CEA now recruiting for “Exploring Enterprise 2

The “Exploring Enterprise 2” programme from Enterprise Northern Ireland is part-financed by Coleraine Borough Council, the European Social Fund and the Department for Employment and Learning and is being delivered in Coleraine by Causeway Enterprise Agency.

Martin Clark, Council’s Economic Development Officer, believes that it is important to provide options to the unemployed and assist those interested in becoming self employed to improve their opportunities and skills by exploring the enterprise route.

“The Exploring Enterprise Programme continues to prove a successful initiative to help local people seeking to get back into work or to work for themselves and is one of a large suite of programmes offered in Coleraine which reflects both the Council’s and Causeway Enterprise Agency’s commitment to developing local business and the local economy,” he says.

“To date 52 people have completed training with 42 gaining a professional qualification, 30 of whom who have also completed “Go For It” business start-up training with the intention of fulfilling their dreams of starting their own business as a result of the support they received.”

Local woman Tessa Tosh, who recently completed the programme, is over the moon with the results. Tessa, previously a full time, stay at home mother has not looked back since beginning her training in February of this year.

She has completed the training, received assistance with writing her CV, secured a placement at Relax and Tone in Coleraine and is now also undertaking a distance learning course in Health and Nutrition on the strength of having accomplished the Certificate in Business Enterprise.

Tessa praised the course, the trainers and her mentors saying: “I am so grateful because I found the course and the one to one support really, really helpful and I am so happy that I am now working towards realising my dream.”

“Exploring Enterprise 2” is a free programme that will help individuals develop personal skills, increase confidence and achieve an accredited qualification.

Jayne Taggart, Chief Executive of Causeway Enterprise Agency, commented: “We are really pleased with the outputs from the Exploring Enterprise Programme and are delighted to deliver this programme for people in the Coleraine area.

“The Exploring Enterprise 2 programme will enable those who are out of the workplace to develop skills to enhance their individual chances of securing employment or entering self-employment.”

Jayne explains that the accredited programme provides a free training course over 12 mornings offering a mix of group sessions and one to one mentoring from an accredited business advisor, helping people explore their business idea and take it to the next level.

It will also help them to develop their personal skills, build their confidence and achieve a qualification which will improve their overall employability.

Causeway Enterprise Agency is now recruiting for Exploring Enterprise 2 which commences at the beginning of July.

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).