We spoke with Jo Malone and Ronan Harbison about Rethink Ireland’s new fund and how young people can be professionally nurtured.
According to Jo Malone, the head of education at enterprise and charity support platform Rethink Ireland, there are a number of barriers preventing vulnerable young people from accessing career opportunities. She explained that limited information around career routes, large skill gaps in essential, technical areas and inadequate support networks are stopping Irish youths from embarking on new and exciting careers.
Which is why in late March, Rethink Ireland launched the Empower Tech Futures Fund, a €1.6m investment, that aims to tackle disparities in opportunity and access to gainful employment for marginalised young adults in the region.
“This is a three-year fund which will award cash grants and provide dedicated business support to up to five pioneering projects or organisations that are supporting vulnerable young adults aged 18-30 into employment, with a special focus on digital and technology skills and the Dublin and Cork regions,” said Malone.
What blocks the way?
Workplace and societal inequalities are topics that are also of great importance to Ronan Harbison, the executive director of Generation Ireland, an independent non-profit founded by McKinsey & Company, to bridge the workplace skills gap.
He explained that one of the more pressing barriers for young people is the limited access to affordable, industry-relevant training, without which there are very few opportunities to upskill in preparation to join the workforce. Additionally, he noted the growing confidence and social capital gaps.
“Many job seekers, especially those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds, lack professional networks and mentorship opportunities to guide them into sustainable careers. Systemic barriers, issues like financial instability, access to childcare and transport, can make it even harder for people to engage in training or secure stable employment.”
Moreover, the skills gap is being widened by rapid advancements in technology, automation and the push for a green economy, with industries evolving significantly faster than traditional education systems can keep up with. “Employers often struggle to find job-ready talent with relevant skills, while young adults are left without clear pathways into these careers.”
According to Malone, recipients of the fund will have access to skills training in the in-demand areas of the digital and technology sectors, among others. Not only will this address the skills shortage in these fields, but she explained it will strengthen sector productivity and tackle the issue of youth unemployment.
“The awardee organisations will tackle these disparities by providing a range of support initiatives for young people at a disadvantage in the labour market from guidance and coaching to skills training, direct work placements and other holistic, wrap-around services.
“The fund, which has a special emphasis on digital and technology skills, will provide young adults with the confidence and connections to build lasting careers and we know that education, confidence and sustainable employment are key to social mobility and being an engaged member of society.”
Future requirements
Whilst there is a need for continuous commitment to short and mid-term solutions, both Malone and Harbison are believers in long-term solutions, enacted by policymakers, educators and employers.
Areas of importance, according to Harbison include: “Working directly with employers on curriculum design to embed real-world skills into education curriculums. Strengthening public and private partnerships to align education with emerging skills needs. Expanding access to lifelong learning so workers can reskill and upskill as the job market evolves.
“Providing targeted and comprehensive support to people facing barriers to employment and education, to address higher support needs and improving awareness of education and career opportunities to people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.”
As technologies continue to drastically reshape industries, he explained, jobseekers will have to develop a robust mix of technical and soft skills, in order to stay competitive and make themselves attractive to hiring bodies and organisations.
By prioritising key areas, such as tech and digital literacy, growing fields such as IT, AI and data analysis, and working on critical soft skills, employees can become an invaluable and highly skilled member of the workforce.
“For organisations committed to tackling youth unemployment and closing the skills gap, we strongly encourage you to apply for the Empower Tech Futures Fund. Generation Ireland was one of four pioneering non-profits supported under Rethink Ireland’s €763,000 Urban Uplift Fund, which enabled us to train, place and support young adults from Dublin into life-changing careers in the tech sector.”
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