Pictured - A group of high calibre trainees have been selected to undertake an intense software engineering training programme at SERC following the launch of the HighWire Academy. Course participants Amy Henderson from Moira and Lee Hurst from Belfast are pictured with HighWire CEO Dan Filby and SERC tutor Eamonn Brankin at SERCs SPACE campus in Bangor.

Once again SERC have responded to the needs of employers as a group of 18 high calibre trainees have been selected to undertake an intense software engineering training programme at South Eastern Regional College (SERC) following the launch of the HighWire Academy.

Targeting third level IT graduates, the HighWire Academy is an intensive 5-week bespoke training programme. On completion of the course trainees will have an interview with HighWire which can lead to an offer of employment with HighWire Press Ltd. The training will have a strong focus on Drupal, PHP, open source content management system and Linux.

The Academy, which was officially launched earlier this year by Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry and Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell, has been designed by SERC and HighWire with support from DEL under the Assured Skills initiative.

SERC are delivering the bespoke pre-employment training at their new SPACE campus in Bangor and it was here where HighWire CEO Dan Filby, recently visited to officially meet the first cohort of students.

Mr Filby congratulated the students on being accepted onto the course and explained: "Through our collaboration with SERC and DEL we want to sustain a pool of high quality talent that can support our business goals. It is not just about creating great HighWire employees, but equipping people with knowhow that can benefit the Northern Ireland business community."

SERC Principal and Chief Executive Ken Webb said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Department in delivering this bespoke course under the Assured Skills initiative. The HighWire Academy will provide the company with a job ready pool of highly talented graduates to staff their International Technical Support and Development Centre here in Belfast.

"The aim of the academy is to help match the skills of the workforce with the bespoke skills HighWire needs. This partnership between HighWire, SERC and DEL, is a powerful demonstration of how the further education, government and private sector can work together for the benefit of the local economy and respond quickly to design a bespoke programme to fill a skills gap. SERC is committed to working with employers to ensure they have the skilled workforce they need, both now and for the future."

SERC provides a range of full and part-time courses designed to give students 'the edge'. To find out how SERC can help you 'get the edge' call 0345 600 7555, visit www.serc.ac.uk or find us on Facebook, search: South Eastern Regional College.