Connected NI Showcases FE Sector at Future Workforce Summit

Connected NI supported a collaborative sponsorship opportunity for our six Further Education (FE) partners to participate in the NI Chamber’s Future Workforce Summit, held on 16 October 2025 at the Dunadry Hotel, Antrim. With over 250 business leaders in attendance, the event provided an excellent platform to showcase the business support services offered by the FE sector across Northern Ireland.

The summit brought together business leaders, policymakers, and educators to shape the future of workforce development in Northern Ireland. This outcomes-focused event promoted employer-led solutions and facilitated the sharing of meaningful insights and best practices to recruit, retain, and develop world-class talent.

Emma Finney from SERC contributed to the panel discussion, Pathways to Upskill and Reskill, exploring how employers, educators, and policymakers can align efforts to meet evolving business needs through targeted reskilling and upskilling initiatives.

“I was delighted to have attended the NI Chamber Workforce summit made possible through Connected Funding. I was privileged to have had the opportunity to represent FENI on the panel discussion on upskilling and reskilling pathways, highlighting the strengths and agility of the FE sector in responding to employer needs.” Emma Finney Head of Business Engagement SERC

Participation in the summit was highly beneficial for the FE sector. It positioned the sector as innovative and forward-thinking in addressing Northern Ireland’s economic challenges. The event enhanced visibility among key stakeholders, strengthened industry relationships, and created new opportunities for partnerships, apprenticeships, and work placements. It also allowed our partners to share success stories that demonstrate the Further and Higher Education’s sector ability to deliver real-world impact.

Showcasing & Celebrating Innovation Success through Connected, supports HE and FE partners in promoting their expertise and facilities to local industry. Such collaboration between academia and business is vital to addressing today’s economic, societal, and environmental challenges—and directly supports the Economic Vision and Programme for Government in Northern Ireland.