BUSINESSES and education and trading providers are being urged to sign up for a free district-wide recruitment and skills conference in Newry.
Aimed at tackling Newry, Mourne and Down’s workforce challenges, the conference will take place in the Canal Court Hotel on Wednesday, October 9, and will include speakers, panellists and participants from across the district.
A second conference will take place in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle next year.
Emma Bohill, chief executive of Down Business Centre, urged stakeholders in the Downpatrick, Ballynahinch and East Down areas to take part.
She said: “This major conference tackles an issue that is impacting every business across our whole district and provides everyone an opportunity to discuss the concerns and challenges of today’s workforce and let ideas to be heard as we work together to develop a strategy to deal with the problem.”
Mairead McKibbin, vice-president of Newcastle Chamber, said: “We are delighted to work with Newry Chamber to support this conference on October 9 in Newry and next year on October 8 in Newcastle.
“The two conferences provide us with a 12-month timeline to come up with a strategy based on the engagement and discussion this
October which can be developed through the local Labour Market Partnership this year and moulded into a strategy at the second conference in Newcastle next year.
“We encourage everyone with a stake in skills and recruitment to register and attend the conference on October 9 and be part of the process.”
For more details on the conference and to book a place, visit www.newrychamber.com.