InterTradeIreland - is the only organisation which has been given responsibility by both Governments to boost North/South economic co-operation to the mutual benefit of Northern Ireland and Ireland. By encouraging better use of our collective resources we help to expedite trade and business growth across the island; create an environment to make it easier to do business and increase the competitiveness of individual companies and the two economies in the global marketplace.

InterTradeIreland - The Trade & Business Development Body is one of six Cross Border Implementation bodies formed under the Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom and of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which came into effect on 2 December 1999.

SUPPORT

Our programmes offer companies practical advice and support in targeting new cross-border business opportunities, sharing expertise to develop new products and processes, and advising high growth companies on attracting equity investment

Our research identifies barriers which prevent companies doing business across the island and restricts their growth. It identifies solutions to obstacles in areas like infrastructure, planning, transport, energy, skills, regulatory and fiscal issues and makes recommendations to Government on how they can be overcome. We bring together networks of companies to help them to become more profitable and competitive through joint marketing, skill-sharing, product or process development, meeting supply needs or co-production opportunities.

CORPORATE STRATEGY

InterTradeIreland was established under the 1998 Belfast Agreement to 'exchange information and co-ordinate work on trade, business development and related matters, in areas where the two administrations specifically agree it would be in their mutual interest.’

InterTradeIreland has evolved its strategy to meet its legislative remit through an ongoing process of research, analysis, project design, pilots, implementation, evaluation and review. Our early work addressed a knowledge gap which was inhibiting trade and business development linkages between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

This was addressed primarily through the development of 'networks of trust' between the business communities North and South. More recently we identified, and acted upon, the importance of co-operation through more formal business networks as a key source of knowledge diffusion, competitive advantage and increased trade.

Our third Corporate Plan 2008-2010, continues the evolution of our strategy, building on the principles of knowledge diffusion and co-operation through business and policy networks, and taking as our core theme the optimal utilisation of economic resources through co-operative North/South initiatives.

Our value proposition for the business community is to deliver benefits in the key areas of competitive advantage – sales and marketing, science, technology and innovation, enterprise capability development and business networks. Our actions are informed by targeted policy research and development.

VISION

InterTradeIreland’s Vision is of a globally competitive enterprise environment in which Ireland and Northern Ireland co-operate to ensure the optimal utilisation of economic resources, particularly knowledge resources, to drive additional trade and wealth creation.

The strategic framework for our activities, and our strategic goals, are set out in the latest InterTradeIreland Corporate Plan.

STRUCTURE

InterTradeIreland employs a total of 42 staff divided into three directorates.

OPERATION DIRECTORATE

The Operations Directorate is responsible for the delivery of a range of business programmes in the areas of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sales and Marketing and Business Capability Improvement.

The Science, Technology and Innovation programmes help create partnerships between businesses, who are working to create new products and processes, and the third-level institutions and other commercial partners which have the knowledge and expertise required for success.

The Sales and Marketing Programmes assist companies that want to increase their profitability through exploitation of the all-island market and through collaborative ventures into international markets. This includes direct financial support, access to customised buyer-supplier events and developing an awareness of public procurement opportunities North and South.

The Directorate also establishes and develops business networks to help companies pool their knowledge and resources, share costs and risks and achieve competitive advantage faster, cheaper and with less disruption to their operations. Additionally, it offers a range of services to help businesses to improve their capabilities through collaboration including reducing their distribution costs, improving their ability to tender successfully for public sector business on an all-island basis and to raise equity finance.

STRATEGY AND POLICY DIRECTORATE

The Strategy and Policy Directorate is responsible for the definition of the organisation’s strategic plans and its programme policies. The Directorate manages close working relationships with external business and policy organisations and with the other economic development agencies on the island. The team delivers expertise in the areas of Strategy and Policy Development; Economic Development Programmes, Science, Technology and Innovation; Business & Economic Research; Programme Appraisal and Evaluation and Business Planning & Performance Management.

CORPORATE SERVICES DIRECTORATE

The Corporate Services Directorate facilitates the delivery of InterTradeIreland initiatives. It supports its sister directorates through the provision of appropriate resources, systems and expertise in specific areas such as Human Resources, Information Technology, Financial Management and Communications.

Further information on InterTradeIreland can be found on our website www.intertradeireland.com

LOCATION

InterTradeIreland is located in Newry, Co. Down at a modern business park adjacent to the town centre. It is easily accessible by car and public transport and lies on the main road and rail route from Belfast to Dublin, close to the border.

Newry, which recently achieved city status, has established itself as the main retail centre outside Dublin and Belfast. There are two large shopping centre complexes in the town centre - Buttercrane and The Quays. Outside the town there are business parks and industrial parks, which include high street names from Britain and Ireland.

Newry offers a wide range of leisure and entertainment activities such as golf, angling, pony trekking, pubs, cinemas, traditional music, festivals and other events.

BENEFITS

InterTradeIreland offer a range of benefits:

• Hours of work: 42 hours per week gross (37 net). ITI offers a flexible system of working where start and finish times can vary
• Public and Privilege Holidays – 12 days
• Annual leave entitlement: 30 days (Managers and Directors); 25 days (Executive and Admin Staff)
• Occupational sick pay – up to 6 months at full pay and 6 months at half pay subject to a ceiling of 12 months sick pay in any period of 4 years
• Occupational Pension Scheme – defined benefit (based on final salary).
• Maternity Leave – 39 weeks (either paid or unpaid dependent on length of service and statutory regulations).
• Paternity Leave – 3 contractual days for all staff. Additional Statutory Paternity Leave for those meeting service requirements
• The normal retirement a