Workplace Wellness | How To Incorporate It Into Your Next Event

NI Hospitality School Joins Forces with Private Business Securing 36 Jobs

Jobs Secured by Graduates in Ballymena via NI Hospitality School to Tackle Skills Development and Employment Deficit in Sector.

A TOTAL of 36 individuals from the Ballymena area are celebrating this week after graduating from the NI Hospitality School and securing full-time employment within local award-winning hotels. 

The NI Hospitality School was established in 2021, following collaboration between three Ballymena-based hotels – Galgorm Resort, the Tullyglass House Hotel and the Adair Arms. With courses delivered by Northern Regional College and South Eastern Regional College, the school was set up to provide opportunities for skills development, to address the challenges of recruiting staff and to highlight that a career in hospitality can offer a plethora of rewarding career development opportunities. 

Initially funded by independent charity, The Gallaher Trust, the NI Hospitality School has successfully attracted private sector funding from several high-profile organisations including Henderson Foodservice and Britvic Ireland, which is a demonstration of commitment from the wider sector. 

According to Eddie McKeever, Managing Director of McKeever Hotel Group and Chairman of the NI Hospitality School, the initiative has far exceeded its goal and is playing an essential role in elevating skills and helping to secure the sector’s future.

“At the NI Hospitality School, we recognise the significant challenges the industry faces, particularly around recruitment and developing a sustainable and highly skilled workforce,” explained Eddie. 

“Through targeted training and support, we’re working to bridge these gaps by equipping individuals with the expertise and confidence needed to maintain a thriving career within the hospitality sector. By creating opportunities for meaningful employment and continuous professional development, we’re ensuring that both employees and employers have the tools they need to succeed, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and dynamic hospitality industry in Northern Ireland. 

“I would like to pay homage to The Gallaher Trust, whose initial funding enabled the NI Hospitality School to come to fruition. The fact that we have now attracted funding from the private sector is evidence of the enhanced reputation and success of the school since it was established three years ago. A number of businesses within the private sector have recognised the importance of securing a pipeline of future talent and we are truly very grateful for their support. We are looking forward to the future of the school and to providing greater benefits to our participants and to the hospitality industry as a whole.” 

The NI Hospitality School encompasses a number of academies including a bar academy, a chef academy and a food service academy. 

Formerly a Chef, Skye Hanley aged 23 from Ballymena, is an NI Hospitality School food service academy graduate, who has pivoted her career and now works in a guest facing role as a Food and Beverage Assistant in Gillies Grill and Elements at Galgorm Resort. 

“Transitioning from working in the kitchen to a guest facing role has been a very rewarding experience,” she said. 

“The training I received at the NI Hospitality School gave me the confidence and skills I needed to thrive in my new role. Taking part in the course has shown me the wealth of growth opportunities that are available to me – I’m really excited for my future.”

If you’re interested in a career in hospitality and would like more information, visit:

https://www.nihospitalityschool.com/

NI Hospitality School extends partnership with three of the region’s top hotels to facilitate new training academy with guaranteed employment for six newly qualified chefs.

Aspiring chefs to step up to the plate with launch of new NI Chef Academy

NI Hospitality School extends partnership with three of the region’s top hotels to facilitate new training academy with guaranteed employment for six newly qualified chefs.

Aspiring chefs are being called to step up to the plate and enroll on a brand new training course, launched today by the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, offering students the chance to gain a chef qualification and secure guaranteed employment with one of Northern Ireland’s top hotels.

The brand new Chef Academy will see six successful candidates selected to undertake a year-long scholarship delivered through on-the-job training at one of Northern Ireland’s top hotels; Adair Arms Hotel, Galgorm Resort or Tullyglass House Hotel, where they will ultimately secure guaranteed employment.

Successful candidates will gain a nationally recognised qualification (FDQ Level 2 Diploma in Professional Chef - Northern Ireland), delivered by training partner South Eastern Regional College (SERC). The course involves not just classroom learning, but on the job training with our highly skilled kitchen brigade as well as unique experiences with our local food producers.

Representing an investment in year one of nearly £250,000 the new academy aims to recruit six locally based chef apprentices for its first intake in September, with applications now open.

The announcement follows the launch of the Northern Ireland Hospitality School last April, part funded by Ballymena-based charity The Gallaher Trust. To date, the school has already supported 24 students in gaining full-time employment with partnering hotels through its dedicated Bar Academy.

The launch of its new Chef Academy is the latest development in the school’s ambitious plans to support the hospitality sector locally and provide a pathway to employment for those seeking a career in the industry. Each year, the NI Hospitality School aims to facilitate employment for six chefs and 24 bartenders in a £685,000 annual investment, providing a significant boost to local employment.

Leigh Heggarty, Galgorm Collection's Business Development Manager was elected as the new President of the Chamber on Wednesday evening at the Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry annual AGM at Galgorm Resort. 

On Wednesday evening Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its annual AGM at Galgorm Resort. At the AGM Leigh Heggarty, Galgorm Collection's Business Development Manager was elected as the new President of the Chamber.

In his speech the outgoing President, Councillor Eugene Reid said how honoured he had been to have served as Chamber President for the preceding two years. Eugene said ‘The last two years have been some of the most difficult for our communities and our businesses. These have been unprecedented times and as a Chamber we had to adopt new practices to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic. I must also say that our businesses have shown remarkable resilience and our local economy remains strong a testament to the strength of our local entrepreneurs’. Eugene then went on to thank the members of the Management Committee who had given up their free time to attend meetings and provide as much support as they could to Chamber members. Eugene went on to say, ‘Leigh Heggarty has extensive business knowledge accompanied by a great deal of common sense – I know Leigh will be an excellent President and it is my honour to formally propose that Leigh becomes the next President of Ballymena Chamber’ This proposal was passed unanimously by those attending the meeting.

In her acceptance address Leigh said ‘It is an honour to be elected as President of Ballymena Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry’ Leigh thanked Eugene for his leadership during such a difficult period and she knew that he had given up a considerable amount of time to not only lead Chamber but to ensure Chamber’s members received support during the crisis created by the pandemic. 

The new President continued ‘Born and bred in Ballymena my passions are business and tourism and I’m very fortunate that my career path has afforded me the opportunity to pursue both.

Ballymena has always punched well above its weight in terms of business. The manufacturing heartland and market town has consistently showed its resilience and determination to succeed. Wrighbus now owned by Jo Bamford continues to expand into new areas throughout the world, creating more local jobs. 

Galgorm Resort have invested heavily to establish the Resort as an award-winning international and world-class tourism destination, remaining firmly focused on investment and innovation attracting major events such as the Irish Open and ISPS Handa Golf events to the borough. I believe that organisations such as the Chamber play an important role, not just as the voice of the business community, but also as a mirror to society. We as a Chamber can reflect not just the concerns of our members, but also those of society as a whole. My personal goal is to set up more stakeholder engagement with government departments and local authorities and show that Ballymena is a great place for business, it’s a great commuter town, very accessible, we have excellent educational establishments providing our children with skills that our businesses require and we are a world class tourism destination’.

Leigh then proposed Mark Wiggins, Power NI, as her Vice President and this was also unanimously passed by the attendees. Mark stated ‘It is a privilege to take on this new role. I know we have a Management Committee who are committed to working hard to support and grow business in the area and I look forward to working with Leigh and the Committee to drive Chamber and ensure our members are at the heart of the economic recovery as we exit the worst excesses of this pandemic’

The meeting closed and attendees were given the opportunity to chat over coffee and tea and to liaise with the President and members of the Committee. This is the first in a series of events being organised by the Chamber in 2022 which will include a range of business breakfasts together with its two showpiece events – The Charity Golf Day in aid of the NI Hospice and Children’s Hospice (which raised £25,000 in 2021) and The Ballymena Business Excellence Awards.