Economy Minister Launches Adult Numeracy Programme

Economy Minister Conor Murphy recently announced Multiply, a new, free to access programme aimed at improving adult numeracy skills.  

Funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Multiply will support the delivery of numeracy training to more than 3,000 adults through 115 initiatives delivered by further education colleges, universities and local councils in partnership with voluntary and community organisations.  

Speaking after a visit to Belfast Met’s Titanic Campus, the Minister said: "Confidence with numbers is a key employability skill. Sadly, too many adults in the north lack, or feel they lack, numeracy skills and this in turn impacts their career prospects and overall wellbeing. Indeed the 2022 Employer Skills Survey highlighted that a lack of basic numerical skills contributed to a quarter of skills-shortage vacancies here.  

“Multiply will see thousands of training opportunities made available for adults right across the north. I strongly encourage anyone who feels they would benefit from additional numeracy training to visit nidirect and find out about courses near them.”  

Multiply offers free courses and activities that fit around people’s lives, ranging from a few hours to several weeks. The programme is designed to help people looking to boost their career, support family learning, get new qualifications or manage their finances better.

Anyone interested in taking advantage of these free courses, should contact Emma Tate: etate@serc.ac.uk or apply directly through the SERC: www.serc.ac.uk/multiply