Invest NI support secures £18m of investment in Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council area
Invest Northern Ireland performance results for 2025/26 show that its support has helped secure £18m of business investment in the Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council area – a 66 per cent increase on last year.
The agency offered £3m of assistance to help businesses in the area innovate, increase productivity and create new jobs. 121 new jobs will be created in the area as a result of this support.
Speaking about the results, Iain Joannides, Head of Eastern Regional Business, Invest NI, said: “Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing businesses in the area account for 50 per cent of the business investments made in the region in 2025/26, including McCauley Trailers, Arroll and Butler’s Trailers & Marquees.
Based in Randalstown, Butler’s Trailers & Marquees has used Invest NI support R&D support to invest in product development and launch a new range of towable Tiny Homes. The new product is helping the family business to build its customer base so that it can increase its turnover, while Invest NI’s Trade team is helping it to explore new international market opportunities.
“We are working with more companies in the area than before, thanks to our programmes Ambition to Grow and Business Innovation Grant,” added Iain. “These programmes are helping us reach small businesses that previously would not have been able to access Invest NI support. We have helped 21 entrepreneurs and SMEs in the Antrim & Newtownabbey area innovate, create good jobs and increase external sales through these programmes to date.”
farmdrive in Antrim is also growing its business with our support. Following participation on Invest NI’s Founders Lab accelerator, it has received £690k of Techstart Ventures funding, part of Invest NI’s Access to Finance portfolio, to develop its livestock management solution to help farmers save time on compliance and record keeping. We’re also supporting the company to create eight new roles, to help it to grow sales in Britain and increase exports in Europe.
“Our strong relationship with Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council also ensures businesses engaging with council programmes that have export potential get referred to Invest NI. In conjunction with the Council, we held Business Breakfasts on energy and recourse efficiency and R&D funding support at Mossley Mill, to help businesses of all sizes access expert guidance, explore opportunities and connect with other local business owners.”
The Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council Briefing has now been updated and includes data on Invest NI support over the past five years (2021-22 to 2025-26).
