Northern Ireland’s business community should be more vocal in influencing political decision-making to help shape the next phase of devolution, Baroness Sue Gray told Belfast Chamber’s annual Economic Forum, held at W5 in partnership with Deloitte.
The former Chief of Staff to Sir Keir Starmer during his time as Prime Minister said businesses should not wait for change to happen but actively engage with politicians and government to help develop a model of devolution that works for the region. She also highlighted the potential to draw on elements of England’s Metro Mayor model to bring greater decision-making powers closer to local communities.
Speaking during a fireside conversation hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick, Baroness Gray said there are opportunities for Northern Ireland to focus on, arguing that devolution should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-off transfer of powers. Reflecting on the experience of businesses during Brexit and the Covid pandemic, she said there was considerable value in businesses coming forward, making their views known and working with government to influence outcomes.
The discussion also featured a contribution from Dr Henry Kippin, Chief Executive of the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, who joined via video link to share insights into the experience of regional devolution and the potential for devolved powers to drive growth.
Belfast Chamber’s annual Economic Forum brought together leading voices from business, economics and policy to assess the opportunities and challenges shaping Northern Ireland’s economic future. Deloitte was returning as principal partner for the fifth consecutive year.
Lynsey Mallon, President of Belfast Chamber, said:
“Belfast Chamber is committed to championing the opportunities available to Northern Ireland and ensuring our city and wider regional economy are well positioned to compete, attract investment and deliver sustainable growth.
“This year’s Forum provided an important opportunity to examine how we can unlock that potential, from greater devolved powers to maximising our unique competitive position and dual-market access. Translating these advantages into tangible opportunities for businesses will be critical to driving growth across Belfast and Northern Ireland.”
The economic outlook was explored by leading experts, with Kate English, Chief Economist at Deloitte Ireland, examining the macroeconomic environment, while John Wyn-Evans, Head of Market Analysis at Rathbones, explored global markets. Gareth Hetherington of Ulster University provided a further perspective on the local economy and the factors influencing local economic performance.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Jim Fitzpatrick, which brought the three speakers together to consider the implications of the economic outlook for businesses and the wider region.
Marie Doyle, Senior Partner at Deloitte, added:
“Deloitte is proud to partner with Belfast Chamber for a fifth consecutive year in delivering its annual Economic Forum. At a time of significant change across the global economy, it is important that businesses understand the forces shaping markets, trade and investment, while recognising the opportunities available to Northern Ireland.
“Bringing together perspectives from business, government and economics is an important part of identifying how the region’s distinctive strengths can be translated into sustainable growth.”
The Windsor Framework and its implications for trade and investment were considered in a second panel session. Bringing together perspectives from across business and economic development, the panel featured Alistair James, Head of Market Access at Invest NI; Greg Bradley, Founder of BLK BOX; Ronan Callan, Director of Operations at Exact Group; and Lauren Dougherty, Regional Export Finance Manager.
The discussion examined how the region’s distinctive trading position can be maximised, the practical opportunities available to businesses and the potential for improved trading arrangements to strengthen competitiveness, attract investment and open up new markets.
The programme concluded with a keynote from Chris Cook, Olympic swimmer and high-performance coach, before Belfast Chamber Chief Executive Clare Guinness delivered the closing remarks.