Twenty eight students graduated from LYIT’s Wind Energy Technology programme last October. Sixteen have found gainful employment or have chosen to go onto further studies.  LYIT students had placements as part of their programme with Siemens, Nordex Energy (Irl), Enercon, Nordex (UK), B9 Energy, Ecowind power, Ecopower, The Natural Power Company and Barr na Gaoithe Teo. Many have already started their new careers and have been given a second chance.

Pat O’Donnell (now with Siemens) described when he got the offer of employment at 50 years of age having completed the wind energy programme at LYIT was equivalent to winning the lotto. He feared that having been made redundant two years earlier that in these recessionary times he would never have the dignity of working again. “LYIT’s programme gave me the necessary education and skills to go back to the market and be confident in my own abilities and skills and get employment”.

Mark Mc Cloat, Field Operations Manager, Nordex Energy Irl, stated "Nordex Energy Ireland Limited and Nordex UK limited are extremely happy to be associated with the Wind Energy Technician Course at Letterkenny IT.  The quality of the graduates have been second to none. We have been lucky enough to have 7 Interns work with us for their 6 week work experience period and could not have been happier with their performance."

"So far Nordex have already hired some graduates from the course and strongly intend to do so in the future.  As Nordex Energy Ireland Limited is growing exponentially in Ireland so does our demand for quality technicians. These technicians do not need to have experience within the industry which means that with the Wind Energy Technician course at Letterkenny IT and its excellent training facilities and tutors we are sure that our future employees will be ready to 'hit the ground running' and make their transition from their relevant sectors into the Wind Industry a fast and smooth process."

"Nordex Energy Ireland Limited are part of the Global Nordex group and as we are a locally based company Nordex Energy Ireland are extremely customer focused from the sales process all the way through to their service department and the people that keep the turbines spinning ... the Wind Turbine Technicians. With the quality graduates from LYIT Wind Energy Technician course we are delighted to say that we can grow the company in Ireland using Irish technicians that live close to their place of work, who are passionate about their work and who will stay with us in a permanent and safe employment for a long time to come."  

Photo caption 1:  Siemens turbine at Meentycat Wind Farm, Co Donegal

Photo caption 2: Managing Director for Nordex UK and Ireland, Bryan Grinham, with Mark McCloat (right), FOM Nordex Energy Ireland.