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Investing In Limavady Borough

Home » Working » Investing In Limavady

Information correct at time of writing - June 2008

Demographics – headline statistics

The area has a young population.  With an estimated (2004) population of around 34,147, the average age in the Borough is 33.3 years, as opposed to 35.8 years forNorthern Ireland.

25.6% of the population is under 16 years of age, in comparison to 23.6% for Northern Ireland as a whole.  This equates to around 8740 young people in the Borough. 

The projected growth for the Borough will take the population to around 37,000 by 2017.  At this rate of projection, the under 16 population will rise to around 9200. 

Unemployment

As of August 2008, the number of claimants in the Borough was around 809.  This is around 3% of the workforce, in comparison to 2.3% across Northern Ireland.  By comparison, 2.5% of Coleraine’s working age population claimed unemployment benefit in March, as did 4.1% of Derry ’s working age population. 

The Seagate plant in Limavady will close in October 2008.  Around 250 of the posts in the plant are from the local area.  It is expected that because of the generous package being offered by Seagate, most of these workers will not be available until that closure time.

These figures do not include the percentage of the local population in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, which is 10% (compared to 14% in Derryand 9% in Coleraine). 

Wages

The last available Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) which gives a breakdown to local government district was undertaken in 2006.  The mean gross weekly wage of all persons in the Borough was £319.40.  This equates to around £16,600 per annum.

TheNorthern Ireland mean was £381.70, (£402 for 2007).  In Coleraine, the mean was £355, and in Derry , £330. 

Education and Potential Recruitment

The borough is well served at all levels of education. 

Limavady town is situated midway between the two campuses of the University of Ulster at Coleraine & Magee, each only 30 minutes drive away.  Research and teaching facilities here include: computing and information technology, medical laboratory science, electronics, surface science and energy studies. 

Limavady College of Further & Higher Education is now a part of the North West Regional College, which concentrates on providing vocational courses and training, often designed to meet specific industrial needs.

The College’s Limavady Campus will cater for around 7500 places each year in a range of subjects, and can “train to order”.  

Other training facilities in the area include:

·       North WestLife Long Learning Association

·       A4E (which delivers Pathways to Work for Lone Parents, and Training for Success for 16-24 year olds, preparing them for the world of work)

The Borough is also served by 20 Primary Schools covering all the sectors, 3 Secondary Schools, 1 Grammar School, and 2 SpecialSchools .  The Borough also has a successful Extended Schools Programme. 

Almost 60% of Limavady’s school leavers attain grade C or higher at GCSE, on a par with Northern Ireland average. 

The borough also has a proactive Jobs and Benefits Office, which has been selected as one of only four in Northern Ireland to pilot the Employment Service Delivery Model.  This means that there are employment initiatives available in Limavady that are more advantageous to employers than in other areas.  It can organise jobs fairs and client meetings “to order”. 

The Office also engages in several outreach programmes and works closely with Council, the local Enterprise Agency and other local bodies to ensure that local people are given the best possible deal.  The Office has already secured time-based concessions for those in Seagate who may be eligible for STEPS programme, e.g., a reduction in eligibility time from 6 months to zero. 

Transportation

The top three Local Government Districts where the working age population of Limavady worked were:

1.    Limavady ( 64.1%);

2.    Derry( 20.3%); and

3.    Coleraine ( 7.1%).

There is a readily available locally-based workforce available.  In addition, because of its rural nature, there is a higher than average car ownership, and transportation links in the urban area are very good. 

The main is serviced by a bypass which links it to Coleraine and Derry .  There are ongoing proposals for improving the rail linkages through a loop at Ballykelly, and the Dungiven bypass is now moving towards becoming a reality. 

The town is only 12 miles from City of Derry Airport, and 50 minutes from Belfast International Airport .  Belfast city centre is around 80 minutes away. 

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