Why Mid and East Antrim?
Connected for Industry,
Built for Growth.
Welcome to Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland’s strategically connected base for advanced manufacturing and green growth. We make investing and growing your business in the area straightforward, efficient and fully supported from day one.
Our approach is simple: we work with you, we stay hands on, and we focus on delivering results. Whether you’re new to the area or building on an existing relationship, we prioritise trust, collaboration and long-term value and sustainability.
With ‘dual market’ access to both European and Great Britain markets, unique FDI funding through Michelin Development, significantly competitive operating costs and a 70% rates reduction for qualifying manufacturers, this is a location where your business can go further for less.
As home to the MTF Network, a thriving advanced manufacturing industry cluster, the region is building strong capability across advanced manufacturing, life sciences, cleantech, aerospace and logistics.
Driven by major Belfast Region City Deal investment, with ready to develop sites, established industrial clusters and seamless links to ports, airports and key transport routes, Mid and East Antrim is gaining serious economic momentum.
Now’s the time to be part of it.
Michelin Development: Funding That provides financial support to help drive your business forward
Michelin Development Fund offers financial support through grants, loans, as well as business expertise and advice, to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that employ up to 250 people.
Applicants are able to choose financial help, business expertise/advice, or both. Support is available to viable projects that can demonstrate the potential to create quality sustainable jobs.
Michelin Development Fund also offers financial grant support to foreign direct investors into the Ballymena area.
A Cost‑competitive, connected and accessible location
With operating costs 20-30% lower than the UK average and a 70% rates reduction for qualifying manufacturers, all within easy reach of Belfast, colleges and major ports, Mid and East Antrim offers a highly competitive, connected base.
Strategic Property Support for Your Business
Our in-depth local knowledge enables us to conduct extensive property searches to find a site that perfectly aligns with your specifications. We offer a variety of premium office, retail, and industrial spaces, including business units and Invest NI sites, all at competitive prices. Our dedicated team provides personalised property advice and connects you with relevant developers and planning officials to ensure you secure the best location to launch, grow, and develop your business. To initiate your inquiry, please fill out our form.
Expert support and funding
Mid and East Antrim is dedicated to supporting the growth of new and existing businesses, enhancing employment opportunities, and securing essential infrastructure investments throughout the region. The council offers a range of growth programmes that provide specialised mentoring and tailored business support services, catering to enterprises at every stage of their development.
Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur with a business idea or an established company seeking growth strategies, the programmes are designed to assist you.
To access support, please visit the link below
Mid and East Antrim is well connected by road, rail, sea and air.
Excellent Roads & Infrastructure
20 trains to Belfast per day
Under 2 hours to GB mainland
Home to Port of Larne
14 - 20 sailings daily
Belfast International Airport
20 mins
Belfast City Airport
30 mins
>100 Mbps Ultrafast Fibre
97.41% coverage
GB and EU Markets
Unfettered dual market access
Home to a
Talented Workforce
Attracting and retaining the right people is crucial for business growth and Mid and East Antrim offers a strong advantage. Our workforce is highly skilled and well-qualified, with productivity levels in line with the Northern Ireland average.
Wage levels remain competitive locally and are significantly lower than in other parts of the UK and Ireland, helping businesses manage costs. This talent pool is supported by a world-class education system, with three major institutions feeding into the local economy and ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled graduates.
- Northern Regional College with six campuses across the area.
- Ulster University, the second largest university on the island of Ireland.
- Queen’s University Belfast, one of the top 5 UK universities for revenue generated.
With 92% of people in Mid and East Antrim having a qualification, you’re likely to find the right people to develop and expand your business.
Labour Market Research
76%
Active
(NI 76%)
24%
Economically Inactive
(NI 24%)
3%
Unemployment Rate
(NI 2%)
74%
Employment Rate
(NI 74%)
Key Facts
Education
of school leavers progress to higher education, further education or other training.
of the population have a qualification.
Student enrolments annually at Northern Regional College, including specialisms in robotics, electronics, mechatronics and system designs.
The area benefits from having two local Grammar Schools ranking highly in NI & UK for GCSE and A-level, with St Louis Grammar School previously ranking Number 1 top school in NI for four years.
An affordable
place to operate
Mid and East Antrim boasts some of the lowest operating costs in the UK, making it an attractive destination for businesses.
Key points include:
- The average weekly wage in the area is approximately £580 (ONS 2025).
- Operating costs in Mid and East Antrim are typically 20%-30% lower than in other parts of the UK and Europe.
- It has the lowest overall tax burden among major European economies
- There is low personal taxation, low social welfare contributions, and generous tax allowances.
- There are no local taxes on profits or surpluses.
Investors can take advantage of several incentives, including:
- A corporation tax rate of 19%, among the lowest in Europe.
- Businesses with fewer than 250 employees can benefit from a 150% tax deduction on research and development (R&D) expenditures.
A Thriving Local Economy
Mid and East Antrim boasts over 5,100 businesses, representing 7% of all businesses in Northern Ireland—creating an ideal supply chain for potential inward investors.
We offer a dynamic business landscape, combining traditional strengths in AgriTech and Advanced Manufacturing with emerging expertise in Digital and Creative Industries, CleanTech, and FinTech.
The area benefits from a robust network of Chambers of Commerce, representative bodies, and strong connections with universities and further education colleges, providing essential access to contacts, research, and support.
With an overall Gross Value Added (GVA) of £2.9bn (2023) across all industries, our thriving economy is ready to welcome you.
GVA per Sector in Mid and East Antrim (2023)
£2.9bn
Mid and East Antrim GVA
£1.1bn
Manufacturing
£148m
Construction
£349m
Wholesale
£1.5bn
Services
£277
Agri-Food
Businesses by Sector
1,045
Advanced Manufacturing & Construction
1,425
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing
440
Digital & Creative Industries
335
Professional, Scientific & Technical
295
Accommodation & Tourism
155
Transport & Storage
55
FinTech
1,315
Other Services
Total Sales in Mid and East Antrim
Sales by Sector (Invest NI Supported)
£551m
Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing
£259m
Agri-Food
£205m
Construction
£75m
Professional & Financial Services
£68m
Life & Health Sciences
Sales by Destination
£2.39bn
Northern Ireland
£777m
Great Britain
£389m
European Union
£393m
Rest of the World
Unlocking Potential with the Belfast Region City Deal
City Deals are unique investment packages negotiated between the UK Government and local authorities to boost regional economic growth.
The Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) represents a £1 billion initiative aimed at transforming the economic landscape through collaboration between councils, education institutions, and private sector partners.
In Mid and East Antrim, City Deal funding will support the creation of the i4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre in Ballymena, the expansion of The Gobbins Coastal attraction and the regeneration of Carrickfergus.
Additionally, the BRCD Innovation and Digital Pillar may offer future opportunities for industry through competitive challenge funding calls.
i4C Innovation and
Cleantech Centre
The planned investment at the Saint Patrick’s Barracks site in Ballymena exceeds £125 million and includes the development of over 2km of new roads infrastructure, 139 social and affordable housing units by Radius Housing, and key civic developments led by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. This includes the i4C centre, a state-of-the-art leisure centre, and civic spaces, alongside the creation of a new campus for Northern Regional College. These investments aim to transform the site into a vibrant hub for education, innovation, and community development.
Gobbins Phase II: Added Value Visitor Experience
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has secured £12 million in City Deal funding to extend The Gobbins Cliff and Coastal Path at Islandmagee, potentially doubling its length to 1.5 miles. This expansion will deliver an enhanced adventure experience, positioning The Gobbins alongside iconic attractions such as Cheddar Gorge and the Lake District in the UK, making it a key destination for both local and international visitors
Carrickfergus
Regeneration
Council has secured up to £38 million in City Deal funding to transform Carrickfergus into a must-visit tourism destination, centered around its iconic twelfth-century castle and seventeenth-century town walls. This City Deal investment is bolstered by an additional £9 million in central government funding to improve the transport system, including enhanced railway links to Belfast. Private sector match funding is also playing a key role, with recent investments such as Virgin Media’s upgrade to the town’s broadband infrastructure.
Key statistics in relation to the Belfast Region City Deal area
71.7%
Employment Rate
employment across 6 LGD’s
37,500
Businesses
£27.6bn
Gross Value Added
155,000
Students
1.1m
Population
91.2%
Education
of working population with a qualification
£567.6m
Tourism
spend across the 6 LGD’s
8th
Queens University
ranked 8th in the UK for research intensity
25%
Ulster University
Top 25% in UK University Research power
| BRCD Council Partners | BRCD Education Partners |
|---|---|
| Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council | Queen’s University Belfast |
| Ards and North Down Borough Council | Ulster University |
| Belfast City Council | Belfast Metropolitan College |
| Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council | Northern Regional College |
| Mid and East Antrim Borough Council | South Eastern Regional College |
| Newry, Mourne and Down District Council | Southern Regional College |
Every time we open our doors to work every day in Northern Ireland we save half a million dollars, and that is something that we don’t take lightly.
Suren Gupta, Executive Vice President of Technology and Operations at Allstate
Enjoy a high-quality lifestyle
for less
Mid and East Antrim offers an exceptional quality of life, making our Borough a sought-after place to live, work, and visit.
In fact, nearly 90% of our people express a high level of satisfaction with living in the area, which is significantly above the average for Great Britain.
When it’s time to relax, you’ll find a wealth of experiences to enjoy. From welcoming towns and villages to a stunning coastal route, scenic forest waterfalls, an 18th-century walled garden, ancient castles, majestic mountains, rolling valleys, towering cliffs, charming harbors, and unspoilt countryside, there is something for everyone. It’s no surprise HBO filmed many Game of Thrones scenes here!
To truly experience a place, you need to savour its culture, and the wide variety of culinary delights in Mid and East Antrim earned us a spot in Ireland’s Top Ten Foodie Destinations of 2018.