Reviewing the Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force

Steer Economic Development was commissioned to conduct a headline review of the Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force (MTF). The MTF was set up in 2017 with three defined objectives:

• Enabling replacement job creation in M&EA, following those lost directly, indirectly, or through induced effects as a result of JTI Gallaher’s and Michelin’s disinvestment in the Borough;
• Ensuring that the area’s manufacturing expertise was not lost, and developing plans that would improve the area’s competitiveness to protect and grow the economy; and
• Helping realise an inspiring vision for the area as an entrepreneurial, ambitious and forward-thinking economy that was welcoming of business, committed to investment and working to achieve the best outcomes for its firms, residents and communities.

In the context of these objectives, the review worked to understand:

• Whether the MTF was/remained the most appropriate vehicle to deliver the above objectives
• How successful the MTF and its parts been in achieving its objectives
• Where success had been less than expected in terms of realising objectives
• The lessons that MTF might take forward at this point

This project was managed by Caitriona Lacy and directed by Simon Pringle, and was delivered in August-October 2019, with a final presentation by Simon to the Steering Group on 5 November 2019.