A Milestone Putting People, Community & Sustainability First
People 1st is delighted to announce that we have officially been awarded ‘Member’ level accreditation in the Belfast Business Promise – a major milestone that recognises our commitment to fair employment, community partnership, sustainability, and building a better Belfast for everyone.
This achievement follows a fantastic Learning Day at Custom House Square, where organisations gathered to share best practice and celebrate the progress being made across the city. Becoming a Belfast Business Promise Member reflects our long-standing mission: putting people first, supporting our communities, and growing a fairer, more sustainable local economy.
What Is the Belfast Business Promise?
The Belfast Business Promise is a city-wide accreditation scheme created to help employers improve how they do business – not just for profit, but for people and the planet. The initiative sets a shared standard of excellence across Belfast employers by focusing on:
- Good jobs and fair wages
- Inclusive recruitment
- Prompt payment
- Social value
- Environmental impact
- Strong community partnerships
- Staff wellbeing and development
Its aim is simple: to build a network of organisations who are committed to making Belfast a better city to work in, live in, and thrive in.
The Promise is flexible and accessible to all employers – from small businesses to large public-sector bodies — and provides tailored support to help organisations progress through the levels of accreditation: Supporter → Member → Ambassador.
People 1st: Now a Belfast Business Promise Member
After months of shared learning, planning, and demonstrating our commitments in action, we’re proud to have officially reached Member level accreditation. This means we have successfully evidenced five of the eight Belfast Business Promise pledges, including two of the core requirements.
Pledges Achieved So Far
We are delighted to have met the following five pledges:
✔️ Provide Fair Wages
We are committed to ensuring our staff are paid fairly and treated with dignity, stability, and respect. This includes paying the Real Living Wage and providing security around working hours.
✔️ Work in Partnership with Our Communities
Community engagement is at the heart of People 1st. For over 30 years, we have worked alongside local employers, schools, residents, and partner organisations to improve opportunities and outcomes for people of all ages.
✔️ Offer Opportunities Into Work
Our training programmes, apprenticeships and Skills for Life and Work pathways are designed to remove barriers and open the door to employment. Every year, thousands of learners gain qualifications, upskill, and take the next step into work.
✔️ Support the Local and Social Economy
As a Northern Ireland organisation, we reinvest locally, partner with local businesses, and contribute to a sustainable and competitive economy – adding social value at every stage.
✔️ Pay Promptly
We respect the essential work of our suppliers, ensuring invoices are paid on time and supporting a responsible supply chain.
Achieving these pledges reflects our core values: equality, inclusivity, opportunity, and community strength.
Next Stop: Ambassador Status
Member accreditation is only the beginning. To reach the highest level – Ambassador – we will work to deliver the remaining three pledges:
- Protecting the environment
- Recruiting inclusively
- Improving training, engagement and wellbeing
We are already making strong progress, and we look forward to the next stage of the journey with the full support of the Belfast Business Promise team.
Why This Matters for Belfast
The Belfast Business Promise isn’t just a badge – it is a movement. A growing community of employers working together to:
- Create good, secure, fairly paid jobs
- Strengthen the local economy
- Reduce inequality
- Support communities
- Tackle climate change
- Build a healthier, more resilient city
As an organisation deeply rooted in local impact, joining this network aligns perfectly with our purpose: to empower people, support lifelong learning, and deliver real change for individuals, families, and communities.
About the Eight Belfast Business Promise Pledges
Employers working toward accreditation commit to the following eight pledges:
- Provide fair wages and contracts
- Work in partnership with communities
- Protect the environment
- Offer opportunities into work
- Support the local and social economy
- Pay promptly
- Recruit inclusively
- Improve training, engagement and well-being
Every organisation starts as a Supporter, becomes a Member after evidencing five pledges, and can reach Ambassador status when all eight are met.
Encouraging Belfast Organisations to Get Involved
We strongly encourage other Belfast employers to join the Belfast Business Promise and help shape a more inclusive, fair, and prosperous city.
💡 Watch the short introduction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmDOyHOAXMo&t=16s
🔗 Learn more or register your interest:http://bit.ly/4ppKdKN
Joining the Belfast Business Promise opens the door to:
✨ Tailored support
✨ Networking with like-minded organisations
✨ Learning days and events
✨ A shared platform for positive change
✨ A recognised accreditation for best practice
Together, we can make Belfast a world-leading example of social value, fairness, and community-driven business.
A Big Thank You
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Belfast Business Promise team and to everyone at People 1st who contributed to this achievement.
This accreditation reflects the hard work, dedication, and values of our entire organisation – and we are excited to continue making progress toward Ambassador status.
If you would like to speak with People 1st about this achievement, Kim from our team would be happy to help and you can contact her on [email protected] and if you would like to learn more about our awards please visit the ‘About us’ page: https://people-1st.co.uk/about/ where you can read more about achieveing Investors in People Gold accreditation and the Deloitte Ireland Best Managed Companies Award.
