Carrick benefits as ‘confidence returns’

Results for the 2013-14 financial year include nearly 11,000 jobs promoted across the province and over £1bn of investment secured.

Significant announcements in that period for Carrickfergus have included support for a £1 million expansion by Yelo, which designs and manufactures automated test equipment for the international electronics market at its Belfast Road premises and backing for a £32 million investment by Ryobi at Meadowbank Road.

Commenting on the results, Mark Ennis, Invest NI chairman, said: “To have promoted almost 11,000 jobs, secured over £1 billion of new investment commitments and encouraged almost £250 million of R&D expenditure in a single year are tremendous outcomes.

“The number of jobs promoted, the associated wages and salaries, the value of assistance offered and the amount of investment planned by business were all at record levels. We also made more offers of support to the highest number of businesses ever.”

East Antrim MLA Alastair Ross, who is the Assembly Private Secretary in the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, praised the Invest NI performance too.

Mr Ross said: “The central theme of the Programme for Government is growing our local economy, and after a few difficult years we are now seeing new jobs created every week.

“A determined drive to create a business friendly environment in Northern Ireland, to ensure we have a skilled workforce and an effort to travel the world and attract foreign direct investment has started to pay dividends and there is much to be optimistic about for the future.

“It is good news for everyone that confidence is returning and business leaders predict continued growth in our economy in the future. This helps bring investment to Northern Ireland, allows local companies to expand and affords young people more opportunities for work.”