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05/07/2001
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BEDROCK OF NI ECONOMY
SMALL businesses are the ‘bedrock’ of Northern Ireland’s economy Trade Minister Sir Reg Empey said at the official opening of an extension to the Ards Business Centre.
The minister said that for the benefit of Northern Ireland’s economy the start up rate of small businesses in Northern Ireland must be increased. Speaking at the official opening of the new and enlarged Ards Business Centre which has been built to provide new and expanding businesses with suitable accommodation in the Ards area.
Commenting at the opening, the Minister said: “Centres like this are therefore crucial as they provide a comprehensive range of facilities, support services, resources and assistance to young companies. The success of enterprise centres across Northern Ireland indicates that government, and its enterprise partners, are doing everything that can possibly be done to create and support small businesses, the bedrock of our economy.
“The demand for space in this new extension is high. Even prior to completion the new site was already 75 per cent let and estimates are that the expansion will create upwards of 40 new jobs in the area.”
The new extension has been funded by Ards Borough Council, the International Fund for Ireland and Ards Business Centre itself.
Having achieved and maintained a 100 per cent occupancy rate within its existing property base the management of Ards Business Centre identified a gap in the provision of industrial workspace within the Ards area for expanding businesses.
Speaking on behalf of Ards Business Centre, Chief Executive Margaret Patterson said: “The Centre is about cultivating and sustaining local economic development through the creation of new enterprise. This it does in many ways, but the provision of quality workspace designed to meet the needs of all business sectors is one area in which we have achieved tremendous success. Having witnessed losses within traditional sectors over recent times we felt that we had to take a pro-active role in stimulating other sectors and we are delighted that the result of this has been the new development which you see today.”
(AMcE)
The minister said that for the benefit of Northern Ireland’s economy the start up rate of small businesses in Northern Ireland must be increased. Speaking at the official opening of the new and enlarged Ards Business Centre which has been built to provide new and expanding businesses with suitable accommodation in the Ards area.
Commenting at the opening, the Minister said: “Centres like this are therefore crucial as they provide a comprehensive range of facilities, support services, resources and assistance to young companies. The success of enterprise centres across Northern Ireland indicates that government, and its enterprise partners, are doing everything that can possibly be done to create and support small businesses, the bedrock of our economy.
“The demand for space in this new extension is high. Even prior to completion the new site was already 75 per cent let and estimates are that the expansion will create upwards of 40 new jobs in the area.”
The new extension has been funded by Ards Borough Council, the International Fund for Ireland and Ards Business Centre itself.
Having achieved and maintained a 100 per cent occupancy rate within its existing property base the management of Ards Business Centre identified a gap in the provision of industrial workspace within the Ards area for expanding businesses.
Speaking on behalf of Ards Business Centre, Chief Executive Margaret Patterson said: “The Centre is about cultivating and sustaining local economic development through the creation of new enterprise. This it does in many ways, but the provision of quality workspace designed to meet the needs of all business sectors is one area in which we have achieved tremendous success. Having witnessed losses within traditional sectors over recent times we felt that we had to take a pro-active role in stimulating other sectors and we are delighted that the result of this has been the new development which you see today.”
(AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
