Strategic Investment Board

What Strategic Investment Board does

The Strategic Investment Board (SIB) is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the Northern Ireland Executive, established in 2003 and headquartered at The Kelvin in Belfast. It provides independent expert advisory and programme delivery services to government departments, all 11 legacy councils, and public sector bodies across Northern Ireland, spanning physical infrastructure (e.g., the £375 million Strule Shared Education Campus, Belfast Grand Central Station, the £50 million NIFRS Learning & Development Centre), digital infrastructure (the £200 million Project Stratum broadband rollout, Project Gigabit, PHA and NIFRS digital transformations), social infrastructure (the £124.6 million Urban Villages Initiative, Social Investment Fund), and environmental programmes (Green Growth Strategy, Climate Action Plan, Strategic Waste Programme). SIB operates across four core service areas — Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI), Championing Reform, Major Programmes & Projects Support (currently more than 80 active programmes), and Strategic Support — and additionally runs Council Support, Social Value, Social License, Research, and SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) functions.

SIB does not operate commercially. As an NDPB, it is funded through grant-in-aid from the Northern Ireland Executive rather than charging fees to its recipients, and it does not publicly disclose revenue. Its services are commissioned by departments and delivered under established service-level and operational partnership arrangements. Distribution is direct: SIB embeds specialist advisers (e.g., Chief Data Advisor at PHA, Project Directors for Strule and Belfast Grand Central Station) into client organisations and provides business case development, procurement, contract management, and evaluation expertise. Technology is not the core product — there is no proprietary platform, no public API, and no consumer-facing product — but SIB is increasingly operating as a digital transformation enabler through its data, analytics, and technology strategy advisory work. The organisation is led by a Board of Non-Executive Directors chaired by Duncan McCausland, with Steve Harper appointed as Chief Executive in February 2025 following Brett Hannam's retirement.

Name

Strategic Investment Board

Legal name

Strategic Investment Board Northern Ireland (SIBNI)

Website

https://sibni.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Strategic Investment Board is a Northern Ireland Executive Non-Departmental Public Body that provides independent advisory and programme delivery services across physical, digital, social, and environmental infrastructure to government departments, councils, and public sector bodies in Northern Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Advisory Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Central Government Policy, Strategy & Performance (incl. OMB-style functions) (BPAIAAAB)

Keywords

• Public sector advisory
• Infrastructure programme delivery
• Government consultancy services
• Investment planning support
• Public body strategic advice

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Strategic Investment Board (SIB) is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the Northern Ireland Executive that provides independent expert advisory and programme delivery services to government departments, councils, and other public sector bodies. SIB supports more than 80 active programmes and projects spanning physical, digital, and social infrastructure, providing specialist expertise in investment planning, procurement, contract management, business case development, and project delivery across Northern Ireland.

Product overview

The Strategic Investment Board (SIB) is a non-departmental public body that functions as an advisory and programme delivery organisation rather than a product company. SIB operates across four core service areas: Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) development; Championing Reform in public sector delivery; Major Programmes & Projects Support (over 80 active programmes); and Strategic Support for public sector organisations. The organisation provides specialist advisory services including council support, social value programmes, research, and SBRI programme administration. SIB's infrastructure portfolio encompasses digital infrastructure initiatives (Project Stratum, Project Gigabit, digital transformation programmes), physical infrastructure (Belfast Grand Central Station, Strule Shared Education Campus, NIFRS Learning Centre), social infrastructure (Urban Villages Initiative, Social Investment Fund), and environmental programmes (Circular Economy, Clean Hydrogen Development, Climate Action). The portfolio of named programmes and projects represents SIB's delivery work rather than standalone commercial products. All offerings are advisory services, consultancy support, and project delivery expertise for government and public sector bodies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Plastic-i (Bloomcast NI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2025Selected supplier for SBRI Phase 2 developing a forecasting and decision-support platform combining satellite imagery, drone data and environmental drivers to deliver bloom risk maps and forecasts for blue-green algae in Lough Neagh.
• Newcastle University (ALGAE-Watch)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2025Selected supplier for SBRI Phase 2 advancing a low-cost cyanobacterial sensor and multi-modal Earth observation analytics for early detection and warning of blue-green algae blooms.
• The Executive Office (TEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB works with TEO on key initiatives including the Urban Villages Initiative, a headline action of the Together: Building a United Community Strategy. SIB provides advisory and delivery expertise including on the Capital Programme and leading Social Capital elements in Derry~Londonderry and North Belfast.
• Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB supports DAERA on Green Growth and Climate Action initiatives, including developing the draft Green Growth Strategy, setting Carbon Budgets, and preparation of Northern Ireland's first Climate Action Plan. Also supports Strategic Waste Programme and SBRI initiatives.
• Department for Economy (DfE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB works with DfE on Energy Management Strategy, Project Stratum broadband infrastructure, Project Gigabit, Circular Economy Strategy, and Further Education estates projects including Northern Regional College and Southern Regional College.
• Department for InfrastructurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB provides strategic and commercial advice on Belfast Grand Central Station transport hub development, including procurement and management of master development agreements for the Weavers Cross regeneration area.
• Department for CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB supports delivery of the Regional Stadia Programme including Casement Park Stadium, working with the Department for Communities on Programme Director and Project Director roles.
• Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB supports major education infrastructure projects including the £375million Strule Shared Education Campus and Capital Investment Programme for National Museums NI.
• UK Space AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK Space Agency's Unlocking Space for Government programme awarded £800,000 funding for Phase 2 of SBRI initiative to develop remote sensing solutions for blue-green algae monitoring in Lough Neagh. SIB facilitates this government innovation programme.
• Northern Ireland CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB provides Council Support through its Council Support Unit (CSU), helping councils with strategic planning, capital projects, and collaborative service delivery. Supports 11 legacy councils across Northern Ireland.
• Justice Department and NICS DepartmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB provides specialist analytical and research support for the Tackling Paramilitary Activity, Criminality and Organised Crime Programme, ensuring investment delivers benefits in communities. Programme operates across 7 NICS Departments and 22 statutory agencies.
• Public Health Agency (PHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB has provided a Chief Data Advisor to PHA for three years, driving transformation into a data-driven organisation. Supports pandemic response, population health modelling, digital transformation, and vaccine management systems.
• Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB provides strategic digital leadership for NIFRS including developing the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Strategy, evaluating emerging technologies, and supporting delivery of Command & Control Mobilising System and HR transformation.
• Armagh Observatory and PlanetariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB has supported AOP since 2017 on organisational transformation, strategic planning, business case development, and funding applications. Secured £1.3m development grant and £4.9m potential delivery grant from National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• arc21 Waste Management GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIB provides project direction and specialist support for arc21's residual waste treatment project representing six constituent councils, including planning applications and infrastructure development at Hightown Quarry.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scottish Futures Trust: Scottish NDPB established to deliver infrastructure investment and public asset support, with a mandate analogous to SIB's Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland. Both bodies operate as government-adjacent advisory NDPBs supporting infrastructure delivery in their respective devolved administrations.
• Homes England: UK NDPB operating as the government's housing and regeneration agency, providing investment, land, and expertise to accelerate housing delivery. Comparable to SIB as an NDPB that plans, funds, and delivers place-based infrastructure programmes with advisory and programme management functions.
• Local Partnerships: UK public-sector advisory body jointly owned by central and local government, providing specialist support on infrastructure, procurement, estates, and shared services to councils and public bodies — closely mirroring SIB's Council Support Unit and strategic advisory function.

Regional players

• Scottish Government - Infrastructure Investment Division: Scottish Government directorate coordinating infrastructure investment policy and major projects. Comparable to SIB's role in setting and coordinating the ISNI framework and supporting major programme delivery across departmental partners.
• Transport for the North: Sub-national transport body for the North of England, advising on transport infrastructure investment strategy and pan-regional projects. Comparable to SIB as a sub-national advisory body that convenes government partners around strategic infrastructure programmes.
• Welsh Government - Infrastructure and Investment Directorate: Welsh Government directorate responsible for strategic infrastructure planning and investment across Wales. Comparable to SIB as a devolved-administration entity coordinating investment strategy and major capital projects at a regional level.

Broad incumbents

• UK Government Investments (UKGI): Arm's-length body of HM Treasury that manages the government's shareholdings in major state-owned businesses and provides corporate finance advice. Comparable to SIB in providing strategic, commercial, and financial advisory services to government on investment matters.
• Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA): UK government centre of expertise on infrastructure and major projects, sitting within the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. Comparable to SIB as the UK-wide strategic oversight body for infrastructure investment, project delivery assurance, and reform advocacy.
• National Infrastructure Commission: Executive agency of HM Treasury providing independent advice on long-term infrastructure priorities. Comparable to SIB in producing strategic investment frameworks (akin to ISNI) and advising government on long-term capital planning.

Emerging players

• Mace Group (Public Sector Advisory): International consultancy and construction firm with a public-sector advisory practice providing project management, cost consultancy, and strategic advisory to government clients. Comparable to SIB in providing programme/project management expertise on public-sector capital projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/strategic-investment-board-limited
• Xx.com/contactsibni

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Strategic Investment Board