Nolka Design, based in Eglinton, specialises in graphic and web design, multimedia technology and online management systems.

With help from Invest NI, the company developed Nolka Estates, a bespoke online software solution for information management.

The software system enables estate and letting agents to strengthen their competitiveness through more effective management of day-to-day data on buying, selling and renting of properties.

The system has been developed in consultation with estate agents, using Invest NI’s Product and Process Development (PPD) scheme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Programme. The company also received assistance from Invest NI’s North West Regional Office (NWRO) in Derry.

Kevin Greene, managing director of Nolka Design, said feedback from clients had been positive.

“While we have developed significant business for our professional design and multimedia services, particularly in the North West, we realised some time ago that the best way to grow the company was by creating our own software product for a niche market that we understood”, he added:

“Achieving faster and profitable growth would also depend on creating a product for the wider Northern Ireland marketplace and for export to our neighbouring countries.

“We talked to a number of existing clients in the property sector to see how our expertise could help them to improve their overall business performance. We took the information they provided and used it to create a software solution that meets their specific requirements and provides a strong platform for continued business development.”

Des Gartland, NWRO Manager, said Invest NI’s priority is to encourage and help smaller software companies in the North West to invest in developing their own products which could have sales potential outside Northern Ireland.

“Nolka is an ambitious technology-driven company which is focused on growth. It has invested significant resources in developing an innovative product that meets a market need that the company has pinpointed through its contacts and research.

“Our PPD scheme offers companies specialist advice, one-to-one consultations and financial assistance for costs that could be incurred as part of developing a new product or manufacturing process,” he added.