SME's boosted by interest-free loans scheme

Northern Ireland's small to medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) are being given the opportunity to increase their profit margin and help protect the environment through Invest NI's Green Technology initiative.

Under the scheme, any company which has been operating in Northern Ireland for over a year and has fewer than 250 employees, can apply for an interest-free loan of up to £50,000 to invest in technologies that will help create clean manufacturing processes.

Tracy Meharg, Managing Director of Innovation and Capability Development Services with Invest NI, said that the initiative would encourage companies to reduce waste in their manufacturing processes. and help them become more efficient and competitive.

She added: “The interest-free loan is about making manufacturing processes cleaner and more efficient. This has lead to significant savings for the companies involved and has the potential to open up new product growth and employment opportunities.

“Invest NI welcomes company enquiries to this initiative and is prepared to consider all reasonable applications. Demonstrating responsibility towards the environment is, in a very real and practical sense, demonstrating responsibility for the long term health of your business."

For further information regarding the Green Technology Initiative contact Invest NI on 028 9262 3279.

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