In my last article, I wrote about the expansion of Ulster University at Magee and the opportunity it presents for our city and region. Recent announcements on university funding and staffing underline the importance of ensuring that growth is built on a sustainable footing. That expansion is only one part of what a modern skills system should look like. If we are serious about building a strong and balanced economy in the North West, we must recognise and invest in the full range of routes into employment.

Across our region, employers face shortages – not only in digital sectors, but in traditional trades such as joinery, plumbing and electrical work, with demand for these skills set to grow in the years ahead. Skilled, well-paid careers with potential for employment and business creation are too often overlooked, with families, schools and careers guidance tending to favour university routes. We have created a system that values one pathway more than others, even when it doesn’t reflect the needs of our economy or deliver the best outcomes for our young people.

In Northern Ireland, the construction sector alone needs over 1,000 additional workers every year, yet many employers still struggle to recruit locally. At the same time, Derry and Strabane face persistently high levels of economic inactivity. That should concern all of us.

Before Christmas, I was in Australia for our eldest son’s wedding and met up with a young man I had coached at under-18 rugby. He served his time here as a joiner and now runs his own business delivering fit-outs for a major national retailer across Australia. He didn’t go to university, but progressed in a system that supports people to build businesses from their skills. Had he stayed here, there’s every chance he would still be working as a joiner. We should be asking how we create the conditions to bring more of that talent home.

Institutions like North West Regional College are doing excellent work, creating routes into employment through apprenticeships and award-winning employer-led training. The challenge in our region is for schools, colleges, employers and government to work together and shape a system that truly serves our young people.

With significant capital investment planned across the North West, we have a real opportunity. We must now match that investment with action on skills, turning opportunity into delivery.