The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) has today welcomed figures showing that Steps 2 Success, Northern Ireland’s biggest current employment support programme, has helped 8,011 jobseekers into work since the programme began in October 2014 until September 2016.
ERSA is particularly pleased to see that performance overall continues to improve for all customer groups and that young people are performing well on this programme, with 35% young jobseekers moving into work after a year on the programme, an increase of 2% on the previous statistical release.
ERSA, Head of Policy and Communications, Sam Windett:
“ERSA welcomes today’s figures which show the positive impact of the Steps 2 Success programme. The programme has supported 8,011 jobseekers into sustained employment, which has helped to change lives, communities and businesses across Northern Ireland.
“It is pleasing to see that 35% young jobseekers have succeeded in moving into employment and we must now ensure that we maintain this momentum moving forward. Key in this is extending the support Steps 2 Success provides to other groups who are economically inactive across the communities in Northern Ireland”
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Steps 2 Success is provided by lead contractors in partnership with a network of local organisations who deliver high quality support across Northern Ireland. The programme is for those jobseekers who have spent a significant amount of time out of employment or have a health condition or disability. This means that people being helped by the programme are likely to be a significant distance from the labour market, with each job gained representing a significant achievement for that individual and a potential transformation in their lives and that of their families.
All lead contractors for the Steps 2 Success programme are members of ERSA, which is the representative body for the employment support sector in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
