Ulster Business December 2023 by Ulster Business

DECEMBER 2023 Price £2.30 (€2.60)

Primed for the next stage of growth Progressive Building Society’s chief Michael Boyd on an organisation at the core of our economy FEATURE

Why STEM roles remain in high demand

ROUNDTABLE

The future of our tourism and hospitality workforce

Contents 08 News

41 IT & technology

77 Motoring

The latest news and exclusives from across the world of Northern Ireland business

Pavel Barter speaks to Thomas McKenna, chief executive of Ocula Technologies

Pat Burns gets behind the wheel of Mazda’s first rotary engine vehicle in 11 years

18 Cover story

51 Net zero & green energy

84 Photocall

Progressive Building Society chief Michael Boyd on the future growth of the organisation

Ulster Business looks at burgeoning demand for EVs and progress on improving the network

A look at what’s been happening across Northern Ireland over the last few weeks

22 In Focus

65 Outsourcing

92 Review

John Mulgrew speaks to British Business Bank chief Louis Taylor about its new £70m fund

Gareth Chambers of Around Noon on bringing its sandwiches to our biggest supermarkets

John Mulgrew gets hands on with IWC’s new range at Lunn’s in Belfast city centre

30 Tourism roundtable

73 STEM

94 Travel

Tourism NI brought together a host of industry experts to chat about recruitment in the sector

The jobs market is awash with STEM-related opportunities, writes Pavel Barter

Darragh McManus is in Bodo as it gears up to share next year’s European Capital of Culture

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DECEMBER 2023

EDITOR’S COMMENTS

Political chaos not just felt at home

ll being well, we’ve reached the unenviable top when it comes to the rate of inflation.

The latest official figures show we’re now at the lowest level in around two years. But will interest rates follow suit soon? We’d certainly like to think so.

for us, it honestly seems like an absurd version of musical chairs. Politics here has long been complicated, tempestuous, sectarian, and relatively youthful in its current, modern state.

Those coming off long-term fixed rate mortgages will have gotten a short and sharp shock to the system when witnessing their payments up by 40% to 50% while anyone on a tracker or discounted variable has seen a gradual upsurge in what they are paying out each month.

We’ve only had a modern devolved Assembly here since 1998, albeit in the years since with major bumps along the way, including the current and seemingly endlessly frustrating period of stasis. It has been, and continues to be, fraught with difficulties, meandering faux outrage and apparent play fighting which wouldn’t go amiss in a nursery.

The rate of inflation slowing has been seen as something of a boon for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his new cabinet. However,

But turning our attention to the paymaster across the Irish Sea and things appear, while technically stable, as equally sullen.

There are those who wish to, or at least appear on the surface, divide us as best they can – albeit arguably for political clout in future upcoming general elections. We’re now seeing government leaders of old being wheeled in, out of political retirement in order to boost credentials, when it looks like the party in power can do little else but lose the next general election. And with that, enjoy this December edition of Ulster Business. I want to thank everyone involved this year, and beyond, and I hope you can continue to be a part of our journey in 2024. We couldn’t do it without you. ■ John Mulgrew

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DECEMBER 2023

NEWS

A month in numbers

2.4%

The percentage rise in the average cost of a house here in Northern Ireland over the last three months.

new £70m fund for Northern Ireland could start a domino effect of investors into the region, it’s been claimed. The British Business Bank, has just unveiled its new equity and debt fund here, The Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI). The fund will include both an equity fund, making up £33m of it, and a debt element of £30m, leaving £7m in reserve to then be allocated to either path depending on demand. Louis Taylor, head of the British Business Bank, said he hopes the scheme will attract further investment funds to Northern Ireland, and that further funding from the organisation could follow on if it’s successful. The British Business Bank is the economic development bank wholly owned by the Department for Business and Trade, but

4.6%

The current rate of inflation in the UK after it dropped to its lowest level in two years.

2.1%

Northern Ireland’s rate of unemployment which is now at a record low.

£70m

The value of a new investment fund from the British Business Bank for firms here in Northern Ireland.

£70m fund ‘could attract more investors to Northern Ireland’

Louis Taylor

operationally independent. Founded in 2014, it is designed to help UK small businesses grow. “The fund is there to increase the supply and diversity for early stage business, and funding to firms which might not otherwise get investment… it breaks down barriers to finance,” he said. The fund will be managed in Northern Ireland by Whiterock Capital Partners and Clarendon Fund Managers. Mr Taylor says there are six regional funds across the UK being offered by the British Business Bank and each works “slightly differently”. “It’s working with local partners to make sure it lands properly, so it’s not about helicoptering money in from Westminster,” he told Ulster Business. “We want to work in partnership with other investors in the region… we want to crowd private sector money in alongside.” Following the launch in Belfast, the British Business Bank will be holding a series of information roadshows aimed at people working in the small business finance ecosystem including enterprise agencies, advisers, accountants and more. Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said: “Northern Ireland has a reputation for innovation, and its SMEs are at the forefront of this. I have no doubt that this new £70m Investment Fund for Northern Ireland, from the UK Government’s British Business Bank, will provide important support for those starting or scaling up their business across the whole of Northern Ireland. “As the recent NI Investment Summit showed, Northern Ireland is home to excellent entrepreneurs, and possesses expertise in sectors from tech to businesses at the forefront of our transition to a net zero future. “This new investment can help them take the next step in their development and boost the wider local economy.” Read the full interview on page 22-23

NEWS

Firms actively recruiting from schools amid STEM role shortage

here remain a shortage of top workers across STEM roles with companies actively reaching out to schools and colleges in order to secure talent, it’s been claimed. According to statistics from the Department for the Economy, 79,000 people were employed in STEM occupations in 2022, a rise of 16,000 since 2018. “It’s a very strong market particularly within SMEs. There’s still a shortage of candidates with the right skill sets – and there’s a need and demand to get people into STEM jobs,” Roisin Byrne, who specialises in IT at recruitment firm Hays, says. “There are slight shifts in the market due to increased costs, but the tech sector is

DECEMBER 2023

probably the most insulated sector in terms of job requirements and demands.” And STEM skills are in demand across manufacturing industries too. “Clients are telling us about how their manufacturing, production, and output are all increasing,” Eamonn McCance, business director at Hays, says. According to Eamonn McCance, businesses are more proactive than ever before in seeking STEM graduates. “A lot of companies are visiting schools, colleges and career fairs – companies that you probably wouldn’t have seen in those places in the past. It’s a seismic move in which education and production manufacturing are coming together.”

Roisin Byrne

Read the full feature on page 73-75

NEWS

Top Belfast café owner opening new restaurant in Cathedral Quarter By John Mulgrew

he man behind one of Belfast’s top cafes has plans to transfom his firm’s office into a new restaurant at Hill Street in the Cathedral Quarter. The company will relocate to another premises nearby. Ryan Crown of Crown Creative is co-owner of Neighbourhood cafe in Donegall Street with Oisín McEvoy. He said it “another strong addition” to the area, adding that he had “a couple of ideas marinating” over the concept of the restaurant. He said: “I think it could be afternoon and evening dining… you can see the success of Niall McKenna’s Waterman, which is packed every night. “And Willie Jack [owner of the Duke of York and Harp bars] gives customers such great options just down the street.” It has now submitted a change of use application for the building and is at the very early stages of planning a new restaurant concept for the premises. He said the new restaurant could be the first of additional venues and eating spots in the city. “We’ve spent money doing the office up, and given our background with developing hospitality concepts, it’s looking at bringing some of that thinking from across the water

Quotes of the summer

Ryan Crown pictured at the original Neighbourhood cafe location

back home,” he said. Hill Street is the location for a raft of bars and includes restaurants like the aforementioned Waterman and burger spot Bunsen. It was also formerly home to Nick’s Warehouse, a pioneering bistro that helped ignite the city’s food scene in the 1990s. Mr Crown added because of the expertise and different skills within his own hospitality design business, which works in Ireland, UK, US and beyond, most of the plans for the new restaurant can be done by Crown Creative. “The idea is that we would create concepts in-house, and do one a year, or every couple of years,” he explained. “Neighbourhood is a great venue and a strong brand. So, what else? Do we do a wine

bar or bring back Toast Office (pop-up selling toasties). “We love the Cathedral Quarter and that location and have great neighbours with people like Niall McKenna and Willie Jack.” He said the plan was to look at starting on the restaurant in the new year, with work getting under way around the summer time. The restaurant is certain to benefit from passing trade on Hill Street, particularly on days and weeks of public cultural events and arts festivals in the area. His Neighbourhood cafe has become one of the most successful and well-regarded casual breakfast and brunch spots in the city. It moved to Donegall Street after its original site at Cathedral Buildings was forced to shut when it suffered extensive damage in a fire.

“Positives were few and far between in the latest survey. Nevertheless, Northern Ireland’s private sector once again increased staffing levels.”

“A lot of companies are visiting schools, colleges and career fairs – companies that you probably wouldn’t have seen in those places in the past.”

Richard Ramsey of Ulster Bank on the latest PMI report.

Eamonn McCance of Hays writing in this edition of Ulster Business.

“Local organisations and businesses remain in a candidate-led market where they will be competing for top talent as well as making strong efforts to retain existing staff.” Emma Murray of The Formula on the jobs market.

NEWS

Lunn’s unveils new standalone Tudor boutique

elfast luxury jeweller Lunn’s is opening the first standalone Tudor watch boutique in the heart of the city centre. The company will launch the new store at its

DECEMBER 2023

Queen’s Arcade location in February next year. It joins a series of high-end standalone watch stores, also operated by Lunn’s, including sister brand Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer and Breitling. “We have developed a fantastic relationship

with Tudor over the years, and we are thrilled to announce the opening of this new boutique; the first of its kind in Northern Ireland,” John Lunn, managing director of Lunn’s Jewellers, said. “The popularity and demand for the brand continues to grow, so we are delighted to be able to offer our clients this elevated in-store experience.” A spokesman for Tudor said: “We are thrilled to expand our relationship with long standing partner Lunn’s, by opening the first Tudor mono-brand boutique in Northern Ireland. Located in a prestigious location such as Queen’s Arcade, this boutique will grow our brand awareness further and give customers the opportunity to truly immerse themselves into the Tudor spirit.” The Lunn’s Tudor boutique is set to open its doors within the well-established Queen’s Arcade in February 2024 and will reflect the brand’s style with red, black and grey colour hues combined with a mixture of high quality finishes.

NEWS

Jobs at risk as Belfast Met starts redundancy programme

obs could be set to go at Belfast Metropolitan College as it begins a new “programme of redundancies” amid tightened budgets, it can be revealed. It comes just days after it was revealed the college is proposing to close its Castlereagh campus. In relation to that plan, it said at the time: “No job losses are envisaged as part of any closure.” Now, in a letter sent to staff, chief executive Louise Warde Hunter has said: “I am writing to confirm that… Belfast Met has commenced formal consultation with trade unions on a proposed programme of redundancies. “This is the start of a process which will include both collective consultation with our recognised trade unions and, in due course, individual consultation with those staff affected by the proposed redundancies.” Ms Warde Hunter said the potential job losses, “although deeply regrettable and naturally unsettling”, are “unavoidable given the well-documented and significant financial

and wider pressures facing further education colleges and the public sector as a whole”. It is not yet clear how many roles could be affected. “You will be aware of the proactive steps we have taken to date in seeking to mitigate against these challenges, including exerting tight controls on recruitment and introducing cost savings across our entire operation,” Ms Warde Hunter said in the correspondence with staff. She added: “The next few months are going to be difficult and I want to assure all staff of our commitment to managing the changes as carefully and sensitively as possible. “We will continue to keep you updated in line with developments and, in the meantime, look forward to constructive and meaningful engagement with the recognised trade unions.” It’s believed the latest proposed redundancies are related to wider budget cuts applying to further education colleges and not directly to plans to shutter the college’s Castlereagh campus.

In September it was revealed that staff at all six further education colleges in Northern Ireland have been made aware that they are facing potential redundancies. Belfast Met did not wish to comment. Recently, a separate letter said a recent survey of the college’s Castlereagh campus “identified some £10m is now needed to ensure the facility remains suitable for ongoing curriculum delivery”. It’s now launching a 12-week consultation to propose the closure of its Castlereagh campus in east Belfast. The further education college, which has around 37,000 students across five separate campuses, has written to staff to outline the proposals. There are around 130-150 staff, including part-time and full-time, based at Castlereagh. It’s understood that the proposals will include “consolidation” of curriculum provision onto the remaining campuses in Titanic Quarter and Millfield, and support provision moving to the Springvale campus in west Belfast.

NEWS

Danske Bank appoints new chief risk officer

anske Bank has appointed Thomas McAreavey as its new chief risk officer in-waiting. Mr McAreavey, who is a former Bank of Ireland UK director, will initially join as deputy chief risk officer and progress to chief risk officer in the new year, subject to regulatory approval. “Thomas is from Northern Ireland, he knows the marketplace here very well and he also has great knowledge of banking in the rest of the UK,” Danske Bank chief executive, Vicky Davies, said. “He will bring a wealth of experience and a lot of fresh thinking. He is very highly regarded within the wider industry, and I am delighted he will be joining us here at Danske Bank.” Mr McAreavey has 25 years’ experience across retail and commercial banking, and until last year was chief financial officer at Bank of Ireland UK, working in Belfast, London and Dublin.

Thomas McAreavey, Vicky Davies and Phil Smyth

He was a member of Bank of Ireland UK’s executive team and held responsibility for areas including financial and strategic management, capital risk, liquidity risk, and regulatory reporting and engagement with UK

and other regulators. After a period of transition, current chief risk officer Phil Smyth will move on to become Danske’s new managing director of commercial development.

Lakeland Dairies closing Banbridge site with 80 jobs at risk across Ireland

early 80 jobs are at risk at Lakeland Dairies as part of an Ireland-wide cull of three locations, including one Co Down. The Irish co-op said it’s closing its butter

DECEMBER 2023

churning and packing and powder storage site in Banbridge, along with two other premises in the Republic. Lakeland, which collects milk from 3,200 family farms north and south, is moving

liquid milk production from Lakeland Dairies Monaghan to Lakeland Dairies Killeshandra, Co Cavan. “Between now and quarter one of 2025, significant change will be implemented across the Lakeland Dairies business to ensure the co-operative is well placed to meet future market requirements with a realigned processing footprint to match milk supply profiles,” it said. Milk will continue to be processed at other sites, in Bailieboro and Killeshandra, as well as Newtownards, Ballyrashane and Artigarvan. “The Lakeland Dairies site in Banbridge, Co Down, with no milk being directly processed there for many years, will close in June 2024. A process to sell the Banbridge site will commence shortly.” But the co-op said an estimated 78 redundancies would be “necessary” to carry out its strategy. It’s understood the Banbridge location has fewer than five staff.

TAX ADVISORY

Game changer for Inspired as renowned tax specialist joins as new director

ax advisory business Inspired has appointed Dominic Little as tax director to its expanding team.

Dominic is a well-known tax expert, boasting an impressive career that spans over 30 years of experience in the industry. With Inspired continuing to win major projects from large corporates across the UK, Dominic’s extensive expertise makes him the perfect fit to join the Inspired team. Inspired offers a breadth of tax services including tax incentives, corporation tax compliance and tax advisory assignments such as corporate restructuring and succession planning. Under the leadership of Eugene O’Neill, Michael Heinicke, and Colm Cavanagh, Inspired stands out as the only Northern Ireland professional services firm dedicated solely to taxation. Dominic’s arrival marks a pivotal moment for Inspired, as the 20-strong company continues to widen its tax offering. Eugene O’Neill, managing partner, said: “While Inspired started during the 2020 Covid pandemic with a focus on tax incentives such as R&D relief, Capital Allowances and Patent Box, the last two years has seen us expand our range of tax services. We’re seeing a huge demand in the market for high-quality, wellrounded tax advice. Dominic’s arrival allows us to not only continue to fulfil that demand but gives us a platform to really drive and grow that part of our business.” With Inspired’s recent expansion to the north west, the company’s new Dungiven office emphasises the growth of Inspired and their desire to not stand still. Dominic’s arrival is just one more example of their dedication to providing a first-class experience, to their clients, as well as their people. “Dominic is something of a legend in the local tax market,” partner Michael Heinicke, says.

Eugene O’Neill, Dominic Little and Michael Heinicke

“When it comes to advising at the top end in complex tax matters, there is no substitute for experience. We have a young team at Inspired and they’re going to benefit massively from his years of experience, as both myself and Eugene and many others have done in the past.” Prior to joining Inspired Dominic spent 19 years in EY London before joining PwC in Belfast in 2005. “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the team at Inspired,” Dominic says. “Having worked with Eugene and Michael before and seen what they’ve achieved with Inspired, it was an easy decision to make. It’s a dynamic, energetic firm which is genuinely putting client service first. The lack of red tape and internal

politics means that the team are focused on clients which in turn helps the people experience. There’s a real feel-good factor here.” Looking ahead to the future, Eugene said: “We’re now entering a new phase at Inspired as we continue on our growth trajectory. “As market demand is telling us, we’ve a very credible proposition when it comes to complex tax matters such as M&A, group restructuring projects and international tax matters. “We’ve a substantial pipeline of projects for 2024 and the fact that Dominic wants to come and be a part of that really endorses what we’ve been doing.” ■

ECONOMY

Business conﬁdence in NI ‘at nine-month low’

usiness activity in the private sector in Northern Ireland has fallen once again, according to a fresh report.

Firms told the monthly Ulster Bank purchasing managers’ index (PMI) that continued high interest rates and political stalemate at Stormont were continuing to take their toll, leading to four months of falling business activity amid October’s report. New orders had declined at a faster pace than in September, even though companies were trying to limit increase in selling prices. And the rate of job creation had continued to slow down.

contraction.” Waning demand was happening even though companies were limiting price rises – with companies in manufacturing and retail actually reducing prices. Mr Ramsey said that “overall, prices charged by businesses rose at their weakest pace in around three years”. Falling demand and tough conditions meant that manufacturing and retail companies were becoming less optimistic. And building ﬁrms were forecasting that they would still be “mired in recession” in a year’s time, Mr Ramsey said.

Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey said: “Northern Ireland’s private sector started the ﬁnal quarter of the year with a further loss in momentum.

“The higher interest rate environment and the ongoing political stalemate at Stormont were cited by businesses as key reasons behind their challenges.

“Business activity fell for the fourth successive month, with all sectors posting a decline. It was a similar story regarding order books, which recorded their ﬁfth consecutive month of

“Nevertheless, Northern Ireland’s private sector once again increased stafﬁng levels, albeit at the slowest rate in 10 months.”

And events beyond the control of business were continuing to make life difficult. Mr Ramsey said the outbreak of war between Israel and Gaza, as well as flooding in Northern Ireland, were adding “to a growing list of economic headwinds”. And there was not much evidence of a reprieve in the weeks ahead, Mr Ramsey said. October’s fall in business activity had been gentler than in September, but output had nonetheless fallen in the four monitored sectors of retail, construction, manufacturing and services. Ulster Bank said: “Output decreased across all four monitored sectors. Panellists reported that higher interest rates and a lack of government at Stormont had impacted negatively on both business activity and new orders in October. New orders decreased solidly, and to the greatest extent since January.” While new staff were being taken on, the rate of job creation was the lowest in 2023 so far. Political stalemate and weak demand, particularly in the construction market, meant that business confidence hit a nine-month low. But some firms were hopeful that demand would recover in the next year. ■

Richard Ramsey

DECEMBER 2023

RECRUITMENT

When and where you are most productive is coming into focus for employers By John Moore, managing director, Hays NI

hen are you most productive in work? I dare say your answer to that question might be very different to some of your colleagues.

I’ve spoken to a lot of people who love coming in at the crack of dawn to get an hour in the morning before anyone else arrives in the office to get things done. Similarly, I have some colleagues who say they are most productive at the end of the day when everyone has left. And likewise, in the age of hybrid working, you won’t have to look far to find a co-worker who says they get the most done at home in the evening when their kids have gone to bed and they are free of distractions. There has been a lot of discussion around productivity as part of the debate about hybrid working and I’m sure you’ve heard an equal number of voices advocating for the productivity benefits of working from home and getting people back in the office. Research Hays conducted as part of our Annual Salary Survey this year gives us an interesting qualitative insight into working habits. The most productive hours of the day, as voted by 15,000 professionals across the UK, were 10am to midday, with 40% rating these hours as their most productive, followed by 32% who said 8am-10am. In the office versus home debate, 43% of professionals said they work most productively in an office, while 41% said they work most productively at home. Interestingly 49% of people in their 20s (20-29) told us they are most productive in the office whereas 45% of workers in their 30s (30-39) favoured working at home for productivity. It’s interesting to consider these results at a time when many employers who were forced into remote working situations during the Covid-19 pandemic are wrestling with what their hybrid and office arrangements should look like in future. Clearly a lot of people have rearranged their lives around a new hybrid model and are reluctant to be in an office full time, but Hays research has found that we’re back in a position where more professionals in NI are working full time in an office setting than those who are working in a hybrid way. Our survey showed only 38% of people here are on hybrid models compared with close to half of all workers (49%) who are back in the office full time.

A third of employers surveyed at the same time said they expect to change their policies to bring people back together more often in the year ahead. Whatever your personal view, I think we are going to see more and more employers base the decision on their future working policies on measures of productivity. Most employers are still facing challenges to attract talent and our survey showed that 44% of workers in NI still say they wouldn’t accept a new job that didn’t adopt a hybrid approach to working. But productivity isn’t just about hybrid working. It’s also about more than to-do lists and shared calendars. It can have a lot to do with diet, exercise, sleep and whether your set up and routine are conducive to giving you energy, improving your mood and helping you concentrate. All workers and workdays are unique. With fewer companies and employees adhering to a traditional 9-to-5 day and a significant percentage of people hybrid working, our workdays and personal life are more blurred than they might have been in the past. As a postscript, many commentators are speculating about what role Artificial Intelligence might play in improving productivity. Our Salary Survey found 27% of employers are currently using AI tools such as ChatGPT and 18% of professionals are using it in their day-to-day roles. Whether Chat GPT works better in the morning or evening remains to be seen. ■

COVER STORY

Progressive Building Society: primed for the next stage of growth Michael Boyd has taken up the role of chief executive of Progressive Building Society. He chats to Ulster Business about his plans for the future of the Society, mixing a timeless, proven, hands-on approach with the latest technology and a deeply experienced team 18

here can be few organisations more integral to the Northern Ireland economy and wider society than Progressive Building Society. It has been at the heart of the ﬁnancial sector here for 110 years, helping countless borrowers achieve their dream of becoming

COVER STORY Michael Boyd

institution on the island of Ireland to have made a profit every year of its operation, even during the global financial crisis from 2008. Such longevity isn’t by chance, rather it’s the product of measured, considered leadership by a succession of experienced senior management teams and peerless boards. At the centre of that group is a consecutive series of highly regarded and experienced chief executives who have the privilege of steering the Society into the future. Michael Boyd is the latest to fill that role, taking over in November from Darina Armstrong whose steady hand guided the organisation for more than 12 years. As the former deputy chief executive and a Progressive stalwart of more than 27 years, Michael could hardly be better placed to take hold of the baton at a hugely exciting time for the Society and the handover has, as expected, been seamless. Michael has sat at the heart of many of the transformation projects which has seen the Society continually evolve to meet everchanging customer, market and technology innovation. A qualified accountant, Michael began his career at Progressive after working for PriceWaterhouse, working variously as financial accountant, deputy head of finance, board secretary and head of risk management at the society. He then became finance director and deputy chief executive before taking over at the helm as chief executive last month. “It is a true privilege to have taken up the role of chief executive,” Michael says. “Having worked at the heart of the Society for most of my career, I am looking forward to leading Progressive on our next stage of growth.

homeowners and providing the facilities for savers across the region to secure their financial future. During that time it has built up a reputation for sustainable growth, backed by deep experience and a local, personal touch. Proof that approach works comes from the fact Progressive is, uniquely, the only financial

DECEMBER 2023

“Darina leaves the Society in exceptional health, in an ideal position for the senior leadership team and I to build upon.” An experienced, knowledgeable team It is that experience within the wider team which Michael says is the secret to the Society’s success. In an instance of serendipity, the 110 years of the society’s history is, as Michael takes over, the same length of experience

which the senior leadership team share between them, experience which will be hugely valuable in helping Progressive meet its growth ambitions. “It is rare to gather such a group of experienced and effective leaders together who are each expert in their field and who are able to bring a unique perspective to the table. I am excited by what we can achieve together in the coming years,” Michael says. Such experience runs deep within Progressive and extends far into the wider team who are renowned for their market leading knowledge across both mortgages and savings. Coupled with that knowledge is a true differentiator for the Society in the team’s ability to offer a truly personal touch to both mortgage and savings customers, one which allows for a bespoke approach in many cases through its 11-branch network across Northern Ireland. When it comes to mortgages, that is incredibly valuable, especially when borrowers come with more complex requirements. It is one reason why Progressive is known as the go-to lender for self-build mortgages in Northern Ireland, with borrowers valuing the ‘hand holding’ approach it is able to offer. While the retail market is a large part of the Society’s business, its lending through a strong broker network is significant and growing. To service that segment of the market it has three business development managers based across Northern Ireland, all of whom are regarded as leaders within the field and truly embedded within their local communities. “Mortgage brokers are integral to our success and we value the key relationships we have with them,” Michael says. “We realise they have their choice of lender but we are proud our business with brokers is growing year on year and they appreciate our unique offering.” Sustainable future growth As Michael looks to the future, he is intent on ensuring Progressive’s business – both lending and savings – continues to grow sustainably by building on its experience and personal touch which have served it well in recent years. To reach that aim, the fact the Society is

COVER STORY

Jane Millar, head of lending and savings, Gareth Robinson, ﬁnance director, Monique Silva, head of IT, Michael Boyd, chief executive, Ailsa McNeill, head of human resources and Declan Moore, operations director

a mutual organisation, quite literally, pays dividends. Rather than profits being paid out to shareholders each year, Progressive’s profits are reinvested into the business, providing a strong capital base to support future growth. Part of that reinvestment is focused on investing in digital technology to streamline processes across the business and help accommodate further increases in lending. That means a premium and seamless online experience for members and industry-leading efficiency internally. “That sits neatly alongside the branch network,” Michael says. “We have built a fantastic digital offering which we are continually developing to enhance our customers experience.” A new online platform for mortgages has been up-and-running for the last two years and Progressive is planning to extend

its digital reach further still, but without diminishing the importance of those key faceto-face relationships. “Customers are enjoying the digital offering and the convenience it provides,” he says. “And our branch network is still busy – it’s really important that we keep both of those channels open.” Progressive is acutely aware of the headwinds and challenges ahead for its customer base, and the wider economy here. That’s in part fuelled by high interest rates – leading to higher mortgage payments – on the back of soaring inﬂation in recent months. “The headwinds at present are very real. Our approach to lending is very considered and we have a robust affordability process to ensure a seamless process for our customers.” It is also conscious of its wider role in society – with a particular focus on sustainability.

As such, the Society has benchmarked its carbon footprint and ensured it is reducing and will continue to do so in the future. Progressive also operates a partnership with the Woodland Trust. And as part of that it’s offsetting carbon emissions thanks to a treeplanting initiative. “Increasingly, we are seeing sustainability becoming important to borrowers and we already have competitive products for those properties which have the best EPC (energy performance certiﬁcate) rating.” Looking ahead, Michael says the focus is on increasing membership, expanding product offering and enhancing customer experience. “We are perfectly poised for the next stage of growth, equipped with a deeply experienced team, robust technology and a branch network which covers the breadth of NI. Our offer is unique and I’m delighted to be leading the Society into the future.” ■

CONNECTIVITY

Future-proof living for Clanmil homes

partnership between Openreach and Clanmil Housing means customers’ homes are now connected to the next generation of the internet. Clanmil Housing is one of Northern Ireland’s leading housing associations and currently owns and manages over 5,800 homes. They are proud to provide quality homes for families, older people, and those who need support, alongside services that help people live well in their homes. In today’s digital world, living well also means having access to fast and reliable broadband essential for carrying out everyday tasks and for keeping people and communities connected. Clanmil recognised the need to upgrade their broadband infrastructure and initiated talks with Northern Ireland’s leading broadband network provider, Openreach. In November 2022, an ambitious plan was put in place, whereby Openreach and Clanmil Housing would work together to provide access to Ultrafast Full Fibre broadband over the Openreach network to the full Clanmill Housing portfolio, something which has never been achieved before.

Less than one year since initial talks began, Openreach engineers have built Full Fibre broadband to over 2,355 Clanmil residents, with the majority of remaining residents in the final stages of build. People are already placing orders to upgrade so they can enjoy a faster and more reliable broadband connection essential for everyday life. From enabling working at home, to allowing people to shop, stay entertained, access services, and keep in touch. With speeds of 1.8 Gbps, it is up to 12 times faster than the average home broadband connection. That means faster game downloads, better quality video calls and higher resolution movie streaming. The new technology is also five times more reliable than

DECEMBER 2023

Sean Donnelly, senior core and programmes manager at Openreach alongside Kevin McArdle, planned asset manager at Clanmil Housing and Lisa Irwin, fibre planner at Openreach

the current national average meaning the households can connect more devices at once without experiencing any slowdown, buffering or dropouts. Speaking about the project, Kevin McArdle, planned asset manager at Clanmil Housing said: “At Clanmil we want to provide safe, high quality, energy efficient homes that our customers are proud to live in. Ensuring that we have the right infrastructure in place for high speed broadband and phone services is a priority for us, and we’ve been delighted to work with Openreach on developing this project.” Openreach senior core and programmes manager, Sean Donnelly said: “We are so proud to have delivered on our ambitious plan to build Ultrafast Full Fibre broadband to all Clanmil buildings, and in less than a year. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone involved at Clanmil and are delighted that Clanmil customers now have access to future-proof Ultrafast Full Fibre broadband that

will service their needs for decades to come. “Throughout the project, we worked hard to ensure any listed buildings involved were preserved and handled with the utmost care. We created a bespoke plan for each and carried out on-site meetings with the local representative from the Department for Communities Historical Environment Division, taking onboard any specific guidance. “The upgrade to Ultrafast Full Fibre broadband will have significant benefits for Clanmil customers , ensuring they can access the latest digital technology. After the success of the Clanmil partnership, we very much look forward to our next ambitious full portfolio upgrade project.” ■ To check your eligibility for upgrading to Ultrafast Full Fibre broadband, enter your postcode here: www.openreach. com/fibre-broadband/ultrafast-fullfibre-broadband and then contact your communications provider of choice to order.

IN FOCUS

‘It’s never ideal if there isn’t stability in government’ The British Business Bank has just unveiled £70m in fresh equity and debt funding for Northern Ireland. John Mulgrew spoke to chief Louis Taylor about why political stability would be a boon, the investment flowing into NI, starting a domino effect in terms of attracting additional funds and why more cash could be on the way

urther investment and loans could flow into Northern Ireland on the back of a £70m fund here but a return to a working Executive would bring extra positive stability here. Louis Taylor is the head of the British Business Bank, which has just unveiled its new equity and debt fund here, the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI). He says he hopes the scheme will attract further investment funds to Northern Ireland, and that further funding from the organisation could follow on if it’s successful.

“It’s working with local partners to make sure it lands properly, so it’s not about helicoptering money in from Westminster,” he told Ulster Business. “We want to work in partnership with other investors in the region… we want to crowd private sector money in alongside.” The British Business Bank is the economic development bank wholly owned by the Department for Business and Trade, but operationally independent. Founded in 2014, it is designed to help UK small businesses grow.

making up £33m of it, and a debt element of £30m, leaving £7m in reserve to then be allocated to either path depending on demand. It will be managed by Whiterock Capital Partners and Clarendon Fund Managers. Mr Taylor says there are six regional funds across the UK being offered by the British Business Bank and each works “slightly differently”. The fund will see equity money going to businesses of up to £5m while the debt fund will offer loans of £25,000 up to £2m. Mr Taylor says it also operates a series of additional national programmes to assist firm throughout the UK, including providing startup loans of up to £25,000, alongside regional angel schemes and syndicates. “We want to demonstrate to the fund management community that there is good money to be made,” Mr Taylor says. “The success of this fund will encourage more people to come into Northern Ireland.”

“The fund is there to increase the supply and diversity for early stage business, and funding to firms which might not otherwise get investment… it breaks down barriers to finance,” he said.

He says the British Business Bank has already made financial commitments of around £200m to Northern Ireland businesses, throughout a variety of funds and programmes. “[We provided] £14m in start-up loans to 1,600 firms in Northern Ireland and are also investing with Whiterock with its Growth Finance Fund and a range of [other] things.

The fund will include both an equity fund,

“There is a real vibe around the Northern

Ireland economy at the moment,” Mr Taylor said. “I was recently in Derry to meet people, and in Belfast. There are some real sectors of expertise.” He said that included Northern Ireland’s burgeoning cyber-security and the success of organisations such as QUBIS at Queens’ University. “There’s lots to be very proud of in the region,” he said. “We are also investing in another fund coming out shortly. [There has been a] lack of equity investment, it’s particularly something we hope would be addressed by these new funds.” On Brexit and the Windsor Framework, he said: “I would say there’s a sense that it is quite positive. There will be some companies which are seeing negatives, and others seeing positives.” On political stability, he said a working Executive would be a boon and bring added stability. “It’s never ideal if there isn’t stability in government. There is an understanding of stability in status in Northern Ireland in relation to the EU and UK. There is good confidence about some of the sectors in the Northern Ireland economy. “The resilience has been remarkable. Clearly, if you can get the Executive working that’s a positive, and allows [organisations such as] Invest NI to do more.

IN FOCUS

“We have worked with them on this fund and consulted broadly with stakeholders and a local oversight board.” The current fund is designed to last up to five years, but Mr Taylor said it hopes demand and the quality of applicants will mean it gets utilised before then. “The likelihood of another fund is higher,” he said. “Also, we want that halo effect.” He said he hopes other funds will turn their attention to Northern Ireland as a result of British Business Bank’s investments.

Louis Taylor

“[There is an] element of catch up. It is actually happening, and prospects here are looking rather better. “All of this is a circle. We are all very good at talking ourselves down. We are probably better than we say we are.” And on the fund, he said it’s there to assist firms eyeing expansion, further development, or investment. “Companies are looking to expand or looking to expand or commercialise a product they have proven but not yet started to generate big flows of funding,” he said. “The debt side can be for companies doing that but it’s more likely buying equipment, as it should generate revenue over it’s economic life.” And looking at Northern Ireland’s economic and business landscape, Mr Taylor said: “I think the leverage with the universities, and with the business community, there is so much experience and passion. “We need an environment where people are willing to start up new businesses – scaling up businesses and we want more of them, and more start-ups.” ■

DECEMBER 2023

BUSINESS SHOWCASE WITH ULSTER BANK

A personal health journey to help others Dr Pragya Sharma took a personal journey helping her grandmother with her skin condition to Belfast while studying her PhD at Queen’s University before turning her attention to the concept as a viable business to try and help millions across the globe

t’s been a personal journey in product development for biochemist Dr Pragya Sharma.

Dr Pragya Sharma

She’s the founder of Gran Labs – a business which began as a way of helping her own grandmother with her health problems. Dr Sharma first developed her steroid-free formulations in order to help people with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, while studying medicine in India. And then, when studying her PhD in Belfast, she began the first steps in building a concept into a business. “I have just finished my PhD with Queen’s University Belfast in structural biochemistry,” she said. “My business is called Gran Labs. It stems from my own grandmother, who was suffering from psoriasis. “Gran comes from granny, and lab because I’m a biochemist. We are on a mission to help 125 million people worldwide who suffer from skin diseases, especially psoriasis and eczema. “We specialise in steroid-free colour-inclusive formulations to treat the inflation itch around those types of skin conditions.” The business idea came about from her grandmother’s own situation, and also seeing potential demand for such steroid-free treatments. “The idea started back in 2018 when my

grandmother had psoriasis and I was pursuing a degree in medicine back in India. I came to Belfast in 2018 to do my PhD which was in developing a drug for malaria. I specialise in protein biochemistry and carry a lot of transferable skills from my PhD to my business. “When I came here in 2018 I started noticing people with skin diseases and I said ‘do

you want to try my product which worked phenomenally on my granny?’ – and that’s how I started testing my product out on friends and family in Northern Ireland and that led to a proof of concept.” Dr Sharma says she has now trialled the product on some 300 people, with around 60% now symptom free. She was also recently

John Ferris

BUSINESS SHOWCASE WITH ULSTER BANK

alongside Allstate and Sensata Technologies and join in on the evening of celebrations.

Diversity must be high on the business agenda By John Ferris, regional ecosystem manager, Ulster Bank

reating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace should be high on the agenda for responsible business owners.

It’s been a year since Aston University’s Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) launched the Time to Change report in partnership with NatWest. The report set out ten evidence based recommendations for finance, business and policy leaders, with the aim of promoting greater success and inclusion of ethnic minority businesses in finance and business support in the UK.

It’s one thing to strategize and make commitments in this area but being in a packed room, feeding off the energy of so many driven, ambitious businesses really emphasises why this is an important thing to do. Winners on the night were applauded for their business acumen and accomplishments, all of which have been achieved which also showing a commitment to fostering diversity both within their organisations and in the wider community. Individuals were recognised across a number of categories including hospitality, hair and beauty, arts, media and advertising and STEM with further awards for Inspiring Champion and Outstanding Achievement. Among the list of winners were Dr Pragya Sharma, a biochemist who set up a company to treat skin conditions. I was particularly delighted to see Dr Nisha Tandon OBE collect the Outstanding Achievement Award. Nisha’s leadership over the past number of decades has been truly remarkable and Ulster Bank was delighted, through our Regional Board in Northern Ireland to work with Arts Ekta in 2022-23 to fund a programme for ethnic minority founders. As a judge for the awards, alongside Kate Nicholl and an amazing panel of leaders within the Northern Ireland community, I was blown away by both the number and quality of applications.

At Ulster Bank we remain focused on our strategy of support through those ten recommendations. Across three key areas we’re looking at redressing perceived and actual barriers to finance; building long-term trust-based relationships with businesses and fostering local networks of support to boost business growth and survival.

From speaking to fellow sponsors and judges since the awards evening, I know I am not the only one who came away from this event with a renewed sense of responsibility. It is up to institutions and organisations to lead on this work and not shy away from making a genuine difference.

That’s why we were delighted to partner with the Minorities Recognition Awards NI, whose aim is to celebrate the high-performing, diverse and exciting range of businesses that make up the further integration of minority business owners and contribute to the country’s economy.

Our society and local business community is thankfully full of inspirational people such as Diane and her team and indeed all of the award winners who are only too happy to share their insight and expertise so that we keep building on the progress achieved to date and introduce even more meaningful changes.

Last month Diane Wabo and her team held the inaugural Minorities Recognition Awards at the Stormont Hotel in order to honour those companies and business leaders who have made strides in this area We were pleased to come on board as one of the sponsors of the event

awarded an Innovate UK grant to help grow her business. “This is a steroid-free alternative to topical steroids… you may have access to them but they might not really be the best option out in the market as they can lead to topical steroid withdrawal. “I’m offering an alternative so you do not have

DECEMBER 2023

If you’d like to keep up-to-date on diversity in entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland, follow the Inclusive Entrepreneurship NI LinkedIn account.

to put those harsh steroids on your body.” Looking ahead, Dr Sharma says following clinical trials she is now gearing up to begin the manufacture and sale of the products across the UK and Ireland, and beyond. “I’ve had two clinical trials, which means it has been deemed safe to use on human skin, and especially sensitive areas,” she says.

“We are now building towards developing, manufacturing and distribution in the UK and Ireland, and also globally, such as the US and UAE. “The next step is launching and we are aiming for 2024 and are also looking at patents because we want to pioneer in steroid-free alternatives, which is quite a big topic at the moment.” ■

IT & TECHNOLOGY

IT and tech: at the heart of our economic and social progress

Dr Debbie Rankin

lster University has a long and proud educational history and expertise when it comes to the ever-growing IT and computer science sector. And it’s also putting itself ahead of the pack and moving with evolving demands and skills within the sector – offering both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees within the growing specialism of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Dr Debbie Rankin is a lecturer in Computer Science and course director for the MSc Data Science at Ulster University in the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems. She is also a member of the Human Centred Computing research group and has over 30 published works. “My role stands across both teaching and research – I teach at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

The technology and IT sector is an industry which is only on the up, and Ulster University is continuing to grow its range and specialisations in order to meet key market needs and demands, including launching both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in artificial intelligence, according to lecturer Dr Debbie Rankin “I also have a particular interest in machine learning, AI and database systems.” Some of the highest intake courses at the undergraduate level within the faculty include its Computer Science BSc Hons, based at its Derry~Londonderry campus, and its Software Engineering BSc Hons, based in Belfast. “These courses are skilling our graduates with the range, knowledge and skillsets for what they need to go into the computing, and other, sectors,” Dr Rankin says.

“There are a number of key topics which are covered in these courses – software development, computer hardware, networks, cyber-security, robotics, database systems, web technologies and user experience design. There is a vast array which is covered.” At undergraduate level the university offers a range of computing-related courses, such as Computer Science, Computing Systems, Software Engineering, Information Technologies and also an Artificial Intelligence undergraduate degree.

IT & TECHNOLOGY

The SCANi-hub will equip the next generation of graduates and researchers with key skills and knowledge

“The Artificial Intelligence course has really grown in popularity,” Dr Rankin says. “It takes the fundamentals of computer science but blends in that more specialist area of artificial intelligence throughout the programme.” She says that leaves graduates “skilled and ready to go into the workforce” in what is an increasingly important area and skills base in Northern Ireland and beyond. The university also saw the need to introduce postgraduate programmes in both Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, working closely with industry and seeing those burgeoning educational demands. “We take input from them as to what skills are needed,” she says. “Equipping graduates with specialist skills, particularly in AI, is so important. That’s why we developed these courses so graduates can develop these cuttingedge skills ready to work.” Ulster University also offers an MSc in Professional Software Development, which is a conversion course for non-computing graduates to be able to upskill and change their profession or area of expertise. “The demand far outstrips the supply in terms of computing jobs,” Dr Rankin says. “The jobs market is very buoyant in computing and this successful course was developed as a result of feedback from stakeholders in order to meet demand.”

DECEMBER 2023

Ulster University works closely with technology firms right across Northern Ireland, including giants of industry such as Allstate, Liberty IT, Learning Pool and Kainos.

“In terms of Northern Ireland and beyond, the tech sector, computer science and computingrelated graduates, is key to our economy,” she says.

“We work with them in different ways, and collaborate with many companies,” Dr Rankin says.

“The technology sector brings a lot of benefit to individuals, to employers and to the wider community. It’s the future – both here and beyond, and it’s essential that we have more graduates coming out. We need to have a bigger supply and be able to get those graduates out into the current landscape.”

“A lot of the companies would employ our placement students and graduates, so they can see what we are doing well and what skills we are instilling in students.” Dr Rankin says one of Ulster University’s strengths in the field is its level of employability among graduates. “One of our top areas is around our employability, with a very high rate. That’s developed through those very strong relationships with companies and taking on feedback. “At Ulster University we also have an environment which is very special, setting us apart from others. We have a very strong community focus. As well as producing graduates with strong technological skills, it’s about producing well-rounded people.” And looking towards the wider IT and technology sector here in Northern Ireland, Dr Rankin says it is “at the heart of our economic and social progress in our society going forward”.

And she says while there remain a lot of challenges, a raft of opportunities are on the horizon. “While we have challenges with some of the new technologies, such as AI and machine learning – we must make sure to produce graduates who are skilled and very versatile. “We are in a knowledge economy. The world of work is changing and the jobs that are available are changing. “We need to upskill in different jobs and other sectors. Some people fear that it will mean jobs are going to disappear – I would argue that it will bring much better opportunities for the population. “If we can upskill people to take on those opportunities it can help them and the wider society. We need to make use of these technologies for good.” ■

AWARDS

Belfast Telegraph IT Awards showcase best of tech sector

he brightest and best of Northern Ireland’s IT industry have been honoured at the 2023 Belfast Telegraph IT Awards in partnership with Telefónica Tech UK&I. A sold-out crowd attended the awards ceremony, hosted by comedian Neil Delamere at Belfast’s MAC Theatre. IT firm Expleo and Terry Moore, founder of Outsource Group, were among the big winners, taking home Overall IT Company of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to the IT Sector respectively. It is the third year in which Telefónica Tech UK&I has supported the awards as chief sponsor. Winning companies and individuals were announced across 19 categories.

Mark Gorton, chief executive at Telefónica Tech UK&I, said: “A massive congratulations to all the winners in this year’s Belfast Telegraph IT Awards. “The atmosphere in the room on the night was electric and it was an honour to join together

Expleo won the Overall IT Team or Company of the Year 2023

with others in our ever-growing IT industry here in Northern Ireland and celebrate those in the sector. “As technology continues to evolve, so does the extraordinary talent and dedication of our IT community. “These awards are a brilliant reflection of the hard work, dedication and talent of so many across the IT sector. “Telefónica Tech UK & Ireland was very proud to sponsor this year’s awards.” Eoin Brannigan, editor-in-chief of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, said: ‘We have been delighted to hold the 2023 Belfast Telegraph IT Awards in partnership with Telefónica Tech UK&I.

Terry Moore of Outsource Group as he wins the Outstanding Contribution to the IT Sector award presented by Noel Brady

“It’s been a hugely successful, sold-out night, and we’re so grateful to all our sponsors. We also owe big thanks to our nine judges, led by Noel Brady, for their hard work. “Congratulations to all our winners and thank

you for helping us celebrate our growing IT industry.” The judging panel said their decision to give Expleo the award for Overall IT Team or Company of the Year had been unanimous. “The quality of their entries in a number of categories was excellent and it clearly underlined the high performance of their provision of services to their clients. “It was clear to the judges that Expleo was the type of company which deserved to win this category and their experience and culture was clearly demonstrated in their applications. Well done to the Expleo Team,” they said. As they recognised Outsource Group founder Terry Moore for his Outstanding Contribution, the judges said: “He is a stalwart of this industry and has a reputation for being an ambitious and self-motivated individual. “He is someone who epitomises the endeavour and enterprise of Northern Ireland’s indigenous IT sector.” ■

ENERGY

SONI seeks views to shape electricity development plans

ONI, the electricity transmission system operator for Northern Ireland, has launched a consultation on its new development plan.

Rónán Davidson-Kernan, senior engineer and Eimear Watson, head of networks NI at SONI

The Transmission Development Plan outlines SONI’s plans for the strategic development of the electricity transmission network, so that our electricity grid is more resilient and capable of facilitating future increases in demand. The proposals detailed within the Transmission Development Plan outline essential upgrades to the electricity grid in Northern Ireland which will help to improve reliability and strengthen the electricity network. It will help to deliver our climate targets of 80% renewable generation of electricity by 2030, and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Transmission Development Plan outlines SONI’s action plan for the next 10 years, which will be reviewed, updated, and consulted upon every two years. Alan Campbell, managing director of SONI said: “At SONI we are focused on investing in and improving the transmission grid, so that everyone has access to the power they need, when they need it. “The Transmission Development Plan for Northern Ireland (TDPNI), 2023-2032 is our blueprint for preparing the grid for future growth and a cleaner energy future. It outlines the essential projects that we intend to deliver over the next 10 years to support our renewable targets, and to guarantee a secure, reliable electricity supply that is fit for the future. “As we strive to achieve the transition to net zero, we need to ensure the transmission grid has the capacity and flexibility to

DECEMBER 2023

handle greater levels of renewable energy. This is crucial if we are to achieve our climate ambition of at least 80% renewable generation by 2030.” Eimear Watson, head of networks NI at SONI, said: “The plan highlights the areas of opportunity to develop the Northern Ireland power system over the next 10 years to help meet our green energy goals and ensure reliable and affordable energy in the years to come. “Collaboration is key to the process and through this consultation we want to provide everyone with the opportunity to view and submit feedback on our proposals. We encourage you to have your say on the proposals by providing your insights and expertise before the consultation closes on December 22.”

The Transmission Development Plan for Northern Ireland is an ambitious project that involves a £630m capital investment over 10 years. It proposes several upgrades to the electricity network including, modernising parts of the grid in Greater Belfast, upgrading the system in Co Antrim, strengthening the grid in the north west and mid Tyrone areas and bolstering interconnection with GB and ROI by increasing capacity of the Moyle Interconnector and constructing a new NorthSouth Interconnector. Collaboration is a critical part of the process, and SONI is keen to gain feedback and insights from local businesses and communities on the proposals set out in the plan. ■ To make a submission, visit consult.soni.ltd. uk. The consultation will remain open until December 22, 2023.

TOURISM ROUNDTABLE

Working in tourism and hospitality: tackling the challenges and developing a life-long career While the pandemic played its part in exacerbating the recruitment challenges facing the tourism and hospitality industry, it also shone a light on how it can improve. Tourism NI brought together experts from across the sector as part of its Make it Here campaign to look at what’s being done to improve career paths, encourage people in other professions to consider careers in tourism and hospitality and convince them to make the move People are at the core of the tourism and hospitality sector – what’s being done to improve the landscape when it comes to recruitment and retention of staff?

research and spoke to more than 1,000 people – employers, the general public, students and importantly past employees who have left the sector.

Eimear Callaghan: The perception of the industry was really damaged by Covid-19 and it was seen as very unstable – tourism and hospitality was one of the first sectors to close and then one of the last to reopen. So there was a clear ask from our industry, that they needed help finding the right people. They wanted to return to business and needed people to facilitate that.

The general public value five key things for a successful career and it was perceived that none of them were present in hospitality. That included job security, being valued and respected by the employer, being able to take days off, working for more than the minimum wage, and having opportunities for promotion.

With our Make it Here Campaign we wanted to get to the heart of the issue – looking at the challenges. We conducted in depth market

We needed to reframe how people thought about working in the industry by dialling up the great benefits and working with tourism and hospitality employers to ensure that the experience of working in the sector was a Caroline McComb and Laura McCorry

GUESTS John Mulgrew, editor, Ulster Business Eimear Callaghan, head of experience and industry development, Tourism NI Robert Rees, group head of people and culture, Hastings Hotels Eddie McKeever, managing director, McKeever Hotel Group Eimear Kearney, associate commercial director, Titanic Belfast Caroline McComb, director, McComb’s Coach Travel Laura McCorry, head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Alastair Walker, operations manager, Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Clem Athanasiou, director, Department for the Economy

fair one, with employee wellbeing at the very centre. The first phase in March was very successful, with 30,000 people visiting our dedicated micro site. Some 11,000 of those went on to look at job vacancies, illustrating that there is significant interest out there. Working with industry partners to capitalise on that is our focus. What’s your current experience with staffing within your organisation? Robert Rees: What we have done really well is speak to the team to understand what

TOURISM ROUNDTABLE

The Tourism NI roundtable to discuss the future of the hospitality and tourism sector and its workforce here

they really want. We have so many beneﬁts available to our team. But what we haven’t done is look at how much beneﬁt they have brought to our team.

Robert Rees and Eddie McKeever

One of the big challenges at this time of year is bringing in the team that we need and getting them up to speed. We need to innovate how we advertise and attract the talent so we can continue to do what we love, which is providing our famous Irish hospitality, with style and excellence. For example, we put a food and beverage assistant ad on LinkedIn and on our website, but is a 21-year-old student looking at LinkedIn? Eddie McKeever: After Covid we were lucky we came back with 95% of our team and did a lot of work on online training platforms and used it as a communication tool as well. The challenge then started post-Covid when there was a shortage in the industry… we had to look at it from the retention element. We’ve made a pathway through for training, from entry-level right through to general manager. We make everyone aware of that. If people start with our company they go through to NVQ level two and also complete training. They can then go through to different levels. Eimear Kearney: We recruit at different times of the year between the visitor attraction peak in high season and conference and banqueting later in the year, so that creates different

DECEMBER 2023

challenges for recruitment and retention. People are at the heart of what we do – they provide the consistency of experience and service we are known for at Titanic Belfast, so it’s been a key focus for us to build the expertise of our new crew, strengthening the teams we have and ensuring we retain the skills and knowledge of existing staff. Eimear Callaghan: It’s an open and accessible industry to get into. Seven out of 10 tourism jobs are outside of Belfast so the sector presents great opportunity to create jobs across various areas of Northern Ireland. Laura McCorry: Hillsborough Castle only opened as a visitor attraction in 2019… and then, Covid closed us within one year,

almost forever. We had to restructure the business and sadly let 50% of the workforce go. When we reopened again, the insecurity people felt about their future was not to be underestimated. On reopening, I asked myself the question ‘what is the most important thing to focus on now?’ and that was our people. So that is what we have focused on. Alastair Walker: Reputation is critical and at Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, we look towards the educational sector – schools, universities and colleges, because a lot of our staff are students. We took a big hit and lost half of our core team and all of our seasonal staff in Covid. When we came back, we had >

TOURISM ROUNDTABLE

no seasonal experience in our teams. In terms of retention, it’s good for our key roles. We have the organisational brand values and the pay – everyone is paid a living wage, regardless of age. What do you think the big challenges are right now? Eddie McKeever: There are still a lot of part time workers and many of the qualified roles are hard to get, such as chefs, which can be quite frustrating. Eimear Kearney: One of the biggest challenges we are still dealing with is the accelerated regrowth of the industry after Covid. There were points when we had more new staff than established existing staff – many of whom were younger and lacked some skills of those normally entering the workforce as they weren’t developed during the pandemic. Caroline McComb: We retained almost all of our staff during Covid, and only lost three drivers through the whole two-year period. But they seem to be the roles which we have struggled the most with. When people come for an interview, it’s nearly like we’re being interviewed rather than us interviewing the potential staff. Laura McCorry: It’s a candidate-led market and it’s not enough to just say ‘we’re offering this salary and benefits’… it’s about being

Laura McCorry, Alastair Walker and Clem Athanasiou

genuinely people focused and thinking about ways staff can feel at their best when at work. Alastair Walker: The biggest difficulties we have are within food and beverage. Recruitment is the biggest challenge. Before Covid one advert would have attracted 100 applications. Post Covid, perhaps we would have received six! So we had to go out time and time again to build the teams up. Clem Athanasiou: It’s interesting to see how similar experiences are compared with other sectors which I speak with. During Covid, we were terrified as to how we were going to maintain pathways and opportunities for young people who needed them… coming back from Covid, the concern has flipped. Employers are really struggling to get sufficient workers and are finding it difficult to compete. They are all asking ‘how can we be as good an employer as we can?’. There is a shortage of young people. This is a big problem and we need to look at different solutions.

What can be done to attract more people to the industry and see it as a viable career option? Robert Rees: I really think it’s about perception. It’s the conversation around the dinner table with your parents. Hospitality isn’t necessarily seen as a career choice the way engineering or manufacturing is. We need to change that, by highlighting the careers and achievements of our amazing people. For example, the general manager of the Europa started 25 years ago, did his qualifications with the group and worked his way up. Our industry is full of opportunities for determined and passionate people to thrive. Eimear Callaghan: One of our target markets for this campaign is career switchers – bringing your skills in accountancy or marketing, for example, to help promote Northern Ireland to the world. There’s also that flexibility [and buzz] in the industry. Caroline McComb: It’s about being honest and realistic with people. If people want a Monday to Friday, 9-5 job, then tourism and hospitality probably isn’t for them. But if you can find a role in tourism and hospitality which you love, you will love it. I left school at 17 and have worked in tourism since and I would not change it for the world.

Eimear Kearney

Clem Athanasiou: For some people it may be a job and for others it’s somewhere they are valued… [it’s showcasing] that it’s a long-term and sustainable career. There’s an inclusion element [because many roles don’t require qualifications], there’s a career progression pathway for people who are very ambitious and there’s also developing those wider skills which are important for every sector.

John Mulgrew and Eimear Callaghan

TOURISM ROUNDTABLE

Alastair Walker

Eimear Kearney: We have people from completely different industries working for us and a multi-generational workforce. It can’t be underestimated what this can bring to the team. For young people coming in fresh to have people around them with life experience really works. We also work on partnerships with the schools, colleges and universities to nurture and develop pipelines of new talent. Laura McCorry: It’s not just about the career path. We need to be talking about the sector from a skills development perspective – the teamwork, problem solving, leadership, presentation, and communications skills. It’s as much about the skills you develop whilst working in the sector that benefit you for life. We should make more of the fact that so many people who are influential or leading businesses spent their formative years in tourism and hospitality and it was a stepping stone for them. Eddie McKeever: One of the big advantages is it is now very flexible. Our people can change between days and nights. With shifts, eight to 10 hours is the maximum. And I agree, it’s about sharing the success stories which are out there. Eimear Callaghan: The tourism and hospitality sector offers a foundation for the wider economy – whether it specialises in cyber-security or fintech, first and foremost investors look to the place so it’s important it is appealing with plenty to do and see. What are you doing to help attract staff and retain them? Eddie McKeever: The solution is bringing in [young staff] and offering training but also getting managers to build into the culture. [We have] a KPI for managers, that their staff turnover can’t exceed a certain amount, to encourage that.

DECEMBER 2023

Eimear Kearney: There are a number of different things that we are doing which I don’t think are unique to us such as robust benefit packages and development opportunities. But developing our culture is the main thing we focus on. We see that paying dividends. Laura McCorry: We ask how do we make people be at their best and feel at their best when they’re here? Yes, we looked at our benefits package and how competitive we were in terms of the national living wage… but the game changer was sitting down with staff and having the conversation about what it feels like to work here. We are now massively investing in training and people development. Alastair Walker: For us it’s getting into the communities and schools before they make a choice for university. We had a schools takeover day so they could get a sense of who we are. We employed two or three from that directly. So for us it’s getting in before [university] and giving people a flavour of the industry and dispelling some of the myths. Rob Rees: It’s still something that the people and culture team at Hastings work on every day. In a nutshell, we aim to provide an employee experience which is as five stars as our guest experience, where our team are valued, trained and can thrive. For some that will be career growth by securing a place on our development courses and for others it’s about being recognised for excellence. What does the future hold for the industry? Caroline McComb: I think the general public can see that it’s an industry which is not going

away and it’s encouraging for people looking at tourism as a career that the security is there. Personally, I think the sky is the limit. Tourism is very much in its infancy here. Eimear Kearney: I can see it becoming much more integrated into our economy… tourism can become more integrated into what we do collaboratively. Laura McCorry: I see responsible tourism as a real powerhouse that can boost the economy, connect communities, and has the potential to help people get a really broad understanding of the diverse world we live in. A priority for us will be our diversity, inclusion, and access agenda – we want to be a charity for everyone and that requires us to reach all parts of society in Northern Ireland, working to address any barriers that might get in the way. Eddie McKeever: The potential is there and there is still massive room to grow. I think we have massive opportunities… we have a lot to shout about, it’s just about how we package that together. Alastair Walker: It’s only going to go one way, and that’s up. But we have to do it responsibly and sustainably, and that’s very important – being very mindful of the impact on the local community. Eimear Callaghan: It’s about building growth and growth in value, rather than just visitor numbers. It’s also about developing visitor experiences which slow down the visitor. Key to this is having great people who can deliver that amazing experience to our visitors and make Northern Ireland memorable. ■

NET ZERO & GOING GREEN

Translink energy savings lead the charge to keep NI better connected From sustainable fleet to facilities, Translink is making huge strides in cutting carbon emissions and ensuring it’s well-prepared for a cleaner and greener public transport network

ith climate change recognised as the most pressing environmental challenge of our time and one that demands a step-change in how we live and work, the business is leading a transport transformation in Northern Ireland. Ambitious climate action targets have been set by NI’s public transport operator – to achieve at least 50% reduction in current emissions by 2030, for all Translink buses, trains and buildings to reach net zero emissions by 2040 and to become ‘climate positive’ by 2050, removing additional harmful carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the air. Both the company’s Property Carbon Reduction Programme and Fleet Renewal Strategy clearly demonstrate its commitment to deliver energy savings. Their successful delivery, in conjunction with mass modal shift to public transport and active travel, have a vital role to play in the transition to a more inclusive, climate resilient society. Zero emission technology Perhaps one of the most obvious signs of Translink’s progress in this area, is the continued roll out of new zero emissions vehicles. Translink currently operates the fourth largest zero emission bus fleet in the UK and Ireland with a mix of battery electric and hydrogen powered buses in operation. There are over 140 zero emission buses in service with an order in place for an additional 100 for 2024. Last year alone its Metro buses in Belfast completed over 1.5 million miles of emissionsfree travel, removing 1,635 tonnes of CO2

More Translink customers are enjoying emissions-free bus journeys

from the atmosphere and delivering over five million emissions-free bus passenger journeys, cutting congestion on local roads while reducing noise and air pollution across the city. In September this year, completion of a bus renewal project for Foyle Metro services saw Derry~Londonderry become one of the first cities in the UK & Ireland to operate a fully zero emission urban bus service. The 38-bus electric fleet features a mix of single and double deck battery electric vehicles. Buses are recharged at Translink’s Pennyburn Engineering Facility, where 22 double electric vehicle chargers have been installed. This modern infrastructure allows 44 buses to be charged sequentially overnight, with futureproofing for an additional 19 bus charging stations. Over 200 bus operational and engineering staff were also trained, ensuring the skills and expertise to deliver a safe, reliable

and comfortable zero emission service. Elsewhere, four new zero emission minibuses are now in operation on Coleraine town services – the first battery electric vehicles to enter passenger service on the Translink Ulsterbus network. This milestone followed the successful introduction of two new Translink zero emission buses on the Giant’s Causeway visitor shuttle service to the famous stone formations. Translink’s new zero emission buses offer a variety of attractive features including high specification e-leather seats, USB charging, wi-fi, CCTV, dedicated wheelchair space and an audio-visual passenger information system showing passengers ‘next stop’ details. The relative silence of these new vehicles allows for effective use of an acoustic vehicle alerting system for increased safety when travelling at lower speeds.

NET ZERO & GOING GREEN

One of Translink Metro’s battery electric vehicles

PV arrays have been installed on Translink facilities providing energy and cost savings

Through energy models, installation of both air and ground source heat pumps as an alternative to oil and natural gas boilers, there’s been circa 52% reduction in KWh and around 46% reduction in tCO2e a year.

Translink showcases its new Foyle Metro zero emission buses at Guildhall Square

Carbon-cutting facilities When it comes to facilities, Translink is committed to delivering LZC (Low Zero Carbon) technologies in new buildings and refurbishment projects. Carbon reduction is being achieved through a range of measures with particular focus on lighting, mechanical installations monitoring/control and renewable systems. The business utilises 100% green renewable electricity and following an LED replacement programme at rail halts has achieved a 44% reduction in carbon emissions over the last year. Ongoing installation of building management system controls across more than 50 sites

DECEMBER 2023

on Translink’s estate has also significantly aided energy efficiency by allowing lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation systems to switch on and off automatically when not required. Through the ongoing estate wide submetering projects, significant water savings have already been achieved and are expected to accomplish further electricity and natural gas reductions in the future. On the renewable technology side, installation of PV arrays provide energy cost savings including additional reductions through oil to gas conversions, while the company also strives to deliver low carbon solutions in any new build construction project.

Investing in our future Climate Action is one of four core objectives in Translink’s ‘Better. Connected’ corporate strategy, as the business fulfils its duty to act decisively and innovatively to reduce carbon emissions and lead the transformation of transport in Northern Ireland. Sustained investment in zero emission fleet, technology and facilities remain crucial not only to achieve the environmental targets set out in the NI Climate Change Act but also to support NI’s overall economic and social prosperity, acting as a catalyst to attract more people on board public transport for a better connected future. ■

CHARITY

The power of partnerships: making an impact beyond the festive season As the year comes to a close, Jim Dennison, chief executive of Simon Community, Northern Ireland’s leading homelessness charity, reflects on the vital support received from local businesses

Jim Dennison

ore than 26,000 individuals and families across Northern Ireland are currently classified as homeless and this number is rising. The relentless pressure of rising costs of living means an ever-increasing number of individuals and families find themselves on the brink of homelessness. “We are facing a homelessness emergency across Northern Ireland that continues to escalate, further compounded by economic uncertainties and ongoing societal changes,” Jim Dennison, chief executive of Simon Community, says.

“The support of the business community is critical to our ability to respond to this growing need and achieve our mission to end homelessness across the region. “Thanks to the continued support of our corporate partners, Simon Community is able to provide 464 warm beds in our temporary accommodation sites every single night, making a daily impact on the lives of thousands of people every year. Our community-led homelessness solutions and support services is only made possible by this committed network of supporters.” But how do local businesses make a difference?

“Our corporate partners are essential,” Jim says. “Not only do they raise vital funds, but their staff volunteering support, skills sharing and awareness raising activities mean we are able to continue to provide effective solutions to ending homelessness. “This includes our groundbreaking Creating Homes initiative through which we are directly tackling the lack of social housing in NI by purchasing and managing our own portfolio of homes.

“In an industry synonymous with luxury and comfort, we understand the importance of extending our reach to those affected by homelessness in our locality.” Jim says: “This festive season, as temperatures drop, Simon Community is focused on reaching as many people as we can who do not have a place to call home this Christmas. “Thanks to the support of our partners, we can do this and much more.” ■

“These homes are providing an affordable option to people who are ready to move on from temporary accommodation, ending their cycle of homelessness.” Colin Johnston, managing director of Galgorm Collection, says: “At Galgorm Collection, we have made it our mission to create a positive impact within our local community. For the past 12 years, we have proudly partnered with Simon Community NI, whose dedication to addressing homelessness in Northern Ireland is invaluable.

Simon Community operates a free 24/7 telephone support service. If you or someone you know is concerned about homelessness, please call 0800 171 2222. For more information about Simon Community’s work and how to get involved, please visit www.simoncommunity.org

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HOUSE PRICES

House prices in Northern Ireland rise… but some areas suffer big falls

ouse prices have risen 2.4% in the last three months but there are now fewer listings and buyer enquiries as mortgage approval rates slow here.

The average price of a property here now sits at £205,545. That’s up 2.4% from quarter two to quarter three, and an increase of 4.7% year-on-year. The latest Ulster University house price survey however says “there are signals of weakening demand however with noticeable reductions in new listings and buyer enquires as consumer conﬁdence wanes and potential buyers hit the pause button to see where interests go over the next few quarters”. It says mortgage approval rates were down 30% in September. “Market evidence does nonetheless indicate that lenders believe that interest rates may have peaked with a number of providers repricing mortgage deals more cheaply,” lead researcher Dr Michael McCord, Ulster University, said. “The belief that the turbid market setting may be settling is very much dependent on announcements relating to upcoming inﬂation statistics, whether the Bank of England

maintain current interest rates, and if the UK enters into a recession. “In such a dynamic market setting, the tables could turn at any moment, especially with the ongoing conﬂict in the Ukraine and the conﬂict between Israel and Hamas.”

dynamics of the local housing market again remained relatively steady during the third quarter of the year,” Ursula McAnulty, head of research at NI Housing Executive, said.

Some eight out of the 11 councils saw prices rising, but others saw the average cost of a home falling.

“Prices have been more or less stable for around two years in spite of the wider economic context and higher borrowing costs, and this suggests ongoing demand. However, there is a growing sense of pressure and structural difﬁculty in the local housing system as households struggle to ﬁnd and sustain suitable, affordable accommodation, irrespective of tenure.”

Lisburn and Castlereagh saw the largest rise of 6.2%, followed by Mid Ulster on 3.4%. However, there were substantial falls elsewhere. Prices dropped 12.1% in Fermanagh and Omagh, 12% in Causeway Coast and Glens and 11.8% in Derry and Strabane.

Michael Boyd, chief executive, Progressive Building Society said: “The NI housing market posted a relatively positive performance in the third quarter of 2023, eking out marginal gains despite still-high interest rates and concerns of wider economic malaise.

Quarter-to-quarter, apartments were the only type of property to suffer a fall overall – dropping by 0.4%.

“The tight supply picture is undoubtedly providing underlying support and looks likely to continuing doing so in the near future, as is the recent pause in interest rate hikes by the Bank of England. However, headwinds persist in the form of worries that further interest rate rises may be on the horizon and signs the wider economy may be weakening. The future direction for the market will be dependent on these competing factors.” ■

But there’s disparity across Northern Ireland as to where prices are rising.

The detached sector witnessed positive quarterly price change of 3.1% and the average price now stands at £299,400. “As 2023 draws to a close, the evidence presented in this report suggests that the

ECONOMY

PwC regional market leader Cat McCusker

By Margaret Canning

orthern Ireland’s economy is expected to grow by around 0.6% in 2023, a rate second only to London across UK regions, according to a report.

The UK economic outlook from business advisors PwC said Northern Ireland was benefiting from “greater certainty provided by the Windsor Framework and strong growth in the public sector”. And it predicted that the UK economy as a whole was likely to avoid recession and expand by 0.5% this year, and is likely to avoid recession. But growth was expected to remain subdued across other regions, with the Midlands and Scotland lagging due to their high exposure to manufacturing and high energy prices. Scotland is predicted to have growth of 0.3%, while the East Midlands and West Midlands are tipped to have growth of 0.3% and 0.2% respectively. PwC said that the regions were also being hit by their exposure to changes to the UK’s trading with the EU following Brexit.

DECEMBER 2023

Windsor Framework ‘helps NI to stronger than average economic growth’ However, London was expected to enjoy strong performance in consumer-facing sectors. Cat McCusker, regional market leader at PwC Northern Ireland, said: “While the NI economy is growing at a faster rate than most of the rest of the UK, there is more to do to drive long-term economic growth. “Our economy is currently experiencing a counterbalance of both positive and negative factors. The positive improvements seen in the easing of the global supply chain pressures and household energy bills is offset by stubborn inflation levels, rate rises, and industrial action in key sectors, which are weighing on economic activity. “There is value in driving investment in the longer-term levers for economic growth here, including stimulating inward investment and accelerating support for skills and education.” Inflation is expected to end the year at around 4.6%, higher than predicted in PwC’s April forecast of 3.5%. However, it’s well below the UK Government’s target of 5.4% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

But there would not be a steady decline next year with natural gas prices tipped to rise due to instability in the Middle East, triggering household energy price rises. PwC said that a full return to a 2% inflation target is unlikely until 2025. And it said that recent falls in inflation had been driven “almost exclusively by lower energy inflation”. “Services inflation is likely to drop down to around 6% by end of year, albeit only gradually as wage growth continues to remain above historic norms.” Greg Boyd, economist at PwC Northern Ireland, said: “Ever since economies have reopened following the pandemic, inflation has been front of mind for every single business leader and policymaker. “As we approach 2024, there are some encouraging signs that it is finally subsiding. By the end of this year, we expect inflation to be less than half the 11% peak recorded last year, with No 10 meeting its target to halve inflation.” ■

NEWS

Three coffee shops in Belfast to close ‘with rising costs to blame’ By Margaret Canning

hree coffee shops in south Belfast are up for rent as pressures on spending continue, with Starbucks the latest to shut down. The global coffee giant is shutting its Botanic Avenue store in December, while the owners of two independents on Ormeau Road and Lisburn Road have surrendered their keys.

A 68 sq m unit on 489 Lisburn Road, which used to house Gaga Coffee, has an annual rent of £14,500 and rates of £7,000. A former District cafe on 300 Ormeau Road in BT7 is 65 sq m and has annual rent of £16,000 and rates of £4,428. But the ex-Starbucks, which measures 193 sq m on two floors, costs £55,000 a year with rates of £12,500. It is nearly three times the size of the Lisburn Road premises, but with rent close to four times higher. Commercial property agents McKibbin is marketing the Ormeau Road and Botanic Avenue spots. Surveyor Scott Lawther said the market was still strong for coffee shop lettings. “I don’t think it’s that unusual that there’s a few coffee

shops on the market at the same time,” he said. “But yes, there is a different market out there now, though people are still spending. “District has just been on the market for one day and we have four viewings tomorrow, including some bigger names. “So that’s a substantial amount of interest, and I would say all three will be let in the first quarter of 2024.” He said Starbucks is due to vacate Botanic Avenue in December. Gary McIldowney said he had been “optimising operations” since he bought three District cafes last year. One is still trading on Lisburn Road, while another was renamed Market. His company Follow Leisure owns Slim’s Healthy Kitchen and other outlets. “District Ormeau Road ceased operations six months ago as part of our focus on optimising operations,” he said.

“The latter, in particular, has demonstrated robust trade, underscoring the appeal of Follow Leisure’s innovative concepts and menu offerings.” Mr McIldowney said Lisburn Road District had been given a major refurb which had been well received by customers. He said: “We aim to introduce a new model of District cafes to the market in 2024.” Many coffee shops have had to reinvent themselves as high inflation has put pressure on discretionary spending by consumers. The latest inflation rate is to be announced on Wednesday, and while a decrease on September’s 6.7% is expected, the main Consumer Price Index (CPI) is tipped to be up 5%. Other business costs like energy, food prices and wages have also been going up. Orla Smyth, the owner of Kaffe O, said the rent of £55,000 on Botanic Avenue was excessive for Belfast.

“The staff members at District Ormeau Road were redeployed to other locations within the Follow Leisure Group.”

“You’d have to make sure you’re doing a lot of turnover if that’s the kind of rent and rates you’re paying.” She said her own business of six units was trading “very robustly”.

But he said the wider business continues to thrive at Canteen on Ormeau Road, Market on Saintfield Road and Output on Lisburn Road.

“But to put it into perspective, this is our 10th year, and it would be a very different story if you were starting out in this kind of market and trying to get established.” ■

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Building an AI dream in Northern Ireland DECEMBER 2023

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Pavel Barter speaks to Thomas McKenna, chief executive of Ocula Technologies, about its plans to transform e-commerce through AI with a new development centre and £11m investment in R&D

s a global software business, Ocula Technologies could have based itself in London or New York or anywhere. Instead the artificial intelligence (AI) company opted to make Northern Ireland its home. News that Ocula is bringing a software development centre, alongside an £11m investment in research & development (R&D), to NI is another arrow in the quiver for the fast growing IT industry here: a new addition to an already established consortium of global leaders and innovative start ups. “We want to create the de facto intelligence platform for e-commerce brands globally,” Thomas McKenna, chief executive of Ocula Technologies, says. “Northern Ireland’s tech talent and industry support, he believes, will be instrumental in achieving that ambition.”

Before setting up Ocula, Thomas and his cofounder Dr Gregory Fletcher had developed AI capabilities for some of the world’s largest retail and consumer packed goods (CPG) companies – including Tesco, Target, and Alibaba. They worked out how to make datadriven decisions for these businesses in areas like pricing, stock optimisation, and customer experience. But the work illustrated to them how the business world consists “of haves and have nots” when it comes to AI-driven e-commerce.

Thomas McKenna

Thomas says: “Only a few businesses that can afford huge data science teams can invest in this space. They were pulling further and further ahead, growing and dominating the market.” So Thomas and Gregory set out to democratise AI in e-commerce. “We decided to build a platform that levels the playing field.” They founded Ocula in early 2021 and initially secured a £5m in investment from Lloyds and Castelnau Group, a London-based private equity company with connections to Northern Ireland. The availability of talent was a major incentive in locating the business in NI. “There is a huge amount of tech talent here,

partly because of the amount of foreign direct investment. It punches well above its weight for scientists and engineers. We need some of that talent over the months and years ahead and we can train our own.” Invest NI played an important role in the company’s trajectory and the founder describes the organisation’s support and network as “unmatched.” Northern Ireland, he says, “cares when you’re smaller, but we’re finding it has this huge network, particularly in North America, where it can connect you with clients, investors and the right people on the ground. I genuinely can’t speak more highly about Invest Northern Ireland. They have been fantastic.”

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Thomas McKenna pictured with some of the Ocula Technologies team

Boots and AO are among those who have adapted Ocula technology for their online e-commerce. What’s the science? Ocula Boost uses artificial intelligence to scan images, text, and ratings reviews on e-commerce websites. “A manual, human e-commerce team will try to work out where we need to improve the site,” Thomas says. “‘Could we have better images? Could we have better descriptions?’ Ocula does that for you. The AI compares the site with best-in-class and competitors. It identifies the problems and then auto generates the solutions: the perfect product title, product description.” Ocula AI transformed the fortunes of Hornby Hobbies, an iconic century-old toy brand known for its model railway kits. Hornby traditionally “only sold through third parties: Toys R Us, local toy shops, and so on,” Thomas says. “With the growth of e-commerce, they wanted to sell direct to customers so they started their website.” But this was a new area of expertise for the business who now faced the challenge of matching the capabilities of online platforms such as Amazon or Argos.

DECEMBER 2023

Ocula analysed the customer experience on Hornby’s website, “making sure the product pages, the page load speed, the accessibility of the site, is as good as it can be”. The AI also explored consumer intelligence: “We helped Hornby know their customers, so they could serve up relevant, personalised recommendations.” According to Michael Manton, e-commerce director at Hornby, the tech allows the business to “cut through the deafening noise of analytics and data,” and identify actions that improve conversion rates “by at least 5%”.

There is a huge amount of tech talent here, partly because of the amount of foreign direct investment. It punches well above its weight for scientists and engineers.

Kansas City Chiefs, an American football team, was another unlikely client. The Missouri-based team had been making manual decisions, based on limited data sets, for ticket pricing. The result was underwhelming box office. Ocula’s AI “analysed the demand in every part of the stadium,” Thomas says. “‘Who’s the opposition? What’s the current form of the team?’ We can then make decisions about the perfect price point for each area of the stadium for each game.” This was not about price gouging, stresses Thomas. “What we often find is [the sports team] increases attendance by lowering prices. So this is about working out the perfect amount of revenue we can make for a game, but also making sure the stadium’s full. ”The AI allowed the team to dig into every iota of data – from weather to the time of year – in setting ticket prices. “Even player injuries impact the pricing of seating in certain areas of the stadium,” Thomas says. The result, according to Kansas City Chiefs, has been a 15% increase on revenue. >

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Dr Gregory Fletcher, chief technology officer, Ocula Technologies, Anne Beggs, director of trade and investment, Invest NI with Ocula Technologies’ Thomas McKenna, chief executive, and Fustina Donaghy

Ocula’s R&D investment in Northern Ireland will focus on generative AI: auto generated images and (in the future) videos to assist a business’s e-commerce. Thomas says: “Let’s say, for example, we’re working with a fashion brand and they need model shots because that helps sell products and brings the business to life. They are expensive to shoot. We can auto generate the perfect fashion model shots. We are planning a huge AI roadmap of things that aren’t yet available on the market that would benefit an e-commerce team.” R&D is a key component of the Department for the Economy’s 10X Vision which set out ambitions across innovation, growth and sustainability for the next decade. “Ocula is testament to how R&D can enable the development of game changing products, which can drive competitiveness in the global

marketplace,” Anne Beggs, director of trade and investment, Invest NI, says. The AI firm plans to increase its staff from 10 to around 50 within three years with a core team consisting of data engineers and data scientists. Are they looking for graduates or experienced technicians? “Both,” Thomas says. “We want to grow and to give back to the tech community. A significant portion of that growth will come from graduates or people one to two years in their career who want to work on cutting edge AI and get training from Ocula.” The business found their home amid a new tech cluster at Belfast’s Clockwise office, which spans six floors in a building in the Cathedral Quarter. Their neighbours consist of other creative businesses. “Every other business in Clockwise is on a similar stage of

journey to what we’re doing, so we have a community and a connection. Having that type of infrastructure, even in terms of a place of work in Belfast, is beneficial. Start ups breed start ups. People get the bug – they see it’s possible.” Northern Ireland’s cacophony of mobile data networks, AI and data analytics companies, cyber-security, fintech, IT and cloud services, has made Ocula feel at home. They can thrive without becoming overwhelmed. “The diversity and size of London means you can get lost and that loss can result in lost opportunities,” Thomas says. “We don’t have that in Northern Ireland. It’s small enough to be hungry. There is support. There is infrastructure. You can build a unicorn here.” ■

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Dr Aislinn Rice from Analytics Engines and Gareth Kelly from EY launch Big Data Belfast 2023

Tech firms ‘must invest in developing skills’ to benefit from rise in AI

ech firms in Northern Ireland should invest in developing skills in order to benefits from the rise of artificial intelligence, it’s been claimed.

Big Data Belfast, presented by Analytics Engines and supported by headline sponsor EY, took place at the ICC Belfast, bringing together more than 700 delegates from the Northern Ireland technology sector. The conference provided expert insights into the world of data, with a variety of speakers and panel sessions across a range of hot topics including AI, Generative AI, ChatGPT, Net Zero, ESG, Media and more. The Global Generative AI market is expected to be worth over $110bn by 2030 and the conference heard about its potential to solve problems and simplify tasks that previously would have had to be done manually. “With a thriving technology ecosystem full

DECEMBER 2023

of innovative companies, it’s no surprise that Northern Ireland is being referred to as a ‘testing centre’ for artificial intelligence in the UK,” Analytics Engines’ managing director, Dr Aislinn Rice, said. “The speed and sophistication of AI solutions being created on this island is breathtaking, and this new technology creates a big opportunity for the region. “Analytics Engines has been developing and implementing AI solutions for many years but in 2022, I don’t think many of us were talking about large language models, generative AI or ChatGPT. “There has been a significant step change in the capabilities of LLMs in the past year and we have been deeply immersed in the new ecosystem of tools and techniques. We envision a future where AI serves as an invaluable ally, assisting businesses in extracting meaningful patterns, trends, and correlations from datasets.”

Gareth Kelly, partner, data and analytics EY Northern Ireland, said: “There’s no doubt that Generative AI represents a huge opportunity for many different segments of the business world. We are delighted to support Big Data Belfast as it provides a platform to hear from a range of expert speakers and panellists to share their experiences of developing and deploying AI. “Many companies in Northern Ireland are developing clever uses of AI and it is incumbent on all of us to take the time to assess and analyse the implications of the latest advances to ensure that we can make the most of the opportunities created.” Speakers at Big Data Belfast also included citizen astronaut candidate Dr Norah Patten, Catherine Doyle, of Dell Technologies in Ireland, Justin Edwards from Minecraft Education, Sebastián Lancestremère, Microsoft, and Tarek Madany Mamlouk from Axel Springer. ■

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Allstate: marking 25 years in Northern Ireland Insurance giant Allstate has been at heart of Northern Ireland’s economy and a key part of our technology boom here. Stephen McKeown, vice president and managing director of Allstate NI, looks at the business’s history and expertise here Allstate has been present in Northern Ireland for 25 years. How has the organisation changed in this time and what have been the highlights? This year marks a significant milestone for Allstate NI – the celebration of our 25th anniversary. As we reflect on our past achievements, we are inspired to reach even greater heights in the years to come. Allstate is a US based insurance company, and like many industries, it is one that is changing rapidly with new customer expectations and opportunities. Allstate introduced its Transformative Growth plan to respond and lead on these changes. Transformative Growth is about building the Allstate of the future. This plan is creating differentiated product offerings and customer experiences, while broadening consumer access at lower cost. Technology is at the core of all of this and Allstate NI are playing a key role in the transformation, in its role as a digital centre of excellence. The technology that we build allows Allstate to serve its customers faster and more costeffectively with better products. Traditional insurance has changed in the digital world, anticipating and responding to customer events across multiple areas of their lives, giving customers what they need, when they need it and through the channel of their choice. Our world class talent in Northern Ireland is building products for tens of millions of

customers in the new digital world. This technology has created opportunities for us to engage more closely with our customers. Allstate NI likes to give back to the communities it operates in. The Allstate Foundation Helping Hands Programmes, enables our employees to contribute to the causes they care about. This has allowed us to work with charities like Women’s Aid, who are tackling challenging issues like domestic abuse and make a meaningful impact. Additionally, our community-focused programs, such as Cyber Safety for Parents, exemplify our dedication to making a positive impact on the next generation and the wider community. What about the last 12 months? The future at Allstate is all about building an integrated digital enterprise. So, we’re using data, technology, analytics, and – more importantly – redesigning our processes and how we work to improve the effectiveness and efficiency with which we help our customers. The application of new technologies like digital services and artificial intelligence changes virtually every customer interaction, so we’re focused on ensuring our workforce are well place to lead on that change, through a culture of continuous skills development across the company. What does 2024 have in store for Allstate, in Northern Ireland and globally? Allstate stands tall as one of America’s most innovative companies. At Allstate NI, we have embraced this ethos with unwavering

determination. Our journey is not just about shifting to a digital mindset; it’s about transforming our entire approach to problem-solving. We’ve moved from asking, “What is the answer?” to asking, “What if that was true?” This shift in perspective has opened doors to endless possibilities and groundbreaking solutions. But innovation is not just about technology; it’s about people. We believe in empowering our workforce through career development opportunities and investment in skills. What do you see as the main challenges facing technology businesses heading into 2024, and how is Allstate working to overcome them? At Allstate, our purpose is to help people. We do that by protecting customers from life’s uncertainties, when they need it most. Technology will play a huge part in this, as technology capabilities expand our people will need to expand their skill sets. New technology will emerge, and old technology will sunset, Allstate NI are in a great position as we lead the field in ensuring our talent has the right skills to be ahead of the curve. Are there any new areas of business or specialisms which Allstate is/will be expanding into? At Allstate NI, our commitment to innovation extends to the very core of our operations. Innovation in telematics, claims digitization, artificial intelligence, real-time consumer interactions, ratings products, cyber-security,

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Stephen McKeown

digital contact centre and many, many, more have been driven by global teams with Allstate NI staff at their centre. This work is enabling Allstate to deliver on the company’s vision with a level of execution and pace ahead of our peers.

top talent, people that are experts in their field; in software development, cyber-security, data, AI and machine learning. Allstate look for people with vision, people that like to challenge the status quo and not just accept that is how things are done.

As part of the transformative growth strategy, Allstate NI has moved to an Outcome Based Delivery model to deliver tech solutions. The new model brings our product-centric operating model to life and enables our new, horizontally oriented technology organization to bring products to market faster for our customers.

Allstate provide an inclusive environment where employees can bring their true selves to work every day, an inclusive environment encourages creativity, allows all employees to have their voice heard and drives business results, that is what make Allstate such a great place to work.

What do you see as the key to Allstate’s success in Northern Ireland in the past 25 years? Northern Ireland has transformed over the last 25 years, and I am very proud to say Allstate were the first foreign direct investment company to set up operations here following the Good Friday Agreement. The success of Allstate in Northern Ireland would not have been possible without the people; through the years we have employed

DECEMBER 2023

During the last 25 years, Allstate NI has been instrumental in addressing the dynamic needs of our customers across various business sectors and has been a driving force behind innovation in both products and technology. Tom Wilson, chairman, president, and chief executive, The Allstate Corporation, added: “Allstate’s purpose is to empower customers with protection so they can achieve their hopes and dreams. Allstate Northern Ireland’s team is vital to that mission, driving innovation and excellence

in customer service. We’re excited to celebrate 25 years of success and look forward to the continued leadership from our global team.” Allstate NI made a significant shift to hybrid working during the pandemic. How is that approach working for your teams now, is the focus still very much on flexibility? Hybrid working is working extremely well for all of our teams and providing flexibility to all employees regardless of their circumstances which is still a key priority. We see that as a key differentiator. Giving employees the freedom to choose a working pattern that works for them, and their teams has been great for work life balance that has resulted in delivering better work and results. We operate a no set days policy, where employees are not mandated to be in the office, but we always let them know that the office is open for them to use at a time that works for them, whether that be to network and connect with their team, or just to get out of the house a few days a week, the choice is theirs. ■

IT & TECHNOLOGY

AI: Summit predicts doom… it feels like a Big Tech stitch-up Adrian Weckler looks at what came out of the recent the AI Safety Summit and asks what the technology could mean for all of us and the companies we do business with

here was a recent grandiose gathering of countries and ultrarich tech companies meeting in England’s Bletchley Park to talk about the future of regulating AI.

usual. Ireland (which isn’t a main player in AI) does it all the time.

Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen hobnobbed with Marc Benioff, Sam Altman, Nick Clegg and others at the AI Safety Summit.

Point two, though, is worth considering a bit more. You know all of those headlines you see about potential doom and catastrophe from AI? It seems that much of it comes from a small handful of tech giants who want to ring-fence the sector with regulations that nobody else can afford.

The resulting “declaration” from 28 countries was like a ChatGPT prompt asking the AI engine to “write a speech specifying the potential dangers of AI” – formulaic and predictable.

Probably the most arresting intervention on AI came in May of this year, when an array of tech, scientific and academic figures came together to issue a press release entitled Extinction Event.

Beyond the righteous huffing and appropriately-furrowed brows, though, it all seemed to boil down to two things.

“Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war,” it said.

1) Which country can position itself for the most dollars and euros in an area (AI) that is capturing, by far, the most investment in the tech world right now? 2) Which regulations can the biggest, richest tech firms have adopted in Brussels and Washington that will squash startups that don’t have necessary resources?

As the US technology analyst Ben Thompson has pointed out, the letter had 81 signatories from Google (including Google DeepMind chief executive Demis Hassabis), 30 signatories from ChatGPT’s OpenAl (including chief Sam Altman) and 15 signatories from Anthropic (including chief Dario Amodei).

Point one is understandable and business-as-

In other words, the three companies that

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit at Bletchley Park

currently lead AI development. Microsoft, which doesn’t have much of its own AI but is a huge investor in OpenAI (and thus will benefit) had seven signatories, including company chief technical Kevin Scott. “If you accept the premise that regulation locks in incumbents, then it sure is notable that the early AI winners seem the most invested in generating alarm in Washington about Al,” Mr Thompson said. “This despite the fact that their concern is apparently not sufficiently high to, you know, stop their work. No, they are the responsible ones, the ones who care enough to call for regulation, all the better if concerns about imagined harms kneecap inevitable competitors.”

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Are we being subject to a doom-tinged hype cycle led by companies that want to stitch things up for themselves?

It’s just that, since Brexit, no one really takes the UK seriously when it comes to making global rules or influencing standards.

The UK used the AI Safety Summit as an occasion for maximum PR-brand effect, hosting it at the location (Bletchley Park) made famous for Alan Turing’s code-breaking efforts during the Second World War.

Sure, it comes up with some good ideas and occasionally makes an impact, as it did in the recent €60bn Microsoft-Activision case. But in real terms, it’s a northern hemisphere version of Australia – talking big themes but wielding an increasingly inconsequential legal stick.

Fair play to them. But let’s not confuse that with any far-fetched notion the UK might have of itself being the world’s leading regulator in AI. The idea is fairly ludicrous. Not because of the UK’s skillset in the area, which is impressive (and way beyond a country like Ireland), nor for its lack of ambition (its third-level institutions are among the very best in the world in the sector).

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Washington, Brussels and Beijing are the places that will decide the rules of what happens to AI, just as they decide what happens in all other areas of tech. To be clear, there is a lot to talk about the topic of AI. AI can be – will be, even – transformative. As such, it could bring some real danger to our lives.

Whether that is disproportionately worse than the harms our existing level of technology – internet, dark web, cyberattacks – brings remains to be seen. But it’s possible. And it’s a topic that we regularly cover in this newspaper. But don’t lose sight of the land-grabbing that’s also going on right now in the industry on this topic. The tech giants want to fence off this area for years to create an even greater hegemony than they already have. The way they can do this is by using their thousands of lobbyists in Brussels and Washington (mainly) to steer and push regulatory language and ideas that can align standards with resources that they – and only they – really have at scale. ■

NEWS

NI unemployment rate drops to record low

orthern Ireland’s unemployment rate has dropped to a record low of 2.1%, according to fresh official

And 2,200 redundancies were confirmed over the year – more than double the previous year’s level of 940.

figures.

The Labour Force Survey said the joblessness rate in July to September had fallen 0.9% on the level in the same period in 2022. And it had fallen 0.6% over the quarter. The NI Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA), which published the figures, said the decreases were “significant”. And it said there had been a 2% increase over the year in the number of employees on company payrolls, to hit 797,400. The median monthly pay of those employees was £2,100 in October, which was up £2 on September and an increase of 6% (£118) over the year. But despite rising employee numbers and rising pay, the number of proposed redundancies over the year to October was 4,000 – more than three times the previous year’s total of 1,290.

Nonetheless, the employment rate – the proportion of people aged 16 to 64 in work – rose by 2.2% over the year to 72.2%. The annual change was statistically significant, NISRA said. Mark McAllister, director of employment relations services at the Labour Relations Agency (LRA), said the statistics were “a mixed picture”. “On one hand both pay-rolled employee numbers and earnings have increased, and unemployment as well economic inactivity rates have all moved in a favourable direction when compared to one year ago. But redundancy statistics are also on the rise. “The LRA has been tracking key trends such as redundancy warnings through our Workplace Information Service for many months, and one of the most striking aspects of the statistics was the fact that in the latest 12-month period, there were 4,000 proposed redundancies.

“This was more than triple the total for the previous year (1,290) and obviously it doesn’t take account of recent incidents such as the floods in Newry and Downpatrick which may give rise to further redundancies. “Some of these statistics will be stubborn in nature and point to a prolonged trend which require commitments to practices such as investing in people, longer term productivity projects, good work initiatives and multi-year budgets to accompany them. “This might sound utopian but anything else is simply tinkering around the edges.” In October, the seasonally adjusted number of people on the claimant count was 37,100 (3.8% of the workforce), a decrease of 0.2% from the previous month’s revised figure. The claimant count remains 24.2% higher than the pre-pandemic count in March 2020. The economic inactivity rate decreased by 0.2% over the quarter and by 1.4% over the year to 26.3%. ■

NET ZERO & GREEN ENERGY

Electric cars: is it getting any easier to go green in Northern Ireland?

recent new addition to the household.

And that sub-£8,000 budget doesn’t get you much in the way of an EV. You’re essentially looking at one of the earlier Nissan Leaf models. It remains a stalwart of the early fleet of useable electric vehicles on the market.

But digging deeper and you realise that this early stage of electric motoring produces a vehicle really only apt for short, sharp city runs.

It’s a tidy offering – a decent sized hatchback, reliable and roomy enough to accommodate a

I’d looked at the cost of installing a homecharger and thought, I’ll need one some day soon, so why not now.

Looking closer into the apparent 60 odd miles of range you soon discover that the on paper numbers when compared with real world are somewhat at odds.

NET ZERO & GREEN ENERGY

Living in Belfast, you’d likely end up breaking a sweat if you planned to go any further than Lisburn and back during the colder months. That range anxiety remains another issue for drivers. Even some of the pricier and more modern used electric Golfs have a real world range of just over 120 miles. That’s not going to get you to Derry and back from Belfast, for example. The charging network is of course at the heart of all of this. And while some of the

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ESB existing charging points are being repaired and upgraded, it’s taking the private sector to really improve our infrastructure here.

It recently partnered with Killeavy Castle Estate to deliver its first fast charging hub in the Newry area.

Weev is installing fast-charging hubs right across Northern Ireland, and pairing up with hotels, shopping venues and other businesses to bring connections to popular points.

With that work, and others, it means the number of rapid chargers have quadrupled here.

Weev recently received a commitment from London-based Octopus Investments of up to £50m to accelerate its plans to install thousands of charge points across Northern Ireland over the coming years.

Although overall, Northern Ireland still remains the worst region in the UK and Ireland in terms of the wider availability of chargers. “While we still remain the worst region of these islands, things are progressing,” Mark >

NET ZERO & GREEN ENERGY

Thomas O’Hagan, co-founder of Weev, at one of its charging points at the Beechlawn Hotel in Dunmurry

McCall of Electric Vehicle Association Northern Ireland (EVANI) says. “The important rapid chargers (the ones that allow drivers to top up and get underway again quickly) have quadrupled, with 81 devices across NI now compared to a baseline of around 20 in 2022. “If we add in all the AC destination chargers, the total number is around 450 devices.” There’s also a change coming in which is aimed at organisations offering commercial EV charging infrastructure to address some of the challenges and barriers that EV drivers currently face. Introduced as a response to the continuously evolving nature of the EV charging landscape, the introduction of these new legislations marks a bold approach. Writing in this edition of the magazine, Andrew Wilson, owner and director of Wilson

Power & Energy, said that a main concern for EV drivers has been the lack of price transparency and visibility when it comes to charging their vehicles. “This is why the new packet of legislation coming into effect in November 2023 will require charge point operators to clearly display the price of charging in pence per kWh, either on the charge point or on a separate device which does not require a person to have entered a pre-existing contract with its operator.” Of course, for motorists still worried about going fully electric, the hybrid remains another option for drivers looking to save on their fuel bills, while also going that bit greener. The future ban on new petrol and diesel cars, which is now due to come in to force in 2035 after it was delayed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is an added incentive for people to start thinking about new ways of getting around.

Figures released recently showed Northern Ireland has seen the UK’s biggest percentage growth in hybrid electric car ownership since 2020. With increased fuel efficiency hybrids’ main selling point, this increase in popularity is to be expected. There are different types of hybrid cars and the most common is self-charging. Mild hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are also available. Hybrid cars are also more expensive than their standard diesel and petrol counterparts, but the savings in fuel over time could be worth the upfront cost. The RAC said they can be up to 20% more expensive than petrol or diesel cars, but “thanks to higher resale values you might recoup a lot of this extra cost when you sell”. Also, if you’re a city driver, using your car for shorter distances and more frequent journeys, then the hybrid technology could save money in the long-run. ■

NEWS

Developer submits revised plans for Belfast student scheme

developer has submitted plans to build a student accommodation scheme three years after launching plans for a housing scheme at the same city centre site.

Fanum House could be knocked down to make way for a new student scheme

Plans for a new £55m purpose built student accommodation development have been revealed property development company South Bank Square. It would see Fanum House knocked down. The developer submitted different plans for a buildto-let scheme at the same site three years, but work did not begin on it. The proposed development could include 610 bedrooms, a café, residents lounge, fitness suite, business hub and landscaped roof terraces. The proposal will include the demolition of the vacant 11-storey office building. Fanum House was formerly the Belfast headquarters for newspapers and media including the Irish Times and Sky, with its rooftop the setting for many TV reports during the Troubles. Martin Mallon, managing director of South Bank Square, said: “Our exciting new proposals for The Grattan represent a major investment in Belfast, and an opportunity to regenerate this part of what was once known as the ‘Golden Mile’. “The local stakeholders have recently made significant improvements to the streetscape of the area, and we aim to build on those improvements through this pivotal development of a prime gateway site on the southern edge of the city centre. “The site is ideally located close to the new Transport Hub and within easy walking distance of both Belfast city centre and Queen’s Quarter.

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“We acknowledge the vibrancy that has been created by new student developments in other parts of the city and we strongly believe that our new proposals will bring renewed energy and creativity to this particular area. “This part of Great Victoria Street has long been neglected and we believe that our development will be a major catalyst for the wider regeneration of the area.” In 2020 Southbank announced that it would be redeveloping the site into 210 new apartments in a £45m development, which would also be known as The Grattan. This followed an application submitted in 2011 for the development of a 15-storey 173 bedroom hotel with a basement at the 110 Great Victoria Street site.

Belfast has seen a flurry of student accommodation developments in recent years. Last year the city centre saw the announcement of a new student accommodation development on the former site of the Movie House cinema on the Dublin Road. Meanwhile, a new student accommodation block, made up of 270 rooms, opened earlier this year at nearby Bruce Street. In September Queen’s announced that it would be investing up to £100m in 460 student rooms across three sites, including the Dublin Road project. Two other projects in south Belfast and Brunswick Street in the city centre are also planned by Queen’s. ■

NET ZERO & GREEN ENERGY

Bringing clean and renewable energy projects to business doorsteps Strategic Power Connect is bringing on-site renewable energy systems to companies from across the sectors, ensuring continuity of supply, lowering costs and decreasing carbon emissions, according to chief executive Liam Faulkner

he continuity of energy supply, pricing and a burgeoning need to ensure your company is doing everything it can to decarbonise have never been more prevalent.

rooftop of a factory and then selling them the electricity from that. We’ll invest in that system, we will pay for it, and deal with all of the planning and other elements along the way.”

And while Northern Ireland is continuing to invest in solar, wind, battery and plan for major off-shore schemes, it’s falling well behind in the race to the ambitious target of 80% renewable generation by 2030.

That means major users can secure energy supplies at a set price through a power purchase agreement, with Strategic Power Connect using its expertise across the energy sector and planning to develop the systems, with the customer avoiding the large and sizeable investment overheads.

But companies – especially those which have considerable energy bills – are already making strides and developing their own on-site renewable projects in a bid to save money, secure off-grid supply, and ensure they are increasing their own green credentials. And Strategic Power Connect is a firm bringing that technology and expertise to the doorsteps of large energy users here. As part of the Strategic Power Group, founded by Paul Carson, it focuses on the design and installation of on-site renewable energy systems. “Strategic Power Connect is about selling renewable energy directly to end users,” Liam Faulkner, chief executive, says. “We do that by building renewable energy systems at the point of consumption. “So the easy example is putting solar PV on a

“This means that a company gets to use its own capital for any other purpose which it wants,” Liam says. “This will work for most types of business – from food processing to engineering. We are able to use our broad skillsets and expertise in energy to develop the schemes. “We take the risk away from the customer in terms of the pricing. So we are then able to give them preferential pricing, versus the rate at which they can buy electricity directly from the grid.” Aside from increasing growing environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements, firms are able to guarantee clean, 100% renewable energy at a price point better than elsewhere, and generate that on-site.

Strategic Power Connect chief Liam, who following roles across credit and risk entered the energy sector more than 15 years ago, says a potential scheme would allow a customer to either fill most of its energy needs, or supplement a proportion, and also secure its supply, off-grid. “I’ve been working in energy since 2007, starting off in a small company with five or six people and then growing that to around 35,” Liam says. “We expanded our market from the largest user segments down into the medium energy user segments and then diversified into renewables.” “Strategic Power Connect looks after the renewable energy system and use high quality equipment and reputable brands,” Liam says. “We will then have a contract with the customer to deliver their energy needs over a specific period.” While some smaller energy needs can be met with rooftop PV solar, larger developments can also be built on sites close to a firm’s own base. “In those circumstances we can look at putting a system on the ground as well.” Liam says. That could be covering a carpark or using other land close to their factory.” Strategic power Connect can take away all of the headache from the customer – from acquiring the site to speaking and dealing with landowners, to developing the solar farm. “We are able to look after the lifecycle of the development. For example, we have our planning specialists in-house who can take care of that. It’s very much a one stop shop.” And in terms of its customer base, Liam says it’s not focused on business size, but the scale of energy consumption. “There may be companies with a relatively

NET ZERO & GREEN ENERGY

small turnover and not that many staff, but that actually have very large energy usage,” he says. “Our solutions will benefit any organisation that spends £500,000 a year or more on electricity and wants to save money, be more green or self-reliant.” There’s also the option of the addition of battery storage solutions for some customers. Liam says with constraints on grid connectivity, in-house renewable energy schemes can bring increased stability and supply certainty to businesses here. “Some firms cannot get enough electricity off the grid, so having your own renewable energy behind the meter is a way to actually help you overcome grid constraints,” Liam says. He says with ESG needs becoming increasingly important for firms – even those which are behind the curve and only turning their attention to it now – renewable projects can play a big part in improving green credentials.

in front and getting ahead of these things. The best time to install a renewable energy system was yesterday. The second-best time is now. There’s no room for procrastination. “An on-site renewable project says, ‘we’re taking climate change seriously, and you can bring that message to your customers. This is a good way to do it – you can give that message to your workforce and to others.” ■

Liam Faulkner

“In the long run, we know climate change is a real thing and we are all going to have to do our part,” Liam says. “So, our part in this journey is to help our customers decarbonise some of their electricity consumption. And we can do that in a way that actually saves them money as opposed to costing them money. Companies are starting to talk about sustainability. There is real pressure coming including from a policy and government level, where people may be obligated soon to report and disclose on their level of emissions and the impact that they have on the environment, among other things. “So again, you know, the more enlightened organisations are the ones that are getting out

DECEMBER 2023

ENERGY

Independent Board appointment sparks bright future for SONI Northern Ireland’s grid operator, SONI (System Operator for Northern Ireland), recently announced the appointment of a new independent Board – a move which, according to its managing director Alan Campbell and newly appointed chair, Dr Peter McNaney CBE, is a significant new milestone for the organisation

ONI is Northern Ireland’s Transmission System Operator (TSO). It ensures power can flow safely, securely, and reliably through the electricity grid from where it is generated, by the private companies who own power stations, wind turbines and solar farms, to

Charlie Villar, Peter McNaney CBE, Angela Love and Peter Ewing

where it is needed in businesses, homes across Northern Ireland. In addition to running the electricity grid in the present, SONI looks ahead to understand and plan for Northern Ireland’s future energy needs.

“Northern Ireland has really ambitious and legally binding clean energy targets, which mean we need 80% of all the electricity we consume to come from renewable sources by 2030. “We have the important task of transforming

ENERGY

SONI board chair Peter McNaney CBE and Alan Campbell, managing director

the grid and how it’s operated so it can manage more variable forms of renewable energy. “The scale of this change and transformation is unprecedented, but we have a great team of highly experienced engineers and a clear plan for how we get there. We’re entering a really significant and exciting new phase of our journey here in SONI and it comes at a hugely important time in the energy transition as a whole,” said Alan Campbell, who has been SONI managing director since 2020 and the former top executive at Coolkeeragh, one of Northern Ireland’s largest power stations. SONI recently published an updated version of its Shaping Our Electricity Future Roadmap – the plan which sets out the reforms needed in the electricity system to reach the 2030 targets. The grid operator is also consulting on its draft 10-year Transmission Development Plan which details the new infrastructure required to meet Northern Ireland’s electricity needs. The appointment of a new independent Board is the first step in a process to

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implement a new suite of governance changes which will create greater managerial and operational independence from its parent company, EirGrid plc. A lawyer and former chief executive of Belfast City Council, Peter McNaney is one of Northern Ireland’s most experienced executives and will chair the new SONI Board. “From previous experience, I understand the crucial role SONI plays in public life here, and so I relish the opportunity to take on a leadership role in an organisation that has such an important part to play in delivering a cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy future for homes, businesses and farms across Northern Ireland,” he said. “We know Northern Ireland has made significant progress to integrate renewable energy into our electricity system in comparison to elsewhere, and SONI has played an important part in that success. To build on that progress, and with less than seven years to meet Northern Ireland’s ambitious clean energy targets, we are going to have to be innovative and agile in areas such as policy and regulatory reform and open-minded about doing things differently.

“As a society, we are also going to have to redouble our efforts with local communities to make the case for the new infrastructure we need now to enable everyone to feel the benefits of cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy in the future.” Joining Peter McNaney on SONI’s new independent Board is NIE Networks stalwart Peter Ewing, former senior Scottish Power executive Angela Love, and experienced finance and regulatory executive Charlie Villar. Alan Campbell says he looks forward to the momentum the appointment of SONI’s new Board will provide in driving forward its core mission. “The wealth of experience and expertise that our new Board offers comes at an important time for SONI. “In addition to acting as strong advocates for our organisation and its people, we’re looking forward to working with them and our industry, government and regulatory partners to find new ways to accelerate our collective mission to decarbonise the electricity system for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland.” ■

ENERGY

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Angela Love - Board member Dr Peter McNaney CBE - Chair Peter McNaney has a wealth of experience in senior leadership roles in Northern Ireland gained in both executive and non-executive roles in corporate governance, shaping strategy and effective implementation, leading change and successfully facilitating complex partnerships. He practised as a corporate lawyer for 20 years before serving as chief executive of Belfast City Council between 2001-14. As a non-executive, he was chair of the governing body of Belfast Metropolitan College and oversaw the building and move to the Titanic campus. He has also served as a member of the Board of Invest NI. He is presently the senior independent director and chair of the Audit Committee of Northern Ireland Water and recently stood down as chair of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust after nine years.

Angela Love has over 30 years’ experience in the GB/EU gas and electricity markets and brings extensive expertise from across most aspects of the energy system. She started her career at Scottish Power in commercial and financial roles, latterly as UK strategy and external affairs manager for Scottish Power’s non-price regulated businesses, generation, trading, retail and renewables. Angela was a consultant for 13 years, advising clients on market arrangements across gas, electricity and water and developing business strategies. Her past roles include chair of the Gas Forum, director of gas, communications and European affairs at the Energy Networks Association and director of future markets and engagement at Elexon. She is also chair of Scottish Power’s Energy Networks Independent Net Zero Advisory Committee and has recently taken up the position of chair of the Cadent Gas Customer Challenge Group.

Charlie Villar - Board member Charlie Villar is an executive with finance, operations, and transformation experience. He has worked on boards, as well as with senior officials, regulators and ministers across electricity, post, telecommunications, broadcast media, and water sectors in GB, NI and Europe. In these roles, he has developed a diverse understanding of the regulatory, economic and commercial drivers across a range of industries, and how to lead organisations through major transformations.

Peter Ewing - Board member Peter Ewing is an experienced director of finance and electricity regulation and leader of business change. With over 25 years’ experience, Peter has been closely involved in the transformation of the electricity industry in Northern Ireland since privatisation. Peter was previously director of finance and regulation at Northern Ireland Electricity and the Viridian Group, deputy managing director and director of regulation and market operations at NIE Networks, and a non-executive board member and treasurer at Radius Housing. Prior to this he was finance director at Moy Park.

EV CHARGING

Wilson Power & Energy supports firms in achieving compliance with EV charging legislation

ith more and more drivers across the UK making the switch to electric vehicles, the UK government has, in an effort to raise the industry standard for EV drivers and encourage more drivers to make the switch to EVs, recently introduced new legislation. It’s aimed at organisations offering public EV charge points 8kW or above to address some of the challenges and barriers that EV drivers currently face. Introduced as a response to the continuously evolving nature of the EV charging landscape, the introduction of these new legislations marks a bold approach. Andrew Wilson

Commenting on the introduction of the new legislation, Andrew Wilson, owner and director of Wilson Power & Energy, said: “We are delighted to see the introduction of new legislation for EV charge points as this will further enhance the standards of the industry and encourage more drivers to make the switch to EVs. “It is important for driver confidence that their experience at public charge points is consistent and reliable, and our team is supporting clients across the UK and Northern Ireland to ensure that their infrastructure is complaint to avoid potentially hefty fines in the future. “Despite some misconceptions, this legislation applies to not only rapid charging hubs, but also colleges, schools, carparks, hotels, or anyone offering public charge point access.” A main concern for EV drivers has been the lack of price transparency and visibility when it comes to charging their vehicles. This is why the new packet of legislation coming into effect in November 2023 will require charge point operators to clearly display the price of charging in pence per kWh, either on the charge point or on a separate device which does not require a person to have entered a pre-existing contract with its operator. This will help to clear up pricing confusion and costs changing midcharge and benefit drivers through a simpler, more transparent experience. Noncompliant charge point operators will be at risk of penalties of up to £10,000 per charge point. In addition to price transparency and visibility legislation, contactless payments are now becoming a necessity for charge points. The legislation states that charge point operators must, within one year of the new regulations coming into force, ensure a user can pay using contactless payments.

DECEMBER 2023

Further enabling access, charge points must also now have the capability of offering roaming to at least one partner, whether through a roaming provider or direct connection to another network. Non-compliance with this legislation could also accrue penalties of up to £10,000 per charge point. To enhance confidence and infrastructure performance, charge point owners must ensure their network of rapid charge points is, on average, reliable for 99% of the time during each calendar year. To ensure this is achieved, the charge point operator must submit a report to the Secretary of State for its network of charge points each calendar year, as well as breaking down each location’s performance. Charge point providers must also provide a free of charge, 24-hour, staffed telephone helpline, to allow users to seek assistance regarding functionality. Legislation concerning data will also mandate that essential information including location details, availability status and reference information for each public charge point is collected, maintained accurately and relevantly shared with relevant bodies and the public on request. In addition to developing and installing projects which enable energy independence and business continuity, Wilson Power & Energy also supports businesses with EV charge point installation and support, including an optional back office management system which will manage usage for employees, the public or as a service. ■ To ensure your existing or future EV charging infrastructure is complaint with new regulations contact the team today. Visit www.wilsonpowerandenergy.com or contact hello@wilsonpowerandenergy.com

NET ZERO & GREEN ENERGY

Tackling the challenges of a NI’s clean energy future TLT partners Andrew Ryan and Kevin Murphy have been working in the renewable energy sector for years, and in that time have seen the boom days of wind farm development, through to a lull post-subsidies, and now are witnessing the surge in interest in new schemes in order to meet our ambitious targets – but there remain challenges along the way

orthern Ireland was once ahead of the pack when it came to the development of renewable energy schemes.

TLT partners Kevin Murphy and Andrew Ryan

It reached the then ambitious target of 40% renewable production as part of the last energy strategy. But in the time since then, Northern Ireland has lagged behind in developing new schemes and projects to lower our reliance on fossil fuels. But according to law firm TLT – which has been working at the heart of the renewable energy sector for many years – there’s an optimism and yearning for that to change. “I’ve been involved in the clean energy sector since 2009 and went through the whole boom in the 2010s,” TLT partner Andrew says. “That included the acquisition of sites, getting planning permission, grid connections as well as selling on sites or welcoming new funding coming in.” Andrew joined TLT in 2015 and is a planning and environment partner in the firm’s UK-wide team, heading up the Belfast practice.

– the political will and a smoother, faster and more accepting planning system to ensure the best projects and schemes get built and Northern Ireland can once again help lead the way on renewables. “Previously around 95% of renewables would have been wind,” TLT Real Estate partner and energy specialist, Kevin Murphy, says.

“Now, on the back of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, with a target of 80% renewables by 2030 and with new subsidies on the horizon there’s been a lot of interest in new development over the last couple of years.”

“There was an initial mad dash in getting everything energised before the ROCs (subsidies) ended. While on-shore wind is still a good news story, I’m now looking at green projects for solar, battery storage, synchronous condensers, electric vehicle infrastructure and anaerobic digesters.”

But for that to happen, there needs to be significant incentive – in the form of subsidies

But Kevin says developers are continuing to grapple with the constraints which are out in

front of them. That includes grid connectivity, planning issues and political stability and will. “It’s nothing new to say Northern Ireland was once at the forefront of renewables across Europe. We are now behind our neighbours in the Republic and GB. But this is a great opportunity to at least catch up.” According to Andrew there may be the introduction of contracts for difference (CFDs) to begin incentivising developers to build new schemes. “Hopefully they will look at England, Wales and the Republic and see what works and take the best elements,” Andrew says. He said it’s likely schemes would be dealt with by way of auction, but this has yet to be fully

NET ZERO & GREEN ENERGY

Solar and wind remain key clean renewable energy sources for Northern Ireland

confirmed. “It’s great that there are lots of developers showing interest,” he said. “But we must start moving now on the generation side as we are a long way off the 80% target. “This all takes time. If you want developers to develop then the policy signals need to come very quickly. They need to understand what systems are going to be in place and when the auctions will be held. “The other area is around securing approvals and grid connections – this all takes time. If we are going to meet targets that’s shovels in the ground in 2027 or 2028 at the latest. It’s critical to get moving as there is a narrowing window of opportunity to get off the ground, otherwise that money could be invested elsewhere.” According to Kevin, there are several key projects which the system operator SONI is eyeing to help Northern Ireland hit its energy targets. That includes development of the north-south interconnector, increased capacity on the Moyle interconnector, along with upgrades to the grid infrastructure at north Antrim, Co Tyrone and reinforcing the grid in the north west. “It’s going to be ambitious to hit that target

DECEMBER 2023

and a lot needs done before 2030,” Kevin says.

put on the wider benefits,” Andrew says.

“Following the end of the ROCs there have been very few subsidy-free developments. But now we are acting on a considerable amount of new development in Northern Ireland and are aware of more in the sector which gives you some positivity.”

Kevin says: “It’s also about knowledge. With some of the new technologies there is an education piece to get decision makers up to speed on dealing with these applications.

According to Andrew, improvements within our planning system are key to speeding up development and reaching our renewable energy targets. “Planning applications need to be processed a lot quicker,” he said. “A solar, wind or battery farm could be 18-24 months in the system as a minimum. If it’s with the Department for Infrastructure, it could be 30 months, easily. “When comparing that to the rest of the UK, nationally significant projects are processed in six months.” He said policy must be more permissive and accepting of the need for clean energy schemes, with upskilling and increased capacity in planning departments assisting on the journey. “It’s been said there isn’t enough weight being

“There’s also some mixed messaging from local and national politicians. There has also been a question if there should be one governmental body to deal with all of this. In Northern Ireland there are two departments with different areas of responsibility – if we had an Executive you would have two different departmental ministers, potentially from different parties who may have diverging views on important climate issues.” But while there are challenges and some barriers in place, Andrew says there remains pent up demand from developers here and a willingness to invest. “From a positive perspective what we see is an industry which wants to make this all work,” he says. “There is external investment out there and people willing to spend money here.“The commercial and developer side is seeing there is massive opportunity to Northern Ireland succeeding in this space.” ■

DR LOUISE MCGUIGAN EPIC DENTAL

How is business? Business is fantastic. We’ve just launched our new practice, Epic Dental, in Lisburn and are already welcoming patients. It’s always hard work getting a new business off the ground but its brilliant to see the project come to fruition, after a year in the making. We chose to establish the clinic in a heritage building along the city’s Bridge Street and have transformed the interior to create a luxurious, therapeutic environment. I know how nerve-racking a visit to the dentist can be, so have personally curated the decor to eliminate that clinical feel and reflect our holistic approach to dentistry. Of course, I have the most amazing support network around me and wouldn’t be where I am without them. Our expert team of eight includes dentists, hygienists and therapists and together we have created a phenomenal patient journey. The team harness global experience to offer our clients the highest quality expertise in cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, Invisalign Aligners, preventative dentistry, and general dentistry. It includes leading industry specialists, Dr Ernest LucasTaulé, a pioneering implant surgeon, and orthodontic dentist, Ariadna Colom. How did you get started in the industry? I undertook a five-year Bachelor of Dental

Entrepreneur of the Month Surgery (BDS) degree at Queen’s University, Belfast and then embarked on a training year post graduation. Following this, I went to work for my late father at his practice, the Belfast-based Gransha Dental and assumed directorship of the clinic following his passing in 2019. I developed a real passion for running the business and eventually decided that I wanted to start my own. Typically, who are your clients or customers? We don’t have a specific patient profile. Epic Dental is a full-service practice that employs a holistic and ethical approach to oral and whole-body system care. As such, our clients range from young children whose parents want them to receive muchneeded orthodontic treatment in a soothing environment, to clients who are specifically interested in cosmetic treatment, through to patients who have lost teeth and are seeking restoration via dental implants. For each treatment modality, we offer the most experienced dentists and specialists and work together as a multidisciplinary team to deliver bespoke care. At Epic Dental, we are NI’s largest provider of Invisalign Aligners and the only provider of the NiTime Clear Aligners system in Ireland.

Do you enjoy what you do, and what in particular? Dentistry can be utterly transformative, and I adore it. Like any career, it can also be challenging and stressful but I absolutely love changing people’s lives, restoring their confidence and simply enhancing how they feel about themselves. What is the most difficult part of your job? Probably time management. I’m also a mum and it can be difficult to run two businesses with a young toddler and a husband whose career has him on another continent a lot of the time. I make it work due to an incredible network of family and friends, who are a great testament to the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. What are the challenges facing your sector, and the economy in general? Running a business is certainly challenging in the current economic climate. It is quite astonishing how much the price of everything has increased, including material costs, labour costs and utilities. My priority is and always will be what’s best for the patient and at Epic Dental, we strive to use the very best products, and to offer industry leading care and advice in a premium environment. ■

OUTSOURCING

Making it to the big supermarket shelves Sponsored by

OUTSOURCING

Gareth Chambers led an MBO to buy out his parents’ convenience-food manufacturing company – and has been scaling at pace since, selling own-brand labels and private brands to our biggest supermarkets. He spoke to Sean Pollock

espite growing up with the family business as an ever-present thing, a young Gareth Chambers didn’t have much interest in getting involved – until, that is, he bought it from his parents. He’s is now the chief executive of Around Noon – the firm his mum and dad founded at the family kitchen table in 1989.

They make on-the-go convenience food, such as sandwiches, salads and sushi for private and own-label brands. He bought the Newry-based company alongside business partner Howard Farquhar in 2016, growing Around Noon from a company with a £2m turnover to one expecting to clear £80m. For 38-year-old Gareth, buying the Around Noon business was special.

“It was an extremely proud moment,” he says of the management buyout. “My parents worked extremely hard for many years, so to give them an exit from the business and buy it from them was a really proud moment. Since buying Around Noon, the pace of growth has been impressive. The company set out on a strategy to grow sales organically and via mergers and acquisitions. It recently completed its third purchase, buying the London-based Soho Sandwich Company in June this year, bringing the total the group now employs to over 800. But that is not the limit to Gareth’s plans. He has early-stage ideas to invest around £6m in a new facility in Newry and open another in Slough, England.

OUTSOURCING

are extremely ambitious, we are extremely hungry – and as a team, we really get a kick out of scaling and growing. It is a journey we hope to continue, and at the same pace.” While Gareth has lofty ambitions for Around Noon, the convenience-food market – decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic – remains challenging. “Covid was without doubt the most difficult period in the company’s history,” he says. “Almost overnight, we lost almost circa 80% of our trade – because of office and café closures. Our products were just not available – no planes were flying, so there was no traffic in airports. It was a really difficult time. “What we did was regroup and push our products into new markets. Because of that pivot into new markets, especially retail, we had a broader customer base. Our exit velocity has been quite rapid.” New trends have emerged since the pandemic. Gareth has seen some businesses move away from their hybrid-working models, with a greater return to the office for face-to-face meetings in recent months.

Gareth Chambers

“We are really keen to keep growing the business at the same pace,” he says. “So we currently work with Barclays Bank and have great support with them. Our ambition is to continue to grow and scale. “We are opening a new facility in Slough which will facilitate significant growth in Great Britain, an additional £50m of capacity to run hard at and fill.

“We are seeing a lot more travel and cars on the road,” he says. “We see a lot more activity on the London Tube. We track the Transport For London figures and we see they are back close to where they were normally. “I think the key thing we are seeing, in our space, is that if people are going to spend their hard-earned money, then they want it to be a quality product. That is what consumers want.”

“We are still acquisitive, and we want to continue the buy and build strategy. We are planning to scale the business to £200m by 2026 – and we have our eyes on that for a target.

Gareth says inflation has put “tremendous pressure” on the sector. Right across the cost base – from food and input prices to labour and fuel – it has been challenging to manage the cost increases since the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“Our ambition is to be the UK and Ireland’s leading sandwich manufacturer,” he says. “We

“It has eased slightly, but it is still there,” he says. “It’s still high. It just isn’t as high as it

DECEMBER 2023

was. Those pressures are continuing and will continue into next year.” Interest rates are also a concern for Gareth, impacting consumer disposable income. Has it changed consumer behaviours? “It is an interesting one for the food-to-go sector,” he says. “In times of austerity, we find people trade into our market. They will pick up a sandwich rather than an expensive sit-down lunch. We see our products representing good value.” Around Noon’s Irish business, which counts Marks & Spencer Ireland as a client, represents about a quarter of its sales, with distribution depots in Dublin and Cork. Part of its reason for growing its Newry facility is the level of opportunity Ireland represents. “RoI is a huge market for us,” he says. “We see it as a growth market for us. As a signal of intent, we ring-fenced that significant investment in new facilities on the island of Ireland to capture those opportunities.” Despite all the worries about Brexit, the Northern Ireland Protocol has given food businesses in Northern Ireland “the best of both worlds”, Gareth says. “That is a real advantage,” he says. “Getting food onto the island of Ireland and the difficulties that that threw up meant we could facilitate and help companies with an island of Ireland sourcing strategy. We have grown in retail as a result. It is not the only reason, but is certainly a factor.” Growing up in Newry, Gareth dreamed of a career in media, not in sandwich manufacturing. However, he fondly recalls being driven around Belfast studying for his exams as his parents delivered sandwiches to clients. A move to Bournemouth University to study TV production led to work with a company in Ireland that worked with the likes of RTÉ. However, as he grew older, the Around Noon business started to appeal to him. >

OUTSOURCING

Daniel Silverston, Soho Sandwich Company, Gareth Chambers, Around Noon, Howard Farquhar, Around Noon

“I always had an interest in business, but from afar. My mother was on the operations side, and my dad was a commercial guy. They were a great partnership.” In 2012, a 27-year-old Gareth took on a summer role with Around Noon. The pace appealed to him, and he got hooked on it. But he didn’t want just to have a career in a family business. In 2016, the opportunity came up to buy Around Noon. He and his business partner Farquhar decided to go for it – and with the backing of Ulster Bank and UK bank Shawbrook, they bought the company. The pair had big ambitions to turn Around Noon into a giant in the sector. Key to that was acquiring complementary companies in the industry to bolster its sales.

Becoming the chief executive in 2016 was a challenge. “I certainly made mistakes,” Gareth says. “But I also brought an awful lot of energy to the role, plus some slightly different thinking.” There have been several highlights for Gareth since taking over. Acquiring businesses over the years has been a real boost. He agrees competition is fierce in convenience food. “It is a highly competitive market, but great trade bodies are promoting the market in general. “Healthy competition is a good thing. We pride ourselves on being a partner of our clients, so we look at them in the long term. We see ourselves as a trusted adviser.”

He is currently finalising Around Noon’s strategy for 2026, in which it hopes to hit sales of £200m, with plans for the new facilities in Newry and Slough picking up pace. Despite growing up with little intention of a career in the sandwich business, it is fair to say the Newry man is consumed with his company now. “There will naturally be ups and downs,” he says. “But I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities in front of me. I am super excited about the future – we have an excellent opportunity to continue to scale and innovate in this space. “For me, I feel like I have more energy than I have ever had in terms of scaling the business,” he says. “A lot of being an entrepreneur is about how much energy you can bring to the party.” ■

CHARITY

Recipients of the Making a Difference Awards alongside James Martin, the chair and trustees of The Gallaher Trust

The Gallaher Trust: making a difference

hen JTI Gallaher factory closed in Ballymena in 2017, it left a legacy of £5m to the community.

wanted investment to support economic regeneration and job creation, and that’s how The Gallaher Trust was born.”

Five years on and The Gallaher Trust is making an incredible impact.

The Trust distributes in the region of £350,000 each year to local groups and by 2025, it plans to commit £3m to support its delivery partners and create over 400 jobs, develop skills for over 1,700 adults and provide support for over 1,600 disadvantaged adults within the Ballymena area.

Marking its fifth birthday, this independent charity has to date, seen the creation of 276 jobs, the upskilling of 1,222 people and the support of 1,185 disadvantaged adults. Attending the celebratory event and the Trust’s Making a Difference awards was Nicky Small, head of JTI’s corporate affairs which JTI supported. “We made the decision to create the Trust in 2016,” she said. “Our ambition was to build upon the Gallaher legacy of charitable giving in Northern Ireland. “Before we created the Trust, we consulted local people on exactly what support they wanted for the community. They told us they

DECEMBER 2023

At the time of the closure, it was Ian Paisley MP that led the charge for JTI to leave something to the community. He now chairs the Trust, and alongside trustees, they diligently choose partners to deliver projects that make a difference in the community across their three aims of creating jobs, upskilling and training as well as assisting disadvantaged adults. Keynote speaker at the event was Oscarwinning actor, James Martin. His speech was one of ‘give it a go’, ‘you have to try it’ and of his love of acting, and how it was local

community groups and training opportunities that helped him on his exceptional acting journey. His speech resonated with those present, from those in Triangle, a not for profit company about to launch Harmony Hub in Ballymena, to the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, where 57 people have been trained through its bar, chef and restaurant academies. “The Trust has delivered an incredible impactful programme of job creation, local skills development and community support over the last five years,” Nicky said. “There are so many local people that have made this happen – our congratulations and thanks to everyone involve. We are excited to see how the work of the Trust continues even further over the years to come.” Ian Paisley MP, chairman of The Gallaher Trust said, “I always knew that we could deliver something that would have a real and tangible impact across the greater Ballymena area, and I’m delighted that alongside the many delivery partners that we have done just that – The Gallaher Trust Making a Difference Awards are testament to that very fact.” ■

The column with an ear for experience...

How did you start out in your business? After graduating from Ulster University, Coleraine, in computing science, I have worked in the computing and telecoms sector, gaining over 25 years’ experience working for companies such as Energis, Cable & Wireless and Eir. During that time, I have held a number of senior engineering, design, commercial and general management roles. I joined Fibrus in 2020 as programme director for Project Stratum and have been in the role of chief operating officer since March 2022. What have you found the most challenging during your years of business, so far? In the early days, I worked as a computing and telecoms engineer, so being up to date with certifications was a constant in my working life for over 15 years. The ever-changing landscape that is telecoms is very fast moving and constantly evolving, so always having your finger on the pulse of new trends and developments in the sector is essential to success. Over the past 10 years, my challenges have changed from technological to more mainstream business-orientated, as I need to become more commercially minded when bidding for business solutions and running the overall business. How would you describe your management style? I have a very hands-on approach to management, trying to lead from the front to provide direction and guidance to the team as required. I think the key to successful management is to surround yourself with highly talented people and empower them to do the job while providing support and development to ensure they feel they are growing all the time. Steve Jobs had a great

Name: Shane Haslem Position: Chief operating officer, Fibrus quote where he said “ a small group of A+ employees can run rings around a large group of Bs and Cs”. I truly believe that great people are at the centre of every successful business, so I have an open door policy for all employees in operations; I encourage them to come to me if they need to discuss something and also provide coaching to a number of people from across the business to help them develop and grow. What would you change if you could go back and do it all again? Take more risks and speculate more in business when I was younger. I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer for something bigger. I had taken the approach in my younger days of working hard and it will get rewarded. Sometimes you need to push the door open yourself rather than wait for it to be opened. How would you like your business to be remembered? It’s hard to believe that Fibrus is a little over four years old and, with over 50,000 customers on our network, it truly is a great

indigenous success story for Northern Ireland. We are the first alternative network provider to bring full fibre broadband to the most rural parts of Northern Ireland and have now expanded our remit to deliver the same great service to Northern England. Fibrus has truly changed the lives of countless families up and down the country by bringing them reliable fast broadband. It is changing how families educate their kids and stream content, as well as allowing people to work remotely and bring communities closer together. Families and businesses in villages such as Gortin are now able enjoy speeds as fast as what’s available in a city like London. What piece of advice would you give to a 20-year-old you? Seize every opportunity and live life to the full. We are here for a short time and work is a big part of your life, so do something that you love. Travel a lot and take up new hobbies and interests. If someone asks you to do something that seems a bit daunting, say ‘yes’ and work out how you do it later as you never know where it will take you. ■

STEM

Taking the scientiﬁc approach

Thompson Aero Seating’s recently launched Dynamic Test Facility

STEM

The jobs market is awash with STEM-related opportunities and some of our most forward-thinking firms are now looking for that next generation of top talent, writes Pavel Barter

s is the case with most businesses, Thompson Aero Seating has a range of different skill set requirements when it comes to recruitment: from sales to finance, HR to management. Thompson, however, is not most businesses. The company is a market leader in premium, business-class airline seating and it designs, manufactures and assembles its own products on site in Northern Ireland. At least 50% of Thompson’s staff is versed across all aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and now its engineering team is expanding. “We are currently recruiting for mechanical, electrical and certification engineers as well as graduate

and HLA talent,” Eva McElroy, head of HR&D at Thompson, tells Ulster Business. According to statistics from the Department for the Economy, 79,000 people were employed in STEM occupations in 2022, a rise of 16,000 since 2018 – and these jobs are discovered within a smorgasbord of industries. A company like Newry-based STATSports, which makes GPS-enabled sportswear that tracks player performance data, seeks expertise in data analytics and data engineering – according to Sean Doherty who works within the IT recruitment team at Vanrath – and it harvests graduate talent from physics, mathematics or engineering degrees. Drink manufacturers such as Diageo, which

has a bottling and packaging plant in Belfast, have diverse employee bases with a focus on STEM skills. Qualcomm, an audio technology company, which Vanrath has worked with, requires skills in hardware and software. “If you’re coming from an engineering or a mathematical-related background, you’re going to have a head start working with a team like that,” Sean says. “But there’s work available for people from all STEM backgrounds, whether it be any kind of science degree, aerospace engineering, chemicals, electronic engineering or computer science.” Over the past year, the Department for the Economy has delivered Assured Skills Academies in Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Data Engineering, Digital Engineering, Digital

STEM

Skills and Software Engineering, which gives us an idea of STEM areas in demand in 2023. “There are slight shifts in the market due to increased costs, but the tech sector is probably the most insulated sector in terms of job requirements and demands,” says Roisin Byrne, who specialises in IT at recruitment firm Hays. “It’s a very strong market particularly within SMEs. There’s still a shortage of candidates with the right skill sets – and there’s a need and demand to get people into STEM jobs.” Sean Doherty, who also specialises in tech recruitment at Vanrath, concurs. “A lot of technology platforms these days use e-commerce – customer usage data – to interpret how they should move forward with their business.” And most technology businesses require software specialists of one kind or another. “The most predominant [industry] that we’ve seen in recent times would be financial technologies.” STEM skills are in demand across manufacturing industries too. “Clients are telling us about how their manufacturing, production, and output are all increasing,” says Eamonn McCance, business director at Hays. “The big demand in engineering is electrical design. The demand for mechanical and electrical design engineers is the strongest I’ve seen for 15 years. I think that’s down to a lot of companies having new product development and R&D.” Hays caters for opportunities at Thompson Aero Seating, which is constantly designing and testing new products (which in turn require new STEM skill sets). “Our airlines are always seeking to have a competitive advantage which means we need to continually adapt to customer needs by introducing new techniques, materials, processes or systems,” says Jonny McGreevy, vice president of engineering at Thompson. Due to the regulated nature of the aviation industry, every iota of product and design must be validated and verified. “And this type of agile innovation demands strong STEM skill sets at every step of the development cycle.” The baseline salaries for STEM-related occupations are around £25,000 to £30,000, according to recruitment agencies. “We’ve

DECEMBER 2023

been astounded by some people with maybe a year’s experience who have got 30 to 40, but that’s more the exception,” Roisin Byrne says. According to Hays, the professions of manufacturing engineer, process engineer and mechanical design, all average £35,000 a year. Maintenance engineer is £38,000 average, electrical design, £47,500, automation engineers can expect around £45,000. According to Eamonn McCance, businesses are more proactive than ever before in seeking STEM graduates. “A lot of companies are visiting schools, colleges and career fairs – companies that you probably wouldn’t have seen in those places in the past. It’s a seismic move in which education and production manufacturing are coming together.” Thompson Aero Seating, which liaises with universities, colleges and local schools, can vouch for this. “Annually we take on 10 to 20 work experience and placement students and our annual intake of HLAs [Higher Level Apprenticeships] and apprentices is around 10 to 15,” Eva McElroy says. “We attend careers fairs and are expanding our university network outside of Northern Ireland. We would like to think we are a recognised employer of choice for local STEM students.” Companies such as Thompson Aero Seating are becoming adept at upskilling employees already within the company – and many are making a concerted effort to encourage more

women to engage in STEM-related careers. There is still gender inequality within STEM positions, but the situation is improving. “Ten or 11 years ago, I had maybe 700 or 800 engineers on my books and there would have been no females in that number,” Eamonn McCance of Hays says. “There’s still a huge imbalance, but it’s not unusual now to see an application from a female maintenance engineer or a female designer. We probably have 20 or 25 female maintenance engineers on our books right now. Eight years ago, we had none. It’s not massive numbers but definitely a change.” Employers can also see a change in the future of STEM skills. Thompson Aero Seating anticipates increased demand for expertise in Material Science and an evolution of “engineering-related disciplines”. Thompson’s Jonny McGreevy expects “that digitalisation will bring new opportunities for analytics and associated opportunities for big data integration.” The question now is whether or not Northern Ireland has the STEM supply to meet demand. Despite this challenging labour market, companies such as Thompson Aero Seating are carrying on regardless with growth and even bigger plans. Eva McElroy says: “We are always on the look-out for those with STEM skill sets to join our world class team.” ■

STEM

STEM crucial in Northern Ireland’s continued manufacturing success

orthern Ireland is renowned globally for its manufacturing capabilities, playing host to some of the world’s leading companies, particularly in the aerospace sector. One such company is RTX through its Collins Aerospace business unit in Kilkeel, which manufactures an extensive range of business class, premium economy and economy seating products for many global airlines, including Airbus and Boeing. The Collins Aerospace facility in Kilkeel, a centre of excellence for the launch of new platforms, manufactures around 25% of commercial aircraft passenger seats in operation globally. With over 800 employees, the company is passionate about solving the challenges that its airline partners and customers are facing, and continuing its focus on innovation and delivering high-quality products.

To continue its success, Collins Aerospace is committed to building one of the highestskilled workforces in the region and nurturing the talents of its existing and future employees. According to the 2023 Business Barometer, however, over 68% of organisations in Northern Ireland are currently facing skills shortages, which could prove problematic in the years ahead. To ensure long term success and minimise the impact of skills shortages across the region, Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel, has been actively spearheading a range of STEM initiatives to help develop a pipeline of talent within the local and surrounding areas. Initiatives include the launch of a dedicated STEM council in 2022 which focuses on expanding the company’s STEM activities across the facility, and within the local schools and wider community. It has also hosted the annual ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering

Pupils from St Louis Grammar School in Kilkeel in 2022 which became the first school from Northern Ireland to win the Raytheon UK Quadcopter Challenge

Day’ and runs the Raytheon UK Quadcopter Challenge within the region. The Quadcopter Challenge sees pupils from local schools designing and building a quadcopter, based on a designated theme, mentored by Collins’ STEM Ambassadors. The 2022 competition saw national success for students in St Louis Grammar School in Kilkeel, becoming the first ever school from Northern Ireland to win the challenge. Andrew Gibbons, senior composite materials and process engineer at Collins Aerospace, has been instrumental in Collins’ STEM activities, having almost 20 years’ experience in STEM interactions. Andrew strongly believes the exposure to STEM-related activities from an early age can have a considerable impact on a young person and their future career choice. “Having many years of experience in STEM, I can see first-hand the benefits of STEM-related activities for young people, ranging from gaining practical, and research and design experience, to working together as a team and

preparing and delivering presentations, which in turn improves communication skills and confidence,” he said. “We fully understand the pressures that the education system is under and that teachers have commitments to other initiatives, but the benefits of partaking in STEM-related activities cannot be understated. With the likes of the Introduce a Girl to Engineering, and the Quadcopter Challenge, students can come to our facility – a world-leading company in the heart of Co Down – and meet members of our team.” Alan Henning, managing director of Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel, said: “The feedback we receive from young people and teachers about our STEM initiatives is always positive, with many students expressing an interest in pursuing a career in STEM. It’s crucial that we continue to nurture that interest so that we’re futureproofing the excellent manufacturing capability we have within the region and minimising any risk of continued skills shortages.” ■

Motoring By Pat Burns