Five University of Ulster students graduating from the same degree course at the same time, have all gained employment with Harland and Wolff.

Jason Gawley, from Lisburn, Co Down, Brenda Murphy, from Hilltown, Co Down, Ronan McNabb, Dromore, Co Tyrone, Mark Maynes from Ballinderry, Co Antrim and Gareth Brown, from Dromore, Co Down, will today each receive their BSc Hons degree in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management.

The talented group has already started their employment with the world-famous company, working on the dry-docking and service of the SeaRose Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

One of the graduates, Ronan McNabb, recently made his debut for Tyrone in Gaelic Football’s Ulster Championship.

Ronan said: “Working at Harland and Wolff has given us great experience and although it’s only a temporary contract, it’s great to be able to put such a prestigious name on your CV as your first job.

“The quantity surveying and commercial management course at the University of Ulster was really thorough, challenging, but also really enjoyable and I’m looking forward to pursuing my career in quantity surveying.”

University of Ulster lecturer, Robert Weatherup added: “The employment of five quantity surveying (QS) graduates by a prestigious and historic company such as Harland and Wolff, exemplifies the versatility of University of Ulster QS graduates and the QS profession as a whole.

“University of Ulster QS graduates have been equipped with highly transferrable skills that are suited to many industries - not just the construction industry, but also in the oil and gas industry, through to manufacturing, marine fit-out and shipbuilding, banking, renewable energy and the legal sector.

“The design of the Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management degree course is directly aligned to the University’s Corporate Plan strapline of ‘Professional Education for Professional Life’.

“Linkages with organisations with a reputation such as that enjoyed by Harland & Wolff, exhibit to a worldwide industry the talent that is present within the University of Ulster.”