Fermanagh and Omagh launches landmark productivity research to shape future investment and growth
The Productivity Institute has a launched a major new body of research undertaken in conjunction with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, positioning the district at the forefront of place-based economic development in Northern Ireland.
The research forms part of TPI’s UK-wide Investment in Productive Places Campaign, which explores how productivity can be improved in ways that enhance economic performance, wellbeing, sustainability and quality of life. Fermanagh and Omagh was the only council in Northern Ireland selected to participate, recognising both the district’s unique challenges and its ambition to adopt innovative, evidence-led approaches to long-term growth.
The study includes two key reports:
- Executive Report for the Place-Based Study for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council; and
- Framing a Place-Based Investment Strategy for Fermanagh and Omagh.
Together, they provide a detailed assessment of the district’s productivity performance, economic conditions and the underlying “capitals” that support long-term prosperity, including physical, human, social, financial, institutional, intangible and natural capital.
The research highlights that Fermanagh and Omagh outperforms the Northern Ireland average for productivity, with Gross Value Added (GVA) per hour reaching £36.70 in 2022 and growing by 28% since 2008. The district also demonstrates strong export intensity, with over a third of output destined for international markets, particularly the EU.
Key strengths identified include:
- Exceptionally strong natural capital, placing the district in the top 60% of UK local authorities when environmental pressures are assessed by sector and land area;
- High levels of social capital, placing the district in the top 15% of UK local authorities; and
- Strong cross-border economic relationships.
However, the research also identifies significant structural challenges, including weaker transport and digital infrastructure, higher levels of workers with no formal qualification workers, low Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise innovation, and persistent economic inactivity linked to health and childcare barriers.
The Productivity Institute sets out a series of short-, medium- and long-term recommendations focused on:
- Developing a cohesive place-based investment proposition;
- Strengthening infrastructure and connectivity;
- Supporting green growth and the Net Zero transition;
- Unlocking human capital through skills and childcare investment;
- Boosting SME innovation and scaling; and
- Deepening cross-border collaboration.
The findings will inform the work of the Local Economic Partnership (LEP), helping to guide future investment decisions and programme development.
Cllr Barry McElduff, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, said:
“Being selected as the only Council of the eleven in the region to participate in The Productivity Institute’s Investment in Productive Places programme is a significant endorsement of Fermanagh and Omagh’s ambitious outlook.
“Our ambition is to take a long-term, evidence-led approach to economic development. This research is a valuable asset to the Council and wider partners. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the drivers of productivity. By understanding how our social, natural, human and economic assets interact, partners can better align priorities, resources and interventions to deliver inclusive, sustainable outcomes for communities across Fermanagh and Omagh.”
Professor Philip McCann, the Sir Terry Leahy Chair in Urban and Regional Economics at The University of Manchester said:
“From our side at The Productivity Institute, our work alongside Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has genuinely been a process of co-creation, with continuous two-way flows of knowledge, ideas and insights, culminating in a landmark publication designed to help spearhead the ongoing economic development of the area.”
The research reinforces Fermanagh and Omagh’s potential to become a model for inclusive, sustainable and place-led economic growth, building on its natural assets, community strengths and cross-border connections to deliver long-term prosperity for residents and businesses.
The full report and the executive summary are available on our website.
