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Date: 23 January 2026
Belfast City Council has teamed up with the Department for Communities, the Department for the Economy and the Belfast Labour Market Partnership to match jobseekers in the city with opportunities via the JobStart Scheme, leading to apprenticeships with local employers.
The JobStart Apprenticeship Pathway is based on the council’s successful Employment Academy model which helps develop skills in specific job sectors and has supported over 2,500 people into work over the last five years.
Successful applicants will receive training and support from the council during February, leading to a six or nine-month JobStart opportunity.
Once successfully completed, they will be offered an apprenticeship position with their employer, with most positions based in the construction, technology and business services industries.
The council is hosting a Jobs Fair event at 2 Royal Avenue from 10am on Wednesday 28 January for anyone keen to take part.
No registration is required, and participants will be able to hear more about the training available during February, which will include interview and time management skills, putting together a CV and more.
Work coaches from the Department for Communities will also be on hand to check eligibility and offer advice and assistance. Attendees can meet with employers to hear more about JobStart Apprenticeship Pathway roles now available in Belfast.
“This is a great opportunity for anyone who is out of work or finding it difficult to take the next step to call in and see if this is the right fit for them,” said Councillor Ian McLaughlin, Chair of the council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee.
“Our Belfast Labour Market Partnership-funded Employment Academies have proven to be really popular in providing tailored training for jobseekers to develop their employability skills and to support employers with recruiting new staff.
“We’re always looking for new avenues for our model so we can link more people to good jobs and, following feedback from employers in the construction sector, this programme will help provide potential candidates with the skills and confidence they need to connect to careers in growth sectors.”
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: “JobStart is the biggest employment scheme of its kind, reaching more people and employers than any previous employability programme.
“The JobStart Apprenticeship Pathway opens yet another avenue for jobseekers to enter and thrive in the labour market through bespoke training and development opportunities. I would encourage attendance at this one-of-a-kind event where you can talk to our expert team and engage with employers face-to-face.”
The JobStart scheme has been designed to support working age benefit claimants who are unemployed or economically inactive and require assistance to work into the workplace.
For more info on the JobStart Apprenticeship Pathway programme and the Jobs Fair event, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/jobsfair