Skills And Recruitment Conference For Down Businesses

Down and Mourne businesses urged to attend the recruitment and skills conference in the Canal Court Hotel

  • Canal Court Hotel on Wednesday 9th October 2024 from 9am-3.30pm.

Businesses, education and trading providers in the Down and Mourne areas are being urged to sign up for a Free district-wide Recruitment and Skills Conference in Newry in early October followed by another conference later that month in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle.

Aimed at tackling Newry Mourne and Down’s Workforce Challenges, the Conference will take place in the Canal Court Hotel on Wednesday 9th October 2024 and will include speakers, panellists, and participants from across the whole district.

Businesses, education and training providers and policymakers in the greater Downpatrick, Newcastle and Kilkeel areas are being encouraged to attend the Conference and play a significant role in shaping and developing a Labour Market Strategy for the whole District for the next decade and beyond.

The October 9th Conference takes place in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry from 9am–3:30pm and is the first of two major conferences over a 12-month period with the second district-wide conference taking place in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle on 8th October 2025.

Down Business Centre CEO Emma Bohill and Newry Chamber CEO Michael Savage launch the NMD Recruitment and Skills Conference which takes place in Newry on October 9th.

Chief Executive of Down Business Centre, Emma Bohill urged stakeholders in the Downpatrick, Ballynahinch and East Down areas to play their part in the Conference and added: “This major conference tackles an issue that is impacting every business across our whole District from Saintfield to Crossmaglen.

“It provides an information for everyone who has a stake in tackling our workforce challenges and an opportunity for their concerns and ideas to be heard as we to develop a strategy to deal with the issues.”

Mairead McKibbin, Vice President of Newcastle Chamber, said: “We are delighted to work with Newry Chamber to support this conference on October 9th in Newry and next year on October 8th in Newcastle.

“The two conferences provide us with a 12-month timeline to come up with a strategy based on the engagement and discussion this October which can be developed through the local Labour Market Partnership this year and moulded into a strategy at the second conference in Newcastle next year.

“We encourage everyone with a stake in skills and recruitment to register and attend the conference on October 9th and be part of the process.

Kilkeel Chamber Vice President Jenny Hanna, Kilkeel Development Agency Office Manager Sophie Annett and Newry Chamber CEO Michael Savage launch the NMD Recruitment and Skills Conference which takes place in Newry on October 9th.

Jenny Hanna, Vice President of Kilkeel Chamber, said: “Businesses of all sizes in the Mourne area are struggling with labour market issues as is every other part of the District and it important that we all work together to find sustainable solutions.

“We have a lot of work to do to come up with those solutions and it is important that every corner of the District is represented.

Newcastle Chamber Vice President Mairead McKibbin and Newry Chamber CEO Michael Savage launch the NMD Recruitment and Skills Conference which takes place in Newry on October 9th.

“Businesses of all sizes in the Mourne area are struggling with labour market issues as is every other part of the District and it important that we all work together to find sustainable solutions.

“We have a lot of work to do to come up with those solutions and it is important that every corner of the District is represented.

“We encourage all our members and everyone who wants to see a workforce strategy for this region to sign up and attend the Conference.”

The NMD Recruitment & Skills Conference is organised by Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade in partnership with:

  • NMD Labour Market Partnership (LMP) – funded by the Department for Communities
  • Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
  • Southern Regional College (SRC)
  • South Eastern Regional College (SERC)
  • Ulster University
  • Business Organisations from across the District.

For more details on the Conference and to book your FREE place for the conference by visit:

www.newrychamber.com