Ulster Business December 2024 by Ulster Business

FEATURE

Thestart-uptakingon thebodyarmourindustry

INFOCUS

Wi nebossonduty surgesforalcoholsector

Thelatestnewsandexclusivesfromacrossthe worldofNorthernIrelandbusiness

Coverstory

Re-Genonitsgrowthjourneyandmakingthe caseforcommingled recycling

InFocus

JohnMulgrewspeakstowinebossJames Nicholsonaboutexpansionandbarriers

Outsourcing

EllenDicksonof Telefónica TechUK&Ionits worktocreateasingledigitalcare record

49 IT&technology

PavelBarterlooksat VikelaArmour–afrm using3Dprintingtocreatelightweightarmour

57 STEM

Thefemale rolemodelsbringinggreater representationtoSTEM-relatedbusinesses

65 Netzero&greenenergy

AreNorthernIreland’s renewabletargets achievable,andwhoisaccountable? 77

Motoring

PatBurnstriesoutthelatestQashqaiandfresh upgradesfortheCooper WorksMini

Photocall

Alookatwhat’sbeenhappeningacross NorthernIrelandoverthelastfewweeks

92 Review

JohnMulgrewspendsaweekwith Tudor’s ‘boutiqueonly’bluechronograph

94 Travel

AtripfromUtahtoColoradoletCatherine Murphytakeinsomespectacularscenery

96 Technology

ThenewiPadminihasafasterchip…butitsAI capabilitiesaren’tavailableyet

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EDITOR’S COMME NT S

Heading into2025 withairof positivity

It’s hard tobelievewe’re justweeks awayfrom2025and a newyearof businessandcommercerightacross ourprivatesector

It’s been a yearofsomebig,positivenews stories,intermsofcompanyperformance, jobcreation,bricksandmortar development,andinvestment.

We’re goinginto2025with a reasonably optimisticoutlookacrossmanyofour sectors. We’re backintogrowthmode, largely, with a decentpipelineofworkand furtherexpansionandinvestmentonthe horizon.

However, whilewehaveStormont’s new economicstrategicandaimtoimprovethe qualityofjobshere,westillhavebarriers

whichcontinuetopreventgrowthandthe abilityofNorthern Irelandtomoveforward.

Planningisthefrsthurdle,ofcourse.It’s timefor a full reviewoftheplanningsystem here,andinparticular, howourPlanning AppealsCommission(PAC)worksandis governed.

Planningleadsneatlyontonetzero andgreenpower, somethingwhichis simplyunachievableatthecurrentrateof development.

We alsohavechallengeswithin recruitment, gettingand retainingthecorrectpeople. Withthe WindsorFramework,many businesseswillcontinuetofacemore red tapeandareaseatinguptheirvaluabletime intheweeksandmonthsahead.

Ourhospitalitysectorisanotherareaof businesswhichiscontinuingtofacesome considerablechallenges,fromgettingstaff tobattlingever-increasingoverheadsand inputcosts.

WelcometoDecember’s editionof Ulster Business OurcoverstoryfeaturesJoseph DohertyofNewry’s Re-Gen,lookingatthe caseforcommingled recycling,andwhyhe believesit’s thebestwayforward.

Themagazineisalsopackedwiththeusual hostofinterviews,exclusivenews,features, proflesandanalysis.

Thanksonceagainforallyoursupportin 2024. We couldn’t doitwithoutyou. ■

JohnMulgrew

Publisher UlsterBusiness c/oMediahuisUKLtd Belfast TelegraphHouse,33ClarendonRoad, ClarendonDock,BelfastBT13BG

Printer W&GBaird GreystonePress,CaulsideDrive, AntrimBT412RS www.wgbaird.com

Editor JohnMulgrew,j.mulgrew@independentmagazinesni.co.uk

Advertising JudithMartin,j.martin@mediahuis.co.uk

Graphicdesign SusanMcClean,MediahuisIrelandDesignStudio

1,000

A month innumbers Duty increases ‘will add about a pound to a bottle of wine’

Thenumberofnew jobsMcDonald’sis planningtocreate acrossIreland.

£1.3m

Theinvestmentina newfacilityinBangor from3D-printedbody armourbusiness Vikela.

2.3%

TheUKrateof infationwhichhas risentoitshighest levelsinceApril.

£494m

TheturnoverofLidl’s businessinNorthern Ireland,uptoFebruary 2024.

ByJohnMulgrew

Freshdutyincreasesoncouldadda poundtothecostofeachbottleof winesoldhere,thefounderofone ofNorthernIreland’sleadingmerchants hassaid.

JamesNicholson,founderofJN Wines, saysthecostofdoingbusinessisgoingup. Thatincludesincreasingthetaxpaidonwine accordingtoalcoholcontent–wherebya stronger redwillpaymoredutythanalighter Riesling.

“Itwilladdaboutapoundtoabottle,”Mr Nicholsontold UlsterBusiness

“It’sabitofanonsense…alcoholinthe winesmoothsthingsout.Whendrinkingwines withlowalcohol,fermentationhasstopped, andthere’salotmoresugarinthewine.

“Dutyratesaregoingup.Sincetherehave

beenincreaseddutyrates,intakehasdropped £1.5bn–itwillputlightsout. Youmightdo thesamesales,pricesareup,butthenumber ofbottlessoldhasfallen.

“Allwinemarkets[see]thereistroubleout thereandabitofdistress–thesearefamilyownedfrmsweworkwith.

“Itbecomesanonsense. We aregoing tohavethehighestdutyrates. We dosome businessinPortugalandthereisnodutyon wine.Idon’tseepeoplefallingaroundthe streets–Iseepeoplein restaurants.

“Alcoholisaneasyhitfor[theGovernment] andthere’saverystronganti-alcohollobby. They’vedealtwithtobacco,nowtheyare dealingwiththis.It’sapitytheywouldn’tdeal withprocessedfoods.”

The recentLabourGovernment’sdecision willalsoseeanincreasedutyonwine–poised toriseby2.7%inlinewiththeRPImeasureof infation.

JNisasuccessfulbusiness,nowinthe multi-millions.ButJamessaysit’snotabout continuingtoscaleandgrowintoanine-fgure operation.

“Themodelisdifferent. We aren’tflling400 containersandsendingthemtoLondontobe bottled–it’saboutprovenanceandthesource, travelingtoeverypartoftheword. We see mostofourproducersonanannualbasis.”

JN Wine,basedonCrossgar,CoDown,is oneofNorthernIreland’sleadingwine retailers andwholesalers,andalsooperatesabasein theRepublicandHighbury Vintners,locatedin London.

MrNicholsoniscurrentlyintheprocessof completingadealtobuyanotherbusiness, whichwillbringthegroup’stotalheadcountto around60.

Likeanybusinesswhichtradesacrossthe BritishIslesandthroughoutEurope,Brexithas elements“whichdon’thelpparticularly”.

“Brexitwassupposedtobeeasy…I’m astonished–theadvantageshere.Ifthey satdownandsaid‘look,wecanmakethisa strongavibrantplace’.”

JamesNicholson

NIbody armour firm expanding asit takes onglobalmarket

ByPavelBarter

ANorthernIrelandstart-upis expandingitsworkforcefollowing itslatestinvestmentasitaimsto takeontheglobalbodyarmourindustry. VikelaisthebrainchildofPeterGilleece.It’s

recentlyexpandeditsbasetoBangorfollowing a£1.3minvestment.

Thecompanyspecialisesandwasthefrst companytodevelop3D-printedbodyarmour. Ithasambitionstoturnitintoabrandto rivalKevlar,whichhasanindustry reputation

ofprovidingtoughprotectionforeverything frombulletproofveststomotorcyclejackets.

Kevlarhasbeenaroundsincethe1970sand thetechnologyhasnotdevelopedmuchsince then,believesthe Vikelafounder.

“Mostoftheirproductsarelayeredwith strongfabricmaterialforlowlevelimpact,”Mr Gilleecesays.

“Theyusedtousesteelplatesforhigher damageandtheyare reallyheavy.Inthe1990s theybroughtinceramicswhicharealsoheavy andrigid. We wentbacktosquareone.IfI wastomakebodyarmourfromscratchtoday, whattechniqueswouldIusetoallowitsusers tobemorecomfortable?Thatbroughtuson acompletelydifferentmanufacturingjourney usingdifferentmaterials.”

ThenewBangorfacilityhasanexcessof space:separate roomsforprototypingand potentialformanufacturingexpansion.The frmalsohasplanstotakeonmoreemployees intheNew Yearoncethefactoryisup-andrunning.

Readthefullinterviewonpage49-51

PeterGilleece of Vikela

Major wind farm ‘sittingwithout decision for almost a decade’

ByJohnMulgrew

AmajorwindfarmhasbeensittinginNorthern Ireland’s planningsystemforalmost a decadewithout a decision yetbeingmade,itcanbe revealed.

Gruggandoo WindFarmclosetoHilltownisoneof a numberoflargescaleschemes – enoughtopoweralmost30,000homes – andthose deemed regionallysignifcant,whichhassatintheplanningsystem,and PlanningAppealsCommission(PAC)here forupto499weeks.

ItsdevelopersaysNorthern Ireland’s planningsystemis“oneofthe biggesthurdlestodecarbonisingoureconomyandwidersociety”.

Theapplicationforthatwindfarmwasfrstsubmittedbackin2015. Itwasthen referredtotheformerDepartmentoftheEnvironment,now theDepartmentforInfrastructure,before beingsenttothe PAC more thantwoyearsago.Ithashadtheapplicationfor134weeks.

Theschemewouldincludeeightwindturbines,anelectrical substation,alongwith roadandjunctionworks.

There are more than400 responsestothescheme,manyofwhich haveobjectedtoit.

In2022,formerInfrastructure Minister, NicholaMallon,announced a publicinquiryintothedevelopment.Thedepartmentsaidthatdecision camefollowingthe“considerationofheroffcials’development management reportwhich recommendedthattheapplicationshouldbe refused”.

It’s currentlysittingwith PAC whichhasyettoannounce a datefor thatinquiry

Threeother regionallysignifcantschemes,includingtwootherwind farms,were submittedasfarbackas2020,whileDalradian’s plansfor a goldmineinCo Tyronewere frstfledin2017.The PAC hassaidany further referralsfromtheDepartmentforInfrastructure are nowonhold untilthat reportiscompleted.

The PAC toldthedeveloperinAugustthisyearthatduetothe upcomingpublicinquiryintoDalradian’s goldmine – nowscheduledto startinJanuary2025andendinMarchafterbeingpushedbackfrom

Quotes of the month

Plansforalargewindfarmhavebeenin theplanningsystemforalmostadecade

Septemberthisyear – thatthere wouldbe“insuffcienttimetoconduct and reportonotherpublicinquiries…priortotheDalradianConjoined Inquirymovingforward”.

“However, wecontinuetokeepthematterunder reviewandwewill doourutmosttoprogress referralsattheearliestopportunitysubjectto the resourceconstraintsoutlined…”

PatriciaMcGrath,UKdirectoratABOEnergy, whichisbehindthe Gruggandoo WindFarm,saidwhileitappreciatedthe“largecaseloads” withinthesystemthatthedelaysandslowprogresswere “extremely frustrating”.

“ThecurrentperformanceoftheplanningsysteminNorthern Ireland isoneofthebiggesthurdlestodecarbonisingoureconomyandwider society,”shesaid.

Plannersanddevelopershavebeencriticalofthe PAC,particularly overthetimetakentodealwithappeals.TheAuditOffcesaysitis undertaking a fresh reviewoftheorganisation.

“Alcohol isaneasy hit for [the Government]and there’s a very strong anti-alcohol lobby They’vedealt with tobacco, now they are dealing with this.”

JamesNicholsonofJN Winesonincreaseddutyon alcohol.

“We were shocked to fnd there isactuallynospecifc strategy in place to co-ordinate public procurement services.”

DanielMcCrossanMLA, chairofthePublicAccounts Committee,speakingabout publicprocurementhere.

“Thefrm has evolved...butat our core wehavemaintained a focus on beinga true partner to our clients,and a family to our colleaguesand the community.”

JohnnyHannaofKPMG speakingasitmarks50 yearsinNI.

Safeguarding local businesses withcyber insurance solutions

Intoday’sfast-paceddigitallandscape,thethreatof cyberattackshasneverbeengreater.

AccordingtotheCyberSecurityBreachesSurvey2024,halfof businessesandathirdofcharitiesexperiencedacyberbreachinthepast year.

Thisincreasesto70%formediumbusinesses,74%forlarge businesses,and66%forhigh-incomecharities,highlightingthecritical needfor robustcyberinsurance.

AbbeyAutolineunderstandsthegrowingcyberrisksfacingbusinesses ofallsizes,fromlocalenterprisestolargecorporations.That’swhy NorthernIreland’sleadinginsurancebrokeroffersbespokecyber insurancesolutionstosafeguardbusinessesfromevolvingonlinethreats.

Fromdatabreachesandransomwareattackstophishingscamsand imitationfraud,AbbeyAutolinecanprovidecyberinsurancethatprotects sensitiveinformation,mitigatespotentialliabilities,andensuresswift recoveryfromcyberincidents.

TheexpertteamatAbbeyAutolineworkscloselywithbusinessesto identifyspecifcrisksandcreatetailoredplanscoveringdataloss,legal costs,businessinterruption,andcyberextortion.

Withcyberinsurance,businessescanfocusonwhattheydobest, confdenttheyareprotectedagainsttheever-evolvingcyberthreatsthat couldotherwisedisrupttheiroperations.

PartneringwithAbbeyAutolinemeansbeneftingfromextensive experience,industryexpertise,andacommitmenttoexceptional customercare.

Formoreinformation,contactAbbeyAutoline’sBusinessInsurance Teamat 08000665544orvisitwww.abbeyautoline.co.uk/business-insurance

McDonald’s plans

1,000

new jobsacrossIreland

McDonald’ssaysithasplansto create1,000jobsinIrelandover thenextfouryearsaspartofa €40mexpansionplan.

Theplannedgrowthcomesamidafurryof activitybyrivalsinIreland.

US-ownedchain Wendy’swillopenitsfrst storesinIrelandnextyearafteramorethan 30-yearabsencefromthemarket,whilepizza chainDomino’sisalsoplanningtoexpandin Ireland.Otherfast-foodchainsarealsoeyeing theIrishmarket.

McDonald’sopeneditsfrstoutletinIreland in1977,onDublin’sGraftonStreet.Itnowhas 95 restaurantshere,allofwhichareoperated byfranchisees.

McDonald’sinvestedalmost€42mbetween 2018and2023inIreland,whichincluded the refurbishmentofexistingoutletsandthe openingofnew restaurants.

Inasocialandeconomicimpact report publishedtoday,McDonald’ssaidthatit contributed€414.6mtotheeconomylastyear.

Thatfgure refectsthedirecteconomic contributiontoIreland.It’smeasuredbygross valueadded,whichisthevalueofoutput generatedbyabusinessorindustry,lessthe costsofproduction,excludingwages

Thedata,providedbyindependentplanning anddevelopmentconsultancyLichfelds,notes thatthefgureincludesjustunder€242m thatthecompanyspentwithIrishbusinesses withinitssupplychainthatyear.Italsoincludes thecostof refurbishmentsandnewstore openings.

McDonald’salso remainsoneofthebiggest buyersofbeefinIreland.

McDonald’sdirectlyemployed8,880people inIrelandlastyearanditsbusiness resultedin indirectemploymentof1,605jobs,according tothe reportpublishedtoday.

Itsactivities resultedininducedemployment of1,155jobsduring2023,bringingitstotal supportedemploymenttallyto11,640jobs. Inducedjobsarethosewheredirectorindirect employeesspendtheirwagesandsupport

otherlocalbusinesses.

AlastairMacrow,chiefexecutiveof McDonald’sUKandIreland,saidthenew recentlypublished reportdemonstrates thecompany’s“ongoingcommitmentto supportingcommunitiesandgrowthin Ireland”.

OneoftheMcDonald’sfranchiseesin Ireland,ElaineSterio,saidthe restaurant chainhasbuiltstrongconnectionstolocal communitiesandcontinuedtoinnovate.

“Asabrand,wehavecontinuallyinvested inupgradingandimprovingthe restaurants whichweoperatebyintroducingnew technologyandinnovationstohelpenhance thecustomerjourneyandcrewexperience,” shesaid.

“Wearecommittedtooursuppliers, evidencedbyoureconomiccontributionto localsupplychainbusinesses,whoplayakey roleinproducingsomeofourmosticonic menuitems,aswellasbuildingbrandtrustin thequalityofMcDonald’sfoodprovenance.”

McDonald’sis creatingmore jobsacross Ireland

Anti-aircraft training dome to become community events space

AformerRAFdomeusedtotrain anti-aircraftgunnersduringthe Second World Warcouldbegiven anewleaseoflifeasacommunityevents space,itcanbe revealed.

Theanti-aircraftdometrainersitsatthe formerRAFLimavadysiteclosetoAghanloo.

Describedasoneofthe“mostunique”of itskind“makingitoneofthemosthistorically signifcantbutdiffcultto reusestructures”.

Now,CausewayCoastandGlensHeritage Trustwantstobringthedomebackintouseas adisplayandeventsspace,opentothepublic. HamiltonArchitectshasnowsubmittedan applicationontheorganisation’sbehalf.

“Thebuildingisascheduledmonument andisincrediblyrare,beingoneofeightsuch

monuments remainingintheUnitedKingdom, andtheonlyonelocatedontheislandof Ireland,”documentssay.

“Assuch,theapproachtomakingthe buildingftforusneededtobecarefully consideredtopreservetheauthenticityofthe

domeinitscurrentcondition.

“Theproposalsalsoneedtoconsiderthe healthandsafetyofbuildingusersandthe viabilityofthebuildingasaneventspace.”

Thedomefallsunderthebroader BinevenaghandCoastalLowlandsLandscape Partnershipproject,aNationalLotteryHeritage fundedprojectwitha remittoincreaseaccess tobuiltheritageintheareaforcommunity beneft.

Multi-cultural centre targeted by arsonists ‘couldbecomesupermarket’

Aformerchurchandmulti-cultural centrewhichwasdamagedin anarsonattackcouldbegivena newleaseoflifeasasupermarket.

ThelistedbuildatDonegallPasshad beenthetargetofanumberofarson attacksoverthelastfewyears.

ItwaslastusedbyBelfastMulti-Cultural Association(BMCA).Itwastargetedin 2021whileasecondhappenedinApril 2022,shortlyafter repairshadtakenplace.

Now,plansareunderwayto revamp thelistedbuildingandturnitintoa“mini supermarket…conveniencestore”.

“Thepropertyhasbeenthesubjectofa numberofarsonattacksover recentyears whichhas resultedinconsiderabledamage totheinternalfabricandthemain roof structure,”planningdocumentssay.

“Alterationsand repairofthe roofwere thesubjectofaListedBuildingConsent application...

“Theapplicationsiteislocatedclose totheOrmeauRoadwhichiskeyarterial routeinsouthBelfastwithfrequentpublic transportlinksfromthecitycentreandthe greatersouthBelfastarea.

Theformerchurchon DonegallPasswhichcould nowbecomeasupermarket

“Theproposedchangeofuse refects currentplanningpolicyasidentifedinthe criteriasetoutabove.Itwillundoubtedly protectthestructureandtheexternal appearanceofthelistedbuildingand securetheongoingviabilityandupkeepof thebuilding.”

Whatthedomelooksliketoday

Whatthenewrepurposeddomecouldlooklikeinside amidfreshplans

Kainos reports 5% dropin revenues

NorthernIrelandITservicesgiant Kainoshasseena5%dropin sales,accordingtoitslatest results.

Thefrm reportedthedropin revenueto £183.1mininterim resultsforthesixmonths toSeptember30,2024.

ButKainos,theonlyNorthernIrelandfrm listedontheFTSE250,saidithadmaintained proftabilitywitha1%declineinadjustedpretaxproftsto£38.2m.

Whileithadstronggrowthinits Workday productsdivision,itsaidtherewasasubdued servicesmarketamidatoughertrading environment.

Thefgureforadjustedpre-taxproft includeda£1.2minvestmenttosupportits partnershipwith Workday.

Overallbookingswere11%lowerat £179.5m,downfrom£201.9m.Buttherewas a8%riseincontractedbacklogattheendof thesixmonthsto£354.1m,andastrongcash positionof£151.6m.

Thecompanyoperatesacrossthree divisions–digitalservices, Workdayservices and Workdayproducts.

Itsaiddigitalserviceshadasubduedfrst halfwithdelayedcustomerdecisionmaking andprojectmobilisations.

“Despitesustainedpublicsectordemand, thehiatusfollowingtheUKGeneralElection hasdelayedprojectmobilisations,withpublic sector revenuefallingby15%to£62m.from £73m,”thefrmsaid.

Buthealthcarehadstrong revenuegrowth of16%to£23.6m.Anditaddedthat “commercialsector revenuecontinuedtobe affectedbythelacklustreeconomy resultingin delaystocustomerinvestmentdecisions,and was27%lowerat£11.6m”.

And Workdayserviceswasaffectedbysofter marketconditions,thoughtherewasscope forfurtherinternationalexpansionintoAsia Pacifc.

ChiefexecutiveRussellSloansaid: “Ourservicesbusinessesfacedatougher environmentinthefrsthalfoftheyearina generallysoftmarket,andwe remaincautious aboutourprospectsforthe remainderofthe year.

“However,wecontinuetogenerate robust levelsofproftabilityandlookingtothe mediumtermandbeyond,wecontinuetosee substantialgrowthopportunitiesacrossallour coremarkets.

“Our Workdayproductsdivisionisgoing fromstrengthtostrengthandourstrategic partnershipwith Workdaywillhelpustomore

thantripleourannual recurring revenuefrom thisbusinessoverthenextsixyears.”

Hesaiddigitalserviceswouldhavea roletoplayintheUKgovernment’sdrive toimprovepublicservicesandhealthcare provision,whiledeliveringeffcienciesand leveragingthepotentialofAI.

Hesaid:“Whileweareconfdentofthe opportunitiesahead,wearecautiousabout thetimingoffuturegrowthasweawait theGovernmentmovingoutofthedelayed decision-makingphase.Morebroadly,we alsoseeprospectsforfurtherinternational growth.”

“Ourbusinessisbuiltonaddressing marketswithlong-termstructuralgrowth drivers,andaself-reinforcingcycleof attractinganddevelopinggreatpeople,who provideexcellentcustomerservice.

“Thisinturncreatesthelong-term customer relationshipsthatgeneratethe majorityofour revenueeachyear. We cantheninvestforfurthergrowthandto expandinternationally,whilebalancingthis investmentwithnear-termproftability.

“Asalways,wearegratefulforour customers’continuedtrustinusandthe effortsofourcolleaguesacrosstheworldin continuingtodeliverforthem.” ■

KainoschiefRussellSloan

It’srighttoswitchoff…but workersandemployersare splitonthe‘right’toswitchoff

ByJohnMoore,managingdirector,HaysNI

Bythetimethisarticleispublishedsomeofyouwilllikely haveoneeyeonChristmasandthechancetotakesome well-earnedtimeto relaxand rechargeafterrunninghard intotheendoftheyear.

Inadditiontothefood,fun,familyandfriendsthatweallloveinthe festiveseason,mostofusalso reallyvaluethefactthatit’soneofthe fewtimesintheyearwhenbusinessesandwholesectorsslowdown, providingagenuinechanceforemployeestoswitchoff.

Theconceptofa“righttoswitchoff”throughoutthe restoftheyear hascomebackintotheconversationaroundwork-lifebalancein recent weeksfollowingtheLabourgovernment’sproposaltoimposeanoutof hourscontactbanonemployers.

ResearchconductedbyHaysfoundthatwhilemostemployersand workersintheUKagreeabanonoutofhourscontactcouldimprove wellbeing,thereareconcernsthatsuchaproposalcouldhavean impactonproductivitylevels.

Thesurvey,whichgotover10,600 responsesfromprofessionalsand employersacrosstheUK,including560inNI,foundthatalmosthalfof employersacrosstheUK(47%)admittedmanagersintheirorganisation contactstaffoutsideofworkinghoursand39%offrmssaidtheir organisationexpectsstaffto respond.

Almostathird(32%)ofworkerssaidtheirmanagersorcolleagues contactthemoutsideofcontractedworkinghoursandnearlytwothirdsofthosepeoplesaytheyfeelobligedto respond.

Ithinkmostpeoplewouldacknowledgethatforcertaintypesof employers,itisnecessaryattimestocommunicateoutsideofwhat wouldbeconsideredstandardworkinghours,andthisisunderstood bytheiremployees.Butformanyothers,it’sfairtosaythere’softenno reasonanemailormessagecouldn’twaituntilthenextday.

We foundthatmostworkers(55%)andemployers(58%)agreed thatabanonoutofhourscontactwouldhaveapositiveimpacton staffwellbeing,withyoungerstaffinthe20-29agebracketbeingmost likelytothinkitwouldbeagoodthingincontrasttothoseover50 whohaveperhapsbeenmoreusedtooutofhourscommunicationsin theircareers.

Interestingly,ahighernumberoffemaleprofessionals(62%)toldus thecontactbanwouldhaveapositiveimpactonstaffwellbeing,than maleprofessionals(48%).

Therewasasplitonwhetheremployeesandemployersthinkthat banningoutofhourscallsandemailswouldimpactproductivity, with33%ofemployeesthinkingitwouldhaveapositiveimpacton productivity,and27%sayingitwouldbenegative.Amongemployers,

37%saidabanwouldnegativelyimpactproductivityand27% thoughtitwouldbepositive.

Whetherornotabanisintroduced,whatthedividedopinions abouttherighttoswitchoffshowisthatit’ssomethingemployers needtotalktotheiremployeesabout,andsomethingtheyshould haveaclearpolicyon.

Accordingtooursurvey,twoinfveworkers(43%intheUKand 42%inNI)arecurrentlyworkinginahybridway,onaparwiththose whoarespendingtheirworkweekfulltimeinanoffce(41%inthe UKand44%amongNI respondents).

Oursurveyshowsthatoutofhourscontactisn’tunusual.But encouragingwork-relatedcommunicationonemailorcallstobedone insidecontractedhourscouldbringpositivebeneftsforemployee wellbeing.

We liveinaworldwherefexibleworkingmeanssomepeople havedifferentworkinghours,andemployersshouldalsobemindful ofthosewhoworkcondensedorpart-timehourstoensureanynew practices respecttheirwork-lifebalancetoo.

Thepotentialimpactanybanmighthavedependsonarangeof factorsincludingthe roleandindustrythepersonworksin,whereand whentheyaremostproductive,theirpreferredworkingstyleandtheir lifestyle.

However,theGovernment’sproposalcouldalsobeanimportant opportunityforpeopleto refectontheirwork-lifebalance andforemployersto re-thinkhowtheyapproachoutofhours communication. ■

Children’s play centre to bebuiltoutsideBelfast

Anewchildren’splaycentrelooks settobebuiltoutsideBelfastamid freshplans.

Thecentre,basedatCarryduffBusiness Park,willincludearangeofplayareasfor childrenbetweentwoand12.

Thatwillseeafamilyentertainmentspace beingdevelopedalongsidethreeactivity rooms andacafé.

Thosebehindtheschemesayupto15jobs –bothfulltimeandparttime–willbecreated.

It’sbeingdevelopedbyEDMCECOHoldings Ltd,withFlemingMounstephenPlanning actingasplanningconsultants.

“Theproposedchildren’splaycentrewill providearangeofplayactivitiesforchildren withafocusonthetwoto12yearage group,”supportdocumentssay.

“Itisexpectedthattheplaycentreand ancillarycafewillemploy12-15staffwith amixtureoffullandpart-timestaff.Itis

envisagedthattheopeninghourswillbe 2-5pm(WednesdaytoFriday)and10-6pm. (SaturdayandSunday).”

Thosebehindtheplanssaytheaimis“to provideasafe,secureandaffordablefacility forchildren’splaywhichissupervisedby professionallyqualifedstaffandwhichenables parentstoviewand,whereappropriate, engageintheactivities.”

“Thefacilitywillcaterforchildrenin Carryduffandthewiderlocality.”

Itwillalsoinclude27carparkspacesand10 cyclespacesatthebusinesspark.

Initssupportplanningstatement, developerssaytheplansare“compatibleuse withinthebusinesspark”.

Theysayitisofascale,natureandform appropriatetothelocation,willftcontextually andvisuallyintotheexistingbusinesspark, willnot resultinasignifcantdiminutionof theeconomic/employmentland resourcein

thelocalityortheplanareaandwilldeliver botheconomicbeneftsandcontributetothe “socialandeconomicdevelopmentobjectives ofthecouncil”.

Insupportoftheplans,AllianceMLAKate Nichollsaidthat“withasignifcantnumber offamiliesandchildrenlivingintheCarryduff area,theprovisionofasafeandsecure environmentforchildrenandfamiliesto spendtimetogetherwouldbeveryvaluable”.

“Iamassuredthatthefacilitywillbe supervisedbyprofessionallyqualifedstaffand adheretothehigheststandardsofcleanliness andsafety,aswellasbeingaffordable.

“Thispresentsagreatopportunityto providemorejobswithinthelocalareaand contributetotheeconomicdevelopment objectivesofLisburnandCastlereaghCity Council.Inaddition,itwouldalsocontribute totheneedformoreplayfacilitiesinthe area.” ■

Re-Gen: a global recycling business on a mission to decarbonise the planet

Re-Gen in Newry has expanded from a small family start-up into a major business focused on commingled recycling dealing with around 220,000 tonnes of recyclate each year. Chief executive Joseph Doherty speaks to Ulster Business about its investment in technology and its people, getting the most out of our waste and putting it back into use, and why he believes the commingled system is the way forward

The evolution of Re-Gen in the last two decades has been remarkable.

The Newry-headquartered business has grown from a family-backed recycling start-up to a global recycling business boasting turnover of £85m and a workforce of more than 350.

The company was founded by Joseph Doherty and his siblings in 2004 and is now the third largest commingled recycling processor in the UK, dealing with mixed recycling from Northern Ireland, the Republic, GB and further aﬁeld, as well as residual waste.

In total, Re-Gen now deals with around 220,000 tonnes of recyclables each year. To put that into perspective, it is around two-anda-half times the entire commingled recycling output in Northern Ireland.

The company has invested signiﬁcantly in both its people and technology, in order to maximise its efﬁciency and ability to produce quality recyclate as part of the circular economy,” Joseph Doherty, chief executive of Re-Gen, said.

“There are around 600,000 tonnes of mixed waste in Northern Ireland, and a big part of

that still goes to landﬁll,” Joseph said. “We are at the forefront of making sure landﬁll becomes a thing of the past by recycling as much waste as we possibly can. Re-Gen is hoping to win a raft of new contracts in the future and aim to take a market share of around 50% of the mixed dry waste in Northern Ireland.”

The company is a proponent of commingled recycling.

Several councils here, and many in GB, use the commingled system – with one main recycling bin combining all types of recyclate,

Joseph Doherty, chief executive of Re-Gen in Newry

which are then brought to Re-Gen and separated on site.

“We take in the commingled bins – that’s everything from glass, to paper, cans and plastics,” Joseph says. “A commingled bin is easier for people to deal with. We are now at a point where technology is there to make the process work, and work much better than the kerbside box system. With multiple recycling boxes you are asking people to do work in their homes which we can do in our facility.”

The Re-Gen process is extensive.

“Our facility employs a pre-pick system to remove contaminants from the recycling stream. For instance, if items like black bags or nappies are mistakenly placed in the recycling, these are manually removed at this stage.

“Next, the materials pass through specialised screeners. A cardboard screener separates out the cardboard, followed by a newspaper screener, which isolates newspapers. These materials are then processed through optical sorters for further reﬁnement before reaching the picking line.

“Bottles and cans are directed to their respective lines for additional sorting. Steel cans are extracted using magnets, while aluminium cans are separated out. Plastic bottles are also cleaned and sorted using optical technology.

“After this process, we have a clean mix of bottles, aluminium, and glass. These materials undergo further sorting to reduce contamination levels even more. Paper is sent to paper mills, cardboard to cardboard mills, and glass bottles are washed and ground. This meticulous sorting ensures high-quality materials are prepared for recycling into new products.”

The ﬁrm’s optical scanning equipment can eye material which shouldn’t be in the mix and remove it automatically, to be processed elsewhere.

“By investing £5m in our optical sorters, we are now more efﬁcient and produce a higher quality recyclate,” Joseph says.

In terms of the commingled system, Joseph says he believes it’s the best option for >

reducing carbon emissions, drives higher recycling rates and is preferred by Northern Ireland householders.

“We have several independent reports which show commingled is better than kerbside in terms of recycling rates in Northern Ireland,” he says.

Joseph points to a report by eminent carbon consultants Eunomia in June which compared the carbon outputs from multi-stream kerbside box system against a single blue bin system.

Eumonia reviewed Re-Gen’s commingled mixed-dry recyclable sorting process and concluded it signiﬁcantly outperforms the multi-stream kerbside boxes system for carbon impact per tonne.

In addition, data published by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) 2022/2023 shows that when a commingled bin is used it results in higher levels of dry recycling at the household when compared to other collections systems such as kerbside sort. Also, a NI householder survey conducted in June 2024 concluded that they preferred the blue bin system. Over 79% of those currently using the blue system don’t want to switch to the kerbside box system. (LucidTalk June 2024)

For Re-Gen, it’s about the circular economy. For example, it sells back recyclable waste such as glass and paper waste to producers here, and elsewhere, for reuse in new products –from glass bottles to fast food containers and egg boxes.

“We ship paper and cardboard to various

destinations. For instance, we deliver approximately 7,000 tonnes annually to a packaging ﬁrm in Northern Ireland,” Joseph explains. “Additionally, around 10,000 tonnes are sent each year to producers in Manchester, with another 10,000 tonnes exported to Spain and other countries.”

And when dealing with non-recyclables, ReGen then processes that and delivers much of the output to countries such as Sweden, where the residual waste is developed into energy to heat cities, homes and businesses in Europe.

Joseph says additional investment in Northern Ireland in areas such as glass sorting, or a paper mill, would allow Re-Gen to sell its recyclate directly back into the market in Northern Ireland.

“If there was investment in a glass plant here, it would forgo the need for further investment in a glass bin for households and businesses across the councils,” he says.

Re-Gen has expanded signiﬁcantly over the last 20 years and continues to do so. They have invested in new machinery which brings additional automation to the process of waste separation – reducing the need for human intervention.

And with that investment – which includes plans for a sizeable new plant and leading technology in Newry – will allow Re-Gen to recycle more and higher quality recyclate over the coming years.

Re-Gen is also investing in new robotic arm technology to further increase its efﬁciency and

accuracy when dealing with recyclate.

“Another signiﬁcant development is plastic ﬁlm, which you will be able to put into your blue bin in 2027, so we need to invest to be ready for that,” Joseph says.

Re-Gen has a workforce of circa 350 people and pays above average wages in addition to increased weekend and nightly hourly rates. All employees have access to a state-of-the-art Welfare Building that includes a gym. Every year families are invited to excursions and events at the main site in Newry.

The company also hosts a range of inclusive charity days, as well as donating more than £1m to various organisations since it started.

This includes supporting the Daisy Lodge Hospice, Air Ambulance NI, and Fields of Life – building water wells in countries such as Uganda.

And, looking to the future for Re-Gen and the industry as a whole, Joseph says it’s about further investment and the ability to get more out of the recyclate we have here in Northern Ireland, and beyond.

“The next stage is looking at investing in material production – moving down the supply chain. For example, making animal bedding and sodium silicate from our glass and plastics.

“It’s about increasing the volume we can recover from waste. To do that we will continue to invest in our facilities to ensure we achieve the highest quality of recyclate and fulﬁl Re-Gen’s mission of decarbonising our planet, making it better for all.” ■

Joseph Doherty, chief executive of Re-Gen in Newry

‘They’ve dealt with tobacco, now alcohol… it’sa pity they wouldn’t deal with processed foods’

JamesNicholson,founderofJN Wines,speaksto JohnMulgrew aboutthe ‘nonsense’ofincreaseddutyonwine,areductioninwinedrinking,changing palates,whyitsmodelisdifferent,andfreshplanstoacquireanewbusiness

Overthelastfvedecades,James Nicholsonhasseenitallwhenit comestothewineindustryhere.

Now,it’sfacingitsown,freshhurdles–changingtastes,habits, reducedwinedrinking acrosstheglobe,theoutworkingsofBrexit, andtheincreasedtaxburden.

JNisasuccessfulbusiness,nowinthe multi-millions.ButJamessaysit’snotabout continuingtoscaleandgrowintoanine-fgure operation.

“[Wearen’taimingtobecomea]£100m turnoverbusiness,”hesays.“Weworkwith 300-400smallproducers–somehave20-30 acres,mostareorganic,alotofbiodynamic–lookingtowardssustainableagriculture.

JN Wine,basedonCrossgar,CoDown,is oneofNorthernIreland’sleadingwine retailers andwholesalers,andalsooperatesabasein theRepublicandHighbury Vintners,locatedin London.

“OnlineduringCovidwasmassive–we madeaninvestmentofaround£300,000to £400,000intodigitalandtheinternet–we

wereabletocope,webwise.”

Hesayswhilearound10%ofthatbusiness hasfallenback,it’s retainedan“enormous amountofbusiness”onthatbackofthat growth.

IntheRepublic,thebusinessisonlineonly.

“Wehaveourownfeetofvansand drivers,”hesays.“InLondon,mostdeliveries aredonebyownteam.”

Jamesiscurrentlyintheprocessof completingadealtobuyanotherbusiness, whichwillbringthegroup’stotalheadcountto around60.

Jamesisclearthattherearechanging palatesamongconsumersrightacrossthe board.

“Thevolumeshavedropped–winedrinking inEuropeandtheworldisdropping”,hesays.

“Peoplearetradingup. We arealwaystrying tosay–drinkonegoodbottleratherthan morerubbish.”

Intermsofwhatpeoplearedrinking,James saystheoldworldisstillpopular,alongwith NewZealand,ArgentinaandChile.

There’salsowinenowcominginfromplaces suchasSyriaandLebanon,Jamessays.

“EasternEuropeanwineismorepopular, butthetopwinesaremoreexpensive–about £50-60abottle,”hesays.

Thecostofdoingbusinessisgoingup. Thatincludesincreasingthetaxpaidonwine accordingtoalcoholcontent–wherebya stronger redwillpaymoredutythanalighter Riesling.

“Itwilladdaboutapoundtoabottle,” Jamessays.

“It’sabitofanonsense…alcoholinthe winesmoothsthingsout.Whendrinkingwines withlowalcohol,fermentationhasstopped, andthere’salotmoresugarinthewine.

“Dutyratesaregoingup.Sincetherehave beenincreaseddutyrates,intakehasdropped £1.5bn–itwillputlightsout. Youmightdo thesamesales,pricesareup,butthenumber ofbottlessoldhasfallen.

“Allwinemarkets[see]thereistroubleout thereandabitofdistress–thesearefamilyownedfrmsweworkwith.

“Itbecomesanonsense. We aregoing tohavethehighestdutyrates. We dosome businessinPortugalandthereisnodutyon wine.Idon’tseepeoplefallingaroundthe streets–Iseepeoplein restaurants.

“Alcoholisaneasyhitfor[theGovernment] andthere’saverystronganti-alcohollobby. They’vedealtwithtobacco,nowtheyare dealingwiththis.It’sapitytheywouldn’tdeal withprocessedfoods.”

The recentLabourGovernment’sdecision willalsoseeanincreasedutyonwine–poised toriseby2.7%inlinewiththeRPImeasureof infation.

Likeanybusinesswhichtradesacrossthe BritishIslesandthroughoutEurope,Brexithas elements“whichdon’thelpparticularly”.

“Brexitwassupposedtobeeasy…I’m astonished–theadvantageshere.Ifthey satdownandsaid‘look,wecanmakethisa

strongavibrantplace’.

“Ithoughttheywouldhavebrought expertsandthebestbrainsin–gettingsome programmes? We couldcreatebusinesszones andbedoingsomanythings. We don’tthink 20yearsahead.

“[Thereis]nostrategicplan.Everybusiness needsastrategicplan.It’shandtomouth. Theygetmoneyandhanditout.”

Jamessaysthecurrentframeworkoffers

undilutedaccesstoitsmarkets,buttrade comingfromGBintoNorthernIrelandmeans more“onerous”paperwork.

“AfewcompaniesinLondonweresaying ‘wehavecontracts,wouldyouliketotake themoverapalletofwineamonth–it’s really diffculttogetpaperworkthrough’.

HesaystheRepublic’snewlegallabelling –whichcomesin2026–isanotherelement whichwilladdtime,effortandinvestment. ■

JamesNicholson

InvestNorthernIreland: helpingfrmsseizeopportunities intheglobalgreeneconomy

NorthernIrelandisuniquelypositionedtobecomeagloballeaderingreen manufacturing,technology,services,andsupplychaininnovation. Rachel Sankannawar,headofgreeneconomydevelopmentat InvestNorthernIreland, explainswhybusinessesshouldembracethegreeneconomyandhowInvestNIis helpingthemsucceed

NorthernIreland’sfrmsare well-placedtoleadtheglobal shifttowardsustainability. Fromlargemultinationalstomicroand SMEenterprises,manyarealready reducingtheircarbonfootprintswhile positioningthemselvesinemerginggreen markets.Withastrongfoundationin manufacturing,innovation,andgreen technology,the regionis readytoaccess andanchorvalueinthegreeneconomy.

“Thisisn’tjustasector–it’saglobal opportunitythattoucheseverypartofthe economy,”saysRachelSankannawar,head ofgreeneconomydevelopmentatInvest NI.“Weareworld-classinmanyareasand havethecapabilitiestoleadthewayingreen innovation.”

InvestNI’sgreenfocus InvestNI’sgreeninitiativesalignwithits20242027BusinessStrategyandtheDepartment fortheEconomy’seconomicvision,which prioritisesnetzeroand renewableenergyat theheartofNorthernIreland’sfutureeconomic growth.

To supportthismission,InvestNIprovides acomprehensiverangeof resourcestohelp businessesateverystageoftheirsustainability journey.Fromofferingtechnicaladvice anddevelopingtailoredsustainabilityplans toprovidingfundingforenergy-effcient equipment,theorganisationempowers companiesto reducetheircarbonfootprints

andenhancetheircompetitiveness.

“Wefocusontwokeyareas–helpingfrms togogreenandenablingthemtoaccess globalgreenmarkets,andit’saboutraising awarenessofopportunitiesandhelping businessestopositionthemselvesglobally,” Rachelsays.

Throughcollaborationwithitsforeigndirect investment(FDI)andtradeteams,InvestNI connectslocalcompanieswithinternational partners,helpingthemdiversifyintonew sectors,accessalternativefundingstreams,and meetthegrowingdemandforgreenproducts andservices.

“Thisisaboutmorethanjustmeeting regulatorydemands,”Rachelsays.“It’sabout turningsustainabilityintoacompetitive advantage,helpingNorthernIreland businessesleadininnovation,effciency,and environmental responsibility.”

Withthisdualfocusonsustainabilityand marketpositioning,InvestNIensuresthat localbusinessesarepreparedtoadapttoanet zerofutureandprimedtoseizetheimmense opportunitiesitbrings.Thisapproachaims tosolidifyNorthernIreland’s reputationasa globalhubforgreeninnovationandeconomic growth.

LongMountainWindFarm,Dunloy

Keyinitiativesdrivingchange InvestNIisdrivingseveralinitiativesto accelerateNorthernIreland’sgreeneconomy andnetzerogoals.

OneofInvestNI’sprojectsistheIndustrial DecarbonisationforNorthernIreland(IDNI) initiative,whichbringstogetherover200 frms,councils,andgovernmentbodiesto createacomprehensiveplanfor reducing industrialcarbonemissions.Bymapping industryclusters,infrastructure,andassets, thiscollaborativeeffortaimstodevelopaclear roadmapfordecarbonisation.

“Thisinitiativematchesindustryclusters withviablesolutionsthatcanbescaledacross NorthernIreland,”RachelSankannawar says.“It’saboutcreatingacompetitive andproductiveedge,producingatangible decarbonisationplan,andadvocatingfor futurefundingopportunities.”

IDNIfocusesondrivingcollaboration through regionalclusters,wherebusinesses canshare resources,expertise,and infrastructuretoaddressdecarbonisation challengestogether. Withpracticaltools likeasustainabilitytoolkit,aknowledgesharingplatform,and real-worldexamples, theinitiativehelpsbusinesses reduceenergy costs,improveproductivity,andaccessgreen investmentopportunities.

Inadditiontolocalefforts,InvestNIis showcasingNorthernIreland’sexpertise globallythroughinitiativessuchastheNet ZeroExchangeProgramme.Adelegationof10 frmsandeightstakeholdersfromgovernment, academia,andbusinessfromNorthernIreland toMalaysiaandSingaporetodemonstrate NorthernIreland’scapabilitiesincleanwater, hydrogen,anddecarbonisationtechnologies. Themissionopeneddoorsfortrade, collaboration,andinvestmentopportunities, furtherpositioningNorthernIrelandasaglobal forceinthegreeneconomy.

Closertohome,InvestNI recentlypartnered withNorthernIreland Watertohighlightthe potentialforinnovationandgrowthwithin thewatersupplychain.Thiscollaboration highlightedopportunitieswithinthewater

sector,allowingfrmstodriveinnovation, boostproductivity,andaccessnewmarkets acrossthewatersupplychain.

Anotherkeydevelopmentisthe establishmentoftheUSNetZeroAdvisory Board,supportedbyJoeKennedyIII,USSpecial EnvoytoNorthernIrelandforEconomicAffairs. TheboardleveragesexpertisefromNorthern Ireland’sdiasporatostrengthenthe region’s positionasagloballeaderingreentechnology andnetzeroinnovation.

InvestNIhasalsointroducedtheEnergy EffciencyCapitalGrant(EECG).Thisgrant providesfrmswithfnancialsupportfor installingenergy-effcientequipment,helping frms reduceenergyuse,lowercarbon emissionsandincreaseproductivity.

“Alloftheseeffortsareunderpinnedby InvestNI’snewthree-yearbusinessstrategy, launchedinNovember. Withatargetof £200mandover700investments,”Rachel says.“We’reapproachingthiswithoptimism andambition–thesetargetsarethefoor,not theceiling.”

Throughtheseinitiatives,InvestNIis enablingfrmstoinnovate,grow,andposition themselvesasleadersintheglobalgreen economywhileadvancingNorthernIreland’s sustainablefuture.

Globalgreenleadership

NorthernIreland’sfrmsarealreadymaking theirmarkontheglobalgreenstageby developingcutting-edgetechnologies

InvestNI’sRachel Sankannawar

GR EEN ECONOMY

forthelow-carboneconomy. Wrightbusis oneoftheworld’sbiggestproducersofboth hydrogenandelectricbuses–producedat itsbaseinBallymena.Artemis Technologies isleadinginnovationinzero-emissionin operationmaritimevessels.Atthesametime, Nuadaisworldleadingincarboncapture technologyandCatagenispioneeringgreen hydrogenandsustainableaviationfuel. Additionally,B9EnergyStorageisexploring scalablegreenmethanolasazero-emission fuelfortheglobalmaritimeindustry.

“Thankstoournatural resources,Northern Irelandhasasignifcantadvantagein renewablefuels,”Rachelsays.“Wecantap intoglobalmarketslikesustainableaviation fuelandgreenshippingcorridors reinforcing NorthernIreland’s roleintheglobalgreen economy.”

TheseachievementsshowcasehowNorthern Ireland’sfrmsareleveraginginnovationand naturalassetstoleadinthetransitiontoa sustainable,low-carbonfuture.

Diversifyingintogreenmarkets

NorthernIrelandfrmsarealsodriving innovationinunexpectedways.Plaswire repurposeswindturbinebladesandendoflife aircraftinteriorsinto reusablematerialsforthe circulareconomy.InKilkeel,SeaSourceacooperativeownedbyNIfshermen,usesfshing vesselstoguardmajoroffshorewindassets.

CompanieslikeCASCisexpandingglobally, offeringprecisionengineeringtotheoffshore windsectoropeningoffcesinSouthKorea, Taiwan,andtheUStotapintothisrapidly growingmarket.Similarly,LoweConex, whichbeganasanengineeringfrm,has

evolvedintoaleaderindevelopingdigital energysolutions,whileLaganEnergyexports expertiseinhydrogenelectrolyserstoglobal decarbonisationprojects.

“ThesefrmsdemonstratehowNorthern Irelandbusinessesarecapitalisingongreen marketsandpositioningthemselvesfor sustainablegrowth”Rachelsays.

Thebusinesscaseforsustainability

Rachelhighlightsthegrowingpressureon businessestoadoptsustainabilitypractices, drivenby regulations,customerexpectations, andfnancing requirements.Largefrms areincreasinglyfocusingonScope3supply chainemissions,passingdownobligations totheirsuppliers.ForNorthernIreland’sSME landscape,thispushmakessustainabilitymore criticalthanever.

“DecarbonisationandaddressingScope3 supplychainemissionsarenowcrucialfactors inbusiness,”Rachelsays.“Largerfrms rely heavilyontheirsupplychainstomeetthese goals,makingitessentialforbusinessesofall sizestoadapt.Adoptingsustainabilitypractices isn’tjustgoodfortheenvironment–it’s criticalforstayingcompetitive.Thinkofitasa passportfordoingbusiness.”

Racheloutlinestwokey reasonswhy businessesmustactnow:

1.Competitiveness –“Sustainabilitymakes businessesmoreattractiveaspartnersand supplychainoperators.”

2.Opportunity –“Fortheworldto decarbonise,thereisaneedfortechnologies andservicesthatsupportthejourneyto netzero.Renewableenergy,greenfuels, sustainablewatermanagement,andlow-

carbon retrofttingarejustsomeoftheareas ripefordevelopment.”

Mannok’sGreenHydrogen Valleyprojectis decarbonisingthecementindustry,oneofthe mostchallengingsectorstomakesustainable. CompanieslikeGrahamandSmileyMonroe, areembeddingsustainabilitypracticesinto theiroperationstostrengthencompetitiveness anddrivegrowth.

Byaligningwiththeglobaldrivetoward netzero,NorthernIrelandfrmscanposition themselvesasleadersinsustainableinnovation, accessingnewmarketsandunlocking signifcanteconomicopportunities.

TheWindsorFrameworkadvantage NorthernIreland’suniquepositionwith tariff-freeaccesstobothUKandEUmarkets underthe WindsorFramework,addsfurther opportunity.“We’reinvestingincapabilities throughCityDealsandcentresofexcellence toensurebusinessesare readytocapitaliseon theseopportunities,”Rachelsays.

Acalltoaction

InvestNIinvitesbusinessestoexploregreen opportunitiesandunlocktheirpotential. “Wecansupportyourjourney–whetherit’s accessingnewmarkets,growingyourbusiness, orshowcasingyourcapabilitiesglobally,” Rachelsays.

“Thegreeneconomyisnotjustgoodforthe planet;itisgreatforbusinesstoo.Northern Irelandhasthetalent, resources,andambition toleadintheglobalgreeneconomy.” ■

To fndoutmore,visitwww.investni.com/ support-for-business

WarrenpointPort

Itisimportanttohave femalerolemodels empoweringeachother

Carla McGlynn, named a managingdirectoratCitiinDecember2023,hasworked forNorthernIreland’s largestfnancialservicesemployerfor16years. A recentwinner oftheprestigiousUK WomeninBankingandFinance TechnicalLeader Award, she’s beenacknowledgedforherleadership,andacrossthetechsectorinaddressing diversity, equityandinclusionandencouragingthenextgenerationofwomen

Beginninghercareeratanother Belfast-basedtechnologycompany as a Javadeveloperafterdoingher MScincomputersfollowingherscience degree,Carlagivescredittooutstanding managementwhoexposedhertothe widerpossibilitieswithintheindustryand encouragedhertopursue a broadand variedcareer

“When I startedoutintechnology,I wasvery luckytohave a managerwhosupportedme andshowcasedthepossible rolesandcareer pathsintheindustry,”Carlasays.

“Ihaveworkedacrossthedevelopment lifecycle,fromdevelopertoBA/PM,to leadershippositions,andinCiti I haveworked acrosstheBusiness, TechnologyandBelfast site.”

InDecember2020,Carlawasappointed asglobalheadofmarketsdataandbusiness controlstechnology,a newtechnology organisationleading a teamofapproximately 400technologists, responsibleforbuildingand supportingglobalapplicationsthathelpCiti meettheir regulatorycommitments.

AsthetechnologyBelfastsitelead,Carla supports a largeanddiverselocalteamandis theglobalprogramsponsorforvariousdiversity, equity, andinclusioninitiatives.Additionally, she leadsGenAIformarkets.

CitiBelfastishometoseveninclusion networksthatinclude: Women,Multicultural, Salutes,FamiliesMatter, Disability, Prideand SocialMobility Thesenetworksare allimportant aspectsinhelpingsupportCiti’s brand,

enhancingtheculture,anddevelopingdiversity acrossthebusiness.Theinclusionnetworks promoteengagementamongcolleaguesby creatinganinclusiveenvironmentwhilstgiving backandsupportinglocalcommunities.

Inpartbecauseofthesupportand encouragementshe receivedearlyoninher careeras a womanintech,Carlaispassionate abouttalentdevelopment.

“InCiti I havehadtheopportunitytowork bothlocallyandglobally,”Carlasays.“Icansee thebeneftof a diverseworkforce,and I am proudthatCitiBelfasthasemployeesfromall walksoflifeintheworkplace.

“There canoftenbeanimbalanceinthe genderratiointechnology, and I believe itisimportanttohavefemale rolemodels empoweringeachothertoexcelandbeinspired sotheycanhavefulfllingandsuccessful technologycareers.

“When I startedatCiti,wewere partnering withuniversitiesandcollegestohire placements andgraduatesandidentifedtwoareaswe neededtoaddresstoboostourtalentintake: weneededtoensure more youngpeople were aware ofthediverseopportunitieswithin technologyfrom a youngage,andhelpaddress thegendergapthatwasapparentinthe technologypathways.

“To addressthegendergapofourjunior technologists,myideawasbasedonwhat I feelwouldhavehelpedmeandotherslikeme whenwestartedourcareers.Itwastheideaof seeingwhatyoucanbe,andCitiSpire wasborn eightyearsago.”

CitiSpire is a yearlyfemalementorship programtowhichstudentswhoare studying for a STEM-relateddegreecanapply Successful candidatesare matchedwith a female professionalwithtechnologyexperience forpracticalonetoonecareersupportand guidanceon a monthlybasis.

Studentsare alsoinvitedtoattendthree tailoredvirtualworkshopstolearn tipsand skillsthatwillaidpersonaldevelopmentand helpthemwhenmakingcareerchoicesand preparingforfuture job roles.

“Watchingthedevelopmentofourstudents overtheeightmonthsisalwaysoneofthe highlightsofmyyear,”Carlasays.

Carla’s longandsuccessfulcareertodate, drivesherambitiontopushtechnological innovationfurther, andpavethewayforfuture possibilitiesonboth a localandglobalscale. ■

CarlaMcGlynn

BelfastGrandCentralStation:

ShowcasingNI’sconstruction expertiseandpoweringnewjobs

Around75%of companiescontractedfor Translink’s BelfastGrand CentralStationprojectare fromNorthernIreland

BelfastGrandCentralStationis ashiningexampleofNorthern Ireland’sconstructionexpertisewith over80localcompaniescomingtogether todelivertheisland’slargestintegrated transporthub.

Thislandmarkprojectisnotonlygenerating jobsduringitsconstructionbutisalsohelping tostrengthenthe region’sconstructionsector forthefuture.

Withafocusonsustainabilityandeconomic growth,GrandCentralStationistransforming Belfast’stransportinfrastructurewhilefostering growthandopportunityacrossvarious industries.Itstandsasaproudsymbolof NorthernIreland’scraftsmanship,collaboration, and regionalbalance,positioningthe regionas aleaderininfrastructuredevelopment.

Aboostforlocalbusinessesandcreating goodjobs

Thescaleandprestigeoftheprojecthave openedupinvaluableopportunitiesforlocal businesses.Thesecompanieshaveexpanded theirworkforce,apprenticeshipprograms andoverallbusinessprospects.Firmsfrom

NorthernIreland’s expertiseisevident inthecontribution ofcompanies suchassteelworks frmCastlewellanbased Walter Watson which playedacrucial roleindesigning andconstructing essential components ofthestation.

acrossNorthernIrelandhavecometogether, showcasingdiverseskillsand regionalbalance thatbeneftcommunitiesthroughoutthe country.

AstudybytheCBIandOxfordEconomics showsthatforevery£1spentonconstruction, £2.92isgeneratedinwidereconomicvalue, demonstratingthefar-reachingimpactofsuch large-scaleprojects.

Regionalbalanceandcraftsmanship

Theproject’s regionalbalanceisclearfromthe diversityofcompaniesinvolved. Bradley& Co,basedinGarvagh, ClarkeContracts from Rasharkinand EDFire&Consultancy from Cookstownallcontributedtovariousphases oftheprojectfromelectricalinstallationtofre safetyconsultancy.

NorthernArchaeologicalCompany on theSpringfeldRoadcarriedoutexcavations whilefrmslike ReadyConstruction from ShankillRoad, CausewayGeotech from Ballymoneyand LLoughlan fromCookstown playingkey rolesingroundinvestigations, drainageandducting.

ThorntonRoofng from Toomebridgewas responsibleforthe station’siconicroof, designedtorefect Belfast’sindustrialheritage withits‘sevenpeaks’ symbolisingafaxloom. AdamThornton,director, said:“Thisprojecthas beeninfuentialinnotonly retainingjobsbutalso expandingourworkforce, furtheringourstatusasa leadingbuildingenvelope specialistinNorthern Ireland.”

FoxElectrical,basedinArmagh,alsobenefted fromtheproject.“Throughthisproject,wehave beenabletoaccommodateupto12apprentices, …andwe’vebeenabletoextendourlocal labour,helpingtobuildthesustainabilityof tradeswithinBelfastandthesurroundingareas,” saiddirector,MarkFox.

Thanking the80 localfrms, Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd said:“It is a credit to all the local contractors and suppliers who provided their knowledge and expertiseduring the construction phase to deliver thisiconicandhistoric transport hub Yourinvolvement hascreatedandsustained employmentandapprenticeship opportunitiesandithas contributed to the localeconomy. The construction of Grand Central Station willbe a gamechanger for public transport notjustin Belfastbutacross the north demonstrating how essentialinfrastructure projects can makea positive diference to people’s lives.”

RonanMcGarrity,managingdirectorof Hydroclean inCo Tyrone,emphasisedhow itsinvolvementinthishigh-profleproject“has openeddoorsforadditionalworkandhelpedus buildstrongerrelationshipswithintheindustr y.”

Creatingjobsandopportunities

OthercompanieslikeBallynahinch-based RossBrickwork,Maghera-basedSperrin Facades,HMLfromBallymenaandLisburn’s Walsinplayedessential rolesinthestation’s strikingdesignthroughbrickwork,cladding andfacades.MDIfromOmaghprovided metaldeckingwhileACSCivilsfromArmagh handledwalldemolition.BeltonConstruction ServicesfromArmaghwasalsoinvolvedin groundworksanddrainage.

The reachoftheprojectextendedacross NorthernIrelandwithKone,Belfast,supplying liftsandescalatorsandCrossfrefromMaghera specialistpaintwork.GreentownEnvironmental fromFlorencecourtworkedoninfrastructure operationsandmaintenancewhileReCon WasteManagementfromPortadownmanaged recyclingefforts,furtherenhancingthe project’ssustainability.

Alegacyofcollaborationand sustainability

TranslinkchiefexecutiveChrisConway praisedthecollectiveeffortofallinvolved callingthestationa“magnifcenttestament totheworkmanshipandcollaboration”of NorthernIreland’scompanies.“Thisfagship developmentshowcasesthe region’sadvanced

BradaghInteriors fromDungiven,installed themainceilingworksintheconcourseand platformareas,withKevinGallagher,director sayingthatworkingonthestationhasbeena pointofpride.

manufacturingskillsandsustainability credentialstotheworld,”hesaid.Thestation incorporatesenergy-effcientsystemsand low-carboninitiativesdesignedtominimise energyuseandCO2emissions.Theseefforts underscorethecommitmenttoenvironmental sustainabilityand responsibledevelopment throughouttheconstructionprocess.

Aneweraofpublictransport

BelfastGrandCentralStationwillserveasan internationalgatewaywithanexpectedannual capacityof20millioncustomerjourneys, enablingmorefrequenttrainandbusservices, enhancingconnectivityacrossNorthernIreland andbeyond.Thestationwillalsoencourage sustainabletravel,withprovisionsforwalking, cyclingandothereco-friendlytransport options.

Beyondtravel,with retailandhospitality outletsPretAManger,Starbucks,M&Sand Brewdog,itisadynamicspaceforpeopleto meet,work,and relax.

Conclusion

BelfastGrandCentralStationismorethan justaninfrastructureproject–itisasymbolof NorthernIreland’sconstructionprowess.The collaborationoflocalbusinesseshasensured thesuccessofthisproject,anditsfocuson sustainability,jobcreation,andeconomic growthwillleavealastinglegacy.Asaworldclasstransporthub,itwill remainanessential partofNorthernIreland’seconomyand infrastructure,connectingpeople,places,and theplanetforgenerationstocome. ■

EY: growingand developingaleadingaudit teaminNorthernIreland

EY nowboastsoneofthelargestauditteamshereinNI,workingwithsomeofour best-knownbusinesses,entrepreneurs,microfrmsandmulti-nationals.EYNIaudit partnerlead LindsayRussell isalsomarking20yearswiththefrmandsaysit’sa burgeoningpartoftheorganisationwithconsiderableplansforgrowthonthehorizon

LindsayRussellismarking20years withoneofNorthernIreland’s leadingprofessionalservices businessesandinthattime,EYhas expandedfromateamofjust120in NorthernIrelandintoaworkforceofmore than1,000,withthatexpectedtodouble inthecomingyears,alongwithanew baseinthenorthwest.

LindsayisapartnerleadinEY’saudit practice–andhumblynotesthatworking withsomeofourbestandbiggestbusinesses

acrossNorthernIreland,isbothaprivilegeand opportunityforherteam.

Thatauditteamhasgrownintoa 240-strongworkforcewithdiversityatitscore andplanstoexpandfurtherstill–bringing intalentfromaswatheofbackgroundsand walksoflife.

Lindsayenteredthefeldofaccountancy afteraworkplacementduringherschool days.“I reallyenjoyedit–Igotafavourfor balancingaccountsanddealingwithnumbers, butthebusinessaspectsalsopiquedmy interest,”shesays.

“It’saboutunderstandinghowbusinesses work,communicationandhelpingthose businessessolveproblems.

“Auditisaprofessionwhichishighlyregulatedandwhile regulationandcompliance isanimportantpartofthejob,it’sonlyone part.Equallyasimportantforanauditoris workingwithclientstonavigatechanges intheirbusinessesandprovidingassurance toshareholders,investorsandthewider community.

“Asauditpracticelead,my roleisalso aboutleadingagrowingteamandagrowing business.”

Growthhasbeenfeltrightacrosstheaudit team,andthewiderEYbusinessherein NorthernIreland.“

WhenIstartedwithEYNorthernIrelandwe had120peopleacrosstheentirefrm–weare nowabusinessatjustover1,000peopleand ourauditbusinessis240peoplealone,and oneofthelargestservicelinesinourbusiness.

“Wearesoprivilegedtoworkwiththe organisationswegettocallourclients–andweworkwithsomeofthebestnames NorthernIrelandhastooffer.”

Thatincludesaraftofhouseholdnames, SMEs,familyoperations,majormulti-nationals andmanyofNorthernIreland’sleading entrepreneurs.

EYensuresitattractsthebestpeople intothebusiness,withagraduatetraining programmewhichallowsthemtobecome professionallyqualifed.

EYNorthernIrelandauditpartners:DanielleSmyth,MichaelKidd,LindsayRussellandMarkLawther,frontrow,Neil Warnock,NeilCorryandAndreiMankov,middlerow,andMichaelChristieandSaraMcGreer,backrow

Thereareahostofskills requiredtowork withinaudit–it’snotjustthetechnicalaspect, butthosewiththeabilitytosolveproblems, communicatewell,andwhoarecuriousand wanttounderstandhowbusinessesoperate.

“AtEY,weseeourselvesastrustedbusiness advisers–youdon’tjustgetthatbyanswering atechnicalsolution.

“It’saboutpeoplewhocanthink innovativelyandoutsidethebox,butwhocan alsocommunicatenewideastobusinessesina simpleandeffectiveway.”

Diversityintheworkplace remainsan importantstrandforEY–benefttingthe organisationandthebusinessesitworkswith.

“It’sveryimportant,”Lindsaysays.“No clientisuniform,andeachwillhaveadifferent setofchallengesandexperiences. We needto bringthebestteamtoourclients,andhaving diversitybothofbackgroundandofthought isakeypartofthat. We nowhaveateamof ninepartnerswithsuchabreadthofmarket experience.”

“Thatdiversitycomesfromexperience, frombackground,genderandethnicity.It’sa keypillarforusatEY.”Lindsaysaystheaudit businessnowhasclosetogenderparity.

AuditisthekeyspecialismwithinLindsay’s team–butinordertosolvewiderbusiness problems,herteamareabletodrawonthe experienceandexpertiseofotherteamswithin EYincludingourtax,transactionsanddata teams.

“It’sverymuchateameffortandwe recognisethatourclientswantacollaborative, cohesiveandjoinedupteambringingthe bestandmost relevantexperiencetothem,” Lindsaysays.“There’snoonestandardfor ourclients–eachbusinessisatadifferent stageintheirjourney,soit’simportantthatwe workcollaborativelywiththemtoaddressthe queriestheyhaveatanytime.”

Likemanyothersectors,EYisalsoworking withandassistingfrmsinembracingsomeof thebeneftsofGenerativeAI(GenAI).

“Technologyhasevolvedsoquicklyover thelast10yearsandweareinanewerawith GenAI. We useadigitalauditapproachtoday aswe realisedtherewasashiftinhowthings weredelivered.

“Ithasenabledustodeliveranauditmore effciently,satisfythe regulatory requirements, aswellasbeingabletoutiliseAItohelp betterunderstandaclient’sbusiness,butalso importantlyithasgivenusanopportunity topresentaclient’sbusinessbacktothem throughapotentiallydifferentlens–which createsvalueforabusiness.”

Lookingahead,LindsaysaysEYis undergoingaconsiderableexpansion–with supportfromInvestNorthernIrelandandthe NorthernIrelandExecutive,EYplanstoemploy another1,000staffoverthenextfveyears.

“Thatoffersagreatopportunityforpeople withinEYandthewidercommunity,”shesays. She’skeentoattractasmanytalented

individualsaspossiblefromarangeof backgroundsandskillsets.

“Wewanttoattractandappealtoasmany ofthosetalentedindividualsouttherewho wanttoworkinprofessionalservices,”she says.

“WearerunningAssuredSkillsAcademies, inpartnershipwiththeDepartmentforthe EconomyandInvestNI,tohelptargetpeople fromarangeofbackgrounds.

EYisalsogrowingconsiderablyoutside Belfast–withplansforanewhubinthe northwesttobebasedinDerrycity.

“Wewanttotargettalentfromallcorners ofNorthernIreland,andournewNorth Westhubwillallowustodothat.It’sahuge opportunityforthosecurrentlyseekingwork inprofessionalservices,forourexistingpeople, andthecompaniesweworkwith.”

LindsaysaysEYoffersstrongopportunities tojoina“growingandvibrantteam”.

“Whensomethinghasmomentumand excitement,it’sagreatplacetowork.Itcreates developmentandprogressionopportunities andthechancetoworkwithsomeofthebest frms,whilsthavingastrongfocusonhybridworkingandonwellbeing.”

To concludeLindsaynotesthat“EY remains committedtotheirinvestmentintheNorthern Irelandeconomyandareproudtoworkwith businessesofallsizesandscaleandemploy someofthebrightesttalentourcountryhasto offer”. ■

LindsayRussell

Leadingheartcharity callsoncommunities tobecomelifesavers

TheCircuitisthenational defbrillatornetworkwhichmaps defbrillatorsacrosstheUKsothat ambulanceservicescandirectbystanders tothenearest registereddefbrillator iftheyseesomebodyhavingacardiac arrest.

BritishHeartFoundationNorthernIreland (BHFNI)iscallingoncommunitiestohelp createalifesavingmapof100,000UK-wide defbrillator registrations,ensuringmorelives canbesavedinemergencies.

Onemanwhoknowsonlytoowell theimportanceofthisisJohnDeerywho miraculouslysurvivedacardiacarrestatthis year’sBelfastMarathonthankstobystanders performingCPRanddefbrillation.

The63-year-old,whoisoriginallyfrom Eglinton,CoLondonderry,andnowlivesin southBelfast,isanexperiencedlong-distance runner,havingcompletedmanymarathons andhalf-marathons.

Atthestartof2024,Johnfeltathispeak ftnessandhadnoideaanythingcouldbe wrong.

BelfastMarathon

Lookingback,Johnnow realiseshemayhave ahadawarningsignwhencompletinga5k trainingrunintheweekapproachingthe BelfastMarathon.

Johnsaid:“TheweekbeforetheBelfast marathon,IwenttoMontaltoEstatetodoa 5k.ThesecondtimearoundthecircuitIfelt outofbreath,enoughthatIhadtowalka littlewhichwasstrangeconsideringIwassoft andlookingback,itwasasign.Iputitdown tohavingslightasthmaandhavingbeentired fromcompletingtheMadridhalfmarathon weeksbefore.”

HoweverJohnwasfeelingftand readyon marathondayonBankHolidayMondayin

JohnDeery(right)survivedacardiacarrestattheBelfastMarathonthankstoadefbrillatorandCPRperformedby PeterO’Hare(centre).JohnandPeterarepicturedalongsideheadofBritishHeartFoundationNI’sFearghalMcKinney andarebackingtheheartcharity’scampaigntocreatealifesavingmapof100,000UK-widedefbrillatorregistrations

earlyMay2024.

John’slastmemoryofthatfatefuldaywas turningontotheUpperNewtownardsRoad, just500metresafterthestartoftherace. Howeverhenowknowsthatitwasn’tuntilthe halfwaymarkof13milesthathehadacardiac arrest.

Johntalksaboutfourpeopleashis‘angels’ –PaulandReginaMcKeown,asisterinthe Royal VictoriaHospitalcardiacward,andPeter O’Hare,whowereintherightplaceatthe righttimetogethimemergencyattention, performCPRandmostimportantlyaccessand useadefbrillatorwhichultimately restarted John’sheart.

Peter’sstory

PeterO’HarewhoworksatStrykerand overseestheirdefbrillatorportfoliomanaged to restartJohn’sheartwithCPRanda defbrillator.

Petersaid:“I’msothankfulIwasable totakeimmediateactionanditshowsthe importanceofhavingdefbrillatorsinthe community.”

TheCircuit

FearghalMcKinney,headofBHFNI,says: “Whensomeonehasacardiacarrest,every secondcounts–earlyaccesstoadefbrillator isvitaltogivesomeonethebestchanceof survival.

“Iwouldurgeanyonewhohasa defbrillator,whetherinapublicplace, communityorbusinessbuthasn’tyet registeredittopleasedosoandhelpuscreate alifesavingmapof100,000defbrillator registrations,ensuringmorelivesaresavedin emergencies.” ■

To registeryourdefbrillatoronTheCircuitand formoreinformationvisitwww.thecircuit.uk

Your runwaytobusinesssuccess

Deadlines,scheduledmeetings,and globaloffcehours – inbusiness, there isnodoubtthattimeisofthe essence.

“Withtheriseofglobalisationandan undeniabledemandforfastsolutions,ithas neverbeenasimportanttohaveaccessto effcientand reliableconnectivity,”saysKaty Best,chiefcommercialoffceratBelfastCity Airport.

“In a post-Covidworld,in-personmeetings, conferences,andnetworkingare more valued, butthere’s anappetiteforthistobedoneat a time,andin a way, thatiscomfortableand stress-freeforthetraveller.”

Throughitsprimelocation,onlyfveminutes fromBelfast’s bustlingbusinesscentre,andits fastandstreamlinedpassengerexperience, BelfastCityAirportisprovidingtravellerswith theoptiontohaveitbothways.

Itsfrequentfightstodomesticairports coupledwithitsunmatchedglobalconnectivity meanspassengerscanmakethemostof theirtime,maximisingtheirproductivityand minimisingtimespentcommuting.

“BelfastCityAirportoffersdirectconnectivity tomore UKdestinationsthananyother airportinNorthern Irelandandservesas Northern Ireland’s onlytrueglobalgateway withconnectionstoover190destinationsvia airportssuchasLondonHeathrow, Amsterdam, andManchester,”Katysays.

“We prideourselvesonkeepingourbusiness travellersconnectedyear-round,givingthem fexibilityandchoicetosuittheirneedswhich isfurtherenhancedbyourabilitytodeliveran exceptionaljourneyforpassengers.”

The resultsspeakforthemselves – in2023, BelfastCityAirportwasnamedtheUK’s most punctualairport,whileitsspeedysecurity

processingtimesare unrivalled.

Italsoboastsoneoftheshortestcar-to-gate distancesinEurope,idealforbusinesstravellers thatwanttoenjoythefasteststarttotheir journey

“We are dedicatedtomeetingtheeverevolvingneedsoftravellersandinvestinour facilitiestoensure thatpassengershave,not only a smoothexperience,but a comfortable one,”Katysays.

“Lastmonthwecompleted a £3m investmenttosignifcantlyenhanceoursearch andsecurityarea,furthersupportingour commitmenttosettingthestandard fortravel inNorthern Ireland.

“We alsoopened a new restaurant,Samson’s Kitchen & Bar, inspiredbyBelfastandthe iconicSamsonandGoliathcranes,whichoffers passengers a rangeoflocalfavouritesand modern dishes,adding a uniquetouchtothe diningexperience.

“Thisisinadditiontomarkingoneyear ofour refurbishedAspire Lounge, a £1.2m investmentwhichincreasedcapacityfrom70 peopletoaccommodate178seats.”

Withitsunbeatablelocationnearthecity centre,itsabilitytodeliver a fythroughand comfortableairportexperience,anditsfrstclassconnectivity, it’s nosurprisethatBelfast CityAirportisthefrstchoiceformany

Whetherpassengersare headingfrom boardinggatetoboardroomorbackagain, BelfastCityAirportkeepsNorthern Ireland businessmoving. ■

To fndoutmore,visit:belfastcityairport.com

Fears brewing over future ofoperationsat Dundalkbeermaker

Alltech,theanimalnutritionand foodgroupfoundedbythelate DrPearse Lyons,isundertakinga reviewintothefutureofitsbreweryin Dundalk.

TheopeningfollowedAlltech’sacquisition fromthefamilyofthelateLordBallyedmond oftheStation WorksBreweryinNewryin 2015,whichwas relocatedtothenearbyCo Louthtown.

ThePearse LyonsBreweryinDundalk,part ofAlltech’sBeverageDivisionIreland(ABDI), wasopenedin2018ontheformerMacArdle MooreBrewerysiteandproducesbeerbrands suchasFoxesRock.

In responsetoquestionsaboutspeculation aroundthefutureoftheDundalkbrewery, aspokeswomanforAlltechsaiditwas “undertakinga review”ofthebrewing operationsatABDI.

“Atthistime,nopermanentdecisions regardingthefacilityorteammembershave beenmade,asthecompanyisonlyina considerationphase,”shesaid.

“Thecompanyiscurrentlyinaconsultation processandwillthoroughly reviewthe situation,assessingallavailableoptionsand proposals.

“This reviewisbeingconsideredtoincrease effciencyandfocusonareaswiththegreatest opportunitiesforfuturegrowth.

“ThisproposalappliesspecifcallytotheIrish brewerydivisionandwillnotaffectAlltech’s spiritsbusinessinIrelandoranyofitsKentucky beverageoperations,”sheadded.

“ThePearse LyonsDistilleryinDublinwill continuetoproducethehigh-qualityspirits andexperiencesitscustomershavecometo love.”

The reviewintothefutureofthePearse LyonsBrewerycomesduringadiffcultperiod forthecraftbeersectordomesticallyand overseas.

CraftbeerinIrelandhasstruggledto competewithofferingsfromitslarger, multinationalrivalssuchasDiageoand Heineken.Otherfactors,suchassoaring energybillsandbroaderconsumerinfation, havealsohitsalesandmargins.

BordBia’sCraftBeerandCiderReport2023 showedindependentmicrobrewerieshada marketshareofjust3.4%thepreviousyear.

The reportestimatedthatthetotalturnover amongcraftbeerproducerswasjust€52min 2022.

BordBia’s researchalsoshowedthat20 microbreweriesenteredthemarketbetween 2018and2023,while16left.

Inthemiddleof2023,the reportsaidthere were79microbreweriesinIreland.

TheUKindustryhasalsostruggledin recent years.AccordingtotheSocietyofIndependent Brewers,theUKindustrysawanetclosurerate of38breweriesinthefrstquarterof2024.

ThelateDr Lyonshadaninterestinthe alcoholsector,havingworkedattheHarp LagerbreweryinDundalkwhenhewas14.He wasalsothefrstIrishmantoachieveaformal degreeinbrewinganddistillingfromthe BritishSchoolofMaltingandBrewing.

Dr LyonsmovedtotheUSinthelate 1970sandfoundedAlltechin1980withjust $10,000.Accordingtothecompany’swebsite, Alltech reportedaround$2bnin revenuefor 2019andagainin2020.

Dr Lyonsopenedhisfrstbreweryin Lexington,Kentucky,in1999.

In2017,Dr Lyonsandhiswife,Deirdre, openedthePearse LyonsDistilleryinthe historicStJamesChurchintheheartof Dublin’sLiberties. ■

Supportinglocalatthe heartofMusgraveNI

MusgraveNorthern Ireland –whosebrandsincludeSuperValu, Centra,Mace,Musgrave MarketPlace,DrinksInc.andRobbWines –iscommittedtosupportinglocal.

Demonstratedbyits£166mannualspend withlocalsuppliers,producersandfarmers, Musgraveisalsofrmlyfocusedonmaking a differenceinthecommunitiesitserves,through meaningfulpartnershipswithlocalcharities, DesiDerby, directorofmarketingsays.

“Buildinglongtermstable relationshipsis oneofourunderlyingvaluesatMusgrave,and that’s evidentinthesupportwehaveforour charitypartners – ActionCancerandNorthern IrelandChestHeartandStroke,”hesays.

Since2001,Musgrave,throughitsSuperValu andCentra retailbrands,hassupportedAction Cancer, raisingover£3.8mtodate,helpingto keepthecharity’s mobiledetectionunittheBig Busonthe road – deliveringlife-savingbreast screening,skincancerdetectionandhealth checkappointmentstocommunitiesacross Northern Ireland.ThebrandsalsofundAction Cancer’s healthactionprogramme,educating schoolpupilsabouthealthylifestyles.

MacehassupportedNorthern Ireland ChestHeartandStrokesince2016,alongside

MusgraveMarketPlaceandDrinksInc. Together, thebrandshaveraisedmore than£350,000to helpdelivervitalcare andpreventionservices forpeoplelivingwithchest,heartandstroke conditions,aswellascarryingoutcrucial researchintoprevention.

“We’vehad a successfulyearoffundraising sofar, withcampaignsincludingEspresso We Care,whenwedonated50pofeveryFrankand Honestcoffeesoldoverfourdaystoourcharity partners,raising a fantastic£28,600,”Desisays.

“We alsodonated50pfromthesaleof pumpkinstoActionCancer, andMacestores tookpartin‘AMACE-ingDonateDay’toraise moneyforvitalbloodpressure checks.

“Thesupportfromourindependent retail partners,theirteams,ourcolleaguesandof courseourcustomers,issecondtonone, andwelookforward tosharingourannual fundraisingtotalsearlyin2025.”

Musgrave’s supportforlocaldoesn’t stop there. To dateithasplanted15,000treesacross 50locationssupportingcommunitygroups, sportsclubs,schoolsandfarmers,inpartnership with TreesontheLand. A further5,000trees willbeplantedinearly2025.

Andlastyear, Musgravejoinedforceswith socialenterpriseNowGroup,launchingits

Launchingthe ‘Espresso We Care’ fundraisinginitiative fromSuperValu, CentraandMACE, DesiDerby(centre), marketingdirector atMusgraveNIis joinedbyNIChest HeartandStroke’s donordevelopment managerNadia Duncan,andAction Cancer’scorporate fundraisingmanager, LucyMcCusker

SkillstoEmploymentProgramme(STEP)to employadultswithneurodiverseconditionsor learningdisabilities.SuperValuandCentrastores havealsobecomeJAMCard friendly, giving customerswithcommunicationbarriersJust A Minutein a non-verbalway Earlierthisyear, MusgravewasnamedJAMCard Partnerofthe YearbyNowGroup.

Intheeducationsphere,Musgraveisan ESGpartnerof YoungEnterpriseNI,helpingto empoweryoungpeoplebecome responsibleand sustainablebusinessleadersofthefuture.The businesshasalsojoinedtheSistersINLeadership Programmethatwillseeseniorfemaleleaders mentorsixthformpupils,helpingtoempower youngwomentoembracetheirpotentialand developtheskillsneededtothriveintheirfuture careers.

“We haveover200SuperValu,Centraand Macestoreslocatedintheheartofcommunities acrossNorthern Ireland,”Desisays.“Our retailersandtheirteamsliveandworkinthese communitiesandtogetherweaimtomake a difference.Eachofthesepartnerships refect ourvaluesandpurposeandare making a tangibleandvaluableimpact – welookforward tocontinuingtosupportthesecausesandto making a realdifference.” ■

Navigatingthenewlandscape:

ChangestoUKIHTreliefsforBPRandAPR

Inasignifcantmove,theChancelloroftheExchequerhasannouncedreformstothe UKInheritance Tax(IHT)reliefs,specifcallytargetingBusinessPropertyRelief(BPR) andAgriculturalPropertyRelief(APR).Thesechanges,settotakeeffectfromApril 6,2026,arepoisedtoimpactmanyindividualswhohavestrategicallyplannedtheir estatestomaximisethesereliefs,writes Nicola Averell,associatetaxdirectorof SumerNorthernIreland

Currentframeworkandupcomingchanges

Underthecurrentsystem,BPRandAPRoffer reliefsatratesof50%or100%onqualifying businessandagriculturalproperties.Thishas allowedindividualstosignifcantly reduce theirIHTliabilities,oftenupto100%ofthe property’s value.However, thenew reforms introduce a capandalterthe reliefrates, fundamentallychangingthelandscapeofestate planning.

FromApril6,2026,the100% reliefwillonly applytothefrst£1mofcombinedagricultural andbusinessproperty Thiscapis a substantial shiftfromtheexistingframework,where no suchlimitexists.Forpropertiesexceedingthis threshold,the reliefratewilldropto50%.This changenecessitates a recalibrationofestate planningstrategies,especiallyforthosewith substantialbusinessoragriculturalassets.

Impactonunlistedsharesandproportional allocation

Anothercriticalchangeisthe reductionof BPRforsharesnotlistedon recognisedstock exchanges,suchastheAlternativeInvestment Market(AIM).Currentlyeligiblefor100% relief, theseshareswillseetheir reliefratehalvedto 50%fromApril2026.Thisadjustmentcould signifcantlyaffectinvestorsandbusiness ownerswhohave reliedonAIM-listedsharesas a tax-effcientinvestmentvehicle.

The£1mallowancewillbeproportionately allocatedacrossqualifyingproperty For instance,ifanindividualowns£6minunquoted tradingcompanysharesand£4minagricultural property, theallowancewillbesplit,with £600,000allocatedtobusinessproperty and£400,000toagriculturalproperty This proportionalallocation requirescarefulplanning tooptimisetheavailable relief.

Considerationsforgiftsandtrusts

Thechangesalsoextendtochargeablelifetime transfers(CLTs) andgifts.Forgiftsmadeon orafterOctober30,2024,where thedonor diesonorafterApril6,2026andwithin sevenyearsofthegift,thenew reliefrateswill apply Thechangeswillalso resultinadditional complexitiesaroundtrusts’10-yearanniversary chargesandexitcharges,particularlywhere multipletrustshavebeencreatedpostOctober 30,2024bythesameperson(settlor).

TheGovernmenthasannounced a technical consultationinearly2025toclarifythe applicationofthesechanges,particularly concerningtrusts.Thisconsultationwillbe crucialforadvisorsandtaxpayerstounderstand thefullimplicationsandexplore potential strategiestomitigateIHTexposure.

Finalthoughts

Whilethese reformsintroduceuncertainty andpotentialchallenges,theyalsopresentan

opportunityforproactiveplanning. Taxpayers shouldbeginexploringoptionstoadjusttheir estateplansinlightofthenewrules.Engaging withprofessionaladvisorswillbeessential tonavigatethisevolvinglandscapeand ensure thatestateplans remaineffectiveand compliant.

Forthoseseekingguidance, reachingoutto taxprofessionals,suchasthePrivateClienttax teamatSumerNorthern Ireland,canprovide valuableinsightsandtailoredadvice.Asthe draftlegislationprogresses,stayinginformed andpreparedwillbekeytosuccessfully managingtheimpactofthesechanges. Thecontentofthisarticleisforinformation purposesonlyandadviceparticulartoyour circumstancesshouldbesoughtfrom a professionaladviser ■

For further information,visit sumerni.co.ukor email: caroline.keenan@sumerni.co.ukor nicola.averell@sumerni.co.uk

PicturedalongsideSumerNorthernIreland’smanagingdirector,BrianClerkin,foregroundleft,aremembersofthetax team,CathyKennedy,RichardBlakeman,Nicola AverellandCarolineKeenan

OU TSOU RC ING

EllenDickson

EllenDickson of Telefónica TechUK&Ispeaksto

MargaretCanning aboutitsworktocreateasingle digitalcarerecordforpatientsinNorthernIreland

Theimpactofherworkat Telefónica TechUK&IinBelfast reallycame hometoEllenDicksonwhenshe tookherdadtoA&EinJune.

ItwasjustoneweekafterBelfastHealth &SocialCare Trusthadgoneliveonthe Encompasssystem,createdbyUScompany Epic,whichcreatesasingledigital recordfor everypatientintrustsaroundNorthernIreland. Epic’s10-yearcontractwithHealthandSocial CareNIwassignedin2020andiswortha totalof£275m.

Telefónica TechUK&Ibuildsandmanagesall theback-endITinfrastructureinvolvedinusing thesoftware,providedbyEpic.

InA&Ewithherdad,Ellensawallhispatient detailswerenowheldinonedigital record, markingsignifcantprogressfromtheold paper-basedsystem.

Ellen,vicepresidentofenterprisehealthat Telefónica TechUK&I,joinedthebusinessin 2007whenitwasstillNovosco,ahome-grown ITfrmsetupbyPatrickMcAliskeyandJohn Lennon.

ItwaslateracquiredbyCancom,becoming partofSpanishgroup Telefónica Techin2021.

Telefónica TechUK&Inowemploysaround 300peoplefromheadquartersinCatalyst in TitanicQuarter.Inaccountsfor2022, Telefónica TechNorthernIrelandhad revenue of£56.6mandpre-taxproftsof£2.3m.

Ellenleadsthestrategichealthteam inBelfast,andshe’sproudofitsworkon Encompass.It’sbeen rolledoutinBelfast,after alaunchwithSouthEasternHealthandSocial Care Trust.Oncefullylaunched,itwillbeused by70,000staffmembersacrossthetrusts.

She’snowwell-placedtoexplainhow itworks.“YourEncompass recordwill commenceassoonasyoupresenttoA&E. Ihadtheexperiencewithmyownfather,a weekaftertheBelfast Trustgo-live,whenhe presentedtoA&Ewithmesittingbesidehim andtheyinitiatedhisEpiccare record.

“NowthathehasanEpic record,itis visiblenomatterwhereheis.Ifhewas onholidayinFermanaghandpresents fortreatmentinDerry,theyseethesame information.

“It’sone recordpercitizenvisibletothe entire region,soitmeansthere’snohaving toaskthepatientquestionslike‘whatare yourprescriptions?’

“Ifyou’vehadanX-rayinBelfastinJuly, andyoupresenttotheSouthEastern Trustin November,theyseetheX-raythat’scoming throughtheimagessystemintoEpic.

“Alotofthatriskassociatedwith themobilityofcitizensandalotofthe complexityofhavingtogointodisparate informationsetsiscompletelymitigatedby this regionalprogramme.”

Butshestressesthatlaunchingthesystem “isthestartofthedigitaljourney,notthe destination”.

“Itunderpinsfutureinnovationandopens upawhole realmofopportunitiesonhowto increaseproductivity,mitigateriskandsecure patientdata.

“SoIthinkthatwhilstthisis reallyhigh focusandvisible,what’sgoingtocomeafter thisinthenextthreetofveyearsisgoingto beparticularlyinteresting.It’sacatalystfor realchange.”

“Ifyoudon’thavethatfoundationalcore keysingle-view record,it’sverydiffcult toleveragealotoftheinnovationthat’s happeningintechnologyacrosstheglobe.It’s almostimpossibletodothatwhenyoudon’t havethatsinglelensintothepatient.

“That’swhytheinvestmentisjustifed… it’sabsolutelygoingtogiveusthat opportunitytochangehowwedelivercare.

“Withmydad,Icouldseethem actuallystartingtobuildupmeaningful informationinsidehiscare record.Thatwas fascinatingformetosee.Itstartstobuilda comprehensiveview.>

OU TSOURCI NG

“Sonowanysubsequentvisitshehas, they’reabletoseeinaveryintuitiveand intelligentway,whathisnormalparameters areforbloodpressure,forexample.Itwilllearn abouttheuniquenessofhiscare.

“Wehadapatientadministrationsystem before,butwedidn’thaveanelectronichealth record.

“IfbeforeyoupresentedtotheMaterA&E andturnedouttohaveabrokenarmand neededsurgeryinMusgraveParkHospital, theywouldhavehadtobundleallthat informationupandsenditwithyou,andit wasmostlypaper-based.

“Butbeingabletoseeitinacentralised systemthateveryone’scontributingtoisa gamechanger.”

ShesaystheEpicsoftwareis“theworld classdefactostandardintheprovisionof consolidatedelectronicpatientsystems”.

“Nothingiscompletely100%foolproof. Youcanhaveallthelayersoftechnology butit’shumanbeingsthatinteractwith technology,andashumanswe’refallible.

“Butintermsofastepchange,Idon’t

knowifwecouldcalculatetherisksthatit’s mitigating.”

Shesays Telefónica TechUK&Ihadbeenin astrongpositiontobidforthework,after buildingandsupportingotherEpicplatforms inthepast.“Forusitwasaclearbid. We’ve gotthisexpertise,capabilityandskillsowe thoughtandhopedthatwecouldputa compellingoffertogether.”

“Fromourperspectiveastheplatform provider,it’sbeenfantastic.Itwasan aggressiveprogrammeofworkandabsolutely ambitiousbutitisontrack.”

Thismonth,NorthernHealth&SocialCare Trustadoptsthesystem,followedbythe southernandwesterntrusts,whichwilllaunch thesystemtogetherinaroundsixmonthstime.

Anditputsthecompanyinagoodposition tobidforsimilarworkinfuture.“Thefactthat wenowhavewithinNIonesingleEpicinstance thatisservicingfvediscretetrusts,isa really goodwaytoprovidecomfortthatwe’vegot thoseskillsandcapabilitytothosethatwantto scaleoutotherEpicinstances.”

Shedescribed Telefónica TechUK&Iin

Belfastas“reallybuoyant”withtheEncompass programmeameaningfulprojectforthestaff workingonit.

“Ithinkthisprogrammehas reallygivenus somethingtofocusonthat’sonourdoorsteps. Itisourfamiliesbenefting.Itfeelsdifferent whenyou’reworkinganddeliveringaservice inthe regionthatyouliveinandyoucan directlycorrelatethebeneft.

“Andbeingabletoknowandunderstand thatwe’replayingasmallpartinmakingsure thateverybodyhasaccesstotheinformation theyneedonmydad’scareisverycomforting formepersonally.

“It’sfascinatingtobepartofandIlove pullingthecurtainbackandunderstanding howaclinicalworkfowtransitionsfroma paper-basedsystemintoadigitaljourney,and howmuchmoreeffcientisthatfornursesand forthedoctorsandphysiosandoccupational therapistsandthosethatareatthefrontlineof deliveringthatcare.”

“Fromthedatesthatwerepublishedwhen wesignedthecontract,wehaven’tmisseda date,we’reabsolutelyontrack.”

US investors stillsee ‘Belfast through the lensof the Troubles’

ByKurtisReid

TopUSdiplomatJoeKennedyIII saysAmericanscanstillsee“Belfast throughthelensofthe Troubles” whenitcomestoinvestinghere,ashe preparestodeparthis roleasJoeBiden’s specialenvoy.

Amemberoftheproliﬁcpoliticaldynasty, JoeKennedyIIIhasbeentheUSSpecialEnvoy toNorthernIrelandsinceDecember2022.

Heisduetodepartthe roleattheendof nextmonth,withhissuccessorduetobe appointedbytheincomingPresidentDonald Trump.

Speakingduringhis10thandﬁnalvisitto NIasUSSpecialEnvoy,MrKennedysaid“the hardsell”toUSbusinesseswasgettingthem tosetuporinvesthereduetothe“lens” whichsometimesimpactedhis roleto“shinea spotlightandtellNorthernIreland’sstory”.

Healsosaidhehopeshisuncle,Robert FKennedyJr,whoistippedfora roleinUS President-elect Trump’sadministration“leads byscience”despitehispublichealthconspiracy beliefs.

“Ihavetriedtolookattheopportunities NorthernIrelandhas,andinmy role,thebestI candotoadvanceit,”hesaid reﬂectingonhis roleoverthepasttwoyears.

“Justbecausethere’saspecialenvoydoesn’t meanbillion-dollarinvestments,butit’sabout puttingdownapresence.It’saboutgetting Belfastontheradaronbusinessesthatit wasn’tbefore.

“ThehardselltoanextentwithNorthern IrelandisthatBelfastisknownintheUS, speakingfromanAmericanperspective,is thatit’sstilloftenseenthroughthelensofthe Troubles.

“Weranintotheissuewithsomeofthe pressaroundthe25thanniversary(ofthe GoodFridayAgreement),andthe recognition ofit.

“Someofthepicturesputforwardbymajor Americanpressoutletswereatpeacewalls, infrontofconcretebarriers–whichIalways foundfrustrating,becauseanytimeanyone swingsagolfclubhere,theskyisblueandthe grassisgreen.

“It’spartofanarrativechange,thesingle

biggestthingthatcouldhelpNorthernIreland isthatnarrativechangefromonedefinedbya conflictthatended26yearsagowithapeace accord,whichdoesn’tmeanthateverything allofasuddenbecomessmoothandeasy,but thisplacehasdoneanenormousamountof hard,difficultandpainfulworktogettothe placeitistoday.

“WhatIviewasanessentialpartofmyjob istryingtoshineaspotlightonandtellthat storyandgetthatstorysharedasbroadlyas wepossiblycan.”

MrKennedyalsosaidhehasspenthis timeinthe role“sellingNorthernIreland”on theglobalstageonthe“talent”hereandis pleasedthatwithinhis rolehehaswitnessed Stormont’s reformingandthe Windsor Framework.

“WhatNorthernIrelandneedstodoisgrind outthedailytaskofgovernance,thebuilding blocksareinplace–it’satributetohere, youhaveitall,butit’sgivingpeoplepeace ofmindthatit’sthere.Butthechallengeis gettingpeopletocomehere.Ittakestimeand engagement.” ■

JoeKennedyIII picturedinBelfast lastmonth

UK’s largest sweet wholesaler eyeingﬁrst NIbase

Hancocks,whichsuppliessweetsandconfectioneryto outletsacrosstheUK,islookingatsettingupitsown baseandwarehousingoperationsinNorthernIreland, writes JohnMulgrew

TheUK’slargestsweetsand confectionerywholesaleriseyeing itsﬁrstmajorbasehereinNorthern Ireland.

Hancocksspecialisesinselling‘bulkpickand mix’to retailershere,alongsideUS-branded sweetsandarangeofotherconfectionery.

Whileit’sbeensellingitsproductshere inNorthernIrelandformanyyears,it’s nowlookingatdevelopinganewbaseof operationshere.It’sunderstoodtheﬁrmhas beeneyeingcommercialwarehousesitesin Belfast,withthepossibilityofmovingintothat marketatsomestageinthenextyear.

Theﬁrmsaidithas“exploredthemarket andopportunities”here.

JonathanSummerley,chiefoperating ofﬁceratHancocks,said:“Overthepast fewyears,we(Hancocks)have reviewed ourstoreportfolioandassessedcustomer demand,includinginNorthernIreland,where wehaveexploredthemarketandpotential opportunities.

“Wearestillattheexploratorystageand

therearenoimmediateplanstolaunch Hancocksoperations.

“Throughoursistercompany, Worldof Sweets,wehavelongestablished relationships withwholesalersandindependentsinNorthern Irelandwhichareextremelyimportanttous.

“Ifthingsdoprogressbeyondthis exploratoryphase,wewillbehappytoprovide furthercomments.”

One retailerwhosellsarangeofthe ﬁrm’sproductswelcomednewsofapossible expansionintoNorthernIreland.“Yes,Ithink theyshouldhavebeenherelongago,”hesaid.

Hancocks,whichhasbeeninbusinessfor morethan60years,sellsawiderangeof well-knownandpopularchildhoodsweets to retailersacrosstheUK,includingmilk chocolatetoffeedrops,chocolatejazzies,pink andwhitemice,colabottles,jellysnakes,and ﬂyingsaucers.

ThebusinesswassetupbyRayandLiz Hancock,whoﬁlledtheirsweetshopwithas manysweetsastheycouldbeforestartingtheir wholesalejourney.

“FastforwardtotodayandHancocksis theUK’slargestconfectionerywholesaler, hometothewidestrangeofbulkpickand mixsweets,adigitalshoppingexperience and14immersivewholesalestoresacrossthe country,”theﬁrmsays.

Thesweet-madHancocksranasweetshop inShepshed,asmalltowninLeicestershire, andin1963theyopenedtheirﬁrstwarehouse innearbyLoughborough.

“However,in1962,theyhadanideathat changedtheirbusinessforever.Havingnoticed thedemandfortop-quality,deliciousbulk sweetsandchocolate,theyﬁlledtheirshop withasmuchstockastheycouldandbegan wholesaling.

“Withinayeartheirmodestshopcould nolongercopewiththedemandandin 1963operationsmovedtotheﬁrstHancocks warehouseinnearbyLoughborough.”

Itnowoperates14wholesalestoreswhich servethewholeoftheUK.

“Weproudlyserveabreadthofbusiness typeswiththemostdesirablewholesale sweets,chocolate,bulkdrinks,andmuch more,”theﬁrmsays.

“Ourcustomersrangefromspecialistsweet shopstoonline re-packers,caterersandevent planners,supermarketsandmarkettraders, leisurevendorsandcinemas.” ■

IT & TECH NOLOGY

Taking thefak

PeterGilleece isfounderandchiefexecutiveof VikelaArmour –afrmusing3Dprintingtocreatea lightweightandfexibleformofprotection.Hespeaks to PavelBarter abouthisjourneyandhownothing isoffthetableintermsoftheproductsandcustomer

Bulletproofjacketsfordogs? Nothingisoffthetablewhen itcomestopotentialcustomers of Vikela.AlthoughthisBangor-based producerofprotectivearmourmostly caterstowardmilitary,police,private securityandglobaldefencesectors,that’s notwhereapplicationofthetechnology ends.“Someonewhoownsaminiature dachshundaskedmetodesignprotection fortheirdogincaseabiggerdogattacks itinthepark,”PeterGilleece, Vikela’s 28-year-oldfounderandchiefsays.

Paramedics,motorcyclists,evenchefsmight fndauseforthistechnology.“Someone whoworkedinabutcher’sshopaskedme forglovestoprotecttheirfngers[fromthe choppingboard].Someoneelsewhoruns ahomefortheelderlyenquiredaboutthe possibilityofawristbracetoprotecttheir residentsintheeventofafall.”

Likeallthebestinnovativeideas,Peter created Vikelainordertosolveaproblem.A formerarmycadet,hehadfriendswhojoined theforcesandtookamilitarycareerpath.They would regalehimwithstoriesofhowtheir “armourweighedsomewherebetween12kg and15kg”.

“Thatissomeweightwhenyou’regoing overmountainsoracross roughterrainwithan additional35kgonyourback–a5kgrifeand soon”.Muchofthisexcessweightcamefrom thebulletproofplatesintheirjackets,which thesoldiersoccasionally removedinorderto increasetheirmanoeuvrability–attheexpense oftheirsafety.

Peterestablished Vikelain2020,thesame yearhegraduatedfromQueen’sUniversity Belfast.Histeamstartedoutata1,000sqft siteinBelfast,neartheOdysseycomplex,and recentlymovedintoa20,000sqftfacilityin

Bangor. Vikelaisthefrstbusinessofitskindto use3Dprintingtomanufacturebodyarmour andPeterhasambitionstoturnitintoabrand torivalKevlar,whichhasanindustry reputation ofprovidingtoughprotectionforeverything frombulletproofveststomotorcyclejackets.

Kevlarhasbeenaroundsincethe1970sand thetechnologyhasnotdevelopedmuchsince then,believesthe Vikelafounder.“Mostof theirproductsarelayeredwithstrongfabric materialforlowlevelimpact.Theyusedto usesteelplatesforhigherdamageandthey are reallyheavy.Inthe1990stheybrought inceramicswhicharealsoheavyandrigid. We wentbacktosquareone.IfIwasto makebodyarmourfromscratchtoday,what techniqueswouldIusetoallowitsusersto bemorecomfortable?Thatbroughtusona completelydifferentmanufacturingjourney usingdifferentmaterials.”

Alongsideweightissues,existingbody armourcanleavethebodyexposed.“Youhear storiesthatifyougetshotthroughtheside, youcangetaninternalricochetwherethe bulletbouncesbetweenthefrontandtheback plates.Thatwillkillyouorpotentiallydomore damage.”

Comfortwasamajorpartin Vikela’s initialconcept.“Policeoffcerssitincars wearingprotectivejacketsthatarenotvery comfortable.Arigidplatecanpushupandhit youinthechinordigintoyourbackagainst thecarseat.”

Why3Dprinting?Theprocessgivesthe manufacturerfexibility,hesays.“Wecan derivemorestrengthhereorcutweight thereaccordingtoindividualsizesand needs,withouthavingtochangetooling everytime.”Peterdrewinspirationfromhis timeworkingforAstonMartininthenew modellaunchdepartment.“Iwastakingnew

modelsfromthefrstbuildsofcars,prototype builds,throughtofnishedproducts.Eachof thosemodelscateredforadifferentmarket. Differentpeoplewantdifferentproductsand requiredifferentmarketingneeds”:astruefor protectivearmourasitisfortheautoindustry. Peteralsowanted Vikela’sproductstobe environmentallyfriendly; recyclablematerialis builtintothedesignprocess.

Investorshavetakennotice.In2022, Vikela receiveda£500,000grantfromInnovateUK, whichPeterandhiscolleaguesmatch-funded. Thatsameyear, VikelawonInvent2022, NorthernIreland’scompetitionforinnovative start-ups,whichaddedanother£26,000.

The£1.3minvestmentforthecompany’s newBangorfacilitycamefrom“Northern

Ireland-basedangels,businessownersthat likeourambitionsandventurecapitalfrms basedoutofLondon. We’reaimingtoruncash fowpositiveassoonaspossibleandgrow internally.Ifyouwanttogrowfastyouneed extrafunding. We’reweighingupdifferent options-debtfnancing,equityinvestment–andmaybeamix[ofinvestments]asopposed topureequityfundingordebtfunding. We wanttogrowasquicklyaspossibletomeet customerdemand.”

Growthisalotmorefeasibleat Vikela’s new20,000sqftfacility.Theheadquarters willhouseheadoffceoperations,aswell asexpandedwarehousingandproduction facilities.“ThesmalleroffceinBelfastwas goodforprototyping.Ourinitialprinterswere

120kilosandwerediffculttoliftupthestairs butthenewonesareoveratonne,sowe neededmorespaceforbiggermachinerythat allowustoproduceatahigherlevel.Smaller machineshavelimitedcapacity. Youneedto beabletodeliverdecentlysizedordersofour productsothisgivesustheabilitytoscaleup aswell.”

Peterthenplanstostartproducingthe business’sinauguralproductrange:stab and9mmballisticarmour(protectionfrom knivesandlow-levelhandguns).Afterthat theywillproducealineofhigh-levelrife gradeprotectiongarb.Giventhenatureof theproducttherearealotofcertifcation processestopassthroughand regulatorsto please,admitsPeter.“Isupposethat’swhat happenswhenyouhaveadisruptiveproduct. Itdoesn’tftthemould.”

Theentrepreneurultimatelywantstomove hisbusinessbeyondprotectiveclothinginto arenassuchasaerospaceandautomotive where“3Dthinking”mightmakevehicle andcraftparts“lighterormorefunctional”. 3Dprinting,thefoundersays,gives Vikelaa freedomto reachtheseloftyambitions.“As longasIhaveaccesstospace,Icansetup manufacturingandthenquicklytakeitdown andmoveitelsewhere.It’salotmoreagile thanothermethodsofmanufacture.It’snot verylabour-intensivetoproducemoreproducts becausethemachinedoesallthework. You monitortheprintersbutyoudon’tneedtobe there.” ■

Frombeeftartareto lasagne: fvedishesI’d

happilytakeasmylastmeal

JohnMulgrew looksat thefvedisheswhichhe’d happilygooutonandhow besttocreatesomeof themathome

1BEEF TARTARE

Thishascomebackintofashionagainin thelastfewyears.TheBarkingDogwasoneof thefewspotskeepingitonthemenuforthe majorityofthedurationofitstimeonMalone Road.

Forsome,it’sstillalittlejarring.Butit’sthe purestexpressionof redmeatand,donewell, isasublimething.

It’sanorderwhichalwaysgoesinwhen we’reinBelgium(thetartareatBistroZwart HuisinBrugesisaclassicversionworthtrying).

Therearemoderninterpretationswhich relysolelyonthebeefandjustacoupleof additions,buttheclassicstilltopsmylist. Filletworksverywell,butifyouhaveasharp knifethenmostothercutswork. Youwant leaner,ratherthansomethinglikearibeye.

Rumpworkswelltokeepcostsdown.

Sliceandchopintotinylittlecubes.For thedressing,combine Worcestershiresauce, ketchup,dijonmustard,fnelychoppedbanana shallotsandgherkins,atouchofoliveoil,salt andpepper.Combinecarefullyjustbefore servingandplateupwithsomebeefdripping fries.

2LASAGNE

TheissueIhavewithmakingthisathome isthatit requiresaslow-cookedragubefore youevengetclosetoassemblingeverything, andmakingyourwhitesauce.ButI’dsuggest makingalargepot(I’vepreviouslylooked athowtomaketheperfectragu)andthen turningtoalasagnefor roundtwothenext day.

Therearefewthingsasrichandsatisfying. Lasagneisalsoagreatcheatchoiceifyou’re inanunfamiliarpuborbistro,asit’smuch morelikelytobemadein-house.Evenapoor version,ortheclassicIrishpairingalongside astackofcoleslaw,isaworthycontenderfor thislist.

3DUCKTERRINE

Anytimesomeonetakesthetimetotake theefforttoturnoutawell-madeterrineina restaurant,theyshouldbethankedfortheir time.It’saclassicFrenchstaple,andyou’ll alsofndlotsofpork-relatediterationsin andaroundtheborderingnations,including fromagedetêteifyou’refeelingmore adventurous.

ButitwasadishinJamesStreetyearsagoin Belfastwhichtookthealreadydeliciousduck andformeditintoaheadymixtureofallthings decadent,well-seasonedandbalanced.Icould certainlyeatthatagain.

Thewonderful WineandBrineinMoira oftenturnsitsattentiontoterrinesand laboriousdishessuchaspatéencroute,soif youwanttoavoidthehassleofmakingamess inthekitchen,thenit’sasafebettogetatruly wonderousinterpretationofaclassic.

4DRY-AGEDSTEAK

Iftheinevitablemovetowardsamore plant-focuseddietbecomesanincreasing reality,it’sthissortofthingwhichwillbethe hardesttoletgo. Youcanthrowsomevegan alternativeintoaraguandstillbecontent, butthere’snothingevencloseto replicating theintoxicatingaromafromadry-agedand well-marbledtwo-inchthickpieceofribeye,or porterhouse,hittinghotcastiron.

Ifthemeatisverygood,you’llnot require anyadditions.Thekeyisdry-briningafew hoursbeforetohelpdevelopthatcrustfurther still.Butifyoudowantsomethingunctuous togoalongsideit,thenaclassicbearnaiseis youfriend,asavourybutter,orpunchypink peppercornandsherrycreamsauce.Asfor sides,anythingspud-relatedwillwork,buttry creamedspinachforthatNew Yorksteakhouse experience.

5ADECENTBURGER

Notallburgersarecreatedequal.Thingsare gettingbetter,buttherearemorelacklustre burgersouttherethenthosewhichmerit

appearingonalistofessentialdishes.I’ma broken recordwhenitcomestocallingout thepubstaple–oftenoverpriced,amere puckofovermincedandovercookedbovine toppedwithallmannerofnon-essentials.But whetherit’shomemadeorbysomeonewho understandstheconstructionandsimplicityof thisclassic,it remainshighonmylist.

Bunsenstill reignssupreme–aperfectly madepattywithjustenoughadditionsto makeitsing.HiBurgeralsodoesacracking versionofthedoublesmashburger.

Athome,grindingyourmeatistheway togo.Iusechuckandshortrib,butfortrue decadencecoarselygrindadry-agedribeye fromPeterHannan,andformintoapatty (you’llgettwofromonesteak).Seasonjust beforecookingandsearinahotpan.Develop alovelycrustandcookatleastpink(stickto welldoneifyou’reconcerned).Meltsome Americancheeseatopthenstickitinaplain potatobunwithafewthinshredsoflettuce, fnelydicedonions,acoupleofpicklesand saucecontainingamixtureofmayonnaise, ketchupandmustard. ■

Homemade beefburger patties

Dry-aged bone-in ribeye

Review: noodlebarinBelfast’s own Chinatown is knocking out exceptionalfavours

BelfastboastssomeofthebestAsianrestaurantsinNorthernIreland,witha clusterinthesouthofthecitycentre. JohnMulgrew paysavisitto316Mein onDonegallPassanddiscoverssomeseriousdepthoffavour

AstrollthroughGerrardStreetin theheartofLondon’sbustling Chinatownisasgoodawayas anytostartavisittoacitywithsucha vastarrayofculinaryprowess.

Youdon’tneedtoknowwhereyou’re going,whereyou’replanningondining,or whatyou’regoingtoeat–but,chancesare, you’lleatwell.

I’mstillsomewhatashamedthatIhaven’t spentmoretimeinthegemsthatDonegall Passandtheneighbouringareasofferrighton ourdoorstepinBelfast.

Forme,thisisourGerrardStreet.Andwhile itdoesn’thavequitethesamebreadthof ChineseandEastAsiancookingonshow–or thedecorativepomp–there’sstillasimilar heartbeatinghere.

Take316Mein.Nestledinasmallunitjust downafewdoorsfromSameHappy,andnot farfromSteamboatacrosstheway,itfeels likesomewhereyou’dfndinaltogetherlarger andmorediverseurbansprawl.It’safairly diminutivenoodlejoint,withacoupleofbar tablesatthewindowandaroundtheside,a handfuloftighttables,thepassandkitchento

the rear.

There’saneffortlesseffciencyatworkhere. You’reunlikelytohavetochasedownaslow ordelayedorderwithstaffinsomewherelike this.Ordersgoin,andbowlsandplatesof hot,thigh-slappingfoodarrivesbeforeyou’ve hadtimetofnishapedestriananecdoteonan overcastafternoon.

Ifitweren’tfortheoddfagfyingoutside, ornearbymural,you’dthinkyouwere somewhereconsiderablyfartherafeldthanthe southendofthecitycentre.

Porktrotterswithfermentedbeancurd

alongsideahealthyhelpingofSzechuan peppercornsanddried redchillisarriveina heftybowl.

Thisjiggly,fattyandskin-richsuidaesitsina murkyseaoflong-stewedbonebroth.Anditis exceptional.

Whileother restaurantsfeeltheneedto throwinallmannerofdescriptorstobolster andupselltheingredientsanddishesonoffer, 316Meinundersellsitself–‘bonebroth’ doesn’tdoitjustice.

It’sasdeepastheMariana Trenchandas richasabronzedoligarch.It’satthecore ofwhythisallworksandputsother‘hip’ pretendersservingramenelsewhereinthecity toshame.

Thisiswhathappenswhenbonesand vegetablesaresimmeredandcookeddown forhoursuponhours–anintenselyintricate myriadofumamifavours,pepperedwith numbingspiceandabackgroundchilliheat.

Forthoseunfamiliar,porktrottersare littleon-the-bone,slow-braisedmorsels–a combinationofnodulesofmusclesurrounded bycollagenandskin.There’salotoflipsmackingfatatworkhere,andtheyare entirelyunctuous,andalotoftakein.Balance thiswithsomethingelseonthemenuwith moremuscle,suchasduckorbeefbrisket,and you’llhavethatperfectcombinationoflean meatandfat.

Aplateof roastedduckstillonthebone arrivesalittlecold,butit’schestnutand marooninalltherightplaces–alittlesoybasedsweetglazeatop.

Theskincoulddowithalittlemorecrispness forcontrastingtexture,butthefatissuitably

rendered,while retainingenoughtobolster themoisturelevels.

AglassofchilledHongKong-stylesweettea balanceswiththeintensityoftheSzechuan pepper-richbrothandstickyfatofthepork.

Acrispfriedcutletofchickenisdeep,rich andgolden,whilemaintainingthe required moistnesswithin.

Theaccompanyingsataysaucefeelsalittle tooclaggy,likethere’stoomuchcornfouror thickeningagent,anditneedsabitmoreheft anddepthoffavour.

ButtheSzechuanbrothinwhichsitthin ramennoodlesisdeeplyfavoured,warming andhasanothersuitablehitofthatcraveable numbingpepper.

Themenuissizeableandvaried,buthasa simplemix-and-matchprotein,noodleorrice, andbrothsectionatitscore.

Porktrottersinfermented beancurdsauce

Crispyfriedchickenwith satayandnoodles

Roastduck

Hong Kongmilktea

£13

£16.50

£4

Gingerbrownsugartea£3.50

Total

£50

Italsoboastsmanystaplesmorefamiliarto our WesterninterpretationofwhatChinese cookingis–justafootnoteinwhatisoneof theworld’smostdiverseandvariedcuisines.

YoucanoptfortheSingaporenoodles, chickenfriedrice,orsataybeef.But,takemy advice,andgohereforthethingsyoucan’t getelsewhere.

Thatdoesn’tmeandivinginatthedeepend andattemptingtoploughthroughtheoften challenginghoneycomb-texturedchewofbeef tripe,orfbroustendons,butatleastgoingfor somethingwithalittlemoredepth,ingenuity andunfamiliaritythanatypicalweekend takeawayorder.

Ihadasimilarexperienceearlierthisyear atChilliHouse,justashortwalkawayonthe DublinRoad.Big,explosive,numbingand chilli-ladencooking.

316Meinisequallyasdelicateonthe wallet.Hefty-sizedmains,withamixtureof proteinoptions,comeinataround£13,while thesmallerplatesarebetween£5.50and£8 –oryoucangetawarmingbowlofcongee,a savouryporridge–completewithaplethoraof thingsfromtheseaforninequid.

Go,explore,andenjoy.Don’tbeshy. Try somethingnew. You’llbeallthebetterforit. ■

THEBILL

Roastduck

Friedchickenand

Northern Irelandbuilding frm announcesit’s back in the black

ByMargaretCanning

NorthernIrelandbuildingandcivil engineeringfrmMcLaughlin& Harveyhassaidithas returnedto proftabilityinitslatestfnancial results.

Resultsfortheholdingcompanybehindthe Newtownabbey-basedfrmaretobepublished soonatCompaniesHouse,itsaid.

The resultsareduetoshowturnoverof £870.4mandpre-taxproftof£12mforthe yeartoJune302024.

Thebusinesscarriesoutbuildingandcivil engineeringcontracting,aswellasproperty development,operationoflandfllsitesand wholesaledistribution.

Itslatest resultsareanimprovementonthe previousyear,withturnoverup18%from £737m.Andit’salsotransformedabeforetaxlossof£8.6mtothisyear’s£12mpre-tax proft.

Thescaleofthatlosscomparedwithpre-tax proftsof£3.2moverthe18monthstoJune 2022.

McLaughlin&Harveysaidthatoverthe most resultfnancialyear,ithad872direct employees,up7%ontheyearbefore.Itsaid

thattherewere“manythousandsmore” indirectlyemployedaroundtheUKandIreland viaitssupplychain.

Itsaidthatconstructionandcivilengineering accountedfornearly90%ofturnover,at £782.7moutof£870.4m.

Itscashatbankforthemost recentyearwas £147m,withnoborrowings,whilenetassets were£58.4m.

PhilipCheevers,groupchiefexecutive, said:“Our reported resultsshowa return toproftabilityinthefnancialyear,withall partsofthebusinesscontributingpositivelyto performance.

“Thebusinesscontinuestobeneftfroma diversifedportfolioofworkinboththeprivate andpublicsectorsacrossourtargetindustries, withafocusonwinningnewworkviatwostagetenderprocessesandframeworks,whilst developinglong-standingclient relationships.

“Lookingforward,thecurrentconstruction andcivilengineeringorderbookisinapositive position,withthemajorityofbudgeted turnoversecuredforthefnancialyearahead.”

Thecompanysaidits£12mproftbeforetaxfollowedabsorptionof£3.4mofasset

impairmentcosts,afterthecessationof landflloperationsatthe remainingoperating landfllsitewithinScottishsubsidiaryBarr Environmental.

Theextraordinarycostsincludedaone-off closurecostduetoanimpendinglandfllban andchanginglawsinScotlandwhichmeant thelandfllbusinesscouldnolongertrade effciently.

Thecompanysaidithadalso reporteda highscoreinConsiderateConstructorScheme audits,whilemakingprogressingonachieving netzeroemissions.

Itsaiditwasnowenteringanewtrading year“inastrongfnancialpositionwithnet assetsof£58.4mandacashbalanceof £147m,withnoborrowings”.

McLaughlin&Harveywasfoundedin 1853andnowoperatesthroughouttheUK andIreland,withoffcesinBelfast,Glasgow, London,BirminghamandBristol.

Recently-completedprojectsforthe companyincludeTheJamesHuttonInstitute CropInnovationCentreandtheStonehaven FloodProtectionScheme,bothinScotland, andoffcesatNewBridgeStreet,London.

Leading by example

Whyfemalerolemodelsbringgreaterrepresentation andproductivitytoSTEM-relatedbusinesses,the frmsandindividualsleadingtheway,butwhy moreneedstobedonetoattractwomenintoSTEM positions,writes PavelBarter

WhenAislinnMcBridewas growingupshewasnotexactly techsavvy–herfamilydidn’t evenownacomputer–butoneday atschooltheideaofacareerinSTEM (science,technology,engineeringand maths)cameintosharpfocus.

Apastpupilhad returnedtotalktoAislinn’s classaboutherlifeasatechnicalarchitect. ItwasamomentthatAislinn,then14years old,describesas“pivotal”.Ifthepastpupil

coulddoit,socouldshe.“Shehadbeentomy schoolandhadtakenthesamestudiesthatI wasdoing,”Aislinnsays.“Fromthatmoment, IchosetostudycomputerscienceatA-level.I wantedtobeatechnicalarchitecttoo.”

Aislinnisnowchieftechnicaloffcerat Kainos,asoftwarecompanybasedinBelfast, whereshedeliverssolutionstocustomers acrosscommercial,healthandpublicsectors. Manyofhercolleaguesarealsowomen.

“Thereareplentyofpeopletotake

inspirationfromhere:advocates,mentors and rolemodels,”shesays.NorthernIreland punchesaboveitsweightwhenitcomes tovisible rolefemale rolemodelswithin STEMprofessions.Theyinclude:Professor HelenMcCarthy,theNIExecutive’sfrstchief scientifcandtechnologyadviser;JayneBrady, aformerengineerandcurrentheadofNICivil Service,andGillianGregg,headof regional engagementatRoyalAcademyofEngineering.

Female rolemodelsare“absolutelycritical” inattractingmorewomentoscienceand technology roles–atraditionallymaledominatedindustry–saysEmerMurnaghan, innovationdirectoratGrahamCivil Engineering,whoisthechairoftheInstituteof CivilEngineersNorthernIreland(ICE).

“We’vegotstrong,competent,confdent rolemodelsinourindustry-womenin engineering,forexample,whoareprominent

andwell-known-butweneedtoseemore.”

LikeKainos,AlmacGroup–a pharmaceuticalandbiotechnology organisationheadquarteredinCraigavon–is leadingthewayforfemalediversityinSTEM. “Almachasfemale representationatVPand executivelevel-amazingandinspirational femaleleaders.

Intermsofourdemographics,webuckthe trend,”saysDrFrances Weldon,Associate DirectorofSTEMOutreachatAlmac. AccordingtoFrances,50%ofthecompany’s newhiresin2024werefemale.“Acrossour globalworkforceofover7,500employees, 48%arefemale.Acrossourapprentices –engineering,computing,business management,businesssupport rolesand scientifc roles–56%arefemale.”

KainosandAlmacalikehighlightthe importanceofvisiblefemale rolemodelsin

STEMprofessions,particularatexecutivelevel. “NorthernIrelandhasalotofhighprofle, strongwomeninsenior rolesinthepublicand theprivatesectors,”saysMaryMcKenna,a technologyentrepreneurandangelinvestor whorunstheSheGenerateand AwakenAngels initiativesforwomen.“Weevenhavean astronaut,”shesays, referringtoRosemary Coogan(whocompletedhertrainingwiththe EuropeanSpaceAgencyin2024).

However,theseexamplesarethe exceptionratherthanthenorm.Despite NorthernIreland’sthrivingSTEMspace, underrepresentationofwomenisanongoing concern. Womenonlymakeup21%ofthe totalSTEMworkforce,accordingtoDrFrances Weldon.MaryMcKennaagrees.“Some companiespushforwardwithpoliciesthat aremorefexiblebutothersdon’t.Theycarry onastheyarebecausetheyhavenoshortage

ofpeopleapplyingtoworkthere.Theydon’t modernisetheirapproachtowork.”

Inspiteofthisgendergridlock,initiatives toencouragewomeninSTEMoccuracross NorthernIrelandona regularbasis.InOctober 2024twomajoreventstookplace: Womenin STEMandKainosPower WomenLeadership Event. WomeninBusinessNI recentlytook placeattheMandelaHallanda Womenin STEMSummitistobeheldatDublin’sCroke Parkin2025.Thebusinesscaseforincluding womenintheworkplaceisclear,argues BryanKeating,aseasonedangelinvestorwho chairedtheNorthernIreland WomeninSTEM committeethatwasestablishedin2020: “Womenbringdiversity.Ifyoudon’thave womeninyourSTEMcompanyyou’rebehind theball.”

AislinnMcBridecitesevidencethatshows “wheneveryouhavefemalesinsenior positions,organisationsaremoreproftable, innovativeandtheirlongertermsuccessis higher.It’snotabouttickingboxes.Thisisa proftabilitybusinesscasewithbottomline impact.Femalesbringskillsincollaboration andcommunication.Whenyouaredeliberately diverse,yourentireorganisationthinks differently:inamoreopenmindedand inclusiveway.”EmerMurnaghanconcurs. “Peoplefromdifferentbackgroundsand differentperspectivesonlife,inadiverse andinclusiveworkforce,deliverbetter infrastructure.”

Butproblematicperceptionsofwomenin STEMareinstilledfromanearlyage.“Allthat stuffseepsintogirls’psychesasearlyasseven andit’sallsubliminal,”BryanKeatingsays.“A lotofitissocietalsystemicimpedimentsthat areputinfrontofgirls.Thereisnoscientifc evidencethatthecompetencyofgirlsin mathematicsandscienceisanylessthanboys. It’sallaboutperception:unconsciousand consciousbias.”

Parentalaswellaseducational encouragementisessential,believesEmer Murnaghan.Asachildof11or12hermother insistedshetakeupscience. Withoutthis encouragement?“Iwouldprobablybein adifferentprofessionnow”.In2014,Emer wasawardedanOBEforservicestocivil engineeringandtodaysheis“theproud motherofacharteredfemalecivilengineer.”

ProgressiveSTEMcompaniesinNorthern Irelandareworkinghardtochangeperceptions aroundwomeninSTEMatalllevelsof education.Kainos,forexample,havealarge>

DrFrances Weldon ofAlmac(right)

outreachprogramme.“Lastyear,we reached overathousandyoungpeoplewhowere thinkingaboutcareersintechnology. We deliberatelyputfemalesinfrontofthemto helpthemseethevarietythatthisprofession canoffer,”AislinnMcBridesays.

DrFrances Weldon,inher roleatAlmac, isonamissiontoinspirepupilstoconsider STEMsubjects.“Asafemalewhoworkedin oneofAlmac’sanalyticaldepartmentsfor12 years,I’mpassionateaboutbeingapositive rolemodelforyoungwomenandgirls.Iwant tohelpthembuildconfdenceinthemselvesso theycanachievewhatevertheysettheirsights on.”Francesdesignsanddeliversinitiatives fromprimarythroughtopost-primaryschool andfurtherandhighereducation.“We’re blessedatAlmactohavefemalescientists, engineersandITspecialiststhatcanbe role modelsforthepupilsandstudents.”

Itisnotonlygirlsofschoolagewhoneed encouragement.MaryMcKennasaysitis commonplaceforwomentocheckoutof

highearning,highpressureSTEM-related jobs,inordertohaveafamily.Government policiesaroundchildcare,fexibleworkingand

upskilling,haveeasedpressuresbutcompany policiesplayabigpartinencouraging women remaininemployment.Government hasintroducedotherproactivemeasures. TheEnthusePartnership,fundedbythe DepartmentofEconomy,seekstoempower schoolstoaddresswomeninSTEM.Software NIandtheSistersINLeadershipProgramme, whichhelpssixthformgirlsbroadentheir careerperspectives,alsocontribute.

Butmorecanstillbedone,believesMary McKenna.“IftheGovernmentwasserious aboutsolvingthis,theywouldtakeouta nationalTVcampaigninNorthernIreland explainingtopeoplethatiftheirchildrenwent foracareerinSTEM,theyarelikelytoearn moremoneyandhaveaseriesof rewarding careersopentotheminNorthernIreland.”

ThebottomlineisthatacareerinSTEMis abundantinopportunity.“Nomatterwhere youareintheglobetoday,technologyisin everyorganisationandtheopportunitiesare phenomenal,”AislinnMcBridesays.“We haveseenahugesurgeinthedevelopment ofAI,whichcanchangesocietyandtheway weworkandlive.There’sno reasonwhyany womancannotbeasgoodasanybodyelse inthisindustry.”BryanKeatingbelievesthat industriesandpolicymakers,parentsand teachers,needtoenthusechildrenaboutthe richpossibilitiesofacareerinSTEM.“Girls needto realisetheycanbeanastronaut,they canbeanengineerwhobuildsbridges–they canbeanythingtheywanttobe.” ■

AislinnMcBride

MaryMcKenna

IPCMouldings: Igniting thesparkofengineering

“Thenexttimeyouarefying, considerthis:fromeconomy throughtosuperfrstclass, it’shighlylikelythattheseatyouare sittingonincludespartsmanufactured inNorthernIrelandbyIPCMouldings,” saysJoanneLiddle,managingdirector,IPC Mouldings.

Formanycompanies,thisimpressivefact wouldonlyeverbeanaspiration,butfor Carrickfergus-basedIPCMouldings,itisthe resultofover30years’hardwork,theoutput ofitstalentedteam,andfromnurturing trusted relationships,particularlyacrossthe aircraftinteriorssector.

Establishedin1994,IPCopenedwithasingle injectionmouldingmachineandsixemployees. Thankstotheirexpertiseandtechnical knowledge,thecompanygotitsbigbreak winningcontractstosupplyaircraftinterior partsfortheSkylux,AmbienceandSpectrum Seatingprogrammes–thelatterwhichwas describedasthemostsuccessfulsingleaisle seatofitstime.

IPChascarvedouta reputationasoneofthe leadingprovidersofinjectionmouldedparts andengineeredassembliesandisalong-term strategicgrowthpartnertothegloballeaderin aircraftinteriors.

Intandemwithitsglobalsuccess,itis committedto retainingtheknowledgeand skillsthatexistwithintheprovincethrough traininganddevelopmentofthenext generationofengineers.

“NorthernIrelandis renownedforthe strengthofitsmanufacturingsector,andit’s hugelyimportantthatwecontinuetoleverage thissuccess,”JoanneLiddle,managingdirector ofIPCMouldings,said.

“IPCispassionateaboutimpartingour knowledgeandskillstoup-and-coming engineers,givingthemfrst-handexperience andexposuretothediversecareerpathsthat manufacturingoffers.

“Ignitingthatsparkearlywillhelpus recruit and retainthebesttalentinthefuture.This

Carrickfergus-basedIPCMouldingsispassionateaboutdevelopingthenextgenerationoftalent,regularly participatinginarangeofSTEM-relatedeventstoencouragemoreyoungpeopleandstudentsintoscienceand engineer-focussedcareers

isakeyobjectiveandacommitmenttolongterminvestmentforIPC;it’salignedtoour skillsstrategyforfuturegrowth,andbolstered byourparticipationinarangeofSTEM-related activities.”

Inadditiontoorganisingfactoryvisitsfor localschools,aswellassocialenterprises includingAccessEmploymentLtd,IPC offersplacementandinternopportunities forUlsterUniversityandQueen’sUniversity Belfaststudents.Italsooffersapprenticeship programmesthrough WorkplusandNorthern RegionalCollege.

Proactiveoutreachinitiativeshaveseen successfulpartnershipsestablishedwith MidandEastAntrimBoroughCounciland itssuccessfulManufacturing TaskForceand ScienceSummerSchoolprogrammes,withthe companysupportingandattendingvarious eventsshowcasingwhatitoffersprospective employees.

IPC’spositiveinfuenceonyoungpeople isevidencedinplacementstudent,Ben Middleton,whowasshortlistedintheNational UndergraduateEmployabilityawardsforhis

contributionduringhistimewiththecompany, andwhonowisemployedasamanufacturing engineer.

Manylongserviceemployees,including WarrenHanleywhobeganhiscareerwith thecompanyover30yearsago,showsthe opportunitiesforprogression,whileproviding newstaffmemberswiththebeneftofthis wisdomandexperience.

“WewanttoplayourpartinhelpingNI overcomethecurrentskillsshortage,and changethenarrativethatmanufacturingis notanattractivecareeroption,”Joannesays. “Thissectoroffersendlesspossibilitiesatall levels,andtheopportunitytocontributeto thelocaleconomywhile retainingthe region’s proudmanufacturingheritageonaworld-wide stage.”

Withanincreaseinnewcontracts,and investmentinnewmachineryandpremises onthehorizon,theskyisthelimitforIPC Mouldings. ■

Formoreinformation,visit www.ipcmouldings.com

Increasein publicspending announcedinthe Budgetisnecessary

TheUKGovernment’sintentionistoliftinvestment andusethistoleverhighergrowthinthefuture, writes

PaulMacFlynn,co-directoroftheNevin EconomicResearchInstitute

TheUKBudgetmarksasignifcant departureforUKeconomicpolicy onanumberoffronts.

Thetaxincreaseshavegarneredthemost immediateattention,buttheincreaseinpublic spendingwassizeableandnecessary.

Whilethefguressuggestoneofthelargest increasesinspendingsincetheturnofthe century,suchfgureshavetobetakenin context.

ThespendingplansthatthisGovernment inheritedimpliedmassive reductionsinpublic spendingoverthecourseofthisparliament thatwerescarcelycredible.

Inmostcases,theGovernmenthas reversed thosedecreasesandgivenaboost,particularly tothehealthservice.However,whilethe avoidanceofcutsisundeniablywelcome,it provideslittlecomforttopublicservicesthat arealreadyoverstretched.

Mostofthedebateinthelead-uptothe Budgetwascentredontheshort-termfscal stance.Therewasmuchanxiousdiscussion aboutwheretheChancellor,RachelReeves, wouldtakeday-to-dayspendingonpublic services.

Thisisanobviousareaofinterestfor usinNorthernIrelandaswewerealready facingagapinfundingforpublicservices. Theincreasesinexpenditurewereslightly largerthanexpectedandwillgosomeway tomeetingtheimmediatepublicspending

pressures,butfunding remainsconstrained.

To putthisincontext,atthistimelast year,theday-to-dayspendingportionofthe blockgrantin2024/25wasexpectedtobe inthe regionof£13.3bn.Thiswouldhave representedacutofalmost£600mfrom 2023/24.

Thedealto restoretheExecutiveboosted thatspendingbyapproximately£750m,which preventedadecreaseinspending,andthis wasfurtherenhancedbytheInterimFiscal FrameworkAgreementagreedinMay.

Takentogetherwiththemeasuresinthis Budget,wearenowlookingataday-todayspendingtotalof£15.2bn.Thatisa considerableturnaroundinoneyear,butmuch oftheheavyliftingoccurredbeforethisBudget.

Thecapital,orinvestment,expenditure sideofthepublicspendingsettlementwas meanttoofferaglimmerofhopeforlongertermchange.Capitalspendingisoneofthe areasthatwashithardestintheearlyyearsof austeritypost-2010.

Itinitiallyfellbyupto50%,andinareaslike health,capitalspendingisactuallylowerin real termsnowthanitwasbackin2010.Thetotal shortfallamountsto£3.1bnovertheperiod since2010.Thisshortfallinspendinghasa directlinkagetothecrisesthatweseeinmany areasofpublicspending.

TheUKGovernmenthadindicatedthatthis wasoneoftheareaswhereitwaspreparedto

makeasignifcantchange.

Here,onceagain,theoutcomeforNorthern Irelandisnotas rosyasitappears.Thecapital spendingsettlementfor2024/25actually representsadecreasefromthepreviousyear.

Thistimelastyear,wewerelookingata 14%decrease,andovertheyearthishad fallentoan8%decrease.Followingthe Budget,wearenowlookingata6.7% decreasethisyear,followedbya6.6%increase nextyear.

Likewithday-to-dayspending,thestoryis thatitisnotgoingtobeasbadasitwas,but thereisnohintofanygame-changingshift.

Onthetaxside,theLabourPartyruledout

somanytaxrisesduringtheelectioncampaign thatthe roomforsignifcant revenueraising wasconsiderablyconstrained.Thetaxrises inthisBudgetmustbeseeninthecontext oftaxcutsinpreviousBudgetsbythelast Government.Thosecutswerenotaffordable andwerenot responsible.

ThecutstoemployeeNationalInsurance contributionsbytheoutgoingConservative Governmentlookparticularlyill-judgedgiven theperilousstateofthepublicfnances.

Themostprominentofthetaxincreases announcedwasthe1.2percentagepoints increasetoemployers’NationalInsurance. Sincethisproposalwasleaked,therehave

beenmanywhocriticisedthisasataxonjobs andonethatmayhaveadverseemployment impact.

Thefactsarethat,atpresent,theUKhas amongthelowestemployersocialcontribution ofanyEUorevenOECDeconomy.Employers inGermanypayalmosttwiceasmuchasthe UK,whileinSwedenandItalytheypayalmost twoandahalftimesasmuch.

TheincreasesbeingproposedofthisBudget wouldstillleavetheUKtowardthebottomof theleaguetableforemployercontributions. Thismeasurewillbediffculttoimplement,but itshouldbeviewedastaxnormalisationrather thanasanythingdramatic.

ThisBudgetisimportantasitmarksa statementofintentforanewUKGovernment. Theirintentionistoliftpublicinvestmentand investmentinpublicservicesandusethisto leverhighergrowthinthefuture.

Thatisasignifcantdeparturefromwhat wehaveseenfromanyUKGovernmentsince 2010.Itisdoingsointhecontextofoneofthe worstfscalinheritancesofanyGovernment.

TheGovernmentfeelsthatitcaneither makestructuralchangesforthelongerterm orprovideshort-term relief,butitcannotdo both.Theyhaveclearlychosentheformerand thatdoeshaveimplicationsforourposition hereinNorthernIreland. ■

Chancellorofthe ExchequerRachelReeves

Healthy fast-food chainbringing Hawaiian taste to Belfast

ByJohnMulgrew

Ahealthyfast-foodfrmissetto bringatasteofHawaiitoBelfast. UKchainPokeShackisplanningto openitsfrstlocationatBotanic Avenue.

Apokebowlnormallyincludesmeat,orraw fsh,atoprichandfreshveganditisbecoming anincreasinglypopularhealthierfast-food choiceglobally.

PokeShackoperatesjustunder20locations acrosstheUK,withthemajoritybasedin London.

Itoffersuparangeofdifferentpokebowl dishes,includingtuna,salmonorshrimp, alongsidechickenandveganoptions.

PokeShackoffersarangeofpokebowls whichincludebaseoptionssuchasbrown orsushirice,quinoa,greensorkale,with toppingsofsesamewakame,edamame,ginger orcharredsweetcorn,withsauceoptions includingyuzu,shoyuandwasabimayonnaise.

ThechainistakingontheformerStarbucks cafélocationonBotanic Avenue,whichshut itsdoorslastyear.

FellowcoffeebusinessClementsalsoshut onthestreet,butit’sunderstoodthatithas recentlybeenlettoanewbusiness.

AnotherClementscoffeelocationisnow hometoabagelbusiness’sfrstbricks-andmortarstoreinthecitycentre.

BodegaBagelshasopenedupclosetoUlster University’scitycentrecampus.

Husband-and-wifeteamSteveandKirsty OrrestablishedBodegaBagelsfromtheir homeduringtheCovidlockdown,later openingupatBananaBlockineastBelfastand TrademarketonDublinRoad.Theysaidthey hadstartedseekingoutacitycentrespotafter Trademarketclosedoverthesummer.

Elsewhere,Starbuckshasopenedupanew largecaféatLesleyForestsideShoppingCentre inthesouthofthecity.

ThebrandjoinscaféssuchasCaffèNero

andJamaicaBlueatthecentreonthe SaintfeldRoad,whereNIcoffeeshop businessGroundhasalsoopened recently.

ItistheBallymoney-basedfrm’s32nd openingsinceitwasestablishedin2014by DarrenandKarenGardiner.

GroundwillbejoinedbyMuffnBreak,a sistercompanyofcoffeeshopJamaicaBlue, whichwillopeninaconcessionunitinside thecentre.

ForestsideShoppingCentrewasbought for£42mlastyearbyBelfastproperty entrepreneursMichaelandLesleyHerbert. CaffèNero,M&SandJamaicaBluehave cafésinthemainmall,whileStarbucks openedthismonthinanew-buildaddition.

Forestside’snewextensionhasdrawnUS friedchickenfast-foodbusinessPopeyes,as wellasNando’sandGreggs.

Nando’sopeneditsdoorsinNovember, whileGreggswilllaunchinthecoming weeks. ■

NE T ZE RO & GR EENEN ERGY

We arecurrentlyinananxiouspositionwithenergy generation. We aresofaroffour2030targetof80% renewablepowerthatitnowseemslittlemorethan asoundbiteforpoliticians.So,whatcanbedone–planningandtheappealsprocessisatthecore,butis theresuffcientaccountabilitywhenweeksandmonths becomeyearsanddecades,asks

There remaindivergentschools ofthoughtwhenitcomestothe futureofourenergysystemhere. Whileourpoliticianscontinuetobeatthe ever-deadeneddrumofachievingan80% renewableenergygenerationtargetby2030, othersarelessoptimistic.

Thoseinthecleanenergysectorhavebeen callingforsubstantialimprovementsinour planningsystem–andasfarasanentire overhaulofplanningappeals–whileothers stillbelievegasandothernon-renewable sourceswill remainpartofoutgeneration needsintheshorttomediumterm.

Gas remainsatthecoreofNorthernIreland’s powergenerationcurrently,withnewfacilities movingawayfromcoaltothecleanerfuel.

Anda recent reportfromtheNational EnergySystemOperator(NESO)inGBpoints towardsitscontinuedusageinachieving2030 targets.

ForGB,itsaysoffshorewind“mustbeat thebedrock”ofthesystem,withonshorewind andsolarprovidingafurtherthird.

Butwhileitsaysgasshould remain,itsaysit shouldbeused“rarelytoensurethesecurityof supply”andthatunabatedgasshouldprovide lessthan3%ofGB’sgeneration,inatypical year.

“Itispossibletobuild,connectandoperate acleanpowersystemforGreatBritainby 2030,whilemaintainingsecurityofsupply,” the reportsays.

But regardlessofwhetherwewillultimately relyongasforthatlittlebitlonger,weneedto addresstheelephantinthe room.

Planningshouldn’tmeanthingsare greenlitwithout robustandproperscrutiny.

JohnMulgrew

Communityconsultationand responseiskeyto thefutureofourbuiltenvironment.

But,shouldittakealmostadecadeto decideonsomethinglikeawindfarm?

TakeGruggandoo WindFarmcloseto Hilltown.

It’soneofanumberoflarge-scaleschemes –enoughtopoweralmost30,000homes–andthosedeemed regionallysignifcant,which hassatintheplanningsystem,andPlanning AppealsCommission(PAC)hereforupto499 weeks. Twoandhalfyearsofthathasbeen withthe PAC.

Andit’syettogetadateforaninquiry. Thisisacontentiousscheme,ithastobe said.

Therewerehundredsofobjectionsraised abouttheabovewindfarm,adepartment recommending refusalandcommunitypublic outcryovertheimpactitcouldhaveonthe Mournesandskyline.

ItsdevelopersaysNorthernIreland’s planningsystemis“oneofthebiggesthurdles todecarbonisingoureconomyandwider society”.

Theapplicationforthatwindfarmwasfrst submittedbackin2015.Itwasthen referred totheformerDepartmentoftheEnvironment, nowtheDepartmentforInfrastructure,before beingsenttothe PACmorethantwoyears ago.Ithashadtheapplicationfor134weeks.

Theschemewouldincludeeightwind turbines,anelectricalsubstation,alongwith roadandjunctionworks.

Therearemorethan400 responsestothe scheme,manyofwhichhaveobjectedtoit.

In2022,formerInfrastructureMinister, NicholaMallon,announcedapublicinquiry

intothedevelopment.Thedepartment saidthatdecisioncamefollowingthe “considerationofheroffcials’development management reportwhich recommendedthat theapplicationshouldbe refused”.

Butthatbeingsaid,ifthisisthetimeit takesforsomethinglikethistobeconsidered, oreven refused,howdoweexpecttogetto apointwheregreenenergydevelopmentis expeditedtoapointinwhichwecan reachour 2030and2050targets.

Keepinmind,thesearetargetslaiddown bygovernment.Thisisn’taprivatesector-led barrage–althoughmakingitproftableand generating revenueisobviouslyatthecoreof anybusiness’sobjective.

The80% renewableenergytargetby2030

isstillbeingtalkedaboutopenlybyourelected representatives,seeminglywithlittleorno considerationforhowwewouldgoaboutand achievethat.

It’sbecomepie-in-the-skythinking.Isthere somesolutionwhichcanbeturnedaroundin thenexttwotothreeyearsthatthe restofus areentirelyunawareof,isitignorance,orare peoplesimplyputtingtheblinkersoninthe hopethatwewillallforgetaboutit?

Thisisachallenge.Butthereareothers. NorthernIreland’swastewaterissuesandlack ofcapacityareascrucial. We canbuildas manyhomesaswelike,butifwedon’thave thecapacitytodealwithwherethewaste goes,thenit’sfruitless.

“NorthernIrelandhassomeofthebest

renewableenergysourcesintheworld,but asthingsstandwe’reunabletotakefull advantageofthem,”DanielMcLaughlin, directorofBelmontStrategy,says.Thefrm countsseveral renewabledevelopersamong itsclients.

“Theplanningprocessisoftenslowand inconsistent,”hetellsme.

“Wedon’tyethavea routetomarket; andthedevelopmentofthegridnetworkis constrainedbyoutdated restrictionsthatmean theUtilityRegulatorcannotprioritiselow carbonenergysolutions.

“Thismakesitmuchmorediffculttodeliver projectsherethaninneighbouringjurisdictions andputsusatadisadvantagewhencompeting forinvestment.

“Althoughchallenging,theseissuescanbe solvedwithacross-departmentalapproach fromgovernmentandcollaborationwith industry.Butithastohappenquickly.

“80%by2030canstillbedelivered withinnovationanddeterminationfrom everyone.Ultimately,thatmilestoneispart ofabiggerjourneyoveralongerperiodfulldecarbonisationand reversingclimate change.”

Therewassomegoodnewsonthe developmentfrontinthelastfewdays.

SONI(SystemOperatorforNorthernIreland) awardednewprojectsinColeraineand Coolkeeraghto renewableenergygenerator Statkraft,followingaprocurementprocess.

SONIsaidthetechnologywouldhelp>

NE T ZE RO & GR EENEN ERGY

T ZE RO & GR EENEN ERGY

integratemore renewableenergysourcesby providingthe“inertiacapabilities”neededto keepthepowersystemstable.

Let’sturnbacktothe PAC–whichisat thecoreofallofthis.It’sa relativelysmall departmentwhichnowactuallysitswithinthe DepartmentofJustice’s remit,followingthe shake-upofStormontalmost10yearsago.

WhiletheJusticeMinisterhasanswered AssemblyQuestionsin relationtothe PAC, shehasalsoonoccasion referredtoits independence.So,whotrulyoverseesthe PAC itself?Ithasseriouspowerwhenitcomesto decision-makinghereinNorthernIreland.

Planningisatthecentreofalmost everythingwhichisdevelopedhere–fromsocialhousing,to renewableenergy generation,buildingfactories,hotelsoroffces. It’saconsiderablelevelof responsibility.

I’vecontactedthe PACmanytimesover articlesinthepast,andonatleastone occasionI’ve receiveda responsebackfrom theCourtsand TribunalService’spressoffce, whilefurthercorrespondencecamefromthe PACdirectly,andwasn’t respondedtoonthe lastoccasionwhenIaskedabouttheabove

windfarmdelays.

It’scitedalackofseniorstaffashaving animpactondealingwithapplications. It’scontinuallysaidthataround75%ofits commissionersare“newtothe role”.The reasonsforthislossofseniorstaffhavenot beenmadeclear.

Meanwhile,therearethreeother regionally signifcantschemes,includingtwootherwind farms,weresubmittedasfarbackas2020, whileDalradian’splansforagoldmineinCo Tyronewerefrstfledin2017.The PAChas saidanyfurther referralsfromtheDepartment forInfrastructurearenowonholduntilthat reportiscompleted.

The PACtoldthedeveloperinAugustthis yearthatduetotheupcomingpublicinquiry intoDalradian’sgoldmine–nowscheduled tostartinJanuary2025andendinMarch afterbeingpushedbackfromSeptemberthis year–thattherewouldbe“insuffcienttimeto conductand reportonotherpublicinquiries… priortotheDalradianConjoinedInquiry movingforward”.

“However,wecontinuetokeepthematter under reviewandwewilldoourutmostto

progress referralsattheearliestopportunity subjecttothe resourceconstraintsoutlined…”

PatriciaMcGrath,UKdirectoratABOEnergy, whichisbehindtheGruggandoo WindFarm, saidwhileitappreciatedthe“largecaseloads” withinthesystemthatthedelaysandslow progresswere“extremelyfrustrating”.

“Thecurrentperformanceoftheplanning systeminNorthernIrelandisoneofthe biggesthurdlestodecarbonisingoureconomy andwidersociety.

“WewouldencouragetheDepartment forInfrastructure,the PACandallother stakeholderstotakeacollaborativeapproach tomakesuretheseopportunitiescanbe deliveredwithoutdelay.”

Plannersanddevelopershavebeencritical ofthe PAC,particularlyoverthetimetakento dealwithappeals.

A reportfromthe PACearlierthisyearsaid whileitsperformanceis“notwhereitneeds tobe”it’soutlinedanactionplantoaddress developeranduserissues.

TheAuditOffcesaysitisundertakinga fresh reviewoftheorganisation,whichis expectednextspring. ■

WilsonPower&Energy: empoweringNI’senergy independencein2024

NorthernIrelandbusinessesareincreasinglyembracing energyindependenceasacornerstoneoftheir sustainabilityandgrowthstrategies,andWilsonPower &Energy,basedinDromore,continuestopositionitselfatthe forefrontofthistransformation.

Withbespokedesignservices,innovativehardwaresolutions,and extensiveindustryexpertise,thecompanyishelpingorganisationsacross awiderangeofsectorsovercomethechallengesofenergy relianceand unlockthepotentialof renewablegenerationandhashadaparticularly strongyearin2024whichwasmarkedbykeyinnovationmilestones, clientinstallations,andnewIrishcompanyestablishedwithoffce inDundalk.Thisexpansionhelpstoservetheirvaluedclientsinthe RepublicofIreland.

Breakingbarrierswithbespokesolutionsandinnovations

In2024, WilsonPower&Energyelevateditscommitmenttodelivering tailoredsolutionsforbusinessesacrossIreland.Byofferingsite-specifc analysisanddesign,thecompanyhasempoweredbusinessowners to reduce relianceontraditionalenergysuppliers.Itsuniqueapproach issimplifyingtheprocesstodelivereffective,customisableon-site generationsolutionsthatsuittheneedsofeachindividualbusinessor organisation.

WilsonPower&Energyhasputconsiderabletimeandeffortinto R&Dthisyear,achievingstrongoutcomesasithassupportedbusinesses inbenefttingfromanadditionallevelof renewablegenerationthan traditionallypermittedunderastandardG99application(typically75% ofMIC)throughhybridsolutionandproprietaryhardwaretogiveclients freedomtofurther reducetheircosts.

Drivingelectricmobilityandsecurepower

WilsonPower&EnergyischampioningelectricmobilitybymakingEV drivingmoreconvenientformotoristsaswellasprovidingaddedvalue forcustomer-focusedbusinesseswhocannowofferEVcharging.In 2024,the WilsonPower&Energyteamoversawthe roll-outofmultiple 50,75and100KWDCfastchargersacrossIrelandforawiderangeof privateclients.

WilsonPower&Energy’sexpertiseinsecurepowerhasalsoexpanded signifcantly,withtheteamnowmaintainingaportfolioofover100MW ofsecurepowerequipmentacrossdatacentrefacilities,andhassecured aseven-yearUPSmaintenancecontractwiththeNorthernIrelandHealth andSocialCare Trust.

Innovativemicrogridprojectsandpartnerships

WilsonPower&Energy’spioneeringspiritshinesinitscollaborationwith HeronBros,wherethecompanyservedasthemainelectricalcontractor foramicrogridinstallation.Thisfrstofitskindprojectfor LynasFood

Serviceintegrates960kWpofsolarpower,2.2MWhofbatterystorage, anda900kWwindturbine.

RoIcompanyexpands reach

WilsonPower&Energyalsosawanexpansionofitsteamin2024tothe RepublicofIrelandwhereitcontinuestoofferthesamecomprehensive servicesinUPS/Securepower,RenewableEnergyandEVcharging.This expansionsignifesthecompany’sgrowinginfuenceacrosstheisland ofIrelandanditsabilitytomeetthediverseneedsofbusinessesfrom acrossthesectors.

Drivingthefutureofenergy

Andrew Wilson,director,said:“Energyindependenceisnolonger justagoal;it’sanecessityforbusinessesfacingfuctuatingcostsand sustainabilitypressures.Byequippingourclientswithinnovativetools andunmatchedexpertise,we’reenablingthemtotakecontroloftheir energyfutures.”

Peter Watson,co-director,added:“Theappetitefor renewable solutionsisgrowingstronger,drivenbyenvironmentalconsiderations andoperationalsecurity.Ourcommitmenttodeliveringcutting-edge projects,likeour recentmicrogridinstallation,ensuresourclientsacross theUK,IrelandandmainlandEurope remaincompetitiveand resilientin anevolvingenergylandscape.”

Withaproventrack record,askilledteam,andavisionforamore sustainablefuture, WilsonPower&Energycontinuestoleadthewayin transformingNI’senergysector.Whetherit’sthroughbespokehardware, criticalpowermaintenance,or renewablegenerationsystems,the companyisempoweringbusinessestonavigateaneweraofenergy independence. ■

FormoreinformationaboutWilsonPower&Energy, visitwww.wilsonpowerandenergy.com.

AndrewWilson andPeter Watson ofWilsonPower &Energy

inIreland,chiefexecutiveofConselloinIreland,Katie Doran,andgroupfounder,DeclanKelly

Belfast PR frm sold to frm founded by former US SpecialEconomicEnvoy

ABelfastpublic relationsfrmhas beenacquiredbyabusiness foundedbyformerUSSpecial EconomicEnvoyDeclanKelly.

TheLanyonGroup,foundedbyKatieDoran andJonathanIreland,hasbeenboughtby Consello,a“globaladvisoryandinvesting platform”.

AndformerManchesterUnitedand EnglandcaptainGaryNevilleandformerIrish championgolferand RyderCupcaptainPaul McGinleyhavejoinedtheall-Irelandbusiness asprincipals.

JohnHerlihy,formerGoogleandLinkedIn headofEMEA,hasbeenappointedas executivechairofConselloIreland.

MsDoranisnowchiefexecutiveoftheIrish business,withMrIrelandappointedmanaging director,ConselloIreland.

Conselloalsoannouncedtheacquisitionof BlueLakeHighPerformancePartners,based inCoClareandfoundedbyformer Tipperary seniorhurlingmanagerLiamSheedy,Jane

MitchellandEugeneHogan.

MrKelly,founder,chairmanandchief executiveofConsello–andUSSpecial EconomicEnvoyfrom2009to2011–said: “Thislaunch refectsourcontinuedinvestment instrategicmarketsacrosstheworld.

“WiththeacquisitionsofTheLanyonGroup andBlueLake,andtheleadershipofJohn Herlihy,weareuniquelypositionedtoprovide unparalleledadvisoryservicesacrossIreland, theUKandintoEurope.

“Ourmissioneverywhereweoperateisto helpthebestintheworldbeevenbetter.”

Thecompanyalsoannouncedthe appointmentofotherseniorleaderstothe business,acrossateamof30intotal.

MrHerlihysaid:“I’mthrilledtojoinConsello atsuchanexcitingtime.Irelandisrapidly evolvingasahubforinnovationandgrowth inthe region,andConsello’scombinationof globalexpertiseandlocalinsightswillprovide businessesherewiththestrategiccounselthey needtosucceed.

“IlookforwardtoworkingwithDeclan andtheincredibleteamwe’veassembledto drivemeaningfulimpactforourclients.”

ConsellowasfoundedbyMrKellyin 2022,andhasoffcesinNew York,Miami, Atlanta,LondonandBarcelona.

GaryNevillesaid:“Iamexcitedtoexpand my roleatConsellobyjoiningthebusiness inIreland.Throughoutmycareer,both onandoffthefeld,I’vebeendrivenby a relentlessworkethicandthepursuitof excellence.Conselloembodiesthesesame values,andIlookforwardtocontributingto thefrm’sgrowth.”

AndgolferPaulMcGinleysaid: “Throughoutmycareer,I’velearnedthe importanceofstrategicthinking,teamwork, andleadership–valuesthat resonatedeeply withConsello’sapproachtoadvisingclients. Irelandisavibrantmarketwithincredible potential,andI’mexcitedtoworkwith Consellohereandaroundtheworldtohelp businessesthrive.” ■

PicturedareJohnHerlihy,executivechairmanofConsello

WeevacquiresEV divisionofenergyﬁrm

Electricvehiclechargingnetwork business Weevhasboughtoverthe EVdivisionof renewableenergy ﬁrmEverrun.

Weevhassuccessfullyacquiredthe publicandworkplaceEVchargingnetwork

BrewDog opens doorsof ﬁrstNIbar

BrewDoghasopeneditsﬁrst NorthernIrelandbaratBelfast GrandCentralStation.

Thebarchainwillbesituatedonthe mezzanineﬂoorofthenewtransporthubin thecity,andwillserveanall-dayfoodmenu alongsideitsdrinksoffering.

Thecompanyhasdozensoflocations acrosstheUK,andisopeningthesitein Belfastaspartofanexpansion.

Openingitsdoorsattheendoflast month,theﬁrmsaidthe“ﬁrst50through thedoorwillbeinwiththechancetowin freeBrewDogbeerforayear,alongwitha heapofotherepicprizes”.

GrandCentralStationopenedin Septemberandhasannouncedthata

andcustomerbaseofEverun,anenergy managementcompanyspecialisingin renewableenergysolutions.

“We’reonanexcitingjourneyandhave beenworkinghardtobuildourEVcharging networkacrosstheisland,” Weevchief

executive,PhilipRainey,said.

“Whentheopportunitycameuptoacquire additionalchargingpointsandaddtoourevergrowingcustomerbase,wejumpedatit.

“Everunisatrailblazerinenergy managementsolutionsandwithsomuch developmentacrosstheUKforwindfarms, itmadesenseforthemtolookataright-ﬁt partnertheycouldcarveofftheircharging pointnetworkto,allowingthemtofocuson theirspecialistsectors. We’reverypleasedto incorporatetheEverunnetworkandbringall existingcustomersintothe Weevcommunity seamlessly.”

AndMichaelThompson,managing director,Everun,said:“Whileelectricvehicle solutionshasbeenasuccessfulpartofthe Everunbusinessforthepastfewyears,we madeadecisiontofocusoureffortsoncore competenciesinonshorewindandenergy engineering,andourongoingexpansionacross IrelandandScotland.Thissectorisprimed forgrowthastheUKlookstomeetits2030 obligationson renewableenergysources.”

BrewDogisopeningitsﬁrst barinNorthernIreland

numberoffoodanddrinkoutletsaredue toopen.

TwoStarbucksoutlets,astoreanda coffeekioskareplannedforthestation, alongwithanM&SFoodoutletandaPreta Manger.

In2021,BrewDoghinteditwaseyeingup Belfastamongaround40newpublocations. It’sbeenlinkedtoacoupleofdifferent Belfastlocationsinthelastfewyears. IthasonelargebarinDublinaswellas dozensacrosstheUK.

NE T ZE RO & GR EENEN ERGY

MichaelThompson, managingdirector, Everun,andPhilipRainey, Weevchiefexecutive

Themulti-millionpound deal thatstarted with a surprisephonecall

KieranMcAllister,managingdirectorofCableandAccessories, tells MargaretCanning aboutsellingtoBellewElectrical

There musthavebeen a sparkwhen CableandAccessoriesdirectors

KieranMcAllisterandBasilKylefrst metOllieBellew

Hisfamilycompany, BellewElectricalin Dundalk,CoLouth, recentlyannouncedits

acquisitionoftheLondonderry-headquartered company Theamountpaidhasnotbeen disclosed,butit’s understoodtobeaneightfgure sum.

Kieran,whohasworkedforthebusinessfor 35years,says:“We’vehadmultipleapproaches

overtheyearsfrombiggercorporationsbutthe Bellewthingfeltrightforus.

“Itwasthewaythebusinesshadbeen geared,withthefamilyelementinit.They reallyarea similar-typebusinesstous,with excitinggrowthplans.

“It’sa good,positivechange.Obviouslyover thelastcoupleofyearswewere lookingforthe rightbusinesstopartnerwith,somethingthat wouldftintoourexistingfamilyethos.”

Itallstartedwith a phonecallfromOllie Bellew “Ittookmebysurprise.When I came off thephone, I rangBasilandtoldhimI’dhad thatconversation,and I said‘maybethisisthe rightthingattherighttime.Sure itwoulddo noharmtomeettheman,have a coffeeand have a conversationaboutit’.

“AndwhenwemetOllie,hehad a similar thingtoourselvesandbelieveitornot,hiswife andkidwere withhimwhenwemet.Itfelt right,inthatmoment,andwethought‘we canworkwiththisguy,a nicepersonwhowe couldseetakingthebusinessonandontothe nextlevel’.

Basilco-foundedtheDerry-basedelectrical

wholesalerwithhiswifePatriciain1984,with Kieranjoiningaroundsixyearslater

Ithassincegrownintothebiggest independentelectricalwholesalersellingto tradeclientsonbothsidesoftheborder, with45staff andbranchesinDerry, Omagh, Limavady, Enniskillen,Letterkennyand Buncrana.It reportedturnoverof£13.1mand pre-taxproftsof£1minitslatestaccounts. Intandem,BellewElectricalinDundalk secured a shotinthearmintheformof fnancialbackingfromprivateequityfrm WaterlandIreland,announcedinMay That helpedfnancetheAugust2024acquisition of Wesco,anotherelectricalwholesalerinCo Louth.

NowitsmoveonCableandAccessories meansbigchangefortheformerleadership teamofKieran,PatriciaandBasil,thebusiness’s threedirectors.

TheKylesare steppingawaycompletelyfrom thebusiness,butKieranisstayinginplace. Andit’sa bitter-sweetmomentforthethreeof them.

ThepurchaseofCableandAccessorieshas beenannouncedattimewhenmore signsare emergingofanall-islandeconomy

Kieransaysthere’sa logictothecrossbordereconomywhichhiscompanyhaslong embraced.“Becauseofthegeographical locationofthebranches,we’vebeenintertradingcrossborderforever

“OurmainhubinDerryislessthan a mile fromtheborderandyouobviouslyhavepeople backandforward acrosstheborder Because ofthefactwehave a coupleofbranchesin thesouth,we’vealwaysbeeninter-tradingin Donegalandplaceslikethat.”

Heacknowledgestheprospectofincreases tocapitalgainstaxanticipatedintheBudgeton October30hurriedmattersalong a little.

ChancellorRachelReevesannouncedthat thelowerrateofCGTwouldrisefrom10%to 18%,andthehigherratefrom20%to24%.

Kieransays:“Thingshappenfor a reason, andthatwasn’t eventhoughtaboutatthetime butaswegotfurtherintotheduediligence processwescratchedourheadsandthought ‘wemightwanttohavethisfnishedbefore the Budget’.

“Itwasn’t the reasonforthedealbutmaybe itwasthe reasontoacceleratethedealinthe end,let’s say

“Anybodywhomighthavehad a thought aboutcashinginordisposingofanasset,that

Budgetmighthaveacceleratedtheirthinking.”

Buthe’s adamantthatthemostimportant factorwasthewellbeingofstaff atCableand Accessories.

“Thebiggestforuswastoseethatthe businesscarriedonandthattheemployeessaw thatnothing reallychanged,andthat’s theway thebusinessisgoingtobe.

“We wanted a goodfuture forthestaff,that waskeytothewholething,fndingtherightft forthebusiness.”

ForKieranto remainasmanagingdirector waspartofthetermsofthedeal,hesays. “Thatwaspartofthe reasonthatBellewdeal wastheoneforus,thefactthat I wouldstay andguideeverythingthrough.

“Iplantostayfortheforeseeablefuture. There’s anexcitementintheair, let’s say

“Oneday I mightfeelverycomfortableand think‘it’s greatnow’andheadoff intothe sunset.But I don’t feelI’m readyforthatyet and I think I stillhave a bitmore toofferthe tradeandindustry.”

He’s hadstayingpower, weatheringthe crisesoffnancialcrashes,thepandemicsand Brexit.“I’moldenoughto remember2008, andbefore that,theMillenniumBug,andall thethingsthatwere goingtobringtheworld down.

“Andmythoughtprocesswas,youcan onlyworkhard inthebusinessyou’re in. Lookinwardsatthebusinessyou’re in,and workhard.Ifyoustartlooking roundyouand worryingwhat’s goingin,yougetcaughtup.”

He’s Derryborn andbred,startinghis workinglifeasanelectricalapprenticein1984. HewentontoworkforDuPontEngineering, before joiningCableandAccessories.

“I’moriginallyfromCreggan,andthen welivedinPennyburn,andsubsequentlythe Waterside.

“Iam a proudofwhereI liveandhave a greatprideinmycityand I thinkit’sa great placetolive,fullofgreatpeople. I likelivingin Derry

“Mytwokidshavebeenawayinuniversity anddoingtheirownthing,buttheywantto comehome,whichtellsyousomething.”

WhiletheNorthern Irelandeconomyhas seenplentyofsetbacksoverhisworkinglife, he’s alwaysphilosophical.“It’llbewhatit’ll be,youjusthavetoworkhard. We’vealways beenchallengedinNorthern Irelandforvarious reasonsso I thinkwe’re quite a resilientbunch, andwegetonwithit.” ■

KieranMcAllister

‘No one willlove thisbrand the way we do,’ says chiefof

Bulmers owner

DrinksgroupC&Cwilltakecontrolofthe distributionofMagners(Bulmers)intheUKin Januarytoboostsalesthere,writes SeanPollock

ThebossofC&Chassaid“noonewill love”itsUKciderbrandMagners likethedrinksgroup,asittakes controlofdistribution,inabidtoboost salesintheBritishmarket.

RalphFindlay,chairandchiefexecutiveof UK-listedBulmersownerC&C,saiditwas

currentlyundertaking researchandanalysis onMagners.FromthebeginningofJanuary, theIrishheadquarteredbusinesswill reclaim controlanddistributionofitsciderbrandsin Englandand WalesfromBudweiserBrewing Group,whichhasdistributeditsciderportfolio theresince2017.

MrFindlaysaidhebelievedMagnershas goodpotentialintheUKmarket,citingitsIrish equivalentBulmersasa“muststockitem” here.

“Ihavebasicallyaverysimplephilosophy–andthisisnotacriticismofBudweiserBrewing Group–butnobodyisgoingtolovethat brandlikewedobecauseitisourbrand,”he said.

“Takingcontrolofthebrandbackon January1nextyearisabigstep.

“Ithinkwhatitisgoingtodoisanumber ofthings. We willbeputtingmoremarketing supportbehindthatbrand. We willbefocusing moreonthecidercategory,becauseweare suchabigplayerinit.Andthirdly,forthe frsttime,wewillbeseekingtoexploitthe distributionplatformwehaveinMatthew Clark[C&C’salcoholdistributionarm]topush thatbrandthroughtheUKmarket.

“Itsperformanceasabrandhistoricallyhas beenquiteweak.Ithinktheincreasedfocusit isgoingtogetwillbepositiveforit.”

Whilehebelievesthepoorweatherduring thesummerhascontributedtoweakercider

RalphFindlay

salesinIrelandandtheUK,healsobelievesthe categoryisripeforinnovation,includingthe rangeoffavoursandstyles.

“WhereIthinkwecanmakeadifferenceis inmoreinnovationbehindthecidercategory inourportfolio,”hesaid.“WhenIlookback, Ithinkwehavenotbeenveryactiveinterms ofdifferentstylesofcider,differentpackaging formats,lookingatthosekindsofthings.

“Forme,theseareallopportunitiesfor us. Yes,itmaywellmakeitlessexposedto seasonality.Therearebrandsoutthereinthe cidermarketthataredoingwell,andproving youcandoit.Iseeno reasonwhyMagners can’tbeoneofthose.”

Earlierthisyear,C&Cbecamethefocusof activistinvestorEngineCapital,whichhad urgedthedrinksgrouptoexploreasale,which itclaimedcoulddelivera58%premiumto thesharepriceatthetime.InAugust,thetwo sidesstruckadealthatwillseeC&Cappointa newnon-executivedirectortotheboardfrom

WhereI think we can makea diference isin more innovationbehind the cidercategory inour portfolio

anagreedshortlist.

Askedaboutpotentialsalesofbrandsonits portfolio,MrFindlaysaidhewasnotgoingto comment.However,headdedthathethinks therewassignifcantopportunitytocreate valueforshareholdersby“doingwhatwedo better”.

“Ithinkwewillalwaysbealivetooptions toincreaseorcreateshareholdervalue,”he said.“Buttheachievementofthetargets,the improvementinouroperations,gettingcapital allocationrightareallthingsthatIthinklead toimprovedshareholdervalueovertime.”

Onpotentiallylookingatnewbrand

developmentorbuyingbrandsforitsdrinks portfolio,hewastight-lipped.

“Ithinkallthosethingsarepossible.ButI wouldsay,althoughwehavehadthisportfolio ofbrandsforquitealongtime,Iamconfdent thatwecandobetterwiththatportfoliothan wedidhistorically.”

AsidefromMagners,C&Calsoownsthe FiveLampsbeerbrand.Aswithothersmaller brandsinitsportfolio,includingDrygatein Scotland,FindlaysaidC&Cwilllooktodo morewiththeDublin-focusedbeer.

“FiveLampsisabrandthatsellsmainlyin theDublinmarket.WhywouldFiveLampsas abrandnotsellintheGlasgowmarketorthe Londonmarket?Sotheseareallthingsthat wewillbelookingattoseeifwecandobetter withthosekindofbrands.”

In resultslastweek,C&Csaidit remainson tracktodeliverfull-yearoperatingproftsof around€80m.Itspre-taxproftstopped€40m overthesixmonthstotheendofAugust. ■

Howdidyougetstartedintheindustry?

IgrewuplipreadingeveryonearoundmeasI amdeaf.Iinitiallytrainedinforensiclipreading andofferedmyskillsasacommercialservice whichwasunheardofinthosedays.I encounteredquiteferceoppositionasIwas aqualifedlipreadingteacherandworking commerciallywasthoughttobeunethical. IstartedbyworkingforITNNews,thenI providedsupporttolawenforcementandthe NationalCrimeAgency,lipreadingCCTVand surveillancevideos.

InmydayjobIneedlivecaptionsin meetingsandonteleconferencecalls.Iwas dissatisfedwiththeservicesavailableat thetimesoIsetupa remoteagencythat wasdeaf-ledandtrulyunderstoodadeaf client’sneeds,providingsignlanguage andcaptioningservicestoanyonewithan internetconnection.

OfferingcaptioningservicesmeantI encounteredoppositionintheUKasthe captioners(court reporters)thoughtIwas takingworkawayfromthem.However,there are15milliondeafandhardofhearingpeople intheUKandonly25captioners,and150,000 BritishSignLanguage(BSL)userswith908sign languageinterpretersavailable. Technology reallyhasbeenagodsendformanydeaf people.

Inowhavealipreadingteamandaround 500captionersworkingin23languages aroundtheworld.

Typically,whoareyourclientsor customers?

Ourcaptioningclientsareverydiverse, includingdeafemployees,conference organisers,HRtrainers,anduniversities ensuringgraduationceremoniesandlectures areinclusive.TheyincludeGoogle,Facebook, Microsoft,theIsleofManTTRaces,and severalbanksanduniversitiesaroundthe world.Ourlipreadingskillssupportsolicitors, lawenforcement,archival recordsprojectsand mediaoutlets.AninterestingprojectIworked onwasPeterJackson’s‘TheyShallNotGrow

Entrepreneur ofthe Month

Old’andI was handedamazing frstworld war footage which was incredibletowatch.

Doyou enjoy whatyou do, and whatin particular?

I ampassionateabout what I dobecauseI ammaking a differencewhereitisverymuch needed.Thevarietyofchallengeskeepsme engaged,fromworkingonlipreadingCCTV onmurdertrialsandsurveillancefootageto managinglivecaptionsforweek-longevents inmultiplelanguages.Ienjoythetechnical challengesofunderstandingdifferentsoftware platformsandhowtheyintegratewith captioningsoftwareindifferentcountries. Myfavouritepartisbeingabletosupporta deafemployeewhoisinaverysenior roleand watchthemgrowastheyjumpfromcompany tocompanyorprogressupwards,takingus withthemintheirbackpocket.

Whatisthemostdiffcultpartofyourjob? Themostdiffcultpartofmyjobisstaying

awakeforconferencesthatstartinthemiddle ofthenightwhentheyareontheothersideof theglobe.Ineedtobeabletosolveatechnical glitchwithinfveminutesasthatisallthetime Ihavebeforealiveeventstarts,Ihavelearned tostaycalmandthinkonmyfeetquickly.

Whatarethechallengesfacingyoursector andtheeconomyingeneral?

TheriseofAIincaptioningposesadual-edged sword.Whileadvancementsintechnology offercost-effectiveness,theprecisionand nuanceofhumanintervention remain unmatched.Forsensitivecontextsandnuanced content,humanexpertiseensuresmore accuracyand reliability.Digital recordingsare alsoanotherrisingchallenge,againtheydon’t havetheaccuracyofthecourt reporter.As technologyevolvesandthecaptioningindustry asawholeincreasinglymovestowardsdigital services,I remaincommittedtoexcellenceand inclusivitywhilemaintainingtheall-important humantouch. ■

TINALANNIN 121CAPTIONS

Motoring

ByPatBurns

Qashqaikeeps ongiving

Nearly18yearsagothefrstNissan Qashqai rolledofftheproduction lineinSunderlandcreatingthe crossoversegmentoftheautomotive market.

Now,withmorethanfourmillioncustomers inmorethan100countries,thefastest-selling careverintheUKcarindustryhasbeen upgradedoncemore–witha redesignand technologyupdatestoenhancethedriving experience.

ThenewQashqai,electrifedwithNissan’s uniquee-Powersystem,hasamoreupmarket feel.Thelatestchangeskeeptheessence ofwhatconsumersloveabouttheQashqai, whileenhancingitsstrengthsandaddingmore technology.

Thekeytoe-Power’suniqueandinnovative powertrainisthatthewheelsareonlyever drivendirectlybytheelectricmotor,unlike traditionalhybrids.Anelectricmotordirect drivetothewheelsmeansnogearbox,instant, hightorqueandlinear response.It represents anEV-drivesensationwithouttheneedto thinkofcharging–astepping-stonefor customerswhoaren’tyet readytomakethe switchto100%EV.

Thesole roleoftheturbochargedthreecylinderengineistogenerateelectricity,which

issentviatheinvertertoeitherthe140kW electricmotororthe1.8kwhbattery(orboth, accordingtothedrivingscenario).Theengine worksquietlyinthebackgroundtoprovidethe necessarychargetothebatteryandmotor.It’s beenprogrammedtoprovidetheelectricity in relationtovehiclespeedtoavoidthe disconcertingdisconnectbetweenbackground soundandvehicleprogress.

AnewadditiontotheQashqailine-upis theN-Designgrade.Ontheexterior,thelower bodyportionbelowthedoorsandthewheel archesarebody-colouredonN-Design.There arealsounique,all-new20-inchalloywheels whichbringaddedon-roadpresence.

Fortheuppergrades,thereisanew Alcantarainteriortoelevatetheon-board ambience.Anothernewadditionisthe ambientlightinggiving64differentcolour optionsontheN-Connecta,N-Designgrades andabove.

Theupgradedaroundviewmonitor(AVM) systemnowfeaturesa3Dfunctionallowing thedrivertoseethecarnotonlyfromabove, butalsoselectoneofeightdifferentexternal cameraviewpointstovisualisethecarfrom thefront, rear,sidesorcornerstopotentially identifyanyunseenexteriorhazards.

Additionally,afeatureknownas‘invisible

hoodview’allowsthedrivertoseetheposition ofthefrontwheelsasiflookingatthemfrom justbehind,whichenablesthemtoprecisely manoeuvreintightlocations,suchasmultistorycarparkswherethereareconcretecurbs whichcoulddamageawheel.

Furthermore,the AVMtechcanbeusedto helpdriversmakeasafeentryfromadiffcult exitontoa roadwherevisibilityislimited.It usesawide-anglefrontcameratoshowthe viewfromthefrontofthebonnet,projected ontothecentralscreen.Liketheparkingspot locationmemoryfunction,locationswith limitedvisibilitycanbestoredin AVM’sGPS memory,soitwillautomaticallyactivateclose tothejunction.

The refreshedQashqaiisthefrstvehiclein Nissan’sEuropeanrangewithGooglebuilt-in aspartoftheNissanConnect‘infotainment’ system.Overtheairupdatesensurethemap informationisalwayscurrent.

Forpeaceofmind,theNissanConnect ServicesupdatewillmonitortheQashqaion thedriver’sbehalf.Itcan remindcustomersif theyhaveforgottentolockthecarorclosethe windowsifthey remainopenoneminuteafter theenginehasstopped.Itwillalsowarnthem ifthecarhasbeentamperedwithortowed.In caseofsuspectedtheft,itcanbeimmobilised.

Equally,Qashqaicustomerswitha subscriptioncanalsouseAmazon’sAlexasmart homesystemandtalktoAmazonAlexaintheir Qashqai.Pricesstartfrom£30,135. ■

Freshupgrades forCooper WorksMini

WiththenewMiniJohnCooper Worksmodels,motorsport enthusiastsnowhaveforthe frsttimethechoicebetweentwofully electricmodelsandthreepetrol-powered modelswithpowerfulfour-cylinder TwinPower Turboengines.Regardless ofthedrivetrain,allofMini’shighperformancemodelssharethedriving dynamics,racing-inspiredsuspension,and a reviseddesign.

TherangeconsistsoftwofullyelectricJohn Cooper Worksmodelsforthefrsttime,the MiniJCWElectricandtheAceman,whilethe MiniJCWandMiniConvertiblearepowered bytheturbopetrolengines.There’salsothe CountrymanAll4whichcomeswithfourwheel drive.

TheMiniElectrichasarangeof230miles whiletheAceman’srangeisslightlyless. Bothmodelshaveupto190kW/258hpand 350Nmofinstantlyavailabletorqueandcan provideanadditional20kWofmotorpower viaanelectricboostfunction,allowingfor particularlysharpacceleration.TheJCWspecifcsuspensiontuningmaximizesthe

typicalMinigo-kartfeelingandguarantees agilehandling.High-performancetyresarepart ofthestandardequipmentofbothmodels. Exclusiveequipmentdetailsemphasize theconnectiontothebrand’straditional motorsportheritage.Theseincludethe redwhite-blackJohnCooper Workslogointhe styleofachequeredfag,aswellasaJCWspecifcMultitoneRoofwitha red-blackcolour gradient.Blacksideskirts,model-specifc aerobladesattheC-pillar,andtheaccentuated rearspoileroptimizetheaerodynamicsfor increasedrange..

Thepetrolmodelsarepoweredbya2-litre, 231HPenginedrivingthroughanautomatic gearboxandofferfunandperformance.

TheMiniJCWtakes6.1secondsandthe Convertible6.4secondstosprintfrom0to 100km/h.ThetopspeedoftheMiniJCW is155mph,theConvertibleslightlyless.For open-airdrivingpleasure,thesofttopofthe Convertiblecanbefully retractedinjust18 secondsatspeedsofupto18mph.

Asthelargestmodel,theCountrymanwith ALL4all-wheeldriveoffersacombinationof style,power,andadventurousspirit.Themore

powerfulenginedelivers300HPofpower, 400Nmofmaximumtorque,andatopspeed of155mph.

ThedesignoftheinteriorinthenewJohn Cooper Worksmodelsischaracterizedby JCW-specifcequipmentdetailsin redand black.TheblackJCWsportssteeringwheel with reddecorativestitchingandasixo’clock spokemadeofblackand redfabricprovides excellentgrip.TheJCWsportsseatsoffer securesupportduringdynamicdriving.The combinationofblackleatherettematerialin theshoulderareaand redaccentstitching matchesthesurfaceofthedashboard.Inall JCWmodels,anexclusiveHarmanKardon soundsystemenhancesthedrivingexperience asstandard.

ThehistoryofMiniJohnCooper Works datesbackto1961.JohnCooper recognised thecompetitivepotentialoftheclassicMini longbeforeanyoneelse.Byinstallingamore powerfulengine,newbrakes,andamore directsteering,heturnedthemodestsmall carintoarallycarcapableofbeatingthe muchmorepowerfulcarsoftheday.The rest ishistory. ■

AllaboardtheSantaFe

Hyundaihaslaunchedaradically differentﬁfthgenerationSantaFe. Thenewmodelhasadistinctive, boxysilhouetteandaspaciousinterior, suitedtoarangeofoutdoorandurban activities.

Fullyfoldablesecond,andthird-rowseats provideclass-leadinginteriorspace,whilethe varietyofhigh-tech,practicalfeaturesaddto itsnature-meets-cityappeal.

Thisnewseven-seaterisalargevehicle–roughlythesamesizeasaBMWX5orLand RoverDiscovery.It’sdesignedtobeatthe latterpairattheirowngameandsucceeds. Itissupremelyquietandcomfortableinside andtheboxyshapeguaranteesplentyof spaceand room.Itmightbebig,butit’seasy toplaceonthe roadorinheavytrafﬁc.The instrumentationiswelllaidoutandyouwon’t ﬁndyourselftrawlingthroughnumerous screensjusttoadjusttheheatortheradio.

TherearethreetrimlevelsPremium, UltimateandCalligraphyandthreepowertrain options:Hybrid,witheithertwoorfourwheeldrive,aswellasthefourwheeldrive

plug-inhybrid,allfeaturingthe1.6-litre T-GDi Smartstreamengine.BothHEVpowertrains produce215PSpowerand367Nmtorque, withthemorepowerfulPlug-InHybrid delivering253PSand367Nmpowerandtorque respectively.

ThePremium1.6THybrid215PS6speed automatic2WDispricedfrom£46,775and includes20-inchalloywheels,electrically operatedandfoldingdoormirrors,privacy glass,frontand rearLEDlighting,smartpower Tailgate(height/speedadjustable)and roofrails toaccentuateitsadventure-readyappeal.Inside there’sadualcurved12.3-inchdisplayset-up, integratingtheclusterandinfotainmentwhich incorporatestouchscreensatellitenavigation andmediacentre,USBCportsforcharging inallthree rowsofseats,wirelessphone chargingandelectricallycontrolledandheated frontseatswithseparatedriver’sseatlumbar support.ThePremiumtrimisavailableinfour wheeldriveandhybridformats.

TheUltimatetrimstartsfrom£50,275 fortheUltimate1.6THybrid215PS6speed automatic2WDandhasaBosesoundsystem,

dualglasssunroofwithfrontglasselectric tiltandslide,electricallyadjustablesteering columnanddriver’smemoryseatfunction, heatedandventilatedfrontandheated rear seats,dualwirelessphonecharging,digital centremirror,head-updisplay, remotesmart parkassist,blindspotviewmonitor,and surroundviewmonitor.

Newforthisﬁfth-generationmodelisthe Calligraphytrim,withpricesfrom£52,775for theCalligraphy1.6THybrid215PSsix-speed automatic2WD.

ThenewSantaFeboastsamyriadof safetyfeaturesthatensurebothsafetyand convenienceonthe roadsuchasparking sensorswithon-screendynamicparking guidance,10airbags,blindspotcollision avoidanceassist,forwardcollisionavoidance assist,highwaydriveassist,intelligentspeed limitassist,lanefollowassist,lanekeepassist, parkingcollisionavoidanceassist-reverse.

Italsofeaturesover-the-air(OTA)software updatesforvariousvehiclesystems,ﬁrst introducedintotheHyundailine-upin2023 withIoniq6. ■

KPMG marks 50 years in Northern Ireland with Belfast event

ShaunKelly,formerglobalchiefoperatingoffcerforKPMGInternational,PamelaMcCreedy,chiefoperatingoffceratPSNIandKPMGalumni,JohnnyHanna,partnerinchargeof KPMGinNorthernIreland,SeamusHand,managingpartneratKPMGinIreland,ClaireBrowne,auditandassurancepartneratKPMGinNorthernIreland,andHenrySaville,former headofKPMGinNorthernIreland

ProfessionalservicesfrmKPMG hascelebrated50yearssince establishinganoffceinNorthern Irelandwith a galaeventinBelfast. More than300clients,alumni,employees andotherguestsjoinedthefrmatICCBelfast for a lookbackatKPMG’s evolutionsincefrst settingupinthecityin1974.

Atthetimeitwasheadedbyformer managingpartnerBen Wilsonandjustfve otheremployees,butithassincegrown headcountto450,basedatitsSoloistBuilding headquartersonLanyonPlace.

TheKPMGNorthern Irelandofferinghas alsogrowntoencompassaudit,taxand advisoryservicestothepublicandprivate sectorinNorthern Ireland.Inaddition, establisheditsspecialistDigitalCentre of Excellencein2021whichdelivers a rangeof consultancyservicesinareassuchascyber security, appliedintelligenceanddigital

transformationfororganisationsglobally

Guestsheard fromSeamusHand,managing partnerKPMGinIreland,currentpartnerin chargeofKPMGinNorthern Ireland,Johnny Hanna,formerglobalchiefoperatingoffcer ShaunKelly, formermanagingpartnerHenry Saville,KPMGalumniandchiefoperating offcerofthePoliceServiceofNorthern Ireland, PamelaMcCreedy, andcurrentpartnerClaire Browne.Ben Wilsonalsoattendedtheevent.

JohnnyHanna,partnerinchargeofKPMG inNorthern Ireland,said:“We are delightedto becelebrating50yearsofKPMGinNorthern Irelandinthecompanyofmanyofthepeople whohavehelpedusonourjourney Sinceour doorsopenedinBelfastin1974,thefrmhas evolvedsignifcantly, butatourcore wehave maintained a focusonbeing a truepartnerto ourclients,and a familytoourcolleaguesand thecommunity

“Onbehalfofthefrm, I wouldliketosay a

thankyoutoeveryonewhohassupportedus overtheyears. We lookforward tocontinuing toadaptinthefuture tomeetthechanging needsofourclientsandcementKPMG’s status asthego-tobusinessadvisorinthis region.”

MarcusRobinson,theBelfast-born artist andflmmaker, wastheguestspeaker In conversationwithhostHollyHamilton,he recalledhisworkchartingthe rebuildofthe World TradeCentre inNew Yorkandunveiled oneofhispaintingsattheevent.

SeamusHand,managingpartner, KPMGin Ireland,said:“CongratulationstoJohnnyand theteamatKPMGinNorthern Ireland.Our teaminNorthern Irelandare anintegralpart ofourall-islandfrmandhavemade a huge contributiontoourcontinuedgrowthand successoverthelast50years.Theachievement istestamenttothehard workofsomany colleaguespastandpresentwhichweare all verygratefulforandproudof.” ■

TM EN TS

AnneMurphytakesontheroleofbusiness adviseratArdsBusinessHubusingher skillsasanentrepreneurtohelpboth fedglingandgrowingbusinessessucceed.

TonyMcAllisterhasbeenappointedas abusinessadviseratArdsBusinessHub tohelpguideandmentorstart-upsand growingbusinesses.

PeterHenryjnrhasjoinedAnderson AgnewandCoSolicitorsinBallymena. Heisthethirdgenerationtopracticein thetown,andisagraduatefromQueen’s UniversityBelfast.

SeanDuffyhasbeenappointedto theboardofcreativecommunications consultancyMorrowCommunications, anappointmentwhichwillsupportthe company’sgrowthplansacrosstheUKand Ireland.

TheSystemOperatorforNorthernIreland (SONI)hasappointedFrankO’Connorasits newdirectoroffnance.

TheSystemOperatorforNorthernIreland (SONI)hasappointedGerardCarlinas directorofnetworksandinnovation.

SpecialistbusinessadvisoryfrmFRPhas announcedthelaunchofanewoffce inBelfastasitappointspartnerAlison Hollywoodtoitsforensicservicesteam.

EmmaMorrisisnowthedirectorof operationsattheSystemOperator forNorthernIreland(SONI).The appointmentandothersarepartofa neworganisationalstructuredesignedto implementchangesmadetotheoperating licencebytheUtilityRegulator.

KevinO’Neillisnowdirectorofstrategy andregulationattheSystemOperatorfor NorthernIreland(SONI).

APPOIN

1. Morethan250,000people havebeenimpactedbythe workbeingdeliveredby WomeninBusiness,Diversity Mark, TimelyCareersandthe CentreofLearning,according toanew report.Pictured areDeniseBlack,Lorraine Acheson,RoseannKelly, LauraDowie,andChristine White.

2. BronaghLukefromSparNIis picturedwithchefStephenJeffers fromForestsideCookerySchool andChrisThompson, Tearfund’s directorinNorthernIreland.This year’spartnershipappealwillaim toraise£700,000tohelpbreak thecycleofpovertyaroundthe world.

3. Wrightbushaswelcomedthe SecretaryofStateforNorthern Ireland,HilaryBennMPtoitsbase inBallymena.He’spicturedwith WrightbusbossJean-MarcGales.

4. Womenfromthebusiness sectorshavetakenpartinKainos’ Power WomenLeadershipevent. PicturedareJayneBradyMBE, headoftheNorthernIrelandCivil Service,RuthMcGuinness,head ofdataandartifcialintelligence (AI)atKainos,andCatherine Doyle,generalmanagerof MicrosoftIreland.

5. Vikela,aninnovativeleader inthepersonalprotection equipmentindustry,hasopened newheadquartersinBangor. PicturedareRobertStewart, councillorCraigBlaney,Peter Gilleece,andJennyGregg.

6. Authorandcomedyactor David Walliamswasthestar guestatNIChamber’s2024 President’sBanquet.Pictured areGraemeMacLaughlin, SimonMann,CatMcCusker, TerryLappin,Shauna Graham,PaulMurnaghan, PatrickBrown,andBarbara McKiernan.

7. Luxury resortGalgormhaswon ahostofinternationalgongs atThe WorldLuxury Awards. PicturedareColinJohnston, managingdirector,Galgorm, beingpresentedwithatrophy forhostvenuebyAdriBradbury, WorldLuxury Awards.

8. M&SFoodhasopeneditsnew storeatBelfastGrandCentral Station.M&SstoremanagerLiam Grantispicturedoutsidethenew storefollowingitsunveiling.

9. Stantec,agloballeader insustainableengineering, architecture,andenvironmental consulting,hasopeneditsnew Belfastoffce.PicturedareSimon Dickson,Stantec’sBelfastoffce lead,andDavid Wright,director atCBRENI.

10. NIChamber’sannualMeet theBuyerseesmorethan200 businessespitchtheirproducts andservicestomajorbuyerswith signifcantprocurementneeds. PicturedatBelfastGrandCentral Stationare TanyaAnderson, ChristopherMorrow,andDenise Gordon, Translink.

11. The Tesco‘RedDay’ campaignpromoted volunteercollectionsat TescostoresacrossNorthern Ireland.Thecampaign mobilised100AirAmbulance NIvolunteersin34stores.

12. Alchemy TechnologyServices hasbeenannouncedasthefrst tenantofthenewEbringtonPlaza buildinginDerry.Picturedare JeremyFitch,InvestNI,Damian O’Callaghan,HeronProperty Ltd,andJohnHarkin,Alchemy TechnologyServices.

13. KlasTherapeuticsareNorthern Ireland regionalwinnersofthis year’sInterTradeIrelandSeedcorn InvestorReadinessCompetition. PicturedareProfessorBridgeen Callan,KlasTherapeutics,Shane O’Hanlon,InterTradeIreland,and DrPoulletteRabutOduor,Klas Therapeutics.

14. JayPatelpicturedatthe openingofMuffnBreak,an Australian-ownedbrandofonsite bakerycafes,whichisexpanding itsfootprintinNorthernIreland, withtheopeningofitssecond cafeatLesleyForestsideShopping CentreinsouthBelfast.

15. Female-foundedtechstart-up, Needi,hassecured£450,000 infundingfromtheInvestment FundforNorthernIreland’sequity arm.PicturedareSueBarnard, ClaudineOwensandLouise Doyle.

16. EconomyMinisterConor Murphy(centre)hasleda trademissiontotheworld’s largestfntechtradeevent, SingaporeFintechFestival.He ispicturedwithLeoClancy, EnterpriseIreland,Mary Buckley,IDAIreland,Sarah McGrath,IrishAmbassador toSingapore,andKieran Donoghue,InvestNI.

17. Bazaarvoicehaslaunched anewplatformforcontent strategyandexecution,marking asignifcantshiftinthecontent managementspace.Picturedare SimonLoxhamandColinBodell.

18. CharityJobsNIhaslaunched NorthernIreland’sfrstcareers fairdedicatedexclusivelytothe charitysector.PicturedareRichard Cherry,CharityJobsNI,with JessMcVicar,RSPB,ChrisBunce, CharityJobsNI,andLauren Gilliland.

19. Belfastpublic relationsfrm Lanyonhasbeenacquiredby Consello.PicturedareJohn Herlihy,executivechairmanof ConselloinIreland,chiefexecutive ofConselloinIreland,Katie Doran,andgroupfounder,Declan Kelly.

20. GillianMcAuley,Eakin Healthcare,andpastpresidentof NIChamberhasbeenappointed totheboardofBritishChambers ofCommerce(BCC).Sheis picturedwithNIChamberchief, SuzanneWylie,andPadraic Dempsey,EakinHealthcare.

21. TourismNorthernIreland hassupportedanevent inDublintoshowcaseNI asaworldclasstraveland businessdestination.Pictured areLesley-AnnO’Donnell, RachelLeitch,Ellvena Graham,EconomyMinister ConorMurphy,andCharlie Westenra.

22. LidlNorthernIrelandhas procuredmorethan£500m fromlocalsuppliersandbusiness partnersacrossthe region. PicturedareIvan Ryan, regional managingdirector,LidlNorthern Ireland,andRobert Ryan,chief executiveofLidlIrelandandLidl NorthernIreland.

23. NIENetworks’RandalGilbert hasbeennamedasthefrst recipientoftheGreenLegacy Awardatthe2024All-Ireland Sustainability Awards.Heis picturedwithJudyMcElroy.

24. JusticeMinisterNaomiLong markedBook WeekNIinavisit tothelibraryatHydebank Wood SecureCollegeandFemale Prisonwheresheispicturedwith prisonlibrarianDeborahMartin andHydebankCollegegovernor Richard Taylor.

25. BronaghLukefrom VivoNI ispicturedwithSiobhanCasey, directorofmarketingandbusiness developmentandRosalindCole, fundraisingmanagerfromAgeNI tocelebratethe Vivobrandraising £100,000forthecharityduring theirpartnership.

26. Leadersfromthe commercialproperty industry recentlygathered todiscusstheBelfastoffce market.Theyarepicturedat McConnell’sDistilleryinnorth Belfast.

27. GardenShowIrelandissetto bloomagainasit returnsforits 21styearinJune2025atAntrim CastleGardens.PicturedisGarden ShowIrelandambassador,David DomoneywithMayorofAntrim andNewtownabbey,NeilKelly.

28. Internationalmedics MohammedSurour,Dr Yasmeen AhmedandMohamedenOmer jointheLordMayorofBelfast MickyMurray,ataspecial receptioninCityHalltomarkthe deliveryofanEnglishLanguage SupportAcademyforMedics.

29. Morethan300jobshavebeen onofferatArdsandNorthDown BoroughCouncil’sJobs,Support and TrainingFair.PicturedareJack Hamilton,MashDirect,withthe MayorofArdsandNorthDown, AlistairCathcart,andStephen McPhillips,GalgormGroup.

30. ActionCancerhasunveiled afundraisingexpedition,atrek throughtheEscambrayMountains ofCuba.Ittakesplaceduring October2025andaimstoraise signifcantmoneyforthecharity.

31. PersonaltrainerAnthony McKenzieandSloan’sGym ownerJohnnySloanjointhe LordMayorofBelfastMicky Murraytohighlightafree eventfornewandstart-up businessesatStGeorge’s Market.

32. CaoimhinPearson, PaulaMcGeaghandPadraig McGuckin,welcomecustomers toCookstown’snewestbar,The 40Thieves Tavern,whichoffcially opensitsdoorslastmonth.

33. SuperValuandCentraNIare celebratingafterfourstoreswon toptitlesattheNeighbourhood Retailer Awards,aswellas achievinganationalaward. PicturedareFrankMcPolinand SharonMcPolinfromCentra Annaclone,withNicolaKempton, NordicSpirit.

34. Belfast’snewesthospitality venue,TheStockExchange,has openeditsdoorsatRoyal Avenue. PicturedareJamesJoyce,director ofoperations,andownerGareth Murphy.

35. SeanDuffyhasbeen appointedtothecreative communicationsconsultancy MorrowCommunications,an appointmentwhichwillsupport thecompany’sambitiousgrowth plansacrosstheUKandIreland.

36. CancerFocusNIhas receivedanawardof€15,000 fromthethirdannualAIB Community€1mFund. PicturedareRosieForsythe, CancerFocusNI,PaulDoyle, AIBDonegallSquareandGail Caldwell,CancerFocusNI.

37. Almost40peoplefromthe Ballymenaareaarecelebrating aftergraduatingfromtheNI HospitalitySchoolandsecuring full-timeemploymentwithin localhotels.PicturedareBrenda McGale,SkyeHanley,Eddie McKeever,andKieraCampbell.

38. Productdevelopment organisationInstilhasbought cyber-securityconsultancy Vertical Structure.PicturedareSimon Whittaker, VerticalStructure, PaddyO’Hagan,Instil,Marc Dowie, VerticalStructure,and Tara Simpson,Instil.

39. PicturedatDeloitte’soffces atTheEwart Warehouse,the siteofthenewCatalystBedford Streethub,areMaeveMonaghan fromNowGroup,JackieHenry fromDeloitteandSteveOrrfrom Catalyst.

40. WilliamMarshallandMichael LylebehindCapersPizza,a long-standingpillarofBelfast’s foodscenewhichclosedearlier thisyear,havebeenawardedthe outstandingcontributiontothe industryhonourattheinaugural NIFoodtoGo Awards.

Tudor’snew‘boutiqueonly’ blue referenceispurest expressionofitschrono

JohnMulgrew getshandsonwith Tudor’slatestiterationofitschronograph withanew‘boutiqueonly’blueversion,puttingafreshstampontherange

Anyonethathasevenapassing appreciationofhorologyenjoys theideaofsomethingbeing somewhatexclusiveorlimitedintermsof production.

Andwhile Tudorhasbeenproducingits BlackBayChronographforanumberofyears, thelatest‘boutiqueonly’ referencemightbe

thebrand’spurestexpressionofthemodelto date.

IhadanearlieriterationoftheBlackBay Chronographon reviewseveralyearsback,and whileIenjoyedit,pullingoffthattwo-tone steelandgoldcanbeastretchforsome.

What Tudorhasdonewiththelatest referenceisputitsownstamponits chronograph. It’snotasmallwatchbyanymeans–cominginat41m–butwearingitssize,ifnot alittlemore,duetothefactit’sachronograph.

Butthenewfve-linkbracelet–which wecanunoffcially refertoasa‘jubilee’on thisoccasion–makesitaveryfushandtidy experienceonwrist.

Thebluedialandbezelarealmostdenimin colourandmoreorlessbulletproofintermsof trends.There’salovelyvintage-styleddomed sapphirecrystalwhichaddsalittlemorefair andcharacter.

OneoftheissuesIhadwiththeoriginal 41mmBlackBaywasthatitwasathickfella. Tudorhas reallyaddressedthiswiththelatest non-chronoofferings–theblackdialwithfvelinkorrubberoptionwearsconsiderablybetter andismorebalancedonthewristoverall.

Thiswouldcertainlyworkequallywellona Tudorrubberstrap–bringingdowntheweight andalsorampingupthecasuallookalittle more.

Thebluedialfeaturestwoclearly-readable silversubdials,appliedmarkerswithatriangle atthe12positionandthatunmistakable Tudor snowfakehourhandwithadecenthelpingof lume.

It’snotoverlybusyintermsoftext,with threelinessittingabovethesixpositionin afairlysmallfontsize–depthratingin red, followedbythechronometercertifcation.

There’salsothatlittlepopof redatthetop ofthechronographhand,helpingbringa touchofcolourtoanotherwise reasonably reserveddial.It’sbalanced,yet readable.The soleilfnishingonthedialitself reallyhelpsthat deepbluepop.

There’safairbitofheftonwrist,withalugto-lugofjustshyof50mm,butthereisthat COSC-certifed TudorCalibreMT5813beating within,withadepthofjustover14mm.

Butitallfeelsverybalanced.I’veworn chronographswithslightlybiggercasesbut

casedepthswhichmakeeverythingfeel extremelytopheavyandunbalanced.Here,on my7.25inchwristthisfeelssnugandsitswell.

Turningtothatbracelet–whichisamixture ofbrushedouterlinksandpolishedinner links–itallhelpsliftthepiece,withsizeable taperingmakingitacomfortableft,whether you’rewearingalittlelooseortightertothe wrist.

There’salso Tudor’s T-Fitsystem,which allowson-the-fyadjustment–afeaturemost higher-endbrandsareimplementing,allowing youtoloosen,ortighten,dependingonthe environmentyou’rein.

Finishingiswhatshouldnowbeexpected with Tudoratthispricepoint–therearefew whichcanmatchitintermsoftheclean brushedlugs,polishedcasesides,screwdown pushersandcrown.

Tudor reallyhasbeenaheadofthegame inthelastfewyearsintermsofbothmeeting evolvingmarketdemands–whetherthat’sthe increasedinterestinin-housemovementsor smallercasesizes–aswellastakingdesign

FACTFILE MODEL: TudorBlackBayChronographBlue MOVEMENT:CalibreMT5813

CASESIZE:41mm

MATERIAL:Stainlesssteel PRICE:£4,880

cuesfromitsbiggersister,Rolex,

Aswithsomeotherwatchbrandsproducing pieceswhicharealmostimpossibletoadhere, Tudoralso releasedalimitedpinkdialvariant ofthechronograph,whichhasalreadymade itswaytothegreymarket.

Andwhilethat’sthevariantwhichperhaps turnedheadsandgarneredthecolumninches, probablyduetotheperceivedscarcityand bolddesign,it’sthisblue referencewhich really helpscementthemodelasastrongoptionfor anyoneafteranall-roundchronographatthis pricepoint.

Whileit releaseda‘panda’versionwhich harkedbackquitestronglytoRolex’sown hugelyin-demandDaytona,thebluefeelsvery muchlike Tudormakingitsownmarkonthe markethere.

Ifyouareafterachronograph,unless you’regoingvintageorlookingtowardsa microbrand,you’llbelookingatleast40mm –butprobablymore–intermsofcasesize. Andthis Tudorsitsatthatsweetspot,working withsmallerwristsandthosewhomayhave gravitatedtosomethingconsiderablychunkier. WearingitforaweekIfounditfellright intoplaceafteracoupleofdays. You’re wellawareit’sonwrist,butit’saesthetically balancedandalsoworksperfectlyundercuffs withoutbeingoverbearingorbecomingan obstruction.Thenewchronoisavailableatthe TudorboutiqueatQueen’sArcadeinBelfast citycentre. ■

Anunforgettabletrip fromUtahtoColorado let CatherineMurphy takeinsomeincredibly spectacularscenery

There’sanairofcelebrationasour hostErinshoutsout:“Allaboardthe RockyMountaineer.”

TheRockyMountaineer(rockymountaineer. com)isfamousforitstriooficonicCanadian rail routes– VancouvertoBanff,LakeLouise andJasper.In2021,thecompanyopened the‘RockiestotheRedRocks’ routebetween Denver,ColoradoandMoab,Utah–atwo-day tripthatcrossesastatelineandthecontinental divide.JustasthesoilcrustofMoab’shigh desertisteemingwithlife,the routethrough snowymountainvistas,plainsandcanyons teemswithtalesofpioneers,outlaws, cowboys,NativeAmericansandrailroad engineeringfeats.

I’mdoingRockiestotheRedRocksin reverse,startingoutinMoabandtravelling easttoDenver.Moabwasknownasaboom andbusttownthatmadeitsnameincattle ranchinganduraniummining.Itlaterserved asalocationformoviesfromJohn Wayne westernstoIndianaJonesescapades. Tourism, thecurrentboom,bringsfourmillionvisitors ayeartoanareathat’shometotwoof Utah’s‘Mighty5’nationalparks–Archesand Canyonlands.

Withtwodaystoexplore,IoptforArches NationalPark,DeadHorsePointstatepark–andanalarmingbuthilariousoff-roadtourina militarygradeHummerdrivenbyanex-cop.

SetintheheartoftheColoradoplateau, aboveasaltvalley,thishighdesertishometo atleast2,000naturalarchesandto rockﬁns, buttes,mesas,pinnacles,spires,windowsand balancedstones.There’s100millionyearsof erosionanda500-year-olddesertwherethere wasoncerainforestandsea.Theiron-oxidised redsandstonecreatesanincrediblevista, dottedwiththegreenofpinyonandUtah junipertrees.

Themostpopulararchestovisitare DelicateandLandscape,andSandDune archforfamilies.Theparkisaccessibleto allbutifyou’reakeenhikerwhowantsto

Railroading through the riveting Rockies

feeltime,space,silenceandscaleinthis wondrousplace,hireaguidesuchasbiologist Chris TullfromMoabAdventureCenter (moabadventurecenter.com)andhiketheback country.

Meanwhile,DeadHorsePointstatepark, southoftheArchesnationalparkviascenic highway313,isknownas‘Utah’sGrand Canyon’.Itoffersexpansiveviewsoverthe ColoradoRiverandcampingandyurtfacilities fora“canvasunderthestars”experience.

Squeezinginapre-dinnersunsetactivity,I embarkonathree-houroff-roadHummertour withdriversMike WilerandChadGregory fromMoabAdventureCenterthrough Hell’sRevenge,anareaofdriedoceanbeds, dinosaurprints,fossilsandColoradoRiver views.It’slikenootheroff-roaddriveI’ve

experienced.

Inwhatfeelslikeaslowmotion roller-coaster ride,Mike“rockcrawls”up,acrossanddown steepledges.Thehairiestsectiontakesus upthesteepandnarrowDevil’sBackbone.It feelsvertical,butMikegrinsandsaysit’sonly 15degreesandtheHummercantakeon40 degreeslopes.

Afterthathair-raisingexperience,theRocky Mountaineerfeelspositivelyzen.Thetrain travelsat reducedspeedsofbetween40kmh and56kmhsopassengerscan reallyenjoythe views.The resultisafeelingoftotal relaxation. I’mwelcomedonboardbytheteamwho’ll lookaftermefortwodays–Sabina,Cheryl, Jessica,ZachandErin.Sabinamagicsupthreecoursemenusinatinygalleykitchenthatuses airlinetrolleysforfoodstorage,Cherylcan

mixanycocktailyourheartdesires,andJess, ZachandErinareencyclopaediasofhistorical knowledge.

IfIwasthinkingOrientExpress,dressingup forgourmetdiningandon-boardsleepers,I needtothinkagain.TheRockyMountaineer journeyiscasualwithdaylight-onlytraveland overnighthotelstays.

Leavingthedesertbehind,weturnrightat CrescentJunctiontojointhemainline,passing theghosttownofCisco.InRubyCanyon,the frstofsixonourtwo-daytrip,wepassthe statelinebetweenUtahandColorado.The frstday’sjourneytakesaroundsixhoursand beginswitha VirginMarymocktailfollowed byathree-coursemenuofgrilledpeachand goat’scheesesalad,smokedsalmonsuperfood saladorlemon-roastedchickenbreastanda

dessertofpeachbarwithcherrycompote.

Beforelong,wepassbytheGrand Valley DiversiondamandheadintoDeBeque CanyonwhereIhearoneofmyfavouritetales. In1904,atthetownofParachute,KidCurry andtheHoleinthe WallGangattemptedtheir lastgreattrain robbery.KidCurrydiedinthe ensuingshoot-outandisburiedatLinwood cemeteryinGlenwoodSprings,closetothe graveofDocHolliday.

OurfrstdayendsinGlenwoodSprings,a true Wild Westtownwherewe’rewavedin byColoradofag-bearingRockyMountaineer staff.DocHollidayspenttimeinthetown hopingtocurehisTBatitsfamedhotsprings, whileFranklinDRooseveltranthecountryat timesfromHotelColorado,thusearningitthe nickname“thelittleWhiteHouse”.AlCapone

famouslysmuggledalcoholintothehotel duringprohibition.

ArrivingintoGlenwoodSpringsafter8pm, there’stimeforastrollthroughtownanda drinkintheDocHollidaySaloon.

Helpfully,we’regivenkeystoour roomsat theMaxwellAndersonHotelaswedisembark thetrain.Daytwoisabigonewitheighthours tofndour“trainlegs”andajourneythrough themostsceniclandscapeoftheUSsouthwest.Therearemoose,elk,deer,baldeagles, pronghornsandmountainlionsalllivinginthis region.

AswepassthroughGlenwoodCanyon,the teamoffersushotel-levelbreakfastwithfresh pastriesfromSweetColoradoughinGlenwood Springsandachoicebetweengranolaand yoghurtorafullhotbreakfast–withmimosas ontheside,ofcourse.

AttheendofourslowdescenttoDenver, wehugtheonboardteamandaretakento HotelIndigoforanovernightstayintheMile HighCity.There’stimeforawanderaround downtownanddinnerat WoodyFisher’sbar and restaurant. To completemyjourney,Iadd afewnightsontomyDenverstay,exploring UnionStation,DenverArtMuseum,Dairy BlockfornightlifeandLarimerSquarefor vintageshopsbeforeheadingtoRiNoart districtforagreatstreetarttourandjazzat Nocturnesupperclub.

InafttingendtomyRockyMountaineer trip,IheaduptoRedRocksamphitheatrefor anunforgettableoutdoorgigwithviewsover thecityandtheglowofgiant redsandstone outcrops. ■

Caption

NewiPadminihas a faster chip… but AI capabilitiesnot available yet

Thecentralappealof thedeviceasabridge betweentheiPhoneand iPadisunchanged,writes Adrian Weckler

There area few reasonstoget Apple’s updatediPadminioverthe previousmodel,buttheymaynot beenoughforthosewiththe2021version. Those reasonsare:greaterpower, Apple Intelligence,compatibilitywithApple’s latest PencilPro andanapparentlypermanentfx forthedevice’s “jelly roll”scrollingissue.But

withnosignyetofAppleIntelligencebeing greenlitfortheEU,thatleavesgamingoravid PencilPro userswhobristleatslightlyimperfect scrollingvisualsasthemainbenefciariesofthis upgrade.

After a weektestingit,I’mactually a little surprisedathowlittlethenewmodelhas changedfromtheoldone.

Certainly, thoselookingforanykindof breakthroughinphysical redesignwon’t fndit here.TheiPadminiisthesamesize,dimensions andweightasbefore,withthesame8.3-inch screen,speakers,batterylife,camera, TouchID sensorandalmosteverythingelse.

Whilethismeansthatanycasesyoualready haveitforwillstillbefne,it’s basicallythe samedeviceontheoutside.Itdoescomein differentcolours,animportantfeature forsome buyers.

Sothemainupgradeisthepoweronthe insidevia a fasterchip – theA17Pro,thesame asinlastyear’s iPhone15Pro– anddoublethe Ramat8GB.

Whileusefulforgamingandvideoediting, theprincipalpurposehere isprobablyto supportAppleIntelligence,thesuiteofsmart software toolsthathelpedlaunchtheiPhone 16 recently That’sa interestingupgrade – for thosewhocanaccessit.

Unfortunately, whileUSandUKcustomers getthisfunctionality, EUonesdon’t,due to regulatorycomplications,andthere’s no timelineyetonthatchanging.

There are somelesserupgrades,though,that are potentiallyusefulenoughtobeworthyof a mention.

Forinstance,there’s twicethebasestorage at128GB,aswellas a new512GBoption (€999)attheupperend.IthasfasterUSB-C speedsforanyoneusingitas a photographyor data-transfertool. Wif speeds(Wif6e)are also a littlebetter

MaybetheapparentfxdonetotheiPad mini’s occasionallyirksome“jelly roll”scrolling

issueisasimportantasallofthis.Thiswas a slightlyannoyingeffectthatappearedtovery slightlywarpiconsonthescreenwhenyou scrolledupordown. I couldn’t seeanytrace ofitonmy reviewunit.Soforthosewhowere annoyedbyit,that’sa decent result.

Otherwise,themainappealoftheiPadmini 7thgeneration remainslargelythesameas before.Atitscore,itis a more handbaggable iPadtocarryaround – somethingbiggerthan a phone,butnotasbigas a standard iPad.

WithnoFaceIDand a basicscreen,it’s notas fancyasmostofApple’s iPadline-up,butthat doesn’t matterbecauseitsportablesizetrumps thoseotherconsiderations.

Italsohasparticularappealforonecohort ofApplePencilusers,asthisissomethingto draw, sketchorwriteon, a devicearoundthe samesizeas a notebook.Thisaudiencewill begratifedthattheiPadminisupportsthe latestPencilPro,withitshoveringandbarrel rollfeaturesusefulfordrawing,inparticular Ontheotherhand,theymightbe a bitmiffed thatitdoesn’t supportApple’s Pencil 2 because of a realignmentofmagnets.Soitcouldmean havingtogooutandbuy a newPencilPro or USB-C.

OfalltheiPadmini’s physicalandtechnical features,theone I mighthavewishedtohave seenupgradedmostisthedisplay Whileit’s

niceandbrightat500nits,andcolourful withitsRetinadisplay, thethickblackmargin bezelsarounditare startingtolook reallyoldfashioned. A possibledefenceofthesebigfat bezelsmightbethattheyletyouavoidmistaps ormistakeswhenyou’re holdingitas a book. Butwhenusingit, I didfeel a littlebitlike I wasusinglastgenerationtechnology Thiswas amplifedbythe60hz-only refreshrateofthe display

I can’t thinkofanotherpremiumtabletwith a screenthat rollslikethisslightlyjuddering one,becauseofthat60Hzlimitation.It’s especiallynoticeableifyou’re comingfrom a recentiPadPro oriPhonePro,withtheir gorgeousandsmoothProMotion120hz displays.

To beclear, there are someadvantagesto 60Hz,includingincrementalbatterylifesavings. Andthere’sa separate,more industry-specifc cohortthatAppleisaimingtheiPadminiat –airlinesandpoint-of-sale retailers – whojust don’t care aboutthattypeoffeature upgrade. Moreover, theiPadminiisn’t alone – Apple’s largeriPadAir(M2)hasthesamescreen technology

Butas a top-endconsumerdevice,in2024it jars a littletoseethatolder-screentechnology on a newdevicethatcostsfrom£499.

TheiPadminiusedtobe a belovedhalfway

devicebetweenaniPhoneandaniPad.This wasespeciallythecasewhenmostiPhones were 6.1-inchorsmaller;an8-inchscreenwas literallytwicethesize.

Isthisasstrong a propositiontoday?I’mnot sosure.Mostpeople’s newphones – whatever brand – haveincreasedinsizetothepoint where thegapbetween a phoneandaniPad minihasshrunk.

AniPhone16Pro Maxhas a stunning 6.8-inchscreen – whichis,inmostways, a lot betterthananiPadmini’s.Whentestingthis device, I noticedthatwhenoptingtocheck inon YouTubeoranyothershort-formvideo platform, I stillfelt a more naturalurgetocheck onmy6.8-inchiPhone,becauseitsdisplayis about70pcthesizeoftheiPadmini’s,whichis probablybigenough.

This,forme,lefttheiPadmini 7 as a sketchingornote-takingdevicewiththatPencil Pro accompaniedby a sideorderof readingand webbrowsing.Theseare things I candowith myiPadAiroriPadPro.

AndwithApple’s AI(surely)duetocometo Europeatsomepoint,youare probablyfutureproofngthingsbygettingthismodelinsteadof thelastone.

Inshort,it’s still a multi-functional,lovely littletablet.Butit’sa relativelyminorupdateon thelastone. ■

TECH NOLO GY

Uncovering the9-5

NAME: KevinDoherty

POSITION: Chiefexecutive,RuralSupport

6.45am

Iwakeupearlytostartthedaywithagood stretch,gettingthebloodfowing.

7am

Igetup,makebreakfast,andfeedmydog, Alfe.He’smymorningcompanion,always readyforthedayahead.

7.45am

Iheadoutfortheoffce,tuningintothe radiotocatchuponlocalandinternational news.BasedinDerry,Ispendalotoftimeon the road,whichactuallyallowsmevaluable thinkingtimetoplanandstrategiseforrural support.

8.45am

IarriveattheoffceinCookstown.SinceI recentlytookonthe roleofchiefexecutive,I makeapointofbeingpresentintheoffceto workdirectlywiththeteamandaddressany ongoingprojectsandstructuralchanges.

8.50am

Igrabmyfrstcoffeeofthedayandtakeafew minutestoconnectindividuallywitheachteam member.AkeyfocusforRuralSupportison thewell-beingoffarmersandtheirfamilies, Iaimto refectthisapproachwithinourown organisationtoo.

9am

Iopenmylaptop, reviewmyemails,and prioritisetasksfortheweek. Withservices reachingacrossNorthernIreland,there’s alwaysworktobedone.OnethingIam currentlyfocusingonisthe‘Farmingforthe Generations’,apilotprogramlaunchedwith theDepartmentofAgriculture,Environment andRuralAffairs(DAERA).

9.30am

Isendoutaweeklyupdatetoallstaffabout myactivitiesandanykeyinformation. With recentchangesin rolesand responsibilities withinRuralSupport,consistent communicationhasbeenessentialaswe workthroughtheseadjustments.

10am

Theseniorleadershipteammeetsto review toppriorities.Farmingisfacingsignifcant challenges,andbeingmindfuloftheseis centraltoourwork.

11am

Thewholestaffgathersforateammeeting.I reheatmymorningcoffeeandenjoysomeof Pamela’streats.Pamela,fromourfundraising team,isknownforheramazingbaking,and hergoodiesarealwaysamoraleboostfor everyone.

1pm

Iusuallyhaveaworkinglunch.Recently, ImetwithDAERAMinisterAndrewMuir todiscusskeyinitiatives,includingplans toaddressthementalhealthchallenges facedbythefarmingcommunity. We are

alsocollaboratingwiththeNuffeldFarming Scholarshiponanupcomingconference,soit’s allhandsondeck.

2pm

Theafternoonisspentplanningouttheweek aheadandengagingwithstaffacrossvarious departments.Oursupportspansfnancial planning,bereavement,andoverallpersonal andbusinesswellbeingforfarmingfamilies, soI’mconstantlyfocusedonenhancingthese services.

5pm

Ileavetheoffceanddrivehome,catchingup onnewsandoccasionallyagolfpodcast–my favouritewaytounwind.

6.30pm

Ienjoyahome-cookeddinnerwithmylovely wife,Claire.

9pm

Intheevening,ClaireandI relaxwithagood TVdrama(weskipthe realityshows). To unwindfully,I’lloftenpickupabook,usually byStevenJMartinorJaneBuckley,tocloseout theday. ■

Ulster Business December 2024

Contents

Coverstory

InFocus

Outsourcing

49

IT&technology

57

STEM

65

Netzero&greenenergy

Motoring

Photocall

92

Review

94

Travel

96 Technology

Heading into2025 withairof positivity

A month innumbers Duty increases ‘will add about a pound to a bottle of wine’

NIbody armour firm expanding asit takes onglobalmarket

Major wind farm ‘sittingwithout decision for almost a decade’

Quotes of the month

Safeguarding local businesses withcyber insurance solutions

McDonald’s plans

new jobsacrossIreland

Anti-aircraft training dome to become community events space

Multi-cultural centre targeted by arsonists ‘couldbecomesupermarket’

Kainos reports 5% dropin revenues

It’srighttoswitchoff…but workersandemployersare splitonthe‘right’toswitchoff

Children’s play centre to bebuiltoutsideBelfast

Re-Gen: a global recycling business on a mission to decarbonise the planet

InvestNorthernIreland: helpingfrmsseizeopportunities intheglobalgreeneconomy

GR EEN ECONOMY

Acalltoaction

Itisimportanttohave femalerolemodels empoweringeachother

BelfastGrandCentralStation:

ShowcasingNI’sconstruction expertiseandpoweringnewjobs

Creatingjobsandopportunities

Alegacyofcollaborationand sustainability

Aneweraofpublictransport

EY: growingand developingaleadingaudit teaminNorthernIreland

Leadingheartcharity callsoncommunities tobecomelifesavers

Your runwaytobusinesssuccess

Fears brewing over future ofoperationsat Dundalkbeermaker

Supportinglocalatthe heartofMusgraveNI

Navigatingthenewlandscape:

ChangestoUKIHTreliefsforBPRandAPR

Considerationsforgiftsandtrusts

Finalthoughts

OU TSOURCI NG

US investors stillsee ‘Belfast through the lensof the Troubles’

UK’s largest sweet wholesaler eyeingﬁrst NIbase

IT & TECH NOLOGY

Taking thefak

Frombeeftartareto lasagne: fvedishesI’d

1BEEF TARTARE

2LASAGNE

3DUCKTERRINE

4DRY-AGEDSTEAK

5ADECENTBURGER

Review: noodlebarinBelfast’s own Chinatown is knocking out exceptionalfavours

Northern Irelandbuilding frm announcesit’s back in the black

Leading by example

IPCMouldings: Igniting thesparkofengineering

Increasein publicspending announcedinthe Budgetisnecessary

Healthy fast-food chainbringing Hawaiian taste to Belfast

JohnMulgrew

WilsonPower&Energy: empoweringNI’senergy independencein2024

Breakingbarrierswithbespokesolutionsandinnovations

Drivingelectricmobilityandsecurepower

Innovativemicrogridprojectsandpartnerships

Drivingthefutureofenergy

Belfast PR frm sold to frm founded by former US SpecialEconomicEnvoy

WeevacquiresEV divisionofenergyﬁrm

BrewDog opens doorsof ﬁrstNIbar

Bulmers owner

Entrepreneur ofthe Month

Motoring

Qashqaikeeps ongiving