment by offering training and development opportunities to prepare people for a sustainable career in the retail sector. The programme is also designed to benefit local retailers as it addresses the constraints faced by them in finding suitably qualified and committed workers.

The group were presented with their certificates by Pauline Tipping, Tenant Liaison Officer at The Outlet, Banbridge. Pauline gave an inspiring story of her career in retail; how she started out in fashion design and progressed into opening the very first Clarks store in Belfast. From there she went on to open numerous stores for Adidas and is now currently the Tenant Liaison Officer for over 60 stores in the Outlet.

Pauline commented, "The hard work the students have invested into this programme will greatly benefit the retailers in the area and it is wonderful that we can celebrate their achievements today. Training for retail staff is vital and I am very encouraged by the work undertaken by Southern Regional College in making this programme available."

Pictured: Back Row L-R: Shirley Monteith, Tutor SRC, Sylvia Gilpin, Tutor SRC, Des Mulholland Curriculum Coordinator SRC, Dara O'Hagan Programme Executive SRC, Dean Medlow, Jason Lavery, Melissa Horner, Pauline Tipping Tenant Liasion Officer The Outlet, Banbridge, Noel Ferguson Skillsmart Retail and Kate McCoy Dorothy Perkins, Armagh

Front row L-R: Janette Wells, Mariea Harte, Christopher Mahood, Veronica Doyle Student, Sylvia Campbell and Eileen Black.