NI Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey, today visited engineering firm AJ Power at their plant in Craigavon.

Sir Reg saw at first hand how his Department's Bridge to Employment programme was making a difference to employers' recruitment and training needs. The Programme provides customised training courses in order to help unemployed people gain new skills and compete for jobs on an equal basis with others.

Speaking during his visit the Minister said: "AJ Power is one of a number of top local firms that have used the Bridge to Employment Programme provided by my Department. They are a prime example of just how beneficial this Programme can be to an employer and I am delighted that my Department has been able to support such a successful local business.

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"Since 2003, through the Bridge to Employment Programme, my Department has provided AJ Power with assistance worth £30,000. In addition, through the Programme over 45 trainees have started work with the company and this source of new recruits has been of great help as the company continues to expand.

"Through programmes like Bridge to Employment my Department is working to provide the right skills, in the right place, at the right time to fuel the growth of our economy. Having access to skilled staff is vital for all our companies and I’m sure that AJ Power will continue to go from strength to strength."

Launched in 1997, the Bridge to Employment Programme has to date helped hundreds of businesses across Northern Ireland recruit thousands of employees.

(JM)