People 1st

📍 Please note that all People 1st locations are closed today as our team comes together for our annual Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) Celebration Day. 🎉

Today is a chance for colleagues from across Northern Ireland to come together, celebrate our achievements, recognise the incredible impact our staff make every day and look ahead to another exciting year as an employee-owned organisation.

As an Employee Ownership Trust, every member of our team plays a part in shaping the future of People 1st, and today is about recognising the commitment, passion and dedication that helps us change lives through learning every day. 💙

We'll be back open as normal tomorrow and look forward to supporting our learners, employers and partners once again.

🏆🏆 DOUBLE WINNERS! 🏆🏆

What an incredible afternoon for People 1st at the 2026 Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN NI) Learning Endeavour Awards!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that **two of our learners were named Joint Winners of the Essential Skills Learner of the Year Award** – a truly outstanding achievement and one that everyone across People 1st is celebrating today. 🎉

🌟 **Aoife Grimes** – People 1st Lurgan
🌟 **Fatma Al Masri** – People 1st Belfast South (Ormeau)

These awards recognise learners who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, determination, resilience and personal growth through education, and both Aoife and Fatma embody everything that the award stands for.

Throughout their learning journeys, they have overcome challenges, embraced opportunities, worked tirelessly to improve their skills and shown incredible dedication to achieving their goals. Their success is a powerful reminder of how education can transform lives, build confidence and open doors to new opportunities.

We would also like to recognise the fantastic staff who supported these learners every step of the way.

💙 **Aoife's nomination was supported by Jacqueline McGeown, Digital ICT Tutor, and Sarah Wylie, Student Support Officer at our Lurgan branch.**

💙 **Fatma's nomination was supported by Jacqueline McGeown, Digital ICT Tutor, and Jacqueline McStravick, Student Support Officer at our Belfast South (Ormeau) branch.**

Behind every successful learner is a team of dedicated tutors and support staff who encourage, motivate and believe in them, often long before they believe in themselves.

To Aoife and Fatma – we could not be prouder of you both. To be shortlisted amongst learners from across Northern Ireland was already a fantastic achievement. To be crowned Joint Winners of Essential Skills Learner of the Year is simply phenomenal.

Your hard work, determination and resilience have inspired all of us, and today we celebrate everything you have achieved. 👏✨

Please join us in congratulating Aoife, Fatma, Sarah, Jacqueline, Jacqueline and all of the teams involved in supporting these remarkable learners on their journey.

We are working with local employers to fill a wide range of live vacancies!

Are you currently unemployed or working limited hours and looking to build your skills, confidence and job prospects? Then let us help you start your career in Customer Services!

This opportunity is open to Derry City & Strabane District Council residents aged 16+ who are currently unemployed or in zero-hours employment and ready to take the next step towards work.

📅 Training delivered throughout July and August 2026

Places are limited.

👉 Apply now: https://forms.gle/kvFjJbBSLea2M78T8

📧 For more information contact Cathy at [email protected]

Funded through the Derry City & Strabane Labour Market Partnership.

More Transport/HGV Success with The Academy as the latest recruits Simon and Jamie both passed with flying colours today in Mallusk!!!!

Well done to you both and best of luck for the drive ahead!!!
🥳🥳🥳🥳

Sign up to our waiting list for the next HGV/Transport Academy in your council area here:

https://forms.gle/ZJ9LL1rnMo72m45T6

Calling Future Pizza Chefs… 🍕

Turn your passion for food into a career Orto’s Pizza Chef Academy.

We’ve teamed up with one of Belfast’s most recognisable pizza brands to give you the chance to step into a real kitchen and start your journey as a pizza chef.

✔ Train with Orto’s team
✔ Get hands-on kitchen experience
✔ Opportunity to secure a role
✔ Progress onto a Level 2 & 3 NVQ in Hospitality

Orto are recruiting 8 new pizza chefs through this academy.

If you’ve got the passion, we’ll help with the rest.

👉🏼 Apply now:
[email protected]

Orto

🎉 Today we're celebrating Employee Ownership Day 2026! 🎉

Today, alongside employee-owned businesses across the UK and Ireland, we are proud to celebrate Employee Ownership Day.

At People 1st, becoming an Employee Ownership Trust in 2024 was one of the most significant milestones in our organisation's history, and we have now successfully completed our second full year as an employee-owned business. In fact we have an event next week to celebrate this across People 1st.

Being employee owned means that our people are at the heart of everything we do. Every member of staff has a shared stake in our future success, creating a culture built on:

✅ Shared purpose and pride
✅ Greater employee voice and engagement
✅ Long-term sustainability and stability
✅ Stronger collaboration and teamwork
✅ A commitment to reinvesting in our people, learners and communities

Over the past two years, we have seen first-hand how employee ownership has strengthened our organisation and empowered our team to continue making a positive difference across Northern Ireland, the North West and Donegal.

If you're interested in learning more about why People 1st chose employee ownership and our journey so far, read our story here:

🔗 https://people-1st.co.uk/employee-ownership-trust-people-1st-embarks-on-exciting-new-ownership-structure/

For businesses considering employee ownership, we would strongly encourage you to speak to the fantastic team at Employee Ownership Ireland who provide expert advice, support and guidance throughout the process.

📧 Contact Catherine Muldoon: [email protected]

Happy to all employee-owned organisations across the UK and Ireland! 🙌

Delighted to support this final Construction Bootcamp for schools!!

It’s been an informative, enjoyable and practical series of sessions delivered at CITB NI headquarters at Crumlin. So many talented students who will be our local construction stars in the future!!

Well done to everyone who came along and got involved in all the hands-on construction workshops as part of the day!!

Thank you to the team at CITB NI for partnering with People 1st to deliver some of these practical workshops 👏🏻🙌🏼

If you would like to find out more about getting into construction when you leave school then visit our website and search Skills for Life and Work, a government funded training programme to prepare 16-18 year olds for work in a trade!!

📢𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀!

We’re hiring Classroom Assistants. A vital part of our school community, providing daily support that makes a real difference in the lives of our students.

Whether you’re starting out, returning to work, changing careers, or simply want to make a positive impact — we’d love to hear from you.

Apply or learn more using the link in the comments⬇️

Ready to take the next step in your childcare career?

Our Level 3 Childcare (CCLD) course is starting Tuesday 28th July - and it’s fully funded for those in employment across Northern Ireland!

If you’re already working in childcare and ready to progress into a more senior role, this is your next move 👇🏼

📈 Level 3 Childcare (CCLD) – Progress Your Career
✔ Fortnightly evening classes (6:30–9:30pm)
✔ Learn while you work
✔ No exams – digital coursework
✔ Progress to Room Leader or senior roles
✔ Clear pathway to management or Level 5

💸 Fully Funded – All Age Apprenticeships
This course is FREE if you:
✔ Work 21+ hours per week in a paid childcare role
✔ Are in a role requiring ongoing development
✔ Are aged 18+

🌟 Why Choose People 1st?
✔ Childcare specialists across Northern Ireland
✔ Flexible, online delivery
✔ Supportive tutors & 1–1 workplace support
✔ No heavy paperwork or exams
✔ Real progression routes in your career

💬 “People 1st helped me take the next step in my career… I’ll always be grateful.” – Leoni Reilly ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

👉 Apply now:
🔗 https://bit.ly/Level3_CCLD

or email/call
📞 Siobhan: 07747561444
📧 [email protected]

📍 Available across Northern Ireland