S&M Products (N.I.) Ltd – Rural Business Investment Scheme

Address: 27 Corlea Road, Omagh

Funding: £90,000.00

Context

The Fermanagh and Omagh Local Action Group (FOLAG) is the body responsible for the administration of Priority 6 (LEADER) of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 in the Fermanagh and Omagh district. The Rural Development Programme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the European Union. There are nine other LAGs also responsible for administering Priority 6 across Northern Ireland.

The FOLAG, which comprises of 11 elected representatives nominated by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and 13 Social Partners, is responsible for administering a project budget allocation of £7.4 million to administer the strategic objectives set out in our approved Local Rural Development Strategy. This budget is being used to support a range of projects across a number of Schemes including Rural Business Investment, Rural Basic Services, Village Renewal and Cooperation.

The LAG is committed to building a strong, vibrant and resourceful rural economy through positive intervention and by supporting rural initiatives.

Today we showcase the success of the Rural Business Investment Scheme – S&M Products (N.I.) Ltd, Omagh

Project Summary

S&M Products (N.I.) Ltd as an established engineering company identified the need for a new workshop in order to facilitate an increase in orders from the agricultural sectors across the island of Ireland and the UK. In addition, the construction of a new workshop would facilitate the manufacturing of head locking gates having recently designed a new cattle crush system.

Funding was sought under the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme via the Rural Business Investment Scheme towards the construction of an additional workshop to enable the business to increase current production and extend its services by being able to offer new products.

Background

S&M Products (N.I.) Ltd is an established engineering company located on Corlea Road, Omagh and has been trading for 27 years becoming a Limited Company in 2017. The business employs 18 people provides a range of products for the agricultural sector through their supply to retailers across the UK and the island of Ireland from nationwide retailers to localised farm shops.

Realising a gap in the market, the company wished to expand its capability by increasing production capacity and extend its service offering to meet the demands of a diversifying sector. The business did not have the capacity to tender for larger orders from nationwide farm shops without the infrastructure in place to fulfill them adequately.

Activities

S&M Products (N.I.) Ltd was awarded £90,000.00 toward the construction of a new workshop to enable the business to increase current production and extend its services by being able to offer new products.

Benefits

Having now completed the project S&M Products (N.I.) Ltd are now able to manufacture products including head locking gates which they couldn’t provide previously due to lack of space. As a result of this investment, at least three full time positions will be created within the company and they will be able to expand their already established export market in the Republic of Ireland and the UK.

Lessons

Director of S&M Products (N.I.) Ltd advised, that the availability of the grant through the Rural Business Investment Scheme was the key driver which influenced my decision to take the project forward. The application process required a significant amount of business planning and completing procurement documents however, with the help of my Project Officer I am now in the final stages of competition and am delighted I made to move to apply.