West Limerick Resources - "Committed to the Community"

Springboard to New Career

Springboard offers free part-time courses to unemployed people leading to qualifications from certificate up to masters degree level in colleges all around Ireland.  There are also distance learning opportunities. Spring board offers a rapid turnaround in reskilling to those who already have a proven track record in the workplace, and who are far too young to retire. Around 6000 place on Springboard have been specifically tailored to fill the vacancies that are either already there or that employers expect to come on-stream sooner rather than later.

What types of courses are on offer?

Courses concentrate on sectors including communications technology, the biopharm-pharmachem industry, medical devices, the food and beverage sector, the green economy and international financial services.  A number of courses concentrating on on entrepreneurship are also included to encourage new business start-ups in the economy along with the associated job creation. 

How will participation affect my social welfare payment?

Another benefit of the Springboard initiative is that is allows participants to keep any social welfare payments that they are entitled to.  However participants must continue to meet the conditions attached to these payments including remaining available for work. However it should be noted that as Springboard funding is only available for part-time courses, participants will not be eligible for a Higher Education Grant or the Back to Education Allowance.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for a place on a Springboard course a person must:

• be unemployed for a period of at least 6 months prior to the course start date with a previous history of employment
• be in receipt of one of the following social welfare payments from the Department of Social Protection
  • Jobseekers Benefit
  • Jobseekers Allowance
  • One Parent Family Payment OR be signing for social insurance contribution credits and be actively seeking employment

Please note: In calculating the qualification period of 6 months unemployed, time in receipt of any of the following allowances will also be taken into account

• Disability Allowance
• Back to Education Allowance
• Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
• VTOS Training Allowance
• FAS Training Allowance

To be eligible for a Post-Graduate level (NFQ Level 9) Springboard Qualification applicants must have completed their degree (NFQ Level 8) qualification at least three years in advance of the NFQ Level 9 course

What happens if I get a job?

Should a participant on a Springboard course secure employment before completing the course, they will be facilitated to continue participating and complete the course in as flexible a way as possible.  If participants secure employment before the current academic year of the course ends they will not be required to pay fees for the remainder of the year.  If the duration of the course exceeds a year and participants who have secured employment wish to continue, fees will likely be payable and participants are advised at this point to seek more details from their course provider.

How do I apply?

Course providers do not accept applications for Springboard course directly.  All applications for Springboard courses must be made through www.bluebrick.ie/springboard. You can apply for up to fifteen courses, but must complete a separate application for each.  You will be invited to open a personal Bluebrick.ie user account when you apply, where you will enter your email address and a unique password. As part of the application course providers may ask for additional information such as a birth certificate, certificate(s) of previous qualifications and/or photographic ID.

What is the closing date for applications?

As many Springboard programmes are already filling up, those interested as asked to apply for their chosen course(s) as soon as possible.  Courses which are over-subscribed may stop accepting applications early.

Where do I get more information?

Visit: www.bluebrick.ie/springboard

 

 

Posted on 11/08/2011 by Suzanne Rowley, Information Officer