54 minute read
lockton
Lockton, the world’s largest privately owned insurance broker and Northern Ireland’s leading business and commercial insurance broker, has launched a new specialist Trade Credit Insurance team for Northern Ireland.
Nigel Birney has recently been appointed to head up the new service which is now Northern Ireland’s largest team of Trade Credit specialists providing Trade Credit Insurance services, assisting with business growth, and protecting against bad debts.
Trade Credit Insurance provides financial protection for businesses if customers who owe money for products or services do not pay their debts or pay them later than the payment terms dictate. It gives businesses the confidence to extend credit to new customers and improves access to funding, often at more competitive rates.
The appointment comes as the company expands its service offering in Northern Ireland. With over 100 staff already providing business and commercial insurance services from its office in Belfast and its team of Account Executives from across Northern Ireland,
Kieran Hurley, Account Executive, Lockton Nigel Birney, Head of Trade Credit, Lockton
the addition of Trade Credit Insurance further cements Lockton’s position as the leading and best-resourced brokerage in Northern Ireland.
Speaking after his appointment, Nigel said, “I’m thrilled to be joining the Lockton team during a period of ambitious growth for the company, particularly in the specialist area of Trade Credit Insurance. The availability of Trade Credit Insurance and its many benefits will be absolutely vital as we emerge from the pandemic and look to reinvigorate the Northern Ireland economy.
“The last number of years has been a tumultuous period for the local market here in Northern Ireland. Our businesses have gone through many big moments including Brexit, the pandemic, and an absent Stormont, which have affected their confidence when trading locally and overseas. The Trade Credit service we can now provide at Lockton means that businesses using our service can trade with confidence and explore new markets knowing that their business is protected against credit risk such as the insolvency of one of their customers.”
The Trade Credit Insurance service will give clients access to intelligent market monitoring, a debt collection service, protection from bad debts, and the potential for greater access to working capital facilities, which combined will help facilitate confident and secure trade both at home and abroad.
“What sets us apart is that we have a very experienced and dedicated team fully committed to building relationships who will work very closely with all our clients to really understand and make a difference to their business”, explains Nigel.
Kieran Hurley, Account Executive for the Derry~Londonderry region, welcomed Nigel’s appointment and said it signalled further growth and
(L-R) Julie McCallion, Leah Smyth, Ruth Hawkins, and Nigel Birney
expansion within the company across Northern Ireland.
“This is a very positive step for Lockton and we are so pleased to welcome Nigel and his team into the organisation”, says Kieran. “Having an experienced and talented Trade Credit Insurance team onboard is serious added value for our clients and customers and sets Lockton apart as the leading commercial insurance broker in Northern Ireland.
As more and more companies of all sizes in the North West begin to look towards their post-pandemic recovery, there are export opportunities to be grasped. Trade credit insurance can give firms the confidence and security to trade globally.”
Gary Ennis, Partner and Head of Office for Lockton in Northern Ireland, says Trade Credit Insurance can play a key role in economic recovery and growth in Northern Ireland as businesses leave Covid in the rearview mirror.
“Nigel will play a crucial role in the development of our Trade Credit Insurance offer here in Northern Ireland as we enhance our services to a range of clients across the private sector”, says Gary. “This is a strategic hire for us and, as a key player in the insurance industry, Nigel brings years of experience. His insights, market knowledge, and expertise will significantly enhance the Lockton offer and strengthen our position within the local market and the island of Ireland.”
“As we emerge from the pandemic, and as business returns to a level of normality, the role that Credit Insurance plays for business is vital. With vast levels of debt amassed by companies of all shapes and sizes since March 2020, businesses must take sensible and proactive steps to protect themselves, particularly as they seek new markets or recalibrate their supply chains. Our new Trade Credit Insurance team, with years of considerable and combined experience in the sector, is here to help businesses get back on their feet post-lockdown and restore confidence as they begin trading again.”
For more information and to discuss your Trade Credit Insurance needs, contact Nigel at nigel.birney@lockton.com or 07917 107441. For general insurance needs, contact Kieran at kieran.hurley@lockton.com or 07826 664810.
Velvet Interiors offering bespoke design packages to homeowners and businesses across the North West
Shauna Stewart, Founder of Velvet Interiors
Shauna Stewart founded Velvet Interiors in 2018, and from day one, she sought to base the company on her vision of offering approachable interior design. Within a short space of time the company has become an award-winning design practice working throughout the UK and Ireland.
A graduate of Interior Design at Ulster University, Shauna has a breadth of experience in design and project management, working in the interiors industry for over 20 years. As a designer and brand manager for European interior brands she brings a unique design aesthetic to Velvet. Whether at home, on a building site, managing her team, or styling a room, Shauna and her team offer the full design package to clients across the North West.
For home design, the company has broad experience in a diverse range of residential design projects. Shauna works together with clients to interpret their desires and styles, with each project starting with an initial, informal chat to discuss the approach. Spatial planning, lighting design, kitchen design, and window dressing and styling are among the extensive range of services offered by Velvet.
“In a world of Instagram and Pinterest overload, it is hard to know where to begin to understand what is best for your home”, Shauna says. “Finding the time to work on your home design can be a real challenge, especially if you are not sure where to look. When you work with us, you are working with a team of experienced designers who can help inspire, plan, and transform your home to compliment your personal style and needs.”
Whilst interior design is the mainstay of the business, Velvet Interiors also has a stunning new studio boutique in Limavady, offering customers the chance to step inside and snap up something special. Their unique collection of furniture, lighting, home accessories and art has been carefully curated by the team to complement your home. This includes limited edition art prints, stunning coffee tables, luxury home fragrances, and chairs.
Since the company opened its doors, Shauna and her team have worked with public and private sector businesses to deliver projects of all shapes and sizes from a one-room refresh to a space holding 150 desks. Staff welfare and morale is now a
Velvet Interiors offer a range of styles and designs for their interior decorating services
leading concern for employers, and Velvet Interiors has helped companies design a space that allows creativity and innovation to flow. And with a full project management offering, Velvet will handle everything and let you get back to running your business.
“Businesses in the North West and beyond are looking toward reinventing their office environment in the wake of the pandemic”, Shauna explains. “There is growing recognition that a dynamic and exciting office space contributes significantly to the culture of a team. Whether it’s an entirely on-brand office, or a bold statement space, we are creating beautiful, vibrant workspaces designed to drive productivity and inspire.”
The expansive commercial services provided by Velvet Interiors include workspace interior consultancy and space planning, bespoke furniture design, workspace technology and connectivity installation, and much more. The company are featured on House and Gardens’ “The List”, the ultimate global guide to the best interior designers in the world. Having won the Irish Fit Out Awards Office of the Year 2020, the company is receiving wide-ranging recognition across the island on its ambitious and high-quality work.
The company operates out of its studio on Main Street, Limavady
“We pride ourselves on only working with the best contractors and commercial partners when working on our projects”, Shauna says. “We are very flexible, and over the years, we have designed spaces in historical buildings, new builds, and everything in between. We know that value-for-money is everything, which is why we always look to meet and exceed client expectations with everything we do, regardless of the budget.” Open Monday to Saturday, Velvet Interiors is a one-stop shop for everything home, office and newbuild design in the North West. Their full, expert-led fit-out team means that all design execution is hassle-free and completed to the highest standard.
To get in touch with Velvet Interiors to discuss your home or business, book an initial appointment, please visit
www.velvetinteriors.co.uk/
contact-us or simply call the studio on 028 77763069.
Allstate NI Wins Gold At Both UK And Northern Ireland Contact Centre Awards
Sean Benson, Senior Division Leader and Stephen Lomas, Senior Manager
Allstate NI have won six awards across local and national Contact Centre celebrations. The contact centre team at Allstate Northern Ireland have achieved four gold and two silver awards across both the local and national contact centre awards events.
At the London ceremony of the UK National Contact Centre Awards last month, the team took gold in the Contact Centre Manager of the Year and Unsung Hero categories, and silver in the Best Diversity and Inclusion Culture award.
Employees at the Allstate Technology Support Centre (ATSC) celebrated further last week with three awards at the Contact Centre Network Northern Ireland Awards, winning gold in Support Team of the Year and Large Contact Centre of the Year and silver for Senior Manager of the Year.
Allstate’s Unsung Hero was Senior Division Leader Sean Benson, who was recognised for playing a key role in moving the company’s operations online in a matter of days due to the pandemic, while himself at risk due to a serious health condition.
Stephen Lomas was also celebrated as Contact Centre Manager of the Year for his outstanding leadership capabilities, unique approach to employee engagement, and his work at the forefront of Allstate’s digital transformation strategy.
Locally, the silver award for Senior Manager of the Year went to Sabrina Lynch, Senior Division Leader at the ATSC who has responsibility for over 250 contact centre operators across bases in NI, the US and India.
With a focus on inclusive diversity and dedication to creating a culture of continuous improvement in the workforce, Sabrina was nominated for her determination across all areas of the business, including in driving initiatives to boost employee engagement. Sabrina led the team that established the ‘Flex It Up’ model, an employee-led flexible working approach, and spearheaded Allstate’s Digital First Strategy.
Hosted by TV and radio presenter Vernon Kay, the London awards event saw the ATSC team recognised for their innovative approaches to achieving a culture of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The Silver win in the Best Diversity & Inclusion Category follows Allstate’s Silver Diversity Mark NI award that made it the first NI company to be recognised for its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Welcoming the awards, Managing Director of Allstate NI John Healy said:
“The response of our teams right across the Allstate operation to the changing ways of work could not have been possible without the service desk team at the ATSC. In four days, we had the entire NI operation equipped to operate from the comfort and safety of their homes thanks to an efficient mobilisation led by Sean, Stephen, Sabrina and the 300 strong service desk team.”
A Health Extension Worker, funded by Children in Crossfire, carries out malnutrition checks in Wolisso, Ethiopia
CHILDREN IN CROSSFIRE: 25 YEARS OF CHANGING CHILDREN’S LIVES
A two-year-old child in Ethiopia who recently received life-saving treatment at St Luke’s Hospital
As the Derry-based international development charity celebrates its landmark 25th anniversary, Founder and Executive Director Richard Moore reflects on the journey so far and seeks new partnerships to secure future growth.
ORIGINS IN INSPIRATION
It may surprise readers to learn that the seeds for Children in Crossfire were sown in the US state of Mississippi in 1992. I participated in a walk organised by Afri (Action from Ireland), in which we re-traced the Choctaw Nation’s Trail of Tears. The Choctaw had donated money to Ireland 150 years earlier during the Great Famine, and this walk gave Irish people an opportunity to show solidarity with them as they faced hard times of their own.
I met many remarkable people during that unforgettable trip, including a priest called Fr Pat Clarke who worked with Brazilian Indians in the Amazon. He and others left me questioning how I might support disadvantaged and disempowered people myself. Having been blinded when I was ten by a British soldier’s rubber bullet, my instinct was to help vulnerable children and I felt my own life experience could enable me to do that effectively.
And so it was, after much planning and effort, that Children in Crossfire was ready to roll by 1996. Our goal was clear and ambitious: to make life better for children growing up in the crossfire of injustice and poverty around the world.
RAISING FUNDS TO HELP IMPROVE LIVES
We launched on 28th September with a walk of our own around Derry’s Walls. Hundreds turned up, immediately reminding and reassuring me that the people of our city and the wider North West were global citizens who felt true compassion for the most impoverished in this world.
In our first few years, Children in Crossfire’s principal purpose was to work in partnership with Concern Universal, raising funds for their programmes around the world. Money we raised supported people in Bangladesh, Colombia, Brazil, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, and Mozambique. In fact, our 2002 campaign in response to dreadful famine in Malawi, run in partnership with The Irish News, raised more than £1million and helped save many lives.
Since then, we have supported many valuable projects including a childhood cancer unit, a disability centre, cleft palate and club foot treatment, malnutrition and emergency feeding projects, education programmes, water and housing provision, a pharmacy, and more. We are still involved in much of that work to this day.
TANZANIA AND ETHIOPIA: LONGTERM IMPACT THROUGH COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
By the mid-2000s, it was clear that a step change was needed to take Children in Crossfire to the next level. We sharpened our focus on healthcare and education and began building our own capacity in two countries – Tanzania and Ethiopia – where we could deliver lasting impact through long-term partnerships with local communities.
It was the right move. In Tanzania, our flagship Early Childhood Education programme has grown from modest roots to now national reach. Over the last ten years, we have become respected leaders in the education sector, consistently producing results that underline the life-changing value of early intervention in children’s lives.
In Ethiopia, we have built enduring relationships that have saved and improved the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in the world. For more than a decade, for example, we have supported the therapeutic unit at St Luke’s Hospital in Wolisso where around 350 children receive life-saving treatment for severe acute malnutrition every year.
Children in Crossfire Executive Director Richard Moore with pre-school children
When I first met the Addis Hiwot community in Addis Ababa in 2008, they were living in a graveyard in the most extreme poverty I ever witnessed. Children in Crossfire provided those people with housing and education and have supported them ever since. It is wonderful to see young people who were little children then going into employment and further and higher education now. That they are beginning to fulfil their potential as human beings fills me with pride. ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE So, as we arrive at our 25th anniversary, we look to the future with great excitement. Our Early Childhood Education programme in Tanzania will grow significantly over the next three years and beyond, reaching pre-school children all across that vast country for the first time since we started working there. Hundreds of thousands of children will get the start in school every child deserves.
We have similar plans for Early Childhood Education in Ethiopia too, building on our experience and expertise. In recent months, we launched a new programme in Wolisso, with the long-term vision of delivering the same standard of life-changing education for Ethiopian children over the next decade as we have done in Tanzania. NEW PARTNERSHIPS FOR MORE CHANGE Everything we have achieved over our first 25 years is down to the people who have supported us, some of whom will be reading this. I am sincerely grateful for all that goodwill.
As we look ahead with still more ambitious plans, we will welcome support from Chamber members. I understand the pressures businesses are facing, but I also appreciate the deep kindness of people across the North West. We hope to engage with you in the coming weeks to ensure the most vulnerable children in this world get the start in life all children deserve. We have much to do to but, with your support, we will be up to the challenge.
Children in Crossfire will be further engaging with local businesses in the weeks ahead. Any Chamber member who would like to further discuss Children in Crossfire’s work with Richard Moore should contact Ronan McCay, Head of Fundraising & Communications, on 028 7126 9898 or at
ronan.mccay@childrenincrossfire. org
City of Derry Airport Welcomes Increased Passenger Demand & NEW UK & European Routes
As the gateway of the North West, City of Derry Airport (CoDA) has experienced a number of challenges over the last 18 months. As with all businesses across the travel and tourism sector, its been a period of rapid change. However, City of Derry Airport is looking ahead with positivity due to the steady increased passenger loads and the launch of new services to Manchester and Edinburgh, and holidays to the Algarve and Majorca for Summer 2022. Furthermore, with the City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund investments for the North West economy, changing market trends, a change in the traveller mindset, and an increased demand from the local catchment area for flying local, it is an opportunistic time for the airport.
Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, explains, “As City of Derry Airport is positioned with a catchment of over 500,000 people already making 3.5M journeys per year, the airport provides the opportunity to fly local and enjoy a safe, friendly and convenient travel experience.
“Summer 2021 was very positive with high load factors of up to 87%. As travel restrictions eased, we saw an increasing demand for short breaks and we believe a growing percentage of the local catchment area truly value the benefits of the reduced travel time to get to the airport, the compact single level terminal building, cost-effective parking and business lounge access and, of course, the maximum 15 minute journey time from the carpark to the departure lounge.”
Summer 2021 brought more great news for City of Derry Airport, as the airport secured a new partnership with NI award winning tour operator, Travel Solutions. Brenda Morgan MBE, Head of Business Development at City of Derry Airport, expressed her delight, “This new partnership has allowed us to launch some fantastic summer sun holiday packages for Summer 2022, demonstrating the confidence in the market.”
“The flights, operated by Albastar, will commence on a weekly basis from 29th June 2022, and packages are available for couples, families and groups, with 3* and 4* accommodation types to suit all tastes and budgets. Prices include airport and security taxes as well as 20kg checked in luggage per person, not forgetting that FREE child places are available when you book before 31st December 2021!”
“Bookings are strong and our tour operator holds protection with a CAR and ATOL license, providing passengers with complete reassurance when booking. A booking deposit of just £50pp is required and you can book via your local travel agent or by contacting Travel Solutions on 028 9045 5030 or www.travel-solutions.co.uk.” In addition to the year-round services to London Stansted, Liverpool and Glasgow with Loganair, a new Manchester service will be launching from 1st December 2021 as Ryanair returns to City of Derry Airport. Ryanair flights to Manchester will be available three days per week and fares start from just £11.99pp one way.
A new service to Edinburgh with Loganair will also be commencing from May 2022, with all-inclusive fares starting from £53.99pp which includes 15kg hold baggage and in-flight refreshments. Looking towards 2022 and beyond, Mr. Frazer comments, “Our core objectives are, as always, improving connectivity to key UK & European hubs.
“We look forward to working closely with our airlines, travel agents, tour operators and industry partners to accelerate the growth and recovery of the sector in 2022.”
For more information on City of Derry Airport’s year-round services to London Stansted, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and package holidays for the Algarve and Majorca for Summer 2022, visit www. cityofderryairport.com.
Shape Your Life offering a new way of dieting with bespoke online courses
Sharon McCormick, founder, and creator of Shape Your Life
“It is not very often that we think about how the foods we eat can affect our mood”, says Sharon McCormick, founder, and creator of Shape Your Life. “But processed foods, such as ready meals, baked goods, and processed meats, can really affect our health in a negative way.”
While most foods require some degree of processing, some foods, known as ultra-processed foods, are chemically processed and tend to be high in artificial ingredients, sugars, refined carbohydrates, and trans fats. Not all processed foods are bad for you, but their links to higher level obesity and illness across the world are clear.
Whether it be grinding beef, heating vegetables, or pasteurizing foods, most food items are mechanically processed, which does not necessarily make them unhealthy. It is the ultraprocessed, or cosmetic foods, such as pizza, cakes, pastries, fizzy drinks (etc.), high in saturated fats, added sugar, and salt, which are harmful if consumed in excess. The Shape Your Life programme has been designed in line with NHS guidelines with a key focus around gut health, nourishing your body, and creating a sustainable lifestyle built around healthy habits. Whether you would like to lose weight, want to transform your body, or reset and rebalance your gut health, Sharon explains, her courses offer something for everyone.
“Our programme focuses on the key areas of successful weight loss. We focus on nourishing and fueling the body and incorporating healthy, sustainable food”, Sharon says. “Shape Your Life delivers consistent results as our groups are run by fully qualified Neuro Linguistic Practioners, which means we are able to help our members change and improve their mindset. We are determined to bring about a sustainable lifestyle change, one which is flexible to your needs and helps you work towards your ideal weight.” Shape Your Life offer a range of interactive programmes including Food on Mood, Cooking on a Budget, and other bespoke courses that fits your needs and makes you feel good. Past attendees of the group have transformed their lives, with the new plans helping them address their health challenges and get back to where they want to be. This includes Kevin Flanagan, a bus driver from the North West who was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic. Since joining Shape Your Life, Kevin has already lost threeand-a-half stone, and continues to make improvements to his diet and lifestyle.
“To rebalance your diet and make it healthier, replacing ultra-processed foods with whole foods, including grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, must be a first step”, Sharon explains. “When you work with us, you will eat better, feel better, look better, and ultimately change your diet to Shape Your Life”.
To get in touch with Sharon and see how you can take part in the Shape Your Life Groups in Derry~Londonderry, Strabane, Omagh, as well as the interactive programmes on offer, contact her on 07519779345.
Kevin Flanagan, who has lost three-and-a-halfstone through the Shape Your Life programme
Airporter confident of strong air travel bounce back as company celebrates 25th anniversary
The directors of North West based bus company Airporter have said they expect a strong recovery for air travel as Covid restrictions unwind, with pent-up demand from people eager to travel again driving business.
The company, which is celebrating 25 years in business this October, is back to around 60% of its pre-pandemic levels of trade, and directors Jennfier and Niall McKeever are optimistic about the shortto-medium term for the sector.
Airporter runs a regular direct service from Derry~Londonderry to both Belfast airports and provides a vital transport link for the people of the North West.
Opening in 1996 with just two drivers, two buses and around 5,000 customers a year, the company now carries 150,000 passengers annually, has a staff of 30, and a fleet of Mercedes coaches. In 2018, the company invested £1 million in a custom-built headquarters in Springtown, to futureproof the organisation for growth and development.
Airporter continues to go from strength to strength and, currently, the company is well on its way to carrying 2 million passengers. The company has completed over 100,000 journeys and plays a huge role in improving connectivity to and from the North West region.
“The pandemic has, of course, been a huge challenge for the wider travel and tourism industry but we’ve weathered the storm well and we’re pleased to be
(L-R) Jennifer McKeever, Director; Kathy Coyle, Customer Service Manager; Niall McKeever, Director; Pamela Deery, Office Manager; and Carla McDevitt, Customer Accounts Manager
operating at around 60% of our prepandemic levels”, explains Airporter Director, Jennifer McKeever.
From the start of October, international travel in Northern Ireland has been much freer of Covid restrictions, meaning travelers can go on holiday and explore the world beyond our shores much easier. Jennifer says this has been a positive for Airporter and everyone involved in the travel and tourism industry.
“We’re excited and optimistic about the bounce back of the industry as vaccine levels rise and people get back travelling again. We’ve already seen a positive return of trade during the summer with people eager to get back on holiday again and with students going to university across the water”, says Jennifer.
Besides the return of domestic and international travel, the Airporter team are excited by the short-tomedium term outlook for the North West and ongoing projects which are boosting the region’s connectivity and economy. “As the infrastructure in the North West continues to improve all
Airporter celebrated its 25th birthday in October this year
the time, we are hugely optimistic about the future”, explains Niall McKeever, Airporter Director.
“The completion of the A6 dualling project, scheduled for next Spring 2022, is not just a potential gamechanger for Airporter, but also for the North West economy. Improved connectivity between our region and other leading economic hubs across the UK and Ireland will bring increased investment, more jobs, and greater prosperity for the North West.”
The recent COP26 Climate Conference, held in Glasgow, has thrust the climate crisis into the spotlight for businesses and governments across the world. Airporter is ready and willing to play its part to get us to net zero.
“Looking forward, decarbonisation and sustainability will become even more of a key priority for Airporter”, says Niall. “The transport sector has a real opportunity to lead the way in terms of meeting our net zero goals and transitioning to more climate friendly and carbon neutral ways of doing business. We are conscious of the challenges ahead of us, but we are excited about meeting them head on over the next 25 years.”
Reaching a quarter of a century in business, for any company, is a huge success and the team at Airporter, ably led by the McKeevers, is rightly proud. “We’re so proud to have reached this hugely significant milestone and of everything we’ve achieved over the past 25 years. When we set out in 1996, there was no formal or reliable transport link between the North West and the two Belfast airports, and we had just two small buses”, reflects Jennifer.
Jennifer and Niall McKeever, Directors, Airporter
“Now, we carry over 150,000 passengers annually. We’re privileged to be so many people’s first choice for travelling to and from the North West – people going to work, students going to university, families reuniting, visitors coming to the North West.”
For Niall, it’s important to remember why Airporter first came about. “Airporter was born out of a need to serve the local community here in the North West and we remain absolutely committed to Derry and beyond. We have developed a recognisable and successful brand during this period, as well as creating and sustaining a crucial infrastructural link between our region and the two Belfast airports, and we want to thank everyone who has supported us since 1996 – our staff, our customers, both Belfast International and Belfast City Airports for their ongoing partnerships with us, and the people of Derry and the North West for supporting us always.”
Transform your business with Ulster University
Business across the North West have agilely and expertly navigated the generational impacts of Brexit and the pandemic. As businesses begin to emerge from a period of stabilization, proactive leaders will now pivot to redesigning their businesses and propositions to best meet the needs of their customers, consumers, and employees.
Business transformation can be both exciting and daunting. Sometimes it is best finding a collaborative partner with the depth and breadth of knowledge that can support all your business needs. In Ulster University, you may have the perfect innovation partner on your doorstep. You can benefit from the world-leading skills, expertise and facilities at our Magee campus including the advances developed through the Derry & Strabane City Deal. You can also access capabilities at our Coleraine and Belfast campuses.
What type of partnership could be best for you? A Knowledge Transfer Partnership may be your best solution working with the university and a high-calibre graduate to develop the idea or opportunity.
Alternatively, you may want to take advantage of Ulster’s Consultancy Services or license our technology. Licensing Technology is a great way to access world-leading technology differentiating your product or service. If you want to a closer collaboration, consider a Spin-in/Spin-out relationship where you will benefit from the expertise and support of the entire university. Finally, Ulster can tailor a PhD Research Project to your needs which may be the most cost-effective way to solve your challenge.
Ready to transform? Contact Ulster University to begin your transformation.
Our research and technology are catalysts for innovation.
We partner to create value and social impact.
Make memories this Christmas in Caterina’s Bistro, Da Vinci’s Hotel
Da Vinci’s Hotel has been at the heart of Christmas celebrations throughout the years so let’s make this Christmas extra special. After a year of virtual meetings reconnect with your work colleagues and enjoy a sumptuous Christmas lunch or dinner. With live music in the bar every weekend and DJ set in Caterina’s on selected dates, the festive spirit will be well and truly alive, bringing in Christmas & New Year. New Executive chef, Chris “Tufty” Moran, is renowned within the industry and has travelled the world honing his craft of fine dining. Throughout his career he has worked along with esteemed chefs such as Nick Nearns in Glasgow, Phil Howard in London, Robbie Millar in Bangor aswell as working in the prestigious Gleneagles. His key focus is sourcing local produce and transforming it into a gastronomic delight, evident in his menu. With dinner menus priced at £24 for two courses & £29.50 for three courses it offers excellent value for money at a time where customers are price conscious.
Speaking on the re-opening of Caterina’s Bistro post lock-down, Olga Henry, General Manager expresses “It has been an exceptionally difficult year for the hospitality industry however the reopening of Caterina’s Bistro has shown how resilient the industry has been and that a bright future lies ahead. We were delighted to relaunch our Gourmet Wine Dinner evenings & Festive Wreath workshops which sold out within days, indicating the appetite there is for social events to return.”
If you would like to book for Caterina’s Bistro online bookings are available via Open Table UK or calling 02871 279111.
DA VINCI’S
FESTIVE LUNCH
Two courses £18 | Three courses £22
FESTIVE DINNER
Two courses £24 | Three courses £29.50
BOXING DAY, NEW YEAR’S EVE & NEW YEAR’S DAY
Two courses £24 | Three courses £29.50
DJ set in Caterina’s Bistro & live music in Da Vinci’s Bar on selected dates. For more info see www.davincishotel.com/christmas.html
Credit card details are required at the time of booking. T&C apply
15 Culmore Road, Derry, BT48 8JB T: 028 71 279 111 caterinas@davincishotel.com
College Academies Assuring The Way Forward
Assured Skills Academies funded by the Department for the Economy and delivered by North West Regional College (NWRC), are changing the employment landscape in the North West.
In just three years, NWRC has supported more than 300 potential individuals who have gone on to full-time employment after completing an Assured Skills (PreEmployment) Academy, with plans for a further 400 potential jobs in the next three years.
Recently, the College launched its second Assured Skills Welding Academy giving 12 successful applicants the opportunity to receive industry-standard welding training during a five-week course at the college’s Greystone campus, followed by two-weeks of consolidation training at one of four engineering companies in the North West area. Participants who complete the Academy are guaranteed an interview for a welding position at companies which include Fleming Agri, Crossland Tanks, Terex, and E&I Engineering. Three more Welding Academies will be offered at NWRC before Spring 2022 including the NWRC Specialist Pipe TIG Welding Academy in partnership with AE Global in January 2022 and the NWRC General Welding Academy in March 2022.
NWRC is currently midway through the tenth Assured Skills Academy with FinTrU, a four-week intensive training course in partnership with Ulster University to develop core skills for the business services sector. Participants who complete the training are guaranteed an interview for a role at FinTrU’s NW Centre of Excellence.
Assured Skills Academies are a short, demand-led, pre-employment training programme, fully funded by the Department for the Economy, to upskill individuals and help them compete for guaranteed job vacancies in expanding indigenous businesses and new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) companies.
The model has a dual aspect, supporting employers who require workers with specialised training and skills, providing them with an opportunity to see the suitability of participants whilst assessing them as potential employees.
Assured Skills also support participants progress into new careers, giving them an insight into the
Sinead Milligan, Business Development Executive; Marc McGerty, Business Development Executive; and Sinead Hawkins, Business Skills Manager
Maggy McCartney, HR and Health and Safety Manager, Fleming Agri; Caleb Ward, Welder; Sinéad Hawkins, Business Skills Manager, North West Regional College; Jonathan Lecky, Managing Director, Fleming Agri Products; Kyle Stothard, Welder; and Adrian Wilson, Welding Training Co-Ordinator, Fleming Agri Products
work of their potential employer, whilst learning new transferable skills. This specialised training to future employees, ensures that those who graduate are ‘job ready’ to work either within their placement companies, or within the sector.
NWRC provides the training, skills and certifications on these programmes and coordinates and engages with the companies on their skills needs to develop the training programme.
Sinead Hawkins, Business Skills Manager at NWRC, said Assured Skills Academies have been a huge boost for the North West, providing opportunities to kick-start individuals into careers in a number of growing sectors. She added, “I am passionate about growing these Academies for the North West Region. They are a fantastic opportunity for new talent to progress in the industry by addressing the skills shortage.” “The talent and skills pool in the area continues to grow and strengthen, thanks to the success of the academies, which are employer led and offer high quality training opportunities and allow all our successful participants to hit the ground running when they enter the world of work.”
“Academies have a hugely positive impact on the North West City regions’ economy by feeding into local business needs. NWRC has supported over 300 individuals though the academies in the past 3 years, in sectors such as Customer Service, Financial Services, and more recently, Welding, with more than 92% getting a job offer at the end of the programme.”
“Our Welding Academies have proved extremely popular with almost 200 applications for 12 places. We’d like to encourage more females to consider applying for future welding academies. Training as a welder can open up a wide range of career options in a number of industries and recruiting more women into this profession can help us fill this skills gap.” “The College is committed to closing the skills gaps and supporting the North West Region for a post-Covid economy and future labour market.”
Leo Murphy, Principal and Chief Executive of NWRC said: “NWRC has worked hard establishing strong links with the local business community. Whether it’s training new and existing staff, or providing cutting edge research and innovation expertise, the college, with support from the Department for the Economy, continue to support businesses to maximise their potential and go further than before.”
For more information on how NWRC’s Business Support Centre can support your business contact Sinead Hawkins on Sinead.hawkins@nwrc.ac.uk
07809100689
business advice
Joe Lavery
After almost 25 years in existence, the EURES Cross Border Partnership Ireland – Northern Ireland, as we know it, will cease to exist. The partnership is a member of the European Employment Services family and is one of around 10 partnerships across the EU. Made up of representatives from Government bodies, chambers of commerce, trade unions and employer organisations from both sides of the border, the EURES Cross Border Partnership has always supported cross border workers, jobseekers, and employers from both sides of the border.
Funded and backed by the European Commission, the EURES Cross Border Partnership has provided a network of advisers to help workers with their queries, jobseekers to find jobs and employers to widen their net in their search for workers. The Partnership has supported and facilitated the free movement of workers and jobseekers during its lifetime. However, the UK decision to leave the EU ends the Partnership’s ability to apply for EU funds and to be a part of the wider EURES network.
The good news is that the Cross Border Partnership will continue to operate, under the new name of the Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services. Funding will come jointly from the Department of Social Protection and the Department for Communities. With the partners remaining the same, the adviser network will continue to be as strong and vibrant as it has in the past and will continue to offer similar services to the crossborder worker, jobseeker and employer as it has done for over 20 years.
The value of the Cross Border Partnership cannot be underestimated, and it will continue to offer support to employers, workers and jobseekers in the North West region as well as across the whole border region.
More details to follow in the coming weeks but do keep an eye on our website and social media for further updates.
Gareth McCay
Managing Director of McCay Solicitors
WHAT CAN RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS MEAN FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
In the past month alone, I have been asked to review 4 sets of Restrictive Covenants in an employment contract/service agreement in order advise as to enforceability. On each occasion I have advised that the covenants were unenforceable, much to the surprise of the client who was left facing a loss of business with little recourse.
Restrictive Covenants are normally included in the employment contracts of senior employees in an effort by an employer to restrict what the employee can do post-termination of their employment. Typically, the covenants prevent solicitation of customers, clients, suppliers, other employees, or general competition for a defined period after termination, in order to protect the employer’s confidential information, customer connections, goodwill and the stability of its workforce.
The difficulty is that any contractual term restricting an employee’s activities post-termination is void for being a restraint of trade and contrary to public policy, unless the employer can show that it has a legitimate interest which is appropriate to protect and that the protection sought is no more than is reasonable having regard to the interests of the
parties and the public interest.
Restrictive Covenants are hugely attractive in circumstances where say an experienced sales manager moves to a competitor and takes customer information with him and uses this for the benefit of the competitor. Armed with an enforceable Restrictive Covenant, it is possible for an employer to obtain an interim injunction restraining both the ex-employee and the competitor as well as an award for damages potentially against both the ex-employee and the competitor. Armed with a Restrictive Covenant that is poorly drafted, too wide, vague, uncertain or does not relate to a legitimate interest will usually result in a business having no recourse and incurring a catastrophic loss to a competitor.
My advice would be to customize Restrictive Covenants at the outset then review them on an ongoing basis and particularly at times when an employee’s role changes, or they are promoted.
Chris Wynne
Head of Financial Crime Prevention, Danske Bank
PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS AGAINST FRAUD
In early 2021, the Royal United Services Institute published a report on the impact of fraud in the UK. It stated that “its impact on the private sector has consequences for both the stability of individual companies and the broader reputation of the UK as a place to do business.” Anecdotal feedback tells us that our customers are more worried about their accounts being ‘taken over’ than being caught out in a scam where they send money to a criminal. Yet according to UK Finance, Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud cost businesses £91.3m in 2020. Criminals continue to use social engineering to deceive and impersonate, often employing simple techniques to great effect.
How does that affect your business? The weakest part of many processes is us, the human being. Responding to a ‘dodgy’ text claiming to reschedule a delivery or to listen to a voicemail may seem innocuous, however in replying, the individual may divulge personal information. Using this a criminal can probe a bit further and perhaps access email or other accounts.
Two of the biggest loss categories for businesses are Invoice Redirection and CEO fraud, both often linked to email compromises. The goal is to get a business to make payments to an account controlled by a criminal, usually on the back of an email received. Whilst the most common, they are also the most preventable. Ensuring that the beneficiary account details received are correct by confirming with the email sender or intended beneficiary, would stop these scams in their tracks. A call using a phone number known to be correct could make all the difference.
Does your business have appropriate controls in place to prevent this type of fraud, and more importantly, are they being used? Contact Chris at christopher.wynne@
danskebank.co.uk
Sandra Moffett
NOW IS THE TIME TO UPSKILL AND REFOCUS
Although the Covid-19 pandemic rages on, many are returning to a ‘normalised’ mode of living, embracing onsite working arrangements whilst facilitating a parallel hybrid, virtual existence. This dual approach is perhaps more challenging than we ever imagined, as we juggle face-toface events and engagements, with Teams and Zoom calls and the ever-growing email demands, whilst craving a coffee catch up with colleagues and friends. We seek to reconnect in a social setting whilst being ever present in a virtual world. Being kind to colleagues, supporting those who are challenged with health and family commitments, facilitating home working and caring duties was our new norm but what will the future hold?
At Ulster University Business School, we encourage you to take stock of your current status, reflect on how far you have come and how much you have coped with in the last 18 months. Appreciate the journey has been tough and waters have been unchartered. Breathe and be present, be complementary to yourself. But what is next, for you and your business?
Now is the opportune time to upskill and refocus. Take on the challenge of a new learning opportunity, strive for that promotion, get a further qualification, or build your team so you are armed and ready to accept the new opportunities that lie ahead. Ulster University Business School at Magee is here to help you reconnect, personally and professionally. Our students are employability ready, primed for new ways of working onsite, virtual or hybrid depending on your business needs. Students are equipped with skills much in demand by local businesses in areas such digital transformation, innovative and entrepreneurial design thinking, leadership, marketing, international business, and business analytics. Academic staff are keen to engage in business support so let us help you take your business to the next level. I urge you to reflect, reach out and reconnect, and let us help you to cocreate the business solution that you need post pandemic.
The Social Justice Hub at Ulster University Magee campus
Dr Esther McGuinness: Leading Ulster University’s Legal Minds to Make a Real Difference in the North West
Born and bred in the city, Dr Esther McGuinness is a Derry native, where she is now Head of the Ulster University School of Law and co-founder of the University’s Law Clinic, the only access to justice programme of its type in the UK and Ireland.
Esther co-founded the Social Justice Hub at Magee, alongside her colleague Claire Mulrone, who manages the University’s Community Engagement Team, in March 2018, primarily to provide support for survivors of domestic abuse, but it has since then developed to become the community outreach limb of the Law Clinic.
“As Co-Director of the multi-award-winning Ulster University Law Clinic, I supervise LLM Access to Justice Masters students in providing a range of pro-bono services”, Esther explains. “These services are given to claimants who might otherwise be unrepresented in areas of social security, employment, and family law from offices in both Magee Campus and in Belfast.”
Though Esther has over 25 years’ experience in the field of employment law, she took a somewhat non-traditional route into law and began her working life nursing. “Much like working with patients on the ward,
communication skills are vitally important when dealing with clients in law and legal education”, Esther notes.
Under her leadership, the University’s School of Law offers innovative and progressive courses combining legal education and practical skills which benefit students and employers in equal measure. A suite of new postgraduate courses is also on offer, including Employment Law and Practice delivered in partnership with The Labour Relations Agency and Legal Island, and International Commercial Law and ADR delivered with Cleaver Fulton Rankin, Alison Donaldson Legal and Mediation NI. A first-of-its-kind Corporate Law, Computing and Innovation course has just been introduced, delivered in partnership with a range of legal and computing experts.
“While the benefits of studying law for developing written and spoken communication skills are well-known, we understand that supporting student wellbeing is fundamental to students’ future careers, whether as legal professional or other roles”, Esther says. “From collaboration and project management to analysis and research, our courses will prepare students as far as possible for the professional practice. But it is the community, supportive ethos that underpins the Law School.”
Research emerging from the School of Law is both pioneering and world leading. Results from the UK National Exercise (REF) assessing its research placed it fourth in the UK in terms of research and first overall for research impact, eclipsing the results of much larger law schools.
During the pandemic, Esther, and her colleagues in the Legal Innovation Centre, worked in collaboration with the LLM Access to Justice student community at the University to assist with the huge number of Covid-19 related inquiries to the Law Clinic. Together, they developed an innovative digital platform to help navigate their queries to ensure those with greatest need were assisted first. Esther said, “Beyond our work around issues such as redundancy, furlough and layoffs, other colleagues are working on a digital triaging system for family law enquiries. These types of practical innovations are going to impact on legal services delivery and advice in the future, but where necessary, they must not replace face-to-face consultations.”
Ulster University Law Clinic couples the legal talents of its student body to meet the needs of clients on a community level. In 2018, the Law Clinic, in partnership with the Community Engagement team, expanded onto the Magee campus developing a Social Justice Hub to enhance effective participation in Derry. Over the last 10 years, the University’s commitment to community engagement and work with voluntary organisations has allowed it to provide extensive advice and support to a range of groups in areas of employment, social security and family law. The Hub seeks to enable community engagement with local partners, increased partnership between academic teams resulting in cross-faculty student engagement (both social work, arts, and law). “It enables the team to mobilise the practice of law for students, academics and community-based clients and partner organisations”, Esther explains, “providing an informed service for communities, while also directly enhancing employability for students in the Law Centre.”
If you are interested in working with the School of Law or supporting the work of the Social Justice Hub, please contact lawclinic@ulster.ac.uk. Keep up to date with news by visiting
www.ulster.ac.uk/lawclinic/home
where details of an upcoming symposium on the Impact of Poverty in Derry, in partnership with NSPCC, will soon be published.
Dr. Esther McGuinness, Head of the Ulster University School of Law and Co-Founder of the University’s Law Clinic
Down Memory Lane
Joe McGinnis Managing Director, Braidwater
What age are you? I am 38 years old. I have been in the property development industry for almost 20 years.
Where in the city are you from? I was born in Faughanvale and I’ve lived there all my life. A fantastic place with a beautiful view over the Foyle.
Explain what your business does. Braidwater, a family-owned home— builder have been working in the North West, Northern Ireland and the wider UK for almost 50 years. Our team of over 100 talented people have managed and led major private and social housing developments across the country. Put simply, we build houses.
What is your title and how long have you been in post? I am the Managing Director of Braidwater. My father, Patrick McGinnis, founded the company in 1973, and I have led the company now since 2010. Having began my journey with Braidwater at the age of 18, and working my way up from foreman, to contracts manager, to my current role, I have a strong cross-section of understanding of what it takes to solve the problems in order to deliver within this industry.
Tell me how your business began. Braidwater had very humble beginnings. My father’s family farmed like most of the rural population at that time, after leaving his job at DuPont in 1973, he dug the foundations of his first house in Iveagh Park, Gortgare. His first construction contract, Newbuildings Primary School, quickly followed, and my father earned himself a reputation for honesty, integrity, and productivity.
What was the city like outside your windows in that era? How has it changed? Like many who grew up during the Troubles, there are certain things you just don’t forget, for example, I remember when Cranlee Park in Culmore was being built, and the checkpoint just past Ballynagard Road created a major amount of hassle for anyone going up and down to build the houses never mind look to buy a house. People adapt well and everyone seemed to continue as normal. Now, though, our troubles are bureaucratic in nature. The red tape facing the home-building sector grows every single day, and it is posing serious challenges to our business and the wider industry. While the city has changed dramatically from the dark days, for our business in particular, opportunities remain for improvement in order to overcome these challenges and continue to deliver homes. Has the ethos of the business changed over the years? Since my father founded the company, our philosophy has remained the same: regardless of what you’re doing, do it with integrity. Be it contacting a client, speaking with your foreman, or simply carrying out your daily work, do it to the highest standard and in keeping with the reputation that Braidwater has built over the years. What’s the best bit of business advice you have been given over the years? There’s only one person you can
Patrick McGinnis, founder of Braidwater, pictured with his son Joe McGinnis, Managing Director of Braidwater
always rely on for the best advice, and that’s your granny. Her advice to me was simple: read everything. No matter what is presented in front of you, read it, and you’ll find something useful. I often think of how many lessons that I would have missed without her advice!
Has the way you do business in the city changed much over the years – examples of anything that is better now?
Within any industry, you are always looking for ways to innovate and improve the way you do business. For us, we build houses, and there will always be new construction skills to learn or new technologies to develop. The way we work at Braidwater today is very different to how it was when I first started, but the core principles of persistence while having a positive and problem solving approach to every challenge remain integral to our work.
In July 1991, NI Industry Minister Mr Richard Needham attended the sod cutting at Braidwater’s new £5m office block development at Dorman’s Wharf, Waterside
What can businesses learn from the past to build a strong future? The experience of working my way up within the company has taught me the value of flexibility, being dropped in at the deep end and being able to adapt. Be it your skillset, your approach to work, or even your business model, I would say that not pigeonholing yourself and being flexible in your approach is the best way to build a strong future for both you and your business. This is also the most important skill any young person can learn.
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CavanaghKelly
1. Shauna McStravick
Shauna McStravick has been promoted to Director at CavanaghKelly. Shauna joined CavanaghKelly in 2016 as a Manager. Shauna will continue to lead CavanaghKelly’s Business Recovery and Insolvency team and work alongside other departments as we continue to grow the practice.
Easy Customs UK
2. Christopher Sweeny
Christopher is Assistant Manager of Easy Customs UK and has sole responsibility for overseeing the needs of clients sending goods between NI and GB as well as supporting those with Irish and Rest of World customs requirements.
Prior to joining Easy Customs, Christopher has been pivotal in running a successful family business in Donegal.
Chris focuses on supporting clients in all trade and customs related matters and in particular helps them navigate the challenging documentary environment that life post-Brexit presents.
3. Alan Ferguson
Alan has joined Easy Customs UK as a Customs Consultant and brings a wealth of accounting and VAT experience to his role.
To date, Alan has supported our many clients requiring assistance in closing out their supplementary UK and NI customs declarations and continues to go above and beyond for these clients in his day to day role.
We are delighted to welcome Alan to the team Everglades Hotel
4. James Toal
James Toal, who comes from Co Armagh, has been with Hastings Hotels 11 years.
He started his career with the group as Trainee Manager in 2008 and spent time training at the Everglades,as well as the other hotels within the group, so he is no stranger to the North West.
Most recently he managed the Percy French restaurant within the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, bringing it to new levels of success and it is this reason that James was promoted this summer to be General Manager of the Everglades Hotel.
James not only brought with him his skills, and serious work ethic to the Everglades, but also his Fiancée Aleksandra Golan as Sous Chef who worked with him in Newcastle and brings her amazing culinary talents to the kitchens in the hotel. Her Derry Girls Afternoon Teas are already Legenderry!
McCay Solicitors
5. Sara Plower
Sara is a graduate of University of Liverpool and after a number of years as a director in a local company she returned to education achieving a First Class Honours Degree in Law from the University of Ulster. Sara joined the McCay Solicitors firm in July 2016 as a Paralegal initially assisting the Managing Director before progressing to run her own caseload of personal injury, employment law and clinical negligence cases. Sara commenced her apprenticeship in 2019 and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of Northern Ireland in September 2021, having graduated from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queens University with Distinction. Sara’s main current practice areas are conveyancing and probate.
6. Tara Vij
Tara has joined the McCay Solicitors firm in the position of Marketing Executive. With an extensive career in PR, marketing and design, she will develop and oversee all of the firms marketing needs, website management and social media marketing. Tara’s skillset in media management and relations stems over 12 years with previous experience in working with the Derry News and Manager at the County Derry Post under the River Media Group. She has also created a much needed service locally for PR, Marketing and Event Management needs which also incorporates an inhouse publication servicing the North West of Ireland. Her specialty and forte excels in social media marketing which will be an invaluable asset here within our firm. We strive to offer an exceptionally high standard of work throughout and look forward to having Tara communicate this effectively via our various marketing mediums.
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NWRC
7. Aidan Mulcahy
Aidan joins NWRC from Kevin Watson Group, where he was Financial Controller. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), graduated with a BA in Law and Accounting from the University of Limerick and is a former JP McManus Scholarship recipient. Aidan has a broad range of experience across Construction, Manufacturing and Financial Services, previously working for Bemis in Campsie, LGT Capital Partners in Dublin and Challenger in Sydney, Australia.
A proud Limerick man, Aidan moved to the North West in 2015 and now lives in Co. Derry with his wife and four young sons. As Head of Finance at NWRC, he will be based at the Strand Road campus and will oversee the college’s finance functions.
8. Sinéad Milligan
Sinéad Milligan has 18 years diverse service-led experience in IT and Marketing following a degree in Business, Masters in Computing and Information Systems as well as spending a year studying Business and German in the US. She began her career as an IT programmer and moved in to business as she was quickly drawn to the world of client services and business development. She spent 10 years working in the private sector as a Client Manager where she secured and managed relationships with key clients throughout NI, mainland UK, ROI and US.
In 2013, she decided to work parttime and balance the needs of a young family which led her to the role of Employer Liaison Officer in North West Regional College securing strong relationships within Industry and supported local economic development through the successful delivery of DfE funded ApprenticeshipNI programmes. Throughout this time, she expanded the role by leading in operational and compliance related projects and led in the development of an Employer Management Information system for NWRC.
She is looking forward to her new role as Business Development Executive where she will be working on Assured Skills Academy programmes delivered by NWRC and managing key client accounts to ensure high standards of client satisfaction and service delivery is achieved. Ulster University
9. Micky Quigg
Micky Quigg, taking up his new role as Project Development Officer with Ulster University Business School. Micky is no stranger to the campus or University having graduated with a BA Hons Drama from Ulster University, Magee in 2014. Micky then worked for Ulster University Students’ Union for three years, two years as the Magee Vice President for Academic and Students Affairs – and one as the Campaigns and Communications Officer across the four campuses. After UUSU, in 2017 he moved away from home to America and worked for the New York Gaelic Athletic Association, he spent four years with the sporting organization, two as Hurling Development Officer – then was promoted to Games Development Manager in 2019. Micky comes with a wealth of experience in event management and stakeholder engagement, which he will surely bring to the forefront in his new role.
Velvet Interiors
10. Rachael McCrea
Velvet Interiors are delighted to welcome a new senior design to the team, Rachael McCrea
Rachael has a wealth of experience in home design having previously ran her own design business. She brings a unique style and eye to interior design and retail to Velvet Interiors.
Rachael will head up their Limavady studio and boutique as well as domestic interior design.
Rachael@velvetinteriors.co.uk
