Help for jobseekers to set up in business

A TRAINING course for unemployed people interested in starting their own business in the tourism and hospitality industry will begin in Waterford next month.

The programme, run by Waterford Chamber’s Skillnet with the support of Waterford Area Partnership, will be funded under a new initiative, the JobSeekers Support Programme.

The programme “aims to increase the employability of jobseekers by providing them with skills which would allow them to re-enter their previous sector of employment or transfer into alternative sectors”, according to Waterford Chamber.

The course, which starts in three weeks, would help unemployed people look at what is involved in starting and running a business in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Chamber chief executive, Michael Garland, said: “With the redevelopment of the city, Waterford is again likely to attract large numbers of visitors over the coming years.

“These visitors will be looking for products and services to buy and this demand will create new business opportunities.

“This tourism and hospitality for self-employment programme will give aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to develop their ideas, create a business for themselves, and help Waterford deliver a quality experience for its visitors.”

Tourism and hospitality are among the growth industries of the south-east, while Waterford, with its “rich heritage and tradition of hospitality”, has long been a tourist destination.

Businesses within “this large and varied sector can range from food, catering services, restaurants, health and beauty, leisure and activities, crafts, retail, transport, culture and the arts”, the chamber said.

The programme is open to unemployed people who are based in Waterford, but places are limited.

Those interested in the course should contact 051-311131 or email enquiries to [e-mail].