During their visit to the Coleraine campus, they talked to students about important employability skills and encouraged them to take ownership of their own career by developing their 3D Design skills, taking an interest in buildings and architecture and not being afraid to apply for work placement during their Level 3 course.
Jonny attended the College between 2000 and 2002. He completed a BTEC National Diploma in Land Administration which allowed him to progress to the HND in Building and Estate Management which he completed in 2005. As part of the HND programme, he did a placement with GM Design where he worked there as a trainee town planner before going on to John Moore’s University in Liverpool. After graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in Urban Planning in 2007, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Planning and then returned to work with GM Design as a town planner. He received full chartered status from the Royal Institute of Planning in 2015 and continues to work as a town planner on a range of exiting projects both at home and further afield.
Keith Stewart attended Northern Regional College and completed his BTEC National Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment between 2005 and 2007. He continued his studies at the College, completing a Foundation Degree in Building Technology and Management in 2010. As part of the Foundation Degree, Keith did his work placement as trainee Architectural Technologist with GM Design. With the Foundation degree under his belt, he was able to complete his degree in Architectural Technology at Northumbria University in just two years, instead of the usual four.
Following his graduation in 2012, Keith returned to GM Design to work on a range of exciting projects as an Architectural technologist. One of his projects, Castle Hill Event Space and Visitors’ Centre near Dungannon, won the prestigious Award for Excellence in Architectural Technology in 2016. Keith attained full chartered status from the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists in 2017.
During their presentation to students, Jonny and Keith showcased some of the projects they have worked on which gave a fascinating insight into the industry.
Their visit to the College was arranged by Pat Condren, a lecturer in the Built Environment at the College who taught both Jonny and Keith.
He said: “It’s always great to see former students doing well so I was delighted that Jonny and Keith were able to come back to give our current students a good overview of what their jobs involve.
“They both benefited from work placements during their time at College and I hope their success stories will motivate our students and encourage them to work even harder to achieve their goals.”