The value of the burgeoning manufacturing sector to the north’s economy in terms of contributing to exports, investment, and research and development has been underlined in a new report marking Manufacturing Month.
Unveiled by economy minister Caoimhe Archibald during a ‘Meet the Makers’ event at the Newry headquarters of global cruise ship interior fitout business MJM Marine, the report found that manufacturing now accounts for 13.4% of total economic output.
The minister is shown around the production facilities of MJM Marine in Newry by chief executive Gary Annett
And with £6 billion-plus of output, the sector is the second largest in the north in terms of economic contribution after retail and wholesale.
The report also found that the sector accounts for 17% of private sector jobs and 21% of turnover, all while accounting for just 6% of total private business sector population.
It also accounted for close to 100,000 jobs in 2023, or one in 10 jobs across Northern Ireland (compared to 7.1% in the UK as a while), and the sector supports a quarter of all jobs in the north’s economy.
Also, for every £1 manufacturing generates as a sector, its value has been found to increase to £1.70 in total value.
Pictured at MJM in Newry are (from left) Gary Annett, MJM Marine chief executive; Naoimh McAteer, Rathbane Group; Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Conleth McConville, Rathbane Group; Brian McConville, Rathbane Group; and Stephen Kelly, Manufacturing NI
Minister Archibald said: “This report recognises the positive impact manufacturing has on our local economy, jobs, and exports. It’s important government policy is informed by, and co-designed with, industry. The report will provide helpful analysis as I progress the priorities of my economic vision.”
Manufacturing Month (www.manufacturingmonthni.com) is organised annually by industry lobby group Manufacturing NI, whose chief executive Stephen Kelly said: “We know from this economic analysis that every job in manufacturing fully supports another 1.7 jobs elsewhere in the local economy.
“For every £1 billion of GVA, it delivers a further £700 million in output elsewhere in the economy. In total, the sector now contributes a total of £16 billion.
“We are delighted that our economy minister has been able to join us with the McConville family and team at MJM Marine, which is a great example of what makes our manufacturing economy so strong. They provide good jobs at a regional level; they are export focused and have a huge indirect and induced impact on the economy.”
Minister for the economy Dr Caoimhe Archibald with Stephen Kelly, chief executive at Manufacturing NI
Gary Annett, chief executive of MJM Marine (which is part of the Brian McConville family-owned Rathbane Group), added: “We have grown over the past 40 years to become a global leader in the marine fitout industry, working with the best-known brands in the cruise industry including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Holland America.
“We could not have done this without a strong manufacturing base in our home location in Newry.
“We hope we can help to continue to develop Northern Ireland as a cluster region for providing quality service, demonstrating quality processes, and manufacturing quality products, which are celebrated and sold right across the world.”