Minister writes prescription for north Belfast jobs
A project trialling new and innovative ways to tackle unemployment and economic inactivity within North Belfast was announced today.
The Employability Access Project (EAP) Development Partnership is looking at the recruitment and selection practices in the health sector in order to match unfilled vacancies with local people seeking work.
Commenting on the launch of the project, Angela Smith, Minister for Employment and Learning said: “This project is a demonstration of how we can join up different parts of the public sector, to create better public services and at the same time create good quality employment opportunities for the people of Belfast.”
Highlighting the importance of sustainable employment to the economy, Angela Smith said: “In the past we have often used the voluntary and community sector as a basis to create employment, but this hasn’t always been sustainable. I am delighted to see the hospitals interested in this process, and seeing how they can use their employment opportunities for the benefit of people in their area. They know that if they can get local people, with local understanding and good skills they will have a stable labour force, able to provide high quality services.”
In conclusion the Minister said she would be following, with interest, the work of the project throughout the next 18 months.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The EAP Development Partnership is funded by the European Social Fund under the Northern Ireland EQUAL Community Initiative Programme and the Department for Employment and Learning. Coordination of the project is delivered through and by North Belfast Partnership.
2. In order to test new HR recruitment policies, practices and procedures the EAP Development Partnership will deliver a series of pilot programmes to match jobs available at the Mater/NWHSST with unemployed North Belfast residents.
3. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7790.