Training and support

This academy will equip you with the practical skills and experience you need to apply for a job as a Business Support Clerk at Belfast City Council.

Once you have completed the academy you will need to pass a skills test to be shortlisted for an interview for the Business Support Clerk role.

We are currently inviting expressions of interest for our next academy, due to start in early April 2025. 

Eligibility

To take part in the academy you must provide evidence to support eligibility to work in the UK and be:

• unemployed or been economically inactive for at least 6 months; or
• work less than 16 hours per week; or
• engaged on zero-hour contracts or in casual work.

(The criteria in the three bullet points above does not apply to those who have a disability).

How to apply for an Employment Academy

Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)

You can also email [email protected].

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.

What an Employment Academy involves

Our childcare, playwork and Health and Social Care Employment Academies aim to:

• motivate participants and support them to develop the skills needed to successfully compete for and secure employment
• address employment barriers facing participants, including development of interpersonal skills and confidence-building
• align and add value to any complementary support, such as help with CV-writing, mock interviews and sourcing supports on behalf of participants to remove individual barriers to participation

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.

Eligibility for an Employment Academy

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.

Recruitment and screening

Participants are invited to an informal interview to make sure they have the necessary qualities and values needed to work in the sector.

Pre-academy information session

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.

Academy duration

Participants attend a five-day academy followed by aftercare support.

Employment offer

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.

How to apply for an Employment Academy

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, Playwork 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.

What’s involved in an Upskilling Academy?

Upskilling qualifications are delivered online - weekly and monthly, depending on the qualification you're completing. Programme duration ranges from nine to 18 months.

Eligibility for an upskilling employment academy

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.

Upskilling qualifications

• Diploma in Health and Social Care Level 3 or Level 5
• Diploma in Children's Care Learning and Development  Level 3 or Level 5
• Diploma in Playwork Level 3 or Level 5

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).

How to apply to an upskilling employment academy

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.

What a Classroom Assistant Employment Academy offers

The benefits to you are:

• an opportunity to improve your employability
• an introduction to the sector and insight into range of job roles available
• one-to-one mentoring support for the duration of the programme
• guaranteed interview with a local employer

There might be an opportunity to gain a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools qualification while you work.

Eligibility for a Classroom Assistant Employment Academy

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.

How to apply to a Classroom Assistant Employment Academy

Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)

You can also email [email protected].

This employment academy is for people who are Deaf or people with hearing loss and are fluent in British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL) as their primary language.

What the academy involves

The Classroom Assistant Employment Academy for Deaf people or people with hearing loss is a five-day academy.

Qualifications and learning

You'll complete a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (QCF 5329-31) over 12 months approximately.

Benefits of the academy.

By joining the academy, you will:

• improve your employability and job prospects.
• gain an introduction to the education sector and insights into various job roles.
• receive one-to-one mentoring throughout the programme.

Eligibility for the academy

To apply, you must:

• be fluent in British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language
• live in Belfast
• be unemployed or working fewer hours a week than you would like.

Register your interest in the academy

To register your interest in this employment academy, use our online form.

Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy (link opens in new window)

Our nine month Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy will give you the opportunity to enhance your experience, qualifications and career.

Benefits

Benefit from workshops on topics including:

• health and safety
• safeguarding
• school policies and procedures
• learning support strategies
• promoting positive behaviour
• equality and diversity
• assessment strategies and professional development as well as one-to-one mentoring and input from guest speakers.

Qualifications and learning

You’ll be working towards a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools 5329-31 (QCF).

Eligibility

To apply, you must:

• live in Belfast
• work as a Classroom Assistant (temporary contract)
• have Maths and English at GCSE or equivalent or willing to gain these qualifications.

Registration

Register for Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)

Select Classroom Assistant Upskilling Level 3 on the drop-down list when registering.

We’re working with Stranmillis University College to provide the Classroom Assistant Up-skilling Employment Academy. It will support candidates (existing classroom assistants or those seeking employment as a classroom assistant with relevant experience) at Higher Education Level (equivalent to Level 4).

The academy will support both new and experienced practitioners as they develop their higher-level skills, offering learning and development, as well as opportunities for future employment progression.

It 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 or tutor to develop new cognitive skills, is a core part of the course.

This academy will be equally beneficial to newly qualified classroom assistants or more experienced practitioners who want to develop and enhance their skills.

Eligibility

You must be a Belfast resident, working as a classroom assistant or aspiring to employment in this field, and have the desire to learn and develop within a classroom assistant role.  You may be working in any region of Northern Ireland.

Ideally, you will have a relevant Level 3 or Level 2 qualification (for adults returning to education) with at least three years of relevant experience, to undertake the course.

Registration

Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)

Select Classroom Assistant Upskilling Level 4 on the drop-down list when registering.

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.

Eligibility for Construction Employment Academies

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.

These include:

• CSR card
• First Aid training
• Manual handling training
• Health and safety training
• Interview skills

How to apply to a Construction Employment Academy

To apply:

Register your interest in Belfast Employment Academy Programme (link opens in new window)

The Irish Medium Classroom Assistant Employment Academy offers:

• an opportunity to improve your employability
• an introduction to the sector and insight into range of job roles available
• one-to-one mentoring support for the duration of the programme
• guaranteed interview with a local employer
• potential to gain a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools qualification while you work

Eligibility

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.

How to apply

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.

Eligibility

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.

Register

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.

Eligibility

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)

What does the Language Support Academy (Medics) offer?

Our Language Support Academy (Medics) Academy aims to provide support and mentoring for refugee doctors who want to practice in the UK.  All doctors who wish to work in the UK must be registered with and hold a licence to practise via the GMC (General Medical Council).  Doctors must also have their qualifications verified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (EPFMG) – Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC).

The academy will include all or parts of the following (depending on need, verification checks etc and assessment of your eligibility):

• Occupational English Test – assessment, preparation and support - you must achieve at least Grade B in all four sub-tests of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking to be able to register with GMC
• verification of qualifications via EPFMG EPIC
• support and preparation to take PLAB1 and PLAB2 examinations
• Jobsearch, work placements and career support

Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and you may be assigned to a waiting list.

Eligibility for the Language Support Academy (Medics)

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• be a refugee, asylum seeker or migrant worker
• be a Doctor who has qualified outside the UK. (We will verify your qualification equivalency to UK standards)
• be able to have a reasonable command of English to undertake OET preparation and an examination.
• be able to commit to a programme of intense training and undertake a job placement where appropriate.
• register your interest - on our online form, select Language Support Academy (Medics) on the drop-down list, complete form and submit.

Registration

Register your interest in our Language Support Academy (link opens in new window)

We are currently recruiting for our Self-employment Childminding Employment Academy.

What a Self-employment Childminding Academy offers

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:

• an awareness workshop to develop your understanding of the Childminding and Approved Home Child Care sector
• free mandatory and certified training (Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding and Health and Safety)
• one year’s membership of the Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA)
• support with childminding registration process
• one-to-one mentoring and business support

Eligibility for a Self-employment Childminding Academy

To apply, you must be aged 18 years old or over and:

• live in Belfast
• be able to communicate in English
• be unemployed or working fewer hours than you would like
• have the right to work in the UK

We also offer additional support for people whose first language is:

• Arabic;
• Bengali;
• Ukrainian;
• Irish; and
• for people who are Deaf or have hearing loss.

This additional support includes:

• the provision of all policies and procedures in the participant's native language
• the use of an interpreter during the training to make sure that participants fully understand all aspects of the course

Apply for a Self-employment Childminding Academy

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 your interest in 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.

On successful completion, individuals will be invited to a job interview.

People with tech skills are in high demand, with most companies increasingly using technology to manage their activities, market their products and communicate with their customers.

We are not currently recruiting for this Technology Employment Academy. We anticipate that recruitment activity will take place later in 2025, when further employer commitment has been secured.

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:

• Lorry Driver Transport Employment Academy to fill vacancies in haulage companies
• Bus Driving Employment Academies in partnership with Translink and the Education Authority

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:

• medical fees
• AccessNI fees where required
• theory support and tests
• practical lessons
• test fees
• licensing fees
• travel and subsistence
• CPC where required
• application form support and interview skills where appropriate

People who complete the employment academy will be guaranteed a job interview or the support needed to become self-employed.

Eligibility for a Transport Employment Academy

To be eligible to participate, you must:

• be living in Belfast;
• have a full UK driving licence;
• be unemployed, or working less than 16 hours per week;
• want to work as a lorry or bus driver; and
• be available to complete training as required and move into employment as soon as possible.

Duration of Transport Academy

Our Transport Academy can last between six and 18 months.

How to apply to a Transport Employment Academy

Register your interest in our 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.