Spotlight on Aeidin McCarter: Head of Regional Business for the North West

Aeidin McCarter is Head of Regional Business for the North West region at Invest Northern Ireland. In her role, she leads a regional team that delivers services to support businesses in the North West region, which includes Derry City and Strabane District and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councils.

We spoke to Aeidin about her ambitions for the region, its strengths and challenges, and how the North West team is working with businesses in the area.   

It’s a really exciting role, and I’m looking forward to building on the work already underway across the North West. My focus is on strengthening Invest NI’s regional impact in Derry City and Strabane District, and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough council areas.

The role is primarily about supporting businesses to start, scale and export. We know that helping companies trade beyond Northern Ireland is what drives the greatest economic impact, and bringing new investment into the region and creating wealth and jobs.

A key priority for me is building on partnerships – especially with local councils, and wider stakeholders and also internally across Invest NI – to support existing clients, bring new businesses into our portfolio, and encourage more companies with innovation and growth potential to take that next step. 

The North West, as a two-council region, is continuing to grow economically. The entrepreneurship culture is a real strength here. There is a high concentration of small and medium-sized enterprises, alongside established global companies that continue to drive growth and add value to the local economy. Global companies such as EY, Seagate, Kainos and FinTrU are enhancing the region’s reputation in key sectors and the capability of our people. There is also a strong cross-border dynamic, with businesses drawing on a shared talent pool and operating across the wider North West.

Another strength for the area is collaboration with partners. The region is increasingly working collaboratively to position itself as a destination for further international investment.

Both councils have local growth partnerships delivering on strategic growth plans, and the Local Economic Partnerships are delivering local economic development alongside significant investment through City and Growth Deals over the next decade. That investment, combined with a highly skilled workforce and the expansion of Ulster University’s Magee campus, provides a strong foundation for future growth and will bring skills and expertise that will attract new investors.  

Many of the challenges facing businesses in the North West are consistent with those faced by businesses more broadly.

Skills remain a key issue, particularly as the pace of change continues to accelerate. Businesses need access to the right talent to remain competitive.

Cost pressures are also significant, affecting everything from operations to energy. At the same time, global uncertainty continues to impact confidence, especially for companies trading internationally.

There are also structural challenges, including infrastructure and wider public sector constraints, which can influence the pace of development.

However, there is a strong sense of ambition, and companies here are committed not just to their own growth, but to the wider success of the region.

Like everywhere, the business landscape has evolved alongside the wider economy.

There has been an increase in digitalisation and innovation, and we’re seeing the importance of greater collaboration. Businesses are increasingly globally minded, with many looking beyond local markets and recognising the importance of international trade.

There has also been a sustained effort by Invest NI and other partners to promote the region internationally, which attracts investment and builds confidence among local businesses.

Research is helping to drive growth, build skills and create new opportunities. That’s now being further supported by City Deal investment in areas such as life and health sciences, as seen in The Cognitive Analytics and Digital Robotic Innovation Centre (CADRIC) and the Centre for Food and Drug Discovery.

Alongside this, we’ve seen growth across key sectors including Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Financial and Professional Services, Digital and Technology sectors, Life and Health Sciences and Agri-food and the rural economy.  

Fintech, Regtech and Professional Services are key growth areas. Recent reinvestments from companies like FinTrU and EY to grow their presence in the region reflect that strength.

In the last number of years, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering has continued to grow and develop here, alongside expertise in Life Sciences, particularly linked to Ulster University in Coleraine.

Looking ahead, there are significant opportunities linked to research and innovation coming out of our universities. Recent reinvestments by global companies, such as Seagate, demonstrate confidence in the North West’s ability to support world-class innovation.

City Deal investments will help accelerate this, supporting new start-ups, attracting external companies and strengthening collaboration between academia and industry. Our role is to work with partners to ensure the right support is in place, so these opportunities translate into real business growth.

We’ve played a key role in supporting both foreign direct investment and the growth of indigenous businesses across the region, such as Optik, KES Group and McColgans.

We work closely with local councils and partners to provide early-stage support, as well as more specialist help as companies grow. There is a wide range of programmes in place alongside expert advice and guidance by our team of experienced client executives who work closely with businesses of all sizes.

We support businesses across the full lifecycle, particularly those with the potential to trade internationally. You can read more about the criteria to become an Invest NI client here.