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SWARD programme surpasses its millionth milestone

It was revealed today that the small business and farm diversification economy in four District Council areas has been boosted by over £1 million grant aid in the last eighteen months through the SWARD programme.

SWARD delivers the NI Rural Development Programme 2007-13 for the four District Council areas of Cookstown, Dungannon & South Tyrone, Fermanagh and Magherafelt. The NI Rural Development Programme 2007-13 is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and is managed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Cllr Trevor Wilson, Chair of the programmes’ Joint Council Committee said, ‘The pay out to date of £1.1 million funding is a huge milestone for SWARD and indeed, the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme as a whole, as no other cluster has achieved this level of spend. This programme is vitally important for the cluster, as 72% of the population across the four District Council areas lives in a rural community. To date, over £6.1m worth of letters of offer have been issued across the cluster. This result is testament to the collaborative working of all 4 District Councils, and of the Joint Committee who strategically lead the initiative and the Local Area Group responsible for its implementation on the ground.’

The success of the programme in the area was echoed by Mr Austin Kelly, Chair of the Local Action Group, ‘In previous rounds of the programme we have received a total of 935 applications, which has been more than anticipated and greater than any other cluster'.

The programme has supported a number of fledgling and more established businesses across the cluster. Airfield Aviation (pictured below), based in Toomebridge is a company developed to provide helicopter services to air operators comprising corporate transport, training, and sightseeing flights on the island of Ireland for local communities, businesses and tourists. It received almost £45,000 through SWARD. Michael McGlone, business owner, said ‘The funding provided by the SWARD programme has allowed us to purchase key equipment to improve our competitiveness in the market. It has enabled us to offer pilot flight training, which we hope will in turn increase employability in the local area.’

Made Easy Business Solutions, run by Cookstown female entrepreneur, Eilish Devlin (pictured), has also benefited from the programme, receiving a grant of £6,000 to contribute to business start-up costs for a small business marketing web portal. Eilish said ‘Business start ups with their limited access to capital and small budgets find marketing and promotion costs expensive. Ironically, the start of a business is when this promotion becomes so vitally important to its on-going success. Our portal gives our clients access to logo design, print, web development and promotion, while maintaining quality of design, through a ‘one-stop shop’ portal'. 

For further information on the SWARD programme, contact 028 8676 4714 or view details on how to apply at www.sward.org.uk