17/11/2025
Minister Lyons Sees JobStart Success At South Belfast Dog Daycare
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons visited K9ndergarten, a dog daycare service in South Belfast, to witness the positive impact of the JobStart programme.
The scheme, funded by the Department for Communities, has enabled the business to create a new job opportunity, with the participant already in post.
Minister Lyons emphasised that the initiative is designed to create good quality work opportunities and provide businesses with access to motivated people eager to gain experience.
"I am pleased to visit K9ndergarten and see how JobStart is already creating good quality work opportunities... My department aims to support over 1,200 benefit claimants through this latest phase of JobStart and I would encourage more employers to sign up as we look to build on this early success," said Minister Lyons.
The Minister is prioritising employment support through this initiative to help people overcome barriers to moving into, retaining, and progressing in employment.
Gary Hazlett, Director of K9ndergarten, confirmed the benefits to his business: "The JobStart scheme has been great for us because it has helped us grow and develop the business by bringing new people in and giving us the means to train them up to a high standard." He noted they have also been able to retain some employees who came through previous JobStart schemes.
Since its latest phase launch last month, the programme has approved 256 employer applications with 352 positions currently on offer via the Department’s JobApplyNI website.
Employers wishing to register for the scheme and find more information can do so via the nibusinessinfo website, while job opportunities for participants are listed on JobApplyNI.com.
The scheme, funded by the Department for Communities, has enabled the business to create a new job opportunity, with the participant already in post.
Minister Lyons emphasised that the initiative is designed to create good quality work opportunities and provide businesses with access to motivated people eager to gain experience.
"I am pleased to visit K9ndergarten and see how JobStart is already creating good quality work opportunities... My department aims to support over 1,200 benefit claimants through this latest phase of JobStart and I would encourage more employers to sign up as we look to build on this early success," said Minister Lyons.
The Minister is prioritising employment support through this initiative to help people overcome barriers to moving into, retaining, and progressing in employment.
Gary Hazlett, Director of K9ndergarten, confirmed the benefits to his business: "The JobStart scheme has been great for us because it has helped us grow and develop the business by bringing new people in and giving us the means to train them up to a high standard." He noted they have also been able to retain some employees who came through previous JobStart schemes.
Since its latest phase launch last month, the programme has approved 256 employer applications with 352 positions currently on offer via the Department’s JobApplyNI website.
Employers wishing to register for the scheme and find more information can do so via the nibusinessinfo website, while job opportunities for participants are listed on JobApplyNI.com.
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18 May 2022
JobStart Meet The Employer Event Announced
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More than 25 Belfast-based employers are set to attend a free JobStart Meet the Employer on Tuesday 31 May at The MAC. Organised by Belfast City Council, the JobStart Meet the Employer event will offer 16-24 year olds the chance to chat to diverse employers including Allstate, Bruiser Theatre Company, Titanic Hotel and Ulster Wildlife.
02 March 2026
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Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has praised the success of the JobStart scheme, noting the broad spectrum of employment opportunities it has generated since its launch in October 2025. To date, 1,086 employers have registered with the programme, resulting in the creation of over 1,200 new positions.
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Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has praised the success of the JobStart scheme, noting the broad spectrum of employment opportunities it has generated since its launch in October 2025. To date, 1,086 employers have registered with the programme, resulting in the creation of over 1,200 new positions.
10 May 2024
Young People Urged To Attend JobStart Event
Young people aged 16-24 have been urged to explore new career opportunities with over 30 employers at the upcoming JobStart event at 2 Royal Avenue.
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03 November 2025
JobStart Programme Creates Over 1,000 New Opportunities
The new JobStart programme, the largest jobs scheme of its kind in Northern Ireland, has successfully secured over one thousand new employment opportunities within weeks of its launch. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced that 385 employers have already applied to the scheme, offering a total of 1,060 new job openings.
JobStart Programme Creates Over 1,000 New Opportunities
The new JobStart programme, the largest jobs scheme of its kind in Northern Ireland, has successfully secured over one thousand new employment opportunities within weeks of its launch. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced that 385 employers have already applied to the scheme, offering a total of 1,060 new job openings.
09 July 2024
New £1.9m Jobstart Scheme For Over-50s
The Department for Communities has announced a new £1.9 million scheme to help boost employment opportunities for the over-50s. JobStart 50+ will provide around 180 jobs across a range of sectors in a 'test and learn' pilot exercise funded by the UK government.
New £1.9m Jobstart Scheme For Over-50s
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.