£21m package to help North's apprentices and beleaguered businesses

A £21m (€24m) package to support businesses and apprentice tradesmen struggling in the economic downturn was announced by the Stormont Executive today.

Manufacturing and tradable services companies finding it hard to keep their heads above water will be eligible for grants of up to £450,000 (€513,000) to help them pay the salaries of key staff under a £15m (€17m) scheme run by Invest NI.

Meanwhile apprentices in the manufacturing and engineering sectors whose working weeks are cut back due to the recession will be offered paid training days by way of a £6.6m (€7.5m) ’Skillsafe’ fund operated by the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL).

The scheme, which is 40% financed by the European Social Fund, will also provide up to £2,000 (€2,300) for the organisations delivering the additional training for the apprentices.

Enterprise minister Arlene Foster and DEL minister Reg Empey outlined the respective package on the floor of the Assembly today.