Cross-Border Careers
Cross-Border Careers is a collaborative initiative, led by Business in the Community Ireland and Business in the Community Northern Ireland, designed to improve social mobility for young people (aged 16-18) in marginalised communities across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland’s border counties – Armagh, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Cavan, Tyrone and Donegal.
The programme, funded by the Shared Island Fund, will strengthen links between business, education and local communities through practical, employer-led activity that gives young people the confidence, connections, insight and skills to better understand and shape their future.
About the programme
Strong connections between education and the world of work can make a lasting difference to young people’s confidence, aspiration and career readiness. Cross-Border Careers is designed to help address structural inequalities by improving access to meaningful employer engagement, particularly for young people in underserved areas. It also supports businesses to play an active role in developing future talent, encouraging more inclusive workforce development and stronger collaboration across the island.
Cross-Border Careers has been developed in response to those challenges, creating practical opportunities for schools, employers and local partners to work together across the island.
Delivered across Armagh and Monaghan, Fermanagh and Cavan, and Tyrone and Donegal, the programme will bring together businesses and schools through a coordinated series of activities.
What the programme includes
- Three cross-border workplace visit experiences, bringing together one school from Northern Ireland and one from the Republic of Ireland to visit an employer and gain first-hand insight into the workplace.
- A cross-border business roundtable in Enniskillen on 29 September, focusing on workforce readiness, inclusive hiring and future opportunity (venue to be confirmed). Respond via the Tito link to register your interest.
- A career showcase webinar for pupils highlighting career opportunities in prominent industries based in border counties, taking place on 1st December 2026.
How to get involved
For Business
Cross-Border Careers offers businesses a practical way to support young people while helping to build a stronger and more inclusive future workforce. The programme is designed to make it easier for businesses to engage meaningfully with schools and communities, while also strengthening cross-border relationships and shared learning.
Employers can get involved by:
- Attend the Cross-Border Careers: Supporting Local Talent Event & Roundtable Event, taking place 11:00 am – 1:00 pm 29 September 2026 at Corick House Hotel & Spa, Clogher, Enniskillen. Respond via the Tito link to register your interest.
- Participate in the Virtual Career Showcase event on Tuesday 1 December 2026, for students from participating schools. We invite employers from different sectors to connect directly with schools and help young people explore emerging careers, future workplace trends, and pathways into employment. This online event provides an opportunity to showcase your organisation and industry, highlight emerging roles and future skills needs, inspire students aged 14-18 from our participating schools, raise awareness of career opportunities within your sector and support informed career decision-making among young people.
- Host a workplace visit. We are seeking a business partner to host a workplace visit for pupils in the Tyrone/Donegal area, week commencing 19 October, providing a valuable opportunity for young people to experience the world of work first-hand and understand the skills and qualities needed to succeed. This will be a half day event from approx. 10-2pm for 2 schools and 30 students’ subject to your facilities. It can involve an introduction to your organisation and sector, a tour of your workplace (where appropriate), employee talks or career journey stories, demonstrations of projects, products or services and/or interactive activities and student Q&A sessions. This is a great opportunity to showcase careers within your organisation, support local schools and enhance your organisations community engagement.
For Schools
For schools, the programme provides practical support to help students build confidence, develop personal and employability skills, and gain insight into the opportunities available to them. Through direct engagement with employers and participation in interactive activities, young people will be encouraged to think more broadly about their future and the pathways open to them. The programme is particularly focused on widening access for young people who may be less likely to have the opportunity to engage in experiences like these.
Schools involved are:
- Strabane Academy, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, & Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe, Co. Donegal.
- Erne Integrated College, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, & St Mogue’s College, Bawnboy, Co. Cavan.
- St Catherine’s College, Armagh, Co. Armagh, & Largy College, Clones, Co. Monaghan.
For more information and to get involved, contact:
Republic of Ireland: Fania Ellison, Business in the Community Ireland at fellison@bitc.ie
Northern Ireland: Emma Morrison, Education Manager, Business in the Community NI at emma.morrison@bitcni.org.uk
Cross-Border Careers Programme is funded by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Shared Island Civic Society Fund to foster Cross-Border Collaboration for Social Mobility through Business-Education Partnerships.
