Business Eye October November 2023 by Buckley Publications

Issue 228 Oct/Nov 2023 £2.50 Voted best Business Magazine in Ireland and Magazine of the Year for Northern Ireland

LIAM FAULKNER Experienced Industry Leader Takes The Reins At Strategic Power Connect Features:

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Graduate Skills & The North West Economy

FinTrU - Setting Standards At Ten Years Old

Legal 500 - NI’s Top Law Firms & Lawyers

For the key to all your leasing and fleet management needs, visit fleetfinancial.co.uk

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Contents 18

wenty Years T For MKB Law

Top Belfast law firm MKB Law held a special birthday event at the Ulster Museum in Belfast to celebrate the firm’s 20th birthday. Managing Director Gordon McElroy and his team welcomed clients and guests to an evening of music, food and celebration.

Oct/Nov 2023 ISSUE 227

iam Faulkner – Experienced L Industry Executive Leads Strategic Power Connect

Strategic Power Connect, the business renewable energy supplier offering a risk-free approach to its customers, has appointed one of Ireland’s most experienced industry leaders as its new CEO. Liam Faulkner, an MBA graduate from London Business School, is the former CEO at Naturgy Ireland, credited with growing the company in its markets, and previously worked with in the telecomms space with O2 Ireland, in retail banking with Royal Bank of Scotland and in Big Four business advisory with Deloitte.

Cross Border Trade & Export – 25 More Important Than Ever The years immediately following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union have led to a dramatic upsurge in cross-border trade in both directions. North-South trade increases by as much as 61% in the immediate aftermath of Brexit and last year, 2022, saw an overall 31% increase in total cross-border trade. But what are the opportunities for business based in Northern Ireland?

Global Graduate Skills & Talent 36 Development In The North West Business Eye joined forces with Ulster University Business School to stage a Round Table Discussion event at Derry/ Londonderry’s Bishop’s Gate Hotel, marking a visit to Northern Ireland by Professor Tim Mescon, one of the school’s Visiting Professors, the former AACSB Executive Vice President and Chief Officer of EMEA, a leading membership organisation dedicated to advancing quality business education globally.

inTrU – Setting The F Standards At Ten Years Old

One of Northern Ireland’s leading companies by any measure, and the winner of the top award at the AIB Business Eye Awards for the past two years in a row, FinTrU doesn’t have a lot to prove to anyone. But that doesn’t mean that the husband and wife team of Darragh McCarthy and Katrien Roppe have any intention of easing off on growth.

New Season, New Challenges 46 For Ulster Rugby Chief For Ulster Rugby Chief Executive Jonny Petrie, the challenges of running what’s a sizeable business by any measure are fairly obvious. A lot of them come down to balance. He talks players, pitches and finances with Business Eye’s Richard Buckley.

Legal 500 – Northern 52 Ireland’s Top Law Firms The 2023 version of the Legal 500 once again spotlights Northern Ireland’s leading law firms as well as what the Guide sees as the leading individual lawyers across a range of specialist sectors.

Hockey – Sport Sets Out 58 To Ulster Boost Business Links Ulster Hockey Chief Executive Marc Scott has watched the growth of Ulster Rugby with more than a passing interest. Hockey is something of a sleeping giant around these parts. It’s a huge participation sport from school to club level and aims to take the next steps forward, with the help of the local business community.

TechEye – The Latest 72 Global Tech News Business Eye presents its regular digest of the latest tech news and developments from across the world, all of them with potential impact for businesses right here in Northern Ireland.

New Structure Is Launched At 62 Women In Business Marks 21 Years More than 470 business guests packed into Titanic Belfast, the US Ambassador to the UK and the First Minister Designate provided a fitting tribute in October to the 21st anniversary of Women In Business.

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If there was ever a chance of devolution at Stormont being up and running again before Christmas, it was effectively shot down during November.

Comment

“The fact is that we’re not doing too badly at all without any devolved government in place and that’s due in no small part to the advantages which have been bestowed on us post-Brexit.”

irst came the King’s Speech and it’s notable lack of any Northern Ireland content. Then Rishi Sunak’s enforced reshuffle which removed Suella Braverman but left the hapless Chris Heaton-Harris asleep at Northern Ireland’s steering wheel. It won’t come as a blow for Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and the DUP. They need as much time as they can get their hands on to work out a way of claiming success over the UK Government and returning to government up at Stormont. The problem now for all of us who’d like to see devolved government back in action is that the key player in the game, the UK Government, has very little interest just at the moment (if it ever had) in what’s going on around these parts. The fact that Chris Heaton-Harris, hardly a success as Secretary of State in anyone’s book, has been left to fester in the key role is testament to that. But the fact that the King barely mentioned Northern Ireland except for a bit of geographical context gives us a bit of a clue as well. Rishi Sunak is focused on one thing and one thing only – the upcoming election battle against a Labour Party which has been streaking ahead in the polls. Down south, it’s not a whole lot better. The coalition government in Dublin also had its nervous eyes on the opinion polls and a general election which is creeping closer all the time. So big, bold decisions on Northern Ireland by anyone aren’t on the cards for the foreseeable future.

Richard Buckley EDITOR Irish Magazine Editor of the Year 2005

Does that mean that we’ll be left with no one in control, with no decisions being made. Of course it doesn’t. Decisions can and are made all the time, either by local civil servants, or by Mr. Heaton-Harris and his NIO team. And all is not lost in any case. The recent PwC Survey showed that Northern Ireland and London are likely to have been the UK’s fastest growing regions during the year that was 2023. The fact is that we’re not doing too badly at all without any devolved government in place and that’s due in no small part to the advantages which have been bestowed on us post-Brexit. Would we be doing any better with the DUP and Sinn Fein slugging it out at Stormont, and local Ministers failing to make any big decisions? It’s unlikely, isn’t it?

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17/08/2023 12:35

Eye on News

Lynsey Mallon Appointed Managing Partner At Arthur Cox

rthur Cox has appointed Lynsey Mallon as the next Managing Partner of its Northern Ireland practice. Lynsey will take up the position at the leading law firm in April 2024 while also continuing as Head of its Corporate and Commercial department. She will take over following the eight-year tenure of Catriona Gibson, who will become Chair and continue as Head of Litigation. Having joined Arthur Cox in 2007, Lynsey is among the most pre-eminent corporate lawyers in Northern Ireland and is a specialist in mergers and acquisitions, investments, and corporate reorganisation and restructuring. Lynsey commented: “It is a tremendous honour to

be named as the next Managing Partner of one of the most respected law firms in this jurisdiction. “Under Catriona’s leadership, Arthur Cox has maintained its reputation for providing pragmatic, nuanced and commercially minded advice. “The firm is also known for its strong roster of clients that includes local businesses of all sizes alongside internationally-recognised brands and multinationals as we look after their interests in Northern Ireland. “In the years ahead, I will seek to further cement that reputation, backed by our exceptional Partner group comprising market-leading practitioners across a wide spectrum of legal specialisms.” Welcoming the appointment,

Lynsey Mallon, right, pictured with outgoing Managing Partner Catriona Gibson.

Catriona added: “Leading Arthur Cox has been the greatest privilege of my professional career and it is a pleasure to pass on the mantle to an incredibly capable and dedicated lawyer. “There is no doubt that Lynsey has been a key driver to the success of Arthur Cox over recent years, working on some of the highest-profile transactions involving Northern Ireland entities, and with some of the bestknown organisations in the region.

“I look forward to continuing to work with Lynsey in her new role and know that her period in charge will be a tremendously successful one.” Advising clients in the private, public and third sectors on a full range of legal matters including Corporate and Commercial, Finance, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Energy and Renewables, Competition, Intellectual Property, IT and Commercial Property, Arthur Cox also has offices in Dublin, London, New York and San Francisco.

Stena Line Sails Off With Top Award Leading ferry company Stena Line is celebrating after taking home the Best Ferry Company category at the Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards… for the 30th time.

Martin McCann, Blue Lights Actor and 31st Annual NI Travel & Tourism Awards Host, Paul Grant, Stena Line Trade Director (Irish Sea) Colin Currie, Yalago’s Head of Retail for UK & Scandinavia and Christine McCleery, NI Travel News’ Brand and Operations Executive.

he annual event took place on Friday October 13th with Stena Line winning the prestigious best ferry company award to extend its recording breaking run of wins to 30. The award was presented to Orla Noonan, Stena Line’s Travel Commercial Manager (Irish Sea), at the event held in the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa which was attended by travel industry VIPs from across the UK and Ireland. “We are once again honoured to accept this prestigious accolade. At Stena Line we are dedicated to providing the best travel experience for our customers. To win this award for the 30th time is an incredible achievement and a testament to our dedicated team and the quality of the service they deliver all year round. “We are appreciative of the travel trade and tourism industry leaders for recognising our ongoing commitment to excellence and will continue to focus on offering our customers

the best ferry service available on the Irish Sea” added Orla. Also at the event, Stena Line’s Paul Grant (Trade Director, Irish Sea) was presented with the Northern Ireland Travel Industry Award for being ‘a constant presence at the helm of the company during a period of unprecedented success over the last 3 decades.’ Stena Line is the largest ferry operator on the Irish Sea, with the biggest fleet providing up to 238 weekly sailings offering the widest choice of routes including: combined passenger and freight services from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool, Dublin to Holyhead, and Rosslare to Fishguard in addition to Rosslare to Cherbourg. The company also runs a dedicated freight only route from Belfast to Heysham. Stena Line is one of Europe’s leading ferry companies transporting 6 million passengers with 38 vessels across 17 routes in Northern Europe operating 25,000 sailings each year.

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Eye on News

KILWAUGHTER ANNOUNCES MAJOR BACKING FOR YOUNG ENTERPRISE

Jeannine Barr of Kilwaughter, YENI Chief Executive Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Larne High School Head Boy Daniel Nicholson, Caroline Rowley of Kilwaughter, Larne High School Head Girl Ruby Starrett, and Jenny Ervine of Kilwaughter.

including Larne Grammar, Larne Leading quarry and minerals processor High, Ulidia Integrated College Kilwaughter Minerals has donated £10,000 and Cullybackey College, and look forward to extending that to to Young Enterprise Northern Ireland as it Cambridge House and Carrickfergus becomes an official ESG (Environment, Social and Academy in the coming months. “As a result, we’ve seen first hand Governance) Business Backer to the charity. the positive and practical impact

he contribution will enable 1,000 young people in Larne and the wider Mid and East Antrim area to participate in Young Enterprise’s transformative school programmes, equipping them with essential entrepreneurial, enterprise, and financial skills. Caroline Rowley, Business Development Director of Kilwaughter Minerals said: “At Kilwaughter, we consider it a real privilege to be able to give

back to our community through various initiatives, including our work with Young Enterprise which we’re proud to support. “We are pleased to announce this new funding commitment, that will go towards the organisation’s work in Mid and East Antrim and beyond, and we hope will demonstrate the tremendous value of becoming a ‘Business Backer’. “Through Young Enterprise, we have already engaged with schools

that Young Enterprise makes on the lives of young people as we seek to empower the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs.” Young Enterprise (YE) school programmes are aimed at making sure young people learn the skills they need to be creative, businesssavvy, and ready for commercial and professional challenges that may come their way. Kilwaughter, which takes on the ESG partner role having initially become a Business Backer last year,

supports a number of YE initiatives including You’re Hired, providing careers advice and work experience. The company will also take part in the judging phase of YE’s Big Market Event at St Georges Market in Belfast this December. Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Chief Executive, Young Enterprise Northern Ireland said: “We are delighted that Kilwaughter Minerals has made the decision to become a YE ESG Business Backer. Seeing how committed they have been to volunteering in schools and the passion that they have for young people, I am confident that we will see amazing work be done in the Larne area.”

Eye on News

SPAR commits to one million meals for FareShare with £250K donation

Ian Hamill from SPAR Mallusk, Bronagh Luke from Henderson Group and Declan McKillop from FareShare Northern Ireland launch SPAR’s One Million Meals project in Northern Ireland, which will see £250K – the equivalent of one million meals – donated to the charity.

SPAR has partnered with FareShare, the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and tackling food waste, to provide the equivalent of one million meals through local charities in cities, towns and villages across the UK as part of the One Million Meals project.

he campaign has now launched in over 300 SPAR NI stores, and will run until 01 November 2023. FareShare is the UK’s longest running food redistribution charity that believes no good food should go to waste, especially when people are going hungry. According to FareShare, seven million people in the UK are struggling to afford to eat, representing 1 in 10 of the UK population. In Northern Ireland, FareShare partners with 160 foodbanks and community charities, and SPAR’s project complements the donations that are continuing from 181 SPAR

and EUROSPAR stores. Since the beginning of the year, tens of thousands of products have been donated from stores by staff and shoppers to community foodbanks here in Northern Ireland. Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing at Henderson Group which owns SPAR in Northern Ireland said: “SPAR’s partnership with FareShare will see £250,000 donated to the organisation, which means that for every £1 given FareShare can redistribute enough food for the equivalent of four meals to people in need across the UK.”

A study of over 2,000 people commissioned by SPAR to launch the campaign has revealed that 72 per cent of consumers in Northern Ireland hate to see food wasted, with 78 per cent likely to save cooked food to use as leftovers. When it comes to helping others, Northern Ireland is one of the top regions in the UK, with research also revealing that over half (55 per cent) have donated to foodbanks and charities, with 22 per cent donating more to foodbanks in recent years to help with the cost of living crisis. The Bradbury Hub Foodbank and Wellness Centre partners with FareShare to provide a range of support to community members in need. Angela Ifonlaja, programme manager at the foodbank, which opened in 2021, said “it is absolutely crucial that we can get food that is stored and delivered safely. We are creating food parcels so users come to our Centre to receive the

packs to take home. We will always be here to support those who need us, but we hope those who come in don’t become long-term users.” Polly Bianchi, director of fundraising at FareShare added: “The One Million Meals donation from SPAR will make a significant contribution to our work getting good-to-eat food, which might otherwise go to waste, to people who need it. “As the winter months approach, our network of 8,500 charities across the UK will be working hard to provide hearty, nourishing meals for people in their communities. Each group provides vital wraparound services to support people impacted by the cost of living crisis and the contribution made by SPAR will go a long way to strengthening those communities.” Bronagh Luke finished: “We believe in supporting the communities we serve, and this partnership means that people won’t have to go without the staples we all use each day.”

Eye on News

Danske Bank Appoints Former Bank of Ireland UK Director D

anske Bank has appointed a former Bank of Ireland UK director as its new Chief Risk Officer in-waiting. Thomas McAreavey will join initially as Deputy Chief Risk Officer and progress to Chief Risk Officer in the new year, subject to regulatory approval. He has 25 years’ experience across retail and commercial banking, and until last year was Chief Financial Officer at Bank of Ireland UK working in Belfast, London and Dublin. He was a member of Bank of Ireland UK’s executive team and held responsibility for areas including financial and strategic management, capital risk, liquidity risk, and regulatory reporting and engagement with UK and other

regulators. Thomas was also a director at various Bank of Ireland subsidiaries including Northridge Finance, Bank of Ireland UK’s motor finance business. Danske Bank UK CEO Vicky Davies said: “Thomas is from Northern Ireland, he knows the marketplace here very well and he also has great knowledge of banking in the rest of the UK. He will bring a wealth of experience and a lot of fresh thinking. He is very highly regarded within the wider industry, and I am delighted he will be joining us here at Danske Bank.” After a period of transition, current Chief Risk Officer Phil Smyth will move on to become the Bank’s new Managing Director of Commercial Development, subject to regulatory approval.

Pictured (l-r): Thomas McAreavey, Vicky Davies and Phil Smyth

Retail brands pledge a £40K giveaway to support community groups across Northern Ireland

SuperValu and Centra Director of Marketing Desi Derby and Trading Director Julie Cherry, launch the Big Community Giveaway – the retail brands latest initiative to give back to the communities they serve.

uperValu and Centra, part of Musgrave Northern Ireland, have launched their Big Community Giveaway campaign in the run up to Christmas, which will see the brands donate a total of £40,000 to 40 community groups across the region. Applications are now open (30 October) and SuperValu and Centra are encouraging customers to nominate organisations, charities and other not-for-profit groups that are making a difference in their communities, before the closing date of Friday 8 December. Applicants must demonstrate the difference the group has made in their community, why they deserve the funding and what the donation will be used for. Desi Derby, Director of Marketing

at SuperValu and Centra said: “At SuperValu and Centra, we’re committed to supporting local. Now more than ever community organisations are working hard to make a positive impact, but they need our support. Our Big Community Giveaway is just one way we can help. “We’re excited to hear from different community groups, charities and not for profit organisations from across Northern Ireland and we hope that our giveaway helps local groups across the country benefit their community.” Customers can nominate a local group or charity between 30 October and 8 December, by visiting their local SuperValu or Centra store, where they will be invited to scan a QR code and fill in their details online. Ten successful groups will be announced each week for four weeks beginning 27 November. The initiative is sponsored by Ballygowan, Boyne Valley Group, Hartleys, Lucozade and Walkers and kindly supported by Musgrave’s retail partners.

Eye on News

Belfast Chamber Economic Forum to return with the support of Deloitte

Partner at Deloitte Marie Doyle (left) and Belfast Chamber Chief Executive Clare Guinness.

Belfast Chamber is set to host its second annual Economic Forum next month with the support of Deloitte.

aking place in W5 Belfast on Friday 17 November, the half-day event will bring together leading industry figures and economists to examine the state of the city’s economy. Speakers will blend economic experts from London Economics, PropertyPal, and the Northern Ireland Civil Service, with leaders from the key institutions across the city including Belfast Harbour, Invest NI, Queen’s University Belfast and private sector companies including Denroy, Lacuna Developments and Halo Bodycams.

Supported once again by leading global professional services firm Deloitte, the conference will explore both the macroeconomic environment and the opportunities in Belfast’s microeconomic environment, including dual market access, internationalisation, and key transformative investments. The conference will also hear from Deloitte’s AI futurist Varvn Aryacetas. The forum will explore the economic impact of the student community on the city of Belfast and innovative ways to attract and retain talent to the city.

The Belfast Chamber Economic Forum is an informative and valuable opportunity for local businesses navigating a challenging economic landscape. Belfast Chamber is thrilled to again unite the local business community with key city stakeholders next month. Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber, Clare Guinness commented: “Belfast is a dynamic city full of businesses that are well equipped to handle the economic pressures that surround them. We are rich

with ingenuity and innovation with big opportunities for growth thanks to a number of large, committed investments and a vibrant student community who are now well into the new academic year.” “With the support of leading economists and industry figures, we will explore some challenges whilst focusing on untapped potential when the Belfast Chamber Economic Forum returns on Friday 17 November, with a particular focus on harnessing the economic impact of our student communities and how regeneration can help to attract and retain new talent.” “We are thrilled to partner with leading advisory firm Deloitte once again as a major employer and stakeholder in our city and an active member of Belfast Chamber. With a packed programme of valuable and informative sessions, I have no doubt this event will be full of fantastic insights.” Partner at Deloitte, Marie Doyle added: “The Belfast Chamber Economic Forum is about providing city stakeholders with knowledge and solutions to some economic challenges and opportunities. Deloitte is committed to playing our part in growing the economy and as a large employer in the city, we know it is vital we work closely with the wider business landscape. This year’s programme includes our AI Futurist Varvn Aryacetas who will round up the event with some fascinating insights.” “Following a sell-out event last November, we are delighted to support the Belfast Chamber Economic Forum once again and hope many more businesses will make use of the opportunity to have an informed, robust, and practical conversation about what’s next for the city of Belfast.”

For further information and tickets, please visit: belfastchamber.com/events/ upcoming-events/belfastchamber-economic-forum-w5belfast-17-nov-2023

Following on the success of Paul Yates’s September long ‘Artist in Residency’ at the Gleneagles Townhouse Hotel, Edinburgh, special edition giclee prints of his original works are now available at BRADBURY ART, BELFAST.

MARINE TATTIE-BOGLE Limited edition giclee print on canvas: £450.00

MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN Limited edition giclee print on canvas: £350.00

ROBOT BOY Open edition giclee print on canvas: £750.00 Can be viewed at Bradbury Art, 4 Callender Street, Belfast.

Patrons: Lord and Lady Glentoran

To view the full print collection, discuss commissions and purchases of original works contact us via www.paulyatesart.com

Eye on News

The Culloden Estate Named NI’s Best Hotel Spa At Global Awards

Spa Therapists Jemma Leemon, Zamo Mncayi, Sandra Goncalves, Niamh Rice (Spa Manager), Vilena Balashove and Zahra Dokoohaki are pictured as it is announced that the Culloden Estate & Spa has been crowned Northern Ireland’s Best Hotel Spa at the prestigious World Spa Awards.

The Culloden Estate & Spa has been crowned Northern Ireland’s Best Hotel Spa at the prestigious World Spa Awards.

he global initiative aims to celebrate and reward excellence in spa and wellness tourism and inspire exceptional standards. Winners were selected following an extensive voting process cast by industry professionals, media and the general public. The leading 5-star property has been recognised alongside a host of iconic hotels from across the world including the

Mandarin Oriental, Bürgenstock Alpine Spa in Switzerland and Palazzo Fiuggi in Italy. Earlier this year, The Spa at Culloden was named as one of the Best Luxury Spas to Book in 2023 by The Times following a £250,000 spa renovation programme which included a new nail bar and pedicure facility, upgrade to the swimming pool area and a complete refit and update of

the ladies changing facilities. Niamh Rice, Spa Manager at The Spa at Culloden said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be named Northern Ireland’s Best Spa Hotel in recognition of excellence in spa and wellness tourism as well as the hard-work and dedication of the teams across the Spa and Estate. We have continued to invest heavily across the Culloden Estate which has included over £1m in the Spa over the last three years. We are proud to offer a luxurious haven for people to switch off, relax and recharge – and in today’s busy world, that has never been more

important. I would like to thank our guests for voting for us in the World Spa Awards, their support is greatly appreciated.” Rebecca Cohen, Managing Director of the World Spa Awards said: “The spa and wellness industry is experiencing sustained growth, evident in the calibre of nominees in our 2023 programme. All winners have shown dedication to delivering exceptional spa and wellness experiences and we are excited to share these achievements with the world.”

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Eye on Law

MKB Law’s Lynsey Henderson – Succession Specialist Ask almost any lawyer for one piece of advice that they’d give business owners and they’d advise them to consult the specialists as early as possible before potential issues become real ones.

ake one key area of commercial and corporate law, business succession planning. Most business owners don’t square up to the issue until it’s staring them in the face. Lynsey Henderson is an experienced corporate and commercial solicitor at Belfast firm MKB Law and a specialist in the legal aspects of succession planning for all SME’s and larger businesses. “Locally owned businesses make up the vast majority of our client list, whether it be owner-managed or the traditional family business” says Lynsey. “Our specialist team has a wealth of experience across every area of corporate and commercial law, including succession planning to help maximise returns to shareholders and preserve the legacy of our clients’ businesses”.

“Succession planning is all about thinking ahead and it is something that really should be thought about as early as possible. Ideally, succession should form part of the constitution of a business when it is being established, but that’s in the best possible world. More often than not, it’s not the case. “But even if the question of succession isn’t built into the foundations of a business, the pandemic has taught us that contingency planning is key and an element of proper planning can prevent a multitude of potential problems from arising further down the line. Having a well-drafted shareholder agreement in place, for instance, is crucial where the process for share transfers and valuation methods can be clearly outlined.” “A key element of succession planning is shareholder exit. We have assisted many successful

business owners in achieving a manged and profitable exit from their business from management buy outs (MBOs) through to passing on the business to the next generation or a sale to a third party”. Lynsey Henderson offers a number of pieces of key advice to owner managers. One of the most fundamental – outside of family businesses – is to identify key employees and leaders at an early stage. “If you’re starting to plan an exit, you can help maximise your return by identifying early on who are the employees and managers most likely to be able to take the business forward in your absence and fill critical roles within your business.” Those employees can be incentivised through a host of methods, she adds, either informally through salary and/or benefits or more formally. One of the most popular methods of keeping key employees engaged are Long Term Incentive Plans (or LTIPs) that reward employees for reaching specific goals that increase the value of the business, or Enterprise Management Incentives

(EMIs) which are share option schemes that allow businesses to give options to employees in the most tax advantageous manner. Growth Shares are another possible route. These are a special class of shares which allow employees to contribute to and participate in the value of a company from and above a set target. “So it’s not just a case of giving key employees more money to encourage them to stay with you. Putting the right kind of scheme in place can incentivise your people but benefit the business as a whole as well.” Business owners should also consider keyman insurance, cover for key employees in the business whose day to day involvement is key to its success. Policies are widely available from commercial insurance brokers and the main insurance firms to cover any of life’s unexpected events and reduce any impact this might have on the value of the business. Lynsey also advises business owners to consider introducing cross-option agreements.

These are a simple contract between shareholders giving the remaining shareholders or company an option to buy back the shares of the person stepping out of the business for whatever reason. “A key consideration for business owners when considering succession is that of taxation. We work closely and collaboratively with our clients’ accountants and other professional advisors in relation to financial and investment planning to help them work towards succession in the most tax efficient ways possible,” Lynsey says. “A lot of the work we do on succession planning is aimed at making it as tax efficient, even tax advantageous, as possible. “There are unique challenges when it comes to family businesses,”she adds. “We have seen instances where a family constitution can work well which is generally a statement of general principles which outlines the key values and vision of the business and the family’s commitment to them, in addition to this a robust shareholder agreement is absolutely key.”

Eye on News

Coporate Christmas Gifts Made Easy With The Belfast City Centre Gift Card

he solution to the perfect Christmas gift for staff or corporate clients is The Belfast City Centre Gift Card. This versatile gift card gives the cardholder the choice to spend in over 225 businesses across Belfast City Centre. Not only providing the perfect corporate gift but helps to support the local economy with all spend going back into Belfast City Centre. The Belfast City Centre Gift Card can be used in 225 Belfast City Centre business; including retail, health & beauty, bars, restaurants & hotels. It’s simple and easy to use, its a mastercardbased gift card that works in the same way as a department store or shopping Centre Gift Cards. Purchase a card online at www.belfastgiftcard.co.uk choose the amount to load and gift it. There are a range of ways to receive the card. It can be delivered directly to the gift recipient’s door, downloaded as an e-card, and a click and collect option. Corporate Gift Cards can be hand delivered. Belfast City Centre Gift Cards are valid for a year from purchase. Cards are valid for a year and can be used at

participating businesses – see website for details. The Belfast City Centre Gift Card initiative is a partnership funded by the Belfast Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Belfast One, Linen Quarter BID and Destination CQ and features participating businesses from across the BIDs locations. Alan Crowe CEO of Belfast One said: “ The BIDS continue to work together on this joint initiative with a focus on supporting Belfast City Centre businesses, especially in the run up to Christmas. The Belfast City Centre Gift Card has strengthened its offering over the past few years now with over 225 shops, restaurants and businesses signed up to take part. It is the perfect corporate gift this year!” If you’re placing a large corporate order contact Karen on karen@belfastone.co.uk or call 07747235688. Last orders for cards is Friday 19th December 2023. For further details visit www.belfastgiftcard. co.uk. Follow Belfast City Centre Gift Card on Facebook and Instagram @belfastciycentregiftcard Pictured from left, Belfast City Centre Gift Card participating businesses Mark O’Neill from The Merchant Hotel, Charlotte Kerfoot and Twitter @BelfastCard #GiftTheCity. from Robinsons Bars and Clair McMenemy from Mint Velvet.

Eye on Events

MKB Law Celebrates 20 Years Top Belfast law firm MKB Law marked its 20th anniversary at a special evening for staff, clients and friends held at the Ulster Museum recently. Guests were welcomed to the event by MKB’s Managing Director and Founder, Gordon McElroy. (1)

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1 - David McAlinden, Anne Marie Kelly, Maria Conway and Gordon McElroy – MKB Law Directors. 2 - John Kelly and Rachel McBrinn. 3 -Cathy Kennedy (ASM), Anne Marie Kelly, Caroline Keenan (ASM). 4 - David McAlinden, Gary Woods (Lagan Investments), Anne Marie Kelly. 5 - Gordon McElroy.

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6 - The MKB Team. 7 - Julie Allen and Rachel Scroggie. 8 - Keith, Elaine and Ian Carmichael - Carmichael Group. 9 - Terry and Amanda Bell. 10 - Michael and Gerard Boyd (Gortgill), Maria Conway. 11 - Sean and Deborah Rice. 12 - Michael Moore, Ronan Kilduff, Joe Walsh - Elgin Energy. 13 - Petra and Bill Wolsey. 14 - Robert Smyth, Mark Currie, Mark Collins, Carolynne McTernaghan, Ian Jamison. 15 - Sarah Cahill, Aoife Hegarty, Fiona Mann, Laura Bowman. 16 - Simon and Joanne Crawley.

Eye on Cover Story

LIAM FAULKNER Experienced Industry Leader Takes The Reins At Strategic Power Connect Strategic Power Connect, the business renewable energy supplier offering a risk-free approach to its customers, has appointed one of Ireland’s most experienced industry leaders as its new CEO.

iam Faulkner, an MBA graduate from London Business School, is the former CEO at Naturgy Ireland, credited with growing the company in its markets, and previously worked with in the telecomms space with O2 Ireland, in retail banking with Royal Bank of Scotland and in Big Four business advisory with Deloitte. “I’ve been in the energy sector for 15 years. It’s a fastchanging business but it’s all about managing risk,” he says. Strategic Power Connect is the customer focused end of the Strategic Power Group founded by seasoned renewable energy entrepreneur Paul Carson in line with UK and Irish government plans to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and reduce emissions through the

development of large-scale solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems. “What’s happened in the past years has shown once again how crucial energy supply and energy costs are to businesses. Yet most businesses don’t have a dedicated energy executive, someone who will look at the risk factors and maximise value to the company. Energy can still be lumped in with other issues as a matter of course.” Strategic Power Connect, he says, allows higher energy users across business sectors to shield themselves from volatile energy markets and decarbonise their business models. “We try to make it as simple as possible for our customers,” says Liam. “We’ll come on site, we’ll assess their needs and we’ll then design, install and manage direct on-site renewable energy systems – solar panels or battery storage or both – to allow our customers to use as much cost-effective renewable energy as possible. “Most importantly, it’s at no cost to the customers. No capital investment is required and customers only pay for the energy that they use.” “But, as well as advancing net zero targets, our solutions also help them to be much more

Eye on Cover Story

“ Most importantly, it’s at no cost to the customers. No capital investment is required and customers only pay for the energy that they use.”

resilient and self-sufficient, a crucial factor in today’s much more volatile energy markets. “Users can also secure their energy supplies at a set price through a Power Purchase Agreement – ensuring easier management of costs and avoiding energy spikes. And they can more easily meet forthcoming ESG reporting and disclosure requirements. “It’s relatively early days for this company but we have a pipeline of customer projects in place for customers all over the island of Ireland, particularly in high energy use industries like engineering, manufacturing, aggregates and food production, and ranging from 100 to 15,000 kilowatts.” It’s important, says Liam Faulkner, that more and more local companies become active participants in the decarbonisation process. “What puts some companies off is the amount of effort and investment that they think might be required. But that’s where we come in. We do the investing and we do the installing. Our customers can reap the benefits.” Companies across the board, he says, are under pressure to prove their green credentials. “We’re offering them a direct and cost-effective way to do just that,” he adds. “At the same time, the bottom line is that the energy they’ll be getting is cheaper than any that’s available off the grid. “It’s also more manageable and it’s more controllable. In recent months and years, energy costs have been anything but controllable. We’re offering our customers the opportunity to have more control over their energy supply and their energy costs. We’re giving them some level of price certainty, and that’s very welcome at the moment.” Decarbonisation and embracing green energy futures isn’t just something foisted on companies by central government. “More and more big organisations look for proof of green credentials when awarding contracts, for example, and younger generation employees and potential employees will do exactly the same. So it means more than having renewable energy supply in place.” Strategic Power Connect has a dedicated team in place talking to potential customers, visiting sites and designing systems tailored to each customer. On average, a new Strategic Power solar or battery system can provide between 20% and 35% of a customer’s energy requirements. The company has a small team of 10 operating across Ireland at present but it’s currently recruiting. “We’re on the look out for bright people with an interest in renewables to join our team and help us to get the message out there to more and more potential customers in business and industry.”

Eye on Sustainability

HOW EVS ARE SMOOTHING THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY FOR BUSINESSES By Graeme Thompson, Chief Financial Officer, Weev

There is a revolution happening in motoring – and it is businesses that are leading the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) as they drive towards greater sustainability.

he uptake of new EVs in the UK is soaring with sales of new battery-powered cars up by almost 35% year-to-date. In its most recent update, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recorded significant rises in the sales for all grades of electric and hybrid vehicles in September compared to the same month last year. And the SMMT said the increase in battery-powered EVs was driven entirely by fleet purchases, which rose by more than 50 per cent, “as buyers were drawn to the advanced technology, outstanding performance, reduced environmental impact and compelling tax incentives”. The businesses and organisations across the private, public and third sectors that come to us seeking to make the move to EVs clearly see a financial benefit, but it is also about reducing their emissions and doing what they can to fight the effects of climate change.

In an era where sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity, businesses across Northern Ireland are looking for innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and make a positive impact on the environment. Particularly for those organisations that operate fleets, whether a construction company running a number of vans, an office-based firm seeking to provide company cars for senior staff, or launching a salary sacrifice scheme, to provide a valuable benefit to all staff helping attract and retain talented staff, they are increasingly turning to EVs as the solution. We work with businesses to provide an offering that suits their needs whether that’s leasing a vehicle or fleet for example, or supplying charging facilities, either outright or as a service. For those that choose to purchase chargers outright, there

are government grants available to assist. Organisations can access up to £75,000 in grant funding to cover some of the costs associated with switching to EVs. This includes up to 75 per cent of the cost of installing the required infrastructure and charge points as well as grants for each charge point socket and applicable parking space. That’s not to mention the attractive Benefit in Kind rates and salary sacrifice options available to employees to switch to an EV.

Running costs must also be considered with EVs boasting significantly lower operational costs compared to their conventional counterparts. Fewer moving parts and lower maintenance requirements means that businesses stand to save substantially on servicing and repairs. Our customers that have installed EV charge points on their premises, which has recently included tech firm STATSports, construction company Turkingtons and broadband provider Fibrus say it is a powerful statement of their commitment to sustainability. It signifies a proactive approach towards reducing emissions and embracing cleaner, more efficient transportation options. Beyond the immediate benefits, well-designed EV charging infrastructure can also enhance an organisation’s reputation, attracting eco-conscious customers and partners. Sustainability is a shared responsibility. Together, we can contribute to a cleaner, healthier future, driving positive change and setting the standard for sustainable business practices.

To find out more about how Weev can place your business in the fast lane to greater sustainability, visit weev.ie

Eye on Accountancy

Should you be offering a salary sacrifice scheme? As business owners we are all aware of how much the cost of doing business have risen in the last 18 – 24 months. Whether it’s the cost of raw materials, energy bills or payroll costs at times there seems there is no end to the increases.

o, for many employers the thought of introducing a scheme to give their employees more non-cash benefits may seem like a non-starter. But perhaps we need to think again? While employees all want to be paid a competitive salary, if an employer offers additional benefits it can often make the difference in attracting high quality candidates and retaining existing staff. With this in mind, let’s look at the advantages of offering a salary sacrifice scheme. Benefits 1. Tax / NIC savings. Salary sacrifice can lead to reduced taxable income, resulting in lower income tax and national insurance contributions for employees. Employers may also benefit from lower national insurance contributions. 2. Access to Non-Cash Benefits: Employees can access valuable non-cash benefits that they might not afford otherwise, such as additional pension contributions, car lease schemes or private healthcare. 3. Employee Retention: Offering attractive benefits through salary sacrifice can help retain and attract talent, as it can enhance the overall remuneration package. 4. Convenience: Salary sacrifice simplifies the process of paying for certain expenses, such as healthcare or pension contributions, as the money is deducted automatically from the employee’s salary.

Disadvantages 1. Reduced Take Home pay: Employees sacrifice a portion of their take-home pay, which can impact their immediate cash flow and ability to cover day-to-day expenses. 2. Complexity: Salary sacrifice schemes can be administratively complex for both employees and employers, as they need to ensure compliance with tax and legal regulations. 3. Pension Contribution Limits: For pension contributions, there are annual limits on how much can be contributed taxefficiently. Employees should be aware of these limits to avoid overcontributing and incurring tax penalties. 4. Loss of Certain Benefits: In some cases, participating in a salary sacrifice scheme may affect an employee’s entitlement to earnings related benefits. Salary sacrifice can also affect the amount of statutory pay an employee receives. i.e. sick pay or maternity pay. It’s important to understand these implications. Salary sacrifice schemes are voluntary so no employee can be forced to accept them. But any employee entering such a scheme needs to have their contract of employment altered and it needs to make clear the value of their cash and non-cash entitlements. Benefits provided under a salary sacrifice scheme such as company cars are still taxable as benefit in kinds.

Alistair Cooke, Director at ASM Chartered Accountants Dungannon.

In summary, salary sacrifice can offer tax advantages and access to valuable benefits for employees, but it comes with the trade-off of reduced takehome pay. Employers can save on national insurance contributions and enhance their benefits package, but they need to manage administrative complexities and ensure legal compliance. The decision to participate in a salary sacrifice scheme should be carefully considered, taking into account individual financial circumstances and goals.

The content of this article is for information purposes only and advice particular to your circumstances should be sought from a professional advisor.

For more information, contact Alistair Cooke, Director at ASM Chartered Accountants Dungannon Tel: 028 8772 2139 Email: alistair.cooke@ asmdungannon.com

Eye on Cross Border Trade & Export

EyeonCross Border Trade & Export

Navigating the Windsor Framework: Practical Tips for Northern Ireland Businesses

Since the Windsor Framework was announced back in February, businesses have been naturally wary about spending more time and money understanding a set of fresh customs regulations.

L-R: Matt Clark, Partner, Customs and Excise, BDO GB, Carol Lynch, Partner, Customs and International Trade BDO Ireland, Lorraine Nelson, Tax Partner BDO NI and James Woods, Chief Operating Officer GM Marketing (Ireland) Ltd. Pictured at Custom House, Belfast.

owever, in recent months with deadlines arriving and new rules being phased in, representatives from various industries, including retail, agri-food, and manufacturing, gathered with experts from BDO in Belfast, Dublin, and London. Their shared goal was to demystify the intricacies of the Windsor Framework and assess how it might affect their day-to-day operations. Lorraine Nelson, Tax Partner at BDO NI, emphasized the importance of providing practical advice that is distinct from the political discourse. The Windsor Framework is instilling a newfound confidence in businesses across Northern Ireland. It provides NI PLC an opportunity to market goods both in the UK and Europe. However, it also introduces new procedures

for bringing goods in, such as the widely discussed red and green lanes. This complexity can vary greatly depending on the nature of each business. For some companies in Northern Ireland, compliance with EU labelling rules necessitates significant investment in machinery for example. This is particularly pertinent for food producers, as they grapple with the costs of implementing ‘not for EU’ labels something that is not a one-off expense, but an evolving process that requires continuous adaptation. A prominent challenge faced by businesses is the lack of clear communication and support from their counterparts in Great Britain. This has resulted in widespread confusion about what steps businesses need to take to

adhere to the new requirements. Even seemingly straightforward decisions, like choosing between ‘red’ and ‘green’ lanes for deliveries, have proven to be sources of uncertainty. The consensus among businesses is leaning towards using the ‘red’ lane for those aiming to sell both in the UK and Europe. Effective communication within the supply chain has emerged as a vital theme. Local organisations are discovering that they must assume greater responsibility for ensuring that goods reach their destination in the correct manner. It’s akin to assembling a puzzle, as businesses grapple with what information to collect and share, and how to label items accurately. The Windsor Framework heralds a transformative shift in how businesses in Northern Ireland operate. While it opens

up exciting new opportunities, it also introduces a fresh set of challenges. The practical guidance provided by experts at BDO NI equips businesses to adapt and thrive in this evolving landscape. By fostering clear communication with suppliers and customers and remaining adaptable, the business community can make the most of these new customs regulations. The resilience and adaptability that have long defined Northern Ireland’s business landscape remain evident. As the framework continues to unfold, businesses are poised to navigate these changes, ultimately ensuring their continued success and growth in the global market. In embracing these shifts, Northern Ireland’s business community stands ready to carve out a prosperous future in this new era of customs operations.

EyeonCross Border Trade & Export

NI Firms Hit £55 Million In Export Sales On Amazon According to new figures released this month, more than 1,400 small and medium-sized businesses in Northern Ireland selling on Amazon recorded over £55 million of export sales in 2022.

he figures are taken from the latest Amazon UK Economic Impact Hub, which reveals the company’s regional investments across the UK since 2010. The annual Amazon UK Economic Impact Hub features data on the number of jobs Amazon has created regionally, the number of local, independent small businesses supported by Amazon and the export sales achieved by businesses in Northern Ireland who sell products on Amazon. The Northern Ireland section on this interactive map details Amazon’s support and export sales figures for small and medium businesses in the area. Here are the key facts and figures for Northern Ireland, along with a quote on the report from the delivery station manager at Amazon in Portadown. To date, Amazon has created more than 100 full and parttime jobs in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, there are more than 1,000 small and medium-sized

businesses selling on Amazon as independent selling partners. Small businesses from the region selling on Amazon recorded over £40 million of export sales in 2022. “Northern Ireland has been a fantastic home to Amazon since we first opened our doors here, and we’re proud to continue positively impacting the regional economy through investments, creating jobs and supporting the growth of small businesses,” said Andrew Francis Mambe Mabian, Delivery Station Manager at Amazon in Portadown. “Alongside supporting local businesses and creating jobs, training and development opportunities for our team, we’re also pleased to continue our support of the local community. In 2023, our teams in Northern Ireland have supported a wide range of organisations including Cancer Fund for Children and Foodstock Charity through donations and volunteering. This support of our community is something we’re looking forward to continuing over the coming weeks and months.”

EyeonCross Border Trade & Export

InterTradeIreland survey shows that business landscape on the island is becoming increasingly competitive

The latest quarterly business monitor from the economic cross-border body InterTradeIreland reveals that the overall trading environment is becoming increasingly competitive.

hile the topline sentiment shows the number of firms in a stable position is positive this quarter (61 per cent) and seven in ten say they are profitable, the volume of businesses in growth mode has fallen to 29 per cent, from 36 per cent in quarter two. This slight drop, coupled with new issues emerging, suggests that firms are increasingly aware of tighter market conditions. This point is most visible in the fact that a quarter of SMEs say that new entrants to the market present a challenge for their business, along with a fifth reporting discounting by rivals and late payments from customers as concerns. The main issues facing businesses remain energy bills (64 per cent) and rising costs

of overheads (64 per cent). However, both of these issues have dropped significantly in importance compared to the same period last year. InterTradeIreland’s Director of Strategy, Martin Robinson comments: ‘Our data indicates that business owners are now becoming more focused on issues other than costs. Without reading too much into one quarter of data, it’s notable that new competitors is such an issue currently, when it has barely featured on the radar of most businesses previously. It’s important for firms to remember that they can take action to increase their competitiveness by investing in innovation and taking advantage of new trade opportunities.” The survey, which questions

over 750 firms from across the island, shows that a third of firms have adapted to the new trading conditions post-Brexit, while half say Brexit has had no impact to date. However, 71 per cent of firms report that they do not yet have knowledge of the Windsor Framework requirements. Meanwhile at a sectoral level, 63 per cent of manufacturing businesses report they have not investigated the impact of the new agreement. This highlights a growing need for clear and reliable information on emerging trading conditions. Director of Strategy for InterTradeIreland, Martin Robinson says “On the surface, these figures may appear surprising. However, while negotiations were taking place, it was understandable that

businesses would wait to see the outworkings of any new trading arrangements. With elements of the Windsor Framework now starting to take effect, it’s an important time for individual firms to explore what it means for them.” “This doesn’t have to be a hugely daunting task for firms to take on alone. Our new Cross-Border Trade Hub is a vital resource for SMEs who want to know more about customs, VAT, regulation, and crossborder employment. Alongside our other bespoke trade programmes, SMEs will be well placed to take advantage of the growing £10 billion cross-border market. I’d encourage businesses to contact us to see how we can help provide the answers to their questions and the practical support they need to grow their cross-border trade.”

EyeonCross Border Trade & Export

Grant Thornton set for next chapter of growth as Stephen Tennant appointed CEO

rant Thornton Ireland has announced the appointment of Stephen Tennant as CEO as the firm continues on its ambitious path of growth. Stephen joined the firm in 2009, before making partner in 2012 and establishing the Financial Services Advisory (FSA) practice in 2017. He succeeds Michael McAteer, and brings with him a wealth of experience across industries and sectors. Grant Thornton has achieved remarkable growth in recent years through its innovative and grounded approach to the changing needs of businesses. The firm will reach €300m in

turnover this year and has grown its headcount to 3,000 people. Speaking of his recent appointment, Stephen Tennant said, ‘I am delighted to be taking on the role of CEO at a time when the Irish market is showing increased optimism and resilience despite global economic uncertainty. This next chapter in the firm’s history presents an opportunity to build on our incredible success to date and to cement our position in the market. Our international growth demonstrates our drive for excellence and bringing it to new industries will be our focus as we build the reputation of our firm’.

REGULATION VAT

CUSTOMS

Stephen will begin his term on January 1st 2024. Grant Thornton Chair, Sinead Donovan, in welcoming him to the role, said, ‘Stephen has been instrumental in the growth of the firm in recent years and this will be an exciting time in the next phase of growth, driven by his experience in delivering for clients and supporting the growth of teams across the firm’. Stephen is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK (FCCA UK) and holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree (BA) in Business Studies from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

Answers to your cross-border trade questions at your fingertips.

EMPLOYMENT

Cross-Border Trade Hub 29

EyeonCross Border Trade & Export

European Countries with the most successful companies

New research has revealed which European countries are home to companies that profit most per employee.

he study by global fintech group Plus500 analysed the largest companies in Europe (by market cap), and compared their total profit in 2022 with their number of employees to discover each business’s profit per employee. It then calculated which countries had the highest number of companies with the largest profit per employee in the list, to find the most business centric countries in Europe.

1 – United Kingdom 22 of the top 100 The UK is home to many large companies, some of which are not only the largest in Europe but across the globe. These are companies like energy giants BP, which makes £366,635 profit for every employee, and Shell which is the third most successful company in Europe, making £326,501 per employee. Global pharmaceutical companies GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca also feature in the top 100 largest companies, as well as banking companies HSBC and Lloyds. The UK has a vast array of businesses reaching across a plethora of industries so it’s no surprise it takes the top spot on this list.

for high-end fashion worldwide. France is also home to food production company Danone and Liqueur retailer Pernod Ricard both of which rank in the top 25 most in Europe based on profit per employee. France has a multitude of successful businesses that are known globally.

2 – Germany 21 of the top 100 Germany is home to many successful companies, including Hapag-Lloyd being which topped Plus500’s ranking as the company with the most profit per employee, at £1,058,898.94 per worker. As well as shipping and transport Germany also has some of the world’s largest retailers with Adidas and car manufacturers Porsche and Mercedes.

2 – France 21 of the top 100

4 – Republic of Ireland 8 of the top 100 The Republic of Ireland has the fourth most companies in Europe. Ireland has eight of Europe’s most successful companies in Europe originating there, with information technology and consulting giants Accenture, a Fortune 500 company, as well as global leader in medical technology Medtronic.

5 of the top 100

7 – Sweden 3 of the top 100 Sweden is seventh on this list, and has some of Europe’s most notable companies originating there with Volvo, Atlas Copco and Investor AB all of which feature in the top 100 most successful companies in Europe based on profit per employee.

8 – Belgium 1 of the top 100

Italy has five of Europe’s most successful companies by profit per employee, these range from energy giant ENI (fourth most profit per employee in Europe, £325,927), to luxury car manufacturer Ferrari.

6 – Denmark 4 of the top 100

The Netherlands is third on this list with 10 of the companies that make the most profit per employee, including the automotive manufacturing corporation

great maritime shipping links and thus many successful logistics companies such as DSV and Maersk, which has the sixth highest profit per employee of the top 100 companies in Europe. Denmark is also home to pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which has the largest market cap in Europe.

5 – Italy

3 – Netherlands 10 of the top 100

France ranks joint second in this list with 21 companies in the top 100 companies by profit per employee. These companies include Luxury retailers, Hermes, Dior and LVMH, who have all set the benchmark

Stellantis. The Netherlands is also known around the world for being home to one of the most famous beers Heineken, as well as the renowned multinational music corporation Universal Music Group, which operates in over 60 countries.

Denmark has four countries that originate from there, the geographical location of the country is why it has such

Belgium ranks eighth in this list for companies with the most profit per employee in Europe. Known globally for its brewery and beers, Belgium is home to Anheuser-Busch InBev, which has a multitude of beers brands on its roster and produces, sells and brews all over the world.

EyeonCross Border Trade & Export

Armagh Tourism Workshop Plays Significant Role In Driving NI Economic Growth

Tourism NI and the Incoming Tour Operators Association of Ireland (ITOA) have collaborated to deliver another successful workshop. Ruth Andrews, CEO of ITOA, pictured with Des Annett, President of ITOA, Nikki Paterson, Business Solutions Manager at Tourism NI, Paula Gismondi, from the Abbey Group, and Ghilian Campbell, Destination Sales Officer at Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

osted in the Armagh City Hotel the event provided the opportunity for almost 90 local industry to sell to more than 60 individual ITOA members from 33 organisations across a series of one-to-one meetings. ITOA is the representative association of Ireland’s premier inbound tour operators. It’s members package and promote all aspects of the Irish tourism product and sell to leisure and business consumers through the global travel trade distribution channel. In 2022, ITOA members delivered 537,000 overseas holiday and business tourism visitors to the island of Ireland. Overall, spend on the island was around €462 million and approximately 10% of this business distribution took place in Northern Ireland.

The joint workshop has become a firm fixture in the Northern Ireland tourism industry’s calendar, offering them a great opportunity to network, share knowledge and do business. As a result of last year’s workshop, which was held in Fermanagh, 50% of ITOA members delivered new business to the region. The overall value of additional business placed in the Fermanagh was estimated to be more than €1.3 million. John McGrillen, CEO of Tourism NI, said the organisation’s partnership with ITOA presents the industry in Northern Ireland “with a wonderful opportunity to showcase their unique offerings to international buyers. “We are very proud of the product portfolio we offer here, with products and experiences to suit all tastes,” he said.

“Under our Embrace a Giant Spirit brand we have built a rich portfolio of distinctive visitor experiences that truly reflect the giant spirit of Northern Ireland. “The presence of so many business operators at the joint Tourism NI and ITOA workshop provides us with the opportunity to showcase the very best of our visitor product and receive valuable knowledge and insights from the operators”. Ruth Andrews, CEO of ITOA, said: “The Association is delighted to continue our collaboration with Tourism Northern Ireland. “Our members offer a very diverse portfolio of business from escorted group touring and individual packaged holidays to business tourism corporate meeting, incentive, conferences and events. “Our Northern Ireland tourism industry colleagues have a

great opportunity in meeting with all ITOA members at these workshops to explore business opportunities and contract business for future years.” Alderman Margaret Tinsley, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, which is supporting the ITOA events, said: “This event was an excellent opportunity for local tourism providers to showcase their products and services, generate valuable business connections and tap into a global distribution network to attract international visitors. “I’m confident tour operators thoroughly enjoyed the taste of what our borough has to offer and are excited to share their experience with international markets.”

Grow your sales by exporting to Europe Northern Ireland businesses generated £7.8 billion in exports to Europe in 2021. Invest Northern Ireland can help your business become one of them.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Invest NI can help you tap into the European market with our advice and support. With a population of over 700 million, Europe is home to some of the world’s leading economies. You can receive help with: - market scoping - lead generation - identifying partners - distribution channels Assess your export-readiness online for free.

Start your Export Health Check at investni.com/export

EyeonCross Border Trade & Export

OCO Global Expands Presence In Germany With New Frankfurt Office OCO Global has relocated its offices in Frankfurt to accommodate a threefold increase in its German team thanks to growing demand for economic development and trade services from across Central Europe.

EyeonCross Border Trade & Export

he company is also providing advice to an increasing number of German clients interested in Northern Ireland as an investment location because of its unique EU-UK dualmarket access provided by the Windsor Framework. The new offices in the landmark Westhafentower building in the heart of Frankfurt will provide additional physical space for OCO’s growing team and a new work environment to foster greater collaboration and innovation. Mark O’Connell, OCO Global’s Chair, said: “Since OCO first established an office in Germany in 2014 we’ve enjoyed double-digit growth. Macro-economic challenges such as climate transition, industrial and regional transformation, skilled labour shortages and digital transformation are driving demand from development agencies. It’s an increasingly competitive market for innovation, investment and talent, and agencies need specialist support. “Our Frankfurt team, which includes 25 internationalisation specialists, has also expanded its trade consultancy work for British and Irish firms interested in investment opportunities in Germany and with German

‘Mittelstands’ (SMEs) navigating markets outside of the EU. Additionally, we’re also dealing with a growing number of queries from German and European firms interested in Northern Ireland’s unique EU-UK dual access. “The timing for the relocation couldn’t be better with direct flights now available between Belfast and Frankfurt to support business and tourism connectivity, plus great foresight from Invest NI in strengthening its presence in the EU to enhance trade links.”

NI’s Executive Director of International Business, said: “By establishing a stronger presence in key European markets, Invest NI is providing an enhanced gateway for Northern Ireland companies to reap the benefits of dual market access and grow their exports. “Our new staff are working to attract new FDI and are already collaborating with companies from across Northern Ireland, providing them with invaluable resources, guidance and an extensive network of

“ By establishing a stronger presence in key European markets, Invest NI is providing an enhanced gateway for Northern Ireland companies to reap the benefits of dual market access and grow their exports.”

Exports from Northern Ireland to European markets grew by 17% in the past year and local firms such as Wrightbus and Randox already have strategic partnerships in Germany. Invest NI has also provided additional resources for its offices in Italy, The Hague, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Berlin and Paris. Steve Harper, Invest

connections to support them to foster collaborations which will ultimately lead to export growth.” Jens Manke, Director OCO Germany & Central Europe, added: “As we witness a surge in demand for economic development and trade services consulting in Central Europe, our strategic choice of location

reflects our commitment to fostering a workspace that stimulates creativity and encourages open collaboration. “The Windsor Framework has emerged as a pivotal force in fostering positive relations and streamlined international trade between Northern Ireland and Germany. By providing a robust and transparent platform for economic collaboration, it has significantly reduced trade barriers and bureaucratic hurdles. “As a result, we see that businesses in Northern Ireland and Germany are experiencing improved market access, greater efficiency in logistics, and a more stable and predictable trading environment, ultimately fostering economic growth and prosperity for both nations.” In 2021 Northern Ireland exports to Germany were valued at £500m making it the region’s fourth largest export market. Germany is the UK’s second largest export market supporting 500,000 UK jobs while German exports to the UK support 800,000 jobs in Germany. OCO’s clients in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) include JETRO, Camlin, Germany Trade & Invest, Austrian Business Agency, Switzerland Global Enterprise, Siemens Real Estate and Boge Rubber & Plastics.

Eye on Round Table

Global Graduate Skills & Talent Development In The North West Business Eye joined forces with Ulster University Business School to stage a Round Table Discussion event at Derry/Londonderry’s Bishop’s Gate Hotel, marking a visit to Northern Ireland by Professor Tim Mescon, one of the school’s Visiting Professors, the former AACSB Executive Vice President and Chief Officer of EMEA, a leading membership organisation dedicated to advancing quality business education globally. The Participants

Professor Sandra Moffett

Gavin Killeen

Kevin O’Connor

Greg McCann

(Interim) Pro-Vice Chancellor & Executive Dean of Ulster University Business School

Managing Director, NuPrint

Head of Business & Regional Economic Development, Derry & Strabane District Council

Executive Director of FinTrU & Vice President of Londonderry Chamber

Professor Tim Mescon

Selina Horshi

John Harkin

Professor Mark Durkin

Ulster University Business School Visiting Professor

President of Londonderry Chamber & Managing Director, White Horse Hotel, Campsie

Founder & CEO, Alchemy

Former Executive Dean, Ulster University Business School

Dr. Laura Bradley

Gerry Kindlon

Aidan O’Kane

Richard Buckley

Senior Lecturer, Global Business & Enterprise, Ulster University

Head of Government Relations, Seagate Europe

Director of IT Operations, AllState Northern Ireland

Editor, Business Eye

Eye on Round Table

RB – Tim. Set the scene for us, the international picture, global best practice and where we are on business education and graduate skills worldwide. TM – The best business schools in the world have to connect theory with practice. Nothing happens unless business people are involved in the conversation. The first ever business school came into being 200 years ago, believe it or not. I’ve spent the past eight years working for the world’s largest accreditor of business schools, AACSB, founded on the Harvard Business School campus. Today the landscape is a rich mixture of schools both public and private. There are over 15,000 of them around the world, between five and six per cent of them accredited. Think of a place and there is likely to be a school there. In the UK alone, there are some 2.25 million active students. Out of that number, half a million are studying business-related subjects. So the numbers are pretty staggering. It puts pressure on the professors, lecturers and others at Ulster University and elsewhere to keep on adapting and developing the courses they offer. It’s a real challenge but our schools are up to that challenge.

RB – Let’s bring it back home. Put what Tim has said into a local perspective, Mark & Sandra. MD – Firstly, being an accredited school is very important for us and allows us to attract students from overseas. We’ve seen a thousand per cent increase in overseas students in the past five years. When I started as Executive Dean in 2016, Ulster University had 330 international students, all of them from China. Now we have 1,800 from all over the world. Northern Ireland is seen as a destination of choice nowadays. With the growth that we had last year, I almost felt that we were in an over trading situation. The recruitment process for staff was struggling to keep pace. What’s the output for business? People coming into your business who think and act differently than those who’ve had no business education. You should be able to see the results of having our graduates on board. SM – A lot of our undergraduate portfolio is focused on global business and we want to turn out people who can be global citizens and work for multinational companies. This is a regenerated city and we work closely with a

range of different businesses here. We’ve got much better at reaching out to our business community, and my mission has always been to put our Business School here in Derry/Londonderry on the map. We work with John at Alchemy on a new Mini-MBA programme that we’ve developed, we work with Greg on the FinTrU skills academies, and we’re putting together new programmes all the time. We’re currently launching two new Masters degrees, one in sustainable management, the other in global sustainable tourism. When I took up the role of Head of Department two and half years ago, we had two international students. We now have well over 250. We’ve learnt a lot from those students and their presence adds to the city. And we’ve got ambitious targets to grow the campus. We’re future proofing the business school and we’re future proofing the North West as a region. MD – I’ll be a bit controversial here. All of this doesn’t mean that we can be order takers for training in your companies. We need to think about what’s important for young people. We also need to think about the global picture. That’s sometimes missed when we talk about pipelines.

RB – Let me bring you back in, Professor Mescon. Is it crucial for schools to work closely with businesses? TM – It’s absolutely essential. And it’s best to start by looking after your own backyard. Understanding and communicating with local businesses is crucial. Interaction, intersection and constant re-invention are all part of what a good business school should be doing to continue to meet evolving needs in a region. And we’ve seen phenomenal growth in business education. In the last 30 years, there’s been an extraordinary upward growth worldwide, driven first by MBA programmes and more recently by specialised Masters degrees, in manufacturing or fintech, for example. RB – I want to bring in our business, local authority and chamber representatives. Let me ask one broad overarching question and I’d like to get a view from each of you. How important is business education and the supply of quality graduates to business and the broader North West economy? Give us the local council perspective first, Kevin.

Eye on Round Table

loses a third of its brightest and best and we still have too many young people who leave school at 16. We don’t talk about skills shortages any more. It’s people shortages.

KOC - There’s not a week goes by where we’re not thinking about the value of the skills we have here in this region and the importance of those skills when it comes to attracting and retaining investment. We’re very fortunate to have a university here. It acts as a catalyst for investment and regeneration, but it also provides good people to our businesses and adds value to those businesses. But, as a local authority, we’re passionate about encouraging and driving entrepreneurship and that starts at student level; and we don’t want them to have to leave this region, as many did, to start their entrepreneurial journey. So a university is crucial to supply great people both to work in our local organisations and to start their own. RB – We have some big employers in this region around this table. So let me put the same question to all of you. How important is business

education and the supply of quality graduates to your business? GAK - It’s critical for any business that wants to expand and improve itself. Every business faces challenges and we don’t always have the answers. We’ve had three knowledge transfer programmes over the years, we’ve had placement students, we recruit graduates and it all contributes to our business. My business started as a print business, a craft business, supplying a clothing industry that isn’t here any more. Nowadays, it’s a technology business supplying the food, drink and pharmaceutical sectors. It’s our software developers that help us identify new sectors. That could only have happened because of the relationship we have with Ulster University. We challenge our people but we also support them to get involved in part-time study through Ulster University or the Further Education sector. Every year, Northern Ireland

AOK - I think some businesses, particularly larger ones, still think they can do everything themselves and don’t see the merit in working with universities. But they’re missing a trick. People can learn on the job. Of course they can. But most of us can’t afford accidental learners in our businesses. Being able to shape people and shape leaders is really key to how this works. Universities also help enormously when it comes to putting it all into a global perspective, and that’s important these days.

The world is changing and the way business operates is changing. Tim mentioned connecting theory with practice, and that is crucial. Business schools need to avoid knowledge for knowledge sake. It has to be knowledge that can be applied in businesses. There’s no doubt that foreign direct investment decision makers really value a strong business/university link. What would make a difference going forward? It’s understanding the journey of a business from start-up to scale-up and on through the various cycles. There are very different needs along the way. LB – Can I jump in? We’ve talked about accreditation and

Eye on Round Table

we’ve recently received Small Business Charter accreditation. It recognises our Knowledge Transfer Partnerships but also how we encourage student entrepreneurship. The third pillar we were assessed on was our business engagement and how we apply the learnings from that engagement. But we’ve now got to build on that. We haven’t got it all right and it’s vital that we continue to learn from the businesses we work with. We also need to focus on skills. With the labour market as it is, organisations are pinching people from other businesses and that’s far from ideal. As a university, we need to look closely at how we can help and the same goes for addressing the brain drain that Gavin mentioned. MD – Most UK business schools have relatively few students from the lowest socio-economic quintiles. Ulster University Belfast was 27%, Derry/Londonderry has 52%. Our Small Business Charter

accreditation marks the first time this has come to any university since 1985 so we are very proud of that. It singled out our family business research which led to the establishment of our Centre For Sustainable Family Enterprise which is really important in a region where 76% of businesses are family enterprises. LB – We need to make sure that university education continues to be accessible for those from low income households and that’s where our scholarship programme continues to be successful in this region. We work hard through schools and FE college outreach to get our message across. GAK – It’s an important point. Kids from disadvantaged backgrounds are still discriminated against and the net result is that, even when they do go to university, they’re going to some of the lesser known English universities away from family support.

GEK - In the last five years, I’ve come to realise that we’ve never been so uncertain about the future. Geo politics has a lot to do with it.... security issues with China, Ukraine, now the Middle East. We’re running at about 65% of our previous market. What’s been driving that? China, sanctions and the fact that we don’t really know what is a security risk and what’s not. The technologies of the future are going to disrupt every industry and every job. Quantum computing, advanced semi conductors, new era telecoms and so the list goes on. As a region, there will be massive threat and massive opportunity and we need to think globally. In our world, semi conductors, for Europe to go from supplying 9% of global demand to 18% of global demand creates a need for 300,000

engineers and scientists. So you can see the opportunity. But you can only compete if you get your clustering right, involve SMEs, be agile and move quickly. Education is the glue in this quadruple helix. JH – I’ll be a little more provocative about the role of business education. Alchemy is an experiment in some ways. The people we want are those who don’t have a lot of baggage or pre-conceived notions about how a company should run and be led. Ideally, you take the apples off the tree while they’re fresh so we decided to build the company with graduates. We did that in the belief that if we taught them right first time, we could accelerate the learning curve. But the graduates didn’t come fresh from the tree. I got people

Eye on Round Table who’d been taught to think like those who’d been in business for decades. I had to re-educate them to reset their self-awareness. We don’t have any real management in the company, middle management is a waste of space blocking communication, so we had to re-adjust their ideas about what the CEO’s job is and what their job is. The problem then is that they struggle to work in an unstructured environment. They’re looking for instruction, schedules and task lists. So the biggest service you could do me is to throw away the old text books about how businesses should work. Gerry is right. The world is changing. SH – I agree. There is a dichotomy between what business education does and what a business needs. What I need coming into my business are people who can think outside the box and question how things are done. People who can assimilate information, think strategically and come up with ideas. We want to see confident, questioning, disruptive people coming to us. At the end of the day, I want people who can make my business better and my life easier. GMC – We’re a graduate-built business and, for the last few years, we’ve known exactly what we needed. Now we’re not so sure. It’s changing so rapidly, and AI is a monster. We really don’t know what effect it’s going to have. So I don’t envy the educators. How can we expect you to know what we’ll all need in the future? But, from a regional perspective, an accredited business school can only be good. RB – Let’s come back to Ulster University. What’s your reaction to what we’ve heard this evening? MD – I’ll start with what John said about how we teach. We can’t throw out what has gone before. But theory isn’t theory and we don’t keep applying the same thing. Theory evolves as practice informs it. It is an evolutionary process. The curriculum does sometimes struggle to keep up with change, but we do our best to close that gap. We can’t teach graduates what they need to know about their role in your organisation. That’s

too specific for us. But we can and should teach them to be adaptable around their skills set, to know when to deploy the battery of skills they have and in what context.

the world around you. You’re never going to be able to respond to everything that the market needs. Transferable core competencies are what it is all about.

GK – I’d add that there are plenty of theories and lessons that have been in business education for many long years that are still relevant today. The gold that we’re all looking for is graduates who can combine that learning with soft skills like being adaptable, understanding what’s going on and being able to read rooms.

RB – Professor Mescon, in closing, what are your impressions of what you’ve heard this evening?

SM – There’s a bit of unlearning that we have to do with young people coming from school to university to mould them into those who can adapt and think for themselves. I think that’s important to understand, and some of these learnings have been drummed into them for 14 years. Business acumen isn’t on us and it’s not on you. It has to be co-created. As Mark alluded to earlier, we can’t fall into the trap of becoming a training academy for certain businesses. We have to remain academic and we have to aim to provide quality graduates who can fit into a wide variety of roles. GMC - Absolutely. You have to play to your strengths, build something that is good and look at

TM – I think Sandra wrapped it all up very well. Until these graduates get their boots on the ground in your organisations, they won’t know what it is really like. It’s about personal awareness as well as organisational awareness. It’s about empathy. You can’t talk to

everyone the same way. I’m not too fond of the expression ‘soft skills’ but that’s what it comes down to in the workplace. Maybe we don’t do enough on those adaptive and emotional intelligence skills so that is message received. Can we deliver? Of course we can.

If you would like to discuss your organisational development needs, get in touch with the UUBS Business Engagement Team at engage@ulster.ac.uk

Eye on Growth

Software Firm Sysco Software In Scottish Expansion Belfast and Dublin-based software specialist Sysco Software has increased its GB footprint with the strategic acquisition of Integrys Solutions Ltd, Scotland’s longestestablished Microsoft Dynamics 365 finance and supply-chain partner.

or more than 20 years, Integrys, based in Motherwell outside Glasgow, has delivered specialist expertise across the Microsoft Dynamics suite of enterprise finance and supply-chain software products for business users. The Sysco Software acquisition will combine the experience and skills sets of two leading specialists in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Microsoft Power Platform. “Sysco Software became Ireland’s inaugural Microsoft Dynamics partner over two decades ago and, like Integrys, we place immense value on customer satisfaction and we have a proud track record

of high customer retention,” says Paul Bingham, Sysco Software’s Commercial Director. From its newly renovated Belfast office in the Gasworks, Sysco Software has a team of over 100 Microsoft Dynamics 365 experts delivering customer projects across Ireland and the United Kingdom, but also on a global scale. “We have specialist teams across the Dynamics 365 platform in Finance and Supply Chain, Business Central, Customer Engagement, the Power Platform and Azure,” adds Paul. In 2020, Sysco Software became a Microsoft Managed Business Solutions Partner, adding to its delivery

capability with enhanced Microsoft Product Insight, Business Support and Expertise to optimise product knowledge exchanges. “This accelerates our business development but, more importantly, it also leads to an enriched customer experience.” Committed to continued staff development and training, Sysco Software has earned the new, cloud-centric Microsoft Solutions Partner Designation for Business Applications. “As a company, we maintained a Gold Partner designation for many years, and this new award recognises our commitment to the ongoing professional development of our consulting, development and support

teams through accredited programmes endorsed by Microsoft,” adds Paul Bingham. “The acquisition of Integrys presents a significant opportunity for Sysco Software to replicate and share both our success and experience to the Scottish and wider UK Market; a market which shares close similarities with Ireland in terms of the business culture, customer intimacy and market landscape.”

Eye on People

FinTrU - SETTING THE STANDARDS AT TEN YEARS OLD

FinTrU is the title sponsor of the expanded Financial Trading Room at the brand new building at Queen’s Business School. Since 2017, FinTrU has sponsored the Trading Room which replicates New York and London trading environments, giving Queen’s Business School students access to Bloomberg terminals to prepare them for the world of work.

Eye on People

ut that doesn’t mean that, as the company celebrates its tenth birthday, the husband and wife team of CEO (and Founder) Darragh McCarthy and Chief of Staff, Katrien Roppe, have any intention of easing off on what the past 10 years have delivered – growth. “We want to continue to grow FinTrU and we’ve got firm targets in place,” says Darragh McCarthy, employee number one back in 2013 when the company was born, and for a number of months after that. “We have a current staff of 1,400 and we’d like to see that grow to 2,500 over the next five years.” It’s been well charted that McCarthy, a Corkman with some 30 years’ experience in the global financial services industry, chose Belfast as the perfect location for his company, set up to tap into increasing demand from the world’s leading investment banks for tools to help them to navigate the ever shifting regulatory landscape. Ten years on and FinTrU has a team split across office bases in Belfast (two sites), Derry/Londonderry (two sites), Letterkenny, London, Maastricht, New York and – the most recent addition – Porto in Portugal. The Porto base is set to be FinTrU’s largest individual site – with 500 employees being their initial target. The company already has over 170 people in place, 10 months after opening its doors in the city. “We’re also very proud of our position in the North West economy, where we have offices in both Derry/ Londonderry and Letterkenny. “Our people are everything to this business, they are a core value for us,” says Katrien Roppe, “we work hard to recruit the right people, through our own FinTrU Graduate Programme, for example, and we work hard to look after our people and retain our talent.” On that front, FinTrU has gained quite a reputation over the years for its ground-breaking employee benefits and programmes. “Our Graduate Programme is an important addition to what we do,” says Darragh McCarthy. “I think it’s important that we all work harder to stop the export of

graduates away from Northern Ireland to London, GB and beyond. We need to create more careers for top quality graduates here. “That’s why we’ve built up a vibrant FinTrU culture as one of our central tenets. Within that, there are clear career paths for the high achievers that we want to employ.” With that overarching aim in mind, the company sets new standards when it comes to caring for its employees. For starters, it looks after their physical and mental health through a range of programmes. “It’s interesting that we have more mental health first aiders around our buildings than we have physical health first aiders. It’s become increasingly important,” adds Katrien. On that note, this year’s chosen FinTrU charity is Aware NI, the only local charity working with those suffering from depression and bipolar disorder. The charity was selected by FinTrU employees through a companywide vote at the end of last year. “We were quick to embrace LGBTQ+ causes and same sex marriage, but we’ve also developed plenty of other ways of making a difference for our employees.” One relatively new initiative that catches the eye is a four-week ‘FinTrU Unplugged’ sabbatical on offer to any member of staff with five years’ service or more under their belt. And unplugged means what its name suggests. Employees on sabbatical are given the chance to relax and unwind without any in-company emails to worry about.....they’re taken off the circulation list for four weeks. The company has also added leave periods for those who suffer pregnancy loss or have to cope with the effects of premature birth. Support is also available for those going through menopause. “It’s not just about making sure that our people are looked after,” adds Darragh McCarthy. “We want them to bring their best selves to work. But we’re well aware, too, that we have to lead the way if we’re going to attract the best people....and retain them.” Benefits aside, potential employees look for clear career path opportunities. It’s something that FinTrU does well. Each member of staff is given their own

career pathway, setting out how each next level can be achieved. “So our people know exactly what they need to do to progress within this organisation. It’s a level of clarity that our employees appreciate,” says Katrien Roppe. FinTrU provides a different level of experience for placement students coming in from our two main universities, easing the path towards a full-time career once they graduate and removing the uncertainty of post-university job searching.

and shared by video link with the others. Topics covered by guest speakers can range from mental health to subjects like organ donation, as well as internal business areas. Darragh McCarthy is quick to underline that FinTrU at heart is a capital-driven organisation and that means that it has to cope with the headwinds and vagaries of global economics as they impact on global investment banks, financial institutions and the financial services sector as a whole.

“ I think it’s important that we all work harder to stop the export of graduates away from Northern Ireland to London, GB and beyond. We need to create more careers for top quality graduates here.” “We offer them the chance to progress at FinTrU speed, and that’s a bit different to other speeds.” Post-Covid, working practices have changed at FinTrU as they have elsewhere. Staff are encouraged – rather than mandated – to work in the office for two or three days per week. “It works very well for us, and it’s not something that we’re going to change after a period of time. Hybrid working is definitely here to stay.” The company runs a Lunch & Learn Session every Thursday, hosted at one of its offices

“We’ve focused on growing and developing our own technology capabilities and that’s something that we’ll accelerate. Expect to see our tech team of 150 getting bigger. “We might be based here, but we work globally and we are playing to win,” Darragh McCarthy adds. “The economic environment is challenging just at the moment, but it’s not the first time that we’ve had to face a few headwinds. “We’ve built a highly capable and a sustainable team and we will continue to execute the growth strategy that we’ve had in place for a while.”

Eye on News

Make Christmas Scoop-Tastic This Year Ben’s Ice Cream Studio Unveils Four New Flavours Perfect For Festivities.

eading Northern Irish ice cream creator, Ben Boyd, has unveiled four new exclusive Christmas flavours perfect for the festive season. Available now from Ben’s Ice Cream Studio, the four-strong line up, include Popping Candy Cane, Wild Cherry Brandy, Gingerbread House Party as well as a brand new vegan option Vegan Chocolate a Biscoff Crunch, all perfect for pudding pairing this Christmas or to simply indulge on their own. Crafted with melted candy cane base and infused with a vibrant pink popping candy ripple, the Popping Candy Cane is the brainchild of the pupils and teaching staff of St. Oliver Plunkett’s Primary School in Toome.

Ben collaborated with the young team to develop this unique festive flavour that not only tastes great but is sure to delight children of all ages. The whimsical creation perfectly captures the festive spirit and imaginative flair of the young minds behind its creation, embodying the joy and excitement of the holiday season. The Wild Cherry Brandy ice cream is infused with Hennessy brandy, rippled with indulgent wild cherries and finished with rich, white chocolate shavings - offering a delightful symphony of flavours that perfectly captures the essence of winter’s warmth and the magic of Christmas with every bite. Made with an Irish cream and cinnamon paste, with a Dulce De Leche ripple and a tasty cinnamon crunch, Gingerbread House Party is a true holiday treat. Crafted to embrace the comforting essence of Irish heritage it is delightfully indulgent, marrying the smoothness of Irish cream with a delicate hint of cinnamon and enhanced by a charming Dulce De Leche ripple. This creation promises a journey through the rich and elegant flavours of Ireland, making merry mouths water as they savour every bite. Vegan Chocolate & Biscoff Crunch is the perfect blend of rich and creamy vegan chocolate ice cream infused with the warm, spiced notes of Biscoff biscuits. This festive treat is the ultimate combination of sweet and crunchy that will leave the taste buds dancing with joy. Whether vegan or just a lover of delectable ice cream, this is a must-try this holiday season. The proof really is in the pudding and famed chef consultant, Noel McMeel, has suggested some perfect pudding pairings for your Christmas menu this year: Cherry and chocolate are a match made in Heaven so try pairing the Wild Cherry Brandy ice cream with a black forest gateau this festive season. It was also made a great accompaniment to any chocolate dessert or with a fruit (or nutty Biscotti) trifle.

Although similar in appearance, The Gingerbread House Party should not be confused with caramel. This Argentinian delicacy consists of condensed milk which is cooked down until it reaches the colour and consistency of caramel. The rich and decadent flavours make it perfect for sticky toffee pudding, traditional bread & butter pudding, or home-made Christmas pudding. The fun Popping Candy Cane ice cream would be wonderfully paired with any cheesecake, panna cotta or tiramisu. Ben Boyd, creator, and owner of Ben’s Ice Cream Studio said: “We wanted to create some fun and luxury flavours for this Christmas. We enlisted the help of St. Oliver Plunkett’s school to develop our Popping Candy Cane ice cream, which was such fun - the children had a very clear vision of what their ice cream would be, and we are sure everyone will love it. “Our wild cherry brandy and gingerbread house party ice cream will delight every palate and with our expert pairings should go down a treat over the festive period. Our vegan option is so luxurious we are confident it will be a winner with everyone. “Ice cream is most definitely not just for summer, and we know these exclusive flavours will be a wonderful staple in any freezer this Christmas.” The four exclusive Christmas flavours are available now in Ben’s three outlets in Magherafelt, Toome and Portglenone. Customers can also order online at www.bensicecreamstudio.com/shop/ for collection.

Further information can be found at bensicecreamstudio.com

Eye on Sports Business For Ulster Rugby Chief Executive Jonny Petrie, the challenges of running what’s a sizeable business by any measure are fairly obvious. A lot of them come down to balance.

New Season, New Challenge For Ulster Rugby Chief

Eye on Sports Business

“W

e’ve been hit by rising costs just like everyone else in business,” he says. “But we can’t just jack up our ticket prices. We’ve got to keep on providing value for money for everyone who wants to come and watch us play.” Ulster Rugby’s professional team is back in action at last for a new season delayed by the staging of the Rugby World Cup in France. And it’s an important season ahead stretching through to June, what with a brand new 3G artificial pitch and not one but two top French sides due here for Champions Cup games. “We’re as affected by the wider economic environment as anyone else,” says Petrie, the 45-time Scottish international who took over the Ulster job five years ago. “It’s been a long haul back from Covid for any sport relying on paying spectators but cost hikes all round haven’t helped matters.” Aside from the lifeline of annual funding from the Irish Rugby Football Union, Ulster Rugby makes the bulk of its revenue from ticketing, hospitality and sponsorship. But running a modern stadium on match days is no cheap operation. And nor is the wages bill for a professional playing squad. The squad is being joined this season by the latest high-profile signing, 80-times capped South African prop Steven Kitshoff, who moved to Belfast immediately after the Springboks’ World Cup campaign. “We’ve had to work smarter to try to absorb rising costs across the board. Our supporters, our season ticket holders, are being hit by rising costs in the same way that we are and we’ve been determined not to make coming to watch rugby more expensive for them. We have to be aware that coming to watch rugby is a discretionary spend, but we’re pleased that most of our season ticket holders have stayed with us for this season.” The challenges facing rugby clubs as businesses has been starkly illustrated in England where a series of professional

clubs – Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish included – have gone to the wall. “What the English clubs don’t have is what we have, the arm of the Irish Rugby Football Union around us. It’s a model that works for our benefit. “So we’ve been able to continue to invest positively despite the challenges,” he says. “And people tend to forget that as an organisation we don’t just have to run the stadium on match days and pay player wages. We’re also charged with running the domestic game in Ulster as a province.” That’s no small task. There are some 51 affiliated clubs in Ulster as far afield as Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan playing regularly in domestic leagues and cup competitions. Ulster Rugby’s big ticket investment over the summer and autumn months has been the installation of the new 3G artificial pitch, played on for the first time at the end of October when Ulster entertained South African visitors Vodacom Bulls.

“There was a fair amount of debate about the new pitch and we certainly didn’t rush into the decision,” says Jonny Petrie. “From our perspective, we’re keen to have a consistent playing surface, a fast playing surface and one which will help us to avoid matches being postponed due to weather conditions.” Last season, as has been well documented, the Champions Cup game against double European champions La Rochelle fell victim to a frozen pitch in December, a significant revenue hit for the host club. The 3G pitch will also help solve a perennial later season problem when the pitch is used for the senior team’s big games as well as a whole series of schools and domestic rugby cup finals. “We’re pleased with the links we’ve established and maintained with corporate Northern Ireland,” says the Ulster CEO. “Our business relationships, with our sponsors as well as the various organisations who use our hospitality offerings, are very strong. And we’re

going to keep it that way.” He’s well aware, of course, that there is a clear correlation between the performance of the team and the performance of the business. “We need the team to be successful. There’s no point in saying otherwise. When the team does well on the pitch, we can maximise our commercial potential.” As for the current season, Jonny Petrie says that he’s targetting growth right across the piece. “We have to keep on improving the match day experience for our supporters. We have to build on our business relationships, and we also have to look after our amateur clubs. We’re fortunate that we’ve been able to leverage £5.1 million worth of Levelling Up money which will be pumped into the club rugby network to help pay for new facilities on the ground. “So we continue to invest in a difficult climate and we continue to support rugby, not just at its highest professional level, but right down to the grassroots game.”

Eye on Charity

CENTRA RUN TOGETHER - £33,000 AND COUNTING FOR ACTION CANCER

Centra Brand Ambassador Pete Snodden, Action Cancer Corporate Fundraising Manager Lucy McCusker, Fitness Trainer Bubba and Centra Director of Marketing Desi Derby at the start line of Centra Run Together.

Local convenience retailer Centra welcomed 1,600 runners from across Northern Ireland to Ormeau Park recently to take part in their annual fundraising and wellbeing event, Run Together.

he sold-out event has raised a staggering £33,000 so far through 5k and 10k registration fees as well as donations for Centra’s long-time charity partner Action Cancer, with funds still coming in. Everyone that took part received a bespoke Centra Run Together medal, a packed goodie bag, a free lunch and a Frank and Honest coffee.

Centra has supported Action Cancer since 2001, and this year aims to raise an overall total of £175,000 to help keep the charity’s mobile detection The Big Bus on the road and provide its free life-saving services to communities across Northern Ireland, including breast screening, health checks, and new for 2023, skin cancer detection. As part of Centra’s Live Well initiative,

Run Together was designed to motivate people of any ability or age to embrace a healthy lifestyle by taking part in the run. Participants have the option to walk, jog or run through the park, alongside hundreds of others, to raise funds and awareness for Action Cancer. Commenting on the launch, Jennifer Morton, Centra Brand Manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome back runners for our Run Together fundraising event for 2023. It was really fantastic to see so many people turn up at Ormeau Park to raise money for such a good cause. “There was a great buzz around and it was lovely to see runners of all

abilities to enjoy the experience. We would all like to say a big thank you to all the participants for their generous donations to Action Cancer and to all our suppliers for supporting the event.” Lucy McCusker, Corporate Fundraising Manager for Action Cancer added: “We are unbelievably grateful to everyone who came to support Action Cancer today by taking part in Run Together. The donations this year are exceptional and are vital to the charity, enabling us to bring our life-saving services directly to people in need on the Big Bus. Thank you to Centra, for helping to keep The Big Bus on the road!”

Eye on Charity

Eye on News

Entrepreneurial Mindset Is Needed Say Accountants Pictured at the Entrepreneurial Mindset Conference at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park are (from left) Andrew Toogood, event MC; Brendan Mooney; Jamil Qureshi; Izzy Keane; Ailbhe Keane; Darragh McCarthy; and Paul Millar.

A leading local business body has called for a change to a more entrepreneurial mindset to benefit everyone living and working in Northern Ireland.

aul Millar, Chairman of Chartered Accountants Ulster Society, said “Northern Ireland must tap into the inspiration and drive of entrepreneurs” and called for transformation to foster economic growth and improve living standards for all in the community. Mr Millar was speaking at the ‘Entrepreneurial Mindset Conference 2023’ organised by Chartered Accountants Ulster Society in partnership with Danske Bank, Artemis Human Capital, British Business Bank and Invest Northern Ireland, taking place at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park today (25 October).

Mr Millar said: “Entrepreneurship has long been recognised as a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and social development in regions right around the world. With The Entrepreneurial Mindset Conference, along with other associated initiatives, we’re aiming to inspire a paradigm shift in Northern Ireland, where innovation, creativity, and a more entrepreneurial approach become the norm.” “Northern Ireland has a rich history of innovation and enterprise, but there is still untapped potential that can be harnessed to fuel economic growth and increase the standard of living here. The conference is addressing these opportunities,

showcasing successful entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and experts who have paved the way for prosperity through entrepreneurial ventures. “We firmly believe that an entrepreneurial mindset throughout our private and public sectors, and within our political leadership, can act as a catalyst for positive change in Northern Ireland. It is our mission to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take risks, embrace innovation, and create opportunities that lead to a brighter future for all.” Speaking at the event in Belfast today was world renowned performance psychologist and expert in high performance, Jamil Qureshi, who has worked with 22 golfers inside the top 50 in the world including two world number ones, three English Premiership football clubs, Formula

One drivers and England cricketers. Also on the speaker lineup were some of our most successful local business leaders including Darragh McCarthy, founder and CEO of FinTrU; Brendan Mooney, former CEO and current Head of Investor Relations, Kainos; Ailbhe & Izzy Keane, co-founders of disability fashion brand Izzy Wheels; Greg Bradley, founder of BLK BOX; Naoimh McConville, Joint Managing Director of Rathbane Group; Rachel McCausland, CEO of Lowe Corporation; & Brian Reid, co-founder of Planet Café and DELI LITES. Examples of the types of support available locally for potential entrepreneurs at the event were discussed by Oonagh Murtagh of Danske Bank; Sarah Orange of Artemis Human Capital, Susan McKane of British Business Bank and Gren Armstrong of Invest Northern Ireland.

Eye on Legal 500

LEGAL 500... The Leading Individuals

NI’s Top Law Firms Spotlighted In Legal 500 Guide Northern Ireland’s top law firms have once again been recognised in the 2024 edition of the Legal 500 Guide, which identifies the leading firms and key individual lawyers across a wide range of specialist sectors.

Employment HALL OF FAME Anna Beggan - Tughans

his region has long had a strong corporate-focused legal sector with a core of Belfast-based firms in particular working solely with business clients. The authors of the annual Legal 500, considered by many to be the authoritative guide to the top law firms and individual lawyers across each UK region, talk each year about Northern Ireland’s combination of cost competitiveness and legal excellence. That’s what has attracted a very different legal sector to our shores, the

Belfast offices of big multinational law firms. And it’s also drawn legal investors to the region, with big UK firms snapping up local law firms. But Northern Ireland has long had a really strong indigenous legal sector, populated by firms with a long and distinguished history of serving clients in the region, as well as by some of the bigger names in law on the island of Ireland. It all adds up to a fascinating mix, but, a bit like Premier League football, the big names, the key players, the league leaders in Northern Ireland business and corporate law don’t tend to change to much, at least not on a year to year basis. The listings below show a top cohort of half a dozen or so big firms whose names crop up with regularity right across the key areas of practice, and an expanded group of 10-12 firms who effectively dominate the marketplace. Here are the key lawyers and the key firms for 2022:-

Adam Brett - Lewis Silkin Ciara Fulton - Lewis Silkin

Orlagh O’Neill - Carson McDowell

Dispute Resolution

Corporate and M&A

Rachel Penny - Carson McDowell

HALL OF FAME

Gareth Walls - A&L Goodbody NI LLP

Brendan Fox - A&L Goodbody NI LLP

Richard Gray - Carson McDowell

Michael Black - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Catriona Gibson - Arthur Cox Belfast

Paul McBride - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Adrienne Brock - Elliott Duffy Garrett

David Kirkpatrick - Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

Kevin McVeigh - Elliott Duffy Garrett

Aisling Byrne - A&L Goodbody NI LLP

Declan Magee - Carson McDowell

Neasa Quigley - Carson McDowell

Julie Anne Clarke - Elliott Duffy Garrett

Michael McCord - Tughans

Peter Stafford - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Rosemary Connolly - Rosemary Connolly Solicitors Ltd

Paul Tweed - WP Tweed & Co

Alan Taylor - Arthur Cox Belfast

Jan Cunningham - Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Patrick Brown - Tughans

Mark Thompson - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Paul Gillen - Lewis Silkin

Sam Corbett - A&L Goodbody NI LLP

James Donnelly - Tughans

Rosemary Lundy - Arthur Cox Belfast

Micaela Diver - A&L Goodbody NI LLP

Hilary Griffith - Carson McDowell

Patrick Fleming - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Chris Guy - Mills Selig

Personal Injury & Clinicial Negligence: Claimant

Peter Guzhar - Carson McDowell

Alastair Keith - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Emma Hunt - Mills Selig

Lynsey Mallon - Arthur Cox Belfast

HALL OF FAME

Katharine Kimber - TLT

John McGuckian - Tughans

Oonagh McClure - Thompsons NI Solicitors

Marie-Louise Lowry - Elliott Duffy Garrett

Damian McParland - Millar McCall Wylie LLP

William McSorley - Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Fergal Maguire - TLT

David Rowan - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Caroline Prunty - Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Ashley Black - Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Chris Ritchie - Arthur Cox Belfast

Eye on Legal 500

LEGAL 500... The Leading Individuals Commercial Property

Banking and Finance

HALL OF FAME

Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence: Defendant

Kathryn Collie - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Stephen Cross - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

HALL OF FAME

Andrea McIlroy-Rose - Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

Ciaran McAlinney - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Peter Campbell - DAC Beachcroft

Tracey Schofield - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Avril McCammon - McKees

Sean McGahan - DAC Beachcroft

Mark Tinman - DWF

Sinead McGrath - Carson McDowell

Roger McMillan - Carson McDowell

Mark Blair - DWF

Kevin McVeigh - Elliott Duffy Garrett

Amanda Wylie - Kennedys

Emma Cooper - Carson McDowell

Fearghal O’Loan - Tughans

David Jones - Tughans

Louise Bailey - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Joe Marley - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Judith Brown - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Gregory Martin - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Caroline MacLaughlin - TLT

Peter McCall - Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Stuart Mansfield - Arthur Cox Belfast

Dawson McConkey - Carson McDowell

Colm McElroy - Arthur Cox Belfast

Rebecca Moffett - Tughans

Anna Vangrove - Shoosmiths LLP

Joanna Robinson - Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP Insolvency and Corporate Recovery

Andrew Anthony - Tughans Cormac Fitzpatrick - Clyde & Co Jacqueline McAleese - Carson McDowell Kathy McGillie - Tughans Victoria McLean - Keoghs LLP Neil Smyth - Tughans Alistair Wilson - Tughans Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate HALL OF FAME

Construction

HALL OF FAME

John Kearns - Mills Selig

Brendan Fox - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Kieran McGarrigle - McGarrigle Legal

Michael McCord - Tughans

Toby McMurray - Tughans

Andrea McIlroy-Rose - Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

Michael Neill - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Stuart Murphy - Carson McDowell

Jason Byrne - TLT

Lisa Boyd - Gateley Legal NI

Sam Corbett - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Kenny Caldwell - Caldwell Solicitors

Richard Craig - Mills Selig

Cahal Carvill - Arthur Cox Belfast

Jeanette Donohoe - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Patrick Fleming - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

David McAlinden - MKB Law

Adrian Kerr - Mills Selig

Colm McElroy - Arthur Cox Belfast

Tim Kinney - Tughans

Brigid Napier - Napier Solicitors

Aaron Moore - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Darren Toombs - Carson McDowell

Energy, Project Finance & PFI

IT and Telecoms

HALL OF FAME

Intellectual Property

Stephen Cross - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Paul McBride - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

HALL OF FAME

Richard Murphy - Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

Dawn McKnight - Carson McDowell

Mathew Forde - Lewis Silkin

Neasa Quigley - Carson McDowell

Adrian O’Connell - Tughans

Paul McBride - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Gerard Armstrong - Carson McDowell

Rory Campbell - Lewis Silkin

Adrian O’Connell - Tughans

William Curry - Arthur Cox Belfast

Alan Taylor - Arthur Cox Belfast

John Palmer - Shoosmiths LLP

Peter Guzhar - Carson McDowell

Andrew Ryan - TLT

Andrew Kirke - Tughans

Scott Kennedy - DWF

Mark Stockdale - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Alan Taylor - Arthur Cox Belfast

Michael King - Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Mark Thompson - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Dawn McKnight - Carson McDowell

Neil Bleakley - Carson McDowell Michael Graham - Cleaver Fulton Rankin Jonathan Forrester - Cleaver Fulton Rankin Neil Mulholland - Elliott Duffy Garrett Lenore Rice - Wilson Nesbitt Conor Wylie - Millar McCall Wylie LLP Planning and Environment HALL OF FAME Karen Blair - Cleaver Fulton Rankin Gary McGhee - Carson McDowell Grant McBurney - Carson McDowell Maria O’Loan - Tughans Andrew Ryan - TLT

Mark Thompson - A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP 53

Eye on Legal 500

LEGAL 500... LEADING LAW FIRMS *Firms are listed A-Z within tiers

Commercial Property BAND 1

BAND 2

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

BAND 1

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

A&L Goodbody NI LLP Arthur Cox Belfast

Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Carson McDowell

Tughans

Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Davidson McDonnell Solicitors

BAND 2

Tughans

Cleaver Fulton Rankin

DWF

Davidson McDonnell Solicitors

Eversheds Sutherland

Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Elliott Duffy Garrett

Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Mills Selig``

Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Mills Selig

Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

Mills Selig

Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

Shoosmiths LLP

Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

BAND 3

Elliott Duffy Garrett

MKB Law

Worthingtons

TLT WP Tweed & Co

Banking & Finance BAND 1

BAND 2

Carson McDowell

DWF

Shoosmiths LLP

BAND 3

Construction

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

BAND 2

DWF

Elliott Duffy Garrett

Wilson Nesbitt

Clyde & Co Davidson McDonnell Solicitors

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Eversheds Sutherland

Arthur Cox Belfast

McKees

Tughans

MKB Law Wilson Nesbitt

Carson McDowell Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Tughans BAND 2

BAND 1

Arthur Cox Belfast

Shoosmiths LLP

BAND 1

Dispute Resolution

Carson McDowell

TLT BAND 3

Corporate And M&A

Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Arthur Cox Belfast

Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Shoosmiths LLP

Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

TLT

IT and Telecoms BAND 1

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP Arthur Cox Belfast Carson McDowell Tughans

BAND 3

Caldwell Solicitors

BAND 3

Davidson McDonnell Solicitors

DWF

Elliott Duffy Garrett

Mills Selig

Eversheds Sutherland McKees Wilson Nesbitt

BAND 2

Cleaver Fulton Rankin Lewis Silkin Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Eye on Legal 500

LEGAL 500... LEADING LAW FIRMS *Firms are listed A-Z within tiers

Energy, Project Finance & PFI BAND 1

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP Carson McDowell

Insolvency & Corporate Recovery BAND 1

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

BAND 1

Carson McDowell

BAND 2

Arthur Cox Belfast

BAND 2

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP

Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP BAND 2

Carson McDowell

Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Arthur Cox Belfast

Cleaver Fulton Rankin

TLT

Cleaver Fulton Rankin

TLT

Tughans

Shoosmiths LLP

BAND 3

TLT

Mills Selig

BAND 4

Lewis Silkin

BAND 1

Elliott Duffy Garrett

DWF

Mills Selig

Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Kennedys

Elliott Duffy Garrett

Tughans BAND 2

Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP

BAND 3

Tughans Wilson Nesbitt

Keoghs LLP BAND 3

BAND 3

BAND 1

TLT

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP Carson McDowelll

BAND 2

Arthur Cox Belfast

Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Napier Solicitors

Mills Selig

Millar McCall Wylie LLP Mills Selig

Rothley Law

Intellectual Property

DWF

Rosemary Connolly Solicitors Limited

Arthur Cox Belfast Millar McCall Wylie LLP

Clyde & Co DAC Beachcroft

Worthingtons

BAND 2

Carson McDowell

Arthur Cox Belfast

Eversheds Sutherland

Carson McDowell Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence: Defendant

Tughans BAND 2

BAND 1

Davidson McDonnell Solicitors

Elliott Duffy Garrett

A&L Goodbody Carson McDowell

Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate

Tughans

Employment BAND 1

Mills Selig MKB Law

Tughans BAND 3

Planning & Environment

Tughans Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence: Claimant

Millar McCall Wylie LLP Thompsons NI Solicitors

BAND 3

Cleaver Fulton Rankin DWF Lewis Silkin

Eye on Accountancy

CONTINUED GROWTH FOR GMcG CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS GMcG practice expands through acquisition of well-known accountancy firm.

GMcG Managing Director Susan Dunlop with Michael McCarter and Bryan Friar.

Eye on Accountancy locations, the Jackson Andrews management team share many core values with the GMcG firm in relation to their ethos, their people and their commitment to delivering the highest standards of client service.” The employees of Jackson Andrews have joined GMcG’s Belfast and Portadown offices. Bryan Friar and Michael McCarter, who headed up the Jackson Andrews practice, have taken up Associate Director positions at GMcG. Explaining more about the background to the development, Bryan Friar commented: “In recent years, Michael and I have explored a number of possible scenarios related to the future of the Jackson Andrews practice. Having met the Directors at GMcG we could immediately see the synergies between both firms, the shared ethos in relation to values and client service, and the opportunity to secure long terms plans regarding the interests of our clients and employees across both locations. Being part of GMcG Chartered

he acquisition of Jackson Andrews Chartered Accountants marks another significant milestone in the evolution of GMcG Chartered Accountants. The eight Director Firm is one of Northern Ireland’s leading independent accountancy firms and now boasts an employee count of over 100 across its Belfast, Lisburn and Portadown locations. The acquisition, which took effect on 16 October 2023, is a hugely positive development for GMcG where developing the practice and growing market share remain key areas of focus for its management team. With the acquisition of the Jackson Andrews practice, there can be very little doubt regarding the quality of what has been gained by GMcG. Jackson Andrews Chartered Accountants was created in 1970 by the merger of two local firms. The Firm and its client base continued to grow, seeing further expansion through the 1994 purchase of Magee Todd & Vaughan, an established

“ Our people are our biggest asset and we are in no doubt that we have the right talent across all our departments to help our Firm continue to grow.” Portadown practice. With this growth came a reputation for delivering quality compliance and business advisory services to clients across a range of industry sectors in Belfast and Portadown. Commenting on the acquisition, GMcG Managing Director Susan Dunlop said: “For quite some time, we have been considering a range of options to accelerate the growth and profile of the GMcG firm. Jackson Andrews was a longestablished practice with the reputation, service offerings and client base that we felt really suited our own business model and growth aspirations. As well as having suitable geographic

Accountants represents an exciting new opportunity for all of us. I have no doubt our employees will quickly adapt to their new working environments and will look forward to developing their careers with GMcG.” As GMcG’s growth continues, its commitment to delivering added value services to clients amid ongoing political and economic uncertainty remains resolute. Ensuring the management team remains accessible and available to offer clients the right advice, when they need it, has been a longstanding mantra of the GMcG practice, across all

three locations. Whether it relates to compliance services or tailored expertise to help clients grow their business, GMcG continues to invest in its people and ensure clients benefit from experience and skills that are directly relevant to their unique circumstances. Jackson Andrews’ client base will also benefit from the availability of new expertise and resources from across the GMcG Group. Additional to Audit, Accounts and Taxation services, GMcG offers specialist services in the areas of Corporate Finance, Forensic Accounting & Investigation and international liaison through the Firm’s membership of The International Accounting Group (TIAG®). Through TIAG, GMcG clients with international interests can access independent accounting and legal expertise across more than 70 countries worldwide. Susan Dunlop adds: “This acquisition will bring new personnel, experience and expertise across many of our client service teams. Our people are our biggest asset and we are in no doubt that we have the right talent across all our departments to help our Firm continue to grow. It is an exciting new era for GMcG and I look forward to working with Bryan, Michael and the team in developing new opportunities for our business, our clients and our employees.”

For more information on GMcG’s range of services, please call 028 9031 1113 or visit gmcgca.com

Eye on Sports Business

ULSTER HOCKEY – SPORT SETS OUT TO BOOST BUSINESS LINKS Ulster Hockey Chief Executive Marc Scott at the Club 1896 Launch Event with Lord Ian Botham and Jan Cunningham, Managing Partner of sponsors Millar McCall Wylie.

Eye on Sports Business The rise of Ulster Rugby has been well charted. The sport’s move into a professional era, the development and growth of the Ulster professional men’s team, the transformation of Ravenhill into the Kingspan Stadium

t’s all been watched with more than passing interests by Marc Scott and his dedicated team at Ulster Hockey, based only a lengthy penalty kick from the Kingspan. On the face of it, hockey has a long way to go. It remains an amateur sport and it has no stadium or headquarters complex to call its own. In fact, most local hockey clubs play on council-owned pitches. But that’s on the face of it. Dig a little deeper and it’s clear that hockey is something of a sleeping giant. It’s one of the biggest participation sports in Northern Ireland by a distance with 75 active clubs and some 30,000 people involved in playing, coaching or assisting. It’s also similar to rugby in other ways. The main concentration of clubs and players lies in the east of Northern Ireland and especially around the hockey heartlands of Lisburn and Banbridge. And hockey and rugby-playing schools tend to be the same schools with hockey players going in one direction at school and rugby players in the other. Like his counterpart at Ulster Rugby, Jonny Petrie, Ulster Hockey’s CEO is also a Scotsman. Also like Petrie, he’s a Scotsman firmly committed to growing the sport he loves in his adopted country. “One of our key missions over recent years has been to grow hockey at primary school level and grow hockey in non-hockey playing schools across Northern Ireland. And we’ve been very successful. “But this kind of outreach isn’t cheap. As we want to keep on growing our sport, we need money to invest in what we’re trying to do,” says Marc. Cue Club 1896, inspired by the year hockey was first played here, Ulster Hockey’s new membership networking forum

offering its members a series of networking events, all aimed at creating connections and building the sport’s links with the local business community. The Club was launched this autumn at an event in Titanic Belfast where the chief guest speaker was Lord Ian Botham, the former England test cricketer.

pressure. It’s a challenge for every one of us,” says Marc Scott. “We can’t rely on funding via Sport NI or any other body. It’s up to individual sports to get out there and make the connections but the fact is that we’re all chasing the same business pot. “Our view at Ulster Hockey is that we can’t just go out there with a begging bowl. We have to offer local businesses something in return. And that’s what we’re trying to do with Club 1896. Our members pay a flat fee and we provide at least four member only networking events throughout the year, each of them with a different theme and with some high quality speakers.”

Marc Scott leads a staff of 11 at Ulster Hockey’s Castlereagh headquarters. Most are engaged in the sporting outreach/ coaching side, with only a small team left to concentrate of finances and driving the sport forward in business terms. The team has the backing of an Ulster Hockey board, led by its chairman, Bangor Hockey Club stalwart George Wilson, vice-chairman Peter Kelly, Senior VP at insurance giants Marsh in Belfast and with Neal Lucas of Lucas Executive on board as a relatively new board member.

Dr. Shirley McCay talks to host Denise Watson.

The Club 1896 launch event also featured a panel discussion led by broadcaster and compere Denise Watson with representatives from sports and business, including Olympic hockey gold medallists Dr Stephen Martin and Jimmy Kirkwood; Irish international hockey star Dr Shirley McCay MBE and Keith Liggett, Managing Director of Legacy Wealth Management. Former Ulster Rugby player and Managing Partner of sponsor Millar McCall Wylie, Jan Cunningham, also addressed the audience. “Funding for all sports is under

He admits that Ulster Hockey might just have set the bar a little high by bringing an international sporting legend to Titanic Belfast for the launch event, but he’s confident that they can keep up the pace. “We already have strong links with business,” he adds. “A lot of hockey players, former hockey players, parents of kids playing hockey at schools level are also business people, so we have to build on those connections. Investing in community sport isn’t a bad message to be going out there with.”

“We’re looking forward to building and developing Club 1896,” says Marc Scott. “It will be sports and business focused rather than too hockey-focused and we want to be able to welcome as many business members as we can along to our events.”

To enquire about becoming a member please visit www.ulsterhockey.com or email club1896@ ulsterhockey.com

Eye on Digital Technology

From Holywood to Hollywood!

Creative and Digital Technology is a growth sector with a highly skilled local workforce driving the NI economy. Ards and North Down is the location of choice for a concentration of leading innovators that provide specialist services to the global screen and digital industries forging a strong link from Holywood to Hollywood... and beyond.

Eye on Digital Technology

DIGITAL SECTOR IN NI The digital sector in Northern Ireland consists of around 1,700 companies and 20,000 workers and it is growing. In 2018, it had a GVA of £1.2 billion representing 3% of all economic output. The screen industries’ application of technology is flourishing. Movie and screen productions filmed locally pumped £330million into the region’s economy between 2018 and 2022, and Northern Ireland Screen* has set a strategic target to increase that to £430 million by 2026. With state-of-the-art facilities such as Titanic Studios (one of Europe’s largest film media campuses) and Studio Ulster (set to be a global leader in virtual production) the infrastructure is there and developing to support exponential growth. Numerous local companies provide specialist services to globally renowned clients including the BBC, HBO, Discovery Channel, Playtone, Paramount, and Universal.

ARDS AND NORTH DOWN – GREAT LOCATION Ards and North Down (AND) is ideally situated to develop and encourage innovation in this sector. Adjacent to Belfast and minutes from Titanic Studios and the Studio Ulster site, it is the chosen location for a concentration of screen industry tech experts. In 2022-2023, 50% of Northern Ireland Screen’s “Screen Fund Production” (Animation/Children category) were awarded to projects based in AND. Just 3.2km from George Best City Airport and boasting a strong road network and public transport links; it is the perfectly positioned for international business. The local talent pool is significant with 38% educated to higher levels (NVQ 4 +), well above the national average of 34.9%.

Super-fast data transfer is critical for technology business and AND has a USP in this respect - OFCOM reports the Borough has the highest percentage of premises connected with full fibre in NI.

HOLYWOOD – CONCENTRATION OF DIGITAL TECH INNOVATORS IN THIS THRIVING TOWN At the heart of this creative corridor between Belfast and Bangor, is the vibrant town of Holywood. It is home to innovators in production, post-production, game development and digital animation including key players such as Flickerpix, Italicpig, Paper Owl Films, Waddell Media, and Yellowmoon. These locally grown businesses work with the big global studios and have played a vital role in the growth of NI’s screen sector working with clients including HBO, National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, and Channel 4 to name a few. Holywood was named as the ‘Best Place to Live in Northern Ireland’ by The Sunday Times in 2021, primarily due to its strong transport links, unique shops, café culture, vibrant community, and proximity to the sea. Our local digital companies are embracing and benefitting from this in terms of promoting work / life balance, which helps retain their skilled local workforce.

CREATIVE INNOVATION HUB Ards and North Down Borough Council recognises creative and digital as a key growth sector and has identified a need for flexible workspaces, as well as high demand for quality space and bespoke facilities, to support this. The Council is actively pursuing capital funding through the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD)**, aligning to the Innovation and Digital Pillar, for the development of a Creative Innovation Hub in Holywood, and has pledged a significant level of aligned investment.

The proposed hub will be specifically designed to address the accommodation, security and power needs of entrepreneurs starting out in the screen industries as well as established organisations. It will provide a platform for networking, collaboration, and the development of emerging technology sectors.

COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES – HARNESSING FUTURE GROWTH, DEVELOPING TALENT The Council will seek collaboration opportunities with industry partners including Titanic Studios and Studio Ulster to align with 3D digital asset developers and freelancers based at the Hub. The project will also facilitate creative tech skills development by leveraging Council’s existing strong links with educational partners such as South Eastern Regional College. With the project at an embryonic stage, the Council is seeking to develop a long-term partnership with the right operator who would input into the specification to create and operate the facility. Recent market testing of the project to inform the Outline Business Case has demonstrated high level of support from industry experts and leaders in the sector. Could you partner with us or are you interested in finding out more about this exciting new opportunity? Get in touch via email:- signaladmin@ardsandnorthdown. gov.uk or call 0300 013 3333. Ards and North Down Borough Council offers a broad range of business training and funding opportunities to help businesses realise their digital transformation ambitions. The dedicated business support team is ready to work with investors and can deliver a range of digital innovation, growth, skills, and employability schemes, and provide links to key partners and Government agencies. Find out more at www.ANDBusiness.co.uk

* Northern Ireland Screen - The national screen agency for Northern Ireland. **Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) is a bespoke package of funding and decision-making powers agreed between UK central government and local regions; aimed at helping to harness additional investment, create new jobs and accelerate inclusive economic growth.

Eye on Women In Business

NEW GROUP STRUCTURE IS LAUNCHED AS WOMEN IN BUSINESS MARKS 21 YEARS 36,000 social enterprises

women supported in their business journeys

175+ accredited companies committed to EDI progress

250,000 people engaged in WiB Group’s community

120 events and programmes per year

52 conferences and awards delivered

15,000 hours of mentoring at Centre of Learning

Eye on Women In Business More than 470 business guests packed into Titanic Belfast, the US Ambassador to the UK joining virtually and the First Minister Designate in person provided a fitting tribute in October to the 21st anniversary of Women in Business. Chair Nichola Robinson with WiB Group CEO Roseann Kelly.

he organisation used the occasion of the annual Chair’s Lunch to officially launch the WiB Group which now incorporates the four different social enterprises within the group umbrella – Women in Business, Diversity Mark, Timely Careers and the Centre of Learning. WiB Group CEO Roseann Kelly is rightly proud of what she and her team have achieved over the years. “From a starting point of 40 members back in 2002 we’ve grown to around 14,000 members today, but more importantly, we’ve helped to shift the dial and supported women to achieve their ambitions within their careers and businesses. “Just think of how many highly successful women role models are out there, fantastic women are in senior roles all over the country. A look around the audience at our Chair’s Lunch was testament to that. A lot of diversity barriers have been broken down over the 21 years, and we’ve played our part in creating an inclusive economy for this region, aligned to the Department of

Economy’s economic vision and strategy. “We’re engaging with a community of 250,000 people right across Northern Ireland and beyond through networking, accreditation, training and employment, and those four key areas are what lie behind our new group structure.” Ongoing networking, entrepreneurial support and major events like the Women in Tech Conference and annual Women in Business Awards are delivered through the original Women in Business organisation. Developing diversity in the workplace, and assessing and awarding accreditation for local employers, is the domain of Diversity Mark, with an experienced independent accreditation panel including former Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie. Diversity Mark has some 200 signatories from the local business community, organisations who have made a firm commitment to the diversity journey. “It’s not an easy process,” adds Roseann Kelly. “We have a rigorous assessment process in place and our accreditation panel make sure that

that remains the case. So, to make it through to silver or even gold or platinum level is quite an achievement for any organisation. We’re very proud of the value that a Diversity Mark holds for employers here.” Relatively new to the Women in Business Group portfolio is Timely Careers, an employment agency with a mission to remove the obstacles, anxiety and challenges that women who want to return to work often face. Through training and a jobs board, it will enable and empower women to get back into work by connecting them to the right support and the right jobs at the right time for them. The Centre Of Learning is a new organisation looking after the Women in Business’s wide range of bespoke training courses delivered throughout the year, enabling women to invest in themselves and their careers with insights, key tools and advice on best practice from industry leading facilitators. Timely Careers, led by Laura Dowie, works in partnership with the Staffline Group and concentrates on part-time, job share and term-time career opportunities for women. The Centre of Learning is led by experienced HR director Denise Black. “We’ve launched the new organisations in response to demand. We’ve known for some time that there is a real need for training courses aimed at women, and we’re also well aware of the ongoing challenges of childcare for so many women. Timely Careers tackles that problem head-on and in a very practical way,” says Roseann Kelly. “Around a thousand women have already

signed up, 70% of them graduates.” As Chief Executive, Roseann Kelly works with a WiB Board packed with experience. Chaired by Nichola Robinson, Sourcing Director at Spirit AeroSystems. In addition to the full board, four directors have been appointed to each of the four distinct business units. “I’ve been very fortunate to have a really strong and energetic board through the years,” Roseann adds. “The board has always been there to back us as we focus on delivering for our members.” Recent developments also include the launch of an All-Island Entrepreneurship Programme involving 15 women entrepreneurs from Northern Ireland and 15 from the Republic. It’s a six-month programme of masterclasses and residentials. Roseann Kelly even has what she calls a succession plan in place. Lorraine Acheson joined the WiB team last year as Managing Director, adding her considerable experience to the organisation’s senior team. “We’ve come a long way,” she says. “From those first roundtable meetings involving a small group of women wanting to challenge the status quo, all the way to the present day where the WiB Group now reaches and inspires a community of 250,000 people. “We’re living proof that in unity there is power.Affecting meaningful change, whether by elevating entrepreneurship onto an all-island scale, pioneering the gender charter, delivering skills or breaking new ground in flexible careers, must be our mantra every day.”

Eye on Energy

Supporting customers and local communities for over 90 years Ireland, where the company has received 14 nominations across 11 categories, including ‘Customer Centre of the year’ and ‘Best customer engagement’. Whilst customer satisfaction and service are at the core of everything Power NI does Ashleigh highlights that industry recognition such as through the Contact Centre Network Northern Ireland (CCNNI) Awards allows the company to demonstrate best practice and evaluate the progress and success of new customer focused initiatives.

L-R William Steele Director, Customer Solutions Power NI, Ashleigh O’Neill Senior Marketing and Communications Executive Power NI, Mike Ellicock, Chief Executive of Plain Numbers, Gwyneth Compston CSR Manager Power NI.

Northern Ireland’s leading electricity supplier, Power NI has been serving customers and communities across Northern Ireland for over 90 years and customers have always been at the core of this service.

trusted household name and a reliable supplier and employer, Power NI is dedicated to providing excellent service for customers and investing in the vibrant communities they live in. Solutions to support every customer’s need. Power NI takes pride in ensuring accessibility for all customers. Standing among just nine companies worldwide, Power NI has successfully achieved the esteemed ISO 22458, Inclusive service Kitemark. This ensures the adoption of fair and inclusive practices, helping organisations to understand ‘best practice’ for vulnerable customers and in turn, giving customers more confidence in the services they are using. A number of services are in place to assist those customers who require additional support, such as supplying bills in different formats. We can liaise with NIE Network meter readers in relation to doorstep services and put in place measures such as giving a password or an instruction to knock or speak loudly. For customers with mobility problems,

meter readers will allow more time for you to answer the door, and customers relying on life-supporting medical equipment can receive priority and timely updates during power cuts. Ashleigh O’Neill, Senior Marketing and Communications Executive at Power NI, discusses the importance the organisation places on evolving their customer service provision, with a focus on the changing needs of customers and their circumstances. “We are committed to our customers and take pride in the customer care we provide as a business. We regularly assess our systems and procedures to make sure we are providing our customers with the services they need”. “Power NI has partnerships with both the Plain English and Plain Numbers campaigns, to help eliminate jargon and unnecessary detail from interactions with customers. We are continuously updating our letters, bills, and other forms of communication to keep them as straightforward as possible for all our customers. Ensuring that our customers receive the highest quality customer service and can trust us to

have their best interests at heart is of the upmost importance to us.” Power NI is the first electricity supply company in Northern Ireland to be JAM (Just a Minute) Card Friendly. The initiative provides staff with the training and understanding to be able to recognise those who may have communication barriers or hidden disabilities and may require more time and care to attend to their needs. In addition, Power NI staff are also familiar with Relay UK, a free service that helps customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, have a speech impairment, or anyone who has difficulty when using the phone. Some Power NI staff have also undertaken British and Irish Sign Language lessons and the company plans to expand these initiatives to empower staff and to better communicate with customers with hearing impairments. Furthermore, our website is powered by the digital inclusion application ReachDeck, giving our customers the tools to access information in their required format, making it more accessible for people who may have disabilities, visual impairments, limited digital skills, or non-native speakers. Power NI has been recognised for their outstanding customer service credentials at the upcoming Contact Centre Network Northern Ireland (CCNNI) Awards, celebrating excellence in customer contact across Northern

Supporting local communities Power NI is committed to supporting local communities through its CSR initiatives such as their Helping Hands and Brighter Communities schemes. Employees have the opportunity to apply for funding for a local organisation close to their hearts to provide a ‘Helping Hand’, with a donation towards equipment or an event. Since January 2023 a total of 39 employees have successfully received funding for their local charity or organisation. A total of £11,400 has been donated to local organisations and charities so far in 2023. Power NI has also donated a total of £9000 this year, to different charities and organisations through the Brighter Communities Fund. The Brighter Communities Fund is open to all community groups across Northern Ireland, with one organisation being awarded £1,000 each month. Ashleigh remarked, “Our customers and their local communities are at the heart of everything we do at Power NI. We want to provide support to as many community groups and organisations as we can because we understand how difficult the last number of years have been for them. It gives me great pride that we can award £1,000 per month to a group that applies for our Brighter Communities fund, helping them with projects that are important to them.”

Keep up to date with how Power NI is evolving to be more than just your energy supplier, by visiting www.powerni.co.uk/news/

Eye on Events

100 Years of Auctioneering at Ross’s

reland’s leading auction house, Ross’s Auctioneers and Valuers, has celebrated its 100th anniversary, following a £750,000 investment in its historic business in Belfast. Under the leadership of father and son team, Daniel and Angus Clarke, Ross’s has built its reputation on sales of Irish art, antiques, quality furniture

and more recently, high-end jewellery, gemstones, and watches. Following the digital transformation of the business, all specialist auctions are now online and fully accessible to a global audience. To mark the 100th milestone, Ross’s hosted a centenary event for customers, friends and media which featured an exhibition of works

by Irish artist Noel Murphy, and three 100 Lot auctions across art, antiques, and jewellery. Included in the many iconic pieces on display was a gold bracelet once owned by Elizabeth Taylor, three exclusive Hermes handbags, paintings by Gerard Dillon and Colin Middleton, and a captain’s chair from the Titanic.

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1 - Nuala Meenehan, Daniel Clarke, Donna Traynor, Tony Axon. 2 - Angus Clarke, Noel Murphy, Pam Ballantine, Daniel Clarke. 3 - Harry & Karen Parkinson.

Eye on Events (4)

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4 - Ken & Julie Roulston, Molly & Lisa McDowell, Luke Johnston. 5 - Oonagh Main & Claire O’Loan. 6 - Donna Traynor. 7 - Julie Smylie, Bette Cassells, Jenny McConnell, Karen Walker. 8 Pam Ballantine. 9 - Lauren Frayne & Philippa Harty with Van Cleef. 10 - Nuala Meenehan & Tony Axon. 11 - Richard & Brenda Buckley.

Eye on News

All Island Business Programme Launches To Fast-Track Women Entrepreneurs

Lorraine Acheson (Women in Business), Alison Currie (InterTradeIreland), Emma Early Murphy (Network Ireland), and Roisin McDermott, Head of Entrepreneurship at WIB.

who are a voluntary organisation A new collaboration between two of Ireland’s supporting businesswomen, through leading networks for business owners is inviting their 17 branches in the Republic of Ireland, so it was a natural fit to reach women entrepreneurs to put themselves out to them. For many small business owners in Northern Ireland, they forward for a six-month, fully funded growth look to the UK markets first but this programme beginning December 2023. collaboration is designed to open up

he first cross-border project of its kind, Grow It All Island is facilitated by Women in Business NI and Network Ireland and will provide 15 business founders from Northern Ireland and 15 founders from the Republic of Ireland with a unique opportunity to learn, connect and ultimately scale their business to the next level. The Grow It All Island project is being delivered with support from InterTradeIreland’s Synergy initiative. Synergy is a cross-border cluster and network support initiative set up by InterTradeIreland, the cross-border

trade and business development body. The island-wide project is designed for entrepreneurs who not only want to develop their market at an all-Island level but want to build their team, look at new export markets, review their branding and marketing, raise external investment, increase their sales revenue and develop their leadership skills. Commenting on the new initiative Roisin McDermott, Head of Entrepreneurship at Women in Business said: “Over the last number of years we have been building our relationship with Network Ireland,

the potential of an All Island approach, bringing a total of 30 women owned businesses and providing them with an opportunity to become part of a supportive all-island network where participants can learn, achieve and scale.” Launching at a two-day residential at Killeavy Castle in December, the programme will involve away days and a series of face-to-face masterclasses supported by EY Entrepreneur of the Year Alumni, all of whom will act as role models and mentors over the course of the six-month collaboration. Welcoming the project Emma Early Murphy, President of Network Ireland

said, “Our members are excited to see this collaboration and build connections and trading opportunities with the businesses in the North. This is hopefully the first of many projects between our two organisations.” Alison Currie, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland commented: “We are delighted to support this female focused business initiative which offers tangible opportunities for women to learn, develop and connect on an all-island basis. This is also an opportunity for female entrepreneurs to realise their growth potential in a supportive mentor led environment. We want to see more women founders scaling their businesses and ensuring they are maximizing the opportunity of trade across the island.” Applications for the inaugural Grow It All Island programme will close on Friday, 3rd November.

Eye on News

Standout growth for local law firm Locally owned law firm Millar McCall Wylie has experienced a ‘standout’ period of growth, driven by expansion across all its services.

he multi-specialism firm laid out an ambitious strategy in 2021 to grow turnover by 50% in three years, a target it is on course to exceed. Growth has come about by building and maintaining sectoral client partnerships, broadening its services and investing in talent development. Its real estate department, under the ongoing leadership of Peter McCall and Simon Fleming, has acted in some of Northern Ireland’s largest commercial property transactions this year. This included the firm’s role in supporting Killahoey Limited, who acquired Rushmere Shopping Centre in February and acting for the purchasers of Foyleside Shopping Centre in September – both pivotal developments for the local retail sector.

The matrimonial and family team continue to increase their client base providing guidance on separation, divorce, education and children’s issues and have been involved in several sensitive, high profile cases this year. Lawyers at the firm have supported the licensed and hospitality trade with several core developments in 2023 including the arrival of the recently opened Room2 Hometel in Belfast and the acquisition of Portrush’s Atlantic Hotel. Employment law services have been expanded to offer specialist guidance in areas such as data protection, immigration advice and senior management training, whilst the firm’s personal injury team has had its busiest year to date, obtaining over £3million in compensation for its clients. A

substantial amount of banking and finance deals, corporate transactions and high-level commercial dispute resolution cases were also secured over the course of 2023. Jan Cunningham (pictured), who stepped into the role of Managing Partner in March, comments: “2023 is shaping up to be a standout year for Millar McCall Wylie and the culmination of a sustained period of growth. Our results are down to our people and partnerships – neither of which we take for granted. We’ve put a great deal of focus on both broadening and deepening the range of services we offer our clients and that approach is working across all areas. “We have a team of leading solicitors providing a vast spectrum of expertise and we keep that alive by investing in our people at every level. We plan to announce two important senior hires in the coming months as part of our continued evolution.” Millar McCall Wylie has, within recent weeks, maintained its Top Tier status in the Legal 500 rankings

and been listed as a top ranked firm by Chambers and Partners. In 2023, it has increased its client portfolio, transactional volume and employee base between its Belfast city centre and Upper Newtownards Road bases in Belfast.

FAMILY BUSINESS AS A FORCE FOR GOOD T

he annual conference of the NI Family Business Forum which was set up by leading local accountancy firm Harbinson Mulholland in conjunction with Ulster University Business School 7 years ago, was held in Belfast recently, on the eve of National Family Business Day. A delegation of over 100 people representing 40 local family businesses gathered to hear how being ‘A Force for Good’ would help curate a better future for their businesses and our planet as well as hear some amazing inspirational real-life stories and experiences, that make this sector so unique. A raft of topics including philanthropy and leaving a legacy, sustainability, creating a world class culture, next gen leadership transition and adapting a lean manufacturing mindset for continuous improvement and growth were addressed by guest speakers and a panel of experts and business owners. Keynote speaker, Darren Burns from the Timpson Group captivated the audience when he talked about why they hire staff from marginalised groups and how this can be good for business and society, as a whole.

Pictured (L-R) are Darren McDowell, Senior Partner at Harbinson Mulholland, Keynote Speaker Darren Burns, from the Timpson Group and Dr Ian Smyth from UUBS Centre for Sustainable Family Enterprise.

Eye on News

Biopax Links Up With Lisburn Soccer Club

Dr Terry Cross OBE, Chairman, Biopax; Greg Prescott, General Manager, Biopax and Bill Shaw from the David Cross Foundation, with Daniel Gardner (13) and Alex Cole (8).

Biopax Limited, the new forward-thinking green packaging company, is proudly unveiling a significant sponsorship deal with Ballymacash Rangers FC, Ballymacash Rangers Youth, and Ballymacash Sports Academy in Lisburn.

he partnership exemplifies Biopax’s commitment to supporting the local community as well as promoting environmental responsibility. The sponsorship will bolster the club’s involvement in the local soccer scene, covering expenses such as team kits which now proudly feature the Biopax logo on the front. The football club’s accessible stand has been dedicated in memory of Biopax Chairman, Dr. Terry Cross’ son, David who lost his life to malignant melanoma. It will be sponsored by The David Cross Foundation, a charity Dr Cross set up after his passing.

Located on an expansive 8.4-acre site at Springvale Business Park in West Belfast, Biopax Limited specialises in crafting tailor-made packaging and labels, both printed and unprinted, serving diverse sectors such as food service, retail, distribution, and beverages. Former Lisburn and Castlereagh Deputy Mayor, Alderman Amanda Grehan, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating: “We are delighted that Biopax have agreed to be our main sponsor. This partnership will give both the Ballymacash Rangers FC, Ballymacash Rangers Youth and

Ballymacash Sports Academy an opportunity to develop itself into an environmentally friendly facility.” Dr Terry Cross OBE, Chairman of Biopax, emphasised his passion for supporting youth and community initiatives. He said: “Young people and cross-community projects are a particular passion of mine, especially supporting and improving the employment prospects of young people. We are delighted to support young people and will be inviting them to visit the factory, and we also hope that some of the young people will join our apprenticeship programme.” Dr. Cross, a well-known businessman in Northern Ireland, has a profound history of charitable endeavours. He serves as the President of The Red Cross NI and established The David Cross Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation in memory of his son, David. The foundation focuses on supporting research programmes and early detection projects related

to melanoma, as well as fostering social change in local communities. Greg Prescott, General Manager of Biopax, said: “We look forward to a successful partnership that will benefit the local sports community and youth development in Lisburn. This sponsorship deal aligns with Biopax’s dedication to making a positive impact on both local communities and the environment. It showcases our commitment to fostering a sustainable future while supporting sports, youth development, and crosscommunity initiatives in Lisburn.”

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Straight talking tech. Eye on TechEye

Could The Open Data Era Be Upon Us?

Tuesday’s King’s Speech confirmed we could be within months of a change in UK law with the potential to transform people’s lives and turbocharge economic growth.

he government has committed to “opening the door to gamechanging new technologies” through the Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill. The end objective is to achieve ‘open data’, where all types of personal data – financial, biographical, demographic, employment, etc. – can be securely shared within a trustworthy ecosystem. People will be able to verify their identity online with the same confidence as with paper documents. In our digital economy, an ever-increasing proportion of goods and services are bought and consumed online. Imagine the net benefit to individuals, businesses and society at large, if people were able to selectively and securely share their personal data with trusted parties, allowing them to instantly receive offers tailored to their specific needs, wants and situations. The Department for Science,

Innovation and Technology has estimated that the bill will boost the UK economy by £4.7bn over the next decade alone. In short, the DPDI bill seeks to reconceptualise data as a force for good, something that can empower consumers, rather than just raising privacy concerns. The organisation I chair, the Centre for Finance, Innovation & Technology, is keenly aware of the potential benefits of enhanced data-sharing in the realm of finance specifically. This is a subset of open data that we call ‘open finance’. Fully realised, open finance could create a future where your phone can help you make smarter decisions in every aspect of your financial life – from weekly budgeting to retirement planning. This could transform financial literacy, effortlessly and instantly offering people a detailed understanding of their personal finances. That would be especially vital

at a time when a majority of British adults are still reporting month-onmonth increases in their cost of living and real household income is set to fall 4% over a two-year period. Small and medium-sized enterprises also suffer from the walled gardens into which the financial services industry is currently divided. Being able to obtain a complete picture of their finances will help those businesses facing a challenging trading environment in which corporate insolvencies rose 10% year on year in Q3 2023. Open finance has the potential to be at the cutting edge of the UK’s march to open data – for three main reasons. Firstly, perhaps most obviously, financial services comprise a sizeable chunk of most people’s and businesses’ data footprints. It simply won’t be possible for the UK to achieve a modern, digitally enabled, API-driven, globally connected economy without successfully

opening up financial datasets. Fortunately, the UK has a worldleading fintech sector with the ability to move quickly, build new products and services and partner effectively with large incumbents. The regulatory environment is also highly amenable to this kind of innovation. Secondly, the government is using the success of open banking as the first step towards unlocking a wider smart data economy. The UK was a world leader in making open banking a practical reality. The standards developed here enabled secure sharing of consumers’ transactional data and have since been adopted in 80 other countries worldwide. The DPDI bill will help consolidate that success. Thirdly, and finally, we are seeing the progress being made within open finance. The question of how to apply open banking-style data-sharing to financial services more broadly is high on the industry agenda.

Straight talking tech. Eye on TechEye

New Guidance For Social Media Sites The UK’s communication regulator Ofcom has published its first guidance for technology companies since the introduction of tougher online safety laws last month.

nder the new guidance, children on higher-risk sites would not be given a list of suggested friends or appear within other users’ lists. Their location details will not be viewable by anyone and can only be messaged by those who are connected. Dame Melanie Dawes, chief executive of Ofcom, said: “Children have told us about the dangers they face, and we’re determined to create a safer life online for young people in particular.” To combat illegal images of younger

people, the regulator is proposing the use of “hash matching”, which compares an image’s digital signature with a database of harmful content and flags when it finds a match. The technology, which is already used by the largest social media companies, comes after ministers admitted it isn’t “technically feasible” to look for child abuse material in encrypted messages. It is not possible to use hash matching in end-to-end encrypted messaging services.

Dawes said: “Our figures show that most secondary-school children have been contacted online in a way that potentially makes them feel uncomfortable. For many, it happens repeatedly.” Ofcom is also considering keyword detection to tackle harmful online content. Businesses under the draft codes will need to have an individual accountable, dedicated teams, easy reporting and blocking plus safety tests when changing recommendation algorithms.

The Online Safety Bill, which received Royal Assent last month, will allow Ofcom to fine up to £18m or 10% of an offending company’s global revenue. Final revisions of the guidance are expected to be published in Autumn 2024 before they are put forward for parliamentary approval. Ofcom says it will suggest further guidance on adult sites this year and produce a consultation on ways to clamp down on the promotion of harmful content, such as self-harm, in the spring.

Had A Drink? Don’t Talk To Your Phone Smartphones may be able to detect how drunk a person is based on changes in their voice, according to a new study.

esearchers used sensors in smartphones to record a person’s voice before and after drinking. They then put the recordings through a digital program to isolate and measure certain aspects, like frequency and pitch. When checked against breath alcohol results, they found that the model they developed was able to predict a person’s level of intoxication with 98% accuracy. Experts say the results of the small study could be used to develop ways to help prevent alcoholrelated injuries and deaths in the future. The research was led by Brian Suffoletto, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Stanford University in the US.

He said the accuracy of the findings of his research “genuinely took me by surprise”. “Imagine if we had a tool capable of passively sampling data from an individual as they went about their daily routines and survey for changes that could indicate a drinking episode to know when they need help,” he said. Professor Suffoletto said larger studies were needed to confirm the validity of the findings, which have been published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The study involved 18 adults aged 21 and above, who were randomly given a series of tongue twisters to read out loud. A smartphone was used to record their voices before drinking, and each hour up to seven hours after drinking. The researchers also measured each person’s breath alcohol levels at the beginning of the study and every 30 minutes for up to seven hours. Mind you, it’s hardly a major breakthrough. Most of us have been able to tell for years if anyone has had a few based on how they speak.

Straight talking tech. Eye on TechEye

Belfast’s Driverless Bus Gets The Go Ahead Self-driving software developer Oxa and Austriaheadquartered commercial vehicle maker eVersum have partnered to roll out a driverless shuttle right here in Belfast.

ogether the two companies are producing self-driving shuttles that will roam Belfast Harbour’s Titanic Quarter tourist sites – including Titanic Belfast itself. Each shuttle can transport 20 seated people and will be required to have a human safety operator. Shuttles are scheduled to start operating within Belfast Harbour in 2025. “With eVersum, we can deploy

passenger-carrying autonomous shuttle fleets almost anywhere and these flexible forms of transport will become widespread as a way of moving people and goods in a safer, more efficient and faster way,” said Gavin Jackson, CEO of Oxa. The Harlander project was given the green light in February after it was delivered an £11m package from Innovate UK and the Centre for

Connected & Autonomous Vehicles. Jackson added: “The broader rollout of self-driving vehicles is starting and shuttling can lead the way as the fastest evolving commercial arena for Oxa self-driving technology to make its mark internationally.” Oxa, previously called Oxbotica, secured £115m in its Series C raise at the beginning of this year. It included investment from Google.

Vehicles with hands-free driving features were permitted in geofenced areas of motorways in the UK earlier this year. The government’s timeline is to have fully driveless vehicles on UK roads by 2025. Recently King Charles III outlined the UK government’s legislative framework for autonomous vehicles in his speech.

Behave Yourself – AI Is Watching A police force has started using artificial intelligence to detect whether drivers are using mobile phones at the wheel or not wearing seat belts.

erseyside Police deployed an AI-equipped spy camera van on the region’s roads for the first time this week. The van uses two cameras to capture footage of motorists which is then analysed by an AI system to detect whether any offence has been committed.Footage flagged by the system is then reviewed by a police officer. The police force says that the technology will help make local roads safer and noted that last year 19 people died on Merseyside’s roads and 440 were seriously injured. “The new technology isn’t about giving tickets, it’s about improving road safety and encouraging

people to stop using their phones and start wearing seatbelts,” a spokesman said. “Hopefully now everyone knows we’re using this technology, it will prevent them from using their phone and encourage them to wear seatbelts.” The first camera in the AI-equipped van is set at a shallow angle and can identify a mobile phone close to the driver’s ear or whether a seat belt is being worn by drivers or passengers. The second has a steeper view to see if a mobile phone is being used for texting. Offences identified in the AI results will be double-checked by humans before being passed to the police for review, who will then notify drivers of any intended prosecution. Paul Fletcher, from Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, said the “vast majority” of people understand the dangers of using a phone or not wearing a seatbelt. “For those who don’t appreciate the risks associated with both, we’re hoping this device will be enough to prevent them from continuing to put themselves and other at risk of harm,” he added.

Straight talking tech. Eye on TechEye

What Can We Believe?

More than 85% of people are worried about the impact of online disinformation and 87% believe it has already harmed their country’s politics, according to a global survey, as the United Nations announced a plan to tackle the phenomenon.

udrey Azoulay, director general of the UN’s culture body, Unesco, says that false information and hate speech online – accelerated and amplified by social media platforms – posed “major risks to social cohesion, peace and stability”. Regulation was urgently needed “to protect access to information … while at the same time protecting freedom of expression and human rights”, Azoulay said as she presented a “governance blueprint” for governments, regulators and platforms. A Unesco-commissioned survey in 16 countries due to hold national elections next year – with a total of 2.5 billion voters – showed how pressing the need for effective regulation had become, the organisation said. The survey by pollster Ipsos of 8,000 people in countries including Austria, Croatia, the US, Algeria, Mexico, Ghana and India, found that 56% of internet users got their news mainly from social media, far more than from TV (44%) or media sites (29%).

Social media was the main source of news in almost every country, despite trust in the information it provided being significantly lower than in traditional media: 50% against 66% for television, 63% for radio and 57% for media websites and apps.

Disinformation was overwhelmingly seen as a concrete threat, with 85% saying they worried about its influence. Eighty-seven per cent said disinformation had already had a major impact on national political life and would play a part in 2024’s elections.

“ Disinformation was overwhelmingly seen as a concrete threat, with 85% saying they worried about its influence. Eighty-seven per cent said disinformation had already had a major impact on national political life and would play a part in 2024’s elections.” Across all 16 countries, 68% of respondents said social media was where fake news was most widespread, ahead of messaging apps (38%), a belief “overwhelmingly prevalent in all countries, age groups, social backgrounds and political preferences”.

Hate speech was also seen as widespread: 67% of respondents said they had seen it online (and 74% of under-35s). Large majorities (88%) said governments and regulators must address both issues, and 90% also wanted platforms to take action.

Vigilance was seen as particularly important during election campaigns. Of those polled, 89% demanded government and regulatory intervention and 91% expected social media platforms to be even more alert when democracy was directly in play. “People are very concerned about disinformation, across every country and social category – age, education, rural or urban,” said Mathieu Gallard of Ipsos. “They are especially worried during elections – and they want all actors to fight it.” Unesco said its plan, based on seven key principles, had emerged from a consultation process that it described as “unprecedented” in the UN system, drawing on more than 10,000 contributions from 134 countries over an 18-month period.

Eye on News

Six In A Row As Titanic Hotel Belfast Is Named Northern Ireland’s Leading Hotel

Adrian McNally, General Manager of Titanic Hotel Belfast, joins staff to celebrate the hotel being named Northern Ireland’s Leading Hotel for the sixth year in a row.

Titanic Hotel Belfast has sailed into the position of Northern Ireland’s Leading Hotel for the sixth consecutive year at this year’s World Travel Awards.

ecognising the hotel’s excellence and legacy as a symbol of Northern Ireland’s rich maritime history, the World Travel Awards, which this year commemorates its 30th anniversary, is the most prestigious honours programme in travel and tourism. Testament to the hotel’s exceptional and consistent quality service, commitment

to guest satisfaction and a leading light in Belfast’s tourism offering, Titanic Hotel Belfast’s uniqueness is unrivalled and this award is hailed around the globe as the ultimate gold standard accolade in the hospitality industry. Adrian McNally, General Manager of Titanic Hotel Belfast, said: “I am honestly

bursting with pride that Titanic Hotel Belfast has been named Northern Ireland’s Leading Hotel once again at the World Travel Awards. From our dedicated staff to our domestic and international visitors, and wedding guests. To the world leaders who choose to make Titanic Hotel Belfast their home during a visit to Belfast. To the businesses that host conferences in our Drawing Office and the families who enjoy lunch in the Wolff Grill, or the couples and friends who relax in our bar with a cocktail at the weekend, this award is for every one of them.

I believe that it truly is thanks to everyone who has chosen to walk through our door over the past six years that this award keeps coming back to the hotel.” Titanic Hotel Belfast opened its doors in 2017 having been lovingly restored to its former glory. Boasting 119 nautical themed rooms and event spaces where RMS Titanic was designed, the hotel delivers unparalleled comfort and sophistication. It embodies the spirit of Belfast’s rich shipbuilding heritage nestled under the H&W cranes and offers guests an unforgettable experience.

Eye on Hospitality

Unwrap the Magic of Christmas at Bishop’s Gate Hotel This holiday season, let the enchantment of Christmas transport you to a world of wonder and warmth at Bishop’s Gate Hotel in Derry.

ow, more than ever, it’s crucial to create cherished moments with your loved ones, and we invite you to experience the true spirit of Christmas in a setting like no other. Wander through Derry’s charming, cobbled streets, illuminated by the mesmerising Christmas lights that adorn this historic city. The breathtaking architecture provides the perfect backdrop for a festive journey. Breathe in the crisp, frosty air as you revel in the season’s sights, sounds, tastes, and aromas, and let our warm welcome envelop you in the magic of Christmas. Make this festive season extraordinary by celebrating at Bishop’s Gate Hotel. Whether you’re gathering with friends, colleagues, or your family, we

have the perfect setting for your holiday celebrations. Toast to the season with a glass of Champagne, exchange gifts over a sumptuous lunch, dinner, or indulge in a delightful afternoon tea. Our stunning private spaces are ready to host your magical festivities, making every moment truly special in the heart of Derry. If you are looking for a perfect romantic break for two or a magical family experience, there’s nothing quite like walking into Bishop’s Gate Hotel where lights sparkle, a majestic tree greets you upon arrival, and the buzz of festivity adds a special glow to the air. With all this set alongside Derry’s renowned shopping and foodie scene, Derry makes a perfect place to embrace the festive season.

Festive Shopping Break 1 Night Bed, Breakfast, 3 Course Evening Meal, Glass of Prosecco & 10% Discount at Walled City Crafters from £195.

Christmas Shopping With extended opening hours over Christmas, you’ve got plenty of shopping time to get that perfect gift right on our doorstep. From luxury boutique stores to high street chains and stunning craft shops, you’ll find everything you need and more. So, whether it’s Secret Santa or stocking fillers, big presents or little presents, you will find it all in the Walled City. The Christmas Procession events will take place in Derry on Friday November 24th. Santa’s Switch On Procession will consist of festive characters, NI Fire and Rescue Service, Panto Characters and beautiful bespoke Christmas themed mobile installations. The bars and restaurants are of course always full of Christmas spirit and this year will be no exception. The Christmas parties

Christmas Events and Festive Eating and Drinking There is no shortage of Christmas things to do in Derry, from spectacular Christmas shows including The Magic of Christmas by The Ulster Orchestra to the Jack and The Beanstalk pantomime. The schedule begins on Friday November 17th with the Guildhall Craft Fayre and will continue through the month of December with key events including the Mayor’s Christmas programming and Tea Dances.

are back on providing plenty of festive fun with fabulous food and drinks for you to enjoy. This Christmas, make memories that will last a lifetime at Bishop’s Gate Hotel. Book your magical holiday experience today. It’s time to unwrap the magic of Christmas in Derry, and we can’t wait to share it with you! www.bishopsgatehotelderry.com

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Crescent One Launched By The Regency Team

Pictured (L-R) at the launch of Crescent One is Andrea Kieran, director, Aurient Ltd and Katie Jackson, business manager, Aurient Ltd. The launch of Crescent One, part of The Regency Collection, represents a £1.5 million investment from Aurient Ltd, and is phase two of the company’s three-phase £7 million regeneration project to breathe life back into South Belfast’s Crescent area.

An extensive regeneration project in South Belfast’s Crescent area has reached its second milestone, with the launch of Crescent One – a new and inspiring venue for meetings and events.

his stunning space is located on the Crescent within the historic Queen’s Quarter. The investment of £1.5 million is part of a major £7 million regeneration project from Aurient Ltd, a local investment house that’s pledged its commitment to breathe life back into the Crescent area. Tailored to accommodate parties up to 60, the venue offers a fully adaptable layout to suit both corporate and private events. The diverse space is just as suited to board meetings and corporate lunches as it is weddings and intimate private dining experiences. Boasting picturesque views of

Crescent Park, the new space pairs classic and contemporary interiors to create a warm and inviting ambience. Luxurious chesterfield leather sofas are positioned by an exposed-brick fireplace to spark conversation, while statement lighting and an impressive 5m banquet table sets the scene for intimate occasions. The launch of Crescent One is the second phase in a three-phase regeneration plan, which began in early 2021. Aurient Ltd, run by husband-andwife team Anthony and Andrea Kieran, has already significantly transformed the Crescent area. The journey began

with a £2.5 million restoration of 11 & 12 Upper Crescent creating 5-star luxury accommodation, known as The Regency. Following its official opening in 2022, The Regency has quickly established a reputation as one of Northern Ireland’s most luxurious places to stay, welcoming guests from across the globe, including former US President Bill Clinton, his wife and former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and Senator George Mitchell. Commenting on the completion of Crescent One, Andrea Kieran, director, Aurient Ltd, said: “We are thrilled to reach this next milestone in our major regeneration of the Crescent area, which will further enhance the existing Regency hospitality offering, and firmly position Queen’s Quarter as a bustling and vibrant pocket of our city. “Our work is not yet complete, and we are gearing up to commence the final stage of this regeneration project through the redevelopment of 14 and 15 Upper Crescent. This third phase

completes The Regency Collection by increasing our accommodation options, and introducing a food and beverage offering together with an exclusive wellness suite.” The final phase of the Crescent restoration project is due to commence later this year and will see Aurient Ltd join forces once again with long term partners and local suppliers including GMR Architects, Orla Higgins Design, Noel Savage Construction and WH Stephens.

Crescent One is now available to hire for private and corporate functions and events. To make an enquiry please contact The Regency team on 028 9588 1846. For more information, please visit www.theregencybelfast.com

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KETTYLE IRISH FOODS LAUNCHES ONLINE SHOP The Fermanaghbased premium meat business, Kettyle Irish Foods, has launched its own website shop with a select line of its salt moss dry-aged beef retailing in 22 of Tesco’s stores in Northern Ireland.

ormerly only available through high-end restaurants and eateries, these developments follow on the heels of a significant awards haul for Kettyle products. In the past 3 months alone Kettyle cuts have received 13 food critic and industry accolades including Gold at the 2023 World Steak Challenge in Holland plus five awards at the Irish Blas na hEireann Awards and several star-ratings at the prestigious UK Great Taste Awards.** “We are delighted that these developments bring the outstanding flavours of our salt moss dry aged produce to a wider market,” explains business founder Maurice Kettyle. “The investment in online

means that steak enthusiasts and home cooks can obtain our showstopping meats and restaurant speciality cuts in just a few clicks via https://shop.kettyleirishfoods. com/. All orders are chill-packed, posted and delivered fresh to the doorstep within 24 hours.” The extensive online selection of prime beef and steak cuts includes Dexter Thor’s Hammer - a unique cut to Kettyle, along with Kettyle’s King Arthur Joint, Marrow Burger; Guinness Burger; Lamb Rack; Fillet Steak, Tomahawk Steak, and an innovative, versatile Bone Marrow Melt Chubb. Whilst supermarket shoppers in Northern Ireland can now choose from a select beef range exclusive to Tesco.

Having grown up on the family farm, Maurice Kettyle founded the business in Lisnaskea Co. Fermanagh just over a decade ago. By applying his knowledge of animal husbandry, diet and welfare to develop the Kettyle brand he put a commitment to sustainable sourcing at the core of the business. Over ten years later and the business is now part of ABP Food Group and employs 46 people. Local sourcing and sustainability remain at the heart of the brand. “We know that consumers are increasingly seeking locally sourced, sustainable produce and our traditional values align perfectly with this demand.” Only the very best Irish grass-fed cattle from small-scale, family farms on the island of Ireland make the

Kettyle cut. Maurice also pioneered an original dry aged craft and went on to patent his own salt moss dry-ageing process using local Irish Sea salt and organic seaweed only. Premium cuts of meat are dry aged within a handcrafted Irish salt brick chamber to remove moisture. This renders the fat to a dry flakiness resulting in quicker caramelisation on the pan and a better eating experience. The texture, depth and concentration of flavours is entirely unique to the Kettyle brand. Today Maurice along with a small team of artisan butchers continue to create and test the cuts in a bespoke atelier and state of the art tasting kitchen to ensure only the very best products are added to the range.

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SuperValu & Centra NI Secure Prestigious Wins at Retail Industry Awards in London

uperValu and Centra were honoured recently at the 2023 Retail Industry Awards with two stores taking home top titles. Woods’ SuperValu Fruitfield in Richhill was awarded the sought-after Independent Retailer of the Year title (in the over 6,000sq ft group) while Bradley’s Centra in Maghera won the coveted Drinks Retailer of the Year award. Commenting on the awards, Musgrave NI Retail Sales Director Paddy Murney said: “I would like to congratulate Woods’ SuperValu Fruitfield, and Bradley’s Centra Maghera, which along with their teams, competed against some of the best stores in the UK, to achieve these top awards. Their commitment and dedication to serving their local communities with the best in modern convenience retailing is unwavering and these awards are testament to that. “Local has never been more important and our SuperValu and Centra stores operate in the heart of communities across Northern Ireland, offering our

customers value, choice and high-quality convenience. I am delighted these stores have been recognised as best in class for the service they provide.” Philip Woods, SuperValu Fruitfield owner added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Independent Retailer of the Year Award once again, after achieving the title in 2021. To be recognised as the best independent store in the UK is an accolade of which we’re very proud. We look forward to continuing to provide excellent service and an extensive choice for our customers for many years to come.” Joe Bradley, owner of Centra Maghera said: “We are delighted to have won the Drinks Retailer of the Year Award. We have an extensive range of beers, wines, and premium spirits in-store and offer competitive prices alongside the best customer service experience. We’re very proud of this achievement and would like to thank our store manager Eoghan Jordan and the entire team for their hard work.” Widely regarded as ‘The Oscars’ of the grocery

Bradley’s Centra Maghera store manager Eoghan Jordan (left) and owner Joe Bradley celebrate after winning Drinks Retailer of the Year.

sector, the Retail Industry Awards reward excellence and outstanding achievement across a broad range of categories, recognising independent retailers alongside the large supermarket groups.

Liberty IT Launches New Techstart Academy With 80 Roles For 2024 Intake Liberty IT has announced the launch of a redesigned TechStart Academy for entry level employees and a recruitment drive of 80 new roles as part of next year’s intake.

he industry leader in digital innovation worked in partnership with employees, parent company Liberty Mutual and previous graduates of the academy to identify enhancement opportunities to support the development of cutting edge, critical technical and non-technical skills to enable a thriving career in technology. Emma Mullan, Senior Director of Talent from Liberty IT said: “The island of Ireland has some of the world’s best tech talent and at Liberty IT we are committed to ensuring that our graduate programme helps our new hires build a great springboard for long and successful careers in the tech industry! As a result, we continue to invest heavily in our intern and graduate programmes – this week we look forward to welcoming 60 new graduates across our Belfast, Dublin and Galway hubs and are pleased to launch a new recruitment drive for 80 roles for next year’s entry level intake. Leaning into feedback from our previous entry level employees, who missed out on some in-person onboarding through the covid pandemic years, we are maximising an in-person learning

Tony Marron (left), Managing Director of Liberty IT and Senior Director of Talent, Emma Mullan (right) are joined by Associate Software Engineers Paula Santkiewick and Young Israel Izere as the industry leader in digital innovation announces the launch of its redesigned entry level academy and a recruitment drive for 80 new roles as part of next year’s intake.

experience. We have created a dedicated floor in our Belfast office for this year’s team to learn, to connect, to have 121s and to socialise.” “Our new TechStart Academy blends technical, career and business education through training exposure and experiences throughout the 18-month programme in support of skill building and development. At Liberty IT we believe our culture sets us apart and we also feel that our entry level talent is our future.

Through this comprehensive programme, we feel we have the opportunity to embed our culture, understand our engineering and people focus and of course, form firm friendships and get involved in our Employee Resource Groups and active social scene! We are confident that the new TechStart Academy will give all graduates a unique insight into a career as a Software Engineer and that of Liberty IT and what makes us a great place to work,” Emma added.

Eye on News

£280,000 Investment Transforms Townsend Enterprise Park

Lord Mayor Cllr Ryan Murphy & Margaret Patterson McMahon, CEO, Townsend Enterprise Park are pictured.

Townsend Enterprise Park, a cornerstone of Belfast’s business community, has unveiled a substantial £280K transformation within its property, which has created an enriched working environment for its 46 tenants.

he extensive refurbishment project has enhanced the workspace functionality, improved accessibility, and catered to the surging demand from new and existing tenants. Strategically located just off the Westlink and in close proximity to Belfast City Centre, Townsend Enterprise Park is home to 46 small-tomedium-sized businesses. Collectively, these enterprises employ over 300 professionals from Belfast and beyond. The park offers flexible workspaces, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, and

hosts a diverse range of businesses and charities, from coffee roasters, office fit-out specialists, mechanics, training companies, international design agencies, florists, gyms, and food and product manufacturers. Founded on principles of social and economic regeneration, Townsend Enterprise Park has flourished as a charitable organisation with a mission to stimulate business development and community engagement and upliftment in the local area. As a testament to its unwavering commitment to these values, the park recently celebrated

full occupancy for the first time in its trading history, showing trust and growth at the highly respected Park. Margaret Patterson McMahon, CEO of Townsend Enterprise Park, said: “I am delighted to finally launch our fantastic new space at Townsend Enterprise Park, amongst the Lord Mayor, local Dignitaries, community representatives, our esteemed tenants, and our Board of Trustees. This has been made possible through re-investment from us and that of Community Finance Ireland, who have supported us financially contributing £130,000. “Our growth is a reflection of the tenacious spirit of Belfast’s thriving business community, which has deep roots on this site for almost 300 years. We’re not just about profit; we’re about purpose, and our success is a testament to that.” Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy said: “It’s an honour to

be invited to unveil this significant development at Townsend Enterprise Park, which will continue to bolster and nurture local businesses, and provide vital employment in the community. “As a Council and within the Belfast Agenda, we are committed to supporting an additional 44,000 jobs by 2035 and Townsend Enterprise Park is a prime example of this aim. We will continue to support business communities as they grow and prosper within our city and I wish all current and future tenants the best of luck!.” In addition to the workspace upgrade, Townsend Enterprise Park has ambitious plans for a Foundry Quarter heritage initiative, featuring an exhibition situated on the ‘peace line.’ This initiative aims to celebrate and educate visitors about the area’s rich industrial, social, and cultural heritage, with the goal of bolstering economic activity, tourism, and civic pride in the region.

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Eye Moving On

1. Conall Kilpatrick

2. Gavin Marshall

3. Kenyon Harris

1 Conall Kilpatrick has been appointed Chief Operating Officer at b4b Group where he will lead and manage the daily operations to provide strategic advice and direction to meet the leading IT and telecoms providers end objectives. Conall has extensive experience having worked in the telecoms industry for over 18 years. Also at b4b, 2 Gavin Marshall has been appointed Head of Customer Service. Gavin has over 25 years’ experience in the telecoms industry, and previously worked as a Senior Maintenance Engineer at 3 b4b Group. Kenyon Harris has been appointed Head of IT. Kenyon has extensive experience having worked in the IT industry for over 7 years. 4 And Matthew Gouk has been appointed Head of Operations and Technology. Matthew has 24 years’ experience in the telecoms industry, having undertaken the roles of Telecoms Field Engineer and Head of Technical Services. 5 Andrew McIntosh has been appointed Head of Research and Development at leading quarry and mineral processor Kilwaughter Minerals where he will be responsible for controlling and coordinating all of the research activities within the company. Utilising his wide breadth of experience gained from over 25 years working in the cement, concrete and drymix industry, Andrew will lead the research and product development departments across the whole company.

4. Matthew Gouk

7. Patrycja Reinke

5. Andrew McIntosh

8. Fiona Kane

6. Kim Swan

9. Niamh McCallan

Aircoach, Ireland’s leading private bus and coach operator, has announced the appointment of 6 Kim Swan as Managing Director. Kim brings over 30 years of leadership experience in customer and commercial-focussed roles across transport and logistics, including her most recent role as Interim Managing Director for Freight at P&O Ferries. She joins Aircoach with a wealth of experience in leading change, building successful teams, and developing trusted relationships with key stakeholders – including clients, regulators, and trade bodies. Accountancy and advisory practice Baker Tilly Mooney Moore has announced the appointment 7 of Patrycja Reinke as a Tax Senior. Part qualified with Chartered Accountants Ireland, Patrycja joins the Belfast firm from a big four accounting practice, where she specialised in Corporation Tax for three and a half years. Patrycja studied Accounting and Management part-time at the Ulster University and throughout her studies, worked part-time in the accounting department of a Belfast commercial property agency before a short period in accounts within the agri-food sector. 8 Fiona Kane has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors at Belfast International Arts Festival. Fiona has been the Director of the Vice-Chancellor’s office at Ulster University since 2016. Her role at Ulster University is varied and among many other responsibilities she delivers key strategic oversight, leads the Executive Support Team, researches and develops highlevel policy, and engages extensively with key stakeholders. She also led the team who hosted President Biden at Ulster University in April.

10. Steven McKenna

11. Thompson Godfrey

9 Niamh McCallan has joined health technology specialists B-Secur as an Algorithm Engineer, performing data analysis, algorithm design, validation, and evaluation. At the same company, 10 Steven McKenna becomes Senior Verification Engineer, responsible for verifying the functionality of the company’s flagship product, HeartKey, and improving efficiencies through automation, while 11 Thompson Godfrey joins as B-Secur’s new VP of Product Management. A pivotal member of the B-Secur leadership team, Thompson will align the company’s product portfolio within the dynamic landscape of the U.S. healthcare industry.

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Eye Moving On 12 Alan Crowe has been appointed Chief Executive of Belfast One BID. With over 35 years experience, his previous roles include CEO of Royal Ulster Agricultural Society and Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing and Own-Co Ltd, (NI Public Agency) under Department of Social Development NI.

12. Alan Crowe

13. Rick Seehra

2. Richard Baker

Belfast based governance, risk, and compliance consultancy firm FSCom Limited (fscom) has 13 announced the appointment of Rick Seehra as Head of Banking. With 13 years’ experience in the financial services sector, Rick brings extensive expertise in prudential risk and compliance. His senior advisory background in banking and regulation positions him as the driving force in the expansion of the company’s UK banking practice. Rick makes the move to fscom after spending a number of years in several GRC practices, most recently as Head of Prudential in Bovill. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council 14 has appointed Mr Richard Baker GM MSc as its new Chief Executive. Richard is a public and private sector leader with 30 years of diverse operational and strategic experience, including his former position as Corporate Director for Development and Leisure at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. During the role he delivered projects including the enabling of 2019 Open Golf Championship, the realisation of Northern Ireland’s first Enterprise Zone and the initiation of the Council’s £80m Growth Deal.

3. Ruth Harper

18. Nancy McMullan

16. Victoria Kingston

19. Bronagh Lawell

17. Karen Cooksley

15 Ruth Harper has joined Workplus as Partnerships Development Manager. Workplus specialises in helping employers navigate the early talent landscape, including through apprentice recruitment, coordinated work experience and schools’ engagement. This is a new role as Workplus grows its team, reaches new markets and increases its offering to client companies. Maritime Belfast Trust, the charity responsible for promoting and preserving Belfast’s maritime heritage, has appointed two new Trustees to 16 its board. Victoria Kingston is a Historian, Curator & Interpretation Consultant based in London. She has over 25 years’ experience in the museum and heritage sector, developing interpretation for historic sites, museums and galleries across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Victoria oversaw all the exhibition content for Titanic Belfast when it first opened in 2012 and continued to work for several years with Titanic Belfast advising on content and interpretation. 17 Karen Cooksley brings a wealth of experience as a planning and housing lawyer. She has worked on transformational riverside regeneration schemes such as Liverpool Waters plus iconic projects such as Battersea Power Station, Wembley Stadium, London Eye and Docklands Light Railway in her home city. 18 Nancy McMullan joins accountants Gildernew & Co’s Business Restructuring & Personal Insolvency team as Senior Manager. A graduate in Business Management & Marketing, Nancy holds a Professional Post Graduate Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She also sits on the Enterprise Board for CO3. Also at Gildernew 19 & Co, Bronagh Lawell becomes Accounts Department Manager. Based in the company’s Belfast office she will support clients with the full remit of financial reporting and tax requirements. She will also be responsible for the development and mentoring of all trainee accountants.

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New Private Client Team launched at Davidson McDonnell Leading Northern Ireland law firm Davidson McDonnell has officially launched a new Private Client team appointing ex-London partner Victoria Sterritt to lead the department.

Pictured left to right are: Sara Ord senior solicitor, Sally Flaherty solicitor, Victoria Sterritt Legal Director and Rachael McKee senior solicitor.

ictoria is joined in the Private Client team by senior solicitors Rachael McKee and Sara Ord who both have more than 20 years’ specialist experience. The specialist solicitors in the Private Client team are trusted family advisors, respected for their uncompromising work protecting the interests and wealth of individuals and their families in Northern Ireland and in England. The team has extensive experience across a broad spectrum of specialist private client areas including family and matrimonial, trusts and estate planning, succession planning, wills and probate, and residential property.

Though Davidson McDonnell has been expertly servicing private clients for almost a decade, the team under Victoria Sterritt’s lead brings a new, dedicated focus in the area, combining innovative working practices, a personable approach and expert legal advice to create a progressive force in this area. The Private Client team promotes a solutionbased model across their range of services, including mediation, to meet the growing demand for cut-through legal advice that minimises cost, stress, and delay during life’s most difficult times. Davidson McDonnell is already one of Northern Ireland’s most successful commercial law firms, meaning that private clients benefit from

ready access to a strong multi-disciplinary team of solicitors specialising in niche areas like corporate, commercial property, finance and dispute resolution services. The firm also regularly engages with wealth managers, accountants, tax specialists and other independent experts to ensure the provision of a premium, bespoke and holistic service. Welcoming the launch of the new Private Client department, Ross Davidson, Director, Davidson McDonnell, said: “We have worked hard at building a strong reputation for the quality of our advice and our personal approach to client needs in both the corporate and personal arenas. We are delighted to expand our private client expertise as part of a new, dedicated department in this area where demand is high. Davidson McDonnell is committed to providing ‘no nonsense’ practical advice and exceptional service that combines the best technical capability with a warm, professional and friendly approach. I’m delighted to officially launch our Private Client team under Victoria’s lead and wish our growing team every success.” Davidson McDonnell Private Client team Legal Director Victoria Sterritt said: “From straightforward matters to those which are more complex, our team has a pool of expert knowledge and technical skill to help clients to confidently structure their affairs. I’m delighted to be joining Davidson McDonnell and to develop this opportunity to work with a wider team of experts, and with access to innovative resources, to assist individuals and families navigate a broad range of the traditional and modern family issues in a progressive manner.” Davidson McDonnell is regarded as one of the leading independent commercial law firms in Northern Ireland, handling some of the highest value, most complex mandates in the local market and regularly acting on cross-border, national and international transactions as Northern Irish counsel for top tier UK and Irish law firms. Its hallmark is its degree of specialism within its practice areas of real estate, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and insolvency, banking and finance, dispute resolution and litigation, licencing, betting and gaming and private client. In its M&A Review for the first six months of 2023, Experian Market IQ also revealed Davidson McDonnell as one of Northern Ireland’s most active legal advisers by volume with a top three placing. Committed to quality, the company is IS0 9001 and ISO 27001 accredited. Davidson McDonnell also has a bronze Diversity Mark accreditation, signifying its commitment to diversity and inclusion at every level.

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Investment in AI skills essential to future of Northern Ireland tech sector Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) represent a huge opportunity for Northern Ireland’s tech sector but companies here will have to invest in developing new skills and capabilities if they want to be at the forefront of AI deployment, a major event in Belfast has heard.

Dr Aislinn Rice from Analytics Engines and Gareth Kelly from EY launch Big Data Belfast 2023.

ow in its 9th year, Big Data Belfast, presented by Analytics Engines and supported by headline sponsor EY, took place at the ICC Belfast, bringing together more than 700 delegates from the Northern Ireland technology sector. The conference provided expert insights into the world of data, with a variety of speakers and panel sessions across a range of hot topics including AI, Generative AI, ChatGPT, Net Zero, ESG, Media and more. The Global Generative AI market is expected to be worth over $110bn by 2030 and the conference heard about its potential to solve problems and simplify tasks that previously would have had to be done manually. But delegates also heard that AI technology is advancing so

quickly that businesses who don’t embrace the change and invest in upskilling to understand the latest developments risk missing out. Analytics Engines’ Managing Director, Dr Aislinn Rice, said: “With a thriving technology ecosystem full of innovative companies, it’s no surprise that Northern Ireland is being referred to as a ‘testing centre’ for Artificial Intelligence in the UK. The speed and sophistication of AI solutions being created on this island is breathtaking, and this new technology creates a big opportunity for the region. “Analytics Engines has been developing and implementing AI solutions for many years but in 2022, I don’t think many of us were talking about large language models, generative AI or ChatGPT. There has been a significant step change in the

capabilities of LLMs in the past year and we have been deeply immersed in the new ecosystem of tools and techniques. We envision a future where AI serves as an invaluable ally, assisting businesses in extracting meaningful patterns, trends, and correlations from datasets.” Gareth Kelly, Partner, Data & Analytics EY Northern Ireland, said: “There’s no doubt that Generative AI represents a huge opportunity for many different segments of the business world. We are delighted to support Big Data Belfast as it provides a platform to hear from a range of expert speakers and panellists to share their experiences of developing and deploying AI. “Many companies in Northern Ireland are developing clever uses of AI and it is incumbent on all of us to take the time to assess and analyse

the implications of the latest advances to ensure that we can make the most of the opportunities created.” Speakers at Big Data Belfast also included citizen astronaut candidate Dr Norah Patten; Catherine Doyle, Managing Director of Dell Technologies in Ireland; Justin Edwards from Minecraft Education; Sebastián Lancestremère, Sports Managing Director at Microsoft; and Tarek Madany Mamlouk from Axel Springer. The event showcased the most relevant data and AI topics across various sectors including Sustainability, Transport, Media, Government and Technology and discussed how we can use data and AI to solve some of the most challenging business, social, economic and environmental issues.

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The Christmas Ball - Stars Align for Action Cancer’s 50th Anniversary Action Cancer’s Christmas Ball, sponsored by Hagan Homes will take place on Friday 15th December at Titanic Belfast.

Action Cancer Ambassador Tracy McCausland and Hagan Homes MD James Hagan get their dancing shoes on to officially announce The Christmas Ball - a celebration of 50 years of Action Cancer’s life-saving and support services in Northern Ireland, taking place on Friday 15th December at Titanic Belfast.

he ‘Christmas Party with a Difference’, hosted by Pamela Ballantine will see a starstudded line up take to the stage on the iconic Titanic staircase. Local comedian Paddy Raff, West End performers ABBA Sisters and headlining act Boyzlife (Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden) are sure to entertain guests and make it a night to remember! In addition to ticket sales, proceeds

from an auction, raffle and Golden Ticket Prize on the night will all go to support Action Cancer’s prevention, detection and support services throughout Northern Ireland. Established in 1973 by the late George Edelstyn, Action Cancer has been at the forefront of delivering free cancer services to local people for the last 50 years. Today the charity supports 20,000 people every year.

In parallel, Hagan Homes is celebrating its 35th year in 2023, and this year have reached a momentous milestone - the handover of its 5,000th home in Northern Ireland. Marking this synchronicity, Hagan Homes has made a generous donation towards The Christmas Ball. Managing Director James Hagan said: “The reason we are sponsoring this event is twofold; one, we aren’t

just about building homes for profit, we like to think we offer much more than that to the community here; whether that’s reviving once-vibrant communities that have fallen by the wayside or supporting local charities that make a lasting difference to the lives of families around Northern Ireland. “And two; this charity supports a cause that has left no home untouched. “I would like to encourage the NI business community to get behind Action Cancer and support people affected by cancer in your area by buying a table for The Christmas Ball. Dig deep and let’s come together to create a memorable and heartwarming Christmas for those in need.” Tracy McCausland, a mum of two from Lisburn is an Ambassador for the charity. Tracy said: “Action Cancer’s breast screening service saved my life. My breast cancer was detected at the age of 49 at an early and treatable stage all thanks to the charity’s state of the art 3D breast screening technology. “I have also availed of the therapeutic support on offer at Action Cancer through free counselling and reflexology. Following my diagnosis and surgery, although life had returned to normal, I wasn’t coping well. I was plagued with concerns that everything from a headache to a sore toe was cancer. I remember feeling so paralysed by the anxiety that I couldn’t get out of bed, that’s how debilitating it was. The counselling saved my life in a different way, it helped me to focus on moving forward after everything I’d been through.” Tables of ten cost £1,500 and there is limited availability remaining. Email thechristmasball@actioncancer. org to secure your table today. Action Cancer has to raise £4m every year to deliver its life-saving and support services. With no regular government funding the charity relies heavily on the generosity of the local Northern Ireland public and business community.

For more information on Action Cancer’s services visit www.actioncancer.org

www.cityauctiongroup.com

Eye on Motoring

Motoring with James Stinson

THE POWER OF X BMW gives the X2 a sleek makeover, writes James Stinson.

MW has updated its popular X2 model to give it a new rakish look and the option of electric power. It’s considerably bigger than the car it replaces, which means it’s a lot more practical while a high performance M35i version reaches 60mph in less than five and a half seconds. At 4,554mm long, the new X2 is 194mm longer than its predecessor, while its wheelbase has been stretched to 2,692mm (+22mm). The car also measures 1,845mm wide (+21mm) and stands at 1,590mm tall (+64mm). That translates into a much roomier interior, with more legroom in the rear and an extra 115 litres of luggage carrying capacity. BMW designers have also sought to give the X2 a sleeker more coupe-orientated silhouette… something people in the industry call a Sports Activity Coupe - it’s an SUV with a sloping roof. It’s got presence but isn’t as elegant as the Range Rover Evoque or Jaguar I-Pace. You won’t mistake it for anything

other than a BMW though, thanks to the trademark kidney grille, which has also grown and is newly highlighted by an optional ring of LED running lights that BMW is calling Iconic Glow The larger grille also now hosts active cooling flaps that automatically close when not required, improving the X2’s aerodynamics. On the electric iX2, the grille is completely sealed off to further boost aerodynamic performance and extend its range between charges. The X2 is available in the UK with just two petrol engine options. The range kicks off with the mild-hybrid sDrive20i, powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and a small electric motor. Combined, the setup produces 168bhp and 280Nm of torque; enough to propel it from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds. CO2 emissions are rated between 136/km and 148g/km, while BMW says it averages 43.5-47.1mpg on the WLTP combined test cycle. The high-performance X2 M35i xDrive swaps the three-cylinder

motor for a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine generating 296bhp and 400Nm of torque. Both engines are paired with a sevenspeed Steptronic transmission, but the M35i adds BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system into the mix, helping it sprint to 62mph in 5.4 seconds – faster than a Golf GTI. Top speed also jumps from 132mph to 155mph, along with CO2 emissions and fuel consumption which rise to 174-181g/ km and 35.3-36.7mpg, respectively. The electric iX2 version is a veritable box of tricks but comes with a hefty price premium. It also has all-wheel drive thanks to an electric motor on each axle that together produce 309bhp and 494Nm of torque. The iX2 can hit 62mph in 5.6 seconds and max out at an electronically limited top speed of 112mph. Feeding the iX2’s motors is a 64.8kWh battery that provides enough power for a range of up to 279 miles, and with a maximum charging speed of 130kW, a 10 to 80 per cent top-up from a suitably fast DC rapid

charger should take just 29 minutes. Inside, the cabin features a 10.25inch digital instrument panel and a 10.7-inch central touchscreen housed behind a single piece of glass that curves towards the driver. The two displays run the latest version of BMW’s iDrive called Operating System 9, which includes a new “QuickSelect” feature that supposedly allows you to activate key functions without the need to trawl through submenus, and provides shortcuts. Cabin space has been increased, including 25mm of extra kneeroom for those in the rear. There’s been big gains for luggage capacity as well. Maximum towing capacity for the X2 stands at 1,800kg, while the iX2 can haul up to 1,200kg at most. Prices for the new X2 start at £39,365 – for the three-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol sDrive20i with 168bhp – and climb to £47,395 for the M35i, while the iX2 commands a premium at £56,540. Orders are being taken now for deliveries starting in March 2024.

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Eye on Motoring

Motoring with James Stinson

HOST OF UPGRADES FOR ELECTRIC ENYAQ

Skoda has introduced a series of upgrades for its all-electric Enya SUV including more power, faster charging speeds, extra standard kit and a few extra miles of range.

o reflect the significant enhancements made across the line-up, the new Enyaq comes with a revised naming structure. While the entry-level Enyaq 60 remains unchanged, the Enyaq 80 becomes the Enyaq 85 with the all-wheel drive 80x updated to 85x.

The entry level Enyaq 60, equipped with a 58 kWh battery now has a WLTP combined range figure of 249 miles (a three mile increase). The 85, 85x and vRS models retain the 77kWh battery but offer increased ranges. The largest increase is seen on the Enyaq Coupé vRS,

AUDI’S PRICE PREMIUM Audi has revealed details of its updated 2024 Q4 e-tron, featuring significant improvements to the power and efficiency to the brand’s baby electric SUV.

hanges to the battery mean all models of the Q4 e-tron put more power to the road, go further on a charge and can top up more quickly than before. The Q4 e-tron will continue to be available as both a regular SUV and a sleeker, more aerodynamic Sportback which offers up to 339 miles of range. There are three trims to choose from on both, comprising Sport, S line and Black Edition. Each is available with either rear-wheel drive or Audi’s four-wheel drive quattro system, with a choice of two power outputs.

which receives a 16 mile range boost and a new WLTP range figure of up to 340 miles. New 85x and vRS models also come with faster DC rapid charging capability. Thanks to a speed boost of 40 kW, both all-wheel drive models can charge at a maximum of 175 kW when connected to a suitable rapid DC charge point. As a result of the speed increase, both models can charge from 10-80% in approximately 29 minutes – a seven minute improvement. In addition to improvements under the metal, a number of the menus and screens in all but the base model have been redesigned to be easier to use and display information more clearly. Among them are graphics for navigation and controls for the climate, plus the digital driver’s display and optional head-up display feature new graphics and animations that Skoda says makes them more intuitive and easier to read on the move. For 2024, Skoda has also added driver attention alert, speed assist and traffic sign recognition to the base Enyaq 60’s kit list, while the updated range-topping vRS gets rear window blinds, electronic child locks, rear USB-C charging ports, rear side airbags and tow bar prep. Prices start from £38,970 for the Enyaq 60. Above that sits two new models: the Enyaq 60 Edition and Enyaq 85 Edition, which start from £40,585 and £44,540, respectively. Standard kit on the Edition models includes keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, full LED matrix headlights, walk away locking, a powered tailgate with hands-free opening function, heated front seats and steering wheel, plus an electric driver’s seat with memory function. The all-wheel drive Enyaq 85x is now priced from £48,605 – £2,200 less than before – and the Enyaq vRS’s price tag has increased by £450 to £53,120.

The single-motor, rear-wheel-drive, 281bhp Q4 45 E-tron has 80bhp more than the older Q4 40 E-tron it replaces, while the dual-motor, four-wheel-drive Q4 55 E-tron Quattro gets 40bhp more than the outgoing Q4 50 E-tron Quattro at a combined 335bhp. Audi claims a 0-62mph time of 6.7sec for the Q4 45 E-tron and 5.4sec for the Q4 55 E-tron Quattro. The top speed for all models is now limited to 112mph. With a standard 77kWh lithium ion battery, the range of the Q4 Sportback 45 E-tron has increased by 17 miles on the WLTP test cycle to 349 miles. The rear-driven car still charges at a maximum speed of 135kW, but the four-wheel-drive variant can be charged at up to 175kW. A new function also allows pre-conditioning of the battery before charging for more rapid energy replenishment. The Q4 shares much of its underpinnings with the Skoda Enyaq (above), which has seen similar improvements. Aside from the aesthetics and branding, the biggest difference between the two is in the pricing. Prices start from £49,915 for the Q4 e-tron Sport 45, while the Sportback kicks off at £51,415. The cheapest quattro variant is available from £51,345.

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