Belfast Teenagers Take First Steps Into Paid Employment This Summer

A new initiative is providing at least 20 Belfast school pupils aged 16-17 with an opportunity to complete a paid work placement during their school holidays.



Belfast City Council’s Paid Work Experience Programme (PWEP) is offering structured four to six week placements with a range of employers in high growth sectors, including the creative and digital industries, legal and financial services and information technologies.



Councillor Aileen Graham, member of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: “One of the key objectives in our Belfast Agenda is creating employment and opportunity, so we’ve developed the Paid Work Experience Programme to give young people the opportunity to gain an insight into the world of work, enhance their employability skills, maximize their chances of securing meaningful employment and help to shape their future careers. We’re also supporting our key growth sectors, by providing businesses with access to young talent and boosting their profile.”



The programme seeks to help young people develop their confidence, build their knowledge about the labour market, and create pathways to further training and employment.



For more information on the Paid Work Experience Programme, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/employability



Photo Caption: L-R Katie Martin, Ashfield Girls’ High School, Cllr Aileen Graham, Belfast City Council and Ebony Orr, Ashfield Girls’ School pictured at the launch of the Paid Work Experience Programme, a new Belfast City Council initiative offering at least 20 Belfast school pupils aged 16-17 paid work placements with a range of employers in high growth sectors during their summer break.



To join in the online conversation on this and other Belfast News Stories tweet @Simply_Belfast