Integrated Employment Programme
SIF provided funding of over £3.1m for an Intermediate Labour Market and training project, that provided training and work placements designed to help those unemployed (and a small minority of those underemployed) to secure appropriate skills, experience and training that enabled them move into the mainstream labour market.
Project Name: | Integrated Employment Programme |
|---|---|
Zone: | Belfast West |
Category: | Revenue |
Social Investment Fund Outcome: | Pathways to Employment |
Status: | Delivery Complete |
Funding awarded: | £3,138,909 |
About the Project
The aim of the project was to reduce unemployment within the Belfast West SIF Zone by widening access to employment and creating meaningful pathways to employment for participants. The project was designed to support the unemployed and a small percentage of under employed and included three key elements:
Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) which offered unemployed participants aged 18+ the opportunity of a paid job for 1 year (full time or part time) with training and mentoring support;
Flexible Training Fund (FTF) which offered those on a low wage, unemployed or self-employed, funding towards training in response to a potential job opportunity or as part of a career pathway; and a
Ring-fenced Employment Programme - training to progress employees up the employment ladder and to help unemployed participants to gain employment.
The project delivered group training programmes ranging from level 1 to level 4 qualifications.
Key outcomes included:
- enhancing pathways to employment/career progression for the 846 people engaged;
- successfully targeting 628 unemployed, the majority of which were long term unemployed, and providing employability and skills training support;
- engaging with employers to provide access to 231 job placement opportunities for the unemployed;
- supporting 138 unemployed people into work through the ILM programme;
- upskilling 518 people;
- enabling 64 people to gain employment as a result of skills training; and
- facilitating 10 new business starts.
Progress to date
This project has completed delivery. This project has contributed towards enhancing pathways to employment/career progression for scheme participants. It has enabled them to build their employability skills, confidence and aspirations contributing towards the potential of future employment, with every participant gaining at least one qualification. The benefits also had a positive effect on their families, businesses and the wider community due to the valuable skills and experiences gained. Cross community engagement and accessibility has helped bring communities together to improve the life chances of everyone in Belfast West area.
Impacts
Monitoring and evaluation of all Social Investment Fund projects is carried out using “Outcomes Based Accountability” (OBA). The below infographic details some of the key impacts of the Integrated Employment project.
