CONNECTED Issue 18

FRESH VISION FOR THE NORTH WEST

CONNECTED, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce’s full colour publication. Designed and produced by business people for business people. Distributed to businesses across the North West.

CONNECTED Magazine

Editor

Brown O’Connor Communications

Content Editor

Carolann Doherty

Production & Design

Big Moo Design

Advertising

Carolann Doherty

Email Address

carolann@londonderrychamber.co.uk

Front Cover Image

Mark Hamill Photography

Londonderry Chamber of Commerce

President

Selina Horshi

Chief Executive

Anna Doherty

Business Development Executive

Carolann Doherty

Marketing and Events Coordinator

Wendy McDermott

Accounts Administrator

Elisha Kealey

t: 028 7126 2379

w: londonderrychamber.co.uk

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Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher accepts no responsibility for omissions or errors within this publication. Editorial submissions are included at the discretion of the editor. The opinions expressed in articles within this publication are not necessarily those of the Chamber. All offers, promotions and competitions appearing in CONNECTED are the sole responsibility of the advertiser/promoting party and Londonderry Chamber of Commerce does not accept any responsibility for any representations made within them.

Message from the CEO

Welcome to the 18th edition of CONNECTED, the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce magazine.

With our first CONNECTED edition of the year, this is an opportunity to look forward to what 2023 holds in store for the Chamber, our members, and the wider community in the North West. We’re excited for another year of working with our members to drive forward their priorities and helping unlock the full potential the North West has to offer.

Key to unlocking that potential in the North West is cherishing and nurturing the fantastic entrepreneurs we have in our region. Derry City and Strabane Enterprise Week recently took place with a busy programme of events and workshops which celebrated the micro-businesses and SMEs in the North West. Enterprise Week has become a real staple of the local business calendar and plays a vital role in highlighting the strong entrepreneurial spirit we have in the North West. As Chair of the judging panel of the Start Up Launch Pad North West Pitch Competition, I was even lucky to see firsthand some of the most intriguing and exciting local start-ups.

However, despite optimism for the future, challenges persist for our local firms. The costof-living crisis and rising prices continue to bite and place real pressure on businesses. We also continue to be without a functioning Assembly and Executive, something the Chamber has consistently campaigned against for over a year, and we continue to push for its return as soon as possible. In a recent survey conducted by the Chamber, the lack of an Executive was chosen by over 60% of respondents as the number one issue which we should prioritise in the coming months. It’s clear that an absent Assembly is having an impact on business, economic growth, and investment.

While we recently welcomed the news of the Windsor Framework deal between the EU and the UK, and the work done by both sides to come to an agreement should be commended, we remain cautiously hopeful that it will also ultimately lead to the restoration of the Executive. Economic growth can and will only be delivered on solid governance foundations in Northern Ireland and we know that businesses, both indigenous and foreign, crave stability and certainty.

We will continue to lobby on the issues that matter most to your business throughout 2023, whether they be energy, investment into our region, infrastructural improvements, or the cost of doing business. Despite the headwinds, this coming year offers serious potential for the North West and I am excited to see our local economy continue to grow and develop. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this edition of CONNECTED and I hope you enjoy reading about the best and brightest in the North West.

Anna Doherty CEO

“You tell us, we’ll tell them”

Inishowen Independent marks 16th anniversary this month

Derry and Inishowen. Inishowen and Derry. The two go hand-in-hand. Inishowen folk have always gravitated towards Derry and vice versa.

From a business perspective, Inishowen has always been a valuable market for Derry firms. With 40,000 people right on Derry’s doorstep, Inishowen is a market that no business in the city can afford to ignore.

The Inishowen Independent newspaper, now in its 17th year, is the biggest selling newspaper in Inishowen. That puts the independently-owned weekly newspaper in a prime position when it comes to providing a platform for firms targeting sales to Inishowen customers.

Damian Dowds, editor of the Buncrana-based publication, said, “We are unashamedly Inishowen-biased in everything we do.

“We find the Inishowen angle in local,

national, and international news. It has served us well, growing our brand from a fledgling publication in 2007 to becoming one of Donegal’s best-known newspaper titles almost two decades on.”

“There’s a lot of competition out there for advertising these days – not least from online platforms”, says advertising manager Dónal Campbell. “But the proof in the pudding is the number of repeat advertisers who come back to us time and again because they get a return on their investment.

“Our database of customers has grown extensively over the years, but we’ve also retained clients who got a response from advertising with us from day one.”

Campbell says the Inishowen Independent works with advertisers in ensuring the message they are trying to get across is presented optimally.

“It’s not in our interest, nor in the interests of our clients, for us to put in any old advert that won’t sell the message as well as it could.

“We have very experienced design staff who will advise and work with advertisers to ensure the best possible results.”

Campbell’s message for Derry businesses who are considering advertising in the Inishowen Independent is “Like our slogan says – you tell us and we’ll tell them!”

For more information, email donal@inishowenindo.ie

Looking to do business in Inishowen?

Dónal Campbell and Damian Dowds, publishers of the Inishowen Independent newspaper

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Welcome to all our members and thank you to everyone who has contributed to this edition of CONNECTED.

This is my first edition of CONNECTED as President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce. Since becoming President just over three months ago, I have met with plenty of members, visited businesses across the North West, engaged with politicians and stakeholders, and worked to provide a positive and progressive voice to the business community in Derry and beyond.

The fiscal and economic forecast for local businesses remains as uncertain as it was a year ago. The cost-of-living crisis continues to impact households and workers, energy and fuel costs are sky-high, and businesses are operating in a very unpredictable environment. After the upheaval of the pandemic, the past 12 months have been about recovery and bouncing back for many businesses. However, with prices still rising, it’s as important as ever that we continue to support local, shop local, and back local.

Despite the challenges, there are reasons to remain optimistic and positive for 2023. The recent breakthrough over the NI Protocol and the new socalled Windsor Framework was the end result of months of intensive and comprehensive negotiations between the EU and the

UK and the work of officials and ministers on both sides should be lauded. While parties and businesses continue to make their way through the technical detail of the deal, we are hopeful that it will iron out issues for trade and businesses and ultimately lead to the return of power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

The return of the Assembly and the Executive should be the number one focus of all our parties and elected representatives. Functioning regional government means delivery for households and businesses, vital and positive legislation being progressed, and a more stable country for all of us. The Chamber has been clear for nearly a year now that the absence of Stormont is simply unacceptable. We will continue to make a case for its speedy and full return so we can fully realise the potential of, in the Prime Minister’s words, the “world’s most exciting economic zone.”

It’s clear from the pages of this magazine that businesses and entrepreneurs in the North West are leading the way in innovation, enterprise, and industry. This edition of CONNECTED is jam-packed full of inspiring stories from across our business community. From expanding start-ups, to diversifying workforces, to award wins, I would like to congratulate each company

on their fantastic work undertaken across our business community.

I hope you enjoy this edition of CONNECTED and read more about the tenacity and talent of our local business community here in the North West.

Selina Horshi President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce

Bishop’s Gate: Rich in History and Charm

Rich in history and charm, Bishop’s Gate Hotel is one of the most distinguished events and meeting venues in the North West. Whether you are planning a corporate event, intimate celebration, or lavish party in the heart of the Walled City, our highly experienced events team will help you plan every detail meticulously.

The building was originally home to The Northern Counties Club, a private members club where many civic leaders, intellects, and business leaders such as Sir Winston Churchill, W.B Yeats, William Carson, amongst many others, met to discuss plans and ideas.

The Northern Counties Club purchased the building with the intention of creating a space for their members to ‘Meet, Eat, and Lay their Heads’. The

current day reincarnation of the building continues this celebrated legacy as a place for great minds to discuss great ideas.

With local rail and bus links close by and only nine miles from City of Derry Airport, Bishop’s Gate Hotel is the ideal central base for delegates to make the most of their time in the city with many of the city’s historic sites all within walking distance.

The Northern Counties Ballroom, Hervey Library, 7 London Street, and Spire bar all offer event organisers flexible layout options.

Whether your delegates are gathering for coffee at the start of the day,

having a light lunch, or sipping a cocktail as they relax and unwind, The Wig and Gown Champagne Bar and Restaurant provides the perfect backdrop.

Or why not celebrate in style and enjoy the personal service of afternoon tea, lunch, or dinner in one of our inspiring private rooms for your celebration.

From meetings and conferences to birthdays and anniversaries, join us to mark the occasion with a memorable Bishop’s Gate experience.

Foyle Search and Rescue Celebrate 30 Years!

2023 marks the 30th year of operation for Foyle Search and Rescue.

Foyle Search and Rescue was set up by local people in 1993 in response to the alarmingly high number of drownings in the river and has adopted the role of preventing suicide and supporting families in the city. Their volunteers are from the local community who selflessly give up hours of their personal time every week to help those in need. Foyle Search and Rescue patrol the river on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, identified peak times of need, from 9.30pm to 3.00am, engaging with people

in distress, maintaining lifebelts, and saving lives. They have an Emergency Response Pager Team, made up of dedicated volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for incidents and emergencies outside of patrol times. This team are paged by the PSNI to respond to potential suicide attempts and incidents in and around the river.

They have dedicated their charity to the preservation of life in and around the River Foyle. 30 years on, they continue with that mission with the love and support of the community which helps them at every turn!

Derrie Danders launches Influential Women of the Walled City tour

In March 2023, Derrie Danders Walking and Audio Tours is launching a new specialised historical walking tour, “Influential Women of the Walled City.”

The tour introduces participants to many of the influential and inspirational women connected with Derry~Londonderry. As well as many characters from history, participants will hear about modern day influential women and some you might even be lucky enough to bump into on the tour itself!

Highlighted on the tour are women from politics, literature, acting, music, social, and community work, as well as influential groups that hail from the city. Just some of

They will be holding a series of events this year to celebrate 30 years. These will range from team building events, sponsored walks, remembrance events, and even a glitzy gala ball. They would

love for their fellow Chamber members to join in and help them celebrate 30 years as an organisation, and to celebrate life in itself!

the women highlighted in the tour are Amelia Earhart, Pat Hume, Sister Clare Crockett, Lisa McGee and the Derry Girls, Bridget Desmond, and the Shirt Factory Girls.

To find out more about the fantastic women who hail from the Walled City, contact Derrie Danders through the website www.derriedanders.co.uk and book a tour.

Meet the Buyera roaring success!

Opening this year’s Derry City and Strabane District Council Enterprise Week, the popular ‘Meet the Buyer’ event took place in the Alley Theatre, Strabane. More than 150 businesses came together to conduct one-to-one sales meetings.

The morning session offered start-up and established small and medium enterprises the opportunity to connect with large public and private organisations with the aim to increase sales and learn more about their procurement processes.

After a networking lunch, the suppliers attended a ‘procurement themed’ panel discussion with some of the region’s key buyers such as Coca Cola, NI Water, City of Derry Airport, and the council’s own Procurement Manager. This offered attendees further insight and advice around procurement and how to secure business with larger organisations.

In preparation for ‘Meet the Buyer’, the Council launched a ‘Sales Accelerator Programme’ which provided 50 new Business Innovation and Growth (BIG) clients with 1-2-1 mentoring and access to three special salesoriented workshops. Businesses were able to hone their ‘Elevator Pitch’ in advance of the ‘Meet the Buyer’ event.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Sandra Duffy, officially opened the event and launched the start

Cookbook launch ‘proud moment’ for all involved in unique cookery programme

of Enterprise Week. “We all know that there are huge benefits of events like these, which offer a platform for businesses to make new business connections and general sales. During this financial year to date, our business support team have provided tailored support to over 600 businesses locally and this will further bolster businesses’ confidence to scale and grow.”

The event was supported by their business partners - Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, Ulster University, North West Regional College, Labour Relations Agency, and Strabane Enterprise Agency - who offered additional support and signposting to businesses on the day.

For more highlights about Meet the Buyer and Enterprise Week, follow Derry and Strabane District Council on social media or sign up to their business newsletter and visit their websitewww.derrystrabane. com/businesssupport

A new cookbook has just been published by Apex Housing Association, following the success of a unique cookery programme delivered over the last two years aimed at improving tenants’ mental health and alleviating concerns about the rising cost of food.

The Cook Along programme began in 2021 as a means of tackling social isolation and financial stress during the Covid-19 lockdown. It has seen tenants from across Northern Ireland take part in cooking demonstrations led by local chef, Charlie Dillon, with ingredients supplied by Apex prior to each session. Initially delivered via Zoom due to restrictions, the Cook Alongs now take place in-person at Apex Living Centre in Derry~Londonderry, with tenants from further afield also able to join in via Zoom.

The Cook Along Cookbook, launched at an event in Apex’s unique demonstration kitchen in Derry~Londonderry, features a collection of recipes from the programme and has been distributed to more than 5,000 Apex tenants.

The Cook Along programme has also provided support to local communities. A Cook Along was organised for the tenants of Dove Gardens in the Bogside area of Derry~Londonderry to provide food for their street party aimed at preventing trouble during the August bonfire season, whilst Rathcoole Gardens in Newtownabbey took part in a ‘Bake Along’ allowing its older tenants to produce celebration cakes for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

Apex’s Cook Along programme continues today as a popular tenant engagement activity. If you would like to learn more about the Cook Along programme or cookbook, contact Apex Housing Association on 028 7130 4800 or email info@apex.org.uk. The Cook Along Cookbook can be downloaded from the Apex website at www.apex.org.uk

FinTrU Announces the Creation of 300 New Jobs in the North West

FinTrU has announced plans to invest over £20m by 2027, which will see the creation of 300 new jobs in Derry~Londonderry and a significant investment in the skills of its Northern Ireland wide staff.

Supported by Invest Northern Ireland, the new roles will see FinTrU’s North West operation double in size.

Founded in 2013 by Darragh McCarthy, FinTrU is a multiaward-winning technologically enabled regulatory solutions company that works with global investment banks. FinTrU specialises in the areas of KYC, Compliance, Legal, Risk and Controls, and Operations. The Financial Times has named FinTrU as one of Europe’s fastest growing companies for two years in succession.

Darragh said the latest expansion is “a significant step which will see FinTrU grow to over 1,500 employees in Northern Ireland and significantly increase our competitiveness, catapulting us into a new era of business growth.

“FinTrU is celebrating its 10th birthday in 2023 and the North West holds a special place in the heart of our business. Since making our first investment in Derry~Londonderry in 2018, we have been blown away by the talent and were able to surpass our initial jobs target one year ahead of schedule. Following the announcement of our Letterkenny site last year, our newest investment is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to develop and champion the North West

region and our staff who have helped us to grow here.

“Invest NI has been a vital partner in enabling our impressive growth to date and also in securing the long-term sustainability of our operations in both Derry~Londonderry and Belfast.”

The investment will offer valuable job opportunities for graduates of all disciplines and those wanting to change careers. Roles range from graduate roles to more senior experienced positions.

FinTrU’s market-leading Graduate Programme is now open for applications in Derry~Londonderry. Applications can be submitted via www.fintru.com/grad. For a range of more experienced career opportunities, visit www.fintru.com/careers.

Launch of major cross-border research project to address slow economic growth, connectivity, and mental health issues in west of island of Ireland

The Atlantic Futures Project is a collaboration between Ulster University, University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University, and University of Limerick for sustainable regional development to make a real world impact on aspects of industry and civic society in the North West Atlantic Innovation Corridor region.

corridor, namely: relative slow economic growth; low levels of female entrepreneurship; higher rates of mental health difficulties among young people than ever before; barriers to digitalisation in rural areas; and issues with international freight connectivity with no state ports or airports in the region.

A major four million euro four-year cross-border research partnership has been launched to research and address structural and societal imbalances across the North West Atlantic Innovation Corridor.

Announced in March, the flagship project has seen the creation of a research team organised in three co-located hubs in Derry~Londonderry, Galway, and Limerick, working to understand and address issues which uniquely affect this section of the Atlantic

The large-scale social science research will seek to examine these issues based on three themes with six working projects to face into and embrace digital, green, and energy transitions and to focus efforts on societal, business, and community outcomes.

a day in the life

Name Brendan McGinn

Age

53

Hometown

Born in Omagh / Living in Derry City

Organisation St Mary’s College

Job title

Principal

Describe what your job involves:

In essence, as Principal, I am responsible for the leading and running of St Mary’s College. At the heart of my responsibilities are the pupils and staff and ensuring I support and meet the needs of each and every one of them. Of course, I am ably supported by a network of talented people ranging from governors and internal leaders to form tutors and our parents/guardians.

Describe a day at your work:

I usually arrive at school at 7.30am where I finish preparing my notices for the day. At this time, I also keep a close eye on staffing and will field calls and messages regarding absence which I relay to the office. At 8am I undertake outside duties where I meet pupils and staff arriving just to say hello.

I will then usually have a short meeting with my personal assistant, Ms Michelle Cavanagh, to go over email communications, staff requests, or meetings needed. After break I will engage in a number of meetings and this can vary from staff and pupils to parents/guardians and external agencies. I tend to graze at lunchtime, eating on the move. The afternoon can be a mixture of more meetings and planning but I always try to have some quality contact with pupils.

I leave school around 5.30pm and normally spend a further hour or more working at home on aspects of school work including preparing my morning notices for the next day. Increasingly, as we get school life back to normal, I have been attending evening functions which may range from another school’s prizegiving to perhaps a church or community event which I really enjoy attending.

What has been your most memorable day at work?

I have had the pleasure of being a part of many outstanding achievements at the school and the most recent one was a Grandparents’ Day held for our Year 8 pupils. It was a truly special day on so many levels and just to witness the love, care, and support in that hall is something I will remember for a long time.

What is your greatest achievement?

Professionally, leading a school is something I still pinch myself about. It may sound odd but I genuinely don’t consider myself to be the Principal. However, I can say with certainty that I am a very happy and proud leader of St Mary’s College.

What is the best advice you have ever been given in work?

Before I became a principal a colleague told me to keep my speeches short which I try to take on board. I am big into quotes as

my staff know only too well. Two of my favourite quotes which at least indirectly help me in my work are:

“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, most of which never happened” (Mark Twain).

“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you” (Lao Tzu).

What are the most satisfying/ fulfilling aspects of your job?

Easy - it’s the privilege of working with young people.

What qualities/skills are most important for your role?

I believe being kind, patient, and showing empathy all go a long way in my role. While there are sizeable administrative duties to do and oversee, it is a role that depends fundamentally on relationships and the quality of them. If these are in place, you have the platform from which to run an effective, thriving, and happy school.

JMK Solicitors announce charity partnership with PIPS Charity

JMK Solicitors, Northern Ireland’s number one personal injury solicitors, and CRASH Services, Northern Ireland’s leading vehicle accident management company, both with offices located on the Culmore Road, have announced they will be supporting PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland (PIPS Charity) as their chosen charity partner for 2023.

Jonathan McKeown, CEO at CRASH Services and Chairman of JMK Solicitors, said, “Each year, our staff nominate a charity that is close to their hearts. After two rounds of voting, our team felt it was important to concentrate our efforts on mental health awareness and to raise as much money as possible for this fantastic service. We are therefore delighted to announce that our new charity partner for 2023 is PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland.

“We are committed to raising much needed funds through a series of events planned throughout the year. We look forward to the year ahead and doing what we can to help PIPS support individuals when they need their services most.”

Renee Quinn, Executive Director at PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland, added, “We are thrilled to be selected by CRASH Services and JMK Solicitors as their charity partner for this year.

“At PIPS we provide expert, free, unlimited face-to-face counselling services to those families, friends, and colleagues touched by suicide. We provide support right across all of Northern Ireland through our hubs in Belfast, Derry~Londonderry, and Enniskillen, and we provided 15,057 sessions to clients during the last year.

“PIPS Charity focuses on providing free counselling which is accessible for all, we provide a crisis walk-in service with no restrictions on the number of sessions for clients in need, and this model helps us to make the biggest difference, ensuring no client’s future is limited. We support families with their emotional and psychological needs to ensure they have the skills, confidence and strength they need help during those dark times – which can be a lifeline for many.

“That’s why we’re so pleased to announce our new charity partnership with CRASH and JMK Solicitors. Together, we have a shared vision to tackle the ever-increasing mental ill-health demand and with this new partnership it will help us to continue saving lives.”

Entertainment excellence in the North West

The Millennium Forum opened in 2001 and is nestled within the famous Derry Walls. It is the North West’s leading theatre and conference centre, attracting over 300,000 people every year to a vibrant programme of world class shows such as ballet, comedy, pantomime, West End musicals, and top-quality drama.

As a registered charity, its strategic vision is one of a theatre that is engaged in its community, for the community, delivering a balance of high-quality affordable arts and entertainment programme, transformative live theatre which encompasses local, national, and intergenerational events, combined with exceptional education projects.

The Forum recently picked up the Commitment to Diversity award at A&B NI Awards, and has also just been acknowledged as the first theatre in Ireland to receive the Makaton Friendly Silver award for its efforts in driving inclusivity.

By supporting the Millennium Forum via sponsorship you can magnify your marketing and promotional efforts by connecting to its audiences. Your support also ensures that education

and outreach remains central to the theatre’s mission, ensuring free education experiences are offered to young people through its Interact Festivals, Youth Musicals, and Energy of Light DJ training and discos.

The Forum works with businesses of all sizes offering a wide range of advertising, corporate, or sponsorship opportunities. Its seasonal programme and digital screens are popular choices when raising brand awareness and all Corporate Boxes have now sold out! It is currently seeking a forward-thinking company with an interest in Principal Partnership which is the highest tier of partnership available. This is suited to an innovative and community focused company whose brand will accompany the Millennium Forum brand into its 25th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

The team at the Forum has an excellent track record nurturing its partners and sponsors. Diamond Corrugated has been a partner for 20 years and many others have enjoyed business collaborations for numerous years throughout its 22 years in operation. This is testament to the theatre’s partnership building skills and commitment to delivering a high-quality service, combined with the support local

businesses demonstrate towards the theatre and the arts community. This year they have already welcomed new partners Terex, Aircoach, Muff Gin, Nicor, Store and Go, Gee’s Wine, and Craft Training.

Cara Mc Cartney, Development and Creative Engagement Manager at the Millennium Forum said, “The Millennium Forum is grateful for the support of the local business community. We are extremely proud of the impact our partnerships are making in terms of supporting our programming and outreach events. Even during this difficult economic climate, businesses are seeing the benefit or working in partnership with us and, in line with the excellent programing we have on offer, there has never been a better time to get involved.”

To discuss how your business can align your brand with one of the leading arts and entertainment venues in the UK and Ireland, contact the Development Department on partnerships@ milenniumforum.co.uk

David McLaughlin, Millennium Forum, Celine Coleman, Aircoach, Dervla McKay, Aircoach, and Karen Sullivan, Millennium Forum

Tony Devine, Terex, Kieran Hegarty, Terex, Cara McCartney, Millennium Forum, and Karen Sullivan, Millennium Forum

Partnership/Sponsorship opportunities with the Millennium Forum

There has never been a better time to get your business involved with the Millennium Forum.

Ask how we can put your brand centre stage

Your support helps us deliver award winning events and training to audiences young and old.

We offer show sponsorships, digital and print advertising opportunities (programme, website, e-newsletters) and packages to connect with our award winning community outreach and access events.

We also have opportunities for hosting meetings and events, with support packages available for Chamber members. T&C’s apply.

Tailor-made packages for all budgets.

Email: partnerships@millenniumforum.co.uk

Arts & Business NI Awards 2022

Refreshed vision for the North West

2023 has brought with it a refreshed and renewed leadership at the Chamber. CONNECTED sat down with Chamber President Selina Horshi and Chamber CEO Anna Doherty to talk about their vision for the year ahead, the challenges and opportunities which lie before the North West economy, and what the Chamber is doing to support local businesses.

It’s somewhat of a cliché at this point to say that businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs crave and rely on certainty and clarity but that doesn’t make it any less true. Ask any of our business or lobby groups and they’ll say the same thing – clarity, certainty, and assurances for the future are the key factors for investor and consumer confidence. In a political and business environment like Northern Ireland, however, these can often be in short supply.

“It’s been a challenging first twelve months, to say the least”, laughs Anna Doherty, Chamber Chief Executive. “When I first assumed the role in an interim capacity, the First Minister had just resigned, other ministers were

restricted in what they could do, and we were about to begin an Assembly election campaign.

“As well as the political issues close to home, the cost-of-living crisis was really beginning to bite for households and businesses, and rising costs were putting pressure on small businesses across pretty much every sector”, continues Anna. “It’s been an uncertain year for so many reasons, but I’ve seen first-hand the resilience and innovation of our local businesses and how they’ve reacted to the challenges that faced them.”

While Anna says it’s been a challenging first year at the helm, she has been inspired by the response

of businesses to issues like rising prices and costs, inflation, political uncertainty, and an absent Executive. “Business owners and leaders very rarely complain, even with the challenges facing their companies. They seek the path of least resistance, find an alternative way of doing things, and go about their business, continuing to deliver for their customers and partners.”

This spirit of knuckling down and getting on with things is central to Selina’s mission and vision as Chamber President in 2023. After being elected President at last year’s Chamber AGM, Selina set out her stall for the next twelve months.

“As Anna has said, the challenges before businesses are too many to mention”, says Selina. “Recruitment and retention, finding skilled workers, the cost of materials and goods – the

Selina Horshi, Chamber President, and Anna Doherty, Chamber CEO

Selina Horshi, Chamber President; Cllr Sandra Duffy, Mayor of Derry and Strabane; and Anna Doherty, Chamber CEO

list goes on. However, as I’ve reiterated continually over the past three months, we can’t let the phenomenon of ‘Permacrisis’ define us.

Derry and the North West has a really resilient, hardy business community. We’ve faced challenges and crises over the past three or four decades and I think it has instilled a steeliness in our business people. I think it’s also why we have such a strong spirit of entrepreneurship here”, explains Selina.

“While we can’t be complacent about the challenges which face us, we also can’t let ourselves be led by them. And this is why I’m so keen to champion innovation in all its forms.”

At December’s AGM, Selina told assembled members that the Chamber’s vision for the year ahead was clear – to be at the heart of a creative, innovative, competitive, and confident North West region.

“I think the Chamber plays a really vital role in Derry and the wider North West”, explains Anna. “We sit at the heart of a network of likeminded, active, and committed partners. This includes educational institutions like North West Regional College and Ulster University, our local council, arms-length government bodies, and some of our region’s bestknown businesses.

“We work hard on behalf of our local businesses, seeking to give them a powerful and united voice on the issues which matter most to them, to the decision makers

who can make the difference. And, above all, we are local and accessible. We know what affects our members and local businesses.”

So, what are the priorities for the year ahead?

“There are a number of external issues which we will continue to work hard to support local businesses on and ensure their voices are heard as strongly as possible”, says Selina. “These include the absence of an Executive at Stormont. We’ve been clear since February 2022 that an absent Assembly does nothing for anybody in Northern Ireland and we remain firmly of this position. We’ll continue to lobby and agitate for its return as quickly as possible. A functioning government in Northern Ireland isn’t a silver bullet for all our problems but it goes without saying that local ministers would be able to support our businesses with greater speed and urgency.

“In terms of the North West, we’re keen to see the improvements to the A6 finished as soon as possible and the road opened to traffic. This is a crucial road network for the North West and will bring greater business and investment to our region. We’re also continuing to make a strong case for the upgrade to the A5, and we want to see our City Deal roll out as soon as possible.”

2023 promises to be another busy and significant year for the North West, with the Chamber at the centre of efforts to promote the region as a leading location to work, do business, invest, study, and live.

To discuss membership or partnership opportunities with the Chamber, get in touch now with Carolann at carolann@ londonderrychamber.co.uk

Selina Horshi, Chamber President, and Anna Doherty, Chamber CEO with members of the Londonderry Chamber board of directors

Selina Horshi, Chamber President, and Anna Doherty, Chamber CEO

Aircoach North West Service hits the road

Ireland’s leading private bus and coach operator, Aircoach, looks to the future as it receives a warm North West welcome on launch of its new service

Aircoach, Ireland’s leading private bus and coach operator, launched its new North West Service in January following the acquisition of Airporter last October.

The deal witnessed Aircoach expand its commercial operation and increase its daily routes with the new all-island 705X route connecting the North West to Belfast International Airport, Dublin Airport, and Dublin City Centre.

The acquisition included the former

Airporter base at Springfield Industrial Estate and the transfer of all previous Airporter drivers and operational staff to Aircoach to service the new timetable and route.

The award-winning company is a subsidiary of First Group plc which is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest bus operators committed to operating a zeroemission bus fleet by 2035.

Aircoach Managing Director, Dervla McKay, said the expansion of Aircoach to the North West was a monumental moment for the company.

“The expansion of Aircoach

for the first time on an allisland basis to the region was a significant milestone for us, but it was only made possible with the acquisition of Airporter, a company which served customers so well for over 25 years to and from the North West”, said Dervla.

“We’re privileged to be Ireland’s leading transport operator, bringing people to work, students to university, reuniting families, and bringing new visitors to our cities from all around the world.”

The new service launched in January of this year which brought a range of customer benefits including:

(L-R) Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council, Cllr Sandra Duffy; Chief Executive of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, Anna Doherty; and Managing Director of Aircoach, Dervla McKay, at the Aircoach North West launch event in October

• Routes running seven days a week beginning at 01:05am daily.

• Stops at Foyleside Coach Park, Drumahoe Park and Ride, Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Centre, Dublin Airport, and Dublin City O’Connell Street.

• Reduced fares between Derry~Londonderry and Belfast International Airport by up to £13 based on a return fare.

• As well as contactless payment, free wi-fi onboard, the Aircoach Advantage loyalty program and flexible booking options.

The new service also means that travelers from the North West will now be able to arrive at Dublin Airport for early morning flights to the likes of key European destinations and major US cities.

“Since our acquisition announcement last year, we have been blown away with the response from local people. We were thrilled to finally see the iconic blue and orange Aircoach hit the roads of the North-West in January”, added Dervla.

Like many companies in the area, Aircoach is eagerly awaiting the full reopening of the upgraded A6 connecting the region to major transport and economic hubs while simultaneously improving travel time and increasing the viability of the new service like never before.

Quite recently, the passenger coach company announced that they hopped on board as the Centre Stage Sponsor of the Millenium Forum to support the registered charity to continue to deliver exciting shows and award-winning community outreach events.

Talking about the partnership, Dervla

noted that it is “an exciting one for the company that will not only support and promote local arts in the North West, but it will help the Millenium Forum add to the overall tourism offering that will entice visitors to the area.”

Aircoach is now looking to the future as it seeks to grow its presence in the region. The leading operator is fully committed to the North West and wants to ensure it is fully connected to major travel hubs to improve the attractiveness of the area as a place in which to visit, work, and invest.

“As a native of the North West, I know first hand how difficult it is to reach other travel and economic hubs on the island of Ireland and further afield”, added Dervla.

Aircoach want to ensure that the bygone days of travel detachment for the region never return by working with our partners to potentially design new routes and further develop the new 705X service.”

In the coming weeks, the company will launch its new mobile app designed once again with innovation and user friendliness to the forefront. The app focuses on simplifying the customer booking experience while providing real time tracking data.

Tickets for the new service can be purchased via the Aircoach website or on board through a contactless payment system.

Dervla McKay, Managing Director of Aircoach

The iconic blue and orange Aircoach at the Peace Bridge

CRASH Services sponsors local dance academy ahead of World Championships

CRASH Services, located on the Culmore Road in Derry, are delighted to announce that they are sponsoring the Ferry Academy of Irish Dance as they fly off to Montreal, Canada to compete in the Irish Dancing World Championships this April.

Eleven children from the local Academy will be taking part in this year’s Championships. They include Mia Carlin, Molly Fitzgibbon, Emily Connor, Ryan Sheerin, Grace Campbell, Dearbhla Clawson, Grace Millar, Charlie Doherty, Grace Callaghan, Abbie McCartney, and Bronagh Gallagher.

Susan Millar, Dance Teacher at Ferry Academy, said, “Most of the

Ferry Academy World Qualifiers were delighted to visit their sponsors at CRASH Services to say thanks and to receive their generous donation presented by Marie Keenan. The eleven dancers are excited to

travel to Montreal to represent Derry~Londonderry at Oireachtas

Rince Na Cruinne in April.

“The team has been working tirelessly training for the event and everyone is excited to show how good the Ferry Academy is! All our friends and family have been so supportive for our amazing dancers.”

Paul Cooney, Fleet and Repair Director at CRASH Services, added, “We are so pleased for these young girls and boys competing at the World Championships and wish them safe travels and the best of luck from all the team at CRASH Services.”

Good luck to everyone at the Ferry Academy of Irish Dance taking part in this year’s World Championships!

(L-R) Emily Connor, Molly Fitzgibbon, Marie Keenan from CRASH Services, Abbie McCartney, Bronagh Gallagher, Grace Millar, Mia Carlin, and Ryan Sheerin

Make it SpecialMake it An Grianan

Located in the heart of Donegal, An Grianan Hotel is a family-run business, and one of Donegal’s top wedding venues. In December 2022, An Grianan was voted Top Ulster Wedding Venue by Weddingdates.ie two years in a row - prestigious accolades to be proud of. These add to numerous other awards and recognitions received over the years, earning its title of the North West Premier Wedding Venue. Laced with elegance and oozing quality and class, the hotel is poised to make your wedding day truly special.

These awards are a testament to the standard and quality of the professional, friendly service provided by the entire An Grianan team. Weddings are the main focus at An Grianan and since opening in 2006,

they have hosted more than 1,800 weddings. The experienced team, headed by award-winning wedding co-ordinator, Deirdre, offers a comprehensive service, helping you plan and imagine your day at An Grianan and ensuring that you have a wonderful, stress-free day that is unforgettable.

Deirdre will be with you from your initial appointment through to your new life together as a happy couple. An Grianan also operates a one-weddinga-day policy, which ensures couples and guests receive the team’s undivided attention.

An Grianan is a fully licensed venue for civil ceremonies. They pride themselves in being a one-stop shop – from fully

matured and landscaped gardens for photographs and a state-of-the-art beer garden to 43 newly refurbished bedrooms. Couples can choose from the elegant and stunning circular Tuatha De Danann Suite which can cater to 300 guests or the smaller Magh Tuireadh Suite catering for 80 guests - the perfect location to make lifetime memories together. No matter how grand or intimate you want your day to be, An Grianan is the place to be.

Check us out at www.angriananhotel.com

Image provided by Rodi Jeerasso Photography

chamber life

2023 has got off to a whirlwind at the Chamber with events, lunches, political engagement, roundtables, webinars, and everything else in between!

It’s been a busy start to the year, both for our local business community and politically. It was very welcome to see the EU and the UK reach an agreement over the NI Protocol with the birth of the new Windsor Framework. It’s very important now that this paves the way for the full restoration of the NI Assembly and Executive as soon as possible. Closer to home, we’ve had a packed calendar of events with our members across the North West.

Our busy period kicked off back in December with the 2022 Annual General Meeting in the Playhouse. After a successful year in charge, past President Aidan O’Kane handed over the reins to incoming Chamber President Selina Horshi. In her address at the AGM, Selina spoke of the need for a functioning Executive to help support businesses and households in the North West experiencing the consequences of spiralling energy prices and the cost-ofliving crisis as well as her hopes and goals for 2023.

Speaking to members at the AGM in The Playhouse, Selina said “I am delighted to have been elected President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce. I would like to thank the Chamber’s membership for the great honour of entrusting me with this role at such a crucial time. I will work tirelessly to ensure our hard-working businesses receive the support they need to overcome the challenges they face during the cost-ofliving crisis, the recession, and an absent Executive.

“Despite these difficulties, the characteristic resilience and determination of our region’s businesses has not wavered. However, the absence of a functioning

Executive is having an undeniable effect on business, investor, and consumer confidence. It is beyond time that our parties and political leaders found a solution to the impasse at Stormont and got back to work to support our workers and businesses.”

On 12 January, a team from the Chamber met with the Department for Infrastructure’s Kaine Lynch, the department’s Director of Major Projects and Procurement, to discuss the upgrades to the A6. The Chamber delegation reiterated the project’s

New Chamber President Selina Horshi and Vice President Greg McCann at the 2022 Chamber AGM

(L-R) Chamber President Selina Horshi; Chamber director Andrew Fleming; Shadow Secretary of State Peter Kyle MP; Shadow Cabinet Minister Baroness Chapman; Chamber CEO Anna Doherty; William McColgan, McColgan’s Quality Foods; and Damien Gallagher, Seagate

vital importance to the North West as a significant infrastructural link to Belfast, the rest of Northern Ireland, and other major towns and cities across the island of Ireland and pressed for a clear timeline of completion by the department.

A few days later, on 16 January, a Chamber team met with Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Kyle MP and Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Baroness Jenny Chapman during a visit to the North West. This was a very useful discussion on the experiences of local businesses during the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation as well as how best to support firms to trade globally in a post-Brexit world.

In terms of member events, we kicked the new year off with an excellent networking event to help connect members with each other. New Year, New Connections was held at Soda and Starch in the city and gave members an informal opportunity to connect with fellow businesses and deepen their involvement with the Chamber itself,

hearing more about the services that we provide.

A few days later on 31 January, we hosted another instalment in our Business Skills workshop series, this time focused on placing empathy at the heart of leadership. Led by Glenn Hinds, an accredited motivation and coaching consultant, this very useful session taught delegates how empathic leadership can create the conditions for improved engagement from staff, wellbeing in the workplace, team performance, and even company turnover.

Into February and we held another workshop as part of our Business Skills series. Led by the local financial experts at Toast Accountants and sponsored by Seagate, this session focused on tax savings for company directors. Delegates discussed important topics including salary and dividends, pension schemes, benefits in kind, and directors

loan accounts, and reported finding the session incredibly helpful.

On 6 February, we welcomed the German Ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, to the Chamber offices as part of his visit to the North West. A Chamber delegation met with Ambassador Berger and his team to discuss business and trade opportunities between Northern Ireland and Germany, the largest economy in the European Union, and update him on the experiences of businesses post-Brexit in the North West.

A Chamber delegation met with the German Ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, in February

Michael Rutherford, Partner, and Steve Kivelehan, Senior Accountant from Toast Accountants at February’s ‘Tax Savings for Directors’ workshop session

Gary Humphrey,

On 24 February, in partnership with the Department of Finance, we hosted a ReVal 2023 information session for members. With new business rates to be calculated by April 2023, Land and

Property Services (LPS) released almost 75,000 draft valuations for business premises in Northern Ireland. This was a useful opportunity for local businesses in the North West to meet directly with Gary Humphrey, the

ReVal 2023 Project Manager, and have any of their queries or concerns addressed.

At the beginning of March, we continued our important political engagement programme, this time with Northern Ireland Office Minister of State Steve Baker MP. Minister Baker leads on economic development and other fiscal matters within the department, and this was another productive meeting to discuss issues as varied as investment in the North West, job creation, the Derry and Strabane City Deal, the Windsor Framework, and the cost-of-doing-business crisis.

Ahead of Friday 3 March, the deadline to respond to the Department for Infrastructure’s call for evidence in relation to the A6 road network upgrades, we jointly organised with the Letterkenny Chamber an open letter in support of these vital upgrades. We were pleased to see nearly 200 businesses and organisations from across the

North West sign this letter and we hope to see action undertaken to improve the road as soon as possible.

Derry and Strabane Enterprise Week ran from 6 to 10 March, a recognition of the strong entrepreneurial spirit here in the North West and an opportunity for businesses of all shapes and sizes to get involved in celebrating our local business community. Amid a jam-packed programme of events, networking opportunities, webinars, and workshops, Chamber CEO Anna Doherty was delighted to chair the judging panel of this year’s Start Up Launch Pad North West Pitching Competition, a ‘Dragons Den’ style competition for new start-ups to win a share of a £15,000 prize fund.

During Enterprise Week, we also welcomed over 250 guests from across the North West and Northern Ireland to our 65th President’s Annual Lunch at the City Hotel, Derry. With the theme

NI Reval2023 Project Manager, and Anna Doherty, Chamber CEO after our Reval2023 Information Session

Chamber CEO Anna Doherty and members of the judging panel with the winner of the Start Up Launch Pad North West, Paul Leonard, from Swift Shift

‘Celebrating Innovation’ and sponsored by AIB Merchant Services, this year’s lunch celebrated everything enterprise, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Check out pages 26 and 27 for full coverage of this year’s President’s Annual Lunch!

On 21 March, we held an ever popular Meet the Chamber event in the Walled City Brewery, one of the city’s most well-known restaurants and bars. Kindly sponsored by City of Derry Airport, this gave members old and new the chance to mingle with the Chamber team, learn more about our services and the work we do, and meet fellow

Two days later, at our offices on Bishop Street, we hosted an instalment of our ‘Entrepreneurship in Action’ workshop series. Focused on Safeguarding the Family Business, this session was led by some of the experts at CavanaghKelly and took members through important areas including tax considerations, legal considerations, and the key characteristics of family businesses.

Looking ahead, we can’t wait for the 2023 North West Business Awards once again!

Launched earlier this year, businesses have until 17 April to get their entries in across a whole range of areas including marketing, innovation, tech, hospitality, retail, and so many more.

Check out nwbizawards.co.uk for further information.

Northern Ireland Minister of State Steve Baker MP and Chamber President Selina Horshi

President’s Annual Lunch

The 65th President’s Annual Lunch took place on 9 March, bringing together over 250 business leaders, politicians, dignitaries, and other invited guests at the City Hotel, Derry. With the theme ‘Celebrating Innovation’, this year’s lunch took place towards the end of Derry and Strabane Enterprise Week, a celebration of micro and small businesses across the North West.

Addressing assembled guests, Chamber President Selina Horshi said the ongoing absence of the Executive and Assembly is having a detrimental effect on investment and the economy in Northern Ireland. Speaking at the lunch, Selina said “Today’s lunch was a celebration of the entrepreneurial and enterprising spirit which is endemic in the business community here in the North West. We’ve seen during Derry and Strabane Enterprise Week that there is a strong cluster of start-ups, innovative SMEs, and larger, more established companies here that creates a really exciting ecosystem for businesses

to thrive in our region. Local entrepreneurs in the North West are adding serious value to the Northern Irish economy.

“What they need, however, is a stable and certain environment to grow in. The ongoing lack of an Executive and Assembly is deeply regrettable once again. It’s extremely frustrating, for businesses and communities, that our MLAs have not been able to sit at Stormont and pass positive and progressive legislation for nearly a year. This is even more frustrating in the face of challenges like the cost-of-living crisis which have impacted everyone in our society.”

Selina also welcomed the recent Windsor Framework

between the EU and UK and said it was a “positive step in relations between the EU and the UK and we remain cautiously hopeful that an agreed deal can lead to the restoration of the Executive.” She also called on local elected representatives to recapture the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement ahead of its 25th

(L-R) Gary Middleton MLA, DUP; Ciara Ferguson MLA, Sinn Féin; Selina Horshi, Chamber President; and Sinead McLaughlin MLA, SDLP

Donna Maria Logue, La Dolce Vita Project; Selina Horshi, Chamber President; and Cara Duffy, La Dolce Vita Project

(L-R) Jeananne Craig, event host; Hubert O’Donoghue, AIB Merchant Services; Selina Horshi, Londonderry Chamber; Anna Doherty, Londonderry Chamber; and Professor Liam Maguire, Ulster University

anniversary in April and deliver on the prosperity the agreement promised in 1998.

Sponsored by AIB Merchant Services, the President’s Annual Lunch was hosted by journalist and copywriter Jeananne Craig and featured a keynote address by Ulster University’s Professor Liam Maguire who updated guests on the progress of the Derry and Strabane City Deal and the importance of innovation between government, industry, and academia in the deal’s success.

An expert panel discussion was also moderated between representatives from Allstate NI, Seagate, Dirty Souls, the Western Trust, and Ulster University on the role and importance of innovation across the North West.

Selina Horshi, Chamber President, and Cllr Sandra Duffy, Mayor of Derry and Strabane

(L-R) Ann McGregor, NI Chamber CEO; Gillian McAuley, NI Chamber President; Selina Horshi, Chamber President; and Anna Doherty, Chamber CEO

Jeananne Craig hosts expert panel discussion

PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL LUNCH

(L-R) Aaron Peace, C-TRIC; Mark Gubbins, Seagate; Selina Horshi, Chamber President; Kathryn Harkin, Allstate NI; Jeanette Bryson, Dirty Souls; and Jeananne Craig, event host

Members of the Londonderry Chamber board of directors

Local business celebrates a cool 25 years in business

North West based heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor air cool engineering NI celebrates its 25th year of business excellence.

air cool engineering NI has come a long way since those early days of working from the spare room, cold calling, and knocking on doors. Now operating from purpose-built offices in Limavady, since its inception in 1998, air cool engineering NI has grown into one of Northern Ireland’s most reputable heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors.

Today, air cool engineering NI has a highly skilled and experienced team of nearly 30. The scope of work and the scale of its projects have also changed hugely over the years, and the HVAC contractor now has a diverse client base which includes well-known high street stores, hotels, surgeries, offices, restaurants, and health and beauty salons.

Martin Mullan, Managing Director and founder of air cool engineering NI said, “Reaching 25 years of trading is a significant milestone for myself and the business. Together we have overcome many challenges over the last quarter of a century. I believe our commitment to the highest technical skills and focus on outstanding customer service has played a major part in the business coming so far.

Celebrating a ‘cool’ 25 years of business excellence is only possible due to the hard work and loyalty from my team. I would also like to thank all our valued clients both old and new, for their business and continued support over the years.”

Martin continues, “At air cool engineering NI, every project is unique, every HVAC solution is bespoke. Our incredible team strives to deliver heating, cooling, and air conditioning solutions that overcome on-site challenges, maximise efficiency, and minimise energy consumption.”

As with everything at air cool engineering NI, it’s not just about looking back, it’s also about looking ahead to the next 25 years and beyond. The Limavady-based contractor anticipates an optimistic future for the HVAC industry across Northern Ireland.

“The HVAC industry has seen many technological changes in the last two decades, and generally has made huge advances in energy efficiency. With the decarbonisation and

electrification of heat a key element in our Government’s Energy Strategy, the use of flexible, low carbon, and efficient heat pump and mechanical ventilation technologies in both commercial and domestic settings is fast becoming the norm. As a nation heavily reliant on fossil fuels, we are at an exciting point in time as more of us look for smarter, greener, and cleaner solutions to control comfort levels in our buildings.“

If your business is looking to make the switch to all-electric heating, cooling, and ventilation, get in touch with air cool engineering NI. As specialists in the design of energy efficient small and large scale building mechanical services, you can be assured that your project is in good hands from start to finish.

T: 028 7776 7114

E: sales@ni.aircool.co.uk

W: www.aircoolengineering.co.uk

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Allstate NI a ‘Force For Good’ in the North West

Allstate NI, Northern Ireland’s largest IT company, employs over 2,400 people, with around 900 of them in the North West region.

The company states that ‘Environmental, Social, Governance [ESG] is embedded firmly into the culture at Allstate NI and is manifested by our employees throughout a diverse range of initiatives and projects.’ They’re committed to ensuring that employees help drive growth and change for the community, environment, and people. To help with this, every employee at Allstate NI is given 15 hours of paid volunteering time each year, which they can use to support organisations and charities of their choice.

Employees in the North West have been an invaluable help to many organisations in the past year, and kindly donated 1,702 hours of their time in 2022 to Foyle Hospice, Women’s Aid, and many more.

Allstate’s work with Women’s Aid comes as part of a three-year partnership the company entered with them in 2021 to help eliminate domestic violence by providing technical support, fundraising, and leadership mentoring services. At the time of launch, Sarah Mason, CEO of Women’s Aid Federation NI said, “Partnering with Allstate NI marks a step forward in our campaign to integrate the corporate world into the movement toward a safer and more equal society for women. Collaborating with business is essential to promote the position of women in society and challenge the underlying causes of domestic abuse through training and mentoring.”

In December, employees donated their time to help decorate the Foyle Women’s Shelter for Christmas as well as generously contribute towards a Christmas hamper for each of the 23 residential families in the Foyle Women’s Aid shelter at that time, helping to go towards food and heating at a financially difficult time for many.

North West based employees also supported the refuge by spending a day transforming their garden space. This involved leaf blowing, fence painting, weeding, garden clean up, and even building a mud kitchen. This had a massive impact on the refuge centre, creating a safe and welcoming space for families, especially as we approach the spring!

Similarly, the company’s longstanding relationship with the Foyle Hospice continued with a garden clean up. Employees spent a day weeding and brushing the gardens, with the hospice saying that a few hours of help make a major difference by transforming the gardens to make them beautiful and relaxing for families and patients.

The company are continuing this commitment to organisations and look forward to seeing the impact they can make in 2023.

Terex continues ambitious growth plans across the North West

Terex is a global manufacturer of lifting and materials processing equipment. The company currently operates from ten sites in Northern Ireland — Dungannon, Omagh, Cookstown, Ballymoney, Campsie and Lurgan, employing over 2,000 people.

The Terex Campsie facility, which opened in 2019, has a fantastic local team in place who are trained in world-class manufacturing processes. While the site originally manufactured and exported environmental equipment for Terex Ecotec and conveying equipment for Terex Conveying Systems, it has since expanded to increase capacity and manufacture equipment for renowned crushing and screening brands including Powerscreen and Finlay.

In line with ambitious growth plans, Terex Campsie continues to recruit for a wide

range of roles. Jonathan Hanna, General Manager, Terex Campsie said, “Manufacturing is a great sector to be in — it spans some of the most interesting high-tech industries, driving innovation with the adoption of new technologies. It also offers excellent career paths, with opportunities for global travel and to progress into leadership roles. These days manufacturing is much more than just an assembly line, it covers a wide variety of disciplines, such as sales and business development.”

Terex Campsie has opportunities in skilled production roles, but also has openings on their training schemes that are linked to local colleges and require no previous experience or qualifications, as well as roles for graduates, salespeople and engineers. “As we continue to ramp up production,

we are recruiting for experienced fitters but also seeking trainees for the recently launched Female Fitter Academy, which offers the opportunity to start a career in engineering and learn valuable, employable skills. Whatever your vocational area, if you have the drive and determination to succeed and a positive attitude to take on new challenges, you can have a successful career at Terex.”

To learn more about career opportunities at Terex Campsie, visit: jobs.terex.com

AT TEREX CAMPSIE

Connecting the North West to the World

As the gateway to the North West, at City of Derry Airport, one of our main goals is providing connectivity, not just to the UK, but onward access across the globe. Being able to provide this essential connectivity ensures we are further supporting business growth and tourism across the North West with our unique and world class customer service.

We’ve been inundated with feedback on the demand for a Dublin service, with 94% of respondents saying they would use the route, 93% would use it for leisure, 46% of respondents would also use for business, and two-thirds would also use the service to connect to the rest of the world. The potential for business growth and investment across the region which a Dublin route would deliver is significant. A recent independent report by York Aviation estimates the annual economic benefits would be more than €46m GDP per year. We are currently pending a response from the Department for Transport in Dublin, which has been backed up with overwhelming evidence, on the demand and economic benefits. Make sure to keep an eye on our social media for further updates.

Currently, CoDA offer flights all year round with Loganair to London, Liverpool, and Glasgow, and Ryanair flights to Manchester. Having proven

to be a success in recent years, we were delighted to announce an additional daily flight with Loganair to London (three times daily beginning in April) and an increased capacity for Manchester with Ryanair. We are also actively exploring opportunities for our London route to become Heathrow.

As the gateway to the North West, the economic and strategic importance of providing connectivity for the region is coupled with a responsibility to maintain a balanced contribution to global sustainability targets. This is one of the reasons we are privileged to work with airlines such as Ryanair with their ‘gamechanger’ aircraft and Loganair who, with their Green Skies initiative, plan to have Carbon Neutral Operations by 2040. Loganair are also passionate about giving back to the communities in which they operate from by offering grants to small businesses and

community projects to help them operate sustainably. Such grants cover the installation of solar panels and small-scale wind farms.

When you fly from City of Derry Airport, you are supporting such schemes as a small percentage from each fare goes towards these initiatives. More locally, we have also begun our journey towards net zero by reducing our energy consumption through replacement of all car park, on-site facilities, and main terminal lighting. Currently, we are seeking local accredited schemes to ensure we can maintain a carbon neutral status whilst directly benefitting our local communities.

As a small regional airport, City of Derry allows for quick and convenient travel. We are proud to offer the cheapest parking deals on the island of Ireland. We also have our Amelia Earhart Business Lounge, which provides a quiet space for some well needed relaxation before your flight. From only £15 per person, you can enjoy a drink and take in the breathtaking views of the Hills of Donegal.

You also have the joy of getting from our car park to relaxing in our business lounge in less than 15 minutes. With the help of our staff, who are all work directly for CoDA, you can be sure your travel will be as efficient as possible, with no unnecessary stress.

So, when booking your next flight, remember City of Derry Airport, Fly Local. Fly CoDA!

Down Memory Lane

Declan Doherty

full potential and to channel their talents towards enhancing their own lives and the life of the community as a whole, as well as enhancing their employment prospects. Today, we continue to deliver programmes for everyone from 16 to 70, providing training across a range of skills and support for people on their journey towards and into employment.

What is your title and how long have you been in post?

I am the Chief Executive of Derry Youth and Community Workshop. I have been in post for 33 years.

had an obvious effect on our local economy and the job prospects of the local community. However, the peace process was beginning to emerge which offered a glimmer of hope. Nowadays, the city and region are unrecognisable in a positive way.

Has the ethos of your business changed over the years?

No, our ethos has always been that we should try to help everyone that comes to our door.

What’s the best piece of advice you have been given over the years? Don’t judge anyone. You never know what distress they might have suffered before you met them.

Has the way you do business in the North West changed much over the years?

I think that most businesses appreciate their staff more and they make an effort to take their needs into consideration when making decisions.

What age are you? 72

Where in the North West are you from? Bogside, Derry City.

Explain what your business does?

We are a registered charity, set up in 1978, with a mission to provide training in and facilitate the development of both personal and vocational skills. We want to allow each and every person we work with to reach their

Tell me how your business began We were established in 1978 with an aim to address social problems, improve communities, peoples’ quality of life, and support those who traditionally find it hard to enter the labour market find meaningful and long-term work.

What was the North West like outside your windows in that era? How has it changed?

In 1990, we were still in the middle of the Troubles, which

What can businesses learn from the past to build a strong future? We have always believed that the most important investment a business can make is in its staff and their skills. We recognise this both from the work we do to help people into employment but also through investing in our own excellent staff.

Derry Youth and Community Workshop

‘Up in the Clouds’ - Why Cloud Accounting is the future for businesses, big and small

What’s all the fuss about? You’ll likely have seen a lot of advertising around ‘cloud accounting’ and ‘Making Tax Digital’, but does that add value to your business as a business owner? The clear answer is yes, but maybe not for the reasons you think. The transition to cloud accounting is likely to have more significant benefits for your business than perhaps it seems.

The real advantage comes down to saving time and money and couldn’t we all do with that at the moment?

Here are just a few of the benefits: Time efficiencies – live links to your banking, invoices, or receipts make bookkeeping a much quicker and easier task.

Real-time information – with live data you get real-time information which is

invaluable for decision-making.

Scenario analysis – algorithms can analyse sales and spending trends. As a business owner, you then can analyse cashflow implications if you, for example, add to your headcount, purchase a larger space, or add new products.

Financial / tax planning – higher quality, faster financial information helps identify tax planning opportunities and financial headwinds well in advance.

Collaboration with accountant – as we see what you see, working together to identify improvements, assist financial / tax planning as well as the full end-to-end support of your business is a breeze.

Whilst you may have seen HMRC has delayed some aspects of ‘Making Tax Digital’, it is still coming but there are much more compelling reasons for ‘reaching for the cloud’.

At Toast, we help our clients implement the technology and automation to make their finances run on autopilot. This enables us to focus on the real value add to your business, identifying efficiencies and tax planning. To book a free consultation please visit www.toast.tax or get in touch at 0330 912 1312 or accounts@toast.tax

The Ulster Orchestra offers the perfect platform for your business!

One of the main aspirations of the Ulster Orchestra is to bring classical music to as many people as possible, whether that’s in a concert hall, community centre, school, or even a prison. Unlike other orchestras within the UK, all its musicians also deliver education and outreach activity as part of their contract, working with local communities to create bespoke opportunities for everyone to experience the joy of orchestral music. Organisations that the Orchestra has worked with to date include Age NI, Autism NI, the NOW Group, the Alzheimer’s Society, Community Arts Partnership, the Flax Trust, and Women’s Aid.

In Derry~Londonderry, the Orchestra has been involved in much activity including two annual festive and several classical concerts, participating in the Derry Choral Festival, projects with local schools, and performances in The Playhouse. Special collaborations have included working with Celtronic and Phil Kieran as well as Professor Frank Lyons and the inclusive music ensemble, Acoustronic, on their ZoomTime commission. Through the Learning and Community Engagement team, the Orchestra has also delivered the special ‘Come & Play’ initiative, which encourages anyone of any age who has attained a specific grade in their instrument to play alongside the orchestra for a day, with a final full performance.

So why does the Orchestra need the support of the business community and what opportunities are there to get involved?

Michelle Baird is Head of Marketing and Corporate Fundraising and her team has an extensive remit, including creating innovative and impactful partnerships with the business sector. Innovation has certainly been at the

forefront of the Orchestra’s agenda over the last few years, with the impact of Covid-19 forcing a refreshed approach and significant change in their future strategy and activity. Along with Fundraising Coordinator, Rebekah Farmer, she is seeking to extend the Orchestra’s partnership portfolio and highlight to potential sponsors the unique value in supporting Northern Ireland’s only professional symphony orchestra.

“As a charity, we cannot solely rely on government funding and we aspire to attract a level of corporate support that will help sustain all of our current activity and continue to develop more ways of engaging with local communities”, explains Michelle.

“Our Corporate Membership Scheme and concert sponsorship are just two ways to work with us, but we have also created several bespoke projects for local business partners which have proved highly valuable to all involved. Whether you are interested in client

entertainment, joint promotions or enhancing your corporate social responsibility activity, we can create a package to suit your needs.

“Partners can benefit in a number of ways including recognition in our event programmes, advertising and branding opportunities, social media promotion, joint marketing ventures, special event invitations, as well as discounted or complimentary tickets to our concerts and events,” continues Michelle.

“We have already developed valuable relationships with local hotels and restaurants, which not only enhance the overall event experience of the audience member but also affords us the opportunity to create packages that benefit a variety of local organisations. I sincerely hope businesses will consider the Ulster Orchestra as a potential partner. We’d love to chat with you!”

If you would like to find out more about how working with the Ulster Orchestra can enhance your business, please contact Michelle at michelle@ulsterorchestra.com.

Ulster Orchestra Violinist Krzysztof Rucinski on the Peace Bridge

Rebekah Farmer, Ulster Orchestra Fundraising Coordinator, and Michelle Baird, Ulster Orchestra Head of Marketing and Corporate Fundraising

…

Supporting the Ulster Orchestra is an investment in the cultural vibrancy and quality of life in Northern Ireland. As a charity, support from the business community is vital in continuing the work of the Orchestra both on and o the stage. Corporate partners can enjoy a close and mutually beneficial relationship with the Orchestra, finely tailored to meet ever-changing needs on both sides, be it a focus on community engagement, talent development, branding or prestigious client entertainment.

▪ Concert Sponsorship

▪ Project Sponsorship

▪ Corporate Membership

▪ Support an Orchestral Chair

▪ Teambuilding/Leadership Workshops

▪ Advertise with Us

TO DISCUSS, PLEASE CONTACT michelle@ulsterorchestra.com or rebekah@ulsterorchestra.com

Foyleside – City centre retail excellence

Foyleside Shopping Centre continues to remain resilient amid challenging times for the retail sector. The centre had an exceptionally successful last trading quarter in 2022, aided by the arrival of new stores, Rituals and Hey Boba, and the resumption of a full programme of family-friendly Christmas activity. The centre remains almost fully occupied, and shoppers should keep an eye out for further store openings in the pipeline this year.

Positive family event experiences both in the shopping centre and city wide ensure that people keep coming back, as we continue to build a highly-engaged and loyal visitor base through our packed events calendar. It will be brilliant to see this engagement continue with a

busy schedule of free family events in the coming weeks and months. World Book Day, St Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter are just some examples of occasions Foyleside has celebrated in recent times, whilst we now look forward to the opportunities that come along with the annual Derry Jazz Festival and the May Bank Holidays.

With over 50 multi-national tenants and many exciting brands, over 1,500 employees, and eight million visitors per year, Foyleside is fully understanding of its role as an important contributor to both the local economy in Derry and the wider North West region. The centre recently received national recognition at the Drapers Awards for our collaboration with local up-and-coming start-ups

by providing trading space in our Re:Imagine pop-up store. In conjunction with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Inner City Trust, and the Fashion and Textile Design Centre, the initiative has proved to be hugely successful. We are delighted to report that at least five of the ten occupants we supported are now trading in various locations throughout the city centre.

Foyleside will continue to introduce new businesses to the city centre, promoting a ripple effect on other nearby commercial activity, and stimulating further employment opportunities in the area. We are proud to play a part in championing the local economy, and we would like to thank our customers and business partners for their continued loyalty and support.

White Horse Hotel first choice for events

With first-class conferencing facilities for up to 600 guests, the White Horse Hotel has established an excellent reputation for hosting events of all sizes.

Our venue has welcomed political dignitaries, TV celebrities, and sporting legends, but we take care to ensure every function - whether it’s a small boardroom meeting or a huge gala dinner - receives the VIP treatment.

With decades of experience staging conferences and special occasions, the White Horse Hotel can provide expertise each step of the way to help make your event a success.

Conference guests will be looked after from the moment they enter our modern, conveniently located hotel with ample free parking, high speed complimentary WIFI, and welcoming, highly trained staff.

We have decades of experience hosting corporate functions, and a choice of four competitively priced conferencing and banqueting rooms, including one of the largest hotel suites in Derry~Londonderry with capacity for 600 people.

Our friendly team can work with your budget and assist in every step of planning, from seating layouts and audio-visual equipment, to bespoke menus. On the day, we’ll also be there to provide technical and administrative support and ensure your event and presentations run smoothly.

When it’s time to refuel, our awardwinning restaurant team are at the ready with tea, coffee, and homemade biscuits, seasonal soup and sandwiches, a tasty hot fork buffet, or lavish three-course banquet.

From simple shortbread to crispy Donegal tempura squid, our emphasis on quality comes through in every bite.

Professional, personal, and passionate about what we do - at the White Horse Hotel, we pride ourselves on making your event the very best it can be.

Find out more from our conference team on 0287186 0606 (ext 2)

WHITE HORSE HOTEL

business advice

How much do I have to pay an apprentice?

Minimum wage rates apply – the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage currently starts at £4.81 per hour but always refer to HMRC for further guidance.

How much does it cost to avail of the apprenticeship programme?

Debbie Deans

Business Development Director, 21 Training

MAKING THE MOST OF APPRENTICESHIPS

In my Business Development Role with 21 Training, I’m faced daily with the same questions about apprenticeships. While there are many different pathways, criteria, and even providers, here are some answers to common questions.

What age does an apprentice have to be?

Generally, an apprentice must be under 25. However, in some cases, there are exceptions to this depending on what course of study is chosen.

Do I have to employ someone new to avail of the apprenticeship programme?

No. You can use the apprenticeship programme as a tool to develop an existing employee to take on a new role within your business.

The programme is fully funded for those who meet the criteria, and there is also an incentive paid to the employer upon successful completion.

How many hours must I employ an apprentice for?

An apprentice must be contracted to work a minimum of 21 hours per week.

How long does an apprenticeship take? Duration can vary depending on the course, the business, and the learner, although the maximum duration is two years.

How many days does the apprentice have to attend the local college?

At 21 Training, we carry out all delivery and assessments in the workplace and at times that suit your business so that disruption is kept to an absolute minimum. We are also very flexible and treat each learner as an individual.

What if you don’t offer the course I want?

Although we offer over 20 different subject areas, we will be more than happy

to help you find a provider if we do not have the course you are looking for. At 21 Training, we can also help with family support and employability mentoring

Lorraine O’Malley Coordinator, Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services

CONTINUING TO SUPPORT CROSS-BORDER EMPLOYMENT

2022 saw many changes for the Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services (CBPES – formally EURES Cross Border Partnership Ireland – N. Ireland). A new name, a new logo, and some new faces were added to the team, but the aims and objectives remained firmly in place - to continue supporting the Cross Border employer, jobseeker and worker. For jobseekers, we provide information on job opportunities in the other jurisdiction and how to access these opportunities. For workers, we provide information on working conditions, tax, and welfare rights and responsibilities. For employers, we provide information on the supply and

demand of labour that exists and support recruitment across the border.

One of the queries that comes up time and time again in relation to cross-border working is on the topic of tax. The issue of tax remains complicated for cross-border workers and employers, so it’s important to know where to go to get the right information to questions like: Where does the tax liability lie? Where do I get pension support? What is a double taxation agreement? What entitlements or reliefs are available? What social insurance should I pay?

To find the answers to any of these queries, please reach out to our CBPES adviser network who will be happy to assist you, and if they are unable to answer your query directly, they will put you in touch with a professional who can.

In December 2022, CBPES hosted a Cross Border Tax Briefing Seminar which is now available to watch on our website. Our FAQ publication, Mobility Information Booklet, Advisers’ contact details, and all our upcoming events can also be found on our website at www.cbpes.com

“inflation proof” for the length of time of the agreement.

A fully serviced workspace can be a professional, flexible, and convenient business environment. It’s a fully equipped and functional office or co-working space, often with supporting business services. It has shared facilities including meeting rooms, kitchens, staffed receptions, and break-out zones. Everything from the décor and layout to office management and maintenance are handled by your landlord, leaving you free to maximise all your business opportunities.

In these inflationary times, this gives certainty to businesses trying to navigate their way forward. When office space is often the second-biggest cost to most businesses, these types of solutions represent a significant saving of time and money. In addition of cost savings, this option can also have the multiple benefits for SMEs including rapid deployment of workspace, predictable business expenses, reduced overheads, limited liability on other costs and responsibilities, optimised agility and adaptability to increase or decrease in size when needed, greater spatial efficiency, and, importantly, access to market-specific networking and support. The managed workspace is an ideal meeting place for creative business minds!

evolving and reacting to internal and external factors. In terms of being ready for funding, key is being able to understand and demonstrate where you are now. If you can provide up to date information, then funders can make decisions quicker and easier.

While larger businesses may have dedicated teams producing summary reports for directors to make decisions, this can be much more difficult for smaller SMEs. Often smaller SMEs try to do everything inhouse, but I have rarely seen this being effective.

But there have been key changes in the last few years that have become normal and mean SMEs no longer have to work this way. In general, the successful SMEs will outsource the book-keeping function using cloud accounting to either their accountant, remote bookkeeper, or a virtual Personal Assistant. This gives them timely reporting (usually monthly) to make better quality decisions.

Brian O’Neill Director of Development and Enterprise, Enterprise North West

MANAGING COSTS IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

In these difficult times, many small businesses are finding it almost impossible to manage costs. The last twelve months have been the most difficult year for many businesses operating throughout the North West region. The end of COVID restrictions was such a relief and there was an expectation by business that built up market demand would lead to a boom. No one saw double digit inflation, however, and businesses are really struggling to pay suppliers, meet pay demands, and increase profit margins. Many businesses have never seen cost management pressures like this in the last 20 years. One solution, however, which is proving very popular is fully serviced workspace. Businesses are able to avail of a cost effective, fixed price for a space which is

Mark Johnston Director, Johnston Financial Solutions

ARE YOU READY?

There really is a lot of stress about at the moment and it has built up over the last few years with Brexit, Covid, and the cost-ofliving crisis but are these things anything that SMEs can influence or control through their own actions? Probably not except through larger membership bodies that can lobby and influence on your behalf. So, why spend time worrying about this? Do not let fear govern your thinking. Concentrate on making your business the best that it can be.

What does this mean in terms of finance? Finance is a continuous journey. Always

I would suggest you critically consider is your business finance function in the best position it could be. What is your ability to react to change? And are you in a position to apply for effective funding?

There is a wealth of opportunities out there and massive volumes of information available about funding. But what is likely to work best for you? How do you navigate your options? That is why you should consider using a professional commercial broker. Let them use their time and expertise to help you navigate a pathway through finance to support your business growth.

Johnston Financial Solutions is a commercial finance broker that specialises in funding for business purposes. Check out our website at johnstonfinancialsolutions. co.uk and our LinkedIn and Facebook profiles.

Five Ways to Unlock the Full Cloud Potential

In 2022, 60% of corporate data was stored in the cloud and this is expected to increase as cloud adoption becomes more widespread. Cloud computing has had a transformative impact on the business world, offering greater scalability, flexibility, and cost savings and providing access to powerful technologies that were once only available to large enterprises.

Although the benefits of cloud are widely acknowledged, many companies have yet to realise its full potential. Focusing solely on migration, companies are foregoing the opportunity to maximise the value of their investment.

Here, Matt McCloskey shares five ways in which the most forward-looking organisations are maximising their cloud advantage today, and how you can unlock value for your business.

Embark on a Continuous Journey with Azure

First and foremost, moving to the cloud is not just a matter of getting from A to B. Organisations who build for success plan a phased transition, selecting the right platform to help them on this continuous journey. This allows more focused attention on each area and makes the identification of functionality and process improvements easier.

Microsoft Azure is presenting itself as a popular choice for organisations of every size due to its accessible nature,

massive scalability, and its ability for businesses to migrate and modernise at their own pace. Offering hybrid solutions for easy management of on-premises and cloud resources, businesses can maintain agility, without added complexity. Not only does Azure excel in all aspects of cloud infrastructure - security, performance, and scale - it also offers a range of services so that businesses can easily customise their cloud environment to meet their specific needs, all under one roof.

Harness the Power of Low-Code Cloud Applications

To capitalise on cloud, business leaders must look beyond migration to modernisation. The cloud is more than an efficient storage solution— it’s a unique platform for generating data and innovative solutions to leverage that data.

Modern cloud-based applications make data collecting more convenient and the development of productivity-based applications can enhance the customer experience and business revenue. What was traditionally a time- and costintensive process is now enabled by low-code software platforms such as Microsoft Power Apps. This tool offers a visual development environment for building applications and reduces the need to write code, allowing businesses to build and scale faster with fewer resources.

Fusion teams comprising business technologists and ‘citizen technologists’

(non-IT business employees) are now developing low-code applications to meet the needs of their HR, finance, sales, service departments etc, replacing unwieldy paper-based or legacy processes. Gartner suggests that by 2024, low-code application development will be responsible for more than 65% of application development.

Fully Embrace Cloud Collaboration Communication is at the heart of innovation and thanks to the Cloud, advanced technologies and apps now allow the collaboration of dispersed teams. Remote teams can work together on shared files and cross-functional projects can happen in real-time. As we continue to advance, people want to share files, collaborate, and converse at the same time. Businesses are moving towards unified communications platforms where voice, video, meetings, filesharing, and chat are combined.

Microsoft Teams has become the most popular business communication service in the world. Daily active users almost doubled in one year to 270 million in 2022. Now businesses are adding Microsoft Teams Voice, the licence-based cloud phone system accessible via multiple devices without the need for expensive

hardware infrastructure. Offering flexibility, scalability, and functionality with no investment in infrastructure makes this a no brainer and for businesses already using Microsoft 365 or Teams, it ties in seamlessly.

Secure Your IT Estate for EverythingEverywhere

The shift to a decentralised workforce means that everything has moved outside of the physical and digital confines of the office. The right cyber security measures are critical

in ensuring business continuity, compliance, and customer trust.

The most savvy organisations are implementing a zero-trust security model, which involves verifying user identities, monitoring network traffic, and encrypting data to protect against unauthorised access. A good starting point is an end-to-end assessment incorporating penetration testing to identify gaps and vulnerabilities. Only then can you identify the steps that need to be taken to zero-trust.

Most organisations benefit from a starting foundation of two advanced cybersecurity technologies - SIEM, for threat detection and identification, and SOAR, to act upon the initial detection through automated response. Coupled with multi-factor user authentication, this approach ensures your applications and data are only accessible to those that need it.

Bolster Your Network Readiness

Central to the success of the cloud is a network that can support today’s cloud-based applications and mobile workforce with the reliability and

performance needed for a high-quality user experience.

Gigabit ethernet is becoming less efficient in fulfilling these requirements and many businesses are seeking to upgrade to 10 Gigabit to support their continued digitisation. Smart networks such as SD-WAN are increasingly becoming popular as they deliver the ability to centrally manage and automate network resources. For the wireless office, WiFi 6E is the latest standard and offers increased capacity to support high-bandwidth applications, particularly in highdensity areas where demand is at its peak.

We work with organisations of all sizes to help them digitise their business and unlock the value of evolving technologies. With one of the most extensive networks of globally recognised technology brands and decades of expertise in cloud, security, IT, and communications, we’re best placed to guide you in the right direction for your exact journey.

Matt McCloskey, Sales and Marketing Director, eir evo UK

by The Ideas Fund

Darren is a Registered Mental Health Nurse and for the past 15 years, has been involved in both training and coaching. Darren currently holds a Brazilian Jiujitsu Brown Belt instructing adults and children. Darren believes that both good physical and mental health is essential to a balanced life and recovery.

“What ARC and the team are doing for the people of Derry is amazing. I am a true believer that physical and mental health go hand-in-hand, and I look forward to using my knowledge to help people achieve their full potential.”

With over 10+ years of experience in the fitness industry and a deep passion for promoting mental health and addressing addiction, I bring a unique perspective to my role at ARC. I strongly believe in the transformative power of health and fitness, and am dedicated to elevating and expanding ARC’s offerings to better serve our communities.

“I am excited to be a part of the ARC team and contribute to the organisation’s efforts to make a positive impact in the local community and beyond.”

by The National Lottery Community Fund

Stevie has been in the fitness industry for 12 years. As a past programme participant and now Professionally accredited recovery coach, Stevie puts into practice his understanding of the recovery process to help and support others.

“I was able to witness first-hand the amazing work and effort being put in by everyone involved. I wanted to use my skills alongside my own experience of addiction to help others. What stood out for me was the community that ARC has created, and to be able to contribute to that is an honour and a pleasure.”

eirevo

Jade has joined eir evo UK responsible for the end-to-end management of major bid opportunities across Northern Ireland enterprise and public sector. A graduate of University of Chester Business School with a BA Hons in Event Management, Jade went on to work in bid management at Posh Nosh followed by Thornton and Lowe, with a range of clients from SMBs to large enterprises and across a wide range of sectors from science to construction, retail to healthcare. Jade is currently studying for the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) exam to become a certified member.

Marketing, HR and Leadership. Lorna joined eir evo in January 2022 as a Sales Support Administrator, administering broadband orders for small business and has recently been promoted to her current role.

Lorna was recently appointed to support the Sales, Marketing and Bid Management functions at eir evo UK with responsibility for the running of customer events, social media, document management and ongoing process improvement. Lorna graduated in 2021 from the Technological University of the Shannon Athlone with a degree in Business Psychology, studying the application of psychological theory to various business functions such as Sales,

Steven re-joins eir evo uk with responsibility for the business development of Healthcare and Higher education, working closely with organisations across these sectors to identify and realise their current and future digital opportunities through eir evo’s end-to-end ICT portfolio. Steven has over 20 years business development experience in the ICT industry specialising in the public sector across Northern Ireland. He previously held positions in Vodafone, Virgin Media and Juniper Networks.

Aidan is excited about having opportunities to nurture individuals in their early career stages and those looking to develop themselves further. Alongside this, he looks forward to joining a company experiencing exponential advancement. He aims to create opportunities to encourage mindset growth, educating

1. Darren Henderson FT Project Coordinator Funded

2. Matt Norby

3. Stevie Duddy FT Project Support Worker Funded

4. Jade Johnston Senior Bid and Business Development Manager

5. Lorna Cooley-Kelly Sales and Marketing Support Manager

6. Steven Grimason Business Development Director for Healthcare & Higher Education

fast

7. Aidan Lynch

and preparing individuals for modern workplace learning in the advanced manufacturing and technology industry.

Aidan believes People and Training development isn’t only about booking away days for staff, it’s about adding substantial value to both the individual and the business. Inspiring and motivating the great people we have, to manage their professional development and seek opportunities to improve their competency.

Teaching in Secondary and Tertiary education covering various roles across several subjects for ten years had given Aidan a diverse skills base that resulted in a successful Property Development business in England however, the global pandemic and a move back home to Derry caused Aidan to rethink the next steps in his own career. Aidan has always had a keen interest in Technology and Design so when the opportunity arose in an expanding advanced manufacturing and technology company the timing felt right. He is always trying to expand his knowledge, so was delighted to take on this role and is excited to see what lies ahead at FAST. In his spare time Aidan is also a keen artist and potter.

Hyundai Brand Manager within JC Halliday & Sons, Eglinton. Victoria had previously worked as a DS Specialist for JC Halliday & Sons before the acquisition of the Hyundai brand. This role will allow Victoria to head the development of Hyundai in the North West, bringing her high-level skills and expertise in the sales and automotive industry to this new venture.

10.

Andrew is a new member of the team at JC Halliday & Sons, joining as a Marketing Executive in December. Andrew had previously worked in the hospitality industry as well as the print and digital marketing industry after graduating in 2020 from Ulster University. Andrew is excited to use his recent experience within the industry along with his education to strengthen JC Halliday & Sons’ Citroen, Vauxhall and Hyundai brands.

11.

Matthew has worked at JC Halliday & Sons for eight years and has recently been appointed to the role of Business Development Manager for the business’ Citroen, Vauxhall & Hyundai brands. Matthew’s new role will see him use his wealth of knowledge and experience within the automotive industry towards B2B leasing and contract hire for commercial vans and business cars. Matthew is excited for the year ahead and what this new branch of JC Halliday and Sons will bring.

Ruairi is the most recent addition to the team at JC Halliday & Sons, appointed to the role of Hyundai Specialist with the business recently taking the Hyundai brand on board. This role will come as Ruairi’s first within the automotive industry, however his passion for the Hyundai brand and customer service makes him a very strong addition to the team.

12. Gerard

Working in a busy aftersales team, Gerard helps to ensure the excellent customer satisfaction standards are maintained daily.

13. Emma Robinson

Emma Robinson is a Technical Consultant at NWRC’s XR Hub, specialising in Augmented and Virtual Reality, Video Game and App Development. The XR Hub offers support to local businesses in the field of VR, including 360 video and walkthroughs, virtual tours and interactive maps, motion capture, 3D scanning and mapping, drone technology and AR development.

Emma previously graduated from the Interactive Computer Entertainment course at North West Regional College and has spent over 15 years working with various game development teams in both design and production roles.

14. Jane Fleming

Victoria has recently been promoted to

Gerard has recently started working as a Customer Service Advisor for JC Halliday & Sons. Gerard had previously worked in the automotive industry in England but has recently relocated to bring his know-how and expertise back to JC Halliday & Sons.

Jane Fleming is a Business Development Executive for the North West Regional College’s Business Support Centre. Her current role requires supporting the Business Development Manager to support the growth and development of the Skills Focus programme and other skills programmes. Jane graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Stranmillis College. She also completed an Advanced Diploma in leadership Management with Ulster University

jc halliday and sons

8. Matthew McCafferty Business Development Manager

9. Victoria Boyle Hyundai Brand Manager

Andrew Burder Marketing Executive

Ruairi O’Brien Hyundai Specialist

McElwee

How does your membership benefit you?

With Justyn McNicholl, Director, Hidden City Café

Hidden City Café is a small independent family business. We opened our doors in September 2017 with two people and have grown organically to now employ eight staff. We are a café with a conscience, incorporating many social concerns. We are predominately a plantbased business which we believe is the future of foods, whereby a lot of the core ingredients that we use are organic or Fairtrade - even the chicken we use is Halal. We are a part of the Legenderry Food Network and we’re proud that the city is recognised as a Fairtrade city.

We chose to join the Chamber as we believe in the city. The Chamber of Commerce is a huge contributing factor in the success of driving business issues and delivering better commerce for the city and surrounding environs. We have found that the Chamber is a direct link to having business concerns raised with higher levels of administrative governance either

through direct contact or choice surveys on directed points.

Since joining the Chamber, we immediately saw an escalation in business, particularly from other Chamber members and other business organisations. We have found that the networking events and the workshops are thoroughly beneficial as there are a multitude of varying businesses who can and have offered opinions on progressive ways of engagement on different business levels. Hidden City Café has received support and advice which has helped the business succeed in identifying more as a corporate brand.

Membership of the Chamber of Commerce has enabled us to network and forge new relationships with other business owners as well as introducing new business relations with local producers and service suppliers.

Being a member of the Chamber of Commerce has provided Hidden City Café opportunities which are actively shaping the future profile of the business. We feel our membership provides us with a deeper connection to a network of similar independent businesses, all of whom experience the same trials,

tribulations, and challenges of being an independent business owner in the climate of the day. With our membership and as active members of that network, the Chamber has gifted us, as a small family business, a sense of business security belonging to something bigger by creating new avenues of support and resources for the café. Active advice has helped us spark small changes in our business, improving staff and customer relations, and aiding the business in its growth.

The Chamber regularly holds networking events and as such one of the networking events was held on our premises effectively giving us an opportunity to show other new and also established businesses who we are and what we do - Since then we never looked back!

Welcome to The Chamber

CONNECTED is highlighting some of the Chamber’s newest members. Let us introduce you to the wider range of members that the Londonderry Chamber represents across the North West. Will your business be featured in the next edition?

#GrowingBusinessNW

AIB Merchant Services is one of Ireland’s largest providers of payment solutions, with extensive operations in Ireland and Britain, and with card processing capabilities throughout continental Europe. We process millions of payments every day, and deal with every major credit and debit card accepting payments in every channel we can. In a rapidly transforming industry, we remain at the cutting edge consistently providing superior customer service.

Ireland’s favourite coach operator with services from Dublin Airport to Cork, Belfast, Galway, Derry/L’Derry and three routes to Dublin City Centre and onward to South Dublin & Wicklow. We are proud of our Airport Coach Operator of the Year 2020 title, and we remain committed to innovation. Hop on board our modern coaches for safe, reliable, convenient journeys to Dublin Airport and beyondall at a great value.

eir evo is the trusted telecommunications and IT partner to many of Northern Ireland’s leading organisations, helping them to digitally transform with the right networking and communications, collaboration solutions, public and private cloud solutions, cyber security services and workplace technologies.

Cinematic Sky, run by Tony Carlin, is a media production company specialising in drone cinematography for TV & Film. Tony’s work has been featured nationally and internationally on networks such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Netflix, Sky and Amazon Prime. Cinematic Sky also work with local and national companies to produce eye-catching promotional videos and in the creation of 3D virtual tours.

AXA has had a strong presence in the city of Derry for many years.

The city is home to over 550 AXA employees in our Customer Contact Centre which supports customers in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

In addition, we have a branch office located in the city centre at 15a The Diamond, Derry, BT48 6HW - one of 11 branches across Northern Ireland. AXA provides a range of flexible insurance covers for motorists, homeowners, commercial businesses, and farmers.

eir evo has been supporting public and private sector organisations in digital transformation for over 15 years with a reputation for service excellence and technology expertise, backed by continued investment in a wholly-owned nextgeneration telecommunications network across Northern Ireland and a dedicated Belfast-based operations and service centre.

The company is a proud Gold and Platinum partner with many of the world’s No.1 technology brands, empowering people and organisations to achieve more with their technology through planning, design and implementation support.

www.eirevo.co.uk

twitter.com/eirevouk

linkedin.com/company/eirevouk

email: theteam@eirevo.co.uk

The Derry Journal is the second oldest newspaper in Ireland; 2022 marked 250 years since its foundation and first edition. Currently owned by NationalWorld, the title is at the heart of the community; it is the paper of record in the city, covering all of the important events since it was established, including the Great Hunger and its aftermath in the 1840s, the Troubles of the 20th century, through to the recent Covid 19 crisis, Lockdown, and the historic recent Stormont elections. Arguably, the biggest changes for our industry and in society generally have occurred over the past 20 years but we hope to be telling the story of this city and region for many years to come on all platforms - in print and online - at www.derryjournal.com

The company is part of the wider AXA Group that has a presence in over 45 countries and 90 million customers around the globe. We are delighted to play our part in the local community with projects such as AXA Parks, AXA Community Awards and as a member of the Derry Chamber of Commerce.

Local Branch Contact Details: Tel: 02871368046   Email: axaderry@axa.ie

The Inishowen Independent newspaper is the biggest-selling of the Donegal and Derry titles in the Inishowen peninsula. Published every Tuesday and based in Buncrana, the Inishowen Independent has a long-standing reputation for leading the weekly news, sports and advertising agenda in the peninsula in addition to popular commentary on life in the North West and beyond.

Murdock Builders Merchants are currently recognised as a leading supplier of building materials and timber in the island of Ireland. Murdock’s Derry Branch have been based in Skeoge Industrial Estate for 25 years supplying the construction sector in the Derry & Donegal area for our builders to complete housing schemes, hospitals, schools and servicing the DIY trade.

Kumon is the largest provider of supplementary education in the world and has supported millions of children globally in becoming confident and independent learners. Foyle Kumon began in 2012 and through this platform Sumeeta was able to support learning in children of all ages and abilities.

At Foyle Kumon, we take pride in empowering children to take responsibility of their school and homework and work independently. Children not only work at the level as their peers but gradually start working on advanced levels and attempt challenging work in maths and English making them confident learners at school. The Kumon programme compliments the national curriculum and is designed to meet the individual needs of every child.

In the early days of the business our core discipline was mechanical services. However, in recent years H&A have diversified into new areas. These include kitchens, bathrooms, refurbishment, property maintenance, electrical and renewable technologies.

Our Head Office is located in Draperstown County Derry with further satellite branches located in Derry City, Mallusk, County Antrim and Clane, County Kildare. This allows us to deliver schemes on an all-Ireland basis.

La Dolce Vita Project is a non-gender domestic abuse registered charity, based in Queen Street. Derry. The aim of the charity is to do no harm and to protect from harm, through providing early intervention and prevention support plans to reduce the potential risk of harm to victims of domestic abuse, coercive control, and parental alienation.

Services:

Counselling, Safety support sessions, Parental alienation consultancy.

Northwest Cleaning Services Ltd, est 2010 provides its services all over Ireland. We offer cleaning solutions across all sectors from Data Centres, Construction Sites, Offices, Surgeries, Pharmacies, Warehouses, Hospitals and Households. Services we offer: Industrial Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Builders Cleans, Deep Cleans, Janitorial Services, Pre and post rental clean / End tenancy clean, Fire Restoration Reporting and Clean, Bio fogging, Cleanrooms & controlled environment cleaning.

Willie Donaghy – Energy Consultant has been active in energy sector locally for some years and has undertaken and led consultancy projects in smart energy feasibility studies, intelligent buildings and renewable energy storage.

He has worked on projects across the British Isles involving heating control upgrades, energy monitoring systems, lighting upgrades, voltage management and renewable energy technologies. In the course of this, he has built up extensive experience in client / supplier relationship management, site selection, surveying, auditing, technology preferences and general best fit of project elements to deliver best value-for-money to clients and end users.

As a family run company, we have a strong personal stake in every project we undertake, so we take particular pride in a job done right. The ‘getting it right first time’ approach is a fundamental approach to our business. We talk to the people we are working with and find out what they want and need.

Educational workshops covered are: Domestic abuse awareness. Domestic abuse and Safety Planning. Parental Alienation Awareness. The Alienated Child. Navigating the court system.

Our platform (Swift Shift) connects businesses with a pool of qualified and reliable casual workers, making it easy for you to find the staffing support you need.

As you may know, the hospitality industry can be unpredictable and often requires the ability to bring on additional staff on a short-term basis. That’s where we come in. With our platform, you can quickly and easily find qualified candidates to fill your staffing gaps.

Not only does our platform save you time and effort in finding the right staff, but it also allows casual workers to find flexible work opportunities. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Renua Nutrition is a health optimisation clinic founded by Katherine Kelly, a Nutritionist (AfN), Nutritional Therapist (mBANT) & Health Coach. Katherine started the clinic to help individuals find the root cause of ongoing symptoms which may be overlooked by the current health system. She uses nutrition and lifestyle approaches to provide personalised plans along with therapeutic support and testing to help improve individuals health. She focuses on evidence-based interventions only and continuously shares her knowledge to educate and support you throughout your journey to optimum health.

As a Talent Advisory Partner, Your Talent Ninja offers clients strategic insight into their most valuable asset- their people. Working with both SME and Multi-National organisations, across in-house and outsourced talent functions, Your Talent Ninja has supported large scale and bespoke niche recruitment campaigns. Client’s benefit from knowledge and experience across talent mapping, market intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning amongst other areas. Your Talent Ninja is agile and flexible to help when you need it and really set your business up for success.

Corporate Membership –Partners, Patrons, and Associates

The Chamber’s mission is to help businesses succeed in a successful North West. The support of our corporate members is crucial in delivering on this mission. In return for supporting our work as a patron, partner, or associate, you will receive additional benefits including enhanced brand recognition, stakeholder engagement with senior politicians and other likeminded organisations, and networking opportunities throughout the year.

Over the past few months, we’ve been delighted to welcome new patrons and partners to the Chamber and would like to thank them once again for their vital support.

Our newest partners

FinTrU is a multi-awardwinning technologically enabled Regulatory Solutions company, specialising in the areas of KYC, Compliance, Legal, Risk and Controls, and Operations. Working with Investment Banks around the globe, FinTrU designs technology-enabled solutions to help their clients meet their regulatory obligations. FinTrU consider themselves to have a fundamental social purpose to create high-quality professional employment and they care deeply about their culture and values of Partnership, Passion, People, and Professionalism. FinTrU currently employs over 1,100 people worldwide across Belfast, Derry~Londonderry, London, Dublin, Letterkenny, Maastricht, New York, and Porto. FinTrU won ‘Large Business of the Year’ at the North West Business Awards 2022.

AIB Merchant Services

is one of Ireland’s largest providers of payment solutions, with extensive operations in Ireland and Britain, and with card processing capabilities throughout continental Europe.

They process millions of payments every day, and deal with every major credit and debit card accepting payments in every channel they can. In a rapidly transforming industry, they remain at the cutting edge consistently providing superior customer service.

Our newest Patron Moore (NI) LLP

Derry offers a wide variety of value added services, advice, and solutions to clients in County Derry~Londonderry and the surrounding area. Moore’s success derives from preserving and growing the wealth of their clients through innovative and personal services. The company combines the local expertise and experience of their partners and staff with the breadth of knowledge of their UK and worldwide association to provide a truly valued added service.

Are you interested in learning more about corporate membership? Get in touch with Carolann to discuss your options

Carolann@londonderrychamber.co.uk 028 7122 3624

Railway Road, Buncrana, Co Donegal

Telephone: 00353 7493 61144 email sales@inishowengateway.com web www.inishowengateway.com

Ideal for corporate teambuilding events

ONLY 20 MINS FROM DERRY AIRPORT

We are ideally located to local air, rail and bus links connecting Northern Ireland to the Northwest.

CONFERENCE FACILITIES FOR 2-600

We have a number of seaview Conference rooms accommodating small and large number events.

SEASIDE LOCATION

We are all about our location and have facilitators to offer Ecotherapy activites to aid employee Mental Health

The Final Word

Professor Carol Curran, Executive Dean, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University

This academic year, undergraduate Health Sciences programmes joined Ulster’s multi-disciplinary centre of healthcare excellence at our Derry~Londonderry campus. Our School of Health Sciences is the regional provider of most of the Allied Health Professions workforce for HSC in Northern Ireland including diagnostic radiography and imaging, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech and language therapy, radiotherapy and oncology, as well as healthcare scientists.

Over 900 students made the move from Jordanstown to new specialist learning spaces created at the heart of the city’s vibrant campus. New and returning students have been welcomed and supported by over 80 existing staff members, and with new colleagues joining the highly skilled staff team.

The transfer of health sciences further expands frontline healthcare course provision in the city, with the programmes offering students the opportunity to develop their careers in this progressive multi-disciplinary healthcare environment on campus. The programmes are delivered alongside Paramedic Science teaching provision and the School of Medicine – both in their second year - and our long-standing and multi-awardwinning School of Nursing.

This degree of integration within higher education is unique in the UK with staff and students working and studying alongside each other, creating connections, and fostering the teamwork essential in health and social care. This is every bit as important as acquiring the essential skills and contributes enormously to front-line confidence in interacting with fellow professionals, patients and their families. Students value the

opportunity to learn alongside the other healthcare disciplines as it very much brings their chosen profession and vocation to life.

The opportunity to now deliver these programmes together on one campus reflects the NHS strategic emphasis on the development of multi-disciplinary teams and rich opportunities for interprofessional learning. Together, we will provide the next generation of highly skilled health professionals so urgently required to meet the needs of the healthcare workforce and patients.

Health Sciences staff and students bring so much skill and insight to our wider healthcare family already based here, as well as benefiting from the proximity to other teaching, research, and professional colleagues.

With sport and social work also taught at our Derry~Londonderry campus, this extensive breadth of disciplines across health, social care, and wellbeing will deliver joined up learning. Health Sciences students and staff are contributing their clinical expertise, skills, and care to so many essential moments in the patient’s journey, from diagnostics right through to aftercare and rehabilitation.

The School of Health Sciences staff and students bring a wealth of expertise and perspectives to the wider healthcare team and disciplines, with a critical role to play in the overall patient journey through primary, secondary, and community care. This

contributes so much to the overall learning outcomes for students in any of our health disciplines who will go on to work in the health and social care system.

Over the years the School of Health Sciences has enjoyed such positive feedback from members of the public who attend our Podiatry clinics, and this is already a very welcome addition to the community here in Derry. Those patients who are so generously part of the student learning journey are invaluable to all those preparing for a career in healthcare.

MARKETING & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES