In conversation with the Economy Minister for Northern Ireland | Workplus

What if the skills that define your career didn't come from a classroom, but from behind a shop counter?
In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister for Northern Ireland. Dr Archibald shares how early work experience shaped her leadership journey — from part-time jobs that built confidence and people skills, to her current passion for apprenticeships as a pathway to real opportunity. This is a conversation about earning while learning, breaking down barriers to employment, and why the skills that matter most are often learned on the job. If you've ever wondered how great careers are really built, this episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Early work experience builds confidence, judgment and essential people skills
• Part-time jobs teach skills that can't be learned in a classroom alone
• Apprenticeships allow Career explorers to earn and learn simultaneously
• Employers benefit from growing talent shaped for the real world
• Work-based learning builds practical confidence alongside technical skills

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA serves as Economy Minister for Northern Ireland, championing apprenticeships and skills development across the region. Her own career journey began with part-time work that taught her invaluable lessons about confidence, people skills, and professional judgment — experiences that continue to inform her leadership today.

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