Kilwaughter Minerals Extends LEDCOM Partnership with £90K Cash Injection

Leading mineral processor, Kilwaughter Minerals, has extended its partnership with Local Economic Development Company (LEDCOM) Ltd. by pledging £90,000 over the next three years to continue its support and development of local businesses.

Business enterprise LEDCOM, established in 1985, is committed to making a difference in Larne, Ballyclare and surrounding areas through economic and community development – an ethos echoed at Kilwaughter Minerals.

Since 2017 the two organisations have enjoyed a successful relationship, and during that time Kilwaughter Minerals has provided a six-figure sum to support LEDCOM’s economic development work. This substantial further injection of cash will help facilitate LEDCOM’s strategic vision of generating long-term social and economic impact in the Mid and East Antrim Borough as well as the Ballyclare area within Antrim and Newtownabbey.

Sharing his delight at the continuing relationship, Simon McDowell, Director at Kilwaughter Minerals said:

“At Kilwaughter we want to connect with our local communities and champion economic growth where we can, as well as support the wider supply chain, and that is synonymous with LEDCOM’s purpose.

“Over the past five years, it’s been fantastic to see the valuable advice and support given to numerous micro businesses, SMEs and entrepreneurs across the region, helping them in many areas close to our own journey with product development, business process, and innovation.

“It is a pleasure to continue our partnership and we look forward to seeing how many more start-ups and small businesses can be boosted in the next three years.”

Speaking of the current impact LEDCOM has within the region and its ambitions of supporting 500 businesses, creating 750 jobs, and helping 1500 people into employment, training, or further education by the end of 2022, Chairman Dr Norman Apsley OBE, said:

“LEDCOM’s long-standing record of economic development in Northern Ireland is second to none.

“We have continually adapted to changing circumstances, none more so than in the past 22 months, and we have consistently been at the forefront of enterprise, innovation, and business support.

“Without the incredible support we receive from partners such as Kilwaughter Minerals much of that would not be possible and we are thrilled to drive forward in pursuit of our targets with them onboard for the next three years. They really do make a difference”

In 2020/2021 alone, LEDCOM, helped over 135 start-up companies, and more than 88 SMEs, to devise Covid-19 and Brexit response action plans and recirculated a significant £276,745 into Northern Ireland’s social economy.

For more information on Kilwaughter Minerals and its partnerships, visit www.kilwaughter.com

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Carly Rodgers, Lighthouse Communications [email protected] or Tel: 07772798027

About Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd

• Established in 1939, Kilwaughter Minerals Limited is a quarry and mineral processor headquartered on a 75-acre site in Larne, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland
• Kilwaughter produces calcium carbonate based products including, limestone sands, aggregates, derivative products for construction and broader industry and a range of products for the agriculture and landscaping sectors.
• Kilwaughter’s brands include Kilwaughter Lime, K Systems and K Rend, with K Rend being the UK and Ireland’s largest independent silicone render manufacturer.
• The inaugural INCA awards ceremony took place in 1981, with the association recognising EWI innovation and excellence in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, ever since.
• Kilwaughter Minerals were recently awarded Stakeholder of the Year at the NI Social Enterprise Awards for their long term partnership with AEL, another Larne based social enterprise.
• Kilwaughter also recently committed £20K to the Brighter Futures scheme which was initiated by Larne FC.