Ulster Business February 2023

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Enough ofthe cold... bringonspring

I’mslightlysickofthecoldalready, if I’mbeingperfectlyhonest.

Snowcanbe a beautifulthingtolookat.It brightensupanotherwisedarkandgloomy wintergardenorhelpsbring a bitofdue post-festivespiritduring,unofficially, what appearstobelongestmonthoftheyear

Butitalsobringsitsownchaosandhasus all reachingforthatthermostatat a time whenmanyare tryingtheirbestatfrugality

However, it’s nowFebruaryandspringis aroundthecorner Andwiththat,hopefully somegoodnewsintermsofinvestments, jobcreationandfuture politicalstability, asunlikelyasthelattersoundsgivenour monthsofgovernmentalstasis.

WelcometotheFebruaryeditionof Ulster Business

OurcoverstorythismonthfeaturesInspired CorporateAdvisory It’safirmwhichhas grownanddevelopedinthespaceofjust a coupleofyearsandalreadycounts firms whichappearonourveryown Top 100list amongitsbignameclients.

Inthiseditionwealsotake a lookatthe future ofouroff-shore energyprovision. It’s alreadytakensomethingof a step forward followingthepublicationof a draft plan,alongwithTheDepartmentforthe EconomyandtheCrownEstatesayingthey are nowcommittedtoestablishingoffshore windleasinginNorthern Ireland.

We hearfromStevenAgnewof

RenewableNI,thevoiceofthe renewable industryhere,aboutwhat’s required.

I alsospeaktoJohnMcGrillenof Tourism NIaboutitsfuture strategy, where weare intermsofgettingbacktopre-pandemic visitornumbersandtheareasinwhichwe shouldbeinvestingintoensure Northern Irelandcontinuestorisetheranksof destinationstovisit.

There’sa bitofpessimismonthejobsfront, accordingtooneeconomist.However,I also speakto firmswhichare continuingtohire through2022andinto2023.

Enjoythisedition,andwe’llcatchupsoon. There are plentyofstoriesstilltobetold. ■

JohnMulgrew

Publisher UlsterBusiness

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Belfast TelegraphHouse,33ClarendonRoad, ClarendonDock,BelfastBT13BG

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GreystonePress,CaulsideDrive, AntrimBT412RS www.wgbaird.com

Editor JohnMulgrew

Advertising Sarah-AnnGamble,s.gamble@mediahuis.co.uk

Graphicdesign SusanMcClean,MediahuisIrelandDesignStudio

Coverphoto WilliamCherry,PressEye

@ulsterbusiness www.ulsterbusiness.com

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MediahuisUKLtd©2023.Allrights reserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybe reproduced,storedina retrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyform, orbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying, recording,orotherwisewithoutthepriorpermissionofMediahuis.

A month innumbers Extensionand revamp planned for Transport House

1,000

Thenumberofjobs whichcouldbecreated afterHarland& Wolff securedamajorNavy contract.

£71m

ThetotalvalueofUK Governmentfunding whichwillgotowards 10differentschemes inNorthernIreland.

2025

Theyearinwhich it’sbeenpredicted NorthernIreland’s tourismlevelscould returntopre-pandemic levels.

£20m

Thevolumeof investmentdealsby BGFacrossNorthern Irelandbusinesses duringlastyear.

ByJohnMulgrew

OneofBelfast’smosticonicoffce buildingsissetfora refurband extensionamidfreshplansto revitaliseit,itcanbe revealed.

TransportHousewasformerlyhometoUnite buthas remainedemptyforaroundadecade.

ButUnitehassaidithopestomoveback into TransportHousebytheendofthisyear.

Now,plansareunderwaywhichwouldsee anewextensionbeingbuilt.Thatissetto includethe reconfgurationofinternalspaces, creatinganewlargemeetingspaceanda “lettablearea”to“tooffertoUnite’sworking partnerships”.

ThebuildingwasdesignedbyJ.J.Brennan andopenedin1959.Itwassubsequentlylisted in1994.

Thebuildingislargelycladingreenand includesadistinctivetiledmuralfacing ontoHighStreet,withthemodernistmural showcasingsomeofBelfast’smajorindustries, suchasshipbuildingandaerospace.

Adesignbriefhasnowbeendevelopedby Unitealongside TACPArchitects.Accordingto theIrishNews,Unitesaiditexpectedtomove backintothebuildingbytheendof2023.

“(Ithas)theopportunitytocreateaspace withinahistoricallysignifcantbuildingwherea numberoftheirnation-wideambitionscanbe achieved,”planningdocumentssay.

Thatincludesthe reconfgurationofthe internalspacesthatadheretothespatial requirementstosuittheoperationalday-to-day workingsofUniteoffcers,alargemeeting roomthatcanalsobedividedtocreatesmaller educationalspaces,parkingfacilitiesandan “easilyaccessiblesite”.

Itsaysplansaimtokeepthesamefootprint oftheexistingbuilding,withnoextensions plannedonthegroundfoor.

“Therefore,theexistinglandscapingwill largely remainintact,”itsays.“However,the proposalaimsto removethesideextension thatwasaddedlater,to restorethebuildingto itsoriginalform.

“Consequently,therewillbesomehard landscapingtothe rearofthebuildingwhich willmakegoodthe removaloftheextension andformthelocationforthecondensersand includeprotectionbetweenthebuildingand thecarpark.

“Theheightoftheextensionhasbeen carefullyconsideredsothatitdoesnot overpowertheexistingfaçadeaswellas provideampleheadheightinternally.

“Theexistingbuildingissplitintotwo blocks,withoneblockthathousesthelift coressethigherthanthemainone.Thismeant thattheproposedextensionftscomfortably againstthetallerblockwhichnotonlyhelps accesstheproposalbutalsobalancesthe proportionsoftheoverallbuilding.”

Transport Housein Belfast

NI tourism ‘back to pre-Covidlevel in two years’

ByJohnMulgrew

Northern Ireland’s tourismindustrycouldbebacktoprepandemiclevelsinjusttwoyears, UlsterBusiness can reveal.

JohnMcGrillen,headof TourismNorthern Ireland,saysvisitornumbers could return to2019levelsby2025

“We are in a muchbetterplacethananybodyanticipated,”hesays.

“Ifyoubacktwoyearsyouwouldhavethoughtnoonewouldhave gottenon a cruiseshipor a planeagain. I thinkaround144shipsare comingintoBelfastthisyear, soit’s unbelievablehowquicklythatmarket has recovered.

“There’sa hugepentupdemandintheUS…GBstilllooksOKand Europemightpickup a littlebitslower

“In realterms…wewouldprobablybebacktowhere wewere in 2019by2025.Thesectorisprettybusy.”

Turningtowhere Northern Irelandisnowintermsoftourism,John says“weare probably90%there atthispoint”.“Myindicatorofthat wouldbebasedonthenumberofhotel roomsbeingsold,”hesays.

“We havesoldabout90%of roomssoldin2019.Theaveragedaily rateisabout23%higherthanitwasthen.Thesectorisquitebuoyant. A lotofthathasbeendrivenbythestaycationmarketandthegrowthfrom theRepublicofIreland.”

JohnMcGrillen

NIprojects to receive £71m Government funding

TenprojectsinNorthernIreland willshareafreshpotof£71mof Governmentcash,ithasemerged.

Thelevelling-upfundingwillincludealmost £10mtocreatenewwaterfrontgardensin Bangor, transformingtheformerMagheraHigh Schoolinto a newindustrialparkat a costof £9mand£20mtocreate a newleisure and wellbeingcentre inEnniskillen.

Otherschemesinclude£5.1mtomodernise 20rugbyclubsfromColerainetoClogher ValleyandLimavadytoLisburn whileBelfast InternationalAirportwill receive£2.3mto purchaseelectricbusesanddelivernew sustainablefuelsources.

There isalso£4mpledgedto rescueBelfast’s art-decoStrandCinema.

PrimeMinisterRishiSunaksaidnewfunding wouldcreatejobsandeconomicgrowth.

“Throughgreaterinvestmentinlocalareas, wecangrowtheeconomy, creategoodjobs andspreadopportunityeverywhere,”hesaid.

“That’s whyweare backing a numberof projectswithnewtransformationalfundingto leveluplocalcommunitiesinNorthern Ireland.

“By reachingevenmore partsofthecountry thanbefore,wewillbuild a future ofoptimism andprideinpeople’s livesandtheplacesthey callhome.”

Quotes of the month

AndNorthern IrelandSecretaryofState, ChrisHeaton-Harris,said:“From regeneration inMagherato a brandnewwellbeingcentre inEnniskillen,theUKGovernment’s Levelling UpFundcontinuestodeliveracrossNorthern Ireland.

“Thislatest roundofthefundwillsee£71m investedinlocalinfrastructure projectsto supporteconomicgrowth,drive regeneration, helpdelivernetzero andboostprideinplace.

“Buildingonthe£49malreadyinvestedfrom roundoneoftheLevellingUpFund,thisis a

“After 15years in this role, I havemixed feelings aboutmy decision to leave the teamat NIChamber, but I feel I have achieved a lotduring my time here.”

AnnMcGregorspeaking aboutsteppingdowninher roleaschiefexecutiveof theNIChamber.

fantasticoutcomeforcommunitieshere.”

Thefundingwillalsogotowardsthe developmentof a newleisure centre in Ballycastlewith£8.1mtosupporthealthand wellbeingacrosstheboroughand£3.5mis goingtosupporttheexpansionandupgrade ofthe F.E.McWilliamGalleryandStudioin Banbridge.

Andmore than£6mwillbeinvestedin reinvigoratingthe191-acre CarnfunnockCountry Parkwithanupgradedvisitorcentre and sportingfacilities.

“Thelackof supply isalso unsurprising asmany potentialbuyers have taken a waitand see approach andwewould expectlimited stock to continue.”

SamuelDickeyofRICS speakingaboutthe propertymarketinthe latestUlsterBanksurvey.

“Itisheartening to see that two thirds of businesses expect to stabilisein2023 with 55% anticipating their own business to grow this year.”

BrianMurphyofBDONI speakinginthelatest NIChamberquarterly economicsurvey.

Bangor’swaterfrontisset toundergoamajorfacelift

Outsource ‘eyeing new acquisitions’

suitablebusinessestocomplementitsoffering andexpectstosecure anotherthisyear

ThecompanyacquiredANSECIAlastyear, addingtoits reachandworkforce.Italso announceditwascreating40newjobsatthe endoflastyear

Thefrmnowhas a teamofaround70.But Terrysaysit’s oncoursetohit100thisyear

“Inthelastfewyearswehavebeenlooking forsomething.ANSECIAwas a betterftthan wecouldhavehopedfor…(lookingatoptions) there’sa particularacquisitionforus. I know whatI’mlookingfor We expecttohavean acquisitionthroughoutthisyear.”

Outsource recentlyalsolandedthreenew clientsforitsgrowingcloudbusiness.

ITfrmOutsourceiseyeingafurther

TSTGroup,Maestro andBedeckare the latestcustomerstosignupfortheservices offeredbytheAntrim-headquarteredcompany ThatbringsOSGCloud’s customer-basetoover 50companies,spanningEurope,theMiddle East & AfricaandNorthAmerica.

acquisitionthisyearasitcontinuesto growandexpand,itcanbe revealed.

TerryMoore,chiefexecutiveofOutsource Group – whichhasfveoffcesintheUK andIreland – saysitwillcontinuetolookfor

TerryMoore

‘Neverendum’ Brexit could ‘threatenGood Friday Agreementprosperity’

GovernmentsintheUKandIreland arebeingurgedtoworktogether toensurehugeeconomicand socialgainsgeneratedbytheGoodFriday AgreementarenotderailedbyBrexit.

A framework for greater co -operation is alread y pres ent in the architec tureof the Agre ement,according to Ib ec (I rishBusiness and Employers Confederation ) chief Danny Mc Coy.

The business grouphas launched a new campaignand report, For Peace+ Prosperity, highlighting the economic and so cial impac t of the Good Friday Agre ement asitapproaches it s 25th annivers ar y.

The UK and Ireland have both seen millions of jobs andhundreds of thousands of new business es created as stability returned postAgre ement,he said, with further beneft s including investment in forgotten communities and enhanced qualit y oflife

The entire economy across Ireland has the

second highes t GDP, asid e from inner London, agains t 11 UK regions andhasa consumer market of seven million, with population grow th tw ice that of Britain. Cross- border trad e isvalued at €9.5bn, while it s labour forcehas reached 3.6 million people.

Sec tors alread y identifed as anall-island brand include dairy, whiskey, tourism, ar ts, media and the ex perience economy. “T his is notjust abouttrad e but about greater integration of business op erations and interactions that beneft from economies of sc ale and proximit y,” the report says

Ib ec has commissioned research aimed at ex trac ting more accurate data on the Northern Ireland market, withit s trad e fgures his toric ally underrepresented, Mr Mc Coy said

To prote ct progress stemming from the Good Friday Agre ement, Ib ec has made a number ofre commendations for the island of Ireland includinga rebo otof the policy framework for nor th -south economic coop eration

Mr Mc Coy saidthe exceptionalit y of Ireland

within the EU ne eds to be acknowledged.

However, withthe Good Friday Agre ement alread y in place, “you don’thave to reinvent the wheel,” he said

“T hat’s an international agre ement between two sovereign states registered with the United Nations, and if both countries were in the EU, bothout orone in and one out, you ac tually have the ins titutionalarchitec ture there for that kind of co -ordination.”

While the Republic of Irelandhas also felt the impac t of Brexit on import s, “it do esn’t bite as much becaus e the Republic is going through a fairly unique period of prosperity driven by non -Brexit is sues,” he said

Boththe UK and Irelandhave fared well in at trac ting foreigndire ct investment as a result of the boththe Good Friday Agre ement and at trac tive corp orate ta x cuts, Mr Mc Coy add ed

“O nelesson people could drawis referendathat aren’t complete or clear cut,or ‘neverendums’ asthe Canadians refer to them, are nota good re cip e for investment.”

ByAlysonMagee

DerryGirls’writer LisaMcGeewith DannyMcCoy,Ibec

SciLeadscreating 50 new jobs

Sof twar e frm SciLead s is set to double it s work force withthe cr eation of 50 new jo bs .

And the Belfas t company saidit nowhas 50 staff in place, seven year s af ter it was set up by friends Daniel McRitchie, Laura Haldane

and James Campbell

The business is a lead generation and market intelligence plat form aimed at helping scientifc companies identif y, engage and clos e deals withtheir ideal buyers

SciLeads has created a comprehensive and accurate database of scientifc researchers, helping sales and marketing teamsquickly identif y who ne eds their produc ts for their research

The company placed 14th in the 2022 Deloit te Te chnolo gy Fast 50 list, which rank s the fastes t grow ingte chnolo gy companies based on revenue grow th overa four-year period The previousyear, the business was the top ranked Northern Ireland company on the list placing 11th, making this it s second year in the top 20

SciLeads began in 2021 with 20 staff but reached the level of 50 people at the end of 2022 Now it ’s planning to launch new produc ts and further ex pand into new markets,projec ting that it will ne ed to double it s work force to 10 0 by 2024 to manage demand for it s services.

LauraHaldane,DanielMcRitchie andJamesCampbellofSciLeads

Belfast Telegraph Business Awards returnwithnew categoriesandjudges

TheBelfast TelegraphBusiness Awards2023inpartnershipwith UlsterBankhavelaunchedwith newcategoriesincluding Tourism& HospitalityCompanyofthe Yearand Employerofthe Year.

TherearealsocategoriesforSmall,Medium andLargebusinesses,aswellasstart-up andemergingcompanies,exporters, retail businessesandthefoodanddrinksector,to nameafew.

ThisisUlsterBank’sseventhyearasoverall sponsorofthe Awardswhich recogniseand celebratethesuccessesofindividualsand organisationinthelocalbusinesscommunity. Nowintheir23rdyear,theawardsattract entriesfromacrossallsectorsandsizesof business.

Thisyear’sawardswelcomea refreshedjudging panelincludinganewjudgingchair,Clare Guinness,whoisinnovationdistrictdirectorat InnovationCityBelfast.Clarewillbejoinedby

expertsfromacrossarangeofsectorsinthe NorthernIrelandbusinesscommunity.

Inadditiontothe17categoriesthatcompanies canenter,therewillalsobeanOutstanding Businessofthe Yearawardpresentedwiththe winnerselectedfromthecategorywinners, andaLifetimeAchievement Award.Last year’swinnersoftheseawardswereAlmac andPatrickMcAliskey,chairmanofOutsource Group.

Commentingonthe returnawards,Mark Crimmins,headofUlsterBankandawards judge,NIsaid:“The roleofhonourfor theBelfast TelegraphBusiness Awardsin partnershipwithUlsterBankservesasan importantandtimely reminderofthetalent, innovationandexpertisedemonstrateddaily byfrmsandbusinessleadersrightacross NorthernIreland.

“Lookingbackatwhatthebusiness communityhasachievedherethroughout thelast12months,Ihaveeveryconfdence

MarkCrimmins,headofUlsterBankin

NorthernIrelandwithBelfast Telegraph businesseditorMargaretCanning launchingthisyear’sawards

THEJUDGES

ClareGuinness, InnovationCityBelfast TimBrundle, UlsterUniversity ProfessorIanMcConnell, PwC DrDavidPaulson, Queen’sUniversityBelfast RogerPollen, FSB

KirstyMcManus, IoD MarkCrimmins, headofUlsterBankNI AnnMcGregorMBEDL, NIChamber

ClaireMcKee, ClarendonExecutive

NeilLogan, WilsonNesbitt

JohnFerris, UlsterBank

StephanieJohnston, NI YoungLeaders DrPaulJoseph-Richard, UlsterUniversity JohnHood, InvestNI

CarolFitzsimmons, YENI GlynRoberts, RetailNI

thatthisyear’scohortofwinnerswillbe equallyimpressiveasthosewehavepreviously celebratedandweareproudtopartnerwith theBelfast Telegraphonceagaintoofferthe recognitiontheysorichlydeserve.

“Regardlessofsizeorsector,theawards presentauniqueopportunityforcompaniesto showcasetheiraccomplishmentsandIwould encourageallbusinessestoputthemselves forwardforconsideration–especiallytoour newcategorieswhich rewardexcellencein workplacehealthandwellbeing,traveland tourism,andsustainablebusinesspractices.”

Companiescanseethefulllistofcategories andentertheawardsatwww.belfasttelegraph. co.uk/businessawards/enter

Coca-Colainvesting£17m inLisburnproductionplant

DrinksgiantCoca-Colaisinvesting £17mintheexpansionofits mainproductionbaseinNorthern Ireland.

Coca-ColaHBCIrelandandNorthernIreland willexpanditssitejustoutsideLisburn, creatingaround34newpermanent roleswhen completed.

Thenew50,000sqftextensionwillallowthe businesstosubstantiallyincreaseitsproduction capabilityonsite.

Coca-ColaHBCemploysmorethan750people acrosstheislandwith450colleaguesbasedat theKnockmoreHillsite.

Since2008it’sinvestedsome£127min thefacilityinKnockmoreHill,asignifcant proportionofthisisusedtofurtherCoca-Cola HBC’sgoalofachievingnetzeroby2040.

Thatincludesthe rolloutofinnovativeand environmentallyfriendlycardboardpackaging solutions,watersavinginitiativesand increasingtheuseof recycledplastic.

Thenewplans representthesinglelargest investmentsincetheproductionfacilityopened in2008andwilldeliver35newpermanent roleswith recruitmentunderway,thefrmsays. Productionattheexpandedfacilityissetto begininAugust2023.

Theexpansion“comesafteracompetitive tenderprocesswhereCoca-ColaHBCIreland andNorthernIrelandwasselectedasthe strongestlocationamonganumberof otherbottlingoperatorsacrossEurope,”the companysaid.

“Wearedelightedtoannouncetheexpansion ofourKnockmoreHillproductionfacility,” MilesKaremacher,generalmanagerofCocaColaHBCIrelandandNorthernIrelandsaid.

“Coca-ColaHBChasarichhistoryin NorthernIrelandandthisextension demonstratesourstrongcontinued commitmenttotheislandofIrelandand toouremployeesandthecommunitieswe servehere.

“Iamincrediblyproudofourteamin KnockmoreHillandtheworktheydo,acting asaleaderininnovationandsustainability acrossthesectorandIamconfdentthatthe futureisbrightforourorganisationacross theislandintheyearstocome.”

Speakingatthelaunch,ChrisHeaton-Harris, SecretaryofStateforNorthernIreland,said: “Thisannouncementandthecontinued investmentbyCoca-ColaHBCintoits productionfacilityinLisburnistestament tothegreatplaceNorthernIrelandistodo businessin.

“Withover80yearsinthearea,it’s really positivetoseeCoca-ColaHBC’sdedication toinnovationanddevelopmentinNorthern Ireland,creatingjobsandhelpingto strengthentheeconomy.” ■

MilesKaremacher,generalmanagerofCoca-ColaHBCIrelandandNorthernIrelandandSecretaryofStateforNorthernIrelandChrisHeaton-HarrisMPpicturedatCoca-ColaHBC IrelandandNorthernIrelandKnockmoreHill,Lisburnproductionfacility

Employerswhowantto retainthebestmustreview talentmanagementstrategies

Therehasbeenalotofcoveragein thenewsatthestartof2023of workersfromvariousindustries, predominantlyinthepublicsector,who aretakingstrikeactionbecausetheyare unhappywiththepayandconditions offeredbytheiremployersatatimeof risingcostsintheeconomyandpressure ontheirservices.

Thereareawholehostofcausesand reasons behindthoseindustrialactions,whichIwon’t getinto,butwhattheprominentcoveragehas doneisbringtheissueofpayintosharpfocus againatthestartofanewyear.

Hays’AnnualSalaryGuide, releasedattheend oflastyear,showedthatsomeprofessionalsin theprivatesectorhavebeenabletocommand doubledigitwageincreasesinthepast12 months.Thosesortsofincreasesaren’tthe normacrosstheboard,buttheyserveasa reminderthatifemployershavepeoplewith skillsthatareinhighdemand,thereisagood chanceotheremployerswillwantthemtoo.

Retentionhasbeenakeyissueforseveral yearsnowandtherearenosignsthatthe skillsshortagesI’vetalkedaboutsooftenin thiscolumnareabouttoease,whichmakesit essentialforemployersto reviewtheirtalent managementstrategies.

Thereareanumberofkeyfactorsthat professionalsarenowconsideringwhen choosingwhethertomove rolesandsteps thatemployerscantaketofulflcandidateand currentstaffexpectations.

ACOMPETITIVE PACKAGE

Offeringcompetitivesalaryandbenefts packagesis,nodoubt,thesinglemost effectivewaytoattractand retaintoptalent. Whileitshouldn’tbethesolefocusofatalent

managementstrategy,our researchshowsthat salaries remainthemain reasonprofessionals wouldchange rolesin2023.

Salariesincreasedby5.4%lastyearacross NorthernIreland,soitisworth reviewing yourcurrentsalariestoensureyourwages arecomparabletootherorganisations withinyourindustry.OurSalary&Recruiting Trends2023guide,asurveyofover13,000 employersacrosstheUK,andoursalary benchmarkingservicescanprovideuseful insights.Beyondbasesalaries,youcanalso rewardyouremployeeswithbonusesand beneftspackages,includingadditionalannual leaveandprivatemedicalcover.Inthelast 12months,15%moreorganisationsoffered bonusescomparedtothepreviousyear, accordingtoour research.

EMPLOYEE VALUEPROPOSITION

Movingbeyondsalaries,professionals haveshownthattheywanttoworkfor organisationsthathaveanattractiveoverall employeevalueproposition.Businessesshould seektohaveastrongorganisationalpurpose,

clearpathwaysforcareerprogression,a diverseandinclusiveculture,andadefned commitmenttosustainabilitytoenhancetheir EVPforbothcurrentemployeesandfuture candidates.

Withanintensefocusgloballyonenvironment, socialandgovernancecredentials,candidates arebecomingincreasinglyconcernedwith theirorganisation’sobjectivesbeyondproft andhowtheiractivitybeneftsthewider community.Effectivelycommunicatingyour company’scommitmenttosustainabilityalong withevidenceofadiverseandinclusiveculture canbecrucialtosecuringtoptalent.

UPSKILLINGOPPORTUNITIES

With93%oforganisationsfacingskills shortagesinpastyear,upskillingstaffhas becomeanecessityformanybusinesses. To addresstheshortageinqualifedapplicants, manyorganisationshavebegunhiringfor potential.Thisapproachallowsyoutocreate apipelineoftalentwhocanadapttothe demandsofthecompanyandcanbean attractiveprospectfortalentedindividuals lookingforopportunitiesfortrainingand careerprogressionintheirnext role.

FLEXIBLEWORKING

Acceleratedbypandemic,72%of organisationsalreadyhavehybridworking policiesinplace,butitisclearthat professionalsnowexpectafexibleapproach towork.Improvingworklifebalancehas becomeapriority,with56%ofprofessionals sayingtheywouldconsideracceptingless payforabetterwork-lifebalance.Assess whetheryoucanadjustyourworkingpolicies toallowemployeestochoosetheirdaysinthe workplaceorprovidetheoptionforpart-time orfexibleworking. With62%ofprofessionals sayingtheywouldbetemptedtomove rolesif theycouldchoosehowoftentheywereinthe offce,fexibleworking remainsanattractive partofthepackage. ■

ByJohnMoore,managingdirector,HaysNI

NIbusinessesseefurther slowdownatendof2022

ByJohnMulgrew

Theprivatesectortookanother tumbleattheendoflastyearwith NorthernIrelandsufferingthe biggestdropinoutputacrosstheUK.

Newordersfellsharplyagainandtherateof declineinoutputaccelerated,accordingtothe latestUlsterBankpurchasingmanagers’index forDecember.

However,infationarypressuresareeasing, withfrmsseeingtheweakestriseinputcosts inalmosttwoyears.

“NorthernIreland’sprivatesectorstartedlast

yearinexpansionmodeasthepost-pandemic economic recoverygatheredpace,”Richard Ramsey,chiefeconomistNorthernIreland, UlsterBank,said.

“LastJanuary,businesseswereoptimistic fortheyearaheadwiththeexpectationthat growthwouldcontinue.Thisprovednotto bethecase.Largelyasa resultoftheRussian invasionofUkraine,whichaddedfueltothe costoflivingcrisis,growthpeteredoutand confdenceebbedaway.”

Allfoursectorssawdeclineinoutputand orders.However, retail,constructionand servicesdidseeanincreaseinemployment levels.

Theoverallindexfellsharplyto41.6in Decemberfrom46inNovember,where50 meansnochange“pointingtoamuchfaster reductioninoutputintheprivatesectoratthe endof2022”,the reportsays.

“Infact,thedeclinewasthesteepestsince February2021.Thecostoflivingcrisiswas reportedlyakeyfactorbehindthedrop inactivityasneworderscontinuedtofall sharply.”

MrRamseysaid:“NorthernIreland’sprivate sectorthereforeendedtheyearonamuch morenegativenote.Decembersawoutput andordersfallfortheeighthsuccessivemonth. Thecontractioninoutputwasthesteepestina decadeoutsideoflockdowns.Allfoursectors posteddeclinesinoutputandordersalthough retail,servicesandconstructionfrmsdid increasetheirstaffnglevels.

“Thegoodnewsisthatinfationarypressures moderatedwithfrms reportingtheweakest riseininputcostsin22months.Asa result, frmsraisedtheirpricesattheirslowestpace inalmosttwoyears.Butthesepricerisesstill exceedanythingthatoccurredintheprepandemicera.

“Thistimelastyear,frmswerebracedfora challengingyear,butitturnedoutmuchworse thananticipated.December’s reportsuggests thatnegativesentimentis recedingandthat wemayhavepassedpeakpessimism.This year,expectationsforthe12-monthsaheadare lowbutwecouldseetheconverseoflastyear withexpectationsbeingexceededthistime around.” ■

RichardRamsey

Inspired: helping big business tackle tax headon

Injusttwoyears InspiredCorporateAdvisory hasdevelopedandgrownits practicefromataxincentivesbusinesstoofferingbig-name Top100clientsawide rangeoftaxandadvisoryservices–puttingagility,nimblenessandstrongface-tofacerelationshipsatthefore

Inspired’sworkforceheadcount certainlybeliesthesheerbreadthand volumeofthebig-name Top100frms whichitcallsitsclients.

Inlittleovertwoyearsthepracticehas developed,evolvedandgrownitsrangeof taxadvisoryservices–withface-to-faceclient relationships,agilityandnimblenessatthe forefrontinmakingitsnameintheindustry here.

ItcountssomeofNorthernIreland’sbiggest businesses–manyofwhichareinthe Ulster

Business Top100NorthernIrelandCompanies list–amongitsburgeoningclientbase, includingthelikesofBamfordBusCompany, FPMcCannandSDC Trailers.

InspiredisledbyEugeneO’Neill,Michael HeinickeandColmCavanagh,andisa NorthernIrelandpracticewhichthinksbig.

“Eventhoughweareasmallfrm,wearen’t dealingwithsmallfrms,”Michaelsays.

Asahighlyspecialistandexperienced corporatetaxteamofaround20staff,Inspired hasgrownfromprimarilyfocusingonareas suchasResearch&Development TaxCredits, CapitalAllowancesandPatentBox,towider taxcomplianceandcorporatetaxadvisory servicesforarangeofclients.

“Whileonthefaceofitweappeartobe asmallteam,wehaveasharpfocuson corporationtax–becauseofthat,wedon’t needahugeteamaswedon’tcoverabroad rangeofservices,”Eugenesays.

Inspiredhasenjoyedsignifcantgrowthin a relativelyshortperiodoftime,withclose client relationshipsbeingafocalpointofthe company’sethos.

“Alotofourclient relationshipsareverymuch likefriendships,”Colmsays.

Clientsfeelcomfortableto reachoutinformally todiscusstheirbusinessplans.“Peoplewill dropmealineonWhatsApp,orpickupthe phonetoaskforadvice,”Eugenesays.“We fndour relationships remainstrongaswe’ve workedwithsomeofthesecompaniesover theyearsindifferent roles.Peoplebuyfrom people–theywanttodealwithpeoplelike Michael,ColmandI.”

Thecompanycitesitsnon-traditionalapproach tobillingasa reasonwhyclientsseethemas beingmoreuserfriendlythansomeoftheir competitors.

Michaelsays:“Wechargebyvalue. We don’t chargebythehourorfllintimesheets.Our clientsaren’tscaredtopickupthephonefor fearofgettingabigbill.”

AndforInspired,providingadviceearlyand workingwithcompaniesthroughouttheir businessjourneyiskeyinhelpingthemsave money.

“Wewanttobeanintegralpartofyour businessdecisionmakingprocesstohelpyou bemoretaxeffcient,”Eugenesays.“There’s nopointinaskingabout reducingyourtaxbill whenit’salreadytoolate.”

Inspiredsometimesworkwithcompaniesto plantheirtaxaffairsseveralyearsinadvance.

Michaelsays:“Withsomeoftheworkwe do,wemightnevergetafeeforit,orifwe do,itcouldbeyearsdowntheline.Butthat investmentandtimewiththeclientiskeyfor usandthe relationship.”

Someofthatlongertermassistancecan includeworkingwithcompaniesonPatent Boxclaimsandliaisingwithorintroducing patentattorneys.“Forexample,ifthe corporatetaxrateisgoingto25%,that’sa bighitforalotofclients,”Michaelsays.“But ifaproducthasapatentonit,theprofts associatedwiththatproductcouldbetaxedat arateaslowas10%.”

Inspiredhasnowexpandedwithanewcity centreoffceinBelfast,basedattheiconic ScottishProvidentBuilding,alongwithits headquartersinCookstownandsatellite offceinLondon.

“Ourcitycentreoffcenotonlysuitsour employeesbutprovidesafantasticnetworking hubforusandourclients,”Michaelsays.

“Thatsaid,thereisnosubstituteforvisiting clientsattheirpremises–theseconversations aretypicallymoreproductiveandwider rangingthanvirtualmeetingsandputusin thebestpositionpossibletogivethebest advice.”

SomeadvisersandtheR&Dschemehave beenthesubjectofalotofnegativepress in recentmonthsandtheGovernment believestherehasbeenabuseofthescheme bysomeSMEsinparticular.Eugeneiskeen toemphasiseInspired’sapproachtoR&D

EugeneO’Neill,Michael HeinickeandColm Cavanaghpicturedat theGrandCentralHotel’s ObservatoryinBelfast

taxcredits,whichisfocusedaroundgenuine innovation.

“We’veheardfrommanybusinessesthat they’vebeenapproachedbyotherproviders suggestingthattheyhaveunderclaimed,and projectswhichthecompanyfeelisnotR&D, couldinfactqualifyfor relief,”Eugenesays.

“Thehurdleisaroundscientifcor technologicaluncertainty.Ourviewisifyou don’tknowyou’redoingR&Dthenyou’re probablynotdoingit.

“Theschemeisthereto rewardgenuine innovators,whicharethebusinessesweare associatedwith.”

Michaelsays:“Webelievesomeother providersaredoingalargenumberofsmall claimshopingthatthey’resmallenoughto slipthroughthenet.HMRCisincreasingits complianceactivityin relationtoR&Dandwe thinkthatthesesortofclaimsareonborrowed time.”

Withincreasedcomplianceactivityaswellas signifcantrulechangescominginfromApril 2023,gettingtherighttaxincentivesadviceis crucialforcompanies,Eugenesays.

“Thetaxincentivesareaisafast-movingpart ofUKtaxlegislation–changestooverseas R&Dcosts,theratesof relief,theendofSuper Deduction,andthepotentialmergerofthe twoexistingUKR&D regimes–theseareall complexissueswhichbusinessesneedtobe takingadviceon.”

Inspiredhasadvisedthattheywillbe respondingtotheGovernment’s‘R&D Tax ReliefsReview–Consultationonasingle scheme’andwillbeseekinginputfromclients andotherinterestedstakeholders.

Likemanylocalprofessionalservicesfrms, Inspiredhasfound recruitingtherightcalibre ofpeopletobechallenging.Undeterred,the strategyhasbeentoinvestinthedevelopment oftheirownstaff,andinstiltheirethosand values,aswellastechnical robustness,intothe team.

“LeonFaulkner,PaddyPringleandCathal McGaugheyareourseniorteamunder Michael,ColmandI.Theyhaveahungerand proactivity,awillingnesstolearnanddevelop otherteammembers. We fndtheyaretruly passionateaboutthebusinessinawayI haven’twitnessedbefore.”Eugenesays.

“CathalandPaddyaretwoseniormanagers

andLeonisamanager.Theexperiencethey havebuiltupwithinthefrmisimmense. There’salotlessinternaladministration withacompanyofoursize–thereforetime spentonadvisingclientsisincreasedand allowstechnicalexpertisetobedeveloped rapidly.”

Despitethewidereconomyherefacinga numberofchallengesinthemonthsahead, Eugenesayshedoesn’tseeanyslowdown forInspiredwithsuchastrongclientbase.

AndwhileNorthernIreland remainsthe primaryfocusforInspired,Michaelsays there remainsizeableopportunitiesfor growthelsewhereintheUK.

“There’samassiveopportunityforusacross thewater,”Michaelsays.“Wehaveclients whichareLondon-basedlistedcompanies. There’senormousgrowththere.”

Thefrmsaysitsabilityto remainproactive, nimbleandfexibleineverythingitdoesis keytoitssuccess.

“Thewayinwhichweoperatewithour clientsisthesamewayinwhichwewantto operateasabusiness,”Michaelsays. ■

LeonFaulkner,manageratInspired,alongsideseniormanagersPaddyPringleand CathalMcGaughey,picturedattheGrandCentralHotel’sObservatoryinBelfast

PrescientDataCentres: poweringagreendatafuture

AsNorthernIrelandbusinessesgear uptonavigateanuncertain2023, NorthernIreland’sonlypurposebuiltdatacentre,PrescientDataCentres, havedoubled-downontheircommitment toprovidinganenergy-effcient,carrier neutraldatacentrefacilitywhichoffers fexiblesolutionsforenterprisesofall sizesand requirements.

Followingthe recentappointmentofdata centremanagerRobertFeeney,whobrings awealthofexperiencefromsomeofNorth America’slargestdatacentreswithhis return toNorthernIrelandandChrisBoorman, businessdevelopmentmanagerwithawide rangeofexperiencesupportingclientsthrough innovativebusinesssolution,Prescientarein greatfootingforcontinuedgrowth.

Anincreasingnumberoflocal–and international–businesseshaveturnedtothe PrescientCapitalUK-backed,carrier-neutral datacentreoverthepastyear,workingclosely withPrescient’steamtodevelopbespoke solutionstofttheirneeds.Prescientare supportingclientswhoarecommittingtoa hybridor remoteworkmodeand requirea dedicatedsitefordatastorage,areexploring moreenvironmentally-sustainablestorage solutions,orareonapathtosignifcant growthand requireadatacentrethatcanscale upastheirneedsevolve.

Refectingon recentgrowthatPrescient, ChrisBoormansaid:“Moreandmorelocal

businessesareseeingthevalueinstoringtheir datawithinthedistanceofashortcarjourney ratherthanoverseasandwecontinuetowork directlywithourclients,offeringapersonalised servicewhichisunusualatdatacentresof thissizearoundtheworld.Inadditiontoour approachtocustomersupport,weareproud tobepoweredby100% renewableenergy. We aredrivenbytheideaofgreendata nowandintothefuture,andaresupporting businessestofeelconfdentinthesustainability oftheirsuppliershasbeenabigdriverinour continuedsuccess.”

PrescientDataCentresareempowering NorthernIreland’sgrowthinthedigital economyandconnectingprovidersofglobalIT services,cloudandcontentdeliverysolutions. Withultra-lowlatencynetworkstoNorth AmericaandmainlandEurope,Prescient providetheidealplatformfororganisations thatneedtheultimateglobalconnectivity solutionpairedwith reliability,securityand energyeffciency.

Commentingonthelevelofthoughtputinto thedevelopmentofthedatacentreRobert Feeneysaid:“NorthernIrelandisluckytohost suchahighcalibredatacentre,onewhichhas beenpurpose-builtwithexpansioninmind. Ourdatacentreispurposebuilttoaworldclass TierIII+levelof resilience,enclosedbya three-metrehighanti-climbsecurityfence.

“Clientscan restassuredthatthesecurity featuresincludingfullCCTVcoverageand

vehiclelocksaswellastheminimum8M sterilezonebetweenthesecurityfenceand thebuildingareallmaintainedtoprotecttheir sensitivedataandbuildtheirconfdencein thesecurityofourcentre. We alsoguarantee 100%uptimeandarededicatedtokeeping clients’systemsrunning365daysayear.

“Weareideallylocatedinarural,low-demand geographicsettingtoensurewearenot contributingtounduestrainonlocalenergy infrastructures,apointofcontentionformany datacentresacrossIrelandwhichhavebeen builttooclosetodensely-populated residential andcommercialcentres.” ■

To kickoff2023PrescientDataCentresare offeringonefreemonthofservicefornew clientssigningasix-monthcontractoran extrayearforclientscommittingtoathreeyearcontract.Formoreinformationorto arrangeatourcontactChrisBoorman,business developmentmanageronsales@prescientdc.com or07934707736.

TourismNIchief JohnMcGrillen

‘Weareinabetterplacethan weexpectedandcouldreturn topre-pandemiclevelsby2025’

JohnMcGrillen and TourismNIhadplannedtousethehugesuccessofTheOpen in2019tobuildonourtourismcredentials,butthenthepandemichit.Threeyears onfromCovid-19hetells JohnMulgrew aboutgetting90%ofthewaythere, pent-updemandfromtheUS,thegoodandbadofAirbnbandthefutureoftourism

sustainability

Theheadof TourismNIhashadsomethingof a challengeonhishandsinthelastthreeyears – helpingbuildbackNorthern Ireland’s tourism credentialsfollowingthepandemic.

Buthesayswe’re gettingclosetoprepandemiclevels,andcouldbebacktovisitor numbersby2025.

“Itookupmy roleinJuly2015. We were onan upwardstrajectoryin2015,”hesays.

“From2014onwardswewere comingoutof recessionandthingswere startingtobuild… wecouldn’t doanythingwrongandwere growingat6-7% a year, year-on-year

“AllofthatwascrownedbyTheOpenin 2019…thenthatallcameto a halt.”

Theplanwastobuildonthehugeglobal successofstagingtheworld’s greatestgolf tournament,butmomentumfalteredasthe pandemictookhold.

“Itwassuch a hugesuccess. We thoughtthat wastheplatformtobuildonthatsuccessand thenCovidhappened,”hesays.

Butthreeyearslater, JohnsaysNorthern Ireland tourismis returningtopre-pandemiclevels.

“We are in a muchbetterplacethananybody

anticipated,”Johnsays.

“Ifyoubacktwoyears,youwouldhave thoughtnoonewouldhavegottenon a cruiseshipor a planeagain. I thinkaround 144shipsare comingintoBelfastthisyear, so it’s unbelievablehowquicklythatmarkethas recovered.”

JohnMcGrillen,whoisanengineering graduate,initiallyhadloftycareerambitionsin hisformativeyears.

“Myambitionas a youngsterwasprobablyto be a pilot…thatnevermaterialised,”hesays.

JohnbeganhiscareerattheformerShorts aerospacebaseinBelfast,andwasinvolvedin developingtheStarstreakmissilesystem,now builtbyThales.

Duringhiscareerwiththeaerospacegiant,he studiedanMBAwhileworkingthere whichsaw himtraveltotheUS,BelgiumandtheMiddle East.HeendedupworkingfortheIndustrial DevelopmentBoard (IDB),nowInvestNI,which sawhimendingupinDusseldorf,andlearning tospeakGerman.

Andbefore joining TourismNIin2015hewas chiefexecutiveofDownCouncilfor10years andthendirectorofdevelopmentatBelfast CityCouncil.

Now, with a budgetofaround£20mand a teamof130,he’s taskedwithsellingNorthern Ireland’s tourismofferingtotheworld.

“Asanorganisationweneedtounderstandthe businessesweare inandsupportingthat,and I thinkwehavebecomemuchbetteratthat.”

Turningtowhere Northern Irelandisnowin termsoftourism,Johnsays“weare probably 90%there atthispoint”.“Myindicatorofthat wouldbebasedonthenumberofhotel rooms beingsold,”hesays.

“We soldabout90%of roomssoldin2019. Theaveragedailyrateisabout23%higher thanitwasthen.Thesectorisquitebuoyant. A lotofthathasbeendrivenbythestaycation marketandthegrowthfromtheRepublicof Ireland.

“Typically, thatwouldbe46%ofourbusiness inNorthern Ireland.Overthatperiodwe therefore prettymuchlostaccessto54%of themarket.

“Thathasbeenimpressive.Lookingforward,if youlookattheprojectedbusinessfromplaces suchastheUS,it’s reallystrong.

“There’sa hugepentupdemandintheUS… GBstilllooksOKandEuropemightpickup a littlebitslower

“In realterms…wewouldprobablybebackto where wewere in2019by2025.Thesectoris prettybusy.”

Onchangingdemands,especiallywithinthe domesticmarket,around‘staycationing’and inparticulartheriseof‘glamping’pods >

“We are in a muchbetterplace thananybodyanticipated,” JohnMcGrillensays.

andsimilarindividualdevelopments,Johnsays it’s anindustrywhichwasalreadysurgingprepandemic,andisn’t likelytoslowdown.

“Ithinkthere islongevityforthat.Those trendswere happeningbefore Covid.Covid hasacceleratedsomeofthosetrends.Thefact thatitwasyourownspaceandyouandyour familyanddidn’t havetointeractwithothers drove a demandinthatspace. I don’t thinkthat demandisgoingaway.”

A slightlymore divisiveareaofthetourism economy, Airbnb,hashelpedchangedhow manyofustravel.It’s somethingwhichhas bothopenedupchoiceintothemarketand helpedsmallbusinessesfourish,whileperhaps irkingthewiderhotelsector

“IthinkAirbnbislikeeverythingelse – ithasits goodpointsandbadpoints,”Johnsays.There are otherplatformswhere youcandothat.

“Itprovides a choiceforpeople.Clearly, during Covid,peoplehaveacceleratedtowardsthat.

“Airbnb,their researchwouldsuggestthat marketisgoingtogrow Theyare focusingin onexperiencesaswell.

“Itprovidesanopportunityforsmallandmicro businessestogetoutintothemarketplaceand beseenglobally There are partsofNIwhere wedon’t have a lotofhotels,butthere are reallyattractivepartsofourlandscape.

“Insomewhere likewestBelfast,where you

don’t havemuchhotelprovision,thatmoney fltersrightdownimmediatelyandpeople canexperience a communitywhichtheywant tounderstand.It’s thesamein(the rest)of Belfast.

“There are tensions… I canseethechallenges where youhaveAirbnbsinapartmentblocks where 85%are residential.There are problems occasionallyif a rowdygroupturnsupfor a stag. I getthat.There are partsofBelfast where there are severe challengesaround housingprovision. I thinkit’s tryingtofnd balance.”

Turningtothegreenissue,Johnsayswhile sustainabilitywillbe a keystrandofthevisitor experienceinthenearfuture,hedoesn’t believeitdeterminesmanydecisionsamong holidaymakers,currently

“Ithinkthenumberofpeoplewhoare decidingonwhere togobasedontheirgreen credentialsisstillquitesmall,”hesays. “Ithinkthere is a pent-updemand.Peopleare saying‘Ijustwanttogetaway’.

“(But)everybrandismovingtowardsmore sustainableproducts,manufacturingprocesses andthatmarketisonlygoingtoincrease.

“We havebeentalkingtotheDepartment(for theEconomy)abouttheneedfor a strategy We veryquicklynowneedtogetonwiththat. Ourlanguageisabout a regenerativestrategy where thefocusisnotjustnecessarilyonthe numberofbednightsandtourismspend,but

lookingatwhatistheimpactoncommunities andenvironment,andhowwemake a positive impact.

“Whatweneedtobeismore focusedon sustainability We are inconversationswith TourismIrelandandFáilteIrelandaboutwhat thatmightlooklikeonanall-islandbasis

whataccreditationschemesare inplace,for example.”

“…there willbe a pointintimeifyouwant tobevisibleon a (tourism)platform,from a marketingpointofviewyouwillneedtobean accreditedprovider That’s notgoingtohappen overnight,butit’sa journeyweare on.”

AsforhotspotssuchasBushmillsandthe Giant’s Causeway, schemesare underwayfor area,however, in a bidtoincreasedemand andwidenthearea’s alreadystrongtourism credentials.

Thatincludesplansfor a £57mluxurywellness hotelandlodgewhichcouldcreateupto350 full-timejobs.

“Thecouncilislookingatquite a signifcant regenerationandtransportplanforBushmills villageandthe redevelopmentofDunluce… partofthechallengeiswehavethreeorfour hotelsintheplanningprocesswhichhaven’t madetheirwaythrough,”Johnsays.

“Oncetheygetthroughthesystem I thinkyou willstarttosee a greatereconomicbeneft there.” ■

Belfastcitycentre

Award-winningOutsource continuingonacquisitiontrail

It’sbeenanotherbusyyearfor TerryMoore’sITservicesbusiness Outsource Group, whichcontinuesingrowthmodeamidarecentacquisitionandrecentbig winattheBelfast TelegraphBusiness Awardsinpartnershipwith UlsterBank

DespitetakingonaleadingIT securitybusinessjustafewmonths ago, TerryMooreisstilleyeing furtheracquisitionforhisburgeoning business.

TheheadofOutsourceGroup,theAntrim basedITservicesfrm–whichhasfveoffces intheUKandIreland–nowhasateamof around70.But Terrysaysit’soncoursetohit 100staffthisyear.

Atthetailendof2022,OutsourceGroup alsotookonITsecuritybusinessANSECIA–helpingfuelitslatestplansforgrowth.

“ANSECIAjoinedthegroupandthatwas massiveforus,” Terrysays.“Thatisprobably wheremostofthegrowthwillcomefrom.

“(Our)turnoverhaditsbestyear,withoutthe acquisition.That’spositiveforus.”

Andwhilehesaystherehasbeensome pressureonprofthe’sexpectingtoseea20% year-on-yeargrowthandeyeinguppotential furtheracquisitions.

“Inthelastfewyearswehavebeenlooking forsomething.ANSECIAwasabetterft thanwecouldhavehopedfor…(lookingat options)there’saparticularacquisitionforus.I knowwhatI’mlookingfor. We expecttohave anacquisitionthroughoutthisyear.”

Businesshascontinuedtobebuoyantfor Outsource,givendemandsforkeyITservices remainstrong,andwhile Terrysaysthere remainsomechallengesoutthere“weappear tobeanorganisationwhichisprettyexciting toworkfor”.

ForOutsourceGroup,thecorebusinessis stillacrossmanagedservices.Thatincludes security,communicationsandnetworking.

Terrysaysthatpartofthebusiness,alongwith others,iscontinuingtogrow,withoneofthe strengthsthefrmhasisinoperatingitsown datacentre.

“ANSECIAwilldoubleinsizehere,” Terry says.“Theystandtobeneftfromthe Outsource relationshipandwehaveopened

uptheirpossibilitiesandpotential.

“It’s reallyexciting.Everythingwedois underpinnedwithsecurity.TheITjourneyfrom atechnologypointofviewtoaconsumption pointofview,fromtrainingtoenablement, onboardingandconnectivity.”

LookingattheimpactofCovidonthebusiness anddemands, Terrysaysgettingthatkey infrastructurecorrectiskey, regardlessof whetheracompanyisbacktofulltimeworkin

TerryMoore

Awardsarea chancetoshowcase ourbestinbusiness

EarlierthismonthwelaunchedtheBelfast Telegraph Business Awards2023inpartnershipwithUlsterBank, markingthe22ndanniversaryofcelebratingthehighest achieversintheworldofbusiness.

ForovertwodecadestheBelfast Telegraphhasbeenhonouring businessesandtheirpeopleand,despitethechallengesthisyearislikely tobringforfrmshere,the2023awardsprogrammewillcontinueto shinealightontheaccomplishmentsofthebusinesscommunity.

ThiswillbetheseventhyearforUlsterBankasthetitlesponsorof theawardsandaswelookaheadtothisyear’sceremony,itisworth refectingonthestrengthofthepartnershipandhowourtwo organisationshaveworkedtogethertogrowtheevent.

We areespeciallypleasedtosupporttheintroductionofsomenew categoriesin2023includingBestPlaceto WorkinNorthernIrelandand Excellencein WorkplaceHealthand Wellbeing, recognisingacompany whichhasintroducedpoliciesdesignedtomakeameaningfuldifference tothelivesofitsemployees.

Itisalsowelcomethatonceagaintherewillbeanawardfor

theoffce,hybrid,orfully remote.

“Nooneisgoingtobacktooffceanytime soonatsamelevelasbefore.Ifyouwerefve days,thenoneortwo,itdoesn’tmatter–you stillneedtheservices.”

Terrysayswhilehe’sexpectingheadwindsin

OutstandingCommitmenttoEnvironmentalSocialRiskwhichisopento anybusinessthathassuccessfullyintegratedsustainabilityconsiderations intoitsoverallstrategy.Thereisanonusonallofustofutureproofour industriesbyadoptinggreenerbusinesspracticesandsomethingweat UlsterBankareactivelyencouragingourcolleaguesandcustomersto introduce.Thebusinessawardspresentagreatopportunitytoapplaud thosefrmswhoareleadingthewayinthisareaandthehopeisthat theycaninspireotherstomakethissametransition.

Thesearejustsomeofthe17categoriesbeinghonouredattheawards thisyear.Othersincludeexporting,innovation,managementand leadership–allimportantareaswhichourlocalbusinessescontinueto fourishacross.Alsonewforthisyearwillbeanawardforthe Tourism& HospitalityCompanyoftheyear.Thiscategoryisopentoanybusinessin thefoodanddrinkindustryorthoseinvolvedinaccommodation,travel andtourismorthewider recreationsector.

Whatmakestheseawardssoworthyinmyviewisthattheyshowcase companieswhichhaveovercomechallenges,demonstrated resilience, andhavebeeninnovatingtosucceed– regardlessofsizeorsector.They provideaplatformforlocalfrmstotelltheirstoryandtohavetheir achievements recognisedbycolleaguesandpeers.

Afteradiffcultperiodwheremanybusinesseshavefoundlittletime forcelebration,itismoreimportantthanevertopause,takestockand refectonhowmuchhasbeenaccomplished.

ThanksmustbepaidtotheteamattheBelfast Telegraphfortheir effortsinhostingtheawardsandforgoingaboveandbeyondtoensure guestscanhaveaninspiringandenjoyableevening,andtoallofthe categorysponsorsforcomingonboard.

We aregratefultowelcomeClareGuinness,directoroftheInnovation Districtasthenewchairofthejudgingpanelandpleasedto report thatshewillbejoinedbyahostofNorthernIreland’smostsuccessful businessleaders.

Ifyourbusinesshasexcelledthisyearofifyouknowsomeonewhose hardworkdeservestobeconsidered,thenvisittheBelfast Telegraph websitewhereyouwillfndafulllistofallthecategoriesand informationonhowtosubmityourapplicationalongwiththeclosing date.

Lastly,Iwanttowishallentrantsgoodluckandlookforwardto celebratingwithyoulaterintheyear.

2023anddealingwithchallengesthroughout theyear“wewouldexpecttooutpacethe slowdown”and“stillexpecttoseegrowth”.

OutsourceSolutionswasalso recentlynamed theBestMediumSizedBusinessattheBelfast TelegraphBusiness Awards,inpartnershipwith UlsterBank.

“Itwasoneofthemostimportantawards we’vewonsofaranditamazingtohaveour hardwork recognised,”hesays.

“It’sfantasticfortheteam.(It’salso)stepping outofthe‘smallbusiness’arenaandmoving tomidmarket,being recognisedastheBest MediumSizedBusiness.” ■

ByKentonHilman,headofcorporate,UlsterBank

KentonHillman

How we canfnd a way to escape the worst of the economicdownturn

PaulMacFlynn,co-directoroftheNevinEconomic ResearchInstitute,looksataworrying2023interms alackofdevolvedgovernment,thestateofourpublic fnancesandtheimpactofUKGovernmentpolicies hereinNorthernIreland

Lookingforwardto2023itwould beeasytobecomedowncastabout theeconomicoutlookforNorthern Ireland.

Thecost-of-livingcrisisissettocontinue and,evenifwemanagetogetthroughthe worstphaseofthat,theprospectsfortheUK economyasawholelookdecidedlygrim.

Ratherthandescribethescopeandscaleof thatgloom,itmaybemoreproductivetosee ifthereisanywaythatwecanavoidtheworst ofit.

Inthefrstinstance,thereisalmostnothing wecandoaboutitbecausewedonothavea functioningNorthernIrelandExecutive.

We areatthemercyofUKGovernment economicpolicy,andIthinkitwouldbefair tosaythattheir recordoverthepastyearhas beenerraticatbest.

Butevenifwedidmanagetorighttheship andgetdevolutionbackupandrunning,we wouldbefoolingourselvestothinkthatthe leverofricheswillsuddenlybecloseathand.

Thefrststumblingblogisbudgets.Theoutline forUKpublicspendingoverthenextfewyears isincreasinglytight.

Ifwethinkthingsaretoughnow,itisonlydue togetmorediffcultintwoyears’time.

GiventhestateofNorthernIreland’spublic fnancesatpresent,thatoutlookisdeeply worrying.

Thebudgetthatwasintroducedbythe NorthernIrelandOffcelatelastyearcontained signifcantcutstotheeducationdepartment anditishardtoseehowthisyear’sbudget wouldavoidthesame

Fromaneconomicgrowthperspective,cutting educationexpenditureisoneofthegreatest actsofself-harmthatanygovernmentcan perform.GivenNorthernIreland’sexisting weaknessesonskills,itseemsevenmore ludicrous.

Theharsh realityisthatgivenourcurrent institutionalsetup,ifwedidn’tcuteducation spending,wewouldhavetocutsomewhere else.Isthereanyotherwayoutofthisthen?

Ifyoudon’twanttocutexpenditure,raising taxesorborrowingaretheonlyotheroptions.

AtpresentNorthernIrelandpossesses extremelylimitedpowersoftaxationand borrowingwhichdwarfincomparisonto thescaleofthechallengeweface.The independentFiscalCommissionforNorthern Irelandlookedatoptionsforexpandingthose powersandproduceda reportlastyear.The fndingsmakeinteresting reading.

ThecommissionfoundthatNorthernIreland couldseekthedevolutionofincometax andseveralothersmalllevies.However, thecommissionwasnottaskedwith,and thereforedidnotdiscuss,whetherwiththese newpowerswouldbeabletomateriallyaffect

NI’sownbudgetaryposition.

Scotland,whichhas recentlygainedmore fscalindependencewithintheUK,has becomeaninterestingtestcaseforwhether theseincreasedpowerscanbeusedtoescape the Westminsterausteritydoomloop.The evidencesofarismixed,atbest.

TheScottishGovernmenthasattemptedto makeprogressive reformstoincometaxwith anaimofgeneratingmore revenue.However, todatethe revenuegeneratedfromincome taxinScotlandhadfallenshortofwhatwas expected.

To beclear,theshortfallin revenuehasbeen attributedtotheunderperformanceofthe

Scottisheconomy relativetothe restoftheUK, nottothetax reformsthemselves.

Whilethedevolutionoftaxesmightmake senseintermsofstrengtheningtheNI Executive,itshouldnotbeseenasapanacea forourcurrentfscalwoes.

The realityisthatNorthernIrelandisasmall, underperforming regionofamuchlarger economy.

NorthernIreland’sbudgetwillbeaproductof thedecisionsoftheUKGovernmentandwhile wecanmakechangestotaxandspendingin ordertooptimisepolicyforlocalconditions, theonly realmethodofescapeistogrowour owneconomy.

We shouldbefocusedonthepowersthatwe currentlyhavetoboostproductivityandthe calibreofeconomicactivityweareengagedin.

Boostinggrowth,liftingwagesandcreating amoredynamiceconomyishardworkbut itisachievablewithintheExecutive’sexisting powers.

Oncewehavethat,thenwecantalkaboutthe additionalpowersneededto reapthefnancial rewards.

Intheshortterm,ourbiggestworryisthe outlookfortheUKeconomyandpoliciesof thecurrentUKGovernment.Perhapsour immediateeffortswouldbebetterspent seekingchangethere. ■

ParliamentBuildings atStormont

Competitionauthorities areincreasinglyturning theirattentiontoNorthern Ireland’sdealmarket.

AsNorthernIreland’seconomy grows,theCompetitionand MarketsAuthority(CMA),is turningitsattentionmorefrequentlyto theprovince’smergersandacquisition market.

A recentsurveyconductedonbehalfofthe CMA,theUK’scompetitionauthority,showed NorthernIrishbusinessesaremoreawareof competitionlawcomparedtobusinessesin otherUK regions.Thisisdespitethefactfew NorthernIrishbusinesseshavebeeninvolvedin aCMAmarketinvestigationorhadtonotifya dealtotheCMAformergerclearance.

TheUKoperatesavoluntarymerger notification regime,withtheobligationon thepartiestodecidewhetheranotification isneeded.NotificationtotheCMAisusually consideredwhenoneofthefollowing thresholdsismet:the‘turnovertest’which relatestowhetherthecompanybeingacquired generatesturnoverof£70mintheUK;andthe ‘shareofsupplytest’whichconcernswhether thecompanieswillhaveorwillgain25%or moreofa respectivemarketwithintheUK. Onceamergingentityexceedstheselimits,the CMAmayinvestigateforanypotentialanticompetitiveeffectsthemergermaycause.

Overthepastfewyears,therehasbeenan increaseindealsfromNorthernIrelandbeing investigatedbytheCMA.Thishasbeenin partbeendowntoNorthernIrishbusiness successstorieswithsomecompaniesgrowing tothepointwheretheyareacquiringGBbasedcompetitors.Othershavebuiltupsuch asuccessfulbusinesstheybecomethetarget ofanacquisitionfromGBorinternational

The scrutiny of success

competitors.Thisincreaseisalsodueto regulatorycautiononthepartofthemerging businesses.Giventhesignificantsumsinvolved, businesseshaveunderstandablytakena cautiousapproachandnotifieddealstothe CMA,ratherthanrisktheCMAsubsequently investigatingandevenblockingthedeal.

1

NorthernIrelandmergercontroldeals inthepastfewyears

TherewasahiatusofNorthernIrishdeals investigatedbytheCMAin2019and2020. Thisbegantopickupin2021withBalcas LtdbeingacquiredbyGlennonBrosUK HoldingsLimited.Lastyearmarkedarisein dealsfromNorthernIrelandbeingnotified totheCMA,thisincludedoneproposed transactionwhichwas referredtotheCMA’s moreextensivePhase2process(thiswas oneofsevenPhase2investigationdecisions thattheCMA reachedduringthe reporting year)andanothernotificationwhich resulted inaPhase1decision(thisdealisoneof73

totaltransactionsacrosstheUKwhichwere notifiedtotheCMAinthisperiod.ThePhase 1decisionwasoneof29madebytheCMA duringthisperiod).

WithseveralmergercontroldealsontheCMA radarattheendof2022,itlookstobeabusy 2023formergercontroldealsinNorthern Ireland.

2

Proposed reformstocompetitionlaw intheUK

TheDigitalMarkets,Competitionand ConsumerBillappearstobearrivingsooner thanwasoriginallyanticipated.TheBillis nowexpectedwithinthenextfewweeks, dependantontheparliamentarytimetableand ifso,islikelytobeenactedbyMay2023.The governmentintendstodriveforwardaspects ofinnovation,productivityandgrowthandthe accelerationof reformstotheUK’scompetition andconsumerlaw regimeshighlightssuch. Therewillbesweeping reformstoallareas

StephenAbram, seniorassociateat A&L Goodbody inBelfast, explainswhy

GBcompetitorsbecauseofthegeographical connectionofNorthernIrelandtotheRepublic ofIrelandandthereforetheEuropeanUnion. Consequentlywearenotexpectingany slowdownindeals requiringnotifcationto theCMAintheyearahead.

Asnoted,asignifcantfocusofthenew legislationisondigitalmarkets.Thisyearwe canexpecttoseetheCMA’s recentlycreated DigitalMarketsUnitstarttofnditsfeet. ThelegislationgivestheCMAtheabilityto intervenemore readilyifitfeelsconsumers aresubjecttounfairpracticesinonline transactions.

Thecostoflivingcrisislookssettocontinue into2023.AnotableaspectoftheCMA’s focusin recentyearshasbeentheutilisation ofitsconsumerprotectionpowers.TheCMA recentlypublishedaninitialupdate report onitsmarketstudyintothesupplyof road fuelintheUK,followinganurgent request for reviewbythegovernment.Similarly,the governmenthastakenarangeofstepsto assistconsumersfromthedramaticincreases inelectricitycostsoverthelastyear.The positioninNorthernIreland,however,is different.

ofmergercontrol,anticompetitiveconduct, marketinvestigationsandsubsidycontrol.

Someofthekeyplanned reformsinclude:

 Anincreasetotheturnovertestformergers from£70mto£100m,withmergersexempt whereeachparty’sturnoverislessthan£10m asasafeharbour.

 Theabilitytotargetso-called‘killer acquisitions’whenonecompanyhasan existingshareofsupplyof33%and/oraUK turnoverof£350m.

 Extendedpowerstogatherevidenceand sanctioncompaniesforfailingtocomplywith investigationswithfnesofupto1%ofglobal turnover.

 Theabilitytodealwithfake reviewsand “subscriptionstraps”throughonlineservices. 3

FuturetrendsforNorthernIreland

Withanincreasetotheturnovertest from£70mto£100mandthetargetingof ‘killeracquisitions’,itappearsasiftheCMA

wishestofocusits resourcesonlargerdeals. Thismakessenseas,sinceBrexit,ithasspent considerabletimelookingatdealswhich wouldhavepreviouslybeen reviewedbythe EuropeanCommission.Inaddition,thesafe harbourprinciplewillexemptbusinesses whoseturnoverislessthan£10mmeaning asignifcantnumberofdealsmayproceed withoutCMAintervention.Theperception couldbethatasaconsequenceofthese changes,fewerdealsfromNorthernIreland willbenotifedtotheCMA.Theshareof supplytest remainsunchanged,therefore,it willstillbedowntobusinessestodetermine whetheranotifcationisappropriatewhen theyenjoyasignifcantmarketshare.TheCMA hasbeenpreparedtointerveneindealswhen theparties’marketsharesarebelow25% andthedealhasonlya regionalimpacton competition.

Onetrendwearebeginningtonoticeisthe attractivenessofNorthernIrishbusinessesto

Approximately70%ofNorthernIrishhomes arestill reliantonhomeheatingoil.Assuch, NorthernIrishconsumershavenotbeen shieldedfromrisingcoststothesameextent asindividualsinGreatBritain.Eitherthrough government recommendation,orofitsown initiative,theCMAcouldconsiderlookingat theeffciencyofthehomeheatingmarketin NorthernIreland.

Afurtherareawhichseemslikelytocome underfrebytheCMAwillbebusinesses promoting‘greenwashing’.TheCMAhas beenvocalin remindingcompaniesthatitwill investigatebusinesseswhenitbelievestheir greenclaimsaremisleading.

TheincreaseinNorthernIrishdealsbeing reviewedbytheCMAlookssettocontinue. Further,withtheCMAtakingaproactive roleinprotectingtheinterestsofconsumers inlightofeconomicconditions,businesses herecanexpecttoexperienceamorevisible oversightfromtheUK’sleading regulator. ■

MarkStockdale, GinaPritchett, MicaelaDiver, StephenAbram, andPeterStafford

USfirm creating150jobsforBelfast

AUS financialconsultancy firmis creating150jobswith a newbase inBelfast.

Treliantplanstocreate150newjobsatits

Belfastservicedeliverycentre aspart a multimillionpoundgrowthplan.

Treliant, a consultingcompany, provides professionalservicestothebanking,capital marketsand financialservicessectors,hasset up a newdeliverycentre inthecityaspartof a multi-millionpoundinvestment.

Thenew roleswillbeinitscapitalmarketsand managedservicesbusinessunits.

It’s understoodthe firmhas receivedanofferof around£750,000fromInvestNIinsupportof thenewexpansion.

“Belfastclearlyhas a strongplacewithin thebusinesssincethisiswhere ourcapital marketspracticestarted,”DavidSamuels,chief executive, Treliantsaid.

“However, asthisexpansionwillplay a pivotal

roleinthedeliveryofourgrowthstrategy, itwasimportantweconsideredalloptions whendecidingwhere toinvestinthislarge expansion.

“We revieweddifferentlocationsbasedon severalfactors – easeofdoingbusiness, knowledgeofthe financialsector, infrastructure andcosts,forexample. We hadtwostrong contenders,butNorthern Irelandbecameour preferredchoicethankstothecombinationof existingknowledgeandaffinitytoourwork, thelocaltalentandInvestNI’s support.”

Around40ofthejobsare alreadyinplaceand the firmsaysit’s nowactively recruiting.

“We haveworkedwiththebusinesssince2017 andin2020wehelpeditmore thandoubleits workforceandinvestinmarketdevelopmentto supportfuture growth,”MelChittock,interim chiefexecutiveofInvestNIsays.

“Now, justtwoyearslater, thecompanyis growingagain.The150new roleswillnearly quadruplethesizeofthebusinesshere in Northern Irelandandwillcontribute£4.8min

annualsalariestooureconomy

“The rolesincludeteamleads,consultants andanalysts.Thenew rolesprovideexcellent potentialforgraduatestogainskillsinan international financialservicesconsultancy, andall rolesare availableon a hybridworking basis.”

Thejobsannouncementisthe firsttobemade followinganindependent reportintoInvestNI whichraisedconcernsthatdivisionsatthetop oftheorganisationwere having a damaging impactonit.

Originally a Belfast-basedconsultancy, Vox was acquiredby Treliant, a consultingpartnertothe financialservicesindustryglobally, inAugust 2021.

“We plantocreatethenew rolesoverthenext threeyearsandare actively recruitinggraduates withbothlegalandnon-legaldegrees providingtrainingtoupskillthemwiththe knowledgeneededforthespecific roleswithin ourbusiness,” TerryRobinson,chiefexecutive of TreliantCapitalMarketssays. ■

BrendanGorman, Treliant,Mel Chittock,InvestNI withDavidSamuels, Treliantand Terry Robinsonof Treliant CapitalMarkets

Energy, waste& environment

Offshorewind: thecaseforthe nextbigmovetocleanpower

Asthefrstmajorconsultationondevelopingoffshorewindschemeshereis launched,RenewableNIdirector StevenAgnew examineswhyit’ssoimportant forNItomeetcleanenergytargets,theeconomicpotential,andthejobcreation,as StormontandtheCrownEstateagreeastatementofintentontakingplansfoward

Foranyonelookingoutsidetheir windowinthepastfewmonthsit willcomeasnosurprisethatclimate changeisalreadyhavinganimpacthere. Lastyearanunwelcome recordwasset–

thehighestannualmeantemperature.

Asummerdroughtanda‘secondspring’in Novembermakingameantemperatureof 9.85°CinNI.

Everyoneisalsoawareofthecostofliving crisis.Energybillscontinuetoriseforhomes andbusinesses.

Renewableenergyoffersconsumersasaving

StevenAgnew,directorofRenewableNI

onthecostofbills,bringsenergysecurity, booststheNorthernIrelandeconomy,and reducescarbonemissions.

Onshorewindcandeliver70%clean electricityby2030butoffshoregeneration willbeessentialto reach80%as requiredby theClimateAct.

NorthernIreland’soffshorewatersare particularlyattractivebecauseofthe prevailingandconsistentwindconditions andeaseofaccessforinstallation.Our onshorewindfarmscontinuetodevelop effcienciesandare readytoexceedtheir renewableelectricitytargets.Northern Irelandcancreatejobsandendour reliance onimportedfossilfuelsinamatterofafew years.

WhatisthedraftOffshoreRenewable EnergyActionPlan(OREAP)?

TheDepartmentfortheEconomy’s consultationonoffshorewindisnow outandopenforcommentsubmission. Accordingtothedepartment,thedraft documentfocusesonthreeareas:

■ Sustainabledevelopmentinthe marineenvironment

TheMarinePlanandtheEnergyStrategy supportsthegrowthofthelowcarbon economyinNorthernIreland.Ensuring thatthisoccursinthe“mostappropriate locations,withco-existenceofcompatible marineuserswherepossible,andbalancing allcompetingfactorsinasustainable, environmentallypositiveway”.

TheNIoffshorewindsectorisemergingasone ofthemostlikelyeconomicsuccessstoriesof thedecade.Inadditiontogeneratingenough electricitytopower1.6millionhomes,itcan generate£2.4bnGVA(grossvalueadded)and create1,500newjobs.

Butgoodwill,asenseofurgency, recognition thatweareinthejawsofaclimateemergency andgenuineintentarenotenough. We need changetoachievethis.

Thisyearhasstartedwithwelcomesignals fromgovernmentthatforit, renewableenergy meansbusiness.TheDepartmentforthe Economy’sconsultationonthedraftOffshore RenewableEnergyActionPlan(OREAP)for NorthernIrelandisaclearsignofintent.

RenewableNIwillbeleadinganindustry responsetotheconsultation,makingclearthe opportunitiesandtheindustry’s readiness.

ThedraftOREAPsetsatargetof1GWof offshorefrom2030whileattemptingto acceleratethisambition‘iffeasiblypossible’. RenewableNIwantstoseeamoresolid commitmenttoconnectingoffshoreby2030 withagreaterthan1GWambitionbeyond this.

■ Adaptiveapproach

Thatitsdeliverywillbemanagedthrough an“adaptiveapproachwhichwillallowthe OREAPtobeadjusted,ifnecessary,based onwhatislearnedandasnewdataand insightsbecomeavailable”.

■ Collaborationandpartnership Itsaysthat“pivotaltosuccesswillbe theabilitytoworkcollaborativelyandto regularlyengagewithkeydeliverypartners includingothergovernmentdepartments, regulatorsandother relevantbodies,the energyindustry,andwiderstakeholders wholivecloseto,workin,orotherwiseuse themarineenvironment”.

ThedraftOREAPcanprovideclarityonthe 2030targetwillbenecessarytogiveindustry confdenceandtoprovidedirectionforgrid investments.

Theconsultationprovidesavoicetoraise thechallengesneedaddressedtoprogress. GapsintheNorthernIrelandgrid’scapacity; expectationsTheCrownEstate(TCE)willlease seabedsitestomeetdevelopertimelines, decommissioninglegislationandtheStrategic EnvironmentalAssessmentsandHabitats RegulationsAssessments.

Itisnotacaseofwhetherleasing, consentingandgridconnections requires thefrstattention,theymustbeaddresses simultaneously.

Theproposedtimelinetogenerateand transmit1GWofoffshorewindsourced electricityshowsthatalltheprocesses includingdecommissioning regimes,planning andconsenting,skillsandsupplychainamong them,areinter-connectedandco-dependent.

Forinstance,theenvironmentalandhabitat assessmentsmustbecompletedandthe decommissioning regimelegislatedfor beforeTCEwillagreetolease;planning>

submissionswillbe requiredandgrid capacityneedstobeupgradedinorderto accommodatethenewelectricitysources.

ThecontinuinglackofanAssemblyand Executivecouldputthispotential£2.4bn industryin realjeopardy.

EvenintheabsenceofafunctioningAssembly, RenewableNIhasbeeninvolvedandkept closelyinformedbydepartmentaloffcialson progress.

RenewableNIhasworkeddiligentlywiththe departmentandisconfdentthattheexpert voicesandopinionsofourmemberswillhave animpactonshapingthefnalpolicy.

Industryis readytodeliverontheambitionof thedraftOREAP.Theactionplanwillstimulate hugelevelsofprivateinvestment,butwe nowneedgovernmenttodeliveragainstthe

proposedtimelines.Infact,sometimelines willneedtobeacceleratedtoachievethe 80% renewableelectricityby2030target.

Lastyear,DAERAministerEdwinPootssaidhe wouldagreetolobbyTCEonthematterofa NorthernIrelandleasing round.Alackofclear policyandunderpinninglegislation resulted inNorthernIrelandbeingexcludedfrom recentTCEleasing roundsbutthisisbeing remediedandIamencouragedbyTCE’slevel ofengagementintheOREAPprocess.

However,theindicativetimelinefor completionoftheleasing roundwillbetoo latetodeliverprojectsby2030. We will explorewithTCEandDfEhowthesetimelines canbe reduced.

Overall,theconsultationbringsafresh optimism.RenewableNImembersinclude privatesectordeveloperswithgenerous

budgetsandawillingnesstoinvest.Someof thesearewellestablishedfrmswithglobal presencesinthetraditionaloilandgassector andwhoarenowtransitioningto renewables.

Forthesefrms,newtechnologiesinwind generation,theirmanufactureandinstallation techniquesmeantheycan reactquicklygiven therightlegislativeconditionsandbeginwork rightawayonthenextgenerationofclean andlowenvironmentalimpactelectricity sources.

RenewableNIwillcontinuetoworkclosely withoffcialstomakeprogressondefning thepolicieswesourgentlyneedto reduceour carbonfootprint,tobecomeself-suffcient ingeneratingourownelectricityandeven becominganetexporterofelectricity.

Byworkingtogetherwecantransitiontoa cleanerfutureandboostoureconomy. ■

Almost1,000jobsbeing createdatHarland& Wolff

Almost1,000newjobsare tobe createdatHarland & Wolff in Belfastasshipbuilding returnsto thecity

Itmeansshipbuildingwillmake a grand return toBelfastafterHarland & Wolff secured a massivecontracttobuildvesselsfortheRoyal Navy Thecompanyispartof a teamthatwon a £1.6bnMinistryofDefenceshipbuilding contract.

Itwasconfrmedthat TeamResolute,also includingNavantiainSpainandBMTinBath, willbuildthree780ftFleetSolidSupportships fortheRoyalFleetAuxiliary

Productionstartsin2025,withthethreeships tobeoperationalinsevenyears.Belfastwillbe inchargeoffnalassembly, followingdesignin BathandbuildworkinSpain.

Unite representativeJoePassmore,who foughtforthefrm’s survivalafteritwentinto administrationunderitsoldowners,calledit“an historicmomentforshipbuildinginBelfast”.

Harland & Wolff willbe recruiting900people asitcompletesitsfrstvesselsin20years. A further300jobswillbecreatedinitsshipyard inAppledore,Devon.

To prepare forthework, TeamResoluteisto pump£100mintoitsshipyards,including£77m ininfrastructure atitsAppledore andBelfast sites,alongwith£21minskillsandtechnology transfer

Thebusiness,whichhas a workforceofaround 100inBelfast,istrainingup a newgeneration ofwelderstofulflthecontract.

Manyolderworkershavealsospokenof howthey’dbeen redraftedinafter30-year absences.

John Wood,groupchief,saidthedealwas “springboardingHarland & Wolff backintothe navalshipbuildingsphere”.

Headdeditwasalsothelastchanceto preserveshipbuildingskillssothattheycould bepassedonto a youngergeneration.

DefenceSecretaryBen WallaceandNI SecretaryChrisHeaton-Harrisvisitedthe shipyard fortheannouncement.

Mr Wallacesaid:“Thiscontractis a signifcant boosttotheUK’s historicshipbuilding industry, balancingshipbuildingacrossthe Union.

“Creatingjobsandprosperity, TeamResolute isbringingshipbuildingbacktoBelfast, developing a modern, resilientandthriving shipbuildingindustrythatwillsupportnaval andcommercialshipbuildingintothefuture.”

MrHeaton-Harrissaid:“Theaward ofthis majorUKgovernmentcontractisfantastic newsforNorthern IrelandandtheUK shipbuildingindustry

“Harland & Wolff isiconicworldwideforits shipbuildingindustry, andthecreationof hundredsofjobsthroughthiscontract,as wellastrainingopportunities,willensure thatBelfast remains a keyplayerinthe shipbuildingindustryofthefuture.” ■

TheHarland& Wolffshipyardcranes picturedinthedistanceineastBelfast

SinceOctober2021,Land&Property Services(LPS)hasbeenworkingwith thebusinesscommunitytogather rentalevidenceandotherinformationto helpassessnewvaluesonalmost75,000 non-domesticpropertiesinNorthern Ireland.

KnownasReval2023,thisprocesswill result inanewnon-domesticvaluationlistcoming intoeffectinApril.Nextyear’sratebillsfor non-domesticpropertieswillbebasedonthis newlist.

Ratesareanessentialsourceoffunding forpublicservices.Eachyearbusinessrates generatearound£650minNorthernIreland, whichhelpsfundvitalpublicservicessuchas oureducation,healthandinfrastructureaswell asawiderangeoffunctionsundertakenby districtcouncils.

Asratebillsarebasedonpropertyvalues, LPSneedstocarryout revaluationsfromtime

totimesothattheveryimportant revenue collectedthroughtheratingsystemisbasedon valueswhichareuptodate.Thismaintainsthe fairnessofthesystemby redistributingratesin linewithchangesinthepropertymarket.

Thelast revaluationofbusinesspropertiesin NorthernIrelandwasin2020andwasbased onApril2018 rentalvalues.

Alothaschangedinthepropertymarketsince then,notleastbecauseoftheimpactofthe globalpandemic.Thenewrateablevalues willbetter refecthowpropertyvalueshave changedbetweensectorsandlocationssince thelast revaluationin2020.

Morefrequent revaluationsissomethingthat businessratepayershavecalledforbecauseit meansthechangesareeasiertomanage.

Thenew revaluationhasbeendeliveredonly threeyearssincethelastonein2020.Thisis theshortesttimebetween revaluationsever deliveredinanyoftheUKjurisdictions.

Overall,thetotalrateablevalueinthevaluation listwilldecreasebyjustunder1%.Thisisthe frsttimethatthetotalvaluehasdecreased between revaluations,whichisa refection ofthechallengingeconomicconditions experiencedbysomebusinesssectorsand locationsatthevaluationdateofOctober1, 2021.

However,thatdoesnotmeanthatall ratepayerswillseea reducedrateable valuation.Somesectorsandlocationshave experiencedaboveaveragegrowthbecause themarketdemandforthosepropertieshas beenstrong.

Thequestionthatmostbusinessratepayersare interestediniswhatdifferencethiswillmake totheirratebill.

Thefrstthingtobeclearaboutisthatthe revaluationdoesnotinitselfchangethe amountof revenuethatisraisedfromrates,it just redistributeswhopaysthetaxonthebasis

ofmoreuptodateinformationaboutwhatis happeninginthemarket.

Aftera revaluation,boththeDepartmentof Financeanddistrictcouncilsadjustthe regional anddistrictratestomakesurethattheoverall amountofmoneycollectedstaysthesame. Thismeansthat,beforeanyotherchanges aremadetotheratesbytheExecutiveorthe councils,over64%ofbusinessratepayers wouldeitherseea reductionornochangein theirratebill.

However,therateablevaluesareonlyone aspectoftheratesbusinesseswillpay.The valueismultipliedbythecombinationofthe districtand regionalrate‘poundages’.

Theserateswillbesetbythedistrictcouncils and,intheabsenceofanExecutive,bythe SecretaryofStatebytheendofFebruary. Thosepoundageswillbeusedtocalculatethe ratesbillsfor2023-24.

UntilthosepoundageratesaresetinFebruary, itwillnotbepossibletosaywhetherany individualbusiness’sratesbillwillgoupor down.

Nowisyouropportunitytoviewthenewdraft valuationofyourpropertyaheadofratebills beingissuedinthespring.Inmanycasesyou willbeabletoviewabreakdownofhowyour valuationhasbeencalculated,aswellasseeing thesameinformationforsimilarproperties inyourownlocalityandindeedforsimilar propertiesacrossNorthernIreland.

Aswellasbeingabletoviewyournew valuationonlineatatimethatsuitsyou,the Reval2023teamwillbegoingoutacross NorthernIrelandinJanuaryandFebruary, holdingeventswhereyoucantalktothemand fndoutmoreaboutwhatyournewvaluation meansforyou.

Ifyouhaveanyqueriesin respectofyournew valuationpleasedon’twaituntilyourratebill fornextyeararrives.MakecontactwithLand &PropertyServicesnow. ■

CarolineRowley HEADOFBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,KILWAUGHTER MINERALS

Howmuchfreetimedoyouhaveoutside ofwork?

Ihaveasmuchfreetimeoutsideofwork asthenextpersonbut,tobehonest,work mattersareneverfarfrommymind.I’m genuinelypassionateaboutmyworklife andIheadupthebusinessdevelopment functionofamajorbusiness,soI’musually thinkingofwhatisnextonthehorizon. We’re anambitiouscompanysothere’splentyto challengeme.

ThebusinessoperatesacrossIrelandand GreatBritain,andmyjobmeansthatIhave a reasonableamountoftravel. We’vethree brands–KRend,KSystemsandKilwaughter Limesotheyeachneedtimeandattention whichcouldbevisitingoneofourtrade exhibitionsorvisitingcustomerstobuild partnerships.Asa result,alotofmyfreetime isspentexploringnewtownsorcitiesand gettingtoknowpartsofthecountryIhadn’t previouslyvisited.

Isitdiffcultseparatingyourworkand homelife?

Forme,it’ssomethingItryanddrawaclear linebetween.

Ibelievethatyoushouldtaketimeawayfrom thebusinesswhenit’sneeded–whetherthat’s goingforawalkorjustgettingoutside.It helpskeepyoufreshforyourworklifeand relaxedenoughtoenjoyyourhomelife.

Whatdoyoudoinyoursparetime?

Mysparetime revolvesaroundmytwogreat loves–travelandfood.So,ifI’mnoton holidaysomewhereorwithworkpromoting ourbrandsacrossthecountry,I’mplanning mynexttrip.Attheweekends,Iunwindby spendingtimewithfamilyorfriendsandfood isusuallyinvolved.Ihavesomethingonevery FridayandSaturdaynight–it’sbusybutthat’s whatIloveandwhatI’vealwaysbeenused too.

Istheresomethingyou’dliketostart doingortakeup?

Ilearnedlanguagesatschool,abitofGerman andFrench(andevenLatin),butdidn’tkeep anyofitupandwasn’tparticularlygoodat them.ButI reallywanttolearnSpanish. We

visitSpainasoftenaswecanandhave alotofSpanishfriendssoit reallyistime thatIgaveitagoandI’dlovethatsenseof achievementwhenIcrackit.

It’sholidaytime–wherearetravelling to?

Idon’tthinkthereiseveratimethatIdon’t havemynextholidaybooked.There’saways plentyhappeningatworkwithstrategic development,productlaunchesandnew projectssoitpaystobeorganisedandthe samegoesformytravelplanstoftwith that.I’mluckyandthisyear,I’mplanninga CaribbeancruiseaswellasatriptoMauritius later,nottomentionSpain.Ilovetogetaway tobrightsunshineandblueskies,exploring differentculturesandtastingnewfoods. ■

Jobs & recruitment

Jobsstrainahead following ‘high watermark’ in 2022

Onpaper2022provedtobearesilientyearforNorthern Ireland’sjobsmarket,butcould2023seeatightening ofbeltsandstrainonthehorizon? JohnMulgrew

speakstotheexpertsastowhatwe’reinstoreforin themonthsahead

Itappears,thatonthesurfaceatleast, wemanagedtoemerge relatively unscathedfromlockdownandthe pandemicintermsofemploymentlevels here.

Thatis, relativelyunscathed.However,what liesaheadforNorthernIrelandandthe economyasawholeisatighteninginthe monthsahead.

Whilethefeareddouble-digitunemployment ratefailedtoemerge,primarilyduetothe Government’sfurloughschemeandourlatest freshfguresshowlevelnowfallingto2.8%, it’spredictedthenumberof rolesavailable couldsoon recede,whilethehighwatermark foremploymentandwagegrowthcouldbe behindus.

“Akeythemeinthelabourmarketin2023 isoneofongoingstrainandlowmorale,“

RichardRamsey,chiefeconomistNorthern

Ireland,UlsterBank,tells UlsterBusiness

“Thenumberofjobvacanciesisalsoexpected to reduceinthecomingmonthsasNorthern Ireland’s recession,particularlywithinconsumer sensitivesectors,takeshold.”

Thelatestoffcialfgurespaintapositive pictureofNorthernIreland’s recoveryfrom Covid,though.

Thelatestmarket releaseshowsthatpayrolled employeenumbersandearningshaveboth increasedovertheyear.

“Themost recentlabourmarket releaseshows somepositives,withunemploymentand economicinactivityshowingimprovementover theyear,”Marie-ClaireLogueoflawfrmDWF says.

“Acloserlookatthefguresshowedthat payrolledemployeenumbersincreasedby

It’sbeenclaimedakey themeinthelabour marketin2023isoneof ongoingstrain

0.2%overthemonthandare2%abovethe fgure recordedinDecember2021.Inaddition, the reportshowedthatpayrolledearningsalso increasedoverthemonth,by0.3%andare 6.3%abovethefgure recordedinDecember 2021.”

However,thelatestoffcialstatisticsshow NorthernIrelandenteredatechnical recession attheendof2022,whilepreviousUK-wide statshadalreadyindicatedthatatthetimeof thelastGovernmentbudgetannouncement.

“Withinfationsettooutpacewagegrowth formostoftheyear,poorstaffmoraleand awaveofindustrialactionlookssettobea given,”MrRamseysays.

Hesaysfrmswillbe“walkingatightropeof

tryingto retainstaffbut remainproftableor maintainservicelevels.

“Staffshortages(andlowmorale)appearto bemostacutewithintheNHS.”MrRamsey saysthenumberofvacanciesacrossthewider healthserviceaccordingtoone recruitment platformarenowrunningatmorethan10 timestheleveltheywerepre-pandemic.

“Thisislikelytogetworsebeforeitgetsbetter andwearelikelytohearmorestoriesof medicalstaffemigratingtothelikesofCanada, NewZealandandAustralia.Thechallengefor manysectorsoftheeconomyisgettingstaff moralebacktopre-pandemiclevels.”

Ofcourse,certainindustriesarecontinuingto hire,andmanyarestrugglingtofndtheright

talent,includingacrosssomeareaswithintech.

However,that’salreadyasectorwhichis alreadyunderstrainonagloballevel.

“ItisnotedthateventhemightyAmazonis closingwarehousesintheUKandshedding jobs,”MrRamseysays.“Thisisacanaryinthe coalmineforwhatliesinstore.”

IrishtechnologygiantStripehasalready announcedjobcutswhileatthetimeofgoing toprintMicrosoftlookedsettomakecutsof itsownacrossitsglobalbusiness.

However,closertohome,LibertyIT–the technologyarmoftheglobalinsurancegiant basedinBelfast–saysit’sonthehuntfornew staffand remainsingrowthmode.

“Wehaveambitiousplansforcontinued growthin2023andbeyondandwill recruit frominternsandgraduates,throughto leadership roles,”EmmaMullan,seniordirector oftalentatLibertyIT,tells UlsterBusiness

“Wearepassionateaboutharnessingthe potentialofallofourteams,andalongside ourexternal recruitmentefforts,wewillhavea continuedfocusonpromotingfromwithin.

“Withour2022promotions representing 26%oftheorganisation,it’sclearthatwe haveanabundanceofextremelytalented technicalpeopleinourmarketandthatwe cangenuinelysay,LibertyITisagreatplaceto comeandbuildacareer.

“AtLibertyIT,wehaveincredibletalentacross>

ourbusinessandthatiswhatsetsusapart. Whiletechisahighlycompetitiveindustry, wearecontinuallyblownawaybythecalibre oftalentLibertyITattractsacrosstheUKand Ireland.Inadditionto recruitingsoftware engineers,wehaveexpandedcapabilitiesin thelastfewyears,particularlyintheareas ofdatascience,consultancyandanalyticsto attractanincreasinglydiversegroupofpeople toourteam.”

Turningtothelatestoffcialfguresfrom theNorthernIrelandStatisticsandResearch Agency(NISRA),thenumberofpeoplemade redundantinNorthernIrelandlastyearwasat itslowestlevelinmorethan20hears.

Therewere730confrmed redundanciesover theyear.That’sthelowestsinceitbegan measuringthetrendin2000.

Acrosstheyear,1,570 redundancieshadbeen proposed,andofthe730 rolesactuallymade

redundant,80hadbeenlostinDecember.

Alongwitha2%riseinthenumberof peopleoncompanypayrollsinDecember,the redundancyfguresuggeststhejobsmarket hereisproving robustdespiteeconomic challenges.

Lookingattheseasonallyadjusted unemploymentrate(theproportionof economicallyactivepeopleaged16and overwhowereunemployed)fortheperiod SeptembertoNovember2022,it’snowfallen to2.8%–down0.3%overthequarterand 0.8%inthelastyear.

“Theproportionofpeopleaged16to64in workincreasedby1.4%overthequarterand increasedby3.3%overtheyearto71.3%,” itsays.“Thetotalnumberofweeklyhours workedinNI(28.5million)increasedby6.9% overthequarterandincreasedby4.3%over theyear.”

Andtheeconomicactivityratefellsby 1.2%overthequarter,andby2.8%over thecourseoftheyear.

“Thelatestlabourmarket releaseshows thatpayrolledemployeenumbersand earningshavebothincreasedover theyear,”itsays.“Measuresoftotal employment(employmentrateandhours worked),unemploymentandeconomic inactivitycontinuetoshowimprovement overtheyearbuthavenotyet returnedto theirpre-pandemicposition.”

ButaccordingtoRichardRamsey,2023 issettobealonghaul,withonekey watchword.

“Thechallengeformanysectorsofthe economyisgettingstaffmoralebackto pre-pandemiclevels.Thatwillbealong haulandiseasiersaidthandone.Morale willbethewatchwordfor2023.” ■

Despiteotherglobal technologyfrmsannouncing cutsLibertyITinBelfastison thehuntfornewrecruits

BGFinvested£20min NIbusinessesin2022

GrowthcapitalinvestorBGFsaysit invested£20minNorthernIreland businessesinthelastyear.

Thattakesthetotalamountinvestedin NorthernIrelandcloseto£70msinceBGF openeditsBelfastoffcein2015.

Intotal,BGFhasbackedeightcompanies acrossthe regionoverthelastsevenyears, withseveralcompaniesalso receivingfollowoninvestmentstofacilitatefurthergrowth. Notableinvesteesincludewastemanagement and recyclingcompanyRiverRidge,coffeeshop chainBob&Berts,andsoftwaredeveloper AuditComply.

In2022,BGFcompleteda£10mfollowoninvestmentintoLisburn-basedblind manufacturer,Mzuritosupportitsambitious growthplansandfutureacquisitions. Thecompanyhasundertakenaseriesof acquisitionsinthepast24monthswhichhas helpedgrowits revenuestoover£200m.The businessnowemploysmorethan1,500staff acrossNorthernIreland.

Andtowardsthecloseoflastyear,BGFalso invested£5minBallymena-basedfaçade specialists,ClarkeGroup,inordertofacilitate furtherexpansionintheUKandIrishmarkets. Thefamily-ownedbusiness recentlyopened alargenewheadoffceandadjoined manufacturingfacilitytosupportinnovation andallowittocapitaliseonthefastgrowth façademarket.

TheyearwasalsomarkedbyBGF’sfrstexit ofaNorthernIrelandcompany,following thesaleofmarket-leadingkitchendoorand componentmanufacturer,Uform,toprivate equitygroupCardinalIrelandPartners.Theexit generateda“moneymultipleof2.2xonBGF’s initialinvestmentwithanIRRof25%”,itsays.

Aspartofthedeal,BGF re-investedalongside Cardinalandwillcontinuetobackthe companyasaminorityshareholder.

“Weweredelightedtoexpandourportfolio withtheadditionofClarkeandtocomplete ourfrstsignifcant realisationinNorthern IrelandfromUform,”PatrickGraham,headof NorthernIrelandandScotlandatBGF,said.

“BGFwassetuptobackbrilliantbusinesses thatarelookingtoscaleandthatisexactly whatUformhasdone.

“Lastyearsawexcellenttradingperformance fromourportfoliocompanies,whichis atestamenttothemanagementteams thatwe’vebackedandit’sgreattoseethe businesses,suchasMzuriandBob&Bert’s growandscaleintonewmarkets.Our NorthernIrelandportfoliocontinuestogrow anddevelop,andwe’repleasedtohaveour

investor,ChrisNixonbasedlocallytodevelop these relationshipsandhelptodrivetheir growth.

“Aswelookahead,BGFwillstillbeseekingto supportmorebusinessesandfuelgrowthin the regiondespitethechallengingeconomic landscape. We areconfdentthat2023will beanotherpositiveyearwithfurthernew investmentstoannounceandmoresuccessful realisationsascompaniescontinuetomature.”

Meanwhile,otherdevelopmentsin2022saw BGFportfoliocompanyBob&Bertsopena newsiteinCookstown,plusnewstoresin PerthinScotlandandinCarlisleandBuryin England,takingtotalstorenumberstoover 25. ■

PatrickGrahamofBGF

Astheongoingrowover theNIProtocolrumbles on,ChrisElliott,professor offoodsafetyatQueen’s, tellshowlackofproper checksisleavingus vulnerable,writes Alyson Magee

BrexithasleftNorthernIreland andGreatBritainwideopento opportunitiesforfoodfraud, accordingtoaleadingglobalfoodsecurity expert.

ChrisElliottisaprofessoroffoodsafetyand microbiologyatQueen’sUniversity,Belfastand founderofitsInstituteforGlobalFoodSecurity (IGFS).

Asthe rowovertheNorthernIrelandProtocol rumbleson,“goodsthatarecomingfrom EuropeintoNorthernIrelandaresubjectto someinspections,butveryfew,”hesaid. “Thereisn’tthesamedegreeofrigourthat therewaspre-Brexit.”

Alotofbusinesseshavebeensayingtheyquite liketheProtocol,buttheirtunemightchange whenfullchecksandinspectionscomeinwith itsproperimplementation,ProfElliottsaid.

Meanwhile,controlsaroundGBimportsare evenmorelaxinthewakeofBrexit.

“AlotoffoodfromoutsidetheEUthatcomes intoBritainactuallymakesitswaythrough Europe,particularlythroughbigportslike Rotterdam,”hesaid.

“WhenwewerepartoftheEU,thatwasour frstlineofdefencebecauseanythingcoming intoRotterdamtobesoldintheEUmarket wassubjecttochecksandinspections.”

Thisisnotthecasenow,withno-onecaring what’sinGB-boundlorriesaslongasthey don’tstopandunloadinEurope.

AndwhiletheEUitselfsuppliesanestimated 30%offoodeatenintheUK,EUexportsto

BrexithasleftNI wideopenforfood fraud:expert

GBhavenotbeensubjecttoanychecksand inspectionssinceBrexit.

“Theyweregoingtoputchecksandmeasures inplace,butJacobRees-Moggsaidactually that’sgoingtobetooexpensive,”ProfElliott said.“Hisviewwas,no,wewon’tdoany checksandinspections,let’sjustleaveitfor industrytodo.

“So,we’vegotthosetwovulnerabilities. We’vefoodthat’scomingfromoutsideEurope thatisn’tbeingcheckedinEuropenow,and

Europeanfoodwhichisn’tbeinginspectedat all.

“Iknowthesepeoplewhocheatandconduct fraudandthey’rejustrubbingtheirhands,to behonestwithyou,becauseit’slikeunlocking thedoorsandwindowsofthecountry.They canbreakinanytimetheywantnow.”

Exacerbatingthesituation,Brexitispartofa “triplewhammy”ofthreatstofoodsupply resilience,alongsidethepandemicandconfict inUkraine.

“Whatthathasmeantissupplychainshave changeddramatically,”saidProfElliott.“We’re sourcingthingsfromplaceswe’veneverhad tosourcefrombeforebecauseofavailability.” Andproblemsarearising.

“JustbeforeChristmas,22lorriesofmeat werestoppedcomingintotheUKfrom EasternEuropeandofthe22lorries,21 containedmeatwhichwasn’tftforhuman consumption,”hesaid.

“Nowthat’sjustthetipofaveryuglyiceberg asfarasI’mconcerned.Itjusthappenedthe lorrieswereinspectedbecausetheywere suspicious.Canyouimaginehowmanyare actuallygettingthroughthesystemwithout beingcheckedandinspected?”

Nowagloballeaderinfoodsecurity,ProfElliott hascomealongwayfromhisdaysasahigh schooldropout.“Iwastedtheopportunityof goingtoaverygoodschool,”hesaid.“Iwent toBelfastHighSchool,and reallydidn’tmake

themostofit.Ithenhadtomakeupforthat withalotofpart-timeeducation.”

Afterleavingschool,hejoinedtheDepartment ofAgriculture’sveterinary researchlaboratories atStormont,wherehisfamilyfarming backgroundmeanthehadanaturalaptitude forthework.

Inthenewjob,ProfElliottwasencouragedto getbackontrackwithhiseducation.

“TheDepartmentofAgriculturewasa phenomenalemployer,”hesaid.“Theynot onlysupportedmefnancially,helpingpaythe fees,butIgotlotsoftimeoffworktodothe studiesaswell.”

Overa12-yearperiod,heputintimeatnight school,UlsterUniversity’sJordanstownand ColerainecampusesandQueen’s.

Initially resittinghisO-levels,heworkedhis waythroughanONCinmedicallaboratory

sciences,HNCsinmedicallaboratorysciences andhaematology,afellowshipfortheInstitute ofMedicalLaboratorySciences,master’s degreeinbiomedicalsciencesandPhDin veterinarysciences.

“IdidthePhDatQueen’sparttimeand continuedtoworkattheDepartmentof Agriculturebutthen,quiteafewyearsafter that,Queen’scontactedme,”ProfElliottsaid.

Studentenrolmenthadbeendwindlingatits schoolofagricultureandfoodsciences.

“Whattheywantedtodowasstartafresh andbringafewnewfacesintoadaptthe educationand researchprogrammesto somethingthatwasmoreimpactful,and matchedwiththesituationwewerefacing intermsofissuesaroundproductivity, sustainabilityandfoodsecurity,”hesaid.

ProfElliottjoinedthenewInstituteof Agri-FoodandLandUsein2006,butfelt Queen’sstillhadn’tgotits redirectionofthe departmentquiteright.

“Iproposedweshouldgomuchmore globalintermsoffoodsecurity,andnotjust concentrateonlocalmatters,”hesaid,and IGFSwascreatedin2013.

Celebratingits10thanniversarythisyear, IGFShasbeenamajorsuccess.Gettingoff thegroundwithateamofseven,itnow comprisesaround80academics,80principal investigators,morethan100post-doctoral researchersandPhDstudentsapieceand another50administratorsandtechnicalstaff.

“We’veabodyofabout500peoplenow, whichisoneofthelargestfoodsecurity institutesintheworld,”hesaid.

EstablishmentofIGFScoincidedwith thehorsemeatscandal,withProfElliott subsequentlycommissionedbytheUK governmenttoleada reviewoftheintegrity andassuranceoffoodsupplynetworks.

IGFShascontinuedsuchworkonaglobal scale.“We’velookedatthecomplexityof theglobalfoodsupplysystem,anditis unbelievablycomplicatedwithmultiplesteps, productsfrommanydifferentsourcesand>

BrexithasleftNI wideopenforfood fraudaccordingto oneexpert

veryconvolutedsupplychains,”ProfElliott said.

“Wetrytogetanunderstandingofthose supplychainsandwherethevulnerabilities exist,notonlytofraudbuttobigfoodsafety issuesaswell.

“Thenwe reallyconcentrateoureffortson vulnerablespots,tofndoutwhatisgoing onaroundbigfoodcontaminationincidents happeningeitherbyaccidentorbydesign.”

OneoftheInstitute’scurrentprojectsis“real scientifcdetectivework”todeterminethe originofsoya,acontroversialcommodity widelyusedinavarietyoffoodproductsand asfeedmaterialforlivestock.

Foodproducersarekeentoensuretheirsoya isethicallyandsustainablysourcedandnot, forexample,fromdeforestedareasofBrazil includingitsrainforest.

Whilehecontinuestolead researcharound foodintegrity,ProfElliottissemi-retiredand nolongerinvolvedinanyadministrationor teachingatQueen’s.

Hehas,however,continuedtoexpandthe global reachofhisworkwithanew roleas chairoftheInternationalJointResearchCenter onFoodSecuritycoveringtheASEAN regionof SoutheastAsia.

“It’sahugeareaforfoodproduction,but hasbeenveryheavilyimpactedbyclimate change,”ProfElliottsaid.“We’reworking outtheretotryandthinkabouthowtheycan keepproducingfoodinthemidstofallofthe terriblethingsthatarehappeningclimatically.

“Someofthosecountriesaremassive exporterssoiftheirfoodproductiongets impacted,sodoesotherpartsoftheworld.

“Anexampleofthatisnobody realisedhow bigafoodproducingcountrytheUkraine wasuntilsuddenlyalotoftheexports wereblockedfromUkraine,anditcaused devastationinmanydifferentpartsofthe world.”

Scienceandtechnologycanplayahuge role inmitigatingagainsttheimpactofclimate changeonagricultureandfoodacrossthe world.

“Wedothingsonaglobalscale,butthework oftheInstituteisalsoaboutsupportingthe localagri-foodindustry,”hesaid.

“Whatweneedtobeawareofisallthese disruptionsintheglobalsupplysystemimpact NorthernIrelandbecauseweimportsomany ofourrawmaterialshere.

“Whatwearetryingtodoslowly andgraduallyisbringaboutabigger

diversifcationofthetypesoffoodwe producehere.I’mahugeadvocateof,say, growingmoreoatsinIrelandbecauseour climateisprettygoodforoatsbutmost oftheoatswesellinNorthernIreland,we actuallyimportfromEngland.

“Weneedtothinkaboutmoremixed farmingsystemsandgettingawayfrom thinkingaboutit’sgottobecattleormilk; diversifcationisgoingtobe reallyimportant intermsoflong-termsustainabilityofour agri-foodsystem.”

IGFS’s10thanniversaryisnottheonly milestoneforProfElliottthisyearwithAntrim Rovers,asportsteamhehelpedfound, reaching25yearsinApril.

“Itstartedoffasjustsomewherewhere mysonandhisfriendscouldplayinasafe andnon-sectarianenvironment,”hesaid, butithassincegrownintoapopularclub withmultipleteamsandhiseight-year-old grandsonnowamember.

ProfElliottsaidhismainhobbyis recreating hisyouthwithhisgrandson,whether swimmingorlookingforrarespeciesof mushroomsinparksaroundAntrim.After undergoingheartsurgeryonlyafewmonths ago,heisalsotrainingforaseriesofhalf marathonsalongsidehissontoraisefunds forAntrimRovers. ■

Riskmanagement & security

Sponsoredby

Arethedaysof surveillance capitalism numbered?

Astargeteddigitaladvertisinghasbeenkeytothe successesofsocialmediafrmsforyears, SteveDempsey looksathowmanyarenowinthecrosshairsofregulators

Targeteddigitaladvertisinghas paidtheinternet’sbillsforyears, keepingproductsandservicesfree forall.However,personalisedadsand thedatacollectionprocessesthey require arenowinthecrosshairsof regulatorsin prominentjurisdictions.

It’sabigheadacheforbigtech.Butsome companiesaresufferingmorethanothers.

Metaisprobablyworstoff.TheEuropeanData ProtectionBoardhasdecidedthere’snolegal basisforhowFacebook’sownercollectsand usesdataforadtargeting.

UndertheGDPR,businessesneedaformal basisforcollectingandprocessinguserdata. Facebookarguedthatthedataitcollectswas necessarytofulflthecontractualagreement

withitsusers.TheEuropeanDataProtection Board’s response:nodice.

Asa resultFacebooknowhasthreemonthsto fgureouthowtocomplywiththeGDPR–or tochallengetheruling,whichitwilldo.

Thisisn’taoneoffscrewup,likethe CambridgeAnalyticascandal.Neitherisit adangerousfailureoftrustandsafetythe likesofwhichFacebookhaspresidedover inMyanmar.Itisanexistentialchallengeto Meta’sadvertising revenue.

Othertechcompanieshavetakennoteandare tryingtogetaheadofthecurve. TikTokisona charmoffensiveintheEU.

Recently,chiefexecutiveShouZiChewwas inBrusselstellingeveryonethattheChinese-

ownedappwouldcomplywithEUrules aroundprivacy,freespeechandchildsafety. TikTokisinthefringlineduetoitsmassive growthandconcernsfromtheUSaround aggressivedataharvestingandsurveillance.

Googlehasseenthewritingonthewallfor sometime.It’sgivenitselfplentyofcoverwith aseriesofannouncementsaboutits‘privacy sandbox’.

Theseareahandfulofinitiativesdesignedto maintainitsadvertisingbusinesswithoutthe needtousethirdpartycookiestotrackusers aroundtheweb.

Butthenatureoftheseinitiativeshaschanged afewtimes,asGooglehas road-testedthem withadvertisers.PlustheCompetitionand MarketsAuthorityintheUKandahost>

ofattorneysgeneralfromtheUShavebeen questioninghowthisprivacysandboxwill impactusersandpublishers,andwhether itwillmakeGoogleevenmoredominantin digitaladvertising.

Butdoestheincreasedscrutinyforbigtech meananopportunityforotheradvertisers?Or willprivacy-relatedchangesmeanafurther reductioninad revenue?Scale remainsthe issueforpublisherswholackthe reachofthe platforms.

Insomemarketspublishersareganging togethertocollecttheirownfrstpartydata. InSwitzerland,theOneLogsystemisbeing usedbycommercialpublishersincluding Ringier,TXmediabrandsandthepublicservice broadcasterSRGSSR.

Theynow reachaquarteroftheSwiss population.PublishersintheCzechRepublic andPortugalhavealsobeenusingacommon loginforsomeyears,allowingthemtopool andmonetiseinformationaboutthebrowsing historyoftheir readersinananonymisedand privacycompliantmanner.

Butevenwheremediaoutletscansuccessfully cometogethertopool resources(and audiences)theywillstruggletokeepupwith thebigtechplayers.

Bigtech’ssurveillancecapitalismmachinewill bedismantledinthelongterm,and rebuilt withlesscapabilitytoundermineautonomy anddemocracy.Butintheshortterm,expect ongoingskirmishesbetweenbigtechand regulators.Thingswillgetmessierbeforethey getclearer.

Why?Becausecleaningupthewildwest oftargetedadvertisingisamessybusiness. Differentbusinessmodelsfordifferentapps andservicesmeanthere’snoone-size-fts-all approachtoapplying regulations.

Thefactthatdifferentjurisdictionshave differentlegislation–orinsomecases,none atall–makesthesituationevenmurkier. DifferentstatelegislaturesintheUSare passingspecifctech regulationlaws,speech lawsorprivacylawsorchildprotectionlaws.In Europe,thereisamorecentralisedapproach–butstill,therearesomeissues.Thereisjostling

betweendifferentorganisations.

Forexample,theIrishDataProtection CommissionandEuropeanDataProtection Boarddon’talwaysagree.Plusthere’s thefrictionbetweenadjacentlegislation. WillBrusselsassertmoreauthorityviathe DigitalServicesAct?OrwillGDPR,which placesprimaryauthorityinthecountryof establishment,winout?

Butthebiggestimpedimentisthemoney behindthestatusquo.Mediabuyerswillstill usethepowerfuladvertisingtoolsofferedby bigtech.

Bigtechwillmakesmallchangestolimit targetingincertainareas–justenoughto keepthe regulatorsatbay.LastyearFacebook/ Metaannouncedthatitwouldbelimitinghow advertiserscouldtargetunder18s.

Plus,thelobbyingpowerofthebiggestdigital advertisingcompaniesmeanstheywillridethe targetedadvertisinggravytrainforaslongas possible.Bigtechwilllawyerupbeforeit rolls over. ■

OffcedealsinNorthernIreland ‘stilllagpre-pandemiclevels’

Offcedealsherearestilllagging behindpre-pandemiclevelswith 53in2022wellbehindthe record of84setfouryearsearlier,accordingtoa new report.

Butat£24persqft, rentingBelfast’sswankiest newoffcescostsafractionofthe€65(£58) forequivalentgradeAspaceinDublin.

Initsoffcemarket reportfor2022,agents CBREsaidthemarkethad reboundedin NorthernIrelandlastyear,withtake-uphitting 314,916sqftacross53deals.

Thatsquarefootagewasa reboundon2021, whenCovid-19 restrictionswerestillhitting demand.

Butdemandisstillwaybehinda recordyearof 84dealsin2018,whichwasfollowedby64in 2019.Activityalmostgroundtoahaltin2020, whiletherewere38transactionsin2021.

CBREsaid2022hadbeena“bumper”yearin comparisonwith2021.

Thecommercialpropertyagentssaid companieswerelookingforgoodquality spacethatwasalsoenergy-effcient—on thebasisthatthebettertheirworkspace,the easieritwouldbetokeepandattractstaff.

At36,themajorityofthelettingshadtaken placeinthesecondhalfoftheyear,withdeals includinglawfrm Tughansand recruitment frmMCSGroupmovingtoTheEwart,while techfrmAfacalsospreaditswingstoCity Quays3.

CBREsaidthatpredictingoffce-takeupwas diffcultmarketascompanieswereconsidering the‘optimum’amountofspacetheyshould havepost-pandemic.

Butoverall,itestimatesthatcompaniesinthe

marketforspacearelookingfor400,000sqft intotal.

Andnewdevelopmentswereprovingmore popularastheyweremoreenergyeffcient.

Thatmeantthatlandlordsofolderbuildings werehavingtoinvestmorein repurposing theirspaceiftheyhopedtokeeptenantsor attractnewones.

ServicedoffcessuchastheScottishProvident BuildingandUrbanHQatEagleStarHouse stillaccountedforjustasmallpartoftheoffce market.

Withthreenewhigh-endoffcebuildings completedin2022–OlympicHouse,The EwartandCityQuays3–top rentswerenow at£24asqft,thoughthatwasexpectedtogo upin2023.However, rentinolderproperties wasjust£18to£20asqft.

Attheendof2021,top rentswerebetween £22and£24sqfoot,while refurbished

propertieswereatthesamelevel.

AndnonewsupplyofgradeAoffcesisdueto completein2023,asidefromsmallerprojects likethePrint WorksandPearlAssuranceHouse inBelfast.

David Wright,directoratCBRE,said:“Aftera slowstartto2022theBelfastmarketfnished verystronglyinthesecondhalfoftheyear, supplydecreasedastheyearprogressedand whilstthesectorhasenterednewterritoryin howweallwork,theoffcemarketisaliveand kickingwith53deals recordedinBelfastcity centrein2022.”

Withnewsupplydiminishing, rentsforgrade Aspacewouldgoup,butevenso,“Belfast offersaverycompetitivepropertycostbase comparedtootherUKandIrishcities,”Mr Wrightsaid.

“Italsoneedstobe rememberedthatproperty costs representonlyasmallproportionoftotal businesscosts.” ■

Afacismoving intoCityQuays3

HarcourtDevelopmentsinvesting inLoughEskeexpansion

BySeanPollock

HarcourtDevelopments,oneofIreland’slargestproperty developmentandmanagementcompaniesbehindTitanic Quarter,istoinvest€5minanexpansionofitsfve-star LoughEskeCastleinCoDonegal.

Thecompany,whichwasfoundedbyDonegalpropertydeveloperPat Dohertyandisbehindthe TitanicQuarterinBelfast, recentlysubmitted aplanningapplicationtoexpandLoughEskeCastlebybuildingatwostoreyextensionwith24suitesandfourbedrooms.

DónalCox,generalmanagerofLoughEskeCastle,saidthecompany wasdelightedto revealplanstoexpandthehotel.

“Thisisduetodemandwehaveseenforaluxurybedroomproduct whichcancaterforfamiliesandcelebratorystays.”

Headdedthedecisiontoexpand refectedLoughEskeCastle’sincreased businessfrominternationalmarkets.

Itiscurrentlyforecasttowelcome40%moreinternationalgueststhis yearthanseenbeforetheCovid-19pandemic.

ClementGaffney,grouphoteloperationsmanagerforHarcourt Developments,addedthattheinvestmentwouldalsoseeLoughEske Castle recruitextrastaff.

“Withtheinvestmentof€5mintotheexpansionproject,wewill welcomemoreemployeestotheteam,bringingourtotalemployment to235staffattheproperty.

“LoughEskeCastleopened15yearsagoinDecember. To seethe propertycontinuetodevelopandgofromstrengthtostrengthisa

credittotheteam’shardworkanddedicationaswellasthevisionofour chairmanPatDoherty.”

HarcourtDevelopmentsopenedthepropertyin2007afterinvesting €40minit.

Sincethenthehotelhas receivedmanynationalandinternational awards,featuringinCondeNast’stop10ofluxuryhotelsinIrelandfor thepastfveyears.

TheHarcourtCollectionoperatessevenhospitalitypropertiesin Ireland,theUKandtheCaribbeanundertheumbrellaofHarcourt Developments.Thegroupprovidesfull-timeemploymenttoover1,500 peopleacrossallitsholdings.

Harcourthaslistedseveralofitsmostnotableprojects,includingthe TitanicQuarterinBelfast,theconstructioninDublinof1,000 residential unitsatCitywest,andthebuildingofPark West,oneofIreland’slargest businessandtechnologycampuses. ■

LoughEskeCastle inDonegal

Healthcare

Theriseofprivate healthcarein NorthernIreland

Asdemandforpublicservicescontinuestooutstrip supply,andwithanever-increasingagingpopulation, UlsterBusiness looksatthesizeableinvestment underwayinNorthernIrelandacrosstheprivate healthcaresector

Thelevelofinvestmentinprivate healthcareinNorthernIrelandover thelastyearshascertainlybeen evident.

Withanagingpopulation,thedemandsand requirementsacrosshealthareonlylikelyto increaseintheyearsahead.

Andwhileit’sprobablyevidenttomostofus thattheNHSisverymuchunderpressure, someofourleadingprivateproviderscontinue togrow,expandandalsoworkdirectlywith ourownpublichealthservice.

KingsbridgeHealthcareGroupisamong NorthernIreland’sleadingprivatehealthcare providers,whichwasestablishedin2004(as 3fvetwoHealthcare).

InadditiontoitsthreehospitalsinBelfast,Sligo andLondonderry,italsooperatesahostof otherhealthcare relatedservicesincludingThe Kingsbridge TrainingAcademywhichcontinues professionaldevelopmentforhealthcare practitionersnotonlyKingsbridgestaffbutalso hundredsofNHSstaffeachmonth.

“Thereisnodoubtthatboththepublicand privatehealthcaresectorsinNIarefacing unprecedentedchallenges,”MarkRegan,chief executiveofKingsbridgeHealthcareGroup, told UlsterBusiness

“Ourhealthcareleadershavetalkedaboutan ‘aging’populationandthechallengesthiswill bring.Theproblemsweseeinthenewson adailybasisarebecausethatpopulationhas now‘aged’butwehavenottransformedthe publicservicestodealwiththis.Asa resultthe demandforpublicservicesisnowoutstripping capacityonadailybasis.

“Inthat regard,weofferdemandlead solutionsandarehelpingtoplugthegapby offeringprivatelyfundedoptionsandalsoby partneringwiththeNHSaswehavedone for20yearsnow,inprovidingmorecapacity when required.It’salittleknownfactthatwe accommodatethousandsofappointments everyyearforNHSpatients,‘freeatthepoint ofdelivery’,throughNHScontractinginthe samemannerasthetrustsandfamilyGPs.

“Onapersonallevel,Igetcountlessphone callsfrombusinessownersandindividuals lookingforhelpandadviceonmedicalissues forthemselvesoroneoftheiremployees;this isabarometerofaNHSsystemwhereaccess isbecomingincreasinglychallengingandthus theyareturningtotheprivatesector.”

Thegroupisnowplanningtoopenitsnew Diagnosticand TreatmentCentreattheKing’s HallhealthhubinBelfast.

Withtheabilitytodiagnosestomachand

bowelcancerinaround1,000patientsevery month,thecentrepridesitselfonthespeedof accesswithatargettimefromaGP referralto diagnosisbeingtypicallyaroundsevendays.

“Signifcantinvestmenthasalsobeenmade toanextensiontotheircurrenthospitalon theLisburnRoad,whichwillfurtherenhance patientservicesinorthopaedics,cataractand openheartsurgery,whenitopenslaterthis year.Thehospital remainstheonlycentrein NIoutsidetheRoyal VictoriaHospitaltooffer cardiacsurgeryinitstwo-bedICU,”itsays.

Thecentrewillformpartofthewiderplansfor

theKingsHallHealthand WellbeingPark.

Thewider£100m regenerationprojectisbeing developedbyBenmoreOctopusandalongside amixed residentialdevelopmentfromChoice, whichwillalsoincludemedicalandlife sciencesaccommodation,amulti-storeycar park,acentralplaza,acreche, retail,cafes, restaurantsandleisurefacilities.

“Privatehealthcareservicesareanimportant partofamodernhealthcaresystem,”David Burrows,directoratKingsHallCommercial, whichisdevelopingtheKingsHallHealthand WellbeingPark,said.

“Astrongprivatesystemprovidesmuch neededadditionalcapacitytomeetdemand. ItisapotentialpartnerfortheNHSand,of course,providesadditionalchoiceforpatients. ThesectorinNorthernIrelandhasevolved signifcantlyin recentyearsandisoncourse tohaveoneofthebesthealthcareofferingsin theworldinthecomingyears.

“TheKingsHallHealthand WellbeingPark isplayingacentral roleinthatjourneyby providingco-locationspaceforarangeof healthcareandlifesciencesorganisations.

To dateithaswelcomedNI’slargestprovider KingsbridgeHealthcaretotheDataworks

buildingonthesite.Itprovidesaone-stop JAG-accreditedendoscopyservicecovering acomprehensiverangeofgastrointestinal diagnosticsandtreatments,including gastroscopy,sigmoidoscopy,colonoscopy, CTcolonoscopy,bariumstudiesandother fuoroscopictreatments.

“OthertenantsonthesiteincludeDiaceutics, AbbeyfeldandMaloneKindergartenandwe willbeannounceotherhealthcareprovidersto thewidersiteinthecomingmonths.”

Elsewhere,thethe‘LizDallasOutpatients Centre’atKingsbridgePrivateHospital

TheformerKing’sHallwhichisbeing developedasamajorhealthhub

North WestinBallykellyhas recentlybeen unveiled.

Namedafterthelongestservingemployeein theoriginalhospital,thislatestdevelopment ispartofanoverall£6minvestmentinthe hospital’sfacilitieswhichhasalsocreatedan additional80jobsinthearea.

“Whenwefrsttookoverthehospitalin Ballykellyweannouncedourcommitmentto notonlybuildoncurrentservicesofferedbut todeliverawiderangeofspecialismsthatwill enhancethechoicesavailabletoeveryonein thenorthwest regionandacrosstheisland,” AnthonyMcKenna,generalmanagerat KingsbridgePrivateHospitalNorth West,said.

AndinNewry,followinga£3minvestment, NewryPrivateClinichasbeen reopenedby DavidandLauraMcCaul.

The renovationwillseetheclinicoffering some50treatmentareasandfastaccess toover20ofIreland’stophealthcare consultants.

TreatmentandservicesatNewryPrivateClinic includedermatology,urology,cardiology, gynaecology,ear,noseandthroat(ENT), paediatricsandover40othertreatments.

Speakingasthe revampwasannounced, LauraMcCaul,clinicdirectoratNewryPrivate Clinicsaid:“Whenwefrstacquiredtheclinic in2021,wewerecommittedtobuildonthe fantasticheritageandteambuiltoverthepast twodecadesbythepreviousowners.

“Ourvisionistodeliverworldclassprivate healthcaretopatientsthroughawiderange oftreatmentsandspecialismswhichwill enhancethechoicesavailabletoeveryonein

NewryandMourneandsurroundingareas. AsproudNewrypeople,wewanttoput Newryonthemapforleadingthewayin professionalhealthcare.”

“Wehavesignifcantinvestmentplansfor theclinicwithadditionaltreatmentand servicescomingin2023. We haveinvested heavilyin refurbishment,equipment, brandingandweb. We haveplansinplace tohavenewconsultantsandspecialties jointheteam,withsixmedicalconsultation roomsandopeninghoursineveningsand weekends,wehavethecapacitytofacilitate this.

“Wehavegeneratednewjobsalreadyinour frstyearandplantocreateadditionaloffce spaceforourexpandingadministration supportteams. We areextremelyexcitedfor thefuture.” ■

MarkRegan,KingsbridgePrivate Hospital,withDavidBurrowsof KingsHallCommercial

The top10 dishes that stayed with meduring2022

JohnMulgrew looks atsomeofthebestbites duringthecourseoflast yearandwhatstoodout abovetherestofthecrowd

 LAMBDOSA,BITESOFINDIA

BitesofIndiahadalreadymadeanamefor itselfontheRavenhillRoadineastBelfast. ButitsBotanic Avenuelocationisnow showcasingthebestofsouthIndiancuisine inthesouthofthecity.Thelambdosaisa must.It’sacrispandlightvehicleforrich, spiced,slightlygameylambwithin.Superb.

 PADRONPEPPERS,REBEL&RUSE

Whileattentionisimmediatelydrawntothe slow-cookedmeatandmainsonofferatthis TrademarketstallinBelfast,theseslightly charredandblisteredpeppersshouldbeyour go-to,especiallyonasunnyday(whenwe seeoneagain)andwithapintofsomething hoppedandcoldcloseby.

 FLEMISHSTEWFRITES,FRITES ATELIER

Thepotatoisattheheartofeverything thisBelgianstalwartdoes,anditdoesthat extremelywell.Supremelycrisp,richand whentoppedwiththeumami-ladenFlemish stewturnsasideorderintoaheartymain.

 DAIRYCOWRIBEYE,KENAKO BILTONG

Helpingkeeptheprocessassustainableas possible,IlseandAlanaghvanStadenare using retireddairycows,whilealsoselling freshsteakcuts,too.Thesteaks,whichare dry-aged,arefunky,gamey,piquantandrich.

 OYSTERWITHDILLANDAPPLE,STOVE

ThetwoSimons(McCanceand Toye)have

doneanawfullotwellwiththissouthBelfast spot,includingoysterswithalittledilland apple.There’sjustatouchofsweetnessto offsettheessenceofoceanandatouchof anisethrowninforgoodmeasure.Oneortwo willsetyouupfortheeveningahead.

 BEEF TARTARE,BARKINGDOG

It’shada revivaloverthelastfewyearsand you’llhaveseenitonanincreasingnumberof menusoflate,buttheBarkingDogisoneof thefewspotstohavethisclassicasa regular starter–andthisisastrong representationof it.Subtle,balanced,cleanandwithsharp,crisp shardsoftoastedbreadtofacilitateeffcient beefconsumption.

 BIRRIABROTH,BIRRIA-LANDIA

Thisisonethatyoumighthavetostickin thediaryforthenextbigtripaway,butthe Birria-LandiafoodtruckatJacksonHeights inQueens,New York,knocksoutsomeof thebestversionsofthisincreasinglypopular taco.Thebroth-basedconsume–complete withchunksofmoistbeef,onion,coriander andlimejuice–isbothheartyandsupremely savoury,especiallyonadampday.

 PORTAVOGIESCAMPI,CHOWDERUP SEAFOOD



CHEDDAR,LEEKANDMUSTARD CROQUETTES,CAFÉROYAL

CaféRoyalinEdinburghisnottobemissed foratmosphere,decentcaskaleandastrong barsnacksgame.Thecheesecroquettes arepunchy,richanddecadentlittlesavoury morselstosatisfyanyhungerwhilequietly quaffngaway.

ThislittlestallatStGeorge’sMarketinthe heartofBelfastcitycentreisfocusedon everythingseafood-related.Andtheperfectly puffedandcrisplocalPortavogiescampiisa thingtobehold,especiallywithsomelemon aioli.

 THESPICYKING,FLOUTPIZZA

Whilethere’savarietyonoffer,thedeckled crispcornersandfringesofthepepperoni-led SpicyKinganditsbrethrenhelpedbreathe newlifeintothedoughscene. ■

Flemishstew withfritesat FritesAtelier

The future ismodular for innovative Magherafelt joineryfrm

AmbitiousprojectsforClaridge’sHotelinLondonandanartgalleryin FranceopenedSetantaConstruction’seyestothepotentialofbuilding energyeffcienthomesoff-site,director MarkGribbin tells AlysonMagee

Alocaljoinerybusinessispilotinga modular‘passive’houseexpected tocostaslittleas£150ayearto heat. Twoprototypeshavebeenbuilton SetantaConstruction’s15-acrepremisesin Magherafeltandarebeingmonitoredby UlsterUniversity researchersforayear.

Thefamilyfrm,runbybrothersMarkandNiall Gribbin,isnowfocusingonmodularhomesas thefuture.

Providingasolutiontotheskillsshortageinthe sector,modularbuildingscanalsopotentially offeraquickturnaroundasemergency housing.

Setantahasbeeninspiredbyitsoff-sitework forClaridge’sinLondon,featuredinBBC Two’s TheMayfairHotelMegabuild.

Italsobuiltmodularcomponentsforanother projectledbythehotel’sbossPaddyMcKillen, theRichardRogersArtGalleryinFrance.

“ThepassivehouseconceptisGerman,the modularconceptisourown,andit’scoming fromourexperienceofClaridge’sandthe RogersGallery,”Marksays.

“Ifwecandothisfora Victorianhotelin LondonandanartgalleryinFrance,whycan’t wedoitforstandardconstructionathome?

“Thepassivehouseconceptwe’vebeen fansofforyears,andweknowit’sthegold standardinenergyeffcientbuilding,which isprobablythemostimportantelementin people’smindstoday.”

Theprototypesarethree-bedroomsemidetachedpropertiesconstructedtobe comfortable,affordableandenergyeffcient, withhighlevelsofinsulation.

Warmthcomesfromacombinedheatpump andmechanicalventilationsystem.“It’squite ground-breakingandhascaughttheattention ofthesocialhousingsector,”hesays.

“Thereisaprojectedenergyusage,butin12 monthswe’llhavetheactualfguresofwhatit takestoheatthishousefor12months.Thisis wherewe’llbeconcentratingourefforts.”

Whileearlyinteresthascomefromsocial housing,Setantaseeswideropportunityfor theinnovationinprivatehousing.

“Inyearsgonebypeople’swish-listhadenergy effciencywelldownthepriorities,butnowit’s atthetop,”hesaid.

“We’relookingatemergencyaccommodation, whichisanewneedforlocalcouncilsandthe likecomingfromtheUkrainianwar, refugees andpossiblyleaningtowardsthehomeless.”

Buildinghomesinafactoryismuchmore effcient,withlesswastagethanon-site constructionandzeroconcernsoverour unpredictableweather.

Afurtherbeneftisit requiresaless-demanding skillssetthanon-siteconstruction.“We’reall noticingtherearefewerandfewerapprentices comingthroughthetrades,”Marksays.

“WithNorthernIrelandcompanies,thereare reallygoodtradesmenaround,buttheaverage ageon-sitewouldbemid-50s.In10-15years’ timetheskillsshortageisgoingtobean issue.”

Themainchallengearoundmodular constructionismovingtheparts.“Thereare limitationstothesizeyoucanputintheback ofalorry,thewidthofapublic roadandthe heightwithgettingunderbridges,”hesays.

“Thoselimitationswerealsoinfuencingfactors inourdesignsforClaridge’s. We hadtodesign itto…howdowesplitthisthingapartand wheredowesplititandhowdowemakeit nottoobig,toowideortootallfortransport?

“Butonceyoucangetitwithinthose parametersofheight,widthandlength,then youcandesignwhateveryouwish.”

AnotherkeyadvantageisitallowsSetantato

takeonprojectsoutsideitsnormalgeographic scope.

Oneproject,forexample,isamodularbuild of22unitsin Waterfordwith95-98%ofthe worktobedoneinMagherafelt

Setantastartedin2000asanatural progressionofGribbinConstruction,runby thebrothers’unclesLiam,EamonandJoe Gribbin.

“Itwasbuildingtimber-framedhousessince 1963,”Marksaid.“EamonandJoehadbeen totheStatesandCanadaandpickedupthe ideathere.Niallstartedasajoinerat16with GribbinConstruction,sowegrewupdoing that.”

Setanta,thechildhoodnameofwarriorhero CúChulainninIrishfolklore,hascontinuedthe previousfrm’sfocusontimberframeworkand joinery.

Overthepast23yearsithasgrownfrom threeorfourto17employees,plus30 regular contractors.

Turnoverhasclimbedfrom“acoupleof hundredthousandayearto£4mor£5ma year”,hesaid.“Ofcourse,wetookanosedive

around2008,andthenclimbedbackout again.”

Alongsideaskillsshortage,therisingprice ofmaterialsisthebiggestconcernforthe sectorrightnow,whilethefrmhasseensome disruptioninitssupplyfromGreatBritainsince Brexit.

Thefrm’spivotintooff-siteconstructiononly followeditsmovetobiggerpremisesaround fouryearsago,andR&DsupportfromInvest NIin2020.

TheClaridge’sprojectcameaboutasnew dormerwindowsforits roofextensionhadto betimber-framed.

“Iwouldguess70-80%ofallthecompanies involvedwereNorthernIreland-based,”Mark says.

“PaddyMcKillenisoriginallyaBelfastman,his seniorprojectmanagerNormanMcKibbenis fromNorthernIreland,andquantitysurveyors Rainey&Bestaretoo.ItwasRainey&Best who reachedouttousoriginally.”

Setantacreatedthetimberframesof components(dormerwindowswithattached balconies),withCreaghConcreteproducing

masonrythen refnedbyastonemasonin Katesbridge.

AllpackagedtogetherinMagherafelt,the componentsweretransportedbyCreagh ConcretetoClaridge’sand–nerve-rackingly–cranedintopositiononthe roofofthehotel.

Involvementinthe£37mprojectwasnot Setanta’smostlucrativecontracttodate,but wascertainlyitsmostprestigious,Marksaid.

Anditwasfollowedbyworkonanother McKillenproperty,namelytheinnovative ‘foating’artgalleryintheChateauLaCoste vineyardinProvence.

ItwasnamednamedSmallBuildingofthe YearattheDezeenArchitecture Awards 2022.“Weweregiventhedrawingsand asked:doyouthinkyouguyscoulddothis?” hesaid.

“Sowemadeitincomponentsandthensplit itapart,packeditup,andsentittothesouth ofFranceandinstalleditthere.

“APortuguesecompanydidthesteelframe andwedidthebuildingenclosure,which cantileversoutoveraravine.It’squitean impressivebuilding.” ■

NiallGribbinandMarkGribbin, ownersofSetantaConstruction

Review: The Menu serves upboth satire and a dollopof realism to the table

ThenewflmfromMarkMylod,starringRalph Fiennes,takestheideaofthehighestendoffne diningto11andbeyondinthisextremesatireand horrorfick,writes JohnMulgrew

Ishigh-endfnediningatabreaking point?ReneRedzepisayshe’spulling theshuttersdownonhisiconicNoma nextyear,withtheNordiclordofthe highestendofcookingsayingthatstyle andintensityofcuisineisnowbecoming unsustainable.

Thecostofdoingthings,thelabourinvolved andthediffcultyin remainingbothfreshand relevantinsuchacompetitiveenvironmentare allelementswhichcertainlymakemultiple-star diningatoughgig.

Butistherestillappetiteoutthereforthe culinaryextremes?

Redzepi’scommentscomewithapttiming asMarkMylod’sflmTheMenu–adark gastronomichorrorsatireandcomicpastiche ofthehighestendoffnedining–hitsDisney+ streamingintheUK.

TheMenu,whichseesRalphFiennesinthe roleofChefSlowik,willtease,tauntandcajole thosefamiliarwithmanyofthetrappingsof thethree-Michelin-stareatingexperience— whetherthat’sinpersonorthroughthemyriad ofartisticallypresenteddocumentaries.

Muchofitisthehigh-endtastingmenudialled

upwellpast11–horrorelementsaside.

Forthoselessaufaitwiththegastronomic, muchofitwillseemutterlyridiculous,with momentsofhilaritywhichareinfactlikely comingfromanacornoftruth.

Foams,spherifcation,amultitudeofmachines andstorieslinkingingredientsandthemes allraisetheirheadsbut reachacrescendo acrosseachofthecoursesastheybecome increasinglycomicandridiculous.

Withoutdelvingtoomuchintotheflm’s structure,andtakingonthe roleofBarry Norman,theguestsatthisisland-based tasting-menuexperienceincludeaswathe ofdiners:theobsessiveback-seatcook;a richoldercouplewhoeatlikethis regularly; afadingactortryingtoimpressayounger woman;atableofwell-offyoungexecutives splashingtheircash;thepompousfoodcritic andherpublisher.

RalphFiennes’character,ChefSlowik,hasa serious,intensedemeanour,whichlaterwill explodeintopsychopathic.It’scomedic,but dryandcalm.

There’salotoftheNetfixseriesChef ’sTable aboutthestyling–primarilywheneachcourse

popsuponscreen,completewithtitleand theme.

DominiqueCrennisthewomanbehindthe menuitself—theonlyfemalecheftoattain thecovetedthreeMichelinstarsintheUS.The Menudoesitspart,inaverytongue-in-cheek way,ofbringingoutthevariousnuancesof whatsomecouldconsiderpretentious,overt andsometimesatouchvulgar,extrapolating conceptsandideastotheextreme,which,in thisexperience,endupgoingtothatnextstep andbeyond,forhorrorvalue.

Thelexiconisonpointandonlyjust reaching thepointofsatire,alongwiththeverbosityof thefoodandwinedescriptions,theintensityof

serviceandthedramaticbackdrop.

Mywifechuckledasthephrase“barnyard funk”wasuttered.It’sdefnitelysomethinga fanofwild,fermentedBelgiansourbeers–myselfincluded–hasusedtodescribetheir punchytanganddepth.

There’satinyconnectiontoBelfastaspart oftheflm:AlainPassard,alegendofFrench cookerywhohaspaidthreevisitsforpop-up appearancesatMichelin-starredOX,hasa versionofhisPassardEggonshow.

Icanfndasmalltouchofkinshipwith NicholasHoult’scharacter,butonlyatouch. Joinedbyhis reluctantguest,Margot,played

byAnya Taylor-Joy,he’sthehyperbolicchef fanboy.He’snotintosports,flmsormusic–thesepeoplearehisAli,BrandoandMozart.

Helatergetshischancetoprovehisabilities (orperhapslackof),failingtoliveuptohis owndreamsandexpectations.

There’satouchofRalphFiennes’murderous RedDragoncharacter(partoftheHannibal Lecterseries)intheflm’stone,almost deliveringafamouslinedirectlyfromtheserial killerfickitself.“Doyousee?”hesays.

Whileoftendaftandsilly,TheMenuisbotha comiccritiqueandanodetoculinaryprecision andextremes.

Afnaldessertcourse,whichcomesaftera lotofgorystoryandplottwists,isanodtoa coupleoftop-end restaurants,presentinga dishfortheentiretableàlaJacksonPollock, andalsoadigatsomeofthechef ’s own personalgastronomicpethates. Without spoilingit,it’smuchmoreextremethanthat.

Andwhiletheworldiscrumblingaround theguests–withoutspoilingeachandevery detail,thingshaven’tgoneparticularlywell formanyofthem–thepurityofachef ’s own platonicidealisthrustintotheforegroundin theformofthesimplest,yetoftenbutchered, ofdishes.

Happinessisinawell-cookedcheeseburger. ■

RalphFiennesstarsasChefSlowikinTheMenu

VirginOrbit was‘casestudy insanitisation’

Therecentfailedrocketlaunchof VirginOrbitwasacasestudyinsanitised corporatemessaging,accordingto RichardCurran

RichardBranson’s VirginOrbit teamlookedlikemastersof understatementwhenthey describedthefailedCornwallorbital satellitelaunchasan“anomaly”last month.

Theincident resultedinninesatellitesloston boarda rocketheadingatover11,000miles perhourabovetheearth.The rocketisgone. Thesatellitesaregone.Andthecompanyisn’t surewhatwentwrong.

Corporationsalwayswanttoputapositive spinoneverything,andtominimisethe damagewhensomethingdoesgowrong.The

executivesbehind VirginOrbitareverysmooth communicatorsbutthemessagingaroundthis particular“oops”incidentispriceless.

ItallstartedwellwhentheBoeing747carrying the rocketsuccessfullydeliveredittothe plannedaltitude.Thefrst rocketenginefre-up wentwellanditburnedasitwassupposedto.

ThisputtheIrishfshermenintheareasouth ofCorkintheclearasthe rocketfredupto over11,000mphandheadedoutandupover Portugal.

Atriggerhappy Tweeterwithinthecompany prematurelytweetedthatithad reachedorbit.

Thiswasnotthecaseassomethingthenwent wronganditwasbyebye rocketandnine satellites.

Thelaunchwasparticularlyimportantforthe UK’sspaceaspirationsasitwouldhavemarked thefrstsatellitelaunchfromEurope.

AliceBunn,presidentofthetradebodyUK Spacesaidthefailurewasadisappointment. Butsheappearedtostrikethewrongnote whenshewentontosaytheUKhadtaken averycommercialapproachtodeveloping spacecapabilitywhichwouldallowforswifter decisionsona renewedattemptthansome Europeancompetitors.(AhintofBrexitand

speedyCovidvaccinedeliveryhere).

Swiftdecisionson11,000mph rocketsaren’t necessarilythebestattribute.

The VirginOrbitwebsiteoverdoesitonthe smoothsimplecommunications.Sometimes thingscanbetoosimplifed.Afterall,theyare actuallytalkingabout rocketscience.

Ifyouwanttocontactthecompanyanemail queryscreenpopsupforyournameandthe purposeofyourenquiry.Promptsinclude ‘launchmysatellite’and‘justsayhello’.

Branson’s VirginOrbitcompanyhasapublic listingintheUSwhichatleastmeansit publishesitsaccounts.Itssharepricehadabit ofananomalyitselfwhenthemarketopened

on Tuesdayandthestockfellby21%inthe frstfveminutesoftrading.

Infairness VirginOrbithada100%track recordpriortoMondaynight’sanomalyand hadsuccessfullylaunchedsevensatellitesfor theAmericangovernmentbackinJuly,aftera numberofothersuccessfullaunches.

Monday’spayloadcarriedequipmentforseven customersincluding,ajointUS-UKmilitary researchmission,Oman’sfrstorbitalspacecraft designedforearthobservations,andtwoother UKsatellitesincludingonedesignedtotrack maritimeactivity.

VirginOrbit’sfnancial resultsshowthatto dateithashad revenuesofjustover$30m and reportedanetlossof$43minthethird quarterof2022.

PriortotheUKmisfreithadabindingbacklog ofbusinessworth$165mandafurthernonbindingbacklogof$419m.Thequestionis howmuchofthatwillitnow retain.

Its resultspresentationsaidithad revenue perlaunchof$12min2022and“nearterm” forecast revenuesofbetween$6mand$12m alaunch.

Ithasitseyeonthemarketsharebuiltupby ElonMusk’sSpaceX.Thenumberofglobal satellitelaunchesissettogrowdramatically.

Lastyearwasthemostactiveeverfor spacefightlaunchactivity.Therewere186 orbitallaunchattemptsworldwide,ofwhich 179weresuccessful.

Thatismorethandoublefveyearsago. SpaceXhasgonefrom18launchesin2017to 64in2022.Unlike VirginOrbit,SpaceXdoesn’t disclosefnancialperformancebutitsaverage launchpriceisestimatedintheindustrytobe around$60m.

VirginOrbit’smissionfailureisablowbutthe next12monthswilldecidejusthowbiga setbackitis.

IthasalreadysignedupSpaceportdealsfor launchesinAustralia,Luxembourg,anda memorandumofunderstandingwithSouth Korea.

IthasalsobeenintalkswithOman,sothefact thatcountry’sfrstsatellitehasgonetheway ofGeorgeClooneyinthemovieGravity,won’t makethatconversationanyeasier.

Giventhatsomuchwasatstake,youwould thinktheywouldbedirectbutmeasuredin theircommunications.

Tweetingthattheyhad reachedorbitwhen theyhadn’tdoesn’tshowgreatjudgment. Thewordanomalyisacommonlyusedterm forsomethingtechnicallyunexpectedbutit doesn’tcutit.

Ittiesinwiththeideaofcompaniesthatare communicationsobsessed.Corporatespeak whichdoesn’tfullyconveythe realityofwhat hashappenediscompletelyubiquitousnow.

Herearesomeexamplesofphrasessanitised beyond realmeaning:“Thecompany hasundergonea restructuringinthelast 12months”,actuallymeans“wehave fundamentalproblemswhichwehavebeen tryingtofx”.

“Adivestiturehastakenplaceinthelast12 months”,means“wehavehadtocorrecta mistake”.

“Weare restructuringandoptimisingcapital location”soundsbetterthan“wearefring people”.

Thereisacasetobemadeforavoiding businessjargonbecauseitisdead,technical andincrediblyboringtolistentoaftera while.Equally,thereisacaseforkeeping communicationssimple,butnottoosimple.

Inthecaseofsatellitesnotarrivingwherethey aresupposedtoandnevercomingback,you can’tsanitiseamulti-milliondollarcock-up.

RichardBranson’sabilitytoexcelatdisrupting aswellasmarketingarebothcapturedina paragraphonthe VirginOrbitwebsite.

Itsays:“Fortoolong,launchershavetreated smallsatellitecustomerslikesecond-class citizens. With VirginOrbit,you’llgetfrst-class serviceatafaircostsoyoucantakefullcontrol ofyoursatellite’sjourneytospace. Well, somebodyneedsto. ■

SirRichardBranson

King ofQueens: culture and cuisinein New York’s bigborough

JohnMulgrew spendsalongweekendinQueensand fndsoutNew York’slesserknownboroughispacked withhistory,cultureandcuisine

TakingaquickscanofQueensona mapandyousoon realisejusthow biganareaitoccupies–dwarfng thetoweringtypicallytourismhotspotof the relativelynarrowManhattan.

TheboroughisthelargestinNew Yorkand withinthatboastsadiverserangeofcultures, aplethoraofhistory,alongwitharaftoffood anddrinkoptionsalongtheway.

We’recallingtheareaofFlushinghomeforthe weekend–hometotheoriginalChinatown areainQueensandasa resulthasaplethora ofinterestingthingstoeatfromacrossAsia.

ThefrststopistheRenaissanceNew York FlushingHotelat Tangram.Thisisanewhotel intheareawhichoffersahostofdifferent roomoptions,includingthespaciousKing rooms–modernandopenplan,while remaininghomely.

OnthistripwetravelledwithUnitedAirlines directfromDublin.ItoperatesitsmainNew YorkbaseatNewarkwithahostof regular fightsconnectingtheUSwithIrelandeach week.

AndonthisforaywewerehostedbyNYC &Company,whichisthecity’smarketing, tourismandpartnershiporganisation.

Feelingsurprisinglyfreshfollowingacouple ofhoursofsleeponthe roughlysevenhour fightacrosstheAtlantic,it’sonwardstothe subway,andMoMAPs1.It’soneofthecultural touchpointsinQueensworthspendinganhour ortwoin,featuringahostofcontemporary art.

AshortdistancefromMoMAPs1istheLIC BeerProject.Locatedinaratherunassuming itservesuparangeofbrewsmadeonsite, includingaboozy,heftybarleywineandcrisp sessionIPA.

WhileManhattanhasthepompand exaggeratedskyline,it’sinQueenswhere you’llgetthebestviewoftheboroughfrom acrosstheHudson.LongIslandCityanditspier willprovideyouwithasuitablephotographic vantagepoint,takinginthespectacleand scalefromadistance.

AshortwalkawayisTheBaroness–awarm andfriendlybeerandburgerbarwithahostof brewedandcocktailoptions.Burgersarethe staroftheshowhere,andwhileI’mnormally apurist,therearesomeinventivefavour pairingshere.The‘Adele’isbasedonFrench onionsoupandis robust,herbal,packedfullof alliumandisrich,stickyandsalty.

OnadampSaturdaymorning,ourguideLori gaveusaninitialsenseoftheFlushingarea. Intermsofitshistoryitstillhostssomeofthe oldestbuildingsinNew York,includingthe

BowneHouse–thefrstpartofwhichwasbuilt in1661–alongwithFlushingHighSchool.

NextstopisQueensMuseum,andafterashort subwayridepoppingoutatCitiField–home oftheNew YorkMetsbaseballteam–we meanderourwaythroughFlushingMeadows–CoronaPark,createdasthesiteofthe1939 New York World’sFair,andhometotheiconic Unisphereandobservationdecks.

Youcouldcertainlyspendagoodcoupleof hoursinQueensMuseum,whichincludes ahostoflargescaleworks,the World’sFair collection,ahugepanoramaimaginationof New YorkCityinitsentiretyand,duringour visit,aexhibitionof Tiffanylamps.

EatinginQueensmeansvariety,andstreetfood andfoodtrucksareallpartofthat.Birria-Landia isa Tijuana-stylespotofferingtacos,tostada, mulitaandconsume.It’savariationonone thing,andonethingdoneextremelywell.The beefbrothinparticularisheartyandsupremely savoury,especiallyonadampday.

AlsoinJacksonHeightsisGury’s.It’slikely tosatisfyanyonewithalustforsomething sweet,withahostofNew Yorkcheesecake options,whileadarkchocolatecakeisalesson inprecisionbaking–light,aeratedwhilealso beingequallydecadent.

Gettingaroundonthesubwayislikelyyour bestbetformostjourneys,withthe7train takingyouthroughthecentreofQueensfrom Flushing–wherewewerebased–andright intotheheartofManhattan,whileBlacklane offersprivatechauffeurservicesacrossNew Yorkandbeyond.

TheUnisphereatFlushingMeadows–CoronaPark

AmustvisitistheMuseumofMovingImage. Thisspothasadraw-droppingcollectionwhich willpiquetheinterestsofanyonewitheven avagueappreciationofflmandtelevision.

There’sanentirefoordedicatedtoJimHenson –featuringdozensoforiginalpuppets–a multitudeofotheroriginalpropsandminiatures alongwithavastvarietyofinteractiveelements. Thescreen-used(notso)miniatureofthe Tyrell buildingfromtheintrotosci-fclassicBlade Runnerisnottobemissed.

Ifyou’rethinkingofmakingthevisittoanother boroughwhilebasedinQueens,the7train willtakeyouintotheheartofManhattan, whileyou’llneedtochangeinordertogetto somewherelikenightspotGreenwich Village.

Thisisathrivingareainwhichtospendan evening.TheHudsonHoundisamoderntake onanIrishpub,whiletheBlind Tiger remains oneofNew York’sbestbeerbars.Ifyou’re afterlivemusicthenTheDuplexoffersup apianobarandcabaretinafriendlyalively environment.

Andasthechillyseasondictated,ice-skatingat TheRinkatRockefellerCentrefeltapt.It’sbeen 25yearssinceIlastputapairofbootson–let’s justsay,it’snotlikeridingabike,andyouwill forgethowtodoit.

Thecentreitselfstilloffersuponeofthebest viewsofthecity,especiallyfromtheupper leveloutsidewhichhelpsgiveyoutakeinthe truescaleofManhattanin360degreesof panorama.

It’salsoincreasedits restaurantgame,with acoupleofspotshavingalready received glowing reviews,whiletheNew York Times brandeditthe‘restauranteventoftheyear’.

Limaniisoneofthem–ahigherendand pricierGreek restaurant.It’shuge,clean andopen,offeringahostoffreshseafood, salads,interestingstartersandafew redmeat options.Theoctopusiscertainlyastandout–tender,delicateandmoist.

Anotheroptionforviewsisthecity’slatest skyscraperattraction.SummitOne Vanderbilt atthe93-storeyOne Vanderbiltcombines viewswithanalmostdizzyingmirroredfoor andceilinginitsmainobservationdeckwitha selectionofotherviewing rooms.It’sdefnitely oneforthe TikTokgeneration.

Whenit’stimetoheadhome,andifyou’re fyingwithUnited’sPolarisbusinessclass,you’ll fndtheairline’snewloungeisastunning placeto relax,unwind,eat,drinkandprepare foryourfight.

FACTFILE

Duringthistripwetravelleddirectfrom DublinAirporttoNewarkwithUnited Airlines,andwerealsohostedbyNYC& Company.

Unitedoffersbasiceconomyfaresto Newarkstartingat€465(£412),including tax,withstandardeconomyfarestarting at€585(£519),includingtaxandone checkedbag,whilepremiumeconomy startsat€1,336(£1,185),withtaxandtwo checkedbags.

BusinessfarestoNewarkstartfrom€1,695 (£1,504),withtaxandtwocheckedbags.

Youcanfnd roomsatRenaissanceNew YorkFlushingHotelat Tangramfrom around£150anight,whilethehotelalso featuresa rooftopbarandsteakhouse.

FormoreinformationonNew York andwheretogoyoucanvisitNYC& Company’swebsitewww.nycgo.com andforfightsvisitwww.united.com

ThePolarisloungefeelsmorelikealargewine barthanairportlounge–tastefullydecorated andsplitintoquieterareasto relax,abusyand livelyfullbar,expansivebuffetandasitdown restaurantinwhichyoucanorderoffamenu beforeboardingclosebyandtakingadvantage oftheleg room,diningoptionsandonboard entertainmenttowilethehoursen route home. ■

SummitOne Vanderbilt

Timetoaskhowwe spendthecashfromthe corporatetaxmoneytree

RichardCurran looksattheRepublicofIreland’staxsurplus andwhatit’sspending,ornotspending,thecashon

Irelandhasjoinedaverysmallclubthis year.Inordertobecomeamemberyou havetobeintheeurozoneand record anexchequersurplus.

For2022,itlookslikeIrelandandCyprusare theonlymembersofthisclub.

NotallofthedataisinacrossEurope,butif youwidenittoallEUstates,itlookslikejust ahandfulofcountrieswillhavetakeninmore moneythantheyspentlastyear.Denmarkand SwedenarelikelytojoinIrelandandCyprusin thesurplusclub.

So,shoulditbecongratulationsonan exchequerwellmanaged?Orshouldwebe

tryingtoquantifytheextraordinarygoodluck thatturnedwhatwouldhavebeena€5bn deficitintoa€5bnsurplusfor2022?

Thatgoodluckcameintheformofbumper recordcorporationtaxes.EventheDepartment ofFinance readilyidentifiesaround€10bnof the€22.6bnincorporatetax receiptsasbeing “windfall”–namely,theymaynotbetherein thefuture.

Ontheonehand,itisextraordinarytobein suchafortunateposition.Ontheotherhand, itmightnotbesuchagreatthingtoendupas oneofjusttwoeurozonecountriesto report anexchequersurplus–whenweclearlyhave somanyproblemstofix.

IftheExchequerhad reporteda€1bnsurplus,it wouldhavestillbeeninthatsmallclub,buthad €4bntoinvestinfixingproblemslikehousing, infrastructure,climatechange,etc.

TheGovernmenthasfinallycomearound totheideaofputtingasidesomeofthese corporatetaxwindfallsforarainyday.Andthis isasensiblethingtodo–ifalittlelate,given thatthecorporatetaxmoneytreehasbeen deliveringbountifulfruitharvestsforseveral years.

IftheStatehadspentorinvestedanadditional €4bninone-offcapitalprojects,wherewould themoneyhavegone?Therearenoguarantees thatitwouldhavegoneanywhereatall.

WhenyoulookattheExchequerfgures,net votedcurrent(orday-to-day)expenditurewas up€300mon2021andamassive€1.7bn belowprofle(ortheexpectedspend).Thisis notabadthing,asnobodyshouldchannel theirinnerCharlieMcCreevyandjackup currentspendingfnancedwithtemporary revenues.

Netvotedcapitalexpenditurecameinat €10.9bn,whichwas€1bnhigherthanin2021. Thisishardlysurprisinggiventhebigproject spendsthataregoingon,frombroadbandto theNationalChildren’sHospital,andtheother programmesneededforagrowingpopulation.

Butcapitalspendwas€600mbelowprofle.In otherwords,theamountspentoncapexwas €600mlessthanhadbeenexpected,targeted andbudgetedfor.

ItseemstheGovernmentcannotspendallof themoneyithasorthathasbeenallocated forprojects.Structuraldefcienciesinplanning, delivery,construction-industrycapacity,labour shortagesorgeneralpublic-sectorineffciency allcontributetothesespendinggaps.

Andcorporationtaxisn’ttheonlysourceof revenuefortheExchequerwithtimelimitson itscontribution.

Anexaminationofthefguresshowsthat othernon-taxsourcesof revenueincluded someitemsthatcouldrundrynotfardown the road.

Forexample,lastyearthestate receipts included€500mfromNama.Thiswillbe wounddownintwoyears.Italsoincluded €760mfromthesaleofAIBshares.TheState

haslotsmoreAIBsharestosell,butitisn’ta guaranteedsourceof revenueintothefuture.

Itbagged€590mfromthesaleofBoIshares, whicharenowgone.Itevenhad receiptsof €100mfromEnterpriseIreland,whichwas nearly10timesthefgureforthepreviousyear. Puttingallthosefgurestogetheramountsto €1.9bn.

Meanwhile,thebigbillskeepcomingfrom micacompensationtoruralbroadband.

ItisunquestionablethattheExchequer fnancesareinprettygoodshape.Butnothing muchgetssaidaboutthevalueformoney taxpayersaregettingfromthemoneyspent runningthecountry.

Whoquestionsspendingwhenyouhavea moneytreeouttheback?

Afterall,itjustemergedthatseniorcivil servantRobert WattwrotetotheHSE inSeptemberaskingwhytherewasno “prospectiveimprovement”inhospitalwaiting lists,despitetheDepartmentofHealthfunding a€350mactionplan.

NowisthetimetoexaminehowtheState’s ‘easymoney’getsspent,ratherthanwaiting untilithasdriedup.

BacktothedrawingboardoverBrexit AstheUKfnallywakesupin2023towhata disasterBrexithasbeen,thefuturepointsone way–towardsacloser relationshipwiththe EU.

TheUKwillnotseekto re-jointheEUbutit islikelyoverthenextfveyearsorsotomove backintoitsorbit,bybuildingclosertrading links.

ItmightendupakintoaSwissmodel–but willprobably resembleTheresaMay’sbackstop Brexitdeal,whichwasvoteddownbyher partyandtheDUPin2019.

Nowondershehasbaggedover£2monthe internationalspeakingcircuit.TheUKcould wellendupwithherBrexitdealafterall–after wastingeightor10years. ■

BoucherRetail Parkdealleads growthspurt forproperty

Commercialassetssuchasshoppingcentreswere backindemandduring2022despiteacostofliving crisis,writes MargaretCanning

Turbulentconditionsin2022from soaringinterestratestoStormont’s politicalvacuumdidnotdimthe appetiteforinvestmentinNorthern Irelandcommercialproperty,a reporthas found.

Butoneagencybosssaidevenmore investmentwouldbetakingplaceifa functioningdevolvedadministrationwasin place.

InvestmentadvisorINPRIOsaid£329.3mhad beenploughedintocommercialpropertyby investorsin2022,thehighestannualtotal since2017and36%abovethefve-year average.

Afurryofactivityinquarterfourtoppedoff ayearinwhich retail reclaimedthetopspot asdominantassetclassinNorthernIreland, despiteacost-of-livingcrisisthreateningto curbshoppinghabits.

AndprivateinvestorsbasedinNorthernIreland accountedfornearly40%ofdealvolumeat £129.6m,thebiggestvolumeon record.

At£133.74m,shoppingcentresand retail parksaccountedfor41%ofdealvalue,with thetrendsetfromquarteronewhenthe year’sbiggest retaildealwascut–thesale ofBoucherRetailParkinsouthBelfastto MikeAshley’sFrasersGroup,foranestimated £40m.

Andtherewasanothersurgein retail towardstheendoftheyear,withdealssuch asthedisposalofLongwoodRetailParkin Newtownabbeytoaprivateinvestorand ArdsShoppingCentre,Newtownardstoa propertycompanyintheRepublic.Thevalues ofthetwodealshavenotbeendisclosed.

Anotherbigticket retaildeal,thesaleof RushmereShoppingCentreinCraigavonto London&CambridgeProperties,istoget 2023offtoanotherstrongstart.

ClaireShaw, researchanalystatINPRIO, said:“The rolloverofagreeddeals,andthe resupplyofassetsinquarterthree,assisted thestrongfnalquarter.

“Investorsentimentandconfdenceinthe NorthernIrishmarkethasbeenbuoyed bythe resupply,despitetheeconomicand politicalheadwinds.

“Lookingintothestartof2023,theeffects ofthe resupplywillbemoreevidentwith almost£100mofdealsalreadyagreed andexpectedtocompleteinthefrst quarter.Notably,thisincludesthesaleof RushmereShoppingCentre,Craigavon whichisexpectedtocompleteinquarter one,enhancingthelikelihoodfora record breakingfrstquarter.”

But retail’sstrong2022performancewas notsharedbyoffces,asectorinwhichdeals

wereathirdbelowaverageat£41m.The biggestoffcesdealoftheyearhadbeenthe off-marketdisposalofBelfast’s WeaversCourt Businessforanestimated£20m.

However,mixed-usedevelopments,somewith signifcantoffcespace,enjoyedastronger fnishtotheyear.CoDownpropertyfrm Wirefoxsnappedupthe revamped35DPsite atDonegallPlaceinBelfastfor£16mwhile aprivateinvestorboughtLongbridgeHouse in WaringStreetinCathedralQuarterfor £6.25m.

Industrialsectorvolumewasalsosteady at£33.4m,November’s£17mpurchaseof CentralParkinMalluskbymedicaltestingfrm Randoxthekeydealoftheyear.

Therewerefourdealsforover£10mto NorthernIrelandprivateinvestors,including thesalesofConnswaterShoppingCentreand RetailPark,BelfastandtheFourCornersHotel, Belfast.

NeilMcShane,directoratINPRIO,said:“As theuncertaintycontinuesinto2023,rising interestratescoulddiminishappetitefor buyersseekingfnancebutcouldalsopresent opportunitiesforthecash-richinvestor.

“The record-breakingactivityoflocalinvestors in2022,manyofwhomdonot require fnance,suggeststhatthisbuyertypeisnot deterredbyturbulenteconomicconditions.As 2022hasdemonstrated,thekey requirement formaintainingmarketactivityintheyear aheadwillbeasteadysourceofsupply.”

Meanwhile,aseparate reportontheyear’s commercialpropertydealsbyadvisersCBRE saidastrongappetitefrominvestorsin2022 wasexpectedtocontinue.

Itsaidtherewere£86mindealstobe concludedbytheendofJanuary–although risinginterestratesandaneconomic slowdowncouldleavebuyersfeelingpricesensitive,afactorlikelytocurbdeallevels.

GavinElliott,seniordirectoratCBRENI,said: “InvestorshavebeenbusyintheNorthern Irelandcommercialpropertymarketin2022 andthatthemelookssettocontinuethisyear. despitethechallengingeconomicbackdrop.

“However,withintheinvestmentsectorwe cantakecomfortthatthebanks remainwell capitalisedandthatthereisagoodsupplyof capitallookingtobeinvestedintocommercial realestate,albeitata realisticpricing.”

Andhesaidcommercialpropertyassets inNorthernIrelandwereamoreattractive investmentthanthoseinGreatBritainandthe Republic.

InNI,yieldsonprime realestateare6.5% against6%in regionalcitiesinGreatBritain and4.35%inDublin.

BrianLavery,managingdirectoratCBRE NI,said:“The robustperformanceinthe commercialpropertyinvestmentsector reveals

amarketunderpinnedbystrongdemandfor goodassetsattherightprice.”

“Thereislittledoubttherisingcostofdebt andincreasingworriesaroundthehealthof thelocalandglobaleconomieshasandwill putbuyersinthedrivingseat,butweexpect healthytransactionlevelsinthecoming months.

MrLaveryalsosaidthestalemateatStormont wasinhibitingfurtherpotentialinvestment.

“InvestorshavebeendrawntotheNorthern Irelandmarketduetoitsuniquelocationasa gatewaybetweentheUKandEU,although the region’sattractivenesshasbeendulledby alackofdirectionandpoliticalleadershipat Stormont.

“ProgressontheNIProtocolanda restoration oftheExecutivewouldboosttheconfdence ofbothlocalandinternationalinvestors alike.” ■

BelfastHarbourandcitycentre

‘We’re here to make socialimpact and to try to drive some change’

AfterwinningtheIrelandEYEntrepreneur ofthe Year, Texthelp’s MartinMcKay tells AlysonMagee aboutitsglobalsuccesses

“I’velearnedmore inthesepasttwo yearsthan I didintheprevious25,” saysMartinMcKay, founderand chiefexecutiveof Texthelp.

Investmentandacquisitionshaveenabledthe assistivetechnologyprovidertodoubleitssales since2020.Latest financial figures,for2021, reportturnoverof£26.5mandpre-taxprofits of£7.5m.

Texthelpproductshavebeenusedbyan estimated200millionpeopleineducationto date,butthebusinesshasambitiousplansto assistonebillionpeopleacrosseducationand theworkplaceby2030.Around70%ofsales are currentlyforitsdyslexiaproducts.

RecentlynamedinternationalandoverallEY EntrepreneurOfThe Year2022inIreland,Mr

McKayfoundedtheAntrim-basedcompany backin1996.

Offeringsoftware solutionsforpeople strugglingwith reading,writingandnumeracy difficulties, Texthelpwasaheadofitstimeand quicklyestablished a market.

Thebusinesshassteadilyexpandedits reachalongsidesuccessive roundsofprivate investmentovertheyears,butthelastfew yearshaveseen a significantacceleration.

Itslatestcashinjection,fromRothschildprivate equityinvestmentarmFiveArrowsin2020, fuelledacquisitionsoftheLingitGroupin NorwayinMarch2021, WizkidsinDenmarkin July2021,theeducationtechnologydivision ofUS firmDonJohnstoninJanuary2022and OribiinSwedeninOctober2022.

Overthattimethecompany’s workforcehas swelledfrom170to350,including180staff membersatitsAntrimheadquarters.

Martinfollowsanestablishedtraditionof successfultechentrepreneurswhodroppedout ofuniversityknowingtheywere ontosomething andneedingtogetonwithit.

Familyillnesswasthecatalystforhisbusiness concept.Martin’s then39-year-oldfather Williamhad a stroke,leavinghimwithout mobilityonhisrightsideandhavingto relearn speechandwriting.Sadly, Williamdiedlastyear

Hailingfrom a farmingbackgroundinthe villageofUpperlands,Martinwasinitially studyingagriculture andmicrobiologyat Queen’s UniversityBelfastbefore switchingto computing.

“Assoonas I wasoldenough, I startedmaking software andassistedtechnologytohelp peoplewith,initially, strokes,motorneurone diseaseandcerebralpalsy

“Ididn’t evencompletemydegree. I thought I’dlearnedenoughandwantedtogetstarted. MyunclehadaninsuranceoffceinKilreaand gaveme a room. I startedmakingsoftware there andmyfrstcustomerwasMusgravePark Hospital.”

Talkingto a disabilityoffcerfor a Scottish university, Martinwastoldshehandledonly onestudentwithcerebralpalsybutabout200 studentswithdyslexia.

“There reallywasn’t anythingforthemat thattime,”Martinsays,who realisedthe predictivetextandtext-to-speechfeaturesof

histechnologyalsoworkedwellforpeople withdyslexia.

Martinand a formerbusinesspartnermoved theiroperationtoAntrimandbeganbuilding their reachthroughuniversitiesandthen schools.

Whilethe rootsofthebusinessdatebackto 1994,thecompany’s frstventure capitalboost camein1996fromDeltaPartnersinDublin.

“We startedtogrowandtookonsome resellersintheUK,”hesays.“Thenafter a fewyearswethought,ifyouwanttogrow a decent-sizedbusinessyou’vegottoexport,so welookedintotheUSmarketandstartedto buildout a networkof resellersthere.

“Ispent20yearsgoingtotheUSalmostevery monthandwouldgoandvisit resellersor, whenwestartedtogetourowndirectsales team,getonthe roadandtravelwith a sales guyandmeetcustomers.”

Takingonanothersmall roundofventure capitalin1998,“thenitwas a long,slowslog until2014or2015and a coupleofthings happenedthatwere reallytransformational”, accordingtoMartin.

TexthelppartneredwithGoogleinthe USeducationmarket,achievingfrstto marketwith a dyslexiaproductforGoogle’s ChromebooksforschoolsandnamedGoogle EducationPartnerofthe Yearin2016.

“Thatforcedustocompletelychangeour businessto a subscriptionmodelandwebuilt outoursalesteamfor a fewyears,gotto a fewmillionusersoverthere andthentookon another roundofinvestmentandcontinued togrow,”hesays.“Ourdyslexiaproductin schoolsoverthere hasbeenusedbyabout60 millionpeople,andwe’velocaliseditnowinto French,SpanishandPortuguese.Itgetsused a lotinCanada,where Frenchis a required languageinthatmarket.”

From2015to2020,thebusinesscontinuedto scaleuporganicallybefore itsmajoracquisitive perioddrivenbyinvestmentfromFiveArrows.

“We’re nownumberoneandnumbertwo intheUS,numberoneandtwointheUK,

numberoneinDenmark,SwedenandNorway, andalsoinAustraliaandNewZealand.”

Halfof Texthelp’s businessisintheUS,28%in theUK,20%intheNordicsandthe remainder inAustraliaandNewZealand.

Remotelearningduringthepandemicboosted sales,particularlyfor Texthelp’s mathsproduct whichsaw a 10-foldgrowthinusageandis a focusforthecompanyinfuture.

“We’vegot a core literacyproduct,butdyslexic peoplealsostrugglewithmaths,”Martinsays. “Mathsis a languagejustlikeEnglish,andso we’vemade a dyslexia-friendlyonlinemaths product.There area lotmore computersin schoolsthanthere were twoyearsago,and a lotofteachershaveembraceddigitallearning, andallofthosethingsare verypositiveforus.”

In2020,Martintookoverthe reinsaschief executivefromMarkMcCuskerwhohadserved from1999untilhis retirementin2020and remainsontheboard.

“I reallyenjoythetechnologysideofthings,” Martinsays.“Infact,for20years I wasn’t the chiefexecutive, I wasthechieftechnology offcer.”

Texthelpdevelopsitsownsoftware,with software engineersaccountingforaround40% of180staff inAntrim.”

Recruitingnewengineersis a challenge, andMartinsaysmore studentsshouldbe encouragedtostudycomputingatGCSEand A-level.“There justaren’t enoughpeople. We’re tryingtoimprovethesupplychain ofyoungengineersinNIandthatstartsin school.”

Hestrivesfor a funworkplace,andsaidthe socialimpactofthebusinessisanincentive. “We usedtobeveryfocusedoneducation, butthestudentswewere helpinginschool andgettingtouniversityare graduatingnow andgoingintotheworkplace,sowe’re trying tomakesure employershavethesametypeof dyslexiasupportintheworkplace.

“It’s importanttosaywe’re here tomake a socialimpactandtrytodrivesomechange. We’re proftablebutproftablewithpurpose.”■

MartinMcKay

Howdidyoustartoutinyourbusiness?

PinnacleGrowthGroupwasestablishedbymyselfandmybusiness partner,RobertMcConnell,in2018toserviceaclientbaseacrossthe publicandprivatesectorsintheUKandIreland. We hadbothworked withmanydifferentconsultanciesacrossvariousindustriesandfelt thatwecouldprovidesomethingdifferent.AtPinnacleGrowthGroup, wefocusonaddingvalue,givingstraightforwardandhonestadvice andonharnessingourteam’sprovenandlivedexperiencetoprovide clientswiththebestpossiblesupportacrossourthreepillars:fnancefor growth,businessimprovement,andsalesandexportgrowth.

Whathaveyoufoundthemostchallengingduringyouryearsof business,sofar?

Probablyperfectingwork/lifebalance.Whenyou’rerunningabusiness, itcanbehardtoswitchoffbutit’sincrediblyimportantto rechargeand keepyourenergylevelsup.

Howwouldyoudescribeyourmanagementstyle?

I’mabigbelieverinprovidingpeoplewithopportunitiestolearn, developandassumefurther responsibility.Asaleader,Ialways remain focusedonthevisionandontheendgoal,andIprefertoidentify challengesandact,ratherthanprocrastinate.I’mahugeadvocateof usingprocessasmuchaspossible,Iliketoensurethatactionsand activitiesarealigned,andthatriskandstressareminimised.Finally, Ialwayschampionateamapproach.AtPinnacleGrowthGroup, weundertakechallengesandwinasateam.It’simportanttobring

Name: DrScottKing

Position: Director, PinnacleGrowthGroup

peoplealongonthejourneyandmanagersshouldbeastransparentas possible.

Whatwouldyouchangeifyoucouldgobackanddoitallagain?

IfIcoulddoitallagain,Iwouldprobablytakemoretimetopause, refectandcelebratethewins.

Haveyoudoneitallonyourown?

Defnitelynot,I’vebuiltPinnacleGrowthGroupwithmybusiness partner,RobertMcConnell,astrongandtalentedteam,exceptional supportfromourchairmanandnon-executivedirectorsandvery importantly,thesupportofmyincrediblypatientfamily.

Howwouldyoulikeyourbusinesstobe remembered?

IwouldhopethatPinnacleGrowthGroupis rememberedforcreating economicandsocialprosperity.

Whatpieceofadvicewouldyougivetoa20-year-oldyou?

Don’tbeafraidtoaimbig.Recognisethattherewillbehurdlesand you’lloccasionallyfallbutdon’tletitknockyourconfdence.Getup, takethelearningandgobackagain.Iwouldalsosuggesttakingtime toenjoylife,andnotbeingafraidtoputyourselfouttheretonetwork, engageandpresent.Thesethingsarenevereasybutstartingearly willgetyououtofyourcomfortzone,helpyoutodevelopsupport networksandexposeyoutofreshthinking.Also,always rememberto takeastepbacktoconsiderthingsfromotherpeople’sperspective. ■

Thecolumnwithan earforexperience...

Motoring

ByPatBurns

Sponsoredby

Ioniq icon

MotoristsinNorthern Irelandlove theirHyundais.Thebest-selling carhere in2022wastheHyundai TucsonwiththesmallerKonarankedffth inthebestsellerslistwhichwasonce dominatedbyFord and Vauxhall.

TheKoreanmanufacturer recentlylaunchedan allnewfullyelectricvehicle(EV),theIoniq5.It’s thefrstmodelinHyundai’s newIoniqline-up branddedicatedtobatteryelectricvehicles (BEV).TheIoniq 5 aimstosetthebenchmark to redefnetheelectricmobilitylifestylewith a rangeofsustainableandinnovativefeatures.

TheIoniq 5 isbuiltuponHyundaiMotor Group’s dedicatedBEVarchitecture called Electric-GlobalModularPlatform(E-GMP), enablingittohaveuniqueproportionsonan elongatedwheelbase. WithE-GMP, theIoniq 5 offersinnovativeinteriordesignwithecofriendlymaterialsinmanytouchpoints,strong performancematedwithultra-fastcharging and a Vehicletoload(V2L)function,aswell asadvancedconnectivityanddriverassistance featuresthatwilloffertheultimatein-car experiencewhilealsoensuringsafety

ThefrontofthecarfeaturesHyundai’s frst clamshellhoodandeye-catching V-shaped positioninglamps.Meanwhile,pixelated headlampsincorporatedistinctivedaytime runninglights(DRLs).Thesesmallpixel-like

clustersalsoappearatthe rearofthevehicle. Aero-optimisedwheelsfurtherechothedesign themeandare offeredin a super-sized20-inch diameter

Customerscanchoosefromnineexterior colours,includingfvenature-inspiredhues exclusivetothismodel.TheE-GMPprovided Ioniq5’s designerswithanunprecedented leveloffreedomtocreateaninnovativeand modularinterior Themodel’s fatfoor, where themodel’s batteriesare stored,createsextra legroomandthespaciousnessof a large passengercarin a crossoverutilityvehicle(CUV) bodytype.

Thelong3,000mmwheelbaseallowedHyundai designerstoapply a ‘LivingSpace’themetothe interior, ratherthan a conventionalcardesign theme.Thisincludesthe‘UniversalIsland’, a moveablecentre consolethatcanslidebackas muchas140mm,allowingmore freedomof movementinsidethevehicle.

TheIoniq 5 isalsoequippedwithelectrically adjustablefrontseatswhichcan reclinetothe occupant’s optimumangletooffer a weightless feelingandsupportforthelowerleg.In addition,themodel’s electricallyadjustable rearseatscanslideupto135mmforward and backwards.

Manyoftheinteriortouchpoints – seats,

headliner, doortrim,foorandarmrest – use eco-friendly, sustainablysourcedmaterials.

TheIoniq 5 isavailablewith a rangeofpower electric(PE)confgurationstoftthemobility needsofeverydriver Customerscanselect fromtwobatterypackoptions,either58kWh or72.6kWh,andtwoelectricmotorlayouts, eitherwith a rearmotor rearwheeldriveonly orwithbothfrontand rearmotorsproviding fourwheeldrive.Allmodelshave a topspeed of115mph.

Whenequippedwith rearwheeldrive, 72.6-kWhbatteryand19-inchwheels,the maximumdrivingrangeon a singlecharge is298miles,accordingtothe Worldwide HarmonisedLight Vehicle TestProcedure (WLTP)standard.

Thenewmodelcansupportboth400Vand 800Vcharginginfrastructures.Theplatform offers800Vultra-fastchargingcapabilityas standard,alongwith400Vcharging,without theneedforadditionalcomponentsor adapters.

TheIoniq 5 isequippedwiththenextlevel ofHyundaiSmartSensetechnology, the company’s advanceddriverassistancesystem, ensuringthehighestlevelsofsafetyand convenienceonthe road.It’s pricedfrom £42,511. ■

Picanto with personality

ThenewsfromFordMotorCompany thatitwillstopproducingthe topsellingFiestamodelcame asasurprisetoeveryone.TheBlue Oval recentlyannouncedthatthisyear willmarktheendfortheFiestaasit concentratesonEVs.

Sowhatwill replacetheFiestainthetopseller list?StepforwardKiaPicanto.It’sfuntodrive, hasagreatpersonalityandappealstobuyers ofallageswithnewstyling,allthegadgets youcouldneedandluxurycarbuildquality.

Kiahasmadesubstantialupgradestoits smallestmodel.Offeringarangeofnewsafety andtelematicstechnologiesoften reservedfor larger,moreexpensivevehicles,theupgraded modelalsoboastsloweremissionsfromnewly reengineeredpowertrains,andstrikingdesign updates,insideandout.

TheupgradedPicantobringswithitadvanced safetytechnologyfromKia’slargercars, makingitamongthesafestcarsinitsclass.

Italsooffersfreeseven-yearKiaConnect services,enhancingvehicleconnectivity andcontroltotakethestressoutof journeys.EnhancementstothePicanto’s petrolpowertrainline-upincludeKia’snew automatedmanualtransmission(AMT)fora smootherdrive.

Allmodelsarepoweredbyupgradedversions ofthe1.0-litrepetrolengine,nowwithlower fuelconsumptionandemissions.ThePicantois capableofupto58.9mpg,withCO2emissions from109g/km. AvailableontheGT-LineS,a 99bhpversionofKia’s1.0-litre T-GDiengine joinedtheline-up recentlyandisthemost powerfulPicantoyet.

The T-GDiengineacceleratesthePicantofrom standstillto60mphin9.9secondsontheway toatopspeedof112mph.Therearenine versionsofthePicantoonoffer,basedontwo engines,twotransmissionsandsixtrimlines.

TheGT-LineandGT-LineSmodelshavelarger sportsfrontand rearbumperswithglossblack

skidplatesand redhighlightswithintheupper grilleandsideairintakes,alongthesidesills andinthelower rearbumper,whichcontains adiffusersectionandtwinexhausttailpipes. Theyhaveblackfauxleatherupholsterywith lightgreystitchingandfeaturessatinchrome interiordoorhandles.

TheGT-Linecomeswithaneight-inch touchscreendisplaywithRDSandDAB radioandAndroidAutoandAppleCarPlay connectivity.Thegrade3,X-LineSandGT-Line Sversionsaredistinguishedbyaneightinchcentre-mounted‘foating’touchscreen withsatellitenavigation,infotainmentand connectivitysystems,whichincludeintegration withKiaConnectservicesandAndroidAuto andAppleCarPlayconnectivitythroughapps pre-loadedontoasmartphone.

ThequalityofthePicantoisevidentintheft andfnishandthechoiceofmaterials.The instrumentsappearina2.6-inchmonochrome clusterdisplayongrade1,whileallother versionsfeaturealarger4.2-inchsupervision monochromeclusterdisplay.Aleather-trimmed steeringwheelandgearshifterappearsfrom grade2upwardandaD-Cutsteeringwheel isstandardonX-LineS,GT-LineandGT-LineS editions.

ThePicantofeaturesindependentMacPherson strutsatthefrontandatorsionbeamaxleat the rear,withcolumn-mountedmotordriven powersteering(MDPS).Kiaengineershaven’t messedwiththewinningformulaofsharp handling responsesandcomfortablerideofthe previousPicanto,asthisprovidesgreatstability andquicksteering reactions.

AllversionsofthePicantoarefttedwithKia’s IntelligentStopandGo(ISG)stop-startsystem to reducefuelconsumptionandemissionsin traffc.ItisthefrstmodelequippedwithKia’s newautomatedmanualtransmission(AMT).

TheAMTisbasedaroundafve-speed manualtransmissionwithclutchandgearshift actuatorstoautomateclutchoperationand gearshifts.TheAMTisacost-effectiveoption forcustomerswhofavourtheconvenience andease-of-useofanautomatictransmission, withoutsacrifcingthefueleffciencyofa conventionalmanualtransmission.ThePicanto rangeispricedfrom£13,400. ■

Maserati bringstouch ofluxuryto SUVmarket

ItalianluxurybrandMaseratihas confirmedthatitsmuch-anticipated allnewmid-sizeSUV, theGrecaleis nowavailableinrighthanddriveandis availabletotestdrive.

Designedinthe Tridentbrand’s Modena studiotodeliveraneverydayexceptional experienceforowners,theGrecalecombines premiumversatility, elegance,performance andinnovation.Thisall-newMaserati,the first inthissegmentandsittingbelowitslarger Levantesibling,isasathomeinthecutand thrustoftheurbanenvironmentasitison theopen road,withperformance,safetyand luxuriousgrandtourercomfortatitscore.

ThreeversionsoftheGrecaleare initially availabletoorder, pricedfrom£58,500,with theall-electricFolgore tofollowlaterthisyear TherangestartswiththeGT(300bhp),before movinguptothesportierModena(330bhp)

bothpoweredbyMaserati’s four-cylinder mildhybridengine.Thepowerful flagship, the Trofeooffers530bhpandhousestheV6 NettunoengineasseenintheMC20supercar Allversionsare matedtoaneight-speed automaticgearboxaswellasall-wheel-driveas standard.

GiventhedesirabilityoftheGrecaleandthe factthatitholdsitsvaluewell,buyerslooking to financeonewillbeabletotakeadvantage ofMaseratiFinancialServicesPCP(personal contractpurchase)offerfortheGTversion,of £566 a month,with6.8%APRover a fouryear period.

Maserati’s designersandengineershave ensuredthattheGrecaledeliversmanybest-inclassfeaturesincludinggenerousinteriorspace, drivabilityandhandling,with a sumptuous interiorusinganarrayofthe finestwood, carbon fibre andleathercombinations.The interioralsoincludesthetraditionalcoveted Maseraticlockfacethatis,forthe firsttime, digitisedandvoicecontrolled.

Asyouwouldexpectfrom a luxurymarque,the Grecalecomescomprehensivelyequippedas standard,includingAppleCarPlayandAndroid Auto,activecruisecontrol,frontand rear parkingsensorswith rearactivebraking,full LEDheadlights,hilldescentcontrol, rearview camera,12.3-inchtouchscreenand8.8multifunctioncomfortscreen.Incartechnologyis managedbytheMaseratiIntelligentAssistant (MIA)multimediasystemandMaserati Connect,enablingstateoftheartconnectivity andsupport.

Driversseekingevenmore drivingpleasure, luxuryandtechnologycanspecifynumerous options,includingtheacclaimedSonusFaber audiosystem(128Wwith21speakers).

Stylealsohasnotbeenforgotten.Forbuyers

lookingtotailorGrecaletotheirexacting tastes,MaseratioffersitsdistinctiveFuoriserie customisationprogramme,allowingthemto createtheirdreamone-of-a-kindSUV, both insideandout.

Commentingonthearrivaloftheeagerly anticipatedMaseratiSUV, PeterCharters, generalmanager, MaseratiNorthEurope, said:“We’re absolutelydelightedthatthe Grecaleisnowavailableonourshores. We’ve beenjealouslywatchingourcolleaguesin othermarketssellingthecarinleft-hand driveformoverthelastfewmonthsandcan’t waittonowoffertestdrivesacrossourUK network.

“It’s anever-growingpartofthemarket andourlatestSUVishere toofferbuyers something a littledifferent. We are already seeinghugeinterestinitandare confidentits compellingblendofeleganceandsportiness will reallyappealtobuyersseekingtomake theireverydayexceptional.”

Potentialbuyerscanconfigure theirnew Grecaleonline,includingtheFuoriserie customisationprogramme,byvisitingthe Maseratiwebsite. ■

APPOIN TM EN TS

PaulCourtneyhasbeenpromotedtohead ofITatBelfastCityAirport.MrCourtney willberesponsibleforenhancingthe company’sinfrastructure,systems,and network.

GarethJohnstonhastakenovertheroleof managingdirectoratcommercialproperty frmLisney.MrJohnstonjoinedLisneyin 1994andwasappointedasadirectorin 2001.

RoisinMcErlanehastakenontheroleof headofoperations,events,forMount Charles.Shehasspentthelast10years workinginhospitalityandpreviouslywas generalmanagerofabusycitycentre venue.

LawfrmMillarMcCall Wyliehasappointed Leigh Taylortoitsgrowingteam.A recentlyqualifedsolicitorandgraduateof Queen’sUniversityBelfast,shejoinsthe frm’scorporateteam.

MarcMiskellyhasbeenappointedto thepositionofsalesmanageratArtemis Technologies.Hehasextensiveexperience withinthemaritimeandautomotive industries,havingspentthepastnumber ofyearsworkingforalargeautomotive business.

AnaMacdonaldhasjoinedNorthern IrelandChamberofCommerceand Industry(NIChamber)aseventsand communicationsadministrator.Shejoins havingrecentlycompletedadegree incommunicationsandmediaatthe UniversityofLiverpool.

TasminParkinsonisnowmarketingand administrationexecutiveatArdsBusiness

Hub.Sheisresponsibleforrunningallof thehub’ssocialmediaplatformsincluding Facebook, Twitter,LinkedIn,Instagram and TikTok.

IainSimpsonhasbeenappointedas facilities,healthandsafetyco-ordinator atArdsBusinessHub.MrSimpson previouslyworkedfor12yearsinfacilities managementforDeloitteinBelfast.

CharlieDucketthasbeenappointedtothe roleofbusinessdevelopmentmanagerat NorthernIrelandChamberofCommerce andIndustry.Sheisanexperiencedsales professionalandpreviouslyworkedfor GalgormCollection.

Sky Glass: how doesitperform?

Adrian Weckler looksatSkyGlass’sperformance inthehome,fourmonthsdowntheline

Wefrst reviewedSkyGlass, thecompany’sfrstbranded television,whenitcameout inSeptember.Atthatpoint,wehad thebeneftofaboutaweek’suse.Four monthslater,ourexperienceofthe 65-inchsetthathasinhabitedtheliving roomisstillmostlypositivebutwithsome naggingbugsanddownsidesthatpersist.

Thegoodstuff remainsmostlythesame.Thisis atelevisionthatsimplycomesoutofthebox, plugsinandworkswithyournormalhome wi-f.There’snoseparateset-topbox,noweird cardand–mostofall–noneedforaphysical satellitedish.Onitsown,that’samajorjump foraTVservicefromthiscompany.

Theotherbigadvantagederivesfromthis

simplisticsetup:thereareliterallynowiresor otherclutterthattrailaroundthesetorits environs.Thispointaloneisprobablyenough toensurethatitstaysinsituinourliving room:oursisahousewherecomplaintsabout gadgetryandexposedwiringareaneverpresentnarrative.

Andthere’sthefactthatithasbuilt-in speakers,whicharegoodenoughnottoneed anyexternalaccessories–whichalsomeansno otherkitaroundtheTVset.

Theseareallbigpositives.The‘puck’ accessories–whichallowyoutoaddotherTVs orscreensinthehousetoyourSkyplan–are decent,too.

Thedisplayqualityhasbeengoodenoughfor

everythingwehavewatchedinthelastfour months,althoughit’snot reallyatthelevelof higher-endOledTVsetsliketheSonyA8it replacedintheliving room.Onlysomeonewho hashadatop-levelTVscreenwouldnotice, though;theSkyGlassscreenisgoodquality.

Featureslikeasimple remotecontrolandvoice controlarealso relativehighlights.

Thereare,though,somesignifcantbugbears. Onehasbeenwellfagged.Theothertookme alittlebysurprise.

Thewell-faggeddrawbackisthesystem’slack ofcoherencewith recordingprogrammes.For some reason,Skyhaslaunchedthiswithout anyphysicalharddrivespacefor recording content.Theideaisthatyoucan,instead,

puttheprogrammeyou’reinterestedinon a‘playlist’byclickingthe‘+’buttononthe remotecontrol.

ThenSkyusestheprogrammestation’sown onlineplayertostreamtheprogrammeyou wantedto‘record’backtoyouafterwards.Or it recordstheprogrammeitselfinthecloudfor yourplayback(within30days,andnolonger).

Orifitcan’tdoeitherofthesethings,itgoes huntingforthatprogrammeonarangeof otheronlineplatforms,likeNetfixorAmazon andthenlinksyoutothoseepisodes.

WhenIfrst reviewedthisinSeptember,I wasn’thappywithit.Itdidn’tworkwithone ortwomainstreamprogrammesIwanted, suchasBBC’sMatchOfTheDay.Fourmonths later,itstilldoesn’t.Skysaidthatthisis becauseofgeo-restrictions(intheRepublic ofIreland) relatingtoBBCcontentandthatit hopestomakeabreakthroughonitsoon.

Butthisisn’tthecasewithanyotherTVsystem thatshowsBBC,includingSky’sownSkyQ whichhasaharddrive.

InOctober,ahandfulofBBCcontentbecame availabletoplaylist,butmuchofitstillisn’t available.

Forothercontent,I’vefounditmostlyworks, butIcouldn’ttellyouforsurewhichshowsare guaranteedto record.

Inonesense,Skycanbeapplaudedfor

jumpingintoanext-generationcloud mentality.Unfortunately,it’ssimplyunreliable rightnowasa recordingsystem.

TheotherissueIwasalittlemoresurprisedby wasitsbugginess.TheTVsystemcrashesat leastonceeveryotherweek,needingaplugout-plug-back-inhard reset.

That’softenenoughtobeanirritantandto questiontheset’ssoftwarematurity.Idon’t doubtthatthiswillstabilisethroughfuture updates.Butfornow,it’ssomethingtobe mindfulof.

Aminorirritantisthatitapparentlywon’t connectsomemainstreamDVDplayers.My SonyBlu-rayplayerisacknowledgedwhen pluggedin,buttheTVwon’t relaythesignal.

Otherwise,it’sinterestingthatyougetthe sametechspecsonallscreensizeshere.That meansthesamescreen resolution,engineand speakers,whetheryouoptforthe43-inch,55inchor65-inchmodel.

Ihavethe65-inchversion,buttheparity meansthatthesmallermodelsareslightly moretechnicallyimpressive.

Foranyoneconsideringbuyingit,it’salso interestingthatit’sslightlycheapertobuy ininstalmentsovertwoyearsfromSkythan outright.

ThisislikelyaSkystrategytokeepSkyGlass customerssubscribedtoSkyservices.Butin

suchaninfationaryera,ithastobechalked upasaconsumerwin.

Itgoeswithoutsayingthatasystemthat worksprimarilyoverwi-fneedsgoodwi-f. Sky recommendsatleast25Mbs.I’dsay youshouldhavetwicethatlevel(50Mbs)to guaranteebuffer-freewatching,especiallyin wintereveningswhensomeareas’broadband signalsslowupaseveryonelogsonatthe sametime.

OtherthanNowTV,whichisverylimitedin itsquality,thisistheonlywaytogetafullSky serviceovertheinternet.

SkyisshowingthatitcandeliverTVoverthe internet,butisn’tofferingastandalonesettopboxthatwouldletyouconnecta regular TVinthisway.BuyingSkyGlassistheonly waytodoit.

Insummary,thisisasimple,good-quality TVthatletsyouditchthesatellitedish, theseparateset-topboxandtheexternal speaker.

Forthoselivinginanapartmentblock,often withoutaccesstosatellitedishes,thatmeans realcompetitionwith Virgin,whoseuser interfacegenerallyisn’tasgoodasSky’s.

Onthesetitself,therearestillmoreprosthan constoSkyGlassandit’seasilygoodenough tobeadecent,somewhat-premiumfamilyTV. ButIthinkthatSkywillbekeentoironout someofthenigglesthatcurrentlyaffectit. ■

2. Entriesarenowopenforthe 2023 WomeninBusiness Awards which returntoBelfast’sCrowne PlazaHotelinMarch.Pictured areLorraineAcheson, Womenin Business,IanBailey, VirginMedia O2Business,andeventhost PamelaBallantine.

3. InsurancebrokerDickson&Co hasmarked30yearsinbusiness withaneventattheGlenpark EstateinOmagh.Picturedare RuthandAshleyDicksonof Dickson&Co.

4. TourismNIhaslaunchedphase twoofitsKickStartschemeto driveinnovation,sustainability andcompetitivenessintourism businesses.PicturedareBridgene Keeley,McKeeverHotels,Eimear Callaghan, TourismNIand DanielleMcCormick, TriterraNI.

5. Artemis Technologieshas hostedthePermanentSecretary fortheDepartmentfor Infrastructure,DrJulieHarrison,at itsnewlyopenedfacilityin Titanic Quarter.SheispicturedwithDr IainPercy.

1. ConorIrvine(centre) openedhisownhomeware anddelibusinessthanks tothehelpoftheGoForIt programmeinassociation withDerryCityandStrabane DistrictCouncil.He’spictured withSandraDuffy,Mayor ofDerryCityandStrabane DistrictCouncilandCaolan Campbell.

7. Shu restaurantsaysit’s recapturingthedecadent playfulnessofthelivemusicand jazzagebycreatinga‘speakeasy vibe’.PicturedareAineO’Kane, headbartenderatJul’sandJamie Neill,assistant restaurantmanager atShu.

8. MBMcGrady&CoChartered AccountantsandBusiness Advisors,withoffcesinBelfast, NewtownardsandDownpatrick, hasappointedKimRaineyasa directorinthecompany.Sheis picturedwithConaillMcGrady, MalMcGradyandSeamus McLernon.

9. KSystemsprojectshas pickedupthreeaccoladesat theprestigiousInsulatedRender andCladdingAssociation(INCA) awards.

10. PatMcGarry,grouplogistics directoratHendersonGroup,has receivedtheLifetimeAchievement Awardatthe2022Connected RetailConferenceinRotterdam. Heispicturedwith Tobias Wasmuht.

6. Studentsfromthe Ballymenaareaareoncourse tocompletethefve-week ManufacturingAcademy deliveredbyNorthern RegionalCollegeattheFarm LodgeCampus,Ballymena.

12. Maxolhasopenedthedoors ofthenewMaxolEdenderry ServiceStationontheCrumlin Road,Belfastfollowingan extensive re-development,which includesitsnewSparstore.

PicturedarePaddyDoody,Brian Donaldson,KevinPaterson,and CiaranMcNally.

13. SelinaHorshihasbeen appointedasthe80thPresident oftheLondonderryChamberof Commerce.MsHorshi,whois managingdirectoroftheWhite HorseHotel,ispicturedwithvice presidentGregMcCann.

14. EvannaMaxtedandKerry MiganunveilBoostDrinks’taken ChooseNowstudentcampaign, whichencouragespeopletofulfl theirpassionsandlivetheirlives tothefullest.

15. Newrybased recycling company,Re-Gen Waste,is celebratingliftingthe Teamofthe Year AwardattheMRWNational Recycling Awards,heldatthe WestminsterParkPlaza,London.

11. NaomiLong(centre) hasvisitedTheJunction inAntrimtomeetthe centremanagement team, Women’sAidand c21TheatreCompanyto discusstheartssector’s role inwomen’srights.Sheis picturedwithStephenKelly, ArleneCreighton,JohnBlair MLA,ChrisFlynnandDenise Stewart.

2011.PicturedareJoanne

17. VisitBelfasthasannounced anewstrategicpartnership agreementwithBelfast’slast remaining Victorianshopping arcade,Queen’sArcade.Pictured areSuzanneLunn,marketing director,Queen’sArcadeand GerryLennon,chiefexecutive, VisitBelfast.

18. TheDepartmentof Agriculture,Environmentand RuralAffairs(DAERA)has receivedaSpecialAchievement inGIS AwardatEsri’sannual InternationalUserConferencein SanDiego.PicturedareDermot O’Kane,GeraldineDevineand PaulMcGurnaghan.

19. Atlantic AviationGroup (AAG)hasurgedpeopletogive themselvesthegiftofanew careerthisChristmasandNew Yearasthecompanyexpands itsoperationsandworkforce. PicturedareDarraghCasey,Jester SalutanandAlvaKissane.

20. Asthefrstorganisationin NItobeawardedtheBritish StandardforInclusiveService Provisionin2021,theConsumer Councilhas retainedthestandard forthethirdconsecutivetime. PicturedareNoyonaChundurand Rebecca Walsh.

16. OnehundredNorthern Irelandcompanieshavenow beneftedfrominvestments totallingover£42m throughCo-FundNIsince theprogrammebeganin

O’Doherty,BrianCummings, ClaudineOwens, William McCulla,andJackieCrooks.

22. TheAMP,thenorthwest’s frstandonlyprivatelyfunded incubatorandco-working space,hasannouncedaformal partnershipwithseedinvestor Techstart Ventures.Pictured areJamieAndrews, Techstart Ventures,AMPfounder Ryan WilliamsandJoshCorry, Techstart Ventures.

23. TheBushmillsInnhasraised £5,000forNorthernIreland ChildrentoLaplandandDays toRemember Trust,fundingthe costofsendingfvechildrento Lapland.PicturedareNikkiPicken, TheBushmillsInnandColin Barkley,NorthernIrelandChildren toLaplandandDaystoRemember Trust.

24. DavidSmith,fnancedirector atKilwaughterMinerals,hasbeen named YoungDirectorofthe Year atthe2022InstituteofDirectors NorthernIreland(IoDNI)Director ofthe Year Awards.He’spictured withRichardGray,partnerat CarsonMcDowell.

25. CharteredAccountantsUlster Societyhasraised£15,000for charityNorthernIrelandChest HeartandStrokeatitsChristmas eventrunninginpartnershipwith UlsterBank.PicturedareEmma Murray,GarethMcGleenon,Zara Duffy,andRichardLusty.

21. FourMidUlster companieshaveestablished acollaborativeclusterwith theaidofQueen’sUniversity andfacilitatedbyCentrefor CompetitivenessandSmart GridIreland.PicturedareDr PaulMadden,GrahamMaze, DrJames Young,Martin Doherty,DavidHenderson, Allistair Wilkinson,Ed Wright, andChloeSkillen.

27. TheGrandCentralHotel, EuropaHotelandStormont Hotelhaveeach receivedSilver AwardsforGreen Tourism. Picturedismanagingdirectorof HastingsHotelsJamesMcGinn withRaymondDuncanand Visit Belfast’sJacCallan.

28. BusinessenterpriseLEDCOM saysitssupportandfacilitieshave helpedtowardsthecreationor safeguardingof410jobsacross theMidandEastAntrimand theAntrimandNewtownabbey BoroughCouncilareas.Pictured areSimonMcDowell,DrNorman ApsleyOBE,RichardKennedy, JennyErvineandKenNelsonMBE.

29. Picturedatthelaunchofthe RENDRfestivalareteammembers includingNigelMcAlpine,Digital Catapult,DeepaMann-Kler, atNeon,Michael Weir,RENDR FestivalandDeclanKeeney, coursedirectorattheSchoolof CommunicationsandMedia, UlsterUniversity.

30. TheBelfastoffceofDWFhas furtherexpanded,throughseveral seniorlateralhireappointments tothecommercialteam,including threepartners,anewdirectorand twoseniorassociates.Picturedare MarkBlair,JulieGalbraith,Scott KennedyandOliviaO’Kane

26. MountCharleshas announcedamulti-million poundcontractawardwith SouthEast Technological University(SETU)siteslocated inMunsterandLeinster.

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32. FPM,anAABGroup Company,hasappointedDebbie Connolly(secondfromright) aswealthdirectorinNorthern Ireland.Sheispicturedwith AlastairMoore,AAB Wealth Belfast,FeargalMcCormack,FPM Accountants,andAndrewDines, AAB Wealth.

33. BelfastcomedianPaddyRaff (right),whosesisterSarahhas bothepilepsyandotheradditional needsincludingcerebralpalsy,is supportingthe rolloutofEpilepsy ActionNorthernIreland’sfree counsellingsupportservice.He’s picturedisCarlaSmyth,Epilepsy ActionNorthernIrelandservices andprojectsmanager.

34. SVP WestBelfastArea President ValerieMcGreevy(right) ispicturedwithSVPmembers CarolCallaghanandMaryStewart attheoffcialopeningof Vincent’s SpringfeldRoadinBelfast.

35. The2022/23Springboard FutureChef regionalheatwildcard winner,LaurenBlakefrom Wallace HighSchoolispicturedwithGeoff Baird,businessdevelopment chefatsponsor,Henderson Foodservice,mentorStephen HigginsonfromTheSquare Bistro,andCaitrionaLennox, Springboard.

31. TitanicBelfasthas appointedthreefrmsto carryoutthemajorwork involvedinthe£4.5m refreshmentprogramme atthetourismhotspot. PicturedareKerrieSweeney, MaritimeBelfast Trust,Martin McErlean,MarconFit-Out, JudithOwensMBE, Titanic Belfast,PaulDicksonofBraid Mechanical&Electrica,and TJMorrisofFabrite.

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37. PowersIrishWhiskeyis launchedanew‘Powering Conversations’interviewseries aspartofitsnew‘OldButGold’ campaign.PicturedareRonan Collins,publican WillieJackand restauranteurNiallMcKenna.

38. CitiBelfastsiteheadLeigh MeyerandAdrianDoyle,director experienceoperationsatW5 announceCiti’ssponsorshipof W5’s‘InOurNature’zone.

39. Fibrushasinstalledfveelectric vehiclechargingpointsatitsnew facility,asitcontinuesitsdrive tohaveafullyelectricfeetin threeyears.PicturedareSharon McGregor,FibrusandCiara Campbell, Weev.

40. UlsterUniversityhashosteda galaDinnertocelebrate Winter Graduationsandtheopening ofthefnalphaseoftheBelfast campus.PicturedareJohnFarrell, ColinDavidson,SisterMary Turley, andRonnieKells.

36. Cuttingtheribbon attheoffcialopeningof Alpha’snew£2.1mhousing developmentinBroughshane isformerIrelandand UlsterRugbyplayerDavid Humphreys,withClarke HousetenantBettyShaw, andformerchairofAlpha Housing,JohnClarke.

ALaplandadventure getsChristmasofftoa magicstart,writes Daire Whelan

‘Happy?... Tonttu!”Shewasthe PiedPiperfortheweekend, dressedinanelfsuitofgreen trousers, red jacketandgreen-and-redhat. Wherevershewent,thekids,andadults, followed,wantingtobepartofherhappy, infectiousenergy

“It’s allabouthappiness,youknow, justmake everyonehappy, andespeciallyatChristmas,” shesaidinherSpanishaccent.

OriginallyfromMalaga, Tonttu(“Santagaveme thisname,itmeanselfyouknow? Veryoriginal ofSanta”)wastheunofficialleaderoftheelves whosejobitwastomakesure theChristmas cheerneverwaveredordroppedthroughout ourstay

We were inLaplandattheendofNovember forfourdaysandthreenightstoseeSanta,play inthesnowandtake reindeerandhuskyrides. We were lookingforthemagicofChristmas andin Tonttuwefoundit. Walkinginto a room hercrywouldgoup.“Happy?”andthe room ofkidsandadultswouldyellbackinunison, “Tonttu”. We were underherspell,andthe magicChristmasdustwasworking.

Bythetimewe reachedtheendofthetrip,our threekids – Ryan(10),Charlie(8)andGloria (5) – were teary-eyedatthethoughtofleaving Laplandandtheelves.

OurtriptoLaplandwas a chanceto findthe magicthatweasadultsneedasmuchasthe kids.Sometimesyouneedanelflike Tonttuto remindyou.

Nestledonthedeparturesboard inDublin Airport,below flightstoLondon,Paris, Edinburgh,wasonefortheNorthPole.

Happinessis a snowy stay with MrClaus

Evenjustseeingthosewordsintheairport,so incongruousalmost,was a jolt.

Aswere ourwelcomingelvesofBinkyandElfo readywithwaves,smiles,jokesandSantahats foreveryonearrivingtocheck-inforthespecial, chartered flight.

Itwasn’t longbefore the first renditionofJingle Bellscouldbeheard.

Ledbytheelves,thekidswere shoutingout thewordsandevenifyouweren’ta singeryou would findyourselfnoddingandhumming along. You couldn’t helpbutbesweptalongby theChristmascheer

Thethree-hour flightpassedbyquicklyamidst thesingingandChristmasgames,andeventhe pilotjoinedinwith I SawMommyKissingSanta Clausbefore announcingwewere nearing Lapland,andRudolphandtheother reindeer were outinthesky

We couldn’t seethembutwecouldfeelthem, hesaid,asthewingsoftheplanetiltedtoone side.

Itwasgoingtobethatkindoftripasthekids screamedindelightlookingoutthewindows foranysightings.

Itwasjustafter3pmwhenwelandedbutit

wasalreadypitchblack.Daysare shortin Laplandatthistimeofyear, withthesun emergingafter10amanddisappearingagain soonafter2pm.

Steppingoff theplane,thewhitelandscape ofLaplandsetagainsttheneonlightsofthe airportgaveitallanother-worldlyglow

Itwas“only”-7Cwewere told.Ithadbeen -20Cjust a fewdaysearlier, socollecting snowsuits,glovesandbootswasvitalforthe durationofourstay

Anytimeyouventuredoutside,youmade sure togothroughtherigmaroleofthermal

suit,boots,gloves,hat.

“WelcometoLapland!”criedout Tonttu, whowaswaitingwithsmilesandwide,outstretchedarmsfortheyoungguests,who immediatelytooktoherhappy, warmand mischievousnature.

Whenoneofourkidscouldn’t fndtheir bootsthenextmorningatthehotel, Tonttu reassureduswith a comfortingarmaround theshoulder “There are noproblemsin Lapland,onlysolutions,”shesaid.“Leaveitto Tonttu.”

Tobogganingwiththekidsdownthehilly

roadsoutsidethehotelonthefrstnight wassomething I willneverforget.Itwasfun aspure asthesnowwewere hurtlinginto, andthelaughterandscreamsofdelight wouldbringjoytothecoldestofhearts.

Whatfollowedovertheweekendwerea numberofshortactivitiesthatgaveus a welcometasteofChristmasandLapland.

There was a ridein a sledpulledby reindeer, anotherpulledbyhuskies,andeven a chancetodrive a snowmobilearound a snowyfeld.

Butthehighlightwas,ofcourse,thevisit toSanta’s village, a seriesoflogcabinsset in a snowywoods,where wemetSantain hisoffcepiledhighwithsacksofletters. Somewere hangingfrom a washingline, and I noticedonethat read,“DearSanta, I wanttowinlottotostopwork.Thankyou, Santa.”

OurvisittoLaplandwasforthekidsbutit was,justasimportantly, fortheadultstoo.

Thekidsfelleasilyintothemagicofthe place,thewonderofthelandscapeandthe joyoftheelves,andso,too,didtheparents.

Attheend,thekidsdidn’t wanttoleave andheldontightlyto Tonttuattheairport, notwantingtoletherspiritgo.I’dliketo thinkthoughthatourownChristmasspirit hasbeen reinvigoratedandgiven a push whenitwasneededthemost.

“Don’t forget,” Tonttu remindedusas welefther “Lookoutforthehappysmile onyourChristmaspresentswhenyouare openingthemonChristmasmorning.“That ishowyouknow I havebeenbacktovisit youandleftthemunderyourtree. “Seethesmileandthinkofme.Thinkof Tonttu,thinkofbeinghappy.”

For a weekendatleast,wewere swept alongandbecamebelieversagain. ■

Whatwillbethe starturnofthe techsectorin 2023?

Whatwillhappenintechin2023?Howmany morejobswillgo?Whataretheprospectsfor crypto?AndwilltheMetaversefnallyhappen?

Adrian Weckler looksatsevenpossibleoutcomes

1

Moretechlayoffs

We’re notdonewithlayoffsinthetech industry Severalcompaniesare still cuttingworkforces.

Some,suchasthemultinationalPluralsight, are following a generalindustrytrendof targetinglayoffsofbetween5%and15% acrossalltheiroffces.Others,including a numberofindigenousfrms,haveditchedtheir hiringplans,effectivelyputtingthebrakeson theirloftierambitions.

Governmentoffcialsdon’t seemoverly worriedyet,evenafter TaoiseachLeo Varadkar saidhecouldsee“thousands”more being laidoff.

Heseemstobebankingonthenotionthat Ireland’s techecosystemhasbeenoverheated for a while,andcantakethelossof a few thousandjobswhile remainingsomething closeto a boomingindustry

Threekeymultinationalstowatchhere are Google,Appleand TikTok,noneofwhich currentlysaytheyare layingoff workers.Ifany ofthesestartcutting,thetech recessionmay bedeeperthanpreviouslyimagined.

2

USB-ConiPhones

Thegoodnews:iPhoneswillgetthe sameUSB-Cchargingcableaseveryother gadget.Thebadnews:you’llhavetothrow outyouriPhonecablesand replacethemwith USB-Cs.

Overall,thisis a positivestep.USB-Cisfaster andmore fexiblethanApple’s datedLightning cables,whichiswhyApplehadalready switchedtoitonallofitsiPadsandMacBooks.

3

Twitter’s chaosandtheemergence ofpotentialrivals

It’sa tallordertotryandpredict Twitter’s future,giventhechaoticpaceatwhichthings changethere.

Butonethingseemslikely:it’s hard toimagine thecompanyasis – withitspresentowneras chiefexecutive – bythistimenextyear

ElonMusk’s educationonhowtorun a social medianetworkhasbeenbrutal.Hehasmessed up a lotofthings, resultingin a sharpfallin revenueasadvertisersbackawayfromthe stink.

Afterhisown Twitterpoll,which

overwhelminglyvotedforhimtostepdownas chief,hesaidhewould resignwhenhefnds someone“foolishenoughtotakethejob”.

IfMastodonistochallenge Twitter, itneeds tohappeninthenextcoupleofmonths.The ‘federated’servernetwork,whichdoesnot quitehavetheimmediacyorinstantnews appealof Twitter, hasbeenaroundforsome time,buthasitsmomentnow

AnotherpotentialrivaltowatchisPost.news, whichiscloserinuserexperienceto Twitterbut isstillatanearlystage,withwaitinglists.

Whatdoesseemlikelyisthat Twitter’s central roleasthebeatingheartofnewsandsport updateswillbeweakerin2023thanithas beenforthelastfveyears.

ElonMusk

4AIgetsunlockedforthemasses

Ifthere isonestorythatcouldsurpass Twitterandthetechlayoffsin2023, itmightbethepopularisationofartifcial intelligence(AI).

Whilethestartof2022sawusgetting usedtoAI-basedartondemand, a burstof conversationalAIemergedtoward theend oftheyearthatopenedmanyeyestoits possibilities.

OpenAI’s ChatGPTtool,inparticular, caughtthe public’s imaginationinthisarea,demonstrating a surprisingabilitytocombinenaturallanguage withanunimaginablylargeinternet-based datasettocomeupwithanswers,songs, poemsandevencompetentprogramming sequences.

Thislatterfunctionhasalreadyseenday-traders dabblewithChatGPTtosetuploopsand signal-sniffngalgorithmsthatcanspeedup theirtrading.

Whilethetechnologyclearlyhas a longwayto go,itmaybethemostmeaningfultechnology adoptionthatmanyofusgetusedtothisyear

5Anotheryearofexistentialcrisisfor crypto

Lastyearcouldhardlyhaveendedon a worsenoteforcryptoandNFTs.Majorcoins, suchasEtherandBitcoin,losttwothirdsof theirvalue.

Non-Fungible Tokens(NFTs)faredevenworse.

A ‘BoredApe YachtClub’NFTthatJustinBieber spent€1.2moninJanuarywasworthjust $70,000byDecember FTXwenttothewall withitsfounder, SamBankman-Fried,currently facingfraudchargesafterdepositorslostupto €10bn.

Soisthisjustanothercyclical‘cryptowinter’? Orsomethingdifferentaltogether?

TheEuropeanCentralBankoffers a pessimistic outlook.AtthebeginningofDecemberit tweeted:“TheapparentstabilisationofBitcoin’s valueislikelytobeanartifciallyinducedlast gaspbefore thecrypto-assetembarkson a road toirrelevance.”

Unsurprisingly, thoseinthecryptoindustry disagree.“Thisisjustanothercyclical downturn,”saidBitpanda’s managingdirector, AlexBatlin,ontheBig TechShowpodcastin December “Bitcoinisonitswaytobecoming the reservecurrencyoftheworld.”

Irelandisoneofthelargercrypto-owning countriesinEurope,severalpollssuggest,even ifit’s justinsmallamountsheldinourRevolut apps.

6Meta,theMetaverseandthefallout forIreland

Itseemsthatevery recentyearhasbeen a crunchoneforMeta’s Metaverse.But2023 maybemake-or-breaktime.

MarkZuckerberg’s otherplatforms – notably FacebookandInstagram – were seriously

damagedin2022bythedoublewhammyof Apple’s ‘do-not-track’iPhonemeasure (which costMetaabout$10bninad revenue)andthe continuedriseof TikTok.

In response,Zuckerbergisbettingthehouseon a virtual realityplatformthathas – asyet – not signifcantlycaughtthepublic’s imagination. Onecanunderstandwhyhe’s doingthis.Only bycreatingyourownplatformandecosystem are youprotectedfrombeingstrippedofvital resources,asApplehasdonetoFacebookand Instagram.

AndasMetaisthebiggestearlydeveloperin thefeld,it’s fairtoassumethatiftheformat ofvirtuallife reallydoestakeoff,itwillhave a biglead.

Ontheotherhand,there isstilllittleenthusiasm forVRbeyondlimitedgamingexperiences.And there’s also a majorcompetitivethreatonthe horizon,intheformofApple’s ‘mixed reality’ glasses,whichare expectedtobelaunched sometimein2023.

7A ‘DigitalBridge’willfudgethe transatlanticdataban – yetagain Remember‘SafeHarbour’?And‘Privacy Shield’? Well,get readyfor‘DigitalBridge’ –thelatesttemporaryfudgebetweentheUS andEuropeintheendlesscycleofunfulflled Europeanthreatstobantransatlanticdata.

Sometimeintheearlyweeksof2023,the EuropeanCommissionandtheUSgovernment willsign a newtransatlanticagreement(‘Digital Bridge’)thatpurportsto removetheoffending UScircumstancesthatledtotheEuropean CourtOfJusticetellingIreland’s HelenDixonto banFacebookdatatransfers.

Thiswillbealmostimmediatelychallenged inEuropeancourts,whichmaystrikethe agreementdown,justastheyhavedonewith ‘SafeHarbour’and‘PrivacyShield’.

Butdon’t worry:theEUandUSwillthen promisethenexttreatywhichpurportsto supersedetheEuropeancourts’objections. ■

Uncovering the9-5

NAME: DavidBrown

POSITION: President,UlsterFarmers’ Union(UFU)

6am

PriortobeingUlsterFarmers’Union(UFU) presidentordeputypresident,Icouldhave describedatypicaldaymucheasier,aday whichwasdictatedbythetimeofyearordare Isayit,theweather.

Atthistimeofyearmyfarmingactivitieswould bemainlyaroundthefarmyard.Theyinvolve feedinganimalshousedforthewinter,and variousanimalhusbandrytasksthatarehighly variedfromdaytoday.

AspresidentoftheUFU,thetypicalmorning

onthefarmhaschanged.Breakfastiseaten withtheiPadinhand respondingtoemails, andfrom7am,theincomingphonecallsstart. Thesecouldbefromfarmermembersand withover11,500familyfarmmemberships to represent,thesecallshaveincreased continuallyoverthepastfveyearsasaUFU offcebearer.Alternatively,theymaybe industry representativeswhoI’vemetin recent daysormaybemeetinginthenearfuture.

IfI’mfortunatenottohavetoheadto Belfastfrstthinginthemorning,thenthe Bluetoothearpieceisinsertedasthephone callscontinue,andIheadtotheyardtohelp mysonwiththemorningfeeding.Some morningsthecattlegetarudeawakening andbreakfastcomesearlyasI’vegottobe onthe roadat7amforthetwo-hourtripto Belfast,Greenmountorsomeotherlocationin theeast.SeldomdoIfndindustrymeetings happeninginEnniskillen.

Onotheroccasions,I’mofftotheairportat

3amforfightsto representNorthernIreland farmersandagricultureinthecorridorsof powerin WestminsterorinBrussels.Unlike ourEnglishcolleagues,weinNIhavethree centresofpowertolooktowardswith EuropeanUnion(EU)policiesstilloperatingin NIalongsidewiderUKinfuencesandourown administrationatStormont.

Mydayandindeedweek,isdirectedbyan electronicdiary.Meetingsgetaddedona dailybasissimplybecausethere’saspace.In mostcases,Igetatextorvoicemailtocheck it’sOKandthatI’mavailable.However,it’s wisetocheckeverySundaynighttoseewhat ispencilledinfortheweekahead,asthere’s alwaysoneortwothathaveappearedlast minute.

7.30am

Soatypicaldaythatunfolds,orascloseasI canidentify,afteranhourorsoonthefarm andphonecallsonthemove,isfollowedbya fulldayofmeetings.Forexample,onatypical morning recentlyIlefthomeat7.30amfora meetinginUFUheadquarters.

10am

Aftermyvisittoheadquarters,this wasfollowedbya10ammeetingwith representativesfromthelivestocksectors, whichIchair.

1pm

Afterwards,Itravelbackdownthemotorway toDungannonforseveralmeetingsinthe afternoon.

6pm

ItakepartinaneventinBallymenaat 7.30pm.At10.30pm,I’mleavingforhome inFermanagh.Thankfullynoteverydayhas asmuchtravelling,butfrom7am,sprinkled withfrequentinterviewsandconstructing press releases,Iamoftenarrivinghomeclose tomidnight.OurstaffknowIusuallyendthe dayby replyingtotheiremailsthatIhaven’t hadtimeto respondtoataverylatehour.The thoughtofgoingtobedknowingIhaveto respondinthemorning,wouldleavemymind whirringandsleepafaroff.