Ulster Business May 2023

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We’ve lost a titan of economicsandbusiness

There wasoften a glimmerof almostmischiefinthelateJohn Simpson’s eyewhenhewas aboutto reveal a pieceofinformation thisbusinessjournalistwasnotprivy to,whetherthatbedueto a lackof experienceatthetimeorsimplyage

Forthosewhonevermethim,Johnwas a wealthofknowledgeandmaintained a vestedinterestintheworldofNorthern Irelandbusinessandoureconomyintohis 90s,where hecontinuedtowrite regularly forthe Belfast Telegraph andfor Ulster Business

Hispassinglastmonthfollowing a short periodofillnessbroughtsadnesstothose whoknewhim,butalso a chanceto revel in a lifeandcareersovariedandinteresting

itmakesmanyofourownexperienceslook somewhatpedestrian.

Mid-conversationwithJohnonsomething likewholesaleenergypricingorthe intricaciesof a companybalancesheet,you soon realisedthedepthofhisknowledge andexperience,butalsohisinnateability toarticulateoftencomplexthingswith a relativedegreeofsimplicityandconcision – somethingmostofusinjournalismoften strivefor

I attended a memorialserviceforJohn alongsidemycolleagueMargaretCanning, shortlyafterhisdeath.Anddespiteit naturallybeinganemotionalandsad occasionforthosewhohadknownhim fordecades,andhisclosefamily, italsofelt likeanopportunitytocelebrate a lifeso

well-lived,andhearstoriesmanyofuswho hadknownhimprofessionally, andfor a relativelyshortamountoftimeinthegrand schemeofthings,were unfamiliarwith.

Thebusinessworldiscertainly a less interestingplacewithoutJohnaround.

WelcometoMay’s editionof Ulster Business Ourfrontcoverstorythismonth featuresDeloitteandlooksattheworkit doeswithcompaniesofallshapesandsizes inhelpingthemprepare fortransactions, acquisitionsandwhyit’s there throughout a business’s lifecycle.

I hopeyouenjoythiseditionofthe magazineandwe’llcatchupsoon. ■

JohnMulgrew

Publisher UlsterBusiness

c/oMediahuisUKLtd

Belfast TelegraphHouse,33ClarendonRoad, ClarendonDock,BelfastBT13BG

Printer W&GBaird

GreystonePress,CaulsideDrive, AntrimBT412RS www.wgbaird.com

Editor JohnMulgrew

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

Graphicdesign SusanMcClean,MediahuisIrelandDesignStudio

Coverphoto WilliamCherry,PressEye

@ulsterbusiness www.ulsterbusiness.com

UlsterBusinessMagazine

MediahuisUKLtd©2023.Allrights

A month innumbers

‘Issues remain’ with planning portal says department

ByJohnMulgrew

Northern Ireland’s heavilycriticised newplanningportalis“being useddayin,dayout”while“there are stillsomeissues” remaining, a chief governmentplannerhastold Ulster Business

AftergoingliveinDecemberthenew portal – usedtosubmitapplicationsandcheck onexistingones – wasslammedbyindustry plannersandarchitectsanddescribedas a appearinglike a “beta”version.

Issuesincludeddatesbeingincorrect ondocuments,notbeingabletoupdate applications,poormapfunction,problemswith searches,lostflesandflesdownloadingas compressedZIPflesmakingnavigatingthrough applicationsconsiderablyslower

“It’s notthatit’s notuptoscratchandit’s beinguseddayin,dayout.Itwas a massive transferandITproject,”KathrynMcFerran, actingdirector regionalplanninggovernance andlegislation,told UlsterBusiness

“There are stillsomeissues,”shesays.“Alot fewerthanthere were…thesystemisworking andpeopleare usingit.

“We transferredaroundonemilliontextual data recordsfromourlegacysystemtothe newone.Inadditionwetransferred5.5 milliondocumentsandoveronemillionspatial features.”

MsMcFerransaysaround66%of applicationsare nowbeingsubmittedonline.

“Itisimproving…weare onthe record tosay there were teethingissuesandweare working veryhard withstakeholderstogetthose resolved.”

“The‘priorityone’issueshaveallbeen closed…and[soon]‘prioritytwo’willhave beendealtwith.”

Shesaysthedepartmentiscontinuingto workwiththecouncils,ishostingproject boardsandis rollingout a workshoptobring peopleinandspeaktothem.

Buttheissueisthattheindustrydoesn’t believeitwasconsultedsuffcientlybefore the newportalwentlive.

AccordingtoCiaranFoxoftheRoyalSociety ofUlsterArchitects(RSUA),itofferedtohelp testthenewsystemduringthedevelopment phase.

HailedasthelargestjointITprojectbetween centralandlocalgovernmenttodatein Northern Ireland,theportalisusedby10ofour 11councils.

Butas UlsterBusiness wasgoingtoprint someofthemajorissueswere stillnot addressed,includingdocumentsfromany applicationfledwiththeprevioussystemall showingas‘November26’.

Readthe fullarticle onpage41-44

Lack of Executive ‘hampering social house retrofitting’

AlackofaStormontExecutivemeansthousandsofsocial homeswillnotbe refurbishedandmoderniseddueto insuffcientfunding,it’sbeenclaimed.

SeamusLeheny,chiefexecutiveofTheNorthernIrelandFederation ofHousingAssociations(NIFHA),sayswhile£800mhasbeenfreedup to retroftpropertiesinGB,NorthernIrelandhasnot receivedanyringfencedfundingforsimilarimprovements.

Andwhilehesayshousingassociationshereareoncoursetobuild around2,000newhomesayear,some44,000 remainonwaitinglists–witharound30,000ofthosein“direneed”.

Housingassociationsare responsibleforaround57,000properties, withtheHousingExecutivemanagingafurther80,000.

Theissueof retrofttingolder,lessenergyeffcienthomesisoneof thebiggestissuesfacingthesectorhere.Whilemoneywasfreedup forschemesinGB,anymoneyNorthernIreland receivedwasnotringfenced.

“Themassivethingisthe retroftofproperties,”Seamussays.“Pretty muchallsocialhousingbeingbuiltistoanAoraB(energy)standard. Theethosisthatit’svalueformoney–wearefuture-proofngthem.

“Thenewhouses,wecandothat,buttheolderstock–the retro-ft fund.ThereisfundinginGB–£800minthefrstwave–wedidn’tseea pennyofthatinNorthernIreland.

“WewouldbeentitledtoitthroughtheBarnettconsequential,but it’snotring-fenced.”

Readthefullinterviewonpage22-23

TheUSSpecialEnvoyforNorthern Irelandhas rejectedclaimsthat Londonderryhasbeenneglected asalocationforinvestmentbymajor companies.

JoeKennedyIII,whohasbeencharged byPresidentJoeBidenwithbringingmore investmenttoNorthernIrelandfromAmerica, feelshisjobwouldbeeasierifStormontwas upandrunning.

AfteraccompanyingPresidentBidenduring hisvisittoBelfastlastmonth,MrKennedyhas spenttimevisitingbusinessesheretodiscuss possibleopportunities.

InaspeechatQueen’sUniversity’sBelfast Agreement25event,hesaidstabilityand certaintywerecrucialtoprosperity.

Followingthis,MrKennedywaspressedon aperceivedlackofinvestmentinDerryandthe northwest.

However,theformerMassachusetts congressmanpointedtoinvestmentby UScompanyandharddrivemanufacturer Seagate,whichhasamajoroperationinDerry.

“Contrarytowhatsomepeoplemightthink, DerryishometoSeagate,”hesaid.

“Athirdofallthecomputersintheworld usepiecesmanufacturedfromSeagate,and morethanhalfofthosepiecescomefroma factoryinNorthernIreland.Thisisacritical componenttoliterallythelifebloodofour commercetoday–andthat’sinDerry.

“So,theideathat,somehow,partsof NorthernIrelandhavemajoreconomic challengesandnobodywouldthinkof investing[there],oneoftheworld’sleading technologyfrmshasa$1bn-plusfactoryin Derry.”

MrKennedywasalsoaskedifthestability andcertaintyhementionedinhisspeechwas a referencetoaunitedIrelandorStormont, butsaidhehadn’tgiventheideaofaunited Ireland“anyconsideration”.

“Thisisaboutbusinesseslikingclaritywhen

itcomestogovernance,”hesaid.

“You’veheard repeatedlyinthecourseof thisweekthatformajorbusinessleaders, ifthey’regoingtotalkaboutmaking investmentsofthousandsofemployees, hundredsofmillionsofdollars,beingableto meetwithheadsofstate,executives,leader ofgovernment…ifyouhavesomebody thatisconsideringorwouldconsidermajor investmentsinanewplace,havingfunctioning governmentishelpful.”

MrKennedysaidthesoonerthatthe institutionswerebackupandrunningthe betterastheExecutiveneededtimeto understandthemechanismsofthe Windsor Framework.

Headdedthathedidnothaveconcrete proposalstopresenttothemediaandwanted investmenttobespreadaroundpeopleofall levelsofeducation.

whatisessentiallynow a museumand working distillery.”

PeterLaveryofTitanic Distillersspeakingaboutits newdistilleryinBelfast.

JoeKennedyIIIaddresses theNorthernIreland Vision 2050eventattheQueen’s University’sAgreement25 Conference

Quotes of the month

“So, I hope that the Assembly and theExecutivewill soon be restored that’s a judgment for you to make,notme,but I hopeit happens.”

USPresidentJoeBiden speakingduringhisvisitto NorthernIreland.

“February’s report was summedupin the word ‘improvement’andMarch wassomething of a rerun of this.”

UlsterBank’sRichard Ramseyspeakingaboutits latesteconomic

report.

“It’sunbelievable to thinkyou could turn an old building into

ByMargaretCanning

Joe Kennedy: $1bn factory isproofDerry hasnotbeen left behind

Recruitment platform nijobfindersponsors IoD Young Directors Forum

Recruitmentplatformnijobfinderisteamingupwiththe InstituteofDirectorsNI(IoDNI)forthe YoungDirectors Forum(YDF)for2023.

Theplatformissponsoringtheevent,whichaimstoprovideour youngerdirectorswithasupportnetworkthatwillassistthemin growingtheirbusinessesanddevelopingtheirskillsasbusinessleaders.

ConnorDiamond,headofnijobfinder,said:“Weareproudofthis partnership,whichisasignofourcontinuedcommitmenttothe businesscommunityinNIandtheyoungdirector’sforumwhichis supportinganddevelopingleadersacrossNIbusiness,publicsectorand socialeconomy.”

HeatherWhite,nationsmanageratIoDNI,said:“WithinYDFthereis no‘typical’youngdirector.Thedirectorscomefromadiverserangeof businessesrangingfromstart-upstolargecorporatesandcoverafull rangeofindustrysectors.

“Thecommonthemeisthattheyarecommittedtotheirown professionaldevelopmentandenjoymakingnewbusinesscontacts

throughthenetworkingopportunitiespresentedbytheYDF. We have astrongcommunitywiththisgroupofemergingleadersandwelcome otherswhowouldliketobepartofIoD’syoungdirectorcommunity.”

ColinMaxwell,businessmanagerfornijobfinder,said:“Weare lookingforwardtosupportingIoD’sYDFandtobeinvolvedwithan enthusiasticnetworkofentrepreneurs,emergingleadersandyoung directors.”

Aprogrammeofupcomingeventsandnetworking opportunitieswillbepublishedontheIoDwebsite: www.iod.com/events

ConnorDiamondof nijobfinderwiththe IoD’sHeatherWhite

Costof Ulster fry soars by 20% to highestprice on record

ThecostofanUlsterfryhassoared almost20%toitshighestpriceon record,ithasemerged.

Overall,theingredientsmakingupthehefty breakfaststapleincreasedsignifcantlyinthe last12months – withmilkseeingthebiggest bump,up42.9%.

Thatwasfollowedbystrongrisesin margarine(31.5%),eggs(29.3%),butter (25.4%)andslicedloaf(21.1%).

Overall,theUlsterFryIndex roseby19.1%, thehighestincrease recordedsinceUlsterBank begantrackingtheindexin2007.Theprevious highestrisecamein2009,justafteranother recessionandcostoflivingcrisis.

“We knowthatfoodmakesup a signifcant proportionofhouseholdspendingandisalso oneofourmostimportanteconomicdrivers intermsofthelocalfoodanddrinkindustry,” UlsterBankchiefeconomist,Northern Ireland, Richard Ramseysaid.

“Understandinghowthepriceofthese popularfooditemsischanginggivesus a useful insightintothestateoftypicalhousehold

fnancesandalsotheoverallhealthoftheagrifoodindustry

“WhattheUlsterFryIndexistellingusis thatthepriceofeverydayhouseholdessentials suchasbreadandmilkhaverisenbeyondtheir previouspeaks,andthiscoupledwithrising energybillsiscontinuingtoput a squeezeon consumerspendingpowers.

“Whileitmaynotdelivergoodnewsinitially, the realityishowever, thatwecanexpectthese risestobegintoleveloff andwemayeven seesomedecreasesinthenext12months. Thatsaid,thiswillbringlittlecomforttothose householdswhoare strugglingtocontend withdouble-digitinfationandongoingcost pressuresonwhathavepreviouslybeen consideredeverydayorbasichousehold items.”

Hewasspeakingduringaneventhosted byUlsterBankaheadofitssponsorshipofthis year’s BalmoralShow

Theeventalsoheard fromtheheadofUlster BankinNorthern Ireland,MarkCrimmins,and senioragriculture manager, CormacMcKervey

“Theagri-foodsectoris a crucialcomponent ofourlocaleconomyandassuch,we remain stronglycommittedtosupportingfarmers throughoutthisperiodofeconomicunrest,” MrCrimminssaid.

“We recognisethechallengestheyface withhigherinputcosts,thedamagingeffects ofinfationandeventhevariableweatherbut amidthesechallenges, a majortransformation isunderway, presentingnew, exciting opportunitiesforthissector.”

CormacMcKerveysaid:“Undoubtedly, farmersinNorthern Irelandare goingthrough a challengingperiodandfacingunduepressure toproduceaffordablefoodagainst a backdrop oflabourchallengesandrisinginputcosts.

“But,comparedwithwhere wewere 12 monthsago,there area fewglintsofoptimism. Sincethebeginningofthisyear, wehaveseen increasedactivityacrossland,poultry, and dairy Fertilizerpricesare falling,andfeedcosts are alsoshowingsignsofdecreasingwhich shouldalleviatesomeofthemore upfrontcost pressures.”

RichardHalleron withUlsterBank’s RichardRamseyand CormacMcKervey

Windsor Framework ‘solves one problembutcreatesanother’

ByPavelBarter

Foodfrmshavesaidnewlabelling requirementsundertheWindsor Frameworkwillsolveproblemsbut createothers, UlsterBusiness can reveal.

UndertheFramework,“notforEU”labels willhavetobeplacedonfoodanddrink packagingpriortotravellingacrosstheIrish Sea.

SimonSpurrell,founderofCheshire-based business,Cheshire Cheese,said:“Ononehand

[government]saystheFrameworkissolving a problem,butit’s alsocreatinganotherone.

“We nowhavemulti-labelling requirements andwehavetocreatepaperworkthatdefnes it’s notgoingtogoacrosstheborderintothe EUandit’s onlygoingtobesoldinNorthern Ireland.It’sa smallstepintherightdirection butit’s not a fx.”

WinemerchantJamesNicholson,ofJN WineinCrossgar, CoDown,describesthenew requirementsasoneofthe“more intricateand painfuloutcomesoftheFramework.”

TheFrameworkcreates a lanesystemfor goodsarrivinginNorthern Ireland: a greenlane forgoodsdestinedforthesixcounties; a red laneforproducegoingtotheRepublic.Lorries inthegreenlanewill requirea singlecertifcate, evenifitscontentsare madeupofdifferent products,while red lanecargo requiresfull customprocessesandchecks.

Readthefullfeatureonpage65-68

SimonSpurrellof CheshireCheese

Employersmayconsider four-dayweekbuttradeoff couldbemoretimeinoffce

I’vewrittenbefore inthiscolumnabout themanywaysthatthepandemic changedhowpeoplelookattheworld ofworkandwhattheyvalueintheir careers.

Our regularsalarysurveysand researchhas confrmeditmademanyprofessionals reevaluatetheirwork-lifebalance,putmore focus ontheirownwellbeingandactivelyseek roles inorganisationsalignedwiththeirownvalues andpurpose.

Withmanyorganisationsprovingduringthe pandemicthatfexibleworkingwas a viable option,workingathome,hybridarrangements andnon-standard offcehourshavebecome increasinglycommon.

Thenextstepinthisprocessfor a number oforganisationswastotakepartin a trialto seeif a four-dayweek,without reducedpay, wasworkablefortheiremployees.Fiftysix ofthe61companieswhoenteredanoffcial UKtrialsaystheyplantoextenditand18 ofthe56companieshavealreadymadethe four-dayweek a permanentfxture withintheir organisation.

Butdoesthis reallyherald a changeinattitudes andare wegettingclosertothefour-dayweek becoming a realitythroughouttheworldof work?

Historicallythoughtofastooradicalan adjustmentthatwouldbeunlikelytoever becomecommonpractice,there canbeno denyingthatthe recentwaveofpressattention aroundthefour-dayweekissignalling – ifnot a widespreadchange

thencertainly a rethinkof howpracticesmightgrowandevolveinfuture.

Haysconducted a surveyofover11,000 professionalsandemployerswhichfoundthat acrosstheUK,93%ofthosesurveyedthought a four-dayweekwas a goodidea,59%of peoplethoughitwouldpositivelyimpact productivity, 64%ofpeoplewouldbetempted tomovejobsif a four-dayweekwasoffered, and46%feltitcouldbecome a realityinthe nextfveyears.

Advocatesofthefour-dayweekcitebetter work-lifebalance,improvedgenderequity and a reducedcarbonfootprintaspotential beneftsofthechangeinworkingpattern. Employeementalhealthandwellbeingwould alsobeneft,with89%citingitasthearea theythoughtwouldbemostimprovedby a four-dayworkingweek,while44%thoughtit wouldpositivelyimpacttalentattractionand retention.

A tradeoff whichI’veheard discussedamong someemployerswhosaytheywouldconsider a four-dayworkingpattern isthattheywould likethepeopleworkingfewerdaystoworkin theoffce.

InNorthern Ireland,where wesurveyedjust under500people,71%ofworkerssaidthey’d ratherwork a four-dayweekintheoffcethan a fve-dayhybridworkingpattern compared with29%whosaidtheywouldprefer fvedaysin a hybridsetting.Amonglocal employers43%saidtheywouldbemore likely toconsideroffering a four-dayweekifalldays were spentintheworkplace.

Workersalreadyon a four-dayweeksay theyspendtheirextradayoff on‘lifeadmin’ suchashouseholdchoresandappointments, exerciseandhobbiesandtimewithfriends andfamily, aswellasself-developmentsuchas learning a newskillorvolunteering.

Tellingly, however, whilesentimentaround thefour-dayweekismostlypositive,the actualuptake remainslow, withonly5%of employersimplementingitortriallingitinthe UK. Welloverhalf(58%)oftheemployers surveyedbyHaysaren’t consideringitand 20%saidtheycan’t becauseofthesector they’re in.

Thepracticalitiesformanyorganisations remain a stickingpoint,butit’s clearthat culturallythemoveto a widespreadfour-day weekwould requirea bigchangeacrossour society Formore employerstoadoptthe model,oursurveysuggeststhetrade-off might bethatemployeeshavetogiveupsomeof theadditionaltimetheyhavegotusedto workingathome.Thatmaybe a toughsell nowthathybridarrangementsare seenas non-negotiablebymanyemployees.

Whiletheconversationisgainingmomentum, itmaybesometimebefore weseethe four-dayweekbecomingthenormhere in Northern Ireland. ■

ByJohnMoore,managingdirector,HaysNI

GoodFridayAgreementprintermarks roleitplayedinhistoricmoment

Oneofthelongesttrading businesseshere ismarking25years sinceitprintedoneofNorthern Ireland’s mostimportantdocuments.

W&GBaird,whichprints UlsterBusiness, wascommissionedbytheNorthern Ireland Offcein1998toprintthefrstcopiesofThe GoodFridayAgreement,whichservedasthe foundationforpeaceinNorthern Ireland.

Thecompany – whichwasalsothefrstowner oftheBelfast Telegraph – printedhundredsof thousandsofcopiesofthehistoricdocument, whichwere distributedtogovernmentoffcials, politicalparties,andthepublicinNorthern Ireland,theRepublic,andelsewhere intheUK.

TheagreementwassignedonApril10,bythe thenBritishPrimeMinister TonyBlair, along with TaoiseachBertieAhern andmostofthe politicalpartiesinNorthern Ireland.

“It’sa prouddayfortheentire teamatW&G Baird,”PatrickMoffett , managingdirectorof W&GBaird,said.

“Twentyfveyearsago,ourprintpresses

workedtirelesslytoprintthe36-pagelandmark documentthatlaidthegroundworkforpeace and reconciliationinNorthern Ireland,following 30yearsofThe Troubles.

“I rememberthedaythejobwasonthe presses,itwas a hugehonourbutwedidfeel thepressure togetitjustright.

“Iwashandedtheveryfrstcopy, hotoff the stitchinglinebyourpre-pressmanager, Gary Hull.

“Hewasmeticulouslycheckingthatallthe pageswere inthecorrectorderbefore running such a massivejob.

“Igaveitthefullonce-over, triple-checkedall waspresentandcorrect,andswiftlytoldhimto keepitholdofit.Andthen I completelyforgot aboutallaboutit.Luckily, Garyfleditaway somewhere safe.

“WhentheanniversaryoftheAgreementcame upinconversation a fewweeksback,Gary remindedmeofthestoryandbroughtthecopy hekeptsafely, tome. I hadnoideawestillhad it.”

“Overtheyears,wehaveprintedmany importantdocuments,buttheGoodFriday Agreement remainsthemostsignifcant.The companyhasevolvedfrom a singleletterpress in1862,whenthetwoBaird brotherssetup thefrm,totoday, usingthemostsophisticated printingtechnology, including roboticsand specialistfnishingequipment.

“We have a teamofover90staff basedin Antrim,andoperatesoneofthecountry’s largest24/7sheet-fedprint roomsusingthe mostadvancedequipmentinthesector.”

W&GBaird– whichwasfoundedin1862

provideslithographicprinting,digitalprinting, andlarge-formatprintingforallsizesofjobs. ■

W&GBairds’DavidHinds,GaryHull,PatrickMoffettand TrevorBrennanwiththe originalcopyoftheGoodFridayAgreement

ManufacturingMonthreturnsas organisationcelebrates20years

ManufacturingMonth,theannual majorinitiativewhichshowcases thesuccessandstrengthof NorthernIreland’smanufacturingand engineeringsector, returnsthisMay.

Ledby representativebodyManufacturing NorthernIreland,theentiremonthofMay isdedicatedtohighlightingthecompanies, workers,andleaderswhomaketheNorthern Irishmanufacturingsectortheglobalsuccess storyitis.Themonthincludesabusy programmeofevents,webinars,content fromthesector,theflagship‘AnchorHigh’ leadershipsummit,andtheManufacturing HallofFamedinnerintheGuildhallinDerryon May31.

Thisyear’sManufacturingMonthwillalso markthe20thanniversaryofManufacturing NorthernIreland,formedinthenorthwest intheearly2000stoprovidethelocal manufacturingandengineeringsectora strong,collectivevoiceonissueswhich affectedthem.Theorganisationhasflourished sincethenbydeliveringwhenitmattered mostonissuesasvariedasBrexit,Covid, skills,businessrates,accesstolabour,and investment.

ThemonthissponsoredbysomeofNorthern Ireland’sleadingcompaniesandorganisations includingAtradius,Barclays,CPL,Intertrade Ireland,InvestNorthernIreland,KPMG, Lockton,andMillsSelig.Manufacturing Monthwasfirstlaunchedpre-CovidinMarch 2020andbringstogethermanufacturing firms,industryleaders,policyandkeydecision makers,schools,andyoungpeopleto recognisethestrengthsofthesector,thegreat careerswhichareenjoyedandarepossible, andcelebratethecontributionlocalfirmsmake tooureconomyandsolvingproblemsglobally.

StephenKelly,chiefexecutive,manufacturing NIsaid:“Itisparticularlytimelythat ManufacturingMonth2023comesaswehave beencommemoratingthe25thanniversary oftheGoodFridayAgreement.Globaleyes havebeenfixedonthisplaceforthepast month,politiciansandleadersfromacrossthe worldhaveheraldedtheprogresswehave madesince1998,andtheyhavespokenof ouruntappedeconomicpotential.Ourlocal manufacturingandengineeringsectorisatthe forefrontofthatpositiveeconomicstorywe havetotellhereinNorthernIreland.

“ManufacturingMonthisanopportunityto

recogniseandproperlymarkthecontribution madebyourmakersandinnovators.The sectorisdirectly responsibleforover11%of alljobsbutfullysupportthousandsofothers meaningthatoneinfourfamiliesinNorthern Ireland relyonamanufacturingwage.

“Asthesectorevolvesandbecomesmore sophisticatedthroughautomationand digitisation,NorthernIrelandwill remainat thecuttingedgeoftheglobalmanufacturing industry. We haveapotentmixofhighly successfulindigenouscompaniesandforeign investorswhohavemadeNorthernIreland theirhome.Thisis,inlargepart,downto ourskilledtalent,strongpipelinesfromour excellenteducationalinstitutions,andthe innovationofourlocalmanufacturingleaders.

“ThisManufacturingMonth,wearelooking tothenext25years,aimingtomapouta pathforourlocalmanufacturersto remain competitivegloballyandbecomemore sustainableinanevolvingeconomy. We wanttoensurethatoursector remainsa keycontributortothe regionaleconomy ofNorthernIrelandandcontinuestobe consideredanattractivecareerchoiceforour verybestandbrightest.” ■

StephenKellyand MaryMeehanof ManufacturingNI

Majorcross-border manufacturing partnershipunveiled

TheseconditerationofDigiManufacturinghasbeen officiallylaunchedattheleadingManufacturingResearch (IMR)centre.

DigiManufacturing2.0is a cross-borderpartnershipbetweenThe IrishDigitalEngineeringandAdvancedManufacturingClusterand ManufacturingNI,whichhasavailedofsupportfromInterTradeIreland’s Synergyprogramme.

Theaimsinclude:

• To createandenhancenewcross-borderstrategicvaluechainsand

DrJamieMeehan,IDEAM Cluster,MaryMeehan, ManufacturingNIand DamienMcConville, InterTradeIreland

enhancethegreenuptakebetweenIDEAMClusterbasedinLimerickand ManufacturingNIadvancedmanufacturingSMEs

• Strongclustercollaborationtobringlike-mindedSMEstogether

• To establishandcreatenewbusinessopportunities

• To unlockthegreentransitionoftheall-islandadvancedmanufacturing ecosystem

Atleast40SMEswillgreatlybenefit fromcollaborationopportunities, financialsupportforthegrowthofcompaniescreatingnewlinkages,and industrycasestudyvisits

MaryMeehan,deputychiefexecutive,ManufacturingNIsaid:“Through DigiManufacturing2.0,collectivelywewillsupportindustrywithits digitalisationandgreenefforts. We are delightedtobepartofthe seconditerationofthisInterTradeIrelandfundedSynergyprojectin collaborationwithIDEAM”.

AlisonCurrie,directorofinnovationandentrepreneurshipat InterTradeIreland,said:“InterTradeIrelandispleasedtocontinueto supportthiscross-borderDigiManufacturingcollaborationbetween IDEAMClusterandManufacturingNIthroughourSynergyprogramme. Co-operationandjoined-upthinkinginareassuchasgreentransition andthedecarbonisationofthemanufacturingsectorare keyareasfor all-islandcollaboration.”

To signupas a participatingSME,pleasecontactmary@manufacturingni.org

Making animpact: Deloitte onhelpingfirms prepare for the future

Deloitte isworkingwithbusinessesandhelpingthemprepareforinvestment, transactions,successionplanningandachievingtheirgoals.UlsterBusinessspeaks toDeloitte’s AisléanNicholson and Bar ry-JohnKelly aboutworkingwith companiesthroughouttheirlifecyclesandhelpingthemsecurekeyinvestmentand businessopportunities

An increasingnumberofNorthern Irelandbasedcompaniesare now lookingtogrowtheirbusiness throughacquisitions.

Accordingto researchfromExperianthere were 267corporatetransactionsinNorthern Ireland lastyear, up12%ontheyearbefore,with acquisitionsmakingupmore thanhalfofthose

dealsandthetotalvalueofM&Arising26% year-on-yearto£850m.

Whilethecompaniesinvolvedintransactions

Deloitte’sCraigHarrison,Barry-JohnKelly,Aisléan Nicholson,JasonStarbuckandJulie Worthington picturedatKingspanStadium,homeofUlsterRugby

willobviouslyseekadvicespecifctoeachdeal, Deloittebelievesthatworkingwith a company toplanforthefuture worksbestwhere there is a long-term relationshipandstrategicapproach togrowth.

ForDeloitte,it’s notjustaboutgettingthe dealdone,buthelpingbusinessestoprepare aheadof a transactionandalsoworkingwith thecompanytooptimisetheirpositionafterits completion.

“Youneedtobethinkingaboutyourbusiness yesterday, todayandtomorrow,”Aisléan Nicholsonsays.

AisléanhasbeenwithDeloitteformore than20years,joiningthecompany’s Belfast operationsin2021.She’s nowbusinesstax advisorypartnerinBelfast, responsibleforthe deliveryoftaxservicesandleadingDeloitte PrivateinNorthern Ireland –a teamwhich provides a rangeofservices,with a focus onprivatecompanies,familybusinesses, individualsandnot-for-profts.

Deloittehas a Northern Irelandbasedteam thatadvises,alongwithcolleaguesacross theisland,on a rangeofcorporateM&Aand privateequitytransactionsandhaswitnessed signifcantinterestinNIbusinessesfromprivate equityinparticularin recentyears.

Itcontinuestoworkwithgiantsofindustry andlarge-scalefamilybusinessesbased throughoutNorthern Ireland,withsectorssuch astechnology, fnancialservices,andhealthcare provingstrongareasforactivity

Theteamandtheworkitisdoingcontinue togain recognitioninthemarket.It recently walkedawayasthedominantwinneratthe recentNIDealmaker Awardswithseveral awardsincluding:

• CorporateFinanceAdvisoryFirmofthe Year

• EmergingDealmakerofthe Year – Julie Worthington(picturedonthecover)

• PrivateEquity/Venture CapitalDealofthe Year

– LeadadvisertoBowmarkonitsinvestment inXperience

• Dealofthe Year – Leadadvisertothe shareholdersofUformonitssaletoCardinal Capital

Inthewidermarket,Deloittewasalsoranked byMergermarketforthesecondyearin a row as:

• NumberonefnancialadviserforM&ADeal activity – Globally

• NumberonefnancialadviserforM&ADeal activity – Ireland

“Thatsuccessspeakstothefactthatourteam overallhasspent a lotoftimeworkingwith reallyambitiousNorthern Irelandbusinessesin thelastnumberofyears,”Aisléansays.

“We seethevalueofgettinginvolvedwith thosecompanieswhomightbeseeking investment,orwhichmightbeacquisitive themselves,wellinadvanceofthose transactions,andthencontinuingtoworkwith themafterwards.Afterall, a transactionisonly partof a widerbusinesslifecycle.

“Ifyoulookatoveralldealvolumeoverthelast coupleofyearsthere hasbeen a lotofprivate equitymoneyoutthere.TheUKhasbeen a focusforinvestmentformanyyearsandthat extensiontoNorthern IrelandandtheRepublic ofIrelandhasbeen a naturalprogressioninthe searchforinvestmentopportunities.”

There isconsiderableinterestinNorthern Ireland companiesfromprivateequityinvestorsfrom outsideourshores,particularlyinbooming areassuchasthetechsector

“We are seeing a lotofinterestintechnology andsoftware businesses,”Aisléansays. “Companiesinfntechandhealthcare for example.There’s alsolong-standinginterestin Northern Ireland’s manufacturingandadvanced engineeringbusinesses.”

AndwhileNorthern Irelandiscomingfrom a relativelylowbaseinM&Aandwider investmentactivity, themarketisnow “evolving”,accordingtoBarry-JohnKelly, directorwithDeloitte.

“There area greaternumberoftransactions nowandweare seeinganincreasingamountof privateequityinvestinglocally,”hesays.

“TheUKandIrishmid-marketprivateequity fundshavecapitalwhichtheywanttodeploy,

andourmarketisattractive.Inaddition,the markethere isbecomingevenmore ambitious andistherefore more receptiveofthat investmentpotential.”

Deloitteoftenplays a key roleinintroducing businessestopotentialinvestors,addingvalue boththroughitslocal relationshipsandits globalnetwork.

Barry-Johnsays:“Havingthoseconversations earlycanbeveryhelpfulinbuildingup thatchemistry, butalsoingetting a wider understandingofthebusiness.

“Historically, ourlocalheritagehasbeento retainandown a businesswithin a family But weare increasinglyseeingbusinessowners combineobjectives;forexample,de-risking theirpersonalpositionbysellingpartoftheir business.Thiscangivethemcertaintythat they’vesecuredvalueforthemselvesandtheir family, andinturn ‘freeingthemup’topursue theirambitionforthecompanywith a third partywhoiswillingtofundtheirideasandhelp drivetheirgrowthagenda.”

Aisléansays:“That’s whyit’s importantwe have a widenetworkofpotentialinvestors –theycouldbecorporateinvestorsthroughto privateequity, venture capital,orotherforms offunding,withdifferenttypesofinvestor interestedintakingstakesofdifferentsizes.

“We wanttosupportsuccessfullocalbusinesses andwewanttoplay a key roleinmakingsure thattheygetthebestpossiblearrangements –so a keypartisunderstandingtheirmotivation togetthatofferingright.

“Alotofwhatwedoissupportingthem throughthatprocess.It’s abouthelpingthem thinkaboutthebiggerpicture,butalsohelping themthenfocustheirminds.”

Muchofthekeyworkwhichgoesinto a successfuldealortransactionstartswellin advance.That’s aboutpreparing a businessand helpingittoarticulateitsstrategy, tomakeitan increasinglyattractivepropositionfor a wouldbebuyerorinvestor

“Thebetterprepared a companyisinadvance ofthattransaction,thegreaterlikelihoodfor >

successinattractinginvestorsandthebetter theoutcomeshouldbe,”Aisléansays.

“It’s frstlyaboutshowcasingtheuniqueselling pointsandbeingabletopresentthoseto a potentialinvestor.”

A keyfocusforDeloitteishelpingthebusiness withthatpreparation,accordingtoBarry-John, andpresentingwhatmightbe a traditional companyin a waythatmakesitinvitingfor investors.

“How I runmyfamilyorowner-managed businessandwhat’s importanttome,canbe verydifferentfromaninvestor’s perspective,” hesays,notingthathe,Julieandothersinthe teamspend a lotoftimeworkingwithclients onthis.

“We helpthebusinessclearlyarticulateits strategy, andhowitisdifferentiatedfromits competitors.Thisearlyinternalpreparation

almostputtingthebusinessthroughthe investmentprocessinadvance

isinvaluable. Whenitcomestoitthe realthing,they are clearonwhattheywanttosayandthe messagestheywanttoconvey.”

Anotherimportantstepcanbetorun a ‘health check’for a businessinanticipationof a transaction.

“It’s aboutlookingatthestructure,howit operates,whatthecompanyhasdonein thepast,askingifthere isanyhistoricriskin there,”Aisléansays.“Forexample,onthetax sideCraig[Harrison,director, tax]may review

theoverallgroupstructure,pasttransactions andtax returnsacross a rangeoftaxes. We canspotpotentialissuesthatinvestorsmaybe concernedaboutandgetthosethingstidiedup inadvanceof a transaction.”

Aisléansaysoneofthefeaturesthathasmade Northern Ireland’s SMEsectorattractiveisthat manyfrmsare alreadyoperatingoutsidethese shoresandsellinginternationally Thathas alsoseenlocalbusinessesascorporatebuyers orinvestors,goingoutandacquiringother businesses,oftenusingfundsraisedbywayof investment.

Shesaysthemarketisgettingincreasingly braverhere,withNorthern Irelandbusinesses goingontheacquisitiontrailthemselves.

“Localcompaniesthatare goodatwhat theydocanoutgrowtheNorthern Ireland market,”shesays.“Ifyouare thinkingabout whatmakesanattractivetarget,it’s looking at a businesswhichisalreadydemonstrating somesuccessinternationallyoutsideNIand hasambitionstocontinuetogrow Thatmakes itattractiveforinvestment,whichinturn can fundthoseacquisitionstrategies.”

Deloitte,whichisalsoleadsponsorofUlster WomenandGirls’rugby, plays a key role here,workingtoensurea newacquisition iseffectivelyintegratedintotheirexisting operations.

Barry-JohnKellysays:“Thatassistancewith integrationissomethingfrmsare increasingly turningtousfor It’s alsoaboutsupporting

thempost-transaction. We are seeingincreased demandforthiscomponentofourend-to-end M&Aservices.

“Anacquisitioncangive a company ready marketaccessorallowthemother routesto bringtheirproductstomarket.Having a well thoughtthroughacquisitionplaninadvance is reallyimportant,butalsoforwhathappens afterthetransaction.

Aisléanadds:“What’s reallyimportanttousis thelong-termsuccessofthatbusiness – we’re here notjusttoensure thedealgetsdone,but alsotoensure thatthewiderbusinessgetsthe supportthatitneedsafterthetransactionfor ongoingsuccessthrough a varietyofinnovative approaches,deliveredbythelocalteam.It shouldbeanongoingconversationwithyour adviser

“It’s alsoabouthaving a forward-lookinglens. It’s aboutpromptingthebusinessto refect,to lookatbestpractice,systemsandgovernance. That’s whywehavedevelopedanaudit specifcallyforprivateequity-backedbusinesses whichJason[Starbuck,director, audit]andthe teamdeliver Aswellasthetraditionalaudit comfort,lookingbackatthepastyear;they alsoprovidechallengetotheleadersofthe business – whatare othersdoing,whatare they measuring,what’s comingdownthelinein termsof regulatoryoraccountingchangesthat theyshouldbeproactiveinthinkingabout?

“It’s notsimplyaboutthetransaction,but lookingatlong-termjourneysandwhatmight beonthehorizon.” ■

Julie Worthington,JasonStarbuck, AisléanNicholson,CraigHarrison andBarry-JohnKelly

‘We’re building2,000 social homes a year… but 44,000 are on the waiting list’

JohnMulgrew sitsdownwith SeamusLeheny,chiefexecutiveoftheNorthern Ireland FederationofHousingAssociations(NIFHA)aboutthekeyroleitsmembers playintacklingtheseverelackofsocialhomesbeingbuilt,thechallengesfaced withalackoflocalgovernment,planningandmovingintohisnewjob

Theneedformore housing – both socialandprivate – isextremely evidentwhenyoulookatthe numbers.

“Thegoalistobuild2,000socialhomeseach year…wehaveabout44,000onthewaiting list – it’sa massivewaitinglist.About30,000 ofthosepeopleare indire need,”Seamus Leheny, chiefexecutiveoftheNorthern Ireland FederationofHousingAssociations(NIFHA) tells UlsterBusiness

That’s anattention-grabbingfgure,andone Seamusandassociationshe representswant toseetackled,albeitwithsuffcientand additionalgovernmentfunding.

It’s anorganisationwith20housing associationmembers, responsibleforan industrywortharound£420m a yearandone attheheartofourbuiltenvironmentandcivic society

Butthechallenges remainfortheindustry, Seamussays.

Thatincludesthehugebarrierof a lackofan Executive – meaningweare losingoutinringfencingfundingtosupportimprovingolder housingstock – alongthespeedinwhich planningcanoftentake,andmuch-needed additionalfundinginordertotacklethathuge housingwaitinglist.

Andhesays a multi-yearbudgetisalsokey –

somethingwhichhasbeenlefthighanddry sincethecollapseoftheExecutive.

“Somepeoplewillhavebeenwaitingfor years,”Seamussays.“Youmakeyourway upthewaitinglistandgetpointsforvarious criteria – thoseinmostneed.

“WithCovidwedidn’t hitourtarget…there were 835newsocialhomescompletedin 2022.

“Lastyearwestartedconstructiononjustover 1,700homessowewouldbehopefultoget closeto2,000for2023.”

Seamus recentlylefttheworldoffreightand haulage – formerlypolicymanagerforNorthern IrelandwithLogisticsUK – totakeon a new challenge.

“Thetimecameformewhen I wanted a new challenge –I tookmytime,”hesaid.“Ialways wantedtogointothethird sectorfor a change andhousingisoneofthosethingsforme,it’s somethingyoucan reallybuyinto.”

Housingassociationsare responsibleforaround 57,000properties,withtheHousingExecutive managing a further80,000.

Developmenthappensthrough roughly matchedfundingbetweenStormontand privateinvestment.

“[As a sector]thetotalborrowingsinvested

were £1.5bn,soit’sa lotofmoney,”hesays. “Forthelocalconstructionsector, rightthrough thatsupplychain…there’sa lotofmoney There’sa steadypipelineofwork…it’s one which a lotofbusinesses relyon.So,we’re the breadandbutterfor a lotofpeopleinthelocal economy

“We have20membersandare lookingafter 57,000socialhomes.Thewayweworkissocial housing,aroundhalfthefundingcomesfrom governmentandtheotherhalfcomesfrom privatesectorfunding.

“TheHousingExecutivemanagesthe waitinglistandtheallocations.As a housing associationyoudon’t decidewhoyourtenants are,andtheDepartmentforCommunities fundsyou.

“TheHousingExecutivemightsaythere is a needforsocialhousinginnorthBelfast,for example.Theonusisonyouas a developer, as thehousingassociation,togetlandandthen gototheproposaltogovernmentsaying‘we canbuild50ofthesetypesofhomesinthis area’andthengovernmentsignsoff onthat.”

Intermsofthesecondpartofthefundingpie, thehousingassociationswillthengotothe banksandotherfnanciersinordertoseek privateinvestment.

“Moneyisthen recirculated,”Seamussays. “Youmighthave15,000homes.Themoney you receivefrom rentpaysyourstaff but

alsomeansyouhavemoneytoinstallnew bathrooms,kitchens,painthousesor roofs.

“Whatwealwayssaytogovernmentis thatthemore fundingtheycangivetous, thewillingnessisalwaysthere fromprivate bankingandfnance…the[funding]hastobe equitable.”

Theissueof retrofttingolder, lessenergy effcienthomesisoneofthebiggestissues facingthesectorhere.Whilemoneywasfreed upforschemesinGB,anymoneyNorthern Ireland receivedwasnotring-fenced.

“Themassivethingisthe retroftof properties,”Seamussays.“Prettymuchall socialhousingbeingbuiltistoan A or aB (energy)standard.

“Theethosisthatit’s valueformoney – we are future-proofngthem. Typically, ourtenants are thepeoplewiththeleastamountof discretionaryincome.So,it’s intheinterest ifyou’re goingtobuild a housetomakeit energyeffcientforthem.

“Thenewhouses,wecandothat,butthe olderstock – the retroftfund.There isfunding inGB – £800minthefrstwave – wedidn’t see a pennyofthatinNorthern Ireland.

“We wouldbeentitledtoitthroughthe Barnettconsequential,butit’s notring-fenced.”

Seamussays a lackoflocalgovernmentis continuingtohaveanimpactonthework needingdone.

“It’s massivebecausewedon’t havethat retroft[funding].IfwehadStormontupand runningtodaywewouldhave a Communities Minister, EconomyMinisterandFinance Minister – theyare threedepartments overlappingwhere wecouldget a fundtostart thework.It’s stallingthatworkandholding backthequalityofhomesfor a lotofpeople.

“We’re fairlycleartogovernment.Ifyou reduce thefundingforsocialhousinghere itwill haveconsequencesforhealthandeducation because a lotofsocialhousing[involves]social living…that’sa separatelineoffunding.

“Ifthatwasinanywaycutatall,andleftto theheathtrusts,itwouldprobablycost a lot more forgovernment.”

Andhesaysthere remainsfrustration, includingaround a lackof a multi-year budgettoallowproperplanning.

“There’sa frustration. Two things – the pressure governmentisunder, weneed a multi-yearbudget.Thissingle-yearbudgetis nothelping,”hesays.

“Everyyearthere’sa panicinMarchwith housingassociationspanickingandbuying landbecausetheyare onlythengetting theallocationsofmoneytobuild.There’sa surge.

“Ideally, youwouldhavemulti-years,asyou can’t plan.That’s onethingholdingitback.

“[Also]streamliningplanningisanother thing – theplanningsystemcanbevery slow Thelocaldevelopmentplansatlocal councilsare quite restrictive.” ■

SeamusLeheny

PlantingtheESGseed forbusinessesacrossNI

StephanieMcEvoy’s start-upbusiness FarmingCarbon isaimingtohelp businessesfromacrossthesectorsimprovetheirsustainabilitycredentials,andit’s doingsowithassistancefromthe UlsterBankAccelerator

Playingyourpartintackling climatechangeandfexingyour sustainabilitycredentialshasnever beenmoreimportantforbusinessesofall shapesandsizesacrossNorthernIreland.

AndStephanieMcEvoy’senvironmentalstartupisaimingtoassistinimprovingtheirESG (environmental,socialandgovernance)and sustainabilitycredentials.

FarmingCarbondeliversESGservices–from strategyandconsultancy,tothedeliveryof locallyimpactfulenvironmentalandsocial projects.

Itdelivers resourcesthathelpbusinessto tenderfor“publicprojectsandarebrokersfor socialvalueaspertheSocial ValueUnitNI”.

Thecompanyhasjustfnishedplanting5,500 nativespeciestreesacross15farms,creating habitats,andprotectingthelocal resourcesat thosefarms.

“WeprovideESGservices,fromstrategy andconsultancyrightthroughtoimpactful environmentalandsocialprojects,”Stephanie says.

“It’saboutgettingbuy-infromthefarming communityaboutitbeingpartofthesolution forclimatechangeand regenerativefarming.

“Forbusinesses,we’reofferinga really valuableESGoptionforthem.Ratherthan payingtoplanttrees,[withus]youknowyou aremakingadifferenceintheruralcommunity andthatthosetrees,everybusinesswework withsponsorsatreeplanting,andwetellthem howmanyofwhichtreesareinthere,what

thecarbonsequestrationislikelytobeoverthe next100yearsandthebiodiversityimpactof thataswell.

“Theygeta reallyvaluable resourcewhichthey cansharewiththeircustomers.”

FarmingCarbonworkswithcompaniesfrom acrossthesectors,includingthoseforwhich theirenvironmentalcredentialscouldbekeyto theirsuccessinareassuchasprocurement.

“Differentbusinessesdoitfordifferent

StephanieMcEvoy

Farmers’efforts togetfuturefton displayatBalmoral

Onceagain,theverybestofourlocalfoodandagriculture sectorwasondisplayatthisyear’sBalmoralShowin partnershipwithUlsterBank. Takingplaceoverfourdays, thenowworld-classeventshinesaspotlightonthestrengthof ourfarmingindustryandthemanygrowersandproducerswho contributetoitssuccess.

Itwasdiffculttopredictwhattheatmospherewouldbelikeaheadof thisyear’sevent.Thishasbeenanundulychallengingtimeforfarmers whointhelast18monthsalonehavehadtocontendwithrising infation,acostoflivingcrisis,fuelandfoodpricesat recordhighs,and thecontinuedimpactofthewarinUkraine.

WhatIfoundhowever,asItouredtheshowgrounds,wasthe resilience

offarmerswasonceagaincomingtothefore,andratherthanfocusing onthemorediffcultaspectsofthe role,manywerekeentodiscusshow theymightfuture-prooftheiragriculturalbusinessesandprepareforthe future.

Inmanyways,thisisadirect responsetospirallingcostsandother infationarypressures,whichhavemadeitmuchhardertorunafarming business.Labourshortagesandahighcostbasehave resultedinsome farmerssellingtheirproduceforlessthanitcoststoproduce,especially whenitcomestoeggsandpork.Butagain,it’sclearthatsomefarmers aretakingactiontomakesuretheycanrisetothesechallenges.

Onewaythiscanbedoneisbyusinggreenerenergysolutionsto reduceinputcostsandbylookingforwaystofarmmoresustainably. Exploringnewtechnologieswhichcanhelpfarmstorunmoreeffciently isanotherkeystrategyforfarmbusinessesandIwasimpressedbythe innovationanddriveofthemanyentrepreneurssuchasStephfrom FarmingCarbon,Ihadthechancetoengagewithandlearnmorefrom throughouttheshow.

Putsimply,sustainablefarminghasbecomeapriority.Customersare puttingpressureonagri-businessestouptheirsustainablecredentials andthereisagrowingriskthatthosewhodon’tmaybeleftbehindand losebusiness.

So,whatactionscanfarmerstaketogetfutureft?Whileitdoesinvolve anupfrontspend,investinginnewequipmentandgreentechnology cangoalongwayto reducingcostsinthelongerterm. We are supportingcustomersthroughgreenloansandgreenassetfnancing toinstallsolarpanels,orupgradetoautomatedmilking,feeding,and cleaningtechnology.Allwithfundingoptionstospreadtheinitial upfrontcost.

We hearalotofcallsforfarmerstobecomemoreeffcientbutfrom spendingfoursuccessfuldaysattheBalmoralShowandmeeting hundredsoffarmersitseemstomethattheyhavealreadytakenthe steps requiredtostayaheadofthegame.

reasons,butit’smostlyaboutthatESG andsustainabilityconversation–with stakeholders,employeesorcustomers,”she says.

Itworkswithfrmsacrossthesectors, includingIT,fnanceandelectronics.

“Wetypicallyworkwithbusinesseswhich areconsciousoftheirESG.Iftheyhave shareholdersorbiddingforpublicprocured projects.Thosearecoreverticals.”

FarmingCarbonisoneofthemanystartupsavailingoftheUlsterBankAccelerator

programme.It’ssomethingStephaniesayshas beenahugeboontothestart-up.

“TheAcceleratorhasbeen reallycool,”she says.“Asanentrepreneurworkingonmyown alotofthetime,it’s reallynicetobeinthe roomwithpeoplewhoarehavingthatsame experience.

“Thesupportfromtheteamhasbeenbrilliant. JohnFerrisandGabiBurnsidearealways keepingusintheloopforanyevents,for example.

“It’s reallynice.Ispendsomuchtimeinthe

businessand reallytryingtogetthework donethatit’sdiffculttokeepontopof what’shappeningoutinthemarket.That partis reallyvaluable.

“There’salsotheintroductiontopeople andotherorganisations…you’re really feelingpartoftheentrepreneurialsideof business.”

Stephaniesayshergoalistoscalethe business–ofwhichthewiderindustryis expandingbyaround35%ayear–while thefrmhasjustsecuredkeyfundingto takethenextstepforward. ■

ByCormacMcKervey,headofagriculture,UlsterBank

CormacMcKervey

Translink: Deliveringeffective highqualitypublictransport–todayfortomorrow

Translink hasavisiontomakepublictransporteveryone’sfrstchoicefortravel, todayfortomorrow,andoverthenextdecade,publictransportherewillplaya vitalroleforPeople,PlanetandProsperityinNorthernIreland,writesgroupchief executive, ChrisConway

Asacross-cuttingpublicservice, publictransportisakeyenablerof NorthernIreland’ssocial,economic andenvironmentalwellbeing,andhasa major roletoplayindeliveringthegoals withintheClimateChangeAct(NI)2022, intermsof reducingemissionstomeetthe legislative requirementtoachievenetzero by2050,aswellastheCleanAirStrategy forNorthernIreland.

Translinkiscommittedtoachievingnetzeroby 2050anditisclearthatnonetzeroambition canbeachievedwithoutafocusonpublicand sustainabletransportsolutions.

We havesignifcantplansinplacetodrive modalshiftandtransformpublictransportin ordertoaddresstheclimatecrisis,including:

● Investinginfrequencyand reliability,aswell asjourneytime reductionacrossthebusand railnetwork

● Decarbonisingourbusandrailfeetusing electricandhydrogentechnologies

● Upgradingour£3bnrailinfrastructureto maintainand renewtherailnetwork

● Enhancinginter-cityconnectionsbetween Derry~Londonderry,Belfast,andDublin

● Improvingaccessibilityand rollingout contactlessticketing

● Improvingbusinfrastructurethroughpriority measures,ParkandRideandGliderphasetwo

● Modernisingourpassengerfacilities,notably BelfastGrandCentralStation

We aremakinggoodprogressonthesefronts –wealreadyoperateoneofthelargestzero emissionbusfeetsintheUK,andwillshortly be rollingouta100%batteryelectricfeeton FoyleMetroservicesinDerry~Londonderry, makingthecityoneofthefrsttohavean entirelyzeroemissionurbanbusfeet.Zero emissiontechnologieswillalsostarttobe rolledoutontheUlsterbusnetworklaterthis year.

Worktoupgradeandenhanceourrailway networkcontinues,withmajorprojects acrossthenetwork. We werealsopleased toannouncetheplannedphasethree projecttofurtherupgradethelinebetween ColeraineandDerry~Londonderry,whichwill improvethisvitalinter-citylink. We await thepublicationoftheAll-IslandStrategicRail Review,which,ifaccepted,couldheraldanew erainrailinvestment.

ChrisConway

The roll-outofourcontactlessticketing programmecontinues,withthisnowcomplete onMetroinBelfastandNIRailwaysservices. Theprocessisexpectedtobecompleteacross the remainderofthenetworkinthenext12 months,andwill representgreaterchoiceand fexibilityforourcustomers,withbestvalue fareoptionsavailable.

We continuetoworkwithDepartmentfor Infrastructuretoensurethatbuspriority measuresaretakenforward,aswellasthe provisionofadditionalParkandRidecapacity onkeyarterial routes.Itisalsoimportantthat Gliderphasetwoisprogressed,connecting northandsouthBelfastviathecitycentreand

complementingthehighlysuccessfulexisting links.

Thedeliveryofbetterfacilitiesisofcritical importanceindrivingamodalshift,with workprogressingontheconstructionofa newstationat YorkStreet,andourfagship project,BelfastGrandCentralStation,which iscurrentlyproceedingatpacetowardsa 2025completiondate,willbeIreland’slargest integratedtransportfacility,deliveringgreatly enhancedcapacityacrossournetworkand replacingexistingfacilitiesatEuropaBus CentreandGreat VictoriaStreet TrainStation.

GrandCentralStationasitsfocalpointwillbe knownas WeaversCross refectingthearea’s richindustrialheritage.

Translinkhasaseriesofplanstodelivernet zero,growpassengernumbersandmake publictransportthefrstchoicefortravel, however,fundingforpublictransporthasnot traditionallyalignedwiththeseambitions,and unlessthisisaddressed,thereisthegenuine potentialofcausingdisconnectforour communities,jeopardisingthepathtonetzero andimpedingthegrowthofbusandrailtravel. Indeed,per-headspendingonpublictransport inNorthernIrelandisconsistentlyabout35% oftheUKaverage.

Translink’spassengernumbershave recovered stronglysincethepandemic,witharound 90%ofpre-Covidpassengernumbers recordedduring2022/23–weexpectthisto fully recoverduring2023/24.Inorderthat passengernumberscancontinuetogrow, addressingeconomic,environmentaland socialobjectivesinanydraftProgramme forGovernment,itisimperativethatpublic transportisappropriatelyfundedsothatit canplayitsvital roleforPeople,Planetand ProsperityinNorthernIreland. ■

ThenewcityneighbourhoodwithBelfast

Lord Rana: for business, peace and stabilit y are crucial

LordRana speaksto MargaretCanning abouthowthe

GoodFridayAgreementcreatedbreathingspaceforbusiness togrowafterthe TroublesleftBelfastaghosttown

TheanniversaryoftheGood FridayAgreementhasbeena timeof refectionforpeoplein allwalksoflifeinNorthernIreland.For businesspeople,April1998usheredin anewerawheretheycouldoperate unimpededbybombscaresandbombings.

Insteadaneconomicwastelandwherebattlehardenedjournalistsweretheonlyfrequent visitors,theaccordgavebusinessspaceto investandeventuallyhelptransformBelfast intoatouristdestination.

ButLordDiljitRana(84),thefounderofhotel andpropertybusinessAndrasHouse,also recallslifebeforetheoutbreakofthe Troubles. Thebusinessnowhas10hotelsandtourist apartmentblocks,most recentlybuying Coleraine’sPremierInnHotel.

LordRanahademigratedtoEnglandfrom Indiain1963beforecomingherethreeyears later.

SpeakingfromPunjabwhereacharitable trusttopromoteeducationbearshisname, LordRanasays:“In1966Belfastwasavery peacefulplacewithnosignofanytroublesand noindicationofwhatwascoming.SoIbought one restaurantin VictoriaSquarewherethe shoppingcentreisnow.That’showIstartedin Belfast.

“Withinthesubsequentfouryears,Iacquired

anotherfour restaurants,sothebusiness wasdoingverywell.Itwasfourishing.The Belfast Telegraphdidafullpagespreadonme becauseIwasanewphenomenoninNorthern Ireland.”

Sam’sSnackBar,thefrst restaurant,wasgoing sowellthatLordRanaextendeditsopening hours.

“Itthenbecameverypopular.Backthen Belfasthadsomanydancehallsanddiscosand whenthosebusinessesclosedatabout1am, weweretheonlyplacetheycouldgetsome foodsotheycametous.”

The WindsorRestaurantbehindCityHall, AldergateHouseonUniversityRoadandThe BurlingtononDublinRoadfollowed.

Butthingsweretochangealmostovernight. “Theywerealldoingwelluntilinternment wasdeclaredinAugust1971.Thenallhell brokeloose.Therewasbombing,shooting anddamage–itallwentintohighgearafter internmentwasdeclared.”

TheBurlingtonwasbombedinDecember thatyear.“Theotheronesjustlostbusiness becauseBelfastwaslikeaghosttownafter 6pm.Therewashardlyasinnerinthecity centre.Itwastotallyvacatedsotherewereno customers.”

Thatlefthiminaquandary.“Iwaslefttotally penniless.Ihadabankloan,amortgageanda

bighousetokeepinMarlboroughParkBelfast butwesomehowsurvived.”

Heandhiswifeacquiredabomb-damaged shopinQueen’sArcadeinthecitycentre.

“Iacquiredthegoodwill,fttingsandfxtures for£500.Luckilymywifehadsavedsome moneyandthatcameinuseful. We fttedit outourselvesandopeneditinAugust1972.It wasadiffcultperiodinthecitycentrebecause everydaytherewerebombsorbombscares butwesomehowstruggledon.”

Withotherpeoplenervousofthecitycentre, hewasabletoacquirethreemoreshopsand asheputsit,wassoon“dabblinginproperty”.

“Mybankmanagerwasveryunderstanding andlentmesomemoremoneyandIbought fourpropertiesonLisburnRoad.I refurbished themandthatgavemesome rentalincome thoughnotmuch,andsomecashfow,even thoughtherewasnoproft.”

HeboughtanotherlargebuildingonGreat VictoriaStreet.“Iboughtthatandconverted thegroundfoorintoIndianandChinese restaurantswhichwe rentedtoothers.”

Thosebusinessesbeneftedfromthepopularity ofthenearbyGrandOperaHouse.

“Itestedthewaterforothers.AlongGreat VictoriaStreetandDublinRoadtherewere somany restaurantsitbecameknownas

theGoldenMileofBelfast,whichIhelped initiate.”

Despitethevolatilityofthetime,hedecided tobuildahotelinthecitycentreinBlackstaff Square,whichopenedin1990.TheBelfast PlazaHotelwasthefrstnewhoteltoopenin thecitycentrefor20years.

“Itwasbombedmanytimes.ButlikeThe WindmillTheatreinLondonduringtheSecond World War, ourmottowas,‘weneverclosed’.”

Hesayshewasalwayspreparedtospeakout abouttheimpactofthebombings.“Iwas aprominentbusinessmanandpresidentof theChamberof Trade.Asanoutsiderandan Indian,Iwaspopularwiththenewsmediaand didalotofinterviewstalkingpositively,which theIRAdidn’tlike.

“TheyhadbombedthehotelinNovember, December1991,thenbombeditagaininJune 1992,twiceinaday.”

He recallssearchingthepropertywithsecurity forcesandmakingthechillingdiscoveryof

adeviceinsideaplywoodboxunderasofa. “Thosewerethetimeswelivedin.”

Whilebattlingtheeffectsofthe Troublesonhis business,hewasinvolvedbehindthescenesin bringingwarringfactionstogether,beginning aftertheAnglo-IrishAgreementwassignedin 1985.

“Theunionistpoliticiansfeltveryaggrieved andfelttheywerebeingsoldout.Then Tom KingcameasSecretaryofState.Alloverthere wereslogansandposterssaying‘Belfastsays notoAnglo-IrishAgreement’.Oneday Tom KingwenttoCityHallandhewasjostled bytheunionistpoliticianssohewasquite shaken.”

He recallsanapproachbyMrKing’sadviser JohnMcConnell.“Hesaid,‘Diljit,youshould dosomethingaboutit.Call TomKingand someoftheunionistpoliticiansfordinnerat yourhome’.”

LordRanasayshedulyissuedaninvitation tohishomefordinner.“Therewasatotal confdentiality,nobodytakingnotes,nobody

takinganypictures,sothatdinnerwas successfulandbroketheicebetweenthe unionistsandBritishadministration.”

Theprocesscontinued,withMrMcConnell issuingLordRanawithalistofpotentialguests fromthe republicanandunionistsides,aswell asbusinesspeopleandcivilservants.

“Theywerepeoplewhootherwisewouldnot meeteachotherbutinanIndianhomeover dinneritwasacordialtime.”

Hisbusinessgrewaccustomedtobombings andbombscaresbutviolencealsocrossedhis ownthreshold.

“Onenightinabout1984gunmenovertook myfamilyandhouse.Iwasrunninga restaurantonLisburnRoadandwhenIgot homeaftermidnighttheywereholdingmylate wifeUmaandourboysRajeshandRomesh.

“ItwasterrifyingbutUmawasa realladyand kepttalkingtothemandkeptcalm.

“Eventuallytheylockedusallinabroom>

LordRanapicturedattheQueen’s Universityboatracein2012

cupboardandtookourcarandwhatever moneyandjewellerytherewas.

“Youwouldn’twishitonyourworstenemy. WhatwetoleratedinBelfastwasunbelievable somehowwesurvived.Butthequestionis now,what’sgoingtohappeninfutureifthe DUPkeepboycottinganysuggestionofadeal. That’sworrying.”

Buthefeelstherewasmuchtocelebrateasa resultoftheGoodFridayAgreement.“Itwasa greatsuccessandIstillfeelit’sagreatsuccess.

“Whatitfeltlike,Icanonlydescribeasifyou arepartiallyblind,butyoulearntolivewithit andyou’recopingwithlife.

“Thensomebodydoesanoperationon youreyesandyoureyesightis restored. Thatwasthedifferencebeforeandafterthe Agreement.”

“BeforetheagreementandwhenIhadthe businessesinthecitycentre,youdidn’tknow whenyou’dclosetheshoporthe restaurant,

whetherthatbuildingwouldstillbethere tomorroworyouwouldbethereornot. We livedondaytoday,notknowingwhatthe futureholdsforus.Therewasbombings butalsobombscaresbuttheydidasmuch damageasthe realbombing.

“InonemonthBelfastPlazaHotel received80 hoaxcalls.”

It’snowadifferentstory.”Nowmycompany has10hotelsinNorthernIreland.Beforethe GoodFridayAgreementwehadthree.They wereBelfastPlazaHotel,HolidayInnExpress onUniversityStreet,whichopenedin1996, andRenshawsonBotanic Avenue.

“AftertheGoodFridayAgreementwe openedothersliketheBelfastCrowne Plaza,theHolidayInnatHopeStreetand theHamptonbyHilton. We have recently acquiredtwootherhotels,oneinColeraine andoneinPortrush.

“Forbusiness,peaceandstabilityisessential, andbecauseofthat,theeconomyinNorthern

Irelandfourished. Tourismparticularlyhas fourishedbutpeopleoncethoughtIwas madbuildinghotelsinthatsituationwhere buildingswerebeingblownup.

“NowthereareseveralhotelsinBelfast,it’s athrivingtouristdestinationandapopular weekenddestination.

“In2019,wehadabout5.3million touristscomingtoNI.Forasmallplace likeNItohaveaboutthreetimesits populationcomingfromtourismisagreat achievement.”

He’sproudtohave receivedanOBEin 2020forhiscontributiontoeconomic regenerationanddevelopingtourism.

Lookingback,hesays:“Belfastisatotally transformedplacetohowitwasin1970s, 1980sand1990s.

“Soit’sapitytoseethepresentimpasse betweentheDUPandSinnFeinovertheNI Protocoland WindsorFramework.” ■

LordRana(secondleft)joinedbyPhilip TaylorofInterContinentalHotelsGroup, formerLordMayorDeirdreHargeyand GillianMorrisofHSBC

NorthernIrelandtouristnumbers ‘havemorethandoubled’ sinceGoodFridayAgreement

Thenumberoftouristsvisiting Northern Irelandhasmore than doubledsincethesigningofthe GoodFridayAgreement25yearsago,it’s beenclaimed.

Figuresfrom TourismNIshowthatsincethe GoodFridayAgreementwassigned,visitsto tourismattractionsinNorthern Irelandhave risenfrom7.5millionin1998to16.5million.

Meanwhile,itsaysholidayspendingbyvisitors toNorthern Irelandhasrisenfrom£32min 1998to£299m.That’s analmost10-fold increase,butnotadjustedforinfation.

“Thepast25yearshasalsoseenmajor investment,supportedbygovernmentfunding andotherfundingsources,inmajorprojects andvisitorexperiencesincluding TitanicBelfast, TheGiant’s Causeway VisitorCentre,andthe GameofThronesexhibition,” TourismNIsaid.

Figuresfrom TourismNIshowdomesticholiday tripshavealsoseen a 179%increasesincethe historicpeacedeal,from543,000in1998to 1.517million,whiledomesticholidayspend hasincreasedby271%from£63mto£234m –notadjustedforinfation.

“MajoreventssuchasTheOpen,TheIrish

OpenandtheGiro d’Italiahavealsobeen showcasedtotheworldfromNorthern Ireland,”itsays.

“Northern Irelandnowhas141hotels,75% ofwhichhavebeen refurbishedorbuiltsince 2003.Thesehotelshave a combined9,432 bedroomscomparedto4,900in1998.

“Thehotelsectorhasseen£1bnofinvestment inthelast20years,around£50m a yearwith a possible£300mmore by2025.”

ThelatestfgurescameasEllvenaGraham, chairof TourismNI,addressedthe‘Agreement 25’eventatQueen’s University, Belfast –markingtheendof a seriesofengagements andhigh-proflevisitors,suchasformer USsenatorGeorgeMitchellandformerUS PresidentBillClinton.

Thethree-dayeventhasbroughttogetherkey fguresandthe remainingleadarchitectsofthe GoodFridayAgreementtoboth refectonits achievementsandtodiscussthechallengesand solutionsneededtodriveforwarda peaceful andprosperousfuture forNorthern Ireland.

During a paneldiscussionEllvenaGraham outlinedtheimpactofthepeacedividendon thetourismindustry

“Thethreedayshavefocusedworldwide attentiononNorthern Irelandandonceagain highlightedthebeneftsofpeace,notleastfor ourtourismindustry,”shesaid.

“Theincreaseinvisitorstothe regionsince theGoodFridayAgreementistestamentto thehard workandvisionofmanypeoplefrom acrossNorthern Irelandandfurtherafeldand weshouldbeproudofthehugeincreasein spendbyoutofstateholidayvisitorssince 1998, a phenomenalachievement.

“We’vealsoseenmajorinvestmentinour tourismattractionswithmore excitingplansin thepipeline.” ■

AngelaMcGowan,CBI,ChrisConway, Translink,GillianMcAuley,NIChamberofCommerce, EllvenaGraham, TourismNI,CelineMcStravick,NICVAandJoeO’Neill,BelfastHarbour

TourismNI chairEllvena Graham

EntrepreneurriseinNorthern Irelandisatangiblelegacyof theGoodFridayAgreement

SteveOrr,chiefexecutive oftechnologyhubCatalyst, looksathowentrepreneurship andbusinesshasmovedon considerablyheresincethe signingoftheGoodFriday Agreementin1998

Iwashonouredtohavetheopportunity tospeakataspecialeventatUlster UniversitywhereUSPresidentJoe BidenaddressedthepeopleofNorthern Irelandandbroughtglobalattentionto the25thanniversaryoftheGoodFriday Agreement.

BeforethePresidentmadehisaddress,Iwas abletosharemyviewsonwhatIbelieveisone ofthemany reallyimportantlegaciesofthe GoodFridayAgreement–theriseofNorthern Ireland’sentrepreneurs.

ImovedtoCaliforniatwomonthsafterthe GoodFridayAgreementwassigned.

TheyearsIspentthereshapedmeasan entrepreneur,learningfromthebestinwhat trulyistheworld’scapitalofpossibility.

Butwhatchangedmeasapersonwasthe civicleadershipIwitnessedeverydayby somanysuccessfulpeoplewhofeltittheir dutytopayitforward–volunteeringtohelp entrepreneursforfreeastheyhadbeen helpedthemselves.

Yet,whilemylifeinvolvedsurfngnearlyevery dayintheperfectclimate,somethinghad alwaysbuggedme.

Ilovedhome,NorthernIreland,andIcould

notstopthinkingthatthepeopleathome wereasgoodifnotbetterthanthepeople fromanywhereelseintheworld.SoIfeltit wasmydutytotrytodosomethingtohelp.

BecauseofthecourageofNorthernIreland’s politicalleaders25yearsago,I returnedhome in2007toaplacethathadnormalisedand foundanon-proft,scienceandtechhub,then calledtheNorthernIrelandScienceParkand nowknownasCatalyst.

ItwasestablishedasaGoodFridayAgreement project,whereNormanApsleyandmany otherssharedthebeliefintheuntapped brillianceofourpeople.

Catalystthenagreedtobecomethehome wherewewoulddeveloptheplatformfor NorthernIreland’smostexperiencedand successfulpeopletopayitforwardtohelpour mostpromisingentrepreneurs.

Today,moreandmoreNorthernIrish entrepreneursandtheircompaniesare becomingworldleadersintheirfeld.

Theentrepreneursdoit,notjustforselfdetermination,butoutofaloveofNorthern Irelandandadreamofcreatingopportunities forourpeople.Ifyouwanttowitnesswhat fearlesslookslike,justtalkwithanyofthe youngentrepreneurswhowerepresentatthe UlsterUniversityeventorwhoImeeteveryday atCatalyst’scampuses.

Theyputitallonthelineforabrighterfuture everyday.Ibelieveourpoliticalleaderscando thistoo.

ThecontributionoftheUnitedStatesto NorthernIrishentrepreneurshipoverthelast

15yearshasbeenprofound,butitdidnot comeaboutonlyduetogovernment-togovernmentoreveninstitution-to-institution relationships.

Itcameaboutthroughthegenerosityof USindividuals,manyofwhomwereworld leadersintheirfeldwhojustwantedtopay itforwardtohelpus,nonemoresothan Mary WalshokofUniversityCalifornia,San Diego.

Oneofthemostimportantmetricsinthis areaisventurecapitalinvestment.In2022, NorthernIrelandscaleupcompaniesattracted £139mofventurecapitalinvestmentacross 89deals.

As recentlyas2014thatnumberwasonly £5m,butthequalityofthecompanies createdbyourentrepreneursandthe developmentofasupportiveecosystemto helpthemgetestablished,hasputNorthern Irelandontheradarofmajorinvestorsfrom theUK,Ireland,EuropeandtheUS.

Ibelievethevalueofventurecapitaldealshere could reachorexceed£200min2023and there’sno reasonitshouldn’thit£500mwithin thenextfveto10yearsifwekeepcreating theconditionsforinnovativecompaniesto startupandscaleupinNorthernIreland.

It’satopicwespenttimetalkingaboutwith theUSSpecialEconomicEnvoyJoeKennedy whenhevisitedCatalystlastweekandwelook forwardtoworkingcloselywithhimtohelp morecompaniesheretoaccessinvestment fromtheUS.

Aswelooktothefuture,mostleadersin NorthernIrelandnowshareacommon vision:Opportunityforallfromworld-leading innovation.Thispartoftheworldusedtolead theworldinfveindustriesandwewillleadthe worldagain.

Onlythistimewe renewourpledgetopayit forwardsothattheopportunitiescreatedwill beaccessibletoeveryone,especiallythose furthestfromopportunity. ■

USPresidentJoeBiden picturedatthenewUlster UniversityBelfastcampus

Whiskeybusiness: new£8mdistillery opensatformershippumphouse

AndrewMadden paysavisitto TitanicDistillers’newhomewhereit’s transformedapartofBelfast’smaritimehistoryintothecity’sfreshestdistillery

At onetime,theonlyliquidthat Belfast’s ThompsonDockpump househandledwaswater, but thingshavechanged.

Thepumphouseandneighbouringdrydock cateredforWhiteStarlinerssuchasOlympic and Titanicmore than100yearsago,andit’s nowthesiteofthecity’s frstworkingwhiskey distilleryinalmost90years.

ThebrainchildoflotterywinnerPeterLavery, StephenSymingtonandRichard Irwin, Titanic DistillersatThompsonDockisnowopento thepublic.

Themediawasgiven a previewofthe operation,completewith a tourthat explainedthelongprocessofcreating whiskey

Almost£8mhasbeeninvestedtoconvertthe pumphouseinto a distilleryandvisitorcentre, where guestswillbeabletosamplesomeof TitanicDistillers’products.

Visitorscanalsoenjoy a guidedtourofthe exteriordrydock,whichincludes a 66-step descenttowhere the Titaniclast restedon dryland.

Thegroundfoorfeatures a wallofwooden casks,thelikesofwhichare usedtoagethe whiskeyfor a minimumofthreeyearsbefore it offciallybecomesIrishwhiskey

Alloftheoriginalequipmentandhistoric featuresofthebuildinghavebeen retained, whilethreemassiveForsyth’s stillsdominatethe mezzaninefoorofthebuilding,overlooking theauthenticGwyneepumpingmachines.

TitanicDistillersisaimingtoproduceupto fvebarrels a day, withthefrstwhiskeytobe laiddowninbarrelsinthecomingmonths. However, asit’sa slowprocess,itwillbe a few yearsbefore we’llseeitonthemarket.

In1996,busdriverMrLavery, now60,made nationalheadlineswhenhewon£10.2minthe UKlottery

Hedetailedthelongjourneytheteamhas facedtotransformthesite.

“We were lookingfor a placetodistilwhiskey inBelfastanddidn’t knowthisbuildingwas sittinghere andnotinfulluse,”hesaid.

“Ittookusabout a yeartogettheleasein placeandthenwehadtogodownthe road

ofgettingplanningpermissionfortheactual distillerythatwewantedtosetupinsidethe building.Thisis a heritagebuildingandalso a monumentsite,sothere was a lotofhistory andobstaclestogothroughtogetitto where we’re atnow

“Fromgettingthelease,toplanning permissionandconstruction,we’re talking aboutfve-and-a-halfyearstogettothis point.

“Also,Covidhappenedinthemiddleofall that,whichdidn’t help.”Onthe resultsofthe investmentpouredintotheproject,Petersaid thattheteamis“delighted”.

“It’s unbelievabletothinkyoucouldturn an oldbuildingintowhatisessentiallynow a museumandworkingdistillery,”hesaid.

“It’s amazing.Richard,StephenandI,we’re overthemoon.Afterallthehard work,we’ve fnallygothere.

“IthinktheHistoricalEnvironmentDivision, thepublicbodythatlooksafteralltheseold buildings,willalsobeverypleasedwithhow thishasbeenbroughtbackintospectacular newuse.” ■

StephenSymington,RichardIrwinandPeterLavery,duringthetourof thenewwhiskeydistilleryatthe TitanicPumphouse

BUSI NE SS FI NA NC E& BA NK ING Businessbumpfor

NIandcontraction in2023‘settoease’

NorthernIreland’sprivatesectorhaswitnessedanotherbumpin thelastfewweekswhileanothersurveypointstotheeconomy onlysufferingasmallcontractionin2023,writes JohnMulgrew

scientific andtechnicalservicessectorisforecast togrowbyaround1.9%andtheadministrative andsupportservicessectorisprojectedto expandbyabout1.2%.

“TheUKandNorthern Irelandeconomiesare continuingtofacechallengesaswemove through2023,”DanskeBankchiefeconomist, ConorLambe,said.

“Highinflationisstillsqueezinghousehold purchasingpower, consumerconfidence remainslowandthemonetarypolicy environmentisconsiderablytighter

“However, theeconomyhasprovedmore resilientthanpreviouslyexpectedandthe labourmarket remainsin a relatively robust position. We stillexpectannualeconomic outputtofallthisyearinNorthern Irelandand thewiderUKbutwehave revisedourforecasts upwards relativetoourprevious report.”

Turningtotheemploymentmarketandit’s forecastingtherateofjobsgrowthtoslow sharplythisyear

“Theannualaveragenumberofemployeejobs isprojectedtoincreasebyabout0.2%in2023 andbyaround0.3%in2024,”itsays.

Theeconomywillcontractin2023 butcoulddosoat a slowerrate, accordingto a new report.

DanskeBankispredictingNorthern Ireland’s economywillonlyshrinkbyaround0.3%,as highinflationandchangestotheeconomic policyenvironmentare continuingtoimpact economicperformance.

Theforecast representsanupward revisionon thebank’s previousexpectationof a 1%fallin activitythisyear, howeverDanskeBanksaidthe economicoutlook remains“highlyuncertain”.

Butit’s alsopredictingtheeconomywillgrow by0.9%during2024.

Breakingthingsdownbysectors,thebank

saysthewholesaleand retailtradesectorwill experiencethedeepestcontractioninactivityof around1.9%in2023but return togrowthof about1%in2024.

Otherconsumer-focusedsectorsincluding accommodationandfoodservicesandarts, entertainmentand recreationare alsoprojected toseefallsinoutputin2023ofapproximately 1.7%.

It’s alsoforecastingoutputwillfallbyaround 1%acrossmanufacturing,followedby growthofabout0.6%in2024.Outputinthe constructionsectorisforecasttofallbyabout 0.4%thisyear

Offsettingthesmallpredicteddropthisyear, DanskeBankispredictingtheprofessional,

Thebankisalsoforecastingthatthe unemploymentrateinNorthern Ireland willaveragearound3.2%in2023,before increasingtoanannualaverageofabout3.5% in2024.

“Persistentinflationisstill a risktothe economicoutlookwithinflationintheUK remainingnearitsmulti-decadehigh,”Mr Lambesaid.

“Althoughwethinkithaslikelypeaked,the rateofpricerisesisstillexpectedto remain aboveits2%targetthroughoutthisyear If inflation remainshigherthanforecastand declinesmore slowlythananticipated,ithas thepotentialtoconstraineconomicactivity evenfurther.”

Economycontraction‘to slowto0.3%’during2023

ConorLambe

NorthernIrelandprivatesectorboost ‘onlyoutpacedbyLondon’,sayssurvey

Northern Ireland’s privatesector iscontinuingtosee a resurgence withgrowthonlybeingoutpaced byLondon,ithasemerged.

Outputandsaleswere upduringMarch, withfrmsalsoincreasinglyoptimisticabout thebusinesslandscapeahead,accordingto thelatestUlsterBankpurchasingmanagers’ index.

Exportswere alsoupalongside a joint-record riseinemploymentlevels,whilethere’s been a continuedslowdownininputcosts.

“Momentuminthelocaleconomycontinued tobuildattheendofthefrstquarter,” Richard Ramsey, chiefeconomistNorthern Ireland,UlsterBanksaid.

“February’s reportwassummedupin theword ‘improvement’andMarchwas somethingof a rerunofthis,withalmost everyindicatorimprovingfurtheronthe previousmonth.Businessactivityaccelerated atitsfastestpacein a year, withonlyLondon recording a sharperrateofgrowth.New orderspostedtheirsteepestrateofexpansion in a yearaswell.”

Constructionwastheonlysectornotin expansionmodeduringMarch. A lack of a StormontExecutiveand“aparalysis

indecision-makingisbeingfeltandwill continuetobefeltinthissector,”according toMrRamsey

“Oneofthefewbrightspotsforconstruction isemployment,withheadcountsgrowingas frmsfllvacanciesthattheyperhapswere unabletofllwhenthelabourmarketwas tighter,”hesaid.

“Indeed,employmentwasstrongacrossall sectors,growingatthejointfastestpaceon record andonethatexceededallotherUK regions.

“Infationarypressurescontinuedtoease inMarchandwere attheirweakestpace inovertwoyears.Butthepaceofcostand priceriseswasstillabovethepre-pandemic long-termaverage.Anotherencouraging signisthatsupplierdeliverytimesfor retail, manufacturingandconstructionshortenedin fectingthatglobalsupplychainsare turningtosomekindofnormality

seeingnotableshort-term improvements,andfrmsare relatively optimisticfortheyearahead,there are lots ofchallengesthatwillimpacton

future growth.Theslowdownintheglobal economyisonefactor, buttheoutlookfor thepublicfnancesisalsobleakandthis iscompoundedbytheongoinglackof a functioningStormontExecutive.Meanwhile, householdswillcontinuetobattlewith a cost oflivingcrisis.”

Northern Ireland’s continuedeconomic improvementwasthesecondsharpestof the12areasoftheUKsurveyed – onlyjust behindLondon.

The readingindicated a sharperexpansionin outputintheprivatesector, andonethatwas thefastestfor a year

“Totalnewordersalsoexpandedatthe fastestpacefor a yearinMarch,whilenew exportorderstickedhigherfor a second monthrunning,”itsaid.

“FirmsrampeduphiringinMarch,in responsetohigherneworders, a solidbuildupinbacklogsofworkandconfdenceinthe outlook.Moreover, therateofjobcreation wasthejoint-fastestinthesurvey’s history, andthelatestincreasewasthefastestseen acrossalloftheUKareascovered.” ■

ThelatestUlsterBanksurveypointstoanimprovementinbusinessperformance

Richard Ramsey

JohnSimpson: contribution topublicliferememberedat thanksgivingservice

Economist,broadcasterandwriterJohnSimpsonOBEhaspassedawayattheage of90.Friends,familyandthosewhohadworkedcloselywithhimoverhisdecades inthespotlightpaidtributetohislegacyandworkataservicefollowinghisdeath, writes MargaretCanning

Acelebrationofthelifeofeconomist JohnSimpsonOBEhas recalledhis remarkablecontributiontopublic lifeinNorthernIreland.

MrSimpson,whodiedlastmonthaged90, wasaneconomist,writerandcontributorto boththeBelfast Telegraphand UlsterBusiness, whoalsoflledavastarrayofpublicsector, voluntarysectorandacademic roles.

TributeswerepaidbyhisdaughterJoanne Elliott,hisfriendsSirDesReaandProfessor KenO’Neill,andCanonNigelBayloratthe serviceofthanksgivinginStPatrick’sChurch, Jordanstownlastmonth.

SirDesdescribedalitanyof rolesheldbyMr Simpsonovertheyears,includingchairmanof theEasternHealthandSocialServicesBoard, chairofBrysonHouseandtheProbationBoard andanexecutivepositionattheCouncilfor CatholicMaintainedSchools.

Hesaidhismediacareerhadbegunin1965as anexpertontheeconomicdevelopmentplan devisedbytheNIgovernmentledbyPrime Minister TerenceO’Neill.

MrSimpson,whowasalsoakeensailor, continuedtowritefortheBelfast Telegraph andwasworkingonitsannual Top100 Companiesmagazineuntiljustbeforehis death.

OfhistimeattheEasternHealthBoard,Sir Dessaid:“Heaskedthecriticalquestions,the questionsthatkeep recurringinNItodayabout

howwegoaboutourhealthcare.Hediditso conscientiously.”

MrSimpsonhadalsoworkedextensively overseas,withhisfrstjobasastatistics offcerfortheFederationofRhodesia,now Zimbabwe.Hethenservedinitsarmyandwas lateravisitingexpertattheCentralBankof SierraLeoneandtheCentralBankofMalta.

MrSimpsonhadchairedtheNorthBelfast HousingAssociationand remainingonits boarduntilhisdeath.

Hewasalsoan“outstanding”arbitrator fortheNILabourRelationsAgency,SirDes said,sittingonapaneltheweekbeforehis admissiontohospitallastmonth.

Andhehadcontinuedtoenjoymakinghis contributionstotheBelfast Telegraph,which SirDesdescribedasMrSimpson’s“oldfriend”.

Hismediacareerfourishedtothepointwhere hewasproducingandpresentinghisownTV andradioshow.Later,hecontinuedtomake frequentappearancesonBBCandUTV.

“Thispartofofhislifehefoundthemost rewarding,”SirDessaid.“Hewroteaweekly company reportfortheBelfast Telegraphand wasactuallyworkingonhisyear’s Top100 featurejustpriortogoingintohospital.”

“Johnwillbesadlymissedbysomanyon thisprovincebutaboveallbyhisdaughters andwiderfamily…hewillalsobemissed

bysomanymorewithinthisprovinceforhis contributiontopubliclife.Thankyou,John.”

ProfKenO’Neillsaidhisfriend“preparedto speaktruthtopowerandforthat,hewas widely respected”.

“Anabidingmemoryofminewashowcivil servantsandministersmadesureto readhis weeklyBelfast Telegraphandmadesurethey

haditsafelyfledfor reference.

“Hislegacywillbelong-lastingandtruly missedasaneconomist,agentlemananda friend.”

CanonBaylor recalledMrSimpson’supbringing intheMethodistChurchandtheinfuenceof hisfather Vivian,amemberoftheNILabour PartywhobecametheMPforOldparkinthe

NorthernIrelandParliament.

“Johnwasthesonofsomeonewhocould thinkforhimselfandstandoutfromthecrowd andthisprobablycreatedaveryindependent streakinhimthatlastedhislifetime.

“I’veheardof VivianSimpsonhasavery,very fnemanwhocontributedalot…hestood upforthepeopleoftheOldparkRoadinno uncertaintermsandthatmusthavehadan impactonJohninhislifetime.”

HealsojokedabouttheeruditionMrSimpson displayedwithaknowledgesovastthathis grandsons RyanandConnorwouldquip:

“Granddadknowseverything,andifhe doesn’t,hecanmakeupsomething, realfast.”

CanonBaylorsaid:“You’veheardaboutavery impressivemanwhomadeahugecontribution toNorthernIrelandthatwassogood,so important,andwillbe remembered…hehad timeforothersandtookthebroaderpicture, notthenarrowpicture,whichissonecessary.”

MrSimpsonissurvivedbyhisdaughters JoanneandSusanandgrandsons Ryanand Connor. ■

JohnSimpsonpicturedwithAndrew Webb,GrantThorntonchiefeconomist,and Belfast TelegraphbusinesseditorMargaretCanning

JohnSimpson,JoanneStuartandChrisConwaypicturedatthelaunchoftheUlsterBusiness Top100in2018

We mustaddressthebutterfy effectoverNIhousingsupply

Challenges relatedtofndingan affordablehomeinNorthern Ireland remain,withprivate rents andhousepricesbothshowingsignifcant increasessince2020.

WhiletheoffcialHousePriceIndexinNorthern Irelandsawa0.5%declineinthelastquarter on2022,priceswerestillmorethan10% highercomparedtothesameperiodin2021.

Itmayseemthattheoverallaveragepricehas plateauedalittleasitnowsitsat£175,234. However,foravarietyof reasons,houseprices rosesteadilythroughoutthepandemicandstill remain25%higherthanatthestartof2020. Factorintheincreasingpriceofmortgages, escalatingfuelbillsandthecostofliving generallygoingthroughthe roof,andyou haveasituationthatpresentsunprecedented diffcultyforpeopletofndanaffordable home.

Fewwouldarguewiththevisioninthe HousingSupplyStrategydevelopedby theDepartmentforCommunities.It reads “everybodyhasaccesstoagoodquality, affordableandsustainablehomethatis appropriatefortheirneedsandislocated withinathrivingandinclusivecommunity.”But achievingthisvisionwillnothappenunlesswe canmanagetheparadoxesandhardchoices withinthehousingsystem.

Thefrstparadoxisthatbuyingahomemust

becomemoreaffordableifweareto reverse thedeclineinhomeownershipexperienced bytheyoungergeneration,yetforthesakeof theeconomyandcurrenthomeownershouse pricesmustnotfall.Housepriceinfation inthecontextofthestagnationofpeople’s incomessince2008meanthatmortgagesand inparticularhousedepositsarelessaffordable andthisisdespitehistoricallylowinterestrates, longertermmortgagesandsomeinstitutions offering5%deposits.

We all remembertheimpactofthe2008 housingcrashleavingmanypeopleinnegative equityandwhichironicallysawa reductionin frsttimebuyersaslenderstightenedcriteria andlookedforbiggerdeposits.

Inhindsight(whichIappreciateisawonderful thing)itturnedouttobeunnecessary, economicallyveryexpensiveandprobably infationary-butitdoesshowshowimportant thehousingmarketistotheeconomy.

DespitevariousideasbeingfoatedbytheUK governmenttoincreasehomeownershipthere isnobigpolicyinitiativethat’sgoingtoquickly shiftthesystemtobemorefavourabletofrst timebuyers.

Thereareinterestingideassuchaslonger-term fxedratemortgages,mortgageinsuranceto protectagainstnegativeequityandamore generaldiscussionaboutusingtaxationand regulationtobeneftfrst-timebuyers.

Thistakesustothesecondparadox–the implicationofusing regulatoryandfscal changestobeneftfrst-timebuyersis thatthiswilldisadvantagebuy-to-rent landlords.Indeed,increasingtheproportion ofhomeownersimplicitlymeanscreatinga smallerprivate rentsector.

Theothermaincauseofpressureintheprivate marketisthelackofsocialhomes.Evenif wewereachievingthenumberofnewsocial homesthattheHousingExecutiveestimates weneed,whichwearen’t,thiswouldnot addressadecreaseintheavailabilityofhomes intheprivate rentedsector.

We needtothinkaboutthewholehousing system,andweneedtoensurethatwhenwe actonpartofit,wethinkthroughtheimpact onotherpartsofthesystem. We alsoneedto recognisethatanystrategytodeliverbetter housingoutcomeswilltakesustainedand focusedeffortovermanyyears. ■

MarkGraham,chief executiveofCoOwnership,looksatthe stateofourresidential housingmarketandwhy theentiresystemmustbe lookedatclosertoensure it’saffordableforthosein thefuture

NorthernIreland’splanningsystemhasfacedtwo damningandcriticalreportswhileanewportalhas beenblastedbymanyintheindustryasnotbeing uptoscratch. JohnMulgrew sitsdownwiththe DepartmentforInfrastructure’stwotopplanners, KathrynMcFerran and AlistairBeggs todiscuss theissues,challengesandimprovementsbeingmade

Northern Ireland’s planningsystem hasbeeninthespotlightfor mostlythewrong reasonsoverthe lastfewyears.

Followingthetransferofthemajorityof planningpowerstoour11councilsin2015, wenowhave a two-tiersystemalongside theDepartmentforInfrastructure,whichwas previously responsibleforallplanningdecisions.

Now, eightyearslaterandtwo reportshave heavilycriticisedthesystemwhilearchitects andplannershavebrandedthenew£14m submissionportalasfeelinglike a “beta” versionwith a litanyofmajorproblems.

Planningisatthecore ofeverythingwedohere inNorthern Ireland,andthat’s whyit’s socrucial thesystem – andthetechnology – works,and workswell.

Two reportslastyearcriticisedelementsofthe systemwhichwere notworking. A Northern IrelandAuditOffce(NIAO) reportsaidNorthern Ireland’s planningsystemisnotftforpurpose andriskscausingeconomicdamage,whilethe Northern IrelandAssembly’s PublicAccounts Committee(PAC)saidthesystemis“not working”.

“Planningtransferredtothetwotiersystem in2015.Lastyearwehadtwo reports…they raised a numberofissues,”KathrynMcFerran, actingdirector regionalplanninggovernance andlegislation,told UlsterBusiness

“I’djustliketo reaffrmthatplanningis complexandwedealwithmany, many differentstakeholders.It’s importantwegetit

rightanditworksforeverybody

“The PAC andNIAO reports,whiletheydidput forward recommendationsandput a spotlight onsomeoftheissueswithinplanning,we welcomethosebecausewewanttolistento people.

“Ifthere are issuesandchallengesthatpeople are fagginguptous…wewanttoknowthose andaddressthose,witheverybody.”

Sincethenthecostofsubmittingapplications hasrisenbyaround12%.

MsMcFerran,whoisnewtohercurrent role, saysalmost a yearonfromthe reports“weare in a completelydifferentsphere”.

“Ayearhasalmostgone,andweare in a completelydifferentsphere…attheendofthis theproofofthepuddingisintheeating,”she says.

“We haveputout a veryambitious improvementagendaforthedepartment incollaborationwithstakeholdersandlocal government.

“We haveputinquitetighttimeframeswith that.Oneofthosebeingwiththefeeswhich are goingtorise.Theproofbewillwhether peoplethinkthesystemisanybetterafterthis improvementagenda.”

Shesaystwoofthe recommendations were aroundestablishinganindependent commissiontolookatplanning.The commissionhaditsfrstmeetinginFebruary andisduetomeetinMay, MsMcFerransaid.

“It’sa verygenuinemovetogetasmany peopleandasmanyvoicesaroundthetableto showhowwecanimproveandshowweare improving.”

Butit’s Northern Ireland’s newplanningportal whichhasraised recenteyebrows.Fromday oneonDecember 5 itwasclearthere were issues – fromsearchesnotdeliveringfull results, todatesbeingincorrectondocuments,while thosesubmittingapplicationshave reported havingtosendtheminmanuallyduetoissues.

I askedMsMcFerranwhythesystemwasn’t uptoscratch,despitethe£14mspendonthe portalitself.

“It’s notthatit’s notuptoscratchandit’s being

useddayin,dayout.Itwas a massivetransfer andITproject,”shesays.

“We transferredaroundonemilliontextual data recordsfromourlegacysystemtothe newone.Inadditionwetransferred5.5 milliondocumentsandoveronemillionspatial features.

Shesaysaround66%ofapplicationsare now beingsubmittedonline.“Itisimproving…we are onthe record tosaythere were teething issuesandweare workingveryhard with stakeholderstogetthose resolved.

“The‘priorityone’issueshaveallbeenclosed… and[soon]‘prioritytwo’willhavebeendealt with.”

Shesaysthedepartmentiscontinuingtowork withthecouncils,ishostingprojectboardsand is rollingout a workshoptobringpeopleinand speaktothem.

HailedasthelargestjointITprojectbetween centralandlocalgovernmenttodatein Northern Ireland,theportalisusedby10of our11councils.

Butas UlsterBusiness wasgoingtoprintsome ofthemajorissueswere stillnotaddressed, includingdocumentsfromanyapplication fledwiththeprevioussystemallshowingas ‘November26’.

“There are stillsomeissues,”shesays.“Alot fewerthanthere were…thesystemisworking

andpeopleare

Buttheissueisalsothattheindustrywasvocal insayingthatitwasnotconsultedsuffciently before thenewportalwentlive.

AccordingtoCiaranFoxoftheRoyalSocietyof UlsterArchitects(RSUA),itofferedtohelptest thesystemduringthedevelopmentphase.

“InSeptembertheDepartmentran a testing sessionwhichonearchitectwasinvitedtobut whenitcametoeditinganapplicationthe systemfailed,”hesaid.

“Theprocesswasabandonedandthere wasno followup.Inourviewthattestingwastoolate andinsuffcientlyrigorous.” >

usingit.”

The‘BigFish’atQueen’s QuayinBelfastcitycentre

MsMcFerransaid:“Peopleare sayingtousthat theywantmore engagementandthat’s what weare givingthem.

“Iamveryhappytomeetwithpeopleand listentothem.”

Turningtotheplanningsystemingeneral,has thetransferofpowerseightyearsagobeen a successor a failure?

“Iwouldsaywehave a systemthatis successfulandproducingthegoods,”Alistair Beggs,chiefplanneranddirectorof regional planningpolicyandcasework,says.

“Couldwebedoingbetteristhequestionand I thinkthere’s thingswecandotothat.Those reportswere quiteclearthatthingsaren’t workingquiteastheyshouldandwecanbe doingbetter.”

Butisitvalueformoney, especiallywith a rise incostsforusers?“Thisis a recommendation fromthe PAC andtheydidsaythesystemhas tobefnanciallysustainable,”MsMcFerran says.

“It’sa 12.3%increase…Englandand Walesare outtoconsultationattheminuteandthey’re almostpotentiallydoublingtheplanningfees… I feel[ourrise]isnecessary.”

MsMcFerransaysthedepartmenthas“a really good relationship”withvariousstakeholders andengageswiththemon a regularbasis.

“The reportsare anopportunityforusto improvewhatwehavegot,”MrBeggssays.

“Ithinkto a degreeyouhavetogobacktothe systemasitwas.Itwas a massiveseachangeas opposedtowhatyouhaveperhapsinEngland, Scotlandand Wales,whichisusedtothetwotierworking.Thathastobeddown.”

There havealsobeencallsfromthe renewables sectortoprioritisegreenschemes,suchas windandsolar Isthatsomethingwhichthe departmentwouldconsider?

“Allapplicationsare importantandsothe priorityistospeedupthesystemforeverybody andtolookatanywaytomakethesystem betterforeverybody,”MsMcFerransays.

MrBeggssaid:“I’mgoingtokeepanopen mindonanything…I’mnotsayingit’s somethingwewouldbelookingtodobutthen againyouhavetobeopentolisteningtothe argumentsandseewhere it’s going.”

Butwithout a workingExecutive,howisthe departmentfaringwithmajorapplicationsor takingpotentiallybigdecisionson regionally

signifcantschemesinitsabsence?

“We keepprocessingasmuchaswecan andthroughtheExecutiveFormationActif somethingcomesto a decisionpointwe’d have a lookatthatandseeifit’s inthepublic interesttomake a decision,”MrBeggssays.

“We willhopefullybeabletotakeasmany decisionsaswepossiblycan,butwehope thatministersandtheExecutivewillcome backbecause reallyascivilservantsit’s really nottheworld’s mostcomfortableplacefor us.”

Askedifthedepartmentshouldhavemore oversightoverthecouncilsandplanning decisions,MrBeggssaid:“It’s somethingyou alwayskeepaneyeonandseehowthings are goingbutatthemoment I thinkwe’re contentwiththat.”

MsMcFerransaid:“Councilsare autonomous andwemust respectthedecisionsthatare beingmadebytheplanningcommitteesas well.

“We are reallypassionate.Thisisour professionandwewanttodo a goodjob andworkwithpeople. We lovenothingmore thantaking[something]throughtheprocess andseeingtheoutputofthat.” ■

ThePeaceBridge inLondonderry

NI‘couldfollowDelaware’s leadtobecomecorporate headquartersofEurope’

PledgingUSsupporttounleashthe economicpotentialofNorthern Ireland,USPresidentJoeBiden evokedhishomestateofDelawareduring hisspeechatUlsterUniversityinBelfast.

MorethanhalfofUSpubliclytraded companiesandtwo-thirdsoftheFortune500 areestimatedtobeincorporatedinthesmall Mid-Atlanticstate,whichishometomore corporationsthanpeopleasa resultofits business-friendlycorporationlaw.

ForOCOGlobalexecutivechairmanMark O’Connell,thePresidentwashighlighting NorthernIreland’spotentialascorporate headquartersofEurope.

“Americancorporateshavehistoricallygoneto GBforEuropeanheadquarters,”MrO’Connell said,“butthey’renotgoingtobegoingthere anymore.They’regoingtobegoingtothe Republic,ortoNorthernIrelandiftheywant thatdualmarketaccesstoEuropepost-Brexit.

“I’malreadyseeinganall-Irelandopportunity fromfrmsthatwouldhavegonetoGBfor theirheadquartersandnowarelooking atIrelandnorthandsouthforthatsame proposition.

“Wecouldbethatunique regulatory environmentthatattractsUSfrmsofallshapes andsizestoserveboththeUKandEurope fromoneplace.”

OtherstandoutsfromthePresident’sspeech included referencetospecifcsectorsincluding cybertechnology,cleanenergyandlife sciences.

“He’sgivenusastronghintaboutwhat hewantstoseeintheshopwindow,”Mr

O’Connellsaid.“Idon’tthinkhecouldhave beenanyclearer,he’sbackingus,andweneed tobackourselvesnow.”

EchoingthePresidentinurginga restoration ofdevolvedgovernment,MrO’Connellsaidit wouldbeawkwardifStormontwasnotback upandrunningbythetimeUSspecialenvoy forNorthernIrelandJoeKennedybringsaUS tradedelegationovertoNorthernIrelandthis autumn.

FSBNIheadRogerPollenpraisedPresident Biden’s“thoughtfulandmeasuredspeech”.

“TohaveanAmericanPresidentsaythat‘our historyisyourhistory’andtalkofunleashing NorthernIreland’seconomicpotentialoffers usallanopportunityforabetterfuture,”Mr Pollensaid.

“Thechallengeistomakesurethatweharness thatpotentialandunleashaperiodofunrivalled economicprosperityoverthenext25years.”

AndNIChamberpresidentGillianMcAuley welcomedtheopportunitytoshowcase NorthernIreland’sdualmarketaccess,skilled andyouthfulworkforceandpropensityfor innovationtoaninternationalaudience.

NevinEconomicResearchInstitutecodirectorPaulMacFlynnfoundthespeechto beontheaspirationalside,withthepeace dividendenvisagedin1998never really comingtopass.

“Itwouldappearthatwe’resettomake thismistakealloveragainwiththe Windsor Framework,”MrMacFlynnsaid.“Sureit providesanenticingopportunityformany USmultinationalstohaveafootholdinthe UKandtheEU.

“Butonceagainallitis,isapossibility. Unlesswedothehardworktoseizethe opportunities,ourtimeasthe‘world’smost excitingeconomiczone’maygothesame wayasthepeacedividend.” ■

ByAlysonMagee

USPresidentJoeBidenpicturedatthenewUlsterUniversitycampusinBelfastlastmonth

OffceSpace: demandstillstrongas fagshipbuildingsenterthemarket

OsborneKing ismarketingthreemajorcitycentreoffcebuildingsinBelfast,each withadifferentinvestmentappealandpotentialbuyer.Directors RichardMcCaig and GavinClarke lookatthecurrentdemandsinthemarketandwhythere’sstill interestinoffce-basedbricksandmortar

Thetuneisbeginningtochangein termsofhowweuseouroffce spaceacrossBelfastandbeyond.

Justacoupleofyearsagothe“endofthe offce”wasaphrasedoingthe rounds. Howeverweonlyneedtolookatthe improvinglevelsoftakeupandstronglevelsof renttounderstandthe‘new’offcemarket.

“Thereisstillactivityandagoodstoryhere,” GavinClarke,director,OsborneKingsays. “Whatwehaveseenispeopletakingtheview thatthemarkethasbecomemoreconsistent andthereareoffce requirements.

“Youareseeingafocusonbuildingswhich have5,000to10,000sqftfoorplates–whetherthatisupsizingordownsizing.”

OsborneKingiscurrentlymarketingthree majorcitycentreoffces.Thatincludesthe Klondyke.It’sa57,584sqftlandmarklisted buildinginTheGasworksareaofthecity centre,andoccupiedbytheNorthernIreland EnvironmentAgency.It’snowonthemarket foroffersover£8mandtakesinanet rentof justover£900,000ayear.

Itfeaturesaglazed receptionlobby,double heightloft-style roofinasignifcantportion oftheoffcespace,suspendedceilingsinthe modernsectionswithfoortoceilingheight of2.7metresandattractiveuseoffeature red brickthroughout.

“It’sdefnitelyatrophybuildingbecauseofthe natureofit–withstrongfeaturesandtouches likethevaultedceilings,”RichardMcCaig, director,OsborneKing,says.

“There’samodernstorytherebehindanolder listedbuilding–locatedoppositesomenewer apartments,andJamesHouse,whichhas undergonealotofinvestment.So,there’sa lothappeninginthatarea.

“Therearestillplentyoflocalinvestorswith goodtradingbusinesseswhichwouldhave thelevelsoffundstobuybuildingssuchas these.

“Intheoffceinvestmentmarketthe opportunityistobeabletosecureverygood qualitytenants.

“Whathasalwaysbeenconsistentisthe qualityofthetenantsyoucanattract.The sectorhasbecomemoreofapartnership betweenthelandlordandthetenant.”

LindsayHouseonCallenderStreetisalsonow onthemarketwithOsborneKingwithan askingpriceof£3.75m–abuildingformerly hometoprofessionalservicesfrmBDO.

It’snowbeingmarketedasastrong investmentopportunityfor refurbishmentand redevelopment.

“Theupperfoorsarenowvacantandthere’sa selectionof restaurantand retailontheground foor,”Richardsays.

“There’salsobeenalottalkedabout recently around repurposingbuildings.Theoffcesector haschangedalotinthelastthreeorfour years.There’sanopportunityto repurpose abuildingsuchasthisintohotel, retailor leisure.”

KlondykeBuilding

LindsayHousecomprises33,884sqftofupper fooroffcesandgroundfoor retail,which includestenantsSubway, TribalBurgerand Sew‘n’Sew.

Somenearbydevelopmentsincludeworkon formerBHSbuilding–whichwillbecomethe Keep–andPearlAssuranceHouse.

Gavinsaysthere’samovetowardsbothhybrid workingandcompanieswantingtheirstaff backintotheoffcefull-time.

“Weareseeingamovebacktopeoplebeing morecomfortableintheoffce.There’salevel offexibilitythatemployerswillhavetotake onboardbutyoucanseethecityisgetting increasinglybusy.”

AndtheMetropolitanBuildingisanother prominentcitycentreoffcepropertyonAlfred Street,alsobeingmarketedbyOsborneKing, whichisnowonthemarketfor£3.3m.

It’sfullylet,withfveyears remainingonthe lease,toOvalInsuranceBrokingLtd,withpart ofthebuildingbeingsublettoAtos.

“Thispropertyisfullyletsoyouhavethat incomecomingineachyear.It’sastrongoffce investment,”Richardsays.

Lookingtowardsthewidermarket,Richard says“landlordswhoengagefullywiththeir tenantswill reapthebenefts”.

“Withthoseowningseveralbuildingstheycan

havea10personUSstart-upandthenasthey growintoa100or200personcompanymove themtoanotherspace.

“Theywanttohavehappystaffandgetpeople intobuildings.It’saboutgettingthebesttalent inandmanypeoplewanttobeintheoffce, certainlypartoftheweek,andthat’sanatural driver.”

Gavinsays:“Themajorityoftheoffcesarestill ownedbylocalsand recentsaleshavebeento NorthernIrelandindividualsorcompanies.

“Themarketisstillthere.It’slocationand positiondriven.Ifyouhavesomethingat DonegallSquareorclosetothecitycentre,it

willgoandtherewillbesomebidding.

“Theotherfactorisvalue–becausethereis alotofmoneystillinNorthernIreland,there remainsanappetitelocally,whichmeansprices arestillstrong.”

Butit’salsowiderUKinterestininvestment whichiscomingtotheforehere,accordingto Richard.

“Theyarelookingforgenuineopportunities toinvestinNorthernIreland,”hesays.“That canonlyhelp–itbringsmoremoneyin,and itincreasesthequalityofproperty.Thereare thoseouttherewhoare readyandwillingto invest.”

ButRichardsaysalackofpoliticalstability continuestobeanissueforsomeofthose lookingtowardsthemarkethere.

“Tomaximiseourpotentialandattractinward investmentweneedstabilityandtheStormont governmentnotsittingisonewhichis mentionedtimeandtimeagain.” ■

Formoreinformationvisitwww.osborneking. com. YoucanalsocontactRichardMcCaig atrichard.mccaig@osborneking.comoron 07903525280,whileGavinClarkecanbe reachedatgavin.clarke@osborneking.comoron 07968179888.

MetropolitanBuilding

LindsayHouse

Bob&Bertsopeningsixnewcafes

Northern Irelandcoffeeshopchain Bob & Bertsisopeningsixnew storesthisyear, ithasemerged.

Theexpansionwilltakethetotalpresenceof thebusinessestablishedbyformerteacher ColinMcCleantomore than30sitesacross England,ScotlandandNorthern Ireland.

Itsstoresare foundin2,500to4,000sqft unitsonhighstreets,shoppingcentresand incoastaltowns.

In2021,MrMcCleantoldthe UlsterBusiness Podcastthatthechaincouldexpandtoas manyas100storesacrosstheUKinthenext fewyears.

Sinceitsfrststore wasopenedin Portstewart,itnowhas15storesinNI,six inScotlandandfveinEngland.Itemploys nearly800staff.

It’s nowplanningtoopeninGlasgowand Blackpool,takingitstotalnetworkto28.

Andanotherfoursiteshavebeenidentifed forthenorth-westofEnglandand Yorkshire,

withhopestoopenthosevenuesbytheendof theyear

Thegrowthofthecompanyhasbeen refected initsfnancial results,whichshowedgrowth inturnoverto£17.8mandoperatingproftsof £1.3m.

MrMcClean,whotaughtin a privateschool inEnglandbefore venturingintothecafe business,said:“InJuneitwillbe10yearssince I openedthedoorsofthefrstBob & Bertsin Portstewartand I thinkitis a realmarkofthe qualityofwhatthebusinessandourstaff offer customersthatwewillopenour30thstore in 2023. We are alsokeentoexpandourbusiness furtherinouralreadyestablished regions.”

DirectorDavidFergusonsaidthecompanyhad emergedstronglyfromthepandemicafter tweakingitsbusinessmodeltoincludedelivery andstrengtheningitssit-inoffering.

“Likeverybusinessinhospitalityweare impactedbythechallengesfacingtheeconomy fromfoodanddrinkinfationandrising energycosts,butwehavestrong relationships withoursuppliersandweare wellplacedto

managethesecostincreasesandcontinueour expansionplans.”

TheexpansionofBob & Bertswasfuelledby a £2mequityinvestmentin2017byinvestment frmBGF

MrMcCleanspentfveyearsworkingas a teacher, andalsoopened a clothesshopin Leeds.Buthewasinspiredtotake a new directionduring a visithome.

“IcamebacktothenorthcoastatEastertime andwasblownawayathowlovelyitwas, I was onthepromenadeinPortstewartlookingatthe sea. I saidtomywife:‘Now’s theopportunityto comebacktoNIanddosomething.’”

TheycamehomeandMrMcCleanopened a bakeryinPortstewart,before expandingout intothreeothercoffeeshops.Hebrought togetherthewholepackageinBob & Berts.

“Ilovedteachingand I lovedtheholidaysas wellwhichisoneofthebiggestthings I miss aboutitasmysummersare nowspentbeing verybusyinthePortrushandPortstewart stores.” ■

ColinMcCleanandDavidFergusonofBob&Berts

NorthernIrelandpropertytycoonsare leadingaboominthecommercialsector asitgetsofftooneofitsstrongeststartsin adecade,anewreporthasshown,writes MargaretCanning

Northern Irelandpropertyowners are leadingthewayincommercial dealsandtransactionshere this year

That’s accordingtoinvestmentadviserInprio. Itsays retailisdominating,andthesaleof Rushmere ShoppingCentre inCraigavonto a teamofNorthern Irelandbusinesspeoplehas beenthebiggestdealintheyearsofar

Inpriosaidprivateinvestorshere inNI accountedfor15outof19dealsworth a total of£131.5mbetweenJanuaryandMarchthis year, makingthemthemostactivebuyertype.

Andoverall, retailwasthemostpopulartypeof assetwithdealvalue reaching£59.76m,almost halfthetotal.Thatlevelwasmore thandouble thefve-yearquarterlyaverage.

FoodanddrinkcomplexBoucherSquare in southBelfastwassoldbyNorthern Ireland

propertycompanyAlterityInvestments,for £3.87mto a privateinvestorinNorthern Ireland.

Intotal,Northern Irelandinvestorssnapped upassetsindealsworth£41macrossthe threemonths,withtheirembraceofproperty underscoringitstraditional reliabilityasanasset class.

Andthepopularityofspecifcpropertiessuch ashealthcare assetsandcare homescould alsoshow a rushtosecure formsofincome, accordingtoBelfast-basedInprio.

However, offcedealactivitywasmuted, withdealvolumeof£9.75m40%belowthe fve-yearquarterlyaverage.Thebiggestoffce dealhadbeenthesaleofHillviewHouse, Newtownabbeyfor£7.5mto a Northern Irelandprivateinvestor

Thevalueofall19dealstotalled£131.5m,

whichwas97%abovethefve-yearquarterly averageandthesecondhighestvolumeforan openingquarterinthepastdecade.

And19dealsforthefrstquarterwasthe highestquarterlytotalsincethelastfew monthsof2018.

Theyincludedfourmajoroff-market transactionsinwhichassetswere bought withoutbeingpubliclyofferedforsale.Inprio saidoff-marketdealshadbeenunusualinthe Northern Irelandmarketupuntilnow

Claire Shaw, researchanalystatInprio,said: “Despitecontinuedeconomicheadwinds, overthepasttwoquarterstheNorthern Irish investmentmarkethashad a strongrunof activityandincreaseddepthofmarket.

“The robuststartto2023wasenhancedby the remainderofthe resupplyofassetsfrom quarterthree2022.”

Butshesaidtheoutlookwasnotsopositivefor thenextthreemonths.“Lookingintoquarter twothere is a starkcontrast,withlessthan £35mofdealsalreadyagreedorinlegals, combinedwith a signifcantslowdowninthe supplychain.

“However, thekeeninvestorappetite remains shouldnewstockemerge.”

Rushmere ShoppingCentre wassoldto KillahoeyLtd, a jointventure betweenNorthern Ireland-basedSheephavenandMayStreet Capital,foranundisclosedprice.

However, ithadbeenonthemarketforoffers ofover£57mafterthecompanybehinditwent intoadministration.

DirectorsofKillahoeyincludeIanMcMahon, whoownsfashionchainDV8.Lastyear, DV8 acquired retaildestinationTheLinenGreennear Dungannon,foraround£4m.

AccordingtoInprio, a separateNorthern Irish privateinvestoracquiredaninterestinthe MarksandSpencerfagshipstore inBelfast’s DonegallPlaceforanundisclosedsumin a deal completedbyCBREGlobalInvestors.

It’s understoodthe retailerownspartofthe building,where itopeneditsfrstNorthern Irelandstore in1967,but rentsthe remainder Theprivateinvestoracquiredthepartofthe store whichis rented.

Aswellascompletingpurchasesinthefrst quarter, Northern Ireland’s investorsalso accountedfor14ofthe19salesindeals totalling£46m.

Manywere betweenprivateinvestors,including theoff-marketsaleofFountainCentre in Belfast.Thecentre istheheadquartersof broadcaster Q Radioandwillsoonbecome ofthehomeofnewspapertheIrishNews, followingitsmovefrom a historiclistedbuilding

atDonegallStreetintheCathedralQuarter

The remainderofvendorsincluded administrators,inthecaseofRushmere ShoppingCentre,institutions,RealEstate Investment Trusts(REITs)andNorthern Ireland propertycompanies.

InMarch,theIrishNewsannouncedthatithad solditshistoricDonegallStreetpremisesto UlsterUniversity Ithadbeenonthemarketfor £3.5msinceJanuary

Inpriosaid:“Despitecontinuedeconomic headwinds,overthepasttwoquartersthe Northern Irishinvestmentmarkethashad a strongrunofactivityandincreaseddepthof market.

“The robuststartto2023wasenhancedby the remainderofthe resupplyofassetsfrom quarterthree2022.”

Inthehealthcare sector, TargetHealthcare REITsoldfourcare homestoanundisclosed purchaserfor£22m.

NeilMcShane,directoratInprio,said: “Notwithstandingthechallenges,theoutlook is relativelypromising.

“The retail,industrialandlivingsectorshave shownfortitudein recenttimes.Investorsare placinggreateremphasisonsecure income whichiscreatingopportunityintheliving sectorinparticular, withhealthcare andcare homeassetsattractingsignifcantattention whenbroughttomarket.”

Inprio’s reportsaidthattheoffcemarket “remainsinfuxasitcontinuestoadapttothe impactoftheCovid-19pandemic”.

“A recentBelfastChambersurvey reported thathybridworkingisthenewnormalfor theBelfastworkforce,withonly a third of respondentsworkingintheoffcemore than fourdays a week.

“Toa degree,thisbehaviouralchangeis refectedinthecautionarystanceofsome investorsand recentpriceadjustmentsinthis sector.” ■

Whyourrestaurantsandbarsneed ataxboontohelpthemsurvive

ByJohnMulgrew

It’sa frustratingsituationwhenthe playingfelddoesn’t appearlevel.

Ourhospitalitysectorstruggledmore than almostanyotheramidthepandemic.But whilemeasureswere putinplacetoplugand alleviatethoseindustryconcernsatthetime, thehandbrakehasnowbeenfullydisengaged intermsofeconomicsupportandassistance.

Oneofthemainissuesis Vat andthedisparity withourneighbourssouthoftheborder Vat billshere for restaurantsandbars – interms offoodandnon-alcoholicdrinks – are more thandoublewhenyoumaketheshorttrip fromfreshoystersinCarlingford to a carveryin nearbyNewry

It’s 20%here and,fornow, 9%inthe Republic.Thatlowerratehas recentlybeen extendedtotheendofthisyearandisdueto return tothestandard– stillsmaller – 13.5% mark.

Theindustryiscontinuingtostrugglewith risingcosts,rates,energywoesandstaffng issues.Itcoulddowith a shotinthearmright now

Butitdoesn’t wanthandouts.Itwantsfair fscalpolicyleverstobepulledinordertokeep thedoorsopen,lightsonandpeople remaining incontinuedemployment.

You onlyhavetolookatthevolumeof – often apparentlysuccessfulandwell-regarded businesses – whichendupgoingtothewall.

Andinthatwake remainstwo,threeorfour, vacantandemptyshellsofbuildings – once thrivinghubswhichactedaskeydriversof footfallacrossourtownsandcities.

Vat isnot a devolvedissue.At a Northern Irelandlevel,evenifwehadthetaxpowers devolvedtoourAssembly – asidefromthe obviousfactthat’s inbeeninstasismore often thanthecrewoftheNostromo – potentially, duetoEUlegislationwhichmayormaynot affectushere now, theshortfallin revenue couldhavetobemadeuponourend.

Andforourlargerhospitalitybusinesses, corporationtaxhasjusttakenanother signifcantjump – nowsittingat23%for proftsof£250,000orhigher

AndNorthern Irelandisalsolosingoutonrates

reliefwhich,inEngland,wouldsee retail, leisure andhospitalityproperties receivingup to75%in relief.

Butduetoourcalamitouspoliticalvoid themoneyhasnotbeendirectlyallocated towardsrates reliefasthere’s nominister orExecutivetoallocateit.It’s quitefrankly, embarrassing.

Muchoftheindustrywaitedoptimisticallyto hearwhetherChancellorJeremyHuntwould announce a taxbreakor Vat reductionforthe hospitalitysectorinhisSpringBudget.Butit nevercame.

Ifweare toattractvisitorstotheseshores andboostourattractivenessas a tourist destination,thenwemustdoeverythingwe cantomakethathappenandensure that wehavetherightcalibre ofbusiness – across thesectorsbutinparticular, hospitality – throughoutNorthern Ireland.

Ourindustryneedsyoumore thanever, and nowisthetimetopayyourlocalbusiness a visit.Spend a fewquidwhenandwhere you can. You’llbeallthebetterforit,aswillour hospitalitysector ■

Payrollemployees add£177tomonthly salaryoverlastyear

Employeenumbersandearnings goingthroughpayrollhave beenboostedoverthelastyear, accordingtothelatestofficialfigures.

Theaveragemonthlywagehasrisenby£177, anincreaseof9.2%year-on-year.However, withinflationsittingatdoubledigitssincelast summer,workersareunlikelytohaveseenany boosttotheirspendingpower.

Unemploymentnumbersaresittingslightly belowpre-pandemiclevels,andconfirmed redundanciesaredown42.2%yearonyear.

However,employmentrate,hoursand economicinactivityhaveyetto returntotheir pre-pandemicposition,theNorthernIreland Statistics&ResearchAgency(Nisra)said.

RachelRichardson,directorinlegalfirmDWF Belfast,said:“Despitethepromisingstatistics, withthecostoflivingcrisiscontinuingtobite, wemayseeyetmoreindustrialunrestinNI andacontinuationofthestrikeswhichhave beenoccurringacrossdifferentsectors.

“Employerswillneedtofocusonfosteringa positiveworkplaceculturewiththeirstaff.Of

course,notallemployerswillbeabletooffer payincreases,sotheywillneedtolookat otherwaysof retainingstaff,suchasoffering increasedflexibilityandimprovingbenefit schemes.”

Payrolledemployeenumbers roseby0.5% month-on-monthand2.3%overtheyearto 790,600inMarch.

Andwageinflationsawmedianmonthlypay riseby£56(2.7%)month-on-monthto£2,110 inMarch2023,accordingtotheHMRCdata.

Seasonallyadjustednumbersofpeople claimingunemploymentbenefits roseby 2.3%onFebruaryto36,200or3.7%ofthe workforce,thefirstincreasesinceSeptember 2022.

Claimantcountnumbers remainsignificantly higher,up21.2%,onpre-pandemicfiguresfor March2020.

Unemploymentnumbers,includingclaimants andnon-claimants,wasdownby0.3%over thelastquarterand0.6%overtheyearto 2.4%,accordingtoseasonallyadjustedfigures derivedfromtheLabourForceSurvey.

Peopleaged16to64inworkincreasedby 0.6%overthequarterand2.6%overtheyear to71.9%,withtheeconomicinactivityrate converselyfallingby0.4%overthequarterand 2.2%overtheyearto26.2%.

Weeklyhoursworkedtotalled27.8million inNorthernIreland,downby2.6%overthe quarterbutup5.6%overtheyear.

Onlyhalfthe redundanciesproposedforthe periodApril2022toMarch2023are reported asconfirmed,accordingtothefiguresfrom NisraonbehalfoftheDepartmentforthe Economy.

Confirmed redundanciestotalled1,070forthe year,down42.2%ontheprevious12months, andwellbelowthe2,190proposed.

Marchsaw150confirmed redundancies, however,againstonly100proposedforthe month.

NisrasaidMarchmarkedthefirstmonthsince September2022witha rolling12-month confirmed redundancytotalover1,000. However,thetotal remainsbelowthelong-term trend. ■

STAI NA BI LITY

Sustainability credentialsare crucialacross businesses

BrianCummings,investmentdirectoratClarendonFund Managers,examineswhyESGisnowpartandparcelof responsiblelendingandatthecoreofmanybusinessplans

Theintensescrutinyandstrong reactiontotheUKGovernment’s updatednetzerostrategywhen itwas releasedlastweek,wasindicative ofjusthowimportantclimatechange issuesarenowbeingtaken,notjustby environmentalgroups,butinallaspects ofsociety.

Thatincludesbusiness,wheresustainability

credentialsarebecomingincreasinglycritical fororganisationswhowantto remain relevant andcompetitive.

That’sbecausecompaniesarenowbeing scrutinisedatalllevelswhenitcomesto sustainabilityandaskedtoshareexactlyhow theyareimplementingsustainablepractices.

Fromthesupplierstheyuse,totheirbanks

andinvestors,businessesmustnowbeableto clearlyshowtheircommitmenttosustainability, notjustproduceamissionstatement.

Theclimatecrisisisinthepublicconsciousness andconsumersincreasinglywanttodoall theycantoplaytheirpartinhelpingthe environment.TheDeloitteSustainabilityand ConsumerBehavioursurvey2022foundthat moreconsumersthanever(40%)arechoosing

brandsthathaveethicalorenvironmentally sustainablepracticesandvalues.

Notonlyisthepressurecomingfrom consumersforbusinessestoprovetheir sustainabilityclaims,thelatestEYGlobal CorporateReportingSurveyshowsthat78% ofinvestorswantcompaniestofocuson environmental,socialandgovernance(ESG) activity,evenifithitsshort-termprofts.

Thesurvey revealedthatalmostallinvestors (99%)whotookpart,saidthatESG reportingisacrucialpartoftheirinvestment decision-making,butthreequartersfeltthat organisationsarehighlyselectiveaboutthe informationtheyprovide.

What’sbecomeclearisthatit’snolonger enoughforabusinesstosaytheytake sustainabilityseriously,thisneedstobebacked upwithevidence.

AtClarendonFundManagers,we recently achievedtheB-Corpcertifcationtoshowcase ourcommitment.

CertifedB-Corpsarebusinessesthatmeet thehigheststandardsofverifedsocial andenvironmentalperformance,public transparencyandaccountabilitytobalance proftandpurpose.

B-Corp’smissionistotransformtheglobal economyso“allstakeholders,notjust shareholders,arevaluedandprioritised”and ourexperienceoftheB-Corpprocesswasthat nostoneisleftunturned.

Theirrigorous reviewofourbusiness operationsoverthecourseofayearscored ourenvironmental,socialandgovernance operationsandprocessesagainstsetcriteria.

The resulthasbeenchangestoouroperations andprocessesandachangetoourarticles ofassociation–ourDNA–tonotonlyfocus onthesuccessofthecompany,butalso tostatethatourbusinessshouldhavea materialpositiveimpactonsocietyandthe environment.

Ourteamwerealreadydoingalotofgood things,includingvolunteering,butwewere inspiredtoachievethecertifcationbyour portfoliocompanyTheBoatyardDistillery,who wereaskedbyanumberoftheircustomers andsupplierswhethertheirsupportersand partnerswereB-Corpcertifedafterwinning

theaccreditationthemselves.

Boatyard’sexperienceshowedusthatitisnot justatmultinationallevelthatthosequestions arenowbeingasked–customersandbusiness partnersatalllevelswantassurancesabout sustainabilitycredentials.

ClarendonFundManagersisthefrst investmentmanageracrosstheislandof IrelandtohavetheB-Corpcertifcationandwe believethatitiscriticaltoourbusinessgoing forwardinorderto remainattractivetoour owninvestorsandthecompanieswefund.

Therearesixother‘B-Corps’,whichare headquarteredinNorthernIrelandwith16 headquarteredB-CorpsintheRepublicof Irelandandover1,200intheUK.

Accordingto researchbytheAssociation ofInvestmentCompanies(AIC),investors arebecomingincreasinglyscepticalofthe sustainabilityinvestmentclaimsmadebyfund managementfrms.TheB-Corpcertifcation willhelptoaddressanysuchscepticism.

AswecontinuetomanageVCfundsin NorthernIrelandandputsustainabilityatthe centreofwhatwedo,B-Corpwillalsoinform ourinvestmentstrategyandwewillbelooking furtherintosupportingcompanieswhohavea positiveimpactontheplanet.

Myadvicetoanybusinessouttherelooking toraisefundinginthecomingyears,evenif thatbusinessisata relativelyearlystage,is thattheywillneedtobeabletodemonstrate thattheyareactivelythinkingaboutESG,build sustainabilityintotheir reportingprocesses andhavea roadmaptogainingtheright credentialsclearlystated.

ThefocusonESGisgoingtobedrivenfrom thetopdownthroughgovernmentlegislation, investors,banksandothercorporates,butit isalreadyakey requirementatalllevelsofthe businessfoodchain. ■

Kainosontrack tohit3,000 employeemark asitheadsto £378mrevenue

IT servicesgiantKainosisontrackto crackthe3,000employeemarkasit headstowardsannual revenueofupto £378m.

Thelisted firm,whichhasitsheadquarters inBelfast,saysperformancehasbeen“very strongacrossallthreedivisionsasnewand existingclientshavemaintainedhighlevelsof investmentindigitalsolutions”.

“As a result,forthefullyearendedMarch31, 2023,theboard expectsour resultstobeinline withcurrentconsensusforecasts,”itsays.

Kainossaysitexpectsits revenuetohit between£351.7mand£378m,the firmsaid in a tradingupdatefortheyearendingMarch 31,2023,basedon“knownsellsideanalyst estimate”.

Resultsforthefullyearare tobepublishedon May22,withthetradingstatementindicating a salesboostofupto£75.4mon revenueof £302.6m reportedforthepreviousyear

Kainosispushingforward withplansforits

new£30mheadquartersinBelfastasitmoves tochoose a contractorforthescheme.

The firm – headedbyCoAntrimmanBrendan Mooney – saysits“performancehasbeen underpinnedbyourlong-termcustomer relationships,andwe remainextremelygrateful toourcustomersforthetrustthattheyhave placedinKainostohelpthemdelivertheir ambitiousdigitalprojects”.

Andas a resultofthatsuccessitsays,“despite theincreasedglobaldemandfordigitaltalent, wecontinueto retain,developandattracthigh qualitypeople”.

“We nowhave2,990colleaguesbasedinover 20countries(March2022 – 2,692people),an increaseof11%ontheprioryear.”

Itcomesafterthetechgiantsoldoff partof theDublinRoadsitetoQueen’s University, whichwilldevelopitssectionintostudent accommodation.

A furtherannouncementwillbemadeonthe completionofthesaleprocess,itsays.

Thenew80,000sqftbuildingwillbeable to“supportthecompany’s significant future growthplansandhasthecapacityto accommodateupto3,000people”,the firm hassaid.

Kainoshadoriginallyplannedtobuildonthe wholesite,whichwasformerlytheMovie Housecinema,buthassince reviseddownits schemeintermsoffootprint.

“It remainsthecompany’s intentiontofundthe constructionusingcashonthebalancesheet and,subjectto finaldesign,costsandboard approval,will represent a capitalinvestmentof between£27mand£30minthenewoffice complex,”itsays.

BrendanMooney, chiefexecutiveofKainos, saidlastyear:“Theannouncementisanother steptowardsthedevelopmentofournew officeinBelfast.

“OurnewBankmore Square developmentwill provideuswith a larger, more sustainableoffice thatwillbringallourcolleaguestogetherin a singlelocationand,atthesametime,provide significantcapacityforourfuture growth.” ■

ByJohnMulgrew

Brendan Mooneyof Kainos

Fromwhiskeymakers toginmasters,Northern Irelanddistillershave grownexponentiallyon theexportstage. Emma Deighan askshowmuch morepotentialthereisor ifourspiritrenaissance haspeaked

Accordingtoaninteractivemapof Irishwhiskeydistillers,thereare almost30distilleriesinNorthern Irelandincludingthoseintheplanning pipeline.

TheIrishWhiskeyAssociation,thelead representativebodyfortheall-islandIrish whiskeyindustry,putsthatfgure,more accuratelyitsays,atjustover20herefor whiskeyalone.

It’snotamodestfguregiventhescaleofNI butaccordingtothoseinthespiritindustry, thewhiskeyandginmarketsspecifcallyhave notbeensaturatedjustyet.

WilliamLavelle,directoroftheIrishWhiskey Association,sayseverythingfromincreased interestinwhiskeyandginfromGenZand Millennialstoabiggerappetiteforpremium productsaswellase-commerceisbehindthis spirit revival.

“Irishwhiskeyfromacrosstheislandhas increasedbyover200%since2010,with strongexportgrowthfromNorthernIreland,” Williamsays.

“TheEUisthelargestmarketforIrishwhiskey fromNorthernIreland,followedbytheUnited States,GreatBritainandCanada.Recentyears haveseengrowthinemergingmarketssuchas SouthAfricaandAustralia.”

“Irishwhiskeyhasbenefttedfromagrowing globaldemandforpremium,higher-pricedIrish whiskeyinlinewithconsumersdrinkingless, butdrinkingbetter.

“Ithasalsoseenrapidmarketdiversifcation, includingacrossAfrica,Asia,withmore growthpossible,includingincomingyearsin LatinAmericawhereIrishwhiskeyhasyetto breakthrough,butwheregreenshootsare beginningtoshow.”

InvestNIsayswhiskeyinparticularisoneofthe fastest-growingspiritcategoriesintheworld, andit’sforecasttogrowbyafurther54%over thenextfveyears.

Itaddsthatnearly70%ofthisgrowthis expectedtocomefrompremiumandabove whiskey“whichalignswellwiththequality producedbyNIdistilleries”.

Infact,InvestNIsupports William’sprediction thatinsomemarkets,Irishwhiskeywill overtakeitsScotchcounterpart.

“ThekeymarketforIrishWhiskeyisthe USwhichisforecasttogrowby67%over thenextfveyearsandisonatrajectoryto overtakeScotchatsomepointinthefuture,” accordingtoInvestNI.

ItalsopredictsmoregrowthinGerman, Polish,Canadian,SouthAfricanandAustralian marketsandfguresfromtheUKDepartment forInternational Tradewouldbackupthese predictions.

Itsmost recentstatsshowthatdrinksexports fromNIwereworth£9.2bnlastyear,an increaseof15.3%onthepreviousyear(this doesnottakeintoconsiderationvarietiesand doesincludenon-spirits).Itsaidthetoptrading partnerbyvaluewastheIrishmarket.

HinchDistillery,whichwaslaunchedin2020,

GarethIrvine,founderofThe CopelandDistillery

illustratesthewhiskeyexportsuccessstory perfectly.

SittingontheoutskirtsofBelfast,Hinch producesavarietyofwhiskeysanditsown Ninth WaveGinwhichhaveapresenceinmore than30marketsinternationallydespitebeing justthreeyearsold.

BronaghHunt,managingdirector,Hinch Distillery,explainstheappealofthatIrish product.

“IrishWhiskeyisusuallytripledistilled.This makestheliquidsmoother.”

“Thesefactorsmakeitmoreapproachablefor consumers.Forbartenders,IrishWhiskeyis thebestwhiskeyforcocktailsbecauseitworks wellinamixeddrink.”

SheattributesHinch’ssuccessfulexporting storytobeingactiveattradeandindustry eventsandshowcasesoverthelastfewyears inwhathasbeena“fruitfulnetworking” opportunity.

WilliamMorris,internationalsalesdirector atHinchsaysexportsalesareupmorethan 100%sincelastyearalready“anddespitethe challengesintheglobalmarketswehopeto beclosetoachievingouraggressivebudgetby theendofourfnancialyearinJune2023.”

Hinch’saimbythecloseof2023istoexportto morethan40marketswithIndiaandChinaon thecards.

Confdentinitsgrowth,Hinchisinvestingto increaseitsproductionfrom500,000to1.2 millionlitresofpurealcohol(LPA)ayearbythe

CopelandDistillery,inDonaghadee,began tradingin2016afterCrowdfundingsuccess.It produceswhiskey,ginandrum.

GarethIrvine,FounderofCopeland,sayshe toohasaninterestinbreakingintoChina, JapanandSouthEastAsia,andiscurrently workingwithpotentialdistributorsinAustralia, NewZealandandNigeria.

CopelandalreadysuppliestoAustralia, Slovenia,AbuDhabi,andtheUS–from ArizonatoGeorgia–andevenmoremarkets areduetocomeonboardlaterthisyear.

“Ourexportactivitieshaveincreased>

endof2023.TheequipmentfromForsyth’sin ScotlandwasbeinginstalledatHinchDistillery atthetimeofprint.

dramaticallyoverthelast12months,”Gareth says.“In2022,westartedexportingtothe USAandnowhave10distributorscontracted tocarryourUSrangeportfolioofgin,rumand whiskey.

“Copelandcurrentlyexportsacorerangeof fourspiritsintotheUSwithanexpectationof shippingover70,000bottlestothestatesby theendof2023.

“Thisyearalsosawthefrstshipmentof CopelandproductstoAlberta,Canadaandto anewdistributorinSweden.Andweshouldn’t forgettheRepublicofIrelandwherewenow supplytoover250venuesandstores.And thisissettodoublein2023aswefocuson multipleaccountsandembeddingkeylinesin off-tradeaccountsacrosstheRepublic.”

FormostofNI’sdistillers,exportisthebiggest elementoftheirbusinessandtheonethat offersthemost revenue.

HinchandCopelandareonlytwoofthemany newdistillerieshere,whichbegsthequestion, isthereenoughdemandforeveryone?

ThenewIrishGinStrategy2022-2026 focusespurelyontheexportmarketforgin.

Aspokespersontheresays:“Therearealarge numberofdistilleriesinthemarketnowatthis stage,meaningitwouldbemorechallenging atthisstagefornewentrants,although growthopportunitiesstillexist.”

Itsayswenowhaveatleast37distilleries producingIrishginacrosstheIslandofIreland, 70plusbrandswithabroadvarietyofvariants andhaveseensales reachnearly340,000ninelitrecasesin recentyears.

Butit’sthe‘premiumisation’ofourproducts, itbelieves,thatwillcontinuetopushourspirit exportsupwards.

“TheUS,UK,Canada,andGermanyarestrong marketsforIrishginandwillcontinuetobe priorityexporttargetsforthesector’sgrowth asthe reputationandprofleoftheproduct continuestorise,”itadds.

DavidBoydArmstrong,whoisthechairof theDrinksIrelandSpirits’IrishGinworking groupandheaddistillerfromRademonEstate DistilleryinCoDown,said:“The reputationof Irishginisconsistentlyimprovingandallowing forlocalanddiversedistillerstosharetheir productwiththe restoftheworld.Theisland hasalongandprouddistillerytraditionwith

fantasticbotanicalsthatgivethe resultinggins adiverseanddistinctivetaste,andtheworld isbeginningtotakenotice.Theauthenticity andqualityoftheproductcombinedwiththe entrepreneurialspiritofthesectorwillcontinue tosolidifythe reputationofIrishginonthe worldstage.”

Atthetimeofprint,anewdistilleropenedin Belfast. TitanicDistilleryisnowcapitalisingon thestronginterestinNIwhiskeyswithtours ontheprocessinvolvedinmakingitspremium products.

TitanicDistillersDirectorPeterLaverysaidthe site,theformer TitanicPumphouse,isthefrst workingdistilleryinBelfastsincethe1930s seeinghim reviveyetanothertraditioninthe spiritsphere.

“Wearedelightedto revivethisgreatdistilling tradition,bringingBelfastbacktotheforefront ofIrishwhiskeyproduction,whileatthe sametimetellingthestoryofahistoricpast whenweledthewayglobally,notjustin shipbuildingbutacrossmanyareasofindustry, manufacturingandinnovation,”hesaid.

Perhapsthereisstillmuchmileageleftinthe sectoryet. ■

Dr TerryCrossof HinchDistillery

Musgravecreating 250newjobsforNI

Musgraveiscreating250jobs hereamidfreshplanfor18new stores,ithasemerged.

Thewholesaleand retailgroupwillinvest £18minitsNorthernIrelandstoresin2023, includingsupportforthe refurbishmentof existingSuperValuandCentrastores.

Itsexpansionplansfortheyeararealready underwaywiththeopeningofCentra FoxesGlen,anew£500,000storeonthe StewartstownRoadinBelfast.

TheformerMacesitewasacquiredby Musgraveunderitscompany-ownedportfolio, anditsopeninglastmonthsupports21jobs including10newpositions.

IncludingtheFoxesGlensite,MusgraveNI nowsupports103Centra,81Maceand37 SuperValustores,expectingto reachatotalof 238shopsherebyyearend.

TrevorMagill,managingdirectorforMusgrave NorthernIreland,said:“Wehaveambitious planstogrowournetworkofstoresthisyear with18newstoresduetoopenin2023across the region.

“Workingwithour retailpartners,weare makingsignificantupgradestoourstoresto

ensurethatweareprovidingthebestquality shoppingexperiencepossible,whilst reducing ourimpactontheenvironment.

“Ourstoresareattheheartofthe communitiesinwhichweoperate,andI’d liketothankourdedicatedteamsacross SuperValu,CentraandMaceforhelpingus providethosecommunitieswithgreatquality, valueandexcellentcustomerservice.”

Musgrave’sSuperValuRejuvenation programmesawfourstores refreshedin2022, andtheprogrammewillcontinuethisyear withseveralmorestoresaretobe refurbished.

AdditionsaimedatenhancingtheSuperValu shopperexperienceincludeanewhotand colddelicounter,Moo’dIceCreambar, expandedin-storebakeryandupgradedofflicence.

Thegroupintroduceda£2.7mSustainability Fundin2022andwillcontinuetoprioritise itsdrivewithanadditional£1mcommitted tosupportingstoresin reducingtheircarbon footprintthisyear.

Musgraveisaimingtoachievenetzero emissionsby2040,supportingits retailers withbespokesupportincludingtheupgrade offreezersand refrigerationunits,LED

lighting retrofits,solarpanels,andelectronic shelfedgelabels.

TheIrish-ownedMusgraveGroupboasts annualsalesofmorethan€4bn.

Itfilesannualaccountsfortwobusinesses inNorthernIreland,salesandmarketing divisionMusgraveRetailPartnersNIand wholesalebusinessMusgraveDistribution.

Initslatestaccountsfor2021,Musgrave RetailPartnersNI reportedturnoverof £307.6m,downslightlyonthepreviousyear.

Itmadeanoperatinglossof£1.2mdue toaone-offcostof£2.7mtosupport investmentbySuperValuandCentra retailers inenvironmentalsustainabilityinitiatives. Operatingprofitsthepreviousyeartotalled £3.9m.

Businessdevelopmentcosts,meanwhile, rosefrom£4.8min2020to£9.8min2021, whileemployeenumbersfellfrom889to 815.

For2021,MusgraveDistributionboostedits turnoveryearonyearby£9.1mto£149.7m, whileoperatingprofitclimbedfrom £200,000to£2.5mandemployeenumbers grewfrom214to242. ■

TrevorMagill

Peoplestartingtosee cryptoinanewlight, saysCoinbaseboss

CormacDinan,chiefofcryptocurrencyexchangeplatform CoinbaseinIreland,speaksto Adrian Weckler aboutthespeed thetechnologyismovingatandwhat’snextforthesector

Imagineyou’vebeenonasteadyclimb uptheblue-chipfnancialservices sector.Avice-presidentinStateStreet. Thenaseniorvice-presidentinCiti.And until recently,aseniordirectorinDeloitte. Imagine,also,thatyou’rebarely50.

Wouldyouthink‘nowisthetimetojumpinto thecryptoindustry’?CormacDinandid.The Clontarfman recentlyhandedbackthegolden bathroomkeystotakeupapositioninCrypto. com.Afewmonthsago,hebecamecountry managerinIrelandofCoinbase,oneofthe largestcrypto-tradingplatformsintheworld.

Acasualnewsobservermightask:ishemad? Doesn’theworryaboutalloftheshenanigans andthescamsand regulatoryshadethatthe cryptoworldhasbeeninoflate?Coinbase itselfissubjectofa recentUSSecuritiesand ExchangeCommissionenforcementaction.

Nope.Therearetwocryptoworlds,hesays: theonethat’ssensationalisedasthewild westofspeculatorsandbandits,andtheone thathasquietlyputinplaceinfrastructure andsystemsthatestablishedcompaniesand institutionsarestartingtouse.

Heseesbothhimself,alifelonginstitutional fnanceguy,andCoinbase,inthelatter classifcation.

“Ithinkpeopleareprobablygettingmore savvyinhowtheyarestartingtoconsider cryptofromadifferentperspective,”hesays, sittinginthecompany’s WeWork-basedoffce onDublin’sGrandCanal.

“Maybeithasbeenseenasaninvestment andsometimesalittlebitofaquickwin. Butaswebegintocontinuetodevelopthe technology,we’restartingtoseegreater utility.”

HethenwhipsouthisCoinbasecreditcard, a Visa-backedcardthatletsyouspendyour cryptoinfatcurrency.

Crypto,orCoinbase’soperations,areasmuch aboutwhatMrDinanbelievesisagradual shiftininfrastructureaslettingpeopleindulge moreinpeer-to-peertransactions.This,he says,iswhyhejoinedthecompany.

“Iobviouslywouldhavedonemyhomework beforedoingthat,”hesays.“Iwould havebeenveryawareofwhenworking inmypreviousjob[asaninvestmentlead inDeloitte].Ithinkintermsagainofthe mission,inbuildingthenextfnancialservices industry.AndIthinkthat’swhatwe’redoing. We’reattheverystartofthebottomofthe mountain.Itwon’tbebuiltovernightbutitis afascinatingareatobeatthecuttingedgeof newtechnology.”

Insomeareas,hesaysthatCoinbaseislight yearsaheadoftraditionalbanks.

“SomeofthebanksthatIwouldhavebeenin beforewerestifedalittlebitbythesignifcant legacytechnologiesthathavebeentherefora longtime,”hesays.

“Wehaveafarmoredigitallyautomated system,anawfullotmoreprocessesthat

arefaster,quicker,easierandpeertopeer.I thinkallofthatishugelyimportant.Ithink thatgivingpeoplealittlebitmorecontrolof theirownfnancesandtheirownidentity,isall important.Alotofthathascomedowntothe ongoingdevelopmentofblockchain.”

Despitethis,thingshaven’texactlybeen smoothforCoinbase.InIreland,thecompany shedalargepercentageofitsworkforceas partofthelayoffswavehittingthewidertech sector.Thejobcutsareespeciallynotable becausethecompanyissosecretiveabout them,notonlyonthequestionofhowmany wereactuallyletgo,butthenumberitemploys here.

WhenwemetinCoinbase’soffcespacein a WeWorkbuildingincentralDublin,there wasalmostno-oneelseonthefoorasitisa remote-frstcompany.

MrDinanconcedesthatthe reportedfgure of100peopleletgofromthecompany’sIrish operationis“about”right.

Hewon’tbudgeonthenumberleftworking attheIrishoffcebeyondsaying:“It’sourthird largestoffceoutsidetheUS.”

“Icantellyouthatinthegrandschemeof things,weprobablyhavethelargestcrypto presenceinIrelandofallthecompanieshere,” hesays.

TheIrishoffcepassportsservicesaround Europe,whereCoinbasehasanumberof otheroffces.

Likeeveryoneelse,itiswaitingfortheMarkets

InCryptoAssets(Mica)legislationfromtheEU thatwilltightenandclarifysomeaspectsof handling,anddealingin,cryptocurrenciesand assets.

Butwhilethisseemstobe regularisingcrypto’s fateamongEUinstitutionsandgovernments, thereisstillconsiderable regulatorhostility. Ireland’sCentralBankgovernor,Gabriel Makhlouf,isanarch-critic, recently commentingthatcryptocurrencyhas“nosocial valuewhatsoever”.

“UnbackedcryptoisessentiallyaPonzi scheme,”hetoldanOireachtascommitteein January.“Peoplewhoputtheirmoneyinto unbackedcrypto,andmostofthesignifcant stockofcryptooutthereisessentially unbacked,areessentiallygambling.”

Howdoesoneoperateinanenvironment wheremanyofyourprimary regulators describeyourbusinessasoneof reckless fnancialinstability?

“Itdoesn’tnecessarilyhavemuchofanimpact onourday-to-day relationshipwiththeCentral Bankhere,atleastnotsofar,”MrDinan says.“Our relationshipandourengagement withtheCentralBankhasbeennothingbut positive. We havelicenceswhicharegoverned bytheCentralBankofIrelandandwehave good regularcontactwiththem.Ithas genuinelybeengoodtwo-waytraffc.”

Butthegeneralcriticism,heardfrommany otherfnancialfgures,ofPonzischemesand gambling?

“Someofthathasjustpurelybeenbad actors,”MrDinansays.

“Unfortunately,therearePonzischemesin everyaspectoffnancialservices,notjust crypto. You’renotseeingthattothesame degreeinEurope.Ithinkpartandparcelof thatisthe regulatoryenvironmenthere.

“ThefactthatfrmslikeCoinbasearefocused ongetting regulatorstobejustasinterestedin

complianceastheypossiblycanhelps.”

Willthishelptackletheothergeneral impressionsthatcryptodealings,for institutionalinterest,arefundamentally unstableandunreliable?

“Yes,thatidea[ofinstabilityandunreliability] couldn’tbefurtherawayfromthetruth,”he says.“You’restartingtoseequiteasignifcant interestontheinstitutionalside. You’ll defnitelyseeagreaterlevelofinterestthere, becausethey’reseeingmarketconditions nowbeingsomethingtoattractthemtothe technology.”

Thisisaverydifferentnarrativeto ‘crackdowns’inthesector.“Iabsolutelydon’t expecttoseeacrackdown,”MrDinansays.

“Iseeitgoingtheoppositedirectionwith agreaterlevelofadoption.That regulatory claritywithengagementwithcentralbanksis oneelement,butthetechnologyitselfisthe other.“ ■

Thesixthgenerationfrm planningforthenext200years

It’snotoftenthatyoucomeacross asixth-generationfamilybusiness, butwhenyoudothereisapartof youthatwonderswhatthelast200 yearshavebeenlikewithchangesin business,advancementsintechnologyand continuedprogression;whatwillthenext 200yearshaveinstore?

TheOpenfoldenameisbutmonthsold. However,itsomehowbothencapsulates whathasgonebeforewhile refectingafresh approach,onethatisnowverymuchlooking tothefuture.

Ifwemomentarilystepbackintimeto1825, SamuelMcCauslandLtd,Openfolde’sfounding company,wasageneralmerchantbusiness thatimportedandexportedgoodsthroughthe busyportofBelfast.Bythelate19thcentury, McCausland’swasattheforefrontofthe growthoftheNorthernIrishseedproduction industryandexportedseedacrossEuropeand asfarafeldasAfrica,theAmericasandeven AustraliaandNewZealand.

Leapforwardahundredyearsandmuchhad changed;thecompanyhadpivoted, remaining agiletothemanylandscapechangesinthe seedindustry.NorthernIrishseedproduction

haddeclined resultinginMcCausland’s expandingintoEngland.Fiftyyearslater,there wasanopportunityinR&Dandapartnership wassubsequentlyformedwithAberystwyth Universityin Wales.

In2022,Openfoldewascreated,thenewly namedparentcompanyandwithitthenext chapteroftheMcCauslandandGilbert(direct descendantsofSamuelMcCausland)family business.It’snowaglobalSMEsupplying customersintheagricultural,professional amenityanddomesticbirdseedandlawn caremarkets.ItssubsidiariesareGerminal GB,GerminalIreland,GerminalNewZealand, GerminalHorizonandthreeecommercebrands (TheGrassPeople,iCANLAWNandBirdkind). Italsoownsa50%stakeinNewZealandbasedCates,akeyplayerinthedomesticand internationalgrainandseedmarket.

Ledby WilliamGilbert,theOpenfoldegroup isnowheadquarteredinBelfastcitycentre andispotentiallylookingtoexplorenew opportunities.

“Alothashappenedoverthelast20years,” Williamsays.“Thecompanyhasvertically integratedwithintheseedindustry,acquiring shareholdinginaseedproductionbusinessin

NewZealand(Cates)andfurtherinvestment inourownGerminalHorizon research division. We nowhavethreeR&Dsitesin theUKandNewZealandinvolvedinplant breedingandtrials.

“Werationalisedournumberof productionsitesintheUKandIreland,and simultaneouslyinvestedinwarehousingand machinerytobeneftfromeconomiesof scale.

“Wealsolaunchedthreeecommercebrands supportedbyanexperiencedteambasedin Belfast. We movedourheadoffcebackto Belfastandsetupteams,allinthelast10 years.”

Onemainareathathasevolvedinthe last30years(butispossiblymuchmore pertinentintoday’ssustainableworld)is subsidiarycompany,Germinal’sclimatesmart solutionsandproducts,whichhelpfarmers producemoresustainablyandproftably fortheglobalfoodchain.Germinal’sAber HighSugarGrassesincreasetheamountof forageproteincapturedbyanimalsgrazing grassland, reducingammoniaemissions, protectingwaterandairquality,and improvinganimalperformance. ■

WilliamGilbert

You’ve been framed

Willthe WindsorFrameworkprovideasolutionfor groceryretailersandsuppliershamperedbyBrexit, ordoesitreplaceonelayerofbureaucracywith another? PavelBarter looksforanswers

Grocery retailersandsuppliers havedescribednewlabelling requirementsforproducts travellingfromGreatBritainintoNorthern Ireland,undertheWindsorFramework, assolvingoneproblem“butcreating another”.

UndertheFramework,“notforEU”labels willhavetobeplacedonfoodanddrink packagingpriortotravellingacrosstheIrish Sea.

WinemerchantJamesNicholson,ofJN Wine inCrossgar,CoDown,describesthenew requirementsasoneofthe“moreintricate andpainfuloutcomesoftheFramework.”

KieranSloan,managingdirectorofSawersdeli inBelfast,saysthatwhilemultiplescanafford newlabelling requirements,smallindependent companiesmaystruggle.“Wedealwith artisansuppliersacrossthewaterwho,like us,areoftensmallfamily-runbusinesseswho makefantasticnicheproducts.Oncethey haveto re-labeltheirNorthernIrishproducts, they’regoingtosay,‘It’stoomuchhassle. We’renotgoingtobother’.”

SimonSpurrell,founderofCheshire-based business,CheshireCheese,concurs.“On onehand[government]saytheFrameworkis solvingaproblem,butit’salsocreatinganother one,”hesays.

“Wenowhavemulti-labelling requirements andwehavetocreatepaperworkthatdefnes it’snotgoingtogoacrosstheborderintothe EUandit’sonlygoingtobesoldinNorthern Ireland.It’sasmallstepintherightdirection butit’snotafx.”

Thefoodanddrinksectorwaslargely supportivewhenthe WindsorFrameworkwas announcedinFebruary,2023.Theproposals solved“theRubik’sCubeoftheprotocol”and reduced“burdensomechecksandcontrols”, accordingtoArchieNorman,M&Schairman. SimonRoberts,chiefofSainsbury’s,announced thatcustomersinNorthernIreland“willonce againbeabletoaccessthefullrangeof productsascustomersinGreatBritain”.

TheFrameworkcreatesalanesystemfor goodsarrivinginNorthernIreland:agreenlane forgoodsdestinedforthesixcounties;a red laneforproducegoingtotheRepublic.Lorries

inthegreenlanewill requireasinglecertifcate, evenifitscontentsaremadeupofdifferent products,while redlanecargo requiresfull customprocessesandchecks.Accordingto thedeal’sproponents,theFrameworkwillease bureaucracyandcutpaperworkandcosts.

“Weareledtounderstandthatthe required informationforthegreenlanewillbe commerciallyavailabledatathatcanbe uploadedonline,”saysNeilJohnston,director oftheNorthernIrelandRetailConsortium (NIRC).“Thevastbulkofwhat’scominginto NorthernIrelandwillpassthroughthegreen lane.”

TheFrameworkmarksanimprovement forsomefoodproducers, retailersand wholesalers.GBsuppliersdealingwith Sawersdeli,face“cost,bureaucracy,and paperwork”,accordingtoKieran.“Weare buyingfromtheUKandsellingwithintheUK, andthat’sthefrustratingpart:wedon’tapply tothesinglemarket. We can’tgetcertain meatsauces.Loosepâtéisanightmareto getacross.”Thedeli recentlyordered£3,000 worthofproductfromachutneyandcracker supplierinGB.“Thefnalorder,whenthey checkeditallout,wasabout£600,” remarks Kieran.“£2,500ofit,theycouldnotsendto NorthernIreland.”

ExportingfromGBtoNorthernIreland,in itscurrentform,isuneconomicalforsmall producers,agreesSimonSpurrellofCheshire Cheese.

“EverysmallproducerinmainlandUKknows ifyoucan’tshiptoEurope,youcan’tshipto NorthernIreland. We hadtoabandonthat market[priortothecompanybeingbought bycheeseproducerJosephHelerin2022] becauseitwastooexpensive. Youneeda healthcertifcatetoshiponewedge,or20 tonnes,ofcheesetoNorthernIreland.A healthcertifcateneedsaveterinarysurgeons certifcate,whichcosts£180perparcel,per

destination,andfourhoursofpaperwork.”

Thisbureaucracyhas resulted,accordingto some retailers,ina reductioninthevariety offoodanddrinkproductsonshelves.In removingcertifcationforgoodssuchaswine, the WindsorFrameworkbodeswell.The UK WineSociety,forexample,describesthe Windsordealas“workable”with“clarityand asenseofcertaintyandconsistency”.

“[Aspartofthedeal]NorthernIreland becomesthe responsibilityoftheBritish government,sohopefullywewillgettothe situationwhereallproductsavailableonthe

SimonSpurrellof CheshireCheese

GBmarketwillbeavailableontheNorthern Irishmarket,”NeilJohnstonsays.

Butcouldlabellingbeaspannerinthe Framework?Alongsideproductlabelling, shopswillbe requiredtoincludesignage –particularlyforlooseproducts.Thedeal introduceslabelling requirementsonaphased basiswithOctober2023asthefrstdeadline fordairybrandsandchilledmeats.Cheshire Cheeseis“inthemidstofa rebrand”andhad “alreadybookedanewlabellingand rebrand, and12monthsworthofstock,beforethe Framework’sannouncement”,accordingto SimonSpurrell.

“Labellingincreasescostandwaste.Nowwe havetoproduceshortlabelrunssolelyfor NorthernIreland.Ifwehaveonemillionlabels, wehavetorunaseparate20,000or30,000 forNorthernIreland.Theunitcostwillgoup by2por3p.It’sashambles.”

RetailerswithstoresintheRepublicand NorthernIreland,meanwhile,haveconcerns abouthowsplitsupplydeliverieswillwork withinthegreen-redlanesystem.“Asdaand Sainsbury’sare relativelycontentbecause theydon’thaveanystoresintheRepublic,”

saysNeilJohnston.“Lidlis relativelycontent becausetheyhavetwosupplychains–a British-basedoneandaSouthern-basedone –buttherearepeoplewhofallmidway,such asM&Swhowillultimatelyneedseparately labelledproducts.”

Alackofclarityandguidelinesaroundthe Framework’sminutiaehasleftsomegrocers feelingvulnerable.Foodanddrinksuppliers wishingtousethegreenlaneintoNorthern Irelandmustalso registerasa‘trusted trader’,accordingtotheFramework.But thereisalackofclarityaboutthedefnition ofatrustedtrader.

“Partoftheproblemisthatweareonlynow gettingdetailsofthe regulationsfromEurope andtheymayyetbeamended,”Neilsays. “Therefore,it’sveryhardfor retailerstoaim fortheOctoberdeadlinewhentheydon’t knowwhattheyareaimingfor.”

Somefoodproducers, retailersand wholesalers,whoadaptedtoanallislandmodel,arewaitingtoseehowthe Frameworkmightchangetheconsistency oftheirbusiness.JN WineinCrossgar,for example,importswinefromEuropetotheir

warehouseinDublin.“Wetakegoodsinto Irelandevery72hours–andshipmentsgo fromBelfasttoourLondonoffce–soit’s quiteeffcient,”JamesNicholsonsays.“We haveunfetteredaccessintermsofselling withintheUKmarketandhavegrownour businesstheresubstantially,whereasgoods comingfromGB[toNI]haveamorediffcult path.”

The WindsorFrameworkneedsto passanumberofstagesbeforeitcan beimplemented,but retailindustry representativesareconfdentitwillprovide much-neededbusinessstabilityinNorthern Ireland.“Ourbroadermembershipis reasonablysatisfedwiththeFramework,” GlynRoberts,RetailNIchiefexecutive,says.

“There’sadeepdiveintothedetails.But overall,we’repleasedwegotasmanyofour membersaspossibleintothegreenlane.The bigquestionisdoesitmoveusforward?Does itprovidegreaterstabilityandcertainty? Yes, itdoes.”

“TheFrameworkishere,”addsJames NicholsonofJN Wine.“Nowwehavetosuck itup,makeitwork,andgetonwithit.” ■

JamesNicholsonofJNWine

DECLANHOLMES NIGHTCAPEVENTGROUP

Howisbusiness?

BusinessatNightcapEventGrouphasbeen reallygood,growingsteadilysincewe reopenedinMay2021. We’vehadback-toback recordyearsforthebusiness,which wehopewillcontinueinthemonthsand yearsahead. We haveseena realincreasein demandformobilebarservicesatbespoke venuesacrossthecountryandforhospitality agencystaff,aseventspacesstruggletofulfil

casual roles.Asa resultofthisgrowthand increaseddemand,we’veacquiredlargeroffice andwarehousespace,hiredourfifthfull-time teammemberandlaunchedanewstaffing solutionscompany,NightcapConnect,togive thehospitalitysectoraccesstoparttimeand temporarystaffforkeyevents.

Howdidyougetstartedintheindustry?

MyfirstjobwasatRavenhillwhereIworked asabartender,beforelatermovingonto workatsomeofBelfast’smostwell-known cocktailvenues.ItwasatthesevenuesthatI developedmyknowledgeandmixingexpertise ofalcoholicandnon-alcoholicdrinks.These experiencescontributedtomydecisionto establishNightcapin2013asamobile cocktailbusiness.

Typically,whoareyourclients orcustomers?

Withourbusinessbeingsplit intoeventsandagencystaffing, wehaveawiderangeof clients–bothbusinessand consumer-thatweworkwith. We provideourservicestoboth largecorporateclients,including IKEAandDanskeBank,aswell asprivateclientevents,suchas weddingsandcelebrations. With ouragencywork,wehavethe luxuryofworkingwith leadingevent spacesand

venuesinNorthernIreland,including Titanic Belfast, WaterfrontHallandtheUlsterHall,to namejustafew.

Doyouenjoywhatyoudo,andwhatin particular?

IfeelveryluckytoenjoywhatIdoforaliving, althoughitcertainlycomeswithitsstresses, challengesandrisks.However,Itakegreat prideinhavingbuiltabrandandcommunity withmybestfriend,DeanMcFarland. Together,wehaveover20yearsofevent experienceandhaveworkedwithsomeofthe mostinfluentialbusinessandindividualsin NorthernIreland,aswellasprovidingover200 peoplewithalivelihood.

Whatisthemostdifficultpartofyourjob?

Themostdifficultpartofmyjobisfindingthe rightwork/lifebalance,whichcanbehardto achievewhenyouareyourownboss.Itcan bedifficulttosnapoutofworkmodeathome afterabusydayofevents,buthavingawife, 20-month-olddaughterandtwodogscertainly helps.

Whatarethechallengesfacingyoursector andtheeconomyingeneral?

Thegreatestchallengethehospitalitysector iscurrentlyfacingisthe retentionofskilled staff.Ihavenoticedin recentyearsasignificant amountofhospitalitytalentleavingNorthern Irelandforavarietyof reasons,rangingfrom theculturetoaninadequateincometofeeling unappreciated.ThisissomethingNightcap EventGroupisworkinghardto rectify,as weadd realvaluetothehospitalitysector bybuildingacommunitythat rewardsand respectsthepeopleweemploy.

I asked ChatGPT aboutNI’s top10 dishes… here’s what the AI had to say about them

JohnMulgrew askedartifcial-intelligence(AI)chatbotChatGPT tosuggestthetop10bestdisheswhichcomefromNorthernIreland. Thisiswhatithadtosay,whatitgotrightandwhatitgotwrong

1IRISHSTEW

Thiswasn’tabadstartforthiseverpopularAI.Itsaiditwasa“traditional stewmadewithlambormutton,potatoes, carrots,onions,andparsley”.That’sa reasonableapproximationandIthinkit’shard toargueIrishstewisn’tadishatourculinary core.

2ULSTERFRY

Andwe’reinwithanUlsterfryatnumber two.Again,ChatGPTcamebackwith afairlyaccurateandcomprehensivelistasto whatyou’llfndinthisbreakfaststaple,and likelyonewe’dallbehappytoincludeonthis list.Itsaidbacon,sausage,blackandwhite pudding,friedeggs,tomato,andsodabread

(althoughdidn’tincludepotatobread)buthad thegoodsensenottoincludebeansandthus avoidinganinternationaldispute.

3CHAMP

Thefrstofmany,manypotato-centric dishesmakingthislist.Look,Iknow we’renormally regardedasaspudnation

(althoughconsumptionismuchhigherin countriesinEasternEuropeforexample)but we’vemoretooffertheworldthaniterations ofmash.ChatGPTgetsthebasicshereand saysit’s“adishmadewithmashedpotatoes, butter,scallions,andmilk”.Whileit’susinga myriadofonline results,Icouldn’tfndone particularpageinwhichitpulledthelistfrom, so,whiletherearesimilarlistsandoverlaps,it appearstobebringingin resultsfrommultiple sources.

4

BOXTY

Therearesomegreatiterationsofthe boxtytobefoundhere,butit’snever beenonmyownlistoftraditionaldishes, orthebest,I’vegrownupwith.Thechat botseemstohavethebasicsnaileddownin termsofitsmake-up,describingitas“atype ofpotatopancakemadewithgratedpotato, four,andbuttermilk”.

5

POTATOBREAD

Potatoesarea recurringthemehere itseems.Iwashopingforsomething morecompleteandmaybetakingstockof ourboominganddiversefoodscene,rather thanjusttuber-basedstarchmonsters.Itgets itgenerallyright,though—atypeofbread madewithpotatoes,four,andbuttermilk.It didn’tgointodetailsinitiallybutproduceda properfarl recipewhenaskedforone.

6

SODABREAD

We’llallbeasleepbythetimewe consumeourweightinspudsanddough here.Icouldhappilyliveoutthe restofmy lifewithoutevercomingintocontactwith sodabread,buthereitis.Thebotgota rough recipecorrectforatraditionalsodafarl.

7

YELLOWMAN

AsmuchasIlikeabitoftradition,I wouldn’tplace Yellowmanonalistofour top10‘dishes’.ChatGPTgetsthegistcorrect though,describingitasa“hard,crunchy toffee-likecandymadewithsugar,golden syrup,andvinegar”.It’smoreofaseasonal specialityformost,though.

8

baps.Butstill,theBelfastbapisawell-known staple.Thechatbotsaiditwasa“large,soft bread rolloftenflledwithbaconandeggor sausages”.Itforgotburnttoacharontop, though.

9

BELFASTBAP

We’renotthinkingbigintermsofthe varietyofourbest‘dishes’here,are weChatGPT.First,wehadvariationsonthe tuber,thenabagofyellowsugarandnow…

10

FIFTEENS

I’llsaywhatneedstobesaidfrst— glacecherriesareanabomination.The samegoesforalotofdriedfruitwhichlooks likeit’sfallendownthestairsafewtimesand hasthetextureofaGoodyearwelt.Myown personalpreferencesaside,ChatGPTgetsthis onerightasa“no-baketraybakemadewith digestivebiscuits,marshmallows,cherries,and coconut”.

VEGETABLEROLL

Andhere’swhereChatGPTlost thebattle.Idoubtmanyofus wouldcountitamongourtop‘dishes’but puttingthataside,theAImasterdidn’t appeartobeabletoworkoutwhatit thoughtvegetable rollwas.Forthose unfamiliar,it’sabutcherstaplewhich includesbeefmince,seasoningsandabitof leekoronion.Thebotdecideditwasinfact a“savoury rollmadewithmashedpotato, carrots,peas,andonions,wrappedinpastry andbaked”.Itseemedtobefocusingonthe ‘vegetable’part.WhenItoldittherewasan error,itthenpresentedmea recipewith red lentils.Backoftheclass,ChatGPT. ■

Potatofarls

Peace funding has saved lives… but many wait for the promiseofprosperity

BillionsofpoundsofNIfundinghassavedlives, ‘butmanyarestillwaitingforapeacedividend’, writes Liam

Tunney

Throughnostalgia’shaze,1998meant smiles,back-slapping,presidential visitsandpeaceconcerts.

Buthistory’sglossoftenhidesthehorror–54 peoplediedthatyearasa resultof Troublesrelatedviolence,theworstdeathtollsincethe paramilitaryceasefresof1994.

TheacceptanceoftheGoodFridayAgreement wouldmeanthe releaseofparamilitary prisoners,purveyorsofmuchofthepain,and meantsomepersuasionwasneeded.

Somethingdangledinfrontofthosewavering wastheso-calledpeacedividend–a reward thatpromisedtoimproveeveryone’slives.

Infact,thefrstoftheEuropeanUnion’sPEACE fundhadalreadyarrivedinNorthernIreland.

PEACEI–thefrsttrancheofEUfunding–was launchedin1995andbrought£587minto NorthernIrelandtoaddresstheimmediate aftermathoftheconfict.

Itwasfollowedin1999byafurther£734m underPEACEII,which receivedaboostof £141min2004withtheaimofpavingthe pathtowards reconciliation.

FollowingtheStAndrewsAgreement,the thirdtranche–PEACEIII–arrivedin2007

witha renewedemphasisonthatprocessof reconciliation.

PEACEIVfollowedin2014,withtheaimnow movingtowardsdevelopinganddeepeningthat reconciliation.

Morethan£6.5bnhasbeenspentbythe programme,anddespitethechallengesposed byBrexitin2016,thefundingwillcontinuein theformofPEACEPLUS.

However,theprocessoffundingpeacein NorthernIrelandhadalreadybeenunderway longbeforetheagreement.

FollowingavisittoLondonderryaroundthe signingoftheAnglo-IrishAgreementin1985, USPresidentRonaldReagannotedaneed tocreateworkforyoungpeopleinNorthern Ireland.

AlongsidetheUKandIrishgovernments,they setuptheInternationalFundforIreland(IFI) toaidNIwithpositiveeconomicandsocial development.

Thefundwouldlaternavigateafurryofpeace treatiessignedinthecountryoverthecoming decades,accordingtocurrentIFIchairperson PaddyHarte.

“Theagreementspunctuatedtheprogressof

peace-buildingandthefundingworkedin parallelwiththembecausetheycausedsocial andeconomicchanges,”hetoldtheBelfast Telegraph.

“Thefunddidn’t reactsomuchtothe agreementsasitdidtothecommunityneed thatcameoutofthem.

“Anytimethereisanagreement,theBritish andIrishgovernmentswillalways reference thefund’s roleintheagreement.”

Thoseeffortshelpedcreatetheclimate fortheagreementandtheopeningof thefundingfoodgatesintheyearsthat followed.AsthePEACEprogramme rolled out,theworkoftheIFIdovetailedwithit, thetwoworkingintandemtocovergapsin provision.

“Itbecameclearthattherewasaveryclose correlationbetweensocialdeprivationand unemployment,segregationandtheeffects ofthe Troubles,”MrHartesaid.

“Wesawjobcreationasaverypracticalway

ofengagingpeopleinthingsthatmatterto everyone.

“Thesecondphasewasaboutbuilding capacitywithincommunitiesthathadbeen fracturedandsufferedheavilyduringthe Troubleswithtraumaandno realsocial capital.”

BrexitsignalledachangeintoneinNorthern Ireland.Therewasanotablehardeningof attitudesandincreasedpolarisation.

PeterSheridan,directorofall-islandpeacebuildingorganisationCo-operationIreland, saidthefalloutonlyincreasedtheneedtofund peace.

“After2016therewasapolarisationofsociety andwearestillprobablysufferingfromthat,” hesaid.

“Idon’tknowhowmanypetrolbombsor hijackedcarsthisworkwillprevent,butI knowthatifyoudon’tinvestinthistypeof workthenyouenduphavingtodealwiththe eventsafterwards.

“Thereisplentyof researchandevidenceto showthatunlessyouhelpattitudeschange insociety,thenyouruntheriskofnothing changing.”

Oneofthemorecontroversialaspectsofpeace fundinginNorthernIrelandistheprocessof transitioningparamilitariesintocivilsociety.

ThecurrentdrugsfeudinNewtownardslinked toloyalistparamilitarieshasfurthersharpened theperceptionthatfnancialincentivesfor transitioningparamilitariesarenotalways effective.

MrHartesaystheorganisationisawareof thesuggestion.“Weworkinmarginalised communities,thosemostaffectedby the Troubles,andthereisahighlevelof paramilitaryinfuencestillwithinthoseareas,” hesaid.

“People’scircumstancescan resultinthem gettinginvolvedinactivitiesthattheymay subsequentlydecideisnotthe routeforthem.

“It’sthe responsibilityofeveryonetoenable

anyonewhowantstotransitionoutofthatto doso–everyoneiscapableofmovingon.

“Weareverycognisantthatthereisariskin thatbuttheriskofdoingnothingismuch worse.

“Ifwegetitwrong,we’llveryquicklyclose thatdown,butourphilosophyisthateveryone deservestheopportunityofmovingoninlife.”

Onthesurface,NorthernIrelandhasbeen transformedsince1998,butoutsidethe mainstreamsomecommunitiescontinue towaitforthepeacedividendtheywere promised.

Twenty-fveyearsaftertheagreement,David HollowayofCommunityDialoguesayssome communitiesarestillgrippedbydeprivation andtheconstantlingeringpresenceof paramilitaryactivity.

“Thedisempoweredandthemarginalised, theydonotperceive,feelorexperienceas communitiesthedirectbeneftofpeacethat theyaretoldhasbeendelivered,”hesaid.>

ThePeaceBridgeinDerry

“Why?Theyarecontinuingtoexistas communitiestoppingthetablesofdeprivation indices–suicide,depression,addiction, anti-socialbehaviour,criminalityand unemployment.

Ittakesmorethanmoneytohealthescars ofatroubledhistory,andthefactthat ‘reconciliation’hasbeenintheaimsofthelast threePEACEprogrammestellsitsownstory.

Arguablythetoughestpartofanypeace process,thereisafeelingthatithasbeenpaid merelylipserviceoverthelast25years.

“Whatweprobablyhaven’tdonewellisthe reconciliationbit.Theagreementwasthefrst timeonthisislandandbetweentheseislands thatwewereabletoshakehandsandagree that’swhereweweregoing,”MrSheridan said.

“Idon’tthinkwehaveinvestedenoughin that.Thereisnotahugeamountofmoney goingintogood relationsonthisislandgiven thechallengeswehavecomefrom.”

MrHartesaiditisimportantto rememberthat aquarterofacenturyistooshortatimeinany peaceprocessforanymajortransformation.

“Theagreementcreatedthepeaceand allowedustobeginto rebuildsocietyand that’saprocessthatcontinues,”hesaid.

“Thirtyyearsofviolence,fractured communities,deep-seatedwoundsandlevels oftraumathatyouseeeveryday.

“Untilwecreateasharedsociety,wewon’t havenormalisedsociety.”

Despitethechallengesthat remain,peace fundinghasundoubtedlyhadapositiveeffect.

MrHartepointstotheShannon-Erne Waterwayasanexampleofcross-bordercooperationthatisnowtakenforgranted.

“Peoplenowseecross-borderco-operationas normal,butitdidn’texistuntilthearchitecture oftheIFIwasputinplace,”hesaid.

“Thearchitectureofthefunditselfsetthe frameworkforallcurrentcross-bordercooperation–therewerenobodiesinexistence atall.

“Thelevelofinvestmentinthefundhas helpedintermsofinternationalandBritishand IrishGovernmentscommittingtocommunities

andthathashadamajorimpact.”

MrSheridan–aseniormemberofthepolice duringthe Troubles–creditstheworkdone withthefunding’sbackingashavingsaved lives.

“Therearethousandsofpeoplewhoare alivetodayandtensofthousandsofpeople uninjuredbecauseoftheBelfast-GoodFriday Agreement,”hesaid.

“Whenyouthinkbacktobeforethattime, everytimeyouturnedonyourtelevisionor liftedanewspaper,someonehadbeenblown up,orshot,orinjured,ortherewassome attack.

“That’snotthecasetoday.Therearestill sporadicattacks,butintermsofthatlargescaleviolence,thatisnowadistantmemoryto mostpeople.

“Historytellsusthisplaceonlyworkswhen it’sshared.Untilwe recognisethat,imposing ononesideorotherasolutiondoesn’twork. That’swhattheGoodFridayAgreementwas about– recognisingthisplacehadtobeshared andifwecangettothatstageagainthen thereishope.” ■

David Trimble, TonyBlair,Mo MowlamandSeamusMallon

Ryanairreadyto‘charge’backinto Ukraineafterwar,saysO’Leary

RyanairgroupchiefMichaelO’Leary hassaidtheairlineis readyto “chargebackintoUkraine”assoon asEuropeanauthoritiesallow.

Theoutspokenairlineexecutivesaidhisaimis toopenthreeorfour“largebases”inUkraine “assoonasitissafe”andto“createthe biggestairline”inthecountrytohelpwith post-war recovery.

“Whatwe’reworkingonatthemomentis howdowechargebackintoUkraine,”hetold theaudienceattheBloombergNewEconomy conferenceatthePowerscourtHotelin Enniskerry,Co Wicklow.

“Wewillcreatethebiggestairlinetheweek aftertheytellusit’ssafetogobackinthere... Initiallywewereplanningtoopenup30 routes fromfourUkrainianairportsbackintothe EuropeanUnion.AndthenwewanttoIthink

withinsixto12monthsopenupthreeorfour largebases.”

RyanairisalreadyintouchwithUkrainianand Europeanauthoritiesaboutexpandinginto Ukraineoncethewarisoverthere,hesaid.

MrO’Learysaiditwouldtake Ryanair“about twoweeks”toftoutnewaircrafttofy routes inandoutofthecountry.

Hesaidtheairlinehadalreadyhired60private contractorstoworkinthecountryandwas trainingthem,mostlyat Ryanair’sbasesin Poland,butthatthe recognitionofpilots’ licencesbetweenUkraineandtheEUwasan issue.

Headded Ryanairwasgetting readytofyback intoKyiv,LvivandOdesa,butthatKherson wouldtakelongerbecauseithadbeen “destroyed”.

Willie Walsh,directorgeneralofthe InternationalAir TransportAssociation–and formerbossofAerLingusownerIAG–told thesameeventthatpassengerswillendup footingthebillwithhigherticketpricesinthe drivetomakeairlinesusemoresustainable aviationfuel.IATA estimatestheglobalbillwill top$1trn.

Hesaidwidespreaduseofsustainablefuels wouldaccountforabout65%ofthe reduction neededfortheaviationindustryto reachits 2050netzeroemissionsgoal.

However,hecriticisedtheEUandmember statessuchasFranceforusinga“stick”to promotegreenfuelproduction–including penaltiesfornon-compliance–sayingtheUS “carrot”approachwasbetter.

“Gettingtherightpolicyinplaceisimportant,” hesaid. ■

RyanairgroupchiefMichaelO’Leary

NorthernIrelandcar salesoutpacerestofUK

Thenumberofnewcarspowering outofNorthernIreland showroomshassurgedbyalmost aquarter–outpacingthe restoftheUK.

Newcarsales roseby23.1%duringMarch, basedonthesameperiodayearearlier.That wassignifcantlyhigherthan Waleson5.2% andScotlandon11.2%,whileEnglandsaw abumpof19.3%.

Atotalof5,153newvehicleswere registeredinNorthernIrelandduringMarch, accordingtothelatestfguresfromthe SocietyofMotorManufacturersand Traders (SMMT).

TheHyundai Tucsonledsalesherewith187 carssold,followedbytheFordFocuson131 andtheFordPumaonthesamenumber.

AcrosstheUKasawholeatotalof287,334 carswere registeredduringthemonth.

UKnewcar registrationsinMarchbounced backby18.2%todeliverthebest‘new

platemonth’performancesincebeforethe pandemic.

Theincreasesaw287,825unitsdelivered,the eighthconsecutivemonthofgrowthforthe newcarmarket,assupplychainchallenges slowlycontinuetoease.

Asa result,thefrstquarterof2023isthe strongestsince2019,withjustunderhalfa millionnewcarsjoiningthe road.

“This representsanadditional£2.7bnof deliveries,underliningthecontributionthe sectorcanmaketoUKeconomicgrowth, despitethemarketstillbeingsignifcantly belowpre-pandemiclevels,down29.5%on quarterone2019,”theSMMTsaid.

“Petrol-poweredvehicles remainedthemost popularfueltype,comprising56.3%ofnew units,whilebatteryelectricvehicle(BEV) deliveries reacheda recordmonthlyhighof 46,626, representinggrowthof18.6%.

“Overall,theBEVmarketshare remained

almostthesameaslastyearat16.2%and, withplug-inhybrid(PHEV) registrations growingby11.8%,plug-in registrations comprised22.4%ofthemarket–aslight declineon2022.

“Thebiggestgrowth,however,wasinhybrids (HEVs),witha34.3%surgehelpingelectrifed vehiclesaccountformorethanoneinthree registrationsforthemonth.”

MikeHawes,SMMTchiefexecutive,said:

“March’snewplatemonthusuallysetsthe tonefortheyearsothisperformancewill givetheindustryandconsumersgreater confdence. Witheightconsecutivemonthsof growth,theautomotiveindustryis recovering, buckingwidertrendsandsupporting economicgrowth.

“Thebestmontheverforzeroemission vehiclesis refectiveofincreasedconsumer choiceandimprovedavailabilitybutifEV marketambitions–and regulation–areto bemet,infrastructureinvestmentmustcatch up.” ■

TheHyundai TucsonwasNorthern Ireland’stopsellingcarinMarch

Motoring

ByPatBurns

Sponsoredby

Kia’snew crossover

Kia’s highlysuccessfulXCeedcompact crossoverhas received a seriesof productenhancements.

TheXCeedrange – forfamilieswhowantan SUVtypecarwithoutthebiggerfootprintand expense – is a topsellerforKia.Thenewmodel gets a sharperlook,anenhancedinterior, andnew‘GT-Line’and‘GT-lineS’trimlevels. ThesechangesmaketheXCeedanevenmore enticingpropositioninthepopularC-Crossover segment.

Theinclusionofsporty‘GT-Line’and‘GTlineS’specificationsforthe firsttimeoffers a sportierdrivingexperience.Asoneofthe mosthigh-techcarsinitsclass,thenew XCeedis aflagshipmodelforKiathanksto itslatesttechnologiesincludingadvanced safety, connectivity, andinfotainmentsystems. Designedtoimproveeverydayusability, enjoymentandoccupantsafety, theseupdates continuetheXCeed’s legacyas a leaderwithin theC-Crossoversegment.

As a sustainablemobilitysolutionsprovider, KiaintroducesthelatestXCeedwith a range ofefficientandelectrifiedpowertrainoptions.

TheXCeedPlug-inHybrid(PHEV)deliversanall-

electricdrivingrangeof29.8miles,equivalent to36.6milesofcitydriving,while a fastrevving,1.5-litre turbochargedpetrolengine ensurestheXCeedmatchescustomers’on-road performanceexpectations.

ThenewXCeedfeaturesnewLEDheadlamps and a revisedgrille,frontbumper, and innovativeairintakedesign.Byintegratingthe foglampsintotheheadlights,thedesigners were abletoincludeaircurtainsoneitherside, whichguideairsmoothlyaroundthewheelsto reducedragandimprovefuelefficiency

Thefour-cylinder1.5-litre T-GDiengine produces158bhpand253Nmoftorqueandis pairedto a six-speedmanualtransmission.It’sa capableunitthatcanhit60mphin8.7seconds andhas a topspeedof129mph.Grade‘2’ modelshaveCO2emissionsof137g/kmand canachieve46.3mpgontheWLTPcombined economycycle.Moveupto‘GT-Line’and‘3’ specificationsandfueleconomyof44.8mpgis possible,withCO2emissionsof141g/km.

AtthetopofthenewXCeedrangeisthe ‘GT-LineS’whichalsomanages44.8mpgon thecombinedcycle,withCO2emissionsof 143g/km.Theengineis fittedwith a gasoline

particulate filtertofurther reducetailpipe emissions.Themanualgearboxis a six-speed unit,lightandcompactwith a short,slickshift. Itoffers a widespreadofratiosandlong final drivetohelpbringdownfuelconsumptionand CO2emissions.

All1.5-litre versionsofthenewKiaXCeedare fittedwithKia’s Intelligentstopandgo(ISG) stop-startsystemto reducefuelconsumption andemissionsintraffic.

Therangebeginswith‘2’specificationand comeswellkittedoutwith16-inchalloy wheels,LEDbi-functionprojectionheadlights, automaticheadlightcontrol,airconditioning, all-roundelectricwindows,cruisecontrolwith speedlimiter, reversingcameraand8.0-inch colourtouchscreendisplay

Thisisinadditiontosafetyequipmentthat includesdriverattentionwarning(DAW), forward collisionavoidance(FCA)withcity, pedestrianandcyclistdetection,hill-startassist control(HAC),highbeamassist(HBA),lane followingassist(LFA),lanekeepassist(LKA),six airbags,analarmsystemandISOFIXchildseat toptethersandanchor fixingsfortheouter rear seats.TheXCeedrangestartsfrom£23,770. ■

Diesel dolovely

If youthoughtthatdieselpowerwas onthewayout,youwouldbewrong.

Asfarastorqueandeconomyare concerned,there’s stillnothinglike a diesel andMazdahaveprovedthatthere is plentyhappeningintheworldofdiesels withtheirnew3.3litre dieselpowered CX-60.

Theengineis a brandnewsix-cylinderinline Skyactiv D unitthatfeaturesdistributioncontrolledpartiallypremixedcompression ignition(DCPCI) Technology Thishighly innovativeadvancedcombustiontechnology makesthenewe-Skyactiv D unitoneofthe cleanestdieselenginesintheworld,achieving a thermaleffciencyofover40%.

Thisnewmodelwillbeofferedinthesame Exclusive-Line,Homuraand Takumigradesas the recentlylaunchedPHEVversion.

TheCX-60isavailablewith a choiceoftwo poweroutputs:200pswith rear-wheeldriveand 254pswithMazdai-Activ AWD (all-wheeldrive).

Featuring a new48vMazda M HybridBoost system,theall-newdieselenginecombineshigh outputwithexcellentfueleconomy

Withanentrypriceof£42,990,the200ps outputengineisofferedinExclusive-Line trimwhere itismatchedto rear-wheeldrive,

additionallyExclusive-Linecanalsobespecifed withthehigher-output254psversionofthe newenginefor£45,630andhere features all-wheeldrive.The£48,380Homuraisoffered exclusivelywiththe254ps AWD drivetrain,as istherange-topping£50,730 Takumigrade –thesecarscanbespecifedwiththeoptional ConvenienceandDriverAssistancePack,while a PanoramicRoofisoptionalonHomuraand standard on Takumi.

Asyou’dexpectfrom a Mazda,thenew e-Skyactiv D poweredCX-60deliversan impressiveblendofperformanceandeffciency, alongsidethedriverfocusedhandling, impressivecomfortandhigh-qualityfound acrosstheCX-60range. Testedonsomeof Scotland’s border region roadsintorrential rain,theCX-60provedthatitisanimpressive machine.

Thesix-cylinderpowerplantsoundedsuperb andwithalmostinstantaneoustorquedelivery throughtheeight-speedautogearboxitcoped withanythingthemountainousterraincould throwatit.Theall-wheeldriveversionhas a

sportierandmore accomplishedfeeltoitthan the rearwheeldriveversion.

The200psengine returns a WLTPaveragefuel consumptionof56.5mpgwithCO2emissions ofonly129g/kmin rear-wheeldriveExclusiveLineguise,whilethe AWD 254psExclusive Line,Homuraand TakumiWLTPaveragefuel consumptionis53.3mpgwithCO2emissions from137g/km.

WiththelaunchoftheCX-60,Mazdahastaken anotherimportantstepinitsfeet’s emission reductiononitswaytobecomeentirelycarbon neutralby2050.Inall,Mazdaislaunching fvenewelectrifedproductsinthenextthree yearsthatfeature itsmulti-solutionplatform architecture.After2025,thecompanywill launchitsbrandnewSkyactivEVScalable Architecture,whichwillallowMazdato effcientlybuildelectriccarsofallsizesusingone commonplatform.

Laterthisyearthecompanywilllaunch a new model,theCX-80,whichislargerthantheCX60andfeaturesthree rowsofseating. ■

TimetoexploreFord’snewEV

Fordhas revealedthenewExplorer –anall-electricvehiclethat FordclaimscombinesGerman engineeringwithAmericanstyle.

TheExploreristhefrstinawaveofnew electricvehiclesfromFord.Manycustomers weresurprisedwhentheBlueOval announceditwasstoppingproductionofthe bestsellingFiestarangeandthisisthefrstin alineofnewmodels.

EngineeredandbuiltinGermany,features includeaSYNCMove2supersizedmovable touchscreenandconnectedinfotainment systemwithaudiotailoredtotheinterior, wirelessappintegrationandadvanceddriver assistancetechnology.

Adventurestyleddesignandcombined storageof450litresinfve-seatmodehelp Ford’snewestelectricvehiclelookcapable ofgoinganywhere.The17-litreconsole betweendriverandfront-seatpassenger canholda15-inchlaptop,combiningwith aprivatelockerbehindthetouchscreenand

hands-freeaccessiblebootspace.

Thefuturisticexteriorstylingismatchedbya moderninteriorwithpremiummaterialsand featuressuchassculptedsportyseatsand asophisticatedsoundbarnotusuallyseen infamilyvehicles.Allthiscomestogether withtheabilitytofastchargefrom10to80 percentinjust25minutesonasuperfast charger.

AttheforefrontofFord’selectricvehicle charge,theExploreristhecompany’sfrst electricvehicletobebuiltatscaleinthe newFordCologneEVCampusinGermany. FordinEuropeiscommittedtoofferingan all-electricportfolioofpassengervehiclesby 2030.

Chargingcanbequickandeasy,whetheren routeorathome.TheExplorercanhelpfnd themostconvenientchargingpointsonthe road.Chargingathomecanbescheduled tousecheaperelectricityandenergytariffs, whereavailable,andtodeliverafullbattery andpre-warmedcabinforearlystarts.

TheExploreralsooffersaraftoffeaturesto ensuredriversandpassengersareas refreshed and readytogowhentheyhave reachedtheir destinationaswhentheysetout.Comfortboostingstandardspecifcationincludesheated frontseatsandsteeringwheel,amassaging driver’sseatandclimatecontrolthatallows driverandfrontpassengertochoosetheirown temperature.Even returningtothecrossoveris madesimplewithstandardkeylessentryand hands-freepowertailgatethatmeansowners canaccessthebootiftheirarmsareflled usingasimplekickingmotionbeneaththe rear bumper.

Advanceddriverassistancesystemsinclude,for thefrsttimeonaFordinEurope,assistedlane changeforsmoothlyandsafelychanginglanes atthepushofanindicatorstalk,andclearexit assistthatprovideswarningsofapproaching cyclistsbeforeopeningdoorsinbusytown centres.

Availableintwohighlyspecifedversions–SelectandPremium–thenewall-electric Explorercanbeorderedlaterthisyear. ■

APPOIN TM EN TS

EmmaLeckiehasbeenappointedas contentandcampaignsmanagerat ElevatorPromotions.ShejoinsElevator fromprivatedentalgroup,NewLife Teeth, whereshewassocialmediamarketing manager.

CliodhnaKernohanisnowclientservices directoratElevatorPromotions.Shehas 10yearsofmarketingexperienceacross corporate,businessandconsumerbrands andpreviouslyworkedfor3fvetwo Healthcaregroupasmarketingmanager.

SarahMcConkeyhasbeenappointed assenioraccountexecutiveatElevator Promotions.MsMcConkeyhasextensive marketingexperienceinbothinhouse andagencyrolesandpreviouslyworked asmarketingexecutivewithHenderson Foodservice.

Kathy Toyehasbeenappointedcommercial manageratBelfastCityAirport.With overeightyears’experienceasageneral managerinvariouscompaniesoperatingin theretailindustry,shewillberesponsible formaintainingandenhancingclient relationships.

LisaDohertyhasbeenappointedheadof peopleandpurposeatBelfastCityAirport. Withover20years’experienceworking intheindustryshewillfocusonbuilding andmaintainingthecompanycultureby overseeingallaspectsofHRandcorporate socialresponsibility.

GrantThorntonhasannouncedanew seniorappointmentwithJonathanMegaw joiningitsBelfastoffcetoleadthelarge corporateandinternationaltaxteam.Mr Megawhasover10years’experienceat HMRevenueandCustoms(HMRC).

JamesNeillhasbeenannouncedasa partnerinKPMGandthenewheadof therestructuringandforensicspracticein NorthernIreland.MrNeillhas20years’ experienceacrossabreadthofbusiness restructuringandcorporatefnance.

RBCAhasappointedJaneGilltojoinits boardasdirector.Shehasworkedwith thefrmsince2020asaseniormanager andhasover17yearsofexperiencein theindustryhavingpreviouslyworked inseniormanagementroleswithseveral leadingfrmsinNorthernIreland.

AnnaMcKelveyhasbeenappointedhead ofmarketingatBelfastCityAirport.With over15years’experienceintheindustry, shewillleadoncreatinganddelivering multi-channelmarketingcampaigns.

2. JonathanMcAlpinandLauren ShawofEastBelfastEnterprise arejoinedbyartistDeeCraig ofBelfastMuralArtstolaunch theConnectingCommunities ThroughArtproject.

3. Next-GenPower(NGP)says ithasdoubleditssalesacross Ireland.PicturedisMarkBailie, founderofthesolarenergy specialist.

4. Translinkhasannounceddetails ofanewlyenhancedX2Dublin Airportdirecttimetablewhichare nowavailableforcustomers.

5. US TourOperatorCollette Vacationshaspaidavisitto NorthernIrelandtohostits President’sClubProgramme. PicturedareNaomi Waite, DanSullivanofCollette,Jaclyn Leiblcote,PresidentofCollette andNikkiPaterson.

1. MaritimeMilehas launchedtheExploreMore campaigntoencourage peopletovisitBelfast’siconic waterfrontthisyear.

7. BelfastlawfrmMillar McCallWyliehasappointedJan Cunninghamasitsnewmanaging partner(left).He’spicturedwith outgoingmanagingpartnerPeter McCall.

8. BelfastInternationalAirport iswelcomingback Ryanairwith atwoaircraftbase.Picturedare VitorJaneiro,cabincrewmember, UelHoey,BelfastInternational Airportdevelopmentdirectorand IngaNiedre,basesupervisor.

9. Customerscanclaimafree pintofHeinekenuntilJune10 usingtheFanzoapp.Pictured areGemmaHerdman,United Winesbrandmanager,Johnny oftheUlsterSportsClub,Maura BradshawandMatthewClarke.

10. WeevhaspartneredwithPark CentreinBelfasttoprovidefour newpublicchargingstations.

PicturedareThomasO’Hagan, chiefcommercialoffcerat Weev, andRuthLindsay,centremanager atParkCentre.

6. TechnologyhubCatalyst hasannouncedEY,Bank ofIreland,andDawson Andrewsasthethree headlinepartnersforits GenerationInnovation Work ExperienceProgramme2023. PicturedareIanEdwards, AndrewFulton,Judith Camblin,ShirleenMcCann andCarolynHalferty.

12. Staffandcustomersfrom MACEstoresacrossNorthern Irelandhaveraised£40,000for NorthernIrelandChestHeartand Stroke(NICHS)throughout2022. PicturedareMaryCassidyfrom MACEandJackie Trainor,NICHS.

13. TelecomsandITprovider eirevoUKhassecuredamajor newcontractwithLisburn& CastlereaghCityCounciltodeliver atransformativecloudmigration project.PicturedareClairGheel, aldermanAllanEwartMBE,and DianeGiles.

14. OCNNIisawardingashareof £85,000toeducation,voluntary andcharitabletrainingproviders locallythroughitsCentreLearning GrantsProgramme,nowinits secondyear.Picturedischief executiveMartinFlynn.

15. FreepintsofBeamishIrish stoutareupforgrabsforsingers whotaketothestageforopen micnightatBelfastpubthe Sunfower.PicturedareBob McManusoftheSunfowerand AndrewHollywoodofUnited Wines.

11. ThefrstNorthernIreland FoodandDrinkConference hasbeenlaunched.The event’stakingplaceatthe CrownePlazaHotel,Shaw’s BridgeBelfast.Picturedare AndyCole,MichaelBellOBE, JohnHoodandJames Toolan.

17. TitanicDistillers’new£8m distilleryandvisitorcentreatthe oldPumphousehasopenedits doorstothepublic.

18. Highereducationoptionsat localfurthereducationcolleges arenowwiderthaneverbefore, accordingtotheprincipalof SouthernRegionalCollege,Brian Doran(secondfromleft).He’s picturedwithLouiseMartin,Sarah JordanandGaryRitchie.

19. KainosissponsoringNorthern IrelandamateurgolferMatthew McCleanfortheMastersat AugustaandtheUSOpeninJune. He’spicturedwithMalachySmith, CiaraFusco,andRichardDoyle, Kainos.

20. DanskeBankdeputychief executiveStephenMatchett presentstheDanskeBank Accountancy AwardtoCiara MorrenatDanskeBank’s headquartersinBelfast.

16. TheBarnardosBigActive supportedbyAldihasbeen offciallylaunchedbyformer IrelandrugbystarPaul O’Connell.He’spicturedwith ConorO’Donnell,Barnardos chiefexecutiveSuzanne Connolly,RachelNugentk, AldiIrelandandSophia Whoriskey.

22. TheAllen&OveryFoundation haspledgedtosupportyoung peoplethroughthedeliveryofan entrepreneurshipandenterprise skillsprogrammecalledProject Businesswith YoungEnterprise. PicturedareJanDonaldson,pupils fromParkhillIntegratedCollege, andRobynMcCaughey.

23. SpecsaversLarneiscelebrating its10-yearanniversaryofcaring foritslocalcommunity.Pictured areDarrenCaufeld,optometrist directorandDeirdreMcAree, retail directoratSpecsaversLarne.

24. BelfastChamberhaslaunched its2023Business Awardswhich aresupportedbyBankofIreland. PicturedareClodaghRice,BBCNI businesscorrespondentandhost, AlanaCoyle,presidentofBelfast ChamberandPaulMcClurg,head ofbusinessbankingBelfastat BankofIreland.

25. TheExecutiveOffcehas welcomedprogressonamultimillionpoundcapitalprojectto redevelopMeenanSquarein Londonderry.PicturedareCharles Lamberton,SharonMcCullagh, GarethJohnstonandSheena McCallion.

21. Businessesstakeholders andtrainingprovidershave cometogetherintheEcos Hub,Ballymena,tocelebrate thesuccessandachievements oftheinnovativeMidand EastAntrimLabourMarket Partnershipoverthepast12 months.

27. AvondaleFoodshasworked withAsdatosecurelistingsforsix newsaladlinesunderitsCountry Kitchenbrand.PicturedareCathy Elliot,Asda’sbuyingmanagerfor NIlocalandClaireMcConkey, accountmanagerfor Avondale Foods.

28. Lurgan-basedConeyIsland Coffeehasinvestedalmosthalfa millionpoundsinnewequipment anda relaunchofitsbrandand products.PicturedareAnnie David,PatrickMcAliskeyand NiamhMcAliskey.

29. McConnell’sIrishWhisky haslandedtwogoldmedalsat theDBSBSpring Tasting2023. PicturedareBelfastDistillery Company’sDessieRoche, commercialmanagerandJohn Kelly,chiefexecutive.

30. AnewBusinessServices EmploymentAcademyissetto helppeoplewhoarecurrently unemployed,orworkingless thanthey’dwish.Picturedare Deirdre Ward,Departmentfor Communities,BelfastLordMayor TinaBlackandLeighMeyer,Citi Belfastsitehead.

26. Citybusiscelebrating its50thanniversary, rebrandedas TranslinkMetro in2005.ChrisConway, Translinkgroupchief executiveispicturedwith KerryMeadowcroft,senior inspector,SusanO’Neill, safetybusdriver,alongwith employees.

Hunter,NIENetworks, NualaBannon,Friendsof theCancerCentre,Ciarán Fox,RoyalSocietyofUlster Architects,Barrie Todd, TheJill Todd Trust,Darina Armstrong,Progressive BuildingSociety.

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32. TheBestKeptNI Awardsare backfortheir66thyear,shaping localpridefromthesmallest villagestothebiggestcities. PicturedarePaulaBittles,George BestBelfastCityAirportwith BridgeenMcIlroy,NorthernIreland AmenityCouncil.

33. TheUlsterFarmers’Union (UFU)Belfast TelegraphCup foroutstandingagricultural achievementwasawardedtoBilly MartinOBE.He’spicturedwith UFUpresidentDavidBrown(left).

34. BelfastCityCouncil’sLocal DevelopmentPlanStrategyhas beenagreedforformaladoption. PicturedisLordMayor TinaBlack.

35. ASMCharteredAccountants, hasjoinedGGIGlobalAlliance. Picturedaredirectorsincluding MichaelO’Hare,NicolaNiblock, GrainneQuinn,BrianClerkin, CarolineKeenanandIan Finnegan.

31. TheRoyalSocietyof UlsterArchitects(RSUA) andtheJill Todd Trusthave relaunched‘askanarchitect’ for2023.PicturedareIan

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37. KatyBest,commercialdirector atBelfastCityAirport,pictured withLukeLovegrove,chief commercialoffceratLoganair celebratingthe40thanniversary ofLoganair’sfrstfightfrom BelfastCityAirport.

38. ThefrstAerLingusRegional servicetoNewquayhastaken offfromGeorgeBestBelfast CityAirport.PicturedareLouise McGranaghan,airportduty manager,withthecrewofAer Lingus’frstfighttoNewquay.

39. HarbinsonMulholland’s forensicaccountingteamhas hostedawinefraud-focused eventattheUlsterReformClub inBelfast.

40. KPMGhasannouncedJames Neillasapartnerandthenew headofthe restructuringand forensicspracticeinNorthern Ireland.He’spicturedwithJohnny Hanna,partnerincharge.

36. NorthernIrelandHousing Executive(NIHE)staffare totakepartinaseriesof trainingsessionstoincrease theirunderstandingof autism.PicturedareJudith Finlay,MaureenMawhinney, TaraKellyandDavid McLaughlin.

Watchesand Wonders: the big releases from this year’s event

ThecreamoftheSwisswatchworldandbeyonddescendedonGeneva recentlyforthisyear’s Watchesand Wondersevent. JohnMulgrew looks atsomeofthenewpieceswhichhavealreadygottentongueswagging

Disneylandnolongerhas thepullitoncehadwith thisjournalist,nowat thefarendofhis30s.

However, Watchesand Wonderscouldcertainlydoa decentjobat replacingthat feelingofexcitementand enchantment.

Theeventbringstogetherthe bulkofthebestoftheSwiss industryinGeneva–showcasing thelatest releasesfromsomeof thetophouses.

Let’sstartwith Tudor.Whenthe branddroppedtheBlackBay58 afewyearsbackithitsuchanail thatthesmaller39mmcasesize reverberatedbotharoundthehouseof Tudor andotherwatchmakersoutthere.

ThenewBlackBay54takesthattothenext step–ahomageintermsofaestheticsand sizetooneof Tudor’sfrstdivers.

It’stheonlypieceI’vehadhandsoncontact withsinceitwasannounced.It’sabalanced andstrikingwatchinasmallformfactor.

Whileitwon’tbeforeveryone,giventhe

37mmcasesize,thelugsmirrorthe large58soit’snotasdiminutiveas youmaythink.Certainly,oneto tryon,butonewhichisgoing tograbtheattentionofthe horologicalcommunity.

Butwhileit’sthebracelet versionwhichnormally garnerstheheadlines,the blackrubberversion –sportinga Rolex-esqueclap with Tudor’sown T-fttechnology–isastellarpieceof watchmaking.

Another Tudor releasehittingthe highnotesisthenew BlackBay41withafve-link ‘Jubilee’stylebracelet,inthe original redbezelandblackdial versionwhichhelpedput Tudoron themapinthe21stcentury.

Tudor’salsopushingeverbettermovements withtheMETASMasterChronometer versionofthewatchmaker’sin-housecalibrea stepfurtherforward.

TheBlackBayGMTwithawhitedialalso

seemedtopiqueinterests–harkingbackto afairlyrareRolexfromwayback.It’sasolid release.

Therewassomehead-scratchingwithRolex’s colourful‘bubble’OysterPerpetualandDay Date36ingolf,andsportingabright‘jigsaw puzzle’dial. To sayit’sadeparturefromthe moreconservativeapproachtowatchmaking fromthehouseofHans Wilsdorfisan understatement.It’lllikelyfyoutofboutiques, butit’smaybenotoneforthetraditionalists.

ArguablyRolex’sbiggestmoveunveiled at Watchesand Wonderswas themovetotitanium–a materialwhichit’slargely avoidedusingfordecades.

Thenew Yacht-Master 42couldbecomethe brand’snewSubmariner intermsofappetiteand massappeal.It’sclean,black andsportsatitaniumcase andOysterbracelet.It’salotof importantboxesbeingticked.

However,forthosewiththe deepestofpockets,Rolex’s newDaytonainplatinumis somethingtobehold,for several reasons.

Tudor’sBlack Bay54

Rolex’snewDaytona inplatinum

Asidefromhavingachunkofpriceyprecious metalonwrist,sparklingicebluedialanddark brownbezel–settingyouapartfromthose sportingaceramicbezel‘panda’–Rolexhas releasedthehigheststandardCosmograph withanopencaseback.

AndthroughthatcasebackisthenewCalibre 4131movement,alongsideagold rotor.It’sa lotofwatch.

Elsewhere,IWC revealedit’sbringingback theIngenieur.Thisisasportswatchwhich wasneverparticularlyhighonpeople’sdream listsforyears–thepilotpiecesusurpingthe range–butthenewiterationhascertainlyhad eyeballsonit.

It’sastrongpiece–a40mmcaseinavariety ofdials,withatouchoftheRoyalOakabout it,includingatitaniumversion.However,it’s alsosetto retailformorethan£9,000.That’s

certainlyastepupfrompreviousversions, whichcanbefoundusedforsignifcantlyless thanthat.

Cartier’s releasesstillmirrormuchofthe brand’sexistingcatalogue,butwhatitdiddo wasunveilthePrivéNormale.Whilethecase isverymuchin Tankterritory,itsportsadense andchunkynewbracelet.It’saprettypiece, butisonlybeing releasedinpreciousmetal.

Whilesomeofthe TagHeuerrangehas focusedonsomeofitscheaperquartzoptions –brightcoloursandrubberstraps–therewere acoupleofstunningCarrerasunveiledatthis year’sevent.

Youhadmeatdomedsapphire.TheCarrera Chronograph TourbillonGlassboxgoesa signifcantstepfurther,sportingthegrail complexityofatourbilloncomplication–an over-engineeredescapementhousedinacage

andconstantlymovinginordertomaintain accuracyofthewatch, regardlessofwhat positionit’sin.

It’salooker. TaghasalsounveiledaCarrera Datetomarkits60yearswithamodern updatepoweredbythenewCalibre7 Automaticmovement.

Meanwhile,PatekPhilippeappearstohave hadthecolouringpencilsoutinthedrawing roomwithtwonewbrightCalatravas–sportingtouchesofyellow, redorskyblue –and,ifyoucanbelieveit,anembossed carbon-typepatternonthecentreofthedial.

AndasidefromthelavishGrand Complicationwhichhas receivedsomething ofanupdate,it’sarguablythenewAquanaut Luceannualcalendardrawingattention, housedina39.9mm rosegoldcasewith deepblue-greydialandmoonphase. ■

TheRolex Yacht-Master42

A luxuriousstay athome in the heart of the city

Holidayingathomehasbeenfrontandcentreforthetourismsectorhereforthelast coupleofyears. JohnMulgrew spendsadayinhishomecityandtheeveningin oneofBelfast’smostluxuriousrooms

As thepandemiclimitedourtravel, thevolumeofvisitorschoosing hotelstayslocallyshotupwhile thenumberof‘glamping’sitesspringing upalsobegantosoar

Butspendinganeveninginthecityyoucall home remains a rarityforme.I’vebeenliving andworkinginBelfastforthebestpartof20 years. I callithome.I’movertlyfamiliarwiththe creaksandcrevicesofthecitycentre andparts ofBelfastI’vehadthefortunetoliveacrossmy twodecadeshere.

However, spending a dayinthecityas a visitor, andaneveninginarguablyBelfast’s most luxurioushotel room.

Let’s startwithwhatwe’re callinghomefor theevening.TheFitzwilliamHotelisoneof thecity’s leadingfvestarhotelsandwhileits standard roomsandsuitesare capacious,stylish andwelcoming,we’re experiencingsomething differentonthisunseasonablysunnyFebruary day

Theninthfoortakesyoutothehotel’s grand

penthousesuite.Thisis a relativelynewaddition totheFitzwilliamandcertainlypositionsitselfat thefrontofthegridintermsofcityluxury

It’sa lottotakein.Firstly, you’re greetedby a hugediningarea – framedbylargebalcony windowswrappingaroundthesideofthe room. On a daylightthisit’s warmlylitbysunshine, butifyou’re afterprivacythenthere are automaticblindsathandtoquellthelumens.

To yourleft, a high-end Yamahababygrand piano.It’s startedtofeellikeI’vecomeback

afteraneveningpresentingtheMTVEurope Music Awardscirca2011.

Thelivingareaiscosyyethasthemodern feel of a New Yorkhigh-rise.There’s ampleseating –a softlimegreen – forseveralpeople,subtle artwork,desk,hugebedand a wide-panorama viewofthenorthsideofthecity

Walkingnextdoortothebathroom,it’s allnow startingtoevoketheatmosphere of a luxury spa.There are doublesinkswithmattgold fttings, a showerandsteam room – thelatter trulyanimpressivepieceofengineeringand relaxation – andgrandbathperchedrightat thewindowlookingoverthecity

Butthe room’s balcony, evenon a nippyday despitethesun,isanimpressiveplaceto spend a fewcontemplativemoments. You’ll haveviewscarryingrightuptoCityHalland onwards,catchthecranestotheeast,the‘balls ontheFalls’tothewestandtowardsthesouth.

Inside,there’sa fullykittedoutmini-barwith fullbottlesofspiritsalongsideallthetools neededforcocktail-making.

So,whenyoucanpriseyourselffromthe lavishsurroundingofyourhomebaseforthe evening,howdoyouspend a casualdayinthe cityitself?

Ofcourse,there’s theusualswatheof attractionsifthat’s whatyou’re after Titanic Belfasthashad a recent£4m refurb,Ulster Museumisalwaysworth a visitwhileyoucould takein a tourorsee a show

Forus,it’s aboutfoodanddrink,sowepaythe always reliableStGeorge’s Market a visit.It’s packedasusualon a Saturday There area lot ofthingstochoosefromhere– westartwith a savourycrepe.Egg,hamandcheese –a classic combinationwhich I haven’t hadsince I was younger

Nextis Tom andOllieforsome‘hotel room cheese’.Cooleaand a strongIrishmature cheddarcomehomewithus.

AnearlylunchisnextontheagendainJumon

notfarfromthehotel.Thislargelyveganand mostlyvegetarianspotpairsbigAsianfavours withlotsofumami.Don’t leavewithout

TheSpring Awakeningpackage,priced from£120apersonsharing,includesan overnightstayinoneoftheluxurious guestroomsandatwo-courseevening mealinthehotel’s restaurant,aswellas breakfastonthemorningofdeparture. You canget10%offtheSpring Awakening packagewhenyoubookonline,usingoffer code:Direct.ForPenthousecostscontact thehoteldirect.

orderingtheturnipdipwithgreens,chillioil andpoppadom. You canthankmelater

Ifyou’re aftersomethingtowashthat savourinessdownwiththenBittlesBarwill provideyouwithsomeofthebestGuinnessin thecity,a shortcocktailinBert’s JazzBaror a selectionofallthingsbrewedintheSunfower

We optforFountainLaneonthisoccasion – sittingrightbesideJumon.It’s busyand boasts a healthymixture oflocalsandvisitors, presumablyintowatchIrelandstarttheirSix Nationsjourneytovictory

Then,it’s backtoouropulentpenthouse fortressintheskytopretendwe’re signifcantly more importantthanweare fortheevening.

Intermsofhoteldinneroptions, a hamhock andpinkpeppercorn terrineissavoury, meaty and a touchferythankstotheadditionofthe pepper

A custard tarttofnishis a solidexampleofthe classicstylealongsidesomewell-craftedpetit fours – including a macaronandlittleraspberry ruffe-styletruffe.Thelatterisdecadentand pairswellwith a strongcoffee.

Comemorning,breakfastissomethingthe Fitzwilliamcertainlydoeswell.There’s theusual plethoraofcoldandhotthingstoconsume fromthebuffet,butorderingoff themenu itselfbringsforthsomewell-executedclassic.

Eggs royalebringsforthtwoperfectlypoached toppedwith a canaryyellowhollandaisewith thesilkytexture ofemulsion – it’s glossyand there’s not a splitinsight.

Andlikethat,it’s backto reality – just a couple ofmilesaway ■

Samsung’sKittosaysthe futureforphonesisfoldable

Whatisthefutureoffolding phones?WillbansonTikTok creepintothephonemarketand beneftthe‘bigtwo’brands?Andwhat elseisoccupyingSamsung’sthoughtsfor Irelandatthemoment?

JamesKitto recentlytookovertheUKandIrish phone(or‘MX’asSamsungcallsit)division afterlongtimebossConorPiercemoved tostewardSamsung’sPolandoperation. TheformerNokia,AccentureandHRtech executivesaysthatIrelandbroadly resembles otherEuropeanmarketsinitsswitchtomore expensive,premiumhandsets,butlagsthe UKinthelengthofoperatorcontractsbeing offered(Irishconsumersaremostlyoffered24 months,whileBritainhaslargelymovedto36 months).

Foldingphones,suchasSamsung’svariousFlip andFolddevices,willmakeup25%ofthe marketwithintwoyears,hesays.

Butthecombinationoflongertimesbetween phoneupdatesandtheirrisingpricesmean thatSamsungwilllookforwaystocreatemore “ecosystem” revenue,bothforitselfandfor operators,hesays.

Whatmightthismean?“Itcouldbethrough otherdevicesandwaysofcombiningthem,” hesays.“We’vegotpartnerswhoare usingsim-connectedsmartwatchestodrive incrementalARPU(average revenueperuser) forthem,andofcourse,new revenue.There’s atangibleopportunityinthingslikethat.”

AskedwhetherthismeansthatSamsungis

lookingforasimilararrangementwithoneof theoperatorsforSamsung’sGalaxy Watch,Mr Kittowouldn’tbedrawn.

However,hesaidthatit’sa“trend”across Europethatlookssettoincrease.

“It’saboutprovidingnewsolutions,new capabilitiesforourcustomers,”hesaid. “WhatithasdoneintheUKistopresenta prettysizableopportunityforoperatorstosell customersasecondaryconnection,maybefor anincrementalnumberofpoundsamonth, fortheconnectivity.Forus,thatmeansthe hardwaretogowithit.”

MrKittosaidthatIrishphoneusersare“on ajourney”intermsofthetechecosystem, whichisgraduallymovingtomorepremium,

moreexpensivehardware.

“It’slikeotherEuropeanmarkets,”hesaid. “We’reseeingtheaveragesellingpricegrow here.”

Butisthatriseinhowmuchwepayforour techgadgets relatedtobetter,moredeveloped productsorsimplyinfationarycostsandsupply shortages?MrKittoinsiststhatit’sthelatter.

“Ifyoulookatthe recentlaunchoftheGalaxy S23,wehadasmanyasweneededforhere,” hesaidofpossiblesupplychainshortages. “No,it’sabouthowmuchmoreinnovative these[phones]are.”

Samsung’sdominationofthefoldingphones categoryisoftenseenasaproofpointofthe company’sinnovation.IsthatwhereSamsung’s premiumcategoryisultimatelyheaded?What doesthecompany regardasbeingclearlyits premiumdevicenow?

“They’redifferentformfactors[theZFoldFour andS23Ultra]butwe’recommittedtoboth,” MrKittosaid.

Coulditscorneringofthefoldingmarketbe aweakness?Ifno-oneelseisenteringthe foldingmarketwithany realcompetition,does itcondemnthehandsetformattoanichethat willneverbecomethenorm?

“Idon’tthinkso,”hesaid.“We’vesoldover 600,000[foldingphones]intheUKand Ireland.That’snotbadatall. We alwayssaid thatitwouldbecome25%ofthemarketby 2025andwe’rerightontrackforthattobe thecase.”

DoesSamsungseeeffortstobanthecurrent energyaroundbanning TikTokspreadingto Chinesehardwaremanufacturerssuchas Oppo?

“Iwouldn’tcommentonthat,”hesaid.“We welcomecompetition,though. We’llalways havea reallystrongoffering,nomatterwho’s inthemarket.” ■

Newprogrammeto encouragefocuson greeninnovation

Anewsustainabilityaccelerator forstartupsisbeingcreatedin Dublin’sDogpatchtoencourage environmentally-focusedtech. Twelve startupswillbeofferedaplaceinthe ‘2050’programme,whichwillrunfrom MaytoAugust.

Theinitiativeisbeingbackedbythe ESB,Coillte,KerryGroupandthe DepartmentoftheEnvironment,Climate andCommunications.TheUS-based environmentally-focusedGrantham Foundationisalsosupportingthe2050 accelerator.

AswellasDublin’sDogpatchfacility, regionalhubsinCork(Republicof Work), Kerry(RDIHub),Galway(Portershed)and Wexford(GreenTechHQ)willbeinvolvedin theeffort.

OrganiserssaythatbothIrishand internationalstartupswillbeabletoapply foraplaceontheacceleratorandwill “beneftfromaccesstoIreland’snational sustainabilityinfrastructure,suchaswind farms,dairyfarmsandforestry”throughthe industrypartners.

Industrialpartnerswillalsogivequalifying startupsaccesstoexpertiseonagriculture, energyandforestry,throughtheirown involvementwithfarms,turbinesandland management.

Andstartupsarebeingpromisedhelpto scaletheirproductsandservices,uptoand includingpossiblefundingarrangements.

Threeofthe14weeksfromMaytoAugust willbe‘coreweeks’atDublin’sDogpatch, whosechiefexecutiveisPatrick Walsh,with scheduledworkshops,talksandmentoring takingplace.

“Weexpectpilotstotakelongerthanthree

monthstoestablishsotherewillbeafurther threemonthsoftailoredsupportprovidedto startupstohelpthemgetthepilotsupand runningwithourindustrypartners,”saida spokespersonfortheinitiative.

Aspartoftheprogramme,spacewillinitially beprovidedforthestartupsatDogpatch Labsforeachofthe‘coreweeks’.Ifthe startupsneedtoworkoutsideDublinwhile developingpilotswithindustrypartnersin Cork,Galway,Kerryor Wexford,adeskwill beavailableforthemintheinnovationhubs inthose regions.

Inadditiontogeneralsupportsandaccess, theGranthamFoundationistosponsor aspecifcstreamfocusedonsupporting startupsdevelopingcarbondioxide removal solutions.

“Thegoalof[theaccelerator]istoposition Irelandasagloballeaderinsustainability innovationby2050,aligningwiththe country’sambitiousaimtoachievecarbon neutralitybythesameyear,”saidthe spokesperson.

Itsaiditwould“connectparticipantswitha networkofglobalexperts”.

DogpatchchiefPatrick Walsh

Uncovering the9-5

maintainawork/lifebalance.A senseofcommunityatworkis soimportantinthenewwayof working.

1pm

Ihavealightlunch–whenin theoffceit’slovelyforstaff tositdowninouropenplan communalareabutbecause ofmeetingsIamoftenon themove.Throughoutthe weekIhavealotofmeetings, andbecauseofthis,much ofmytimeisspentdriving.I oftenlistentoanaudiobook orapodcast,Iamconstantly thinkingaboutourstrategy andwitharound12hoursa weekspentinthecarIget plentyoftimeforthat.

6am

NodayisthesameatOutsourceGroup. HoweverItrytostarteverydayearlywith somekindofphysicalactivity.First,Idrink somewater,stretchandmeditate.Iam currentlytrainingformysixthIronmanso whetherit’srunning,cyclingorswimmingI liketogetsomethingdoneearlyandideally outdoors.

8am

AtOutsourceGroup,weworkinahybrid modelandwhetherIamathomeorinthe offce,I’llbeginmyworkingdayby reviewing emailsoveracoffee.ThisiswhenIthinkabout thedayaheadandmakethenecessaryupdates tomytodolist.

9am

Themostimportantpartofmy roleisworking onOutsourceGroup’sstrategy.Ourtagline says‘Wemakelifebetter’,andwearestriving tobethenumberoneproviderofManaged SecurityServicesacrosstheUKandIreland, ensuringthateveryoneincontactwithushas apositiveexperience.Ourbusinessisdivided intofourpillars:Solutions,Online,OSGCloud

andANSEC,eachofwhichisheadedupbya directorandtogethertheirjobistoenhance thecustomerexperienceallthewayfromthe desktoptothedatacentre.Ihaveanoverview ofallsectorsandaminconstantcontactwith theseindividuals,todiscusshowwecando betterandpushtheboundariesforourkey partners,peopleandcustomers.

11am

Thereisabi-weeklytownhallcalleda‘Terry Talk’whichallemployeescanattend.Theaim ofthisistokeepemployeesuptodateaswell asspotlightingtheirhardworkandcommunity andwellbeinginitiatives.Thereisan‘employee ofthemonth’awardaswellasaQ&Aelement whichgivesemployeestheopportunitytoask questions.Whenpossible,itisgreattohave thissessioninpersonasthere’salwayssucha buzzintheoffce.

12pm

Oneofmymostimportantmeetingsiswith ourheadofHR,SusanHill.Akeypriorityisto keepemployeesinformedandhappyintheir workingenvironmentandcareersothatthey cangrowandthriveatOutsourceGroupand

2pm

Ihavea regularcatchupwithourheadof marketing,LisaComerton.Lisaishugely importantinconvertingalotofwhatisinmy headtoacoherentmarketingstrategy,staying focusedontheOutsourcewe’rebecomingand themessagingconveyingthat.

3pm

OneofthemostimportantmeetingsI haveisthemonthlyboardmeeting,ledby formerNovoscobossPatrickMcAliskey. We discussourtransformationalexpansionplans atOutsourceGroupandchangeswecan implementinthefuture.PatrickandIoften have regularcatchupsthroughoutthemonth betweenthesemeetings.

4pm

Ithinkit’simportanttolearnhowyouwork andwhenyouaremostproductive.AsIstart mydayearly,Ioftenfnisharound4pmand toswitchoff,Iwoulddosomethingunrelated towork–suchaswoodworkingortraining andveryoftenit’sinthesemomentsthatgood ideasfow.LaterintheeveningI’lloftenstart shapingupforthenextday.

NAME: TerryMoore

POSITION: Chiefexecutive, OutsourceGroup