Shaping Northern Ireland’s Business Future - Insights from Gráinne McVeigh

In this episode of Manufacturing NI's Meet the Makers podcast, CEO, Stephen Kelly is joined by Grainne McVeigh, former Director at Invest Northern Ireland. Grainne shares her diverse career journey, from personnel management to international economic development in the U.S. and supporting investment and growth across Northern Ireland. The conversation explores how companies successfully navigate market shifts through adaptability, strategic pivots, and niche positioning. Stephen and Grainne examine the evolving landscape of workforce development, emphasising why a collaborative, two-way relationship between employers and employees is vital for modern skills and sector growth. The discussion also explores regional innovation and how greater collaboration across different sectors - particularly bridging the public and private sectors - can unlock new opportunities, drive digital transformation, and foster a collective approach to tackling future challenges. Key insights include: Surviving and succeeding in shifting markets Working alongside major manufacturing investors via Invest NI Building vital industry skills through two-way employee-employer relationships How cross-sector collaboration drives regional innovation and - problem-solving Why digital transformation and decarbonisation are becoming central to future competitiveness Meet the Makers Podcast is produced in partnership with E-DATA Collaborative Network, a network of businesses exploring how digital technology, data and AI can unlock business growth and build resilience. Whether you are starting your digital journey or looking to build on existing progress, the E-DATA Collaborative Network can help you understand what works, learn from real business examples and access support to take action. Sign up to benefit from peer learning and knowledge exchange – https://e-data.ai/contact_v2/ E-DATA is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).