Council increasing inclusivity with Belfast Business Promise

Date: 27 Feb 2025

Over 50 organisations have signed up to the Belfast Business Promise, an accreditation scheme designed to deliver fair pay, good jobs and secure contracts. The initiative developed by Belfast City Council shares good practice to help create a better, more inclusive city. The Belfast Business Promise aims to create a community of businesses and organisations who want to hold themselves to high standards by adopting business practices which deliver added value to society through employment, procurement and working in partnership with communities. Organisations signed up to the Belfast Business Promise can achieve three membership tiers: Supporters, Members and Ambassadors.

On Thursday 27 February 2025, participating organisations gathered at Belfast City Hall to celebrate those achieving ‘Member’ and ‘Ambassador’ accreditation. The event was a valuable opportunity to hear from Belfast Business Promise organisations who have been cultivating responsible and inclusive business practises including Advice NI, Labour Relations Agency and the Department of Economy, which celebrated achieving 'Ambassador' accreditation. 

Belfast City Council announced their commitment to support organisations signed up to and joining the Belfast Business Promise by providing a two-year JAM Card (Just A Minute) bursary. Up to 80 organisations over the next 18 months will be supported to become JAM card friendly. This will assist more businesses and places throughout the city to become more inclusive for individuals with disabilities and communication challenges. A JAM Card allows people with a learning difficulty, autism or communication barrier to tell others they need ‘Just A Minute’ discreetly and easily by showing the card at participating locations.

The High Sheriff Councillor Fiona McAteer explains: “The Belfast Business Promise is a key part of Belfast City Council’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable economic growth which is at the core of the Belfast Agenda, the city’s community plan. Organisationally, we’ve achieved Member status and are well on our way to achieve Ambassador status by summer 2025. There’s undeniable potential to deliver lasting positive social impact through a procurement policy which supports social enterprises, co-operatives and suppliers who have sound ethical practices.

This month marks two years since Belfast City Council became the first Real Living Wage council employer in Northern Ireland. Our Social Value Procurement Policy extends this to our contractors to pay the Real Living Wage to employees working on council contracts. Such steps deliver meaningful impact for the Belfast workforce, ensuring prosperity for our people and our city.”

Department for the Economy Permanent Secretary Ian Snowden said: “The Belfast Business Promise aligns extremely well with the Economy Minister’s Economic Vision, which includes the goal of delivering good jobs for everyone.  By focusing on issues like the Real Living Wage, ending the use of zero-hour contracts, flexible working arrangements and reducing exploitative employment arrangements, the Promise can help achieve that goal. 

“A key priority within the Economic Vision also includes decarbonising the economy.  The Belfast Business Promise encourages organisations to think about low or zero emissions technology, supporting the circular economy and creating climate action plans.  These are just some of the areas in which forward thinking businesses can make a contribution to achieving the Minister’s Economic Vision.

“I’m delighted DfE has achieved ‘Ambassador’ status and I would encourage businesses and other public sector bodies within the Belfast region to strongly consider this initiative.”

For more information and to register your interest in the Belfast Business Promise scheme go to: Belfast Business Promise.

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  Belfast-Business-Promise-Learning-Day-2025-(Landscape) (1.68 MB)