DEL launch Northern Ireland Partnership Fund

The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) today announced the launch of a Partnership Fund for Northern Ireland.

The Fund will offer employers and employees or their representatives an opportunity to develop partnership solutions to workplace problems.

Inviting the first round of applications to the Fund, a spokesman for the Department said: "The Partnership Fund gives employers, employees and their representatives the opportunity to work together to solve particular business problems. Indeed, by employers and their employees working together more effectively, utilising the partnership approach, some workplace problems may well be avoided altogether.

The Northern Ireland Partnership Fund is being established to assist employers and employees and their representatives to jointly develop projects that will address a workplace problem. A similar Fund has been in operation in Great Britain for some years.

"In the longer term the Department sees the Fund contributing to the development of improved skills and productivity of the workforce. The adoption of new ways for employers and employees to work together will complement employment rights legislation and make a contribution towards ensuring the Northern Ireland economy remains competitive," the spokesperson added.

All applications to the Fund are assessed against published criteria by an panel of assessors. In practical terms projects might address: a problem associated with high levels of staff turnover; absenteeism; bullying in the workplace; developing and agreeing flexible working patterns, or better workplace dispute resolution; work-homelife balance issues; business issues such as low productivity, waste reduction, work organisation and overall organisation performance.

These are typically matters that may, if not addressed, reduce organisational effectiveness and competitiveness.

Support is provided on a competitive basis for up to 50% of eligible costs of individual projects, up to a limit of £50,000 per project. Applicants, from their own resources, must meet the remainder of the costs.

(MB)