Fermanagh small businesses plan to create 30 jobs

Investment totals more than £1.5m

An entrepreneurial father and his three sons, who have developed an innovative sheep dip product, are among five small businesses based in Fermanagh and Tyrone who plan to invest more than £1.5 million and create 30 jobs.

Mark Kelly and his sons Patrick, Aidan and Colm, who are based in Beragh, want to start recruiting outside the family to grow their business and get the word out about Dip Fast - their new sheep shower product which enables a sdingle farmer to spray sheep effectively and safely .

Mr Kelly, who has more than four decades of experience in the agricultural industry, and his sons have been showcasing their product at agricultural shows across Ireland and the UK and say both feedback and early sales, have encouraged them to plan for expansion.

Their family firm, Oran Oak Engineering, is one of five small SMEs based in Fermanagh and Tyrone that have been working closely with Invest NI to grow their business in Ireland and the UK.

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Struct Steel Engineering, Curran Gas and Greentown Traffic Management all located in County Fermanagh, and Tyrone based New Generation Agri are also hoping to expand their business and recruit more staff.

Ethna McNamee, Invest NI’s Western office manager, said the agency has backed the businesses with more than £165,829 in financial support recently and she hopes the additional jobs that the local firms want to create will generate more than £600,000 in new salaries for the area.

Francess McDonnell

Francess McDonnell

Francess McDonnell is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in business