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For the Women in Business NI Young Women's Network event, Shorlagh McConville will be the evenings key note speaker. The event will take place in the Pearl Assurance Building which has recently been refurbished by the Rathbane Group in Belfast City Centre., The Young Women’s Network provides a platform to empower young women and will take place on Thursday 20th June. The purpose of these events is to equip young women with the tools, networks and insights that are needed to get ahead. If you are under 28 years old, a student, recent graduate, an aspiring entrepreneur or in the initial stages of working life, Women in Business NI can help with your career progression.,Shorlagh is a shareholder of the Rathbane Group. The Rathbane Group is a second-generation, family-owned and managed business rooted in Northern Ireland with projects worldwide. The Rathbane Group is a leading expert in the construction of high-end and complex projects globally serving both the land and marine markets. The Rathbane Group comprises Mivan, MJM Marine, Topglass, and Rathbane Holdings.,,Her talk will focus on Young Women in Leadership and will share insights from her early career, highlighting instances where she seized leadership opportunities at junior levels, which propelled her development within the organisation. Shorlagh aims to equip young women in business with the practical tools to excel in their careers. She will provide actional tips on enhancing self-motivation, self-belief, decision-making, and leadership skills.,,Together with the Women in Business Young Women's Network, she looks forward to inspiring more young female leaders to think bigger, achieve more, and excel in both business and life.

In an extraordinary feat of dedication and skill, Conor Dallas has been honoured with the Further Education NI Excellence Award for Apprentice of the Year. This marks his fourth award win since 2022, a testament to his consistent excellence throughout each year of his training.,A Journey Marked by Excellence,Conor Dallas’s journey in the Mivan Apprenticeship Program has been nothing short of remarkable. From the outset, his commitment to his craft and his drive to excel set him apart. Each year, he has demonstrated not only a profound understanding of his trade but also his work ethic has earned him the respect and admiration of peers and mentors alike.,Three Years, Four Awards,Winning the Apprentice of the Year award once is a significant achievement; winning it four times from different organisations is unparalleled. Conor’s accolades reflect his mastery and progression. Each year, the competition for these awards is intense, with numerous talented apprentices vying for recognition. Conor's repeated victories highlight his ability to consistently perform at the highest level.,The Impact of Conor's Success,Conor’s achievements have far-reaching implications. They underscore the value of the apprenticeship program and the role in developing skilled professionals. His success story serves as an inspiration to current and future apprentices, demonstrating that dedication, hard work, and a passion for learning can lead to exceptional outcomes.,Apprentice mentor, Charley McAuley said, “Conor’s journey is a shining example of what can be achieved with dedication and a commitment to excellence. His continuous improvement and enthusiasm for his craft are inspiring to everyone in our program. Conor sets the standard.”,Looking Ahead,With his apprenticeship training now complete, Conor Dallas continues to make significant contributions to Mivan. His four-time Apprentice of the Year status positions him as a leader and a role model. As he evolves from apprentice to a full-fledged professional, the industry eagerly anticipates the innovative and skilled contributions he will undoubtedly bring.,Celebrating Achievement,The Further Education NI Excellence Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding apprentices across Northern Ireland. Conor’s victory not only celebrates his personal success but also highlights the effectiveness and importance of apprenticeship programs in building a skilled and capable workforce.,Conor added, “Thanks to all who have supported my progress throughout my training, especially Charley in Mivan and Ian Forsythe at Northern Regional College. Without Ian’s continuous guidance I would not have won any of these awards. I am extremely proud of these awards and eagerly look forward to the next chapter of success in my career.”, 

Mivan, a leader in marine outfitting, has successfully completed a comprehensive refurbishment on board the Islander, the latest flagship of Margaritaville at Sea. Tasked with transforming the retail areas, photo galleries, concierge services, and future sales sections, Mivan's work included the installation of bespoke joinery, artwork, and artifacts.,Completed in just one month at the renowned Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, the project received high praise from our client Terramare. Francisco Porras, Managing Director at Terramare, lauded Mivan for their exceptional project management and high-quality work, especially under a tight deadline.,"Mivan demonstrated a very professional and strong performance in the renovation of MVAS Islander. Mivan's management team demonstrated valuable work ethics by providing solutions to our "last minute" requests, our Terramare group needed to find capable local (Belfast, Northern Ireland) outfitting representation and we found it with Mivan. They were optimistic by helping us value engineer several public areas based on our needs, despite the tight installation delivery deadline. We are very thankful for their commitment to our renovation project. They certainly demonstrated an exceptional project management service and high quality of work.,We look forward to working with Mivan in a future renovation project.",Innovative Additions and Unique Features,The Islander now boasts a variety of exciting features, such as the three-story LandShark Bar, The Tiki Bar adult lounge, a 14-story tropical atrium, and the Caribbean Amphibian Splash and Slide. These enhancements are designed to offer guests an unparalleled experience of fun and escapism.,High Standards and Future Collaborations,Mivan's ability to handle last-minute requests and provide value-engineered solutions highlights their commitment to excellence. Their successful collaboration with Terramare sets a positive precedent for future projects, ensuring that the Islander remains a premier destination for sea-bound leisure.,For more information, visit the Islander case study here.

Jamie Matthews, 2nd Year Apprentice Joiner, won the SkillBuild NI Regional Qualifier in Bench Joinery for the second year in a row. Also, Charlie Fleck, 1st Year Apprentice Joiner, achieved a third-place finish.,Mivan, the luxury fit out and bespoke joinery specialists, had a record breaking seven apprentices competing in the SkillBuild NI Regional Qualifier Joinery category, and for the first time ever one competitor in the Site Joinery category. In an unprecedented result Jamie Matthews name will be engraved on to the trophy again.  ,Just like last year’s success at the regional qualifier Jamie hopes his score is good enough for a place at the UK SkillBuild National Final taking place later this year. Jamie added, “Winning last year was very unknown but now that I have that experience under my belt, I am a much more confident joiner. I think I did better than last year so hopefully it will get me a place in the final. Thanks go to Mivan and NRC for all the support, and it was great having so many of my colleagues in the final with me.”,Charlie Fleck was competing at his very first NI Regional Final and was pleased to finish third, saying, “I wanted to win obviously but the standards are very high. I am pleased I got finished as not everyone did and the third place is a great outcome. Thanks to my mentor Charley for helping me prepare so well.”,John Cunningham, CEO of Mivan, said, “I am immensely proud Mivan had eight young apprentices competing at the NI Regional Qualifier, a record number for Mivan. This is a great reflection on the Navigate Programme and our dedicated Apprentice Workshop. Congratulations to Jamie and Charlie for achieving first and third, for Jamie to win two years in a row shows remarkable dedication and ongoing development. Well done boys.",Mivan has nearly 50 years’ experience creating luxury interior experiences for our clients. Working collaboratively with architects, designers, contractors, and suppliers to deliver excellence in everything that we do. The company successfully operates in a broad range of sectors including luxury hotels, prime residential, museums, stadiums, arenas, commercial offices, modular solutions and marine.