Locals speak at National Employer Roadshow

Aileen O’Driscoll (Jobs Coach, Employability Services), Regina Doherty (Minister for Employment Affairs & Social Protection, T.D) and Valerie Murphy (CEO – Avondhu Blackwater Partnership) at the recent employer roadshow held in Cork. (Photo: Rosanne Donovan)

The National Employer Roadshow held recently in Cork, was organised to provide information and advice on services, supports and incentives available to employers from the Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection.

The roadshow was one of a series taking place over the coming weeks, its aimbeing to encourage employers to avail of schemes and incentives, in particular those that will assist jobseekers who are in need of support to enter the labour market. 

Amongst the local employers who spoke at the event at the Clayton Hotel were Norma Kelly (owner, Praline café in Mitchelstown), Gerry Murphy (Senior Program Manager, VMware) and Rob Horgan (manager, Café Velo in Cork city), who spoke about various work incentives and schemes they have successfully availed of. 

Providing information on schemes including JobsPlus, the Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) and other supports available from Intreo and JobsIreland.ie, the event was a valuable platform to network with local employers and employer representatives. 

Amongst those in attendance was Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CEO Valerie Murphy and a number of staff members.

Support available

Ms Murphy spoke in relation to the supports available to individuals on the live register in the community through the Tús Work Placement Initiative and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). 

Speaking to The Avondhu in relation to the event, Valerie Murphy commented, “It’s wonderful to see the proactive approach being taken by the Minister of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty TD, and her officials in Cork under the direction of Ms Marie O’Flynn (Principal Officer, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection) to engage proactively to ensure that both employers and individuals on the live register are aware of the supports available, to assist in steering these individuals back into the workplace”.