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Last week, I had the opportunity to take part in a roundtable discussion on Northern Ireland Curriculum 2028, hosted by the Institute of Directors (IoD) Northern Ireland.
It was a really valuable conversation, particularly from my perspective as someone who has spent many years working in recruitment and seeing first-hand how the expectations of employers, candidates and the workplace are changing.
One of the areas we discussed was the proposed Personal, Social, Civic and Careers (PSCC) area of learning, and the wider question of what young people need from education to prepare them for the world beyond school.
For me, this is an important conversation because the curriculum young people are being educated under today was developed for a very different world of work.
The world of work has changed
Northern Ireland's current curriculum is approaching 20 years old. In that time, we have seen enormous changes in technology, the workplace and the skills employers are looking for.
Technology has transformed how we work. Artificial intelligence is changing the way many organisations operate. Flexible and hybrid working have become much more established, while employers increasingly place value on skills that go beyond academic qualifications.
As a recruitment business, VANRATH sees these changes every day.
We work closely with employers across Northern Ireland, helping them identify the people and skills they need, while also supporting candidates as they navigate their careers.
Qualifications and technical knowledge will always have their place, but they are only part of what makes someone successful in a role. Employers also want people who can communicate effectively, think critically, adapt to change, solve problems, build relationships and approach challenges with confidence and resilience.
These aren't necessarily skills that can be demonstrated through a qualification alone.
That is why I think the discussion around Curriculum 2028 is so important.
Preparing young people for more than their first job
When we talk about preparing young people for employment, I don't think the goal should simply be to prepare them for their first job.
The world they enter after education may look very different five, ten or twenty years from now. Some of the roles they eventually move into may not even exist in their current form today. That means we need to think about how education can give young people the foundations to navigate a changing career landscape, rather than simply preparing them for a fixed set of jobs.
From my experience at VANRATH, I see the value of this every time we help someone take the next step in their career.
The strongest candidates are often the people who can communicate their experience, demonstrate how they have dealt with challenges, learn quickly and show that they can adapt to a new environment.
Those qualities can make a significant difference throughout someone's career.
Careers education needs a strong connection with employers
This is also where I believe employers have an important role to play.
Schools and educators cannot be expected to predict exactly what the future workplace will look like on their own. Employers are seeing those changes as they happen.
At VANRATH, our consultants are speaking to businesses across Northern Ireland every day about the skills they need, the challenges they are facing when recruiting and how roles are changing. We also speak to candidates throughout their careers, giving us insight into the skills, experiences and qualities that help people progress. That perspective has value, and I think there is an opportunity for employers to share more of it with education.
That could mean providing insight into different career paths, offering work experience, supporting careers events, speaking to students or simply helping educators understand how expectations within different industries are evolving.
For young people, hearing directly from people working in different sectors can make careers feel much more tangible.
It's about confidence as well as capability
One point that particularly stood out to me from our discussion was the importance of developing the whole person.
We need young people to leave education with knowledge and qualifications, but also with the confidence to use them.
Can they communicate their ideas?
Can they work with people who have different perspectives?
Can they respond when something doesn't go to plan?
Can they ask questions?
Can they adapt when circumstances change?
Can they identify their own strengths and understand where they need to develop?
These are the qualities that can help someone throughout their working life, regardless of the industry or role they eventually choose.
As recruiters, we regularly see the difference confidence and communication can make when someone is applying for a role or attending an interview. Building those skills earlier can only help young people make a more confident transition into employment.
Why employers should have their say
The Curriculum 2028 consultation is open until 30 September 2026, giving employers across Northern Ireland an opportunity to contribute their perspective.
I'd encourage businesses, business leaders and employers to take the time to look at the proposals and share their views. The decisions made about education today will influence the workforce Northern Ireland has tomorrow.
At VANRATH, we have a unique view of the Northern Ireland labour market. We work with employers across a wide range of sectors to understand the people and skills they need, while supporting candidates at every stage of their careers. That puts us at an interesting point in the conversation between education and employment.
We see where skills gaps exist. We hear directly from employers about the capabilities they are looking for. And we work with candidates who are developing those skills and building their careers. That is why I believe recruitment businesses and employers have a responsibility to contribute to conversations like this.
The future workforce isn't something we can simply react to when young people enter the jobs market. We have an opportunity to help shape it much earlier.
I really enjoyed the discussion with Lorna McAdoo, Neil Hutcheson, Judith Totten MBE and Peter Hutchison, and I'm grateful to IoD Northern Ireland for bringing together such a thoughtful group to discuss an issue that will have a lasting impact on Northern Ireland. For anyone involved in employing, developing or supporting people across Northern Ireland, I'd encourage you to have your say before the consultation closes on 30 September 2026.
The workforce of tomorrow is being shaped today, and VANRATH is proud to be part of that conversation.