Begin Again (www.beginagain.ie ) a career advancement programme developed by the Irish Centre for Business Excellence (ICBE ), is calling on experienced and professional individuals based in Galway who are eager to rejoin the workforce to join the programme and take advantage of one of 60 work placements currently available throughout the county and 200 available nationwide.
The ICBE Begin Again programme provides participants with the opportunity to partake in a highly targeted 12-week work placement within a suitable company. The strength of the programme is its ability to successfully match an individual’s skills and expertise with industry gaps and opportunities. Participants meet with a number of possible companies to discuss the mutual benefits of a work placement. As a result of the work placements, applicants gain additional experience as well as mentoring support and training while the company gains an additional member of staff for a focused project to be delivered at no extra cost. The overall benefit for both is the prospect of full time employment and in securing an up-skilled focused employee.
Launched during the summer more than 400 companies nationwide have already signed up to provide work placements as part of the Begin Again programme including well known Galway businesses like Supermac’s, Case Wine Warehouse, and Sealed Air Nelipak. The work placement opportunities were developed following market research by the ICBE in conjunction with industry leaders which identified skill gaps that are hampering the competitiveness and effectiveness of the participating companies.
With just over 100 individuals recruited to the programme, Mike Gaffney, spokesperson for Begin Again is urging more people to take a proactive first step and contact Begin Again by logging onto www.beginagain.ie “The Begin Again programme is a free service! All that it requires is the personal motivation of the individual. We currently have work placements available right across the country including Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. These positions include roles in IT, accounting, research, office administration and sales and marketing.
The Begin Again programme is primarily aimed at experienced and professional individuals between the ages of 25 and 55 who, once given the opportunity could bring real value to a company or business. All participants taking part in the Begin Again programme must have availed of unemployment assistance from Social Welfare for the period of three months. Begin Again participant’s can continue to claim social welfare benefits during the work placement programme.
Maureen Grealish, regional coordinator for the Begin Again programme for Galway said, ”At a time of both national and international economic uncertainly which has left most people feeling a little helpless, the Begin Again programme is offering people the opportunity to help themselves and avail of the work placements giving themselves the very best possible chance of re-entering the workforce.”
Pat McDonagh, Managing Director of Supermac’s explains, “I still can’t get over how simple, straightforward, cost-effective, efficient and most importantly how relevant the ICBE Begin Again programme is.”
Begin Again, a career advancement programme developed by the Irish Centre for Business Excellence (ICBE ) is calling on experienced and professional individuals to join the programme and take advantage of one of the 200 work placements opportunities currently available nationwide. Pictured are Mike Gaffney of Begin Again and programme supporter Mark Fielding of ISME.
