DCSDC Business & Culture Committee heard an update on Invest NI’s strategy, regional performance and plans to support more business investment outside Belfast

Invest NI has outline its renewed focus on regional development, with DCSDC told that the agency is increasing its regional presence and changing how it supports business growth across the North West.

Speaking to the committee Invest NI’s Kieran Donoghue CEO and Allison Currie CDO said the organisation is now in its third year of ‘Our Future in Focus 2024-27’. The strategy includes targets around business investment, research and development, exports, innovation, skills and regional balance.

Members heard that Invest NI is moving from a four region to a five region operating model, with Belfast treated separately and a dedicated North and North West region now in place. The agency is also increasing the size of its regional team and has appointed a new Head of Regional Business for the North and North West, Aeidin McCarter.

For DCSDC, Invest NI said it currently has just under 100 client companies, employing approximately 7,500 people, with sales of just over £1 billion, exports of more than £500 million and research and development investment of £34 million. In 2024/25, 121 investment projects were supported in the council area, with a total investment value of £126 million. Invest NI said 94% of those investments were by small and medium sized enterprises.

Council members welcomed the change in approach but pressed Invest NI on local job creation, noting that the district had received a relatively small share of Invest NI supported new jobs compared with other council areas. Invest NI said its docus is increasingly on investment, productivity, innovation and higher quality jobs, rather than job numbers alone.

The discussion also covered infrastructure constraints, skills, cross border opportunities with Donegal renewable energy, rural enterprise and concerns raised by some members about defence related investment.

You can watch the full Invest NI/DCSDC Business & Culture meeting here.

The takeaway

Invest NI says it is placing greater emphasis on the North West, but members will be watching closely to see whether that translates in to more investment, better jobs and stronger local business growth.