Grant awarded to drive inclusive futures in Northern Ireland

Horizons Research feels privileged to have been awarded a grant by EPIC Futures NI as part of the Phase 1 Policy Commissioning Fund. EPIC Futures is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership, led by Ulster University and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Innovate UK, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 

Our research project is looking at the role of supported employment in building a more inclusive labour market for people with disabilities in Northern Ireland and we look forward to working with with our project partners Edyth Dunlop, Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment (NIUSE) and Adam Whitworth, Professor of Employment Policy at the University of Strathclyde, Scottish Centre for Employment Research.

EPIC Futures brings together academia, policymakers, business, community and voluntary sector to tackle challenges in the skills and employability landscape. Together, we aim to create evidence-based solutions to fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland.

Professor Kristel Miller, Director of EPIC Futures NI and Professor of Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development at Ulster University Business School said “We are delighted to award £250,000 to nine outstanding projects through the first phase of our Policy Commissioning Fund. These initiatives represent a diverse and innovative range of approaches to understand and tackle systemic barriers to fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland. The insights generated will help inform meaningful policy responses and long-term solutions”.

The Phase 2 Policy Commissioning Call is expected to launch in the summer of 2025 with a September submission date. 

Keep up to date by following EPIC Futures on LinkedIn or visiting the website to sign up to the mailing list.