The Island Arts Centre and SERC are celebrating after their Arts Service was listed as a co-finalist for the ‘Career Inspiration Award’ category in the Irish News Workplace Employment Awards 2014.

Now in their eighth year, the glittering 2014 awards will take place in Titanic Belfast on Thursday June 19 and will honour exceptional organisations in Northern Ireland that put an emphasis on developing, nurturing and getting the best out of people.

Mags White Arts Administration Coordinator, Island Arts Centre said: “With a record number of entries this year, SERC and Island Arts Centre are delighted to have made the shortlist for one of the most prestigious prizes in the business calendar.

“It demonstrates our extraordinary commitment as educators and communities to our students’ futures.”

The award category focuses on key strategic partnerships between business and education organisations, and what steps they are taking, to enable young people, to achieve the critical initial steps, towards their career ambitions.

SERC Performing Arts students and Island Arts Centre, have been operating in partnership since 2012.

Initially, the Arts Service identified an opportunity to use the Performing Arts Students as walkabout entertainers for the annual Lisburn City Halloween event.

This has been developed by the provision of professional coaching and tuition by the Arts Service team, the development of the SERC Performing Arts curriculum to reflect these projects, and the students’ own professional theatre company being contracted to perform as part of the biannual Season Programme of Events in the intimate Studio Theatre at the Island.

SERC Performing Arts lecturer Sarah Collyer said she was delighted with the news.

“This is fantastic recognition of the work we are doing at the college and for our partnership with ISLAND Arts Centre.

“The work-based initiatives are designed to bring out the best in our Students and to encourage them to use their own creativity throughout every endeavour.”