£2m investment sees 31 new jobs created

£2m investment sees 31 new jobs created

23 March 2016

A NUMBER of local firms are to create a total of 31 new jobs, it has been announced.

Businesses in Newcastle, Ballynahinch, Carryduff and Moneyreagh have announced expansion plans which will result in the creation of the new posts.

They include Blue Clarity Design in Newcastle, Ballynahinch firms Nitronica, Iberian Wine Tours Limited and Garden Escapes (Ireland) Ltd, Sentireal Limited in Carryduff and Somerville in Moneyreagh. The firms are planning to expand with the support of Invest Northern Ireland.

Blue Clarity Design — which offers construction sector design services — is creating nine new jobs as part of a £537,000 investment to expand the business into new sectors including house building, telecoms and oil and gas. Invest NI has offered £67,500 of support towards the investment with two of the jobs are already in place.

Electronics manufacturer Nitronica plans to create two jobs as part of development plans targeting the renewables sector, with Invest NI offering £36,000 to support the company’s £90,000 investment. One of the jobs is already in place.

Iberian Wine Tours Limited is investing £65,000 as part of plans to recruit a business development manager and office administrator to support business growth in new markets over the next two years. Invest NI has offered £15,000 to support the company’s development, with one of the new jobs are already in place.

Garden Escapes (Ireland) Limited — which makes playground and outdoor gym equipment — is investing £164,000 and plans to recruit a design manager, office manager and contracts manager as part of a two year strategy to boost sales in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Invest NI has offered £28,600 towards the project. Two of the jobs are already in place.

Sommerville in Moneyreagh, which specialises in shop fitting and interiors, is investing £501,000 and plans to recruit six new staff as part of expansion plans targeting new business in Europe. Invest NI has offered £49,500 toward the project. Two of the jobs are already in place.

Sentireal Limited, which creates software applications to improve scientific education and training, in particular medical and healthcare training, is investing £726,000 and recruiting nine new jobs towards market development plans which involve attending exhibitions to build awareness of its services. Invest NI has offered £46,800 towards the growth plans. Recruitment has not started yet for the new jobs.

Invest NI’s cash boost for local firms has been welcomed by Stormont Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Jonathan Bell who said their investment activities signals the confidence of businesses who are proactively seeking to grow and succeed in markets outside of Northern Ireland.