Bank delivers an extra skills boost to Lisburn student

Danielle McCarthy, a final year Equine Management degree at CAFRE, was amongst 20 students from across Northern Ireland that were selected to attend Northern Bank’s exciting Freedom Experience Scholarship Academy in Belfast between January 25-27.

Against a backdrop of rising unemployment - with recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) placing UK youth unemployment at a record high of 1,016,000 in the third quarter of 2011 - Northern Bank’s Freedom Experience Academy provided 20 final year students from across Northern Ireland with straightforward skills to adequately prepare them for the world of work.

Danielle McCarthy, said: “The main benefit of attending the Freedom Experience Academy was that it broadened my outlook and perception of success, and gave me the opportunity to get a glimpse at businesses and see how real business people are.”

Addressing the skills gap of students leaving third level education, Northern Bank’s Freedom Experience Academy aimed to give Northern Ireland’s future leaders the opportunity to learn from the leaders of today. The final year students attended sessions and workshops guided by a range of Northern Ireland’s leading business people.

Jim Eastwood, finalist on BBC show, The Apprentice, and now Head of Groupon (Ireland); Kate Marshall, MaST Ireland; UNISON Northern Ireland secretary, Inez McCormack; entrepreneur Cameron Stewart; Botanic Inns managing director, Stephen Magorrian; Cahoots NI artistic director, Paul McEneaney, Light and Sound FX and Ground Coffee managing director, Darren Gardiner; Luke Wolsey, managing director, Little Wing Pizza and Martin Hamilton, managing director, Mash Direct were just a selection of the speakers to address the students during the three day Academy.

From social skills and suggestions on how to enhance their C.V. to valuable insights into successful interview techniques and an evaluation of their own strengths and weaknesses – the Freedom Experience Academy offered a unique opportunity for final year students to hone their job search skills in advance of graduation and to make their first steps up their chosen career ladders.

Commenting at the end of the first Northern Bank Freedom Experience Academy, Vanessa Postle, Community Affairs Manager, Northern Bank said: “We were extremely impressed with the enthusiasm and willingness to learn demonstrated by each of the 20 students throughout the three days of the Freedom Experience Academy. They listened with great interest to the programme of speakers, probing them for further information, tips and advice to ensure they got the most out of the experience.

“Northern Bank is proud that the Freedom Experience Academy has helped to provide final year students - the leaders of tomorrow - with real, tangible skills that will be easily transferable upon graduation, greatly improving their employment prospects.”