From the shadow of the Tower of London to the hills of County Antrim, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council is making a bold statement: this region is open for business, ready for investment, and built for growth.
Following on from a landmark showcase event that brought together some of Northern Ireland’s most ambitious companies with some of London’s most influential decision-makers, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council recently hosted its ‘Powering Growth: Partnerships for Investment’ at the Tower of London.
The event, part of the Council’s wider economic development programme, was designed not just to raise the region’s profile, but to forge the kind of real commercial connections that drive lasting prosperity.
Business leaders from the area were on hand to make the case for Lisburn and Castlereagh as a destination for investment, highlighting the Region’s exceptional connectivity – dual access to both Belfast airports and a strategic position on the A1 Belfast-Dublin Economic Corridor – alongside a highly skilled workforce and real space for business expansion.
Claire Kemp, Chair of the Council’s Regeneration and Growth Committee, captured the ambition of the event: “This has been an extremely positive and productive event for Lisburn and Castlereagh, allowing us to showcase the scale of ambition across our council area and to connect directly with investors, business leaders and key decision-makers in London. The positive response underlines the growing confidence in Lisburn and Castlereagh as a place to invest, grow and do business.”
Local voices, global ambitions
The companies represented at the London mission tell a compelling story about what is already being built in Lisburn and Castlereagh, and what is possible for local businesses who want to grow and thrive.
“Lisburn provides a strong strategic base, offering excellent connectivity to Great Britain and wider export markets, alongside access to outstanding engineering graduates and other highly skilled workers, helping position Creative Composites as a global leader in advanced precision composite engineering,” explainsJonathan Holmes, Managing Director, Creative Composites
Working with high-end global brands across the automotive, transport and industrial sectors, Creative Composites produces high-performance composite components that are exported worldwide. Its continued presence in the region is testament to the long-term competitive advantages that Lisburn and Castlereagh consistently delivers.
“Lisburn and Castlereagh has given us the support to grow that matches our ambition. The local business infrastructure and talent available here has been central to our early-stage journey as an ambitious Northern Ireland start-up modernising finance through AI-led advisory services,” addsJames McLernon, Co-Founder, Athru
Athru represents a new generation of growth companies emerging from the region. An AI-innovative start-up reimagining financial advisory services, Athru’s story is one of ambition meeting opportunity, and of a local ecosystem ready to support the businesses of tomorrow.
Headquartered in Lisburn, the Camlin Group is an excellent illustration of what is achievable from the Lisburn and Castlereagh region. A world leader in energy and rail infrastructure innovation, Camlin’s global footprint demonstrates that Lisburn and Castlereagh can truly compete on the world stage.
Stephen Spiceley from Camlin says: “Camlin is a Lisburn success story- a global technology company now operating in 17 countries with over 600 staff, developing smart technologies for sustainability and efficiency. The region’s support for high-skilled jobs, AI, data science and advanced engineering has been fundamental to our international growth.”
Adding his voice to what the LCCC region has to offer, Roger Pannell, Managing Director, Unicorn Group concludes: “We export to over 20 countries from our base in Lisburn. The business combines capabilities in injection moulding, liquid filling, metal fabrication and assembly, delivered by a skilled local workforce. Our local based gives us the platform to serve global markets while remaining rooted in a region that supports our ambitions at every turn.”
Unicorn Group is an excellent example of the region’s strength in advanced manufacturing. With ISO-certified facilities, a diverse product portfolio and a growing international customer base, Unicorn is proof that global success and local roots can go hand in hand.
A Region Built for What’s Next
The London mission was not a one-off event. It sits within a broader, ambitious programme of trade activity spanning Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Europe, including an upcoming ROI Trade Programme and a European trade mission planned for autumn 2026. Together, these initiatives create a strong pipeline of opportunities for businesses to build networks, access new markets and accelerate international growth.
Whether you are an established manufacturer or an emerging start-up seeking the right ecosystem to grow, Lisburn and Castlereagh offers a compelling proposition: strategic location, exceptional connectivity, and a skilled and motivated workforce.
If you are interested in finding out more about how your business can grow and thrive in Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area, please visit: www.investlisburncastlereagh.com