AQW 35498/11-15 Written question to the Minister for Employment and Learning
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning whether he plans to establish links with agencies (i) outside of Belfast; and (ii) specifically in East Londonderry, who offer work experience placements through the Youth Employment Scheme (YES), recruit unemployed jobseekers and avail of the Steps to Work and YES employer subsidies.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 4 September 2014
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 4 September 2014
- Answer due by
- 19 September 2014
- Answered
- 16 September 201412 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Employment and Learning
- Priority question
- No
Answer
In response to your question above, there are currently no plans to establish formal links with employment agencies throughout Northern Ireland in relation to the Youth Employment Scheme work experience placement / employer subsidies, or the Steps to Work employer subsidies.
However, I can confirm that as part of the Department for Employment and Learning’s Employer Engagement Strategy, Employer Engagement Teams (EETs) have been established throughout Northern Ireland to actively engage with local employers, councils, support organisations and economic development organisations to secure both work experience and jobs.
As part of this service these teams deliver large scale employer events such as Job Fair and Advice Forums targeted at meeting local labour market needs and maximising placement / job opportunities for clients who maybe participating on the Department’s provision. Specifically in relation to East Londonderry, events have previously been held in Coleraine and Ballymena, with one scheduled this month for Ballymoney.
In addition, the EETs engage directly with employers on a one-to-one basis, again with the aim of encouraging, ensuring that a range of training and employment opportunities are available in DEL’s programmes including the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) and Steps to Work (StW).
Employment Service Advisers, based in local Jobs and Benefits offices and JobCentres across NI, engage with each client to determine employability, potential occupational areas to meet local labour needs and the relevant skills required. The Advisers, with appropriate support from the Employer Engagement Teams, may then source relevant work experience placements with employers and / or local organisations.