A CONTROVERSIAL decision to take a major business start-up programme from Invest Northern Ireland away from its existing delivery partner was effectively reversed yesterday as it was confirmed that a legal challenge to the decision will end.
The challenge by Enterprise Northern Ireland (ENI) against Invest NI and the Department of Finance and Personnel was launched last year after the multi-million pound contract to deliver the Go For It programme was awarded to Scottish agency The Go Group working in the Province with business advisors KPMG.
Enterprise NI challenged the procurement process behind the decision and the legal process has been protracted and costly.
Yesterday a statement issued by Invest NI acknowledged that the situation was unsustainable and confirmed that an accommodation had been reached.
“The legal challenge and current trial are taking much longer than all parties anticipated,” the statement said.
“Both ENI and Invest NI are concerned that the delay continues to impact adversely on the provision of a full business start support programme for those members of the public who may be interested in starting a business.
“As the proposed contract under scrutiny would only run until September 2013, any further delays would have a detrimental impact on the logistics of organising and introducing a new service of this type.”
On that basis, it said the parties, “whilst continuing to differ in their views in relation to the issues raised in the litigation, have agreed that Invest NI will terminate the current procurement process, and that the legal action will end, on the basis that Invest NI will be going back out to the market with a revised proposal for the provision of a business start service”.
No representatives from either the Go Group or KPMG or from Enterprise Northern Ireland could be contacted for comment.