EDGE Innovate

EDGE Innovate have always been an avid supporter of local initiatives to provide education and real work place experience and opportunities for members of the local community, and Invest NI's Graduate Export Skills and Marketing Academy has proved no different. Acclaimed by Northern Ireland's Employment and Learning Minister Dr. Stephen Farry and Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster, the Graduate Export Skills and Marketing Academy is another excellent example of government interventions to improve the skills of unemployed graduates, whilst providing employers with highly skilled staff to meet the needs of their business. The Academy offers an intensive eight week training programme, followed by a nine month temporary work contract with an employer and a potential offer of employment. EDGE Innovate (NI) Ltd have been deeply involved with the Invest NI application process and provided an approved project for the graduate to work on during their nine months contract. From this successful partnership with Invest NI, EDGE Innovate has taken on their first graduate from the InvestNI Export Skills and Marketing Academy. From January 2015 Mark Burns, a Queens University Sociology graduate has underwent substantial hands on fabrication experience coupled with an extensive sales training program at EDGE Innovate. From this; Mark has went on to become an integral member of the EDGE Sales Team based in London that promotes the EDGE brand in the south-east region. From the recent visit of Invest NI's Campaign Solutions and Digital Communication team to promote the Academy, Mark talks of the new skills formed and existing skills he has further developed through the challenges provided by his placement at EDGE. EDGE's Managing Director Darragh Cullen spoke of the extensive market that EDGE Innovate serves and highlighted the true scope of international trade opportunities that are available for Mark to work upon.