Western Regional Office
The Western region covers the council areas of Fermanagh & Omagh, Armagh, Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon and Mid Ulster.
We have three offices covering this region in Omagh, Craigavon and Enniskillen.
Successes
We are committed to helping export focused businesses in the Western region grow and succeed. Between 2014/15 and 2018/19 our support totalled over £141m to over 5,600 business projects. This support has helped secure almost £970m of investment and is helping companies to create 7,775 jobs.
The western region is the home of Northern Ireland's only STEM Centre. It is also known for its flourishing materials handling sector which as attracted major international companies such as Terex GB, Sandvik, Kingspan and NACCO.
Investment examples include:
- Edge Innovate - Investing nearly £8 million in the business including an expansion of 80 new jobs
- Boyce Precision - Portadown engineering firm doubles workforce creating 27 jobs
- Premier Electrics - invests in people for growth with 10 new jobs
- Specialist Joinery Group - announces 52 new jobs as it officially opens its £5million factory
There is a great tradition of entrepreneurship in the Western region founded primarily on traditional sectors such as engineering, construction and agri-food. The region also has a strong food base and is the home of Moy Park Ltd, one of Europe’s leading poultry companies.
Exports
Our regional office focuses on growing businesses in Northern Ireland, through encouraging export focused start-ups and helping existing businesses grow in new markets.
The following companies are just some of the regions many export success stories:
Working in partnership
In addition to our direct support to businesses, we work in partnership with stakeholders to support activities that will help drive economic development in the regions.
Community Plans
Our Western Regional Office has worked closely with Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon District Council and Mid Ulster District Council in the development of their community plans, identifying unique selling points that will help attract investment and growth to the area. The plans will play a role in developing the economy of the Western region. The Councils are also working collaboratively in the area in preparing a Growth Deal Plan for the Mid, South and West Region.
Ethna McNamee – Regional Manager
Ethna has been involved in economic development for more than 30 years. Prior to taking on the role of Regional Manager, Ethna has worked in a number of roles for Invest NI, previously working as a Client Executive managing a portfolio of growing companies across a range of sectors including Food, Advanced Manufacturing and Construction. She has also worked managing the Western Innovation Network on behalf of Invest NI and the Social Enterprise Hubs Programme.
