Northern Ireland Skills & Programme Compass
INTRINSIC AI LTD
Northern Ireland's skills and employability landscape is severely fragmented, with critical support programmes scattered across disparate websites. This information overload creates significant barriers for individuals seeking training and for employers, particularly SMEs, trying to access grants and schemes.
This project directly addresses this systemic challenge by developing and piloting NI Skills Compass, a novel, proof-of-concept conversational AI assistant. Our primary aim is to simplify and centralise access to the entire skills ecosystem through an intuitive, user-centric interface.
The methodology involves three key stages. First, we will collate and structure publicly available data from government and council sources into a centralised 'Knowledge Hub'. Second, we will build a conversational agent AI using a persona-driven design to ensure it meets real-world needs. Finally, we will showcase the proof-of-concept to key policy stakeholders to evaluate its effectiveness and plan for scalability. This pilot is a collaboration between IntrinsicAi's AI expertise and Pivotal's deep policy insight.
The research will explore how such a tool can improve user engagement compared to static websites, identify the data architecture challenges in creating a unified database, and assess the potential for anonymised query data to provide real-time insights on skills gaps for policymakers. The key outputs will be the functional AI assistant, a curated Knowledge Hub, a policy briefing with actionable recommendations, and a roadmap for future development.
Ultimately, this project provides a tangible blueprint for modernising public service delivery and creating a more equitable skills landscape in Northern Ireland.
