Ulster Business - December 2018

DECEMBER 2018 Price £2.30 (€2.60)

Onwards and upwards EY on expanding its workforce and building a progressive environment

IN FOCUS

‘No deal’ isn’t an option says Dale Farm boss

PUBLIC SECTOR We take a deeper look at the Budget

Contents 06 News

39 STEM

77 Motoring

The latest news and exclusives from across the world of Northern Ireland business

Emma Deighan looks at those that are nuturing and driving top STEM talent

Pat Burns turns his focus to a new luxury estate among other motors

14 Cover Story

47 Cross-border Trade

86 Photocall

Ulster Business speaks to EY on reaching 500 staff, its working envrionment and innovation

Brexit just got more complicated. We look at the issues for those trading north and south

It’s been another busy month for businesses right across Northern Ireland

18 In Focus

55 Public Sector

94 Technology

John Mulgrew speaks to Nick Whelan two years after taking over the reins of Dale Farm

John Simpson on a UK Budget coming out of a decade of recession

We ask whether the latest big iPad has finally sent the laptop to retirement...

21 IT & Technology

65 Outsourcing

96 Travel

We examine what major IT elements could come from a potential £1bn City Deal

Who’s leading the way when it comes to doing things outside the box?

Gavin McLoughlin takes to the slopes for the first time in Switzerland

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18

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DECEMBER 2018

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EDITOR’S COMMENTS

It May be time to go with the best option for NI business

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t should be noted at the outset, Ulster Business is behind the business community here, which appears, overwhelmingly, to be in support of Prime Minister Theresa May’s withdrawal deal on the table regarding a Brexit transition.

We’ll likely know in the next few days, whether this withdrawal agreement has any chance of making its way through the Commons. An unsuccessful green light casts a fresh shadow of continued, long-term uncertainty – with the precipice of a ‘no deal’ scenario one of the options facing us.

Welcome to December’s edition of the magazine, one that finally has some sort of black and white outline of what could face businesses during the withdrawal from the EU.

There’s a lot in this edition, as usual – from a sit down with one of Northern Ireland’s largest organisations, a look at the challenges still facing cross-border traders, company successes, exclusive news, and host of analysis from across the sectors.

An agreement, which at the time of writing is far, far from over the line for the Prime Minister, could give the vast majority of companies here the reassurance, amid the transition, to continue business.

While the vast majority of businesses I’ve spoken to over the last few years have been opposed to the very concept of a Brexit, this is the closest thing, they feel, that will allow them to remain employers, job creators and organisations which ensure that Northern Ireland is growing, rather than slowing down.

In fact, a poll by one Northern Ireland business group – which you can read about further in the magazine – showed more than 93% of its members who responded, favoured the deal.

Anecdotally, others are opposed to the very idea of an exit.

Publisher Ulster Business c/o Independent News & Media Ltd Belfast Telegraph House 33 Clarendon Road, Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3BG Printer W&G Baird Greystone Press, Caulside Drive, Antrim BT41 2RS www.wgbaird.com

There’s been some more positive news in terms of investment, and job creation here, too. That includes the official opening of Belfast City Airport’s £15m refurbished terminal. But we have also been hit by the loss of almost 500 jobs at Bombardier.

Oh, and in case you’re still counting, next month Northern Ireland will have gone two years without a devolved government.

On that note, enjoy the magazine and we’ll catch up again in the weekly newsletter, and in the New Year. Is it really that time already? ■ John Mulgrew

Editor John Mulgrew

Production manager Irene Fitzsimmons

Manager Sonia Armstrong

Graphic design INM Design Studio

Deputy manager Sylvie Brando

Cover photo Elaine Hill

Sales executive Sarah-Ann Gamble

Contact: 028 90 264260 www.ulsterbusiness.com

@ulsterbusiness Independent News & Media Ltd © 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of Independent News & Media Ltd.

DECEMBER 2018

Ulster Business Magazine

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NEWS

A month in numbers 585 The number of pages in the UK’s draft withdrawal agreement on Brexit. The publication of the draft deal caused a political ruckus, with the Prime Minister’s chief Brexiteers bowing out of the cabinet due to the position of the deal.

Manufacturing NI chief executive Stephen Kelly asks Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley a question at a business event in Belfast

Northern Ireland business backs Brexit agreement

By John Mulgrew

£135,060 The average standardised price of a house in Northern Ireland. That’s according to the latest official figures. Between the second and third quarters, average house prices increased by 2.3%.

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orthern Ireland’s business community has overwhelming thrown its weight behind a withdrawal agreement on Brexit – with almost 94% of one major lobby group’s members in favour, it can be revealed.

The CBI, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and IoD are among the groups which have backed the deal on the table. Meanwhile, farming unions in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK have also issued their support for the deal.

833,000 The employment level in Northern Ireland. The number of people working as employees, the self-employed, full-time and part-time workers has all fallen since the start of the year.

It would essentially provide a backstop, and create a deeper customs union between Northern Ireland the EU, along with a closer alignment in the single market.

Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI says that the agreement is “the only show in town.”

He said a poll of its members showed 93.5% of those who replied were in support.

50 The Irish firms making Deloitte’s Fast 50 list this year. That included 13 companies from Northern Ireland, with some of those making the list, once again. Belfast firm Repstor was the top Northern Ireland company making the Fast 50.

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“This is the only show in town. The rules are clear – in order for the UK to move to the most productive discussion on what the future relationship will be, we need a withdrawal agreement. The options are the agreement, or no deal,” he told Ulster Business.

“Business in Northern Ireland and agribusiness have made it clear that no deal is not an option.”

Other business groups backing the proposed agreement include the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster and the Freight Transport Association.

Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, Prime Minister Theresa May said Northern Ireland will thrive under the proposed Brexit deal, and its position as part of the UK “is guaranteed”.

She said her agreement with Brussels “puts Northern Ireland in a fantastic position for the future”, and moved to reassure unionists that “Northern Ireland’s constitutional status as part of the United Kingdom is guaranteed.

“Under this deal the future is certainly bright for Northern Ireland.”

On the backstop, Ms May said three things made it “an acceptable insurance policy”.

She said the transition period could be extended instead of entering the backstop, regulations would be the same across all of the UK, and Northern Ireland would not be treated differently.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU Scotland, NFU England and NFU Cymru, said: “The draft Brexit withdrawal agreement, while not perfect, will ensure that there are no hard barriers on the day we leave the European Union, and will allow trade in agricultural goods and UK food and drink to continue throughout the transition period largely as before. This opportunity needs to be taken.”

NEWS

Flatiron building takes on first tenants

Inside the Flatiron building

By John Mulgrew

A

design agency has become the first tenant of a newly renovated Victorian listed building with another business expected to become the second soon, Ulster Business can reveal.

The Flatiron building, which sits on Victoria Street in Belfast, was purchased and fully refurbished internally by Holywood-based investor, Wirefox, in 2016.

Simon McEvoy, divisional director at Savills, said:

According to property advisors Savills, who are acting on behalf of the landlord, the building is almost at full capacity.

“The restoration of the Flatiron building has been extraordinarily successful, and we are experiencing big demand from businesses wanting to secure such a unique workspace for their brand. It really is a fascinating mix of the old and the new.

The third floor of 1,668 sq ft is being taken on by a Belfast firm, while another design company is expected to take on another floor.

This is the second refurbished building that Wirefox has delivered into the Belfast office market in 2018, after the now fully let Longbridge House on Waring Street.

DECEMBER 2018

“With high ceilings, exposed brick feature walls, high quality wood flooring and the strikingly restored staircase from the entrance lobby, the space reflects innovative contemporary design.”

The development is guiding a rental income of £30,000 for each floor.

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NEWS

Quotes of the month “I believe with every fibre of my being that the course I have set out is the right one for our country and all our people. From the very beginning I have known what I wanted to deliver for the British people to honour their vote in the referendum.”

Prime Minister Theresa May at a press conference at Downing Street. following the publication of a draft withdrawal agreement on the UK’s exit from the EU.

“The draft withdrawal agreement states in black and white that Ireland and the EU fully respect the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom, and that this can only change if the majority of people in Northern Ireland want it.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s reaction to the Brexit draft and concerns from some MPs and unionists that the proposed deal positions Northern Ireland as ‘different’ from the rest of the UK.

Bombardier cutting 490 NI jobs

B

ombardier has announced it’s cutting almost 500 jobs in Northern Ireland in the latest fresh blow to the aerospace giant’s workforce.

The Canadian-owned company said that “following the global workforce adjustments” announced last month, it would be reducing its workforce here.

“We have reviewed our manpower requirements in Belfast and regret to confirm that we must reduce our workforce across the company by 490 employees,” it said.

“We acknowledge the impact this will have on our workforce and their families and we continue to explore opportunities to help mitigate the number of compulsory redundancies.

“However, we need to continue to cut costs and improve the efficiency of our operations to help ensure our long-term competitiveness.”

“It’s very clear that from the conversations I’ve just had, that what the businesses and people in Northern Ireland want, is politicians to come together, do the right thing, think about the national interest and support the deal.”

NI Secretary Karen Bradley speaking to business leaders after the publication of the draft deal. She was speaking to media following the meeting.

It’s the latest blow to the firm, which has seen more than 1,000 job losses in the last few years.

Bombardier announced in early November that it was cutting around 5,000 jobs across its global operations.

Earlier this year, it landed a partnership with French firm Airbus, which aimed to secure the future of the production of its C Series planes, now called A220, which are part-made in Belfast.

The Belfast team produces the wings for the

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aircraft, and the Northern Ireland operations have been involved on a range of its aircraft, including the Q400 turbo-props. But the company sold off its Q Series of aircraft last month.

In February 2016, the company announced it was slashing 1,080 posts across its Northern Ireland business.

Jackie Pollock, Unite regional secretary for Ireland, said the “announcement by Bombardier that 490 jobs in Northern Ireland are to be cut is a heavy blow for the local economy and represents more than 10% of the total workforce here”.

“This would mean that a disproportionate number of the 5,000 jobs to be cut globally will be going in Northern Ireland. The jobs under threat range across all skillsets and occupations and are exclusive of job losses among agency workers/sub-contractors and the possible future outsourcing of so-called ‘non-core activities’.”

It’s understood the jobs will go in February and March next year. “Unite has feared for some time that Bombardier might be bringing forward large-scale redundancies but this news exceeds our worse fears,” Mr Pollock said.

Global cutbacks were announced as the company reported a profit of $149m (£114m) in the third quarter of the year, compared to a loss of $100m in the same quarter last year.

Around 3,000 of the job losses are expected to hit Bombardier’s operations at its base in Canada.

NEWS

Ulster player developing luxury homes

By John Mulgrew

A

series of new luxury homes are being developed by an Ulster Rugby player in east Belfast, Ulster Business can reveal.

Craig Gilroy, alongside developer Austin Baird, is currently building two large detached properties on a site at his home close to the Belmont Road.

Work is under way on the properties, which will include a five-bedroom and six-bedroom development.

“One of the properties is around 2,700 sq ft and the other 2,900 sq ft – we are still working on a price,” Mr Gilroy said.

DECEMBER 2018

“The market seems to be pretty good, looking at the other properties in the area.”

the developments, before working with Austin Baird to build the homes.

He said the properties will come to market in the next few weeks. The plans began after he bought his home, which included planning permission.

“We got some advice and help from Austin Baird. He has been so helpful,” he said.

Following that, he put initial foundations in for

The properties are being marketed and sold by David Menary, head of residential at property firm Colliers.

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NEWS

Derry holiday link to Iceland

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ravellers from the North West looking for something a bit different will have a chance to fly direct to Iceland as part of a new charter service.

City of Derry Airport has teamed up with tour operator Super Break to offer up a return trip to Akureryi, in the north of the country.

The 202-seat charter aircraft will depart from City of Derry Airport on January 25, 2019 and return on January 28.

Charlene Shongo, manager at City of Derry Airport, said: “We are delighted to be working with Super Break again following their previous charter to Seville earlier this year. City of Derry Airport is proud to offer customers from within our local catchment a travel experience with a difference.

tour and a full day Lake Myvatn excursion exploring the land of ice and fire.”

“Our Iceland holiday package includes return flights from City of Derry Airport to Akureryi in North Iceland, 20kg baggage, a three night stay in a 3-star or 4-star hotel of your choice, return resort transfers, a four hour Northern Lights

“With prices from £699 per person, this is a fantastic offer – and with Christmas just around the corner, an Icelandic adventure would make a fabulous gift as a romantic winter escape or a magical family break,” Charlene said.

Iceland offers up a host of natural wonders to visit, including ancient volcanoes, ice caves, glaciers, cascading waterfalls, nature baths, along with spa retreats.

First Derivatives see sales surge

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ewry technology giant First Derivatives has posted surging sales growth of 20% with revenue rising to £105.6m.

First Derivatives is one of the few Northern Ireland firms to be listed on the stock market, and features on the Alternative Investment Market.

First Derivatives said software revenue was up 21%, with licence revenue up 39% as demand increased for its Kx technology.

The company, founded by Brian Conlon, said there was also strong demand within managed services and consulting activities, resulting in revenue growth of 19%. Pre-tax profits were up 20% from £6.3m to £7.6m.

It employs almost 600 people in Newry, and nearly 300 people in Belfast. It has also opened new offices at Ormeau Avenue, Belfast.

The company has applied its Kx technology to vertical markets including Formula 1, telecommunications and manufacturing.

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Meanwhile, another Newry firm, STATSports has landed a new deal with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) to provide its wearable technology to all national teams within the federation.

Just weeks after announcing a multi-million-

Brian Conlon

pound expansion to create 237 jobs, the company has positioned itself as one of the beneficiaries of a major investment in football in China.

NEWS

Plan for 1,300 homes under way

By John Mulgrew

A

round 1,300 new homes could be built in Co Antrim in one of the largest developments to take place here in the last few years, it can be revealed.

Plans have now been submitted to construct the homes close to Sprucefield, outside Lisburn.

It would also involve a new link road on the M1 motorway.

An initial pre-application notice was issued for the scheme last year, but now the developer behind the scheme – Neptune Carleton – has submitted an outline planning application for the ambitious project.

developments to be built in Northern Ireland in recent years.

If the plans, which could include 1,300 homes on the large site at Blaris, get the go-ahead, it would be one of the largest residential property

Elsewhere, a major £100m housing development in Larne was awarded outline planning permission.

DECEMBER 2018

Nuport Developments has been given the early go-ahead for 500 houses on the 45-acre site at Ballyboley in the town. The Ballyclarebased developer is now expected to progress to a more detailed plan for the housing scheme.

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BREXIT

NI Secretary Karen Bradley speaks to media following a meeting with business leaders

The Brexit draft agreement: business reaction T he publication of a draft agreement between the Prime Minister and Brussels over the UK’s exit from the EU has caused a huge stir among the political institutions. In its wake, several cabinet members have resigned, opposed to what they see is a softening of Theresa May’s position on leaving the EU.

Essentially, for Northern Ireland’s business community in particular, it would remain part of the same customs territory as the rest of the UK and the entire area would be subject to “level playing field” commitments requiring the UK to follow EU rules in areas like animal welfare, environmental and workplace protections.

But what do Northern Ireland business groups think?  AODHAN CONNOLLY, DIRECTOR OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND RETAIL CONSORTIUM “While it will take some time to go through the 500 plus pages of the agreement, on the face of it this document provides some reassurance to our industry and the NI consumer. It provides solutions to customs, tariffs, an innovative solution on VAT, support for the Peace Process and a possible longer transition period.”

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 CAROLYN FAIRBAIRN, CBI DIRECTOR-GENERAL “After 20 months of debate, this agreement by cabinet is progress. It moves the UK one step away from the nightmare precipice of no deal and the harm it would cause to communities across the country. Securing a transition period has long been firms’ top priority and every day that passes without one means lost investment and jobs, hitting the most vulnerable hardest.”  GLYN ROBERTS, RETAIL NI CHIEF EXECUTIVE “This is a complex and detailed document which needs considerable analysis and further clarification from the UK Government. We will be consulting our respective memberships on this document and we will set out in greater detail our views when we have completed this process.”

 MICHAEL HALL, MANAGING PARTNER, EY NORTHERN IRELAND “The backstop guarantee is a positive development for NI firms operating on an all-island basis, not least the restatement that both sides intend to work towards a free trade agreement longer term, which should not be overlooked.”

 FSB NI POLICY CHAIRMAN, TINA MCKENZIE “Businesses have been calling for months for agreement to be reached between the UK and EU negotiators, so it can only be welcome that a text has been agreed. We are acutely aware of the political machinations which are ongoing, however it must be remembered that without an agreed withdrawal agreement, the UK will crash out in March 2019, without a transition period, nor agreement on citizens’ rights, nor any plan to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.”  UFU PRESIDENT, IVOR FERGUSON “The situation remains very fluid and we are reviewing the document in detail. Ultimately, we would like a UK wide solution – full stop.

However, this agreement does provide an insurance policy to prevent a no deal outcome, which would be disastrous for farm businesses and the economy in Northern Ireland.”  COLIN NEILL, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HOSPITALITY ULSTER “The current draft agreement appears to provide for unfettered access to goods and services plus visa access for visitors, which is welcome.

However, our current advice would indicate that it may present barriers to cutting VAT and abolishing air passenger duty (APD) in NI and does not resolve our labour issues.” ■

COVER STORY

Growing and leading the way Ulster Business speaks to EY Northern Ireland’s leadership about growing its headcount to 500 people, its progressive working environment and leading the way in innovation

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Y in Northern Ireland is a thriving and burgeoning business which is showing no signs of slowing down.

It’s also celebrating a major milestone in Northern Ireland, having grown its workforce to more than 500 staff.

The professional services firm, which provides assurance (audit), consultancy, tax and transaction advisory services, has reported double digit growth for eight consecutive years in Northern Ireland, having already grown its revenue by 20%, year-on-year, in the past three years.

According to managing partner for EY Northern Ireland, Michael Hall, the strength, expansion and resilience of the firm is down to its people.

“A primary strategic focus for us is not only to retain the people we have, but also to attract the best talent. That means sustaining the unique culture we have, which is built on being open, inclusive, transparent and having a collaborative and teaming approach to everything that we do – irrespective of what grade you are within the firm. If you feel you have a point of view, then you can and should contribute. That is critical to us.”

It’s those core beliefs that Michael believes set the organisation apart from the rest. As a result of its continued expansion, EY Northern Ireland has also just appointed two new partners – Andrew Dolliver, who sits within the firm’s Transaction Advisory services, and Ian Edwards in Tax. Andrew specialises in restructuring, providing strategic advice to corporate clients,

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lenders and private equity houses across the island of Ireland, while Ian is responsible for providing speciality tax services to a wide range of indigenous, multinational and global companies.

EY works with some of the largest private sector companies, government bodies and equity investors throughout the island of Ireland and beyond – spread across a range of sectors.

“We have now exceeded the 500 employee mark in Northern Ireland, which is a significant milestone for us. This is being driven by very strong performance across all four of our service lines which include tax, transaction advisory services, assurance and advisory.”

FOCUS ON PEOPLE “I am proud to say that as a firm, we really embrace diversity. Whether that be gender, age, ability, sexuality or other differences, seen and unseen,” Michael says.

“It’s this diversity of perspectives, experiences and thinking styles that contributes to our culture, and I think that’s where clients really see a difference. We know from experience that when we have diverse teams collaborating on complex problems, we are able to deliver the best outcome for our clients.”

Michael says that EY’s focus on its purpose of ‘building a better working world’, also

translates to strong employee engagement and satisfaction.

“We know that our people want to feel that they are a part of something bigger, and are satisfied that they are making a difference when they come into work every day.”

According to EY’s head of recruitment in Belfast, Sarah McKeag, “you are actively encouraged to be yourself” at the firm.

“Like many businesses we are operating in a very competitive market and it is critical we consistently share our story so we can continue to recruit the best people.”

That includes flexible working across teams – from different patterns and hours to being based at home certain days of the week.

COVER STORY

Ian Edwards, Sarah McKeag, Michael Hall and Andrew Dolliver

“There is huge opportunity for good people to progress in their career here. Our business has grown from strength-to-strength which creates the business case for our people to be promoted. This is evident with more than 100 people promoted or progressed in Belfast this year alone,” Sarah said.

In addition to taking on a number of graduates every year, many of whom go on to become fully qualified chartered accountants, the firm also prides itself on having a very low turnover of staff in an increasingly-competitive market.

INNOVATION AT THE FOREFRONT While economic growth in Northern Ireland is set to match the UK in 2018, it will fall below UK rates of growth in 2019 and 2020, if a Brexit agreement is reached which involves a two-year transition period and a free trade

DECEMBER 2018

agreement thereafter.

Against this backdrop, Northern Irish businesses are investing in their operations, especially when it comes to innovation and technology, according to Tax partner Ian Edwards, with companies “trying to identify what the next disrupter will be in their sector”.

“A great example of this can be seen across the construction sector where traditional companies are investing in research into virtual reality capabilities to bring buildings to life before a spade hits the ground,” he says.

Within EY, Ian says the firm is investing significantly in technology to add greater value to clients. “Within tax, for example, we have rolled out a ground breaking Capital Allowances Automated Review Tool (CAART)

which uses Artificial Intelligence to determine the tax treatment of capital additions. By stripping away the manual intensive analysis process, we are able to focus on the aspects of the analysis that will produce greater value to our clients”.

Ian adds, “Our clients are increasingly turning to us for advice and insights on how to manage risk, where to seek growth, and how to integrate data analytics and technologies into their strategy and operations. Like us, they’re focused on driving innovation – not just in products and services, but in business models, too.”

That includes everything from artificial intelligence (AI) – such as using machines to interpret data and deliver outputs much faster than humans – to robotic process >

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Michael Hall, Andrew Dolliver, Sarah McKeag and Ian Edwards

COVER STORY

automation (RPA), which sees repetitive tasks simplified.

In addition, part of EY’s job with its clients is helping them navigate the often complicated world of technology and being able to introduce AI into their business.

Michael said: “While many organisations are tempted to try to retrofit their people around huge technological investments, we believe that people are the first step. Innovation is innately human, and involves an investment in people as well as technology. Ensuring an organisation has the right diversity of skills is vital, and should happen before big investment decisions are made. We are developing new service offerings through our data analytics and AI teams and starting to recruit different people with different skillsets” LOCAL FOOTPRINT, GLOBAL REACH And while the firm is a Northern Ireland business, it’s also part of a huge global network – allowing it to both feel like a local business

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while also benefiting from the expertise, investment and assets of a large international firm.

pronounced a bubble in rental and housing costs, and Michael says there are positive signs on the horizon.

Newly appointed Transaction Advisory Services partner, Andrew Dolliver, says: “I like to think we have the best of both worlds.

We have a wealth of local experts on the ground here – but we can bring expertise from Dublin, London, or elsewhere in the world. Bringing this global expertise to our local clients is becoming even more valuable as their businesses face increasing disruption and a faster pace of change. With our help, our clients are both evolving their current business models and positioning themselves to capitalise on new opportunities presented by this disruption.”

“While there has been consistent low GDP growth, wage growth in Northern Ireland is forecast to be 2.5% for this year and our latest Economic Eye survey reports strong job growth in the year to Q2 at 1.6%. In the face of a continually changing landscape, our clients know that they can’t stand still, despite uncertainty around Brexit and the implications of future trading arrangements. Our teams have witnessed this new, more practical phase of Brexit preparations first hand, demonstrating a shift in mind-set amongst businesses north and south as they look towards March 2019.”

CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR NI BUT BUSINESSES REMAIN CONFIDENT While Northern Ireland is still emerging from a tough economic climate, the unemployment rate remains lower than in the Republic of Ireland, and the region is not enduring as

There’s no slowing down for EY in Northern Ireland. Michael says it’s aiming to double its revenue over the next three years, which will see it continue to grow its headcount and further grow its service offering for clients, which will be enhanced by further innovation and advancements in technology. ■

IN FOCUS

‘A no deal would be mad and disruptive for Northern Ireland’ Dale Farm chief executive Nick Whelan speaks to John Mulgrew about bringing pride to the business, growing profits, facing Brexit hurdles and expanding the dairy giant’s portfolio

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ick Whelan took over at the helm of Northern Ireland’s largest dairy co-operative just as the UK decided it wanted to leave the world’s largest trading bloc.

Now, marking two years in the role, after replacing long-time boss David Dobbin, he says he wanted to grow earnings and profit

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IN FOCUS to more than £20m, while diversifying into product lines with bigger margins for the some 1,300 farmers which own the operation.

At the time of writing, we still haven’t agreed what arrangement will be in place to safeguard the current trading freedoms Northern Ireland producers have. A deal is on the table, though.

Nick says that, aside from issues around getting staff, a transition must be in place after March 29 for export certificates, otherwise he can’t sell product outside the UK. “I have an ambition to get it to the mid-20s (EBITA earnings in millions). We are growing our EBITA from the £12m average to about £30m.”

back some of the farmers which it has lost to other competitors.

“At one point we had a billion litres of milk, now it’s around 850 million. We hadn’t been paying a particularly good milk price.

“What it (the business) had done is invested in itself quite heavily, and invested in the future, and had made a really brave strategic decision in 2012, long before I came here, to get out of producing milk powders, and getting in to cheese and whey.

“Now, that cost them £40m to do that. That was really brave.

“The first thing we did was get out to farmers, and explain to them what their business was.

Pre-tax profits have cracked the £12m mark in the last year, while turnover has soared by almost £100m to £482m.

“We have paid a leading milk price, and that has brought genuine pride.

Nick says he turned his attention to attracting

“We needed to get into the business. The most

DECEMBER 2018

fundamental change – it’s a people agenda.

We were a very centralised business and all decisions came from the top, and went out.

“Now, we have put the business into seven strategic business units and we are getting more adept with strategy, day-to-day, and developing people within the business to take ownership.”

Nick says it’s about getting the right people into the business, and helping mentor and develop strong teams to ensure Dale Farm’s success.

“We have spent a lot of money on additional people in the business. It’s not about numbers, it’s not about capacity, it’s about capability. We are really trying to find world-class people. > He said the firm will spend another £2m on its people this year. Meanwhile, data and decision making is another area it’s expanding and developing. >

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IN FOCUS

“We have a little bit of latency in the business, and I’m saying how do I get live information to those people?”

That includes looking at new markets and products. Nick says the business had been focusing on the macro, and perhaps missed potential opportunities.

“We have massive opportunities for growth,” he said. “The EBITA growth isn’t necessarily about growing your top-line, although it will grow a bit. We process 850 million litres of milk. Are you making sure you are making products which will give you the most profit from that – the answer to that is no.

“We can switch categories and products, and we can make a whole lot more money with the 850 million litres.

“It’s looking at consumer trends by getting out of commoditised type products and getting in to more value-added products.

That’s about understanding your consumer.”

He said the business has made “serious traction” in the last two years, as a company.

As for growth in the future, with March 29 around the corner, Nick says it will continue “as long as there isn’t something mad and disruptive from Brexit”.

“That could happen. A ‘no deal’ and no transition Brexit is mad and disruptive and changes everything. I don’t think people have really looked at it, and really understand what it means. We have looked at it, and it’s very challenging.”

For Dale Farm, Nick’s Brexit concerns centre around staff and people – with around 22% of the workforce EU nationals.

Nick says the company has struggled to get lorry drivers when milk supply is at its peak.

But for Dale Farm, and other food processors, there is a concern over the certification process, following Brexit.

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“It’s basically an export certificate for dairy products. You are not allowed to export without this certificate,” Nick says.

“For example, we have signed a quite public announcement with Lidl. We are supplying Lidl all over the world. If Lidl were to ask me in the morning, can you guarantee that you can supply my countries outside the UK on April 1? I actually can’t.

“It’s nothing to do with tariffs or costs. If I don’t have animal health export certificates approved well-ahead of Brexit – these things take about six months to negotiate.

“I’m screaming at DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) here to get this done now.”

“Why don’t you agree the wording, and have

the work done, so when the agreement is or isn’t made… now you can start.

“It’s a huge risk for this industry here, if we can’t get stuff off the island.”

Around 37% of Northern Ireland’s dairy output goes to the EU and the rest of the world.

“In milk, milk keeps flowing. We can’t say to farmers ‘we can’t sell the product, can’t get the certificates, tell the cows to take a break for a few weeks’. It doesn’t happen.

“I’m going to have to reassess... ‘how long can I survive not selling my 37% of dairy off the island?’

“If there is a no-transition no-deal Brexit it will be really bad for business. Supply chains will be severely disputed and you’ll have a shortage of products everywhere.” ■

IT & technology Sponsored by

DECEMBER 2018

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IT & TECHNOLOGY

IT

and the

City Deal John Mulgrew looks at what major IT elements Belfast and the surrounding regions could get out of a potential £1bn City Deal

W

hen it was formally announced that the Government would put forward £350m from the Treasury towards a finance pot worth up to £1bn for six councils as part of a new City Deal, it’s obvious that IT, innovation and manufacturing technologies would be high on the list.

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The Belfast Region City Deal will see a series of projects and schemes taking place across, Belfast, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid and East Antrim, Ards and North Down, Lisburn and Castlereagh, and Newry, Mourne and Down.

And with that, a series of major IT initiatives

are being outlined, many in collaboration with Ulster University and Queen’s University, in a bid to grow and expand Northern Ireland’s credentials on a global scale.

“Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University have collaborated extensively to develop proposals for global centres of

IT & TECHNOLOGY

proposed funding will come from matched finance from Stormont, with the remaining from the councils.

And if they pull it off, they are predicting as many as 20,000 new jobs could be created.

DIGITAL HEALTHCARE In a bid to further grow and develop Northern Ireland’s position on the international healthcare market, the City Deal proposes creating a branded cluster of medical device and technology companies that “through a supportive and collaborative eco system of co-location and working will build the size and value of the sector”.

The centre aims to attract and develop businesses across a range of areas, especially in the areas of cardiology, diabetes, respiratory and stroke.

It says that a key aspect of the proposed cluster is the partnership working with scientists and companies with the existing pilot clinical lab at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

innovation excellence in key growth sectors in which world-leading expertise in our universities can be leveraged by businesses to create breakthrough technologies, products and services,” the City Deal proposal says.

And it adds that a deal “requires a catalyst that will drive forward investment in research

DECEMBER 2018

and development and help embed a culture of innovation to act as a driver for increased productivity”.

The councils took their case to Westminster at the end of October, and following that, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced the Treasury’s commitment. The rest of the

Also in the pipeline is the ‘i-Reach’ project.

Led by Queen’s University, Ulster University and partners from the life and health sciences sector, those behind the City Deal say it sits within the umbrella of an “emerging health innovation NI concept which seeks to bring a unified ‘front door’ for external investment into the health and life sciences sector”.

DIGITAL PARTNERSHIP It is proposing a “physical and digital >

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IT & TECHNOLOGY

Pictured at the Houses of Parliament is delegation of councillors and business leaders for the City Deal bid

environment” to allow the academic research community, tech entrepreneurs and industrial partners will come together to address key challenges in business and society through the application of the IoT (Internet of Things) and data science.

Those behind it say it will support a common approach to big data sourcing and management, including early adoption of prevailing industry standards and codes of practice for secure and ethical use of data.

There are also plans for a ‘global innovation institute’. The plans say it will draw together the skills of several areas of Queen’s University – which includes electronics, communications and information technology, health sciences and food security – to “anchor and support the creation of a Global Innovation Quarter in Belfast”.

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY According to those behind the City Deal, the will operate at the interface between academia and industry “accelerating new technology developments through the innovation phase and ensuring that real

24

industrial challenges based on market need are solved through collaboration with the best university research”.

former St Patrick’s Barracks site in Ballymena into a new science park – Integrated Industrial Inspiration and Innovation Campus called i4C.

Queen’s and Ulster University have developed an ‘advanced manufacturing innovation centre’ concept, that will “become the springboard for manufacturing innovation within the region”.

It’s being proposed that each council area will have some form of innovation hub, which will be directed towards business development.

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES Northern Ireland has already proven itself on the big and small screen, but there has been a strong move towards growing that further still. Aside from NI providing the facilities and backdrop for most of Game of Thrones, there’s also been the development of the Belfast Harbour Film Studios.

Part of the City Deal plan involves boosting that position, with a ‘screen and media innovation lab’ bringing together “transformative production, studio and R&D facilities”.

SCIENCE PARK Elsewhere, in Mid and East Antrim, plans are under way for the transformation of the

CONNECTIVITY Aside from specific schemes, infrastructure and connectivity improvements are part of the plans. That includes improvements in fibreoptic and mobiles broadband connectivity.

It comes as mobile network EE, part of the BT Group, announced that Belfast is among six cities across the UK which have been chosen for the first phase of its 5G launch.

“Our 5G trials are going well, giving us valuable insight into both the performance of the new technology and the challenges of upgrading sites with this new equipment,” Marc Allera, chief executive of BT’s consumer division said. “We’re confident that we can bring 5G to the busiest parts of Belfast and the UK in 2019.” ■

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Northern Ireland has everything it needs to be a world leader in fintech

By Georgina O’Leary, UK Government fintech envoy for Northern Ireland

Georgina O’Leary

I

t’s coming up to Christmas and more and more of us these days will go online to shop with the likes of Amazon and other websites to buy presents.

This online trend is not just for Christmas but one that consumers engage in all year round.

Official statistics released in September show that UK retail experienced record spending online.

This is just one of the most visible signs of a revolution that is sweeping across the UK and global economy. Fintech is here, and it is changing everything.

Fintech is short for financial technology. It’s the apps, computer programmes and other technologies that support and improve how we bank and access finance. It also encompasses payment technologies that make it so easy to buy those Christmas presents online.

The UK Government has recognised the incredible opportunities this sector presents, and earlier this year Chancellor Philip Hammond appointed four ‘fintech envoys’ to drive it forward and show what a central part it is now playing in our knowledge economy.

I was honoured to be one of the envoys chosen to lead the charge here in Northern Ireland. As the director of innovation, research and development at Allstate Northern Ireland, I have witnessed first-hand the impact innovations in fintech have already had and will continue to have on every aspect of the economy.

DECEMBER 2018

As envoy, it’s my job to champion Northern Ireland as a place for firms to develop and grow their business. There are reasons why Belfast is the world’s number one destination for Fintech development investment projects.

World class Universities, an exceptional talent pool and an international reputation as a world leading cyber security hub are just a few of the reasons why big multi-national firms have decided to invest in the Fintech sector in Northern Ireland.

It’s not just big multi-nationals, however, the start-up scene in Belfast is also vibrant.

Start-ups and big companies are both reaping the benefits of these changes and collaborating to do so. Barclays is one of the major partners of the Ormeau Baths, which is well established and full of some of the brightest and best indigenous tech start-ups, competing on a global scale.

This start-up scene is also growing. The newly announced Catalyst Belfast Fintech Hub, the

product of a partnership between Danske Bank and Catalyst Inc, is hugely ambitious and will help boost and grow the next generation of fintech business start-ups.

Northern Ireland isn’t just good for fintech, fintech is good for Northern Ireland. The sector currently contributes around £6.6bn to the UK economy and employs 61,000 people across the country.

Thousands of those jobs are in Northern Ireland, with 2,000 people already employed as software engineers and systems architects in the development of trading technology platforms.

The sector is not just providing jobs, but high skilled, high paid careers that drive economic growth across Northern Ireland.

The UK is backing fintech because the opportunities, especially to Northern Ireland, are incredible and can revolutionise our economy, if we embrace them. ■

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IT & TECHNOLOGY

Your future awaits T

echnology innovation is continually disrupting traditional business models and business leaders need to move fast to deliver new platforms and applications to meet customer needs.

Companies that are reluctant to change risk losing clients and could potentially suffer severe consequences.

In this digital era, consumers are increasingly informed, demanding and engaged. Greater choice is paramount, as consumers want to increase personal productivity, improve their social collaboration experience and they want to do this through seamless, interconnected technology with access available anywhere, 24/7.

Businesses now operate in a highly competitive environment where traditional rules and methods have changed dramatically over the space of the last decade. Companies willing to identify innovative opportunities and embrace technology solutions can and will achieve an advantage over their competition. There are new things coming out every day to help business lower costs, get more customers, and improve their overall business health.

Technology is enhancing traditional business models and creating new ones at an unprecedented rate. Social media, analytics, mobility, ‘gamification’, cyber-security and the cloud will act as enablers to the next generation of trends, which will surpass today’s in scale, complexity and impact on the world around us.

There is no in-between, only those who embrace technology and those who don’t. If you haven’t already embraced technology, you risk missing out. A ‘wait and see’ approach is risky because in the digital economy, speed counts. Consumers expect products and services to be instantly available through whatever channel they choose.

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In many cases technology is a prerequisite for organisational growth and success but technology in itself does not equate to business ability. The customer, culture and employees along with business continuity must be at the

centre of every investment. Consciously making the decision to modernise your workplace toolkit will enable your team to provide better customer experiences, increase productivity and drive profitability.

Not sure how to get started? Take a step back, address your current environment and identify the key areas that can be improved. Then, explore the solutions and best-in-class devices that will accommodate your unique needs.

Building technology into your offerings from the ground up, in addition to cultivating a highly specialised technology workforce, can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be.

Every business should have the tools it needs to explore IT to its fullest. Get in touch if you want to discover ways to better manage infrastructure today and transform outcomes for the future. ■ Outsource Solutions is an award-winning IT and telecoms managed service provider.

Established in 2000, it now has offices in Antrim, Belfast, Cookstown, Dublin and Edinburgh, with customers including leading names from the hospitality, engineering, legal, professional services, manufacturing and food sectors.

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Barclay Group growth leads to 35 new jobs

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eading telecoms business Barclay Group is set to recruit an additional 35 new staff as it continues its rapid growth following 21 years in the industry.

Established in 1997, the Barclay Group has grown and developed from a single phone shop in Larne to employing nearly 200 staff across Belfast, Glasgow and Dublin, encompassing industry leading solutions throughout mobile, fixed line, digital services and workflow management software.

It’s set for a year of record growth, with expectations to grow on its current 75,000 connections ranging across various markets including Government bodies and SMEs. After recently increasing its staff force by 15 in Q3 it has further expansion plans creating the need for 35 new job roles.

For the second year running it has secured its place on the Government Framework. It is this achievement that has been a large part of the successful growth and a key strategy for the future.

As a continued public sector supplier, the Barclay Group has the opportunity to present

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Britt Megahey, managing director of Barclay Group

its offering to a range of public sector bodies including schools, universities, police and fire services, NHS hospitals and agencies.

The framework enables approved suppliers and buyers a transparent environment where availability, stock and pricing is readily available.

The Group’s products and services include unique business mobile solutions, traditional landline, hosted VoIP systems, IT services and workflow management software.

The portfolio is growing rapidly and its new VoIP solution has become a large part of the Group’s plans and vision for the future. VoIP is in essence, the future of workplace telephony, with calls going through a high speed broadband connection rather than traditional

copper lines. By 2025 the market has been advised that traditional analogue lines will be a thing of the past, especially as so many organisations have already started to embrace this new technology.

Now supplying various products to copious UK businesses that include many of Northern Ireland’s top 100 companies, the Barclay Group has secured key relationships throughout Northern Ireland and has adopted the same approach to the UK market; successfully winning over 63% of the tenders that it has submitted. Although it is not currently the Group’s market they have also achieved success into markets stretching as far as Switzerland and the UAE. Priding itself on high quality customer service,

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Barclay Group’s account management team

the Barclay Group holds the largest account management team of any independent communications company in Northern Ireland and is amongst the largest in the UK and Ireland. The organisation is led by a management team that has over 21 years experience and continues to keep staff development at the forefront of its plans.

Britt Megahey, managing director, says: “21 years in the industry is no easy task. I firmly believe that our staff’s passion, throughout all departments, to achieve customer satisfaction, is what sets us apart.

“Over 84% of our customers have been with us for more than eight years; it is this loyalty that provides stability for further expansion and investment to providing more value and product range in return.

Mobile is, and continues to be at the heart of what we have to offer, however the expansion of the Group’s products into workflow

DECEMBER 2018

management software, hosted VoIP and landlines solutions is what has created a buzz around the company.

“The ability to provide these solutions to our customers at the best value, serviced from the highest possible standard, is extremely satisfying and something that myself and our staff are very proud of.

“I’ve taken serious consideration and listened to our customers when choosing the products we work with. I want to ensure that we manage and maintain our products directly in house, whilst strategically looking to the future to keep our loyal customers ahead in their industries via various technology and communication needs.”

Having the ability to single bill many of its products, the Barclay Group feels it provides a much clearer solution to its customers and is something that has been well received by existing customers.

Although its account management team is extensive, the Group recognises how important it is to provide its customers with the opportunity to manage their own spending. It provides platforms to all of their services, that customers can make changes, raise alerts, run bill queries or log work.

The growth and plans for further expansion has had a positive impact right across the business, achieving multiple industry awards such as Best Business to Business Partner, Partner of the Year and SMB Convergence Solutions Specialist.

Shortlisted for many more and hopeful of further success, they continue to hold the highest accolades with their own partners, such as their Direct Partnership with O2, Sony, Samsung, BT, Microsoft and Apple. ■ For more information on the Barclay Group’s products and services visit www.barclaycomms. com or call (028) 90 960 366

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DELOITTE FAST 50 AWARDS

David Shanahan, Deloitte partner, with Repstor chief executive Alan McMillen and Peter Allen, Deloitte partner

Thirteen top NI firms make Deloitte Technology Fast 50

A

total of 13 Northern Ireland companies have made it on to this year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50

Derivatives, Flint Studios, Learning Pool, Lucid Interactive, Made to Engage, Neueda, Ozaroo, Repstor, Tascomi and The Web Bureau.

list.

Now in its 19th year, the awards provide the definitive rundown of the fastest growing tech firms across the island, based on revenue growth.

Belfast software firm Repstor was the highestranked firm from Northern Ireland – coming in at number 10.

Companies which have appeared on the Fast 50 in previous years include Kainos and Andor Technologies, which have grown from small start-ups to become internationally recognised sector leaders.

The full list of Northern Ireland firms to feature on the 2018 Fast 50 is: AquaQ Analytics, Decision Time, Export Technologies, First

DECEMBER 2018

The companies found out where they had placed on the list at a gala dinner on November 2 in Dublin, with Dublin-based XSellco topping the list.

Peter Allen, partner at Deloitte NI, said: “The Fast 50 is well established as the ultimate guide to the fastest growing indigenous technology firms across the island of Ireland.

“Yet again Northern Ireland firms have made a strong impact and this year we’re pleased to see so many companies that have featured on the list before, retaining their place in the Fast 50.

Deloitte partner Glenn Roberts, Made to Engage managing director Steven Cassin and Deloitte partner Peter Allen

“The technology sector is already an important contributor to the Northern Ireland economy and Deloitte believes it has a big role to play >

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TITLE DELOITTE FAST 50 AWARDS in driving the economy forward in the years ahead, so it is encouraging to see so many innovative local companies enjoying such stellar growth.”

The Fast 50 is open to companies from across the technology spectrum, including software, hardware, communications, media, clean-tech and life sciences. Deloitte ranks the companies based on their revenue growth over the previous four years.

Alan McMillen, chief executive of Repstor,

The AquaQ Analytics team

said: “It’s a real achievement for Repstor to be acknowledged in Deloitte’s Fast 50, particularly as the highest ranking company from Northern Ireland.

Mark Casey, telecoms, media and entertainment global lead, Deloitte

“Repstor has taken inspiration from our contemporaries and also the great heritage of innovative companies in Northern Ireland who have paved the way in terms of accessing global markets. We provide software that helps corporations manage their content better and

David Shanahan, Deloitte partner, Ray Nolan, xSellco and Brendan Jennings, chief executive, Deloitte Ireland

we can do that for customers anywhere in the world. We have invested a huge amount of resources into finding the right staff in order to successfully break into different markets.”

The 2018 Deloitte Fast 50 ranking Ranking 1.

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Company name

County

Ranking

xSellco eShopWorld mAdme Technologies Ltd I3PT Certification Ltd HomeSecure LearnUpon Future Finance Mobacar Spearline Repstor Limited Fenergo Welltel SilverCloud Health Made to Engage Limited ThinScale Technology Aspira Granite Digital Ozaroo DesignPro Automation Arkphire AccountsIQ Wolfgang Digital Ltd Asystec Lucid Interactive Roomex

Dublin Dublin Dublin Dublin Dublin Dublin Dublin Kerry Cork Antrim Dublin Dublin Dublin Antrim Dublin Cork Cork Antrim Limerick Dublin Dublin Dublin Limerick Derry Dublin

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Company name

County

Anam Technology Phorest Neueda GeoForms Software Limited SL Controls Ltd Click&Go First Derivatives Plc Intact Software Action Point Innovation Limited Integrity360 Kelsius Learning Pool Ltd Intellicom Marino Software Data Solutions Export Technologies Limited AquaQ Analytics Limited Flint Studios Global shares Ocuco TransferMate Global Payments Decision Time Tascomi ITQuotes The Web Bureau

Dublin Dublin Antrim Dublin Sligo Dublin Down Louth Limerick Dublin Donegal Derry Offaly Dublin Dublin Antrim Antrim Antrim Cork Dublin Kilkenny Antrim Down Dublin Antrim

NI HOSPICE

Brendan Rodgers with Orla Adamson

The best of business and sport championing a force for good The Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice wants to partner with business leaders from right across the province. We speak to some of its supporters, including Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, and why they are firmly behind the charity

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W

hen Northern Ireland’s top sporting exports and business leaders are getting directly involved in a charitable cause as worthwhile as the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, it’s hard to ignore the work the organisation is doing on a dayto-day basis.

The Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice was established in 1996 and is the only dedicated palliative care service in Northern Ireland.

Among those working closely with the charity are Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, founder of Vanrath, Wayne Sullivan and Pinnacle chairman, Ken Montgomery.

The organisation cares for around 350 infants, children and their families, each year. With annual costs of £3.8m, the children’s hospice depends heavily on donations from the public to keep vital services going.

But in addition to that, the children’s hospice is focused on boosting and growing philanthropic relationships with Northern Ireland business leaders who want to establish long-term links and a partnership with a charity who make a positive and meaningful impact across Northern Ireland.

And as a result of that, it’s Time to Care programme was created – looking at new and innovative ways to reach out for key support.

NI HOSPICE

felt the direct impact of what you are doing.”

The key focus is enabling businesses to fund the cost of a qualified children’s nurse for a year. That relationship then offers a company access to co-branding opportunities and its own business network.

Wayne Sullivan, Ken Montgomery, Brendan Rodgers and Heather Weir

Heather Weir is chief executive of the NI Hospice. “The NI Hospice costs £14m to run each year, and we have to raise £7.5m for direct care costs every year through our fundraising efforts,” she says.

“As well as relying on the local community, we rely on business support too. With the vast amount of charities out there, we have been looking at how we can align the charity with business leaders and their companies, in terms of a fresh partnership approach.

“In the last number of years, it’s been a great opportunity for me to meet people like Wayne, who I have met before – like-minded people who are very driven in their professional life, but alongside that, they have a real duty of care for organisation they support.”

“What you have when you support the NI Hospice is something tangible.”

The Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice has opened two new cots this year, at a cost of £350,000 each. And for each cot, the children’s hospice needs five paediatric nurses.

And the target for the NI Hospice in the next three years is focused on achieving maximum capacity, bringing it to 10 cots and beds, serving over 1,000 infants and children living with a life limiting and life threatening illness.

That’s an additional £1.4m over the next three years that’s needed.

So, what’s the key message to get Northern Ireland businesses of all shapes and sizes involved?

“We looked at how we could make supporting a charity feel really meaningful for businesses.

Wayne Sullivan, founder of Vanrath, said: “What we have come up with is a project where all donations and funding goes into a specific account that is designated solely for the use of spending on nurse salaries.

“As a charity we need business insights, and not just in fundraising support. Having a network of business leaders is a practical way of supporting the hospice.”

“You know where the money is going and that really ticks a box from our perspective. The nurses also come out to provide presentations of what they have been doing.

“The key word is alignment... you want to align yourself with those values that will drive your business, your people and your customers or beneficiaries.”

Heather says, aside from helping young people with life-limiting conditions, it’s also a chance for them to help improve their companies corporate social responsibility agenda.

“But as return for this, we get to use the brand and we co-partner. This is a marketing partnership.”

This year, it has also launched its Jingle All the Way campaign. It encourages businesses, organisations, schools, clubs, churches and individuals across Northern Ireland to get involved and fundraise through a variety of areas, including a 5k run, a Jingle bake-off and a Jingle Jumper Day.

For Co Antrim man Brendan Rodgers – who paid a visit to the organisation’s Newtownabbey base alongside Wayne Sullivan and Ken Montgomery – the connection started with a letter from the NI Hospice, back when he was manager of Liverpool.

“When I met Heather and came over, it was something from a personal perspective. We are all brought up as carers in Northern Ireland, and we want to give back. But I also felt that my role and responsibility as a manager – sport touches a lot of people and I could use it in a way that would hopefully open up doors for the NI Hospice in a different way.

DECEMBER 2018

The Time to Care relationship with companies also includes a Business Ambassadors network, which brings leaders together across a range of events.

Ken Montgomery, chairman of Pinnacle, said: “For us at Pinnacle, my interest was the corporate social aspect of it and giving back to the community. Running a successful business in the community, I think there is a big role for corporates to play.”

“It was also selling it to our own employees – the people working in the company. One of the things that appealed to me was having the direct contact with a particular nurse, and you

“For most top businesses, their brand will have a set of values which is important to them.”

Brendan says.

Time to Care is a unique offer for business leaders to support the children’s hospice and the specialist nurses who provide vital care to infants and children with a life limiting illness across Northern Ireland. ■ If you are interested in becoming a Time to Care partner or would like to arrange a meeting to find out more, please contact: Susan McGookin, executive assistant to the chief executive Heather Weir at susan.mcgookin@nihospice.org or telephone 028 9078 1836

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TITLE SURVEY

Construction ‘facing crisis point’ over public sector work

By John Mulgrew

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orthern Ireland’s construction sector is facing a “crisis point” amid a lack of an Executive and a drying up of public sector work.

John Armstrong, managing director of the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) was speaking as its latest survey, alongside BDO, says two thirds of companies here cite the restoration of devolved government as their main priority.

The survey, which covers the first six months of the year, gauges the opinions and confidence of 88 of Northern Ireland’s best-known construction firms.

65%

“Expectations for the construction industry over the next 12 months is generally flat, with pessimism slightly outweighing optimism on the immediate future of the industry,” it says.

Percentage of construction firms planning to grow workforce

Meanwhile, profit margins have largely been stagnant, with 55% of firms saying they have stayed the same, while 12% indicating their margins have got slightly better and 25% slightly worse Overall challenges facing the sector include

plan, there should be an abundance of opportunities for contractors to tender for public works.”

The proportion of firms who say restoration of devolved government is a priority

39%

Among the findings, it says – much like the last six months of 2017 – the majority of businesses who are involved in public sector work do not expect to see growth in this area in the next 12 months.

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rising costs, across labour, materials and plant – with materials increasing for 91% of businesses and labour costs increasing for 87% of businesses

“These expectations are flipped when asked about expectations for the industry outside of NI with 39% expecting things to get at least a little better.”

But the issue of a lack of public sector pipeline work remains a concern, according to John Armstrong.

“With only 59 schemes in-procurement at the mid-point in the financial year, there is a crisis point coming within the industry,” he said.

“When we also consider that the public sector capital budget is at its highest point since 2007 and several high-profile Executive Flagship schemes are not running to their initial financial

On a Brexit, just one in three firms say they have started planning for the impact of Brexit on their business. Around half of those quizzed believe that the UK will stay in the current customs union with the EU or agree a new union, or partnership.

Sean Lavery, partner at BDO Northern Ireland, said the performance of our construction industry has “largely hinged on hands-on management, mitigation of risk and making smart decisions”.

“The half-year survey demonstrates that many of our construction firms are continuing to take this approach in the face of many challenges,” he said.

“The availability of funding is a major issue for many, with lending institutions sighting the construction industry as a higher risk. This lack of funding combined with the absence of an Executive is a critical area of concern for the industry with a number of major infrastructure projects delayed and departments unable to approve projects that have funding already allocated.” ■

RECRUITMENT

Have an ‘Appy’ Christmas

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’ll start by saying sorry for the pun, but it does fit the subject and this time of year. There are so many apps available in the market at present it is easy to be put off by sheer volume alone. Below are some apps I really like, they can be used to support the recruitment process and save you lots of time, effort and budget.

Justin Rush

Calendly This online calendar will allow you to share your availability with anyone whom you send the link to. Set up a dedicated account for your interview team and then send the link to candidates and allow them to schedule their own interview, save the back and forth.

Grammarly A really clever and free aid to anyone that uses social media. ‘Grammarly will make sure your messages, documents, and social media posts are clear, mistake-free, and impactful.’ Add via chrome and you will never make a spelling mistake again (as long as you ensure your settings are UK and not US).

Gotowebinar If you want to present a consistent message to a group then this is the tool to use. Share your presentation to your audience, field questions and polls, even record the presentation for future groups to view at their convenience. Try GoToWebinar for outlining your recruitment process and offering to a group of graduates, it will provide tremendous clarity and help manage expectations.

Hootsuite Keeping your social presence alive can be a challenge, and although Hootsuite does not respond for you it does schedule for you, across many platforms for free – such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Linkedin.

HireVue Arranging pre-screening interviews locally can be difficult enough, if you are scheduling

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candidates from different time zones it can be a real nightmare. This app allows both parties to use video to speed up the process, the interviewer records the questions, the interviewee records their answers. All at their own convenience and timezone.

SourceHub Not actually an app, this clever web extension will allow you to build Boolean search strings with consummate ease. Great for identifying niche talent anywhere in the world. Just sign up and download.

CATS Offered by a US-based firm, this applicant

tracking system (ATS) offers a lot of bang for your buck ($69 or £54 a month to be exact). It is ideal for SMEs who do not need an enterprise level solution, the entry level version has everything you need: emails and scheduling, website integration, text functions and workflows.

I am confident that these technology offerings, with a little bit of effort, will help you a great deal in the year ahead. ■ Justin Rush is a director at Belfast-based Abacus Group. He specialises in advising businesses on research, advice and strategy on talent. He can be contacted at justin@abacus.jobs

STEM DECEMBER 2018

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STEM

Nurturing and driving top STEM talent A

Supply and demand for STEM roles here is largely out of balance but many of Northern Ireland’s top companies are leading the way to nurture students in this field. Here Emma Deighan looks at the who, what and why of STEM initiatives in the business sector 40

ccording to the most recent Skills Barometer report the biggest shortage of skills in Northern Ireland falls within the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sectors.

The research, compiled by Ulster University for the Department for the Economy (DfE) in 2017, shows an urgency to train future generations in what are the fastest-growing areas of our economy.

In its analysis the report concluded: “The subjects forecast to be predominantly under-

supplied are engineering and technology, maths and computer sciences and physical and environmental sciences. It is estimated that the economy will require an additional 400 engineering and technology graduates and a similar number of additional maths and computer science graduates each year.

Strong demand for the STEM related subjects is forecast.”

It’s a concern given the growth within those business divisions here.

An influx of international STEM related employers have set up shop here, investing

Budding scientist Beth Danagher from Bangor, with Alan Armstrong, chief executive of Almac and Eric Porter, chairman of the Odyssey Trust Kainos’ Brendan Mooney with Leah Fullerton who graduated through its Earn As You Learn scheme

STEM

facility signalling a whole new area of expertise that would open up to graduates here.

in a skillset that still needs much attention.

Meanwhile our homegrown hub of STEM related employers are expanding at a phenomenal rate.

Some of these investments include Lisburnbased firm Camlin’s announcement that it will create 300 new roles in the engineering field thanks to a £28m expansion.

And in earlier in the year, financial services firm, FinTrU revealed it would add a further 600 employees to its team across Belfast and in the North West.

Then there’s the hugely successful sports device firm, STATSports, that is seeking another 237 staff members.

And two years ago Belfast-based global aerospace and defence system manufacturer Thales’ opened up a whole new field here when in it launched a £6m space propulsion

DECEMBER 2018

With the future looking bright in terms of employment in these sectors, sirens sound when the Skills Barometer says STEM related subjects have been regularly under-supplied.

It described it as a “consistent finding” across several years of research but fortunately activity to level out the supply-demand flow within the STEM world here is by no means passive.

Governmental, third sector organisations and indeed those businesses reliant on that talent pool have been engaging in initiatives to support a deficit in talent.

Clinical diagnostics firm Randox is one such employer. Software development, IT support, engineering, science research and mathematics make up the bulk of its operations and as such it promotes roles within the latter fields through STEM programmes.

Linda Magee, head of human resources at Randox, said: “At Randox there are plenty of opportunities to work across a wide variety of

STEM disciplines. Our APEX programme, which offers first year university students a complete career package, includes work experience between first and second year, a paid placement in third year and, finally, a graduate position post-degree.

“Students accepted on to the Randox APEX programme work with, and learn from, the most experienced professionals in the industry, across a range of departments within their discipline.

“They might be assisting our groundbreaking research into tests for cancer, kidney disease and Alzheimer’s, working in our engineering department developing diagnostic technologies, contributing to the output of a busy forensics laboratory, or joining our business development teams as they expand the Randox portfolio across the globe.”

Linda said the firm also encourages “established talent” to come back and join the company through a ‘returners’ programme, a six-week scheme aimed at those who have had a break from the workplace. It includes >

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STEM

Randox founder Dr Peter FitzGerald

induction, training and mentoring.

“There are endless opportunities for career progression at Randox – the sky really is the limit,” she said.

Another firm with training high up its agenda is FinTrU, the investment bank services firm, at the Gasworks in Belfast.

In terms of recruitment, FinTrU developed its two-year Graduate Programme with a longterm commitment to providing analysts with support, training and industry qualifications such as Investment Operations Certificates (IOC).

It also offers financial services academies which have resulted in almost 180 jobs for graduates in Belfast. Named Academy X, this year’s intake welcomed a range of graduates from non-financial backgrounds to allow them to forge a career in the sector.

Founder of the company, Darragh McCarthy, believes such programmes create an “ecosystem” that gives back to the talent pool and economy here. “I see FinTrU as having a social purpose to create highquality professional employment in Northern Ireland,” he said.

One of the most active firms in nurturing a talent pool in IT is Kainos. Each year the NI digital services giant donates over £120,000 and 1,000 man hours to safeguarding the IT sector’s future.

Kainos’ technology outreach manager Gemma Crothers said: “You can go into schools and they have this tumbleweed idea that if you’re going to work in IT you literally

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get a PC and type stuff. And we want to change that perception.

to encourage interest in STEM subjects and careers.

“There are so many different areas to IT. And it’s lucrative and that’s the message we’re trying to put across. We are trying to change the way the schools are managed and bring computer science in at a nationwide level and we are lobbying the government for that.

Frances Weldon, STEM outreach manager at the firm said Almac believes it has a responsibility to drive interest in the field to “grow a dynamic and innovative economy that benefits all”.

“One of the big areas for us is trying to train teachers on all levels so they have the confidence in the classroom to weave the skills in and give the students the exposure they need so they can chose to follow through.”

Kainos recently announced that it was seeking applications for its ‘Earn as you Learn’ scheme.

It’s a funded computing systems degree that also allows students to earn a salary while they study.

Brendan Mooney, Kainos’ chief executive said of the scheme offers students the best of both worlds. He said: “The pace of technological change is faster than ever. So, anyone who can obtain both industry experience and an education at the same time, will have the advantage. They get to apply what they have learned in university and also get a head start in their career.

“At Kainos we pride ourselves on our determination to nurture and invest in the talent of the future and are committed to broadening access and offering different routes to school leavers from different backgrounds.”

In the science field, Craigavon-based global pharmaceutical company Almac Group also works closely with schools and universities

“At Almac we are hugely focused on engaging with the next generation and helping them gain skills that they will need for their future careers.

We rely on the talent, skills and expertise of our dedicated employees to drive continued growth and realise our vision to advance human health. We know that to ensure our success in the future we need even more skilled and knowledgeable recruits.”

Among its initiatives are the Sloane McClay and Almac McKervey awards, work shadow placements, apprenticeships and industrial placements for third level students, some of which do not require a science background.

“In the new year, through a partnership with W5, we will launch a £1m project aimed at enhancing STEM knowledge, skills and understanding among school pupils. An interactive exhibition will explore the human body and the diagnosis and treatment of illness as well as telling Almac’s story,” Frances said.

The objective she says is to “inspire a new generation of students to gain skills to help them secure exciting and innovative roles such as those we offer at Almac”.

The latter investments represent just a fraction of STEM activity ongoing here. The wider picture of such initiatives is not just beneficial to STEM businesses but the economy as a whole here. ■

Digital DNA Awards kick off

L

eading technology companies will have the chance to flex their business credentials with the launch of this year’s Digital DNA Awards.

Returning to Belfast’s St Anne’s Cathedral, the awards, run with MCS Group, will recognise the companies and individuals excelling in the world of digital and tech across Northern Ireland, and further afield.

Simon Bailie, chief executive of Digital DNA, said: “We all know that Northern Ireland is home to some of the world’s most prolific digital and tech talents.

“The Digital DNA Awards has become a

DECEMBER 2018

Simon Bailie, chief executive of Digital DNA with Louise Smyth and Sean Devlin of MCS Group

platform for showcasing that widening pool of talent and we can’t wait to find out the next wave of winners.”

businesses at the heart of the technology sector, which is ultimately helping to advance our economy”.

Sean Devlin, associate director at MCS Group, said the awards “will showcase the best digital exports to come out of Northern Ireland as well as shine a spotlight on our most creative and talented individuals and

Earlier this year saw First Derivatives’ founder Brian Conlon receive the inaugural Global Recognition Award and international digital tech firm Neueda win Company of the Year. ■

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Key skills for the future A s the home of STEM outreach in Northern Ireland, Sentinus makes a vital contribution to the regional economy by helping industry and business address STEM skills shortages.

With an emphasis on hands on activity and experiential, problem based learning in STEM subjects, Sentinus is inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators, digital developers and entrepreneurs.

Through participation in Sentinus programmes, young people of all ages develop important employability and STEM skills, helping them

prepare to become effective contributors to the local economy. They gain a real understanding of the value of the subjects as a foundation on which to build any career.

Bill Connor, chief executive, said: “STEM subjects are vital in helping us create a future workforce of innovators and to safeguard the economic stability of Northern Ireland.

As the local economy grows, the demand for STEM skills, from both local and foreign direct investment companies, continues to increase, we often hear that companies are investing in Northern Ireland because of the availability of skilled people.

“To meet this growing demand it is imperative that young people are given the chance to explore opportunities in the sector to help them understand its value as a potential career area. At Sentinus we help young people to develop their STEM skills and knowledge, use their creativity to produce solutions for industry problems and design products of the future.”

“But we recognise that the development of career preferences begins at an early stage, and for this reason we also do a lot of work with primary schools to give pupils a chance to experience the excitement of science and technology and how the work of STEM professionals has a major impact on our lives and the environment we live in.”

With a proven track record of more than 35 years, Sentinus has a wealth of experience in developing and delivering activities specifically designed to engage, excite and inspire young people in STEM subjects and engages in excess of 60,000 young people each year.

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION by giving young people of all ages real experience of problem solving, research and development, careers in STEM, helping them develop a wide range of skills.

Project Based Learning in STEM STEM Workshops, Masterclasses & After Schools Digital Skills & Computer Coding Workshops Industry Placement Programmes Careers Awareness Programmes Competitions & Celebration Days Summer Schools Teacher CPD 028 9262 7755 www.sentinus.co.uk DECEMBER 2018

info@sentinus.co.uk

facebook.com/SentinusSTEM

twitter.com/SentinusNI

instagram.com/sentinus_ni/

19A Ballinderry Rd, Lisburn, BT28 2SA 45

Supporting Belfast start-ups on the rise

By Roisin Byrne, business director, Hays Northern Ireland

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he UK’s digital tech sector has attracted more capital than any other European country and Belfast has established itself as a key hub.

The 2018 Tech Nation report makes it clear that digital tech makes an essential contribution to our local economy with clusters and start-ups forming primarily around AI (artificial intelligence), machine learning, cyber security and big data industries.

The Belfast start-up community ecosystem is alive and well and has carved out a reputation in the wider tech community for having good access to talent, funding and transport links.

It also benefits from great workspaces such as Ormeau Baths, Farset Labs and the Innovation Centre at Catalyst Inc. Indeed, the city is bubbling with entrepreneurial talent as demonstrated by the large number of start-ups which have launched in the last two years. Belfast boasts

Roisin Byrne

a disproportionate number of the UK’s high growth firms and it is estimated that the local ecosystem now supports around 10,000 jobs.

Hays has worked with a number of these startups as they have scaled up operations – firms such as Analytics Engines, Uleska and Vox to name a few. As part of our commitment to the sector we’ve also taken space in Ormeau Baths which has become an epicentre for tech meet-ups, hackathons and pitch events. It’s also a campus for early stage and growth stage start-ups to network, share experience and build scalable, globally focussed businesses.

In its first year, 50% of companies based in Ormeau Baths grew their teams and revenues, and raised over £10m in venture funding.

We’ve also launched a new national initiative called Super Connect delivered by Empact Ventures which aims to help tech start-ups and scale-ups to explore collaboration with large organisations and funding providers through a series of venture labs and pitch

days. The initiative brings together corporates, SMEs, angel investors, venture capitalists, grant providers, loan funds and crowdfunding platforms to explore supporting these start-ups and scale-ups. Details can be found at www. superconnectseries.com.

In an increasingly competitive marketplace Hays sees real value in the innovative ideas start-ups are using to network and build traction and as they scale up to the next stage we are providing material support and employer value branding to help them attract the talent they need. ■

Young Enterprise takes ambition to a higher level

N

ow university students can benefit from the Young Enterprise company experience which has seen impressive success in schools across Northern Ireland. By delivering a new Start Up programme in partnership with Ulster University, Young Enterprise is taking its entrepreneurial ethos to a new level offering their company programme experience at all stages of education: primary, post- primary and university/FE – truly in the spirit of their ‘enterprise for all’ agenda.

Start Up marks the next stage in the charity’s aim to foster a culture of enterprise amongst young people that goes beyond business studies to offer practical, real world experience in developing and running their own venture. The opportunity is open to students from any subject area.

“What is unique and important about ‘Start Up’ is that students will be able to work with multi-disciplinary teams and learn how to commercialise their subject area and field of interest, refining and developing their ideas along the way and developing the skills employers are looking for, such as teamwork, creative thinking, planning, budgeting, marketing, design and project management,” says Young Enterprise chief executive Carol Fitzsimons MBE. Students from each campus will form a team and set up a business, buy shares, trade for five months and compete to represent Ulster University at the UK final. This allows students to experience the steps required

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Chris Shannon, enterprise and entrepreneurship manager, Ulster University with students Jordan Campbell and Kate Umphray and Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Young Enterprise NI chief executive. Students will get to showcase their business ideas for the first time at The Young Enterprise ‘Big Market’ on December 5 at St George’s Market

to start, run and grow a business preparing them with the knowledge should they wish to start their own venture in the future.

Chris Shannon, enterprise and entrepreneurship manager, Ulster University, said “As we begin the second year of the Ulster University Students’ Union Enterprise Centre, we are delighted to launch the Young Enterprise Start Up programme as our flagship programme across our four campuses.

“It is an opportunity for students from each campus to develop entrepreneurial skills that will help them in their future endeavours and work in teams made up of students from across our faculties. I am excited to see what develops from the programme in the year ahead and would like to thank Santander Universities for their support in making this happen”. ■

Cross-border trade

CROSS-BORDER TRADE

Solving the Brexit border issue As the UK edges to some form of Brexit deal, John Mulgrew examines the challenges facing the Northern Ireland companies which count cross-border trade as a key part of their business

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T

he issue of cross-border arrangements after Brexit, if dealt with poorly, lacking a holistic approach and in the event of a ‘no deal’ could leave Northern Ireland’s carefully tailored economy in tatters.

hand have some form of early agreement on ensuring no return to a hard border, and at the same time, don’t, while waiting to see whether the Prime Minister can sell it. We then establish what will be done to avoid any severe impact to cross-border trade here.

Seamus Leheny is just one voice in the increasingly tumultuous debate around the main concerns and issues that still exist around the border, following the UK’s exit from the EU.

The BBC’s Chris Mason garnered attention with an honest abstract on Brexit progress a couple of weeks ago - ‘I haven’t for the foggiest idea’ he told his colleagues back in the studio.

We currently sit on the precipice, a Schrodinger’s cat scenario, where we on one

“When we turn our attention to commercial goods vehicles crossing the border between

CROSS-BORDER TRADE

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it’s a very different story,” Seamus Leheny says.

More than 4.6 million goods vehicles crossed the border in 2016, according to official stats. And of those 4.6 million movements, the majority was recorded on the A1 Belfast to Dublin road.

“When we break down the figures on cross border traffic, this equates to an average of 13,000 goods vehicles crossing the border daily, which is 541 per hour – or to illustrate it in comparison to cross channel movements, it’s a large freight ferry fully laden every 15 minutes, 24/7, 365 days a year,” Seamus says.

For Dale Farm for example, and other food

DECEMBER 2018

processors, its concern is over the certification process, following Brexit. “It’s basically an export certificate for dairy products. You are not allowed to export without this certificate,” Nick says.

“For example, we have signed a quite public announcement with Lidl. We are supplying Lidl all over the world. If Lidl were to ask me in the morning, can you guarantee that you can supply my countries outside the UK on April 1?

I actually can’t.

“It’s nothing to do with tariffs or costs. If I don’t have animal health export certificates approved well-ahead of Brexit – these things take about six months to negotiate.

“I’m screaming at DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

and DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) here to get this done now.

“Why don’t you agree the wording, and have the work done, so when the agreement is or isn’t made… now you can start.

“It’s a huge risk for this industry here, if we can’t get stuff off the island.”

Around 37% of Northern Ireland’s dairy, as an example, is sold elsewhere.

A study by InterTrade Ireland said a significant share of crossborder trade is accounted for by firms that trade “simultaneously in both directions”.

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Seamus Leheny

CROSS-BORDER TRADE

“These two-way traders make up around 18% of firms, but accounted for over 60% of exports and over 70% of imports,” according to Seamus.

With transport, Translink boss Chris Conway says it remains unclear if the company will be able to run cross-border bus services, if no deal on Brexit is secured.

During an evidence session in Westminster, he said that the organisation runs around 70 cross-border services – some which, he said, “meander” between Northern Ireland and the Republic during a journey.

There’s also the issue of whether drivers will be able to operate between jurisdictions following the UK’s exit. That’s due to a question mark floating over the head of licences for drivers in the EU. Elsewhere, the Road Haulage Association has said with around three months left to go it is not prepared for what’s around the corner.

It’s a two-way street, of course, for both firms from Northern Ireland selling south, and those from the Republic selling north.

Figures from the ONS show Northern Irish business with the Republic of Ireland accounted for around 27% of exports and 23% of imports.

“The share of intermediate products in imports from Northern Ireland to Ireland is higher in almost all sectors than trade in the same sectors from the rest of the UK,” Seamus said in a piece examining the impact of a ‘no deal’ scenario.

“So for example, a company could transport ingredients or components across the border several times before the finished product is completed in Northern Ireland, and is then ready for export to consumers in Great Britain.

“Naturally the intermediate products will be of lesser value compared to the completed product, hence the disparity in value of goods crossing the Irish Sea compared to the land border.

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“In recent Brexit discussions the significance of the value of trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain has been highlighted.

“This is quite right and we must ensure this hugely important market for us is not jeopardised or impeded in any way as a result of Brexit.

“What has often been overlooked is our reliance on being able to move goods quickly, cheaply and without tariffs across the Irish border, in order to assemble those valuable goods we end up shipping to Great Britain.

“If the all-island supply chains are impeded with subsequent increased costs and subject

to tariffs, then those exports we champion and put on those ferries to Great Britain will suddenly become less competitive in price – or, in the worst case scenario, won’t exist anymore.”

Seamus says a “holistic approach is required when trade from Northern Ireland is discussed and used as a bargaining chip due to the fact it’s a unique economic region that is finely interwoven with that of another EU member state”.

“To pursue, or indeed to sleep walk into, a no deal Brexit would unravel the carefully tailored economy of Northern Ireland and potentially leave it in tatters.”■

Jim Meade, chief executive of Iarnrod Eireann/Irish Rail, Frank Allen, chairman of Iarnrod Eireann/Irish Rail, Frank Hewitt, chairman of Translink and Chris Conway, Translink Group chief executive launching the ‘Better Connecting Dublin and Belfast Enterprise Strategic Development Plan

Enterprise strategic development plan revealed

T

ranslink and Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail have launched a new strategic development plan for the crossborder Enterprise rail service between Belfast and Dublin.

The ‘Better Connecting Dublin and Belfast’ strategy sets out a road map of how both companies jointly plan to further enhance the service on the cross-border railway corridor.

Approximately 3.3 million people live within a 40 mile commute of the Belfast to Dublin corridor and this is projected to grow to four million by 2030, representing half the island’s population.

Development of the Enterprise service is key to enhancing links and communications between people and businesses in the two main cities and within the corridor.

The plan envisages a three-staged approach, starting with the introduction of new fleet to allow for an hourly service between the two cities. With additional investment in infrastructure and line improvements, the ambition is to reduce the average journey time to less than two hours.

It is believed that an hourly Belfast to Dublin Enterprise service could be achieved within five years with a journey time of less than two hours. From there, the longer-term ambition

DECEMBER 2018

is to introduce electrification on the line and new rolling stock, which would achieve further frequency improvements and journey times of potentially 90 minutes or less.

This will support the economic potential of the corridor, building on existing strengths and supporting the common travel area.

The delivery of infrastructure is essential for sustainable economic growth on the island irrespective of the implications of Brexit.

Translink chairman, Frank Hewitt said: ‘‘Developing the Enterprise service will be essential to further strengthening economic links, and is key to building competitiveness and increasing close communication links between our two capital cities.

“Our ‘Better Connecting Dublin and Belfast’ strategy aligns with both Programmes for Government to support the growth of public transport, while also delivering social and environmental benefits by decongesting roads, promoting all-Ireland tourism and reducing carbon emissions.

“In 2017/18, almost one million passenger journeys were made on Enterprise, and we believe more and more people want to use public transport as a way to enjoy high quality, affordable travel experiences. We are committed to building on this success and want to make it even better in order to further

increase modal shift towards sustainable transport, making public transport ‘your first choice for travel.”

Frank Allen, chairman of Iarnród Éireann/ Irish Rail, said: ‘‘This is a strategy founded in partnership between both companies, within which generations have worked together from platform to boardroom to build the joint service we offer. Our strategy builds upon that legacy to enhance the role we play for the customers and communities we serve.

“The partnership with our stakeholders in business, tourism, central and local government and other major sectors is also reflected in the strategy. Our stakeholders have engaged with us as we have developed this strategy, and we value their continued partnership as we seek to support each other in what our rail service achieves for our economy and society in the years ahead.

“The next steps are to secure funding to take this project forward. Translink and Iarnród Éireann are keen that approval is granted to start procurement of a new Enterprise fleet and to undertake a detailed technical and feasibility study to further assess the journey time and other improvement options.” ■

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CROSS-BORDER TRADE

Colin Dalton and Barry Gray, partners Gray Design

Borders won’t stop Gray growth N ewry natives Barry Gray and Colin Dalton have built a dynamic architectural practice that has attracted major contracts across Ireland and the UK, serviced by their offices in Belfast, Newry and Dublin.

The pair have been working together for more than a decade, and first opened the doors of Gray Design in Newry back in 2005.

Colin Dalton

businesses for us is still growing, with indigenous companies investing in their properties and many investors exploring their options depending on how the Brexit deal on the table materialises.”

“For Colin and I, Newry will always be the hub of our office network, it’s where we started out and the city is famed for its ambition, it’s work ethic and its entrepreneurial spirit and that sits very well with the Gray ethos,” Barry says.

Since then they’ve built a ‘dream team’ of 15 professionals and launched offices in Belfast and Dublin and attracting an enviable client base including Lotus Group – which owns shopping centres The Boulevard in Banbridge, and The Junction in Antrim – along with Modern Tyre Service, to name just a few.

TEAM PLAYER Barry has a vested interest in the area he works and lives in. He spent 11 years on the sidelines passionately supporting the team he managed for over a decade – nearby Warrenpoint Town FC.

“Belfast and Dublin are dynamic cities and it’s exciting to work there,” Barry says. “Since the recession Dublin is really booming again in terms of commercial investment in property and high end fit outs

In 2017 he stepped down and took up a management role with Cliftonville. As a businessman, Barry says managing a team – be it football or architecture – can often call upon the same skills.

“There’s an unease about Brexit but Belfast

“In the architectural business you are constantly

managing teams of people within the construction industry. There’s a way you have to be treated – a human way of doing things.

Boundaries need to be set. That’s how I manage my work life and the same often translates to the changing room.”

Under Colin and Barry’s direction, Gray Design has developed as a dynamic practice with a reputation for delivering high quality architecture, commercial interior design and project management services across Ireland and the UK. SERVICES Gray Design offers an all-encompassing architectural service – from development of the initial brief to feasibility studies, creation Belfast: +0044 28 9068 6732 Newry: +0044 28 3025 1885 Dublin: +00353 (01) 1906 0962 www.graydesignltd.co.uk

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CROSS-BORDER TRADE

Gray Design associates: Caoimhe Gray, Rebecca Quinn, Redmond Hanna, Barry Gray, Colin Dalton, David Murray, Ola Jaroszewska and Tania Rebelo

of innovative concept design proposals (with imaginative solutions to constraints), right through to planning, the appointment of a qualified contractor and the final handover to the client with all relevant certification. It also specialises in project management and commercial interior fit-out.

team to deliver the new Junction One vision, the largest retail and leisure complex in Northern Ireland. Colin is project managing, submitting planning and delivering commercial fit-out designs for commercial units in the £30m pound scheme located 1.8km from Antrim town centre.

“Gray Design has expanded rapidly over the last decade and it has carefully selected passionate individuals to join our team. The company has created a unique consultancy with knowledge of all major sectors including commercial, conservation, retail, housing, transport and leisure.

Gray Design’s team has a wide range of expertise in all major sectors including commercial, conservation, retail, housing, transport and leisure across Ireland.

The latest addition to the scheme is the £2m investment by McDonald’s, which opened last month, with Colin managing the project and delivering it for his client.

“We all share the same trait – we are a practice of perfectionists, driven by the desire to always get it right – down to the last detail.

Some of its latest projects in the Republic include multi million-pound design and project management contracts located in Bray, and elsewhere they’ve recently completed a design and fit-out project in Kilbarrack, Dublin, for Murdock Builders Merchants.

A further three drive-through and restaurants brands have been also been signed, and these are in the planning stages – due to be launched early 2019.

CLIENT PORTFOLIO Director Colin Dalton is currently heading up a

These are significant contracts for the firm which believes they will continue to add to the value of their project portfolio as they’ve built a ‘dream team’ of architects.

“That ‘human way’ of doing business that Barry mentioned is very central to how we approach projects.

“We place a high value on our relationships with clients and we strive to always be accessible and available to them as part of our commitment to developing strong relationships with them, our staff and the community of people we work with.” ■ Belfast: +0044 28 9068 6732 Newry: +0044 28 3025 1885 Dublin: +00353 (01) 1906 0962 www.graydesignltd.co.uk

DECEMBER 2018

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ENERGY

Energy and complexity Chris Milligan, associate in the energy team at leading law firm Arthur Cox, examines how multi external factors are impacting the energy sector

T

he Northern Ireland energy market is complex and, as it does not operate in total isolation, is impacted by a range of influences well beyond its borders.

More than 18 months on from the closure of the Northern Ireland Renewable Obligation scheme, the market faces questions around how it deals with climate change, while the Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM) is now live just as Brexit looms closer.

But how will the I-SEM, introduced to more closely integrate the electricity market across Ireland with those of Great Britain and the rest of the European Union, operate in the postBrexit era?

Recent guidance from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy on ‘Trading electricity if there’s no Brexit deal’ provided helpful insight.

Positively, it pointed out that negotiators had made good progress to ensure the I-SEM is maintained in any future economic partnership.

Although established following agreement between the UK and Irish governments, the I-SEM operates within the framework of common EU rules on electricity markets, so it may see further developments in a ‘no deal’ scenario.

How this plays out as negotiations intensify will become clear, but the I-SEM and Brexit are by no means the only pertinent factors that require consideration.

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Chris Milligan

Mirroring the earlier position in Great Britain when that jurisdiction’s Renewable Obligation scheme closed, the Northern Ireland renewable energy sector is now going through a period of change following closure of the Northern Ireland Renewable Obligation scheme.

As happened in Great Britain, the local scheme’s closure has led to both an uptick in refinancing activity and growing signs of consolidation for the renewable energy sector here.

Indicative of this is the recent sale of Simple Power Ltd (Northern Ireland’s largest operator of single wind turbines) to UK infrastructure and investment manager Foresight Group, on which Arthur Cox advised.

More deals are anticipated as subsidised assets, benefitting from optimum remaining generation lifespans, remain attractive to both investors and funders.

Looking to the medium to long-term, we have witnessed renewed confidence in the Republic of Ireland market, through developments in the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme.

In addition, structures such as Contracts for Difference auctions have benefitted Great Britain investors.

In the absence of any similar support initiatives developing in Northern Ireland, Arthur Cox is collaborating with clients on analysing the

economic feasibility of scaled, subsidy-free projects which will operate on a merchant basis through efficiencies and innovative technologies.

Energy efficiency is a key element of the climate change agenda, particularly in the light of the widely-reported study from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Local energy strategy formulated by the Department for the Economy reflects this through focus on the ‘three Ds’: decarbonisation, digitalisation and decentralisation.

Development in these areas is where the end user is also likely to see tangible results, in how we power and heat homes and/or the workplace, how we travel and how we capture, store and use energy in a more efficient manner through increased use of data analytics.

Northern Ireland is embarking on a period of change within the industry, bringing challenges as well as opportunities for operators and investors. ■ With a broad knowledge of developments in the energy sector across Ireland, the UK and beyond, the energy team at Arthur Cox is well positioned to advise on all aspects of the industry. Please call +44 28 9023 0007 for further information from Chris or your regular Arthur Cox contact.

Public sector DECEMBER 2018

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PUBLIC SECTOR

Chancellor Philip Hammond unveils the Government’s autumn Budget to Parliament

Public sector seeking plans to deliver new impetus Economist John Simpson examines the latest Budget and looks at what challenges remain for the public sector as the UK emerges from years of austerity 56

PUBLIC SECTOR

The public sector budget for 2019-20 will be shaped by the details released by the Chancellor’s Budget which, on first sight, points towards an end to austerity. The real impact in 2019 will be minor increases for current spending along with provision for a significant increase in capital spending of over £300m in both 2019 and 2020 when the capital budget increases to £1.5m a year.

While the overall public sector spending limits will give room for some discretionary decisions, the immediate scope for initiatives is still limited by the very modest widening of the powers exercised by the senior civil servants allowed by the short-term legislation on local devolution. For example, will it be possible to legislate for reduced rates for businesses in line with the English changes?

During 2019 there will be many initiatives which are stopped because there is no inherited policy from earlier decisions by ministers.

Nevertheless, partly in hope rather than immediate expectation, the ambition for future progress means that public services should be assessed by reasonable expectations of a functioning Government. There are functionally two strands to this review.

First, the scope and priorities for Northern Ireland flexibility in dealing with current revenue and spending is considerable and, as inherited, may need and merit reconsideration. Second, the emerging inadequacies and capacity constraints in the provision of infrastructure to support public services is evidence which points to the rational for a reconsideration of the scale and sources of capital expenditure and, as a linked feature, the search for priorities in selection and timing.

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he ambition for the public sector in 2019 is that it should give an impetus which will boost the economy after the period of modest short-term support during the months when there has been an absence of devolved Government and active local political engagement. This commentary must be set against the background of that period of ad hoc management with

DECEMBER 2018

an absence of the implementation of serious new policy initiatives. One way or another, in 2019, the decision making void needs to be filled.

The public sector will be operating, even after the ending of the (so-called) years of austerity, with a still tightly constrained budget with limited, but significant, management discretion in the delivery of policy priorities.

Despite Northern Ireland’s relatively favoured levels of public spending and taxation, compared to other UK regions, there is evidence that major deficiencies now exist.

There have been many references to desirable larger and continuing capital programmes for utilities including electricity, water and sewerage, and broadband. These sit alongside understandable ambitions in further and higher education (including the universities), >

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PUBLIC SECTOR

health facilities and an inadequate corporate objective of major increases and improvements to housing investment.

The public sector capital budget, separately designated, has recently been less than generous. Now there is greater scope enhanced by projects such as the Belfast Region City Deal.

In a reconsidered public sector capital programme, there are serious questions about the allocation of discretionary current spending. Compared to the higher charges in GB, is the scale of Northern Ireland additional offsets to the rents charged for social housing justified? Is the scale of offset to domestic rates justified? Critically, is the differential in financing water and sewerage services – to the point of avoiding domestic water chargesa continuing top priority?

In addition to these questions on the merits of discretionary spending, whether capital or current, as Northern Ireland faces into 2019 there is the pending ‘cost’ of the possible introduction of a Northern Ireland rate of corporation tax at 12.5%.

If this remains a committed policy decision (as

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can be argued) it can only be introduced if the revenue lost to Northern Ireland is found from within the current available public sector funds: possibly over £200m each year.

If there is a Brexit deal, the UK Government has indicated that the State aid rules inherited from the EU would continue to apply. Even if there is no Brexit deal, that question would still need to be considered.

These financial questions fall into two possible groups. There are services seeking better funding, usually capital, which must be assessed on whether they might contribute more to self-funding. For the utilities that should be amendable to discussion.

Electricity services are already organised to be self-funding. Broadband services will expect to be partly self-funding. Water and sewerage services now face capital spending needs, even to allow modest urban development to take place, and not in all locations, that must have implications both for the organisation of these services and their capital funding. Moves to greater self-funding seem inescapable even if, in a phased timing, the funding structure might be in parallel with amended charging systems for domestic rates.

In the spectrum of urgent needs for supplemented capital spending, there is a strong case for the whole range of public services. Because of the possible wider domino effects, water and sewerage services merit an initial priority boost.

The prospect of development planning applications being refused because of an inability to provide water and sewerage connections in several urban centres and the pending capacity restrictions in parts of the Belfast region could be avoided if a larger, carefully planned, programme for the most pressing areas is prepared.

There are high expectations of the impact of the Belfast Region City Deal. However, that is mainly directed at incentives for private sector development and it is phased over more than 10 years.

The tensions of maintaining and enhancing the public sector capital infrastructure pose a very considerable challenge to public sector managers, whether ministers, Secretary of State, or senior civil servants. This combination needs to find a method of arranging security and certainty in delivery. Miracles would be welcome. ■

PROFILE

Belfast Met’s energy innovation

By Paul McCormack, GenComm programme manager at Belfast Met

T

he success of Belfast Metropolitan College in securing the first Horizon 2020 funded project for a further education college, the BIMcert project and the Interreg GenComm project are testimony to how the college and companies from the energy sector are ahead of the innovation curve.

The GenComm project, led by Belfast Met, is seeking to address the barriers preventing the greater integration of renewables into our energy matrix and to navigate a new energy pathway to energy security. These successes are evidence of the vibrant innovation culture within the college and the innovation sat-nav process of their ‘innovation strategy compass’.

This strategy compass is based upon innovation points or navigation rules as the four cardinal points in a normal compass.

The first point, the ‘Innovation True North’ within Belfast Metropolitan College is that we find solutions for problems not ideas or concepts without business need or foundation.

Industry for too long believes that innovation is all about bold and new ideas. It’s not, innovation is providing answers to the

DECEMBER 2018

problems facing industry. The capacity of the renewable energy sector in Ireland is limited by securing connections to the electricity grid and these are at saturation point. In seeking how to overcome this problem the Innovation team in the Met gathered an EU wide team and secured funding from the Interreg North-West programme for their GenComm project. Project GenComm addresses the energy challenges of communities through the implementation of smart, hydrogen-based energy matrixes.

The second point on the compass, is that the innovation team get out into the market as early and often as possible. The team continually engages with industry, drive the customer feedback process and then iterate, improve and change direction if necessary, in short we bring an urgency to the innovation process. Belfast Met physically support and assist, bringing time and expertise to the collaborative partnership, ensuring innovation is not over engineered and unnecessarily complicated. Through a 20-month process prior to bid submission the GenComm international team physically engaged in the development process.

Point number three is external empowerment. Companies have to deliver in their day job and don’t have the time or budget to empower their staff to be innovative. Through engagement with industry, identifying opportunities, championing the innovation process, sharing the risks and taking the lead the Met Innovation team externally empower their partners to be part of the radical innovation process.

The innovation process is a long haul, a marathon and is the final point. Industry and the college in the past have fallen foul of this point and viewed innovation as a short term fix that would deliver long term value. For industry to achieve real long term value they must avoid ‘innovation myopia’. This can be the biggest challenge faced by industry and in the GenComm project it was overcome by creating a solid collaborative partnership, open communication, fluid structures, building trust and detailing a long term strategy complete with goals and objectives and real long term value detailed for each partner and the team. ■

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PUBLIC SECTOR

The Mid and East Antrim Borough Council delegation which hosted an engagement event at Westminster to showcase the region’s projects as part of the Belfast Region City Deal

City Deal green light set to fire up Mid and East Antrim’s economy

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once-in-a-generation £1bn cash injection through Belfast Region City Deal has been described as crucial to reigniting the economy of Mid and East Antrim, traditionally an engine room of the Northern Ireland economy.

The pledging of £350m funding from Westminster in Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement was warmly welcomed in a borough which has suffered a number of economic shocks in recent years.

Diversification and innovation are key to Mid and East Antrim’s ambitious blueprint to rejuvenate and drive its economy through the opportunities presented by Belfast Region City Deal, which is expected to create up to 20,000 jobs.

Around £80m of the proposed £1bn of co-investment will be injected directly into a number of major schemes across Mid and East

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Antrim – taking in everything from tourism, innovation and the revamp of one of the major towns in the area.

In Carrickfergus there are plans to regenerate and return to the historic hotspot to its former glory.

Key to these plans are the transformation of the former St Patrick’s Barracks site in Ballymena into a new science park – Integrated Industrial Inspiration and Innovation Campus called i4C.

It will include the development of Carrickfergus Castle, the walls and surrounding environment – bringing it up to the standard of a worldclass heritage site and global visitor attraction.

It will include a programme to inspire and harness the talents of young people through a controlled series of high quality work experiences creating unique personal profiles for each person, matching them to an online mentor and connecting them to future matched enrichment activities.

The plans also include work the second phase of The Gobbins cliff path – extending and doubling the length to one and a half miles, and as a result, increasing the spectacular attraction’s place on the Northern Ireland tourism map. To date, more than half of all visitors to The Gobbins have travelled from outside Northern Ireland.

The substantial economic opportunity comes at a crucial time for the area, following the loss of around 2,200 jobs in the last few years, with the closures of Michelin and JTI Gallaher in Ballymena.

The proposals outlined through Mid and East Antrim’s City Deal project are aimed at reestablishing a further section of The Gobbins’ coastal walkway using the existing path on the rock ledges with new light ‘roped bridge’

PUBLIC SECTOR

Chief executive Anne Donaghy, councillor Lindsay Millar and alderman Gregg McKeen

“To do that we have evolved, adopting a private-sector approach to improve our own efficiency and ensure we are embedded in the local business community to understand exactly what they need.

and other high adventure type structures to cross gullies and crevices, to secure the site as a sustainable and viable attraction and boost overnight stays.

The council took a delegation to Westminster ahead of the announcement from the Treasury, to sell its message of the huge benefits the financial assistance will have on the area, along with the five other councils bidding for the cash injection.

Among the delegation invited to a Mid and East Antrim networking session by the council and East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson were key business leaders, elected representatives, council officers and other key stakeholders.

Anne Donaghy, chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said that securing the overall investment is the next step in increasing the area’s tourism and business credentials.

“This is another key element in helping boost the region, ensuring economic prosperity, creating employment and helping put the area firmly on the map,” she said.

“We are focusing our efforts on being an enabler to the wealth creators.

DECEMBER 2018

“The goal is to use this opportunity to accelerate inclusive economic growth for the whole region and deliver new, and better jobs.

“The confirmation of £350m from Westminster for the Belfast Region City Deal means we can now start taking our ambitious plans forward to the next stage and continue to improve our region for all communities.”

The partner councils include Belfast, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ards and North Down, Lisburn and Castlereagh and Newry, Mourne and Down.

“Together with the backing of our elected representatives – who have demonstrated unwavering support to our focus on economic growth – we have introduced and delivered a number of initiatives which have the potential to transform the economy in this borough,” Anne said.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, councillor Lindsay Millar, said: “The £350m commitment from the Chancellor is brilliant news for Mid and East Antrim and all six of the council areas involved in this vital bid.

“Belfast Region City Deal sets out a 15year plan to grow the economy, boost jobs and tourism, increasing skills, encouraging

investment and developing infrastructure.

“It will also improve infrastructure, digital connectivity, visitor attractions and innovation hubs; and deliver a major skills and employability programme.

The council, alongside the other authority partners, has been working in close collaboration with the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Northern Ireland Office, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Treasury as well as the universities and further education colleges.

Following discussions at Westminster, Owen Patterson MP visited Mid and East Antrim on for in-depth discussions around the huge potential of the Belfast Region City Deal for the borough, and Northern Ireland.

The former Northern Ireland Secretary of State visited Larne, where he was hosted by a council delegation.

Belfast Region City Deal group member, councillor Audrey Wales MBE, said: “We were delighted to welcome Mr Paterson to Mid and East Antrim so he could see first-hand the incredible opportunity for economic growth and innovation in Mid and East Antrim.”

Aside from the three main projects outlined, it’s also proposed that each council area will benefit from regional investment in next generation digital connectivity and capabilities which will help to attract new business investment. ■

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The Responsible Business Awards 2019 are now open for entries The Responsible Business Awards, run by Business in the Community, seek to recognise and reward firms in Northern Ireland that are embracing the journey to build better workforces, create a sustainable economy and healthy communities. In other words, to be a responsible business. Held in association with Ulster Business, they are open to organisations – large and small – from any sector from across Northern Ireland.

This year, there are 10 categories up for grabs (see opposite page for details). Chair of Business in the Community NI and managing director

of Survitec, Moya Johnston, said: “The Responsible Business Awards are our annual celebration and recognition of responsible business, helping to encourage new ways of thinking and inspiring others to take action.

Each time a business applies for a Responsible Business Award, it is raising the bar for others.

“The awards are free to enter and I’d encourage every business, no matter how big or small, to have a look at the range of categories and get your entries ready. If your organisation is acting as a force for good, we want to hear from you.”

Dates for your diary

CASE STUDY

Showcase & Share Breakfast: Tuesday, December 11, 2018, Allstate NI, 8.30 – 10:00 am

NI Responsible Company of the Year 2018 – Heron Bros Heron Bros is a construction and property development company operating throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Please join us at Allstate NI’s new premises for breakfast overlooking the river. A great opportunity to network, you’ll hear first-hand from the 2018 winners and highly commended organisations. Discover what they did and why they won. You’ll also get top tips for entering one of the 2019 categories. This event always books up quickly. To secure your place, email marie.atcheson@bitcni.org.uk, or call (028) 9046 0606.

Closing date for entries: February 22 – Girdwood Community Hub Judging days: April 23 – 24 – Girdwood Community Hub Gala dinner: May 30, Belfast Waterfront Hall

Its sustainability strategy consists of five key pillars creating value for its business – responsible business, resource efficiency and the natural environment, community and partnering, people and workforce, and business through innovation.

A clearly defined structure has been implemented across Heron Bros to ensure sustainability infiltrates through its business with short-term, mid-term and long-term targets and objectives to monitor, measure and report on performance. Heron Bros continues to invest in innovation and collaboration to promote a more responsible approach to business.

To see the full case study, visit www.bitcni.org.uk/awards

Supported by

HOW RESPONSIBLE IS YOUR ORGANISATION? Is your business an environmental leader, exemplar employer or education champion? If so, it’s time to prepare your entries for the 2018

Responsible Business Awards in Northern Ireland NI RESPONSIBLE COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD

RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL INNOVATION AWARD *NEW*

sponsored by Heron Bros.

For the company that best demonstrates positive impacts across its people, the planet and the places where it operates and advocates the benefits to encourage others to follow. Companies entering this category must have achieved CORE – The Standard for Responsible Business 2018 winner: Heron Bros

For the organisation that best uses innovative, digital solutions to tackle environmental and social challenges

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD

THE ONE-TO-WATCH AWARD

For the organisation that best demonstrates excellence in creating nd developing a diverse and inclusive workplace which offers opportunities for all 2018 winner: Pinsent Masons

sponsored by Survitec For a recently* joined Business in the Community member that has made significant progress in the development and implementation of its CR strategy. *Has joined Business in the Community since January 2017 2018 winner: Devenish Nutrition

RESPONSIBLE PRODUCT/SERVICE AWARD *NEW* Recognising organisations that are developing innovative products or services that inspire responsible customer behaviour and encourage more sustainable lifestyles

EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP AWARD sponsored by Allen & Overy For the organisation that best demonstrates how its actions have helped raise the aspirations and achievements of young people (aged four-19) through a solid business education partnership 2018 winner: Westrock-MPS

WELLBEING AT WORK AWARD For the organisation that demonstrates excellence in inspiring and supporting its employees to prioritise their health and wellbeing and embrace positive lifestyle choices 2018 winner: LIDL NI

EMPLOYABILITY AND JOBS AWARD sponsored by Belfast Harbour For the organisation that best removes barriers to work and helps people thrive in meaningful employment 2018 winner: BT

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARD sponsored by Arthur Cox For the organisation that best demonstrates significant commitment and contribution to environmental sustainability in Northern Ireland through an initiative or its activities 2018 winner: Farrans Construction

INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY AWARD *NEW* For the organisation that best demonstrates a positive impact on communities through going beyond its core business to invest time, resources and expertise to tackle disadvantage

To find out more, visit www.bitcni.org.uk/awards or call (028) 9046 0606. Applications to the Responsible Business Awards in Northern Ireland can be made online at www.bitcni.org.uk/awards. Entries close on Friday, February 23, 2018.

Media Partner

INTERVIEW

Breakfast BUSINESS

By John Mulgrew

The column that doesn’t have time for lunch...

BREAKFASTEER: MICHAEL POTTER, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT OSBORNE KING BREAKFASTING VENUE: THE JAILHOUSE, BELFAST

T

he Jailhouse, which is part of the redevelopment of McCracken’s Bar at Joy’s Entry, is the latest business breakfast venue for Ulster Business, and provides a fresh backdrop for lively discourse, coupled with caffeine and calories.

It’s not been open long, but offers a really tight breakfast menu featuring enough of the right things to certainly make it worth a visit for this editor and his guest, Osborne King’s Michael Potter.

He works in the professional services department of the commercial property firm, providing valuation advice to banks, private developers, companies and pension funds.

Kicking the breakfast off, for me, a generous dish of corned beef hash, eggs and black pudding serves up a proper version of the bovine staple. There’s no squashed, fat-laden minced mush of questionable origin – instead, this is properly salted and cured whole beef, cut into chunks. Think traditional New York deli, and not the stuff in a tin.

industrial market has come back – there’s a lot of demand.”

Another big shift for Osborne King is expanding its auction business, but moving from a more traditional set up to a new online format.

“The big thing for us, especially in the auction department, is the move from traditional ‘ballroom style’ to online,” he says.

“Everyday is slightly different, and I do that across a wide portfolio,” he says.

“There’s probably too much retail in some towns. A lot of the independent traders are getting squeezed out. High street big brands have preferred to locate to retail parks.

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“You need to get that mix. You need to get people back in to the town. And tourism is also massive at the moment.” ■ THE BILL:

However, he says some smaller towns are finding it tough when it comes to retail at the moment.

“The office market is very strong, and the

“Retail has changed so much and they don’t need the same storage space,” he says.

“We have been working behind the scenes on this for a long time.”

Michael opts for a serving of buttermilk pancakes and bacon – another stateside breakfast staple.

“It would be retail, office and industrial, as well as residential development sites. Retail would be struggling at the minute. There are a lot of changes in the market, and obviously with the city centre here.

bring an increasing level of city living, changing the use of traditionally retail buildings to residential.

“But a lot of the councils are very switched on into trying to influence people and bring them into the town centres.”

There’s also a move by some developers to

hash £6.95 Corned beef 5 d bacon £5.9 Pancakes an 80 0. x4 £1 Americano 70 3.

Total £2

Outsourcing & facilities management Sponsored by

DECEMBER 2018

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OUTSOURCING & FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

From big to small and IT to sandwiches From cottage industry family set-ups to global corporations, NI’s network of outsourcing and facilities management is extensive.

Here Ulster Business discusses the activity within the sector and the benefits it brings to firms

O

utsourcing comes with a wealth of pros. It removes the need to invest in specific areas of expertise, reduces costs and allows companies to work on their core business. And it can be flexible with short or long term contracts.

Today, almost all areas of a business can be

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easily outsourced – from catering to data compliance, there is a host of service providers here ready and waiting to take the load off.

Grant Thornton Northern Ireland, part of Grant Thornton Ireland, is one of those firms. It is also one of the fastest growing professional services firms here offering a lengthy list of financial business services.

It says when specific functions are outsourced it can reduce operational costs, access to expertise, risk-sharing and flexibility.

And such is the demand for its services it announced this year that it would

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be creating almost 50 new roles with a £4m investment.

Based at Donegall Square West in Belfast within Danske Bank’s headquarters, its managing partner, Richard Gillan believes growth has been Brexit-induced.

He said: “Over the last four years, we have more than trebled our turnover.

More recently, we have witnessed a significant uplift in the provision of holistic strategic consulting advice, including in relation to Brexit.

“These new jobs represent a substantial investment in response to such demand.”

Regulation changes, political shifts and other environmental adjustments often force firms to demand the services of an expert.

This has also been the case with RSM’s Belfast office which offers audit, tax and

DECEMBER 2018

consulting services.

fast-changing sector,” he said.

Richard Gardniner, managing partner at the firm says his global practice has been easing the burden on middle market firms especially in terms of Brexit related matters.

RSM NI is based at Lanyon Quay in Belfast. It has been operating for more than 25 years under numerous banners, offering the business world here a range of essential services to ensure growth, financial stability and compliance.

He says that RSM NI’s merger with the UK arm of RSM last year has also strengthened its offering allowing it access to a network of 3,500 staff in 35 locations.

“We have consistently grown our practice over the years, both organically and through acquisitions, and this was the next step of strategic growth for us,” Mr Gardiner said.

“Northern Ireland is unique. We have a lot of small micro businesses which are essential to our economy but also a huge private sector.

“We are seeing that middle private sector part of the marketplace grow now. Where we are with the merger is in a position to deliver, to those businesses, a high standard service with the complementary support of a wider UK network and technical resource to serve the

“Auditing, tax and consulting are our core services,” Mr Gardiner says. But technology is another area of growth for the firm as evident by its acquisition of FHL NetSuite last year.

And catering to the ever-growing obstacles facing businesses RSM NI has also expanded into HR with specialities in the outsourcing of payroll services, an “area of increasing regulation” Mr Gardiner said.

“We have sector specialisms and what we bring to our clients is an understanding of the challenges facing their business generally and the dynamics they face when growing and restructuring. We bring our professional skills to them so that they can achieve their aims,” he said. >

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OUTSOURCING & FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Trevor Annon, chairman of Mount Charles with wife Cate after winning the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Aer Lingus TakeOff Foundation Business Awards with Ulster Business

relationships are among the top concerns. And he says this is where RSM NI comes into force.

Also servicing the financial world, but on a more international basis is FinTrU, the Belfastbased financial tech company.

Cork native Darragh McCarthy set up the firm here after many years at Morgan Stanley.

It was that experience that brought to his attention gaps in the investment banking sector, prompting him to set up FinTrU in Belfast’s Gasworks in 2013.

“I felt there was a need for outside companies to help in a more cost effective way,” he said.

Richard Gillan

Looking at the current business landscape, Mr Gardiner says a heady mix of HR issues, corporate governance, compliance and transparency as well as the possible impact of Brexit on firms’ EU contracts and cross border

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Today the firm has 300 staff with huge plans for growth and expansion into the North West.

Its service is providing “high quality resourcing solutions to global investment banks, grappling to deal with the expanded scope of financial regulations”.

Darragh says immediate issues include the recently-introduced MIFID II regulation, Brexit

regulatory issues and compliance and KYC. Away from the financial realm is one of Northern Ireland’s most successful outsourcing stories – that of caterer Mount Charles.

Set up 30 years ago, Trevor Annon’s firm has ballooned into an empire of not just catering contracts but cleaning deals, stand-alone restaurants and more.

From a one-man-show the company now employs more than 2,000 staff. Back in 1988 Mount Charles had a small turnover, and three decades later it is bringing in £34m with a target of £100m by 2025. It counts Moy Park, Bombardier, Ulster Rugby, Southern Regional College, among many more, as key clients that use many areas of its business.

By determining where a firm’s strengths lie and offloading areas of non-expertise shift the focus to a business’ main concerns and whether that’s on a temporary or permanent basis, for many a helping hand can make a business move faster. ■

Taking over at the top of a family business stalwart Mount Charles’ new managing director Barry Byrne on taking over at the helm of a burgeoning family business with growth plans on the horizon

B

arry Byrne has taken to his new role at one of Northern Ireland’s leading family firms with more than two decades of experience under his belt – working in both the large and small end of the business world.

The Belfast man is now managing director of Mount Charles – Northern Ireland’s largest, independently owned outsourcing company, founded by Trevor Annon 30 years ago.

Mount Charles is a multi-service business – including catering, cleaning, events, vending, outsourcing and retail – and now boasts a workforce of 2,500 people, growing its turnover to almost £34m.

“We need to build a platform now to take it to another level,” Barry says.

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“A substantial part of my career was working for G4S – running large parts of it throughout the UK and Ireland.

“I have more than 20 years of service industry and extensive board level experience in an £450m organisation with 20,000 employees.”

Following his time with G4S, he led a start-up technology and service business in renewable energy, before moving on to Mount Charles.

“It’s been a good experience so far. I have spent most of the first few weeks getting to know our people, our customers and the business.

Throughout my career I’ve been lucky to have changed my role every few years, and I’ve been involved in many acquisitions, mergers and divestments, and I have taken on many new challenges in terms of businesses to lead, new

services to deliver or markets to operate in. I have also been extremely fortunate to have worked with, developed and led some fantastic people.

“So, I’m very accustomed to coming into an organisation and assessing it quickly, and figuring out where I need to spend my time and effort.

“Mount Charles is clearly a very successful business, has a great history and many really hard working and dedicated people – it has been a bit of a victim of its own success to some degree because of the pace of growth.

There are a number of key areas I can already see where I can add value through my own experience.

“The company has some great attributes – the

OUTSOURCING & FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

family ethos, the indigenous nature and that it is a dynamic, entrepreneurial organisation are all attractive.

“I think what I bring is plenty of experience of running a large-scale operational service delivery. Ensuring the systems and processes in place to deliver market leading quality in a way that is scalable, efficient and effective.”

Barry has started companies from the ground up, as well as growing teams, revenues and profits in established businesses.

Looking at the strategy going forward, Barry says he is already working with the team to launch a new plan early in the new year.

“I haven’t been brought in to keep the business ticking over and do what we’ve always done. It will be moving on at some pace but there are a number of important things that we need to be measuring, rather than just a financial figure as a measure of our success in that journey.”

“In terms of the many services we provide, and the markets we are in, I have experience of running multi-service contracts in companies with many more service lines, and I have experience of operating locally, in GB and the Republic of Ireland. Those are undoubtedly opportunities for us.”

DECEMBER 2018

“What I want to bring to the organisation is strong, communicative leadership with a discipline in terms of growing our people and our business. We will only achieve this through effective strategic planning and execution, so that the entire business is very clear on where we are going and how we are getting there.”

Ireland point of view, in how do we grow and develop our own talent.”

Mount Charles works across businesses of all shapes and sizes, right across the sectors, in both public and private.

And he said in the new markets it would be about focusing on what the company can do “very well” and not trying to “do everything”.

It has also recently expanded its existing and diverse retail offering, to include an exclusive franchise agreement with Ireland’s largest healthy-eating brand Freshly Chopped, which will see it open six outlets across Northern Ireland.

He also says he feels comfortable joining an already well-established family business, having worked in other family businesses throughout the course of his career.

“It is early days but going as planned. There is clearly a trend towards conscious and healthyeating, and it’s going to be something which is here to stay.”

“For me, I’m relaxed at being in a family business, because part of the reason we are where we are is having a charismatic leader like Trevor Annon, running it. His passion and drive is what has got this organisation to where it is today,” Barry says.

This year, it also unveiled a renewed £30m contract with Belfast International Airport.

“One of the big differences for us is the people focus. One of the real challenges for us is the local labour market and the risks of Brexit – particularly in the hospitality sector.

“We have a real challenge, from a Northern

Barry says the company wants to continue to be a multi-service business and rapidly-growing organisation in a way which retains the family ethos, culture and strong core values.

Looking at growth, Barry wants to build on the company’s already well-established and strong relationships with existing customers, as well as replicating the success in Northern Ireland, in other markets. ■

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THIRD SECTOR

Shining a light on corporate kindness Simon Community NI’s chief executive Jim Dennison on the vital role corporates have played in a challenging year for the homelessness sector

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or many, Christmas is a time for secret Santa, office parties and quality time with loved ones. But for those with no home, the season can be a difficult and lonely time.

Commenting on the organisation’s response to rising demand and budgetary restrictions, Simon Community NI’s chief executive, Jim Dennison, highlighted the ever-growing importance of corporate partnerships.

It goes without saying that 2018 has been a harrowing year for the homelessness sector with 20,000 children on housing waiting lists, on average 49 adults each day registering as homeless and countless individuals across the country sleeping on sofas. More alarming, around three people die per week whilst waiting for a home. These are horrendous statistics.

“Sometimes I wonder if the chief executives, managers and staff who support our charity each year truly know the difference they make. I can imagine that it might be difficult for some to visualise how their marathon, abseil, sleep out or hike helps save lives and end homelessness.

As Northern Ireland’s leading homelessness charity, Simon Community NI sees first-hand the realities of homelessness right across the country – supporting young people, families and those with poor mental health.

However, as the crisis worsens, the charity has found itself with a budget cut of 5% issued by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and Department for Communities. This is in addition to the fact that the sector has seen no budgetary uplift in over 10 years.

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“However, the monies raised ultimately allow us to provide things like emergency heating payments to those in need. Also, the corporate volunteering opportunities go a long way to creating a homely and friendly atmosphere for clients living in hostels.

Simply put, without corporate partnerships, we could not support in the way that we do.”

Jim shared the story of Jack, a previous client, to detail the difference a year can make to someone experiencing homelessness if given the right support.

“Last year, Jack cut his finger on a holly wreath, a small injury by all accounts.

However, due to a weakened immune system brought on by the stresses of homelessness, he developed blood poisoning and spent Christmas in a coma.

“This year, Jack connected with Simon Community NI and, after spending 100 days in a hostel, was supported on to independent living. This Christmas, he will put up his own tree before celebrating the season with his daughter and grandchild in New Zealand.”

The future of Simon Community NI will involve carrying on the good work it has been doing and using corporate partnerships to innovate the charity.

“Partnerships help us grow awareness, think differently and generate the funds needed to bring about change.

“With the continued support from existing and new corporate partners, we can create a society where everyone has a home.”■

PROFILE

Entrepreneur of the month LORNA ROBINSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CLOUGHBANE FARM

How is business?

Thankfully, business is good. Continued reinvestment in facilities, staff and new product development has seen Cloughbane Farm grow rapidly over the last 10 years. We’ve transitioned from trading solely at a farmer’s market to a business with a multi-millionpound turnover, supplying some of the biggest retailers in the UK and Ireland. This year marks another significant milestone, as we’ve just launched our first range of children’s meals called Cloughbane Little Farm.

How did you get started in the industry?

I was one of the founding members of a farmer’s market, where we sold lamb. Such was the success of this venture that we opened our own farm shop selling 28 days matured beef and lamb. As the popularity of the farm shop grew, we found ourselves with a surplus of succulent forequarter of beef. Rather than simply sell it on, we decided to add value to the meat by making pies with it.

Word spread, and shops began asking us to make these pies for them to stock, marking the start of the ready meals business which now accounts for over 90% of our sales.

Typically, who are your clients or customers?

We supply all major supermarkets and convenience stores in Northern Ireland (Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Musgrave, Henderson, Savage and Whitten) as well as independent retailers.

We also supply into rest the of UK and the Republic of Ireland.

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Do you enjoy what you do, and what in particular?

I love what I do, particularly meeting our customers. I also enjoy working with our team and get a real buzz out of watching someone develop upwards through the business. We strongly believe we are only as good as our team, and know they are our most important resource.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

Dealing with the continuous changes in food legislation, for example, labelling. It seems that

as soon as you have updated everything and got everyone trained on new legislation, it is changed again.

What are the challenges facing your sector, and the economy in general?

The dreaded ‘B’ word is a real challenge.

Brexit and the uncertainty around it is extremely unsettling for businesses. We are told to get Brexit ready, but how can you do that when there is no clear guidance on what is going to happen? This, coupled with no local government, is making it very difficult to plan. ■

Motoring

By Pat Burns

Sponsored by

DECEMBER 2018

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MOTORING

Discover the Vauxhall van range at Donnelly Group

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onnelly Group, Northern Ireland’s largest family-owned new and used vehicle retailer, invites business motorists across the province to experience the extensive Vauxhall van range.

The award-winning vehicles are available at Donnelly Vauxhall, Dungannon; Donnelly and Taggart Vauxhall, Eglinton, and Donnelly Vauxhall, Omagh. A Donnelly Vauxhall Service Centre is also conveniently located in Newtownabbey.

A van for any job The Vauxhall Combo, celebrated for its rugged exterior and outstanding strength, has been crowned International Van of the Year 2019.

Stuart Pedlow, Vauxhall retail operator at Donnelly Vauxhall, said: “Described as a van ‘fit for any job’, the Vauxhall Combo boasts a load volume of up to 4.4 cubic metres and a payload of up to 1,000kg, ensuring that its strength and versatility outshines any competitor.

“Another excellent model is the Vauxhall Vivaro.

An office on wheels, its spacious interior allows for the centre front seat to be conveniently folded into a desk, suitable for holding a laptop

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or work-related documents, meaning no time wasted – even while on the road.

“The Vauxhall Movano, another popular choice amongst many business motorists. The cargo capacity on this model extends from eight to 22 cubic metres, with space for up to five europallets in the rear wheel drive version. This panel van is the ultimate worker’s car.”

Donnelly Group has showrooms in nine locations, including Ballymena, Bangor, Belfast, Dungannon Moy Road, Dungannon M1, Eglinton, Enniskillen, Newtownabbey and Omagh.

Unbeatable service Dave Sheeran, managing director at Donnelly Group, said:

Excellent affordability and cover The Vauxhall van range is available with up to three years or 60,000 miles – 100,000 miles for Vivaro and Movano – from first registration which guarantees peace of mind business motoring. A range of finance options are available to facilitate your purchase.

“At Donnelly Group, our mission remains focused on providing motorists across Northern Ireland with the most superior customer experience. This experience begins as soon as the customer enters the showroom and continues even after the purchasing process is complete.

“At Donnelly Group we recognise that for business owners, the costs associated with leasing a vehicle for business use can often be a concern,” Stuart said.

“The entire Donnelly Vauxhall team is a credit to not only the brand, but the wider Donnelly Group, and business motorists can rest assured that we are always on hand for advice and support.

“Our customers have the opportunity to benefit from a range of finance and leasing options on the entire Vauxhall van range.

“For example the ever popular Vauxhall Vivaro van is available with five years 0% APR representative at Donnelly Group Vauxhall locations.”

“This desire to go the extra mile for our customers is something we are very proud of, and what has customers returning to us for their business needs year after year.”

For info visit www.donnellygroup.co.uk/vauxhall

MOTORING

I’m too sixy for an estate T

he days when an estate car were seen as ‘repmobiles’ are long gone.

Ulster Business has been testing the revised Mazda6 Tourer and can report that it is indeed a class act.

Upmarket styling, tasteful interior, a powerful 2.2litre diesel engine with a six speed gearbox and all the interior space you could need.

The latest versions feature the popular SkyActiv-D 2.2-litre diesel engine and benefit from a power upgrade to 184ps.

Priced from £23,195 to £33,585 the combined Saloon and Tourer range features 25 models across four trim levels: SE-L Nav+, SE-L LUX Nav+, Sport Nav+ and GT Sport Nav+.

There’s also no mistaking the visual enhancements that mark out the latest Mazda6. The new car adopts a fresh frontal design focused around a new grille, while the revised LED headlamps integrate signature wing tips and the redesigned lower bumper features a sleeker profile and an aerodynamically efficient air intake.

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Topping off the styling updates are new alloy wheel designs and the introduction of ‘soul red crystal’ metallic paint, which thanks to Mazda’s three-layer painting technology increases brightness by approximately 20% and depth by 50%, compared to previous paint.

Step inside the new Mazda6 and the updates are even more evident. New materials and technology combined with refinements to the cabin design deliver an understated sense of luxury. With fine craftsmanship applied to every detail, highlights across the range include the introduction of a larger eight-inch centre display screen and the adoption of a full colour windscreen projected active driving display.

The dashboard and door trim designs have been redesigned, seat comfort has been improved and the flagship GT Sport Nav+ features Mazda’s signature high-end interior finishes including real Japanese sen wood trim, brown nappa leather and suede to deliver a cabin that fuses modern technology with the beauty and simplicity of traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

Designed to improve ride comfort at the same time as maintaining the Mazda6’s famed driver engagement, the new Mazda6 benefits from suspension fine tuning and component upgrades.

As you’d expect for a car in this segment, improved refinement has also been a focus with the addition of thicker floor and rear wheel housing noise insulation panels, plus body reinforcement in places where vibration can penetrate the cabin.

With an increase in standard active safety equipment across the range, all models now feature a huge range of advanced i-Activesense technology, including blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, Mazda radar cruise control, lane keep assist and advanced smart city break support.

The new 2018 Mazda6 has been awarded the maximum five star rating by Euro NCAP in its latest series of tests. This is the first Mazda to achieve an overall five star rating under the new, more stringent 2018 Euro NCAP crashworthiness ratings. ■

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MOTORING

High tech Focus is pin sharp

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ord has revamped its top selling Focus and the new model delivers more space, style and advanced driving technologies for a mid-size family car than ever before. Ensuring that the Focus will remain in the best sellers list, the new car introduces high tech features that can help drivers make light work of stop-start traffic, see more clearly when driving in the dark, park simply by holding down a button, and avoid accidents.

The new Focus has been awarded a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP after introducing a wider range of advanced driver assistance features than any Ford vehicle before, enabled by three radars, two cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies enhance protection, driving and parking.

Euro NCAP evaluated the adaptive cruise control with stop and go, speed sign recognition and lane-centring technologies available for Focus, which helps the vehicle maintain a comfortable driving distance from vehicles ahead, helps reduce stress during long road trips by helping keep the vehicle

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centred in its lane – and can adjust the vehicle speed to within legal limits by monitoring the roadside and overhead gantries for speed signs in addition to using information from the onboard navigation system.

Each model has an outstanding combination of comfort, safety and driver assistance technologies, helping to make the all-new Ford Focus the most accomplished and technically advanced Focus ever.

The new FordPass Connect onboard modem technology for the Focus even turns the vehicle into a mobile wi-fi hotspot with connectivity for up to 10 devices.

Focus Style comes as standard with 16 inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, DAB digital radio with Bluetooth and Emergency Assist, electronic parking brake, autonomous emergency braking, tyre pressure monitoring, hill start assist and lane-keeping aid.

All the main models offer enhanced specification while being priced more competitively or at carry-over levels.

Prices start at £17,930 for the Focus Style – £2,300 below the model it replaces. Focus Zetec and ST-Line – together representing 55% of sales – are now £850 and £250 less, respectively.

The new Focus range will comprise seven variants from launch. Starting with Style (at £17,930), the range progresses through Zetec (£19,300), ST-Line (£21,570), ST-Line X (£24,050), Titanium (£21,550), Titanium X (£22,820) and Vignale (£25,450).

Zetec models add highlights such as Ford’s SYNC 3 radio with a 6.5 inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality, cruise control with speed limiter, front fog lights and Quickclear heated windscreen.

Titanium models bring additional comfort and convenience features including front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, a larger eight-inch colour touchscreen, satellite navigation and FordPass Connect wireless connectivity. ■

A word from

The Wise The column with an ear for experience...

Name: Clare Guinness Position: Chief executive of Warrenpoint Harbour How did you start out in business?

I was awarded a degree scholarship to complete a finance degree at Loughborough University which led me into corporate and business banking. I enjoyed 17 years working in Bank of Ireland with a key highlight being the four years I spent funding large property development schemes in London.

What have you found the most challenging during your years of business, so far?

The key challenge is balancing work and family life, particularly through very busy spells such as completing corporate transactions or implementing change management programmes which tend to absorb much of your time and a lot of energy. Having numerous demands and roles in life can make for a lot of juggling. I must always make sure I make time for my husband Gary, and our two kids Anna, who is six, and James, four.

How would you describe your management style?

Firm but fair. I deal with issues rather than avoid them and have a fairly direct style. Sitting alongside that, I am very much a people person and understand how difficult at times life can be for colleagues and peers. I think its critical to adapt your style to the situation.

What would you change if you could go back and do it all again?

There are likely numerous things if I was to sit down and think about it but that’s the thing – I don’t really believe in looking back – I am always thinking ahead. Making mistakes is all

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part of life-long learning. Get up, dust yourself down, take the learning and move on! Life is too short to wallow in ‘what ifs?’ or ‘if only’ it’s pretty pointless. I believe get on getting on with living and looking to the future. We are all masters of our own destiny.

Have you done it all on your own?

Not at all. Firstly, I have a very supportive husband and family circle. Additionally, I have been fortunate to work with some excellent business people over the years who have supported me and provided guidance when I have needed it.

For busy, successful people to give generously of their time and genuinely support others is a fabulous trait to have. I consider myself very lucky to have a couple of excellent mentors and I am privileged to do the same for others.

Relationships like that are to be nurtured and cherished, despite demands on time.

How would you like your business to be remembered?

At Warrenpoint Port, we are very proud to be part of our community and of our role as a major driver for economic growth in the region.

We employ 67 people directly – more than 200 people work at the harbour estate daily and port activity supports over 1,000 jobs in the region. The Port is a vital link in the supply chain supporting both imports and exports of goods which are the life-blood of the economy.

The Port is also currently undergoing somewhat of a transformation across several areas from health and safety, engineering, operations and HR. I would like the business to be remembered for embracing change, growing employment and increasing our contribution to our community. By doing this, the economic and civic impact of the Port will be greater.

What piece of advice would you give to a 20-year-old you?

I have never forgotten hearing Mary McAleese speak using the drains and radiators analogy which really resonated with me. Steer clear of the drains and surround yourself with radiators.

Negative people are exhausting and zap your energy levels. Upbeat, glass half full people are much more fun to be around and spot the opportunity in every situation. So, I would say to my younger self don’t waste precious time with negative influences. ■

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APPOINTMENTS

Mark Huddleston has been appointed management and leadership ambassador at the Institute of Directors Northern Ireland. He will engage with IoD members and all other stakeholders.

Lewis Davison has been appointed as help-desk co-ordinator at Mercury Security and Facilities Management and will be responsible for ensuring that any issues reported by the company’s clients are attended to in a timely manner.

Brian Mullen has been appointed to oversee Lockton’s newest innovative insurance solution, Lockton Commercial in the Armagh, Newry and Dungannon areas.

Tom Rodgers has been appointed health, safety and environmental manager at Warrenpoint Port. He will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the highest safety standards.

Stephen Crozier has been appointed as director in business consultancy with CBRE. He will drive forward CBRE’s project management and building surveying capabilities in Northern Ireland.

Sarah Fleming has been appointed senior manager at Muldoon & Co Chartered Accountants. In her new role she will be responsible for managing and enhancing relationships with SME clients.

Caroline McSorley joins Glandore as sales manager. She will be working closely with new and existing members to find the right flexible workspace for their needs.

Glandore has appointed Nicola as community and events executive. She will be responsible for running member events, workplace wellness and CSR initiatives.

Nicola Trimby has been appointed credit controller at Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She has worked in a finance role in various companies for almost 20 years.

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APPOINTMENTS

Jenna Bell has been appointed business development executive at the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She is responsible for recruiting and retaining NI Chamber members.

Tourism NI has added to its senior management team with the appointment of Dave Vincent as chief digital officer.

He wll be responsible for driving digital transformation across the organisation.

Caoimhe McCann has been appointed as sales administrator at Mercury Security and Facilities Management and will be responsible for providing an excellent level of service to all clients.

Mercury Security and Facilities Management has taken on Bernard Bogues as commercial director. Mr Bogues brings more than 25 years of leadership experience and knowledge of the service industry.

The University Economic Policy Centre has appointed Gerry McGinn as an independent member to its advisory board. He was previously chief executive of institutions in London, Dublin, and Belfast and permanent seretary of two government departments.

Andrew Cheadle has been appointed general manager for the Republic of Ireland by Mercury Security and Facilities Management. He has 27 years’ experience working within the retail and security management sector.

Lockton Belfast has appointed Kieran Hurley as commercial insurance consultant. He will oversee the development and delivery of insurance solutions for businesses of varying sizes.

Janine Gelston joins the Merchant Hotel in Belfast as business development manager.

She has more than 13 years’ experience within hospitality.

David Queen has been appointed as operations manager for Northern Ireland at Mercury Security and Facilities Management and will be responsible for the management of the manned guarding and key-holding division within the company.

DECEMBER 2018

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PHOTOCALL

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1. Pictured at the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards are Deloitte partner Peter Allen, Repstor chief Alan McMillen and Deloitte partner Glenn Roberts. Repstor were the top placed NI company in the Fast 50 this year.

2. Gemma Jordan, chairman of CMI Northern Ireland, presents Roy Adair CBE, former chief execuive of Belfast Harbour Commissioners with an award recognising his outstanding contribution to the Northern Ireland economy.

3. A new platfirm called theHub. io has been launched in partnership between Danske Bank, Catalyst Inc and Rainmaking, a global cooperative of entrepreneurs. Pictured is David Allister, head of digital partnerships and alliances at Danske Bank and Conall Keenan, hub manager.

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4. Pearse Lavery, head chef with Stacks Healthy Kitchen Founder James Deery.

Stacks Healthy Kitchen has welcomed its customers to the Soloist building in Belfast, following an investment of ÂŁ300,000, creating 25 jobs.

5. Lisa Anderson of Osborne King abseils at Belfast Castle. The company raised more than ÂŁ1,200 for NI Hospice, with a number of staff getting involved.

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PHOTOCALL 6. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is celebrating a milestone after helping its 200th new business start-up to compile a Go For It Programme business plan. Pictured is chairman for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Mark Murnin along with Gavin Martin of Magnetic North Photography and Liam Quinn with Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency.

7. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Counci chief executive Roger Wilson is joined by business broadcaster Jamie Delargy in Lurgan town centre to launch the upcoming ‘Transforming Towns Together’ conference.

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8. Game of Thrones’ Jamie Lanister, played by actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau marks the launch of Johnnie Walker’s new White Walker whiskey. It’ll be sold exclusively in Tesco in Northern Ireland.

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9. Alastair Glass, managing director of Hannath Estate Agency is pictured with Kevin Fitzpatrick, business acquisitions manager at First Trust Bank, and Hannath directors Gary Little and Ciaran McKendry after the business was purchased by three directors from within the business.

10. Aine Kearney, director of business support and events and Mary McFerran, events team, launch Tourism NI’s Events Funding Programme at Belfast’s Custom House Square.

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DECEMBER 2018

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PHOTOCALL

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11. Retail group Musgrave picked up four awards between them at the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards. Centra at Waterloo Place in Londonderry took one of the gongs. Pictured are Greg Deacon, Noel Kavanagh and Siabhra Walsh, Centra Waterloo Place and Austin McGrath, Musgrave NI. 12. Ian Wilson, chief executive of the Grand Opera House and Cian Landers, general manager of the Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast afte announcing the launch of their new official three-year sponsorship deal.

13. Hagan Homes has announced its plans to build 2,000 new homes over the next 10 years, as part of a £300m development programme. Pictured is company founder James Hagan.

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14. Pictured at Molly’s Bar in Irvinestown is Peter O’Hara, business development manager, Co Fermanagh at Ulster Bank alongside new owner Damian Hanna.

15. Bloc Blinds founder and managing director Cormac Diamond with Julie Lilley, Bloc Blinds design studio manager after the firm celebrated the production of its one millionth blind.

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PHOTOCALL 16. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council chief executive Anne Donaghy with Mayor Lindsay Millar and councillor Gregg McKeen as a delegration made the trip to Westminster to promote the new Belfast Region City Deal.

17. Ballymena’s economy is to get an injection of £300,000 over the next three years. Pictured are, Melanie Christie Boyle, chief executive of Ballymena Business Centre and Pat McCallion, a trustee of The Gallaher Trust.

18. Morelli’s has nvested £350,000 to expand its Coleraine base of operations, including expanding its ice-cream production and storage facilities. Pictured is Arnaldo Morelli, managing director and Rhonda McClelland, business development manager at Ulster Bank.

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19. Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Paul Michael, launches the Social Enterprise Programme with Derek Browne of Insight Social Enterprise Solutions CIC and Emma Garrett, Mallusk Enterprise Park.

20. Neueda’s Mark Dunne and Peter Russell pictured after Mr Dunne was appointed regional account director for Ireland as part of a strategy to grow its share of the IT market in the Republic.

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PHOTOCALL

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21. First Trust Bank rolls out a big welcome to JAM Card Holders at its flagship Donegall Square North. Pictured is Donna Wilson, head of customer advocacy at First Trust alongside JAM Card user, Grainne Cregan and Diane Hill, director of business development at NOW Group.

22. Susan O’Kane of Invest NI with Terry Robinson, chief executive of Vox Financial. The firm has developed new software that will improve efficiencies in the global financial services industry post Brexit.

23. Ulster Bank business growth enablers, Cara Taylor and Lisa McCaul who will host the Ulster Bank Boost Time to Grow events as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

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24. Northern Ireland PR firm Jago has expanded with the opening of a new office in Dublin. Founder Shona JagoCurtis, is pictured with communications manager Fiona Hanna at the Dublin city centre office.

25. Beverley Harrison, Department of the Economy, Martin Lennon and Seanie O’Hare of O’Hare & McGovern and Brian Doran, chief executive of Southern Regional College after the firm won a £15m contract to build a new development at the Southern Regional College’s Banbridge campus.

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PHOTOCALL 26. Pictured welcoming the news that Lidl is the first supermarket to adopt a new living wage is Ineta Zakauskiene, Kamil Kujek, Angela Connan, Simon Cummings and Thomas McEwen from the Connswater store in Belfast.

27. Digital DNA has announced the appointment of Simon Bailie as its new chief executive. Formerly commercial director at the organisation, Mr Bailie will lead the organisation as it embarks on a new phase of growth and expansion.

28. Ryan Kee, director of retail agency at Lambert Smith Hampton with Laura McCarthy, senior property asset manager of Alfred Street Properties, owners of Connswater Shopping Centre as it was announced the new Brand Max store would be opening there.

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29. Pictured is Mairead Meyer, managing director of the newly-named Openreach Northern Ireland team. Belfast has been announced as the first city in Northern Ireland to benefit from Openreach’s fibreto-the-premises programme.

30. Peter Farquharson has launched Further Space, a new and innovative alternative tourism company, aiming to establish up to 100 micro-tourism joint venture partnerships throughout the UK and Ireland.

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DECEMBER 2018

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THE CHAIRMAN

The Chairman It was very much the black tie busy season for the man around town, including a couple of trips south. But it’s all in a day’s work for the fella around town

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ight, so apparently Christmas is already around the corner. Saying that, the busy season for businessrelated festivities is already well under way. Autumn always tends to be a busy point in the calendar for the Chairman. It also called for two trips down to Dublin.

There was Deloitte’s Fast 50 awards – showcasing Ireland’s fastest growing firms.

Belfast software firm Repstor was the highestranked firm from Northern Ireland – coming in at number 10, and joined others such as Made to Engage, run by Steven Cassin.

Those turning out at the Clayton Hotel from Deloitte included Peter Allen, Glenn Roberts, Kathy Kenny and Gill Mewha.

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Then the Citywest Hotel hosted around 1,500 top business leaders for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year. Northern Ireland was well represented, with David Maxwell, Darragh McCarthy, Peter Keeling and Dominic Fitzpatrick all among those shortlisted.

speaking candidly and certainly not mincing his words over some of the political opposition to Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement. He also walked away with the award for top property personality of the year, joined by wife Petra Wolsey.

But it was Beannchor boss and Merchant Hotel owner Bill Wolsey who walked away with the award for top industry entrepreneur.

The great and the good turned out in style, including McCue Crafted Fit’s Les McCracken, the Simon Brien team, Lisney and Osborne King.

And back to Belfast, it was time for the launch of the IoD Director of the Year Awards.

And making sure the afternoon was captured was now, almost celebrity, snapper, Kelvin Boyes.

The awards seek to honour the best performing directors in the private, public and third sectors across the region, and were unveiled by IoD NI chairman Gordon Milligan and First Trust Bank boss Adrian Moynihan.

Then, continuing the theme of property, the Construction Employers Federation held its annual awards at the Culloden Hotel.

Meanwhile, SuperValu hosted industry folk, foodies and media to launch its new Christmas range. Yes, it was Christmas-themed in November, but that’s certainly not a bad way to kick off the festive season.

The organisation’s John Armstrong and David Fry were joined by chairman, and Gilbert Ash boss, Ray Hutchinson. The overall award went to Draperstown business, and newcomer to the Ulster Business Top 100, Heron Bros, collected by commercial director Noel Mullan and presented by Raymonde Nathan of principal sponsor JLT.

Among those attending were Pamela Ballantine, Valerie Thompson and Michael McCrory, along with Jilly Dougan and ambassador and chef Noel McMeel.

Meanwhile, over at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast, it was the turn of the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards, in partnership with Electric Ireland, to attract the great and the good of the world of commercial and residential.

But it was Merchant Hotel owner Bill Wolsey that caused the biggest cheers of the event,

Now, for something a little stronger, Co Tyrone man Darren Nugent and business partner Peter McBride unveiled both their new distillery, and three new spirits. Ion produces a spiced rum, gin and vodka, and took to Belfast’s glam taste of Cuba, Revolucion de Cuba, to launch the products.

Among those joining them was Michael and Roisin Kerr, Paul Hendry, Gary Moran and Stephen Stitt, while top mixologist Conor Brady ensured everyone’s glasses were suitably topped up. ■

THE CHAIRMAN

Ray Hutchinson, Noel Mullan and Raymonde Nathan at the CEF awards David Shanahan of Deloitte with Ray Nolan, xSellco and Brendan Jennings of Deloitte

Darren Nugent and Peter McBride

Some of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year judges and winners

Michael and Roisin Kerr with Paul Hendry

IoD NI chairman Gordon Milligan and First Trust Bank boss Adrian Moynihan

Jilly Dougan and Noel McMeel pictured at the SuperValu Signature Tastes Christmas event

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Bill Wolsey and Petra Wolsey

Valerie Thompson, Pamela Ballantine and Michael McCrory pictured at the SuperValu Signature Tastes Christmas event

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TECHNOLOGY

A Pro replacement for the laptop?

Is the new iPad Pro a laptop killer? Adrian Weckler takes an in-depth look at the latest offering from Apple

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pple has a new portable computer that it believes will strongly appeal to professionals and creative types. But do people yet see the iPad Pro as a replacement for a MacBook Pro or a Windows equivalent?

Its extra power, bigger screen and redesigned Pencil combine to make a strong pitch along these lines.

But does the machine succeed?

Having used the new 11-inch model for more than a week, I can see a role for the iPad Pro in a professional’s workflow.

pivot in boosting it as a productivity tool.)

But it’s also upped its game with graphics and processor speed, meaning that it is becoming a capable games and entertainment machine.

And storage is now on par with almost any laptop: my test model has a whopping one terabyte, making up somewhat for the lack of USB storage file transfers that you normally have with other laptops.

To be clear, I need to make a quick disclaimer: I’m a regular iPad Pro user. I use it for work and for non-work. So, I’m naturally interested in some of the upgraded features on this new model.

Finally, with its new ‘liquid retina’ display (the same design as the new iPhone Xr), videos and photos are rendered pretty spectacularly on it.

So if you don’t have time to read any further into this review and are looking for a quick verdict, here it is: this machine is excellent.

It’s a worthy upgrade to the iPad Pro 10.5 and brings Apple’s pro tablet ever closer to a genuine laptop replacement for more people.

All that said, it’s a really decent upgrade. Paired with the new Smart Keyboard Folio case, it’s sturdier and faster than the existing iPad Pro with a slightly larger screen (despite being the same physical size). It has also somewhat opened up its connection possibilities, thanks to the replacement of the Lightning port with a USB-C port. (In time, this could be a critical

Goodbye Touch ID, hello Face ID As anyone following the specs will have seen, Apple has replaced the Touch ID fingerprint button with its Face ID system from the iPhone X range. But unlike the iPhone, Face ID works no matter which way you hold the tablet. In several days’ usage, it has proven to be almost flawless.

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An extra half-inch of screen space The real payoff to removing the Touch ID button, though, is that you get extra screen real estate for free. This iPad Pro display is about 10% bigger than the last 10.5-inch one, purely because the bezels and have been thinned out and the Touch ID home button getting dropped.

A lot more power under the hood I also need to mention the significant speed upgrade – there’s a completely perceptible bump here. Maybe no more than a tenth of a second. But when you’re multitasking in a pressurised work setting – as I often am at a press conference, for example – you can see it.

There’s less and less lag time, at all, between you swiping something and it instantly happening.

A more practical keyboard case If we’re talking pragmatically about its highlights, I should mention the redesigned Smart Keyboard Folio case. It’s a proper step up from the 10.5-inch iPad Pro’s Smart Keyboard, which has served me reasonably well this year.

It’s stiffer, has two angles for the iPad (as opposed to one on the last Smart Keyboard) and is now a proper case, covering the rear of the machine as well as the display.

TECHNOLOGY

USB-C replacing Lightning This is another major change in the iPad Pro’s overall build and potentially one that could significantly benefit productivity power users. By switching the charging connector to USB-C, Apple now lets the iPad Pro connect to monitors at up to 5K resolution and directly into cameras. This is a very hopeful move for those who want their iPad Pro to get closer to the flexibility of their laptop.

A much better Pencil I’ve never been much of a Pencil user and for everyday use at work, I can’t see that changing. Having said that, I’ve been playing with the redesigned Pencil and it’s definitely more compelling than the last one. The biggest improvement (by far) is that it’s magnetic and attaches to the side of the iPad, whence it immediately begins to charge.

DECEMBER 2018

Battery life is roughly the same.

The way I use it, it varies a lot. Sometimes I’ll get seven to eight hours out of it. Other times it’s closer to four or five.

The camera and speakers Apple has loaded the iPad Pro with what seems like the same camera on the iPhone Xs. So you can do the same high-quality portrait shots, for example. While I’m grateful for it, I’m not sure I quite need it. That said, those who FaceTime a lot will probably appreciate it.

I can’t tell whether there’s any improvement in the audio quality. Apple actually reduced the physical space available to its speakers, which normally has the consequence of lower quality audio. I’ve played the movie back on each device at the same volume level and while the older 10.5-inch model seems more directional (at me), the overall quality seems similar.

Laptop replacement or not?

This isn’t a downside to this iPad model, but more broadly speaking a downside to choosing a pro tablet as your main laptop. It still doesn’t quite multitask as well as a laptop, nor is it as accommodating for every task you might want to complete. For instance, if you’re the type that likes having lots of programs (or windows) open, the iPad Pro is still second best as a computer. Yes, you can have lots of tabs open in a web browser, just like on a PC. But otherwise, your multi-tasking is limited to a split screen and swiping between apps.

Personally, this is good enough for what I need to use it for. But for some, it may not be.

VERDICT I’ve only been using and testing the iPad Pro for a week. But it’s clear that Apple is making strides in making this into a more broadly appealing laptop replacement. ■

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TRAVEL

The skiing’s tricky... but the food is great Gavin McLoughlin tries his hand, or legs, in Valais in Switzerland as well as taking in the cuisine and a drop of vino

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TRAVEL

‘Y

ou know how to stop, you know how to stop’ my skiing instructor Vincent yells. I do know how but unfortunately I can’t quite execute the right manoeuvre and I crash five seconds later into a small inflatable lion.

I’m on the baby slope — the place where small children are taught how to ski. Hence the inflatable animals. I’m a skiing virgin and picking it up is harder than I thought.

A good chunk of my first few hours are spent on the ground or trying to get off the ground — not easy when you have a pair of skis stuck to your feet.

Slowly but surely though I start to improve, but not enough to progress to the grown up slopes by the end of the day. We’re in the Alps, in the Valais region of south-west Switzerland near the French and Italian borders. The landscape is simply jaw-dropping — vast, jagged peaks, snow-covered valleys, and bright sunshine.

Travelling here was pleasingly efficient.

We flew to Zurich with Swiss International Airlines — clean, on-time and with free Swiss chocolates.

Then it’s on to the train service, Swiss Travel System. We have to change along the way and, worryingly, our hosts Switzerland Tourism have left just five minutes or so to get off one train and on to the next.

In Ireland this would be a recipe for disaster — a small delay and you have missed your next train.

But everything works perfectly smoothly and we arrive in the evening in the city of Sion at the foot of the Alps. We’re staying in Nendaz, an alpine village above Sion, in a beautiful chalet called Etoiles de Montagne. It has stunning views, but what really sets it apart is the quality of the food.

The hosts have hired a chef who used to work in a local restaurant, who cooks for the group every night. The meals are excellent — tasty, high-quality ingredients and creative without being pretentious.

DECEMBER 2018

Indeed the food and drink, I must confess, presents more of an attraction to me than the skiing at the outset. On our first day on the slopes we have lunch on a terrace, at a log cabin high up in the mountains, looking out at the range. I’d just as well stay here and look out all day rather than return to the piste.

As it turns out, our instructors decide to bring us up to the tallest point in the resort — Mont Fort, 3,330m above sea level. Here there are more stunning views, with the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc visible in the distance.

But the next day I wake with renewed determination to master the art of skiing. The previous evening over a few beers the other, more experienced skiers on the trip have told me what a wonderful time they are having. I feel like I’m missing out a bit.

level of expertise that enables me to get out there alongside them — but another morning of instruction would probably have done it.

Although I’m not an expert skier, I do feel qualified to provide some tips on what to do if you’re hitting the slopes for the first time.

I’m not particularly disappointed — I got some sense at least of the fun you can have on the slope.

First, make sure to bring goggles or sunglasses.

The sun reflects off the white snow and the result is that the general environment is extremely bright if it’s a clear day. Good gloves are also a must.

Second, be prepared to have sore feet. Ski boots are supposed to be pretty snug so that you can have proper control of your skis, which are clipped to the boots.

It’s a short stay — we have to leave in the afternoon — so this morning will be my last chance to make it off the baby slopes and on to the piste proper.

Third, see if you can borrow some gear from a pal. Ski gear isn’t cheap, and if the holiday is costing you a pretty penny too, it might be no harm to save a few bob where you can.

Yesterday’s experience has stood to me — I’m now able to stop (most of the time) — so we move on to learn the art of the slalom.

And even if you don’t fancy hitting the piste, there’s lots to recommend the Valais region.

The food is in general excellent. Switzerland’s famous fondue — a big pot of melted cheese in which bread is dipped, does not disappoint.

It’s rich though — a few bites were enough for me. The wine is good too — Valais accounts for a sizeable proportion of Swiss wine production and we tried some very nice reds and whites.

This involves moving down the slope in a corkscrew pattern, turning left and then right over and over again in order to be able to descend with control.

It’s tricky enough — you have to distribute your weight correctly in order to make it work.

Today we’re in a different skiing area with a couple of different baby slopes of varying difficulty and despite a few more thrills and spills I manage at least to progress from the most gentle to a slightly more challenging part.

My struggles make me marvel at the proficiency some of the small children are able to demonstrate. Kids barely of school-going age are out on the piste proper, whizzing past as I observe from the adjacent baby slopes.

Unfortunately I don’t manage to achieve a

We also get a demonstration of the alphorn — an instrument like an enormous long tobacco pipe that was used to communicate to villages on the other side of mountain valleys.

In the summer, the area is popular for hiking and biking. I’d like to return for some of that in the warmer months — it’s more up my alley than the skiing. But if it’s the nightlife you’re after — Nendaz may not be for you.

The town is large but very quiet at night — at least in any of the districts we explored.

But it’s not everywhere you’ll get the stunning mountain landscape found in Valais, which is truly a treasure. ■

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MY DAY TITLE

Uncovering the 9-5

Name: Lydia McClelland Position: Head of W5

6.20am I tend to wake up before my alarm goes off which gives me plenty of time to prepare before I start the commute to work at 7.20am.

7.50am I arrive into the office and spend the first hour planning for the day ahead. No two days are the same. I have full responsibility for W5 including all aspects of visitors services, facilities, health and safety and finances however a large focus of my role is in the commercial development of the organisation.

W5, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Odyssey Trust, is a charity and my focus is to make it financially sustainable over the next few years.

9am W5 is undergoing a £4.5m refurbishment which will be completed by May 2020. This will see a renewed focus on nine educational zones across the building and each of the zones will have sponsors and partners.

11am I have a meeting with the head of food and beverage to discuss plans for an enhanced food offering in our W5 cafe. We are working toward site-wide integration at the moment so strategic conversations with senior managers across the business are key.

12pm I usually try to grab something quick to eat between meetings, while also responding to emails.

12.30pm I am proactive at reaching out to potential new partners so my afternoons can be spent out of the building at networking events or hosting people at W5 to share our plans.

If I am not out and about at meetings I am working with internal teams on all aspects

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of planning for Halloween, Christmas or on the launch of new opportunities such as our recently installed virtual reality experience.

4.30pm I like to leave the office to get home to my young family. I have two children aged 18 months and four years. The next two hours are focused on play, dinner, bath and bedtime.

7pm My evening is usually spent catching up on emails from during the day. I always try to get

back to people as soon as possible. If I’m not catching up on work, I like to go to pilates or yoga, meet up with a friend for coffee or dinner or even just catch up on some TV to get a bit of down time.

10pm I’m normally in bed by 10pm, if not earlier. I definitely need sleep to have the energy for the day ahead. I’m normally asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow. W5 is open 362 days a year so apart from three days over the Christmas period we really don’t stop.

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