THE job prospects of people from some of the most socially deprived areas of north and west Belfast are being improved through a unique partnership between Graffiti Recruitment and the Innovation Factory.
They are working together to improve the digital and technological skills of young people so that they can find meaningful employment and escape from the benefits trap.
The specialist training for people aged 16-24 is being held at Innovation Factory on the Springfield Road by staff from Graffiti Recruitment.
Julie McGrath, managing director at Graffiti, said the aim was to help communities that were furthest from the job market to improve their employment chances.
“When I started the company four years ago, employers were coming to us with a need for people with digital skills but there was a skills gap at entry level. We started to create programmes to work with community groups, charities and community interest companies. It’s been hugely successful, with 15 people from the programme gaining full or part-time employment in the past 12 months.
“Innovation Factory has been instrumental in providing a safe learning space for those who feel vulnerable. It is vital for us as a training organisation to have these facilities available. The groups who come here, find it very inspiring. They get to see other businesses, and this encourages them to have higher aspirations,” she added.
Past participants include a group of young single mothers from North Belfast taking part in a Digital Marketing and Start Your Own business course to improve their employability and opportunities for self-employment.
The BeTru Group, part of Cliftonville Community Regeneration Forum, have used their new skills to set up a business producing hampers that raised more than £1,300 for the Northern Ireland Hospice. Their latest fundraiser – Valentine’s Day hampers raised over £344 and their Christmas hamper appeal raised over £500.
They have been taught about sales, marketing, business development and digital strategies. The course is designed to help deal with social isolation and equip them with the skills to work from home. One member of the group is now doing a digital marketing internship at Graffiti Recruitment.
A group of young men from St Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre in Divis attended a six-week IT course to help develop their digital skills in design, marketing, social media, building a website and selling online. They also set up a stall in St George’s market to sell their own customised clothes.
The group, many of whom left formal education at 13 and 14, learned about international sourcing of materials, profit and loss, investment, teamwork, business strategy and digital marketing. They now have the skills to continue trading and to expand into new markets of merchandising.
Shane Smith, community engagement manager at the Innovation Factory, said the Springfield Road site was dedicated to working to enhance employability by improving digital and technological skills within the local community.
“We're determined to provide all the support necessary to reach out to those people that need it the most. This partnership with Graffiti Recruitment will continue to thrive as we look at more and more ways of engaging the local community,” he added
Graffiti Recruitment has recently joined a larger initiative that will allow them to reach even more adults that need to improve their digital skills regardless of age, background or ability.
Brought together by the English-based charity Good Things Foundation, the Online Centres Network is made up of over 5,000 grassroots organisations, all working to tackle digital and social exclusion by providing people with the skills and confidence they need to access digital technology.
Graffiti will be hosting several free digital skills workshops up to February 2021 within the Innovation Factory and onsite at local community centres and other local organisations (details at www.graffitirecruitment.co.uk).
