New Funds for Skills Training

25 June 2009

21 schemes designed to boost the Jersey economy have provisional go-ahead from the Treasury and Resources Minister.  

Senator Philip Ozouf has given an amber light to 21 of 27 bids for funding from £44 million allocated from the Stabilisation Fund to finance an economic stimulus package.

The projects come from seven States Departments and will boost skills, training and the careers service as well as providing support for businesses and individuals.

Senator Ozouf said: "This is the first of a series of projects designed to help islanders affected by the downturn. It’s most important that we get the schemes up and running, especially in the light of the job losses which have recently been announced.

“We knew there would be some job cuts in Jersey and we are ready to take action to mitigate their effects. This package of measures is designed to support jobs and businesses across the whole economy. The sooner we inject cash into the local economy, the more difference it will make to islanders and the better position we will be in when the global economy eventually starts to recover.”

When the States approved the spending plan in May, £44 million was earmarked to pay for a number of projects, each of which is assessed by an independent Evaluation Team.

The projects that already have provisional approval will provide opportunities for local businesses of all sizes and across various sectors.

There will also be support for individuals through a range of initiatives, including an expansion of capacity at both Highlands College and in the Careers Service, and through the introduction of new training programmes.

Senator Ozouf added: “We are investing £7 million in skills training. We will increase the budget for Highlands to allow more school leavers to stay on in education. And we are setting up a youth training initiative.

“We will also establish a graduate internship scheme for college-leavers who may otherwise be unable to get employment.  Not only will this give them a meaningful start to their working life, but it will also help make them even more employable when the economy starts to pick up.”