The results of the Local Employment Partnership’s work were reviewed in Mykolaiv and the «Employers of the Year» were honoured

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in the Mykolaiv region’. Photo: NikVesti

A panel discussion entitled «Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Regiont» took place in Mykolaiv on 9 April. During the event, Mykolaiv entrepreneurs were awarded the ‘Employer of the Year 2025’ distinction.

This was reported by a correspondent for NikVesti.

The panel discussion presented the results of the first year of joint work by the partners of the Local Employment Partnership (LEP) and discussed further priorities for its development.

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Aida Lindmeier, Director of the International Labour Organisation’s Office in Ukraine, noted that the ILO had initiated the creation of this partnership and developed it together with the participants. At the same time, further development depends on effective cooperation between government bodies, business and civil society organisations.

«Among the key results are labour market research, new vocational training programmes, support for entrepreneurs and the strengthening of vocational education systems. It is important that decisions are based on data and partnership mechanisms that have been integrated into regional development programmes. This demonstrates that a global development partnership is not merely a project, but a tool for long-term structural impact,» emphasised Aida Lindmeier.

The Local Employment Partnership in the Mykolaiv region is being developed as part of the ILO project «Supporting Job Creation in the Mykolaiv and Odesa Regions and the Development of Social Dialogue», funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Aida Lindmeier, Director of the International Labour Organisation Office in Ukraine. Photo: NikVesti

Jakob Hansen, Head of the Danish Embassy Office in Ukraine, added that Mykolaiv faces a number of challenges, including a shortage of contractors and skilled workers, which is linked to issues in vocational education.

«We face certain challenges; we have already begun the full-scale reconstruction of the Mykolaiv region. But we lack good contractors, and these contractors lack staff. Why is there a shortage of staff? Because there is a lack of education and vocational training, which is essential for this full-scale reconstruction to continue and be in the hands of the people of Mykolaiv and Ukrainians themselves. We need to talk about all this and showcase the results we have already achieved,» he noted.

He added that one of the results is a partnership with the International Labour Organisation, local business associations, the employment centre and educational institutions.

Head of the Danish Embassy Office in Ukraine, Jakob Hansen. Photo: NikVesti

The Ukrainian Association of Business Support Centres has brought together various branches of government and business in a partnership. Its head and chair of the Local Employment Partnership’s Coordination Council, Artem Vashchylenko, emphasised that the local employment partnership is, first and foremost, a tool for cooperation that unites different parties around a common goal. According to him, this is a format for interaction where participants can set aside political or corporate interests and work together to solve labour market problems.

«It is not only during wartime, when business, the authorities, employers and the public sector work together, that we manage to change the situation. Given the challenges facing the community, the Local Employment Partnership is precisely the tool that has proven effective in the Mykolaiv region,» he noted.

Beneficiaries also spoke at the event, presenting their success stories. Thanks to the grants, residents of Mykolaiv were able to start their own businesses and undergo training for professional retraining.

Artem Vashchylenko, Chair of the Coordination Council of the Local Employment Partnership. Photo: NikVesti

Anna Dibrova from the town of Novyi Buh has set up her own farm for breeding Australian red-clawed crayfish. She said she plans to expand the business and seek new resources for development.

«We’re working on continuing to develop and expand. We already have the premises for this. We just need the resources. I think the resources will come through; I’ll find some other grants. I also want to sort out the electricity issue, so I’m planning to switch to solar panels,» said Anna Dibrova.

Heorhii Odintsov, in the village of Stara Bohdanivka, has his own vineyards and has received a grant to develop his business.

«This is my life; this is where I work. I’ve been in horticulture and viticulture for 17 years now, and I didn’t want to give it all up. We want to carry on, because we simply can’t do without it — without the grapes,» says the man.

Following the presentation of the stories, Mykolaiv entrepreneurs who have made a significant contribution to the region’s economic development and job creation were awarded the «Employer of the Year 2025» accolades.

Among those honoured were Marsana LLC, JSC «Equator Plant», Zolota Nyva 2019 Private Enterprise, Iryna Hudym (sole trader), Mykolaivelektrotrans Municipal Enterprise, Mykolaiv Thermal Power Plant Private Joint-Stock Company, and Ekotrans LLC. Other representatives of the region’s business community also received awards.

The Local Employment Partnership in the Mykolaiv region is being developed as part of the ILO project «Supporting job creation and the development of social dialogue in the Mykolaiv and Odesa regions», funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in the Mykolaiv region’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Region’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

Panel discussion: ‘Results of the first year of the Local Employment Partnership in Mykolaiv Oblast’. Photo: NikVesti

It should be noted that Vitalii Kim, head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, believes that Ukraine needs to change its approach to lending to large businesses affected by the war. According to him, these problems are systemic for enterprises in frontline regions.

Earlier , members of the Mykolaiv City Council did not support a package of four land-related issues concerning the Ekotrans oil plant. The company had attempted to resolve land issues on Proektna Street — to formalise plot boundaries, secure land on lease for part of the infrastructure, and establish an easement on part of another plot.