Northern Ireland's construction sector are being invited to join Belfast Region City Deal partners at two free breakfast events this month to learn more about the opportunities being brought to market over the next year.

The Belfast Region City Deal is a transformative £1 billion programme of investment aimed at delivering inclusive economic growth for the region. Deal delivery will provide a range of opportunities for the local construction sector over the next five to 10 years, with some of the most advanced projects preparing to go to market in the next 12 months.

Councillor Emmet McDonough Brown, Chair of Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee said: "The Belfast Region City Deal programme of investment is going to be transformative for the region over the next decade – and we want to make sure that the benefits we deliver are truly inclusive.

"I'm delighted to see us hosting these events for the construction sector, to make sure that they can avail of current and upcoming opportunities on projects spanning across the tourism and regeneration, infrastructure and innovation pillars of the Deal. Not only will these projects create new business opportunities, but they will also create new job opportunities, so we're working with our partners to ensure we have the right package of employability and skills support in place to make sure people living here can benefit and contribute to the success of these projects."

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Mark Spence, Managing Director of the Construction Employers Federation said: "We're delighted to jointly host this market engagement event on March 21 as it will detail to the local construction industry the exciting and much needed opportunities arising from the Belfast Region City Deal programme of investment over the coming year.

"A clear and deliverable pipeline of work is of crucial importance to our members and since the Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge, Newry City Centre Regeneration and i-REACH Health projects all combine general construction and civil engineering, they will appeal to a wide array of companies, eager to bring forward their talent and expertise to enable completion."

The two forthcoming events are:

• Belfast Region City Deal Build Contracts breakfast event in partnership with the Construction Employers Federation (CEF)

Date: 21 March, 8.30am-11am 

Venue: CEF offices, 143 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6SX

This event will focus on procurement opportunities linked to build contracts on a number of projects including: Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge, Newry City Centre Regeneration and i-REACH Health

• Belfast Region City Deal professional services contracts breakfast event

Date: 23 March, 9am-11.30am

Venue: Innovation Factory, Forthriver Business Park, 385 Springfield Road, Belfast, BT12 7DG

This event will focus on procurement opportunities linked to construction professional services contracts. A number of projects will be profiled at this event, including: Destination Royal Hillsborough; Mourne Mountains Gateway and Bangor Waterfront

To register for either event, delegates should email [email protected] by 15 March 2023. 

The events will also outline the employability and skills support available through the Belfast Region City Deal council, college, and university partners to help the sector respond to labour and skills challenges, including those relating to social value commitments.