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Over 100 people attended a highly successful Recruitment & Skills Forum in the Canal Court Hotel & Spa, Newry on Monday 22 April. The event organised by Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade was hosted by John Campbell, BBC NI’s Business & Economics Editor and focused on ‘Meeting Greater Newry’s Workforce Challenge’.
Those in attendance heard presentations from Keynote Speakers, Dr Eoin Magennis, Principal Economist, Ulster University Economic Policy Centre and Kathleen O’Hare OBE, Chair of the Northern Ireland Skills Council. Eoin and Kathleen discussed tackling the Workforce Challenges in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Area, looking at the current and future labour markets and how we develop skills here to meet the short, medium and long-term needs of business and industry.
The event was aimed at starting a conversation between businesses/employers and education and training providers in the Greater Newry Area around how we meet the challenges of an increasingly difficult recruitment market.
Speaking at the Forum, Edwina Flynn, President of Newry Chamber said “Newry Chamber represents over 300 local businesses of all sizes across the Greater Newry Area, all of which are experiencing difficulties in recruiting and upskilling. Any strategy that we come with in partnership with other key stakeholders in the region will only work if it puts the young person and potential employee front and centre.”
There were also three panel discussions on the day which provided a platform to young people, education and training providers and businesses and employers.
Panel Discussion (Young People) - Our Ambitions & Expectations for the Future
John Byrne, A-Level Student at St Colman’s College, Newry
Nathan Revels, GCSE Student at Newry High School
Caoimhe Boyle, HLA Student at First Derivative
Max Helferty, Clanrye Group Student at Rowallane Garden
Jodie McGrogan, Clanrye Group Student at Paws Doggy Daycare
Panel Discussion (Education & Training Providers) - The Challenge of Meeting Employers’ Needs
Lee Campbell, Interim CEO, Southern Regional College
Judith Poucher, Deputy CEO, Clanrye Group
Cormac McKinney, Principal, St Colman’s College, Newry
Iestyn Brown, Principal, Newry High School
Panel Discussion (Businesses & Employers) - The Need for Enhanced Collaboration
Berni Lively, General Manager, The Whistledown Hotel
Stephen Cromie, Owner & Founder, The Exact Group
Caroline Grant, Chief Marketing Officer, Grant Fit Out
Cathal O’Neill, Managing Director, Kilmorey Care Ltd
Margaret Shilliday, Recruitment & HR Manager, McKeevers Chemists
Chamber President Edwina Flynn added “The future of our local economy depends on our ability to provide attractive opportunities for our young people and those economically inactive. Our award-winning and top performing schools, colleges and training organisations cannot solely provide the solutions to addressing the recruitment and skills challenges we face now and in the coming years. Business must be prepared to work in partnership to find sustainable solutions. Collaboration is our only way forward.”
“This event is about starting a much-needed discussion on how we can all collaborate to devise a locally focused strategy that meets the skills and recruitment needs of our region in the 21st Century. By bringing local businesses and employers and education and training providers together, we as a Chamber are providing a platform for discussion through which, workable solutions can be found.”
