West Belfast Innovation Factory supports more than 2,000 jobs over ten years

West Belfast Innovation Factory has celebrated its tenth anniversary after supporting 916 businesses and helping to create more than 2,000 jobs since opening on Springfield Road in west Belfast in 2016.

The Belfast Innovation Factory has also contributed almost £1 million to the Northern Ireland economy over the past decade, including approximately £250,000 generated directly within west Belfast, according to figures released by Belfast City Council.

Developed on part of the former Mackie’s engineering works, the centre has become a base for entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses, offering office accommodation, business advice and opportunities for growth.

The anniversary was marked by an event attended by representatives from Belfast City Council, Invest Northern Ireland and the organisations involved in operating the facility.

West Belfast Innovation Factory supports 916 businesses

Since opening in 2016, the Belfast Innovation Factory has played a role in encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting business development across Belfast.

According to Belfast City Council, the facility has supported 916 businesses, helped create more than 2,000 jobs and facilitated 313 work placements during its first decade.

The centre is currently home to 65 businesses occupying more than 100 offices, with companies operating across sectors including technology, engineering, film and professional services.

Its facilities include flexible office accommodation, meeting rooms, conference spaces and hot-desking opportunities, alongside access to business development advice and networking events.

These services are designed to help smaller businesses establish themselves and expand without immediately taking on the financial commitments associated with traditional commercial premises.

The centre also provides opportunities for businesses to connect with other organisations, develop professional relationships and explore potential investment and research opportunities.

Belfast Innovation Factory builds on Springfield Road’s industrial heritage

The location of the west Belfast Innovation Factory is particularly significant because of its association with the former Mackie’s engineering works, which played an important role in Belfast’s industrial history.

Mackie’s was once one of the city’s best-known manufacturing employers, producing machinery and providing employment for generations of workers.

The redevelopment of part of the former factory site reflects efforts to encourage new economic activity in an area historically associated with traditional manufacturing.

The Innovation Factory opened in 2016 following investment from Belfast City Council, Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund.

The building is owned by Belfast City Council and operated by Oxford Innovation Ltd.

The transformation of the site into a modern business centre has provided opportunities for entrepreneurs and growing companies while retaining a connection to Springfield Road’s industrial past.

The centre’s contribution to west Belfast has been highlighted by the council, which estimates that approximately £250,000 of its wider economic impact has been generated directly within the local area.

Lord Mayor welcomes Belfast Innovation Factory achievements

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, attended the tenth anniversary celebrations and welcomed the contribution made by the centre.

She highlighted the importance of investment in business development and employment opportunities, particularly in communities seeking to benefit from economic regeneration.

The Lord Mayor said the success of the Innovation Factory demonstrated the value of investing in both places and people.

The anniversary provided an opportunity to recognise businesses that have developed within the centre, alongside the organisations and individuals who have supported its operation.

Belfast City Council has identified the Innovation Factory as an example of how investment in enterprise facilities can contribute to local economic development.

The council’s figures cover the facility’s first ten years of operation, meaning the reported economic contribution and employment outcomes represent cumulative achievements rather than annual totals.

Invest NI and business partners support local companies

Invest Northern Ireland has worked with the west Belfast Innovation Factory to help businesses access advice, develop their operations and identify opportunities for expansion.

Support has included business advice clinics, networking events and opportunities for companies to explore funding, research and development, innovation and export markets.

The centre also encourages collaboration between businesses operating in different sectors, allowing companies to share knowledge and establish professional connections.

Among the organisations previously based at the facility is Angel Eyes NI, which supports children and families affected by visual impairment.

The organisation used the Innovation Factory during its development and subsequently expanded its work, including the creation of Empatheyes, a virtual reality simulator designed to improve understanding of visual impairment.

The example illustrates how the centre has supported organisations providing social and community benefits alongside conventional commercial businesses.

Oxford Innovation, which operates the facility, has also emphasised the importance of providing practical support to entrepreneurs and helping companies overcome challenges associated with growth.

More than 2,000 jobs supported over the past decade

Employment creation has been one of the most significant achievements highlighted during the anniversary celebrations.

The council reports that more than 2,000 jobs have been created with support from the west Belfast Innovation Factory since 2016.

The facility has also helped facilitate 313 work placements, providing opportunities for individuals to gain experience and develop skills within businesses.

These figures demonstrate the scale of activity associated with the centre over its first decade, although they should not be interpreted as the number of people currently employed within the building.

With 65 businesses presently based at the site, the Innovation Factory continues to provide workspace and support for companies at different stages of development.

Its role in supporting employment is particularly relevant to west Belfast, where regeneration and access to economic opportunities remain important local priorities.

What comes next for the west Belfast Innovation Factory?

Following its tenth anniversary, the Belfast Innovation Factory is expected to continue providing accommodation, advice and development opportunities for businesses seeking to establish or expand their operations.

Oxford Innovation has reaffirmed its commitment to working with Belfast City Council and local communities to encourage entrepreneurship and create opportunities for young people.

The next decade will provide an opportunity to assess whether the centre can build on its record of supporting businesses, employment and work placements.

Its future contribution will also be important in understanding how investment in enterprise facilities can benefit surrounding communities, particularly in areas with a significant industrial heritage.

For Belfast City Council, the anniversary represents a milestone in the redevelopment of part of the former Mackie’s site and its wider efforts to encourage economic activity in west Belfast.

Ten years after opening, the west Belfast Innovation Factory remains a base for local businesses and a visible example of Springfield Road’s transition from traditional manufacturing towards new forms of enterprise and innovation.

External link: Innovation Factory – Official Website

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