(L-R) Councillor John Smyth, Deputy Director of Economic Development Steven Norris, Chief Executive of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Richard Baker GM, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Mark Cooper BEM, Chair of Antrim Enterprise Agency Professor Jonathan Wallace, Councillor Leah Smyth, Councillor Neill Kelly.
An innovative partnership agreement between Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Antrim Enterprise Agency Limited, aimed at strengthening the accommodation and expert support available to local businesses, was signed yesterday.
The new agreement enhances the existing relationship between both organisations and is centred on the development of a new 16,000sq ft. modern, flexible workspace, on the High Street in Antrim Town Centre.
Antrim Enterprise Agency will operate the new workspace on behalf of the Council, which will be an exciting new addition to their business accommodation portfolio.
This new workspace is a step change in the local offer for start-up and grow-on businesses, transforming a vacant space into an entrepreneurial hub in the heart of the town centre.
This partnership approach between Council’s award winning Economic Development Team and Antrim Enterprise Agency, who have been helping start-up businesses for over thirty years, will streamline and standardise the support on offer to entrepreneurs and businesses.
Chief Executive of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Richard Baker GM, signing the agreement with Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Mark Cooper BEM and Professor Jonathan Wallace, Chair of Antrim Enterprise Agency.
This flagship project, supported by the UK Levelling Up Fund (LUF), will radically alter the workspace offering for Antrim and Newtownabbey, offering entrepreneurs and small businesses a workspace to rival anything available in Belfast, Dublin or Great Britain.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper BEM said the announcement represents great news for businesses and entrepreneurs across the Borough and beyond:
“The Council wants to ensure that businesses and entrepreneurs using this new flexible workspace will receive a high-quality service.
“I’m extremely proud of this partnership, and the ambition and innovation shown by both organisations to take this major step. I am looking forward to the positive impact it will generate for local businesses and the local community.”
Professor Jonathan Wallace, Chair of Antrim Enterprise Agency added:
“We’re incredibly excited to be working in partnership with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council on this fantastic new development in Antrim Town. We are looking forward to realising a shared vision of creating new spaces and opportunities for entrepreneurs, innovators and businesses in the area”.
It is anticipated that the new space will be complete by March 2024.
Any entrepreneur or small business owner who is interested in the space please contact the team on investment@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk, or call 028 90 340000.
For further information on the development of this project, visit antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/business/strategic-projects/levelling-up-hubs/