Andor Technology teams up with Irish Rugby Union PlayersAssociation and Grafton Employment Group to
take part in ‘Ulster Rugby Mean Business’ mentoring programme.
Andor Technology has teamed up with the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) and the Grafton Employment Group to mentor Ulster and Ireland Rugby players, Andrew Trimble and Chris Henry, who are taking part in the ‘Ulster Rugby Mean Business’ mentoring programme.
The ‘Ulster Rugby Mean Business’ programme, which was launched at Ravenhill in January 2011 by IRUPA and Grafton, was devised to support IRUPA rugby players in their bid to secure a future career when their rugby playing days end. The programme helps them develop an alternative skill-set whilst actively playing to ensure they have a viable and secure future in later years.
Belfast based, Andor Technology, which develops and manufactures high performance scientific digital cameras, will now work with the rugby players and mentor them in a bid to assess their skills, determine how their skills would be best utilised and to pinpoint what career path would work best for them.
As the rugby season heats up with the Heineken Cup quarter finals and Six Nations on the horizon, the mentoring sessions were recently kicked off at Andor Technology by Gary Wilmot, Director of Engineering at Andor and IRUPA representatives Andrew Trimble and Chris Henry. 50 Andor engineers attended the first session where the Ulster and Ireland players were also able to provide some sporting lessons on preparation, training and supporting the team that were very applicable to the business world also.
Andor Technology was set up in 1989 as a spin out from Queens University and now employs over 300 people in 16 offices worldwide. The company distributes products to customers in more than 55 countries and in 2011 again grew sales and profitability to record levels.
Sinead Symington, Head of Human Resources at Andor said, “There is huge synergy between the business and sporting worlds and this is an exciting opportunity for Andor and Ulster Rugby to share best in class expertise in developing and engaging Northern Ireland’s top talent. Andor is both pleased and proud to be participating in the mentoring programme.”
The Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) is charged with protecting player welfare and securing players’ futures in and beyond the game. Hamish Adams, the Player Services Adviser with IRUPA, said;
“The players have widely welcomed the opportunity from Andor Technology to take part in the mentoring programme, as they will gain experience and benefits of a life outside the rugby field from one of Northern Irelands leading companies, which will no doubt help to ensure they are not kicked into touch when their playing career finishes.”
Aidan McKee, Players Mentoring Manager at Grafton Employment Group Ireland, is overseeing the ‘Ulster Rugby Mean Business’ mentoring programme and he says:
“We are all aware that the current recruitment marketplace is extremely challenging for many and this mentoring service will simply provide Ulster rugby players, many of whom began their rugby careers well before they received any formal career guidance, a helping hand to begin preparing for alternative careers. We are delighted that Andor Technology has been able to come on board and support this agile approach to employee engagement.”
