Back in the day, there was nothing quite like a jobs announcement to get the blood flowing in a journalist. A jobs announcement meant a call from the hallowed offices of the IDA; a tip off that there was good news in the air; an early morning start to meet a Minister on his/her arrival at said destination; wellies at the ready if it was a greenfield plan; or surgical scrubs and hairnets if it was in one of those new squeaky clean facilities that now dominate our industrial landscape.
A jobs announcement is a boost to a general area in the same way an expensive new midfielder boosts a faltering Premiership squad in mid-winter. Jobs announcements meant good news stories for the papers and media, but also brought encouragement to those who needed jobs, who could at least see potential for a life in their own area. It also acted as a magnet to others to come to an area and to deepen the talent pool in this new location. Galway has one such talent pool — and it is well deepened, into pond or even lake status now. And it is this resource of talent and expertise that is bringing in more and more industries to a place where people really want to live and work. When we calculate the value of initiatives like Galway 2020, we talk of the rich cultural heritage of our area and how we can develop that, but it is also about using this cultural sideshow to attract people who want to partake in this Galway experience.
This week, we had two examples of solid investment in Galway when we had a jobs announcement that Phenox, based out of Bochum in Germany, is to establish a medical device manufacturing facility creating up to 65 jobs over five years. Phenox Ireland Ltd. will manufacture interventional neurovascular medical devices for the treatment of aneurysms and stroke. To say they are crucial is an understatement. The company is locating its new facility at the Kamrick Court Building in Ballybrit Business Park, Galway and will complete a customised fit-out to enable the commencement of operations in early 2016. The company directors and the IDA were both firm in their belief that it was the attraction of the medical technologies cluster here that brought Phenox to the region. Part of that cluster was Medtronic, which also announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Galway that will manufacture a market-leading drug-coated balloon for the treatment of peripheral artery disease. Medtronic’s Tony Semedo said that he was in no doubt but that the Galway operations and staff have very specific expertise in this area, and that this is the platform for this announcement.Good jobs attract good people. A rich heritage, an inclusive welcoming city, creates an ambience, a variety of life creates a synergy and it is this synergy that acts as a self perpetuating magnet that makes Galway a better place.
Yesterday, the team behind Galway2020 held a a marketing workshop to examine the theme ‘Galway Is’ to try to create a strong brand for the city and county in the battle to win the Capital of Culture title next July. It was a worthy exercise that explored what we are and what we have. However, I feel that what ‘Galway Isn’t’ is an equally worthy exercise in examining how we can maximise the Galway experience. Branding Galway is more than just a cultural exercise. It is a programme that will reach out to industries, and institutions and students and beyond, all of whom want to play a role in Galway.
Galway is….. so much, but it can be and should be so more. Identifying this, setting those targets and meeting them is the challenge that lies ahead for the 2020 team and for us all so that we create a city that will continue to attract and nurture and include for a century and more.
