A new project by Workplus designed to inspire young people in the Antrim & Newtownabbey area about future careers has been launched at Parkhall Integrated School.

Entitled Career Quest and funded by the James Kane Foundation, the project is specifically aimed at Year 9 and Year 10 (12 – 14-year-olds) pupils, to inspire them to think about their own skills, inform them about potential careers, as well as raise the profile of companies in the local area.

Career Quest will include an online information portal, including videos and local company profiles, as well as in-person lessons and class resources.

As part of the project, Workplus will be partnering with the NI Science Festival in 2026 to showcase exciting STEM careers by looking at innovative products invented in Northern Ireland.

Richard Kirk, CEO of Workplus, said, “We’re excited about this project. Much of our work to date has been with older pupils, but we know this Year 9 & 10 age group will benefit from understanding the fantastic careers and opportunities out there as they move towards their GCSEs.”

Michael Wilson, Chair of the James Kane Foundation, commented, “The Foundation is delighted to have funded the Career Quest project. The early provision of information enabling students to make good career choices is self-evidently a sensible thing to do, and this project will stimulate these young students to consider the opportunities that are best suited to their interests and aspirations.”

Over the coming year, Career Quest aims to engage 700 Year 9 and 10 pupils. The project will run until October 2026.