Transport Training Services Expands Leadership
A lot has been going on at Transport Training Services since it emerged from the Covid lockdowns.
The organisation has a new Chief Executive and has added ten new members to its Board of Trustees demonstrating expertise across Education, Transport and Automotive.
Michael Strain is the new Chief Executive who comes from a 30-year career in the oil distribution industry. His career started in 1986 working for Fuel Services NI Ltd before heading to Dublin in 1997 to work for Shell Oil. Eight years later Michael returned to Northern Ireland to head up Shell’s all Ireland Local Fuels Operation as it transitioned to Topaz.
“It’s with great pride that I take the up this role with TTS. As with any new career challenge there is always a feeling of excitement and trepidation. However, I have never started a role that gave me such instant gratification and personal reward for what we are trying to achieve at TTS as a charity and a centre of education.
When leaving the oil industry, I set myself a personal goal of getting involved in either a charity or an environmental organisation. I have achieved both in TTS. As a charity we are the leading provider for apprenticeships and career focused training for people in the transport, automotive and logistics industries, providing a crucial route for young people to gain well-paid, secure, productive employment.
Transport by its nature has been, and continues to be, a major global polluter, and this is where my environmental goal gets fulfilled. At TTS, one of our missions is to work closely with vehicle manufacturers to develop new training skills, materials and facilities to cater for alternate fuels. We currently have a dedicated EV training suite and are now in the process of working with local councils and education boards to develop our hydrogen strategy. I’m looking forward to all these new initiatives and can feel my personal carbon footprint decreasing by the day”.
Michael is pleased to be supported in his role by the Transport Training Board of Northern Ireland whose board of trustees bring with them a wealth of knowledge across the transport and educational sectors of Northern Ireland.
Find out more about the new TTB board here.
Transport Training Services is a working name of the social enterprise company and charity the Transport Training Board for Northern Ireland charity registration NI101451
TTS Apprentice Employer Case Study - J & F Trucks & Vans
J&F Trucks & Vans is a long-established family business based in Mallusk. County Antrim, providing quality used vans & commercial vehicles. TTS has trained three generations of the J&F family. John Joe Junior is currently completing his heavy vehicle technician apprenticeship to learn the ropes so he can follow in his dad and grandad’s footsteps, alongside his friend since P1, Jude Stewart.
TTS was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to the three generations of the Walsh family - Frank, John Joe and John Joe Junior - about the J&F business and their experiences of partnering with TTS as an apprenticeship training provider.
Watch the J&F Trucks & Vans Video:
Apprenticeship Recovery Package Extended to 31st March 2022
As you may be aware the Department for the Economy (DfE) has been offering an Apprenticeship Recovery Package for Northern Ireland that channels financial support to local businesses to help the apprenticeship system respond to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. These incentives previously supported the return and retention of furloughed apprentices and the recruitment of new apprentices up to 31st March 2021, but TTS is delighted that the DfE have announced an extension of these schemes until 31 March 2022.
The New Apprenticeship Incentive Scheme
This scheme is open to employers who take on an apprentice participating in the Department for the Economy funded ApprenticeshipsNI or Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes with up to £3,000 available to employers for each new apprenticeship opportunity created between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2022.
This incentive is available for all new apprenticeship opportunities created, including those made available for apprentices who have been made redundant by another employer.
- Payment 1 - £2,000 after 90 days retention following start of new paid apprenticeship
- Payment 2 - £1,000 after 200 days retention following start of new paid apprenticeship
For further information and to download an application form for the scheme please see: www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-recruitment-new-apprenticeships
Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme
This scheme is open to employers participating on the DfE-funded ApprenticeshipsNI or Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes, who return apprentices who were furloughed as part of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
DfE will provide incentive payments to help you return your apprentice(s) from furlough, retain them in work and for successful completion of their apprenticeship with up to £3,700 available per apprentice.
- Return - £500 per returned furloughed apprentice payable for the first full month of paid apprenticeship between 1 November 2020 and 31st March 2022.
- Retain – maximum of £2,000 available: £500 per month for up to 4 consecutive months of paid apprenticeship following the “return” month between 1 December 2020 and 31 March 2022.
- Result - £1,200 for successful completion of all apprenticeship components by a returned furloughed apprentice
For further information and to download an application form for the scheme please see: www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-apprenticeship-return-retain-result-scheme
If you are interested in recruiting an automotive or transport industry apprentice, please contact our dedicated Careers Development Officer, Robert Deignan on 07736958355 or via email on robertd@transporttraining.org. We can assist you with all of the necessary paperwork.