The Old Inn Reveals £1m refurbishment

from Ambition Issue 48 (September/October 2021)

by NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Jim Fitzpatrick

BUSINESSES COLLABORATE TO CREATE COP26 BUSINESS HUB

MAIL METRICS COMPLETES TWO STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS

Business in the Community has partnered with four Northern Ireland businesses – Arup, firmus energy, Translink and The Irish News – to develop the COP26 NI Business Hub, a one-stop-shop where NI businesses can access events listings, resources and information to inspire and inform businesses to take action on the climate crisis, and be fully involved in the run up to, and during, COP26.

The partners are calling on businesses across NI to submit their COP26-related events, toolkits, publications and resources to the platform where they will be to be available for others to download, access and sign up to. Kieran Harding, Managing Director, BITC said: “The COP26 NI Business Hub has been launched exactly 100 days before COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference due to take place in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021. The biggest global summit ever hosted in the UK, COP26 is seen as a significant milestone in the UK’s push towards achieving its target ‘net zero’ carbon by 2050 and affords government, businesses, NGOs, lobbyists and individual citizens a unique opportunity to campaign on climate issues. “Northern Ireland must play its part in addressing the climate crisis and business is a key stakeholder. We need to work together for a sustainable future that creates decent jobs and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.”

The Hub is supported by key business organisations in Northern Ireland including NI Chamber.

To find out more or submit your events and resources to the COP26 NI Business Hub, visit www.bitcni.org. uk/cop26.

Mail Metrics (www.mailmetrics.com), one of Ireland’s leading specialists in Outsourced Customer Communications, has announced details of two new strategic acquisitions.

With operations in Bangor, Northern Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland, Mail Metrics has fully acquired Forth Communication (www.forth.co.uk). For thirty years, Forth has delivered complex and demanding communication solutions for some of the largest financial services, utilities, health and government providers in the United Kingdom providing Mail Metrics with a solid platform for expansion in the UK market. Current Forth Communication MD Richard Bolton will depart the business after a handover period to pursue other opportunities. He said: “Having grown our business steadily over many years, the team at Forth is really excited to be bringing the offer of digital migration to our loyal clients. The Mail Metrics platform as a single source for digital communications, added to the print and mail stream, is exactly what our clients and prospects are looking for. We look forward to rolling out the service to our chosen sectors across GB and Ireland.” Forth Director Andrew O’Driscoll will remain with the business and join the Mail Metrics senior leadership team.

Galgorm Collection has opened the doors of its newest venture, The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn.

The Group confirmed its purchase of the luxury hotel in the village of Crawfordsburn in a multi-million-pound deal earlier this year. The highly anticipated opening follows an ambitious £1 million investment to revitalise and upgrade the historic destination, in line with other Collection properties. Guests and visitors can enjoy the new-look 1614 Bar whilst the refurbished 120-seater Old Inn restaurant offers diners a brand new menu, featuring French-inspired dishes, seafood and salads. The restaurant also incorporates a large outdoor patio providing a front row view of Crawfordsburn Country Park.

Plans are currently under way to upgrade each of the hotel’s 32 individually-styled bedrooms, with junior suites. The exclusive Cottage accommodation situated in the grounds of The Old Inn will also come complete with its own secluded outdoor hot tub. The development of a brand-new Tree Top Spa, featuring a variety of attractions including a vitality pool, two hot tubs, steam room and sauna and forest view relax space are also progressing. Additionally, plans to reimagine the hotel’s two wedding spaces are due to be revealed in the coming months, with refurbishment expected to be complete by early 2023.

The announcement comes as the hotel revealed its new brand assets which includes a fresh new logo and website – theoldinn.com – which is now open for bookings.

THE OLD INN REVEALS £1 MILLION REFURBISHMENT

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE ARTS & BUSINESS NI AWARDS 2021

Over 350 guests recently gathered to celebrate the Arts & Business NI Awards 2021, in partnership with Forestside, in an immersive online ceremony.

The ceremony celebrated the rich creativity and inspiring partnerships of the past 18 months, between the worlds of business and the arts in Northern Ireland. The Arts & Business NI Business of the Year Award 2021 went to Connswater Shopping Centre, with the judges noting the diversity and scale of the creative partnerships the centre had delivered over the past 18 months with its arts partners. The Arts & Business NI Arts Organisation of the Year Award 2021 was won by Cahoots NI, who were praised for the ‘innovative and visionary approach to how they work with business’ and how they successfully re-imagined their existing business model in the midst of a pandemic. This Arts Award comes with a cheque from principal sponsor Forestside for £3,000. Ray Giffen from The Duncairn won the Arts & Business NI Arts Innovator of the Year Award 2021 for his incredible leadership and pioneering approach in translating the offering of his arts organisation to digital platforms, whilst still ensuring the integrity of the work shone through. The Forestside Choice Award, launched for 2021, recognised the work of a standout arts organisation and was won by Portico of Ards, including a cheque from Forestside for £1,000.