Recruitment and Skills Conference

Down Business Centre attended the Recruitment and Skills Conference organised by Newry Chamber of Commerce on the 9^th October. The conference was a FREE district wide Recruitment and Skills Conference aimed at tackling Newry, Mourne and Downs workforce challenges. Businesses, education, training providers and policy makers were in attendance all of which will play a significant role in shaping and developing a Labour Market Strategy for the whole district for the next decade. This was an opportunity to discuss the challenges businesses face around recruitment of people and skills gaps.

Our CEO was invited as a panel member for a discussion on the challenges businesses are facing when it comes to recruitment. Emma pointed out that businesses are faced with the challenge of both “quantity of people and quality of people. The pool of people that once was available to businesses is no longer available. Brexit, COVID and political instability in Northern Ireland has reduced the number of people that are available to work. Businesses are having to think of alternative ways to recruit, who they recruit and what they offer in terms of a job”.

There was also representation from local businesses Finnebrouge, Head of Talent, Melissa Mackey and Stephen Magorian from Horatio Group. Both shared their industry challenges around the number of jobs vacant versus the number of people to fill the vacancies with the right skills.

This conference was one of 2 major conferences being held to have these important discussions. The next will be in the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle on 8^th October 2025. This is one for your diary.

Thanks to Michael Savage at Newry Chamber for having Down Business Centre involved.