Division seems to be the one constant running through the political and societal discourse on these islands right now. Despite all that’s going on (or not) at Stormont and Westminster, the business community in Northern Ireland has found – not for the first time – a way to bringing itself together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

With the Thames River providing a wonderful backdrop on the evening of Wednesday 11 September, the great and the good of NI and wider UK politics, academia, and business came together to attend the impressive launch of Trade NI at Westminster – a joining of forces between Manufacturing NI, Retail NI and Hospitality Ulster. Led by Stephen Kelly, Glyn Roberts and Colin Neill respectively, together they presented their ‘Ten Year Prosperity Plan for Northern Ireland’.

Trade NI represents three of the biggest sectors of the NI economy, accounting for around 300,000 jobs. It aims to provide policy recommendations to help create a sustainable, competitive, global economy. Locally, this can be achieved through better productivity, innovation, and connectivity; supporting more investment, development of infrastructure, and the prioritisation of skills.

Of course, this gathering of business minds to influence policy-making at the highest level is to be welcomed, yet more than ever the potential of representation from NI’s devolved politicians is conspicuous by its absence. Whilst the incoming impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland, whatever that may be, hangs over us like the sword of Damocles, the dereliction of duty by those folks on the hill – who put the pro in prorogation – has meant that much of the community has felt its voice hasn’t been represented in one of the most important debates since NI was formed almost a century ago.

 

A decade of failure, without or without Stormont

Might this Prosperity Plan have been necessary even if the Assembly was in place? As I have written previously the Executive has had a decade of failure when it comes to delivering for the people of Northern Ireland.

There is an industrial strategy sitting somewhere in the Department of the Economy gathering impatience – along with the rest of us.

Industry has been stepping in to fill the space vacated by our politicians for some time now, effectively substituting for elected representatives for their members and the wider business community, pictured in-and-outside Downing Street and various Whitehall buildings. The business voice emanating from the noise surrounding Brexit has been impressively coherent.

It comes as little surprise therefore that we are now seeing business groups producing detailed policy documents such as this 10-year Prosperity Plan. However, coming now, at the height of political, constitutional and economic upheaval, it highlights the precarious nature of NI’s situation as others take decisions on our behalf, and the urgent need for solutions in the face of uncertainty.

 

Stepping up to the plate

How effective will Trade NI’s Prosperity Plan be? More broadly, how influential can the voices of industry be as we creep toward Brexit day – whenever that may be? What is clear is that Northern Ireland needs clear, coherent, collective political voices leading the debate on our future. In their absence, Trade NI and the wider business community are certainly stepping up to the plate when it matters.