Thumbprint Programme – Continued Success

Sixteen participants in the leading edge Thumb Print Employment Programme promoted by Creggan Enterprises have all graduated with honours, by finding employment, moving into self-employment, or going into full time education.

The successful social economy enterprise company Creggan Enterprises formed the innovative Pathway to Employment Programme entitled ‘Thumb Print’.

‘Thumb Print’ provides a comprehensive development package for people excluded from the labour market.  It gives them the skills which not only places them within the labour market, but which are designed to keep them there. Thumb Print provides meaningful work for a period of 50 weeks, in which participants develop work disciplines and employability skills through training and personal development.

Thumb Print has received critical acclaim from all our participating employers.  Some of the comments include:

Ciaran Harley, Zoo Creative  - “The Thumb Print Scheme provides a vital resource to small businesses.  It has given us the chance to explore new and vital markets in which to trade and operate.”

Gary Bates, Big Fish Design and Advertising - “Thumb Print enabled Big Fish to add to the very successful function of office manager to our services during a vital period in our development.”

Lloyd Cooke, Lloyd Cooke Motors – “We are delighted how well Thumb Print has worked for us as a small business throughout the year.  It has allowed us to expand and develop our business.”

Mark Roberts, Liberty Consortium – “Through Thumb Print we have now a fully trained and competent member of staff.  We found the administrative element of the Thumb Print programme a relatively simple one, and wish to acknowledge the professional manner in which this innovative programme is managed by the Thumb Print staff.”

Speaking today Terry McCloskey, Thumb Print Programme Co-ordinator said,

“We are pleased to announce that sixteen participants have all successfully completed the programme.  Creggan Enterprises have managed to achieve 75% permanent job outcome,12.5% moving into self-employment and 6.25% moving into further higher education. While the numbers involved in this programme are just a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of economic inactivity throughout the city and district, the results demonstrate what could be achieved on a much wider scale if the programme was expanded and supported on a citywide basis”.

Conal McFeely, Development Executive, Creggan Enterprises, said:

“Our experience in supporting individuals most excluded from the labour market the chance to re-enter the world of work through Thumb Print has shown it is possible to enable participants to achieve positive change for themselves, by engaging local employers through innovative practices to address the mismatch between the demand and supply of skills in the local labour market.  Clearly, Thumb Print has all the ingredients for combating economic inactivity.   Creggan Enterprises wish to acknowledge the funding by The European Union, Peace and Reconciliation Programme administered by the Local Strategy Partnership for the Derry City Council area.”

Thumbprint employees collecting certificates on completion of a six week induction training programme at a ceremony in Ráth Mór Centre, Creggan, Derry.

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