NEWS

Pupils form Cambridge House Grammar School try their hand at cupcake decorating under the guidance of chef, Sandra McCooke as the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford and Colin Johnston, CEO of Galgorm Collection look on. Forty local pupils have been given a behind-the-scenes look at careers in hospitality and tourism as part of a growing Mid and East Antrim programme designed to connect classroom learning with real workplace opportunities.

Northern Ireland Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has outlined sweeping employment reforms which could significantly change workplace rights for thousands of workers and families across Northern Ireland. The proposed Good Jobs Bill includes new protections for pregnant employees, rights for zero-hours workers to secure more stable contracts, neonatal leave and pay for parents of sick babies, and new unpaid leave for carers. The legislation

Inside Wrightbus during Manufacturing Month tour of its Ballymena site Wrightbus’s rapid expansion and growing global footprint have been hailed as a major economic boost for Ballymena and Mid and East Antrim, as local manufacturing leaders and council representatives toured the company’s flagship production facility during Manufacturing Month. The visit brought renewed focus to the scale of Wrightbus’s impact on the local economy, with the Ballymena-based manufacturer now pr

Smiles all round as Ready2Work Academy students stand outside Tuition Time with teachers and facilitators, celebrating the success of their showcase café event. A group of young people from Larne took a major step towards the world of work this week after stepping behind the counter to run a real café environment as part of a programme designed to help SEN school leavers build confidence and job-ready skills. Ten students from Roddensvale School showcased what they had learne

Past participants who completed the Medical Administration Training Academy in preparation for employment in GP practices across Mid and East Antrim A free training programme aimed at helping local people secure jobs within GP practices across Mid and East Antrim is returning for a second consecutive year — but organisers say there is now just one week left to apply, with only a limited number of places remaining. The Medical Administration Training Academy, delivered by the

Northern Regional College, Ballymena Northern Regional College has celebrated some of Northern Ireland’s top emerging talent at a special reception in Ballymena, recognising apprentices who have achieved success on regional, national and international stages. The event, held at the College’s Ballymena campus, brought together award-winning apprentices, employers, lecturers and senior College leaders to mark a series of standout achievements across engineering, manufacturing a

Mr Stephen Black One of Northern Ireland’s best-known school principals is set to leave his post at Ballymena Academy later this year after accepting a new position within the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). Mr Stephen Black will step down as Principal of Ballymena Academy on 31 August 2026, bringing to an end a 12-year leadership period which saw the school maintain strong academic performance while further developing its sporting and co-curricular reputation. The announc

Launching the Mid and East Antrim Construction and Scaffolding Academy are: (l-r) Amanda Crossen, Project Manager at CITBNI); Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford; Charlene Earley from Workforce Training) and Steven Douglas of 7 Towers Scaffolding. A new Construction and Scaffolding Academy aimed at helping local people into employment has opened for applications across Mid and East Antrim, offering participants industry-recognised qualifications, practic

Georgia Gamble is a Senior Community Nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, based between the Country Medical Centre in Armoy and Bushmills Health Centre as part of the Moyle Rural District Nursing Team. A Northern Trust community nurse has spoken about the importance of compassionate care, meaningful relationships and patient advocacy ahead of International Nurses Day next week. Georgia Gamble, a Senior Community Nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care

Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director at Lidl Northern Ireland. Lidl Northern Ireland has announced a second major pay increase for staff in 2026, investing a further £756,000 into wages for frontline workers and Deputy Store Managers across its Northern Ireland operations. The latest increase, which came into effect on 1 May, will see hourly-paid colleagues earn at least £13.30 per hour — comfortably above the UK National Living Wage of £12.71 — while Deputy Store M

From left participant Jacqueline Dickson with Hayley Barr Labour Market Partnership, participant Denise Harris, Annie McSparron, CEO Kelli McRoberts, Denise Mayo Labour Market Partnership, Paul Truscott General Manager Harbourview Hotel Ten people across Mid and East Antrim have completed a targeted hospitality training programme, collectively securing 24 accredited qualifications as efforts intensify to tackle unemployment and skills shortages in one of Northern Ireland’s fa

Zak Moore and Jack Strange, Sauna Masters at Galgorm, who were crowned Team Performance Champions at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships, hosted at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village A standout double success for a Ballymena-based spa team has put Northern Ireland firmly on the international wellness map, after two Galgorm Sauna Masters claimed top honours at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships on home soil. Zak Moore and Jack Strange were crowned Team Performance Champions following

Martin Cleary (Rossnowlagh) and Cian Kirwan (Letterkenny) chatted to horticulture Lecturer, Caitriona McCrudden about pathways in horticulture. Prospective students were recently given a hands-on look at future career opportunities in horticulture and floristry as the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) opened its doors at Greenmount Campus in Antrim. The open day offered an in-depth insight into the wide range of study pathways available, with staff wel

A major all-island study has revealed that vast numbers of teachers across Northern Ireland are experiencing serious work-related burnout, with nearly half now considering leaving the profession — raising fresh concerns about the sustainability of the education system. New research from Dublin City University’s Centre for Collaborative Research Across Teacher Education, carried out in partnership with St Mary’s University College Belfast, found that 91% of teachers surveyed a

Award winner is Mark McGuire, Lidl’s Supply Chain Analyst at Nutt's Corner RDC. A Lidl employee based at the company’s Nutts Corner Regional Distribution Centre has been recognised as one of the top performers across the island of Ireland, after securing a major national award celebrating inclusion and workplace culture. Mark McGuire, a Supply Chain Analyst, was named one of just six top award winners at Lidl’s 2026 National Achievement Awards, standing out among more than 6

Families across the UK are being financially penalised when teenagers choose apprenticeships over staying in school, with some households losing more than £330 per week due to the way the benefits system operates, a new report has found. The findings, published by the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC), highlight a stark imbalance in post-16 education choices, where families can be left worse off if a young person enters work-based training instead of remaining in full

Marks & Spencer has begun work on a significant transformation of its Aldergrove store, with plans to double the size of its Foodhall, introduce thousands of new product lines and create up to 25 new local jobs. The redevelopment, which is now underway, will see the existing store expand into the adjoining service station, delivering a larger, modernised retail space designed to meet changing customer demand and enhance convenience for shoppers in the area. Store expansion un

The winning team from the Rotary Club Generation Chef competition, are pictured with, from left, Georgie Briota, Business Development Manager at Galgorm Collection, Iris Houston, General Manager, Adair Arms Hotel, Gary Stewart, Judge and Chef Tartine of Distillers Arms, Chad Shaw, Northern Ireland Hospitality School, Samantha Wade, Quinn Merrigan, Northern Ireland Hospitality School, Eddie McGarvey, Judge and Chef at Salt House, Debbie Chestnutt, President of Ballymena Rotary

19-year-old Jamie Matthews from Antrim has been selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 A 19-year-old apprentice from Antrim is set to compete on one of the world’s biggest stages for vocational talent after being selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 — a global contest where elite young professionals go head-to-head in high-pressure, precision-based challenges. Jamie Matthews, who is training with Mivan and studying a Level 3 Apprentice

Gallaher Trust’s Chairman, Ian Paisley, alongside Trustees, Lauren McAteer and James Perry MBE . A major funding push aimed at driving job creation and skills development across Ballymena has been launched, as The Gallaher Trust reopens applications for 2027 projects alongside a landmark event marking the town’s 400th anniversary. Business leaders, social enterprises and charities are being urged to step forward with new ideas as £400,000 in funding becomes available, with or