JobCentre

Funded through the Department for Employment and Learning, JobCentre has a network of 35 JobCentres throughout Northern Ireland. Vacancies that are notified to any centre will be advertised across all 35 JobCentres. Funding for training may be available for unemployed people under New Deal or Training for Work.

For details contact your local JobCentre - (call Infopoint on 028 90257793, or go to www.jobcentreonline.com for details of your local centre).

Career Transition Partnership

The Career Transition Partnership offers a free service to employers seeking to employ ex-military service personnel. Personnel leaving the armed forces can attract funding to become civilian drivers under the Resettlement Scheme, accessed by individual drivers through Resettlement Officers.

For further details, visit www.ctp.org.uk, or contact:

RFEA Belfast
Northern Ireland War Memorial Building
Waring Street
Belfast BT1 2EU
Tel: 028 90435037, e-mail rfeabelfast@ctp.org.uk
Aldergrove RRC
RAF Aldergrove
NI BFPO 808
Tel: 028 94421639, e-mail cbrookes@ctp.org.uk

Bridge to Employment

Funded by the Department for Employment and Learning, Bridge to Employment seeks to provide customised training to equip unemployed people with the skills necessary to compete for new employment opportunities. It is aimed at inward investment companies and local companies who are expanding. Programmes can be arranged for one company or a group of companies with similar needs. The average number of participants for a programme is ten.

Under the scheme employers are offered assistance with:

• advertising job opportunities
• testing and interviewing of applicants
• customised training programmes
• training progress reports

Participating companies are expected to interview all trainees who successfully complete training.

For further details contact Bridge to Employment on 028 90441882, e-mail training.services@delni.gov.uk

Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland is an economic development agency established in April 2002 under the Industrial Development Act 2002. It is a non-departmental public body which aims to accelerate economic development in Northern Ireland by supporting new and existing business, carrying out the functions previously carried out separately by; the Industrial Development Board; the Local Enterprise Development Unit; the Industrial Research and Technology Unit; Business Support Division of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment; and the business support functions of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Through Invest Northern Ireland, a range of people development programmes is available, most notably:

Company Development Programme

Co-financed by the European Union and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the Company Development Programme (CDP) provides practical and financial support for training and development of existing employees (management and workforce) to raise skill levels. CDP support is aimed at companies of any size involved in manufacturing or tradeable services that are engaged in exporting or import substitution. Companies seeking support are required to submit a training programme, together with costs, which is linked to the business plan. Projects must demonstrate major or critical training needs and contribute to the achievement of business objectives. Financial support is available towards the costs of:

• Course fees
• PAYE wages/salary costs
• Travel and subsistence
• Training materials
• Mentor support for small businesses

The level of support is negotiated on an individual company basis.

Other schemes offer assistance for strengthening management teams and for recruiting graduates to provide new skills.

For more information contact Invest NI on 028 90239090, or see www.investni.com (Under 'Develop Your Business', 'Capability', and then 'People')

Educational Guidance Service for Adults

The Education Guidance Service for Adults (EGSA) is an independent and voluntary organisation funded by the Department for Employment and Learning. Its aim is to help adults access learning and improve opportunities for adults in learning, covering both further education and vocational learning. EGSA provides advice to individuals and through its 'Fund Finder' database can advise individuals of possible funding sources for training.

For further information call 02890 244274, or visit www.egsa.org.uk