Sligo has enjoyed a big year – 2019 can be even better
A question that popped up in conversations that I had throughout all of 2018 went something like this: “So, what’s life in Sligo actually like?”
Often, representatives of visiting companies would ask this question. They might have seen photos and read positive news stories about Sligo – but they wanted to experience something more immersive.
And existing Sligo-based employers, in persuading talent to consider the North West as a career location, also wanted something that told a more rounded story and gave a fuller picture.
That’s why we launched our “Life is Sligo” mini-film last month and are currently running a major Christmas social media campaign around the film highlighting Sligo and the region as a place to invest, work and live.
The idea behind the film was to give businesses a useful tool they could use to showcase Sligo – a visual asset with a little ‘wow’ factor – set to some cutting-edge music from Sligo’s own Brame & Hamo.
As 2018 draws to a close, I can say that Chamber life has been busy, exciting, challenging and fulfilling. In many ways, it has been a remarkable, stepchange year with over 1,200 new jobs announced and a sense of optimism that has galvanised the business community.
As the voice of the business community, Sligo Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to building a stronger region for Sligo and the North West through attracting new investment and recruitment in the region.
2019 will be another big year for Sligo with the upgrading of key infrastructure such as the N4 a priority, helping to attract new business and talent whilst sustaining and growing businesses currently located here. Improvements to the N17 are also essential for connecting Sligo to Ireland West International Airport in Knock, just 40 minutes away.
Sligo is a designated growth centre under Ireland 2040. It enjoys a perfect setting in a natural amphitheatre created by the mountains of Ben Bulben, Knocknarea and the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of 250,000 people within a 65 km radius and is seen as a wonderful alternative to city locations offering attractive educational, work, lifestyle and family opportunities. Examples of this ‘work/life balance’ can be viewed in the “Life is Sligo” social media campaign.
We firmly hope that in 2019, our business community will continue to ‘Think Big and be Brave’. Progress comes from teamwork – and this year saw the benefits of engagement and collaboration by all the stakeholders in the region. We will continue to work with member companies and agencies to build on this momentum to make Sligo a better place to live and an increasingly attractive career destination.
By Aidan Doyle, CEO, Sligo Chamber