Ballymena says farewell to 'broo' as new Jobseekers' offices open

NEW OFFICE for those seeking jobs and those claiming benefits opened to the public in Ballymena this week.

The new facility brings together the services previously provided by the Social Security Agency and the Department for Employment and Learning’s JobCentre.

Last week the Times reported how Jobseeker numbers in Ballymena had almost tripled in the past few years. Now with the opening of this modern centre, jobseekers in the town have a good opportunity of finding employment.

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The new office is on the new parkway and will replace the Bridge Street premises for the JobCentre and the Mount Street Premises for Social Security benefits.

The purpose built accommodation facilitates joint working between the Social Security Agency and the Department of Employment and Learning, which will provide a more customer focused for the people of Ballymena and surrounding areas.

Members of the public looking for work will be provided with a dedicated member of staff who will focus on getting the person into or back into work, Rosemary Quinn from Department for Employment and learning and one of the managers of the office, said: “The work focus interviewer will carry that person until they get a job. It is a personal service, this interviewer will be the only person dealing with each particular member of the public. This means that they won’t have to go over old ground which will free up time.”

The new centre boasts a new comfortable setting making the process of looking for work more welcoming.

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Lindsay Finlay of the Social Security Agency also a manager of the office said: “This is great news for the people of Ballymena and surrounding areas. This new office will enable customers to seek benefit advice, sign on for their jobseekers allowance and look for work all under the same roof.

“The SSA staff within the new Jobs and Benefits office will give advice and guidance on benefits, and the DEL staff will help people find suitable employment.

Touchscreen Job Points are located in the new building and are very useful, especially for those who are willing to look for work abroad the system enables job searches for jobs throughout the EU.”

She added: “The Jobs and Benefits office has numerous information points with touch screens, enabling jobseekers to have access to job vacancies throughout Northern Ireland and further afield.”