Improve your opportunities and career prospects in 2013

The ‘Exploring Enterprise 2’ programme focuses on the needs of people who have recently lost their jobs, those who have been out of work for the longer term and specifically aims to support those people who have a disability; are lone parents; or young adults who are neither at a school or college in employment or in a training scheme.

It concentrates on rebuilding confidence and regenerating people’s personal career ambitions and provides support through training sessions and one to one mentoring to develop opportunities for people to enter employment. The course is also a great foundation for anyone thinking of working for themselves and enables participants to explore their business idea and take the first steps to developing a business plan.

Training is delivered in both Ballycastle and Coleraine at the premises of Causeway Enterprise Agency. It’s very practical, and requires no previous qualifications.

The next course starts on Monday February 18 and is offered on 12 mornings over 2-and-a-half weeks, meaning that if you take part you could be finished and have an accredited qualification by the summer time.

Local girl Rebecca Montgomery aged 19 from Garvagh has given her life and career a make-over and is starting her own beauty business after taking part in ‘Exploring Enterprise 2’ at Causeway Enterprise Agency.

Rebecca studied beauty in Limavady and has worked in some of the area’s most prestigious salon’s including the Spa at Galgorm but like so many talented young people found herself without a job in late 2012.

What she did have however was an idea and a determination to succeed. She wanted to start her own business and encouraged by her entrepreneurial mother, Erica founder of “Slim Within”, Rebecca contacted the Causeway Enterprise Agency and enrolled on the programme.

Rebecca speaks enthusiastically about ‘Exploring Enterprise 2’: “I found the course really helpful and I really enjoyed it.

“For me the best part was the day when they took all of us to the Arcadia in Portrush and we got to hear first-hand from two local business owners about the good and bad points of starting up and running your own business.

“Their honesty and experience really inspired me and the course then helped me with the practical elements. Something else I valued was the opportunity to meet new people.

“When you find yourself unemployed or not in education you miss the social interaction that comes from being part of a team or a class and the programme makes you feel part of something. It’s great to know that support is there if and when you need it and I can’t recommend it enough.

“I am just putting the finishing touches to my business plan and will be launching “Reb’s Health and Beauty Parlour in the Spring and I am feeling really positive about the future.”

Eligible Applicants must be over 16 years of age and either unemployed or working/in education for less than 16 hours per week. To find out more or to register interested applicants should contact Anna Logan at Causeway Enterprise Agency on 02820 70356318 (Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm).

‘Exploring Enterprise 2’ is part-financed by the European Social Fund, the Department for Employment and Learning and Enterprise Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland ESF Programme 2007 -13 and is being delivered in Coleraine by Causeway Enterprise Agency on behalf of Enterprise Northern Ireland.