Rethink Ireland launches €1.6 Million Fund to generate greater access to employment for young adults

Rethink Ireland has launched a €1.6 million Empower Tech Futures Fund, to tackle disparities in opportunity and access to employment for marginalised young adults. Applications for this fund —  with the support of JPMorganChase, the Department of Rural and Community Development and BNY — can be made at rethinkireland.ie/open-funds/ and will be open until 15 May 2025. Rethink Ireland is the funding body thinking differently to create a more just, equal and sustainable Ireland.

This transformative three-year fund will award cash grants and provide dedicated business support to up to five pioneering projects or organisations based in Dublin and/or Cork committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent vulnerable young adults from accessing employment. These challenges include a lack of awareness about career opportunities, gaps in essential technical and digital skills sought by employers, and insufficient support networks to secure and sustain meaningful employment.

By tackling these obstacles head-on via skills training and direct work placements, the Fund – which has a special emphasis on digital and technology skills – will provide young adults with the confidence and connections to build lasting careers.

Commenting on the Empower Tech Futures Fund, Deirdre Mortell, CEO, Rethink Ireland, said: “Every young person deserves the opportunity to build a brighter future, regardless of their background. Over the next three years, this fund will equip young adults with the necessary skills, knowledge, and networks to thrive in the 21st-century workforce bridging the skills gap, breaking down barriers to employment, providing holistic support, building employability skills, as well as enhancing the workforce development ecosystem. 

“We know that young people love tech, grabbing their parents’ phones as soon as they are old enough to grasp! But at the same time the first generation of digital natives don’t always have the digital skills needed in a workplace. With funds like this, we want to eradicate unemployment gaps and create pathways into sustainable careers, particularly in the growing tech sector.” 

To be eligible for application an organisation must: 

·         Be based in Dublin and/or Cork

·         Focus on young people aged 18-30 who are marginalised in the labour market.

·         Support young people into quality internship, employment and/or apprenticeship programmes and/or full-time & paid work placements.

·         Take a holistic approach based on the range of barriers to employment for young people.

·         Have the motivation, capacity and a credible plan to scale their services to reach more marginalised young people over time.

Advantageous criteria include projects actively engaging with young marginalised adults in the design of their programmes; and those seeking to develop digital and technology skills that are in demand across a range of employment sectors.

Commenting on why they are partnering with Rethink Ireland to create this fund, Marc Hussey, Senior Country Officer, JPMorganChase Ireland said: “We remain committed to helping young people develop digital and technology skills to access jobs in high-demand sectors. We believe that business has a role to play in tackling challenges to employment in Ireland, including difficulty accessing technical skills and support networks. Our firm is committed to advancing a sustainable and inclusive economy and the Empower Tech Futures Fund is a crucial part of these efforts in Ireland” 

Paul Kilcullen, CEO BNY Fund Services, Ireland Country Head added: “This collaborative endeavour and dedicated fund will serve to empower young adults from disadvantaged areas in gaining access to tangible support networks, employment programmes and crucial skills development. BNY is proud to be part of this exciting new initiative in collaboration with Rethink Ireland, JPMorganChase, and the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development.

“Ireland has a strong foundation within its education system for developing the next generation of talent, but we have a responsibility to expand our reach and enable as many people as possible to maximise their potential with the opportunities provided by emerging technology.” 

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