HR tech firm Dangle secures £60k from Whiterock
This article covers Dangle, a startup, receiving a £60k debt investment from the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland, managed by Whiterock, to expand its Belfast training centre, staffing and equipment. The funding, following the opening of Dangle Academy in September 2025, aims to increase accredited course capacity and support technical services across renewables, telecoms and marine to boost workforce development and project delivery in Northern Ireland.
Dangle has taken a £60,000 investment from the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland, managed by Whiterock, in a debt funding round to expand its Belfast training centre, staffing and equipment. The cash will be used to increase Dangle Academy’s accredited course capacity and support the company’s technical services across renewables, telecoms and marine sectors — a targeted boost to local workforce development that matters for project delivery in Northern Ireland’s growing infrastructure and energy markets.
Why it matters
Northern Ireland faces a practical skills shortfall as renewable projects, telecom rollouts and specialist marine work all compete for certified workers. Dangle’s funding is notable because it is directed at both training provision and the on-the-ground technical services that rely on that workforce. That combination aims to close short-term delivery gaps while improving longer-term labour mobility for people moving into safety-critical roles.
Inside the product
Dangle Academy opened in Belfast in September 2025. The centre offers accredited rope access training (IRATA), safety and rescue for onshore and offshore wind (GWO), and tower climbing and rescue for telecommunications and utilities (EUSR). It also runs broader workplace health and safety programmes — First Aid, fire safety, manual handling and hazardous substances — intended to help individuals build transferable skills for regulated roles.
Beyond training, Dangle provides inspection, maintenance, repair and specialist access services across renewable energy sites, industrial facilities, marine environments and infrastructure projects. The £60,000 is reported to have been used for the academy fit-out, recruitment of qualified instructors, purchase of additional equipment to run courses and technical projects in parallel, and to expand the menu of courses available.
Who are the investors?
The investment comes from the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland, a £100m vehicle operated by the British Business Bank and managed in this instance by Whiterock. The fund offers a mix of debt and equity options to Northern Irish businesses; Invest Northern Ireland has also committed £29.2m to the fund through its Access to Finance portfolio.
Whiterock led the deal and is positioning the funding as targeted support for capacity and market entry rather than a traditional equity growth round. The backing is intended to help Dangle scale its training throughput and technical services to meet local demand.
In the announcement, Jacob McConkey, Investment Manager at Whiterock, said:
Dangle Academy has excellent growth potential with a niche offering to its customers, enabling them to skill-up and prepare for the future demands of high-growth sectors such as the film and television industry, renewable energy and marine services. Whiterock aims to support companies who share our vision for future growth, industry leaders scaling their company to enter new markets and grasp new opportunities. We are delighted to be working with Simon and his team as they begin the next, exciting stage of their impressive business journey from a start-up to a leading player in workforce skilling.
In the announcement, Sue Barnard, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said:
Dangle Academy is filling a clear gap in Northern Ireland, giving people the accredited skills they need to succeed. This support from the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland, managed by Whiterock, will help Simon and his team build on the strong demand they have seen since opening. It’s a great example of the fund backing ambitious local businesses to scale and creating opportunities across Northern Ireland.
In the announcement, Steven Scullion, Director of Corporate Finance at Invest NI, said:
We want to help ambitious Northern Ireland businesses grow. Dangle Academy has benefited from finance through the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland, complemented by our further Invest NI support for the development of specialist wind and renewable energy safety training. This latest investment will help Dangle expand its training capacity and technical services, pursue new opportunities and continue its growth.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Simon Dunn, Managing Director and Founder of Dangle, said:
Northern Ireland’s infrastructure and emerging industries need skilled people and specialist technical expertise. Belfast gave us a strong base to grow from, and with no dedicated specialist training facility, there was a big opportunity. Demand since opening Dangle Academy in September 2025 has exceeded our initial expectations. Our accredited courses help people build on transferable skills, demonstrate competence, and enter new careers with confidence, giving employers assurance in their capabilities. Together with our technical services, this helps develop the workforce and deliver projects. This investment from Whiterock will help us grow both sides of Dangle, building on Belfast’s proud industrial heritage while supporting Northern Ireland’s future industrial ambitions.
The bigger picture
The deal is a small but illustrative example of how targeted public-backed finance is being used to shore up skills and capacity in regional markets. Programmes such as the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland are focused on debt and equity solutions that address practical bottlenecks — in this case training capacity and equipment — rather than pure product development.
For the wider UK and European ecosystem, the story highlights two trends: the continued need for locally delivered, accredited training to unlock large infrastructure and energy projects, and the role of blended public and private finance in backing companies that link skills development with operational services. As Northern Ireland pushes to meet its industrial ambitions, more funding directed at similar workforce-focused businesses could influence project timelines and regional employment outcomes.
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