Lyons announces £12.4m JobStart programme to help benefit claimants into work

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is pictured with Gary Hazlett and Carla Marriott, K9tergarten and Caorlan McAllister from Halfway House as he has announced a new £12.4 million employment drive to support working age benefit claimants into work.

A £12.4 million employment programme aimed at helping working-age benefit claimants across Northern Ireland find work has been unveiled by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.

The initiative – known as JobStart – seeks to connect jobseekers with quality employers, providing tailored support, training, and real-world experience to improve long-term employability.

Minister Lyons described the new scheme as “the biggest jobs programme of its kind, reaching more people and employers than any previous employment strategy.”

He said:

“I am investing in both new employees and employers to create good quality work opportunities across Northern Ireland.

“It will build upon the success of previous programmes recently delivered by the Department which were positively endorsed both by employers and jobseekers.”

The new JobStart scheme is expected to support over 1,200 benefit claimants into employment across Northern Ireland.

Building on past success

The Department for Communities said the programme would be open to all claimants, providing personalised help and training designed to tackle economic inactivity and build confidence in the labour market.

Each participant will receive “bespoke training and development opportunities” while employers will gain access to a pool of motivated candidates ready to learn and grow.

Minister Lyons added:

“Employment is one of the best pathways out of poverty and I am prioritising the provision of employment support to help people overcome the barriers that are faced in moving into, retaining and progressing in employment.

“The name JobStart is an already well-established brand that is recognised by participants, employers, and key stakeholders.

“I want to continue to build on the successes of the previous JobStart schemes to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in work and to develop critical employability skills.”

Strong employer endorsement

Previous JobStart schemes have already helped over 3,000 jobseekers into work since their launch in 2021, with 2,178 people gaining employment and 160 moving into education or training.

Alan Wallace, Managing Director of All The Way Creative, praised the initiative, saying:

“The JobStart scheme has been a valuable support for our business, giving us access to motivated young people eager to gain experience.

“We were able to recruit candidates who fit well with our team, and the process was straightforward and supportive throughout. Overall, it’s been a positive experience that has benefited both our organisation and the individuals involved.”

Gary Hazlett, Director of K9ndergarten Ltd, also welcomed the return of the programme:

“The JobStart programme is a fabulous scheme that benefits both the candidates and the employer. As a small, growing business, the programme helped the company bridge that tricky period of growth that small businesses face between gaining more clients and recruiting more staff.

“The programme is well structured, with great support from the Department for Communities; it has helped the trainees develop their occupational and employability skills along with real life work experience. We were so pleased with the success of the programme that we were able to offer permanent roles to all those who completed the programme.

“The JobStart scheme has been one of Northern Ireland Assembly’s great success stories and we are delighted to see its return.”

Two employment strands

The new JobStart initiative will feature two distinct strands:

• Strand 1: Paid employment for 25 hours per week for six months at National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.

• Strand 2: For individuals with recognised additional barriers to work, 15 hours per week for nine months, offering more flexibility for Work Coaches to adapt to individual needs.

Invest Northern Ireland will also promote the scheme to its client companies to ensure wider uptake across key industries.

How to apply

Employers interested in taking part can register via the new JobStart portal at www.communities-ni.gov.uk/jobstart.

Jobseekers can now view live opportunities on the Department for Communities’ jobapplyni website, with Work Coaches across Northern Ireland helping claimants access suitable roles as more opportunities become available.