20/05/2011

West Belfast Jobs' Boost Welcomed

The NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has congratulated west Belfast business development agency, Ortus, for supporting 100 new business starts over the past 12 months.

Ortus is one of two agencies responsible for delivering the Invest Northern Ireland Go for it programme in the west Belfast area. The programme is delivered at locations across Northern Ireland and offers support to individuals starting a business. "Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any economy. During what remains a challenging time for all businesses, it is vital that we support and encourage the creation of new businesses and support the growth of existing companies," she said while on a visit.

"The 100 new businesses created cover a diverse range of sectors including the creative industries, tradable services and tourism. Many of these companies have the potential to export their products and services which will help them to maximise their contribution to the local economy, and help it to become stronger and more resilient in the longer term."

Seamus O'Prey, General Manager at Ortus added: "Invest NI's Go for it programme is a brilliant initiative that stimulates and encourages entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland.

"This has the two-fold benefit of creating jobs and stimulating the local economy. The success witnessed at Ortus is testament to the resilience of Northern Ireland's entrepreneurial spirit."

(BMcC)

Related Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

23 July 2004
START A BUSINESS PROGRAMME CHALKS UP 5,000TH NEW BUSINESS
Two Mallusk entrepreneurs have set up the 5000th new business to be started through the Start a Business programme, which has generated an estimated 8,250 new jobs across Northern Ireland. Oliver McErlane took part on the programme with business partner Tim Swann, before setting up their electronic marketing company, TxtFlow.
13 June 2006
1,000 Jobs To Be Created In Belfast
Around 1,000 jobs are to be created in Belfast, it has been announced. Indian company, ICICI OneSource, one of the country's largest business processing outsourcing (BPO) firms, is to open a call centre in the city, creating over 1,000 jobs over the next two-years.
16 May 2006
Small Business Is Big Business
The Report of the Small Business Forum, Small Business is Big Business, was published and officially launched by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheal Martin at an event in Dublin Castle.