Precision Processing Services Ltd. takes on Brazilian engineering student Vitor Magalhães via international trainee scheme

The company, which based in the Maydown Industrial Estate, has pinned its hopes on Latin America, having taken on Brazilian engineering student Vitor Magalhães for the next year, through the British Council IAESTE (the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) programme.

Speaking about the move Chris Clements, Plant Manager at Precision, said: “What we do as a business is very unique, and there’s probably only two companies in the whole of Brazil that comes close to doing what we do - so we know we have a market there.

“However, it’s notoriously difficult to get into Brazil because of legislation policies - and also because of culture and language barriers.

“IAESTE enabled us to tailor a student to our own individual business needs and we found the process very easy – with British Council sorting out everything from visas to accommodation.

“Having Vitor here has been really beneficial, as not only can he speak the language and understand cultural nuances; he also has international experience in-country, which is essential for us.

“We’re really excited about where this placement can take us and hopefully we will see the results next year.”

The programme, which is supported and funded by the Department for the Economy, enables international students to work across the North on paid technical internships for up to a year, and in return, students from the North can complete their own placements all over the world.

PPSL, which refurbishes, cleans and inspects industrial equipment, was initially set up in 1999 to service the cleaning needs of the Invista Maydown Polymer plant and since then has provided a service to the industry across the UK, Europe and Asia.

It is now looking to Brazil, having discovered a gap in the market - and has brought in Vitor to carrying out a feasibility study with the hope of making the move in Spring 2019.

Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland, said: “The British Council recognises the economic benefits of developing stronger relationships between Northern Ireland and other countries.”

“Through mobility programmes such as IAESTE, local employers are able to benefit from the experience of high calibre international trainees and set the foundations for future partnerships, links and networks.

“At the same time the programme enhances the employability skills of our local undergraduates by providing them with the opportunity to gain inter-cultural skills and experience from working in a different country.”

The IAESTE programme runs in more than 90 member countries, with over 4000 traineeships exchanged each year and is the largest organisation of its kind in the world.

Northern Ireland businesses interested in learning more about the programme can find out more by visiting http://www.britishcouncil.org/iaeste/ with applications open all year round.

If you are you a science, engineering, technology or applied arts undergraduate student at a UK institution and believe you could do a paid industry traineeship lasting from six to 52 weeks in one of 90 countries with IAESTE then why not apply.

According to the British Council it’s a hassle-free way to experience life abroad and you’ll be supported by the IAESTE team every step of the way: from choosing an employer and applying for visas, to finding accommodation and settling into your new country. For more information contact Mary Mallon, IAESTE UK at [email protected] or follow British Council Northern Ireland on Twitter: @BCouncil_NI or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/britishcouncilnorthernireland.