Ulster Business December 2022

Theclocksare going back onceagain

So it’s officialnow. We’re in recession.

It’s ofcoursenosurprise,aswe’vebeen talkingaboutitforthelastfewmonthsas inflationentersdoubledigitsandinterest ratesrise.

However, the recessionaryterritoryis a far cryfromtheglobalmarketcollapsewhich causedourmore significanteconomic downturn indecades,backin2008.

A lotofthisisbeingcompoundedbyan economyandbusinesslandscapeemerging from a periodlikenootherinmodern history, theoutworkingsofBrexitandan internationalenergycrisisfuelledbyRussia’s warinUkraine.

TheOBRforecasts a contractionof1.4%in 2023butonewhichcouldcorrectitselfby thebeginningof2024.It’s clearthesoaring inputcostsmanybusinessesare facingare having a generalimpactonsalesandend users.

Butas I writethiswe’re stillcharting a coursetosomepositivebusinessnews storiesonthehorizon.Whileit’s not clearyetquitehowmany rolescouldbe createdhere,Harland & Wolff isoneof a consortiumofthree firmswhichwillbuild threenewsupportvesselsfortheRoyal Navyin a dealvaluedat£1.6bn.

It’sa bignumberandmore importantlyit willsee a return tothe firstshipbuilding inNorthern Irelandforsome20years.It willalsomeanthegrandvesselswillbe

launchedfromBelfast somethingmany ofuswillonlyhaveexperiencedfromblurry photographs,ofteninblackandwhite.

Welcometothiseditionof UlsterBusiness in which I speaktoThomasO’Haganof Weev abouthowit’s playingitspartinmaking motoringgreen.

We’re alsonowworkingonourspecial LeadersinBusinesseditionforJanuary whichshowcasessomeofthemost important figuresinoureconomyhere, alongtheOnesto Watchinfuture.

Andwiththat,enjoythiseditionandwe’ll catchupsoon. ■

JohnMulgrew

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A month innumbers ‘More needed fromGovernment to boostbusiness confidence’

ByJohnMulgrew

£1.6bn

Thetotalvalueof anewcontractto buildthreeRoyal Navyvessels,which Harland& Wolffwill beinvolvedin.

1.4%

Thepredicted contractionintheUK economyaccordingto theOBR,puttingitinto recessionnextyear.

£50m

Thevalueof renewablesfrm Everun’sinvestment hereoverthenext threeyears.

£650m

Theextramoney NorthernIreland isto receivefrom Westminster, announcedinthe AutumnStatement.

Businessessaymore isneededfrom theUKGovernmenttobuildback confdencehere astheChancellor announced a seriesofinitiativesandextra cashforNorthern Ireland.

InhisAutumnStatement,JeremyHuntalso confrmed a homeheatingoilsupportpackage tohouseholdsinNorthern Irelandwillbe doubledfrom£100to£200andpaid“toall households”.

Anditwasalso revealedthattheUKis nowoffciallyin recession,withtheeconomy expectedtoshrink1.4%in2023,accordingto theOBR.

AndNorthern Irelandwillalso receivean additional£650mforpublicservices paid outover a two-yearperiodin2023/24and 2024/25.

Amonghisotherinitiatives,thetop45% rateofincometaxwillnowbepaidonearnings over£125,140insteadof£150,000,there will be a freezeonincometaxpersonalallowance andhigherratethresholds,whiletheminimum wagewillincreasefrom£9.50to£10.42for thoseagedover23.

“BusinesseswillhopethattheAutumn Statementwillprovidemuchneededstability following a periodofsignifcantturmoil,but more isneededfromthegovernmenttobuild businessconfdence,”AnnMcGregor, chief

executiveoftheNorthern IrelandChamber said.

In responsetotheChancellor’s announcementthatthebeneftinkindratefor electricvehicles(EVs)willcontinueatultra-low levels,GraemeThompsonofEVinfrastructure company Weevsaid:“Itprovidesmuch-needed clarityforthosewishingtoswitchcompanycars orfeetstoEV, andis a majorboosttowards helpingbusinessesonthe roadtonetzero.”

DavidArmstrongofPwCsaid:“Thisis a verychallengingtimeforhouseholdbudgets asinfationissurging,drivenbyenergycosts andfoodprices,soitisrighttoaddressshort termchallengestoeaseimmediatepressureson peopleandbusinessesinNI.Theextensionof theEnergyPriceGuarantee,albeitatthehigher levelof£3,000,willhelptocushiontheblow ofhighglobalenergyprices.”

AndPeterLeggeofGrantThornton,said: “JeremyHunt’s eagerlyanticipatedAutumn Statementcouldnothavecontrastedanymore starklywithKwaziKwarteng’s September announcement,whichhadbeenbilledas a mini-Budgetbutwasfullofseismicsurprises.”

RetailNIchiefexecutiveGlynRobertssaid: “Ourmembersare facing a perfectstormof costchallengesfromenergy, businessrates and a majordownturn inconsumerspend. Itisdisappointingthatthere wasverylittle furthersupportinthestatementforlocalsmall businessesstrugglingtokeepthelightson.”

Chancellorofthe ExchequerJeremyHunt

Axial3D building showcase facility incity centre

ABelfast-based3Dmedicalprintingfrmisbuildinganew facilitytoshowcaseitstechnologyintheheartofthe cityalongsideplanstoaddaround30newjobs, Ulster Business can revealed.

Axial3Dhasjustannounced a partnershipwithStratasys,andan investment roundamountingto$15m.

AndtheBelfast-basedbusinessisalsoabouttobuildanambitiousnew 3Dprintingshowcaseatthesiteof a formercitycentre restaurant.

AccordingtochiefRogerJohnstonthemilliondollarinvestmentwill seethenewlabandtechnologyshowcasetakingontheformerDog Track restaurantsiteonOrmeau Avenue.

As a resultofthelatestmajorinvestmentsandplans,hetold Ulster Business a further30newjobscouldbeaddedoverthenexttwoyears.

“We are puttingthefacilityintotheformerDog Track restaurant.It willbethebiggestinvestmentin3DprintinginNorthern Ireland,”he said.

“Itisfocusedtotallyonmedical[3Dprinting]andwillbe a showcase location.Theseare theRollsRoyceofprintersavailableonthemarket, notjustmedical.”

Readthefullinterviewonpage22-23

RogerJohnston

Harland & Wolflands £1.6bn contract to build ships for Royal Navy

Shipbuildingwillmakea returnto BelfastafterfrmsincludingHarland & Wolffsecuredamassivecontract tobuildvesselsfortheRoyalNavy.

The£1.6bndealcouldsee1,200jobs createdacrossthethreefrmsinvolved–called TeamResolute–whichincludesHarland& Wolff,BMTandNavantiaUK.

TheMinistryofDefencehasselecteda preferredbiddertobuildsupportshipsforthe RoyalNavy,withacontractthatit’sclaimed willcreate1,200UKshipyardjobs,hundredsof graduateandapprenticeopportunities,andan expected800furtherjobsacrosstheUKsupply chain.

“TeamResoluteisproudtohavebeen selectedaspreferredbiddertoprovidethe RoyalFleetAuxiliarywiththree,adaptable shipswhichwillfulfltheRoyalNavy’sneeds whilestrengtheningUKsovereigndesignand shipbuildingcapability,aswellasgenerating around£1.4bninnationalsocialandeconomic value,”Harland& Wolffgroupchiefexecutive, John Wood,said.

“TeamResolutewillbemakingasignifcant investmentintotheUKandhelptolevelupUK Governmentdefencespendacrossthewhole Union. We willcreatehighqualityUKjobs, apprenticeshipsandfourfacilitiesacrossthe UKwhichwillhaveshipbuildingcapabilitiesft forthe21stcentury.”

Theentirefnalassemblyforallthree shipswillbecompletedatHarland& Wolff’s

Quotes of the month

shipyardinBelfast,withthethree216metre longvessels,andeachwillmeasurethelength oftwoPremierLeaguefootballpitches.

Theshipswillbethesecondlongest UKmilitaryvesselsbehindthetwoQueen Elizabeth-classaircraftcarriers.Theywillhave commonalitywiththeRFA’s Tideclassfeet tankers,alsobuilttoaBritishBMTdesign.

Themajorityofthethreeships’buildwill takeplaceintheUK,andthecontractwill increaseindustrialproductivity,developthe domesticsupplychainandworkforcewhile improvingtheindustry’senvironmental sustainability.

“ThisisawelcomeboosttotheUK

“Infation’sgrip on the economy continues to harm living standards,with the OBR suggesting they will fall by 7% over the next two years. Thiswillwipeout the lasteightyears of progress. ”

GrantThornton’sAndrew Webbspeakingafterthe AutumnStatement.

shipbuildingindustry.Byselecting Team Resolute,theMinistryofDefencehassecured £77mofinvestmentintoUKshipyards,creating around2,000UKjobs,andshowcasingcuttingedgeBritishdesign,”DefenceSecretaryBen Wallacesaid.

“Buildingonambitionslaidoutinthe NationalShipbuildingStrategy,wearealso bolsteringtechnologytransferandkeyskills fromaworld-renownedshipbuilder,crucialin themodernisationofBritishshipyards.”

Productionisduetostartin2025and allthreesupportshipsareexpectedtobe operationalby2032,whilethecontractisdue tobeawardedinthefrstquarterofnextyear.

“TheChancellor deserves credit for delivering stability, aswellas protecting the most vulnerable,but Northern Irelandbusinesseswill think there’s more to bedone on growth.”

CBINIdirectorAngela McGowanfollowingthe Chancellor’sannouncement.

“Irish buyers have continued to want to tradewith theUK by buying from Belfast,Banbridge and Ballymena rather than from Birmingham or Brighton.”

StephenKellyof ManufacturingNIwriting inthiseditionof Ulster Business.

Harland& Wolff’sfamous cranesinBelfast

Decreaseinnew orders for NIfrms

Newordersforfrmsherehave fallenattheirfastestratein11 yearsduringOctober,anew report hasshown.

TheUlsterBankpurchasingmanagers’index saidcostpressuresontheeconomyhadledto activityandnewordersfalling, resultingina fallinconfdence.

OutputacrossNorthernIreland’sprivate sectortookanotherdive,accordingtothe report.

“TheNorthernIrelandprivatesector continuedtoseeactivityandneworders decreaseinOctoberamidongoingcost pressures,whilebusinessconfdencesank further,”itsaid.

“Thatsaid,companiescontinuedtoexpand theirstaffnglevelsaspartofeffortsto rebuild workforcenumbersfollowingthepandemic.”

Exportorderswerecontinuingalmostfour yearsofdecline,duringOctober.

Andallpartsoftheeconomy–construction, retail,manufacturingandservices–wereallhit byadownturn.

However,companieswerestilltakingon

newstaffastheyattemptto rebuildtheir workforcefollowingthepandemic.

UlsterBankchiefeconomistRichardRamsey said:“Octobersawall12UK regionsfallinto contractionmodeasfarasbusinessactivity wasconcerned.

“ForNorthernIreland’sprivatesectoritwas thesixthsuccessivemonthlyfallinactivitywith allfourofthesectorssurveyedfallingbelow the50expansion/contractionthreshold.

“Newordersalsocontractedforthesixth monthrunningwithOctober’srateofdecline thesteepest–outsideofthepandemic–since January2011.”

Andfrmsherealso reportedthebiggest dropinnewworkofall12UK regionsduring October.

“Costpressuresandeconomicuncertainty werecitedaskeyfactorsbehindthefallin demand.Exportorders remainparticularly weakwiththelatestmonthlydecline–the 45thina row,”the reportsaid.

AndMrRamseysaidtheoutlookwasnot particularlycheerful.

“Thesourcesofinfationarypressures

remainbroad-basedencompassingwages,raw materials,energyandshippingcosts.Output priceinfation remainedelevatedbutwell downonthe recordratespostedearlierinthe year.Indeed,frmsraisedthepricesoftheir goodsandservicesattheirweakestratein19 months.

“Giventheevolving‘costofeverything’ crisisitisnotsurprisingthatbusiness confdencesanktoa26-monthlow.Allfour sectorsanticipatelowerlevelsofactivityin12 months’time.”

The reportsaid:“Aswellasimpacting activityinOctober,thecostoflivingcrisisand concernsaroundeconomicconditionshit businesssentimentwhichfelltothelowest sinceAugust2020.

“Onamorepositivenote,employment increasedforthe20thsuccessivemonthin October.Panellistslinkedtherisetoongoing effortsto rebuildworkforcesfollowingthe pandemicandasustainedperiodofdiffculty in recruitingstaff. Withemploymentupand newordersfallingsharply,backlogsofwork weredepletedfortheffthmonthrunning.”

RichardRamsey

Numberofhomessoldin Northern Ireland ‘falls by almost a ffth’

Thenumberofhomessoldin Northern Irelandfellbyalmost a ffth inthespaceofjustthreemonths.

HousesalesacrossNorthern Irelandhave fallenby18%fromJulytoSeptember comparedtothepreviousquarter, accordingto research releasedfromUlsterUniversity

Thelatest reportsaysmovementsbythe BankofEnglandtocurbinfation,coupled withcontinuedpoliticalinstability, hasledtoan “extraordinaryshock”onthehousingmarket anddwindlingconsumerconfdence.

“The researchsuggeststhatfxedrate mortgagedealsclimbingtoover6%,in responsetotherapidlyrisingcostofborrowing, hasimpacteduponpurchaseraffordabilityand clearevidenceof a reductioninmarketactivity.”

“Asexpected,thisincreasedcostof borrowinghasimpactedonthehousingmarket whichhasseen a slowingdowninbuyer enquiries,affordabilityandpricegrowth,”Dr MichaelMcCord, readerin realestatevaluation atUlsterUniversity, said.

“Whilethemarketpricinglevelshave remainedonparwithquartertwoof2022,the

obvioussignsare thatthepricecorrectionwill materialisein2023.”

Meanwhilethe reportshows“modest” quarterlyhousepricegrowthof1.3%,quarter on-quarter, withtheaveragecostof a home now£207,000.

Terracedandtownhousepropertiessaw thehighestannualpricechangesof7.4% comparedtothepreviousperiod.

Apartmentpricessaw a 7.1%increase comparedtoquarterlastyear, withitsaverage priceinquarterthree2022rising,to£149,977.

Semi-detachedhomesshowanannualprice growthof3.9%,slightlydownontheprevious quarter, withtheaveragepricenow£187,613, whiledetachedpropertiessawannualprice growthof2.6%, a slightincreaseonthelast quarterof0.8%,andtheaveragepriceisnow £293,422.

“We are currentlyfacingmounting headwindswithinthehousingmarketas a consequenceofpoliticalinstabilitywhichhas seenmonetaryandfscalpolicypullinseparate directions,”DrMichaelMcCord said.

“The recentspikeinmortgageinterestrates

as a consequence representsthelargestinterest rateshocksincethe1980s,anddespitesome signsthattheyhavepeaked,weare nowinthe ‘newnorm’interestrateenvironmentforthe foreseeablefuture.”

MichaelBoyd,deputychiefexecutiveand fnancedirectoratProgressive,said:“As anticipated,there hasbeen a defniteslowing downinthelocalhousingmarketthisquarter withthemajorityoflocalgovernmentdistricts seeing a decreaseinpricefromquartertwoto quarterthree2022.

“Whilethepoliticalinstabilityandeconomic volatilityhasdampenedbuyerandseller enquiries,priceshave remainedon a parwith quartertwoofthisyear

“There are indicationsthatmovingintothe fnalquarteroftheyear, there willbe a further slowingdownofthemarketwithdemand fallingand a challengingeconomicyearahead. WhileNorthern Ireland’s housingmarketis resilientandisoneofthemostaffordable regionsintheUK,politicalleadershiptosupport stabilitywillbekeyforthesectorandthewider economy.”

RUA marks 15yearpartnership with KPMG

TheRoyalUlsterAcademyofArts (RUA)hasopeneditsdoorstoits majorannualexhibition.

Theorganisationisalsomarking a 15-year partnershipwithKPMG.

OnceagainheldintheUlsterMuseum, the141styearoftheexhibitionseesitmove tothelargestgalleryinthemuseumand accommodates a hostofworkacross a variety ofmediumsincludingpainting,drawing,print, sculpture,photographyandvideo.

Aswellasbeingthemainsponsor, the professionalservicesfrmalsosponsorsthe KPMG YoungArtist Award.Thisyear’s winner, chosenbyKPMGstaff,wasby recentUlster UniversitygraduateOisinMcDonnellfor

Lidl ‘spends £347m on localsuppliers’

GermandiscounterLidlhas announcedit’sspenta record £347monagri-foodsuppliers inNorthernIrelandovertheyearto February.

Ina reportwiththeNorthern IrelandFood & DrinkAssociation(NIFDA),Lidlsaidithad alsosupported60NIproducerstosuccess, partofits“signifcant”economiccontribution toNI.

Andofthe£347m,£298mwasexported thoughLidl’s store networkalloverEurope, reachingcustomersfromGreatBritainand theRepublicofIrelandtoRomania,Greece, CyprusandeventheUS.

Thecompanyisduetopublishits results fortheyeartoFebruary2022,whichare expectedtoshow a 7%increaseinturnover to£369m.

ProducersnowsupportedbyLidlinclude

‘EternityinanHour’.

JohnnyHanna,partnerinchargeofKPMG inNorthern Ireland,said:“TheRUAAnnual Exhibitionis a highlightintheKPMGcalendar, particularlysothisyearaswecelebrate15years workingtogether We are immenselyproudof a partnershipwhichhasprovedsoworthwhile forusas a frmandagainshownthatclose cooperationbetweenbusinessandtheartsis a

powerfulcombination.”

DanDowling,PresidentoftheRUA,said: “TheRUAAnnualExhibitionshowcases a plethoraofbothestablishedandup-andcomingartistictalentwhichcementsthisevent’s well-deserved reputationasworldclass.”

TheadjudicatorfortheRUAAnnual Exhibition2022isBelfast-born artistand broadcaster, JoeLindsay

KillowenGinfromCoDown,breadfrom Irwin’s inCoArmagh,freshsaladsfrom WillowbrookinCoDown,icecreamfrom dairygiantDaleFarmandSlumberJackcoffee fromAntrim.

Thediscountgrocer, whichhas41stores and1,000employeesinNorthern Ireland,has beentheonlymajorsupermarkettoincrease itsmarketsharehere,withgrowthof0.2% intheyeartotheendofOctober.

JohnnyHannaof KPMGwithadjudicator JoeLindsayandRUA presidentDanDowling

JPScallyandConorBoyleofLidl

Skillschallengeslikelytoremain highonagendaforemployersin2023

ByJohnMoore,managingdirector,HaysNI

As weapproachtheendoftheyear employersineverysectorofthe economywillbelookingtowards 2023withhopefulanticipationofseeing somechangeinthejobsmarketthat makes recruitingandkeepingtalenteasier thanithasbeenin2022.

There’s nodenyingthatNorthern Ireland, andtheUKas a whole,continuestoface a backdropofskillsshortageswhichare arguably fercerthanever

DatafromourHaysUKSalary & Recruiting Trendssurveyfound93%ofemployers(96%in NI)saidtheyhaveexperiencedhiringdiffculties overthepast12months,upfrom86%in2021 and77%in2020.

There area hostof reasonswhyskillsshortages havehit a peak,includingunemployment beingatitslowestratefor a longtimeand a proportionoftheworkforcewhohaven’t returnedtothelabourmarketpost-pandemic.

Aninabilitytosourcetherightskillsandtalent canseverelyhampergrowthforbusinesses, with29%ofemployerstellingusthatskills shortageshavehamperedtheirgrowthinour latest research(34%inNI),alongwithother negativeimpactsassuchaslowemployee morale(42%)and a decreaseinproductivity (43%).

Formanyemployers,there isonlysomuchthey candointheshorttermtoaddressthe reasons behindwidespreadskillsshortages,which makesitevenmore importanttofocusonthe attractionand retentionstrategiestheycanuse goingintonextyear

Withinfationhitting a record 11%lastmonth, employersare beingsqueezedwhenitcomes towageincreasesand recentfguresshowthe majorityare havingtocontinuallyincreasepay

toattracttalent, retaintheirworkforceand keepupwiththerisingcostoflivingforstaff.

Althoughtherightsalaryiscrucial,especially atthismomentintime,employerswillstill needtoavoidneglectingtheotherfactorsthat attractpeopletoworkforandstaywiththem. Forexample,offeringclearhybridandfexible workingoptionswhere possible,makingsure careerpathwaysare transparentandactively supportingthewellbeingofyourworkforce.

Oneoftheeasiestwaystoidentifywhatyou needtoworkonasanemployer, isbyasking peoplewhoworkforyouwhattheywouldbe temptedtolookforopportunitieselsewhere. Interestingly, whenweaskedthe respondents toourlatestsurveywhatmadethemleave theirlastjob,thetopanswerswere thatthe jobwasn’t fulfllingenough,there werea lack ofcareeropportunitiesandwork-lifebalance waspoor

Clearareasforimprovementcanhelp employersin a tightlabourmarket.For example,careerdevelopmentisonekey considerationsforcandidatesthatisn’t spoken aboutenoughduringtheinterviewstage.It’s importantto rememberthatprofessionalsare

notonlylookingtohearwhatopportunitiesare availablewithinyourbusiness,buthowyou’ll supporttheirlearninganddevelopmenttohelp themachievetheircareergoals.

It’s easytosay, buttoclosethatgap,start byensuringcontinuouslearningisingrained inyourculture.There are somanywaysto supportcontinuouslearning,frominvestingin formaltrainingtosimplyallowingemployees thetimetoshadowcolleaguesorattend industryseminars.Anothersignifcantshift I’vetalkedaboutbefore inthiscolumn,is professionalswantingtoworkforandstay withbusinesseswhohave a clearpurpose,who are doinggoodandwhosupportthefulflment ofwhatyoudooutsideyourday-to-day role. A huge85%(78%inNI)ofprofessionalstoldus thatanorganisation’s purposeisimportantto themwhenconsidering a new role.

Inpractice,goinginto2023,thismeans youneedtohave a clearemployeevalue propositionthatdemonstratesthe‘why’ behindwhatyoudoandgives a favourof theworkplaceculture youhavecreated. Professionalswanttoseethatyou’re investing inyourworkforce,youare passionate aboutcreatinganinclusiveworkplaceand thatthere’s theopportunitytogivebackto thecommunitiesyoumightengagewith. Employeesalsowanttoknowtheiremployers are supportingandgivingtimetocharitable organisationsandtakingsustainabilityseriously

Evenifthepressure ontalenteasesnextyear, employersshouldcontinuetoputeffortinto attractingstaff forthelong-termbyhiringfor potentialandlookingtotapintothetalent thatexistsinnon-traditionalpathways.

Whilethere’s noshort-termfxforskills shortages,employersandleadersshouldnow beinitiatingtheirattractionand retention strategiesfor2023toensure theyhavethe talenttheyneedtotacklethechallenges ahead. ■

DanskeBankpostspre-taxprofts of£80minfrstninemonthsof2022

impactsoftheincreasedcostofliving.

“Thehubincludesacustomercallbackservice forthosewhowanttotalkthroughany concernstheyhavewithoneofouradvisers,” MsDaviessaid.

“Inaddition,wehaveloweredunpaiditem feesforpersonalandbusinesscustomersfrom £7.50to£1.50andhavebeenraisingourrates ofinterestpaidonsavings.”

Thebanksaysitsdigitalarmisalsocontinuing togrowwithanincreasingnumberofits customersloggingontoitsappandwebsites.

“Digitalbankingtrendsareaccelerating,with morethan6.5millionlogonstoourdigital channelseachmonth,”MsDaviessaid.

DanskeBankhaspostedstrongpretaxproftsofalmost£80mforthe frstninemonthsoftheyear.

Thebanksaysdeposits remainat recordhigh levels–somethingwhichincreasedduring lockdownasmanypeoplesaved–butit’snow seeingnumbersfatten.

Thevalueofdeposits roseonceagain,based onthesameperiodayearearlier– reaching justshyof£10.7bn.

DanskeBank’schiefexecutivesaysitis“very consciousoftheimpactrisinginfationand interestratesishavingonourcustomers” andisbringinginarangeofinitiativestohelp mitigatethewidereconomicchallenges.

“Iampleasedtoannounceastrongsetof fnancial resultsforthefrstninemonthsof 2022,withaproftbeforetaxof£79.6m,”Ms Daviessaid.

“In responsetoinfationarypressures,the BankofEnglandraisedinterestratesduring

quarterthreefrom1.25%to2.25%–their highestlevelfor14years.TheBankofEngland isexpectedtoraiseinterestratesfurtherin quarterfour.

“Deposits remainat recordhighlevels, butweareseeingthemstartingtofatten. Households’purchasingpowerisbeing squeezedbyhighinfationandweexpectthat someofourcustomerswillusethedeposits theybuiltupduringthepandemictohelpwith theincreasedcostoflivingoverthewinter months.

“Weareveryconsciousoftheimpactrising infationandinterestratesishavingonour customers.

“Year-to-datewehaveproactivelyoutreached toover10,000customersofferingguidance andsupportdirectly relatingtotheirfnancial circumstances.”

Someofthebank’sinitiativesincludea‘Money Worries’onlinehubofferingadviceand assistancetothoseworriedaboutthefnancial

“Inquarterthree,weaddednewfunctionality toourappallowingcustomerstosetuptheir ownstandingordersandtheabilitytomake internationaltransfers.

“Wehavealsointroducedadigitalself-service overdraftapplicationforbusinesscustomers, givingthemtheabilitytoapplyonlineforan overdraftoroverdraftincrease.

“Giventheincreasedcostofliving,many customersarefocusedontrackingtheir expenditureandweareseeingthe‘spending overview’facilityonourappbeingaccessed morethanever.

“Thistoolallowscustomerstoseetheir transactionsgroupedintocategorieslike housingandtransport,givinganoverviewof theirspendandincomeacross recentdays, monthsorthepastyear.”

Andshesaysasthe“economicoutlookfor theUK remainsuncertain,andduringthese challengingtimes”thebank’spriority“will betofocusonensuringwearetherefor customerswhenthey needus”. ■

VickyDavies

Weev: Poweringthe electric vehicle revolution

Asbusinessescontinuetoseekwaysof operatingmoresustainably, Thomas O’Hagan,co-founderofelectricvehicle(EV) infrastructurefrm Weev looksathowmany areturningtoEVaspartofthesolution

Lastmonth’sCOP27conference inEgyptonceagainshonethe spotlightontoeffortstoaddress climatechangeasnationsacrosstheworld gatheredtoconsiderwhatmeasuresthey cantaketo reducecarbonemissions.

Amongthosekeepingacloseeyeon proceedingswasThomasO’Hagan,co-founder andchiefcommercialoffcerof Weev,a Belfast-basedcompanylaunchedearlierthis yeartoaccelerateNorthernIreland’stransition toafuturewhereelectricvehiclesarethenorm ratherthantheexception.

“TheCOP27summitthrusttheclimate emergencybacktothetopofnewsbulletins, butforbusinesses,ithasconsistentlybeen amongthemostimportantitemsontheir strategicplansforsometime,”Thomassays.

“Improvingenvironmental,socialand governance(ESG)standardsisnowakey considerationforallorganisationsastheyseek tocontributetoeffortsto reachnetzero.

“Asacompany,helpingmotoristsand organisationstodrivedowntheiremissions

andfghtclimatechangeisattheverycoreof whatwedo.

“Particularlythosethatoperatefeets,whether aconstructioncompanyrunninganumber ofvans,oranoffce-basedfrmseekingto providecompanycarsforseniorstaff,theyare increasinglyturningtoEVsastheanswer.”

Thomas,whoalsoco-foundedITand telecomscompanyb4bGroup,ispartofa seniormanagementteamwithconsiderable experienceacrosssuccessful renewable infrastructureandmajorcommercialbusinesses basedinNorthernIreland.

Theexecutiveteamalsoincludeschief executivePhilipRaineyandchieffnanceoffcer GraemeThompson,whiletheboardischaired byDavidGavaghan.

“Inlittleoversevenyears,salesofnewpetrol anddieselcarswillbebannedintheUK, soonerIthinkthanmany realise,”Thomas says.

“AndyetinNorthernIreland,westillhavea chronicshortageofEVcharginginfrastructure.

maketheswitchtoEVtodoso,allowingthem toavailofthebenefts.Theprivatesectoris steppinguptothemark.” Network

Thomasadmitsthat,particularlyinthe NorthernIrelandexperience,therehavebeen somesignifcantbarrierstoentryforbusinesses orindividualdriversconsideringtakingtheleap toEV.

“Whenpeoplearepurchasinganewelectric vehicle,theyofcoursewanttoknowthat they’llbeabletochargeasandwhen requiredtoensuretheycantravelfromAtoB unhindered,”hesaid.

“Understandablythathasbeenaturnoff formany.Batteriesinnewermodelsare considerablymoreadvancedthanearlier vehicles,withmanyabletotravelupto350 milesonafullcharge.

“Butaddedtothatisthisideaofcharger anxiety,wheredriversareconcernednotonly whethertheywillbeabletofndacharger,but

thatitwillbeavailableandinworkingorder.”

Themost recentoffcialstatisticsonpublicEV chargingdevicesshowjusthowfarNorthern Irelandislaggingbehindthe restoftheUK.

ThedatapublishedbytheDepartmentfor Transportshowedthatthe regionhadjust18 publicdevicesper100,000ofpopulation,asof Octoberthisyear–wellbelowthenextworst region,thenorth-westofEnglandwith30 devicesper100,000.

Therateofgrowthhasalsobeenslow,with thenumberjust4.3%higherovertheprevious

quarter(JulytoSeptember),comparedtoan 8.2%increaseUK-wide.

“Thefguresmakeforgrim readinganditis cleartherehasbeena realscarcityofcharging infrastructureinNorthernIreland,”Thomas says.

“That’sexactlywhatwe’vebeenestablished toaddresshowever,withthevastmajorityof thoseadditionalchargingunitscomingonto thenetworkhavingbeenprovidedby Weev.”

Earlierthisyear, Weevannouncedplansto invest£20minanewpublicelectricvehicle

ThomasO’Hagan,co-founderof Weev

co-founderof Weev

(EV)chargingnetworkinover350locations acrossNorthernIreland.

Intotal,thecompanyplanstoinstall1,500 newchargingpointsbytheendof2024.

“Throughour rolloutofpublicchargers,we arefocusedonmeetingtheneedsofEV driverswhereitismostconvenientforthem. Incollaborationwithourlocationpartners, wearedeliveringanetworkthatwillseeunits installedinplacessuchasshoppingcentres, forecourtsandhotels,”Thomassays.

The Weevnetworkisalreadyoperating throughoutNorthernIreland.Locations includetheentireMcKeeverHotelGroup, cementing Weev’spartnershipwiththe NorthernIrelandHotelsFederationand HospitalityUlster,whilethecompanyalso recentlyinstalledNorthernIreland’sfrsthub withmultiplerapidchargersatthe TwinSpires ComplexinBelfast.

“Ourlocationpartnersarealready reportinga signifcantupliftinfootfallasa resultoftheir

EVcharginginstallations,”Thomassays.

“DealingwithNIE,contractorsandallthe necessarybodiesontheirbehalf,wehave asteadystreamofsitesbeingaddedtoour networkwithdozensmoreinthepipeline overthecomingweeksandmonths.”

Support

Whilethepublicchargingnetworkiscrucialto facilitatingNorthernIreland’snetzerofuture, businessesandfeetoperatorshavebeen amongtheearliestadoptersofEV.

AnauthorisedinstallerfortheOffceforZero Emission Vehicles(OZEV), Weevisworking withorganisationstofacilitateconnections foravarietyofgrantschemesincludingfor residentialcarparksandcommerciallandlords.

“Thegovernmentgrantsavailablethrough OZEVhavebeennothingshortofagame changerforlocalbusinesses,”Thomassays.

“We’reworkingwithcompaniesacross multiplesectorsandineverypartofNorthern

Irelandhelpingthemtoaccessfundingofup to£75,000tohelpthemmaketheswitchto EV.

“We’realsoseeingasurgeindemandfor thoseseekingtoleaseabrand-newelectric vehicle,withbeneft-in-kindratessetatonly 2%until2025,makingitthemostcosteffectivewaytohaveacompanyvehicle.”

Lookingahead,Thomasexpectsamajor escalationofNorthernIreland’sEVprovision in2023.

“Thereisnodoubtwehavealongwaytogo inNorthernIreland,butthewheelsarenow frmlyinmotion.

“Weareonlyatthebeginningofourjourney andanticipateasurgeinactivitythroughout thenextyearasthis regioncatchesupwiththe restoftheUK.

“Itisincrediblyexcitingtobeattheforefront aswegetourworkplaces,homes,andpublic spaces readyfortheEV revolution.” ■

ThomasO’Hagan,

Soaringinfation ‘remainsbarrierto businessgrowth’

Soaringinfationhittingmorethan 11% remainsthebiggestchallengeto growthamongbusinesseshere,it’s beenwarned.

ThelatestCPIindexshowsinfationisnowat 11.1%,withinterestratesexpectedtorise furtherstill.

“TheCPIindexof11.1%showsthatfar frompeaking,infationcontinuestorise.At 19.2%,ProducerPriceInfation(PPI) remains wayabovehistoricallevels,”DavidBharier, headof researchfortheBritishChambersof Commerce,said.

“Wespeaktothousandsofbusinesseswhotell usthisisunsustainable.Our researchshows thatconfdenceisfallingfastasmanySMEs fnditalmostimpossibletoabsorborpasson risingcosts.

“WhiletheBankofEnglandseekstocontrol infationthroughfurtherinterestraterises,this isabluntinstrumentthatfailstoaddressthe coredriversofinfationformostfrms:soaring energycosts,globalsupplychaindisruption, andrisingstaffcostsduetolabourshortages.”

AndRobClarry,InvestmentStrategistatwealth managerEvelynPartners,said:“This report providesanotherdisappointingsetofinfation data.HeadlineCPIincreasecameinat11.1%, almosthalfapercentagepointmorethanthe

consensusexpectation.

“Thiswaslargelydrivenbysignifcant increasesingasandelectricityprices, despitethesubstantialsupportprovidedby thegovernmentthroughtheEnergyPrice Guarantee(EPG).

“Strikingly,theONSestimatesthatwithout implementationoftheEPG,electricity,gas, andotherfuelspriceswouldhaverisenby nearly75%betweenSeptemberandOctober 2022(insteadof24%).Thiswouldhavetaken headlineinfationcloserto14%.

“Despitethischallengingheadlinefgure,we dostillexpectinfationtoeaseintonextyear. Thisislikelytobedrivenbythreemainfactors. First,thebaseeffectswillbemorefavourable, withannualcomparisonsmadeagainstmonths atthestartof2022whenpriceswerealready surging.

“Second,wearestartingtoseetheimpactof higherinterestratesfeedthroughintothe real economy,whichwillslowdemandforgoods andservices.Third,thetightnesswehaveseen intheUKlabourmarketisstartingtoshow somesignsofeasing.

“TheUKunemploymentrateincreasedfrom 3.5%to3.6%thisweekandthenumber ofjobvacanciesfellinthethreemonthsto October.” ■

‘Weareputting togetheran opportunity to trulydominate 3Dmedicalprinting’

RogerJohnston,headofAxial3D,saystheBelfast-basedbusinessisnowpoised todominatethemedicalprintingmarket,followinga$15minvestment.Hespeaks to JohnMulgrew aboutitsnewambitiousplanstobuildashowcasedevelopment foritstechnologyataformerrestaurantintheheartofBelfastcitycentre

Axial3Disarguablyinthemiddleof itsbusiestandmostadventurous periodinitshistory.

The3Dmedicalprintingspecialisthasjust announcedapartnershipwithStratasys,and aninvestment roundamountingto$15m.

ButtheBelfast-basedbusinessisalsoaboutto buildanambitiousnew3Dprintingshowcase atthesiteforaformercitycentre restaurant. AccordingtochiefRogerJohnstonthemillion dollarinvestmentwillseethenewlaband technologyshowcasetakingontheformer Dog Track restaurantsiteonOrmeau Avenue.

Asa resultofthelatestmajorinvestmentsand plans,Rogertold UlsterBusiness afurther30 newjobscouldbeaddedoverthenexttwo years.

“Ourbusinessismedical3Dimagingand printingandwehavecompletedinvestment fromtheworld’sleadingmedical3Dcompany [Stratasys],”hesaid.

“Ithasthehardwareandwehavethe software.”Stratasysisalistedcompanybased intheUSandwithoffcesinIsrael.

“It’saboutgrowthandtakingadvantageof 3Dmedicaltechnology,movingfrombeingan earlyadoptertoanearlymainstreammarket,” Rogersays.

“Stratasysistheworld’sleadingmedical

3Dprintingcompany.Theyhavethebest technology.Oursoftwareisunique. We can turn2DmedicalandMRIscansinto3Data scaleandpricenooneelsecan. We areputting togetheranopportunitytotrulydominatethis marketgoingforward.

“Ouraimistodrivetheadoptionofthisacross internationalmarkets.Thereisno reasonwhy everysurgeonontheplanetwouldn’twantto use3D.It’slike[movingfrom]blackandwhite television.”

The3Dmedicaltechnologywhichthefrm usescanhelpsurgeonspracticeonapatient’s organs,forexample,beforetheactualsurgery takesplace.

Butlongertermthetechnologycould eventuallyincludepatient-specifcimplants–all3Dprinted.

Andaspartoftheshowcasingofthis technologyanditsnewpartnershipwith Stratasys,Axial3Dwilldevelopitsnewhubon Ormeau Avenue,closetoitsoffces.

“Weareputtingthefacilityintotheformer Dog Track restaurant.Itwillbethebiggest investmentin3DprintinginNorthernIreland,” hesaid.

“Itisfocusedtotallyonmedical[3Dprinting] andwillbeashowcaselocation.Thesearethe RollsRoyceofprintersavailableonthemarket, notjustmedical.Theyarenotjustanatomically

correct…buttheycan[simulate]thingslike boneortissue.

“[Thistechnology]canbeusedforsurgical planningataveryhighlevel.Whensurgeons usethesetheychangetheirplans50%of time.”

Rogersaysthetechnologyalsoallowsthe surgerytimestobe reducedratherthan relying ontraditionalMRIorCTscans.Itcanalsobe usedinordertohelptrainnewdoctorsand surgeons.

“Thetechnologycanalsobeusedforother applicationslikepractisingsurgeons,university, ormedicalschool,oradaybeforethe operation–afullsimulation.”

Forexample,the removalofabloodclotcan besimulatedaccuratelyusing3Dprinting technology,allowingasurgeontosafely

RogerJohnston

practicebeforecommittingtotheactual operation.

“Thisleadstopatientspecifcpatient implants,”Rogersays.“Allofthese applicationswilllastformanyyears.

“Peoplearealreadyusing3Dimplantsand wewillbeengagingwiththebiggestmedical devicecompaniesintheworldtodothis.

“Weareverymuchontheinventionside–someofitisthefnedetail.Whatistheperfect

resin,forexample.”

ThenewfacilityintheheartofBelfastwill allowpeopletoseewhatisgoingoninside, andRogersaysplanswillincludeallowing otherstovisitinordertolearnandobservethe workbeingcarriedout.

“Wearehappytodoschoolpartiesand universitygroups,”hesays.“It’smeanttobea facilitytobeanactiveshowcase.”

Itwillincludestaffworkingfulltimeinthe printinglabalongwithother roles.

“It’sdesignedtocaterforinwardinvestment, andInvestNIhasbeenverysupportive,” Rogersays.“Wewantittobeashowcasefor NorthernIreland. We havea responsibilityto assistotherstoworkhere.”

Rogersaysthenewfacilityisontargetfor development“thissideofChristmas”.

“Weareabout55peopleatthemoment. [Withthe]overallinvestmentitwillbe30new jobsovertwoyears.” ■

Growingamorethancentury oldagri-businessgiantamid challengingheadwinds

Fane Valleychiefexecutive TrevorLockhart saystheagri-businessgiantison coursetohit£300mturnoverthisyear,despitefacingheadwinds.Andwhilehesays he’sseeingcostsrisingattheirfastestpaceinhis30yearsofbusinessthefrmhas ambitiousplansaroundthecornerfor2023,whilemaintainingitslong-standing relationshipwith UlsterBank

TrevorLockhartsaysthecurrent scaleandpaceofrisingcostsisthe starkesthe’sseeninsome30years inbusiness.

Butdespitethechallengesfacingthewider economy,aswellasthepoultryandagri-sector, theFane Valleychiefsaysthebusinessison coursetohit£300mturnoverinthelatestset of results.

Inthatperiodithashadtoweatherseveral challenges,includingcostsincreasingby around30%duringthecourseof2022.

Butlookingtowardsnextyear, TrevorsaysFane Valleyisalreadyeyeinguptwomajornewsites withinvestmenttotallyaround£70m.

“Fane Valleyisanagriculturalco-operativeand in2023willcelebrate120yearsinexistence,” hesays.

“It’saholdingcompanywhichsitsabovea seriesofsubsidiarieswhichareinvolvedin inputsintoagriculture.That’sanimalfeed milling,supplyofanimalhealthtofarmers, andonthefooddivisionsidewebuyfnished productsbackfromourprimaryproducersand processthoseintoaddedvalueproductsinto saleforfoodserviceand retailmarketsacross theUK,IrelandandEU.

“Thelast12monthshasbeenlargelyapositive one.”

Hesaysthecompanyhasfacedwhathecalls the‘threeIs’.Thatincludesavianfuwhichsaw thefrmlosethousandsofducksatitsSilver

HillsiteinCo Tyrone,thesecondisRussia’s invasionofUkraineearlierthisyearwhichhad adramaticeffectonglobalmarkets,whilethe thirdisinfation.

“[Infation]impactedacrossourbusinessand primaryinputs,” Trevorsays.“Weworkedhard throughthecourseoftheyeartopassthrough increasestoourcustomersaseffcientlyaswe could.

“Inouryearendjustfnishedourturnoverwill bejustaround£300mandourproftabilitywill bejustunder10%lowerthantheprioryear.

“In2022wehadtwo roundsofprice increases…intotalthatwouldhave representedincreasesofaround30%across

ourproductranges.

“Atthemomentweareseeingabitofstability inthecommoditypricingandeasinginthe energypricing.

“Thelevelofincreasesandthenumberof them,andthepaceinwhichitcametowards us,wassomethingI’venotmanagedbeforein 30yearsofbusiness.”

Thefrmnowemploysaround900staffacross 34locations.

Fane ValleyhasalsobeenworkingwithUlster Bankasitsbankingpartnerfordecades.

“WebankedwithUlsterBankfromthevery

TrevorLockhart

Economicinstability notonlylumpofcoal dampeningfestivities

ByRichardRamsey,chiefeconomist,NorthernIreland,UlsterBank

Forthoselookingsomethingtocelebrateaspartyseason approaches,thepositivesintheeconomy–locally, nationallyandglobally–seemtobeinshortsupply.There wasatimewhenweexpectedthecentralbankto removethe punchbowlbeforethepartygetsgoingbutduringthecourse ofthepandemic–evenwhensaideventsweresupposedtobe frownedupon–thepunchbowlappearstohavebeenspiked andleftoutfortoolong.Asiftomakeupforthisoversight,now AndrewBaileyandChancellorJeremyHunthavetakenitaway, turnedoffthemusicandswitchedonthelights.Ratherthan ordertaxisforeveryone,Hunthasruinedthepartybycallingfor taxesinstead.

ThelatestUlsterBankNorthernIrelandPMI reportpointedtothe sharpestdeclineinnewbusinesssinceJanuary2021.Further reductions inactivityandnewordersamidongoingcostpressureshavecaused businessconfdencetosinkevenfurther.Theoutlookfor12months aheadnow restsata26-monthlow.Eachofthefoursectorssurveyed bythePMI,construction, retail,manufacturing,andservices,fellbelow the50expansion/contractionthreshold,allleadingtothesteepestrate ofdeclinewehaveseenoutsideofthepandemicsinceJanuary2011.

Unfortunately,economicinstabilitywon’tbetheonlylumpofcoal

earlydaysofFane Valley’sexistence,”hesays. “That relationshiphascontinuedeversince. Thestrengthinthatlong-standing relationship isthatUlsterBankknowsusinsideandout, andweknowthemprettywell.Theyhavea greatsenseastowhatthemovingelements ofourbusinessareandwhatissuescreate pressurepointsforus.”

threateningtodampenfestivitiesthisyear.Politicalturbulenceat almosteverylevelhasspilledontomarketturbulenceandwhiletheUK governmentmaybehopingtofndsomestabilitywrappedunderneath theChristmastree,theelephantinthe roomintheUSiswhetherornot wesee45bidtobecome47andifso,howwillanalreadyfractured politicalclimatedealwiththislevelofdivision?Closertohome,the lackofanNIExecutiveiscompoundingbusinessconcernsandwhat,if anything,mightAE23achieve?

Thesearejustsomeofthemanyquestionsloominglargeasweprepare toringinthenewyear. WilltheChancellor’sautumnintervention helptopaveawaytowards recoveryandwherecanweexpecttosee infation?Alreadyitlooksagiventhatthe2023UlsterFryIndexwill hita recordhighandthat’sbeforeweseethefullextentofhowheavy tighterfscalpolicieswillweighonhouseholdshere.Canweexpectto seethe returnofafunctioningexecutiveandifnot,whatwillthismean forahealthservicealreadyunderhugestrain?That’snottomentionthe widerimpactsoffallinghouseprices,risingtemperatures,theenergy crisisandtheongoingconfictinUkraine.

Timeisperhapstheonlythingthatcanshedclarityonmanyofthese issuesbutaswewaittoseehowthingsunfolditisimportanttoholdon toalittleoptimism. Yes,thedarkcloudsareoverheadbutthereisstill lightpeekingthrough. We knowthatnomatterhowtoughthingsare economically,therewillalwaysbecompaniesdoingwell.

Theagri-foodindustryhasalonglistofpressurestocontendwithright nowandyetFane Valleyisjustoneexampleofalocalbusinessrisingto meetthesechallenges.As Trevorhasoutlined,costpressuresareamajor concernbutthefoodanddrink’sabilitytoperformwelleveninthe midstofa recessionwouldsuggestthattherewillstillbesome reasons tobehopefulabout2023.

ThereisacontinuedbuzzaroundourlocaltechindustrywithKainos enjoyingparticularsuccess.Thesoftwarecompanyseemstobeheading forinfnityandbeyondevenasglobally,techgiantssuchasMeta, Amazonand Twitteraredealingwithfallingsharepricesandsignifcant joblosses.

SomeclarityontheNIProtocolwouldbehelpfultofrmsacrossall sectorsandifthenegotiatingmixologistscantakethisofficeandease uponthebitters,itcouldbethesecretingredientourpunchbowl needstomaximiseopportunitiesbetweenNIandtheEUandminimise disruptionbetweenlocalfrmsandGB.

Speakingabouttheambitiousplansfor2023, Trevorsaysit’sawaitingplanningpermission fortwonewsitesinordertoexpandthe businessfurther.

ThatincludesanewsiteinCraigavonforthe developmentofanewoatmillforitsexisting White’sbusinessin Tandragee,alongwith

plansforthesignifcantexpansionofitsduck processingbusinessinCoMonaghan.

“Bothofthoseopportunitieswilldoublethe productionineachofthosesectorstoallowus toavailofthestrongopportunitieswhichwe canidentifyinbothnationalandinternational markets.” ■

BU SI NE SS SHOWCA SE WI TH UL ST ER BA NK

RichardRamsey

NIfacing£650mblack holeinpublicfinances

NorthernIrelandfacesa£650m blackholeinitspublicfinances withthelackofanExecutiveand earlierfailuretoagreeabudgetmaking itevenhardertomanagefinancial pressures,adamning reporthassaid.

TheNIFiscalCouncilsaidthatintheabsence ofcorrectiveaction,extramoneyfrom Westminsterorflexibilityfromthe Treasury, themoneywillhavetobeclawedbackfrom theNIblockgrantnextyear,compounding thesqueezeonfinancesandmaking planningevenmoredifficult.

Thecouncil,setuptomonitorpublicfinances here,saiddepartmentswereoverspending significantly,withtheimpactofinflationand paypressurescompoundedbyweakbudget managementintheabsenceofafunctioning Executive.

It’snowdowntoSecretaryofStateChris Heaton-Harristosetdepartmentalbudgets forthe restofthisyearandtotheUK Parliamenttoprovidethestatutoryauthority tospendthem.

ThecouncilsaidMrHeaton-Harrismust decidewhichdepartmentstoprioritise, whethertoimplementthe recommendations oftheUKpay reviewbodiesandwhether toborrowthe£140mforcapitalspending

pencilledintothestalleddraftbudgetlast year.

Thecouncilsaidithad receivedfiguresfrom theDepartmentofFinancesuggestingthat departmentsexpecttooverspendtheir availablefundingfortheday-to-daycostsof publicservicesandadministrationby£650m, ornearly5%,andforcapitalinvestmentby £187m,orjustover10%.

SirRobertChote,chairmanofthecouncil, said:“Higherinflationandupwardpressure onpublicsectorpayarecreatingchallenges forpublicservicesrightacrosstheUK.

“ButtheabsenceofafunctioningExecutive andtheinabilityofthepreviousoneto agreeaBudgetaremakingitevenharderto managethesepressureshere.

“Aswellasconfrontingthedifficultnear-term decisions,StormontandWhitehallshould thinkcarefullyabouthowbesttomanage similarsituationsinfuturebeforetheyoccur again.”

Thecouncilsaidinflationwashittingrunning costsofthepublicsectorthroughthedirect costofoverheadssuchasenergy,thepressure toincreasepublicsectorpayandthroughthe increasedcostofgoodsandservicessubject totheverysamepressures.

SouthAntrimMLASteveAiken,theUlster UnionistPartyfinancespokesman,saidthe report“starkly”laysoutthechallenges facingthepublicsector.

“TheabsenceofanExecutive,coupled withtheinabilitytoprioritiseservices,has helpedcreateasetoffiscalpressuresthat ifunresolvedwill rolloverintonextyear’s budgetandbeyond.

“Afterallpartiescalledforthestabilityof multi-yearbudgets,thecurrentsituationof noinyearbudget,onlybeingabletospend upto95%ofpreviouslyagreedtotalsand noforwardplanningfortheyearsahead,isa damningindictmentoffailure…

“TheUUPisseekinganurgentmeetingwith theDepartmentofFinance’sPermanent Secretarytogainclarityonthedepartment’s proposalsonaddressingbudgetarypressures andthefuturebudgetprocess.”

Thecouncilsaidpressurescouldbeeased bytheChancellor’sAutumnStatement, ideallyprovidingadditionalcashandthus morespendingforpublicservicesthereby increasingtheBlockGrantthroughthe Barnettformula.

ButitaddedthattheUKgovernment“so far…hasindicatednodesiretodoso”.

TheBudget: Taxrises andtighter spending

The themes of theAutumn St atement were “s tabilit y, grow th , an d publicser vice s”.

But Northern Ireland won’t fnd all of what it ’s looking for in the announcement

As a result of an increase in spending on educ ation and the NHS in England, Northern Ireland willre ceive an additional £650 m in the next two year s.

That helps towards covering the £650 m overspend by government department s in Northern Ireland in the pres ent fnancial year, but do esn’t wipe it outentirely

The payment to help withthe cost of home heating oil is being doubled from £100 to £200 and will be paid to “all hous eholds in

Northern Ireland”, according to the Treasur y.

This sounds likea windfall for hous eholds here on thenatural gas network, which will be benefting fromlower tariff s ushered inby the energy price guarante e.

Headline measures, like pensions and beneft s increasing inline with infation at September ’s rate of 10.1%, are welcome, but thiswasa budget riddled with euphemisms.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt didn’t talk about ta x increases but ‘t ax chang es’ and ins tead of spending cuts, ‘decisions on spending’.

Thos e ‘t ax chang es’ amountto £25bn and the ‘decisions on spending’ are to lead to savings of £3 0bn. But there isn’t yet ex plicit detail on where thos e savings will be found.

The threshold for the top 45% rate ofincome ta x is being lowered from £150,0 00 to around £125,0 00, which will af fe ct a small number of ta x payers here

There is an increase in the energy profts levy anda new ta x on the ex traordinar y profts of elec tricity generators, due to rais e £55bn in total between now and 2028

The energy price guarantee introduced by former Prime Minis ter Liz Trus s is to be restric ted from April next year, as had previously been announced. However, for thos e who do re ceive it, the amountcovered will be increased from£2,500 to £3,0 00

An increase in thenational livingwage to £10.42 has also been accepted by the Chancellor It ’s positive news for earners but do es heap more cost s onto business

Many op erator s inindustries like retail and hospit alit y will fe elthe pres sure from that measure. Some we’d spoken to earlier in the we ek who wanted to see movessuch as a lower rate of Vat for their industry will be fe eling disappointed ■

Chancellorofthe ExchequerJeremyHunt

Propertydemand slowingwhilepricesrise

Demandfrompeoplewantingto movehouseinNorthernIreland hassloweddownforthefourth monthina rowthoughpricesarestill goingup,accordingtoonenewsurvey.

EstateagentsinNorthernIrelandtoldtheir professionalbody,theRoyalInstitutionof CharteredSurveyors(RICS),thatqueriesfrom would-bebuyersofpropertyhadfallenduring October.

Andthenumberofnewly-agreedsaleswas alsodown,RICSsaid–backingupaseparate surveyfromUlsterUniversity reportingan18% fallinhousesales.

Lookingahead,RICSmemberswereexpecting salestokeepfallingoverthenextthree months.

But respondentstothesurvey,carriedoutwith UlsterBank,saidpriceswerestillgoingup evenwhiledemandwasfalling.However,they werenowlessoptimisticabouttheoutlookfor housepricegrowth.

Theeconomicenvironmentforhomemovers hasbeentoughin recentmonths,withrates onmortgageproductsshootingupin response tothemini-budgetannouncedbyformer

ChancellorKwasiKwartenginlateSeptember.

TheBankofEngland recentlyannouncedan increaseininterestratesfrom2.25%to3%.

SamuelDickey,RICSNorthernIreland residentialpropertyspokesman,said:“In NorthernIrelandwe’reseeingacontinued easingindemand,whichisunsurprisinggiven the recentmortgagemarketturbulenceand thetimeofyear.

“Surveyorsdidn’tseethesamelevelsof interestinOctoberaswehavebeenseeing throughoutthisyear,whichisalsolinkedto limitedsupply.

“Thislimitedsupplyisexpectedtobea significantfactorinthemarketforthe foreseeable.Andwhilstdemandislower,we continuetoseepropertiesselling relatively well,andaskingpricesoftenbeingmet.”

SimonRubinsohn,RICSchiefeconomist,said thesurvey reflectedbuyercautionintheface ofasharpriseinmortgagecosts.

“Asa result,thevolumeofactivityislikely toslipbackoverthecomingmonthsand realisticpricingisnowmuchmoreimportantto completeasale.

“Thesettlingdowninfinancialmarkets couldprovidesome reliefalthoughitmaybe prematuretoassumethiswillbe reflectedina reductioninlendingratesanytimesoon.

“However,theemploymentpicture remains criticaltothemedium-termoutlookand forthetimebeing,that remainssolid.As farasthelettingsmarketisconcerned,the imbalancebetweendemandandsupply stillappearsunusuallyextendedleadingto rentexpectationsinthesurvey remaining atelevatedlevelsanditisdifficulttosee thischanginganytimesooninthecurrent environment.”

TerryRobb,headofpersonalbankingatUlster Bank,saiditwascontinuingtolenddespite marketvolatility.

“Withmarketuncertaintywehaveseenan increaseincustomerswantingtofixtheir ratesandalongwithfixedrates,wehavea trackerproductthathastheflexibilitytoswitch toafixedrateafter90dayswithnoearly repaymentcharge.

“Aspartofourcommitmenttothelocal marketandtolocalcustomers,wearealso continuingtosupportfirsttimebuyersthrough our95%loan-to-valueoffering.”

NorthernIrelandfnancial plannerssetforgrowth

Benchmark,partoftheSchrodersgroup,hasinvestedin NorthernIrelandwiththepurchaseofcharteredfnancial planningfrm, WaterhouseFinancialPlanning.

The Waterhouseteamwill remainatthefrm,providingcontinuity forclients,andtosupportcontinuedsignifcantgrowthopportunities amongtheirprofessionalconnectionsandclientfamilieswithallaspects offnancialplanning.

Speakingafterthepurchase, TomLeonard,formermanagingdirector, said:“We’veworkedwithBenchmarksince2018,they’vesupported uswithtechnologyandcomplianceservices,soBenchmarkbuyingour businessthisAprilseemedlikeanaturalevolutionofourpartnership.”

“BenchmarkandSchrodershavea reputationforqualityandlong-term relationships. We believethattheyareunrivalledintheirapproach,and theirvisionandvaluesalignverycloselywithoursandthisallowsusto continuetodelivergreatclientoutcomeswithoutcompromise.”

SineadMeenan,nowwealthplanningdirector,willleadthefnancial planningpractice.

“It’sexcitingtomoveourbusinessforwardwithBenchmark,”shesaid. “We’redelightedtoseethecommitmenttothenorthwestandare lookingforwardtofurtherdevelopinginthe regionandmorewidely acrossNorthernIreland.”

Tombelievesthattherearesignifcantopportunitiestodevelopthe businessbybringingotherplannerswithexistingbusinessesintothe

frmtotakeadvantageofthetechnology,complianceandpractice managementservicesthatBenchmarkoffers.

“ByworkingwithBenchmarkandusingtheirtechnology,it’s transformedhowwerunthebusiness,” Tomsaid.“We’reabletospend moretimetakingcareofourclients,we’vesecuredthefutureofour practiceandnowwe’reabletogrowourbusinessaswell.”

PartneringwithafrmlikeBenchmark,withsecureparentage,has enabledtheteamtogoaftertheirambitiontobetheleadingchartered fnancialplannersinNorthernIreland,andhavealreadymovedinto expandedpremisesinthenorthwest.

“Weareall reallyexcitedaboutthefutureforthedevelopmentof BenchmarkinNorthernIrelandandalsolookingfortherightfrmsto joineitherBenchmarkFinancialPlanningortheBenchmarkNetwork,” Tomsays.

“Iffrmsjointhenetworktheybeneftfromtechnologyandcompliance services,continuetotradeundertheirownidentityandwitha successionplantoselltheirbusinessesinthefutureforlongterm security,ortheycanselltheirbusinesstodaytosecure recognised industryownershipinasafepairofhands.

“Wewanttogrowourfootprintandincreasetheprovisionofquality, CharteredfnancialadviceinNorthernIreland.” ■

Formoreinformation,visitbenchmarkfp.co.ukorgetintouchwith Thomasat07458111201or02871878770

ThomasLeonard

Rushmereshoppingcentre soldfor£56mtonewinvestor

ByJohnMulgrew

OneofNorthernIreland’slargest shoppingcentresand retailparks hasbeensoldtoanewinvestor formorethan£56minthebiggest commercialpropertydealthisyear,itcan be revealed.

RushmereShoppingCentreinCraigavon isnowsaleagreed,it’sunderstood.Itwas placedonthemarketearlierthissummerwith apricetagof£57m,andit’sunderstoodthere wassignifcantinterestintheproperty.

It’sunderstoodthemajorsiteisbeingsoldoff toLCP–apropertybusinesswhichisnewto theNorthernIrelandmarket.

Thesaleofthecommercialpropertyassetis believedtobethebiggestofitskindsofar thisyear.

Thepropertywasbeingmarketedby commercialpropertyagentsSavillsandCBRE NIinwhattheyhadanticipatedwouldbethe biggestinvestmentdealoftheyear.

Speakingabouttheshoppingcentre,Neil McShaneofcommercialpropertyconsultancy Inprio,saidit’sarguablyamongthetopfve major retailspotsinNorthernIreland.

“Whiletheshoppingcentresectorhas sufferedin recentyears, retailparkshave continuedtoperformwellandattractstrong levelsofinvestorinterest,”hesaid.

“Rushmerecomprisesbothand,beingthe dominant retailofferinginCraigavon,benefts fromastrongcatchmentofshoppersandbig nameanchortenants.

“Rushmereisarguablyoneofthetopfve shoppingcentresinNIand,havingsecured

Primarkasanewanchortenant,Iamnot surprisedbythelevelofinterest.”

Itfollowsthe£87msaleofMerchantSquare bydeveloperOaklandHoldingstoaMiddle Easternfundin2021–thebiggest-everoffce dealinNorthernIrelands.

It’sunderstoodtherewassignifcantinterest intheshoppingcentreand retailparkfrom anumberofparties.Thepropertywasonly placedonthemarkettowardstheendof August.

Rushmere’s retailparkisspreadacrossmore than30acreswithsome50commercialunits intheshoppingcentre.

PrimarkisalsoduetoopenupatRushmere aftertaking50%oftheformerDebenhams departmentstoreonthesite,whileSainsbury’s alsohadanoutletatRushmereuntilFebruary lastyear–Homebase,Matalan,Nextand Currys/PC Worldalsooperateinthe retailpark.

Speakingatthetimethepropertywentonthe

market,AndrewCoggins,seniordirectorat CBRENI,commented:“RushmereShopping CentreandRetailParkisaveryexcitingasset tobringtothemarketinNorthernIreland, andiscurrentlythelargestinvestmentassetto cometothemarketinNorthernIrelandtodate thisyear.”

AndBen Turtle,directoratSavills,said:“The schemeisfullylettoanumberofwell-known andprominenttenants,soweanticipatethat therewillbestronginvestorinterestinthis investmentopportunity.”

Earlierthisyeara report revealedthat£316.6m wasinvestedinNorthernIrelandcommercial propertyin2021–thehighestithasbeen infouryears.Commercialpropertyagency LambertSmithHampton(LSH)saidoffceshad beenthemostsought-afterassethere,despite thecontinuingtrendforstafftoworkfrom home.

ItsInvestment TransactionsNorthernIreland Bulletinsaid£134mhadbeenspentonoffce acquisitions. ■

M.I.SGroupsecuresnew contractwithHughesInsurance

M.I.SGrouphassecureda newcontractwithHughes Insurance,followingthe20year anniversaryofthepartnershipinApril 2021,whichwilltakethebusinessestoits nextmilestoneanniversary.

The relationshipbetweenclaimsmanagement companyM.I.Sandleadinginsurancecompany Hugheswasestablishedin2001bythelate managingdirectorofM.I.S,AlanBaillieand founderandformerchiefexecutiveofHughes Insurance,LeslieHughesOBE.

Whatstartedoutasalegalexpensescontract, fortheprovisionoflegalassistanceto recover uninsuredlossesincludingcarhireprovision, soonevolvedintosomethingmuchmore.In 2015,LibertyMutualInsuranceGroupacquired HughesInsuranceandthe relationship betweenHughesInsuranceandM.I.S continuedtofourish.Nowrightthroughto thepresentday,M.I.Sisthedesignatedclaims handlingcompanyforHughes,handlingtheir privatemotor,householdclaims,commercial, agricultural,motortrade,feetandmarine claims.

M.I.SBreakdownAssistancealsocomes includedasstandardwithHughesInsurance carandcommercialvehicleInsuranceproducts. Thisprovides24/7breakdownassistance, 365daysayearintheeventofamechanical orelectricalbreakdown.Thisassistancehas provedextremelybenefcialtoHughesclients intimesofemergencies.Theclaim reportline isalsoopen24hoursaday.

JonathanOgilby,managingdirectorofM.I.S says:“Itis refreshinginthemodernageto partnerwithacompanythat retainstraditional valuesofcustomerserviceandprovidesquality insuranceatacompetitivepricewithsucha broadrangeofadditionalbenefts. We are delightedtocontinuetobepartoftheHughes Insurancecustomerjourneythroughthe provisionoftheseservicesandbenefts.”

Overthepasttwoyears,M.I.Shasdeveloped furthercustomerbeneftswithHughes includingsevendaycarhireiftheclient’s vehicleisdeemedatotallossfollowinga road traffcaccident,freortheft.Thishasproved favourabletocustomersasthishelpskeep themonthe roadwhilewaitingonpayment fromtheirinsurers.

HughesInsuranceisoneoftheleading insurancecompaniesinNorthern Ireland.BasedinNewtownards,itoffers straightforward reliableandcompetitive insuranceacrossarangeofcategories includingcar,home,business,andtravel insurance.

Since2001,the relationshipbetweenHughes

andM.I.Shascontinuedtogrowfrom strengthtostrengthwiththetwofrms workingcloserthanevertocontinuously improveservices,withtheoptimalcustomer journeyinmind.

BernieMcHughSonner,directorof operationsandcustomerservicesat HughesInsurance,said:“We’reabsolutely delightedtobecontinuingourlongstanding partnershipwithM.I.S. We prideourselves onourcustomerserviceandwithM.I.S, wecanensurecustomers receive reliable servicesandaroundtheclocksupportwhen needed.” ■

Termsandconditionsapply. To fndoutmore visitwww.hughesinsurance.co.uk

JonathanOgilbyandBernieMcHughSonner

Buscommutersbetter connectedascontactless paymentshitonemillion

Translink’s Future TicketingSystemhasreachedamajormilestoneasMetro customersenjoyconvenienceandbestvaluefarebeneftsofcontactless paymentoption

MorepeopleinNorthernIreland areenjoyingthebeneftsof contactlesspaymentsonboard publictransport.

Translinkhas recentlyannouncedthatsince introducingthenewtechnologyonboard Metroservicesinspringthisyearoverone millioncontactlesspaymentshavebeenmade sofar,withcontactlessjourneysincreasing steadilyeveryday.

Thepublictransportprovidercontinuesto investinintroducinganewsmartticketing systemacrossallitsbus,railandGliderservices tooffercustomersmorejourneyconvenience andpaymentfexibility.

The‘TapOn’Metrocontactlesspayment option representsakeymilestonein Translink’s Future TicketingSystem,transformingpublic transportheretofuture-proofservicesforfull networkticketintegrationandtosupport passengergrowth.

“Ourpassengerswanteffortlesscost-effective journeysandwe’recommittedtoproviding innovativesmartticketingsolutionswitha focusoneaseofuse,integration,convenience andvalue,” WilliamMcGookin,headof ticketingtechnologyat Translink,says.

“Thislatestdevelopmentmarksasignifcant milestoneinourFuture TicketingSystem roll-out.ItalsosupportsouroverallBetter. Connectedcorporatestrategyandthevital rolepublictransportplaysinsupportingthe economic,socialandenvironmentalwellbeing ofNorthernIreland.

“Metrobuspassengersareencouragedto simplyturnup,tapandtravelusingcontactless inordertobeneftfromthebestvaluedaily fareunderpinnedbyasimplepricingstructure. This reducescashhandlingbetweencustomers andbusdrivers resultinginfasterboarding timesandshorterjourneytimesforall passengers.

“Andit’snotjustaboutthesimplicityand convenienceofmakingcontactlesspayments but,atatimewhenthecostoflivingis escalating,customerscanalsoeasilyview theirjourneyhistoryonline,checkingthe

WilliamMcGookin of Translink

savingsthey’vemadethroughthedailycapped contactlessfare.”

Pricingiseitherbasedonasingle£2.10fat farecharged regardlessofthedistanceofyour frstMetrojourneyoradailycappedvaluefare ofjust£3.50whenyoumaketwoormore Metrojourneys,inoneday.

“This£3.50priceistheequivalentofour MetromLink(mobileticketing)andDayLink (smartcard)ticketssowewouldexpecta numberofourMetrocustomerstonaturally movetocontactlessduetotheconvenienceof simplyusingabankcardorsmartdevicewhich manypeoplealreadyuseona regularbasisas partoftheirdailylifestyle routine,” William says.

“Thedailycappinghappensautomaticallyon eachcustomer’saccountinthe‘backoffce’ systemmeaningyoudon’tneedtohavethe

correctcashorpre-purchaseaticketforyour journeybeforeyoutravel.”

Theon-boardtechnologyacceptscontactless paymentsfromenabledsmartdevicewallets suchasApplePayandGooglePay, Visaand Mastercard(includingMaestro)contactless creditanddebitcards,aswellaspre-paid contactlesscards.

Inadditiontocontactlesspayments,the newdevicescontinuetoaccept Translink’s fare-payingandconcessionarysmartcards, offeringpassengersachoiceofpayment methodswhileensuringeasyaccessto transportservicesforyoungpeopleand customerswhocannotuseabankcard.

Andwhataboutthenextinnovative ticketingdevelopmentsforcommutersto lookoutfor? Williamsaysthere’splentyto lookforwardto.

“Thenextstepswillbe rollingoutthe contactlesspaymentoptiononallUlsterbus andGoldlinerservicesacrossNorthern Ireland,whichwillinvolvefttingover1,000 vehicleswiththenewticketingdevicesand trainingover2,000staff.Thisimplementation willallowAdult,Child,yLinkandHalf-fare Smartpasscustomerstopayfortheirtravel ticketusingtheirbankcardorsmartdevice.

“Additionally,multipleticketscanbe purchasedwithasinglecardpaymentandthis ‘RetailMode’facilitywillalsobedeployedto ourMetroservicestogivecustomersasecond contactlesspaymentoption.

“Atthispointitwillmeancontactless paymentswillbeacceptedonall Translinkbus, railandGliderservices.

“Thiswillbecloselyfollowedbyinstallationof ticketvendingmachines(TVMs)andplatform validatorsatallrailstationstoallowcustomers topurchasetickets,orvalidatetheirsmartcard, beforetheyboardthetrain.Therewillalsobe anewfacilitytopurchaseNIRailwaystickets onlineonthe Translinkwebsite,enabling customersto‘collect’theirticketbyinputtinga uniquecodeonanyticketvendingmachine.

“TVMswillalsobeinstalledatkeybusstations, busstopsandPark&Ridefacilitieswhere customerscanbuypapertickets,top-up smartcardsandcollectonlinetickets.

“Wecontinuetomakegoodprogressin deliveringtheseambitiousplans.They refect ourstrategiccorporatefocusoncontinuous improvement,customerfocus,climate actionandconnectingcommunities.It’s certainlyanexcitingtimeaswe roll-outthese enhancementstomakepublictransportyour frstchoicefortravel,todayfortomorrow.” ■

Formoreinformationvisitwww.translink.co.uk/ contactless

Corporatekindnessextends beyondChristmas–itmakes avitaldifferenceyear-round

SimonCommunityNI’s chiefexecutive JimDennison refectsonthegenerous corporatepartnerswhohavesupportedthecharitythroughanotherchallenging yearandwhoarecommittedtodeliveringkindnessnotjustatChristmasbutare dedicatedpartnersforthelong-term

AsNorthernIreland’sleadingandlongestrunning homelessnesscharity,SimonCommunityprovides464 warmbedseachnightacross35shelterandsupport services,supporting636peopleeveryday.Thecharityisatthe forefrontofcommunity-ledhomelessnesssolutions,andin thebackground,supportingitsvitalworkareitsdetermined supporters,includingadiverserangeofcorporatesupporters donatingtime,skills,foodandfnancialassistance.

Commentingontheincreasingratesofhomelessnessandthe roleof corporatepartnersJimDennison,chiefexecutiveatSimonCommunity said:“Everyyearbringsnewchallengesand2022hasseenasharprise inhomelessnessastheemergencymeasuresputinplaceasa resultof theCovid-19pandemicwere removed,leavingmanymorefamilies, youngpeopleandadultsvulnerabletobecominghomeless.

“This,togetherwiththeemergingcostoflivingcrisis,meansmanymore willbattletokeepa roofovertheirheadsin2023.The realityiswe couldbefacingapotentialhomelessnessdisasterwiththenumbersof peoplebecominghomelesspredictedtoriseby22%inthenextthree years,meaningthesupportofferedbyourcorporatepartnersismore vitalthanever.”

ThefaceofhomelessnessinNorthernIrelandisalsochanging,with moreandmoreyoungpeoplebeingimpacted.Nearlyhalfofthose needinghelpfromSimonCommunityarenowundertheageof25,and morewomenthaneverareexperiencinghomelessnesswitharounda thirdofthoseaccessingthecharity’sservicesfemale.

OneofthosethecharityhashelpedisKirstywhowasofferedtemporary accommodation.

“Inmymind,therewasalwaysastigmaassociatedwithhomelessness andIfeltthatotherpeoplewouldthinklessofmeiftheyfoundoutthat Iwasmovingintotemporaryaccommodation,”shesaid.

“Iwasonly19andpregnantandhadneverlivedawayfromthefamily homebefore.ItwasthebiggestchangethatIhadeverexperienced.I’m honestly reallythankfultothestaffinConwayCourtforthesupport

thattheygaveme.Theymademefeelsafeandsecureandcompletely changedmyperceptionofwhattemporaryaccommodationis.”

Jimsaidthatalongwithgivingtheirtimetoprovidepracticalhelp, fundraisinganddonating,corporatepartnersarealsoimportantwhenit comestoraisingawareness.

“Thesupportfromourcorporatesupportersworkingwithustofnd solutionsandgivepeoplebacktheirdignity,self-esteemandsafety ismorevitalthaneverandhelpsusnavigatetheever-changing environment.

Withtheirsupportandbyraisingawareness,weareabletoprovide effective responsesto real-timeandfuturehomelessnessincludingour goalofpurchasingandmanaging50private rentalhomesthroughour CreatingHomesproject.Itwillprovidehomestothosemostinneed, andinturnpeople’slivesaround.” ■

SimonCommunityrunsa24/7telephoneservice.Ifyou,oranyoneyou know,isworriedabouthomelessness,pleasecall08001712222.If you’dlikemoreinformationonhowtogetinvolvedpleasevisitwww. simoncommunity.org

JimDennison,chief executiveatSimon CommunityNI

Telecomsfrmeirevomovinginto new£25m VantageoffceinBelfast

Telecomsfrmeirevohassigned a10-yearleaseatthe recently completed£25m Vantagebuilding inBelfastcitycentre.

The Vantageincludesmorethan67,500sqft ofgradeAoffcespace,achievingsignifcant accreditationsincludingBREEAM‘VeryGood’, EPC‘A’Ratingand WiredScore‘Gold.’

Eirevowilloccupythe10thfoorwhereit planstofurtherexpandtheteamtosupport itsgrowthandsuccess.

“Sincesettingoutonourambitiousgrowth planearlierthisyear,eirevohasgonefrom strengthtostrength,”PhilipO’Meara,eirevo regionaldirectorforNorthernIreland,said.

“I’mdelightedtoconfrmanew10-yearlease withThe Vantageandmarkanewchapter ofgrowthasweaimtobethenumberone challengerbrandlocally,servicingallpublic andprivatesectororganisationslargeand small.

“Overthelastfewmonthswehavewelcomed 17newstafftotheteam,expandedonour existingcapabilitiesandserviceofferingswith ourenterpriseandpublicsectorclientsand launchedintothesmallbusinessmarketwith ourcompetitively-pricedgiga-fbrebroadband, sowe’redelightedtohavethisnewpremium offceasagreatworkplaceforourgrowing team,withadedicatedspaceinwhichto welcomecustomersandengagewiththemon theirdigitaljourney”.

RichardMcCaig,directoratOsborneKing, said:“I’mdelightedtowelcomeeirevoasthe frstnewtenantstotake residencywithinthe newlyconstructedupperfoorswhichbeneft fromthepanoramicviewsoverthecity.Having workedcloselywithPhilipandtheteamweare delightedtoannouncethelettingandwehave nodoubtthatthehigh-qualityenvironment willassistthemwiththeirexcitingplansfor BelfastandtheNorthernIrelandmarket.”

JonathanMcKinney,developmentmanager ofMRPsaid:“Wearedelightedeirevohave

chosenThe Vantageasthelocationfortheir newoffceastheyembarkontheirexciting andambitiousexpansionplaninNorthern Ireland.The Vantageisaperfectexampleof howapropertycanbe revitalizedtomeet the requirementsofthemoderntenant, whilsttakingthesustainableapproachby retainingitsexistingstructure.eirevowillbe afantasticadditiontotherangeoftenantsin thebuilding,andweareconfdentthenew spacewillbeathrivingenvironmentfortheir team.”

GregHenry,directoratLambertSmith Hampton,said:“ThearrivalofeirevoatThe Vantageshowstherecontinuestobestrong interestingradeAoffcespaceinBelfastand demonstratesthatbuildingslikethis,which offerahighlevelofquality,areattractive tomodern,growingcompaniesinsectors suchastechandprofessionalservices.The Vantageisperfectlypositionedtosupport businessesastheythriveandgrow,and welookforwardtoannouncingadditional tenantsinthenearfuture.” ■

GregHenry,directorofLambertSmithHampton,JonathanMcKinney,developmentmanageratMRP,PhilipO’Meara,eirevoregionaldirectorforNorthernIrelandandRichard McCaig,directoratOsborneKing

Public sector

ThestateofNI: governmentleasttrusted inUKandclimatenot givensamepriority

ThelatestDeloitteStateoftheStatesurveyofour publicsectorshowsinterestingdivergencebetween thosehereinNorthernIrelandandacrosstheUKas awhole,as JohnMulgrew findsout

Stormont remainstheleasttrusted governmentadministrationin theUKdespiteweeksofchaosat WestminsterandthreePrimeMinistersin justtwomonths.

Andwhilegreenissuesandclimatechange remainamongthemainconcernsfacingthe UKasawhole,itiswelldownthelistfor peoplefromNorthernIreland,accordingtothe latestStateoftheStatesurveyfromDeloitte.

In regardstogovernmentconfidencethe reportsaystherearehigherlevelsinboth thedevolved WelshandScottishand administrations.

“That’slikelydriveninpartbypridein devolutionandnationalidentityinScotland and Wales,whilethecontinuedabsenceofan

Executiveislikelytobeaffectingpublicopinion inNorthernIreland,”itsays.

“Lookingbeyondgeography,wecanseethat trustalsovariesbyfunction.Thereappears tobeapublicperceptionthatgovernments struggletodelivermajorprojectsontimeand tobudget.

“Mediacoverageinevitablyshapesthatview, whichgivesoutsizedattentiontodelayson highprofileprojectsbutlessattentionto successes.”

However,there remainsahigherdegreeof confidenceinlocalgovernmentandservices.

The researchincludesasurveybyIpsosUKof 5,813UKadultsaged16-75,including445 fromNorthernIreland,betweenSeptember

2and20,aswellasin-depthinterviewswith leadersfromacrossthepublicsectorandcivil service.

Here,thecostofliving remainsthelargest priorityfor83%ofthosesurveyed,followed byNHSwaitinglistson76%.

Turningtopolicing,NorthernIrelandsawthe biggestdropinconfidencehere–showinga double-digitfall,accordingtothe report.

Meanwhile,officialsinNorthernIreland warnthatboldchoiceswillbeneededfrom a returningExecutive–notleastonhealth spending.

The reportsays“thepublicsectoris determinedtotryand retaintheagility,speed of responseandgreaterriskappetitethatit

exhibitedoverthepastcoupleofyears”.

“OurStateoftheState researchthisyear commentatesonaNorthernIrelandpublicwith increasinglydistinctattitudestogovernment, andapublicsectorthatfacesthesamecost oflivingchallengesasthe restoftheUK–but withdebatesaroundtheProtocolandthe absenceofanExecutiveweighingheavilyon top,”the reportsays.

“Ourcitizensurveyfoundthattheviewsof theNorthernIrelandpublicdifferfromthe restoftheUKinthreekeyareas:government priorities,pessimismforimprovementandtrust intheState.

“…some36%inNorthernIrelandsaidthey wouldprefertoseelowertaxesorlower borrowing,evenifthatmeanslowerpublic spending,comparedtotheUKaverageof 33%.”

Survey respondentsinNorthernIrelandwere amongthemostpessimisticabouttheoutlook, with81%ofcitizenssurveyedexpectingthe costoflivingcrisistogetworse(74%UK average),while69%thinkNHSwaitlistscould worsenaswell(58%UKaverage).

ButmoreoftheNorthernIrelandpublicthink protectionagainstCovidissettogetbetter (31%vsUKaverageof27%)ratherthan worse.

Thesurveyquestionsontrustfoundthe NorthernIrelandGovernmenttobetheleast trustedadministrationwithintheUKon measuressuchasitsabilitytodelivermajor projectsontimeandonbudget,andtofocus ontheneedsofcitizens,likely refecting

currentpoliticalinstabilityandtheongoing absenceoftheNorthernIrelandExecutive.

“Thelong-termimplicationsofthelackofan Executiveonthedeliveryofpublicservicesalso emergedasatopconcernininterviewswith publicsectorleaders,whowarnedthatbold choiceswillbeneededfromtheExecutiveifit does return–notleastonhealthspending,” itsays.

“WithoutanExecutive,nobudgethasbeen setandkeyoffcialshighlightedtheriskof spendingcontrolsbeingexceededandnoting thattheabsenceofmulti-yearbudgetsis hamperingstrategicplanning.Thisongoing situationledanumberof respondentsto raisethequestionofwhetherthemodelof governmentusedinNorthernIrelandshould be reviewedandalternativestructuresactively considered.

“IntheUKwidesurvey,whenaskedtoname twoorthreeissuesforthegovernment toprioritiseoverthenextfewyears,most respondentssaidthefocusshouldbeon tacklingtheimmediatecrisesofcostofliving (81%)andNHSwaitinglists(66%),above anythingelse.”

Thepublic’snextbiggestpriorityisclimate change,mentionedby46%of respondents. Improvingcrimeandpolicing(44%),social careforvulnerablepeople(44%)andthe availabilityofaffordablehousing(40%)came closebehindaskeyprioritiesforUKcitizens.

InNorthernIreland, respondentsrankedsocial careimprovementsasthethirdmostimportant governmentpriority(46%),aftertacklingthe costoflivingcrisis(83%)andNHSwaitinglists

(76%).Addressingclimatechange(40%)isthe sixthmostimportantpriority,behindaffordable housing(46%)andcareprovisionformental health(45%).

Whenaskedaboutthebalanceoftaxand publicspending,athirdbelievetheUKshould aimforlowertaxesand/orborrowing(36%in NI),evenifthatmeanslowerpublicspending, while29%believetheUKshouldtaxand/ orborrowmoretoincreasespending(29% inNI). Youngerpeopleaged16-34yearsold aremorelikelytofavourtaxcutsand/orlower borrowingthanhigherspending.

MarieDoyle,partneratDeloittesaid:“Our fndingssuggestthatcitizensinNorthern Ireland,likethoseacrossthe restoftheUK, remainconcernedaboutthebiggestissues facingsociety–NHSwaitinglists,thecostof livingcrisisanddefcienciesinthesocialcare sector.

“Facedwiththesechallenges,andthe continuedabsenceofasittingNorthernIreland Executive,thedeliveryofessentialpublic servicesisunderpressure.

“Oursurveyfoundthatpublicsectorleaders areunderstandablyconcernedabouttheeffect ofinfationonbudgetsandthehardships facinghouseholds.Havingoperatedpublic serviceswithoutafunctioningExecutivefor longperiods,questionswereraisedbysome seniorpublicsector representativesabout whetherthecurrentmodelofgovernment inNorthernIrelandneedsfundamental rethinking,withsomebelievingweare reachingthepointwhereitshouldbe re examined.”

“NorthernIreland’spublicsectorleadersdo stillhavecompellingvisionsforthefuture. Manyincentralgovernmentwanttoseea moreconnected,innovative,agile, responsive and representativecivilservicethatisableto deliverqualitypublicservices.Severalsaidthey wouldliketoseemorecollaborationbetween government,privateandcommunityand voluntarysectorstodeliveronkeypriorities.”

Confdenceinpolicingin

NorthernIrelandhasfallen accordingtotheDeloittereport

‘An exitdoesn’t formany partof my defnitionof what successlookslike’

Terry Moore,thechiefexecutiveofOutsourceGroup, hasbigplansforthefuture,writes MargaretCanning

TerryMoorefoundedOutsource Group22yearsago,andhis ambitionshaven’tdimmedover thosetwodecades.Asaleofthebusiness defnitelyisn’tonthecards.

ThemanagedITservicesandsecurityprovider has70staffandisoncoursetoemploy100 people.Lastyearitacquiredcyber-security providerANSECIA.

Thisyear,itsecuredthreenewcontractsforits OSGCloudbusinessfromtransport,homeware andhospitalitycompanies,andannouncedthe appointmentofNovoscoco-founderPatrick McAliskeyaschairman.

“MyaimistogrowOutsourcetobethe numberonemanagedservicesandsecurity providerinNorthernIreland,” Terrysays.

“Tome,thatprobablymeansstickingatit andgettingthejobdone,andnotgoingfor anexit.Ihaveanimageinmyheadofwhat successlookslikeandexitdoesn’tformany partofthatdefnition.

“Thegroupisatabout£10min revenueand ouraimwillbetopushout,maybemovingto £40m.”

Ourinterviewtakesplaceduringawaveofjob lossesinthetechsector,affectingbigplayers like TwitterandMeta.

Anotherbigheadache,that’sparticularlyacute

fortechandIT,isthedilemmaoverwhether tocoaxorevenforceyourstaffbackintothe offce.

Terrythinksthebestapproachisamiddleof the roadone.Abitoftheoffcecandous good,hemaintains.“Somebodyexplained ittomeyesterdayas,ontheonehandyou giveyourkidsmedicine,theydon’twantit andyoudon’twanttohaveitgiveittothem, buteverybodywillfeelalotbetteroncethey takeit.”

Hethinkstherearebigquestionsforthe industryover remoteworking.“There’sthe ideathatyoujustmakeitokaytoneverwork intheoffceagain,thenthere’stheElon Muskapproachthatifyouwanttoworkfrom home,youworksomewhereelse.

“Therearetwoextremes,andthebest approachisprobablysomewhereinthe middle.”

Hisownbusiness,whichincludesANSECIA afteracquiringthecyber-securityspecialist lastyear,hasa routineofgettingpeoplein on‘coredays’.“It’stryingtocreatemoments wheregroupsofpeoplecangettogetherso thatwegetthatoverusedword,‘synergy’.

“It’sveryhardtoachievethatwhenpeople aren’trubbingoffeachotherandgetting thoseweeinteractionsthatproduce somethingthatwouldn’thaveexisted otherwise.

“Iwouldn’tsaywe’reforcingitortakinga reallyheavyhand,butwe’retryingtosaythat thereareloadsofbeneftstobeingaround eachother.

“Oneofourbestpeoplehasworkedin Scotlandfromthedaywehiredhim.He’sbeen inourbuildinginAntrimabout10timesin thelastfouryears.Butwedohaveanumber of roleswhereit’sjustimpossiblenottocome intotheoffce,andwiththose,wehavetosay, remotewon’twork.

“Nomatterwhattheysay,peoplewantto betogetheragain. Yes,weallhaveourown socialcirclesbutoneofthoseiswork.Stats abouthomeworkingareusedlikeadrunk usesalamppost,forsupportratherthan illumination.”

He regardsthepresentcycleofjoblossesin techasachallengingtime,thoughtherehave beenmanyothers.“Duetoproximity,theone closesttoyoufeelstheworst.

“Iwouldhavesaidthistimetwoyearsago bysomemeasurewasthemosttraumatic experienceI’veeverhadinbusiness,whenthe pandemicwasinitsearlystages.ButIdon’t thinkitendedupbeingasbadasthatfroma businesspointofview,althoughthesocietal impactwasgreater.”

Infationisoneofitsthorniestproblems, particularlywhenitcomestopricinglongtermcontracts.“Thatisjustunbelievably

challenging,andIfeelwe’rehavingtobevery innovativeinhowweprotectourselves.

“Everyonehasanideaofwhereinfationwill gobutiftheygetitwrong,thatcouldbe catastrophicforalotofbusinesses.”

Hecitesonecontractwhichthecompanyisin therunningforattheminute–aseven-year dealwiththeoptiontoextendfortwoyears, thenonemoreyear.

“Fortheseven-yearpart,there’sanattempt tofxthepriceforthatthroughto2024,and that’sprettymuchimpossible.”

Withinfationof10.1%thisyearandaround 6%forecastnextyear,hethinksthecompany

shouldbehedgingaroundpriceincreasesof 17%.“Thatcanaddhundredsofthousandsof poundstoacontract.”

Andhewelcomesthetrendforrisingsalaries. “Ithinkit’sprobablyfairthatthere’sabitmore ofanevendistributionofthemoneythat’s madeinbusiness.

“ForyearsIthinkalotofthatmoneyhas madeitwaytothetopoforganisationand Ithinkthatit’sfairthatthisisalmostabit ofa redistribution,whichIwoulddefnitely beinfavourof.Butthelabourmarketcan getoverheatedandthentherehastobea correction.

“Ifwageinfationsettled,Iwouldbehappy

enough.Thetechnologysectorinany economyshoulddriveabetterstandardof living,weshouldbepayingpeoplemore,we’re inahighvaluesector,soIthinkit’swhollyfair thathappens.Ithinkit’sjustgettingalittletoo hot.”

ThebusinessnowhasfveoffcesinAntrim, Belfast,Cookstown,DublinandEdinburgh.

Asforwhat’snext, Terrysays:“It’shighlylikely ournextoffcewillbeinEnglandratherthan NIorIreland. We havethecapabilitynowthat wemightwanttopointatthatmarketand that’swhatthelastfewyearshavebeenabout aswebuildoutOSGCloud.Afteracquiring ANSECIAwedohaveacapabilitynowthatI thinkwouldland reallywell.” ■

TerryMoore,OutsourceGroup

Primark: rebuildand redevelopmentcost£102m

FouryearsafterablazeguttedthehistoricBankBuildingsintheheartofBelfast citycentre,Primark’sfagshipstorehasreopened,followingamorethan£100mbill, writes MargaretCanning

Primarkspentover£13mon temporaryspaceinBelfastcity centreoutofatotalspendof £102.2mfollowingthefrewhichtore throughitsfagshipfouryearsago,itcan be revealed.

Asthenewstorepreparesto reopenat thelistedBankBuildings,fulldetailsofthe investmentbythediscount retailerhavebeen seenbyBusiness Telegraph.

Thetotalspendincludes£3.3mona temporarystoreatFountainHouseand£9.8m onCommonwealthHouse,whereanextension totheBankBuildingspremiseswasbeingbuilt.

Thatspacewasadaptedintoatemporary shop.

Therewasaspendof£12.7monfaçade retentionandstrip-out,alongwithaspendof £76.4monthe rebuildofBankBuildingsand itsft-out.Thatincluded£14.5mon repairsto theprotectedfaçade.

Meanwhile,anaverageof120workerswere onthesiteaday,and315,000hourswere spentonthe rebuild.

And600tonnesofstructuralsteelwereused, alongwith6,700tonnesofconcrete.There were300kmofpower,lightingandsecurity

datacablesused.

MarkSpence,themanagingdirectorofthe ConstructionEmployersFederationinNorthern Ireland,describedthe£102.2mas“avery signifcantinvestment”.

“Fromaconstructionpointofview,it’s fantastictoseeheritageskillsbeingusedto restoreafacadelikeBankBuildings.

“Therewillalsohavebeenbeneftstothe supplychain.Allinall,it’safagshipforwhat constructioncandointermsof restorationbut alsoftforpurpose,modernaccommodation, whichitwillprovide.

“Oneofourmantrasisthatthepayback frominvestmentinconstructionisoneofthe highestratiosof returnoninvestmentyoucan do.

“Whetherit’s roadsinfrastructureorschools or retail,there’satremendous returnforthe widereconomywhichgoesbeyondthebuild period.There’saverywidesupplychain,

peopleinvolvedintheconstructionand localcontractorsdoingmechanicalwork andelectricalwork,aswellastheworkof stonemasons.”

Hesaidthecitycentrehadseenawelcome trendofnewdevelopments,“atatime whenit’sprobablyquitehardtomakea convincingargumentforinvestmentinthe

citycentre,tobefair”.

Buthesaidhewasconcernedaboutthe future.“Everybody’sabitnervousinthe currenteconomyaboutwhat’snext.The pipelineworriesus. Typicallywhatyousee todayintheformofcranesontheskylineis projectscommissioneduptofveyearsago, justbeingcompleted.

“So,it’swhat’sgoingto replacethosecranes thatwe’remostworriedabout.”

Hesaidhewasalsoconcernedabout theimpactofthecessationofdevolved governmentonpublicsectorconstruction.

“Onourradar,constructionwillcontinueuntil aboutquarteronenextyear.Atthatpoint,we aregenuinelyveryconcernedaboutwhat’s next.

“Withourshadowministersinplace,wecould barelygetprojectsoverthelinetogetthem procured.

“Nowwe’re relyingentirelyonthecivilservice, whowilldothebesttheycanandalwaysdo, butthey’renotministersandtheydon’tmake thediffcultdecisions.” ■

Somewould-be shoppersqueuing togetintothenew Primarkstore

Someofthefrstshoppersthrough thedoorofthenewPrimarkstore

Paygapbetweenpublic andprivatesectorwages ‘atlowestlevelin20years’

ByJohnMulgrew

Thegapbetweenpublicandprivate sectorwageshereisshrinking andnowatitslowestlevelintwo decades.

Butthoseworkinginpublicsectorjobsare stilltakinghomeanaverageofaround30% morethantheircounterpartsworkingfor companiesintheprivatesector–thelargest gapanywhereintheUK.

However,alarminglytheactualvalueof ourwagesherehasfallenatitslargestrate on record.Expertshavewarnedofa“lost generation”in realearningswhich“is expectedtocontinuefortheforeseeable future”.

Thatmeansthefull-timeinfation-adjusted publicsectorwagehashita22-yearlow,while theprivatesectorequivalentisonparwith 2004levels,accordingtoUlsterBankchief economistRichardRamsey.

RealweeklyearningsinNorthernIrelandfell 4.5%in2022–thatmeanswithrisingcosts andongoingsoaringinfation,mostsalaries won’tgoasfartheydidayearago,according tothelatestfguresfromtheNorthernIreland StatisticsandResearchAgency(NISRA).

AccordingtoRichardRamsey,whilefull-time publicsectorworkershaveseenwagesfallby 6.8%,theirpart-timecolleagueshaveseen growthof8.9%overthelastdecade.

“The7.1%year-on-year realtermsfallinfulltimepublicsectormedianearningstookthe April2022annualwageto£34,361…that representsthelowestfull-timepublicsector medianwagesince2000,”hesaid. Averagegrossweeklyearnings–nottaking

intoaccountinfation–forfull-timeworkersin Aprilincreasedby2.9%from£575in2021,to £592in2022.

“Whenconsideringpublicandprivatesector earningsoverthelastdecade,thepublicsector showednogrowthin realearnings,whichis incontrasttogrowthof11%intheprivate sector,”thelatest reportsays.

Meanwhile,around13%ofjobshereare considered“lowpaid”.That’sthelowest proportion20years.

Onthewagegapacrossgender,thelateststats showadivergenceof8.4%inaveragemedian hourlyearnings–withmenonanaverageof £13.99andwomenon£12.82.

Butseparatefreshdatashowsa4.6% differenceinpaygapsinfavourofwomen. AccordingtotheOffceforNationalStatistics “inthecaseofNorthernIrelandinparticular, thegenderpaygapisaffectedbyahigher

proportionofwomenworkinginthepublic sectorwherepayratesforsomejobsare higherthanintheprivatesector”.

The researchsaysthegenderpaygapis “calculatedasthedifferencebetweenaverage hourlyearnings(excludingovertime)ofmen andwomenasaproportionofmen’saverage hourlyearnings(excludingovertime)”.

“ItisameasureacrossalljobsintheUK,not ofthedifferenceinpaybetweenmenand womenfordoingthesamejob.”

Ingeneral,manycompanieshereareoffering “moremodestsalaryincreaseoffers”, comparedtothistime,ayearorsoago, accordingtoJohnMoore,managingdirector ofHaysinNorthernIreland.

Buthesaysmanyfrmshave“realisedthey can’tleadonsalaryalonetogettheright people”.

“We’reseeingmoreorganisationspositioning themselvestobeattractivebyfocusingon theirtechnology,theirworkload,theirlearning anddevelopmentoffer,theircultureand environment,andtheleveloffexibilitythey providefor remoteworking,”hesays.

RichardRamseysaid:“ThelatestNorthern Irelandearningssurvey revealstheimpactof thecostoflivingcrisisonhouseholdincomes… alookbeneaththeheadlines revealsthatwhile thescaleofthe recentfallin realearningsis unprecedentedthetrendinfalling realterms earningsisnot–andisexpectedtocontinue fortheforeseeablefuture.

“This releasehighlightsthatNorthernIreland’s poorearningsgrowthperformancecontinues andwithoutimprovementsinproductivitythis trendissettocontinue.” ■

RichardRamsey

Cross-border trade

CROS

StephenKelly

‘Irishbuyerswanttotradewith BelfastandBallymenarather thanBirminghamorBrighton’

ManufacturingNIchief StephenKelly looksatthelatesttradefgureswiththe Republic,thetrendsemerging,whyNorthernIrelandremainsthepointofinterestfor tradeintotheUKandwhyagreementmustensurethatinanefforttomakebuying fromGreatBritaineasierforlocaltraderswedon’tdestroytheuniqueopportunity forourproducers

Muchhasbeensaidandwritten abouthowthepost-Brexitcards havefallenfortradersand communitiesinthispartoftheUK,the northeastoftheislandofIreland.

Therehascertainlybeenenoughheat generatedinthepastcoupleofyearstosee mostofusthroughthewinter,butmuch ofthelightwhichhelpedtheUKandthe EUcometoacompromise,whichistheNI Protocol,seemstohavefaded.

AspartoftheBrexitpreparationprocess,the NorthernIrelandandUKCivilServiceand theEUmappedtheareasofcross-border co-operationwhich resultedfromStrand2of theBelfast/GoodFridayAgreement.Inall,they found145areasofwide-rangingcooperation throughimplementationbodiesandareasof cooperationwhichwerebothcomplementary andinterdependent.

Amongthe145areascoveredincludedthe environment,agriculture,transport,education, tourism,energy,telecommunications,fsheries, andhighereducation.

WhentheEUpublisheditsversionofthejoint mappingexercise,itsaid“itwasconsistently recognised(bybothUKandtheEU)that

virtuallyallareasofnorth-southco-operation arepredicatedontheavoidanceof…customs or regulatorychecksandcontrols”.

WithdiscussionsbetweentheUKandEU beginningagain,it’simportantthat removing thestressescausedbytheProtocoltotrade fromGBtoNIdonot resultinwhathasbeen retainedorgained.

DatafromIreland’sCentralStatisticsOffce (CSO)showsthatthevalueofgoodstraded betweentheRepublicandNorthernIreland washigherin2021thanin2019(themost recentpre-pandemicyear).TheCSO’sdata showsthevalueofIrishgoodsexportsto NorthernIreland rosefrom£1.9bnin2019to £3.1bnin2021,anincreaseof67%.

Meanwhile,theCSOfndsthatNorthern Ireland’sexportstoIreland rosefrom£1.4bn to£3.3bn.Thatisanextraordinaryincreaseof 131%.

Thepicturecontinuestoimprovewiththe latestanalysisfromtheCSOsayingthatgoods salesfromNItotheRepublicincreasedbya further21%whencomparedwiththesame timeperiodin2021.

TheESRIhavediscoveredasharpincreasein

Irishbuyerslookingnorth.Intheir reportof December2021,theysay“theshareofIrish importsfromtheUKoriginatinginNorthern Irelandgrewfrom6%toover41%sincethe EU referendum”.

AsIreland’stradewithGBisfractureddueto Brexit,Irishbuyershavecontinuedtowant totradewiththeUKbybuyingfromBelfast, BanbridgeandBallymenaratherthanfrom BirminghamorBrighton.

Acrossourmanufacturingcommunity,they haveincreasinglyseenIrishbuyerslooknorth ratherthaneasttomeettheirconsumerand supplychainneeds.Areasdoingparticularly wellincludeengineering,chemicals, pharmaceuticalsandparticularlyourgreatfood anddrink,whichisnosurpriseasweshare similartastesacrosstheseislands.

Oftenoverlookedisthatthenatureoftrade acrosstheIrishSeaisfundamentallydifferent fromthatacrosstheborder. TradefromGB toNorthernIrelandhasamuchgreatervalue because70%ofitisfnal,fullpriceproducts, mostlyfor retail.

Thestuffonoursupermarketshelves,clothing, whitegoods,electronicsandmotorvehicles distributedfromGBwarehousingand>

wholesalers.But70%ofwhatcrossesthe border,inbothdirections,arethecomponents, ingredientsandrawmaterialstowhichweadd valueandsellexternally,notonlyinIreland, butglobally.

Ireland’sbusinesscommunity recognisesthe importanceofthisfowofgoods.IBEC,the dominantbusinessgroupinthesouth,intheir evidencetotheHouseofLordsmakesitclear that“thepracticalimpactoftheProtocolhas beenpositive”.

Averydifferentglobalenvironmenttothat whichprevailedin2019,whentheProtocol wasagreed,hasputawiderangeof unanticipatedpressuresonbusiness,theircosts ofoperationandsupplychains.TheProtocol hasprovidedwelcomestabilityandgrowthfor cross-borderbusiness.

NIgoodsdominateourexternalsales,bringing inaroundthesameamountofcashas Treasury passestoministerstorunpublicservices,so

itiscriticalthatwemaintainoursalestoGB andcapitaliseonthefracturewhichBrexithas causedtotheUK’stradewithIrelandandthe EU.Moreexportandexternalsalesincreases thewealthinoureconomyandcommunities.

Whilethefreecirculationofourgoodsacross theborderandfromheretoGBiscritical, theredoes remainanurgentneedtoensure ourGBsupplychainisimproved.Ourfuture success,includingoncapitalisingonour uniquetradingenvironment,isdependent onmakingsuregoodsfowfreely,inall directions.

There’salsoaneedtoimproveaccessfor NIbusinessesintheIrishmarket. We are notintheEU’ssinglemarket–theProtocol justavoidsahardborderontheislandof Ireland.Mostnotablywedon’thavefreedom ofmovementoflabourorcapital,our servicessectorisn’tcoveredandevenour manufacturersfacebarriersincludingnot havingqualifcations recognised, restrictions

onNIentrepreneursestablishingbusinesses andbeingexcludedfrompublicprocurement.

TheProtocolneedsimprovedbutsotoo theUK’strading relationshipwiththeEU andtheIrishGovernmentmust removethe unnecessarybarrierstocross-borderbusinesses whicharewithintheirgift.

Thankfullyafteranunhelpfulandavoidable delaytheUKandtheEUarebackinthe room andtalkingaboutwaystomaketheProtocol workbetter.Whilemuchhasbeenlearnt overthepast22monthsaboutthetechnical challenges,let’shopesomeattentionisgiven toensuringtheinvolvementoflocalpeoplein anyeventualsettlement.

WhateverhappenstotheProtocolinthe comingweeks,agreementmustensurethat inanefforttomakebuyingfromBritaineasier forlocaltraders,wedon’tdestroytheunique opportunityforourproducerstobringmore wealthandworkforNorthernIreland.

CROS S-BORDER TR ADE

ShipsdockedatBelfastHarbour

‘Bodyblow’tomostvulnerable iffreshfundingcan’tbefound

ByJohnMulgrew

Dozensofcharitiesandsocial enterprisesherefacea“body blow”iflong-term replacementfor fundingisn’tfound,it’sbeenwarned.

WhileStormonthassetasidemorethan£2m tohelpfrmsimpactedbytheendingofthe EuropeanSocialFund,thatmoneywillrunout attheendofthefnancialyear.

Thatcouldleavemanyofthemostvulnerable insocietywithoutservicesofferedbysocial enterprisesandcharitiesherewhichcounton thecash.

Now,agroup representing22groupshere–whichhavehelpedaround80,000people–are warningjobscouldgoandservicescutifa suitable replacementisnotfound.

ItcomesaftertheleadersofNorthernIreland’s fvelargestpartieswrotetoSimonClarkeMP, theSecretaryofStateforLevellingUp,Housing andCommunitiesurgingtheUKGovernment to replacetheEuropeanSocialFundinits entirety.

“Despiteaseriesofconstructiveconversations withlocalpoliticians,andoffcialsfrom NorthernIrelanddepartmentsand Westminster’sDepartmentforLevellingUp, wearestillfacingafundingcliff-edgeonApril 1,2023,”RevAndrewIrvine,chairofthe EuropeanSocialFundPeerGroupandchief executiveofEastBelfastMission,said.

“Unlessasolutionisfoundtherewillbeno securityofemploymentforthe1,700staff employedbyourmembers.The resultwill beabodyblowtothecriticalserviceswe deliverannuallytoaround18,000ofthemost vulnerableinsociety.

To datethegroupshavehelped80,000people with15,000movingintoemploymentand 14,000goingintofurthereducationand training.

Thegroupsaysunlessgovernment departmentsinboth Westminsterand Stormontagreeawayforward,fundingwill endnextApril,jeopardisingboththeservices providedandthejobsof1,700peoplewho deliverthem.

“Everyoneacceptsthattheservicesprovided areenormouslysuccessfulinhelpingpeople intoemploymentandtraining,andthatthey savethepublicpursemoneyby reducing demandonsocialcareandotherpressurised publicservices.Indeed,thepreviousNorthern IrelandEconomyMinisterdescribedthe servicesas‘transformational’,”RevIrvinesays.

“Allofthis,however,isnowindangerof beinglostunlessurgentactionistaken. We havetwoasks.First,wewanttheDepartment forLevellingUptomakegoodonitspromise tofully replaceEUfunding,andwewant NorthernIreland’sEconomy,Communities, HealthandJusticedepartmentstocontinue

contributingsubstantialfundingasinprevious years.

“Secondly,weneedoffcialsfrombothBelfast andLondontofndamechanismwhich allowsfundingtobeallocatedinawaywhich complieswithequalitylegislation.”

Earlierthisyearacharitythatworkswith youngpeoplewithlearningdisabilitiesand autismwarnedthatalossofEUfundingcould putjobsandservicesatrisk.

Larne’sAccessEmploymentLearning(AEL) standstolose£190,000inEuropeanSocial Fund(ESF)cashfromMarchnextyear followingtheUK’sexitfromtheEU.

AELfundsitsHandsOn Trainingschemewith moneyfromtheESF,andalsohasmatch fundingprovidedbytheDepartmentfor CommunitiesandtheNorthernHealthand SocialCare Trust. ■

RevAndrewIrvine

Highstreetfrm Menarysinfghtbackto£1mproft

Menaryshasclosedthreestoresandchangedits productmixtoachieveaconvincingresurgence,writes MargaretCanning

NorthernIreland retailchain Menaryshasdescribedhowit bouncedbackfromthecollapse ofArcadiaasit reportedpre-taxproftsof £1mfor2021.

Likeall retailers,family-ownedMenarys,which has17storesandisbasedinMoygashelinCo Tyrone,wasbadlyhitbyCovid-19lockdowns.

Butitsbusinessmodelwasalsowoundedby theadministrationinlate2020of Topshopand MissSelfridgeownerArcadia.

However,accountsfledatCompanies HousefortheyeartoJanuary2022 reveal aturnaroundforMenarys,withafve-fold increaseinpre-taxproftsto£1m,from £219,762thepreviousyear.

Saleswerealsoupfrom11%from£11.5mto £12.8m,withtheclosureofthreeshops–one inRushmereShoppingCentreinCraigavon andtwo TempestshopsinOmaghand Cookstown–alsosavedcosts.

Thedepartmentstorebusiness,whichsells fashionandhomeware,nowhas15shops intownsaroundNorthernIrelandincluding Enniskillen,Bangor,Lisburn,Cookstownand Newry.

Therearealsotwoshopsacrosstheborderin LetterkennyandCarrick-on-Shannon.

Menaryswasformerlythelocationforalarge

numberofArcadiaconcessionsinitsstores, helpingitdrawavarieddemographicof shoppers.

Butthecollapseofthebusiness,followedby thesaleof TopshoptoAsosasanonline-only brand,leftMenarysandother retailpartners withpotentialgaps.

A reportfledwithMenarys’accounts reveals howitmanagedtofghtback.

“Acrosstheportfolio,thespacepreviously occupiedbyArcadiabrandshasbeen repurposedandnowsellsown-boughtand consignmentproduct.

“Theclosuresandchangesinsalesmixhave improvedcompanyproftability.

“Tightercontrolsandimprovedeffciency regardingoperationalcostshavealso strengthenedthecompany’spost-Covid businessmodel.Overall,thecompanyfocus onown-boughtproductandmoreeffcient tradingpracticeshas resultedinstronger performance.”

However,overtheyeartoJanuary2022,there wasafallinthecompany’sstaffnumbers from236to217.Thewagesbillfellfrom £3.5mto£2.9m.

Butthecompanysaidthatasitlookstoa post-Covidworld,“thedirectorsconsider theperformanceofthecompanytobe

encouraging,andis refectiveofthehardwork carriedoutbytheteam”.Anditvowedthatits strategypost-Covidwouldcontinue.

“Wehavecreatedamore robustand resilient businessmodel:simplifedprocessesand tradingpractices,moreeffcientoperationsand rangeswhichoffereverydayvalueallowthe directorstobeconfdentthatstrongcompany performancewillcontinue.

“Thedirectorscontinuetobelieveinthelocal highstreetandareconfdentthatMenaryswill continuetooccupyanimportantplaceinthe marketplace.”

Andtherewasanindicationthatexpansion couldbeonthecards.“Thedirectorsexpectto maintainandindeedgrowtheir retailfootprint withnewopeningsintheyearahead.”

StephenMcCammon ofMenarys

Someofthestoresalsosellbeautyproducts. AccordingtoMenarys’Facebookpage,it recentlycloseditsClarinscountersatBangor andCookstown.

Abreakdownofitsgeographicalsalesshows that£10.7mwasgeneratedinitsNorthern IrelandshopsintheyeartoJanuary2022,up 13%from£9.5m.

Therewasalso revenuegrowthatitsstoresin theRepublic,whichwasup11%from£1.9m to£2.1m.

Menaryswillmark100yearsinbusiness nextyear.InaninterviewwiththeBelfast Telegraphin2020,managingdirectorStephen McCammon refectedonthe rootsofthe business,whenitwassetupbyhisgreatgreat-uncleJosephAlexanderinDungannon.

“Itwasasmallmenswearshop.Helived upstairs,aswouldhavebeenverytypicalback inthosedays.

“Mydadjoinedthebusinessinthemid-1950s. Hewouldhavebeenaround14or15yearsold whenhecameonboard.

“DadwouldhavecycledfromCookstownto theshopinDungannon.Andgraduallyhe hadtheopportunityinthe1960stobuya shareholdinginthebusinessandeventually tookthebusinessover.”

Hisfatherlatertookoveranotherstorein LisburncalledMenarys–andasthatnamewas deemedmorefamiliarthanAlexanders,the nameoftheentirebusinesswasthenchanged.

conductedtwomonthsbeforethefrst

1990sandthebusinessgrew.

wouldhavehadaround25storesbothin NorthernIrelandandinthesouth.

in retailinthelast10years,thatfellbackto around17stores,butit’snowupto20again withusopeningthreestoresinthelast12 months,whichisverymuchagainstthefowin thecurrentclimate,”hesaid.

Translinksigns£88mdealwith Wrightbusfor100vehicles

Translinkhassignedamajor£88m dealwith Wrightbusfor100new zeroemissionbuses.

FormerInfrastructureMinisterJohnO’Dowd announcedaninvestmentof£88mforzero emissionbusesandassociatedelectricvehicle (EV)charginginfrastructureforthepublic transportnetwork.

Acontractsecuringthesupplyof100new buseshasbeensignedbetween Translinkand Ballymena’s Wrightbus.

“Thisfurthersignifcantinvestmentin zeroemissionbusessupportsourplansto decarboniseourfeetandleadthetransport transformationinNorthernIreland,”Chris Conway, Translinkgroupchiefexecutive,said.

“WewouldliketothanktheMinisterandhis departmentforthisinvestmentwhichenables ustodeliverthebeneftsofzeroemission technologytomoreareasacrossNI,with40

busesbeingallocatedtoUlsterbusservicesand 60beingaddedtotheexistingzeroemission MetrofeetinBelfast.

“Thesenewbuseswillrunonsustainably sourced‘green’electricityandofferthe lateststandardsincomfort,qualityand accessibility.”

FormerMinisterJohnO’Dowdsaid: “Enormousstrideshavealreadybeenmade to‘green’ourpublictransportnetworkwith £98minvestedbymydepartmentsince2020 forthesupplyofover140zeroemissionbuses forthe Translinkfeetandtheassociated electricvehiclechargingandhydrogen refuellinginfrastructure.

“Iamdelightedtoannounceafurther investmentof£88mwhichwilldeliveran additional100zeroemissionbusesandEV charginginfrastructureforourpublictransport network.Thisinvestmentwillbefundamental increatingcleanerandgreenertransportas

weseektotackletheclimateemergencyand improveairqualityacrossthenorth.”

Meanwhile,coffeechainStarbuckshasopened itsfrstoutleton Translink’spublictransport networkinNorthernIreland.

SituatedinLanyonPlace TrainStationin Belfast,theoutlet’spositionwillbeeasily accessiblefor Translinkcustomers,local businessemployees, residentsandpassers-by headingtoandfromthecitycentre.

“Starbucks’commitmenttoLanyonPlace Stationisanendorsementofthetrading potentialassociatedwithtravel-led retailand publictransportlocations,” Translink’schief fnancialoffcer,PaddyAnderson,said.

“We’redelightedtohavesucha recognisable andtrustedbrandonboardinamovethat willfurtherenhancethe Translinkpassenger experiencewithqualityandconvenientfood andbeverageoptions.”

Oneof Translink’szeroemissionbuses

IT& technology

Takingstock: theNItechfrms makingwavesand goingpublic

AclusterofNorthern Irishtechfrmsareselling theirwaresonthestock markets.Whatarethe beneftsofbeinglisted, andwhyisNorthern Irelandhistoricallyso underrepresentedon publicmarkets,asks PavelBarter

Afewyearsago,Newry-based FD Technologiesannouncedan acceleratedgrowthstrategyinan efforttoboostsubscriptionsalesoftheir KXdataanalysissoftwareproducts.The companyinvestedinitssalesforceand targetedinvestorsinAmericaandAsiaPacifc.

Thestrategyclearlypaidoff.Initsinterim resultsfor2022,FDannounceda40%growth insubscription revenueforKXproductsanda pre-taxproftof£1.1m.

“Whilewe’restillprimarilybasedonthe LondonStockExchange(LSE),longerterm youcouldseeusmovingtoapotential Nasdaqlistingbecauseofthedifferenttypeof investorswenowattract,”says RyanPreston chieffnancialoffcer,FD Technologies.“Our investorbasehastransitionedtothetypeyou seeinAmazon,Facebook,Google:hightech whereit’sallabout revenuegrowth.”

Diaceutics,apharmadiagnosticscompany fromBelfast,also revealedpositivefnancial resultsforthefrsthalfofthisyear:a25% growthin revenuesandahikeingrossproft from£4.4mto£5.1m.FD Technologiesand Diaceutics–alongsideKainosandFusion Antibodies–makeupNorthernIreland’s onlycompanieslistedonstockmarkets.All fourareinvolvedinITandthisisprobablyno coincidence.NorthernIrishtechbusinesses areagoodmatchforthestockmarkets duetotheirscalability,JamesFair,chief fnancialoffcerofBelfastbiotechfrmFusion Antibodies,tells UlsterBusiness

“Youwanttohavescaleandproportionality whenyoutalktopeopleaboutputtingmoney

intoyourcompany,”Jamessays.“We’reavery innovativecorneroftheworld.TheITsectorin NorthernIrelandhasgrownmassivelyoverthe last15years.”

AccordingtoPatrickMahony,astockbroker atRedmayneBentley,theprivatesectorinNI is“driftingaway”fromheavyindustrytoward “newfoundITstrengths,basedlargelyonthe factwehaveaveryyoung,malleableand strongworkforce.”

Twoofourfourlistedcompanies–Diaceutics andFusionAntibodies–emergedfrom Queen’sUniversityBelfast(QUB).“Within thecontextofacommunitythatneverhada largelistedcompanypopulation,ourNItech companiesonstockexchangesaresmallgreen shootsofspring–andmaybemoresuccessful ITcompanieswillnowemerge,”Patricksays.

Colin Walsh,ofCrescentCapital,hasbeen aventurecapitalinvestorintheNIhigh techsectorforovertwodecades.Hewas instrumentalinbringingAndor Technology,a QUBspinout,whichspecialisedinscientifc imagingcameras,totheAlternativeInvestment Market(AIM)ofLSEin2004andhehelped Fusionattainitslistingin2017.Colindescribes NorthernIreland’sfourlistedcompaniesas “outliersfromthenorm”.Kainos,forexample, istheonlyNIbusinessontheFTSE250.

“We’vebeenunderrepresentedin listedcompaniesfordecades,”hetells UlsterBusiness.“Therejusthasn’tbeen, institutionally,apatternofNorthernIreland companiesgoingonthepublicmarkets.One ofthe reasonsmaybethe‘peripherality’of NorthernIrelandfromtheseedofcapitalin London”.

Theremayalsobeaculturalexplanation. “Historically,we’veeitherhadfamily-owned businessesthatraisedtheirowncapital,” Colinsays.“Youhadacombinationof businessesbeingprivatelyowned,livingwith debtandgrantsfromdifferentdevelopment agencies”andotherbusinesses,such asbranchplants,whichwereowned elsewhere.

JamesFair,ofFusionAntibodies,concurs. “Wearebroughtuponafamilybusiness approach–theagriideawherethefarmis passeddownthroughgenerations.Don’t thinkthisisjust regionaltous–youalso seeitinpartsofthenorthofEnglandand regionswithamoreagriculturalbackground: Yorkshire,Lancashire,Cumbria.”

Sucheconomicconservatismmayexplain whyNorthernIrelanddoesnotsufferthe boomsandbustsotherpartsoftheUKdo andis“abitmorecautious,”Jamessays.>

Yet,intheworldofstockmarkets,visionand ambitionarepreferredassets.AllofNI’sfour listedcompanieshavestrongexecutiveteams whoarekeenturbo-chargethegrowthoftheir businesses.FusionAntibodies,forexample, hadanestablishedandexperiencedboard fromdifferentbackgroundsandsectorswhen itwenttomarket.“Youneedtodemonstrate youhaveamarketleadingservicethatis scalablewithgrowthpotential,andthe managementtiers,notjusttheboardand non-executivelevels,todeliveronthatvision,” Jamessays.

WhenFD Technologiesfrstwenttomarketit wasasmallfrm,butitsfoundershadavision. IanMitchell,investor relationsatFD,saysthe companywasfrst“listedat50pin2002and itis£15or£16today”.Theprospectsforthe businesshaveneverbeenstronger.

TheseNorthernIrishtechcompaniesbelieve alistinggivestheircompanygreatervisibility andcredibilityforcustomers,suppliersand staff.Alistingcanalsoallowaccesstocapital intheLondonmarketandcreateimproved valuation.FusionAntibodies,forexample, raisedadditionalcapitalinearly2020toensure againsttheuncertaintiesofthepandemic“and

itmeantwedidn’thavetohitthepause buttononanythingwhileweassessedthe situation.”

Plcs requirechecksandbalancesthatprovide comfortforinvestors,accordingto Ryan PrestonatFD Technologies:“Whenwe’re tryingtoselltocompaniesinJapan,Korea,US, asaPlc”,potentialcustomersare reassured bythe“PlcCompaniesActandannual reports whereyouhavetostateyourgovernance.This helpsopendoorswhenitcomestosigning contractsandwarranties.”Suchtransparency canalsohelpabusinessbecomemore effcient.

Amarketlistingisnotforthefaint-hearted, duetoitsburdensome reporting requirements, rules,andcosts.JamesFairofFusion Antibodies,however,contendsthatitisworth it.“Yes,you’rechallenged,you’repushed,” Jamessays.“Butthat’snotabadthing.It keepsusawake,onourtoes,andwhenwe gotoLondonandtalktoinvestors,weget differentperspectives–they’rechallengingus toperformbetter.”

MarketenthusiasminLondon,ofcourse, waxesandwanes.“Therewillbeperiods

oftimewhenthemarketisverytoppy orvaluationsareverystrong–wherethe institutionalinvestorsarekeentoinvestand thebar,intermsofscale,comesdown,”Colin Walshsays.“Atothertimesofthecycle,like we’reinnow,themoodismore reserved andtheyaremorecautious.”Theprocessof attainingalistingcanbe“challengingand hardwork”,headds,buttheprocesslifts abusiness“fromthelittleleagueintothe premierleagueofperformance”.

Thebusinesseswespoketo recommended thatotherNorthernIrishtechcompaniesat leastconsiderpublicmarketsasasourceof capital.However,theycautionedthatthe timingmustberight.“Inthetechsectorin general,it’shelpfultobeprivateuntilyou haveaconceptthatisprovenandthatyou cantaketothemarket,”says RyanPreston ofFD Technologies.“Ifyouneedtodoany pivots,it’smuchhardertothatasaPlcthana privatebusiness.”

Butforthisclusteroftechcompanies–FD Technologies,Diaceutics,KainosandFusion Antibodies–astockmarketlistinghasraised theperformancebar–andpavedthewayfor otherlocaltechcompaniestofollowsuit.

JamesFairof FusionAntibodies

‘Opportunitymaycome fromtechgiantcrises’

MargaretCanning speakstoCo Tyrone-born SarahFriar abouttheopportunities forcommunitysocialnetworkplatformNextdoorandwhat’saroundthecornerfor thewidertechsector

TurmoilattechgiantsMetaand Twittercouldpresent opportunitiesforsocialnetworkingplatformNextdoor,its NorthernIreland-bornchiefsays.

SarahFriar,whoisfromSionMills,saidthecutsmeantthatengineers whoherbusinesscouldnothavedreamedof recruitingpreviouslywould nowbeonthemarket.

Butshesaidshefearedfortheglobaleconomyasevidencemounted ofaslowdown.However,shesaidshe remainedoptimisticaboutNI’s future.

Nextdoor,describedasa‘hyperlocal’platformforneighbourhoods, listedontheNew YorkStockExchangeforthefrsttimeinNovember 2021.

MsFriar,theformerchieffnancialoffcerofBlock–ledbyJackDorsey, theco-founderof Twitter–saidithadnotallbeenplainsailingsince then.Inthirdquarter resultslastweekthecompany reporteda2% increasein revenueto$54m.

However,itsnetlosswas$34.7m,comparedto$19.4mayear earlier.“Here’swhat’sgonegreat. We areanincrediblywell-capitalised company. We haveover$600monourbalancesheet…whichgivesusa lotofstrategicopportunities,”shesaid.

“Fromabusinessperspective,wehadagreatcoupleofquartersoutof thegate.Thelastquarterhasbeenmuchtougherbecauseeveryone’s facingthismacroslowdown. We’reearlyinthiscyclebecauseweface advertisingspendwhichiseasierforpeopletopullbackonintheshort run.”

Butshesaidsheencouragedherteamtofrstlyfocusonitspurpose ininvestinginneighbourhoods.“Numbertwo,wehaveahuge opportunitythat’sonlygettingbigger,because,frankly,asothers stumble,they’regettingoutofourspace.FacebookclosedFacebook Neighbourhoods,whichwasgreat,becauseit’snowouropportunity.

“It’stoughsloggingforeveryoneatthemomentbutcontrolwhatyou cancontrol.”

Thelarge-scalejoblossesannouncedin recentweeksat Twitterand FacebookparentMetawerealsoanopportunity.

“Ironicallyseeingpotentiallypeoplegettingshakenoutofthese companiescanbeanopportunityforusbecauseitactuallyunlocksalot ofgreatengineers.

“Peoplethatwecouldnothavehiredayearago,twoyearsago,are suddenlyavailable.Butyouwanttobecareful,thepeoplethatmight getmovedoutofacompanyatatoughtimemightnotbetheperson thatyouwanttogohire,butthepeoplewhoarestillinthecompany whoaretrulygreat,theymightlookaroundtoowhenitgetsalittle rocky.

“Someofthebestcompanieswerecreatedinthedownswingsbecause youhavethismassiveamountoftalentthat’sveryinnovativebutkindof getspushedtobemorecreativebecausetimesaretougher.”

Butshedidnotthinktherewasacrisisfortechonthesamescaleasthe infamousburstingofthedot.combubbleintheearly2000s.

“Idon’tthinkit’satechbubblebutamassivedefationofamassive infationaryenvironment.”

“Acrosstheworld,youhadabigshocksothesystemwithCovid, youhadmassivepumpinginofgovernmentmoneyandyou’vehad anincrediblylongbullcycle,soitfeelsliketheworldis readyfora slowdownofsorts.”

MsFriarwasvisitingBelfastforaneventtopromoteangelinvestment bywomen.Andshesaidtheevent’satmosphereofpositivitylefther feelingoptimisticaboutNI,despitetheabsenceofanExecutive. ■

SarahFriar

Brexitconcerns replaced by soaringcosts forIrishfrms

ThelatestsurveyfromInterTradeIrelandshowsfrmscontinuetobattle risingenergycosts,Brexitisnolongerthefocusformanywoesbutlotsof companiesarealsoseeingimprovedproftability,writes JohnMulgrew

TheimpactofBrexitis reducingasa majorconcernforbusinesseshere butsoaringcostshave replacedit amongmajorissues,anew reporthas shown.

Some27%ofbusinessinNorthernIreland andtheRepublicsaidBrexitwasanissuefor themduringthethirdofquarteroftheyear. Butthat’sdownfrom35%duringtheprevious period,accordingtothelatestbusiness monitor reportfromInterTradeIreland.

Butthevastmajorityofcompaniesacross Ireland(92%)saytheyexpectfurther signifcantrisesincostsin2023,while90%of frmshaveexperiencedasignifcantincreasein theirenergycosts.

Brexitishavingabiggerimpactonbusinesses here,with35%raisingitasaconcern, comparedwith24%intheRepublic.

Andthelatestsurveyshowsbusinessgrowthis slowing,whilejust18%offrmsarepredicting increasedgrowthoverthenextsixmonths.

“Thereisagreatdealofuncertaintyinthe widereconomy–withrisinginfation, interestratesandavolatileenergy market,”MartinRobinson, InterTradeIreland’sdirectorof strategysays.

“The roadaheadlookstohave anumberofcautionsignsfor business.Whilethemajorityoffrms thatwespeaktoareinastableposition, thenumberingrowthmodehasdroppedto justoverathird,comparedto41%forthe sameperiodlastyear.”

“IntermsofBrexit,27%offrmshave reporteditasanissuethisquarter,compared to35%ofbusinessesinthepreviousquarter. Halfoffrms reportthattheyhaveadaptedin fullortoalargeextenttothechangesbrought aboutbyBrexit.”

Aroundhalfoffrmssaidtheyhadeither adaptedinfulltoBrexit,ortoalargeextent, while12%saidtheyhadn’tadaptedatall.

Thelatestdatashowsthatwhilesalesand profts remain relativelybuoyant,quarteron-quarter,apatternofslowing growthisemergingasrisingcosts pileonthepressure.

Turningtoproft,frmsacross Irelandhadabetterquarterthan thepreviousthreemonths.Some 66%ofcompaniessaidtheywere inproft–up10%ontheprevious quarter.

Meanwhile,around73%ofbusinessessaid theyhadincreasedtheypricewhichthey chargedfortheirproductsinthelast12 months,amidrisinginputcosts.

Andasexpected,energy andtherisingcostsof otheroverheadsarethe overwhelmingconcerns forSMEs.Theimpacthas beenparticularlyacutefor themanufacturingindustry withover20%nowindicating theyarecontracting.

“However,nosectorisimmune.Overaffth ofbusinessesexpecttheirsalestodecreasein

thenextsixmonths–thisjumpsto41%of companiesintheleisure,hotelandcatering sectors,”itsays.

“Ourdatashowsusthat90%offrmshave experiencedasignifcantincreaseintheir energycosts,andthatisfeedingthroughto nearlyhalfexperiencingalargeincreasein suppliercosts,while44%haveexperienceda substantialincreaseintransportcosts.”

Accordingtothesurvey,73%of businesseshavepassedonprice risestotheircustomersin thelast12monthsand proftability remains stable.

“Firmsarealso reporting thatcostincreaseshave notasyetimpactedbusiness andconsumerconfdence quarter-on-quarter,”itsays. “Howeverit remainstobeseenwhatwill happeniffrmscontinuetopassonpricerises –inparticularasnineoutof10frmsexpect therisingcostsofdoingbusinesstopersist overthenext12months.”

MrRobinsonsays:“Weknowthatbusinesses thattradecross-border,tendtobemore robust.However,businessesacrosstheisland areoperatingagainstadiffcultbackdropand their resiliencecontinuestobetested.

“Thereareanumberofsupportsoutthere forfrms,includingfromInterTradeIreland. We willcontinuetocollaboratewithpartners andactively reviewourrangeofprogrammes toensurewecanhelpfrmsinthecurrent challengingeconomiclandscape.”

MartinRobinson

Bigtechdownturn willgetworse, saysDropboxchief

Companiesshouldplanforthetech downturn togetworse,theheadof Dropboxhassaid.

SpeakingontheIrishIndependent’s Big Tech Showpodcast,billionaire DrewHoustonalso predicted a knock-onhitintheoffcemarket withhisownDropbox whichemploysseveral hundredpeopleatitsEuropeanheadquarters inDublin scalingbackitspropertyneedshere by80%.

Thewarningscomeasthecountrybraces forfurtherjoblossesfollowinghigh-profle redundanciesatFacebookownerMeta, paymentsfrmStripeandsocialmediaplatform Twitter recently

“It’s smartforcompaniestoplanforthingsto getworse,”hesaid.“We shouldbepreparing forit.

There’sa lotofconcern thatthe macroeconomicenvironmentcouldgetworse.”

MrHoustonsaidhisowncompanywasn’t as affectedasothertechgiantsbysomeofthe factorscausinglayoffs.“We’re notimmuneto themacro environmentandit’s somethingwe watchclosely,”hesays.

“Butwe’re fortunatethatDropboxisfairly stableingoodtimesandbadtimes. We also wentthroughourausterity a fewyearsago.”

MrHoustonwasinDublintounveilDropbox’s radicalnewEuropeanheadquarters,whichhas takenoutallindividualdesksandworkstations tobecome a meetingplaceforeventswhile staff mostlywork remotely

“We’vescaledbackorare ontracktoscale backourphysicalfootprintgloballybyabout

80%,”hesaid.“Becausewe’vefoundthat wedon’t needtoprovidealltheseindividual workspaces.It’s not a supereffcientinvestment anymore. I think[currenttrends]havehuge ramifcationsforcommercial realestate.”

HesaidthatDropbox remainscommittedto Dublindespitehearing reportsthecity“is a lot more expensivenowandit’s hard toliveclose towhere youwanttowork”.

“Techcompaniesmaybein a periodof contractionrightnow, buttechwillgrow again,”hesays.“Dublinhasbeenandwill continuetobeourheadquarters.”

Meanwhile,theEuropeanCommission economychiefPaoloGentilonisaidheis confdentthelossoftechnologyjobswill notpose“specialthreat”toIreland’s public fnancesdespitethescaleofthesectorhere.

“Iamnotconsidering[this] a specialthreat, honestly, because I haveseenthepath,after a deepcrisis,ofIrelandas a verypositiveone, so I amquiteconfdentonthefscalpath,”Mr Gentilonisaid. ■

The new delivery drone taking fight inIreland

Alphabet’snewdroneunit Wingis takingfightwithtestsintheRepublic. Adrian Weckler takesalookatthe newtechnologyandhowitwillwork ingettingpackagestoyourdoor

Alphabet’sdronedeliveryunit, Wing,hasstarteddemonstration fightsinthenorthDublin suburbanofLusk.

It’samajorescalationinpotentialdrone deliverieshere,withIrelandpickedoutas Wing’sfourthdevelopmentmarket,afterthe US,AustraliaandFinland.

ThesistercompanytoGoogleisinvitingthe publicinnorthDublintotryoutitsdelivery service,whichwillbefreeforthe restofthe year,butlimitedtoahandfulofsmallitems.

ExecutivestoldtheIrishIndependentthatthe companyhopestoworkwithcommercial partnersbutdeclinedtodisclosethedetailsof anydiscussionscurrentlyhappening.

Thecompanysaysthatitwantstoestablisha fulldeliveryserviceinIreland.Executivessay theybelieveitcanlegallydosonextyear.

InmarketssuchasFinlandwhereitalready operatesacommercialdeliveryservicein Helsinki, Wingcompletesdeliveriesbylowering packagesintofrontand reargardens.In Dublin,itwill restrictthedeliveriestoopen greensinthecomingweeksasa“consultation exercise”withthelocalcommunities.

Deliverytypicallytakesbetweenfveand 10minutesfromtheorderbeing registered through Wing’sapp.Thedronesfyataheight ofbetween50metresand100metresandata speedof100kph.

Whendroppingadeliveryoff,thedronehovers outsidethedeliveryaddressand releasesacord withtheitemattached.

Aftertheitemisloweredontotheground, thecorddetachesitselffromthepackageand thedrone returnstobase.Theentirefight processisautomated,whiletheattachmentof deliveriesisdonemanually.

ThedeliveriesworkinmostIrishweatherand alsointhedark.However,thedemonstration deliverieswillbelimitedtoacoupleofhours eachdaybetweenThursdayandSunday.

Wing’sdronedeliveriescurrentlytakeoff fromanindustrialfacility2kmoutsideLusk, deliveringtotwoopengreenareasinthe town.

TheAlphabetfrmdesignsandmakesitsown drones,whicharelightweightandwithstand mosttypesofrainandwind,andtemperatures fromminus10degreesto38degrees.

IntheUS,AustraliaandFinland,ithasmade over250,000dronedeliveriesinitsfouryears.

Ittypicallydeliversfood,pharmacygoods, coffeeandotherconvenienceitems.

Irelandisseenasoneofthemoreadvanced testbedsfordronedeliveriesinEurope.The Dublin-basedstart-upMannahascompleted 100,000testfightsinIreland,startingin OranmoreinCoGalway,beforemovingitstest deliveryoperationstoMoneygall,CoOffaly.

Itcurrentlyoperatesatestdeliveryservicein Balbriggan,closetoLusk.

Mannadronesdeliversmallitemssuch ascoffee,fastfood,minorgroceriesand pharmacyproducts,aslongastheoverall weightisunder2kganditcanftinsidea shoebox.

Thecompanyhaspartneredwithoutletssuch as Tesco,Subway,pharmaciesandcafes.

FoundedbyformerCarTrawlerexecutive BobbyHealy,Mannahasraisedalmost€30m infundinginthelastthreeyearsandemploys over100people.

AspokespersonforManna,whichhasbeen operatingtestfightsinIrelandfor18months, saidthatthefrmhadnoupdatestoshare aboutitsplans,orwhetheritbelievesitcan launchacommercialsoon.

Fromtoday,deliveriesthrough Wingcanbe orderedthroughthecompany’s Wingphone appandmoreinformationontheserviceis availableatwing.com/lusk. ■

DepartmentofFinance isbigwinnerat Belfast TelegraphIT Awards

Nor thern Ireland ’s De part ment of Finance wa s the overall winner in the 2022 Be lfast Tele grap h IT Awar ds in part nership with Telefónica Te ch UK & Ireland

The awards, which to ok place at the MAC Theatre in Belfas t, showc as ed the achievements of the IT industry in Northern Ireland.

The IT sec tor here continues to grow at pace and it hasa signifcant and positiveimpac t on the economy.

There are now over 30,0 00 people in jobs in the sec tor in Northern Ireland on salaries paying ab ove the national averag e.

Winner s werenamed across 18 categories at the awards, which were hosted by comedian Neil Delamere

The Department of Finance won the top award for it s work in co ordinating input from stakeholder s into the Covid-19 certifcation process. It also triumphed in the category of public sec tor IT projec t of the year

Thejudging panel, led by No el Brad y, managingdire ctor of Consult NB1, said : “T his wasasubs tantive multi -agenc y projec t which played a critic al role in the Covidcertifcation rollout in NI and leaves a signifcant legac y for wider NI Governmentto leverage inother IT solutions.”

It was the second year in which Telefónica Te ch UK & Irelandsuppor ted the awards as headline sponsor.

It s chief executive Mark Gorton said : “I t was fant astic to be at the Belfas t Telegraph IT Awards, which is a brilliant celebration of the

sec tor in Northern Ireland.

“T he winner s of the awards refe ct the depth and qualit y of the industry and the qualit y work being done hereby a wide range of companies and organisations.

“Telefónica Te ch UK & Ireland isvery proud to sponsor thisyear ’s awards Many congratulations to all of the winner s.”

Eoin Brannigan, editor-in- chief of the Belfas t Telegraph andSunday Life, said : “I t’s been an honour to holdthe Belfas t Telegraph IT Awards, in partnership with Telefonica Te ch UK &I for the second year

“W hen we started the awards in 2019 we had no idea how rapidly they ’d becomea fx turein the industry calendar. They ’ve really grow n in popularity, withentries up 30 % on 2021

“We saw 18 great companies and individuals re co gnis ed for theirsucces s over the cour se of

a really fun night.

“We’re so grateful to Telefonica Te ch UK &I forsuppor ting us, along with all our category sponsors.”

John Healy, the managingdire ctor of Alls tate NI, was honoured with an award for Outs tanding Contribution to the IT Sec tor.

Mr Healyhas 25 year s’ ex perience in te chnolo gy, predominantly in fnancial services.

Before joining Alls tate, he led Citi’s delivery centrein Belfas t, providing IT, op erations, HR , legal, fnance and risk services to the broader Citi group as one of 27 global delivery centres.

As part of the night’s entert ainment, Mr Delamere,a regular on BBC NI ’s The Blame Game, performed a stand -up set. There was also a performance from music al comedian Emer Maguire ■

TheDepartmentofFinancecollectstheOverallIT TeamorCompanyofthe YearawardpresentedbyMarkGorton, chiefof Telefónica TechUK&IrelandwithBelfast TelegraphbusinesseditorMargaretCanning

Inspiringyoungminds atCollinsAerospace

InspiringtheyoungergenerationissomethingCollins AerospaceinKilkeeldoeswithprideandpassion.The companyiscommittedtodevelopingthenextgenerationof engineerstoensureitmeetstheworkforceneedsoftomorrow.

To achievethis,thecompanyhasestablishedsuccessfulpartnerships withlocalcollegesanduniversities,offeringanumberof apprenticeships,internshipsandgraduateopportunities,andin recent years,thedemandfortheseopportunitieshassignifcantlyincreased.

LocatedattheheartoftheMourneMountains,CollinsAerospaceis hometothelargestseatmanufacturingfacilityintheworld,where25% ofallaircraftseatingfortheglobalmarketismanufactured.Afarcry fromthecompany’shumblebeginningswhenitopenedinKilkeelback in1966withjustfveemployees.

Whilethecompanyanditsproductshaveevolvedsincethen,the dedicationandcommitmentofitsemployeeshaveneverwavered,if anythingithasstrengthened.InOctober2022,over100employees were recognisedfortheirlongserviceofover25yearstothecompany, exemplifyingthatitisagreatplacetoworkandtocarveoutasuccessful career.

Andtheopportunitiesforcareerprogressionareendless.Infact,many ofKilkeel’sseniormanagementteamhavegrownandprogressed throughthebusinessincludingmanagingdirector,StuartMcKeewho beganhiscareerontheshopfoor.Theengineeringcareeropportunities continuetobeoneofthefactorsthatsetCollinsAerospaceapartfrom itscompetitors.

SimonMuldrew,newproductintroduction(NPI)director,hasbeenwith thecompanyfor18yearsandhisteamis responsibleforensuringthat newproductsare readyandftforintegrationintooperationsinKilkeel, workingwithcustomersfromallovertheglobe.

SimonattributesSTEMasanintegralpartofthecompany’ssuccess, saying:“Beinganengineering-basedcompany,STEMhasalwaysbeenat thecoreofwhatwedo.Anengineeringcareercanbechallengingbutit canalsobehugely rewarding.Whenfacedwithlastminuteemergencies anddiffcultiesthat’swhenourteamcomestogetherandshowcasesour best. To thenseeaproductinstalledonanaircraftthatwehaveworked on,whetherit’sforLufthansa,QatarAirways,StarluxorFinnair,then there’sa realsenseofachievementandpride.

InApril2022,CollinsAerospacelaunchedadedicatedSTEMcouncil withthesolepurposeofraisingawarenessofthecompanyandthe manyvariedopportunitiesthatareavailable.Membersofthe26-strong council regularlyvisitlocalschoolsandattendcareersfairsandSTEM eventswiththeaimoffurtherattractingand retainingthetalentthat hasmadethecompanyoneofthemostsuccessfulaircraftseating manufacturersintheworld.

AliceEwart,chairoftheSTEMCouncilandEngineering Teamlead, beganhercareerwithCollinsAerospacethroughtheQueen’s University’sEngineeringLeadershipProgramme.Alicelater returnedas agraduatein2018beforetakingupamaterialsandprocessengineer role,priortohermost recentpromotiontoEngineering TeamLead role inthecompositesdepartment.Throughthecompany’sSTEMactivities, Alicehasexperiencedfrst-handhowtheyareinspiringthenext generation.

“WhenIfrstjoinedthecompany,weheldafactorytourforlocal schoolsaspartofourSTEMactivities,”shesaid.“Oneofthestudents laterjoinedthecompanyasanintern.Hisinterestinthecompany waspiquedduringthetour;andthisinspiredhimtopursueacareer inengineering.I’msoproudtohaveplayedasmallpartinthatand lookforwardto,aspartofourSTEMcouncil,furthereducatingand encouragingyoungpeopleintoacareerinengineering.” ■

FormoreinformationoncurrentopportunitieswithCollinsAerospace,visit www.collinsaerospace.com

SimonMuldrew,newproductintroductiondirectorandAliceEwart,engineeringteam lead,compositesdepartmentatCollinsAerospace

Riddel’s Warehouse plays host to Architecture Night

Aformer Victorianlistedwarehouse inBelfasthasplayedhosttothis year’sArchitectureNight.

Theannualevent,whichisrunbytheRoyal SocietyofUlsterArchitects(RSUA),tookplace atRiddel’s Warehouse.

Thefour-storeyironmongerywarehouse,built in1867tothedesignsofThomasJackson, providestheperfectsettingto recognisethe importanceofintegratingthearchitectureof thepastwiththearchitectureofthepresent.

BBCjournalistMarkSimpsonplayedhostfor theevening,whichcelebratedthe roleof non-architectstoarchitecture,architectsof thefutureandthecreativityofearlycareer architectswiththeexhibitionofentries throughitsStorylinesdesigncompetition.

MARKGRIBBIN SETANTACONSTRUCTION

Howisbusiness?

We’rehappytosaythatSetantaConstruction isexperiencinganexcitingperiodofgrowth. Thevaluepropositionofoffsiteconstructionis gatheringpacewiththegreatestpotentialfor growthinthehousingandcommercialsectors. Factorsfuellingthisriseincludeskilledlabour shortageswithintheindustry,advancedoff-site technologies,andapushformoresustainable constructionmethods.

Thebiggesttransformationinourbusiness overthepastfewmonthshascomefrom manufacturingourhighquality,volumetric, ‘SoLow’passivehomes.Thefrstofitskind anywhereinIreland,thispilothousing projectaimstosatisfytheincreasein demandofhousingavailabilityandtargets concerns regardingsoaringenergycostsand effciencies.

Howdidyougetstartedintheindustry?

We oweagreatdealtoouruncles,Liam, EamonandJoewhofrstestablishedGribbin Constructionin1963andwereconsidered stalwartsinthebuildingoftimberframe homes.MyselfandmybrotherNiallworkedas joinersforGribbinConstructionandin2000 wetookoverthefamilybusinessandbecame directorsofwhatisnow,SetantaConstruction. We’vealwaysbeentaughtthathardworkpays offwhichiswhywe’vecontinuouslydeveloped andenhancedourconstructioncapabilitiesto improvethequalityoftheproductandservice thatweprovide.

Typically,whoareyourclientsor customers?

Ourclientbaseisvariedandcanrangefrom workingwiththosewithlandopportunities interestedinbuildingbespokesustainable homestowell-knowndeveloperssuchas FPMcCann,buildingtimberframeand traditionallybuiltturnkeyhomes.In recent timeswe’refndingouroff-siteandmodular buildconceptsarebecominganextremely popularoptionandthat’sbecausethequality ofoffsite,volumetricbuildingsystemshas improveddramatically.Nowadays,itsnormal toseeoff-siteconstructionmethodsbeing adoptedforvariousprojectsincludinghousing developments,hotels,museumsandschools.

Entrepreneur ofthe Month

Doyouenjoywhatyoudo,andwhatin particular?

Likeanyonethatworksintheconstruction sectorweenjoydevelopingideasandseeing themcometofruition.Thetransformation frompapertofnishedproductandknowing thatwhatyou’veadvisedorhelpeddesignhas madeanimportantandlong-lastingimprint inourfuturelandscape. We’reafamily-run businessandwe’reluckytohavesucha trustedanddedicatedteam,manyofwhom havebeenwithusformostoftheirworking lives–asclichéasitsounds,youcouldsaythat we’reallpartofthewoodwork.

Whatisthemostdiffcultpartofyourjob?

We’reaforward-thinkingbusinesswho enjoysworkingatpace,butevenwhenyou’re committedtochangingthings,adjusting industryingrainedbehavioursandprocesses cantaketime. We’vebeenlong-time championsofenergyeffcientconstructionand havebeenaccreditedascertifedpassivehouse designersformanyyears,sowe’vegotalot ofexperienceinthatfeld.Theconstruction sectorhasbeen resistanttochangeover theyearsandIthinkthat’sbecausethere’sa generallackofawarenessamongdecisionmakersandownerswhenitcomesto sustainableconstructionandoff-sitesolutions, butIbelievethat’sabouttochange.There’s a realisationthattimeonsiteisexpensiveand

particularlyinIreland,weatherdependent, sothemorethatcanbedoneincontrolled factoryconditions,thebetter.Also,thecostof livingcrisisandassociatedenergypricehikes, consumerscannowseethe returnintheir investmentinenergyeffcient,sustainable building.

Whatarethechallengesfacingyoursector andtheeconomyingeneral?

Theconstructionindustryhasprovenits resiliencemanytimesandtheincreasinguse ofnewtechnologiesandbuildingtechniques suchasoff-sitemanufacturingmeanthatit isverymuchanexcitingtime.Butasinfation ratesincreaserapidlyconstructioncompanies arefeelingtheeffects.Notonlyisessential materialsandskilledlabourmoreexpensive, there’softensupplychainpressuresand shortages,makingithardertosecuremuch neededconstructionmaterials.Addedto that,risingfuelpricesareputtingevenmore pressureonbudgetsandveryoftenleaving nooptionotherthancontractorshavingto absorbtheincreasedcosts.Giventhebroader economicpressurethatexistthesechallenges areunlikelytobe resolvedintheverynear future,butoursectorneedsallthesupportit cangetrightnow,sofrstandforemostwe needastableandfunctioninggovernment withministersmakingdecisionsforthebeneft oftheeconomy.

Outsourcing &facilities management

Sponsoredby

BrendanMooney

ITservicesgiantKainoshashadanotherstronghalfyear,withpre-taxproftsup 16%to£34mandsalesrisingto£180m. JohnMulgrew speakstochief Brendan Mooney aboutcontinuingonitsrapidhiring,potentiallysub-lettingsitssoon-to-bebuilt£30moffce,growingitsinternationalbusinessandthewiderglobaleconomic landscape

ITservicesgiantKainoswillcontinue itshiringofhundredsofstaffacross thefrmthisyeardespiteawider slowdowninthetechsectorglobally,its chiefhassaid.

AndchiefBrendanMooneysaysit’slikelythe frmcouldsubletsomeofitsnewplanned £30mheadquartersintheheartofBelfast.

Itcomesamidcontinued,steady,strong growthforthefrmwhichposteda16% jumpinpre-taxproftsto£34mforthefrstsix monthsoftheyear,whilesaleshitjustshyof £180mduringthesameperiod.

Kainos,whichstillcountsBelfastashomebut hassitesacrossEuropeandNorthAmerica, nowemploysalmost3,000staff.

Ithiredaround500newstaffoverthelast sixmonths.AndwithcontinuedgrowthMr Mooneysaystherateofnewjobcreationis settocontinue.

“Weareprettyconfdentaboutthelongtermopportunities,”MrMooneysays. “Asacompanyweareopposedtobeing complacentandarewatchingevery announcement.

“Wecontinuetohaveaveryproactivestance around recruitment.[Weare]keepingtrucking awayinNorthernIreland,GB,Europeandthe US…alotofpeopleareneededtogoafter that[levelofbusiness].

“The resultsareup26%andtokeepgrowing weneedmorepeople. We areexpectingto seesimilargrowthintermsofstaffnumbers. It’sbeen450jobsinthelastsixmonths,with 16,000applicationsinthesameperiod…it willbeinlinewith[those]sixmonths.”

Lookingatthe resultsforthefrsthalfofthe year,Kainossawa17%bumpinitskeydigital

servicesbusiness,whileits Workdayservices andproducts roseby40%.

“It’sallgoingwell,”MrMooneysays.“Ifwe thinkaboutdemandforwhatwearedo,we areturningdownwork…wecontinueto prioritisethebestworkforourclients.”

MrMooneysaysitsinternationalbusinesshas increasedto£130mayear,upfromjust£3m whenthecompanyfrstlistedbackin2015.

“Our Workdayproductshavebeenpartofthe businessforalongtimeandwedid£21min thefrsthalfoftheyear…£45m-£50minfrst year–it’sabigbusinessinitsownright.”

Kainosisalsoexpandingandinvestingheavily initssalesandmarketingteams–witha 140%increaseinspendingwithitsteaminthe US,whichMrMooneysays remainsthebiggest marketforits Workdayproducts.

MrMooneysaysitsnew£30moffceonthe DublinRoadisontargettobecompletedby 2026.ItsoldoffpartoftheDublinRoadsite toQueen’sUniversity,whichwilldevelopits sectionintostudentaccommodation.

Thenew80,000sqftbuildingwillbeable to“supportthecompany’ssignifcant futuregrowthplansandhasthecapacityto accommodateupto3,000people”,thefrm hassaid.

Kainoshadoriginallyplannedtobuildonthe wholesite,whichwasformerlytheMovie Housecinema,buthassince reviseddownits schemeintermsoffootprint.

“Weareontrackandstillcommittedtoit,”Mr Mooneysays.“Whatdoesworklooklikeina post-Covidworld?Ourviewispeoplecometo theoffcewhenitsuitsthem.”

Hesaysaround20%ofstaffareworkingfrom

theoffceacrossitssitebutthatcouldincrease overthenextfewmonths.

“Ifits20%,we’llusepart[ofthebuilding],if it’smore,we’llusemoreofit.Thepurposeof thebuildingistosupportourneedsandhave afrstclassspace…sub-lettingwouldbean obviousthingtodo…wewouldbeexpecting tosubletinthefuture.”

Andwhilemanyotherfrmsinthetechsector arecuttingback,MrMooneysayssteadyand consistentworkforcegrowthhasbeenkeyto itsbusinessplan.

“I’manexternalobservertowell-known brandsintheUSsohavenouniqueinsight. Butsomeofthethemescomingout,excluding Twitterfromthis,is[around]notaccelerating toofastandextendingourselves.

“Turningworkdownfromclientsisadiffcult conversationtohave,butit’sbettertobe aconsistent,steady recruiterthanhavea sawtoothboomandbust.”

Intermsofglobalclientdemand,MrMooney sayshebelievesmostbusinessesarefaringwell andtakingalonger-termviewonthecurrent economiclandscape.

Hesayswithgovernmentsfocusingtheir effortsonmodernisinganddigitally transformingtheiroperations,demandforits serviceswillcontinuetobestrong.

“Noorganisationisgoingintothenext12-18 monthswithoutadegreeofconcernaround this[thewidereconomiclandscape],”hesays.

“Thatphilosophy[arounddigital transformation]hasn’tgoneoutoffashion… it’saboutabetterserviceandbettervaluefor government.”

MrMooneysaidinsomecasesthatcan>

OU TSOURCI NG & FACI LI TI ES MA NAGE ME NT

meansavingclientsaround£60mayear.“It’s veryattractivetogovernmenttoaccelerate cost-savingwork.”

Kainoshasalsobeenontheacquisitiontrailin thelastthreeyears,takingonsevenbusinesses duringthatperiod.

“Asthedigitaltransformationmarketenters itsseconddecade,itcontinuestogrow inimportancefororganisationsoperating ingovernment,inhealthcareandinthe commercialsector,”MrMooneysaid,speaking asthe resultswereannounced.

“Thisimportanceistranslatingintocontinued demandfortheworkthatwedoforour customers,notjustinthelastsixmonths

butalsolookingtothefuture.Despitethe economicuncertainty,thereisanurgency fromourcustomersaboutextendingexisting projectsandstartingnewprojects.

“Wearegratefulfortheongoingtrust thatourcustomershaveplacedinKainos, tohelpthemdrivetheirambitiousdigital transformationprogrammesastheychange thewaystheydeliveressentialservicesto citizens,patients,customers,andemployees.

“Ourbusinessisbecomingincreasingly resilient. We workwithover750 organisations,manyofwhomare internationalinscaleandwhooperate acrossarangeofindustriesincluding healthcare,publicsector,banking,insurance,

pharmaceuticalsandeducation.FromourUK basewehaveexpandedglobally,withover one-thirdofour revenuesnowgenerated internationally.

“Lookingforward,we remainconfdentin ourbusinessasthedemandforourservices hasneverbeenhigher,our reputationfor deliverycontinuestofourish,whilethescale andcapabilityofourorganisationcontinuesto growatpace.

“Underpinningthatconfdenceisthequality andtalentsofourcolleagues.Theirexpertise, experienceandenergyhavebeenthedriving forcebehindallthatwehaveachieved. We sharetheirexcitementaboutthefuture–the journeyisjuststarting.”

BrendanMooney

Propertynewsrevampamid millionpoundinvestment

Residentialandcommercialsite

Propertynewsisundergoing a million-poundupgrade a yearafterit wastakenoverbyGCD Technologies.

Propertynews.com,whichithasnowownedfor exactlyoneyear, willsee a refreshand relaunch ofthesalesandlettingspropertywebsite.

Theinvestmentintechnology, staff,branding andmarketingispartof a strategytocontinue torapidlygrowPropertynewsandprovide choiceforagents,homebuyersand rentersin Northern Ireland.

IntheyearsinceGCDacquiredtheplatform, saleslistingshavegrownby35%and rental listingsby61%.Thenumberofagentsusing thesitehasgrownby27%,withsome90new agentsjoiningPropertynewsinthepast12 months.

Propertynewsisnowrunby a teamofmore than10,includingthreenew recruits,twoof whom EmmaMcNally, commercialdirector, andRichard Kilner, customercare manager previouslyworkedforthebusinessinitsearlier daysunderpastowners.

EmmaKerr, whowasGCDmarketingdirector, hasbeenappointedmanagingdirectorof Propertynews.

“Thisis a veryexcitingtimeforPropertynews andforGCD,”shesays.“We undertook signifcantbrandandmarket researchbefore embarkingon a rebrandandwe’re really pleasedtobring a refreshedplatformtothe markettohelpusserveouragentcustomers evenbetterandtoattractevenmore homebuyersand renterstothesite.

“We haveinvestedsignifcantlyinthewebsite andtoexpandtheteam.Inconjunctionwith ourestateagentpartners,welookforward to continuingtogrowthebusinessstronglyinto themonthsandyearsahead.”

EoinO’Hagan,branchmanagerofCPSBelfast said:“Asanagencywithmultiplebranches acrosstheprovince,CPSisexcitedtosee thePropertynews rebrandandgrowthin a numberofourkeyareas,suchasEnniskillen, Omagh,DungannonandArmagh. We look forward toseeingPropertynewsexpand itsofferingtoestateagentsinthecoming months.”

AndDanHenry, ownerofBensonsColeraine said:“We havehad a longstandinghistory withPropertynews,beginningoverfour decadesagowiththePropertynewsmagazine andcontinuingwiththeirlaunchofthefrst propertyportalinNIin2000.Itistremendous toseethebusinesscontinuetoinnovate underthehelmoftheirnewownersat GCD Technologiesandwelookforward to a continuedsuccessfulworking relationship withthewebsite.”

MaryLouPress,partner, AlexanderReid & Frazer, Downpatricksaid:“Alexander Reid & Frazerhasbeen a customerofnot onlythePropertynewswebsitebutalsoof theirsuiteofsoftware productsthatwere designedandbuiltbyGCD Technologies. We’veenjoyed a closeworking relationship withbothbusinessesformanyyears. We’re reallyexcitedaboutthelaunchofthenew Propertynewswebsiteandtheirupcoming marketingdrive.

“As a majorplayerintheNorthern Ireland propertymarket,we relyonthemtodeliver exposure andleadsforourportfolioofhome sellersand rentersacrossCoDown.”

Thecolumnwithan earforexperience...

Howdidyoustartoutinyourbusiness? I’vebeeninbusinessforover40years,working acrossvariousindustriesfromconstruction tomanufacturing.Ihaveestablishednew businessesfromthegroundupandexiteda fewinmytime. WithChangeover Technologies Isawtheneedforaglobalsolutiontothe climateproblem,andthechancetobuilda globalcompanyandbrandwhichwillmakea difference.

Whathaveyoufoundthemost challengingduringyouryearsofbusiness, sofar?

Ialwaysexpectthenextchallengetobethe biggest,butprimarily,it’salwaysbeenabout gettingtherightpeopleintherightplaceat therighttimetoensurebestperformance, highqualityproducts,services,andeffciency. Itcanbeneverending,butofcourselike everythingitgetseasierwithpractice.I’ma frmbelieverinwhenyouemploytheright peopletheworktakescareofitself.

Howwouldyoudescribeyour managementstyle?

Acollaborativeapproachwithgood

Name: MervynMcCall

Position:

Chairman,Changeover Technologies

communicationisessential.Fromtheoutset, Isetaclearpathfortheteamandempower themtodothenecessaryworktoachieve thebasicgoalsforsuccess.Idon’tliketo micromanage–Ifeelit’simportanttostand backandgiveemployeesspaceandthe necessarytoolstodotheworkeffectively.I docheckin regularlywiththeteamtooffer mysupport,oftenassistingwithdirection, however,mostofthetimetheyhaveitall undercontrol.

Whatwouldyouchangeifyoucouldgo backanddoitallagain?

Hindsightisawonderfulthing. With regards toChangeover Technologies,Iwouldhave broughtKenFlockhartinaschiefexecutive alittleearlier,hehasawealthofexperience acrossindustriesandhasthecombination oftechnicalandbusinessdevelopmentskills requiredtomakeChangeover Technologiesa wide-reachingsuccess.

Haveyoudoneitallonyourown?

No,noonecandoitalone.Ihaveastrong managementteamsupportedbytrusted advisersandtechnologyexperts,PhD researchscientistsandproductiondesign engineers.SinceChangeover Technologies wasestablished,thekeytoitssuccesshas beenaboutemployingthedifferentskillsets attherightstagesofdevelopment.

Howwouldyoulikeyourbusinesstobe remembered?

Asoneoftheglobalbusinessesthatplayed avital roleinthetransitiontocarbonzero, andacompanythatwasenjoyabletowork in.

Whatpieceofadvicewouldyougiveto a20-year-oldyou?

Teamworkmakesthedreamwork.Noone candoitalone.Allskillsandexperiencesare valuable.

Motoring

ByPatBurns

Sponsoredby

Mercedesoffersup newcompactmodels

ThenewMercedes-BenzA-Classand B-Classarenowonsale.

Pricesfortheentry-levelA-Classstartfrom £31,880foranA180SportExecutive hatchback,whilethoseoptingforaB-Class willpay£35,100foraB200SportExecutive. Pricingfortheplug-inhybridA250ewillbe confrmedshortly.

ThenewA-Classfeaturesarangeofengine variantsincludingbothpetrolanddiesel options.Thosechoosingamildhybridwill fndanadditional48-voltelectricalsystemis includedthatsupportsagilitywhenstarting off,with10kWmorepower.Plug-inhybrids blendperformancewithpracticalityandcan bespecifedaseitheranA250eHatchbackor Saloon.

ForthenewB-Class,enginechoiceiseither aB200dorB200,withallpowertrain technologythesameacrossbothmodels.

TheA-ClassandB-Classarenowavailablewith eitherasevenoreightspeedDCTgearbox

dependingonenginechoice.Aninnovative belt-drivenstarter-generatororRSGalso improvescomfortandsmoothnesswhile driving.TheRSGensuresaquieterstartthan conventionalstartersandallows‘sailing’with thecombustionengineswitchedoffduring steadycruising.TheRSGalsoonoverrun recuperatesandsuppliesthe12-voltand48voltbatteries.

TechnologyinthenewA-ClassandB-Classhas beenimprovedbothinsideandout.Firstly,the latestgenerationMBUXinfotainmentisnow included,whichbringsthingslikethe‘Hey Mercedes’virtualassistant,aswellascuttingedgenavigation,telematicsandafngerprint scanner.AppleCarPlayandAndroidAutoare alsostandard,asisUSB-Ccharging.

ThoseoptingforPremiumPlusmodelswillalso beneftfromaheads-updisplayandMBUX interiorassistant,aswellasthe360degree parkingpackagecamera.

Thecarsbothfeaturenewdriverdisplay graphicssplitacrossClassic,Sportyand

Discreet.Eachscreengraphicfeaturesdesigns thatbringthemostimportantinformation tothedriverdependingontheirjourneyand canbeviewedonthe10.25-inchscreen.

ExteriorupgradesincludenewfrontLED headlightsand rearLEDs,withadesign thatconveyspoweranddynamism.Wheel optionsfortheA-ClassandB-Classstartat anewlydesigned17-inchalloyfortheSport Executive,goingallthewayuptoa19-inch AMGmulti-spokealloyfortheAMGLine PremiumPlus.

InsidethenewA-ClassandB-Classbeneft fromfour-waylumbarsupportintheseats asstandard,whileachoiceofeitherblackor greyinteriorcolourschemesareavailable.

Alsonowstandardisambientlighting,while theB-ClasshasanewStarPatterntrim availableasanoption.Paintworkchoices includeuptothreedifferentsolidpaint fnishes,fvemetallicpaintsandtwospecial Manufakturpaints,allavailableatdifferent costs. ■

Thecompact electric urbancar

Moderncarsoftenlacksomething ofapersonality,butHonda’sall electricmodelehasitinabig way.

Quirky,funstylingismatedwithadigital dashboardwhichstretchesrightacrossthe frontofthecabinwhilethe rearwheeldrive andsmalldimensionsmakeitajoytodrive.

TheeisinspiredbyHonda’s2030prediction, andadesiretoimprovetheenvironment, particularlyinbusyurbanareas.Engineered fromthegrounduptodeliverapackagefor themodernenvironment,theall-neweisthe frstEVfromHonda.

ThecompactEVfeaturescutting-edge technologyandadvancedintelligent connectivitytokeepownersinsyncwith everydaylife.TheHondaesetsnew technologybenchmarksinitssegment,with intuitiveinfotainmentservicesandconnected appsaccessedviathedualtouchscreen displays,Hondapersonalassistantartifcial intelligenceorthroughtheMyHonda+ smartphoneapp.

Designedwithafocusonfunctionalityand usability,theHondaefeaturesasleekand modernappearance.

Emphasisingthisexactingdesignphilosophy

isthesidecameramirrorsystem(SCMS)that replacesconventionalsideviewmirrors,with compactcamerasthatprovideliveimagesto twosix-inchscreensinsidethevehicle.The cameratechnology,afrstinthecompact segment,bringssignifcantbeneftsforsafety, aerodynamicsandpackaging.

AnothernewfeatureisHondaparkingpilot, whichprovidesfurtherdriversupportby monitoringforparkingspacesandhighlighting ontheHMIscreensasuitablepositiontobegin assistedparking.

ThenewEV-specifcplatformhasbeen engineeredtodeliverfunandeffortless electricperformancewithexceptionaldriving characteristicsinurbanenvironments.

Apowerfulelectricmotor,compact proportions,4.3metreturningradius,50:50 weightdistributionandlowcentreofgravityall combinetogivethecarasportyanddynamic character.The resultisaquiet,smoothand rewardingdrivewithinstantacceleration. Aswellassinglepedalcontrol,theHondae alsohastwodrivemodes:Normal,andSport, whichincreases responsivenessandheightens thedynamicappealofthecar.

TheHondaeisavailableintwogrades–all modelsprovideacomprehensivestandard specifcation,whilsttheAdvancegrade addsachoiceof16inchor17inchalloy wheels,anincreasedmotoroutputand acentrecameramirrorsystemwhichcan beswitchedonto relaytheimagefroma central rear-facingcameratothe rear-view mirrordisplay.

Otherupgradesincludeamorepowerful audiosystem,heatedwindscreenand steeringwheel,andthesmartHonda parkingpilotdriveraid.

Theadvancedelectricdrivetrainemploys provenHondaelectrifcationtechnologies, withfast-chargecapabilitytomeetthe demandsofeverydaycommuting.

Thehigh-capacity35.5kWhbatteryprovides arangeof137miles(WLTP),with80%of chargeaddedinjust30minutesofrapid charging.Auniquethermalmanagement systemoptimisesbatteryrangeinhigh andlowtemperatures,allowingthecar tomaintainoptimalrangecapabilityand enablingmorefrequentrapidDCcharges. Pricedfrom£28,215onthe road. ■

Theendofrangeanxiety

Thesalesofelectricvehicles(EVs) continuetorisemonth-on-month, whilesalesofdieselscontinueto fall.

Rangeanxietywasonce a bigissueforEV drivers,butthenewEV6fromKiashowsthat itisnow a thingofthepastandthatdrivingan EVcanbejustasmuchfunasdriving a sporty petrolenginecar

TheEV6bringslong-range,zero-emissions power, 800Vultra-fastcharginganddistinctive stylingtothecrossoverSUVmarket.TheEV6 isKia’s frstcartobebasedonthecompany’s newstylingforbatteryelectricvehicles(BEVs).

Itispoweredexclusivelybyelectricenergy, with a choiceoftwolong-range,zero-emissions powertrains 800Vchargingcapabilitymeans theEV6cangofrom10%to80%battery chargeinjust18minutes. A rangeofupto 328milesmeansthatdriverswon’t haveto worryaboutNorthern Ireland’s currentcharging infrastructure.

TheEV6’s cabinbeneftsfromclass-leading interiorspaceandfunctionality, thankstothe fatbatteryunderthefoor, andminimalfront and rearoverhangs. Withnoneedtohouse a centraltransmissiontunnel,theEV6’s fatfoor provides rearseatoccupantswithexceptional spaceandcomfort.

DespitetheEV6’s relativelycompactexterior dimensions it’s nolongerthan a compact saloon itswheelbaseislongerthanthatof theSorentoSUV, thelargestcarKiasellsinthe UK.

Mixing a sportscrossoverbodywith a low centre ofgravity, courtesyofbatteriesstored beneaththefoorandbetweentheaxles,the EV6has a sportier, lowerslungdrivingposition thanothertallerSUVs.Therideandhandling havebeenhonedon a varietyof roadsacross Europeandisequallyathomeonfowing country roads,unlikeotherEVswhere the weightandpositioningofthebatteriescan affectthecarshandling.

Thesteeringhasbeenfne-tunedtodeliver greatprecisionandtosurprisedriversthathave writtenoff electriccarsasbeingcharacterless andboring.

Buyershave a choiceof a RWD or AWD layout, dependingonmodel.However, Kia’s engineers havesucceededingivingallversionsoftheEV6 thefeelandengagementof a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.

Considerablelessonshavebeenlearnt throughoutthedevelopmentofthee-Niro and two-generationsoftheSoulEV, particularlyin theareaof regenerativebraking.As a resultof thisexperience,thebrakepedalintheEV6has beenengineeredtobesmoothandpredictable,

integratingwiththe regenerativebrakesystem.

TheEV6therefore alsooffers a new‘i-Pedal’ mode,enablingeasyone-pedaldrivinginthe majorityofdrivingconditionstomaximise effciencyanddrivingrange.

EV6buyershave a choiceoftwofullyelectric, zero-emissionpowertrains RWD and AWD–basedonlong-range(77.4kWh)high-voltage lithium-ionpolymerbatterypacksasstandard.

EV6‘GT-Line’and‘GT-LineS’modelsare availablewithboth rearandall-wheeldrive. Thewell-equipped‘Air’istheentrypointinto theEV6line-upandissoldexclusivelywith rear-wheeldrive.ThisisKia’s frstelectricvehicle tobeavailablewith a choiceof RWD or AWD options thelatterofferingenhanceddynamic capabilityinallon-roaddrivingconditions.

The RWD EV6cantravelupto328mileson a singlecharge(WLTPcombinedcycle). With a poweroutputof226bhpandmaximum torqueof350Nm,itcansprintto62mphin 7.3secondsand reach a maximumspeedof 114mph.

The AWD EV6withdualmotorhas a more muscular321bhpontap,and605Nmof torque.Itacceleratesto62mphinjust5.2 seconds,with a topspeedof114mph.Ifthere isoneproblemwiththeEV6,itisthewaiting listforthenewcar, sogetyourorderinquickly Pricesstartfrom£44,495. ■

MillsSelighasrecruitednewly qualifedsolicitor, AveenMcGahon.The announcementcomesaftertheteamat MillsSeligdeliveredoneofitsmostprolifc yearswithintheclimateandenergysector.

ChristopherFairfeldwilljoinMillsSelig’s corporateteamhavingcompletedtwo yearstrainingwiththefrm.Hewill workacrossavarietyoflegalmatters, supportingthefullteaminallaspectsof highvalueandcomplextransactions.

ChristinaMcDowellhasjoinedMills Selig’slitigationteamandwillwork alongsideindustryexpertsinallmatters ofcommercialcases,includingmediaand defamation.

MariaPickhasbeenannouncedasthenew IT,processandchangedirectorofHughes Insurance.MsPick,whohasabackground inbusinesstransformation,waspreviously aseniorprojectmanageratHughes Insuranceandhasbeenwiththecompany forfouryears.

Belfast-basedcommerciallawfrmMcKees hasannouncedtheappointmentofanew partner,LinusMurray,whojoinsthefrm’s expandingcorporateandcommercialteam.

ThomasHolmeshasrecentlybeen appointedsalesandbusinessdevelopment manageratDonitePlastics.HejoinsDonite withmorethan12years’experience inworkingwithlocal,nationaland internationalfrms.

MatthewPoolehasbeenappointeddeputy generalmanagerof TitanicHotelBelfast. Heisamemberoftheexecutiveteamand isresponsiblefortheeffectiveoperational managementofthehotelalongsidethe generalmanager.

Victoria Wardjoins TitanicHotelBelfastas salesandmarketingexecutive.Responsible forcontentcreationandresearchingnew marketingopportunities,Ms Wardhas workedinthetravelindustrysince2015.

DiamuidGranthasbeenappointed operationsandsupplychainmanager atDonitePlasticsinSaintfeld.MrGrant workedwithHovisforapproximately13 years.

6. NorthernIreland’sfve gasnetworkoperatorshave launchedtheirjointplanto fullydecarbonisethe region’s gasnetworkby2050.

PicturedareNiallMartindale, frmusenergy,ÁineSpillane, GNI(UK),MichaelMcKinstry, PhoenixNaturalGas,Gordon LyonsMLA,PaddyLarkin, MutualEnergyandDavid Butler,SGNNaturalGas.

JohnO’Dowdhasannounced thepreferred routeforPhase2 ofBelfastRapid Transit(BRT2), whichwillseetheGliderservice extendedtonorthandsouth Belfast.

8. Firmusenergyhaslaunched itsnewcharitypartnershipwith Down’sSyndromeAssociationNI. PicturedareJonnyStrain,frmus energy’scharityambassadorfor 2022picturedwithAlanBennett, avolunteerforDSANIandparent ofJennifer,whohasDown’s Syndrome,andNeilGallagher.

9. LibertyITisonthehuntfor70 newstudent roles.Picturedare LibertyIT’sCaolanFerry,Gemma Boyd,RonanLavery,Shannon ClarkeandNicoleMcLaughlin.

10. PaulDuffy,directorofNICS EnterpriseSharedServices, Valerie Wilson,senioroperations manageratBTandPaul Murnaghan, regionaldirector forBT’senterprisebusinessin NorthernIrelandattheoffcial openingofBT’snewCyber SecurityOperationsCentrein Belfast.

11. CarrickfergusEnterprise hasannouncedthelaunch ofitsnewConnectSpace followinga£150,000 investment.Picturedare MauriceMcKee,Kelli McRoberts,DavidMcIlhagger, RussellCrawfordandRonnie Crawford,Calibro.

12. MoyParkhasbeenawarded SilverCOREaccreditationby BusinessintheCommunityNIin recognitionifitscommitmentto corporate responsibility.Pictured areDrLisaMcIlvenna,BITCNIand AislinnJoyce, recruitmentlead, MoyPark.

13. SparNIisencouragingusto thinkaboutgivingthegiftofour timetoMarieCurieinthecoming months,asthecharityappealsfor volunteersthisChristmas.Pictured areBronaghLuke,headof corporatemarketingatHenderson GroupwithConorO’Kane,Marie CurieNI.

14. HinchDistillerysaysit’s increasingitsproductioncapacity toonemillionlitresofpure alcoholeachyear.Picturedare EmmaMillar,distiller,Dr Terry CrossOBE,chairman,and William Stafford,headdistilleratHinch Distillery.

15. NorthernIrelandscienceand technologyhubCatalysthasbeen awardedtheSilveraccreditation byDiversityMark.Pictured areSteveOrr,chiefexecutive, Catalyst,EmmaGreen,HRoffcer andShaunaCollins,directorofHR atCatalyst.

17. LeadingNorthernIreland

electricvehicle(EV)infrastructure company Weevhasannounceda newpartnershipwithMcKeever HotelGroup.PicturedareEddie McKeever,McKeeverHotelGroup andThomasO’Hagan, Weev.

21. Localstart-upshave gainedaninsidetrackfrom techgiantAmazon.Pictured attheAmazon WebServices Start-upDayareRobChester andEllenMarksfrom ubloquity,AnnaKuzmaand SuzanneLesliefromAmazon WebServices,KieranKelly fromubloquityandFiona Simpson,Amazon Web Services.

22. ActionMentalHealthhas

madethefnalshortlistforUK Employerofthe Year:Platinumat TheInvestorsinPeople Awards 2022.PicturedareBethany Samson,SarahGrant-Jones,Maria McVeighandPaulDevoy.

23. DrinksdistributorUnited Wineshostedawineeventat TheNewOrpheustocelebrate thelaunchofthe Tempus Two QuartzSeriesinNorthernIreland. PicturedareGemmaHerdman, United Winesbrandmanagerwith JeffMeredithandPaulaGracey.

24. WeronikaGajus,BaristaCafé manager,fromSPARFortfeld ispresentedtheawardforBest CoffeeandHotBeveragesOutlet byJoeBrammall(secondright) attheForecourt Trader Awards 2022.Alsopicturedareawards hosts,MarkLawrenson(farright) andRayStubbs(farleft).

25. HaganHomeshasdonated morethan£8,000toBallyclare LadiesHockeyClub.Picturedare BallyclareLadiesHockeyClub membersJessicaChilds,Lauren Watson,JaquieHanleyandJames Hagan.

27. ThenumberofChartered AccountantsinNorthernIreland haspassedthe5,200markforthe frsttimefollowingtheconferring of83newmembersofChartered AccountantsIreland.Picturedare ZaraDuffy,PatO’NeillandEmma Murray.

28. WilsonNesbitthasannounced sevenkeypromotionsfollowing continuedgrowth.Picturedare LeoMorrison,HannahSimpson, LynseyMcWhinney,Shannon McLorie,RowanGibney,Izabela TreacyandDanielMcCracken.

29. TempletonRobinsonhas appointedChrisKirkasanew partnerinthecompany.Heis picturedwithBethRobinson, Michael YoungandPaddyPalmer.

26. Innovative Workplace Solutions(IWS)hasinvested inopeningitsheadquarters inNorthernIreland.Pictured areIreneRafferty,Norman McNellis,MarkMcPhillips, MichaelGalvinandNiamh Galvin.

30. FormerInfrastructureMinister JohnO’Dowdhasannounced thecompletionofthe£6.3m ShimnaRiverFloodAlleviation Scheme.He’spicturedwith GerardMcColgan,contracts director,Dawson Wam,and OwenMcGivern,Departmentfor Infrastructure.

31.

AgnewGroupis

continuingitspartnership withmentalhealthcharity, MindWise,whichwillsee itsupportadriveto roll outaLego-basedplay programme.Picturedare ChristineGrant,Agnew Group,HilaryCunningham, FaneStreetPrimarySchool andFionaScullion,MindWise andpupilsLexieSmythand Abdulrahman TifowMumin.

32. Picturedattheopeningof OlympicHouseareDrTheresa Donaldson,BelfastHarbour,Joe O’Neill,chiefexecutive,Belfast Harbour,deputyLordMayor MichelleKelly,JonathanHegan MBE,OlympicHouseoffce developmentschairmanandJohn Hansen, TitanicQuarterchairman.

33. Version1hasacceleratedits growthandaddedtoitsrapidly expandingglobalcustomerbase withtheacquisitionofdata andbusinessintelligenceexpert InstinctiveBI.PicturedareKevin Ryan,NicholasMcFaddenand KellyScanlon.

34. AmariPlasticshasoffcially unveileditsnewbaseinMallusk. PicturedareMayorofAntrimand NewtownabbeyStephenRoss withAmarigeneralmanagerPaul Williams.

35. TrouwNutritionIrelandhas outlineditscommitmentto helpingcreateasustainablefuture forfeed,foodandfarmingatan industrygatheringforthedairy, pigandpoultrysectors.Pictured areAidanFisher,GillGallagher andJose Villalon.

37. Jenny Tooth,UKBusiness AngelsAssociation,addressesan eventhostedbyUlsterBanktotry andencouragemorewomenfrom NItobecomebusinessangels.

SlemishDesignStudioArchitects, NoelMulhollandofMichelin Development,andJoeMagill.

A weekon the wrist: TagHeuerMonacostill apowerfulpresence

The TagHeuerMonacoboastsalongracingheritageandmovie pedigree,remainingoneofthemostrecognisablechronographson themarket. JohnMulgrew spentaweekwiththelatestiteration followingavisittothe TagHeuerboutiqueatQueen’sArcadeinBelfast

Motorsportsharesalongand prosperouslineagewiththe worldofwatches.

Anyonevaguelyfamiliarwithhorologyis likelyawarethatPaulNewman’sownRolex CosmographDaytona, reference6239,went foraneye-watering$17.8matauctionafew yearsback–holdingthetitleofthemost expensivepiecesoldforsometime.

Buttheunmistakeablecaseshapeofthe HeuerMonacoisasequallyattachedto fellowactorSteveMcQueen–wornonhis wristinthe1971flmLeMans.

ThethenHeuer,now TagHeuer,Monaco beganlifein1969andinthedecades sincehasseenvariousiterationsand interpretations.

Butit’sachronographwhich,initscurrent modernform,hasn’tstrayedtoofarfrom thatoriginalwatchintermsofdesign, presenceandsize–technologyandmodern movementsaside.

Lunn’sactuallyhasoneoftheoriginalmodels, thisfrom1972,instockatthemoment.It’s anamazingpieceofvintagehorologyand

extremelyinterestingtoseebothanolder watchanditsmodernversionupclose.

Ofcourse,thebrandhasexpandedand developeditsrangebasedonthepedigree overtheyears,sotherearenumerous referenceswhichdeviatesignifcantlyfromthe originalDNA.

AsidefromitsHollywoodpedigree,thewatch wasalsogivenamore recent,slightlyless heritage-relatedtelevisionbumpin recentyears asthewatchwornbytheeponymous Walter WhiteinBreakingBad.

ButturningtothemoderndayMonaco,the modelbasedontheoriginal,thisisn’tasmall watchanditswristpresenceishardtoargue. You’recertainlymakingapointwhenwearing it.

Thedeepvibrantbluedialhasasubtle sunbursteffect,withabitmorepopand panachethantheoriginal1970smodel.

Thickandsturdyhourmarkersfankthe outsideofthedial,withtwosoftsquares assubdialstotheleftandright,whilethe secondshandsitunderthe‘automatic’text below.

Andthere’saheftychunkofsapphirecrystal onthe39mmcase.Andthe39misall relative, obviously,asthisisasquaredialandthusfeels largerthananequivalenttraditionalwatch.

Underaloupe,thefnishingiscleanand tidy,withsubtlebrushingonthefrontand sideofthecase,whiletheedges,topsofthe lugs,edgesofthepushersandthecrownare polished.

Adeployantclaspisalwayswelcomedwith awatchofthissizeand reallyshouldbea prerequisitewhenwe’reinthissortofprice range.It’scleanandsimpleandalmostentirely polished.

Thestatssaythisis22mmlugwidth,but thatbeliesitstruesizeasittapersdown signifcantlytoaround18mm.

Theblueleatherstrapisaclassicandpairswell withtheblueonthedialandoverallaesthetic. Slightlyupgradedfromthemotoringlookof thetraditionalofferingwithatouchmore formalitythankstothealligatorstrapandtidy darkbluestitching,it’sallheldtogetherwitha small TagHeuerbuckle.

Whilethere’snodoubtthisisachunkywatch,

itfeelsappropriategivenits style,onwrist.Thechronograph pushershaveasatisfyingclick wheninitiatedandwindingthe movementwiththecrownis smooth.

There’sasizeableexhibition casebacktoshowoff thatCalibre02in-house movement.Whilethe decorationissubtleit’s stillanattractivepieceof engineering,setoffbya skeletonised rotorinblack with redlettering.

Theonlythingtobe awareistomakesureyou don’twearthisonetooloose,as withsuchachunkycaseyou’llnot wantitfyingaroundonwristand potentiallyclankingagainstadooror handle.

TheMonacositsinthesamepricebracketas theOmegaSpeedmasterMoonwatchandis considerablylessthanthealmostunattainable RolexDaytona,butboastsalineageanddesign stylewhichishardtoarguewith.It’scertainlya head-turner. ■

Youcanbrowsethe TagHeuerMonacolineat the TagHeuerboutiqueatQueen’sArcadein Belfastcitycentre

The TagHeuer Monaco

AncientGenoa isaperfect winterretreat

RoslynDee travelstonorthernItalyandfndsa historiccitywithbeautifulbuildingsandenchanting sights

It’s9.30amonaSaturdayinNovember whenAndreaAzzinardibouncesin throughthedoorofmyhotel,allsmiles andburstingwithenergy.Andreaismy walking-tourguideforthemorningand fromthemomentwemeetuntilwepart somefourhourslaterit’sallgo,go,goas wewendourway,walkingandtalking, throughtheancientstreetsofGenoa, north-westItaly.

There’snobody,itseems,thatAndreadoesn’t knowhereinhishometown.Beforeweeven leavethesmallsquarewheremyhotelis located,justacrossfromthelovelySantaMaria delle Vignechurch,hehasintroducedmeto threefriendsofhis:thechurchorganist,alocal artist,andaSaturdaymorningjoggerwho turnsouttobethebossofoneofthecity’s museums.

It’smyfrsttimeinthecity,butit’saplace Ihavelongwantedtovisitandso,fnding myselfinItalyforamonth,Icatchthetrain fromMilantoGenoa,alovely routethat,were Itostayputuntiljourney’send,woulddeliver meintoNiceontheFrenchRiviera.Thistime, however,it’sGenoathatisfrmlyinmysights.

Rarelyfeaturingonanybox-tickinglistfor must-seeItaliancities,Genoais,trustme,an underratedgemofaplace.Whileit’snotall picture-postcardpretty,itstillcomeswithso manydelights.Andasa real,workingmaritime cityit’saplacethat refusestodressitselfupas

somethingitisn’t.Rather,it’sacaseof“thisis the realGenoa,sotakeitorleaveit”.

Iamhappytotakeit,sohappy,indeedthat aftermyinitialwintervisitI returnnextsummer toenjoyitsbrighterbackdropofsunshineand blueskies.Again,Iloveit;theportareaand thelittlevillagesontheedgeofthecityall comingaliveintheirsummerseasideglory.In truth,however,IprefertheGenoathatIfrst encounterwhenIfnditwrappedinitswinter clothesthatNovember.

Weatherwise,thatwintervisitdoesn’tstart well,buttheheavyrainonmyfrstnight inthecityactuallyprovestobeablessing because,ratherthanriskasoaking,Idecide tostaylocalanddineintheimmediatevicinity ofmyhotel.Anditdoesn’tgetmuchmore localthan TrattoriadaGiulia,ahomelylittle restauranttuckedawaydownacobbledstreet justoffPiazzadelle Vigne. Withitsplethora ofFormica-toppedtablescoveredinpaper tablecloths,itisfulloflocalswhenIpitchup thereontheFridaynight.

Withsimple,unpretentiousandextremely reasonablypricedfood,anownerwhokeeps wanderingoutfromthekitchentosurveythe scenebeforedisappearingbackintowatch histelevision,andawaitresswho,inlooksand attitude,islikeacharacterstraightfroman ElenaFerrantenovel,itisamostenjoyableand entertainingexperience.SomuchsoIgoback againonmyfnalnight.

Genoaisaneasyplacetogetaround.A mixtureofappealingsquares,wideboulevards, narrowcobbledmedievalstreetsandenticing littlelaneways.Addtothatits reputationas thehomecityofChristopherColumbusand asoneofItaly’sbiggestcommercialportsand it’s reallyataleoftwocities.It’shilly,too,so beingabletohopononeofthepublicstreet elevatorstoavoidtheclimbinordertocatch somegreatviewsisamuch-appreciatedbonus whenyouaretrampingthestreetsforhours.

InGenoainwinterit’sthelocalsratherthan thetouristswhodominatethestreets,the shopsandthe restaurants;itbeingoutof season,IhearnoEnglishspokenonthestreets bypassers-byandwhatararepleasurethatis tobeabletoobservesomewhereinitsown undilutedright.

Threeexperiencesstandoutforme,three differentthingsthatIwouldurgeanyone visitingthecityforthefrsttimetomarkasa must-seeontheiritinerary.

Firstup,andwithitsown“wow”factor,is ViaGaribaldi,thestreetthathousesahost ofstunning16thcenturypalaces,manyof whicharedesignatedinthetop-notch‘Palazzi deiRolli’category.Formerly residentialhomes belongingtotheGenoesenobility,it’sthe threethatarenowmuseumsthatimpressed memostonastreetthat,isclassifedaUnesco WorldHeritagesite.

IvisitPalazzoRossoonmywhistle-stop morningtourwithAndrea,includingatripto its rooftops,totakeintheviewsacrossthecity.

NobodywhovisitsGenoashouldmissthe aquarium(acquariodigenova.it),saidtobethe bestinEurope.It’scertainlyvast,andwhilethis wouldn’tnecessarilybemy“thing”,I really enjoymyvisitandcanunderstandwhyit’sthe city’smostpopularattraction.Itisn’tcheapat €22foradultsand€14forkidsagedfourto 12,butit’safabulousplaceallthesame,fora familyouting.Particularlyonawinter’sdayif theweatherisn’tgreat.

Mythirdmust-seeforGenoaisessentially acollectiveone:theshops.WhileGenoa isoften regardedasaminiMilanwhenit comestohighfashion,it’snotthoseshops thatleavetheirmarkonme.Ratherit’sthat thecitystillboastsanumberoffamilyrunoutlets,manyofthemoperatingfor generationsandstillexudingalovelyoldworldcharm.

Ispendages,forexample,inGiovanniRivara fuLuigi,agorgeousfabricshopclosetothe SanLorenzocathedral.Here,Ifngerthe famous‘mezzari’foralfabricsandlustafter othersumptuouslinensandcottonsbefore strollingdeeperintothehistoricstreets.Ifnd myselfatthedoorofPietroRomanengofu Stefano,aconfectioneryshopwheretheystill makealltheirownsweets,justastheyhave beendoingsincetheshopopenedin1780. AnAladdin’scaveofconfectionerydelights.

Don’tmissouteitherontheMercato Orientale,thecity’shistoric,coveredfood

market.Inadditiontotheendlessstallsof fshandmeat,fruitandvegetables,cheeses andeveryotherculinarydelicacyimaginable –especiallypesto,aGenoesespeciality–the marketalsoboasts restaurantsandstreet-food outlets.

Justwanderingthestreets,particularlythe narrow‘caruggi’inthemedievalquarter,is formethe realjoyofGenoa.It’sallabout atmosphereandauthenticity.Anddespite myblastofGenoesesunshinethissummer, it’sthewintercitythat remainslockedinmy memory.

Themisted-upwindowsinthePietro Romanengosweetshop,thedelicioushot chocolateinCaffeFratelliNadotti,theheartwarmingfoodinsmallfamily-run restaurants, thefrostedpavementsaroundSanLorenzo cathedraloffsettingitsdistinctiveblack-andwhitestripedfaçade,andthecold,saltyair rising,inamist-likeveil,fromthewintry depthsoftheLigurianSea. ■

iPhone 14 Plusboasts bigbattery life

TheiPhone14Plusgivesyoumorescreenreal estateandrunsalotlongerbetweencharges, writes Adrian Weckler

Therearetwo reasonstoconsider buyingtheiPhone14Plus,whichis thefirsttimeApplehasstretched aniPhoneouttoa6.7inchscreenwithout callingita‘Pro’.

One reasonistheverysizeofthedisplay, whichletsyouseeand readmore.Butthe second reasonmaybetheclincher:batterylife.

InthetwoweeksI’vebeenusingit,I’vegone tobedeachnightwithbetween40%and 60%batterylifeleft.

Thatoutperformsnotonlythe regular6.1-inch iPhone14,butboththe14Proand14Pro Maxmodels,too.

Appleisn’tkiddingwhentheysaythatthisis thebest-performingiPhoneforbatterylife.

Itmakessense.The14Plushasalessenergyhungry,‘slower’display(60hz)thanits‘Pro’ counterpart.

Italsocan’tshootphotosandvideosatquite thesamehigh resolutionasthePromodels, againsavingsomebatterypower.Andit doesn’thavethealways-onscreenoptionthat theProvariantsboastasakeyupgradefeature thisyear;thishas resultedinalittleextra batterydraininmytestingofthosedevices.

Evenstill,afterjustafewdays,IfeellikeI’m backtothedaysofthe13ProMax,adevice

thatvirtuallyneverneededtobe recharged twiceinoneday.

Doesthisbatterybonusmakeupforthe compromisesyou’llmakeinotherkey features?Thatwilldependlargelyonhow keenaphotographeryouareandhowmuch youlikeyourdisplaytechnology.

Ifyou’resetonalarge-screeniPhone,thetwo biggestdifferencesbetweenthe14Plusand the14ProMaxarethelackofatelephotolens onthebackofthecameraandalower-end screen.

WhereastheiPhone14ProMaxthrowsthe kitchensinkatthecamerasystem,witha new48-megapixelmaincamera,apowerful 3xtelephotocameraandahybrid2xcropped focallengthinbetween,the14Plushastwo 12-megapixelmain(1x,26mm)andultrawide (0.5x,13mm)cameras,thesameasthe standardiPhone14.

Bythemselves,theseareexcellentgeneral cameras,whichareanupgradeonlastyear’s (alsoexcellent)standardiPhone13cameras; Apple’slatest‘PhotonicEngine’computational wherewithalhasatleastasbigapartinthe lowlightphotosasthelargersensorandfaster lensesunderthehood.

Thevideosmoothnessqualityfromthem,too, isthebestonthemarket,outsidethe14Pro models.

Buttherearetimeswhenaphotographyconsciousphoneownercan reallyusethat standalonetelephotozoomlens,whetherit’s landscape,petsorevenportraits.

I’moneofthosepeople.SoIdomissthe absenceofthe3xtelephotolensandthe flexibilityitoffers.

I’mnotasfussedaboutthelowerspecification thattheiPhone14Plus’s60hzdisplay represents,comparedtothe120hz‘Promotion’ technologyontheiPhone14ProandProMax models.

Evenifthe14Plusscreenisn’tquiteasbright asthePromodels,the‘SuperRetinaXDR’Oled screencanstillgetupto1200nits,whichisa littlebrighterthanlastyear’siPhone13.There aresomeothersignificant,thoughnotquite core,differences,too.

The14Plushastheusual‘notch’ofprevious iPhonemodelsandnotthenewsmaller ‘DynamicIsland’FaceIDsystemofthePro models.Whilethe‘Island’isquiteaclever, innovativewaytodealwithacameracutout gapthat’sdisruptingadisplay,it’snotyet fundamentaltothewayyouusethephone. You’llgoanotheryearwithout reallymissing outonmuch.

ThebuildqualityontheiPhone14Plusisalso notquiteaspremium(althoughitisastough andaswater-resistant)asthePromodels,

TECH NOLO GY

TheiPhone14Plusisavailableinfive differentcoloursandthreedifferent storagesizes:128GB(£949),256GB (£1,059)and512GB(£1,279)

withaluminiuminsteadofstainlesssteel.In otherwords,it’salmostidenticaltolastyear’s iPhone13.Still,thatleavesitasoneofthe handsomest,mostelegantphonesyoucan get.Itsmetallic,ceramicfinishinachoice ofcoloursisarguablyprettierthanthemore mutediPhone14Proaesthetics.

Ironically,itscheaperaluminiumalsobrings oneadvantage:lightness.The14Plusis patentlylessdestructivetomypocketsthan the14ProMaxis,becausethataluminium makesitaround15%lighter(despitebeing almostexactlythesamesize).

Someoftheotherwould-becompromises (comparedtotheiPhone14ProMax)don’t reallyfeellikemuchofasacrificeatall.The iPhone14Pluscomeswithlastyear’sA15 bionicchipinsteadofthisyear’sflagshipA16 BionicinthePromodels.

Honestly,though,Ibarelyhaveanywayof seeingthedifferenceinperformancebetween thetwo;theA15Bionicisgenerallystillahead ofalmostallflagshipAndroidphonesfromthis year.Thereisalsoanextrabitaddedtothe GPUforslightlybettergamingperformance. Sothisdevicedoesnotlackpoweroragility.

Uncovering the9-5

NAME: YvonneMcIlree

POSITION:

Directorofsalesandmarketing, TitanicHotelBelfast

6.30am

Inormallywakearound6.30amto7amand thefirstthingIneediscoffee.Ithenusethe timeto readmyworkemailsonmyphone beforemychildrenwakeup.Asdirector ofsalesandmarketingatthemulti-award winning TitanicHotelBelfastthereisalwaysan emailtoattendtoonwaking.ThenIprepare breakfastformeandmychildren(agedone andseven)sowecansitandeattogether beforeweallgetdressedforthedayahead. UnlessIamneededintothehotelearlythen Idropmysontoschoolat8.45amandmy daughtertonurserystraightafterthatonmy waytowork.

9.30am

SinceIhavemyemailscheckedandactioned beforeIarriveatthehotel,thisgivesmeahead start.Iliketostarttheonsitedaywithaverbal catchupwithany relevantstaffbeforethe daygetstoobusy.Thisnormallyhappenswith coffee.Ithenprioritisetimewiththemarketing executivetodiscussupcomingmarketing andsocialmediaactivitythatwillgenerate awarenessofthehotel.

10am

Iattendaseniormanagementmorning Teams callwithallthedepartmentstodiscussany businessactionsfortheday,andtohighlight anyactivityforthedaythateveryoneneeds tobeawareofwhichcanincludeabriefing onVIPvisits,weddings,highprofilebusiness conferencesorbusinessdinners.PriortothisI checkthroughthedailybriefandalltheguests arrivingtoconsiderifthereisanything relevant fromasalesandmarketingperspectivethatI needtohighlightoraction.

11am

AfterthemorningmeetingI refertomypriority

listfortheweek,whichIhavenotedonthe officewhiteboardsoasnottolosetrackof whatthefocusis.However,mydaywillbe dictatedbyanysalesappointments,oroffsite salesactivitywhichcouldincludevisiting tradeshowstomarketthehotelinLondonor furtherafield,plusanysalesand/ormarketing meetingsthatmaybescheduled.

12.15pm

BeforelunchIcheckthroughthebusiness demands,paceandpick-upforthenextthree tosixmonthssothatIcanadaptanysalesand marketingactivityasappropriate.

12.30pm

Ialwaysmaketimeforlunch,andI reallyenjoy takinghalfanhourtositandenjoysomefood. Idon’tthinkit’shealthynottodothis.And especiallyasfoodispreparedbythehotel’s award-winningchef,NigelMannion,soit wouldberudenottoindulge.Iftheweather isniceIwillsometimesgoforawalkaround TitanicQuarterandappreciatewhatthearea hastooffer.TherearealsotimeswhenImay hostalunchwithaclientandIthengetto enjoythebeautifulsurroundingsofthehotel’s DrawingOfficeBar,andexperiencethelunch menu.

2pm

AfterlunchInormally revisitwhateverproject/ focusIhaveforthedayandthenlookat mydiaryofactivityoftheweekandcheck ifIneedtomodifyanything.Thehotelis suchadynamicenvironment,andnotwo daysareeverthesame.OccasionallyImay geta requestforahotelsitevisit,oraclient seekinga requestforproposal–withaquick turnaround–sothiswouldbesomethingI wouldhavetoprioritisesoasnottoloseout onthebusiness.

5.30pm

Igoforarunaround TitanicQuarterbefore travellingbackhome.It’smucheasierforme todothisbeforeIgohomesinceIhaveyoung childrenathomewhoarepatientlywaitingfor my return.Exerciseis reallyimportanttome, andrunningisahobbyofmine.

7pm

OnmyjourneyhomeInormallymakethetime tocalloneofmyfriendsforasocialcatch-up sinceIdon’tgetthechancetodofromhome withabusyhousehold.ThismeansIdon’tlose connectionwithmyfriendswhodon’tlive nearby,anditalways relaxesmeontheway home.