Labour Market Partnership

The Labour Market Partnership (LMP) is a province-wide approach funded by the Department for Communities and comprises of Council, statutory and local employment stakeholders working together to address unemployment, economic activity and improve labour market conditions within the borough.

The Partnership delivers a range of programmes to help our residents gain the work-ready skills, experience or qualifications needed to move into employment or to a better job.

If you would like to find out more about participating in any of our free LMP academies or are an employer wanting to get involved, please contact us:

E: lmp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

T: 028 2563 3345

Please see below for further information on employment and skills support being offered across 2024/25:

Community-led and localised skills development

LMP officers and delivery partners will work with local communities to identify skills needs and to co-design interventions and programmes that will encourage the hardest to reach economically inactive residents to get into, or back into the labour market or to help take steps on a pathway to better employment or career advancement.

More details to follow.

Health and Support Services Academy

This academy involves a 4–10-week duration depending on the occupational area selected.

Training interventions in Support Service for roles including catering assistants, care assistants and support assistants.

Participants will attend weekly classes to gain skills and knowledge to support them to complete agreed vocational related qualifications.

Employability workshops will include CV Building, Interview Techniques, Personal Presentation and Transferable Skills alongside one-to-one mentoring and progress reviews.

Participants will also take part in have a go days or site visits and employer talks with guaranteed interview opportunities upon completion.

More details to follow.

Administration Academy

This academy involves 8-week vocational training interventions in Administration with a guaranteed interview and range of role-specific training.

Participants will attend weekly class to gain skills and knowledge to support them to complete agreed vocational related qualifications.

Employability skills development will include CV Building, Interview Techniques, Personal Presentation and Transferable Skills.

Participants will also complete work placement/have a go day and have one-to-one mentoring and progress reviews.

More details to follow.

Investor Support Academies

This 4–6-week academy will include vocational and employability training to enable participants to move into employment covering occupational, areas in retail, warehousing and production skills. 

The academy will be shaped to local needs and the needs of new investors with relevant training identified offered to participants to support them in developing the necessary skills to apply for employment and to assist new investors setting up in the borough.

More details to follow.

Classroom Assistant Employment Academy

Starting Autumn 2024, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is offering the opportunity to complete an intensive one-week Classroom Assistant Academy with support to apply for live, local vacancies.

What are the benefits for you?

• A chance to improve employability.
• Guaranteed interviews with local employers.
• An introduction to the sector and an insight into the range of job roles available.
• Access to a range of personal development training including communication and teamwork.
• One to one mentoring support for the duration of the programme.

Who can apply?

The Employment Academy is open to anyone living in the Mid and East Antrim Council area, currently out of work or working less than 16 hours a week.  

Preference will be given to those who are economically inactive or long-term unemployed.

How to apply

Email your contact details to academy@people-1st.co.uk and a job mentor will be in touch to discuss the next steps to getting you started on your journey into employment.

For further details contact: academy@people-1st.co.uk.

Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy

Commencing Autumn 2024, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is offering the opportunity to complete the Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy with support to apply for live, local vacancies.

The academy will support candidates currently employed as temporary classroom assistants.

The Academy aims to build confidence within classroom support teams by focusing on the development of the child or young person’s wellbeing and social learning skills.

Understanding how to mentor the individual with needs, while working with the teacher or tutor to develop new cognitive skills, is a core part of the course.

What are the benefits for you?

During our nine-month Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy you will be working towards a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools which will be delivered through a series of workshops as well as one to one mentoring and input from guest speakers.

Who can apply?

The Employment Academy is open to anyone living in the Mid and East Antrim Council area.

You must be a working as a classroom assistant on a temporary contract (in any region of Northern Ireland), have Maths and English at GCSE or equivalent or willing to gain these qualifications.

This academy will be equally beneficial to newly qualified classroom assistants or more experienced practitioners who want to develop and enhance their skills.

Please note that places are limited and will be offered to suitable candidates who apply early.

How to apply

Email your contact details to academy@people-1st.co.uk and a job mentor will be in touch to discuss the next steps.

For further details contact: academy@people-1st.co.uk.

Placement Insights Programme

This 6-week project aims to provide participants with interactive bitesize employability support and introduction to the world of work for young people in target groups e.g. those with a disability, leaving care or Education otherwise than at School.

More details to follow.

Mid & East Antrim Transport Academy

The Transport Academy will provide training and support to enable participants to achieve either Category C (HGV Class 2) or PCV (bus / coach) licenses and secure employment over the duration of 12 months.

More details to follow.

Engineering Academy

The Engineering Academy will include various pathways across approx. 6 weeks that will be shaped due to employer needs with relevant training identified offered to participants.

Initial demands are around welding/fabrication electrician’s assistant and electronics.

More details to follow.

CleanTech / Green Energy Academy

The Cleantech Academy will be shaped due to employer needs and include training to support staff upskilling in Hydrogen and Green Energy.

This will be a bespoke academy with a menu of upskilling courses and insights in the emerging cleantech and green technology sector.

More details to follow.

Work Connections

Work Connections runs over a period of 24 weeks and aims to provide participants with intensive one-to-one scaffolded approach to support the development of the individual with increasing focus on progressing to employment as they move through each phase.

The programme offers an innovative approach to participants who to developing the skill set of individuals, improving confidence, increasing work readiness, and providing opportunities to enter the workforce.

Additionally, the programme will work closely with host employers’ offering opportunities to participants.

More details to follow.

Graduate Disability Academy

A 6-month tailored training and employment support for graduates with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed, economically inactive or not suited to existing provision Programme will include a range of personalised supports and qualifications to support gradates move into employment.

More details to follow.

Employer Advisory Service

Dedicated in-house resource to engage and support employers. Will also provide advice and support re: recruitment processes, employing those furthest removed from the labour market, providing placements for participants and working with employers to co-design interventions.

Provision of Employer support sessions in groups, 1 to 1 sessions and presentations at events.

If you are a local employer within Mid and East Antrim and wish to find out more, please contact Hayley Barr at lmp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk.

Upcoming events

Employability and Well-being Events are currently being arranged to support those seeking work to move into education, employment, or training and event details will be updated in due course.

For any further information regarding Mid and East Antrim’s Labour Market Partnership, please contact the team:

E: lmp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

T: 028 2563 3345