Pay
Report
Apply
It looks like you're using IE11...
This browser offers limited functionality on our website. We recommend you use the latest version of Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox.
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, intensive training programme for a group of 15 people maximum.
An academy can include:
Additional criteria may apply for specific programmes. Academies have been delivered in these sectors:
If you are interested in attending an employment academy, you can register your interest.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
For information on our employment academies, email economicdevelopment@belfastcity.gov.uk
We want to help support you on your job journey - whether you’re looking for job advice, redundancy support, or you want to embark on a new career. We have information available to help you.
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 across the city.
Job roles include business administration and operations, customer and client services, HR and finance.
Everyone who completes the academy will be guaranteed a job interview.
The academy is open to people who are currently unemployed or underemployed.
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
Our Upskilling Employment Academies are in childcare services 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.
Academy provision is delivered by online platforms. Upskilling qualifications are delivered weekly and monthly depending on the qualification you're undertaking. Programme duration ranges from nine to 12 months.
The Health and Social Care 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 4 or 5 qualification, you must confirm that you haven't already attained a qualification higher than Level 3 within 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 contact us by email developmente@belfastcity.gov.uk or call 028 9027 0482.
We are currently recruiting for our Classroom Assistant Employment Academy which starts in January 2023. 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 currently unemployed. Experience is not essential.
If you're interested in applying, email academy@people-1st.co.uk and a job mentor will contact you.
We’re striving to ensure that those out of work or under-employed can access the necessary training, insights and skills needed for a job in the construction sector.
To be eligible, you must be out of work or working less than 16 hours a week and priority will be given if you are economically inactive. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to the training and have the desire to work in the construction sector.
Applicants selected for training will take part in a week-long academy to provide them with certificates and other skills needed for entry level work in construction.
To apply:
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
Our Health and Social Care Employment Academies are designed in partnership with sectoral bodies and key employers from the Belfast region. The academies have already helped over 348 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.
The Health and Social Care Employment Academies are open to people living in the Belfast City Council area, currently unemployed or working fewer than 16 hours per week. This includes people who are on a current European Social 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 contact us by email developmente@belfastcity.gov.uk or call 028 9027 0482
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 gaelchursai@gmail.com 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 gaelchursai@gmail.com.
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)
Our Leisure Employment Academy is a training programme run in partnership with GLL.
While we own and maintain leisure centres across the city, these are run on our behalf by GLL under the ‘Better’ brand.
People selected to take part in this free academy will get the qualifications, skills, and experience they need to begin a career as a lifeguard.
They’ll also benefit from sector-specific support including:
And on completing the employment academy, they’ll be guaranteed a job interview.
To be eligible to participate, you must:
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme
Our Tech Employment Academy is a new and exciting pathway to a career in technology, including a guaranteed job interview.
This academy will provide you with the fundamental skills in technology disciplines and employability through classroom and on-the-job learning with participating employers to help you gain experience in the workplace.
On successful completion, you’ll be invited for a job interview, giving you the opportunity for a career in the Tech sector.
People with tech skills are in high demand: the UK’s leading companies increasingly use technology to manage their activities, market their products and communicate with their customers to increase productivity.
To apply, you must:
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
You can also contact us by email developmente@belfastcity.gov.uk
Find information on our first Belfast Tech Employment Academy delivered in partnership with Citi and Allstate – providing a new and exciting pathway to a career in technology, including a guaranteed job interview. Our tech academy provides you with fundamental skills in product management and employability through classroom and on-the-job learning to help you gain experience in the workplace.
Our Transport Employment Academy is a training programme in partnership with transport employers in Belfast. This is the fourth year of the academy. Over 80 per cent of previous participants 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:
Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)
You can also contact us by email developmente@belfastcity.gov.uk
Belfast Labour Market Partnership may fund some of these academies.
Read aloud