Innovative programme will help companies grow

Manufacturing companies will be assisted to add significant value to their operations and position themselves for faster growth by applying knowledge-led techniques through an innovative business improvement programme.

The programme was announced today by Leslie Morrison, Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) Chief Executive, who said the programme would enable up to 25 companies each to recruit a full-time Business Improvement Agent (BIA). They would then be tasked to identify measures that could be taken to strengthen their ability to win new business, retain existing customers and improve profit margins by increasing efficiency.

Said Mr Morrison: “The BIA programme, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, has been developed by Invest NI’s Business Improvement Services as part of its focus on encouraging local companies to improve their overall competitiveness by helping management and staff increase capability.

“It is in line with our Corporate Plan commitment to build a partnership with individual companies that will help them to add value to their business through the application of new knowledge or techniques.

“It is based on a successful model programme that involved a small group of companies including Allied Bakeries in Belfast, Boomer Plastics, Lisburn and SCA Packaging, Warrenpoint. These three companies, for example, are predicting combined savings of more than £1 million over the next two years.

"BIAs will pinpoint areas for improvement within each company and then manage the delivery of actions to improve performance.

“Each BIA will be monitored and measured to ensure tangible benefits for participating companies. The aim will be to achieve a three-fold return for each company against the total costs of employing the BIA supported by sustained improvements to processes over three years."

Invest NI and companies taking part in the programme will share the salary costs of the business improvement agents over a period of three years with the intention that the company create a full time BIA post and will fully fund the agent thereafter.

Invest NI’s Business Improvement Service will also work closely with each agent in identifying and making improvements.

Companies are being invited to join the BIA programme by means of advertisements in local daily newspapers and by direct e-mail marketing

techniques.

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