Communities Minister Hargey welcomes JobStart participants as they take up employment with DfC

Date published: 02 July 2021

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has welcomed the creation of 14 JobStart opportunities within the Department for Communities. Eleven of the participants commenced work this week after they secured nine-month positions through the employer incentive scheme.

Communities Minister Hargey welcomes JobStart participants as they take up employment with DfC
Communities Minister Hargey welcomes JobStart participants as they take up employment with DfC

Minister Hargey said:

“I am pleased to welcome these first 11 young people into my Department under the JobStart Scheme.  The positions will provide them with experience of working in the public sector and the opportunity to develop skills that will help secure employment in the future.

“While this is the first cohort it will certainly not be the last.  Work is already underway within the Department to create opportunities for a second cohort of young people with business areas currently identifying a further range of JobStart opportunities. These further opportunities will be made available in due course."

Minister Hargey continued:

“Line managers within my Department have already received training to enable them to provide the best possible support to all of the young people taking up these positions.

“Training plans will be developed for each young person, setting out the occupational and employability skills that will be developed during their time with the Department.

“I would encourage all employers and young people to look at the benefits of the scheme and to avail of the opportunities it provides.”

JobStart is designed to develop employability skills for all work-ready 16-24 year olds, including those with a disability. It is widely recognised that disabled people are at substantial risk of long-term unemployment as a result of multiple complex barriers. It is for this reason the provision of job opportunities under JobStart for a period of six months are increased to nine months for those who meet additional criteria. 

The scheme aims to place young people in positions which align with their individual skills and interests and has also been designed to best suit the nature and size of local employers and businesses here in the North, including those in the voluntary and community sector. Branches across the Department for Communities are participating.

Notes to editors: 

  1. Further details for young people on the JobStart scheme can be found here: NI Direct
  2. Employer guidance and application to the JobStart scheme can be found here: Jobstart scheme
  3. Media enquiries to DfC Press Office
  4. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The Duty Press Officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
  5. Follow us on twitter @CommunitiesNI 
  6. Caption: Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey welcomes new JobStart participants to their roles within her Department. Pictured left to right are Andrew Hill, Darren Maxwell, Shane Maxwell and Debora Fafe.

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