OPINION: Derry's next chapter depends on keeping talent, as much as attracting it back
Stepping into this new role a few months ago as Associate Director of Communications at Gray’s has given me ample time to reflect on where the business – and our city – is heading.
My own path back to Derry, via teenage years spent in Mauritius (yes, you read that right) and forging my professional career in London, is one I'd file under the growing number of ‘full circle’ stories: people who left assuming there was little to come back for, and later found their way home to build a meaningful career here.
It's a trend worth paying attention to, because it says something bigger about our trajectory as a region.
The Northwest is a genuinely good place to live – the strength of our hospitality, social scene and leisure offerings help to make that case. But if we want more people who may be currently weighing up a return to actually make that move, the city needs sustained investment and growth across every sector.
Attracting talent home is only part the equation; the real task lies in being competitive enough from a socioeconomic perspective to retain the talent we already have, so fewer people feel the need to leave in the first place.
That's where a business like Gray's has a role to play. I first joined the company in 2022, and this new role is about helping push the team forward as we enter our next phase of growth, working closely with senior management team under the astute guidance of Chris Gray. What he's built here over the past decade – and the leadership he brings day to day – is truly impressive and sets the standard for how we approach that growth.
Our success, as ever, is testament to our immensely dedicated team who continue to deliver exceptional work. Interestingly, through our recent recruitment process, we've noticed a surge in interest from across the water in our latest roles – including two hires who've since moved from London to live and work here.
That's a meaningful signal. It suggests the city, and businesses within it, are becoming genuinely competitive propositions on a wider stage.
We marked that momentum recently, as Gray’s celebrated ten years in business onboard the Galeón Andalucía during the Foyle Maritime Festival, alongside the clients, stakeholders and suppliers who've been part of the journey with us. That milestone serves as evidence, more than anything else: that sustained investment, in people and place, delivers results.
Derry has shown it can produce ‘full circle’ stories. The next chapter is about keeping people here.
By Andy Wilson, Associate Director of Communications at Gray’s.