Projects to create jobs away from major city hubs could garner as much as €5m in funding each, under a new development initiative.
Continuing its bid to spread the wealth, in terms of job creation, the Irish government’s latest tranche of regional funding comes in the shape of €60m.
This has been allocated for regional job creation initiatives, with ‘major change’ projects in line for anything between €2m and €5m.
Jobs in Ireland: Funding
This funding, distributed by Enterprise Ireland, is aimed at accelerating economic recovery in every part of the country by “delivering on the potential of local and regional enterprise strengths”.
It will support collaborative regional initiatives to build on specific industry sectoral strengths, much like various clusters of related companies that already exist throughout the country.
Applications for funding are already being accepted, with the breakdown as follows:
- Major change projects – €2m to €5m
- Regionally significant projects – €250,000 to €2m
- Local and community enterprise development projects – €50,000 to €250,000
- Industry clusters – €50,000 to €250,000
“Supporting enterprise development is a key role of Enterprise Ireland,” said Julie Sinnamon, CEO of the organisation.
“This fund will provide an important infrastructural mechanism to drive growth in developing enterprise in every region. The fund will also support the development of industry clusters, which will facilitate knowledge transfer, innovation and collaboration among organisations.
“These are important drivers of enterprise growth and job creation, and we look forward to supporting more regionally based companies through this initiative.”
Jobs in Ireland: Industry
This isn’t the first initiative of its kind this month.
Accenture’s latest efforts to encourage young people to bolster their skill sets as they begin their career hunt has come in the form of the Skills to Succeed Academy.
Launched in partnership with the Department of Social Protection, the academy is a free, interactive, online training programme developed to give those aged between 15 and 24 the skills and confidence needed for career development.
The new programme uses virtual coaches, gamification and simulations to help users navigate their career paths, aiming to provide training to help them find long-term employment.
Meanwhile, social network LinkedIn has committed €180,000 to a partnership with non-profit Jobcare to assist jobseekers facing challenges in finding work.
The funding comes from the company’s social impact programme, LinkedIn for Good. The programme aims to connect communities in need with economic opportunities to make their visions a reality.
Jobcare will use the funding to help improve their participants’ digital skills and update their IT equipment, while also extending the organisation’s reach to jobseekers outside of Dublin.
