EPIC Futures NI: Phase 2 EPIC Futures
Overview
About EPIC Futures NI
EPIC Futures NI (Economic and Social Partnering for Inclusive Innovation and Collaboration) is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership led by Ulster University and funded by ESRC, AHRC, Innovate UK, and UKRI. Bringing together government departments and a wide range of stakeholders, we aim to create evidence-based solutions for fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland by filling data and knowledge gaps on the economic inactive, the unemployed, underemployed and hidden unemployed, to inform policies and programmes that support fair and meaningful work.
EPIC Futures NI, a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) hub led by Ulster University, has launched Phase 2 of its policy commissioning call, with a total of £750,000 in funding available for projects aimed at improving access to fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland.
This follows Phase 1, which awarded £250,000 across nine projects in June 2025. These initiatives are underway and are exploring challenges around skills, access to employment, and social inclusion across Northern Ireland. The results of the first phase will be presented in November 2025.
Phase 2
EPIC Futures NI aims to contribute towards a prosperous and sustainable future for Northern Ireland. With a ‘place-based’ focus the partnership brings together academia, policy makers, business, community, and voluntary sector to jointly co-design policy and programmes that will help improve equitable access to skills and employment opportunities.
Together, they aim to create evidence-based solutions to fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland.
Aims
The overall aim of the Phase 2 EPIC Futures NI Policy commissioning call is to build a robust evidence base around key themes that contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable labour market in Northern Ireland, particularly for people who are not in, or do not have access to, suitable paid employment or self-employment.
It seeks to fund innovative projects that provide insights to advance theory, policy, and practice.
They strongly encourage proposals which are in collaboration with stakeholders from different backgrounds and disciplines. Bringing unique and innovative approaches to place-based challenges and provide insights into the lived experiences of individuals facing skills and employability challenges.
Themes will include:
- Addressing skills inequalities and understanding inclusive pathways for underrepresented groups
- Pathways to good work for young people
- Place-based strategies for skills, employment and economic inclusion
- Understanding what works for skills and employability
- The Caring Economy
- Health and work
- Inclusive access to the green economy
- AI, digital capability and inclusive work
Funding Level & Notes
- Funding available: £10,000–£100,000 per project
- Awards range from £10,000 to £100,000 from a budget of £750k. Small awards of up to £30,000 must be completed by 30th June 2026. Large awards of up to £100k must be completed by 30th September 2026.
- Eligible applicants: Academics across all disciplines, researchers, and organisations from across sectors including:
- Organisations working in skills and economy; Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), health and social care, climate and environment, AI and digital capability contributors.
- Community and Voluntary organisations
- Social enterprises
- Public sector and policy organisations
- Business and Industry bodies
Please note that proposals which involve new data collection require an academic partner from a university capable of securing institutional ethical approval within the specified allocated time frame.
Collaboration encouraged
Proposals that involve cross-sector partnerships, particularly between academia and community, voluntary, or business organisations are strongly encouraged. Projects should also reflect lived experience where possible.