Metro Service Bus Driver, Catherine McGeogh, joins Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor John Finucane and Belfast City Council waste operative Seamus McAuley at the launch of the Transport Employment Academy

 Belfast City Council is encouraging residents who are currently out of work, or working less than 16 hours a week to sign up for the Transport Employment Academy and put themselves in the driving seat of their career.

The Transport Employment Academy is a new, free, specialist training programme designed in partnership with transport employers from across Belfast, which gives participants the licences, tests and other skills needed to begin a career in transport. Every participant who completes the employment academy will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to gain work with employers from the haulage industry and others that include Belfast City Council and Translink. 

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor John Finucane said: “As we’ve outlined in the Belfast Agenda, we want to see everyone in Belfast fulfil their potential and support people to get into employment. The transport sector is vital to our city’s success and provides a wealth of opportunities for both employment and self-employment – so we’ve given this Academy a great deal of thought with our partners, and as a result, it provides excellent, practical and specialist support to people interested in working in transport.”

Gordon Milligan, Translink’s Deputy Chief Executive and Chief HR and Corporate Services Officer added: ‘‘Translink is delighted to be working alongside Belfast City Council in supporting this innovative Transport Employment Academy. Public transport is the lifeblood of our city, touching the lives of everyone in the community, and we’re glad to be able to support this project, encouraging those seeking a career in the transport industry to ‘get on board’ with us as we continue our journey towards making public transport ‘first choice for travel’ for everyone in Belfast.’’

The Academy also provides support for medical fees, Access NI fees where required, theory support and tests, practical lessons, test fees, licensing fees, travel and subsistence, Certificate of Professional Competence – as well as support with application forms and interview skills, where appropriate. Participants must live in the Belfast City Council area to be eligible.

Belfast City Council is also running a number of job insights information events to give those interested in applying for an Academy place a chance to chat with employers to get information on the types of jobs on offer and gain an understanding of what transport sector employment and self-employment entails. 

There’ll also be information provided on Employment Academies on offer in Childcare, Childminding, Construction, Hospitality, Leisure, Playwork and Social Care.