Gasworks Employment Matching Service (GEMS)

GEMS was designed with two core aims:

• to provide a co-ordinated and effective network of employment support services which meets the needs of local unemployed people and improves their potential to gain employment; and to provide information, guidance, training and personal development support for those excluded from the labour market, especially the long-term unemployed.

• to meet the needs of companies, such as Halifax in the Gasworks case, by nurturing a skills base in the local community.

What was the outcome?

The activities of Belfast GEMS had a real impact on the levels of unemployment in the target areas of South and East Belfast. Moreover, GEMS managed to outperform significantly the original targets set for its operation, achieving more than three times what was expected.

The following figures shows what was achieved by 2006:

• over 2,000 unemployed have been supported

• over 1,000 of those supported entered employment

• over 800 unemployed have completed training courses designed to enhance their employability

• over 200 people have been assisted so far through the “Language for Work” programme

• GEMS has maintained working relationships with over 400 employers