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.

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