Building a Skilled Future for Northern Ireland

a group of people working together around a table

Northern Ireland’s prosperity depends on closing skills gaps, fostering lifelong learning, and empowering a workforce ready for tomorrow’s challenges. The All-Party Group (APG) on Skills, established by Assembly members and supported by The Open University in Ireland as Secretariat, unites political, business, and education leaders to drive this critical agenda.

Our Role as Secretariat

The Open University in Ireland coordinates the APG’s work, leveraging over 50 years of expertise in flexible education. We facilitate meetings, gather evidence, and engage stakeholders to turn insights into actionable recommendations.

Leadership

A cross-party team guides the APG’s mission, and is led by the Chair, Kate Nicholl MLA (Alliance Party, South Belfast).

Investigations

The APG conducted an investigation into Skills for Social Care which ran from April 2024 to January 2025 and gathered evidence from practitioners, employers, regulators, training providers, and government officials.

Follow this link to download the report: A People-First Approach to Skills for Social Care.