Business First Issue2 Vol5:Layout 1 27/10/2009 13:57 Page 2
From the president
An independent review of
the Independent Review
by Bro McFerran CBE, president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce
W
hat a shame the many constructive training and management development. Invest NI’s
recommendations made in last month’s role in training and development is a further cause
Independent Review of Economic Policy of confusion. The confusion is currently being
Report were obscured by the ‘hatchet job’ on Invest addressed by Bill McGinnis, the Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland. I hope that the consultation Adviser on Employment and Skills, and his recently
process will not be shaped by the savage formed advisory group.
‘tabloidisation’ of such a measured and substantive Combining the Departments of Enterprise, Trade
study. and Investment and Employment and Learning,
Above all, the process must not be turned into a therefore, makes so much sense.
debate about what to do about Invest NI. The Innovation and R&D are what's going to create the
agency, I believe, has been moving in the right added value products and services for international
direction towards a much sharper focus on markets. We’ve also got to have many more people
innovation, R&D and exports for some considerable with the strategic marketing and selling skills to
time. convert these into profitable business and thereby
Changing the whole business culture of a small create wealth across Northern Ireland. There’s no
and peripheral region which has long been driven point whatsoever in having products/services with
by traditional industries such as heavy engineering the potential to reshape global industries if the
and textile manufacturing takes time certainly much innovators aren’t able to sell them. Northern
longer that the seven years Invest NI has been in Ireland’s future depends on our agility and
existence. The Barnett Report is a challenge to the responsiveness to opportunities. I particularly
entire community. We need to pull all the welcome the recognition of the need to
stakeholders together in implementing the report’s professionalise and enhance support for exporting.
recommendations. Our schools, including those at primary level, have
I know that new chief executive Alastair Hamilton to become an integral part of the business
and his top management team are fully committed transformation especially in terms of the so-called
to the four pillars of the Barnett Report – STEM subjects. Increasing the numbers of students
productivity, innovation, R&D and exports. Initiatives taking STEM courses at university level must start at
such as Innovation Vouchers, Grant for R&D, primary school level. This also means parents and
Business Improvement, enhanced mentoring teachers have to be engaged to a much greater
support and a targeted export activities in growth extent.
markets such as India, Saudi Arabia, Russia and The productivity issue was also addressed last
China are producing benefits in the greater month at the launch of the Ambition 2020 Report in
engagement of smaller companies in particular in Belfast by the UK Commission on Employment and
Chamber Patrons
seeking out new business opportunities. Skills and in particular by Mike Campbell, the
For example, there’s been a 23 per cent increase director of research, who said just a one per cent
in companies including many more in tradable increase in jobs and productivity would add £400
services taking part in Invest NI activities overseas. million to the local economy. Think what a five or
Exporting, of course, is an area in which the even 10 per cent would do for Northern Ireland.
Chamber has been assisting Invest NI through our Ambition 2020 aims to help create the worldclass
international network. We are keen to do more. skills needed to transform the UK into a more
We need to pick up the Barnett Report’s vibrant economy and wealthier nation. Raising
suggestion that Invest NI’s support programmes productivity requires significant investment in skills
should be streamlined and the agency given greater at all levels. Improving skills must become a
freedom and discretion. It should be supported to community priority.
become more entrepreneurial and to develop the As Campbell said: “A workforce with poor skills not
flexibility to deliver programmes in a responsive only makes their own lives poorer, it makes all of our
manner. lives poorer and a highly skilled workforce will not
Of course, Invest NI must continue to be driven by only make their lives richer, it will make all of our
transparency and accountability over its expenditure lives richer.” We all want to be part of a wealthier
of public money, however the agency should be community. This is the only way we’ll be able to
encouraged and permitted to take calculated fund the services in areas such as health and
business risks in backing the new technologies from education that Northern Ireland needs.
existing companies, new start ups, the universities My biggest concern is the proposals to remove
and inward investors needed to transform the funding for business expansion as helping
economy. Our two universities and larger Further companies to achieve their growth ambitions
Education Colleges have a greater contribution to provides employment opportunities at all levels.
make in encouraging and supporting innovation. Also the proposal to focus Selective Financial
The streamlining of programmes should also be Assistance on innovation and R+D will only work if
extended to DEL because companies are often there is clear agreement on what this means agreed
confused over support available for employee by all funders.
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