What if a boxing club could help change a young person’s life forever?

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Nathan Lowry, Life Skills Coach at Monkstown Boxing Club. Nathan shares how the club has evolved from a traditional boxing gym into a powerful community hub, supporting hundreds of young people across Northern Ireland every year. From helping with CVs to building confidence and breaking intergenerational cycles, Nathan’s story is one of deep purpose and practical hope. If you’ve ever wondered what great youth work really looks like, this episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Monkstown Boxing Club supports over 500 young people a year
• The club offers boxing, education, mentoring, and community programmes
• Nathan’s role focuses on employability and well-being for ages 16–24
• Confidence is a major barrier for young people entering work
• Employers often miss chances to engage future talent through work experience
• Nathan overcame low confidence through mentors and volunteering
• He now mentors others through Workplus and other programmes
• Youth work is about consistency, trust, and showing up
• Long-term funding is critical for real impact in youth services
• Seeing a young person grow is more powerful than any paycheque

BEST MOMENTS

00:00:04. “It gets me up out of bed every morning.”
00:01:14. “Everyone thinks it's just boxing. Our slogan is 'not just a boxing club.’”
00:02:43. “We interact with around 500 young people annually.”
00:04:02. “It started off in the local community centre as a boxing club.”
00:06:13. “The employer doesn’t want to hear from mummy. They want to hear from the young person.”
00:12:01. “There are probably two youth workers I could tell you, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.”
00:17:19. “They’re the ones who wrote the application and nailed the interview.”
00:27:29. “For me that was priceless, seeing kids come right out and be a better version of themselves.”
00:33:14. “We never expect young people to return as volunteers, but they always come back.”
00:36:22. “If you do something you love, you never work a day in your life.”

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app

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What if your career path wasn’t a straight line, but a series of pivots that built something even better? In this episode of Workplus, we sit down with Amy Martin, Business Development Manager at Scaffold Digital, to explore her journey from marketing to tech. Amy shares how she found her place in the software industry, what skills really matter, and why tech is far more than just coding. This episode is packed with insights for anyone curious about the human side of software and how real-world problems get solved through bespoke solutions.

Whether you're a parent guiding your child, a teacher looking for inspiring stories, or someone considering a change, this conversation will help you see the tech sector, and your own potential, in a new light.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• You don’t need to start in tech to succeed in it
• Resilience and creativity are key to business development
• Most companies are looking for tailored software, not off-the-shelf tools
• Real career growth often comes from blending diverse experiences
• Building relationships is as important as building products
• The software industry offers roles far beyond engineering
• Discovery sessions help translate business pain points into tech solutions
• AI is already speeding up processes and supporting teams
• Tech has a big impact on regulated, high-compliance industries
• Every business has unique needs, bespoke software reflects that

BEST MOMENTS:

00:01:23. “I work for a company called Scaffold Digital. Scaffold are a software company headquartered here in Northern Ireland.”
00:02:35. “Anything that we do build, the client owns outright. They own the IP.”
00:03:21. “It really does just go back to the basics. Understanding what a company does, are they trying to grow?”
00:04:10. “I think that I’ve almost kind of married everything up through my experience.”
00:05:23. “You kind of just develop these kind of resilience skills along the way.”
00:06:25. “I actually thought I wanted to be a special needs teacher.”
00:09:29. “It was on you to get up in the morning and get to your class.”
00:13:52. “We take a client through discovery and strategy, then develop a tactical roadmap.”
00:20:10. “There’s just so much opportunity within the industry. And I think more than anywhere you can pivot once you’re in it.”
00:24:19. “For me it’s just about helping people. That’s probably a big part of my role.”

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app

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Discover Career Paths Without Leaving Northern Ireland

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk speaks with Steven Norris, Deputy Director at Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council. Steven shares how his council is bridging the gap between schools and businesses, tackling Northern Ireland’s skills challenges, and helping young people see the rich career opportunities that exist right on their doorstep.

• Schools struggle to showcase the full range of modern career paths
• Work experience helps young people discover local opportunities
• Council’s role in reconnecting schools and businesses after the pandemic
• Volume of job vacancies versus low unemployment in NI
• Widespread lack of awareness about local sectors like engineering and logistics
• Challenges around economic inactivity and intergenerational worklessness
• Council strategies to reach people far from the labour market
• Real-world training that starts with confidence-building, not just qualifications
• Upskilling as a way to unlock entry-level opportunities
• Why purpose and fulfilment at work matter more than ever

BEST MOMENTS

00:01:36. “It came from our engagement with businesses on the ground.”
00:02:44. “All of that had kind of died away as one of the results of the pandemic.”
00:03:10. “We saw an opportunity to get involved in that gap between those two sides.”
00:04:09. “We’ve been so fortunate to have our partnership with Workplus.”
00:05:59. “All of that’s completely untrue, but there’s such an awareness gap of opportunities.”
00:09:17. “How do we lift them? How do we give them confidence?”
00:12:15. “We work with companies really, really closely to understand where the gaps are.”
00:21:04. “If you can bring one person into a job and then a better job, you’re affecting an entire household.”
00:32:07. “It gives people that structure. It gives them something to build a life around.”

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

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In this episode of Workplus, Richard Kirk speaks with Esther, a software engineering manager whose journey from Nigeria to Northern Ireland tells a story of grit, growth, and guidance. From working in customer service to leading engineering teams, Esther shares how an access course changed her path, why mentoring matters, and how apprenticeships are transforming opportunities in tech. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or someone rethinking your own career, Esther's story is full of insight and inspiration.

Key Takeaways
• Starting over in a new country builds resilience and confidence
• Customer service roles can be a powerful training ground for soft skills
• Access courses open the door to higher education for non-traditional students
• Software engineering is as much about teamwork as technical skills
• Apprenticeships offer practical, supported entry into tech careers
• Being results-driven helps sustain motivation through challenges
• Passion and purpose go hand in hand in tech careers
• Leadership requires listening, patience, and clarity
• Mentoring is essential for apprentice success
• Companies benefit from keeping both graduate and apprenticeship pathways open

Best Moments
00:00:03. “Apprenticeship is a good way to give young people the opportunity to learn on the job as well as study.”
00:01:32. “I moved to Northern Ireland because I got married, and my husband worked here.”
00:02:15. “The first job I had was as a census collector... it helped me get comfortable with people.”
00:03:45. “I once had more... because that wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”
00:06:12. “It would be great... to have many women and girls going into so-called men-dominated jobs or degrees.”
00:08:04. “I just love the idea of sitting down and writing code and seeing it do something.”
00:10:21. “Even after today, whenever I see that feature... I say to myself, yes, this is my idea.”
00:12:40. “Having a happy team means you’re going to get work done.”
00:15:30. “Software engineering is not just about you sitting there on your laptop every single day.”
00:32:40. “It’s all about the positive aspects you get out of it in the end. It outweighs whatever negatives there are.”

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app

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Green Economy Explained: Jobs, Skills, Impact

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Gordon Parkes, Executive Director of People & Culture at NIE Networks, to unpack the rise of green skills, emerging job opportunities, and the changing perceptions of apprenticeships. From heat pumps to smart meters, Gordon shares practical insight into how Northern Ireland can lead the way in sustainability-focused careers. With 58,000 new jobs projected and a skills revolution underway, this is a must-listen for parents, teachers, and anyone navigating the future of work.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Green skills include any activity that directly or indirectly supports net zero by 2050
• “Dark green” jobs include EV charger installers and wind turbine technicians
• “Light green” jobs include planners, HR officers, and procurement roles
• Northern Ireland expects 58,000 green jobs in the next decade
• Heat pump installation is creating hybrid electrician-plumber roles
• Apprenticeships are a core talent strategy at NIE Networks
• Leadership roles in climate and sustainability are rapidly growing
• 40% of NIE Networks' senior leaders began as apprentices
• Collaboration with colleges is key for new roles like data analytics
• Green careers can support local economies and reduce fossil fuel imports

BEST MOMENTS
00:01:03. “58,000 extra jobs are forecast over the next few years.”
00:02:10. “An electric vehicle charger installer... that would be totally dark green.”
00:03:55. “Multi-skilled technicians will be needed in areas where previously there were specialists.”
00:05:18. “That’s the story we need to be selling here in Northern Ireland.”
00:07:22. “It's a fantastic service that we provide to society.”
00:08:29. “We have the latest count of 67 different job roles within our business.”
00:10:10. “The NIE apprenticeship program is now over 50 years old.”
00:13:01. “96% of those apprentices stay with us.”
00:16:01. “Smart meters will allow customers to regulate when they use electricity.”
00:20:13. “It’s all about the people and ensuring we look after them well.”

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

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Leadership Gap, AI Skills and Purpose at Work with Susan Hayman

In this episode of Workplus, we sit down with Susan Hayman, Engagement and Employer Solutions Manager at CIPD in Northern Ireland. With deep roots in fashion retail and a passion for building better workplaces, Susan shares her journey from Boston to Belfast and opens up about the urgent issues facing today’s employers. From the looming leadership gap to practical uses of AI, Susan brings a fresh, honest voice to the conversation around purpose, flexibility and rethinking what meaningful work looks like.

• Gen Z values impact over authority and autonomy over hierarchy
• Many millennials feel burned out by traditional leadership roles
• The leadership gap is widening across industries and regions
• Culture must start with a clear “why” that everyone can connect with
• Apprenticeships are underused but powerful talent pathways
• Retail taught Susan fast wins, clear values and purpose through experience
• AI skills are the new baseline, not optional add-ons
• Parents and carers have a powerful support role in career journeys
• Flexibility doesn’t always mean hybrid, it means options
• Education and workplace design must evolve together

BEST MOMENTS

00:02:27. “If you ever want to chat about selvage or twill weave and warp threads, I am your person.”

00:04:42. “If more organizations had a clear outline of their why and their purpose, they would see greater levels of excitement with their employees.”

00:08:00. “The purpose of my role is to improve the working worlds so that my kids have a better experience entering the job market than I did.”

00:11:22. “You don't have to work in HR to be a people professional.”

00:17:21. “If people actually want to walk down them, then we'll be focusing more on mentorship programs or reframing leadership beyond managing people.”

00:21:15. “AI… it's inescapable at this point. The implementation of it is massive.”

00:27:08. “I think the right point to start training people is when we're thinking about entering the workplace. So maybe in 14, 15, 16 plus.”

00:45:02. “You can be what you see.”

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app

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Building a Software-First Future for All

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Neil Hutcheson, CEO of Software NI, to explore how education, industry, and government can work together to embed software and AI into everyday life. Neil shares how his organisation is advocating for computer science to become as foundational as maths in schools, how policy can unlock systemic change, and why non-traditional paths into the software sector matter more than ever. With insight, clarity, and passion, Neil makes a compelling case for a future where everyone can build and belong in the world of software.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Work gives people purpose, opportunity, and connection
• Only 1 in 4 post-primary schools in NI has a dedicated software teacher
• Industry insights days and mentoring schemes are equipping teachers with practical tools
• Software and AI need to be normalised in schools just like maths or English
• Industry can help fill the gap where schools lack dedicated computing staff
• Apprenticeships and academies offer vital alternatives to traditional university routes
• Government policy change is key to unlocking education and infrastructure improvements
• AI tools are making it easier for students to start building from an early age
• Human traits like communication and problem-solving are as critical as technical skills
• Sales is a vital, overlooked career path within the software sector

BEST MOMENTS
00:02:54. “Some people are good at some things, and some people are good at other things.”
00:04:16. “Only 1 in 4 of our post-primary schools has a sort of dedicated software teacher.”
00:05:21. “The best way you can do it is to help kids to understand and start to build.”
00:09:07. “We’ve set up Industry Insights Days, so we’ve got teachers come in and learn.”
00:15:02. “An apprentice really benefits because they go in from day one and they start to learn.”
00:27:14. “Why not harness that? Sales selling is one of those people are pretty good at naturally.”
00:34:14. “Get 40 additional software apprentices who are women among your wider companies.”
00:40:23. “You gotta take a punt. Now, I think of apprenticeships as sometimes... not always.”
00:47:16. “It all makes sense when you look back. Then left a role and worked full time trying to make it as a photographer.”

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app

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How Ordinary People Build Extraordinary Tech Careers

In this inspiring episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk speaks with Mia, a software tester and apprentice with Teamwork. From full-time mum to tech professional, Mia shares her journey into the software industry, offering hope and insight to anyone considering a return to work or a career pivot. This conversation is filled with practical advice, real-life wins, and powerful reminders that good work is possible, even while juggling school runs and software bugs.

Key Takeaways
• Apprenticeships make tech careers more accessible to parents and career changers
• Remote work is a game-changer for working parents
• Self-taught coding can lead to real jobs in software
• Apprenticeships offer flexible routes to earning a degree
• Software roles go far beyond just writing code
• Testing involves investigative, problem-solving skills
• Real-world work enhances academic learning
• Flexible hours allow better family-work balance
• Women should not be intimidated by tech
• Employers benefit from investing in apprenticeships

Best Moments
00:01:00. “I was sort of ready to get back into work. But I couldn't go back to college full time.”
00:03:29. “That was really inspirational for me. Just like a witness that you can actually go and get yourself a job without official qualifications.”
00:04:28. “I did the application. I wasn’t really sure whether I would get it. But I got an interview and a job.”
00:07:05. “Programing like actually writing code is not the only area you can go into in software.”
00:09:04. “Remote working is fantastic. I think it's like the only good thing that has come out of Covid.”
00:12:14. “You don't have to actually go in. So that is like, that's brilliant. It's a brilliant model.”
00:15:29. “I think women are faced with an impossible choice of having a career or having a family.”
00:18:32. “If you have a bit of an analytical way of thinking, it's really not unachievable.”
00:20:00. “Apprenticeships open the door to those kind of people... who want to upskill into software.”

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app

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