Made in Lisburn Castlereagh - Bridging the skills gap

Over 1200 local school children and members of the public visited Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s ‘Made in Lisburn Castlereagh’ event yesterday (24th October) celebrating local businesses and job and apprenticeship opportunities.

With 38 exhibitors, comprising of local manufacturers, training providers, business support agencies and further education colleges there was a positive atmosphere in Lagan Valley LeisurePlex with a clear determination to bridge the skills gap in the local economy.

Opening the event the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Uel Mackin, said: “I believe if you have something you are proud of, you need to let people know about it. The platform provided at our Made in Lisburn Castlereagh event has certainly achieved this.  Everyone who came across the door will now understand that we are an entrepreneurial and innovative region supported by an ambitious Council.  It also sends the message to other Northern Ireland councils that we continue to lead the way in driving forward economic growth with our pioneering initiatives.”

The Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, Alderman William Leathem, thanked the local business community for supporting the event: “Made in Lisburn Castlereagh is very much about opportunity; an opportunity for local businesses to tell their story of what they make and what they do day and daily and it is also an opportunity for young people or those wishing to make a career change to discover what jobs and apprenticeships are available and what skills they will need to succeed. We enjoy a close relationship with our local business community and it is through events like ‘Made in Lisburn Castlereagh’ that we can achieve positive and tangible results.   Thank you to all the exhibitors for taking part and to everyone who visited.”

Special thanks to all businesses who have taken part in the 2018 Made in Lisburn Castlereagh showcase and special thanks to our event sponsors local company Smiley Monroe.