Sir Reg meets community-based jobfinders
4 October 2007
Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today hosted a reception for the Local Employment Intermediate Service (LEMIS) providers and representatives of the new citywide Stakeholders Forum in Belfast.
Speaking at the Shankill Jobs & Benefits office, the Minister said: “The LEMIS providers in Belfast are clearly dedicated to delivering quality job mentoring services to people in their local communities. These services are designed to help local people improve their employment prospects and, ultimately, to help them find jobs.
“It is vital that this type of targeted support works closely with, and complements, the statutory Employment Services available in Jobs & Benefits offices and JobCentres across the city. It is also enlightening to meet some of those who have been through the programme.”
A new citywide Stakeholders Forum, reflecting the local community interests, has been established in Belfast to help the Department for Employment and Learning oversee LEMIS delivery. The role of the Forum is to support the LEMIS providers and assist the Department in monitoring the progress of the LEMIS initiative and, where necessary, help identify other local employability issues.
Sir Reg concluded: “I welcome the establishment of the Belfast Stakeholders Forum, which play the important role of providing advice and support to LEMIS providers while working closely with the Employment Service to analyse the impact of the LEMIS initiative and other local employability issues.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. LEMIS has been operational in Belfast, Londonderry and Strabane since April 2007 with a contract period of three years.
2.The Belfast Stakeholders Forum is helping the Department for Employment and Learning monitor and oversee the programme and advises the Department on LEMIS performance generally.
3.Earlier this year the Department for Employment and Learning appointed five community based providers (North Belfast – Ashton Centre & North City Training, South Belfast – GEMS, East Belfast – Stepping Stones, West Belfast – Upper Springfield Development Trust and Greater Shankill – Impact) to deliver the new LEMIS Service in Belfast. This service provides tailored assistance to help people overcome personal barriers that are preventing them from finding employment and keeping a job. It is designed to help those who, for whatever reason, are not presently using the statutory job finding services. Therefore LEMIS complements the existing JobCentre facilities.
4.Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
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