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Employment and Training for immigrants-The EPIC Programme

Under Business in the Community Ireland’s Business Action on Employment, we have EPIC, our employment programme which works with immigrants to help them integrate into Irish society.

Employment and education are key factors in promoting integration of immigrants, who comprise 12% of the Irish population. Immigrants looking for employment and/or education recognise the lack of Irish work experience, interview preparation and the understanding of the Irish standards when preparing CV and Cover letter as strong obstacles to succeed in their applications.

Our EPIC (Employment for People from Immigrant Communities) Programme is a unique initiative that to date has impacted the lives of over 2,200 people from over 100 nationalities. 69% of our clients have found jobs or entered training or are volunteering. EPIC brings huge benefits to immigrants in terms of improving their English language, their job seeking skills, raising their motivation and confidence, increasing their understanding of the work environment and the Irish system; building their networks and promoting overall social integration.

Under our Business Action on Employment we also run Ready for Work, our employment programme that provides work experience, training and guidance to people with high barriers to employment. Barriers may include experiences of homelessness, mental ill health, addiction and early school leaving. Further information on Ready for Work is here.

Epic Programme Video

Watch the video to hear the feedback from some of our clients on how EPIC was key in helping them to increase their job readiness and settle in Ireland. All participants in the video have secured employment in Dublin.

EPIC increases the job seeking skills of immigrants through pre-employment training, One-to-One support and opportunities for work experience.

Download BITC Employment Programme Application Form

Please fill in the application form and email it to epic@bitc.ie . Alternatively you can drop it into our offices – 30/31 Lower O’Connell St. Paper copies of the application form are also available at our offices.

  • Covers business vocabulary, CV and cover letter writing techniques; identifying and describing skills; telephone skills for job interviews and in the workplace; advice on how to look for a job.
  • Interview preparation includes tips and advice from employers, how to handle difficult interview questions, and the opportunity to do mock interviews
  • IT Skills Training –focusing on the use of Microsoft Office Word and Excel.
  • Information sessions on a variety of themes to facilitate networking, understanding of the Irish system and to promote social integration. Topics covered include employment rights and entitlements, social welfare, access to health and equality and diversity in the work place. 

Duration: 6 weeks

Start date End date
Group 1: January 11 February 19
Group 2: February 1 March 11
Group 3: February 22 April 8
Group 4: March 14 April 29
Group 5: April 11 May 20
Group 6: May 3 10 June
Group 7: May 23 July 1
Group 8: June 13 July 22
Group 9: July 4 August 26
Group 10: August 8 September 16
Group 11: August 29 October 7
Group 12: September 19 October 28
Group 13: October 11 November 18
Group 14: November 1 December 9

Training and Employment Officers (TEOs) with expertise and wide experience in career advice and job placement, provide one-to-one support sessions on the various steps required in seeking new employment or education.

Supports include CV and interview preparation, psychometric testing, coaching for interviews as well as working with the participant to source and secure further education or employment.

  • Work experience opportunities
  • Social Support – advice on Social Welfare, housing, family and other issues
  • Mentoring service
  • Advice for entrepreneurs
  • Free access to computers for online job searching
  • Certificate of Participation upon completion of the Training

Participants must first meet three essential criteria in order to be eligible

  • Status– Participants must be adults from non-EU states with Stamp 4 or from EU states entitled to work in Ireland
  • Location – As our EPIC Programme is based in Dublin, participants must be based in Dublin or the Greater Dublin Area
  • Level of English – Participants should have intermediate to high level of both written and spoken English. The English language level will be assessed prior to joining the programme.

Download BITC Employment Programme Application Form

Please fill in the application form and email it to epic@bitc.ie . Alternatively you can drop it into our offices – 30/31 Lower O’Connell St. Paper copies of the application form are also available at our offices.

 

 

For further information please contact:

Caitríona Mac Aonghusa
Employment Programme Coordinator

01 874 3840

epic@bitc.ie

Download the Guide for Migrant Jobseekers in Ireland

Find the EPIC Programme on Facebook