Write a comment
Over 150 delegates from across the Newry, Mourne and Down District gathered in Newcastle last week for a major conference tackling recruitment and skills shortages in the area. The event, hosted by broadcaster and journalist Mark Simpson at the Burrendale Hotel, brought together businesses, education providers and policymakers to help shape a labour market strategy for the district.
The NMD Recruitment & Skills Conference was organised by Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership (LMP) together with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Southern Regional College, South Eastern Regional College, Queen's University and Ulster University. It was the second free district-wide conference following a successful event at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry last October.
Funded by the Department for Communities, Labour Market Partnerships create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work. The conference theme was 'Meeting the District's Workforce Challenge', with delegates hearing presentations and panel discussions before taking part in interactive roundtable sessions.
The panel discussions covered three key areas: promoting economic inclusion and championing diversity in the workplace, the pathway to a career and the NI curriculum, and attracting and developing talent.
Speakers included Ana Desmond from Ulster University Economic Policy Centre, Michelle Furphy from the Department for Communities, Justin Kerr from the Department for the Economy Careers Service, Emma Mullen from Deli Lites Ireland, Mark Palmer from Queen's University Belfast and Dr Conor Patterson, chair of the Labour Market Partnership.
Edwina Flynn, president of Newry Chamber, said the conference was about continuing the much-needed conversation about how everyone can collaborate to devise a locally focused strategy. "Newry Chamber is delighted to be involved in the organisation and delivery of this very important conference as one of the Chamber's Core Strategic Pillars is Tackling the Workforce Challenges of the Greater Newry Area," she said.
Councillor Philip Campbell, chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, said the event demonstrated the power of collaboration between business, education and government in addressing workforce challenges. "By providing a platform for employers, educators and policymakers to share ideas and experiences, we are helping to shape practical solutions that will open up new opportunities for our residents, support our businesses to recruit and retain talent and ensure that Newry, Mourne and Down continues to grow as a place of innovation, learning and opportunity," he said.
The feedback from both conferences will be used to develop solutions to the workforce challenges facing businesses across every sector of the local economy as they struggle to recruit and retain staff.
