08/09/2016

House Boat Company Launches In NI

An innovative house boat company has launched in Northern Ireland.

Designed and manufactured under The Boat House Boat Company Ltd's (BHBC) 'Bluefield Houseboats' brand, the firm designs and manufactures a wide range of floating structures which can be used alone as a houseboat or in modular fashion to create new areas of public realm, housing and commercial spaces.

BHBC has benefited from a research and development grant through Invest Northern Ireland to produce its fully operational two-bedroom boat house prototype which will act as a showroom to market the product.

Economy Minister Simon Hamilton said: "Northern Ireland has a long established reputation in marine engineering. It is very encouraging to see a new, locally-owned company like Bluefield Houseboats utilising these skills to develop innovative products for new markets. The company has identified an emerging opportunity in the sector with a product which offers scope to be adapted for residential, retail and public space use and which has potential markets across Great Britain, Europe and beyond."

Invest NI offered £101,484 towards R&D, marketing activities, technical advice and an employment grant to recruit five new jobs.

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