To ask the Minister for Communities (i) for an update on the effectiveness of Belfast City Council’s Employment Academy interventions; and (ii) whether he will be encouraging councils to take forward such access to employment and skills interventions.

In 2023/24, Employment Academies funded through the Belfast Labour Market Partnership and Belfast City Council actively supported 610 participants across a wide variety of sectors.

Of the 329 participants who have completed an Employment Academy to date, 289 have successfully gained employment.

The remaining 10 Councils across Northern Ireland, through their local labour market partnerships action plan, also provide equally successful Employment Academies.