Cork County Council has today (23rd September 2011) announced a number of internship placements aspart of a new National Internship Scheme called JobBridge.
The new scheme will assist in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as unemployed workers wishing to learn new skills. The scheme will also give people a real opportunity to gain valuable experience to bridge the gap between study and the beginning of their working lives.
Welcoming the announcement, Cllr. John Paul O’ Shea (Ind) said “This is wonderful news that Cork County Council can provide quality employment and experience for over 30 people over the next few months.JobBridge allows for a local authority such as Cork County Council to provide essential work experienceand new skill placements for a period of 6 – 9 months across a range of disciplines where vacancies currently exist”.
JobBridge was announced as part of the governments Jobs Initiative programme. The scheme will provide at any one time up to 5,000 work experience placements nationally for unemployed individuals in organisations in the private, public and voluntary sectors. Participants on JobBridge will receive, through the Department of Social Protection, a single allowance (Internship Allowance) consisting of €50 per week on top of their equivalent existing social welfare entitlements.
Cllr. O Shea added “We need to keep people who are currently unemployed as close as possible to the workforce and provide them with the opportunity to gain quality work experience and new skills, which willincrease their possibilities of gaining full time employment when complete. The scheme also facilitatesemployers to contribute to the national activation agenda by providing internships opportunities to the unemployed.
Application forms for internships available through Cork County Council can be obtained from their Customer Contact Centre at 021 4285511 or email recruitment@corkcoco.i e or www.corkcoco.ie