Making sure our businesses are ready for Brexit

Is your manufacturing business ready for Brexit?
Mary Meehan, Manufacturing NI, and Dr Trevor Cadden, Ulster UniversityMary Meehan, Manufacturing NI, and Dr Trevor Cadden, Ulster University
Mary Meehan, Manufacturing NI, and Dr Trevor Cadden, Ulster University

Well, a major advertising and information campaign has been launched to make sure manufacturers in Mid and East Antrim and the wider Northern Ireland are prepared as the UK gets ready to leave the European Union.

Manufacturing NI, an extensive membership organisation representing the manufacturing sector here, has launched the campaign in partnership with Ulster University (UU). It will signpost manufacturing businesses to a new website and learning portal with all the relevant information they need to prepare for Brexit.

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The campaign has produced 10 sectoral guides and an innovative e-learning series, ‘Get Supply Ready for Brexit’.

This campaign will have information on everything from workforce issues and importing and exporting goods, to UK and EU regulations and supply chain issues. The sectoral guides reflect the layout of the Northern Irish manufacturing sector and include information for companies working across a number of key sectors.

Mary Meehan from Manufacturing NI said: “Leaving the EU, deal or no-deal, will have a massive impact on our local manufacturing industry. Firms here need to be confident that they are prepared for every eventuality which may crop up. This campaign with Ulster University will ensure manufacturers have all the information they need to mitigate against the impacts of Brexit and to help keep their businesses running as smoothly as possible.

“The manufacturing sector is the bedrock of the Northern Irish economy, directly and indirectly supporting over 214,000 jobs, accounting for almost two-thirds of all Northern Irish exports and making up one-third of the entire Northern Irish economy. Given our importance to the regional economy, we cannot allow ourselves to be unprepared for Brexit.

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“This campaign and the sectoral guides provide support and guidance to manufacturing firms across Northern Ireland and will provide clarity in an otherwise uncertain landscape.”

Dr Trevor Cadden, Senior Lecturer in Operations Management from University of Ulster, said: “Ulster University Business School are delighted to be working in partnership with Manufacturing NI to help deliver this important suite of supply chain resources to ensure manufacturing companies in Northern Ireland are not only aware of supply chain implications under Brexit, but have the tools and strategies to manage. Many companies are hugely concerned about the current Brexit uncertainty and how difficult it will be to navigate a changing landscape. A lot of businesses in Northern Ireland lack the skills and resources to prepare for Brexit, so we trust that this unique set of easy accessible online supply chain resources will help guide them in the right direction.”

Manufacturing companies across Northern Ireland will also receive campaign packs via email which will contain sector-specific information to help them prepare.

Anyone who needs more information can visit the website at www.mnisupplychain.com