Menu

News

Belfast business breakfast brings organisations together to tackle low numeracy

15 Oct 2026

TP ICAP hosted a Belfast Business Breakfast on Tuesday 6th October, bringing together representatives from business, government and civil society to explore how improving number confidence can unlock opportunities across Northern Ireland.

Attendees at a TP ICAP business breakfast

Organised with National Numeracy, the event focused on how businesses and organisations can help people build confidence with everyday maths, supporting access to employment, career progression and brighter futures. Representatives from three Northern Ireland government departments, Economy, Education and Communities, were among those attending.

Understanding the scale of the numeracy challenge in Northern Ireland

The breakfast was hosted by Beverley Noye, Head of TP ICAP Belfast and EMEA Head of Operations, with Sam Sims, Chief Executive of National Numeracy. It gave guests an opportunity to understand the scale of the numeracy challenge in Northern Ireland and discuss how organisations can work together to address it.

The event marked a new chapter in the eight-year partnership between TP ICAP and National Numeracy. The organisations are working together to bring the charity’s Schools & Families and Numeracy for Success programmes to Belfast and beyond.

Combining training, practical resources and community activities, these programmes aim to support children and adults to build a more positive relationship with numbers.

Attendees at a TP ICAP business breakfast

Exploring practical steps businesses can take to help improve number confidence

Low numeracy can hold people back in many aspects of life, from managing household finances and supporting children’s learning to applying for jobs and progressing at work. Across the UK, around half of working-age adults have the numeracy skills expected of a primary school child, while poor numeracy costs the economy an estimated £25 billion each year.

The UK Numeracy Index highlights a particular need for support in Northern Ireland, with all 11 local authority districts falling within the half of UK areas with the greatest numeracy need.

Against this backdrop, the breakfast gave guests space to consider how low number confidence affects their communities and workplaces, and to explore practical steps businesses and other organisations can take to help.

Attendees at a TP ICAP business breakfast, sitting around a table

Beverley Noye, Head of TP ICAP Belfast and EMEA Head of Operations, said:

"I am delighted that so many organisations joined us at the Numeracy Roundtable. Improving numeracy is a challenge that no single organisation can solve alone. It requires businesses, public sector bodies and charities to work together to help people build confidence with numbers. When we do that, we can unlock potential, improve life chances and strengthen our economy and communities."

Sam Sims, Chief Executive of National Numeracy, said:

“The roundtable event shows the real power and potential of cross-sector collaboration, and just how important improving numeracy is to our individual and collective prosperity.”

TP ICAP has supported National Numeracy since 2018, sharing our belief that numeracy is a key stepping stone to social mobility. 

As a Lead Supporter of National Numeracy Day and Number Confidence Week, a Founding Member of the National Numeracy Leadership Council and an instrumental partner in introducing our Corporate Volunteering Programme in Northern Ireland, TP ICAP has helped extend the reach of our work.

The Belfast Business Breakfast built on that commitment, bringing organisations together around a shared ambition: helping more children and adults across Northern Ireland gain the number confidence and skills to thrive.

Our pioneering partners and supporters help us drive positive change across the UK and together we are supporting more people than ever to improve their numeracy and build brighter futures.

Working together brings a host of strategic benefits. To learn more about how our work can support your organisation’s charitable goals please email: partnerships@nationalnumeracy.org.uk 

Read more...

Links

Support us

Make a donation

Follow us on

Registered charity number 1145669 © 2014 - 2026 National Numeracy