Economy Minister announces £600,000 funding to boost access to apprenticeships
Date published:
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced funding of up to £600,000 for projects to increase access to apprenticeships.
The Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund will provide funding for six projects that will trial ways to remove barriers to apprenticeships for women, people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged areas.
The Minister said: “I am very pleased to announce funding for six projects through the Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund.
“While we have more than 13,000 apprentices across the north, women, people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged backgrounds are underrepresented.
“I am committed to removing obstacles and making it much easier for these groups of people to take up an apprenticeship.”
The Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund was opened for applications in October 2024. Funding of up to £100,000 over 18 months will go to six successful applicant organisations from across the business, community and education sectors.
Under the gender theme:
- #NotJustForBoys Pathways+ – Women’s Tec
- Software for All – Workplus
Under the disability theme:
- Positive Transitions – St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook
- Disability Apprenticeships Coleraine – Northern Regional College
Under the place theme:
- Bridging Futures Programme – North West Regional College
- Overcome, Thrive and Develop Programme – MCare NI
The Minister added: “Each organisation receiving funding will deliver pilot schemes that will test new and innovative ways to boost access to apprenticeships.
“This collaborative, co-design approach across the education, community and business sectors is crucial and I look forward to following the progress of these projects over the next 18 months.”
Concluding, the Minster said: “Not only will these projects help people to thrive and reach their full potential, but by developing new pathways to apprenticeships they will also help make our workforce more diverse and inclusive whilst increasing the supply of skills to employers right across the north, in line with my economic vision.”
More information on the Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund is available on the DfE website.
Notes to editors:
1. Photo caption: Pictured at the announcement of projects successful in applying for funding through DfE's Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund are (l-r) Marion McMahon, St Paul's High School, Bessbrook; Lynn Carvill, Women's Tec; Dr Catherine O'Mullan, North West Regional College; Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Richard Kirk, Workplus; Gabrielle Quinn, Northern Regional College; and Dr Andrew Kerr, Oberon Training and Development.
2. The Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund was open for applications from 30 October 2024 to 6 December 2024, with 25 applications received.
3. The Department may take photographs and videos at announcements and events to publicise its work. Photographs, interviews, videos or other recordings may be issued to media organisations for publicity purposes or used in promotional material, including in publications, newspapers, magazines, other print media, on television, radio and electronic media (including social media and the internet). Photographs and videos will also be stored on the Department’s internal records management system. The Department will keep the photographs and recordings for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which they have been obtained. The Department’s Privacy Policy is available on our website.
4. To keep up to date with news from the Department for the Economy you can follow us on the following social media channels:
- X – @Economy_NI
- Facebook – @DeptEconomyNI
- Instagram – economy_ni
- LinkedIn – Department for the Economy NI
5. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk
6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.