Blinds company pulls in 93 new jobs with £4m investment

A Co Derry blinds company is to create 93 new manufacturing job by 2018 following a £4 million expansion.

Supported by Invest Northern Ireland and First Trust Bank, the investment by Magherafelt-based Bloc Blinds includes new manufacturing facilities and extensive market development activities to help drive export sales, particularly in Europe and the US.

Bloc Blinds specialises in the design and manufacture of window blinds and recently moved into its renovated and extended new premises at Station Road, Magherafelt.

Cormac Diamond, managing director of Bloc Blinds, said: “This exciting investment follows encouraging business growth in recent years and underpins our ambition to increase sales particularly in Europe and the US.

“Our new manufacturing facility brings the current Bloc Blind lines under the one roof which will help increase production and operating efficiencies. The support and advice of Invest Northern Ireland so far has been invaluable and its support with this expansion will ensure that we have the resources and skill set in place to achieve our goals.”

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell Jonathan Bell said the 93 new manufacturing jobs to be recruited over the next three years would contribute £1.7million annually in additional salaries to the local economy.”

Photo shows Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell (centre) with Edel McCooe, Regional Director First Trust Bank, and Cormac Diamond, managing director Bloc Blinds at the announcement of 93 new jobs by the company. Photo by Simon Graham/Harrison Photography