The Green Economy Showcase, hosted on Oct 22nd at the Waterfoot Hotel and supported by Derry City & Strabane District Council as part of the Go Succeed Programme, funded through the UK Government, brought together industry experts, thought leaders, and businesses to explore practical approaches to sustainability, energy efficiency, and greener practices. This event served as a gateway for discussion for engineering and manufacturing organisations keen to make a meaningful difference in their environmental impact.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr, who attended the event said it was a fantastic showcase for businesses to share information in relation to green infrastructure and sustainability. “It was a very educational event aimed at encouraging businesses to take small steps forward in terms of making their businesses more energy efficient and showcasing to them how they can reap the benefits of this. It was great to see businesses and stakeholders from across the region getting involved and doing what they can to support and help each other. The general message was that by working in collaboration on the green economy we can really achieve a lot.”
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With a focus on practical solutions, the showcase highlighted sustainability processes already in use by industry leaders such as Veolia Northern Ireland and Nelipak Healthcare Packaging. Their examples provided real-world insights into how companies can address environmental challenges while improving efficiency. From water leak repairs that reduced water usage by 30% to lighting upgrades that slashed annual costs from £118,000 to £62,000, the event demonstrated the tangible benefits of sustainable practices.
Participants were encouraged to collaborate, with Invest Northern Ireland suggesting that energy clusters could be created to address collective challenges, such as exploring the possibility of shared infrastructure. Eugene Heaney, Business Development Manager within the Invest NI Green Economy Team said: “It was fantastic to partner with GEMX and Derry City & Strabane District Council at this event, which highlighted the critical importance of collaboration and the potential for creating business clusters to address shared challenges. I would encourage businesses to use Invest NI’s Productivity and Emissions Tool which provides a valuable way to measure their environmental impact. The tool helps businesses pinpoint areas for improvement, enabling them to take meaningful steps toward greater sustainability and increased efficiency.”
Horizon Engineering Solutions Ltd provided critical advice on sustainability training, and Sally O’Kane from SOK Consultancy said “Sustainability must be embedded across all facets of company operations. This should not be an afterthought but a central component of an organisation’s culture.”
Blathnaid McCole from Hunter Apparel Solutions said that her key takeaway was the need for widespread action: “The GEMX event on the green economy was incredibly insightful. I gained valuable knowledge from industry leaders about sustainable practices and how we can implement these strategies to enhance our own business operations. Even small incremental changes can add up to a lot over time, driving substantial improvements in sustainability. This network strives to foster collaboration from businesses and education on our own doorstep, where we can all learn from each other and develop better working practices. By sharing our experiences and innovations, we can collectively push the boundaries of what’s possible in creating a more sustainable future.”
The event emphasised that “the cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use in the first place,” underscoring energy conservation as a fundamental step toward building a greener future. As a community, we don’t need a handful of businesses delivering decarbonisation perfectly; we need lots of businesses doing it imperfectly!
The Green Economy Showcase also touched on the growing demand for skilled workers in the renewable energy sector. With the electrical sector projected to need approximately 58,000 workers over the next decade across various roles, the need for both sustainability-focused initiatives and workforce development was a central theme for discussion.
As the event concluded, the message was clear: proactive steps toward sustainability are not only essential for the planet but also for the future competitiveness and success of businesses in the North West. Mark McDowell from Zeus in Letterkenny commented “today has given me the opportunity to discuss curriculum developments and possible PHD project work with representatives from ATU who were sitting at my table.”
