Labour Market Partnership
Funded by the Department for Communities, Department for the Economy and supported by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Labour Market Partnership will deliver a range of programmes to help our residents gain the work-ready skills, experience or qualifications needed to move into employment or a to move into a better job. View our action plan here.
Other Programmes Available:
Essential Skills
Taking an Essential Skills course can offer a wide range of benefits, including improving your reading, writing, speaking and working with numbers. These courses are free and can be completed at various locations such as a college, workplace, or community organisation, and at different times of the day. The classes are generally small and informal. By enrolling in an Essential Skills course, you can learn at your own pace and apply the skills you learn to everyday situations. Additionally, completing an Essential Skills course can lead to recognised qualifications that are valued by employers.
Essential Skills courses can be truly transformative, opening up new opportunities for those who take them. For example, some have learned to read a newspaper for the first time, gaining access to important information about their community. Others have been able to successfully complete job applications and secure employment, or read notes from their children's school and help with homework for the first time. Essential Skills courses also provide valuable computer skills, enabling individuals to stay connected with loved ones through the internet.
See below links for free essential skills courses offered by NRC:
Essential Skills (Communication)
Essential Skills (AON)
Essential Skills (ICT)
For further information visit: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/essential-skills
Skill Up Programme
If you’re aged 18 and over and eligible to work in Northern Ireland, a range of free accredited courses are available to help you re-train and re-skill, through SKILL UP – the flexible skills programme.
Click here for further information.
Apprenticeships
The apprenticeship Programme offers training, across a wide range of apprenticeships, to people aged 16 and over. Click here for further information.
Click here to search for apprenticeship training providers.
Click here for higher level apprenticeships in Transport & Supply Chain
Employment
Princes Trust
The Prince’s Trust supports young people to transform their lives by developing their skills to live, learn and earn. We work with partners and volunteers to offer a variety of programmes to help young people build their confidence, get a job or start a business.
Click here for further information on the Prince's Trust Programme.
Hospitality and Tourism Skills (HATS) Network
In collaboration with Tourism NI, the Hospitality and Tourism Skills (HATS) network has launched a new campaign encouraging people to enter, return and progress within the hospitality and tourism sector across the country. From chefs, front of house managers, housekeepers and baristas to visitor experience, events and marketing and administrative roles there is a wealth of exciting local opportunities to choose from.
Find the perfect hospitality and tourism job in Northern Ireland.
For information on current vacancies visit https://careerscope.uk.net/jobs/?northern-ireland
Careers Guidance
If you would like help or advice on your career contact the Careers Service by phoning 0300 200 7820, or visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/careers
For information on some of our local key sectors click on the links below https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/topics/employment-and-skills-programmes-including-apprenticeships/careers-occupational-information
- Entrepreneurship
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Health and Social
- Manufacturing
- Life Sciences
- Software Technology
- Construction
Local Jobs and Benefits Offices
Please find below Links to the jobs and benefits offices in Antrim and Newtownabbeyhttps://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/jobs-and-benefits-offices
Antrim Branch
20 Castle Street
Antrim
BT41 4JE
Freephone: 0800 012 1331
Email: antrim.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
Newtownabbey Branch
39 - 41 Church Road
Newtownabbey
BT36 7LB
Freephone: 0800 012 1331
Email: newtownabbey.jobsandbenefits@dfcni.gov.uk
Financial support with the cost of childcare
Do you want to get back to work but are worried about the cost of childcare? Most working parents can claim help with their childcare costs.
Employers For Childcare Advisors can provide you with free family benefits advice and help you access the childcare support you are entitled to.
Email: hello@employersforchildcare.org
Freephone: 0800 028 3008
Website: employersforchildcare.org
This information has been provided by the Labour Market Partnership (LMP)
Labour Market Partnerships (LMPs) have been established across the Councils in Northern Ireland to help improve employability outcomes and labour market conditions locally. It is hoped that by working through multi-agency partnerships we will be able to achieve regional objectives whilst being flexible to meet local needs.
The LMP approach has been introduced by DFC to ensure employability delivery is reflective of the needs of local employers and residents.
LMPs will play a role in supporting ‘Employability NI’, which is DfC’s regional approach to supporting those who are unemployed to get back to.
Employability NI is designed to provide a range of interventions to:
- Deliver a reduction in economic inactivity and long-term unemployment;
- Provide increased support for those with physical/mental health conditions and disabilities; and
- Implement an intervention that provides a collaborative nature between Central Government Departments and Local Council area to offer direct and unique interventions. Hence LMP’s
The ultimate aim of the partnership will be to get more of our residents into better jobs.
Contact us at skills@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk for help to get into work or for help to find employees.