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Assured Skills Information

The essence of the Assured Skills project is to ensure investors that we are open for business and ready and able to help.

When a company is interested in creating jobs in Northern Ireland, we want to be able to assure them that we can provide the necessary support to deliver the skilled workforce that they require including the delivery of bespoke training programmes.

What funding is available?

Funding will be provided by the Department for Employment and Learning through the General Block Exemption Regulations and is therefore subject to the EU Commission restrictions. In general the aid intensity shall not exceed:

  1. 25% of the eligible costs for specific training (non transferable) and
  2. 60% of the eligible costs for general training.

The maximum available funding is €2m per project.

Who is eligible?

Applicants should be an Invest Northern Ireland client considering new inward investment or an expansion of their current business which will ultimately create new jobs.

Funding will be classed as State Aid and as such companies must meet the criteria set out by the European Commission in respect of the General Block Exemption

Regulations. The Department for Employment and Learning will be responsible for determining eligibility of applicants to the programme

How do I apply?

Companies should contact their Invest Northern Ireland Client Executive in the first instance to determine if the Assured Skills programme is relevant to their needs. The Client Executive will make a referral to the Department for Employment and Learning, if applicable.

Delivery of Assured Skills

The Assured Skills programme will be administered by officials in the Skills Delivery Branch of the Department for Employment and Learning and Invest Northern Ireland. Training will be provided by one of the many training providers linked to the Department. This will include the Further and Higher Education sectors. Training can also be delivered by the company providing it is to the appropriate level.

To find out more about Assured Skills contact:

Skills Delivery Branch
Department for Employment and Learning for Northern Ireland
Waterfront Plaza
8 Laganbank Road
Belfast
BT1 3LY

Tel: 028 90905248