Council offers business support programme

Launching the new Generate programme are (LR): Colin McCabrey, Assistant Economic Development Manager Belfast City Council, Mary Young Client Executive Invest Northern Ireland, Alderman Jack Beattie Chairman of Castlereagh Borough Council Economic Development Committee, Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman of Lisburn City Council Economic Development Committee and Siobhan Lyons, Head of Business Development at Belfast Metropolitan College.

If the answer is ‘Yes’ and you are a small to medium size business from either the Lisburn City Council, Belfast City Council or Castlereagh Borough Council area, a new and exciting business support programme called ‘Generate’ is now looking for companies to register.

Generate will help your business become a supplier to the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector.

The programme is funded by the three partner Councils (Lisburn, Belfast and Castlereagh) and is part financed by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland. Generate is being delivered by Belfast Metropolitan College.

Speaking at the launch of Generate, Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman of Lisburn City Council Economic Development Committee said: “The Council is delighted to assist local businesses to tap into the potential that exists within the renewable supply sector.

“The renewables sector is recognised as a key sector for future growth and job creation and we want to make sure our local businesses can avail of the opportunities on offer.

“The Council is looking for companies involved in Construction, Engineering, Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics and Environmental Consultancies, but basically it doesn’t matter what sector you are in, if you feel your company has the potential to supply the Renewable Industry Supply Chain, Generate wants to hear from you.”

Invest Northern Ireland Client Executive, Mary Young said: “The programme will provide businesses with access to specialist one-to-one mentoring to help position them within the supply chains of emerging markets for wind, marine, bio-energy, smart-grid and energy storage. The scale of the opportunities that exist is extremely exciting.

For further information on Generate, please see www.generateni.com or call Chris Corken, Generate Team on Tel: 028 9026 5069 or email: [email protected]