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Minister announces appointment to Ulster Supported Employment Limited Board

30 June 2010

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has announced the appointment of Judith Kelly as a new Board member for Ulster Supported Employment Limited (USEL).

USEL is a Non-Departmental Public Body which was established in 1962 under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act (NI) 1945 to provide employment for severely disabled people. The Department for Employment and Learning is the sponsoring Department for USEL.

USEL has a manufacturing operation in North Belfast which produces bedding and industrial sewing and employs over 80 people, most of whom have a disability. USEL also operates a number of employment programmes on behalf of the Department. These programmes include Employment Support, New Deal for Disabled People and Work Preparation.

The appointment takes effect from 1 July 2010 for a period of 3 years.

Mrs Kelly is currently a parent Governor at Meadow Bridge Primary School, Hillsborough.  She is currently on a career break from the Ulster Bank where she worked from 1998-2000 as a Call Centre Manager and from 2000-2009 as Head of Online and Telephone Banking.  In this latter post, she was responsible for the development of remote channels for customers.  Prior to joining Ulster Bank, Mrs Kelly worked as a Branch Manager in Britannia Building Society and previously in the Bank of Scotland.

Mrs Kelly does not engage in any political activity and holds no other public appointments.

Notes to editors:

  1. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments NI Code of Practice.
  2. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees to be published.
  3. Appointments to the USEL Board are made on a part-time basis.  The post attracts remuneration of £135 per meeting based on a time commitment of approximately 11 meetings per year.
  4. Members of the USEL Board are: Mr Patrick Bogues (Chair), Mrs Mary Clare Gibson, Mrs Brenda Maitland, Mr Brian McMurray and Mr James Smyth.
  5. All media queries 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 you call will be returned.