Social & Economic Regeneration
Spearheading social and economic regeneration in Belfast
Innovation Factory’s primary aim is to be a driving force for Community Engagement and Social Regeneration in Belfast.
As well as making connections and introductions within our network, we also strive to build relationships with the neighbouring business community to ensure we inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, boost the local economy, create employment opportunities, and encourage outside investment.
Through direct contributions from Innovation Factory customers, collaboration with partners, and alignment to key economic strategies and initiatives such as the Belfast Agenda, Belfast Region City Deal and the Northern Ireland Skills Strategy, we will add value by coordinating and leading a variety of interventions within the communities that are adjacent to Innovation Factory.
Beyond boundaries: building community cohesion
As the Innovation Factory is situated on what many people perceive as a “contested interface”, we are committed to playing a role in shaping Belfast by ensuring that our spaces and services meet the needs and ambitions of the local community and improve the quality of life now and for future generations.
This vision and strategy is expressed below as three priorities that provide clarity and focus on the activities that must be delivered:
Priority 1 – Increase exposure to an enterprise culture in order to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
Priority 2 – Connect young people with opportunity by highlighting the key sectors that help to drive the local economy.
Priority 3 – Create digital citizens by tackling the skill imbalance within our local community.
“At the Innovation Factory, we are strongly committed to a vision for the Centre to be a shared space, a driver for social regeneration, and to contribute to improved community relations.”
Shane Smith
Engagement Manager
Social integration and community engagement
As a dynamic, inclusive community of entrepreneurs, we promote the ideals of equality and equal opportunity for all in space that brings businesses together to innovate, share and inspire.
We actively engage with the local community, through outreach support programmes, facilitating work placements, and linking with education and training providers. We aim to contribute to our wider community by:
- Investing in the future through work placements, internships, and employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed, students, and graduates.
- Inspiring the next generation, by providing first-hand exposure to innovation and entrepreneurship to local students/pupils.
- Developing home-grown supply chains with local businesses.
Spearheading social and economic regeneration in Belfast
The Centre highlights the collaborative efforts of Invest NI, Belfast City Council and Oxford Innovation, who are working in partnership to ensure our entrepreneurs have the support they need to develop their innovative business.
Innovation Factory emerged as part of Belfast City Council’s economic strategy. Investment in this project is symbolic of the Council’s commitment to delivering economic growth to West Belfast while delivering social value to local communities and businesses.
Opened on the former Mackies site, the project is funded by Belfast City Council through its investment programme (£9.1mil) Invest NI (£2.1mil) and the European Regional Development Fund, under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland (£4.5mil)
Connect and collaborate at our purpose-built workspace for the innovators of Belfast.
