What is the Business Information Centre?
Our Business Information Centre provides free access to company databases and market intelligence reports, including sector and country information, to help Northern Ireland companies make business decisions based on sound intelligence.
We also offer a Tenders Alert Service which can help local businesses identify tender opportunities from a wide range of public sector organisations – see Tenders Alert Service (PDF) for more information.
Why use the Business Information Centre?
The Business Information Centre can save you time and money when researching ways to grow your business.
Businesses use the centre for many reasons, including:
- finding new customers to grow sales or exports
- researching target markets and growth opportunities
- accessing data to support funding applications
Who can use the Business Information Centre?
Any Northern Ireland business, including those who are thinking of starting a business, can use the centre.
What research is available?
You can use the Business Information Centre to access premium market, company and sector information free of charge. Three main types of information are available:
- Markets: Industry reports worldwide, including key players, market size, forecasts and key trends, providing the data you need to compete in international markets.
- Companies: Financial data, contact and activity details, to help companies identify new customers, suppliers and competitors.
- Other Business Information: Details of trade publications and trade fairs, country information and start-up factsheets.
How do I access the service?
Email your enquiry to bic@investni.com, or call us on 028 9069 8135, explaining the purpose of your research.
If the enquiry is straightforward, we can often carry out research on your behalf.
If you haven’t used the service before, you can visit the centre to ensure that you get maximum benefit from our research.
You can make an appointment to carry out your own research in the centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Company Information Databases
Typical information includes name, address, business sector, contact details, size, and turnover. We subscribe to the company databases listed in the table below:
Databases | Subject | Coverage |
200 million | UK | |
5 million | Worldwide – Detailed product information, most useful for manufacturing/engineering companies | |
Building & construction reports including environmental | UK | |
Agribusiness, consumer & retail, healthcare, infrastructure, telecommunications, and power & renewables | Global | |
Data & insights on industries, economies and consumers worldwide | Global | |
Industrial, energy, healthcare & ICT sectors, plus megatrend analysis | Global | |
Statistics, market data and insights including: aerospace & defence, industrial goods & machinery, oil & gas, technology and healthcare | Global | |
Industry research reports | UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Germany, China, Australia | |
Intelligence on 400+ retailers in 100+ markets and shopper insight information | Global | |
Measures country, category and brand performance for alcoholic drinks through market insight and analysis | Global | |
| Mintel | Reports, Insights & Global New Products Food and drink | UK reports and Global for Insights |
Benchmarking reports and analysis across all sectors | UK | |
Information on industries, companies, consumers, trends, countries, politics, and society | Global | |
Food, drink and health trend insights, from emerging and micro trends to food and drink mega trends | Global |
Contact us
If you are interested in more information on the Business Information Centre, contact our Business Support Team on 0800 181 4422 or complete the enquiry form.