Communities Minister announces £12.4 million employment scheme

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a new £12.4 million employment scheme to help people of working age who are on benefits enter the job market.

The scheme aims to build connections between Northern Irish employers and workers, with participants receiving training and development opportunities.

According to Mr Lyons, the JobStart scheme will be the “biggest jobs programme of its kind”.

Jobstart is set to help 1,200 people across Northern Ireland currently claiming benefits.

Mr Lyons said: “JobStart is the biggest jobs programme of its kind, reaching more people and employers than any previous employment strategy.

“I am investing in both new employees and employers to create good quality work opportunities across Northern Ireland.

“It will build upon the success of previous programmes recently delivered by the Department which were positively endorsed both by employers and jobseekers.”

The scheme includes offering periods of paid employment at the national minimum wage or national living wage.

It follows previous initiatives under JobStart, which first launched in 2021.

Mr Lyons added: “Employment is one of the best pathways out of poverty and I am prioritising the provision of employment support to help people overcome the barriers that are faced in moving into, retaining and progressing in employment.

“The name JobStart is an already well-established brand that is recognised by participants, employers, and key stakeholders.

“I want to continue to build on the successes of the previous JobStart schemes to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in work and to develop critical employability skills.”

Alan Wallace, Managing Director of All The Way Creative, said: “The JobStart scheme has been a valuable support for our business, giving us access to motivated young people eager to gain experience.

“We were able to recruit candidates who fit well with our team, and the process was straightforward and supportive throughout. Overall, it’s been a positive experience that has benefited both our organisation and the individuals involved.”

Gary Hazlett, director of K9ndergarten Ltd, said: “The JobStart programme is a fabulous scheme that benefits both the candidates and the employer.

“As a small, growing business, the programme helped the company bridge that tricky period of growth that small businesses face between gaining more clients and recruiting more staff.

“The programme is well structured, with great support from the Department for Communities; it has helped the trainees develop their occupational and employability skills along with real life work experience.

“We were so pleased with the success of the programme that we were able to offer permanent roles to all those who completed the programme.

“The JobStart scheme has been one of Northern Ireland Assembly’s great success stories and we are delighted to see its return.”