Latest MEA Tourism Training Opportunities

MEA Community Tour Guiding Course (Commencing October 2026)

Are you an MEA resident interested in becoming a local tour guide?

Following the success of our previous community tour guide training programmes, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, in partnership with SERC, is delighted to offer a new OCN Level 2 Tour Guiding Course, taking place in Carrickfergus.

This accredited course will equip participants with the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver engaging guided local tours, helping to showcase the rich heritage and stories of Mid and East Antrim to both visitors and local people.

📅 Course details • 8 sessions approx. •  Mainly Thursdays, 10:00 to 14:00 (assessment dates may differ)

📌 Key dates

🖥️ Wednesday 23 September at 11:30am: Online information session with opportunity for Q & A.  If you missed the live session, you can watch the recording HERE.

⏰Wednesday 23 September at 13:00:  Applications open [online HERE.]

⏰ Wednesday 7 October at 17:00: Applications close - successful applicants will be notified within 2-3 working days.

⏰ 9-15 October 2026: Successful applicants required to register and enrol with SERC.

⏰Thursday 22 October: Course commences at Carrickfergus Marina Conference Suite.

Please note that as the course is free and places are limited, applications will be assessed through set eligibility criteria and a competitive selection process (see below). Anyone interested in applying is requested to watch the information session first to understand course requirements and commitment. 

Whether you're passionate about local history, enjoy meeting new people, or would like to gain new skills and a recognised qualification, this course could be for you.

Course Outline

The OCN NI Level 2 Award in Tour Guiding (QCF) qualification has been designed to provide the learner with skills in the travel and tourism industry to enable them to develop a tour commentary and lead groups on a guided tour. The assessment method is a learner portfolio which is completed and submitted to cover 3 Learning Outcomes:
1.       Understand the role of the tour guide in the travel and tourism industry
2.       Be able to produce a short tour commentary
3.       Understand the health and safety implications of tour guiding
Learners are also required to produce and deliver a tour commentary to support achievement of Learning Outcome 2.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered eligible for this course you must be:

• Over 16 years old.
• Resident in Mid and East Antrim. (Allowance for employees working for MEA tourism or hospitality businesses will be considered on an individual basis.) 
• Able to communicate effectively and have a strong interest in tourism, history or heritage.
• Ready to attend and participate - to qualify you will be required to confirm attendance at all 8 training sessions (dates and times outlined below).  
• Comfortable using computers and to communicate confidently through electronic means.
• Able to confirm you attended or watched the information webinar to ensure full understanding of course requirements and associated commitment. 

As places on this free course are limited, a place cannot be guaranteed. Applications will first be assessed against the essential eligibility criteria. Should the course be oversubscribed, eligible applicants will be evaluated through a competitive selection process using the additional assessment criteria detailed below:

• Reason for wanting to do the course.
• Personal tour guiding interests i.e. history, heritage, food, myths and legends, architecture etc.
• Locations in Mid and East Antrim where you are interested in conducting tours.*
• Interest and ideas for delivering tours within a town, village or specific attraction in Mid and East Antrim. *
• Any experience relevant to the tour guiding role.
• How you intend to use these skills or this qualification in the future.

* Should the course be oversubscribed, priority will be given to applicants from the Carrickfergus area in support of future City Deal regeneration projects OR collective areas to facilitate tour guide assessments.  However if significant demand exists from other areas, a further course may be delivered in Spring 2027, and eligible applicants may be offered a place on that programme.  You are encouraged to submit an application for course consideration.  If you have any further queries please email tourism@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Course Dates

View our previous training opportunities here.