Th e an d

A c c or d t h e of

Equal

Initiative of Ulster M agee)

Un iversit y P olic y

(Scho ol

Studies to

i n v ite

you

C R E A T I N G C R E A T I N G T O T O

P A T H W A Y S P A T H W A Y S

E M P L O Y M E N T E M P L O Y M E N T
s t rategy
M ay 2 0 0 5

Thi n k i ng
Wednesd ay

or

tactics?
4 . 3 0 pm

1 1 t h

9 . 3 0 a m

Ven ue : Lectur e T h e at r e M D 1 0 8 of M a g ee C a m p u s

Un i v ersi t y

Ul s t er

C R E A T I N G T O

P A T H W A Y S

E M P L O Y M E N T

Ob ject i ve s :
1. To reflect on the effectiveness of EU funded policy initiatives on unemployment 2. To contribute to long-term strategic thinking on unemployment initiatives 3. To gear policy and action for bridging the gap between long-term unemployment and the world of work in the Northwest. 4. To consider the contribution of the social economy when developing employability policies EQUAL programmes such as Accord aim to place target participants on a track towards employment European Union Social Policy is employment anchored. To that end the EQUAL programme aims to facilitate access and return to the labour market for those who have difficulty in being integrated or reintegrated into a labour market, which must be open to all. as opposed to operating isolated events. The greatest danger for participants is to become part of a pool that is constantly recycled from one isolated project to another. There is also a danger for those involved in project delivery and design. The short term nature of projects can have adverse affects on practitioner motivation. It may also be more difficult to recruit and maintain project workers of the desired calibre.

Facilitating the journey to employment needs long term strategies joined up thinking. However, the structure of EU project funding is short term in character. Therefore projects to do with employability are generally of one to two year duration at most. Because of their short term nature they may exist in isolation and not be part of a longer term strategy. The Creating Pathways to Employment conference hopes to contribute to achieving this objective by asking how it is possible to develop effective longer term strategies for employability programmes.

C R E A T I N G T O

P A T H W A Y S

E M P L O Y M E N T

9.30am 10am Registration 10am. Welcome: Professor Tom Fraser (Provost University of Ulster, Magee) and Mrs Margaret Lee (Managing Director The Cresco Trust).

12pm: Key lessons from Equal / Panel Discussion.

In what way do projects contribute to policy

development and good practice. Speaker: Earl Storey Accord Research and Policy Officer

10.15am. Employability - An EU Perspective

To outline current EU employability policies, and

12.45pm: Lunch (The Minor Hall)

future directions.

. To identify successes / failures / challenges that have

become apparent in the operation of current strategies Speaker: James Allen - DG Employment and Social Affairs (EU) Current Responsibilities include

2pm: Working principles out in a local context for maximum good.

. What skills will be needed for a future workforce in

the North West?

How can initiatives to enable those excluded from

Co-ordination of the European Employment Strategy.

employment re-enter the world of work be designed and operated for maximum effectiveness? S p e a ke r : M r R i ch a r d S t e r l i n g ( P r e s i d e n t o f Londonderry Chamber of Commerce).

Production of the Annual Employment Report and the Recommendations to Member States on labour market reform.

Unit expert on education and training polices, 2.45pm: Where does the Social Economy Fit In?

lifelong learning and improving "Human Capital".

. What contribution does the Social Economy have to

11am. Coffee 11.15am. Employability A National Perspective make to employability?

. .

Where does the Social Economy f it in with

To outline current government employability

government and EU thinking? What training needs should the Social Economy

policies, and future priorities.

. To set unemployment funding strategies within the

context of Northern Ireland. Speaker: Mr Daragh Shields Daragh Shields is Assistant Director of the Preparation for Work Division in the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL). He has responsibility for the d e l i ve r y t h r o u g h o u t N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d o f t h e Departments programmes and services which help unemployed people prepare for and find work.

sector provide re employability. Speaker: Colin Stutt - Specialist consultant on public policy and economic development.

3.30pm : Plenary Chairperson: Professor Sile OConnor, University of Ulster

4pm: Coffee

The Cresco Trust Ltd:

.The Cresco Trust is one of Northern Irelands newest not-for profit organisations. . Cresco - a Latin word meaning to grow, expand or advance - is committed to providing opportunities for those
young people disadvantaged within their own community.

. Based in the north-west, it has devised and managed Accord. .

Accord embodies a new concept in European Employment Strategy - the call for locally implemented social policies. These should work on the principle of tailored and individualised helps for those socially excluded.

The University Of Ulster: School of Policy Studies

. The School of Policy Studies was formed in 2001 and brings together the areas of Social Policy and Public Policy. . The Social and Public Policy area is very strong in research terms and committed to achieving and maintaining
national and international excellence in research.

. The main areas of research relate to policy evaluation, health and social care policy and governance in Northern
Ireland, local governance, community relations, equality and social inclusion, the voluntary sector and public procurement policy.

All meals are included There is no charge for this event but places are limited. Bookings may be made through The Cresco Trust Ltd.

The Cresco Trust Ltd

. By Email: info@crescotrust.com . By Telephone: . By Fax: . By Post:

028 7134 3006 028 7131 8799 The Cresco Trust Ltd, 95c Spencer Road, Derry / Londonderry, BT47 6AE http://www.ulst.ac.uk/information/location/mageemap.html

. Directions:

Please Register by Friday 6th May 2005 at latest

This event is financed by the European Social Fund through the Equal Community Initiative and The Executive Fund Programme, through the Department for Employment and Learning. The ACCORD Project aims to enhance the employability of socially excluded groups by the provision of essential skills, delivered through local community groups.