Belfast Telegraph Business Awards 2021 - In partnership with Ulster Bank

Tuesday June 29 2021

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS OF THE 2021 BUSINESS AWARDS

CELEBRATING

SUCCESS

YOUR 12-PAGE SUPPLEMENT

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BELFAST TELEGRAPH BUSINESS AWARDS 2021 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ULSTER BANK

Congratulations to our winners

Foreword Kenton Hilman

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HE past year has been a challenging one for many businesses — there has been a lot to contend with in relation to both the coronavirus pandemic and also the UK’s exit from the EU. So, to see such a fantastic entry level to the awards, and also the calibre of the shortlist and winners, has been extremely encouraging.

And from our perspective as a bank, recognising good work in relation to climate change has been one of the most satisfying aspects of the awards. For many companies, climate change perhaps hasn’t been high on their list of priorities during the pandemic. But climate change will, no doubt, move further and further up the agenda for companies, such is its importance.

And indeed, the green economy

provides an opportunity for jobs and growth. That is why we have been so pleased to support the new award in this year’s Belfast Telegraph Business Awards, in partnership with Ulster Bank, to recognise climate action by companies.

Action on climate change is extremely important to Ulster Bank and our parent bank NatWest. Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time and as a leading bank, we have a significant responsibility, and the ability, to encourage, enable and lead the way to transition to a net zero carbon economy.

Our CEO Alison Rose has outlined the bank’s strong commitments in this area, which includes reducing the bank’s own impact on the environment by

offsetting our carbon footprint and making our own buildings and activities more energy efficient, and also by looking at what we’re funding.

Our partnership with Octopus Energy, a leading sustainable energy supplier, also helps us support customers to move their fleets towards electric vehicles. And further training our people is another area of focus so that we can help customers to make choices and investments to reduce their impact on the environment.

A signal of NatWest Group’s commitment in this area is its partnership with the COP26 climate summit in November. The bank also achieved net zero carbon in 2020 and plans to be climate positive for our own operations by 2025. We believe that

Recognition of companies’ success is important in a challenging time

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HE Belfast Telegraph Business Awards give well-deserved recognition to our local busi-

nesses.

They have shown their strength in how they responded to the difficulties created by the Covid-19 pandemic with resilience, innovation and creativity.

It hasn’t been easy.

Everyone has been uplifted by the reopening which has taken place in recent months. There is a wonderful buzz back in our towns and cities and businesses are feeling the much-needed financial benefit of that.

This has been possible because of the highly successful vaccination programme alongside everyone continuing with preventative measures such as social distancing and hand sanitising to keep people safe.

While we need to remain cautious, I am very optimistic about the future for our economy. It is rebuilding and gaining strength.

In June alone, my department announced over 1,500 new jobs in Northern Ireland across PwC, Hinduja Global Solutions and Version 1. This provides further evidence of the talent of our local workforce.

The Department for the Economy has led in the delivery of business related Covid support.

To date, DfE has provided over £513m of much needed funds to support local businesses from all sectors and occupations throughout Northern Ireland.

The primary aim has always been to help these businesses to survive the pandemic, and protect as many local jobs as possible.

As well as financial support for businesses, two innovative schemes will also be available for the public later in the year.

Tuesday June 29 2021

The High Street Scheme will give another boost to our high streets. People will be able to apply to receive £100 to spend in local bricks and mortar businesses thereby supporting the local economy and protecting local jobs.

The Holiday at Home Voucher Scheme will allow households to claim back 50% off a stay of two nights or more in certified accommodation, up to a value of £100. Vouchers will also be issued offering 50% off visits to attractions or tourism experience providers, up to the value of £20.

Each household can apply for one of each type of voucher. This scheme, which we will launch in the autumn, is different to the High Street Scheme in that there is a much smaller budget so applications will be on a first come first served basis.

The Tourism Recovery Action Plan will also play an important role in helping our highly successful tourism and hospitality offering to recover and return to its pre-pandemic position.

The Economic Recovery Action Plan sets out a range of decisive actions to kick-start economic recovery.

It was endorsed by a wide range of business leaders from industry, the hospitality sector, digital, manufacturing and engineering.

Almost £287m will be invested to build our skills base; to stimulate research, development and innovation; to promote investment, trade and exports; and to build a greener economy.

I am determined to make Northern Ireland one of the world’s leading small economies.

The launch of ‘10X Economy: An Economic Vision for a Decade of Innovation’ set out the ambitious vision for our economic future. I

having the award for climate action into this year’s Belfast Telegraph Business Awards was the right thing to do and we know that companies locally are doing really good things to reduce their carbon footprint. I have no doubt this is a category that will continue to gain momentum in the years ahead, and we can showcase some best practice in a way that encourages more and more companies to play a positive role in addressing the climate challenge.

KENTON HILMAN, HEAD OF CORPORATE AND PROPERTY BANKING, ULSTER BANK

Interviews

by Emma Deighan UU Professor Durkin led judges panel WE owe a great debt to our judging panel for this year’s awards. The panel was led by chairperson Professor Mark Durkin, Executive Dean of the Ulster University Business School.

The other judges were: l Professor Ian McConnell, PwC l Dr David Paulson, QUB l Roger Pollen, FSB l Kirsty McManus, IoD l Professor Neil Gibson, EY l Girvan Gault, Ulster Bank l Dr Darryl Cummins, Ulster University Business School l Ann McGregor, NICC l Claire McKee, Partner, Clarendon Executive l Neil Logan, Partner, Wilson Nesbitt l Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph Business Editor l John Ferris, Ulster Bank Entrepreneur Development Manager

am focusing on the areas where Northern Ireland can be a global leader.

10X is not a literal term about improving by a factor of ten; instead an ambitious pathway for fundamental and significant improvements.

Additional 10X strategies have also been developed for skills and trade and investment.

I want everyone to reach their full potential and I am committed to attracting more high-val-

ue inward investment. The draft Skills Strategy, ‘Skills for a 10X Economy’, outlines plans to focus on innovation by increasing further education qualifications in technical and professional skills and rebalancing higher education towards science, technology, engineering and maths, but it has a dual aim.

If we do not instigate radical change, too many individuals will remain on the periphery of our workforce, with low educa-

tional attainment in an increasingly skills hungry labour market.

As we develop our economic potential, we must ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities that will enable them to participate.

I have begun a period of extensive engagement with key stakeholders from across the business community and other key sectors such as further and higher education. In my visits to date, I have

seen at first hand the determination and ambition which is so vital as we work to recover from the impact of Covid-19.

The Belfast Telegraph Business Awards highlight the greatness already within businesses in Northern Ireland. This is the solid foundation on which I will build an even better and brighter future for our economy.

ECONOMY MINISTER PAUL FREW

Tuesday June 29 2021

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Lifetime achievement award for innovator

Lifetime Achievement Award Denis Lynn

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ENIS Lynn, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award in the 2021 Belfast Telegraph Business Awards in partnership with Ulster Bank, has been described by his company, Finnebrogue, as an innovator and a visionary.

It is a description that has been echoed many times by colleagues, friends and business associates across Northern Ireland and beyond since his untimely and tragic death in May this year.

Denis Lynn began his food career selling pizzas and pies from the back of a van.

Having founded Lynn’s Country Foods in 1985, he secured his first major breakthrough in 1988 when he discovered a new method for mass-producing chips. It wasn’t long before he became the biggest chip supplier to the Irish market.

The proceeds from the sale of the food distribution arm of his business in 1991 gave Denis

Businessman Denis Lynn the resources to buy the Finnebrogue estate in Downpatrick.

He then established Finnebrogue Artisan, which became the largest farmer and processor of deer meat in the UK, with contracts to supply top restaurants and supermarkets.

By 2006, Denis had expanded Finnebrogue into upmarket pork sausages, winning own-label contracts with customers such as Marks & Spencer and Asda.

Over the past decade, the busi-

ness has led innovation in the bacon category with the launch of nitrate-free rashers and expanded into plant-based and meatfree products.

This expansion, led by Denis, transformed Finnebrogue in 10 years from a small business with revenues of £3m into a major meat category player, racking up £142m in sales by February 2020 and employing more than 1,000 staff. It recently opened its fourth new factory in five years — a £25m dedicated plant-based facility in Co Down.

In 2018, the Institute of Directors named Denis the UK’s most innovative director of the year and in 2020 he was named Entrepreneur of the year at the Grocer Gold Awards.

Denis was also passionate about delivering positive change whenever he could.

His work for charity was extensive including eradicating childhood malaria deaths in an entire district of southern Ma-

Jago Pearson, chief strategy officer, Finnebrogue Artisan, collects the Lifetime Achievement Award made to Denis Lynn. Also pictured are Simon Seaton, director of business banking, Ulster Bank, and Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph Business Editor KELVIN BOYES/PRESSEYE lawi and supporting the work of Cancer Fund for Children.

Professor Mark Durkin, Executive Dean of Ulster University Business School and chairman of the judging panel in the Business Awards, said: “The Lifetime Achievement Award is a special award which recognizes the outstanding contribution of an individual in business over a significant period in recent years.

“It is a non-entry category which is decided by the judging

panel. Since the panel was selected in March the task of each individual member was to identify over the ensuing months a worthy recipient of this prestigious award — an individual who would be regarded as a role model with proven performance and application of the highest standards.

“Denis was unanimously proposed and that this is the first time that this award has been made posthumously, points to

a collective view amongst the judges that rather than having Denis’s incredible achievements commemorated they should instead be recognised and celebrated as a living example of excellence and a case study in entrepreneurial business practice.

“We are very privileged to present this award to the Lynn family and Finnebrogue and hope that it is a worthy addition to his incredible legacy.”

‘It takes a community to build our business’

Outstanding Business of the Year Ryobi

F Simon Seaton, director of business banking, Ulster Bank, and Eoin Brannigan, Editor-in-Chief, Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, present the Outstanding Business of the Year Award to David Watson, managing director, Ryobi

OUNDED in 1990, Ryobi Aluminium Casting (UK) Ltd supplies the European automotive industry.

It was the winner of two awards at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards — Outstanding Business of the Year, one of the two most sought-after gongs of the day, and Large Business of the Year.

It has 550 employees across two sites in Northern Ireland, Carrickfergus and Kilroot, from which RAC (UK) ships over 3.5 million castings a year to 10 customers across Europe.

It specialises in developing technical solutions to manufacture complex aluminium precision cast products. These include components that transmit drive mechanisms in vehicles such as transmission cases, clutch cases, and cylinder blocks.

Over the years, RAC (UK) has become a one stop shop for the automotive industry with clients including Peugeot Citroen Group (PSA), Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), VW Group and Ford.

As he accepted the award, managing director David Watson said: “We really didn’t expect to get two awards and we’re abso-

lutely humbled to receive them but equally very proud. They say it takes a village to raise a child and for us that saying rings true.

It takes a community to build a business and we’ve been supported by excellent shareholders, customers, the local educational institutions including Northern Regional College, Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University.

“We’d like to dedicate this award to those organisations as well as the NI Chamber, Mid and East Antrim Council and the Manufacturing Strategy Forum as well as our staff.”

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BELFAST TELEGRAPH BUSINESS AWARDS 2021 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ULSTER BANK

Tuesday June 29 2021

‘We have had to adjust how we interact with our customers and we’ve met that challenge’

Excellence in Marketing CDE Group

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GLOBAL leader in wet processing technology, Cookstown-based CDE designs and engineers solutions for the sand and aggregates, mining, construction and demolition waste recycling, industrial sands, and environmental sectors.

Since 1992, it has grown to be the largest wet processing equipment company in the world.

It attributes that success to a focus on developing and improving materials processing technology in a way which allows

customers to maximise return on investment, minimise environmental impact and gain significant competitive advantage.

Speaking at the awards, head of marketing Sarah Corr said: “We’ve had one of the busiest years ever and we’ve had to adjust how we work. We’ve moved a lot of our events and interactions online, changed how we engaged with customers and that’s been a challenge given we’re a B2B organisation with a usually very personal approach.

“We ran our first virtual con-

ference in October 2020, and such was its success, we reached people we ordinarily wouldn’t and couldn’t have. It was so popular we ran another in May. “Winning this award shows that there is strength and resilience in the entire team. While there are only 12 of us in the marketing department, we cover a big reach operating across seven different regions. For us, this award is a credit to that team.

“Thank you to the Belfast Telegraph for allowing us to receive recognition and attend an event.”

Highly commended: Phoenix Natural Gas

Danielle Spackman (right), head of operations, Belfast Academy of Marketing, presents the Excellence in Marketing Award to Sarah Corr, head of marketing, CDE Group

‘This award is really a recognition of our proactive engagement with the world in challenging times’

Elaine Curran (right), head of exports, Invest NI, presents the Excellence in Exporting Award to Colin Ferguson, sales manager, Mackle Petfoods

Excellence in Exporting Mackle Petfoods

M Highly commended: Ryobi AES Global Ltd

ACKLE Petfoods, founded in 1972 and based in Co Armagh, is one of Ireland’s leading pet food manufacturers.

The family business presently exports into 17 global markets, producing over 100 million units annually including 70 million cans and 30 million trays.

Among the firm’s brands are Cat Club, Brandy and premium natural petfood Naturo, which came into the market a decade ago.

The company employs over 200 staff across its Moy and Moygashel production sites.

Since 2019 Mackle Petfoods has been exporting to South Korea and Canada, which are new and non-traditional markets for the business.

Colin Ferguson, sales manager, Mackle Petfoods, said: “We have a pet food that is made in Moy and makes its way to South Korea and that is something big.

“Over the past year we’ve been developing our business further and that has meant winning

new global customers through non traditional ways including Zoom meetings, sometimes in areas that are more than eight hours behind us, and it’s been very successful allowing us to offer clients a full insight into how we work.

“Winning this award is recognition of our proactive engagement with the rest of the world in challenging times.

“It shows the quality of our team and it’s testimony to the hard work they do. This is one big thank you to them.”

Tuesday June 29 2021

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‘Musgrave has done so much work to create an inclusive culture and align our leadership with that’

Excellence in the Development of Management and Leadership Musgrave NI

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USGRAVE Group’s leadership programme is a CPD-accredited course that promotes the development and leadership qualities of those working across the group.

The opportunity to develop individual talent is high up the agenda at the business and among its three-tiered strategy is the tagline ‘we can do anything we put our mind to’, a statement that aligns with the company’s efforts over the last year dur-

ing which significant changes, colleague challenges and customer concerns in retail were among hurdles it faced.

Beatrice Atcheson, digital designer and leadership and management facilitator at Musgrave NI, said: “Musgrave has done so much work over the last few years to create an inclusive culture. One of the biggest focuses of that was to look at leadership and to align it with the way the culture was going, to unlock the potential. We looked at the key attributes of a good leader, put

that together into a leadership programme and already more than 30 managers have undertaken the course with 55 more in waiting.”

Ms Atcheson said the course will be offered to independently owned Musgrave staff, as well as the company-owned units. So far it has run six leadership courses including during the pandemic.

She added: “Because this course is completely in house and been designed from scratch, this award is a great accolade. It’s a personal one.”

Highly commended: M&M Contractors

Dr Darryl Cummins (right), head of Ulster University Business School, presents the Excellence in the Development of Management and Leadership Award to Beatrice Atcheson of Musgrave NI

‘It’s fantastic for a company in Northern Ireland to manufacture a globally-recognised machine’

Excellence in Innovation PAC Group

E Brian McCrory (right), chief operations officer, OSG Cloud, presents the Excellence in Innovation Award to Darren Leslie, business development director, PAC Group

Highly commended: Bloc Blinds

STABLISHED in 2018 as Process Automation & Calibrations Ltd, PAC Group, an electrical and mechanical engineering company, rebranded in 2019.

This enabled the business to better communicate its eight key divisions, which are electrical, spray booths and ovens, automation, calibration, gas detection, switchgear and control, composites, and support services.

The business works for clients in the manufacturing, aerospace, engineering, construction, food

and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.

With over 250 customers, the company can name Bombardier (now Spirit AeroSystems), McLaren Automotive, and NI Water as just some of its clients.

PAC has 40 employees, with plans to hire at least another 10 in the next year.

Speaking about the award win, Darren Leslie, business development director at PAC Group, said: “We’ve been busy over the past few years and have created a large composite machine that

alone has 42 different patents. It is a machine that helps form an aircraft’s wing and it’s fantastic for a company in Northern Ireland to manufacture a machine recognised globally by the likes of BA Systems and Boeing.

“It presents many opportunities for us.

“We are delighted to win this award. It is a credit to the team and recognises our work and what we add to the economy.”

PAC has delivered four of its new machines to Spirit AeroSystems.

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‘Our team has moved from in-school training to creating a new online management system’

Best Use of Digital and/or Social Media Young Enterprise NI

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OUNG Enterprise is an enterprise, financial and entrepreneurship education charity, developing the skills of young people aged five to 25.

The charity supports over 90,000 young people in over 300 educational and community centres across NI to develop their skills and capabilities for success in future life.

This is achieved through a range of programmes delivered in face-to-face environments with young people, using mini-business and simulated business challenges, with support

from mentors across the business community.

The latter delivery model was no longer viable during the pandemic, and the risk was that the organisation would not be able to support any young people but, after a review, YE developed a new digital capacity and its success last year will leave a legacy as it seeks to adopt a hybrid educational model in years to come.

An online learning platform, online facilitation for sixth form students to set up and run their own business and an opportunity for NI business to connect with young people were among de-

velopments. Carol Fitzsimons, chief executive of Young Enterprise NI, said: “We are genuinely delighted to win this award. Our team has moved from delivering training in schools to creating a whole new online management system and this is such good recognition for them.

“When they began the creation of that system, they did it with the long term in mind. The direction was to make it something we can keep. We had an uptake of 50,000 during the pandemic. The team took on a massive challenge that will now offer flexibility for our students.”

Highly commended: CDE Group

Cara Pennell (left), office manager, Sparq, presents the Best Use of Digital and/or Social Media Award to Carol Fitzsimons, CEO, Young Enterprise NI

‘We’re not here to fix mental health but allow people to live alongside it and to develop self-awareness’

Jacqueline Anderson (left), customer services manager, Smurfit Kappa, presents the Young Business Person of the Year Award to Katie Matthews, The Mind Tribe UK

Young Business Person of the Year Katie Matthews (The Mind Tribe UK)

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ATIE Matthews (29) is a “trauma-informed practitioner’, a global mental health and wellbeing trainer, speaker, mentor, and “Growth Mindset Educator”, with 12 years lived experience with mental illness.

She has used her experiences to develop her own business, The Mind Tribe UK, which was established in 2019 with the aim to “accelerate the world’s transition to happiness, fulfilment, kindness and mindfulness”.

Today The Mind Tribe UK facilitates mindfulness, growth mindset and resilience workshops for children, both as public courses and workshops in schools and nurseries.

Additionally, Katie runs training courses and workshops for parents, educators, charities, and businesses.

She is now in the process of gaining CPD Accreditation for her courses, developing a product range, writing a book, and developing a virtual learning library.

Throughout the pandemic her business saw incredible growth and expanded from delivering training and services to clients in Northern Ireland, to delivering to clients across the wider UK, Spain, Greece, Malta, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and India.

Since launching the business she has delivered training

to 5,000 people including those in Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, The Prince’s Trust, Staffline Ireland, Belfast Met and SRC. She said: “While it sounds bad to say the pandemic was great for my business, it is the truth. The interest in what we do has grown and it’s been crazy busy.

“I’m delighted to win this award. It means everything, not because of the recognition both I and my business gets but it shows industry professionals that mental health is something that should be addressed.

“We’re not here to fix mental health but allow people to live alongside it and develop self-awareness.”

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‘This award is recognition of the work our staff put in to ensure shelves were kept full during the pandemic’

Agri-food Company of the Year Mash Direct

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FARMING enterprise, run by the Hamilton family, Mash Direct grows and produces vegetable and potato side-dishes with listings in all major supermarkets.

Over the years Mash Direct has grown from 70 acres to 1,650 acres of fields “tailored to growing heritage varieties of vegetables”.

As a result, the company now produces over 50 products available throughout the UK and Ireland.

Despite the headwinds of Cov-

id-19 and Brexit, the business celebrated growth in 2020/21 and it is now the top-selling chilled side dishes brand in GB and ROI. During Covid-19, Mash Direct initiated a campaign to help job seekers find work by launching ‘Feed the Nation NI’ — which included the creation of 30 temporary positions at the business.

The company also delivered over 3,300 packs of Mash Direct products to NHS workers here.

Chief executive Jack Hamilton said: “Lockdown was a big challenge for everyone, and our team did a fantastic job to achieve

the growth we did over the past year. This award is for them. It’s a wonderful recognition of the work they’ve put in this year, ensuring shelves were kept full during the pandemic and it’s wonderful to take this back to them and show that their work has been recognised.

“The previous winner of this category, the late Denis Lynn, founder of Finnebrogue, must also be credited for his role in achieving this award. His passing was a huge loss to the agrifood industry, and he has done so much for the sector.”

Joe McDonald (right), senior manager corporate affairs, Asda, presents the Agri-food Company of the Year Award to Jack Hamilton, CEO, Mash Direct

‘It’s been a strange 12 months, but our business model is agile and allowed us to adapt to grow’

Retailer of the Year Memento

F Glyn Roberts (right), chief executive, Retail NI, presents the Retailer of the Year Award to Gary Connolly, owner of Memento

Highly commended: Crawfords of Maghera Donaghy Brothers

OUNDED in 2005, Memento is a family-run independent florist, now situated on Belfast’s Ormeau Road.

During the pandemic the business, run by husbands Gary and Nigel, invested heavily in operations, growing its team from six to 17 as well as expanding its retail premises.

With a passion for floristry and horticulture, the award-winning team has grown incrementally year on year since its move to Ormeau Road.

It is known for its specific

product options, professionalism and knowledge and its leading indoor plant store with a wide variety of rare and unique plants from around the world, as well as pottery, terrariums, and botanical accessories.

It also manufactures and sells its own range of soy wax candles, hand delivering its wares across the greater Belfast and surrounding areas as well as offering Ireland and UK-wide delivery.

Owner of Memento, Gary Connolly, said: “I am thrilled to receive this award.

“We expanded greatly dur-

ing lockdown despite what was going on around us. It’s been a strange 12 months, but our business model was agile and allowed us to adapt, build our own website, invest in social media and more. It’s blown up and we’re delighted.

“This award is for my team.

They put in hard work and pure dedication and worked throughout the pandemic to help us build a strong brand.

“The best has yet to come from Memento and we look forward to launching a new look and a new brand identity.”

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‘Health and wellbeing is a vital part of our business and always will be, especially now’

Excellence in Workplace Health & Wellbeing Henry Brothers Ltd

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ENRY Brothers Ltd, a leading, privately owned construction company, employs around 200 people.

As one of the first companies in Northern Ireland to achieve CORE, the Business In The Community Standard for Responsible Business, back in 2014, it progressed to take Gold Level for its CORE renewal in 2018.

It has also recently been re-accredited with Gold Level for its 2021 renewal.

With a commitment to “mak-

ing a positive impact on the wellbeing of our workforce and the wider community”, the Magherafelt-based business is headed by Ian Henry.

Group HR advisor, Shannon McGilligan, champions workplace and outreach health and wellbeing by running several initiatives to inspire and nurture its staff including wellbeing provisions, fitness events, gifts, Childcare Voucher Schemes, family-friendly policies, and a specific focus on mental health.

This year it established a part-

nership with Aware to help tackle mental health within the construction industry. The HR team also completed weekly welfare calls amassing 535 hours or 10 hours per week for this initiative during the pandemic.

Shannon said: “Health and wellbeing was very vital part of our business and it’s a continued focus.

“It’s great to be recognised for all the hard work that we put in.

“We go above and beyond for employees especially during the challenging times.”

Highly commended: Staffline Recruitment

Julie Hastings (right), marketing director, Hastings Hotels, presents the Excellence in Workplace Health & Wellbeing Award to Shannon McGilligan of Henry Brothers Ltd

‘To be recognised for doing something different with risky hospitality ventures makes it worthwhile’

Donna Linehan (centre), client services director, Scottish Provident Building, presents the Best Start-up or Emerging Business Award to Ryan Crown and Ema O’Kane, co-founders of Hill Street Hatch

Best Start-up or Emerging Business Hill Street Hatch

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ILL Street Hatch is an incubator business that sets out to take the risk out of new hospitality ventures in Northern Ireland.

It works through a pop-up space in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, providing a space, community, and opportunity to test ideas and meet customers faceto-face “without the traditional barriers to entry of set-up, longterm leases and exorbitant rent”.

Using a Joint venture business model, Hill Street Hatch has launched three successful

concepts since its creation in December 2020. Each venture has generated profits and positive cash flow, alongside substantial social media traction.

It was founded in 2020 by Ryan Crown and Ema O’Kane.

Ryan is the founder of Crown Creative, an agency that has worked with companies in both Northern Ireland and New York including Marriott Hotels while, Ema has established a career working with Brooklyn Gin as its marketing director.

Speaking about the award, Ryan said: We are only seven

months old, selling toasties and sausage rolls and it’s hard to get our concept across, but when it comes to hospitality if you look at the business plans it can be incredibly risky, so we thought we’d do something different and to be recognised for doing right makes it worthwhile. It’s amazing that we get to do something we’re passionate about.”

Ema said: “We moved back from New York during the pandemic and have been living in our own bubble so when someone else recognises the work we’re doing, it is humbling.”

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‘This award is for the team and those outside organisations for all their efforts and commitment’

Best Large Company of the Year Ryobi

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EST Large Company was one of two awards received by Ryobi (RAC(UK) at this year’s

event.

The company was founded in 1990 and is a major supplier to the European automotive industry. It employs 550 people across its two sites in Northern Ireland in Carrickfergus and Kilroot, from where is ships over 3.5 million castings every year to 10 European destinations.

Diversity, innovation, and quality has been at the heart of the business’ success. It imple-

mented a new business plan after a previous downturn in sales and as a result built a sustainable business model that differentiated it in the marketplace.

This included the improvement of the firm’s engineering capability, upgrading service to a ‘one stop shop’ using ‘just in time’ industry standards and as a result sales and business have increased substantially over the last couple of years.

Speaking about the win, David Watson, managing director, Ryobi said: “We are absolutely humbled, and this award is for

the team and those outside organisations for all their efforts and commitment. We are only as good as the people we have.”

The business is now working with a “vision and mission” strategy to ensure it sustains the success of recent years “by achieving the best results for our customers, maximising the potential of every employee through mutual respect, trust, integrity and teamwork”. It adds: “Our mission is to be the number one die casting company in Europe, and build upon current customer base and increase market share.”

Highly commended: Henderson Retail Musgrave NI

Neil Logan (right), partner, Wilson Nesbitt, presents the Best Large Company of the Year Award to David Watson, managing director, Ryobi

‘We moved our youth programme online to support young people who needed us most’

Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility Coca-Cola HBC NI

C From left, winner Gillian Shields, Coca-Cola HBC NI, Joanne Clague, registrar and chief operating officer, Queen’s University Belfast and YouthAction’s June Trimble

Highly commended: Musgrave NI

OCA-COLA HBC Northern Ireland (CCHBCNI) was founded as a family business in 1938.

A member of the 28 country Coca-Cola Hellenic Group, the business is responsible for the manufacture, distribution, sale and marketing of a wide range or beverages including global brands such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, as well as locally owned brands Deep RiverRock and Fruice.

CCHBCNI says that “giving back” has always been part of the way it does business. It actively invests in community

partnerships including the Get Set Programme alongside charity YouthAction.

Gillian Shields, packaging, and sustainability manager at CCHBCNI, said: “We’ve been involved in that programme since 2018 but last year our faceto-face interaction came to a halt so YouthAction developed and moved everything to an online setting to ensure we could still reach youths rather than leave them stranded.

“More than 1400 people used that programme between November and May, which has been

huge given the pandemic has impacted young people most when it comes to unemployment. We felt it was critical to continue this support. We are delighted to win this award because when the pandemic hit, everyone paused but YouthAction was quick thinking and together we built a model that worked.”

June Trimble, chief executive of YouthAction added: “The energy we see coming through the programme has been brilliant.

We are delighted we were able to continue and our ambition came through.”

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‘It’s easy to get caught up in business and never benchmark yourself so to win is an achievement’

Best Established Small/Medium Business Joint winner Todd Architects

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STABLISHED in 1976

by Barrie Todd, Todd Architects has grown to become the largest homegrown architectural practice in Northern Ireland.

With offices in Belfast, Dublin, Manchester and London, the firm delivers projects in the local and international marketplace.

The practice has growth to employ over 70 people across the three offices, including architectural, technical, and business support teams.

Michael Edwards, finance di-

rector at Todd Architects: “We have continued to expand over the past year and during a time when many firms consolidated, during the pandemic, we made a key decision to grow, and it’s been a great success with the opening of our newest office in Manchester.

“Our turnover has virtually doubled, and we are going onwards and upwards.

“Winning this award is an unexpected recognition of the work that we’re doing. It’s easy to get sucked in with business and nev-

er compare nor benchmark your business.

“We entered this category as a litmus test to show what we do, what we do with our staff and see how it would stand up against other in a national competition so to get shortlisted was an achievement but to win, we’re delighted. Really taken aback.”

Todd Architects is frequently recognised by industry organisations and features in the Architects Journal of Top 100 UK practices over the past five years, Northern Ireland’s only entry.

Highly commended: KME Steelworks

Margaret Canning (right), Belfast Telegraph Business Editor, presents the Best Established Small/Medium Business Award on behalf of Prescient Data Centres to Michael Edwards, finance director, Todd Architects

‘We have actually seen our company triple in size such has been the move to online education’

Margaret Canning (right), Belfast Telegraph Business Editor, presents the Best Established Small/Medium Business Award on behalf of Prescient Data Centres to Catherine Davies, co-founder, Makematic

Best Established Small/Medium Business Joint winner Makematic

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AKEMATIC is a dedicated educational video producer working with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Amazon Studios, Adobe and Oxford University Press.

Launched in 2016 by Mark Nagurski and Catherine Davies, the company addresses the need for high quality educational video content in response to the growth of online teaching and learning.

Today it creates hundreds

of videos annually. It has also launched a new licensing and distribution business with licensees in both the US and Australia which involves the licensing of co-produced content on a non-exclusive basis to third-party educational content providers as well as government partners.

Over 60% of its revenues are from the US while its growth over the past year has allowed it to triple the size of its team to over 60 full-time staff and contractors.

The Derry-based company

is now a fully international operation, with offices in Belfast and team members working remotely in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Spain, South Africa and the United States.

Catherine Davies, co-founder, Makematic said: “It’s amazing to win this award. We’ve just been concentrating on business and getting the right products to the right people but have seen our company triple in size such has been the move to online education. It’s very rewarding to have our work recognised.”

Tuesday June 29 2021

BELFAST TELEGRAPH BUSINESS AWARDS 2021 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ULSTER BANK

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‘Climate action is in the ethos of our work so it’s amazing to be recognised for what we’ve done’

Special Recognition Award for Climate Action Granville Eco Park

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RANVILLE Eco Park (GECO) launched in 2014 and today has the largest Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility of its kind in NI. Based in Dungannon the plant uses new technology to efficiently process and treat food waste, breaking down this material to create a range of products including renewable electricity, a natural fertiliser and a sustainable fuel called biomethane — suitable for use in CNG vehicles and transported to customers for their own on-site energy generation.

With a total of 30 employees, the company strives to make a big impact, driving forward the

zero waste and circular economy concept here.

With NI’s new draft energy strategy setting a target of 70% renewable energy generation by 2030, plus a need to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Granville will continue help to establish greener routes for energy, transport, food waste management, agriculture, food manufacturing and beyond — continuing to provide an unbeatable circular economy experience in the waste sector.

Since opening it has created enough renewable electricity to power over 50,000 average households for a year. At April 1, 2021, it had diverted a total of 390,000 tonnes of food waste

from landfill; helping NI reach its targets within The Food Waste Regulations (NI) 2015 and preventing the release of 204,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions from entering our atmosphere.

Food waste in landfill creates methane gas. Granville’s process collects that methane and utilises it to its maximum potential with its products and services.

David McKee, chief technical officer, Granville Eco Park said: “Climate action is in the ethos of our company and we’re only starting out so it’s amazing to be recognised for what we’ve achieved. Climate action is very important and we, as a company, feel it’s important to implement changes.”

Highly commended: Henry Group ABP NI

Simon Seaton, director of business banking, Ulster Bank, presents the Special Recognition Award for Climate Action Award to David McKee, chief technical officer, Granville Eco Park

The winners were all innovators, problem solvers and opportunity seizers who will shape NI’s future economy

By Neil Gibson Comment

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UCCESS should always be celebrated but somehow this year it feels even more important to do so. We are all eager to hear some good news that reminds us that even through these toughest of times, there are reasons to be hopeful.

It is comforting to know there are jobs being created for our school and college leavers and that there are businesses making sales and paying the wages that generate the taxes we need to deliver the public services our citizens deserve.

In this context the Belfast Telegraph Awards have taken on extra significance this year.

The calibre of the entries was incredibly high, making the judging process as challenging as ever.

This year’s entries were certainly impacted by the tumultu-

ous year we have lived through.

There was plenty of evidence of an increase in the adoption of technology, and an acceleration of the move to digital ways of working and selling.

It was not all about technology though, there was also a greater emphasis on people and their adaptability to help businesses respond and adapt to the changing circumstances.

But these were not awards given out specifically on how firms reacted to the pandemic and /or Brexit, in fact there were many examples of entrepreneurship, of leadership and of export success that demonstrated a long journey that required patience and persistence.

In an increasingly agile and fast-moving world, it is important to recognise that success is worth celebrating whether achieved overnight, or over a much longer period.

A further theme to emerge amongst many of the entries, and evident in each of the winners, was an increased recognition of a broader sense of what business success looked like.

The metrics on sales, exports, revenue and staff numbers were still there of course, but accompanied by social and environmental impact metrics too.

Most of the applicants spoke of using local supply chains, supporting other firms and their community, and being cognisant of the changing attitudes to sustainability and their business’ impact on the world around us.

The entrants and winners were a truly cosmopolitan and diverse group. Hailing from every part of Northern Ireland, every sector and size of business were represented.

The young business leaders, and seasoned campaigners from every imaginable background who entered were a terrific endorsement that anyone in any sector from any location can be part of a business success story.

The idea of twilight industries or sectors that are no longer viable in Northern Ireland is challenged when you look down the list of winners.

From agriculture to arts, from

manufacturing to medical, from technology to tourism, there truly is evidence of success everywhere. There are no convenient sectors or silos into which we can group winners.

What the entities had in common however, was that in their own way they were all innovators, problem solvers and opportunity seizers, exactly what our new 10X economic

‘It is encouraging to read about so many businesses looking to hire staff and expand’ vision heralds as the future for the region.

Our society and economy have been through huge change since the pandemic hit and Brexit became a reality. Sadly, there are still tough times ahead.

Policy support will eventually be eased back, prices are beginning to rise, and the political landscape remains complex.

Most economists predict

unemployment will rise, albeit not as high as originally feared, and inequality concerns are growing as the contrasts grow between those who have had their income protected or seen it grow, and those for whom it has sadly not. Against such a challenging backdrop it is encouraging to see business success and read about so many businesses looking to hire staff, expand their markets or deploy a new innovative solution to a problem.

Too often economic recovery and renewal is deemed a task for Government, whereas it is really a task for us all.

Businesses and consumers will shape the Northern Ireland economy of the future and the entry list and winners of this year’s awards offer encouragement that they are up to the task.

It is sometimes said that we can be too modest in Northern Ireland. Not championing our successes and shying away from praise or publicity.

I hope that the experience of applying to the awards and the

recognition the winners receive demonstrates that reflecting on success and achievements is a very important thing to do.

It offers inspiration to others to take time to reflect on a job well done which can also be very beneficial for staff morale.

In business there is always a long ‘to-do list’, but this is one of those times when we can pause, look back and offer our congratulations.

To all the applicants, well done and thank you for talking the time to apply.

The judging process is a privilege to be involved in, debating and reviewing entries with my fellow judges is something I always look forward to.

It can be hard to find the time to stop and apply for an award, but good news matters, it breeds confidence and offers inspiration, all of which are hugely important as we slowly emerge from what has been an incredibly challenging time.

Neil Gibson is Belfast Telegraph Business Awards judge and chief economist of EY Ireland