BALLYMENA Business Centre is marking the achievements of two highly successful projects – Enabling Enterprise and 4i Innovation – which have collectively supported 359 companies and entrepreneurs in their business journey. Since 2018, this has included £125,000 in seed funding reinvested into the Ballymena economy through 250 startup businesses via Enabling Enterprise.
Together, the two projects were established to encourage local business start-up and business growth providing in-depth support for micro and SME businesses to improve innovation, evaluate their value proposition and sustain business growth, ultimately improving efficiency, profitability and competitiveness.
Since 2018, The Gallaher Trust has committed a total of £438,000 to support these projects which have both gone on to help create over 121 employment opportunities, with 16 entrepreneurs progressing into town centre retail following completion of the Enabling Enterprise project.
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Hailing the success of these initiatives, the Trust’s Chairman, Ian Paisley, said these achievements come amid an extremely challenging time for local business owners who are often grappling with rising supply chain and rent costs, alongside regulatory and legislative developments.
“What the Ballymena Business Centre has managed to accomplish through the Enabling Enterprise and 4i Innovation projects is absolutely brilliant and certainly no small feat,” Ian said.
“Businesses are the backbone of our regional economy, creating jobs and investment opportunities. It’s no secret that many business owners have been operating in an increasingly challenging and complex landscape, but this was exactly why we were keen to lend our support to Ballymena Business Centre and continued to work alongside this social enterprise over the last eight years.
“To see so many entrepreneurs supported, hundreds of businesses receiving seed funding, 21 businesses receiving Innovate NI Certification and more than 121 new employment opportunities created is a fantastic demonstration of what can be achieved when organisations work together.”
One such company that has reported remarkable success since completing the 4i Innovation and also progressed to receive support from Invest NI, is Ballymena Business Centre tenant Peak Shaving, a renewable energy and design consultancy.
Currently developing technology to utilise second life EV commercial and industrial waste batteries for storing renewable energy, Peak Shaving is committed to promoting sustainability and the circular economy by providing its customers with tailored solutions to optimise their energy usage, leading to lower costs, and contributing to a greener future.
The company works across Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, providing energy conservation services to a wide range of commercial and industrial businesses including agricultural enterprises, community energy projects, transport and logistics companies and homeowners.
Commenting on the experience of the 4i Innovation programme, Ryan Burton from Peak Shaving said: “My business partner, Robert and I had the idea for our company for quite some time, but it was through completing the 4i Innovation, and tenancy at Ballymena Business Centre, that we were able to expand our network and gain the knowledge and skills to really go for it.
“By leveraging advanced technologies, demand-side management strategies, and our in-depth expertise in renewable energy, we have been able to provide our clients with innovative solutions to help manage their energy conservation goals.
“This is a really exciting time for our company. We’re working on a range of projects for local businesses and indeed those overseas as well as providing highly skilled employment opportunities and apprenticeships, with our first apprentice recently starting. The 4i Innovation has allowed us to establish and scale-up our company at pace and we are looking forward to what the future brings.”
Another such enterprise is Ballymena Business Centre tenant, Airtac, the first company of its kind in Northern Ireland which designs and manufactures high pressure air (HPA) adapters for airsoft, the shooting sport in which players use airsoft guns to tag opponents with plastic airsoft pellets equipment. Since its inception, Airtac has received significant growth funding, enabling them to expand their footprint to service international markets.
“The foundation we received through the 4i Innovation programme stood us in great stead when it came to growing our business,” commented Taig Brookes, Production Director at Airtac. “Over the last six years, we have scaled up our operations at Ballymena Business Centre currently employing seven people providing high-quality products to global customers.
“We’re really looking forward to continuing our vision well into the future. We’re just finishing off fitting out a new manufacturing facility on the Ballymena Business Centre estate to nearly double our production capabilities here in Northern Ireland. We’re set to receive a state-of-the-art Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printer from HP alongside a brand new Raise3D SLS Printer, both of which we are the first in Northern Ireland to receive. We’re looking forward to creating up to another six jobs here in Ballymena and will begin hiring very soon!”
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Melanie Christie-Boyle MBE, Chief Executive, Ballymena Business Centre added: “Enabling Enterprise and 4i Innovation, delivered over the last eight years, has provided essential wrap around support nurturing local entrepreneurs on their enterprise journey, achieving Innovate NI Certification and providing a clear pathway for businesses to connect and benefit from additional support provided by education and economic stakeholders. Establishing and growing a business is never easy, especially against a backdrop of rising costs and mounting pressures across many sectors.
“That is why collaboration and partnership with key stakeholders is so important ensuring the right formula of support is provided. To have assisted so many entrepreneurs and businesses that have created new employment opportunities is a fantastic result. The team at Ballymena Business Centre is hugely grateful to The Gallaher Trust for its continued investment in helping local entrepreneurs turn their vision into viable, growing and innovative businesses.”
For more information about The Gallaher Trust and its work, visit: www.thegallahertrust.org.
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