EPIC Futures NI, a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) hub led by Ulster University, has launched Phase 2 of its policy commissioning call, with a total of £750,000 in funding available for projects aimed at improving access to fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland.
This follows Phase 1, which awarded £250,000 across nine projects in June 2025. These initiatives are underway and are exploring challenges around skills, access to employment, and social inclusion across Northern Ireland. The results of the first phase will be presented in November 2025.
Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, said:
“Removing the barriers people face in accessing education, training and skills is a key priority for my department. The research commissioned under Phase 2 EPIC Futures will help to identify some of those barriers so that we can improve the pathways to good jobs.”
Finance Minister, John O’Dowd said:
“EPIC Futures has already helped to support important research and collaboration in relation to employability. I am pleased that my department has been able to participate in this work to date and welcome the launch of the Phase 2 commissioning call. I would encourage those that can contribute to answering the research themes identified in this call to submit proposals.”
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said:
“Addressing high rates of Economic Inactivity in Northern Ireland is a priority for my department, with linkages to poverty, health and wellbeing, social inclusion, and supporting economic growth. Research commissioned under EPIC Futures, developed in collaboration with other departments, offers insights into how we can ensure that our policy and delivery is effective, and resulting in real change for people on the ground.”
Professor Kristel Miller, Director of EPIC Futures NI, said:
"We’re pleased to launch Phase 2 of the EPIC Futures NI Policy Commissioning Call, continuing our commitment to tackling the barriers that prevent people from accessing fair and inclusive work. This next phase builds on the strong foundation of Phase 1, supporting innovative, policy-focused projects that promote inclusive employment across Northern Ireland.”
Themes will include:
- Addressing skills inequalities and understanding inclusive pathways for underrepresented groups
- Pathways to good work for young people
- Place-based strategies for skills, employment and economic inclusion
- Understanding what works for skills and employability
- The Caring Economy
- Health and work
- Inclusive access to the green economy
- AI, digital capability and inclusive work
Who can apply and what’s available?
- Funding available: £10,000–£100,000 per project
- Project duration: Up to nine months (Jan-Oct 2026)
- Eligible applicants: Academics across all disciplines, researchers, and organisations from across sectors including:
- Organisations working in skills and economy; Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), health and social care, climate and environment, AI and digital capability contributors.
- Community and Voluntary organisations
- Social enterprises
- Public sector and policy organisations
- Business and Industry bodies
Please note that proposals which involve new data collection require an academic partner from a university capable of securing institutional ethical approval within the specified allocated time frame.
Collaboration encouraged
Proposals that involve cross-sector partnerships, particularly between academia and community, voluntary, or business organisations are strongly encouraged. Projects should also reflect lived experience where possible.
More Information & How to Apply:
- Full Call Specification Release: Tuesday 5th August 2025, at 5:00 PM
- Application Deadline: Tuesday 9 September, 2025, at 5:00 PM
- Find out more at Epic Futures Phase 2 Call
About EPIC Futures NI
- EPIC Futures NI (Economic and Social Partnering for Inclusive Innovation and Collaboration) is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership led by Ulster University and funded by ESRC, AHRC, Innovate UK, and UKRI. Bringing together government departments and a wide range of stakeholders, we aim to create evidence-based solutions for fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland by filling data and knowledge gaps on the economic inactive, the unemployed, underemployed and hidden unemployed, to inform policies and programmes that support fair and meaningful work.
