Economy Minister Conor Murphy today launched the Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund. The £600,000 fund aims to increase the number of apprenticeships taken up by people with disabilities, those from disadvantaged areas, and women.

The initiative encourages collaboration between education providers, businesses, and community organisations to develop innovative solutions that will address barriers to apprenticeship opportunities.

Organisations are invited to submit proposals for projects that can help to make apprenticeships more accessible and inclusive.

The Minister said: "I am pleased to announce the opening of the Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund. While there are over 13,000 apprentices in the north, women, people with disabilities, and people from disadvantaged areas are underrepresented. I want to minimise and, where possible, remove barriers to take-up of apprenticeships by these groups of people.

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"I am therefore asking the education, business and community sectors to come forward with innovative solutions to these inclusion challenges."

The fund will support up to six projects with allocations of around £100,000 per project over 18 months to address these inclusion goals.

The Minister added: "Collaboration and codesign across the education, community and business sectors will be crucial to identifying new and innovative ways to increasing take-up and widening the positive impact of apprenticeships.

"This fund will connect more people across our communities with good job opportunities, promote regional balance and inspire lifelong learning, in line with my economic priorities."

The fund is open for applications now and will close at 4pm on Friday 6 December 2024.

The Department will provide a range of supports to all applicants throughout the application process. It is envisaged that the successful projects will commence delivery early in 2025.