Business Eye Feb/March 2023

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Maldron Hotel, Pearse Street

Jurys Inn, Belfast

Allingham Arms Hotel, Bundoran

06

Ulster Bank Backs Balmoral

With less than 11 weeks to go until the 154th Balmoral Show gets underway, Ulster Bank has announced it will once again back Northern Ireland’s leading agricultural showcase, returning as the principal sponsor for 2023.

08

Belfast To Welcome Record Number Of Cruise Ships

Belfast Port is heading for a record cruise season in 2023. Cruise Belfast, the joint venture between Belfast Harbour and Visit Belfast, has announced that a recordbreaking 170 calling at the port during the season.

20

Charity Drive & Further Growth For Barclay Communications

Leading Northern Ireland telecoms group Barclay Communications has launched a new charity partnership with Cancer Focus in a bid to boost finding for those affected by the life-changing illness.

23 Abbey Autoline Marks 50 Years In Business

Northern Ireland’s largest insurance broker AbbeyAutoline has marked 50 years in business with the launch of a series of community outreach activities across the province.

29 Tech Eye – The Latest Global Tech News

Business Eye brings you up to date with the latest tech news and developments from the UK, Europe and across the globe.

35 UK Awards Double For Agnew Volkswagen

The Belfast & Mallusk Volkswagen dealership has picked up the top two awards at the annual Volkwagen UK Awards.

36 Why Divorce Is Everyone’s Business

A divorce is something nobody plans for and the implications for everyone involved can be stressful and upsetting - and in the absence of a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, there is a lot to consider when it comes to protecting your assets, particularly when it comes to business, writes Davidson McDonnell’s Rachael McKee.

38 Putting Belfast On The Global Stage

The team at ICC Belfast, Northern Ireland’s only purposebuilt international convention centre and sister venue to the Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall – iconic venues that have been part of the fabric of Belfast’s live entertainment scene for many years – are looking to the future with ambition and energy as they continue to create a world-class stage for people to make great things happen on an unprecedented scale.

45 Business Eye Sustainability Awards

The Business Eye Sustainability Awards in association with Strategic Power Connect took place in late February at the Culloden Estate & Spa – another epic awards night celebrating the local business sector’s sustainability achievements.

64 On Cloud Wine

United Wines Managing Director Martin McAuley chats to Business Eye about his journey in the drinks trade here in Northern Ireland, and how both times and consumer tastes have changed.

66 SuperValu & Centra Raise £200,000 For Action Cancer

The SuperValu and Centra retail brands have been celebrating after raising a staggering £200,000 for the local cancer charity following a year-long programme of fund-raising activity.

Richard Buckley EDITOR

Irish Magazine Editor of the Year 2005

Comment

It was given and immediate welcome by every business group, and every business leader (that we’re aware of), and it was also given a warm welcome. Credit is due to the UK Government and the EU for coming up with what looks very much like the best possible solution to a thorny problem.

Most importantly for business here, and most importantly for the local economy, the Framework allows Northern Ireland to continue to reap the advantages that it has enjoyed under the Protocol. But, at the same time, it solves most of the issues affecting businesses here in specific sectors.

However, there is a ‘but’. Because the Windsor Agreement allows this region to hang on to the huge strategic advantage of EU and UK market access, the party holding all the aces, the DUP, still isn’t convinced.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his merry men (and women) continue to hold the economy and the population here to ransom, but not while they wait for the UK Government to do something. It’s done something and still we have to wait for one party to cogitate, discuss, ruminate and eventually come to a decision.

There is very little sympathy for the hardliners of the DUP either at Westminster (bar a handful of right wingers) or amongst the UK population as a whole. The reaction in the national media to the Windsor Framework provided crystal clear evidence that they’re seen as a small, minority party of zealots.

The DUP leader has set up a group of assorted party members, including Dame Arlene Foster and Peter Robinson, to hold his hand and help him come up with an agreed response. If the Man From Dromore says yes, then they’ll be instrumental in packaging it all up as a victory for the DUP’s Stormont boycott stance.

If he says no, it’s very hard to see what the next step for the DUP can be. It would sound the death knell for devolved government here and put an end to planned celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which include a visit by US President Joe Biden.

What’s more, to say no would be to cast the DUP as pariahs of UK politics. When it come to a vote in the House of Commons, the Windsor Framework will breeze through with Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party joining forces with the vast bulk of Tories.

So there’s an expectation that Sir Jeffrey will say yes. He and his party might well ask for a clarification or two, they might want to be seen to tinker here and there, but they’ve little option but to take the deal and present it as a victory to their constituency. Or most of it. When it comes to the likes of Jim Allister and others without any electoral mandate, there’s simply no pleasing some people.

The mood music seems to say so, the clear choreography of Biden’s visit and what’s going on the background says so, and the combined might of the UK Government, Her Majesty’s Opposition and virtually entire UK population says so.

Add to that, although it will matter little to Sir Jeffrey, the Irish Government en bloc and the Irish population as a whole.

It will be a bit hard to say no once again. That said, this is Northern Ireland. Political logic counts for little.

“The Framework allows Northern Ireland to continue to reap the advantages that it has enjoyed under the Protocol. But, at the same time, it solves most of the issues affecting businesses here in specific sectors.”

The Windsor Framework, as we’re now supposed to call the former NI Protocol, was published at the tail end of February, and didn’t require a lot of discussion here in the Northern Ireland business community.

Eye on News

ULSTER BANK BACKS BALMORAL

With less than 11 weeks to go until the 154th Balmoral Show gets underway, Ulster Bank has announced it will once again back Northern Ireland’s leading agricultural showcase, returning as the principal sponsor for 2023.

2023 will mark the 14th year for Ulster Bank at the helm of the event which will come to life at Balmoral Park, Lisburn from 10-13 May 2023, offering a celebration of the very best in food, farming, and rural life.

With less than 100 days until the show, representatives from Ulster Bank and the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS), gathered to make the announcement and officially kickstart the countdown to this year’s event.

Visitors can expect the usual mix of live music, shopping opportunities, and the chance to sample some of the region’s finest food and drink over a jam-packed four days.

As always, agricultural and livestock displays will take centre stage with world-class livestock displays, shearing spectacles, equestrian competitions, machinery exhibits and rural demonstrations.

2023 will also see the return of some of the show’s most popular attractions including the hotly contested best-dressed competition and the healthy horticulture village which showcases the very best of Northern Ireland produce.

Rhonda Geary, Operations Director with RUAS said, “With less than three months to go until we open the gates to the 154th Balmoral Show, plans are well underway to build on the success of last year and grow the event even further.

“In 2022, we had over 100,00 visitors attend the show from all over Northern Ireland and beyond and we are confident that this year’s

programme will attract an even bigger audience across the four days with so much to see and do for families, foodies, and farmers alike.

“With the support of our partners in Ulster Bank, we are focusing heavily on making this year’s Balmoral Show the most sustainable event to date and are looking forward to showcasing all of our enhanced environmental features as the agrifood industry comes together to support this mission.”

Cormac McKervey, Senior Agriculture Manager with Ulster Bank, said that Ulster Bank was proud to support the Balmoral Show once again.

“The Balmoral Show is the biggest event in the local agri calendar, and it is as important as ever that we come together as an industry to celebrate and recognise the enormous contribution this sector

makes to the local economy.

“Ulster Bank has been principal sponsor of the Balmoral Show since 2009 and while there has been lots of changes to the show and the industry during this time, our message to farmers has remained the same. We want to support our local agri sector and have the tools and expertise required to champion this potential.

“We are ready to work with the team at RUAS to ensure that this year’s Balmoral Show is a memorable one and hope to provide a place for famers and producers to come together and share experiences over the course of the four days in May.”

Tickets for the show are already available to purchase online at www.balmoralshow.co.uk . Keep an eye on the website for details of livestock competition entries, show opening hours, as well as the full programme of events.

Ulster Bank’s Senior Agricultural Manager, Cormac McKervey; RUAS Operations Director, Rhonda Geary and Ulster Bank’s Head of NI, Mark Crimmins gathered recently at Balmoral Park to announce that Ulster Bank will return as the principal sponsor of the 2023 Balmoral Show.

Eye on News

A&L Goodbody Announces Senior Appointments At Belfast Office

Corporate law firm

commitment to the ongoing success of our Belfast office.

“Investing in expanding and developing our 120-strong team in Belfast to bring our clients the most relevant and timely legal expertise will remain core to our strategy in the months ahead.”

Sarah Dugdale and John Tougher have been appointed partner in the firm’s Corporate and M&A and Real Estate teams respectively. In a first for ALG in Northern Ireland, meanwhile, Shirley Blair has been appointed to the senior advisory role of ‘Of Counsel’ in the Employment and Incentives team.

The appointments take ALG’s senior leadership team in Northern Ireland to 21, charged with leading a team of over 120 lawyers and business support professionals in its Belfast office.

Michael Neill, Head of ALG’s Belfast office, said: “These senior level appointments reflect ALG’s

Michael said ALG is “exceptionally proud” to have such a breadth of talent across its entire team in Belfast.

“Each leading lawyers in their own right, Sarah, John and Shirley are outstanding examples of the unwavering energy, commercial acumen and industry-leading technical expertise our clients have come to expect from ALG,” he said. “They set an excellent example to the wealth of up-and-coming talent within our firm and will continue to play a key role in their development going forward.”

Sarah Dugdale

Sarah specialises in corporate transactions, and corporate advisory matters. Having joined ALG as a trainee

solicitor in 2010 , Sarah has recorded extensive experience advising on local and international acquisitions and disposals, and private equity and venture capital investments across a range of sectors. She also advises on group reorganisations, joint venture and shareholders’ agreements, share options and incentives and other shareholder and partnership matters along with providing general corporate law, governance and compliance advice.

John Tougher

John has over a decade of experience in dealing with commercial property matters in both the public and private sectors including all aspects of specialist Landlord and Tenant advice – site acquisition, assembly, development funding and disposal. John is also one of the leading property lawyers working in the energy sector in Northern Ireland and advises utilities, developers and lenders with a particular focus on on-shore and off-shore wind. In

addition, he advises many of the leading insolvency practitioners in the jurisdiction in relation to property insolvency matters.

Shirley

Blair

With over 20 years’ experience, Shirley advises on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious Employment and Education law matters for clients in all sectors. Shirley specialises in complex discrimination proceedings in in the Tribunals and NI Court of Appeal and is a qualified Solicitor Advocate. She has gained substantial expertise in High Court litigation, particularly disputes pertaining to restrictive covenants, injunctions and Judicial Reviews concerning schools. Shirley is the NI Chamber of Commerce representative on the Employee Relations Roundtable – a federation of the Chamber, CBI, IoD and the LRA that lobbies the NI Government. She is the NI contributing author to the book “Professional Secrecy of Lawyers in Europe”.

A&L Goodbody (ALG) has announced three senior appointments at its Belfast office.

(L-R) Sarah Dugdale, partner; Head of Belfast office Michael Neill; Of Counsel Shirley Blair; and John Tougher, partner.

BELFAST TO WELCOME A RECORD 170 CRUISE SHIP CALLS IN 2023

Belfast can expect a record cruise season this year, as Cruise Belfast, the partnership between Belfast Harbour and Visit Belfast which markets the City as a leading cruise ship destination, has announced that a record 170 cruise ships are due to call in 2023.

As the cruise industry in Northern Ireland continues to provide a welcome boost to the economy, the number of ships expected this season represents a 20% increase on the previous record set in 2019.

Between March and October this year, 62 different vessels from 36 different cruise lines will dock at the port carrying more than 350,000 passengers and crew.

This season will feature six embarkation cruises departing from Belfast with Ambassador Cruise Lines, where local residents can start and finish their cruise from Belfast. There will also be 15 ships calling to Belfast for the first time, including Disney Dream, Norwegian Prima and MSC Preziosa, as well as Ambassador Ambition, demonstrating Northern Ireland’s

increasing popularity as a cruise destination and providing testament to the quality of award-winning visitor attractions across the region.

Michael Robinson, Port Director for Belfast Harbour said:

“With 170 vessels due to dock in Belfast this year, it’s clear that cruise tourism is back on track in 2023. Last year, we had 141 calls to the Port as we transitioned from the 2021 cruise season, which was still partially curtailed by the pandemic, but this year we are on course to surpass our previous record year in 2019 as the global industry returns to full capacity.

“Cruise visitors make an important contribution to Northern Ireland’s tourism mix, attracting visitors from across the globe on day trips to attractions all across the region. We’re expecting a quarter of a million passengers to arrive to Belfast Harbour this season, which

will provide an estimated £20m boost to the local economy.”

Mary Jo McCanny, Director of Visitor Servicing at Visit Belfast, added:

“The outlook for the cruise industry in 2023 is extremely positive with figures suggesting we will break the record for cruise calls that was set in 2019, demonstrating the strong partnerships that Cruise Belfast has formed with global cruise operators. This is an exciting year for the city as the tourism offering is going from strength to strength with more visitor experiences such as the Titanic Belfast multimillion pound refresh, the launch of Titanic Distilleries and McConnell’s Distilleries and the reopening of HMS Caroline. The quality of our visitor attractions throughout the region continue to draw visitors from across the world and the Visitor Services team are excited to welcome them shore-side this season.”

Eye on News

Rushmere Shopping Centre Sold To Investment Company

One of the largest retail schemes in Northern Ireland, Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon, has been acquired by local investment company Killahoey Limited in what is believed to have been one of the most significant retail transactions in Northern Ireland for several years.

Purchaser Killahoey Limited, a joint venture between Sheephaven Investment Company and May Street Capital, has saved the complex from administration and ensured that it remains under local ownership.

Belfast law firm Millar McCall Wylie acted for the purchaser in the acquisition:

“We extend our congratulations to Killahoey Limited on their acquisition of Rushmere and are extremely proud to have played a part in the process,” said Peter McCall, Director, Millar McCall Wylie.

“This successful transaction is one of the most significant we have seen in the Northern Ireland retail market for several years and the

result of foresight and ambition on behalf of the purchaser. Our team worked hard within an extremely tight deadline to ensure the acquisition completed smoothly and quickly.

“A transaction of this size involving a scheme of such scale shows great confidence in the local retail market. Rushmere attracted serious interest from national and international institutional investors.

“The acquisition by Killahoey represents a significant coup by a local investment company and is a testament to the ability and experience of its Promoters. We are seeing more and more local investment in retail which is hugely encouraging. We are certain that Rushmere Shopping Centre will go from strength to strength under its new ownership,” Peter McCall said.

Speaking on behalf of Killahoey Limited, Stuart Draffin said:

“We appreciate the extensive efforts and commitment extended by all involved,

especially the team at Millar McCall Wylie, to make this transaction happen quickly.

“We believe Rushmere is an excellent asset which has been unquestionably well asset managed throughout its history. This has resulted in it being one of the premier retail destinations in Northern Ireland. We are delighted for the opportunity to be part of its future.”

Elaine Smyth To Step Down From Catalyst Role

Catalyst’s Director of Entrepreneurship & Scaling Elaine Smyth

Akey member of Catalyst’s senior leadership team, Elaine first joined Catalyst eight years ago as Head of Programmes and has overseen the growth and development of some of Catalyst’s core initiatives during her time, building a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs through transformative programmes and championing NI as a destination burgeoning with exceptional talent, ideas and bold new ventures that could create global impact.

Elaine Smyth said: “It has been a privilege to work with Catalyst and serve the entrepreneurial community. I have thoroughly enjoyed this season in my life, and I now feel ready to step aside and be the biggest cheerleader for the Catalyst team to carry the vision forward.”

Catalyst CEO and long-time colleague, Steve Orr said: “Elaine represents Northern Ireland’s technology sector at its best: a humble, but amazingly

effective leader who works tirelessly behind the scenes to make things easier for entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland who dream of creating and scaling a world leading company.”

Elaine has been embedded in Northern Ireland’s startup and scaleup environment since 1997 where she was instrumental in building Belfast telecoms software startup APiON, which grew to a team of more than 200 people before the product side of the business was sold to Phone.com in 1999 for $250m. Elaine created similar impact with Aepona as COO, supporting their fundraising and later in senior roles with companies including Anaeko, Kana and TechStart before joining Catalyst in 2015.

“I have really loved my role at Catalyst, the energy of the place, the vibe. It is rewarding and challenging,” says Elaine.

“I’ve been inspired by the people, the entrepreneurs and what they are prepared to do to create something special. It’s humbling at times to see that dedication - you go through the highs with them when it works out and the lows when it doesn’t. I think my experience gives me a lot of empathy for what people growing a business are going through. I can relate to the pain as well as the success.”

While Elaine is stepping back

and stepping out of the sector for now, she expects to be involved in projects and mentoring in this space in some capacity in future.

“If I was to give any advice to entrepreneurs it would be to have the courage to take a risk and try things. Some things will work and some won’t, but you have to have the confidence to take the risk. It’s the approach we’ve taken at Catalyst,” she says.

“I’d also suggest entrepreneurs take time to listen and observe what is happening around them. So much of a company’s success is about making sure you have the right product market fit and then getting the timing right,” she adds.

She also believes the future is bright for Northern Ireland’s tech and innovation community and that Catalyst will remain at the forefront.

“There has been an incredible change in the technology sector since I started my career. Trying to hire back then was hard because there were very few software companies in Northern Ireland compared to what you see now. There has also been a huge change in the ambition we have and the number of people willing to have a go at creating their own companies,” she says.

“If you look at the direction of travel for the economy, at the goals

laid out in the 10X Economy Vision and other policy, there is so much alignment, working with the likes of the Department for the Economy and many, many partners. To make change happen we will be stronger together.

“There now stands an amazing opportunity for me to hand over the reins to a successor who can help Catalyst in the next phase of its strategic direction and support the vibrant and flourishing entrepreneurial community here. I wish them the very best.”

has announced that she plans to retire from her role in the summer.

Peter McCall of Millar McCall Wylie

Are you in the tourism and hospitality sector?

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Eye on News

Assess, Adapt,

New Garden Trail Set To Open At Montalto Estate

Made possible through major private investment, with additional support from Tourism NI’s Experience Development Programme, The Lost Garden Trail will open to the public on 31st March, 2023.

The Lost Garden Trail, located within the 400-acre Estate, is part of Montalto’s ongoing business development strategy which identifies opportunities to support the longevity of the Estate, through the provision of unique tourism offerings. Having opened to the public in 2018, Montalto Estate provides a high-quality visitor experience, reconnecting visitors with nature through the Estate’s beautiful and historic surroundings. It also includes the award-winning wedding venue, The Carriage Rooms at Montalto.

During the 2018 opening preparations, the team at Montalto

Estate uncovered stone slabs in an unexpected area, which led to a forgotten garden. Further investigative work was put on hold whilst focus continued on opening plans. With the arrival of 2020, the team took the opportunity to revisit the area, and continue the exploration of what else was still to be uncovered.

As a result, the team at Montalto Estate, working alongside a highly respected historic gardens consultant, has breathed life back into the garden. They’ve restored this historic setting, whilst adding sympathetic, contemporary elements. The Lost Garden Trail experience provides an understanding of what the area would have looked like back in 1912, when the Estate was owned by Lord & Lady Clanwilliam. The winding pathways, and diverse planting and features, will tell stories of days gone by which will help visitors step back

in time, and experience a little of the tranquillity from that period.

David Wilson, Managing Director of Montalto Estate, said:

“We are delighted and very excited to be opening The Lost Garden Trail to the public. For the first time ever, visitors will have the opportunity to step back in time, and enjoy the tranquillity of this beautiful garden and its original pathways. Our aim at Montalto Estate has always focussed on providing a top-class visitor attraction which enhances the visitor experience in the region. With support from Tourism NI’s Experience Development Programme, we have breathed life back into this wonderful area. The Lost Garden Trail is a welcome addition to the character and heritage of this magnificent demesne, ensuring its long-term future as an important landmark and visitor destination within Co. Down.”

Supporting the opening of The Lost Garden Trail at Montalto, John McGrillen, Chief Executive, Tourism NI, said:

“We are delighted to support this exciting addition at Montalto Estate under the Experience Development Programme, a scheme which offered significant support to post-Covid regeneration for our tourism industry. Recent consumer sentiment research has confirmed that historic houses and gardens rank highly as a key motivator for both domestic and Republic of Ireland visitors, and the restored garden trail will serve to enhance the surroundings and visitor facilities on offer. Given the recent upsurge in visitors from the South, along with recovery of international visitor numbers, I am confident this project will entice culture seekers from near and far.”

David Wilson and Keith Reilly from Montalto Estate with Tourism NI’s John McGrillen

The award winning, five star Montalto Estate, in rural Co. Down, is getting ready to unveil a significant new tourism experience called The Lost Garden Trail.

Overcome Eye on News

Tourism NI Hosts First International Media Group At Titanic Belfast

International media from Italy, Germany, Spain, the USA and Great Britain joined Tourism NI in Belfast to get an exclusive behind scenes preview of Titanic Belfast before it reopens to the public in early March.

The £4.5m investment brings a new original maritime heritage collection and exciting immersive technology to the world’s biggest Titanic experience and more reasons to visit Belfast. As one of Tourism NI’s 2012 Signature Projects, Titanic Belfast has become one of the world’s leading attractions and has welcomed over 8 million visitors.

The journalists represented titles including the LA Times, Donna Moderna, Rheinische Post, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, EFE News

Agency and La Republicca. Organised in association with Tourism Ireland, the three day programme has been developed to promote the unveiling of the new galleries as well as the wider martime and city offering to key visitor markets.

Pictured, centre, with the group is Fiona Liversidge, Media Visits Unit, Tourism NI and Susie Millar, Titanic Tours Belfast.

Landmark Carnlough Hotel On The Market

The Londonderry Arms Hotel

families and visitors, both locally and internationally. Firmly positioned as a tourist destination, the hotel is at the heart of the local community and for generations has been the centre of many family celebrations. It has hosted many artists, writers and musicians and featured in both film and literature.

This landmark, 35-bedroom hotel has been in the O’Neill family for 75 years. It is uniquely positioned on the world-famous Causeway Coastal Route, equidistant between Belfast city and the tourist delights of the Giant’s Causeway.

One of Ireland’s most historic hotels, the Londonderry Arms was built in 1848. The name relates to its original purpose as a coaching inn for Frances Anne Vane Tempest, then Marchioness of Londonderry, its original owner. Its rich history was further enshrined when following the death of Lady Londonderry, the hotel was eventually inherited by her great grandson Winston Churchill in 1921.

Since 1947, the Londonderry Arms has traded as a hotel under the management of its owners, the O’Neill family, one of the longest established hotelier families in Ireland. The hotel is renowned for its reputation for hospitality, service, and excellent locally sourced food.

The hotel has been sympathetically developed and extended over the years, whilst always retaining its original elegant Georgian architecture. It is a beacon of Irish hospitality and is a much-loved haven to

More recently, the hotel has become established on the tour route for Game of Throne enthusiasts, as the beautiful Carnlough harbour was the film location of Free City of Braavos Canal.

The hotel has a unique ambiance, with stories at every corner. Its popular Arkle Whiskey bar, serving a range of Irish and Scottish whiskeys, is named after the legendary steeplechaser and hosts a unique collection of Arkle memorabilia, including one of its horseshoes that many a guest has rubbed for good luck.

The owner, Denise O’Neill, said: “The hotel represents what is best about Ireland, both for those living and visiting here. The hotel is a real gem and its location gives it a huge advantage, situated in what I consider to be simply spectacular surroundings.”

Mark Patterson of OKT (O’Connor Kennedy Turtle), commercial property consultant, is confident that with such a rich history, the hotel, which is being offered for sale as a going concern, will generate significant interests at home and overseas.

Mark said: “We anticipate strong interest in the Londonderry Arms, which is a unique property on the stunning Antrim Coast Road, that has serviced both local and tourist markets

for generations. There is space for further expansion, so it offers tremendous potential for a new owner to further extend its long history of hospitality. This sale presents interested parties with a very rare opportunity to write the next chapter in this famous hotel’s story”.

in Carnlough, Co Antrim, one of Northern Ireland’s longest established and best-known hotels, has been placed on the market.

M.B. McGrady & Co. Chartered Accountants goes for growth as it expands in Northern Ireland

One of Northern Ireland’s most established accountancy practices, M.B. McGrady & Co Chartered Accountants is continuing its expansion across Northern Ireland with its second strategic merger in less than 12 months, signalling a period of growth for the business.

Founded by Maurice Dawson, Dawson & Company Chartered Accountants have joined M.B. McGrady’s Belfast office, with the expanded team now widening its breath of service and specialisms.

Celebrating its 70th year in 2022, M.B. McGrady & Co is headed up by Directors and Chartered Accountants, Malachy McGrady, Conaill McGrady, Seamus McLernon and Kim Rainey. The company has a 45-strong team based across three offices, in Belfast, Newtownards and Downpatrick.

Malachy McGrady, Managing Partner, comments: “We’re delighted to welcome our new colleagues and clients from Dawson & Co. Our values and ethos as a firm are similar to that of Maurice’s, and as part of M.B. McGrady & Co. the team can continue to provide clients with tax and accountancy services of the highest standards and will also have access to other specialist services that could bring significant benefits to clients and their businesses.

“Our team has seen significant growth over recent years, most recently with the team from Duffy & Co. joining us in March 2022. With our new colleagues, we now have a fullservice proposition, and with offices across Belfast, Downpatrick and Newtownards, our clients will be able to access high quality services and extensive business support thanks to

our dedicated and hardworking staff.”

Dawson & Co. was established by Chartered Accountant, Maurice Dawson. The company, formerly based on University Street, specialised in accounts, taxation and advisory services to companies, partnerships and individuals.

Speaking about the company’s decision to join M.B. McGrady & Co, Maurice says: “The decision to join forces with another longestablished, independent firm of accountants and business advisers has been carefully considered and brings positive benefits to both our clients and our staff.

“Both Dawson & Company and M.B. McGrady & Co. share similar values, including a commitment to professionalism and expert advice, that’s complemented with our knowledge of our clients and

their respective businesses. It’s this personal approach that has been the foundation for both companies and I believe it will help us to grow our offering and support an even wider range of clients across Northern Ireland.”

M.B. McGrady & Co. was founded in 1951 and has grown to become one of the largest and most respected independent practices in Northern Ireland. It specialises in corporate tax, personal tax, audit and assurance, cloud accounting, trusts and estates, corporate finance, payroll, international services, and bookkeeping.

For more information on the services available, visit: www.mbmcgrady.co.uk

Conaill McGrady, Mal McGrady, Maurice Dawson, Kim Rainey and Seamus McLernon

SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT

At Hilton Belfast we are proud to share that we have recently been awarded Green Tourism Silver Accreditation.

Our award winning, Meet with Purpose program offers Meeting Planners and Travel Managers the tools to make a big impression on guests while making a positive impact on the world with every meeting or event.

Impact

Meet in a more sustainable way using the Hilton LightStayTM meeting calculator. Reduce your environmental footprint by making informed low-waste choices and with Carbon Neutral Meetings we will offset your event’s carbon emissions by investing in quality carbon reduction projects

Energise with locally sourced and balanced menus, designed by our Head Chef, to boost energy and minimize leftovers. Share the bounty; quote Business Eye when making your enquiry and we will donate £1 per delegate to The People’s Kitchen Belfast.

Engage with rewarding social impact opportunities that align with your company ESG goals. At Hilton Belfast we have partnered with Clean the World to recycle our discarded soaps. We can offer recommendations on how your organisation can do this.

Eye on News

LRA Conference Paves Pathway to Productivity

With workplace conflict in Northern Ireland estimated to cost up to £1billion per year, the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) is challenging local employers to consider how improved employment relations could lead to economic success through improved productivity.

The theme took centre stage at the LRA’s first major conference in over 10 years, which brought together leading employment experts from the private, public and academic sectors. Attended by over 250 HR and people professionals, a key objective was to explore the rationale behind a ‘good employment’ framework or charter and establish how its application could dramatically enhance performance and boost productivity.

Reflecting NI’s position as UK’s least productive region, almost 20% below the UK average, the conference theme was aligned with the Department for the Economy’s 10X vision, which places innovation, inclusion and sustainability at the heart of its growth plan.

“We are in the midst of challenging economic times,” said Don Leeson, CEO of the LRA, “with strikes, pay disputes, unrest, cost of living, retention and recruitment all impacting on the labour market.

“If Covid has taught us anything, it’s that we need to re-examine the workplace and what it delivers to our workforces. Much can be achieved by prioritising our people and ensuring good employment relations are at the heart of an organisation’s strategy and focus.”

Speaking at the conference, Prof Peter Urwin, Director of the Centre for Employment Research at the University of Westminster, launched research that estimates

the annual cost to employers of workplace conflict in NI at £851 million. Prof Urwin noted, “This figure was derived from historical data sources. With the wave of industrial disputes experienced over the last 12 months, the costs could be as high as £1billion.”

Conversely, as Professor Chris Warhurst, Director for the Institute of Employment Research at the University of Warwick, reflected, “The business case for good employment relations is clear, through pay-back in terms of improved productivity and innovation, which are needed if the 10X vision for NI is to be achieved. Furthermore, employees benefit through improved health and wellbeing.”

Amongst the leading thinkers speaking at the conference was Carol Halford from Greater Manchester Combined Authority who outlined how the Council’s Good Employment Relations Charter

has positively impacted on the economy in the NW of England.

In championing the Good Employment Charter concept, the LRA is challenging employers and company leaders to consider how success elsewhere could apply to Northern Ireland.

Don added, “It is clear that organisations which choose to adopt good employment practices, acknowledge the value of an engaged workforce, and harness the contribution of their employees, are best placed to thrive.

“Shaping and applying a formal Charter or framework, which is a best fit for the local economy, is the next logical step. Our conference proved the right platform to bring this important matter to the fore and we look forward to working with our stakeholders to bring the concept to life in the months ahead.”

Keynote speakers at the LRA Conference in Belfast included (from l-r): Carol Halford, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Don Leeson, CEO of the LRA, Professor Peter Urwin, University of Westminster, Hannah Blythyn MS, Dep Minister for Social Partnership, Welsh Government.

Eye on News

Belfast Law Firm Wins Investors In People Accreditation

Leading commercial law firm, Cleaver Fulton Rankin, has again been awarded the prestigious Investors in People accreditation.

Cleaver Fulton Rankin’s retention of the Investors in People standard reflects the firm’s commitment to delivering excellence in people management and supporting its valued team. Investors in People is an international standard for people management, defining what is required to effectively lead, support and manage people to achieve sustainable results. The Investors in People framework reflects the latest trends, effective structures and essential skills that are required to excel in any industry. This also provides the opportunity for organisations to benchmark against leading

businesses on an international stage. Cleaver Fulton Rankin achieved above both the legal industry and the overall company national benchmarks, which is an exceptional accomplishment.

So far in 2023, Cleaver Fulton Rankin has rolled out new initiatives to support and upskill all employees, having recently launched a new Diversity & Inclusion Strategy and Digital Skills Programme.

Kerri Bradley, HR Director at Cleaver Fulton Rankin, comments: “We’re delighted to have been awarded the Investors in People Accreditation. Investors in People recognises only the very highest standards of people management and we are so pleased that our dedication to supporting our people to thrive and develop within our firm has resulted in this important accolade. We will continue to review and improve our people practices, in collaboration with all our employees, to promote a positive, healthy and supportive workplace. ”

Culloden Invests In Spa Facilities

The Culloden Estate & Spa has announced the completion of a £250,000 investment programme of its spa facilities and is also celebrating being named as one of the Best Luxury Spas to Book in 2023 by The Times.

The leading 5-star property, is the only hotel from Northern Ireland included in the prestigious list and joins luxurious hotels from across the world including Claridge’s in London, The Rosewood Baha Mar in the Bahamas, Eden Rock hotel and spa in St Barths and Cheval Blanc in Paris.

In its description of The Culloden Estate & Spa, The Times said: “Dubbed “the Ritz of Northern Ireland”, the Culloden is renowned for its A-list appeal; with a beautiful backdrop of Belfast Lough and the Co Antrim coastline, walking around the grounds of this grand castle like building feels like you’re on the set of Bridgerton. Throw in some fine dining, opulent decor (think luxe carpets, art-adorned walls and grand chandeliers) and a top-tier spa, and

you have yourself a VIP hotspot.”

The £250,000 spa renovation programme included a new nail bar and pedicure facility, upgrade to the swimming pool area and a complete refit and update of the ladies changing facilities.

Niall Burns, General Manager of the Culloden Estate & Spa said: “We are thrilled to have completed our most recent renovation programme which has seen Hastings Hotels invest £1,000,000 in The Spa at Culloden over the last two years and in this time we have introduced a new linear vitality pool which enables views of the garden through the floor to ceiling windows a Tylarium, which is a combination of a sauna and steam room, and most recently a new nail bar. This has enhanced our luxury spa and wellness offering and helped position the Culloden as Northern Ireland’s ultimate 5-star property.

It is also fantastic to have been recognised as one of the Best Luxury

Spas to Book in 2023 by The Times and with our luxurious facilities, first-class service and stunning surroundings, it

is no surprise that the hotel continues to be recognised alongside the best hotels around the globe.”

Niall Burns, General Manager of the Culloden Estate & Spa is pictured with The Spa at Culloden Therapists, Aimee Deaney and Laura Gilliland as the 5-star property announces the completion of a £250,000 investment programme of its spa facilities and celebrates being named as one of the Best Luxury Spas to Book in 2023 by The Times.

RBCA Announces Expansion Plans For 2023

RBCA, an independent chartered accountancy firm based in Belfast, has announced ambitious expansion plans for 2023.

The firm, which expanded its team with eight new recruits last year has announced that a further ten positions will become available this year, allowing local accountancy talent to progress their skills and experience in Belfast.

The recruitment drive will support various departments within the business as demand for services accelerates into 2023. Roles will become available for both Chartered Accountants and the technical team, as well as new opportunities for recently graduated accountants to join the highly regarded RBCA Graduate Programme. This programme offers expert advice and mentorship to help graduates achieve Chartered Accountant status and reach their full potential.

Managing Director and Founder of RBCA, Ross Boyd explains that the firm has seen increased demand for its highly tailored services in 2022. He said: “Having seen a surge in demand last year, we at RBCA have taken all the necessary steps to ensure that we remain geared to offer the best possible support and guidance to Owner Managed Businesses throughout Northern Ireland. Our planned expansion is designed to support our clients’ requirements and ensure that we can strategically plan ahead to help them successfully navigate any challenges that 2023 may bring.”

Earlier this month, RBCA also moved to new premises at Linen Hall Exchange, confirming the organisations commitment to Belfast’s Linen Quarter District. The new office has been custom fitted out to create the most modern, flexible and sustainable working environment

for the team, and crucially has the capacity to accommodate future planned expansion beyond 2023.

Chris McCracken, Managing Director of Linen Quarter BID, said, “We are delighted that important businesses like RBCA recognise the benefits of working in the Linen Quarter. This historic and vibrant district has an eco-system of over 500 organisations, and has experienced particularly strong growth in technology, design, professional services and hospitality.

“With a new train station, glider, cycle routes and Weaver’s Cross business district all earmarked for the area, there has never been a better time to invest.

LQ BID looks forward to supporting new and existing stakeholders to deliver practical initiatives that boost business and enhance enjoyment for employees.”

As an independent business RBCA has adopted a unique suite of the latest technology that enables them

to lead market trends in in the UK and Ireland. In 2022 they redesigned and invested in cloud stack which aligned with the new office spec, creates an agile approach to enable productivity gains for their clients and team.

Having assembled some of the most able talent in the sector. The announcement has also seen the promotion of Jane Gill to Director. As the latest addition to the Board, Jane will lead the delivery of the firm’s OMB’s Compliance plus services. RBCA’s proposition to OMB’s offers a quality core compliance service through with a customised range of advisory services to offer real value to our partners.

Ross added: “Despite political instability and challenging economic conditions forecast for 2023, our development plan delivered 45 per cent growth in 2022 and we remain on target to deliver a further 25 per cent growth in 2023. We are great demand emerging for our audit services

where we offer a quality alternative in the market. Our corporate advisory team members have also seen a really busy start to 2023 and business market seems really active. To accommodate this we are committed to recruiting the best talent available locally - both experienced hires and top graduates. These roles are opportunities for people who want to remain in Belfast and be proud to be part of a successful independent business born and built in Belfast.”

RBCA was established in 2010 and remains a completely independent fully regulated Chartered Accountancy practice, which is not limited by a network. The organisation offers proactive advice and consultancy based on a quality tech based compliance audit, accounts and tax services to support locally based businesses and the public sector operating across the Northern Ireland economy and local markets in GB and Ireland.

Brian Stewart, Jane Gill and Ross Boyd of RBCA

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Charity Drive & Further Growth

FOR BARCLAY COMMUNICATIONS

Leading Northern Ireland telecoms group Barclay Communications has launched a new charity partnership with Cancer Focus in a bid to boost finding for those affected by the life-changing illness.

It’s an initiative with a very personal edge for the company and its employees. One of its longestserving employees has been on a cancer journey and relied on the support of the Belfast-based cancer charity.

Alejandro Segura-Martyniuk, the firm’s Head of Systems & Sales Administration, was diagnosed with a type of tongue cancer called Squamous Cell Carcinoma in 2020. Following intensive treatment, he’s now in recovery but pays tribute to the support he received from Cancer Focus....at a time when he needed it most.

“It can be really hard to know where to turn following diagnosis,” says Alejandro, a Venezuelan native now living in Northern Ireland. “I remember going home after being told I had cancer and just sitting with my family wondering what to do next.

“One of the first things we did was to pick up the phone to Cancer Focus and their support kicked in from day one right through, from personal advice to practical help like providing regular transport to and from

hospital treatment sessions.

“The services provided are very beneficial for the patient, the caregiver, and the family. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, it affects more than just the individual. The reality is that the entire family feels the impact.

“Cancer Focus NI has helped to alleviate and handle the pressure put on everyone. Nurse Line has helped us to answer any questions we have and deal with financial concerns. The family support service has helped us to navigate the difficult situation of explaining to younger members of the family and provided coping strategies for the disruption this type of illness brings.

“There are many more services and what has been most beneficial to me has been the recovery process. As well as the actual medical treatment received, the on-going support and guidance offered by Cancer Focus NI has been life changing. Thanks to charities like these, patients and families have a better journey through this rough process.”

On his return to work, Alejandro suggested that Barclay Communications might want to help him support the charity, and Founder & Managing Director Britt Megahey didn’t hesitate.

He’s pledged to support Cancer Focus throughout 2023 and across a wide range of staff and company initiatives, aiming to raise £10,000 for the local charity, helping towards its £4million fundraising goal.

“We’ve seen at first hand how the work of Cancer Focus NI has helped Alejandro and his family through counselling, providing information or just being an ear to listen at times.

“Alejandro has been a part of Barclay’s for over 10 years and is a valued member of the team We are delighted to hear that he has received a “clear” diagnosis and is on the way to remission. Having seen the impact of such a life-changing disease and how Cancer Focus NI provide much needed services to support people

Eye on Cover Story

“As well as the actual medical treatment received, the on-going support and guidance offered by Cancer Focus NI has been life changing. Thanks to charities like these, patients and families have a better journey through this rough process.”

Eye on Cover Story

in Northern Ireland, we made the decision to nominate them as our charity partner of the year. “

As well as being the beneficiary of the firm’s charity efforts, Cancer Focus NI is also avails of a variety of Barclay services including an IT support package, a managed mobile estate and Microsoft Teams integration.

“We rely heavily on robust telecoms infrastructure to provide our vital patient support services,” says Richard Spratt, Cancer Focus NI Chief Executive. “It’s imperative that we have reliable systems which allows us to grow our services. Recently, the team at Barclays suppled and installed landline services at all 12 of our retail sites across Northern Ireland, this included Microsoft Teams integrations. We also utilise the businesses IT support and managed mobile services. Managing all our communications with one reliable supplier has been much easier.”

The local charity has been instrumental for over 50 years in reducing the devastating impact of cancer on both patients

and their families. As well as supporting patients, the charity offers services including cancer prevention programmes to help people lessen their risk of getting cancer, as well as funding scientific research into the causes and treatment of the disease.

Cancer Focus also has a large team of volunteer drivers who give up their time to ferry cancer patients back and forth from hospital appointments.

“For us, this is part of what we do to give back to the community. We look to partner with organisations that have supported our employees. Throughout the years we have helped raise funds for Myeloma UK, Helping Hands, Family with Ups and Downs, PIPs

and more,” says Britt Megahey. “We currently support the communication needs of over 40% of charities in Northern Ireland and we will be launching some exciting initiatives for these customers this year that will hopefully help towards their funding. Our staff are very much involved in fundraising with an internal committee to manage all activities. Money raised throughout 2023 will go towards research funding, facilities upkeep and continuing to offer free services to patients.”

To help launch its fundraising initiatives, Barclay Communications has 21 employees taking part in the 2023 Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon at the end of April. 20 people will make up 4 relay

teams as well as one individual running the full 26.2-mile race. The teams have set a joint fundraising goal of £2,000 for the event.

“We are delighted that Barclay Communications has chosen us as its charity of the year,” adds Richard Spratt. “Corporate partnerships play an integral part in our charity’s fundraising and help us raise the vital funds needed to continue to deliver free services to people in Northern Ireland impacted by cancer. It is humbling to know that our charity was there for Alejandro and his family when they needed support and I look forward to meeting more of the team from Barclays throughout the year as they take part in a range of our fundraising events.”

Meanwhile, on the business front, Barclays 128-strong team is busier than usual assisting business customers to prepare for the big ISDN switch off. All of the old copper-based networks along with the ISDN infrastructure will be turned off entirely by 2025, and plenty of organisations out there still need help and support to bring systems up to date.

“Having seen the impact of such a lifechanging disease and how Cancer Focus NI provide much needed services to support people in Northern Ireland, we made the decision to nominate them as our charity partner of the year.”

Northern Ireland’s largest insurance broker AbbeyAutoline has marked 50 years in business with the launch of a series of community outreach activities across the province.

2023 marks a major milestone for AbbeyAutoline as it embarks on its 50th year in business in Northern Ireland.

At a special event hosted in Belfast, Managing Director Julie Gibbons launched a 50th Anniversary campaign designed to, “celebrate this major milestone, commend our staff and connect with local communities.”

Speaking to members of the Senior Management team, Julie Gibbons said she was immeasurably proud to lead the insurance brokerage into its 50th year as it continued on its acquisition growth strategy.

Most recently AbbeyAutoline acquired BMG Insurance, Portadown

Abbeyautoline Marks 50th Year In Business

and Newtownbutler, growing their branch network to 15.

“It’s a huge achievement for any company to mark 50 years in business, and it’s my honour to guide AbbeyAutoline through its 50th year celebrations.

“As we embark on a special programme to mark this anniversary, it’s only right that we credit Abbey founder George Storey and Autoline’s previous owner, Michael Blaney for their vision, leadership and focus on people, in developing such successful Northern Ireland companies.

“Companies which we continue to build through the Prestige Group’s ambitious growth strategy, led by CEO Trevor Shaw, with the backing of US investor Capital Z.

“This campaign also gives us a platform to say thank you to our staff – both past and present - for their support and dedication which has delivered us to this significant milestone.”

Part of the Prestige Insurance Holdings, AbbeyAutoline currently employs some 440 staff in branches across Northern Ireland.

At the launch event, Julie Gibbons outlined an ambitious programme for 2023 which will see AbbeyAutoline undertake a series of community outreach activities and support a number of local charities to ‘give back to the communities’ which have supported the growth of AbbeyAutoline over the past 50 years.

These initiatives include a company-wide ‘50k in May’ Health and Wellbeing Challenge to mark Mental Health Awareness month, and the business will also embark on an enterprising plan for staff to assist in the delivery of 50 community projects across the province during 2023.

This community programme, entitled ‘50 Ways to Give Back’, would see 50 initiatives delivered across Northern Ireland

supported by AbbeyAutoline staff - from volunteering at a local food bank, Community Garden, Charity, or Animal sanctuary, to supporting Tidy Towns initiatives and local beach cleans.

Julie said: “As a local company, connected with local communities we want to bring tangible and positive benefits to the areas that we work and live in through this Anniversary programme.

“For many years, the NI Hospice has been our chosen charity. In our Anniversary year we will also commit 50 voluntary hours to support the efforts of the NI Hospice fundraising team.”

“This year is a celebration for our company, for our staff and customers in equal measure. We look forward to rolling out this exciting programme to mark 50 Golden years of AbbeyAutoline as we look forward to our future growth,” Julie concludes.

Pictured celebrating AbbeyAutoline’s 50th Anniversary is Jackie Elliott, Commercial Director; Julie Gibbons, Managing Director; Jeni McKelvey, Personal Lines Director; and Paul Hanna, Group Chief Financial Officer.

Sysco Launches Own Brand Coffee

“Ireland’s coffee drinkers have become ever more discerning, so we undertook a comprehensive programme of testing and tasting during the product development phase,” said Mark Lee. “Our team of Coffee specialists have been on a journey to deliver a bespoke blend, perfectly balanced in sweetness, acidity, body and flavour to create the perfect cup of coffee for any setting. Espresso Modena is a coffee that meets the needs of all of our customers.”

The barista style coffee, which boasts notes of honey, dried apricot, toast and vanilla butter invites drinkers to ‘savour the moment’ and it marks Sysco’s first step in a journey to bring an extensive range of own-brand products to the Irish market. Sysco Brand products are backed by Sysco’s best-in-class quality assurance guarantee.

According to the CEO of Sysco Ireland Mark Lee, Citavo Espresso Modena, which is created by roasting the finest Arabica and Robusta beans, is a product that can rise to any coffee occasion, from the early morning pick-me up to an after-dinner coffee with friends.

The launch of Citavo, to be followed by more Sysco Brand products, marks a significant extension to Sysco’s offering, helping to continue to accelerate sales across the island.

“We are fulfilling our ambition to provide our customers with a bespoke range of products which are unique to Sysco, offering them the very best value, underpinned by an unparalleled commitment to quality assurance and consistency across a wide range of local and international suppliers,” Mark Lee continued. “The addition of our Citavo Espresso Modena to our beverage offering marks the next step in this exciting development for the company and opportunity for our customers.”

Gildernew & Co Opens New Belfast City Office

Dungannon-based Gildernew & Co has expanded its operations with the opening of a new office in Belfast City Centre, following a period of sustained growth and development.

The leading independent accountancy and business services company, established in mid-Ulster in 2016 and led by partners Gerard Gildernew and Claire McElduff, has seen its client base and service offering increase by more than 15% year-on-year.

A key driver behind the opening of the Belfast office has been the surge in demand for its bespoke business advisory services, particularly for those facing financial distress.

To support its growth plans, the company has appointed Gary Bonner to head up its Belfast office and lead its Restructuring & Insolvency team. Gildernew is further investing in its talent across all service lines through the recruitment of five additional accountancy, audit and advisory staff, taking its total headcount to 20.

Founder and Managing Partner, Gerard

Gildernew, said: “This is a significant milestone for the company, dramatically extending our reach and enabling us to cater ever more effectively for the evolving needs of our client base and the local business community.”

Located in the high-spec Urban HQ in Upper Queen St, the new office provides a central hub for the team to meet customers and network with its wider business partners and stakeholders. It will also become a focal point for talent attraction and development within the company.

“We are a people business committed to hiring and developing the best,” added Gerard. “Between our two offices, we can offer a hybrid, flexible approach which best meets the needs of our clients and our team.”

As Head of the Belfast office and Restructuring & Insolvency Lead Gary Bonner expanded on the rationale:

“Just as the wider economic landscape has changed over recent years – so has the range of services and support offered by the Gildernew & Co team.

Our comprehensive approach has enabled us to set ourselves apart, ensuring we are fully in-tune with the pressures and early distress signals that businesses can often ignore.

“As a solutions-focused business, our aim is to support and advise companies which may be facing red flags but are

unaware of the actions they can take to steer a path to recovery, or in the worst-case scenario, to help them through their insolvency journey.

“We are strategic and ambitious – with a personal edge - and are committed to recruiting and developing the strongest team to help us achieve our plans.”

Gary Bonner (r) head of Gildernew & Co’s new office in Belfast and Restructuring & Insolvency team lead is pictured with Founder and Managing Partner, Gerard Gildernew and Co-partner, Claire McElduff

Cathy McDonnell (Commercial Director, Sysco Ireland) and Mark Lee (CEO, Sysco Ireland) pictured at the launch of Citavo, Sysco’s first own brand coffee which is available now to order through Sysco Store.

Sysco, Ireland’s largest foodservice provider, has launched its own brand coffee, Citavo, extending its offering to its 10,000 plus customers across the island of Ireland.

Eye on Business Recovery

Rise After Rise

Have we seen the last of the Bank of England’s interest rate rises? TBC… but the impact of recent rises is starting to show within Northern Irish SMEs.

The decision by the Bank of England to increase the base rate to 4% in February is having significant implications for businesses of all sizes, but particularly local SMEs. By making borrowing more expensive, the increase, together with a number of other factors, is having a drag on economic growth.

Amid the choppy economic climate, companies are doing their best to keep their head above water and ensure they have a big picture view of the health of all aspects of their business including their supply chain, order book, who their partners are and what the end-user is looking for.

For companies, this has increased the cost of borrowing further, at a time when many are anxiously trying to stay cashflow positive. Many business owners are, quite rightly, turning to cashflow modelling to take account of cost volatility, and scenario planning for the 2023. Looking further ahead, one must hope that if and when demand slows in certain sectors and industries, inflation may start to come under control.

The flip side to regular interest rate rises is that the latest inflation figures suggest that the Bank of England’s aggressive tactics are starting to yield results, with the level of inflation falling marginally in recent months. Marginally is the key term… inflation remains at 10.5% at the time of writing and alas it doesn’t appear that interest rate rises are having the overall desired effect.

Lack of available finance for SMEs

The increases undoubtedly act as a wake-up call for SMEs to review their existing lending situation and ensure they are prepared.

The recent marginal slowing of inflation suggested that we may have reached a peak but still represented eye-watering numbers. Indications on the ground suggest that the start to 2023 has been difficult for many SMEs. Undoubtedly. Demand for working capital is continuing to rise as businesses desperately require liquidity to counteract supply chain issues, increases in wages and a worsening cost-of-living crisis.

Recent research shows that over a fifth of SMEs that required external finance over the last two years, could not access it. Further, over a quarter have had to stop or pause an area of their business because of a lack of access to finance.

As SMEs continue to struggle with obtaining external finance, this lack of availability is costing them and the local economy in terms of growth at a time when it is needed the most. The amount of growth that is being sacrificed is significant and will require new solutions which are designed to address this funding gap.

Other factors

As if recent interest rate rises weren’t enough, the blanket increase in input costs, wage inflation and utility costs have left many businesses in certain sectors on their knees, particular businesses which can’t pass on the price increases to the end user. Until inflation is under control, worryingly, that does not show any sign of slowing.

Gareth McGonigle, ASM Chartered Accountants

Eye on Energy

With energy costs and schemes frequently changing, how can local businesses save thousands of pounds?

The spiralling cost of energy has dominated the news in the UK for the last year, with soaring wholesale prices bringing challenges for both retail customers and businesses, but with the right advice, there is plenty business owners and managers in Northern Ireland can do to save money, writes Radius Energy’s Curtis Broadbent.

To try and help the UK during this time, the government has introduced several schemes to help businesses cope. One of which is the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) - it supports businesses and public sector organisations such as schools and hospitals by providing a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices. But, as of 31 March 2023, the EBRS scheme will be ending.

More than 50 retail groups fear that their businesses may not survive the next 12 months because they face a sharp rise in costs when help with energy bills tails off from April. And sixty per cent of the retail businesses surveyed by FRP Advisory, the restructuring specialist, cited rising energy costs as the biggest cost pressure in the months ahead.

So, what can businesses do to try and curtail the astronomical energy costs?

Review your energy contracts: One of the first things business owners should be doing is reviewing their current energy contract ahead of 1 April 2023. With competition slowly coming back into the industry, there may be an opportunity to switch to a better rate and ensure the business isn’t being overcharged.

Become more energy efficient: It might sound simple, but making sure staff are aware of ‘best practice behaviours’ when it comes to ensuring energy isn’t wasted is key. For example Radius Energy saved a sporting organisation in Ireland over £44,000 per annum (the equivalent of one month’s free electricity),

simply through highlighting electrical items that were on standby and should have been turned off. Businesses can also look to work with energy experts such as Radius to create a more in-depth energy management strategy.

Energy Bill Discount Scheme: In light of the EBRS ending, the Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS) has been announced by the UK government. It will offer continued energy bill support for businesses until 31 March 2024, but at a reduced rate. Rates (for all eligible non-domestic customers) will be 0.697p/ kWh for gas and 1.967p/ kWh for electricity.

Ask an expert: Of course, energy management is a technical and often unknown entity – which is why companies such as Radius Energy are on hand to help offer business advice. Experts in this field play a vital role in making sure businesses are set up efficiently and not being overcharged. For example, Radius Energy saved a local baked goods manufacturer over £100,000 (or 34 percent) per annum by running a tender on their energy procurement requirements.

The schemes available (such as the EBDS) are complex and businesses large and small have found it difficult to understand if they are receiving the correct support. With the help of experts – such as Radius Energy – businesses can ensure that energy costs can be managed and avoid unnecessarily high bills.

For businesses requiring support with energy management and sustainable mobility solutions, from flexible and fixed term commercial vehicle hire and leasing, to guidance about the transition to electric, contact the Radius team on 028 92 444 966 or visit www.radius.com

Radius, the global mobility and connectivity leader provides market-leading products across six core business units: Radius Fuel Solutions, Radius Telematics, Radius Insurance, Radius Vehicle Solutions, Radius Connect and Radius EV & Energy. Since 1990, Radius has enabled businesses across the globe to transform the way they operate, driving growth and productivity to create a more successful and sustainable future for all.

“More than 50 retail groups fear that their businesses may not survive the next 12 months because they face a sharp rise in costs when help with energy bills tails off from April.”

Curtis Broadbent

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Eye on News

More than ‘Just A Minute’: Power NI expands Strategic Partnership with the Now Group

Power NI is taking greater steps in their strategic partnership with the NOW Group to aid employment and provide tailored support for participants, and to provide better services, support, and opportunities for those with Autism and Learning Difficulties.

In an aim to remove barriers to employment, Power NI, part of Energia Group, and the NOW Group are working closely to facilitate specialised employment academies and provide training and skill development to support NOW participants’ entry into the workforce.

The energy company is encouraging participants to apply for roles in the company to aid their transition into working life and kickstart a meaningful, wellsupported career. By providing work placements and site visits, NOW Group participants can get a clear picture of what it is like to work for Power NI including the environment that they would work in and the support that is available.

Alongside employment support, the partnership with the NOW Group serves as a direct pathway to collaboration on new projects and changes to Power NI’s processes. Through co-create workshops, the Power NI teams will avail of feedback and helpful direction from NOW Group participants on the usability of their platforms. Bringing new ideas to life with those in mind right at the forefront of the projects.

Gwyneth Compston, CSR Manager for Power NI spoke about the partnership:

“As the leading energy provider, we know how important it is to make sure that we can accommodate for everyone who needs us. All our customers, employees and

stakeholders should feel understood, while equally being able to understand what we do and offer, and we know that there are always ways to make this better. We’ve been working with the NOW Group for quite some time and are so honoured to extend this partnership and have the expert support to provide better opportunities for those with autism and learning difficulties.”

The NOW Group, the organisation facilitating the JAM Card initiative in Northern Ireland, is a social enterprise that focuses on supporting people with learning difficulties and autism, into jobs with a future. They began work with Power NI in 2019, providing JAM (‘Just A Minute’) training to staff to recognise and support customers who may need more time or assistance. Power NI has continued this training and have been proudly extending the partnership into other

branches of the business. The most notable being the employability opportunities and support.

Nicola Tipping, Business Development Manager of the NOW Group explains:

‘‘We are delighted to have Power NI as a NOW Group Strategic Partner. Power NI is a fantastic supporter of NOW Group and the work we do to help people with autism and learning disabilities into careers with a future. From ordering food from Loaf Catering to becoming a JAM Card Partner they support all elements of our social enterprise.

Staff members have completed JAM Card training that enables them to provide excellent service to customers with learning and hidden disabilities. By completing this training, Power NI staff will have the confidence to support all customers to access the help they need in a simple and easy way.’’

Photographed (L-R) is Business Development Manager of the NOW Group, Nicola Tipping, NOW Group participants Oonagh Reid, Connor McMurray and Aoife MacDermott, and Power NI CSR Manager Gwyneth Compston.

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Eye on TechEye

Will We Speak Fluent Machine?

On a weekly basis, researchers across industry and academia have published work advancing the state-of-the-art in nearly every domain of AI, toppling benchmarking leaderboards and accomplishing feats beyond what we could have imagined even a few years ago.

In large part, this progress is due to the rapid advancements we’ve seen in large AI models. Recent progress in supercomputing techniques and new applications of neural network architectures have allowed us to train massive, centralized models that can accomplish a wide variety of tasks using natural language inputs— from summarizing and generating text with unprecedented levels of sophistication, to even generating complex code for developers.

The combination of large language models and coding resulted in two of the most powerful AI developments we witnessed in 2022: the introduction of the OpenAI Codex Model—a large AI model that can translate natural language inputs into more than a dozen programming languages—and the launch of GitHub Copilot, a

programming assistant based on Codex. Historically, computer programming has been all about translation: Humans must learn the language of machines to communicate with them. But now, Codex lets us use natural language to express our intentions, and the machine takes on the responsibility of translating those intentions into code. It’s basically a translator between the human imagination and any piece of software with an API.

more powerful, GitHub Copilot will become increasingly useful for the developers relying on it, freeing up their time for more engaging and creative work and enhancing their efficiency.

In and of itself, that’s a truly remarkable step forward in productivity for developers alone, a community of knowledge workers who are wrestling with extraordinary complexity and unprecedented demand for their talents. But it’s just the first step of

are potentially endless, limited only by one’s ability to imagine scenarios in which such productivity-assisting software could be applied to other types of complex, cognitive work— whether that be editing videos, writing scripts, designing new molecules for medicines, or creating manufacturing recipes from 3D models.

By applying the same underlying technology used to create GitHub Copilot, it will be possible to build Copilots for virtually any complex, repetitive aspect of knowledge work, allowing knowledge workers to spend their time on higher-order cognitive tasks, and effectively transforming how a great many of us interact with technology to get things done.

Codex has enabled the creation of GitHub Copilot, a virtual programming partner that, on average, generates more than 40 percent of the code for developers who use it. Over the coming months and years, as large AI models reliably scale up in size and become

many that will be taken in 2023 as we see this pattern repeated across other sorts of knowledge work.

In 2023, we will see Codex and other large AI models used to create new “copilots” for other types of intellectual labor. The applications

Our increasingly complicated and information-dense world requires more knowledge work every year, imposing ever-greater demands on those workers in every field and industry. Copilots for Everything could offer a genuine revolution for types of work where productivity gains have been few and far between since the invention of the personal computer and the internet.

If there’s one part of the tech world forging ahead faster than any other, it’s likely to be artificial intelligence – AI.

“Copilots for Everything could offer a genuine revolution for types of work where productivity gains have been few and far between since the invention of the personal computer and the internet.”

Eye on TechEye

TECH & CULTURE CHANGE –A WINNING COMBINATION

But if cultural and technical change are given equal weight and both align with organisational strategy, business change initiatives can boost company revenues by up to 44% in a year. These are the key findings of a survey conducted among 301 UK IT and security professionals by telecommunications provider Telstra.

Diana Kearns-Manolatos, global head of digital transformation research for management consultancy Deloitte’s Centre for Integrated Research, agrees. She defines digital transformation as being “the ability to use technology to continuously evolve and reinvent the enterprise”.

But to “maximise value creation” here, she says, it is vital to strike the “right balance across business strategy, technology enablement and cultural change”.

Kearns-Manolatos describes them as being the “three important pillars” underpinning success.

Rob Robinson, head of tech services provider Telstra Purple, puts it more bluntly. In his view, any failure to achieve “full alignment from a cultural and technology perspective” will inevitably result in “diminished returns on investment and to existing processes”. This means “it’s critical they’re aligned”, he says.

On the other hand, more than threequarters (77%) of survey respondents also believe that tech has a vital role to play in reinforcing or transforming (82%) company culture. Other key transformation drivers in this context include training (29%), staff resourcing (27%) and fostering collaboration (26%).

Case study: Marks & Spencer

Employee upskilling and the creation of a wider digital culture have been key elements of Marks & Spencer’s bid to become the industry’s most data-driven retailer.

The shift started in 2019, when Jeremy Pee, newly hired chief digital and data (now digital and technology) officer, launched his ‘Beam’ strategy to help the company “become data-driven and digitally led”, as head of enterprise data, Suzanne Howse puts it.

This strategy consisted of three parts, all of which were given equal weighting. The first consisted of putting the right technology in place to enable users to access the information they needed.

This involved implementing the Databricks data warehouse and business intelligence tools running on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.

The second component involved ensuring employees at all levels of the organisation had the skills to work effectively with data in an increasingly digital world. The third, says Howse, was to: “Deliver value

through data to get our leaders excited about how they could use it to solve problems and help the business.”

As part of the move, a centralised data science team was also set up to concentrate on two key areas: customer and enterprise data. The former, which is currently the most mature, focuses on the firm’s Sparks loyalty programme, personalised marketing activities and the digital customer journey.

“The more people shop, the more data we get, so it’s a huge benefit to the business as we can use it to add value and solve particular problems,” says Howse.

The importance of culture and mindset

In 2020, meanwhile, the team also launched its BEAM Academy to upskill the wider workforce in all things data and digital. As a result, tailored training was provided for three key groups of learners:

•Practitioners, which include data scientists, analysts and engineers. The focus here is on the skills and technology required to drive a data culture;

•Leaders, to provide them with the support they need to lead teams in a data-driven way;

•Support centre and in-store staff. A three-hour Digital Essential Skills Training course based on future.now content was rolled out for support centre workers in early January. A two-hour version for in-store staff will follow in April. One of the aims is to help them understand the company’s digital strategy, the business benefits of its Sparks programme and what their role in it is.

“A big part of this is about mindset and culture,” says Howse. “Although we do technical skills development, a lot of it is about people learning to think and behave differently – it’s been a big focus.”

“The more people shop, the more data we get, so it’s a huge benefit to the business as we can use it to add value and solve particular problems.”

Jeremy Pee, chief digital and technology officer, M&S

Investing in technology alone is not enough to bring about meaningful digital transformation, research has revealed.

Eye on TechEye

Leading Edge Tech Continues To Revolutionise Healthcare

The rise of technologies such as sensors, robotics and digital therapeutics is changing that, opening up a world of care focused on the individual that improves outcomes throughout life.

By shifting routine medical treatments to the home, patients can receive the same level of care without having to travel to a medical centre, reducing journey times, removing the chance of exposure to disease, lowering anxiety – and basically giving them more of their regular life back. But making that change is not as simple as it sounds.

“Moving care out of a medicalised environment requires deep human insights – understanding people’s preferences, behaviours, cultures and experiences, and how they interact with technologies designed to support them,” says Stephen Morehouse, a life sciences expert at PA. “Only by intensely studying the individual, and taking that insight into design, can the technologies create outcomes that are truly life-changing.”

New technologies have enabled us to improve care by bringing it closer to the patient. A flagship project for PA’s chief innovation officer Frazer Bennett, was with Monica Healthcare, now part of GE Healthcare, where the team combined human-factor insights with smart-sensor tech to create wearables that monitor the health of babies, even before they were born, while the Owlet Smartsock, created by design experts in the same team, watches over sleeping

infants in the home, tracking vital signs using pulse oximetry that was previously restricted to hospital use.

“Value in these innovations scales in all directions; babies are protected, mothers are reassured, and this safer and better experience also frees up precious resources like much-needed hospital beds and staff, creating efficiencies for the healthcare system as a whole,” explains Frazer. “Making it personal, thinking about where activity happens can not only personalise the experience for users, patients and customers, but also have profound commercial, economic and societal advantages”.

The good news is that it’s increasingly possible to have a personalised experience, at scale and pace. At the onset of Covid-19, British local authorities needed to check in on clinically vulnerable citizens who were shielding at home. In one local authority alone, that number totalled 53,000 people. Given Covid19 restrictions, it was impossible to hire enough people to individually call – or physically visit – all affected individuals. The authority needed a solution, fast, and contacted PA’s team.

Within a matter of days, the PA team conceived, designed and implemented a new system – the Wellbeing Automated Call Service. Using their deep insights of patient behaviours, the team created a human-replicating experience, and used Amazon Web Services’ Connect

platform to make outbound bot calls to 200,000 people. “If they needed help, the bot triaged the request and patched the individual through to a human call-handler,” explains Nick Wake, an agile delivery expert at PA. The real surprise? How warm the response was from patients, who talked to the bot like a human being and fed back that – in a really worrying time – the call made them feel valued and cared for.

“The really exciting thing about the approach is that the core technique – quickly repurposing existing technologies and combining them with deep behavioural insight – is applicable across any industry,” says Steve Carefull, an operational improvement expert at PA. “The same technology could, for example, be used for ‘back to work’ readiness calls to tens of thousands of employees post-Covid-19,” he says, “or in any situation where information needs to be quickly and consistently shared, be it to customers, employees or patients.”

Innovative technologies can lead to incredible outcomes. Yet there’s often a danger they’ll not be embraced by the user and fall flat. Take the use of robots. A care home in England might not be the place you’d expect to see a Japanese robot exoskeleton in action – yet the PA team delivered Europe’s first care sector collaborative robots (or cobots), which allow external exoskeletons to protect carers as they deliver physical care such as lifting and moving patients. With careful training, a thoughtful

roll-out and deep attention to how the users experienced the technology, the results were fantastic. As Lesley Grant, a healthcare expert at PA says: “It enables more personalised care for the patients and maintains their dignity and privacy.”

In Norway, robots are mimicking consumer products to remind patients when to take their medication and control the quantity available, speaking directly to the patients and communicating other information through light and text displays. “One of the patients using the robot was in his 40s and had Parkinson’s disease, and had to take his medicine at exactly the right time,” explains Grete KvernlandBerg, Norway country head and government expert at PA. “He went from staying at home more or less in his bed, to going out on skis. Another patient likes her robot so much she brings it with her everywhere.” The benefits from the programme included reduced amounts of home visits, increased feelings of safety, positive health effects and boosted levels of activity.

The outlook is nothing but exciting, with a range of new technologies set to personalise care ever further. Take, for example, continued advances in genome sequencing. Before long, scientists are expected to have the ability to create a genetic blueprint for every individual, providing physicians and pharma and biotech companies with an invaluable tool to develop bespoke therapies and treatment regimes.

There’s nothing more personal than health, but healthcare doesn’t always reflect that. Diagnosis, monitoring and treatment usually happen where clinicians work, not where patients live.

Eye on TechEye

GRAVITY – A SOLUTION FOR GREEN ENERGY’S BIG ISSUE

In a Swiss valley, an unusual multiarmed crane lifts two 35-ton concrete blocks high into the air. The blocks delicately inch their way up the blue steel frame of the crane, where they hang suspended from either side of a 66-meter-wide horizontal arm. There are three arms in total, each one housing the cables, winches, and grabbing hooks needed to hoist another pair of blocks into the sky, giving the apparatus the appearance of a giant metallic insect lifting and stacking bricks with steel webs. Although the tower is 75 meters tall, it is easily dwarfed by the forested flanks of southern Switzerland’s Lepontine Alps, which rise from the valley floor in all directions. Thirty meters. Thirty-five. Forty. The concrete blocks are slowly hoisted upwards by motors powered with electricity from the Swiss power grid. For a few seconds they hang in the warm September air, then the steel cables holding the blocks start to unspool and they begin their slow descent to join the few dozen similar blocks stacked at the foot of the tower. This is the moment that this elaborate dance of steel and concrete has been designed for. As each block descends, the motors that lift the blocks start spinning in reverse, generating electricity that courses through the thick cables running down the side of the crane and onto the power grid. In the 30 seconds during which the blocks are descending, each one generates about one megawatt of electricity: enough to power roughly 1,000 homes. This tower is a prototype from Switzerland-based Energy Vault, one of a number of startups finding new ways to use gravity to generate electricity. A fully-sized version of the tower might contain 7,000 bricks and provide enough electricity to power several thousand homes for eight hours. Storing energy in this way could help solve the biggest problem facing the transition to renewable electricity: finding a zero-carbon way to keep the lights on when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining.

“The greatest hurdle we have is getting low-cost storage,” says Robert Piconi, CEO and cofounder of Energy Vault.

Without a way to decarbonize the world’s electricity supply, we’ll never hit net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Electricity production and heat add up to a quarter of all global emissions and, since almost every activity you can imagine requires electricity, cleaning up power grids has huge knock-on effects. If our electricity gets greener, so do our homes, industries, and transport systems. This will become even more critical as more parts of our lives become electrified— particularly heating and transport, which will be difficult to decarbonize in any other way.

All of this electrification is expected to double electricity production by 2050 according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. But without an easy way to store large amounts of energy and then release it when we need it, we may never undo our reliance on dirty, polluting, fossil-fuel-fired power stations. This is where gravity energy storage comes in. Proponents of the technology argue that gravity provides a neat solution to the storage problem. Rather than relying on lithium-ion batteries, which degrade over time and require rare-earth metals that must be dug out

of the ground, Piconi and his colleagues say that gravity systems could provide a cheap, plentiful, and long-lasting store of energy that we’re currently overlooking. But to prove it, they’ll need to build an entirely new way of storing electricity, and then convince an industry already going all-in on lithium-ion batteries that the future of storage involves extremely heavy weights falling from great heights.

Energy Vault’s test site is in a small town called Arbedo-Castione in Ticino, the southernmost of Switzerland’s 26 cantons and the only one where the sole official language is Italian. The foothills of the Swiss Alps is a fitting location for a gravity energy storage startup: A short drive east from Energy Vault’s offices will take you to the Contra Dam, a concrete edifice made famous in the opening scene of GoldenEye, where James Bond bungee-jumps down the dam’s 220-meter-high face to infiltrate a top-secret Soviet chemical weapons facility. Just to the north of ArbedoCastione, another towering dam blocks the upper Blenio Valley, holding back the waters of the Luzzone reservoir.

Water and height—Switzerland has both of these resources in abundance,

which is why the country was an early pioneer of the oldest and most widely used large-scale energy storage on the planet: pumped hydro. In the very north of Switzerland is the oldest working pumped hydro facility in the world. Built in 1907, the Engeweiher pumped hydro facility works on the same basic premise as Energy Vault’s tower. When electricity supply is plentiful, water is pumped upwards from the nearby Rhine to fill the 90,000-cubicmeter Engeweiher reservoir.

When energy demand is at its highest, some of this water is released through a set of gates and plunges down to a hydroelectric power plant, where the downward movement of the water turns the blades of a turbine and generates electricity. Engeweiher now doubles as a local beauty spot, popular with joggers and dog walkers from the nearby town of Schaffhausen, but pumped hydro has come a long way since the early 20th century. Over 94 percent of the world’s large-scale energy storage is pumped hydro, most of it built between the 1960s and ’90s to harness cheap electricity produced by nuclear power plants running overnight.

Finding green energy when the winds are calm and the skies are cloudy has been a challenge. Storing it in giant concrete blocks could be the answer.

Technology to build a business on.

By trusting tech thinking that’s more than surface deep our clients know they stand on firm ground.

It’s a wide, deep platform, one that’s based on over two decades’ successful implementation of bespoke, world-class technology

solutions. It’s a foundation created by a bunch of tech heads who are trusted partners of Microsoft and are genuinely passionate about keeping our clients out in front, well ahead of the digital curve.

That’s the perfect place to build a business.

Greiner Packaging First To Gain Sustainably Sourced Plastic Certification

Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland, based in Dungannon, has become the first packaging manufacturer in Northern Ireland to gain the Sustainably Sourced Plastics (SSP) Certification, and the first Greiner Packaging factory in the world to be awarded Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) Chain of Custody certification.

Developed in conjunction with the BSI Flex 6228 Standard, SSP Certification provides an overall validation of the plastics packaging supply chain. This ensures that the required recycled content percentage can be traced and assured, from recyclers to manufacturers and retailers.

Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland has also been awarded Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification – the first to awarded across Greiner Packaging’s 30 factories in 19 countries.

The Forest Stewardship Council is an independent, not

for profit, non-governmental organization established to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

“Gaining FSC Chain of Custody certification means that our customers who wish to communicate their sustainable packaging choices can include the FSC logo on pack,” says Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland Sustainability & Innovation Manager Rachel Sheldon. “The FSC label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses

to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value. Our K3® cardboard-plastic combination is one of the world’s most sustainable packaging solutions and having FSC Certification enables us to say: ‘This product has been made with wood from well-managed forests and we can prove it’.”

“The SSP and FSC certifications come only three months after we announced that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved the decontamination process used at our factory in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials,” say Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland Quality Systems Lead Kathy Reid.

“We invested over £3,700,000 in our new PET decontamination and extrusion line to enable the use of more recycled materials in our market-leading packaging ranges. This is the latest step in our continued commitment to

innovate, increase capacity and reduce our carbon footprint. Being able to prove that the food-safe plastic we use is sustainably sourced and that the cardboard is from responsibly managed forests further demonstrates our leadership in sustainable packaging.”

“These certifications brought a momentous year for Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland to a fitting conclusion,” says General Manager Paul Millar. “We celebrated our 50th anniversary at Dungannon in 2022 and announced new investments totaling over £10M. We also joined RECOUP, the official RecyClass auditor for rigid plastic packaging in the UK, and put a new fleet of trailers carrying our ‘We love sustainable packaging’ message onto the nations’ roads. We are looking forward to an equally exciting 2023, as we continue to roll out the new K3® r100 self-separating cardboard-plastic pack, which is our most sustainable packaging solution to date.”

Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland General Manager Paul Millar with Quality Systems Lead Kathy Reid.

Why Divorce Is Everyone’s Business

Alarmingly, many business owners, shareholders and investors fail to consider what a divorce might mean for them and their assets, which in many cases can form a substantial part of a couple’s matrimonial property.

While many have a bricks-and-mortar property at the forefront of their mind, what happens if you or one of your co-shareholders initiate a divorce?

The reality is, without a pre-agreed solution, any asset belonging to a spouse has the potential to become ‘matrimonial property’ and could be split as part of any final settlement.

Grappling with your business assets as part of any divorce is far from ideal, triggering a possible buy-out, uncomfortable discussions, new pressures and complications during an already difficult time.

Of course, getting advice on how the impact of divorce might be mitigated is rarely on the ‘to do’ list of many business owners or investors, but it can help to avoid any stressful or costly disruption further down the track.

Before deciding on any split, the parties and their advisors must consider what will be deemed matrimonial property and non-matrimonial property. This involves reviewing all assets, both personal and commercial, owned jointly or solely. All matrimonial property will be divided on separation and if agreement cannot be reached between the parties, a judge will decide.

What the court aims to achieve, where possible, is a clean break, which

allows parties to go their separate ways financially independent of each other and without any continuing liabilities - except in respect of any children.

As always in business, it is best to prepare. Here are some practical points to consider:

Minority shareholdings: If you hold a minority interest in a business, the courts will usually consider the value of this asset in a hypothetical sale. Typically, courts speculatively value minority shareholdings with a discount applied (often 50 percent or more) for the purpose of calculating its value as matrimonial property.

A discount will usually not apply if the company is deemed a quasi-partnership where both spouses are actively involved.

Courts will also usually not apply a discount in cases where historic, non-discounted share buybacks have been evidenced. Consideration should therefore be given to the method of valuing shares for the purpose of any share buy-back, as any discounts applied (or not applied) might set a precedent for how shares are subsequently valued.

Family businesses: It is not unusual for the Family Court in Northern Ireland to have to deal with family businesses where a spouse is an equal, majority or sole shareholder whilst having little daily input. It also does not necessarily follow that spouse A with a holding of 50 to 100 percent shareholding of a company operated solely by spouse

B will be awarded exactly this value. Courts also look at the intentions and purposes of the shareholding arrangement and can consider that the value of the business is based on the person at the helm, not the person on the share register. Evidencing the intentions of the parties by way of an ancillary agreement can be useful in these circumstances.

Pre- and Post-Nuptial Agreements:

Seeking legal advice on prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to mitigate the risk of commercial interests being split by the Family Court is a practical step. Whilst those agreements remain relatively uncommon in Northern Ireland, they are gaining traction, with many couples seeing mutual benefit in agreeing how a clean break can be quickly and fairly achieved if they part ways.

Given the potential complexities where business assets are involved, entering into a prenuptial agreement should be considered, particularly now when the courts are increasingly taking note.

What if it’s too late to prepare and a divorce process is pending?

If you find yourself in the situation where business assets are being brought into divorce proceedings, or you think they should be for you to reach a fair settlement with your former spouse, you should seek advice from a family and matrimonial team who have experience of dealing with high value, complex, business assets as early as possible. The last thing you need is for your business to be a bone of contention, particularly if you run it together.

For further information or advice, Rachael McKee at Davidson McDonnell Solicitors’ can be contacted at rachael.mckee@ davidsonmcdonnell.com or on 028 9099 8207.

A divorce is something nobody plans for and the implications for everyone involved can be stressful and upsetting - and in the absence of a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, there is a lot to consider when it comes to protecting your assets, particularly when it comes to business, writes Davidson McDonnell’s Rachael McKee.

Eye on News

New scheme for diners helping restaurants to reduce food waste

A new scheme aimed at helping businesses to reduce food waste has been launched by Belfast City Council during Food Waste Action Week.

The ‘Cater 4 Later’ bring home box scheme will give diners the opportunity to take leftover food home, while allowing restaurants and cafés across Belfast to cut down on food waste.

According to the Sustainable Restaurant Association, around one third of waste from Belfast food businesses is food that customers leave on their plates.

Chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee, Councillor Micky Murray, described the scheme as “a win, win for both customer and businesses.”

“The amount of food waste that continues to be sent to landfill from food businesses and homes is quite staggering,” said Councillor Murray.

“When it comes to eating out, leftover food on plates doesn’t mean

that customers are not enjoying their meal; in many cases they are simply too full to finish it.

“I think a lot of people would love the option of bringing their leftovers home to enjoy later that evening or the next day, but diners aren’t always sure if restaurants can facilitate this; so I’m delighted that council is stepping forward to provide a solution with the ‘Cater 4 Later’ scheme, which is a real win, win for both customers and businesses.”

He added: “I would encourage all food providers across the city to sign up, so they can provide a wider service to their customers and ultimately help improve our local environment by reducing their levels of food waste going to landfill.”

By joining the scheme, businesses will benefit from improved sustainability and being more environmentally

friendly, as well as improving their customer service and satisfaction.

Ricky Armstrong, owner of the Guillemot Deli & Café in Ballyhackamore is an early adopter of the new scheme. He said: “Food waste is something that we deal with daily. These ‘Cater 4 Later’ boxes provided by council will go a long way in helping us to reduce

our levels of waste and have the added benefit of allowing us to provide a better offering to our customers. We’re delighted to sign up to the scheme.”

The boxes used for the Cater 4 Later scheme are made of food grade cardboard and can be composted, so customers can dispose of them along with their food and garden waste.

Gray Design to Deliver Irish Hub for Major US Software firm

Barry Gray, CEO and Co-Founder of Gray Design said: “We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Kaseya and this collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to continue providing our services across the entire island of Ireland.”

“The new innovative space has been designed to house 250 new employees and this will be delivered on a phased approach over the next 12-18 months.”

Gray Design, which has offices in Belfast, Dublin, and Newry, has been tasked with designing a state-of-the-art office space, for 250 employees in Dundalk, County Louth.

Gray Design will lead a team responsible for the delivery of grade-A office provisions to meet the company’s needs for the next three years.

Kaseya announced back in July 2022 that it plans on creating these 250 new jobs in Dundalk over the next three years and since then it has been ramping up recruitment ahead of the opening of its new centre of excellence.

Shane Mulholland, Global Head of Recruitment at Kaseya said: “It’s fantastic to be collaborating with an experienced firm such as Gray Design. We believe that their expertise will be invaluable in creating a facility that meets our unique needs and we are looking forward to bringing our vision to life with them.”

“This project represents a major investment in the future of our company in Ireland and will further enable us to better serve our clients and attract top talent as we plan to employ 500 people in Ireland by 2025”.

Kaseya is currently recruiting for a wide variety of roles, including engineers, technical support, and sales staff. It will also be liaising with the Dundalk Institute of Technology and DCU to recruit for graduate roles.

Gray Design, a leading architectural practice, has been appointed by Kaseya, a US IT management and security software provider, to help design its new premises in Ireland.

Chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee Councillor Micky Murray joins owner of the Guillemot Deli and Café, Ricky Armstrong to launch the “Cater 4 Later” initiative.

EMPOWERING

PEOPLE TO PUT

BELFAST ON A GLOBAL STAGE

Eye on Venues

Business Eye had the opportunity to catch up with Steve Daniels, the newly appointed Chairman of the Board and Julia Corkey, Chief Executive of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall, to talk about the vision and direction for the organisation in 2023.

“First of all, I’m incredibly honoured to be given this opportunity.” explains Steve, who took over from Ellvena Graham as Chairman in November 2022. He continues: “Having been a Non-Executive Director on the Board since 2018, I am excited to continue my commitment to the company and support the team as they continue to deliver world-class events for the people of Belfast and Northern Ireland. The buzz I get when I walk around these fantastic venues is exhilarating – I love meeting the team and genuinely thrive on their energy and passion.

“In fact, the team are the reason this organisation has so much potential, and why people who visit

these venues leave with incredible memories from their shared experiences. From the moment you walk into any of these venues you get what we call the ‘Belfast welcome’. And this is not just any hello, it’s a genuinely enthusiastic greeting, often accompanied by banter and recommendations on where best to enjoy the city like a local. Conference delegates visiting for the first time are immediately excited to make the most of their time here.”

Steve, a native South Londoner (he is keen to emphasise South) and unapologetic Millwall F.C. fanatic, has lived in Northern Ireland for over 25 years – and it is very much his home now. His career saw him take on a number of global senior leadership roles in the financial sector and these experiences earned him his reputation for exceptional commercial and business acumen. He also has extensive board experience making him the perfect fit for the role of these venues’ Chairman.

Speaking on his love for Northern Ireland he said: “This place is unique. It’s obviously jaw-droppingly beautiful, but the people make it stand out. In the last quarter of 2022, we hosted over 20 business events and over 80 entertainment events – that’s tens of thousands of delegates and patrons walking our corridors and exploring Belfast for the first time with our research consistently showing that they love the experience. The feedback from delegates is almost always “welcoming”, “enthusiastic” and “engaging”. And it’s our people who help us achieve this.”

Julia adds, dovetailing perfectly with Steve: “During our closure due to the pandemic we took the time to reframe our vision and recalibrate our ambition and now that we’ve been back up and running conferences for almost a year, the trajectory continues to be upwards. The team here work incredibly hard to provide meaningful opportunities for people to come together.

“We’re really proud of the business events we deliver. It’s showcasing important work and facilitating knowledge transfer on behalf of major organisations that make significant societal contributions such as the British Association of Spinal Surgeons, the Harkin Institute, and the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language. We work hand in glove with Visit Belfast, Tourism Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council to attract these organisations and

subsequently deliver economic impact that directly benefits Belfast and Northern Ireland.

“Like all conference centres, we provide a ‘blank canvas’ space, and the necessary equipment and expertise to deliver world-class events. However, at ICC Belfast it means so much more. We are showcasing Belfast internationally and when we win a business event, we know it benefits Northern Ireland. Delegates that come to our venues also visit our cafes, bars, restaurants and tourist attractions. They order our taxis, frequent our shops and walk the city. Research shows that a third of these delegates are highly likely to come back again too – bringing friends and family as leisure visitors.”

Business tourism is high on the agenda for all of ICC Belfast’s partners, and Julia and Steve have recently appointed a Head of International Sales to build on the successes to date.

Steve concludes: “We have world-class facilities, a city that is genuinely walkable, a vibrant hospitality scene and our connectivity is improving. We are investing in our team and working with our partners to ensure that our venues get in front of industry decision-makers and that Belfast is promoted for the brilliant city it is. And as we do this, we are enhancing our reputation within the events industry for both professionalism and personality, because as always, our pitch comes with passion, expertise, and the all-important bit of craic.”

The team at ICC Belfast, Northern Ireland’s only purposebuilt international convention centre and sister venue to the Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall – iconic venues that have been part of the fabric of Belfast’s live entertainment scene for many years – are looking to the future with ambition and energy as they continue to create a world-class stage for people to make great things happen on an unprecedented scale.

Steve Daniels, Chairman of the Board and Julia Corkey, Chief Executive of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall

Eye on News

NI business leaders put down marker of diversity and inclusion at Ulster Carpets

Ulster Carpets and Diversity Mark hosted a roundtable event in late February with guest speaker Sir David Sterling focusing on how industry leaders can embed a culture of Allyship and positively change environments and behaviours within the workplace.

With over 150 signatories to date, Diversity Mark offers accreditation, expert support and guidance to organisations navigating the Diversity and Inclusion landscape. Speaking at the event Nick Coburn, Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of Ulster Carpets, said: “We are delighted to host this roundtable discussion with Diversity Mark and to hear the experiences of many other manufacturers on the changing cultures and behaviours around inclusion.

“For over 85 years, we have prided ourselves on the employment opportunities that we have offered and the creation of an environment that rewards ambition and recognises talent. Inclusion and diversity is an ongoing process and we will be working alongside Diversity Mark to continue on that journey.”

A central theme to emerge from guests, which included Almac, Unicorn Group, Hyster Yale, Smiley Monroe, ABC Council, BDO, Finnebrougue, McQuillan’s Companies and Yellow

Door, was that value-based leadership is essential for a better working environment and a more effective organisation.

Commenting, Nuala Murphy Director Diversity Mark, said: “The main outcome from the event today is that everyone is on a journey and ultimately wants their employees to be the best they can be. However a deeper cultural shift is required to help embed a culture of allyship, equipping people with the skills and know-how to do better. Research tells us that there is a 20% perception gap between how inclusive C-Suite executives felt their organisation was versus how included employees actually felt. We can offer the support and guidance to an organisation as they embark upon their equality, diversity

and inclusion journey by sharing the knowledge and expertise from our team and our generous community of leaders in this space.

“Key to Diversity Mark is fostering a culture where real conversations can happen enabling employees to feel valued and included. This must be implemented from the top down and our independently assessed accreditation journey will give any workplace a process to follow and an accountability framework to work towards. The panel is made up of experienced independent assessors who each have an array of sector knowledge and real world experience across diversity and inclusion, implementing best practices and seeing the positive results first hand, time and time again.”

Pictured are Nick Coburn, Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of Ulster Carpets, Nuala Murphy Director Diversity Mark and Sir David Sterling.

Hughes Launch Action For Impact Initiative

Hughes Insurance has launched Action for Impact, an initiative dedicated to their Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance agenda (ESG) in 2023 and beyond.

The programme has been specifically designed to support community led projects, improve wellbeing within the Hughes team and create positive environmental impact.

To fulfil its commitment, Hughes has committed over £100,000 in 2023 to Action for Impact including supporting ongoing relationship with the Mary Peters Trust, Business in the Community and Women in Business. The local insurance firm has also announced new partnerships with two local environmental charities The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and Ulster Wildlife.

Bernie McHugh Sonner, Director of Operations and Customer Services at Hughes Insurance said: “Directing resource to our ESG strategy is a priority. Doing so strengthens our commitment to our staff, our customers and the community in which we all live. We have big plans for Action for Impact to become the embodiment of our core values to Act Responsibly, Put People First and Make Things Better.

“Our staff and our customers, expect a high level of corporate responsiveness on global issues. We are committed to sustainability, and Action for Impact is a dedicated programme that brings to life our commitment to positive social change.

Emma Haughian, Senior Marketing Manager at Hughes Insurance added, “We are proud to be one of Northern Ireland’s leading insurance brokers and believe in integrating our ESG strategy throughout the business

and ensuring our impact on our people, the environment and the community is positive. Action for Impact has been set up with the future in mind and we look forward to supporting our partners in 2023 and engaging more partners as we expand the programme’s footprint in the years ahead.”

The partnership with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), will support a Tree Nursery at the Ulster Folk Museum to harvest over 250,000 native seeds per year to cultivate saplings that will be planted in many of Northern Ireland’s woodlands to protect and replenish biodiversity. Hughes Insurance will also support an ongoing project at Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh where TCV is working to support the restoration of bogland to support carbon offsetting and enhance biodiversity.

Dave Morton, NI Assistant Director with The Conservation Volunteers said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Hughes Insurance on these

important projects that protect and restore our natural environment, increase biodiversity, and connect people to conservation. The funding landscape is challenging at the moment, so we value this commitment from Hughes and look forward to working with their team in 2023.”

With 18 natures reserves across Northern Ireland, Ulster Wildlife will also benefit from the fund which will support the charity’s Let Nature In campaign which aims to empower households in Northern Ireland make space for nature.

Dawn Miskelly, Director of Development and Governance at Ulster Wildlife said: “The importance of boosting nature’s recovery in Northern Ireland cannot be underestimated as one in ten indigenous species is at risk of extinction. With support from Hughes and their staff, we hope to encourage to households to support by bringing nature back into their gardens and outdoor spaces.”

Dawn Miskelly Director of Development and Governance at Ulster Wildlife, Dianne Keys Operations Lead at TCV and Emma Haughian Senior Marketing Manager at Hughes Insurance.

New CEO For Children’s Cancer Unit Charity

The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity, one of Northern Ireland’s leading organisations supporting families affected by childhood cancer, has appointed its first ever Chief Executive Officer to lead the charity’s work and develop new services.

The Charity was established in 1984 to raise the necessary funds to build a dedicated Children’s Cancer & Haematology Unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. Today, between 60 - 70 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in Northern Ireland, with this figure rising to over 150 when teenagers and young people up to the age of 24 are included. Each of these children will visit the Children’s Cancer Unit, which has seen an increase in demand for support and additional new services, an issue the Children’s Cancer Unit

Charity hopes to help address.

Taking on the new Chief Executive post is Jane Hoare, who brings with her over 18 years’ experience in the charity sector, primarily in income generation and team development, having most recently led the fundraising team at Cancer Fund for Children.

Speaking on her appointment and ambitions for the work of the charity, Jane said: “Being involved in and advocating for the issues surrounding children and young people affected by cancer is something I’m

really passionate about, so I am delighted to be joining the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity at such an exciting time for the organisation.

“Providing excellent services and support for these families is such an important responsibility and one I will undertake with great pride. My role will be to develop and deliver a new and strategic vision for the charity to further its current aim of supporting both the medical teams at the Children’s Cancer & Haematology Unit, as well as families impacted by childhood cancer. In the meantime, I look forward to meeting more and more inspiring children and young people living with cancer across Northern Ireland in the weeks and months ahead.”

Welcoming Jane to the Charity,

Chairman Felix Mooney added: “We are thrilled to have Jane join our team, to help drive the important work we do at the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity. Her appointment marks a positive step for the organisation and one we are excited to be taking.

“With the support of our existing team and our dedicated partners and volunteers, we know Jane will be instrumental in enhancing the services we provide and continuing to support families who need us.”

For more information on the work of the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity, visit www.childrenscancerunit.com

Jane Hoare with chairman Felix Mooney and Dr. Anthony McCarthy, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist and Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

Meetings and Events with a difference, at Killeavy Castle Estate

From small meetings to major conferences and events, our meeting venues and event spaces can cater for all your business requirements. Ideally located just one hour from both Belfast and Dublin and ten minutes outside Newry City, Killeavy Castle Estate offers much more than a venue.

In addition to a range of spaces, function rooms and outdoor areas that can be configured to meet your exact needs, it is the setting of Killeavy Castle Estate that sets it apart from other venues, providing a calm space to make strategic decisions, a break from the norm that will rejuvenate your creativity and a surrounding landscape that provides the opportunity to take part in a range of unique activities that promote cohesion within teams. The abundance of natural daylight in our event spaces will stimulate fresh thinking, while the scenic landscape of Slieve Gullion provides a mindful focal point that will keep delegates calm, centred and focused.

With modern audio-visual facilities, award-winning cuisine, and a range of accommodation options, we are proud to offer a unique venue and tailor-made experiences for all kinds of conferences, meetings and events.

Whether it’s a small client meeting, a corporate away day or a company conference or board meeting, our dedicated meeting and events team will work with you to ensure its success.

Centred around a fully restored 19th century Castle, our Estate offers elegance matched with excellent customer service, guaranteed to impress your guests.

Our 45-guestroom boutique hotel is ideal for residential stayovers, with the opportunity for your guests to enjoy nightly entertainment and experience our award-winning ‘Farm to Fork’ approach to dining in one of our Restaurants.

To find out more or make a booking for your next meeting or event, visit killeavycastle.com or email events@killeavycastle.com

Eye on Profile

Sarah McAleavey

Director of Cyber Defence – ESO

Sarah McAleavey is Director of Cyber Defence at ESO Belfast and is launching the first HashiCorp User Group (HUG) at ESO Belfast on February 23rd to bring together Northern Ireland’s tech talent.

About ESO

ESO is a software, data and research company that creates innovative, userfriendly software to empower and meet the changing needs of today’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies, fire departments, hospitals across North America. It does so by harnessing data to identify insights and trends that can help deliver better patient care, ensure provider well-being, and improve operational efficiency.

What’s your background?

My career in Tech can be summarised by helping people design secure platforms and systems to protect data and make sure it’s available when needed. To achieve this, I’ve used a lot of different tools to build systems that can be updated quickly and securely. A key part of my day here at ESO is helping people understand how to safely build and use technology, by creating strategies, plans and direction to put security at the centre of the engineering process, making it intrinsic to how we build our systems and think about our digital environments. Coming from a background in data management,

clinical trials and childrens’ nursing I’m so fortunate to be working for a company that’s sole purpose is to improve the outcomes of people needing front line emergency care. Working here means I’m doing my part, helping to save lives but from behind my keyboard. To be able to use my engineering experience to really make a positive difference to people at their most vulnerable time is the biggest motivation for me. ESO creates software that’s in the hands of Fire Fighters, Paramedics, Hospitals and First Responders, transforming community health and safety through data insights. Looking after people’s data, when they are often experiencing some of the most difficult situations in their lives is a huge responsibility, and one we don’t take lightly here at ESO.

Tell us more about working in Cyber Defence?

My soap-box rants (of which there are many) are usually around the principles of ‘Security-First’, which means that security should be the top priority when designing, developing, and deploying any system or application. This means that security measures should be implemented from

the very start and that security should be taken into consideration throughout the entire process, not as an afterthought when you’re ready to go live to your production environment. For me this is about building systems with the mindset that you’ve already been breached – that there is already a dormant attacker inside your systems that requires you to trust nothing. This zero-trust implementation is a security model that assumes that all users, devices, and services are untrusted and must be verified before granting access. To trust anything requires authentication as well as authorisation, and requires continuous monitoring and verification of user activity to identify unexpected behaviours, like attempts to access services or systems outside of usual remit. Currently, I’m working on launching a Northern Ireland HashiCorp meet-up to take place at ESO Belfast –HashiCorp is a global community that focus on development, operations and security challenges, their tools are designed to implement both ZeroTrust and Security-First principles. My passion for these tools and solutions is still strong coming to ESOwhere we use Terraform to implement

immutable builds – so it seemed like a great opportunity to bring together the Northern Irish technologists and launch the first HashiCorp User Group (HUG) here at the ESO office, taking place on Thursday 23rd February!

The HUG is a community of users who share their experiences and best practices of using all the HashiCorp product and is a platform for users to ask questions, share tips, and collaborate on projects and solutions as well as getting certified on Terraform, Vault or Consul within Study Groups and with Discounts on Certs. And we do it all with pizza, beer, the chance to make new friends, and with healthy amounts of swag to entice new members! We’re lucky to have Hashicorp Architects and Engineers as guest speakers as well as some of our own Northern Irish Tech talent to share their stories, challenges and demo solutions.

What do you enjoy most about working for ESO?

Coming to ESO has opened so many doors for me to become more involved in the Cybersecurity industry here in Northern Ireland and to amalgamate a lot of my own passions around emergency care and digital transformation. I love sharing my experiences of building ideas, designing solutions, and architecting operations across many of the different Fortune 500 Companies, and I equally love hearing about other people’s approaches, designs and challenges. This is how we expand our learning, as individuals and as an industry, so I hope bringing together people who are using Terraform and Vault, Consul or Nomad will play a key role in our continued learning and create new opportunities for collaboration. After working on global technology accounts, I’m even more proud to be part of an industry here that truely is working on the bleeding edge of digital and cloud. Northern Ireland is a mature and sophisticated contender in the global tech market and the skilled technologists based here are the lifeblood for continued growth in our industry. Threats and challenges to our cybersecurity are continually on the rise, so understanding how to protect and prevent threats to our business economy is everyone’s business. I hope the HUG serves a role in strengthening our defences whilst having fun learning from each other.

If you’re interested in participating as a speaker or to demonstrate your latest tf apply, Nomad application or IAM approaches, reach out to ESO at Eilis.Crickard@eso.com and for more information on ESO and current roles visit eso.com/careers.

Culloden Hotel Estate & Spa

Thursday 23rd February

NORTHERN IRELAND’S LEADING BUSINESS AWARDS

Eye on Awards

Richard Buckley of Business Eye.

“We were able to showcase some of those entries this evening, as well as honour the very best of local companies across a wide variety of sectors.”

The awards judging panel included Steven Agnew, Director of RenewableNI, and Professor John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy at Queen’s University, Belfast.

“Sustainability is no longer a buzz word, and it’s much greater than energy. It’s a business issue, it’s a society issue, it’s a you, me and everybody issue. “says Paul Carson of Strategic Power Projects.

“We were so proud to headline sponsor these awards and would like to congratulate each and every one of the winners and indeed all those who entered.

Local Businesses Honoured At NI’s First Sustainability Awards

Ballymena bus manufacturing group Wrightbus and Fermanagh’s The Boatyard Distillery were the headline winners at the inaugural Business Eye Sustainability Awards in association with Strategic Power Connect.

Ballymena bus manufacturing group Wrightbus and Fermanagh’s The Boatyard Distillery were the headline winners at the inaugural Business Eye Sustainability Awards in association with Strategic Power Connect.

The first ever sustainability awards aimed at the local business sector took place on Thursday evening (23rd February) at the Culloden Estate & Spa, with more than 320 guests in attendance.

Wrightbus and The Boatyard Distillery picked up the Sustainable Company of the Year titles in the larger and smaller business categories, while Ian Henry, a director of Magherafelt-based building company Henry Brothers was named as the Sustainability Business Leader of the Year.

The gala awards evening, hosted

by the BBC’s Mark Simpson, saw awards being presented across a line-up of 12 different categories.

The Royal Maternity Hospital complex in Belfast won the Built Environment Project award for the GRAHAM-BAM Partnership while Musgrave Northern Ireland was recognised as the Sustainable Retail Business of the Year. Coca-Cola HBC, based outside Lisburn, took the top award in the Sustainable Food & Drink Company category while the innovative Salthouse Hotel in Ballycastle came out on top amongst the Tourism & Hospitality contenders.

Meanwhile, concrete product makers Tobermore won the Sustainable Manufacturing Business of the Year title while Translink took the top prize in the Sustainable Project of the Year category

for its zero emission bus programme.

“We felt that it was time to recognise the achievements of Northern Ireland companies when it comes to making their businesses sustainable, and we were really impressed by the quantity and quality of the entries these awards received,” says

“It fills me with a great optimism to see NI companies taking great steps to make their businesses more sustainable. We’ve been so incredibly impressed by the innovation embraced to safeguard not only their organisations, but our futures.

“There was a great honesty and wholesomeness about the award winning applications, that’s what made them stand out. It was clear sustainable practices wasn’t just a box ticking exercise, but embraced in their professional lives and for some, their personal lives also.

“The businesses and innovations celebrated by these awards are precisely what society needs to see right now, and I look forward to seeing what the entrants bring to the table next year.”

Winner of Sustainability Company of the Year Award 2023: Ruth Kimbley, Communications Director, Strategic Power Connect (headline sponsor) presents the Sustainability Company of the Year Award 2023 (larger company category) to the team from Wrightbus. Pictured are Brian Roche, Kerrie-Anne Jones, Brenda Buckley (Business Eye), John McLeister, Ruth Kimbley (Strategic Power Connect) & Dr Andy Harris, Wrightbus.

Brenda Buckley (left) and Ruth Kimbley, Communications Director, Strategic Power Connect (second left) present the Sustainability Company of the Year Award 2023 (smaller company category) to Jim McGirr, Rebecca McGorty and Orlaith Kelm from the Boatyard Distillery.

Highly Commended Henry Brothers

Full List of Winners

Sustainable Food And Drink Company Of The Year

Sponsor: Strategic Power Connect Clandeboye Yoghurt (small)

Coca-Cola HBC (large)

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Deli Lites

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Rademon Estate Distillery

Built Environment Project Of The Year

Sponsor: Alpha

GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Titanic Quarter

Highly Commended Danske Bank

Sustainable Services Company Of The Year

Sponsor: Fleet Financial

Vyta

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Farren Architects

Sustainable Retail Business Of The Year

Sponsor: Maxol Musgrave NI

Young Sustainability Champion Award

Sponsor: Business Eye

Rebecca McGorty, Boatyard Distillery

Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Business Of The Year

Sponsor: Tourism Northern Ireland

The Salthouse Hotel

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Maldron Hotel Belfast City

Innovation In Sustainability Award

Sponsor: TLT Solicitors

Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Lagan Energy Engineering

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Salthouse Hotel

Sustainable Manufacturing Business Of The Year

Sponsor: Bank of Ireland

Tobermore

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Collins Aerospace

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Greiner Packaging

Sustainability Project Of The Year

Sponsor: Cathedral Eye Clinic

Translink

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Environmental Street Furniture

Sustainability Team Of The Year

Sponsor: Tarasis Enterprises

GRAHAM

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland

Sustainability Business Leader Of The Year

Sponsor: Queen's University Belfast

Ian Henry, Henry Brothers

Sustainable Company Of The Year 2023

Sponsor: Strategic Power Connect

The Boatyard Distillery (small)

Wrightbus (large)

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Henry Brothers

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Danske Bank

Ruth Kimbley, Strategic Power Connect (second right) presents the Highly Commended Sustainability Company of the Year Award 2023 to Neill Weir and Chris Martin from Danske Bank. Also pictured is Brenda Buckley Business Eye (left).

Ruth Kimbley,Strategic Power Connect (right) presents a Highly Commended Award in the Sustainability Company of the Year category to Deborah Madden from Henry Brothers. Also pictured is Brenda Buckley Business Eye (left).

Sustainable Food And Drink Company Of The Year

Clandeboye Yoghurt

Highly Commended Deli Lites

Highly Commended Rademon Estate Distillery

Donna McGuire and Kirsty Fitzpatrick from Deli Lites receive a highly commended award in the Sustainable Food & Drink Company of the Year (large business) category from Liam Faulkner, CEO if Strategic Power Connect.

David Boyd-Armstrong from Rademon Estate Distillery collects a highly commended award in the Sustainable Food & Drink Company of the Year (small business) category from Liam Faulkner, CEO if Strategic Power Connect.

Liam Faulkner, CEO if Strategic Power Connect presents the Sustainable Food & Drink Company of the Year Award (large business category) to Rosa O’Farrell and Gillian Shields from Coca-Cola HBC.

Liam Faulkner, CEO if Strategic Power Connect presents the Sustainable Food & Drink Company of the Year Award (small business category) to Ian McClatchy & Ildiko Hamilton from Clandeboye Yoghurt.

Built Environment Project Of The Year

GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership

Highly Commended Titanic Quarter

Paul Carson, Founder of the Strategic Power Group, addresses the audience. Emily Flannigan Performs. Mark Simpson, compere.

Stephen Harpur, Contracts Director, Alpha presents the Built Environment Project of the Year Award to Niamh Mc Goldrick, Alan McCullagh and Niall O’Kane from Graham (Graham Bam Healthcare Partnership).

James Eyre, Titanic Quarter receives a highly commended award in the Built Environment Project of the Year Category from Stephen Harpur, Contracts Director, Alpha.

Sustainable Services Company Of The Year

Sustainable Retail Business Of The Year

Vyta

Highly Commended Farren Architects Musgrave NI

Damian Campbell, Sales Director, Fleet Financial presents the Sustainable Services Company of the Year Award to Giles Ward, Vyta.

Brian Donaldson, Chief Executive, Maxol presents the Sustainable Retail Business of the Year Award to Louise Tolerton, and Trevor Magill, from Musgrave NI.

Eoighin Farren from Farren Architects receives a highly commended award in the Sustainable Services Company of the Year Award from Damian Campbell, Sales Director, Fleet Financial.

Guests from The Salthouse Hotel.

Guests from TLT.

Young Sustainability Champion Award

Rebecca McGorty The Boatyard Distillery

Brenda Buckley, Commercial director, Business Eye, presents the Young Sustainability Champion of the Year Award to Rebecca McGorty from the Boatyard Distillery.

Ciara Donnelly & Brenda Buckley, Business Eye with Siobhan Matthewson.

Deborah Madden, Jennifer Cruickshanks, Hannah Crawford, Shannon Magilligan.

Anya O’Connor, Board Member, Tourism Ni presents the Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Award to Nigel McGarrity & Emma McGarrity from the The Salthouse Hotel.

Stacey Hagen from the Maldron Hotel Belfast City receives a highly commended award in the Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism category from Anya O’Connor, Board Member, Tourism NI.

Andrew Ryan, TLT presents a highly commended award in the Innovation in Sustainability category to Emma McGarrity, The Salthouse Hotel.

Emmet and Stephen Lagan from Lagan Energy Engineering receive a highly commended award in the Innovation in Sustainability category from sponsor, Andrew Ryan, TLT

Andrew Ryan, Partner, TLT presents the Innovation in Sustainability Award to Luke McAlister Adam McGlue, Greiner Packaging.

Richard Buckley addresses the audience.

Guests from Musgrave NI.

Sustainable Manufacturing Business Of The Year

Highly Commended Collins Aerospace

Highly Commended Greiner Packaging

Paul Carson, Ruth Kimberly, Mark Simpson, Steven Agnew.

Orla Kelm, Niamh McCann, Rebecca McGourtey.

Niall Devlin, Head of Business Banking, Bank of Ireland, presents the Sustainable Manufacturing Company of the Year to Joe Hanna and Gareth Stewart, Tobermore.

Andrew Chambers & Naomi Rooney from Collins Aerospace receive a highly commended award in the Sustainable Manufacturing Business of the Year category from sponsor Niall Devlin, Bank of Ireland.

Paul Millar & David Kirkland, Greiner Packaging collect a highly commended award in the Sustainable Manufacturing Business of the Year category from sponsor Niall Devlin, Bank of Ireland.

Sustainability Project Of The Year

Translink

Highly Commended

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Highly Commended

Environmental Street Furniture

Alex Lowry from Environmental Street Furniture receives a highly commended award in the Sustainability Project of the Year category from Professor Jonathan Moore, Cathedral Eye Clinic.

Connor O’Dornan & Frank McGrogan from Mid & East Antrim Borough Council receive a highly commended award in the Sustainability Project of the Year category from Professor Jonathan Moore, Cathedral Eye Clinic.

Consultant Opthamologist, and owner of Cathedral Eye Clinic, Professor Jonathan Moore presents the William McCullagh and Michelle Alcorn collected the Sustainability Project of the Year award on behalf of Translink.

Jason Foody, Sonya Cassidy, Terry Kelly.

Karen McDowell, Caroline Lowry, Alan Lowry.

Sustainability Team Of The Year Highly Commended Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland

Sustainability Business Leader Of The Year Ian Henry, Henry Brothers

Rachel Sheldon and John Taylor, Greiner Packaging receive a highly commended award in the Sustainability Team of the year category from Catherine Parker, Assistant Accountant, Tarasis Enterprises.

Catherine Parker (second left), Tarasis Enterprises presents the Sustainability Team of the Year Award to the team Graham. Pictured (l-r) are David O’Hagan, Lianne Taylor, Ciara Grogan, Jayne Walker and Rosie Barnett.

David McNellis, India McNellis & Lesley Delaney.

Andrius Cesnauskas, Kyla McCracken, Daria Kirkland, Paul Millar.

Julie McCandless, Director of Business Engagement, Queen Management School, presents the Sustainable Business Leader of the Year Award to Ian Henry, Henry Brothers.

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(1) Andy Harris, Brian Roche. (2) Guests from Collins Aerospace. (3) Guests from Danske. (4) Gareth Stewart, Joe Hanna. (5) Ruth Kimberly, Glyn Roberts. (6) Roger Pollen, Brenda Buckley. (7) Grainne McVeigh, Niall Devlin, Ruth Kimberly.

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(8) Winners from Collins Aerospace. (9) Greinier Packaging. (10) Translink and Wrightbus. (11) Henry Bros. (12) John McLeister, Wrightbus, & Mark Osmer.

Eye on Recruitment

Leading hospitality recruiter advises that ‘culture is key’ for growing careers in the sector post-Covid

As it continues to rebuild post-pandemic, Director Nichola, who herself has 25 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, is working in partnership with the industry to get it back on its feet to begin thriving again.

In late 2022, Daly Recruitment witnessed a huge increase in candidates seeking new opportunities in the New Year citing workplace culture and not feeling valued as the primary reason for exiting their roles. Commenting on workplace culture and professionalism, Nichola Daly said, “Having spent nearly three decades of my life working in the hospitality sector, with the latter years focused on recruitment for luxury hotels and events, it has become apparent that if

we get culture and working hours right, the industry will progress. The days of excessive night and weekend hours without equal compensation are well in our past, with many more hospitality workers seeking a better work-life balance and variety of shifts.”

Following the panic to ensure sufficient staffing for venues, Nichola advises that the focus for hospitality in 2023 should be on rebuilding the appeal of the industry through fostering the correct staff culture and improving working conditions. Despite the abundance of high-quality talent across the Island of Ireland, employers are interviewing candidates who are increasingly more selective about the companies they work with, with young people

especially showing a greater interest in moving beyond a job and developing a career. If the culture, pay and work-life balance is correct, Nichola advises, then hospitality can offer great opportunities with lifelong career prospects.

Nichola’s belief that young people remain keen to work in hospitality if employers continue to build positive company cultures, explore new ways of scheduling shifts to allow for a work-life balance, and broaden hiring practices to ensure diverse and inclusive workplaces, challenges what she feels is a misconception that exists that young people simply do not want to work in hospitality.

“Employers’ ability to attract and retain team members will have a major overall impact on their business for the years ahead,” she said. “I believe that everyone should operate under the premise that everyone who comes through their doors is either a potential employee or a potential customer and treat them that way. This

doesn’t mean you have to offer lavish perks or extortionate rates of pay, but if employers wish to attract professionals, their business needs to act in a professional manner with both current and prospective employees, making it clear that they will be appreciated and valued. As younger generations enter the workforce and those who pivoted careers during the pandemic return to hospitality, expectations of what makes a good employer will continue to change.”

Marking 5 years of leading recruitment agency Daly Recruitment, high-end hospitality recruitment professional and recently-named Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality Nichola Daly says improving the culture and professionalism in Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry is imperative for building long careers in the industry. For more information on Daly Recruitment visit dalyrecruitment.com

Institute of Hospitality CEO, Robert Richardson FIH MI, said: “Having talked to so many hospitality businesses and IoH members in the past few months, we know resources are stretched and some are at breaking point. This additional pressure on existing team members is having a negative impact on their mental health and service delivery. It is vital that we value the people we have. Providing excellent hospitality services across our industry is what we do.

Extending that hospitality

ethos of excellence across the IoH, our members, teams and the industry is vital to retain the teams we have.

He continued: “At the IoH we are lucky to have some many inspirational Fellows who mentor younger members and support them throughout their careers. Challenges are inherent but how you deal with them is the defining factor.”

Daly Recruitment offers a relationship-driven, guided approach to matching the right candidates with the best hospitality employers across the UK and Ireland. Working in close collaboration with employers and candidates alike, Nichola offers input regarding potential career paths and salary expectations and makes personal recommendations for roles to pursue for each individual candidate.

Eye on Tourism

Hotels Federation Hosts Taste Of Tourism Summit

The Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) hosted The Taste of Tourism Summit in late February at the Culloden Estate and Spa. The Summit was an opportunity for businesses to hear first-hand from a line-up of specialist speakers who

have used food and drink to attract new customers, improve profits and enhance their reputations. Chef director across the Rick Stein restaurants, Jack Stein, was joined by broadcaster, Stefan Gates; Founder and Chair of All-Ireland Sustainability and Triterra,

Danielle McCormick; investigative journalist Joanna Blythman; food blogger Niamh Shields; Sally O’Kane, Head of Compliance and Sustainability at Frylite Group Ltd. and eco-minded entrepreneur, Carina Conyngham from Slane Castle. Industry panellists included

chefs Andy Rea,

chef turned producer Paul Cunningham and tourism consultants Sharon Scott and Julie O’Brien. Curated artisan food and drink was served up at an Artisan Marketplace throughout the day.

Paula McIntyre and Suzie Lee, Causeway foodie Geri Martin,

1. Chef director across the Rick Stein restaurants, Jack Stein. 2. Jilly Dougan, Simon Dougan and Pamela Ballantine. 3. Coca-Cola HBC staff and guests attended the Chef Dinner. L-R Chris Kearney, Tony McGuigan, Dermot O’Donnell, Gareth Devlin and Adrian McNally (Titanic Hotel Belfast). 4. Neil Devlin, Kiera Campbell, Roy Dempster, James McGinn (Hastings Hotels) and Cathal Geoghegan (Henderson Foodservice). 5. Industry panellists on the day included chefs Andy Rea, Suzie Lee and Paula McIntyre. 6. Vikrant Tyagi (Andras House Hotels), Taroon Missry (Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre) and Geri Martin (The Chocolate Manor). 7. James O’Donnell (Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast), Katherine Beers (Rademon Estate Distillery / Shortcross Gin) and Dean Butler (Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast). 8. Philip Johnston, Paul Lavery, Sean Martin and Martin Darling (Bunzl McLaughlin). 9. Carolyn Boyd (Tourism NI), John Hood (Invest NI) and Gráinne Moody (Invest NI).

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Law Firm Relocates Headquarters To Holywood

A leading Northern Ireland law firm has announced it has relocated to new headquarters in Holywood.

In a strategic move to extend its private client and commercial offering throughout North Down, Hewitt & Gilpin has transferred staff from its previous Belfast City Centre base to larger premises on Holywood’s High Street. It retains its existing office in East Belfast.

Hewitt & Gilpin’s new Holywood HQ accommodates 13 of its 25-strong workforce and has benefited from an extensive refurbishment with a mix of dedicated single-size offices and open plan space, leaving room for future expansion.

Helen Aston from Holywood Chamber of Commerce commented on the announcement; “We are delighted to welcome Hewitt &

Gilpin to Holywood town centre.

We are fortunate to have a thriving business community here and we wish them every success in providing their high quality legal services to businesses and families in the surrounding area.”

Graeme Hamilton, a Director at Hewitt & Gilpin which celebrates 94 years of business in Northern Ireland this year, said the decision to move to Holywood would further strengthen the legal firm’s presence in the area and bring the team closer to the community it serves.

He said; “We’re delighted to announce that we’ll now be offering our full range of legal services from Holywood, having enjoyed close ties to the

area through our staff and our clients for several years now.

“We pride ourselves on cultivating long-standing client relationships and choosing Holywood as our new base sends a strong message to the wider North Down community that we’re committed to the local area. Being in the centre of the town, with ample onsite parking, means we are more accessible for face-to-face meetings with many of our clients.

“The relocation also allows us to fulfil ambitious growth plans in providing a high quality, spacious working environment which in turn ensures we can continue to attract top class, talented lawyers.”

Hewitt

a range of private client services including residential conveyancing, wills, estate planning matters and matrimonial and family.

The firm also has significant and widespread commercial experience, having advised companies who are ranked in the Top 15 of the “Top 100” Northern Ireland Companies 2022. It has particular expertise in commercial property advising both landlords and tenants, and has acted for the landlords of a number of regional shopping centres in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

& Gilpin specialises in

Helen Aston of Holywood Chamber of Commerce, along with Craig Russell, Graeme Hamilton and Avril Browne of Hewitt & Gilpin Solicitors.

Eye on Awards Women in Business Celebrate Top

NI Talent at 11th Annual Awards

Northern Ireland’s top businesswomen were celebrated for their outstanding achievements at the 2023 Women in Business Awards which welcomed a sell-out audience of more than 550 to Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Thursday evening.

This year’s Awards, now in their 11th year, brought together female entrepreneurs and businesswomen from all sectors to recognise, reward and celebrate the very best of local talent at the only ceremony of its kind in Northern Ireland. Sponsored by Virgin Media O2 Business for the fifth consecutive year, the Awards

received a record 201 submissions and honoured eighteen inspiring women and one outstanding business organisation.

The highly acclaimed Business Woman of the Year 2023 award, also sponsored by Virgin Media O2 Business, was presented to Jackie Henry, Managing Partner of People and Purpose at Deloitte UK. Under her leadership, Jackie has grown the company from 80 people to 1,300 and in 2017 was honoured with an MBE for services to the economy, including setting up the Belfast Delivery Centre and the creation of Deloitte’s BrightStart Degree and Graduate academy programmes.

The Women in Business award winners 2023 are:

Award for Advancing Diversity in the Workplace (sponsored by Queen’s University Belfast)

Individual Winner – Sarah Balmforth - Hughes Insurance

Organisation Winner – Fibrus

Award for Best Customer Service (sponsored by Irish News)

Corporate Winner – Paula Mooney - Leckey

Small Business Winner – Roisin O’Hare - Brand Elevation

Award for Best in Professional Services (sponsored by IQ&Co.)

Corporate Winner – Joanne Alexander - Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Small Business Winner – Melanie Dawson - Origin 7 Ltd

Award for Best Marketing Campaign (sponsored by Kaizen Print)

Corporate Winner – Claire Hale - Dale Farm Ltd

Small Business Winner – Roisin O’Hare - Brand Elevation

Award for Best New Start Up (sponsored by Go For It)

Winner – Rabab Flack - Causeway Clear Ears

Award for Best Small Business (sponsored by Danske Bank)

Winner – Tracey McNally - Ecohog Ltd

Award for Outstanding Innovation (sponsored by Belfast Harbour)

Corporate Winner – Gabriela Martin – Concentrix Europe LTD

Small Business Winner – Ineke Rentmeesters – Ubloquity

Award for Best Green Business (sponsored by NIE Networks)

Winner – Grainne O’Loane - Fish City

Award for Excellence in IT (sponsored by Wilson Nesbitt)

Winner – Shannon Stronge – BT

Award for Outstanding Mentor (sponsored by Version 1)

Winner – Lenore Rice, Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors

Outstanding Management and Leadership (sponsored by Staffline)

Winner – Tanya Martin - IQ & Co Ltd

Award for Young Business Woman of the Year (sponsored by Allstate)

Winner – Niamh McCarthy - Niamh Designs

Award for Business Woman of the Year (sponsored by Virgin Media O2 Business)

Winner – Jackie Henry, Deloitte

Eye on Drinks Trade

ON CLOUD WINE

WORKING in the drinks industry is something Martin McAuley always wanted to do.

In a career spanning 47 years (and counting), he’s seen it, done it and worn the proverbial t-shirt – on many occasions in fact and usually with a popular drinks logo emblazoned on the front!

As Managing Director of County Armagh-based wholesaler United Wines, a subsidiary of Heineken Ireland, Martin runs what is now one of the biggest drinks distributors on the island of Ireland.

However, this wasn’t always the case. United Wines was founded in 1985 as a team of five people, operating out of Elmwood Avenue in South Belfast with just one brand on its books – the Trinidad rum VAT 19.

Now, with McAuley in the driving seat, the company handles the sales, marketing and distribution for well over 1,000 product lines spread across more than 300 brands from countries

all around the world, including Holland, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Operating from an 80,000 square foot warehouse in Craigavon, with 55 staff on its books, United Wines distributes an extensive portfolio of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks to more than 1,000 bars, restaurants, hotels, off licenses, cash & carries, regional wholesalers and national multiples throughout the country.

Business Eye took a trip to Craigavon to meet with Martin McAuley and find out how this incredible success story evolved.

Early career

Born in Larne in 1959, McAuley’s journey in the drinks business began at the tender age of just 13 when, as a pupil of St Comgall’s Secondary School, he got a job working in the bar of The Halfway House Hotel in Ballygally, which is now owned, coincidentally, by Martin’s younger brother and former IBF World Flyweight boxing

champion, Dave ‘Boy’ McAuley.

“I loved working in that bar,” recalls Martin. “It was a meeting place for publicans and drinks reps in the area, who would come in very well dressed with seemingly loads of money. To me, at that age, it all appeared so exciting and glamorous, so I pretty much decided that this was the industry I wanted to work in, and the rest as they say is history.”

Martin describes himself as a ‘grafter’ and it certainly required years of hard graft to make the transition from helping hand at the Halfway House to boss of United Wines.

The first significant milestone on this journey came in 1977 when Martin was invited by his uncle Jim O’Neill, then Managing Director of Belfast-based drinks company Hollywood & Donnelly, to move to the ‘big city’ and work in the company’s bottling hall on the Boucher Road.

For the next two years, Martin really immersed himself in his work, eagerly

carrying out every job imaginable before being made a trainee sales rep.

In 1980, aged 21, he married his wife Isobel and his sales career began in earnest, hitting the road to sell popular brands like MacArthur’s Whisky and Kulov Vodka in his newly acquired ‘territories’ which included West Belfast, Antrim Road and Banbridge.

In the five years that followed, Martin’s sales prowess was nothing short of remarkable – growing volumes by no less than 700 per cent across his region.

So, it came as no surprise in 1985, when Jim O’Neill left Hollywood & Donnelly and founded United Wines, that his nephew and star performer would make the move with him.

United we stand

“Those were such exciting times,” said Martin. “Leaving Hollywood & Donnelly was a very brave move to make and of course we were naturally nervous that we were doing the right thing.

“However, we knew we had the skills,

United Wines

Managing Director Martin McAuley talks to Business Eye about his journey in the NI drinks trade

Eye on Drinks Trade

the contacts and the desire to make it work. In this respect, I was prepared to do whatever it took to make it a success. I worked long hours, travelled the country and put everything I had into the job.

“From sales to sampling, we did it all ourselves. We didn’t have the luxury in those days of promotional staff and agencies to support us – so I was calling on customers during the day and attending tasting events at night. On top of sales, I was also working as credit controller and purchase manager too!

“We simply worked as hard as we could and gradually things started to grow.”

United Wines started operating out of Elmwood House in South Belfast, using third party warehouse space on Boucher Road. Five years later, in 1990, it acquired Newry company Milestone Wine & Spirits and moved to a bigger 10,000sqft warehouse on Boucher Road.

In 1995, another move was on the cards to new offices and a much bigger 30,000sqft warehouse on Milewater Road in Belfast.

The product portfolio continued to grow with the addition of Seagram spirits and wine brands including Martell Cognac, Morgan’s Spiced Rum and Absolut Vodka.

The acquisition of Seagram by Diageo and Pernod Ricard in 2001 was a significant blow but the company recovered with the addition of Halewood International spirits, and, in the subsequent years, what Martin describes as a ‘massive milestone’ contract with Australian wine brand McGuigan. Winning the Kulov Vodka account, on which Martin had worked in his earlier days, was also a significant boost to the business.

Growth continued at pace and in 2003, United Wines moved to its current location at Silverwood Business Park in Craigavon, with a massive 80,000sqft warehouse.

The success didn’t go unnoticed and in November 2005, the business was bought by wholesaler Waverley TBS, owned by brewing company Scottish & Newcastle.

In 2008, 23 years after United Wines was founded, Martin’s hard work was rewarded when he took over the position of Managing Director.

An eventful first year saw Scottish & Newcastle taken over by drinks giant HEINEKEN in 2008, before Heineken Ireland purchased United Wines.

“It was a crazy start to my new role as Managing Director,” said Martin, “but having spent well over 30 years in the business, working in just about every job and department that I

could, I was well equipped for any challenges that would come my way.

“There was so much going in those early stages with the Waverley acquisition and subsequent purchase by Heineken Ireland. And at ground level, I remember, within two days of me taking over, our leading salesman came into my office and told me he was leaving – and off he went.

“I recall thinking to myself… so this is what it’s like to be the boss!”

It wasn’t long however before Martin settled into the role and since then, the company has gone from strength to strength, expanding its operations across the island of Ireland, boosted by the strength-in-depth and enhanced reputation that comes with being owned by a global brand.

“The Heineken acquisition definitely helped take us to another level, giving us the financial power and ‘muscle’ to grow and expand the business in a way that we couldn’t have done beforehand – at least not in the same timeframe,” explained Martin.

Now, 15 years into his role as Managing Director, the business certainly hasn’t got any easier with the drinks industry suffering more than most from an unprecedented three years that has seen the world change dramatically in the face of Covid-19, Brexit, the war in Ukraine and the resulting energy and fuel cost crisis.

“I’ve always loved working in the drinks

industry, from those childhood days in the Halfway House,” said Martin. “It’s an exciting and fast-moving sector but there’s no doubt that it can also be a tough and cut-throat business, relying on high volumes with very low margins.

“In the past few years, we’ve really experienced a perfect storm that nobody would have believed let alone foreseen in 2019 – with a string of well-documented global events having a catastrophic impact on our industry and the international business community as a whole.

“However, the drinks sector in Ireland is nothing if not resilient and we will pull through. I’m a great believer in positivity, which is something I try to instil in my team as well,” he added.

“This is not a time to bury your head in the sand and cry about inflation and the recession. If you stand still, you fall behind so it’s important to stay positive, plan for success and find ways to stay ahead of the market. Consolidate and grab what opportunities you can.

“From a United Wines perspective, we’re in a very strong position as we enter 2023 and I’m confident that we’ll enjoy another good year with lots of potential for growth within our existing outlets and product range.”

One opportunity that Martin is excited about is the growth of the ‘no and low alcohol’ category.

“Our portfolio is already pretty full but I see massive opportunities in areas such

as no and low alcohol,” enthused Martin. “The category has grown by 506% in the past six years and is now worth £105m per year in Northern Ireland.

“Last month (January), our zero alcohol lines experienced a year on year sales increase of 22%, with brands like Heineken 0.0 and McGuigan Zero leading the way as older consumers look to moderate their alcohol intake and younger drinkers move away from traditional drinking norms and towards a healthier lifestyle.

“Both of these brands have worked really hard for many years to produce great tasting ‘no alcohol’ beer and wine –and that work has paid off. They’ve finally cracked it and now the opportunity for these products to sit in different parts of the store, away from the alcohol section, is huge. We’re also experiencing significant growth in draught, with more and more Heineken 0.0 taps being installed in bars around the country.

“So, it’s not all doom and gloom, and there are opportunities out there if you look for them,” concludes Martin, “but it’s important that you have good people around you and that’s certainly the case at United Wines.

“We’re living in tough times but I’m lucky to have an amazing and hardworking team, who I would like to thank for all their efforts. We really couldn’t run this business or enjoy the success we have to date without them.”

Desi Derby Director of Marketing for SuperValu and Centra, meets Action Cancer Ambassador Sinead Hoben at the charity’s mobile detection unit the Big Bus.

Eye on Charity

SuperValu and Centra are celebrating after raising a staggering £200,000 for their longterm charity partner Action Cancer, following a year-long programme of fundraising activity.

Caring customers from across Northern Ireland donated generously to a range of fundraising initiatives, supported by SuperValu and Centra retailers and their staff, who are committed to helping the charity keep its mobile detection unit the Big Bus on the road, saving lives across Northern Ireland.

Desi Derby, Director of Marketing for SuperValu and Centra commented on the fundraising total:

“Over the past few years, we have been faced with one challenge after another – first the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis. But against the odds, and thanks to the ongoing commitment of our retail partners and staff, our colleagues, and of course our loyal and generous shoppers, we have raised the most we have ever raised in one year, bringing our overall contribution to Action Cancer to £3.7 million.

“Sadly, we all know someone who has been affected by cancer and that makes us all the more determined to do what we can to ensure Action Cancer can continue to provide their vital life-saving services to women across Northern Ireland. We’re looking forward to marking Action Cancer’s 50th Anniversary with a renewed vigour for fundraising.”

Gareth Kirk, Action Cancer CEO, added:

“The £200,000 raised in 2022 is incredible, a huge Action Cancer thank you and gratitude to all at SuperValu and Centra and its amazing customers, who despite the current financial situation, have once again given so generously.

“SuperValu and Centra are our longest and one of our most important partners. Their support makes it possible to operate the Big Bus and its services - our partnership works so well because of our shared Values – planning hand-in-glove, making a difference to the lives of local people and communities.”

Working together throughout 2022, the Big Bus with its onboard life-saving breast screening (for women aged 40-49 and 70+)

and health checks (for men and women aged 18+), visited almost 100 communities across Northern Ireland. It provided reassurance to women in these locations and also detected early-stage breast cancers in 10 women, with no symptoms. 300 people were also referred to primary care for further investigation as a result of their health check.

In 2023, Action Cancer’s 50th Anniversary Year there are exciting plans for services onboard the Big Bus, made possible by the ongoing commitment of Musgrave NI.

Action Cancer Ambassador Sinead Hoben, from Newry, who has availed of the free breast screening service onboard the Big Bus, and whose cancer was detected by the charity, shares her experience:

“Since turning 40, I have routinely gone for breast screening appointments at Action Cancer, both onboard the Big Bus and at Action Cancer House. Following my fifth screening in March 2019, at the age of 48, I received a letter from Action Cancer saying the mammogram had picked up something and needed further investigation.”

After attending a breast clinic at her local hospital, Sinead discovered she had breast cancer.

“Because I had been going for regular screenings, the cancer

was detected early, and although I needed surgery, I did not need radiotherapy or chemotherapy. I am living proof that the early detection screening at Action Cancer saved my life. I’d definitely recommend women in their 40s and over the age of 70 to make an appointment on the Big Bus today.”

To reach the fundraising total of £200,000, initiatives from the retail brands included an International Coffee Day when SuperValu and Centra retailers pledged 50p from the sale of each Frank and Honest coffee purchased over three days to the charity, raising £17,000.

The brands also called on shoppers to ‘sponsor a mammogram’ and raise £120 per store – the amount it costs for Action Cancer to provide one woman outside of NHS screening age, with a free breast screening appointment.

The Centra Run Together series was back with a bang with the finale in Ormeau Park, Belfast welcoming over 800 participants and £20,000 raised across the events. SuperValu was proud to sponsor Breast Foot Forward in June when Belfast’s City Hall was a sea of pink as participants took on the 5k and 10k routes around the city. Meanwhile stores across the country also took part in many

fundraising activities of their own including competitions, raffles and quiz nights.

Action Cancer has been at the heart of cancer prevention, detection and support for people in Northern Ireland for 50 years. The services that Action Cancer provide are unique and free to the user but come at a cost to the charity of £4 million every year. These services include an early detection breast screening clinic, therapeutic services for people living with a cancer diagnosis as well as people supporting a loved one with a diagnosis and a range of health improvement services.

These can be accessed from Action Cancer House in Belfast or from 13 regional locations and on board the Big Bus which travels to the heart of communities throughout NI.

Action Cancer’s ‘In Good Company’ series seeks to highlight the strength and range of current fundraising partnerships.

Trevor Magill (MD Musgrave NI) pictured in front of the Big Bus with Lucy McCusker (Corporate Fundraising Manager Action Cancer) and Gareth Kirk (CEO Action Cancer)

To find out how your company could work in partnership with Action Cancer, please contact Lucy McCusker, Corporate Fundraising Manager on lmccusker@actioncancer.org or call 07743 416325.

Eye on News

BT Group completes multi-million pound revamp of Belfast HQ

our teams work. This refurbishment represents a change in BT Group, one that is better for colleagues, customers and shareholders: easier to work with and for.

“We really want our colleagues to be proud of where they work and to feel part of something brilliant, inspiring them to also continue to do the best that they can for our customers.

“This investment also marks a significant commitment in Belfast. As a major employer in the city, our presence will support local economic growth and employment opportunities. We recently announced plans to recruit 100 people into digital roles, such as Artificial Intelligence, software engineering and product management, as well as graduates and apprentice roles.”

BT Group today reaffirmed its commitment to Belfast, and Northern Ireland, as it officially reopened its Riverside Tower building at Lanyon Place, in the heart of the city, following a multi-million pound refurbishment.

As a key location in the company’s future plans, the significant refurbishment has created an impressive, modern workplace, which will now be home to around 2,000 colleagues from BT Group, which includes EE, BT Business and Openreach.

Belfast was named as a significant long-term location for BT Group in 2021 as part of the company’s ‘Better Workplace Programme’ – the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The five-year programme, which will be complete next year, is seeing BT rationalise hundreds of its offices

across the UK and establish an estate of modern workspaces.

The new building boasts state of the art technology and flexible work and collaboration areas. These shared workplaces are central to the company’s future, providing environments for colleagues to come together to collaborate, learn, develop and share their experiences. BT Group believes that inspiring office environments, combined with a flexible approach to home working, will play a vital role in its future and in the future local economies of its key hub locations.

Commenting on the official opening, The Secretary of State

for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, said: “This is great news, with BT Group’s significant investment in its Belfast base showing just what an attractive place for business Northern Ireland is.

“BT’s fantastic new office will provide a boost for the local economy, creating jobs and increasing footfall in the city centre, with staff spoilt for choice when it comes to options for lunch.”

Brent Mathews, BT Group’s Property & Facilities Services director, added: “We’re really excited for colleagues moving into Riverside Tower following our multi-million pound investment in our Belfast flagship office. We want to bring our people together in an impressive and modern environment, transforming the way

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Christina Black, added: “It is fantastic to see BT Group complete this multi-million pound refurbishment and that employees can now move into a new modern building in the heart of the city.

“This really is a big vote of confidence that a company the size of BT Group is continuing to invest in Belfast and is supporting its economic growth.”

BT Group plays an important role in Northern Ireland and is responsible for directly generating £1 in every £110 produced here, according to an independent report. BT Group employs approximately 7,300 people both directly and indirectly here.

The business is making record investments in next generation networks, such as full-fibre broadband via Openreach and 5G via its mobile network EE. This once in a generation upgrade to Northern Ireland’s digital infrastructure will support the region’s economic growth ambitions and ensure Northern Ireland’s businesses and public sector organisations are able to take full advantage of the latest technologies and digital possibilities.

Eye on News

REP-TEC SECURES £300K LOAN TO EXPAND TEAM AND GROW IN GLOBAL MARKETS

Recycling solutions company

The loan has been provided through Whiterock Finance’s Growth Loan Fund II, as part of Invest Northern Ireland’s Access to Finance suite of funds.

Based outside Dungannon, REP-TEC designs and manufactures automated recycling solutions, including fully automatic balers and conveyor systems, for the waste management industry. Recognising the need for more automated systems to help recycling companies combat labour shortages and tighter controls, Colm Grimes founded the business in 2020 and has seen rapid expansion ever since. In 2021, REP-TEC sold and installed the first robotic recycling system in Ireland, embracing a new age of innovation and automation.

As well as devising an export strategy to

grow in global markets, the company plans to use the funding to further expand its team of 23 staff, to invest in research into new environmentally friendly solutions and to develop a new range of fully automatic balers.

Colm Grimes, Founder and CEO, REP-TEC said:

“As REP-TEC continues to grow, we are keen to expand our business further into global markets. Recently, we have targeted sales of our products into Europe and North America, and we are developing an export strategy to grow further in these areas and beyond. The funding from Whiterock Finance will allow us to grow our team to support the strategic objectives of the company, develop new product ranges and build our customer base globally.”

Jenna Mairs, Senior Investment Manager, Whiterock Finance, said:

“REP-TEC is at the forefront of the recycling and waste management industry in Northern Ireland and we’re excited to see how the company progresses. Providing innovative, market leading tech solutions to the waste management and recycling industry, the company is primed for growth and we can see the potential for expansion further into international markets.”

Grant Thornton Makes Senior Tax Appointment

Global business advisory firm

Grant Thornton has announced a new senior appointment with Jonathan Megaw joining its Belfast office to lead the Large Corporate and International Tax team.

Jonathan, one of the most experienced local experts on international tax matters, arrives at Grant Thornton following over 10 years at His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) where he conducted Corporation Tax compliance checks into some of the UK’s largest businesses and prepared international tax issues for litigation.

The appointment further enhances Grant Thornton’s market-leading Large Corporate and International Tax offering.

Peter Legge, Tax Partner, Grant Thornton said:

“We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Megaw, whose experience within HMRC’s Large Business team is quite unique within our profession and will be of significant value to our clients.

“Demand for our large corporate and international tax services has been increasing exponentially in recent years and we’re gearing up for further growth.

“Jonathan’s appointment is part of those growth plans and we look forward to bringing his wealth of experience and insights on complex large corporate compliance and international tax matters to our expanding client base.”

Jonathan’s previous experience includes working on three of the 15 largest groups globally, together with other FTSE100 and high-value privately-owned enterprises.

The Large Corporate and International Tax team, based in Grant Thornton’s Belfast office, provide tailored advice on complex tax issues that include tax-efficient global structuring, transfer pricing, diverted profits tax, thin capitalisation, Corporate Interest Restriction, Controlled Foreign Companies, Senior Accounting Officer support, Country-by-Country reporting, and Tax Strategy publications.

Richard Gillan, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton Northern Ireland added:

“With a client base that includes many of the best known organisations in Northern Ireland, we have a built a reputation for offering market

leading expert advice on even the most complex of issues.

“Jonathan will further add to that standing, and it is a pleasure to welcome him to the Grant Thornton team in Belfast.”

REP-TEC has secured £300,000 in funding to expand its operations and help finance the creation of 15 new jobs.

Welcoming Jonathan Megaw, centre, to the Grant Thornton office in Belfast following his appointment to lead its Large Corporate and International Tax team are Peter Legge (left), Tax Partner, and Richard Gillan, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton Northern Ireland.

Jenna Mairs, Senior Investment Manager, Whiterock Finance and Colm Grimes, Founder and CEO, REP-TEC.

Eye on News

Hastings Hotels Celebrates Northern Ireland Suppliers At Breakfast Event

Hastings Hotels has once again reaffirmed its commitment to supporting local suppliers from across Northern Ireland with the launch of the new ‘The Hastings Book of Breakfast’.

The booklet, which tells the story of how food gets to the plate, who makes it and why it tastes so delicious, showcases 18 of the group’s suppliers and is available for guests to read as they enjoy the first meal of the day in each of the six Hastings’ properties.

Northern Ireland’s leading collection of Hotels launched the new booklet at a breakfast event hosted by celebrity chef, Paula McIntyre, in the Culloden Estate & Spa, which celebrated not just the suppliers featured in the booklet, but the extensive list of local food and beverage companies that supply Hastings Hotels throughout the year.

Over 200 guests from Northern Ireland’s tourism and hospitality industry attended the event where they enjoyed a taste of Hastings with a menu created to showcase some of the local breakfast suppliers. Dishes

included Clandeboye Estate Natural Yoghurt, Poached Rhubarb, Erin Grove Preserves Lemon Curd and Just Live a Little Granola and William Grant & Company Sugar Pit Pork, Ragout of Annaghmore Mushroom & Erin Grove Preserves Tomato & Red Pepper Chutney, Gracehill Fine Foods Black Pudding, The Yellow Door Sourdough bread and air-dried North Down Group Tomato.

At the event, guests heard from the Executive Head Chefs of the group’s four Belfast Hotels, Damien Tumilty from the Grand Central Hotel, Kyle Greer from the Europa Hotel, Jay Eisenstadt from the Stormont Hotel and Mark Begley from the

Culloden Estate & Spa, about some of the local suppliers the group works with, the importance of food provenance, the type of dishes this enables them to create and why they enjoy working with local produce and suppliers.

Hastings Hotels also announced the launch of White Velvet milk which has been specially produced for the group by Farmview Dairies in the Castlereagh Hills. The artisan milk froths better than traditional milks, enhancing the flavour of the bean and making each sip extra velvety.

Howard Hastings, Chairman of Hastings Hotels said: “As a group, it is no

secret that we are heavily committed to supporting local provenance and only use the finest ingredients across the restaurants in our six hotels. It is this commitment that has seen us lead the way with a reputation for offering high quality produce which is locally sourced and prepared by our talented chefs.

In doing so, we are proud to help celebrate Northern Ireland’s unique food and drink proposition. It is very much a collaborative effort and together with our suppliers, some of which we have been working with for over 30 years, we are showcasing to overseas tourists and local visitors alike, the fabulous array of what our local soils and climate can produce. It is also important to acknowledge the vital role supporting local food provenance plays in food sustainability – both with regards to the positive environmental benefits and the local employment it helps sustain through local job creation.”

“At Hastings Hotels, we are proud to be in a position to support our local suppliers, who all play a giant part in our local food and drink journey, and we are delighted to help showcase, not just their produce, but their businesses across our menus, and indeed provenance booklets just like ‘The Hastings Book of Breakfast’. In addition to this, we continue to work closely with Food NI and share a commonality of purpose through the ‘Our Food. Power of Good’ campaign which is firmly aligned with our own ethos,” Howard continued.

EY Renews Backing For Ulster Rugby

EY Northern Ireland has announced that it will renew its sponsorship with Ulster Rugby. Pictured at the announcement were (L to R): Scott Martin, Manager in Business Consulting at EY Northern Ireland, Ulster Rugby’s Matty Rea, Rob Heron, EY Northern Ireland Managing Partner, Ulster Rugby’s Ian Madigan and Nadine Savage, Supervising Associate in the Talent team at EY Northern Ireland.

Pictured at the event with Howard Hastings, Chairman of Hastings Hotels are Rosemary Murray of Wilsons Country, Leona Kane of Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil and James McGinn of Hastings Hotels.

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Eye Moving On

Aidan Doherty has been appointed Managing Director of Re-Gen Robotics to lead the development of the company which uses no-man entry, explosion proof robots to clean a huge variety of storage tanks in the oil and gas industry. Aidan is a founding member of the Re-Gen Group which employs over 300 people and has a group turnover of £58 million and previously held the post of Commercial Director of Re-Gen Waste and latterly Re-Gen Robotics. Chris Platt has joined Re-Gen Robotics as Commercial Director. He brings extensive senior-level and technical experience in oil and gas operations, health and safety, and project management to the no-man entry robotic tank cleaning company, based in Northern Ireland. A Chemical Engineer with over 35 years’ experience in world-scale oil and gas processes in refineries and storage terminals, Chris has a track record of delivery in multinational and rapidly growing businesses.

Elevator Promotions has made three new appointments. Cliodhna Kernohan becomes Client Services Director. Cliodhna has 10 years of marketing experience across corporate, business and consumer brands and previously worked for 3fivetwo Healthcare group as Marketing Manager. Sarah McConkey joins as Senior Account Executive. Sarah has extensive marketing experience in both in house and agency roles and previously worked as Marketing Executive with Henderson Foodservice. And Emma Leckie joins Elevator as Content & Campaigns Manager from private dental group, New Life Teeth, where she was Social Media Marketing Manager.

Two new Business Analysts have been appointed at Pinnacle Growth Group. Joel Beckett is a law graduate who joined the team at Pinnacle in October of last year, while Harry Simpson is an international business management graduate who has almost two years’ experience in business development and project delivery.

3. Cliodhna Kernohan

2. Chris Platt

4. Sarah McConkey

1. Aidan Doherty

5. Emma Leckie

6. Joel Beckett

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Eye Moving On

8

Ireland’s leading juice production company Mulrines has appointed Michael Lyttle as its new Managing Director.  With 20 years’ experience across the FMCG sector, the new Managing Director will play a key role in supporting the company’s growth plans which has recently seen it investing in new production capacity in the Ballybofey factory along with £10m in a new production facility in Sion Mills, creating 54 jobs over the next three years.

Paula Barrett has been appointed as Operations Manager of WorkPal. Paula joined the business in December 2022 having come from another software provider in the field service management industry. Paula’s experience includes 10 years of technical training, working directly with customers and operational teams.

Belfast City Airport has announced two senior appointments. Lisa Doherty has been appointed Head of People and Purpose at Belfast City Airport. With over 20 years’ experience working in the industry, Lisa will focus on building and maintaining the company culture by overseeing all aspects of HR and corporate social responsibility. Meanwhile, Anna McKelvey has been appointed Head of Marketing. With over 15 years’ experience in the industry, Anna will lead on creating and delivering multi-channel marketing campaigns.

Jonathan Megaw has been appointed Tax Director, Large Corporate & International Tax at Grant Thornton in Belfast. Following over 10 years at HMRC conducting Corporation Tax compliance checks into large businesses, Jonathan will lead Grant Thornton’s rapidly growing Corporate & International Tax team.

9. Paula Barrett

8. Michael Lyttle

10. Lisa Doherty

7. Harry Simpson

11. Anna McKelvey

12. Jonathan Megaw

Eye on News

Belfast law firm launches official charity partnership

“Cancer Fund for Children NI carries out a vital role, with the vision that no child should face cancer alone. We at Millar McCall Wylie are behind that vision 100% and hope to raise as much money, awareness and support as possible to assist in helping children, young people and families affected by cancer in Northern Ireland,” Emma Rooney said.

Emma Rooney, Associate Director with Millar McCall Wylie, leads the charity committee at the firm: “We are delighted to have nominated Cancer Fund for Children NI as our charity partner for 2023. We have prepared a busy plan of fundraising events across the firm for the year ahead and feel privileged to be helping the important work of the charity in doing so.

New app launched to help revitalise Belfast’s nightlife

ABelfast tech company has launched a mobile web app aimed at boosting the night-time economy as the hospitality and creative industries continues to deal with the impact of the economic crisis.

GetSociable is a new platform that brings together event information and booking options for bars, clubs and entertainment venues to help people easily plan a night out without having to trawl through individual venue and music artist websites and social media pages.

The new app will be piloted in Belfast with plans to roll it out to other leading cities in the UK and Ireland and mainland Europe.

GetSociable Co-Founder and CEO Peter McCleery explained that he came up with the idea after living and travelling as an IT professional in cities across the UK, Europe and Australia.

He said: “When I arrived in a new city, I wished there was an easy way to find all the information I needed in one place. If you want to book a flight you go to SkyScanner or for a hotel you look up Booking.com. That is what we are aiming to do for people seeking entertainment, food and drink.”

When he and his team began building the app, they turned to the Innovation Factory in Belfast for assistance and advice. As a member of IF, they received invaluable support to build new collaborations with others, source funders and network with industry professionals.

Innovation Factory, located on the Springfield Road, houses a mix of entrepreneurs looking to start and grow their own businesses and established companies moving into new markets and developing new products.

Innovation Manager Stephen Ellis said: “GetSociable is a fantastic idea to help the hospitality industry rebuild. We could see how consumers would love having something that makes it easier to plan a night out. Our aim was to support the team and help them connect with organisations that could bring the app to market.”

The app allows people to view listings and promotions in a social media type feed or day by day guide. They can then save them, share with friends, book tables and tickets through links and receive personalised notifications.

The app is free for consumers and music artists. And during the three-month pilot stage, the app is also free to all businesses and

Speaking about the partnership, Jordana Stoney-Wilson of Cancer Fund for Children NI added: “It is an absolute pleasure to be chosen by Millar McCall Wylie as official charity partner for 2023.

“We are thrilled to be working together on a calendar of activity that will help us support children and families impacted by cancer, as well as providing opportunities for team bonding and positive workplace wellbeing. Valuable partnerships such as this help in our work towards ensuring no child has to face cancer alone,” Jordana Stoney-Wilson said.

includes additional support and training.

GetSociable has also been working closely with both Queen’s and Ulster Universities to develop the technology. The company also received support from Innovate UK after competing with businesses across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Innovation Factory is owned by Belfast City Council and operated on its behalf by Oxford Innovation Space. The £9.1m business hub was funded by Belfast City Council and Invest NI with support from the European Regional Development Fund.

A new partnership between Belfast law firm Millar McCall Wylie and Cancer Fund for Children NI will seek to raise valuable funds, awareness and support for the local charity.

Emma Rooney, Zoe McDonnell and Leigh Taylor of Millar McCall Wylie are pictured launching their new official charity partnership with Jordana Stoney-Wilson (far right) of Cancer Fund for Children NI.

Eye on News

Tughans tops Northern Irish M&A league tables for eighth year

Tughans LLP has been named Northern Ireland’s most active corporate law firm, as it topped the Experian MarketIQ M&A review:

Northern Ireland League Table for an impressive eighth year in a row.

The Belfast-based law firm advised on 79 deals during 2022, 40% more deals than the firm in 2nd place, and an increase on 2021. Overall deal value exceeded £1bn.

On a quarterly basis Tughans has been ranked by Experian as the top performing Northern Irish law firm, in terms of deal volume, in 25 of the past 29 quarters.

Tughans’ market leading Corporate team, working very closely alongside the Real Estate team, led by David Jones; Banking team, led by Fearghal O’Loan; Employment team, led by Anna Beggan; and Contracts & Technology team, led by Adrian O’Connell, advised on a broad spectrum of deals across a range of sectors. This included acting for Uform on a significant investment by Cardinal Capital, acting for the Business Growth Fund on its investments in the

Mzuri Group and Clarke Group, acting on the sale of Blue Zinc IT to ClearCourse, and acting on the sale of Renewable Energy Devices Ltd to Octopus Energy.

Commenting on the result, Head of Corporate, James Donnelly, said:

“It is a fantastic achievement to have held the position of most active corporate law firm in Northern Ireland for eight years in a row. It has been another incredibly busy year for M&A and investment activity and we are grateful for being engaged in so many interesting transactions. The Experian rankings are really a testament to the continued dedication and ambitions of our clients. ”

Corporate Partner, John McGuckian, added:

“Our team have worked with leading businesses and investors of all sizes across a variety of sectors in 2022, and we are pleased to see the number of transactions rise once again over the past twelve months.”

Members of the team have also been individually recognised, with Corporate

Partner, Paul O’Brien being nominated for the Insider Media ‘Dealmaker of The Year’ award, and Corporate Director, Ben Sims being nominated for ‘Emerging Dealmaker of The Year’.

Tughans’ Managing Partner, Patrick Brown (pictured) said:

“To be the most active advisor in Northern Ireland for the eighth consecutive year reflects the talent within our transactional teams. Advising on 40% more deals than the nearest firm in 2nd place demonstrates our position as the leading corporate firm in Northern Ireland. This result comes as we enter a hugely exciting time for our firm, as we move our headquarters to The Ewart on Bedford Square, which will support both our continued growth and development of our culture of intelligence, collaboration, and innovation.”

Law Firm Eversheds Sutherland To Sponsor Belfast Chamber Lunch

Belfast Chamber have announced that their 2023 President’s Lunch – which will happen on Thursday 6 April in the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Shaw’s Bridge – will be sponsored by global law firm Eversheds Sutherland.

Commenting, Belfast Chamber President Alana Coyle said:

“Belfast Chamber are delighted to partner with Eversheds Sutherland for our President’s Lunch on Thursday 6 April. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Global Belfast’. We can, at times, be understandably focused on what’s happening in our own city or region and forget to focus on the opportunities that exist beyond Belfast. Global companies have made Belfast their home because of our impressive talent pool whilst Belfast based companies are exporting far and wide. Encouraging an even greater international outlook, seeking to attract talent from around the world and exploiting the opportunity of our city as a gateway to markets is something that Belfast Chamber wants to encourage and work with partners to help make Belfast a truly global city.

As a global top 10 law practice, Eversheds Sutherland are the perfect partner for such an event. Their presence in Belfast and across the rest of the UK plus close connections across the island of Ireland reminds us of our city’s potentially unique position that could benefit people and business in Belfast and right across NI”.

Alan Connell, Managing Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, added:

“We are pleased to be supporting this year’s Belfast Chamber President’s Lunch. As the largest and most established global law firm on the island of Ireland, with a full service offering across our Belfast and Dublin offices, Eversheds Sutherland is very much connected globally but committed locally. We are acutely aware of the many challenges which face businesses and organisations currently, and with our strength and depth of expertise across our full service offering, we are uniquely placed to help them navigate such challenges.

“This year’s theme of ‘Global Belfast’ is particularly apt for a firm like ours which operates from over

70 offices in more than 30 countries around the world. Eversheds Sutherland and our team of experts in Belfast are globally connected to our firm’s wider network. As we seek to attract more inward investment and create a Belfast economy fit for the future, it is important that, as a business community, in order to capitalise on the many opportunities that are arising, we are outward facing and increasingly global in our outlook and approach.”

Belfast Chamber President Alana Coyle along with Matthew Howse, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland launching the 2023 Belfast Chamber President’s Lunch.

Eye on Motor Trade

The Roadmap To Success

Shelbourne Motors has been operating for 50 years this year. It is one of few family-run car sales businesses here yet one of the most forward-thinking. Directors Caroline Willis and Paul and Richard Ward talk to Business Eye.

The first ever car to be sold at family-run Shelbourne Motors in 1973 was a Corolla second-generation model from the Japanese brand, Toyota.

Today, the Ward family behind the firm proudly showcase that very same car to mark the business’ 50th anniversary.

The model, known for its ‘Coke bottle design’ by some enthusiasts tells a story of evolution in the car industry but it’s also something of a Shelbourne Motors mascot that depicts the mileage the Ward family has travelled over the years.

That very Corolla has retained its original tyres and brake pads from all those years back and flaunts the old-school workings of a solid motor pre-digitalisation in what is a point of interest for Shelbourne’s younger technicians. That alone tells a story.

“So much has changed over the years,” Paul Ward begins. “We’ve come such a long way since our father launched his forecourt in Portadown and it’s an incredibly proud moment to reach 50 years in business.”

Caroline Willis, who works alongside siblings Paul and Richard Ward, leading the Shelbourne Motors group, recalls the very early days when Fred Ward would sell cars with a young Caroline on his hip.

She says: “In January 1973 our father

moved us from Newry to Portadown, opening a forecourt which was a blue wooden hut and just two petrol pumps. It became our home from home, and my father was the one-man band operating things. He then moved into car sales, and it’s been an incredible journey since.”

Today Shelbourne employs 175 staff who serve a customer base from across Northern Ireland, some of whom have been loyal to the family since Fred and his wife Barbara lived and breathed the business with their three young children in tow.

The Ward’s first forecourt would become the three children’s playground and the very place where they would learn the trade that makes them secondgeneration owners of the business.

Today the blue hut and the humble duo of petrol pumps are a distant memory, and the site is a sophisticated Shelbourne Motors multi-franchise site where it operates the Toyota, Renault, Nissan, and Dacia franchises, as well as a used car supermarket, rental division, and valet centre.

Caroline continues: “From we were no height on Saturdays we would be helping out and cleaning up. We were just integrated into it and lived and breathed the business since a very own age.”

Caroline worked her way up through

the business. Paul and Richard began as apprentice technicians then onto sales and eventually management. Richard’s son has recently joined the business.

Success has beckoned for the family under the leadership of their father, but also during their own reign when they opened one of Northern Ireland’s most modern showrooms in 2019 in Newry. That would become the second Shelbourne site.

The £5m investment on Armagh Road is another multi-franchise dealership where it trades the Kia, Renault, Dacia, and Maxus brands as well as featuring a used car supermarket.

“We continually challenge ourselves and we always had plans to offer multiple brands,” Caroline continues. “I think you need to have more strings to your bow and that’s why we’ve expanded manufacturers and added news services and products to our portfolio.

Diversifying and keeping at the forefront of trends in the sector will help safeguard Shelbourne Motors over the next 50 years, Caroline says as it pledges a further £3m investment into the business.

The funding will be used to carry out a “major programme” of renovations and upgrades across its two multi-franchise sites, with the first element of the programme already in progress at the Nissan site where it has adopted the Japanese car manufacturer’s new visual identity.

The investment will continue across

the vehicle retailer’s Portadown and Newry sites with the transformation of the Toyota, Renault, Kia, and Dacia dealerships in the pipeline.

The family says renovations will focus on modern, flexible, and sustainablefocused designs that will include updated “state-of-the-art” showrooms with the latest technologically advanced features, new car handover bays, enhanced customer service facilities and electric vehicle (EV) charge points.

Asked where they see the future of the car sales sector, the Ward siblings believe the rise of EV car sales will continue to grow ahead of the 2023 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales.

Richard says “We are really excited about the transition from petrol and diesel to electric cars. All the new electric cars we have launched in our showrooms recently have all had an impressive range of over 300 miles meaning our customers only need to charge once or twice a week.

“We have already seen the Northern Ireland EV charging infrastructure start to improve over the last 6 months so this will have a big impact on consumers decisions to make the switch to EV.

Looking at the Shelbourne roadmap for the years ahead, Richard says growth will continue, whether that’s on its current sites or new ones.

“We have plans to keep expanding. We have a great passion to drive forward and continue to be one of Northern Ireland’s largest family-run vehicle retailers.”

Pictured launching Shelbourne Motors’ multi-million-pound investment is Founder, Fred Ward, and Directors Paul Ward, Richard Ward and Caroline Willis.

Pint-sized hero

those monster trucks are to drive.

Cars are getting bigger and we are driving more big cars… Anyone who’s spent time on the school run recently will tell you that. Not only are we buying more SUVs - high riding 4x4 lookalikes – but small cars just aren’t small anymore. The modern-day Polo is larger than the original 1974 VW Golf.

The result of all this upscaling is that daily we have to meander our way through narrow streets and car park spaces not designed for our supersized vehicles. It’s only when you step into a genuinely compact car that you realise how stressful

Small cars are fun and completely liberating in and around town. They squeeze into the tightest of spaces and breeze round multistorey car parks. They’re also cheap, pretty practical and fun to drive.

The leaders of the pack are the VW Up (and it’s VW-group siblings from Seat and Skoda), Hyundai’s little i10 and this Kia Picanto.

Kia is probably better known for its larger and more expensive SUV and all-electric offerings, but the Picanto is a very fine car in its own right. It’s got pert styling, tidy handling and a smart interior.

There’s four trim levels to choose from – ‘1’, ‘2’ and ‘3’ – as well as a sporty GT-Line version. All bar the most expensive GT-Line editions are fitted with a little 66bhp 1.0 litre three-cylinder petrol engine.

This motor also comes with the best selection of trims.

It will deliver mpg in the high fifties while a 0-60mph time of around 14 seconds means it’s best suited to urban driving rather than long motorway slogs. If you want some extra pep, the turbocharged 99bhp version, which is good for a sub 10 seconds 0-60mph time, is the one to go for.

On the road, the GT-Line feels extremely agile. The steering is sharp and kart-like while body roll is minimal.

The entry level ‘1’ version (from £13,400) is sparsely equipped but does feature front electric windows, USB port and a host of safety features. The ‘3’ (from £15,650) has niceties, including alloy wheels, 8 inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,

LED lights and privacy glass.

‘GT-Line’ (from £15,300) and ‘GT-Line S’ models have distinguishing features to emphasise their role as the sportiest models in the range.

This includes larger sports front and rear bumpers with gloss black skid plates and red highlights within the upper grille and side air intakes, along the side sills and in the lower rear bumper, which contains a diffuser section and twin exhaust tailpipes.

Kia has garnered a reputation in recent years for super build quality and that’s apparent even in this, their smallest car. The interior is clean, unfussy and well put together.

The seats are finished in smart black cloth for grade ‘1’, premium black cloth for ‘2’ and ‘3’ models, or black and red faux leather on ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ models. There are black door handles on grade ‘1’, silver paint on ‘2’ and ‘3’ versions and satin chrome door handles on all versions. Leather trim adorns the steering wheel and gear-lever from grade ‘2’.

It’s a small car so compromises have to be made but the Picanto will still accommodate six footers with ease. The rear is compact but again, tall passengers won’t feel put out.

The boot is on the small side though this can be expanded by folding down the rear seats, which split 60:40.

The little Picanto is proof that big isn’t always better.

Kia’s Picanto reminds us of the joy of small cars, writes James Stinson.

Eye on Motoring

Motoring with James Stinson

Exclusive and then some

smooth surfaces down the car’s flanks feature small details such as the vents behind the front wheels that run into the long doors, improving aerodynamics, as well as the Batur’s striking, solidlooking C-pillars; 22-inch wheels bespoke to the Batur are standard.

At the rear, the heavily raked screen runs down into a rounded tail that features an active aerodynamic spoiler and ultra-slim tail-light clusters. Based on the same MSP platform as the current Continental GT, the Batur retains a coupe-style boot opening.

Bentley Director of Design, Andreas Mint, sums up the evolution of the Batur’s design language: “Overall, the form is cleaner and simplified, and we rely more on curvaceous surfaces bisected in the right places to reflect light and dark and bring more muscle to the design.”

It’s also notable because this could be the last Bentley powered by a good old combustion engine. But what a way to go out!

The two-seater grand tourer is fitted with Bentley’s familiar 6.0litre twin-turbo W12 motor, which has been tuned to produce “730bhp plus”, and a whopping 1,000Nm of torque. It’s Bentley’s most powerful car ever. This has been possible thanks to a new intake system, upgraded

intercoolers and turbochargers, plus extensive recalibration.

The engine’s output is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed dualclutch automatic gearbox and Bentley’s all-wheel drive system, while the engine breathes through a new titanium exhaust system with 3D-printed tailpipe finishers.

To go with its mighty engine, the Batur offers Bentley’s most advanced chassis available, as well as Bentley Continental GT Speed-level tuned three-chamber

air suspension, 48V electric active antiroll control, an electronic limited-slip differential (with torque vectoring) and unique 22 inch wheels with rear steering.

It is striking looking and a sign of things to come. The firm says the new Batur “embodies the start of a design revolution” that “will ultimately guide the design of Bentley’s future range of electric vehicles.”

The firm’s traditional long bonnet is still present, housing the huge engine, while

To reflect its ultra-exclusive status, while the interior is taken from the current Continental GT, Bentley has applied many high-end upgrades, including the option of 3D-printed parts in 18K gold for the organ stops air vents and the drive mode selector.

Named after a volcanic lake in Bali, Indonesia, the new Batur will get a run of 18 cars, each selling for £1.65 million before options and local taxes — and they’re already all sold.

East Asian car makers tops for reliability

Japanese and Korean cars are the most reliable around easily sits in the ‘things you have always thought were true but never had proof’ category. Not anymore!

and Korean marques continue to lead by example when it comes to reliability as they sweep the top five spots.

The Reliability Index ranks every car on a combination of factors that include the cost to carry out repairs and the frequency rate of those repairs. With an impressive overall score of 96.8/100, Honda’s solid reputation for being ultradependable seems unshakeable, and as shown in previous news updates, the Honda Jazz was named the most reliable used car in this year’s Reliability Index.

TOP TEN MOST RELIABLE CAR BRANDS

Warrantywise, the UK’s leading extended car warranty provider, has revealed that Honda once again stands unmatched when it comes to overall

brand reliability, according to the latest data from its Reliability Index.

With data compiled from over 131,000 active extended car warranty plans between 2021 and 2022, Japanese

Toyota comes a close second, scoring 91.2/100 overall, followed by Suzuki [three] and Kia [four], with Hyundai finishing the top five East Asian reliability takeover. Fiat, Citroën, Renault, Mazda, and Ford respectively fill up the rest of the top ten.

This striking new Bentley Mulliner Batur is one of the most exclusive and expensive cars ever built.

Did you know EV sales in Northern Ireland were up more than 100% in 2021?*

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