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Training at forefront of dynamic skills development and employability support

CONNECTED recently sat down with one of the newest training and employment support providers in the North West, 21 Training, and heard how the company is equipping its participants to succeed for the future whilst also assisting local business growth through its mission - ‘Building Future You for Lifelong Success’.

21 Training was launched following the successful amalgamation of two training providers with proven track records, Strabane Training Services and Customized Training Services. The organisation currently employs over 60 staff, and was awarded the prestigious SME Innovation Award by the Department for the Economy in 2020, in recognition of its innovative and collaborative approach to apprenticeship delivery in the development of a bespoke City & Guilds programme with Specialist Joinery Group.

Chaired by Kieran Kennedy MBE, the team at 21 Training believes in creating a supportive and friendly learning environment for all abilities. The organisation is strategically positioned across five offices covering Derry~Londonderry, Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, and Coleraine, to ensure all potential participants in the North West can study locally to improve their future career prospects.

21 Training ethos The 21 Training approach is underpinned by three core principles - aspire, evolve, and achieve. Speaking exclusively to CONNECTED, Managing Director at 21 Training, Mia Coyle, explains the ethos that drives the organisation. “We want our participants to aspire towards the individual they wish to become. We nurture them as they evolve and secure nationally recognised qualifications”, explains Mia. “Importantly, as an outcomes focused organisation, we help our participants, whether they are a school leaver, job seeker, or an employee to achieve their career dreams.”

“Our organisation has the capacity and track record to be at the forefront of skills development. Our team has a deep understanding of the area we operate within, uniquely positioning us to work with those traditionally hard-to-reach audiences such as young people and the unemployed.”

21 Training provides the most up-to-date training for all sectors Mia Coyle, Managing Director; Kieran Kennedy, Chair; and Debbie Deans, Business Development Director

Success through Apprenticeship 21 Training Chairman Kieran Kennedy knows himself what it is like to benefit from the kind of programmes 21 Training currently provide, such as apprenticeships. “As a former apprentice myself, starting at O’Neills Irish International Sports Company Limited at just 16, I fully understand the benefit an apprenticeship pathway can offer someone looking to develop both themselves and their career prospects.”

Eamon McCay, Frylite; Debbie Deans, 21 Training; and Tori McLaughlin, Frylite

21 Training works with local companies to identify skills and employment needs

“As a young man with an ambition to learn in an emerging industry, I began an apprenticeship in the hope it would allow me to secure a full-time job”, says Kieran. “Little did I realise that the apprenticeship programme I had joined would not only help me secure a job but forge a career which would eventually take me to the helm of a huge organisation, employing over 700 people.”

Debbie Deans, Business Development Director at 21 Training, highlighted the work of the wider team to deliver for people in the areas they serve. “I work closely with the HR teams in the businesses we work with. This brings wide ranging benefits to them including promoting vacancies, collaboration on marketing and promotion of their business, assisting employers, and signposting them to other services.”

Supporting families not in education or employment 21 Training also offers employability and other specialist support to families in the Derry and Strabane area funded by the European Social Fund and the Department for the Economy. The North West has always been at the cutting edge with digital technologies, including the PULSE programme, developed by 21 Training staff and funded by ESF, which aims to support young people (16–24-year-olds) to re-engage in education and training through music and the creative arts. To date, hundreds have successfully completed the programme, learning new skills in the creative industries as a result.

Catalyst for the local economy “I am focused now on engaging with businesses meaningfully to ensure that the programmes we offer are putting participants on a pathway for a career which will span decades, ensuring prosperity and job security”, says Kieran, laying out his immediate priorities for the new business.

“I have high hopes for the City Deal and what that could mean for those participating in our training programmes. The City Deal has the potential to act as a true catalyst for the local economy with a target to create up to 7,000 jobs by 2032. Training providers will need to play a critical role in the development of our talent if these targets are to be realised and we are ready to be at the forefront of delivering, particularly within STEM and wider digital high growth areas. My vision for the regeneration of the Strabane Canal Basin area is that we will have local apprentices employed in the development and construction phase while bringing in ICT and business apprentices when the new site is fully operational.”

“It has been well documented in the Department for the Economy’s Skills for a 10X Economy that there are skills shortages across the board at present, regardless of the industry. As a lean and nimble organisation, 21 Training can adapt its curriculum to the emerging needs of the market.”

Concluding on his own positive experience with apprenticeships, Kieran adds, “I am grateful for the opportunities that were afforded to me, and I realise how lucky I was in finding my way at such a young age through an apprenticeship programme. I realise not everyone is as lucky, which is why I have always been an advocate for and committed to growing the apprenticeship capacity in the North West area, ensuring nobody is left behind in an era that has the potential to be one of our most prosperous. I look forward to working closely with Chamber members on nurturing our local talent.”

To find out more about the opportunities and current financial incentives available to employers at 21 Training visit: 21.training or contact Debbie Deans, Business Development Director at 21 Training on 07860803643 or

ddeans@21.training.

21st Century Heat Pump Technology future-proofs Historical Building

Limavady-based air cool engineering NI continue to lead the installation of heat pump technologies in the North West with their recent energy retrofit of the former Barrack Stores on the Ebrington site.

Rather than refunctioning the historical building into standard commercial offices, The AMP’s owners wanted to create a sustainable, supported and flexible business hub for budding entrepreneurs and start-ups in the North West.

Energy efficiency, client comfort and balancing aesthetics with functionality were all key considerations for The AMP’s refurbishment brief. Although not a listed property, sympathetically future-proofing a heritage building efficiently is challenging. air cool engineering’s forward thinking client understood that traditional gas or oil fired boiler systems would struggle to achieve the energy efficiencies the business wanted and the building needed.

Aaron McElhinney, joint owner of The AMP, said, “We required a highly responsive heating solution which could efficiently maintain optimum comfort levels throughout the shared open workspaces, meeting rooms and offices. We were particularly interested in accessing sustainable, controllable, flexible and low-carbon technologies for our 180-year-old property”.

The AMP is a new initiative created by local North West business leaders to increase sustainability and create space for SMEs in the region. Aaron continued, “Our high-spec interior design brief also called for a heating solution which could be easily and discreetly ‘integrated’ with the interior décor. We looked no further than local heating, ventilation, and air conditioning specialists air cool engineering NI, to advise our team on the best solution for our business.”

Based in the North West, air cool engineering NI is an established and reputable HVAC contractor operating across Northern Ireland and Ireland. As specialists in the design of energy efficient small and large scale building mechanical services, their team combine experience and specialist knowledge to provide bespoke heating, cooling, and ventilation solutions to meet businesses indoor climate-controlled requirements.

The local-owned company advised The AMP team that the Mitsubishi Electric City Multi VRF system could simultaneously deliver heating, cooling and heat recovery throughout the building. Harnessing air-to-air heat pump technology, the City Multi VRF offers exceptional flexibility and stable temperatures, while the heat recovery function provides significant energy cost savings for the business.

Kyle Eakin, Project Manager from air cool engineering NI

Martin Mullan, Managing Director for air cool engineering NI, added, “We are delighted that The AMP team chose a local contractor for the energy retrofit of the historic Barrack Stores. As the 180-year-old building was being refunctioned into office spaces of varying sizes, our client needed a tailored and flexible heating solution which could efficiently stabilise indoor comfort conditions.” “The Mitsubishi Electric City Multi VRF Series perfectly meets the heating demands of this old building with optimum efficiency. By investing in low-carbon heat pump technology, The AMP is future-proofing not only their own business, but also the multiple SMEs who operate from their property in Ebrington.” If your business is interested in the flexible, low carbon and energy efficient credentials of heat pump technology, please get in touch with local HVAC professionals air cool engineering NI on +44 (0) 28 777 67114 or email sales@ni.aircool.co.uk.

SCT Fire & Safety Protection offering hassle-free fire and security services to the North West

Since opening eight years ago, SCT Fire & Safety Protection have grown to become one of Northern Ireland’s leading fire and security companies. The business was born out of wanting to create a brand that blends excellent customer service, high quality products, firstclass installations and servicing in the North West. From their sales team to their engineers, each of the SCT team work hard to advance the company’s reputation and standing, with every team member understanding the importance of the company’s goals.

“In the past few years, we have established a team of highly skilled and knowledgeable engineers who have pride and efficiency in everything they do”, says Eoin Cunning, Sales Director at SCT Fire & Safety Protection Limited. “As a company, our commitment to excellence means that our engineers are continually attending courses for either the latest regulations and standards, or for hands-on training with the latest available technologies within our industry. We aim for our engineers to be fully prepared to deliver the best to our clients and always have a solution to their problems.”

The Limavady-based company has received several third-party accreditations for its work, and as a proud member of the largest fire protection trade association in the UK, the FIA, SCT are always seeking to improve their client offering. After-sales care is very important for the company, and following an installation at any local business, their follow-up visits will ensure that clients expectations are met and exceeded.

Extinguisher servicing, fire-risk assessments and CCTV installations are among the services provided by SCT Fire & Safety Protection

The priority of Eoin and his team is to save clients disruption of time during their day, fewer service visits, and most importantly, to offer the most competitive rates. “Our services are very comprehensive, and include fire alarm systems, electrical testing, CCTV systems and much more”, Eoin explains. “Our number-one objective is to provide cost-effective, bespoke solutions to our clients. We understand that fire and security may not be glamorous, but with us, the more services you have, the more money you’ll save.”

Because the company serves the entirety of Northern Ireland, they have technicians stationed throughout the region on a permanent basis. Each engineer drives vans fully loaded with their essential equipment, meaning that any unnecessary return visits, and the subsequent time wasted, is avoided.

With SCT, businesses save time, frustration, and money by bundling their services and working with a single trusted source. When working with multiple providers to maintain fire safety and security products, different service and billing dates must be kept track of. Businesses save time, frustration, and money by bundling their services and working with a single trusted source.

The company’s range of equipment meets the need of businesses operating across Northern Ireland

“With SCT, access to our customer portal includes management information and analytics”, Eoin says. “You may access all our fire and safety security services from this page, as well as update your business information and monitor forthcoming service details”.

The customer portal mentioned by Eoin allows quick and easy access to a complete record of all SCT Fire & Safety Protection engineer visits, maintenance dates, certifications, invoices, and purchase orders. “Clients engage with us for the likes of fire-alarm servicing, emergency light servicing, fire-risk assessments, extinguisher servicing, and CCTV installations, across multiple areas”, Eoin says. “Each member of our team is knowledgeable and competent, and we take great pride in the quality of work that we produce and the products that we use.” SCT believe that customer service is the backbone of any successful business, and over the years, they have accrued a range of client testimonials. Charles Moore, of Brackenwood, said, “I have engaged with SCT for a range of services across the multiple developments that I manage. From the initial consultation through to completion, we were very impressed with the first-class service we received. I have found Eoin and his team to be knowledgeable and competent and would highly recommend them. All work is completed when agreed and without hassle. Overall, a great company who are a pleasure to work with.”

Engineer, Lee Thompson, who has been working at the company for three years, completed the installation for Noel and his team alongside Kyle Taylor. “Lee worked like a Trojan and I couldn’t believe how much he got done in such a short time. At the final inspection, Kyle was extremely thorough and conscientious. I would have no hesitation in recommending SCT to other companies who need fire and safety protection done to the highest standard.”

To get in touch with SCT Fire & Safety Protection and see how Eoin and his team can help protect your business, please contact the team either via phone on 028 7744 5079 or by email at info@sct-ni.com.