THE head of the north’s largest exhibition and display company said his business has been forced to close after 23 years because it is no longer viable.
Dundonald-based Event Exhibition and Display Ltd had been a key contractor for Invest NI in the UK, Ireland and Europe.
It was also a staple of the Balmoral Show, building stands and displays for Stormont departments along with some of the north’s biggest companies.
Managing director Robin Titterington said it had gone from a pre-pandemic annual turnover of up to £2 million, to earning less than £40,000 this year.
In one month, he said it earned just £400.
Mr Titterington said the firm had received some support, including a £50,000 grant, but said with outgoings of £13,000 per week at the outset of the first lockdown, it did not last long.
He revealed that £800,000 of work on the events company’s books at the start of the pandemic had been pulled, including bookings for Invest NI, which he claimed were cancelled "at the eleventh hour".
Event Exhibition and Display had employed 16 full-time staff at the outset of the pandemic, but had also subcontracted many more.
“Our industry has been decimated,” said Mr Titterington. “Whenever the Balmoral Show gets up and running again properly, there won’t be enough contractors to fulfil the work.”
With speculation mounting on the reintroduction of restrictions, the events boss said he expects his industry to be the first hit.
“I’m not prepared to continue that line of business with these issues, it’s too great a risk.”
In a statement, Invest NI said the firm had been one of two providers on its exhibition framework between April 2017 and April 2021, when it said the framework expired.
"In line with government policy on public expenditure, Invest NI pays contractors on its frameworks for work undertaken or services provided."
It added that the cancellation of events "was completely outside of our control".
