SERC

All the Small Things performed by actors Billy Barlow and Katherine Vernez-Grey (credit Joel Chester Fildes)

M6 Theatre bring All the Small Things to Bangor next month

FDQ Level 2 Professional Chef students who are preparing the menu for the Thursday evening Bistro, 5.00pm to 7.30pm at SERC’s Downpatrick Campus. (Back L-R) Chef Lecturer Thomas Turley, with students, Sarah Murray (18, Castlewellan), Corey Glennon (17, Downpatrick), Declan Rodgers (18 Downpatrick), Lucas McColgan (17, Downpatrick), Corey Donnelly, Zac Asante, Chloe Baker, Leah Bailey (17, Saintfield), Alex Stevens (18, Downpatrick), (Front l – r) Marc Fogarty, Dontay Hannaway, Matty Baszlakow, Finn Tierney, Liam Appleyard, and Steven Bell.

SERC students serve up seasonal dishes at Downpatrick bistro

Left to right: Victoria Boyd, Head of Training Programmes and Apprenticeships at SERC with local bricklaying employers, Jem Chamus, (Newtownards), and Barry Ritchie (Portaferry), with Francis Rice, Principal Lecturer, SERC.

Event aims to raise awareness of the provision of wet trades training

Gabby Harrison (21), from Newtownards, a Level 3 Apprenticeship NI in Professional Cookery who was a finalist for the Apprentice Chef Award, with Northern Ireland born, Clare Smyth MBE, who was presented with the esteemed Special Award at the prestigious Craft Guild of Chefs Award ceremony.

NI man wins chef 'oscar'

Pictured at the launch of SkillBuild NI Regional Competition 2025 are (l-r): Martin Flynn, chief executive OCN, Caine Tait, carpentry and joinery student SERC, Francis Rice, principal lecturer, Construction Trades SERC and Barry Neilson OBE, chief executive CITB NI

OCN ‘tools up’ for SkillBuild NI Regional Competition 2025

Skillbuild Plastering SERC: (L – R) Ross Smith, Denis Wilson of Glenavy, with David Johnston from Saintfield, who took first place and Nathan Downey, from Crossgar, who took second place (both Lisburn Campus) in the Skillbuild intercampus plastering competition at SERC; with Heather McKee, Deputy Principal SERC; and Francis Rice, Principal Lecturer, SERC.

In pictures: Top apprentices battle it out for honours

SERC students from the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport SERC Scarlet Jenkins (Carrowdore) and Emma McAuley (Bangor) pictured in the middle with volunteers and children during one of the games sessions they planned and organised as part of their Turing Scheme fully funded work and study placement in South Africa earlier this year.

SERC secures Turing funding for student study and placements

Sarah Magill (Newtownards) who graduated with a Level 4 Diploma in Digital Marketing, celebrates with husband Russell and daughters, Anna and Aimee.

SERC students honoured at graduation

Students from South Eastern Regional College Level 3 Advanced Tech in Applied Science and Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Animal Management students visited South Africa in June this year to embark on an animal themed adventure, fully funded by the Turing Scheme. (L-R Back Row): Caolan McKavanagh (18, Carryduff), Aaron Willis (17, Comber), Noah McIlwrath (18, Bangor), Frank Quinn (24, Castlewellan), Ellie Whithorn (18, Waringstown), with SERC Lecturers Alan Brown and Chris Kernaghan; (L- R Front Row) Scarlett Andrews (19, Ballywalter), Alex Hewitt (19, Ballynahinch), Lena Swietek (18, Bangor), Jessica Boreland (18, Dundonald), Hollie Crossey (18, Hillsborough), with SERC Lecturer Hannah Rodgers; (Kneeling) Megan Ross (18, Gilford), and Katie West (18, Markethill).

Local students enjoy a trip of a lifetime to South Africa

Students from South Eastern Regional College Level 3 Advanced Tech in Applied Science and Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Animal Management students visited South Africa in June this year to embark on an animal themed adventure, fully funded by the Turing Scheme. (L-R Back Row): Caolan McKavanagh (18, Carryduff), Aaron Willis (17, Comber), Noah McIlwrath (18, Bangor), Frank Quinn (24, Castlewellan), Ellie Whithorn (18, Waringstown), with SERC Lecturers Alan Brown and Chris Kernaghan; (L- R Front Row) Scarlett Andrews (19, Ballywalter), Alex Hewitt (19, Ballynahinch), Lena Swietek (18, Bangor), Jessica Boreland (18, Dundonald), Hollie Crossey (18, Hillsborough), with SERC Lecturer Hannah Rodgers; (Kneeling) Megan Ross (18, Gilford), and Katie West (18, Markethill).

Local students enjoy a trip of a lifetime to South Africa

IFEX wins for SERC: (L – R) Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Professional Bakey students at SERC’s Lisburn Campus who picked up Awards at IFEX were Naomi Fox (Lisburn), silver for Novelty Cake Senior; Amy O’Neill (Lisburn), merit for Celebration Cake; Faye McGrogran (Lisburn), merit for Wedding Cake; Seraphina Willis (Crumlin), merit for Novelty Cake Junior; Evangeline Johnston (Banbridge) bronze, for Novelty Cake Junior; Roisin Walsh, (Belfast) bronze, for Afternoon Tea Senior and Carly Buchanan (Belfast), silver for Decorative Exhibit. Missing from photo Wilma Mavindidze, bronze for Novelty Cake Senior and Gemma Diamond, bronze for Restaurant Innovation – Dessert of the Year.

IFEX success for young chefs

Mark Bowring, from Magheralin, a Level 3 Vehicle Maintenance & Repair (Heavy Vehicle) apprentice, employed by the Education Authority who took first place in SERC’s Heavy Vehicle College Competition. Left to right, David Monroe, Director, Transport Supplies (NI) Limited, Mark Bowring, and Michael Hutchinson, Lecturer in Motor Vehicle. Picture: SERC

Heavy vehicle competition win for SERC student Mark Bowring

Skillbuild Electrical Competition SERC: (l-r) Steven Donnelly, Electrical tutor; Mark Kerr, Electrical tutor; Sam Osborne, LM Services; John Cully, Electrical tutor with Electrical Apprentices, Barry Forsythe, Seaforde, (joint 3 rd place); Aaron Chambers, Newtownards (Joint 3 rd place); Lucas Bjorkman-Loney, Belfast (2 nd place) Ashton Heslip, Banbridge (runner up); Cameron Gorman Bangor (1 st place); and, Roy Connolly, B.I. Electrical Services, Ben Ford, Electrical tutor and Michael Brogan, judge from South West College. Pic: SERC

Skillbuild Competition at South Eastern Regional College (SERC)

Thomas Disney and Brian Magill.

Chef Thomas to take part in prestigious competition

SERC is recruiting graduates for two new Graduate programmes - Digital Marketing and Future Leaders - fully funded through The Flexible Skills Fund from the Department for Economy. Apply online visit www.serc.ac.uk/Grad-Prog-21 Pictured (L-R) SERC graduates Matthew McPherson and Shannen Magee.

New programmes on Employability for Graduates

SERC Chefs, Brian Magill (left based at Bangor Campus) and Thomas McCluney (right based at Ards Campus), hosted a masterclass in traditional Irish breads in a live webinar for students at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Hong Kong which was organised through Invest NI’s Hong Kong office which offered NI Colleges the opportunity to build a collaborative link with PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management in Hong Kong as part of its international culinary outreach programme.

Hong Kong students get a ‘Taste’ of Northern Ireland
SERC Chefs, Brian Magill and Thomas McCluney, hosted a masterclass in traditional Irish breads in a live webinar for students at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Hong Kong.
By The Newsroom

Stephen Parker, a HND Creative Media Production student at SERC’s NI Film & Television School (NIFTS) scripted dramas which won Royal Television Society NI Student Awards in 2020 and 2021. Stephen, from Newtownards, is pictured on set of award-winning She Cries At Night with leading lady, Rebecca Hickey.

SERC open evening for Higher Education students

Extension to Apprenticeship Recovery Package

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) are scheduled to host a full programme of activities for students and staff as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 16 -22 November including live Q & As with entrepreneurs Philip Bain and Marie Nancarrow of Titanic Denim. Pictured L – R Innovation Advisors Megan Rlllins, Rachel Innes and Dearbhla Knight. Visit serc.ac.uk

SERC students steer their own course

SERC are calling for students to make their applications for courses commencing in September 2020 emphasising that they are #OnlineAndOpenForBusiness Pictured is Level 3 Animal Management student Hollie Smith, who is completing her course and plans to progress to veterinary nursing. Hollie who was part of the SERC team selected for the BT Young Scientist this year, encourage her peers to find out what is on offer at SERC and make their application now.

Apply now to SERC for September entry

Heavy Vehicle Course Coordinator, Ian McClure with Level 3, Level 3 first year Josh Fletcher from Saintfield, apprentice with Tony Patterson Sports Grounds and Cormac Quinn, from Belfast, apprentice Belfast City Council, who also took part in the competition, and John Nixon, Head of School, SERC.

Apprentice success at Heavy Vehicle Intercampus Competition

South Eastern Regional College employees have been recognised in the New Year Honours list. Gary Chambers (from Lisburn) has been awarded Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to education, and Catherine Shipman (from Craigavon) has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to students and young people in County Down and County Armagh.

New Year Honours for SERC employees

Students and staff from South Eastern Regional Colleges Downpatrick Campus donated over thirty-six hours volunteering to Cancer Fund for Childrens Daisy Lodge by wrapping selection boxes in preparation for a visit from Santa

SERC students wrap it up for Daisy Lodge

SERC apprentice reaches finals

The happy couple: Anthony Wylie, from Lisburn, and Jade Smyth, from Ballynahinch, who met while studying Professional Cookery at South Eastern Regional College.

Former SERC cookery students find recipe for love!

South Eastern Regional College recently welcomed members from The Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies (CARAS) for a study tour at the colleges Lisburn Campus where they were given an overview of the range of courses on offer at SERC. Pictured are CARAS Chairman John Kelly, Honorary Secretary Colin McDonald, Kendall Glenn, Royal Ulster Agricultural Society Secretariat, SERC Chief Training and Contracts Officer William Greer and SERC principal and chief executive Ken Webb.

SERC welcomes CARAS representatives to college

SERC engineering student Chloe Pollock from Ballynahinch is just one of a handful of young women across the province pursuing a career in the male dominated engineering industry and is one of only two females in her class. Chloe is pictured with tutor Joe Neeson.

Who says engineering is only for boys?
A local college has seen a dramatic increase in the number of young women signing up for engineering courses
By The Newsroom

SERC professional cookery student David Haggan from Belfast has travelled to India with his mentor Brian Magill to represent Northern Ireland at the Young Chef Olympiad

SERC's young chef competes at world's biggest culinary competition

News you can trust since 1963

© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice