Exploring Enterprise 2 Programme is producing results

Last month Martin Clark, Economic Development Officer at Coleraine Borough Council and Jayne Taggart, Chief Executive of Causeway Enterprise Centre, attended a mentoring session at the CEA in Coleraine for clients who have successfully completed the programme which has been developed specifically to rebuild confidence and regenerate people’s personal career ambitions when they have been out of the work place or economically inactive for some time.

Of the 12 people who completed the training five gained a qualification, two subsequently found new jobs, four completed Go For it Training (which means they will start their businesses in the next few months), and two have started their own business.

The Exploring Enterprise training course supports and develops opportunities for people to enter employment or self-employment and, once in work, to keep their job and achieve ongoing progress in the workplace.

The focus of the initiative includes those people who have a disability; those who are lone parents; also older people seeking work; young adults who are neither at a school or college in employment or in a training scheme; women who are seeking employment and those people that have low level or indeed no qualifications at all.

The programme from Enterprise Northern Ireland is part-financed by the European Social Fund and the Department for Employment and Learning, Coleraine Borough Council and Coleraine by Causeway Enterprise Agency who are also delivering the programme in Coleraine.

Martin Clark said: “The Exploring Enterprise Programme aims to increase business awareness and give support to individuals thinking of starting their own business. Small businesses are the backbone of the local economy and we need a constant stream of new people coming forward with business ideas. Exploring Enterprise gives people an opportunity to research and develop their ideas.

“In many cases people need encouragement and the programme can give them the confidence to go ahead. For many the programme provides a purpose that helps them focus on moving forward.”

Causeway Enterprise Agency encourage anyone, aged 16 or over who is a stay at home parent, unemployed, recently redundant or retired and wants to explore their potential to contact Causeway Enterprise Agency on 0287035 6318 to enroll on the next Exploring Enterprise Programme due to commence on May 8.