Council in bid to help local firms prosper

Mayor Fraser Agnew is joined by Vicky Moore, The Dunanney Centre, Rathcoole; Melanie Humphrey, Mallusk Enterprise Park and Tom Gray, Ballyclare Community Concerns, to launch the councils pilot Business Incubation Programme. INNT 28-505CON

The pilot programme, which is open to new start-up and early growth stage businesses, will offer a 50 per cent rental subsidy over a one-year period.

This would apply when locating in one of a number of units available within the following social economy business premises – Mallusk Enterprise Park, Dunanney Centre Rathcoole, Monkstown Village Centre and Ballyclare Community Concerns.

The subsidy will be based on rental costs only, with overheads (e.g. utilities, rates etc) paid by the business taking up the tenancy.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Mayor Fraser Agnew commented: “The council’s Economic Development section has developed this programme in response to the current challenging economic climate.

“We want to assist new start-up and early-stage growth businesses through business incubation.

“The support is offered to either new start micro-businesses or those existing businesses currently operating from home that could benefit from a more suitable business presence, but feel there is a financial barrier preventing them taking the leap from home-based working to a separate business location.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity for any business out there who could benefit from this type of support.”

To qualify to apply for the programme, businesses must be either a new start-up or an existing business currently operating from home that could benefit from a more suitable business presence.

The programme applies to units currently available in The Dunanney Centre Rathcoole, Ballyclare Community Concerns, Mallusk Enterprise Park and Monkstown Village Centre.

Businesses wishing to apply for the programme will have to go through an application process, where they must provide details of their business, the preferred business location and rationale as to why the business should be supported through the rental subsidy. The application process will close on August 30, 2013.

In order to ensure commitment by the business to the tenancy, the minimum terms of any rental will be two years – including the subsidised year.

For further information and application details contact Seonaid Rooney, Economic Development Officer on 028 9034 0072, email [email protected] or log on to www.newtownabbey.gov.uk/business