As Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, Derry Chamber is taking the opportunity to celebrate the vital role apprenticeships play in strengthening our local economy and shaping the future workforce across the North-West.

Throughout the week, attention has been firmly on the value of apprenticeships as a practical and skills driven route into employment.

Apprenticeships offer individuals the chance to gain recognised qualifications and develop real-world skills that employers need. At the same time, they allow businesses to grow their own talent, address skill shortages, and build resilient and innovative teams for the future.

For employers in the North-West, apprenticeships represent a smart investment. They help retain talent locally, encourage innovation and ensure that skills development keeps pace with changing business needs.

A wide range of Chamber members are currently engaged in apprenticeship delivery or skills development. While not an exhaustive list, this includes organisations such as Seagate, offering Electrical and Electronic Engineering apprenticeships in partnership with Ulster University; Fleming Agri, home to Northern Ireland’s first Degree Apprenticeship in Manufacturing and Engineering; and DuPont, which continues to offer engineering apprenticeship opportunities.

Other members supporting apprenticeships and training include NuPrint, hosting Engineering, Print Administration and Business apprentices; Hunter Apparel, delivering Higher Level Apprenticeships in Accounting and Business & Enterprise; and Craft and 21 Training, providing training funded by Department for the Economy across areas such as skills for life and work and professional development.

The Chamber also recognises the vital role of our local further education college, North West Regional College (NWRC), which acts as a cornerstone in driving local skills and economic development. Training providers such as Skilled NI, a member training provider focused on hospitality, hair, customer service and management skills, also play an important role. GMEX also continues to contribute to the regional skills pipeline through its North West Apprenticeship Showcase, bringing employers and educators together.

Apprenticeships are also closely linked to the success of key local sectors like hospitality. During Love LegenDerry Food Month, which takes place throughout February, the Legenderry Food Network is being promoted alongside Chamber members including Lo & Slo, Walled City Brewery, White Horse Hotel and Fairley’s Flavours. This provides an opportunity to highlight not only the region’s vibrant food and hospitality offering, but also the collective impact of skills development and career pathways within the sector.

Derry Chamber welcomes the recent decision by the Finance Minister to pause the Reval 2026 rates revaluation process. The move has brought much-needed reassurance to many local businesses, particularly within the hospitality sector, which had expressed serious concern about the potential impact of significant rate increases. The Chamber looks forward to continued engagement to ensure any future approach is fair, transparent and supportive of economic growth across the North-West.

As Apprenticeship Week draws to a close and Love LegenDerry Food Month continues across the district, the message from Derry Chamber is one of collaboration and optimism. From investing in skills and apprenticeships to supporting key sectors such as hospitality, and welcoming constructive engagement on issues like business rates, progress is strongest when government, education and industry work together. By backing local talent, listening to business voices and celebrating the strengths of our region, the North West can continue to build a resilient, skilled and vibrant economy for the future.