Executive urged to back manufacturing sea change

The North's Executive was challenged today to bring about a sea change in how manufacturing was supported, promoted and partnered.

Northern Ireland Manufacturing (NIM) proposed the establishment of a “concordat with government” as it launched its new, wide ranging policy document – 'Manufacturing Counts'.

The document, launched at Stormont at an event attended by First Minister Peter Robinson, promotes what it called a hugely beneficial relationship with the Carbon Trust to lower industrial emissions, cut energy costs and develop new markets in the green technology field.

Bryan Gray, chief executive of NIM – formerly known as the Northern Ireland Manufactory Focus Group- said the document had the potential to be the first step in a manufacturing revolution.

He said it was time for the Executive to build on the support it showed the manufacturing sector by capping the industrial rate at 30%.

Mr Gray said: “Northern Ireland has a place on the global stage; its manufacturing heritage is present in the story of the modern world, from building the Titanic, then the largest object ever to move, to getting the rest of the world moving on Dunlop tyres.”

The contribution continued and would do so in the future, he said. “Technologies that today are science will tomorrow be taken for granted by customers all over the world.”

Manufacturing flourishes when it is valued and supported, he added, and that set everyone a challenge, part of which was down to NIM.

“We need to speak up more about our successes, make sure our contribution is recognised and enthuse the next generation to see the value in making things.”

The document outlined a series of ideas on how the Executive could support the manufacturing sector – and outlined what it called its ’4 Cs’ challenge:

:: Cutting costs.

:: accepting the challenge and opportunities presented by Climate change.

:: developing our Capabilities in terms of training and management.

:: changing our Culture by changing our own view of our potential.

The organisation’s chairman, Michael Wightman, said: “NIM calls for a sea change in the way that manufacturing is supported, promoted and partnered.

“This runs across the Departments of Finance, of Employment and Learning and of Education as well as Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

“This is a big ask but essential to our future and, we believe, the future of the Northern Ireland economy.”

Mr Wightman commended MLAs for their support in the past and challenged them to stand up alongside the manufacturing sector to take the necessary steps for a better future – one that brought jobs and sustainability to the province.

Focusing on climate change opportunities he said the developing relationship between the Carbon Trust and the organisation offered immense opportunities.

He said they had opened up what could be a hugely beneficial understanding with the trust which had the capability to help local industry slash its power costs.

But he added: “What’s really interesting is the opportunity it offers to local manufacturing to start a business revolution – for Northern Ireland to establish itself as the cutting edge of new technologies in new markets.”

He added: “If there is one project Mr Robinson and his Executive colleagues could support, this should be it.”

They wanted to work with the Executive and the Carbon Trust to develop that opportunity – to create jobs and establish a lasting legacy for the new power sharing administration.

“We need funding to help us develop the potential which partnership with the Carbon Trust can yield, we need the support of Invest Northern Ireland and DETI to unlock the potential which exists here.”

He pointed to the success of local family engineering company Willis Renewables which had started out as Willis Heating and Plumbing in 1887 and went on to develop the Willis immersion heater decades later.

Current boss John Willis had developed the Solasyphon, which helped people retrofit their homes for solar power at a fraction of the cost of other systems.

“His order book is full, his phone is ringing and he’s spending a lot of time in the United States.

“His business is an example of the best of Northern Ireland manufacturing – a century of engineering excellence, which is taking that wealth of experience and readying itself for the future,” said Mr Wightman.