Social Mobility initiative Northern Ireland

A chance for CIPD Members and colleagues to be a part of this project and contribute to the priorities that will turn into collective action The initiative will bring together employers, business networks, education providers, community organisations and young people to understand where pathways into employment currently break down, and where practical, collective action could make the greatest difference. The programme builds on OAHA’s place-based work in Wales and Leeds. In both areas, the approach has been to map the existing employment and support ecosystem, listen to young people early, identify gaps and difficult “handoffs”, and bring partners together around a small number of priorities that can translate into credible action. During this initial session, we will: • Introduce the initiative and the place-based approach. • Explore the particular social mobility and employment challenges facing Northern Ireland. • Hear what employers and other organisations are already doing. • Identify gaps, difficult transitions and areas requiring deeper discovery. • Discuss how CIPD members and other partners could contribute insight, evidence, relationships or practical support. • Begin building a coalition of organisations interested in shaping and supporting the work. This will be the start of a wider programme of stakeholder engagement, evidence gathering, ecosystem mapping and youth insight. Our focus will be on the critical transitions from school into further education, training and employment, while recognising that people’s journeys into good work are not always linear. Whether your organisation is already delivering activity, has evidence or insight to share, can help us reach employers and communities, or simply wants to understand how it might contribute, we would value your involvement from the outset. We hope you can join us and help shape an initiative grounded in Northern Ireland’s own opportunities, experiences and priorities. This session is delivered in partnership with CIPD in Northern Ireland and sponsored by Vanrath.