Four jobs created at Amelio Utilities
Amelio Utilities Ltd in West Belfast has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to invest over £200,000 and provide four new jobs in drainage and civil engineering services.
The company, based at Work West Business Park, employs people in the provision of a range of civil engineering services including trenchless technology for major contractors in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Formed in April 2012 by Catherine O’Neill during her final year as a civil engineering student at Queen’s University, Amelio has received assistance totalling £35,340 from Invest NI towards an expansion of its business and marketing activities.
Catherine O’Neill said: “Running my own business became a viable ambition in my final year while studying civil engineering at Queen’s. I’d always wanted to set up my own company and had explored opportunities to do so. Feedback from people within the industry was very positive and I decided to go ahead and do so before graduation.
“My research indicated that there were significant opportunities for the type of professional services that I proposed to develop.
“I was encouraged by a business mentor who introduced me to Invest NI, which was extremely supportive and encouraged me to take advantage of schemes such as the Design Development Programme (DDP) to help move the business forward. DDP was excellent. It helped me to focus on an attractive and contemporary identity that I wished the business to project.
“Invest NI also provided financial assistance to grow the business especially outside Northern Ireland. We’ve already won contracts in the Republic and intend to set up an office in Birmingham in the near future.
“The base in the Midlands will enable the company to bid for contracts developing in Britain as investment in infrastructure gathers momentum,” she added.
Moira Loughran, Invest NI’s Regional Office Manager, said: “This is an immensely impressive enterprise which is growing fast as a result of its commitment to providing responsive and professional expert services to major civil engineering contractors.
“This strategic focus has enabled the business to double its turnover in the past year and provide employment opportunities.
“Our support will enable this entrepreneurial business to expand its business particularly in the Republic of Ireland and to explore opportunities in Britain. The expansion will provide a further three jobs.”
