Ulster Business September 2024 by Ulster Business

Thelatestnewsandexclusivesfromacrossthe worldofNorthernIrelandbusiness

Coverstory

BarclayCommunicationsonitslatestmajor sportingsigningforthenewseason

InFocus

JoeBabiecofMcConnell’sWhiskyongrowing aspiritsbusinessinanhistoricBelfastbuilding

IT&technology

ElonMusk’s‘war’onadvertiserssendsXinto spinasthetechsoapoperacontinues 45

Energy,waste& environment

Makingtheargumentforfewerexports 55

Events&conferences

UlsterBusiness takesalookatwhat’scoming uprightacrossNorthernIreland 61 Insurance

PavelBarterlooksatthecostofinsurancehere andwhat’sdrivingpremiumsup 70 Interview

JohnMulgrewsitsdownwithJean-Christophe NovellitochatabouthisBelfast restaurant

Motoring

PatBurnstakesoneof Volvo’shybridXC90 SUVsonatouracrossFrance

Photocall

Alookatwhat’sbeenhappeningacross NorthernIrelandoverthelastfewweeks

92 Review

JohnMulgrewspendsaweekonthewristwith Montblanc’slatestdivewatch 96 Technology

Irishbodiestryingto recruitstaffforcybersecurity rolescannotpaymarketrates

UlsterBusinessisapartoftheIndependentPressStandardsOrganisation(IPSO).Ifyoubelieveyouhavebeenunfairlytreated,youcancontactIPSOinwritingviaitswebsiteforguidanceonwhattodo. Theserviceisfree.IPSOcan thenadviseonwhetherit’slikelyyouhavegroundsforacomplaintandwhattodoaboutit. Thenormalprocedureisforthecomplainanttothencontactthepublication’seditordirectly.Ifnoagreementisreached,thecomplainant cangobacktoIPSOtolookforanadjudication,orforittotakeoverthecomplaint. Fulldetailsareavailableatwww.ipso.co.uk.Alternatively,emailcomplaints@ipso.co.uk,orinquiries@ipso.co.uk,ortelephone03001232220,ortheout-of-hoursemergencynumber: 07659152656.

Orwriteto:IPSO,c/oHaltonHouse,20-23Holborn,LondonEC1N2JD

Doyen of business onto pastures new

We comeacross a lotof individuals,frms,andtalking headsinthisbusinessof journalism.

Expertsare calledupontogiveustheir opinions,theirtakes,ortoexplainto thelaypersontheinsandoutsof a deal, conceptorbusinesspractice.

AndRichard Ramseyhasalwaysbeen oneofNorthern Ireland’s bestmindsin explainingeconomicperformance,outlining headwindsanditeratingthetruepicture andlandscapeaheadofus,droppingthe jargonandpainting a picture thatmostof uscancomprehendandunderstand.

He’s beenwithUlsterBankfor17yearsand isnowleavinghis roleaschiefeconomist

inNorthern Irelandforpasturesnew, and opportunitiesonthehorizon.

Hejoinedthebankshortlybefore theglobal economyenteredmeltdown,andsincethen hasbeen a leadingvoiceamongeconomists here,and a familiarfacerightacross Northern Ireland’s widerbusinesslandscape.

“Mybiggestfearwhen I frstjoinedthe bankwasperforming a mediaandpublic speaking role,”Richard postedonLinkedIn whenbreakingthenewshewasmovingon fromhis role.

Itcertainlydidn’t provetobe a problemfor himovertheyears – hewas a familiarvoice acrosstheairwaves,and a recognisableface onourtelevisions,before expandingthat front-facingmedia roleintoUlsterBank’s

ownpodcastseries,aswellasappearing onnumerousothers,includingthe Ulster Business Podcast.

I wishRichard goodluckinanynew endeavoursandwanttothankhimforthe assistanceandadviceI’ve receivedfromhim overtheyears.

WelcometoSeptember’s editionof Ulster Business Thismonth’s coverstoryfeatures BarclayCommunicationsanditsnewdeal withUlsterRugby

There’s theusualplethoraoffeatures, interviews,analysis,profles,andmuch more. I hopeyouenjoythisedition,and we’llcatchupsoon. ■

JohnMulgrew

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

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

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

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

Graphicdesign SusanMcClean,MediahuisIrelandDesignStudio

Coverphoto MattMackey/PressEye

@ulsterbusiness www.ulsterbusiness.com

$30m

A month innumbers Developing Belfast courthouseashotel ‘wouldbe terrific’ says US whiskey boss

Thetotalinvestment sofarinMcConnell’s Distillery,whichis basedattheformer CrumlinRoadGaolin Belfast.

£46m

Thevalueofanew governmentscheme toassistfrmsworking withinNorthern Ireland’sagri-food sector.

£760m

Thevalueofthedeal tobuyPhoenixEnergy, thesaleofwhichwas thethirdlargestof itskindinNorthern Ireland’shistory.

22%

Thepercentageof carsproducedby manufacturerswhich mustnowbefully electric.

Freshplanstoturnthedilapidated CrumlinRoadCourthouseintoanew hotel“wouldbeterrifc”,according tothemanbehindtheneighbouringnew whiskeydistillery.

JoeBabiecisoneoftheprimaryinvestors behindMcConnell’sDistilleryandnewlylaunchedvisitorexperience,alongsideother funders.

AskedaboutdeveloperDavidMahon’splans topotentiallyturntheadjacentCrumlinRoad Courthouse–whichhassatvacantfordecades –intoahotel,hetold UlsterBusiness:“Iwon’t presumetotellsomeoneelsehowtoruntheir business…butonwhathe’sannounced,at leastinitially,intermsofbringingthehotel–it wouldbeterrifc.

“Ithinkitwouldbeanothergreatpiece.It wouldbringmorepeoplehere. We keepthem residentinnorthBelfast,whichisimportant.

“Itwouldnotonlyprovidegreaterstrength acrossthestreet,bothsidessupportingone another,whichwouldbegreat,butalso,I

thinkitgetsusclosertoacriticalmassof peopleandactivitytohelpotherfolkwho wanttobeentrepreneurialinnorthBelfastto havesomethingtoconnectto.”

MrBabiecwaspayingavisittothecity anddistilleryalongsideotherinvestorsinthe ambitiousscheme–housedintheformer A-wingoftheCrumlinRoadGaolinthenorth ofthecity.

“Forus,thisis$30mworthofinvestment–alotofthatwasraisedintheUS,andthenit’s theeightyearsofcumulativetime,putintoit aswellbyliterallyscoresofpeople,”hesays.

Thedistilleryhasjustmovedtoa24/7 productionoperationandJoesaysthatwill seeitproduce500,000litresofalcoholayear –amountingtosometwomillioncasesof fnishedwhiskey.

Intermsofthemarketsinwhichit’s competing,theUS remainskey,Joesays.

“ForallIrishwhiskeycompanies,it’slikeThe Beatles–youhavetogotoAmerica,”hesays.

“ThepresencethatwehaveintheUS marketis reallyimportant,andatthispoint, we’renowestablished.”

HealsohasgoodthingstosayaboutBelfast asawhole.

“Belfastisacityontheupswing,”hesays. “Lookingatallofthingswhichhaveopened sinceI’vebeencominghere,allthenewthings thathappened,thethingsthathavegrown.

“[Before]itwasn’tzero,butit’snowmuch morevibrant.It’sasgoodamarkettobein becauseyouarepartofaneconomyandsocial environmentthat’sgettingmoreandmore vibrant,whichmeanswegetpeoplewhoare moreentrepreneurial.”

Hesaidthebusinesswaswelcomedwith openarmsfromthebusinessandhospitality sector,alongwithsupportfromthelocal community.

Readthefullinterviewonpage22-23

JoeBabiecof McConnell’s IrishWhisky

City centre health hub gets greenlight

Amajornewhealthhubhasbeengiventhegreenlightfor Belfastcitycentre.

PlansareunderwaytodevelopthehubattheGroveHouse

buildingonGreat VictoriaStreet.

Thedevelopmentcouldalsoincludeanopticians,pharmacy,dental surgery,GPclinic,treatment rooms,yogastudio,labsandoffcespace.

SpearheadedbyOCMCLtdandlocatedonGreat VictoriaStreet, theinnovativeHealthworksdevelopmentwillofferhealthhub accommodationdesignedtomeetthediverseneedsofoccupants, includingGPpractices,specialistoccupationalhealthservices,and pharmacies.

ThedevelopmentofHealthworksmarksOCMC’ssecondsignifcant investmentintheburgeoninghealthcaresector,followingthesuccessful acquisitionoftheDataworksbuildingwithintheKing’sHallLifeSciences Park,currentlyhometoSpaMedicaandDiaceuticsplc.

“Healthworksisdesignedtobeoneofthemostaffordableand accessibleprimaryandspecialistcarecentresinNorthernIreland,”Peter Keeling,directoratOCMC,said.

“Withplanningapprovalnowsecured,weareeagertoadvance aprojectthatpresentsamajoropportunitytoenhancehealthcare provisioninBelfast.

“Ourvisionistomeettheevolvingneedsofamodernurban populationbyofferingcomprehensivehealthcareservicesinasingle, accessiblelocation.

“Weexpectstronginterestfrompotentialoccupantsdrawntothis innovativedevelopment.”

Whatthenew development couldlook likewhen completed

£46m agri-foodschemeunveiled

Anew£46mschemeaimedat helpingNorthernIreland’sagrifoodsectorhasbeenunveiled.

EconomyMinisterConorMurphyhas launchedtheAgri-FoodInvestmentInitiativeto supportlocalagri-foodanddrinkprocessors.

Theinitiative,developedbyInvestNI,has beendesignedtohelpimprovetheoverall competitivenessandproductivityoftheagrifoodanddrinkprocessingsectorinNorthern Ireland.

“Agri-foodprocessingmakesasignifcant contributiontolocalcommunities throughoutthe region,andespeciallytorural communities,”theministersaid.

“Bytargetingsupporttothissector,this schemewillpromote regionalbalance.The capitalinvestmentwillhelpcompaniesadopt greenertechnologies,andsocontributetoour netzerotargets.Importantly,theschemealso aimstoincreasethesector’sproductivity.”

Launchingtheeventhealsovisiteddrinks processingcompanyClassicMineral Waterin Lurgan.

Thebusinesshasinvestedheavilyinnew productionequipment resultinginproductivity improvementsforthebusinessalongside growthinbothemploymentandsales.

LiamDuffy,chiefexecutiveandowner ofClassicMineral Watersaid:“Investingin yourbusinessisessentialifyouaretoensure continuedsuccess.

“SincetakingownershipofClassicMineral WaterIhavemademultimillion-pound investmentsinnewmachinery,process

improvementsandinnovation.Asa result, wearethefrstinIrelandtoproduceisotonic drinksfortheprivatelabelmarket,the businessismuchmoreproductive,oursales continuetogrowandwenowemployfourtimesthenumberofpeoplewehadfveyears ago.

“Accesstosupportthroughaninitiativelike thiswillsignifcantlyhelpabusinesslikemine continuetomakecapitalinvestmentsinnew technologies.”

AndKieranDonoghue,chiefexecutiveof InvestNI,said:“TheaimofthisnewInitiative istoimprovetheoverallcompetitiveness ofNorthernIreland’sagri-foodanddrink processingsector.

“Tothisend,weareparticularlyseeking

Quotes of the month

“With mixed feelings in the atmosphere, misinformation disguising whatis false rather than fact.”

LoriGatsi-Barnett,founder ofJoinHerNetwork,writing inthisedition.

“TheInitiativeisnowopentoapplications fromalleligibleagri-foodanddrinkprocessors inNorthernIreland,andIencouragebusinesses inthesectortoavailofthissignifcant opportunitytoinvestforfuturegrowth.Classic Mineral WaterhereinLurganisanexample ofwhatcanbeachievedthroughinvestment andinnovationundertakeninpartnershipwith InvestNI.

“Aswellasprovidingeffciencyand productivitybeneftsdirectlytothebusiness, wealsoexpectinvestmentsthroughthis Initiativetohaveapositiveimpactontheagrifoodsupplychainacrossruralareas.”

“For allIrish whiskey companies,it’s like The Beatles – youhave to go to America.”

JoeBabiecofMcConnell’s Distilleryspeakinginthis editionofthemagazine.

UlsterBank’soutgoingchief economistRichardRamsey. projectswhichareinnovativeanddemonstrate howtheywillimprovetheproductivityand sustainabilityofthebusiness.

“Whilenothing shouldbe taken for granted, ever ything seemssetup for frms to have a successfulsecond half of 2024.”

EconomyMinisterConorMurphywithLiamDuffy,ofClassicMineral Water,andKieranDonoghue,InvestNI

Belfast’s newestpub namedafter pioneering NI footballer

Belfast’snewestbarwillbenamedafterapioneering NorthernIrelandfemalefootballer.

TheformerMcKenna’sbarisbeing refurbishedand rebranded bypublicanKelvinCollins,whoisalsobehindBenMadigan’sBar& KitchenontheCavehillRoadinnorthBelfast.

Ithasnowbeen revealedwhatthebarwilllooklikeinsideandits theme.ItwillbecalledSeatonsofSailortowninanodtofootballer MollySeaton.

ThenorthBelfastwomanplayedforaseriesofteams,includingmen’s sides,inthe20sand30s,aswellascaptainingIreland’swomen’steam.

Now,whatthenewbarwilllooklikeinsidehasbeen revealed.

Thegroundfoorincludesakitchen,banquettes,anextendedbar area,alongwithsnugs,boothsandatraditionalfreplace–witha traditionalvibebringinginmoderndesigninfuences.

Therewillalsobeanupstairsareawithseatingandbooths,along withabar.

Theownerofthenewpub,KelvinCollins,isonthehuntformore information,newspaperarticlesormemorabilia relatingtoMollySeaton.

Belfast ‘cheapestcity for students in UK’

Belfastisnowthemostaffordable cityintheUKforstudentstolive, accordingtoafreshsurvey.

UlsterBank’sStudentLivingIndexcaptures asnapshotofwhatitisliketobeastudent atuniversityin2024andotherkeyfndings showthatthetimespentbystudentsinparttimeworkhasincreasedby154%,average studentmonthly rentshaveincreasedby17% since2023andjustoverhalfofthestudents surveyedadmittorunningoutofmoney beforetheendofterm.

TheUlsterBankStudentLivingIndex surveyed6,186studentstodeterminethemost affordableplacetostudyandconsidersarange offactors,includinghowmuchstudentsspend goingout,incometheyearnfromparttime work,andotherhouseholdexpenditures.

“Thanksto relativelylowaveragemonthly rentcosts(£554amonth),Belfastisthemost affordableplaceintheUKforstudentstolive,” the reportsaid.

“Theindextakesaccountoftheaverage monthlylivingandaccommodationcosts dividedbyaveragemonthlyincome,(excluding studentloan),tocalculateascorefor32ofthe

mostpopularuniversitytownsandcitiesacross theUK.”

Rentshaveincreasedacrosstheboardthis year,andfasterthaninfation,withanaverage increaseof17%.Thenationalaveragemonthly rentforstudentsnowstandsat£689.43, howeverinpositivenewsforstudentshere, bothBelfastandDerrycomeinsignifcantly lowerthanthis. Typically,studentsinLondon canexpecttopay£1,032amonthin rent.

Householdbillshavejumpedbymorethan 300%thisyear,makingthemthesecond biggestoutgoingforstudents,onaverage costing£157.78amonth.

“Belfaststudentsweresomewhatexempt fromthisrisewiththosesurveyed reporting theyspend£57onhouseholdbills,”the report says.“Similarly,supermarketspendingin BelfastandDerrywereonthelowestendof thescale,cominginat£100and£96amonth, respectively.”

Theaveragecostofapinthasincreasedby 6%thisyear,andLondoncontinuestobethe mostexpensive,withstudentsinthecapital expectingtopay£5.74perdrinkandaround oneffthoftenpayingbetween£7and£8.

“Thisyear’sStudentLivingIndexpaints apretty realisticpictureofthefnancial experienceuniversitystudentsarehavingin 2024,” TerryRobb,headofpersonalbanking atUlsterBank,says.

“Studentshaven’tbeenimmunetocostof livingincreasessoit’sunsurprisingtolearnthat outgoingssuchas rent,householdbills,and supermarketspendinghaveallrisenthisyear.

“Weseethatstudentsareproactively makingchangestoincreasetheirincome throughpart-timeworkand reducingtheir spendingwhensocialisingwithfriends.This highlightstheimpacteverydayspendingis havingonstudentfnancesandthemeasures theyaregoingtomitigatetheeffects.

“It’spositivetoseeanincreaseinthe numberofstudentstakingstepstomanage theirfnanceshoweveritisslightlyconcerning thataroundoneffthofthosesurveyedarenot budgetingatall. We knowthathealthysaving andspendinghabitsdevelopedatayoungage canleadtoamorepositive relationshipwith personalfnancesinlaterlifesoit’simportant thatwesupportallyoungpeopletofeel comfortablewithbudgeting.”

UlsterBank’s TerryRobb

PhoenixEnergy ‘third largestdeal inNI’s history’

The£760msaleofPhoenixEnergythisyearwasthethird largestinNorthernIreland’shistory,it’semerged.

Thelargestgasdistributorherewasboughtbyaconsortium whichincludedPowerAssetsHoldings,CKInfrastructureHoldingsand CKAssetHoldings.

CorporatelawfrmA&LGoodbodyadvisedonover85%ofthe almost£900mofdeals recordedbyvalueinNorthernIrelandduringthe frsthalfof2024,includingthePhoenixdeal.

Thedealisthelargesttotakeplacehereinalmostadecade. Experian’squarterlyUKandROI‘M&AReview’ reportsonmergers andacquisitionactivityby region,togetherwiththemostactivelocal legalandfnancialadvisers.

TheExperian reportshowsthatNorthernIrelandhasoutperformed thewidermarketsofarin2024withsustainedlevelsofdealactivity yearonyear,alongsideasignifcantincreaseintransactionvalue.

DavidRowan,headofcorporateatA&LGoodbodyinNorthern Ireland,said:“OverthepastdecadeALGhasconsistentlyrankedasthe leadadviserbyvalueofdeals,actingonmanyofthelargestandmost complexlocalandinternationaltransactionswiththegreatestimpacton theeconomicdevelopmentofNorthernIreland.”

MrRowanattributedA&LGoodbody’scontinuedmarketleading performanceintheM&Asectortotheexpertiseandcommercialfocus ofthefrm’scorporatepractice.

Work beginson Northern Ireland’s largestLidl

orkhasstartedonwhatwill becomeNorthernIreland’s largestLidlsupermarket.

Parkhasanareaof2,475sqm,ofwhich 1,752willbeusedforthesalesfoor.

Thestoreisestimatedtocreate18new jobs,addedtothearound22staffwhowill

EddieMurnin,GEDA

Construction,Mayorof CausewayCoastandGlens, CiaránMcQuillan,andIvan Ryan,LidlNorthernIreland

relocatefromthestore’scurrentlocationin the retailpark.

Thesupermarketwillopeninspring2025, andLidlsaysthatitwillfeaturewideraisles andmorehigherenergyeffciency.

Thereareplansfor152parkingspaces,as welltwoelectricvehiclechargingpoints.

Lidlestimatesthattheprojectwill createaround200otherjobsindesign, constructionandlandscaping.

Thesupermarketgrouphasbeeninvesting millionsofpoundsinNorthernIreland, openingnewlocationsandupdatingexisting ones.

Itsbosshere,Ivan Ryan,saysit’splanning toexpandtoaround60storesacross NorthernIreland.

Itcameinatthenumber26spotinthis year’s UlsterBusiness Top100Northern IrelandCompanieslist,inassociationwith KPMG.

Globalexpertidentifeshugegrowth potentialinpublictransportinNI

PublictransportinNorthernIreland couldbecomeaspopularasinFrance andGermanyifthecurrentnetwork wasgivenscopetoexpand.

GlobalexpertJarrett Walkeralsosaidthat Stormontmustdefnewhatitmeansby “success”inpublictransport.

TheAmericanconsultant,whohasdesigned bussystemsacrosstheworld,said:“Translink isoperatingunderanimpossiblesetof expectations,and,inthecontextofthose expectations,itseemstobedoingratherwell’’.

Mr Walker,whowasinBelfast recentlyto promotehisbook‘Human Transit’,spokeon NorthernIreland’sbusnetworkata Translink eventatUlsterUniversity.

HebelievesNorthernIreland’smainissueis “almostuniversalinpublictransportsystems”, addingthatitcouldonlybe resolvedbyhaving a“conversationbetweenthepublicand government”.

“Iftheprimarydefnitionofsuccessinpublic transportispatronage,thenitwouldbelogical for Translinktothinkasabusiness,choose whichmarketsitwillenterandfocusits servicesthere.

“Yougethighpatronagebyconcentrating onserviceswheretherearelotsofpeople travellingandthat’swithinandbetweenmajor cities.

“Thequestioniswhetherthatactuallyisthe measureofsuccessbecausepeoplepresenta differentexpectation,suchasthat Translink servestheruralareasinawaythatseemsfair; that Translinkmeetsschooltransportation need;that Translinkisineverypartofurban areas,eventhosethataredevelopedatvery lowdensity,inwaysthatarediffcultforpublic transporttoserveeffciently.’

“Theproblemisthatthewaythecommunity

relatesto Translinkislikebeinginataxiand tellingthedrivertoturnleftandrightatthe sametime.”

Exceptingthepandemic,passengernumbers haverisenoverthelastdecadeinNorthern Ireland,withpublictransportpatronage reaching84.5millionjourneysin2018/19–thehighestin20years.

Furtherchangestothepublictransport networkwill,however, requiresignifcant investment.

Havinganalysedpublictransporthere,Mr WalkersaidBelfasthasa“goodnetwork–it’s reasonablyclear,verymuchfocusedonthe citycentre,andthereareinterestingquestions aboutwhetheritwillbenecessaryinfutureto makeiteasiertotravelbetweenplacesoutside thecitycentre.’’

ForMr Walker,themostimportantelement ofpublictransportis“theabilitytoconnect peopletomanydestinationsthattheyvalue

intheamountoftimethattheyhaveintheir day”.

Lookingtowardsthefuture,hesaidsomebig choicesmustbemade.

“ItcomesdowntohowserioustheNorthern Irelandgovernmentwantstobeaboutits goals regardingclimateorsocialinclusion,”he says.“Obviously,publictransportinvestmentis inseparablefromthat.

“What’sneededarecleardecisionsonhow to reusethestreetsandwhatlevelofpublic transportyou’regoingtoprovideandhowthat successisdefned.”

Mr Walkerdescribedthepotentialforpublic transportinandbetweencitiesandtownsin NorthernIrelandas“boundless”.

“Thereisplentyofopportunityforpublic transporttodramaticallygrowitsshareand tobeasdominantachoiceasitisinFranceor Germany.’’ ■

TranslinkchiefChrisConwaypicturedwithJarrett Walkeratarecent‘Bus.Better.Connected’eventinBelfast

Olympicsshowsimportanceof teamculturetoachievingsuccess

ByJohnMoore,managingdirector,HaysNI

LikemanypeoplethissummerIthoroughlyenjoyed watchingtheOlympicsinParis.

It’sauniqueeventinthesportingcalendarwhichoverthecourseof acoupleofweeksallowsusalltobecomearmchairexpertsinsports andactivitieswemayneverhavegivenasecondthoughttooverthe precedingfouryears.Canoeslalom.Modernpentathlon. Taekwondo. Pommelhorse.Kitesurfng.Iwatchedthemall.

Oneofthethingsthat reallyjumpedouttomewatchingthesuccesses of TeamGBand TeamIrelandwasthesupportathletesgaveto teammatesinotherevents.FromAndyMurraycheeringontheGB swimmingteamtoLeBronJamesgoingcourtsideatthebeachvolleyball, someofthebiggeststarsofthesportingworldwereclearlykeento soakuptheOlympicexperience.

ForsomeofthoseinindividualsportstheOlympicsgivesthemachance tobepartofabiggerteamandtocheeronotherswhoworkashard astheydotobecomethebestintheirfeld.Manytalkedaboutthe camaraderieandspecialcultureofthegames.

Hays’ researchover recentyearshasshownthatanorganisation’s workplacecultureandapproachtowellbeingisamajorfactorinits abilitytoattractand retaintalent. We spendalotoftimewithourcoworkersandproductivityisproventoincreaseifeveryoneishappyand buysintotheiremployer’sculture.

Indaysgonebythatmighthavemeanteveryoneheadingtothepub foradrinkafteralongweekintheoffcetolettheirhairdownbefore theweekend.Thesedays,thatisabitofathrowbacktothedayswhen work-hard-play-hard,bums-on-seatsculturewasthenorm.

Buttheworldofworkhaschangedandwenolongerinhabit predominantlyin-personworkenvironments,meaningthesocialaspect ofourprofessionallivesislessened,andtherearefarfewerpeople drinkingalcoholthesedays.Thatdoesn’tmeanyoucan’tspendtime withyourcolleagues,butemployerstodayneedtothinkofmore inclusivealternativestokeepemployeesconnectedandhappy.

ResearchcarriedoutbyUKalcohol-educationcharityDrinkaware showsthat43%ofprofessionalsbelievethereistoomuchpressureto consumealcoholwhensocialisingwithcolleagues–evenmoresothan whentheyarearoundfriendsorfamily–and53%ofworkerswould likethispressuretobelessened.

Interestingly,itisyoungermembersoftheworkforcearedrinkingfar

lessalcohol.GenZ(thosebornbetween1992-2012)areexpectedto makeup27%oftheworkforceby2025,butaccordingtoa reportby Mintel,aroundathirdofpeopleaged18to24saytheydonotdrink alcoholatall.

Aswellasthehealth reasons,theriseofsocialmedia(andtheriskof out-of-characterbehaviourbeingdisplayedtothemasses),ispartof the reason,with49%ofGenZsayingtheironlinepresenceisalwaysat thebackoftheirmindwhentheyconsumealcohol.Thetrendseemsto beextendingtooldergenerationstooandofcoursemanypeoplealso choosenottodrinkalcoholforcultural reasons.

I’veseenanumberofemployersweworkwithgetting reallycreative with recentstaffeventsasalternativestogoingtothepub–ranging fromtripstoescape rooms,scavengerhunts,walksalongtheLagan andhikesintheMournes,picnicsandclassesatcookeryschools,fun sportingchallenges,andworkshopsintheoffceinvolvingarts,music andyoga.

Puttingonavarietyofsocialactivitiesissoimportantforagoodoffce cultureandcanhavea reallypositiveimpactonmorale,wellbeing,and workplacehappiness,byallowingeveryonetojoinin.Researchshows that34%ofemployeesactivelyavoidworksocialsduetoalcohol,so there’sahighchancethatthey’llbemorewillingtoengageifyoumake theefforttoprovidemorecreativealternativeoptions. ■

It’stimetocreatea freshbelongingblueprint

Inthewakeofanti-immigrationprotestsandracistattacksonbusinessesowned byethnicminoritieshereinNIandacrosstheUK, LoriGatsi-Barnett,founder of JoinHerNetwork,saysidentifyingnewapproachestobuildingbridgesand ensuringrespectandinclusionareembracedbyeveryoneiskey

AscommunitiesacrosstheUK facethe realitiesoflooking beyonddiversityandidentifying newapproachestobuildingbridges, identifyingabelongingblueprintiskey.

We shouldquestionourunderstandingof belongingandhowwecanensure respect withinclusionandequityareexperiencedand sharedbyeveryone.

“Diference isanaccident of birth, andit should therefore neverbe the source of hatred or confict.”

JohnHume

Withmixedfeelingsintheatmosphere, misinformationdisguisingwhatisfalserather thanfact.Itisfundamentallyimportantto rememberthatwepossessthepowerto controlthenarrative,especiallywhenit iseasiertofuelthefamesofhate speechandoutdatedrhetoric. Unfortunately,historytoooften iscruelandthehardtruthsto unearthleavemoredamagein thewakeofthingswediscover.

“Homeisnot where welive, its where we belong.” African proverb

Humanityliesfragmented,desperately seekingwaystodiscreditthegreatergood weaccomplishifwefocusonthepositive contributionsmadeinvariousways.Our journeysdiffer,butthepromiseofabetterlife isstrongerthantheriskofdangersomany facewithdeterminationand resilience.

Bravelyfacingthefearandharshcoldnessof strangers,soquickto remindyouhowyoudo notbelongandshould returntonothingthat resemblesashesbecausethatworldnolonger existsexcepttobeflledwithpainfulmemories thathauntthepossibilityofhopeforabetter life.

Experiencesbothgoodandbadechoin thehallsoftheyearsspentneverto return, replacedbythevibrantmeltingpotofdiverse culturalbackgrounds,dailyconfrontations flledwithperceptions,biasesofunfair labelsthatcondemnandridiculewithout justifcation.

“… sometimeswewill take ftting inas a substitute, butactually ftting inis the greatestbarrier to belonging becauseftting in says,‘Be like them to beaccepted.‘ Belonging says, ‘Thisiswho I am’.”

Nowasthedustsettles,comingtoterms with revelationsofpeoplepubliclyexposed negatively,personalvaluesinconfictlaidbare, campaigns,strategies,solutionsatahastened pacefranticallytryingto restorethecalmand resumethenormalityweallonceknew.The questionofhowwe redefnedescribingeach otherandacknowledgethesenseofbelonging isattheforefront.

Thereisnosubstituteforbelongingbecause itsindividualistic,mirrorsthecollectivediverse communityvalues,choosestoembrace andinclusivelyworktogether,disregards thesuperfcialdifferencessuchasethnicity, championsthepositiveconnectionsthat celebratediversity,seekstofndequitable acknowledgmentofeveryone, respects differencesandwelcomesnewvoiceswho bringadifferentperspectivethatmakesour diversecommunitiesstrongertogether.

Theuniquenessofhumanityistheabilityto showupasindividuals,uniteinacommon purposethatcollectivelymakesusacommunity.

We aremeanttobedifferentbecausetherein liestheopportunitiestoembracenewideas, discoverhiddentruths,displayawillingnessto beopentolearninghowtobebettertogether andhowtobegincreatingabelonging blueprintthatinstinctivelyseesthebestin everyone. ■

LoriGatsi-Barnett

Hotelsenjoyrecord monthfordailyrates

AreportfromCBRENIshowsthathotelshererecentlyenjoyedaverystrong monthsintermsofdailyratesandactivityinthemarket,writes

NorthernIrelandhotelshave enjoyeda recordperiod–withthe highest-everdailyrateachieved,a reporthassaid.

AndthepurchasebyanIrishgroupofthe formerParkInnHotelinBelfastwasamong thetransactionshelpingthesectorinNorthern Irelandtoa“verystrong”frsthalfof2024.

CommercialpropertyfrmCBRENI’squarterly research reportsaidJunewasa recordsmashingmonth,withthehighest-ever averagedailyrateand revenueperavailable roomforNorthernIreland’shotels.

CBRENImanagingdirectorBrianLaverysaid: “Hoteloccupancyrateshavecontinuedto strengthen,withplentyofvisitorsnowcoming acrosstheborderandaplethoraofcruiseship dockings.”

AccordingtoAlexSpeers,associatedirectorof hotelsatCBRE,occupancyandaveragedaily rateinthefrstsixmonthsoftheyearhad out-performed2023.InBelfast, revenuefor anavailable roomwasup11%ontheyear before.

MajordealsinthefrsthalfincludedMHL HotelCollection’sacquisitionofthe145-room formerParkInn,whichhadbeenusedas accommodationforasylumseekerssince2021. Itistobe refurbishedand rebrandedbyMHL asaMoxybyMarriotthotel, reopeningnext year.

AndMrLaverysaidthe“excellent performance”ofhotelshadmeantother propertieswerecomingontothemarketfor sale.

Thefour-starRoeParkResortoutsideLimavady isbeingsoldthroughCBREHotelswithaguide priceof£14m,alongwiththeArmaghCity Hotel,withaguidepriceof£9m.

MrLaverysaid:“Untilmore roomsbecome availablein2024/25,weanticipate room revenueto remainhigh.”

TheBedfordHotelattheScottishMutual Buildingisduetoopennextyear,aftera planningapplicationwassubmittedbyMartin PropertyGrouptoincreasethebedroomcount to102.OperatorFocusHotelsistorunthe business,subjecttoamanagementcontract.

MargaretCanning

AndhoteloperatorAndrasHouse,nowthe biggestNorthernIrelandhotelsgroup,was grantedplanningpermissioninJunetoconvert andextendDorchesterHouseonGreat Victoria Streetintoa136-unitaparthotel.

AndrasHouseisalsotoopenthe83-bedroom MarcusHotelinPortrushbeforeTheOpen in2025,withthevenuetradingunderthe TapestryCollectionbyHilton.

InApril,PressUp,anIrishhospitalityandhotel group,submittedaplanningapplicationto convert34-44BedfordStreetand4-6Clarence Streetintoan88-bedroomhotelwitha rooftop restaurantandswimmingpool.

Andin recentmonths,HastingsHotelsGroup completeda£15m refurbishmentofThe EuropaHotel,anda£600,000 renovationof thegroundfooroftheCullodenEstateand SpaoutsideBelfast.

TheformerParkInnwillbethefourthhotel ownedandoperatedbyMHLHotelCollection underafranchiseagreementfromMarriott International.Itwouldbecomethesecond MoxybyMarriottwithinthecollection. ■

Barclay Communications: on the ball with Ulster Rugby

BarclayCommunications continuestostrengthenitspositionasaleading telecomsprovider,withitsinnovativeBarclayBouncetariff. Transforming businessmobilecontracts,BarclayBounceoffersunparalleledfexibilityacross multiplemobilenetworks

BarclayCommunicationsis celebratingsignifcantachievement, securingaprestigiouspartnership withUlsterRugby,placingthemfrontand centrefortheupcomingseason.

BarclayBounceandUlsterRugby BarclayBounceistransformingthemobile contractslandscape,offeringcomplete fexibilitytoswapbetweennetworks, delivering99.9%networkcoverageacrossthe UK.BarclayBounceisprovingitselftobethe onlymobiletariffabusinesswilleverneed.

TheteamatBarclayCommunicationsareon theball,tacklingthefagshipdealwithUlster Rugby,demonstratingtheirabilitytosecure high-proflecontractsanddelivertop-tier telecomservices.

AsUlsterRugbygearsupforthenewseason, theteamandstaffwillbeneftfromthe fexibilityoftheBarclayBouncetariff,which offerstheuniqueabilitytoswitchbetweenany ofthefourmajorUKnetworkswithinasingle contractandonaunifedbill.TheBarclay Bouncetariffhasquicklybecomeoneofthe

company’smostpopularofferings,thanksto itsunparalleledfexibility.Foraninternational sportsteamlikeUlsterRugby,thisfexibilityis crucial,especiallywhenitcomestomanaging roamingchargesduringtheirextensivetravel schedule.

“PartneringwithUlsterRugby,sucha prestigiousand respectedbrand,isa tremendoushonourforus,”BrittMegahey, founderandmanagingdirectorofBarclay Communications,says.“We’reproudto beassociatedwiththemandtoprovidea

telecomsolutionthatmeetstheirdiverseand demandingneeds.”

Bespoke roamingtariffs

Aroundhalfofmobileuserscurrentlydonot haveaninclusive roamingoptionorbundle whenabroadandinthepastyearaquarter ofUKtravellershavebeensubjectedto unexpected roamingchargesaveraging£262 perperson.

WitharigoroustravelscheduleacrosstheUK, Ireland,France,Italy,andasfarasSouthAfrica,

BrittMegahey ofBarclay Communications withUlsterRugby playersJude Postlethwaite and TomStewart

UlsterRugby’stelecomneedsareextensive. BarclayCommunicationshasrisentothe challenge,providingabespoke roamingtariff thatensurestheteamstaysconnectedno matterwheretheyare.

Speakingaboutthesolutionandnew partnership,DavidEdwardsofUlsterRugby, said:“Thecompetitivepricingandbespoke natureofBarclayCommunicationsoffering havebeengame-changersforus.Itallowsus toavoidhefty roamingchargeswhentraveling toplaceslikeSouthAfrica,whichisvitalfor

ouroperations.Whatstoodouttouswas theoutstandingcustomerexperience,from aftercaretoonline reportingandadedicated accountmanager,everythingwasseamless.

“Ourmobileaccountmanagerensureda smoothswitch,guidingusthroughevery step.Theaftercarehasbeenoutstanding, andtheteamhasbeenincredibly responsive. We’reallverysatisfedwiththeservice. Thesupportwe’ve receivedfromdayone hasbeenexceptional,weareverypleased withourdecisiontopartnerwithBarclay Communications.”

JohnRoulston,BarclayCommunications, salesdirector,said:“Weworkedcloselywith UlsterRugbytodevelopatariffthatsuits theirspecifcneeds,particularlyfor regions likeSouthAfricawherethey requiredalarger allowance.Ourgoalwastodeliverasolution thatmeetstheirhighstandardsandkeeps themconnected.”

Morethantelecoms

Thenewpartnershipextendsbeyondjust telecomservices.BarclayCommunications hasalsoleveragedUlsterRugby’scorporate hospitalityofferingstoenhance relationships withstaffandclients.

“We’veenjoyedfantasticcorporate entertainmentthroughUlsterRugby,”John says.“Theirhospitalityofferingsarefrst-class, andit’sfantastictobeabletoworktogether tostrengthen relationshipsinthewider community–they’reanexcellentpartnerto workwith.”

ThesuccessofBarclayBouncehasattracted newclientstothebusiness.Companiesthat hadpreviouslyonlyworkeddirectlywiththe networksareturningtoBarclaybecausethey offersomethingdifferent.

BarclayCommunicationsnowprovides comprehensivemobiletelecomservicestoover 14,000businessesacrosstheUKandservices over150,000endusers.

COVE R STORY

COVE R STORY

ThevalueofBarclayBounce Forbusinesseswithnumerousmobileusers, networksatisfactioncanbeachallenge. BarclayBounceofferscompletefexibility, ensuringallusershavethecoveragetheyneed whetherathomeorontheirdailycommute.

ThisemphasisonfexibilityandcustomercentricservicehasbeenkeytoBarclay Communications’growthoverthepastyear.

TheBarclayBouncetariff hasplayed a central roleinattractingnewbusiness,positioningthe companyasstrongleaderinthetelecomspace.

“It’sbeenhugelysuccessful,”Brittsays.“There isastrongdesireforbetternetworkcoverage andmoretransparent roamingcharges.

“Therehaslongbeenaneedforgreater controlovermobileaccountsandclearer invoicingforinternalmanagement.Barclay Bounceisdeliveringthischangeandisnow oneofthecornerstonesofourofferings, drivingalotofnewbusinessourway.”

BarclayCommunicationsandthefuture BasedinBelfast,BarclayCommunications continuestoexpand,withmorethan150,000 connectionsanddeep-rooted relationships withcompaniessuchas Tayto,the Welsh Parliament,CancerFocusandIrn-Bru(AG Barr),Barclayprovidesservicesthroughout Ireland,Scotland, Wales,Englandandalsothe USandCaymanIslands.

“Companiesarechoosinguswhenmoving awayfromthenetworksdirectlyandthey’re choosingusfora reason,”Brittsays.

“WelookafterourcustomersatBarclays,and we’vecomeupwithanofferingwhichstands outfromthe rest.

“Wewanttobeseenfrontandcentreasa leaderproviderofcommunicationstothebest organisationsinNorthernIrelandandtheUK.”

ThenewpartnershipwithUlsterRugby demonstratesitsdedicationtodelivering outstandingserviceandproducts.

Lookingahead,BarclayCommunications iscontinuingtodevelop,withunique offerings,strategicpartnershipsand excitingannouncementsduesoon.

AboutBarclayCommunications BarclayCommunicationsisaleading telecomsserviceproviderknownfor transformingthetelecomsspaceafter thebidtoendfxedlandlineauto renewals in2021.

Forovertwodecades,Barclay Communicationshasoperatedacrossa rangeofcommunicationsolutions,with mobileatitsheart,alongsidehosted landlinesolutions,ITproductsand managementanditsfeldservicesoftware, WorkPal. ■

Today,BarclayCommunicationshas morethan14,000customersacross theUK.Forfurtherinformationabout BarclayCommunicationsvisit www.barclaycomms.com

DavidEdwards,UlsterRugby,with BarclayCommunications’BrittMegahey

Planningreform‘must beexpresspriority’ forProgrammefor Government

The reformoftheplanningprocess heremustbean“expresspriority” forthenextProgrammefor Government,it’sbeenclaimed.

Therehavebeenwidespreadbusiness andindustrycallsfora revampingofthe planningsystemhere–includingspeeding upprocessingtimes,improvingtheplanning portal,prioritisinggreenschemesanda review ofthePlanningAppealsCommission.

SpeakingfollowingameetingwiththeInterim RegionalPlanningCommission,Suzanne Wylie,chiefofNIChamber,saidthat“asa keyeconomicenabler,planningmustbean expresspriorityinthenewProgrammefor Government”.

“Tofacilitatethat,NIChamberhasclearly outlinedaseriesofactionableimprovements whichcanbe readilyimplementedtoenhance thesystemnowandforthefuture.

Planning reformandthe reformoftheappeals processissomethingwhichthiscurrent Executivemustaddress.

Theprocess remainskeytoprivateandpublic sectordevelopmentrightacrossNorthern Ireland,andmostimportantlyinthecurrent landscape,isanessentialpartofgettingus towardsanalmosttotal

DuringapresentationtotheCommission inBelfast,MsWylieoutlinedindetail, theprioritiesidentifedbythebusiness organisation,whichitsayscouldaccelerate NorthernIreland’sprogresstowardsnetzero, facilitateeconomicgrowthanddelivermuch neededaffordablehousing.

NIChamber’s reportstressesthattheissues whichexistcutacrossthe responsibilitiesof councils,bodiesthathavetobeconsulted, theDepartmentforInfrastructureandthe PlanningAppealsCommissionandwill require leadershipacrosstheExecutivetodrivethe necessarychangestounlocklogjamsand enableafocusonsustainablegrowth.

ReferringtoitsPlanningImprovementPaper, publishedinpartnershipwith Turleyearlierthis year,NIChamberhasalsoproposedthatwhilst retainingindependencefromanygovernment

department,the role,approachand resourcing ofthePlanningAppealsCommissionmustbe reviewedand reformedwithoutdelay.

TheCommissionheardaseriesofproposals whichwouldensurethatinfuture,the systemisheldtoaccountforitsperformance andenableittodealmoreeffectivelywith NIExecutiveprioritiesincludinghousing development, renewableenergyprojectsand economicdevelopment.

“WhileweawaittheExecutive’snew ProgrammeforGovernment,theCommission wastoldthatplanningmustbeanimmediate Executivepriority,withcrossdepartmental buy-inandaccountabilityforsignifcantwholesystemimprovementatop requirement,”it said.

MsWyliesaid:“Such reformpresentsan opportunitytoopenthedoortosignifcant sustainablegrowthandunlockNorthern Ireland’spathwaytoadecarbonisedeconomy. We knowthatmosteconomicdevelopment beginswithplanning,andforthat reasonthe performanceofourplanningsystemmust becompetitivetoattractandencourage investment.

“Today,we’vehadaveryconstructivesession withtheIRPC. We lookforwardtocontinued engagementwiththeCommissionandthe Executiveonactioningproposalsthathave crosssectorsupport.” ■

‘ForIrish whiskey companies, it’s like The Beatles – you have to go to America’

JoeBabiec,managingdirectorofBelfastDistilleryCompanyandoneofitsmain investors,speaksto JohnMulgrew abouttheeightyearjourneyintransformingan historiccitybuilding,whyit’salong-terminvestment,howBelfastisacityonthe upswing,andwhyanewhotelatthenearbyformercourthousewouldbe‘terrifc’

“B

elfastisacityontheupswing,” JoeBabiectellsme.

He’spayingavisittothecityonasuspiciously swelteringday.Butnestledintheairyheartof McConnell’sDistillery,temperaturesaremore habitable.Joe’shereforafewdayspaying attentiontothecity’snewestdistillerytour andwhiskeyproducer–housedintheformer

A-wingoftheCrumlinRoadGaolinthenorth ofthecity.

Andtogethere,it’sbeena$30mjourneyover aneightyearperiod.

“Forus,thisis$30mworthofinvestment–a lotofthatwasraisedintheUS,andthenit’s theeightyearsofcumulativetime,putintoit

aswellbyliterallyscoresofpeople,”hesays.

Joeisoneoftheprimaryinvestorsbehindthe distilleryandnewly-launchedvisitorexperience, alongsideotherfunders.He’sanentrepreneur whohasalsootherbusinessventuresand interestsinhisnativeUS.

“We’renotlookingtomonetisetheinvestment

JoeBabiecof McConnell’sIrishWhisky

inthenearterm,becausewe’vejustgotopen here,”hesays.

“We’rejustgettingthebusinessgoing,soit’ll beseveralyears.ButthenIthinkwedowant tooffertheopportunityforinvestorstoputin theirmoneytogetagood return.

“Itwon’tbetech returns,butit’llbeableto besolidinvestment return.Andthen,from theongoingnature,thebusinessisbuilttobe sustainable,soitwasn’tcapitalisedwiththe ideaofrunningalossinordertomaximise brandgrowthattheexpenseofsustainability togetcasesalesup,todoastrategicexit.

“It’sbeendesignedtodoasustainable businesssothatforourinvestors,we’re preservingtheoptiontoeitherbringinmore capital,orsellportionsofthebusiness,ordo otherthingswithit,withinourowncontrol, notdictatedbyoutsideforces.”

McConnell’sBelfastDistilleryCompanyis headedbychiefexecutive,JohnKelly.Joejokes he’sbeenallowedtoholdontohismanaging directortitle,butday-to-dayrunningofthe businessisverymuchinJohn’shands.

Thedistilleryhasjustmovedtoa24/7 productionoperationandJoesaysthatwill seeitproduce500,000litresofalcoholayear –amountingtosometwomillioncasesof fnishedwhiskey.

Thatwilleventuallyseeitmovingaway fromboughtinmaltspirit–somethingfresh distillerieshavetododuetotheatleastthreeyeartimelaginagingspirittowhereitcanbe classedaswhiskey–butit,likethemajority ofotherproducers,willcontinuetobuyinits grainliquid.

“Itallowsustoputourownliquidawayfor longerperiods,sothataswelookfurtherout, wehaveasustainableprogramofagedsingle bonds,”hesays.

“Wehavesomeagedliquidnowthatwe’re abletosell[a20-year-old],whichwe’vesaved fortheopeningofdistillery. Youcanonlyget ithere.

“Andthenwehavesomeotheragedliquid thatwe’llbebringingoutinthecomingyears,

andthat’sprettyappealing.Butobviouslywe wantthattoultimately[use]thedistilleryproducedliquid.

“Soineightto12years,thoseproductswill starttoemergeandbeyond. We’vealready beenapproachedaboutdoingbulksalesto otherdistilleries,whichwearelookinginto.”

Joesaystheinitialattractionwasenteringa marketwhichisonlyontheup.Irishwhiskey salesareupconsiderablyacrosskeymarkets–fromtheUS,toChinaandIndia.

“Sothecornerstoneofallthis,whatmakesit sustainable,isputtingabusinessinplay,intoa marketthat’sgrowing,notovercompeted,and hasalotof roomlefttorun,”hesays.“Right now,thetideisliftingallboats.”

Intermsofthemarketsinwhichit’s competing,theUS remainskey,Joesays.“For allIrishwhiskeycompanies,it’slikeTheBeatles –youhavetogotoAmerica.

“ThepresencethatwehaveintheUSmarket is reallyimportant,andatthispoint,we’re nowestablished.”

Buthesaysthe“localmarketisenormously important”forthebrand.“It’s reallyimportant thatwecontinuetobuildonthe relationships wehavehere…whenpeoplecomeover,or peoplearehere,theyseeMcConnell’shasa realpresence.”

Hesaysit’sincreasingitssalespresencein theRepublicandalsoseeinggrowingvisitor numberscomingfromsouthoftheborder.

“Wewilltolookatsomeotherleading Europeanmarkets…aswellasmarketslike AustraliaandSouthAfricathathavebeenhad beengoodforus–wedohavesomestrong internationalfootprint.”

HealsohasgoodthingstosayaboutBelfast asawhole.

“Belfastisacityontheupswing,”hesays. “Lookingatallofthingswhichhaveopened sinceI’vebeencominghere,allthenewthings thathappened,thethingsthathavegrown.

“[Before]itwasn’tzero,butit’snowmuch morevibrant.It’sasgoodamarkettobein

becauseyouarepartofaneconomyandsocial environmentthat’sgettingmoreandmore vibrant,whichmeanswegetpeoplewhoare moreentrepreneurial.”

Hesaidthebusinesswaswelcomedwithopen armsfromthebusinessandhospitalitysector, alongwithsupportfromthelocalcommunity.

“Ithinkifyoucomestraightforwardly,then peopleinBelfastareverywelcomingandwill beverystraightforwardbackwithyouabout whattheyseeandwhattheopportunities are.”

Hesaidwhilethecomplexprojectgotover theline,withsomanydifferentgovernment departmentsplayinga role,thechallengein futuremaybeto“takeafreshlook”athow similarlyambitiousschemescometofruition.

“Wetouchedsomanydifferentpartsof governmentbecauseofthenatureofthis project,”hesaid.“Co-ordinatingallof thosepiecesofgovernmenttoworkwell togetherwasachallengewhichweandthe governmenthadtofgureouttogether.

“Belfasthasambitionstoattractother complexprojectslikethis,”hesays.“The challengeistotakeafreshlook[andsay] ‘okay,howdidthis,andmaybesome otherprojects,youknow,workfromthat perspective’.

“Again,arethereopportunitiestomake thatworkmoreeffectively,bothforthe governmentandforus,astheinvestor.There areopportunitiestostreamlineandjustclarify whose rolesarewhat.”

AndDavidMahon’splanstopotentiallyturn theadjacentCrumlinRoadCourthouse–whichhassatvacantfordecades–intoa hotel,Joesaysitwouldbe“terrifc”.

“Iwon’tpresumetotellsomeoneelsehow toruntheirbusiness…butonwhathe’s announced,atleastinitially,intermsof bringingthehotel–itwouldbeterrifc,”he said.

“Ithinkitwouldbeanothergreatpiece.It wouldbringmore peoplehere. We keepthem residentinnorthBelfast,whichisimportant.”

Connexus: helpingfrmsbringin toptalentalongsideHRexpertise

LeadingHRandrecruitmentexpert JaneMillar hastakenherextensiveexperience, particularlyaroundbringingintalentedstafffromoverseas,andbuiltherown businessgroup, ConnexusInternational She’s nowhelpingfrmsacrossthe sectorsfndskilledworkersaswellasassistinginlocalrecruitmentandHR

Justayearago,experiencedHRand recruitmentspecialistJaneMillar spottedagapinthemarket–and decidedsheneededtofllit.

FirmsacrossNI,particularlythosewithinthe manufacturingsector,continuetostruggle tofndtherightstaff,andmanydon’tknow wheretostartwhentryingtonavigatethe choppywatersofinternational recruitment.

ButConnexusInternationaltakescareofthe processingandlegal responsibilitiesforthe client–sourcingpotentialcandidates,dealing withCVs,visas,thepastoralelementand transportation,whichcanallbemonitored throughanonlineportal.

“Isawahugegap,throughspeakingto colleaguesintheindustry–everyonehadthe sameproblems,”Janesays.

“Therewasamarketforsuchasolution, andveryfewinNorthernIrelanddoing somethingsimilartothis–andIwantedtodo itdifferently.”

Shedecidedtotransferher25yearsofHR experience,thebulkofwhichwasspent workingwithoneofNorthernIreland’slargest manufacturingandengineeringbusinesses,to herownbusinessventure–helpingcompanies here recruitandsourcetoptalentfrom countriesacrosstheworld.

“Itakecompaniesthroughtheentireprocess andIknowwhatbusinesseswant,”shesays. ThatcanbeassimpleashowtheywantCVs

presented,tofurthersupportanddealingwith issuespost-placement.

AndforJane,thehandsonandpersonal elementiskeywhenworkingwithbusinesses andworkers.

ConnexusInternationalencompassesthree businesses–itsinternational recruitmentand rolesourcingandplacingthroughConnexus International,local recruitmentthrough ConnexusUK,andarangeofHRsupportwith ConnexusHR.

“WeformedthecompanyinJunelastyearand I’mmanagingdirectorofthebusiness,”Jane says.

Thecompanyisalsopartofalargerbusiness group,whichisownedbyFergalMcIntyre, whichallowsConnexustodrawonahostof

resources–frommarketinganddesign,to accounts.

“IwasagroupHRmanagerfor22years, andduringthattimeImanagedsourcing andbringinginstafffromoverseas.Priorto Brexit,thatwasoftenfromEasternEuropean countries,”Janesays.

“Therearealotofelementstodealwith,such asvisasandotherlegalpaperwork.During mytimewesourcedhundredsofstaff,andit wasequallyimportanttoconsiderthepastoral elementintheprocess.”

JanesaysConnexusInternationalworkswith companiesfromtheverybeginningofthe process,whichmay requireanumberof experiencedstafffromacrossarangeof roles.

“Weworkwithteamsacrosstheworld,but

particularlyinthePhilippines,UAE,Indiaand Brazil,”Janesays.“Thereisalsosuchstrong jobsatisfaction,aswearechanginglives–that’sanotherimportantpartforme.

“It’sextremelyimportantfromourperspective tovisiteachclientandmeettheminperson. Thisisouropportunitytoestablishtheskills required. We thendoatourofthefactoryor premisesandproduceavideo.Thatisthen senttothecandidates.Forus,it’sallabout transparency.

“Thecandidatewillknowexactlywhatsortof workplacetheywillbejoining,forexample. We alsomanagetheirwageexpectation andhelpthemunderstandtheirstatutory deductionsonpayslips.It’simportantthat everyoneishappyandwell-informed.

“Wefacilitatetheentireprocess–selection, screening,completionofthevisaprocess,the biometrics,theIELTS(InternationalEnglish Language TestingSystem)exam,support withthehealthexam,helpthemco-ordinate transportandbookingthefightsforthem.

“WealsoprovideHRsupportandguidance throughtheclientsjourneywiththeirnew staff.Ifthereareanyissues,wewillbethere forthem.”

Janewasgivenacknowledgementfrom theEqualityCommissionforherprevious experienceandgoodpractice,andshehas

alsosharedherknowledgewithotherfrms –deliveringseminarswithotherswhoare strugglingtoattractstaff,developadiverse workforce,orbringinworkersfromoverseas.

FollowingBrexit,JanefoundherseniorHR rolemeantshewascomingupagainsta lackofskilledworkersfromacrossarange ofdisciplines,alongwithtryingtoattract andbringintalentfromoutsidetheUK andIreland.It’ssomethingmanyNIfrms, particularlythosewithinmanufacturing, continuetostrugglewith.

“Westartedwithweldersandthose associated roles,andthenitgottothepoint whengettingstafffordifferentskilled roles becamediffcult,”shesaid.

“Ithoughtabouthowtoaddresstheskills shortagesinareassuchasMidUlster, NorthernIrelandandbeyond,andfnd solutionsforcompanieswhicharefndingit diffcult.”

Sinceformingthecompany,she’sgoneonto workwitharangeofbignameclientsfrom rightacrossthesectors,includingagri-food andheavyengineering.

“Rolescanincludebakers,chefs,engineers, CNCoperators,welders,sprayers,orcar mechanics,forexample. We dealwith anythingthatisintheSkilled Workerlist,” Janesays.

Janesaysthe relationshipsshe’sbuiltup withkeypartnersoverseas remainkeytoher successandabilitytobringintop,talented workers.

“It’sveryimportanttoworkwithpartnersand thatthecandidatescandealwithsomebodyin theirownlanguage,”shesays.

TheConnexusgroupalsoincludesConnexus UK,headedbytalentacquisitionpartnerNuala Downey.

“Ifyou requirelocalstaffinkey roles,we specialiseintalentacquisitionandusethe sameboutiqueapproachtoensuretheperfect candidateforyou role.”Janesays.

Thefrmispredominantlyfocusedasa specialist recruiterintheMidUlsterarea–one ofthehotbedsofmanufacturinghere.

ConnexusUKproduceshigh-quality professionalvideosforitsclientstohelp marketthe roleandinturn,theemployer brand.

Andfnally,ConnexusHR,whichoffersclients aHRconsultancyservice.Thatcaneitherbeon thebasisofa retainer,orpay-as-you-ago.

Janesaysallpartsofthebusinessareingrowth mode,takingonnewbusinessesandclients andexpandingandgrowingintonewmarket, andisexcitingtoseewhatyeartwobringsto theConnexusGroup. ■

JaneMillar(centre)withDanny BrownandNualaDowney

DerelictDer ry statelyhomecould becomepeacecentreandculturalhub

Freshplansarenowunder waytoredevelopBoom HallinDerry,afteryears ofsittingderelict,writes JohnMulgrew

Aderelictstatelyhomewithlinksto theSiegeofDerrycouldbegiven anewlifeasapeacecentreand culturalhub, UlsterBusiness can reveal.

BoomHallwasbuildin1780buthassat vacantandderelictfordecades.

Anumberofplanstobringthebuilding backintousehavebeensuggested,butnow freshplansareunderwaywhichwouldseeit redevelopedintoa residentialpeacecentre, culturalspace,includinganursery,alongwith residentialaccommodation.

BoomHalltookitsnamefromitslocationclose towhereshipsbreachedtheboomacrossthe RiverFoyletoendtheSiegeofDerryin1689.

Sincebeingbadlydamagedandabandoned in1969,however,ithas remainedina dilapidatedstatewith roof,ﬂoorsandwindows missing.

Freshplanshavenowbeensubmittedbythe Boomhall Trustto regeneratethebuilding, alongsideMCIPlanningalongwithSimpson& BrownArchitects.

“Thetrusthasthegeneralendorsementby DerryCityandStrabaneDistrictCouncilforthe re-instatementphilosophyofRutherfordand anindependentcommunitywidesurveydating from2021with99%ofthe respondentsin the regionexpressingadesiretoseeBoomhall restored,”adesignstatementsays.

“Thetrustproposalisto rebuild, restoreand usethecompletedBoomhallHouseasa residentialpeacecentrewithafocusonhealth

andwellbeing,withthe restoredbuilding comprisingofsharedmeetingspaces,a library,eventspaceandacafeontheprincipal (ground)ﬂoorandbedroomsfor residential institutionaluselocatedontheupperﬂoors.

“Onthebasementﬂooracrèche–nursery ordaycarefacilitywilloperatewith restricted accessleadingdirectlyintothesurrounding gardenlandscape.”

Theplanswouldalsoincludethebuilding oftwocarparks,includealargeroneatset backfromtheproperty,andlocatedcloseto CulmoreRoadandMadam’sBankRoad.

ThosebehindthenewplanssaySimpson &BrownArchitectsareaimingto“improve thequalityofthebuiltenvironmentthrough carefulconservationworkandwell-mannered contextualdesignthatistruetoitstimeand place”.

“While respectingandacknowledgingthe past,theirarchitecturestrivesto respond tothechallengesofthefuture,particularly with regardtoenvironmentalsustainability andecologicalawareness.”

BoomHallHousewaslastoccupiedin September1969asadomestic residence. ThelastknownoccupantwasMichael McDevitt.

Itwasdestroyedintheproceedingyears andwasguttedfollowingthreesignificant fires.By1972thebuildingwaswithouta roof,severalwindowsweremissing,and internalfloorshadcollapsed.Overthe proceedingyearsBoomHallHousewas subjectedtovandalismandlootingand hadbecomeadenforanti-socialbehaviour posingsignificanthealthandsafetyriskto thosethatgainunauthorisedentrytothe building. ■

ThehistoricBoom HallinDerry

NIoutpaces UKasbusiness activityontherise

BusinessactivityinNorthern IrelandenjoyedtheUK’sstrongest expansion,withmanufacturingand servicesdrivinggrowth.

Serviceproviderswereboostingtheir workforcelevelsatlevelsunseenfornearly20 years,accordingtotheUlsterBankNorthern IrelandGrowth TrackerforJuly.

Itfoundnewordershadgoneupmarkedly inthemonth,withfrmstakingonextrastaff atthefastestpaceinoverayeartodealwith backlogs.

Inaddition,infationwasshowingsignsof easing,liftingtheburdenofsteeprisesin overheads.

RichardRamsey,chiefeconomistNorthern Ireland,UlsterBank,said:“TheNorthern Irelandprivatesectorstartedthesecondhalfof theyearinasimilarveintohowitendedthe frst,withmarkedimprovementsinoutputand neworders.

“Infact,theexpansioninbusinessactivityin NorthernIrelandwasthestrongestofallthe UK regionsandnationscoveredbythe report.”

Hesaidthepicturewasn’t“overwhelmingly positive”asmanufacturingandservices–a sectorcoveringbusinessesfromestateagents to restaurants–weredrivinggrowth,while retailandconstructionwerelessbuoyant.

Employmentwasgoingupascompanies reactedtobiggerworkloads,“withservice providersrampingupstaffnglevelstoan extentunseenfornearly17years”.

“Thatsaid,companiesacrosstheprivate sectorsawoutstandingbusinessexpandagain, suggestingthatemploymentandoutputwill needtoberaisedfurtherinthemonthsahead totryandkeepontopofworkloads,”Mr Ramseysaid.

“MoregoodnewsforfrmsinNorthernIreland wasthattherampingupofdemandinthe privatesectorhasnotbeenaccompaniedby buildinginfationarypressures.

“Onthecontrary,bothinputcostsandselling prices roseatweakerratesinJuly.

“Whilenothingshouldbetakenforgranted, everythingseemssetupforfrmstohavea successfulsecondhalfof2024.”

Accordingtothe report,theexpansionin outputinNorthernIrelandwasthesharpestof the12UK regionsandnationscovered.Where activityincreased,companiesgenerallysaid highernewordersweretothank.

Retail,manufacturingandservicesall sawactivityrise,thoughitwasdownfor construction.

Newbusinessincreasedfortheseventh consecutivemonthandatasharppacethat wasstrongerthantheaverageacrosstheUK asawhole.

Companiesexpectcontinuedincreasesinnew ordersoverthecomingyeartosupportgrowth ofoutput.

Asa result,businesssentiment remained elevated,withnearly40%of respondents predictingariseinactivityoverthenext12 months.

Markedincreasesinnewordersledcompanies toexpandemploymentforthe19thmonth runninginJuly.Moreover,therateofjob creationwassolidandthemostmarkedsince April2023.

Staffnglevels roseatthefastestrateofallUK nationsand regionscovered,withbacklogs expectedtokeepgoingup.

Thepaceofinfationeasedtoafve-month low,andoutputpriceincreasedataslower pace. ■

NIhousesalesup 10% andprices continue to rise

There’sbeenamodestriseinoverallhousepriceshere whileactivityinthemarketisup,accordingtothe latestresearchfromUlsterUniversity.Butthecostof buyingahomeisfuctuatingacrossNIandwemaynot beinlineforanotherinterestratecutuntillaterthis year,writes JohnMulgrew

Thevolumeofhousessoldin NorthernIrelandhasincreasedby 10%inthelastthreemonthswhile pricesarecontinuingtorise.

Theaveragepriceofahomeherenowstands at£211,225–uparound2.5%andatthe highestlevelsince2008.

ButwhiletheBankofEnglandhasmade initialmovesto reduceinterestrates,it’sbeen predictedthattherewon’tbeany reduction untilNovember.

However,pricesstill remaindownonthe2008 peak,whereby50%ofpropertiesheresoldfor morethan£200,000,comparedwith38%in 2024,accordingtothelatestNorthernIreland QuarterlyHousePriceIndexReportforthe secondquarteroftheyear.

“Themainfndingsofthissurveyindicatethat thehousingmarkethasobservedpricegrowth overthesecondquarterof2024,”itsays.

“Thefndingsindicatethatalongsidethe smallpriceincreases,therehavebeenrising buyerenquiries,marketlistingsandsalesand completionsoverthequarter.

“Agentssuggestedthatthevolumeofnew listingsoverthecourseofthefrstquarterwas

moresubduedthananticipated,withonly 20%agents reportinganincreaseinlistings. Inquartertwooftheyear,40%ofagents surveyedbelievedlistingshadincreased, withafurther40%indicatingthattheywere consistentwiththefrstquarteroftheyear.

“Intermsofnewbuyerenquiries,thefndings fromthesurvey revealedanoverallincrease: 55%ofagentsconfrmedthatbuyerenquires hadincreased relativetothepreviousquarter.”

UrsulaMcAnulty,headof research,Northern IrelandHousingExecutive,said:“The informationsummarisedinthismost recent reportindicatesthat,inlinewith bothquarterone2024 andnormalseasonal patterns,activityin thehousingmarket remainedstrong duringthesecond quarterofthe year.

“Atjustover 3,300,thenumberof transactionsinthesample wasmorethan10%uponquarterone 2024,andthehighest recordedbythissurvey sinceearly2022.Althoughannualweighted housepricegrowth remainedatamodest

rateof2.5%,theaveragepriceofproperties transacting roseto£211,225,thehighest levelsincetheequivalentquarterin2008, whentheaveragepriceofpropertiessoldwas £226,934.”

Analysisbypropertytypeshowsmixedprice movementsacrossthemarketsectors,as themarketcontinuestoadjusttothewider economicclimateandfnancialsetting.In termsofquarterlypricechange,theterrace/ townhousesectorofthemarketshowed anaveragepriceincreaseof1.9%.

Thedetachedsegmentofthe marketdisplayedthelargest increaseof3.6%,withthe apartmentsector recordingaprice increaseof2.9%.Thesemi-detached sectorexhibitednominalpricegrowth of0.1%.

Annually,boththedetachedandterrace/ townhousesectorsdisplayedpriceincreases of5% relativetothistimelastyear,whereas theapartmentandsemi-detachedsectors

showedsmallpricedeclinesof1.2%and 0.6%.Overall,theannualrateofpricechange –whichslowedoverthecourseof2023–exhibitsanunweightedincreaseof4.8% comparedtoquartertwo2023.

Andwhilemany regionsheresawpricesrising, severalsawthepriceofahomedroppingon average.

Averagepricesfellby4.7%inAntrimand Newtownabbey,with4.3%inNewry,Mourne andDown,withpricesdroppingbymorethan 3%inbothFermanaghandOmagh,andMid Ulster.

MichaelBoyd,chiefexecutiveofProgressive BuildingSociety,said:“Afterabriefdipatthe startoftheyear,theNorthernIrelandhousing markethas resumeditsuptrendinthesecond quarteronthebackofeasinginfationary environmentandacontinuedtightsupply picture.

“AfallintheUK’sConsumerPriceIndex(CPI) haspromptedaslideinmortgageratesand

helpedencouragebuyerstocome forwardandsellerstolistwiththe resultthatbuyerenquiries,listings andtransactionsareallpushed higher.Atthesametime,thelack ofnewstockcomingonthemarket–whethernewbuildsorfor resale– remains constantandhashelpedunderpinprices.

2.5% Therisein thepriceof ahouse

“ThehousingmarketinNorthernIreland resumeditsmarchhigherinthesecond quarterof2024,takingsupportfromamore moribundinterestrateenvironmentandthe still-tightsupplypicture.

“Theuptake reversestheslightdipinthefrst threemonthsoftheyearandhasbeenbacked bythegradualslideininfationoverthelast fewmonthstotheBankofEngland’stargetof 2%.TheexpectationoflendersthattheBank ofEnglandbaseratewouldfallinAugusthas nowmaterialisedwitha reductionof0.25% to5%.

“Thishaspromptedlenderstolowerhigh streetratesandencouragedbuyerstostep

forward.That emboldened confdenceamongst buyers,andindeed sellers,hasmeantthat activityinthehousing marketalsotickedhigherwith buyerenquiries,listingsandsalestransactions allgoinguponquarteroneof2024.

“Offeringfurthersupportisthecontinued tightsupplypicturewithagentsnotinga markedlackofqualityhousingstockand slowdowninnewbuildstockcomingontothe market. Withthissituationshowingnosignof abating,it’slikelythedownsideforthemarket willbelimitedinthenearfuture.

“However, recentsuggestionsbythechief economistattheBankofEnglandthat somekeymeasuresofinfationarestill ‘uncomfortablyhigh’suggestthatratecuts maynotbeasswiftasborrowersmaywant. OurcentralviewisthattheBankwillnot reduceinterestratesfurtheruntilpotentially Novemberwhichmayseeacutto4.75%.”

HOUS

Roleofresponsiblebusiness practicesonshowas Translink earnsCOREPlatinumstandard

Translink hasachieved PlatinumStandardin CORE–TheStandardfor ResponsibleBusiness, whichrecognises,and rewardsorganisations thatarecommittedto integratingcorporate responsibilityintotheway theydobusiness

Translinkhaslandedthehighest scoringlevelofthestandardfor businessesinNorthernIreland awardedby responsiblebusinessnetwork BusinessintheCommunity.

Theprestigiousawardisanindependent assessmentofthecommitmentofan organisationto responsiblebusiness,improving thewellbeingforallinNorthernIreland.

Commentingontheimportanceofthe Platinumstandardforthepublictransport organisation,ChrisConway, Translinkgroup chiefexecutivesaid:“At Translinkweare passionateaboutthetransporttransformation towardscleanerandgreenertravelthat supportssustainable,economicgrowth,builds vibranthealthiercommunitiesandhelpstackle theclimatecrisisandairpollution.

“TheCOREstandard recognisesthevaluein therangeof responsiblebusinessprojectsand initiativeswehavedevelopedanddelivered whichalignwithourBetter.Connected strategyandIamextremelyproudoftheentire Translinkteamrightacrossthebusiness.”

DeborahMcConnell,HRbusinesspartner,JohnThompson,headofsafetyandcorporateresponsibility,ChrisConway, groupchiefexecutive,JacquiKennedy,chiefpeopleandcorporateservicesoffcer,ChrisAllen,ESGmanager,andCara Woods,equalityandinclusionadvisor

“TheCOREstandardforResponsibleBusiness hasbeendesignedtosupportbusinesses thatarecommittedtointegratingcorporate responsibilityintothewaytheydobusiness. COREisbasedonBusinessintheCommunity’s ResponsibleBusinessframework.

Aspartoftheindepthevaluationprocess, Translinkwasindependentlyassessedon itsperformanceacrossabroadspectrumof businessfunctions,includingclimateand carbon,communityengagement,nature andbiodiversity,equalitydiversityand inclusion,peopledevelopment,stakeholder engagement,healthandwellbeing, marketplace responsibility,purposeand

governance, responsibleleadership,and circular resources.

KieranHarding,managingdirector,Businessin theCommunityNorthernIreland,said:“CORE isdesignedtoensureanorganisationhasa coherentandstrategicapproachto responsible businessandit’sbrillianttosee Translink leadingthewayandbeing recognisedwith thePlatinumlevelinCORE–Thestandardfor ResponsibleBusiness.

“Inachievingthehighestscoringlevelof thestandard, Translinkhasdemonstratedits excellenceinthe responsiblebusinessagenda atthehighestlevel.” ■

ElonMuskisnowtrying totakelegalaction againstadvertisersfor notadvertiseronhisX platform,writes Adrian Weckler

Atamajormediaconference lastNovember,ElonMusk toldadvertisersto“gof**k” themselvesfornotadvertisingonX.

Nowhe’ssuingthemfornotadvertisingon X.Justwhenyouthinkthatthesoap-opera aroundXcan’tgetanymorebizarre,itdoes: thecompanyhasformallylaunchedalawsuit againstMars,Unileverandahostofothersfor boycottinghisplatform.

“Wetriedpeacefortwoyears:nowitiswar,” hetweetedaboutthelawsuits.

Advertisershave repeatedlysaidthey’restaying awayfromXbecauseofextremecontentthat turnsupbesidetheirads.

SomeofthatcomesfromMrMuskhimself. Recently,theSouthAfricanbillionairetweeted that“civilwarisinevitable”intheUKbecause ofmassmigration.Hepreviouslydescribedas the“actualtruth”aconspiracytheorythat JewishpeopleintheUSwerebehindattempts to“eliminate”whitepeoplewiththirdworld immigrants.

Thistop-downapproachfreaksadvertisersout. WhenIspoketooneseniorIrishadvertising agencyexecutiveaboutit,hesaidtheyhadno choicebuttopulltheirads.

“He[Elon]comesacrossasunhinged,”the executivetoldme.

Howdoyousuecompaniesintoadvertising withyou?

IfMrMuskissuccessful,thatispotentially alucrativenewavenueforallofusinthe publishingindustry.

Howdarecertainbanksand retailersand telecomsfrmsnotadvertisewithus? We’llsee themincourt.

Backinthe realworldofbusinessand capitalism,however,certain realitiescan’tbe ignored.

Therearefewmainstreamadvertiserswho wanttheiradtoappearbesidethelatest Musk-boosted TommyRobinsonrantagainst immigrants.

AndIdon’tknowmanybigcommercialfrms wholiketheideaoftheirbrandcampaigns appearingamidfurriesofpostsabouthowthe stateistryingto replaceorpoisonyouthrough experimentalvaccines.

Andthat’sjustthetameendof.Becausethe bulkofX’sDublin-based‘trustandsafety’team wereslashed,there’slittleprotectionagainst evenmoreextremestuff.

ThishasgottenXintolegaltroubleinthe EU,whichhasopenedacaseagainstthe companyfordisinformationwithapotential fnelooming.

MrMuskdoesn’tseemtocare.Andifhe isbotheredbytheIrishDataProtection Commission’sHighCourtapplicationtostop X’sGrokAIchatbotintheEU–becauseit collectedpersonaldatafromuswithout consent–hehasn’tmadethatapparent, either.

Butthingsaregettinggrimforhiscompany. ThelatestfguressuggestXhascollapsed, fnancially.AccordingtotheUSmarket researchagencyEmarketer,thecompanymade just$1.13bninad revenuelastyear,down morethanhalfonthepreviousperiod.Outside theUS,wheresensitivitiesaboutextreme contentarearguablyhigher,it’slikelytobe evenworse.

Sothedesertionofadvertisershasmadeita zombie-likestructure,keptalivepurelybythe stickinessofitsusers–X remainstheliveliest breaking-newsplatformontheinternet–and byMrMusk’sbillions.

IfMrMuskdoesn’tpullbackfromhisown behaviour,orhisextremeviewsforX,itwill eitherhavetoshutdowninEuropeorhewill havetosellit.Eitherway,it’snowafailing business.

Firmswarnedover fnesfornon-compliance withcybersecuritylaw

ThemajorityofIrishbusinesses areunpreparedforthenextbig cyberattackandriskmassivefnes fornon-compliancewiththeEU’slatest ITsecuritylaw,accordingtothreeIrish universities.

Thewarning,fromtheCyberSkills collaborationbetweenMunster Technological University,UniversityofLimerickand TechnologicalUniversityDublin,comesaftera numberoforganisationshaveyetto recover fromtheglobal“bluescreenofdeath”outage triggeredbyafaultyupdatefromtheIT securityfrmCrowdStrike.

AccordingtoCrowdStrikechiefexecutive, GeorgeKurtz,hundredsofthousandsof computersarestillaffectedbytheoutage, whichgroundedairlinesandbroughtmostof theUK’sGPsurgeriestoastandstill.

JacquelineKehoe,aprojectmanagerforCyber Skills,saidmostcompaniesareunpreparedfor theupcomingNIS2EUdirectiveonproactive cybersecurity.

Citinga recentMicrosoftcybersecurity report, MsKehoesaidonly25%ofexecutivesare awareoftheEU’sNIS2directive,duetobe transposedintoIrishlawinmid-October.

TheMicrosoft reportclaimsthatjust20%of IrishfrmsarecurrentlycompliantwithNIS2,

whichcarriesavarietyofpotentialfnes, rangingupto€10mor2%oftotalworldwide annualturnover.

Thelackofpreparationcomesamidclaims fromaseparate“cyber readiness” reportfrom theinsurancefrmHiscox,that71%ofIrish businessessufferedatleastonecyberattack lastyear,up22%onthepreviousyear.The Hiscox reportsaidIreland recordedthehighest mediannumberofattacksamongallcountries studied.

“Thefar-reachingconsequencesofacyber attackcould resultinmassiveoperational disruptionandseverefnanciallosses,”Ms Kehoesaid.

Thewarningcomesamidquestionsover whetherIrelandwilltransposetheNIS2 directiveontime.Theissueisbeingdealtwith bytheDepartmentofEnvironmentwiththe NationalCyberSecurityCentre.

Thelawisoneofthebiggestpiecesofcyber securitylegislationtoaffectIrishorganisations inyears.Itplacesparticularemphasisoncritical utilitiesliketelecoms,energyproviders,health servicesandtransportagenciestobeefup theirsecurityand requiresbetterback-upsand resilienceagainstthreats.

Italsoaffectsprivatebusinessesand companies,withseveresanctionsforthose foundnottobeincompliance.

Meanwhile,alackof resourceswithin Ireland’sNationalCyberSecurityCentre (NCSC)maystoptheorganisationfrom “fulfllingitsmandate”,accordingtoa confdentialinternal review.

Documentssuggestthereisdysfunction anddepletedmoralewithinthe organisation,withanallegedlackof supportfromGovernment,toofew resourcesandnoeffectivecommunication withotherstateagencies.

Thedocumentsalsoshowthattheagency isstrugglingtokeepupwiththevolume ofnewworkthatisbeingassignedtoit duetoEuropean regulationsandintergovernmentassignments.

TheDepartmentoftheEnvironment,the reviewclaims,“lacksknowledgeofNCSC needs”.

Onstaffng,theorganisationis“struggling withalackofpersonnelanddirection” evenasit“takesonmoreandmorework and responsibilities”.

Thiscould result,theinternaldocuments say,intheNCSC“failingtomeetlegally bindingfnancialandprocurement obligations”and,ultimately,“insuffcient staffnglevelsacrosstheNCSCtofulflour mandate”. ■

OutsourceGroupandPalo AltoNetworksenternew securitypartnership

OutsourceGroupisaleaderin deliveringsecurityfocusedITand consultancyservicesacrosstheUK andIreland.

Recognisingthecomplexity,volumeand impactAIwillhaveoncyber-attacksgoing forward,Outsourcebelievesbusinesses requireincreasinglysophisticatedsupportand accesstoleadingtechnologiestosecuretheir operations.In response,Outsourcehasjoined forceswithPaloAltoNetworkstodelivera rangeofsecurityfocusedservices,culminating inOutsourcebecomingtheﬁrstPaloAlto CORTEXMSSPandﬁrstSOC,poweredbyPalo AltoXSOARinIreland.

WhilstOutsourcehasbeendelivering SOCservicesformorethan10years,this partnershipisamajordevelopment,ensuring customerscannowbeneﬁtfromtheworld leadingsecurityfocusedtechnologiesand trainedsupportstaff.

TerryMoore,chiefexecutive,OutsourceGroup said:“Asasecurityﬁrst-focusedgroupwe wanttodeliverbestinclasssecurityservices toourcustomers, resultinginourdecisionto partnerwiththegloballeaderincybersecurity. PaloAlto’sdecisiontoexclusivelypartnerwith ushighlightstheirbeliefinourcompanyand ourskillstosell,conﬁgureanddeployCortex relatedservices,forexistinginhouseSOC teamsorITdepartments”

CORTEXisanAI-drivenplatformdelivering best-in-classthreatdetection,prevention, attacksurfacemanagement,andsecurity automationtoolsonanintegratedplatform, poweredbymachinelearningandthreat intelligence.WhetherleveragingofftheSOC servicesprovideddirectlybyOutsource,or enhancingyourexistingin-houseSOCteam capabilities,Cortexsimpliﬁesandautomates

AltoNetworksand TerryMoore, chiefexecutiveofOutsourceGroup

routineSecOps,viathepowerofAI,analytics andautomation.

CORTEXXDR–istheindustry’sﬁrstextended detectionand responseplatformthatdelivers holisticthreatprevention,detectionand response.XDRnativelyintegratesnetwork, endpointandclouddatatoidentify,analyse andstopsophisticatedattacks.XDRaccurately detectsthreatsandprovidesacompletepicture ofeachincidentusingbehaviouralanalytics andmachinelearningtoquickly revealthe root causeofthreatsandspeedupinvestigation andcontainment.

Outsourcealreadyhasexpertisein rollingout XDRacrossthousandsofusersandﬁrsthand experienceofthe90%+ reductioninalert volumesand90% reductionininvestigation timespostdeployment.

CORTEXXSOAR–istheindustry’smost comprehensivesecurityorchestrationand responseplatformwhichconnectsandcoordinatestheexisting/newhardwareand

softwaretoolsthroughoutacompany’ssecurity system.XSOARusersbenefitfromservices whichautomatetimeconsumingmanual processes,efficientlyorchestratingincident responsesandexpediteinvestigationsthrough realtimecollaboration.InternalcompanySOC teamscanleverageofftheOutsourceXSOAR capabilitiesorbesupportedinsecuring, configuringanddeployingtheirownXSOAR instance, reducingincident responsetimesby 90%.OrchestrationviaXSOAR reducesalert noise,surfacecriticalincidentsandeliminates repetitivemanualtasks.

Outsourcearefocusedonbecomingthe numberonesecuritypartnertobusinesses acrosstheUKandIrelandandareleveraging offglobalpartnershipsandcapitalinvestments todeliverthebestprotectionandoutcomes forcustomers–getintouchtolearnmore abouthowOutsourcecansupportyourSOC/ ITteams. ■

ContactOutsourceat:info@osgroup.co.ukoron 02894485112

ShaileshRao,president,CortexPalo

MisuseofCovid loansleadsto 155casesagainst companychiefs

Emergencylendingwrongdoingduringthepandemic hasresultedinarushofdirectors’disqualifcation, writes MargaretCanning

MisuseofBounceBackLoans duringthepandemichas resulted in155ongoingboardroomban casesagainstNIcompanydirectors,itcan be revealed.

Thoseinvolvedcouldbebarredfrombecoming a directorof a business,orbeinginvolvedwith settingupormanagingone,fortwoto15 years.

Inadditiontothe155activecases,14people havealreadybeenbannedfromtheboardroom overtheirhandlingofBounceBackLoans –oneoftheformsofemergencylendingfor businesses – givenoutduringthepandemic.

TheDepartmentfortheEconomy(DfE)said thatit’s handling a further135directors’ disqualifcationcases,allintheearlystagesof reviewandall relatingtoBounceBackLoans.

Another11caseshavebeenfledattheHigh

Court, a spokespersonsaid,while a furthernine havebeendraftedandare duetobefled.

Itsaidthatthecasesintheearlystagesof reviewaccountforaround40%ofalldirectors’ disqualifcations.

AttheendofJune,thedepartmentsaidthat 114were intheearlystagesof review – with thejumpto135 refectingthatitsworkloadon potentialdisqualifcations relatingtoBounce BackLoansisgrowing.

UndertheBounceBackLoansScheme(BBLS), businessownerswere abletoborrow25%of theirannualturnover, upto£50,000,under minimalchecks.

Directorbehaviourisscrutinisedbyinsolvency practitionersaspartoftheprocessofbringing a companythroughinsolvency Butthey are requiredtonotifytheNorthern Ireland InsolvencyServiceiftheycomeacrossinstances

ofdirectorbehaviourwhichisbelowthe standard required.

Richard Monds,directorofinsolvencyatthe Northern IrelandInsolvencyService(partof DfE),saidtheservicewasseeingdisqualifcation casesbasedonBounceBackLoanscoming throughitssystem.

“Theschemeswere launchedandfulflledtheir purpose.Butobviouslywithanyscheme,there willbepeoplewhotakeadvantageofit.”

A changeinlegislationmeantthatthe InsolvencyServicecouldnowinvestigate directorsofdissolvedcompanies,andnotjust thosewhichhadgonethroughaninsolvency process.

Thatgavetheagencythescopetoidentify where moneyhadbeenclaimedfraudulently, includingwhere itmayhavebeenclaimedfor anindividual’s ownuse,orwherea director

wasclaiming a numberofthemfromdifferent banks.

ButhesaidtheInsolvencyServicedidn’t have a viewonwhethertheprocessofobtaining BounceBackLoanswasfawedtobeginwith.

InJanuary2022,Theodore Agnew,a Treasury andCabinetOffceminister, resignedafter £4.3bninfraudulentCovidloanswaswritten off.

Hecalledtheoversightofthescheme“nothing lessthanwoeful”.

ButinJune2022,theBritishBusinessBank estimatedthat500,000to2.9millionjobs couldhavebeenlostintheabsenceofBBLS andtheCoronavirusBusinessInterruptionLoan Scheme(CBILS),anotherformofemergency lending.

“Lookingatthemetricsthey’vepublished,it

seemstohavedonewell.”

Aroundeightofthe14disqualifcations over2024sofarhave relatedtodirectors ofcompanies“involvedinthe repairand maintenanceofaircraftandspacecraft”, accordingtoDfE.

ButMrMondssaidtheprevalenceofsuch companieswas a quirkandnotevidenceofan outbreakofwrongdoinginthefeld.

Hesaid,inmanycases,companieshadbeen setupbyindividualswhowere inemployment butwantedtoavoidincometax.However, that wasoutlawedbyIR35and,inthewinding-up process,“that’s whenwebecameaware that someofthemmayhavebeenfalselyclaiming BounceBackLoans”.

“Thecasesweare workingatnowinclude constructionand retailandallsortsofsectors. EverycasewhichcomestoushasanSICcode

identifyingthesector – andthere’s norhymeor reasonastowhatthatmightbe.”

Conductwhichcanleadto a boardroomban includescontinuingtotradetothedetriment ofcreditorsat a timewhenthecompanywas insolvent;failingtokeepproperaccounting records;failingtoprepare andfleaccountsor make returnstotheCompaniesRegistry;failing tosubmittax returnsorpaytaxorothermoney duetotheCrown;andfailingtoco-operate withthe receiver/insolvencypractitioner

Inthelatestcaseofdirectordisqualifcation over a BounceBackLoan,thedirectorin questionwasfoundtohaveappliedforand received a biggerloanthantheywere entitled to,whentheykneworshouldhaveknownthat theircompany’s turnoverwaslowerthanthe amountdeclared.

Theywere alsofoundtohavecausedor allowedthemisapplicationofcompany fundsand/oractedin a mattertobeneft himselfratherthanthecompanybyusing thecompanyturnoverand/ortheloantopay himself a signifcantincreaseinsalarywhenthe company’s turnoverhaddecreased.

Hadtheynotpaidthemselvestheincreased salary, thecompanywouldhavehadmore moneyto repaycreditors.Ultimately, theloan didnotbringanyeconomicbenefttothe companyandsobreachedconditionsattached totheloan.

MrMondssaidtheInsolvencyService“would liketothinkdirectordisqualifcationisan effectivesanction”, regardlessofthegrounds. Headdedthat,withupto40frmbosses disqualifedhere everyyear, NIisdolingout more boardroombansperheadofpopulation thanEnglandand Wales.

“We’re happywiththat,”hesaid,“and wethinktheimpactisdowntogettingthe messageacrosssothatpeopleare aware of their responsibilitiesasdirectors.”MrMonds saidmore isbeingdoneinEnglandand Wales togivedirectorsinformationabouttheirduties.

“We are liaisingwiththemtoseewhatwe canalsodotomakedirectorsaware ofwhat the responsibilitiesare andwhatthepenalties are.” ■

How

doesChatGPT fare whenasked to nameNI’s top fve restaurants?

Artifcialintelligence(AI)botChatGPThasbeenhelpingstudentswritepapers andessays,assistinginthedisseminationofdata,andtrying(albeitnotalways successfully)toanswersomeofthelife’sbigquestions,buthowdoesitfarewhen askedtonameNorthernIreland’stopfverestaurants? JohnMulgrew takesalook athowitgetsonandcompareshisownlistofpersonalfavourites

WHAT CHATGPTSUGGESTED

1OX

Thebotdidwellhere inpullingouttheace ofspadesintermsofourfoodscene.OXis trulyoneofourdestination restaurantspots. It’s probablyoncoursefor a two-starMichelin nodatsomestage,andChatGPTdescribesitas being“knownforitscreative,seasonalmenus usinglocallysourcedingredients…highly regardedforitselegantandinnovativedishes”.

2DEANES EIPIC

Theunfortunatenature ofChatGPT’s limitationsis revealedwhenitcomestothe ageofthedatabasefromwhichit’s pulling. Unfortunately, MichaelDeane’s Michelinstarredtastingmenuspothassinceshut andhasbeentransformedinto a newcasual restaurantcalledmrDeanes.Whenasking ChatGPTquestionslike‘Whatare thefvebest restaurantsinNorthern Ireland?’,it’s largely searchinganolderversionofthewebacross reviewsitestodeterminetheanswer That includesthelikesof Tripadvisor I’vewrittenan entire columnonthequestionableveracitythat somesuch reviewsiteshave,oftenelevating restaurantstopositionswellabovetheiractual quality(notinthiscasethough,asthefood wasalwaysverygood).

3THE MUDDLERS CLUB

ThisspotisnowonlyoneoftwoMichelinstarred restaurantshere and regularlymakes thelistofthebestspotstovisit.ChatGPTsaid theCathedralQuarter restaurant“isfamous forits relaxedatmosphere andmodern, inventivecuisine,earningit a Michelinstaras well”.

BALLOO HOUSE

Killinchy’s BallooHousehashad a string ofNorthern Ireland’s topchefspassthrough thekitchen,includingStock’s DannyMillar andDanniBarry ThebotsaystheMichelinBib Gourmandspot(handedtotopfoodplaces under a pricepointwhichvariesbetween countries)“combinescharmandhistorywith a modern Europeanmenu,makingit a cozy andmemorablediningspot”.Itscurrentmenu includesmodern classics,suchasmoulesfrites andscallops,butwithaninventivefairand

more than a helpingofIrishinfuence,fromthe ingredientsonwards.

5HARRY’SSHACK

ChatGPTislikelysearching a hostof review sitesforsomefeedbackon restaurants,along withthehugelypositive reviewfromthe Observer’s JayRaynerwhichhelpedthisseaside spotpackthepeoplein.Thebotsaidthiswas a spotonPortstewartStrandand a “beachside restaurantcelebratedforitsfresh,locally sourcedseafoodandstunningcoastalviews”.

Peatartlettand cheesegougères atOX

FOOD& DR IN K

MYPERSONAL FAVOURITES

1OX

There’sa reasonwhyChatGPTnamedOX asitssuggestedtop restaurantinNorthern Ireland.AlainKerloc’handStevie Toman’s onestarOxford Streettastingmenu restaurantis a truehigh-endexampleoftheverybestwehave toofferhere,withprecision,techniqueand a whackofclassicandmodern Frenchexpression, combinedwithlocalsourcingand ﬂair Butwith allofthatdaintiness, ﬂavoursare entirelyat thefore.I’veeatendisheswithingredientsI’ve onceloathed(seecandiedginger)whichhave leftmealmostspeechless.It’s alsohostedthreestarredAlainPassard onseveraloccasionsfor specialtastingmenus,andthestandoutdishes inmyopinionhavebeentheirowncreations(a musselandsplitbuttermilkdish remainsoneof thebestthingsI’veevereaten).

2STOVE

GingerBistro onGreat VictoriaStreetin Belfastwasalways a favouritehaunt,andwhen I heard SimonMcCance(alongwithSimon Toye)wasopening a new restaurantnotfar fromhome,there wasanairofintrigueinthe Mulgrewhousehold.Stovequicklyimpressed andhas remainedconsistentoverthefour yearsit’s beenopen. A halflobster remains thebestI’veeverhad(thatjust-cooked ﬂesh whichcouldbe a minuteawayfrombeinglike rubber),thedouble-cookedcheesesoufﬂé is a stunner,a singlefreshoysterwith a littleapple anddill a perfectpalatecleanser, orpuffylittle

Comtéfritters a lessoninshowingoff thebest ofingredientsandindulgence.

3 WINE AND BRINE

It’s actuallybeen a whilesinceI’veeatenin ChrisMcGowan’s airyMoira restaurant,but I must rectifyitsoononmynextvisittoPeter Hannan. WineandBrinehad a trulybonkers lunchmenuatonestagethatwassoaffordable I feltguilty, giventhequalityofthefood. A navarinoflambstandsoutinmymind – utterly

rich,slightlygamey, andpeckedwithlittle edible ﬂowers.Theyalsoperfecttheclassic Frenchmadeleineandare oneofthefew placestacklingthehugelylaboriouspâtéen croûteandrichgameterrine.

4ROAM

WhenRoamopeneditsdoorsinCallendar Street,itdidsowithmuch-warrantedaplomb. The ﬁrsttime I atehere wasduringBelfast Restaurant Weekand aﬂatironsteakdishwas tremendousvalue,cominginatthepriceof twoicedcoffees.Itcontinuestoimpress,with a cleanandsimplemenuofthingsyouwant toeat. A lambloindishalongsideslow-cooked andpressedbelly remainsthebestexpression oftheanimalI’vehadtodate,whilethetreacle stoutbreadis a must.

5EDO

Cookingovercharcoalwillalmost undoubtedlyproducethebiggestandbest flavourswhenitcomestoanimalprotein.While Edodoeslotsofthingsright,itsslow-cooked beefcheekandcrispylambbellywithtzatziki standoutassomeofthebestdishesI’veeaten in a longtime.There are bigSpanishandwider European flavours, a langoustinetartare isas clean a dishasyou’lllikely findanywhere,while theguancialespicedporkbellyis a lessonin gourmandise. ■

Halflobsterwith bearnaisesauce atStove

Threeboard membersatHarland & Wolffresignwith ‘immediateeffect’

ThechairmanandtwoothernonexecutivedirectorsofHarland & Wolffhave resignedwith “immediateeffect”asthecompany continuestoseekadditionalfunding.

Thecompanyannouncedthatchairman MalcolmGroat,plusSirJonathonBandand KatyaZotova,have resignedfromtheboard withimmediateeffect.

ItisthelatestturmoiltohitthefamousBelfast shipyard.

It recentlyemergedHarland& Wolffhad suspendedworkonits2023accounts.

RussellDowns,interimexecutivechairman, said:“Onbehalfoftheboard,Iwishtothank ouroutgoingnon-executivedirectorsforthe timeandhardworkthattheyhaveputinover theyearsinsupportofthecompanyandwish themwellintheirfutureendeavours.”

BBCNIhasalso reportedthatagroupof Harland& Wolffshareholdersfearthe businessisbeinglinedupfora“pre-pack” administration.

Thatwouldseethecompanyenter administrationanditstradingassetswould immediatelybesoldtoapre-determinedbuyer.

Meanwhile,theshipbuilderalsoconﬁrmed

theappointmentsoftwonewboardmembers as“itseekstocompletea recapitalisation intendedtogivethecompanyasustainable ﬁnancialfooting.”

MrDownshasjoinedasinterimexecutive chairman,andAlanForthasjoinedasanonexecutivedirector.

MrDownshasabackgroundin restructuring and reﬁnancingandworkedfor30yearsat PwC.

Hesaid:“We remainfocusedonworking withinterestedpartiesandkeystakeholders toensurethatwecannavigatethroughthis uncertaintypreservingtheunderlyingvalue intheyardsandtheFSScontractforits employeesandotherstakeholders.”

MrFortisaqualiﬁedcharteredaccountant whoalsoworkedforPwC,andisdescribedas havingexperienceat,“providingsupportand challengetomanagementteamstoensure thatgoalsareclearlydeﬁnedandperformance istransparentlymonitored”.

ThecompanysaidonMondaythatitwas unable“toﬁnaliseits2023accountsona goingconcernbasis.”

Thismeansthatthecompanyisnotconﬁdent that,ifitsubmitteditsaccountscurrently,it wouldbepresentedasabletostayinbusiness fortheforeseeablefuture.

Harland& Wolffhasbeenexperiencing ﬁnancialproblemsin recentmonths.Ithadan applicationforaGovernmentguaranteeofa new£200mloanturneddown.

TheGovernmentsaidtherewasa“very substantialrisk”thattaxpayermoneywouldbe lostonsuchaguarantee”.

Theﬁrmispartofaconsortiumthathasbeen contractedbytheGovernmenttobuildnew FleetSolidSupport(FSS)ShipsfortheRoyal Navy.

Thecompanysaysthatdeliveringthisproject remainsapriorityandthatithas“built signiﬁcantscaleandcapabilityinitsyard” in recentyearstofulﬁlthisandanother programme.

Itfurthersaidthatit remainsin“active discussions”ontheFSSprogramme,andis continuingworkonits“existingorderbook”.

A recentstatementconﬁrmedthatits recently announced£19mloanincreasefromexisting creditorsRiverstoneisproviding“short-term liquidity”forthecompany.

Itaddedthatthecompany“remains reliant” onRiverstone’ssupport.

Butagroupofshareholdershaveexpressed concernsthatthecompanyisbeingruninthe interestsofthecompany’screditorsasopposed tothosewhoholdequity. ■

TheHarland& Wolff shipyardinBelfast

ENERGY, WA ST E & EN VI RONM EN T

Notime towaste

WastemanagementcompaniesinNorthern Irelandmaketheargumentforfewerexports andmoresourcesegregationofhousehold recycling,writes PavelBarter

Wastemanagementbusiness modelsinNorthernIreland shouldnotbedesignedonan exportmarket,insist recyclingexperts.

The regionexportsover91,000tonnesof recyclablematerialfromhouseholdseachyear, accordingtoKeepRecyclingLocal,acampaign group,butthismaterialhasthepotentialtobe recycledontheisland.Theexportof recyclable materialoutofNorthernIreland represents aneconomiclossforthe region,saysColin O’Hanlon,commercialmanagerforIndaver (awastemanagementbusinessthatoperates atover30locationsacrossEurope,including NorthernIreland).

“Weexportsomuchofourmaterialforothers tomanage,whereascountriesinEurope –Belgium,theNetherlands,Germanyetc, havefacilitieslocatedwithintheirbordersto managelocalwaste,”Colinsays.“Bykeeping itlocal,yougeteconomicandenvironmental benefts.Theprinciplesofproximityandselfsuffciencyareenshrinedinallenvironmental legislationinNorthernIreland.”

KatyFulton,asdirectorofBrysonRecycling inNewtownabbey,operatestheUK’slargest socialenterprise recyclingbusiness.“We’ve gonethroughcrashesinChinaandother partsofAsiawherepeopledonotwantour exportedmaterial,”shesays.

“We’reloweringtheriskbykeepingitclose tohome.”Theabsenceofincineratorsin NorthernIrelandhascontributedtoindustrial wastebeingshippedoverseas,continues Tim Walker,presidentoftheCharteredInstitution of WastesManagement(CIWM)andan advisorfortheDepartmentforEnvironment FoodandRuralAffairs(DEFRA)inLondon.

“Roadmiles,feetmiles,shippingmiles,are involvedintheexportprocess,”hesays. “Thereareexistingandfuturetaxesaround carbon.Astheworldmovestowardnetzero,is it reliableto relyonexports?”

NorthernIrelandelevatedits recyclingrate ofhouseholdwastefrom10%toaround 50%within20years.However, recyclinghas plateauedatthisfgure–fallingfarshortof the70%targetfor2030whichisenshrined intheClimateChangeAct(NorthernIreland) 2022.

Indaver,whichemploys2,000peopleand managesoverfvemilliontonnesofmaterial everyyear, recognisesthatNorthernIrelandhas alongwaytogo.“Aroundaquarteroflocal authoritywastecollectedfromhouseholdsand somecommercialoutletsisstillgoingtolandfll andthat’scompletelyunsustainable,”Colin says.“Landfllproducesmethaneandmethane isoneofthemostdamaginggreenhousegases known.”

Ina recentpublicconsultation,theDepartment ofAgriculture,EnvironmentandRuralAffairs (DAERA)listedproposalsforchangetothe disparatemodelsofhousehold recycling inNorthernIreland:inparticularamore streamlinedandstandardisedcollectionsystem whichwouldinvolvehouseholdsseparating morematerialsathomebeforecollection. Thewastemanagementcompanieswespoke towerepositiveabouttheproposalswithin RethinkingOurResources:Measuresfor ClimateActionandaCircularEconomyinNI.

“Ifwe’regoingtoprogressbeyond50% towards70%we’regoingtoneedtoget morematerialsoutofthe residualwasteinto thebin,whichmeansmoreengagementwith

“Ifwe’regoingtoprogress beyond50%towards70% we’regoingtoneedto getmorematerialsoutof theresidualwasteinto thebin,whichmeans moreengagementwith householderstoexplain thewhereforeofwhat they’redoing”

DAERAarguesthatseparated recyclingcomes atahigherqualityandthereforecanbesold atahigherprice,savingcouncils“millionsof poundsayear”.

householderstoexplainthewhereforeofwhat they’redoing,” Tim Walkersays.

However,theproposalshavealsobeen contentious.Proponentsofthecommingled system(inwhich recycledmaterialismixed together)believethatmorebinsmeanmore confusion–andlower recyclingrates–for householders.KatyFulton refutesthese charges,insistingthatpeoplearequickto adapt.“Twentyto25yearsago,everything wentintheblackbinanditwasunheardofto separateit.Whenyougoto Tesco,youknow wheretoputtheproductsthatyoupurchased inyourhome–milkgoesinthefridge, bathroomstuffinthebathroom,breadgoesin

thebreadbin,etc.Whyshouldhouseholders nottobeabletodothatwiththeirbins?It’san easysteptomake.”

Commingledproponentsalsoarguethata collectionsysteminvolvingmultiplebinswill increasecostsforlocalcouncils.However, modelsinothercountriesusestackableboxes (oneboxforpaper,anotherforcansand mixedplastic,athirdforglassbottlesandjars). “Thereistalkthateverybodyisgoingtobe givensixbinsbutthatisfarfromthetruth,” saysKaty.Furthermorecommingledwaste comesatacost.“Whenitisallmixedup, thereisalotofexpenseinvolvedinsorting throughit.” >

Commingled,meanwhile,carrieshigher riskofcontamination.“Ifsomeoneputs acontaminatedpizzaboxintoabin,it contaminatesotherproductswithinthat bin,”Colinsays.Theissueofcontamination isprevalentinglass recycling,continues Katy.“Glassisakeymaterialtoensure consistent,high-qualitymaterialsthatcan beproducedwithinNorthernIreland.Encirc, oneofthebiggestglassmanufacturersin theUK,havetoimportglasscullet[waste] whenthereshouldbemorethanenough glassavailableinNorthernIreland.Butifit iscommingled,itcannotbe reprocessedat theirplantinDerrylinninFermanagh,dueto contamination.”

ENERGY, WA ST E&

DAERA’s proposalshaveprecedentacross Europe–wheregreatersourcesegregation maintainsahigherqualityandrateof recycling –andclosertohome. Wales,which recycles 59%ofhouseholdwaste,isconsideredoneof theworld’sbest regionsfor recycling.

Inordertomakethetransitiontoacircular economy,however,weneedaraftof behaviouralandsocietalchanges,insists Tim Walker.Producersandmanufacturesmust alsoplaytheirpartinpackagingandproduct innovationand reduction.“Weareconsuming handoverfstataratethat’snotdecreasing. NorthernIreland’scirculareconomystrategy estimatesthatNorthernIrishindividualsare consuming16tonnesworthofstuffayear.”

Tim alsoactsaschiefexecutiveofarc21, whichhasproposed a multi-millionpound wasteincineratorinnorthBelfastthathas been“stuckinplanningforover a decade”. Theprojectisproposedtotreat300,000

tonnesofblackbinwasteeveryyear, removing theneedforlandfllandtheexportof residual waste.Itwillalsogenerateelectricityfrom renewablesources:“Twentymegawattsof electricityforexportontothenationalgrid thatwillpoweraround20,000homeslocally,” Colinsays.(Indaveristheleadpartyinthe consortiumbehindarc21).“We willhave a facilitytoprocess residue. We operatefacilities inScotlandwhere theashleftfromthe incinerationprocessis reusedand recycledin buildingapplications.”

Reachingour70% recyclingtargetwill require aconsistentapproach:“anintegratedwaste managementsystemwhichstartsathome,” Colinsays.“Thereneedstobemoreeducation andinvestmentbylocalauthoritiesandwaste companiestoeducatepeopleastowhatthey putintheirbins.”Theproposalforarc21 includesalocaleducationcentre.

Mostwastemanagementcompanieswespoke

todidnotendorseabanonwasteexports. Buteveryeffectivebusinessandclimatemodel, theyinsist,involveskeeping recyclingonthe island.“Ifwearemovingtoastormierworld becauseofgreaterclimateinstability,where wouldthatleaveus?”asks Tim Walker,who alsoworksasavisiting researchfellowat Queen’sUniversityBelfast.

“Ifwastecan’tbeshippedwiththesame regularityduetoclimateinstabilities,does thatmeanthatlocalsgetmoreannoyed aboutwastesittingondocksforlongerterms becauseitcan’tbeshippedduetoweather conditions?”

Themodelforgreatersourcesegregationhas beenproventoworkelsewhere,saysKaty Fulton.NowNorthernIrelandmustfollowsuit. “Waleshavegrabbedthebullbythehornsand madethechangesandithasworked.Ihope NorthernIrelandcandothesamebecauseitis achievableiftherightdecisionsaremade.” n

ENERGY, WA ST E&

VI RONME NT

AirBalticsecures orderfor10aircraft fromAirbus

LatvianairlineairBaltichasconfrmed afurtherorderfor10A220-300s,the wingsofwhicharemadeinBelfast.

airBalticisthebiggestcustomerfortheAirbus aircraftinEurope,andtheworld’sbiggest operatorofthelarger-formA220-300.

Intotal,theLatvianfagcarrierhasnow ordered90A220,including50A220-300s.

Itwasitsfrstcustomerin2016,when theaircraftwaslaunchedbyCanadian manufacturerBombardierastheC-Series.

However,theC-Serieswaslatersoldby BombardiertoAirbus,and relaunchedasthe A220.

MartinGauss,presidentandchiefexecutive ofairBaltic,said:“Forthefrsttimeinthe company’shistory,airBalticplanstooperatea feetofcloseto100A220-300aircraft,and theseexercisedoptionsarethenextstepinthe rightdirection.

“Overtheyears,thisaircrafttypehasproven itsoperationalcapabilitiesandvalue–ithas beenthebackboneofouroperationsandhas

playedanintegral roleintheinternational successstoryofairBaltic.

“Byexercisingtheseoptions,weare strengtheningourunwaveringsupportand trustintheA220programmeandarelooking forwardtoourfeetexpansionoverthe upcomingyears.”

BenoîtdeSaint-Exupéry,executivevice presidentsalesofAirbus’scommercialaircraft business,said:“Wearehonouredandthankful thatairBalticisplacingitsfourthfollow-up order.

“ThislatestagreementfromLatvia’sfagcarrier isastrongendorsementofthesuperiorvalue andoperationalopportunitiesofferedbythis latestgenerationaircraft.”

TheA220isdescribedasthemostmodern airlinerinitsclass,carryingbetween120to 150passengersonfightsofupto3,600 nauticalmiles.

TheeastBelfastplantwhereA220wingsand fuselagearemanufacturedisownedbyUS companySpiritAeroSystems,whichisbeing takenoverbyBoeing.

Inasidedeal,AirbusistoacquiretheA220 programmesinBelfast.

Bombardierisexpectedto re-acquirethe remainderoftheSpiritAeroSystemsoperation, withthecompanyduetovisitNorthernIreland thismonth.Around40%oftheoperationis engagedinAirbuswork.

On Tuesday,Airbusdeclinedtocommenton theprogressofthedealthoughinastatement totheFinancial Timeslastmonth,itsaid:

“WhileAirbusisfocusingitsacquisitionon themostcriticalworkpackagesthatdirectly concernAirbusprogrammes,atthisstage,no operationaldecisionshavebeenmadeasto howwewouldmanagetheseworkpackages.

“ItisourintentiontoworkwiththeUK GovernmentandNorthernIrelandExecutive tostabiliseandimproveSpirit’soperationsto developaerospaceskillsandthesupplychain andensurewecansupportthelong-term ramp-upofAirbusprogrammes.”

AspokeswomanforSpiritAeroSystemsin Belfastsaid:“Weareevaluatingoptionsfor ourotherBelfastoperations.

“Meanwhile,wecontinuetooperatebusiness asusualacrossoursitesand remainfocusedon providingthebestqualityproductstoallour customers.”

Freestreaming ride couldbe overasbig guns take aimat password sharing

Passwordsharingcouldbeathingofthepastforsome ofourmajorstreamingservicesasfrmscontinuethe crackdown,writes Adrian Weckler

DisneyPlusisabouttojoinNetfix andSpotifyin a password-sharing crackdown.Thismeanstwothings. First,thefreestreamingridemayfnallybe over. ButinIreland,thisalsolookslikelyto givedodgyboxesyetanotherboost.

Disney’s chiefBobIgertoldshareholderslast weekthatitsonlinestreamingplatformwill startcuttingoff userson a differentinternet connectiontotheprincipalhouseholdwif.

Netfixhasalreadybegundoingthis,withvery

proftable results – itssubscriptionbasewent up,withmanyex-girlfriends,ex-boyfriendsand grown-upoffspringgrudginglyopeningtheir ownaccounts.

It’s notjustvideo-streaming.Spotifyhas alsobeenon a roundofpassword-sharing crackdowns,disconnectingpeoplewhodon’t confrmthattheyliveatthesameaddressas theprincipalaccountholder

AmazonandApplehaven’t gottenaround toityet,butprobablywillastheywatchthe

others’effortsbearfnancialfruit;thelikesof ParamountPlus,Discoveryandotherswillalso bekeepinganeye.

There are exceptionstothesecrackdown rules,toaccommodatepeoplewhogoon holidays,orsometimesstreamfromtheir phones.Buttheoverarchingprincipleof you-shall-no-longer-let-everyone-use-yourpassword isnowbeingenforced.

Somewould-berivals,liketheBBCand RTÉ,mighthopetoget a smallboostfrom this. RTÉ hasbeeninvestinginmarketing campaignstoboostitsPlayeras a standalone streamingoptioninIreland.Whileitstill suffersfrommore glitchinessthanits internationalrivals,it’s actuallyquite a useful, content-rich resourcewithseveralhigh-end TVseriesyoumightnotfndelsewhere.

The RTÉ Player’s maindownsideisitsliveTV restrictions – youcan’t watchthatonthe RTÉ Playeron a smarttelevision,whereas youcanon a laptopor a phone.There is a workaroundtothisonsomesmartTVsby

usingthewebbrowserontheTVandtypingin “rte.ie/live”.

Butthebigwinnerhere willprobablybedodgy boxes.

Whateverpoliticiansorcopyrightassociations mightsayonset-piece“crackdown” announcements,dodgyboxesare now effectivelydecriminalisedfordomesticusein Ireland.

Gardaíandotherauthoritieshave repeatedly saidtheywillnotenforcethelawonanyone using a dodgyboxintheirhome,eventhough it’s illegal,beingexplicitlyprohibitedbystatute. Instead,theysay, theywillgoafterthoseselling ordistributingthedevices.

Giventhisgreenlightforhouseholders,it doesn’t take a sociologisttopredictwhat happensnextwhentheNetfixandDisney skiversare forcedtoconsidertheiroptions.

AroundoneinfveIrishpeopleuses a dodgy box,ortheirequivalent(suchasillegally

accessingservicesonlegitimategadgetslike Amazon’s TVFire Stick).

Thisisaccordingtothemost recentSunday Independent/IrelandThinkssurveyinApril, where 15%ofIrishhouseholdsadmittedusing a dodgybox,with a further7%tickingthe “prefernottosay”box.That’s atleast250,000 homes.

AnytimeI’ve reportedonthesubject,themost in-demandfollow-upquestionfrom readers orcolleaguesisalwaysthesame:“Will I get caught?”

Whilethisis a natural response,it’s mistaken –peopleare confusingthedodgyboxissuewith theTVlicenceone,informedbydecadesof warningsaboutinspectorscallingtodoorsand threateningfnesorcourtappearances.

ButunlikeTVlicences,authoritieshavemade itexplicitlyclearthattheyhavenot,donot andwillnotenforcethelawagainstdomestic usersofillegaldodgyboxes. I havebeentold more thanoncethatitisnotseenassuffciently

importanttodrawongarda resources.Sothe lawondodgyboxesissomethingofanass.

Theonlyeffectivedeterrentstousing a dodgy boxare nowcustomerservice(there isnone) andpicture quality, whichcanbesub-par Theyare alsosometimespronetofreezingor crashingin a wayyou’drarelyeverseefrom a legalTVbox.

Otherwise,it’s only a conscienceorunfamiliarity thatisstoppingmanyfromusing a dodgy box.Thegreaterthecrackdownsonstreaming services,themore thatmightchange.Forthe moment,thiswon’t worrystreaminggiants suchasDisneyandNetfix,whoare setto reap thegainsoftheirpassword-sharingtightening measures.

Overtime,though,expecttoseemore forceful lobbyingfrommovieandTVgiantsabout dodgyboxesincountrieslikeIrelandandthe UK.

Themore widespreadsuchdevicesbecome,the more moneywillbelost. ■

TECH NOLO GY

BobIgerofThe WaltDisney CompanyappearsattheDisney EntertainmentShowcase

We needmorehelpto counterretailcrime andprotectworkers

NeilJohnston,directoroftheNorthernIrelandRetail Consortium(NIRC),sayswhilelegislationisbeing broughtforwardtomakeassaultingapublic-facing workeraspecifcstandaloneoffence,morestillneeds tobedonetotackletheproblemandensurethose committingcrimesaresuitablypunished

WeapplaudthemovebyJustice MinisterNaomiLongMLAto bringforwardlegislationto makeassaultingapublic-facingworkera specifcstandaloneoffence.Butmoreis neededtohelpcounterthehugecrime wavecurrentlyexperiencedby retail.

NorthernIrelandRetailConsortium(NIRC)is

pleasedto recognisethattheftoffenceshave shownanoveralldecliningtrendforthepast 20yearsinNI,andthePSNI’sworkisgreatly appreciatedby retailers.

Unfortunately,despitetheireffortsand record spendingoncrimepreventionby retailers, shopliftinghasnotdeclinedoverthatperiod andinthepastcoupleofyearshasdramatically increased.

Shoplifting roseby43%between2021/22 and2022/23–from5,254incidentsto7,512, admittedlyafterthelowsduringCovid.Then between2022/23and2023/24itleaptby afurther16%,from7,500tonearly9,000 incidents.

Yearafteryear,for20years,thenumberof incidentsfuctuatedaroundthe5,500-6,000 mark. We nowseethatthishasincreasedby

roughly50%inthepasttwoyears. We need urgentactiontoaddressthissituation.

ThePSNIfgurestallywith retailers’ experiences.The2024BRCRetailCrime Surveyshowedthat,acrosstheUK,customer thefthasdoubledto16.7millionincidentsa year,upfromeightmillion,atahighest-ever costof£1.8bn–thefrsttimeithasrisen abovethe£1bnmark.

Takentogetherwithstores’spendingoncrime prevention,thecostof retailcrimenowstands at£3.3bn. Withtightmarginsacrossthe industry,thisismoneythatisnotavailableto investinlowerpricesforcustomersormake improvementstostores.Intheend,everyone suffersthecostofcrime.

Theoverallmonetarycostof retailcrimeinthe UK,takingintoaccountbothactuallossesand crimepreventioncosts,stoodat£3.3bn,up from£1.8bnthepreviousyear.Thisincluded £1.2bnforcrimeprevention,upfrom£720m, and£2.15bnlosstocrimeitself,upfrom £1.05bn.

NIRClookstotheJusticeMinister,thePolicing BoardandthePSNItotakeactiontoaddress thisextremelyunwelcomedevelopment.

Retailworkersareincreasinglysubjectto behaviourthatgoesbeyondtherudeand unpleasantandincludesthreatsofviolence andactualviolence.

Sadly,ourstaffoftenseemto regardthis as‘partofthejob’andthisiscompletely unacceptable.

PSNIfguresshowthatoverthepast20years incidentsofviolencewithinjuryhavedeclined slightlyandbeen relativelyconsistentat 15,000incidentsayear.

Unfortunately,PSNIstatisticsdonot record howmanyoftheseincidentsofviolence withinjuryandviolencewithoutinjuryare perpetratedagainst retailworkers.

Commontriggersforintimidationorviolence comewhenshopworkersdowhatthestate increasinglyasksofthem–forexample, enforcingage-restrictionrulesonthesale ofcertainproductsor refusingtoserve intoxicatedcustomers.Aswatheofnew mandatedrulesarelikelytocomeintoeffect overthecomingyearswhichmayleadtomore potentialfashpointsinstoresandunderline theneedforfurtheraction.

ThatiswhyNIRCjoinedforceswiththetrade unionUsdaw,tocallforassaultofa retail workertobemadeaspecifcoffence.

In responsetoourcampaign,theJustice MinisterhasnowwrittentoNIRCandUsdaw toagree,bywayofasentencingbill,to introduceanewoffenceofassaultingaperson providingapublicservice,performingapublic dutyorprovidingservicestothepublic.

Thiswillcarryahighermaximumsentence inthemagistratescourtsthanthatcurrently availableforcommonassault(12months ratherthanthenormalsixmonths),andthe factthatthevictimofamoreseriousassaultis providingaservicetothepublicorperforming apublicdutywillbemadeastatutory aggravatingfactor.

NIRCandUsdawapplaudthismove.Asthe billmovesthroughtheNIAssembly,wewill explorewhethertherearewaysinwhichthe systemcandifferentiatebetweenassaultin differentsettings,sothatwecanfndoutthe truescaleoftheproblemfacing retailworkers.

Violencewithoutinjuryhasfuctuated. However,ithasunfortunatelydoubledin thepast25years,withmorethan21,000 incidentsin2022/23(thankfullythishas declinednotablyintheyearto2023/24to 18,500).Thisincludes16,919incidentsof assaultwithoutinjuryin2022/23,upbymore than5,000incidentssince2020/21.

NIRCwillcontinuetoworkpositivelywiththe JusticeMinisterandthePSNItotrytoensure that retailworkersgettheprotectionthey deserve. ■ Theretailsector

TheexperienceinScotland,theonlypartof theUKwhereastandaloneoffencehasbeen putonthestatutebooks,isthatithasenabled stakeholderstoascertainthesizeofthe problemandfocus resourcesaccordingly.

PAULSTEWART MANAGINGDIRECTOR, MY BAGGAGE

Howdidyoustartoutinyourbusiness?

IfoundedMyBaggage,adoor-to-door luggageshippingcompany,in2009whileI wasstudyingatEdinburghUniversity.Iwas livingawayfromhomeandmakingtripshome twotothreetimesayearandwasgetting stungwithlargeexcessbaggagefees.As afrugalstudentIthoughttherehadtobe abetterandmorecost-effectivesolution.I startedshippingstudentspersonaleffectsin suitcasesandboxesfromEdinburgharound theUKandIrelandwithaverysimplewebsite andcontractswithcourierfrms. We have nowgrownMyBaggagetohave routesin 160countriesandhavehelpedover150,000 people relocateabroad.

Whathaveyoufoundthemost challengingduringyouryearsofbusiness sofar?

Dealingwithcustomsandgovernment requirements.Asweshipusedpersonal effects,thereshouldbenodutychargedon ourcustomers’shipments. We havetoensure allpaperworkiscorrectandcertainforms areusedtoavoidpotentialfees. We have developedadigitalcustomsclearancesystem thatsubmitspaperworkelectronicallyinmore than100countries,savingourcustomers timeandthemhavingtoprintanyforms.

Entrepreneur ofthe Month

Thissystemcanalsopromptcustomersonline onhowtocompletetheirformsandensure allinformationiscorrect,avoidingpotential customsfees.

Howwouldyoudescribeyour managementstyle?

Laidbackandadaptable.Iamveryluckyto haveastrongteamthatunderstandthework thatis requiredatMyBaggage,andtheyjust getonwithit.Ibelieveitisveryimportantto hirethecorrectpeopleandgetoutoftheir way.Everyonehastoworkwelltogether,ftin totheculture,andworkhard,otherwiseMy Baggagemaynotbethebestenvironmentfor them.

Whatwouldyouchangeifyoucouldgo backanddoitallagain?

Believeintheopportunitymore.AtthestartI thoughtMyBaggagecouldbeasmallbusiness helpingstudentsintheUKandIreland.Itwas onlyfourtofveyearsinthatIunderstoodit couldbeatrulyinternationalbusiness,and nowmostofourbusinessisoutsidetheUK

andIreland,operating24hoursadaytocover theworldwidemarketsforanyonemoving abroadortravellingluggagefreeontheir holiday.

Haveyoudoneitallonyourown?

IfoundedMyBaggage,andthefrstyearit wasjustme.Ihavegrowntheteamaroundme tosupportall roleswithinthecompanyfrom customerservicetoITandmarketing.Itisvery muchateameffortthatrunsthebusinessand keepsitgrowingyear-on-year.

Howwouldyoulikeyourbusinesstobe remembered?

Asacompanythathelpedmillionsofpeople moveabroadtoworkandstudy.IbelieveMy Baggagemakesaverystressfultime(moving toanothercountry)abiteasier.

Whatpieceofadvicewouldyougivetoa 20-year-oldyou?

Enjoythejourney,havefunbuildingabusiness, andtravelasmuchasyoucanbeforeyouhave additional responsibilities. ■

EV EN TS & CONF ERENCE S

What’shappening acrossNI?

EVEN

TS & CONF ERENCE S

Fromsustainablebusiness awards,togolfdaysand heathconferences, Ulster Business takesalookat what’scomingupinthe weeksandmonthsahead



RESPONSIBLEBUSINESS AWARDS

BusinessintheCommunity’sResponsible Business Awardsinpartnershipwithkey sponsorHenryBrothers rewardand recognise businesseslargeandsmallandfromevery sectorinNorthernIrelandontheirexceptional corporate responsibilityaction.

Thewinnerswillbeannouncedatthe AwardsgalaeventonSeptember5atICC Belfast.

TheResponsibleBusiness Awardstake placeinpartnershipwithkeysponsorHenry Brothers,eventpartnerJPCorry,andin associationwith UlsterBusiness,U105and LanyonCommunications.

The13awardscategoriescoverarangeof themesincludingdiversity,wellbeing,climate, technology,partnerships,andcommunity impact.Anindividualwillbe recognisedas the2024ResponsibleBusinessAmbassador andatopprizeisawardedtothe2024NI ResponsibleCompanyofthe Year.

VickyDavies,chair,Businessinthe Communitysaid:“Theseawardsprovide aplatformtoshowcaseandcelebratethe mostinnovativeandinspirational responsible businesses.”

INTERNATIONAL TAKEOVER

Thefrstaestheticsconferencetotake placeinNorthernIrelandissettobringahost ofglobalindustryexpertsto TitanicBelfaston September8.

International Takeoverwillfeaturesome oftheworld’sleadersinaestheticmedicine whowillbringtheirdiverseperspectivesand insights.Thefull-dayeventwillgiveaesthetics practitionersthechancetobeneftfrom theirextensiveexperienceandinnovative approachestoenhancetheirpracticesand elevatepatientcare.

Theconferenceisbeingorganisedby registerednurseLisa Waring,clinicaldirectorof

FaceTherapyNI.

“Asamedicalprofessional,Iamso passionateabouteducatingandsupporting fellowaestheticspractitioners,”Lisa Waring said.

“TheInternational Takeoverconferenceis thefrstofitskindtotakeplaceinNorthern Irelandandprovidesaninvaluableopportunity forpractitionerstogainuniqueinsights fromglobalexpertswhoareattheforefront ofmedicalaesthetics,fndoutaboutthe latestinnovativepracticesanddeveloptheir knowledgeaswellasenhancetheiraesthetic businessknowledgeandbuildindustry connections.”

NICHAMBERANNUALGOLFDAY

TheNorthernIrelandChamberof CommerceandIndustry(NIChamber)willhost itsAnnualGolfDayonSeptember13.

InpartnershipwithG4SandMCSGroup, membersfromacrossNorthernIrelandwilltee offatMaloneGolfClub.

Itisadaydesignedtohelpmember businessesbroadentheirbusinessnetwork, whilealsoallowingforsomefuncompetition asmembersbattleitouttotakehometheGolf Challenge Trophy,whichlastyearwenttothe teamfromJMCElectrics.



CO3LEADERSHIPSUMMIT

Some250businessleadersaresetto descendontheLaMonHotel&CountryClub fortheCO3LeadershipSummit.

Theevent,takingplaceonSeptember26, willbringleaderswithinthevoluntaryand communitysectorsinNorthernIreland. SocialentrepreneurandcampaignerJosh Littlejohnwillbemakinghis returntoCO3 afterfveyearsandwillexaminehowthings havechangedinthattime.

Hisdebutbook,‘PayingitForward:How tobeaSocialEntrepreneur’,waspublished in2023andispartmemoir,partmanifesto forsocialentrepreneurship,andanoverall manualforputtingpurposeaheadofproft. Josh’stalkwillinspireandequiptheaudience

withpracticallessonsonleadershipandsocial entrepreneurship,buildingonhisextensive workinsupportinghomelessandvulnerable communitiesthroughinitiativeslike‘Social Bite’and‘Brewgooder’.

“PostelectionthethirdsectorinNorthern Irelandisinanewplace,onemarked bychallengeandopportunity,” Valerie McConville,chiefexecutiveofCO3,said.

“TheCO3LeadershipSummitwillexplore thekeychallengesthatfaceleadersrightnow andprovideauniqueopportunitytodiscuss sharedchallenges,explorenewopportunities andmakeconnections.Theeventwillalso lookatwhatmakesaneffectivepublicpolicy campaigns,andhearfrominfuentialthought leadersonthefutureoffundinginNorthern Ireland.

“Wearedelightedtohavegatheredsuch animpactfulandthoughtprovokingsetof speakersandwearelookingforwardtoan excitingand rewardingevent.”

HOSPITALITYEXCHANGE

HospitalityExchange2024willtakeplace attheCrownePlazaHotelatShaw’sBridgein BelfastonOctober15-16.

TopchefMarkBirchall,chef-patronofMoor Hall,willbeheadliningthisyear’sevent.

AlanMontgomery,MCSGroup, Suzanne Wylie,NIChamber,and KevinScruby,G4S,launchNI Chamber’s2024AnnualGolfDay

MarkBirchall, renownedforhisculinary expertiseandinnovativeapproach,willbring agourmetculinaryexperiencetotheevent. Hisillustriouscareer,markedbynumerous accoladesandhis roleatthehelmofthe award-winningMoorHall,promisesto makethisyear’sHospitalityExchangean unforgettableexperienceforallattendees.

NorthernIrelandHotelsFederation(NIHF) presidentEddieMcKeever,said:“Celebrating its25thanniversary,HospitalityExchange2024 will refectontheevolutionoftourismsince 1999.

“Thisyear’sprogrammewilldelveinto topicalissues,provideindustryinsights,and fosterdiscussionsonthefutureoftourismand hospitality.OneofthehighlightsofHospitality Exchangeisthegourmetchefdinnerwhich isstagedtheeveningbeforetheconference launches.

“WearedelightedtowelcomeMarkBirchall asourguestcheffor2024andarelooking forwardtoanamazingculinaryexperience intheMerchantHotelontheOctober14.As oneoftheUK’smost reveredchefs,weare confdentthathispresencewillelevatethe eventtonewheights.Agreatstartforwhat promisestobeanunforgettableexperiencefor everyone.”>

EVEN TS & CONF ERENCE S

EVEN

TS & CONF ERENCE S

DrAndreaLatimer,BBCNI’shealthcorrespondentand menopauseadvocateMarie-LouiseConnolly,Siobhan Kearney,founderMenopauseNIandpersonaltrainer andMenopauseCoach,GeraldineMcAleenanlaunching theMenopauseNIConference

MENOPAUSENICONFERENCE

TheinauguralMenopauseNIConference issettotakeplaceonOctober18inBelfast. Coincidingwith WorldMenopauseDay,itaims tobringtogetherwomenandemployersto understandandaddresstheuniquechallenges facedbywomenexperiencingmenopausein theworkplace.

Theone-dayeventwillserveasaplatform foreducation,discussion,andcollaboration, focusingonwhatwomenneedfromtheir employersduringthispivotallifestage.

ALL-IRELANDSUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

TheAll-IrelandSustainability Awardsare returningfor2024.Theywilltakeplaceon October24attheLaMonHotel&Country Club,locatedjustoutsideBelfast.

Cork-basedsustainableconsultancyfrm Climeactionwillbeheadliningthe2024 awardsasthemainsponsor.Renownedfor itstopsolutionsin reducingcarbonfootprints andenhancingenvironmentalperformance, Climeactionwhoisexpandingitsinfuence totheUnitedStates,continuestochampion greeninitiativesacrossIreland.

DanielleMcCormick,founderoftheAllIrelandSustainability Awards,said:“Wehavea

year’sevent

lottoshoutaboutandcelebratein2024asthe sustainabilityagendacontinuestoaccelerate andevolveacrosstheIsland.Iamdelighted towelcomeournewheadliner,Climeaction, andallofourfantasticeventpartnersin celebratingthosewhointegratesustainability intotheircorevalues,andto recognisingthose whohavemadelong-standingcontributions tosustainabilityinIrelandinournewGreen

Legacy Award.”

With15categoriesrangingfrom‘Tech forGood’andSustainable TourismtoGreen MarketingandNet-ZeroInitiatives,thereare plentyofoptionsforshowcasingprojects acrossthewidersustainabilityagenda.The eventissupportedbyNIENetworks,Danske Bank,Everun,ADSustainability,Adler&Allan, VisitBelfastandmediapartnerU105. ■

DanielleMcCormick,founderoftheAll-IrelandSustainability AwardswithAnnieDuffy,ofClimeaction,sponsorofthis

TheNorthernIrelandjobsmarketis in“robust”conditionwithyear-onyearincreasesinmedianpayand theemploymentrate,it’sbeenclaimed.

AccordingtoHMRCﬁguresforJuly,median monthlypayinNorthernIreland reached £2,249inJuly,ariseof£164orjustunder8% overtheyear.

AndtheLabourForceSurveyunemployment ratewas1.9%forApriltoJune,afallof0.7 percentagepointsovertheyear,andtheﬁrst timetheratehasdroppedbelow2%.

Butmedianmonthlypayhaddroppedby 3.5%,or£82,monthonmonth,HMRCsaid.

Theagency’sdataalsoshowedtherewere 807,700 PAYEemployeesinNorthernIrelandin July,up0.1%overthemonthand2.3%over theyear.

RachelRichardson,employmentexpertand directorintheemploymentteamatlawfirm DWFinBelfast,saidthefiguresshowed“a robustmarketagainstadifficulteconomic backdrop”.

Despitethedropintheunemploymentrate,

NIjobsmarket‘in robustcondition’

theseparateclaimantcountclimbedby6%on the revisedﬁgureforJuneto reach41,000.

Inpercentageterms,thenumberofpeople ontheclaimantcountwasnow4.2%ofthe workforce.

Andthe41,000ontheclaimantcountwasup 37.4%thanthepre-pandemiccountofMarch 2020.

TheNIStatisticsandResearchAgency(NISRA), whichpublishedthedatathroughthe DepartmentfortheEconomy(DfE),saidthe increasewerelargelydowntoariseinthe administrativeearningsthresholdforUniversal CreditinMay.

NISRAsaidthatovertheyeartoJuly,2,550 redundancieswereconﬁrmed,nearlydouble theﬁgureof1,340fortheyearbefore.

Itsaidthatwhilethelevelwassubstantially higherthanthepreviousyear,itissimilartothe levelsseeninthedecadebeforethepandemic.

Meanwhile,therewere2,820 redundancies proposedinthe12monthstoJuly,down28% onthe3,940oftheyearbefore.

AccordingtotheLabourForceSurvey, theemploymentrate,whichprovidesthe proportionofpeopleaged16to64inwork, decreasedby0.3%overthequarterbut rose by1.2%overtheyearto71.6%.

Theeconomicinactivityrate–thosewhoare neitherworkingnoravailabletowork–was 27.1%,downslightlyontheyearbefore.

MarkMcAllister,directorofemployment relationsservicesattheLabourRelations Agency,saidthegrowthinconﬁrmed redundanciesmeanttherecouldbenocause forcomplacencyaboutthestateofthejobs market.

However,thereweresomeoptimisticsigns. “Thereislittledoubtthatgrowthisonthe menu...what remainstobeseenisifitever reachesthetable.”

INSU

RA NC E

Anoutlier ininsurance

AdefunctExecutive,alop-sidedhistoricallegacy,andUK-wide issuesofrisinginfationandcosts,hasledtoincreasedinsurance pricesforlocalbusinesses,writes PavelBarter

Theabsenceofagovernmentin NorthernIrelandfora24-month periodhasbeena“keyissue”in higherinsurancepricesinthe regionin comparisontothe restoftheUK.

Accordingto recentdatafromCompareNI, homeinsurancenearlydoubledinthelast year.ThecollapseoftheExecutive, restored lastFebruaryafteratwo-yearhiatus,ledtoa lackofinvestmentinpublicinfrastructureand gapsin regulationsthatcouldhavelowered insuranceprices.

“Thereisamassivedifferenceininsurance costsbetweenNorthernIrelandandthe rest ofGreatBritain,”Graeme Trudgillsays,chief executiveattheBritishInsuranceBrokers’ Association(BIBA).“Thefactyourgovernment andexecutivehasn’tbeenfunctioningis akeyissueinthis. You’vehadfoodingin Newry,PortadownandDownpatrick.Dueto downtimewiththeNIExecutive,investmentin newfooddefenceshavefallenshort.Ihope thattheExecutivecannowgetthenecessary resilienceand resistancemeasuresinplace.”

HomeinsurancepremiumsinNorthernIreland cost£410onaveragecomparedto£185 acrosstheUK.Newry,MourneandDown recordedthehighestcosts(£526).High insurancepricesareprevalentacrosstheUK. TheaveragecarinsurancepolicyintheUKfor thefrstquarterof2024was£816,according toCompareNI,incomparisonto£621forQ1 2023.

“Thissurgeinpriceislikelytiedtoinfation withescalatingcostof repairs,materialsand energy,”saysIan Wilson,managingdirector andpricecomparisonexpertatCompareNI.

Other reasonsforinsuranceincreasesinclude Brexit,ashortageofavailableskilledlabour, labourcostsasdemandoutstrippedsupply, CovidandthewarinUkraine.

“ThebalancesheetsofUKhomeinsurershave beenhitmore recentlybyweatherevents, highinfation,supplychainpressuresand risingclaimsfrequency,”Richard Willis,group managingdirectorofWFRisk,says.“Insurers areincompetitionwithotherprovidersandare goingthroughaperiodoflowpricingwhich hasnotbeensustainable.”

Advancementinthetechnologyofvehicleshas made repairsandmaterialsmoreexpensive, increasinginsuranceprices.“Thetechnology tofxanadvanceddriverassistancesystem (ADAS)iscomplicated,”Graeme Trudgillof BIBA,says.

“Whatwouldhavebeenaneasy-to-resolve incidentinanold VauxhallChevette,where

youcouldputonanotherbumperorhammer outthedent,isbecomingathingofthepast. Nowwehavecarswithdeformablestructures, fullofexpensivesensorsthatcanbeexpensive to repair.

“Thevehiclesaresafer–theyshouldhave fewerincidentsandinjuries–butwhen accidentshappentheyaremoreexpensiveand takelongerto repairbecauseoftheglobal supplychainchallenges.”

Electricvehiclesalsotendtobemoreexpensive to repairthantraditionalengines.“Fireriskis increasedconsiderablywithbatteries,”Richard says.“Wehaveseenfresatmultistoreycar parksandagyminNorthernIrelandcaused byelectricvehicles.Thespeedandrapid accelerationofEVshasalsocontributedto increasedaccidents.”

DespitetheseUK-wideailments,Northern Ireland remainsanoutlierforinsurancecosts. WFRiskGrouphasoffcesinlocationslike London,Hull,Leeds,aswellasBelfast,and it recognises“NorthernIreland’saverage insurancepricesarehigherthanthatofthe restoftheUKincommercialandpersonal insurances”.

The reasonispartlyhistorical.Duringthe Troublesmanyinsurancecompaniesdidnot operatehere–terrorismcoverwasprovidedby theState.Thelegacyofinsurersnotwanting todobusinesshere,andalackofchoicein themarket,continuestoday.This restrictionof choicehasnaturallyledtohigherprices.“Not allinsurersthatdealwithGBwilldealwith NorthernIreland,”Graeme Trudgillsays.

Yetsomeinsurancepriceinequalitiesplaguing

the regionmightbeaddressedbygovernment. ClaimsmanagementcompaniesinNorthern Ireland,forexample,arenot regulatedtothe sameextentastheirequivalentsthroughout GBwhichposesariskofexaggeratedclaims. BIBAhascalledfortheFinancialConduct Authority(FCA)andtheGovernmenttobring allclaimsmanagementcompanyoperations underthebannerofFCA regulation.

A reviewofNorthernIreland’spersonal injurydiscountrate,whichstandsat1.5% inNorthernIreland,comparedto-0.25% inEngland,iscurrentlyunderwaybythe DepartmentofJustice.“Thatawardcould potentiallydifferbyseveralmillionpounds,” Graemesays.“Soitisaseriousconsideration

forinsurersandis refectedinthecalculation ofinsurancepremiumsandintheappetiteof insuringcertainrisks. We don’tbelievethat NorthernIreland’sdiscountrateshouldbe -1.5%.Itshouldbeclosertowhatwehavein England.”

IntheRepublicofIreland,traditionallyhigh legalcostsandawardsalsoledtohigh insuranceprices.However,theRoIgovernment haveintroducedstrict reformsforthesector. Richard WillisofWFRiskGroup,which recently acquiredCompassInsuranceBrokersinDublin, believestheNIExecutiveshouldnowdothe same.“Insurersare returningtoRoItooffer morechoiceand reducedpricingbecause thegovernmentsteppedintoassist.Thatis

somethingthathastohappenherein regards totheNIExecutive.”

Wheredoesthisleavelocalbusinessesrunning forcover?Experts recommendtheydotheir homeworkandavoidbecomingunderinsured.“Lotsofadditionaltieredproducts haveenteredthemarkettohelppeoplecope withtherisingcosts,givingthemamore basicproductatalowerprice,”Ian Wilsonof CompareNIsays.“Businessesandconsumers needtobecarefulandcheckthatthesebasic policiescovereverythingtheyneeditto–and ifnot,addontheextrastoensuretheyare fullyprotected. To fndsavings,it’scrucialto shoparound,compareproductsandpricesand checktheyaren’toverorunder-insured.”>

IanWilsonofCompareNI

Graeme Trudgill,chiefexecutiveattheBritish InsuranceBrokers’Association(BIBA)

Graeme Trudgill recommendsthatbusinesses askabrokerforadviceonhowtogetthe bestvalueformoney–andnotthebestprice. “Getavaluation.Havetherightcoverforyour property,yourstockandmachinery.Don’tjust goonlineandtrytodobusinessinsurance yourself.Speaktoalocalinsurancebrokerin NorthernIreland.Therearelotsoffantastic BIBAbrokers–allFCA regulated–whowill adviseyouontherightbusinessinterruption indemnityperiods.Whatlimitsofliability shouldyouhave?Theywillknowinsurance marketsthatyouwouldnotbeabletofnd yourself.”

Richard Willissays:“Getthebestadvice. Insuranceisagrudgepurchaseuntilitis needed–andthenitisyourlifelinetosurvive amajorloss.”

Therearepositivesignsaroundinsurancecosts inNorthernIreland.Another recentCompareNI report revealedthatNorthernIrelandis currentlythesecondcheapestUK regionfor carinsurancewithanaveragepremiumcost of£675:muchlowerthanLondonwhereit is£1277onaverage.“[Thisyear]isstarting toshowsignsofstabilisationwithNorthern Irelandstartingto returnsomeofthecheapest averages,”Ian Wilsonsays.

Whetherornotpriceswillcontinuetodecrease dependsonavarietyoffactors,including infation,thecostof repairsandlabour,the volumeofclaims receivedbyinsurersandthe availabilityofcommon repairparts,according toCompareNI.

“ItisgoodthatStormontisfunctioning again,”Graeme Trudgillsays.“Ihopethat claimsinfationwillbegintoslow,thediscount ratecanchange,andinvestmentcangointo fooddefences.TheExecutivecanhelpby regulatingclaimsmanagementcompanies and reviewingpersonalinjurydiscountrates. Hopefullytheycanhelpusgetabetter result withtheultimatecostofinsuranceinNorthern Ireland.” n

Der ry powerplant sees20%riseinprofts

Coolkeeraghpowerplanthasseen pre-taxproftsjumpbyover20%in 2023tohit£16m.

Thatwasdespitethepowerstation,based outsideDerry,generatinglesspowerthan theyearbeforeandbeingavailable20%less often.

Theplant,whichisownedbytheIrishstateownedcompanyElectricitySupplyBoard (ESB),saystheincreaseinproftisduetogains fromcontractstosupplyelectricitytosupply companieswithintheESBgroup.

TurnoveratCoolkeeraghESBLtdincreasedby 23%in2023to£320m,upfrom£260min 2022,accordingitslatestfledaccounts.

Thecostofsalesalso rosein2023,up33.4% (£295m)fromthepreviousyear(£221m).The company’sadministrativeexpensesalsojumped 24.5%,to£19.6m.

However,therewasa21%increaseinpre-tax proftsattheplant(£16m),upfrom£13min 2022.

Thegroupalsopaida£30mdividendinthe lastfnancialyear.

Adirectors’ reportfledwiththeaccountssaid: “Theincreaseforproftfortheyearisdue togainsfromcompanycontractstoprovide energytoelectricitysupplycompanieswithin theESBGroup.

“Thesecontractsaredeemedtoincludean embeddedderivativefnancialinstrumentthat ismeasuredatfairvalue.

“Commercialcontractgainsweresomewhat offsetby reducedplantrunning.”

Theplant’savailabilitydroppedover20% lastyear,downto72.12%froma93.36% availabilityin2022.

Availabilityisdefnedbythecompanyas “theamountoftimethatageneratorisable toproduceelectricityoveracertainperiod, dividedbytheamountoftimeintheperiod”.

Perhaps refectingthe reducedavailability,the plant’spowergenerationfellfrom1,962GWh in2022to1,596GWhlastyear.

Carbonemissionsalsofelllastyear,downto 620,600tonnesofCO2from762,000tonnes thepreviousyear.

“TheconfictsinUkraineandtheMiddleEast havecreatedsignifcantuncertaintyinglobal markets–inparticular,increasedvolatilityin energyandcommoditymarkets,increasesin priceinfationandpotentialsupplydisruption whichmayhavedirectandindirectimpacts onindividualsandbusinesses,”thedirectors reportsaid.

“Thedirectorswillcontinuetomonitorthis evolvingsituationandconsideranyimpactson thecompany.

“Thedirectorsdonotbelievethatthecrisiswill impactthecompany’sabilitytocontinueasa goingconcern.”

Therewasonesafetyincidentattheplant lastyear,whichthecompanysayswas “investigatedand reportedon,withactions implementedin response”. ■

Lisburnmanufacturer seessalesriseto£77.4m

ManufacturingcompanyCamlin Group,whichisbasedinLisburn, hasannouncedturnoverof £77.4mfor2023.

CamlinGroup,whichspecialisesinengineering andtechsolutionsforrailwaysandtheenergy sector,saidthefgurewasupnearly£20mon theyearbefore.

Itsaidtheimprovementmarkedacontinued shifttowardsproftablegrowth,withan operatinglossof£100,000cutfrom£2min 2022.

CamlinGroup,whichisledbychiefexecutive PeterCunningham,saidtheimproved turnovercamedespitepoliticalandeconomic uncertaintyaffectingtheUKandglobalcritical infrastructuresector.

Turnoverin2022hadincreasedby50%onthe yearbefore.

CamlinGroupsaid2023’sgrowthwas supportedby revenuesfromUKenergy businessKelvatekrisingfrom£29.9mto

£51.4m,drivenbyanewelectricitynetwork monitorandanewmonitoringandfault managementsystem.

Thecompanysaidithadbuiltupabacklog ofmorethan£50mforthepresentfnancial yearsothatitwasexpecting revenuesof £90m,withsignifcantproftabilitygrowth andagrowingbacklogforecast.

Itsaidfuturenumberswereunderpinnedby thelaunchofSapient,anewdigitalsolution givingenergyoperatorsinsightsinto networkhealthandcapacity.

MrCunninghamsaid:“Afterseveral yearsinwhichtheinfrastructureand energysectorhavehadtocontendwith considerableglobaldisruptionfromhigh infation,internationalsupplychainissues, politicaluncertainty,andtheaftermathof theCovid-19pandemic,today’sfgures demonstratethe resiliencebothofCamlin Groupandtheindustriesinwhichwe operate.

“Weareconfdentnowthatthisdrive

towardssustainablegrowthwillleadusinto long-termproftability.

“OurlaunchofSapienttotheNorthAmerican marketearlierthisyearandintotheEuropean marketinAugustwillbethebedrockinthe developmentofour relationshipswithour customersthereandwillbethefoundationof multi-yearstrategicdealswiththem.

“Furthermore,astheUK recommitsto thecleanenergytransition,Camlinisable tosupportthecriticalupgradestoour gridinfrastructure requiredtoexpandour renewablescapacity,alongsideourwork optimisingothercriticalinfrastructuresuchas rail.”

CamlinGroupdevelopssolutionstomake energyandtransportinfrastructuresrunmore effciently.

Thecompanyincludes research,engineering, manufacturingandcustomersupportfacilities in21centresacross17countries.Itemploys around600peoplewithitsheadquartersin Lisburn. ■

PeterCunningham,chief executiveofCamlin

Jean-Christophe Novelli:

‘I’m surprised there aren’t more

Michelin-starred restaurants inNI’

JohnMulgrew sitsdownwithFrenchchef

Jean-ChristopheNovelli abouthisBelfast restaurant,thelocalfoodscene,buildingamenuasa teamandwhyheit’skeytoleaveegoatthedoor

“I’msurprisedtherearen’tmore Michelin-starred restaurantshere,” multi-starredchefJean-Christophe Novellitellsmeoveracoffeeonabright morningsittingontheterraceofhis Belfast restaurantoverlookingthecity’s harbour.

TheFrenchchefismarkingsixyearsofhis Novelli restaurantattheACHotel–placedjust ontheedgeofBelfastHarbour.

“Consistencyhastobethemostimportant thing…evenbeforemakingmoney,”hetells me.

Theopportunitytoopenupshopherecame aboutthroughaphonecallaroundsevenyears ago.Hewaskeen.Anewsizeablebrasserie inagood-sizedfour-starhotelwithasuitable numberofcoversandatop-endkitchen.

“Isaid,yeah,fantastic,”hesays.“…herang mebackinlessthaneightsecondsandsaid ‘ohIforgottomention,it’sinBelfast’.Isaid, ‘I’dlovetogothere’.”

BelfastisobviouslynotJean-Christophe’s home.HehasacookeryschoolinHertfordshire alongwithacontinuedcareerontelevision, thistimeontheothersideoftheglobe,asa judgeonMasterchefAustralia.

Buthe’shandsonwhenitcomestohisBelfast eatery.However,hesays,it’saboutdeveloping conceptsanddishesasateam,andleaving egoatthedoor.

“Mypositionisnotsohard,”hesays.“Whatis hardisthatthereisalotmoreIwanttoputin andIwanttoholdmyselfdowntomakesureI don’tstartbeingtooegoistic.

“It’salwaysateam[effort].Istartthrowing themsomelittleconcepts…wedotesting. Thismorning,I’mstillthinkingastohowwe cantweak[adish].”

“Igeta reportofthebestsellers.There’s nothingegoistic…it’sabouttakingthe opportunityoftryingtoadaptyourself.It’snot me,Iworkforthatname.

“You’vegotanadvantage.Thereisthe willingness,themotivationofdoingbetter… thepeopleingeneral.I’veneverhadanissue withanyoneinthekitchen.

“I’mtryingtoassessquickly,whattheycando together,ratherthansay–thisiswhatIdo, makesureyoudoit.Idon’tdothatandnever have.

“Thisisthehardestpartofchangingamenu orgettingyourstyle. Youstartwithsome

dishes,youhavetobeversatileandsee‘what doweattract?’.

“Therearelotsoftourists. Youhavethe locals–theyareveryimportantnotto forgot.”

Hesaysthestrengthofthe restaurant,like anyothers,istheentireteam,andone particularmemberofstaff,orserver,can makeorbreakanexperience.

“Youcanhavethebestchefinthekitchen

Jean-Christophe Novelliinthe kitchenattheAC HotelinBelfast

andfrontofhousemanageratthefront,butif youhaven’tgotthatsomeonewhogivesthat little[extraattention].”

Novelliisn’tjusta restaurantservingalunch anddinnerthreeorfourdaysaweek.It’safull hoteloperation–frombreakfastrightthrough to roomserviceinthelateevening.

“Wearesomeoftheonlyfewinthecatering andhospitalityindustrywhicharedealingwith breakfastservice,lunch,afternoontea,dinner and roomservice,”hesays.

“Thatisalot. Timesseven[days]that’s35 shows.

“LastnightIwaswiththenightporterand hewasdoingthesame roomserviceorderas anyoneinthekitchen.”

HesaysBelfast,andNorthernIrelandin

general,puncheswellaboveitsweightin termsofculinaryprowess.

“I’mthinking,whyis[Belfastand NorthernIreland]soundervaluedand underappreciated?”

Hesayswhiletheaveragepersonheremay notknowmanyofourtopchefsbyname, manyareastalentedaschefshe’sworkedwith throughouthiscareersinParisandLondon.

“I’venevernotfeltwelcomeinBelfast,”he says.“It’snotaboutbeingacelebrity,there’s nocelebritywithme–I’mjustanordinary person.”

Ontheriseofsocialmediaandthesheer volumeofdinerphotographsonline,hesays mostofthetime“it’sanhonourforme”.

AndonMichelinstars–somethingNorthern

Irelandnowhasfewerofsincetheclosureof MichaelDeanes’Eipic–hesayshe’ssurprised therearen’tmorehandedouther

“IhadmyshareofMichelin,”hesays.“I’m really respectfulofthisorganisationwhichhas allowedmetodoamassivejump.Thejump wasformetostophavingtojustifymyselfas achef,sothat’salreadyalotofdrainingof energy.

“EventhoughIwasinthemiddleofnowhere, peopleusedtocallmeJeanPaulorJean Claude–theydidn’tevenknowmyname.

“Today,peoplearesmarter.It’shardto getaMichelinstar.Somewherewiththe pressurisationofthisaward,whichnoone knowwhatyouhavetodotogetit.There aremorepeoplegoingforit…justseeingand readingthemenus.It’sphenomenalhowclever peopleare.” ■

Jean-ChristopheNovelli(right)alongsidehisexecutiveheadchefAdamJonesoutsidehisBelfastrestaurant

‘Mypassion for thisnewhotel projectisabsolutelyalive’

AdrianMcLaughlin,co-ownerofLondonderryArmsinCarnlough, speakstoMargaretCanningabouthislatesthospitalityventure

ThehandoveroftheLondonderry ArmsinCarnloughtonewowners includingAdrianMcLaughlinisn’t thefrsttimethecityhaslentitsnameto a hospitalityvenueinthefamily

Thehotelindustryveterantookpossessionof thehotellastmonthwithbusinesspartners DarrylMcNally,a whiskeydistiller, and entrepreneurCarlHarrison.

Adrian,who’s fromBallymena,says:“Believeit ornotmyuncleownedtheLondonderryHotel inPortrush,andthat’s whereI frststarted runningaroundbehindbarsandemptying bottleskipsas a teenager

“ThatsubsequentlychangedhandsandRajesh RanaofAndrasHouseisdevelopingitnow

“Mymumanddadwere alwaysinthe hospitalitybusiness,aswere mycousinsand myuncles,soit’s kindofalwaysbeenaround ourfamily.”

Whileit’s thefrsthotelAdrianhasowned, he’s had a longhistoryinhotelmanagement, includingatCartonHouseinCoKildare, Dublin’s GibsonHotelandTheMerchantHotel inBelfast.

PreviousownersoftheLondonderryArms includetheMarchionessofLondonderry FrancesAnn Vane Tempest,whooversaw itscreationin1848as a coachinginn,and WinstonChurchill,whoinheritedtheproperty in1921.TheformerPrimeMinister’s deeds ofownershipare currentlyondisplayinthe hotel.

NowAdrianandhisco-ownershavepledged toinvest£1.75mto refurbishthevenueinto Ireland’s frstwhiskeyhotel,alsobringing15 newjobs.

AdrianandDarrylare alreadyinvolvedinthe creationofOutwalkerwhiskey, workingwith Jillian VoseandSeanMuldoon,bestknownfor theirformerassociationwithNew York’s Dead Rabbitbar, andformerrugbyplayerDarren Cave.

Andit’s fromthatassociationwithOutwalker thattheconceptoftheLondonderryArmsas a whiskeyhotelhasemerged.“Darryland I have beenworkingtogetherforthelastcoupleof yearstodevelopOutwalkerandLimavadyIrish Whiskey, andwe’vebuiltup a niceworking relationship.

“Thishotelcamealongandwedecidedithas got a lotofcharm,there’sa lotofhistorythere.

Forusrightnowit’s probablytherightsize,so itticks a lotofboxes.

“Sowethoughthowwouldwemakeit a newdestinationifwewere totakeiton. Thethoughtthatkeptcomingupwasthat a whiskeyhoteljustmadesense,givenour combinedskillsets.There isn’t oneinIrelandbut there are someinScotland.

“Fromthe researchwecarriedout,thiswillbe considerablydifferentandwillofferwhiskey experiencestocomplementwhatthehotelcan do.Itwillshowoff whiskeyin a wayothers haven’t thoughtabout.”

Nonamechangeisonthecardsfornow “We’re focusingontryingtogetthe refurbishmentofthepropertydone,the rebrandingdone,thetrainingoftheteam,all whileworkingwithintheconfnesof a listed building.

Adrian McLaughlin (right)with businesspartner DarrylMcNally

“We’re tryingtogetallofthatdonebefore Eastersothatwecomeoutoftheblocks ready forthenewtouristseason.

“We tookitoninJuly 1 andwe’vedone a lot inthattimebutit’s stillveryearlydays.”

The refurbishmentwillbecompleteintimefor golftournamentTheOpen,which returnsto RoyalPortrushinJuly2025.Buthe’s notgetting carriedawaywithitseconomicpotential.“It’s oneweekintheyear There’s aboutthree weeksofbusinessorfourwiththeOpen, dependingonwhoyoutalkto.

“There’s theriggerswhobuildupallthe infrastructure aroundthecoursethenthe touristscomeandgowithintheweekorso periodofthetournament.

“Soit’s nothuge.Anyhotelierneedstobe lookingat a 52-weekhorizon.From a hotelier pointofview, it’s anopportunityand a peak periodin a calendarwhenpricesgoup.Forus, we recogniseit’s onbutitwon’t turn thedial.”

AdrianstudiedhotelmanagementattheNI HotelandCateringCollegeinPortrush.“I endedupgoingonaneight-weekplacement to a 900-bedroomhotelinMarbleArch, LondoncalledTheCumberland.

“Istayedforeightyears… I startedthere asan eight-weekworkplacementandcameoutas oneoftheseniordirectorsandoneofthetop 12executiveteam.”

HisfrstjobbackathomewasattheClayton HotelonOrmeau Avenue,backwhenitwas knownasthePosthousePremierHotelwhenit openedinSeptember2000.

HethenworkedattheMerchantfornearlysix years,startingwithitsopeningin2006,before thenmovingtotheGibsonHotelinDublinand CartonHouseinCoMeath.

Withanotherbusinesspartner, heacquired BankSquare Townhouseinthecitycentre, whichhestilloperates.

Hewasalso a businesspartnerofMrCaveand anotherex-rugbyplayerCallumBlackattheir Guilttripcoffeeanddonutchain,foundedin 2017.

Adriansaysthebusinesswas a successthrough lockdownsbuthecouldseethatwithlifting of restrictions,tradewasmovingbacktowards restaurants.

“Thatcostthatbusinessbutthankfullywe sawitquicklyandwewere abletodealwithit

effectivelyandprofessionallyandmanagedthe saleofittosomepeopleoverintheUKwho are doing reallywellwithit.”

Hethinkstheyare well-equippedforthefuture inLondonderryArms.

“We caninvest,weknowwhatwe’re doing, we’vegot a clearplanandwethinkthemarket willliketheplan.

“We’veenoughtalkingpointsforthehoteland weknowhowtomarketitsowe’ve a lotgoing forustogetitgoingforanothergeneration.”

He’s regardingtheprocessaslikeopening a newhotel.“I’mlookingbacktomydays openingtheMerchantandallthethingswe neededtodo,whatdoweneedtotrainon andwhodoweneedtobringinandwhat ourproductisgoingtobe…but100%,being co-owneris a differentbuzzandI’vegotthebit betweenmyteethaboutitagain.

“Thepassionforthisprojectisabsolutelyalive. ItnearlyfeelslikeI’mgettingbackonthe horse,whichisbrilliant.

“Thework reallyhasstartedwithappointing interiordesignersandarchitectsandallofthat goodstuff.” ■

AdrianMcLaughlin(right)with businesspartnerDarrylMcNally

Flat to the mat: NIoutpaces the restof the UK innew carsales

KiaSportageprovedtobeJuly’smostpopularbuy,writes JamesMcNaney,but industry-wideEVtargetsaresettobemisseddespitegrowth

NorthernIrelandsawthebiggest growthincarsalesofanypart oftheUKinJuly,accordingto theSocietyofMotorManufacturersand Traders(SMMT).

TheSMMTsaidtherehadbeen3,770newcar registrations recordedinNorthernIrelandlast month,a10.4%increaseonlastyear’sfgure of3,415.

ThismeansNorthernIrelandwasthebestperformingnationintheUKfornew-carsales (acrosstheUKasawhole,thegrowthfgure wasjust2.53%).

NorthernIrelandhasseen31,114newcars soldsofarin2024,whichisa10.1%jump fromthenumber recordedthistimelastyear.

ThisagainmakesNorthernIrelandthefastestgrowingUKnationforcarsales,surpassing Scotland,Englandand Wales.

TheUK-widegrowthfgureis5.6%,with 1,152,365newcars registeredbyJuly2024 comparedto1,091,304byJuly2023.

TheKiaSportage returnedtobeingthemost popularcarinNorthernIrelandinJuly,with 212new registrations.

TheSportagehasovertakentheFordPuma, whichwasthemostpopularsellerinJune.The Peugeot3008placedsecondwith111,while the VolvoXC40hadastrongmonthwith105 sales.

TheKiaSportagehasalsotakentheleadin theyear-to-datefgures,with1,040salesfrom JanuarytoJune.

CommentingontheUKmarket,IanPlummer, commercialdirectoratonlinevehicle marketplaceAuto Trader,said:“Overall,July markedanotherlacklustremonthforthenewcarmarket,asthestrongperformanceinfeet

TheKiaSportageiscurrently NorthernIreland’smostpopularcar

More people than everare buying and driving EVs, but we still need the pace of change to quicken

channelsstruggledtooffsettheongoing retail decline.

“Thebrightspotisastrongconsumermoveto low-emissioncars,whichsofarthisyearhave accountedforalmosthalfofallnew-carsales, upfromaroundjustonein10in2019.

“Manufacturersarealsoworkinghardto temptbuyerswithenticingoffers,asshown bya20%riseinnew-caradvertviewsonour platforminJuly.

“Thatofferssomeoptimismasweapproach thekeyplate-changemonthofSeptember.”

InNorthernIreland,theFordPumahashad tosettleforsecondplaceacrosstheyearso far,with927sales,havingpreviouslybeenthe bestselleracrosstheyear,whiletheHyundai Tucsonisinthirdwith791sales.

Kia’sSUVisthebestsellerfortheentiretyof theUKinJuly,selling3,999units.TheNissan Qashqaiwasthesecondmostpopularcarfor

salesUK-widelastmonth,with3,633sales.

FortheUKsofarthisyear,theFordPumaleads thewayinsales,aftershifting29,762models.

SUVshaveprovedpopularwithconsumers, withKia’sSportage recordingthesecondmostsales,with28,138,andNissan’sQashqai recordingthethird,with26,514.

Demandforelectricvehicleshasstayedahead ofthe restofthemotorvehiclemarketinJuly –42%ofcars registeredwereelectrifed,with 18.5%beingbatteryelectricvehicles(BEVs).

The27,335BEVssoldlastmonth represented an18.8%riseonthepreviousJuly’sfgure.

TheSMMT,however,saidthatcurrenttrends willhavetopickupifzero-emissionvehicles aretomakeup22%ofeachbrand’snew-car registrationsovertheentireyear.

MikeHawes,SMMTchiefexecutive,said:“Two yearsofnew-carmarketgrowthagainsta backdropofaturbulenteconomyistestament tothesector’s resilienceandtheattractiveness ofthedealsonoffer.

“Weakeningprivate retaildemand,however, particularlyforEVs,anddespitegenerous manufacturerdiscounts,istheover-riding concern.

“Morepeoplethaneverarebuyinganddriving EVs,butwestillneedthepaceofchange toquicken,orelsetheUK’sclimatechange ambitionsarethreatenedandmanufacturers’

abilitytohit regulatedEVtargetsareatrisk.”

Carsellershavefacedachallengingtimein recentyears,withtherisingcostsofsupplyand staffmatchedbythepricepressuresfacingall sectorsoftheeconomy.

JeffMcCartney,groupoperationsdirectorat CharlesHurst,toldtheBelfast TelegraphinJuly thatthegrouphad“massivecostpressureslast year,bothintermsofpayforourcolleagues, infationandthecostofeverything,including utilitiesmassively rocketing.”

“Thatwashardforusin2023,butit’ssort ofevenedoutnowforthefrstsixmonthsof 2024.

“Wecarrysuchalargeamountofstockthat interestcostsalonewouldhavegoneupby over£2m,soit reallyisamassivedifferencein termsofcosts.

“Ouroperationalcosts,peopleandeverything else,wereupsubstantially.Thosearethecost pressures.

“Butthankfully,atthefrontend,ourturnover wasupandwedida reallygoodjob.”

MrMcCartneysaidthenthatplug-inhybrids hadseenthegreatestincreaseinsales numbers,witha39%bumpinCharlesHurst’s salesofthemyear-on-year.

CharlesHurst,whichemploys870peoplein NorthernIreland,madeapre-taxproftin2023 of£16.3monaturnoverof£714.4m. ■

How did you get started inthe industry?

I did mydegreeinenvironmentalengineering, whichincorporatedsomestudyof renewables thatIthendevelopedapassionfor.After workinginamechanicalandelectrical(M&E) consultancyforanM&Econtractorsince graduatingin2004,in2007Istartedworking foracompanycalledScoffeldSpecialist Services,whichhadbeendoingunderfoor heatingsincethe1970swhennoone reallyknewaboutit.Theystartedtoinstall renewablesinthemid2000sand,likealotof companiesbackthen,werefndingtheirway withnewtechnologies.Ihelpedto re-engineer processesandsolutionsinthethreeyears IwastherebeforeeventuallystartingDaly Renewablesin2010.

Typically,whoareyourclientsor customers?

Ourcustomersaremainlyself-builders whocometouswithafairideaofwhat theywant. We alsohavedevelopedgood relationshipswithanumberofarchitects’ practisesthatweworkcloselywithwho wouldoften recommendustotheirclients.In thecommercialsectorwedosomeworkfor contractorsandalsosometimesworkdirectly totheclientasalotofourdomesticclientsare smallormediumbusinessowners,sothereis anaturalcrossoverinourbusinesstoservicing bothsectors.

Doyouenjoywhatyoudo,andwhatin particular?

Yes,Ilovemyjob–IlikethefactthatImy workissoversatile.OnedayIcouldbehands oncommissioningonsiteandthenextdayI couldbenegotiatingtogetalargecontract

Name: RyanDaly Position: Managingdirector, DalyRenewables

overthelinewithaprospectiveclient.When yourunasmallbusiness,youhavetoknow everyfacetofthebusinesssoyoucancontinue tomanageitasitstartstogrow. We didour ownselfbuildprojectthreeyearsagoandI reallyenjoyedputtingalltheexperienceof havingworkedonsomegreatprojectsoverthe yearsintopractiseformyownhome.

Whatisthemostdiffcultpartofyourjob?

Staff recruitmentcanbeachallenge,butthis seemstobeacommonissueacrosstheboard invarioussectors.Itishardtogetthefrstfew keystaffwiththerightmindsetandsimilar passion,butonceyouhavethemthenadding therightpeopleintotheculturethatisalready cultivatedinthebusinessbecomesslightly easier.

SinceIsoldamajoritystakeinDalyRenewables in2023,ithasbeengreatworkingwiththe

teaminb4b renewablesandseeingdifferent approachestobusinesswhichwillonlyhelpme inmycareergoingforward.

Whatarethechallengesfacingyoursector andtheeconomyingeneral?

NorthernIrelandistheonlypartoftheUK wheretherearenograntsavailablefor installing renewabletechnologiesinyour home.Thisneedsimmediateaction,evenifit onlyappliedto retrofttinginitially.Ialsothink thattheconstructionsectorissufferingfroma seriousshortageofskilledworkers.

TheGovernmentneedstodomoretoattract tradespeopleintotheindustry.Alotof tradespeoplelefttheconstructionsectordue tothediffcultiesingettingpaidbylarger frms.OnechangeIwouldbringitwouldbeto givesmallerfrmsmoreprotectionsintermsof gettingpaidpromptlyforworkundertaken. ■

Thecolumnwithan earforexperience...

Motoring

ByPatBurns

Sevenseat Volvoexceeds expectationson Frenchroadtrip

HavingjustbeenvotedtheUK’stopsevenseater, PatBurns gaveoneof Volvo’sXC90T8hybrid modelsaworkoutacrossFrance

TheXC90is Volvo’slarge,seven-seat SUVandthecompany’sfagship. Itwasthefrstcartobelaunched ontheScalableProductArchitecture (SPA), Volvo’sadvancedmodularproduct platformthatunderpinsall Volvocarsin the90and60series.It’sastrikinglooking SUVsetoffbyitsiconic‘Thor’sHammer’ LEDheadlights.

Inside,theXC90providesacalmenvironment withablendofhigh-endmaterialssuchas wood,crystalandmetalinasophisticated Scandinaviandesign.Thepremiumclassfeel isenhancedbytheBowersand Wilkinssound system,whileengineandtransmissionnoiseis barelynoticeableinthecabin.

Forfamiliesonthemove,theXC90provides manyusefulfeaturesformakingjourneys easierandmorecomfortable.Standard equipmentacrosstherangeincludesindividual foldingsecond,andthird-rowseats,four-zone climatecontrolwithanadvancedair-quality system,air-conditioningforthethird-rowseats, hands-freetailgateoperation,a rearparking camera,frontand rearparkingsensors,and acomprehensivesuiteofsafetyanddriverassistancesystems.Justwhatyouneedfor arunthroughFrancewithsevenadults comfortablycossettedonboard.

TheRechargeT8modelcombinesfourwheel drivewithapetrolelectrichybridsystemand producesatotaloutputofahefty455bhp.

Withallseatstakenandseveralhundredmiles ofFrenchautoroutetocover,the Volvosoaked upthemileswithease.

Thecombinationofhybridelectricpowerand thepowerfulpetrolenginemadeiteffortless. Ifyouwanttosprintawayfromatollbooth, theT8willhit60mphinfvesecondsthanksto thecombined2.0-litreturboandsupercharged petrolengineandthe recentlyupratedhybrid unit.

Thepetrolengineproduces400Nmoftorque whiletheelectricmotoraddsanother309Nm. Topspeedis112mphandonourrunthrough Francewemanagedcloseto30mpgwith sevenadultson-board,thespaciousandwell equipped Volvomakingsuretherewasno Scandi-drama.

Earlierthisyear Volvoceasedproductionofall theirdieselpoweredcarstoconcentrateon hybridandpureEVs.Justfveyearsago,over halfofall Volvo’sbuiltweredieselpowered, butsuchhasbeentheuptakeofhybridsand EVsthatitnolongerbuildsoilburners.The company’smild-hybridtechnologyoffers driversupto15%fuelsavingsandemission reductionsin real-worlddriving.

AnincreasingnumberofFrenchcitiesnow requireaspecialCritAirpermitonyourcarto matchthevehiclesemissions. Withoutone, theGendarmeswillfeelyourcollarandhand youanonthespotfneofupto€150–and

they’llwantcashthereandthen.Thiswasn’t aproblemforthehybridXC90,witha40mile pureelectricrangeitwasabletotransverse thehectic roadsofRouenwithoutaproblem. CO2fguresareverylowat28-34g/km.

Ifyou’rea regularFrancophileyou’llknow thatRouenisalittleintimidatingtoget through.It requiresyoutogetnavigate throughthemiddleofthecitytocrossthe SeineoverthePontMatildeandeverytimeI gothroughRouenthesatnavsystemtakes adifferent route.ButRouenhassomegreat historicalsitesandthisyeartheArtMuseum washostingadisplayofDavidHockney’s ‘Normandism’work. Wellworthavisit.Once throughRouen,wefollowedtheautoroute southforLeMans.

Everyonehasheardofthe24-hourraceand muchofthetrackisonactuallypublic roads. It’sagreatexperiencetodrivetheracetrack andifyou’regoinginJulyorAugustyou’llstill

beabletoseethetyreskidmarksandholes inthearmcowhereracecarshavespunoff. There’salsotheLeMans24Hoursmuseum which,evenifyou’reonlyanmotorsport armchairenthusiast,isamemorable experience.

Volvo’sCitySafetytechnology,standardonall Volvomodels,combinesautomaticbraking functionalityandcollision-avoidancesystemsto coverarangeofpotentialaccidentscenarios andhelpkeepyousafe.CitySafetyistheonly systemonthemarketthatdetectspedestrians, cyclistsandlargeanimalssuchasdeer,not uncommoninruralFrance.ThePilotAssist driver-assistancesystemworksupto80mphon clearlymarked roads.

Allnew Volvosarenowconnected,thanksto Volvo’sconnectivityandinfotainmentsystem. Thetouchscreenenableseasyandfastaccess toahostoffunctionsandfeaturesincluding GooglemapsandSpotify.Smartphone

integrationviaAppleCarPlayandAndroid Autoisalsoavailable.

WhiletheXC90displaysthecool, contemporarydesigncuesthatdistinguish today’s Volvomodels,itoffersagenerous combinationofpassengerandloadspace.The loadcompartmentinthepetrolversionoffers upto356litresofspacewhenallsevenseats arebeingused,oramaximumof1,856litres withalltheseatsfoldeddown.

Thisyear,therangeisbeneftingfrom specifcationupgradesthatenhancethe model’sstyleandluxuryprofle.NewPlus EditionandUltraEditiontrimlevels replacethe currentPlusandUltragrades respectively.

ThePlusEditionintroducesperforatedNappa leatherupholsterywithventilationforthefront seats,tintedwindowsand21-inchalloywheels (replacingtheprevious20-inchwheels).The UltraEditionadopts22-inchwheels(previously

21-inch),whilethepricesforbothgrades includeallexteriorpaintchoices.TheXC90has beenaroundforafewyears,butitisupdated regularlytomakesureitcompetesatthesharp endofthemarket.

Bothnewspecifcationsareavailablewiththe B5petrolandT8petrol-electricplug-inhybrid powertrains,withon-the-roadpricesfrom £69,425.

Witha97-yearhistory, Volvotakingabigstep towardstheirambitionsofbecomingafully electriccarmaker,aswellasachievingnetzero greenhousegasemissionsby2040.Salesof theirelectricvehicleshaveincreasedby70%in thepastyear.ThisyearhasseentheSwedish company rolloutandrampupproductionof theEX30,EX90andEM90EVmodels.

Giventhebuildqualityanddrivingexperience oftheXC90T8hybrid, Volvo’sfuturelooksset forevenmoresuccess. ■

MOTORI NG

EV9: thefuture hasarrived

Ifyoueverhadanydoubtsabout electricvehicles,theKiaEV9will changethem.

Designedtoshowcasetheverylatest technology,stylingandproductiontechniques, theEV9haswonnumerousawardsinjusta fewmonthsandis readytomatchanything thelikesof Tesla,BMWandAudicanputup againstthem.Futuristicdesign,a349mile rangeandastateoftheartinteriorhasseta newstandardforEV.

TheEV9isanall-electricSUVdesignedand builtformodernlifestylesintheelectrifed era.Asthecompany’sfrstthree-rowelectric fagshipSUV,thespacious,andstrikingEV9is arugged,sophisticated,andtechnologically advancedelectricvehicle.

Availableasasix-orseven-seater,itcombines boldstyling,premiumversatility,multifaceted connectivity,andKia’s‘OppositesUnited’ designtodeliveravehiclethat’s readyfor anything,withadrivingrangeofupto349 milesunderWLTP regulations.

TheEV9isthesecondvehicleinKia’srangeto bebuiltonitsElectricGlobalModularPlatform (e-GMP).Alleditionsoffera99.8kWhbattery packwithKia’sfourth-generationbattery technology.The rear-wheeldriveEV9‘Air’is

capableofachievingarangeofupto349 miles,whileall-wheeldrive‘GT-Line’and‘GTLineS’cantravelupto313milesonasingle charge.Asoneofonlyafewvehiclesonsale with800-voltchargingcapability,EV9can harnesshighDCpowerto rechargethebattery from10%to80%stateofchargeinonly24 minutes.

Thevehicle’slongwheelbaseandcompletely fatelectricvehiclearchitectureprovide generousspaceforalloccupants,withloungestylecomfortinallthree rowsofseats.

On‘GT-LineS’versionswithsixseats,when thevehicleisstationary,customerscan swivelthesecond-rowseats180-degrees tofacethethird row, creatingalounge-like atmosphere.Inaddition,theEV9features numerousinnovationstomakejourneysmore comfortableandconvenient,includingpop-out andautofushdoorhandles,apanoramic displayand relaxationseatson‘GT-Line’and ‘GT-LineS’modelsforthedriverandfront passenger.

Thevehicleisequippedwithfourdifferent drivemodestobestsuitdriverpreferencesas wellasdifferentdrivingconditions.

Ineverydaydrivingsituations,thenew multi-linksuspensionprovidesasmoothand

comfortableride,whiletheself-levelling rear dampersimprovebothdrivingperformance andstabilitywhenthevehicleiscarryingheavy loadsorseveralpassengers.

TheEV9‘GT-Line’and‘GT-LineS’is equippedwithKia’s‘TerrainMode’system, withdedicated‘Mud’,‘Snow’and‘Sand’ modes.Thisprovidesdriverswithimproved traction,stabilityandcontrolinarangeof morechallengingdrivingconditions,suchas beaches,snow-coveredlanes,ormuddycar parks. TerrainModeautomaticallyoptimises thedrivetraintomatcheachscenario,adjusting motortorqueoutputanddistribution,aswell asbrakingandstabilitycontrolcharacteristics.

Theall-wheeldrive‘GT-Line’and‘GT-LineS’ modelsarepoweredbydual141kWelectric motors,oneoneachaxle.Theseproducea maximumcombinedpoweroutputof378bhp andmaximumtorqueof700Nm–350Nmfor boththefrontandthe rear.In AWDguise, theEV9hasatopspeedof124mph,can accelerate0-62mphin5.3seconds,andboasts anestimatedWLTP‘combined’all-electric drivingrangeofupto313miles.Itiscapable ofupto415milesontheWLTP‘city’cycle.

AWDexamplesoftheEV9areoneofthemost capabletowingcarsonUK roads,offeringa maximumbrakedtowingcapacityofupto 2,500kg.Pricesstartat£65,000andfeet customerswillbeneftfromthe2%beneft-inkindrateforEVsinthecurrenttaxyear. ■

Whyit’stimetheGovernment helpsusoutintheracetoEV

ThemotoringindustryisstrugglingtohitambitiousEVproductiontargetswhilethe UKisheadingtoacut-offinnewpetrolanddieselsalesby2035,orasearlyas2030.

Butcanwegettherewithoutgovernmentsupport? JohnMulgrew believesit’s timeforassistanceandinterventiontohelpusallgogreen

Theracetoincreasingourelectric vehiclepurchasestomeetfresh governmenttargetsfeelsalittlelike déjàvu.

InNorthernIreland,the renewablesindustry haswarnedifaround50sizeablegreenenergy schemesarenotshovel-readyby2026thenwe havenohopeinachievingtheGovernment’s 80% renewablestargetby2030.

ButStormontdoesn’tappeartobemakingany efforttoimprovethislikelihood–speedingup planning,introducinggreenlanesforschemes orassistingthroughgrantsorothermeans offnancialassistance.Itjustseemslikeit’s crossingitsfngersandhopingtheprivate sectorworksallofthisoutonitsown.

Andthere’sasimilarthemeemerginginthe electriccarmarket.TheUKGovernmentwants ustoall,eventually,movetopureEVinthe nextdecade.Andthat’sapositivepositionto take.

Butitdoesn’tappeartobe rootedin reality. SalesarerisingacrosstheUK,buthavestalled somewhatfromaprevioussurge,and remain behindthe22%zero-emissionvehicletarget setbygovernment.

Thatmeans22%ofnewcars registeredfroma manufacturer’soutput(applyingtothemajority ofcarmakersproducingsignifcantnumbersof vehicles)mustbeelectric,otherwisetheyface huge£15,000fnesforeachpollutingcarsold.

We’reonlyatjustover18%intheUK,with saleshereinNorthernIrelandataroundthe 16%mark.

But,again,theindustry,andusasconsumers, appeartobebeingleftontheirowntoachieve

thisambitioustarget.

Gonearethedayswhentherewasafairly sizeablegovernmentsubsidyforbuying newEVs,orfunding,orpart-funding,the installationofhomechargers–anecessityfor adriverifthemovetoelectricisgoingtobea realisticpropositionandcost-saver.

I recentlyspoketoCharlesHurstchiefJeff McCartney,whohascalledongovernmentto introducegrantsorsomeformofincentivesto helpboostEVcarsales.It’sasimplepremise butonethatseemsessential.

We’restillintheawkwardpositionwhere manyelectricversionsoftraditionalpetrolcars costmore,orconsiderablymore,thantheir internalcombustionenginecounterparts.But thiscasebeingmadedoesn’tmakesenseany more.Thecostofproducingbatteries–the coreofeveryelectricvehicle–hasplummeted inthelast10years.

Bloomberghas reportedthatChinese-made

batterieshavedroppedmorethan50%inthe lastyearalone.

So,notonlydowenot receiveafnancial incentivetogogreen,we’repayingthrough thenosefortheprivilege.

EvenasubsidybringingEVsintoparitywith theirpetrolordieselcounterpartswouldgo aconsiderablewayinencouragingdriversto maketheswitch.

IhadtheopportunitytodriveoneofBYD’s newDolphinelectrics recentlyonafamily holidaydownsouth–whichyoucan read aboutinthenexteditionof UlsterBusiness–andittakeslittletimefortheEVbugtosettle in.SwitchingbacktoadieselGolffeelsalittle likejumpingintoahorseandcart.

ThecurrentLabourgovernmenthassaidit willbringbackthe2030cut-offforpetroland dieselnewcarsales.Ifwe’retogetanywhere closetothatasa realisticproposition,then nowisthetimeforaction. ■

TheUKhassettoughEVtargets formanufacturerstohit

TS

SpeedlinkInternationalLogisticshas appointedMarkHornerasitsnewbusiness developmentdirector.MrHornerjoins thelogisticsandglobalcourierservices company,bringingwithhimextensive experiencefromtheaviationindustry.

CharisNevinjoinstheCalibro Workspace teamasclientengagementexecutive.Ms Nevinjoinsthefrmwithabackgroundin businessandenvironmentalengineering.

ColinPiggotthasbeenappointedheadof employersolutionsatGrantThorntonin Belfast.PriortojoiningGrantThorntonin 2021,MrPiggottspentover14yearsat aBigFourfrm,initiallyworkingwithin corporatetax,beforespecialisingin employersolutions.

Radius VehicleSolutionsappointed NatashaRamsayasitsnewheadofgroup operationsacrossbothNorthernIreland andRepublicofIreland,todrivethe companyonthroughtheindustry’sbiggest gearshiftinhistory.

JemmaJameshasbeenappointedas LogisticsUK’sdigitaldevelopmentdirector. Formerlythemanagingdirectorofthe MicroliseGroup’s TruTactachograph business.MsJamesbringsanextensive trackrecordinbusinessdevelopmentand commercialmanagement.

UlsterUniversityhasappointed Tom Gray,groupchieftechnologyoffcerand directorofinnovationatKainos,asvisiting professorofAIandinnovationwithinthe SchoolofComputing.

ShelleySteensonhasbeenappointedas executiveassistanttothechiefexecutive andseniormanagementteamatthe NorthernIrelandChamberofCommerce andIndustry(NIChamber).MsSteenson joinsfromDublin-basedWilliamFryLLP.

SeanMcNiffhasbeenappointedasthe newoperationsdirectorforCoDown frmGraham’sinteriorft-outdivision.He willleadthedivision’sstrategicdirection andgrowth,supportedbyateamof90 employeesacrossthebusiness’offces.

ChefNiallHillhasjoinedworkplace servicesproviderSodexoasitsheadof foodforIrelandwhereheisresponsible fordrivingthecompany’scultureoffood serviceexcellenceandthecontinuing developmentofitsculinaryteamsonclient sites.

APPOIN TM EN

1. TheinauguralMenopause NIConferenceissettotake placeonOctober18in Belfast,coincidingwith World MenopauseDay.Pictured aremenopausespecialist DrAndreaLatimer,BBCNI’s healthcorrespondentand menopauseadvocateMarieLouiseConnolly,Siobhan Kearney,founderMenopause NIandpersonaltrainerand menopausecoach,Geraldine McAleenan.

2. JN Wineissettouncorkmajor growthplansacrossIreland andbeyondafterbeingnamed Northern Ireland’s bestwine retailerfor a record-breaking 30thtimeandtheleadingsmall independentmerchantintheUK attheprestigiousInternational WineChallenge(IWC) Awards.

3. BradleyNIhasacquiredJames Wilson&Son,theNewcastlebasedpropertyfrmestablished over100yearsago.Picturedare BradleyNImanagingdirector GarrettO’Hareand William WilsonofJames Wilson&Son.

4. TheAll-IrelandSustainability Awardshave returnedfor2024 andwilltakeplaceatLaMon Hotel&CountryClub,outside Belfast,onOctober24.Pictured areDanielleMcCormick,AllIrelandSustainability Awardswith AnnieDuffy,Climeaction,sponsor ofthisyear’sawards.

5. EconomyMinisterConor MurphyispicturedwithLiam Duffy,ofClassicMineral Water, andKieranDonoghue,InvestNI, helpingunveiltheGovernment’s £46mAgri-FoodInvestment Initiativetosupportlocalagri-food anddrinkprocessors.

6. Catagenisthefrstfrm tosubmitasampleofits sustainableaviationfuel(SAF) tothe recentlyestablished EUSAFClearingHouse.

PicturedareDrMohammad RezaGhaani,LiamMcGrane, DrAndreaAhern,andDr StephenDooley.

7. OmaghMusicAcademyis composingplansforexpansion after receivingassistancefromthe government-backedGoSucceed businessenterpriseprogramme. Picturedistheschool’sfounder anddirector,ClaireBowes.

8. Calibro Workspacecompleteda stepchallengeforMentalHealth Awareness Week’stheme,moving foryourmentalhealth,making adonationtoNorthernIreland ChestHeart&Stroke(NICHS).

PicturedareSarahMcCuskerand RonnieCrawfordfromCalibro WorkspacealongsideFiona LockwoodfromNICHS.

9. BusinessmanDr TerryCross OBEhascontributed£30,000 towardsanewemergency responsevehiclefortheBritish RedCrossinNorthernIreland. He’spicturedwithAlisonMcNulty, directoroftheBritishRedCrossin NIandPatrickCross,Biopaxand HinchDistillery.

10. TheNorthernIrelandChamber ofCommerceandIndustry(NI Chamber)issettohostitsAnnual GolfDayonSeptember13.

PicturedareAlanMontgomery, MCSGroup,SuzanneWylie,NI Chamber,andKevinScruby,G4S.

11. Picturedatthe recent GlobalSummitareBronagh Gaillard,siteleaderat BazaarvoiceBelfast,Matthew Skelton,authorofthebook Team TopolgiesandSimon Loxham,vicepresident ofclientexperienceat BazaarvoiceBelfast.

12. ChefNiallMcKennaof Waterman restaurantinBelfast, andCiaranMeyler,winemanager atUnited Wines,arehostinga specialBeefsteakClub Wines ‘culinaryexperience’forlocalwine enthusiastsandfoodlovers.

13. DrinksInc,partofMusgrave NI,hassignifcantlyinvestedina digitisationstrategytocreatean onlineshoppingexperienceforits customers.PicturedareRichard Mayne,directorofwholesalefor MusgraveNIandPeterMulgrew, DrinksIncsalesmanager.

14. Participantsinthe7Peaks Challengewillconquersevenof thehighestpeaksintheMourne MountainsonSeptember14, whilehelpingthoseaffected bycancerthroughoutNorthern Ireland.PicturedisfundraiserDale Collins.

15. FinanceMinisterDrCaoimhe Archibald(right)hasencouraged developerstounlockpotential projectsandhelpdelivereconomic growththroughtheNIInvestment Fund.Sheispicturedwith Wilma Eskine,brandambassadorfor DunluceLodge,and WillChurch.

16. DanskeBankhasbeen recognisedonStonewall’s Top 100listforleadingLGBTQ+ inclusiveemployersintheUK, thehighestrankedcompany headquarteredinNorthern Ireland.PicturedareKevin Heavern,Carolinevander Feltz,andAngelaGuiney DanskeBank,with,Liz Skelcher,StonewallNorthern Ireland.

17. DeanRouse,adeliverydriver atAsdaStrabane,hasshown exceptionalkindnessbyhelping acustomerundergoingcancer treatment.

18. Anewoffcebuildingin Leedshasbeencompletedby developerMRPanditsdesign andbuildpartner,McAleer& Rushe,withAIBprovidinglong terminvestmentfnancingonthe building.PicturedareMichelle GassandPatrickMcGuigan,AIB andItaGillis,MRP.

19. Belfastboutiquehotelthe HarrisonChambersofDistinction isplanningamajorexpansion aftersecuringa£160,000loan fromtheInvestmentFundfor NorthernIreland,facilitatedby Whiterock.PicturedareClare StokesofWhiterockwithowner MelaineHarrison.

20. PeterCorryMBE(right),has broughthisliveshow,PeterCorry inConcert,tothepicturesque AntrimCastleGardensaspartof theSixMileFestivalweekend.He’s picturedwithMayorofAntirm andNewtownabbeyBorough, NeilKelly.

21. AgricultureMinister AndrewMuirhasmetwith keystakeholdersfollowing thelaunchofTheLough NeaghReportandAction Plan.The reportandaction planaimstopavetheway forwardforimprovedwater qualityand reducedblue greenalgae.

22. PicturedattheSafeatHome, Safeat WorkLabourRelations Agency(LRA)eventareDon Leeson,chiefexecutive,LRA,Lord MayorofBelfastMickyMurray andPatrickQuigley,business supportmanager,LRA.

23. BelfastCityAirporthas announcedthatairlinepartner, KLMRoyalDutchAirlines,is settosignifcantlyexpandits servicesfromBelfastCityAirport toAmsterdamSchipholAirport. PicturedareKatyBest,BelfastCity Airport,andHelenMcGorman, TourismIreland.

24. Anintegratedconsultancy teamhasbeenappointedto delivertheMourneMountains GatewayProjectvisitor experienceinNewcastlefollowing confrmationofa£30mBelfast RegionCityDeal.Picturedare DavidAlgie,Arup,andNewry, MourneandDownDistrict CouncilchairmanPeteByrne.

25. TheBritishBusinessBankhas announcedthefrstequitydeal fromtheInvestmentFundfor NorthernIrelandwithInqdata, ledbyClarendonFundManagers. PicturedareInqdatachief Theodore Voegt,ClarendonFund Managersinvestmentdirector, BrianCummingsandBritish BusinessBank’sMarkSterritt.

26. NSPCCNorthernIreland issueda‘calltooars’to businesses,familiesand individualstoformteamsof 10peopleandsign-upfor the2024 VikingBoatRace atCuttersWharfinBelfast. PicturedareArdglass Vikings SeanKeogh,ChrisBrown, PhilipKeenanandKieran Devlin.

27. MichelleDelaCruzfrom Belfast’s2 Taps Winebar,delivered extraordinaryculinarycreativity andskillinasizzlinglivecookery showdownattheBalmoralHotel towinthe2024Ireland’sNext Top ChefCompetition.

28. MusgraveNIhas returned astitlesponsoratDownRoyal Racecourse.PicturedareEmma Meehan,chiefexecutiveatDown RoyalandPaddyMurney, retail salesdirectoratMusgraveNI.

29. TheNorthernIrelandHotels Federation(NIHF)partnered withtheFoodStandardsAgency (FSA)tolauncha‘Choicefor Children’initiative.Picturedare JohnnyLeake,executivechefat TheMerchantHotel,withJames McGonagle,EvanLeakeand CalumLeake.

30. BelfastCityAirport’sdedicated CommunityFundhasenabled thedevelopmentofanewforest schoolspaceatKingsRoad NurserySchool.

31. Morethan100 representativesfromlocal businessesandorganisations attendedaDEIForward eventheldbyLibertyIT,in partnershipwith Working withPride.PicturedareEmma Mullan,LibertyIT,LordMayor ofBelfastMickyMurray,Jude Copeland,CleaverFulton RankinandMelanieFoley, LibertyMutual.

32. OneofBelfastcitycentre’s oldestandmosthistorically signifcantentries,Sugarhouse, has reopenedtothepublicafter morethan50years.Picturedare GerryMcAlinden,Department forCommunitiesandcouncillor SamNelson,chairmanofBelfast CityCouncil’sCityGrowthand RegenerationCommittee.

33. Portadown-basedTheDeluxe Group,knownforcreating experientialinteriorsinthe leisureandhospitalitysectors, hassecureda£30mcontractfor cruiseshipinterioroutfttingofa newvesselinGermany.Pictured isColmO’Farrell,executive chairman.

34. Ministerfor TourismCatherine MartinandEconomyMinister ConorMurphyhaveannounced anewfundingcallfromFáilte Ireland, TourismNorthern Irelandand TourismIreland,to enhanceinterpretationatexisting operatingvisitorattractionsand experiences.

35. TheNorthernIrelandHotels Federation(NIHF)hasraised £862fortheNorthernIreland Children’sHospice.Pictured areEddieMcKeever,president oftheNIHFandJulieMartin, communityoutreachfundraiser fortheNorthernIrelandChildren’s Hospice.

36. PicturedareLiberty IT’sSallyO’Meara,Richard Thompson,StevenLimmer, OliviaMcCartan,andSteven Hendon,astheindustry leaderindigitalinnovation announcesitispartnering withProduct TankBelfastto hostanewmeet-upwhich willencouragecollaboration learningandinnovation acrossthetechindustry.

37. Participantswhoengagedin adoorstepconversationabout watersaving,committedtoa water-savingpledge,andused Wizsotablets,managedtosave anaverageof51.1litresofwater aday.PicturedisMarkGilligan, directorof Wizso.

38. DeputyFirstMinisterEmma Little-Pengelly(centre)attended theFarnboroughInternational Airshowtomeetcompaniesfrom NI.She’spicturedwithKieran Donoghue,InvestNIandLeslie Orr,ADSNI.

39. Galgormhasbeenchosen tohostoneoftheworld’smost prestigioushospitalityaward ceremonies,the WorldLuxury Awards2024.

40. Robert Ryan(pictured)has takenoverasthenewchief executiveforLidlIrelandand NorthernIreland.He replacesJP Scallywhotakesoveraschief executiveofLidlFrance.

Montblanc: taking on the big players in the dive watch game

Montblanchasaddedavarietyofnewmodelstoitsexpandingrange, includingnew300mdepth-rateddivewatcheswithbold,deepcolours evokingelementsofthemountainrangeofwhichthebrandstakesits name. JohnMulgrew poppeddowntotheMontblancboutiqueat Queen’sArcadeinBelfastbeforespendingaweekwiththewatch

Thedivewatchmarketiscertainly a buoyantone.

We’veseensomeofthebigplayersdevelop andgrowtheirlines,stalwarts reimagining classicsforthemodern market, a hugeswathe ofmicro brandsproducing a vastarrayofdive watches – someoriginaldesigns,butmanyalso essentiallycutandpastejobs.

Montblancisnowturningitsattentiontothe higher-enddivewatchsector Andwhileit’s longproduced a widerangeofpieces,from more affordabledresswatchestothehigh-end in-houseMinerva-basedmovements,it’s taking a dipatthedeependandhopingto rejigan armofthemarketwhichcoulddowithsome freshnessandoriginality

ItsnewIcedSeais a departure forthebrand – bringingin a sub-£3,000diverwiththat perfectlywearing41mmcasesize,and a solid Selita-basedmovementinside.

Therange’s bigsellingpointisthecolourrange available – fromdeep,richandslightlyfery burgundy, totheenvoguegreenand a more traditionalslategrey

It’s thedialwhichimmediatelysetsitapartfrom otherdiversonthemarket,utilising a 19th centurytechniquecalled‘grattéboisé’.That includeshandbrushing,using a paste,over brassdialsbefore thelacqueringstage.This creates a uniquepattern whichisintendedto resemblecrackedglacierice.

Eachofthecoloursintherangealsoharks backtoelementsoftheareainandaround MontBlanc – thedeep red colourmimicking thesunasithitstheglacier

Onthewrist,that41mmstainlesssteelcase feels a touchbiggerthansomeoftheofferings from Tudor, butstillmanagestofeelbalanced andsuitableformost,with a fairlysmall signedMontblanccrown.

Thecaseislargelybrushed,buthas a littlebit ofpolishingonthelugswhichcomplement thedesignofthebraceletwell.There’s something a littledifferentfromtheusual brushedaffair, Montblancinsteadoptionfor a taperedbraceletwithlittlelinesofpolishingin themiddlesection,fnishingin a solidly-built Montblancbrandeddiverclasp.

There’s alsoonthefyadjustment,similarto someof TudorandRolex’s offerings,along withaneasy-swaplugsystem,whichforgoes theneedforanyspringbartools.Cartieroffers somethingsimilar(alongwithoneofthebest andeasiesttouselinkadjustmentsonthe market).It’s somethingweshouldbeseeing more ofonwatchesofthispriceandupwards.

Thepunchy red dialisframedby a black ceramicbezel – thedialitselffeaturinghour markersat6, 9 and12,withthewhitedate windowatthe 3 position.Chunkysword handsfnishtosharppointsandare clearto read,with a suitableamountoflume.The glacierpattern dialisinspiredbytheMerde

Glace – SeaofIce – themainglacierofthe Mont-BlancMassif.

Overall,it’sa handsomepiece,well-builtand withsomehorologicalandhistoricalprowess underthehood.

AndwhileMontblanchas a longheritagein producingtheverybestwritinginstrumentsfor more than a century, it’sa relativenewcomerto theworldofhorologyinitscurrentguise.

ButafteritstakeoverofMinervain2007 –a manufacturerwhosewatchmakingdatesback to1858 – it’s increaseditsprowess,boostedits rangeofmore entrylevelpiecesandshowcased whatit’s abletodoonthehighend.

Thisis a freshentryinto a marketwhichis arguablythemostcompetitiveoutthere at present.

Thedivewatch – atalmostallpricepoints – is nowubiquitous.FromtheRolexSubmarinerto theBlackBay58,theLonginesHydroconquest, Tag HeuerAquaracer, TissotSeastarand countlessSeikolines,Montblancispositioning itselfagainstsomeofthebiggestnamesin watchmaking.

Butwith a slightlytweakeddesignpedigree and a littlehistoryandimaginationalongthe way, itstands a chanceatputtingitshead abovethewater, especiallyifyouwanttostand outamongtheproliferationof Tudorsand Rolexesonwrist. ■

FACTFILE

MODEL: IcedSeaAutomaticDate

CASESIZE: 41mm

MATERIAL: Stainlesssteel

PRICE: £2,965

RE VI EW

Headphoneson… manners of: the riseof toxic travellers

It’satravelscenariothat’sbecomingall toofamiliar–afightboundforsunny climesisforcedtodivertduetounruly behaviourfromdiffcultpassengers.The kindofheadline-grabbingbadbehaviour once reservedfor rockstarshasemerged asasignifcantpost-Covidaviation problem.

Launchingthe#NotOnMyFlightcampaign recently,theIrish AviationAuthority(IAA)and majorindustrypartners revealedthattherehas beenathreefoldincreasein reportsofincidents involvingdiffcultandunrulypassengerssince 2019.

Theauthority’s2022annualsafety performance reviewshowedthatpassenger unrulinesswasthesecondmost reportedsafety issuebycommercialairlineswithhundredsof incidentsincludingverbal,physicalandsexual assaults.“Inthecontextofhowmanyfights takeoffeachday,it’sasmallamount,”said anIAAspokesperson,“butstillenoughtobe signifcant.”

Theso-calleddeclarationagainstunruly passengerbehaviour–co-signedbytheIAA andmajorindustrypartnerssuchas Ryanair andAerLingus–aimstocurbthegrowthof thisuglyin-fightproblem.

Ofcourse,physicalassaultsareatthe mostseriousendofthebad-traveller spectrum.Therearearangeofless-serious misdemeanoursthatcanatbestfrustrate fellowpassengersandatworstturnyouinto thepassengerfromhell.

Thatbadbehaviourbeginsattheairport.“In thebusiestsixweeksofthesummer,upto 120,000passengersgothroughDublinAirport eachday,”GraemeMcQueenfromtheDublin AirportAuthority(DAA),says.

Airlineshaverevealeda300%increaseinincidentsof badbehavioursince2019,writes CatherineMurphy

“Perhapstheworstbehaviourweseeis passengerssimplynotbeing readyatsecurity –theirheadphonesareonuntiltheygetto thefrontofthesecurityqueue,theydon’t puttheirphonedownuntilithastogointo thetray,they’renotprepared.Thisslowsthe queuedownandimpactsotherpeople.”

Somefrequentfierscontendthatmale passengersaretheworstoffenderswhenit comestosecuritylineetiquette.“Getyourbelt off,getthecoinsoutofyourtrouserpockets andgetonwithit,”saysoneFFF(female frequentfier)wespoketo.“Anotheroffender isthetravellerwhothinksit’scooltodoyoga stretchesinabusyairportterminal.It’snot,it’s showingoff,stopit.”

AccordingtoGraeme,DublinAirport’ssocial mediateamiscreatingaseriesofinformative videostohelppassengersmovethroughthe airporteffciently.Hisetiquettetips?

“Showconsiderationforotherpassengersin thewayyoumoveandbehaveattheairport. Ifthere’ssomethinginyourcarry-onluggage thatyou’reuncertainabout,putitatthetop ofthebagsothatitcanbecheckedquickly.If you’retravellingwithchildren,packtoyslike Nerfgunsandliquid-flledballsinholdluggage –itkillsairportsecurityteamstotakethemoff children,buttheyhaveto.”

Flightdelayscanbeanothercauseofpoor passengerbehaviour,Graemesays.

“Theairportisdesignedlikeaconveyorbelt, allowingthefowofthousandsofpassengers throughit.Whenfightsgetdelayed, passengersgetbackedup.”

Itcanbemorenuancedthanthat,according toanIAAspokesperson.“It’snotonlyabout intoxicatedpassengers. Travelcanbestressful –peoplebecomeanxiousorfrustratedifthey don’tgetdelayupdatesfromtheirairline,there aremanyvariables.”

Butatleastyoucangetawayfrom¬unruly passengersinanairportterminal.Once youclicktheseatbeltonyourfight,you’re captive–there’snoescapingthekindofpoor behaviourthatcanoftenbetriggeredbythe simplestthings.

Obviously,physicallyorverballyabusinga passengerormemberofstaff,smokingor vapingintoiletsandjoiningthemile-highclub areallhugebehaviouralblunders.

Stowingyourluggagesoslowlythatitdelays otherpassengersboarding,takingyourshoes andsocksoff,throwinglonghairoverthe backofyourseatsothatit’sinthefaceofthe passengerbehindorshovingyourbackpack inanotherpassenger’sfaceinyourraceto disembarkaplaneareallannoyingetiquette errors.

Thenthere’sdisturbinganaislepassengerwhile they’reeatingorworsestill,sleeping,tomake repeatedtripstothetoilet–bookanaisleseat ifyouknowyouneedfrequenttoiletvisits.

Bringingsmellyfoodonboard,ignoring safetydemosandhavingageneralsense ofentitlementareadditionalcrimesagainst goodtraveletiquette,whilesomeofthemost audaciousbehaviourwe’vewitnessedincludes afemalepassengerwhosatintheemergency rowdespitehavingaplastercastonherarm

andacheekypassengerwhoboardeda fightlastandslippedintoafrst-rowseatin thehopeofafreedrinkandspeedyexiton landing–withouthavingpaidabusinessclass fare.

It’scontroversial,weknow,butparentswho presumeanotherpassengerwillswitchseats sotheycansitwiththeirfamily,whoallow theirchildrento repeatedlyhittheseatin frontorwhomakelittleefforttosoothe cryingchildrenduringlongfightsarerightup therewithhogging resortsunloungersand beachumbrellasinthenaff-behaviourstakes.

“I’mthekindofpersonwhotakesacloth, cleaningsprayandMarigoldgloveson planes,”sayshotelierandGuidetoModern IrishMannersauthorNoelCunningham.“

Andgoodtraveletiquettedoesn’tendinthe baggage reclaimhallbutcontinuesthrough toyourhotelor resortstay.Someguestshave ahabitoftakingthe“homefromhome”

hospitalitymessagetoofar.

Destroyingtowelswithfaketan, robbingspa robesandleavingbedroomsinamessareall classedasbadbehaviour.

NickyLogue,generalmanagerofthe InterContinentalhotelinDublin’sBallsbridge, isassubtleascanbewhendescribingguest behaviour.

“Onethingwewillaskguestsnottodoisput theirfeetonexpensivefurniture.Sometimes theydon’teven realisethey’redoingitsowe willjustgentlymentionit.

Apartfromputtingtheirfeetonexpensive furniture,occasionallygueststrytostealit. “Youmighthaveaguestwho’shadafew drinkstakeanornamentfromoneofthe corridors.Ournightteamchecksthecorridors andthecamerasthenanoteisslippedthrough thebedroomdoor.Inmostcases,theitemis returned.”

“…asforhowguestsleave rooms,someare amazing–theymakethebed.Isometimesuse bedroomstochangeaftergoingtothegym andtwooutof10willlookasifabombhas goneoff.”

NoelCunninghamalsoofferswiseetiquette advicetohotelguests.

“Five-starguestsaren’talwaysthebest behaved,theyalsofalloutofline.Butin general,Irishpeople–includingchildren–are savvy,theyknowhowtobehaveinhotels.One thingIwouldsaytoparentsistakeastepback andaskyourself,‘Isthatlong-haulfightthe rightfightformyveryyoungchildrenandis thatfourorfve-starhoteltherightexperience forthem?’

“Welovetoseechildrencomingtohotels butIabhorparentswhothinkthatoncethey stepthroughthehoteldoor,thechildrencan dowhattheylikeandthestaffwilllookafter them.” ■

Ireland’sNationalCyberSecurityCentre(NCSC)is saidtobefndingittoughtohiretherightstaff

Bid to strengthen cyber defencesstymied by public-sectorpay grades

Irishbodiestryingtorecruitstaffforcybersecurityrolesjustcannotpaymarketrates, writes Adrian Weckler

Ireland’s NationalCyberSecurityCentre (NCSC)is,accordingtoaninternal review, fndingitsotoughtohire peoplethatitscriticaloperationsmaynow bethreatened.

As reported recently, theorganisationis “strugglingwith a lackofpersonneland direction”evenasit“takesonmore andmore workand responsibilities”.

Thiscould result,saystheconfdential review,

intheNCSC“failingtomeetlegallybinding fnancialandprocurementobligations”and having“insuffcientstaffnglevelsacrossthe NCSCtofulflourmandate”.

Two weeksafterthemostseriousglobal ITmeltdownin recentmemory, thissober assessmentshouldsoundalarmbellsforthe Government.

Butleavingasidequestionsofpoliticalwill,or thelackofit,fortheNCSC,there is a basic,

pragmaticquestion:whymightitbesotough fortheNCSCtogetcyber-securitypersonnel?

Ithas a targetof75staff bytheendofthis year – and,as revealedinthisnewspaperthis week,140bytheendofnextyear Evenwith a handfulsettojoinbytheendofthesummer, itscurrentstaff levelofaround60peoplehas barelychangedthisyear

Intheory, gettingpeopleshouldn’t bethat hard.Whereasthreeorfouryearsago, there hadbeen a hugeshortageofskilled professionals,most recruitmentandITsecurity frms report a distinctsofteningofthecyberskillsmarket,withmore qualifedpeople availabletohire thanhasbeenthecasein a longtime.

A public-sector rolealsocomeswithsome enviableperksaroundjobsecurityandlongtermpaystability

Sowhat’s theactualproblemfortheNCSC?

Accordingtoalmosteveryoneinthesector whowespoketo,thetwomainbarriersfor theNCSC(andforotherstatebodiestryingto getcyberstaff)are moneyandstagnantcareer prospects.

“Theirpayisn’t inlinewithwhere the marketisandthatisquiteimportanttocyber talent,” TraycKeevans,globalFDIdirectorat recruitmentfrmMorganMcKinley, said.

“WhentheHSEtriedtohirea chiefinformation securityoffcer, thepositionwasopenfor a year becausetheywere offeringhalfofwhatthe marketrangewasatthattime.Thatperception withstatejobsinthissectorisstillthere.”

TheNCSCitselfhasexperiencewiththis.The currentdirector, Richard Browne,wasonly appointedafterthesalaryonofferwasraised from€89,000to€185,000.Atthelowerlevel, theposthad remainedvacantfor a yearand a half.

SalariesonofferforexistingNCSC rolesare alsobelievedtobeanissue,accordingto ConorFlynn,managingdirectorof Waystone ComplianceSolutionsand a longstanding practitionerintheIrishITsecurityindustry

Seniorpositionsare typicallyinthe€70,000to €80,000range,whichisfarbelowequivalent private-sectorpay “Statebodiesare hamstrung bythepublic-sectorpaygrades,”MrFlynnsays.

“In a private-sectorfrm,over a fve-year period,youcandoubleyoursalary In a state jobliketheNCSC,you’re startingoff fairlylow andgoingthrough relativelylowincrements lateron.There’s noequityorotherincentives.

“It’s also a veryhierarchical,traditionalstructure thathastosatisfytheprocessof150,000civil servants,heavilyunionised.”

Butmoneyisn’t theonlychallengefacingthe NCSCandtheDepartmentofEnvironment, ClimateandCommunications,inwhichthe NationalCyberSecurityCentre isensconced.

Infosecandcyber-securitystaff,likesomeother

tech-sectorpersonnel,wanttofeellikethey’re inthethickof a cutting-edgeenvironment –somethingthat’s hardertopromisein a state body

“Althoughthere are someattractionsfrom a job-securityperspectiveinthepublicsector, thepaceisn’t seentobeasfastordemanding assomeofthebigmultinationalsortech companies,”MsKeevanssays.

“Thisappealsmore toanambitiouscohort whowanttheircareertoprogressquickly Theyare lookingtoworkwiththelatesttech stacks.”

Theoverallassessmentofwhatthepublic sectordoesinthisspaceisglum.

Inourminds,theNationalCyberSecurity Centre mightconjure upimagesofhighstakesoperationsandmanoeuvresagainst internationalbaddiesandthreats.In a word, exciting.

In reality, itmaylargelybeaboutITsecurity hygienewithingovernmentdepartments,with meetingsscheduledtodiscusswhysomeone’s emailtoanotherdepartment’s divisionwasn’t respondedto.

Resourcesandprocurementneedstogo throughcentralisedmechanismsin a waynot inherentlydifferentfromgettingmore biros.

Ifthat’s thegig,MsKeevanssuggests,then youmayaswelldoitwithinthestructure of a contractingfrm – withlotsofpayand fexibilityperks – thattheGovernmentwill probablyhire fromanyway

“Alotofthistalentisengagedincontract positions, a bitlikeintheengineeringsector,” shesays.

“Younowhavepeoplewhowanttobe careercontractors,whichisdifferenttothem beingcontractorsbecausetheycan’t get a permanentjob. A lotofconsultancieshave snappedupthistalentandthey’re offering them a good,variedportfolioofwork.

“TheGovernmentdoeshire fromthe consultancies,albeiton a contractbasis.Sothe Governmentisnowcompetingwiththosetype ofportfolios[for recruitingpeople]aswell.”

Thedesire to remainlargely remoteshouldn’t bediscountedas a factoreither, shesays.

Becauseoftheirmostlyin-demandstatus, cyber-skillsstaff havebeenabletonegotiate remoteworkingdealsveryeffectivelyin recent yearsandare reluctanttogobackintothe offce.

“Theylikethatfexibilityandthey’re notkeen togiveitup,”shesays.

“There is a bigtechplayerI’maware ofthat insisted,aspartof a broadermandate,that alloftheirtalentneededtobeon-sitefour days a week.Soonafterwards,wesaw a food ofcybertalentcomingtomarket – because they reallydidnotwanttobetoldtobeinthe offce.”

Becauseofitspublic-sectorstructure,theNCSC willcontinuetobecomparativelylimitedin whatitspitchistoprospective recruits.But accordingtoBrianHonan,chiefexecutiveofBH Consulting,anappealto a senseofserviceand a nationalcontributioncouldhelp.

“It’s hard forcompaniestoattractand retain cyber-securitytalentbasedsolelyonmonetary benefts,”hesays.

“Theyshouldlooktootheraspectsofthejob thatcanattracttherightpersonforthe role.

“Organisationsthatcanprovide a missionfor individualswhere theycanseetheirtalents providing a positiveimpact – suchasprotecting healthcare systems,ortheNCSC – willattract peopleof a certaincalibre.

“Othernon-fnancialbeneftscanalsoattract therighttalent.Thingssuchas remote working,comprehensivestaff development andtrainingprograms,andtransparentcareer progressionwillhelp recruitindividualsnot motivatedsolelybymoney.” ■

TECH

Uncovering the9-5

NAME: NiallHill

POSITION: Headoffood,SodexoIreland

5.45am

I’manearlyriserandanavidrunnersoit’s straightoutofbedfora5kruntoclearmy head.Itsetsmeupfortheday.

7.45am

Followingcoffeeandbreakfast,Iusually checkmyto-dolist,emailsthathavecomein overnightandgothroughanypaperwork.

9am

I’m responsiblefordrivingthecompany’s cultureoffoodserviceexcellenceandthe continuingprofessionaldevelopmentofour culinaryteamsonclientsites.Ihaveachef developmentteamofsixanddependingon myschedule,Iliketousethistimetocatchup withthem.

OneisCathyAdamson,craftdevelopmentchef forNorthernIreland.Ahighlyexperienced, award-winningchefandseasonedmentor, CathyisheavilyinvolvedintheSpringboard FutureChefinitiativeforNorthernIreland.It’s aschools-basedprogrammesupportingthe developmentofkeylifeskills,whilstinspiring youngpeopletopursueanexcitingcareer withintheworldofhospitality.Supportingthe nextgenerationofhospitalityprofessionalsisa realpassionofCathy’sandmine.

Highonthepriorityofdiscussionsatthe momentissupportingoneofourNorthern Irelandchefswhoiscompetinginthe regional heatsofSodexo’sglobalsustainabilitychef oftheyearcompetition.It’sveryexcitingfor themandus,especiallysinceitwasNorthern’s

Ireland’sSharonO’Connellwhowasaglobal jointwinnerlastyear.

10am

Myscheduleisvariedwithamixofoffcebasedworkandsitevisits.Sodexohaswon lotofnewbusinessthisyear,sothereare meetingsandsitevisitstoplanthecatering operationsforeach.Atonelocationwe’re currentlymobilisingacateringoperationfor 700people,soIcouldbeheadingouttovisitit aroundthistime.

There,I’llworkwithouron-siteculinaryteam, reviewingthemenus,allofwhicharefocused onsustainability,provenance,seasonality, nutritionandwellness.Firstimpressionsare crucialsoattentiontodetailisparamount. Formanyclients,awell-thought-outfood programmeisakeytoolforthemin retaining andattractingtalenttotheirorganisation.

Ialso regularlycheckinwithourITteam in relationtothetoolsweusetomakethe customerjourneyseamless,likeourEveryday orderingapp.

3pm

Iampassionateaboutthefutureofthe environmentsoI’mworkingoninnovative

projectsthatcoversustainablefood,the managementoffoodwasteand reducing ourcarbonfootprint,allofwhichalignwith Sodexo’snetzerotargetsandmyownpersonal values.

Oneofthoseisthesettingupofthe WellChef Academyforourchefs,soIaroundthistime Itypicallycatchupwithmyculinarynutrition leadonthis,drawingonmyownexperienceas anassociatelecturerin TechnologicalUniversity Dublin(TUD).

Sodexo’s recent WorldOvershootDayinitiative featured22ofthe50futurefoodsin recipes andmenusonseveralclientsites.Theinterest, engagementanduptakewasbrilliant,soIam collatingfeedbackandusingittoplanfuture menus.

5.30pm

MywifeandIsplitthefamilydinners betweenus.Ilovecookingfshandplenty ofvegetableswithatleastoneplant-based dinnerweekly.Chocolateismygo-totreat.I haveanallotmentinmybackgardenandasa hobby,Igrowthingslikegarlic,onions,carrots, radishes,lettucesandcourgettessoIcheck itmostevenings.MyneighboursloveitasI alwayshaveplentytogoaround. ■