SMALL BUSINESSES ARE CRUCIAL TO ECONOMY

ECONOMY Minister Sir Reg Empey, has described small businesses as providing ‘crucial’ support to the Northern Ireland economy.

Speaking at the official opening of an extension to the Ards Business Centre, the Minister stressed that an increase in the start-up rate of small businesses was needed to ensure a broad based and stable economy for the future.

He said: "Centres like this are therefore crucial as they provide a comprehensive range of facilities, support services, resources and assistance to young companies.

"The success of enterprise centres across Northern Ireland indicates that government, and its enterprise partners, are doing everything that can possibly be done to create and support small businesses, the bedrock of our economy.

Speaking on behalf of Ards Business Centre, Chief Executive Margaret Patterson said: "The Centre is about cultivating and sustaining local economic development through the creation of new enterprise. This it does in many ways, but the provision of quality workspace designed to meet the needs of all business sectors is one area in which we have achieved tremendous success.

She added: “Having witnessed losses within traditional sectors over recent times we felt that we had to take a pro-active role in stimulating other sectors and we are delighted that the result of this has been the new development which you see today."

The new extension has been funded by Ards Borough Council, the International Fund for Ireland and Ards Business Centre itself.

(CL)