A new programme has been launched to help people in the Newry Mourne and Down area to start their own business or find new jobs and training opportunities.
Exploring Enterprise3 (EE3p) is being delivered by Enterprise Northern Ireland, the umbrella body for Northern Ireland’s Local Enterprise Agencies.
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Dr Connor Patterson, Manager of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency; Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Naomi Bailie; and Gordon Gough, Chief Executive of Enterprise Northern Ireland.[/caption]
The project is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund 2014-2020 Investment for Jobs and Growth Programme, the Department for Employment & Learning, Enterprise Northern Ireland, Local Enterprise Agencies and Newry Mourne & Down Borough Council.
This new initiative will provide support to unemployed or economically inactive people across Northern Ireland. It is designed to fill a gap in the market for those who do not have the opportunities to take part in training or lack the skills to find employment. The programme provides 143 courses delivered by a network of 29 Local Enterprise Agencies.
Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Naomi Bailie, said: “Our Council is delighted to be once again involved collaboratively with this successful and much needed initiative. Our Council is dedicated to providing support for new and existing business and this pre-start initiative meets the need in our district.
“It encourages potential to be highlighted in budding entrepreneurs and gives the opportunity for accreditation to be awarded to participants. The programme meets with the objectives of our Councils new Economic, Regeneration and Investment Strategy 2015 – 2020 which was launched on Thursday 29th October 2015.”
Gordon Gough, Chief Executive of Enterprise Northern Ireland added: “Following on from the success of our previous two programmes, we are delighted to be able to launch EE3p. This new programme will run for three years, with one to one business mentoring and a QCF Level 1 in Understanding Business Enterprise qualification awarded upon successful completion of the programme.
“Our aim is still the same, we want to target people who are unemployed, economically inactive or who are working or in training for less than 16 hours per week to explore self-employment way into the jobs market. Participants will receive expert mentoring to help build and improve their CVs, search for job opportunities, practice their interview skills and develop business plans that could help them become self-employed. Participants will be signposted to additional support after completing the programme.
“We have seen many success stories from our previous programme with 2,655 people taking part. There is a strong demand for these types of programme and we hope it will be even more successful than its predecessors.”
* 1738 participants achieved the CCEA level 2 Understanding Business Enterprise qualification in EE2p; * a further 299 found full-time employment; * 407 became self-employed; * 421 moved on to higher education and training.
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