Key Performance Indicators

Performance Summary:

We engaged with 736 businesses between April 2022 and March 2023.

736 businesses engaged

Businesses were engaged with across a variety of business support programmes including Business Escalator Plus, Digital Boost, Bid2Win, Digital Surge and more.

16 targets achieved/on track.

6 delayed but progressing.

information panel was installed on Larne Promenade highlighting Larne’s connection with Vikings.

• Council’s Economic Development team successfully delivered 18 workshops and webinars to over 1,341 participants.

• Carrickfergus Civic Centre welcomed Tourism NI’s spectacular 360 Igloo Dome, showcasing the very best of Northern Irish tourism. Connecting visitors to the local area, the dome - which was commissioned as part of Tourism Northern Ireland’s ‘Embrace a Giant Spirit’ campaign - will stay in the Civic Centre until Winter 2023.

• Council were pleased to announce that £6m has been allocated to Carnfunnock Country Park from the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund The project will include construction of a new visitor centre which will house a retail shop, café, and meeting rooms overlooking the coastline.

• Industry representatives from across NI gathered at Ballymena’s Ecos Hub for the inaugural HyTech NI Industry Steering Board meeting. The HyTech initiative aims to support the development of Northern Ireland’s burgeoning hydrogen economy

• More than 12,000 individuals enjoyed Council’s Halloween events in Larne and Carrickfergus.

• An exhibition showcasing the contemporary artwork of renowned artist Seanna O’Boyle-Irvine and featuring real prehistoric objects proved a big hit with visitors to Carrickfergus Museum

• During November 2022, Council once again collaborated with local business support organisations and associated stakeholders to offer a week long diverse range of events and initiatives for Global Enterprise Week 2022.

• Aimed at supporting economic recovery through upskilling and re-skilling initiatives, Mid and East Antrim’s Pilot Hydrogen Training Academy continues to develop a learning pathway for the hydrogen economy by creating a state-ofthe art learning environment and delivering essential training on a range of hydrogen subjects.

We promoted 125 jobs through the ‘Go for It’ programme between April 2022 and March 2023.

Council exceeded its target for the number of jobs promoted through business startup activity by 47%. The figure achieved for 2022/23 was the highest since 2017/18, in which a total of 140 jobs were promoted.

This indicator counts the number of visitors at The Gobbins, Carrickfergus Castle, Arthur Cottage, Andrew Jackson Cottage and US Rangers Museum.

Between April 2022 and March 2023, we welcomed 86,432 visitors to our strategic tourist attractions, far surpassing our annual target of 44,778.