Bizeye February March 2021 by Buckley Publications

Issue 204 Feb/Mar 2021 £2.50 Voted best Business Magazine in Ireland 2005 and Magazine of the Year for Northern Ireland

NIE Networks Diversity in A Fast-Paced Industry Features:

Mairead Meyer & Openreach Keeping Pace With The Broadband Appetite

Kevin Holland & Invest NI - Selling Northern Ireland’s Unique Position

Michael Tomalin & City Auction Group Ten Years Of Growth

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Contents 20

NIE Networks - Diversity In A Fast-Paced Industry

NIE Networks, the company behind the electricity transmission and distribution networks here in Northern Ireland, is proud of the diversity which runs through its highly skilled 1,200-strong workforce. And, behind the headlines and official citations lie some inspiring career journeys. Business Eye caught up with three young women who have built exceptional career with NIE Networks.

Openreach - Keeping Pace With The Online Boom

The Covid pandemic has had an effect on almost every aspect of our lives, not least our dependence on access to reliable broadband. It’s a fact that Mairead Meyeris all too aware of. As Director of Openreach in Northern Ireland, she heads up an organisation charged with driving the region’s ultrafast Full Fibre broadband capacity forward as quickly as possible.

Kevin Holland & Invest NI - Selling Northern Ireland’s Unique Position

Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit situation has turned into yet another political hot potato. But, for our dedicated inward investment agency, Northern Ireland’s unique status and its access to both EU and UK markets present a brand new USP. Northern Ireland, says Invest NI Chief Executive Kevin Holland, has become a whole lot more attractive to a variety of potential investors worldwide.

City Auction Group - Ten Years Of Growth

It’s been ten years since Michael Tomalin launched City Auction Group, a new force in the motor auction sector born out of the old Carryduff Auctions business. And, for a man who lives and breaths the business, it’s been quite a journey. The group has grown steadily to become a major player in the auction business both here in Northern Ireland and in GB where it operates from a giant base at Rockingham in Northamptonshire, home for the old Rockingham Motor Speedway.

Feb/March 2021 ISSUE 204

Tomorrow’s World

Triverity Labs - Bringing The CBD Boom To Belfast

From an electric car capable of charging your domestic appliances to how technology can shape plans for a Covid vaccine passport app, this month’s edition of Tech Eye brings you the latest tech news from across the UK and beyond.

The worldwide cannabidiol (CBD) market was reckoned to be worth US$2 billion back in 2019, but according to Fortune Business Insights, it could be worth as much as US$40 billion by 2027. It’s a market growing at a phenomenal rate thanks to CBD’s increasing use across pharma and a wide variety of other sectors. The latest player put down roots in Northern Ireland is Triverity Labs, a leader in the testing of CBD products for worldwide manufacturers.

New Prostate Service 54 Launched At Kingsbridge Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and accounts for around 250 deaths here every year. A new seamless screening service offering immediate access to a £60 test with results within 28 hours is now on offer at a new Prostate Clinic at Kingbridge Private Hospital in Belfast. PSA testing can be one fo the earliest markets to identify prostate pathology.

GDP Sets Out Pandemic 61 Recovery Plans Conor Devine and his business partner James Gibbons, are two men who instead of concentrating on fear, anxiety and talking about problems, focus all of their energy on plans, structure, and helping business owners, get through difficult periods. Their company, GDP Partnership, was borne out of the last financial crisis and since 2010, they have helped hundreds of companies and people find a pathway out of their financial challenges.

30 Money, Money, Money

As Northern Ireland and its economy gradually emerges from lockdown and the pandemic, companies here are focusing on the post-pandemic future. Central to that is the question of funding. What will the funding landscape look like as we recover from the effects of the Covid crisis? Will the banks support the aspirations of businesses? What alternative avenues are open? We seek the views of a cross-section of business leaders.

Buckley Publications 20 Kings Road Belfast, BT5 6JJ Tel: (028) 9047 4490 Fax: (028) 9047 4495 www.businesseye.co.uk

Belfast BID Urges Businesses To Vote

In 2016 Belfast’s first Business Improvement District (BID) Belfast One, was launched to give city centre businesses, working with public agencies, more control of their trading environment. The BID is business-led and self-funded through a small levy calculated on a business’ rateable value. After a successful first term where it has invested over £4m in the city centre, it’s asking 650 city businesses in the BT1 area to re-elect it for another five years by ensuring their ballot papers are returned by March 25.

Editor Richard Buckley Commercial Director Brenda Buckley

Design Hexagon Tel: (028) 9047 2210 www.hexagondesign.com

Photography Press Eye 45 Stockmans Way Belfast, BT9 7ET Tel: (028) 9066 9229 www.presseye.com

As we head towards spring, there’s no doubt that we’re in a very different place than we were this time last year or even this time a couple of months ago.

Comment

“We need to move forward and we need to offer hope to a population and a business community which has been battered and bruised by the Covid pandemic.”

he vaccine programme has been a game changer and, throwing the politics of nationality aside, we’re fortunate to be part of the UK’s fast-paced programme and not Europe’s much slower one. Looking at the wider picture in economic and business terms, it’s essential that we plan for an effective and swift re-opening of our economy. Retail, hospitality and a lot of other businesses have been asked to make huge sacrifices during a pandemic which lasted much, much longer than any of us could have imagined a year ago. They need to be given the chance to re-open as soon as possible, and they need to have the spectre of further lockdowns and closures taken away...if possible. First Minister Arlene Foster has said on more than one occasion that restrictions won’t be maintained for any longer than is absolutely necessary. We don’t have much option but to take her word for that, but it’s crucial that her pledge is honoured. Boris Johnson’s ‘road map’ for England’s recovery was welcomed by many but criticised by some for being too slow and too cautious. But it does set the template for the other UK regions to follow, and follow they almost certainly will. One of the added frustrations of the pandemic has been how bad devolved government has turned out to be. The performances of the devolved administrations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast have been less than convincing. Nicola Sturgeon has showboated, Mark Drakeford has verged on the bizarre at times, and our very own dysfunctional leadership duo have been all over the place.

Richard Buckley EDITOR Irish Magazine Editor of the Year 2005

But there’s little point in looking in the rear view mirror, to borrow another of our very own First Minister’s little phrases. We need to move forward and we need to offer hope to a population and a business community which has been battered and bruised by the Covid pandemic. Our Health Minister and his advisers are there to provide a steer to politicians, to provide the medical and public health knowhow. They’re not there, or they shoudn’t be there, to provide an ongoing backing track of alarmism. It’s simply not their role. With a vaccine programme that is the envy of many parts of the world, and certainly of Europe, we have a chance to move into the later spring and summer months in a very different way. For those who say that the old normal will never return, we say nonsense. The old normal will return, and our former ways of working will also return...largely. Offices will once again be occupied, pubs and restaurants will be busy, our city centres can become hives of activity and entertainment destinations once more. Covid will, in time, become a distant memory. What’s crucial right now is that we work towards that vision, and we work towards it with optimism as well as reality. It’s hard to argue with the prevailing view that a slow and steady release from restrictions is the right approach, and that the release this time is irreversible. But let’s get on with it, and let’s get on with it with optimism and hope. We can all drink to that.

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BUILDING BUSINESS FOR A STRONGER ECONOMY

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10/08/2020 16:22

Eye on News

New Director Joins ASM Chartered Accountants ASM Chartered Accountants have announced the appointment of Gareth McGonigle as Director of Insolvency and Restructuring at their Belfast Office. Gareth, a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner, brings a wealth of experience in corporate restructurings. Pictured welcoming Gareth to the firm are Caroline Keenan and Michael Nixon of ASM’s Belfast office.

Belfast City Airport On Cloud Nine Following Leaf IT Partnership George Best Belfast City Airport has agreed a new three-year partnership with local, cloud-first information technology company, Leaf IT, to strengthen the airport’s digital transformation programme.

Belfast City Airport partners with Leaf IT - pictured left is Leaf IT CEO Steven Goldblatt and right, Director of IT at Belfast City Airport, Brian Roche.

he collaboration between the two Belfast-based organisations, which will increase internal process efficiencies and enhance the overall customer experience at the airport, has already resulted in a 50% reduction in IT operational support costs. The partnership has also secured the continued employment of two ICT Systems Engineers who together have over 40 years’ of on-site IT experience. Speaking of the partnership, Belfast City Airport’s Director of Information Technology, Brian Roche, said: “At Belfast City Airport, we wish to establish ourselves as an industry leader in the field of IT infrastructure and have a comprehensive strategy in place to make that happen. “Leaf IT, with its 15 years’ experience and results-driven approach to digital solutions, is the perfect partner to join us on our journey, having excelled through the competitive tender process due to its innate understanding of the airport’s needs, innovative services and futureproofing foresight. “We are delighted to welcome them on board as a trusted partner.” The airport, which has just signed a

contract for the installation of 5G, setting it on a path to becoming one of the most highly connected transport hubs in the UK, will work with Leaf IT to prioritise cyber security, analytical technologies, and the upgrading of IT infrastructure to a Nutanix Hyperconverged platform, complete with disaster recovery. Steven Goldblatt, Chief Executive Officer of Leaf IT, also commented: “Belfast City Airport has placed its trust in us to deliver reliable and scalable IT. Our team will bring an innovative approach to the airport’s transformation towards Cloud and we are looking forward to assisting the team in utilising world leading technology to improve processes at the airport and deliver exceptional customer experience.” In addition to a fully managed IT service, Belfast City Airport will also lean on Leaf IT for the procurement of all future hardware and work closely on the exploration and implementation of emerging IT technologies.

For more information, visit www.belfastcityairport.com

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10/08/2020 16:22

Eye on News

Erin Brockovich To Speak At IoD Women’s Leadership Conference Iconic environmental activist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich has been revealed as a guest speaker at this year’s IoD Women’s Leadership Conference.

he will join the leading business organisation for its virtual Women’s Leadership Conference sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills, taking place in March. Erin, whose story became the real-life inspiration for Oscar-winning film Erin Brockovich starring Julia Roberts, worked on the largest medical lawsuit in history against a major US utility on behalf of hundreds of citizens who had unknowingly been exposed to toxic waste. IoD NI National Director Kirsty McManus commented: “We are pleased to announce Erin Brockovich as a guest speaker at this year’s Women’s Leadership Conference adding to our already stellar line up. “Erin describes herself as an advocate for awareness, the truth, and a person’s right to know using her life experiences to motivate and inspire audiences around the world, and we cannot wait to hear what she has for business leaders here in Northern Ireland. “This year the event takes the theme ‘Great Leaders Rise out of Adversity’ and that’s exactly what Erin will

be showcasing as she provides us with lessons on her four steps for success, her motto for resilience and perseverance and advocacy on the causes that matter.” A New York Times bestselling author and President of Brockovich Research and Consulting, Erin Brockovich has long been spreading messages of encouragement and empowerment to inspire others to stand up and make a difference with a determination to expose injustice. Kirsty added: “As one of the world’s most sought-after speakers, we look forward to hearing from Erin and gaining an insight into the woman who thrives on being the voice for those who do not know how to yell.” Other speakers at the conference, which will be broadcast online across Friday 5th and Friday 12th March, include Great British Bake-Off Winner Nadiya Hussain, Belfast Digital Innovation Commissioner Jayne Brady and spacecraft operations engineer Nagin Cox. Associate sponsors of the event include The Open University, Translink, NIE Networks, Investec, SONI, Danske Bank, and KPMG.

For further details about the conference and to book, visit www.iod.com/ni.

IoD NORTHERN IRELAND REAPPOINTS CHAIRMAN Leading business body The Institute of Directors Northern Ireland (IoD NI) has reappointed Gordon Milligan as its Chairman for up to another three years.

he reappointment of Gordon, who is Deputy Chief Executive of Translink, has been made as the organisation and the wider business community continues to deal with the impact of Brexit and restrictions placed on the economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gordon, who was first appointed to the post in 2018, said: “It has been an honour to serve the IoD and our members over the course of the past three years and I am deeply humbled to have been reappointed to the position during what continues to be a turbulent time for businesses. “There is no doubt it has been an immensely difficult period for many of our local businesses due to the great number of challenges they’ve had to face, much of them completely outside their control.

“However, they have constantly stepped up to the mark, showing exceptional leadership despite the uncertainty. “As an organisation, we continue to provide support to members, whether it be dealing with the impact of

coronavirus or the substantial challenges associated with the EU exit, and seek to act as the voice for local businesses on these key issues and others.” Gordon said his focus would continue to be on professional development, as it had been during his initial three-year tender. “I will be working across the organisation, encouraging members to realise ‘the leadership dividend’. The more we invest in developing ourselves as leaders, and building the skills of our senior management teams, the better the outcomes both professionally and economically for our businesses, and consequently, society. “These are among the main aims of our professional development offering, as we seek to equip leaders to strategically drive business growth, improve corporate governance and build better boards.” Gordon joined Translink in 2009 and has a background that includes holding executive roles at some of Northern Ireland’s best-known firms such as Bombardier Aerospace, Nortel Networks and Dunbia.

Eye on News

Value, freshness and local people at heart of smart new campaign from EUROSPAR

EUROSPAR has launched a new campaign keeping community, convenience, value and their fresh credentials front and centre.

e a Smart Shopper aims to highlight the on-going value proposition at EUROSPAR, the supermarket brand that can be found in the heart of communities across Northern Ireland. It comes off the back of new 2020 Shopper Insights* in which the supermarket brand outranks the multiples in Northern Ireland in customer service levels, locality and price perception. Jade Manning, Brand Manager at Henderson Group which owns the EUROSPAR brand, commented; “This past year has seen a clear indication that shoppers now prefer to shop locally, even when it comes to the ‘big trolley shop’ traditionally reserved for the multiples. “Our shopper insights show that EUROSPAR customer

service was ranked above other multiples in the area and 45% of those surveyed said EUROSPAR was their first preference supermarket where they live, a jump of 27% since 2019.” The campaign aims to reach shoppers who may have had to change the way they shop over the past year, whether that be because of COVID restrictions or because they want to buy more local produce. Over 75% of fresh produce available at EUROSPAR is sourced locally, with Henderson Wholesale own-brands experiencing growth in 2020, working with local suppliers to produce stand-out products. Jade added; “Our towns and villages also thrive on independent and family-owned retailers, and we know local communities want to support them, especially

throughout lockdown. Our shopper surveys throughout 2020 lockdowns showed us that our shoppers want to be kept safe as their highest priority, and their trust in our stores comes from knowing their local retailers and teams working on the shop floor.” “There are now 68 EUROSPAR supermarkets across Northern Ireland, many of which are run by families in shoppers’ local communities with everything they need at great prices under one roof. Shoppers can expect a wide range of fruit and vegetables including our own brand The Greengrocer’s range, plus fresh meals from The Kitchen, alongside The CHEF fresh range of readymade, hand cooked meals and our popular enjoy local fresh range.” The 2020 insights also showed an improvement of 2.9% in the perceived value available at EUROSPAR. The supermarket stocks big brand names in its Tesco Price Match promotion, which matches over 1,000 prices to Tesco, providing even further savings.

Other highlights of the insights from 2020 found that EUROSPAR is handier to call into than a multiple, with 64% of shoppers using it to pick up essentials while 70% grab products to make a meal for later that day. However, almost half also said they would use their local EUROSPAR to do a bigger trolley shop, and 30% don’t want to travel far to do it, a rise of 13% from 2019. The EUROSPAR Smart Shopper campaign has launched across TV, digital and on promotional leaflets and will feature real shoppers from Northern Ireland. Focusing on the feeling you get when shopping at EUROSPAR, the campaign will highlight the benefits of shopping at EUROSPAR through customer testimonials based on value, product range, convenience, community, and store services.

Eye on Cloud Communications

Why your next Wi-Fi setup needs to be mesh It’s mid-March and the clock is loudly ticking for the restart of our economy, with many local businesses keen to get back to some sort of normality, or at the very least to something a bit different.

nd certainly all the signs are there, that our world of work will be different for some time yet. Most business leaders have already adapted their thinking to enable a permanent shift between remote and office working this year, ensuring that all staff have the key tech enablers in place to get on with the job from wherever they are. Few will argue that most of us miss that real social interaction and the benefits which personal contact brings and this will be a priority for most of us as we move to unlock. What’s important though is that every business has the tools to make this ‘hybrid’ model of working from home and attending the office as seamless as it can be. 2020 was a big year for tech investment and many businesses are reaping the flexible, costsaving and collaborative benefits which MS Teams, MS 365, call direct routing and access to the cloud have brought. We’ve all got the tools to give us the flexibility we need to move around - laptops, tablets and smart phones are in, and we’re ready to go. So as you count down to some sort of office return, is there anything you can do make the very most of this transition? Definitely yes. To make the most of that space and to give staff the flexibility to safely move around unhindered, every business should consider the merits of a mesh Wi-Fi system to get the full benefits of tech

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investments made to date. At home, you’ll already be heavily reliant on the strength of your broadband, but ‘dead’ spots – where the signal is slower – can be a daily frustration. The same applies to most offices which means it can effectively limit what you do with your space and get the best from your property asset. A mesh Wi-Fi system will make this a thing of the past. Using multiple access points, or nodes, around your building will produce stronger coverage throughout, freeing more space and strengthening your connection and internet speeds. These ‘nodes’ are effectively new routers that broadcast their own Wi-Fi signal in a much stronger way because it won’t be impeded by the myriad of walls, ceilings, doors and floors or other hard obstructions.

Importantly, mesh systems are infinitely better than extenders, providing seamless, efficient reliable coverage. You can also monitor and update your system through a smartphone app, in the office or at home. Most importantly, mesh networks better accommodate a shift in how people use technology today. We carry mobiles devices like smartphones, smart watches, laptops and tablets from space to space. Offering additional security, mesh systems can also provide guest or temporary access. You can also improve your network security by installing a new, next-generation firewall which will add additional protection by monitoring and filtering all incoming and outgoing data and blocking malicious sites that might cause alarm.

As we move to unlock, hybrid working will be a major business theme in the short and medium term at least and most are planning ahead now. Leading companies already committed to this flexible working approach include Lloyds, AXA, HSBC and KMPG and more will follow in the weeks ahead. There will also be much greater usage in larger public places including universities, hospitals, schools, bus stations and more. Digital transformation is in turbo-boost mode. The time to prepare for next stage is now.

Eye on Economics

Bank Of England Forecasts Rapid Economic Recovery In 2021 The Covid pandemic continues to hit business activity and household spending in the UK and the rest of the world.

estrictions put in place to contain the pandemic’s spread are causing many businesses to sell less of their goods and services. Some businesses are unable to sell at all. Even though the available evidence shows that current restrictions are affecting economic activity less severely than restrictions did during the first lockdown— growth in Northern Ireland as measured by the NI Composite Economic Index was 13.6% lower in the second quarter of 2020 than in the first— it’s clear from my conversations with contacts that businesses in the region are still feeling immense strain. Many households have a lot less money to spend, too. Although the Government’s employmentsupport schemes are significantly limiting the rise in unemployment, some people have lost their jobs. The latest data available show the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland was 3.6% in October-December 2020, unchanged from the previous quarter, but up from 2.4% in the same period in 2019. And we think further rises in unemployment are likely over the first half of this year. To help get businesses and households through these tough times, the Bank of England has taken prompt and substantial action. Last year, the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cut Bank Rate—the base rate that many short-term interest rates are linked to—to a record low of 0.1%. The MPC also announced it would inject an additional £450 billion into the economy through quantitative easing (QE) QE pushes long-term interest rates down.

Lower short- and long-term interest rates mean cheaper loans and mortgages for businesses and households. At its meeting in February, the MPC decided to keep Bank Rate at 0.1% and the total amount of QE, including the amount announced last year, at £895 billion. And the MPC said it does not intend to either raise Bank Rate or reduce QE until there is clear evidence that the economy is making significant progress towards a full recovery and inflation is returning sustainably to target. The MPC’s latest forecasts show the UK economy recovering rapidly later this year, with the vaccination programme leading to the easing of restrictions and people’s health concerns.

“In terms of total activity and spending, the economy will probably get back to where it was before the pandemic in around a year’s time.” The expected recovery is supported by the substantial actions already announced by the Bank and the Government. In terms of total activity and spending, the economy will probably get back to where it was before the pandemic in around a year’s time. As activity and spending recover, and given recent developments in energy prices, inflation is expected to rise back to our 2% target over the next year. But the future path of the economy remains unusually uncertain—we can’t be sure how the pandemic will develop, how governments across the world will loosen or tighten restrictions, or how households and businesses will react to those changes.

Frances Hill.

The MPC is monitoring the situation closely and stands ready to take any further action necessary to support the economy and get inflation back to target. In this context of unusual uncertainty, the intelligence that I and my fellow Agents are gathering for the MPC from our contacts in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is especially vital. With our contacts’ help, the Bank of England will continue to maintain price and financial stability on behalf of the people of the UK.

Frances Hill is Agent for Northern Ireland. @BoENIreland

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Eye on News

Charity Launches Spring Heart Health Campaign

Leading health charity, Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke, is determined to look after each and every local heart this March.

s we move into Spring and warmer weather, the charity emphasises the importance of continuing to support the most vulnerable members of our community. Despite the ongoing pandemic, one major step taken by NICHS, has been to ensure that the homeless can still access essential heart-health testing. The charity has a long history of working alongside local homeless hostels providing in-person health checks, wellness talks and resources. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the services have been modified but the charity is still working hard to ensure that the right care reaches these communities. NICHS’s remodelled program, ‘Well Space’, aims to provide sustainable health planning to homeless hostels; identifying their individual priorities, providing tailored training, and assisting in delivering health and wellbeing initiatives. The aim is to empower the hostel employees to look after their own health and actively support the health of their clients, aided by the guidance and backing of NICHS. Expanding on ‘Well Space’, and due to the inability to conduct face-to-face health checks, the charity has just launched a new online training program to train hostel staff themselves to check their

Sarah Doherty (Project Manager at Simon Community, Lisburn), Hannah Williamson, (Health and Wellbeing Coordinator at NICHS) and Jane McMillan (Social Care Lead for Adults and Older People from Health and Social Care Board)

client’s blood pressure (BP) and test for Atrial Fibrillation (AF) (a type of irregular heart beat). Fidelma Carter, Head of Public Health at NICHS, explains: ‘High blood pressure and AF are the two biggest indicators of stroke and heart disease but, if identified early-on, both can be treated and managed. It is very concerning that an estimated 40% of all AF cases lie undetected – those with AF are five times more likely to have a stroke. Plus, around 146,698 adults have undetected high blood pressure (HBP) in NI, which is responsible for over half of all strokes and heart attacks. If we can identify HBP or AF early, we can save lives.” Thanks to generous funding from the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), NICHS has been able to offer this invaluable BP and AF testing training to 38 hostels in the Belfast and South Eastern Trust areas. This week alone, they had 32 participants and installed all necessary equipment and PPE into the Salvation Army (Grosvenor House) and Simon Community hostels in Bangor and Lisburn. Sarah Doherty, Project Manager of Simon Community in Lisburn explains, “Many people who are homeless find accessing health care difficult and during the COVID-19 pandemic are reluctant to visit GP surgeries. Within Simon Community we support all our clients to access primary health care but

having the opportunity to offer BP and AF checks will take the support we can offer to a higher level. We have a close working relationship with Chest, Heart and Stroke and are really grateful to be able to offer this service to our clients, with their support.” Jane McMillan, Social Care Lead for Adults and Older People from HSCB says, “HSCB values the vital work that our partners in the community and voluntary sector deliver. During the COVID-19 pandemic organisations across this sector have overcome significant challenges to ensure services can be maintained. Chest Heart and Stroke has been no exception, working tirelessly and effectively to put appropriate measures in place to ensure the continuing and safe provision of their blood pressure testing services.” “In this context, HSCB are pleased to support the enhancement of Chest Heart and Stroke’s current services by providing funding to cover not only the costs of BP monitors and AF equipment but also the necessary training for staff. Together, these measures will help reduce the risks of stroke for those people living in homeless hostels.” NICHS will continue to fight for our most vulnerable and, during the pandemic, will make sure that no one gets left behind.

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Eye on News

AbbeyAutoline extends partnership with Ulster Rugby AbbeyAutoline has announced an extension of its partnership with Ulster Rugby until 2022/23.

he multi-year deal will see AbbeyAutoline, Northern Ireland’s biggest insurance broker, continue with exclusive naming rights of the Family Stand at Kingspan Stadium. The agreement will see Ulster Rugby and AbbeyAutoline work together to deliver a range of family-friendly match day and non-match day activities, events and content that will benefit Ulster Rugby fans and AbbeyAutoline customers. They will also be launching a range of exclusive benefits for Ulster Rugby season ticket holders. AbbeyAutoline employs

450 staff across 18 branches provincewide and offers a range of insurance products which include Car, Home, Van, Motorbike, Taxi, Farm and Business Insurance. The business also provides a competitive telematics solution for young drivers called ChilliDrive. Announcing the extension of the partnership with Ulster Rugby, Julie Gibbons, Managing Director of AbbeyAutoline, said: “We have established a strong relationship with Ulster Rugby and its loyal and passionate fanbase over the past three years and we’re delighted

Pictured announcing the partnership extension are Ulster Rugby’s (L-R) Ian Madigan, Jordi Murphy and Kieran Treadwell.

to extend this partnership until 2022/23 under our new name, AbbeyAutoline. “As a local company, we are incredibly excited by what the future holds for Ulster Rugby and we look forward to continuing our long-term commitment to supporting the development and growth of the local game, both on and off the pitch. “We also can’t wait to welcome back families and young people to the AbbeyAutoline Family Stand, when it’s safe to do so, to experience the excellent family-friendly atmosphere as supporters of all ages cheer on their rugby heroes.” Jonny Petrie, Ulster Rugby CEO, said: “We are delighted that AbbeyAutoline has chosen

to renew their partnership with us. As we look forward to a time when we can safely welcome back supporters to Kingspan Stadium, it’s exciting to be collaborating on plans for our fans who are eagerly anticipating a return to their usual spot in what will be a newly branded AbbeyAutoline Family Stand. “There will also be plenty on offer outside of what will be happening on a match day, so I have no doubt it will be a busy and engaging partnership in the time ahead, which will continue to deliver for our club and supporters across the province.”

Eye on News

Cordovan Capital Management Announces Spanwall Investment

elfast-based private equity firm Cordovan Capital Management Limited has secured a successful majority investment into Spanwall Group Limited, marking the first investment closed into its new fund vehicle, Cordovan Capital Partners II LP, and bringing its total number of investments to ten. The Spanwall Group is one of the UK’s leading architectural wall cladding specialists bringing design and manufacturing expertise to iconic buildings such as the Titanic Museum, Belfast, the Central Bank of Ireland, Dublin and Liverpool Street Station, London. Speaking following the acquisition, Stephen McClelland, Director at Cordovan, said: “Spanwall has an international reputation for delivering innovative and bespoke projects. We believe it is well positioned to grow significantly in the coming years and look forward to supporting the management team and staff through the next stage of its development. The company has a fantastic engineering pedigree that is testament to its founders Eric Bell, Norman Bell and Tony Reid. We are delighted they will remain as shareholders alongside Keith Toner who will continue in his role as Managing Director.” Keith Toner commented: “Spanwall has been at the cutting edge of innovation in architectural cladding and façade systems for over 50 years and this acquisition by the Fund will support the business as it continues to develop and grow.”

(L-R) Keith Toner, Managing Director of Spanwall; Stephen McClelland, Managing Director of Cordovan Capital Management; Philip West, Sales Director of Spanwall.

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Eye on News

Forestside announced as new sponsor of Arts & Business NI Awards Arts & Business NI have announced Forestside Shopping Centre as the new headline sponsor for the annual Arts & Business Annual Awards, as part of a 3 year sponsorship agreement.

rts & Business NI works to forge dynamic partnerships between the business and arts sectors in Northern Ireland; the Arts & Business NI Awards is a flagship event in the cultural calendar and acts as an important platform to celebrate stand-out partnerships and projects between the cultural and private sector in Northern Ireland from the preceding year. Forestside has demonstrated itself as a true patron of the arts, through its partnerships with several professional music festivals across Northern Ireland and its ongoing commitment to supporting emerging young musicians and songwriters. Most notably, this was recognised with Forestside being awarded the coveted title of Allianz Arts & Business NI Business of the Year Awards in 2019. Forestside will replace Allianz as headline sponsor, who generously sponsored the awards for 14 years. Mary Nagele, CEO of Arts & Business NI commented: “As a previous winner of our Business of the Year title, Forestside are a true champion of the Arts and a fitting new headline sponsor for these important Awards. There are so many vital partnerships between the private sector and the arts across NI that are helping businesses and communities thrive. It is crucial, especially in these times, that we take time to celebrate and acknowledge all that these creative collaborations have achieved.” Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland commented: “The strong support of major business enterprises such as Forestside for the Arts & Business NI Awards and for the arts in general, sends out a very positive message about the

Lee Cutler, Centre Manager of Forestside Shopping Centre (left) and Mary Nagele, CEO of Arts & Business NI (right), celebrate the announcement of their new 3-year awards partnership.

value of arts and culture to local business. As we move towards the reopening of our services and the recovery of our social, economic and creative lives, our two important sectors will be working closely together, supporting each other through the challenging months ahead and creating some truly exciting partnerships along the way.” Forestside has been an active and engaged business member of Arts & Business NI since 2017, having demonstrated its commitment to supporting the arts through its Future Festivals project with Sunflowerfest and Young Guitarist Competition with Belfast Guitar Festival. The centre also offers affordable unit spaces to small local businesses and creators, including fine artist, Francis McCrory, to facilitate opportunities for centre shoppers to discover their work. Their dedicated recording studio is also located on this level, and is available for bookings from any local recording artists. Lee Cutler, Centre Manager of Forestside Shopping Centre commented:

“Forestside are very proud to step forward as sponsors of the Arts & Business NI Awards, following in the footsteps of Allianz who have made an incredible contribution to Arts in Northern Ireland. We take on this role at a time when creativity has never been more critical and celebrating the amazing partnerships between Arts and Business organisations has never been more important.” In light of COVID-19 restrictions, the Arts & Business Awards 2021 will take place as a virtual ceremony in June 2021. Nominations for entries will open in early March 2021, when applicants will find full details regarding submissions on the Arts & Business NI website and social media channels. Arts & Business NI and Forestside look forward to delivering a ceremony which celebrates artistic excellence and showcases the amazing and innovative projects that the arts and business sectors have forged over the last 18 months.

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Eye on Cover Story

NIE Networks Diversity in A Fast-Paced Industry NIE Networks, the company behind the electricity transmission and distribution networks here in Northern Ireland, is proud of the diversity which runs through its highly skilled 1,200-strong workforce. NIE Networks was first awarded a Bronze Diversity Charter Mark from Diversity Mark NI in 2020 and has retained its accreditation for 2021. The Bronze Charter Mark commits organisations to focus initially on gender diversity through specific initiatives that drive a positive gender balance and promote a positive and inclusive workplace environment. But, behind the headlines and official citations lie some inspiring career journeys. Business Eye caught up with three young women who have built exceptional careers with NIE Networks....

Kelly Frizzell

“Don’t think that this is a maledominated world. It’s not like that any more. There is great diversity around this organisation and that’s something that helps make it tick.”

9-year old Kelly Frizzell, from Lurgan in County Armagh, joined NIE Networks in 2015 under the company’s apprenticeship programme, a three-year training course that works towards a nationally recognised professional qualification in Electrical Engineering. Kelly’s apprenticeship journey led her to becoming a surveyor with the company, working in the field for four days a week alongside an experienced mentor and continuing her classroom training on the fifth day of the week. Her dedication to the role also saw her scoop the company’s coveted title of Apprentice of the Year in her qualifying year. “The big advantage of an apprenticeship at NIE Networks above other jobs is the fact that you’re continually learning and that you’re getting paid competitively while you’re doing that. I’d recommend the apprenticeship route to anyone.” The surveyor role meant that Kelly could have found herself out around Northern Ireland, perhaps advising on connecting new build properties to the electricity network or surveying land and sites in preparation for the upgrading or maintenance of that network. “When I wasn’t out on site, I’d

be back in the office preparing reports for our engineers and installation teams,” she explains. In 2019, she changed career path, applying for and securing a post as one of NIE Networks’ Customer Relations Officers. “It was quite a change in direction,” says Kelly. “My job now entails managing a wide range of customer enquiries. I’ll talk to customers, business owners, even local representatives and MLA’s about various issues on the electricity supply front. “It’s a mix of handling calls and emails from the office (currently her home) and going out on site to get a closer look at specific situations or issues. That suits me very well. I enjoy meeting people. There is a lot more networking involved than there was in my previous role. But I also like still getting out there around our network.” Kelly can’t recommend a career with NIE Networks highly enough, especially to younger females. “Don’t think that this is a male-dominated world. It’s not like that any more. There is great diversity around this organisation and that’s something that helps make it tick. “I wish I’d taken up the opportunity to join the apprenticeship programme when I left school at 16,” says Kelly. “I spent a number of years doing various jobs that didn’t challenge me and that I really didn’t enjoy, before I made the move to NIE Networks. It was the best decision that I ever made. “The company is always looking out for you and encouraging you to increase your experience and your potential. I’ve been able to get involved in education programmes with local schools, for example. I’ve even had the chance to complete an advanced driving course. And I’m always on the look-out for more opportunities.” Not one for standing still, Kelly has recently signed up for a year-long NIE Networks in-house mentoring programme for females, just one of the commitments the company has made under their Diversity Charter. The mentoring programme sees her paired with Caron Malone, Head of Asset Systems & Data at the organisation.

Eye on Cover Story

“The big advantage of an apprenticeship at NIE Networks above other jobs is the fact that you’re continually learning and that you’re getting paid competitively while you’re doing that. I’d recommend the apprenticeship route to anyone.”

Eye on Cover Story

Caron Malone

“The company encourages its people to work in different roles and gain experience of the whole business rather than work in silos and concentrate on just one part.”

t 32, Caron Malone is one of the youngest members of the senior management team at NIE Networks. She won an NIE Networks scholarship to complete a Masters in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast, and she’s currently completing an MSc in Business Improvement, also sponsored by the company. Caron joined the company straight from university almost exactly 10 years ago and is now the company’s Head of Asset Systems & Data. But she worked in a variety of other roles on her way to that senior management position. “You hit the ground running in this industry, and I found myself working on project teams planning major transmission lines before moving on to the customer connections department and from then on to my first management role. As Construction Development Manager, I worked with industrial teams connecting customers all over Northern Ireland to our network. “The company encourages its people to work in different roles

and gain experience of the whole business rather than work in silos and concentrate on just one part.” Two years ago, Caron was appointed to her current role as Head of Asset Systems & Data. She’s responsible for a team of 30 people, gathering, managing and updating data and information on all of NIE Networks’ assets. That’s a lot of assets, when you take in poles, towers, lines, transformers, sub stations and a whole lot more besides, and it translates to a lot of data and information. “We look at every asset – where it is, how old it is, what condition it is in, when it requires maintenance and what type of maintenance it requires. And we provide that information to the teams within NIE Networks who need it. “Ultimately, it’s about driving better and more efficient decision making that allows us to improve how we run the business in the longer term and passing those benefits on to our customers. “We’re helping to make this a much more digital-led business. That way, we can update information on our sites and systems promptly and improve efficiency for our internal teams and external customers alike. It’s all about making key information available at the fingertips of our managers and staff. And that, in turn, enables them to make the right decisions and make them quickly.” Back in her university days, Caron was one of 10% of female students studying Electrical & Electronic Engineering, and like her colleagues, she’s all too keen to encourage young females to see STEM subjects as a natural option and consider a career in the power industry. “It’s a great career and a really dynamic, fast-moving industry to work in. There are lot of pathways and options open to young people joining us. It really doesn’t make any difference if you’re male or female. It’s about being good at what you do. Ambition and results speak for themselves around here.” She’s looking forward to her role as a mentor to Kelly Frizzell, and to having the opportunity to pass on some of the knowledge she’s picked up in ten years of working in various roles at the organisation. Caron’s Asset Systems & Data team also feed into the specialists at NIE Networks’ Future Networks team which looks at the future direction of the industry and the rapid move towards the use of renewable energy sources.

Orla Martin

“Part of our role is to develop ways to adapt how we do business, to look at smarter ways of managing supply and consumption and smooth out the peaks, all while balancing costs.”

key member of that team is Future Networks Engineer, Orla Martin. 28-year old Orla, from Derry, is another product of the NIE Networks Scholarship Programme in partnership with Queen’s University. Like Caron, she left Queen’s with a Masters in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. “The great thing about the scholarship programme is that you don’t arrive on day one at NIE Networks as a complete newcomer. I spent three summer placements and one full year out working with the company before I started work in a graduate role in 2017,” says Orla. “So I had the chance to see a lot of different parts of the business and the work that they do. But, for me, the experience helped to translate all the graphs and equations from university into a real-life working environment.” In her role as a Future Networks Engineer, Orla is project manager of a number of innovation projects all aimed at steering NIE Networks towards a new and more sustainable energy future. Northern Ireland has

already reached 47% of electricity from renewable sources, but is aiming for a 70% benchmark by 2030, a target still to be confirmed by the NI Executive. “It’s essential to help counter climate change, but it also puts significant pressures on an electricity network infrastructure that was designed and built to manage a different level of demand. So moving into the future will require significant network investment and reinforcement, and the adoption of smart technologies for operating the network,” says Orla. “Part of our role is to develop ways to adapt how we do business, to look at smarter ways of managing supply and consumption and smooth out the peaks, all while balancing costs. “Our approach is to be a ‘fast follower’ – integrating advanced smart customer-based solutions into how we do things on a daily basis. We’re doing this by undertaking a programme of pilot innovation projects with the aim of developing cost effective alternatives to conventional network investment. “If successful, our innovation projects are designed to create additional capacity at a lower cost than traditional reinforcement solutions and can be deployed much faster in response to the predicted uptake of Low Carbon Technologies such as electric vehicles, energy storage and heat pumps. “It’s a fascinating role to be in at such an exciting time for our industry, to help build a decarbonised energy future and to see what companies and governments are doing to tackle the climate emergency all over the world.” Like both Caron and Kelly, she has no hesitation in recommending females to consider careers in the industry. “I definitely would,” she says. “I think we need to change the common perception of what an engineer does. It’s not a dirty job and it’s not a man’s job. Engineering can take you to so many places and it’s even better if you combine that with a fast-moving industry like energy. The energy industry, especially here, is on the cusp of fundamental change and I honestly wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Intake for the NIE Networks Apprenticeship Programme 2021 is open for applications now.

Eye on Profile

Five questions with Jeff McCartney, new Group Operations Director at Charles Hurst With more than a century at the helm of the car industry in Northern Ireland, Charles Hurst Group is under new leadership. The Group confirmed last month that Jeff McCartney will now lead the 115 yearold company as Group Operations Director after an impressive three decades across a variety of roles. Business Eye sat down (over Zoom!) with the new Charles Hurst Chief to discuss his career to date and get his take on the future direction of the industry. Charles Hurst is one of Northern Ireland’s most established and successful firms. How does it feel to be taking the top role? It’s the privilege of a lifetime, to be honest. When you’ve been part of a business for as long as I’ve been with Charles Hurst, it becomes like a second family almost. I suppose when I look back to when I started with the Tyres department in the late 1980s, if you’d told me that I’d be Group Operations Director I’d have been surprised. However, that said, I knew then that I really enjoyed what I did. I love this industry and I’ve always been ambitious during my time with the company.

How has the business managed through the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic? As with most other retail-orientated sectors in the economy, there’s absolutely no doubt that the first lockdown, in particular, made for a very challenging business environment. However, we were quick to adapt and rapidly transformed the business to meet

the realities of the public health restrictions. We knew that our customers would still need us to be there for them because, if anything, the reductions in the capacity allowances on public transport meant people needed their cars to go about their essential business. The digital evolution in the business, which was already underway before the pandemic, was accelerated significantly to the extent that in a matter of months, we were operating on a contactless basis. We were able to move a significant element of the customer journey online, now further enhancing this to a fully contactless sales experience. Our whole team worked incredibly hard to ensure we could continue to provide the quality service we always have, whilst keeping themselves and our customers safe.

What sort of cars were people buying? New car registrations were down significantly this year versus last. However, although the first part of last year was slower to coincide with the first lockdown, our online sales were up by 30% by the

end of the year. The last quarter of 2020 was much busier than we anticipated. It’s worth remembering that new cars are a relatively small percentage of the overall volume of sales in NI. I spent a lot my career in used vehicles, and our ability to source high quality stock at very competitive prices has meant that part of the market has consistently performed strongly and last year was no different.

What do you see has being the big trends in the car industry? There is no doubt that the innovation we have seen in the digital space will continue. However, we know from research that people still want to see a vehicle for themselves before they commit to a purchase, so in that sense the integration between the online and physical retail experience will be hugely important moving forward. Electrification is a hugely exciting prospect for the industry. We’ve already seen a 10% uplift in EV sales from last year, and it’s certainly my intention that Charles Hurst will play a leading role in this area.

How do you plan to lead the Group in your new role? You can’t achieve the sort of success that Charles Hurst has over a century without having a strong core proposition. For us, that has always been ensuring that everything we do is led by our customers and having a fantastic team within the company who are dedicated to ensuring a great customer outcome. Regardless of the innovation and advancement in technology in the next number of years, this fundamental principle will be critical to the company’s success in the future.

Eye on Broadband

Openreach Keeping Pace With The Online Boom The Covid pandemic has had an effect on almost every aspect of our lives, not least our dependence on access to reliable broadband.

eople working from home, children home schooling, students housebound plus an exponential rise in online shopping, Zoom calls and a whole lot more adds up to the biggest demand ever for broadband capacity. It’s a fact that Mairead Meyer is all too aware of. As Director of Openreach in Northern Ireland, she heads up an organisation charged with driving the region’s ultrafast Full Fibre broadband capacity

forward as quickly as possible. And she has one aim firmly in mind. To claim Northern Ireland’s place as the first UK region to reach 100% fibre broadband coverage. “At the moment, we’re sitting nearly at 60% (or 525,000 homes and businesses) so you could say that we’ve broken the back of our target. Already, Belfast is ahead of London when it comes to ultrafast Full Fibre broadband availability. But the remaining 40% includes most of our big rural areas. These areas prove to be a lot more challenging, however we’re doing all we can to reach the entire region. Last year we announced 94 rural towns and villages that we’re building ultrafast Full Fibre broadband to as we want to ensure no one gets left behind,” she says. The milestone puts Northern

Ireland well ahead of the rest of the UK when it comes to achieving the Government’s target of 100% access to 1Gbps speeds by 2025. “We have 75% coverage of Full Fibre in Belfast, making it the third best-covered city in the UK*, and eight out of eleven local council areas now have more than 50% coverage.” The Openreach chief maintains that reaching 100% Full Fibre coverage is achievable. “We’re confident that we can do it, and we’re confident that we’ll give Northern Ireland the edge as the No. 1 region for ultrafast Full Fibre broadband.” We’re catching up with Mairead at Openreach’s Antrim Training Centre. It’s the town’s telephone exchange and it doubles up as a training facility for a steady stream

of new recruits to the Openreach engineering team. Scores of apprentices – both young and not so young – have started careers as engineers over recent months. The company builds and maintains the largest fixed communications network in Northern Ireland and employs over 750 engineers and a total of 1,000 people here. “The period since Covid arrived here has been our busiest ever in terms of recruitment,” adds Mairead Meyer. “There’s a much bigger customer demand out there and it’s crucial that we have enough engineers out on the road to enable us to cope with that demand for ultrafast Full Fibre broadband.” At the Antrim centre, new apprentices are put through their paces, both in classroom sessions and out in the field. The centre

Eye on Broadband even includes its own ‘poling yard’ where the apprentices learn the age-old skill of climbing and working at the top of oldfashioned telegraph poles. The apprentice programme runs over 18 months and the roles are located across Northern Ireland. In conjunction with Belfast Met, all apprentices are awarded an NVQ qualification. “We’ve just celebrated taking on our 100th apprentice in the current programme, a young woman called Leanne Watson from Belfast, and we’ve taken on 140 during the period of the pandemic,” says Mairead. “We’re very pleased that we’ve been able to offer opportunities to men, women and across the age groups.” The engineers are being recruited to help deliver Openreach’s ultrafast Full Fibre broadband build plan. According to the company, it means fewer faults, faster connections and a more reliable network. Once the infrastructure is in place, it can be upgraded to higher speeds as future technologies come on stream. The pandemic might have driven an unprecedented demand for broadband, but it also presented plenty of challenges for Openreach, especially in the early days. “The first few weeks of the first

lockdown were fuelled by adrenalin,” says Mairead Meyer. “We had to adapt and work out how we were going to be able to cope. We had to order enough PPE to see us through, but we always knew that

we’d be an essential service and that our engineers would be key workers. So we had to cope and cope quickly.” In the early days of the pandemic, Openreach was called upon to ensure broadband services for

hospitals, health service sites and other front-line operations. But it also had to deal with 5G conspiracy theorists and a series of threats to its workers. In common with just about every other business, the organisation had to quickly shift its 250-strong office-based workforce to working from home to a large extent. “It was a challenge, as it was for a lot of businesses. Key for us was that we continued to offer the kind of professional service we always offer despite the changed circumstances. But I’m confident we were able to do that.” “We’re going to keep our eyes on the prize. We’re nearly at the 60% mark in our build programme and we know that there is a lot of hard work ahead. But we’re confident that Northern Ireland can be fully fibred in the not too distant future. That would be a real achievement and a real advantage for this region.” In a recent report conducted by the Centre for Business & Economic Research**, it has been estimated that full deployment of ultrafast Full Fibre broadband by 2025 could boost the local economy by £1.3 billion and employment by 1.6%.

* https://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/councils **Cebr Report: https://www.openreach.com/content/dam/openreach/openreach-dam-files/images/hidden-pages/full-fibre-impact/CebrReport_online.pdf

Eye on Inward Investment

Kevin Holland & Invest NI – Selling Northern Ireland on an international stage Attracting inward investment is extremely competitive. For a country of its size, Northern Ireland does a pretty good job. But what makes it stand out against cities (let alone countries) twice its size? And has the recent media attention on the EU exit meant that more businesses are looking at what it can offer as an investment location. Richard Buckley caught up with the Invest NI Chief...

ne of the indirect results of Brexit and Northern Ireland’s role as a key player in the negotiations is that the region has been front and centre. It has been talked about all over the world on the run up to and in the aftermath of Brexit. “The fact is that we have direct access to two large global markets – Britain and the EU – and that is quite unique. That’s well worth considering for anyone looking for competitive advantage. “We’ve been getting some very positive feedback. Just recently, we were talking to an Asian tech company and its management team was surprised to learn that if they set up here, they’d have direct access to both markets. So we’ve got a live discussion with them, we’ve got another with an English manufacturer of consumer products and we’re also targetting regulated industries like pharma and life sciences.” Kevin Holland stresses that the job of bringing internationally mobile projects to Northern Ireland takes time. “But we do have a good pipeline,” he adds. “In spite of Covid and the uncertainties of Brexit, we

have maintained that pipeline. The biggest impediment is not being able to bring key people in to see the place and meet up with key players.” He’s keen to backtrack and underline the importance of our talent pool here in Northern Ireland, something that has long been a trump card for Invest NI. “The message is that we have

talent, we have technology and we have a lot more besides. At the same time, people like living here. The standard of living, the houses and places, are excellent but the cost of living isn’t that high. So you can run a cost effective operation and still have a happy team. That’s quite a powerful argument. Kevin Holland took over from Alastair Hamilton as Invest NI Chief Executive in October 2019, a few months before the start of the Covid crisis. “Thankfully, I was able to meet a lot of people here, see around the region and even get over the United States with the Minister before we all went into the first lockdown.” He’s proud of the role Invest NI has been able to play on the ground during the pandemic, acting as a key source of business information and advice, and helping to manage and

deliver a number of payment schemes on behalf of the NI Executive. In total, Invest has helped to deliver more than £50 million worth of emergency payments to local businesses. Like every other organisation, Invest had to adapt rapidly to a remote working model at the start of the pandemic. “We got our people home safely and we got them working for businesses as quickly as possible. We had already been looking at smarter working

Eye on Inward Investment

“The fact is that we have direct access to two large global markets – Britain and the EU – and that is quite unique. That’s well worth considering for anyone looking for competitive advantage.”

models so we were battle ready before the battle began. “We have done a lot of business counselling over the months. It’s been challenging at times but I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and the role we’ve been able to play.” Back on the international stage, he says that global companies are looking at how they operate at the moment. Covid has been a time of review. Against that, markets have tightened and

the competition for any mobile direct investment isn’t likely to become any less intense. “How do you win in fiercely contested markets? You’ve got to have a good story and you’ve got to be quick on your feet. We can’t wait for six months or 12 months to tell our story. We’re doing it now. We have a strong overseas team and that’s been important for us.” The key markets continue to be in the Far and Middle East as well as North America. The agency

has also been working with organisations in Australia and New Zealand over the past year. Kevin Holland has an in-depth knowledge of China. He has served as an advisor to the British Embassy there. Holland spent 15 years with US healthcare giant Baxter and, in his last role, was head of emerging markets including Russia and Israel. Like others, he’s looking forward to the lifting of travel restrictions. Invest NI, technically,

was one of the first local organisations to be impacted by lockdown. Its Chinese office had to close in late January 2020 as the pandemic swept through the country. “By last autumn, Beijing was back to some sort of normality. So we’ve seen how normal life and normal business can and will resume.”

Eye on Motoring

City Auction Group 10 Years Of Growth It’s been ten years since Michael Tomalin launched City Auction Group, a new force in the motor auction sector born out of the old Carryduff Auctions business. And, for a man who lives and breaths the business, it’s been quite a journey.

ity Auctions has grown steadily to become a major player in the auction business both here in Northern Ireland and in GB where it operates from a giant base at Rockingham in Northamptonshire, home for the old Rockingham Speedway. Michael Tomalin is one of those entrepreneurs whose drive and passion for his business can’t fail to impress. Always immaculately suit and booted, he insists that the firm’s offices are branded to the hilt, and it’s clear that he’s got the

motor auction business in his blood. He started in the business 33 years ago at the age of 18 joining British Car Auctions (BCA) in his home city of Peterborough. “Back then, BCA was selling well over a million cars a year at auction. It was more like a military operation,” he smiles. By 1992, Tomalin has found himself in Northern Ireland where he started work for Wilsons Auctions, transforming the fortunes of the company’s Portadown operation and going on to spend 17 years with the group. It was a meeting with Raymond Hill, then the owner of Carryduff Auctions, that was to change the course of Michael Tomalin’s career. “Carryduff Auctions was a respected firm but it needed to take the next step forward. Raymond and I started to talk and, to cut a long story short, the result was a half million pound investment at the height of the financial crisis back in 2010 and the birth of City Auction Group.” Tomalin and his senior colleagues set about the job of growing the newly-named company, steadily increasing its share of the local car auction marketplace over a number

of years, building up to the surprise launch of the Rockingham operation six years ago, giving City Auctions an immediate and substantial footprint in the GB sector. The group now employs some 150 people across its two sites. “Our Rockingham centre is ideally placed right in the middle of England and it also gives us the physical space to expand and grow,” says Michael Tomalin. The City Auction Group CEO is based in Northern Ireland, but travels over to Rockingham once a week and has continued to do so during the Covid pandemic. Covid, not surprisingly, brought its challenges. “The initial shock was pretty severe,” says Michael

Tomalin. “But we picked ourselves up quickly, dusted ourselves down and kept on working throughout. We were classed as an essential business for one very good reason. Thousands of people were calling car leasing companies to say that they couldn’t afford the repayments on their vehicles. “So we found ourselves travelling all over the country to collect and manage vehicles on behalf of our customers.” The Group has even used the pandemic period to diversify and launch Purple Rock Logistics, its own transport and logistic arm, with branding reflecting the corporate colours of the parent City Auction Group.

Eye on Motoring

Michael Tomalin CEO City Auction Group (left) and Stuart Foulds CEO Trust Ford (right) at recent awards dinner.

The City Auction Group CEO reckons that the company’s early adoption of technology helped to give it an edge when the pandemic struck. “We’ve been running online auctions for quite a number of years in tandem with physical auctions, so it wasn’t too difficult for us to adapt when it became impossible to hold live auctions here in Carryduff and at Rockingham.” “The result is that we’ve been busier than ever during the pandemic. We’re processing anywhere between 3,000 and 4,000 cars a month at our centres, and we’ve just won a major contract – one of our biggest – to re-market vehicles on behalf of the Toyota/ Lexus group here, and it ranks as the biggest car manufacturer in the world these days.”

Michael Tomalin has a neat way of describing what his company does on a day to day basis. “We’re effectively stockbrokers for the motor industry,” he says. He’s quick to add that the company’s success has been a team effort. He’s gathered a team of trusted lieutenants around him. Amongst them are Maria Avery, formerly a sales manager with both Tesla and the Sytner Group, and now the group’s Commercial Director based at Rockingham. Back in Carryduff, Ivan McMinn, a former senior banker with Danske Bank, heads up the asset management team, while Keith Logan looks after light commercial and HGV auction business at both Carryduff and Rockingham. Group Sales Director David Scott has been with the company for all of its ten years, rising through the ranks to his current role, while Helena O’Neill completes the senior team in her role as Finance Director. “We’ve achieved a lot over the past ten years and we’ve achieved a lot during the Covid crisis,” says

Michael Tomalin. “Since September, as the crisis has dragged on, we’ve had some high peaks and low lows, to be honest. But we’ve continued to adapt. Over a two weeks period recently, we didn’t just sell 500 cars but, because of Covid restrictions, we also delivered them

to the buyers. That’s a heck of an achievement in anyone’s book.” He’s optimistic about the group’s future prospects and he makes no secret of the fact that City Auction Group is firmly in the market for future acquisitions, specifically in GB, to expand its market footprint.

Eye on Banking & Finance

2021 As we start to move towards a postpandemic world, what are the key financial considerations for businesses going forward and how can our banks and other finance providers position themselves to help?

Richard Buckley Editor, Business Eye

here will be such a clear atmosphere of optimism and relief as we move out of lockdown and the Covid crisis that some of the realities facing NI businesses are likely to be obscured. But those realities won’t stay in the shadows for too long. The year-long (to date) Covid crisis has left almost every business facing challenges and it will also leave a legacy of debt, much of it via the UK government’s Covid loan schemes, a lifeline for many businesses a year ago. Couple that with

a distinctly uncertain economic climate and businesses face uncertain times. Then again, we’ve all been living with uncertain times for quite a while now. As the senior bankers featured here are at pains to point out, one of the best pieces of advice just now for any business is to engage with your bank and key advisers as early as possible. Think about the short and medium term future, and don’t get too caught up in the post-Covid celebrations.

Eye on Banking & Finance

Seamus McGuckin Head of Business Banking, AIB NI

he last year has been exceptionally challenging for the business community as all sectors have been forced to contend with an unprecedented level of change. Uncertainty is still a major factor as we move forward, and this will continue to impact on business confidence and investment plans. On a positive note, the successful rollout of the vaccination programme in Northern Ireland is very encouraging and this will help increase confidence in the months ahead. The main concerns for businesses will continue to be COVID-19 related in the medium term, combined with the impact of new trade arrangements following the UK’s exit from the EU. The implications of Brexit following the end of the transition period are now becoming clearer, albeit we are still in the early stages of new paperwork such as the export health certificates required for food products being exported from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. There will certainly be additional costs associated with extra red tape, but there may be opportunities which local businesses can exploit.

We would advise any business with concerns about their cashflow to engage with their bank at the earliest possible opportunity to explore options. The March-end deadline for applications to the government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) is fast approaching, so eligible businesses should consider applying as soon as possible. The government also recently announced flexibility in paying back the loans with ‘Pay as You Go’ options for repayment of these BBLS loans. Whilst this will increase the cost of borrowing over the longer term, it may offer businesses much needed breathing space over the short to medium term. Government support is also available via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), with the deadline for applications also the end of March. Smaller businesses struggling to cope with the extra costs and regulatory burdens resulting from Brexit can also apply for government funding. This will help businesses deal with costs associated with new rules for customs, rules of origin and VAT. The local business community is very resilient

and resourceful, and we are committed to helping our customers overcome financial challenges associated with COVID-19 and Brexit in whatever way we can. We intend to play our part in supporting economic recovery through ensuring access to finance for our customers.

Darren McDowell Senior Partner, Harbinson Mulholland

rom a financial perspective reflecting over the last year a key feature has been the government’s response in the form of funding support by loans, tax payment deferrals and furlough grants. In January 2021 the British Business Bank reported that a total of £1.7 billion of Bounce Back and CBILs funding had gone into Northern Ireland in the form of debt. In addition to this government grant funding from the Job Retention Scheme has been instrumental in keeping companies here afloat. Clearly these two key funding measures will impact on the future differently as the legacy of debt will need to be repaid. So businesses will need to consider their current financial position and whether future trading will be sufficient to deal with any debt incurred during the pandemic. I think business owners who find their business under pressure need to seek professional advice early. Joan Rice and Barry O’Donnell are Insolvency Practitioners on

our team here in HM, and advice from them or others in this space will be vital for some sectors in the coming months. The support of the banks and other funders will be fundamental as we face what is likely to be a bumpy economic ride. I think that in any business endeavour communication is always key, particularly with funders and that’s why early advice from those who have experience is so important. Back in September 2020 the Bank of England Economist, Andy Haldane said that “Collective anxiety is as contagious, and could be as damaging to our well-being, as this terrible disease.” So perhaps the most important thing for all of us as we head into the post pandemic world is to hold onto hope, a hope exhibited by the homegrown businesses that form the back bone of the economy here in Northern Ireland, a hope that I have been privileged to witness first hand time and again over my career to date serving these homegrown businesses.

Eye on Banking & Finance

Adrian Doran Head of Corporate Banking at Barclays Northern Ireland

lmost every business has been impacted by the pandemic in some way, with some firms having seen a significant and sustained downturn over the past year. The furlough scheme and other government programmes have been a lifeline to these businesses, but as the economy re-opens over the coming months, and this support is gradually removed, the issue arises as to how these companies will cope when they are forced to stand on their own feet again. Even when life returns to something closer to “business as usual”, for many businesses there will be a long-standing legacy from Covid, whether this is the acceleration of digital activity including online retail or the impact of working from home which will likely mean some reduction of workers in city centre offices. Many companies have had to take on additional debt to see them through what has been a very tumultuous trading year. Banks have been supportive, standing up complex government loan schemes to meet unprecedented levels of demand.

However, it has to be recognised that some businesses may not return to their pre-Covid trading levels, and for these firms the coming months and years are going to continue to be challenging. My advice to any business owner in these circumstances is to reach out to your bank as early as possible to flag your concerns. In most cases this will not be a surprise to the bank, and early engagement, before the business hits a crisis, means there is time to look at additional support. For instance, the business may just need a longer period to pay off their debt, or may require some breathing space to craft a proper restructuring plan. We have also seen a significant increase in local companies looking to move banks, and we would expect this trend to continue as more businesses emerge from the pandemic. In many cases they are looking for the latest digital technology to allow them to take advantage of the new operating environment, or a more hands-on relationship support model coupled with specific industry knowledge, all of which banks like Barclays can offer.

Dominic Walsh Chief Executive, Hospital Services Limited (HSL) Dominic Walsh, Chief Executive, Hospital Services Limited (HSL), a trusted long-term provider to the health services in the UK and Ireland supplying radiology, ophthalmic, endoscopy and surgical equipment to over 225 public and private hospitals, said:

s the business community looks for a way forward following the Covid-19 pandemic, it will be important for them – and their finance providers – to remember that individuals and organisations who have been successful before are capable of doing it again. Currently Northern Ireland includes a mass of entrepreneurs who are battered and fatigued, and after treating them in a health-sense during the pandemic, they will now need to be treated through their Covid recoveries in a business sense. Providing the facility to allow entrepreneurs to get back up and going will be the crucial role

of banks and finance providers in the recovery. It will be essential for companies to access easy, accessible working capital which is not constrained by personal guarantees or security but needs to be similar to the current Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). I feel that there will need to be a more supportive way – supported by Stormont or Westminster – to incentivise businesspeople to get up and go again. Banks have the ability to put adrenaline back into the system without risking and scaring people away, and this should be priority number one. Considering the demographics of many of Northern Ireland entrepreneurs, finance providers will need to understand the risk-adversity for many previously successful business leaders who may now find themselves in a situation where they are less willing or unable to risk their own security in terms of personal savings and assets in order to get their businesses back off the ground.”

Eye on Banking & Finance

Shauna Forbes Director, 3T Power Shauna Forbes, Director, 3T Power, Northern Ireland’s largest renewable energy supplier providing 100% locally-generated, green electricity to businesses across NI, said:

he Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent social distancing and lockdown measures have undoubtedly already had a huge economic impact in Northern Ireland. SMEs make up a large percentage of private sector businesses here and so supporting entrepreneurs to start businesses as well as providing vital growth finance is clearly of the utmost importance to the overall health of the NI economy. There is a fantastic range of innovative, growing SMEs in Northern Ireland in Renewables and Technology, for example.

Bill Gates rightly compared our fight against Covid-19 to a world war saying, ‘this is like a world war, except in this case we are all on the same side.’ Our banking institutions will hopefully take this mantra onboard and support all our businesses – large and small – in Northern Ireland on the path to recovery. Private equity through routes such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme, as well as other alternative finance options, will be key to the business community in the future of a growing economy, however, our banking institutions hold the front door key to our recovery. Affordable and flexible overdraft and loan facilities will enable many struggling businesses to get back to their pre-Covid positions where, undoubtedly, with continued support, they can continue to grow and help our economy as a whole recover.

Gillian Morris Head of Corporate Banking in Northern Ireland, HSBC UK

usinesses are operating in a very different environment today than they were a year ago, and while this has certainly brought new risks, it has also provided an impetus for rethinking processes, reviewing relationships, seeking new markets, adopting new technology or prioritising sustainability. To optimise the value of those changes, businesses should also look hard at the ‘ordinary’ things to manage their risk, liquidity, and cash management approach to ensure they are best placed for growth. Of course the most fundamental financial consideration is cash management, harking back to the old adage that ‘cash is king’, that might seem simple, but it’s often overlooked. Planning ahead and have a clear understanding of upcoming cash inflows and outflows, monitoring the collection of receivables and ‘actioning’ real-time reconciliation will give a clear and true understanding of the company’s cash position and avoid any unwelcome surprises. Over the past year, many businesses have accessed loans, overdraft extensions and repayment holidays to optimise their liquidity. Alongside these traditional funding options, commercial credit cards or purchasing cards can also be useful tools

to manage cash flow, with interest free credit periods, allowing businesses to manage cash flow efficiently. Other alternative financing options can help release cash previously caught in the sales cycle to cover your day-to-day expenses. These can include stock funding as well as trade finance facilities to facilitate both international and domestic trade. Having this cash flexibility enables you to pay suppliers faster and to negotiate more favourable rates and terms. Don’t be afraid to approach your bank to discuss what options are available. The pandemic has pushed businesses towards a more virtual environment, but it is also revealing how operationally paper-dependent many companies are in areas like payroll and payments. There are clear cost and operational benefits in digitalising these processes and the transition is often not as overwhelming as expected. The most important thing is for businesses is to keep talking to their bank, whether that be about these simple measures, what to do next, support to grow their business internationally or investing for growth. There will always be opportunities for businesses, who have built capacity, flexibility and agility into their operations to grow.

Eye on Banking & Finance

Are You ‘ Surviving’… When Really You Could Be ‘ Thriving?’ on price. The key factor is a package delivering flexibility, whilst mirroring your ambition, and strategic plans.

The last 12 months have almost exclusively focused on ‘ Surviving’ - so let’s for a change, talk about ‘ Thriving.’

aspirations. You deserve forward thinking partners who will be at least as excited as you are about the opportunities unfolding right now.

to buy in bulk or pay for goods on delivery. You’ll be surprised by the discounts offered by suppliers to get cash in hand.

Upstream Founder and Managing Director Judith Totten MBE.

DP has fallen by the largest amount in the UK since 1709, but with projected GDP growth of 4.5% in 2021 and 6.6% in 2022, and we can either sit back and watch, or we can grab the opportunity and be part of the recovery! The impact of Covid is still being felt across the economy and this will continue, particularly in relation to insolvencies and employment. However, brave entrepreneurs sense opportunity in this market. Upstream for example, launched during the ‘Credit Crunch.’ I saw the need to support businesses when the general Banking market was severely challenged. Counter intuitive, maybe, but I saw the market gap then – and for different reasons, we are in a similar place now. In 2017, our business had plateaued, and we had a choice, to carry on ‘surviving’ or to reinvent ourselves and ‘thrive.’ We needed

a funder to match our ambition and after ‘kissing many frogs’ we met three highly experienced ex-Goldman Sachs executives, who turned our world on its head.

enjoy that now. The confidence to scale, innovate and diversify without the fear of running out of cash. So, how can you achieve this? You will almost certainly need

“Think about what you could achieve without boundaries. Imagine a partner who was supportive, ambitious, and future focused. That could be simply transformational.”

competitors. A lot of companies out there could be targets. Cash might be tight for them now and they may not have the fight to carry on after the pandemic. Remember, in this market, cash is king – make sure you have it. The alternative funders, and I unashamedly include Upstream as ground breakers, will come up with the right solution for you, in collaboration with your existing lender. We want you to thrive because that’s good for everyone. We need a buoyant economy – professionally, personally, and societally. In closing, think about what you could achieve without boundaries. Imagine a partner who was supportive, ambitious, and future focused. That could be simply transformational…! “You have nothing to fear but fear itself!”

We were over-cautious because we thought that’s what they’d want to hear. Their response? “… fine, but what could you really do with no capital constraints.” Rather than having competitors, they said, “Can you buy them?” We asked our clients the same question. “Can you think bigger, buy better, go further, work smarter?” We called this “Fearless growth” and our clients across Ireland all

capital in the form of debt or equity. Two words that scare the timid - and drive the brave. You might have to kiss a few frogs, but you have lots of options! Contact us for more information:

a passive investor who leaves you alone but adds no value, or an active one who brings value, but disrupts your thinking?

Upstream Judith Totten MBE or Alan Wardlow 02890 999450 www.upstreampositive.co.uk

Eye on Banking & Finance

The Increasing Role of Green Finance in Business By Richard Houliston, Partner, TLT

Climate change and society’s response to it presents a material risk to the financial system. The UK government has recognised this, stating that financial services is critical to it achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

inancial institutions are responding by setting their own ambitious sustainability targets, but corporates in Northern Ireland and across the UK also have an important role to play. Indeed, environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives are already becoming commonplace in business strategies. Until recently, this green transition was largely seen in terms of cost rather than investment opportunity, but this is changing. Green finance – an umbrella term for the use of financial instruments to enable investments that deliver benefits beyond financial returns – is evolving such that borrowers can match their financing to their sustainability goals. Lenders have been tasked with delivering green finance in the loan market, where there are currently two primary products generally available for corporates: green loans and sustainability-linked loans.

Sustainability linked loans While green loans require the use of proceeds for a specific ‘green project’, sustainability-linked loans facilitate and promote sustainable economic

activity and growth by incentivising the borrower’s achievement of ambitious, predetermined ESG performance targets through the pricing of the loan. Sustainabilitylinked loan principles can be applied to working capital facilities, term loans, revolving credit facilities, or more specialist trade finance. As well as being applied to new loans, sustainability linked targets can be integrated into existing facilities. While their use has historically been dominated by large energy companies with sustainability targets linked to emissions, a number of developments are making it easier for other corporate borrowers to benefit. Developments in assessments, analytics, economic valuation and natural capital accounting have meant that Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have diversified to more borrower specific, non-emissions focused ESG targets. This gives borrowers more flexibility to identify any areas in their businesses where ESG sustainability can be improved and link these KPIs to their financing. As sustainability reporting becomes mandatory for large corporates, it will become easier for those required to monitor ESG for the purpose of disclosure to use those metrics for their own borrowing.

The opportunities Investor sentiment, consumer demand and societal expectations impact businesses and as large corporates begin to put pressure on suppliers to be as sustainable as possible, demonstrating that your company is sustainable makes it considerably more marketable – not only to other companies

but also to financial institutions looking to align their customers with their own ESG values. It has become clear that sustainable finance will play an integral role in a sustainable and resilient postpandemic global economic recovery: to ‘build back better’ and ‘build back greener’. The EU has said it will launch €225bn worth of green bonds as part of the €750bn borrowing that will fund its Covid-19 recovery plan. In the UK, leaders of over 150 businesses, civil society organisations and from public life have recently called on the Prime Minister to use the Sustainable Development Goals to create a socially just and green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. While the pandemic may provide an opportunity for new sources of capital, it has also highlighted the value of resilience to disruptions in the market.

Globally, companies with higher ESG ratings have outperformed others throughout the pandemic. Northern Irish corporates of all sizes should review their existing financing arrangements and look to align these with their ESG values and targets. In doing so, businesses will begin to see sustainable, long term, economic benefits.

Richard Houliston, Partner at TLT Richard.Houliston@TLTsolicitors.com +44 (0)7788 336 272

Eye on Business Recovery

What happens after the dust settles? Many businesses are operating at a fraction of pre-pandemic levels; some are not operating at all due to lockdown. Whatever the state of play, now is the time to start planning for better days ahead.

hen the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, the wheels of commerce largely ground to a halt. The impact on business and industry was unprecedented; however, so too was the government support afforded to UK businesses throughout 2020 and into 2021. The introduction of the furlough scheme, government-guaranteed loan schemes, business rates holidays and HMRC payment deferrals have been welcome, and necessary, supports to businesses and have ensured that cash has been available to meet on-going obligations. In addition, the temporary suspension of winding up petitions being presented has kept the wolf from the door for a lot of businesses. The question remains, however… what will the landscape look like once loan repayment dates kick in, or government supports are tapered down or removed completely? Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement of an extension to the repayment profile of Bounce Back loans from 6 years to 10 years will be welcomed news to many. The option of interest-only or payment holidays will also be music to the ears of many company directors who will seek to retain cash for operating purposes. However, when it comes to further borrowing or refinancing existing borrowing in the coming months and years, many businesses will inevitably face a brick wall from traditional sources of finance. Expect to see more Asset Based Lenders or alternative finance providers come into play. Whatever the source of finance, lenders will scrutinise

a business’ projections more so than ever, particularly around cash flow. Preparing cash flow projections will enable a business to show lenders what headroom it has as well as the quantum and timing of any funding gaps. Whilst covenant breaches were aplenty throughout 2020, it is expected that lenders will refocus on normal management of portfolios throughout 2021 and beyond which will lead to tighter controls and tougher credit approvals. In certain cases, lenders may also seek additional security before advancing further funds so directors should consider the impact of that and how it impacts the business, or them personally if personal guarantees are being sought. The impact from Covid-19 will prove detrimental to many businesses and directors need to be aware of their options, particularly if there is a trading business to be saved. In order to rescue or restructure, early professional advice is essential to ensure as many options as possible are available. This may include informal arrangements with creditors or formal procedures such as Company Voluntary Arrangements. The new Moratorium procedure, introduced under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, has potential to be a useful tool in the toolkit of restructuring professionals to buy some time whilst a restructure is actioned. Burying the head in the sand never works - if professional advice is sought at the eleventh hour, the options are limited. Whatever is on the horizon, now is the time to start planning to ensure better days ahead. Preparation is key.

Gareth McGonigle, ASM Chartered Accountants

Gareth McGonigle is Restructuring and Insolvency Director at ASM Chartered Accountants and is a Chartered Accountant and Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. If you require advice on the support available to your business, accessing finance or restructuring or insolvency advice please do not hesitate to contact Gareth on 02890 249 222 or at gareth.mcgonigle@asmbelfast.com. ASM have offices in Belfast, Dublin, Dundalk, Dungannon, Magherafelt and Newry.

Eye on Marketing

Businesses should take the time to rediscover what customers love about their brands Think of something you love. Anything. Then try and think why. It’s difficult because you can probably articulate some of the reasons why you like it, or even why you should like it. But love? That’s something else entirely. It’s intangible – you can’t quite put your finger on it, but you can feel it. You know when it’s there and when it’s not.

he thing about love is that it’s transcendent. It trades in loyalty, something more than a calculation of pros and cons. It’s created by an intangible value, far more powerful than rational external factors like pandemics and recessions. It’s a relationship – not a transaction. In the same way we feel love for people, we feel it towards other things. Our favourite band, a specific takeway, our local pub but also particular brands. In Cupidesque fashion, the job of a good advertising planning strategist is to help brands find love. As they dust themselves down from the immense personal and professional challenges of the pandemic, many businesses

across Northern Ireland will be looking to the future and asking what’s next. Some businesses will have had to change almost beyond recognition and the chronic uncertainty in our economy has made forwardplanning somewhere between impossible and pointless. However, existential moments, such as the one we’re living through just now, also present an opportunity to take a step back and think about first principles. It’s a chance to refocus on the core proposition of what it is a business wants to offer its consumers. Like any relationship, this starts with listening. Consumers, as well as businesses, have faced a huge amount of upheaval. Many people in Northern Ireland will have been working long hours whilst trying to balance home schooling, many will have lost their jobs or been furloughed and some will have their own businesses which have faced challenges. As the economy begins to recover, the temptation for local businesses will be to rush out of the blocks to talk to customers. However, the lesson from the last global financial crisis, from the brands that emerged strongly on the far side, suggests stopping first to listen. This means investing time in finding out what your customers want from you and what you can give them.

It’s not just a case of trying to understand where they are now in isolation, but also how they got there and, more importantly, where they might be going. The plus side is that we don’t have to do all the asking ourselves – although developing a personal and detailed understanding of a customer is enormously beneficial, it isn’t always scalable. Thankfully, we live in a new age of data, and data is king. The level of insight and understanding we can develop about how and what people are buying, what they are doing, what exercise machines they use in the gym, what orange juice they prefer, what charities they are donating to, how they access information, is growing exponentially. And whilst there is no doubt that, as a society, there is an important and mature discussion to be had about our data and how it’s used in the future, as a tool for listening and understanding the needs of consumers, it is profoundly a force for good. A good planning strategist will do this as a matter of course, but it’s particularly important during difficult or uncertain times. Understanding the consumer thought process

and putting yourself in their shoes is what allows a business to find its brand truth. Over the last number of years, Ardmore has been significantly expanding our planning function to account for the ever-growing availability of consumer data. Having access to this level of insight from around the world, as part of a global network of independent agencies, has enabled us to support our clients here in Northern Ireland and beyond through the uncertainty of the pandemic. The evidence shows that the businesses and brands that invest in a longer-term mindset are the ones that find the brand love that not only sees them through difficult moments when they arise but positions them to reap the rewards of more market share on the far side. We all have reasons to be hopeful and optimistic in the coming months but take the time to stop and listen. Love is patient, after all. Ed Henderson is the Planning Director at Ardmore.

Eye on News

Local news site Belfast Live turns six Belfast Live is celebrating its sixth birthday this month with more people than ever turning to the site for all their daily news and content.

he Reach-owned website launched in 2015 with the vision to be a news brand that would accurately reflect Northern Ireland and its capital city in news terms. In six years it’s become Northern Ireland’s biggest commercial news site according to comscore, with 1.2

million total unique visitors on the site in January, and is continuing to invest in its platform and audiences with the launch of its first sub-brand ‘Be’ and bringing on board its first dedicated political reporter. Be was launched at the end of summer 2020 as Belfast Live’s new home for female lifestyle content and to ‘be’ a positive local voice for women, covering everything from health and beauty, work life and parenting, careers, cooking and fashion. Be Editor Sheena McStravick said at the time: “launching Be has been a dream come true.” Also appointing its first dedicated political reporter in ex-Irish News journalist Brendan Hughes at the end of last year shows Belfast Live’s commitment to

The Belfast Live bus shelter at George Best Belfast City Airport.

strengthening its content offering for readers and to get right to the heart of politics in Northern Ireland. Belfast Live Editor Ryan Smith said: “Time really does fly and it’s hard to remember a time when Belfast Live wasn’t an important part of the daily lives of people across Belfast and Northern Ireland. “As a team we’re all extremely passionate about what we do but that is only possible thanks to our readers who show their trust in us every day. “During these uncertain times we want to be people’s first choice when it comes to everything from a big breaking story, to the latest news from their street. “Thanks to all of our readers for the support over the past six years - we’re committed to being a voice that accurately reflects Northern Ireland in 2021 and the years to come.” Cherith Andrews, Group Sales Director NI commented: “From launch, Belfast Live has proved popular among advertisers as much as readers and I believe this is down to the collective effort editorially and commercially to build an audience and a brand that, in just six years, readers and advertisers alike value and like to do business with. “I’m proud of how the team, no matter the size and nature of the business or budget, work together with our brand partners to produce the most effective and engaging solutions and campaigns.”

FinTrU named by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s fastest growing companies FinTrU has been recognised as one of the fastest growing companies in Europe by the Financial Times and their Data Provider, Statista.

he Financial Times, in partnership with Statista, sought to identify the 1,000 European companies with the strongest growth

between 2016 and 2019 to feature in their annual FT1000 Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies League Table. FinTrU Founder & CEO, Darragh McCarthy, said of the recognition “This is a fantastic achievement that all FinTrU employees should be incredibly proud of. The resilience shown by our people demonstrates the highquality of our local talent and their willingness to adopt the FinTrU ethos of ‘ambition with humility’. The Financial Times is a world leading institution and we are delighted that our employees’ successes have been highlighted in this way.” Darragh added “Whilst managed

as a profit-driven organisation, FinTrU has a social purpose to create high-quality professional employment. Recognition such as the FT1000, reinforces our belief in our strategy of continually investing in our people and their professional development. Our employees’ high standards in terms of client delivery have allowed us to continue our growth trajectory as a leading RegTech company in the Financial Services sector.” FinTrU Chief of Staff, Katrien Roppe, said “We are honoured to see FinTrU featured in such esteemed company with other businesses from across the continent. The people who work at FinTrU have witnessed an incredible amount of growth in terms of colleagues and clients in recent years and should be very proud of their success. We are delighted that

their achievements have been recognised in this year’s FT1000.” Katrien continued “Following FinTrU’s listing in the Virgin Atlantic Sunday Times Fast Track 100 League Table, this further recognition is a signal of intent as we continue our ambitious growth plans in terms of people, clients and global presence.” In December 2020, FinTrU was named as the 42nd fastest growing company across the UK, and sole representative from Northern Ireland, in the Virgin Atlantic Sunday Times Fast Track 100 League Table. The company also increased its global footprint by opening its first US office in New York City in November 2020. FinTrU focuses on working with their Tier 1 Global Investment Bank clients to design technology enabled solutions to help them meet their regulatory obligations.

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Aussie Law Could Pave Way For Online Revolution

world first law introduced in Australia could radically change how big tech firms like Google and Facebook source their news content. The legislation had been fiercely opposed by the US tech giants, with Facebook blocking all news

content to Australians over the row. Facebook agreed to reverse its decision after robust negotiations with the government, which led to changes to the law to address some of their concerns. The law is seen as a test case for similar

regulation around the world. The amended legislation - the News Media Bargaining Code - was passed by Australia’s House of Representatives on Thursday, after earlier going through the Senate. Facebook and Google had earlier argued the law “fundamentally” misunderstands how the internet works. The news code encourages tech giants and news organisations to negotiate payment deals between themselves, and commits Facebook and Google to invest tens of millions of dollars in local digital content. If negotiations fail, an independent arbitrator can set the price they pay domestic media - something analysts say benefits the news groups. The government argues this prescribes a “fairer” negotiation process between the parties, as it gives news organisations more leverage. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) - a market regulator - says publishers

have had little negotiating power until now because they are so reliant on tech monopolies like Google and Facebook. It follows an investigation by the commission into the tech firms’ online advertising dominance, which showed that in 2018 for every A$100 (£56; €65) spent by Australian advertisers, A$49 went to Google and A$24 to Facebook. The code also forces tech platforms to give notice to news publishers of changes to their algorithms, which decides which stories are being displayed. The amended law also now requires the government to consider a platform’s existing contributions to journalism - such as commercial deals with publishers - before applying the code to them. This means Facebook and Google could escape the arbitration process entirely. The government also has to give a platform a month’s notice if it is considering applying the code.

Clubhouse – Coming To A Screen Near You

t’s causing waves around the world, from the US (where it all started), to China, Brazil and Turkey. Wherever you are, you’ll probably be hearing about it soon. Some of the big names globally are already users – tech pioneers Elon Musk and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, rappers Drake and Kanye West and media mogul Oprah Winfrey to mention just an impressive few. And inevitably this rush of hype and fame has been followed by

money, with venture capitalists already valuing Clubhouse at over $1bn (£0.7bn), according to the Financial Times, a fair chunk of change for an app that currently has no way of making money. So what’s it all about? At first glance, it seems a bit primitive compared to today’s social media platforms. It’s audio only (no text, pictures or videos) and everything happens in real time. You can start a virtual room yourself or join one other people are

speaking in. Generally, a certain number of people only can speak while everyone else has only the option to listen. But you can raise your hand and ask to be allowed to talk. With us so far? Within the app, conversations aren’t recorded or made available to play back later. So you have to catch everything as it happens. Fans say that its simplicity is its main USP. The audio-only format gives it the intimacy of listening to a podcast or a talk-radio show. And although many people just use the app to speak to their friends, you can hear famous and influential people such as Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Mr Musk casually chatting as if you were in the room with them. A possibly unforeseen advantage is, as a new app, it has managed to avoid the restrictions some governments have placed on existing big social-media platforms. But it has already been banned

in China...something likely to boost its popularity elsewhere in the world. The news site Quartz reported Chinese Clubhouse members had been “using the space to talk about topics that would otherwise be censored... such as democracy”, turning the invite codes into hot merchandise. And already, copycat apps are being launched to take advantage of this perceived rise in audio social networks. How do you get it? It’s not easy. It’s not available on Huawei, Samsung, LG or other Android phones. And even iPhone owners can’t just start dropping in on conversations after downloading it from the App Store. Why? Because Clubhouse is currently by invitation only. Existing users are given two invitations to send out. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be heading your way soon. The company is working on plans to open it up to the masses.

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Covid 19 – Is Vaccine Passport App A Realistic Prospect?

As the UK gets closer to easing its coronavirus lockdowns, attention is turning to how we might safely mix again and what role tech might play.

nd despite earlier denials that a “Covid passport” app was being considered, it is now very much on the agenda. After all the hoo-ha and costs involved in creating the contact-tracing apps last year, you might think that a very brave decision. But The Times reported recently hat the facility would be built into the existing NHS app used to access health services in England. And something similar could follow here in Northern Ireland. It is distinct from the NHS Covid-19 app used by England and Wales to warn people if they might have recently been infected, and fewer people have downloaded it. But according to Google’s own figures, it has been installed on more than one million Android devices (Apple does not share stats for iOS), which represents a decent start. Officially, Downing Street says the matter is still under review and it does not want to pre-empt anything by speculating on the subject. But it’s clear there would be several benefits. Firstly, the NHS app, which serves patients in England only, already links up to users’ GP services to give smartphone owners access to their medical records. In fact, it can already provide a

record of whether some people have been given one of the coronavirus jabs, if the GP surgeries involved have shared the information. So health chiefs would not need to build new IT infrastructure to get at the information. Secondly, the app has already tackled many of the security issues involved. To set it up you must provide your NHS number, email address, phone number and then upload either an image of your passport or driving licence. The smartphone then takes a scan of your face to check it matches the characteristics on the image

on your official identification. And then, as a supplement to the automated checks, a human review takes place before you are granted access. But some issues remain. People would need to get to the certificate without having to hunt around several menus - possibly via a button at the bottom of the screen. And then the information would have to be presented in a format that someone else could verify quickly and easily. Another health pass app points the way to how that might be done. Tested.me displays a scannable barcode over an image of the user’s face to provide employers with a means of keeping track of the health status of their staff. Of course, if the NHS app adopts a similar scheme, it will require other software to be developed so that establishments can verify a person’s barcode when they present it. And there are further hurdles to overcome to prevent people who have yet to be vaccinated from simply passing off a screenshot of someone else’s code, with their own face edited in, to access a venue. That presupposes that it would be acceptable for businesses and other organisations to deny people access to a venue or their workplace if they have not been vaccinated. And one must bear in mind that while vaccines reduce the risk of someone getting seriously ill from at least some of the Covid-19 variants,

it is still unknown how much impact they will have on people becoming infected and passing the virus on. So the point of having such an app might only be to demonstrate that you would be unlikely to get seriously ill by entering an area, rather than proving you do not pose a threat to others. A further consideration is that these “passports” would probably not be used for travel abroad. The World Health Organization is exploring what specifications an international scheme would require to work across borders and support different countries’ immunisation programmes. It already oversees an International Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. And the requirements of such a scheme might be different from those used by the NHS app. One last issue is whether the government would allow third-party apps to tap into its system to offer specialised vaccine certificates of their own. These would be customised for use in certain workplaces or leisure activities, where the details could be stored alongside ticketing or other relevant non-health-related data. Identity-check technology provider iProov, whose face-scanning software is already integrated into the NHS app, is among those keen to do this. Its chief executive, Andrew Bud, pointed out that the NHS already had a mechanism to allow private apps to tap into GP records subject to strict security requirements.

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Hyundai Breaks New Ground On The EV Front Hyundai has launched its own new EV, the IONIQ 5, which can not only drive you 300 miles on a single charge, but it can also power your TV or microwave.

his is the first vehicle from the company to use the IONIQ brand, which from now on denotes Hyundai’s electric efforts. It is also the first car built on the company’s new snappily titled ElectricGlobal Modular Platform (E-GMP). The IONIQ 5 follows on from Hyundai’s ‘45’ EV concept, which debuted at 2019 International Motor Show Germany, which itself was influenced by the 1975 Hyundai Pony, South Korea’s first mass-produced and exported car but an instantly forgettable hatchback in its day. The E-GMP means the car is good for up to 300 miles on a single charge... good enough for most people. You get two battery pack options, either 58kWh or 72.6kWh, and two electric motor layouts, rear motor only or all-wheel drive with both front and rear motors. Top speed is 115mph. The flagship model is the AWD option paired with a 72.6kWh battery, producing a combined power output of 225kWh and 605Nm of torque. This means you can jump from 0 to 62mph in 5.2 seconds. For the two-wheel drive option with the smaller battery, the same 0 to 62mph time goes up to 8.5 seconds, though. But it’s this two-wheel drive version with the larger 72.6-kWh battery, however, that

delivers the IONIQ 5’s maximum WLTP driving range of just shy of 300 miles – so the idea here is you choose what your priorities are when speccing the car. It’s clear from the interior is that Hyundai has embraced this car as an EV from the start of the design. The floor is completely flat and this has allowed Hyundai to get playful with the furniture. What is more interesting is the charging system. Hyundai’s E-GMP can support both 400V and 800V charging, without the need for additional components or adapters. This patented multi-charging system is apparently a world first. With a 350kW charger, IONIQ 5 can charge from ten per cent to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes. What’s more, you only need to charge the vehicle for a five minutes to get an additional 100km of range. The battery fun doesn’t stop there. The IONIQ 5 also has vehicle-to-load

capability. What’s this? Well it means you can use or charge electric devices, such as e-bikes, scooters, camping gear, even TVs and microwaves. Essentially your car becomes an enormous battery pack on wheels. Supplying up to 3.6kW of power, one V2L port is located under the second-row seats that works when the car is on, and a second at the outside charging port that works when the car is powered down. Using a converter, you can even supposedly charge high-power electric equipment, should you feel the need. Other interesting elements include an optional solar roof that supports the vehicle’s electric power by adding energy to the battery pack on the move. Far from being vapourware, the roof generates 210W per hour and will supposedly add up to 1,300km of range per year (based on Seoul average weather, mind) – a

nine per cent saving on charging. Hyundai has even had a reasonable stab at camera door mirrors. Most options in other cars, including Audi, are more distracting than helpful, but here in the IONIQ 5 the screens inside are at least angled towards the driver. The seats, headliner, door trim, floor and armrest all use eco-friendly materials, such as recycled PET bottles, plant-based yarns, natural wool, eco-processed leather with plant-based extracts and bio paint with plant extracts. As for safety, the car is packed with driver assistance tech including lane assist, adaptive cruise control, autonomous parking, forward collision-avoidance assist (including junction turning), speed limit assist and high beam assist, automatically dipping full lights to avoid blinding oncoming drivers. A voice assistant will take simple commands, including operating the Bose sound system’s eight speakers, including subwoofer. One last safety feature is the IONIQ 5’s AR HUD. Hyundai says this “essentially turns the windshield into a display screen”. Aside from the usual speed and nav displays, drivers can choose to add advanced warnings about the car’s surroundings across the windshield.

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WFH....New Normal Or A Pandemic Fad? Will working from home be with us as part of life for the rest of time? Or is it a pandemic fad?

here are clear differences in the business world internationally. Google has made home working a permanent option for its people. But, on the other side of the coin, Goldman Sachs boss David Solomon has rejected remote working as a “new normal” and labelled it an “aberration” instead.

Mr Solomon said the investment bank had operated throughout 2020 with “less than 10% of our people” in the office. His eagerness for workers to return to the office is at odds with many other firms, who have suggested that working from home could become permanent. Mr Solomon suggested that

it does not suit the work culture at Goldman Sachs. “I do think for a business like ours, which is an innovative, collaborative apprenticeship culture, this is not ideal for us. And it’s not a new normal. It’s an aberration that we’re going to correct as soon as possible,” he told a conference on Wednesday.

In particular Mr Solomon was worried about an incoming “class” of about 3,000 new recruits, who wouldn’t get the “direct mentorship” they need. “I am very focused on the fact that I don’t want another class of young people arriving at Goldman Sachs in the summer remotely,” he said. Although he thought the Covid-19 pandemic had helped push the adoption of digital technologies and created ways for the investment bank to run more efficiently, Mr Solomon thought it would not lead to huge changes over the longer term. “I don’t think as we get out of the pandemic the overall operating mode of the way a business like ours operates will be vastly different,” he said. Within the finance sector, it appears Mr Solomon is not alone. In September, JP Morgan’s chief executive Jamie Dimon said that

working from home has had a negative effect on productivity. Barclays boss Jes Staley also expressed hope recently that the vaccine would allow employees to return to the office. However, more recently Lloyds Banking Group said it planned to cut the amount of office space it uses by 20% within three years, and HSBC has announced a 40% cut in its office footprint. Tech companies, though, are more enthusiastic about work from home arrangements. Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter have all said staff would have the option to work from home permanently. Facebook has suggested that up to half of its staff could work remotely within five to ten years. But the social media giant has also hinted that remote workers might receive lower pay, as their expenses would be less away from San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

Twitter Ups The Ante With New ‘Super Follow’ Feature Twitter has announced plans for a new “super follow” feature which will enable account holders to charge for exclusive additional content.

his could take the form of extra tweets, joining a community group or receiving a newsletter, the firm said. Twitter unveiled its plans at a virtual event held for investors. It’s the first time in a while that the platform has announced significant changes to the way in which people can use it. It also said it was testing a live audio discussion service - which has proved popular on a new rival, the audio-only social network Clubhouse.

“Why don’t we start with why folks don’t believe in us,” said Twitter founder Jack Dorsey. “It comes down to three critiques: we’re slow, we’re not innovative, and we’re not trusted.” Twitter, which was launched in 2006 and recorded its first annual profit in 2018, said it hoped to double its revenue in 2023. “Twitter is unquestionably looking for ways to drive new revenue streams with this new service,” said analyst Ben Wood from CCS Insight.

“For those with compelling enough content this service could be attractive but I expect it will be hard to deliver big paydays for the average Twitter user.” The news has received a mixed reaction among Twitter users. Social media consultant Matt Navarra asked

his followers whether they would be prepared to pay a premium for their favourite accounts - and 85% responded that they would not. A spokesman for Twitter said Super Follow was due to be launched this year.

Eye on Education

New University Campus Is a Game Changer Looking forward to the rest of 2021 and the post-Covid recovery, Professor Mark Durkin, Executive Dean of the Ulster University Business School, says that the university’s brand new Belfast campus is set to be a game changer for both education and the city’s economy as a whole.

’m optimistic by nature and I have great faith in the resilience and entrepreneurial capacity of the Northern Ireland economy. I’m not going to cite any trite messages of positivity as we’re in for a tough series of months post-Covid as we start to rebuild our economy and invest in sectors differentially impacted by the pandemic and by Brexit. What I will concentrate on instead is a message of possibility. While fallout from the pandemic continues to cast a shadow over the economy and society, 2021 brings us an opportunity for renewal, particularly looking at the differential role of the local higher education sector in helping create new value – at the level of the individual, the organisation, the economy and society more generally. In what seems an increasingly remote and virtual world Ulster University’s new Belfast campus physically demonstrates a commitment to place, to the economy and to civic society like no other. A 75,000 square metre campus nestled in the city’s vibrant Cathedral Quarter, it is one of the largest higher education capital builds in Europe and is set to transform higher education and the city when it opens its doors in 2021. For me our new enhanced campus represents a unique way to symbolise hope, connectedness and cohesion at a time when society has been wrestling with the impacts of desolation and separation. Embedding an education community within the heart of

the business community, this new state-of-the-art campus will act as a powerhouse for innovation, entrepreneurial education, value co-creation and true business collaboration. The Ulster University Business School (UUBS) will act as the primary bonding agent connecting a vibrant community of business leaders, policy makers, professional associations, academics and students to each other, and therefore, to opportunity. The possibilities are only limited by our imagination. The inclusive and modern setting will stimulate a culture of open innovation and new strategic partnerships across Belfast and beyond, connecting to our regional campuses in Coleraine and Derry/ Londonderry where UUBS is also active and embedded. Internationally, the Business School will bring NI business leaders closer to our key partners in Babson College, Harvard Business School and Philadelphia University as well as access to our international networks in Switzerland, Hong Kong, China and Qatar. Greater access to internationally-oriented graduate talent, academic expertise, cutting-edge impactful research and world-class facilities are defining features of the new campus. The Business School will be permeable in nature as businesses, students and academic teams come together in our enhanced Belfast presence at York Street in a shared space to co-create, collaborate, engage, challenge, think and

Professor Mark Durkin, Executive Dean, Ulster University Business School

even more importantly - act. All business schools should have a bias to action and with leading edge facilities such an action orientation will be catalysed still further on this new site. Contributing £27.8m in GVA in 2019-2020, UUBS will also play a key underpinning role in the economic and societal development of North Belfast and beyond. As we help chart the way forward across Northern Ireland, skill imbalances and labour market challenges remain a concern for the region. Increased engagement between education, government and industry will be vital in developing new pathways for relevant skills development. Accordingly, UUBS will play an increasingly important role both as a haven in which to safely have conversation and debate

which will help address workforce development needs but we will also inform those needs by future-proofing business thinking as a result of cuttingedge research. Our progressive and accessible programmes and partnering model, aim to support ever-changing skill requirements and Northern Ireland’s success in attracting FDI. For those thousands of graduates who have come through the Business School while we were at Jordanstown I know you will find the same friendship, support, challenge and insight as we take up our new residence in one of Europe’s leading educational campuses. For those who have not yet experienced that culture – come and see us soon and let’s create possibility together.

Eye on News

Pictured (L-R) are Lucy McGonigle (Regent House Grammar School), Sport for Good ambassador and Commonwealth gold medallist Rhys McClenaghan, and Angela Connan (Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Lidl Northern Ireland).

Schools Score £120,000 Sports Investment with Lidl Northern Ireland

idl Northern Ireland has gone to top of the class after awarding 40 secondary schools £3,000 worth of vouchers each to secure essential brand-new sports equipment as part of the retailer’s Sport for Good initiative, which aims to encourage and support young people to make the most of the physical and mental benefits of sport participation. Representing an investment of £120,000, 40 schools – one for every Lidl Northern Ireland store in December 2020 – across all six counties are set to benefit from the boost. Championed by sporting legends including Commonwealth pommel horse champion Rhys McClenaghan, national record-holding runner Ciara Mageean, Paralympic swimmer Bethany Firth MBE and Irish national hockey team captain Katie Mullan, the programme aims to shine a light on mental health and the positive role sport can play. Sport for Good Ambassador and Commonwealth and European Champion gymnast Rhys McClenaghan said:

“With 1 in 4 young people in Northern Ireland struggling with their mental health, I am passionate about championing participation in sport as a great way to boost your self-esteem, body confidence and social skills. Not only that, but sport is a great way to build up a life-long support system of friends and mentors. Sport played a massive part in my life growing up and it’s really important that young people from all backgrounds are given the same opportunities to access sport, particularly those who are disadvantaged. That’s why I’m proud to be an ambassador for Lidl’s Sport for Good initiative, working together to inspire and encourage the next generation of elite athletes, or simply introducing young people to a new hobby that will help develop them physically and mentally and build positive, life-long relationships. Thanks to Lidl Northern Ireland and the Sport for Good programme, thousands of pupils will have access to the best new sporting equipment, and I look forward to seeing all of the athletes progress

in achieving their personal goals.” Launched in 2019, the Lidl Community Works Sport for Good programme has now delivered funding of almost £300,000 to local sports clubs and schools across Northern Ireland. Angela Connan, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Lidl Northern Ireland commented: “We’re delighted to announce this year’s Sport for Good winners and provide 40 secondary schools right across the region with a funding boost which is set to benefit thousands of young people. We know that this school year has been a difficult one for many pupils adapting to remote learning and that wider curriculum activities, such as physical education, have been significantly impacted. The benefits of sports participation on young people’s mental and physical health are well documented and, as a local retailer invested in its community, Lidl Northern Ireland is keen to ensure young people stay engaged and active in sport through our dedicated Sport for Good programme.

Now in its third year, Sport for Good is a cornerstone of our wider Community Works initiative and demonstrates Lidl Northern Ireland’s ongoing commitment to providing local support where it matters most. We’re proud to be contributing to the ongoing development of our young people right here in Northern Ireland and to help the next generation of home-grown, world-class athletes like Rhys, Bethany, Ciara and Katie, on their way to sporting success.” The Sport for Good programme is just one of Lidl Northern Ireland’s many initiatives to support communities across Northern Ireland. In October 2020, the retailer announced a second extension to its charity partnership with NSPCC Northern Ireland to 2022 and committed to an increased funding target of £600,000 in this time. Initially established in 2017, the partnership has delivered more than £400,000 worth of funding to date in support of the vital services that NSPCC Northern Ireland delivers across the region.

Eye onEnvironment & Sustainability

Eye on Environment & Sustainability

Fuelling A Greener Future With Conservation Partnership

Launching the new environmental partnership are Dianne Keys, Operations Leader, The Conservation Volunteers, Michael McKinstry, Chief Executive, Phoenix Natural Gas, Debbie Adams, NI & Scotland Regional Director, The Conservation Volunteers and Sissy Borchert, Volunteer, The Conservation Volunteers.

Phoenix Natural Gas has announced an exciting new partnership with leading local environmental charity, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) that will see 8,000 native trees planted in communities and wooded areas across NI in the coming year.

emonstrating its commitment beyond environmental action, the partnership will also see a series of environmental education online sessions rolled out to provide knowledge on the value of native species and to encourage children and families to get involved in tree planting, biodiversity enhancement and conservation activities in their local community. The partnership is the latest announcement from Phoenix Natural Gas on its climate action programme, having recently confirmed its support for a new research project, led by the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE), on harnessing biomethane from agricultural waste for injection to the natural gas infrastructure and in turn delivering a renewable home heating solution for gas consumers.

Speaking about the conservation partnership, Michael McKinstry, Chief Executive at Phoenix Natural Gas said: “Environmental responsibility has always been a core attribute of how we do business, not least through the carbon savings that consumers can make by switching to gas. We as an industry are fully engaged in developing the solutions which can further enhance the green credentials of the gas consumers use to heat their homes, now and into the future, and in doing so play a key role in delivery of net-zero targets for home heating. “Through our partnership with The Conservation Volunteers we will be enhancing local green spaces by providing communities with trees to plant in their local areas and enabling more people to get active and involved in the environment around them. “With more of us spending an increasing amount of time in our local communities, investing in green spaces has never been more important for wellbeing and physical activity in addition to climate action and we’re proud to partner with The Conservation Volunteers to deliver this multi-stranded conservation programme which we hope to see grow year by year.” A relentless focus on improving and preserving the environment is at the heart of the vision for The Conservation Volunteers. Speaking about the new partnership with Phoenix Natural Gas, Debbie Adams, Regional Director at The Conservation Volunteers said: “Tree planting is seen as one of the biggest and affordable ways of taking CO2, out of the atmosphere

and helping to tackle the climate crisis. With Northern Ireland being the least wooded area in the UK we are delighted to welcome the support from Phoenix Natural Gas to help increase our tree coverage. “The planting of native trees helps protect our environment and is essential for the development of habitats and sustainability of many species such as wildlife, birds and insects which are essential for a healthy woodland ecosystem. There are also multiple mental and physical health benefits to surrounding ourselves with trees and nature which have been linked to reducing stress and anxiety. We’re encouraging individuals, local gardening groups and schools to get involved and contact us if we can help them to create new green spaces in their communities as a result of this exciting partnership.” The tree planting partnership kicked off with the plating of a number of trees at the Tullybrannigan and Kinghill Community Orchard.

Environmental Responsibility is a core element of the Phoenix Natural Gas Responsible Business Programme, full details of which can be found at: www.phoenixnaturalgas.com/about-us/ phoenix-group/corporate-responsibility

Eye on Environment & Sustainability

An opportunity we can’t afford to waste By Jackie Keaney, Commercial Director, Indaver (Ireland and UK)

orthern Ireland has committed to various climate change and waste management targets under the UK 2050 net zero carbon target, Paris Climate Change Accord, and the UK Circular Economy package. The latter commits NI to achieving 65% recycling levels by 2035 and includes a maximum 10% landfill cap. Although significant strides have been made with NI achieving a recycling rate of 51% in 2019/20, we continue to either landfill huge quantities of our residual waste (24%) or counterintuitively export it at significant economic and environmental cost for other countries to exploit this resource through renewable energy production. We are currently landfilling and exporting over 400,000 tonnes of our non-recyclable household waste annually. This figure excludes commercial and industrial waste, all of which cannot be recycled and is therefore landfilled or exported. These practices are no longer environmentally or economically sustainable. A step change is needed to deliver these significantly higher recycling targets and deal with what remains– the non-recyclable rubbish. This requires more education, recycling and Energy from Waste (EfW) infrastructure. This can be delivered through an Integrated Waste Management System.

This system covers all aspects of the waste hierarchy in an integrated manner, including waste prevention, source segregation, composting/anaerobic generation/ recycling, energy recovery and landfill. It starts with preventing waste where possible. Proper source segregation of unpreventable waste by the householder using a three-bin system in the home will achieve high recycling rates and ensure only non-recyclable material will end up in the residual waste bin or ‘black bin’. Such a system recognizes that it is not possible to recycle all waste in a technically, economically or environmentally feasible way, due to contamination, multi-material packaging and poor-quality materials. Until such times as we have a truly circular economy society we will need alternative treatment solutions for such non-recyclable waste and EfW facilities prevent this waste from going to landfill, extracting value through energy creation and finally recycling/ reusing the residues from the EfW facility As a society we should strive for greater selfsufficiency, resilience and adhere to the proximity principle. residual waste should be treated near to where it is generated and not exported at great financial and environmental cost only to

fuel renewable energy plants elsewhere. Other countries have shown integrated waste management systems can and do work. In 2018 Germany landfilled only 2% of its waste by increasing its recycling levels to 67% and by extracting full value from the remaining 31% via EfW facilities. NI must catch up with the rest of Europe in integrating its waste management system, delivering higher recycling, and maximising resource efficiency through energy recovery. Unlike the situation with recycling however, NI’s EfW infrastructure is seriously under-developed and a significant gap remains for household waste treatment. This is why arc21 the umbrella waste management body representing six Northern Ireland Councils, plans to deliver the an integrated waste treatment project at Hightown Quarry, Mallusk including an EfW. While the waste management need for the arc21 project is clear its value goes much further, delivering renewable energy and contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Elsewhere in Europe, similar projects are now enabling other decarbonisation projects such as district heating and hydrogen fuel production for transport/ industry use, further increasing their climate change contribution. Through closer co-operation, joined up thinking and targeted investment, we can deliver an integrated waste management system which underpins a modern, efficient and increasingly ‘green’ economy. It’s an opportunity Northern Ireland can’t afford to waste.

Find out more at: www.becon.co.uk

Eye on Environment & Sustainability

Measure, Monitor, Report. Simple Sustainability is a goal that more and more companies are embracing, but many are struggling with it for one key reason—it can be hard to measure. That is, until now.

hree years ago, two sustainability professionals met at an awards ceremony and over a glass or two of wine were chatting about the challenges in managing sustainability when they hit on an idea. Why not do something about it? And so, SustainIQ was born. The brainchild of co-founders Liam McEvoy and Maria Diffley, SustainIQ offers an online platform that allows organisations to harvest the rich business intelligence that is so valuable in strategic decision-making. The software makes life easier for project teams by integrating the collection of real-time sustainability information into one multiplatform product. Its simplicity means it can be used by everyone without

Liam McEvoy and Maria Diffley, co-founders, SustainIQ

the need for extensive training and it’s currently being used and loved on over 500 sites across the UK and Ireland. Starting out, the pair focused on the construction sector, as that’s where Liam had most experience of the frustrations faced by companies asked to evidence their impact as part of the procurement process. It’s now embraced by companies in the FMCG, manufacturing and transport sectors and there are ambitious plans to branch out into other sectors and geographic markets following a recent six-figure investment from Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN). Put simply, SustainIQ helps companies unlock opportunities for better business and a better world, something that’s really important to its co-founders. Both Maria and Liam have strong backgrounds working in sustainability and both are

passionate about making a difference in the world. Maria said “We believe the success of our business is not just driven by profit, but by the positive impact we can have. Knowing that we’re helping companies to be more sustainable and responsible and to show the difference that makes, is a big part of what drives us.” The sustainability agenda has gained further momentum recently with government, regulators and investors increasingly putting the spotlight on carbon emissions and pushing companies to do better. The pace of changing expectations is rapid and companies in many supply chains are likely to find themselves put under increasing pressure to positively contribute to their customers’ sustainability efforts. That, however, can be challenging if you don’t know how to measure what you’re doing.

Liam said: “Sustainability is now a key consideration for companies in all sectors and an area that more and more organisations are investing in, not just for compliance but also to help win contracts, raise finance and attract talent. But it can be difficult to know what is working and where resources should be allocated, particularly if you have lots of staff and multiple sites. Our software helps companies to capture data and use it intelligently to add real value to their business.” One SustainIQ customer couldn’t agree more. Mark Campbell, Contracts Director at Felix O’Hare said “Before SustainIQ, we were working hard on our sustainability goals, but had no way to bring all that information together for tenders, Board reports or customer presentations and we couldn’t evidence our impact. Now, SustainIQ gives us all that rich data at the touch of a button and it’s been transformational. We’ve won new business with more ease and been able to demonstrate our impact to make staff and customers proud to be engaged with us.” The team at SustainIQ are running free sustainability-focused clinics with companies in March and April to help them find their competitive advantage. Email hello@sustainiq.co.uk to find out more and to learn how we can change your world, for good.

For further information, visit www.sustainiq.co.uk or email hello@sustainiq.co.uk

Eye on Environment & Sustainability

Translink – The Road to Zero By Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive

Translink has set ambitious targets to drive a major environmental, economic and social change for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland. As we plan for a post-pandemic future, there is an opportunity to develop a ‘green recovery’, with sustainable transport options at the forefront. Net Zero strategy One of our most ambitious plans is our progression to Net Zero emissions public transport across our bus and rail fleet by 2040, with this target being achieved in Belfast and Derry~Londonderry by 2030. We are on track to meet these objectives, with the first hydrogen-powered double-deck buses on our Metro network, and on the island of Ireland, already having entered service during late 2020. By 2022, our entire Metro, Foyle Metro and Goldline fleets will be operating fully to EU clean air Euro VI standards or better. In another major step, we recently signed a contract with Wrightbus in Ballymena to provide 100 additional zero emission buses for use on our network, with 85 set to be delivered to Belfast, alongside associated infrastructure, in what is one of the largest orders for zero-emission buses in the UK; the buses will enter service during 2022. We’re also working with Wrightbus to provide 45 low-emission buses for use on our Ulsterbus fleet across Northern Ireland. These will enter service during 2022, along with the hydrogen vehicles. Translink is proud to be setting the agenda in this key technological shift, as well as being in a position to support a major local manufacturer at this challenging time. We are also delivering significant progress and technological enhancement on our railway network – we will soon be taking delivery of an additional 21 new Class 4000 carriages to complement our existing fleet and provide additional capacity, a useful advantage as people begin to return to workplaces, shops and education on a more regular basis in the months ahead. Over the next few years, we are planning for zero-emission technologies for our NI Railways services, as well as working with Irish Rail to develop a new Enterprise fleet for an hourly service between Belfast and Dublin, with a longer-term objective to electrify parts of the network. To achieve these ambitions, a wide-ranging Climate Positive strategy is being applied across the entirety

of Translink’s operations, including the transport fleet, buildings, estate and all associated projects. Having an aspirational Climate Positive strategy will help us to improve our air quality, drive active travel as part of a wider move towards sustainable transport and rebuild our economy to be fit for a low emissions future as part of a ‘green recovery’. We’re proud to support Business in the Community’s Climate Action Pledge, which commits local businesses to cut their emissions by up to 50% by 2030 and support colleagues across the sector. Tackling climate change is the number one environmental challenge of this period and encouraging sustainable transport has to be a major priority for everyone, including government and business, in the years ahead.

Public Transport – a sustainable choice In recent years, more people have been switching to public transport as their primary travel option – in 2018/19, we saw passenger numbers of 84.5m journeys across our network, the strongest figures in 20 years, including record numbers using both Metro and NI Railways services. It is critically important that, as normality returns and people begin to venture back to workplaces, shops, hospitality and education in the

months ahead, more people use sustainable, effective low and zero emission transport and choose to make the switch, driving the ‘green recovery’ further and helping to improve air quality and public health, as well as the social and economic wellbeing of our communities. Net Zero transport is just one chapter of the exciting journey of public transport in Northern Ireland during the coming years, with the forthcoming delivery of our revolutionary Translink Future Ticketing System later this year, the agenda-setting Belfast Transport Hub and Glider phase 2, which will build on the success of the existing services in Belfast and connect the north and south of the city, as well as numerous other bus and rail projects and initiatives to help build a sustainable future where public transport plays its’ full part. As our own journey to Net Zero emission transport by 2040 gathers pace, Translink will continue to work with stakeholders and other businesses to harness and encourage a shift towards more sustainable transport and a healthier, more prosperous society.

Find out more at www.translink.co.uk

Eye on Investment

Triverity Labs – Bringing The CBD Boom To Belfast The worldwide cannabidiol (CBD) market was reckoned to be worth US$2 billion back in 2019, but according to Fortune Business Insights, it could be worth as much as US$40 billion by 2027.

t’s a market growing at a phenomenal rate thanks to CBD’s increasing use across pharma and a wide variety of other sectors. It’s now routinely and regularly used to help a variety of health issues, from arthritis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s through to depression, anxiety and insomnia.

Northern Ireland has been forging a path for the UK CBD industry with the first bricks and mortar CBD shops opening back in 2017 and CBD products being sold for many years before this. Today, there are multiple companies manufacturing for international CBD brands and Mile High Labs, an international leader in hemp-derived cannabinoids, set up their European headquarters operation in Belfast’s Boucher Road Industrial Estate. Sativa Learning - the online learning tool for the cannabis industry - also launched recently in Belfast and already has a global client base. Triverity Labs is the latest addition to the local portfolio. But rather than producing consumer products, Triverity offers regulatory and compliance

advice as well as a range of testing services to manufacturers. Triverity is led by Colorado natives Wendi Young and Heather Krebs and local woman Alix Britton. Wendi is a chemistry graduate from the University of Northern Colorado who started her career in food chemistry before moving into pharmaceuticals, spending several years supervising analytical development and a team of 120 chemists and microbiologists at Tolmar before moving to Mile High Labs. “I went into the cannabis industry two years ago as VP of Regulatory and Compliance at Mile High Labs, interacting with the regulatory authorities globally. It quickly turned into a much bigger job than I had anticipated, travelling the world talking about the cannabis industry. “While I was there, we were looking for a lab we could partner with to test our products. One of the biggest issues in the CBD industry is analytical testing, getting accurate results and finding labs that understand the products. There have even been reports of labs where you can pay for the results that you want. But the fact is that a lab can create accurate data or it can’t. There are no in betweens. “So Triverity Labs was born out of the need to fill this gap. We’re here to act as an in-house testing lab for CBD companies and to play our part in elevating and growing this industry.” Triverity has client companies in South America, the US, Europe and the UK. Here in Northern Ireland, interest

in CBD products has been rising significantly. There is a network of CBD retail outlets across the region, with products also sold to the public online and through other traditional retail routes. Alix Britton presented the European market opportunities to investors back in 2017. “It was a no brainer for the leading companies to enter the European market which some estimate to be even bigger than the US market,” she says. “Using this route, Mile High grew from a Coloradocentric firm into a world leader. Alix spent two years leading Mile High’s establishment of its Belfast operation before joining Wendi Young to set up Triverity. Wendi had been a frequent visitor to Belfast in her previous role. “We’re starting by providing advice and support to companies who are submitting Novel Food applications

Eye on Investment

Alix Britton, Wendi Young and Heather Krebs of Triverity Labs at their new Belfast lab.

ahead of new regulations coming in on 31 March. Alongside this we are conducting stability testing using four stability chambers here at our Mallusk site and we’re also offering full release testing. We’d expect to have a team of five this year growing to ten people over the next couple of years.” Northern Ireland, she says, is a good location for the venture. “This is a unique place, especially when you consider the special status following Brexit, but the big advantage is the people. Also, it’s small enough to get things done but it’s big enough to matter.” Back on the people front, Wendi has worked with universities worldwide and in the US especially, but she’s been very impressed by the work being done by both universities here but, in particular, by Ulster

University’s Coleraine campus where the university’s pharmacy and related courses are based. “We’d like to create a company where local scientists can stay in Northern Ireland and not have to head elsewhere for the right opportunities. “But we’d also be keen to create a template here in Northern Ireland that could be replicated in other countries around the world, depending on what way the market develops. The UK CBD market is reckoned to be worth around £300 million, says Alix, but it’s expected to reach £1 billion by 2025. “When lockdown hit for the first time, there was a real fear that the market would shut down. But every month since, it has kept on growing. The amount of CBD being purchased across the UK and Europe during the pandemic

has been phenomenal. That’s because people use it for all sorts of reasons including anxiety, which hit new levels during this crisis.” The UK is set to become the first country in the world to regulate CBD, and the rest of the world is watching. It’s expected that other countries will follow suit. “We’ve had customers coming to us wondering how they are going to be able to be compliant with any new UK or other regulations,” she adds. “It puts Triverity in a very good position going forward.” Manufacturers need to have data to prove the stability of their products as well as toxicology data to prove its safety for human consumption. That’s where Triverity comes in. “We provide advice and actionable structures for our customers. Things might change, we know that and they know

that, but we’ll advise depending on the current state of play.” Could Northern Ireland become a hub for the burgeoning CBD sector? “There is real potential. Brexit has landed Northern Ireland in a unique position and it’s a real opportunity,” says Alix. “In fact, there are already the beginnings of a hub here with a number of companies already manufacturing. And let’s not forget some of our retailers who are selling across the world. The online market for CBD has gone through the roof.” Wendi Young has been living here in Northern Ireland for long periods during lockdown although she intends to return, when its feasible, to her Colorado base. “I’ve loved it here and, even when I do go back, I’ll be a regular visitor. We’re very excited about what we can achieve right here in Northern Ireland.”

Eye on Men’s Health

New Kingsbridge Clinic Offers Peace of Mind Prostate Cancer Screening Test with One Stop Treatment Pathway

new seamless screening service offering immediate access to a £60 ‘peace of mind’ prostate cancer test with results within 48 hours is now on offer at the new Prostate Clinic at Kingsbridge Private Hospitals in Belfast. PSA testing can be one of the earliest markers to identify prostate pathology. This is important because most men present without symptoms. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and accounts for around 250 deaths a year in Northern Ireland. More than 1,100 local men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually, with over 9,000 men at any time living with prostate cancer after diagnosis. There is currently no screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK. Recent results from the European Randomised study of Screening for Prostate Cancer have demonstrated that PSA screening reduced mortality from prostate cancer by 20%. This has led to calls from the European

Anthony McKenna outside Kingsbridge Private Hospital

Pictured (L-R): Professor Suneil Jain, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Mr John McKnight, Consultant Urologist and Dr Aidan Cole, Consultant Clinical Oncologist.

Association of Urology to demand the introduction of routine prostate screening programmes. In countries such as Finland these programmes are already underway. Most prostate cancers are first found by GPs after screening with a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, along with assessment of other symptoms. Mr Anthony McKenna, who heads the development of new clinical services at Kingsbridge Private Hospital (KPH) in Belfast, said: “The majority of men with prostate cancer present with no symptoms at diagnosis, so it is worrying that since January 2020 there has been a 60-70% decrease in urgent red flag referrals from GPs. “Even before Covid-19, however, fewer than one in four urological cancer patients – compared to nearly half of other cancer patients - were receiving their first cancer treatment in hospital within the Ministerial target of 62 days. “KPH Belfast is uniquely positioned to offer a one stop service which takes patients from initial GP

consult and PSA test, right through to imaging and diagnostics with state-of-the-art biopsy technology and, where necessary, on to revolutionary new procedures such as Space OAR hydrogel insertion and brachytherapy treatment. In some cases, patients who are having radiotherapy within the NHS system are also attending Kingsbridge to have gold fiducial markers placed into the prostate, allowing their clinicians to be more precise in directing the radiotherapy beam. “The important thing is to identify any issues as early as possible, so you can explore your treatment options with some of the leading Consultant Urologists and world-renowned Oncologists, on this island,” said Anthony. Dr Lisa Neligan, Private GP at KPH explained that treatment depends on individual circumstances - for many men with prostate cancer, no treatment will be necessary. “We would encourage all men to consider PSA testing even in the absence of symptoms, because a lot of men with prostate cancer

don’t have any symptoms, and therefore early detection is key. “The aim is to cure or control the disease, so it affects everyday life as little as possible and does not shorten life expectancy. “It is important for men not to ignore urinary symptoms including difficulty passing urine, going to the loo more frequently day or night, or straining to urinate. Blood in the urine should never be ignored. “However, these symptoms do not necessarily mean prostate cancer – they can simply be a sign of prostatic enlargement, which is not cancerrelated, and which is very treatable. In any case, early screening can offer great peace of mind.” said Dr Neligan.

If you have any concerns, or would like to book a Prostate Screening Test, please contact 028 90 667878. For further information please visit kingsbridgeprostateclinic.com

AIB Business Eye AWARDS 2021

AWARDS 2021

Eye on Awards AWARDS 2021

Company of the Year

Covid Business Hero Award

Northern Ireland’s overall company of the year in the opinion of the judging panel. Companies can be of any size/scale, number of employees, and must be able to exhibit exceptional performance, especially but not exclusively during the 12 month period to 28th February 2021.

A new award reflecting the Covid era and recognising the outstanding contribution made by an individual on behalf of a specific sector or the wider business community during the crisis.