DUNMURRY manufacturer Brookvent is the first Northern Ireland firm to avail of Barclays' £100 million loan fund for SMEs.
The company, which designs and build energy saving ventilation systems, has secured a new £1.5m financing deal with the bank.
The firm, which employs 60 people, has been on a major period of growth which has seen it open an office in Wroclaw in Poland while a new distribution centre is to open in August.
The American market is also becoming a focus for growth in 2016.
Brookvent has been operating since 1984 and can now count 44 per cent of sales as exports.
It has major contracts in central and eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Brookvent managing director Declan Gormley said: "In a fast growing business it is important to have access to the appropriate banking facilities, and equally important to work with people who understand your business needs.
"The combination of the (Barclays') expertise of the local team in Belfast backed up by the support of the bigger Barclays network made the decision to avail of the facilities on offer via their new £100m SME loan fund an easy one for Brookvent.”
Commenting on the importance of the financing deal, Christopher Murray, relationship director at Barclays, added: “Brookvent has a long history of new product development and a culture of innovation and commitment to excellence.
"This innovative approach is clearly helping it to win business against global competitors and our funding will enable the company to build on the success achieved to date. The business is actively growing its export markets and Barclays’ facilities will play an important role in helping them achieve this.
“Barclays is keen to support SMEs in Northern Ireland and this deal is a great example of the type of high growth business that we are eager to work with. We look forward to assisting Brookvent in their growth strategy in the coming years.”
Barclays is making up to £100m available to local businesses with a turnover of less than £25m.
