Ards and North Down business support
How to make a success of doing business in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area
Ards and North Down Borough Council is located in the east of Northern Ireland. The area has modern infrastructure, direct access to an international airport and a major port, and has strong road and rail links to Belfast, which makes it attractive for new or growing businesses.
The main urban centres in the council area are:
- Bangor
- Comber
- Donaghadee
- Holywood
- Newtownards
This guide is for businesses considering starting up or expanding in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area. It includes an economic profile of the area, advantages of doing business in Ards and North Down and details of business advice and support.
Free business support
Access free business support from Ards and North Down Borough Council. If you're a budding entrepreneur ready to start your business, are looking to business growth support or are planning to scale up, industry experts will provide personalised support and guidance to help you achieve your business goals.
Complete a short enquiry form or call 0800 027 0639 to register for this free support service.
How to start your business in Ards and North Down
Start-up support for entrepreneurs in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area
If you are considering starting a business, you can get free start-up support from Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Go Succeed Start
If you have a great idea but you're not sure how to turn it into a business, or you have already started out in business and require mentorship on your next steps, Ards and North Down Borough Council's Go Succeed Start experts will help you to create a business plan, seek funding and put all the foundations in place to get your business up and running.
This support is available to anyone interested in starting a business. Complete a short enquiry form or call 0800 027 0639 to register for free advice and guidance from Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Start-up and early stage business support programmes
Ards and North Down Borough Council runs or part-funds business support programmes to help you start a business.
My New Business
My New Business is a free online service that covers everything you need to start, plan and run a business. It has checklists, videos, tools, tutorials and case studies to help you get your business started - find out more about My New Business.
Get a business licence
You may need a licence to operate certain types of business in Ards and North Down. Find more information on how to apply for business licences on the Ards and North Down Borough Council website.
Business growth support in Ards and North Down
Council and local organisation support and opportunities to grow your business in the Ards and North Down area.
There are several organisations in Ards and North Down which offer support to help you grow your business.
Growth and support schemes for established businesses
Ards and North Down Borough Council runs support programmes for business growth and development. Current programmes include:
Greentech Academy
SERC (South Eastern Regional College) is delivering a free Greentech Academy for candidates looking to upskill in Electrical Energy Storage Systems, Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment, and Small-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems.
Find out more about the Greentech Academy.
Business Research
Programme providing one-to-one advice, mentoring and research to help businesses grow and explore new markets.
Find out more about Business Research.
Go Succeed - Grow and Scale
Support is available if your business is already established and is now ready to expand, but growth is slow and you're not sure how to progress. Or if your business is ready to go to the next level locally and internationally but you need guidance, support or resources to achieve your ambitions. Business advisors will provide tailored support to help your business achieve its ambitions.
Find out more about the Go Succeed support for existing businesses.
Social Enterprise Thematic Programme
Support for social enterprises to elevate their skills through one-on-one mentoring and online workshops, focusing on fundraising, digital marketing, and social impact planning.
Find out more about the Social Enterprise Thematic Programme.
Local enterprise agencies
Enterprise Northern Ireland agencies provide business improvement programmes, financing, events, workspace and meeting space. There are two local enterprise agencies in Ards and North Down:
Tender for council contracts
You can seek tender opportunities as a way to grow your business in Ards and North Down. The council offers public tenders throughout the year in a wide range of business areas.
Find out more about tendering for Ards and North Down Borough Council contracts.
Invest Northern Ireland support for business
Invest NI can help your business compete successfully and function more efficiently by providing support across a variety of areas.
Find out more about Invest NI support for business.
Business events
Many organisations run business-focused events in Ards and North Down, across a range of topics to help you develop your business.
You can find business event listings on the AND Business website.
Advantages of doing business in Ards and North Down
The business environment, infrastructure and benefits of setting up a business in the Ards and North Down area
Ards and North Down Borough Council is an excellent location for doing business.
Local infrastructure
Ards and North Down businesses benefit from direct access to markets across the world.
There is high quality road and rail links from the council area into Belfast and onto the economic corridor to Dublin.
Belfast City Airport is on the eastern council boundary, within the harbour estate within which the Port of Belfast is situated.
The council area has good road access into the European Union - find out more about cross-border trade support with InterTradeIreland.
Local workforce and business supply chains
There are around 164,223 residents in Ards and North Down.
There are 4,815 businesses operating in Ards and North Down, which is 6% of all businesses in Northern Ireland. The majority of the base is micro and small businesses:
- 89% micro (0-9 employees)
- 9% small (10-49 employees)
- 1% medium (50-249 employees)
- 0.4% large (250+ employees)
Some major business investors in the council area include Denroy Group, Echlinville Distillery, Mash Direct and Clandeboye Yoghurt. Service businesses make up the largest sector in Ards and North Down:
- 70% services
- 12% agriculture
- 12% construction
- 6% manufacturing
You can download an Invest NI council briefing on Ards and North Down (PDF, 3.36MB).