The new scheme will be open to all benefit claimants
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a £12.4 million employment drive aimed at supporting more than 1,200 benefit claimants across Northern Ireland into work.
The new JobStart scheme, which builds on previous versions first launched in 2021, will open the door for people of all ages to gain paid work experience and develop long-term skills.
Mr Lyons said the relaunch follows the strong success of earlier programmes, which helped thousands of people move into sustained employment.
“This has been a really successful scheme in the past where we’ve been able to take people, some of whom have never been in employment before, and get them into the workplace, building their confidence, and the figures speak for themselves,” he told Belfast Live.
“Over 70% of those who went through the scheme are still in employment, and UK government ministers have commented on this. They can’t believe how successful it has been. So that’s something that I want to see continue.”
He said the new scheme will be open to all benefit claimants, with two strands available, one offering 25 hours per week for six months, and another offering 15 hours per week for nine months for those with additional barriers to work.
“It’s going to be much more wide-ranging,” Mr Lyons explained. “It’s available for everyone. It’s not for one age group or one particular category because we’re trying to get more people in work right across the piece and that’s what I’m determined to do because all of the evidence, the research, the statistics show us that it’s one of the best ways of getting people out of poverty.”
The Minister urged employers to consider signing up to the scheme. “I would ask them to explore it fully, and they’ll find the information that they need online,” he said. “I would encourage people who may find themselves in that circumstance of not being in work and wanting to be in work, come and speak to us. We’re here to help. We want to assist you along in your journey. It may seem like you have insurmountable challenges to getting into work, but there is something out there for everybody and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The Department for Communities says JobStart will give participants tailored help and training, aiming to create pathways to permanent employment while helping employers fill vacancies.
One business that previously benefited from the scheme was The Halfway House in Banbridge. Owner Caorlan McAllister said it had provided valuable opportunities for both his staff and the business.
“The JobStart scheme created an opportunity for the owner to invest time and effort into recruiting young people or new people to positions that were vacant,” he said.
“It gave a great opportunity for young people to learn new skills and develop themselves to future progress.
“We submitted an application, I requested two positions and I got the green light to have the two positions filled, so it was very good.”
He added that the benefits extended beyond his own business. “The employees, they gain the necessary skills to progress within their own role, but also there’s a lot of transferable skills that they can move to another venue or travel the world and bring those experiences with them.”
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