Ballymena Centre doing the business!

Finance Minister Mervyn Storey commended the ongoing work at the Centre when he recently visited as staff reviewed their 2012-2015 Enterprise Plan.

Key successes during the past four years included the securing of £343k additional funding for Ballymena; 835 start-up enquiries and 244 business plans; six Pre Enterprise Programmes; five Start Up and Growth Programmes; five Community Enterprise Hubs; 120 managed business units with 98% occupancy; and £12k community sponsorship.

It was pointed out that whilst Ballymena Business Centre recognises their achievements they fully acknowledge that challenging times lie ahead. With this in mind their aim will be to seek out and maximise all available opportunities and future activity will remain focused on their core themes of Enterprising People, Enterprising Business and Enterprising Community with wrap around services and support to encourage people to start-up or grow their businesses.

Minister Mervyn Storey said: “I have long supported Ballymena Business Centre and I am well aware of the excellent work they have been doing for the past 27 years. It is particularly commendable that the Centre has been so active in supporting local people to start up new businesses, which is key in providing new job opportunities and driving forward economic growth.”

PJ Mc Avoy, Chair Ballymena Business Centre, said: “Since we started, in 1989, we have played, and continue to play, a pivotal role in creating an enterprise culture in the Ballymena area and we believe that our recent successes demonstrate this.”