Best Workplus Podcasts (2025)

1
Your Future Career Right Here In Northern Ireland | Workplus Ep. 14 34:27

Play Pause

1d ago34:27

34:27

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 r…

1
How To Restart Your Tech Career Using Apprenticeships | Workplus Ep. 13 33:46

8d ago33:46

33:46

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 ar…

1
Green Economy Explained: Jobs, Skills, Impact | Workplus Ep. 12 22:06

15d ago22:06

22:06

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 i…

1
What Employers MUST Do to Keep Gen Z Engaged | Workplus Ep. 11 54:42

22d ago54:42

54:42

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 urge…

1
The Hidden Careers in Software (It’s Not Just Coding) | Workplus Ep. 10 56:18

29d ago56:18

56:18

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 …

1
How Ordinary People Build Extraordinary Tech Careers | Workplus Ep. 9 23:45

1M ago23:45

23:45

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.…

1
The Transformational Impact of Employment | Workplus Ep. 8 35:16

1M ago35:16

35:16

The Transformational Impact of Employment In this episode of Workplus, Richard Kirk speaks with Michael, a senior leader at Belfast City Council, about his journey from the Glens of Antrim to global consultancy, and now to reshaping lives through employment academies. Michael shares how his personal and professional path informs his work helping ot…

1
Building Futures: The Lasting Impact Of Engineering Careers | Workplus Ep. 7 27:48

2M ago27:48

27:48

Building Futures: The Lasting Impact of Engineering Careers In this episode of the Workplus podcast, host Richard Kirk is joined by Claire, Director of Engineering at Oxford Instruments. Claire shares her inspiring journey from a Northern Irish all-girls school to leading a global engineering team developing scientific imaging technologies. She dis…

1
Continuous Learning in the Age of AI | Workplus Ep. 6 45:27

2M ago45:27

45:27

Continuous Learning in the Age of AI In this episode of Workplus, Richard Kirk speaks with John Healy about his remarkable career journey from accidental engineer to tech leader. John reflects on the importance of adaptability, lifelong learning, and purpose-driven work as he shares how he navigated roles at JP Morgan, Citi, Allstate, and Invest NI…

1
Why Apprenticeships Are Transforming Tech Careers | Workplus Ep. 5 33:10

2M ago33:10

33:10

Why Apprenticeships Are Transforming Tech Careers In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk speaks with twin sisters Olivia and Louisa, software engineering apprentices at Teamworks. From their early passion for tech to building products used by elite sports teams, they share an honest and inspiring story of growth, challenge, and the power of…

1
What Real Careers Really Look Like: Áine’s Path Into Tech | Workplus Ep. 4 36:12

2M ago36:12

36:12

In this episode of Workplus, Richard is joined by Áine McCaughey, Principal Software Engineer at Instil. Áine didn’t grow up dreaming of a job in tech. In fact, she nearly became a biochemist or a secondary school teacher. But a bold nudge from a trusted teacher led her to try computer science, and that changed everything. Áine shares how she found…

1
From Engineer to Employer: Building a Business in Tech | Workplus Ep. 3 42:39

3M ago42:39

42:39

In this episode of the Workplus podcast, Tara Simpson, CEO of Instil and founding member of Software NI, shares her incredible journey from self-taught teenager to leading one of Northern Ireland’s top software companies. Tara opens up about how a ZX Spectrum in the 1980s sparked his love for technology, why mentorship transformed his career, and h…

1
What Employers Really Want From Schools | Workplus Ep. 1 48:21

3M ago48:21

48:21

In the very first episode of the Workplus podcast, Kathleen O’Hare shares her powerful perspective on how education in Northern Ireland must change to prepare young people for the future of work. From the need to move beyond outdated exams, to breaking the stigma around vocational careers, to ensuring every young person leaves school digitally conf…

1
From School to Software Engineer: Why Apprenticeships Work | Workplus Ep. 2 28:29

3M ago28:29

28:29

In this episode of the Workplus podcast, Gina Lonergan shares her inspiring journey from school student to associate software engineer at Liberty IT through an apprenticeship. Gina reveals how early work experience, practical learning, and a supportive workplace helped her build a thriving career without university debt. From coding and product des…

1
Workplus | Trailer 0:50

3M ago0:50

0:50

This project has been a long time coming. Born out of hundreds of conversations with parents, teachers, employers, and young people across Northern Ireland. It’s built around a simple idea: What if careers advice started with real people and real jobs…not just job titles? In this podcast, we sit down with welders, coders, youth workers, artists, ac…