Want to know more about our support?

About the Festival of Business

We’re looking forward to exhibiting at the Festival of Business on Wednesday 18 September in St George’s Market.

This event consistently delivers, providing a platform for local businesses to network, learn and promote their products and services.

Everything we do as an organisation is underpinned by the Minister for the Economy's Economic vision which aims to provide good jobs, raise productivity, reduce carbon emissions and promote regional balance throughout all our activities.

We have six key economic drivers which will help achieve this vision.

The drivers are:

  • Exporting
  • Innovation
  • Productivity
  • Skills
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Net zero and the Green Economy

We are also working closely with the Department and local councils to develop our local City and Growth Deal projects, which will bolster our economic performance in the next decade.

This year, we’ve teamed up with the Department of Business and Trade and InterTrade Ireland to host an Economic Development Zone, where you can get advice on the most appropriate support to help you grow your business.

Expand on the drivers below to get a snapshot of the programmes and services our staff will be on hand to discuss with you at the festival.

Exporting

Our teams in Northern Ireland and in-market can support you to export goods and services by helping you to research marketing, develop your export know-how and skills, devise an export strategy, and visit your target markets. At the Festival of Business, our International Trade Advisors will be on hand to discuss your exporting ambitions and they will put you in touch with the best service to help your business Go Further and Grow Stronger.

Find out more about our export support using the resources below:

Export Health Check  A quick assessment of your existing exporting capability to help develop your own bespoke export strategy.
Business Information Centre

Free access to market research, company databases, and business information to help local companies develop & identify export opportunities, and new customers.

Find new markets Open up a world of opportunities by exporting your goods or services outside Northern Ireland.
NI Connections Connecting the diverse strands of the Northern Irish community abroad, NI Connections provides a network for the Northern Irish diaspora to explore and contribute to the ongoing prosperity of home.

Productivity

We offer access to a range of specialist advice and support to help improve productivity rates in manufacturing and tradable services. We support local businesses to become more efficient and competitive by supporting investment in capital, property, infrastructure, and productivity improvements to secure higher value jobs, in both locally and externally owned businesses.

You can hear all about our support at the Economic Development Zone or by clicking the links below:

Management Information Systems Advice and support to help export-focused businesses implement Management Information Systems such as customer portals, e-commerce, digital automation, and other software that makes smarter use of data across the business.
Supply Chain Solutions Specialist advice and support to help companies improve their supply chain resilience and competitiveness, identify opportunities and develop their supply chain capability.  Delivered through blend of one-to-one support, workshops and webinars. Delivered by supply chain experts, we offer a blend of support, such as one-to-one coaching, one-to-one mentoring,  workshops and webinars.
Operational Excellence Solutions Support to help companies improve their productivity through tailored engagement/resources including access to workshops; tutorials; case studies; best practice events and one-to-one mentoring and coaching from experienced Lean and Six Sigma business coaches.
Property Assistance Having the right home for your business is important for its growth and productivity, and we can help you secure it.

Leadership, Capability Development and Skills

Businesses that invest in developing strong leadership capability and skilled, engaged workforce enjoy business growth and enhanced productivity. With our range of world class leadership programmes we can help you develop your strategic leadership skills, shape a strong organisational culture, engage your people to perform and attract new talent.

Find out more about our leadership and skills programmes below:

Leadership and Capability Development Solutions

We offer a range of blended leadership, top team and business growth programmes to support MD/CEO’s and top teams develop a strategy for growth, shape organisation culture and deliver the business improvements required to effectively deliver growth actions.

Training Needs Analysis Workshops

The Training Needs Analysis workshops and one-to-one sessions provide practical advice on analysing training needs and how to prepare a training plan.

Skills for Growth Grant

The Skills for Growth programme can help improve business performance by providing advisory and financial support for strategic training and development activities.

HR Advice

Need expert advice on handling staff issues? Our People Solutions Advisors provide guidance on all aspects of human resource management.

Innovation

We’re here to help local businesses, both large and small, to maximise economic success by adopting innovation and implementing or commercialising it within the business.

At the Festival of Business, our Innovation Advisors will be on hand to help you identify the next steps you should take to develop and commercialise your ideas, providing signposting to the most suitable advice and support for your specific innovation.

Find out more about our innovation support below:

Innovation Vouchers

£5K Innovation Vouchers allow businesses or potential entrepreneurs to get expertise from a public sector knowledge provider, such as a university or college (NI and ROI) for your innovation project.  

Technical Advice

Our technical experts can offer specialist advice on areas including engineering, manufacturing, product, process, environmental, intellectual property, and workplace health & safety matters.

Technical development support

Our Technical Development Incentive (TDI) is designed to encourage companies to engage in the innovation activities of product development, process improvement and the identification and protection of intellectual property. 

Research & Development funding 

We can help companies of all sizes to engage in R&D. We support activities such as defining and planning an R&D project, research aimed at producing new scientific or technical knowledge, development of innovative product, service developments or process improvements.

Innovate UK Business Growth

Invest NI hosts Innovate UK Business Growth; our advisors can be a mentor, critical friend, and champion to innovative businesses, enabling you to grow and scale.

Innovate NI

Helping businesses create value from ideas to increase market share, survive business shocks, improve competitiveness, and become successful innovators.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)

KTP is an Innovate UK programme supported and co-funded by invest NI in Northern Ireland to support innovative business projects between a local business, a high-calibre graduate, and an academic institution.

Entrepreneurship

We make sure SMEs and entrepreneurs, who are the lifeblood of our economy, can access the support they need to grow. The My New Business website provides free and impartial advice and checklists which can act as a guide for those starting out. We also regularly run competitions which enable more established businesses become part of our account management network.

If you are interested in starting a business, or seeking to grow your existing business, our staff will be on hand to discuss your options.

Find out more about our support for entrepreneurs below:

My New Business

A dedicated microsite for entrepreneurs, providing all the information you need to plan, start and run your new business.

Ambition to Grow

Designed to help micro, small and medium local enterprises, the competition will support businesses to create great jobs and sell innovative products or services outside Northern Ireland.

Access to Finance

Many ambitious SMEs are constrained by a lack of traditional finance; however, we provide a range of funding solutions under the banner of ‘Access to Finance’.

Founder Labs

Our new accelerator programme, specifically focussed on technology based IDEs, providing support to the most ambitious and high potential founders across Northern Ireland.

Net zero and the Green Economy

The Green Economy delivers products or services that drive decarbonisation, resource circularity, and energy efficiency. Its impact is across the full supply chain, as well influencing end customer usage, and ultimately contributes to the delivery of green targets around the globe.

Our team can help local businesses identify the business growth opportunities presented by developments in the areas of hydrogen, decarbonisation, and energy efficiency. We can facilitate collaboration between businesses, which often leads to success. We also provide a range of services to help businesses reduce their energy and resource use and costs.

Learn more about reducing your environmental impact and maximising opportunities below:

Sustainability Reports

Our support will enable you to measure, monitor and report on your environmental impacts, demonstrating transparency and accountability.

Resource Matching

Delivered by International Synergies NI Ltd, it provides an opportunity to transfer business waste, unwanted materials and bi-products from one business or organisation to be reused, recycled, reprocessed and repackaged by another.

Resource Efficiency Capital Grant

Get financial support for the installation of new equipment that delivers a reduction in raw materials, waste and/or water. This will result in costs savings and increased productivity through resource efficiency.

Energy Efficiency Capital Grant Reduce energy costs and build resilience through green efficiency. EECG provides grant support to buy and install energy efficient equipment that reduces energy and carbon emissions.

City Deals

We’re responsible for overseeing successful project implementation and delivery of the innovation and digital City and Growth Deal projects across all of Northern Ireland – this means we are working in partnership with the Department for the Economy and local councils to facilitate the link and access to industry, ensuring that projects remain industrially and commercially relevant, future proofed and complementary to one another.

Staff working on projects across all City and Growth Deals will be available to talk about the projects and how they could benefit your business.

Find out more on City and Growth Deals.