Vintage Rolls Royce Firm Expands

A Co Antrim car refurbishment firm, James Black Restorations Ltd is targeting £470,000 worth of new export sales over the next three years with support from Invest Northern Ireland.

Lisburn's James Black Restorations specialises in the refurbishment and maintenance of vintage Rolls Royce and Bentley cars.

The firm has experienced steady growth in recent months, receiving orders from customers across Great Britain, Europe and Asia.

The company is investing £200,000 as part of its strategy to increase its market share and maximise new sales opportunities, particularly in the US and Australia.

Invest NI offered James Black Restorations over £33,000 towards the project.

As part of its overall investment, the company is implementing an extensive marketing campaign, expanding its premises and investing in new machinery.

The firm has also recruited a new sales and marketing manager to undertake market development activities and also plans to appoint a master engineer in the coming weeks to help manage the anticipated increase in business.

Oonagh Hinds, Manager of Invest NI's Regional Business Team, said: "James Black Restorations is an ambitious company operating in a high-value, niche market.

"This project will enable the company to capitalise on its growing international reputation and enhance its competitiveness in export markets.

"Increasing its management capabilities and proactively marketing its services will help to build awareness of the company and enable James Black Restorations to target potential new customers more effectively," she said.

James Black who owns the firm, said: "This investment is an integral part of our business development strategy.

"With support from Invest NI we will be able to tap into the significant commercial opportunities outside Northern Ireland and progress a greater number of orders than we could previously accommodate.

"We will continue to drive our marketing activity over the coming months in a bid to achieve our target export sales."

(BMcC)