Infrastructure Minister has met graduates of the
Department for Infrastructure's (DfI) first Skills Academy.
The Skills Academy, which was launched in July 2024, is a
pre-employment training course designed to give candidates the
skills to pursue a fulfilling career in the Civil Service.
The 29 newly qualified Trainee Civil Engineering Assistants have
now started their careers with DfI.
The Minister said the new recruits “will help build our
society into the future”.
Speaking at a celebration event at Belfast Met, which is
delivering the National Diploma in Civil Engineering in
partnership with DfI in the next step of the graduates'
development, Minister O'Dowd said: “I am delighted to be
here today to congratulate you on reaching this stage of your
career as our engineers of the future. You are
joining DfI at a time of great change and opportunity and
the innovative model of the Skills Academy demonstrates that
momentum of change as to how we address our recruitment
needs.
"Our ambition in the Department is to be progressive and
we are setting an agenda and seeking solutions that benefits the
people we serve. Your role as engineers is
also to seek solutions and you will undoubtedly bring new ideas
to the table.
"Take pride in the projects you work on during your
career with DfI as they will improve the daily lives of the
people we serve. You will not only be building roads and
infrastructure; you will help build our society into the
future.”
Damian Duffy, interim principal chief executive of Belfast Met,
said: “Belfast Met is delighted to have worked with the
Department for Infrastructure to help create this innovative
pathway into the Civil Service.
“Nobody moves anywhere without infrastructure, there are many
exciting plans ahead for our infrastructure and you will be part
of that.
“DfI is to be commended for this progressive approach to
recruitment and you, as new recruits, should make the most of the
opportunities and support you now have within DfI to help you
succeed.”
At the event, the Minister also set out his Foundations for a
Better Future - seven objectives which will underpin the work of
the Department.
The Foundations recognise the importance of people, the economy
and the environment and include a commitment to:
- Tackle Climate Change
- Cleaner and Greener Transport
- Adapting to Climate
- Better Roads
- Water and Wastewater
- Plan to Improve
- Including People
added: “It is fitting
that I am outlining Foundations for a Better
Future at this celebration event because people like you, our
engineers of the future, are at the centre of everything we
do.
“The Foundations will build on the
success of innovative recruitment models such as The Skills
Academy.
“This time last week, we were on the brink of what turned
out to be the worst storm in recent memory. I want to thank our
teams who were out on the ground, working around the clock to
clear and assess roads, to make them safe for use by the public
and, crucially, by the emergency services and by engineers who
needed access to restore power and water supplies.
“The aftermath of the storm proved, yet again, how
crucial infrastructure is to our everyday lives. By focusing on
our Foundations for a Better Future, and by giving people the
opportunity to be part of that through the DfI Skills Academy, we
can deliver real benefits for our citizens, our
communities and the economy.”
Notes to editors:
- The National Diploma in Civil Engineering was delivered by
Belfast Met on the Department's behalf. The graduates are now
working in DfI as Trainee Civil Engineering Assistants and have
now been enrolled in a BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Civil
Engineering.
