Green-tech firm StormHarvester invests over £1.6m to create 16 new jobs

Storm Harvester

Lisburn based SME StormHarvester is investing over £1.6million to create 16 new jobs, which will help it grow export sales across Europe, the US and Australasia. 

The company’s green technology, Intelligent Sewer Suite, uses in-house developed machine learning, predictive analytics and hyperlocal rainfall forecasting to monitor and control assets within drainage networks. Its cloud-based technology addresses challenges such as sewage pollution, flooding and water scarcity. 

Participating on our Propel Accelerator Programme, combined with our support for R&D and trade, has helped the company to grow to the stage where it now needs to increase its team from just two people to eighteen people.

Mark Bleakney, Southern Regional Manager, Invest NI

Brian Moloney, founder of StormHarvester, said: “Last year, Invest Northern Ireland’s R&D support helped us to develop our innovative green-tech system and win new business in Great Britain. Following on from this success, we have experienced further demand for our service and need to create 16 jobs to help keep up with demand, particularly with new international customers.

“Building strategic partnerships with leading drainage and water utilities companies is an important way for us to grow our business globally and Invest NI has provided expert advice to help us build these connections to date. Our new team will include a mix of business development roles to build and maintain successful partnerships that will help us grow our global customer base, and technical roles to continue the development of our smart technology as our product roadmap evolves.”

This latest offer from Invest NI provides £153,400 of support towards the creation of 16 new jobs, with marketing, software and civil engineer roles still to be recruited.

Our new team will include a mix of business development roles to build and maintain successful partnerships that will help us grow our global customer base, and technical roles to continue the development of our smart technology as our product roadmap evolves.

Brian Moloney, Founder, StormHarvester

Mark Bleakney, Invest NI’s Southern Regional Manager, said: “We were first contacted by StormHarvester in 2016 when it was in the very early stages of establishing. Participating on our Propel Accelerator Programme, combined with our support for R&D and trade, has helped the company to grow to the stage where it now needs to increase its team from just two people to eighteen people. This is exceptional growth for such an early stage company and the jobs will be a great boost for the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area.

“Once in place, the new jobs will contribute over £800,000 in additional annual salaries for the local economy. This expansion will ensure that StormHarvester has the much needed skills and manpower to strategically focus on exploring new markets and driving export growth.”

In recognition of StormHarvester’s commitment to innovation, it has been awarded a Platinum Level Innovator Certificate from Innovate NI.

Invest NI is committed to driving innovation in Northern Ireland and is a proud partner of Innovate NI, a Department for the Economy programme, helping local businesses innovate successfully. For further information visit www.innovateni.com

Invest NI’s R&D support is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014–2020.