Invest NI urged to sell science and tech parkaround globe

THE owner of Londonderry’s original science park has urged Invest NI to promote the facility to investors across the globe in order to redress a “growing imbalance in regard to securing jobs for the region.”
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2013, 14:50 BST
Invest NI's global staff outside the HML office in the Ulster Science and Technology Park. The owners of the park want them to promote the facility to investors worldwide.Invest NI's global staff outside the HML office in the Ulster Science and Technology Park. The owners of the park want them to promote the facility to investors worldwide.
Invest NI's global staff outside the HML office in the Ulster Science and Technology Park. The owners of the park want them to promote the facility to investors worldwide.

Don McSwiney, speaking on behalf of Peninsula Hi-Tech, which owns the Ulster Science and Technology Park (USTP) in Springtown, made the comments after Invest NI visited at the start of May. The Sentinel recently reported how Peninsula had already urged Trade Minister Arlene Foster to better promote the facility.

Two weeks ago Invest NI staff from the state agency’s global network of offices - from Düsseldorf to Shanghai and beyond - were given a tour by Mr McSwiney.

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He told the Sentinel: “Very high levels of unemployment continue to grow year on year in the North West with 1,000 jobs being lost in the Park alone since 2008. No new companies have been established in the Park since these jobs have been lost.

“The private sector has put in place the infrastructure to attract inward investment and this has resulted in the development of the Ulster Science and Technology Park, which is the largest Technology Park in Northern Ireland.”

During their visit the staff also met Billy Hutchinson, site director of HML, the financial outsourcing firm, which is now the park’s main tenant.

He praised the quality of the facilities and staff employed by HML since they commenced operations in 2003. The firm employs 400 people in Building 3 and hopes to increase employment numbers. Mr McSwiney said the office facilities available and vacant buildings on the park have the capacity to create up to 3,000 jobs across Buildings 1, 2, 3 and 4.

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He urged Invest NI through its overseas offices “to showcase the Park to potential investors and redress the growing imbalance in regard to securing jobs for the region.”

Peninsula’s case is being made whilst the Department of Social Development (DSD) plans to lease part of the Fort George military base in Londonderry to the North West Regional Science Park (NWRSP) this year.

Related topics:Invest NIArlene Foster