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Further and Higher Education key to new skills and investment - Empey

13 April 2010

A strong further and higher education system is keyto supporting employment and training opportunities and will bring increased inward investment to Northern Ireland.

That was the message from Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, as he addressed the Assembly on the work being undertaken by his Department and Invest Northern Ireland which aims to take forward one of the recommendations of the Independent Review of Economic Policy (IREP).

Sir Reg said: “The Independent Review of Economic Policyset out an ambitious economic development agenda.

“The development of a coherent and coordinated Economic Strategy, with a strong focus on skills, is vital if we are to deliver on one of the key strategic priorities of our Programme for Government - that of establishing a dynamic, innovative economy. Our further and higher education system is essential to delivering this."

The Minister went on to outline the model of economic development used in North Carolina and mentioned in the IREP report: “North Carolina’s model of ‘New and Expanding Industry Investment’ is based on a very simple premise; if you as an employer create 12 or more new jobs, then the state will support the costs of training your new workforce.

“Key to the success of such a model is the integration of the workforce training system in Community Colleges - North Carolina's equivalent of our Further Education colleges -with the inward investment body. Through consultation between skills advisers and the company from the outset, and irrespective of whether the company is already located in the state or not, the model allows a high degree of assurance to be given on the practicalities of delivering on the promise of skills support.”

The Minister continued: “Work has begun on a pilot project to test some of the characteristics of the North Carolina model in Northern Ireland's Further Education colleges, both for existing firms wishing to expand and for potential new inward investors.

“My Department is working closely with Invest Northern Ireland to develop and deliver a series of bespoke projects for a number of Invest NI client companies. This support is available for both indigenous and inward investment companies. Through cooperation of this kind, we can demonstrate through action, as opposed to mere words, that Northern Ireland is open for business and that government and the FE sector are ready to play their part.”

Notes to editors:

  1. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department for Employment and Learning Communications Branch on 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.