Minister launches jobs fair

This free event has been organised in partnership with the Department for Employment and Learning, Larne Borough Council, LEDCOM and Larne Development Forum. The venue for this event is the newly refurbished Larne Town Hall from 2pm to 6pm.

The event is open to all who are unemployed and looking for employment, careers advice and/or training opportunities. Many employers and training organisations have already confirmed their attendance at the event, which will provide advice and guidance on current vacancies, training opportunities, careers advice, job search skills, job club taster sessions, seminars and much more.

Commenting at the launch of the fair, Minister for Employment and Learning Stephen Farry said: “I welcome this event which brings employers, support organisations and jobseekers together under one roof. It demonstrates that my Department in partnership with Larne Borough Council, local employers and training organisations are working together to help jobseekers find the most appropriate route back into employment and employers recruit a skilled work force.

“As well as employers, there will also be a range of support organisations exhibiting at the event and offering a multitude of courses, programmes, advice and guidance including my Department’s Careers Service and Employment Service.

Calling on young people to become involved in the work experience opportunities available through the Department’s Youth Employment Scheme, Minister Farry said: “The Youth Employment Scheme aims to help improve young people’s employment prospects by giving them real work experience.

“There are a wide range of work experience opportunities on offer at Jobcentre online for young unemployed people to avail of that will improve their employability skills and will allow them to compete on a more equal basis with more experienced workers.”

The Youth Employment Scheme is a voluntary programme. Young unemployed people who are in receipt of benefits may avail of two to eight-week work experience placements where they can develop employability skills with no loss of benefits.

Longer six to nine-month work experience opportunities provides an opportunity to gain a qualification and young people will receive a benefit top-up of £45 a week.

In addition there is an enhanced em,ployer subsidy payable to employers who are in a position to offer unemployed young people aged 18-24 years old with a job that includes an element of training in priority sectors.

Mayor of Larne, Councillor Gerardine Mulvenna, encouraged local people to visit the Larne Jobs and Opportunities Fair: “Working with our partners in DEL and LEDCOM, Larne Council is trying to do all that we can to help people find new employment and training opportunities.

In tough economic times, the Jobs and Opportunities Fair is a wonderful opportunity for help and support and one not to be missed.”

For further information about this free event, please visit http://www.jobcentreonline.comor call 0300 200 7822. There is a range of advice available for jobseekers at http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/jobseekers