Career advice for pupils at information day

Year 9 and Year 11 pupils from Craigavon secondary schools attended a second ‘Careers in Industry in Craigavon’ Information Day at Craigavon Civic Centre at the invitation of the Mayor, Councillor Carla Lockhart.

The Mayor welcomed the schools back to the Civic Centre for the second year on behalf of Craigavon Borough Council, by saying: “It is vital that pupils leave our local post primary schools equipped with the best possible opportunity to find work in the modern globalised economy and to have clear careers advice to help them make informed decisions about their future.”

The chair of the Craigavon Area Local Community (CALC) Coordinators group, Mr Michael Thompson, of Lurgan Junior High School, thanked Craigavon Borough Council for their support in organising the day, saying: “We are delighted that the Mayor’s office have shown their support for CALC and this important careers event.

“Craigavon Area Learning Community is helping to develop links within local communities by improving and deepening relationships between schools and their pupils and by reaching out to local business leaders to find out how schools can work with them to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for the modern economy.”

The ALC, which was established in 2010, is made up of 15 Post Primary schools, the local Further and Higher Education College campuses and educational partners, working with the Southern Education and Library Board and funded by the Department of Education. For the first time, it brings together all the post primary educational bodies in the area with the aim of improving educational provision for pupils aged 11 – 19.

Nicola Wilson of the development committee at Craigavon Borough Council, also welcomed the ALC event. She said: “Our work ties in very closely with the aims of the Craigavon ALC, as we would be keen to ensure that pupils in local secondary schools are equipped with the information they need about local employment opportunities we have here now and in the future.”

The CALC would like to extend their thanks to representatives from major local employers Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Almac Group Ltd, Irwin’s Bakery and Moy Park Ltd who spoke to the pupils about the career paths available to them within major organisations based in Craigavon.

Ms Kim Nesbitt from Almac said: “For us, today’s event is about making sure pupils from local schools are given up to date and accurate careers information to allow them to make correct decisions about qualifications and skills.”

Mr Brian Moreland from Moy Park suggested that: “CALC is an important forum for global companies like ours to explain to the future local workforce how many first class career opportunities exist here in Craigavon.”