May 2008: Minister welcomes the role Corporate Ireland has to play in integration

Business in the Community Ireland's innovative programme entitled ‘Employment for People from Immigrant Communities' (EPIC) brings Government, State Agencies, Business and NGOs together to assist vulnerable immigrants to find employment

Business in the Community Ireland's unique collaboration, entitled ‘EPIC - A Model for Success', was launched today (Thursday May 22nd) by the Minister for Integration, Mr. Conor Lenihan T.D, at the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin.

This initiative called ‘Employment for People from Immigrant Communities' (EPIC) is a partnership project with the Government, State Agencies, Business and NGO sectors. It identifies immigrants who experience difficulties accessing appropriate employment and supports them in the process by providing individual guidance, specialised training and personal development opportunities.

The EPIC programme has been developed, expanded and managed by Business in the Community Ireland and it is funded by the Office of the Minister for Integration. BT and CPL are the business partners of this initiative.

The Minister has long held the view that the Corporate Sector has a key role to play in the integration process saying, “This is an excellent example of partnership and collaboration in practice. I am especially delighted to see the involvement of leading Irish companies in this initiative as the corporate sector has a pivotal role to play in integration. The workplace serves not only as a place where we find economic security, but it is also the place where we develop social networks, gain essential information on life in Ireland and where we make life-long friends.”

Business in the Community Ireland's EPIC programme, currently available in the Dublin area, comprises a six week training programme: English language skills, a Life and Work Skills course and one on one career guidance and support with a Training and Employment Officer. Initially starting out as a
pilot programme in 2007, EPIC now has evolved to its present model whereby it has incorporated the business sector into how the programme operates. Therefore, clients can now access a dedicated IT training course from BT and CPL provides mentoring and mock interview skills.

“CPL is delighted to be involved with this initiative and it is wonderful to see business, NGOs, Government and State agencies come together and work towards a common goal. Our expertise in recruitment is of tangible benefit to EPIC participants. Therefore we are very excited to be engaged with the programme and view it as an important component of our corporate responsibility strategy,” said Anne Heraty, Chief Executive CPL.

“Our contribution to the EPIC Programme has directly assisted people in finding employment and becoming self-sufficient. Business has an important role to play in social inclusion in Ireland and BT is delighted to provide its expertise to this invaluable programme and would encourage more businesses to do the same”, commented Peter Morris, Director of Consumer North and Corporate Services, BT.

In addition to the vital role of business, many other state agencies and NGOs are also involved in the collaboration including, Spirasi, AkiDwA, FÁS, Refugee Information Service, FIT (Fastrack to IT), VECs, Local Employment Services and the Department of Social & Family Affairs.

The success of Business in the Community Ireland's EPIC model is evident. Since January 2008, 65 clients, from across 15 nationalities, have enrolled in the course. So far 50% have been successfully placed in employment while the balance have entered further training or are completing the final training elements of the programme.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Steve Costello, Chairman of EPIC, commented “Today, one in every six members of the Republic's labour force is now a foreign worker so the potential of the EPIC programme cannot be underestimated. Business in the Community Ireland's EPIC programme is successful and produces substantial results. We envisage that this great initiative will continue to develop and can be rolled out nationally in the near future and we encourage more businesses to get involved.”

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For further information please contact:
Moira Horgan, Marketing & Communications Manager, Business in the Community Ireland
Tel: 086 172 2105 / 01 874 7232
Email: mhorgan@bitc.ie