Business leaders representing key players in renewable technology, tourism, arts and craft, and technology came together this week to develop their plans for a new Midlands economy, based on co-operation and innovation.
The event was facilitated by regional development agency Atlantic Corridor and Bord na Mona, a company which has a large presence and long history in the Midlands. Focussing on how companies in the region can work together to create new opportunities that will generate enterprise and employment, the workshop was characterised by lively group discussions and debate.
This was the second Creating the New Midlands Economy workshop held by Bord na Mona and Atlantic Corridor. Creating the New Midlands Economy is a joint project between Atlantic Corridor and Bord na Mona. The project seeks to support and encourage new and existing businesses in the Irish Midlands through the development of a shared vision, effective networking, and strategies to grow the region sustainably.
Gabriel D’Arcy, CEO of Bord na Mona commented; “Having attended many workshops and think-ins on enterprise, this event was truly different. All the opportunities identified were identified by those in business themselves. These people know their businesses better than anyone and what is needed to support and grow their businesses in the Midlands. It was an inspiring and energising event and I look forward to working on the various outcomes over the coming months with everyone involved.”
The workshop was facilitated by O’Kelly Sutton, a leading strategy and management consultancy with national and international experience in strategy development and delivery. In this workshop, participants worked together to identify four barriers to growth in the region and how these barriers could be overcome through focussed action. The barriers identified were finance, identity, skills, and bureaucracy.
In an introduction to the workshop, Jackie Gorman, CEO of Atlantic Corridor commented: “We are here now to work together and the time for the region is now. We look forward to working with everyone here over the coming months to deliver real outcomes for the region in terms of enterprise and education as it is these key drivers that will deliver real change and innovation.”
