Tech hub on site of former Mackie’s factory celebrates creating 200 jobs since 2016

A HUB for tech businesses on the site of the former Mackie’s factory in west Belfast is marking the creation of 200 jobs.

The business centre on the Springfield Road opened in October2016withtheaimofencouraging entrepreneurship, innovation, and helping new high-tech businesses to grow.

Now the Innovation Factory has said its 70 businesses have created 200 jobs in areas such as 5G technology, software development, film production and digital applications.

Majella Barkley, innovation director, said: “The key to the success of Innovation Factory has been flexibility and support — modern businesses need to be able to change and adapt their environment rapidly.

“We work closely with them to ensure they have all the tools they need to thrive.

“We have exceeded our target in the first two years and have helped boost the economy in this part of Belfast by being at the forefront of new ideas and

Targets: Majella Barkley

technologies. We look forward to this trend continuing as more and more start-up companies see the benefits of locating in a vibrant business hub in the west of the city,” she added.

Innovation Factory is owned byBelfastCityCouncilandoperated by Oxford Innovation.

The £9.1m business hub was funded by the council and Invest NI, with support from the European Regional Development Fund.

Ninety-six per cent of its procurement deals are spent in Belfast, and it has developed relationships with other west Belfast businesses.