18 minute read
Belfast On The Comeback Trail
EyeonNews
With the hospitality sector largely on ‘pause’, catering industry supplier Henderson Foodservice has diversified its operations to support a wide range of community support programmes and has seen its healthcare business increase as it helps keep staff, patients and residents fed in hospitals, hospices and hundreds of care homes across Northern Ireland. Diversification role for Henderson Foodservice points to future opportunities
Initiatives include the Department for Communities led contract to supply over 3,000 food boxes per week for delivery to vulnerable and self-isolating people until the end of June as well as providing a range of products for Salvation Army created food parcels and welcome packs for people in need via the Simon Community.
Kiera Campbell, Sales Director at Henderson Foodservice explains the background to the various initiatives:
“Ensuring constant supply of essential food items such as pasta and tinned beans was key at the beginning of lockdown and local community groups and foodbank organisations as well as government departments reached out to Henderson Foodservice to enable them to meet increasing demand.
“We are working alongside other food companies to fulfil the Department for Communities contract and staff from all levels and departments at Henderson Foodservice were at one stage
packing 200 boxes per hour on a busy production line to turn out food boxes quickly and ultra-efficiently. Everyone pulled together engendering a fabulous team spirit to get the job done.
“Other projects we’re working on include an Education Authority programme to support their youth projects by providing a range of lunch products for young people in need of a healthy regular meal.
“As well as contractual projects Foodservice has also made donations to five Belfast based foodbanks and in the Republic of Ireland, we teamed up with our customer Thomas Franks Ireland to supply food parcels to over 200 ICU staff at Beaumont and St Vincent hospitals in Dublin.”
Looking to the future and developing new business concepts, Kiera Campbell says:
“Creating food parcels was a process we had never facilitated before and we’ve worked hard to adapt and perfect our approach and supply procedures. We’ve built up
valuable skills and expertise and would look to examine the potential to evolve this in the future.
“Our new consumer ‘Click & Collect’ service which launched last month, evolved from requests made by local community groups and individuals contacting us and seeking out wholesale purchase opportunities when food supplies were challenging to obtain. The new facility based at our Mallusk headquarters, offers a range of catering style bulk buys and smaller scale units delivering extra value for local shoppers and families.”
EyeonCommercial Property
‘THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING’ –A property agent’s perspective
By David McNellis, Director, Lisney Northern Ireland
Despite the ‘lockdown’ imposed by governments across the world as a result of the global Covid 19 pandemic, I am pleased to report that since late March the property market has continued to function with deals being agreed and solicitors instructed.
Admittedly however, as time has progressed and the initial upswing in web site traffic generated by people during their enforced incarceration has dissipated, the practical impact of ‘Social Distancing’ and a reluctance by some to travel to view properties has impacted on the market dynamic.
The realisation is that this new norm is set to continue for the foreseeable future. A return to previous freedoms is unlikely in the short term until such times as a vaccine is delivered to the population at large. In the interim we agents are being forced to innovate.
Fundamentally, the sales process in any property disposal begins with the asset being physically inspected to assess the extent of the opportunity, it’s marketability and likely value. Subsequently after marketing material has been prepared exposure occurs through a range of channels to raise awareness which ultimately delivers viewings and triggers engagement between the parties about the structure of the deal. A natural consequence of the current lockdown and continuing ‘Social Distancing ‘measures is that the wider market will not able to view the property so the sale process could potentially stall.
As a first step, it is imperative for us as agents to pique initial interest and we are now recommending that property owners invest in a variety of innovations to provide prospective purchasers with a good understanding, albeit ‘virtual’ of what each individual property has to offer.
The concept of buying ‘virtually’ is not new however, as many purchasers over the years have bought, primarily residential property, ‘off plan’. The arrival of new technology has however enabled agents to enrich the ‘off plan’ experience and the advent of Computer Generated Imagery
providing realistic illustrations has been a significant next step.
More recent innovations have moved the visualization on and the impact of the lockdown has forced the pace. In addition to the traditional approaches ie brochures, web site, on site signage and press advertising, properties can now be presented to prospective purchaser’s Smart phones or laptops using:-
t7JSUVBM WJFXJOHT t7JSUVBM NFFUJOHT t EFHSFFUPVST t%SPOFQIPUPHSBQIZ t% .BUUFSQPSUAXBMLUISPVHIUPVST t*OUFSBDUJWFCSPDIVSFT t1SPQFSUZTQFDJGJDXFC TJUFT t3FBM UJNFQFSTPOBM UPVSTDPOEVDUFE by the Agent via their smart phones t4PDJBM NFEJB FYQPTVSFBDSPTT the various platforms and t#MPHT7MPHT
Our view is that we are now operating in a different market. As such now is the time to agree an innovative strategy with your agent to develop marketing collateral which will expose properties in the best and most cost effective way. The time invested now, will ensure the best result when you are ready to put your property on the market.
We are still recommending that in time, prior to embarking on legal due process, a physical viewing exercising social distancing protocols of course is undertaken, but in the interim agents and property owners need to use the lockdown time wisely to prepare for the new norm.
In the words of the old Bob Dylan song, “the times they are a changing”.
EyeonRecovery
Belfast Will Rise Again
Says Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive, Belfast Chamber of Trade
It was Winston Churchill who apparently first uttered the phrase “never waste a good crisis”. The coronavirus pandemic has certainly been an interlinked health and economic crisis.
Whilst the virus is still in our midst and the death toll continues to rise, it can perhaps seem insensitive to talk too much about economic recovery, but so damaging will this be to the health of our economy that we will need to start thinking and thinking big.
The newly restored Executive didn’t have much time to get its feet under the table before the pandemic struck let alone set out its longer term vision for the region. We do though know that – until the details relating to EU exit are clearer for Northern Ireland – a reduction in the rate of Corporation Tax isn’t at the top of the to do list but a stimulus of this kind, now more than ever, is needed or else Northern Ireland will be forever condemned to continue to trail behind the economic performance of every other region of the UK. One thing that would ordinarily be obvious, is that whatever incentives the Executive reach for, recovery would be centred on our cities.
Just 5 years ago, the OECD declared this ‘the Metropolitan Century’. By 2100, 85% of the world’s population would live in cities. Cities weren’t just where people were moving to en masse. They were magnets for young people who were attracted by the diversity and lifestyles only cities could give them and especially those with the skills that are so desirable to business. And as the talent that companies crave gravitated towards cities, corporate headquarters followed, needing to be near the talent they relied on to succeed. The ‘Triumph of the City’, as Edward Glaeser’s 2011 book called it, was universal, with peace and political stability helping to usher in an era of rebirth in Belfast with the city boasting a transformed skyline and becoming home to a world class tech cluster that was unimaginable just a few years ago.
No crisis in the last two decades – not the financial crash, not Brexit, not climate change – has challenged this accepted wisdom like COVID-19. Cities have come to be seen as the epicentres of the coronavirus. It began of course in Wuhan, a city of 11 million in
EyeonRecovery
central China, and population density in places like New York and London has apparently helped COVID-19 to spread.
We have seen the streets of Belfast virtually empty overnight with many customer facing businesses in retail and hospitality closed and not trading at all. The bustle and the buzz that has become synonymous with the modern Belfast has gone. It is a troubling time for the city’s economy and conjures up so many questions. As one person put it to me during a recent conversation, how the city responds to the coronavirus pandemic is answered by the question “what will Belfast be for?”.
Such a question would have been unimaginable even a few short weeks ago. At the end of February, Belfast Chamber hosted our BelFastForward conference. After hearing about how New York and Vienna had successfully regenerated and the encouraging beginnings that we were making in our own city, it’s safe to say that no one left the conference thinking that Belfast had anything other than a very bright future ahead of it. We certainly didn’t have to ask the question “what will Belfast be for”. It was obvious what is was for. It was the economic driver of the entire region. It accounted for 30% of NI’s jobs, 25p in every £1 of rates revenue and half of all out of state visitor spend. It was so crucial to the whole region’s economy that it led the aforementioned OECD to conclude in 2008 that NI “will only succeed if the city of Belfast, its capital, major business and employment hub, infrastructure platform and largest settlement, is also able to succeed”.
Will COVID-19 herald the seemingly unstoppable march of cities like Belfast? I don’t think so.
Cities haven’t been uniformly impacted by COVID-19. The far lower levels of deaths in incredibly densely populated cities like Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul suggest that the speed of government action and the extent of lockdown restrictions matter more than the size of the city. Even London, so hard hit initially, now has an infection rate lower than the rest of the UK.
Besides, Belfast benefits from being more of a ‘Goldilocks’ sized city than the world’s megacities. Belfast is big enough to have many of the amenities of a larger city but small enough to retain a strong sense of community and have some amazing coast and countryside right on our doorstep. Plus, we possess the added advantage of being at such an early stage in our regeneration journey. That permits Belfast to build into our many regeneration schemes the sort of space that citizens will seek in a post-COVID-19 world rather than have to expensively retrofit as other cities will have to.
Ultimately, what has sparked the growth of cites remains unaltered and, if anything, enhanced by the restrictions the pandemic has placed on everyday life. We are, the Government’s contribution to the Belfast Region City Deal taking the total public sector investment to £700 million, recognising that our capital city will be a the heart of our region’s economic future.
fundamentally, social animals. Not being able to see family, friends and work colleagues. Not being able to sit with a coffee in Donegall Square and watch the world go by. Not being able to go for a pint or a meal in the Cathedral Quarter. Not being able to stroll around our favourite shops. We are missing all of these things and the human interaction they involve. Well paying jobs are only part of the equation. The energy, vibrancy, diversity and lifestyle that only a city can bring are equally valuable if not more so in attracting that all-important young talent. As a PwC report put it “quality of life is the heartbeat of a city” and Belfast’s heart has been beating strong and will do so again soon.
American academic Richard Florida recently said “predictions of the death of cities always follow shocks like this one. But urbanisation has always been a greater force than infectious disease”. It is interesting that one of the most welcome announcements by the NI Executive in response to the catastrophic impact the coronavirus is having on our economy was focused on the city with the decision to match fund even more. Using the City Deal as our starting point, we should make the economic, social and urban regeneration of Belfast our shared ambition. Our focus should be on making Belfast an even better place to live, work and play – that ‘holy trinity’ of any successful city – and we should aim to renew Belfast based on the following 5 key objectives:
Back to Churchill’s appeal. How can we make sure that we don’t waste this crisis?
Accelerating the implementation of the City Deal would be an excellent start. The finance is in place. The infrastructure, regeneration and tourism projects it includes are potentially transformational. It is a recipe for real success but Belfast Chamber believes that the need to bounce back presents us with a once in a generation opportunity to do
t #VJMEJOH BO FDPOPNZPO the bedrock of sectors like fintech, cyber security and medical technology that our city so excels at and for which demand will be high;
t 4UJNVMBUJOH NPSF DJUZDFOUSF living as the most sustainable way to achieve the Belfast Agenda target of growing the DJUZT QPQVMBUJPO CZ CZ 2035 and provide a boost for our retail and hospitality sectors;
t 3FTIBQJOH UIF DJUZUP DSFBUF and connect to open and green space and take forward the work started already by Infrastructure Minister on making the city less reliant on the private car and more pedestrian, cyclist and public transport friendly;
t *EFOUJGZJOH BDDFMFSBUJOH BOE investing in the infrastructure projects that will enable greater growth; and
t &OTVSJOH UIBUHSPXUI JT inclusive with an emphasis on developing skills and getting the economically inactive into work
Tying all of this together is absolutely key. It will involve multiple partners across the public and private sectors and creating a vision is one thing but delivering it is quite another. That’s why Belfast Chamber thinks the time is right to consider the extent of the levers and powers that Belfast as a city has to realise a regeneration project of the magnitude we need.
Our competitor cities have far greater powers and are increasing these further. They enjoy control over regeneration, transport and housing. The basic necessities of urban life. Successful cities have also channelled powers through development corporations and taxation levers through enterprise zones. These are tools that are effective in stimulating regeneration and attracting investment to areas of need. In contrast, Belfast lacks the powers and hasn’t yet utilised the levers to deliver change where it is needed and if this gap isn’t addressed, then we could fall further behind as cities elsewhere also start turning their attention to recovery.
Rather than retreat from the city, in order to, in the words of Churchill, not waste this crisis, perhaps now is the time to not only dream big but to put in place the vehicle that can deliver that dream of a revitalised city that fulfils its obvious potential.
Belfast will rise again. Business in the city has endured much down through the years and always exhibited a tremendous resilience and ability to bounce back. We have all the assets we need to succeed – the talent; the world leading sectors and universities; the retail, hospitality, leisure and cultural offering. Let’s use this opportunity to make the most of them and ensure that Belfast not only recovers but thrives in the years ahead.
EyeonNews
OCO Global announces expansion in China
OCO Global, a leading specialist trade and investment advisory firm has announced the opening of its new office in Shanghai, China, and a new partnership with the market entry specialist Aventura.
This expansion of OCO Global’s China operations will enable the company to support international economies to attract cross-border investment from China and to build out relationships with the Chinese government and companies. Chinese foreign direct investment has been growing by around 25% p.a. over the last 10 years. As Chinese industry continues to internationalise, it will remain a key source market for foreign investment. OCO’s increased presence in China will also enable international companies to grow their business in the Chinese market.
“We are very excited to open our new office in Shanghai and establish a new partnership with Aventura, growing our operations in China to support our clients across the region” said Mark O’Connell, OCO Global CEO.
“Our investment plans were put on temporary hold during the current crisis, but we are fully convinced of the long-term prospects of China as both a source and as a destination of FDI, and the opportunities it presents for international trade. Our commitment to this expansion and our great local team demonstrates the region’s importance.” said Mark.
“As China emerges from its COVID19 crisis, there is a commitment for continued integration with the global economy and
Mark O’Connell, OCO Global CEO
“As China emerges from its COVID-19 crisis, there is a commitment for continued integration with the global economy and increased market access for international firms. Furthermore, the Governments next five-year plan, 2021-25, encourages Chinese companies to internationalise and pursue global expansion.”
increased market access for international firms. Furthermore, the Governments next five-year plan, 2021-25, encourages Chinese companies to internationalise and pursue global expansion. “
“This medium-term outlook will create confidence for foreign governments and investors to build lasting relationships with Chinese government and businesses. This is a great time for OCO to expand in China.” commented Yi Zhang, OCO General Manager in China.
To further enhance OCO’s offer to the Chinese market, the company has also entered a strategic partnership with Aventura, a specialist market entry and expansion firm. Over the last 10 years, Aventura has successfully supported 200 companies to enter and grow their business in China. This partnership combines OCO’s FDI & Trade expertise and international reach with Aventura’s local Chinese market know-how and access.
“Our strategic partnership with OCO is a great fit for both companies, with a complementary skillset that provides in-depth expertise of the China market and how that relates to global investment. Despite the current challenges in Investment and Trade within the global economy, we look forward to leveraging OCO’s 20 years+ experience in advising the world’s leading economies on international expansion and FDI services. Coupled with Aventura’s local capabilities and long standing experience in the Chinese market, we have the expertise to help private companies and public agencies form long-term business relationships in the Chinese and the wider Asian economy.” commented Gustav Astrom, CEO of Aventura.
EyeonEvents
Convention Centre Chief Executive Appointed
Julia Corkey is set to take over the top role at Northern Ireland’s only purpose-built international convention centre, returning to her native Northern Ireland following two decades spent in Westminster City Council.
Julia has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of ICC
Belfast | Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall and will take up the role at the beginning of July 2020.
Generating destination appeal and delivering word-class customer experiences for the city of Belfast will be Julia’s priority as she prepares to take on the position at the helm of ICC Belfast and two iconic entertainment venues, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall. Following the commercialisation of the venues JO EFMJWFSJOH FDPOPNJD impact through the attraction of large-scale business events has been the organisation’s strategic focus. This has proven incredibly successful with the 7000m2 facility successfully hosting its largest event to date in 2018, the Royal College of Nursing Annual Congress, as well as conferences for global corporations such as AstraZeneca. The combined economic impact of events held during this period has been worth over £100m to our city and it is predicted that business events will play a key role in our long-term economic sustainability and recovery post COVID-19.
Over twenty years with Westminster City Council precede Julia’s appointment where she most recently held the role of Executive Director of Policy, Performance and Communications. Having originally joined the local government organisation in 1998 to manage the millennium programme, Julia then went on to hold a number of high-level policy and communication roles and is also one of the founding directors of the award-winning communications agency, Westco. Commenting on the upcoming return to her hometown Julia Corkey said:
“I have spent more than two decades helping to market Westminster as an international centre for investment and tourism. It is a privilege to return to my native Northern Ireland and use that experience to ensure our fantastic international convention centre and entertainment venues are in the premier league of international, regional and local attractions.
At the heart of Belfast we have an unrivalled proposition of world-class conference facilities and cultural venues bringing in the biggest names in the arts. Working with the outstanding team, my priority will be to prepare to return this business to its role as an engine of the Northern Irish economy.”
Ellvena Graham OBE, Chairman of the BWUH Ltd. Board of Directors welcomed the appointment saying: “Over the past five years we have witnessed transformational change within the organisation and the wealth and breadth of experience that Julia brings will put us in a position of strength as we embark on the next stage of our journey.
In these unprecedented times, the team is focused on business preparedness to ensure Belfast retains its status as a unique, vibrant and flourishing entertainment and conference destination. I look forward to seeing the impact that Julia’s skills and expertise will have on our pursuit to be recognised as world-class in the entertainments and conferencing sectors.”
