FOUNDATION FOOD HYGIENE
This course will run on 26th February 2007...read more

SHAUNA WINS TOP UK AWARD
Shauna Mackin (Moy Park Ltd) recently won the UK Food Manufacturing Modern Apprentice of the Year Award...read more

Two local Apprentices short listed for UK Award
FDTC is pleased to announce that two local Apprentices have been short listed for the overall UK award...read more

FDTC Apprentice wins MA of the Year Award
At the DEL sponsored Modern Apprentice of the Year Awards, we were delighted to have two of our apprentices...read more

FDTC Manager wins National Health and Safety Award
Geoff Lamb, Business Development Manager at the Food and Drink Training Council...read more

FDTC Appoints New Directors
We are pleased to announce the appointment of the following to the board of FDTC...read more

Improve launches in Northern Ireland
September 29th saw the launch if Improve Ltd in Northern Ireland.
The launch took place at the Culloden Hotel and was attended by many of the...read more

Training Awards Announced
The Food and Drink Training Awards have been presented at the Culloden Hotel....read more

New Regional Manager appointed for Improve Limited
Improve Limited, the recently licensed Sector Skills Council for the UK Food & Drink Industry, has appointed Geoff Lamb as Northern Ireland Regional Manager....read more

Official launch of IMPROVE
On 6th July, IMPROVE, the new Food and Drink Sector Skills Council for the UK, was launched in London, in the presence of Ivan...read more


FOUNDATION FOOD HYGIENE
This course will run on 26th February 2007. Anyone wishing to book a place please contact us by email (karenmartin@fdtc.co.uk) for a booking form or telephone 02890329269.

SHAUNA WINS TOP UK AWARD
Shauna Mackin (Moy Park Ltd) recently won the UK Food Manufacturing Modern Apprentice of the Year Award. This prestigeous award, sponsored by Improve the Food and Drink Sector Skills Council, was presented to Shauna at a glittering award ceremony in the Dorchester Hotel in London. The apprenticship has given Shauna the opportunity to move from operative status to Trainee Manager and should help to develop her career within the food and drink industry. The Food and Drink Training Council offers Shauna its congratulations on this fantastic achievement.

Two local Apprentices short listed for UK Award
FDTC is pleased to announce that two local Apprentices have been short listed for the overall UK award. The two are Alan Rooks, of Allied Bakeries, who has already won the local Apprentice of the Year award, and Kieran Givens of RHM Bakeries.
Both of these Apprentices were invited to the UK Awards ceremony held at the Dorchester Hotel in London, where the presenter was former BBC News editor John Sergeant.
This is a fantastic achievement for both Alan, Kieran and their companies and shows the quality of Food and Drink Apprentices in Northern Ireland, when compared with the UK overall.
Once again we pass on our congratulations to all concerned.

FDTC Apprentice wins MA of the Year Award
At the DEL sponsored Modern Apprentice of the Year Awards, we were delighted to have two of our apprentices, Alan Rooks of Allied Bakeries and Shauna Mackin of Moy Park, short-listed for the top prize.
Furthermore, Alan went on to win the Award, a fantastic achievement for him, as there are currently 6500 MAs in Northern Ireland.
His prize included a home computing system and a beautiful cut glass trophy.
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Alan and Shauna as well as the companies for whom they work who have supported these and other candidates, and continue to do so.
Pictured left to right - Christine Bleakley (BBC), Shauna Mackin (Moy Park), Geoff Lamb, Alan Rooks (Allied Bakeries)
Picture courtesy of Harrison Photography

FDTC Manager wins National Health and Safety Award
Geoff Lamb, Business Development Manager at the Food and Drink Training Council was recently presented with a prestigious national award for Health and Safety. The award was for gaining top marks in the NEBOSH General Certificate from a pool of over 12000 candidates throughout the United Kingdom.
The FDTC sponsored Geoff for the course and he is pictured with Cecil Mathers FDTC Chairman, at the awards ceremony in Birmingham.

FDTC Appoints New Directors - January 2005
We are pleased to announce the appointment of the following to the board of FDTC
• Brian Cains - Moy Park Human Resources Director.
• Maritta Culley - Local Seafish Group Training Association Manager.
• Karen Brown - Director of Employer Engagement with Improve Ltd.
Additionally, the post of Vice-Chairman has been created and Colin Coffey will be responsible for this important role in 2005.
Angus Wilson has retired from the Board after 3 years of valuable service and he was presented with a commemorative plaque and a donation for his charity work.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank Angus for his contribution and to congratulate him on his MBE, which he has received for services to the food processing industry and to charity.

Improve launches in Northern Ireland - September 2004
September 29th saw the launch if Improve Ltd in Northern Ireland.
The launch took place at the Culloden Hotel and was attended by many of the top local employers in the local community.
Speakers included Jack Matthews, CEO of Improve Ltd, Tom Scott, Director of the Skills and Industry Division at the Department of Employment and Learning, and Cecil Mathers, Chairman of FDTC, who is also the NI Board Member of Improve.
Geoff Lamb, Business Development Manager of FDTC is also the local Regional Manager for Improve.

Training Awards Announced - September 2004
The Food and Drink Training Awards have been presented at the Culloden Hotel.
These well supported and much sought after awards saw winners in the following categories -
Overall Company winner 2004 is Dungannon Meats
Allied Bakeries and Wilson's Country Foods received commendations
Modern Apprentice of the Year
Joint winners are Gareth Wright of Irwin's Bakery and Alan Rooks of Allied Bakeries
The judges would like to thank all of those who took part in the awards and have praised the exceptionally high standard of this year's entrants.

New Regional Manager appointed for Improve Limited - June 2004
Improve Limited, the recently licensed Sector Skills Council for the UK Food & Drink Industry, has appointed Geoff Lamb as Northern Ireland Regional Manager.
Geoff is currently the Business Development Manager with the NI Food & Drink Training Council, and will combine both roles in order to best serve the needs of the local Food & Drink Industry. Geoff's main functions with regard to 'Improve' will include enhancing labour market intelligence in conjunction with the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) and the NI Skills Task Force, developing national standards, and developing the Modern Apprenticeship frameworks.
These roles all form an integral part of the remit of the NI Food & Drink Training Council, whose aim is to develop a workforce for a world class industry.

Official launch of IMPROVE, July 2004
On 6th July, IMPROVE, the new Food and Drink Sector Skills Council for the UK, was launched in London, in the presence of Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills and Vocational Education. The launch was attended by Cecil Mathers, Chairman of NIFDTC and the NI Board Member of IMPROVE and Geoff Lamb of FDTC who is also NI Regional Manager for IMPROVE.
IMPROVE has a number of upcoming initiatives for further developing the Food Industry workforce in the UK and is planning Regional launches across the UK in early autumn.
The NI Regional launch will be co-ordinated by FDTC who will be the IMPROVE operations centre in NI.