EPIC Programme
EPIC Programme: Employment and Integration Training for Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Are you an asylum seeker or refugee living in Ireland and looking for a job? We can help.
The EPIC Programme works with asylum seekers and refugees to help them find jobs and integrate into Irish society.
Register your interest for the Epic Programme
Please fill in the form below, and a member of our team will contact you as soon as possible. Due to the high number of inquiries, this may take up to two weeks.
For a faster response, please fill in the EPIC application form and email it to epic@bitc.ie
How does the EPIC Programme work?
EPIC offers a FREE employment and integration programme that can help you integrate in Irish society by overcoming some of the most common barriers when looking for work or education such as: lack of Irish work experience, interview preparation, understanding of the Irish standards when preparing CV and Cover Letter. EPIC also offers one to one career guidance, work experience opportunities and support with other issues.
Hear from a former EPIC participant on his experience with our employment programme.
Our impact
To date EPIC has impacted the lives of over 3,500 people from 101 nationalities. 68% of our clients have found jobs or entered training or are volunteering. The programme is supported by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and The Community Foundation for Ireland and funded under the Integration and Employment of Migrants activity as part of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) 2021-2027.
EPIC increases the job seeking skills of asylum seekers and refugees using a needs assessment and a client centred approach. It provides pre-employment training, One-to-One support and opportunities for work experience.
EPIC Programme Application Form
Please fill in the application form and email it to epic@bitc.ie
The Epic training covers:
- Support with 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 practice 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 access to health, employment rights and entitlements, social welfare, and access to education.
Participants must first meet three essential criteria in order to be eligible
- Status – Participants must be adults who are asylum seekers with work permits, refugees with Stamp 4, people with Subsidiary Protection and Stamp 4, people with Leave to Remain and Stamp 4, people from a refugee background and Irish passport or people with Temporary Protection Certificates
- Location – Our participants must be living in the Republic of Ireland
- 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.
We are open for applications. If you are interested in the EPIC Programme, please apply and we will be in touch.
| Group | Start Date | End Date | Schedule | Closing Date for Applications | |
| 5 (online) | 4-Apr-23 | 19-May-23 | Morning | 27-Mar-23 | |
| 6 (online) | 2-May-23 | 9-Jun-23 | Afternoon | 24-Apr-23 | |
| 7 (online) | 23-May-23 | 30-Jun-23 | Morning | 15-May-23 | |
| 8 (online) | 13-Jun-23 | 21-Jul-23 | Afternoon | 5-Jun-23 | |
| 9 (online) | 4-Jul-23 | 25-Aug-23 | Morning | 26-Jun-23 | |
| 10 (online) | 8-Aug-23 | 15-Sep-23 | Afternoon | 31-Jul-23 | |
| 11 (online) | 29-Aug-23 | 6-Oct-23 | Morning | 21-Aug-23 | |
| 12 (online) | 19-Sep-23 | 27-Oct-23 | Afternoon | 11-Sep-23 | |
| 13 (online) | 10-Oct-23 | 17-Nov-23 | Morning | 2-Oct-23 | |
| 14 (online) | 31-Oct-23 | 8-Dec-23 | Afternoon | 23-Oct-23 |
One-To-One Individual Support with Career Counsellors
As part of the service Career Counsellors 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.
Other benefits:
- 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
For further information please contact:
Download the Guide for Migrant Jobseekers in Ireland