Bridge to Employment helps local firm power to the top

01 May 2008

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today visited engineering firm AJ Power at their plant in Craigavon.

Sir Reg saw at first hand how his Department’s Bridge to Employment programme was making a difference to employers’ recruitment and training needs.  The Programme provides customised training courses in order to help unemployed people gain new skills and compete for jobs on an equal basis with others.

Speaking during his visit the Minister said: “AJ Power is one of a number of top local firms that have used the Bridge to Employment Programme provided by my Department.  They are a prime example of just how beneficial this Programme can be to an employer and I am delighted that my Department has been able to support such a successful local business.

“Since 2003, through the Bridge to Employment Programme, my Department has provided AJ Power with assistance worth £30,000.  In addition, through the Programme over 45 trainees have started work with the company and this source of new recruits has been of great help as the company continues to expand.

“Through programmes like Bridge to Employment my Department is working to provide the right skills, in the right place, at the right time to fuel the growth of our economy.  Having access to skilled staff is vital for all our companies and I’m sure that AJ Power will continue to go from strength to strength. ”

Launched in 1997, the Bridge to Employment Programme has to date helped hundreds of businesses across Northern Ireland recruit thousands of employees.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. AJ Power designs and manufactures over 1000 diesel and gas powered electricity generating sets per year.  They were the top Northern Ireland company in this years Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 annual league table and were also ranked No 4 nationally.  The company has customers in over 50 countries worldwide, and annual sales in 2007 totalled £10.7 million.
  2. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 78972.  
  3. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440.