Invest Northern Ireland will relocate its North West regional office to a new base at Ebrington Plaza in Derry, the Economy Minister announced on 26 October 2026. The move, to a 300sqm Grade A space under a 10-year lease, is part of a wider push to strengthen the agency’s regional footprint and support local economic development.
Office to act as visible hub for businesses and investors
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said the office forms a central plank of her Sub Regional Economic Plan. With a dedicated regional director now in place — Aeidin McCarter — the new premises are intended to make Invest NI more “visible, accessible, and embedded in the local community”, and to provide a professional meeting point for both local businesses and potential inward investors.
“This prestigious new office will ensure that Invest NI is more visible, accessible, and embedded in the local community. I look forward to the office officially opening in the New Year and to using the office as a base to meet both local businesses and inward investors.” — Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Invest NI has maintained a presence in Derry~Londonderry since 2006, previously operating from Timber Quay. The agency decided to move after Ulster University purchased the Timber Quay building and Invest NI began searching for a new location that better suited its regional ambitions.
Targets, recent performance and local impact
Invest NI’s chief executive, Kieran Donoghue, said the new Ebrington office will support the agency’s priorities: attracting investment outside the Belfast Metropolitan Area and delivering jobs and projects of scale. Donoghue highlighted recent figures showing the agency supported 263 projects in the North West last year, which are expected to result in over £80 million of investment and more than 400 new jobs.
Those figures underline the regional office’s immediate workload: helping firms scale, promoting inward investment and co‑ordinating support across the public and private sectors. Locating at Ebrington Plaza, near key clients, is presented as an operational advantage that will allow Invest NI to welcome international delegations and present the North West as a viable location for new projects.
- Office size: 300sqm Grade A space
- Lease term: 10 years
- Recent regional support: 263 projects; over £80m of investment; 400+ jobs
For local businesses, a closer Invest NI presence can mean quicker access to advisory services, grant information and tailored support for export and investment readiness. For communities, the agency says its KPIs — volume and value of investment, and jobs supported — will be used to track regional progress.
What this means for the North West
The decision to base the office at Ebrington Plaza also carries a symbolic element. Ebrington has been central to wider regeneration efforts for Derry~Londonderry, and the choice signals a continued confidence in the city as a focal point for economic activity in the North West.
From the perspective of business development, a visible Invest NI office can help reduce perceived barriers for international investors considering projects outside Belfast, and provide easier face‑to‑face access for SMEs seeking export support or grant funding.
Timeline and next steps
The Minister indicated the office will officially open in the New Year. In the interim, Invest NI will continue its regional activity and prepare the Ebrington site to receive businesses and visiting delegations.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Ebrington Plaza, Derry |
| Size | 300sqm |
| Lease | 10 years |
| Recent regional support | 263 projects; over £80m investment; 400+ jobs supported |
Invest NI’s relocation reflects a broader strategy to distribute economic development support more evenly across regions. For businesses and communities in the North West, the immediate questions will be what practical services the office will offer, how quickly it can open its doors, and how nearby firms can engage with Invest NI’s programmes to support jobs and growth.
Further announcements from Invest NI and the Department for the Economy are expected as the new office prepares to welcome visitors early next year.
