SMEs secure £2.4m through NI Small Business Loan Fund III
Pictured (L-R) are: Kathryn Hill, Chief Operating Officer, Invest Northern Ireland, Conor Jackson, Managing Director, Jacksons Catering Equipment and Joni Harding, Managing Director, The Leisure Experts.
Fifty-seven small and medium-sized businesses across Northern Ireland have secured more than £2.4 million through the NI Small Business Loan Fund III. This will help them invest in new products, recruit staff, strengthen cashflow and scale their operations.
Part of Invest Northern Ireland's Access to Finance programme, the fund provides loans to SMEs seeking flexible finance to support business development. Since launching in May 2025, it has approved loans worth more than £2.4 million to businesses across a range of sectors and locations.
Having access to flexible finance means we can respond confidently to customer demand and continue to grow across Ireland.
Conor Jackson, Managing Director, Jacksons Catering Equipment
Among those benefiting is Jacksons Catering Equipment, which has secured a £50,000 loan to support the expansion of its product range and increase stock holdings.
Based in Derry~Londonderry, the company supplies commercial catering equipment to customers throughout Ireland and Great Britain. The investment is supporting a new distribution agreement for the NordStar range across Ireland.
Conor Jackson, Managing Director of Jacksons Catering Equipment, said: “The funding has enabled us to strengthen our stock position and support the next phase of our development. Having access to flexible finance means we can respond confidently to customer demand and continue to grow across Ireland.”
Kathryn Hill, Chief Operating Officer at Invest NI, said: "For many smaller businesses, access to the right finance at the right time can be the difference between standing still and moving forward. We're seeing businesses across Northern Ireland use the fund to invest with confidence and unlock new opportunities. Jacksons Catering Equipment is a great example of this, using the funding to strengthen its stock holding and support a new distribution agreement that will help the company continue to build its business. It's encouraging to see businesses from different sectors and locations using the fund to accelerate their plans and build for the future."
It's encouraging to see businesses from different sectors and locations using the fund to accelerate their plans and build for the future
Kathryn Hill, Chief Operating Officer, Invest NI
In Newry, The Leisure Experts has received a £20,000 loan to support the delivery of new swimming pool partnerships. The funding is helping the business manage the upfront costs associated with growth, including staffing, equipment and programme delivery.
Joni Harding, Company Director at The Leisure Experts, said: “Every new pool or gym partnership is a chance to help more people across Northern Ireland feel healthier, more confident and more connected. Getting there takes investment in our people, equipment and programmes from the outset. This loan has helped The Leisure Experts take those steps and bring more opportunities for wellbeing into local communities."
