GEMS NI

Before EU Enlargement, the majority of our minority ethnic clients sought support from our service via our stakeholder networks, e.g. our links with organisations such as NI Council for Ethnic Minorities, Chinese Welfare Association, Multi-Cultural Resource Centre and the Law Centre NI.

In 2004, approximately 10% of our service beneficiaries came from established minority ethnic communities with well-established social networks and support services, where they and we could avail of a ‘bank’ of interpreters and other supports within a strong local service infrastructure.

Today, one in four of every new client to our service in South Belfast (in East Belfast this figure is approximately one in every twenty) does not have English as their first language; many have the same issues and vulnerabilities and barriers as our minority ethnic clients who have resided here much longer and very often compounded by the language barrier, no or limited knowledge of the local labour market and no or limited social support networks. For these clients the labour market disadvantage they experience is often characterised by poverty, vulnerability to homelessness, exploitation by unscrupulous employers and racism.

GEMS wider role is to support activities with employers that encourage them to recruit our target group; e.g. the ‘Belfast at Your Service’ JobsFair (February 2008) which assisted employers from the retail, hospitality and wider service sectors to fill positions.

Our work with Skillsmart Retail and People 1st Sector Skills Councils has found that skills shortages within these sectors could be reduced by being able to recruit staff who would be suitable for hard to fill positions but for the language barrier which made both training in service/product knowledge, health and safety and the customer facing role problematic.

We also developed English Language training programmes linked to the competency profile for Northbrook Technology and have delivered “Talk-IT” language classes for this global IT Company to over 150 minority ethnic employees. We are currently developing similar bespoke packages for two other major employers.

We have been providing dedicated employability support to minority ethnic clients who are furthest from the labour market since 2004 and our work in this area and qualitative and quantative data demonstrate that in addition to the general barriers to employment experienced by long-term unemployed and economically inactive people, minority ethnic groups face further barriers:

Language

While the level of English can vary widely between clients, many have a low standard of English. This barrier impacts upon job search, interviews, willingness of employers to hire and isolation in the workplace

Transferability of skills

The skills and qualifications of minority ethnic clients are not recognised or easily transferable to the local labour market

Work Experience

Their work experience is viewed as being less relevant

Cultural Issues

Different cultural attitudes particularly in relation to women in the workplace

Exploitation

The above barriers can result in minority ethnic employees being treated less favourably than others in the workplace

We developed the LLFW (Learning Language for Work) programme to support the employability of our clients who do not have English as their first language.

LLFW helps to overcome both the generic employability barriers and the specific employability barriers experienced by minority ethnic groups by providing English language training which integrates ESOL with employability and adds value by linking participants to other GEMS employment supports such as vocational guidance and counselling and access to jobs available in the local labour market through our jobs matching service.

Supporting Minority Ethnic People in Northern Ireland to Reach Their Full Potential

GEMS NI Ltd has been successful in achieving the stage one development grant from the Big Lottery to research a personal development package for minority ethnic individuals. Working in partnership with Castlereagh Enterprises, South East Regional College, North Down Development Organisation and Brian Stratford Associates “Supporting Minority Ethnics in Northern Ireland” is an innovative initiative aimed at helping minority ethnic individuals realise their full potential. The Project takes a holistic view to the needs of these individuals and seeks to provide support measures that will address the needs (primarily employment, self employment, skills development) identified within a single integrated programme of support.

For further information contact Shane Smith by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phoning 028 9033 2313.