Recruitment conference aimed at tacking area’s workforce challenges launched
Businesses are being urged to register to attend this year's NMD Recruitment & Skills Conference.
It will take place on Wednesday, October 8 in The Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle aimed at meeting Newry, Mourne and Down's Workforce Challenges.
This is the second of two FREE District-wide major conferences over a 12-month period following on from the first highly successful conference in the Canal Court Hotel last October.
The NMD Recruitment & Skills Conference is organised by Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership (LMP).
Addressing recruitment and skills shortages is one of the biggest challenges facing the local business community across the entirety of the District. Businesses, education and training providers and policymakers are encouraged to attend this year’s conference and play a significant role in further shaping and developing a Labour Market Strategy for the District over the next decade and beyond.
The presentations, panel discussions and interactive roundtable discussions will focus on continuing to build on the huge quantity of feedback from businesses, education and training providers and policymakers at last year’s conference and the work that has been done over the last 12 months on the back of that, to develop bespoke solutions to the Workforce Challenge of the next decade and beyond as businesses across every sector of our local economy struggle to recruit and retain staff.
Launching this year’s conference, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Cllr. Philip Campbell said: “Recruitment and skills remain one of the greatest challenges for businesses across Newry, Mourne and Down. Following on from last year’s Skills Conference, supported through NMD Labour Market Partnership, this year’s event brings employers, educators and policymakers together to focus on practical solutions, from creating clearer pathways into careers, to supporting upskilling and embracing diversity in the workplace to ensure high levels of employee retention.
“By working in partnership with Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade; our two regional colleges, SERC and SRC; Ulster University and Queens University; and our business community, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council can build a stronger, more inclusive economy that gives our citizens the opportunities they deserve and helps our businesses thrive.”
Edwina Flynn, Chamber President, added: “Following on from last year’s highly successful conference, it was clear that there is a strong appetite for collaboration in devising a strategy that supports businesses to attract and retain staff and also provides opportunities for those seeking career opportunities, particularly our young people and those who have been economically inactive and want to take their place in the District’s workforce and build a career here in this region.”
Newry Chamber will also be putting on a complimentary bus for businesses located in the Greater Newry Area, leaving The Stone Bridge in Newry at 8am and will return to Newry after the conference has concluded so if you would like to reserve a spot on the bus for you and/or your colleagues, please email [email protected]. Please note, spaces on the bus are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
To book your place for the conference visit www.newrychamber.com