An exciting new period of investment and innovation is underway in the North West following the announcement of €46m of PEACEPLUS funding that has been awarded to improve equal access to inclusive and quality services in education, training and lifelong learning across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

Here in the North West, €10.86m of funding has been announced for Ulster University to establish its ‘Air Dome’ on the Northland Road, close to the university campus. A 15,000 square metre indoor arena with a synthetic playing field and capacity for thousands of spectators, the Air Dome will be a first-of-its-scale facility for Northern Ireland, transforming the old Foyle College site into a shared cross-community sporting space equipped with full-size pitches suitable for soccer, Gaelic games and rugby as well as other sports, community and musical events.

The exciting new Northwest Digital Employment Pathways Training Hub initiative was also announced as part of the PEACEPLUS funding awards. Aimed at delivering a digital skills framework targeting the Northwest City Region, the project aims to establish and deliver a portfolio of upskilling programmes to the existing digital workforce. This includes ensuring 1,000 people advance up one level in the qualification framework and establishing and delivering reskilling programmes in digital and cybersecurity to another 1,000 people. This will be led by Atlantic Technological University in partnership with our local further education provider North West Regional College, along with Ulster University and Donegal Education and Training Board.

Further transformation will take place through funding that has been provided to establish The Green Accelerator Skills Programme (GRASP) Action Plan, which aims to provide equal access to inclusive and quality services in education, training and lifelong learning. GRASP will include two Green Skills Academies which will cater towards ‘Women in Construction’ and ‘Labour Activation’. GRASP will also promote green apprenticeships and develop and deliver a residential carbon literacy programme. It will be led by South West College in partnership with North West Regional College, Southern Regional College, and a range of other education provider partners in the Republic of Ireland.

From a state-of-the-art sporting space to investment in skills, education, and training, this further investment in the North West will aid us in our mission to achieve regional balance, providing the region with the funding it both needs and deserves. The potential of the North West is being recognised, and we at Derry Chamber will continue to use our voice to advocate for a North West where our region’s real potential is unlocked.