Stormont should 'take on interns'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8209466.stm

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Northern Ireland's employment minister has said government departments should take on paid interns.

Sir Reg Empey said the move would help graduates who were struggling to find work in the economic downturn.

He wants all the government departments in Stormont to take on interns.

"It would mean at least there would be some opportunity for a few hundred people to come into a department and to actually experience what goes on in there," he said.

"Because a large number of our workforce are actually in the public sector so I think we have to make that sort of contribution."

There are 11 devolved government departments and the civil services employs about 25,000 people.

He said his department would create about 10 positions which would be geographically spread across Northern Ireland.

His department is also funding 35-week graduate conversion courses to help those with a degree get a diploma in disciplines where there has been a shortage of employees, such as the IT sector.

Those signing up will get £120 a week plus £200 at the end of the first term and £300 on successful completion of the course.