Coolkeeragh ESB: Supporting Local Enterprise

Throughout the construction phase of the new plant, Coolkeeragh ESB has worked with Invest NI to ensure that local suppliers and businesses directly benefited from the development. To this end, a special database of professional expertise, services and trades available locally was developed in conjunction with Invest NI, in order to ensure local firms with the relevant expertise and experience were able to tender for contracts.

This initiative resulted in over £30 million worth of business for local firms and businesses.

In addition 40 long term jobs have been created to operate and maintain the new plant. The plant when fully commercial will provide local businesses with supply contracts worth up to £ 7 million per year.

Coolkeeragh ESB: Supporting Local Community Initiatives

Now with the commissioning of the new power plant, we want to ensure this commitment continues with an ongoing programme of community projects, and to continue to play an integral part in the northwest.

Coolkeeragh ESB has a portfolio of community sponsorships, supporting business, cultural, sporting and educational organisations in the region.

Coolkeeragh ESB Major Public and School based Arts Project

This is Coolkeeragh ESB's major schools-based arts sponsorship for the NorthWest.

Working with Arts & Business it has contracted local arts group, The Playhouse, to record the construction of the power plant through public and school based arts projects.

In the public arts initiative, Northern Ireland artist Simon McWilliams has been commissioned to produce a piece of public art that will record the development of the new plant.

For the schools based project, artists are working with four local post primary schools developing art within the schools and have produced a number of pieces of artwork for display within the power plant.

As part of the project, participating schools were invited to the Coolkeeragh plant to see the construction work and to see the electricity generation process in action, while General Manager of Coolkeeragh, Dave O'Dwyer subsequently paid reciprocal visits to each of the four participating schools.

Coolkeeragh ESB: Supporting Local Business, Sports and Public Initiatives

In addition to this major community based arts project, Coolkeeragh ESB has also offered ongoing support to local business networks, sports groups, and other community based activity throughout the northwest region.

Among these are:

•  Chamber of Commerce;

•  BBC Children in Need Appeal from Derry

•  An Griánan theatre group;

•  Institute FC (Irish League);

•  Derry City FC (League of Ireland );

•  Culmore FC (Youth)

•  Maydown Roundabout refurbishment and maintenance