Business Eye March April 2016 by Buckley Publications

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Issue 159 March/April 2016 £2.50 Voted best Business Magazine in Ireland 2005 and Magazine of the Year for Northern Ireland

Kevin Kingston... Shortlisted Magazines Ireland Awards 2011 Business To Business Magazine of the Year

New Danske Bank CEO Signs In Features:

Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Awards 2016

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The Business Of Family Business

Venture Capital – InterTrade Ireland Spotlights Equity Finance

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Contents

titanicbelfast.com March/April 2016 ISSUE 159

Small Business Awards

Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Awards 2016

Flying High

British Airways recently hosted a Big Night Out at the Clayton Hotel in Belfast. The event was a fundraiser for their charity Flying Start in conjunction with Sport Relief, as well as local charity, CLIC Sargent.

The countdown is on for the second annual Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Award. The closing date for entries is Friday, 29th April and the gala awards night takes placeon Thursday, 2nd June, 2016, at the La Mon House Hotel & Country Club. Entires are already flooding in across all 12 categories up for grabs on the night.

AC...Adding Power To Business

Cover Story

Kevin Kingston... New Danske Bank CEO Signs In

Demand-side response units are a hot topic in the energy sector at the moment and any larger-scale user of electricity around Northern Ireland is likely to have had an approach from one or other of the specialist companies offering them a route to the benefits of DSR. We catch up with one of the leader in the field, Carrickfergus-based AC Automation.

FSB....Working Hard For Local Businesses In the first of a new series, George King, owner of Merdyn Day Nursery in Holywood, Co. Down, talks about the benefits of being a member of the Federation of Small Businesses as the organisation steps up its recruitment campaign here.

Kevin Kingston brings a genuine enthusiasm to his new role as Chief Executive at Danske Bank. The former Head of Corporate & Business Banking at Danske has stepped easily into Gerry Mallon’s shoes and promises to bring a firm commercial focus to the top job at a bank which has just recorded its best year yet for business banking.

Derry Landmark Is Reborn

Business Leadership

The Business Of Family Business

The official opening of The Bishop’s Gate Hotel in the heart of the historic Walled City of Derry is a major milestone for the regeneration of the city centre and a significant boost to the tourism industry in the north west generally.

Brian Conlon... A True Entrepreneur First Derivatives founder Brian Conlon doesn’t do a whole lot of talking about his business story. So, when he talks, he’s worth listening to. Richard Buckley caught up with him at the InterTrade Ireland Venture Capital Conference in Belfast.

In an economy dominated by small businesses, and family enterprises, a Round Table Discussion on what makes family business tick was long overdue. Business Eye joined forces with accountants and business advisers Harbinson Mulholland to put the record straight....and to assemble a lively line-up of family business entrepreneurs.

Deloitte Best Managed Companies 2016

Equity Finance VC or not VC... InterTrade Turns Spotlight On Equity

Ireland’s Best Managed Companies, including a strong representation from north of the border, gathered in the impressive surroundings of Dublin’s Convention Centre recently to be honoured at the 2016 Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards.

Belfast’s largest hotel group, Andras Hotels, has unveiled a £500K upgrade in the conferencing and banqueting suites of its flagship property, The Ramada Plaza, Belfast. Over 150 guests were treated to a sumptuous five-course meal with entertainment from world-renowned mentalist, David Meade in the newly refurbished Malone Suite.

Eye on Communications

Eye on Technology

Moving On

Eye on Financial Services

Eye on Risk

Eye on Motoring

Eye on Retail

Eye on Interiors

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

Editor Richard Buckley Commercial Director Brenda Buckley

Business Development Manager Ciara Donnelly

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

Ramada Plaza In £500k Upgrade

Belfast’s much improved Ramada Plaza Hotel was the venue for the latest InterTrade Ireland Venture Capital Conference, with guest speaker Brian Conlon, the founder of First Derivatives Plc. Guests from the local business community joined business advisers and key players from the various sectors of the equity finance industry here.

Regulars

Specials

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

In this space last time around, we noted that the Brexit Debate was starting to hot up here in Northern Ireland.

Comment

“The First Minister knows that, and she’s been trying to get on with the job without making too many references to Europe or the Brexit Vote. When it comes to elections, she’s much more focused on the Assembly vote in May than she is on the Euro vote in late June.”

SPONSORED BY

FINAL SUBMISSION DATE : FRIDAY 29TH APRIL For further information please contact Ciara Donnelly at Business Eye on 028 9047 4490 or ciara@businesseye.co.uk

enter online at www.businesseyeawards.co.uk MANUFACTURING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD A category open to all companies with 50 employees or less engaged directly in the manufacture of products for sale in Northern Ireland and in export markets. The judges will look for evidence of research and development as well as innovation in manufacturing. SPONSORED BY

EXPORTER OF THE YEAR An award which will recognise the top achieving exporting company from Northern Ireland’s small business community, recognising sales achievement in all markets outside of Northern Ireland itself, including both the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.

TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

AGRI-FOOD BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award is open to all small businesses based in Northern Ireland who provide products and/ or services in the wider technology field, including IT services, software development, technology product innovation and consultancy.

Northern Ireland’s leading small business operating in the agrifood sector, to include food and drink producers, farm-based enterprises and companies providing products and services to the agri-food industry here.

SPONSORED BY

CUSTOMER FOCUS AWARD

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

SPONSORED BY

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION AWARD

START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

Despite smaller budgets, corporate responsibility plays an important role for small businesses in Northern Ireland. This special award will recognise the best example of how small businesses here can help to make a difference in the communities they serve.

Aimed at Northern Ireland’s most promising start-up enterprise, the award will go to a young company of one year old or less which, in the view of the judging panel, best illustrates what can be achieved by start-up businesses across any sector here in Northern Ireland.

SPONSORED BY

Our judging panel will single out the local small business which most effectively brings to life best practice in customer service across all of its operations. The judges will look for clear evidence of customer satisfaction. SPONSORED BY

The small business enterprise with 50 employees or less which, in the opinion of the judges, exemplifies best practice and achievement across the board. Entries for this premier award category can be made directly and winning entries in all other categories will also be considered. SPONSORED BY

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Eye on Cover Story

Kevin Kingston... Firm Focus For New Danske Bank Chief In this job, we’re told all the time that people are relishing their roles....whatever those roles may be. In Kevin Kingston’s case, it’s a lot easier to believe his assertion that he’s ‘really loving’ his new job as Chief Executive at Danske Bank.

is enthusiasm and his sense of excitement shine through in one of his first major interviews since taking over the Danske reins from the departing Gerry Mallon back in November of last year. Kingston has completed four months or so in the top floor office at Donegall Square West, a shift upstairs from his previous office overlooking and overseeing Danske’s Corporate & Business Banking operations.....very much the bank’s strong suit over the years. “I know this bank, I know the people and I’ve thought a lot about what I can achieve in this role and what this business can achieve,” he says simply. “We can take Danske Bank to another level, and I’m very confident about that. “We are in a very strong position. With the recession now behind us, we can help fuel growth here in Northern Ireland and growth for the bank. We can see more and more opportunities opening up all the time.” The signs are that Danske Bank will become a whole lot more active, even a bit more aggressive, in consolidating and growing its No. 1 position across a number of key markets, and not just in the business banking space. The first focus of Kevin Kingston’s attention has been the growing mortgage marketplace. Danske shook the market up at the start of this year with a headline-grabbing £2,000 cash back offer to new mortgage customers. But the new product hasn’t just grabbed headlines....it has also grabbed customers. “The results have been pretty amazing, to be honest,” says the Danske CEO. “We’ve just had what qualifies as our best few weeks ever for new mortgages, and we’re still seeing a steady flow of new customers coming our way.”

It’s not surprising really, given the easy to understand attraction of the offer, and Danske’s blanket in-your-face advertising campaign. There can’t be many who haven’t noticed one of Danske’s mortgage ads somewhere. The Bank is building its mortgage customer base through two distinct channels – via its extensive branch network and through the mortgage broker route, more popular with customers these days than ever before. “We want to be clear market leaders in the mortgage market in the same way that we’re market leaders in business banking and among higher net worth customers through our Private Banking and Wealth units” he adds. “But my number one priority is to make sure that we’re delivering for our customers right across the board....that our customer service is right where it should be. “I hope that my style of leadership will be reflected in the Danske customer experience. That’s where I want to make my mark. I think it is a hallmark of the business banking team that I led here for many years, and it’s important that it’s reflected right across the bank.” Kevin Kingston takes over from a man who had his own style of leadership....but arguably didn’t have the same level of frontline customer facing experience that Kingston has. “Gerry Mallon was a great CEO for Danske,” he says. “He led us through some very tough years and brought us through those years into a very strong position.” But it’s not a subject that he’s likely to dwell upon, preferring instead to concentrate on his customer service mantra and on the growth opportunities for Danske going forward. “We’re fortunate to have a great customer base, and with improving economic conditions, we’re

Eye on Cover Story

in a strong position to grow our business even further,” he says. “We’re growing the mortgage book, we continue to invest in a strong branch network and we aim to keep our online banking offering ahead of the competition.” He’s quick to agree that there is plenty of competition out there. “It’s intense, but it has been that way for quite some time. But we’re very confident. We believe we’re still the best bank, even with competitors who are now in better health.” Danske announced its full year results back at the start of February, revealing an operating profit of £85 million, up by a significant 29% on the previous year. Kevin Kingston is well pleased with the numbers, and paints a picture of a year of growth for the bank across the board. “The first half of 2015 was really positive but things slowed

down a little in the second half of the year,” he says. “Because of factors like global economic concerns and Brexit, I think that 2016 may be the other way around. There will be uncertainties in the first half of the year, with pending local elections and the euro referendum, but the second half should be a lot more positive.” Lending to business customers is clearly on the up at Danske. “Our lending is up by 50% year on year, and it’s important to stress that we’re talking about money actually drawn down, not just approval figures which can be a very different thing. “And we’re looking at further growth in business lending throughout 2016,” he adds. “We’re also active again in the commercial property space. We’ve been lending on property for quite a while and we’ll continue to be active in that market.”

He holds up the example of the recent sale of Bloomfield Retail Park in Bangor to GB-based Ellandi and Tristan Capital Partners. “The big GB players are taking a renewed interest in Northern Ireland, where they can see good value, and that’s not a bad thing. But I do think that we’ll see more and more local investors coming back into the marketplace this year.” On the Corporate & Business Banking front, the new CEO has already shuffled the pack and has made appointments from within his old business banking unit, with Shaun McAnee elevated to Managing Director of Corporate Banking and Richard Caldwell as Managing Director of Business Banking. “Both Shaun and Richard are very experienced, and I’m very confident that our corporate and business units are in capable hands.”

Meanwhile, back on the top floor, Kevin Kingston has plenty of plans to keep him busy. “I’m really lucky to have a great team around me at the bank and it’s a team which has a real desire to serve our customers better than ever before.” “We have got a lot of plans and new customer initiatives in place for what is going to be a busy year ahead.”

Eye on Tax

NI Small Businesses Warned Of Pitfalls In New Tax Filing System RSM says more guidance is needed ahead as deadline for new digital tax filing looms.

eading NI advisory firm, RSM, is urging local SMEs and individuals not to fall foul of the new digital tax filing system introduced by HMRC amid growing concern that few are properly prepared. As part of the UK government’s vision to modernise the tax system, self-assessed tax returns will this year be replaced by digital tax accounts for millions of individuals and businesses. Under the HMRC’s plans, every individual including landlords, the self-employed and small business owners will need to keep track of their tax affairs digitally by updating their accounts “at least quarterly.” However, RSM says that many are still in the dark about the changes and those who are aware are worried about the workload involved in complying. RSM is organising a free seminar in Belfast on April 7th to help explain the new system and to demonstrate how local entrepreneurs can be better prepared. RSM Business Development Manager, Clare Galloway, said: “The introduction of the new digital system represents a major overhaul of how individuals and businesses file their tax return, which is already a time-consuming and at times complex tax for many. “Few are happy with the short timeline involved in ensuring preparedness. However, we do believe it will bring much greater benefits to everyone if they adopt a digital approach from the outset.” “By embracing the latest technology to keep accounts right up to date, and which supports the new HMRC digital tax filing system, more people will have more time – and money – to get on and properly enjoy their business and their lives free of the worry of incomplete accounts or penalties for late submissions.” To support its regular advice to entrepreneurs, and in developing an innovative solution to the local marketplace, RSM is working with Xero, a leader in online, cloud-based accounting software. Clare added: “Filing accounts and tax returns can be a significant and frustrating cost, but by understanding the rules and embracing the latest technology, real savings can be generated easily. We are excited to be working with Xero to promote the opportunity to

re-wire how businesses and individuals manage a process which cannot be ignored.” RSM said that by connecting regular business banking transactions and routine account updates online to Xero, it can also provide owner-managers with strategic advice based on the very latest, and up-to-date information. “All our advisors are fully qualified and Xero certified, which demonstrates they have the necessary experience and skills to improve your business,” said Clare. “Our absolute focus is on making the whole process much more efficient, with time savings passed directly back to our clients.” RSM work with clients and new businesses to ensure they have the information they need to become more effective, efficient and receive the advice that they need. “Change is never easy, but it’s our view that better data means fewer mistakes, fewer delays and cost-savings overall. By updating HMRC directly, and regularly online as transactions are made, the workload can be made significantly – and instantly – lighter,” said Clare.

“ Few are happy with the short timeline involved in ensuring preparedness. However, we do believe it will bring much greater benefits to everyone if they adopt a digital approach from the outset.”

For more information, or to attend the free RSM Xero seminar on 7th April from 12.30pm to 2pm at Number One, Lanyon Quay, please contact Clare Galloway on 028 9026 8535 or email clare.galloway@rsmni.uk

Eye on Energy

WHY NOT MAKE MONEY FROM YOUR ENERGY ASSETS? Demand-side response units are a hot topic in the energy sector at the moment because of the huge benefits and any larger-scale user of electricity around Northern Ireland is likely to have had an approach from Northern Irelands leading Power Generation Specialist A C Automation, offering them a route to the benefits of DSR.

“W

hat’s important,” says Gary Callaghan Managing Director of AC Automation, “is that anyone going down the DSR route needs to choose their partner very carefully. It’s not something that you want to get wrong, and you don’t want anyone other than a control system specialist who has extensive knowledge of the power generation industry to be working with your critical backup electricity systems. Many potential DSU providers have tried to enter this market but have fallen by the wayside due to a lack of expertise in this field.” AC Automation, based in Carrickfergus, has been in the power business here for some 26 years, providing power generation solutions for a wide and impressive range of clients, among them the Belfast Health & Social Services Trust (Europe’s biggest body of its kind), NIE, Marks & Spencer, Asda, British Telecom & the Stormont Government’s Estates Department. AC Automation are the only company offering Demand Side Reduction that is totally specialised in power generation services. From providing and managing generation sets, the company expanded into the CHP (Combined Heat & Power) marketplace, providing solutions ranging from micro-CHP units up to larger scale implementations at larger-use sites in both the public and private sectors. Moving into Demand-Side Units was a natural progression for the Co. Antrim firm, and it’s already been busy linking customers to

a relatively new concept that can deliver significant revenue alongside the opportunity to reduce Co2 emissions. “Putting it simply, a demandside unit turns off non-essential power or starts generators to provide power at periods of high demand,” Mr Callaghan explains. “It means that the electricity network can ensure security of supply but it has the added advantage of allowing those who participate in the programme to get paid for the electricity that they save and generate.” “In other words, companies offer to save power on behalf of the network, and they’re paid to do it. In bottom line terms, it’s all fairly simple.” What’s more, signing up for a demand-side unit doesn’t do any harm to an organisation’s environmental credentials as it saves on energy use and contributes to the wider good of less Co2 emissions. The team at AC Automation look after every aspect of a customer’s move into the DSU marketplace. “With any new customers, we’ll start by coming out and carrying out an initial feasibility test,” adds Gary Callaghan, and he stresses that demand-side units are only suitable for organisations using upwards of 200 kW hours of electricity on a twenty four hour basis. “It is aimed at high energy use sites, that’s what the whole concept is based around.” “We take time to understand the electricity consumption profile of every site.” “We work very closely with our customers and we handle all the work and controls needed to ensure the smooth

integration of every DSU with the electricity grid,” he says. “All loads and equipment are monitored around the clock.” AC Automation has invested £300,000 in a state of the art 24/7 Control & Monitoring Centre at its Carrickfergus base. “Our state of the art Microsoft certified SCADA system brings added benefits to our customers” explains Mr Callaghan “we just don’t switch on and off your generators and load, we offer a fully comprehensive control and monitoring service alerting our customers to potential faults or failures even before they occur” We also provide a full 24 hour call-out service. “We’ll also provide detailed energy reports and work with our customers to come up with an energy plan to further reduce their costs and become more environmentally friendly.” Those who sign up to the DSU scheme can earn substantial revenue. Customers are paid by the single electricity market for each kilowatt of demand that can be temporarily turned down or off at peak times. “It’s more cost effective for the Grid to pay businesses to reduce demand than to pay for peaking power stations to be on standby.” The DSU agreement may include:• switching on backup generators for periods as required • turning down non-essential lights for a short period of time • temporarily decreasing compressor loads on refrigeration units

• turning down heating or cooling systems for an hour or two • delaying processes that are energy intensive • temporarily shutting down non-essential machines

“ It’s a complex business, But we can take away the complexity with a simple risk-managed programme that delivers a new and recurring revenue stream.” “It’s a complex business,” says Gary Callaghan. “But we can take away the complexity with a simple risk-managed programme that delivers a new and recurring revenue stream. We understand the importance of operations on our customer sites, and we work to deliver bespoke demand management strategies to suit each individual customer’s operations.” “Demand-side response and energy efficiency go hand in hand,” he adds. “Even if a facility has already installed measures to increase its energy efficiency....Demand Side Response can increase efficiency levels even further.” “I always stress the fact that this is not an area for half measures or short cuts.” “We are one of Northern Ireland’s leading power generation specialist companies and we can bring a level of expertise to our partners that others simply can’t achieve.”

Eye on Round Table

THE BUSINESS OF FAMILY BUSINESS Business Eye joined forces with accountants and business advisers Harbinson Mulholland to stage a Round Table Discussion event at Harbinson Mulholland’s Centrepoint headquarters in Belfast.

The subject? Northern Ireland’s family business sector, how family businesses differ from other businesses and the benefits and common pitfalls of managing family business enterprises.

The Participants

Paul Mulholland, Partner, Harbinson Mulholland

Richard Buckley, Business Eye (Chairman)

RB – Paul, you specialise in family businesses here at Harbinson Mulholland. What makes them different and what makes running them different? PM – Family business has another layer of issues that others don’t have. There are advantages and disadvantages of having family members involved in any businesses. Discussions can extend beyond the boardroom and back to home and the other way around. So it can be very different. RB – Why do we have so many family businesses here in Northern Ireland? Do we have proportionately more of them here? OM – I think the economy here has been built around family businesses, and family businesses with a really strong work ethic. We’ve worked at Danske Bank with some really

Paul Black, Managing Director, Alpha Group

strong family businesses that have prospered through a number of generations. MM – About three-quarters of smaller businesses here are family businesses, and that’s largely reflective of the rest of the UK. RB – What about financing family businesses, Oonagh? Are there differences there too? OM – We’re very happy to finance family businesses. We talk to them as we would with any customer and we’ll talk about issues like succession, their trusted advisers and growth plans. At the moment, we’re seeing a renewed confidence amongst the family businesses that we work with, and a bit more ambition. More recently we have funded acquisitions by NI-based family businesses. Traditionally growth has been organic however now we also see the family business

Lorraine Bell, Sales Director, GPS Colour Graphics

Moneeb Saddiq, O4 Research

Maria Saddiq, O4 Research

David Henry, Managing Director, Henry Brothers (Construction)

Oonagh Murtagh, Head of Belfast Finance Centre, Danske Bank

Michael McQuillan, Director, Business Institute & SME Centre, Ulster University & co-founder of The Streat cafe chain in NI

growing by acquisition. MM – There can be an aversion towards pursuing funding for growth. There can be a glass ceiling, if you like, that can stunt growth. Sometimes its about lack of knowledge of the range of funding options, sometimes its about lack of confidence to take the next step. Maria S – There is a tendency towards reinvesting rather than extracting from smaller family businesses, and I suppose that is a good thing. It shows confidence, and it works well when smaller business do go looking for funding. MS – Yes, it’s also true that not every small business is desperate to grow. They have the luxury of being able to say that they don’t want to take that course. They might even be comfortable with the glass ceiling that they’ve created.

PM – Paul, your own company is a good example of a family business that is now expanding beyond these shores. PB – Yes, we go back to the early 70’s when my father started the firm. We’ve grown from six to 92 employees and we’ve just completed our first major acquisition in Scotland. Acquisition was the natural route for us to take and a good opportunity came up at the right time. We’ve also taken the decision to bring in a nonexecutive director from outside. It’s working really well for us. But these decisions can be very difficult for family businesses to take. The other thing I’d say is that the pressure can really be on second generation family business MD’s....failure is just not an option. If anything, I look upon myself as something of a caretaker..... looking after this business for those following on behind. Maria S – Can it be a problem if senior managers strive to reach a

Eye on Round Table

certain level in a family company, but think that they can only go so far within the family structure?

PB – I think an open minded business owner will consider shareholding for employees who they value. To give key people longer-term security is a very good idea. OM – There’s no doubt about that. And, as a bank, we would agree with the concept of bringing in the expertise of experienced non-executive directors. LB – Our business has now reached 73 employees and we don’t look upon it as a family business any more. Up until recently, our MD wasn’t a family member and we also have a non-executive on our board. Just recently, we’ve asked our company accountant to take a seat on the board. So we really don’t think we have a glass ceiling. MM – These are all examples of best practice. But not recognising the skills gaps among family members is a classic problem for family businesses. As is not being brave and bold enough to bring

people in from outside....maybe even to pay them a bit more than the owners are taking out of the business. Bringing in a non-exec or maybe even giving away a bit of equity can make a lot of sense. RB – Is it a case of reaching a certain scale? We’ve talked about a couple of sizeable businesses so far, but what about smaller ones? MM – I’m not sure it’s about size or scale. I wouldn’t be afraid to bring someone in right at the start in some cases. LB – That’s what my Dad did when he started our business in the 1970’s. He was a printer and not very good at sales, so he brought in a person who was good at sales, and gave them shares in the business. DH – We’ve got 250 employees, but we are still a family-run business. We do have other board members and they are the guys

who keep us right. We’ll look for the right people for the right jobs nowadays. It’s as simple as that. PM – A good non-exec is a relatively low-cost route and it doesn’t require a long-term commitment. RB – Are there enough of them around? PM – I think there are. It’s about finding the right person and the person who is the best fit for the business.

Eye on Round Table quickly we can make decisions. If we look at something and we think it’s right, we go for it. That’s a real strength, I think. PM – Is it also true that you can talk with no holds barred to other board members without having to defer to anyone? Can you call it as you see it? MM – It’s about getting the balance right. When blood, sweat and tears are required, family business owners can always go the extra mile. And David’s right about quick decision making. MS – But might we not procrastinate sometimes? When you make a formal decision in a non-family board, it’s set in stone. With families, it can and will be revisited. MM – That’s what I mean about balance. And it comes back to getting the governance right. PB – In terms of time, our experience would point to two days per month. So the non-exec isn’t in the business all the time. They’ll look at things from a bit of a distance. In our case, the non-exec acts as our chairman and makes sure things are done properly and effectively. MM – That’s an important point. A lot of family businesses grow to a substantial size without having any proper corporate governance in place. It can be about moving from the kitchen table to the boardroom table in some cases. When you scale and get through to acquisitions and the like, having effective governance is essential. PM – Yes, it can be difficult if you don’t have it in place. Governance issues, or a lack of governance, can cause all sorts of problems. MS – For smaller businesses, the infrastructure can take a back seat to the operational demands. That’s what tends to happen. It can be about finding the time to do the right thing. We’ve been running for seven years, and we work with major clients in the pharmaceutical sector. Our problem can be that their requirements may not always take account of our size, so we have to scale up quickly for bigger contracts.

Maria S – Ours is also a very heavily regulated industry, so there is a big onus coming out of that. And that’s before you think about the size of the clients we’re working for in the big pharma sector. It can also be challenging for us to get the staff that we need in a very specialised area. LB – We’ve found too that the skills sets we need aren’t always there. It can be a challenge. MS – Our industry tends to gravitate towards London and the Home Counties because that’s where Big Pharma is. Northern Ireland isn’t always on the radar. MM – I’m a great believer in apprenticeships and business based learning and development. Family businesses need to look at skills development and it’s important that they look for apprenticeships and a people investment plan that are a fit for their businesses. RB – We’re talking a lot about the challenges of running a family business. But what are the positives? DH – There are a lot of plus points. We’ve just opened an office in East Midlands, and the guys there came from big multinationals and they can’t believe how

Maria S – I think even our clients can see the advantage of working with family businesses like ours when it comes down to quick decisions and a quick response. It’s a big plus and it benefits both ourselves and our clients. PB – I think people that work with us see that family businesses are in this for the long-haul....we’re not going to be disappearing overnight. That’s an important factor. LB – Another positive is support. If you’re under pressure, it’s easier to spread the load when family are involved. Maria S – And there’s also trust. We can talk about things honestly and without any trust issues. OM – We’ve seen that. Family businesses can slip into all hands on deck mode very easily. They’ll certainly put in the hours when they need to. And I think it’s true that people like doing business with family businesses. It can really be a selling point. PM – That’s true. But it’s also valuable to see a family business that has been rounded out nicely with the addition of key skills as

required. In some quarters, there can still be touch of reticence about working with family businesses......but it doesn’t take much to add that extra dimension. OM – And it’s also about having the right people around you to allow the family to take a couple of weeks off on annual holiday and for the business to operate smoothly in their absence. MM – A lot of firms start off as ‘co-preneurships’, if you like, maybe with one of the partners holding down another job at the same time. In fact, government needs to recognise the contribution that family members make to early stage businesses, often with very little recompense and no pension rights.

Eye on Round Table PB – There is often a fear of letting go, and of being away from the business. You go through different stages. You’re scared of doing but you need to do it. Something has to give. In our case, it’s about empowering all of our people to make the right calls. DH – We trust our regional MD’s to make calls on the ground. We’re always there for back up if they need it, but if I’m out of action, the business has to go on. LB – Plus you can’t be an expert in the jobs that 80 or 90 people do in your organisation. You need the people with the skills. PM – And as you get bigger and bigger, more and more skills are required. This early stage family investment needs to be acknowledged and harnessed if we are to support the ecosystem that will crucially nourish new family businesses and help rebalance our economy. LB – There is a big bureaucratic burden on small businesses already, and it’s not being helped by the recent changes to the pension regime. It also takes people away from the day to day running of their businesses. RB – What about balancing work and home life? Is it something you get used to or is it always a challenge? LB – You don’t know any different..... or that’s my experience.

MM – There’s no doubt about the fact that the companies that do grow are those that invest in their people. As the old maxim goes, property, plans and processes don’t grow businesses. People do. Back when we were absorbed in the business, we were raising kids as well. We went to a parents meeting one time to be told about how our youngest stood up in class and told the teacher that she’d spelt the word ‘Street’ the wrong way. So the business was in everyone’s blood. PB – Sometimes it’s easy to feel that the carrot on the end of the stick that we’re chasing never gets any closer. It’s not a great message to take away from this meeting, though! RB – We touched on finance earlier. Are the banks – and not just Danske – supporting small businesses actively? OM – We certainly are and we didn’t go away during the recession. Last year was our best year yet for business banking and family businesses formed an important part of that.

to business customers. Businesses also have to think about alternative sources of finance, whether it’s crowd-funding or something along the invoice of trade finance routes. Small businesses don’t always know a lot about products like that. Knowledge of and access to this increasing range of finance sources is crucial. OM – Funding start-ups can be a challenge for banks. We’d accept that. But Invest NI and the local enterprise agencies and councils can provide a lot of solid help and advice to get companies onto the footing that they need prior to seeking bank funding. PM – Debtor finance has grown a lot here. Years ago, it came with a bit of a stigma but it’s not like that now. It’s a very good route for growing businesses now. OM – It’s a good way to go for some small businesses, who don’t have a lot of assets outside of a strong debtor book. RB – Are there specific tax issues that family businesses need to think about, Paul?

LB – We managed to grow during the recession. Our market has changed a lot though. And the banks have been supportive.

PM – Extracting money out of any family business is a key area. Over the years, we’ve advised a lot of business on that front, and we’re about to hit another change in the taxation of dividends from April of this year. Then there are always Inheritance Tax issues for family business owners to consider.

MM – The banks are back in the game, not fully in every case, but generally speaking they’re lending

RB – Bringing this to a close, what are the challenges going forward as you see them for your businesses?

LB – Mine would be what if Britain leaves the EU? I say that because half of our business is in the Republic of Ireland. PM – It’s a question that must be going through a lot of people’s minds. There is a real uncertainty around the whole thing. MS – I think most people are banking on the fact that it won’t happen, that there won’t be a Brexit. LB – We’re probably a lot more pro-European than the rest of the UK, with the possible exception of Scotland, so what we think doesn’t necessarily reflect what’s happening elsewhere. OM – I think there is a lot of concern over it. With our closet trading partner being the Republic of Ireland, it is a major concern for Northern Ireland business. MM – The biggest challenge is the lack of information. There is a real uncertainty around. No one really knows what could happen to the border on this island and whether or not the UK government will replace and or enhance the support that Northern Ireland presently receives from the EU. We’re possibly not asking enough questions before this critical vote.

Harbinson Mulholland are launching a series of events for family businesses - for more information please visit Harbinson-mulholland.com

Eye on Travel

LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT IS FLYING HIGH The last few months have been a busy period for local, independent travel agent Clubworld Travel. It marked 25 years in business, won two prestigious awards and launched a dedicated group travel service.

s well as this, its sales figures have increased by 15% in January and February 2016, year on year, across all of its stores. Owner of Clubworld Travel Delia Aston worked in the travel industry for 15 years before establishing the business in Lurgan in 1990 following the acquisition of Brownlow Travel. Since then, alongside her business partner and husband Stephen Aston, over £1 million has been ploughed into the business to open seven branches across Northern Ireland and employ 35 members of staff.

Although they’ve faced many challenges and the dramatic changes the travel industry has seen over the last 25 years, the holiday company is thriving and aims to make 2016 it’s most successful year to date. Delia credits the dedication of her staff members as one of the reasons why sales have been so strong this year but also believes that more and more holidaymakers are making the decision to return to the high street to book their holidays rather than using online booking sites. “Just as in most industries, a lot has changed in the travel trade over the course of 25 years. We’ve faced major pressure from national tour operators that expanded into the Northern Ireland and, what was seen as one of the biggest threats to the industry, the rise of online booking sites,” said Delia. “We’ve faced these challenges head on and made the necessary changes to our business model to sustain the company and

build a very strong reputation for Clubworld Travel in the Northern Ireland marketplace.” “We’ve invested quite a bit of time and money into online marketing platforms including the company’s website and social media platforms in order to reach out and engage with consumers in the ways they want to communicate.” Over the last two years, Clubworld Travel has witnessed a revival in holidaymakers that have made the choice to return to the high street to book their holidays. This is particularly noticeable for those travelling to far flung destinations due to an increased amount of airlines operating with more frequent flights. “The world is getting more accessible for holidaymakers from Northern Ireland with exotic and remote destinations often just a one stop flight away or, increasingly, direct from Belfast or Dublin. Those travelling further afield want the comfort of the first-hand knowledge travel

agents can provide and even more importantly, the security that if anything was to go wrong on their trip, we would be at the other end of the phone to sort it out.” “What many people don’t realise is that travel agents have access to hundreds of flights, accommodation and activity providers that online booking providers don’t have access to, making us very competitive for consumers.” Not one to rest on her laurels, Delia aims to continue the success the travel agent has seen during January and February and push the business even further this year with the aim of achieving a 20% increase in business for 2016 compared to last year. The agency has also been nominated for the Top Agency in Northern Ireland award and is the only NI agency nominated for the Top Luxury Agency award in the Travel Trade Gazette’s Top 50 UK Travel Agencies list. Winners will be announced in April.

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Eye on News

MATRIX Digital ICT Report Launched The 2016 MATRIX Digital ICT Foresight Report reckons that the whole Northern Ireland economy will benefit greatly over the coming decades from continued investment in Digital ICT.

he report, which was launched at Stormont by DETI minister Jonathan Bell, was produced by a panel of experts selected from industry, government and academia. Speaking at the launch, DETI Minister Jonathan Bell said: “I welcome today’s publication of the Matrix ICT/Digital Foresight report and commend the work of Chairman John Healy and his panel in its production. Such research is invaluable in helping build the knowledge-based economy which is central to Northern Ireland’s future economic competitiveness. My Department is committed to working with key stakeholders to ensure that the report’s recommendations are used by government and other to identify wider global science and technology innovations in the sector. In turn, this will present genuine opportunities on which Northern Ireland businesses can capitalise.” The report identifies four areas – software engineering, advanced networks and sensors, data analytics and cyber security - where Northern Ireland has potentially world class strength. It then matches those strengths to particularly fast growing global markets and argues that if we have the skills and strategy correctly aligned, we can take full advantage of opportunities in areas like data analytics, machine learning, the Internet of Things and cyber security.

The report highlights that Northern Ireland urgently needs a skills investment plan to identify growth areas and make sure that the right digital skills for the future are being taught. The report also recommends the appointment of a Chief Digital Officer to develop and deliver a coordinated Digital Strategy and to act as a champion for the region both internally and externally. In addition, it recommends that a new centre of data analytics is established, using the smart specialisation model so successfully delivered by CSIT, the Centre for Secure Information Technologies. It also calls on government to become an expert and strategic customer when it comes to digital technology, and asks for the continued support of the cyber security sector. Speaking at the launch, Digital ICT Panel Chairman and CEO of Allstate John Healy said: “Northern Ireland has a real opportunity to build on its present capability and success in software engineering, data analytics, networks and sensors and cyber security. We also have the potential to repeat that success in other areas. “This report’s recommendations – the need for a skills action plan and a digital strategy for Northern Ireland, the engagement of a Chief Digital

John Healy (left) with Minister Jonathan Bell & Matrix Chairman Dr. Bryan Keating

Officer, the creation of a centre for data analytics while continuing to support cyber security and the need for government to become an expert and strategic ICT consumer – are soundly rooted in evidence gathered from a wide range of business, academic and government sources. “We hope that these recommendations will form a blueprint for the further development and growth of the sector. If they are implemented fully, there is real potential to build a globally competitive economy focused on our niche strengths. “The panel fully appreciates the inherent difficulties of foresighting. However, it has set out in this report what it believes to be the most promising opportunities and how best exploit them.” There is a long tradition of software engineering expertise in Northern Ireland stretching over 40 years and forming the bedrock of the industry. In recent years, specific strengths have emerged in advanced networks and sensors, data analytics and cyber security. These strengths have been picked up by foreign

BOGART HEADING THE RIGHT WAY WITH IRISH FA SUIT DEAL

onagh O’Reilly, Irish FA Sales and Marketing Director, joins John Keenan, Managing Director of Bogart (right), and Gary Keenan, John’s son and Bogart Director, in their Belfast store to announce the menswear retailer as Northern Ireland’s official suit partner for France this

summer. Bogart, in conjunction with lifestyle brand Herbie Frogg, will design and supply up to 120 new tailor-made suits to be worn by the international team’s players and officials before and during what will be Northern Ireland’s first participation in a major football tournament in 30 years.

investors and Belfast is now Europe’s leading destination city for new software development projects. There are now over 1,200 Digital ICT companies in Northern Ireland, with the number of businesses increasing by 31% over the last six years. They employ 2% of the total workforce and generate about £870m a year for the economy. Exports are up 25% over the last four years and the GVA – the contribution to the economy - for each IT worker in Northern Ireland is 58% above the Northern Ireland average. The rates of pay are highly attractive too, with ICT specialists earning 44% above the average wage - the highest “pay premium” for ICT specialists in any UK region. With Northern Ireland students regularly achieving excellent results in STEM subjects at A level, as well as benefitting from first class third level teaching and work experience, the Digital ICT sector here has real potential for growth – so long as the barriers to success are removed.

Eye on Management

FSB...

We spoke to FSB member, George King, owner of Merdyn Day Nursery in Holywood, County Down.

A Lifeline For Small Business

ur company provides high quality day care services for children. We operate a children’s nursery, and in doing so we employ several dozen people, pay numerous business taxes and enable many more people, whose children we look after, to go to work. The value of our sector is, however, often underestimated. We provide the ability for thousands of people to go to work every day, knowing that their children are being looked after in a safe environment, and importantly helping their children reach their maximum potential. As the economy starts to expand again, there will inevitably be renewed demand for affordable day care places, so the Executive at Stormont will need to take an increasing interest in the delivery of childcare. That interest would be welcomed but it is also challenging, as it risks politicising a very basic human requirement and service. There are two key challenges facing our sector. The first is the rising cost of delivery as a result of direct government interventions; the second is an increase in overheads due to indirect interventions. In the case of the first, the imminent introduction of the National Living Wage, coupled with the commencement of auto-enrolment pensions, will see a huge hike in payroll outgoings. The key challenge here is the difficulty of passing on these above inflation rises to customers – parents – who may, themselves, not see an increase in their earnings and who can illafford the increase that would be needed to cover these new costs. The second is the vast level of regulatory burden imposed on the sector. Unlike our public sector competitors, who use

school premises and appear to be regulated with a light touch by the Department of Education, private day care providers are regulated by the Department of Health, who dictate almost every aspect of our operations, right down to the square footage of space to be allocated to each child. The rigid application of these standards can often cause real difficulties for businesses operating on tight financial margins. Over the next year, I would like to see the children’s day care sector come together more closely to examine common issues of concern, to build the case to lobby government, and to identify ways to develop, improve and grow affordable day care provision while retaining the safety and welfare of the children in our care.

“ On a collective basis, FSB has proved over and over again to have the most sophisticated lobbying machine that allows the voice and concerns of its members to be effectively articulated in whatever forum necessary to ensure policy makers understand the issues and can respond to them.” In particular I would like to see the regulatory focus change to one of child development. It is hard to see why somewhere the size of Northern Ireland requires two regulatory regimes for children’s day care – one in the Department of Education and the other in the Department of Health. It makes more sense for the regulation of our sector to move to Education, with a focus on the development of children instead of a ‘box ticking’, burdensome regulatory system that seems to have grown far beyond the regulations and

principles that were developed and approved by elected Ministers. That’s why I’m a member of the Federation of Small Businesses - an outstanding organisation on whose services I draw very regularly. On an individual basis, I use their legal helpline and employment advice line to get guidance on a raft of measures. This not only gives me specific answers but, more widely, ensures I am regularly in contact with ‘best practice’ on management issues, which has benefits for my staff and my business.

On a collective basis, FSB has proved over and over again to have the most sophisticated lobbying machine that allows the voice and concerns of its members to be effectively articulated in whatever forum necessary to ensure policy makers understand the issues and can respond to them. That is why I want to see my sector coming together, and working under the auspices of FSB, to ensure that Ministers hear our concerns and act upon them.

Mairaid McMahon Development Manager, Northern Ireland Federation of Small Businesses T 028 8676 9023 M 07917 628994 @FSBNIRegion www.fsb.org.uk

Eye on AgriFood

Platinum Sponsors SPAR set to honour its top suppliers at 2016 Balmoral Show

Pictured at the launch of the Henderson Group’s Local Supplier of the Year Awards with the winning ceremony taking place on the morning of Friday 13th May at the 2016 Balmoral Show are (L-R) Neal Kelly, Fresh Food Director Henderson Group, Patrick Doody, Sales and Marketing Director Henderson Group and Lance Hamilton from Mash Direct, one of last year’s winners at the Local Supplier of the year Award’s.

Suppliers to local SPAR and EUROSPAR stores are being invited to enter the Henderson Group’s Local Supplier of the Year awards with the winning ceremony taking place at the 2016 Balmoral Show.

s owners of the SPAR and EUROSPAR franchises in Northern Ireland, the Henderson Group run the awards to celebrate the exceptional produce, practices and ranges of the companies it works with. Now in their fourth year, the awards honour a host of different companies operating across the agri-food industry and who have shown a real commitment to delivering excellence. Entries can be made across five categories including Enjoy Local Supplier of the Year, CSR focused Tomorrow Matters, Best Direct to Store Supplier, Brand

Innovation Award and Overall Own Label Supplier of the Year with the winners being announced at a special breakfast taking place at the Balmoral Show. As ever, the awards will be judged by an esteemed panel of food and Agri experts including Joy Alexander, Head of Food Technology at CAFRE; Freda Magill, UFU Rural Affairs Committee Chairperson; David Elliott, Editor of Ulster Business and agriculture journalist Richard Wright. Neal Kelly, Henderson Group’s Fresh Food Director, said “As platinum sponsors, we recognise the Balmoral Show as being the

pinnacle event in the calendar of the Agri-food industry so holding our Local Supplier Awards during the Show is a natural fit. “These awards are the ideal platform to pledge our support for local suppliers and farmers and thank them for working hard to bring our customers the very best traceable and fresh produce we can offer. Having a key presence at the Balmoral Show has always been a wonderful opportunity for us to strengthen our links with the wider Agri-food industry

and I am confident that in the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink, the 2016 Show will be bigger and better than ever.” Outside of the awards, SPAR will have a much wider presence at the show than ever before with a broad range of activities planned across the 3-day event. The popular enjoy local, marquee will be twice as big this year and visitors are invited along to watch live cookery demonstrations by celebrity chef and SPAR Ambassador Paula McIntyre who will be showcasing the enjoy local range of fresh meat and produce. The marquee will also be hosting a whole range of family fun and providing samples of some of the new additions to SPAR’S own brand range which has been created using top-quality suppliers from across Northern Ireland. Other highlights include the welcome return of the SPAR Arena where show-goers can enjoy an array of family entertainment over the three days as well as the fully functional SPAR store where essentials for exhibitors and visitors can be found. Sales and Marketing Director Paddy Doody said “This is our sixth year as a platinum sponsors of the Balmoral Show and we are delighted to have furthered our involvement and be back on board to celebrate the 2016 Year of Food and Drink at The Show. Balmoral is a fantastic family day out which is why we have a packed programme and entertainment offerings for all ages. We are already looking forward to meeting all of the visitors and having a successful three days exhibiting at the show.”

“ These awards are the ideal platform to pledge our support for local suppliers and farmers and thank them for working hard to bring our customers the very best traceable and fresh produce we can offer.”

Eye on Technology

Xperience IT Solutions Set High Standards Through Service Excellence Delivering excellence Xperience IT Solutions recently gained additional Microsoft Gold Partner competencies, demonstrating a proven track record of distinction by providing cost effective and personalised IT solutions, along with support for a range of Microsoft products. Consequently, this recent nomination reflects the depth of expertise at optimising, managing and provisioning complex IT estates on customer journey to the cloud. Patrick Leggett explains, “Over the past 12 months we have migrated more than 60 clients and in excess of 2500 mailboxes onto the Office 365 platform. We are honoured that Northern Ireland businesses continue to put trust in us and we will strive to maintain this recognised position.”

Xperience IT Solutions, an Xperience Group business, has been recognised as a leading Northern Ireland provider of Microsoft cloud solutions, outshining the competition by providing outstanding customer service and support excellence.

n January Microsoft appointed Xperience IT Solutions as a Tier-1 Cloud Solution Provider (CSP), recognising its expertise and impact in the cloud technology marketplace. Added to this, this achievement is clear recognition of commitment to excellence in delivering IT solutions that help customers operate more effectively and achieve growth. By participating in the program, Xperience IT

Solutions will enhance customer relationships, offering even more personalised support and expertise across a wide range of Microsoft cloud solutions. Patrick Leggett, Group Director at Xperience IT Solutions, comments on the achievement, “We work closely with Microsoft to provide our customers with ‘best-in-class cloud solutions’, backed up by ‘best-in-class support’. We continually focus on improving our services and being appointed as a Tier1 Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) is recognition of our commitment to delivering cloud solutions to our customers that add real value.” Building a foundation of partnerships The criteria set, for companies aiming to join CSP, include technical competency across

Microsoft cloud product range, customer satisfaction and an established first-line support service. Founded in 1969, Xperience IT Solutions has earned a reputation as a market leader, providing the highest levels of security, reliability and scalability for businesses across Northern Ireland. With high customer ratings, the next natural step was gaining a leading Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider status in Northern Ireland. Patrick Leggett, Group Director at Xperience IT Solutions commented, “In regards to relationships, Ireland is predominantly an SMB economy, made up of family businesses that are typically third or fourth generation. Therefore, a lot of decisions are based on trust. Once trust is established then ability to deliver comes next.”

The future As a Tier-1 Cloud Solution Provider, Xperience IT Solutions can offer customers monthly billing on Office 365, direct support on cloud products and services and the ability to scale up and scale down customer requirements on a monthly basis. Together with Microsoft Gold competencies, the appointment distinguishes Xperience IT Solutions as a trusted and quality expert in providing guidance and technical support in implementing Microsoft cloud solutions. One of the recent customers, Joanne Logan, IT Manager at a Belfast-based law firm Murphy O’Rawe, commented, “It’s been really good working with Xperience, they understand our industry, they understand what our clients need and we have every confidence in working with them on our future projects. Certainly an IT partner I can recommend!”

Eye on Events

NI Children’s Hospice Encourage Local Businesses To Support Time To Care Programme

Chairman of NI Hospice Billy Webb, Brendan Rodgers, Wayne Sullivan (VANRATH) and Heather Weir, Chief Executive of NI Hospice

Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice are calling on local businesses to pledge their support for the local charity, by signing up to a unique and exclusive marketing opportunity – ‘Time to Care’.

ime to Care enables up to 30 businesses from across Northern Ireland to fund the cost of a qualified children’s nurse for a year, and in return, benefit from unprecedented access to co-branding opportunities with a well-known and much-loved local charity. The charity held a special event recently to encourage more businesses from across Northern Ireland to join the programme and take the remaining 27 places in order support the future of children’s hospice care. Forty guests, including new Children’s Hospice ambassador and former Liverpool FC Manager, Brendan Rodgers attended the evening at the home of Wayne Sullivan, Managing Director of VANRATH, and founding partner of the Time to Care programme. Time to Care is a unique offer for businesses

who are keen to demonstrate how they can have a direct positive impact in their community. Not only will their support help children with a life limiting illness, but it will extend into much needed support for the wider family. In return for helping the charity to plan its workforce needs for the year ahead companies will learn all about the nurse’s day-to-day role at the Children’s Hospice. They will receive regular updates on the work of their nurse as well as the opportunity to meet them at staff engagement days. Leading professional recruitment firm VANRATH were the first to put their name to the project, announcing a one year partnership in which they committed to an agreed monthly contribution towards the salary costs of Children’s Hospice Nurse Karen McKee. Speaking about the initiative, Wayne Sullivan, Managing Director of VANRATH said: “There is increasing evidence of the positive impact of corporate-charity partnerships and the economic imperative for businesses and charities to secure more from less. As the leader in the professional recruitment sector in Northern Ireland, we take our Corporate

Social Responsibility seriously – rather than simply writing a one-off cheque we saw an opportunity with the Children’s Hospice to build an on-going partnership which will deliver tangible benefits to the children who need it most within our own community. “We were delighted to be able to welcome Karen to our offices in Belfast, where her experience and knowledge really brought it home to the staff why the Children’s Hospice is a lifeline to so many children and families locally. “We hope our collaboration with the Children’s Hospice will not only give them much needed support, but also inspire other businesses to support in the long term and make a real difference in helping them deliver their vital work.”

To find out more about how your company can be part of Time to Care please visit www.nihospice.org or contact 028 9078 1836.

Eye on Events “ We hope our collaboration with the Children’s Hospice will not only give them much needed support, but also inspire other businesses to support in the long term and make a real difference in helping them deliver their vital work.” Chief Executive of NI Hospice, Heather Weir address guests at Time to Care event

Barbara McKiernan (VANRATH), Brenda and Richard Buckley

Margaret Butler, NI Hospice Trustee and Siofra Healy, NI Hospice

Caroline Dunlop, Wayne Sullivan (VANRATH), Glenn Roberts (Deloitte), Chris Guy (Mills Selig)

Billy Webb (Chairman, NI Hospice), Brenda Hale MLA and Tina McCrossan, Director, NI Children’s Hospice

Charlotte Searle, Heather Weir, NI Hospice Chief Executive and Brendan Rodgers

Adrian Teer (NIFL), Sir Bruce Robinson (NI Hospice Development Board), Heather Weir, NI Hospice and Marcus Cooper, NI Hospice

Guests at the Time to Care event

Chairman of NI Hospice, Billy Webb and Chief Executive, Heather Weir

Grace Stewart, Judith McKibben, Charlotte Searle, Brendan Rodgers, Tina McCrossan and Heather Weir

Eye on Hospitality

Pictured at the official opening of teh Bishop’s Gate Hotel are from left, Ciaran O’Neill, operator, John Meehan, Chairman, Inner City Trust, Mark H. Durkan MLA, Enviroment Minister, the Mayor, Councillor Elisha McCallion, Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness and Helen Quigley, Chief Executive, Inner City Trust. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com.

A DERRY LANDMARK REBORN The official opening of The Bishop’s Gate Hotel in the heart of the historic Walled City of Derry is a major milestone for the regeneration of the city centre and a significant boost to the tourism industry in the north west generally.

he luxury 31 bedroom Bishop’s Gate Hotel is the latest project of the Inner City Buildings Preservation Trust, a subsidiary of the Inner City Trust which is dedicated to preserving the unique built heritage of the 17th century Walled City. Already there has been a considerable economic impact with over sixty directly employed by the hotel while another 133 people, including sub-contractors and six traineeships, were employed during the construction and fitting out phases of the project. In keeping with the Trust’s ethos of supporting the local economy, indigenous manufacturers and suppliers were used creating a significant multiplier effect. The multi-million pound hotel development involved the complete restoration and refurbishment of the iconic Northern Counties Building in Bishop Street Within and adjacent properties in London Street. Once a well known city centre landmark, the Northern Counties was formerly a private members’ club and base for the city’s business and civic leaders. When the club closed in 2004, the building lay vacant and, by the time the Trust purchased it in 2012, the Grade B2 listed building had

fallen into a state of serious disrepair. Working in close partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the Department for Social Development and the Department of the Environment’s Northern Ireland Environment’s Agency, the Trust secured the necessary funding to embark on an ambitious and imaginative project to rescue the historic building and bring it back to use in all its former opulent splendour. The tourism potential of the Walled City’s built heritage has long been recognised by the Trust. The opening of a luxury city centre hotel is the realisation of the dream first mooted over thirty years ago when the Trust had the vision to embark on an ambitious programme of regeneration in the bombed out city centre – at a time when few, if any visitors were looking to stay there. Helen Quigley, Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, is confident the successful completion of its latest flagship project will be a catalyst for further social and economic development in the city centre and in importantly a boost for the evening economy. She continued: “Our built heritage is an important attraction for both tourists

and investors and, increasingly a source of civic pride for people of all ages. Bringing such an important historic city centre building back to life will enhance the city as a whole, while businesses in the immediate vicinity will benefit from having a luxury hotel on their doorstep. At the official opening, Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness spoke about the rich built heritage of the Walled City: “The Walls, St Columb’s Cathedral, First Derry Presbyterian Church, Siege Museum, Verbal Arts, Playhouse are all jewels in the crown and the Inner City Trust had just added another jewel.” In advance of the official opening, local people were invited in for a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Some had fond memories of the elegant building with its revolving brass and mahogany door and sweeping staircase; others had memories of the same revolving door guarded by an austere uniformed doorman who gave chase to errant schoolchildren who had the temerity to get past him and make it as far as the staircase. Without exception they were well impressed by what they saw. Local man Ciaran O’Neill, recently elected President of the Northern Ireland Hotels’ Federation, has returned to his roots to take on the role of Hotel Operator. Well known and respected within the hospitality industry, Ciaran previously managed the Da Vinci’s Hotel and The City Hotel in Derry before taking on the role of Regional Vice President for Interstate Hotels with responsibility for Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The refurbishment of the Northern Counties Building was led by Derry architect and conservation specialist, Karl Pedersen of Mullarkey Pedersen Architects. The contractor for the project was Conway Brothers, another local company. The original decorative features of the 19th century gentlemen’s club, including the sweeping staircase, Inglenook fireplace, the decorative panelling and plaster mouldings have been retained or restored. The interior design and artwork throughout the hotel acknowledge both the building’s prime location on one of the most historic streets in Ireland and its strong links with the judiciary, clergy and military. The Northern Counties Building started out as two private dwelling houses back in 1832 and has been previously remodelled. At the turn of the 20th century when Derry was enjoying an economic boom, it was extensively remodelled by Alfred A Foreman, an internationally acclaimed architect renowned for his flamboyant and quirky style. The lavish remodelling in 1902 was the Northern Counties club members’ way of impressing their visitors. WB Yeats, Edward Carson and Winston Churchill were among the luminaries who stayed in the Northern Counties as guests of local members. More than a century later, thanks to the combined efforts and vision of the Trust, HLF, DSD and DOE, this historic landmark will once again be an ideal venue for impressing visitors.

Eye on Events

CIMA Ireland

NI Members’ Dinner, QUB

he Northern Ireland Annual Dinner of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Ireland (CIMA Ireland) took place in the Great Hall, Queen’s University recently. CIMA is the world’s largest and

leading professional body of management accountants with more than 229,000 members and students in 176 countries. Its members work across industry, commerce and not-for-profit organisations here to drive business success.

For information on CIMA courses & qualifications and the benefits of becoming a member contact Kevin Gormley on 07885976285 www.cimaireland.com

L-R Jenni Freel, Ellen Baxter, Carolyn Gray, Lillian McClean, Catherine McRory and Susan Gray pictured at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Ireland Northern Ireland Annual Dinner at The Great Hall, Queen’s University Belfast.

L-R Claire McGuinness, Niall Marshall, Hilary Marshall (Chair Northern Ireland board, CIMA Ireland) Gareth Higgins and Seana McGlinchey

Michael Williamson and Caroline Keenan

Caoimhe O’Reilly and Eddie Collins

L-R Sheila Lewis (Chair CIMA Ireland), Mary Dullaghan and Tony Manning

Patrick and Natasha Barr and Sylvia Shaw

Stuart and Natalie McCartan

L-R Sean Shine, Roger Acton (CEO CIMA Ireland), Conor Hanlon

Eye on Staff

Valuing your most important asset by Mark McNeill, ASM Chartered Accountants.

In this article, Mark McNeill, director, ASM Chartered Accountants in Magherafelt discusses the importance of staff.

t is often said that employees are the lifeblood of any business – in the words of Richard Branson, “Look after your staff first and foremost, and the rest will follow”. In this article, I have outlined ways of showing appreciation, value and forward prospects to your most important asset… Having staff who are working for the good of the business and who are motivated by the same goals and ambitions as those of the business owners is the key to being successful in business today. This is true no matter what sector or industry a business is involved in, and no matter the size or complexity of the business itself. Staff are a business’s greatest asset but also often its largest cost, therefore it is vital that good staff are employed, retained and motivated to work for the benefit

of the business. The first stage is making sure you recruit the right staff for your business. The recruitment process should always be approached as a two-way process. The potential employee is selling himself or herself to the employer, but the employer is also selling the business to the interviewee. In today’s mobile society there are a lot more options and opportunities for individuals to gain employment, therefore it is vital that businesses sell themselves to their recruits just as much as the other way around. In choosing employment, individuals are often thinking “What can this business for do for me? What is special about this business that I want to work for them?” The key is therefore to promote the business, while at the same time not promising something that you can’t deliver. Potential employees are interested in: • Structured interview process and induction training for new employees • Career development plans • On the job training and feedback • Communication from senior figures about the business and how it is performing • A remuneration package that is relevant to the individual which matches their needs Once the right recruits have been identified and employed, it is vital that the business invest time and effort into retaining them. Having invested so much into the recruitment process and new staff, it is important that the business sees the benefit of this. This is far more than simply a monetary return for the business, it is important that new employees buy into the ethos of the business and become great ambassadors for it. This can only be achieved when staff are happy and content in their employment. A high turnover of staff in a business can be hugely disruptive particularly where staff deal directly with suppliers

or customers. Relationships are broken and new ones need to be created. This can be a time consuming, costly and difficult process to handle. When staff leave employment this can also have an unsettling effect on the remaining staff, and individuals who may not have previously thought of changing jobs may become inclined to do so. The key therefore is to reward, motivate and incentivise valuable staff so that they are retained by the business and are real team players. Financial reward is not necessarily always at the top of the list for staff. There are many other factors that some staff may value highly such as: • Flexible working hours • The opportunity for progression and promotion • The ability to work in different areas of the business; • The opportunity to gain new skills • Regular communication within the business Financial rewards can also be key to staff, and the following are all options which should be considered: • Annual pay increments and bonuses • Profit related or performance related bonuses • Employment benefits, e.g. private medical insurance, gym membership, etc • For key employees, the possibility of becoming partners or shareholders in the business. With regard to the possibility of key employees becoming partners or shareholders in the business, this can often be achieved in a tax efficient manner. Where the employer is a limited company there are a number of approved share schemes which provide employees with an opportunity to own shares in the company. This is often a powerful way of incentivising and motivating

staff. Being an “owner” of the business creates a sense of pride in the business and a desire to help create value which will inevitably benefit the individual. The approved share schemes which are available include: • Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme; • Company share option plan; • Share incentive plan; and • Savings-related share option scheme. These tax-advantaged schemes provide employees and employers with Income and Tax and National Insurance advantages. There are specific rules applicable to each type of scheme but generally shares acquired under these schemes are free from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions. Specific advice should be sought before considering the implementation of such schemes. The ability of an organisation to recruit and then reward, incentivise and motivate employees is vital to the success of the business. While the financial rewards are important, don’t forget the nonfinancial aspects which can be just as important for staff.. ASM Chartered Accountants has six offices, Dungannon, Belfast, Dublin, Dundalk, Magherafelt and Newry. The 160 strong team specialises in a range of accountancy disciplines including, corporate finance, Insolvency services, forensic accounting, Audit & accounting, consultancy services, internal audit, tax, hotel, tourism and leisure.

Mark McNeill can be contacted at mark.mcneill@ asmmagherafelt.com or 028 7930 1777to discuss your business finance needs or any other corporate finance matter.

Eye on News

FLYBE WINTER SCHEDULE ON SALE Flybe, the biggest operator at George Best City Airport, has put its 2016-17 winter programme on sale offering a comprehensive choice of 13 direct routes and a choice of up to 634 flights a week. With one way fares starting from £24.99, the flights on sale are available for travel from Belfast between 30th October 2016 and 31st January 2017.

n line with passenger demand, Europe’s largest regional airline has increased the number of flights on many of its popular routes for the added convenience of both business and leisure passengers. Flights to Leeds Bradford will be increased from

4 to 5 a day whilst Southampton services go up to three daily. Flybe’s Liverpool service has proved very popular especially with sports fans and students and the winter season will see an additional rotation going up to 6 flights every day. Manchester continues to be an

important hub airport for Flybe with 7 daily flights and offering Northern Ireland passengers seamless and convenient onward connections to European and long-haul destinations. Vincent Hodder, Flybe’s Chief Revenue Officer, comments “Many of our customers have told us they want to plan ahead in order to take advantage of the lowest possible fares so we have ensured that their year we have put the majority of our 2016-17 Winter programme on sale extra early.

“The diversity of our winter destinations is ideal for those wanting to book early, affordable business travel as well as those looking for short leisure breaks especially over the autumn half-term and Christmas/New Year period. To ensure the lowest possible fares, we would advise customers to book their travel for next winter now. The remainder for Flybe’s 2016-17 Winter schedule will be announced at the beginning of May.

Agency Makes ‘Smart’ Move Into London Smarts Communicate Opens New London Office Holywood-based global PR and content agency Smarts Communicate today announced the expansion of its international communications business with the opening of a new office in London. This is the company’s first office outside Northern Ireland.

he agency, which currently works with clients across more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, has a client portfolio that includes British Airways, BT, Lidl, Johnnie Walker and Guinness, and has been rapidly growing its international work. Smarts Communicate currently employs 45 people in Northern Ireland and has seen revenues rise by almost 50% in the past two years as it has grown its global consumer PR division. The agency expects to add another 10 employees this year – seven in Holywood and three in London. Last year the company was appointed as the global agency for the world’s largest Scotch whisky brand, Johnnie Walker, for whom it also handles PR and social media activity in Western Europe. The agency also handles a number of other global

brands working across multiple markets from its Holywood base. The London office will be headed up by Managing Partner Helen Rainford, previously Consumer Creative Director at Good Relations and formerly Associate Board Director at Cake. Rainford is a SABRE award winner and has led accounts for clients including B&Q, Sainsbury’s, Samsung, IKEA, CocaCola, Alton Towers Resort and Tourism Australia. She was the brains behind the award winning B&Q Fifty Shades campaign which had a great impact on the retailer’s sales. The announcement also coincides with Smarts’ offices in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) rebranding as Smarts Communicate in a move designed to provide greater opportunities for businesses seeking a UK networked service.

(L-R) Managing Partner Helen Rainford will head up the new London office and is pictured alongside Smarts Communicate Joint Managing Directors Pippa Arlow and Leontia Fetherston.

Speaking about the opening of the new offices, Pippa Arlow, Joint Managing Director of Smarts Communicate, said: “With 20 years of in-market experience and a decade of global PR experience behind us, our business has been transformed into a highly competitive international player and we believe the time is right to extend our operational footprint into London. This move allows us to compete on a wider scale and is the first in a number of exciting steps for us.” In 2014/15 Smarts Communicate won 21 awards for its global work, including CIPR Excellence and PR Week awards for best global campaign on behalf of Bushmills Irish Whiskey. With more than 70 awards in the past five years alone, Smarts Communicate is one of the UK’s most-awarded PR companies.

The agency’s campaigns have seen them work with a host of international stars including David Beckham, Jenson Button, Snow Patrol, Jake Bugg and The 1975 among others. Smarts Communicate is part of MSQ Partners, a group of creative agencies that includes The Gate, Holmes & Marchant and twentysix. The group has 25 regional and national offices around the world in locations including New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and San Francisco. The new London operation will be based at 90 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 4TJ. smartscommunicate.com www.facebook.com/ SmartsCommunicate www.twitter.com/smartscomm

Eye on Entrepreneurs

BDO Northern Ireland: Recruiting Future Ready Entrepreneurs

Senior Partner Nigel Harra and Partner Laura Jackson pictured with BDO NI’s 21 2015 intake of trainees.

Managing Partner at BDO Northern Ireland Peter Burnside believes he knows the secret to the Firm’s ongoing growth and success and it is relatively simple; people.

midst the various services the Callendar Street headquartered BDO provides, ranging from tax advice, audit, business recovery through to mergers and acquisitions, they are all delivered in the same BDO style by BDO people. With people at the heart of how they do business, all 10 Partners at BDO Northern Ireland recognise the importance of identifying, recruiting and developing future leaders. The labour market has changed dramatically over the last five years and in anticipation of these changes BDO NI has embarked on a transformational journey

in how talent is identified and nurtured within the BDO family. It will come as no surprise to anyone who is familiar with the BDO NI brand and its work, the importance of the role of the BDO person. A BDO person is not the typical accountant in a grey suit, it is someone who can apply the acquired business knowledge in an innovative way to make a strategic and visionary difference to BDO clients. A BDO person will have a diverse range of skills and are best described as future ready leaders/entrepreneurs. To recruit the individual with the necessary depth and breadth of ability, the search for BDO

talent happens at many levels. The first of these is at school level. BDO Northern Ireland understands the importance of reaching young people well ahead of the end of their school days to communicate how important their role is in our future economy. For example, this is the second year in which BDO has joined with Belfast Metropolitan College in employing school leavers who complete the higher level apprenticeship whilst working at the same time. This enables the individual to “earn and learn’ and the trade off for these school leavers is that they not only gain the invaluable skills they will need in their future careers, they can still qualify as a Chartered Accountant without the debt despite not attaining a university degree. This year also marks the second year of BDO Scholar. A scholarship

provided to Accountancy students, this scheme offers the recipients support for the duration of their degree course and they experience many other multiple benefits including a financial bursary, access to a specifically assigned BDO mentor and invaluable in house work experience. BDO NI Partner Laura Jackson champions both the scholarship scheme and the Apprenticeships through Belfast Met from within and is passionate about the need to strip away perceived barriers or hurdles to career progression. “We feel that the mentoring support and the work experience offered as part of these initiatives are a really important aspect of working with our young leaders. It allows them to gain invaluable, relevant work experience during their studies and they have a named contact in BDO who is

Eye on Entrepreneurs

“ I know that when I set out on my BDO career I benefited hugely from having an experienced person to turn to for advice and guidance. I am now passing on that same service.” BDO NI Partner Laura Jackson BDO Scholar judges, Laura Jackson (BDO), David Gavaghan (CBI Chair) and Linda Brown (Director at the Institute of Directors) at the 2nd Year of BDO Scholar judging. BDO Placements: Laura Jackson, Suzanne Creed & Claire McFall pictured with BDO’s 14 Summer (2015) placements.

there to support them in whatever way they can. The mentors have all been through the same journey of studying accountancy and can assist the students through their degree. I know that when I set out on my BDO career I benefited hugely from having an experienced person to turn to for

advice and guidance. I am now passing on that same service.” Furthermore BDO Northern Ireland works very closely with both local universities in developing our future leaders. Encouraged by the target of both Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University to engage with

employers, BDO are keen to get involved with graduates from day one of their university career. This could be through awards of paid work placements, both locally and internationally, the provision of one to one mentors, the facilitation of interview skills and presentation skills workshops

to enrich their learning experience to include workplace skills. In offering this experience to the potential BDO recruits, the senior management team are keen to offer access to key business relationships to the future leaders. BDO is about providing an environment where the graduates can develop real life critical business decision making skills and effect real change. The recruitment of entrepreneurs is prevalent throughout all of the BDO service streams. The people are the lifeblood of the business and there is a full time commitment by all staff in nurturing recruits into the BDO mould. Clients see the tangible benefits in working with a blend of experienced and fresh talent, who are energetic and insight driven. The learning is not just for the new recruits, the rate of change of the business world means that all staff are continuously learning and evolving and in doing so, are delivering the latest and highest quality advice to the local, national and global market place.

Eye on Events

L-R: Martin Cronin, Chairman, InterTrade Ireland; Jonathan Bell, Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minster; Margaret Hearty, Director of Programmes and Business Services at InterTradeIreland; Brian Conlon, CEO of First Derivatives; and Thomas Hunter McGowan, Chief Executive, InterTradeIreland.

CONLON TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT VENTURE CAPITAL CONFERENCE One of Northern Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs, Brian Conlon, Chief Executive and founder of First Derivatives, was the keynote speaker at the 15th annual InterTradeIreland Venture Capital conference held in Belfast recently.

he conference this year concentrated on the theme of ‘Growing Successful Businesses’, and brought together an audience of more than 300 delegates comprising entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, business angels, other investors and startups who may be seeking investment. Attendees heard about the meteoric rise of Newry-based First Derivatives which was set up in 1996 with a starting capital of just £5,000 - 20 years later the company is now one of only two plcs in Northern Ireland. Under the watchful eye of Brian, the company floated on the

London Stock Exchange in 2002 and is now the largest publicly quoted technology company on the island of Ireland. Success like this doesn’t happen by accident and Brian shared his valuable experiences of growing the company which now employs more than 1,500, people with a keenly engaged audience. His early training as an accountant and knowledge of global financial markets gave him the confidence and experience to guide the company through its early years. Enterprise Trade and Investment Minister, Jonathan Bell, who officially opened the conference, said: “The Venture Capital conference continues to be highly relevant for the development of the Northern Ireland economy. High growth businesses are a key driver of economic growth, not just because they generate significant employment, but also because their dynamism stimulates competition and innovation throughout the economy as a whole.

“Supporting ambitious entrepreneurs to develop innovative start-ups is critical to our future prosperity. InterTradeIreland is providing businesses with an opportunity to access investment and increase their propensity for growth. Working together we can foster, develop and enhance our reputation for entrepreneurial success.” Margaret Hearty, Director of Programmes and Business Services at InterTradeIreland said; “Starting the process of securing Venture Capital funding can seem very daunting and overwhelming. The latest quarterly Business Monitor Report has revealed that almost half of companies (45%) felt that they were in a good position to apply for funding, but 77% had no knowledge of other options open to them including venture capital, crowd funding and private equity. “With so many different opportunities now available the conference aims to

Eye on Events

highlight the range of funding options, hear from companies who have benefitted from some of them, discuss how best to access them and offer practical advice on how to ensure that a potential funding option or investor is the right match. The vibrant and buoyant venture Capital and Business Angel sector is a positive sign of a growing modern economy with research consistently showing that Venture Capital backed businesses achieve stronger turnover and profit than firms without.” InterTradeIreland offers SMEs a number of equity supports including masterclasses in pitching, business planning workshops, regional equity advisory clinics and the very successful All-island Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition which was also launched for 2016 at the Venture Capital conference.

Another local contributor to the conference, and past Seedcorn regional winner, was Philip McAleese, CEO of successful Newtownards-based cycling technology company See.Sense, who shared his experience of two successful crowd-funding campaigns on Kickstarter. His second product, ICON, met its funding goal in under a day and went on to achieve nearly 1,000 backers and more than £80,000 in just 30 days. See.Sense has gone on to win multiple business and design awards and now employs 10 people. Margaret finished, “The economic outlook is bright with innovation and availability of Venture Capital at very high levels. The conference is an excellent way for smaller, start-up companies to ‘get in front of’ the right people and has once again proved extremely popular

within the investment community, having been booked out well in advance. With business confidence continuing to grow, innovation is blossoming, leading to the development of attractive entrepreneurial prospects for primed venture capitalists.” The InterTradeIreland Venture Capital conference was kindly supported by Crescent Capital, Mills Selig and Kernel Capital.

Eye on News

GRANT THORNTON RUNWAY RUN TO RETURN TO BELFAST CITY AIRPORT

After the phenomenal success of 2015’s inaugural Grant Thornton Runway Run in Northern Ireland, the business advisory firm has announced the return of the event for 2016. 500 runners from local businesses across Northern Ireland are invited to take to the runway of George Best Belfast City Airport for a 5k team race at 11pm on Thursday 23rd June.

Richard Gillan, Managing Partner at Grant Thornton (NI) LLP said: “We were overwhelmed by the response to last year’s event and are delighted to announce its return in 2016.

It is a unique event within Northern Ireland’s business networking calendar. “At Grant Thornton we like to do things differently and the Runway Run was developed to encourage friendly competition whilst promoting team building amongst the local business community. And it did that. “The atmosphere on the night was incredible; the right balance of fun and competition. It was representative of the Northern Ireland business community with teams entering from a broad range of industries – from legal, banking and recruitment firms to aviation and manufacturing companies. “It was a fantastic event and this year’s will be even better with some small tweaks, and maybe even some surprises along the way. If you missed out last year I would recommend pulling a team of colleagues together and signing up!” The race, which is organised by Athletics NI, is open to all businesses and organisations in Northern

Ireland who are invited to enter a team of four in one or more of three categories – male, female and mixed. Prizes will be awarded in each category with team members’ finishing times combined to determine the winner. Grant Thornton has selected The Mary Peters Trust as its charity partner for the 2016 Runway Run. Mr Gillan continued: “We are delighted to not only have The Mary Peters Trust on board but also Dame Mary herself who will start the race. “Corporate Responsibility is a high priority at Grant Thornton, not just in Northern Ireland but across over 130 countries it operates in globally, and we felt it was extremely important to once again partner with a charity which can benefit from the event. “We decided The Mary Peters Trust was the perfect choice given the fact it is a local charity supporting the professional development of young athletes.”

Marcon completes transformation of American Air Museum Northern Ireland based fit-out specialist Marcon has completed a major contract at the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford, Cambridge, which is one of the renowned Imperial War Museums.

he American Air Museum houses a unique collection of American aircraft which is the largest collection on public display outside the United States. The £3 million transformation of the American Air Museum opened to the public at the weekend and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in twentieth and twenty-first century conflict, as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. From Private to President, the American Air Museum tells the personal stories of 85 people whose lives have shaped or been shaped by their experiences of conflict. It focuses on the key role played by American air power, in conflicts from 1918 to the

present day, with dramatic displays of historic and contemporary aircraft. Upon entering the American Air Museum, visitors will be greeted by the commanding sight of 18 aircraft, some suspended as if in flight. Here, visitors are introduced to the chronological themes of the exhibition - World Wars, Cold War and War in the Mountains and Deserts – through introductory films featuring some of the remarkable people they will encounter as they explore the museum. Visitors will also be able to view 850 objects including equipment, uniforms, keepsakes and photographs. Many of these artefacts have never been seen by the public before. Marcon completed all of the museum setwork displays, graphics, interactive

exhibits and coordinated the installation of the integrated audio visual hardware and display cases. The company’s specialist joinery workshop manufactured free standing ‘Narrative Islands’ that contain graphic and digital interactives. The project also included the creation of three feature displays containing steel girders from the World Trade Centre, a section of the Berlin Wall and a 20ft long flag of the United States of America made from reinforced fibreglass.

Mark O’Connor, Director, Marcon, said “For Marcon to play such an integral role in the high profile redevelopment of the American Air Museum is hugely satisfying and a great achievement for the company. Our project team has thoroughly enjoyed working in partnership with IWM and Redman Design. This is a very significant project for us as we continue to enhance our growing reputation within the museum and heritage sector”.

Eye on First-time Buyers

First-Time Buyers to further boost the Northern Ireland Housing Market by Michael Boyd

The Spring homebuying season is upon us and it looks like it should be a positive one for the Northern Ireland housing market.

igures from Progressive Building Society show that they have experienced a 20% increase in the total lending value for first-time buyers in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014. This, along with the introduction of the Help to Buy: ISA will see many more first- time buyers in Northern Ireland get their foot firmly onto the property ladder, says Michael Boyd, Deputy Chief Executive of Progressive Building Society. “We’re seeing a buoyant housing market in Northern Ireland at the moment, with our in-branch

qualified mortgage advisors witnessing an upward trend in the home movers sector, as well as growth within the first-time buyer market in towns and cities across the region. The availability of affordable homes has played a key role in the increased activity among first-time buyers, with the average home in Northern Ireland now costing £154,685*. The stumbling block for many people interested in purchasing their first home continues to be saving for a deposit. Mortgage providers may usually look for a minimum of 5-10% of the home value as a deposit,

when assessing suitability for a mortgage. With rising rent prices and stagnant wages this can prove tricky and so, in a bid to help many people gain a foothold on the property ladder Progressive has introduced the governmentbacked Help to Buy: ISA product. Open to those over the age of 16, Progressive’s Help to Buy: ISA offers a government bonus which can boost ISA savings by 25%. The maximum government bonus available is £3,000 per person which requires savings of £12,000 in a Help to Buy: ISA. On account opening, first-time home buyers can deposit a one-off lump

sum of up to £1,000, in addition to the monthly £200 maximum instalment. The Help to Buy: ISA is available to every first-time buyer, so if couples are saving for their first home together, they can each open a Help to Buy: ISA - resulting in a potential £6,000 bonus towards their house deposit. Since the savings scheme was launched across the UK on December 1st, a quarter of a million aspiring first-time buyers have opened a Help to Buy: ISA.”

Eye on Entrepreneurs

Brian Conlon might well have been the perfect choice to be the guest speaker (or interviewee) at March’s InterTrade Ireland Venture Capital Conference staged at Belfast’s Ramada Plaza Hotel.

Brian Conlon & First Derivatives... A Case Study In High Performance Growth Conlon, after all, ticks all the boxes. He’s a local man, steeped in Newry and County Down, he’s certainly one of the North’s most accomplished entrepreneurs and he’s a business leader who has taken his company right through from a back bedroom operation to one of Northern Ireland’s only public companies. In one of his rare interviews, Conlon talked to Business Eye about business success, growth and the importance of funding...

rian Conlon isn’t a big fan of media interviews. It’s easy to get the impression that he doesn’t really see the point of it all. His back story has been well told before now. A South Down native, and every inch a man of Newry, he trained as an accountant with KPMG before leaving accountancy to work for global giants Morgan Stanley on its London risk management team. Returning home to Newry, he established First Derivatives back in 1996 from his apartment in the town as a consultancy and services business for the investment banking marketplace with a seed capital investment

of £5,000. The company floated on the AIM in 2002 and is now valued well in excess of the £300 million mark. The Newry company’s very latest annual figures show that the pace is being maintained. In a trading update to the markets, First Derivatives said that it now expected the financial performance for the full year to be ‘comfortably ahead’ of its current forecasts of £109.5 million in revenues and £22.1 million in EBITDA. The company signed a record number of contracts in the second half of the financial year to 29th February 2016, but the full impact of these

Eye on Entrepreneurs wins won’t reflect through until the February 2017 figures. “In consulting, our increasing scale and breadth of expertise is allowing us to get involved earlier in the change life cycle of our clients, leading to deeper and more strategic relationships,” says Brian Conlon. “In software, meanwhile, we continue to have a marketleading capability in analysing large volumes of data in real time. That’s something that is increasingly being understood and as a result we have seen real growth in contract wins.” Looking back on the development of First Derivates, Conlon says that flotation was the big step. “There’s no doubt that it brings an onerous responsibility with it. But there’s also no doubt that it is very good for a growing company like First Derivatives.” He is quick to pay tribute to the key funders, partners and advisers who he’s worked with over the years, people like former KPMG Belfast partner John D’Arcy, John Kearns at Belfast lawyers Mills Selig and bodies like Invest NI. Funding these days is a different prospect. It comes for the most part from retained earning as

FD continues to prosper. The past year, as well as new contracts, has also seen significant growth by way of acquisition. Among the key deals was the purchase of the Quantum Kdb big data consultancy firm for £2.2 million. “Acquisitions will continue to be on our agenda,” says Conlon simply. “We will continue to look out for organisations which might be a good fit for our overall growth plan.” By almost any measure, First Derivates growth has been impressive. It now has well over 1,000 employees worldwide and has operational bases in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. It also recruits high quality graduates on a regular basis to join its workforce. But FD’s corporate headquarters remain resolutely in Newry. It’s something that continues to be important to Brian Conlon, a man who might once have had a promising future as a gaelic footballer. He turned out for his beloved Down before suffering a career-ending injury......catastrophic at the time but possibly the catalyst for a new concentration on his business career.

Margaret Hearty, Director of Programmes and Business Services at InterTradeIreland and Brian Conlon, CEO of First Derivatives.

He doesn’t join the ranks of local business leaders who say that it’s difficult to attract quality people. That’s probably down to the fact that FD continues to be an attractive proposition for high potential graduates leaving Irish and GB universities. Quality people can find themselves working in Newry for a short period of time before being transferred out to a client office or one of FD’s overseas bases. “We’ve got a great team and very talented team,” he says. “It’s hard not to under estimate the importance of the people we have and the job that they’re doing for First Derivatives and its clients.” Cities like New York and Singapore continue to be a major focus for the Newry firm, but Brian Conlon emphasises that it’s not all about servicing clients in the big financial centres. “We’re also growing in sectors like the leading global telco’s and in the oil sector, where we’ve established a substantial foothold in Houston.

“What is important for us is to continue to take a partnership approach alongside the clients we work with, whether they are investment bankers or something completely different.” His message to the audience at the InterTrade Ireland Venture Capital Conference, where he was interviewed on stage by the BBC’s Mark Simpson, centred around having the courage of our convictions. “We’re getting better here in Northern Ireland at considering equity finance. I suppose that has been a bit of an aversion to it through the years....it’s a cultural thing. But I do think a lot of companies here have recalibrated and that the attitude is changing. “What’s really important for any business leader is to look at and consider all of the options available to you. “I think that’s what entrepreneurship is all about.”

Eye on News

Search Begins For Best New Start And Early Stage Company Across The Island If you own a new start or early stage company, imagine how a cash injection of €100,000 would accelerate your plans.

ith an overall prize fund of €280,000, InterTradeIreland has launched its annual Seedcorn Competition which offers a lifeline to young companies seeking to raise equity to help their business grow and develop. Aimed at innovative companies from all sectors, the 14th annual Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition is the largest business competition on the island and is a must for entrepreneurs wanting to attract investment. At a time where there is a shortage of seed finance, the competition is one avenue for ambitious start ups to get their new business ideas off the ground. Speaking about the Competition, Connor Sweeney, InterTradeIreland, said: “With a total cash prize fund of €280,000 up for grabs, Seedcorn provides a great opportunity for early stage and new start companies to get that initial injection of cash. However, Seedcorn is much more than money – entrants can

gain invaluable guidance, tips and advice from our experts, as well as investors and other entrepreneurs, on how to improve their business plan and refine their pitch and concept to demonstrate to investors that they are investor ready.” Last year’s overall winner Ocean Survivor from Limerick, manufactures a range of safety equipment aimed primarily at the off-shore oil industry. The company has developed a simple-to-use technology that mitigates the effects of hypothermia, while promoting comfort and mental well-being in a survival situation. Ocean Survivor’s Founder Kieran Normoyle added: “I was absolutely delighted to have been awarded the overall prize at the 2015 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Competition national final. Aside from the prize money of €100,000, the greatest reward for us was the constructive feedback we received about our business plan. Winning the competition was a bonus and allowed us to invest in securing the necessary trials, standards and personnel required to bring our product to market. I would encourage other companies to apply this year because it is a win-win opportunity.” Connor Sweeney commented: “Since its inception in 2003, companies who have

Launching the 2016 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn competition which offers a financial lifeline and business advice to new start or early stage companies and which has an overall prize fund of €280,000 is Connor Sweeney of InterTradeIreland and 2015 winner Kieran Normoyle, Founder of Ocean Survivor.

gone through Seedcorn have raised in excess of €200m and we only measure investments by companies who have reached regional final level. Last year alone, in excess of €10m was raised.” Over the coming weeks, InterTradeIreland will host a series of free workshops designed to guide those considering entering this year’s competition, including providing advice on preparation of video clips, presentation slide decks and business plans. There are two Belfast workshops scheduled

for the 8th April in Halo NI, NI Science Park and Propel. More information on the workshops can be found on the InterTradeIreland website. This year’s competition is now open for registration at www.intertradeireland. com/seedcorn and businesses are encouraged to submit an entry. Deadline for submissions is 27 May 2016. You can follow all the action throughout the 2016 competition by searching for and using #ITIseedcorn and following @iti_seedcorn

Pinsent Masons hosts Brexit debate with Minister for Europe Members of Northern Ireland’s business community had a unique opportunity to engage directly with a key figure at the heart of the Brexit debate recently.

I Paul McBride, Head of Office at Northern Ireland’s leading international law firm Pinsent Masons welcomes Minister for Europe Rt. Hon. David Lidington MP to the Soloist Building for a roundtable discussion with members of the region’s business community on the upcoming EU referendum.

nternational law firm Pinsent Masons, welcomed the Minister for Europe, Rt. Hon. David Lidington MP to their Waterfront offices at the Soloist Building. Held under Chatham House Rule the event was attended by people across banking, construction, public relations, accountancy and business consultancy sectors, and the select grouping enjoyed an in-depth discussion with a key Whitehall Minister. Head of Pinsent Masons Belfast

Office Paul McBride said “As the only international law-firm serving the Northern Ireland market we were delighted with the opportunity to facilitate such extraordinary engagement with the Minister. Northern Ireland is the only region with a land-border with a fellow EU member, so the outcome of the EU referendum will be of profound importance. The Minister’s portfolio is at the heart of that debate and so those attending will certainly have made their views clear on the issue.”

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Eye on News

STRICTLY CELEBRATIONS FOR BEST OF LISBURN & CASTLEREAGH’S BUSINESSES The winners of the first ever Lisburn & Castlereagh City Business Awards in association with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council & Hanna Thompson Chartered Accountants have been announced at an awards ceremony held at the La Mon Hotel & Country Club.

wards were presented across 16 diverse categories, demonstrating business excellence in areas such as customer service, marketing, innovation and export. Guest of honour on the night was First Minister Arlene Foster. The sold out black-tie ceremony, which was hosted by Q Radio favourite Stephen Clements, also featured a sensational after dinner performance by Strictly Come Dancing professional dance duo James and Ola Jordan.

The full list of winners is as follows: • Business Person of the Year Award (sponsored by Hanna Thompson Chartered Accountants) – Paula Jennings, Stepping Stones NI • Young Entrepreneur Award (sponsored by First Trust Bank) – Katie Stevenson, La Bella Vita • Best Tourism Amenity (sponsored by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council) – Streamvale Open Farm • Excellence in Customer Service Award (Non Retail) (sponsored by Ulster Bank) – 4Beauty Group

Trailblazer BBQ won the ‘Best New Business’ award, pictured L-R: Founder and MD of Trailblazer BBQ, Lester Manley, Warren Manley, General Manager at Trailblazer BBQ and Andrew Robinson of Lisburn Enterprise Organisation.

First Minister Arlene Foster looks on as professional dance duo James & Ola Jordan, as seen on Strictly Come Dancing, entertain the audience.

• Excellence in Customer Service Award (Retail) - Cordners Spar • Excellence in Rural Development Achievement – Ashvale Farm Shop • Best Marketing Initiative Award (sponsored by Bank of Ireland) – Safety Solutions NI Ltd • Best New Business Award (sponsored by Lisburn Enterprise Organisation) – Trailblazer BBQ Ltd • Excellence in Manufacturing Award (sponsored by Montupet UK Ltd) - Fabrite • Best Exporting Business Award (sponsored by NITC) – Unicorn Mouldings T/A Flexi-Tile

National Success In The Pipeline For Warrenpoint Firm

arrenpoint based CTS Projects Ltd, an industry leading heating installation company, was this week celebrating being awarded ‘Northern Ireland’s Heating Installer Of The Year 2016,’ by UK wide, Installer Magazine. The awards, judged by industry experts and sponsored by Continental Underfloor in conjunction with Daikin UK, Graham Plumbers’ Merchant and Adey, were created to shine a spotlight

on the industry and reward the very best work of the 120,000 plumbers and heating engineers across the UK, for their outstanding work and dedication. Regional winners were announced this week, with CTS Projects lifting the award for the Northern Ireland region, on the strength of an outstanding testimonial provided by their client, Clanmill Housing Association, for work carried out at the Curzon Apartments, Belfast.

CTS Managing Director Connaire McGreevy

• Business Growth Award (sponsored by Danske Bank) – Decora Blind Systems Ltd • Best Social Enterprise Business Award (sponsored by Social Enterprise NI) – Stepping Stones NI • Best Licensed Eating Establishment – The Speckled Hen • Best Non-Licensed Eating Establishment (sponsored by Andrew Ingredients) – The Secret Garden at Dundonald Nurseries • Innovation Award (sponsored by Xperience Group) – Hughes Craft Distillery T/A RubyBlue Spirits • Investment in Health Award (sponsored by Public Health Agency) – GE Energy

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Eye on Best Managed Companies

Glenn Roberts, partner at Deloitte with Mark Geddis, Tom Picking, Gareth Caves, and Gavin Rankin from WIS Group.

Deloitte Announces 2016 Best Managed Companies Award Winners Five Northern Ireland companies awarded Best Managed status for first time

ive companies from Northern Ireland have been named on Deloitte’s list of the Best Managed Companies in Ireland for the first time at an awards ceremony in Dublin. Sixteen companies from around Ireland were awarded Best Managed status for the first time this year, following a lengthy qualification and judging procedure in which the complete performance of a business is assessed, moving beyond finances to such areas as operational excellence, strategy, and human resource processes. Almost 40 per cent of the first time winners came from the technology and media industries, with 20 per cent coming from the construction sector. The Northern Ireland winners were construction firm Combined Facilities Management (Antrim), manufacturer Denroy Plastics

(Down), tech firms Learning Pool (Derry) and Novosco (Antrim) and resources and energy company Williams Industrial Services (Antrim). Also from Northern Ireland, Wilsons Auctions were one of 11 platinum award winners on the night. These are companies that have retained their Best Managed status for seven consecutive years since the awards began. The awards event in Dublin’s Convention Centre marked the eighth year of the Deloitte Best Managed awards programme, in association with Barclays Bank Ireland. The awards were attended by over 800 people from the Irish business community. In total 115 companies employing 47,000 staff have achieved Best Managed status and the network of businesses has a combined turnover of almost €10bn.

Deloitte tax partner Glenn Roberts commented: “Congratulations to all the 2016 winners. The companies here tonight are at the end of a long process of evaluation, which makes their Best Managed designation even more rewarding and valuable as a marketing tool for their business. It is clear that these companies make an invaluable contribution to the Irish economy - employing 47,000 people and generating turnover of €10bn. It’s also really encouraging to see such a large number of technology companies among the winners, another indicator of the global reputation Ireland is building as a hub for such activity.” Adrian Doran, Barclays’ Head of Corporate Banking in Northern Ireland, added: “Each of the companies being celebrated today have demonstrated their ability to apply best practice management across a wide range of business areas – something we

have witnessed first-hand as the lead sponsor of the programme for the third year in a row. It has been a pleasure to mentor and support the management teams of these companies over the past few weeks and months and on behalf of everyone at Barclays, I would like to congratulate them on this wonderful achievement.” The Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards, in association with Barclays Bank Ireland, is open to companies from all 32 counties on the island of Ireland. It is the only awards programme that considers a business’ performance from every perspective. Details of entry for the 2016/2017 programme will be issued in the coming weeks on www.deloittebestmanaged.ie. The Best Managed designation is an important marketing tool for the winning companies – but, perhaps most importantly, the awards provide a reason to celebrate the efforts of the entire company.

Eye on Best Managed Companies

Patrick McAliskey, managing director, Novosco; Glenn Roberts, partner, Deloitte and John Rainey, chairman, Denroy Plastics.

Novosco managing director Patrick McAliskey receives his award from Sasha Wiggins, CEO, Barclays Bank Ireland and Brendan Jennings, managing partner, Deloitte.

Brendan Jennings, managing partner of Deloitte opens the 2016 Best Managed Companies Awards.

(l-r): Brendan Jennings, managing partner, Deloitte; Sasha Wiggins, CEO, Barclays Bank Ireland; Siobhan McAleer, senior specialist, Irish Management Institute; Frank Ryan, chair of the judging panel; Peter Allen, partner, Deloitte.

Paul McElvaney, chief executive, Learning Pool with Glenn Roberts, partner, Deloitte .

Alistair Lyons of McCue Crafted Fit receiving the gold standard award from Dr Simon Boucher, chief executive of the Irish Management Institute.

Peter Johnston and Ricky Wilson of Wilsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Auctions receive their award from Richard Howard, partner, Deloitte.

Joe Keenan, director, Combined Facilities Management and Glenn Roberts, partner, Deloitte.

Denroy Plastics representatives Jim Knowles, John Irwin, John Rainey & Kevin McNamee receive their award from Brendan Jennings, managing partner, Deloitte (far left), and Sasha Wiggins, chief executive officer, Barclays Bank Ireland (second from right).

Eye on Insurance

Pictured at the official opening of Lockton’s new premises in Belfast is (L-R), Gary Ennis, Lockton Belfast Managing Partner, Dame Mary Peters, Mike Hammond, CEO Lockton Companies International and Chris Brown, Partner Lockton LLP Board Member, Responsible for UK.

LOCKTON BELFAST CELEBRATE A DECADE OF SUCCESS WITH £700,000 INVESTMENT IN NEW STATE OF THE ART OFFICES The Belfast operation of the world’s largest privately owned, independent insurance brokerage firm, Lockton Companies, has two reasons to celebrate.

hey have recently moved into their new ultra-modern offices in the Clarence West building, just off Belfast’s Bedford Street, as celebrations kick off for their 10th consecutive year of financial growth - which has been no easy feat over the last decade highlighted by recession, stagnation and austerity for many of its rivals in the industry. They opened their doors in Belfast more than 30 years ago as Bradstock Blunt and then Alexander Forbes and became part of the global Lockton family in 2006. With many of the original team members still in place at Lockton Belfast, the team has seen a full decade of growth more than tripling revenues along the way – an astonishing achievement in this time of global economic downturn. Lockton is now a key player in the insurance industry in Northern

Ireland and the area’s largest commercial and business broker. Lockton’s mission remains focused on growth, aiming to increase revenue by double digits every year. The company prides itself in serving every aspect of the NI business community – from global companies to the smallest SME. The results speak for themselves as Lockton Belfast has doubled their workforce over the last 10 years while maintaining client retention at 98%. Lockton Belfast is now celebrating their success with a move to stunning new offices at Clarence Street West. Working closely with local interiors firm 1080 over the past 18 months to find and create an exceptional space for their team for the next 10 years of financial success, the new offices are offering an inspiring, colourful workspace

well-suited for a tight-knit and vibrant group of associates and represent an investment of £700,000 into their Belfast team. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Jonathan Bell said: “Northern Ireland’s financial services sector is growing in confidence. Over the past 30 years, Lockton has become an integral part of Northern Ireland’s vibrant international financial services sector and I am particularly impressed that the Belfast office has become an international ‘hub’ for Lockton. Since 2006 Lockton has doubled its workforce in Northern Ireland, and these new offices will help to put the company in a position to keep growing in the coming years.” “We wanted an office space that would reflect our position as Northern Ireland’s leading business insurance broker,” explained Lockton Belfast Managing Partner Gary Ennis. “Our founder Jack Lockton laid down his philosophies for how the business should be run and

this included a statement that our associates are our greatest asset. We wanted to deliver staff facilities that showed as much investment in them as we have in our clients. Now we have state of the art meeting rooms and AV that will enable us to do more for our client in terms of seminars and training.” Gary explained: “The team has taken to the new office like ducks to water. We have always had a great spirit in the office but the standard of our new surroundings has created a fantastic environment.” To cement their commitment to further growth Lockton Belfast has also committed to a 10-year lease on their new offices.

For further information on Lockton’s Belfast office visit www.lockton.com or follow Lockton Belfast on facebook.com/LocktonBelfast or Twitter @LocktonBelfast

Eye on Personal Development

FindOut How to Realise Your Full Potential Kay French, who has completed the NLP Practitioners course photographed with Gerry Kelly, International Practitioner of NLP with FindOut.

NLP will teach you how to;

How useful would it be to discover what really motivates and drives people at an unconscious level and use what you find to achieve great results for you and your business? Business Eye caught up with International NLP Practitioner, Gerry Kelly, from FindOut to discover why the practice of Neuro Linguistic Programming is making a big come back and how it can have a positive impact on your business.

NLP

gives you the tools to discover how your engine management system works (your brain) and then using what you find to achieve the results that you want in business and in life. “Many people, who have used NLP in business, view it as a powerful change management tool that transforms the way people think and behave to greatly improve their personal and professional lives. Personally, I regularly employ many of the tools in order to realise my own potential, whether I am working on professional project with my team, or even if I am trying to achieve a personal goal – It’s a great way to ensure you use the tools you have within you to be the best you can be.” Business owners, leaders, managers, employees can all utilise NLP to achieve both business and personal success and it has many benefits, no matter what level you operate at. Gerry explains that often it can be difficult to communicate and connect with some people while with others it is relatively easy, NLP can make these connections work more effectively; “The fact is that we all learn and communicate in different ways. Through NLP we can uncover how we all communicate and use this knowledge in the most appropriate

way to achieve business success. “Building rapport is the basis of all good communication and by understanding how to build rapport through the use of language, physiology and voice we can greatly enhance our connection with others. This is particularly useful in a sales driven environment where the ability to influence others is critical to business success. It is also vital in a business where building and maintaining relationships with others is important to the long term sustainability of the organisation.” Another example, in the context of leadership, the question is are you leading or being followed, there is a difference, you want your employees to follow you because they want to, not because they have to; Explaining how effective leaders find out what really motivates and drives their followers and how they use this knowledge to get the very best from them, Gerry explains; “Through a simple and highly effective personal profile analysis using Meta Programmes leaders and managers can elicit some individual personality traits of their employees. They can use this information to position employees in an area of the business that makes the best use of their skills and traits to achieve the most effective results for the employee and business.” NLP also helps you present you and your business confidently by turning mirrors into windows…do you communicate in the way that you like to communicate or do you communicate in the way that the audience likes to be communicated to? Gerry states; “Delivering a presentation is all about the audience not about you.” One of the most exciting business benefits of NLP is developing the ability to present yourself and your business with confidence.

• Build rapport with an audience through the use of appropriate physiology, the right tone, tempo and timbre of voice and the most suitable language • Feel more comfortable in front of an audience by adopting the right posture and state • Anchor emotional states in your presentation space to enhance your message to the audience • Make your presentation more engaging through the use of stories • Use your physiology more effectively through the use of more effective gestures • Connect with the audience through the use of your language • Use PowerPoint and other visual aids more effectively Gerry has trained a number of business leaders and managers in the art of NLP and they have successfully applied some of the NLP tools resulting in improved business performance. A number of senior staff at George Best Belfast City Airport attended the Leadership and Management Course, Michelle Hatfield, HR Director explains the benefits; “We very successfully used career values assessment to understand more clearly what motivates our staff in the context of their career, as a result of this we have also applied presentation techniques to communicate more effectively with both our employees and with our senior management team at board meetings. This has resulted in more efficient meetings, which ultimately results in more efficient business practice. A win win all round.” FindOut offer a number of courses to meet a variety of business needs, these include; Neuro Linguistic Programming, The Art of Confident Communication Diploma, Leadership and Management and High Performing Teams. They also offer a course on Optimum Health Programme and Winning Athletes.

To FindOut more about what FindOut’s range of courses, or to secure your place at the forthcoming NLP Masterclass, taking place on the 12th April at The Pavilion, Stormont. Please contact FindOut Training on: 028 9052 2135 Email: info@findout.co.uk or visit www.findout.co.uk

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Eye on Awards

Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards Worth Striving for

Business partners at the launch of the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards - Laura Cowan Titanic Belfast, Anna Beggan Tughans, Professor Deirdre Heenan Ulster University, Alex Megarry Phoenix Natural Gas, Karen Patterson, Dr Stephen Farry Department of Employment & Learning, Terry Cross, Delta Print & Packaging, Mark Regan Kingsbridge Private Hospital & Irish News editor Noel Doran.

HE Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards initiative is celebrating its 10th birthday - and plans a special twist to its lavish presentation night at Titanic Belfast on June 16. The awards, first launched in 2007, seek to unearth those exceptional companies and organisations in the north which are focused not necessarily on profit and loss sheets, but on their people.

And this year sees the further evolution of the awards with a new category in Entrepreneurial Spirit, aimed at organisations which have demonstrated an unerring commitment to embed entrepreneurship and encourage their people to take risks to stay ahead of the competition. The formal WEA launch took place at Titanic this week and was attended by guests from a number of business organisations, who were welcomed by Irish News editor Noel Doran. Among the guests were representatives of the Workplace & Employment Awards’ key business partners - Tughans Solicitors, Kingsbridge Private Hospital, the Department for Employment & Learning, Phoenix Natural Gas, Ulster University, Delta Print & Packaging and venue partner Titanic Belfast. Also represented were senior officials from the NI Chamber of Commerce, Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Chartered Institute of Marketing and Business in the Community. The awards have again received ministerial endorsement from the Department for Employment and Learning. Minister Dr Stephen Farry said: “My Department has supported this initiative from its inception 10 years ago and I personally have been involved for the last five years. “I am encouraged to see that it continues

to go from strength to strength, and I’m particularly pleased that my Department will be sponsoring the Managing Talent Category in this year’s awards.” He added: “These awards recognise excellence in the workplace and reinforce the message that it is our people that are our most important asset. These awards clearly highlight the importance of investing in skills for local employers to grow the economy. I wish all those taking part every success.” Among the speakers at the launch was Liz O’Hanlon, HR manager at First Derivatives in Newry, which won two categories at last year’s Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards. She said: “We were overwhelmed at the spike we received in social media and recruitment enquiries as a direct result of winning our two awards in 2015. “The awards recognised a real business leadership and created a feel good factor throughout our business.” The awards take place in Titanic Belfast on Thursday June 16, hosted by the BBC’s Karen Patterson.

For awards information visit www.irishnews.com/wea

Eye on Law

CIVIL LITIGATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND – A CHANGING LANDSCAPE Matthew Howse, Litigation and Dispute Resolution Partner at leading law firm Arthur Cox, discusses the reforms that are afoot in the civil justice landscape in Northern Ireland, and the increasing shift towards Alternative Dispute Resolution.

n recent years, a new trend has been gathering momentum across the Northern Ireland civil justice system, one which promises to have a significant impact on the business landscape here. The trend in question is the emergence of a much stronger appetite amongst judges, legal practitioners and clients for the process of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to be more thoroughly explored before cases proceed to the courtroom. The growing popularity of mediation and other forms of ADR takes place against the more general backdrop of a major modernisation of the civil justice landscape, with a drive at government level to transform how civil cases are dealt with in Northern Ireland. The primary vehicle for this reform is the second Access to Justice Report (the ‘Report’), which

was published by the Justice Minister in November last year. Reforms Commissioned in 2014 to build on the reforms which have been introduced, or are being taken forward, following the first Access to Justice Report in 2011, the Report makes some 150 wideranging recommendations aimed at reducing costs and improving the experience of those who come into contact with the civil justice system. The Report looks set to herald one of the most significant set of changes to Northern Ireland’s civil justice system for many years, bringing the system here into line with Europe’s leading countries and greatly enhancing the court experience for users. A key element of the Report is a proposed built-in procedural requirement for parties to have

examined the possibility of ADR before proceeding to court, with costs imposed in circumstances where the option isn’t explored in order to incentivise settlement. The potential for significant amendments to legal aid – and in particular how lawyers are paid for their services – is another feature which jumps off the pages of the Report. The document acknowledges that access to justice is a fundamental human right and that legal aid is an indispensable part of our justice system, but it also accepts the financial pressures being caused by the high demand – and notes that stricter criteria could be required. We at Arthur Cox have welcomed and embraced these changes – and indeed are involved in Court working groups, driving and shaping the changes. Indeed we actively promote ADR when it is relevant to our clients as to the most appropriate way to deal with a dispute. The fairly recent rise in the number of civil litigation cases in Northern Ireland which go to mediation, and other forms of ADR in general, has been striking. It has been commonplace in England and Wales for a significant

period of time now, but there’s no doubt that encouraging parties to civil litigation to explore ADR, including mediation, is an increasing trend in Northern Ireland. The Courts are so much more alive to the process, with judges proactively encouraging legal teams to explore the option as fully and as early as possible. For businesses this means that the old-fashioned notion of a case trundling inexorably to trial, with maybe a settlement at the doors of the Court, is not the only way to do things these days. Instead, legal teams are increasingly engaging in mediation negotiations which are generally attended by lawyers and the parties involved, with an independently appointed mediator whose role it is to facilitate a settlement. Mediations can in fact take place prior to the issue of legal proceedings. Mediation Mediation can have a number of positive outcomes. A judgment given by a Judge will be publicly available, save for some limited circumstances. The mediation process however is discreet and confidential. Not only can the parties agree the extent (if

Eye on Law

Matthew Howse, Litigation and Dispute Resolution Partner at Arthur Cox

any) of any publicity about their dispute and/or its resolution, but the ‘without prejudice’ rule will apply during these meetings, meaning that any concessions made by a party when genuinely trying to settle a case cannot be used against them at trial. Another benefit of mediation is that running a case all the way to trial, whilst necessary in appropriate cases, runs the risk of a Judge making an unfavourable decision. You can never be 100% sure what will happen when you step inside a courtroom. Linked to this is the fact that a mediator can of course facilitate a commercial resolution, providing for more creative outcomes than a Judge can. In addition, resolving a dispute in this way can mean that relationships are preserved, leading to future business opportunities.

A bitterly fought court case rarely has that outcome. Sometimes of course, the only way for a business to achieve its desired aim is to go to trial, and in that situation we at Arthur Cox will skilfully and tenaciously guide you through the process. But we will also make sure that you are aware of all the options available to you. Positive trend There’s no doubt that this everincreasing trend is a positive one for the civil justice system in Northern Ireland and, hopefully, the prevalence of ADR will continue on its upwards curve. At Arthur Cox we advise as to mediation and all forms of ADR as part of a range of options in our toolkit for ensuring the best possible outcome for our clients. Touching briefly on other elements

of the proposed reforms, I believe that in the future we are likely to see an increased scrutiny of lawyers’ fees and the way in which lawyers charge for their services. Civil justice reforms in litigation in England have had a major impact on costs and litigation funding. In Northern Ireland, we may for example see an increasing reliance on after-the-event insurance and other products not always traditionally associated with litigation funding in this jurisdiction. Northern Ireland can often be viewed from an international perspective as a divergent, idiosyncratic and specialised jurisdiction. Our experienced Litigation and Dispute Resolution team is the only team locally to offer a definite strategy at the outset of every matter to navigate the complexities of local laws and local practices.

In summary, ADR is an increasingly important part of how disputes are dealt with. There can be many benefits to businesses in actively engaging with ADR. If going to trial is the only way to deal with a dispute, then firms like Arthur Cox will guide an organisation through that process. But equally, we will advise in relation to the use of all forms of ADR in order to ensure that a dispute is dealt with in the most effective way possible.

The Litigation and Dispute Resolution team at Arthur Cox is well positioned to advise businesses on the ongoing changes to the civil justice system in Northern Ireland. Call +44 28 9023 0007 for further information.

Eye on Technology (1)

(2)

(3)

(1) Paul Trouton, CEO of FUEL - Kevin Devlin, Production Director from William Clark - Joe Walsh, Director and SAP Associate from FUEL.(2) Kevin Devlin, Production Director from William Clark – Joe Walsh, Director and SAP Associate from FUEL. (3) Paul Callan, Managing Director from William Clark – Paul Trouton, CEO of FUEL.

William Clark Select FUEL to Deliver SAP Business One Financial Management Solution William Clark, situated in the rural village of Upperlands at the foot of the Sperrin Mountains, is one of the world’s oldest companies specialising in the manufacture of traditional fabrics since 1736 for a variety of customers from furnishers, interior and fashion designers to users of traditional linen fabric or innovative industrial and technical fabric.

he current business strategy is divided into two main revenue streams. Firstly Manufacturing, including the production of a wide range of linen and cotton based fabrics for use in a variety of sectors. Bales of raw material are transformed into high quality fabrics of exacting specification using a range of

manufacturing processes including scouring, dying, drying and finishing. Secondly, due to its association with Evans Textile Sales wholesale and distribution base in Manchester, they offer a comprehensive range of linings, blackouts, accessories, heading tape, curtain poles and tracks. These include the luxury DB1 brand that’s manufactured by William Clark. William Clark have been operating a semi-bespoke Financial/Manufacturing software for over 15 years and have now outgrown its functionality as the result of the continual growth by the company. At the heart of William Clark’s exciting three year business plan, is an increase in turnover by over 60% and a rise in staffing levels from 35 to 50 at its manufacturing base in Upperlands just outside Maghera. Kevin Devlin, Production Director at William Clark commented: “William Clark have set enterprising growth targets for the next few years and needed to put in place an ERP solution that could develop as the company continues to grow. This ERP management solution also needed a stable IT Infrastructure

platform to be placed on. FUEL, in our opinion, was the company that demonstrated to us the required expertise, tenacity and determination to partner us on our journey.” Managing and keeping control of that growth is key to the company’s success and therefore great emphasis was put on the management to find the best IT infrastructure and software management solution to deliver the required results. Following a rigorous assessment of the top ERP solutions in the market, the Directors of William Clarke awarded FUEL – High Performance IT, the contract to implement a complete IT Infrastructure refresh including a new cutting edge server running the SAP Business One software. The SAP Business One solution will take advantage of the SAP HANA inMemory database, providing instantaneous reporting from the Manufacturing, Customer Service and Financial modules. This will allow us to take our customer service to new levels while also refining our manufacturing processes to produce the highest quality product in the most efficient manner.

Joe Walsh, Director of FUEL commented: “I am delighted, having embarked on this journey with William Clark, that FUEL and the SAP Business One solution has been recognised as the solution best suited to support the directors and management team plan and build for the future of the company”. The days of being un-able to track an initial sales enquiry through the sales cycle, the manufacturing process, the finance reporting and on to the finished order, will now be assigned to the past. With the expected increase in manufacturing activity and throughput on the shop floor, SAP Business One on the SAP HANA platform will capture live data at any point in the manufacturing process and deliver this to the production team. However, as a result of the design of SAP Business one, this live information will be instantly available to all departments throughout the company. The clear and understandable user interface will provide a speedy adoption of the new solution by both staff and management and keep William Clark on track to achieve success in reaching their encouraging business growth milestones.

Kick back and relax with Pamela Ballantine FRIDAYS NIGHTS ON

Eye on Interiors

8 tips for creating a Collaborative Work Environment Collaboration has become a bit of a buzz word among office design, and with good reason. As millennials occupy more and more of our workspace, they bring with them an aspiration to communicate and socialise across every facet. In turn, our work spaces need to meet these demands, warping into collaborative hubs, which also maximise on staff morale and productivity.

Free your staff Creating a space which bridges the gap between work and home is key. By allowing your staff to be themselves, decorating their desks as they please, perhaps even bringing their pets in to the office, can help to foster trust and community. Observation When making decisions on layout which will impact your staff, rather than ask what they want, observe them. Through observation you may find out that there are certain zones or areas which get used more, and from this build a better picture of what your staff need.

Eye on Interiors Urban Zoning As with city planning, creating zones within your environment you will give purpose to key areas. If people congregate around the kitchen, it may not be a good idea to create a private booth beside this busy area. Cultivate a buzz As in hospitality, density is key. If you want to create an energetic workforce who freely communicate, you need to cultivate a buzz. When people are talking, it gives others permission to do likewise. Picture a library versus a busy bar, and where of the two is easier to have a conversation. Create an escape When you create a buzz in your office, you also need to create an escape from it. There will be times that someone will need a break from the buzz, and a well placed booth or set of sofa’s can easily give the more introvert a break. Bring the outside in Nature can have a massive impact on a person’s creativity and well-being, so it only makes sense to bring some of that into our work spaces. This can be achieved simply by introducing grass-like surfaces, natural light, natural materials and even living walls.

Play some games It is amazing what a table tennis table or pool table can do to an office. Breaking from desks and playing a quick game has been proven to increase problem solving and creativity.

Don’t limit yourself to a desk Technology has rendered the idea of “one desk per person” outdated. Employees have never been more flexible in how they work. If all they need is a laptop and a phone, why not use a booth or a sofa?

Eye on Conferencing

Rajesh Rana, Director, Andras Hotels, is pictured with mentalist, David Meade, and Hugh Black, President of Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

£500K Investment Is Unveiled At Belfast’s Largest Conference Hotel Belfast’s largest hotel group, Andras Hotels, has unveiled a £500K upgrade in the conferencing and banqueting suites of its flagship property, The Ramada Plaza, Belfast.

ver 150 guests were treated to a sumptuous five-course meal with entertainment from worldrenowned mentalist, David Meade in the newly refurbished Malone Suite. The finished project, which was supported by Danske Bank and designed by multi-award winning interior designer, Philip Rodgers, boasts a major upgrade of the hotel bar and conference centre. The contemporary finish in neutral colours gives a new modern vibe to one of the City’s longest running hotels. The work completes stage four of the fivestage plan for the leading hotel, which recently benefitted from a £1million refurbishment, which included a complete transformation of its Grand Ballroom, lobby and Laganview Suite. Rajesh Rana, Director of Andras Hotels commented; “We are thrilled with the

end result of the next stage in our continued growth and development. “This refurbishment has been design-led, with designers Philip Rodgers providing a unique look that feature handmade fittings and bespoke items of furniture and lighting that will ensure that the Ramada Plaza is offering customers the very best it can and compliments the rest of the hotel’s exceptional standard of interiors. “The result is a 5-star level of fit-out, guaranteeing that we can provide a wide range of top class events facilities to suit our clients tastes and requirements. “We anticipate that the upgraded conference centre and new-look Malone Suite with new pre-function area, will secure further business and gala events to the hotel and we look forward to strengthening our burgeoning conferencing and wedding markets.” Hugh Black, President of Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce commented: “The work unveiled here this evening is absolutely first-class and a real a testimony to the hard work and dedication that the Andras Group has given to the Northern Ireland hospitality industry over the past thirty years.”

Located at Shaw’s Bridge the Ramada Plaza is Belfast’s largest conference facility with 21 separate suites and one of the leading events and banqueting venues in Northern Ireland. All meeting rooms in the 2nd floor conference centre and the conference reception area have been renovated with work carried out by local designers and contractors. The hotel offers facilities for events hosting up to 900 guests and provides clients with the use of the latest technology, luxury meeting rooms, private dining areas and executive lounges. Andras Hotels, Belfast’s largest Hotelier now boasts five internationally branded hotels in the city with the new Hampton by Hilton Hotel on the way in 2017 ensuring that the tourist, events and business markets are all catered for in the thriving city of Belfast.

For further information on the Ramada Plaza or to book your conference or event in the newly refurbished suites please visit www.ramadaplazabelfast.com

Eye on Conferencing (1)

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(1) Rajesh Rana, director, Andras Hotels is pictured with Siobhan McCallan, Lewis McCallan, Dankse Bank alongside Collette and Michael Ewings. (2) Maureen Delaney, Debbie Cunningham, Jason & Gillian Andrews. (3) Nikki Farnbrough, Graham Allen, Karen Duckett, Dorothy Porteous. (4) Gordon McElroy, MKB Law alongside Siobhan and Lewis McCallan, Danske Bank, and Margaret McElroy. (5) Kerry Woods, Anneka Allen, Grainne Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill. (6) Olivia and Rajesh Rana, Andras Hotels are pictured. (7) Mark Alexander, Caroline Adams. (8) Caroline Harris and Ruth Thompson.

Eye on News

MOORES OF COLERAINE CELEBRATES HERITAGE AS PART OF 90 YEAR CELEBRATION An innovative new heritage project aimed at celebrating the special position Moores plays within its local community was today (Tuesday 15th March) officially unveiled by Councillor Michelle Knight McQuillan, Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Neville Moore, Managing Director of Ulster Stores.

A Neville Moore, managing director of Moores of Coleraine and Councillor Michelle Knight-McQuillan, Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council are pictured at the launch of a heritage wall project which has been installed in Moores of Coleraine to celebrate the store’s 90 year anniversary.

select group of dignitaries, local community members as well as the Moore family attended the special ceremony which was held in Café M on the ground floor of the department store. The project was commissioned to coincide with Moores of Coleraine’s 90th anniversary. To celebrate, photographs, news articles and other pieces of special memorabilia were gathered to showcase the store’s historical milestones which date back to the day the store was established by John Moore on 1st October 1925. As part of the project these collectables have been recreated in the form of a heritage wall which will

Councillor Michelle Knight-McQuillan along with the Moore Family L-R - Neville Moore, Councillor Michelle Knight-McQuillan, Mrs Anne Moore, Glenda Moore-Wilson, Ashley Moore and Wesley Moore

be permanently exhibited in Café M, Moores of Coleraine’s ground floor café. Commenting on the heritage wall Neville Moore, Managing Director of Ulster Stores which owns Moores of Coleraine, said: “Moores has stood on Church Street since 1925 or to put it another way for over nine decades. That’s a long time in a changing world and perhaps goes some way to explain the special place the store occupies not only in the town but within its local community. Of course the store has evolved significantly since its early days. Today Moores provides an exciting range of products and brands across fashion, homewares, cosmetics and accessories departments within a modern and contemporary shopping environment. I am incredibly proud that Moores

remains a family owned store to this day, and proud of our history, heritage and strong links with the local community. The installation of our heritage wall pays testament to that history and to all those local people who have played their part to make the store the success that it is today.” Mayor of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said, “I am delighted to unveil the heritage wall in Moores of Coleraine following its 90thanniversary. Moores is a significant feature in the town for both residents and visitors so the heritage wall will bring enjoyment in reminiscing for many people throughout the Borough as well as visitors to Coleraine.” Moores heritage wall has also been translated into a book which is available for customers to leaf through in Café M.

BT lays the foundations for better connected homes

Alex Crossan, Managing Director Networks BT Northern Ireland and Caroline McGovern, Hilmark Homes, Sales & Marketing Manager are pictured at the new development

BT has announced it is working with local property developers, HBH Developments, a joint venture between Hilmark Homes and Blue Horizon Developments, to install Fibre to the Premise technology in a major new 140 unit property development currently under construction at Harberton BT9 on the Malone Road, Belfast. It is the first time BT has worked with developers in Northern Ireland to ensure property buyers have access to one of the fastest fibre broadband connections as standard in a new residential development. Fibre to the Premise Technology creates a direct line between the network and the home or business, resulting in faster download speeds of up to 330 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 40 Mbps, which is the equivalent of downloading a

feature length movie of 850MB in size in approximately 20 seconds. Alex Crossan, Managing Director Networks BT Northern Ireland said: “This is a significant milestone in the roll out of fibre in Northern Ireland. At BT, we understand how crucial connectivity is for people and the vital role it plays in all of our daily lives whether at home or work. It’s the first build programme of its kind that BT has delivered in Northern Ireland and opens the door for other developers to get in touch and work with us to ensure new home-owners have access to the superfast broadband technology. He added, “We are also delighted to launch our Connectivity Assessment Tool (CAT) in conjunction with the House Builders Federation (HBF). Connectivity Assessment is a new service that allows a developer to

receive an upfront assessment of the potential broadband connectivity and speeds that should be possible for their development, even prior to land purchase”. Caroline McGovern, Hilmark Homes, Sales & Marketing Manager, said: “Technology plays an incredibly important part in our everyday lives - from interacting on social media to conducting business remotely. As such, our customers consider having access to fibre broadband in a new home to be as important to them as having the core utilities such as gas, electricity and water. We need to meet this demand head on so being able to provide access to fibre broadband to prospective buyers from the outset is crucial so that we remain competitive in the marketplace.”

Eye on Events

Lockton Celebrating 10 Years Of Excellence In Insurance (1)

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(1) Pictured at the official opening of Lockton’s new premises in Belfast is (L-R), Gary Ennis, Lockton Belfast Managing Partner, Dame Mary Peters, Mike Hammond, CEO Lockton Companies International and Chris Brown, Partner Lockton LLP Board Member, Responsible for UK. (2) Cathal O’Neill (Hool Law), Victoria McLean (Hool Law), Debbie Galbraith (Lockton) & Gavin Mitchell (RSA). (3) Michael Claney (Lockton), Heather Telford (Lockton) & Paul Black (Alpha). (4) Nigel Peacock (Chubb) & Pauline Stewart (Lockton). (5) Anthony Place (Lockton)& Deena Martin (Lockton). (6) Raymond Harvey (AXA), Mark Jobling (Lockton) & John Thompson (H&J Martin). (7) Christina Cameron (Lockton), Peter Carson (VB Evans) & Ann-Marie Humphreys (Lockton). (8) Colin Kennedy (CEO, Mary Peters Trust), Dame Mary Peters & Gary Ennis (Lockton, Belfast). (9) Katy Wheeler (James Fitzpatrick Solicitors) & Keith Holden (Lockton). (10) Jonathan McCluskey (Conexpo), David Magee (McLaughlin & Harvey) & Nigel McCluskey (Lockton).

Eye on Internet

The Case For Car Mode By Gareth Dunlop, Fathom.

Despite being stupid and dangerous, startling numbers of people continue to use a mobile phone while driving. The constant lure of responding to notifications, checking on emails and texts, and general FOMO (Google it if you’re not familiar with the term) mean that the desire to “just have a quick look” can be overwhelming.

obile phone use while driving thus has the dubious honour of being a much greater contributor to accidents and fatalities than alcohol consumption and over-tiredness. According to the Washington Post, mobile phone use plays some role in a quarter of all road traffic accidents in the US. There is no safe way to use the phone. Texting is the worst culprit (making a crash 23 times more likely) however dialing increases risk by 2.8 times, talking or listening by 1.3 times and even just reaching for the device 1.4 times. So that’s all the bad news. However there is good news, which is that I believe sound experience design principles offer a potential solution. The solution is predicated on the hypothesis that humans are weak and thus that avoiding the temptation is more effective than resisting the temptation. I would like to make the case for car mode. We are used to airplane mode, so why not car mode? Its operation would be really straightforward. When the phone owner is starting a journey, they put the phone into car mode, and instruct the phone not to come out of car mode until the phone is in a certain location or for a certain period of time. During the period of car mode, the phone has heavily restricted functionality. This could take the form of accepting inbound calls only (if connected to an in-car Bluetooth system). Or perhaps all manner of inbound communications and notifications are switched off. Or perhaps the phone is locked and cannot be unlocked or used in any way for the duration of the journey. With no notifications, and nothing new to see, and potentially without the ability to even use the phone, the driver would be

free to concentrate on driving. Car mode would remove the temptation to pick up the phone by making it virtually useless. Car mode could even automatically turn itself on, or at least proactively ask the user if they wish to turn it on. Every morning as I leave my driveway, my iPhone tells me how long it will take me to get to the office and what traffic is like. And every evening on my way back home, it does the same in reverse. If my iPhone can learn my travel patterns to let me know about traffic, there is no reason why it shouldn’t also be able to discern travel patterns and activate car mode accordingly. So I’d like to make the case for car mode, and believe it would contribute significantly to reducing the appalling carnage on our roads resulting from the inappropriate use of mobile phones. Speaking of unnecessary carnage, it would also be great if Apple could add a feature onto their iPhones which stops teenage daughters taking twenty selfies every time one leaves ones phone unattended, but that’s a blog post for another day.

Gareth Dunlop owns and runs Fathom, a user-experience consultancy which helps ambitious organisations get the most from their website and internet marketing by viewing the world from the perspective of their customers. Specialist areas include UX strategy, usability testing and customer journey planning, web accessibility and integrated online marketing. Clients include Three, Ordnance Survey Ireland, PSNI, Permanent TSB and Tesco Mobile. Visit Fathom online at fathom.pro.

“ With no notifications, and nothing new to see, and potentially without the ability to even use the phone, the driver would be free to concentrate on driving. Car mode would remove the temptation to pick up the phone by making it virtually useless.”

Eye on Agri Food

Simon Has Right Recipes For Even Greater Success Sam Butler talked to the Yellow Door’s Simon Dougan about the company’s remarkable success in creating new taste experiences for customers in catering and retailing.

imon Dougan, founder and managing director of Portadown-based Yellow Door, is one of Northern Ireland’s most talented and creative chefs. He’s also a hugely successful businessman, a great innovator and the most enthusiastic supporter of local artisan food and drink in his extensive catering and retailing enterprises. Many smaller companies owe their success in foodservices to this support. “We’ve a wide range of fantastic food and drink now being produced here especially by artisan enterprises. We work closely with many of them in our catering business and through our retailing operation,” he says. “We know where the products come from and those involved in making them. This enables us to count on them for great flavours and consistent quality. And it makes business sense for us to

support them and thereby assist local economic development.” I arrived at his Portadown product development kitchen to find him finalising his latest innovation with his team, a tastier burger bun made using buttermilk for a tarter flavour than the usual sweet bread favoured for by many for burgers. “Buns have generally been ignored in the market trend towards gourmet burgers,” he explains. “We wanted to create a gourmet burger bun in line with the developing trend towards better quality burgers,” he adds. “Most restaurants, including high-end establishments, now include a burger on their menus. What we’ve done is to bring the burger bun into the gourmet experience, creating a product with a different and quality flavour that comes from the use of buttermilk.” The new buns are also glazed with honey from Northern Ireland’s artisan bee- keepers including his own hives and those of Waggledance Honey in Armagh. The buns are essentially hand made using unbleached flour without preservatives. The denser texture of the flour also provides more structure in the buns, which makes an ideal base for a gourmet burger. The new burger buns are aimed at foodservice particularly in the Republic of Ireland, where Yellow Door has an extensive and impressive portfolio of clients for its wide range of products. His commitment to fresh ingredients is also seen in the introduction of the first Urban Cultivator in Ireland, an ovensized device that enables him to grow fresh, organic micro

greens, leaves and herbs in shop year-round. “The cultivator is a remarkable invention that gives us easy access to the freshest ingredients for our convenience foods. Growing our own makes our food unique,” he says. A recently launched Harvest brand of relishes uses local ingredients, such as Armagh Apple and Long Meadow Cider from Loughgall and McGrath’s Ale of Gilford to create unique and delicious flavours. He started The Yellow Door as a fine dining restaurant in Gilford, Co. Down in 1992. Due to demand for a more informal food offering the Yellow Door Deli opened in Portadown in 1997. The restaurant was later sold and the deli and bakery business expanded, giving rise to other delis and a busy outside catering business that has become the preferred choice for many private companies along with public sector bodies. It’s a real family business. He also runs Native by Yellow Door at the MAC in Belfast. Andrew, a cousin, opened the delis in Belfast and Lisburn and runs the catering at the

Ulster Museum and for Ulster Rugby. Gary, Andrew’s brother, runs the wholesale side of the business supplying discerning restaurants all over Ireland with daily deliveries of fresh bread and patisserie. Jilly, Simon’s wife, manages the Yellow Door kitchen garden and runs her own Jilly Dougan’s Edible Gardens, a small business creating herb gardens for clients including Hasting’s Hotels. Yellow Door is also among the most ‘decorated’ food businesses here, winning a UK Great Taste Awards for signature deli dishes in successive years. In 2015, the company won a Great Taste Award, a coveted two-star for its superb Christmas pudding. His approach to food is simple. “For us producing great food is not just a job, it’s a way of life. We believe the only way to ensure the very highest standard is to produce all of the food ourselves. We employ bakers to make our own bread, highly skilled patisserie chefs to produce all our ice cream, cakes and desserts and a team of professional chefs to prepare all of our savoury food. Our food offering is always bespoke.”

Eye on News

Building Foundations For Future Leaders One of Northern Ireland’s leading business advisory firms, BDO NI has committed to supporting future leaders and helping retain local talent in Northern Ireland through the annual BDO Scholar programme.

s the judging process for the programme got underway, the panel, made up of leading figures from BDO NI, CBI and the Institute of Directors, stressed the importance of nurturing homegrown talent and encouraging young people to pursue a career in business. The scholarship programme, now in its second year, is aimed at Year 14 students from schools throughout Northern Ireland who are planning to study Accountancy at Ulster University or Queen’s University, Belfast this year. The programme provides successful candidates with the opportunity to work at the BDO NI offices and to avail of mentoring support and a financial bursary.

Commenting on the standard of applications, Laura Jackson, Partner at BDO NI said: “We have been pleasantly surprised at the extremely high calibre of applicants this year. It is refreshing to see so many talented young people with an interest in Economics and Accountancy and we want to provide them with the necessary support so that talent remains in Northern Ireland. So many of these students would be welcomed by any university across the UK and Ireland, but they clearly want to study locally and the BDO Scholar programme can provide this support. “We are also delighted to have entries from each county in Northern Ireland this year, with a significant rise in the number of applications and the

Linda Brown of the IOD (left) with CBI Chairman David Gavaghan and Laura Jackson from BDO.

number of schools participating. The judging process has been very difficult but we look forward to welcoming the successful candidates to the BDO office.” The Scholarship programme will give three students a financial bursary to help them as they begin their studies, as well as the opportunity for work placement with BDO and mentoring support throughout their time at university. CBI Chair, David Gavaghan echoed the need to invest in our future leaders. He said: “The BDO Scholar programme is an excellent opportunity for many of our young, budding businesspeople to learn more about the sector. In the CBI we recognise the importance of investing in students at this early stage in their career, that helps to mould

successful business professionals and future leaders for Northern Ireland. This programme is particularly impressive as it focusses on ensuring that the next generation of business leaders recognise the importance of building the local economy.” Fellow judge and Director at the Institute of Directors, Linda Brown added: “I’m delighted to be involved in the BDO Scholar programme which helps ensure the next generation of business people have the necessary skills to help the Northern Ireland economy develop and grow. The talent we have seen in the applications is hugely encouraging for the future and it is excellent to see a local professional firm support them at this stage of their education.”

LOCAL BREWERY TO PRODUCE SPECIAL BEER TO CELEBRATE COAST TO COAST EXTREME SPORTING EVENT Mourne Mountains Brewery has announced that it will brew its second special edition beer of 2016 to celebrate its sponsorship of the Coast to Coast multisport race this May.

rganised by 26 Extreme, the event will see cyclists, runners and kayakers travel the 316km route from Enniscrone, Co. Sligo to Newcastle, Co. Down on 14th and 15th May. Connaire McGreevy, founder of Mourne Mountains Brewery said: “We have decided to produce a special beer that will be named after this iconic event, to mark our second year of sponsorship. “The Coast to Coast Ireland brew will be an amber ale at 4.5% ABV, using hops from New Zealand to recognise

the fact that the original Coast to Coast event took place in New Zealand. “We challenged ourselves to create something really different for Coast to Coast to celebrate our sponsorship in style, and this will be a complete departure from our core beers and other seasonal specials to date. We’ll be at the finish line with a free bottle for each competitor, so if that doesn’t encourage you to sign up and give it your best shot I don’t know what will!” Ian Cumming, Race Director of Ireland’s Coast to Coast event, said,

“We are absolutely delighted to have Mourne Mountains Brewery as a sponsor for our event. “Coast to Coast is designed to showcase Ireland as a destination to our international racers, however, it’s an opportunity for local producers to showcase their products to our local competitors. Many of them will not forget that first beer after such a tough event, and this year, it’ll be their own custom brew.”

To find out more about Coast to Coast and to sign up to take part, visit www.26extreme.com or www.mournemountainsbrewery.com for more from Mourne Mountains Brewery. #jointheclan

Eye on Giving

STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY IS THE KEY Says Imelda McMillan, Director O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors & Chair of Women in Business NI 1. What are your thoughts on general and charitable giving? I strongly believe that we all have a responsibility to help others within our community. Charitable giving in whatever form that can take should be part of everyone’s vocabulary and embedded into everyone’s lifestyle. 2. Is your giving personal, corporately or combination of both? My giving in essence is a combination of both. On a personal level, I support a number of charities on a monthly basis. I was the president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland in 2012. I am a Trustee on the board of the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland and I am on the finance committee of my local church. On a corporate level, O’Reilly Stewart sponsors a number of charitable organisations. Our charitable giving is through a range of activities including both the gift of time and resources to charities. We primarily support charities based in Northern Ireland and often charities directly linked to our staff. We find these types of charities most rewarding as it can often be easier to monitor the significance and impact our contributions make. 3. How do you give to charity? Monetarily, your own time as a volunteer or your specialist skills? Again it is a combination of all three. A number of the directors in the firm of O’Reilly Stewart are governors for various local schools, some directors are

trustees on the boards of a number of charities and some are directors in registered company charities based in Northern Ireland. Obviously the gift of time is the greatest gift that anyone can give to a charity coupled with the skills of the individuals gifting that time. I believe both can bring significant added value as a contribution to individual charities. In situations where it is not possible to volunteer time or provide expertise, O’Reilly Stewart would generally provide monetary support to the charities. Often this can take the form of new football kits for small local school teams/disabled children charities or providing funding generally to support charities. 4. What type of cause do you favour and why? As it is easier to measure the contributions that you make to a Northern Irish charity because of the direct involvement we often have with the charities, O’Reilly Stewart tend to support Northern Irish based charities. For example, over the last 7/8 years, we have supported a charitable arts project and we display the artwork of local budding artists in Northern Ireland on our premises. We believe that on-going relationships with Northern Irish charities are more focused and we believe that our contributions are providing more sustainable intervention for them. 5. Are there specific charities or causes that you give to regularly. How do you choose which to support? I am chairperson of Women

In Business NI and I believe that the time invested by myself can significantly impact the organisation and benefit that organisation. Women In Business NI support diversity in Northern Ireland and believe that the economy here will only grow by the inclusion of all individuals within our community. Also, O’Reilly Stewart lean towards supporting football charities as a lot of our staff can become more actively involved in the charities. We believe it is also important that each Director living in their community area actively engage with local charities and church organisations. 6. D o you believe that companies and individuals have a duty to help others? If yes, why? Going back to the first question, I believe that if we have a skill, talent and resources available, then it is important that we help others who don’t have access to the same benefits we have. Assisting others in philanthropy can only benefit our community longer term which is much better for everyone living in Northern Ireland.

7. What is your message to business people who may be thinking about becoming more involved in strategic philanthropy? Strategic philanthropy is the key to making a significant contribution to any organisation. I think it is a great asset to companies and indeed individuals that Giving NI has been created with the purpose of reviewing philanthropy on a strategic level. Their knowledge of this sector can assist any company in making an effective and sustainable change to charities. 8. Giving NI was set us last year to champion philanthropy. Why do you think it is important that there is an organisation that helps businesses and individuals think more strategically about giving? I think the role of Giving NI as regards philanthropy is central to the growth of charitable giving in NI. They have access to so many more resources that we as individuals or indeed as individual companies would have access to and I believe that their assistance with charitable giving is totally necessary.

Eye on News

New Hub For 80 Entrepreneurs As Entrepreneurial Spark Powered By Ulster Bank Opens Its Doors World’s largest free business accelerator programme for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurial Spark, officially launched in Belfast with Ulster Bank and KPMG

orthern Ireland’s newest business accelerator for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurial Spark powered by Ulster Bank Hatchery, has opened its doors today. Launched in partnership with KPMG, the new hub, or ‘Hatchery’, on Lombard Street in Belfast, can play host to 80 businesses and early stage entrepreneurs. It is part of a major international movement to encourage and support start-up and scaleup businesses. Entrepreneurial Spark is the world’s largest free business accelerator for early stage and growing ventures. Ulster Bank, along with RBS and NatWest, has partnered with Entrepreneurial Spark to bring its first Hatchery to Northern Ireland. Opening the Belfast Hatchery the Finance Minister Mervyn Storey MLA said: “The fact that Belfast has been chosen as a location for an Entrepreneurial Spark ‘Hatchery’, powered by Ulster Bank, is both a recognition and endorsement of the talent and entrepreneurial flair that exists in Northern Ireland and the potential there is to develop that further. “Small businesses, and the entrepreneurs behind them, are the lifeblood of our local economy and it’s vital they receive the support needed to enable them

to grow, innovate and invest in their business venture.” Speaking at the launch, Richard Donnan, Ulster Bank’s Head of Northern Ireland, said that the new venture represented “an important step” in encouraging a local culture of entrepreneurial spirit. He said: “The new Entrepreneurial Spark Hatchery will provide practical and meaningful help for some of the most innovative entrepreneurs and businesses in our society – help for what matters to them while they build resilient, investable businesses for the future. “At Ulster Bank we are proud to support them and play our part in developing the local private sector. Getting entrepreneurs up and running is vital for the local economy. It’s an exciting opportunity - in a globalised economy, there are significant opportunities for people from Northern Ireland to carve out a niche for their businesses that enables them to compete and succeed internationally.” Each intake of up to 80 start-ups will be based at the Hatchery for six months, with the most promising given the option to continue for another 12. Businesses are provided with an Enabler who encourages their acceleration, and also benefit from free office facilities, access to Ulster Bank’s networks and contacts, a start-up Bootcamp, dedicated mentoring from KPMG, regular events, workshops and training. The Belfast Hatchery is part of a network of hubs being created across the UK – 13 in total by 2017 – which will support around 7,000 entrepreneurs over the next five years. Alison Rose, CEO of Commercial and Private Banking at RBS, said: “Our stats show one in five people in Northern Ireland would like to

Richard Donnan, Ulster Bank Head of Northern Ireland, Alison Rose, CEO of Commercial and Private Banking at RBS, Jim Duffy, Chief Executive Optimist of Entrepreneurial Spark, and Liam Brogan of Ireland Craft Beers Ltd, one of the ‘Chiclets’ that will be based in the Hatchery.

start their own business. Across the UK, just over 10% of people are held back because there isn’t enough local support available, but that rate doubles in Northern Ireland. With Entrepreneurial Spark, we want to even the playing field, not just by providing the basics you need to run a business, such as office space, Wi-Fi and phones, but by giving access to our people and networks. This will let entrepreneurs concentrate on establishing and growing, while giving them the guidance to do so.” Jim Duffy, CEO, Entrepreneurial Spark said: “We are delighted to be bringing our tried and tested business acceleration formula for start-ups and scaleups to Belfast and can’t wait to become part of the entrepreneurial community in such a vibrant city. Having recently released our latest Impact Report showing that to the end of 2015 our Chiclets from across the UK created nearly 2,000 jobs and brought over £85 million of turnover into the economy, we can see yet again the impact entrepreneurs are having on the UK economy. With our application window open now across all UK Hatcheries for August entry, we can’t wait to work with Ulster Bank to create an inspiring place from which entrepreneurs can scale their businesses.” John Poole, Partner, KPMG Belfast

said: “The hatchery is a vital addition to Northern Ireland’s growing entrepreneurial scene and KPMG is delighted to support the initiative. Over the years we have worked with some truly inspiring entrepreneurs – supporting them from the early days right through the business lifecycle, to success both in Northern Ireland and internationally. Our team is excited about mentoring a new generation of entrepreneurs and playing a part in helping today’s small businesses grow into the big businesses of tomorrow”. Entrepreneurial Spark has a vision to create a business start-up revival throughout the UK, through the development of entrepreneurial mind-sets and behaviours to enable acceleration and growth. The social enterprise has developed an exclusive ‘entrepreneurial enablement’ programme that takes entrepreneurs through a cognitive and action-centred development process. It welcomes applications from businesses at all stages and from all sectors who want to grow, scale and succeed. Applications are now open for the Belfast Hatchery’s second intake of entrepreneurs, who will start the programme in August 2016. To apply for Entrepreneurial Spark visit: http://www. entrepreneurial-spark.com/

Eye on News

Award-Winning Kitchen Café Opens Its Doors In East Belfast Formerly located in Belfast’s Saint Anne’s Square, Canteen has opened its new kitchen café on the Belmont Road. The awardwinning eatery promises to bring the same dedication to exceptional coffee and fantastic food to its new home.

xciting times lie ahead as the team is bolstered with the addition of the multi award-winning and inspirational Chef, Joery Castel, owner of the Boat House, Bangor, which was recently recognised in The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurant List. Consulting on the new venture, Joery brings his internationally acclaimed flair and inspiration to the more casual eating experience at Canteen’s Kitchen Café, as he does to The Boathouse. Speaking about the new venture, Barry Heaton Head Chef said “Our ethos has and always will be to source our products locally and

seasonally where possible and we hope our diners will enjoy the menu we have created from local produce which is very keenly priced.” The newly crafted menu will feature producers, including Abernethy Butter, Leggygowan Farm Goats Cheese, Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, Rockvale Farm Chicken, Coffeys sausages and Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt. Canteen will be offering an ‘All Day Menu’ and promises is everything you would expect from a Kitchen Café, whether it’s something light or something hearty that takes your fancy. You might have difficulty

choosing from the Boathouse Seafood Chowder, Chickpea Falafel, Smoked Salmon Linguine or the chef recommended Hearty Venison Stew. Canteen has long been renowned for providing exceptional coffee, and in 2013 was listed as one of the top 50 coffee houses in the UK. The new venue will continue to host the ever-popular Coffee Masterclasses and Canteen Supper Club as well as a range of other new events, soon to be revealed. This child-friendly venue will be a welcome addition to the bustling Belmont Road and with an extensive menu, including

Amy Bonnar is pictured with Barry Heaton Head Chef and Terry Reilly, Head Barista at Canteen.

Gluten Free and Vegetarian, free Wi-Fi with fantastic event and conference facilities. There is even a dedicated children’s area with a selection of toys and books to keep the little ones amused.

Demolition Works Mark Milestone In Belfast Transport Hub Regeneration Project Translink has entered an important phase of the Belfast Transport Hub Regeneration Project with the start of demolition works in the main construction site area situated along the Grosvenor Road in the City Centre.

ewry based company, John Tinnelly and Sons Ltd, has been appointed to complete the demolition of large old warehouse buildings signifying the first stage of enabling works aimed at clearing the site for future development. Speaking during a tour of the demolition works site, Regional Development Minister, Michelle McIlveen MLA said: “I am really pleased to see the start of enabling works as this key project for Belfast begins to get off the ground. “The Transport Hub has been identified by the Northern Ireland Executive as one of seven flagship projects for funding recognising its

strategic importance in supporting the growth of the local economy. “This impressive facility will be a catalyst for the regeneration of this area and ensure we have the right infrastructure in place to attract more people to use public transport. “It will also act as an important gateway to Belfast as a modern, confident and progressive city.” Translink Group Chief Executive Chris Conway said: “The popularity of public transport continues to grow and we want to offer attractive services and facilities that deliver an excellent customer journey experience. “Investment in public transport infrastructure has a

Translink Group Chief Executive Chris Conway and Transport Minister Michelle McIlveen

very positive impact on local and regional economies as evidenced in cities like London, Manchester and Birmingham. “The Transport Hub will support the regeneration and development of the Belfast City Council’s Special Action Area described as the Linen Quarter. It will combine bus and rail termini with interfaces to provide car, cycle, taxi and Belfast Rapid Transit. We also plan to bring all cross-border trains into the new facility ensuring better connectivity and access between Belfast and Dublin. “We continue to engage closely

with a range of community, business and political stakeholders to consider project masterplan options. Their input will influence the operational and functional features of the Hub. “We look forward to continued discussion that will secure essential funding and planning permission to deliver this complex and ambitious regeneration project.” said Chris. Hub construction work is due to commence in 2018 subject to planning and funding approvals. For further information on The Belfast Transport Hub click www.translink.co.uk/thehub/

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere

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Eye on Events

TECH AMBITION

orthern Ireland’s next generation of tech entrepreneurs enjoyed a night of innovation and celebration at St. George’s market in Belfast. More than 200 teenagers attended the Generation Innovation Night of Ambition. They were nominated by their schools and colleges for excellence in areas like science and technology, engineering, maths and entrepreneurship. The young people – many hoping to follow in the footsteps of tech leaders like Apple’s Tim Cook

and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg – got the chance to meet the founders of 70 innovative local companies who were sharing their inspirational stories. Speakers at the event included Rachel Gawley, founder of AppAttic, and Mark Dowds, co-founder of Trov, inc., a Silicon Valley company focused on reinventing the insurance industry. The event included a “mini” Design Thinking Workshop, market stalls showing off the latest technologies and a show, including many inspiring talks.

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE

aul Lee, UK Partner and the Global Head of Research for the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) industry at Deloitte was in Belfast to share his insights into the trends that will shape the technology landscape in the coming year. Topics covered at Deloitte’s TMT Breakfast event in James Street South included whether the hype around Virtual Reality is justified, the factors driving our demand for 1GB per second internet connections, the link between

success for mobile gaming companies and TV advertising and the rise of the “data exclusive” smart phone user. His presentation was based on the in-depth research contained in Deloitte’s annual TMT Predictions report, which is now in its sixteenth year. Paul is pictured with Danny McConnell, partner at Deloitte NI and leader of the Technology Consulting business in Northern Ireland and Deloitte Digital technical lead Russell Beggs, who demonstrated one of the VR headsets currently on the market.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere

DRINK RESPONSIBLY The BAILEYS, GORDON’S, CAPTAIN MORGAN, SMIRNOFF, GUINNESS, SMITHWICKS, CARLSBERG and HARP words and associated logos are trade marks © Diageo 2015.

Eye on Events

WHISKEY... AS A CAREER CHOICE

hiskey lovers in Northern Ireland are being given the chance to turn their passion for whiskey into an exciting new career opportunity. Dillon Bass – owners of the largest portfolio of leading Irish whiskey brands in Northern Ireland - has launched a search for a new Powers Irish Whiskey Ambassador. The recruitment campaign is calling on whiskey aficionados to ditch the desk job and come forward and apply for the exciting new role. Powers

Irish Whiskey is owned by Dillon Bass in Northern Ireland. It’s full-time fixed term role with Dillon Bass in Belfast. For further information and to submit an application, interested parties should visit www.dillonbass. co.uk/powersambassador The deadline for applications is 12pm on Monday 21st March 2016. Pictured L-R: Joel Neill, Operations Director, Hospitality Ulster & Sarah Harvey, Powers Brand Manager at Dillon Bass.

BT HOSTS EVENT TO MARK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

he BT Ireland Women’s Network hosted a breakfast to celebrate and mark International Women’s Day. 50 members were brought together at Ten Square Belfast for a roundtable discussion focusing on a wide range of topics including how to encourage more women to take on operational and technical roles, increase the number of women at senior level and to share ideas on how

to support other women in business. Keynote speakers included Professor Deirdre Heenan, Maureen Walkingshaw, HR Director BT Business, Riona Fitzpatrick, IT Director BT and Valerie Wilson, Head of Managed Services BT. Pictured L-R are Riona Fitzpatrick, IT Director BT, Professor Deirdre Heenan, Valerie Wilson, Head of Managed Services BT and Maureen Walkingshaw, HR Director BT Business.

HILTON LENDS A HELPING HAND TO LOCAL CHARITY

ilton Hotels have raised £60,000 to fund much needed improvements to their children’s accommodation in Belfast.The money was raised through their Foundation Ball held and the Hospice was chosen as one of the recipients of funds from the night by the Ball sponsor, McAleer & Rushe. The work is

a continuation of a refurbishment project which started in 2015. This additional cheque will fund the second stage of the makeover and will complete the project. L-R Mark Walker Area GM Hilton Northern Ireland, Seamus Mc Aleer, Mc Aleer & Rushe, & Siofra Healy,Fundraising Manager, NI Childrens’ Hospice

SEARCH ON FOR TOP DIRECTORS

he Institute of Directors has launched its annual search for Northern Ireland’s most successful leaders – and is urging local directors to take inspiration from the outstanding success enjoyed on the

UK stage last year. Previous winners, Marie-Thérèse McGivern, Principal and Chief Executive of Belfast Metropolitan College and Jeremy Biggerstaff of Flint Studios were joined by Des Moore of First Trust Bank to launch the awards.

Eye on News

Law Firm’s Mediation Skills Go From Strength To Strength Leading Belfast law firm Cleaver Fulton Rankin has marked another success for its mediation team, having successfully hosted a certified Mediation Training course delivered by The Mediation Academy of Ireland. This was a unique initiative offering clients and contacts of Cleaver Fulton Rankin to avail of specialised training to become qualified mediators.

he course involved five days’ intensive training consisting of lectures, role plays, presentations and assessments. The final assessment was completed by an external examiner from the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (“the MII”), an all-Ireland professional body that accredits mediation training courses which meet set training standards. Attendees at the training course were from a wide variety of companies and sectors, including the construction, insurance and retail sectors. A total of 11 individuals completed the training with all attendees passing the final

assessment. All of the attendees are eligible to become members of the MII. The most recent training course was an initiative organised by Cleaver Fulton Rankin Associate Solicitor Julie-Ann McCaffrey, herself a qualified mediator. Head of Charity Law at Cleaver Fulton Rankin, Sarah Burrows and Solicitor Rachael Gamble both successfully completed the training course. Jonathan Forrester, Director in the Dispute Resolution Department said, “Cleaver Fulton Rankin started to advocate mediation in the dispute resolution process several years ago, when the majority of our peers felt that

Let’s shake on it... Jonathan Forrester, (centre) Director at Cleaver Fulton Rankin, with successful Mediation training Course participants, Jarlath Kearney, Elemental Consultants, and Colin Conway, Director, Newell Stores.

an adversarial approach was the only way to get a result for a client. Over the last number of years the judiciary in Northern Ireland has been enthusiastic in their promotion of mediation. Cleaver Fulton Rankin is actively ensuring that our clients and contacts understand that the mediation process can not only provide imaginative solutions to disputes but can also greatly reduce the costs of litigation. “This team’s growing strength and expertise is a result of many years’ hard work and I am delighted that our efforts are being recognised by so many influential organisations and bodies. We will continue to promote and lead the way in dispute resolution.” Sarah Burrows, Head of the Charity Law Department and one of the

successful attendees at the course said: “Although hard work, the training course offered by the Mediation Academy certainly prepares you for the change in emphasis when acting as a mediator. The Charity Law Team here at Cleaver Fulton Rankin are strong advocates of mediation as a cost effective alternative to other forms of dispute resolution for charities, in particular, given the current economic climate of substantial funding cuts within the third sector. According to Legal 500, a prestigious legal directory, which interviews lawyers and clients across the world, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is ‘deservedly at the top of the tree when it comes to dispute resolution; it houses industry experts who give 100%, every time.’

Philanthropy Fortnight – A Celebration Of Northern Ireland’s Generosity The famed generosity of the people of Northern Ireland is helping keep vital community and voluntary services alive.

hat was the key message at today’s launch of Philanthropy Fortnight, the annual celebration of charitable giving in Northern Ireland. Sandara Kelso-Robb, Strategic Advisor to Giving Northern Ireland, explained that Philanthropy Fortnight highlighted the successes of the charity sector, while exploring new ways of promoting and developing strategic giving. “Philanthropy Fortnight is all about looking at ways that we can be more strategic, more focused so we can continue to achieve tangible benefits for society. This year’s programme looks at all aspects of philanthropy and celebrates

the massive contribution it makes to disadvantaged communities,” she said. Northern Ireland’s fourth annual festival of charitable giving was launched at Clifton House, the former poor house built in the 18th century by the Belfast Charitable Society. Its two week series of workshops, seminars and networking events from April 18 to 29, celebrates the generosity, time, commitment and support that thousands of Northern Ireland people give every day to causes close to their heart. A range of organisations are involved including Giving Northern Ireland, the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, Fermanagh Trust, Northern Ireland Environment Link, Will to Give, The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative, Arts and Business Northern Ireland and Audiences Northern Ireland. Andrew McCracken, Chief Executive of the Community Foundation for

Sandara Kelso-Robb of Giving NI with Eamonn Donaghy of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland said: “The Community Foundation’s experience is that there are many local donors who want to make a difference through contributing to causes that matter to them. Philanthropy Fortnight provides a fantastic opportunity for all of the organisations involved to engage with the growing levels of philanthropy in Northern Ireland and really focus on how best to support local communities.” The programme for Philanthropy Fortnight features a wide range of topics looking at everything from investing to preserve Northern Ireland’s environment and rich culture and

heritage to leaving charitable donations in wills and the question of getting young people involved in philanthropy. Regional events include a celebration of the Derry-based Acorn Fund, set up by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland to build on the success of the City of Culture 2013 and a celebration of Fermanagh’s rich tradition of philanthropy by the Fermanagh Trust.

To access the full Philanthropy Fortnight programme go to: www.givingnorthernireland.org

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Eye on Charity

YOUTH ACTION NI... TAKING A CHARITY FORWARD YouthAction NI is a respected local youth charity, with a 70 year history of inspiring young people, tackling inequalities and investing in communities.

YouthAction is renowned for its work in improving the life chances of young people with different abilities, who live in deeply challenging circumstances. Transforming the

lives of over 15,000 young people each year. Its vision is simple: â&#x20AC;&#x153; Working together to make young people happy, healthy and hopeful!â&#x20AC;?

Eye on Charity About the Board... Registered as Directors (Volunteers) of YouthAction NI a Company Limited by Guarantee, the Board has overall responsibility for the management of YouthAction. These committed volunteers ensure exceptional corporate governance, influence strategic direction, spearhead high profile events, and support the myriad of initiatives that all combine to make YouthAction one of Northern Ireland’s leading youth organisations.

Dr. Ann Marie Gray (Chairperson):

nn Marie is a Senior Lecturer in Social Administration and Policy at Ulster University. A passionate advocate for women she writes influential research and policy briefs to promote the advancement of gender equality. Ann Marie guided YouthAction’s renowned research project into the lives of young Northern Irish women. She chairs the Research and Ethic sub¬ committee alongside staff and young people. Ann Marie leads the ARK research group which provides access to social and political material that is used to inform policy and debate in Northern Ireland. Ann Marie on being ‘on board’... “Being chair of YouthAction is energising and motivating, because it is an organisation where

the focus is on the work and the outcomes (the young people) above all else. I think everyone on the board has a strong common purpose. We have a lot of confidence in the YouthAction staff, in the work and in the young people themselves...There is a long history of charities doing innovative and ground breaking work and being pioneering. Good governance is as important part of ensuring that the work of charities is high quality and cost efficient.” “I have been inspired by the young mothers I met through the Young Mothers Moving On Programme iand seeing the challenges they were experiencing and what they have achieved. I am also constantly bowled over by the talent of the young people when I see the Rainbow Factory performances.”

James Nicholson OBE (Vice Chair)

ames is Chairman of Down Royal Racecourse (15 years). He is Northern representative Board member of Horse Racing Ireland, Chairman of Horse Racing Ireland audit committee and Chair of The Tote in Ireland. James also chairs the Strategic Board which reported on the future of racing in Ireland. As part of his service to charity he served on the Simon community committee for 2 years. James was awarded an OBE in 2007 for services to racing and charity. In addition to James’s love of horse racing and supporting charities, he is a renowned business man and

wine merchant. James is an active member of the fundraising subcommittee and continues to introduce new business partners to the charity. On being on board... “It’s such an energising and rewarding experience. I have become aware of how valuable and vital Youth Actions contribution is to thousands of challenged and vulnerable young people each year. I am particularly impressed by the professionalism, the fact that 90% of all funds raised go straight to the front line and that all members of the Youth Action team are well trained and passionate about the work they do.”

Alex Barnett

lex is a Senior Consultant and Advisor. Her role takes her across the globe but here in Northern Ireland, she participates in a number of networking groups including Junior Chamber International, Women into Business and the EAcademy. Alex is an active member of the fundraising committee and has an interest in all the various aspects of YouthAction’s work, particularly with ‘hard to reach’ young people.

“I had spent some years as a friend of YouthAction and felt passionately about its mission. Joining the Board lets me help to shape, support and contribute in an active way. I believe that the inclusive programs allow young people, from all communities, to ameliorate their skill base, diverse group of piers, that they otherwise may not engage with. It is important and also very rewarding to see, and help shape such an important charity.”

Eye on Charity Liam Hannaway (Honorary Secretary)

iam is Chief Executive of Newry and Down Council. Liam particularly champions the diverse needs of rural young people in a host of different policy arenas. Liam’s wealth of experience has been drawn upon to develop youth work strategies for the Newry and Mourne and Southern areas. On the Board Liam supports the two Assistant Directors of YouthAction and their invaluable work in youth work in rural communities. In his spare time Liam also ‘treads the boards’ himself and has an active interest in supporting the arts through his

involvement in community drama groups in his local area. On being on board... “It is an honour to be on the Board, I admire the innovative work Youth Action do with young people like peer to peer support and the enthusiasm of the youth workers. “I believe that by giving time to a wide range of interests broadens your view of life as you get an understanding of pressures that people you may never get to know face on a daily basis and this helps me change how i do things in work and in life generally.”

Gillian Shields

illian is Community Investment Manager with CocaCola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland. Although the newest member of the Board, joining in June 2015, Gillian has been an advocate of YouthAction for a number of years, through her support of the charity’s high profile events and community initiatives. Gillian brings her corporate community investment experience to the committee, as well as advising on communication and fundraising committee. Gillian is a past Chair of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations in Northern Ireland, and has over 12 years’

experience in public relations, communications, corporate affairs, social responsibility and event management. On being on board... “The social impact YouthAction has had, and continues to have, on the lives of young people and communities throughout Northern Ireland. On young people... I am involved in GET SET, which is one of YouthActions employability programmes. It is clear to see how youth work can be used to build confidence and self-belief in personal capabilities whilst providing practical guidance on future employment or education and the benefits this brings.”

Pamela Ballantine

amela Ballantine is a renowned TV and Radio presenter. Pamela has worked in the media for over 35 years in Downtown Radio and BBC Radio Ulster, before spending the majority of her working life as a UTV reporter. Pamela is currently a freelance presenter for UTV and its radio station UIO5, as well as a columnist for the Belfast Telegraph. Pamela brings a wealth of media, corporate sector and arts skills and knowledge to the Board. She provides particular support and guidance to the Artistic

Director and regularly facilitates workshops for young people in interview and performance techniques. As a member of the communications committee Pamela is a tremendous supporter and advisor on promoting the work of the charity to a wider audience. “Young people get a bad press and often that is because they are not given a chance due to various difficulties and issues. Youth Action treats every young person as an individual and helps them work through whatever is causing them problems.”

Cathal Maneely (Treasurer)

athal is a Partner of one of Northern Ireland largest accountancy practices. As an experienced professional in the world of finance, his knowledge and expertise are greatly utilised by YouthAction who prides itself on being prudent and transparent in all areas of financial management and governance. Cathal regularly provides guidance on sound financial practice and robust

managerial accountancy to the Chief Executive. Cathal also plays an active role in building relationships with YouthAction and the Northern Ireland private sector. “As Treasurer I take my role extremely seriously. I can say without fear of contradiction that the organisation shares my commitment to ensuring that the entire organisation adheres to best practice in terms of financial management.”

Eye on Charity John Hannaway

ohn is Principal of HannawayCA Ltd. (Business assurance and advisory service) John provides consulting on key issues including strategy, financial management and ICT and operational advice and counsel and specialises in advising and mentoring entrepreneurial businesses. He was formerly an examiner of auditing for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, a board member of the Youth Council of NI and a member of the Institutes practice review committee. John was voted one of Belfast’s top 50 business personalities in 2009 and 2013. John was auditor for YouthAction for many years

and after completing that role was keen to continue his relationship with the organisation as Board member. John is a generous supporter of the charity’s fundraising initiatives and remarkable annual events. On Being on Board... “I joined the Board, because in life you get so much more from giving than receiving and hopefully my experience will be of some benefit to YouthAction. Over the years I never cease to be impressed by how YouthAction manages its governance and financial accounting. I am also always moved by the tremendous variety of projects and the inspirational young people involved.”

Susie McCullough

usie is Director of Marketing & Sales for the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall. Prior to this role she held the position of Director of Events and Industry Development for Tourism NI. Susie has been involved with tourism in Northern Ireland for over 20 years and brings extensive and wide ranging experience in all areas of marketing, communications and events. Her vast marketing and PR experience is much appreciated by the charity, as well as her advise on audience development. Susie is also a youth leader within her local church and has an active interest in supporting and encouraging young people to realise their full potential. On YouthAction... “I am impressed by how YouthAction reaches out to young people in their own communities

through a range of programmes that meet the diverse needs and seeing how these programmes have had such a positive impact in the their lives. Particularly in terms of getting young people into employment.” On young people... “Each of the young people I have had the privilege to meet through Youth Action have impressed me. Their confidence, skills and abilities are truly remarkable, particularly when you learn of the young people’s personal circumstances, many of which are extremely challenging. I have often been moved to tears listening to their personal stories. Tears of sadness for the challenges they have faced but also tears of joy at the inspirational way these young people, through the support given by Youth Action, have risen to meet these challenges.”

The Honourable Shane O’Neill (President) Shane who is President (non director) of the Board, is the lead volunteer and figurehead of YouthAction NI. Shane is a dedicated exponent of the work of YouthAction in improving the life chances of young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, those with challenging mental health issues and those who need one on one support to gain employment or education. Shane plays an active role in the fund-raising sub-committee. Shane leads the way in connecting between the Board and the various youth governance groups, encouraging direct and regular meeting between the young people and the Board members in both formal and informal settings. “I am delighted to be President, mainly because I feel it is very important to support young people in progressing in their lives or careers. There is a long family connection that I wish to continue. Working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds helps

the entire country in the long run, by guiding their inherent drive and energies in a positive direction.” On young people... “I am impressed with the young people’s willingness to try new things and open their minds to new possibilities; if the open mindedness they show was prevalent throughout the country we would be in a far better place.” June Trimble, Director of YANI - “ We are so grateful to our Directors who are so generous with their time and unequivocal support. Not only do they contribute in wisdom, strategic thinking and leadership but they are exceptional role models for our young people. It is so refreshing to have a Board who genuinely want to listen to our young people and importantly value their opinions.” June Trimble, Director of YouthAction NI. Patron Ciaran Hinds with the young people of YouthAction’s Rainbow Factory of Performing Arts.

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Eye on Moving On Charles Hurst Group has appointed 1 Lars-Erik Aaroy as the new Head of Business for Jaguar Land Rover. Lars-Erik brings with him a wealth of experience following 26 years in the motor industry in the UK and across Europe. With a proven track record, Mr Aaroy is the former President of Toyota Norway where he managed a network of 46 independent dealers and 2,500 employees.

1 Lars-Erik Aaroy

4 Brian McFarland

2 Kirsty McManus

5 Ryan Kilfedder

3 Paul Fox

6 Carol Magill

2 Kirsty McManus has been appointed Head of Business Development at Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Kirsty is the former Director of the Centre for SME Development at Ulster University Business School which focuses on helping SMEs achieve their business goals in Northern Ireland. Her responsibilities covered working with many SMEs, allowing them to move projects forward quickly by accessing expertise at the Business 3 School. Also at the Chamber, Paul Fox has been appointed Business Development Executive. He joins NI Chamber following a career spanning almost 20 years with Ulster Bank working across a number of divisions. Previous to this he worked in retail and hospitality before joining Ulster Bank in 1995 where he held the position most recently as Business Development Manager Commercial and SME Banking. 4 Brian McFarland, owner and MD of civil and structural construction engineering firm, McFarland Associates, has been awarded a three year Visiting Professorship at Queen’s University Belfast (Royal Academy of Engineers). He will be delivering a series of lectures to students at all levels within the Civil Engineering course. 5 Ryan Kilfedder joins digital agency The Tomorrow Lab as Senior Web Designer. He has previously worked as a developer with Learning Pool, Aura Healthcare, GCD Technologies and Tibus. CIM (The Chartered Institute of Marketing) has appointed a new Network Manager to oversee its activities in Ireland. 6 Carol Magill has over 20 years’ experience in communications and marketing, including roles in e-commence, and in government as Head of Communications in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), and in Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). She also led the communication activities during the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in Ireland.

7 Roger Acton

8 Declan Billington

7 Roger Acton has been appointed as Head of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in Ireland (CIMA), the professional body representing over 8,000 members and students across the island of Ireland and part of the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants. In his role he will drive CIMA’s development and promote the value of management accounting to business. Mr. Acton is a former Regional Director Europe and Americas for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and led ACCA’s growth through 15 offices in UK, Europe and the Americas. He was also a former Chief Executive of the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and a co-founder and former chair of BoardmatchIreland.ie, the National Corporate Governance Charity in Ireland. The Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association 8 (NIFDA) has appointed Declan Billington as its new Chair. Declan Billington is CEO of leading animal feed manufacturer, Thompsons. He is a member of the Agri-Food Strategy Board and also represents Northern Ireland on the board of the leading UK based agricultural lobbying body, the Agricultural Industries Confederation. He will hold the position of Chair at NIFDA for a two year period. Brian Irwin, Managing Director of W D Irwin & Sons, has been appointed Vice Chairman.

Eye on News

Stepping Stones NI Secures Two Wins at the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Business Awards 2016 Lisburn charity, Stepping Stones NI, has scooped two top awards at the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Business Awards 2016. The charity secured the award for ‘Best Social Enterprise Business’ and its Chief Officer, Paula Jennings, received the top award for ‘Business Person of the Year’.

tepping Stones NI has over 18 years of experience of running social enterprises which support adults with a learning disability or difficulty to gain training and employment. The charity beat stiff competition from a range of businesses with awards announced at a gala event in the La Mon Hotel & Country Club attended First Minister, Arlene Foster and three hundred and sixty business people. The charity operates six businesses which serve as a training facility for adults with learning disabilities / difficulties

with all profits reinvested. With two coffee shops, a wedding stationery business and a Guild Commended Picture Framing business in Lisburn, a recent expansion of services has now taken the award winning service to Downpatrick and Newtownards. Stepping Stones NI have replicated their supported employment model in these areas by launching The Garden Café at the Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick and The Gatelodge Café on Church Street in Newtownards. Stepping Stones NI now employs over sixty staff and has one hundred

and seventy clients accessing their services with the expansion. The new social enterprises are supported through the European Social Fund and the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust. Chief Officer of Stepping Stones NI, Paula Jennings, comments on the awards “We are delighted to have secured two top awards at the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Business Awards 2016. We have a fantastic team of people who are passionate about ensuring our trainees reach their fullest potential and these awards are

testament to their effort. I am also extremely humbled to be recognised as business person of the year”. Stepping Stones NI clients are supported by a team of job coaches and employment officers to provide the skills and qualifications to secure voluntary and paid work. The organisation has developed partnerships with over one hundred employers across Northern Ireland through its training and employment division with one hundred and thirty people supported into employment and ninety thousand pounds in earned wages last year.

BT Lays The Foundations For Better Connected Homes BT has announced it is working with local property developers, HBH Developments, a joint venture between Hilmark Homes and Blue Horizon Developments, to install Fibre to the Premise technology in a major new 140 unit property development currently under construction at Harberton BT9 on the Malone Road, Belfast.

t is the first time BT has worked with developers in Northern Ireland to ensure property buyers have access to one of the fastest fibre broadband connections as standard in a new residential development. Fibre to the Premise Technology creates a direct line between the network and the home or business, resulting in faster download speeds of up to 330 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 40 Mbps, which is the equivalent of downloading a feature length movie of 850MB in size in approximately 20 seconds. Alex Crossan, Managing Director Networks BT Northern Ireland said: “This is a significant milestone in the roll out of fibre in Northern Ireland. At BT, we understand how crucial connectivity is for people and the

vital role it plays in all of our daily lives whether at home or work. It’s the first build programme of its kind that BT has delivered in Northern Ireland and opens the door for other developers to get in touch and work with us to ensure new home-owners have access to the superfast broadband technology. He added, “We are also delighted to launch our Connectivity Assessment Tool (CAT) in conjunction with the House Builders Federation (HBF). Connectivity Assessment is a new service that allows a developer to receive an upfront assessment of the potential broadband connectivity and speeds that should be possible for their development, even prior to land purchase”. Caroline McGovern, Hilmark Homes, Sales & Marketing Manager, said:

“Technology plays an incredibly important part in our everyday lives - from interacting on social media to conducting business remotely. As such, our customers consider having access to fibre broadband in a new home to be as important to them as having the core utilities such as gas, electricity and water. We need to meet this demand head on so being able to provide access to fibre broadband to prospective buyers from the

outset is crucial so that we remain competitive in the marketplace.” The first phase of the development is well underway with first occupants this summer. Simon Brien Residential have recently released Phase Two of this popular development, visit www.harbertonBT9.com to find out more. For further information on the Connectivity Assessment Tool visit: www.newdevelopmentsopenreach.co.uk/developers-andarchitects/connectivity.aspx

Eye on News

TOP RESTAURANTS IN ULSTER ANNOUNCED AT THE IRISH RESTAURANT AWARDS 2016 OVER FORTY RESTAURANTS, HOTEL RESTAURANTS & CHEFS HONOURED AT PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS The Ulster Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards took place in The Main Hall, at The Guildhall, Derry recently and named the top restaurants in the nine counties for 2016. Over 500 restaurant owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards, which saw many wellknown restaurateurs of Ulster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

peaking at the awards, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins said; “The Irish Restaurant Awards celebrate their eighth year this year and have become the Island’s biggest food awards. The credibility that these awards have is reflected in the amount of nominations they received this year – over 70,000 individual nominations were cast across fourteen categories, showing that these are the awards that everyone wants to win. Speaking at the awards, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins said; “The Irish

Anthony Gray President Restaurant Association of Ireland, Mary Blake Head of Tourism Derry City & Strabane District Council and Adrian Cummins Chief Executive.

Restaurant Awards celebrate their eighth year this year and have become the Island’s biggest food awards. The credibility that these awards have is reflected in the amount of nominations they received this year – over 70,000 individual nominations were cast across fourteen categories, showing that these are the awards that everyone wants to win. “The Irish restaurant scene is internationally recognised for its high calibre of restaurateurs and

Daniel Ryan from Diageo is pictured in Sweet Afton with a bottle of HOP HOUSE 13. The double-hopped lager, brewed with Irish barley and aromatic hops, was launched exclusively on draught by Guinness just over a year ago and is now available in 500ml and 330ml bottles in on trade and take home trade outlets across Northern Ireland. 90

chefs. These awards celebrate the people that make the restaurant sector the dynamic and exciting industry it is. They are the people who provide 72,000 jobs to our economy and generate revenue in excess of €2 billion. We’re recognising the talent, hard work and commitment that everyone here gives to the food industry. Tonight, everyone is a winner.” Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Best Customer Service, Best Gastro Pub, Best Casual Dining, Best

Hotel Restaurant, Best Chef, Best Restaurant, Best Wine Experience, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Kids Size Me, Local Food Hero, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine and Best Newcomer as well as two new main award categories – Best Café and Best World Cuisine. All County winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Title which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards in the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Dublin on Monday 16th May, 2016.

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First Event For New Waterfront Hall The NI Chamber of Commerce Champions Dinner 2016 will be the first business event to be held in Belfast’s new multi-million pound Waterfront Hall Conference Centre.

n Wednesday 4 May, the 7,000m2 conference centre will open its doors to 850 members of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) and their guests to celebrate the champions of business and sport. A track record of delivering successful events for almost 20 years combined with double the event space makes Belfast Waterfront the perfect choice for hosting the biggest and most prestigious event in the NI Chamber’s calendar. Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry comments: “NI Chamber is looking forward to hosting the first business event at Belfast’s newly extended Waterfront in May. We are delighted to support and showcase this wonderful venue to our members - a venue that will help attract business tourism to Northern Ireland and in turn showcase our wonderful hospitality sector.” Funded by Belfast City Council, the European Regional Development Fund, through the EU Sustainable

Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland, and Tourism NI, the re-imagined award-winning Belfast Waterfront aims to generate £100 million return for the city by 2020. It is anticipated that doubling its event space will attract twice the current rate of delegates annually and in turn create over 1,500 new hospitality and retail jobs. Susie McCullough, Director of Marketing & Sales, Belfast Waterfront, adds: “It is fitting that our first business event is to play host to a local organisation that is recognised for helping businesses grow locally and internationally. For almost 20 years, Belfast Waterfront has helped propel local businesses onto the world stage as well as attract international conferences to enhance the region’s intellectual capital. We look forward to showcasing our new facilities as well as strengthening our links with local businesses - together, we can create a truly sustainable business tourism in Northern Ireland’s capital city.” The evening’s celebrations will kick off with a drinks reception in the

Susie McCullough of the Waterfront Hall with Chamber of Commerce CEO Ann McGregor.

venue’s spacious riverside foyer, where floor to ceiling windows overlook the River Lagan. Spectacular views will provide the perfect backdrop for an evening of networking with members from across all business sectors. Guests will move into the larger of the two multipurpose halls - Hall 1, where a passionate and experienced event

catering team will serve up a delicious menu full of flavour and local produce. Afterwards guests can sit back and enjoy guest speaker Irish Rugby Legend Paul O’Connell who captained the British and Irish Lions, Ireland and Munster winning three 6 Nations including a Grand Slam, two European Cups, and three Celtic Leagues.

An Invitation To Belfast’s Best Kept Culinary Secret

ovage, salsify and Jerusalem artichokes are just some of the intriguing foods being offered as part of the Ulster University Business School’s NI Year of Food and Drink celebration event on 12th April 2016 in its Academy Restaurant within the York Street campus. Also on the menu will be Lough Neagh smoked eel, McCartney’s corned beef, monkfish from East Coast Seafood, roast Mourne lamb rump, veda bread mousse and chocolate and Guinness cake. The banquet, featuring six courses of local produce, has been created by final year student Matt Logan, former

winner of the all-Ireland Eurotoques Junior Chef of the Year, who has worked in Chapter One in Dublin and Michelin starred Ox in Belfast. He will be supported in The Academy Kitchen by fellow students studying BSc Hons degrees in Culinary Arts Management and International Hospitality Management including fourth year student Hollie Forde who cooked for the Ryder Cup when on placement in Gleneagles and is currently working part-time as a pastry chef in Michael Deane’s Michelin starred restaurant EIPIC. Professor Una McMahon Beattie, Head of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management explains, “The

Academy at York Street provides our students with a unique and innovative environment to help them develop their practical and managerial skills which in turn enhances their future employability. Whilst the fabulous fare prepared by our students is well-known within Ulster University, to external diners the Academy Restaurant must be Belfast’s best kept culinary secret! For this reason Matt and his peers have put together this unique menu of local produce to showcase their expertise and creativity whilst at the same time supporting NI’s Year of Food and Drink. We are extending an open invitation to food lovers in Belfast and

beyond and at £45 per person including wine, it’s terrific value.” The licensed Academy Restaurant is a member of Taste of Ulster and holds a 5* Food Hygiene rating. It is open to the public for lunch from

Monday to Friday from 12.30pm and for dinner on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm. Bookings can be made by phoning 02895 367332.

Eye on News

Kaizen Invests £150,000 And Launch New Design Division Local firm Kaizen has invested £150,000 in expanding its premises to facilitate the launch of a standalone creative studio business in Belfast. Known as Kaizen Brand Evolution, the new company will operate as a sister company of Kaizen Print, the company’s printing division, which has been in operation for over 6 years.

Connor McAuley, Managing Director, Kaizen Brand Evolution (centre) is pictured with Senior Designers Lynsay Spence and Ryan Stansfield.

epresenting an investment of £150,000 the company has expanded its premises by converting the first floor into a separate studio space with break-out meeting area and reception. As a group Kaizen already employs 14 people at its Lisburn Road premises and there are plans in place to expand the team very soon. Commenting on the launch of the new company, owner Connor McAuley said, “Over the last 6 years we have become well known for our printing services and have always offered a design service to clients.

However increased demand from current and prospective clients coupled with the success of our creative projects, have paved the way for this expansion and enabled us to evolve our business organically and launch our new creative studio which will operate as a separate entity to our printing business.” Connor continued, “We are currently fortunate to work with a wide spectrum of clients and our main aim with Kaizen Brand Evolution is to offer our customers creative change. This includes the ability to evolve in an ever changing and competitive

marketplace and to continually engage with both internal and external audiences visually and through brand language. We offer on-brand ideas and thinking that can find output in both print and digital formats to reach the most fitting solution to the design problem.” “We have just welcomed a new client account manager and an accounts manager, and we are in the process of sourcing a highly talented designer to join our team,” adds Connor. For further information visit www.kaizenbrandevolution.com

Bank of Ireland UK to Sponsor Northern Ireland’s biggest cycle event Duncan Bednall, Regional Director, Service & Support NI, Bank of Ireland UK with Mark Neely from Mc Convey Cycles

ank of Ireland UK has announced it will be the lead sponsor of Northern Ireland’s largest cycling event, Lap the Lough 2016. The Bank’s sponsorship will help fund the organisation of the popular Lough Neagh event which will see thousands of cyclists from across Ireland, the UK & Europe cycle the circumference of the largest lake in Ireland and Britain. Now in its tenth year, Lap the Lough has grown substantially in popularity and participation since its first event in 2006, attracting over 2,000 entrants. Record numbers have already signed up for this year’s event which takes place on Sunday 28th August and will see individuals and teams cycle 155km (95 miles) around Lough Neagh. Duncan Bednall, Regional Director, Bank of Ireland UK said: “Last year was a phenomenal event. More than 60 Bank of Ireland UK colleagues

took part to raise money for our chosen charities, Barnardo’s and Co-operation Ireland as well as for other good causes. We are committed to supporting people and communities across Northern Ireland and so we are delighted to be the lead sponsor once again this year. As well as raising money for charity, Lap the Lough is a fun way for people to enjoy a day out with friends or colleagues while challenging themselves physically, and doing good in the process.” Eugene Hamill, Event Organiser from the not-for-profit Upbeat Agency, said: “We are very pleased to have the support of the Bank of Ireland UK as a lead sponsor. Lap the Lough is not a race but an opportunity to promote cycling, participation, camaraderie and fundraising. This year’s start line has been relocated from Peatlands Park to the centre of Dungannon, at the

new state of the art facility at The Hill of the O’Neill. It’s a spectacular venue and we’re really excited to be bringing thousands of new visitors to the ancient capital of Ulster. Moving to Dungannon means a few extra miles and a tougher climb back to the finish but the views at the finish will only add to the cyclists’ sense of achievement.” As part of this sponsorship and aligned to their internal Be At Your Best programme, Bank of Ireland UK are encouraging as many of their own employees to register for the cycle and to raise funds for one of Bank of Ireland UK’s charity partners, Barnardo’s and Co-operation Ireland, or a charity of their own choice. To find out more and to register, visit www.lapthelough.org.

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RANDOX TO SPONSOR GRAND NATIONAL Antrim-based Randox Health surprised us all in March when it was announced as the new sponsor of the world’s best-known horse race, the Grand National at Aintree as well as the three-day racing festival that surrounds it in a five-year deal.

andox Health is a world leader in healthcare diagnostics; today more than 5% of the world’s population – in excess of 370 million people across 145 countries – receives medical diagnosis using Randox products each year. Offering the world’s most advanced preventative health screening in their clinics, currently in London and Belfast, Randox Health plans to roll out clinics nationally and internationally over the next 12 months, including in Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin. The Randox Health checks aim to prevent illness and enhance wellbeing by running hundreds of tests from one simple patient sample. These unique tests give an extraordinary insight into

every aspect of a person’s health. Founded in 1982 in County Antrim by leading medical scientist and keen horseman, Dr. Peter FitzGerald‎ CBE, Randox Health is committed to an extensive research programme, investing more than £220m since 1992. The company currently employs more than 1,400 people of 44 different nationalities. This research has also led to the establishment of a number of successful subsidiary companies supporting forensic toxicology, food safety and veterinary care, as well as leading developments within the pharmaceutical industry. With around 9 million people tuning in each year in the UK, the £1 million Grand National currently attracts one

of the largest live TV audiences in sport and Channel 4’s largest audience of the year. From 2017, the first year with new partner Randox Health, the race will be broadcast on ITV. Worldwide the event attracts an estimated television audience of around 600 million, with more than 150,000 people enjoying the action live from Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside over the course of the three-day racing festival. Randox Health also becomes the Official Healthcare Partner of The Jockey Club. Founded in 1750 and today British Racing’s largest commercial group, The Jockey Club runs many of the sport’s most iconic assets which as well as the Grand National Festival include the Cheltenham Festival, The Investec Derby Festival and The National Stud, with all profits going back into the sport thanks to being a company incorporated by Royal Charter. Dr. Peter FitzGerald CBE, Founder and

Managing Director of Randox, said:‎ “The Randox Health team is extremely pleased to partner the world’s greatest race. The Grand National offers us a major public platform to raise awareness of preventative healthcare and to encourage people to take control of their health and wellbeing. We see this partnership as a natural fit, as both organisations invest heavily in the future and we aim to use our partnership to promote a positive lifestyle and to bring enjoyment to millions of people. We care about people’s health and this is the people’s race. “Crabbie’s sponsorship of the Grand National will be a hard act to follow, but we look forward to rising to the challenge and sharing our vision for Randox Health further once the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National has drawn to a close and our rights for the world’s greatest race come into effect.”

McCool’s SuperValu Ballymoney Aiming For Global Success McCool’s SuperValu, Ballymoney is continuing its Investors in People (IIP) success having been shortlisted in the Best Newcomer (up to 249 employees) category in the third annual Investors in People Awards.

he IIP Awards, which received over 300 entries internationally, celebrate the best people management practices amongst Investors in People accredited businesses. McCool’s Ballymoney is the first and only retail brand in Northern Ireland to achieve IIP Gold Standard and was shortlisted for achieving an increase in sales and improvement in performance within the context of a challenging retail environment. The store used the IIP framework to develop an ambition to become one of the best local retailers in Northern

Ireland and was also recently recognised at Musgrave’s Store of the Year Awards. SuperValu Sales Director, Nigel Maxwell said, “This is fantastic recognition for Peter, Ian and all of the staff at SuperValu Ballymoney. Not only have they achieved the Investors in People Gold Standard accreditation but to now be shortlisted in the IIP Awards across an international level is testament to the dedication and hard work carried out by SuperValu Ballymoney’s management team. “May I take this opportunity to congratulate McCool’s SuperValu on being named a finalist and wish them

IIP Awards...McCool’s SuperValu, Ballymoney has been shortlisted in the Best Newcomer (up to 249 employees) category in the third annual Investors in People Awards, which will take place in London on June 29. The SuperValu Ballymoney team is pictured following the store’s success last year as the first and only retail brand in Northern Ireland to achieve IIP Gold Standard.

best of luck on the night,” he added. Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People, said, “Once again we have been overwhelmed by the number and calibre of entries received for the Investors in People Awards. It’s fantastic to see so many organisations nominated for outperforming in their sector, demonstrating great people management practice and a commitment to staff development.” The grand final will take place at

Old Billingsgate, London on June 29 2016 with finalists representing the best of the best worldwide. SuperValu is part of Musgrave Northern Ireland (MNI) which comprises the retail and wholesale segments of Musgrave Group in Northern Ireland and supports 360 independent retailers through the SuperValu, Centra, Mace and Day-Today brands and 2,800 wholesale customers through the Marketplace brand across the province.

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Eye on Motoring

Charles Hurst Opens New Vauxhall Site at Mallusk

harles Hurst Group, Northern Ireland’s biggest car retailer, has expanded its offering with a new 333 sq metre Vauxhall showroom at its site in Mallusk, taking its number of Vauxhall retail units to four. The new showroom represents an investment of £250,000 and has created twenty jobs at the prominent, Newtownabbey-based site, providing a full suite of new and used cars, fleet services, motability and aftersales. Colin McNab, Operations Director, Charles Hurst, said the investment represents an important development for the business: “Charles Hurst remains committed

Keith Hyde, Franchise Manager for Charles Hurst Vauxhall with Colin McNab, Operations Director

to investing in the business in order to continue delivering the best products and services to our customers. Our Newtownabbey site encompasses a wide range of our leading brands including Toyota, Nissan, Renault together with a Usedirect retail unit; the addition of a modern Vauxhall showroom will further strengthen our service provision in the area. “By offering customers a wide choice of vehicles and the most competitive offers, across both new and used ranges, together with providing an exceptional level of service, Charles Hurst Vauxhall has gone from strength-to-

strength in recent years and this new showroom will underpin our continued success for many more to come.” Keith Hyde, Franchise Manager for Charles Hurst Vauxhall, added: “The new retail unit’s opening represents another expansion of our significant Vauxhall footprint, a brand we are very proud to represent, and strengthens our position as Northern Ireland’s leading Vauxhall retailer. “With a number of new models recently added to the Vauxhall line-up and a strong used car offering, we are confident that the new retail unit will deliver a strong trading future for the business and

provide a great service for our customers.” This is the second major investment Charles Hurst Vauxhall has made in recent months following the opening of its refurbished Vauxhall showroom in Portadown as part of a £100,000 investment in the area. Charles Hurst Group is Northern Ireland’s largest car retailer. A division of Lookers plc, one of the UK’s principal automotive retail and distribution groups, Charles Hurst represents 20 automotive brands across seven sites, offering customers across Ireland the most comprehensive choice of new and used vehicles, parts and servicing.

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Eye on Motoring

Motoring with Derek Black dbmotoring@btinternet.com

NEW MAZDA MX-5 STILL DELIVERS MORE FUN PER MILE THAN EVER! What more can Mazda achieve with the MX-5? They have kept the spirit of the MGB and the Triumph Spitfire going for decades with a two-seater soft top that was a lot more reliable. This is a car that is all about driving and nothing else.

ngine at the front, driving the rear wheels - that is the classic formula for finely balanced handling. This is a car you just want to drive and drive. I found myself taking the long way home - just for the fun of it. The latest generation of MX-5 is shorter and lighter than those that went before. It fits you like a glove but there is no wasted space.

There is a short , snappy gear lever up high in the middle. Lowering the hood takes only seconds. You get the choice of two petrol engines - a 1.5-litre and a 2.0-litre - without a turbocharger in sight - purity of engineering! Which to choose? The 1.5-litre sounds like it might be flat with just 129bhp - but it is so full of character that some

prefer it to the 2.0-litre. It just wants to be revved up to the 7,500 rpm limit. I enjoyed its vivacity though I did feel the need for a bit more power now and then In contrast, the 158bhp 2.0-litre takes everything in its stride and seems almost too powerful for our roads. While it shaves just a second off the 0-62 time- 7 instead of 8 seconds - it feels stronger than its little brother. The 1.5 does best on fuel and the

rest. Returning 47mpg combined and with emissions of 139g/km it will not agitate the taxman much. So endearing is the MX-5 that most true petrolheads will want to own one at some point in their career. Prices start at under £20k but my test car had pearl paintwork, satellite navigation and leather seats which hoisted the figure to £22,985. In terms of driving pleasure per pound, the MX is hard to beat.

OVER STYLED AND OVER HERE WE DRIVE A HYDROGEN CAR! Mirai means future in Japanese, so it is an appropriate name for their first hydrogen cell car. I have had a short drive in one and it works! Hyundai also offers a similar version of its ix36 and there is a Honda equivalent on the slips.

his is true zero emission motoring with a range of 300miles - a lot longer than most pure electric cars. At first glance, the Mirai looks a bit like a Prius but with more dramatic lines to reflect its futuristic effect. This is the next stage on a long road of invention. The Mirai is powered by a 153bhp electric motor. The electricity comes from the

reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell. The only emission is H2O, or water vapour so the tax man is going to love you. As with EVs you get an instant surge of power from the Mirai although this flattens out as speed builds up. Still, an 0-60mph sprint in 9.6 seconds and a top speed of 111mph means there is no problem keeping up with the traffic. The other striking

thing is how quiet the car is, even at motorway speeds. Inside, the cockpit looks familiar from the Prius. It is a little tight on space in the rear but plentiful on premium quality and comfort as you seem to float along. These are early days, of course. The asking price is £66K and that alone will limit sales. There are hopes that the government ‘green’ grant could be increased

from £5k to around £15k to encourage the development of hydrogen in the future. A leasing deal at £750pm might attract some early adopters! The other initial problem is that there are few hydrogen filling stations around - just a handful around London. But that, and the price, is likely to change as the march away from fossil fuels continues.

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Eye on Motoring

DFC: Saving Northern Ireland Businesses £1000’s on Their Monthly Rentals Every business is keen to reduce costs. This becomes especially important when you manage company vehicles.

hether your fleet is large or small, it requires significant investment to manage, finance and maintain. Therefore keeping expenditure to a minimum is a key focus. With DFC’s Vehicle Management programme and our

Savings made through...

Included

problems always seem to arise. DFC can show you proven methods to answer these questions and in turn start improving your company cash flow. The table below shows you the actual savings that can be made through our on board Telematics system.

Our customers said...

Potential savings

1. Vehicle Allocation



We are convinced that some work is allocated to field based operatives without the necessary consideration to lowest travel time and fuel consumption.

£9.95 per vehicle p/m

2. Reduced idling time

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We spend too much on fuel. 2 hours 27 minutes of idling per week average. 2 litres consumed on average per week solely by the engine being left running.

£10.33 per vehcile p/m

3. Improved Economy



We spend too much on fuel. We believe some employees could improve their driving style leading to less money being spent on fuel.

£22.72 per vehcile p/m

4. Managing Personal Use



We think that drivers are using company vehicles for personal business which cost us in fuel by claiming personal mileage on expenses.

£6.32 per vehcile p/m

5. Reduced admin duties



We spend hours reconciling manual mileage sheets, have no checks and can’t verify. Everything is manual and time consuming.

£14.04 per vehcile p/m

6. Improved Productivity



We think that some field based employees may not be productive for the full shift for which they are paid. We either need to increase increase productivity or reduce costs.

£38.50 per vehcile p/m

These are just a few of the ways that we save our customers money and time through Telematics.

Savings made through...

exclusive RAC partnership we can guarantee you savings of at least 10% on your monthly finance rental and therefore give a true reflection of your actual costs. When speaking to fleet managers or those responsible for managing company vehicles the same

Included

However further cost savings start to arise when we consider breakdowns, accidents, servicing and

maintenance. All of which are taken care of courtesy of DFC, saving you further time, money and hassle.

By identifying and correcting problem areas, DFC customers can expect guaranteed savings of at least 10% on their monthly finance rental. Example: A customer has a 3 year contract and pays £300 + VAT per month for their vehicle. With a 10% saving the customer will save at least £30 per month. This equates to savings of at least £1080 over the contract duration. So ask yourself the question. Does your Vehicle Management Company guarantee you these savings? Before you order your next vehicle we encourage you to come and speak to one of our Vehicle Management Consultants.

To get a ‘FREE’ cost analysis on your current fleet call us today on 028 9073 4222 or email sales@dfcbelfast.co.uk

Local Company Local People Local Service

What we offer...

7. RAC Breakdown Recovery



DFC and the RAC have partnered to get you back on the road as quickly as possible. Our 1 call, 1 number operations department also operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to save you further time and hassle. Vehicles being of the road can cost UK businesses up to £200 per day, which is why we fix 4 out of 5 vehicles at the roadside to get you moving as quickly as possible.

8. RAC Accident Management



We know how important it is to get your vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible which is why our bespoke solutions are tailored to your individual needs. We offer a single point of contact from first call to completion and provide you with a vehicle.

Call us today for more information on our car and van offers on 028 9073 4222 or email sales@dfcbelfast.co.uk

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dfcbelfast.co.uk Motoring with Derek Black dbmotoring@btinternet.com

VITARA GETS A CLEVER NEW 1.4 TURBO PETROL ENGINE Suzuki has launched a sparkling new 1.4 turbo petrol engine in the flagship Vitara S. Adding to its appeal is its all-wheel drive system that makes it a plausible off roader as well as a handy everyday wagon.

mall turbo-petrol engines are getting better all the time. Suzuki calls theirs ‘Boosterjet’ and has cleverly built the turbo into the cylinder head of the engine to save space and weight. This is the most spirited Vitara that I have driven to date. The 138bhp engine takes the Vitara to 62mph in just over ten seconds and on to a potential top speed of 124mph. A slick six-speed manual gearbox is standard but six-

speed automatic is also available. The S rides a little firmer than other models, but it is still comfortable. This keeps it flatter on corners than some of its price rivals. The ALLGRIP system is reassuring on wet roads and the drive is switched to all wheels if slippage is detected. Controlled by a simple knob, it can be set for various conditions including snow. It has diff locks to get you out of the mud if

you venture into the fields. Despite its performance and go-everywhere ability, the Vitara S claims just over 52mpg on the Combined Cycle and has emissions of 127g/ km - again a big improvement on the previous engine. The active cruise control system uses radar and camera to monitor the road ahead and warn the driver of obstacles. In extreme cases the system will apply the car’s brakes

to avoid or mitigate a collision. The S has black-painted alloy wheels and a rear spoiler outside and polished pedals and red stitching on the interior trim. There is a 7-inch touch screen to control the sat nav, bluetooth phone and DAB radio connections and a reversing camera. The 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine is - so far - only available with ALLGRIP and the lavish S trim listed from £20,899.

for one of two versions of the 2.0CRDi, with 134 or a serious 182bhp! Economy rated from 44mpg to 54mpg and emissions from 139 to 166g/km. The tax man won’t like it so much! Alloy wheels, all-disc brakes, front foglamps, LED day lights, air con, DAB radio, Bluetooth, trailer stability assist and

cruise control with speed limiter feature on the starter model. There are trim grades from 1 to 4 with a special First Edition and a new topline GT sporting treatment. Prices start from £17,995 for the introductory petrol model. The1.7 CRDi manual is listed at £22,050 in grade 2 trim.

BIG SELLING SPORTAGE GETS A MAKEOVER AND MORE! The measure of the remarkable success of the Sportage to date is that it now takes almost 30% of Kia sales in the UK. They must have got something right!

or its mid-term refresh, they have done a serious nose job on their popular SUV with a distinctive new grille and upgraded the interior. A sensible move as this machine always appealed a lot on its styling alone. But there is more to changes than mere cosmetics. Steering and suspension have been refined to ‘enhance the driving experience’. These are worthwhile improvements to the dynamics of the Sportage but, let’s face it, this kind

of vehicle is never going to handle like a sports car! There are two 1.6-litre petrol engines, starting from 130bhp but business buyers will be looking at the diesels. The 1.7CRDi will be a popular choice here as it generates 114bhp and is rated at a frugal 61mpg combined and 119g/ km. Not a ball of fire, but it gets to 62mph in 11 seconds, not bad for a big roomy vehicle. Drivers who like a bit more beef can opt - and pay more -

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SPORTY DS4 DIESEL IS FRUGAL BUT CONFUSING! The DS3 was quite a success for the Citroen in creating an up-market sub-brand. Can the DS4 carry on the trend? Mmmm, I’m not so sure.

hile it looks interesting the DS4 seems to have an identity crisis. Is it a coupe, a hatchback or a cross-over? This is a brave attempt to produce something different - but maybe they are trying too hard. Why could they just settle for a premium hatchback? When I take to the road I cannot believe this is a French car. They seem to have forgotten the Gallic norm of comfort above all things. The DS4 is firmly sprung at the best of times but the optional 19-inch alloys on the test car gave it a rough ride over the seasonal pot holes.

The engine is the most appealing feature - a lusty 2.0-litre turbo diesel with 150bhp. This had a great feeling of urgency and can take the compact hatchback to 62mph from rest in an impressive 8.8 seconds. Not quite a hot hatch but getting warm. Despite its potency this engine seems to be quite green and lean. Combined consumption is rated at 72mpg and emissions at 103g/km of carbon dioxide. This is impressive for its sporting nature and puts it into the 20% BIK category. Standard equipment is lavish with

a 7-inch colour screen, auto lights and wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, and satellite navigation. Safety items include stability control, front, side and curtain air bags, auto door locking and an alarm system. My car had further options

including heated sports front seats with part leather upholstery and a back massage system. The DS4 is priced from £23,595 before extras but it faces stiff competition from the premium brands. This will be a hard sell.

WHOLE LIFE COST LEADER†. YES, IT’S AN ASTRA.

P11D FROM £15,240 | CO 2 FROM 88G/KM | MPG UP TO 85.6MPG

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Official Government Test Environmental Data. New Astra range fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km): Urban: 35.3 (8.0)-74.3 (3.8), Extra-urban: 55.4 (5.1)-91.1 (3.1), Combined: 45.6 (6.2)-85.6 (3.3). CO2 emissions: 142-88g/km.

Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. † = Whole Life Cost leadership compares the following vehicles: New Astra Tech Line Hatchback 1.6CDTi 110PS ecoFLEX 88g/km, Focus Zetec Nav Hatchback 1.5TDCi 120PS 98g/km, Golf Match Hatchback 1.6TDI 110PS 99g/km. 2015-16 tax year. General Motors UK Limited, trading as Vauxhall Motors, does not offer tax advice and recommends that all Company Car Drivers consult their own accountant with regards to their particular tax position. All figures quoted correct at time of going to press (February 2016).

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