Council Announces New Apprenticeship Scheme

Belfast City Council has announced a major new apprentice scheme with 10 places available, together with details of 16 paid work experience opportunities for university students.

The announcement by Lord Mayor Alderman Gavin Robinson and chair of Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, Deirdre Hargey, who were joined by Education and Learning Minister Stephen Farry MLA, is particularly significant given last week's news that unemployment has reached its highest level in 15 years.

It was also revealed that since the launch of its Investment Programme (2012-2015) last February, the council has delivered 156 permanent and 63 temporary job opportunities and over 200 placements.

And the Lord Mayor, Councillor Hargey and Mr Farry jointly called on all employers in the city - public and private - to look at imaginative ways in which they can play their part to help young people and long term unemployed back into work during these difficult times of economic recession.

The Lord Mayor said: "I believe it is vital that we, as a council, play our part in equipping our young people so they can make the most out of the future ahead. As a city, a skilled and talented workforce will be our greatest asset, yet opportunities are often scarce. I hope that the announcement is the first step in creating a successful future for our young people and all of us.

"Our unprecedented rates freeze means these posts and the education and training opportunities have been created at no extra cost to our ratepayers.

"Leadership across the council has focused our resolve, despite a constrained economy in the face of recession, and we are committed to playing our part to widen opportunity across the city.

"At the same time, we continue to improve and maintain our services and have committed to delivering our £150 million investment programme with the next two years, providing physical investment and support for the economy, people, communities and neighbourhoods."

(CD)