Menu
06/06/2002
Invest NI 'failing' rural businesses says MLA
Launched only a few of months ago, Invest NI has already come under attack from a local MLA over its lack of service towards SMEs in rural areas of Northern Ireland.
Joe Byrne, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone, has accused the government agency of not doing enough to promote high-speed internet access among SMEs in rural areas of the Northern Ireland.
Mr Byrne raised the issue during Assembly Question Time when he asked Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many SMEs in West Tyrone had applied for ASDL internet access under a pilot scheme headed by Invest Northern Ireland. The Minister revealed that the objective was to get 200 SMEs across the North connected, however to date there has only been 73 applications and eight of these are from businesses in West Tyrone.
Mr Byrne said: "This pilot scheme headed by Invest NI offered small businesses the ideal opportunity to acquire high-speed internet access. The target was to get 200 SMEs connected to ASDL but unfortunately there have only been 73 applications. Only eight small businesses from West Tyrone applied for ASDL and only two have been successful.
"The small number of applications starkly illustrate the fact that Invest NI is taking a very lack lustre approach to promoting the pilot programme. Invest Northern Ireland was set up to help small businesses and to attract new inward investment and already its stumbling at the first hurdle and is failing to deliver especially in rural areas such as West Tyrone."
Mr Byrne concluded by saying that Invest NI's client executives needed to get their act together and devise a more proactive and effective promotional campaign. He also said they should get out among their client firms raising their awareness of ASDL and encouraging them to embrace new technology which would help make local businesses more competitive.
(MB)
Joe Byrne, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone, has accused the government agency of not doing enough to promote high-speed internet access among SMEs in rural areas of the Northern Ireland.
Mr Byrne raised the issue during Assembly Question Time when he asked Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many SMEs in West Tyrone had applied for ASDL internet access under a pilot scheme headed by Invest Northern Ireland. The Minister revealed that the objective was to get 200 SMEs across the North connected, however to date there has only been 73 applications and eight of these are from businesses in West Tyrone.
Mr Byrne said: "This pilot scheme headed by Invest NI offered small businesses the ideal opportunity to acquire high-speed internet access. The target was to get 200 SMEs connected to ASDL but unfortunately there have only been 73 applications. Only eight small businesses from West Tyrone applied for ASDL and only two have been successful.
"The small number of applications starkly illustrate the fact that Invest NI is taking a very lack lustre approach to promoting the pilot programme. Invest Northern Ireland was set up to help small businesses and to attract new inward investment and already its stumbling at the first hurdle and is failing to deliver especially in rural areas such as West Tyrone."
Mr Byrne concluded by saying that Invest NI's client executives needed to get their act together and devise a more proactive and effective promotional campaign. He also said they should get out among their client firms raising their awareness of ASDL and encouraging them to embrace new technology which would help make local businesses more competitive.
(MB)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
22 February 2016
Lagan Engineering To Create 16 New Jobs
Cookstown based firm Lagan Engineering to to create 16 new jobs. Invest Northern Ireland has offered the company assistance of £134,250. The firm designs and manufactures custom-built products for the sand, quarry, waste and recycling industries. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell welcomed the announcement.
Lagan Engineering To Create 16 New Jobs
Cookstown based firm Lagan Engineering to to create 16 new jobs. Invest Northern Ireland has offered the company assistance of £134,250. The firm designs and manufactures custom-built products for the sand, quarry, waste and recycling industries. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell welcomed the announcement.
27 February 2004
Beggs calls for government action on insurance premiums
Ulster Unionist Chief Whip, Roy Beggs, has called on the Government to tackle increasing insurance premiums for small businesses in Northern Ireland. It follows findings by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment which reveal that average insurance increases for local small businesses have risen by 62% in recent times.
Beggs calls for government action on insurance premiums
Ulster Unionist Chief Whip, Roy Beggs, has called on the Government to tackle increasing insurance premiums for small businesses in Northern Ireland. It follows findings by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment which reveal that average insurance increases for local small businesses have risen by 62% in recent times.
05 November 2001
Local man appointed as INI Chief Executive
Northern Ireland born Leslie Morrison has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the new government inward investment agency, Invest Northern Ireland (INI). INI is set to be launched in the New Year, and will see the integration of various government bodies into one economic development agency.
Local man appointed as INI Chief Executive
Northern Ireland born Leslie Morrison has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the new government inward investment agency, Invest Northern Ireland (INI). INI is set to be launched in the New Year, and will see the integration of various government bodies into one economic development agency.
03 December 2001
Farren urges businesses to invest in training
The Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Seán Farren has urged local companies to continue to invest in training schemes in order to sustain growth and economic productivity of the province’s workforce.
Farren urges businesses to invest in training
The Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Seán Farren has urged local companies to continue to invest in training schemes in order to sustain growth and economic productivity of the province’s workforce.
20 August 2004
Invest NI help to 'start-up' 600 new businesses
Invest NI’s southern local office has helped to ‘start-up’ an impressive 600 local firms within the last financial year through its Start a Business programme.
Invest NI help to 'start-up' 600 new businesses
Invest NI’s southern local office has helped to ‘start-up’ an impressive 600 local firms within the last financial year through its Start a Business programme.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
