Invest NI helps Dervock company expand workforce

The business manufactures and erects buildings and livestock gates for the agricultural sector throughout Northern Ireland.

Its owner, Aaron Ramage, has now identified a market opportunity in Scotland and is taking on more staff to service the anticipated increase in business.

With support from Invest Northern Ireland’s Jobs Fund, Ramage Contracts is taking on four new staff which will bring the total employed to nine.

Gren Armstrong, Manager of Invest NI’s North East Regional Office, explained: “This small business is gearing up to take the step into export markets as part of an overall growth plan. Our Jobs Fund is delivering essential support so that it can quickly take advantage of the opportunities in Scotland where the agricultural buildings market is buoyant.”

Aaron Ramage established Ramage Contracts in 2003. The business provides a full build service for agricultural and industrial sheds and livestock gates, and also sells self-erect kit sheds.

“My objective is to triple our sales over the next two years. This will depend on me being able to spend time developing sales leads here and in Scotland,” said Aaron Ramage.

“The recruitment of an Office Manager is key to this, and additional fabricators will be required as the business grows. Without Invest NI’s support we would not be able to take on the staff so quickly and might lose out on the current opportunities in the Scottish market.

“We are also making a significant investment in marketing and capital equipment for an additional production shed and some fabricating equipment to support future growth.”

* Invest NI has offered £28,000 of support through its Jobs Fund. It works with individuals, companies and organisations in manufacturing and tradable services which show the ambition and commitment to grow by being more innovative, more entrepreneurial and more internationally focused.

Invest NI’s resources are focused on assisting our clients to improve competitiveness, increase innovation, promote a stronger international focus and create more positive attitudes to enterprise.

Invest NI’s full range of support and services are delivered through local offices in Belfast, Coleraine, Ballymena, Craigavon, Londonderry, Newry, Enniskillen and Omagh, and an international office network.