EPIC - Employment for People from Immigrant Communities

EPIC (Employment for People from Immigrant Communities) is BITCI's innovative programme which is targeted at legally resident EU and Non-EU adults. Our aim is to assist this target group with securing employment, training and education.

BACKGROUND TO EPIC

In 2006-7, the EPIC programme targeted parents of Irish-born children. For 2008, our target group has been enlarged to include all legally resident EU and non-EU adults who have permission to work in Ireland and would like to access employment. We will continue to use the EPIC name, now representing Employment for People from Immigrant Communities.

A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH
EPIC is funded by the Office of the Minister for Integration, under the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Funded under the European Social Fund Human Capital Operational Programme 2007-2013.




Managed by BITCI, the programme is also run in association with SPIRASI (Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative).

HOW EPIC WORKS
Our approach is both holistic and client focused. We aim to not only help participants realise the direction they want to take with their career but also to empower them to be as self sufficient as possible in securing employment. The Programme also offers a range of free services focused on supporting the participants' integration within both the workplace and their new Irish community.

ELIGIBILITY
Participants must first meet three essential criteria in order to be accepted for the Programme.

1. Status
Participants must be an EU resident or non-EU resident with stamp 4 status.

2. Location
As the EPIC Programme is a Dublin based project, participants must be looking for work in the Dublin region.

3. Level of English
In order to participate on the Programme, it is essential that participants have a reasonable level of both written and spoken English. Participants will have their English assessed prior to beginning with the Programme.


WHAT EPIC OFFERS
There are two elements to the Programme, the first is a six week training module, the second is one to one work with a Training and Employment Officer. The training module is broken down as follows;

Professional English for Employment takes place for the first three weeks. The focus is specifically on improving language used in job applications and interviews.

In week four we offer training on interview skills and techniques including the possibility of a mock interview with a leading Dublin based recruitment agency.

Life skills are dealt with in week five, here we address issues such as employment rights and entitlements, accessing healthcare, advice on budgeting, starting your own business and much more.

The final week focuses on IT training where clients learn to develop and build their computer skills. IT training is provided in association with British Telecom.

This is followed by individual sessions with a Training and Employment Officer who offers professional career guidance to each participant. The Training and Employment Officer also assists with interview preparation as well as working with the participant to source and secure further education or employment.

Those who participate also have access to a Social Support Officer, who is available to respond to any of the participants' fears, worries or issues, particularly those regarding social welfare benefits, housing, and childcare.


EMPLOYERS:
Please click here to read our responses to your Frequently Asked Questions.

Employers can also click here to download a fact sheet on all our employment programmes including EPIC.

If you are an employer and would like to discuss our employment programmes, please contact Moira Horgan, Marketing Manager on mhorgan@bitc.ie or 01 874 7232.


CANDIDATES:
Please click here for EPIC - Your Questions Answered.

Informacja po Polsku dostępna tutaj.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
If you would like advice on recognition of foreign qualifications in Ireland, please visit the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland's website www.qualificationsrecognition.ie or download factsheet here.


CONTACT US:
For further information on the EPIC Programme, please contact Eilish Corcoran or Caitríona Mac Aonghusa at 01 8743840 or epic@bitc.ie

EPIC Programme
Business in the Community
30/31 Lower O' Connell Street
Dublin 1


Community ICT Initiative: This project is assisted by funding from the Department of the Taoiseach under the Access, Skills and Content (ASC) Initiative 2007