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South West Ireland and Midlands partner to boost economy
Companies from South West Ireland and the Midlands attend the UK launch of the Joining the Dots programme to promote stronger partnerships and collaboration
On Wednesday (July 3) the Department for International Trade’s Midlands Engine team welcomed a delegation from the South West of Ireland in Coventry at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) for the launch of the British Embassy lead programme Joining the Dots. The initial launch of the initiative was in Ireland in November 2018 with the Cork Chamber.
The report details areas for growth while making recommendations to promote stronger partnerships and collaboration between the two regions.
The 45 companies and organisations come from a variety of sectors, including agri-tech, ICT, cyber, precision engineering and manufacturing, and financial services. After a tour of the MTC, delegates saw the signing of a partnership agreement between MTC and the Irish Manufacturing Research, and then attended the report launch.
The delegation met with local businesses and stakeholders in the Midlands to learn more about scaling in the Midlands as well as investing and buying in the UK regions.
Putting the Midlands at the heart of the UK’s global-facing economy is a key part of the Government’s Midlands Engine strategy to boost prosperity and economic growth. Just last week, the Department for International Trade announced 6,867 new jobs have been created across the Midlands by 234 foreign direct investment projects in 2018/19.
Representatives from local government, academia, and enterprise and development agencies also attended. The event was an opportunity for Midlands businesses to meet South West Ireland businesses and decision makers involved in the Irish Government’s €116bn development programme.
Day two of the trip will see the delegation take study tours of Malvern Science Park and Harper Adams University, a specialist institution for rural and agriculture studies.
Karen Ball, Head of DIT’s Midlands Engine Investment Hub said:
The South West of Ireland and the Midlands share interests in fast growing sectors such as manufacturing and IT and today’s visit, with the signing of an MoU between the Manufacturing Technology Centre and the Irish Manufacturing Research, is a true representation of these shared interests.
I hope to see many more visits like today’s and with the UK launch of Joining the Dots initiative I am confident that our two regions will continue to work closely to find new partnerships and collaborations to boost economic growth and innovation.
Robin Barnett, British Ambassador to Ireland said:
Today’s report launch is the next stage in our Joining the Dots journey and builds on the enthusiasm shown at the Irish launch in Cork last year. For companies in the South West of Ireland, the report highlights that the UK remains a key target market with untapped opportunities. Similarly, Ireland is seen as a logical first step for many UK companies seeking to test their capability in overseas markets.
We are also celebrating a new collaboration, highlighting the appetite for partnership and innovation. I’m delighted that, today, Irish Manufacturing Research and the UK’s Manufacturing Technology Centre signed an MoU agreeing to work together to help companies with new technologies apply them industrially and commercially.