New Initiative Launched Promoting Belfast Students To Local Employers

A new initiative has been launched to promote Belfast students to local employers.

Belfast City Council representatives were joined by partners GLL, Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd, the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry and students from local schools at the City Hall for the launch of BeWise – Belfast Work Insights for Skills and Employment.

Speaking at the event, Cllr Mairéad O'Donnell, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: "We've made a commitment in the Belfast Agenda that every young person leaving school has a destination that fulfils their potential. 'BeWise' is helping us to take positive steps towards achieving that objective by inspiring young people and helping them to develop the skills they need to secure employment.

"Belfast City Council provides around 180 work experience opportunities each year - and we're encouraging other employers to follow suit. We want employers to outline how they can support schools and centres of learning through work experience opportunities, speaking with students and young people in education and site familiarisation visits by signing up at belfastcity.gov.uk/bewise. We're also welcoming requests for support from learning centres and we'll match requests with support offered by employers.

"Our BeWise initiative will not only offer employers access to a wider range of suitable work experience candidates, it will also provide a valuable platform for businesses to promote their sector as an attractive future employment option, so that students will tailor their studies accordingly."

BeWise will help to promote work experience opportunities for young people through partnership with the Department for the Economy's 'Connect to Success' programme. All businesses which take part in the BeWise initiative will be recognised at a City Hall celebration event at the close of the 2017/18 academic year.

(MH)