Support for unemployed

Last week’s Economic Growth and Development Committee of Mid & East Antrim Council approved match funding of £25,777 for the programmes during the current finanicial year which would be delivered by Local Enterprise Agencies including Ballymena Business Centre.

Members were informed that the aim of the project is to target disadvantaged groups who are unemployed/economically inactive or working or in training less than 16 hours per week to explore self-employment as an option to enter or return to work.

Councillors were reminded that the three predecessor councils had previously successfully partticipated in phase one and two of the province-wide “Exploring Enterprise” programme.

Phase three would see a total of 143 courses delivered in NI with 16 of these being ring fenced for the Mid and East Antrim area from 2015-17.

The report to the committee also highlighted the positive impact of previous phases supported by the three predecessor councils through match funding and venues.

It stated: “The programmes were particularly important in supporting people made redundant from FG Wilsons. Patton’s and the Co-op in Larne.”