Council lead on Digital Transformation Fund for businesses

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: Columba O'Hare; Category: Business; Published: 05 December 2023

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Valerie Harte pictured with, front from left: Jillian Gilmore, Head of City and Growth Deals, Department of Finance; Mel Chittock, Interim Chief Executive, Invest Northern Ireland; Donal Durkan, Executive Director Strategy and Partnerships, Invest Northern Ireland; Deirdre McCloskey, DAERA Rural Affairs Division Representative. Middle: Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim and Cllr Jason Barr, Deputy Mayor of Derry City and Strabane. Back: Cllr John Laverty BEM, Chair of the Regeneration and Growth Committee, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council; Cllr Jennifer Gilmour, Mayor of Ards and North Down; Cllr Meta Graham, Deputy Chair of Mid Ulster and Cllr Áine Groogan, Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast. Photograph: Aaron McCracken Photography

Newry, Mourne, and Down District Council are at the forefront of a new initiative set to benefit small and micro businesses, as well as social enterprises across Northern Ireland. The Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF), officially launched in November at Queen’s University, aims to overcome financial barriers hindering the implementation of cutting-edge digital technology in these enterprises.

The £7.5 million funding program operates uniquely across all City and Growth Deals in NI driven by a shared ambition to deliver digitally-driven innovation. The initiative is a collaboration between the NI Executive, UK Government, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and all local authorities here. The fund will be managed by the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium (FFNI), led by Newry, Mourne, and Down District Council, with support from Invest NI. This collaborative approach signifies a significant step forward for councils looking to drive local economies with a growing emphasis on supporting innovation in businesses.

Newry, Mourne, and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte, emphasized the importance of the DTFF in ensuring smaller enterprises in Newry and beyond remain competitive amid rapid changes in customer behaviours and business models. The programme aims to assist these businesses in overcoming barriers to digital transformation, fostering growth.

Mel Chittock, Interim CEO of Invest Northern Ireland, underscored the fund's potential to enhance resilience, drive digital capability, and boost levels of digital engagement and innovation. This, in turn, is expected to improve productivity and competitiveness, benefiting both individual businesses and the broader Northern Ireland economy.

The funding from DAERA, totalling £1.1 million, is specifically earmarked to support rural businesses, with Teresa O’Neill, Director of the Rural Affairs Division, highlighting the investment's focus on enabling rural enterprises, including those in Newry, to access opportunities for innovation and contribute to sustainable rural prosperity.

To address the capital constraints faced by smaller businesses, the DTFF offers grant assistance ranging from £5,000 to £20,000 ex VAT for successful applicants. Eligible businesses, across all sectors except primary agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, can receive up to 70% of project costs, with the remaining 30% provided as match funding by the applicant.

The DTFF is dedicated to supporting business transformation through advanced digital technologies and tools, including smart technologies, process automation, big data and analytics, immersive technologies, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and system integration. More information on program eligibility, guidance, and information sessions can be found at www.dtff.co.uk