Area’s business volunteers recognised

Over 900-plus volunteers from the Banbridge/Craigavon area attended the event at Portadown’s Millenium Court.

As Northern Ireland’s leading business and enterprise education charity, Young Enterprise engages business volunteers in the delivery of its primary, post-primary and undergraduate programmes to over 90,000 students from local schools.

Among them are Ulster Bank, BT, Invest NI, Bank of Ireland, Citigroup, The Co-Operative, Moy Park, First Trust Bank, Ernst and Young, Royal Mail, NYSE Euronext, Allianz, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Tata.

Joanne Mallon, Southern Region Development Manager for Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, paid tribute to their involvement and said business volunteers were crucial to the work of Young Enterprise.

“As a volunteer-led organisation, we rely on local expertise at both strategic and operational levels,” she said. “Their professional experience and business acumen helps to bring our programmes to life in the classroom.

“Throughout the year they have provided invaluable mentoring support to the students we work with and are fantastic ambassadors for our organisation.”

She added: “Volunteering with Young Enterprise can provide companies with many benefits, including skills development, a more motivated workforce, positive PR opportunities and networking events.

“Our volunteers really get a buzz from the work they do, whether contributing to our strategic vision or delivering business programmes, so everyone wins.’

Anyone who would like to find out more about corporate support or volunteering opportunities should contact Young Enterprise Northern Ireland on 028 406 60415.