Why Northern Ireland’s leading manufacturers need to make energy contracts a priority

Energy Solicitors Limited (ESL) is ready to jump on another successful year of manufacturing growth in Northern Ireland by unlocking thousands of pounds potentially owed to the province’s leading firms.

In the week that The Northern Ireland Manufacturing 100 revealed the best performing businesses by turnover, talk of further energy price hikes have created fresh concern across the sector.

And ESL wants to work with businesses who could have been mis-sold previous energy contracts by unscrupulous brokers — and free up bosses to invest in more jobs and  infrastructure.

“It’s great to see so many ambitious businesses in Northern Ireland turning over millions of pounds and boosting the regional economy,” said Victoria Myers of ESL. “But how many of them might be unknowingly over paying for their gas and electricity?

“At the level many of these companies are operating at, undisclosed fees tied into mis-sold energy contracts could amount to thousands and thousands of pounds.

“The Northern Ireland Manufacturing 100 is a cause for celebration but we want those businesses to be in an even stronger position moving forward.”

Stephen Kelly, CEO of Manufacturing NI, said: “Our manufacturing sector is big and important. Proportionately bigger and more important than in the UK.

“Since 2010, 21% more people have become employed in manufacturing. The sector directly employs almost 100,000 people with every job being wholly responsible for another 1.7 jobs elsewhere in the economy.

“That means one in four families across Northern Ireland are dependent on a manufacturing wage.”

The Northern Ireland Manufacturing 100 is sponsored by Bank of Ireland, HNH Partners, MCS Group and Power NI.

The definitive annual lowdown shines a light on the province’s manufacturing powerhouses and saw meat products firm Moy Park come out on top after turning over more than £2bn.

Notable movers in this year's list were Lough Erne Investments, which climbed from 25th place to 19th, while AJ Power rose from 100th position to 87th.