Northern Ireland’s Top 100 Companies 2017

In association with

NORTHERN IRELAND COMPANIES 2017

Ourguidetothetopprofit-makers,employersandbusinesspeople

Contents

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

3

 INTRODUCTION 

04

Angela McGowan

06-07

Catriona Gibson, Arthur Cox

08-11 John Simpson

12

Neil Gibson, Ulster University

14

Ann McGregor, NI Chamber

16

BelfastTelegraph Business Awards

18-21 Top 100 tables

22-29

Entries 1 to 20 profiled

30-42

Entries 21 to 100 profiled

44

Roseann Kelly, Women in Business

48

Adrian Doran, Barclays Bank

50-51

Our biggest employers

52-53

Dr Patrice Cairns, RICS

54

Stephen Kelly, Manufacturing NI PUBLISHED BY Belfast Telegraph Clarendon House, Clarendon Dock, Belfast, BT1 3BH ADVERTISING Jackie Reid Senior Advertising Manager Tel: 028 9055 4685 j.reid@belfasttelegraph.co.uk TOP 100 Compiled by John Simpson EDITOR Margaret Canning mcanning@belfasttelegraph.co.uk DESIGN Stuart McKinley - INM Design Studio, Belfast COVER Raymond Esteban PRINTING INM, Newry

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elcome to the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies 2017 in association with Arthur Cox. We are proud that Arthur Cox is supporting our guide to Northern Ireland’s most profitable companies for the third year in a row.

The list, now in its twenty-second year and compiled by economist John Simpson, scrutinises the accounts of Northern Ireland-registered firms, from banks to IT companies, and manufacturers to food producers. Our utility companies are high on the chart again, as are those manufacturers under international ownership. And the highest-placed homeowned companies are manufacturers with healthy export activities.

Recovery in construction is evident in the profits growth of some building-relat-

ed firms, and a return to the Top 100 of a building giant. Three Top 100 stalwarts in the manufacturing sector — Thompson Aero Seating, SDC Trailers and Delta Packaging and Print — are now under international ownership.

The 2017 Top 100 Companies is also marked by the absence for the first year in the publication’s history of UTV Media, following the sale of its TV assets to ITV plc, and its radio assets to News Corp.

The publication of last year’s Top 100 came one month before the vote to leave the EU shook business to the core, from Northern Ireland and Great Britain to the Republic and the rest of the EU. But our economy has proved resilient in the face of the Brexit vote, and the last quarter of 2016 brought a 2.1% increase in output — our healthiest quarterly growth for 12 years. The vote brought a fall in value of the pound — which has significantly helped exporters and is likely to be reflected in their results in next year’s Top 100 publication.

An even bigger surprise came in November, when Republican candidate

Donald Trump was elected US President, on a wave of ‘America First’ protectionism and vows to cut taxes — bringing a new anxiety to the Republic’s record of attracting jobs on the basis of its low corporation tax rate. Which brings us neatly to our own long campaign to secure a lower rate of corporation tax. The collapse of Stormont over the renewable heat incentive (RHI) in January, followed

by Assembly elections in March, and our lack of devolved government since then, mean the likelihood of securing 12.5% tax

by April next year as planned is slim.

That fufilment of a cornerstone economic policy, debated since the first Top 100 in 1996, is now in jeopardy is a sobering thought for us all.

But what we do know is that our Top 100 — and those newcomers who will join in future — are doers.

They will keep on lending, producing, manufacturing and building regardless of economic policy and geo-political factors.

And it’s our privilege to join with Arthur Cox in presenting you with this 2017 record of their success.

By Margaret Canning Belfast Telegraph Business Editor

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 FOREWORD  Our newest business leader gives her take on the economic backdrop to the Top 100 Companies 2017

THE BUSINESS WORLD DOES NOTWANTTO SEE POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY

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HIS year’s celebration of Northern Ireland’s most successful businesses is set against an extremely varied backdrop. In one respect the winds of change are blowing strongly through the political arena but the current political instability has so far not had as big an impact on the economy as one might have expected. We are fortunate in that the global economy is currently growing strongly. In April the IMF lifted its forecast for 2017 worldwide growth from 3.1% to a very healthy 3.5%. Of course some regions across the world are growing at a much faster rate than others, with the US and Europe gaining momentum, while in China there are contrasting worries around a slowdown.

Unfortunately, we cannot ignore the fact that there are also significant geopolitical threats from North Korea and Syria. Closer to home, the UK’s departure from the EU continues to add an increasing level of uncertainty to the economic horizon. In its April forecast the International Monetary Fund alluded to the impact of Brexit’s highly unpredictable outcome on global financial stability. The report warns that “the challenges stemming from Brexit could undermine financial stability in ways that are difficult to estimate or predict at this juncture”.

For now though, it is good to concentrate on the fact that economic growth at the both the national level and the local level has been relatively strong. This is the case for a number of reasons. In the first instance, the Brexit impact has been delayed as the UK’s first step towards leaving the EU (triggering Article 50) was postponed for nine months after the initial vote. This has allowed exporting companies in the UK to benefit from a weaker pound while simultaneously they have retained full access to the EU market. In addition, employment levels are also strong and this has supported UK household spending and helped to maintain the demand side of the UK economy. Up until fairly recently healthy consumer confidence levels have been reflected in strong retail sales data. Admittedly though rising inflation is expected to weigh down on consumer confidence towards the latter part of this year and indeed the retail sales figures have begun to weaken.

Without doubt the business community in Northern Ireland has a strong preference for political stability; but regardless of the current uncertainty, local companies are keen to remain in ‘business as usual’ mode.

They relentlessly pursue new sales, supporting current customers and job creation. It

Angela Magowan, CBI Northern Ireland Regional Director should be noted however that in the current climate, short term investment decisions, such as buying a piece of new machinery is much easier than making long-term decisions, such as opening up a new office or factory.

There is little doubt that this year’s celebration of our Top 100 companies is a true testament to the tenacity and ambition of the Northern Ireland business community.

Companies from right across the industrial spectrum are represented – from financial firms to pharmaceutical companies. A quick glance at the Top 100 tells us that Northern Ireland has a number of strong clusters

in areas such as engineering, food manufacturing, distribution, IT and medical technologies. It is also great to see strong representation for the construction sector again given the fact that this sector most probably took the biggest hit during the financial crisis. The larger construction companies will attribute much of their recent success to going after and winning national rather than local projects. This sector has also embraced new and innovative techniques and invested heavily in skills.

Indeed many of the best performing firms in all sectors across Northern Ireland will attribute their achievements to competing

internationally and investing in R&D and innovation.

Each and every company on this year’s list is a reflection of Northern Ireland at its best. These Top 100 firms inspire small businesses in Northern Ireland to scale-up and they also act as an inspiration to our young people who have entrepreneurial ambitions. They remind us of what local people can achieve if we are outward looking, prepared to take calculated risks, prepared to be mobile and are determined to succeed.

To ensure that more companies in Northern Ireland reach these dizzy heights of success, the business community needs to work closely with policy makers to ensure that the right conditions are in place for local firms to flourish. It is in everyone’s interests that the private sector is enabled to grow. A strong private sector creates employment and provides those much needed tax revenues to support our public services (income tax, VAT, corporation tax, business rates).

A healthy business environment requires strong economic foundations in the form of a highly skilled workforce, good infrastructure and a pro-enterprise tax environment.

It also involves strong incentives for companies to undertake R&D and innovation, to collaborate with local educational institutions and have strong political representation at the regional level. For Northern Ireland, the best business environment will also protect and enhance those all-island supply chains and markets that local firms have built up over recent decades. It will also require maintaining and indeed further developing those cross-border connections for energy, tourism and transport etc.

In this regard, as the UK and remaining EU27 prepare to sit down at the negotiating table, the vast majority of our successful businesses on the Top 100 list will be looking for real signs of progress early on in the Brexit negotiations. Local businesses are eager for the UK-EU talks get off to a good start because that will be vital to securing stability and a deal that delivers for both sides. Here at the CBI we are under no illusions, the next year of negotiations will be crucial for Northern Ireland’s future prosperity and to the future of these firms Top 100 firms. As this list demonstrates, we have over recent decades built up a host of successful companies across Northern Ireland and we want many more to be created in the years ahead. For that to happen, local firms both large and small, will need a smooth transition to new arrangements with our largest trading partner, the EU. These companies will also need policy makers to recognise the unique circumstances of the local economic environment in terms of its structure, connections and unique challenges.

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

Arthur Cox: Intelligent counsel for successful businesses

Catriona Gibson, Managing Partner at leading law firm Arthur Cox, on why the Top 100 reflects the business community’s determination to succeed

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he Belfast Telegraph Top 100 always provides a welcome opportunity to take an objective look at the performances of Northern Ireland’s most successful businesses.

This year, perhaps more than others, it serves as a reminder of the depth and breadth of talent in the Northern Ireland corporate world, set as it is against a wider backdrop of economic uncertainty.

In the 12 months since the league table was last published, the business outlook in Northern Ireland has changed dramatically, amid the realisation that the UK is set to leave the European Union.

The unpredictability of the course which Brexit negotiations will take may provide for an uncertain future, but the Top 100 is a demonstration of the Northern Ireland business community’s resilience and determination to succeed.

We are extremely proud, therefore, to

continue our ongoing partnership with the Belfast Telegraph for a business commentary that demonstrates the effort and strategic foresight being displayed by our highest-performing companies.

On behalf of Arthur Cox, I would like to warmly congratulate every business on the list. As adviser to many of the Top 100 firms, we are fully aware of the drive and hard work of Northern Ireland business leaders as they continue in their pursuit of excellence.

EXPERTISE

With a scale and level of expertise that is unsurpassed in the local market, combined with a truly global reach and capabilities, our clients know they can always expect excellence from our team.

From family enterprises to major corporates, and from indigenous SMEs to large multinationals, Arthur Cox is the ‘go-to’ firm for trusted legal advice that is innovative, nuanced and pragmatic.

It is very pleasing, therefore, to see that the 2017 Top 100 list once again showcases this blend of indigenous firms

and multinational companies that have chosen to set up in the region.

This illustrates the historic and continued attractiveness of Northern Ireland to foreign direct investors, as well as the talent of home-grown entrepreneurs both of which are hallmarks of a successful economy.

Evidence of that successful economy can be gleaned from data which showed the rate of economic growth in Northern Ireland last year was at its strongest since 2007.

GROWTH

However, there is no doubt that the months and years ahead will provide challenges, with industry analysts all pointing to subdued growth in the short to medium term.

Despite this, signs of increased activity are on the horizon - quite literally - in the increasing number of cranes which are once again being raised above the Belfast skyline.

And many of the companies listed on these pages are continuing to realise

major growth by targeting exports in emerging markets outside traditional boundaries such as the Republic of Ireland and Europe.

We have a track record of providing intelligent counsel to ambitious companies as they seek to broaden their horizons to realise growth targets.

Arthur Cox already maintains a presence far beyond the EU, with a global reach that extends to New York and Silicon Valley.

It is that broad outlook that ensures we have enjoyed another successful year, in common with all firms which have made the latest Top 100 league table.

Our corporate and commercial team, recognised as one of the foremost of its kind in Northern Ireland, has continued

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

to be at the heart of the most prominent deals taking place in the local marketplace, acting on behalf of some of the region’s best known companies, and its most dynamic young start-ups.

The last year has also seen us maintain a position at the forefront of the Northern Ireland business community through the delivery of sector-specific briefing seminars which provide industry-leading advice for delegates on emerging legal trends.

Our annual public procurement seminar, for example, has become the highlight of the procurement law calendar, and in December 2016 over 90 delegates from leading public sector buyers and private sector contractors heard our experts examine the outlook and challenges

for the year ahead.

At Arthur Cox, we are very passionate about the prominent role we play in helping to grow the Northern Ireland economy.

100 is always a welcome reminder of the successful efforts companies are making to drive their business forward.

In doing so, they are enhancing the lives of their staff and contributing pos-

7

itively to the Northern Ireland economy in general.

For that, I once again strongly commend and congratulate every company on the list.

LEAD ROLE

To that end, we continue to work closely with business representative bodies and, through our long-standing relationship with the Institute of Directors, we partnered with the organisation for the recent Annual Dinner and Women’s Leadership Conference, as well as playing a lead role in the delivery of the IoD’s Competent Director training programme.

This helps us to retain a focus on ensuring that economic growth continues. The annual publication of the Top

FROM FAMILY ENTERPRISES TO MAJOR CORPORATES, AND FROM INDIGENOUS SMEs TO LARGE MULTINATIONALS, ARTHUR COX IS THE ‘GO-TO’ FIRM FOR TRUSTED LEGAL ADVICE THAT IS INNOVATIVE, NUANCED AND PRAGMATIC.

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 ANALYSIS 

By John Simpson

Selecting key businesses

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he business community is continuously challenged to do more to grow the local economy. A larger and stronger business community would contribute to narrowing the performance gap between Northern Ireland and other regions.

This publication is a response to that challenge. First, the perception of a poor private sector response to the challenge of rebuilding the economy can be seen as unfair. Larger businesses in the private sector have been growing and growing appreciably in terms of the wider impact on the economy.

Second, the research for this presentation which has resulted in the identification and study of the best performing businesses in the private sector makes an important contribution to the better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses as well as the changes that are taking place.

This year, for the third time, our research has high-lighted the improving profitability of the most profitable local companies. There are related and continuing interests in the full and wider impact of changes in the private sector involving output, employment and investment. Critical to the performance of these businesses is their ability to pay their way or, more technically, earn a return on the investments made which has been our immediate focus.

PROFITABILITY Our collected records now make it easier to assess and comment on business trends

as they affect individual firms and also to examine the overall changes across the sector. In this review details are examined for the 100 locally registered and locally owned companies which have reported the highest levels of pre-tax profits.

Using just one indicator of profitability is convenient but, in some circumstances, an inappropriate single measure. Nevertheless, pre-tax profits have been used to set the framework. For some businesses this takes no adjustment for unusual or exceptional events such as a decision that the accounts should reflect an impairment of assets or exceptional costs. Although comparability of results, using the same measure – pre-tax profits – is a useful baseline, the variability of the results, year on year, may be more noted than changes in operating profits.

One further distinction has been made in the identification of individual businesses. Where a business group functions with a number of subsidiaries, where possible, our aim is to examine the results for the Group, not those of individual subsidiaries.

A significant omission from the analysis is the number of businesses which trade extensively in Northern Ireland through a company whose results are compiled on a UK-wide basis. There are nearly 20 large UK businesses including multi-nationals for which there are no Northern Ireland trading figures although their employment is reported through the Equality Commission. A table showing their employment is included in a later section.

As ever, the details of the Top 100 companies have been drawn from several sources including the Companies Registry.

Our records are improving, year on year.

However, guidance on omissions, or errors, continues to be welcome.

THE TOP 100 COMPANIES SHOWS THAT OUR PRIVATE SECTOR HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO A MUCH NEEDED REBALANCING OF THE NI ECONOMY AND IT’S FAIR TO GIVE THEM CREDIT

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 ANALYSIS

By John Simpson

Higher qualifying level

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or a business or business group to be included in the Top 100 locally registered or locally based business, the critical entry requirement is that pre-tax profits should be above the level at which we identified 100 local candidates. This year the minimum level of pre-tax profits has risen to £3.2m.: last year it was £2.2m and two years ago it was £1.8m. That increase is a critical indicator of the recent much stronger overall performance of these companies.

The Northern Ireland based businesses which were recently the biggest pretax profit makers, in descending order, compared with the rank order a year ago, were:

1. (1) Danske Bank

£117m

2. (5) Schrader Electronics

£ 62m

3. (new) Bombardier

£ 62m

4. (2) N.I.Water

£ 54m

5. (new) First Trust Bank

£ 54m

6. (new) Viridian group

£ 50m

7. (3) N.I.E Networks

£ 50m

8. (new) N.I.I.B Group

£ 39m

9. (4) Moy Park

£ 36m

10. (10) Norbrook Holdings

£ 36m

Four of the biggest profit makers were not included in the analysis a year ago for very different reasons. Bombardier and Viridian group, for that year, both reported a large pre-tax loss. Pre-tax profit figures for First Trust Bank were not published. Also, in the last year N.I.I.B Group, after acquisitions and restructuring, has become a larger entity, still owned by the Bank of Ireland.

In the Top 100, most of the businesses studied (72) had been included in the analysis completed early in 2016. Now that list has been amended and updated.

The list has been amended for three main reasons. First and foremost, since the Top 100 have been chosen on the basis of pre-tax profits rather than number employed, there is a greater degree of year to year variation in the annual results.

Whilst 72 businesses have remained in the list compared to a year ago, 16 businesses

have reported improved results which bring them up to qualify to be in the Top group. Then, as a result of better information and improved research, a further 12

successful entries have been identified.

With 28 new entries, there have also been 28 names leaving the list, none because of a business closure. Most of

the excluded businesses are still trading, many successfully, but with pre-tax profits below the £3.2m level above which we have identified 100 other companies.

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

Impact on the local economy

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o illustrate the wider impact of the large businesses in the generation of employment as well as earning profits for shareholders and owners, the combined value of profits and pay bills have been calculated and is presented in descending order. The rank order last year is shown to allow for comparisons of the changes.

1. (2) Bombardier

£281m

9. (13) John Graham

£90m

2. (1) Moy Park

£262m

10. (11) Ballyvesey Holdings

£86m

3. (4) Almac Group

£180m

11. (10) Dunbia

£85m

4. (3) Danske Bank

£173m

12. (12) Terex GB

£83m

5. (6) N.I.E.Networks

£118m

13. (8) Allstate NI

£82m

6. (9) Schrader Electronics

£116m

14. (17) Seagate Technology

£80m

7. (5) N.I.Water

£115m

15. (13) John Henderson

£79m

8. (7) Norbrook Holdings

£105m

Whilst the aggregate total of pre-tax profits along with all pay bill costs gives a good proxy indicator of the impact of a business on the local economy, for some businesses this will overstate the direct local benefit. If the business has some activity outside Northern Ireland this indicator will overstate its local significance. This reservation about these figures is thought to be particularly notable for Moy Park, Almac, Norbrook and Ballyvesey.

Total, in largest 50

Business Services Banks Other sectors

The spread of the changing pre-tax profits results was: 22

Decreased by 0-9%

11

Increased by 0-9%

11

Increased by 10-19%

5

Increased by 20-99%

31

Increased by 100% or more

12

Returned to profit after previous loss

Nearly one in five of all the employees in the private sector is employed by one of the largest 50 employers. Just under 95,300 people work for these firms.

In contrast to a year ago, this group employed just 93,000 people. The number in the more recent Equality Commission returns has increased by 2%.

The distribution of jobs in the largest employers has been changing in ways which reflect the overall economy. Some sectors experienced differing rates of change as summarised when the totals are sub-divided:

Manufacturers

Last year in the analysis for the Top 100, the statistics pointed to improving profitability. Profit figures were then about 10% higher than in the previous year. This year the improving trend in profitability has continued.

In the most recent year, the median average level of pre-tax profits was over 20% better than a year ago. 65 of the Top 100 businesses reported improved pre-tax profits while 35 reported that pre-tax profits were lower. Few of the less encouraging results were seriously adversely affected whilst a large proportion of the better results were encouragingly strong.

Decreased by 10% or more

Largest employers are still growing

Retailers

Profitability continues to improve

8

None of last year’s Top 100 has gone out of business. Two now consolidate results within a larger group, one has been purchased by a GB-based group, and one has transferred its accounts to an Isle of Man registration.

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2,594

2.7%

94

0.3%

922

3.7%

1,683

8.6%

-363

-6.4%

258

1.9%

In the 50 largest employers there were contrasting experiences. 36 either maintained their numbers or enjoyed an increase in employment: 14 reported a decrease.

The largest increases were in:  First Derivatives

903

 Tesco

617

 Schrader Electronics

343

 Concentrix

316

 Citigroup

300

The largest decreases were in:  ASDA

251

 Next

141

 Bombardier

140

 Danske Bank

128

 Ulster Bank

121

See pages 50-51 for details

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 OPINION  It’s been an eventful year in politics but the economy continues to grow, although there are challenges ahead

SADLY THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF ANY SENSIBLE TRADE DEAL AFTER BREXIT

o say the last year has been one of great change would be a huge understatement. The Brexit vote, change of UK Prime Minister, collapse in the local Assembly and subsequent election and President Trump have all provided shocks to the economy. With the announcement of a flash general election in the UK in June it looks like 2017 is going to continue the trend. Despite all this uncertainty the economy has continued to grow, albeit slowly. The Top 100 in this publication is an impressive and inspiring list, showing the depth and breadth of leading firms across the region. Almost all sectors are represented and the amount of firms reporting growth is encouraging and arguably ahead of what might have been expected given the uncertainties. What lessons can we take from the resilience of firms and how might the year ahead shape up?

We look ahead to some of the challenges and opportunities for the Northern Ireland economy.

be priced out. Even in the area of direct funding, whether it is Common Agricultural policy (CAP) or PEACE money, there will be impacts, but perhaps the money could be spent in more effective ways if determined locally, though this makes the assumption the money will be there to spend. It is beyond the scope of this article to cover all the Brexit risks in detail but as the short-term reaction shows business will respond to changes in the material trading conditions, not to speculation or conjecture about what might happen.

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A POSITION OF STRENGTH

If the economy is to head into tougher waters due to a combination of consumer pressures, Brexit fall-out and the impact of some long standing structural weaknesses it is good to be doing this from a position of relative strength and that is the case for Northern Ireland. In 13 of the 20 sectors of the economy job numbers are higher than they were in 2008 with construction and public administration the notable exceptions to this rule. Job growth has been eclectic; something that the Top 100 list echoes, and strong tourism numbers, increased retail footfall, falling unemployment and a gradual improvement in the housing market all provide support for the position of strength argument.

However, weaknesses cannot be ignored.

Sadly, the strong job data is not mimicked in the output or wage data with real wages lower than they were in 2008 and the composite index (a proxy for output) still 5% below the 2007 peak. It is true that the 2008 peak could be viewed as unsustainable on the back of a housing bubble but wealth creation has undoubtedly lagged behind what would have been hoped for in Northern Ireland. Furthermore the world of work is becoming less stable with a growing proportion of jobs part time and on short term or flexible contracts. Indeed full time male employment is still 26,000 lower than the 2008 level.

LOOKING AHEAD – WHO WOULD BE A FORECASTER?

In the university, our research centre builds most of its work around a core set of forecasts – or conditional projections of how the world might look in five, 10

RISK 2: STORMONT

Neil Gibson, director of the economic policy centre at Ulster University or 20 years’ time. This is always subject to great uncertainty but now more than ever the range of possible outcomes is staggeringly wide. No-one can say for sure what the Brexit impact will be — migration policies, EU funding replacements, the nature of the border, tariff levels, investor sentiment, are all unknown at this point and each will have a demonstrable impact on the future of the economy. There are undoubtedly significant challenges ahead but good businesses will always try to seek out opportunity, even when it appears to be a risk. Mimicking this positive attitude, the potential within some of the difficulties ahead is set out below.

RISK 1: WAGE SQUEEZE/ INFLATION INCREASES

Inflation is on the rise. The Ulster University economic policy centre (UUEPC) estimates do not concur with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projection of inflation peaking at 2.5% and wage growth staying neatly above that level. If true this will present a squeeze on incomes and spending, which is the backbone of the UK and NI economy. This is probably the greatest risk (indeed consumer exposure was number one on the UUPEC risk register before the ‘year of the shock’ began).

However, the boost to exports from lower

exchange rates is often underplayed. In addition, high import costs will lead many UK businesses and consumers to seek alternative suppliers and in many products and services, this could open up local opportunities. In economic parlance, import substitution will become a factor. Spending pressures lead to a more openness to ‘shop around’ and this presents clear market opportunities.

RISK 2: BREXIT

Much has been written on the possible risks from Brexit, almost all of which can be nothing more than speculation at this stage. Whilst logic suggests a sensible trade deal is in everyone’s interest, and will certainly be what most governments want to see, there is sadly no guarantee that logic will win the day. However, tariffs are modest in scale for many goods and services though the impact of non-tariff costs and the specific implications for the agri-food sector are significant. Equally, migration controls will have severe implications for sectors such as food processing, care and tourism. However, even here there are possible opportunities. New trade deals elsewhere in the world, modest wage inflation boosting local spending and the potential to compete in the Great Britaian market against European rivals who may

The current situation at Stormont is also challenging to write about. Who knows what will be happening by the time this is published. It appears a 2018 implementation of a lower corporation tax rate is the first casualty (and delayed rates bills) but the risk of falling behind as other competitor locations make decisions is increasing all the time. Though there is not a slew of legislation on the books waiting to be passed it is unfortunate that the collective call from the business community has had little impact on the political process. If deals are stuck or laws passed that do not serve Northern Ireland well and we had no Executive then however that is spun in the future it will be solely our responsibility, not those who made the choice for us.

RISK 2: COMPETITION

There is undoubtedly more competition for investment and talent. City deals are allowing UK cities to make huge strides in improving their competitiveness offer and the Republic of Ireland is beginning to ease the austerity journey, has a new focus on productivity and competitiveness and a strategy to ease the pressures on Dublin by improving attractiveness elsewhere. As the Top 100 list proves there is an ability for NI to compete in a wide range of sectors and markets. The strengths of the region on skills, quality of life, cost and aspects of infrastructure are still relevant and the ingenuity and creative resilience of local firms should never be underestimated. As in sport, competition brings out the best in the best and this risk should be one challenge that the region and its Top 100 firms faces head on.

SUMMARY – THERE ARE ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES

In summary, the economic landscape looks both uncertain and challenging in the near future. Great firms see potential in both challenge and uncertainty and the top 100 list is a timely reminder that the region has many great firms all of whom are designing strategies to seize any opportunity that the shifting landscape might present. We hope that that a more stable environment emerges and devolved government returns.

We know there are firms ready to help drive the region forward and we wish them well in the year ahead.

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 ANALYSIS  The head of one of our top business groups says the Top 100 gives us time to reflect on the economy, and the picture is very mixed

NOTHING WOULD EVER GET DONE IF FIRMS WAITED ON POLITICAL PERFECTION BEFORE MAKING INVESTMENT

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he publication of the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Northern Ireland companies is an opportune time to reflect on where we stand right now in terms of the economy and the opportunities and challenges it faces.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) is not a naive organisation and we have been around long enough – since 1783 – to know when the signs are positive and when they are not. Right now it is a mixed bag – many companies are experiencing a growth in export and Invest NI’s pipeline of inward investment is still strong. However, businesses are still facing challenges in relation to the cost of raw materials, skills shortages and increased costs – the most recent the Apprenticeship Levy introduced at the beginning of last month.

NI Chamber is committed to the growth of the private sector and the development of the Northern Ireland economy. We believe that Government should create the conditions to foster business growth and businesses will in turn take the risks to establish and grow – creating much needed employment for job seekers of all ages and from all communities in both urban and rural areas.

One thing for sure is that businesses are focused on growth, creating much needed jobs despite the challenging economic and political environment. No one likes the political uncertainty and the snap election in the UK and the absence of the NI Executive does not inspire confidence.

But what does the Westminster election mean for the terms and path of Brexit?

Businesses will want more clarity, and to know exactly where each main party stands on the key threats and opportunities that lie ahead. They’ll also want assurances that the tone of the campaign doesn’t undermine the eventual winner’s ability to work with their European opposite numbers on the best possible Brexit deal.

Also, what happens to the domestic business agenda? While for many businesses Brexit feels far away and far off — the high up-front cost of doing business, the inability to recruit successfully for vacancies or transport gridlock are what matters.

And then, what about the nations and regions? Firms in Northern Ireland are pondering a Westminster election without a settlement to restore devolution, businesses in Scotland will be thinking about what a Westminster election means for the SNP’s controversial plans for a second independence referendum and in many parts of England, upcoming elections for new city-regional mayors whose powers matter to local business success could be overshad-

Ann McGregor, CEO Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce owed by a national poll just a month later.

At least on June 9 when the votes have been counted the business community across the UK will know that (i) a Government will be formed almost immediately and what (ii) the make-up of that Government will be. Locally more than two months have passed since our Assembly election and we are no closer to knowing whether an Assembly and Executive will be formed, if there will be a further election or if Westminster Ministers will be appointed to oversee our affairs.

Unfortunately the current impasse is a long way from the kind of messages the party leaders were giving to our business audiences in the ‘5 leaders, 5 days’ series of events hosted by NI Chamber prior to the Assembly election.

It remains the case though that the busi-

ness community is looking to the elected leaders to have a joint approach when it comes to the economy.

We know for example that a significant degree of emphasis was being applied to the proposed reduction in corporation tax in Northern Ireland and that was a major economic message being promoted around the world in an attempt to attract investment to the region. There is, at the very least, real doubt over the timetable for that move now, and April 2018 seems unlikely to be a realistic timescale.

NI Chamber has said many times that we are willing to assist in any way a Programme for Government (PfG) that helps grow the business sector and puts jobs, pride and dignity into our communities.

That provides diverse opportunities for a highly educated and skilled workforce.

Without a PfG and the implementation of an economic strategy by the Executive, Northern Ireland risks becoming economically stagnant.

The challenges of Brexit are much more manifold in Northern Ireland than they are elsewhere in the UK, not least because of the scale of our agri-food sector and the volume of trade carried out on a cross border basis. Even very practical questions like what kind of border patrols will exist, or indeed will border controls exist post the Brexit deal, are real, imminent and they only increase the uncertainty for local firms.

As things stand Northern Ireland’s place in a post Brexit UK and EU is on the agenda, but we do not have local voices speaking in unison and making our case. That really needs to change very quickly.

However, let’s take stock. If companies in Northern Ireland were to sit back and wait for political perfection before taking ambitious decisions and making investments then the decisions and the investments would never be made. The companies detailed in this supplement are testament to the determination and commitment of Northern Ireland business people to continue to drive for increased growth despite the wider political and geo-economic factors.

NI Chamber continues to promote growth through export and the success of this policy plank can be seen in the pages of the Top 100. Local firms are among the global players in an array of sectors including pharmaceutical research and development, engineering and construction, IT and emerging digital skills.

We applaud the Belfast Telegraph for continuing to provide a platform for the Top 100 businesses in Northern Ireland and we would encourage those who feature in these pages to reach out to your fellow business men and women, as you have done in the past, to offer guidance and advice where it can help others. To those companies striving to break the Top 100 barrier, stay the course, and do not be wary of asking for insight where you think it can help.

When NI Chamber organises mentoring or networking events, as we do on a regular basis, the businesses featured are among the first to put up their hands and say ‘how can we help?’ and that is just so encouraging. So if you see someone locally making a splash globally why not contact them and say ‘how did you do that, can you give me a few hours of your time and expertise?’ You might be surprised at the results.

Just imagine what Northern Ireland could achieve if we did secure political stability and a cohesive long term Government locally? While that is our aspiration… and overall ambition, we continue to take inspiration from the businesses featured in the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 whose drive and determination in growing both at home and in export markets must be applauded.

16

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 BUSINESS AWARDS 

T

HE winners of the 2017 Belfast Telegraph Business Awards in partnership with Ulster Bank have been unveiled at a glittering ceremony in Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel And it was landmark year for the Business Awards as Ulster Bank was welcomed as new title sponsor.

Richard Donnan, the bank’s head in Northern Ireland, was also a member of the judging panel, which was chaired by economist John Simpson.

And some of the Top 100 Companies were lauded on the night, with the Lifetime Achievement Award going to Moy Park’s chief executive Janet McCollum.

Ms McCollum was appointed to the role in 2014, and has 23 years of experience in the food industry.

She was honoured by the judges for her contribution to the Northern Ireland economy. She played a key role in the reorganisation and restructuring of the Moy Park business, significantly increasing sales, profitability and cash, including the re-financing of the business and latterly in the acquisition of O’Kane Poultry. And MJM Marine was named Oustanding Business of the Year for its

Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored

by Ulster Bank Janet McCollum

Outstanding Business of the Year sponsored by Ulster Bank MJM Marine

Ulster Bank became title sponsor of the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards for the first time this year. Richard Donnan, Ulster Bank head in Northern ireland (right), launched the awards with Belfast Telegraph managing director Richard McClean and business editor Margaret Canning many successes in the fit-out industry.

The Newry-based firm works for the world’s major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian

Cruise Lines, Cunard, P&O and Holland America. It also operates a specialist joinery division which over the last number of years has provided a growing service

Excellence in Innovation, sponsored by Almac Diagnostics Oaktree Children’s Nursery Thales UK

Best Established Small/Medium Business Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility sponsored by ASDA sponsored by Flybe Henry Brothers M&M Contractors

Excellence in Marketing Irish Football Association

Young Business Person of the Year sponsored by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Jack Hamilton, Mash Direct

Emerging Business/Start Up of the Year sponsored by Retail NI EquiNutritive

Excellence in Exporting sponsored by the NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry MJM Marine IT Company or Team of the Year sponsored

by BT Novosco

Excellence in the Development of Management & Leadership, sponsored by B4B Telecoms The Progressive Building Society

to land-based commercial and private clients.

Congratulations and sincerest thanks to all our winners, finalists and sponsors.

Best Use of Digital and/or Social Media sponsored by Mascott SPAR NI

In Partnership with

SME Healthcare Business of the Year GCRM-Belfast

18

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

1-25 No.

Company

Sector

Yr. end

Bank

12.16

Pre-tax profits £’000 117,000

1

Danske Bank

2

Schrader Electronics

Electronic eng

12.15

3

Shorts: Bombardier

Aerospace[£=$1.24]

4

N.I.Water

5

Pretax pr.Year ago £’000

% Change

No. Employees

Pay bill £’000

141,935

-18%

1,267

55,638

61,726

31,326

97%

1,390

54,574

12.16

61,531

(273,582)

4,558

219,510

Utility

3.16

54,433

62,058

-12%

1,222

57,349

First Trust Bank

Bank

12.16

54,000

47,000

15%

771

6

Viridian Gp. Invest.

Utility

3.16

50,400

(13,000)

7

N.I.E.Networks

Utility

12.16

50,200

50,700

8

N.I.I.B. Group

Finance

12.16

39,045

9

Moy Park

Food processing

12.15

10

Norbrook Hlds

Veterinary pharma

11

Belfast Harbour

12

Profit rest

Profit rest

n.a

491

22,000

-1%

1,258

67,800

38,687

1%

125

5,150

35,721

46,109

-23%

9,230

226,489

7.16

35,545

21,469

66%

2,224

69,683

Port

12.15

33,536

36,410

-18%

138

7,000

W&R Barnett

Grain imports

7.15

29,828

31,760

-6%

512

28,036

13

Almac Group

Pharmaceuticals

9.15

27,977

12,623

122%

3,554

151,643

14

Phoenix Natural gas

Utility

12.15

25,397

28,949

-12%

113

5,556

15

Terex GB

Engineering

12.15

23,440

22,787

3%

1,778

60,027

16

SHS Group

Distribution

12.15

21,114

17,067

24%

764

29,117

17

John Henderson

Distribution

12.16

20,347*

21,987

-7%

2,998

58,597

18

Old Bushmills Dis.

Spirits

12.15

20,035a

22,052

-9%

105

3,829a

19

F.P.McCann Gp

Construction

12.16

19,150

14,686a

30%

1,319

46,412

20

Randox Holdings.

Medical products

12.15

17,970

12,743

41%

1,129

30,397

21

John Graham

Construction

3.16

17,168

6,946

147%

1,761

73,169

22

Lissan Coal

Distribution

9.15

16,536

19,330

-16%

176

5,281

23

TG Eakin

Medical equip.

3.16

16,471

15,614

5%

64

1,757

24

Seagate Tech.

IT

6.15

15,075

14,390

5%

1,395

64,430

25

Kainos Group plc

IT

3.16

14,261

11,837

20%

733

35,373

*after £3.5m revaluation

Top 100 - The largest profit-earning Northern Ireland registered companies

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

19

26-50 No.

Company

Sector

Yr. end

26

Montupet

Engineering

12.15

Pre-tax profits £’000 13,692

27

Thompson Aero Seats

Engineering

3.16

28

Dunnes Stores

Retail

29

Capita Managed IT Sol

30

Pretax pr.Year ago £’000

% Change

No. Employees

Pay bill £’000

15,422

-11%

593

19,941

13,690

10,643

29%

285

12,401

1.16

13,198

11,206

18%

1,474

18,479

IT

12.15

12,927

18,359a

-30%

770

29,660

Progressive Build. S.

Finance ser

12.16

11,759

14,024

-16%

175

6,444

31

Wrights Group

Bus manuf.

12.15

11,718

11,638a

1%

1,741

52,451

32

Retlan Manuf.

Engineering

3.16

11,528

8,525

35%

828

25,669

33

Andor Technology

Cameras

3.16

11,002

1,280a

284

14,806

34

Firmus Energy Dist

Utility

12.15

10,781

11,926

-10%

92

4,323

35

Hilton Foods [NI]

Meat processing

12.15

10,437

11,214

-7%

18

5,017

36

First Derivatives

IT

2.16

10,384

17,476

-41%

1,306

65,730

37

McAleer & Rushe

Construction

12.16

10,030

5,060

98%

270

13,600

38

Isaac Agnew [9 cos]

Vehicle sales

12.15

9,996

9.,744

3%

930

28,046

39

Tennent’s NI

Drinks dist.

2.16

9,884

6,913

43%

108

4,351

40

Firstsource Solutions

Call Centre

3.16

9,858

6,639

48%

3,687

60,073

41

Coca-Cola HBC

Drinks

12.15

9,681

10,020

-3%

522

23,430

42

SONI

Utility

9.15

9,455

(147)

Profit res

129

7,779

43

Beannchor No.1

Hotels & pubs

6.16

9,028

2,508

260%

482

6,794

44

Westland Horticulture

Garden centre

8.15

8,893a

5,540

61%

426

19,522a

45

Cooneen by Design

Textiles

11.15

8,340

7,263

15%

154

5,415

46

Denvir Hlds

Retail

6.16

7,561

4,196

80%

579

6,486

47

Lagan Const. Grp

Construction

3.16

7,554

4,329

74%

527

25,332

48

Kilwaughter Hld.

Lime

4.16

7,466

7,232

3%

130

4,917

49

Charles Hurst

Vehicle sales

12.15

7,178

8,749

-18%

1,014

30,195

50

Dunbia

Meat processing

4.16

7,156

6,566

9%

3,778

77,810

Large inc

Top 100 - The largest profit-earning Northern Ireland registered companies

20

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

51-75 51

SSE Airtricity Gas

Natural Gas

3.16

Pre-tax profits £’000 6,883a

52

United Dairy Farm.

Milk processor

3.16

6,824

(714)

53

Fane Valley Co-op

Milk processor

9.14

6,765

8,719

54

Northwest Bookmak.

Bookmaker

12.15

6,749

(35,649)

55

Multi Packaging

Packaging

6.16

6,722

4,837

56

Liberty Info.Tech.

IT

12.15

6,628

57

Ulster Carpet Mills

Textiles

3.16

58

Bemis Healthcare

Paper manuf.

59

Gardrum Hlds

60

Calor Gas NI

61

No.

Company

Sector

Yr. end

Pretax pr.

Year ago £’000 (5,633)

% Change

No. Employees

Pay bill £’000

Profit rest

60

1,289a

Profit rest

1,087

30,672

2,312

52,549

354

6,277

39%

165

5,202

5,620

18%

430

21,456

6,593

8,284

-20%

564

20,006

12.15

6,543

7,627

-14%

260

7,208

Auctions

12.15

6,509

7,166

-9%

88

2,545

Gas

12.15

6,450

3,564

81%

82

3,825

O & S Holdings

Furniture

12.15

6,045

6,337

-5%

336

8,068

62

Diageo [2 cos]

Drinks

6.16

5,833

5,682

3%

258

12,614

63

Irish Salt Mining

Mining

11.15

5,793

1,652

251%

55

2,756

64

Severfield (NI)

Steelwork

3.16

5,701

3,603

58%

288

10,932

65

Elite Electronic Sy.

PCB etc

3.16

5,690

5,154

10%

n.s

3,588

66

Allstate NI

IT

12.15

5,596

(1,852)

2,107

76,496

67

Golf Holdings

Drinks distribution.

12.15

5,406

2,860

89%

2,014

27,284

68

Avondale Foods C’avn

Food manufacture

3.16

5,316

1,366

289%

425

9,034

69

Macnaughton Blair

Distribrution

12.15

5,264

3,110

69%

450

12,948

70

MJM Marine

Const. Fit out

12.15

4,948

2,387

107%

185

6,122

71

H&A Holds (NI)

Const. contracts

5.16

4,910

5,095

-4%

n.s

n.s

72

Huhtamaki Food ser.

Packaging

6.15

4,762

5,343

-11%

257

7,968

73

Gordons Chemist

Retail

4.16

4,745

2,421

96%

655

11,166

74

Brett Martin

Building materials

12.15

4,732

5,235

-10%

589

20,856

75

Lagan: Whitemountain

Construction

12.15

4,617

5,041

-9%

207

7,940

-22% Profit rest

Profit rest

Top 100 - The largest profit-earning Northern Ireland registered companies

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

21

76-100 No.

Company

Sector

Yr. end

76

Springvale EPS

Manufacturer

6.15

Pre-tax profits £’000 4,597

77

Ballyvesey Hld

Transport

9.15

4,576

78

Creagh Concrete

Manufacturer

3.16

79

Northstone (NI)

Construction

80

Prestige Insurance

81

Pretax pr.

Year ago £’000 1,652

% Change

No. Employees

178%

113

3,284

39%

2,665

4,409

3,087

43%

486

12.15

4,354

452

Large inc.

991

Insurance

3.16

4,313

(381)

Profit rest

443

Sangers NI

Distribution

9.15

4,291

11,975

-64%

216

82

Heatons (NI)

Distribution

4.16

4,273

4,368

-2%

446

83

Hastings Hotel Gp

Hotels

10.15

4,234

2,197

93%

1,185

84

Tobermore Conc

Manufacturing

4.16

4,111

6,664

-38%

198

85

Huhtamaki (Lurgan)

Paper products

12.15

4,087

3,884

5%

205

86

Walter Watson

Struct Steel

12.15

4,051

1,059

283%

221

87

Lynn’s Cty Foods

Manufacturer

8.15

3,966

2,201

81%

245

88

Skea Egg Farms

Food

12.15

3,915

2,762

42%

118

89

Moyallen Hlds

Property

12.15

3,807

23,903

-84%

62

90

SISK Healthcare

Dist medical devi.

12.15

3,773

1,991

90%

51

91

Western Build S Hl

Manufacturer

4.16

3,669

4,440

-17%

44

92

Budget Energy

Electricity supply

6.15

3,649

627

93

DCC Energy

Energy

3.16

3,631

2,980

22%

173

94

Quinn Cement (N.I)

Construction

12.15

3,588

1,175

205%

3

95

BA Kitchen Comp

Furniture

3.16

3,443

2,280

51%

237

96

Devenish (NI)

Animal feed

5.16

3,429

5,260

-35%

370

97

Decora Blind Systems Natural World Prod.

Warner Chilcott UK Lough Erne Invest.

Manufacturer Recycling Medical processor Food

12.15 12.15 12.15 12.15

3,386 3,383 3,290 3,187

3,405 2,081 2,129 4,199

-1% 63% 54% -24%

441 34 150 85

98 99 100

Large inc.

42

Pay bill £’000

3,741 81,724 16,172 41,275 13,497 7,153 4,956 11,841 5,902 7,286 6,301 6,304 2,347 2,010 2,876 1,856 1,100 5,375 121 7,369 18,530 8,855 1,382 7,265 2,254

Top 100 - The largest profit-earning Northern Ireland registered companies

22

1

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

Danske Bank Chief executive: Kevin Kingston Pre-tax profit: £117m Employment: 1,267 Pay bill: £55.6m Donegall Square West Belfast BT1 6JS Tel: 028 90 245277 www.danskebank.co.uk

NORTHERN IRELAND’S

TOP 100

COMPANIES IN PROFILE

D

anske Bank is one of the leading retail banks in Northern Ireland serving the needs of personal, business and corporate customers. It is part of the Copenhagen-based Danske Bank Group and has a network of 44 branches and three regional business centres across Northern Ireland.

Danske Bank has consistently reported strong financial performances since 2013, when it returned to profit, ahead of other local banks.

Against the backdrop of an economy still in recovery, the bank reported a pre-tax profit of £117m for 2016, with operating profit up 5% year-on-year to £91m. The increase reflected growth in both customer

lending and deposit volumes, partially offset by the negative impact of a lower Bank of England base rate. It also included higher cards-related income.

Alongside strong revenue performance, the bank saw continued net loan impairment recoveries, although these writebacks declined throughout 2016 and the bank expects this trend to continue.

A sustained focus on mortgages resulted in new mortgage lending increasing across all customer touchpoints in 2016 – but particularly via the broker channel. Mortgage approvals almost doubled in the space of a year, with a 96% uplift in 2016 compared to 2015.

It was also a good year for Business Banking. A new improved business current account was launched, Danske Small Business Digital, and a £500 cashback incentive, unique to the local small business market, was introduced for switchers and start-ups.

In corporate banking, uncertainty around Brexit was a factor in 2016. While customers were not cancelling business projects, the bank said they were also not bringing new projects forward at the same rate, and overall demand was more subdued. Corporate lending has however improved in the first quarter of 2017.

Last year also saw the first Bank of England rate change in more than seven years, to a historic low of 0.25%.

All banks are now operating in an environment of historically low interest rates for a prolonged period, and Danske Bank says this will affect its profitability moving forward.

Despite the prospect of significant change in the external environment, the bank says it remains fully committed to supporting and guiding its customers, as well as to its role as a driver of growth in the local economy.

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

23

NORTHERN IRELAND’S TOP 100 COMPANIES IN PROFILE

2

Schrader Electronics Managing director: Graeme Thompson Pre-tax profit: £61.7m Employment: 1,390 Pay bill: £54.6m

Unit 11 Technology Park Belfast Road Antrim BT41 1QS Tel: 028 94 461300 www.schraderinternational.com

S

chrader Electronics, based in Antrim, is a pioneer in tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), a vehicle safety feature that is standard in all cars. The company is a world leader in the design and manufacture of valve, mechanical and electronic system components and sensing technologies. It has been part of Sensata Technologies since October 2014.

Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. (NYSE: ST) incorporated in the Netherlands, is a global industrial technology company, a leader in the development, manufacture and sale of sensors and controls. Sensata produce a wide range of customised, innovative sensors and controls for mission-critical applications such as thermal circuit breakers in aircraft, pressure sensors in automotive systems and bimetal current and temperature control devices in electric motors. Sensata has business centres and manufacturing sites in 16 countries, plus sales and marketing offices worldwide employing 20,300 employees worldwide.

The acquisition of Schrader extended Sensata’s leadership position in pressure sensing and provided greater market penetration within the rapidly growing $2bn low pressure sensor market, which includes TPMS and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).

Schrader was acquired to add TPMS and additional low pressure sensing capabili-

ties to Sensata’s product portfolio within the Performance Sensing segment.

Schrader continues to invest in research and development, not only in the development of RTPMS and associated technologies, but also in MEMS and other low pressure applications.

Schrader Electronics promotes STEM opportunities as well as a graduate development programme and technical appren-

ticeships and has strong links with Queen’s University and Ulster University.

Schrader Electronics has been recognised with a number of accolades including the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (DMS) Creativity & Innovation in HR/L&D and the Northern Ireland Safety Group and National Irish Safety Organisation award for Top Electronic/Electrical manufacturing/Assembly company.

24

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

NORTHERN IRELAND’S TOP 100 COMPANIES IN PROFILE

3

Bombardier Managing director: Michael Ryan Pre-tax profit: £61.5m Employment: 4,558 Pay bill: £219.5m

Airport Road Belfast BT3 9DZ Tel: 028 90 458444 www.belfast.aero.bombardier.com

2

016 was another challenging year for Bombardier, as the corporation entered the second of a five-year global turnaround plan to restore it to profitability. Following a loss in 2015, Bombardier’s Northern Ireland operations recorded reduced revenues in 2016 and a pre-tax profit of $76.3m. Despite this, there was an overall deficit of $158m in capital and reserves – largely impacted by the retirement benefits scheme deficit.

Over the past year, as part of the global drive to recover performance, more than 1,000 workers were let go from the Belfast operations.

However, achievements of note during

the year included the successful service entry of Bombardier’s new C Series aircraft with Swiss International Air Lines and airBaltic. The advanced composite wings for the CS100 and CS300 are designed, manufactured and assembled in Belfast, using a unique process developed by the

4

First Trust Managing director: Des Moore

Pre-tax profit: £54.4m

Pre-tax profit: £54m

Employment: 1,222

Employment: 771

Pay bill: £57.3m

92 Ann Street Belfast BT1 3HH Tel: 028 90 325599 www.firsttrustbank.co.uk

Westland House 40 Old Westland Road Belfast BT14 6TE Tel: 08457 440088 www.niwater.com

stablished in April 2007, NI Water delivers water and sewerage services to 825,000 homes and businesses across Northern Ireland. Everyone in Northern Ireland depends on high quality drinking water and the safe return of wastewater to the environment.

NI Water says it plays a key role in safeguarding public health. It is also a vital link in the local supply chain providing dependable services to industry and business including the agri-food sector.

NI Water says it also has a vital role in protecting and enhancing the environment in extracting raw water and safely dispos-

is developing, designing and manufacturing the composite horizontal stabiliser, also made its first flight. The new jet is on track to enter service in the second half of 2018.

And 2016 also saw the roll-out of the first Irkut MC-21 aircraft with Belfast-built engine nacelles.

5

NI Water Chief executive: Sara Venning

E

company’s engineers.

At time of writing, 10 C Series aircraft are now in service, and the company has said customer feedback on the aircraft’s performance has been extremely positive.

Towards the end of the year, the nw Global 7000 business jet, for which Belfast

ing of wastewater. NI Water provides 563 million litres of fresh drinking water and takes away 316 million litres of wastewater which it treats before returning to the environment. Thousands of assets, with a value of £2.2bn, are operated and maintained to provide services to every home, hospital, school and business.

NI Water has developed a business plan for the period to 2021 known as PC15. The 6-year plan sets out how the company will continue to improve services for customers today while investing to safeguard services for future customers. NI Water is committed to working with local government to secure the medium term funding necessary to underpin the delivery of investment in better services for all its customers.

F

irst Trust is a subsidiary of AIB in the Republic of Ireland, and has gone through major changes in recent years.

Within the last four years, its workforce in Northern Ireland has gone from 1,200 people to around 700. And its branch network has also shrunk, with the announcement in February of the closure of 15 more branches — around half of its network — between June and August this year. It said there had been a 40% decline in branch usage over the last seven years, while mobile phone usage had more than doubled in two years.

As the closures were announced, it said it had set up a partnership with the Post

Office to enable customers to conduct their everyday transactions. But pre-tax profits have rallied at the bank, reaching £54m during 2016. It’s the first year that the bank has reported standalone results for Northern Ireland. Chief executive Des Moore has said business lending has grown substantially in recent times, with £600m in loans approved during 2015. First Trust has also set up several funds and loan schemes to boost certain areas of business.

26

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

NORTHERN IRELAND’S TOP 100 COMPANIES IN PROFILE

6

7

8

Viridian Group Greenwood House Newforge Lane Belfast BT9 5NF Tel: 028 9038 3757 www.viridiangroup.co.uk

120 Malone Road Belfast BT9 5HT Tel: 03457 643 643 www.nienetworks.co.uk

Northridge Finance 1 Donegall Square South, Belfast BT1 5LR Tel: 02890 724411 www.northridgeuk.com

Viridian Group Investment Chief executive: Ian Thom Pre-tax profits: £50.4m Employment: 491 Paybill: £22m

Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited Managing director: Nicholas Tarrant Pre-tax profits: £50.2m Employment: 1,258 Pay bill: £67.8m

NIIB Group Managing director: James McGee Pre-tax profits: £39m Employment: 125 Pay bill: £5.1m

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Moy Park Chief executive: Janet McCollum Pre-tax profit: £35.7m Employment: 9,230 Pay bill: £226.5m

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Norbrook Holdings Chief executive: Liam Nagle Pre-tax profit: £35.5m Employment: 2,224 Pay bill: £69.7m

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39 Seagoe Industrial Estate Craigavon BT63 5QE Tel: 028 3835 2233 www.moypark.com

Camlough Road Newry BT35 6QQ Tel: 028 3026 4435 www.norbrook.com

Corporation Square Belfast BT1 3AL Tel: 028 9055 4403 www.belfast-harbour.co.uk

iridian is one of the biggest energy companies in Northern Ireland and the Republic. It is part of I Squared Capital after its sale by former owners Arcapita. Viridian consists of Power NI, the supplier of electricity to around 600,000 homes in Northern Ireland. Its power procurement business manages around 600 MW of contracted generation capacity here. Viridian also owns Energia Group, an all-island energy business, which recently unveiled five new windfarms across counties Tyrone and Antrim. Energia supplies electricity and gas to business customers in Northern Ireland and homes and businesses in the Republic. Viridian has around 20% of the domestic electricity market Ireland-wide.

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oy Park is a £1.4bn business employing over 12,000 people across facilities in the UK, Ireland, Holland and France. The company is now one of the UK’s top 10 food companies, and achieved the ranking in the OC&C Top 150 index of Food and Drinks companies in 2016. Moy Park is Northern Ireland’s largest private sector business and one of Europe’s leading poultry producers. In 2015, Moy Park joined the JBS Group — the world’s largest protein company and second largest global food business.

Moy Park is a vertically integrated business processing 5.5 million fresh chickens per week sourced from 800 poultry farmers in Northern Ireland and England.

Although best known for poultry, Moy Park is a major European producer of beef products, vegetarian products such as spring rolls and onion rings, as well as desserts including donuts and apple pies — a full range from starters and main courses to desserts.

Moy Park continues to grow as part of its strategic investment programme, investing over £50m in operations in 2016 and enhancing its position as one of the UK’s most advanced food manufacturing companies.

IE Networks, which owns the electricity transmission and distribution networks in Northern Ireland, increased network investment by 15% to £101.4m during 2016.

This investment was primarily to refurbish and replace worn assets and to maintain the reliability and safety of the electricity network for its 860,000 customers. The investment programme also included the construction of a 50 kilometre transmission circuit between Tamnamore and Omagh to facilitate the flow of power from renewable generators in the west to the demand centres in the east.

NIE Networks also connected circa. 230MW of renewable generation the electricity network during 2016. A significant milestone was reached in December 2016 when 1GW of connected generation was achieved – representing over 25% of total electricity consumption. A further 670MW of renewable generation is expected to be connected by 2020 which will increase the total connected renewable capacity to more than 1.7GW. NIE Networks also reads and maintains all electricity meters in NI.

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orbrook is a leading global provider of veterinary pharmaceuticals for farm and companion animals. Headquartered in Newry, Co. Down, it is an award winning company and one of the largest, privately-owned veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world.

Its manufacturing facilities are on three sites in Newry.

Another in Kenya and one in Co Monaghan (ROI) are licensed by the world’s leading authorities.

Its portfolio of more than 300 trusted products includes antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, anthelmintics and intramammaries and are distributed in 120 countries through regional sales teams and a network of distributors.

The company said it had another strong year in 2016 with increasing revenue in all regions. It also strengthened its product offering in both the EU and North America, with new product launches in both the farm and companion animal sectors. The company adds: “We continue to work closely with our customers in each market to identify product opportunities.”

IIB Group, trading as Northridge Finance, is an asset finance company in Belfast with a UK-wide operation. Northridge is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Ireland UK plc and has been part of Bank of Ireland Group since 1984. Established more than 60 years ago, the business traded solely in Northern Ireland until 1999 and expanded into Great Britain, which now forms a valuable part of business income. Northridge is a prime lender providing hire purchase, personal contract purchase and lease arrangements via motor dealers, commercial brokers and its SME direct sales team. The business’s main focus is with motor dealers where the business thrives on a fully transparent partnership model.

Northridge’s joint venture product was recognised as the Best Finance Product at the European Motor Finance Awards in 2015. The business employs around 125 people, mainly located at Bank of Ireland’s offices at Donegall Square South, Belfast. The company said: “Field teams are achieving good customer outcomes and particularly strong market shares in Northern Ireland and Scotland.”

Belfast Harbour Chief executive: Roy Adair Pre-tax profit: £33.5m Employment: 138 Pay bill: £7m

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he Harbour and its port customers now handle 70% of Northern Ireland’s seaborne trade and circa 20% of the entire island’s. It is also Northern Ireland’s most active property developer investing almost £42m in projects in 2016 and committing a further £105m to future initiatives.

The scale of economic activity within Belfast Harbour and the positive impact which it has upon Northern Ireland’s wider economy is highly significant.

The Harbour is Northern Ireland’s leading logistics and distribution hub delivering best-in-class infrastructure, built assets and services to support exporters and importers, ferry and cruise ship operators, companies providing services to shippers and cargo owners.

The Harbour is a key facilitator of economic activity throughout the region with over 30% of Northern Ireland’s gross domestic product being supported by its activities.

In 2016 Belfast Harbour handled 23m tonnes, including a record 503,000 freight vehicles. This represents a 60% increase since 2010.

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Clarendon House Belfast BT1 3BG Tel: 028 9032 5465 www.wrbarnett.com

Seagoe Industrial Estate Craigavon BT63 5QD Tel: 028 3833 5815 www.almacgroup.com

197 Airport Road West Belfast BT3 9ED Tel: 03454 55 55 55 www.phoenixnaturalgas.com

W&R Barnett Managing director: William Barnett Pre-tax profit: £29.8m Employment: 512 Pay bill: £28m

Almac Group Managing director: Alan Armstrong Pre-tax profit: £28m Employment: 3,554 Pay bill: £151.5m

Phoenix Natural Gas Managing director: Michael McKinstry Pre-tax profit: £25.3m Employment: 113 Pay bill: £5.6m

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&R Barnett is the holding company of a group of international commodity trading, storage, agribusiness and industrial companies. It is a global trader of molasses and related liquid commodities, and the leading trader of grain and nongrain animal feed commodities in Ireland. The company is also an independent supplier of bulk liquid storage facilities to the UK food, feed, industrial and energy sectors with over 400,000 cubic meters of storage assets located on the Mersey, Humber, Thames and Avonmouth.

Through subsidiary, John Thompson & Sons, it is the largest manufacturer of animal feed in Northern Ireland.

It entered the corrugated packaging market in 2015 after acquiring Logson Holdings. Turnover fell reflecting the fall in global commodity prices. Profits also fell in the year in the absence of the one-off sale of listed investments a year earlier.

In addition to significant capital investment, W&R Barnett acquired The Boxshop Limited in East Kilbride, Scotland and Nordische Futterfette Carroux GmbH & Co Handels KG in Hamburg.

he Almac Group is an established contract development and manufacturing organisation providing integrated services to the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors globally.

The company is privately owned and has grown organically over almost 50 years and now employs over of 4,800 people globally.

Almac is headquartered in Craigavon with additional operations throughout Europe, across the US (Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California) and in Asia (Singapore and Tokyo). In 2017 it announced a new facility in Dundalk, Co Louth to guarantee continued single market access following Brexit. Last year the company announced investment plans totalling £31m to expand its operations in Europe and North America, increasing its global headcount to reach 5,000 by the end of this year.

And £20m is being spent on expanding Almac’s US headquarter site in Souderton, Pennsylvania as well as leasing new office space in nearby Lansdale as part of its ongoing global growth strategy and in response to increased client demand for its range of services.

hoenix Natural Gas is the largest gas distribution business here operating a distribution network across the greater Belfast Area of 3,500km of pipeline. It brings natural gas to over 50% of the population. After 20 years here, Phoenix Natural Gas has successfully developed the market and built its network, connecting 200,000 customers and establishing natural gas as the fuel of choice for customers in the licence area.

Since 1996, the company has made natural gas available to 320,000 properties in the original license area of Greater Belfast and invested £500m building its network. Phoenix Natural Gas has connected five new customers every working hour and constructed 750 metres of pipeline every day for the past 20 years. The company connects around 10,000 properties on average every year. Phoenix Natural Gas also recently began its extension of the pipeline into additional towns in Co Down in a £60m expansion project, bringing gas to a further 28,000 homes and businesses. The project started in March 2016 and will see an additional 350km of pipeline developed, bringing natural gas to 13 towns including Saintfield.

Terex GB (materials processing) President: Kieran Hegarty Pre-tax profit: £23.4m Employment: 1,778 Pay bill: £60m

SHS Group Chief executive: Elaine Birchall Pre-tax profit: £21.1m Employment: 764 Pay bill: £29.1

Drumquin Road, Omagh, BT78 5PN Tel: 0845 0305 200 www.terex.com/en/materials-processing/

199 Airport Road West Belfast BT3 9ED Tel:028 9045 4647 www.shs-group.com

John Henderson Holdings Managing directors: Geoffrey (l) and Martin Agnew Pre-tax profit (after £3.5m revaluation): £20.3m Employment: 2,998 Pay bill: £58.6m Hightown Avenue Mallusk BT36 4RT Tel: 028 9034 2733 ww.henderson-group.com

he SHS Group, founded in 1975, operates in the fast moving consumer goods sector in the UK, Ireland and increasingly in international markets.

Regularly ranked as one of Northern Ireland’s most profitable companies, in 2015, the SHS Group had a turnover in excess of £379m and profits before tax of £21m. Trading performance exceeded expectations for the year. From its Belfast headquarters, the group supports its commercial divisions with centres of excellence including information systems, finance, quality assurance, logistics, customer services and corporate marketing.

Employing 758 people throughout the UK and Ireland, the company owns brands such as WKD, Shloer, Bottlegreen and Merrydown Cider and distributes a portfolio of well-known brands including Jordans, Ryvita, Pot Noodle, Finish, Mars Drinks and Colgate. Other owned brands include Crucials Sauces and Maguire & Paterson matches.

SHS Group is also the largest supplier of own label herbs and spices in Great Britain and manufactures a range of branded and private label condiments and sauces.

holesaler, retailer and foodservice provider Henderson Group recently announced record results for 2016. Posting a pre-tax profit of £24m (before a £3.5m revaluation), up 11% on 2015, and a £699m turnover for the year, directors attributed the results to the continued level of investment throughout their retail network, infrastructure and employees which reached £34m in 2016. A comprehensive strategic growth and profitability plan implemented in 2016 included continued focus on delivering excellence in customer service, investing in staff, developing information systems, maximising operational efficiency, enhancing fresh food ranges and in-store proposition, and continues to yield results. The strategy delivered additional sales of £40m last year. The group co-invested with retailers to establish a market leading portfolio of supermarket, forecourt and convenience stores to boost sales performance, and as a result, the SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO brands continue to dominate the symbol sector.

In 2016, 16 new stores were opened, bringing the network to 422 stores, with 79 company-owned by Henderson.

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erex GB is the American-owned and Northern Ireland-registered company which purchased Powerscreen plc. It is part of Terex Corporation, a NYSE-listed global organisation. Terex GB is part of Terex Material Processing, one of five divisions of Terex Corporation.

Terex Material Processing designs and manufacturesmobile crushing, screening and washing equipment and the material processing group’s main product lines include Powerscreen, Terex Finlay and Terex Mineral.

Terex, which employs nearly 16,000 people worldwide, bought JMF in Ballymoney in June 2015. It said it had bought the smaller company in anticipation of expansion in its Terex Washing Systems (TWS) and Terex Environmental Equipment divisions.

In the year to December 31, 2015, Terex had pre-tax profits of around £24.5m – down from £22.8m.

Powerscreen, one of Northern Ireland’s best known names in manufacturing of the last half-century marked 50 years in business last year with major celebrations in Dungannon.

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Old Bushmills Distillery Master distiller: Colum Egan Pre-tax profit: £20m Employment: 105 Pay bill: £3.8m 2 Distillery Road Bushmills Co Antrim BT57 8XH Tel: 028 207 33218 www.bushmills.com

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orthern Ireland’s best-known whiskey maker enjoyed a bumper year in 2015, according to its most-recently filed accounts. Part of the 18 months in the accounting period covers a period under the ownership of Mexican drinks giant Jose Cuervos, after the sale of Bushmills by Diageo.

The brand’s new owners filed a planning application for a major expansion of the Bushmills facility in a bid to double production capacity. It plans to build a £30m expansion to its current distillery and has now been given permission for the facility which, it says, will “effectively double production capacity”. It’s also planning to build almost 30 huge warehouses to mature its world-famous Irish whiskey. A strategic report filed with the accounts says its new owners are planning to develop the company through expanding into new markets and increasing sales.

The Cuervo Group appointed JC Master Distribution Ltd for worldwide distribution in January last year. The report added: “Bushmills is one of the leaders in the Irish whiskey category and demonstrated a good level of performance in its major markets.”

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3 Drumard Road Magherafelt BT45 8QA. Tel: 028 7964 2558 www.fpmccann.co.uk

55 Diamond Road Crumlin Co Antrim Tel: 0 28 9442 2413 www.randox.com

FP McCann Group Managing director: Eoin McCann Pre-tax profit: £19.2m Employment: 1,319 Pay bill: £46.4m

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uilding and civil engineering firm FP McCann Group reported a more than 50% jump in pre-tax profits to reach £19m. Sales at the Co Londonderry firm, which specialises in pre-cast concrete, soared by 35% to reach £227m in the 12 months to the end of December. The previous financial year - when sales reached £168.7m - covered an 11-month period. Employee numbers also increased at the Magherafelt-based firm by 28% to 1,319. The group carries out building and civil engineering work, including housebuilding, and makes construction products. It currently works on 12 manufacturing sites in Northern Ireland and England, but has also announced plans to acquire a business in Scotland. A spokesman for the company said: “People already know FP McCann in Northern Ireland for being a quarrying and civil engineering supplier. What goes relatively unknown is just how big a player we are in the UK.” A report filed with the accounts added that the firm was benefited from growth in demand in the construction industry. In February, it announced plans to buy a business in Uddingston, Scotland from Laing O’Rourke.

Randox Holdings Managing director: Dr Peter FitzGerald Pre-tax profit: £18m Employment: 1,129 Pay bill: £30.4m

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andox is a global leader in healthcare diagnostics.

More than 5% of the world’s population –receives medical diagnosis using Randox products each year. Randox is the largest diagnostic company from the UK and exports over 95% of products worldwide.

Randox has an extensive portfolio including food diagnostics, alcohol and drugs testing, and a comprehensive test menu of markers for disease diagnosis and risk. The company has a major focus on R&D, with scientists working in pioneering research into common illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Up to 16% of turnover is reinvested in R&D. It has key manufacturing and research and development sites in Northern Ireland, Ireland, India, and in the USA. Developments at Randox Science Park in Antrim are continuing, and the company has also opened a corporate facility at Dundarave Estate in Co Antrim. Randox has also raised its profile considerably after the first of a five year deal as title sponsor of the Grand National racing festival, and appointing retired champion jockey Sir Anthony McCoy as a brand ambassador.

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John Graham Group executive chairman: Michael Graham Pre-tax profit: £17.2m Employment: 1,761 Pay bill: £73.2m

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Lissan Coal Company Managing director: Michael Loughran Pre-tax profit: £16.5m Employment: 176 Pay bill: £5.3m

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TG Eakin Managing director: Paul Eakin Pre-tax profit: £16.5m Employment: 64 Pay bill: £1.8m

Seagate Vice President, Heads Operations: Dr Brian Burns Pre-tax profit: £15m Employment: 1,395 Pay bill: £64.4m

Ballygowan Road Hillsborough Tel: 028 9268 9500 www.graham.co.uk

16 Churchtown Road Cookstown Tel: 028 8676 5588 www.lcccoal.com

15 Ballystockart Road Comber Tel: 028 9187 1000 www.eakin.eu

Springtown Industrial Estate Londonderry Tel: 028 7127 4000 www.seagate.com

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raham Holdings works across the UK and Ireland. It operates in the building, civil engineering, interior fit-out, facilities management, environmental and energy management and highway maintenance markets. Projects include work on a refurbishment of Senator, 85 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4, on behalf of Legal & General.

It is also working on the North Sea Link Interconnector, a 1400 MW HVDC electricity transmission interconnector connecting Kvilldal in Norway and Blyth in England. GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership, a joint venture between GRAHAM Construction and BAM. has won the Most Considerate Site at this year’s Considerate Constructors Scheme’s 2017 National Site Awards for its work on the Ulster Hospital’s new general ward block.

CC Group is made up of LCC Coal, LCC Oil, Go Power and a number of other companies.

Profits are largely derived from overseas bulk trading activities as far afield as South Africa, Columbia and across Europe. It recently bought Cloghan Point Oil Terminal near Carrickfergus from AES Power in a multimillion pound deal. And in October last year, it bought out its joint venture partner, Norwegian oil giant Statoil ASA, to acquire full ownership of the Maydown oil terminal in Co Londonderry.

Go Power has risen to hold a prominent share of the Northern Ireland business power market, government and council contracts to supply electricity. LCC Power has grown from employing seven people in 2012 to close to over 170. LCC’s oil division was established in 1997 to expand the range of fuels available to customers.

Kainos Group plc Managing director: Brendan Mooney Pre-tax profit: £14.3m Employment: 733 Pay bill: £35.4m

Montupet (UK) Ltd Managing director: John McMichael Pre-tax profit: £13.7m Employment: 593 Pay bill: £19.9m

4-6 Upper Crescent Belfast BT7 1NT Tel:028 9057 1100 www.kainos.com

Dunmurry Belfast BT17 9HN 028 9030 1049 www.montupet.fr

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ueen’s University spin-out Kainos had another successful year after floating on the London Stock Exchange in summer 2015.

Kainos, led by Brendan Mooney, provides information technology expertise to global clients in government, financial services and healthcare, provides software design, support and implementation services, and project management.

Mr Mooney was recognised as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Ireland in 2016.

Kainos currently employs more than 700 staff across its Belfast, Londonderry, London, Bristol and Gdansk operations.

Increasing trends towards digitisation and adoption of enterprise Software as a Service (SaaS) have generated strong demand for its digital services in public and commercial markets in the UK and Europe.

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ontupet has been operating in Northern Ireland since 1989 and is now part of the Canadian industrial group Linamar, based in Guelph, Ontario. The Montupet Group was purchased by Linamar through a “friendly” acquisition in February 2016.

This acquisition was to add a leading player in the design and manufacture of complex aluminium light casting to the Linamar capabilities. The larger group now consists of 58 manufacturing plants worldwide with a total workforce of 25,500 and total turnover of CAN $ 6.06B, and net earnings of CAN $ 696M. The product range encompasses engine, transmission, driveline components and assemblies and the brand Skyjack manufacturing scissor lifts and telescopic booms. The Dunmurry plant makes cast aluminium cylinder heads for petrol and diesel engines used by Ford, Peugeot and others.

G Eakin is a Comber-based company which makes medical skincare products for use in stoma and wound care.

With a turnover of £28m, the family-run Eakin Group is one of Northern Ireland’s biggest success stories in the health sector.

The firm’s biggest market is the US but its products are sold in 40 countries around the world.

In 2014, the company invested £12m extending its Comber manufacturing facility to over 100,000 sq ft.

It also acquired English firm Cliffe Medical, which owns Respond Plus in Larne, for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition of Cliffe was TG Eakin’s first since 2007, when it took over Pelican Healthcare in Cardiff. The company was founded by Tom Eakin and is now run by his sons Paul and Jeremy.

Thompson Aero Seating Director: Gary Montgomery Pre-tax profit: £13.7m Employment: 285 Pay bill: £12.4m 50 Seagoe Industrial Estate Portadown BT63 5QE Tel: 028 3833 4000 www.thompsonaero.com

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hompson Aero Seating makes airline seating and says it is “recognised for cutting edge design, engineering and manufacture of premium business-class, full flat-bed airline seating”. In December last year, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has acquired Thompson Aero Seating in a multi-million pound deal. To meet increased demand Thompson’s first production facility was secured at the Seagoe Industrial Park, Portadown in 2011, and the manufacture of the first Thompson Vantage seats began. Customers include Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Air Canada, Brussels Airlines and Austrian Airlines.

Thompson Aero Seating has said it is looking forward to expanding its capacity in light of the deal. Thompson Aero Seating was founded by James Thompson though he later sold his shares.

eagate is the industry leader in hard disc drives and storage solutions.

The company offers the industry’s broadest portfolio of hard disc drives, solid state drives and hybrid drives, as well as an extensive line of retail storage products for consumers and small businesses.

At its wafer fabrication facility in Springtown, Londonderry, the company develops and manufactures recording heads, which write information onto and read information from the recording disk inside a hard drive. The Springtown facility, which has been operating for over 20 years, is the largest factory of its type.

Dunnes Stores Chief executive: Margaret Heffernan Pre-tax profit: £13.2m Employment: 1,474 Pay bill: £18.5m 46-50 South Great George’s Street Dublin 2 Tel: 00353 1 475 1111 www.dunnesstores.ie

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rish grocery and clothes multiple Dunnes Stores operates one Northern Ireland-registered company. Dunnes Stores (Bangor) consolidates the trading figures for all of the Dunnes Stores in Northern Ireland as well as a smaller number of outlets in England. The group describes its main business as the retailing of textiles, grocery and houseware goods.

The company has carried out major renovations to its store at Belfast’s Forestside Shopping Centre, and is also renovating its store at the Abbeycentre in Newtownabbey.

It has closed stores in east Belfast’s Connswater Shopping Centre and Park Centre in the west of the city, as well as Antrim, Ballymoney and Portadown.

The directors of the UK firm, Frank Dunne and Margaret Heffernan, are the driving forces behind the Dunnes Stores success story of the modern era.

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Capita Managed IT Solutions Managing director: Ed Brown Pre-tax profit: £12.9m Employment: 770 Pay bill: £29.7m Hillview House 61 Church Road Newtownabbey, Tel: 028 9085 9085 www.capita-mits.co.uk

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Progressive House 33-37 Wellington Place, Belfast Tel 028 9024 4926 www.theprogressive.com

Fenaghy Road Ballymena BT42 1PY 028 2564 1212 www.wrightbus.com

Progressive Building Society Chief executive: Darina Armstrong Pre-tax profit: £11.8m Employment: 175 Pay bill: £6.4m

Wrights Group Chief executive: Mark Nodder Pre-tax profit: £61.5m Employment: 4,558 Pay bill: £52.5m

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Retlan Manufacturing MD: Mark Cuskeran (SDC Trailers) Pre-tax profit: £11.5m Employment: 828 Pay bill: £25.7m 116 Deerpark Road Toomebridge Tel: 028 9446 0898 www.sdctrailers.com

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ewtownabbey-based Capita Managed IT Solutions is a major IT services organisation, delivering end to end IT solutions, private cloud and IT managed services to education, energy and utilities, health, public and private sector organisations.

Working with over 3,000 customers across the UK and Ireland, Capita says it “helps customers to achieve cost efficiencies and service excellence through the delivery of outstanding IT services in an ever-changing business landscape”. It also invests heavily in its staff.

Its Newtownabbey base supports customers including The Education Authority NI, the Department of Justice and Equality (Ireland), Balfour Beatty, NSPCC, Viridian, and Transport for London.

Capita Managed IT Solutions is part of Capita IT Services, a division of Capita plc.

Andor Technology Managing director: Gary Wilmot Pre-tax profit: £11m Employment: 284 Pay bill: £14.8m Springvale Business Park 7 Millennium Way Belfast Tel: 028 9023 7126 www.andor.com

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ndor Technology, now part of Oxford Instruments plc, manufactures high performance scientific imaging cameras, spectroscopy solutions and microscopy systems for research and OEM markets.

Andor, which started out as a spin-out from Queen’s University, has been involved in the photonics industry for over 20 years and is expert in light measuring solutions that allow consumers to perform light measurements previously considered impossible.

The company’s products are used in a wide range of applications including medical research to further the understanding of heart disease, cancer and neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It also has applications for forensic science and astronomy. The company had been a plc in its own right before its takeover by Oxford Instruments in 2014.

rogressive Building Society is Northern Ireland’s largest locally-owned financial institution and its only locally-owned mortgage and savings provider. Pre-tax profits were down 16% to £11.8m though mortgage lending rose by 11% to £205m. Employing 175 people across 12 branches, Progressive has a strong presence across Northern Ireland and describes itself as “an integral part of the economy enabling local savings and members to fund home ownership for local people”. The company says that as a mutual, it ensures all decisions are taken in the best interest of its members. There are no demands for shareholder dividends. Instead Progressive says there is a strong focus on re-investing in the economy, in Progressive’s branches, in the development of new technology, staff training and new products to meet the needs of its members and customer base.

Firmus Energy Distribution Managing director: Michael Scott Pre-tax profit: £10.9m Employment: 92 Pay bill: £4.3m firmus energy, Kilbegs Business Park,Antrim Tel: 028 9442 7814 www.firmusenergy.co.uk

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irmus energy describes itself as “one of Northern Ireland’s youngest and most innovative energy companies”. The company supplies natural gas throughout Northern Ireland and is also responsible for operating a gas distribution network within the province. firmus energy has brought natural gas to over 30 towns, cities and villages across Northern Ireland, along the route of the North-West and South-North gas transmission pipelines. The company initially focussed on connecting large industrial and commercial customers to its distribution network before moving onto smaller businesses, followed by new build and social housing areas. It has now constructed over 1,100 km of natural gas pipelines and serves over 80,000 customers. The company says it continues to invest with the support of owners, iCON Infrastructure.

ased in Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Wrights Group currently employs nearly 2000 people and is one of Europe’s leading independently-owned manufacturers of public transport vehicles. In recent years the company has delivered 1000 iconic New Routemaster buses for service in London as well as repeat orders for double decker buses in Hong Kong and Singapore. In November 2016 the company unveiled the world’s first hydrogen-powered double decker, and continues to lead within the field of low and zero emission buses. It recently received a deal worth around £4m for its StreetLite buses with UK transport giant Stagecoach. It will provide 18 integral StreetLite single deck buses and 9 bus bodies on Volvo chassis. The company has also agreed to purchase the former premises of cigarette giant JTI Gallaher’s in Ballymena.

Hilton Foods (UK) Ltd Executive director: Nigel Majewski Pre-tax profits: £10.4m Employment: 18 Pay bill:£5m c/o PwC 8 Laganbank Road Belfast Tel: 028 9024 5454 www.hiltonfoodgroupplc.com

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ilton Foods, which changed its name from Hilton Meats last year, is part of the Hilton Food Group plc group of companies. The group supplies major international food retailers from facilities in the UK. The company buys is meats from a global base of suppliers, which it then processes and packs in large scale meat-packing plants for distribution by third-party hauliers to customers.

The company says its plants operate at “high volume levels necessary to produce competitive unit packing costs, whilst achieving the levels of hygiene, food safety assurance, shelf life and product quality”.

etlan Manufacturing is a holding company with interests in a number of engineering companies specialising in the manufacture and sale of commercial trailers — SDC Trailers — as well as the sale of commercial vehicle and trailer parts. The group is registered in Toomebridge. Last year SDC Trailers was sold to CIMC Vehicles in China in one of three big deals last year involving the sale of Northern Ireland assets to Chinese firms. SDC Trailers is the largest trailer manufacturer in the UK and Ireland, with production facilities in Toomebridge, Antrim and Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

SDC offers heavy duty trailers for the road transport and logistics industries including box vans, curtainsiders, skeletals, platforms, urban and extended length trailers.

It has been in business for 39 years and employs 990 staff across the four sites.

First Derivatives Chief executive: Brian Conlon Pre-tax profit: £10.4m Employment: 1,306 Pay bill: £65.7m 3 Canal Quay Newry BT35 6BP Tel: 028 3025 2242 www.firstderivatives.com

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irst Derivatives (FD) employs over 1,700 staff and provides software to enable the world’s largest finance, technology, manufacturing, retail and energy institutions to meet demanding data management challenges. The company also provides consulting services within capital markets, where customers include investment banks, brokers, exchanges, regulators and hedge funds. FD’s consulting business has built a reputation as one of the leading niche capital markets consulting companies in the world. It provides software products in areas such as market surveillance, trading, regulatory reporting, transaction cost analysis and algorithmic testing. Its technology can be adapted to the world of Internet of Things and other vertical markets such as manufacturing and telecoms with data challenges similar to those found in capital markets.

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McAleer and Rushe Managing director: Martin Magee Pre-tax profit: £10m Employment: 270 Pay bill: £13.6m

Isaac Agnew Managing director: Yuile Magee Pre-tax profit: £61.5m Employment: 4,558 Pay bill: £219.5m

17-19 Dungannon Road Cookstown Co Tyrone Tel: 028 8676 3741 www.mcaleer-rushe.co.uk

4 Boucher Crescent Belfast Tel: 028 9038 0325 www.agnewcars.com

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Tennent’s NI Managing director: Tom McCusker Pre-tax profit: £9.9m Employment: 108 Pay bill: £3.3m 15 Dargan Road Belfast BT3 9LS

Tel: 028 9595 2100 www.candcgroupplc.com

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Firstsource Solutions Managing director: Rajesh Subramaniam Pre-tax profit: £9.9m Employment: 3,687 Pay bill: £60m Springtown Business Park Londonderry Tel: 028 7130 4600 www.firstsource.com

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12 Manse Road Belfast Tel:028 9079 4336 www.soni.ltd.uk

The Merchant Hotel Waring Street Belfast Tel: 028 9023 4888 www.themerchanthotel.com

cAleer and Rushe is based in Cookstown with offices in London, Dublin and Belfast. The company employs 270 people in the UK and Ireland and will celebrate 50 years in business in 2017 with an expected £300m of design and build turnover.

The business a strong presence and growing client base with 22 active sites including Edinburgh, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Dublin, Belfast and several London projects. The company focuses on residential, commercial office, student accommodation and turnkey hotel projects across a range of brands. Projects in Northen Ireland include a new Maldron Hotel in Belfast city centre and student accommodation in the city. Managing director Martin Magee said its “dedication, expertise and professionalism” helped the firm stand out in the construction sector.

Coca-Cola HBC Managing director: Matthieu Seguin Pre-tax profit: £9.7m Employment: 522 Pay bill: £23.4m Knockmore Hill Lisburn BT28 2SZ Tel: 028 9264 2000 www.coca-colahellenicireland.com

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oca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland is a member of the 28-country Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, a franchisee of the Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola HBC has been operating in Northern Ireland since 1939.

From its manufacturing plant at Knockmore Hill in Lisburn and office facility in Dublin, it produces, distributes, markets and sells a wide range of soft drinks to an all-Ireland market.

The company’s extensive product portfolio includes Deep RiverRock water, Fruice fruit juice, Powerade and carbonated soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero and Fanta.

he Agnew Group is Northern Ireland’s leading motor vehicle retailer group, and is also counted as one of the UK’s top 25 franchised dealers. Established in 1931 by the Agnew family, it joined the Sytner Group of companies in 2012. Sytner is owned by the Penske Automotive Group, which is listed on the NYSE. The business operates 16 dealerships in Belfast, Newtownabbey and Portadown, representing 10 manufacturer brands. In April 2016 Agnew AutoStore opened in Portadown, selling used cars from both the Agnew and non-Agnew brands. The business also operates Agnew Corporate, Trade Parts Specialists (TPS), Agnew Repair Centre, and Agnew Trade Centre. It is to open a new £6m Porsche showroom at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast in late 2017. A service centre is to open close to that location.

System Operator Northern Ireland General manager: Robin McCormick Pre-tax profit: £9.4m Employment: 129 Pay bill: £7.8m

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ONI is the transmission system operator (TSO) of the electricity grid in Northern Ireland. The grid provides the high capacity ‘motorway’ for transporting electricity. SONI was founded in 2000 and is regulated by the Utility Regulator. SONI also connects renewable energy production, reducing Northern Ireland’s reliance on imported fuels. In 2009 SONI was purchased by EirGrid and now operates as part of the EirGrid Group.

Since 2014 SONI has been responsible for transmission investment planning activities previously conducted by NIE Networks. It is engaged in a long-running bid to build a North-South Interconnector between Northern Ireland and the Republic, which it says is neecedfor future security of supply of electricity across the island. It has held a public inquiry to hear views on the interconnector.

ennent’s NI is a manufacturer, owner and distributor of drinks brands, combining strong distribution, wholesale marketing capabilities, bolstered by a decided sales force.

The company announced an investment of £1.2m to create 25 new jobs two years ago, and to form a commercial business support centre in Belfast. Its brand portfolio includes Magners Cider, as well as beer, wine and soft drink brands. Beer offerings include Tennent’s, Becks Vier, Stella Artois, Staropramen, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Heverlee, Clonmel 1650 and Corona Extra. The company is part of C&C Group plc in the Republic of Ireland. C&C Group recently opened Northern Ireland-born drinks industry veteran Jim Clerkin to the post of non-executive director. He is also president and chief executive of Moët Hennessy North America.

Beannchor No 1 Managing director: Bill Wolsey Pre-tax profit: £9m Employment: 482 Pay bill: £6.8m

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eannchor Group has grown into Northern Ireland’s biggest hospitality group, with interests ranging from a chain of pizzeria to pubs and hotels. The group, which was founded

by Bill Wolsey, is behind the luxury Merchant Hotel in Belfast, as well as owning and running some of the city’s best-known pubs. In addition, it also leases out a large number of bars to other operators. In recent years it has diversified into a chain of six family-friendly pizza restaurants, Little Wing. Last year the company unveiled its latest property, the Bullitt Hotel in the city’s Church Lane. Conall Wolsey, the son of founder Bill, has revealed plans to take the Bullitt hotel concept to Dublin. His brother Luke is responsible for the Little Wing part of the business. Changes in a financing agreement with Goldman Sachs have increased profits in its latest results.

all centre giant Firstsource has been operating in Northern Ireland since 2006 and Sky is one of its key clients across its sites in Belfast and Londonderry. There are a total of 951 employees working with Sky in Londonderry and 386 in Belfast. Firstsource recently announced a 10 year extension of its contract to provide customer service to Sky customers. India-based Firstsource describes itself as “a leading global provider of customized business process management (BPM) services to the healthcare, telecom and media and banking and financial services industries. Clients include Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 firms. It employs more than 26,000 people in 46 centres with operations in India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, the UK and the US. They have been a major recipient of Invest NI grants to bring employment to the north-west of Northern Ireland.

Westland Horticulture Managing director: Edward Conroy Pre-tax profit: £8.9m Employment: 426 Pay bill: £19.5m 14 Granville Industrial Estate 90 Granville Road, Dungannon Tel: 028 8772 7500 www.gardenhealth.com

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estland Horticulture is one of the leading horticultural companies in the UK, creating gardening, wild bird care and pet care products.

Since it was set up in 1990, it has grown to have over 750 employees, delivering branded goods to consumers across the UK, Republic of Ireland and more recently Europe.

Brand names include Gro-Sure, Aftercut, Resolva and Peckish — and their popularity means there are on average three Westland products in every home. Its Resolva and Aftercut brands are the fastest-growing lawn and weedkiller products. In July 2015, Westland acquired William Sinclair.

The company is now moving into Europe and trades in Germany, where it owns the popular Seramis brand, and also distributes to retailers in Poland.

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Cooneen by Design Director: Mike Coles Pre-tax profit: £8.3m Employment: 154 Pay bill: £5.4m 1 Dark Lane Ardwick Manchester M12 641 Tel: 0161 273 5213 www.cooneengroup.com

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Denvir Holdings Managing director: Pete Boyle Pre-tax profit: £7.6m Employment: 579 Pay bill: £6.5m Diamond House 7-19 Royal Avenue Belfast Tel: 028 9064 4606 www.argento.com

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Lagan Construction Group Chief executive: Kevin Anthony Lagan Pre-tax profit: £7.6m Employment: 527 Pay bill: £25.3m Rosemount House Belfast Tel: 028 9055 7880 www.laganconstructiongroup.com

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Kilwaughter Holdings Managing director: Simon McDowell Pre-tax profit: £7.5m Employment: 130 Pay bill: £4.9m 9 Starbog Road Larne Tel: 028 2826 2144 www.K-Rend.co.uk

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Charles Hurst Operations director: Colin McNab Pre-tax profit: £7m Employment: 1,014 Pay bill: £30.2m

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Dunbia Director: Jim Dobson Pre-tax profit: £7m Employment: 3,778 Pay bill: £77.8m

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62 Boucher Road Balmoral Belfast BT12 6LR Tel: 0844 659 7230 www.charleshurstgroup.co.uk

Granville Industrial Estate Granville Road Dungannon Tel: 028 8772 3350 www.dunbia.com

Millennium House 17-25 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7AQ Tel: 0345 601 9093 www.sseairtricity.com

ooneen by Design (formerly Cooneen Textiles) and its subsidiaries are based in Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone, and its registered office is in Broughshane, Co Antrim.

It is a successful manufacturer of children’s character clothing and has attracted a number of established high street brands as customers. The Cooneen Group also includes Hawk Holdings in the USA, a supplier of specialist clothing.

A recent addition was Images at Work, a distributor of specialist clothing. The group’s prinicipal activity is described as the design, supply, manufacture and distribution of specific clothing to a global marketplace.

Last year the company celebrated 50 years in business. The group is one of the business interests of industrialist, John B McGuckian.

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harles Hurst is one of the biggest motor retailers in Northern Ireland, and is part of UK plc Lookers. Charles Hurst represents 21 automotive brands across seven sites.

Founded in 1911, its headquarters are located in Belfast on a 20-acre site, making it the largest automotive retail park in Europe.

The company has expanded in recent times, opening a luxurious new retail unit showcasing specialist car brands, Aston Martin and Bentley. In the Republic of Ireland, the opening of Usedirect on the Naas Road in Dublin is the company’s seventh branch of its used car market provision. It was recently recognised as the top motor retail group for customer care and service provision in Northern Ireland by Motability UK for the third year in a row.

envir Holdings is the parent company of Northern Ireland-based jewellery chain Argento. The company was founded by Strabane-born Pete Boyle, and is now run by Mr Boyle and his wife Ciara. There are now 51 Argento and Pandora shops around the UK and Ireland. Argento Contemporary Jewellery Limited is now a fully-owned subsidiary of Denvir Holdings.

The holding company also owns Pyrrha Ltd, which was bought in 2013 as the corporate vehicle for stores branded Pandora, the Danish brand of charm bracelets.

From June 2015 to June 2016, the company increased oeprating profits by 79% to £7.8m. Over the year, the firm opened five new stores and relocated or refurbished another eight. In November this year, the company will celebrate 20 years in trading.

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n the last four decades, Jim and brother Jack Dobson have grown their small Dungannon butcher shop into meat giant Dunbia, with sites throughout the UK and Ireland, turning over almost £800m each year.

Set up in 1976 after the brothers bought over a small frozen meat shop in Dungannon, Dunbia has grown to employ nearly 4,000 staff — 1,200 working in Northern Ireland — across a dozen sites, selling and exporting beef, lamb and pork across the globe. In December 2015, it emerged that the brothers were considering a sale of both the red meat and pork businesses.

Last year, the pork business in Ballymena was sold to Cranswick plc. A sale of the red meat business has not been confirmed though Irish company Dawn Meats, also founded by two brothers, has emerged as a possible buyer.

agan Construction Group works in civil engineering and building for roads, airports, water, energy, marine and building.

It specialises in piling and foundation for civil engineering and building structures. It offers infrastructure investment advice and management of whole life cost solutions including operation and maintenance for all project types across the world.

In April, the company signed a €3.7m contract with Irish Water to provide a supply of water to residents of Greencastle, Inishowen in Co Donegal. And this year also saw the appointment of Kevin Anthony Boyle as chief executive of the company. Its expertise in large scale airport contracts has grown, with the company carrying out work in remote and challenging environments from the Caribbean to Pakistan.

SSE Airtricity Managing director: Stephen Wheeler Pre-tax profit: £6.9m Employment: 60 Pay bill: £1.3m

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SE is Northern Ireland’s second largest energy utility and provider of renewable power. SSE Airtricity provides greener electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to home and business customers. SSE is also the third largest energy generator by capacity in the all-island Single Electricity Market, with over 1,800MW of thermal and renewable energy generation in operation.

It generates over 120MW of renewable energy at wind farms. Since 2008, SSE has invested over £0.5bn in the development of Northern Ireland’s sustainable energy infrastructure. In 2015, it announced a 10-year naming rights deal with the former Odyssey Arena — now the SSE Arena, Belfast. In 2016, it became commissioning supplier of natural gas to domestic and small commercial customers for the new Gas to the West distribution network.

ilwaughter Holdings Limited is the parent company of Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd. Kilwaughter is one of Northern Ireland’s leading manufacturers, providing specialist products for the construction and agriculture sectors.

The Co Antrim based company employs 130 people and is best known for its brands, K Rend and Kilwaughter Lime.

Market-leading K Rend is the UK’s largest independent silicone render manufacturer while Kilwaughter Lime has been processing the county’s much sought after white limestone at its Larne site since 1939. The 78-year old company is entering an exciting phase of growth and is set to invest £5m back into the business, creating 30 jobs over the next two years. It recently annoucned three new hires in research and development, bringing the size of its R&D team to nine people.

United Dairy Farmers/Dale Farm Chief executive: Nick Whelan Pre-tax profit: £6.8m Employment: 1,087 Pay bill: £30.7m 15 Dargan Road Belfast Tel: 028 9027 2237 www.utdni.co.uk

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ale Farm is Northern Ireland’s largest dairy business. The group manufactures dairy products including cheeses, butter, milk powders, fresh milk, ice cream, yogurts and desserts, which it sells to over 40 countries worldwide. The United Group profits saw a good recovery in the year to March 2016, with group operating profit increasing from £3.5m to £9m and profit before tax increasing from £1.28m to £6.82m. The improvement was driven by Dale Farm, which delivered strong growth in consumer products despite the general fall in market returns and weakness in international dairy markets. Dale Farm has eight manufacturing sites factories across the UK with five of these in Northern Ireland.

Former group chief exexecutive David Dobbin retired last year and was replaced

by Nick Whelan.

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Multi Packaging General manager: Chris Dears Pre-tax profit: £61.5m Employment: 4,558 Pay bill: £219.5m

Liberty IT Managing director: William Hamilton Pre-tax profit: £6.6m Employment: 430 Pay bill: £21.5m

20 Glenavy Road Moira Co Down Tel: 028 9261 9620 www.fanevalley.com

77a Andersonstown Road Belfast BT11 9AH www.ladbrokescoralplc

Hightown Industrial Estate, Newtownabbey BT36 4EW Tel: 028 9080 4000 www.multipkg.com

Adelaide Exchange Belfast BT2 8GD Tel: 028 90 445 500 www.liberty-it.co.uk

Fane Valley Chief executive: Trevor Lockhart Pre-tax profit: £6.7m Employment: 2,312 Pay bill: £52.5m

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ane Valley Group is one of Ireland’s most progressive agri-food businesses, with interests in red meat — through Linden Foods and Kettlye Irish Foods — feed compounding, agricultural supplies, breakfast cereals and renewable energy. Its dairy business is now part of Lakeland Dairies. In January this year it opened a new head office and logistics centre at Glenavy Road, Moira.

The company said the facility marks the beginning of a new chapter for Fane Valley, which has been headquartered on the Alexander Road in Armagh for nearly 70 years. And it said the change reflected an ambition to extend the geographical reach of its agri-business beyond its traditional catchment area. The new premises are also set up for the efficient production and dispatch of its range of livestock identification products.

Northwest Bookmakers Chief executive: Jim Mullen Pre-tax profit: £6.7m Employment: 354 Pay bill: £6.3m

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orthwest Bookmakers is a subsidiary of Ladbrokes Holdings (NI) which is, in turn, a subsidiary of the parent company Ladbrokes Coral plc. Following a purchase in 2007, the NI business has brought together the betting chains once owned by Eastwoods and McCartans.

The company, through the Ladbrokes brand, owns around 20% of the shop betting licences issued in Northern Ireland. It said the latest, healthy profits figure was due to an absence of any exceptional losses in the year to December 2015. The directors said the results were vulnerable to the general economic climate in Northern Ireland. Ladbrokes dates back to 1886. In July 2015, then-Ladbrokes plc announced plans to merge with the Gala Coral Group, though the merger was not completed until November 2016.

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ulti Packaging Solutions (MPS) is a global supplier of quality packaging to the pharmaceutical/healthcare, branded food and drink and media sectors. Its pledge is: “We protect and promote the world’s great brands.” The MPS Belfast site is the Northern Ireland arm of an organisation of over 9,000 staff operating in 13 countries on three continents.

The company has more than 150 years of successful presence in Belfast since beginning as WW Cleland in 1865. The company says: “Our continual success has been and will continue to be due to our personnel who are highly skilled and thoroughly dedicated to their craft.” It adds that is future plans include continued investment and diversification with the development and introduction of new equipment and unique products

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iberty IT employs over 500 people who develop a wide range of both specialist and enterprise scale applications and websites exclusively for its parent company Liberty Mutual through creativity, problem-solving and a commitment to excellence. The team has grown year on year, enhancing expertise and diversity of work, reinforced by fantastic teamwork and a strong portfolio of products and services. Liberty IT opened a new modern office based in Blanchardstown Retail Park, Dublin in 2014 and has recently expanded onto a second floor to accommodate the growing team there.

The company says that its expertise in designing and implementing innovative IT solutions using both existing and emerging technologies, combined with the commitment to providing a great place to work for employees, is unwavering.

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Ulster Carpet Mills Group managing director: Nick Coburn Pre-tax profit: £6.6m Employment: 564 Pay bill: £20m Castleisland Factory, Portadown Tel: 028 3833 4433 www.ulstercarpets.com

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Gardrum Holdings Managing director: Derek Keys Pre-tax profit: £6.5m Employment: 88 Pay bill: £2.5m

Calor Gas NI Chief executive: Thomas O’Carroll Pre-tax profit: £6.45m Employment: 82 Pay bill: £3.8m

Bemis Healthcare Packaging Campsie Industrial Estate Londonderry Tel: 028 7181 4008 www.bemis.com

72-74 Omagh Road Dromore Co Tyrone BT78 3AJ Tel: 02882 898262 www.euroauctions.com

Airport Road West Belfast BT3 9EE Tel: 028 9045 5588 www.calorgas.ie

Bemis Healthcare Director: Paul Millar Pre-tax profit: £6.5m Employment: 260 Pay bill: £7.2m

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10 Fort Road Carrickfergus BT38 9BT Tel: 028 9335 1151 www.irishsaltmining.com

Fisher House Ballinamallard BT94 2FY Tel: 028 6638 8521 www.severfield.com

he Ulster Group has achieved another highly successful year of trading. A new £8m dyehouse has just been completed at the company’s site in Portadown and is the most modern and dyeing operation in Europe.

The investment in new weaving technology has been increased by the very recent acquisition of UK textile engineering company, Griffith Textile Machines.

The introduction of the new weaving technology and facilities in Portadown is another major step forward to underpin Ulster’s position as the leading carpet weaving company in the world. The Ulster Group also acquired Roger Oates Design in the past year. Ulster Carpets said: “This very well recognised niche brand has integrated successfully in the group and is set for continued growth in the next few years.”

O&S Holdings Managing director: Peter O’Donnell Pre-tax profit: £6m Employment: 336 Pay bill: £8m 106 Syerla Road Dungannon Co Tyrone 028 3754 9190 www.osdoors.com

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&S Doors started out as a kitchen fitter before its founders developed a niche in making and fitting PVC, vinyl-wrapped doors.

Its bedroom and kitchen doors are now made and shipped around the UK and Europe. It has over 100 separate door designs with over 50 different finishes and colours. Last year the firm was snapped up by an affiliate of Sun European Partners for an undisclosed sum. It is headquartered in Dungannon and also has a trade counter near Dublin. Speaking at the time of the acquisition in July last year, Peter O’Donnell said: “We believe this acquisition will enhance the opportunity for the company to continue to develop for many years to come.” Sun European Partners’ other businesses include bed and mattress retailer Dreams, Flamingo Horticulture, and clothing retailer Bonmarché.

emis Healthcare Packaging provides engineered packaging for the protection of medical devices, sensitive drugs and sophisticated diagnostic systems. It specialises in co-extruded, laminated and flexible films, foil barrier laminations, pouches and bags, among other products. Bemis Healthcare Packaging is an active member of the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC). Recent investments in include setting up its new business services Centre in Londonderry (in additio to its already-established healthcare business) to support its European operations with the creation of up to 95 new positions in Finance and IT over the next five years.

Bemis Healthcare Packaging is part of the 150-year-old Bemis, which is a US company. Bemis Healthcare Packaging was formerly known as Perfecseal.

Diageo (two companies) Managing director: Jorge Lopes Pre-tax profit: £5.8m Employment: 258 Pay bill: £12.6m 3 Upper Queen St Belfast Tel: 028 9068 2021 www.diageo.com

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iageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. In 2014, the company acquired Tequila Don Julio from Casa Cuervo in Mexico in return for giving up heritage Co Antrim whiskey Bushmills. Diageo NI is part of a global company, and its products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The management team continues to invest to build on the brands and routes to consumer, to deliver long term profitable growth.

Diageo is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).

ardrum Holding’s main business is conducting off-site and onsite machinery auction sales andv aluations throughout Europe, trading as Euro Auctions.

It’s the biggest auctioneer of construction machinery in the UK. Some group companies hold properties for use within the group or for development and resale.

Its first auction took place in Dromore, Co Tyrone in 1998, before holding its first auction outside the province in Wetherby, Yorkshire in 2000.

It branched out into holding auctions outside the British Isles in 2006 with an event in Dormagen, Germany.

It now has five permanent sites around the world, including Brisbane in Australia.

Irish Salt Mining Director: Sheelagh Mahoney Pre-tax profit: £5.8m Employment: 55 Pay bill: £2.8m

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rish Salt Mining and Exploration has been mining de-icing rock salt at its Kilroot mine near Carrickfergus since 1965.

The mine is not only worked but continuously developed using the latest mining techniques, machinery and management systems.

From 14,500 tonnes mined in its first year, it can now produce 0.5m tonnes of de-icing rock salt every year. .

The firm’s directors are Shelagh and Kathleen Mahoney who are based in the United States and are daughters of the company’s late founder Leo Mahoney.

Although the business is concentrated mainly on Britian and Ireland, the company said it also has the capacity to sell into the east coast of the United States.

alor Gas is a supplier and distributor of liquefied petroleum gas across Ireland. It fills and markets gas cylinders, and markets and sells bulk gas. A strategic report filed by the company for the year ending December 2015 notes that the financial performance was satisfactory — and note that volumes were reduced by the impact of the now-discredited renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme, active in the 12 month period. The firm also notes that continuing low prices — at the time results were filed in October 2016 — were making the energy sector “extremely competitive”. But the firm’s directors also add that the vote to leave the EU “could have significant impact on growth prospects and the cost of running the business”. The key challenge facing the business was the volatility of commodity prices.

Severfield NI Director:Ryan Davis Pre-tax profit: £3.5m Employment: 284 Pay bill: £10.2m

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he Co Fermanagh steel construction firm formerly known as Fisher Engineering is now part of a UKwide plc. The firm substantially increased pre-tax profits to £5.7m in the 12 months to March 2016, from just over £3m in the year before. The firm has worked on projects at Wimbledon Centre Court, the Shard and the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

Severfield (NI) which employs around 280 people in the design, fabrication and installation of steel structures, was known as Fisher Engineering Ltd until a rebrand last year. In a strategic report, Severfield (NI) said the year had been a “more successful period” than 2015. Trading was much improved with business conditions better in both the UK and Ireland, the company’s strategic report said. Its directors were also confident about the company’s prospects for the year ahead.

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Elite Electronic Systems Director: Jonathan Balfour Pre-tax profit: £5.7m Employment: 180 Pay bill: £3.6m

Allstate NI Managing director: John Healy Pre-tax profit: £5.6m Employment: 2,107 Pay bill: £76.5

Golf Holdings Chief executive: Patrick Hunt Pre-tax profit: £5.4m Employment: 2,014 Pay bill: £27.3m

Avondale Foods Chairman: Harry Geddis Pre-tax profit: £5.3m Employment: 425 Pay bill: £9m

Lackaboy Industrial Estate Enniskillen BT74 4RL Tel: 028 6632 7172 www.elitees.com

9 Lanyon Place Belfast BT1 3LZ Tel: 028 9067 8058

Duncrue Industrial Estate, Belfast BT3 9BU Tel: 028 9074 6274 www.winemark.com

Dukestown Lane Craigavon BT66 8TB Tel: 028 3834 1619 ww.avondale-foods.co.uk

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Macnaughton Blair Chief executive: Peter Kearney.

Pre-tax profit: £5.3m Employment: 450 Pay bill: £12.9m

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MJM Marine Chairman: Brian McConville Pre-tax profit: £4.9m Employment: 185 Pay bill: £6m

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10 Falcon Road Belfast BT12 6RD Tel : 028 9038 5375 www.macblair.com

Carnbane Business Park Newry BT35 6QH Tel: 028 302 58450 www.mjm-group.com

28 Five Mile Straight Draperstown BT45 7EE Tel: 028 7962 7220 www.hamechnicalservices.com

lite Electronic Systems provides contract electronics manufacturing (CEM) services to market leading companies in the UK and Ireland, as well as internationally.

Elite employs more than 250 people across facilities in Northern Ireland and South Carolina in the United States, offering over 25 years of experience and ISO 13485/ISO9001 certification in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, cable & wiring assembly, complete systems assembly, and test solutions.

Company accounts note that in February last year, EES acquired 17% of the share capital in Anveck Ltd, a company incorporated in the Republic of Ireland.

The accounts note that following year end in March last year, further share capital has been acquired in Anveck Ltd.

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acnaughton Blair is part of Grafton Group plc, one of the largest builders and plumbers merchanting groups in the UK and the largest in Ireland. It’s recently rebranded its customer-facing business as MacBlair The company is the leading builder’s merchanting group in Northern Ireland with a long-established 15-branch network.

The core builder’s merchanting branches supply to the general public as well as their traditional trade customer base. The specialist businesses include Watershed Bathrooms and Tiles, Moffett Thallon Doorways, and architectural ironmongery specialist Lloyd Worrall Group.

Grafton Group recently reported recorded revenues of £2.5bn for the last year, despite weakening demand. It operates DIY chain Woodie’s in the Republic.

llstate was established in Northern Ireland in 1999 to provide high software development services and business solutions in support of its parent company, The Allstate Corporation. The Allstate Corporation is the largest publicly held personal lines property and casualty insurer in America, serving more than 16 million households nationwide. Allstate is Northern Ireland’s largest IT company with over 2,200 employees across three sites in Belfast, Londonerry and Strabane. Allstate plays a strategic role in developing, transforming and maintaining the various technology platforms used within Allstate Corp and supports its day to day business, looking after the different systems that you would expect from one of the world’s largest insurance company’s to run including infrastructure services, and business process management.

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it-out firm MJM Marine, which is based in Newry, was named Outstanding Business of the Year in the 2017 Belfast Telegraph Business Awards. MJM Group works for the world’s major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Cunard, P&O and Holland America. It also operates a specialist joinery division also provides a growing service to land-based commercial and private clients.

One of the company’s most prestigious contracts involved Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. More recently MJM Group where the lead outfitting contractor aboard Norwegian Cruise Line vessels Pearl & Jade in Freeport Bahamas. And it was behind one of the most-talked about transactions of 2016 — the investment purchase of Newry’s Damolly Retail Park. The group also owns famous fit-out brand, Mivan.

olf Holdings is the holding company for a group of businesses in the hospitality sector. It’s best-known for Wine Inns, which owns pubs and restaurants such as south Belfast’s Chelsea Wine Bar, and off-licence chain Winemark.

The group also includes wholesale drinks company James E McCabe. Philip Russell Ltd - a wholesale and retail distributor of wines, spirits, drinks and pet food products — is another subsidiary.

Golf Holdings is behind the Russell’s Food and Drink chain of convenience stores.

Wine Inns recently sold off its Elk pub complex in east Belfast. In 2015 it sold off its Crescent Townhouse in Belfast’s Botanic Avenue and sold its Holywood wine bar Wine & Co in 2013. The Chelsea on Lisburn Road was refurbished that same year at a cost of around £1m.

H&A Holdings Managing director: Hugh McWilliams Pre-tax profit: £4.9m Employment: 375 Pay bill: £9.6m

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ugh and Anne McWilliams set up H&A in 1993 as a mechanical services firm employing six people. Now it has a payrole of over 300 and has expanded into new areas such as building works, kitchens, bathrooms, refurbishment, external cyclical maintenance, electrical and renewable energy. The family-run company said its client base had now widened to deliver private one-off installations, social housing projects, commercial schemes and government schemes for combating fuel poverty. It has offices in Draperstown, Co Londonderry, in Mallusk in Co Antrim and in Clane, Co Kildare. In its most recent report, the company’s directors said they were satisfied with the company’s level of performance and expected activity to continue at the same level.

vondale Foods develops and manufactures wet salads – such as coleslaw and potato salads – side salads, salad meals, vegetable accompaniments, porridges, soups, and dressings, mayonnaises and sauces. The company supplies its products under the Country Kitchen brand and supermarket own-label throughout the UK and Ireland.

It also supplies wholesale and foodservice. It has been in business for 52 years.

Customers include multiple supermarkets Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.

Huhtamaki Food Service Delta Ltd Managing director: Rosemary Mason Pre-tax profit: £4.8m Employment: 257 Pay bill: £8m 10 Kennedy Way Belfast Tel: 028 9062 8626 www.huhtamaki.com

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uhtakmaki Food Service Delta is the new name for a familiar entry in the Top 100 — Delta Print and Packaging in west Belfast. In one of a string of major M&A deals in Northern Ireland last year, Delta was acquired by the Finnish packaging giant Huhtamaki, which already operates a substantial printing facility in Lurgan.

The deal was worth £80m. Set up in 1981 by Terry Cross, the company supplies packaging to global firms in food, consumer electronics, household goods, dairy, pharmaceutical and food service sectors. Its big name clients include McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, KFC, Tesco and Sainbury’s. Huhtamaki said the acquisition would enable it to enter the fast-growing carton segment of the packaging sector.

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

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NORTHERN IRELAND’S TOP 100 COMPANIES IN PROFILE

73

Gordons Chemist Managing director: Robert Gordon Pre-tax profit: £4.7m Employment: 655 Pay bill: £11.2m

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Brett Martin Managing director: Laurence Martin Pre-tax profit: £4.7m Employment: 655 Pay bill: £11.2m

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74 Scarva Road Banbridge BT32 3QD Tel: 028 4066 9000 www.gordonsdirect.com

24 Roughfort Road Mallusk BT36 4RB Tel: 028 9084 9999 www.brettmartin.com

11B Sheepwalk Rd, Lisburn Tel: 028 9250 1000 www.whitemountain.co.uk

Whitemountain Managing director: Mark Kelly Pre-tax profit: £4.6m Employment: 207 Pay bill: £7.9m

76

Kingspan Springvale Chief executive: Gene Murtagh Pre-tax profit: £4.6m Employment: 113 Pay bill: £3.7m 75 Springvale Road Ballyclare BT39 0SS Tel: 028 9334 0203 www.kingspanspringvale.com

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Northstone (NI) Managing director: Eamonn Sweeney Pre-tax profit: £4.4m Employment: 991 Pay bill: £41.3m

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Prestige Insurance Chief executive: Trevor Shaw Pre-tax profit: £4.3m Employment: 443 Pay bill: £13.5m

Blackpark Road Toomebridge BT41 3SL Tel: 028 7965 0500 www.creaghconcrete.com

99 Kingsway Dunmurry Belfast Tel: 028 9062 2211 www.northstone-ni.co.uk

3 West Street Carrickfergus BT38 7AR Tel: 08000 32 42 52 www.prestigeunderwriting.co.uk

ordons Chemists began as a single pharmacy more than 30 years ago in Donaghadee, Co Down.

Today, the family-run group runs more than 60 pharmacies on the high street and in shopping centres across Northern Ireland and Scotland.

This year, its financial performance earned it a place at number 13 in the annual Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100 league table, ranking the UK firms with the fastest-growing profits over three years. Pre-tax profits almost doubled from £2.4m to £4.7m.

The company also has an online store, Gordons Direct. It has an ethos of championing homegrown brands and recently announced it would be stocking tan, eyebrow and mascara products by Belfast-based cosmetics firm B Perfect in its 35 Northern Ireland shops.

Ballyvesey Holdings Director: Harold Montgomery Pre-tax profit: £4.6m Employment: 2,665 Pay bill: £81.7m 607 Antrim Road Newtownabbey Tel: 028 90 849321 www.ballyveseyholdings.com

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allyvesey Holdings is a diverse group of over 26 companies in different parts of the freight transport business and vehicle sales.

It now includes subsidiaries, which range from a recruitment agency in Poland, metal recycling business Ballyvesey Recycling and a trailer manufacturer, Montracon.

Well-known names include Montgomery Transport and car retailers J E Coulter.

The group is owned by family shareholders and now has its headquarters in Doncaster in the north of England.

The trading network extends across Great Britain and Northern Ireland and into Europe.

Brands include Montgomery Refrigeration, Sky Platforms, Scotia Plant, Eurofleet Rental and Heathrow Truck Centre.

ewtownabbey-based Brett Martin is Northern Ireland’s largest thermoplastics manufacturer with sales of £136.4m in 2015.

Established in 1958, the company has grown in significance to become one of the largest manufacturers of polycarbonate in Europe.

The privately-owned company has operations at seven separate sites in the UK, with export activities extending to over 70 global markets.

Brett Martin’s primary manufacturing competencies include plastics extrusion, injection moulding and rotational moulding. Output consists of flat, corrugated and structured plastic sheet in polycarbonate, GRP, PVC, foam PVC, PET and acrylic, pipe extrusions, profile extrusions, and, moulded parts and fittings. It is led by managing director Laurence Martin.

Creagh Concrete Managing director: Seamus McKeague Pre-tax profit: £4.4m Employment: 486 Pay bill: £16m

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reagh Concrete has grown to become one of the largest producers of concrete products for a diverse range of market sectors throughout the UK. It operates several quarries and manufacturing facilities around Northern Ireland, together with manufacturing facilities in Edinburgh and Nottingham. It is a specialist sub-contractor to some of the largest commercial and residential construction companies in the UK, providing engineering design, manufacture, delivery and installation of structural, flooring, façade and other concrete products. Landmark contracts in recent years include £27m for nuclear site restoration in Dounreay; £5m for a library building at University of Roehampton; £3m for Ulster University’s new campus; £2.1m for a car park in Leeds; and £1m for Lords Cricket Ground.

hite Mountain Quarries, based in Belfast, is one of the larger wholly owned subsidiaries of Lagan Group Holdings, chaired by Kevin Lagan, and registered in the Isle of Man. This company is a market leader in contracting to provide quarry materials, surfacing and highway maintenance with civil engineering services both locally in Northern Ireland and in other European markets. It is described as representing the quarry materials and contracting division of its parent company, Lagan Group Holdings. A strategic report by the company’s directors described the results as “strong”. But it added that challenges came from general economic conditions including sectoral-specific issues such as public sector spending reviews.

Commodity prices and the weather could also pose challenges, it added.

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orthstone (NI) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Republic of Ireland’s biggest trading company CRH plc, is one of Northern Ireland’s best-known construction groups. It is a provider of=goods and services to the construction industry through its three trading divisions of Farrans Construction, Cubis Industries and Northstone Materials. Farrans Construction, contractor on Victoria Square, Odyssey Arena and the Westlink, provides conventional contracting, design and build. It works in the education, healthcare, utility and infrastructure sectors of the industry, among others. Cubis Industries is a leader in pre-formed access chamber systems.

Northstone Materials is Northern Ireland’s main provider of quarry products with the industry’s most extensive coverage of quarries and depots.

pringvale EPS, known as Kingspan Springvale, is an insulating materials company based in Ballyclare.

It is part of Irish plc Kingspan.

Turnover during 2015 grew from £23.7m to £25.8m, while pre-tax profit also soared from £1.7m to £4.6m.

The company said its 9% growth in turnover was a result of “successfully replacing other insulants in building applications”.

In its results for 2016, the company said it had started consolidating its position after “years of rapid growth” and was now focusing on operational systems and capex (capital expenditure) savings in raw materials and production efficiencies.

The company said such moves would “provide a sound basis for further business growth in coming years”.

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restige Insurance Holdings is the parent company of Abbey Insurance. In February last year, Abbey bought rival Open and Direct in a multi-million pound deal. In July 2015, it sold Abbey Bond Lovis. The holding company also includes Prestige Underwriting Services, a managing general agent trading in Northern Ireland since 1997. Prestige Insurance Holdings was then set up in 2008, and Prestige Underwriting then became a wholly-owned subsidiary. As well as an underwriting agent, the group’s activities also include insurance brokering and the development and sale of software products. The group has also made other acquisitions in recent years, including buying the trade of PJ Dunne Insurance Brokers, as well as the remaining 35% of Houston Thornton & Co and the remaining 50% of Agnew Financial Services.

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

NORTHERN IRELAND’S TOP 100 COMPANIES IN PROFILE

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2 Marshalls Road Belfast BT5 6SR Tel: 028 9040 1111 www.aah.co.uk/sangers

38 Market Street Lurgan BT66 6AH Tel: 028 3832 7408 www.heatonsstores..com

Hastings Hotels Group Managing director: Howard Hastings Pre-tax profit: £4.2m Employment: 1,185 Pay bill: £11.8m

Tobermore Concrete Managing director: David Henderson Pre-tax profit: £4m Employment: 198 Pay bill: £5.9m

Stormont Hotel Belfast Tel: 028 90 458444 www.hastings-hotels.com

2 Lisnamuck Road Tobermore Tel: 028 7964 2411 ww.tobermore.co.uk

Sangers AAH Managing director: Peter Surgenor Pre-tax profit: £4.3m Employment: 216 Pay bill: £7.2m

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angers NI is a large distributor of pharmaceutical products to the mainly independently-owned high street chemists and hospital pharmacies. It has operated in Northern Ireland for around 150 yeaas. It has now joined forces with AAH after its owner Celesio UK acquired United Drug Sangers last year. The ultimate parent company is McKesson Corporation, which became the majority shareholder in Celesio in 2014.

Sangers and AAH have been integrating since last year. AAH started out in Wales as a solid fuels company in the 1890s. In addition to the extensive range of specialist supplies, Sangers AAH also has an established comprehensive and frequent daily delivery schedule to maintain (and supply) products that may be needed in chemist outlets at short notice. It operates from a depot in Belfast.

Heatons NI Chief executive: Mike Ashley Pre-tax profit: £4.27m Employment: 446 Pay bill: £5m

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alue department store Heatons was founded in 1946 in Athlone, Co Westmeath. Today it has grown to around 54 Heatons stores, including 10 stores across Northern Ireland. The Heatons group is now one of Ireland’s fastest-growing department store businesses and Ireland’s third-largest non-food retailers, employing over 2,000 people. Controversial Newcastle United boss and Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley turned his majority share in Heatons into full ownership last year. Through SportsDirect, he has built up an enterprise with a market value of £2bn.

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amily-run Hastings Hotels has grown into one of Northern Ireland’s best-known businesses. It was founded by Sir Billy Hastings and now run by his three children. Turnover was £36.8m in its latest results. The operation runs six hotels in the province — Belfast’s Stormont and Europa, the Culloden Estate and Spa, the Ballygally Hotel in Larne, Everglades in Londonderry and the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa in Newcastle.

It also has a 50% share in the Merrion Hotel in Dublin. It’s building the new Grand Central Hotel in Belfast’s Bedford Street.

The £53m, 304-bed hotel is a conversion of the former Windsor House office block.

The company said capital expenditure of £4.6 related to the new hotel, while new bedrooms were also created at Culloden Hotel. The expansion of banqueting facilities has started at The Everglades.

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obermore specialises in the manufacture of paving and walling products for the commercial and domestic markets, and has enjoyed major success in the UK and Ireland.

David Henderson, managing director, is the second generation of his family to lead the business, which has paving and walling centres in Tobermore, Bangor, Dublin and Cork, and a sales team covering the UK and Ireland. It celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Mr Henderson said: “Over the years, we’ve tried to set ourselves apart in the marketplace with our superior product range, our innovative manufacturing processes and our first class customer service.” The family business’s 88% profits growth also secured it a place in the Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100 league table, ranking the private companies with the fastest-growing profits.

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

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NORTHERN IRELAND’S TOP 100 COMPANIES IN PROFILE

85

Huhtamaki General manager: Richard Smith Pre-tax profit: £4m Employment: 205 Pay bill: £7.3m

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Walter Watson Ltd Managing director: Walter Watson Pre-tax profit: £4m Employment: 221 Pay bill: £6.3m

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1 Inn Road Dollingstown BT66 7JN Tel: 028 3832 7711 www.huhtamaki.com

Ballylough Road Castlewellan BT31 9JQ Tel: 028 4377 8711 www.walter-watson.co.uk

46 Belfast Road Downpatrick Tle: 028 4461 9300 www.finnebrogue.com

Lynn’s Country Foods Managing director: Denis Lynn Pre-tax profit: £4m Employment: 245 Pay bill: £6.3m

88

Skea Egg Farms Managing director: Matthew Hayes Pre-tax profit: £3.9m Employment: 118 Pay bill: £2.34m 146 Pomeroy Road Donaghmore BT70 2TY Tel: 028 8776 1252 www.skeaeggs.com

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Moyallen Holdings Directors: Peter and John Robinson Pre-tax profit: £3.8m Employment: 62 Pay bill: £2m

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SISK Healthcare Chairman: Gary McGann Pre-tax profit: £3.8m Employment: 51 Pay bill: £2.9m

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Unit 4 Granville Industrial Estate Dungannon Tel: 028 3834 3350 www.rushmereshopping.com

6 Wildflower Way, Belfast BT12 6TA Tel: 00353 1 409 1500 www.siskhealthcare.ie

11 Mountjoy Road Coalisland Tel: 28 8774 0740 www.westernbuild.com

he Huhtamaki Group, headquartered in Espoo, Finland, is a global packaging specialist for food and drink. Huhtamaki in Lurgan is part of the company’s moulded fiber division. It is the only producer of egg boxes, egg trays and cup carriers in the UK and Ireland.

Approximately 95% of products manufactured at the Lurgan plant are supplied to UK and Irish markets, with some niche products exported globally. The company, which employs 205 members of staff, is the sole supplier of moulded fiber cup carriers to McDonald’s in the UK and Ireland, and also supplies to clients including all large retailers and egg processing companies such as Noble Foods, Skea Eggs and Greenfield. During 2016, the parent company announced the acquisition of printing giant Delta Print and Packaging in west Belfast.

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oyallen Holdings is the property investment company which manages Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon.

The company, whose directors are John and Peter Robinson, also own the Peacocks Shopping Centre in Woking in England. In a strategic report accompanying its latest results, the company said it had maintained its position in the market despite present economic conditions. But the group said it considered its tenant mix of international and national retailers would enable it to maximise long-term returns in value. The company said it faced risk in the form of “adverse macroeconomic conditions and a deterioration in the economic environment” which could lead to customers being unable to pay what they owed, and even lead to the failure of business.

alter Watson Ltd is a Co Downbased steel fabricator known for its work on the extension of Belfast’s Waterfront Hall and the 3Arena — formerly the Point Depot — in Dublin. It is the largest family-owned structural steel fabricator in Ireland and was founded in 1967. As well as a structural steel division, it also operates in agriculture, reinforcement steel, overhead travelling cranes and steel stockholding.

The company works from a base in Castlewellan, Co Down, and also has offices in Co Kildare and Glenrothes & Dundonald in Scotland. It says its mission statement is “to ensure quality of supply to all customers across our markets”. “We design, manufacture, distribute and build all stages of any project ensuring a fluid supply chain and measurable quality throughout,” the company says.

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he SISK Group is a diversified, family-owned Irish business which was set up in 1859 and has annual sales of over €1.7bn. In recent years it has built up a healthcare distribution business — including SISK Healthcare in Belfast — through acquisition and organic growth. It first moved into healthcare 11 years ago when it acquired five medical device distribution companies, now operating as a division within SISK Healthcare.

Healthcare is made up of cardiac services, MED Surgical, TEKNO Surgical and Synapse Medical.

ynn’s Country Foods, better known by its brand name, Finnebrogue Artisan, specialises in meat processing. The firm was set up in the early 1990s by Denis Lynn and became known for its venison products. It’s now the largest producer of premium sausages in the UK. In 2005, the company started its first sausage production for Marks and Spencer.

They are now M&S’s sole sausage supplier.

The company launched two brands in 2009 — the Rankin Selection with Paul Rankin and the Good Little Company. In 2014, the company developed a rnage of gluten-free Extra Special sausages for Asda. Last June marked a major milestone when the company moved to a new facility in Down Business Park. The company invested £24m in the move and says its workforce is now 320, while sales have reached £60m.

Western Building Systems Managing director: Martin McCloskey Pre-tax profit: £3.7m Employment: 44 Pay bill: £1.9m

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oalisland firm Western Building Systems Ltd has developed into one of Northern Ireland’s most dynamic construction firms. It operates in a range of sectors including education, health, residential, private and commercial build, and specialises in offsite modular and panelised construction.

It was set up in 1982 by Martin McCloskey as Western Roofing but has diversified and expanded since then. It has a diverse portfolio of work involving techniques from traditional block build, to modular and panelised construction. Its most recent projects include the €16m education campus in Ashbourne, Co Meath and other school build projects across Ireland valued at more than €16m. It has projects in Galway, Donegal and Dublin as well as throughout Northern Ireland.

kea Eggs is an egg packing and marketing company, established in the early 1970s by Matthew Hayes. It has grown from a small business supplying wholesale customers to a business employing over 120 people packing eggs produced by approximately 1.6 million birds. It supplies around 8 million free range, organic, barn and colony eggs to supermarkets in the UK every week. Skea Eggs supplies own-brand eggs to Asda, Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Musgrave Retail Partners, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

Budget Energy Chief executive: Eleanor McEvoy Pre-tax profit: £3.6m Employment: 42 Pay bill: £1.1m Energy House 30-32 Ballinska Road Londonderry Tel: 0800 0121177 www.budgetenergy.co.uk

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ondonderry-based Budget Energy was launched by Eleanor McEvoy six years ago as a challenger to established supplies in the energy market. The firm is in the early stages of launching in the Republic of Ireland. It has around 62,000 customers in Northern Ireland, spread across the province but with a large number in Belfast. Budget Energy is McEvoy’s third business, after she started out with a vending machine firm and then Phonecard Warehouse. She describes Budget Energy as “the Ryanair of the energy business” and says its success is down to her own talent, and sticking to a low-cost base. She recently appeared as a judge in RTE’s business talent show, Dragons Den.

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

NORTHERN IRELAND’S TOP 100 COMPANIES IN PROFILE

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DCC Energy Managing director: Pat O’Neill Pre-tax profit: £3.6m Employment: 173 Pay bill: £5.4m

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Quinn Cement Managing director: Liam McCaffrey Pre-tax profit: £3.6m Employment: 3 Pay bill: £0.12m

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Devenish Group Chief executive: Richard Kennedy Pre-tax profit: £3.4m Employment: 370 Pay bill: £18.5m

111 Airport Road West Belfast Tel: 028 9045 4555 www.emooilcom

Gortmullan Derrylin Co Fermanagh Tel: 028 90 458444 www.quinn-buildingproducts.com

BA Kitchen Components Directors: John and Brian McCracken Pre-tax profit: £3.4m Employment: 237 Pay bill: £7.4m Derryloran Industrial Estate Cookstown Tel: 028 8676 4600 www.byba.co.uk

Lagan House Belfast Tel: 028 9075 5566 www.devenishnutrition.com

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Decora Blind Systems Managing director: Stuart Dickson Pre-tax profit: £3.4m Employment: 441 Pay bill: £8.9m

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Natural World Products Managing director: Caolan Woods Pre-tax profit: £3.4m Employment: 34 Pay bill: £1.4m

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Warner Chilcott/ Teva Site head: Jim McIlroy Pre-tax profit: £3.3m Employment: 150 Pay bill: £7.3m

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Lough Erne Investments Managing director: Charles Crawford Pre-tax profit: £3.2m Employment: 85 Pay bill: £2.3m

1 Ferguson Drive Lisburn Tel: 028 9266 3600 www.decora.co.uk

32 Glenside Road Belfast Tel: 02890 600145 www.nwp-recyle.com

Old Belfast Road Larne Tel: 028 2826 7222 www.tevapharm.com

116 Crom Road Lisnaskea Tel: 028 6772 1345 www.readyeggproducts.com

CC Energy Ltd is a subsidiary of DCC plc, a sales, marketing, distribution and business support services group headquartered in Dublin. DCC plc’s energy division is an oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution business in the UK and Ireland and one of the leading oil distribution businesses in Austria and Denmark. The company operates two main terminals in Belfast importing oil and LPG into Northern Ireland. Its oil products are marketed under the Emo brand and its LPG products under the Flogas brand. It also operates a boiler servicing division and is the authorised distributor for Castrol in Northern Ireland.

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ounded in 1979 as a blinds and awning supplier, Decora has grown and diversified over the past 38 years.

It began as a small, family-run business, but is now one of the leading blinds manufacturers and distributors in the UK. It has over 2,500 trade accounts in the window blind trade in the UK, Ireland and Europe. Decora distributes manufactured and wholesale products to over 20 countries worldwide.

Decora’s product portfolio is presented to the trade under individual brands. The Fabric Box offers the latest in designs and colours for roller and vertical blinds.

Wood venetians are presented across three collections – Timberlux, Sunwood and Excel. Santa Fe Shutters are marketed as luxurious, hand crafted interior shutters.

It has secured expansion into markets such as Scandinavia, Belgium and Holland.

uinn Cement manufactures bulk and bagged cement products for the UK and Ireland markets, and is part of Quinn Industrial Holdings. It has a production facility in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan. Earlier this year the company unveiled a new multi-million pound cement export hub in Warrenpoint, Co Down. The hub will be capable of handling 7,500 tonnes at a time and will be dedicated to the export of bulk cement from the Quinn Cement operations in Ireland. The firm has also announced a £1.3m upgrade to its cement import facility in Kent. QIH emerged from the empire of Fermanagh tycoon Sean Quinn, and is owned by the Quinn Business Retention Corporation (QBRC). It was established by businessmen John Bosco O’Hagan, Ernie Fisher and John McCartin, along with the support of investors.

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atural World Products Ltd (NWP) is the leading recycler of organic materials in Ireland and operates two primary recycling facilities in Belfast and Keady. It has been operating for 25 years. It works with public and private sector customers across the island and contributes around 25% of Northern Ireland’s total reported recycling figures annually. It recently completed two projects allowing it to power its sites via renewable energy sources. NWP also manufactures New Leaf, a high grade organic soil conditioner or compost from incoming materials, which is then used as a natural alternative to synthetic fertilisers.

A Kitchen Components Ltd was established in 1990, with headquarters at Cookstown Co. Tyrone.

It is run by brothers John and Brian McCracken. From three modern production facilities at Cookstown, Doncaster and more recently Rotherham in Kent, BA manufactures kitchen, bedroom and bathroom furniture doors and a range of matching components and accessories.

They have now further developed the range by manufacturing kitchen cabinets since August 2016. BA has grown steadily to become a major UK manufacturer and exporter to the UK, European and global furniture components industry. They now supply over 50,000 doors a week to companies worldwide. It exports to 27 countries and now hopes to develop the potential of the Chinese and Middle Eastern markets.

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he Larne base of Teva, a centre for pharmaceutical reseaerch and development, started out as Warner Chilcott. The later was acquired by Actavis in 2013. Actavis was then bought over in August last year by Teva, the biggest generics pharmaceutical company in the world. Site head Jim McIlroy said: “At the Larne site we manufacture one product for the US marketplace, and also have a substantial research and development presence. We employ around 150 people.”

evenish (N.I.) is a growing Northern Ireland-registered company with major trading interests across the UK and in the United States. The main activities of the group are developing, manufacturing and supplying quality nutrition products in the agri-food sector. Group chief executive Richard Kennedy has said sales to markets outside the EU have grown by approximately 80% in the last year. But he warned that the post-Brexit landscape would bring challenges. “Our exports are up considerably outside the European Union,” he said. “But in a Brexit world it’s a huge issue as Britain hasn’t negotiated a trade deal with a foreign country for 70 years.” The business sells in 32 different countries from Taiwan, which it’s been selling to for the last 10 years, to Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

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ough Erne Investments is the parent company of Ready Egg Products, which describes itself as “the modern face of egg processing in the UK”. It was set up to provide egg products to the food service and manufacturing sectors throughout the UK and Ireland.

Managing director Charles Crawford is described as “a well known and widely respected figure within the egg industry”.

He set up Erne Eggs in 1978 and by 1982, it was the biggest egg packer and producer in Northern Ireland. Next came Ferne Foods, a maker of manufactured, cooked egg products which was sold to Moy Park.

Mr Crawford went on to acquire Quality Egg Products. In 2007, Mr Crawford set up Ready Egg Products as joint venture between Erne Eggs, Irish Egg Products and Greenfield Foods.

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 WOMEN LEADERS  THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN INJECTS VIGOUR AND SUCCESS IN THE ECONOMY

This year, there are fewer companies in the list with women at the helm, so more work is needed

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ast year I wrote: “Why the fact that only 7% of the top 100 companies are run by women is no longer a laughing matter.”

This year, it’s a crying matter — we have gone backwards, now sitting at only 5%.

This year, the assessment: “Not good enough and must try harder” would be a kind verdict.

Has the now famous Fearless Girl — who stands with hands on hips and chin jutting out, challenging the famous Charging Bull statue of Wall Street (see below)— been trampled? According to McKinsey, companies across all sectors with the most women on their boards of directors significantly and consistently outperform those with no female representation – by 41% in return on equity and by 56% in operating results.

Likewise, in the Fortune 500, Catalyst studies reveal companies in the highest percentile of women on their boards outperformed those in the lowest percentile by 53% higher return on equity, 42% higher return on sales, and 66% higher return on invested capital.

Furthermore, a recent Danish study found that companies with good numbers of women on the board outperformed those with no women by 17% higher return on sales and 54% higher return on invested capital.

The evidence continues to come in ever more increasing quantities yet the gender diversity stats make only marginal gains or in some cases, as with our Top 100, decline.

This is a reflection of the continuing reluctance of big society, of men and women, to accept that a greater contribution by women will inject new vigour and success into our economy.

Why else would the top corporates in the USA adopt a minimum target of 30% women in senior management teams and at board levels? It’s not for cosmetic reasons, nor is it to look good in front of politically correct policy makers.

By Roseann Kelly,chief executive, Women in Business It’s down to success and profitability.

Some people choose to lay the blame with women. They think women aren’t as ambitious or interested in being executives as men. Think again. According to a recent study of 200,000 respondents performed

by Boston Consulting Group, women have as much ambition as men and have the desire to hold leadership positions and to get promoted — especially at the start of their careers. The study also points out that having children does not make women less ambitious. Ambition comes down to company culture. When both male and female employees feel that gender diversity

at their organisation is improving, there is no ambition gap between genders. In other words, women aspire to leadership roles in companies that have positive work environments and value diversity. Conversely, at organisations where employees of both genders report the least progress on diversity — where women see an uphill battle to reach an unattractive summit — an ambition gap opens up between men and women.

If we are to get the society we deserve — the society suffragettes fought for — we will have a vibrant inclusive economy. Our Top 100 companies need to continue the work they are doing on diversity and in particular

gender diversity. As the report card says, they must try harder.

Women in Business — which now represents over 2500 members — did continue to work their manifesto. Now there are five Male Gender Diversity Champions for 2017: Head of the NI Civil Service Malcolm McKibben, Allstate NI managing director John Healy, CBI chairman David Gavaghan, Queen’s University vice chancellor, Professor Patrick Johnston and Gilbert Ash managing director Ray Hutchinson.

All five have worked with us to progress a NI Gender Diversity Charter Mark.

The five men have committed themselves to the task of championing the cause by addressing the issue whenever possible through their public engagements and via their business dealings.

And as we all know, what gets measured, gets done.

Our champions are clear: “The evidence from academics and practitioners is clear: greater diversity in organisations improves performance.The prize is worth pursuing relentlessly,” says Malcolm McKibben, Head of the NI Civil Service.

“It is widely acknowledged that organisations with a gender diverse workforce generate better ideas, better decision making and better business results. Northern Irish organisations need to be committed to the creation of an inclusive workplace at every level, this in turn will provide wider economic benefits for the whole province,” John Healy, Allstate Northern Ireland, Managing Director.

“A happy society is one that seeks to be as inclusive as possible,” David Gavaghan, Chair of CBI NI. “We now live in a world where in Fortune’s 2016 list of the 50 Greatest Leaders, 22 of them are women and four feature in the top 10. Women are excelling in leadership roles previously dominated by men and society is the better for it,” Professor Patrick Johnston.

“Research shows that a gender balanced workforce has a positive impact on productivity, innovation and creativity, all of which are vital to the success of any business. I am committed to playing my part when it comes to promoting equality across the Northern Ireland economy,” Ray Hutchinson, Gilbert Ash, managing director.

This year, we will launch an NI Gender Diversity Charter Mark group, and we hope all of the Top 100 leaders will sign up. The Charter will promote the positives and share best practice. We will encourage and support, we will challenge and advise. And we’ll look forward to a greater representation of women next year.

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 OPINION 

Barclays IS a major partner in the Ormeau Baths redevelopment, which will be known as Barclays Eagle Lab at Ormeau Baths.

From left, project founders Steve Pette and Mark Dowds, with Adrian Doran. The new shared workspace and business incubator opens for business later this year

The power of resilience

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he last year has been a tumultuous one for Northern Ireland’s Top 100 companies – it’s nearly a year since the Brexit referendum which stunned both commentators and markets, causing some of the most significant foreign exchange volatility we’ve seen in recent years.

On top of that we saw President Trump achieve a similarly unexpected victory in the US election, and closer to home (and perhaps less unsurprising), the collapse of the Stormont powersharing arrangement. We have had presidential elections in France, to be followed by general elections in the UK and Germany, all of which are capable of causing further market palpitations. Indeed, once we get past the various European elections this year, we have to get down to the detailed negotiations of Brexit, so it would appear that political risks aren’t getting easier anytime soon….

In the face of such uncertainty, it’s to the credit of the Top 100 companies that collectively they have posted an increase in underlying profitability of nearly 20% over the past 12 months (excluding Bombardier which had significant write-offs last year).

As well as this increase in underlying profitability, it’s also worth noting that nearly 80% of the Top 100 companies experienced a double-digit change in profitability (thankfully mostly upwards rather than downwards) – this highlights the degree of volatility within the overall numbers. If there’s one quality which comes to mind when I think of Northern Ireland business

Adrian Doran is Barclays’ Head of Corporate Banking in Northern Ireland

it’s resilience – top businesses and entrepreneurs seem to have an innate ability to not only deal with whatever is thrown their way, but to seek out and exploit the opportunities that come from it.

Since the start of the financial crisis in August 2007 (hard to believe it’s nearly 10 years) business has become used to more volatility, however the past year has been different because the bulk of recent volatility has been caused by geo-political rather than economic or financial shocks. In fact, underlying growth in the UK and main global economies has held up remarkably well over the past year, and indeed the IMF has just upgraded UK growth forecasts this year to 2%. Whilst there’s no denying that

LET’S SEE IF THE ORMEAU BATHS INCUBATOR CAN WORK TO GET NEW ENTRIES INTO THE TOP 100

many of the challenges from Brexit are still to materialise, in the short term at least, it would appear that many of our local companies are capitalising on a combination of stronger global markets and a weaker exchange rate.

Some of this is already coming through in the results of Northern Ireland’s big exporters, such as Norbrook, Randox and Almac, all which have enjoyed a bumper year.

Also interesting is the sustained recovery now underway in many of our largest construction companies, such as FP McCann, John Graham and Creagh Concrete.

These companies which are largely focused outside the Northern Ireland market, have seen continued growth. An improving Northern Ireland domestic economy has boosted many firms, particularly those reliant on the tourism sector like Hastings Hotels and Beannchor.

Whilst growth in company profitability is a relatively good barometer of growth in the wider economy, perhaps a more tangible and real time sign of economic growth might be the “crane count” over Belfast city centre, which is back at levels last seen over a decade ago. Similarly there is a feel good factor in many shops, bars and restaurants which appear to be busier. Encouragingly we are also seeing

continued numbers of new investors enter our market, whether they are property firms investing in student housing or new hotels (currently at least six new hotels coming out of the ground in Belfast alone), or international firms buying out local SMEs. All of this new investment augurs well for the long term prosperity of our local economy.

In terms of the challenges that are out there, a weakening currency has hurt importers as much as it has benefitted exporters. It has also led to more concerns around inflation, particularly in the important agri-food sector which is such a big employer in Northern Ireland. There are also real long term concerns around what Brexit will mean in terms of access to skilled labour, tariffs and cross-border trade.

One of the more basic challenges we face as a business community is that whilst we are great at creating start-up businesses, we don’t have a great track record at scaling these businesses compared to other regions. This is one of the reasons we’ve invested in the new Barclays Eagle Lab at Ormeau Baths in Belfast – it will support companies to grow and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs across the UK. A cursory glance at the list of Northern Ireland’s 100 most profitable businesses reveals a list of long established businesses, the vast majority of which have been on this list for many years. With a renewed high level government push on increasing exports, together with an exchange rate supporting exporters, perhaps in the coming years we’ll see some new names enter this list. Now that really would be worth celebrating.

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

1-25 Employer

Main Activity

No. Employees

Change on previous year

Retailer

10,202

+617

Engineering

4,882

-140

Poultry processing

4,476

+167

1

Tesco

2

Bombardier (Shorts)

3

Moy Park

4

ASDA stores

Retailer

4,268

-251

5

Four Seasons

Nursing homes

4,204

-12

6

Noonan Services

Support services

3,353

+196

7

Teleperformance

Call Centres

2,920

-108

8

Marks and Spencer

Retailer

2,550

-66

9

John Henderson

Wholesale & retail

2,536

+148

10

Sainsbury’s

Retailer

2,522

-69

11

BT (NI)

Telecommunications

2,498

+102

12

Allstate (NI)

IT services

2,267

+53

13

Ulster Bank

Banking

2,247

-121

14

Boots

Retailer

2,182

-15

15

Almac (7 companies)

Pharmaceuticals

2,113

+248

16

Firstsource Solutions

Call centres

1,886

-30

17

Lloyds

Financial services

1,745

-33

18

Caterpillar

Engineering

1,666

-17

19

Norbrook Labs.

Pharmaceuticals

1,653

+108

20

Citigroup

Financial services

1,585

+300

21

Wrightbus

Engineering

1,579

+3

22

Concentrix

Call centres

1,563

+316

23

Golf Holdings

Drink retailer

1,525

+4

24

Danske Bank

Banking

1,505

-128

25

Schrader Electronics

Engineering

1,469

+343

Top 50 - Largest employers in Northern Ireland

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

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26-50 Employer

Main Activity

No. Employees

Change on previous year

26

Seagate Technology

IT Equipment

1,408

+44

27

Stream Intelligent C

Call centres

1,387

-55

28

First Derivatives

IT services

1,304

+903

29

Dunnes Stores

Retailer

1,287

-153

30

Santander

Financial services

1,193

-35

31

Dunbia

Meat processor

1,170

-91

32

Next

Retailer

1,164

-141

33

Pwc

Financial services

1,130

+270

34

Robinson Services

Support services

1,126

+104

35

Graham Holdings

Construction etc

1,063

-80

36

G4S (2 companies)

Support services

1,056

-67

37

Terex (2 Companies)

Engineering

1,055

+108

38

Mount Charles

Catering services

1,047

+83

39

Bank of Ireland

Banking

1,007

-41

40

Northstone (NI)

Construction

949

+120

41

Primark Stores

Retailer

927

+19

42

NIE Networks

Electricity grid

880

-86

43

Michelin

Tyre manufacture

876

-13

44

First Trust Bank

Banking

871

-73

45

Musgrave Group (2cos)

Retail & wholesale

859

-32

46

Iceland Foods

Retailer

842

-30

47

Heatons (NI)

Retailer

840

+63

48

Karro Food

Pig processor

825

+40

49

Randox

Pharmaceuticals

815

+122

50

Charles Hurst

Vehicle distributor

811

No change

Top 50 - Largest employers in Northern Ireland

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 BUILDING 

2

By Dr Patrice Cairns, policy manager, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in Northern Ireland

016 was a year of global political turbulence, but for the local construction sector, it was perhaps one of the least tumultuous 12 month periods of the past decade, with signs of activity increasing and sentiment improving.

Indeed, much of the data relating to the local construction industry of late has been painting an increasingly positive picture.

New figures show that construction output hit a five-year high at the end of 2016, with activity in the sector up by 7%.

These figures partly reflect a number of projects on hotels and student accommodation in Belfast.

Deloitte’s Belfast Crane Count Survey also highlighted this, pointing out that the rapidly increasing number of cranes dotting the city’s skyline reflected investment in the city coming forward, despite some economic uncertainty.

The report highlighted that two new hotels were completed in Belfast in 2016 with at least a further six hotel projects across the city currently under construction, set to deliver in excess of 1,000 new hotel rooms.

Deloitte said that the Ulster University’s move to a larger campus in Belfast is a game changer, with a number of student housing schemes already being built.

The RICS and Tughans Construction Market Survey for Q4 2016 indicated that confidence in the 12-month outlook is at a nine-quarter high.

Indeed, Northern Ireland was one of the only areas of the UK to see a pick-up in the pace of output growth in the final quarter of 2016, according to the survey, and the significant majority of respondents expect workloads to rise during the course of this year.

Clearly, whilst the rising activity and sentiment is encouraging, it is not all positive news. Things like skills shortages, low margins, and the uncertainty of the public-sector pipeline of work are to fore of the minds of many in the sector.

The RICS and Tughans survey highlighted that infrastructure workload growth remained weak, and significantly below the UK average at the end of last year. And we think it is unlikely that new, novel or contentious capital projects will commence in the absence of ministerial decisions.

The latest figures from the Department for the Economy also show that housebuilding, which had been rising, slipped back at the end of last year.

That fact that our construction industry is so dependent on work in Great Britain — something that our top construction companies know too well — is also a challenge of sorts. Then there is the B word: Brexit.

In some respects, it looks like the construction sector has shrugged off the effects of the UK’s decision to leave the EU to date. However, it remains to be seen what challenges lie ahead. Post Brexit, the lack of EU funding, such as European Investment Bank and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding, will

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

likely be one such challenge.

We are encouraged by noises from the European Commission’s chief negotiation, Michel Barnier, about not weakening peace and dialogue in Northern Ireland.

We also note the UK Prime Minister’s comments about wanting a frictionless border.

However, free movement of labour is one area of concern. For instance, Northern Ireland already has a significant number of construction workers operating in GB, and the potential loss of the 176,500 EU nationals currently working in the UK’s construction sector could put further pressure on our skills base. This could impact on our ability to deliver essential infrastructure projects and to build the necessary supply of new homes that our society and economy needs.

It is up to the UK Government to secure the trade agreement, but industry must also work to secure the domestic skills pipeline. As the industry’s professional body, RICS is working to develop that skills base, building vital initiatives, such as degree apprenticeships, in our sector to drive the talent pipeline forward. A recent RICS survey revealed worrying figures showing that almost a quarter of construction professionals fail to recognise the benefits of apprenticeships in solving the skills crisis. It is vital that industry gets behind such schemes.

What is clear is that a healthy construction sector with the necessary skills is essential as it has a crucial role to play in a vibrant economy and society. And 2017 promises to be a significant year, with the expectation of both growth and challenge ahead.

THE GROWTH IN BUILDING PROJECTS IS GOOD NEWS FOR THE INDUSTRY BUT IT ALSO FACES PROBLEMS SUCH AS SKILLS SHORTAGES

53

Artist’s impressions of new developments in Belfast including (clockwise from left) the Maldron Hotel, Grand Central Hotel, City Quays 2 and an extension to the Fitzwilliam Hotel (two pictures)

54

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 MANUFACTURING  Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, on why the sector continues to make an important contribution to the Top 100

O

nce again, the importance of our manufacturing economy is highlighted in the Top 100 Companies.

The sector directly and indirectly contributes almost £10bn to GVA, enjoys almost £7bn in exports, dominates research and development (R&D) spend while directly employing 85,000 people..

There are a further 129,000 people in supporting and induced jobs — meaning one in four families in Northern Ireland rely on a manufacturing wage.

Indeed, many of those non-manufacturers on the Top 100 list are successful as they service our firms through banking, the supply chain and the profitable utility and energy companies.

On the face of it, things look not too bad.

But beneath hides a story of uncertainty and risk which makes this success brittle.

Government don’t create manufacturing success but it does create the conditions which allow manufacturers to grow, generating wealth and work. What happens in the Washington, Westminster, Brussels, Dublin and Stormont does matter.

Washington’s trade policy and attitude towards foreign investment and the shape of the deal Westminster can secure now that Article 50 has been triggered, will define 2017 and the years beyond. And closer to home, the ability of our local parties to do what the electorate asked and form a government where local people make decisions on our economy, skills, rates, energy and a raft of other policy areas, is a crucial matter.

The Department for the Economy has just closed its consultation on a refreshed Economic Strategy. It will direct investment, skills development and enterprise and trade support. Fundamentally it is an opportunity to instil confidence and stability.

Given events, a manufacturing plan is needed now, more than ever. Focusing on building a competitive, skilled, innovative and growing sector with a target of 20% of local GDP will bring some certainty in an uncertain world That plan must ensure we retain the best possible access to the EU market and skilled and semi-skilled labour. And it’s not just a matter of repeating the mantra, “no return to the borders of the past”. Intead,

it’s about avoiding the return of a border in any form, across or between these islands.

Borders bring costs and complexity — both of which destroy businesses.

Frankly, we needn’t worry about the imposition of tariffs when the cost and complexity of Country of Origin Certification, regulatory barriers, customs controls and other non-tariff restrictions are placed on such an integrated and engrained supply chain across and between these islands.

If the UK leaves without an agreement to replace the customs union, then we will have a very significant threat to the manufacturing economy and to those one in four families who rely on the sector.

The Irish Government is meeting the Brexit challenge head-on through diplomacy and, equally as important, by getting their companies Brexit ready. They are bringing ngagement, access, funding — and even a toolkit of information so their manufacturers can assess risks and make the right investments.

Increasingly, business in the north are concerned about a lack of detail, insight or planning. They don’t know who to speak to or where to find information that will help them make the decisions necessary to plan their way towards Brexit opportunities or to avoid disaster.

Business works at a completely different pace to Government. They can’t wait because they can’t afford to delay. That was made clear by one of our most successful

homegrown companies, Almac, in their powerful evidence presented to the NI Affairs Committee in the House of Commons.

Immediately after the UK Referendum result, their customers were asking for their Brexit plan. Within two weeks, they took action and it has since been confirmed they are opening a new operation in Dundalk to guarantee a presence in the EU and avoid non-tariff costs, and to give regulatory certainty.

Almac’s problems mirror that many others. What actions can they take to be certain to avoid adding cost and complexity to already complex businesses?

But, Almac’s solution is a positive for both parts of the island and perhaps a model of what manufacturing needs to do both north and south to protect jobs. Their new Dundalk operation will, whilst the UK negotiates its EU exit, secure jobs in

Craigavon. Equally, if firms in the Republic of Ireland want to guarantee access to their critical UK market post-Brexit, then it is time to work up plans to invest in the north. After all, jobs in Derry are good for Donegal and vice-versa.

If the right deal were achieved, we could see the reindustrialisation of Northern Ireland and with it more and better jobs in every constituency. But that will require bravery and creativity.

We know that when manufacturing grows, the whole economy grows with it and that’s worth positively fighting for.

Just as politics creates the conditions for business to create work, so too can business create the conditions to make Brexit work. Hopefully now the real negotiations are beginning, we will see some rational and not just political outcomes. We can’t afford not to.

WASHINGTON’S TRADE POLICY AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS FOREIGN INVESTMENT, AND THE SHAPE OF THE DEAL WESTMINSTER SECURES FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION, WILL DEFINE 2017 AND MANY YEARS TO COME

60

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

 MEDIATION  Firms don’t have to go to court to resolve their differences as there are options

M

any businesses will know that having a dispute with a customer or supplier or a member of staff or within their board is going to be costly, expensive and disruptive. Aside from the hard costs of engaging lawyers or other advisers there is the cost of time and the stress and difficulty arising from sorting out a dispute.

Increasingly businesses are turning to mediation as a means of resolving disputes. In mediation a neutral person assists the parties in the dispute to reach an agreement. The agreement is intended to meet the needs of the parties and to be a permanent resolution of the issues giving rise to the dispute.

For some time the Law Society of Northern Ireland has administered the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS). The DRS has a panel of lawyer mediators who have un-

dertaken approved training as mediators and who subscribe to both the DRS Code of Conduct and the Code of Conduct for European mediators under an EU directive.

Businesses will value the cost and expense saving of resolving disputes without the need to recourse to law. A mediated outcome often preserves relationships,

takes less time and can address quickly issues. This is in contrast to the formality of legal proceedings which involves pleading a case, making accusations or defending accusations made against the business and of course involving lawyers to present the legal case in the formal legal pleadings which are required.

The DRS panel of mediators can be accessed through mediatorsni.com. All the mediators on the panel are experienced lawyers and in addition are persons who have undertaken mediation training of an approved nature.

While traditionally parties might have said to each other ‘see you in court,’ in fact the expectation of courts is that the parties will have made every effort to resolve disputes. Recent case law suggests that if a party unreasonably refuses to engage in mediation, but insists on proceeding in court then even if they win and would ordinarily expect to recover their costs they may not recover costs if they have unreasonably refused to mediate. In support of this position court rules have changed and the legal advisors to parties with a dispute can be expected to inform clients that they must make efforts to resolve disputes.

Mediation is often the most appropriate method for most business disputes.

Rather than heading to court, incurring expense and breaking what may be potentially lucrative business relationships, company directors and other business executives should now consider mediation as an appropriate and proportionate way of resolving their disputes.

Brian Speers is a solicitor and head of the Dispute Resolution Service

TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017

61

 EDUCATION  Professor Mark Durkin, executive dean, Ulster University Business School, on how it can help create value for businesses by encouraging their entrepreneurial flair

U

lster University Business School (UUBS) is the sixth largest business school in the UK and delivers over 40m of GVA to the NI economy annually. With over 5000 students and 150 staff we deliver undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes of study across Northern Ireland through our Belfast, Jordanstown, Coleraine and Londonderry campuses and into London and Birmingham through our campus presences there.

Our vision is to be the leading centre for

entrepreneurial education in the UK and Ireland by 2021. Entrepreneurial thinking is focused on the pursuit of opportunity. In practical terms what this means is that we seek to be entrepreneurial through the content of the programmes we deliver, the on and off-line channels and partners we use in facilitating that delivery and the behaviours we display to each other and to our students. We are undeterred by the fact that NI is the only region of the UK dis-investing in higher education — we are in the business of creating possibility and to that end we are focused on shaping the futures of our students and the businesses they will join. We have 60,000 alumni working across 120 countries as drivers of economic growth globally. Our relationships with

Harvard Business School and the leading centre for entrepreneurial education in the US, Babson College in Boston, position us uniquely in the UK market.

In many ways the currency of any business school education must be evidenced in the way its graduates can think and act differently, and do so in ways that add value to the businesses they work within. Many stakeholders talk a lot about universities needing to produce ‘skilled’ graduates. For me, skills are only valuable where they are deployed creatively and thoughtfully; without that additional ability to be judicious, clever and sensitive to context skills can be replicated and competitive advantage eroded. Better to have graduates who can think and act that just think or just act. The appropriate balance between thinking and acting is where success lies. All of UUBS’s business education scores in the top 10 in the UK according to the government’s National Student Survey and our research is ranked 7th in the UK for impact and this issue of impact is an important one.

It has always been our approach to develop an intimate and textured understanding of how businesses actually work – not in theory but in practice. This is particularly evident in the area of SMEs where we have a distinct competence and we are appropriately tested and supported on an ongoing basis by our friends and colleagues in the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

in that SME engagement.

This intimate engagement with live businesses affords us the opportunity to co-create learning solutions that are not just fit for purpose, but take the businesses to new ways of thinking about opportunity. Recent examples of this approach are evidenced in our work around alternative finance and crowd-funding for SMEs and our current focus on Brexit where we are developing a Brexit ‘tool-kit’ to aid SMEs following the triggering of Article 50. A survey to assess SME sentiment around Brexit is currently live. Another example of our efforts to co-create learning solutions is the award-nominated Brightstart higher level apprenticeship scheme with Deloitte – a new learning model that allows new starts to learn on the job and simultaneously to undertake a degree from UUBS while working in Deloitte.

The students who graduate from UUBS each year are our product for the market – they represent change agents for any company wishing to develop and succeed. They are informed and astute; they are comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity; they are value creators. As we head towards an uncertain economic future before and post-Brexit it would seem to me there can be no more important investment to make in your business than that offered by young graduates who are ready, willing and able to create value for your business.

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TOP 100 Northern Ireland Companies 2017