The article discusses the decision by Newfoundland and Labrador to spend $171,000 over two years to sponsor an English soccer club, Barrow AFC. The goal was to attract skilled workers from the UK to move to the province. The sponsorship was chosen because of similarities between the town of Barrow-in-Furness, which is also a major shipbuilding center, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s rugged geography and isolated location.
The article quotes Minister of Immigration, Population Growth, Labour and Skills Gerry Byrne as saying that the goal was to attract workers who would be more likely to stay in the province due to its similarities with Barrow-in-Furness. The department held recruitment events in Manchester, Milton Keynes, London, and Westfield Stratford, which attracted about 900 people with skills in demand by employers.
However, a marketing expert questioned the effectiveness of this strategy, saying that two crucial questions need to be answered: How many skilled workers from the UK used the website to inquire about working in the province, and how many workers has the province recruited?
The article also mentions that the province was unable to provide information on how many workers it had recruited from the UK or how many people from the UK reached out to the province via the website.
Overall, the article raises questions about the effectiveness of this strategy and whether it is worth the cost.
