Deputy Mayor thanks Manufacturing Task Force Chair, Graham Whitehurst MBE, for his services
Friday 28 March 2025
Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Bréanainn Lyness, today met with Graham Whitehurst MBE as his tenure as Chair of the Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force (MTF) draws to a close - thanking him for the positive impact his leadership and dedication to the role has had on the manufacturing sector across the Borough.
The Deputy Mayor said: “I want to sincerely thank Graham for all his work as Chair of the Manufacturing Task Force. Over the past five years, his dedication has been invaluable in driving collaboration, innovation and growth amongst manufacturing businesses in our Borough.
“His vision for the sector has seen many businesses focus on green growth, skills development and digitilisation. His ability to forge connections and collaboration between businesses in our Borough and key stakeholders throughout the Northern Ireland market has undoubtably laid the foundation for future growth opportunities.
“I am grateful for the dedication he has shown in promoting Mid and East Antrim as a manufacturing heartland and the legacy he has left for the sector and wish him every success with his future endeavours.”
Since taking on the role in 2020, the MTF network has grown significantly and now has over 50 active businesses and stakeholders. Graham has been laser-focused on facilitating open collaboration and knowledge sharing across the network to drive performance across three pillars relevant to the manufacturing sector: skills, productivity and cleantech.
Some of Graham’s profile moments include leading the network through challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, driving business participation in cleantech initiatives like the multi award-winning Hydrogen Training Academy and the CleanTech Collaborative Growth Network plus establishing the first industry Lean Network in NI to help and support companies to become leaner, increasing productivity levels.
Another key area of focus has been on fostering active engagement between businesses and local schools to inspire the next generation. Most recently, Graham hosted the ‘Activate your Curiosity’ STEAM event at The Braid Centre in Ballymena, where 400 secondary school children were inspired by a speech from Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS and engaged in workshops from MTF companies including Kilwaughter Minerals, Ryobi, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, Moore Concrete, Teva, EPUKI, Michelin Development, Caterpillar, GES Group, Wrightbus, and Phoenix Energy.
Graham has enjoyed a decorated career in the manufacturing sector, with over 30 years spent working at international senior management level. Throughout that time, he worked as General Manager of Michelin, Ballymena, and Operations Director of Wrightbus, before starting his own Business Improvement consultancy to support SME’s with improving their efficiency and productivity.
Graham will complete his tenure as Chair of the Manufacturing Task Force on Monday 31 March 2025, before moving back to England with his family.