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City for working and learning
The employment academies provide tailored training to help people get jobs and help businesses with recruitment. An employment academy is a short to medium-term, intensive training programme for a group of like-minded people.
An academy can include:
Additional criteria may apply for specific programmes. Academies have been delivered in these sectors:
You can only participate in one employment academy in any three-year period. This allows more Belfast residents to access training and support for their career progression. Belfast Employment Academies can enable residents to continue their training and upskill in their career.
It important to choose carefully from the training academies available.
On occasions where compelling justification is provided, individuals may participate in a second Employment Academy in a different sector. This also applies to people who do not successfully complete an academy and want to re-apply for the same or another academy.
We are holding an information session on our Construction Employment Academy.
At this session, we'll explain the training provided for people interested in careers in construction.
The session will take place on Wednesday 18 November from 11am to 12 noon at the Training and Employment Centre, King Street.
It's free to attend and you don't need to register.
If you would like to attend an employment academy, register your interest.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
For information on our employment academies, email [email protected]
If you’re looking for job advice, redundancy support, or you want to embark on a new career, we have information available to help you.
Our Beauty and Salon Services Employment Academy offers a pathway for people wanting to build skills and confidence in the beauty industry.
This course lasts for two weeks with three half days per week training. The training will be delivered at The Women's Network Offices on Holywood Road, East Belfast.
You will receive hands-on technical training in:
You will also learn essential employability skills such as:
You will work closely with Go Succeed to support with developing your own business.
You will take part in interactive training workshops and training sessions with group activities designed to equip you with the skills and experience to work in the beauty industry.
You will be supported into employment through Go Succeed and The Women's Network with personalised aftercare support.
To be eligible for this academy, you should be:
To apply for this academy, select Beauty and Salon Services Employment Academy when you complete our online form.
Register an interest in Belfast Employment Academy (link opens in new window)
This Business Services Academy focuses on developing your customer service and communication skills, and developing IT skills with a focus on business administration.
The academy is delivered across five days in person in a city centre location. The times of the training are usually 9.30am to 4pm with a break for lunch each day which will be provided.
The context of the training across the five days varies depending on the employer's requirements. The training will focus on developing communication skills in the workplace, personal development and team building.
We will support you to secure employment and when you are employed.
Working in Business Services roles can vary but daily tasks may include:
Your working environment might be a hybrid working style with days in office and at home.
With experience, you could work on developing your skills and experience through additional training and taking on increasing levels of responsibility to move into a more senior role including:
Employability supports are provided during this academy and for six months after completion. This will focus on helping you with preparing for interview and supporting you with developing your interview skills.
The Business Services Employment Academy will equip you with the practical skills you need to get a job in Belfast’s growing professional and business sector. You’ll get support to develop skills and gain experience to move into open job roles with several employers in Belfast.
Job roles include:
We are currently recruiting for a Business Services Academy in partnership with a telecommunications employer. This academy aims to equip participants with the skills and confidence for careers in customer service and billing.
To apply to the academy, you must be:
To apply for this academy, you need to register your interest. Select Business Services Employment Academy when you complete the online form.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy (link opens in new window)
Our Employment Academies are designed in partnership with sectoral bodies and key employers from the Belfast region. The academies have already helped hundreds of Belfast residents to get employment. Academy training is delivered online and face-to-face.
Our childcare, playwork and health and social care employment academies aim to:
Our employment academies are demand-led and designed to meet employers' needs, while enabling participants to apply for vacant posts. All participants who complete the training are guaranteed a job interview.
Our Employment Academies are open to people living in the Belfast City Council area, who are currently unemployed, or working fewer hours than they would like. This includes people who are currently participating in a UK Shared Prosperity Funded programme.
Participants are invited to an informal interview to make sure they have the necessary qualities and values needed to work in the sector.
Successful participants attend a pre-academy session to make sure they have access to appropriate technology to enable them to attend. Participants will be informed of what they can expect throughout the academy.
Participants attend a five-day academy followed by aftercare support.
When successful participants begin employment, they will be supported by an employability mentor for six months. They follow a qualification pathway relevant to their job where applicable.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
You can also email [email protected].
Our Upskilling Employment Academies are in Childcare and Health and Social Care. These academies are for people who work at entry level positions, are keen to get a better job but do not have the qualifications or experience to progress to a supervisory or management role within their industry.
To apply, you must have your employer's support to participate on the programme. Employers must confirm that opportunities for upskilling progression are available within their organisation.
Upskilling qualifications are delivered online - weekly and monthly, depending on the qualification you're completing. Programme duration ranges from nine to 18 months.
The Upskilling Employment Academies are open to people living in the Belfast City Council area, who are employed and have the opportunity to gain a better job with their own employer.
To access a Level 3 qualification, you must confirm that you haven't already attained a qualification higher than Level 2 within the relevant field.
To access a Level 5 qualification, you must confirm that you have not already attained a qualification higher than Level 3 in the relevant field.
Participants will be supported by an employability mentor for the duration of the programme (12 months for Level 3 and up to 15 months for Level 5).
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
You can also email [email protected].
We are currently recruiting for our Classroom Assistant Employment Academy. The academy will give you the opportunity to enhance your experience, qualifications and career.
The benefits to you are:
There might be an opportunity to gain a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools qualification while you work.
To apply, you must live in Belfast and be unemployed or working fewer hours per week than you would like to. Experience is not essential.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
You can also email [email protected].
We are currently recruiting for our new Classroom Assistant Employment and Upskilling Academy. The academy will give you the opportunity to enhance your experience, qualifications, and career.
A Classroom Assistant supports teachers in the day-to-day running of the classroom, helping children with their learning, providing one-to-one support where needed, preparing materials, and creating a positive, safe, and inclusive learning environment. It’s a rewarding role for anyone passionate about helping children reach their full potential.
If you're seeking a meaningful career in local schools, this bespoke academy is the perfect place to start.
You will be required to undertake a minimum of 300 hrs practice in a classroom as part of the QCF L3 qualification.
The benefits to you are:
To apply, you must live in Belfast and be unemployed or working fewer hours per week than you would like to. Experience is not essential.
To apply for this academy, you need to register your interest. On our online form, select Classroom Assistant Employment and Upskilling Academy in the drop-down list.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
You can also email [email protected].
You can only take part in one academy so it is important you choose the best academy for you.
Our nine month Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy will give you the opportunity to enhance your experience, qualifications and career.
Benefit from workshops on topics including:
You’ll be working towards a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools 5329-31 (QCF).
To apply, you must:
Register for Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
Select Classroom Assistant Upskilling Level 3 on the drop-down list when registering.
This Classroom Assistant Higher Education Level qualification (OCN Level 4) provides training to support both existing classroom assistants and those seeking employment as a classroom assistant as they develop their skills, and will, where relevant, provide opportunities for future employment progression including supporting a pathway into teaching.
This course aims to build confidence within classroom support teams by focusing on the development of the child or young person’s wellbeing and social learning skills. Understanding how to mentor the individual with needs, while working with the teacher/tutor to develop new cognitive skills, is a core part of the course.
To be eligible for this academy you should be:
Ideally, you will have a relevant level three qualification or level two qualifications (for adults returning to education) with at least three years of relevant experience.
The course is studied over 10 months (September to June or January to December).
You are required to attend class one evening a week online – normally on Wednesday or Thursday, 4pm to 7pm.
One the last Saturday of each month there is an in-person class (at Stranmillis University College, Belfast) from 10am to 1pm.
The key modules you will cover are:
Employability supports are provided during this Academy and for six months after you have completed this Academy. This will focus on helping you with preparing for interview and supporting you with developing your interview skills.
To apply for this academy, you need to register your interest. On our online form, select Classroom Assistant Upskilling Level 4 in the drop-down list.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
You can only take part in one academy programme, so it is important you choose the best academy for you. Once we receive your expression of interest our delivery partner will be in touch with you.
The Construction Employment Academy is a training programme to help local people get the skills and qualifications needed for jobs in construction. The programme is delivered in partnership with local employers and training providers.
The programme offers practical training and support with writing CVs and preparing for interviews.
The academy is delivered over a one-week period and includes:
To be eligible, you must:
To apply for this academy, you need to register your interest online. Our delivery partner will contact you if you are eligible to take part.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
To apply, you must live in Belfast and be currently unemployed or under employed. Experience is not essential, but you must be fluent in Irish.
If you're interested in applying, email [email protected] or fill out the expression of interest form and a member of our team will contact you.
Register your interest in Irish Medium Classroom Assistant Employment Academy (link opens in new window)
The Irish Medium Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy gives you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills and improve your job prospects within the Irish Medium Education sector.
If you enrol on to the academy, you will work towards achieving a NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualification in Supporting Teaching and Learning. The course and subsequent assessments, will be completed via the medium of Irish.
To be eligible for the Irish Medium Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy, you must be a fluent Irish speaker, live in Belfast, and have experience of working or volunteering in a nursery, primary or post-primary school.
To apply to the Irish Medium Classroom Assistant Employment Academy, select Irish Medium Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy on our registration form, or email [email protected].
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
The Irish Medium working with children Level 5 qualification gives you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills and improve your job prospects in the Irish Medium Education sector.
If you enrol in the academy, you will work towards achieving a NCFE CACHE Level 5 qualification in ‘Supporting children’s care, learning and development (Management) NI’. The course and subsequent assessments will be completed via the medium of Irish.
To be eligible for the Irish Medium Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy, you must be a fluent Irish speaker, live in Belfast, and have experience of working in a level 3 role in a nursery, primary or post-primary school. Holding a Level 3 qualification is also desirable.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
We are currently recruiting for our Self-employment Childminding Employment Academy.
The Self-employment Childminding Academy aims to provide support and mentoring for people who want to become a childminder or an approved home child carer.
The academy will include:
To apply, you must be aged 18 years old or over and:
We also offer additional support for people whose first language is:
This additional support includes:
To apply for this academy, you need to register your interest. On our online form, select Self-employment Childminding Academy in the drop-down list.
Register for Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
Our Technology Employment Academy is a pathway to a career in technology, including a guaranteed job interview. This academy will provide people with the fundamental skills in technology and employability through classroom and on-the-job learning with recruiting employers.
We are not currently recruiting for a Technology Employment Academy.
Our Transport Employment Academy is a training programme in partnership with transport employers across Northern Ireland. Over 80 per cent of previous participants have found employment as drivers.
We are accepting applications to our:
People selected for training will take part in the programme to give them the licences, tests and other skills needed to begin a career in transport, including theory tests and practical tests for HGV and LGV.
The programme will also provide sector-specific support including:
People who complete the employment academy will be guaranteed a job interview or the support needed to become self-employed.
To be eligible to participate, you must:
Our Transport Academy can last between six and 18 months.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme
Select Transport and logistics from the dropdown on our online form.
Belfast Labour Market Partnership may fund some of these academies.
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