Graduate Training in Northern Ireland

December 12 2006 - Invest Northern Ireland has recently appointed business and IT technology services organization Parity, in partnership with Envision, to deliver a new graduate export development programme. The initiative Exporting Excellence (E2) provides marketing and exporting training for graduates from all degree backgrounds. Training is accredited by the Marketing Institute of Ireland and is designed to develop personal and professional skills for a first step on the career ladder. A number of graduates have already been placed with companies across Northern Ireland, with further intakes planned for January, March and June 2007.

Victor Jordan, director of business improvement services, Invest NI said:

"The call went out for graduate participants last month and we are delighted with this positive response to the new programme. There is a demand among graduates for a programme which offers export training and support so that they can develop the necessary business skills and companies can explore export market opportunities with a strong support network behind them. With almost 10 000 students graduating each year from Queens University and University of Ulster we have a wealth of talent in Northern Ireland. The E2 programme is designed to ensure Northern Irish graduate talent boosts the local economy while also allowing graduates to explore a greater range of business disciplines and markets across the world."

The E2 programme is available to graduates and Invest NI client companies from across Northern Ireland. It involves a matching process to ensure that graduates and companies complement each other and that all parties benefit. Parity's team recruit, match and place graduates with local companies seeking to develop export capabilities. Graduates' skills will be developed by Envision's team who will also support participating managers to exploit their exporting potential and ultimately win new business.

• More career articles