Major investment will upskill Encirc workforce over three-year period

September 2026

Picture of four men in suits with ties and two ladies in jackets. The two ladies are holding an Encirc sign.

Pictured at the announcement of a major investment in its people by Encirc are (from left) Ciaran Colton, Business Advisor, Invest NI; Dwayne Nixon, Finance Director, Encirc; Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Sean Murphy, Managing Director, Encirc; Gráinne Moody, Director of Food and Drink, Invest NI and Fiacre O’Donnell, Sustainability Director, Encirc.

At Encirc, we’re investing more than £700,000 over three years in skills development at our Derrylin site in County Fermanagh, equipping our people with the expertise needed to support future growth, innovation and decarbonisation across our business.

The major investment was announced at Stormont this week by Economy Minister Dr. Caoimhe Archibald alongside Invest NI who have offered Encirc support of £157,200 towards the three year plan.

Encirc, part of the Vidrala group, produces approximately three billion glass containers annually for leading global brands across the UK.

Economy Minister, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald, said: “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.”

Sean Murphy, Managing Director at Encirc, said: “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.”

Along with the new One Horizon Programme, Encirc employees will participate in training across leadership development; specialist engineering training related to low-carbon technologies and alternative fuels; digital and data skills; artificial intelligence awareness; and professional development opportunities.

Gráinne Moody, Director of Food and Drink at Invest NI, said: “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.”