Opening Doors to Career opportunities in Belfast’s Events Industry

Ashton Centre students gain behind-the-scenes experience at Belfast’s leading venues

Two young women from the Ashton Centre have completed a six-week work experience placement across ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall, and Ulster Hall, gaining first-hand experience of careers within Belfast’s growing events and cultural sector.

Ieesha Inglis and Mekdelawit Mesay spent six weeks working alongside a range of departments, including HR, Marketing and Communications, and Event Management.

The placement gave both students an opportunity to experience the breadth of work that goes into delivering events across three of Belfast’s best-known venues, while developing practical skills and exploring potential future career pathways.

One of the highlights of the programme saw Ieesha and Mekdelawit help capture content during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, which brought performers, visitors and musicians from across Ireland and beyond to Belfast.

The experience allowed the students to see first-hand how major cultural events are brought to life, from the planning and promotion behind the scenes through to welcoming audiences and delivering activity on the ground.

For ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall, and Ulster Hall, the placement forms part of a wider commitment to providing new opportunities for young people from across the city and helping them better understand the range of career pathways available within the events, tourism and cultural industries.

Rob McConnell, Chief Executive, ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall, said:

Work experience is about much more than spending a few weeks in a workplace. It is about giving young people access to environments, people and opportunities that can help them understand what is possible and where their own interests and strengths might take them.

“It was fantastic to welcome Ieesha and Mekdelawit into our team and give them experience across several different areas of the organisation. From marketing and communications to HR and event delivery, they were able to see just how many different roles are involved in running world-class venues."

“We want young people from communities across Northern Ireland to see that there are exciting career opportunities on their doorstep. By opening our doors and sharing the expertise of our team, we hope we can help build confidence, broaden horizons and support the next generation of talent entering the industry.”

The placement also gave Ieesha and Mekdelawit the chance to identify the areas of work they enjoyed most and gain a clearer understanding of the skills and experience employers look for.

Joanne O’Reilly, Coordinator Skills for Life and Work, Ashton Centre said:

Opportunities like this can have a real impact on young people. Being able to step into a professional environment, meet people working in different careers and gain meaningful, practical experience can help them make more informed choices about their future.

“We are delighted that Ieesha and Mekdelawit had the opportunity to experience some of Belfast’s leading venues and be involved in such a significant cultural event for the city.”

The six-week programme reflects the venues’ continued focus on creating accessible pathways into the industry and supporting a future workforce that better reflects the diversity of Belfast and the communities it serves.