Ansell Lighting supports electricians of the future

Lighting designer and manufacturer Ansell Lighting has joined forces with Northern Regional College in Northern Ireland to provide support and resources for the Electrical Installation Apprenticeship course.

Ansell has built a strong relationship with a number of colleges throughout the UK to help support students in learning about the latest lighting technology and products.

The College, which provides further education across four of the 11 council areas in Northern Ireland from five campuses in Ballymena, Magherafelt, Newtownabbey and Coleraine, is keen for the partnership to provide students with invaluable industry insights and hands-on experience with state-of-the-art electrical components.

Ansell has supplied a series of product boards including downlights, retail and commercial fittings, emergency lighting packs and its own smart OCTO lighting technology. These boards, displayed within the College, allow students to interact with working products and gain a deeper understanding of lighting solutions.

Each board includes detailed information about the luminaires and their benefits. One of the projects students will undertake during their course this year involves designing lighting for a hotel, with Ansell products playing a key role in the process.

Ansell representatives also visited Northern Regional College’s Newtownabbey campus to meet with lecturers and students, sharing their expertise and offering real-world perspectives on the industry.

Mark Rogers, National Sales Manager for Ireland at Ansell Lighting, said: “As a manufacturer we recognise the importance of investing in and supporting the next generation of electricians and installers, at a time when there has been talk of skills shortages within the industry.

Ansell Lighting was established in Northern Ireland and so we are particularly pleased to be able to support students and apprentices in the region. We hope to see these students flourish and work with us in their future careers.”

Speaking on the partnership, Iain McCart, Electrical Installation Lecturer at Northern Regional College, said: “Ensuring our students are industry-ready is at the heart of everything we do. By working with leading companies like Ansell Lighting we can provide our apprentices with a more practical, relevant learning experience that gives them a real insight into the world of electrical installation. These partnerships not only benefit our students during their studies but also open doors for future employment opportunities in the sector.”