|
Minds were focused on the economic and investment landscape of North Belfast at a conference held under the auspices of the Exploring Enterprise initiative. Spearheaded by the North Belfast Partnerhsip (NBP) and the North City Business Centre (NCBC), with support from Invest Northern Ireland, the conference took a hard look at North Belfast's economic and investment landscape. The event highlighted the amazing advantages of an area adjacent to motorway and port facilities second-to-none in Britain and Ireland. The potential of the area's North Foreshore and Crumlin Road Gaol/Girdwood sites was also highlighted. Structural problems that must be addressed if North Belfast's immense potential is to be realised, were also confronted. APPROPRIATE PERSPECTIVES NBP Chairman, George Mackey chaired the compact, half-day event on a sunny spring morning, in the idyllic setting of North Belfast's Belfast Castle. The elevated site afforded an appropriate perspective on North Belfast in particular, and on the city and its industrial heritage, in general. In the presence of former Ulster Bank Chairman, Sir George Quighley and NBP Chief Executive, Murdo Murray, George Mackey succinctly set the tone, saying: "The challenge is to get the area recognised outside North Belfast as a good place and this message must be presented to the city council and government," so that it radiates outwards to potential investors and others. Alice Quinn, the Chief Executive of the NCBC struck a realistic note in her "Actions and Achievments" assessment, by looking at realities in the north of the city. She highligted the "Go for It Campaign" and the configuration of projects dealing with isues on the ground. Through the NCBC's close collaboration with the NBP, "the need to widen the incubation" of enterprise and businesses had become apparent, Ms Quinn said. "Motivation and good role-models," are also vital, she added. STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS Shirely Mc Cay, Head of Economic Initiatives, Belfast City Council, (BCC) presented a broad panopoly of the council's actions and activities in a "State of the City" address that will have an impact on North Belfast. The State of the City stall was laid out, including an intense sequence of activities and events. The council official revealed that the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are involved in a review of Belfast and this will feed into the city's Development Plan. Emphasising "community planning" as a core concept in the council's work, Shirley Mc Cay also referrred to a "research base and wheel" involving a top Cambridge academic and Oxford-based consultancy organisation, Oxford Economics. Shirley Mc Cay did not shrink from telling it as it is either, citing North Belfast's social and economic stastistics. This was counterbalanced with reference to the North Foreshore's indigenous energy potential and key tourist attractions, such as Belfast Zoo. FOLLOWING OPPORTUNITIES Declan Billington, Chief Executive of John Thompson and Sons, presented a hard-nosed assessment from a local business perspective, saying that business follows opportunities, not needs. "We need to foster self-help, we must help ourselves," he insisted, as central government is becoming less interested, he added. Such self-help, he felt, must revolve around North Belfast selling itself and addressing its serious skills shortage. An upbeat business success story was presented by Particia O'Hagan, Managing Director, Core Systems (NI) Ltd, based at NCBC. Software developers founded by IT graduates from parts of North Belfast where the challenges are greatest, she pointed out that they were carving a significant niche in the international market-place. She also identified her company's desire to stay in North Belfast, pointing to an expanding company's needs. Katrina Houghton, Senior Economist with Oxford Economics provided a comprehensive economic and social profile of Belfast with a focus on North Belfast, commissioned by BCC. Address of link to speaker's presentations: www.morrowcommunications.com/registrations/northbelfast Also see separate article on Minsiter for Enterprise, Mr Nigel Dodds' speech
|
