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Over 150 people attended today’s Driving Growth in the North West conference in An Grianan Hotel, Burt to consider the region’s response to the challenges and opportunities of Brexit.

Speaking at the conference, Dr Frances Ruane urged the North West region to have a ‘no regrets‘approach when it comes to responding to the Brexit challenges.

Dr Ruane, who is a former Director of the Economic and Social Research Institute, said: ‘I am very impressed by what the North West region is doing and how well it is set up. All macro economics is ultimately micro and the North West region should do all they can at this point in time to realise their vision for the North West City region, irrespective of Brexit. ‘

Donegal County Council’s Cathaoirleach Cllr Terence Slowey in his opening address said: “Our region is at last beginning to get its just recognition whether it’s the many attributes and successes of the city or indeed my own Donegal being named last week by National Geographical on The Cool List of 17 of 2017.

“We are looking forward to a hugely successful year for tourism in the north west and today’s conference will help us realise this potential.’

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Alderman Hilary McClintock, referring to the recent joint trade delegation to Boston said: “the visit and the outcomes from it served as a very strong signal of the potential that exists in the north west region at this time. Our region has very ambitious and resilient businesses. It has excellent colleges and a university who work hard to ensure that the skills needed are being developed at this important time.’

Setting the scene for the conference both Chief Executives of Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council outlined the new and innovative working arrangements that allow both Councils to work collaboratively and to engage in a meaningful way with Central Government on both sides of the border.

Loretta McNicholas from Donegal County Council and Michael Gallagher from Derry City and Strabane District Council outlined the findings of a Scoping Exercise undertaken recently to provide the local context for the challenges and opportunities that Brexit presents.

The conference also heard from Dr Katy Hayward from Queen’s University of Belfast on the impact of Brexit on the free movement of people across our border and made a number of suggestions of innovative arrangements and solutions that could be considered for this region.

Ulster University’s Dr Eoin Magennis said he believes that the border can act as a bridge for opportunities and that the North West region is unique because of its travel to work areas that are not replicated in other parts of the island.

He urged both Councils to continue with their collaborative approach and referred to tomorrow’s inaugural meeting of the North West Strategic Growth Partnership, which will see senior government officials from north and south, meeting with both Councils to agree strategic growth priorities for the region.

The conference concluded with a panel discussion that engaged audience members along with contributions from chambers of commerce together with business representatives from both sides of the border and representation from organisations against Brexit.

In his closing address Seamus Neely, Donegal County Council Chief Executive thanked those who attended and said that this is only the beginning of the conversation.

Mr Neely said: “Today’s speakers have provided us with food for thought that will help us continue to develop our views and thoughts that will allow us to develop a collective response to the challenges and opportunities presented by Brexit for this region.”

Source: Donegal Daily

Economy Minister Simon Hamilton MLA has hosted a special event in Londonderry to acknowledge the growth and investment of businesses in the North West. Ten businesses, two of which are new investors, are creating 100 new jobs and investing over £5.6million in the local economy.

With the support of Invest Northern Ireland, Mechanical Installations & Maintenance, Meritcom, Precision Group, Retail Systems Technology Limited, Junk Kouture, Click Energy, Gradon Architecture and FAST Technologies have each been working on growth projects.

Two GB-based software businesses, Launch Pad and Peoplesafe, are also establishing offices in the city and plan to create a total of 16 new jobs over the next 12 months. Speaking at Invest Northern Ireland’s Timber Quay offices, the Minister said: “This multi million investment by indigenous businesses and UK investors is positive news for Londonderry.

“The 100 new jobs being created span a range of roles and industries including software development, engineering, marketing and finance, and once in place will contribute over £2.5million in additional salaries to the local economy. “Invest Northern Ireland has offered £578,400 to support the growth of these businesses who by doing so are committing to both their future and the sustained economic growth of the local area.”

 

 

The Minister added: “Every business plays a role in our economic success and strengthening and growing Northern Ireland’s private sector requires all stakeholders to work in partnership towards the achievement of a common goal. I welcome the joined-up approach to economic development in the North West and the contribution the Council and local stakeholders such as the Chamber the Council are making, alongside Invest Northern Ireland, to rebuild and rebalance our economy.

Source: Invest NI News

The announcement of the establishment of a Boston office for Derry firm GoWalkTalk and a joint partnership between Gartan Technologies from Donegal and US firm Adashi Systems, and the ongoing commitment to strengthen economic development links between Massachusetts and the North West region were some of the early successes of the Ireland North West delegation who travelled to the United States last week as part of a trade visit.

Making the announcement of the new Boston office for GoWalkTalk, the Mayor of Boston, Martin Walsh, speaking at the Golden Bridges Conference, said the investment by the Derry based healthcare management applications and solution’s company was evidence of the ongoing positive partnership arrangement with Massachusetts and the North West region of Ireland.

The Ireland North West delegation, the first of its kind to travel to Massachusetts, was cross border and cross agency led by the Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Mayor Alderman Hilary McClintock and the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Terence Slowey, with the Chief Executives of both Councils John Kelpie and , Seamus Neely, Council officials, representatives from Udaras na Gaeltachta, Ulster University, Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the North West Regional College, and 17 local businesses, all travelling to promote the region for investment and build and develop strong links and relationships between both regions.

An inspiring “Gateway for Growth” promotional video and brochure was officially launched during the visit and businesses and officials in Worcester, Springfield and Boston about the unique opportunities that existed for investment in Ireland North West.

John Kelpie, Chief Executive with Derry City and Strabane District Council said: “We told delegates about our unique offering and the fact that Ireland North West, that includes the fourth largest city on the island of Ireland, is a very attractive location for international business partnerships because of its hugely talented skills base, competitive operating costs, advanced telecommunications infrastructure and excellent education and business linkages. A key selling point for us was our unique location and our close connectivity to Europe, our very youthful and talented population, and excellent skills base.

“We were very forthright about our ambitious plans for the future and told them about how we are investing multi-millions of pounds in our road, rail and air infrastructure and connectivity over the next five to 10 years, that will see the expansion of our university, the development of a graduate medical school and major redevelopment of the city sites including investment in housing, office and retail space and leisure service provision. We outlined our strong commitment to building on our existing strengths in terms of our youthful and well educated population, our talent and creativity and skills base to promote ourselves as a city and region that is willing and able to do business.”

Seamus Neely, Chief Executive with Donegal County Council said that the potential US investors were very interested to hear that Ireland North West is ranked in the top 10 economies in the world for ease of doing business and starting a business, and to hear about our strong and diverse SME base and real spirit of entrepreneurship.

“What was very evident from our visit was how the US businesses were interested in our location and our closeness to Europe. We went out there with a very clear message that our unique location is our strength and how we provide the only region that has a land border between the UK and the rest of the EU.”

“Our young, well educated population with their strong worth ethic, and the fact that 31% of our school leavers are educated to degree level and have right skills for employment were very much of interest to the businesses we spoke to.”

Another top selling point for the delegation was the region’s extremely cost competitiveness for prime office rent space compared to Boston or Dublin and the attractive financial support packages and ongoing aftercare support for potential investors that are on offer, in addition to our universities and institutions that are driving our technology and knowledge industries.

 

John Kelpie said these impressive selling points make Ireland North West a highly attractive and competitive location to do business and he is confident some real linkages and connections were made.

Mayor Alderman Hilary McClintock said the visit was very significant not only in terms of forging links and relationships but in giving the companies that travelled as part of the delegation a real insight into the US market and the opportunities that exist for development and expansion.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Terence Slowey said feedback on what Ireland North West has to offer has been very positive and that people in the US were genuinely very excited about what the region has to offer.

For the 17 companies that travelled as part of the delegation there is a lot of follow up work to do with the connections and links made during the visit.  Eleanor Hanna from Donegal based Hanna Hats felt that the trip was very beneficial for her business and said that “we have made some great contacts with high end fashion stores in the US and we are planning to meet up with them in the New Year to pursue these opportunities further”.

While Orla Ward from O’Neill’s, Ireland’s largest sportswear manufacturing company, said the visit was really worthwhile and she is following up on a number of very positive leads with colleges and universities in Boston who are interested in their quality performance playing kits.

Source: Derry City & Strabane District Council News