Jobs boost for Kilrootbased web business

Big Wet Fish Hosting, which is based at Kilroot Business Park, is creating an online customer support service with support from Invest Northern Ireland to assist with the creation of new jobs.

Managing Director Stephen Kincaid, a former IT teacher at Carrickfergus College and Carrickfergus Grammar School, who set up the business in 2013, said: “We’re confident that we can almost double sales in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland in the next few years, but we need to have the right team in place, offering 24/7 support, to underpin that growth.

“We believe that having a local support service will play a key role in achieving that goal.

“As a small company, with only two directly employed staff, this is a big step for us and we’re grateful for Invest NI’s support to help us take this significant step in our business’s growth.

“I am excited about what we have achieved to date and what we hope to achieve in the future.”

Big Wet Fish provides a range of services including web hosting, online support, sale of domains and online security and performance improvement software.

Moira Loughran, Invest NI’s North East Regional Manager, commented: “In just three years, Big Wet Fish has built up an extensive customer base, including some high profile clients, and an excellent reputation in the web hosting arena.

“The company is now gearing up to significantly expand its customer base and increase sales in markets outside Northern Ireland.

“We will continue to work with the company to support it with its growth plans.”

Invest NI has offered an Employment Grant of £12,000 towards the new jobs. It works with individuals, companies and organisations in manufacturing and tradable services which show the ambition and commitment to grow by being more innovative.