Manufacturing Month returns to showcase the strength of NI sector
Led by Manufacturing NI, the month-long initiative demonstrates the sector's significant contribution to the economy and highlights the companies, workers, and leaders who make Northern Ireland's manufacturing sector a global success story.
Sponsored by some of Northern Ireland's leading companies and organisations including the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), Barclays, Go Succeed NI, KPMG, Mills Selig, and Reliance, the campaign aims to showcase the sector's capabilities, from cutting-edge technology and sustainability initiatives to career pathways and skills development.
Throughout the month, a series of events, factory tours, webinars, and networking opportunities will be delivered to celebrate achievements, discuss challenges, and explore future opportunities.
'We have extraordinary manufacturing businesses who collectively provide almost 100,000 direct and more than 150,000 fully sustained jobs in every community across Northern Ireland.' Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said.
'They dominate our R&D investment and external and export sales.
"Manufacturing Month is a chance to celebrate the sector. It is a platform for manufacturers to not only share their achievements but also learn from each other and work together to capture the opportunities in an increasingly difficult economy.
"Our 'makers' already provide good, regionally dispersed jobs and Manufacturing Month helps bring them together to collectively work to drive productivity, to decarbonise, and deal with the threats presented by a world embroiled in a trade war.
"Manufacturing Month will include a series of 'Meet The Maker' events, and the publication of a major piece of economic analysis, which unveils the impact the sector has on communities throughout Northern Ireland. Manufacturers, supply chains, supporting organisations, Councils, and others are encouraged to participate, with a media kit provided to help them get their good news out.'
Manufacturing Month will be rounded off with the Anchor High Leadership Summit on May 29 at The Hilton Hotel, Belfast. Summit attendees, manufacturing leaders, and others will hear from a range of industry experts, guest speakers, and panellists who will share their experiences through a series of practical case studies.
The summit will be followed in the evening by the prestigious Manufacturing NI Hall of Fame Awards, which recognises those who have shaped Northern Ireland's industrial landscape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast firm to invest nearly £2m in cybersecurity product
A Belfast-based firm is investing nearly £2m on developing a cyber security product for advanced manufacturing. Angoka is spending £1.8m creating the solution designed to help businesses defend increasingly digitalised manufacturing processes. The product is being jointly developed with the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), a project which brings together Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University with public sector bodies to support industry. The project has also received funding from Invest NI. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said: 'This investment by Angoka will help increase productivity, create good jobs, and boost innovation across two of our priority sectors - cyber security and advanced manufacturing. 'It is the result of collaboration between government, academia and the private sector. And it has been enabled by the City and Growth Deal which established the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre. 'So today's announcement is a great example of our economic strategy paying dividends.' Angoka chairman Steve Berry said: 'With cyber threats growing in both scale and sophistication, demand for solutions that protect online devices has surged across the globe. 'COSMIC is a reaction to the growing need for cyber security adoption in the advanced manufacturing sector due to the detrimental impact any breaches could have on the operational resilience of manufacturing facilities. 'Our new solution will allow us to expand our core offering and achieve ambitious growth targets. It will be designed for ease of deployment both on existing and new manufacturing equipment. 'This seamless deployment will be a key enabler for breaking into new markets across the globe.' Sam Turner, chief executive of AMIC, said the company is at the heart of the innovation support system for Northern Ireland manufacturing. 'Led by Queen's University in partnership with industry, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Ulster University, we support our industrial clients in transforming processes and introducing new cutting-edge innovative products. 'With our new Factory-of-the-Future opening in 2026 and our mission to drive growth, competitiveness and innovation, the AMIC team is delighted to support Angoka with this project.' Dr Vicky Kell, director of innovation, research and development at Invest NI said: 'This investment in R&D is a vote of confidence in our talent, infrastructure and R&D capabilities in Northern Ireland. 'The benefits of investing in R&D are rich, and Angoka is testament to how R&D can enable the development of game changing products which can drive competitiveness in the global market. 'This investment directly supports our business strategy, which prioritises accelerating innovation and maximising the wider benefits of City and Growth Deals to drive innovation and build collaboration with academia and industry to develop next-generation products and services.' Angola was founded in 2019 by Mr Berry, and specialises in authentication technology. It also offers threat analysis and risk assessment services to companies. Clients and partners include Sunderland City Council and the UK Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. As part of its work on the security of self-driving vehicles, Angoka is one of the partners on the Harlander self-driving bus, which aims to enter service on the Belfast Harbour estate in the coming months.
Belfast Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Gerry Murphy: Top 100 Companies reminds us all of what's at stake in Good Jobs Bill
We also noticed Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald's comments that the 'work we are taking forward on the Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill is crucial for creating sustainable employment opportunities and boosting the local economy'. 'It will help ensure fair wages, better working conditions and job security for workers.' We, of course, agree and noted too that most of the companies in the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 are unionised or practicing the kind of good relations and conditions for their employees that the minister aspires to achieve in her Good Jobs Bill. In short, and despite some scaremongering about the 'cost to business', successful companies have little to fear from having trade unions about the place, or the work-life balance measures coming into law in Great Britain with Labour's Employment Rights Bill and proposed for our devolved 'Good Jobs' legislation. 'Decent work aids retention and loyalty is the reward a respected member of staff extends to a good employer' Most of the list of NI's most profitable companies recognise trade unions and set terms and conditions for their staff through collective bargaining agreements. These cover substantial numbers of our working population. As Manufacturing NI's Stephen Kelly pointed out 'whilst 1% of manufacturers are large (more than 250 employees), they account for almost half of employment and more than half of turnover' in that sector. Additionally, many of the companies listed have in their existing employment contracts many of the rights and entitlements proposed for all workers in the Good Jobs Bill, such as family-friendly policies like maternal, parental and bereavement leave. These companies face no surprises from Dr Archibald's proposals. These proposed policies will only be a concern for a minority of employers who hope for some competitive edge over the many decent bosses at the expense of their workers. But these perceptions get noted, not least by workers who are aware that the grass is often greener with some other, better, boss. Decent work aids retention and loyalty is the reward a respected member of staff extends to a good employer. It should also be noted that we have been focused on NI-headquartered companies. And impressive as they are, they are not the only large employers here. Many are international, such as Spirit, Allstate, Citibank, Seagate, Thales and Santander. Some are based in the Republic, such as Dunnes, Primark, First Trust and Bank of Ireland. More are headquartered in GB, and most of these unionised companies are also preparing for similar changes with the Labour government's Employment Rights Bill, presently at an advanced stage and likely to be in statute within a year. Indeed, many of the aspects proposed in the NI 'Good Jobs' Bill are already in statute in GB. The Department for the Economy consultation process completed last summer contained 31 proposals. Of these, 19 are proposals that will simply bring NI into line with GB. They are largely uncontroversial and will not pose any significant cost or administrative burden on businesses here. Indeed, most were passed by Conservative governments at Westminster. The remaining 12 proposals in the proposed NI legislation are currently under active consideration by the Labour Government and ensure that working people in NI will not be left behind again. Polling in GB has shown the Employment Rights Bill to be one of the few widely popular policies of the Starmer administration. This legislation demonstrates the NI Assembly getting around to (after a few suspensions) using its devolved powers over employment law for the first time since 2016. So, the proposed Labour Party legislation at Westminster will shortly be, in the employment contracts of GB firms such as Tesco, Concentrix, Bamford Bus Company (Wrightbus), Four Seasons, G4S, Sainsbury's, Boots, PwC, Lloyds, Asda and BT. This is not intended to sound like an endorsement of all of these employers. Some are hostile to unions and many have been caught up in the wave of industrial action brought on by the cost of living crisis since 2022. At the same time, those firms which did have disputes all reached resolution because of direct negotiations with the trade unions representing their staff. Most pay issues in the private sector were amicably settled with a great deal less stress than the situation we all experienced here across the public sector under the last belligerent Conservative government. The Good Jobs bill deserves to be taken to the MLAs we elected in our devolved Assembly, to be debated and discussed, its merits measured and amended if needed by local politicians accountable to an electorate who we firmly believe, support the proposals for better and fairer workplaces.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- BBC News
Paul Diamond: Tributes paid after death of Derry City president
Tributes have been paid to the prominent businessman and president of Derry City Football Club, Paul Diamond, following his death. Mr Diamond, who died at the weekend, owned the packaging company Diamond Corrugated in the city. He was appointed OBE in 2002 for his services to the packaging industry.A life-long supporter of the Candystripes, Mr Diamond held several senior roles at the club, including chairman and honorary president, after succeeding former SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume. 'Whole life dedicated to the city' Foyle MP Colum Eastwood led tributes to Mr Diamond, describing him as "an institution in Derry"."His whole life was dedicated to the city and using his extraordinary talents to help people," Eastwood said. "He gave people the opportunity of good jobs at his packaging firm Diamond Corrugated in Pennyburn."Mr Eastwood said the late businessman loved the city and "gave back to it in every way that he could".Manufacturing NI, of which Mr Diamond was a founder, said he was a huge contributor to the north west economy. In a statement, Derry City FC remembered Mr Diamond as a "lifelong supporter" and long-time sponsor of the was appointed club president in 2021and the club said his support had been demonstrated over many joined the board of the club in 1995 and served as club chairman when they last won the League of Ireland in club said Mr Diamond's love of the Candystripes was triggered by his own father's support for the team the red, white and black of his firm's logo were inspired by the club colours."The Diamond family links to the club continue as his son Niall was appointed to the club board in 2022," the statement said."Everyone at Derry City extend our sympathies to his wife Mary, sons Niall and Gerard and the wider family circle."
