Belfast Hosts Major Green Skills Conference

Belfast Hosts Major Green Skills Conference Tue 29 Mar 2011 Northern Ireland must act now to develop ‘green’ skills and resources or risk losing out on thousands of potential jobs, a major conference was told at the Waterfront Hall on Tuesday 29^th March 2011. The one-day Skills Development for the Sustainable Sector event drew more than 150 specialists from industry and government to examine urgent skills gaps and outline strategic actions needed to achieve sustainable growth and generate new employment opportunities. Organised by the Carbon Zero NI programme and funded by the Department for Employment and Learning, speakers at the conference included renewable energy specialist Clifford McSpadden from the Global Wind and Maritime Alliances; the Northern Adviser on Employment and Skills, Dr Bill McGinnis, and Dr Esmond Birnie, Chief Economist at PwC. Guest speakers from Robert Morris University Pittsburgh USA also shared international insights on delivering traditional, blended and online education. Speaking at the event Dr McGinnis said “Whilst progress has been slow, recovery will come, and with it, fresh opportunities and challenges. Not only must we work hard to emerge strongly from the recession, we must work to create the conditions to support a long term sustainable recovery. If we are to build an internationally competitive economy we need to ensure that the talents of all our people in Northern Ireland are fully developed. Our prosperity depends on the success of our economy. That depends on the jobs we are able to create; and having the skilled workforce we need to do them – and do them well. “ To find out more about the Skills Development for the Sustainable Sector conferencelog on to www.carbonzeroni.com. NOTES TO EDITORS · Carbon Zero NI is a strategic programme of technology development and innovation support to NI industry designed to capitalise on new opportunities in Sustainable Development. · It is a collaborative FE Sector programme led by South West Collegeand supported by Belfast Metropolitan College, North West Regional College, Northern Regional College, South East Regional College and Southern Regional College. · Carbon Zero NI will help build capacity to develop new sustainable technologies, products, processes and services through delivery of high quality R&D, knowledge creation and workforce preparation.

Tue 29 Mar 2011

Northern Ireland must act now to develop ‘green’ skills and resources or risk losing out on thousands of potential jobs, a major conference was told at the Waterfront Hall on Tuesday 29^th March 2011.

The one-day Skills Development for the Sustainable Sector event drew more than 150 specialists from industry and government to examine urgent skills gaps and outline strategic actions needed to achieve sustainable growth and generate new employment opportunities.

Organised by the Carbon Zero NI programme and funded by the Department for Employment and Learning, speakers at the conference included renewable energy specialist Clifford McSpadden from the Global Wind and Maritime Alliances; the Northern Adviser on Employment and Skills, Dr Bill McGinnis, and Dr Esmond Birnie, Chief Economist at PwC.

Guest speakers from Robert Morris University Pittsburgh USA also shared international insights on delivering traditional, blended and online education.

Speaking at the event Dr McGinnis said

“Whilst progress has been slow, recovery will come, and with it, fresh opportunities and challenges. Not only must we work hard to emerge strongly from the recession, we must work to create the conditions to support a long term sustainable recovery.

If we are to build an internationally competitive economy we need to ensure that the talents of all our people in Northern Ireland are fully developed.

Our prosperity depends on the success of our economy. That depends on the jobs we are able to create; and having the skilled workforce we need to do them – and do them well. “

To find out more about the Skills Development for the Sustainable Sector conferencelog on to www.carbonzeroni.com.

NOTES TO EDITORS

· Carbon Zero NI is a strategic programme of technology development and innovation support to NI industry designed to capitalise on new opportunities in Sustainable Development.

· It is a collaborative FE Sector programme led by South West Collegeand supported by Belfast Metropolitan College, North West Regional College, Northern Regional College, South East Regional College and Southern Regional College.

· Carbon Zero NI will help build capacity to develop new sustainable technologies, products, processes and services through delivery of high quality R&D, knowledge creation and workforce preparation.