The first meeting of the new East-West Council noted two new projects to improve adult numeracy and support business innovation in Northern Ireland.
The projects have been designed by the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland respectively and will be funded through the UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The Council was established as part of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper published by the UK Government in January this year which helped re-establish devolved government in Northern Ireland.
Today's Council meeting took place in Dover House, London and was chaired by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations (Michael Gove). The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Chris Heaton-Harris) and Minister of State for Northern Ireland and the Cabinet Office (Steve Baker), the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up (Jacob Young), Northern Ireland's First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, the Minister for the Economy, Conor Murphy and Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons also attended.
The two initiatives announced at the Council are:
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£5.9m for Multiply to help address the lower levels of adult numeracy in Northern Ireland compared with the UK and OECD average. The project will invest in more, and new and innovative forms of, delivery that can extend the reach of provision and improve the earnings potential and productivity of the workforce. It aims to support 3,650 people to participate in numeracy courses, with 1,500 people achieving a maths qualification.
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£11.2m for Manufacturing, Innovation, Green Growth and Sector Supports to increase the number of innovation active businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, and accelerate the diffusion and take up of new technologies and innovations. The project will provide R&D grants, sector support and networking, and technical consultancy. It will support 371 enterprises with grants, 426 enterprises with advice, and lead to outcomes including improved productivity, engagement in new markets, and newly innovating companies.
Both initiatives will start delivery from April 2024.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove, who chaired the first meeting of the Council, said:
"The restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland has opened up further opportunities for the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to work together to improve the lives of people in Northern Ireland.
"These two new initiatives will be funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and demonstrate the way in which we can pool our resources and expertise to maximise impact and target the specific needs of people and businesses in Northern Ireland."
