US-owned medical packaging firm Nelipak is investing £480,000 in workforce training at its Derry plant, with £135,000 of support from Invest Northern Ireland. The three-year programme aims to boost productivity at a site already recognised within the global company for its high performance standards.
The investment comes amid ongoing sector-wide discussions about skills development, productivity measurement, and how public support translates into tangible outcomes for workers and the regional economy.
What the investment covers
Nelipak’s Derry facility, which employs over 300 people, manufactures flexible medical packaging including breather bags, pouches and medical roll stock for pharmaceutical and medical device markets across Europe and Asia. The training programme will focus on three main areas:
- Management and leadership
- Advanced manufacturing
- Data analytics
The company has received previous skills support from Invest NI, though the press release does not specify how much or over what period.
Official statements
Niall Casey, Director of Skills and Competitiveness at Invest Northern Ireland, highlighted the site’s existing reputation:
“Nelipak’s flagship North West site is already recognised within the global Nelipak Group for its high productivity standards. This investment in skills will further increase productiveness across the site by upskilling its team in technology and computer sciences. Its team will be readily equipped to keep up with growing demand across the global life and health sciences sector, showcasing the North West’s manufacturing capabilities.”
Simon Adcock, Plant Manager at Nelipak in Derry, emphasised the company’s long-term relationship with the economic development agency:
“Invest NI has been supporting us for many years by helping us to create jobs, and develop skills and efficiencies as our business grows. We now have a highly skilled workforce of over 300 people that we want to keep investing in to ensure the best for them and for our business’ longevity. Invest NI’s latest skills support is helping us to accelerate this.
“This latest investment in our team will build on their expertise to date, giving them access to accredited training in management and leadership, advanced manufacturing and data analytics. Providing our team with this knowledge and confidence ensure they are equipped to respond to evolving customer demands and enhance the productivity of our manufacturing processes, so that we can continue to grow our exports in Europe and Asia.”
Casey added that the support “lets it place skills at the centre of its business growth plan to accelerate productivity and innovation.”
Context and unanswered questions
While the announcement presents a positive picture of continued investment, several details remain unclear. The press release does not specify when the training programme begins, what milestones will mark its progress, or how “productivity” will be measured and reported.
The claim that the Derry site is “recognised within the global Nelipak Group for its high productivity standards” appears to refer to internal company assessment rather than external benchmarking or awards. Nelipak operates 14 sites across six countries including the US, Costa Rica, Ireland, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico and the UK, with over 1,600 employees globally.
Nelipak expanded significantly in 2019 with the acquisition of Bemis Healthcare Packaging Europe, which brought the Derry, Clara and Elsham facilities into the Nelipak group. The Derry plant received ISCC Plus certification for sustainability standards in January 2025.
The announcement also comes amid ongoing industrial relations tensions at the site. Earlier this year, Unite union members were balloted over potential industrial action following disputes over pay and demands for accredited living wage status. The union said members had “voted overwhelmingly to reject Nelipak’s inadequate pay offer” and raised concerns about the dismissal of a workforce representative during the dispute.
Broader sector picture
The investment sits within Invest NI’s wider strategy to boost productivity and regional balance. The agency’s 2024-2027 business strategy commits to delivering 65% of investments outside the Belfast Metropolitan Area by 2026/27, with advanced manufacturing identified as a priority sector.
Manufacturing accounts for approximately 11% of employment and 13% of Gross Value Added in Northern Ireland, according to Manufacturing NI research published in May 2025. The sector has faced ongoing challenges including skills shortages, with a June 2025 all-island skills report identifying “current and increasing skills shortage” as a critical issue for advanced manufacturing.
The life and health sciences sector, which includes medical device packaging, supports approximately 19,500 jobs across the Northern Ireland economy and contributes £1.2 billion in GVA, according to Matrix NI.
Questions for stakeholders
- What specific productivity metrics will Nelipak use to assess whether the £480,000 investment delivers measurable improvements?
- How does this training programme relate to any previous skills support, and will outcomes be reported transparently?
- Given the sector-wide skills shortages identified in recent research, how will this investment affect recruitment and retention at the Derry site?
- What proportion of the training will be delivered by local providers versus external or online programmes?
- How does Invest NI evaluate the return on public investment in workforce skills compared to other forms of business support?
- Will productivity improvements from this training affect staffing levels at the site?
What to watch
Invest NI has indicated it will continue supporting Nelipak’s growth. The agency’s focus on regional balance and productivity suggests similar announcements may follow for other North West manufacturers. Readers interested in training support for their own businesses can contact Invest NI’s Business Support Team on 0800 181 4422 or explore training support options online.
The effectiveness of this investment will ultimately be judged not by the announcement, but by whether it translates into sustained employment, measurable productivity gains, and enhanced competitiveness for both Nelipak and the broader North West manufacturing base.