Business units investment boosts west Belfast

More employment opportunities are to be created in the deprived Poleglass area of west Belfast, it was revealed today.

Glenwood Enterprises announced plans to construct a further extension to its workspace provision at the Springbank Industrial Estate.

The £750,000 (€1.1m) extension will provide 12,000 square feet of flexible workspace in three blocks of 4,000 square feet. It can also be sub-divided into six 2,000-square-foot units.

The International Fund for Ireland has provided support of £339,500 (€494,300) and the British Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment £178,000 (€259,200) of European funding under Peace II. The balance is being provided by Glenwood itself.

Glenwood said it hoped in the future to develop the remainder of its side in the form of serviced sitesfor businesses wishing to build their own units.

The centre, celebrating its 20th anniversary, currently provides 70,000 square feet of workspace in the form of 60 units occupied by 34 businesses employing more than 300 people.

Congratulating the Glenwood on their plans for a fifth phase of development, IFI board member Helen Kirkpatrick said the project built on the successful track record it had in attracting investment and employment to the area.

“Its efforts over the years to promote entrepreneurship and to develop a thriving, competitive and innovative small business sector really have made a difference,” she said.

Maeve Hamilton, Peace II programme manager from DETI, said it was recognised the workplace provided the ideal environment in which to bring people from different community backgrounds together and by doing so many of the barriers to reconciliation could be overcome.

“The economic transformation of Northern Ireland to a more stable, peaceful and prosperous society needs to be supported through development of the local economic infrastructure.

“This project is a further step in Glenwood Enterprises’ progress in achieving just that.”

Garry Cullen, chairman of Glenwood Enterprises said he was delighted to be making the expansion announcement, particularly as they were celebrating 20 years of local economic development.

“The extension to our workspace reflects a growing confidence in the Colin area, where a positive and entrepreneurial spirit thrives and where small businesses seek to expand and develop, “ he added.