Ulster Business October 2023

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Summit showcase a boon forus here

Scepticismrunsdeepinmany a goodjournalist’s veins.

Thatmightseemlikesomethingof a negativetraitforsomepeople.

Butcomingfrom a hard newsbackground youneedanabilitytoquestioneverything aroundyou,thewordswhichare spoken andensuringyoudon’t takeeverythingat facevalue.

However, whileyoucouldcertainlypick holeswithsomeelementsaroundthe recent Northern IrelandInvestmentSummit,it’s hard toarguethatitwasanythingbut a boonforusallhere,andourlongterm future. A friendandformercolleague,Gary McDonald,long-timebusinesseditorof

theIrishNews,encapsulateditin a recent editorial.

‘Greatoaksfromlittleacornsgrow’.It’s a bitof a clicheasGaryinferred,butit’s also a proverbwhichoutlinesthelongtermapproachtosuchconferences. Whilewehad a coupleofwell-timed jobannouncementsandothercompany chiefsspeakingaboutNorthern Irelandas a possibledestinationfor a newbase,the relationshipsandeffectsofsuch a large gatheringofinvestorsandbusinesschiefs won’t befeltforsometime.

Evenfrommyownperspectiveaseditorof UlsterBusiness, conversations,socialising andgeneraldiscoursewiththeleaders ofindustryhere are keytoforgingthe relationshipswhichwe’vemaintainedand

grownovertheyearsofmytime,and thedecadesinwhichthetitlehasbeen inpublication.Allittakesisoneortwo technology, professionalservicesorindustry giantstoseeBelfast,Derryorelsewhere here astheplacetodosignifcantbusiness, andtheeventhasessentiallypaidforitself.

InthisOctoberedition I sitdownwith MinisterofStateSteveBakerMPtochat aboutoureconomicfuture here.Andit’s clearthatpoliticalstabilityiskeytobuilding onthatinvestmentandentrepreneurial successstory That’s alsosomethingMid andEastAntrimBoroughCouncil,ourcover storythismonth,isalsoturningitsattention towards. ■

JohnMulgrew

Publisher UlsterBusiness

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A month innumbers

Ex-KFC tycoonbuys majorNI shopping centre

ByJohnMulgrew

FormerKFCtycoonMichaelHerbert hasboughttopBelfastshopping centre Forestside, UlsterBusiness can reveal.

ThesouthBelfastspot,hometoanchor tenantsSainsbury’s,M&SandDunnes,had beenplacedonthemarketfor£37m.It isunderstoodOsborneKingactedforthe purchaser

Now, it’s understoodMichaelHerberthas boughtthepopularshoppingspot,locatedjust off theSaintfeldRoad.

MrHerbertpreviouslyoperated a networkof more than140KFC restaurants,butsoldthem off in2020.

He’s also a prominentpropertydeveloper, andalsoboughtBarry’s Amusementsin Portrush.It’s nowbeingrunbytheCurryfamily underleaseasCurry’s FunPark.

MrHerberthasnowbeenappointedas a directorofForestsideAcquisitionsLtd, alongsideanotherdirector, whileMussenden PropertiesLtdisnowlistedas a personwith signifcantcontrol –a companywhichcounts MichaelHerbertas a director Meanwhile,it’s alsounderstoodFoyleside ShoppingCentre inLondonderryisnow saleagreedandisbeingboughtby a local investmentvehiclewhichalreadyownsanother retailsitehere.

Thepropertyhadbeenonthemarketforjust over£34m.

It’s understoodForestsidewasfnallysoldfor £42m.

AtthetimeofgoingonthemarketFoyleside hadgrossincomeof£4.4m a yearand Forestside£3.7m.

Speakingatthetimethepropertieswent onthemarket,Paul Wilson, retaildirector atagentsSavills,toldtheBelfast Telegraph: “Theseare goodassetswhichwillattract a lot ofinterestsoitwillbeinterestingtoseewhat transpires.

“We expect a goodlevelofinterest,both localandnational.Theonethingisthatthey are bothverydesirable,premierassetsandif anyonewantedtoinvestinNorthern Ireland, it’s anidealopportunity.”

Bothcentresare dominantintheir respect catchmentareas,hesaid.Othertenantsin ForestsideShoppingCentre includeNext,H&M andBoots.

Thecentre extendstoaround337,000sqft andincludes35groundfoor retailunits,mall kiosks,andfreeon-siteparkingformore than 1,300cars.

ThepurchaseofForestsideisn’t MrHerbert’s frstforayintoshoppingcentreshere.He’s also theformerownerofBowStreetMallinLisburn andtheFlagshipCentre inBangor ForestsideShoppingCentre iscurrently addingnewtenantsto recentlyvacantunits. Moochhastakenovertheunitleftbehindby Paperchase,whilePandoraiscurrentlyftting outthestore formerlyhometoPatisserie Valerie.

Michael Herbert pictured outside oneofhis formerKFC restaurants

Minister: Executive return needed ‘to ensure investor confidence’

ByJohnMulgrew

AreturntoaworkingExecutiveisbothpossibleand necessarytoensurebusinesseshaveconfdencein investinginNorthernIreland,theMinisterofStatehas said.

SteveBakerMPsaid“investorsfromallaroundtheworldwillwant toknowthatNorthernIreland’sgotstable,devolvedgovernmentthat works”.

TheMinisterofStateforNorthernIrelandalsosaidonthebackof the recentInvestmentSummitt,NIcouldbecomeoneofthe“veryfnest investmentdestinationsintheworld”.

HealsosaystheDUPandotherunionistpartiesshouldgetbehindthe “hardcompromise”ofthe WindsorFramework,thatit’sthebestdeal whichcouldhavebeenachieved,whilethe restorationoftheExecutive couldhappensoon.

“So,yes,IthinkwecanseetheExecutive return,butit reallyisin thehandsofunionistvotersandunionistpoliticians,”hetold Ulster Business

“Businessesoverwhelminglyhaveacceptedthe WindsorFramework andmovedon.Hauliersinevitablywillhavesomequestionsordetail whichweneedtoanswerbutthevastmajorityofbusinessestellusthat whattheywantistheExecutiveback.”

Andonthe WindsorFramework,MrBakersaidNorthernIreland’s accesstotheEuropeanUnion,“unhamperedaccesstotheUKmarket… plustheUKfreetradeagreements”issomething“youcan’tgetthat anywhereelseandyoucruciallyyoucan’tgetitwithintheEU”.

Readthefullinterviewonpage22-23

NorthernIreland MinisterofState SteveBaker

Quotes of the month

Somefrms ‘must stilllook outside NI for funding’

Somecompanieswithinspecialisttechsectorsstill“havetolook outsideNorthernIrelandforfunding”,onetopentrepreneurand companyfunderhassaid.

MaryMcKennaisco-founderof AwakenHub, a networkoffemalefounders acrossIreland,andSheGenerate,anacceleratorprogrammeaimedatearly stagefemalefounders, recommendsthatstart-upsplaythelonggameintheir questforcapital.

Speakingto UlsterBusiness shesaidwhilethere are opportunitieshere, somespecialistcompaniesmuststilllookoutsidetheseshoreswhenitcomes tofunding.

“Ifyou’re building a signifcanttechbusiness – somethingcapitalintensive suchas a medicaldevicecompany – youwillnotbeabletoraise themoneythatyouneedinNorthern Ireland,”shesays. WithinNorthern Ireland,though,there is a closeecosystem ofsupport,programmes,andinvestmentopportunities. MaryMcKenna recentlylaunched AwakenAngels,Ireland’s “frstandonlywomen-ledangelinvestmentsyndicate”. “Ourtargetistobringonboard 50newwomen angelsontheisland,ofwhichabout a third needtobe inNorthern Irelandfortheirfrst12months.Northern Irelandisbackward intermsofthenumberofwomen thatangelinvest.Therangeoftheinvestmentswillbe between£35,000toabout a quarterof a million – so it’s earlystagefrstmoney.”

Readthefullfeatureonpage49-52

“I thinkwe can see the Executive return, but it reallyisin the hands of unionistvoters and unionist politicians,”

MinisterofStateSteve BakerMPspeakingtoJohn Mulgrewinthiseditionof UlsterBusiness.

“Like the weather, private sector performance inmost of theUK regions took a turn for the worse during August... indeed, only twoUK regions recordedgrowth inoutput.”

UlsterBankchiefeconomist RichardRameyspeaking aboutthelatestPMI.

“Theunemployment numbers continue to refect an exceptionally tight labourmarket,which is great news for the peoplein jobsandgreatnews for the Government.”

MaryMcKenna, co-founderof AwakenHub

Andrew Webbonthelatest unemploymentfgures.

Three Clements cofee shops go onsale

ThreeClementscoffeeshopshavegoneinthemarketin Belfastmorethan20yearsafterthechainwasfrstsetup, itcanbe revealed.

Threeofthebusinessesare nowonthemarket,includingunitsat Royal Avenue,BotanicandRosemaryStreet.

Eachofthebusinessesisonthemarketwithanaskingpriceof £50,000,whichincludesthefxturesandfttings.

ClementswasoneofNorthern Ireland’s largestchainsoflocal, independently-ownedcoffeeshopsandwasfrstestablishedin1999.

Itoncehadalmost a dozensitesacrossBelfastandoutsideofthecity

Thebusinessesare nowbeingmarketedbycommercialpropertyfrm CampbellCairns.

furthersitesacrossNorthern Ireland.

Partofthatwillinclude“drive-to/drive-thru”podswithoutdoor seating.

It’s nowseekingsuitablesitesacrossthe region.

AndcoffeeandsandwichchainPret A Mangerisabouttoopenits

TheClements coffeeshopon Royal Avenue

No concerts inEbringtonSquare next yearamidpayout controversy

ByGarrettHargan

Nomusiceventswilltakeplaceat Derry’sEbringtonSquarein2024, it’sbeenconfrmed.

Itemerged recentlythattheStormont departmentTheExecutiveOffce(TEO)had paidout£280,000incompensationfollowing a threatoflegalactionfromTheEbringtonHotel.

ThehotelownerssaidTEOhadnotconsulted withthembefore issuinglicencesforconcerts intheDerryeventssite.

A publicbacklashfollowed,withmusic fansandothersdemandingthatthe“people’s square”shouldcontinuetohostmajorevents.

Thehotelitself receivedanex-gratiapayment of£150,000infullandfnalsettlementofany claimarisingbetweenthemselvesandTEOin respectoftheeventsandlicensingprocessfor August 5 to 6 and24to27.

Inaddition,Cullen’s Funfairwas

compensatedforeventsin2023and2024 takingplacein a smallerspaceinthe rearcar parkto refecttheir reducedincome.

RobertAllen,thepromoterforthecancelled ConnectedFestival, received a settlementof £80,000.

TheEbringtonHotelhassincesaiditlooks forward toplaying a “positive role”inthe future planningofalleventsatEbrington Square,aspartofthe“codesign“process, involvingallstakeholders,andoverseenbyThe ExecutiveOffce.Whenaskedifthehotelwill nowhave a vetooverwhateventscanbeon thesquare,TEOdidnotcommentfurther Now,a TEOspokespersonhassaid applicationsforeventsinboth2023and2024 were tenderedin2022.

ConnectedFestival’s applicationto stage a three-daymusiceventin2024was subsequentlywithdrawn.

In2024,Cullen’s Amusementswilltakeplace

atEasterfromMarch29toApril7.

AndanotherCullen’s eventisduetotake placeoverHalloweenfromOctober25to November3.

Thoseeventsare,however, normallyheldin a carparkatthebackofthesiteratherthan thesquare itself.

WatersideHalfMarathonisalsopermitted onSeptember1,butTEOsaidthatis “provisional”andsubjecttofnalconfrmation.

“Workonthedevelopmentofnew guidelinesandcriteriafortheholdingofevents beyond2024hasnotyetcommenced,” a spokespersonadded.

“Theintentionistohave a co-designprocess withallstakeholders,includingpromoters, public representatives,andallEbringtonSquare tenants,toagreeguidelinesandcriteriaforall future eventsonEbringtonSquare whichwill besubjectto a formalconsultationandEQIA process.”

Fleet Financialunveils new EV businessscheme

CarleasingbusinessFleetFinancial haslaunched a newschemeto helpworkerstransitiontogreener electricvehicles.

Thefrmhasunveiled a newelectricvehicle (EV)salarysacrifceschemewhichwillgive businesses a boostinattractingand retaining staff.

Theschemewillenableemployeesto exchangepartoftheirsalaryforpayments towardsanEVcar, similartomanypopular cycle-to-workinitiatives.

Currently, nearly80%ofFleetFinancial’s orderbookismadeupofelectricorhybrid vehicles.

“Thefuture ofEVsisevolvingeachday,” DamianCampbell,salesdirectorofFleet Financial,said.

“Manufacturersare bringingmore vehicles

tothemarketplace,ourcharginginfrastructure isimproving,withboththeprivateandpublic sectorsofferinginvestment.

“WithincreasedfocusonEVs,this increasinglypopularemployeebeneftis provingtobe a veryeffectivewayforemployers toattractand retaintalent.Schemessuchas this representanopportunityforustosupport thetransitiontoelectricvehiclesandsupport companiesandtheiremployeesinthedriveto netzero.”

Thenewschemehasbeenannouncedasthe Mallusk-basedcompany recentlylaunched a rebrandto refectsitsevolvingproductportfolio andsupportingthegrowthofthebusinessover thecomingyears.

“Whilethe rebrandwillbeaesthetically notabletocustomers,thesameexperienced anddedicatedteamwillcontinuetosupport

ourcustomersthroughoutNorthern Irelandand the restoftheUKfromouroffcesinBelfast. Theserviceandvaluesthathavebeenatthe heartofthebusinesssinceitlaunchedin1996 willcontinue.

“We are delightedthatournew-lookbrandis inplaceasthecompany renewsitscommitment topromotinggreenertechnologiesviaour electricandplug-inhybridsalarysacrifce scheme.

“Theinitiative represents a signifcant investmentinsupportingourcustomers andtheiremployeesto reducetheircarbon footprint. With a hugeselectionofcarsand specialistsystemsavailablealongsideall-inclusive serviceandexpertsupportwehopethatmore like-mindedorganisationswillcomeonboard andhelpusachieveouraimof reducingand removingemissionsacrosstheindustry.”

LaunchingFleetFinancial’snewelectric vehiclesalarysacrifceschemeare salesdirectorDamianCampbelland operationsdirectorBrianCasey

EYcreating1,000NI jobsandnorthwesthub

ProfessionalservicesgiantEY iscreating1,000newjobsand developinganewhubinthenorth westamiditsmajorexpansion,ithasbeen revealed.

Thejobsannouncementcameassome200 internationalinvestorsdescendedonBelfast fortheNorthernIrelandInvestmentSummit.

As200globalinvestorsdescendonBelfastfor theNorthernIrelandInvestmentSummit,EY, whichalreadyhas900staffhere,madethe day’sfirstbigannouncement.

Morethanathirdofthe roleswillbeavailable tocandidateswhocompleteaskillsacademy aimedatequippingpeople returningto employmentafteranabsencewiththeskillsto applyforthe roles.Interviewscouldtakeplace asearlyasDecember.

EYmanagingpartnerRobHeronsaidthe

postsinareaslikedataanalyticsandcybersecuritywouldbe“jobsforall”,frompeople withexperiencetograduates,apprenticesand returnees.However,thefirmhasnotdefined thetitlesofthejobs.

“We’re reallyquiteexcitedaboutthat,and alsothefactthatthere’sgoingtobejobs rightacrossNorthernIreland.That’s really important,”hesaid.

“There’s reallygreattalenthereandwealready recruitpeoplefromallsixcounties.Butwe thinkthere’sfantastictalentoutsidetheBelfast areaandthat’spartofthe reasonwe’regoing toestablishahubinthenorthwestaswell.”

Hesaidthefirmhadnotyetdecidedhow manyofthenewpostswouldbelocatedin thenorthwest,butthatallthe roleswouldbe createdinthenextfiveyears.

MrHeronspokeaslabourmarketstatisticsfor August reportedincreasingunemployment

andeconomicinactivityrates,signallingthata periodofjobsgrowthiscontinuingtotailoff.

AskedifNorthernIrelandwasinneedofajobs fillip,MrHeronsaid:“Ithinkthereisalways roomfor1,000well-paid,highly-skilledjobsin anyeconomy.”

Theannouncementisthebiggestthefirmhas evermade,andaswellastraditionalareasof accountancy, recruitswillworkacrossnewer areasofbusiness.

MrHeronsaidchangingneedsofclientshad givenrisetotheneedformorepeople,while thepracticeitselfhadalsobeenexpanding.

“Thesejobswillbeinsomeofourlongstandingpartsofourbusiness,suchas assurance,taxandtransactionservices,and someofthe reallyfast-growingpartsofour businesslikecyber,dataanalytics,technology transformation,strategyandthe reallyexciting newareaslikegenerativeAI,”hesaid. ■

ByMargaretCanning

MelChittock,InvestNI,JudithSavage, consultingpartner,EY,RobHeron,managing partner,EYandMikeBrennan,permanent secretary,DepartmentfortheEconomy

Employerscan’tbestuckinneutral whenitcomestobeingresponsible

ByJohnMoore,managingdirector,HaysNI

Iwasstruck recentlybythewaythatBusinessintheCommunity (BITC)defnes a “responsiblebusiness”as“onethatdelivers long-termvalueforallstakeholdersbyminimisingany negativeimpactandmaximisingpositiveimpactonsocietyand theenvironment”.

Thatsoundsverystraightforward.ButitisthesecondpartofBITC’s defnitionthat I thinkprovides a directchallengetoallorganisations.It says,“there isnosuchthingas a neutralbusiness”.

Whatdotheymeanbyneutral? I readitas a reminderthatitcanbe alltooeasyforanycompanyoremployertostopat“minimisingany negativeimpact”onsocietyandtheenvironmentandthinkit’s enough tobedoingnoharm.

Butthisyear’s BITCNIResponsibleBusiness Awards,coveredelsewhere inthisissueof UlsterBusiness, providedstrongevidencethatmany more businessorganisationsandemployersunderstandtheyneedtogo beyondthatandproactivelymake a difference.

Hays’own researchbacksthisup.Our2023SalarySurveyfoundthatan organisation’s purposewas a keyinfuenceonwhethersomeonechooses toaccept a new roleornot.

We defneanorganisation’s purposeas a meaningful reasontoexist, havingobjectivesbeyondproftalone,andcontributingtoovercome societal,economicorenvironmentalchallengesinwhichtheyare based anddobusiness.

A massive85%ofemployeessaidanorganisation’s purposeisimportant tothemwhenassessing a new role,andthat’s slightlyhigheragain (86%)foryoungergenerations. A majorityofemployees(69%)also saidanemployer’s abilitytodemonstrate a diverseandinclusiveculture infuencestheirdecision.

Thesamesurveyalsoshowedthatanorganisation’s commitmentto sustainabilityisimportantfor78%ofpeoplewhensearchingfor a new role(tellingly, only68%ofemployerssurveyedthoughttheir commitmenttosustainabilityhelpedthemattractstaff).

Myexperienceisthatmostorganisationshave a charitypartneror support a numberofcharitieswhere staff organiseactivitiesand participateineventstoraisevitalfundsfordifferentcauses.

Butequallyimportantforcharitiesandforemployeeslookingfor a demonstrationofpurposeinanorganisationismaking a commitmentto donatingtimeandskills.

Fittinginvolunteeringaroundworkandhomelifecanbechallenging,

soemployerswhoare abletoofferstaff paidtimeoff tovolunteercan make a hugedifference.In a recentpollHaysconductedonLinkedIn, which receivedover2,200votes,justovertwoinfve(43%)employers are offeringstaff paiddaysoff tovolunteer

Recentfgures releasedfromtheCharitiesAidFoundation’s (CAF)UK GivingReportfoundthatonly13%ofpeopleacrosstheUKvolunteered inthepastyear, comparedwith17%pre-pandemic, resultinginaround 1.6millionfewerpeoplevolunteeringoverthepastfveyears.

It’s notjusttimespentvolunteeringorraisingmoneywhichisproving challengingforthesector Localcharitiesandcausesare alsounder pressure duetoheighteneddemandfortheirservices,risinginfationand thecostoflivingcrisis.

In2020,welaunchedpaidvolunteeringtimeforemployeesworkingat HaysintheUK & Ireland.Thepaidvolunteerdayisjustonepartofour wider‘Helpingforyourtomorrow’initiativethatrunsgloballywhere our missionistouseourcore skillsandexpertisetohelplifttheemployability ofthoseinourcommunitieswhomaynothavethesameopportunities asothers.

Staff acrosstheUKandIrelandhaveusedtheirvolunteeringtimein a numberofways,andfor a varietyofcauses.Somepeoplehavebeen abletousetheirtimetosupportourexistingcharitypartners,while othershaveconductedcleanupsintheirlocalareas,volunteeredatlocal foodbanksandalsousedtheirskillstosupportcharitiesintheday-to-day runningoftheirorganisations.

It’s clearthatpeoplewanttofeeltheyhavetheopportunitytosupport localcommunitiesandcausesinworkandtoknowthattheiremployers care.Justbeing“neutral”isnolongerenough. ■

Internalcommunicationandhowit canshapetheemployeeexperience

AreportbyTheFoundation,building ontheviewsofalmost1,500 employees, revealsthatthekey toenhancingyourteam’s performance couldverywellbe rootedinyourinternal communication.Butwhatexactlyis internalcommunicationsandhowdoesit relatetoyouremployeeexperience?

Employeeexperience(EX)isthecollective perceptionemployeeshaveoftheirinteractions withanorganisation.Internalcommunications isthestrategicpracticeofconveying informationwithinanorganisation.

We caughtupwithErinNixon,commercial directorofthecreativebrandagencyThe Foundation,toexplore theimportanceof internalcommunicationinboostingEX.

Communicating a clearvisionthatinspires

AccordingtoErin,thefrststepisto communicate a clearsharedvisionthatfeels authentic,andteamscan relateto.The report fndsthisisoftenmissedbycompanies,with 44%ofemployeesfeelingitcouldbebetter

EXinaction:-

TheFoundationworkedwithCubo(formerly Northern IrelandBusinessCommunications)

toidentifyitsbrandpurpose,vision,and values,enablingthemanagementteamto engageemployeesonthedeliveryofan ambitiousstrategicplan.Thestrategicplan wasdistilledinto a cohesive,clearone-page visualthatcommunicatedthethree-year visionincludingthestrategicpillarsand companyvaluesunderpinningtheplan.

Defningsharedvalues

Itisn’t enoughtosimplyexplainyourvision. Organisationsneedtoeducateteamsonthe rationaleforthechosendirectionandmost importantlytodefnetheir roleinitssuccess.

Erinsays:“Itisimportanttoensure thatyour employeesunderstandandembraceyour company’s values,andourfndingsshowthat a staggering43%believetheiremployerfalls short.”

EXinaction:-

BLKBOX, a localfrmleadingthewayin strengthandconditioningequipmentworked withTheFoundationtohelpattractand onboard newmembersofthegrowingteam throughitsculture andvalues.Through extensive researchand a seriesofteam workshops, a clearbrandpurposeemerged asdidanemployeemantra

the‘Pursuit

How welldo you feel yourorganisationdoesin theareasbelow?

ofBetter’ – whichwasbroughttolife throughanemployeeplaybook, recruitment animation,socialmediaposts,andinternal signage.

Listeningandactingonfeedback

Listeningtoyouremployeesandactingon theirfeedbackiscrucialtocreating a positive andengagedworkenvironment.The report indicatesthisisanopportunityforyour companytoenhanceitsemployeeexperience intheshorttomediumterm – fndingthatless thanhalfof respondentsfeeltheiremployer listensoractsonfeedback.

EXinaction:-

Building a people-focusedbrandwasat theheartofS&W’s visioninits rebrand. TheFoundationteamconductedsessions withpeoplerightacrossthebusinessand spenttimeonsite,acrosstheheadoffce and100,000sqftwarehousetocreate a brandthatcoulddeliveronthepromiseof “AWholeLotMore”.Importantly, fourcore valueswere defnedthatunderpinnedthat promise – bothtothecustomersitservesand theteam.

Asaboroughwitha strongmanufacturing heritage,producinga hostofindustry-leading technologiessoldright acrosstheglobe, Midand EastAntrimBorough Council isbuilding onthestrengthofits manufacturingsector, planningforthefuture withafocusonanetzero greenagendatoenablethe developmentofcuttingedgeskillsandtrainingas wellaspreparingthenext generationofour workforce

MidandEast Antrim: Capitalising on cleantech and seizing opportunitiesofnet zero

TheMidandEastAntrimBorough Councilareaiscontinuingtolead thewayinnotonlyitspositionat theforefrontinmanufacturingbutalso throughpavingthewayforthenext generationoftalent.

Theboroughis a leadinglightintheUK’s move to a netzero economy, buoyedbybecoming a hydrogenpioneer, investinganddevelopingkey skillsfor a future workforceacross a widerange ofindustries.

ThatincludesitskeyManufacturing Task Force,developingindustry-specifcacademies, establishing a Hydrogen TrainingAcademy, proactivelyengagingwithschoolsandinspiring

ouryoungpeopletobethenextgeneration ofinnovatorsthroughtheProfessorBrianCox ScienceSummerSchoolprogrammeofactivities.

InthemonthsleadinguptothemainScience SummerSchoolevent,councilwillhostexciting schoolcompetitionswithoutofthisworldprizes andhandsonschoolengagementopportunities forpupilsandbusinessesintheboroughto cometogether, showcasingcareeropportunities andcreatinginvaluablelinksbetweeneducation andemployment.

“MidandEastAntrimistheproudhomeof a numberofworld-leadingbusinessesand ourcommunityisbrimmingwithtalent,skills andexpertise,”MidandEastAntrimMayor,

aldermanGerardineMulvenna,said.

“We wanttofuture-proofourmanufacturing sectorandensure itcontinuestoleadtheway ininnovationanddelivery

“As a council,wehave a responsibilityto supportpartnersandcollectivelynurture that talentandensure ourcitizensandbusinesses are ideallyplacedtoavailofopportunitiesto progress,competeandgrow.”

Itissupportingthedevelopmentofkey companiesintheborough,includingadvanced manufacturingandcleantech.That’s all underpinnedbytheestablishmentofits Manufacturing TaskForce(MTF).

TheMTFwasestablishedin2018toaddress theeffectsoftheclosuresofJTIGallaher andMichelininBallymena –supportingemploymentgrowth and restoringconfdenceand ambitionwithinmanufacturing, engineeringandproductionin theborough.

“Manufacturingisthelifebloodof MidandEastAntrim’s economy, and theborough’s richindustrialhistoryhas laidthefoundationsfor a prosperousfuture in world-leadinginnovation,transformationand entrepreneurship,”GrahamWhitehurst,chair oftheMTF, said.

“Themanufacturingsectorsustains approximately8,000jobsintheMidandEast Antrimarea,with a GVA inthe regionof £1.4bn – makingitthehighestgrossingsector withinthelocaleconomy

“I’mnowwellintomythird yearasthechair oftheManufacturing TaskForce,andthe progressanddelivery I haveseeninthattimeis remarkableandinspiring.

“Ourvisionistodriveeconomicgrowth throughinward investmentandbydoing allthatwecantofacilitateexpansion anddevelopmentwithinour existingbusinesscommunity

“We workalongside65key companiesandstakeholders,who are activelyinvolvedinthe Task Forceandwhoseexperience,expertise andambitionisabsolutelycriticaltoour journey

“Attheveryheartofthatjourneyliesskills, digitalisationandMidandEastAntrim’s continuedexcellenceandtrailblazingleadership withinthecleantechsector.”

Oneofthosefrmsattheheartoftheeconomy inMidandEastAntrimisKilwaughterMinerals – anindustry-leadingquarryandminerals processorbasedoutsideLarne.

“As a keyemployerinMidandEastAntrim,we are delightedtocontinuetosupportinitiatives thatencourageengagementwithlocalschools anddevelopconnectionswithyoungpeople,

allowing a seamlesstransferfromeducationinto work,”FionaByrne,organisationaldevelopment director, KilwaughterMinerals,said.

“Ourteamisexcitedtobeinvolvedinthe ScienceSummerSchooleventprogrammeas leadsponsorandhas a numberofstimulating opportunitiesinthepipelineforthemonths ahead.”

Future developmentplansacrosstheborough include a 75,000sqfti4CInnovationand CleanTechcentre,basedattheformerSt Patrick’s BarrackssiteinBallymena,adjacentto thenewNorthern RegionalCollege.

“Withinthenextfouryears,weplan a further majorleapintermsofourcurrentcleantech capabilitiesthroughtheopeningof a £24m, 75,000sqfti4CInnovationandcleantechcentre inBallymena,”Grahamsays.

“Thishubwillprovide a platformfor enhancedSMEsupportininnovationand commercialisationactivity, particularlywithin cleantech,andwillbe a game-changerforMid andEastAntrim,andNorthern Irelandas a whole.”

Andhydrogen – oneofthestaplesof a clean energyfuture– willbecentraltothe region, withplanstogrowBallymenainto a hubfor production,fuellingboththelocaleconomy, industriessuchasbus-building,andbeyond.

“Justoneexampleofthebrilliantworkisthe upskillingofmore than200traineesthrough theinnovativeHydrogen TrainingAcademyin Ballymena,”Grahamsays.

“That’s demonstrabledeliveryintermsof ensuring a sector-readyworkforcein

Anartist’simpressionofthei4CInnovationandCleanTech centre,whichwillbebasedinBallymena

GemmaMcAuley,HRteamleadandJeannineBarr, HRmanager,atKilwaughterMineralsinLarne

Professor BrianCoxCBE

thisboroughandistestamenttotheforwardlookingandambitiousvisionofthe TaskForce, MidandEastAntrimBoroughCounciland itspartners,includingtheNorthern Regional College,Queen’s University, UlsterUniversity, BelfastMetropolitanCollegeandtheUniversity ofBirmingham.

“TheHydrogen TrainingAcademyhas successfully reskilledhundredsoftraineesin itspilotphase.Whencombinedwiththejoint fundingcouncilhassecuredalongsideQueen’s UniversityBelfastfortheHyTechNIproject –a hydrogentechnologyacceleratorandseriesof industrytestbedsinBallymenawhichpositions MidandEastAntrimas a hydrogenleaderin Northern Ireland.”

Workingwithanddevelopingthenext generationoftalentisalsoattheheartofwhat MidandEastAntrimisdoing.

Thatmeansinvolvementandengagementwith schoolsandcollegesfrom a youngage,right throughtothoseabouttostarttheircareer journeys.

PartofthatoutreachworkincludesMidand EastAntrimBorough’s ScienceSummerSchool, whichis returningtotheboroughthisyear

ProfessorCoxwillbeattendingthemainevent inpersonandjoiningpupilsfromacrossthe boroughforanotherfun-flleddayofSTEAM (science,technology, engineering,artsand maths)basedworkshopsandpresentations.

“Creativeinitiatives,suchastheScience SummerSchool – co-foundedbyProfessor BrianCoxCBE – createjustifableexcitement andpassionforSTEAMsubjects,their importancetooureverydaylivesandthe role ouryoungpeoplecanplaynowandinthe future,”MidandEastAntrimMayor, alderman GerardineMulvennasays.

MidandEastAntrimLabourMarketPartnership (LMP)isleadingthewayondevelopingthe skillsbaselocally, workingwithemployers andstakeholderstoidentifylabourmarket challengesintheborough.TheLMPactionplan isfundedbytheDepartmentforCommunities andhasbeendevelopedtosupport a range ofprioritygroupsincludingtheunemployed,

ethnicminorities,womenandthosewith disabilitiesandlong-termhealthconditions aswellasprovidingskillingupopportunities tohelp residentsgainbetteremployment. Alongsidehydrogentherangeofacademies includemanufacturing,forklift,transport, plantoperations,healthsupport,tourismand a tailoredprogrammetosupportfemalesinto tradespathways.

MidandEastAntrimhasalsosecured£300,000 fromInnovateUKFastFollowerstodrivethe deliveryofitsnetzero pledges.

Thefundingallocationoverthetwo-yearperiod provides a dedicatednetzero innovationand deliverymanager, andalso a fullprogramme ofactivitytosupportbusinesses,andexpedite council’s journeytowardsitsownnetzero targets.

“Elsewhere,continuedcross-sectorupskilling attechnicianandmanagementlevelisbeing achieved,andthisisacceleratingthelocal economyasitembracesandcapitaliseson opportunitiespresentedthroughhydrogen developmentandlocalbusiness’embracingnet zero production,”Grahamsays.

Engineersworkinginheatingandplumbing are beingupskilledtotransitiontohydrogen infusionandthenaturalgaswork.

“Thesignifcantinvestmentthisworkis achieving – notablythroughtheNorthern IrelandComplementaryFund,HyTechNIand

InnovateUK,willpressthefast-forward button onourcollectivevision.Itishugelyexciting.”

MidandEastAntrimMayor, alderman GerardineMulvenna,said:“Technology –particularlyinthemanufacturingsector – is developingfasterthanatanytimebefore,and itiscrucialour residentscanbuildontheir alreadyimpressiveskillsetandfeelinspiredand enabledtoequipthemselveswiththenecessary toolstowalkthroughthemanynewdoorsthat willopeninthemonthsandyearsahead.”

ShesaysthesuccessesoftheManufacturing TaskForceandsimilarschemeshaveexceeded expectations,withfurtherambitious developmentsonthehorizon.

“Ourfrm’s expansionin recentyearshas meantwehavehadtogrowinscaleand scopewhichinturn necessitatestalent,”Fiona Byrne,organisationaldevelopmentdirector, KilwaughterMinerals,said.

“Ourengagementwithschoolsisvitally importanttoensure there is a pipelineof essentialskillsforfuture careeropportunities notonlyforus – butforthewiderborough.

“We are delightedtobepartofthisinnovative partnershipthroughtheMTF, LMPandthe ScienceSummerSchool,whichisensuring brightfuturesforouryoungpeopleandlocal economyaswellasputtingMidandEast Antrimonthemapas a hubofindustry-leading technologies.” ■

GemmaMcAuley,HRteamlead,Alice Moffett-Culkin,researchscientist, andJeannineBarr,HRmanager,at KilwaughterMineralsinLarne

need the Executive back to bring investorstability… it’s no longer anEUbargaining chip’

MinisterofStateSteveBakerMP saysnegotiationswiththeEUareover andareturntoanExecutiveisbothpossiblesoonandkeytoensuringinvestor confdenceinNorthernIreland,despitethe WindsorFrameworkbeinga“hard compromise”forJeffreyDonaldson’sDUP,hetells JohnMulgrew

Investorscontinuetostriveforthe stabilityofaworkingExecutiveand keepingitinstasisisnolongera bargainingchipwiththeEU–thatship haslongsailed,accordingtoSteveBaker MP.

TheMinisterofStateforNorthernIrelandis confdentinourpositionasaburgeoning businesshotspotandsays,onthebackofthe recentInvestmentSummit,couldbecomeone ofthe“veryfnestinvestmentdestinationsin theworld”.

HealsosaystheDUPandotherunionistparties shouldgetbehindthe“hardcompromise” ofthe WindsorFramework,thatit’sthebest dealwhichcouldhavebeenachieved,while the restorationoftheExecutivecouldhappen soon.

“I recognisethatJeffreyDonaldsonhasgota diffculttask–thisisahardcompromise,”he told UlsterBusiness

“KeepingtheExecutivedownwon’tforce theEuropeanUnionto reopenthe Windsor Framework–thatisnotonthetable.”

AndtheMinisteriskeentoshineaspotlight ontheimportanceoftheNorthernIreland InvestmentSummitwhichsawsome 200delegatesfromacrosstheworldof internationalcommerceandpoliticsdescend ontheICCBelfastforamajorconferenceand networkingevent.

Speakingto UlsterBusiness shortlybefore thesummithesaid“ofcourseinvestors fromallaroundtheworldwillwanttoknow thatNorthernIreland’sgotstable,devolved governmentthatworks”.

“So,yes,IthinkwecanseetheExecutive return,butit reallyisinthehandsofunionist votersandunionistpoliticians,”hesays. “Businessesoverwhelminglyhaveacceptedthe Windsorframeworkandmovedon.Hauliers inevitablywillhavesomequestionsordetail whichweneedtoanswerbutthevastmajority ofbusinessestellusthatwhattheywantisthe Executiveback.

“…weneedpoliticianstodecidetogovern,to governonthenormalbreadandbutterissues likeeducation,health,criminaljustice, reform, alloftheabove,balancingthebooks. You know,normalpoliticaldecisions,whichwillbe hard.”

SpeakingabouttheNorthernIreland InvestmentSummit,hesaid:“It’sanamazing opportunitytoshowcaseNorthernIreland… I’velongunderstoodthatNorthernIrelandhad changeddramaticallysincetheBelfastGood FridayAgreement.

“It’saterrifcopportunityforpeopleto networkandtolearnthebeneftsofbeingin NorthernIreland.”

Onthe WindsorFramework,MrBakersaid NorthernIreland’saccesstotheEuropean

Union,“unhamperedaccesstotheUK market…plustheUKfreetradeagreements” issomething“youcan’tgetthatanywhere elseandyoucruciallyyoucan’tgetitwithin theEU”.

“So,NorthernIrelandbusinesseswillbe uniquelyprivilegedintheiraccessto[The ComprehensiveandProgressiveAgreement for Trans-PacifcPartnership]agreement…[we needtoensurethat]frmsgloballyunderstand whataterrifcopportunitythisis[andthat] NorthernIrelandshouldbecomeoneofthe veryfnestinvestmentdestinationsinthe world.

“I’m reallyhopingthatthiscanbethestartof anewbeginning.Anewchapter.”

Andaskedifhebelieveswe’llseea returntoa workingExecutiveinthenearfuture,hesaid: “Well,yes–Ithinkagreatmanypoliticianson theunionistsideknowthatNorthernIreland needstobegoverned,andgovernedwell.

“TheSecretaryofState[ChrisHeaton-Harris]is in regularcontactwithallthepoliticalparties andwiththeDUPinparticular.They’venow tolduswhattheyneedandwe’reworking through respondingtothemandwe’ll continuethatconversation.

“ButI recognisethatJeffreyDonaldsonhas gotadiffculttask–thisisahardcompromise. The WindsorFrameworkisahardcompromise forEurosceptics,likeme,andforunionists,

‘We

whetherinGreatBritainorinNorthern Ireland.”

NorthernIrelandhaswitnessedtheimpactofa lackofaworkinggovernmentonallmannerof publicservices,organisationsandthirdsector organisations,manyofwhichare relianton fundingstreams.

Meanwhile,wearen’tabletoring-fencecash, discussorimplementshort-termtaxinitiatives orschemestoassistspecifcstruggling industriesamidthestasis.So,shouldLondon intervene?

“There’snosubstituteforpoliticiansbeing inpostasministersandtakingthosehard decisionswithlong-termramifcations,” MrBakersays.“And really,thatcanonly successfullybelocallyelectedpoliticians. We don’twanttobeindirectrule. We haveno planstobeindirectrule.”

MrBakersaysit remainsimportantfor politicalstabilityinordertosecurekeyinvestor confdence.

“Idowakeupeverydaythinking–howcanI

helpimproveNorthernIreland?That’swhatI loveaboutthisjob.Buteveryinvestorisgoing towanttoknowthattheiremployeesget goodhealthcare.

“…investorsarealwaysgoingtowantto knowthatthere’sgoodgovernmentavailable, butontheotherhand,andthemessageI wouldwantinvestorsandbusinessestohear istheextraordinarythingaboutNorthern Ireland’sprivatesectorisjusthowbrilliantlyit does.Despiteitall. Youknowthatthepeople whorunNorthernIrishbusinesses reallycare abouttheplace.

“Mypleatoeverybodyischoosefrom availablefutures.Thefuturethatisavailable... istheExecutiveback reforming,balancingthe booksandmakingitcleartothewholeworld thatthisisagreatplacetoinvest.

“Andifweseizethatfuture,Ithinkthe possibilitiesareprettyendless.

MrBakersaid“thereisnothingtobegained bykeepingtheExecutive”downandit isnolongerabargainingchipforfurther negotiationswiththeEU.

“KeepingtheExecutivedownwon’tforce theEuropeanUnionto reopenthe Windsor frameworkthatisnotonthetable,”hesaid. “The WindsorFrameworkisthebestthat couldbeachieved.

“Weshouldcounttheblessingsofthe possibilitiesthatarebeforeusandmakethe mostofthem.”

Buthesaidnodeadlineortimeframewillbe imposedona returntoanExecutive“because we’velearnedthatdeadlineshaveatendency aroundthesepartstojustgowhizzingby”.

“Wearefar,farpastthetimewhenNorthern Irelanddesperatelyneededa returnofthe Executiveacrossabroadfeldofpublic services,”hesays.

“WeneedtheDUPandallthepartiesto restoretheExecutiveandgetonwithsolving someveryhardproblems.Becausethe consequenceswhichwouldfollowfromUK Governmentministerscoveringthegaps wouldnotbeonesthatanyofuswanted, andespeciallynotoneswhichunionistswould want.” ■

NorthernIrelandMinister ofStateSteveBaker picturedinBelfastduring theInvestmentSummit

Fromfarmingtohigh-end glampinginCo Tyrone

Farmer StephenMullin workedinaseriesoftradesbeforemovingontorunthe familyfarmfulltime.ButtheCo Tyronemanhasnowdiversifedandexpandedinto thehospitalitysector,settingupa‘glamping’podsite,alongsideassistancefrom long-timepartner UlsterBank

Farmdiversifcationissomething manyintheagri-industrycontinue totur n toin a bidtoexpandand helpdrive revenue.

Anddemandfor‘glamping’issomething whichhasonlygrownexponentiallyinthe wakeofthepandemic,aspeoplesawthe valueinhavingtheirownspace,freshair andthechancetotakein a hostofbeautiful surroundings.

StephenMullinseizedtheopportunityand doveintothe‘glamping’market.

HerunsCraig ViewLuxuryGlamping –a highendseriesofself-contained‘glamping’pods onthefamilyfarm,notfarfromPomeroy, Co Tyrone.

A sucklercowandfree-rangeeggfarmer, Stephennowwearstwohats – runningthe farmwithhisfatherMichael,andoperating a thrivinghospitalitybusiness,alongsidehis wifeLisa.

“When I leftschool I became a joinerand roofer, andthatprogressedtobecoming a smallbuildingcontractor,”hesaid.

“We thenincreasedthesizeofthefarmand ithasgrownovertheyearstofvechicken houses. We boughtmore landandgotbigger

“Thatthenprogressedtofarmdiversifcation. It’s likeeverythingelse –I thoughtthere was a marketthere andwetookitfromthere.”

Theinitialsparkforthe‘glamping’sitebegan amidlockdown,asmanyothersturnedtheir

attentiontotourismofferingswhichensured distancingwasmaintainedandvisitorshad theirownspace.

“Withthecostofeverything[goingup], I decidedtodiversifyandbringinanother revenuestream,”Stephensays.

“We decidedondoingthisaround14months agowhenwesubmittedplanning.”

Stephensayspartofthethinkingbehindthe developmentwasthatitcouldbesomething

histhreedaughterscouldgetinvolvedwith whentheygetolder

“We currentlyhavethreepodsatthemoment andintendtoincreasethatnumber, andhave startedonourfourth,afteropeninginJune.”

The‘glamping’podsoffervisitorsfreshspring water, privatehottubs,barbecues,fre pitsand a smallkitchenarea,alongwithtechnology suchassmarttelevisionsandwi-f.

That’s alongwiththe realsellingpointsofthe

Stephen’sCraig ViewLuxury Glampingpods inCo Tyrone

We haveresponsibility tohelpbusinessesin theirgreenjourney

Thesummerseasonmayhavecometoanendbutthe appetiteforgetawaysandshortstaysawayshowsno signsofdwindling.Thankfullyourtourismsectorhere continuestogofromstrengthtostrengthandthereisawide rangeofaccommodationoptionsavailable.

In recentyearstherehasbeenaparticularincreaseindemandfor self-cateringoutletsandwehaveseenseveralcampingandglamping sitespopupacrossthecountryside.Localfarmersarethedrivingsource behindmanyoftheseoutletsandtherehasbeenagreatdealofwork doneintermsoffarmdiversifcationandshowcasingthestrengthand beautyofthecountryside.

It’satimely reminderofhowimportantitistoprotectthenatural environment,somethingourteamsare reallyfocusingonwithour businesscustomersattheminute. We knowthereisanappetite amongstthebusinesscommunitytomakethetransitionandadopt greener,moresustainablebusinesspracticesbutquiteoftenfndingout howandwheretostartcanbeachallenge.

Howcanbusinessesimplementgenuine,impactfulchangesifthey aren’tawareofwhatactivitiesaregeneratingthehighestcarbon emissions? To tryandcombatthisissue,lastmonthUlsterBank introducedtheCarbonPlannerfeaturetobusinessbankingcustomers. ThisservicehasbeenavailabletoNatWestcustomersforsometimeso it’swelcomethatitisnowavailableinNorthernIreland.

peace,tranquillityandstunningviewsofthe countryside.

Stephensaysbusinessisstrong,withvisitors comingfromrightacrossIreland.

“I’mintendingtogrowthebusinessalongside demand,”Stephensays.“We builtthesepods ourselvesonsiteandtheyare designedto a veryhighstandard.”

Businessownersunderstandthatprotectingtheenvironmentcanalso protectyourpocketinthelongrunandsoarelookingforinterventions, suchastheCarbonPlanner,tohelpthemontheirsustainabilityjourney.

ThePlannerbeginsbyaskingbusinessestocompleteashortsurvey andthenwillusethisinformationtosuggestwaystorunamore environmentallyfriendlybusiness. Tipscanincludethingslikeprinting fewerdocumentsonpaper,cuttingdownonmileageandmakingsure offcesandbusinesspremisesareasenergyeffcientaspossible.

Aftertakingtheuserthroughaseriesofquestions,itmeasures, evaluates,andcreatesalistof recommendationsthatwillgivebusiness ownersorthosewith responsibilityforsustainabilityimprovements, greaterinsightsabouttheareasofbusinessoperationswhicharehaving thegreatestimpactonoverallcarbonoutputs.

Ithasbeendesignedtosavebusinessestimeandactsasaguide througheveryelementofaclimatejourneysothatfrmshavetheknow howtounderstandtheimpactoftheirday-to-dayactivities.

Trustedpartnershavebeenengagedwiththroughouttheprocess souserscanhaveconfdencethatany recommendationsarecoming directlyfromexpertsintheirfeld.Andtherewillalwaysbehelpful signpostsalongthewaytofurther resources,servicesandproducts whichcanhelpbusinessownersgainmoreconfdencewiththeirclimate actiondecisions.

We wanttoinspireworkforcesacrossNorthernIrelandtogetbehinda bespokeactionplanandhavetheskillsandbeliefneededtointegrate climateintoday-to-dayactivities.ThisiswhytheCarbonPlanner hasbeenintroducedbyUlsterBankaspartofourcommitmentto supportingcustomersandnon-customersthroughthisimportantperiod oftransition.

We havea responsibilitytohelpbusinessesthroughthecurrent challengesandensuretheycanharnesstheopportunitiessustainability presentsaswemovetowardsacleaner,greenerfuture. ■

FormoreinformationaboutthetoolortolearnmoreabouthowCarbon Plannercanhelpyourbusiness,visitourwebsiteorsearch@UlsterBankNI onsocialmediachannels.

Hesaidhebelievesdemandwillcontinue to remainstrongwithinthe‘glamping’ marketplace.

“Manyofmycustomersare between20and 50andare lookingforpeaceandtranquillity –manypeoplehavelatchedontotheideaof a nightinthecountryside.

“Whatsetsusapartisthesepodsare totally

private,theyhaveaccesstospringwateralong withtheviewandpeaceandtranquillity.”

Andhe’s been a long-timecustomerwith UlsterBank,whichhascontinuedtohelphim throughhislatestexpansion.

“OurfarmhasprogressedwithUlsterBank [overtheyears]andwehavegrownalongside them,”hesays. ■

ByMaryO’Neill,businessdevelopmentmanager,UlsterBank

MaryO’Neill

‘InnovationbyourBelfastteam memberhassavedus$20mayear’

Internationalcompanies havebeensharingthe storyoftheirsuccessat theNIInvestmentSummit inthehopethatothers willfollowsuit,writes MargaretCanning

TheBelfastheadofaUSinsurance companyhassaidinnovationbya teammemberinNIhadsavedthe company$20mayear.

ButKeithFarley,seniorvicepresidentofAfac, toldtheNIInvestmentSummitthatsuch wastheunderstatementofNorthernIrish people,theteammemberhaddismissedtheir achievementas“alright”.

MrFarleywasspeakingatapanel‘Why NorthernIreland’inwhichexistinginvestorsin NIdescribedtheirexperiencesofthe region.

ThesummitisabigpitchbytheUK governmentforinvestmentintoNorthern Ireland,withthedualmarketaccessenjoyed byNIunderthe WindsorFrameworkamajor sellingpoint.

Buttheframework remainsahugestumbling blockinthepathoftheformationofan Executive,withtheDUPcontinuingtoprotest thattheagreementhasunderminedNI’splace intheunion.

Upto200internationalinvestorsgathered inICCBelfast,whilelargenumbersof homegrownbusinessesareexhibitinginthe hopeofattractingfnancialsupport.

TakingpartintheWhyNorthernIrelandpanel, DrRobertLadner,chiefexecutiveofCV6 Therapeutics,adeveloperofdrugsaimedat improvingthelivesofpatientswithcancerand

infammatoryconditions,saiddirectnesswas tobeencouragedwhenitcametopitchingfor investment.

“Ifyouwanttohavepeoplewritecheques for$10mto$15m,haveaplanfor$10to $15m,don’tbeshyaboutitandmakesure it’scomprehensiveandthatthere’saveryclear pathfrominitialinvestmentto return.”

MrFarley,directorofinnovationandcustomer experienceatAlfac,whichnowemploys 150peoplehere,added:“Evensomeofthe languagethat’susedhere,it’sjustadifferent perspective.

“Myteammembercreatessomething,artifcial intelligencethatcanprocessmedicalclaims insecondsthatusedtotakepeoplegoing throughmanualstodo.

“Ifyouasktheteammemberaboutthis technology,‘howhappyareyouwithit?They’ll say,‘it’snotbad,it’salright’.

“Butit’ssavingus$20m,buttothem,‘it’s

alright,it’snotbad’.Justbecauseofthe language,there’salotofmisunderstandingat thebeginning.”

KieranHegarty,presidentofUScompany TerexMaterialsProcessinginCo Tyrone,talked abouttheuncertaintyunleashedbythe‘leave’ outcomeinthe2016Brexit referendum.

Buthesaidthatthe WindsorFrameworkhad broughtwelcomecertainty.“Ithasbeneftsfor us,thefactthatwecantradewithEurope,as 40%ofourtradingiswithEUcountries,so that’sveryimportanttous,asisthefactthat it’szerotariffstotheUKmarketandtotheEU market.Thekeyforusiscertainty.”

TheconferencewasopenedbyEmma Stephenson,aMaster’sengineeringstudent atQueen’s. Withfourclassmates,shehas developedM-Power,anappformonitoringof menopausesymptoms.

ShesaidshehadspokentoMinisterfor InvestmentLordDominicJohnson,whohad encouragedthemtoaskinvestorsforhelp. ■

BritishAmbassadortoIrelandPaulJohnston(centre)duringtheNorthernIrelandInvestmentSummit2023atthe ICCBelfast

ResponsibleBusiness Awards winnersrevealed

AhostofNorthern Ireland’s top companieshavewalkedaway a seriesofgongsatthisyear’s ResponsibleBusiness Awards.

A totalof11organisationsinNorthern Ireland were crownedwinnersatthe2023Responsible Business AwardsinNorthern Irelandat ICCBelfast,organisedbyBusinessinthe CommunityNI(BITC).

AndNorthern Ireland-basedcompanies were also recognisedforholdingCORE:The Standard forResponsibleBusiness,sinceits inceptionin2013.

Some600gueststurnedoutfortheevent, whichisnowinits18thyear

Theawardsare runpartnershipwithkey sponsorHenryBrothersandeventpartner JPCorry, alongwithmediapartners Ulster Business andU105.

Onthenight,sixcompanieswere laudedfor theirlongstandingcommitmentto responsible business.Allen & Overy, BelfastHarbour, Henry Brothers,GeorgeBestBelfastCityAirport, Openreach,andfrmusenergyhaveheldCORE.

ChrisConway, outgoingchairmanofBITC andgroupchiefexecutiveof Translink,said: “Theseawardsare thebestplatformtobring thegreatworkofNorthern Ireland’s responsible businessesintothespotlightandcelebrate organisationsgoingbeyondprofttomakeNI a betterplacetoworkandlive.

“Inthe10thyearofCORE:TheStandard forResponsibleBusiness,itwasparticularly pertinenttoproflethoseorganisations who – despitethechangingandchallenging landscapeofbusinessandgovernmentin Northern Irelandoverthepastfewyearsin particular – have remainedcommittedto integrating responsiblebusinessintoevery avenueoftheirorganisations.

“ThisismylastyearaschairmanofBITC, a role I havecherished.Mysupportforeverything BITCstandsforisunwavering,andasalways awardsnightis a fantasticopportunitytofeel inspiredbyothersandchallengedtodomore withinmyownorganisation. I wishBITCandits memberseverysuccessforthefuture.”

Recently recognisedatthenational Awards AwardsasBronzeinBestLongstanding Awards Event,guestsatthisaward-winninggalaevent

Thewinnersin2023were:

•DiversityandInclusion Award,sponsored byBelfastHarbour–DanskeBank

•EducationPartnership Award,sponsored byAllen&Overy–AlmacGroup

•ClimateAction Award,sponsoredby HeronBros–DanskeBank

•CollaborativeAction Award,sponsoredby ArthurCox–KierGroup

•EmployerofChoice Award,sponsoredby UlsterUniversity–HeronBros

•Impactin YourCommunity Award, sponsoredbySPARNI–Norbrook Laboratories

•Responsible TechnologyInnovation Award,sponsoredbyAllstateNI–Ulster University

•One-to-Watch Award,sponsoredbySONI – Viberoptix

•ResponsibleProduct/Service Award, sponsoredby Translink–Vyta

• Wellbeingat Work Award,sponsoredby LarnePort–Graham

•ResponsibleBusinessAmbassador Award, sponsoredbySSEAirtricity– Kellie-Ann Hoey,SHSGroup

enjoyedperformancesfrom WestEndmusical spectacular We WillRock You,withthemusical feastcreatedbyaward-winningproducerand Ballyclare native,PaulBoyd. ■

RepresentativesfromtheResponsibleBusiness Awardssponsorsandpartnersarepicturedwith KieranHarding,managingdirector,BusinessintheCommunityNIandIanHenry,HenryBrothers

At£25,isthisBelfast’s poshestburger?

Belfasthasalreadyhadastabatthe bougieburger,manyamoonago.

Onceuponatime,theGourmetBurgerBank soldaburgerwhichboastednotonlyasmall cutofbeefflletbutachunkoffoiegras,with accompanyingtruffeglaze–thememory reinvigoratedbya reviewonAlanMeban’s long-runningwebsiteAlaninBelfast.

It’sthesortofthingwhichwouldmakeitto TikTokandInstagram,globally,in2023,with infuencersaplentyposting,dense,uncritical andobsequiousexpositionsofsomething excessivewhichleaveslittleoftheinitialburger DNAbehind.Itwasalsojust£13atonestage. Theolddays,eh?

Butthisisn’tthebougieBelfastburgerof old.HiBurgersitsamongtheviralechelons, thesocialmediadarlingsandthepop-up protagonists.They’vetappedintothezeitgeist ofthesmashburger.Ifyoupayavisittoany stallthesedays,you’dbehardpressedtoknow anyotherstyleexisted.

It’snowcallingtheBananaBlockhome–the eastBelfastculturalandeventshubwhich playshometoahostofsuperbbusinessesand eateries.

TheHiBurgermenubringsforthalltheright buzzwordsonitsmenu.Thesignatureburger featuresatriplesmashpattywithAmerican cheese,pickle,onion,andthein-houseburger sauce.It’satenner.Allofthisisvery reasonable whenexecutedaswellasitis.

Butthelobsterburgerbringsforththatextra bitofextravaganceandgormandise.Itneed notexist,andyetitdoes.

Allisessentiallyasnormal,addedpricey crustaceanaside.Adoublebeefpattyis joinedbythestandardburgeraccoutrements alongsidelettuceandchive.

Thebeefitselfticksthesmashburgerboxes. It’srich,crunchyanddeckled,withsomeclean minerality.Theoutercrustissuitablemaroon, shinyandalmostthetextureofcheesewhich hasspentacoupleofminutestoolongunder thegrill.There’safairlysizeablehitofacid andpunchfromtheburgersaucewhilethe greenerybringssomeadditionalfreshness.

There’sthewhackofthatdoublemarriageof bovine–theperfectAmericanmeltingcheese alongwiththefatandcrunchfromthepatty.

Butinaddition,thereareafewchunkypieces ofpinkandsnowyclawandtailmeattoadd totheparty.

Lobsterisn’tcheapthough.Isitassublime asStoveBistro’slobster?No,butit’sclean, texturalandhasthosecleanbutsubtlefavours oftheocean.Thesoftandsubtlepinkand whitemeatworkssurprisinglywell,despite beingamoresubtlefavourthaneverything elseontop.

It’sabitdaftandunnecessary,andobviously priceygiventhe25quidbill,butit’snot excessiveintermsoffavour,andeverything hasitsplace.

Isittoomuch?Probably.Atitsheart,it’s superfuous.Theadditionofsomethingas needlesslyluxuriousaslobstergoesagainstmy ownviewofsmashedbovinepurity.

But,atthesametime,itisunarguably delicious.It’sbougiedoneright.Andwhile thisisatouchexcessive,forgoingtheburger’s somewhatalreadyfadedcredentialsasafast foodmealofthepeople,HiBurger’slobster iteration remainsverytastybringingtogether ofverytastythings. ■

JohnMulgrew paysa visittoaburgerstallwith somethingalittlepricier andupmarketonthe menu

Thelobsterburger atHiBurger

Thefutureoftheoffce andheadingtonetzero

Lawfrm TLT’s realestateteamhasbeenassistingclientsfromrightacrossthe offceandwidercommercialpropertymarket–asectorwhichcontinuestoevolve anddevelopinthewakeofCovid-19.Partners JudithHewiston and Kevin Murphy lookatthechangingdemographic,whydemandremainsstrongand whatit’sdoingtohelp

Lookingbacktojustayearortwo agoitwouldhavebeendiffcultto haveimaginedhowstrongBelfast andbeyond’soffcemarketwouldbeby theendof2023.

Thepandemic reshapedourdemandsfor workingenvironments.Atonestagethe “deathoftheoffce”wasthephrasebeing bandiedabout.

Butcutto2023anduptake,salesand tenancies remainstrong,albeitinadifferent marketplacetothatpre-Covid-19.

“Thedemandhaschangedquitesignifcantly,” JudithHewiston, realestatepartneratlawfrm TLT, says.“Wehavebeenverymuchacross hybrid-workingatourownlocations.

“Mostteamshaveamixtureoftimeinthe offce,andathome.Thatisworkingwell.”

It’sthequalityoftheoffcespaceonoffer,the strengthoftheworkingenvironmentandthe amenitieswhicharekeytoattractingstaffback in,orworkersfromjumpingshiptoanother company.

AnddemandforgradeAoffcespace continues,withtenantsalreadysignedup formanyofthefagshipschemescurrently completingthisyear.

Butsomearedownsizing,withfrmssuchas Allstatemakingthemovetosub-lettingout someofitsheadquartersinBelfast.

“Whenwelookedatthemarketduringthe startofCovid-19,peoplewereasking‘isthis theendofoffcework?’–theanswerisno,” KevinMurphy, realestatepartneratTLT, says.

“Businessesstillneedalocationandanoffce–theremaybeasmallerfootprintforsome,but thatneed remains.”

Theadditionalneedforfexibilityandhigh-end workspacesformanyfrmsmeansashiftinthe typesofoffceswedevelop.

ThatincludesCreateLab,beingdevelopedby AndrasHouse,atBruceStreetinBelfastcity centre,whichTLThasbeeninvolvedwith.

CreateLabprovides10,570sqftofgradeA offceaccommodationoverthreefoorsand amezzanine,withagroundfoorsuitablefor offceorcaféuse.

Occupiershavebeenfocusedonprovidinga hubwithspaceforteam roomsandmeeting zonesasameansofengagingwithstaffwho maybeworkingfromhomeafewdaysa week.

It’salsooneoftheveryfewmajor refurbished and revampedoffceschemeswhichwillbe fully-letwhenitopensitsdoors.

“Anotherinterestingthingishowserviced

Partnerswelcomelastyear’snewly-qualifedlawyersandnewjoinersinBelfast

offceshavesprungupinBelfast,”Kevinsays. “Covidappearstohavebeenadriverforthat. TherearenowdevelopmentssuchasEagle StarHouse,UrbanHQ,ClockwiseandCustom House.

“Wehaveadvisedanumberofproviders, developersandinvestorswithsubstantialgrade Boffceswhoarelookingto refurbish,looking towardsdevelopingitasservicedoffcesand gettingaproviderintorunit.”

Judithsays:“Thetypeofspaceandcultural habitsarechanging–it’snotaboutlinesof desksanymore,it’saboutgettingtogetherand spendingtimewitheachother.”

Shesaysclientslookingfornewoffcespace arenowfocusedontheadded-valueelement, suchaslocation,gymsorbreakoutareas.It’sno longer“justaboutalargeemptyspace”.

TLTitselfisafrmwithrich rootsinBelfastand thewidercommercialpropertymarket.

Itboastsa realestateteamof12lawyers,while theentirepracticehas85peopleworkingin Belfast.Thefrmalsooperatesoffcesacross London,Manchester,Bristol,Glasgowand Edinburgh,employingaround1,400people.

TLTalsocontinuestohaveanambitious sustainabilitystrategy–aimingtogobeyond what’s requiredandhelpingputthefrmatthe

forefrontoftheprofessionalservicesindustry.

Asamajorbusinessandemployerwith signifcantinfuenceintheindustriesand communitiesinwhichitoperates,itbelieves thisistherightthingtodoandhowitcan makethebiggestimpact,bothdirectly andthroughpartneringwithlike-minded organisationsandinspiringothers.

Andsustainabilityhasalwaysbeenafocusfor TLT, underpinnedbythefrm’slongstanding reputationasoneoftheUK’sleadingadvisers tothefutureenergymarket,givingitastrong perspectiveontheclimateemergencyand unrivalledexperienceandexpertisethatitcan passontoothers.

Partofthatincludesitsownstrategyandpillars towardsnetzero.Thatincludestheuseof sustainabletravel,purchasingandsupporting localfrmsandorganisations.

It’saimingto reduceabsolutescopeoneand twoemissions80%by2023,and reduce absolutescopethreeemissions47%.

Thefrm’sCadworksoffceinGlasgowisthe city’ssustainableoffcedevelopmentandthe frstnetzerooffcebuildinginthecity.

AndKevinMurphysaysthatmovetowardsnet zeroandafuture-proofworkplaceiskeyfor businessesfromrightacrossthesectors.

Thatincludesnewenergyeffciencystandards, alreadyinplaceinotherpartsoftheUK,which arelikelytocomeintoforcehere.

“Thatwillforcealotoflandlordsinto improvingtheenergyeffciencyforbuildings,” hesays.“It’sshort-sightediflandlordsdon’t doit.”

TLTisalsohostingaseriesofeventswithin thefrmlookingatthefutureofworkand encouragingstaffintotheoffce,Judithsays.

“Generallyspeaking,hybrid-workingis nowrightacrosstheboard,”shesays.“We arerunningmonthlyeventsintheoffces toencouragepeopletocomebackin.It’s anythingandeverything–itusuallyinvolves food.” ■

TLTpartners JudithHewiston andKevin Murphy

TLTisbasedatRiverHouseinBelfastcitycentre

UlsterUniversityiscontinuingto grow,developandexpandits alreadypioneeringexpertise, educationandconnectionswithsomeof ourtopengineeringandtechnologyfrms.

It’sturningupthevolumeonitspositionas aworld-leadingspecialistinareasincluding advancedmanufacturing,engineering, technology,AIandmachinelearning, expandingits reach,developingnewcentres of researchandupskillingNorthernIreland’s workforces.

ProfessorColin Turnerisexecutivedeanofthe FacultyofComputingandEngineeringand BuiltEnvironment.

Thefacultyincludesfourschools:theSchool ofEngineeringandSchoolofComputingin Belfast,TheBelfastSchoolofArchitecture andtheBuiltEnvironment,andtheSchool ofComputing,EngineeringandIntelligent SystemsinDerry-Londonderry.

Professor Turnersaysitboastsstrongand well-establishedlinkswithmanyofourlargest manufacturersandpioneeringengineering giants,alongwithsmallermicrobusinesses

UlsterUniversity: attheforefrontof leading-edgeeducation, researchandskills

UlsterUniversity remainsattheforefrontofleadingedgeengineering,technology,AIandmachinelearning, asiscontinuingtobothexpanditspostgraduate expertiseandofferings,aswellasbolsteringits relationshipwithbothgiantsofindustryandaraftof up-and-comingmicropioneers

Professor Colin Turner

helpingtodevelopworld-leadingtechnology.

“Wehavedonelotsofworkwithcompanies suchasSpiritAeroSystems(formerly Bombardier),forexample,”Professor Turner says.

“We’vebeeninvolvedin researchprojects whichhavehadinternationalimpacts.Over manyyearswehavealsodonelotsofinjecting ofourknowledgeonareasofspecialismsuch ascompositesandpolymers.

“Wecontinuetoworkwithawiderangeof businesses.Throughourplacementscheme weworkwithmanyorganisationsright acrossindustry–fromsmallmicrobusinesses, rightuptothemulti-nationalssuchasSpirit AeroSystems,BT,PWC,DellandRandox.

“Weareinvolvedwithalotofcompaniesin oneshapeorform.Somecompaniesarealso onourcompanyadvisorypanelsandothers weareinvolvedwithintermsof researchand development.”

That relationshiphascontinuedtogrowover theyears,andincludestheestablishmentof theNorthernIrelandAdvancedComposites andEngineeringCentre(NIACE),announced morethan10yearsago,whichisco-ownedby UlsterUniversityandQueen’sUniversityBelfast.

Aspartofexpandingandgrowingthebreadth ofitsskillsets,expertiseandfacilities,the BelfastRegionCityDealissettobringanother boon.

ThatincludestheCentreforDigitalHealthcare Technologies(CDHT)whichProfessor Turner says“buildsonourgreatexpertise”within digitalhealthcaretechnology,diagnostics,and pervasivecomputing.

It’salsoapartnerintheAdvanced ManufacturingInnovationCentre(AMIC),a BelfastRegionCityDealprojectledbyQueen’s University.

“It’slookingatadvancedmanufacturing trendsinindustry,”Professor Turnersays. “Thistakesallofthenewmethodsofsmart manufacturingandbringsthattoacompletely newlevel.”

Hesaysit’sabouthowNorthernIreland canimproveitsskillsetsandalsoassist smallerfrmsattheforefrontofburgeoning technologyhere.

“Theseareotherareaswhereweareapplying our researchexpertisetofndsolutionsto industrychallenges,”Professor Turnersays. “It’saboutupskillingNorthernIreland.”

TherearealsoplansfortheCognitive AnalyticsResearchLaboratory(CARL)–which isfocusedonAIandmachinelearning,which willbebasedattheDerry-Londonderry campus.

AndtheCentreforIndustry,Digitalisation, RoboticsandAutomation(CIDRA)willhelp takeforward roboticsandautomationinthe northwest,andelsewhere,andensurefrms haveaccesstothatkey research.

“Almosteverythingnowinvolvesdigitalisation acrossthesectors,”Professor Turnersays.

UlsterUniversityoffersuparangeofboth undergraduateandpostgraduateoptions acrossthefourschoolsinthefaculty.

“Quitealotofthatisdrivenbyinternational students,”Professor Turnersays.“Weare aimingtofocusverycarefullywithour industrialpartnersastowhatskillstheyneed andwhatwecanprovidethem,especiallyin thoseemergingareassuchasAIanddata.”

Theuniversityisalsoexpandingandgrowing its reachandinteractionwithindustrythrough arangeofambitiousmulti-millionpound schemes.

ThatincludestheBTIrelandInnovationCentre –whichisnowinitssecondfve-yearphaseof operationand representsamajorpartnership betweenBTandUlsterUniversity.

“Theyareworkingonawiderangeof topicsincluding5G,mobileinnovation,data securityanddashboardstocontrolcomplex environments. We arenowinaworldwith hugeamountsofdata–butifyoucan’tget somemeaningoutofthatdatathenit’snot veryuseful.Alotofthat researchisinthat sphere.”

There’salsothePwCAdvancedEngineering ResearchCentre–inconjunctionwithUlster UniversityandQueen’sUniversityBelfast,with supportfromInvestNI.

“There’salotfocusedaround‘digitaltwins’ andthepredictivepowersthatthosebring, alongwiththepredictivepowerofAIinto managementsystems,”Professor Turnersays.

Meanwhile,theArtifcialCollaborationCentre (AICC)isanUlsterUniversity-ledscheme alongwithQueen’sUniversity.

“It’saboutlookingathowwecanleverage whichisaheadintermsofAItechnologies,” Professor Turnersays.

“Peoplearenow realisingAIisgoingtobe apervasivethemethroughoutalmostevery humanendeavour. Werealiseitisgoingto haveahugeimpactonmediaandwider industry.”

Professor Turner remainsconfdentof NorthernIreland’sstrongpositionasaworldleaderacrossengineeringspecialismshere. Andthat’ssomethingwhichit’shopedwill growandexpandintheyearstocome.Part ofthatincludesthewiderangeofcoursesthe universityisoffering,withspecialismsacrossa rangeofpostgraduateoptions.

“Wehavesignifcantpostgraduateprovision now,”Professor Turnersays.“Someof thespecialismwhichwehaveincludes mechatronicengineering,electronic, mechanicalandbiomedical,forexample, alongwithmechanicalandmanufacturing inthenorthwest.Theseareallattheedge ofwhatneedstobedoneaswearealways updatingthem.

“SomeoftheMasterscourseswithinthese areasaresomethingwhichwehavefocused on–wehaveMScsinmanyareasandweare seeingverystrong recruitmentforbothlocal graduatesandtheinternationalmarket.” ■

Inspiredtoexploreopportunitiesforstudy inengineering? Visit ulster.ac.uk and searchengineering.

Musgrave: growingandexpanding itsfoodretailbrandoffering

Growingitsfood retailbrands SuperValu,CentraandMace,isa keyfocusforMusgraveNorthern Ireland,partofthewiderMusgrave GroupwhichiscurrentlyIreland’sleading food retail,wholesale,andfoodservice company.

With14marketleadingfoodandbeverage brandsunderitsbeltincludingMusgrave MarketPlace,FrankandHonest,andDrinks Inc,workingwithMusgraveNIisanattractive proposition,asnewbusinessandacquisitions managerBarryHollanddiscusses.

“MusgraveisproudtobeoneofEurope’s mostsuccessfulfamily-ownedbusinesses witha147-yearheritageinfoodandbrand innovation,”hesays.

“Wearefocusedoncreatingasustainable, proftablebusinessthatbeneftsour shareholders,ourpeople,partners,local communities,andthewiderlocaleconomy. Thisisunderpinnedbyourvaluesthatare aboutlong-termstable relationships,working hard,notbeinggreedy,achievementand honesty.

“Redefning retailisourmantra. We spend £160monlocalfoodanddrink,andstock 3,500localproductsinourstores. We have exclusivefood-to-gobrandsincludingMoo’d Ice-Cream,GreenKitchenandRotisserie Chickenandofferexclusivityonalcohol rangesviaourDrinksIncbusinesswhileour gourmetcoffeebrand,FrankandHonest,is thenumberoneon-the-gocoffeebrandin Ireland.

“Ourbrandsaresuccessfulbecausethey meetthechangingneedsoftoday’sshoppers, andourfood retailbrandsaredeveloped incollaborationwithoutstandinglocal entrepreneursbasedinthecommunitiesthey serve.”

Ontrackwithits£18mstoreinvestment programmetogrowitsnetworkand refurbish exitingstores,Barryemphasisestheimportance ofthebusiness’independent retailpartners.

“Our retailpartnersarethelifebloodofour business,andwearecommittedtosupporting them–theirsuccessiscoretoouroperations,” hesays.

“Partofthissupportincludesa£3.6m sustainabilityfundforour retailers,aimed atempoweringthemtoachievenetzero carbonby2040andmaketheirbusinessas sustainableaspossibleforthefuture. We have seenmanypartnersgrowtheirportfoliosfrom onestoretotwo,threeorfourstores–this levelofgrowthandloyalty refectsthestrength ofourbrands.”

Earlierthisyear,Garethand TraceyBeacom whoownCentra YorkRoadinBelfast, openedtheirsecondCentrastore.After Garethexpressedaninterestinexpansion,the Musgravebusinessdevelopmentteamworked

tofndasite,identifyingasuitablelocationon theShoreRoadinNewtownabbey. Working withNichollOils,theteamsecuredaleaseon theshop,andtheBeacomsopenedtheir£1m storeinJune.

CentraFoxesGlenontheStewartstown RoadinBelfast,partoftheGroup’scompany ownedportfolioalsoopenedinMarch,while fveMACEstoreshaveopenedinBelcoo, Caledon,MidwayDonaghcloney,Lurganand Middletown.

“Wearealwaysonthelook-outfornew opportunities–whetherthat’sidentifyinga greenfeldsiteforanewdevelopmentfor oneofourexisting retailpartnersorforan entrepreneurinterestedinexploringa retail store;changingtheuseofanexistingbusiness; orcompetitorconversions;andwould encourageanyinterestedpartiestogetin touch.” ■

YoucancontactBarryon07795965204orby emailatbarry.holland@musgrave.ie

CentraretailerGarethBeacom(secondleft)openshissecondstore,Centra TracksideinNewtownabbey Heisjoinedby BarryHolland,newbusinessandaquisitionsmanager, PaddyMurney, Musgraveretailsalesdirector, andAdamBeacom

Celtic Tiger second coming on stronger footing

Celtic TigerIwasbuiltondebt–Celtic TigerIIis beingbuiltonmuchsteadierfoundations,writes RichardCurran

Somuchfocusisplacedonhowthe performanceofmultinationalsin Irelandinfuturewillimpactwealth inIreland.

Yet,thisdebatefailstotakeaccountof theextraordinarywealththathasalready beencreated,muchofwhichwillpassonin inheritancetothenextgeneration.

Despiteahighercostofliving,risingbusiness costsand record rents,manyhouseholdsare accumulatingwealththatwillbehanded down. Youcan’ttakeitwithyou.

Onewayoflookingatthescaleofthiswealth isthroughtheassetandwealthmanagement sectorhere.PwCestimatesthatthevalueof assetsundermanagementwillgrowbyover 10%ayearbetweennowand2027.

Itenvisagesanindustrymanagingastaggering €6trninjustfouryears’time.

Ofcourse,mostofthatisfnancialassets ownedbycorporatesratherthanindividualsor families.

However,theCentralBankestimatesthat netwealthinIrelandsurpassed€1trnforthe frsttimethisyear.Somehouseholdshave managedtosquirrelawaylotsmoresavings despitehigherlivingcosts.

Householddepositswererunningat€152bn inAprilofthisyear–upastaggering€7.9bn onthepreviousyear.Infact,Irishhouseholds

savedanadditional€831minAprilofthis yearalone.

Theobvioussourceofapparentwealthmight atfrstglanceappeartobehouses.Sitting onanassetthatisrisinginvalueshouldbe addingalottonethouseholdwealth.

However,mostoftheincreaseinnetwealth inquarteronethisyearcamefromfnancial investmentsandthe revaluationoffnancial assets.

We arealreadyseeingthetransferofsomeof thiswealththroughinheritanceascapturedin astudybytheCentralBank.

Itestimatedthatby2020,overone-in-three householdsinIreland(690,000)had received somekindofinheritanceorgiftinthelast20 yearsanditputavalueonthosetransfersof €97bn.

Lookingatthevalueofdeposits,investments andcontinuedwealthcreation,thevalueof fnancialinheritanceinthecomingdecadeor twomaybeamultipleofthat.

Thereissomuchembeddedwealthinthe economynowthatitshouldbeofhuge beneftnotonlytotheExchequerandgood philanthropiccausesbutalsowhenitcomes tofurtherjobandwealthcreationintothe future.

Thatiswhybankshavebeenfallingover themselvestobuystockbrokingfrmswith

sizeablewealthmanagementbusinessessuch asGoodbodyorDavyin recentyears.

Oftheassetsgiftedorinheritedinthelast20 years,moneywasthemostcommonin57% ofcasesanddwellingsweretransferredinonethirdofcases.

So,ifone-in-threehouseholds received something,andone-thirdofthose receiveda dwelling,itmeansone-in-ninefamiliesinthe country receivedapropertythroughagiftor inheritance.

Puttogetherwiththe40%offrst-timebuyers who receivesomehelpwithadepositfrom

parents,andintergenerationalwealthtransfer isamassiveinfuenceonwhogetstoowna homeor rentone.

Thescaleofwealthcreationissometimeshalf hiddenandonlyseemsto rearitsheadinrich listsorwhenanentrepreneurfogsacompany fortensofmillions.

Buttakedairyfarming.Nowfacingthe challengesofadiminishingnationalherd,the lastcoupleofyearshavebeenextraordinary.

Dairyfarmersarelookingatsignifcantfalls inmilkpricesbutfguresfor2022fromthe ICMSAshowthescaleoftheheights reached.

Lastyear,milkfarmersinCoCorkalone received€1.2bnin revenues.

InKilkenny,itwas€334m,alongwith €332minKerryand€605min Tipperary. Whowouldhavethoughtthatdairyfarmers inMonaghanwouldhave received€130m orthat€137mwenttoCavanindairy revenues.

Dairyingisaboutgoodyearsandbadones butneverthelessitdoes refectthescaleof assetwealththathasbeengeneratedacross thesector.Milk revenuesto15,300farmers totalled€5.2bnlastyearoranaverageof €343,000.

Yet,theirbusinesses retain relativelylowdebt levelswithone-thirdofthemcarryingnodairyrelatedborrowingsatall.

Thisexcludesthe€2.7bninKerryGroupand Glanbiasharesownedbyjusttwoco-ops.

Theperformanceofthe realeconomyin recent years,alongwiththesuccessofindividual entrepreneurs,hasgeneratedenduringwealth thatwillstandtobeneftmorethanthedirect recipientsthroughinheritance.

TheCeltic Tigerboomwasbuiltondebt. Thisoneseemstobebuiltonmuchsteadier foundations. ■

TheHa’pennybridge inDublinatsunset

NI’stopsellingcarrevealedassales ofnewvehiclescontinuetorise

NewcarsalesinNorthernIreland arecontinuingtorise,freshfgures show.

Thenumberofnewvehiclespoweringout ofshowroomsinAugust roseby10%.That’s behindtherisefeltinEngland,withalmosta thirdofabump,and26%in Wales.

Meanwhile,newcar registrationsinScotland fellby9%duringAugust,accordingtothe latestfguresfromtheSocietyofMotor Manufacturersand Traders(SMMT).

TheHyundai Tucson remainsNorthernIreland’s best-sellingcar–withsome117vehicles registeredinAugust.

ThatwasfollowedbytheFordFiestaand Focus,withtheRenaultCapturand Toyota Aygoinfourthandffth respectively.

AcrosstheUKasawholethenewcarmarket grew24.4%inAugustwith85,657new vehicles registered.

“WhileAugustistypicallyaquietermonth withmanybuyerschoosingtowaituntilthe Septembernumberplatechange,anincrease of16,799unitsmeansthesectorisnow

enteringasecondyearofgrowth,”theSMMT said.

“Despitethisimprovedperformance,the marketstill remains7.5%belowpre-pandemic levels.”

AccordingtotheSMMTtheincreasewas fuelledbyasurgein registrationsbylarge feets,rising58.4%to51,951units,while business registrationsgrew39.4%to1,635 units.Conversely,privatedemandsoftenedby 8.1%,comparedwithasupply-constrained 2022market.

Andit’selectricvehicleswhicharecontinuing toseesizeablerisesinmarketshare,with almostfourin10(37.8%)newcars reaching the road.

Batteryelectricvehicleuptakeswelledby 72.3%tosecurea20.1%marketshare,an August recordandthehighest recordedsince lastDecember.

Plug-inhybriduptakealso rosesignifcantly, by70%,toaccountfor7.7%ofnew registrations,whilehybridvolumes remained relativelystablewitha6.8%increase,with 10%ofthemarket.

However,withlessthanfourmonthstogo untiltheexpectedintroductionofaZero Emission VehicleMandate,industrystill hasnosightoftheproposed regulation, accordingtotheSMMT.

“Theautomotivesectoriscommittedto netzerobutthediminishingtimethreatens theabilityofthemarkettomove.Demand frombothbusinessandprivateconsumers mustbeboostedstillfurtherifambitions aretobemet,butwhilebusinessesbeneft fromfscalincentivestoswitch,thereisno similarpackagefortheprivateconsumer market,”theSMMTsaid.

“Withtheautomotiveindustrybeginning asecondyearofgrowth, recoveryis underwaywithEVsenergisingthemarket,” MikeHawes,SMMTchiefexecutive,said.

“ButwithanewZeroEmission Vehicle Mandateduetocomeintoforceinless than120days,manufacturersstillawaitthe details.Businessescannotplanonthebasis ofconsultations,theyneedcertainty.And now,morethanever,governmentmust matchactiontoambition,ensuringthere aretheincentivesandinfrastructureinplace toconvincedriverstomaketheswitch.” ■

Sponsoredby

NorthernIrelandhaslostafairfewmajorbrandsover thelastcoupleofyearsandunitsremainemptyinparts ofourcitycentres,whileothersappeartobethriving andshoppingcentresandout-of-townretailremains anincreasinglyattractivepropositionforinvestors.

JohnMulgrew takesalookatthelandscape

There’samixedbagoffortunes whenitcomestoNorthernIreland’s commercial retailmarket.

Whilewe’reseeingadelugeofbrandsgoing under,suchas WilcoinGreatBritain,Patisserie Valerieshuttingitsoperationshereanda reductionof restaurantchainspotsfootprints, we’realsoseeingnewbrandsmakingtheirway ontoourhighstreets.

Butintermsofthecommercialmarket,it’s alsotheout-of-town retailparkandshopping centreswhicharebecomingthemostattractive forinvestors.

Takethe recentpurchaseofForestside ShoppingCentreforexample.Itwasonthe marketfor£37mbutwasfnallysoldtolocal investorMichaelHerbertfor£42m,duetothe levelofinterestinthesouthBelfastproperty.

MrHerbertpreviouslyoperatedanetworkof morethan140KFC restaurants,butsoldthem offin2020.

He’salsoaprominentpropertydeveloper,and alsoboughtBarry’sAmusementsinPortrush. It’snowbeingrunbytheCurryfamilyunder leaseasCurry’sFunPark.

Hehasnowbeenappointedasadirectorof ForestsideAcquisitionsLtd,alongsideanother director,whileMussendenPropertiesLtdis nowlistedasapersonwithsignifcantcontrol

–acompanywhichcountsMichaelHerbertas adirector.

Meanwhile,it’salsounderstoodFoyleside ShoppingCentreinLondonderryisnow saleagreedandisbeingboughtbyalocal investmentvehiclewhichalreadyownsanother retailsitehere.

Thepropertyhadbeenonthemarketforjust over£34m.

AtthetimeofgoingonthemarketFoyleside hadgrossincomeof£4.4mayearand Forestside£3.7m.

InCraigavon,RushmereShoppingCentrewas boughtbyKillahoeyLtdinFebruary2023, ajointventurebetweenNorthernIrelandbasedcompaniesSheephavenandMayStreet Capital.

However,whilestillanattractiveinvestment,it wentunderthehammerforaround£10mless thantheoriginal£57maskingprice.

Otherout-of-townspotsareonthemarketat present.ThatincludesLaganbankRetailPark outsideLisburn.

It’sonthemarketfor£4.85mandisfullyletto TKMaxx,PureGym,UpstairsDownstairsand GroundCoffee.

InsouthBelfastthere’salsoconsiderable

continuedexpansionanddevelopmentof alreadystronganchorbrands.

SportsDirectisdevelopinganewmajorstore ontheBoucherRoad,whichwillalsoinclude thelikesofUSC,GameandEvansCycles.

Whenitcomestothehighstreet,certain brandsappeartobethriving.Coffeechain CaffeNeroiscontinuingexpansionhere,and alsolookingtoopennewcoffee‘pods,while

AnaerialphotoofBelfastcitycentre’sskyline

threeClementscoffeespotsarenowonthe market.AndcoffeeandsandwichchainPret AMangerisabouttoopenitsfrstunitherein NorthernIreland.

It’stakingoverthesiteleftbehindbyPatisserie ValerieonDonegallSquareandiseyeing anotherfourcafeshere.

AndHotelChocolatiscontinuingtogrowits presenceinBelfast.Italreadyhastwospotsin

thecitycentrebutisnowplanningathirdunit atBoucherRetailPark.

Intermsofother retailbrands,Mooch has replacedthevacantPaperchasestores followingtheirclosure,includingtakingunits atForestsideandthecitycentre.

Turningattentiontothedata,Northern Ireland’s retailoutput remains3.6%belowits pre-pandemiclevel.That’sincontrasttostrong

upsurgesinproductionandservices.

However,itisimprovingslowly.Retailoutputin NIsawanincreaseof0.5%inquartertwoand anincreaseof1.2%overtheyear,according theNorthernIrelandStatisticsandResearch Agency(NISRA).

Meanwhile,GBRSIoutputexperiencedan increaseof0.4%overthequarteranda decreaseof2.5%overtheyear.>

COMME RC IAL PROP ERTY & CONS TRUC TION

RushmereShoppingCentrein Craigavonwasrecentlysold

NIRSIoutputinquartertwois6.7%below theserieshighseeninquarterthree2020 and6.1%higherthantheserieslow.

Output remains3.6%belowtheprecoronaviruspandemiclevelseeninquarter four2019whileGBRSIoutputisnow1.6% belowitsquarter2019level.

Intermsoffoodandbeverages,Northern Ireland’stwoFrankieandBenny’s restaurants haveanewownerfollowinga£7.5mdeal.

TheRestaurantGroup(TRG)hasagreed adealtosellitsleisurebusiness,which primarilyincludestheFrankieandBenny’s andChiquitochains,torivalBig Table Group.

ThereareFrankie&Benny’s restaurantsin Belfast’sBoucherPlaceand VictoriaSquare.

Thebusinesscomprisesofaround75 restaurants,afterTRGhadshutaround40 ofitssitesoverthepastyearinthefaceof weakertrade.

However,lookingaroundourcitycentre, andothertowns,there remainvacantunits.

Whileafewarecurrentlyduetobelease agreedsooninBelfastcitycentre,othersstill remainempty.

Therehavealreadybeenissuesraisedamong businessgroupsandleadersoverthecity centreenvironmentitself.

TheLordMayorofBelfast RyanMurphymet withbusinessleaderstohearaboutcurrentcity centretradingconditionsandupdatethemon initiativesunderwaytoimprovecleanlinessand support revitalisation.

Hetold representativesfromthebusiness communityabouteffortstoboostcleanliness, aswellasongoingworkwiththePSNI, governmentdepartments,statutoryagencies andotherstoaddressthecomplexissues associatedwithhomelessnessandaddiction.

“Counciliscontinuingtoprioritisecleanercity streets,andtradersagreedthattheyareseeing progressonthatfront,”hesaid.

“Newon-street recyclingbinshavebeen introducedoverthesummer,wehavebrought inmorepeopleandmachinestomaintain cleaningstandardsandweareworkingwith

commercialpremisesonhowbesttopresent binsforcollectiontohelpkeepstreetstidy andclearfromobstacles,andpreventlitter build-up.”

“ThethreeBIDsarealsosupportingour cleansingscheduleswithadditional resources inhighfootfallareasandapublicconsultation willopenthisautumnonbye-lawstoaddress noiseandotherissues.”

ItcomesasthebossofJohnLewishascalled fora royalcommissionintotheUK’shigh streets,whichshesaidriskbecoming“looting grounds”forcrimeandoverrunwithvacant shops.

DameSharonWhite,chairwomanoftheJohn LewisPartnership,whichalsoowns Waitrose, saidsomeUKtownsandcitieshavebecome “shellsoftheirformerselves”.

“Boarded-upshopsleftvacant,dwindling numbersofbanksandpostoffices…and,in theirplace,seeminglyendless rowsofvaping andcharityshops,”shesaid.

“Fortoomanylocal residents,thehearthas beenrippedoutoftheircommunity.” ■

KainostosubmitplanforBelfast offceandstudentscheme

Kainosispushingforwardwith plansforitsnewheadquartersin Belfastandstudentaccommodation schemeforQueen’sUniversity.

TheITservicesgianthadoriginallyplannedto buildonthewholesite,whichwasformerly theMovieHousecinema,buthassince revised downitsschemeintermsoffootprint.

ItcomesaftertheITservicesgiantsoldoffpart oftheDublinRoadsitetoQueen’sUniversity, whichwilldevelopitssectionintostudent accommodation.

It’snowholdingpublicconsultationsonplans forthedevelopmentsaheadofsubmittingfull planningapplicationsinNovember.

Ifapproved,thedevelopmentwillcomprise of85,000sqftofgradeAoffcespacewith anadditional4,000sqftdedicatedtoground foorcommercialuses,andapproximately475 student rooms.

Fullplanningapplicationsareexpectedtobe submittedtoBelfastCityCouncilinNovember 2023.

Thefrmpreviouslysaidthenew80,000sqft buildingwillbeableto“supportthecompany’s signifcantfuturegrowthplans”.

Aspartofapre-applicationcommunity consultationprocess,theplansforthenew developmentwereondisplaytothepublicat theClaytonHotel,Ormeau Avenue,Belfastlast month.

“Themultimillion-pounddevelopmentwill supportKainos’ongoingexpansionand helpmeettheneedforspecialiststudent accommodationinBelfast,”itsays.

“Theinvestmentisexpectedtocontribute signifcantlytothe regenerationofthecity’s

LinenQuarter.”RussellSloan,incoming chiefexecutiveofKainos,said:“Thisnew, contemporarydevelopmentsignalsour continuinginvestmentinBelfast.When complete,itwillbring renewedcharacterto boththeDublinRoadandtheLinenQuarter, andwillprovidesignifcantbeneftsto businesses,organisationsandservicesaround usatBankmoreSquare.”

“Attheheartofthisinvestmentareour people,andourdesiretocreateanexceptional andsustainableworkplaceforourcolleagues toconnectandcollaborate.Ournewoffcewill providemodernoffcespaceforupto1,600 people,creatingthecapacityforourplanned growthinthefuture.”

AndCaroline Young,vice-presidentofstudents

andcorporateservicesatQueen’sUniversity, said:“Havingawiderangeofhighquality, affordableandsafehousingoptions,inclose proximitytoQueen’s,willensurewecan supportthesignifcantincreaseindemand forthistypeofstudentaccommodation.

“Withanexpected3,000more rooms neededinBelfastby2028tomeetgrowing demand,thissiteisanexcellentdevelopment opportunitywhichwillofferaround475 studentsnewaccommodationinaprime locationintheheartofthecity.

“Itwillhelptotransformthearea,while makingasignifcantcontributiontothe economyandweareexcitedbytheprospect ofworkingwithKainosaswedevelopthis site.” ■

BrendanMooneyandRussellSloan,thenewchiefexecutiveofKainos

Catalyst: future workspacesina hotbedofinnovation

Catalyst remainsNorthernIreland’sleadingscience andtechnologyhubfocusedonfosteringinnovation andentrepreneurship–bringinginahostoftop businessesfrominternationalgiantstofreshstart-ups. It’snowofferingupavarietyofoffceandlaboratory workspacestothemarket,alongside OsborneKing, andwillattracteverythingfromwell-establishedmultinationalstoSMEsandsingle-deskentrepreneurs

Catalysthasalreadymade a name foritselfontheinternational marketplaceasboth a destination forinnovationand a locationlikenoother.

It’s hometosomeoftheworld’s biggest businessessuchasCitigroupandPeloton, butalsoplayshosttodozensofindigenous companiesattheforefrontoftechnology, like Artemis Technologies,andpHionTherapeutics.

ButCatalystisalsooneofthecity’s largest landlords – operatingseveralmajorbuildings across a 280,000sqftestaterangingfrom singledeskco-workingspacestolarge10,000 sqftworkspaceswithself-containedkitchens andcustom-builtlaboratoryfacilities.

ItalsooperatesitsFortGeorgesitein Derry/Londonderry, withplansforfurther development.

Catalystisalsooneofthemostforwardthinkingplacestodobusinessandcollaborate, andisputting a lotofenergyandfocusintoits owngreencredentialsandESG.

Thisincludesplanstobecomecarbonneutral by2040,avoidingsendingitswastetolandfll,

installing36electricvehiclechargepoints acrossallcampusesandutilisingsolarenergy Itsoverallcarbonoutputisnowthreetimes lowerthantheEuropeanEnvironmentalAgency benchmark.

Connectivityisalso a strongpointforCatalyst, with a directGliderlinkfromBelfastcitycentre, ampleparking,and a BelfastBikesdocking

stationforthosewhowanttotravelwiththe greenestcredentials.

“We havetwomainlocations,ourcampus in TitanicQuarter, BelfastandoursiteinFort George,Derry/Londonderrywhere wecurrently have a singlebuildingof30,000sqft,”Craig Stewart,headofestatesanddevelopmentat Catalyst,said.

Tenantscanalsosignupto useCatalyst’sgymfacilities

“We alsohaveplanningfor a secondbuilding atFortGeorgewhichwehopetostartinthe nearfuture.

“We have250,000sqftofbuiltspaceacross sevenbuildingsatourBelfast/TitanicQuarter campus.There’s theInnovationCentre,White StarHouse,thethreeConcoursebuildings, whichare multi-tenantedandthehistoricPump House,whichsitsalongsideHMSCaroline, alongwiththeLegacyBuilding.”

“Thescaleofourestateandfexibilityofour workspacesmeansmanycompaniescan startoutasmicro operations,orevenassole traders,before movingintolargerpremisesand expandingwithintheestateitself,allofwhich Catalystcanhelptoseamlesslydeliver We are 95%occupiedsoit’s fndingthoseadditional companiesthatwillftwithintheCatalyst community.”

Catalystisnowbringingits remainingoffce andlaboratoryworkspacetothemarket

rangingfrom200sqftprivateoffcesto7,500 sqft

Richard McCaig,directoratOsborneKing whichismarketingCatalyst,says:“Catalysthas

transformedfromitsearlydaysas a sciencepark andisnowmuchmore,servingkeytechnology clusterssuchashumanhealth,fntech,cyber and regtech,supportedby a richinnovation communityandentrepreneurialecosystem.

“We havepeopleworkingacross a very broadrangeofareasnowaspartofCatalyst’s continuedgrowthandexpansion. We have frmssuchasArtemis Technologies,Lightyear andPhionTherapeutics.It’s everythingfrom offceworkto researchandlabwork.

“We offer a highdegreeoffexibility We have ourITandfbre systemsalreadyinplaceand havefurniture packsavailable – essentially giving a workspacethatcanbe readytowalk intofromdayone.”

“We canalsobeveryfexibleintermsof occupancyagreements,whichcanbetailored tomeetindividual requirements.

“PartoftheCatalystmodelissupporting businessscalingandweworkhard toensure wecanfacilitatescale-upsorscale-downs withintheestate,as required”.

Catalysthasbeenattheforefrontofthislevel

offexibilityanddevelopmentof‘readyto go’workspacesformanyyears,accordingto Richard.

“Thelowcapitalspendonthewayinmakes thisallveryattractivetobusinesses,”hesays. “Catalystcandotheft-outalongside a team ofprofessionalswhohavedoneitforthelast 15years.

“The restofthemarkethaswokenuptothat. Catalystoffers a totalandcompletepackage – youcanbetwopeoplegrowingto20,or20 peoplegrowingto50.”

CraigsayswhatalsomakesCatalystattractiveis theenvironmentandfacilitiesonoffer

“Inadditiontoourqualityworkspaceswehave a topendgym,aneventspace,multiplefood offersandanabundanceoffreecarparking onsite.

“We haveEVchargingstationsandtheGlider stopwhichtakesyoutoorfromCityHallin10 minutes.It’s anextremelyaccessiblesitewith everythingin a singlelocation.”

Catalystalsooffers a naturallycollaborative environmentinwhichcompaniesofallshapes andsizesare abletoworktogetherorconnect onprojects,ideasandconcepts.

“Youoftenseebusinessesmixingtogether inourcafé,whichisrunby YellowDoor You cancomedownfor a coffee,socialiseand mix,sothere isdefnitelythatelementof collaboration.”

Forfurtherinformationcontact:

RichardMcCaig–OsborneKing

E-Mail:richard.mccaig@osborneking.com

CraigStewart–Catalyst

E-mail:craig.stewart@wearecatalyst.org

Oneoftheoffce areasatCatalyst

Oneofthelaboratories atCatalyst

Nightmare on rentalstreet isuponus

RentalpricesinNorthernIrelandappeartobeoutpacing eventheUK’s recordratesand RichardRamsey, chiefeconomistatUlsterBankinNorthernIreland, saysthingscouldgetworsebeforetheygetbetter

Ithaslongbeenknownthatdueto affordabilitychallenges,youngpeople haveturnedtotheirparentsformoney tohelpfundadeposittobuytheirfrst home.But recentfguressuggestthatthe ‘BankofMumandDad’(Bomad)maybe runningoutofcash.

Bloomberg’s researchsuggeststhatwhile manyfrst-timebuyersarestill relyingontheir parents,moreandmoreareturningtotheir siblingsinstead.SowhatdoestheriseofBobas (BankofBroandSis)tellusaboutthehousing market?

Thehousingmarkethascertainlybeeninthe newsoflatewithlotsofheadlinesabouta slowdowninsalesandadropinaveragehouse prices.Thecost-of-borrowingcrisisintheform ofrisinginterestrateshasbeenimpactingon demand,anditlookslikeithasbeenimpacting ontheappetiteoftheBankofMumand Dadtosupporttheirchildren’shomebuying aspirations.

Theyarefacingtheirownaffordability challenge–nottheaffordabilityofbuyinga newhomebuttheaffordabilityoffnancing theirexistinghomeswiththose rollingoff fxed-ratedealsfacingacliffedgeofhigher rates.

AtaUK-level,we’veheardfromaNationwide surveythathousepricesfellattheirfastest paceinthepastyearsince2009.Housesales

arealsosetfortheirslowestyearsince2012, accordingtoZoopla.

Conversely, rentsataUK-levelarerisingata recordpace.Meanwhile,inNorthernIreland, thefguresforhousepricesandsalesare perhapsnotasdramaticasintheUK.But whenitcomesto rentalprices,thefgures suggestthatNorthernIrelandisseeingeven strongergrowththanthe recordratesbeing seenataUKlevel.

NI’s residentialpropertypriceshave remained resilienttostrongheadwinds.Following twoquartersofdecline,thelocal residential propertypriceindex(RPPI) reboundedwith a1.4%quarterlyriseinthethreemonthsto June.That’sjustover1%belowQ32022’s peakandbringsthestandardisedpriceto £173,898.

Theannualpaceofpropertypriceinfationhas easedto2.7%andthismarkstheslowestrate ofgrowthsincebeforethepandemic(Q4-19). Propertycrashveteranswillbeawareprices arestilldown23% relativetosummer2007’s freakpeak.Adjustforinfation,whichhasrisen by60%,andpricestodayareover50%below whattheywere16yearsago.

NI’s residentialpropertypricestorydiffers markedlybetweennewandexistingdwellings. Theformerhasn’tyet recordedanypricefalls inalmostsixyearswithnewbuildpricesrising by8.5%year-on-year,fvetimestherateof

thesecond-handmarket.Afallinsupplyis proppingupprices.

Completedunitsfellby20%y/yinQ22023 andaredownbyasimilarmarginvis-à-visthe samequarterin2019.Thefrstsixmonths oftheyearhaveseen1,000fewerdwellings (-28%)fnishedthanduringthesameperiod in2019.Thetrendfortheshrinkingsupply ofnewbuildsisexpectedtocontinuewith Q22023 recordingthefewestnumberof dwellingsstartedinadecade(outsideof lockdowns).

Housingsupplyisgoingtobeamajorissue fortheyearstocome.Butthisisperhapsone aspectofthehousingmarketthatperhaps hasn’tbeengettingtheattentionitdeserves.

Andthisisgoingtohaveabigimpactonthe rentalmarket.Indeed,itcouldbesaidthat thereisanassaulton rentalsupplyinparticular, comingfromarangeofangles.

Private rentalstockhasshrunkby50%over thelastsevenorsoyearsaccordingto research fromUlsterUniversity.Therearearangeof factorsatplay,butthemostsignifcantone istheriseofAirbnbswithlandlordsshifting fromlong-term rentalstoshort-termlets.This isfeedingintoanunprecedentedsupplyand demanddynamicasdemandrisesatatime whensupplyhasplummeted.

AccordingtoPropertyPal,theaveragenumber ofenquiriesper rentalpropertybeforethe pandemicwas19,whereastodayitis89.That

compareswith10enquiriesperpropertyfor sale.Soeventhosewhohavethemeansto meet record-highprivatesector rentsfacethe prospectoffercecompetition.Thequestionis, wherearethoseother88peoplegoingtofnd accommodation?

Itisperhapsnottoodramatictosaythatthis willhaveverysignifcantsocialimplicationsand wecanexpectthoseindividualsunabletoget housedtobecomemorevocalinlobbyingtheir political representatives.Theeconomywas NorthernIreland’snumberoneprioritybefore thepandemicandhealthbecamethepriority duringit.Ibelievethatsucharetheissuesin the rentalmarketthathousingwillhaveto becomethenumberonepriorityformany yearsahead.

Therentalmarketmayonlyget betterifsomethingisdone

AndtheBankofBroandSisdefnitelyisn’tthe solutiontotheproblems–it’sasymptomof them.Thereisnoavoidingthefactthatthe answerisincreasinghousingsupply.Butinthe currentclimate,withmoreandmoreamateur landlordsexitingthemarketandashortage ofconstructionskillshamperingtheabilityto buildmorehomes,howcanthatbedone?

Unfortunately,theonceinalifetime opportunityforgovernments/housing associationstoborrowat recordlowinterest ratesandinvestinhousingandinfrastructure hasbeenmissed.

Thingsaregoingtogetworsebeforethey getbetter.Andtheywillonlygetbetterif somethingisdone. ■

JasonStarbuck DELOITTE

Howmuchfreetimedoyouhaveoutside ofwork?

Iimaginelikemostpeopleinbusiness,the answerisprobably‘notenough’.Asanaudit partneratDeloitteinBelfastweareworking withclientsofallsizesinallsectors,fromlisted businessestoSMEs,sothereisnosuchthing asaquietperiodduringtheyear.Annaand Ihavethreechildren,Ollie(9),Harry(7)and Emily(4),aswellasJasper(1)ourcrazyGordon Setter,solifeisquitebusyoutsideofworktoo. We haveourhandsfull.

Whatdoyoudototrytoseparateyour workandhomelife?

Itisdefnitelyachallenge.Thereareoften eventstoattendintheevening,urgentemails tobeanswered,clientsandcolleaguesinother timezonesanddeadlinestobemet.ButIhave foundthatbeingbackinoffcemoreoften hashelpedbecausementally,whenyou’veleft theoffce,itbringsadegreeofclosuretothe workingday.Ourteamisverysupportivewhen peoplehavethingstheyneedtodoathomeor infamilylifeandthisiskeyforme.

Whatdoyoudoinyoursparetime?

I’vebeenakeenbirdwatchersinceIwasat primaryschoolandthatinterestinnatureand theenvironmenthascontinuedthroughoutmy lifeandisa realpassionofmine.MywifeAnna andIhave recentlyboughtasmallfarminCo Downandareintheprocessof reallytrying toshapeourplansandvisionforit. We’reat ascalewherewecandosomethingdifferent andare reallyinterestedingoingdownthe regenerativefarming route.Theopportunity toproducequalityfood,sustainandenhance

thesoilandmakeadifferencetobiodiversity is reallyexcitingtome.Itisapassionproject andnotsomethingwearerushinginto,butit’s greattobeabletostepoutintosomethingso different.Itcertainlyclearsyourhead.

Whatisitaboutthathobby/activitythat youlikesomuchandhowdidyoufrstget intoit?

Imainlygettimetodobirdwatchingthese dayswhenI’monholiday.I’llsneakoffat about5.30ambeforeanyoneisupand really enjoytheopportunitytogooutonwalking trailstodiscoversomethingnewinadifferent habitattohomeanditbringsa realsenseof adventuretryingtofndandidentifysomething I’veneverseenorheardbefore.I’mfortunate thatthere’snowanappcalledMerlin,whichis sortofShazamforbirdcalls,whichallowsyou tocheatabitandfndoutthenameofthe birdsyouhearandimprovesmychances.

Istheresomethingyou’dliketostart doingortakeup?

I’vealifetime’slearninglinedupformyself withventuringintofarmingsothatisprobably goingtotakeupmostofmysparetimefor yearstocome.Theopportunitytobetuned intothelandandnatureandtohavetheability toshapeitisverycoolforme.I’vealways dabbledonamicroscaleinmyvegetablepatch butIlovetheideaofgrowingfoodwithgreat provenanceonamuchbiggerscale.

It’sholidaytime–whereareyoutravelling to?

We trytomixitupandgiveourkidsadifferent experienceeverysummer,sowewouldrarely gotothesameplacetwice.Thisyearwe wenttoMenorcaforsomesunshineandthen hadafantasticcitybreakinOslo.Itisa really interestingcityandI’m reallykeentoexplore allofNorwaynow. ■

Allaboardthe investmenttrain

Whetherfundingstart-ups,orturbochargingan existingsuccessfulbusiness,NorthernIrelandhas anecosystemofsupportandopportunities,writes PavelBarter

Fromitsinception,FurtherSpacewas aninnovativeconcept.TheNI-based businesshostsluxuryglamping podsatuniquelocationsacrosstheUK andIreland:farms,bays,mountainsand estates.

Everyjourneyhasabeginningandfor co-founderDavidMaxwellitbeganwith acashinjectionfacilitatedthroughUlster Bank’sEntrepreneurAcceleratorprogramme.

MaryMcKenna, co-founderof AwakenHub

“Throughtheirnetwork,we received£90,000 worthofSEIS(SeedEnterpriseInvestment Scheme)fundingandthatstartedour journey.”

This£90,000allowedDavidtolaunchthe brandin2018,“putasalespersononthe road andbringinformalmarketingsupport.Ittook thepressureoffandallowedustoputmanners onthebusiness.Sowhenyougoforafurther funding round,insteadofbeingaoneortwo

manbandwithnosystemsorprocesses,you’re moresophisticated.”

JohnFerris, regionalecosystemsmanagerat UlsterBank,saystheacceleratorprogramme, whichhelpsNorthernIrishentrepreneurs throughcoachingandmentoringandevents, hasfacilitatedover£35minfunding.“About 60companiesareonourprogrammeatany onetime.Nearly800othercompanieshave beenthroughtheprogramme. We don’t chargeforthis. We focusoncompanies that requireaccesstofnanceandwehave everythingfromachainoficecreamstoresto cybertechnologycompanies.”

It’snosecretthatNorthernIrelandis consideredanideallocationforabusiness seekinggrowthin2023.Septembersawtwo largeinvestmenteventstakingplaceinBelfast:

theNorthernIrelandInvestmentSummit, initiatedby Westminster,whichtransported inwardinvestorsfromaroundtheworldto thecity.Catalyst,NI’snon-proftscienceand technologyhub,alsohelditsannualInbound Investorseventwhichhasasuccessfultrack recordofintroducinglocalbusinessesto London-basedventurecapitalists(VCs).

MaryMcKenna,co-founderof AwakenHub,a networkoffemalefoundersacrosstheisland ofIreland,andSheGenerate,anaccelerator programmeaimedatearlystagefemale founders, recommendsthatstart-upsplaythe longgameintheirquestforcapital.

“Companiesstartoffbytalkingtolistsof100 or200VCs.ThenthoseVCswillsaytothem ‘Sorry,butyou’retooearlyforus.Comeback whenyou’vegotsomedatapointsthatwecan

useas reference,orwhenyou’veachievedthe followingmilestones’.Thenthecompanyraises thefrstfew roundsfromangelgroupsand syndicates.ThenoneofthoseVCs,whothey talkedtoafewyearspreviouslyandtheykept intouchwith,putinthemoney.”

Somecompanies,shesays,“havetolook outsideNorthernIrelandforfunding”.“If you’rebuildingasignifcanttechbusiness–somethingcapitalintensivesuchasamedical devicecompany–youwillnotbeabletoraise themoneythatyouneedinNorthernIreland,” shesays.

WithinNorthernIreland,though,thereisa closeecosystemofsupport,programmes, andinvestmentopportunities.MaryMcKenna recentlylaunched AwakenAngels,Ireland’s “frstandonlywomen-ledangelinvestment

syndicate”.Theirfrstpitchnighttookplace thismonth(September19)andwas“opento anybodywhowantstocomesalong”.Mary says.

“Ourtargetistobringonboard50new womenangelsontheisland,ofwhichabout athirdneedtobeinNorthernIrelandfortheir frst12months.NorthernIrelandisbackward intermsofthenumberofwomenthatangel invest.Therangeoftheinvestmentswillbe between£35,000toaboutaquarterofa million–soit’searlystagefrstmoney.”

BritishBusinessBank(BBB)helped Awaken Angelstakefight.BBBhasbeeninstrumental ininjectingcapitalintonewbusinessesaround NI.Thisautumn,BBBislaunchinga£70m investmentfundtosupportthegrowthof smallandmedium-sizedbusinessesacross NorthernIreland,butitsfootprintgoes further.BBBis“notatypicalbank”,says SusanNightingale,wholeadsBBB’sactivity inNorthernIreland,Scotlandand Wales.The bankisgovernment-ownedbutindependently managed.“WegetourmoneyouttoSMEs throughthirdpartydeliverypartners–andwe haveanumberofthemoperatinginNorthern Ireland.”

Thosepartnersincludeinstitutionssuchas EnterpriseNI,WhiterockFinance,Clarendon FundManagers,butalsoUKandRoIbased equityfrmsthathaveamandatetoinvestinNI companies:ParEquity,SFCCapital,Deepbridge Capital,MMLGrowthCapitalPartners,Beach PointCapitalManagement,andPanoramic.

BBB’sStartUpLoansprogramme,according toMaryMcKenna,“donot requireanoverly onerousapplicationprocess.Theywanttofnd waystogive[businesses]money,ratherthan fndwaysnottodoit,whichissometimes whatbanksdo”.Susansays:“Ourfundssuit acompanythathasaviablegrowthproposal outsideoftraditionalbankfnanceappetite. Ifabusinessgetsa[rejection]notefromthe bank,thatdoesn’thavetobetheendof theirfundingjourney.Thereareavastrange ofotherfundingoptionsavailableandthat’s wherewestepin.”>

SusanNightingale oftheBritish BusinessBank

NorthernIrelandishometomultiplefunding sourcesforearlystagebusinesses,including HBAN,whichconnectsstart-upswithangels andsyndicates,and Techstart Ventureswhich investsseedcapital. Techstartissupporting Catalyst’sCo-FoundersProgrammein2023.

“Throughtheprogramme,participants getaccesstoworkshopsandcoachingto helpvalidatetheirstart-upidea,”Hannah Cummings,programmemanager,tells Ulster Business.“Thankstoourpartnerships…this yearwith Techstart,wehavebeenabletooffer £10,000proofofconceptgrantfundingto successfulteams.”

CoFundNIisNorthernIreland’smostactive equityinvestor.Sinceitsinceptionin2011,the fundhassupportedNorthernIrishbusinesses withalmost£45mininvestment.

“Wetypicallyinvestincompaniesthathave already receivedalittlebitoffunding,” BrianCummings,investmentdirectorwith ClarendonFundManagers,whichmanages

CoFundNI,says.”Thefundtendstoinvest in roundsofbetween£150,000and£1mat aratioofuptoamaximumof50%ofthe investment round,“matchingpublicmoney withprivatecapital”.Thusfar,CoFundNIhas supported103companiesandsuccessfully sold“abouteight”.

ThreeofCoFundNI’spartnershipshave listingsonthestockexchange.Alistingis onewayinwhichestablished,successful companiesinNIcantaketheirbusinessto anotherlevel,allowingthemtoaccesscapital intheLondonmarketandcreateimproved valuations.OneofCoFundNI’spartners, Tribe Technology,becameNorthernIreland’s latestlistedbusinesswhenitwentpublicin September,2023.

ForFurtherSpace,theluxuryglamping podbusiness,thenextphaseoffunding (aftertheir£90,000SEISinjection)came locallythroughprivateinvestmentcompany CordovanCapitalinBelfast.DavidMaxwell attractedfurtherinvestmentfromInvestNI’s

privateequityco-fund-andmore recently ForesightGroupandBritishBusiness Investments.FurtherSpacehasraised“inthe regionof”£5.5mtodate,Davidsays.

BBBalsofundsscale-upsaswellasstart-ups andUlsterBank’sacceleratorprogramme assiststhetrajectoryoflargerbusinesses Whateverthesize,there’salwayssomeone toguideandsupportabusinessintheir fundingjourney.“There’saverysupportive ecosystemacrossNorthernIreland,”says SusanNightingale.“Buildupyournetwork. Reachouttopeople.”

ThisnetworkcertainlyhelpedFurtherSpace. Thebusinesscurrentlyhas73glampingpods aroundtheUKandIreland.“Probablyby themiddleofnextyearitwillbeanywhere between90and120,”Davidsays.“The long-termfutureis500podsover80 locationsinfveorsixyears.Myadvicefor anystartupwouldbetogetyourvisionona document.Thensurroundyourselfwithgreat people.Arisingtideraisesallships.” ■

JohnFerrisofUlsterBank

InsideBelfast’sposhestnew homesworthmorethan£1m

Aluxuryhousing developing featuringhomes worthmore than£1mis nowunderwayinsouth Belfast.

TheHamptonsdevelopment willseeLaganHomesbuildings 35properties – eachrangingfrom £825,000to£1.2minvalue,making themsomeofthemostexpensiveinNorthern Ireland.

ConstructionworkhasalreadybegunonThe Hamptons,off HamptonPark.

Aninitialapplicationfor18detachedhouses ongreenspacebesideintheGalwallyareawas approvedbyBelfastCityCouncil’s planning committeelastyear, despite receiving271 objectionsfromlocals.

There isalsoextantapprovalfor35homes alongwith a more recentapprovalfor18 properties.

Thescheme,whichdeveloperssayhascreated 50constructionjobsoverfouryears,willsee thepropertiesdevelopedclosetoBelvoirForest.

AccordingtodeveloperLaganHomesitis“also workingwithBelfastCityCounciltoassistwith thecouncil’s plannedphasetwooftheLagan

“NestledbetweenBelvoirForestandbordering theLagan ValleyNationalPark,anareaof outstandingnaturalbeauty, TheHamptons’ homesare traditionalGeorgianstyledetached residencesstartingfrom2,200sqftto3,600sq ft,”developerssay

DesignedbylocalarchitectAlanPatterson Designandpartneringwithsupplierssuch asRobinsons,Studio 4 Kitchens,Carlanto,

InsidesomeofthenewHamptonParkhomes

Armatile,Bathline,Ceco,andLeeAuston Design,thenewpropertiesare beingmarketed byGerryO’ConnorEstateAgents,withstarting pricesfrom£835,000to£1.2m.

“Itisrare tohavetheopportunitytoconstruct homesofthisstandard inwhatisarguably Belfast’s mostsoughtafteraddress,”Conor Mulligan,managingdirectoratLaganHomes NI,said.

“We are blessedtoworkalongside a teamof contractors,architects,surveyors,designersthat are thebestinthebusiness,andthisis refected inthequalityofthesehomes.

“InpartnershipwithBelfastCityCouncil,we’re alsofacilitatingtheexpansionanddevelopment ofthecity’s much-lovedandusedgreenway network,creatingforthefrsttime a seamless linkbetweenBT9andBT7andanunrivalled accessibilityforcyclists,walkersandfamilies toavailofthe20plusmilesofgreenwayand towpathalongtheRiverLagan.” ■

Gatewayprojecttoprovide a widertowpath connectionbetweenthenewNoahDonohoe BridgeandthewiderBelvoirForest”.

Howdidyoustartoutinyourbusiness?

ThestartofHaganHomeswas rootedinthe valuesofhardworkandambition,aswell asimmensesupportfrommyparents.That backupwaskeyinencouragingentrepreneurial spirit.

Apivotalmomentwas35yearsagowhenI acquiredasiteintendedforasinglehouse.

However,Isawanopportunitytomaximiseits potentialbyconvertingitintoaprojectof12 apartmentsandIsoldthemfor£27,000each. WhileatthehelmofHaganHomes,I’mproud tosaythatthecompanyhasbuiltover5,000 affordable,qualityhomesrightacrossNI, survivedthe recessionandnavigatedCovid-19. HaganHomeshasateamof10employeesand workswithover200subcontractors.

Whathaveyoufoundthemost challengingduringyouryearsofbusiness, sofar?

Therehavebeenmanybutperhapsone ofthemostfrustratingandmost recurring obstacleshasbeentheburdenofunnecessary bureaucracyand redtapeintheplanning system.Navigatingthesebureaucratichurdles and regulationshasposedasignifcant challengeandcostnotjustformebutothers intheindustry.

Howwouldyoudescribeyour managementstyle?

It’sprobablycharacterisedbyforthrightness andbeinghands-on.Ifrmlybelieveinleading byexampleandI’mnotonetoshyawayfrom takingcalculatedrisks.Oneofmymottosis–‘taketheriskorlosethechance’.

To leadIbelieveyoualwaysneedtobe preparedtoswimupstream.It’stooeasyto swimdownstreamlikeeveryoneelse. We didthisinthe recession–wewerethefrst

Name: JamesHagan Position: Founder andchairman, HaganHomes

developersto reducethepriceofproperties inordertosecuresalesandthisapproachwas fundamentaltooursurvival.

Ialsobelieveyoushouldneveraskanyoneto doanythingyouwouldn’tdoyourself.I’ve workedinallaspectsofthecompany,soI knowwhatthevarious rolesinvolve.It’salso importanttobeagoodlistener.Ialsofeelit’s importanttobeontheendofthephonefor yourstaffatanytimeandkeepintunewith anyissuestheyhaveatworkorpersonally.I developedastrongteamofemployees,draw upontheirknowledgeandexpertiseand valuedtheircontributionbyinvestingintheir personaldevelopment.

Whatwouldyouchangeifyoucouldgo backanddoitallagain?

Whiletherehavebeenbothupsanddowns,I amhappywiththetrajectoryofourbusiness andtheachievementsoftheteam.Itakea pragmaticapproachtothepast, recognising thatthejourney,withallitschallengesand successes,hasledtothepresentstateofthis business.

Haveyoudoneitallonyourown?

Ofcoursenot,Iwouldn’tbeherewithoutmy

amazingteamovertheyears.Thisjourneyto successhasnotbeenasoloendeavour,it’sa collectiveeffortofthat remarkableteam,both pastandpresent.I recognisetheinvaluable contributionsofthosewhohaveworked alongsideme,aswellasthesupportI’ve receivedfromindividualsoutsidethebusiness.

Howwouldyoulikeyourbusinesstobe remembered?

Asalegacy, rememberedforitscommitment toprovidingaffordablehousingandits dedicationtosupportingcross-community initiativesacrosstheprovince.Beyond constructingqualityhomes,IhopethatHagan Homeswillbe rememberedforthepositive impactithashadoncommunitiesthroughits charitableeffortsandcommunitysupport.

Whatpieceofadvicewouldyougivetoa 20-year-oldyou?

Seizeopportunitieswhileyou’reyoung, broadenyourhorizonsthroughtravel,and liveeachdayasifitwerethelast.Hardwork beatstalentwhentalentdoesn’tworkvery hard,andyoushouldembraceopportunities whentheycomeyourway.Astrongwork ethicandawillingnesstoseizethedayis essential. ■

Thecolumnwithan earforexperience...

Buildingafuture fromthepast

Sponsoredby

Whilenewbuildsaregoingup,manyofourold heritagebuildingsaregettinganewleaseoflife throughrestorationintooffces,hotelsandleisure facilities,writes PavelBarter

By2020, TemplemoreBathsineast Belfasthadfallenintodisrepair.

Whiletheswimmingpoolwasstilloperational inonehalfofthebuilding,theotherhalfwas occupiedbypigeons.Manyoftheoriginal featuresofthebuilding,whichopened in1893,werecrumbling.Whilethetwin entrances–originallyfrstandsecondclass entrances–wereintact,the roofsabovewere readytocollapsefromdry rot.Thismuchloved locallandmarkwasinasadstate.

Fastforwardtothesummerof2023 and TemplemoreBathshasundergonea transformation.Onthebackofa£17m regenerationproject,fundedbyBelfastCity CouncilandtheNationalLotteryHeritage Fund,manyfeaturesoftheoriginalbathshave been restored.Theoldbuildingnowcontains aninteractivevisitorcentrethatcelebrates itsheritage,whilea28,000sqftextension containsmodernleisurefacilitiesincludinga 25msix-laneswimmingpool.

Templemore,however,isbutonesuccessstory. AccordingtoUlsterArchitecturalHeritage (UAH)over1,038buildingsareatriskin NorthernIreland:manyofthesearelisted. “Theyrangefromsmallvernacularhousesto

largeindustrialcomplexes,”saysSebastian GrahamoftheHeritageatRiskRegister, apartnershipbetweenUAHandHistoric EnvironmentDivision(HED).

“ManyofthelargemillsitessuchasHilden andHerdman’sFlaxMillinSionMillsoffer potential–sadlybothsitesareinastateof decayanddisrepair.”

Heritageproperties,withthehelpof restoration,havesomethingtoofferabusiness –offcespace,hotels,leisure–thatisnot possiblefromnewbuilds.Recentexamples includeArthur’sontheMainStreetin Hillsborough,anotherbuildingatriskbrought backtolifeasboutiqueguestaccommodation. StColumb’sHall Trustarecurrently revivingSt Columb’sHall,a45,000sqftgradeAlisted buildinginDerrythatopenedin1886.

SebastianGrahamnotesthebeneftsof locatingaworkspacewithinahistorical building.“Itprovidescustomersorclients withapositivefrstimpressionofthebusiness astheyareuniquebuildingsthatcannotbe replicated…havingauniquehistoricbuildingis anattractivewaytoenticecustomers[inside]. TheMerchantHotel,forexample,isagradeA listedformerUlsterBankbuilding.Itsexterior

isfullofarchitecturalfeaturesthatmakeita talkingpoint.Thisinturncanmakepeople wanttostayorvisitthebuilding.”

Vacanciesareaproblem,particularlyin Belfast,butsomepropertycompanies areona rescuemission.AngusProperties focuseson redevelopingheritageandlisted buildings.“We’veseenalotofbuildingsin badcondition,”saysPaulElliott,Angus’s in-housearchitect,projectmanagerand constructionmanager.“We’requiteunusual inthatwe’retheowner,investor,developer, contractorandarchitect. We doft-outs… wearecommerciallydriven,butwesee thecommercialvaluein retention.Itworks becausewethinkit’spopular.”

Angushasagoodtrack recordin restoring buildings.Theytransformedafour-story baroquestylebuildingonLombardStreet inBelfast,whichwasbuiltin1875.This formerlydilapidated Victorianbuilding,with itssandstonefaçadeandvoluminousfoors, isnowavisuallystrikingboutiqueoffcethat hostsadrinkscompany.

AldermanFrank McCoubreywith councillorChristinaBlack andMukeshSharma, chairmanofTheNational LotteryHeritageFund atthestartofworkon TemplemoreBaths

Angusisnowputtingthefnishingtouchesto alate VictorianwarehouseonQueenStreet inBelfast,builtin1895,whichoncehosted aprintworks. Withitswroughtironcolumns andbeams,largefoorspaceandwindows, thepropertycompany recogniseditspotential andpurchasedthebuildinginlate2018.Like TemplemoreBaths,alotofworkneededtobe done.

Followingaforensicanalysis,theteam discoveredexternalcracksintheprintworks wallsthat required repair.Partofthe roofalso neededtobe removed,whichwas“quitea processonabuildingthat’s100yearsoldand you’refvestoriesuponaverytightaccess,” Paulsays.

Simultaneously,HeronBroswereworkingto

resurrect TemplemoreBathsineastBelfast. DiarmuidMullan,sitemanagerontheproject, workedcloselywith restorationexperts ConsarcArchitects.HistoricEnvironment DivisionandtheNationalLotteryHeritage Fund,whocommitted£5mtowardsthe project,alsohelped.UnlikethePrintworks, TemplemoreBathswaslisted.Thebuilding originallyhadagardenwithafountainin itscentralcourtyardandthedevelopers transformedthisspaceintoacafé.

“Wetookawaythefountain, restoredit anditcamebackasacentrepieceforthe café,”Diarmuidsays.“Ifyouembracethe [original]featuresanddesign,itcanbecomea centrepiece.”

SebastianGrahamofUAHsays:“Itisoften believedthatlistingcanputoffdevelopment andlimitwhatyoucandowithabuilding.This isnottrue.EarlyengagementwithHistoric EnvironmentDivisionisadvisedtounderstand whatcanandcan’tbedone.”

AlthoughthePrintworksonQueenStreet>

Inside Templemore BathsineastBelfast

TemplemoreBaths followingits£17m refurbishment

wasnotlisted,AngusProperties recognised thebeneftsin retainingthepropertyduetoits aestheticandoperationalappeal.“We’rejust goingtofxwhatwehave,”PaulElliottsays.

“Thisisavaluableasset. We’reconfdentthat we’llbeableto rentthisexposed redbrick warehousespacewithcastironcolumnsand openfoorplates.Whatwe’renotconfdent onisthenewbuildmarket.There’samillion squarefeetofvacantoffcespaceinBelfast, supposedly.Ourcompetitivenessinthat marketwillcomefromthefactthatwehave somethingdifferent:aheritagebuilding.”

Butcana restorationprojectpreservethe historicalaspectsofabuildingwhileadapting itfor21stcentury requirements?Paulnotes thatthenatureofbuilding reuseisbynature environmentallyfriendly.“[ThePrintworks]isa buildingwith120yearsofembodiedcarbon. We’venotknockedthisbuildingdown.There’s vastamountofcarbonbeingsavedbyus savingthisbuilding. We’ve recycledmaterial fromthebuildingitself.”

Angusftted-outthebuildingwithair conditioningandintroducedanairhandling

heat recoverysystemandnowplans onplacingsolarpanelsacrossthe roof. “Everythingthatwewereputtingbacknewis farandabovewhatthebuilding regulations would require.”

TemplemoreBathsalsoillustrateshow restorationcanbeconductedwithminimal carbonfootprint.Whenitcomestoftout,the renewedbathsmeet21stcentury requirements.

“Inthenew[baths]building,you’vegotunder foorheatingandaircontrols,whereasinthe oldbuilding,therearecastironstyleradiators and roomthermostats,”DiarmuidMullansays. “Soit’saboutmakingallM&E(mechanicaland electricalservices)work.Ifyoutaketheright approach,nothingisdiffculttoovercome.”

AccordingtoSebastianGraham,thereare “relativelyfew”grantsforbusinesseswhen itcomesto restoration.“However,councils mayhavesmallerpotsofmoneyforshop frontages”.AndNationalLottery Townscape HeritageProgrammeshavehelpedbusinesses revivehistoricbuildingsintownsthatinclude ArmaghandLurgan.

Restorationprojectsnotonlysavebuildings, theyalsopreservetradesandcrafts.“Within theprocessof reuseand restorationofthese buildings,you’regivingcraftspeopleskills in restorationandheritagemaintenance,” Diarmuidsays.Indeed,HeronBroshas retained staffwhoworkedonthe Templemoreproject forthepurposeoffutureprojects.

Alongsidetheaestheticappealandtheinnate functionalityofmanyofthesebuildingsfor businessspace,theyalsohavelastingsocial impacts:bringingthecommunitytogether andmaintainingconnectionswithourpast. WhileHeronBroswasworkingon Templemore Baths,localsfrequentlystoppedtoaskthem abouttheproject.Thislocationwasengrained generationallywithinthecommunity:people’s grandparentsswamattheBathsandnowtheir grandchildrenwouldhaveanopportunityto swimtheretoo.

“Ifounditfantastictoseehowmuchthat projectmeanttothem,”Diarmuidsays.“It makesusproudtobeapartofthisbuilding anditssocialimpactonthecommunity: knowingthatit’sgoingtobehereforanother hundredyears.” ■

PicturedwithUlsterBankbusinessdevelopment managerDerickWilson(left)areownersofArthur’s inHillsborough,Jonathanand LynneMcCabe

Calibro: 15yearsofinspiring peopletodotheirbestwork

Inanindustrywhereinnovation anddesignareparamount,Calibro Workspacehasstoodthetestoftime, markingits15thanniversaryasaleading offcedesignandftoutcompanyinCo Antrim.

Thecompanyisalsocelebratingitsstrongest businessperformancetodateandwith a relentlesscommitmenttopushingthe boundariesofworkspacedesignand enhancingemployeewellbeing,Calibro Workspacehasconsistentlydelivered excellenceandtransformedworkspacesinto hubsofproductivity,creativity,andcomfortfor theirclients.

Overthecourseof15years,Calibrohas dedicateditselfto reimaginingworkplacesand hasexperiencedsignifcantgrowthin recent years.

Havingdoubled revenueinthelasttwelve monthsandincreasedtheemployee headcountby38%,thecompanyis onastronggrowthtrajectory andenvisagescontinuingon itsvisionofbecomingthe leadingoffcedesignand buildftoutcontractorin Ireland.

Calibro’sjourneyto thismilestonehasbeen markedbyadedication tostayingaheadofdesign trends,embracingcutting-edge technology,andfosteringcollaborationwith globalinnovatorsandsuppliers.

ThisapproachhasallowedCalibrotodeliver transformativeprojects,fromcorporate headquarterstocoworkingspaces,theyhave lefttheirmarkondiversesectorsandindustries thatempoweremployeestodotheirbest work.

Speakingaboutthe15-year anniversary,managingdirector RonnieCrawford,said:

“Reachingthe15-yearmark milestoneisatestamentto thededicationofourteam, thetrustofourclients,and theimportanceofcreating offcedesignsthat supportand enhancetheoverall wellbeingofthosewho workinthem.

“Wehaveexperienced signifcantgrowthin recent yearsandhavedevelopedour specialistteamtofacilitateour clientsacrossIreland.

“Employeewellbeingisattheheartof

everythingwedoatCalibro,andaswelook backover15yearsitisamazingtoseehow thetraditionaloffcehasevolvedandhowwe havepositivelycontributedtochange.

“Wehavealsohelpedputaspotlighton theimportanceofdesignasakeyfactor forenhancingemployeewellbeingand inspiringpeopletodotheirbest work.”

Withambitiousgrowth plans,thecompany isalsomakingfurther signifcantinvestmentsin itspeople,witharange ofsenior rolescurrently available,alongwiththe expansionofitssubcontractor networkacrossIrelandtoserviceits growingclientlist. ■

SomeoftheCalibroteamcelebrating15yearsinbusiness

venYou: changingoffcesofthefuture

Thewayinwhichweworkhasundoubtedlychangedover thepastfewyearsandwiththis,ourworkingenvironment hasbecomeanimportantfactorinthefutureofoffce working.

Withanincreasingnumberofworkers returningtotheoffce, companiesaregainingabetterunderstandingoftheirfutureoffce needsanddesiredfacilities.

Inthelast12months,Belfastcitycentrehasseenarangeofnew developments,acrossinfrastructure,commercialand residential,with several recentlycompletedoffcebuildings,andsteadytenanttakeup.Onesuchcompanythatisexperiencinganincreaseindemand isvenYou,Belfast’ssuperiorservicedoffceandbusinessworkspace solutionsprovider.

venYouhasexperiencedexceptionalgrowthsinceitslaunchin2019. Thecompanywasestablishedin responsetothegrowingdemand forservicedoffcespaceinBelfastcitycentrethatthemanagement team,DonnaLinehanandJonnyHill,wereexperiencingfrsthanddue toincreasinginterestinitsfagshipproperty,theScottishProvident Building,whichhasbeenaprimeservicedoffcelocationfor13years.

Recentlycelebratingitsfourthsuccessfulyearinbusiness,venYou’s portfoliohasnowgrowntoincludeAscotHouse,NorthernCourt,and thenewly refurbishedThomasHouse,whichisduetoopenlaterthis year.venYou respondedtomarketchanges,specifcallyhowthefuture ofoffcespaceischanging,toprovidelarger,openplanworkingspaces inAscotHouse,NorthernCourtandatthenewestlocation,Thomas House.

venYouiscurrentlyhometoanumberofglobalorganisations,aswellas someofNorthernIreland’smostprogressiveandinnovativecompanies fromsectorsincludingtech,legal, recruitment,fnance,mediaandcyber security.WhatmakesvenYouuniqueinitsdeliveryofservicedoffce spacesisthefexibilityitofferstoawiderangeofbusinesses,from providingsupporttothosewhicharestartingsmall,fromvirtualoffce spacetosinglepersonspace,rightthroughtothebusiness’sexpansion toencompasslargeroffcesandfullfoors.

JonnyHill,operationsdirector,said:“Weareexcitedtobeabletooffer ourclientsafullrangeofoffcesuitesandfacilitiesandensurewemeet theircompany’sneeds.AtvenYou,weadaptedthechangingbusiness modelofservicedoffces,offeringawiderchoiceofoffcespaceswith fexibleagreementstotakeintoaccountthechangingwayofthe workingenvironment.

“Wealsovalueourcollaborativeapproachwithourclientsandoffer additionalbeneftsthatclientswerekeentohave,suchasbaristastyle coffeemachines,flteredwaterstations,fullystockedfridges,leading

technologyandacalendarofnetworkingevents,includingspecifc trainingtoentertainmenteveningswithteamgames,aswellashealth andwell-beingprogrammes.

“venYouisproudtohaveahighlyexperiencedteamandourdedicated housekeepersandmaintenancestaffensureourclients receivethefvestarservicetheydesire.

“WithavenYouservicedoffce,clientscanliterallywalkintothespace, setuptheircomputerandbeginworking,asourteamwilllookafterall themenialtaskspriortotheirarrivalandsubsequentserviceincluding housekeeping,callanswering,meeting roomsetupetc.

“Thishasbeenofparticularinteresttoourclients,particularlytheFDIs andlargemulti-nationals.venYou’sclientsalsohavetheassuranceof on-sitesecurity,24/7access,technologyincludinghigh-speedinternet, telecomsandvideoconferencingequipment.”

Ifyourcompanyisconsideringyouroffceneedsforthefuture,venYou isonhandtoshowyouwhatithastooffer.Thenewadditionof ThomasHouseisanelevatedBelfastworkspaceenvironmentfeaturing fvefoorsforfexibleanddynamicoffceworking,anexclusiveexecutive loungeandgroundfoorboardroomwithvideoconferencingfacilities.

Thisexceptionalcitysleekloftstyleworkspaceprovides1,500sqft ofopenplanfexiblefoorplatesandcomeswithallthebeneftsof venYou’sleadingservice,includingtoptechnology,leasefexibility, modernmeeting roomsandadedicatedhousekeepingteam. ■

To fndoutmore,visitwww.venyou.co.uk

ThomasHousewillbevenYou’sfourthlocationandwillopenlaterthisyear

Ho,hohosts withthemost

Gearingupforsome festivemerriment? Emma Deighan looksatwhat someofourtopvenues haveinstoreforChristmas

Fromcharityballstohistorical venuesandwaterfrontcocktails,the NorthernIrelandmarketisnotshort ofbothconventionalandslightlydifferent optionsforthecorporateChristmasdo.

Whetheryouwanttogoalloutwithovernight staysincludedorgiveyourstaffthefexibility ofschedulingtheirownoutingthrougha voucher,themenuisexpansive.

Meanwhile,manyofourtopdiningspotsare realisingthetoo-familiarturkeydinnerformat isatiredoneandswappeditforsomething withalittlebitmorefair,freedomand,inone case,philanthropy.

Funandphilanthropy

Forexample,ifgettingyourworkforce togetherisyourendgoalandCSRisatthe forefrontofyourbusiness,mixingcharitywith cheerisaduothat’shardtobeat.

ActionCancer’sChristmasBallat TitanicBelfast isagoodchoiceforbosseslookingtocombine funandphilanthropy. TakingplaceonFriday, December15,2023,theeventpromisesan unforgettablenightofentertainment,allwhile contributingtoanoblecause.

Theheadlineactfortheeveningwillbe Boyzlife,featuringKeithDuffyandBrian McFaddenofBoyzoneand Westlifefame.Lucy McCusker,CorporateFundraisingManagerat ActionCancer,said:“ActionCancerisexcited toannouncethatBoyzlifeisheadliningour Christmasthisyear.SponsoredbyHagan Homes,our50thAnniversaryyearissetto endonahighwithourChristmasPartywitha difference.”

Guestscanexpectmorethanentertainment. Theeventincludesprizes,food,andthe satisfactionofcontributingtoacharitythat directlyimpactsalmosteveryhouseholdin NorthernIreland.

Northwestnights

Forthosebasedinorwillingtoventureto thevibrantnorthwest,Derry’sBishop’sGate Hoteloffersacharmingsettingforworkplace festivities.Thisaward-winningvenuepresents arangeofvouchersthatmakeidealgiftsfor staff,coveringeverythingfromovernightstays tofnediningandafternoontea.

Startingat£55foranafternoonteafortwo,

thischoiceprovidesfexibilityforstaffto celebrateintheirownway.Thevoucherscan bepurchasedat receptionoronline,withno expirydates,allowinggueststoplantheirvisit attheirconvenience.

Thehotelalsohoststeam-buildingevents intheformofliveperformancesincluding BrianKennedyandLittle Women’sChristmas thisfestiveseason,offeringauniqueand entertainingwaytocelebrate.

Showstoppers

AcrossNorthernIreland,theesteemed HastingsGroupisensuringthatevery employee’stasteiscateredtooverthecoming

monthswithan‘alacartemenu’offoodand entertainment.

AllysonMcKimm,eventsdirectorofHastings Hotels,said:“Afterabumperyearofsell-out showsandpartynightsoverthefestiveseason lastyear,thebookingsareverystrongforour famousChristmaspartynightsandline-upof shows.Duetotheincreaseddemand,wehave alsolaunchedanumberofneweventsforthis year’sfestiveseason.”

Withinthebusypartyschedulearethe MotownSensationsandtheBigKahunaat theStormontHotelandtheVIPsandCompere JohnnyHeroatTheEuropaHotel.

“TogetyouinthemoodforChristmas,we arethrilledtowelcomebackThePriests,who willbeperformingliveatStormont,Culloden andEuropawiththeirveryownsing-along repertoire,”Allysonsays.

Andifpartyingintotheearlyhoursisn’tyour staff’scupoftea,shesays:“Wehave Wreath MakingandFestiveSuppernightsatCulloden andStormontHotel,orwhynotunleash yourcreativesidewiththePaintingaBottle ofBollingerandFestiveDinnernightatthe StormontHotel.”

Historyinthemaking Foratouchofhistoryandculture, TitanicHotel

Belfastisatopchoice.Locatedintheheartof themaritimemileinBelfastandsteepedinthe legacyofthe Titanic,thehoteloffersseveral packagesforprivateevents.

DrawingOffceOne,astunningspacethat accommodatesupto200guests,isperfect forasharedorprivateChristmasParty Celebration.Thishistoricvenue,wherethe RMS Titanicwasdesigned,comeswitha privateentranceforVIPdrinks receptions.

Smallereventsofupto50peoplecantake placeintheoriginaloffcesoftheHarlandand WolffDirectors.Theseelegantsurroundings offeradistinctivebackdropforfestive gatherings.

Employerscanalsocombinetheirend-of-year meetingwithaFestiveLunchatthe WolffGrill restaurant,completewithHeritage Toursof theiconicbuilding.Alternatively,casualvisits afterChristmasshoppingprovideopportunities forFestiveAfternoon TeaoravisittoSantain hisgrotto.

Maritimemagic

Andjustacrosstheway,overlookingthatsame waterfront,theACHotelbyMarriottisanother enticingoptionforcorporateChristmas celebrations.

Withthenewlyaddedterracediningarea,this venueoffersgreatviewsthatwillbeelevated bythetwinklyChristmaslightsofNovember andDecember.

FestiveDiningatNovelli’satCityQuays restaurantherekicksoffonNovember24, featuringathree-coursemealforChristmas lunchordinner,withliveentertainmentevery FridayandSaturdayinDecembertoenhance thefestiveatmosphere.

Forthoseseekingprivacy,the“Festive Takeover”allowsexclusiveeventsfor80to 110guests.Thispackageincludeslivemusic, drinks,lunchordinner,andspecialovernight rates.

TitanicHotelBelfast ishostingaseriesof Christmasevents

TheIntimate Titanic ViewBanquetingSuite, accommodatingupto48people,offers panoramicriverviews,dedicatedwaiting staff,aProseccodrinks reception,andgreat food,withpackagesstartingfrom£50per person.

To makethemostofyourcelebrations workplaceswithamoregenerous entertainmentbudgetcanconsiderthe DineandStayPackagesatACMarriott. Thisincludesanovernightstaywithbuffet breakfastandathree-courseFestiveMenu, startingat£229per room,availablefrom November24toDecember24.

Rural retreat

Outofthecityandforthosewhowantthe beautyofthecountryside,the relaxationof aspaandthevivacityofathrivingbarand foodoffering,GalgormoutsideBallymenais worthnoting.

ItsChristmaspartynightsattheGreatHall promiseto“addsomefestivesparkle”to yourChristmaspartythisyearwhenfood,

musicandajovialatmospherearethereforthe taking.

Arrivaldrinks,afour-coursemealand entertainmentcosts£49.95ahead.

Forsomethingmorecasualbutwiththesame ruralbackdrop,DecemberDinneratCastle KitchenandBarbytheGalgormiswhere theBBQsmokehouseawaits,fauntingcosy interiorsandaninformalsetting.Featuringlive entertainmenteveryweekend,afour-course mealherecosts£42.50perperson.

ChristmasDinneratGilliesatGalgormis anotherofmanyoptionsatthepopular resort. Withamore relaxedatmosphere,Gilies’sfourcourseChristmasdinnerispricedfrom£42.50 perperson.

Perhapsmoreuniqueisthevenue’sFestive DaySpaExperienceswhichallowyourteam to relaxandunwindbychoosingfromalist oftreatmentsincludingaForestThermal ExperienceavailingoftheSpa Village’sfacilities, oraForestRasulExperiencethatusesthegreat

outdoorsforvisualstimulation.Bothpackages canincludelunchfrom£99perperson.

Christmascabaret

Thenewesthotelontheblock,TheRabbit Hotelin Templepatrick,isoneforthemore energeticworkforce.Thinkyuletidelunch, ordinneratoneofthehotel’spartynights. Privatehireisalsoavailablehereforgroupsof upto100.

Ifyourteamisvaluablewiththeirtime,the Festive Tipsy Tea‘cabaretstyle’isperfectfor daytimegatheringsfrom1-5pm.Itmarries treatswithdrinksandTheDivaDollsaswellas TheRabbit’sin-houseDJ.

Traditionalsplendour

InnorthDown,theOldInnisthequintessential choiceforthosewhowantthatmagicfeeling withopenfres,elegantinteriorsandgourmet dininginthecosyAARosetteRestaurantand 1614Bar. Twocoursesstartfrom£38ahead, orforthosewhowantanearlynightthe FestiveAfternoon Tea(from£27.50)isrunning throughoutallofDecemberfrom12-5pm. ■

GalgormResortandSpalocated justoutsideBallymena

Redundancylevelshere havehittheirhighest peaksinceMay2022

NIredundanciesreachhighest peakinmorethanayear

Redundancylevelsherehavehit theirhighestpeaksinceMaylast year,freshfguresshow.

Thefgures, releasedonbehalfofthe DepartmentfortheEconomy(DfE),showthat overthe12monthstoAugust2023,there werealso4,420proposed redundancies,over threeandahalftimesthetotalfortheprevious year(1,220),accordingtotheNorthernIreland StatisticsandResearchAgency(NISRA).

Labourmarketdata revealedsaidthat200 redundanciesoccurredinAugust2023.

OvertheyearSeptember2022toAugust 2023,1,520 redundancieswereconfrmed, 40.7%morethanintheprevious12months.

Thisisthesixthconsecutivemonththatthis totalhasbeenover1,000,althoughthisfgure isstillwellbelowthelongtermtrend.

Overtheyear,bothpayrolledemployee numbersandearningshaveincreased throughoutNI,whileemployeejobshavealso increased.Inaddition,theLabourForceSurvey employment,unemployment,andeconomic inactivityrateshaveseenlittlechangeoverall.

Therehasbeenasmallriseinthenumberof peoplehereclaimingbenefts,by0.4%,over themonthtoAugust2023fromthe revised fgureforJuly2023.

Thereareapproximately36,700people claimingbenefts(3.8%oftheworkforce)and thisisthe17thconsecutivemonththatithas beenwithintherange3.6%to3.8%.

TheAugust2023claimantcount remains 22.9%higherthanthepre-pandemiccountin March2020.

EarningsdatafromtheHMRC PAYEindicated thatNIemployeeshadamedianmonthlypay of£2,094inAugust2023.

Thisistheequivalentofa£2increase(0.1%) overthemonthandanincreaseof£119(6%) overtheyear.

Businesseshave reportedthatemployeejobs inNIdecreasedoverthequarterbutincreased overtheyearto813,450jobsinJune2023.

Therewereparticularriseswithinthe manufacturing,servicesandotherindustries sectorstoJune2023,withjobswithinthe

constructionsectordecreasingthroughoutthe year.

ThelatestHMRCpayrolldatashowsthat payrolledemployeenumbersdecreasedby 0.1%overthemonthandincreasedby1.5% overtheyear.Payrolledearningsincreasedby 0.1%overthemonthandwere6.0%higher thanAugust2022.

Theproportionofpeopleaged16to64 inwork,knownastheemploymentrate, decreasedby1.3%overthequarterand increasedby1.5%overtheyearto71.1%, accordingtothefgures.

Theeconomicinactivityrate(theproportionof peopleaged16to64whowerenotworking andnotseekingoravailabletowork)increased by1.1%overthequarteranddecreasedby 1.3%overtheyearto26.9%.

TheemploymentrateforMay-July2023 sat1.2%belowthepre-pandemicposition recordedinNovembertoJanuary2020.

Thetotalnumberofweeklyhoursworkedin NI(27.8million)decreasedby4.2%overthe quarterandincreasedby1.5%overtheyear. ■

Businessleadersdescendon Watermanfor Top100 launch

UlsterBusiness offciallylaunchesthisyear’s Top 100NorthernIrelandCompanieslist,withKPMG, alongsideahostofbusinessandindustryleaders at WatermaninBelfastcitycentre

Dozensofbusinessandindustry leadershaveattendedthelaunch ofthisyear’s UlsterBusiness Top 100.

The UlsterBusiness Top100NorthernIreland Companies,inassociationwithKPMG,isthe fagshipeditionofthemonthlymagazine whichshowcasestheperformanceofthe biggestcompaniesherefromrightacrossthe sectors.

Theoffciallaunchoftheeditiontookplace at WatermaninBelfastcitycentre,welcoming leadersfromacrosstheworldofbusiness, industryandwidercivicsociety.

Businessesmakingthelistsawsalesturnover growby16.6%to£30.7bnfrom£26.3bn, comparedwithfguresyear-on-year.

Pre-taxproftsgrewby11.4%–from£1.43bn to£1.59bn.

“Theannual Top100,whichhasbeenrunning foralmostfourdecades,providesadetailed snapshotoftheNorthernIrelandeconomy–thejobscreated,theincomegeneratedand overallcontributiontosocietyasawhole,” UlsterBusiness editorJohnMulgrewtoldthose gathered.

“Theeditionasnapshotofbusinessesfrom rightacrossthesectors–employingmorethan 100,000people.

“Weallknowcostsarerisingfasterthanthey haveintwodecades.That’simpactingbottom linesacrossbusinesses,butit’salsoimpacting homesandhouseholdsacrossNorthernIreland andbeyond.

“We’restillwithoutaworkingExecutive, however. We havepeopleandorganisations inthis roomwhoarefacingseverecutsdue totheslashingoftheirgovernmentsupport, andothers,whichcan’tprogresswithmajor

developmentsorfreshstrategiesduetoa lackofministerialoversight.That’ssomething whichneedstobesolvednow. We needour governmentbackatwork.”

Family-runfrmW&RBarnetttoppedthelist forthefrsttimein2023withturnoverof £1.57bnandpre-taxproftsofalmost£70m.

Some13companieswithinthelistingdeclared lossesfortheirlastfnancialyear–theselosses amountedto£213m. ■

UlsterBusinesseditorJohnMulgrewspeakstobusiness leadersatthe Top1002023launch

Dearbhla MacDonald, MollyCullenand ScarletGivens ofLighthouse Communications atthe Top100 launch

Jacqueline Gibsonand BenCraigof International Synergiesatthe UlsterBusiness Top100launch

Suzanne Wylie,Jackie Loganand CaraO’Kane atthelaunch

Karen McGarvey, Mediahuis andGrainne McGarvey, PulsePRatthe Top100launch

Businessleaders attendtheUlster Business Top100 launchatthe Waterman

KatieDoran, Lanyon Communications, JackieFreeman, Montblancand JulieThompson, KPMGatthe Top 100launchatthe Waterman

RoisinByrne andLuke Fullerof Haysatthe Top100 launch

ROSSLAZAROO-HOOD THECLEARERGROUP

Howisbusiness?

Ithasbeenasteeplearningcurveover thelast18months,butIwouldn’taskfor anythingelseandit’sallgoingfromstrength tostrength.TheClearerGroup,knownfor itsaward-winningethicalandpremium bottledwaterClearer Waterhasexpandedits businessportfoliotoinclude‘HydrationHub’ –anewsocialimpactbusinessspecialising ininnovative,accessibledrinkdispensers includingintegrated refrigerationand‘smart’ vendingmachinesandwatercoolers.Also,our newestaddition‘Clearer Twist’mixers–Clearer TwistPremium Tonic,Clearer TwistFrenchPink andClearer TwistGingerAle.

Howdidyougetstartedintheindustry?

Ibuiltacareerininternationalcorporate insuranceforalmost25yearsandmainlyin London’sinsurancedistrict.Agreatcareer thatstartedasajuniorclaimsbrokerthrough tobeingclassunderwriteratoneofthe

Entrepreneur ofthe Month

mainLloyd’sofLondon’ssyndicates,then buildingmyowninternationalinsurance intermediarygroupLandmarkHoldingGroup. Aftersteppingbackfrombeinggroupchief executiveandmovingtothestrategyboard, Iapproachedmyfriendandbusinesspartner SitkiGelmentoacquireClearer Water.Fast forward16monthslaterandI’mstilllearning aboutthebeverageindustry,butIcansay ithasbeensomuchfunespeciallywithour amazingnon-abledbodiedteamwhoarean inspirationtome.

Typically,whoareyourclientsor customers?

We havebothdirectanddistributorclientsin NorthernIreland,in2023wehaveexpanded intoGBwithplanstoseefurtherexpansion intheRepublicofIreland, Turkey,Cyprusand otherareasinthenearfuture.Iamsoexcited fortheteamandthebrand,andSitkiGelmen andIhaveseveralplansforourcustomersto enjoyClearerinthefuture.

Doyouenjoywhatyoudo,andwhatin particular?

IamblessedthatI reallylovewhatIdo.Also, thatwegettoshowcaseNorthernIreland, our‘socialimpactcompany’Clearer Water, whichis‘The WaterThatHelpsPeople’. Employingadiversemixedabilityteam, whomakeitallworthwhile,andthrough aninclusiveemploymentpracticesdrive transformativesocialimpactbyclosingthe gapandchampioningdisabilityinclusion intheworkplace.Iamluckytogettowork withouramazingteamwhoarefantastic, especiallywiththeirhardworking ethos. We areallatight unitatClearerandwe allmuckinwhere needed.Ourinterests

gobeyondmakingprofts;wearecommitted topositivelyimpactingourcommunity.

Notwithstandingourextendedpartners,our brandambassadorsarealsoclosetomyheart, withthegoldmedallistParalympianClaire Taggartbeinganinspirationtome,Iloved negotiatingthelong-termoffcialprincipal sponsorshipformycompanyLandmarkandmy hometownclubthecurrentIrishpremiership championsLarneFC,plusthenumbertwoUK andIreland’s,numbertwointheworld’shalf marathonwhichhasbeennewly renamedthe Clearer WaterAntrimCoastHalf.

Whatisthemostdiffcultpartofyourjob? Idon’tseeanyaspectofmy rolesasdiffcult, Ihaveafew rolesthatkeepmegrounded includingmyfamily’scharityTheRUSA Foundationandasmemberofthebidteam tobringthe WorldAthleticsRoadRunning ChampionshipstotheUNESCOAntrimCoast. Also,Iamdyslexicsollookatopportunities differentlyandcutthroughthenormaltime wastagethatyoufndwithothercompanies andhierarchies.

Whatarethechallengesfacingyoursector andtheeconomyingeneral?

Primarilypackagingmaterialsandenergybills areasignifcantsourceofworryformany, fromhighrawmaterialspricesandsoaring costsare reshapingthestrategiesofsoftdrinks suppliersandbottlerstoday.In response,the softdrinksindustrywillcontinuetocreatively explorefexibleprice/packagingmixes,we likelywillseesomeintroducingnew,smallersizedbottlesandcans,affordablemultipacks andalternativeformats,suchaspackage-free, returnablewhilemaintainingaffordabilityboth fortheconsumerand retailcustomers. ■

Motoring

ByPatBurns

Sponsoredby

Hyundaibringsthesixappeal

Whowouldhavebelievedafew yearsagothatHyundaiwould bethetopsellerinNorthern IrelandbeatingthebighitterslikeFord andVWattheirowngame.

Hyundai’s TucsonSUVwasthebest-sellingcar inNorthernIrelandinthefirsteightmonthsof theyearinamuchstrongermarketthathas seensalesrisebyalmost18%.Thebiggestrise insalesintheUK.

Whilethe Tucsonmightbethebestseller,the Hyundairangecatersforalltastesfromsmall carsandhothatchestoSUVsofallsizes.It alsohassomeEVsandthelatestmodeltobe launchedbytheKoreanmanufactureristhe Ioniq6.

TheIoniq6isequippedwithanarrayof advancedtechnologieswithaspaciousinterior, andthestreamlinedesignprovidesanultralowdragcoefficientofjust0.21.Inadditionto styleandefficiency,theIoniq6alsodeliversthe highestsafetystandardswithaEURONCAP 5-starrating.

Withsevenairbagsasstandard,itisalso availablewiththelatestversionofHyundai SmartSenseadvanceddriverassistance systemsthatoffersawiderangeofsafety systemsthatensurebothsafetyand

convenienceonthe roadsuchasparking sensorswithonscreendynamicparking guidance,sevenairbagsincludingfront,thorax andpelvisandahostofothertech.

TheIoniq6isequippedwithLEDheadlights withintelligentfrontlightingsystem(IFLS).IFLS usesmatrixbeamtechnologytoautomatically adjustthelightbeam,maximisingthefield ofvisionforthedriverbyadaptinglight outputaccordingto roadsituationswhilstnot affectingother roadusers.

Customershavethechoiceofeithera rearwheeldrivepowertrainoffering228PSand 350Nmoranall-wheeldrivepowertrainwith 325PSand605Nm.Allmodelsfeaturethe longrange77.4kWhbattery,withthe800v chargingsystemproviding350kWultra-fast chargercompatibilityandincludesastandard batteryheatingsystemtooptimisecharge timesinallconditions.Performance,like manyEVs,issuperb,theIoniq6seamlessly acceleratesatanimpressivepaceinsilence. Itsuperbly representstheverylatestinEV technologyandisonlyletdownbyNorthern Ireland’spoorcharginginfrastructure.

TheIoniq6isalsoHyundai’sfirstmodelto offeranover-the-air(OTA)softwareupdate featureforvariousvehiclesystems.Inaddition toOTAupdatestothesatellitenavigationand

mediasystem,OTAtechnologyalsoallows driverstoensuretheirvehicleisrunning themost recentupdatestovariousvehicle controlunitsforelectricdevices,drivingassist functions,highvoltagebatteryoperationand more,toprovideasaferandmoreconvenient drivingexperience,withouttheneedtovisita Hyundaiservicecentre.

AswiththeIoniq5,the6offersthree-pinplug compatibilitytopowerdevicesdirectlyfromthe highvoltagebattery.

Startingfrom£46,745,thepremium rear wheeldrivemodelincludes20-inchalloy wheels,electricallyoperatedandfoldingdoor mirrors,flushdoorhandles,privacyglass,front and rearLEDlightingand rearspoilerwith integratedLEDbrakelight.

TheUltimateRearWheelDriveispricedfrom £50,245andbuildsonthePremiumtrimlevel withtheadditionofautomaticflushfitting doorhandles,eco-leatherseattrim,driver’s seatpositionmemoryfunction, relaxationfront seatswithventilationfunction,sunroofwith electrictiltandslideoperation,blindspotview monitor,drivershead-up-display,surround viewmonitor, remotesmartparking,parking collisionavoidanceassistandBOSEpremium audiowithsevenspeakersandadditional subwoofer. ■

Sevenseat Sorento isa star

Whilethemovetowardsfully-electricandhybridcars continuesunabated, PatBurns spendssometimewith Kia’slatestdieselSorentoduringafamilyholiday

Intermsofspace,loadcarryingability andvalueformoneythere’snotmany sevenseatersthatcanmatchtheKia Sorento.Thisyearthefourth-generation modeltookanotherstepupmarketwith astylishlookingupdateandachoiceof threeenginestosuiteveryneedalong withfull-timeall-wheeldrive.

Likeitspredecessors,theSorentohasbeen designedandengineeredtotakeoneverything lifethrowsatit.ApowerfulandversatileSUV, theSorentoraisesthegameforothersevenseatfamily-focusedSUVs.

Theinnovativeplatformthatunderpinsthe Sorentohasbeendesignedfromtheoutsetto accommodateelectrifedpowertrains,meaning thattheSorentoisavailableasapetrolhybrid, plug-inhybridordiesel.Callmeoldfashioned, butonafamilyholidaythedieselpowered Sorento reallycameintoitsown.Strong performance,greateconomyandwithoutthe extraweightofthehybridbatterypack,better handlingtoo.Whiledieselsalesmightnotbe ashighastheyoncewere,thereisstillalotto besaidforaturbodieselpowerplantdesigned tocovermileswithease.

Dieselenginesarestillbeingdeveloped,Mazda forinstancelaunchedanall-newdieselengine intheirCX-60justafewmonthsago.Thereis plentyoftimefordieselbeforethe2030ban takeseffect.

ThedieselSorentocomeswithKia’s2.2-litre

‘Smartstream’dieselunit,aheavily revised aluminiumpowerplantthat reducesthe weightoverthefrontaxle.The190bhp, 440Nmengineispairedwithasupersmooth eight-speeddual-clutchtransmission(8DCT). ThedieseleditionoftheSorentocantowa brakedtrailerofupto2,500kgandhasalready receiveda TowCarofthe Yearaward.

TheSorentocanhandleanything,itwill happilycruisewiththebestatmotorway speedsyetaroundtownsandcitiesitiseasy toposition,helpedbycamerasandKia’s revolutionaryBlind-Spot ViewMonitor(BVM) whichisstandard.Itdisplaysahigh-resolution videofeedinthedriver’sinstrumentcluster whenindicating,toeliminateblind-spotsand ensuresafety.Whenparkingandundertaking low-speedmanoeuvres,thedrivercanalso activatethe360-degreearoundviewmonitor, addingfurtherpeaceofmindandenhancing spatialawareness.

TheSorento’sexteriordesign–sharplines, high-techdetails,andelongatedproportions –givesitaconfdentandmaturepresence. Inside,itsattractivecabinfeaturespremiumqualitymaterials,cutting-edgeinfotainment technologies,andanimpressivedesign.It isouttocompetewiththeAudiQ7and LandRoverDiscoveryandismorethanwell equippedtodojustthat.

TheSorentoisavailableinasingle‘Edition’ specifcationlevelacrossallthreepowertrains. Allpowertrains receivethesamelevelsof

equipment,excludingthewheels;HEVand PHEVmodels receive19-inchalloywheels, whiledieselmodelscomeequippedwith20inchblackalloywheels.

TheSorentoisequippedwithKia’s‘Terrain Mode’system.Itensuresimprovedtraction, stabilityandcontrolonmud,snowandsand, withdedicateddrivingmodesforeach.

Thehybridmodelspaira1.6-litreturbocharged petroldirectinjectionwitha1.49kWh lithium-ionpolymerbatterypack. Withthe batterylocatedunderthefrontseat,thenew electrifedpowertrainhasminimalimpacton cabinandcargospace.

ThehybridhaslowerCO2emissionswith strongperformance,producingpeakpower outputof226bhpandpeaktorqueof350Nm. TheenginefeaturesKia’sContinuously Variable ValveDuration(CVVD)technologytoboost

performanceatlow-to-midengineranges andenhancesfueleffciency.Powerissent throughasix-speedautomatictransmission withtheabilityaccesstobatterypowerat higherspeeds.

Theplug-inhybridPHEVmodelisthebest optionforbusinessesandisthemost powerfulandlowestemittingmodelin theSorentoline-up,thankstoitsplug-in powertrain.Featuringthesame1.6-litre petrolengineseenonthe regularHEVmodel, thelargerbatterypackandelectricmotor givetheSorentoPHEVa35bhpboostin power.

Theengineandmotorarepairedwitha high-capacity13.8kWhlithium-ionpolymer battery.Thisenablestheseven-seatSUVto deliveranequivalentall-electricrange(EAER) ofupto35miles(WLTP)fromasinglecharge, ensuringitsabilitytocompleteshortjourneys

onEVpoweralone.Theplug-inhybridmodel producespeakpowerof261bhpandoffersa maximumtorqueoutputof350Nm.

TheSorentoisoneofthemosthigh-tech Kiacarsproduces,thankstoasuiteof technologiestoenhancesafety,connectivity andinfotainment.Therangeofavailable featuresaredesignedtomaketravellingsafer andlessstressfulwhileprovidingtotalease ofuse.

AllSorentomodelscomewithsevenyears’ freeKiaConnect,atelematicsservicewhich featurestheKiaLivesystem,housedwithin the10.25-inchLCDscreeninthecentre ofthedashboard.Thesystemusesitsown eSIMto retrieveandupdatelivedataduring adrive,suchaslivetraffcinformation, weatherforecasts,pointsofinterest,and detailsofpotentialon-andoff-streetparking –includingprice,location,andparking

availability.There’salsoanew12.3-inchhighresolutiondigitalinstrumentcluster.

TheSorentoisalsofttedwithacustomisable head-updisplay,whichprojectsdriving informationontothebaseofthewindscreen inthedriver’slineofsight.Anexclusive 12-speakerBOSEsurround-soundaudiosystem providespremiumsoundinall‘Edition’models.

Perfectforacarwithload-luggingprowess, theSorentoalsocomesstandardwithasmart powertailgate,makingiteasiertoopenthe bootwithafullpairofhands.

TheSorentoisthelargestofKiaUK’scurrent SUVline-up,abovetheStonic,Niro,and Sportage.ItissoontobejoinedbytheallelectricKiaEV9,dueon-salelaterthisyear.The EV9willbecomethelargestbatteryelectric vehicleyetinKia’splanstolaunch15EVs globallyby2027. ■

APPOIN TM EN TS

AndreaIuccihasbeenappointedasthe newchiefexecutiveofNorbrook.Hewill takeovertherolefromLiamNaglewho willremainaschairmanoftheboard.

LaurenShawhasbeenpromotedtothe positionofseniorassociatewithinthe propertyteamatMillsSelig,inrecognition ofherexperienceandexpertiseacrossthe commercialpropertyandbankingsectors.

CiaraCampbellhasmovedintothe positionofassociatewithinMillsSelig’s propertyteam.Sheadvisesonavariety ofresidentialpropertytransactions includinghigh-valuesalesandacquisitions, remortgages,plotsalesandnewbuild purchases.

JaynePatersonisnowanassociatewithin MillsSelig’spropertyteam,andhaswiderangingexperienceactingforprivateand publicsectorclients,includingacquisitions anddisposals,commercialleasesandtheir management.

Kevin Tarpeyhasbeenrecruitedtojoin MillsSelig’spropertyteamasasenior associate,andwillworkalongsidean eliteteamoflawyersprovidingclients withexpertadviceacrossresidential transactions.

LyndseyMcSherryisnowanassociate withinMillsSelig’scorporateteam.She advisesonandcoordinatesthedue diligenceprocessinnumerousshareand assetsalesandacquisitions.

EmmaMcCloskeyhasmovedintothe positionofAssociatewithinMillsSelig’s corporateteam.Sheassistsclientswith corporateandcommercialtransactions, includingthesaleandacquisitionof companies,corporatereorganisations, sharesalesandcompanyincorporations.

PeterCashelhasmovedintothe positionofassociatewithintheMills Seligcorporateteam.Heassists clienttransactionsincludingcompany reorganisations,acquisitionandsaleof companies,andsecuritystructuresthat underpintransactionalprojects.

AndrewEdwardshasbeenpromotedto theroleofseniorassociatewithinMills Selig’semploymentteamis.Headvises employerclientsonthewholespectrumof employmentworkandregularlyprovides adviceonarangeofemploymentissues.

2. TheCommunityRelations CouncilhasheldGoodRelations Week2023.PicturedareAngila Chada,executivedirectorat Springboard,KanmiAbayomi, founderofEthnicMinoritySports OrganisationsNorthernIreland (EMSONI)andJoanneSansome, campaigneronbehalfofthose withdisabilities.

3. FarransConstructionhas launchedanapplicationprocess for50high-demandpositionson itsleadinggraduateprogramme, FarransFoundation.Pictured areRebeccaPennell,graduate engineer,andAbilinSaji, placementstudent.

4. Morethanathirdofpeople withaccesstoastreaming televisionservicearesharingat leastoneoftheirsubscriptions withothersoutsidetheirhome, accordingtoDeloitte.Picturedis Deloitte’sPaulLee.

5. Launchingthenew RenewableNI report‘Accelerating RenewablesinNorthernIreland’ isDagnyAhrend,policyanalyst, RussellSmyth,headofsustainable futuresatKPMGandSteven Agnew,RenewableNIdirector.

1. Scienceandtechnology hubCatalysthasoffcially beencertifedasaGreat Placeto Workfollowingan extensivecultureauditand excellentemployeefeedback toasurveycarriedoutbythe globalauthorityonworkplace culture.

7. Unislim,theholisticweight lossandwellnesscompany,has launcheditsinauguralInspire awards,aimingto recognisethe organisation’smostinspirational members.PicturedisFiona Gratzer,chiefexecutiveatUnislim.

8. WeevhaspartneredwithPIPS SuicidePreventionIrelandto launch‘NotFeelingFullyCharged’ campaign.PicturedareHelen Brogan,PIPS, Weev’sKarenCorry, ReneeQuinn,PIPS,and Weev’s LucyDavis.

9. PicturedattheBAP23 conferenceareStevenGray, presidentofTheBritish AssociationofPlanetaria,Sinead Mackle,educationandoutreach manageratArmaghObservatory andPlanetariumandProfessor MichaelBurton,directorat ArmaghObservatoryand Planetarium.

10. SonraiAnalyticsandCancer ResearchHorizonshaveformed apartnershiptodriveprecision medicineinnovation.Picturedis ProfessorDarraghMcArt,chief executive,SonraiAnalytics.

6. TheNorthernIreland FootballLeague(NIFL) ispreparingtokickoff conversationsabout road safetybypledgingto‘Share theRoadtoZero’.Pictured are LyndaHurley,Department forInfrastructure,JackScott, DaireO’Connor,Glentoran, SamAshworth,Cliftonville, andNIFLchiefexecutive, GerardLawlor.

12. Picturedatthesodcutting eventtooffciallymarkthe commencementofworkat AlphaHousing’snew£1m developmentinBallymoney,is DBContract’sSeanDobbin,the MayorofCausewayCoastand GlensBoroughCouncil,Steven CallaghanQPM,andAlpha Housing’sJames Wright.

13. ChoiceHousinghasinvested £290,000upgradingoneofits largershelteredlivingschemesat TughanCourtinBangor.Pictured areNancyGreen,Choicetenant, and WiltonFarrelly,ChoiceGroup directorofassetservices.

14. AileenMartin,commercial directorofHastingsHotels,has announcedher retirementafter 30yearsatthehelmofthe group’ssalesandcommercial operations.Sheispicturedwith EoinMcGrathwhohasbeen appointedasthenewsalesand revenuedirector.

15. LaunchingEurope’slargest archaeologyconferenceinBelfast areNikkiPaterson, Tourism NorthernIreland,Deborah Collins, VisitBelfastandProfessor EileenMurphy,deputyheadof schoolGeography,Archaeology andPaleoecologyatQueen’s University.

11. Belfast-baseddistribution company,GMMarketing hasannounceditsaimto raise£20,000fordepression charity AWARE.Pictured areGerardMcAdorey,Rhys Mahood,AnnaMulgrew, GMMarketing,withNatasha Mackay, AWAREandKaitlyn Martin,GMMarketing.

toChoicesservicewith theBelfastLabourMarket Partnershiptohelp residents takethenextstepintheir employmentjourney.Pictured areAimeeAlexander,Annie Davison,BelfastLordMayor, RyanMurphy,Deirdre

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17. AnewsurveybyCompareNI. comclaimsalmosthalfof studentsthinkthatuniversity isn’tworththemoneyand 72%wereshockedathow expensiveuniversityis.Pictured isCompareNI.commarketing managerJaclynDunlop.

18. Ellen Wright,MoyParksenior brandmanager,StevenGuy, SandsandBrianMoreland,Moy ParkcommunicationandCR manager,asthefrmcelebrates80 yearswithaseriesofinitiativesto supportlocalcommunitiesinthe areasinwhichtheyoperate.

19. SAMMouldingshasinvested £7matitsarchitecturalmouldings manufacturingfacilityinAntrim. PicturedareSamMcCrea, SAM,MayorofAntrimand Newtownabbey,MarkCooper, PaulLavery,SAMandCat McCrea,SAM.

20. TheNationalHunthorse racingeventhas returnedto DownRoyalRacecoursewith MusgraveNIasitstitlesponsor. PicturedareEmmaMeehan, DownRoyalandPaddyMurney, MusgraveNI.

16. BelfastCityCouncilhas launchedanewGateway

Ward, andAliHakeem.

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22. CharlesHurst Toyotais teamingupwithlocalcharity ActionCanceronceagainto becomeitsoffcialcarpartner. PicturedareGarethKirk,Action Cancer,RachelJohnston,Marks andSpencerandLukeMcCready, CharlesHurst Toyota.

23. RoseRegenerationandthe RuralCommunityNetwork, CommunityFinanceIreland,has establishedthatforevery£1 spentindeliveringprojectsthere isa returnof3.42timesthat investment.PicturedareConor McGaleandDónal Traynor.

24. EncomEnergy,hassecured threemajorcontractstoprovide solarphotovoltaic(PV)and batterystoragesolutionsforover 1,400homesinNorthernIreland. AnnaPatterson,EncomEnergy, ispicturedwithAlanJohnston, Mayfair.

25. Agrantof£5,000has beenawardedtoaStrabane CommunityGroupthrough theØrstedOwenreagh Wind Farms’CommunityBeneftFund. Picturedarecommitteemembers ofLeckpatrickDevelopment Association,RobinCummings, ColinStevensonwithKellieRouse (Ørsted)andJohnMcCarter.

21. Twenty-fourleaders frompolitics,thebusiness communityandcivicsociety acrossNorthernIreland havegatheredatParliament Buildingsforthelaunchof theFellowshipProgramme.

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27. PowerNI’sBrighter Communitiesinitiativehas awardedBARNAnimalRescue £1,000funding.Picturedare GlennFord,BARNAnimalRescue andBarryRogan,PowerNI.

28. GeoffreyMurphy,Saintfeld Martauctioneer,CoDownfarmer DeeHeronandGrandsonHarry Herontogetherraised£14,700for ActionCancer.

29. TheLordMayorofBelfast, RyanMurphy(centre),hasmet withbusinessleaderstohear aboutcurrentcitycentretrading conditionsandwhatcanbedone toimprovethem.He’spictured withGlynRoberts,RetailNIand ColinNeillfromHospitalityNI.

30. RelianceAutomationis settingupanewbaseinBelfast attheInnovationFactoryonthe SpringfeldRoadinwestBelfast. PicturedareInnovationFactory centredirectorNeilAllenand JohnMoran,automationsales engineer,Reliance.

26. Entrepreneurship educationcharity Young Enterprisehaslaunchedits BusinessBackerscampaign. PicturedareLeonGibson, JordanGraham,Carol FitzsimonsMBE,AndiJarvis, andRachelMcMillan, ClockwiseOffces.

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32. StenaLinehas renewedits hugelypartnershipwithcurrent EIHLchampions,theBelfast Giantsbyenteringintoa12th yearastitlesponsors.

33. ProfleTree,afamily-owned webdesignanddigitalmarketing agency,basedinBelfast,has passedthe12-yearmarkofbeing inbusiness.

34. GortacharnResidential andNursingHome,located onNutfeldRoad,Lisnaskea, hasbeenacquiredbyNorthern Ireland-basedDunluceHealthcare. PicturedareAnnetteMartin, regionalmanager, RyanSmith, chiefexecutiveandBeenaJoseph, homemanager.

35. TheLookout restaurantatThe Salthouseeco-hotelinBallycastle hasbeenanoverwhelming success,servingmorethan3,000 coversinthefrstmonth.Pictured isdirectorCarlMcGarrity.

31. Staffat TitanicBelfast arepicturedcelebratingas theworld-leadingvisitor attractionannouncesits busiestsummersinceit openedin2012.

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37. MayorofAntrimand Newtownabbey,MarkCooper (right)signstheWhiteRibbon Charter.Thiscommitmentsignifes adedicationtocreatingasociety wherewomencanfeelsafein theircommunity.He’spictured with TahneeMcCorry,chief executiveofWhiteRibbonNI.

38. MichaelBurke,founderof WoolowjoinsStephenMeldrum, generalmanageroftheGrand CentralHotelasHastingsHotels announcesithaspartneredwith threeluxurybrandstocuratean exceptionalsleepexperience.

39. Fairco TradeFrameshassetup a15,000sqftmanufacturingand productionunitatKilrootBusiness Park,Carrickfergus.Picturedis ownerJim ToalalongsideMayor GerardineMulvennaandSteve Harper,InvestNIexecutivedirector ofinternationalbusiness.

40. JeffreyBoycehasbeen announcedasanew retail directoratSpecsaversStrabane, joiningophthalmicdirectorPeadar Kearneyaspartnersofthelocal healthcarebusiness.

36. Ballymoneyhastakena topawardatthisyear’sRetail NIHighStreetHeroawards, confrmingitsgoldstatusas HighStreetofthe Year2023. Picturedlefttorightarethe BBC’sMarkSimpson, Winnie Mellet,presidentofBallymoney ChamberofCommerce,John WalkerandKathleen Walkerof W&J Walker,andGlynRoberts, chiefexecutive,RetailNI.

Themasteryof watchmakingin the heartofBelfast

Lunn’sinBelfasthasateamofdedicatedwatchmakers, servicingandrepairingahostofbrands,butitalsonowoperates itsAccreditedRolex Workshop–theonlyoneofitskindin NorthernIreland. JohnMulgrew paidavisittoQueen’sArcade totakealookattheskillandcraftmanshiponshow

Watchmakingistrulyoneof theworld’s mostbeautifully masterfulskills.

Oldandnew, mostofthehigher-endautomatic andmechanicalwatchesmadetoday – and more than a centuryago – boastpartswellinto three figures – balancebridges,jewels,springs, screwsandclutchwheelssominisculeit’s hard tocomprehendthelevelofprecision required by a humantobuildandservicethem.

Andthewatchindustryitselfiscontinuingto gothroughsomethingof a renaissanceatthe moment.

Whilethequartzcrisisofthe1970ssaw precisionwatchmaking,especiallyin Switzerland,taking a dive,alongwiththeloss ofsomeofthesector’s leadingbrands,ithas donenothingbutboominthelastdecade.It’s nowanindustryattemptingtokeepupwith soaringdemand,withprecise,mechanical watchmakingatthefore.

Now, more thanever, top,experienced watchmakersare whattheindustryneedsto fulfil thatburgeoningdemand.

Andthatextendstoservicing.Partofthe processinbuying a high-endRolex,for example – especiallyanolderorvintagepiece

– isensuringit’s well-maintainedthroughout itslife.Thesethingsare designedtolastfor generations,notmonthsandyears.

Lunn’s remainsourleadinghigh-endwatch boutique.Andit’s bothanauthorised retailer, butanaffiliateofSwisswatchmakinggiant Rolex.

professionalismandexpertise.

Andthat’s thestrengthofLunn’s havingsuch a highlevelofaccreditationandspecialism here.

I gottospendsometimehaving a look around.It’s animpressivesetup.

Walkingintotheworkshopyou’re immediatelygreetedbytwoskilled watchmakers,alongwith a hostofprecision toolinginanenvironmentmore akinto a laboratoryintermsofbothcleanlinessand vibe.

There’sa grand,tallsetofsmalldrawers whichhousesalmosteveryimaginablepart requiredforthemajorityofthemainRolex range.It’s akinto a good restaurant’s ‘miseen place’ – everythingisputinplaceand ready foruse.

AnditnowboastsanAccreditedRolex Workshop. A teamoftopwatchmakerscan serviceyourRolexin-houseatLunn’s inQueen’s Arcade,withouttheneedforthepiecebeing sentaway

Lunn’s theJewellersispartoftheworldwide networkofRolex-trainedwatchmakers, carefullyselectedfortheiruncompromising

Lunn’s hastwoRolexwatchmakers, a third is intrainingforRolexaccreditationwhilethere isalsoanotherwatchmakerin-house.

It’s thinkingaboutthefuture andensuring itsteamare accreditedandabletoworkon asmanyareasofthebusinessaspossible. Developingthatnextgenerationiskey Watch demandisn’t goingaway

InsideaRolex movementduringa serviceatLunn’s

Thisteamcandealwiththevastmajority ofRolexpieces – fromcurrentgeneration SubmarinerstoolderDatejusts.

It’sa well-runship.Itbeginswithanassessment ofthewatch,examinedby a watchmaker, who drawsupanestimateoftheworkneeding done.

Then,it’s preparationforservicing.The movementis removedfromthecasebefore beingdismantledandeachoftheparts carefullyexamined – thosethatnolongermeet Rolex requirementsare replaced.

Nextisthecleaningprocessinanultrasound bath,before dryingandmovingontothe reassemblyandlubrication.

Thewatchmakermakesthe firstadjustmentsto theprecisionofthemovementaccordingtothe brand’s accuracycriteria.

Thecaseisalsocompletelydisassembledand themiddlecase,bezel,casebackandbracelet are re-polishedorsatin-finishedaccordingto theiroriginal finish.Thesedelicateoperations require significantcare anddexterity

Afterbeingcleanedand refinished,thecase partsare reassembledandtheseals replaced.

Thecaseistestedforwaterproofness,then thecasepartsare reassembledandtheseals replacedandit’s tested.

Then,aftercasingthemovement,the watchmakermeasuresitschronometric precisiononceagainandmakesany final adjustmentsnecessaryforittomeetRolex requirements.

Thecasebackisthenscreweddown,and thewatchundergoesanotherRolex-specific testlastingatleast24hourstoverifythe performanceofthemovementovertime.

Eachwatchispressure-testedinwatertocheck thatitiswatertight,andthereafterthebracelet is refittedtothecase.

Then,it’s time afinalcontrolinwhichthe watchmakerensuresthewatchisfunctioning perfectlyandthatitsaestheticappearanceis impeccable.

Andattheendoftheserviceprocedure,the watchis returnedin a protectivepouchand accompaniedbyaninternationaltwo-year serviceguaranteecovering replacementparts andlabour

Lunn’s istheonlyplaceinNorthern Ireland,and onlyoneoftwoinIreland,whichoffersthis dedicatedRolexworkshopexperience.

Thisiscertainlyanimpressiveworkshop, andsomethingwhichfurtherextendsLunn’s positionastheleaderinthehigh-endwatch markethere. ■

ARolexSubmariner picturedintheLunn’s workshopatQueen’s Arcade

AgoldRolexDay-Date beingservicedatLunn’s

Historyand mystery in theMunster vales

Amixoffun,folkloreandfabfoodduring GemmaFullam’s roadtripthroughLimerick, Tipperaryand Waterford

IarrivetoLoughGuronamisty summermorningfeelingemotional, asitisafewdaysbeforemyfather’s frstanniversaryandthisishiscounty, Limerick.

Hewasborn30mileswestofhere,inArdagh, andalwaysjokedthatthereweretwothings itwasfamousfor,theeponymouschaliceand himself.

AtGrangestonecircletomeetmeisBrian Collopy,operationssupervisoratthenearby VisitorCentre,andanexpertinarchaeology, historyandfolklore.Guardedbyancientash andhawthornsisthelargeststanding-stone iterationofitskindinthecountry,comprising 113megaliths,thelargestofwhichis40-ton behemoth,RannachChruimDuibh.

Thisareahasbeeninhabitedfor5,000years andthelushlandscapeexudeshistoryand mystery–legendhasitthatLoughGurwas formedbytheFairyQueenÁine.Indeed,no oneknowsthecircles’actualpurpose(others arenearby),buttheycontinueto reveal tantalisinginsights;lastyear,carvingsthathad beenhidinginplainsightforcenturies,were discoveredonstonenine.

Thevicinityischock-fullofwonders,including amegalithicwedgetomb,iconicfolklore locations(includingthe reputedentranceto TirnanÓg),whilethe VisitorCentre,setin apicturesquepark,housesartefactsfound overtheyearsanddetailstherichhistoryand legendsofthiswondrousspot.

Nextstop,Ballyhass,aduo-locationadventure centre;IheadtotheMallowcomplex,but

detourfrstforaveryfnelunchatDeebert HouseinKilmallock.Onceamill,thena creameryfamedforitsbutter,thehistorical buildingwas restoredbytheO’Sullivanfamily tobecomethethrivinghotelitistoday.

Ijourneyonthroughthescenicvalleydividing theGalteesfromthepeaksofBallyhouraand intoBallyhass,tomeetseniorco-ordinator DarrenKirwan,whohasaninfectiousjoyand enthusiasm;he’spassionateabouteverything thatgoesonatBallyhass–whichisalot. It’steemingwithteenswhenIvisit;some dayadventurers,othersovernightinginthe BallyhassBunkhouses,a22-podvillagebuiltby Darrenandteam,completewithgianttepeefor chillingafteraday’sfun.

The36-acresite,whichhastwospring-water lakes,encompassesamultitudeofactivities fromwakeboarding,archery,axethrowing, high ropes,kayaking,yoga,saunas,openwaterswimming,stand-uppaddleboarding, zipliningandanaquapark.Theemphasisison fun,teamworkandtryingsomethingnewina supportivesetting.Igiveaxethrowing,abseiling andzipliningagoandsurprisemyselfwithmy prowessatthefrsttwoandhappilyscreammy headofffortheentiretyofthelast.

IlodgeatCharlevilleParkHotel,where,tomy delight,I’mallocatedthesumptuousbridal suite.Nextmorning,fullofeggsandtea,Ihead toMitchelstownCaves,justovertheborderin Co Tipperary.Discoveredbyaccidentin1833by MichaelCondon,thespeleologicalwondersof thissubterraneandomainhavebeengradually mappedandexploredovertheyears.

TheselimestonecavesareamongEurope’s

fnest;havingdescended200metresviathe 90-oddsteps,thedripstoneformationsthat oneencountersinthethreeaccessiblecaverns areawe-inspiring.Formedovercenturies (theygrow2cmevery1,000years),thecalcite stalactites,stalagmites,pillarsandcolumns–withpoeticnameslikeEagle’s Wing–glisten inthefoodlightsdottingthisprehistoric underworld.Indeed,theacousticsaresogood thatconcertsare regularlyheldinthethird cavern,whichliketheothers, remainsata relativelypleasant12degreesyear-round.

Afewminutes’drivebringsmetomynext rendezvous,fora WellWalkatGlengarra WoodswithNeilDennehy.Neil,anexpertin mindfulnessandvariousformsofphysical therapy,isapassionateadvocatefortaking timeoutinnatureandagreatadvertfor thepractice.Aswe‘forestbathe’alongthe woodlandtrails,Neilinstructsmeinsome simplemindfulnessexercises–breathing, awareness,stillness–thattakemereminutes todo,butarepowerfulintheireffect. We continuebondingovertheimportanceof momentsofsolitudeatlunch,whichisin thebustlingMarketStonehostelryinnearby Clogheen.

Fromthere,it’sascenicdrivetoLismoreCastle. Therainisbackbutthegardensarenoless resplendentinthedrizzle.Firstonthetrailis aflled-inswimmingpool,createdforAdele Astaire(sisterofFred)whomarriedtheson oftheninthDukeofDevonshire,Charles Cavendish–achronicalcoholicwhodied attheageof38–in1932.Lismorewasthe couple’sweddinggiftandAdele’sasheswere scatteredinthegroundsafterherdeathin 1981.

TheGothic-stylecastle,builtin1185byKing John,wasonceownedbySir WalterRaleigh andpassedtothefourthDukeofDevonshire in1753.The10acrescomprisetheReilig

Garden,theUpperGarden,andtheLower Garden,andameander revealsthenewly restoredvinerydesignedbySirJosephPaxton, alsoarchitectofLondon’sCrystalPalace;and theancient Yew Tree Walkthoughttopre-date thegardenitself.It’samust-visitforeven dilettantegardeners–andlikeallthebest strolls,canbetoppedoffwithteaandcakein thecaféoravisittothegallery,whichhouses contemporaryart.

DromanaHouseinthewest Waterfordenclave of Villierstownistheday’sfnaldestination. Theentranceisviaashow-stoppingHinduGothic-stylegateerectedtogreetDromana’s newly-wedownerin1826,1stBaronStuart deDeciesHenry Villiers-Stuartandhiswife TheresiaOttof Vienna.Theladyofthehouse todayisBarbaraGrubb,whoseancestorshave

livedinthisplaceDanielO’Connellcalled“a sweetspot”besidetheBlackwaterfor800 years.

Theelegant17thcenturymanorhouse,which incorporatessectionsoftheoriginalmedieval dwelling,issetinbeautifullytendedgardens, restoredlovinglybyBarbaraandherhusband Nicholas.Iamluckyenoughtobestaying inthemainhouse,inabedroomwhichhas stupendousviewsacrosstheBlackwater.Many oftheGrubbs’sguestsareStDeclan’s Way pilgrimsorgardenenthusiastsandstayinthe elegantcountry-housechicAirbnbstothe rear ofthemainhouse.

DinneriscourtesyoflocaltakeawaytheSaucy HenandIsavourmy roastchickenunderthe watchfuleyeofBarbara’s relativeswhose portraitslinethewalls.Thefamilylineageis repletewithillustriousconnections,fromtwo BritishPMs,aking’smistressandKatherine FitzGeraldCountessofDesmond,whose

GrangestonecircleinCoLimerick

notorietystemsfromherabilitytogrowa thirdsetofteethandlifespanof140years. JohnFitzGerald Villiers,knownas“GoodEarl John”,builtnearby Villierstownin1750and, intheaftermathoffamine,setupathriving linenindustry.

NextmorningIpootledontoBlackwaterEco Toursin Villierstown,anincrediblenot-forproftcommunityinitiativethatoffersriver tours,glampingpods,kayaking,canoeing, self-driveboatsandwalkingtrails.Ariver tourprovedalovelywaytowhileaway anhour,hearingthehistoryoftheonce importanttrade route.Ifthatwasn’tpleasure enough,Iwasletdrivetheboatforalittle while.

MylaststopwastheOldBankinDungarvan, whereIenjoyedthefnestrisottoI’vehadin years–propstotheirItalianchef.Bellyfull,I headedforhome,withMunster–andmany memoriesofmydad–inmyheart. ■

1

Three top business-friendly laptops toget that work done

Doyouwanttomoveonfromthedull,slowmid-rangelaptopyouroffcegave youthreeyearsago?Thelatestfagshipmodelsarelightyearsaheadintermsof screenquality,batterylife,powerandconnections,writes Adrian

LenovoThinkPadX1Carbon

Thinkpadsareunabashedly,andprimarily, businesslaptops.Thedistinctblack machinehasbeenastapleforexecutiveusers forwelloveradecade.Thebasicpitchis somethingthat’saspowerfulandergonomic ascanbewithinalightandslimbody.It’s alsobuiltasalaptopthatyou’resupposed tobeableto reliablyuseforfourorfve yearswithoutstuffbreakingorfreezing. TheX1Carbondoesn’tstraytoofarfrom thetried-and-trustedformula:eventhough ithasa14-inchdisplay,it’safeatherweight 1.1kgandisoneofthenicestlaptopsto typeon.Butitalsoaddsalotofphysicaland securityspecifcations,aswellasconsiderable frepowerunderthehood.

Thismodelstartswith16GBofRamandIntel’s i5processor,butcanbeconfguredwithmore memoryandani7processorif required.It alsohasafngerprint readerandshipswith Windows11Pro64.

Weckler

Formanyofitsusers,it’sthesmalldetailsthat maketheX1seriessomethingtostickwith. Thismodelcomeswitha65-wattchargeras standard(forveryfastcharging),excellent batterylifeandoneofthebestbacklit keyboardsofanylaptoptotypeon.Italso retainsthedistinctive‘nubbin’inthemiddle ofthekeyboardforthosewhostillpreferto controlthescreencursorwithsomethingother thanatouchpad.

There’snofirtingwithgamersorcreatorshere. Soyoudon’tgettheabsolutebrightestscreen (thebasemodelstartsat400nitsmaximum), oranygraphicscardstowritehomeabout.The X1Carbon’s14-inchdisplay,though,isaclear, vivid1080p–risingto2.8KOledifyoupaya

bitmore–andisgoodenoughtostream movies.Thewebcam,thankfullyisadecent 1080p,too.

2

SamsungGalaxyBook3Ultra Samsung’stopfagshiplaptopisa powerful16-inchmachinethatis probablymostappealingtoabusinessuser whoisalreadyinvestedintheSamsung ecosystem,meaningsomeonewhoalready hasahigher-endSamsungfagship smartphoneand(or)oneofSamsung’s tablets.IfyouuseyourSamsung account,thiscanbeveryhandy:you canusephoneappsontheBook3 Ultra,aswellasshareflesandphotosor controlyourphoneortabletwithyourmouse andkeyboard.

Samsunghasbuiltupausefulecosystemfor thosewithmorethanoneofitsdevices. ItsDexsystem–allowingyouturnamonitor intoabasicPCthatusesyourGalaxy smartphone–hasalwayshadasmall,but devotedfollowing.

Physically,thelaptop’sscreenisprobablyits highlight.It’sa3KSuperAmoleddisplaywith HDRanda refreshrateof120hzfor reallynice, smoothscrolling.It’sdefnitelybrightenough tomakeitausablemachineonsunnydays inthebackgardenorbesideaverybright window.

Colourslookabsolutelygreat.It’snota touchscreen,soyouwon’tbeabletouse anythinglikeSamsung’sSPen.

It’salsolighter(1.8kg)thanalmostanyother 16-inchlaptoponthemarket.Forexample, Apple’sMacBookPro16isalmostexactlythe samesizeandthicknessbutweighsalmost 20%more.

AndtheBook3Ultrahasenoughpowerfor thevastmajorityofnon-gaming,non-graphics industryusers. You’llgetaminimumof16GB ofRamandaCorei7(13thGen)withadecent NvidiaGeForce RTXGPU.

Batterylifeis reasonableifyou’remainlygoing tobeusingthisforoffce-relatedworktasks

andsomeentertainment.Itwillgiveyouupto around10hoursifyouuseitatamoderate screenbrightnesslevel.

3AppleMacBookPro14/16

Ifyou’reaMacuserwhoneedsmore thanjustgoodbatterylifeandpower (whicharenowavailableintheMacBookAir line),oneofthesemodelsisgoingtobethe obviouschoice.

Theyhavetop-endpower,superbdisplays,lots ofportsandcanrun8Kexternalscreentops. Theyalsohaveunmatchedbatterylifethat usuallylastwelloveraworkingday’snormal usage.

Theycomewithtwodifferentchipoptions. WhiletheM2Prosupports32GBofRam,

theM2Maxversioncantakeamonstrous 96GBofRam,forthosewhoneedto ruthlesslyslicethroughintenseediting or renderingtasksinvolvingsomeofthe heaviestgraphicworkloads.

ThisMacBookPro’s‘XDRLiquidRetina Display’isoneofthebestlaptopscreens I’veevertested,eventhoughitfallsjust shortofbeing4Kin resolution–whichisn’t crucialonascreenthissizeanyway.

Itcangotoadazzling1,600nitsof peakbrightnessforHDRcontent, waybrighterthanmostrivaldisplays.

Acoupleofyearsago,Apple realisedthat whilemakingeverythingwirelessworks foriPadsand(maybe)MacBookAirs,‘Pro’ usersstill reallyliketheoptionofplugging somestuffin.OnthisPromodel,aswellas aMagSafe3chargingslotandthreeUSB-C (Thunderbolt4)ports,there’sanHDMIport, amemorycardslotanda3.5mmheadphone port.

TheMagickeyboardisthesameasyou’llfnd onmostMacsnow,andincludesa TouchID fngerprintsecuritybuttonwhichcanbeused forthingslikeApplePay,aswellasunlocking themachine.Asforweight,the16-inchtest modelisabitofabeast,at2.15kg.The14inchversionis1.6kg,whichisjustaboutlight enoughtobebaggable. ■

Uncovering the9-5

NAME: FionaGratzer

POSITION: Chiefexecutive,Unislim

7am

Mydaykicksoffsomewherearound7am to7.30am.Itrytotakeacoldshowerevery morningtoshakeoffthecobwebs.I’llthen headdownstairs,hugthedogandmakesome breakfast.It’susuallyporridgewithfruitand nutsoreggs,andofcourse,coffee.Before worktakescentrestage,Igetmybraininto gearwithacrossword,andifIhavetime,I’ll takethedogoutforawalktogetmyblood pumpingfrstthinginthemorning.

9am

Aschiefexecutiveofholisticweightlossand wellnessbrand,Unislim,Iusuallyworkfrom homesohavingstructureisimportant.I’ve createdmyownoffcespace,awayfrom distraction.There’salwaystonstodo,from emailstoZoommeetingsandI’mespecially excitedtobeworkingonournewUnislim rangeofhealthyfrozenmealsrightnow.I’ll makemywaythroughworkuntillunchtime, at1pm,stayingmindfuloftheclock,because it’ssoeasyfortimetorunawaywithyouwhen

you’reworkingfromhome.Forme, routine iskeyandskippingmealsisn’tanoption, becausethatleadstoamajorenergyslump.

ForlunchI’llalwaysthinkabouteating nourishingfood,fullofgoodnutrientsandgut friendlyingredients.

2pm

Afternoonsareablendoftyinguplooseends, attendingtoemails,takingcallsandmeetings, andwhateverelsecomesmyway.I’llalsograb ayogurtandfruittokeepmyenergygoing mid-afternoon.I’mincrediblybusyrightnow, organisingUnislim’sinauguralInspire Awards, whichseekto recogniseourmostinspirational membersacrossfourcategories.I’mverymuch lookingforwardtoannouncingthewinners inOctober.I’llalwaysaimistofnishwork by5.30pm,butsometimesnewprojectsand ideaskeepmeworkinglonger.There’salways somethingexcitinghappeningwithUnislim andI’lloftenpopintooneofourevening classesonline.

5pm

Ifourfour-leggedfriendmissedherwalk earlierinthemorning,thenit’stimeforapostworkstroll.Threedaysaweek,I’llusethistime tohaveagoodworkoutorrun.Exercisehelps metoletoffsteamandismywayofboosting mymoodandenergy.

7pm

Eveningsaremytimetounwind.Depending ontheday,Imightbesharingdinnerwithmy kids,andifI’mluckythey’llcookittoo.On otherdays,I’mthechef,andyou’llusuallyfnd mewhippingupsomethingquicklikechicken and roastveggies.Oncedinner’sover,I’llbe cozieduponthecouch,bingingonanew series.

10pm

Assoonastheclockstrikes10pm,it’sawrap. Theday’sadventureswinddown,andIheadto bed.Ialwayshaveafewgoodbooksonthego andlistentoasleepmeditationtohelpclear mymindandensureagoodnight’s rest. ■