Joint Visit by the Finance and Economy Ministers to Ulster University and North West Regional College
Wednesday 6th August 2025, saw the Finance Minister John O’Dowd and the Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald, join Mayor Oliver McMullan in visiting two key innovation projects for the Borough's Growth Deal. The Ministers visited Ulster University, Coleraine. to hear all about their plans for their Centre for Food & Drug Discovery and then on to North West Regional College in Limavady to find out about their proposed Foodovation & Skills Centre.
Speaking after a visit to Ulster University and North West Regional College, Minister O’Dowd said: “I welcome the opportunity to see first-hand the positive impact the Causeway Coast and Glens Growth Deal is having driving innovation and equipping the region with the skills it needs to thrive.
“The £110 million investment through the Growth Deal will create high-quality jobs, help attract and retain talent, support local businesses, and strengthen the regional economy.
“The Centre for Food & Drug Discovery at Ulster University Coleraine will significantly expand research capacity and industry collaboration to help bring new products to market; while the Foodovation ™ and Skills Centre at the North West Regional College Limavady will ensure the local food industry has access to a highly skilled workforce and the expertise needed to grow and scale their businesses.
“I have no doubt these projects will assist in local economic growth, creating better opportunities for everyone.”
Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald added: “The Causeway Coast & Glens Growth Deal is a real opportunity to support and harness the talent in this region.
“Focusing on a number of my priority sectors, and with innovation at their heart, the projects show the ambition of everyone involved and the power of collaboration across industry, academia and the public sector.
“The Centre for Food & Drug Discovery will offer unique expertise and first-on-island platforms to support scientific discovery across human and animal health, and bioactives for agri-food. While the Foodovation ™ & Skills Centre will support food and drink businesses with skills development, technical assistance and expert advice to nurture their innovative food and drink ideas from concept to creation.
“These are just two of the projects proposed as part of a wider programme that will deliver real economic benefits for this region and our wider economy.”
Finance Minister Visited Bushmills
On 28th August 2024, then Finance Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA held a series of engagements on the north coast including a visit to Bushmills with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to discuss the Growth Deal project planned for the area.
The Minister had the opportunity to meet with project partners, to hear first hand how the Growth Deal will impact the area.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Welcomes Ambition North Wales as a Critical Friend
On 16 and 17 January 2023, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Growth Deal Programme Management Office welcome colleagues from Ambition North Wales to experience some of what the Causeway Coast has to offer and share expertise from working on their respective Growth Deals.
The two-day visit took in some of our key tourism attractions; Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Bushmills Distillery, as well as stops at other potential Growth Deal project locations; Ulster University’s Centre for Drug Discovery and the Enterprise Zone. The visit cumulated in a Critical Friend Review, where ideas and knowledge were exchanged to enhance understanding in how to move Causeway’s Growth Deal forward in the most advantageous manner for the Borough.
Ambition North Wales is a partnership of six Local Authorities in North Wales, two Universities (Bangor and Wrexham) and two Further Education institutions (Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and Coleg Cambria). The partnership signed their Growth Deal worth £240m on 17th December 2020 and work is underway to bring thousands of jobs to the region and to give the North Wales economy a multi-billion pound boost.
For further details on Ambition North Wales Growth Deal: ambitionnorth.wales
