100 per cent occupancy for Townsend Enterprise Park

Steeped in history and located on a site of huge historical and economic significance, Townsend Enterprise Park, has been a thriving hub of industry for over 30 years, and today it celebrates a 100 per cent occupancy rate for the first time in its trading history and amid an epidemic.
Chris McAuley, co-owner of Protherm who make up a 100% occupancy at Townsend Enterprise Park is pictured with CEO of Townsend Enterprise Park Margaret Patterson McMahonChris McAuley, co-owner of Protherm who make up a 100% occupancy at Townsend Enterprise Park is pictured with CEO of Townsend Enterprise Park Margaret Patterson McMahon
Chris McAuley, co-owner of Protherm who make up a 100% occupancy at Townsend Enterprise Park is pictured with CEO of Townsend Enterprise Park Margaret Patterson McMahon

Given the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, this significant achievement is testament to the hard work and tenaciousness nature of the thriving Belfast business community.

Townsend Enterprise Park - a charitable organisation - whose aim it is to stimulate social and economic regeneration, is located just off the Westlink, a stone’s throw from the city Centre. They are home to 46 small-to-medium sized businesses, employing over 300 people from across the city and beyond, providing flexible workspaces, meeting, and training and conference rooms.

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Businesses housed there include two coffee roasting companies, an office fit-out business, an international design agency, florist, gym and most recently an industrial insulation company, Protherm.

CEO of Townsend Enterprise Park Margaret Patterson McMahon said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce our 100 per cent occupancy at Townsend Enterprise Park, and are now operating a waiting list. We believe successful businesses are at the heart of happy, healthy communities – and we nurture, support and strive to help each and every business in our Park, where and when we can.

“Townsend Enterprise Park was opened in 1987 with an ethos of creating local employment and incubating homegrown businesses, and we are proud to sit at the very heart of this historic community. The recent shutdown of the global economy has presented massive challenges to all traders. But because we have a different ethos based on encouraging the development of business, while stimulating social and economic regeneration, Townsend Enterprise Park has flourished and continued to grow. The park is a charity, and while it is profit making, it is not profit taking.

“Throughout the disruption of the pandemic, Townsend’s Board and management has worked hard to promote a mutually supportive network approach. We have protected our tenants by providing assistance as they deal with major cash-flow issues, providing advice and support tailored to each business and their needs.”

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The latest company to move in this week, having the honour of clocking up the full occupancy rate milestone for the enterprise park, is Protherm, which supplies industrial insulation across Europe.

Started at a kitchen table just four years ago by dynamic duo Chris McAuley and Conor Dahou, Protherm has rapidly expanded to now employing 15 staff.

“We outgrew our home office as demand for our product rapidly increased,” Chris McAuley said. “We needed an affordable and flexible location which was close to the city centre and with direct access to all arterial routes. We heard great reports about Townsend Enterprise Park from other tenants. After a lot of our research, we have chosen it as the perfect location to base our growing business.”

The site where Townsend Enterprise Park is located today has a played a significant historical role in the industrial and commercial life of Belfast since a major foundry was established there in 1838.

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As the name suggests, it was literally at the ‘town’s end’ and the site where Robert Shipboy MacAdam and his brother James established the Soho Foundry 182 years ago. With a workforce of over 250 local people, the foundry produced a wide range of iron products that were exported all over the world.

Still true to its heritage of business innovation, while harnessing economic development to increase the social and political stability of the surrounding community, the continuing success of Townsend Enterprise Park shows the success 100 per cent support for tenants’ needs can deliver.

Visit https://townsend.co.uk for further details.

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