Glass manufacturer Encirc is investing more than £700,000 over three years to upskill its workforce at its Derrylin site in County Fermanagh, with £157,200 in public support from Invest NI. The training programme aims to prepare employees for new technologies and alternative fuels as the company pursues its target of achieving net zero emissions in glass manufacturing by 2030.
What the investment covers
The funding will support a range of training initiatives at Encirc’s Derrylin facility, which produces approximately three billion glass containers annually for leading global brands. The programme includes:
- The new “One Horizon Programme” – a continuous professional development initiative focused on leadership capability and business transformation
- Specialist engineering training in low-carbon technologies and alternative fuels
- Digital and data skills development
- Artificial intelligence awareness training
- Broader professional development opportunities
Encirc, which is part of the Spanish Vidrala group, employs approximately 1,200 people at its Derrylin and Elton, Cheshire sites according to its company profile, though workforce data from 2026 suggests a larger global headcount. The Derrylin facility is a significant glass manufacturing operation in the UK and Ireland.
Minister: Investment shows how businesses can prepare for greener economy
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald welcomed the announcement, linking it to her department’s economic priorities around decarbonisation and skills development.
“Encirc is an important employer in Fermanagh and a leading manufacturer with a clear vision for a sustainable future. Its latest investment will help its employees develop the technical, digital and leadership capabilities needed to support its ambitious plans to achieve net zero emissions in its glass manufacturing process from 2030. This investment demonstrates how businesses like Encirc can invest in their people while preparing for the opportunities and challenges of a greener economy.”
— Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister
Encirc: Building skills for “next generation of sustainable manufacturing”
Sean Murphy, Managing Director at Encirc, emphasised the strategic importance of workforce development as the industry evolves.
“As the industry evolves, we must continue investing in the skills and capabilities needed to support new technologies, alternative fuels and future ways of working. A key element of our investment is the introduction of our new One Horizon Programme, a continuous professional development initiative designed to strengthen leadership capability and support long-term business transformation.
“The support from Invest NI is enabling us to accelerate this investment so that we can develop the highly skilled workforce needed to support our ambition of producing glass without generating carbon emissions. It will also ensure our Derrylin site remains at the forefront of sustainable glass manufacturing.”
— Sean Murphy, Managing Director, Encirc
Invest NI: Building on previous skills programme
Invest NI’s support follows earlier skills development funding for Encirc from 2023 to 2026. Gráinne Moody, Director of Food and Drink at Invest NI, said this latest investment would help create “a culture of continuous learning.”
“Encirc continues to demonstrate a long-term commitment to investing in its people, building on the success of its skills development that we supported from 2023 to 2026, creating a culture of continuous learning across the business.
“This latest investment will help its employees develop the skills needed to support its decarbonisation plans and future growth. Encirc’s ability to create opportunities for employees to develop and progress their careers in areas such as alternative fuels, low-carbon technologies and AI capabilities, is helping it to not only enhance its productivity, but to equip its people with the confidence and skills required for the next generation of sustainable manufacturing.”
— Gráinne Moody, Director of Food and Drink, Invest NI
Context and questions
The announcement comes as Encirc pursues an ambitious partnership with Diageo to build a new hydrogen-powered furnace at its Elton site, aiming to produce the world’s first net zero glass bottles at scale by 2030. The company has also conducted trials using biofuels to reduce emissions from glass production.
However, several important details remain unclear from the announcement:
- How many employees will benefit? The press release does not specify the number of workers who will receive training, making it difficult to assess the per-employee investment value
- What happened to the previous programme? While the 2023-2026 skills development is mentioned, no outcomes, completion rates, or evaluation results have been published
- What follows after three years? There is no indication whether this training represents a permanent upskilling commitment or a time-limited project
- Is the investment proportionate? With Encirc producing three billion containers annually and employing nearly 1,200 people, the £700,000 investment over three years—approximately £233,000 per year—represents a modest sum in the context of major manufacturing operations
The 2030 net zero target is also company-specific rather than an industry-wide standard, raising questions about whether Encirc is leading the sector or operating ahead of regulatory requirements. The glass manufacturing industry remains energy-intensive, with furnace operations traditionally relying on natural gas at temperatures exceeding 1,500°C.
Broader significance
The investment aligns with the Economy Minister’s four priorities: increasing “good jobs,” raising productivity, decarbonising the economy, and driving regional balance. Encirc’s Derrylin location is significant for regional economic policy, as Fermanagh lies outside the Belfast Metropolitan Area where Invest NI has historically concentrated its activities.
For the local economy, Encirc represents one of the largest manufacturing employers in the western region of Northern Ireland. The company’s continued investment in the Derrylin site—following its acquisition by Vidrala in 2015 for €408.6 million—provides some reassurance about the facility’s long-term future amid broader pressures on UK manufacturing.
The focus on AI and digital skills also reflects growing emphasis across Northern Ireland’s economic strategy on preparing workers for technological change, though the practical application of these capabilities in glass manufacturing remains to be demonstrated.
Questions to consider
- How will the success of this training programme be measured, and will outcomes be published?
- Does the 2030 net zero target account for emissions across Encirc’s full supply chain, or only direct manufacturing operations?
- How does this investment compare to skills funding for other major manufacturing employers in Northern Ireland?
- What role will employee representatives play in shaping the training delivery?
- Will similar support be available to smaller manufacturers in the region who lack Encirc’s scale to co-fund major training programmes?