BUSINESSES who gained a qualification in the InnovateUs Employer Support Programme (ESP) have been praised by Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry.
The achievements of local businesses on the skills programme, which is funded by the Department for Employment and Learning, has been recognised at an event on the South Eastern Regional College Lisburn campus .
The InnovateUs ESP initiative provides businesses with opportunities to acquire the skills necessary to engage in innovation activities as well as research and development across their organisation.
The minister said:“We need to support and provide the necessary skills for local businesses to allow them to stay one step ahead of the competition, and opportunities presented by emerging technologies to attract and build new business.
“Under my department’s Employer Support Programme (InnovateUs), further education colleges are given the opportunity to work with small and medium sized businesses to provide the skills support necessary to promote innovation activities and research and development.”