Business Eye July 2023

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06

Celebrating Innovation In Construction

A variety of consultants, contractors, operators and suppliers have been awarded for their innovation, sustainability strategies, products and workplace schemes at the 2023 Digital Construction Live Awards.

14 £100k Funding For NI’s Top Start-Ups

Ten of the most promising start-ups in Northern Ireland have each been awarded £10,000 proof of concept (POC) grants following their involvement in Catalyst’s earlystage entrepreneurship programme Co-Founders.

20 Linwoods – Sowing The Seeds For Sustainable Growth

A year on from taking over as Managing Director of Linwoods Health Foods, Patrick Woods has put sustainability front and centre of the company’s strategy for the future. He talks to Business Eye about the company’s journey and the support it has received from Danske Bank.

23 Northern Ireland Gears Up For Motor Industry Awards

Northern Ireland’s first ever motor industry awards – Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards – have been launched to help acknowledge and celebrate the industry’s leading motoring businesses and professionals.

26

Nuala McClinton – Recruitment Specialist Swaps NZ For NI

Swapping life on one side of the globe for the other is never easy but Nuala McClinton is well settled in her native Northern Ireland having returned home late last summer from New Zealand.

34 Electric Vehicles & The Wider Marketplace

Business Eye joined forces with vehicle fleet specialists Fleet Financial to stage a Round Table Discussion held in the boardroom overlooking Charles Hurst Group’s headquarters on Belfast’s Boucher Road.

38 A Personal MOT – BUPA Healthcare At Kingsbridge

Richard Buckley pays a visit to the BUPA Healthcare Centre at Kingsbridge Private Hospital, where a range of health check packages are available offering a unique, prersonalised health experience.

43 Manufacturing – Uncertainty Is The New Certainty

Richard Gardiner of RSM Belfast reckons that NI manufacturers can counter uncertainty by investing in their people.

49

AIB Business Eye Awards 2023 Are Launched

The 2023 AIB Business Eye Awards were launched in June at a reception held in Belfast Waterfront Hall, right next door to November’s Awards venue – ICC Belfast.

59 Tech Eye – The Latest Global Technology News

From the rise and rise of Artificial Intelligence to the importance of video content and the slightly worrying concept of digital eternity, we catch up with news from the global world of technology.

Richard Buckley EDITOR

Irish Magazine Editor of the Year 2005

Comment

Nor will they be sweating the small stuff over the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Windsor Framework or what kind of deal can be conjured up to persuade the one missing party back into the Stormont equation.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, and those who think like him, might find it surprising, but businessmen and women have bigger fish to try. Inflation continues to be an issue, material and energy costs remain high and interest rates have been climbing steadily over recent months. All of those are of much bigger concern to those running businesses here.

Would it help if, as is being suggested, Stormont made a return in the autumn? To an extent, of course it would. But, based on past form, it’s unlikely that any local Executive and Ministers would be able to take the hard decisions necessary to get this place and its finances into any kind of shape.

That said, maybe a double act of Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little Pengelly – the hot tip for the DFM post if and when Stormont returns – would hit the ground running and become a dynamic sales force for the region. One never knows!

Every business event, every dinner, every function comes with the same message, the same mood music. Talk of our failed politics produces much shaking of heads while, from the platforms, the message is loud and clear. We need a stable devolved government.

But there’s another recurring theme. It’s that Northern Ireland has real potential, especially if no one is allowed to meddle with the dual market access that we currently enjoy, and can continue to enjoy going forward.

That’s the crux of the problem, unfortunately. One person’s economic potential and golden chance is another person’s hated Irish Sea border.

The challenge just now for the UK Government is to come up with a form of words, a piece of reassurance, a deal with some financial clout, which will convince the DUP – and its support base – that there is no real Irish Sea border. At the same time, though, it can’t take away the ingredients of a potential economic win:win.

Lots might change, but nothing ever really changes here in Northern Ireland. There are always reasons to be pessimistic. But it’s important to remember that there are always reasons to be optimistic too.

How full is your glass?

“Talk of our failed politics produces much shaking of heads while, from the platforms, the message is loud and clear. We need a stable devolved government.”

As we drift through another summer of political impasse here in Northern Ireland, the vast majority of business people here won’t be lying awake at night worrying about the lack of a devolved government at Stormont.

Eye on News

Digital Construction AwardsCelebrating Innovation

A variety of consultants, contractors, operators and suppliers have been awarded for their innovation, sustainability strategies, products and workplace schemes at the 2023 Digital Construction Live Awards.

The evening, hosted by broadcaster Pamela Ballantine, followed an inspirational day at the Exhibition and Conference, overseen by Sarah Travers, which saw a range of keynote speakers from Andreas Galatoulas, and Dew Waller, AECOM on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, plus panel sessions from Diversity Mark and Procore. David Comiskey, Reader, Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment at Ulster University led the afternoon sessions, and the day closed with Maria Hudson, CMO of BuildData Group discussing tech enabled regulatory compliance.

Translink dominated both the

company and individual categories on the night, with Julie Carrick, Head of Property Asset Management at the organisation taking home the top Award of the night: Digital Construction Champion 2023, with judges commending her project and asset management leadership.

Chris Millar from Translink was joint winner of the Digital Construction Rising Star Award with Beth Wilson from Tetra Tech, and Translink also picked up Best Use of BIM (Building Information Modelling).

Other winners on the night, decided by the esteemed panel of expert judges, included GilbertAsh for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion – a new category for 2023

– and Cercula for Most Innovative Sustainability Initiative for their Embodied Carbon Software for the Build Environment concept.

MDE Installations picked up the award for Most Innovative Public Sector Project for their National Smart Metering Programme Ireland scheme, while NoMAD took home Most Innovative Product for their 3DP Concrete.

Digital Construction Live Ltd was formed by Building Information Modelling (BIM) and digital construction consultant and expert, Managing Director of Origin7, Melanie Dawson and events expert, Managing Director of Weir Events, Sarah Weir. They aim to bring more opportunities for those working in the sector to understand digitisation better through exhibitions, conferences and bootcamps, the next of which is due to run in October.

Melanie says the Exhibition, Conference and Awards were a fantastic day of learning and evening celebrating the companies pushing digital construction and BIM forward to sustain the future of the industry; “We brought valued and respected voices to our exhibition and conference, which allowed those working in the local sector to think differently about their projects and see how accessible digital ways of working are for them and their businesses. “BIM and digitising our industry should be of the highest priority to ensure sustainable and efficient practices going forward, and our Award winners showed that this is thriving throughout the sector. We are thrilled to have created such a positive day of learning, and a celebratory evening for the industry as a whole.”

Chris Millar and Julie Carrick from Translink, who picked up two individual awards at the Digital Construction Live Awards: Digital Construction Rising Star and Digital Construction Champion 2023, respectively.

Eye on News

ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall And Ulster Hall Earn Diversity Mark

ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall have been awarded a Bronze accreditation by Diversity Mark showcasing the venues’ ongoing commitment to gender diversity.

The organisation, which employs almost 300 people across its three Belfast venues, is led by Chief Executive Julia Corkey, and has achieved a 50:50 male:female balance at executive level, with senior management roles throughout the business also now approaching a 50:50 gender split. The accreditation recognises the organisation’s progress and marks the beginning of its commitment to further improving diversity and inclusivity across a wider set of targets in the coming years including more gender initiatives to drive equality.

Julia Corkey, Chief Executive, said: “Receiving our Bronze Diversity Mark is a very important milestone as it cements our commitment to diversity and inclusivity. We’re proud that the appointment of new board members has supported this, along with changes to our senior management. To remain world-class,

we need build a workplace culture where everyone feels represented and valued - an environment that creates opportunities and reduces barriers across all of our teams. We thoroughly enjoy working with Diversity Mark to strengthen and build on our gender diversity and continue improving on our inclusive leadership to support recruitment and retention.”

The organisation has set a target to develop a robust Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Strategy by May 2024 involving feedback from all staff.

Steve Daniels, Chairman of the Board and Board Diversity Champion, said: “We’re proud to set and deliver on solid targets as we continue to develop a workplace where our employees thrive. Our venues make a significant contribution to Belfast and Northern Ireland – both socially and economically – so we cannot underestimate how important it is that our employees feel

valued and can express their creativity to support idea-sharing and innovation. Furthermore, we want our patrons to recognise that we are committed to contributing positively to the future and continuing to create a world-class stage where great things happen.”

Emma Lytlle, Head of Engagement at Diversity Mark, visited members of the team from ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall and joined a ‘Knowledge Hub’ on June 19thsharing her insights into creating positive workplaces. She said: “The team at ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall have done a wonderful job in committing to setting, actioning and achieving annual targets. The feedback from our independent assessment panel will support you as this journey continues.”

Nuala Murphy, Head of Diversity Mark, said: “Your investment in diversity and inclusion will see your organisation continue to make a positive impact on our society. You have recognised that a D&I Strategy will deliver better engagement with existing and potential employees, paving the way for a successful future.”

ICC Belfast’s contribution to the city’s economy is crucial. Formerly Belfast

Waterfront, the venue is Belfast’s only purpose-built international convention centre. A £29.5m extension, unveiled in 2016, significantly increased the venue’s capacity and put Belfast in a position to compete globally for business events, an arena that has proved to be a critical driver for the region’s economy. It’s currently estimated that the industry could deliver £209 million in direct economic impact, and up to 2000 new jobs by 2030.

Meanwhile, entertainment venues Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall make a significant contribution to a £345 million economy, according to 2019 research commissioned by Fourth Pillar, and supported by Northern Ireland Screen and Department for Communities.

Earlier this year, all three venues were awarded an Autism NI Impact Award recognising the standards upheld and improvements being made to ensure that visitors with autism feel fully supported by staff.

L-R Clare McCann, Emma Lyttle, Julia Corkey

Eye on News

The Vaults Group Opens Tenth Safe Deposit Box Facility In Belfast City Centre

The Vaults Group, UK & Ireland’s largest private independent safe deposit box provider, has opened its tenth facility in Belfast City Centre.

Belfast Vaults, which features cutting edge security and state-of-theart technology, represents a £1m investment creating 10 new jobs.

The Vaults Group business, based in Dublin, was created by Irish entrepreneurs Séamus Fahy and David Walsh who identified a gap in the market left by the closure of most bank safe deposit businesses.

Belfast Vaults is already attracting a wide range of customers given the lack of safe deposit boxes for hire in Northern Ireland, with dozens of boxes already being rented by private customers and businesses. The site has hundreds of safe deposit boxes of various sizes and capacity to expand to several thousand boxes. These can

be rented from less than £4 per week or as little as £200 per year.

Unparalleled state of the art security system, 24hr monitoring, seismic shock sensors, fog cloak system, and biometric identification technology provides Belfast Vaults customers with complete peace of mind and confidentiality, with box access limited to only the authorised person. It will also provide customers with complimentary insurance of £10,000 on all boxes rented, with additional insurance available up to £500,000 per box.

As well as jewellery and family heirlooms, the boxes are often used to store currency, gold and silver bullion, watch collections, important documents such as title deeds, leases and wills, or

items of sentimental value which are irreplaceable. Interest is also being driven by the rise of portable assets such as luxury watches and to store crypto-currency. They are also increasingly being used by businesses concerned about the risk of hacking, to store back-up data on memory sticks and computer hard drives.

Belfast Vaults sister company Belfast Bullion will also operate from the same facility. Belfast Bullion is a specialist precious metals dealer where customers can buy and sell physical gold & silver bars and coins. Staff are highly trained and experienced in trading bullion, providing the highest level of discretion and security.

Séamus Fahy, co-founder and chief executive of The Vaults Group and co-owner of Belfast Vaults said: “We’re looking forward to providing a much-needed service for customers across Northern Ireland, that will ultimately give peace of mind to people who require a

safe haven for their valuable and irreplaceable possessions. Costcutting measures at high street banks means that secure storage has largely been phased out with customers being left with nowhere to store their treasured items.”

Seamus added:

“Our customer base is extremely varied – it is not just high net worth individuals. We have younger people wanting to store their crypto-currency and regularly converting their savings into gold, older people safeguarding their family heirlooms and increasingly, businesses choosing to store irreplaceable data.”

Belfast Vaults is now open at 20 Adelaide Street, Belfast City Centre. To open an account photographic ID and proof of address is required. To ensure privacy, customers are asked to book a timed slot to visit Belfast Vaults.

Visit www.belfastvaults.co.uk.

Follow Belfast Vaults on Facebook.

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Host a Builders’ Tea and raise funds for skin detection service

L-R Barry Latewood, Barwood Construction; Lisa McGuckian, Action Cancer and Jamie Thompson, Thompson’s Tea.

Eye on Charity

Following on from Men’s Health Awareness Week (12-18th June), Action Cancer has joined forces with local property construction company, Barwood Construction, to launch the new campaign aimed at constructionbased workers who are most at risk from skin cancers working outdoors. Local tea company, Thompson’s Tea, are supporting the campaign by supplying those who take part with a tea chest to enjoy lots of good brews at their Builders’ Tea event.

Construction companies are being encouraged to raise money towards Action Cancer’s brand new skin cancer detection service. This service allows anyone aged 18 or over with a worrying mole or lesion to visit a Senior Skin Cancer Specialist Nurses onboard the Big Bus (supported by SuperValu and Centra) or at Action Cancer House. If every company that gets involved helps achieve a combined target of £5000, this will allow the charity to offer 40 local people a skin cancer detection appointment.

The campaign also seeks to

educate men and women who work in the construction industry to be aware of the need to protect their skin by wearing factor 30 (or above) sunscreen on a daily basis and to be vigilant of any changes to moles or lesions.

In Northern Ireland seven people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. Many skin cancers could be prevented by following sun safety protection advice.

Barry Latewood, Owner of Barwood Construction, said: “At Barwood our staff are outside working on building sites all year round. We really need to encourage our employees that as well as putting on their hard hats, hi-vis and boots, they need to apply their sunscreen too as part of their daily routines. It’s easy to forget but absolutely vital to lessen chances of getting skin cancers. We are excited about holding our Builders’ Tea event in July – raising funds for this excellent new cancer skin detection service Action Cancer has recently launched. We all love a Punjana tea and a SuperValu biscuit so I’d encourage lots of other companies to get involved.”

Jamie Thompson, Marketing Manager of Thompson’s Tea, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to support this very worthwhile campaign from Action Cancer. Skin health is a very important topic and an issue that affects us all. We would encourage everyone, as we have done with our colleagues here in Belfast, to seek out Action Cancer if you have any skin health worries. Anything we can do as a local business to support this early detection skin cancer service is vital, and so we loved the idea of getting builders together to host a tea morning to help raise money for this great cause. Every business taking part in this campaign and hosting a tea morning will receive a special Thompson’s Tea package including Northern Ireland’s favourite tea, Punjana.”

To register to take part and get your free “Host a Builders’ Tea pack” or to find out more email lmccusker@actioncancer.org

To find out more about Action Cancer’s services visit actioncancer.org

Action Cancer, Northern Ireland’s leading, local cancer charity is calling all local construction and property companies to choose one Friday morning during July or August to host a Builders’ Tea and raise awareness of the importance of sun safety.

As well as the skin cancer detection service, Action Cancer offers a range of other services including health checks, breast screening, therapeutic support services and a Big Bus mobile detection unit which travels to 200 locations throughout Northern Ireland every year.

Eye on News

NWP Supports Eco Initiative For Derry & Strabane Schools

Ireland’s leading organics recycling firm Natural World Products (NWP) has been unveiled as the new sponsor for the Eco-Schools programme in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

Eco-Schools is an international programme, with local environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful operating the initiative in Northern Ireland and NWP funding the Derry and Strabane scheme, that is aimed at fostering sustainable practices and environmental education.

The Eco-Schools Green Flag, awarded to schools with high achievement in their programme, is a recognised and respected eco-label for environmental education and performance.

With 369 active Green Flag schools in Northern Ireland, the region is now ranked sixth out of the 76 participating countries for number of Green Flag Status Schools.

NWP produces peat-free compost by recycling household food and garden waste received by local authorities across Northern Ireland including Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Sharon McMaster, Community Outreach Manager, said:

“We are thrilled to support the Eco Schools programme and its mission to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

“By partnering with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, we aim to empower schools in the Derry and Strabane council area to adopt more sustainable practices and we believe that the Eco-Schools programme goes a long way to creating a greener future.

“Similar to Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, we believe that education is key to improving the understanding of the importance of recycling and inspiring the next generation to commit to the circular economy of the region.”

As part of NWP’s support for the Eco-Schools, the organics recycling firm is assisting Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Field Officers with implementing the various workshops that allow schools to become Green Flag accredited. Through a series of modules and activities, pupils learn about environmental issues, biodiversity, energy conservation, waste reduction, and more.

Sharon continued:

“Together with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, we can make a positive impact on our environment and empower young people to become change makers for a sustainable world.” NWP will partner with Keep

Northern Ireland Beautiful for the next 12 months and will see more schools in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area become more environmentally conscious.

Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said:

“We’re delighted to partner with Natural World Products to deliver the Eco-Schools programme in Derry and Strabane. Environmental education is more important now than it’s ever been, and it’s right that these programmes are supported. As the environmental crisis worsens, it’s crucial to equip our young people with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to make positive, lasting changes.”

Dr. Ian Humphreys of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful with Sharon McMaster of NWP.

To find out more about NWP, visit: naturalworldproducts.com. To find out more about Eco-Schools visit: www.eco-schoolsni.org

Are you in the tourism and hospitality sector?

Then the TED programme is here to boost your business.

172639_TNI_TED_DPBanner_420x20.indd

Eye on News

Assess, Adapt,

£100k Funding For NI’s Top Start-Ups

Ten of the most promising start-ups in Northern Ireland have each been awarded £10,000 proof of concept (POC) grants following their involvement in Catalyst’s early-stage entrepreneurship programme Co-Founders.

Co-Founders is an innovative programme which brings together ambitious people from diverse backgrounds who are interested in creating a startup with high-growth potential in a safe, risk-free environment.

This year saw 18 teams graduate from the programme, with 10 teams each receiving £10,000 POC grants.

Catalyst has partnered with Techstart Ventures, a leading investor of seed capital supporting early-stage businesses, to provide the £10,000 grants to the startups, which must be used to help validate their business and develop their inventive ideas.

This year’s Co-Founders programme had a new focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development

Goals (SDGs), to reflect Catalyst’s commitment to sustainable innovation. The 17 SDGs are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

Aligning with the SDG of ‘good health and wellbeing’, one team, Forgetmenot, is focusing on a platform to ease the pressures of dementia care, primarily aiming to support and help informal carers. Another team, Plugable, is looking at access to home chargers and new public infrastructure to support EV adoption, working towards the SDGs of ‘affordable and clean energy’ and ‘sustainable cities and communities’.

Companies across a range of sectors including Greentech, Fintech, Health & Wellbeing, and Education, were among the recipients of the funding.

The recipients of the £10,000 awards are:

Pangea

MDD Systems Ltd

Wavve

Plugable

PropAI

Forgetmenot

ElectrifyMe Ltd

Now Doctor Ltd

Agewell

Willow

Hannah Cummings, Co-Founders Programme Manager at Catalyst, said: “Pitch Night is the culmination of the Co-Founders programme and is all about celebrating and elevating the voices of our co-founders, past and present, providing them with the opportunity to make connections beyond the programme within the start-up ecosystem, and gain insight from those who have been there and done it before. I wish all of our founders every success as they move forward.”

Kathleen Garrett, Head of Proof of

Concept Grants at Techstart Ventures, said: “We have seen some fantastic teams graduate from Co-Founders 2023, and we’re delighted to have partnered with Catalyst to provide the £100k grant funding to 10 of the teams. This funding will help fuel start-up growth in Northern Ireland as the Co-Founders teams look to take their ideas to the next level.

“We’re excited to see what the future holds for these start-up teams, who are tackling some challenging problems.”

These teams will progress to Co-Founders+, Phase 2 of the programme, where ideas are further developed, and teams are given access to mentors and industry specialists to accelerate their concepts.

Since launching in 2017, 750 people have taken part in the programme with 196 teams formed; over a third of the teams formed are continuing to work on their start-up. This year saw a record number of applicants on the programme, plus a record number attending the in-person Hot House event, where participants network and form a start-up team.

Eye on News

Dale Farm has recorded a strong set of results for the financial year ending March 2023, and continues to build on the progress it has made over the past number of years.

Group turnover is up at £728m compared to £591m the previous year. Group operating profit has increased to £35.5m up almost £10m on the previous year (£25.6m in 2022); group net profit before tax £26.8m (previous year £22.1m). The cooperative’s earnings before interest, tax and depreciation (EBITDA) have also increased from £33.8m year ending 2022, to £43m for the year ending 2023.

Nick Whelan, Group Chief Executive, Dale Farm commented, “On behalf of the Dale Farm team, I’m delighted to see the strong performance, building on a robust set of results in 2022.

“These figures show our strategy is working, with our focus on research and development, portfolio management and brand performance contributing to this growth, alongside favourable global commodity prices in the first

half of the financial year. We have made cost efficiencies across the business in response to rising food prices and remain committed to being as agile and profitable as possible. This has enabled us to pay the most competitive milk price and be able to invest in the future stability and sustainability of the cooperative. This strong performance can only be achieved by dedicated and talented people, and I want to thank the entire team at Dale Farm for their efforts.”

Fred Allen, Chairman of Dale Farm said, “This past year was unprecedented with continued high costs which peaked at record levels. Our cooperative’s strong performance enabled us to pay a competitive milk price, which was on average for the year, 45.49 ppl compared to 33.88 ppl the previous year. Our focus remains on building a sustainable supply chain, and we continue to invest in areas of our business which deliver the highest returns possible to our dedicated members and suppliers.”

Dale Farm Reports Hike In Turnover & Profits

Local Businesses & Individuals Celebrated at the Greater Newry Business Awards

Local businesses and individuals were recognised, celebrated and rewarded at the 9th edition of the Greater Newry Business Awards at a glittering Gala Awards Ceremony. The biennial event was attended by over 500 guests in the Canal Court Hotel & Spa, Newry on Thursday 15th June and honoured the achievements of 26 individuals and organisations.

The awards have become the premier celebration of business excellence in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council since their inception in 2004. This year, the awards were kindly supported by Principal Sponsor, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Supporting Sponsor, nijobfinder, 25 Category Sponsors and organised by Newry Chamber.

On the night, a Charity Raffle also raised over £5,000 for PIPS Hope and Support and Samaritans who this year, mark their 20th and 40th anniversaries respectively, providing their vital services to many people within the Greater Newry Area and beyond.

The headline award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Greater Newry Area’, went to Brian Doran, Chief Executive of Southern Regional College and the Greater Newry Area Diaspora Award went to Mick Boyle, Owner of Killeavy Castle Estate. Rosemary Connolly from Rosemary Connolly Solicitors won the ‘Best Businesswoman’ award and the ‘Best Businessman’ award went to Joseph Doherty from Re-Gen Waste.

Julie Gibbons, President of Newry Chamber commented:

“The awards last took place in September 2021 and the 20 months since then, has undoubtedly been an incredibly testing period for local businesses, across the district. However, from the 220+ entries received, which is a record, we can clearly see the local economy is being driven by many successful, ambitious and talented businesses who call this region home.”

“The strength of this year’s awards illustrates a determined, resilient and confident local business community, focused on creating jobs and generating wealth and prosperity for our region. I

want to congratulate all the winners, highly commended and finalists and thank everyone who took the time out to enter this year’s awards.”

“The Greater Newry Area is recognised as a place synonymous with entrepreneurship, innovation, excellent

service, product quality and customer care. This year’s awards have recognised the very best that this region’s local business community has to offer. As a Chamber, we were delighted to be able to organise these prestigious awards and showcase Greater Newry’s Greatest.”

Gary Annett, CEO of Category Sponsor, MJM Marine with Jason Foody, collecting the award on behalf of winner, Mick Boyle from Killeavy Castle Estate.

Fred Allen (Chairman) with Chief Executive Nick Whelan

Eye on Infrastructure

Planning to build? Contact NI Water first

It doesn’t matter if your plans are large or small, you must talk to NI Water before you submit your planning application.

That is the advice from NI Water as it launches a campaign to highlight the steps small developers and individuals planning to build or extend must follow.

Davy McGrath, Head of Developer Services, NI Water explained: “Engaging with NI Water when planning to build or extend is a vital first step. You can do this

by filling in a Pre-Development Enquiry Form. This will help us to identify any potential issues with your plans that we can help resolve in advance of submitting your planning application.

“If you apply for planning permission in an area where there are capacity issues, we will have to recommend the application is turned down until you engage with

us. This is to ensure we can continue to protect the environment. So please, engage with us early to avoid delays to your project and potential disappointment if your application is refused.”

Further information on how to engage with the Developers Services Team and the ‘PreDevelopment Enquiry Form’ can be found at niwater.com.

on Cover Story

Linwoods

Founded over 50 years ago by Patrick’s father John Woods as a small, local shop in Co. Armagh, Linwoods has grown into a health foods business whose range of nutrient rich seeds, fruits and nuts are now sold in 20 countries around the world.

The market for health foods and organic foods is growing as people become more aware of how their diet and lifestyles impact on longterm health. Linwoods message of the preventative health benefits of flaxseed has resonated with people seeking to make positive health changes, particularly post-Covid.

“Our purpose is about enhancing people’s health and wellbeing, helping them to feel great every day through positive nutrition,” says Patrick.

“We’re very fortunate with our product range. My dad saw an opportunity with milled flaxseed in 2003 and now 20 years later because it’s plant based, it’s organic, it’s low sugar, it’s ticking all the boxes that are very trendy now. The foresight to see

that is pretty impressive,” he adds.

“It has gone from a side business sitting alongside our traditional bakery and dairy businesses, to becoming THE business. We are now a health food company.”

While health and wellbeing are undoubtedly very topical issues, Patrick is also aware that Linwoods customers who prioritise organic, gluten free, healthy foods that are suitable for vegetarian diets are also climate conscious and interested in buying from companies with sustainable production methods.

Patrick says the company has always cared about the environment, but he wanted to formalise its response to the climate crisis, so he jumped at the invitation from Danske Bank to take part in the Climate Action Programme, which the bank developed alongside Business in the Community NI.

The programme is designed to help companies understand their environmental impact, work towards implementing more sustainable business strategies and commit to

take action – in Linwoods’ case a 30% cut in carbon emissions by 2030.

“One of my objectives when I took over was to put more of a focus on sustainability and Danske Bank were very supportive. We did the climate action programme, which gave us a good knowledge base and a steer on where to focus our attention,” explains Patrick.

“For example, our gas usage accounts for 66% of our Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, so the first thing we need to focus on is how do we try to reduce that using biogas or trying to electrify some of the heating processes.”

To help offset some of its emissions the company has also planted 6,000 trees across 11 acres of farmland attached to the company’s headquarters. It has installed solar panels capable of generating up to 50 KW of renewable energy on the roofs of its production facilities and has plans to add a further 150 KW of solar panels.

“I always liked the idea of planting trees. It will offset carbon but also increase biodiversity – which is important as NI has the lowest level of woodland coverage in Europe. When it is mature it will also create an amenity for our team and the local community,” says Patrick.

“But sustainability is not just about carbon. We have been working on a programme to move to recyclable packaging and we are close to

A year on from taking over as Managing Director of Linwoods Health Foods, Patrick Woods has put sustainability front and centre of the company’s strategy for the future.

Eye on Cover Story

Tim McNiece, Corporate Banking Manager, Danske Bank with Patrick Woods, Managing Director, Linwoods Health Foods and Chris Martin, Head of Sustainability, Danske Bank.

Eye on Cover Story

achieving the quality needed to sign it off. That’s been a 4-year long project but the packaging team have done a great job and we are now at the point where any new packaging that we order will be fully recyclable.”

Chris Martin, Head of Sustainability at Danske Bank says Linwoods is a great example of how food manufacturing businesses can take steps to address their climate impacts.

“Sustainability is at the heart of Danske Bank’s strategy and we have a really clear ambition to help others go green as part of our own climate ambitions. The approach Linwoods has adopted since taking part in the Climate Action Programme shows that taking time to work out where to start reducing your emissions can be a real catalyst for wider strategic action. Patrick and his team are looking at ways to go beyond the 30% reduction in scope one and two emissions and I look forward to seeing the company’s progress over the coming years.”

Geoff Sharpe, Head of Corporate at Danske Bank added: “Linwoods is a great example of a local family-owned business that is investing in sustainability not only because it is the right thing

to do, but also because it makes sound business sense to do so. As a leader in the Northern Ireland’s business community, driving sustainability is a core part of Danske’s strategy and we are well positioned to support local businesses on their climate transition journeys.”

Tim McNiece, Linwoods relationship manager at Danske Bank, added: We’ve been Linwoods’ banking partners for a long time so it’s great to see the company going from strength to strength, growing its product range and establishing a strong position in its key markets. We look forward to supporting Patrick and his team through the company’s next phase of development.”

While Linwoods exports its range of products to 20 countries around the world, Patrick says the company is focused on building

a sustainable brand presence in five key markets – the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy and France.

“We expect to growth 6-7% this financial year,” says Patrick. “We’re very focused on how we increase our category’s penetration into the market and recruit new customers. We’re trying to drive awareness and education of the health benefits of our products, such as reduced cholesterol. And we’re looking at how we can appeal to a wider, younger audience as well as our core demographics.”

To meet demand, the business is in the process of expanding its production facility in Armagh, taking additional units next to and attached to its current site.

For Patrick, who joined the business straight from school to learn the ropes from his father, and later completed a food and nutrition degree part time, the

goal is to build on everything his dad created but also to implement his own style of leadership and management.

“My dad is a fabulous entrepreneur. I see myself more as a facilitator of the team, someone who can bring the best out of the talented people we have here. All of our senior team have progressed through the business, so they understand the culture and what we want to achieve. I believe that it’s important to communicate with people and extend a degree of trust to them,” he says.

“I want to develop a positive growth culture within the business and create an environment where people can grow. I came in brushing floors and packing bags on a production line at the start when I left school, so if I can progress up through the business to become MD, why can’t other people progress and be promoted,” he adds.

“Over half of our workforce are here over 10 years, some are more than 25 years. That speaks to the type of business my dad has built. It’s my responsibility to now make it even better. That’s what I aspire to do.”

“Sustainability is at the heart of Danske Bank’s strategy and we have a really clear ambition to help others go green as part of our own climate ambitions.”

Chris Martin, Danske Bank

Northern Ireland gears up for first ever Motor Industry Awards

Northern Ireland’s first ever motor industry awards – Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards – have been launched to help acknowledge and celebrate the industry’s leading motoring businesses and professionals.

Sponsored by Used Cars NI, Northern Ireland’s leading online vehicle marketplace, and hosted by Pamela Ballantine, the gala black-tie event will take place on Friday 3rdNovember at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast and will be open to motor retailers and industry professionals across Northern Ireland.

Sasha Jeffrey, Event Director commented: “Based on the most recent figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Northern Ireland’s new car market is maintaining its post Covid upward trajectory, reporting a 19.8% increase in new cars registered

against the same month last year. This is an exciting time for our local car industry, and we are thrilled to have created an event that will recognise the resilience, hard work and dedication of its professionals.”

The Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards, sponsored by Used Cars NI and supported by media partner Cool FM, endeavours to give organisations, companies and individuals across the industry the opportunity to raise their profile and platform their contribution to sustained growth and success within the local automotive sector.

Sasha continues: “Our panel of judges, all of whom bring a level

of expertise and enthusiasm for the industry include Sue Robinson, Executive Director at the National Franchised Dealers Association; Jason Craig, award-winning Motoring and Motorsport Journalist for Crash. net, Motorsport News, Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life; James Stinson, Motoring Journalist and contributor to Ambition, Business Eye and Ulster Tatler Magazine and Awards Host and Motorsport Enthusiast Pamela Ballantine.”

Stephen Kelly, Chief Executive Officer at Used Cars NI said: “We are immensely proud to be supporting this prestigious event. It is a remarkable opportunity to honour, recognise and celebrate the achievements of the outstanding individuals and businesses who continuously promote excellence in Northern Ireland’s thriving motor industry.” There will be 18 award categories available to enter including Dealer

Group of the Year, Used Vehicle Dealer of the Year, Best Customer Service Award, Sales Team of the Year, Inspirational Woman of the Year and Best Marketing Campaign. Category sponsors already signed up to support the event include AbbeyAutoline, CarMoney, City Auction Group and Purple Rock, Close Brothers, Codeweavers, Connected Car Finance, GardX, Northridge Finance, PML Group, TradeBid and WEEV.

Simon Mann, Commercial Director at Bauer Media NI commented: “We are delighted to be able to support the first ever Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards with our media partnership. Throughout the years we have built strong relationships across the Motor Industry in Northern Ireland so we relished the opportunity to be able to celebrate those businesses and individuals who continue to make it grow!”

Eye on Tax

From Titanium… to Tax

How ASM are at the cutting edge of R&D claims

A2021 poll of almost 4,000 workers carried out by Aviva found out that 60 per cent of respondents planned to make a drastic change in their work life, such as a complete career change, retraining or gaining a new qualification. Whilst this fluidity in the labour market can prove problematic for employers in maintaining continuity in their workforce, it can also bring an injection of new skills and fresh ideas.

In this vein, we were delighted to welcome Jay Niblock to the ASM Tax Team in January 2023. Jay joined ASM after spending 11 years in Bombardier’s R&D Department, where he worked as a Strategic Technology Engineer in Advanced Metallics. This addition to our team was both timely and fortuitous.

ASM’s R&D and Tax Incentives Team was founded by our Tax Director, Caroline Keenan, who has worked extensively in R&D Tax Relief since its inception in 2000. The Team has expanded to look after clients across a broad range of sectors with particular focus on software, aerospace and polymers. A rapid growth in the volume of R&D claims prepared by ASM, combined with HMRC requiring a higher level of detail to support claims, has necessitated an expansion in the Team, and ASM are delighted to have brought two dedicated R&D Managers on board, both engineers by trade. The technical knowledge and first-hand experience of similarly innovative projects that they bring to the table has proven extremely helpful for clients to facilitate the completion of the project narratives which form the core of the report which supports every R&D claim.

Whilst it might seem like a significant leap

to move from Bombardier’s R&D Department to ASM’s Tax Team, Jay had already started to bridge this gap due to a series of seemingly unrelated but ultimately intertwined events.

Jay’s engineering background is just the start of his story; he is a skilled engineer, with experience in materials analysis testing using methods such as XRF, optical microscopy and electrical conductivity (among others). He is also adept in the preparation of funding applications and has vast experience in software packages, such as Spaceclaim, CATIA and Optegra and is familiar with working to exacting aerospace industry specifications and requirements.

We were intrigued to discover that Jay is also an artist. He displays a fantastic artistic ability, with cityscapes drawn on authentic wooden backdrops for better texture and depth to the paintings. Jay’s art is exhibited in a number of galleries in Belfast and his fine art website (www. jayniblock.com) also showcases his work.

Not satisfied with just being an engineer and a painter, Jay quickly found that the finances of his art career needed looking after. What better man to do this than himself, so Jay has undertaken to become a Chartered Accountant and is already part-qualified. Engineer, painter, R&D tax specialist, accountant… a busy man of many talents!

So Jay has repurposed his career seamlessly, and we are delighted that he has taken the transition into his new role at ASM in his stride. The skills that Jay has built up prior to joining ASM are very much in evidence, with the strong client relationships he

Jay Niblock, ASM

has already developed and the streamlined, handson approach to project narrative completion and R&D claim delivery he displays, both of which are intrinsic to the ASM ethos and our core values. With a beautiful baby boy to look after as well, we just hope Jay finds some time for sleep too!

If you wish to speak to our R&D and Tax Incentives Team for advice or help with an R&D claim, please contact our Belfast office on 02890249222 or cathy.kennedy@asmbelfast.com

Jay’s art: Left, ‘Belfast Cathedral Quarter’ and right, ‘Leaving the Station’.

Sarah O’Toole Takes Over As Executive Director of Samaritans Ireland.

Prior to joining Samaritans, Sarah was CEO with CBM Ireland, an international development organisation focussed on improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world.

Sarah’s career began in the corporate world with organisations such as ACCA Ireland, Willis Towers Watson and Colliers International.

In 2009 she began working in the non-profit sector and has held roles with organisations such as Trócaire, Concern Worldwide, and the Soul of Haiti Foundation. Sarah spent two years working in Haiti following the devastating earthquake there in 2010.

Sarah has a Masters Degree in International Strategic Marketing from DCU Business School in Dublin. She is a firm believer in continuous learning and a couple of years ago attained a Professional Diploma in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership from the UCD Innovation Academy in Dublin. “The Innovation Academy takes a very different approach to learning and this course gifted me with new ways of thinking and approaches to my work” says Sarah.

Like many others, Sarah has been personally affected by suicide, so for her the work of the Samaritans is so important, providing a listening ear and lifeline to those who need it, influencing national policy and addressing risk factors to ensure fewer lives are lost to suicide.

“I believe strongly in the power of community and it’s no more evident than in the work of Samaritan volunteers. In Ireland alone, more than 1,500 volunteers in 13 branches answer in excess of 1,000 calls for help every day. That equates to 70,000 hours of listening in a year. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of the organisation”.

“The work the charity is known and respected for is only possible because ordinary people, from all parts of the community, give their time freely to support those who choose to contact them, and to ensure there’s someone on the other end of the helpline for anyone who needs a listening ear – what they do is lifesaving work. It’s a real privilege for me to be part of the Samaritans family and to lead the Samaritans team North and South”.

“We know that in recent years, people have faced significant challenges of isolation during the pandemic and coming out of that to now face the ongoing cost of living and housing crisis, this makes the work of Samaritans more important than ever. I am really excited to work with everyone across the organisation and play my part to ensure we continue to tackle suicide together and create a safe space for those who need it”.

Outside of work Sarah’s great passion is the Special Olympics – she first volunteered at the World Summer Games held in Ireland in 2003. This led to her joining Special Olympics International as a Media Volunteer at the games in Shanghai and Graz and she will travel to Berlin to support the World Summer Games there later this month.

As Executive Director, Sarah will be responsible for overseeing all operations, functions and activities of the charity, giving strategic direction and implementing a high quality vision. Her primary focus is to learn more about the many facets of the work of the Samaritans and how best she can support the staff team and branches to deliver the charity’s mission.

Eye on Recruitment

Nuala McClinton

Recruitment Specialist

Swaps NZ For NI

Eye on Recruitment

Nuala heads up the Professional Services team at specialist recruiters Honeycomb based in the centre of Belfast.

The role is a natural progression following on from her nine years in New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, the bulk of which she spent working for a leading recruitment firm.

“I left Northern Ireland in 2013 for what I thought was going to be a working holiday,” Nuala smiles. “After spending some time travelling in Asia, I ended up in New Zealand, thought I’d spend a year there, found that I loved it and stayed.

“Having worked in sales and territory management, I went in to see one of the leading recruitment agencies and they asked me if I’d be interested in working with them. I’ve been in recruitment ever since.

“There’s a clear career path in recruitment – from consultant, to senior consultant and on to team leadership and management. I’m fortunate that the firm I worked for in New Zealand and the firm I work for here, Honeycomb, are similar in a lot of ways. They even use the same systems....my old laptop works just as well in this role as it did back in Auckland.

“The same can be said of New Zealand and Northern Ireland. Both are relatively small economies dominated by SMEs, micro businesses and family businesses. Both are also built around local communities. Even though Auckland is a big city, it still consisted of lots of communities making up the whole.”

On a personal level, Nuala met her husband, a native of Manchester, while in New Zealand.

Having spent the entire pandemic period locked down in a country with some of the world’s most stringent pandemic rules, the pair decided that when restrictions eased, they’d make a move back to the Northern Hemisphere and the British Isles with their young son. After a short period in Manchester, the family made the move to Northern Ireland.

“Moving from one recruitment firm to another hasn’t been too big a challenge. I was really fortunate to connect with Mairead Scott (Honeycomb’s Managing Director) and she’s made it very easy for me to fit in around here.

“Of course, I’ve had to build a new network of contacts here in Northern Ireland, but Honeycomb’s strong reputation in the marketplace here has made that a lot easier too.”

The professional services sector, in terms of recruitment, has been very busy and gets busier at the start of each new financial year, Nuala says. Her team manages jobs, candidates and employers across areas such as legal, accountancy, financial services and fintech.

“Working life and working patterns have changed. Candidates are keen to find working conditions that suit them. So the demands on us as recruiters have changed, but the key role remains much the same.”

“But employers nowadays have to give much more thought to how they treat their employees. Working conditions, packages, benefits and everything else within employment contracts are under the spotlight from candidates as never before.”

At Honeycomb, Nuala heads up a six-strong Professional Services team. In turn, they’re part of a total team of 23 working on a hybrid basis from home as well as the firm’s offices in Linenhall Street.

“Our core area is business support professionals working across a wide variety of roles within professional services, and we also have specialists with experience in areas like legal and the charity sector.”

Nuala admits that it’s been a ‘full on’ year for her, her husband and young son. “Coming back after nine years out in New Zealand wasn’t easy, but I’m really fortunate to have found this role and to be working with this team. It’s made the change a whole lot easier.”

Swapping life on one side of the globe for the other is never easy but Nuala McClinton is well settled in her native Northern Ireland having returned home late last summer from New Zealand.

“Employers nowadays have to give much more thought to how they treat their employees. Working conditions, packages, benefits and everything else within employment contracts are under the spotlight from candidates as never before.”

Eye on News

Ulster Bank provides £20m facility to Habinteg for new social housing

Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) has secured an additional £20m funding facility from Ulster Bank to support its plans to deliver new homes across Belfast and the North West.

With Ulster Bank support, the association has committed to further investment in a range of new social housing led projects across the North West and Belfast, including a £12m scheme of 73 apartments at Duke Street in the Waterside area of Derry City and a £6m development with 31 units at Beersbridge Road in Belfast.

In addition to new housing, the financial package provided by Ulster Bank is supporting Habinteg to reinvest in existing homes, including an asset-wide programme of energy efficiency measures to support the association’s decarbonisation targets.

Ulster Bank relationship director, Richard Lusty, said: “New housing investment is a significant stimulant

for the local economy. In addition to providing much-needed homes, it creates and sustains employment opportunities within the construction sector – and right throughout the supply chain. Housing-led regeneration also helps to establish sustainable, vibrant and connected communities. The benefits of housing investment are far-reaching and long-lasting, and this is why we’re very pleased to increase our support for the important work Habinteg is delivering across Northern Ireland.”

The new facilities provided by the bank are in addition to an existing £20m financial package, bringing the bank’s total support for Habinteg to over £40m. Habinteg will blend this private

sector funding with grants from the Department for Communities to help deliver the Social Housing Development Programme throughout Northern Ireland. Habinteg chief executive, Darren McKinney, said: “At Habinteg, we strive to provide high quality, accessible, and affordable homes to enrich the communities in which we operate. This further investment in Belfast and the North West, supported by Ulster Bank, will provide much needed homes for families, the elderly and those with additional needs. As we look forward to a Net Zero world, we are prioritising sustainability in terms of our new build projects, which are built to the highest standards, and our existing portfolio with a commitment to improving the efficiency of all our homes.”

Ulster Bank associate director,

Claire McKeown, commented:

“Habinteg is a purpose-led business that strives to add value. Beyond the provision of brick and mortar housing it has various community and climate-focused activities that complement its core business. As a responsible lender we’re keen to support business and industry to realise their sustainability ambitions and so we look forward to supporting the Habinteg team on the journey to net zero as they roll out the recently launched Environmental and Sustainability Strategy.”

In 2022, Habinteg launched its three-year Environmental & Sustainability Strategy, which aims to reduce the Association’s carbon footprint across its operations, including its new offices in Laganwood House on Newforge Lane, and its housing portfolio with ambitious targets.

Pictured (left to Right) are Habinteg Housing’s Director of Development, Katrina Smyth, Finance Director, Derek Johnston, and Chief Executive, Darren McKinney, with Ulster Bank Relationship Director, Richard Lusty, and Associate Director, Claire McKeown.

We’re the right people to find the right person for the right job. honeycomb.jobs

Eye on Sports Tourism

More Than Just Football –SuperCupNI Generates £8 Million For Tourism Economy

SuperCupNI, one of the most prestigious international youth football tournaments, started from very humble beginnings when Coleraine man Victor Leonard, local youth football administrator Jim Weir and the late former NI and Celtic midfielder Bertie Peacock, met for the very first time in a pub in the North Coast.

It was 1983 before the inaugural Northern Ireland Cup was launched with just eight teams from Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, visitors from Algeria and a team from Coleraine’s twin town la-Roche-sur-Yon in the West of France. By 1987, the tournament had grown to 33 teams with Liverpool making their debut. Through the 90s, elite and overseas teams were regularly participating, bringing with them future football stars such as

Giggs, Beckham, Butt, Neville, Scholes aswell as local talent such as Keith Gillespie who went on to become a star of the English game. Moving into the 2000s, Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira and Northern Ireland’s Steven Davis and Jonny Evans were all graduates of the tournament.

Fast forward to 2023 and in its 40th year, SuperCupNI is welcoming 64 teams from the US, Europe, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and GB including

four elite teams Liverpool, Manchester United, Valencia and Hertha Berlin, collectively bringing around 1500 visitors in their own right when you take into account their entourage.

But as the strapline of the tournament rightly says, this is about “more than just football.” The economic impact has been staggering when you look at the increased visitors in the Council areas involved, Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim and Antrim and Newtownabbey over the past four decades.

Research undertaken by SuperCupNI after the 2022 tournament shows that around 65,500 people attended spending an estimated £7,400,000 over the week generated through direct visitor expenditure from spectators, the high number of

participants, including the teams, officials and other tournament personnel including volunteers, event officials and media.

An impressive £4,116,166 was spent on accommodation alone, with 29% of visitors coming from outside Northern Ireland and 70% of local attendees opting to stay overnight. And it’s not just hotels that are benefiting with 21% staying in guest houses / B&B’s, 23% in selfcatering and 12% in motorhomes / caravans, or campsites.

Victor Leonard of SuperCupNI explains,” The total economic impact has increased from £4.4M in 2019 to £7.4M this year, a 68% rise even taking on board the price hikes post COVID-19 within the hospitality sector and fuel, food and travel costs impacted by an inflation rate of 7.9% in May 2022.

Eye on Sports Tourism

“The addition of an U14 category helped contribute to 29% more visitors than 2019, ticket sales at twice the previous level and visitors staying longer over the week of the event. This year’s special Elite’s section will undoubtedly be a massive draw for fans of Man United, Liverpool, Hertha Berlin and Valencia.”

Of course, a tournament of this scale doesn’t happen easily taking months every year to coordinate the logistics. This year 64 teams are playing 150 matches at 19 venues across Causeway Coast and Glens, Antrim and Newtownabbey and Mid and East Antrim Council areas.

“It might be hard to believe, but this whole operation is run by a team of volunteers, from office staff, to couriers, minibus drivers and ground staff, some of whom have been with us almost from the very beginning” says Victor. “Of course, support is also needed from sponsors, such as the three councils hosting the matches, Tourism NI, uhlsports who are providing the footballs, Tesco who are providing water, not to mention the amazing assistance from the local hospitality and accommodation providers.”

John McGrillen, Tourism NI CEO, said: “Tourism NI is delighted to be

supporting the 2023 SuperCupNI with financial assistance during its 40th anniversary year under the International Tourism Events Fund.

From its beginnings in 1983, the event has attracted talented youth football teams from across Northern Ireland and the world to take part in a week of fast-paced and exciting matches.

“ 2023 is shaping up to be another highly successful year, continuing to attract international participants and visitors. The event not only provides opportunities to showcase Northern Ireland as a destination, but generates high economic benefit for the wider tourism economy.”

A point echoed by Joanne Stuart, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance.

“Events like the SupercupNI are vital annual events for the local tourism industry. It is great, in its 40th year to see how the event has grown both in terms of participants, visitors and revenue generated.

“The event provides a great platform for our regional destinations to shine and for the visitors and participants to experience the breadth and depth of what Northern Ireland has to offer. The millions of pounds spent by visitors has an immediate impact benefitting local

businesses from accommodation providers, restaurants, shops to local tourist attractions. The welcome and enhanced experience, which we are famous for, will leave a fantastic impression on the young players and visitors who then go home and sing the praises of NI and what it has to offer.”

I think we can all agree, it’s definitely “more than just football”. It’s also about tourists, community, making unforgettable memories of Northern

Ireland from young footballers all over the world and a testament to the hard work and commitment of a relatively small team of volunteers who have made SuperCupNI such a success for 40 years…and counting.

For more information on the tournament go to SuperCupNI. com and to get tickets download the “buy ticket” app.

Eye on News

Terry Bradley Launches Titanic Exhibition

Named after his latest piece, Exodus – The Art of Terry Bradley, the exhibition runs until Thursday 31st August, daily from 9am – 6pm in The Andrews Gallery and will showcase Bradley’s long tradition of painting the dockers and working men of Belfast, while also incorporating some of the rich maritime history of the city, his iconic female pieces and his work relating to mental health awareness.

Visitors will also have the chance to see the work of aspiring young Northern Irish artists as part of ‘The Bradley Art Prize’. The world-leading visitor attraction has announced it has commissioned the winner to create a unique Titanic related art piece to be displayed within its shipyard themed bar, Hickson’s Point. In addition, guests visiting the exhibition will be able to

vote for their favourite piece from the runners-up with ‘The People’s Choice’ winner receiving £250. There will also be the opportunity to enjoy behind-the-scenes footage of Bradley at work, a look at the tattoo culture inspired by his pieces and hear the life stories of some of those who have been touched by his art.

Judith Owens MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast said: “We most recently partnered with Terry Bradley when we commissioned him for our iconic mural of Docker’s Rest at Hickson’s Point which famously appears at the start of Kenneth Branagh’s Oscar-winning film, Belfast. And we are delighted to be working with him once again with Exodus – The Art of Terry Bradley, a free exhibition celebrating the work of one of Northern

Ireland’s most renowned artists. It really is the perfect partnership for us as Terry’s shipyard and working men pieces link well with the history of the area and his new painting Exodus, which the exhibition is named after, is reminiscent of the mass exodus of workers from the shipyard here along Queen’s Road where Titanic Belfast sits today and the men and women who left Ireland to start a new life in a different country on ships like RMS Titanic, built right here in Harland and Wolff.”

“The summer season is one of our busiest times of the year at Titanic Belfast as we look forward to welcoming an increased number of visitors from around the world, so we are delighted to give Terry the platform for his work to be enjoyed by a global audience as well as giving our guests visiting the reimagined Titanic Experience the opportunity to view

this extensive collection,” Judith added. Terry Bradley said: “I held an exhibition at Titanic Belfast shortly after it opened in 2012 and I am delighted to return with Exodus – The Art of Terry Bradley. We have displayed some of my work in chronological order, starting with an early painting Belfast, No Mean City from 2007 right through to my latest piece Exodus. The shipyard area of Belfast has been the inspiration for many of my paintings, so it is apt for them to be exhibited just a stone’s throw away in Titanic Belfast and for guests visiting the new Titanic Experience to be able to view this special exhibition.”

Titanic Belfast has partnered with Terry Bradley Art to launch a free exhibition this summer.

Terry Bradley is joined by Judith Owens MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast at the announcement that he has partnered with the world-leading visitor attraction to launch a free exhibition this summer. For further information on Exodus –The Art of Terry Bradley visit titanicbelfast.com

Holywood Agency Opens Amsterdam Office

Choosing Amsterdam as the location for their first mainland European office reflects Smarts’ existing client base in the Netherlands. These clients include Tommy Hilfiger, with Smarts providing internal communication support, and Booking.com, where the agency led the talent strategy for their recordbreaking 2023 Super Bowl advert. The move to Amsterdam is part of Smarts’ strategic growth plan, which has propelled them to become a global leader in culture-driven, consumer-focused communications.

Smarts’ Global CEO Pippa Arlow says: “It’s fantastic to be able to extend our footprint into Amsterdam. It’s a city we’ve been working in for over a decade, so it is a natural choice for our first office in mainland Europe. It provides a perfect base to deepen relationships with existing partners and capitalise on the wider opportunities direct European access creates.

Northern Ireland PR and creative agency, Smarts, continues its ambitious growth plans by expanding into mainland Europe with a new office in Amsterdam.

The new location follows the successful expansion into New York and London and is underpinned by global briefs for brands including Booking.com.

The new Amsterdam office is led by Leanne Scott, a senior agency executive director who has been appointed as Managing Partner. Leanne brings extensive experience from leading Smarts’ work for renowned brands such as Booking.com, Zalando, and Coca-Cola. Joining her is Maja Volt, who transitions from a global communications role at Tommy Hilfiger to become Client Partner at Smarts. Maja’s previous experience includes leading the global PR strategy team at Zalando, where she developed sustainability communications strategies.

Scott says: “Over the past 10 years we have built phenomenal partnerships with clients in Amsterdam whilst being headquartered in Holywood and have delivered exceptional award-winning work. Lockdown taught us many things but one that stood out for me was the power of human connection. So, I’m proud to be able to open the doors of our new office, within walking distance of so many of our current clients, allowing us to build on those connections in real life.

“It’s also a city full of potential, rich in culture, creativity and talent – it’s no surprise so many of the world’s leading FMCG brands have made it their home. This obviously makes it a city full of opportunity and I can’t wait to explore these with new clients, colleagues, and partners.”

The Amsterdam office will offer a full suite of marketing communication services, including PR, digital, experiential, employee engagement, and the new Creator Hub division. The agency will be hiring talent for the Amsterdam office across these disciplines, forming a team that will collaborate with colleagues in Belfast, New York, London and Scotland.

“Just as importantly, establishing a permanent office in The Netherlands will significantly reduce our travel and environmental impact – a key priority for everyone in the agency, and a crucial part of living up to our ‘B Corp’ values. This is one of several investments we’re making this year – underpinned by our recent growth, and underlining our ambition to continually develop our team, seek out new talent, and build new capabilities to support our clients’ ambitions.”

The expansion follows Smarts’ recent announcement of a £1m+ investment in its new Creator Hub division. It is also part of the agency’s strategic growth plan, which has seen them become a global leader in culture-driven, consumer focused communications (rising from 22nd in the PR Week Top 150 Consumer Agency table five years ago, to #8 in this year’s rankings).

The Amsterdam office also presents opportunities for future growth for Smarts’ parent company, MSQ, which was recently acquired by One Equity Partners to help the group accelerate its ambitious international expansion. Plans for other MSQ agencies to join Smarts in Amsterdam are already in progress.

Peter Reid, CEO at MSQ, adds: “We’re thrilled to see Smarts taking this bold step into mainland Europe with the opening of MSQ’s first office in Amsterdam. It aligns perfectly with our strategic vision of creating a strong European hub for our agencies. Amsterdam is a vibrant city with immense potential, and this is simply the first in a series of investments to maximise the potential for accelerated growth in Europe”.

Pictured (L-R) Smarts’ Global CEO, Pippa Arlow and Managing Partner Amsterdam, Leanne Scott.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES & THE WIDER MARKETPLACE

Business Eye joined forces with award-winning vehicle specialists Fleet Financial to stage a Round Table Discussion held in the boardroom at Charles Hurst Group’s headquarters on Belfast’s Boucher Road.

Chaired by Business Eye’s Richard Buckley, the panellists were:-

RB – Let me ask a general question to kick off and work around the table. Where do you think we are with electric vehicles here in Northern Ireland?

DC – From Fleet Financial’s perspective, EVS are something businesses want. The two issues people ask are how do they charge and will that charge meet their needs. Our current order book is sitting at around 80% electric or hybrid, and 28% of that is full electric. So that’s a big change over recent years. What’s going to drive the market going forward is certainty around Benefit-in-Kind and companies encouraging and incentivising their staff to choose electric vehicles. There are some challenges and we’ve made great progress in the past two years. All in all, it’s a big part of our business now.

JM – In the market as a whole, EV sales reached just less than 10% in Northern Ireland last year compared with 17% for the whole of the UK. So we’re a bit behind the curve. We can definitely see a rise in orders from the business community. But that’s just not being replicated in retail. There is still a fear factor around residual values, drops in values, as well as charging infrastructure and there has been some negative press. As a company, we’ve invested in electric. We already sell some all electric brands and we’re just about to announce a new NI distributorship for BYD, the Chinese-based manufacturer. We’re also building a new showroom for Cupra, who are about to go all electric, and we

already have a dealership for GWM Ora.

Next year, legislation dictates that 22% of each manufacturers’ sales in the UK must be EVS and that will rise to 28% the year after. The fine is a hefty £15k per vehicle for those who fail to hit the target. That’s a big driver and it’s going to push more electric vehicles onto our roads and it’s a real challenge for some customers, especially those who don’t have driveways and can’t install charging points. And our infrastructure, as we all know, is behind where it should be.

MM – This is our seventh year as an organisation representing users. In the first five or six years, we saw very little happening but we spent time building relationships and decoding the issues. From October of last year, though, we’ve doubled the number of rapid chargers in Northern Ireland. So we’ve turned the corner.

The BIK rate is the big driver along with, as Damian said, the increasing popularity of EV salary sacrifices and other incentives. As Jeff has just said the mandate on manufacturers to hit their targets is massive for the EV sector. But, much as we want to push the positives, we can’t ignore how badly off we are in terms of charging infrastructure here.

TO – We need more users on the road to justify building more stations, and others would look at it the other way around. But we can grow together. We work hard with other stakeholders, including NIE Networks, on finding sites and making more charging stations possible.

Jeff McCartney Group Operations Director, Charles Hurst Group

Mark McCall Chairman, Electric Vehicles Association NI (EVANI)

Thomas O’Hagan Chief Commercial Officer of EV infrastructure specialists, WEEV

Greg Elliott Sales Director NI, Dillon Bass

Damian Campbell Sales Director, Fleet Financial

Jonathan Pollock Senior Manager, NIE Networks

Eye on Round Table

The industry is still embryonic. It is growing but it remains very small. We’ve also come a long way in 12 months, but we know that the ramp up begins from now.

JP – This is right at the top of our agenda but I’d agree with others. We’ve come a long way but we still lag behind other jurisdictions. But I think there is optimism now. A couple of years ago, we had no energy strategy and no plans for a network. We are now in 2023 and 2030, which is a key milestone, is fast approaching. There is little time for action and a lot of work to get through. So let’s get on with it. We need to make rapid progress.

The single largest complaint we get from industry is around the cost of connection and we need urgent reform of that. Delays in the planning process are also a major issue.

GE – We have a combination of office-based and field-based people with company cars. We’ve ordered 10 news cars in the last year and the one thing that was common for all of the users was a

lack of knowledge about electric vehicles. If you’re in the bubble, you know lots. If you’re outside it, you’ve no idea. Nobody asks about performance, all they ask is about range and charging. We’ve installed three chargers at our Belfast office and our Dublin office also has chargers. Most of our staff, from a BIK point of view, would like to go into electric cars, but they’ve tended to take the safe, halfway house, hybrid route. We would also like them to be in electric cars, but we can’t achieve that at this stage.

DC – Also, I think there is a lack of knowledge around chargers. There are more charging stations out there than most people realise. It’s just that people don’t always know that they’re there.

JP – As range increases, some of the anxiety will go away. Also, as the infrastructure is extended, the same applies. We will see it changing. There are also plenty of myths around. I’ve heard people suggest that if you stick the heater on when you’re going up a hill, it will impact on your range.

DC – Yes, it’s a journey for people. I had two plug-in hybrids before I went full EV. I’m lucky enough to have a charger at home and one at the office. But I think we’re seeing a change in people’s knowledge. We’re talking to people now who are much better informed. Also, there are so many really good models now that, when you put bums on seats, people move away from worrying about the old concerns. The manufacturers are working hard to give us good product.

GE – Young people are more aware of their environment responsibilities and they’re happier to find a way to drive electric cars. They’re prepared to do the research and go the extra mile.

RB – We’re getting a picture of lots of progress but what needs to be done to take us to the next level?

MM – The EV Task Force identified some of the issues last year. A couple were around the electricity infrastructure, the grid, grid capacity and connections. But that

document also talks about people with no driveways. Inability to charge at home is a major issue, as we’re effectively penalising low income households. There are potential kerbside solutions but we need a real conversation with government to move these forward.

TO – There are also lamp-post systems in use in GB and Ireland, but as I understand it they’re not suitable for use here in Northern Ireland. In some ways it’s good to have one single authority like the Department for Infrastructure. But it tends to be binary. They tend to say yes or no. Modern private sector housing developments are starting to build charging infrastructure into their plans. We’ve already see a few and I think that there will be more, especially as homebuyers make their feelings known.

DC – It’s an interesting one. It won’t be long until developers have to build in charging points in the same way that they’re required to build in green space. It would be a key driver for the growth of electric vehicles.

Eye on Round Table

JP – In GB, it you’re building a car park or a certain number of car parking spaces, you have to make provision for electric vehicles.

TO – But it does bring us back to the same grid connection and cost issues. If you plan more infrastructure in, like charging points, it can add substantially to the costs for a developer.

JP – It’s important to clarify this. The cost to get a connection here is pretty much the same as in ROI or GB. The difference is in the proportion of the cost paid by the customer. Here, it’s a lot more. As more and more of us start driving electric vehicles, as heat pumps become more common, it will start to take away what we term the diversity of the market. And it will increase demand on the grid. So we’re already increasing the levels we plan for each household.

MM – Our utility regulator does not hold the remit for decarbonisation in Northern Ireland whereas OfGem in GB does. Hopefully that will change. The argument is that people’s bills will go up, but their bills are going up anyway.

RB – Do we need a clearer message from government?

TO – I think we need a crossdepartmental body. There’s a bit too much confusion around who is responsible for what. So an issue like electric vehicles crosses into a number of departmental territories.

MM – I’d add that it’s also fairly clear that our main political parties don’t have a transport policy. They might have something around climate, but not transport specifically.

GE – I’ve mentioned that we have charging facilities at our Belfast

and Dublin offices but it’s not always easy for organisations to get those facilities in place, and it should be made easy.

DC – There’s a rationale that says that when companies are providing electric cars, they shouldn’t just hand their staff member a key and expect them to get on with it. They need to advice and inform people about charging options.

GE – We’d love to have an all electric fleet but we’ve got a bit to go. We’re about half and half, electric and hybrid. Ideally, we’d like to see the hybrid drivers move to electric at the next stage. But they’ve got to get over their range anxiety first.

MM – Think about it this way. If you occasionally have to transport more than four or five people, do you go out and buy a big multi-seater? No, you don’t. The same logic can be applied to electric vehicles. Longer journeys really needn’t be a an issue.

JM – I suppose it’s a bit of a comfort blanket. People just want to take away all the possible worries. But I do think we’ll see things changing.

DC – Destination chargers, in hotels and key venues, are also making a big difference. And, in fact, the availability of charging can help boost the attractiveness of a destination.

Eye on Round Table

TO – As a provider, we’ll choose our sites based on level of traffic as well as issues like the size of the car park. Examples include the Dunsilly Hotel site just off the M2 Motorway and the Crowne Plaza Hotel site at Shaw’s Bridge. We’re even seeing hotel booking sites advertising the fact that certain hotels have charging facilities on site. They’re just as important to some guests as a swimming pool or other facilities.

JP – On a different tack, do we think that the driveability of these vehicles is sold enough? The performance, smoothness and overall driving experience was the biggest shock to me. I’d never contemplate going back into a non-electric car again.

JM – I think it’s a fair point. For a lot of our customers, it seems to be all about range and charging and less about performance. Yet, so many of these vehicles are just so impressive when you

do get behind the wheel. That also means that brand identity becomes less important when someone decides to buy an EV. We’re seeing a lot of retail customers buying plug-in hybrids. A Range Rover this time last year would have had a 30-mile range, it’s now a 70-mile range. So, on short journeys, they won’t use any fuel but they have the reassurance of a traditional engine for long trips.

GE – I’ve got a 30 or so mile range on my BMW. I’ll charge it at home and charge it at the office, so I’ll not use any petrol commuting during the week. But I agree with what has been said. None of our guys asked much about performance. They had other concerns.

JM – Another reason they’re so far ahead of us in the South is taxation. They pay a tax called VRT when they first buy a vehicle and having a plug-in or electric vehicle is massively less expensive than a traditional one.

RB – How do we compare internationally?

MM – Everyone talks about Norway where 80% of new car sales are electric. One of the big insurance groups publishes a survey on EV readiness across Europe. The UK is in the mid to top half.

RB – To wrap up, how do we see the short-term future?

DC – I think we’ll see salary sacrifices and other incentives moving more retail customers towards electric vehicles but there is still a price difference. 2030 isn’t too far away and more progress is going to have to be made. There are some challenges but we’re making good progress and electric vehicles are a big part of our business now.

JM – Affordability is a big factor. But I think we’ll see the new Chinese brands driving prices down, and that can only be a good thing. BYD, for example, is a huge operation and does things on a really impressive scale. As for the Charles Hurst Group, we have plans for a dedicated EV centre on site and it will be staffed by product genius personnel rather than sales people.

GE – I really do think we’re making progress. Anyone driving an electric vehicle or hybrid now would recommend it, and that’s really important. It’s just a case of getting more and more people over the line.

BUPA Healthcare At Kingsbridge

Richard Buckley test drives the BUPA Healthcare health check service at its Kingsbridge Private Hospital base in Belfast...

Brighid Magee, Health Centre Manager.

Eye on Health

There are two types of people when it comes to advance diagnostics and comprehensive health checks. Those who want to know if there might be anything wrong with them and those who don’t.

I fall fairly firmly into the latter category.

But that, in the end, didn’t stop me – along with my superior half –turned up at BUPA Healthcare’s base on the Kingsbridge Private Hospital site on a sunny day in May for a twohour grilling and testing. And, it that suggests an ordeal, it’s not. Apart from the prostate check (ahem....) and the spell on the exercise bike. Health checks like BUPA’s aren’t nearly as expensive as some seem to imagine. The packages available range from £235 for what ranks as the basic health check and report to £980 for the top of the line three-hour range of health checks and hour-long access to GP. A 0% finance scheme is also available.

Therein lies the real selling point for a lot of potential clients. The BUPA package offers the kind of face-to-face time with a living, breathing doctor that today’s longsuffering NHS patients can only dream of. Imagine this. A relaxed chat with a medical professional who’s not looking at his or her watches every two seconds and trying to hustle you back through the door.

“BUPA first established a clinic in Belfast city centre some 15 years ago, moving out to Kingsbridge as part of a new joint venture four years ago,” explains BUPA/’s Lead GP here, Dr Valerie Shaw.

“The BUPA Kingsbridge partnership has worked really well for us. It gives our patients access should they need it, to a really wide range of consultants and specialists as well as the facilities of Kingsbridge Private Hospital.”

For most patients, myself included, it was the no-holds barred access to a GP which was the jewel in the crown. But the resulting report is the other big plus. Our’s included detailed advice on a number of issues from the GP, a detailed plan of action for improvement (it’s no secret that our biggest issue is excess weight and a lack of fitness), and a fairly baffling array of test results – detailed cholesterol statistics, haemoglobin, diabetes risk, liver function, thyroid, the dreaded prostate and so the list goes on.

Here’s the thing, though. Each measure isn’t just a measure, as with some tests. It comes with an assessment and explanation. One all of us can understand. There’s also a comprehensive cardiovascular test that produces a detailed assessment of heart function, blood pressure and the like.

Topping all of that off, you get a mobility and flexibility review and then it’s up on board the Watt-bike, a fiendish piece of torture equipment disguised as an exercise bike, and clearly designed to tell me precisely how unfit I am as a result of not seeing the sweaty inside of a gym for quite some time. But you also get a programme of exercises designed to get you back on the right track.

“Access to the GP is something that most of our clients single out of the experience,” says Dr. Lisa Neligan, a Private GP and Deputy Medical Director at Kingsbridge. “But it’s not just that. These tests can identify potential issues before they come a real medical problem. We have a lot of patients who come back every year and have radically improved their health and fitness.

“If specific issues do come up, and if the patient can take the private medical route, then we’re in a position to refer them on to the relevant consultant or specialist very quickly. We can also offer them access to CT and other scans,” Dr. Neligan adds.

“If they’re taking the NHS route, we’ll do our best to ensure that, if needed, they’re red flagged for treatment down the line.”

Some 85% of patients coming through the door of the BUPA Health Centre at Kingsbridge are referred by corporate clients with group plans in place. The remaining 15% or so are self-funding. That’s according to Brighid Magee, BUPA’s Health Centre Manager in Belfast.

“They range in age from much younger employees in their early 20’s right through to the 60+ age group,” she adds.

“We can also tailor our health checks. The most obvious way to do that is to focus on key areas of male or female health, but we can focus in on any area that our clients are particular concerned about.”

Each BUPA session, as well as time with a doctor, includes an assessment by – and a chance to talk to – one of the BUPA health specialists, well placed to give advice on lifestyle changes, fitness, diet and other key issues.

“We aim to have the report back to each of our patients within 24 hours or so, although some key blood tests and stool test results take a couple of days longer on average,” explains Dr. Lisa Neligan

Each test also builds in a mental health element, a chance to discuss any potential mental health issues with both the health specialist and GP. BUPA also offers follow-up phone calls, an opportunity to discuss health, mental health or fitness issues with a member of the BUPA team. Perhaps not surprisingly, most of those who come through the BUPA door on the Lisburn Road are pleased with the overall experience. “We survey every patient who comes to see us and we’re delighted that our customer satisfaction score has been increasing every year. It now stands at 83% of all of our patients,” says Brighid Magee.

A few typical survey comments:-

It doesn’t come as any surprise to us. We’d recommend it to anyone.

“Very friendly, welcome and professional service

“Staff were outstanding, check was extremely thorough with clear explanations of what was being done, why is was being done and easy translations around the results...”

“Not rushed at all (an uncommon experience in today’s medical world). Team members very thorough and diligent...”

Dr. Lisa Neligan, Deputy Medical Director, Kingsbridge Private Hospital

BUPA GPs Dr. Valerie Shaw (right) and Dr. Garry Adair-Gilliland

Eye on Careers

Citi Belfast continues to break barriers to entry for financial and professional services careers

Citi Belfast have continued to challenge misconceptions of careers in the financial and professional services and encourage more people from diverse backgrounds to consider careers in the sector with the recent announcement of their Citi Career Empowerment Programme. Citi offer many diverse career pathways and routes to entry, and the newly-launched Programme is designed to continue attracting an increasingly diverse talent pool and will work to remove social inequality barriers, develop skills and improve employability.

The launch of this programme in collaboration with Belfast Met is a leap forward, engaging with the Department of Economy’s economic strategy’s three pillars of innovation, sustainability and inclusion and will equip people across Northern Ireland with the skills needed to succeed in a lifelong professional career.

Through collaboration with a range of key influencers and local stakeholders within the financial and professional services sector and Invest NI, Citi aims

to develop and implement a range of programmes to remove barriers and provide recognised skills and qualifications to reduce the high rate of economic inactivity across Northern Ireland. Citi’s Career Empowerment Programme will create a more diverse workforce, build better community relationships, and continue to solidify Citi’s reputation as an inclusive employer.

The employer also took a leading active role in developing the unique Northern Ireland FinTECH and Professional Services Programme launched at Belfast Met with Joe Kennedy, US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland present. The innovative programme aims to give young people not in education, training or employment the pathway to a growth industry career in a range of areas including business, digital, fintech and professional services. The programme will include project based learning placement in Citi and other partner organisations which will involve mentorship to build confidence and soft skills which are

key to employment and progression.

Commenting on the launch of the Career Empowerment Programme

Leigh Meyer, Citi Belfast Site Head said: “Citi believes that everyone can belong in banking, and as the global bank’s customers continue to grow in diversity, it is crucial that our growing team reflects that diversity. The launch of our Career Empowerment Programme will ensure a wider range of voices and backgrounds are present within our workforce and reinforces our commitment to providing jobs to people here in Northern Ireland. As the only global investment bank operating in Northern Ireland, we are proud to be opening the doors for more people to live locally and work globally, supporting businesses around the world.”

“A common theme for Citi Belfast since our establishment has been that of identifying and removing barriers for entry. We offer a range of career pathways to encourage everyone to consider a career at Citi. Our diverse programmes include apprenticeships, graduates, reactivate your career, and business academies. We offer the training and support required for career progression and actively champion and empower our team’s growth and success by creating a culture defined by inclusion to create

a vibrant working environment for all.”

Citi started in Belfast in 2005 with an original plan of recruiting 375 technology staff to deliver services to Citi’s global institutional clients group. Since then, Citi has grown to be Northern Ireland’s largest financial services employer by tapping into the deep and broad local talent pool and engaging with universities and other higher learning institutions to develop a talent pipeline which has facilitated continued growth. Citi is now a strategic delivery centre for many of the bank’s 21 global functions including Legal, Compliance, HR and Markets Operations.

During the pandemic, Citi Belfast employed an additional 1,000 people through organic growth and internal transfers and in early 2022 announced 300 additional jobs covering all levels, from apprentices and graduates to experienced roles. Citi now employs over 4,000 in Northern Ireland, including over 40 nationalities. The team also benefits from five inclusion networks including: Disability, Families Matter, Multicultural, Women and Pride which champion diversity, equity and inclusion across the firm. Citi Belfast also works with external partners to create positive impact in local communities and has raised over $1million for sponsored charities in the last 5 years.

Leigh Meyer, Citi Belfast Site Head

Graeme Craft, Belfast CSC Business Office Manager (right) with Frank Bryan, Chair of Belfast Met Governing Body; Paul Narain, US Consul General; Louise Warde Hunter, Principal and Chief Executive Belfast Metropolitan College; US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy; and Aidan Sloane, Director of Development and Digital at Belfast Metropolitan College at the launch of the Northern Ireland FinTECH and Professional Services Programme.

onManufacturing Eye

Eye on Manufacturing

Scientific software experts SciLeads launch new Biotech and Pharma product

Innovative lead generation software firm SciLeads has launched a new product focused on the pharmaceutical sector which has the potential to take the company into new markets and accelerate its growth plans.

SciLeads is a market intelligence platform that helps scientific companies identify, engage and close their ideal buyers. The Belfast-based company has the most comprehensive and accurate global database of scientific researchers and helps sales teams identify who needs their products.

Expanding on its original platform, SciLeads has launched BioPharma, a product which gives clients accurate and up to date information about companies operating in the pharmaceutical industry. Using expanded data sources, the tool gives a comprehensive overview of the companies, their people, their activities, and their funding status.

Earlier this year SciLeads announced plans to double the size of its team in the next two years and with the launch of the new product is immediately recruiting at least five software engineers.

Paddy McColgan, Senior Software Developer at SciLeads, said: “The launch of our BioPharma product has been a huge success and it’s great as a developer to see the impact your work has on sales. As part of a core team of seven developers, spread across the world, it has been an amazing experience to collaborate, entirely remotely, on such a big project. It has been a challenge, which is great. We keep expanding the platform with huge

new datasets and it pushes us to learn new skills and develop new processes.

Laura Haldane, co-founder and VP of Sales and Marketing at SciLeads said: “SciLeads takes pride in the fact that our customers love our academic platform and with the same level of care we’ve created our new BioPharma product. Our commitment to providing high-quality data and market insights to our clients remains the same.

“Back in January we unveiled plans to double our workforce over the next two years to meet demand and we are actively recruiting people who not only fit the bill in terms of having first-class development skills, but who will also fit into the unique culture

we have created at the company.”

SciLeads is trusted by hundreds of scientific companies globally to accelerate sales and drive growth. 93% of its customer base is outside of the UK, with its software currently used by everyone from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups.

Since it was founded in 2016 by friends Daniel McRitchie, Laura Haldane and James Campbell, SciLeads has operated a 100% remote working model, offering its team a truly flexible culture and control over their work-life balance. It also gives each employee a generous home office set-up allowance to create their ideal working environment.

The majority of SciLeads’ 60-strong team is based in Northern Ireland and Canada, with staff also based in other locations across the UK, Europe and Asia.

The company placed 14th in the 2022 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list, which ranks the fastest growing technology companies on the island of Ireland.

SciLeads is also currently on the lookout for talented Sales, Data, Product and Software professionals. Further details are available at scileads.com/careers.

Tom Walls, Laura Haldane, James Campbell and Patrick McColgan from SciLeads launch the company’s new BioPharma product.

Uncertainty for manufacturers is here to stay –the solution is to invest in your people!

By Richard Gardiner, managing partner, RSM Belfast

The challenges faced by the manufacturing sector included supply chain issues, transport and energy cost inflation, and attracting and retaining a key component of manufacturing success – people!

Manufacturing in the future will undoubtedly look very different, and successful firms will need to rapidly adapt their tools and skillsets to maximise new technology such as robotics, automation and AI. This will require people to adapt quickly, and we all know change doesn’t happen overnight, so recruiting and retaining the right people who are flexible and willing to learn new skills is key to staying

ahead of the competition.

Leaders of the UK’s mid-sized businesses are increasingly optimistic about the prospects for both the economy and their own companies. According to RSM UK’s latest Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), almost two thirds (63%) of the 400-plus companies surveyed said they expect the economy to improve over the next six months. As part of this expectation, 64% said that they plan to increase the number of people they recruit over the next six months, and this is a key challenge for the manufacturing sector.

Harnessing the power of our people is key, and in Northern Ireland we have

some specific historical challenges in this regard. Economic inactivity is higher in Northern Ireland at 29%, compared with 21% for the UK as a whole, according to Economics Observatory*. We have higher rates of sickness and disability, and the gap with other regions of the UK worsened during the pandemic. There are also continuing challenges locally regarding poor childcare provision, and a lack of support for those who have had to leave employment or reduce their working hours due to caring responsibilities. However, there are some positives. The latest data release by NISRA showed Northern Ireland’s labour market was strengthening, with the number of people in work climbing back to pre-pandemic levels. This demonstrates the job market continues to defy expectations, shrugging

off wider economic jitters triggered by rising interest rates and strong inflation. People can be resistant to change – but they can also be the greatest catalyst for change in the right environment. The future success of our economy is dependent on creating teams within our manufacturing sector which recognise the historical strength of Northern Ireland in the manufacturing sector but who will learn together how to create a better future.

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that the future is unpredictable. Despite market disruption, experienced businesses across all sectors have continued to innovate and simply “get on with it”.

Eye on Manufacturing

New Plant For No Alcohol Guinness

Guinness has announced that production of Guinness 0.0 will increase by almost 300%, following an investment of €25 million in a new facility at St. James’s Gate to meet growing domestic and global demand for the nonalcoholic stout.

The new production facility includes six new processing vessels with a total capacity of 500,000 hectolitres (almost 90 million pints), and a two-storey building, where the alcohol is gently removed through a cold filtration system.

All global production of Guinness 0.0 takes place at St. James’s Gate with the main export markets including GB, Europe, US, Canada, Middle East and South Korea. In Ireland, demand continues to grow since the product launched in 2021.

It is forecast that the non-alcoholic alternative will account for 10% of all Guinness trademark sales in Ireland in the coming years.

This is a major expansion in production capacity for Guinness 0.0 since it launched just two years ago. The exceptional quality of Guinness 0.0 is a result of a fouryear development process, which sees the non-alcoholic alternative taking an additional day to produce in comparison to the original stout.

Speaking about the investment, Managing Director of Diageo Ireland, Barry O’Sullivan, said “Guinness 0.0 is now the No. 1 selling nonalcoholic beer in four pack format across both the island of Ireland and Great Britain*. This expansion in production capacity at St James’s Gate is a testament to the quality of Guinness 0.0 and the growth

of the non-alcoholic category, as consumers look for more choice on different occasions. We expect the growth of Guinness 0.0 to be another export success story for Ireland.”

Speaking about the growth in popularity of non-alcohol beer, publican Oliver Barden of O’Donoghue’s said “Guinness 0.0 is one of the most popular nonalcoholic beers in this pub. It’s a great tasting alternative for those that want to experience the atmosphere and craic in the pub without any alcohol. I imagine this demand will continue to grow as the availability and quality of non-alcoholic products becomes more widespread.”

Pictured at the new Guinness 0.0 production facility at St. James’s Gate are Barry O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Diageo Ireland and Aisling Ryan, Guinness 0.0 Innovation Brewer.

Ulster Bank Gifts Flying Figures Statues To National Museums NI

The future of an internationally significant piece of public art in Belfast is being secured through an arrangement between Ulster Bank and National Museums NI.

’Airborne Men’ - aluminium sculptures by renowned artist Dame Elisabeth Frink that have been on the side of Ulster Bank’s former Shaftesbury Square branch since the 1960s - are being gifted by the bank to the Ulster Museum with a view to them going on prominent display at their eventual new home.

The work was commissioned in 1961 on behalf of Ulster Bank, as a focal point at the new and impressive banking facility at Shaftesbury Square, which opened in 1964.

Ulster Bank sold the building in 2009, with the bank then taking back a lease of the whole building and retaining ownership of the sculptures to help protect and preserve them.

From August 2023, there will be no remaining connection between the bank and the building, and with the aim of ensuring that the people of Belfast can continue to have access to these

internationally important works, the bank has decided to gift them to the national collection.

The works have today been carefully and sensitively removed from the wall at Shaftesbury Square by Ulster Bank-appointed expert Maurice Ward Art Handling. After a thorough conservation assessment and preparation, National Museums NI intends for the works to go on display in a prominent position at the Ulster Museum.

Terry Robb, head of personal banking at Ulster Bank said: “This is fantastic news that will see the future of these internationally important art works secured and will enable them to continue to be accessible to the people of Belfast and Northern Ireland. Ulster Bank recognises their significance in artistic terms and as a landmark, and after careful consideration, we strongly believe that this is the best outcome for the sculpture and the city.”

“National Museums NI is a world-class museum organisation and therefore an appropriate custodian of the artwork. National Museums NI also cares for an internationally significant collection of art, including a collection of works by Elisabeth Frink which they took in 2019 following a multiway gift from the estate of the artist’s son who died in 2017. The fact that the Ulster Museum is in relatively close proximity to the sculptures’ current home is also a real bonus,” he added.

Anne Stewart, Senior Curator of Art at National Museums NI, said: “We are delighted these magnificent sculptures are coming into the national collection. This generous contribution by Ulster Bank, not only enriches our collection but also strengthens our commitment to preserving and showcasing exceptional artworks that hold cultural and historical significance.

“Elisabeth Frink’s sculptures are renowned for their powerful and emotive representations of the human form, and they will undoubtedly captivate and inspire our visitors when they eventually go on display at the Ulster Museum. We extend our sincere gratitude to Ulster Bank for their invaluable support in making this happen.”

Dame Elisabeth Frink CH, DBE, RA (14 November 1930 – 18 April 1993) was one of the UK’s most important 20th century sculptors and artists. Born in England she was brought up in rural Suffolk. The work ‘Airborne Men’, also referred to as the ‘Flying Figures’ and ‘Draft and Overdraft’, represents a significant piece from the 1960s. Unusually, rather than creating them in her preferred medium of bronze, these were created in aluminium. Frink also created Crucifixion for St Bernadette’s church in Belfast in 1964, and examples of her work can be found in public collections around the world.

Ann Stewart, Senior Curator at National Museums NI, with Ulster Bank’s John Ferris.

Eye on Events

Birra Moretti – Summer Party At The National

Italian beer brand Birra Moretti, distributed here by United Wine Merchants, held a summer party evening at The National in Belfast’s High Street.

Guests, including many from the licensed trade throughout Northern Ireland, enjoyed beer, fresh pizza from the team at Little Wing Pizzeria, Italian gelato and entertainment from Italian singer Luigi Cirillo as well as top local comedian Shane Todd.

1. Brenda & Richard Buckley of Business Eye with Andrew Hollywood and David Greenlees of United Wine Merchants. 2. Musicians Luigi Cirillo and Linley Hamilton. 3. Katie McKibbin, Ronan McVeigh and Coraigh O’Sullivan, all from Quinn’s Bar, Newcastle. 4. Sarah Humphries from Hoose Bistro, Belfast, Mathew Roman- Wilkinson (Millars Restaurant) and Ross Allen (Hoose Bistro). 5. Staff at The National. 6. The United Wines Marketing Team. 7. Competition winners celebrate their success.

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Eye on News

Belfast Harbour Posts Strong Financial Results For 2022

Belfast Harbour has reported robust financial results for 2022, with annual turnover and profits in line with expectations, despite a challenging global trading environment.

In what was a milestone year, marking the 175th anniversary of the formation of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Belfast Harbour reported turnover of £77.2m for 2022, up 5% on its figures for 2021, and underlying pre-tax profits of £34.3m, up 1% on the previous year.

As a Trust Port, Belfast Harbour strategically reinvests its profits to develop and maintain the Port and wider Harbour Estate, including investing in major infrastructure projects. The figures reported have supported the continued delivery of an ambitious five year, £254m investment programme, which has enabled Belfast Harbour to add significant economic and social value to the region.

Continuing Belfast Harbour’s long history of delivering transformative projects, 2022 saw £23.4m invested in port facilities and infrastructure projects. This included the completion of the Victoria Terminal 2 passenger facility.

Belfast Harbour noted its resilient and diverse trading portfolio as a core asset in delivering its strong financial performance, as well as the recognising the important contribution of its key customers and estate partners.

Despite the climate of global uncertainty and external challenges sparked by the war in Ukraine, port trade dropped only slightly on the record levels recorded in 2021. Total tonnage through Belfast Harbour was reported at 24.5m tonnes, representing the second highest levels in its history, and a slight easing back of 4.3% from the record levels of 2021.

Roll-On Roll-Off freight on Stena Line performed strongly, recording 600,000 freight units during the year, and matching the record performance delivered in 2021.

The volume of ferry passengers travelling through the Port increased by 22% year on year to almost 1.8 million people, with routes benefitting from the full easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions. The number of passenger cars reached a record high of 462,000, increasing by 12% from the year before, reflecting a continued interest in staycations and local holidays.

Cruise ships continued to provide a welcome boost to the local economy, with Belfast Harbour welcoming a record 141 cruise ship calls during 2022, as cruise travel fully resumed, and the industry made a strong recovery following a reduced schedule the previous year.

2022 also saw major investment in the Harbour Estate, which included the completion of two landmark office buildings, ‘City Quays 3’ and ‘Olympic House,’ as well as the construction

of Hamilton Road, a new Titanic Quarter link road between Queen’s Road and Sydenham Road.

With ambitions to create the largest European media hub outside of London, work commenced on the expansion of Belfast Harbour Studios and productions from Netflix and Amazon Prime, including ‘The School for Good and Evil’, directed by Paul Feig were secured.

Providing a welcome boost to the thriving screen industry in Northern Ireland, Belfast Harbour also announced a partnership with Ulster University and NI Screen to deliver Studio Ulster, a Belfast Region City Deal project that will create a leading-edge virtual production facility adjacent the existing Belfast Harbour Studios site at Giant’s Park.

Engaging closely with local communities, the Harbour provided funding of £320,000 to community and charitable programmes during 2022. This included the expansion of the Belfast Harbour Community Awards Fund, which supported 25 grass-roots community organisations with funding totalling £87,000.

Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chair of Belfast Harbour, said:

“2022 was a landmark year for Belfast Harbour as we celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The strong results achieved during the year demonstrate

the resilience and effectiveness of our Trust Port model, which enables us to reinvest our profits back into the development of our Port and Estate.

“Leveraging the diversity of our portfolio and our invaluable partnerships with our tenants, stakeholders and customers, Belfast Harbour is well on track to deliver its strategic ambitions to sustainably grow as a socially responsible port and as a key economic hub that delivers tangible social impact to the city and beyond.”

Joe O’Neill, Chief Executive Officer of Belfast Harbour said:

“Our robust financial performance during 2022 reflects our strategic progress in growing as a world leading regional port and developing an iconic waterfront for the city. While we are confident of our diverse business and revenue streams, 2023 will undoubtedly present challenges as uncertainty in the global economy continues.

“As we actively develop the next phase of our Port for Everyone strategy, Belfast Harbour takes a long-term strategic view, forward-investing in our Port and Estate for benefit of our stakeholders and the wider region. Through transformative investment programmes and innovative development, our tried and tested Trust Port model is delivering clear economic value and establishing Belfast Harbour as a key gateway to opportunity for the region.”

Eye on News

Maxol breaks ground on £2.35 million expansion of Braid River and Marino Service Stations

Maxol, Northern Ireland’s leading family-owned forecourt and convenience retailer, is investing £2.35 million in a significant redevelopment and expansion of Maxol Braid River Service Station in central Ballymena and a modernisation of Maxol Marino near Holywood.

The investment is part of a wider five-year capital investment programme worth £84M that Maxol recently announced across its network to meet the growing demand for convenience-led forecourt services that include coffee, groceries and food-to-go.

Sustainable development

Maxol’s innovative and sustainable forecourt design will be fully implemented at Maxol Braid River. A host of cutting-edge technologies will be used to reduce the site’s existing carbon footprint which include photovoltaic (solar) panels to reduce electrical import requirements; solar efficient glazing; the use of LED lights; low energy CO2 refrigeration systems with doors fitted throughout the store; exhaust air-heat pump technology to reduce heating loads; and an energy management system to monitor and control the overall energy usage on the site.

Maxol Braid River Ballymena

A new EV Charging Hub will be developed and operated under Maxol’s Recharge brand. It will have up to four 200kw EV charging units serving 1 vehicle each, providing charging for four cars at any one time.

Elsewhere on the forecourt, Premium Fuels will be introduced to enable customers to make greener motoring choices; car parking facilities will more than double from the current 11 to 32 and Pay at Pump technology will be available at two fuel pumps to ensure greater convenience for customers during busy trading periods.

Braid River’s current retail space will grow by 140% from 102 sq. meters to 246 sq. meters. With a doubling of frozen food provision and the number of grocery and chilled bays increasing significantly, customers can expect to find a much bigger range of locally produced food including an expanded grocery offer, and an extended fruit & veg, dairy, and frozen food ranges.

A new Delish Deli with a self-serve chicken bar will be introduced, along with new Frozen Coca Cola and Frozen Fanta slushie machines. The popular BARISTA BAR Coffee for quality coffee on the go will be expanded to two

units for improved speed of service and enhanced with a new bakery for pastries and sweet treats. For customers’ speed and convenience two self-checkouts will also be installed.

Maxol Braid River is closed for the duration of the development and work is expected to be completed in October. Alternative Maxol sites that can be used while the work is ongoing are: Maxol Service Station Doury Road, Ballymena; The Phoenix Maxol Service Station, Antrim Road, Ballymena; Maxol Service Station Graham’s Ahoghill; Maxol Service Station Cullybackey: Maxol Service Station Raceview Road, Broughshane; Maxol Service Station Campbell’s Largy Road; and Donnelly’s Maxol Service Station.

Maxol Service Station

Marino Holywood

The investment at Maxol Marino Service Station on the main Belfast to Bangor Road at Cultra will enhance and upgrade current customer facilities both on the forecourt and in-store.

Customer flow around the store will be improved by the relocation of the entrance and parking will be increased to accommodate 23 customer vehicles.

The retail space will be refreshed with new flooring, ceiling, lighting and new check-outs. There will also be more refrigeration space added for Grab & Go and dairy produce and additional shelving for an enhanced grocery offer.

Frozen Coca Cola and Fanta slushie machines will be introduced and the forecourt will be refreshed to create a warm welcome for customers with better signage amongst the improvements.

Brian Donaldson, Chief Executive Officer of The Maxol Group said:

“These investments reflect our ambition to develop our service stations with a convenience-led offer that provide our customers with the latest food concepts and convenience goods.

“With Maxol Braid River set to have only the second EV Charging Hub in our Maxol estate and with the continued rollout of our sustainable forecourt design, these investments reaffirm our commitment to being a more sustainable forecourt retailer. I look forward to the completion of these projects that will ensure we can continue to meet the needs of our customers in modern, vibrant, sustainable and welcoming environments.”

NORTHERN IRELAND’S LEADING BUSINESS AWARDS

NORTHERN IRELAND’S LEADING BUSINESS AWARDS

Leading Business Awards Launched For 2023

Northern Ireland’s leading business awards, the annual AIB Business Eye Awards, have been launched for their 17th year at a networking event held at Belfast Waterfront Hall.

Richard Buckley, Editor of Business Eye and Seamus McGuckin, Head of Business Banking NI at AIB, hosted the launch event which was attended by category sponsors and key business guests. Connor Dunlop, from Bathshack, winners of the Homegrown Business of the Year

category, also addressed guests.

Recognising the evolving attributes of successful businesses in Northern Ireland, three new categories have been added to this year’s line-up. They are Northern Ireland’s Employee of the Year, the Commercial Development project of the Year & the Construction & Property Company of the Year. Headline awards once again include the coveted Company of the Year, Business Personality of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards. With a wide range of categories, the

AIB Business Eye Awards recognise qualities and success across different specialist categories and sectors.

“We work very hard each year to fine tune and improve these awards and to maintain their reputation as the very best awards of their kind in Northern Ireland,” says Brenda Buckley of Business Eye. “2022 produced a record number of entries, and really high-quality entries. Despite all of the challenges facing business here, we’re confident that the bar can be raised once again this year.”

AIB, a key supporter of the Northern Ireland business community, is a long-standing partner of Business Eye and its award programmes. Speaking at the launch, Brian Gillan, Head of Retail & NI at AIB said;

“The AIB Business Eye Awards are a fantastic showcase of the innovation, creativity, and determination at the heart of Northern Ireland’s business community. Every year the awards adapt and grow to recognise how companies here are evolving to overcome challenges and grasp new opportunities. This year is no exception and we’re proud to unveil additional sector awards marking the recovery and growth of tourism, hospitality, construction, and property development. Together with Business Eye, we look forward to shining a light on leading local firms and encourage companies from across the region and industries to enter.”

Last year’s awards showcased an impressive array of winners at a memorable awards night held at the ICC Belfast venue in front of a 650-strong audience. Belfast & Derry/ Londonderry based FinTrU, one of the leaders in the dynamic fintech sector in Northern Ireland, lifted the coveted Company of the Year award, while Judith Totten, the founder of Upstream Finance, was named Business Personality of the Year.

Other key winners included Almac Group as Manufacturer of the Year’, SDG as Small Business of The Year and top law firm MKB Law as the Professional Services Firm of the Year.

The closing date for entries to the 2023 AIB Business Eye Awards applications is Friday 27th October, with the judging panel due to meet shortly afterwards. The gala awards night will be staged at the ICC Belfast on Thursday 30th November 2023.

Full details are available online at www.businesseyeawards.co.uk

Seamus McGuckin, Head of Business Banking NI at AIB & Brenda Buckley, Commercial Director, Business Eye launch the AIB Business Eye Awards for 2023.

1. Richard Buckley, Business Eye, Connor Dunlop, Bathshack & Ciara Donnelly, Business Eye.

2. Eugene Dixon & Gavin McKevitt of Maine Surface Finishing Limited, and Brenda Buckley, Business Eye. 3. Miriam Moertl, Ardmore & Nikki Larkin, LK Communications. 4. Richard Gardiner, RSM, Richard Buckley, Business Eye & Dylan Burke, Honeycomb. 5. Barry John Kelly - Deloitte, Richard Buckley Business Eye, Darren McDowell, Harbinson Mulholland & Ciara Donnelly, Business Eye. 6. Richard Buckley Business Eye.

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Eye on Awards

7. Connor Dunlop addresses the audience. 8. Richard Gardiner, RSM, Brenda Buckley, Business Eye, Don Leeson, LRA, Julie Ann Donnelly, LRA & Dylan Burke, Honeycomb. 9. Shane Megahey, AIB, Maria Conway, MKB Law. 10. Richard Buckley & Iain Lees - Strategic Power Projects. 11. Seamus McGuckin addresses the audience. 12. Briege McKeown, AIB.

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13.Alanna Branagh & Alan Branagh. 14. Julie Anne Clarke, EDG, Richard Buckley, Business Eye & Adrienne Brock, EDG. 15. Shane Megahey, AIB, Maria Conway, MKB & Brenda Buckley, Business Eye. 16. LRA, Julie Ann Donnelly & Don Leeson, LRA. 17. Kevin McKeigh (EDG) & Darren McDowell, Harbinson Mulholland. 18. Richard Buckley addresses the audience.

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18. Iain Lees (Strategic Power Connect). 19. Seamus McGuckin addresses the audience. 20. Brenda Buckley, Business Eye, Marcus Lewis, Tarasis Enterprises & Ciara Donnelly, Business Eye. 21: Dr. Ian Smyth & Prof. Kristen Miller, Ulster University Business School. 22. Dylan Burke, Honeycomb & Richard Gardiner, RSM.

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Eye on Awards

Company of the Year

Northern Ireland’s overall company of the year in the opinion of the judging panel. Companies can be of any size/ scale, number of employees, and must be able to exhibit exceptional performance, especially but not exclusively during the 12 month period to 31st May 2023.

Sponsored by AIB

www.businesseyeawards.co.uk

Employer of the Year

This category sets out to recognise those local organisations exhibiting best practice in terms of people management. The judging panel will look for clear evidence of class-leading initiatives designed to make the organisation a better and more caring employer.

Sponsored by Labour Relations Agency

Family Business of the Year

The Northern Ireland economy includes a high proportion of family-owned enterprises. This category sets out to recognise the very best. Open to all family-owned enterprises based in Northern Ireland, irrespective of size, scale or sector of operation.

Sponsored by Harbinson Mulholland

Young Business Personality of the Year

The category is open to senior managers and leaders in businesses and organisations across the private, public and voluntary sectors, whose leadership and achievement can be clearly demonstrated.

Sponsored by Ulster University Business School

Medium/Mid-Sized Business of the Year

This category will recognise a leading player in the 50-250 employee sector of the Northern Ireland economy, a key sector which includes a number of our leading private sector companies. As with Company of the Year, entrants must demonstrate exceptional performance across the board.

Sponsored by TLT Solicitors

Employee of the Year

Every organisation values its people. This new award category gives employers and organisations the opportunity to nominate their key employees for special recognition. The award is open to any employee of a Northern Ireland-based organisation in any sector as nominated by a direct or senior manager within the organisation.

Sponsored by Honeycomb

Manufacturer of the Year

Tourism & Hospitality Award

The company or organisation making the most valuable contribution to the continued development of tourism & hospitality here in Northern Ireland. Possible entrants might include hotels/hotel groups, other forms of accommodation, tourism development organisations, restaurants, travel facilities, etc.

Sponsored by Visit Belfast

Innovative Company of the Year

Open to any Northern Ireland-based company of any size able to demonstrate evidence of significant innovation in products, services or processes resulting in demonstrable gains for the business as a whole.

Sponsored by Queens University

A very important category, this one is open to all manufacturing organisations, of any size and scale, operating in Northern Ireland. The judging panel will look for evidence of innovation, attention to detail, state of the art engineering and product market success.

Sponsored by RSM

Community (CSR) Award

Corporate social responsibility plays an important role for NI companies and this specialist category sets out to recognise an organisation from the private, public or voluntary sectors making a clear and impactful contribution to its local community as a whole.

Eye on Awards

Green/Sustainable Company of the Year

Once again open to a Northern Irelandbased organisation of any size, this award will recognise an organisation which has made significant and demonstrable progress towards becoming more sustainable and contributing to the wider environmental goal.

Sponsored by Strategic Power Connect

www.businesseyeawards.co.uk

Fast Growth Business of the Year

This award will be presented to the local company able to demonstrate significant growth – in terms of turnover and/or employment – over the last 12 to 18 months dating back from the closing date for entries.

Outstanding Leadership & Management Award

This award is aimed at individuals in senior management and leadership positions who have achieved significant results for their organisation as a result of their leadcership.

Business Personality of the Year

The keynote award will honour Northern Ireland’s outstanding business personality over the past 12 months, an individual whose leadership achievements have contributed to business success and to the wider local economy.

Sponsored by Ardmore

Lifetime of Achievement Award

A premier award on the night, this special award will be presented to an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution not just to their own business or sector, but also to the Northern Ireland business community and economy as a whole.

Sponsored by Tarasis

Sponsored by Upstream

Professional Services Firm of the Year

This category sets out to honour Northern Ireland’s leading accountancy, legal or other professional services firm working with and providing key advice to clients in the local business community.

Sponsored by Lockton

Commercial Development Project of the Year

The most significant commercial development across any sector to include tourism and hospitality, office, retail and other key sectors, in terms of innovation, sustainability and contribution to the wider NI economy.

Diversity & inclusion Award

With diversity and inclusion firmly on the corporate agenda today, this new award will identify a local company which has diversity and inclusion at the heart of its recruitment and human resource management policies.

Sponsored by AIB

Sponsored by Alpha

Construction & Property Company of the Year

The construction or property organisation making the most significant contribution to the wider economy through the development of innovative, sustainable and relevant project(s) across any sector, including both residential and commercial development.

Small Business of The Year

The organisation with 50 employees or less which, in the opinion of the judges, exemplifies best practice and achievement across the board. Evidence of growth and development, clear vision and strategy to deliver growth, commitment to superior customer service, demonstration of innovation across the business.

Full details are available online at www.businesseyeawards.co.uk

Sponsored by Elliott Duffy Garrett

Eye on News

BDO NI and Queen’s Management School nurture future leaders

Local business advisory firm BDO Northern Ireland, in partnership with Queen’s Management School in Belfast, has launched the inaugural Business Insight Programme to more than 90 A-Level students from across Northern Ireland.

The intensive three-day programme provided students with a behind-the-scenes insight into the world of business and accounting, both from an academic perspective and a practical perspective, and gave them access to valuable career advice at what is a critical stage in their lives.

During the event – which took place at Queen’s Management School’s new building at Riddel Hall, the new state-of-the-art digital studio at Belfast Waterfront, and BDO NI’s new offices in Belfast city centre –students completed a multi-disciplined case study and put their well learned school theory to the test in providing strategic recommendations to key business leaders.

Laura Jackson, Partner at BDO Northern Ireland and Honorary Professor at Queen’s

Management School, discussed the importance of students making well-informed decisions when it comes to their futures:

“The exciting part of this programme for me has been the bringing together of these talented, bright students from all over the province in these three new collaborative spaces. Teamworking and putting the school learnt theory into practice is important as this cohort were impacted in year 10 and year 11 by the COVID pandemic. We wanted to provide students with an opportunity to enhance their key business skills, such as communication, networking, resilience, and time management.”

Aine McGoldrick, a pupil at Methodist College Belfast, took part in the Business Insight Programme. She said:

“The Business Insight Programme has provided myself and my peers

with a unique view into the world of business and has grown my skills in teamwork and time management in only a few days. We have met students that we otherwise would not have and adapted to a wellperforming team in an instant due to our similar views and aspirations.

“The connections we have made from this programme through networking have instilled irreplaceable value and I am so thankful to be a part of this fun and unforgettable experience with an established firm like BDO NI.”

Students also got the chance to engage with industry leaders Oonagh O’Reilly, the Sales and Marketing Director at Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Limited, Alan Simms, the Managing Director at Shine Productions Limited, and Alastair Simpson, Head of Sales and Marketing at Lowden Guitars. All three delivered interactive and insightful presentations at the Waterfront Studio to add a third dimension to the students’ experience and set them on the right career trajectory by sharing their key business learnings and advice.

Rory O’Donoghue, a pupil from Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School in Belfast, said:

“The last three days have provided us with a unique opportunity to visit active workplaces and explore the new offices of BDO NI as well as the new building at Queen’s Management School.

“During the programme, prospective students have been afforded invaluable insight into the opportunities that exist both at BDO NI and Queen’s and to meet with their teams. We have all come out of the programme feeling well-informed and able to confidently make decisions about our future careers within the accountancy profession.”

Commending the pupils, Dr Danielle McConville from Queen’s Management School added:

“Studying Accountancy offers great opportunities right here in Northern Ireland and further afield. This Insight event has given students a taste of what it’s like to study Accountancy at Queen’s and of professional life in BDO. It’s been great to see their talent and enthusiasm over these three days.”

Eye on News

Passion, resilience and collaboration celebrated at Henderson Foodservice annual conference and awards

Henderson Foodservice, a leading supplier to the hospitality industry on the island of Ireland, congregated its team recently at its annual conference, celebrating new customers and suppliers, growing food trends in Northern Ireland, while taking a look back at the highlights of the past 12 months.

Welcomed by Managing Director Cathal Geoghegan, customers, staff and suppliers were given an overview of 2022, how the company overcame supply issues to meet the demands of their customers across the island, and how collaboration was key in the company’s success.

Mr Geoghegan announced the company made a turnover of £188m in 2022 a growth of 44% on 2021.

Guest speakers were invited to address the audience, including Lorraine Heskin, CEO, Gourmet Food Parlour, and Maureen Gahan from Bord Bia, who shared their own ‘recipe for success’ and their predictions for the

tourism and hospitality sectors across Ireland in the future.

A highlight of the day was welcoming Springboard’s FutureChef UK winner, Co. Tyrone’s own, Kristen Nugent on-stage alongside Springboard NI’s Caitriona Lennox and Food Development Chef, Geoff Baird to talk about their experiences of the competition.

The audience heard just how important Henderson Foodservice’s support of the future generation of hospitality is for the organisation and competition, with particular thanks to Chef Geoff for giving so much of his time and expertise to the initiative throughout the year.

The day culminated in a trip

to Belfast’s Trade Market, a collection of local foodies and restauranteurs bringing fresh and creative thinking to NI’s most prized ingredients and local products.

The Henderson Foodservice Awards and Gala Ball took place in the evening. Hosted by musician and comedian Teresa Livingstone.

The evening was a chance to present the company’s charity partners, The NI Children’s Hospice, PIPs and the Jack & Jill Foundation, with £10,000 each as a result of the company’s fundraising throughout the year.

£3,789 was also raised on the night, which will be split between the charities.

Henderson Foodservice’s VIP Awards were presented to staff members, teams and suppliers from categories celebrating excellence in customer service, personal ambition, volunteering, sales and awarded to those who

have gone the extra mile for their customers and for the business.

Mr Geoghegan commented; “The annual conference and gala awards evening gave the whole company the opportunity to sit back and appreciate what we have achieved in the past year, while also looking forward to how we can continue to learn and evolve as a leading supplier on the island of Ireland.

“I’d like to extend my congratulations again to all our colleagues who were nominated and who won our fleet of awards on the night. They have tirelessly given their time and expertise over and above, which allows us to stay ahead of our competitors and deliver a first-class service to our customers, year in, year out.”

Cathal Geoghegan, Henderson Foodservice, Managing Director at Henderson Foodservice addresses the company’s annual conference.

TechEye

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Eye on TechEye

Tech Plays Major Role In Fight Against Strokes

Upfront Diagnostics is developing a device that it says can identify biomarkers that indicate a patient is having a large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke in less than 15 minutes, just from taking a small blood sample.

The healthcare company says this

saves more than one and a half hours over the current diagnosis methods, which involve physical tests and taking brain scans. Patients can then be taken more rapidly to a medical centre for treatment, reducing the risk of death or disability.

The seed funding round was led by the medical fund of Apex Ventures, a deep technology focussed venture capital firm.

The Cambridge-based startup has also received grant funding from SBRI Healthcare in partnership with the Stroke Association.

The device, which resembles a Covid test and is called the “LVOne”, has been validated on 270 patients at the Royal Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle. However, it has not yet received clinical approval. Upfront Diagnostics said it will use the proceeds of the raise to scale the technology and meet regulatory requirements.

Assuming no setbacks, Upfront Diagnostics said it aims to receive a UK Conformity Assessed checkmark – which signifies it meets British

legislation – “before the end of 2023” a company spokesperson told UKTN. It hopes to gain CE marking – the EU equivalent – by mid-2025.

The startup, formerly known as Pockit, was founded in 2017 by a group of Cambridge students. It currently has five employees. Its most recent Companies House filings from 2021 show it has net assets and liabilities of minus £59,887. However, a company spokesperson said is 2022 accounts “should be available soon”.

It has received £75,000 in support from Cambridge Enterprise, an arm of the University of Cambridge that helps academics commercialise their ideas.

Gonzalo Ladreda, co-founder of Upfront Diagnostics, said: “With this significant funding, we are poised to transform stroke diagnosis worldwide and make a tangible impact on patient care.

“Our rapid blood test has the potential to revolutionise stroke management by providing paramedics and physicians with actionable insights in a matter of minutes,

enabling them to make informed treatment decisions swiftly.”

The company is focusing its efforts on early stroke diagnosis, which it says could result in a 20% reduction in disabilities from LVO strokes.

There is a six-hour optimal window for doctors to manually remove large clots from the brain to treat strokes. Upfront Diagnostics says its handheld device can increase the rate of patients who are treated in this time frame.

A company spokesperson told UKTN that its technology could potentially be applicable to concussions or Alzheimers.

“The impact on the healthcare workforce, the social care system and the broader economic benefits of this solution will also be felt,” said Dr Pooja Sikka, general practitioner in the UK and venture partner at APEX Ventures Medical Fund.

“Stroke is a preventable disease, but growing. We need better diagnostics and optimised care pathways. Effective point-of-care testing is fundamental to achieving that.”

Upfront Diagnostics co-founders at the Cambridge Judge Business Centre in 2018 are, from left, CEO Gonzalo Ladreda, chief innovation officer Edoardo Gaude, and new product development specialist Marcos Ladreda. Picture: Keith Heppell

A British startup developing a handheld blood test device to rapidly diagnose strokes has secured £1.6m in seed funding.

Eye on TechEye

TikTok Introduces Parental Control Feature

The new feature that parents could use to protect children from sensitive content comes as the UK’s long-awaited Online Safety Bill nears fruition.

The feature is an addition to the app’s family pairing functionality, which allows adults to link their account to their teenager’s for control of settings like screen time limits.

TikTok’s users could already dictate content filters for themselves, allowing them to avoid videos associated with specific words or hashtags.

Julie de Bailliencourt, global head of product policy, said that giving

Try

parents the ability to set them up was more with user safety in mind.

However, teenagers will only be alerted to their parents’ selected filters at first and can simply not opt-in.

“We wanted to make sure we had the right balance of pragmatism and transparency to enable families to choose the best experience for their own family because every family is different,” said Ms De Bailliencourt.” We also wanted to make sure we respect young people’s right to participate. So by default, teens can view the keywords their parent or caregiver has added.”

It comes after the company faced

criticism over children being exposed to self-harm and eating disorder clips, which are sometimes shared using “coded” hashtags - phrases with slightly tweaked spellings - to bypass the platform’s moderation.

Ms De Bailliencourt said she hoped the feature would “spark a conversation” between teens and their parents or guardians about online boundaries.

The optional feature comes as the government’s long-awaited Online Safety Bill nears fruition after a final day of scrutiny by a House of Lords committee.

A late amendment to the proposed

legislation last week, which aims to regulate online content to keep people safe, could see coroners and bereaved parents granted access to data on the phones of deceased children.

It comes after a campaign by parents whose children’s deaths were linked to their social media activity.

TikTok would not be drawn on the specific amendment, only that it is working closely with the government on the development of the legislation.

The platform has come under mounting pressure over its links to China, as it’s owned by Beijing’s ByteDance, and earlier this year it was banned from UK government phones.

Before You Buy – Tasting By Tech

(AI), while a life-long AI “buddy” would help to automate and tailor what you are eating.

Another suggestion is that virtual and augmented reality could be used to trick people who steer clear of vegetables into thinking they are eating chocolate or sweets instead.

If someone wanted to cut down on alcohol, then “wine” cordials, which mimic the taste and flavour profile of real wine, might be introduced.

Breathing on a smartphone could help to determine what is healthy, and a takeaway might be tasted virtually before it is ordered, it is being suggested.

Something dubbed BreathTech could be developed, allowing “a deep level of insight” into the foods you should be eating, a report commissioned by Deliveroo said.

Diets that fit with someone’s personal physiology would be powered by artificial intelligence

Alternatives to staples such as corn and maize, such as amaranth, fonio, sorghum, teff, khorasan, einkorn and emmer, are all predicted to be mainstream in 2040.Another predicted trend is “edible beauty” products, which could include anti-ageing ice cream and the chance to dine from hormone-balancing and dopamine-driving menus.The report, called Snack to the Future, also envisages virtual reality dinner parties, allowing consumers to create dream scenarios, perhaps involving celebrities.

We could all be eating “hyperpersonalised” diets which are “fully bespoke to your individual nutritional needs” within the next 20 years, a report is predicting.

A new development from TikTok lets parents filter out videos they don’t want their children to see.

Eye on TechEye

Generative AI systems such as those powering advanced chatbot ChatGPT could provide a £31bn boost to the UK economy, according to a report.

Generative AI, a subset of artificial intelligence that creates new content based on prompts, is estimated to have the capability to do 2.5% of all tasks, with those productivity improvements equivalent to a 1.2% boost to Britain’s GDP.

At 2022 GDP levels, this would be equivalent to an additional output of £31bn.

However, the report, published by professional services firm KPMG, suggests that generative AI could affect 40% of all jobs in some way.

Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK, said: “While we do not anticipate many job losses as a result, changes to work practices of some occupations could still lead to short-term skill mismatches, as the labour market

adjusts to the new technology.”

“Additional support will be needed to facilitate the transition of affected workers to new occupations.”

One in 10 jobs face the most significant impact from generative AI, while 60% “could face little to no direct effect”.

Tasks performed by authors, writers and translators are expected to be the most at risk to automation by

generative AI (43%). This is followed by programmers and those working in software development at 26%.

“While there are concerns about the impact of generative AI on jobs, it will likely be used as an enabler of our strategies and processes,” said Paul Henninger, head of connected technology at KPMG UK. “Roles will change to work with the technology.”

AI Could Boost UK Economy By £31 Billion - Report Call For New Laws On Cryptoassets

The government should introduce new legislation to reform laws for cryptoassets, according to a state-backed legal analysis.

The Law Commission, which was tasked with conducting an analysis of how UK law could accommodate digital assets, has recommended reforms that include establishing a legal basis for a new and distinct category of personal property compatible with the unique features of digital assets such as NFTs or stablecoins.

In its report, the group said that England and Wales are well-placed to provide a “coherent and globally relevant regime” for digital assets.

However, the commission made recommendations to “provide market participants with legal tools that do not yet exist” to successfully implement this regime.

It also called for a panel of industry-specific technical experts, legal practitioners, academics and judges to offer advice to courts in future cases.

“The use and importance of digital assets has grown significantly in the law few years. The flexibility of the common law means that the legal system in England and Wales is well placed to adapt to this rapid growth,” said Professor Sarah Green, law commissioner for commercial and common law.

“Our recommendations for reform and development of the law therefore seek to solidify the legal foundation for digital assets. We also aim to ensure that the private law in England and Wales remains a dynamic, globally competitive and flexible tool that enables further technological innovation.”

Andrew Griffith, the economic secretary to the Treasury, said that the UK’s reputation for “straight dealing, use of the English language” and “flexible common law” is what attracts businesses from overseas.

“This, combined with our straightforward approach to regulating cryptoassets puts the UK at the vanguard of innovation to drive growth in digital assets and boost our economy,” Griffith added.

Earlier this year, the CEO of Coinbase said he admired the UK’s regulatory regime and suggested that while nothing was planned, if frustrations with US regulators continue, a move to Britain could be in the company’s future.

While chancellor, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak outlined a vision to make the UK a “global cryptoasset technology hub”. Plans involved new legislation to promote the use of stablecoins and the Royal Mint creating an NFT, the latter of which was quietly scrapped in March.

Eye on TechEye

Health Apps Can Be Bad For Your Health

The warning comes as people become more comfortable with using mobile healthcare apps. A survey of 2,000 people, carried out by One Poll for ORCHA, found that 68% of UK users believe healthcare apps should be used in the NHS, but the report warned that problems arise during the selection process for health apps.

It found that none of the people who selected a health app without the assistance and advice of a healthcare professional had checked its clinical credentials prior to using it, and only 28% had given the privacy policy careful consideration before agreeing to it.

Simon Leigh, research director at ORCHA, people were downloading complex apps such as ones to assist those with epilepsy and diabetes – without carrying out sufficient due diligence.

“That’s the equivalent of buying a random box of pills with no MHRA [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] approval and swallowing a handful of them,

hoping for the best,” he said.

The survey found that 30% of app users who did not seek expert advice had just checked consumer reviews on app stores.

“We’ve proven through academic studies that good consumer reviews are not a safe indicator of the quality of the app. In fact, as a rule, the higher starred the consumer reviews, the less compliant the apps are in terms of the required standards and accreditation. Consumers are putting far too much faith in anecdotal observations by others,” said Leigh.

The latest survey revealed a 60% increase in the number of general practitioners

recommending apps to patients in the past 12 months. It also revealed a flattening of app take up, following a steep rise during the Covid-19 pandemic when access to medical professionals was more limited.

It found that 47% now use healthcare apps, which was the same figure the year earlier. But the survey results released in 2021 revealed that 38% used heath apps.

“There will be a range of factors behind this, but we think there are two main drivers – first, the high growth we saw for digital health adoption during Covid19 continued into much of last year, but as services opened

up, a proportion of this demand went away,” said Leigh.

Second, he added, could be that despite a 60% leap year on year in recommendations by GPs, there has been a drop in recommendations from nurses, consultants and social care staff.

Leigh said: “Importantly, as we highlight, in contrast to these numbers, more people want digital health than last year. Some 68% of people we surveyed agreed, or strongly agreed, that to take pressure off our healthcare system, it is vital we all look at new ways to manage our health, including using high-quality health apps.

“This number has grown by almost 10% since last year, representing an additional 6.7 million people who are happy to embrace digital health. When the right tools, training and digital health products are embedded into services, we see really encouraging take-up rates.”

Using complex health apps without advice from medical professionals is equivalent to buying a random box of pills with no regulatory approval and hoping for the best, warns Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA).

“As a rule, the higher starred the consumer reviews, the less compliant the apps are in terms of the required standards and accreditation. Consumers are putting far too much faith in anecdotal observations by others.”

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Eye on News

Lambert Smith Hampton Grows Belfast Team

Lambert Smith Hampton has grown its team in the Belfast office with six new hires and four promotions in its Belfast Office, including two senior promotions, to support the ongoing demand for the commercial property firm’s services.

Tom Donnan has been promoted to Director in the General Agency department. Tom has been with the firm since 2016 when he joined as a Graduate Surveyor. In his new role, he will be responsible for leasing, acquisitions, disposals and consultancy advice for a variety of high-profile clients in the logistics, office, investment and development land sectors. He led the sale of Central Park Mallusk, comprising of 700,000 sq ft of industrial and logistics space, for a price of £17m.

Jonathan Tate has been promoted to Associate Director, within the Building and Project Consultancy department. Achieving chartered

status in 2016, Jonathan is an experienced building surveyor leading on major instructions including condition surveys of Trinity College Dublin estate and pre-acquisition Technical Due Diligence surveys of Ireland’s largest film studio sites. In his new role, he will have a key role in service line delivery, tasked with building and further developing existing client relationships.

In the Accounts Team, LSH has also promoted Hannah Lynn to Finance Business Partner and Sean Fox to Senior Client Accountant. This team has also seen the hire of six new members of staff, Jack Hubbard as Assistant Client Accountant; Claire Brownlee as Credit Controller; Carrie Hunter as Credit Controller; Emilie Braasch as Credit Controller; Chaojun He as Accounts Payable Assistant and Iris McGreevy as Accounts Receivable Assistant. The appointments have been made to support the demand on the agency’s multi-disciplinary services from new and retained clients.

LSH is the largest and most active commercial real estate business in Northern Ireland, currently employing 77 people in the Belfast office. In recent months, the firm negotiated

the successful sale of Ards Shopping Centre in Newtownards and facilitated the sale of Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill in Surrey.

Phillip Smyth, Head of Agency at Lambert Smith Hampton said:

“Tom and Jonathan are true success stories for LSH, having both started their careers with the firm and growing through the ranks. Working on high profile projects, making significant contributions to new business for the firm and mentoring junior members of staff, Tom has proven himself as a capable leader and is well deserving of the title of Director. We’re also delighted to grow our accounts team and welcome our new members of staff.”

Niki Alderdice, Head of Building Surveying at Lambert Smuth Hampton, said:

“Since 2019 the building consultancy team at LSH has trebled in size, and is a key growth department for the firm. Jonathan has been an integral member of the team starting as a Graduate Building Surveyor, and now guiding new graduates through their chartership journey. I look forward to seeing him develop further as an Associate Director.”

Tom Donnan, Director; Jonathan Tate, Associate Director; Niki Alderdice, Head of Building Surveying; and Phillip Smyth, Head of Agency.

Eye on News

New Belfast Longevity Clinic Opens Its Doors

Co-founded by Liam Botham (son of sporting icon Lord Ian Botham); Jonathan Doherty and Tracey Eisen, ACCA Longevity Clinic offers clients access to state of the art equipment and therapies used globally in sports recovery to aid the enhancement of long-term wellness.

With over 30 years’ experience in the sports industry, Liam Botham developed an in-depth knowledge of how technology supports recovery. From there, he realised the valuable role that the same technology can have in helping deliver overall wellness and longevity, marking the beginning of the concept for ACCA.

Speaking about the vision for the clinic, co-founder Liam Botham said: “The overall purpose that Jonathan, Tracey and I have developed for ACCA is simple - to help our clients live a healthier, longer life. The therapies we offer essentially replicate the best elements of nature – good nutrition, water, oxygen, heat, cold, light – and combine them with leading-edge technology to help increase the number of healthy years a body can function. We’re delighted to be bringing these options into one space here in the heart of Belfast.”

The team also expects to work closely with local employers to develop staff wellbeing programmes as well as individuals seeking a holistic approach to managing their wellness.

“Globally, people are recognising the importance of investing into their own wellness now in order to increase the chances of them leading a healthier future,” co-founder Tracey Eisen adds.

“Equally, employers are understanding the value of actively supporting the health of their people to maximise talent retention and minimise absence. Every choice we make can help optimise how we function – whether that’s in terms of sporting performance or everyday life.

“Our cryotherapy chamber for example can be used by someone with everyday aches, or by elite athletes as part of an injury recovery programme. Our Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which delivers an increase in oxygen within a pressured environment, can help promote relaxation, improve sleep quality and boost energy production. There are many ways our therapies can

help and with a registered team of professionals leading the way, we ensure our clients are individually supported,” Tracey Eisen said.

Belfast is the first ACCA Longevity Clinic, with plans in place to open other locations over the course of the next year. Services offered at ACCA Clinic include Cryotherapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Photobiomodulation (Light) Therapy, Compression Therapy, Far-Infrared Sauna, NAD+ Therapy (IV nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), Vitamin Infusions (IV) and Vitamin Injections (IM shots).

A new wellness clinic officially opened its doors in Belfast with the aim of helping its clients ‘live better for longer’.

Pictured at the official opening are (L-R) co-founders Tracey Eisen, Jonathan Doherty and Liam Botham alongside Lord Ian Botham who made a special appearance.

Eye on News

Cross Border Centre Survey Reveals Optimism

The politics of Brexit in Northern Ireland and Ireland are becoming more positive and more responsive to the needs of people building collaborative relations between communities across these island, concludes the ninth quarterly survey conducted by the Centre for Cross Border Studies.

The first such survey to show signs of optimism among businesses and civic society in two years ends on a much more positive note than before. In terms of both the North-South and East-West dimensions, in almost every context, more people believe that the situation is improving than believe it is deteriorating (improved and deteriorated were equal for the East-West social context).

Centre Director Dr Anthony Soares says the Windsor Framework is key to this optimism.

“The upbeat survey results can broadly be attributed to the Windsor Framework agreed between the UK and EU to mitigate against issues that have become apparent in the Protocol for Ireland/Northern Ireland and, more broadly, the improving relationship between the UK and EU under Rishi Sunak,” says Dr Soares. “It is giving people engaged in collaboration, both North-South and East-West, cause for (cautious) optimism.”

When asked: in comparison with the previous quarter, do you think the political context for collaboration with the other jurisdiction on the island of Ireland has improved, 26.5% of respondents agreed while 55.9% said it had remained the same, 11.8% said it had deteriorated and 5.9% didn’t know.

“There is strong recognition that tensions among the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist community and the ongoing absence of an Assembly are a cause of political uncertainty,” says Dr Soares.

The social context question which asked about collaboration with the other jurisdiction showed that 20.6% believed this had improved while 70.6% saw no change, 2.9% believed it to have deteriorated and 5.9% didn’t know.

“In the social context people are broadly optimistic in light of progress on the Protocol but recognise that the ability for social collaboration is heavily dependent on other contexts especially the political situation,” adds Dr Soares.

“Obviously, there is more work to be done to restore the context for collaboration to preBrexit levels, and the absence of Stormont is still hurting the people of Northern Ireland but it does appear, at last, that the politics of Brexit

with regard to Northern Ireland and Ireland are becoming more positive and more responsive to the needs of people who are trying to build relations between communities across these islands.”

Roe Park Resort Launches Sustainability Pledge With £720K Investment

The four-star Roe Park Resort in Limavady has announced a £720K sustainability strategy investment, as it becomes a member of Green Tourism and works towards a target of net zero by 2050.

The hotel has made a number of significant investments on its way to net zero, with one of its major moves being an investment in a keyless card system. The system will significantly reduce the resort’s use of plastic, whereby guests will use their smart phones to access their room and have the option to check in themselves if desired.

In addition, the hotel is also paving the way for maximum heat and energy efficiency, by installing new boilers as well as solar panels which, since March, have already seen a 10% drop in electric usage before the summer months have even begun.

New heat controls have been introduced to manage temperatures in bedrooms and public areas which are more efficient and economical than previous systems.

George Graham, General Manager at the Roe Park Resort said, “We’re delighted to make these positive changes, contributing to a greener future and further enhancing our sustainability programme as we work

towards the government targets of net zero by 2050.

“We have made significant investments so far to support our moves towards increased sustainability, but it doesn’t stop there as we are aiming to increase our use of solar panels following an initial £144,000 investment in these earlier this year. We are also looking at other areas around the resort to increase solar power.

“Three new hot tubs in our self-catering properties will be run by heat pumps and we have invested in a voltage optimiser which will make a saving of 8-10% in electricity.

“As we’re beside the River Roe, utilising hydro power is something we’re determined to do in the future. This also has a nostalgic tie in with the history of the hotel and the property’s former owners, the Ritter family, who generated the first hydroelectric power in Ireland from this site in 1896”, added George.

This latest investment at the Roe Park Resort follows its announcement in January of a £1.7m investment programme in the resort, which included the recent expansion of its weddings and events space, the Danny Boy Suite.

Roe Park Resort Sales and Marketing Manager, Sinead McNicholl and General Manager, George Graham are pictured demonstrating the resort’s new keyless card system which is part of the resort’s £720,000 sustainability investment programme.

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The next generation in body contouring, VASER Lipo uses ultrasonic energy to selectively break apart fat deposits while preserving other important tissues. Whether you need help with a small problem area or a major transformation, VASER Lipo allows your doctor to do his or her very best work.

What is VASER Lipo? Is it different from traditional liposuction?

VASER Lipo is an advanced body contouring procedure that selectively removes unwanted body fat. An alternative to the harsh techniques of traditional liposuction, VASER Lipo uses

state-of-the-art ultrasound technology designed to gently reshape your body. What distinguishes the VASER Lipo procedure is its ability to differentiate fat from other important tissues – such as nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. Innovative VASER technology breaks apart fat cells while preserving these other important tissues to promote smooth results and rapid healing.

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Where is VASER Lipo performed?

VASER Lipo is performed at Kingsbridge Private Hospital Belfast by our Consultant Plastic Surgeons Ms Ciara MCGoldrick, Mr Chris Hoo and Mr Nick Hodgins. The procedure can be performed under local anaesthesia (awake), IV sedation or general anaesthesia.

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First, the area to be reshaped is filled with a medicated, saline solution that helps numb the site and shrink the blood vessels to minimize blood loss and reduce bruising. Next, a small probe transmits sound energy to break

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Thousands of VASER Lipo® procedures have been performed on the arms, hips, chests, knees, breasts, ankles, waists, calves, chins, abdomens, backs, buttocks, necks, and thighs of both men and women.

Eye on News

Linen Quarter Bid Unveils A Transformed Bankmore Square

Bankmore Square has officially reopened following a rejuvenation project delivered by Linen Quarter Business Improvement District (LQ BID)

and reducing anti-social behaviour.

“Our vision for the Linen Quarter goes beyond revitalising physical spaces. It’s about fostering a sense of security and vibrancy within the community. By creating an environment that is inviting, people-friendly, and conducive to positive experiences, we can shape the overall perception of the area to benefit its residents, workers and local businesses. We look forward to seeing our members and the public enjoy the newly revitalised meanwhile space and welcoming events in the summer months.”

The upgrade to Bankmore Square also includes the relaying of existing paths, grass lawns and land drainage improvements. In addition to features such as the newly sown native wildflower meadow - expected to blossom in the coming weeks, climbing plants have also been added around the toilet block to create a high-quality green space for surrounding communities.

Adjacent to Trademarket on the Dublin Road, the square has been reimagined with a £95,000 investment and will be managed by LQ BID. The lease is currently in place until 2025.

Previously known as a hotspot for antisocial behaviour, Bankmore Square’s new look will encourage the space to be used in a new way. Part of the reimagination strategy includes partial removal of wall to open the space to areas of high footfall, whilst increased surveillance will serve as a deterrent. Additional works include the installation of a new circular central feature to facilitate small scale music events and pop-ups, introducing a

new level of social vibrancy to the square.

Tree wrap lighting has also been installed in over 20 trees to brighten the square during the evening and enhance perceptions of public safety. The lighting will contribute to a growing evening economy along Bedford Street and the Dublin Road.

Welcoming the restored space, Patrick Anderson, acting Director for Belfast Regeneration Directorate said, “We’re pleased to work closely once again with LQ BID to contribute to the ongoing reimagining of the Linen Quarter and delivery of positive change and quality outdoor spaces to enhance our vibrant city. I commend the BID for its vision on

the rejuvenation of Bankmore Square and I’m delighted the Department for Communities could support the delivery of what will no doubt, be a vibrant and welcoming meanwhile space for the community to socialise and enjoy.”

Bankmore Square was officially reopened as part of LQ BID’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 28.

Chris McCracken, Managing Director at LQ BID, said, “We’re extremely grateful to DfC for supporting this temporary intervention and continued investment in enhancing Belfast’s Linen Quarter. Research shows that enhanced lighting, increased surveillance, and higher footfall all have an impact on combating crime

The BID was reappointed earlier this year for a second five-year term following a member vote. Its future plans include the delivery of 50 additional projects throughout the District, including long-term regeneration plans for the Dublin Road area and Great Victoria Street, with continued collaboration with key city partners including the Northern Ireland Executive and Belfast City Council. In recent months LQ BID has worked in partnership to deliver a number of public realm improvements including the installation of two vibrant murals, colourful new vinyls, and enhanced planting throughout the entire District.

Bankmore Square is a temporary intervention, with LQ BID holding a lease on the land from the Department of Infrastructure currently until March 2025. In the longer-term part of the space will be used to facilitate new infrastructure for the highly anticipated North-South Glider route.

with support from the Department for Communities (DfC).

Patrick Anderson, acting Director for Belfast Regeneration, Naomi Wilson from Clayton Hotel and Chris McCracken, LQ BID.

Version 1 awarded exclusive Global Microsoft Partner of the Year Award

Belfast-based IT service provider Version 1, which employs more than 500 people in its Belfast office, has been awarded a prestigious accolade by Microsoft for its work with the UK’s National Highways to improve safety across the road network across England.

Dublin-founded Version 1 was named the global winner in the Modernising Applications 2023 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards, beating off stiff competition from an international field.

The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognise Microsoft partners which have developed and delivered outstanding Microsoftbased applications, services, and devices during the past year. Awards were classified in various categories, with those honoured chosen from a set of more than 4,200 submitted nominations across 100 countries worldwide.

Version 1 was recognised for providing

outstanding solutions and services in Modernising Applications for its innovative transformation of a critical application for National Highways’ Incident Liaison Officers (NILOs).

The NILO team are responsible for coordinating information on major incidents - multi-vehicle collisions, severe weather, and freight spillages – over 4,500 miles of England’s strategic road network and are vital to the 254 billion passenger and freight vehicle miles travelled across England every year.

The solution has meant the NILO team has increased the speed at which major traffic incidents are reported by 150%, incident closure efficiency by 82% and incident creation by 50%. It replaces a legacy system and is a key enabler of National Highways £27.4 billion Digital Roads Strategy aimed at revolutionizing how the strategic road network is designed, built, operated and used.

The project was delivered using

Version 1’s collection of quick-start delivery accelerators, known as Foundations, which uses prebuilt solutions which incorporate industry best practices and utilise best-of-

Around Noon Secures M&S

Own Label Supplier Approval

Around Noon, the award-winning food-to-go manufacturer, has secured much-coveted M&S own label supplier status in a major endorsement of the company’s commitment to quality from one of the most trusted brands on the high street.

It comes as the Newry firm announces significant new investments in readiness to grow its business, including the purchase of new equipment, upgrades to its facilities and the creation of new management positions, including a new quality manager and an NPD manager.

The rigorous approval process benchmarks companies across the food supply chain and evaluates their food safety, quality and culture against the retailer’s high own label manufacturing standards.

The accreditation sees Around Noon supply a range of own label products to M&S stores on the island of Ireland, increasing the range of the supermarket retailer’s sandwich offering.

It’s the continuation of an existing partnership that began last year when Around Noon secured a contract to supply sandwiches from its TWELVE Handmade in County Down range into stores as part of a deal worth £3.5m in retail sales.

Around Noon Sales Director, Philip Morgan, said:

“We are driven to produce quality food from the finest ingredients and always with local provenance in mind. The initial response to our TWELVE range of sandwiches across the M&S store network in Ireland was one of resounding success, which we’re pleased to build upon further now as an own label supplier.

“The retailer has one of the finest reputations for quality with stringent qualification criteria for its suppliers. As such, we’re proud that M&S recognises our shared emphasis on quality and is trusting our expertise and market knowledge to inform and shape the future of its food-to-go offering on the island of Ireland.”

Eddie Murphy, M&S Trading Director for Ireland & Northern Ireland, said: “Quality is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to maintaining the high standards our customers expect and this represents another step in the transformation of our food business in Ireland. In order to deliver on this promise we look to build new partnerships with trusted suppliers that share our values.

“We have been hugely impressed by the high standards that underscore Around Noon’s dedication to ingredient sourcing, product development and manufacturing, and we’re very pleased to welcome them into the M&S family.”

breed open source and cloud-native technologies. Foundations enables a reduced time to market, reduced delivery risk, increased alignment to standards and improved security.

At present, Around Noon supplies 19 M&S own label sandwich lines to stores across Ireland with plans for a further 13 products to be launched throughout 2023.

Around Noon has been in business for over 30 years. In recent weeks, it acquired The Soho Sandwich Company, based in London, bringing its headcount to over 800. Around Noon supplies a broad range of high-quality chilled, hot, frozen and bakery products to customers including forecourt, convenience and multiple retailers and cafes throughout the UK and Ireland.

Eddie Murphy, M&S Trading Director for Ireland & Northern Ireland (centre) with Around Noon’s NPD Manager, Victoria Laverty (left) and Sales Director, Philip Morgan (right).

Pictured, from left, are: Timothy Priest, National Highways; Lindsay Young, National Highways; Guy Hodges, Version 1; Lara Clatworthy, Version 1; Mike Ord, National Highways; Roger Whitehead, Version 1.

New Tour Experience Unlocks Belfast’s Untold Stories

A pioneering travel company, set up by a father on his paternity leave, is launching its inaugural tour promising to uncover a side of Belfast rarely found in tourist books.

The brainchild of Gareth Maguire, Unheard Adventures was conceived and built by the Belfast native after the birth of his first child in 2022 when he took five weeks paternity leave from his role in tech. Gareth’s focus is on curating hidden gems and vibrant cultural experiences for travellers seeking immersive and unique experiences.

The company’s first tour is “Belfast- the then and now” a twopart experience taking place on Saturday July 8th which promises an unforgettable journey through Belfast’s rich history and vibrant cultural and traditional musical scene.

The tour begins with a Belfast political history tour, led by knowledgeable locals who lived, worked and fought during the turbulent Troubles from the 1960s through to the late 90s. Men and women will share their personal stories and explain how religion, rebellion, politics, and conflict shaped their experiences and the cityscape, uncovering the intriguing murals that narrate the area’s local history and culture.

Following a stop for lunch in Belfast’s trendy and vibrant Cathedral quarter, participants then embark on the Belfast Traditional Music trail, with two professional musicians as guides.

Here they will be treated to a performance of captivating Irish tunes, songs and stories, as they walk through cobbled alleyways, past iconic landmarks and on to three different bars housed in some of the city’s oldest buildings, where they can enjoy a local beer, cider, whiskey or Guinness.

Each pub visit unveils a new

musical dimension, with different instruments taking the spotlight, offering a unique insight into the similarities and differences between Belfast and Scottish music, as well as the distinctiveness of Irish melodies from various regions.

The tour, which costs £80 per person, will commence at 10:30am beside the famous Europa Hotel on Great Victoria Street, concluding at 5:30 pm.

Participants can prolong their stay with a special overnight rate at the Europa or Grand Central hotel from £100

per night on both Friday and Saturday.

“In 2022, while on paternity leave, I approached my friend, Matt Lynch to develop the idea for Unheard Adventures. We both share a passion for storytelling and for our hometown, Belfast, despite residing in different parts of the worldDublin and Dubai,” says Gareth.

“Our aim is to create unforgettable memories and invite travellers to embark on off-the-beaten-path journeys that go beyond the ordinary. Our inaugural tour on Saturday July 8th promises something very different to what’s available right now in a city bursting with history and culture.”

3. Fran McKee

For when business success needs admin support

Dairy cooperative Dale Farm has announced the appointment of John Morgan as Chief Financial Officer. A Chartered Accountant, trained at Ernst & Young, John joins Dale Farm from BT Enterprise where he held several Financial Director positions including Corporate & Public Sector Finance Director. John has also been a member of the CBI Northern Ireland Council since 2018.

Coca-Cola HBC has appointed Davide Franzetti as the new General Manager of its island of Ireland operations. Mr Franzetti has worked for Coca-Cola HBC Italy since 2018 holding various roles including Modern Trade Director and most recently Sales Director. He replaces Miles Karemacher who is to take up the role of General Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Italy. Pinnacle, a leading provider of business management software solutions and Managed IT Services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Fran McKee as Head of People and Culture. Fran brings over 20 years of experience working in Pinnacle in several roles including, most recently, that of Marketing Director. She has a proven track record of developing and implementing innovative strategies that have effectively driven sustained employee engagement. In this role she will be afforded complete focus on developing strategies further, to increase retention as well as promoting diversity and inclusion.

Jade Johnston has joined eir evo UK as Senior Bid and Business Development Manager, and will be responsible for the end-to-end management of major bid opportunities across Northern Ireland’s enterprise and public sectors. A graduate of the University of Chester Business School with a BA Hons in Event Management, Jade went on to work in bid management at Posh Nosh, one of Ireland’s leading catering companies, before moving to bid writing and tender management consultancy Thornton and Lowe.

Lorna Cooley-Kelly has been appointed as Sales and Marketing Support Manager at eir evo UK. Lorna graduated in 2021 from the Technological University of the Shannon Athlone with a degree in Business Psychology, studying the application of psychological theory to various business functions such as Sales, Marketing, HR and Leadership. Lorna joined eir evo UK in January 2022 as a Sales Support Administrator, administering broadband orders for small business, and was recently promoted to her current role.

Staffline Ireland CEO Tina McKenzie has been appointed to the Board of the Ireland Funds. She joins an illustrious group of accomplished international businesspeople who provide strategic leadership, direction and insight to the global philanthropic network which has been operating since 1976.

2. Davide Franzetti

4. Jade Johnston

1. John Morgan

5. Lorna Cooley-Kelly

6. Tina McKenzie

Eye on Events

Reach Solutions showcases RSVP relaunch

Over 50 clients from 10+ ad agencies and numerous direct clients in Ireland packed into Zozimus in St. Annes Lane, Dublin for an exclusive evening of entertainment including live music by Rory from DJ and Sax, spot prizes, canapes, cocktails and craic!

RSVP, Ireland’s leading women’s magazine, plays an important role in bringing lifestyle content to their community of loyal readers. With over twelve successful years in print circulation, the team felt the brand needed to evolve, bridging the gap between the physical magazine

and a younger online platform. The challenge was to create a revitalised brand, designed to engage beyond the core demographic while retaining a loyal readership and expanding opportunities for advertising.

Speaking at the event, Marketing Director of Reach Ireland, Joanne Friel said:

“The RSVP brand refresh was a project borne out of reader research. Over 1,200 of our readers took part in a comprehensive research study over several months, comprising of surveys and focus groups across Ireland. We were keen to explore all elements of the brand

Ireland’s largest commercial news publisher, Reach recently hosted a RSVP brand relaunch party to celebrate and showcase the new revitalised look and feel of the brand in both print and digital.

- from our print and digital content, to our visual brand assets, and our readers helped us explore it all in great depth.

The result is a clearly defined content proposition around four key areas - Celebrity, Lifestyle, Health & Happiness, as well as a new logo and a graphic design architecture that works across our various print, online, and social platforms.”

Commenting on the success of the event, Group Sales Director of Reach Solutions in Ireland, Hugh Crowther said:

“We were thrilled by the overwhelming response and great turnout at our RSVP brand relaunch. Seeing so many of our valued agency clients speaks volumes about their trust in our vision and the impact our work has had on their businesses.

The evening was an incredible success, filled with excitement, creativity, and meaningful connections. We are very grateful for the support of our clients and look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and excellence together.”

1. Guests at RSVP Rebrand event at Zozimus, St. Anne’s Lane, Dublin. 2. Reach Solutions team in Ireland enjoying RSVP Relaunch event Pictured L-R Holly Mullane, Account Manager; Tegan McCluskey, Agency Account Manager; Aimee Rourke, Business Communications Manager, Grainne McDonald, Head of Direct Advertising & Events and Aisling Macnamara, Head of Client Services. 3. Hugh Crowthers, Group Sales Director of Reach Solutions pictured with Marketing Director of Reach Ireland Joanne Friel. 4. Jenny Boyce and Sharon Noonan from The Wicklow Street Clinic. 5. Laura Hennessy from Reach Solutions pictured with Ger Killoran from Mindshare.

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Cosmetic Surgery Clinic

Treatments Include:

Surgical Procedures

• Breast Surgery

• Facelift

• Ear Correction

• Liposuction

• Blepharoplasty

• Abdominoplasty

• Rhinoplasty

• Skin Lesion Removal (Moles, Cysts & Lipomas)

Non-Surgical Procedures

• Anti-Wrinkle Injections

• Thread Lifts

• Dermal Fillers

• Fat Dissolving Injections

• Dermatology

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Woodgate Aviation Signs New Training Deal

Woodgate Aviation has announced a major step forward in the development of its Approved Training Organisation (ATO) arm of the business.

The company, which operates the fixed-wing Northern Ireland Air Ambulance, has signed an agreement with the Finnish Aviation Academy that will give it a significant advantage over other UK approved training organisations.

The new sales representative agreement will effectively give Woodgate Aviation exclusive rights to access the Finnish Aviation Academy’s Full Flight King Air Simulator to accommodate the demand of the UK training market.

Woodgate Aviation’s AOC Training Manager & ATO Head of Training, Captain Simon Atkins said: “This agreement is a unique selling point over other UK operators.“

“Effectively, it means that Woodgate will act as the Finnish Aviation Academy’s sales representative in the UK when a pilot needs UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)-approved training.”

Woodgate Aviation, which is based at Belfast International Airport, will also be able to advertise approved training for pilots on the King Air aircraft who also hold European Licences.

Simon continued: “We are delighted to be able to announce this latest advance for the company. The Finnish Aviation Academy is a vocational special purpose aviation school located in the City of Pori on the west coast of Finland and has a justifiable world-class reputation as a centre of excellence”.

“This greatly broadens our horizon as an Approved Training Organisation and means we can facilitate Irish pilots, and those in all other EU member states, who require King Air training within the bloc, by also partnering with Aelous Aviation Academy in Greece, to assist with EASA Certification.

“This is a further and positive development for Woodgate as an Approved Training Organisation. This side of the business holds great potential in the Ireland-wide and EU context. Pilots in need of initial, recurrent or refresher training will get valuable time on cutting-edge equipment and be able to complete exacting and realistic training in the most modern King Air simulator available.”

A spokesperson for the Finnish Aviation Academy responded, “We are delighted to appoint Woodgate

Aviation as our Sales Representatives for the UK market. Since Brexit, it has been difficult to support our UK customers. Now with our partnership with Woodgate Aviation we have a great solution as they are a UK CAA approved ATO and the King Air simulator is now UK CAA approved. We welcome the many UK King Air pilots to perform training and checks with Woodgate Aviation in Pori, Finland.” The Finnish Aviation Academy was established by Finnair, the local airline, to train new airline pilots for the airlines in Finland via its ab initio program. The Academy has 30 years of experience in King Air pilot training. Customers come from Europe, Africa, India and the Far East. The Academy offers customer training for the King Air and also the Embraer Phenom 100. Woodgate Aviation operates two King Air and Piper Chieftain aircraft and conducts life-saving, fixed wing air ambulance transport for patients in need of specialist hospital services, aerial survey and private charter flights throughout the UK and Ireland. It also operates aircraft management, aircraft maintenance, hangarage and FBO/ VIP Handling Services for General and Business Aviation operators, from its Private Jet Departure Terminal at Belfast International Airport.

Woodgate Aviation’s Simon Atkins

Eye on Motoring

SPACE MACHINE

Space is everything in life… humans just aren’t comfortable squeezing into tight spaces. That’s why we like big houses, big gardens and bigger cars.

There was a time when a roomy car meant boxy and ungainly people carriers but tastes and engineering have moved on to a point where car buyers now gravitate towards rugged, high-riding SUVs. They’re everywhere and are available at almost every size and price point.

Kia alone has no less than four in its line-up – the Stonic, Niro, Sportage and this impressive Sorento, the daddy of them all. And it is soon to be joined

by the all-electric Kia EV9, due on-sale late in 2023.

For the time being though the Sorento remains the Korean car firm’s flagship SUV and it’s a fitting one.

The latest version looks more stylish and upmarket, while offering a good selection of powertrains and bags of high-end kit as standard.

Diesel sales are declining but they’ve still got a place. The 2.2 litre diesel motor offered in the Sorento has a towing capacity of up to 2,500kgs, which is nearly a tonne more than non-diesel versions.

However, most buyers will likely opt for either the petrol electric hybrid (HEV) or, for company car drivers especially, the plugin hybrid (PHEV) version.

The HEV mates a 1.6 petrol motor to a small battery pack to boost economy and performance.

Sitting in traffic and at low speeds it will potter around in EV mode only before switching to petrol power under acceleration or when needing to charge the battery.

It happens so quietly, you often have to consult the dashboard to work out which mode it’s in.

It’s capable of reaching 62mph from standing start in under nine seconds and delivers around 40mpg. Those numbers are better than they first appear because this is a rather large car… one of the most spacious and usable around.

The lofty seating position gives good all-round visibility.

To help navigate tight spaces, every Sorento comes with front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree bird’s eye view camera.

Space is just as generous for rear seat passengers, where six footers can be accommodated with ease. Thanks to its ample width, the rear will also easily take three adults sitting side-by-side.

But by far the neatest thing about the Sorento is the space further back. There’s a cavernous boot, which also houses two more good-sized seats under the floor, making it a proper seven-seater when the need arises. These bonus seats are decent, even for adults.

The rear also allows for a good deal of load carrying. The Sorento’s sliding and reclining second-row seats have seatbacks that split

60/40. All versions have switches in the boot to fold down the second row of seats remotely.

There’s barely any lip to contend with when you’re loading items into the Sorento’s cavernous boot, and the load area is a usefully square shape, with recesses for extra width right at the back of the car.

Even when the third row of seats is in use, there’s enough boot space in the Sorento for a couple of carry-on cases.

The Sorento is only available in Edition trim, which means it looks pricey on paper but that’s largely because of the lengthy list of standard equipment. This includes dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, heated and ventilated front seats, automatic LED headlights, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, keyless start/stop, a customisable head-up display, touchscreen infotainment and parking aids.

The diesel engine version costs from just under £50k with the hybrid petrol available from £51,055. The plug-in hybrid comes in at £56,995. The latter is a no-brainer for company car drivers thanks to the 12% benefit-inkind tax rates. Electric-only range on this is a clamed 35 miles.

Added assurance for every buyer comes with Kia’s excellent sevenyear (or 100,000 mile) warranty.

The latest Kia Sorento has room for me, you and a few more, writes James Stinson.

Motoring with James Stinson

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Eye on Motoring

VW to bring electric to the masses

Electric cars are quiet, fun and greener than fossil fuel powered equivalents but they’re not cheap. That could be about to change with the launch of this new VW ID. 2all concept.

The German giant believes it can make its new entry-level electric car for less than 25,000 euro (£22,000)

The Modular Electric drive (MEB) entry project is an offshoot from the MEB platform that delivered the likes of the VW ID.3 and Skoda’s Enyaq – but it’s designed from the outset to support smaller, cheaper vehicles. As such, it switches layout from rear- to front-

wheel drive and makes use of the less complex rear suspension design to boost practicality and keep costs down.

Even though the ID.2all won’t go on sale for two more years, VW has taken the unusual step of confirming several of its key technical details. The concept’s single front-mounted motor produces 223bhp – enough, the firm says, for a 0-62mph time of around seven seconds. The battery pack will come in two sizes: 38 and 56kWh.

VW says that it expects a WLTP range figure of around 280 miles for the larger pack, and that DC charging will take the battery pack from 10 to 80 per cent of

its capacity in around 20 minutes thanks to a 125kW peak charging capacity.

The new concept is said to have been created in less than two months, under the guidance of VW’s latest design boss, Andreas Mindt, who only joined the brand in February. The former Audi and Bentley man describes the new concept as “an homage to the Beetle, Golf and Polo” that encompasses what VW calls its key values, stability and likeability.

Significantly, the ID. 2all showcases an entirely new design language that will feature on all of the firm’s future EVs. This is part of a major brand revamp that’s intended to, in the words of boss Thomas Schäfer, “make Volkswagen a genuine love brand”.

That philosophy involves the firm embracing its heritage as a key point of difference from new EV rivals, and the ID.2all shows clear influences from the Polo and Golf, with more traditional styling than the ID 3.

Volkswagen previously revealed an ID Life crossover concept that was intended to preview the first MEB Entry model, but that has now been shelved after it received a poor reception.

The ID. 2all is 4050mm long, making it slightly shorter than the current Polo, but its 2600mm wheelbase is significantly longer, allowing for far greater interior space.

It features a 490-litre boot, with

1330 litres of capacity when the rear seats are folded down. There’s an extra storage box underneath the boot floor and a lockable 50-litre storage area under the rear bench seats. That area is intended to be used for charging cables and a breakdown kit, while also offering secure storage for valuables.

Inside, the front cabin is dominated by the pair of displays - a 10.9-inch screen for the instrument panel, and a 12.9inch infotainment system. Significantly, there are simple physical switches below the central display for front-occupant temperature adjustment and heated seat controls – and there’s a rotating knob to raise and lower the volume.

Volkswagen said the ID. 2all will be offered with some of the advanced assistance systems usually only seen on higher-end models, including Travel Assist and Park Assist, LED matrix headlights, massaging electric seats and a panoramic sunroof.

The production version of the ID. 2all will be shown in 2025 before entering production in Spain, alongside the closely related Cupra and Skoda models.

It will be one of 10 EVs that Volkswagen will launch by 2026, also including the facelifted ID 3, the long-wheelbase Volkswagen ID Buzz, the ID 7 saloon and the compact SUV that will join the ID 2all in using the MEB Entry platform.

Motoring with James Stinson

The maker of the Beetle, the original people’s car, aims to popularise EV motoring, writes James Stinson.

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