The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke pictured at Ebrington Square viewing work completed on business premises as part of the Covid Recovery and Revitalisation Scheme. Five businesses in Ebrington received a £25,000 total grant as part of a collaborative group. Included from left are Louise Breslin, DCSDC, Carrie McCafferty Enterprise NW, Brian Williamson, Department for Communities, Jodie McCauley, Executive Office, Garry Harkin, Urban 3D, Julie Stewart, Atelier Hair, Marie McClean, The Stables Inn and James Huey, Walled City Brewery. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)
The Stables Inn, Walled City Brewery, Enterprise North West, Urban 3D and Atelier, who are all based within the Ebrington site, applied as a collaborative group for the grant as part of Derry City & Strabane District Council’s Covid Recovery and Revitalisation Scheme which is funded by the Department for Communities, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department for Infrastructure.
Through the grant, the Stables Inn installed a supplementary toilet area to provide the best possible hygiene conditions for helping reduce the potential spread of Covid-19, and the Walled City Brewery purchased a set of two commercial branded parasols for the outside front of their building, allowing them to maintain 70%+ of their normal clientele and provide shelter from the elements during inclement weather.
Enterprise North West used their grant to purchase two pods which allow clients and companies more flexibility, and for workers to exit their office and work independently in another area of the building with social distancing implemented.
Urban 3D installed an exterior paved meeting area for safe and Covid compliant open-air meetings and a lunch area for office staff, while Atelier installed a similar patio area and outdoor furniture for staff and customers to relax.
Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey said, “As businesses begin to open up again, I am delighted that the funding provided through my Department has been able to make a significant contribution to meeting the challenges we face.
“As can be seen by the collaboration between local and central government and local businesses, we are all working together to improve the lives of our communities.”
In a joint statement from the five businesses involved, Stephen Doherty (The Stables Inn), James Huey (Walled City Brewery), Carrie McCafferty (Enterprise North West), Paul Doherty (Urban 3D), and Ronan Stewart (Atelier) said that the grant has gone a long way in promoting Covid-19 safety within their respective businesses, and in bringing the public back to Ebrington.
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke at the Walled City Brewery at Ebrington Square viewing the commercially-branded parasols installed using grants from the Covid Recovery and Revitalisation Scheme. From left are Louise Breslin, DCSDC, James Huey, Walled City Brewery, Jodie McCauley, Executive Office and Brian Williamson, Department for Communities.
“Receiving such substantial financial support took a lot of weight off our shoulders in terms of that process, and greatly assisted in speeding things up when making our respective businesses safer and more welcoming for both customers and staff through the installation of toilets, pods, and outdoor furniture and facilities.”
Jodie McAuley, The Executive Office’s Co-ordinator for the Collaborative Project, said,
“As a collaborative group we feel this assistance will go a long way in increasing footfall on Ebrington. Our aim with the grant has been to instil confidence and give reassurance to customers and visitors to the site that all necessary measures have been put in place to comply with Covid-19 regulations and that it will be a welcoming space.
“We’d like to thank the Department for Communities, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Department for Infrastructure for this funding supplied through the Covid-19 Recovery Revitalisation Programme, and our thanks to Derry City and Strabane District Council for assisting us in using this funding practically and efficiently.”
Kevin O’Connor, Council’s Head of Business, said: “It’s fantastic to see this grant being put to use by the collaborative businesses within Ebrington, which is a key site in the economic development of the city.
“As with so many businesses across our Council area, these five businesses have faced significant revenue losses and have had to furlough staff which, naturally, is not an easy thing for any business to do.
“They’ve all also incurred additional expenses, like many other businesses, in terms of Covid-19 safety measures such as signage, personal protective equipment and additional cleansing.
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke visits the Stables Inn, Ebrington Square to view the work carried out in the business with grants from the Covid Recovery and Revitalisation Scheme. Included from left are Brian Williamson, Department for Communities, Marie McClean, Stables Inn and Jodie McCauley, Executive Office.
“Enterprise North West’s business model is based on clients being able to use their office space, so this grant funding has allowed them to provide extra assurances to those clients and in turn to steadily increase revenues.
“Atelier and Urban 3D have both faced the extremely difficult task of opening their new Ebrington premises during the pandemic. That has presented understandable challenges for both, but with this business grant they can now take another positive step forward.
“As a Council we are very pleased to work with all of the businesses in encouraging and supporting their recovery.”
Tags: