4C UR Future Appoints Managing Director to Lead Ambitious Plans

Industry-led social enterprise, 4C UR Future, have appointed a Managing Director to lead the organisation’s ambitious plans to involve, inform, and inspire young people to make more empowered career choices.

Founded in 2019 by business leader, Rose Mary Stalker, current Chair of Invest Northern Ireland, 4C UR Future deliver innovative and collaborative careers inspiration events. Using work-based games and skills challenges aligned with future of work employability criteria, the activities are designed to help young people identify their strengths and make more informed decisions that affect their futures.

Rose Mary explained:

4C UR Future LIVE is not a typical careers event. Delivered at-scale, our approach is designed to be inclusive and centred on the individual. We enable each young person to explore their own unique combination of attributes, learning styles, and talents through a range of skills-based games, which are designed in collaboration with industry.”

Our events provide something for everyone; reflecting the diversity of future career options while giving each young person the opportunity to shine.”

In 2019, the organisation delivered two highly successful ‘proof of concept’ pilot events for 1,200 Year 9 pupils, supported by over 120 volunteers from over 30 cross-sectoral companies.

Due to the impact of COVID, the events planned for 2020 and 2021 were postponed. But now, the industry-led Steering Team – comprised of over 40 companies from a diverse range of sectors – have confirmed plans are well underway for at-scale 4C UR Future LIVE pilot events to be held across Northern Ireland in 2022.

To lead the delivery of the organisation’s ambitious plans, 4C UR Future have appointed a Managing Director.

Announcing the appointment, Rose Mary said:

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Rachel Doherty as Managing Director of 4C UR Future. An advocate for lifelong learning and skill development in young people, Rachel shares our passion to unlock the potential of every young person in Northern Ireland, enabling them to become the best version of themselves, and contribute to society and the economy. On behalf of our industry-led Steering Team, I wish Rachel every success and joy in her new role.”

Rachel has spent 12 years in senior leadership positions in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, where skill shortages and bottlenecks in skills pipelines are well documented.

Speaking about her appointment, Rachel said:

4C UR Future’s approach to careers inspiration and support is innovative, collaborative, and inclusive at its core. Our game-changing methods aim to empower young people to make more informed decisions about their education pathway and future career choices, and to better prepare our young people for the future world of work.”

I’m excited to work with the Steering Team, our member companies, and wider stakeholders to build upon what has been achieved so far. Our long-term vision is to significantly scale the delivery of our LIVE events and develop an innovative Careers Portal for Northern Ireland, to ensure no young person is left behind.”

To find out more about 4C UR Future LIVE and how you can get involved, email info@4curfuture.com.