What Mid & East Antrim taskforce has achieved for £1K a day

Funding secured of almost £700,000 to develop a hydrogen training academy to deliver practical training in this key emerging sector. Stock image

Margaret Canning Twitter Email

January 20 2022 07:38 AM

The first chairperson of the Mid & East Antrim manufacturing taskforce was paid £1,100 a day over 20 months, amounting to £113,829.74 for 100 days’ service.

We asked the council what its successes have been after it was set up to help the area’s economy recover from job losses.

A spokeswoman said:

“There are over 50 key companies and stakeholder members of the taskforce which has delivered significant outputs to date. Its outputs include but are not limited to:

• A key role in the securing of more than £60m of funding for Mid and East Antrim through Belfast Region City Deal;

• Funding secured for a collaborative growth programme to address Industry 4.0 technologies and productivity challenges in the sector;

• Funding secured of almost £700,000 to develop a hydrogen training academy to deliver practical training in this key emerging sector;

• Development and launch of an assured skills academy in supply chain, procurement and logistics, piloted in 2020 in conjunction with Northern Regional College;

• Hosting the prestigious Professor Brian Cox Science Summer School, as part of a collaborative vision for the area to nurture future talent;

• Rapid redundancy response following the Wrightbus administration, including supporting 470 workers with a redundancy information session, and working closely with private and public sector partners to offer 2,400 live job vacancies to those affected;

• The launch of a NI-wide buy and supply portal, which aims to simplify the supply chain connections for local manufacturing firms;

• The portal was adapted in May 2020 at the height of the pandemic to incorporate PPE supplies and materials to help companies to re-open safely. There are now over 500 buyers and suppliers on the PPE portal;

• Funding secured for a collaborative growth programme to address and productivity challenges in the borough;

Rapid response to Covid-19 including:

Company engagement;

Signposting to financial support;

Tailored advice and guidance; and

Bespoke webinars and masterclass sessions

What Mid & East Antrim taskforce has achieved for £1K a day

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