Manufacturing Month, the flagship initiative in Northern Ireland’s business and economic calendar, is set to return this May with an ambitious programme designed to celebrate, support, and challenge the manufacturing sector.
Led by Manufacturing NI and supported by the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), Barclays, KPMG, Mills Selig, Reliance Automation, Vickerstock, and Carbonfit, the month-long campaign will showcase the strength, innovation, and leadership that have positioned Northern Ireland’s manufacturing base as a global success story. Throughout May, businesses, policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders will come together to highlight the sector’s vital contribution to the economy and society.
The 2026 programme will culminate in the sector’s premier leadership forum, the Anchor High Leadership Summit on Thursday 28 May. The Summit will be followed by the Manufacturing NI Hall of Fame Awards, recognising exceptional leaders who have made a lasting contribution to Northern Ireland’s industrial landscape.
Across the month, a wide-ranging programme of activity will include industry roundtables, the ‘Meet the Makers’ podcast series, business delegations, community engagement events, and a coordinated media and digital campaign. Together, these initiatives will spotlight the companies and people shaping the future of manufacturing while promoting the sector as a modern and rewarding career path.
Manufacturing remains a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s economy, driving productivity, underpinning exports, and leading innovation, skills development, and the transition to a more sustainable, net zero future
A 2025 report found the sector accounted for nearly 100,000 jobs, representing more than one in 10 incomes across Northern Ireland (compared to 7.1% in the UK), with 250,000 jobs in total – a quarter of all jobs in the NI economy – supported by the sector. Jobs that are productive, decarbonised, and regionally dispersed representing high-quality employment that is aligned with the ambitions of NI’s economic plan.
The report also found the sector accounts for 13.4% of total economic output in Northern Ireland. The over £6 billion worth of output makes the sector the second largest in terms of economic contribution after retail and wholesale; with every £1 million manufacturing generates as a sector, its value has been found to increase to £1.7 million in total value.
However, the sector continues to navigate an evolving operating environment. Manufacturers are responding to cost pressures, extreme energy prices, skills shortages, digital transformation and regulatory complexity. In this context, Manufacturing Month 2026 will provide a platform for dialogue, insight, and collaboration, with a focus on responsible leadership and long-term value creation.
Stephen Kelly, Chief Executive, Manufacturing NI, said:
“Manufacturing Month 2026 is both a celebration and a call to action. It recognises the companies and people who make Northern Ireland a global manufacturing success, while challenging the sector to keep innovating, embracing sustainability and digital transformation, and building the workforce of the future in an increasingly uncertain world.
“Manufacturing continues to be a powerhouse of our economy. It drives innovation, develops talent, and delivers high-quality jobs in communities across Northern Ireland. Our manufacturers are globally recognised for their expertise, resilience, and ability to compete in demanding international markets.
“At the same time, the sector faces significant challenges, from skills shortages and cost pressures to the pace of technological change and the transition to net zero. Manufacturing Month provides an important opportunity to bring industry leaders together, share best practice, and shape the future direction of the sector.
“Northern Ireland’s manufacturers have consistently demonstrated their ability to adapt, innovate, and lead. This year’s programme will both celebrate that success and support the next phase of growth.”
To find out more about Manufacturing Month 2026 and how to get involved, visit: www.manufacturingmonthni.com
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