Stakeholder

The DEL Minister, Sir Reg Empey, and Invest NI Chief Executive Alastair Hamilton have given their backing to the ‘Come Back to Your Future’ campaign which will operate in Northern Ireland airports encouraging ex-pats who are home for Christmas to consider a career back home.

The campaign, which is run by leading executive search consultancy Clarendon Executive and in its fourth year, will this year target Belfast International, George Best Belfast City and City of Derry airports in the run up to Christmas. 

Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment and Learning, said:

“As Minister for Employment and Learning I fully support Clarendon’s ‘Come back to your Future campaign’.  The scheme ties in very well with my Departments ‘C’Mon Over Campaign’ in working to attract highly skilled people to live and work in Northern Ireland.

Despite the current economic climate we still need to be working towards ensuring that Northern Ireland has the skilled workforce it needs for the future.  With so many ex pats coming home for the festive season it is a good time for us to raise awareness of what Northern Ireland has to offer.”

Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland, welcomed the return of the highly successful campaign, saying:

“New opportunities offered by the continued growth of key high value sectors, including Financial Services, Business Services, ICT and Life Sciences, illustrate the breadth and depth of career opportunities which Northern Ireland can offer talented and motivated people, including those who may be attracted to return home. Despite the downturn, this region has remained competitive with Invest NI working to attract investment and support the growth plans of globally focused companies such as Almac, NYSE, CyberSource, First Derivatives, and Allstate.

“Investment by these companies has resulted in high quality employment opportunities and well above average salaries. With Northern Ireland now a more vibrant and dynamic business location, internationally recognised for its research capabilities, academic links and entrepreneurial ethos, I would encourage senior executives home for the Christmas period to seriously consider becoming part of this region’s bright future.” 

Ciaran Sheehan, Managing Partner of Clarendon Executive, said:

“We have an extremely captive audience for our ‘Come back to your future’ campaign. At Christmas thousands of highly qualified professionals fly back to Northern Ireland to be with their families. In some cases the link with Northern Ireland may be through a partner, originally from Northern Ireland keen to move back. And we are hoping to convince a good number of them to stay.

“Political stability and positive news stories that the New York Stock Exchange is setting up a base in Belfast or that Citi has expanded its operation also make Northern Ireland a more attractive destination for ex-pats.

“Our network of local companies wanting to recruit ex-pats who are highly skilled in various sectors is growing so we are confident that we are already aware of many positions from middle to senior management, suitable for professionals thinking of making the move in 2010.

“Because of downsizing, there are also some very highly experienced individuals available who might otherwise not be in the marketplace for a new role.  More progressive CEO’s are looking to build for the future and are using this opportunity to bring in previously unattainable new talent with the sort of international experience that will help them deliver in this challenging climate.” 

The campaign is set to run on Wednesday 23^rd and Thursday 24^th December. For more information go to www.clarendonexecutive.com or www.comebacktoyourfuture.com