michael walsh - lama spring seminar 2012 - waterford
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Michael Walsh - LAMA Spring Seminar 2012 - WaterfordTRANSCRIPT
Role of Local Authorities in enabling Economic Development:The Waterford Crystal StoryThe Waterford Crystal Story
Michael Walsh
Waterford City Council
History of Glass Making in Waterford City – Phase 1
• 1783 Penrose Bros establish glass works, employing 50-70
• 1830s – Irish glass industry in terminal decline
• 1851 – Waterford glass • 1851 – Waterford glass exhibited at Great Exhibition, Crystal Palace
• Waterford established as a quality brand and collectors item
• 1851 –Waterford glass closes - unable to attract capital investment
1851 Great Exhibition, London
History of Glass Making in Waterford City – Phase 2
• 1947 – Charles Bacik establishes new facility in Ballytruckle on site provided by Waterford Corporation
Ballytruckle Manufacturing Corporation
• 1950 – Irish Glass Bottle Co Ltd takes over and builds new facility in Johnstown
• Waterford Crystal exported to America, Great Britain, Bermuda and New Zealand
Ballytruckle Manufacturing Facility
History of Glass Making in Waterford City – Phase 2
• 1962 – 600 employees
• 1967 – Kilbarry factory opened – 40 acre site
– 2,000 employees– 2,000 employees
• 1971 – Dungarvan plant opens
Waterford Crystal
• 1987 – Waterford Crystal and Wedgewood merger
• At its peak:• At its peak:– 3,000+ employed
– 380,000 visitors
– Leading tourist attraction
Waterford Crystal, Cork Road
Waterford Crystal – End of an Era
• 1990s –outsourcing commences
• 2000 onwards– Job losses
– Short time
– Pay freezes
• 2009 closure– 800 direct job losses
– Impact on local economy
– Threat to tourism market
– Receiver appointed
Scenes following the closure
Salvage from the Wreckage
• 2009 – Local stakeholders group established to find a solution – ‘Fewer Group’
• Non Prestige • Non Prestige Manufacturing no longer viable
• Full range of options explored
• Venture capitalists (KPS) acquire WWRD brand
Salvage from the Wreckage
• Solution identified– City centre location for combined manufacturing, visitor and retail to ensure sustainabilitysustainability
– Prestige manufacturing
– Tourism as an economic driver
– Catalyst for city centre regeneration in tandem with ‘Viking Triangle’
– State investment necessary
House of Waterford Crystal Before renovations
Salvage from the Wreckage
• The process– 2009 tender for capital works
– Refurbishment former ESB to house HOWC and Civic offices
– Refurbishment of Bond Store for manufacturing facility
– Refurbishment of Bond Store for manufacturing facility
– Car park works to accommodate coach parking
– Project completed on time and on budget
• June 23rd 2010 House of Waterford Crystal flagship showrooms officially opened
House of Waterford Crystal
Official Opening
Salvage from the Wreckage
• Other positives
– 188 currently employed by HOWC
– 200 jobs created during construction phase
– New landmark building for – New landmark building for Waterford City
– Retention of Waterford Crystal brand will contribute to tourism as an economic driver
– Stakeholders working together and ‘doing it for themselves’
• Project funding– WCC €10.7m
– ERDF €2.7m
– Fáilte Ireland €0.75m
– Total Funding €14.2m
The Viking Triangle
• Master Plan developed– Bishop’s Palace completed June 2011
– Chorister’s Hall – Chorister’s Hall opening Summer 2012
– Cathedral Square premises acquired
– Relocation of Tourist Office
– CEO to be appointed
1,000 years of history in 1,000 paces
Why?
• Protect Brand Waterford and City Heritage
• Historical role
• No one else could
– Tourism as an economic driver– Tourism as an economic driver
– Enhancing City’s reputation
• Evolving role of the local authority
– Economic Promotion
– Business Support Units