EPIC Futures NI, a Local Policy Innovation Partnership led by Ulster University, has today announced funding awards totalling £250,000 to organisations and partnerships completing research in skills and employability as part of the Policy Commissioning Call.
The partnership brings together academia, policymakers, business, community and voluntary sector to tackle challenges in the skills and employability landscape. Together, we aim to create evidence-based solutions to fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland.
EPIC Futures is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Innovate UK, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The secondary funding pot was awarded following the EPIC Futures NI’s Phase 1 Policy Commissioning Call Pilot.
Each project will receive up to £30,000 to build a robust evidence base exploring key themes that can contribute towards a more inclusive and sustainable labour market in Northern Ireland
The insights from the funding will be available by December 2025. The organisations offered conditional funding, and their project themes are.
- Queen’s University Belfast – Childcare and female economic inactivity in Northern Ireland
- Horizons Research – Exploring models of supported employment for people with disabilities
- Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland – Identifying the financial and non-financial barriers to recruiting economically inactive persons facing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
- Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore (CASC) – Green Abilities Northern Ireland (NI). A pilot seeking to understand and develop a programme of support to help more neurodiverse (ND) people into well-paid jobs requiring green skills
- Ulster University – Illuminating the multi-dimensional drivers of place-based economic inactivity and their significance for local (NI) policymaking
- People First International – Overcoming barriers to inclusive recruitment in Northern Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sectors
- Locus Management – Stable, rewarding work benefits health
- Stranmillis University College – Transform: Exploring pathways and barriers for young people with disabilities transitioning from education to employment in Northern Ireland
Professor Kristel Miller, Director of EPIC Futures NI and Professor of Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development at Ulster University Business School, announced the funding, commenting:
“We are delighted to award £250,000 to a variety of outstanding projects through the first phase of our Policy Commissioning Fund. These initiatives represent a diverse and innovative range of approaches to understand and tackle systemic barriers to fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland.
“The insights generated will help inform meaningful policy responses and long-term solutions. At EPIC Futures NI, we believe collaboration is key to addressing economic inactivity and ensuring everyone has fair access to skills and employment. We are excited to work with our new partners to shape a more inclusive, dynamic economy for Northern Ireland.”
Professor Miller also extended thanks to the many partners who contributed to the commissioning process:
“This funding call would not be possible without the invaluable input from government departments, academics, businesses, and voluntary and community organisations. From identifying policy gaps to reviewing applications and promoting the opportunity, your support is central to our mission to create lasting change.”
The Phase 2 Policy Commissioning Call is expected to launch in the summer of 2025 with a September submission date.
Keep up to date by following EPIC Futures on LinkedIn or visiting the website to sign up to the mailing list at epicfuturesni.org.