Economic Development and Magherafelt District Council

Magherafelt Businesses Cluster Together for Growth

Magherafelt District Council has launched a unique support programme targeted at helping local businesses in key sectors of construction and speciality foods. The programme is designed to address participating companies short term success and long term growth. The businesses were welcomed to the launch event held on Thursday 7 April by Council Chairperson Anne Forde who said "We feel it is very important to support both the Speciality Foods and Construction sectors at this particular time through the delivery of the Magherafelt Business Clusters Programme.

This complements our other programmes supporting retail businesses and developing international business relationships"

The council and their delivery partner, the Centre for Competitiveness will address a range of business performance issues through a series of workshops & networking events. In addition, some of the companies will work in smaller groups to identify how they can work together to help reduce their business costs, access new markets, develop new products and services or become more competitive.

Gordon Best, Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland commended the council for continuing to support construction sector businesses, who account for approximately 1 in 5 jobs in the Magherafelt area, through challenging times and encouraged local businesses to take advantage of the opportunities the programme would provide. Stephen Bloomfield from, Northern Bank, who are sponsoring the workshops said that ...

Businesses in the construction, related manufacturing and services sector or the speciality food sector who are interested in getting involved should contact Michael Smith at Centre for Competitiveness on 028 90737950 or compete@cforc.org .

The next event will be held on Tuesday 3rd May, 11am - 1pm in Magherafelt District Council Offices. This event will be an information session for speciality food sector businesses who are interested in finding out more about the programme.

The Magherafelt Business Cluster Programme is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland, and is administered through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Companies locating or expanding in Magherafelt can call upon the advice and assistance of Invest NI. The Training and Employment Agency offer recruitment services, employment incentive schemes and a highly trained workforce. Technical assistance with research and development work is available from the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU), the Department of Agriculture is on hand to assist with agri-business developments and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board will assist with tourism related projects.

European funding for economic development schemes in the area mean that a range of varying grants are available for both capital and revenue expenditure. Working through the system of grants requires an excellent localised knowledge, and this is where the staff at Magherafelt Council can be of real assistance to businesses locally.

Our experience of the grants system, combined with our knowledge of and commitment to the development of the local area could open up new and exciting opportunities for your business.

Whether you are establishing a new business in the area or expanding an already successful enterprise, the combination of a comprehensive range of business support together with the central location and excellent lines of communication make the Magherafelt district a first class choice.

Magherafelt District Council is keen to promote economic growth from within the area as well as encouraging inward investment, and a comprehensive development plan, backed by financial assistance from European funds is in place for the district.

In the Magherafelt area, the entrepreneurial spirit is deeply rooted. Since the early 1980s, the rate of self-employment in the area has been as much as 50 per cent higher than for Northern Ireland as a whole. Several local firms have grown to become excellent companies manufacturing products which are competitive both at home and in export markets.

A number of development schemes have already been successfully implemented, including the development of tourist facilities, establishment of community economic development projects and assistance to local businesses with exporting. Future plans within the Council will focus assistance on enterprise and business development, community economic development and tourism infrastructure.