Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

What Mid and East Antrim Borough Council does

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is a statutory local government authority in Northern Ireland, established on 1 April 2015 through the merger of Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Larne Borough Councils as part of the most significant local government reform in Northern Ireland in over 40 years. The council serves approximately 139,000 citizens across the borough's three principal towns — Ballymena (headquarters at The Braid), Carrickfergus, and Larne — delivering a broad portfolio of statutory and discretionary services including waste and recycling collection, planning and building control, leisure and sport (via the MEActive platform across three leisure centres), tourism attractions (The Gobbins cliff-path, Gracehill UNESCO World Heritage Site, museums, parks, harbours and marinas), community services through a network of 30+ community centres, business support programmes, and public health initiatives.

The council's technology footprint is a standard public-sector CMS-based web platform augmented by third-party integrations: the AccessAngel accessibility toolbar (text-to-speech, 100+ language translation, magnification), the Planning System NI government portal for electronic planning submissions, the Council Direct transactional platform (currently used for dog licensing with expansion planned), and the bin collection calendar tool. The council is UK GDPR compliant (ICO registration ZA076984) and partially WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliant with documented accessibility gaps. No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary models, or data flywheel mechanics are present in the disclosed technology stack.

Revenue is derived from three streams: property rates (recurring taxation across borough ratepayers), government grants (Department for Communities, NI Executive, PEACEPLUS, Belfast Region City Deal), and service fees and licences (dog licensing, planning applications, building control, leisure memberships). The council does not have shareholders, does not raise external funding, and operates as a publicly accountable entity led by 40 elected councillors. Distribution is hybrid — physical offices and community assets combined with self-serve digital portals and direct community engagement programmes across residents, local businesses, visitors, and young people as primary customer segments.

Name

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Legal name

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Website

https://midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is a Northern Ireland local government authority serving 139,000 citizens across Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Larne with statutory services including waste management, planning, leisure, community centres, tourism attractions, and business support programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Municipal Tax & Revenue Administration (Local) (BPAIACAD), Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations (EUAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Waste collection services
• Leisure facility management
• Local government services
• Planning and building control
• Community development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ballymena

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Rates: Property rates collected from residents and businesses within the borough, which form a core part of council funding for public service delivery.
2. Government Grants: Funding from the Department for Communities and other government bodies to support specific programs including Labour Market Partnerships, PEACEPLUS, and community development initiatives.
3. Service Fees and Licenses: Fees collected for services including dog licensing, planning applications, building control, and leisure centre memberships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is a Northern Ireland local government authority that delivers statutory and discretionary public services to approximately 139,000 residents across the Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne areas. Its core offerings include kerbside waste and recycling collection, planning and building control administration, sport and leisure facilities and memberships (MEActive), community centres, tourism attractions (The Gobbins, parks, museums, harbours and marinas), business support and employability programmes, and civic administration such as dog licensing and births/deaths/marriages registration.

Product overview

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council provides a comprehensive suite of public sector services for approximately 139,000 citizens across the Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Larne areas. The council operates as a platform of interconnected services rather than a single product, with major service domains including: MEActive sports and leisure (with membership booking platform, leisure centres, swimming lessons, and specialist programmes like Disability Sports Hub); waste and recycling management (with bin collection calendar and household recycling centres); planning and building control (with new Planning Portal for submissions); business support (including ecosHUB, Rural Business Grants, and Labour Market Partnership programmes); and community services (grants, community centres, health and wellbeing initiatives). Digital touchpoints include the AccessAngel accessibility toolbar, Council Direct licensing portal, and online booking systems. The council is delivering major infrastructure projects including the £27m i4C Innovation and CleanTech Centre (with iLAB maker space) as part of the Belfast Region City Deal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MEActive Sports and Leisure Membership Membership and booking platform providing individual and family membership deals, online activity reservations, and a dedicated mobile app for use across the council's three leisure centres.
• Leisure Centres Three council-operated leisure facilities: Seven Towers Leisure Centre (Ballymena), Amphitheatre (Carrickfergus) and Larne Leisure Centre, offering fitness equipment, swimming pools and exercise classes to residents.
• Waste and Recycling Collection Kerbside waste collection services covering fortnightly residual, fortnightly organic, weekly dry recycling and, in Larne, fortnightly blue bin recycling, plus household recycling centres across the borough.
• Planning and Building Control Statutory processing of planning applications, local development planning, planning enforcement, and building control services for residents and businesses, with online submission via the Northern Ireland Planning Portal.
• Dog Licensing Statutory dog licensing service requiring microchipping, available online through the Council Direct portal, by post, or by telephone renewal, with concessions for pensioners and benefit recipients.
• Business Support Services Portfolio of business support programmes including start-up support, Invest MEA, Rural Business Grants (up to £7,500), employment and skills support, and access to the ecosHUB digital facility for local enterprises.
• Commercial Waste Services Waste collection and recycling services for commercial businesses operating within the borough.
• Labour Market Partnership Department for Communities-funded employment support programme developing targeted employment action plans and delivering skills programmes such as World of Work and Placement Insights for residents and local businesses.
• i4C Innovation and CleanTech Centre £27m Belfast Region City Deal-funded 5,200sqm innovation centre in Ballymena offering SME innovation spaces, Grade A offices, co-working areas, meeting facilities, and the iLAB engineering workshop for cleantech sector development across Northern Ireland.
• Grants and Funding Programmes Council-administered grant programmes for community organisations including the Inclusive Summer Opportunities Grant (£12,000), Rural Business Grants (up to £7,500) and EVAWG Change Fund (up to £25,000).
• EVAWG Change Fund Programme Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Change Fund offering tiered funding up to £25,000 to grassroots organisations working to prevent and challenge violence against women and girls, as part of a seven-year Northern Ireland Executive-mandated programme.
• The Gobbins Visitor Attraction Coastal cliff-face walk experience attraction located on the Causeway Coastal Route.
• Parks and Open Spaces Council-managed parks and recreational areas including Carnfunnock Country Park, Ecos Nature Park and other public open spaces across the borough.
• Museums and Arts Centres Cultural venues including Carrickfergus Museum and Civic Centre and Larne Museum and Arts Centre, preserving local heritage and providing cultural programmes to residents and visitors.
• Harbours and Marinas Maritime facilities at Carrickfergus Marina, Glenarm Marina, Carnlough Harbour and Portglenone Marina, offering berthing and marine services to boat owners and visitors.
• Community Centres Network Network of over 25 community centres across the borough providing local services, meeting facilities and community programmes to residents.
• Health and Wellbeing Services Health and wellbeing initiatives including Dementia Friendly MEA, the Loneliness Network, the Keeping Warm programme and other wellbeing support services for residents.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Go Succeed and Young Enterprise NImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver the Future Founders entrepreneurship programme engaging 2,500+ young people across Northern Ireland through interactive workshops, Innovation Camp with Dragons' Den-style pitches, and Entrepreneurship Hub connecting participants with local entrepreneurs. Programme delivered in partnership with all 11 councils and six further education colleges.
• Galgorm CollectionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver World of Work programme engaging 471 students from schools across Mid and East Antrim through 54 interactive sessions showcasing hospitality and tourism career opportunities. Galgorm Collection coordinated activities with The Tullyglass Hotel, Adair Arms, The Harbourview Hotel, Papa Browns.
• Department for CommunitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funding partner for Labour Market Partnerships developing targeted employment action plans for the council area, enabling local and regional collaboration to help people prepare for and access meaningful work. Funded programmes including Create, Style, Sell and Placement Insights Programme.
• Invest Northern IrelandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Invest NI to deliver the MTF Network Lean Leadership Summit and support manufacturing sector productivity through lean principles and continuous improvement programmes.
• Toyota Lean Management CentremajorTechnology or IntegrationExpert partnership providing keynote speakers Julian Ball and Paul Blahyj for inaugural MTF Network Lean Leadership Summit, sharing insights on Toyota Production System and continuous improvement culture.
• MTF Network (Manufacturing Task Force)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing network supporting four in ten jobs across the borough. Council partnered to deliver Lean Leadership Summit and Gemba Safari factory visits to MTF member companies including Northern Regional College, Norbev, demanu, Moore Concrete, and Hutchinson Engineering.
• PEACEPLUS Programme PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border EU funding programme supporting community cohesion, with council involvement in Community Social Enterprise Hubs Programme in Ballymena Town Centre and UNESCO Together project connecting 14 UNESCO-designated sites across Ireland.
• Gracehill TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Gracehill Trust, Moravian Church, local primary schools, and village residents for UNESCO Together initiative connecting 14 UNESCO-designated sites across Ireland with £93,000 Euro funding through PEACEPLUS Change Makers Programme.
• Bryson RecyclingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKerbside collection service provider for dry recycling for residents in Ballymena and Carrickfergus areas, supporting the council's weekly dry recycling collection service.
• Creating Retail MagicminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal programme manager for Create, Style, Sell retail training programme delivering three standalone sessions on merchandising and retail environments.
• Northern Ireland ExecutivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven-year EVAWG (Ending Violence Against Women and Girls) programme mandated by the Northern Ireland Executive addressing gender-based violence, abuse and harm. Council administering Change Fund offering tiered funding up to £25,000 to grassroots organisations.
• Belfast Region City Deal PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering £27m i4C Innovation and CleanTech Centre in Ballymena as part of Belfast Region City Deal, including iLAB makerspace for cleantech sector innovation and development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council: Northern Ireland borough council also formed in 2015 reform, serving the Causeway Coastal Route which overlaps with Mid and East Antrim's tourism assets. Directly comparable for coastal tourism, planning, and waste management service delivery.
• Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council: Neighbouring Northern Ireland borough council formed in the same 2015 local government reform. Directly comparable as a co-located local authority delivering planning, waste, leisure, and community services to a similar population base in adjacent County Antrim territory.
• Ards and North Down Borough Council: Northern Ireland borough council formed in same reform, serving similar population scale. Directly comparable across leisure centres, community centres, waste collection, and planning services within the same NI local government framework.
• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council: Northern Ireland city council formed in 2015 reform with comparable service portfolio including leisure, waste, planning, and business support. Direct peer operating under same statutory framework with similar scale of operation.

Regional players

• Newry, Mourne and Down District Council: Southern Northern Ireland district council delivering similar services but in a distinct geographic and economic context. Comparable for service portfolio though operating in a different tourism and demographic market.
• Fermanagh and Omagh District Council: Western Northern Ireland council with rural and tourism focus. Regional peer delivering comparable services under same reform framework, useful for benchmarking rural business support and tourism delivery approaches.
• Derry City and Strabane District Council: Western Northern Ireland council delivering similar local government services including leisure, waste, and planning. Regional peer operating under the same NI statutory framework but serving a different urban-rural mix.

Broad incumbents

• Belfast City Council: Largest Northern Ireland council and co-partner in Belfast Region City Deal that funds MEA's i4C Centre. Broader incumbent offering the full suite of municipal services but at metropolitan scale, providing regional economic context and partnership dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mea_bc
• Facebookfacebook.com/MEABoroughCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midandeastantrim

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mid and East Antrim Borough Council