40 New Jobs at

NEWAPPOINTMENTS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

ELIZABETH ADAIR

Commercial Manager Ireland at Moy Park

CHLOE GILL

Brand Marketing Manager at Moy Park

PAUL PRENTER

Director, Corporate Finance Advisory at Grant Thornton

SASHA MCKNIGHT

Board of Directors at ASG & Partners

STEPHEN HUGHES KAREN SULLIVAN STUART SPROULE PATRICK O’HANLON

Business Manager at Donnelly Group Jaguar Land Rover Business Development Officer at the Millennium Forum

Director in the Corporate & Commercial department at Cleaver Fulton Rankin Director in the Commercial Real Estate department at Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Deloitte Welcomes Over 90 New Graduates and BrightStart Apprentices in Belfast

Deloitte announced that it will be welcoming 93 new hires to its graduate scheme and BrightStart higher apprenticeship programme in Belfast this year. 56 new graduates will start their careers on the Deloitte graduate scheme in Northern Ireland, as well as 37 new BrightStart apprentices – the highest number of new apprentices at Deloitte outside of London.

Co-created by Ulster University Business School and Deloitte, the BrightStart programme is an earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship, with the chance to gain professional and degree-level qualifications. The programme was recently ranked in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list.

The graduate programme offers a permanent job with a competitive salary, benefits and endless opportunities for learning, development and progression. Graduates get to innovate and collaborate with some of the most talented people in their fields and make an impact every day on the projects they want to work on.

A group of the 2022 BrightStart apprentices pictured at The Ewart, Bedford Square, Belfast.

40 New Jobs at Outsource Group

Outsource Group, the Antrimheadquartered IT services business with five offices across the UK and Ireland, is actively recruiting for another 40 new roles that will primarily be based in Northern Ireland.

The company, which acquired ANSEC IA, the leading IT security consultancy in NI, earlier this year, has experienced ongoing stellar demand for its products and services from across all of its markets this year securing high-profile customers locally and abroad.

The new roles are primarily sales and technical positions, including technical support engineers, project engineers, sales support executives and account managers. Recruitment for the positions is already underway, and once filled, they will take the company’s headcount to over 100 people, with additional growth plans thereafter.

Terry Moore, CEO of Outsource Group, announces the new jobs with team members Orla McDonald, left, sales support, and Gena Notman, right, IT support engineer. Johnny Hanna, Partner in Charge of KPMG in Northern Ireland; Sara Hamill, Partner – Tax; Phillip Marshall, Partner – Audit.

KPMG Appoints Two New Northern Ireland Partners

KPMG has appointed two new partners at its Belfast office. Sara Hamill has been named as a partner in the firm’s Northern Ireland tax practice while Phillip Marshall has been named a partner in audit. Johnny Hanna, partner in charge of KPMG in Northern Ireland, said: “We’re proud to introduce KPMG in Northern Ireland’s new partners – each one a leader committed to helping our clients achieve more as we continue growing our business and expanding our service offering to the Northern Ireland market.”

IS YOUR OFFICE READY?

Office fit-out experts, Alpha, are helping businesses prepare as a surge of workers are predicted to head back to the office this winter in a bid to keep energy costs down at home.

With the rising cost of living, more employees are predicted to return to the office to help manage their expenses. If you’re a business owner, now is the time to start preparing your office for their return. By making changes in your office furniture, decorations, lighting, and dedicated areas, you can help employees feel comfortable about working in the office again. At Alpha, they are committed to helping businesses prepare for this shift in working trends. Keep reading to learn how you can make these changes in your office.

Your employees will be spending most of their day in the office, so it’s important to choose office furniture that is comfortable and allows for a collaborative workspace. This could mean opting for tables instead of desks and choosing chairs that promote movement and flexibility. A few important things to consider when choosing office furniture are ergonomics, aesthetics, and safety. Ergonomic furniture will help reduce strain on your employees’ bodies while they’re working. Aesthetically pleasing furniture will create a pleasant environment that your employees will want to work in. And finally, safe furniture will prevent injuries in the workplace.

In addition to choosing the right furniture, you should also incorporate decorative elements that boost morale. Consider adding plants or wall art that reflect your company values. You could also add motivational quotes throughout the office. These small changes can make a big difference in your employees’ attitudes towards coming into the office.

Another way to prepare your office for employees’ return is by improving the lighting. Research shows that poor lighting can cause headaches, eyestrain, and fatigue. To avoid these problems, try to get as much natural light into the office as possible. If you can’t get natural light, then make sure the artificial lighting is bright enough and doesn’t cause glare on computer screens.

Perhaps most importantly, your layout should promote collaboration and productivity. The creation of dedicated areas for different kinds of work is a great way to do this. For example, you could set up a quiet area for employees who need to focus on their work and a breakout area with couches and bean bag chairs for when employees need to take a break or have informal meetings. By creating these dedicated areas, you can help your employees be more productive and feel more comfortable in the office.

As a business owner, it’s important to consider such changes in your office before employees return. By choosing ergonomic furniture, making morale-boosting décor, improving lighting, and creating dedicated areas for different kinds of work, you can help your employees feel comfortable about coming back to the office. A well-designed office can also help to save money in the long run. By incorporating energy-efficient features into your design, you can reduce your company’s energy costs.

So, if you’re looking for ways to improve your workplace, be sure to consider the importance of a well-designed office with innovative furniture. It may just be what your business needs to thrive in today’s economy.

For more information visit www.alphayourspace.com

MG’s Game Changing EV

New MG4 is the best value electric car around, writes James Stinson.

It’s a rare and pleasant thing these days to find a new car that lives up to the hype. But this new MG4 EV is at least as good as the manufacturer pitch, which promises a “winning combination of innovation, practicality, value and fun”.

The fi ve-door hatchback is built on an entirely new platform that will spawn many more all-electric MGs in the years to come. Initially, there are just two versions to choose from – Standard and Long Range – with a simple two trim line-up – SE and Trophy, with the latter only available in Long Range spec. The Standard Range version, with a 51kWh battery, has a 218 mile WLTP measured range while the Long Range version, with a larger 64kWh battery, takes this out to 270 or 281 miles (depending on the spec), which is on a par with rivals like the VW ID.3 and Cupra Born. Both versions also allow for rapid charging from a public charging station, going from 10-80% in less than 40 minutes. Home charging through a 7kWh wallbox takes eight or 10 hours, depending on the battery. Performance is pretty swift too. The Standard Range version will do 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds, while the more powerful Long Range version is marginally slower, at 7.9 seconds, because it has to carry a bigger and heavier battery pack. It’s a pretty car, with a svelte nose and plenty of angled edges while the interior is minimalist and faintly futuristic. Most of the controls are handled through a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash, which is easy to use and can be paired to your smartphone through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This includes different drive modes, eco sport etc, and settings to vary the strength of regenerative braking. Seats are comfortable and well positioned while the speedo and other driving info is carried on a clear 7-inch digital screen, positioned behind the steering wheel. The rear is fairly spacious while the whole cabin feels quiet and sturdy. The steering is quick and nicely weighted while the car rides well over Northern Ireland’s bumpy B roads, mixing good driving dynamics with comfort, which isn’t something heavy electric cars always do well. All MGs come stacked with lots of standard equipment and the MG4 is no different. The SE comes with the MG Pilot advanced driver assistance system, automatic LED headlights and rear lights, rear parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, automatic climate control and MG iSmart app connectivity. Trophy models come with extra driver aids including Lane Change Assist and Blind Spot Detection. Additionally, a striking two-tone roof, rear privacy glass, twin aero rear spoiler, leather interior with electric driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering wheel, Bluetooth key, satellite navigation, 360 camera, wireless phone charging and an upgraded MG iSmart system compatible with live services are all standard. The real nub of the MG4’s appeal is the pricing though. The Standard Range SE starts at just £25,995, with the Long Range SE costing £28,495 and the range-topping Long Range Trophy version coming in at £31,495. Compare that with the Renault Zoe, Corsa-e and Peugeot e-208, which all start around £30,000. And the MG4 looks even better value compared to the likes of the Cupra Born and VW’s ID.3, which start at £34,660 and £35,500 respectively. With a £4,000 deposit, you could be driving one for just £270 a month. At those prices, the MG4 is a massive game changer for the brand and the market.

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