Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell recently highlighted “the importance of effective leadership” in building a successful business during a visit to medical-device manufacturer TG Eakin in Comber, County Down.

The company recently benefitted from Invest Northern Ireland support to undertake world-class leadership training through the Leadership 4 Growth programme.

Mr Bell said: “Passionate and energetic leadership in a business creates a positive presence that has a direct impact on the workforce. It is these qualities that can lead a business to increased success. TG Eakin is a prime example of an innovative, indigenous business focusing on skills development as the means to achieving further success.”

Jeremy Eakin, managing director of TG Eakin, said: “Investing in the skills of our management team was an invaluable process to help the business grow into the future. Eakins has recently invested in a new subsidiary company in Tokyo and has recruited 25 new staff over the last 12 months. The business plans to build a new office block at its Comber site and also to recruit a further 25 people over the next two years.”

A few days later, Mr Bell announced that Belfast-based IT company Core Systems — a supplier of IT systems and services to custodial and high-security facilities — is investing almost half a million pounds in R&D, with the support of Invest Northern Ireland.

He said: “Core Systems has made a concerted effort to focus on innovation and development, bringing to market its leading-edge Direct2Probationer, which has strong export sales potential. R&D means businesses can develop world-class products in order to stay ahead of the competition.

“The USA is an important export market for Northern Ireland companies. Leading an Invest NI trade mission there at the end of January, I met with a number of US government departments and agencies plus other stake-holders to explore ways to strengthen our trade and investment relationships.”