Invest NI brings jobs boost

35 companies from across Northern Ireland have been recognised as InterTradeIreland Business Ambassadors at a special ceremony in Parliament Buildings. Alistair Ross MLA (centre), Assembly Private Secretary for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, who hosted the event, is joined (from left) by Business Ambassadors, Seamus Connolly and Kate Connolly of Fast Engineering Ltd and Ray Hayden, Board Member of InterTradeIreland.

It says it promoted nearly 583 posts in the Mid and East Antrim Council area (Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena) and 960 in the Antrim and Newtownabbey district.

End-of-year results from Invest NI show higher levels of investment than in the previous year, with almost £66 million invested by companies – an increase of 37 per cent on the year before.

The figures also showed strong entrepreneurial activity throughout Mid and East Antrim, with 201 new businesses started by local people in 2013/14

Moira Loughran, Invest NI’s eastern regional manager, said: “The statistics clearly demonstrate that business confidence is improving throughout the area.”

as companies prepare to take advantage of the steadily improving economy.

“Invest NI has been encouraging and assisting company of all sizes, both externally and locally-owned, to invest in growth by means of initiatives that will enhance their overall competitiveness. The strategic focus on promoting enterprise is also providing tangible benefits particularly in terms of employment opportunities throughout the area.”

The Antrim and Newtownabbey job promotion represented an increase of 233 per cent on the previous year. The figures show significant increases across the key areas of offers, assistance and investment. In 2013/14, offers increased by 11 per cent, assistance by 312 per cent and investment by 443 per cent.

East Antrim DUP Assemblyman Alastair Ross said: “Invest NI have had a fantastic year, and East Antrim has benefited from an upturn in the economy.

He added: “With the new councils should be new opportunities for attracting investment, and the improved infrastructure of the A2 and A8 roads will undoubtedly make places like Larne and Carrickfergus more attractive and more accessible for businesses.”