Future Workforce Summit 2026
Generation Alpha is coming of age. Generation Beta is already here. Is Northern Ireland ready?
The 2026 Future Workforce Summit will bring together employers, educators and policymakers to explore how the next generation of 16-24 year olds will transform the world of work.
From recruitment and retention to skills, career pathways and workplace expectations, the event will address the challenges shaping Northern Ireland’s future talent pipeline and spotlight the practical solutions that can help businesses stay ahead.
This summit brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to forge a path towards a more skilled, adaptable, and competitive workforce.
Thursday 15 October | 8:00 - 14:00 | Clandeboye Lodge, Bangor
Event Agenda
| 8:00 AM | Refreshments, Registration and Networking | |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome Address - Stuart Anderson, Director of Public Affairs and International Relations, NI Chamber | |
| 9:10 AM | The Minister’s Perspective - Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister, Department for the Economy | |
| 9:20 AM | The Importance of Green Skills in Shaping our Planet, the Next Generation and our Economy - Gordon Parkes, Chairman of Green Skills Delivery Group and People & Culture Consultant, NIE Networks | |
| 9:40 AM | The Shape of Our Workforce: What the Data Tells us About People, Skills and the Next Generation - Marguerite Shannon, Senior Economist, Ulster University, Economic Policy Centre | |
| 10:10 AM |
Creating the Conditions: What the System Needs to Get Right
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| 10:40 AM | Break – Coffee/ Tea | |
| 11:10 AM | Don’t just compete for today’s workforce. Grow tomorrow’s - Richard Kirk, CEO, Workplus | |
| 11:30 AM |
Creating the Opportunities: The Employer Perspective on Backing Young Talent
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| 12:00 PM |
Where Careers Begin: The role of SMEs in building the next workforce - Anthony Impey, CEO, Be The Business |
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| 12:20 PM |
Comfort break |
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| 12:30 PM | Creating the Change: Young People on the Pathways into Work
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| 1:00 PM |
Building a labour market that works for young people - Frances Ruane, IDA Ireland Board member and Non-executive Board Member of the NI Civil Service |
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| 1:30 PM | Closing Remarks - NI Chamber | |
| 1:35 PM | Lunch |
Your Host and Speakers
Event Speakers
Keynote Presentation
Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Economy Minister, Department for the Economy
Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA has served as Economy Minister since February 2025, having previously held the role of Finance Minister. Elected as MLA for East Derry in 2016, she has chaired the Assembly’s Economy and Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committees. Before entering politics, Caoimhe spent almost a decade working in scientific research, including EU-funded projects, and holds qualifications from Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University.
Building a labour market that works for young people
Frances Ruane
IDA Ireland Board member and Non-executive Board Member of the NI Civil Service
Frances Ruane is a leading economist and public policy expert, currently serving as a non-executive member of the IDA Ireland Board, the Northern Ireland Civil Service Board and PIMCO Funds Global Investors Series PLC. A former Director of the ESRI and Chair of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (2019-25), she has played a key role in shaping economic policy across Ireland and Scotland. Frances is a member of the Royal Irish Academy and has published extensively on economic development and public policy.
Where Careers Begin: The role of SMEs in building the next workforce
Anthony Impey
CEO - Be The Business
Anthony Impey MBE FCGI is Chief Executive of Be the Business, the UK charity dedicated to improving productivity by helping SMEs strengthen leadership, enhance performance and adopt new technologies, including AI. A successful entrepreneur who built and scaled multiple businesses, Anthony now works with thousands of SMEs across the UK. He also serves on the Board of Skills England and was awarded an MBE in 2018 for services to small businesses.
The Shape of Our Workforce: What the data tell us About People, Skills and the Next Generation
Marguerite Shannon
Senior Economist, Ulster University, Economic Policy Centre
Marguerite Shannon is a Senior Economist at the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC), where she conducts evidence-based research to inform economic policy across Northern Ireland. With expertise in labour markets, skills and wider economic policy, she also teaches at Ulster University Business School, helping to equip students with the practical skills needed for the workplace.
The importance of green skills in shaping our planet, the next generation and our economy
Gordon Parkes
People & Culture Advisor, NIE Networks
Gordon Parkes is Chair of the Green Skills Delivery Group and People & Culture Consultant Advisor at NIE Networks, bringing more than 45 years of experience in human resources across a range of sectors. He is a member of the Northern Ireland Skills Council, a Chartered Companion of the CIPD, and serves on the boards of both the Grand Opera House Trust and the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. He holds an MBA and is a Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
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Don’t just compete for today’s workforce. Grow tomorrow’s
Richard Kirk
CEO & Founder, Workplus
Richard founded Workplus in 2019 to help employers attract and develop future talent through apprenticeships, work experience and schools engagement. A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) with an MBA from Queen’s University Belfast, he has also contributed to a number of skills and education reviews in Northern Ireland.
Event Host
Stuart Anderson
Director of Public Affairs and International Relations, NI Chamber
Stuart leads NI Chamber’s policy and political engagement, working with members and decision-makers to support business growth and competitiveness. A qualified lawyer, he established NI Chamber’s partnership with North Carolina Chamber and serves as Convenor of the Northern Ireland Business Stakeholders Group on the Windsor Framework.
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‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill Update
Paul Gillen
Partner - Employment, Immigration and Reward, Lewis Silkin
Paul Gillen is qualified in England & Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. He provides cross-jurisdictional and comparative law advice to clients in various sectors.
Before training as a lawyer, Paul had over a decade of experience in in-house HR roles, including being Head of HR, across sectors such as retail, construction, manufacturing, and logistics.
He is also a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, and a Visiting Professor at the School of Law at Ulster University.
Delivering on Jobs and Skills
Suzanne Wylie
Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Suzanne Wylie, appointed Chief Executive of NI Chamber in August 2023, brings extensive leadership experience from roles in the Jersey Government and Belfast City Council.
Her achievements include securing the £1bn Belfast City Region Deal, developing the Belfast-Dublin Economic Corridor, and chairing Innovation City Belfast.
Suzanne is committed to boosting Northern Ireland's economy and fostering business innovation. She holds an OBE, an honorary doctorate from Queen's University Belfast, an MBA, and is a fellow of the Institute of Directors.
Future Workforce Summit:
Our Key Panels
Creating the Conditions: What the System Needs to Get Right
Leaders from education and the community and voluntary sector will discuss what the education and skills system must get right to prepare young people for work and connect them with employers.
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Heather McKee
Deputy Principle, Planning, Performance and Engagement
South Eastern Regional College
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Nina Slingsby
Founder
OAHA
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Richard Longman
Head of Business School
The Open University Business School
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Stephen Dallas
CEO
The Bytes Project
Creating the Opportunities: The Employer Perspective on Backing Young Talent
Employers will share why they invest in early talent and the benefits it brings, how they attract, develop and retain young people, and the practical steps any business can take to do the same.
Creating the Change: Young People on the Pathways into Work
Young people at the start of their careers will share their own experiences of apprenticeships, study and early roles, including what has helped or hindered them on their pathway into work.
Future Workforce Summit:
About Our Sponsors
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Headline Sponsor
NIE Networks
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) is the owner of the electricity transmission and distribution networks in Northern Ireland, transporting electricity to over 910,000 customers including homes, businesses and farms.
In the next decade, renewable energy will transform our electricity network providing a sustainable and more prosperous future for us all. We'll be hiring hundreds of people over the next months and years to make it happen.
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Supporting Sponsor
Work+
Workplus helps employers raise their profile with schools and parents, build talent pathways and grow early talent.
Its bespoke software simplifies apprentice recruitment, offering a coordinated one-stop shop for employers and applicants.
Since 2019, over 100 employers across engineering, tech, construction and business services have recruited apprentices through Workplus.
Current projects include Software for All in partnership with Software NI and funded by the Department for the Economy, to increase female apprentices in software, cyber and fintech. Workplus also partners with local councils on work experience and internship projects, and recently launched Career Quest - a career discovery hub for Year 9/10 pupils.
Supporting Sponsor
Further Education NI
FE NI represents the collective voice of Northern Ireland’s six regional colleges. It plays a pivotal role in:
- Driving economic growth by equipping learners with professional and technical qualifications aligned to industry needs, from entry level to Foundation Degrees and Higher-Level Apprenticeships.
- Promoting social inclusion through accessible education pathways for all, including school leavers, career changers, and lifelong learners.
- Supporting employers by fostering innovation and supplying a skilled workforce.
- Collaborating with industry to ensure training is relevant, future-focused, and responsive to evolving demands.
FE NI is a key partner in shaping NI’s workforce strategy, empowering individuals through education.
Supporting Sponsor
The Open University
The Open University Business School helps people access business and management education, build meaningful careers, and contribute to responsible organisational and societal change.
Through supported open learning, employer engagement, professional development, and internationally recognised research, the Business School creates pathways into management, leadership, and professional practice.
As a triple-accredited business school within The Open University, it works with employers, professional bodies, policymakers, alumni, and communities to widen opportunity, strengthen organisational capability, and generate societal impact. Current priorities include lifelong learning, responsible AI and digital capability, reciprocal partnerships and enterprise, international engagement, and developing more equitable, sustainable, and responsible futures through business education and research.