Press Release

Peace Bridge staff appointed

15th February 2010

The KICKSTART To WORK Programme in partnership with ILEX and GRAHAM Construction has confirmed eight jobs and four apprenticeships.

The Kickstart to Work Employment Programme in partnership with Ilex the Urban Regeneration Company for Derry~Londonderry and GRAHAM Construction is pleased to announce the recruitment of 12 staff for the Job and Apprenticeship opportunities on the Peace Bridge project. Ilex has included the Social Clause of Targeting Recruitment and Training in the Peace Bridge contract, which means that for every £1m of the project value a job will be created and for every £2m an apprenticeship will be created.

Derry Local Strategy Partnership on behalf of Derry City Council who delivers the Kickstart Programme led the recruitment process. The Chairperson of Derry LSP Gus Hastings said: “The Derry Local Strategy Partnership has developed their expertise in delivering employment programmes since 2004. This initiative is yet another excellent example of ensuring that 12 unemployed people have direct access to employment and apprenticeship opportunities. This type of initiative is the first pilot for Northern Ireland and we hope it will pave the way for all future construction contracts’’.

Mayor Cllr Paul Fleming said: ‘’In my capacity as the first citizen of Derry I am very pleased to see the outcome of the initiative, ensuring 12 people will avail of employment and apprenticeship opportunities in such a historic project. Social Clauses in construction contracts under the Sustainable agenda are a concept that all Government departments should be prioritising during their internal tender processes to ensure that communities benefit economically from the public/private investment in Derry over the next 5-10 years’’.

Aideen McGinley, Chief Executive of Ilex, said: “Ilex is committed to ensuring that the benefits of regeneration are spread across the city and the Kickstart programme is an important first step to helping people furthest from the job market find employment. The programme will be applied to all Ilex construction contracts and is very much in line with the NI Executive’s Programme for Government and Investment Strategy” The third bridge across the River Foyle, the Peace Bridge has been given £13,343,476 from the European Union’s PEACE III Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The programme’s theme of Creating Shared Public Space aims to support large scale infrastructure developments that will tackle problems of separated communities by creating genuine new shared space or transforming contested space.

Alan Bill - Managing Director John Graham Dromore Ltd said: “GRAHAM is committed to using local resources to meet the challenge of building such a prestigious and historic structure in Derry. We have earned a reputation for being at the forefront of employment initiatives within N Ireland and this project is the latest example of this best practice approach. The successful individuals have not just obtained paid employment but also an opportunity for valuable skills development that will launch them on a sustainable career path.

Whether it’s building bridges, people or communities we take a pride in the work we do and we are proud to work with the Derry community to share the economic and social benefits of the project.”

If you are unemployed and need help to get a job or improve your job prospects, the Kickstart to Work programme offers a free and confidential employment service. For further information contact the Kickstart to Work office on 02871308466

Press Office

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