Pictured with the Minister in Ahoghill as he announced plans a Mid and East Antrim Job Fair on 2 February are (L-R): Julie Gorman, ICTU; John Allen, Unite the Union; Debbie Rea, Blaney; Mayor Cllr Audrey Wales MBE; and Joan Connolly, Ballymena JBo
The Job Fair and Advice Forum, which is free to attend, will take place in The Braid, Ballymena between 10am and 3pm, has been organised by the Department for Communities with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Unite the Union.
Speaking ahead of the event, Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA said: “This event brings employers, support organisations and jobseekers together under one roof. The Job Fair has something for everyone and I would encourage anyone, whether unemployed or seeking a change of work to come along and explore the services which will be available on the day.”
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Over 20 employers including Blaney, Moore Concrete, Blue bird Care and the Hilton Group will be in attendance. Large and small employers from across the borough will be available to answer questions and discuss training and employment opportunities.
Minister Givan continued: “As well as the job fair providing opportunities for direct employment, support organisations will also be there to provide information, advice and guidance on a range of training and employment programmes. These programmes can help people progress towards work and better employment prospects, equipping them with the skills to compete in the labour market and meet the needs of employers both now and in the future.”
Support and training organisations at the job fair will include Department for Communities’ Job Search Services and Disability Employment Service, Libraries NI and the Department for the Economy’s Careers Service.
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The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Audrey Wales MBE said: “Job creation is central to the Council’s strategy with this Job Fair and Advice Forum being an excellent example of our ongoing work in partnership with not only potential employers, but also trade unions and the Department for Communities. The free event is an important step in helping achieve fuller employment across the Borough.”
John Allen, from Unite the Union said: “Unite the Union Area Activist Committee are delighted to partner the Council and Department with the Job fair. It is a positive step in highlighting that we are still very much open for business with a wide variety of skilled workers.
Further information about the Job Fair is available by contacting the Employer Engagement team at employerengagement@.or by telephoning 02890 252394 or visit Jobcentre online
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Employers wishing to recruit staff at the event should contact Karen Doyle on 028 7127 6930 or Bridgeen O’Hagan on 028 7127 6949 or email employerengagementteam@.Expansive efficiencies and continued transformation to address the well-documented Council challenges has enabled Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to agree a district rate aimed at minimising financial pressures on householders and businesses while protecting vital frontline services.
The district rate – which is set by Council, funds a wide range of public services, including waste, leisure services, business support, parks and regeneration – has been set at 5.43% for households, meaning an average weekly rise of 53p, or £27.35 per year, from 1 April 2023.
The figure agreed by Elected Members at a special council meeting on Monday evening is almost half of the current rate of inflation across the United Kingdom (10.50%) and among the lowest of any announced by Northern Ireland councils - but will still provide the local Council with the necessary funds for planned major investment in the Borough and a continuation of the frontline services it provides to ratepayers.
Borough Council Map
Due to the global cost of living crisis – which has seen UK interest rates rise to a 40-year high – the Council faces soaring costs across the organisation, which resulted in a projected budgetary shortfall in excess of £10m during the next financial year.
Uncertainty over central/regional government funding received by the Council through the Rates Support Grant also heavily impacted on local government financial planning, as did the agreement and implementation of national pay awards in recent months.
Rates bill rises for businesses have been capped at 5.90%, which equates to a weekly increased cost of £7.45 or £387 per year on the average value of business premises.
Ballymena Job Fair
Elected Members have worked closely with Council’s senior management to identify savings and efficiencies throughout the organisation as part of Mid and East Antrim’s continued transformation. This work, and the actions and changes it is already delivering, enabled the Council to minimise the scale of the rates increase for 2023/2024.
While considerations of the decisions taken have been very challenging, the Council said they were vital to keeping rates increases during 2023/2024 to the lowest level possible.
Council remains committed to growing the local economy by investing in ambitious and innovative projects to drive and sustain the future of the area. Crucial to that work is Belfast Region City Deal, which is delivering £80m investment through the redevelopment of Carrickfergus as a destination town, the extension of The Gobbins as a world-class tourist attraction, and the creation of an i4C Innovation Centre in Ballymena.
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Plans are continuing for the redevelopment of Carnfunnock Country Park after it was recently awarded £6.1 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, which Council will also be supporting financially.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Noel Williams, said: “The rates-setting process for the next financial year has been the most difficult to navigate since Council was established as we strive to ensure best value for our ratepayers in the face of a cost of living crisis.
“Councillors have worked with Council officers for months to identify savings and efficiencies and strike the lowest rate we possibly can for ratepayers while supporting our local community and continuing to deliver key services.
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“We are acutely aware of the struggles many people are facing and remain focused on doing everything within our power to help our businesses and communities to survive, prosper and grow.”
The average domestic rates bill will be £531.84 per annum. Based on average capital value, this places the rates bills of homes in Mid and East Antrim among the lowest of Northern Ireland’s 11 council areas.
Council’s portion of rates amounts to 50% of the rates bills received by residents rates bills in Mid and East Antrim, with the remainder of each set by The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the absence of the Stormont Executive, and which funds public services including health, justice and policing.
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To find out more about what district rate payments fund, please visit Council’s Rates page on this website. For advice on rates, housing benefit and rates relief, please visit the NIDirect Government Services website.
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