It involves 4 schemes and a number of training courses aimed at increasing employment in Gozo:-
Graduate Scheme – This will provide unemployed graduates with employment opportunities with Gozitan host companies. The participants will gain training and work experience. This is a scheme that aims to target graduate unemployment which is a specific employment problem in Gozo.
Foster Entrepreneurial Skills – This will provide the necessary stimulus for those unemployed who wish to set up their own business. The scheme will enhance the Gozitan entrepreneurial spirit.
Support Small Businesses – This scheme will help small businesses to identify the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) training needs and draw up a training plan for each company.
Courses in Tourism related areas – This training will target employed and unemployed people who would like to acquire new skills to improve their job prospects in food preparation and production, house keeping, bar tendering and customer care, that is, the tourism industry which is the main pillar of the Gozitan economy.
Who will benefit?
The schemes and the courses aim to provide more employment opportunity for the Gozitan people and more specifically provide them with employment opportunities in Gozo.
How much is being allocated to the project?
€282,191
How is the project progressing?
The selected graduates have been employed with the host companies for more than a year now. The Support to Small Businesses Scheme will commence shortly. As for the third scheme, that for fostering entrepreneurship, the training sessions of the first intake have been concluded and participants are preparing their business plan. If approved, participants will receive a grant to assist them in starting up their own business. The second intake for this scheme has also started. The first set of courses in the tourism-related area, has been completed in May 2006, the second intake started in July and the third intake is scheduled for October 2006.
Structural Funds Programme for Malta 2004-2006.
Project part-financed by the European Union - European Regional Development Fund.
Co-financing rate: 75% EU:25% Government of Malta.
