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What is a Labour Market Partnership?
The Labour Market Partnership (LMP) is an approach developed by the Department for Communities in partnership with local councils. The aim of a LMP is to improve employability outcomes and labour market conditions by working through a co-ordinated, collaborative and multi-agency partnership.
How will the Lisburn & Castlereagh LMP help me?
The Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council LMP brings together the necessary local knowledge and expertise from the business, public, community and voluntary sectors.
It aims to create new opportunities for residents who face particular challenges entering the labour market or improving their employment prospects. This will involve employers, training providers and community and voluntary organisations working together.
Together we can:
- improve labour market and employability conditions
- address the needs of local employers
- support the current and future workforce
The objectives of the LMP are linked to the Lisburn & Castlereagh Community Plan. It can be viewed by clicking here.
What has the Lisburn & Castlereagh LMP got planned?
We have created an action plan that will help address four themes within the labour market that are currently impacting opportunities for employment. They are:
Economic Inactivity
- We want to re-engage people with the labour market
- We want to help address barriers to employment
- We want to support those with disabilities into employment
- We want to encourage lifelong learning
- We want to support skills development
Economic Shock
- We want to address unemployment following the COVID-19 pandemic
- We want to support newly unemployed people to transfer their existing skills and build new skills into new employment opportunities
Youth Unemployment
- We want to encourage younger people into employment
- We will provide industry taster courses
- We will offer short term training linked to current work opportunities e.g. warehousing, forklift/ HGV licences, hospitality, CSR (Construction) training and digital skills
Underemployment and labour supply misalignment
- Encourage employment to help advancing sectors grow
- Encourage more jobs with higher gross weekly earnings to allow residents to work locally
- Create better quality jobs that encourage career advancement
What programmes will be available?
Self - Employment Support Programme
Are you economically inactive or working less than 16 hours per week? Do you have aspirations to run your own business but are unsure where to start?
The independence of running your own business can bring tremendous benefits. However, the process of setting up a business can be daunting. Our Self-Employment Support Programme will provide you with a grant of up to £500 for the initial stages of setting up your business, along with critical skills and knowledge to venture into the self-employment marketplace.
This opportunity is open to anybody within the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area who is currently economically inactive or works less than 16 hours per week.
The programme offers 12 weeks’ worth of one-to-one support to prepare you for the world of self-employment. Mentoring and training support from trained professionals in the industry will allow you to explore your options, test ideas, write plans and start your business.
Topics covered will include marketing and social media training, financial planning, HMRC assistance and presentation and pitching skills and confidence building.
Grants of up to £500 are available to you at the initial stages of starting your business to assist in the purchase of essential equipment to start your journey to self-employment.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply you must be:
- Economically inactive or work less than 16 hours per week, and
- a resident of the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area.
How to apply
To apply, please complete an application form by clicking here.The closing date for applications is Friday 12 May 2023.
Need some extra advice and guidance?
Please do not hesitate to contact our delivery agent Eamonn Cavlan from Tangible Consulting to arrange a consultation. Email him at eamonn@tangibleconsulting.co.uk
If you would like more information about the Labour Market Partnership or other council programmes available, please email the Programmes Team at LMP@lisburncastereagh.gov.uk or call 028 9244 7391.
Self-Employment Options for Prison Leavers
This is to help people find a way out of the justice system and become self-employed or to start a business that will enable them to transform their lives.
What will the programme involve?
- business support to ex-offenders approaching release and help develop plans for self-employment
- provision of the necessary tools required to improve self-confidence and belief on each participant’s journey to integrate back into society
- a needs based training programme, including specialised one-to-one mentoring support and real work training e.g marketing and social media training, financial planning, HMRC assistance and presentation skills
Grants of up to £500 will be available at the initial stages of starting a business to assist in the purchase of essential equipment to get the business up and running.
The programme application process will be made available when the programme start date has been confirmed.
For any further information please email: LMP@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or Tel: 028 9244 7447.
Economic Inactivity linked to Disability
This programme, is designed to help people living with a disability or health-related conditions who are out of work, move towards employment or further education.
What will the programme involve?
- Participants will work with a specialist mentor who will develop a bespoke action plan based on individual aspirations and training needs
- Tailored bespoke training and support for each participant to:
- enhance skills
- build confidence
- improve social inclusion
- gain work experience, vocational skills and accredited qualifications from Level 1-3
- progress into paid employment
Mentoring support will be offered up to six weeks post completion of the course to ensure the transition into paid employment is as smooth as possible.
The programme application process will be made available when the programme start date has been confirmed.
For any further information please email: LMP@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or Tel: 028 9244 7447
Economic Inactivity – Into Employment
It is our key ambition to reduce the local economic inactivity, help those in deprived areas and under-represented groups gain employment and improve the skills of those who are currently unemployed.
What will the programme involve?
It aims to provide relevant support and training for those who are unemployed through:
- improving employability of all participants
- working with a specialist mentor to develop a bespoke action plan on the pathway into employment
- Tailored bespoke training and support for each participant to:
- enhance skills
- build confidence
- gain work experience, vocational skills and accredited qualifications from Level 1-3
- progress into paid employment
The programme application process will be made available when the programme start date has been confirmed.
For any further information please email: LMP@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or Tel: 028 9244 7447.
Leisure Employment Academy
The Leisure Academy is for those aged 26 and under, who are looking to start a career in the leisure industry.
What will the programme involve?
Applicants selected for training will take part in the programme to give them the certificates and skills needed to begin work in the leisure sector. The academy provides the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ), which is essential to work as a lifeguard, and sector-specific support including application form support, CV and interview skills building.
Every participant that completes the employment academy will be guaranteed a job interview.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply you must be:
- A resident of the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area
- Be aged 26 and under
- Be unemployed or work less than 16 hours per week
If you meet the eligibility criteria and wish to apply for a place on the Lisburn & Castlereagh Leisure Academy, please email info@workforceonline.org or Tel: 028 9244 7489 for further information.