The Department for the Economy (DfE), formally the Department for Employment and Learning, has worked in partnership with the trade union movement since 2002 to develop a Union Learning Fund (ULF) for Northern Ireland. The Fund supports upskilling in workplaces and communities, with the overarching aim of promoting a culture of learning that equips people for work in a modern economy.
Since its establishment, the ULF has supported a wide range of innovative, union-led projects. These initiatives have enabled over 11,500 workers to achieve their first qualification in Maths, English, or IT. A further 40,000 workers have gained nationally recognised upskilling or re-skilling qualifications or Continued Professional Development (CPD).
Please note that formal notification of funding from the Department for 2026-2029 has not yet been received. Therefore, all applications submitted to Congress are subject to the authorisation of funding by DfE.
Congress looks forward to receiving bids from a wide range of Unions and continuing its work to build on the many achievements of the ULF to date.
For further information on the ULF NI, or to request an application form, please contact Julie Gorman at [email protected]
