Ulster Business - February 2018

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FEBRUARY 2018 Price £2.30 (¤2.60)

Investing for the long term BGF’s team in NI outline their ambitions to invest in more local businesses OFFICE INTERIOR Why a good working environment counts

RISK MANAGEMENT

How to get your business prepared for GDPR

Contents 6 News

49 Risk Management

82 Appointments

All that’s been going on in the Northern Ireland business world in the last month

GDPR has been filling the headlines but how do you really need to prepare?

The lowdown on the latest movers and shakers are here. Are you?

14 Cover Story

61 Office Environment

90 The Chairman

BGF explains how it is investing in Northern Ireland for the long term

How to make sure your office will attract the right type of talent

He’s had a busy start to the year so check if you have been spotted our man on the scene

23 Energy & Environment

72 Business Breakfast

92 Technology

John Simpson dips into the RHI debacle to test the limits of subsidy amendment

Porridge and eggs - not in the one bowl feature in this months chow down

Keep calm and carry, but get some security in place, says Adrian Weckler, our cyber expert

37 Search and Recruitment

75 Motoring

94 Travel

How to nail that all-important interview and land the dream job

The man with Castrol GTX running through his veins is back with the latest reviews

Join us on a trip to Kyoto, Japan where life is lived at an altogether different pace

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82 90

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Resilient businesses charge ahead while Stormont stalls

W

elcome to the February edition of Ulster Business.

This issue is jam packed with another helping of news, views and insight into some of the biggest issues impacting and boosting businesses across Northern Ireland and beyond.

Brokenshire, not just for attending and speaking at our Top 100 Gala Dinner last year, but also for the hard work he put in trying to knock heads together up on the hill.

Good wishes to him as he recuperates, and also to Karen Bradley as she tries to make government in this small corner of the world function.

It comes at a prescient time for the region.

At the time of writing, talks are ongoing at Stormont to resolve the deadlock which has left us without proper governance for over a year now and forced civil servants to step up to the plate.

They have performed admirably, not least by pushing through the decision on the North-South interconnector which has removed at least one worry from the long-term plans for businesses up and down the land.

For now, we can but carry on as normal, something the business community here is adept at doing.

Plenty of economic reviews of last year have pointed out that we’ve done pretty well in growing our indigenous business, in attracting investment and in boosting the economy over the last year.

Imagine what we could have done with some leadership and without the spectre of Brexit to worry about.

Obviously they should have ministers in place to help drive such initiatives and others but I wouldn’t get great odds by betting that by the time you read this the sparing parties in Stormont are no further in resolving the issue.

Enough.

Still, we have a new Secretary of State to try and spur things along and hopefully Karen Bradley can do just that.

As a magazine we need to pass our thanks on to James

Enjoy the magazine.■

Publisher Ulster Business c/o Independent News & Media Ltd Belfast Telegraph House 33 Clarendon Road, Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3BG

Editor David Elliott

Production Stuart McKinley

Manager Sonia Armstrong

Cover photo Richard Trainor

Deputy Manager Sylvie Brando

Contact 028 90 264260

Sales Executive Sarah-Ann Gamble

Online www.ulsterbusiness.com

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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.

FEBRUARY 2018

That latter subject calls for more space than this column can offer.

David Elliott

Free to download. Free to read. ulsterbusiness/app 5

NEWS

A month in numbers 1 The percentage of Northern Ireland’s GDP growth expected in 2018, according to Dankse Bank’s Quarterly Sector Forecast. It said most sectors in the economy - led by information and communications - would see some form of expansion, but that would be weaker than last year with the rate of new jobs being created slowing down.

Construction sector expands but faces private investment downturn

3.8

By John Mulgrew

The percentage of people unemployed, according to the labour force survey. Don’t get too excited, however, because the underlying picture isn’t as impressive with the economic activity rate still the highest of all UK regions.

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spike in local construction is a positive step but the sector faces a year of budgetary pressures and a downturn in private sector investment, it has been claimed.

Building output surged by more than 11% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period a year earlier.

£200m The investment behind the nattily-titled North-South interconnector which will link up the electricity networks in both jurisdictions.

The Northern Ireland element of the scheme was granted approval by the Department for Infrastructure last month following a review by the Planning Appeals Commission. The project will see 85 miles of overhead cables erected. Work is expected to begin this year.

Overall, the volume of construction output increased 1.2% between the second and third quarters of last year.

According to the latest construction bulletin from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, there continues to be a general upward trend since late 2014.

But Ulster Bank economist Richard Ramsey said that the recovery is coming from a low precrash base, and remains well behind a peak of 10 years ago.

The volume reported in the third quarter of 2017 was the highest in five years.

3,396 The number of new home starts in Northern Ireland in 2017, according to The National House Building Council. That is 7% up on the previous year.

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The increase in overall output included an 8% rise in repair and maintenance. But there was a 2.1% decrease in new work. In the third quarter, there was an increase in infrastructure output of 6.1%, and house building of 3.7%.

Some of the major projects under way in Belfast include hotels such as the AC by

Marriott at City Quays, the Grand Central, and initial work on the Scottish Mutual building, which will become the new George Best Hotel.

John Armstrong, managing director of the Construction Employers Federation, said the growth tallied with its own findings, but there were major challenges in "maintaining and accelerating" expansion this year.

"The Executive's flagship schemes stand on their very clear economic merits, however a balance must be struck in budgetary planning between how much resource is spent on these and other areas," he said.

"Additionally, the downturn in private sector investment has, of late, become a renewed and unwelcome factor.

"With Brexit uncertainty affecting institutional investment in Britain, private sector investment in Northern Ireland struggling to maintain its 2015-2017 boost, and local contractors beginning to question how easy it will be to access the Republic of Ireland market post-March 2019, it is almost certain that contractors will, over the coming period, become more dependent on the public purse again."

And Neal Taylor of Grant Thornton said: "The latest Northern Ireland Construction Bulletin will provide welcome reading for those in the industry, showing that the volume of work carried out in the third quarter of 2017 was at the highest level recorded for five years."

NEWS

Engineering company creates 50 jobs in Magherafelt

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Magherafelt company expects to create 50 new jobs over the next three years as it invests in its production facilities.

The move is part of a £10m investment by Moyola Precision Engineering in new equipment and ICT, one which is expected to be the catalyst for a £12m increase in sales for the company.

Moyola provides sub-contract services to the aerospace, transport, material handling, defence, medical devices and IT industries and currently employs 120 people at its premises in Castledawson.

The move is the biggest single investment for the company, according to Mark Semple, Managing Director of Moyola Precision Engineering.

“We want to make Moyola a global supplier in the aerospace sector and this investment in new technology will drive efficiencies across the business and enable us to target new aerospace programmes,” he said.

“Our new dedicated Titanium machining capabilities addresses a key weakness in the wider UK Aerospace Supply Chain and provides us with key learning and development opportunities that will position us

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From left: Alastair Hamilton, Invest NI; Mark Semple, Moyola Precision Engineering

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NEWS

Quotes of the month “While the local unemployment rate compares favourably with the UK it would not be right to draw the conclusion that Northern Ireland’s labour market is outperforming the UK. It is not. Invariably economic inactivity and employment rates speak louder than unemployment rates.”

Ulster Bank Chief Economist for Northern Ireland Richard Ramsey warns against getting complacent about the latest jobs data which showed unemployment has fallen to the lowest level in a decade.

Belfast recruitment start-up SureCert raises £400,000

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Belfast start-up has raised £400,000 in funding to back its online recruitment platform.

SureCert, which is based at Catalyst Inc in the city’s Titanic Quarter, has been backed by a number of sources including Clarendon/ Co-Fund NI, TechStart NI, and various private investors.

Its product is a recruitment platform which stores candidate data which enables recreuiters to source, process and verify candidates quicker, in the knowledge that all information on the candidate has been pre-verified.

It is designed to help assist educational and membership organisations in speeding up the employment process for their students, match them to jobs directly and eliminate fraud.

“How do you reconcile that aim with the red lines that the government has set, in particular this determination to leave the customs union and the single market? That’s why some people have described it as a fudge. Others have talked about kicking the can down the road. We will get to the point where people will say: ‘Tell us how are you actually going to achieve that given that you have given this cast iron commitment?’.”

House of Commons Brexit committee chairman Hilary Benn says he’s none the wiser about how a hard border can be avoided even with the completion of the first phase of the Brexit talks. He said the deal achieved in December - which promises full regulatory alignment between the UK and Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit - was a form of words that satisfied Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and DUP leader Arlene Foster.

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SureCert is aimed at industries such as healthcare, aviation and education where the recruitment process requires high levels of verification.

Entrepreneur and SureCert Founder, Ian Savage, said the nursing profession is one which can really benefit from the product.

Pictured are Entrepreneur and SureCert Founder, Ian Savage (right) with Brian Cummings from Clarendon/ Co-FundNI (left). Further information can be found at surecert.pro

is an unwieldy and inefficient process for qualification holders, employers and awarding bodies alike.”

SureCert is now seeking to partner with data providers, such as universities, colleges and other awarding bodies, to provide the data in relation to candidates, who will then opt-in to use the platform and instantly verify their details such as qualifications and references from tutors or employers.

“SureCert will not only reduce administration time by sharing the data in a digital format in real-time, but it also provides recruiters with a platform to fill positions quicker than ever before whilst carrying out a highly targeted recruitment campaign.

One of the funders, Co-FundNI invests with private investors such as business angels or their syndicates into eligible SMEs based in Northern Ireland, and provides up to 50% of equity investment alongside 50% from private investors on, a deal-by-deal basis. The programme is supported by ERDF under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020.

“Nurses and any other healthcare professional can register, verify their qualifications and references easily and then choose whether to be contactable by the recruiters using the platform. It will significantly reduce the time taken for nurses to connect with recruiters whilst automating the administration involved in verifying backgrounds. Currently, the verification of academic qualifications

“We believe the SureCert platform has the potential to drive huge change in the recruitment process, for both candidates and recruiters alike,” Brian Cummings from Clarendon/Co-FundNI said. “We are delighted to co-invest alongside the private investors and support such an innovative solution to a problem that is plaguing the medical professions.”

NEWS

Neeson helps hunt down donations

U

NICEF Goodwill ambassador Liam Neeson met with Aer Lingus Change for Good Ambassadors to celebrate 21 Years partnership of the Change for Good Appeal.

Donations from Aer Lingus guests this year has helped to raise over $1.2million for children living in poverty and crisis across the globe. Over the course of the 21 Years of the partnership Aer Lingus guest donations has raised over $21million, which has gone to providing children around the world with quality education, health care, nutrition, water & sanitation, as well as emergency relief.

Managing social media use at work An alarming number of businesses in Northern Ireland have no set ground rules governing social media use in the workplace.

“It is vitally important that employers have a policy governing social media use which addresses all the key points and, in particular, the consequences for employees if the policy is not adhered to.”

A HR Team snapshot survey of 60 businesses found that 49 admitted to having no social media rules and regulations contained in their company handbooks and contracts of employment. Of the 11 organisations with existing social media policies in place, only two had policies robust enough to offer protection.

For expert advice on this or any HR, employment law or performance management issue, please get in touch with HR Team today.

W. hrteamservices.com E. hello@hrteamgroup.com T. 028 71 271 882

HR Team Director Martina McAuley said the figures indicate that many employers ignore the importance of a watertight social media policy.

“A surprising number of employers continue to ‘play it by ear’ without setting out a clear policy to govern online activity.

“This can place employers in a very difficult position when dealing with situations such as staff members posting comments harmful to the organisation or when productivity takes a nosedive due to personal social media use by employees during working hours.

FEBRUARY 2018

HR Team Director, Martina McAuley

“Employers who allow social media use to go unchecked in the workplace are asking for trouble. Employers who adopt policies which are not robust are equally at risk,” she added.

HR Team’s next workshop is ‘Effective Workplace Investigations’ on Thursday, March 15. HR Team will host ‘Managing Social Media Use in the Workplace’ for employers and management teams on Thursday, September 13.

Both workshops will be held at Catalyst Inc, 15 Queen’s Road, Belfast. Entry is complimentary for retained clients. The fee for non-clients is £65 (excl VAT). To register, contact hello@hrteamgroup. com

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NEWS

Guinness and gin profits drive Diageo shares boost

By Ellie Donnelly

G

uinness-maker Diageo saw its shares rise in respond positive to news that its operating profit rose by over 6% to £2.2bn (€2.5bn) in the six months to 31 December.

The performance was driven by strong organic growth, with organic operating profit increasing by 6.7%, as higher marketing investment was offset by efficiencies from its productivity, Diageo said.

Net sales were £6.5bn, an increase of 1.7%, with all regions contributing to the company's sales growth.

In Europe, net sales rose by 4% largely driven by sales in the UK and continental Europe.

Growth was broad-based across all key categories, but primarily driven by gin, where the Tanqueray brand gained share in a growing category, and the Gordon's brand benefited from the launch of its Pink variant. Meanwhile sales of Guinness were up 4% in Europe.

In the company's North American market net sales increased 2% on the back of a strong performance from spirits.

'Almost no action needed, for most companies, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal' - Wetherspoon boss

J

D Wetherspoon has reported a 6% jump in like-for-like sales for the 12 weeks to January 21, while total sales grew by 4.3%.

Those figures were the same for the 25 weeks to January 21, with like-for-like and total sales up 6% and 4.3%, respectively.

The pub group said the better-thanexpected sales growth meant financial year-to-date pre-tax profits were "slightly ahead" of forecasts.

However, it warned that it was unlikely to keep up the pace.

"Similar outperformance in the second half will be more difficult to achieve," the group said.

As part of its update, JD Wetherspoon said it had opened three new pubs but sold off 10, with plans under way to open approximately 10 pubs by the end of the financial year.

The pub group assured that it "remains in a sound financial position," though year-end net debt is expected to be around £30m higher than it was at the end of the last financial year.

"We have delivered broad-based improvement in both organic volume and net sales growth.

We have increased investment behind our brands and expanded organic operating margin through our sustained focus on driving efficiency and effectiveness," said Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes.

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin, who was educated at Campbell College, used the latest trading update to launch fresh criticism against two trade bodies the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) - over their assertion that food prices will likely rise in the wake of Brexit.

Looking forward, the company said that its financial expectations for the year remained unchanged.

"By refusing to acknowledge the fact that food prices will be reduced, post Brexit, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and

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Tim Martin

Parliament votes to eliminate taxes which are currently imposed on non-EU food imports, the CBI and the BRC are trying to fool the public and MPs and bringing business into disrepute," Mr Martin said.

"These factually incorrect scare stories seem to be designed to convince the public that a deal is necessary to avoid a 'cliff edge'. In fact, the cliff edge is a myth.

There is almost no action needed, for most companies, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

"Provided that Parliament takes a number of sensible steps, such as the elimination of food taxes, the public will benefit from lower food prices, from regained fishing rights and from savings of about £200m per week of EU contributions."

NEWS

IoD launches 2018 awards

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ormer winner Gareth Loye, left, helps launch the 2018 Institute of Directors First Trust Bank Director of the Year Awards with Lisa Maltman, Business Development Manager, IoD NI and Des Moore, Head of sponsor First Trust Bank.

The annual awards seek to honour the achievements and leadership of directors from sectors across Northern Ireland. Category winners will then be considered for the UK-wide Director of the Year Finals in London, where Gareth, Chief Executive of M&M Contractors was last year named UK Family Business Director of the Year. The closing date for entries to this year’s competition is 28th February with category winners to be announced at a ceremony at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast on 18th May.

Could you be a volunteer with Young Enterprise?

MARK HUDDLESTON, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF KING & FOWLER UK LIMITED AND JHE SOLUTIONS HAS DONE JUST THAT prepared to give to developing our young people. As a volunteer myself I have seen first-hand how the young people develop skills for success and that entrepreneurial spirit. I feel privileged to be working with Regent House in Newtownards again very soon.

“Creating a passion and entrepreneurial spirit is key to the success of the Northern Ireland economy. To do this we must give our young people the edge, help them develop the skills that will lead to personal success and allow them to innovate and create value both locally and globally. 75% of companies will state that work experience is a critical or significant factor in recruitment.

This is where the value of Young Enterprise is increasing year on year. The team has developed programmes and activities that help young people understand the skills they must develop for the world of work.

The entrepreneurial spirit created in many of the young people through the programmes generates experiences and opportunities that many of them would not previously have imagined.

Self-confidence, resilience, problem solving, innovative thinking, goal setting, initiative and empathy are all skills that are developed and demonstrated in the various programmes and as we look to grow the Northern Ireland

FEBRUARY 2018

Mark Huddleston

economy these skills are essential for start-ups and SME’s.

But for Young Enterprise NI to continue to deliver this we need the business community to increase the time and resource it is

As parents, we are the leaders, and we need to be supportive by allowing kids to make decisions and trying different ideas to fix problems. Entrepreneurs know experience is the best teacher and young kids benefit from it most as they develop skills for a successful life”.

Young Enterprise NI relies on volunteers to educate, develop and inspire students from Primary to University level. Volunteers come from across the business community, providing students with a first-hand understanding of the wide range of opportunities that are available to them in their career paths. We have volunteering opportunities to suit everyone, contact volunteer@yeni.co.uk

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NEWS

Government’s green light for north-south interconnector ‘critical’ boost for NI economy

By John Mulgrew

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£200 million electricity project linking Northern Ireland and the Republic has been given the green light.

The North-South interconnector, which will go through Tyrone, Armagh, Cavan, Monaghan and Meath, will meet the energy needs of households and businesses here, it has been claimed.

The Northern Ireland element of the scheme was granted approval by the Department for Infrastructure following a review by the Planning Appeals Commission. The project will see 85 miles of overhead cables erected. Work is expected to begin this year.

North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne said the decision will "open up competition within the energy market and will create further opportunities for more competitive pricing, with benefits for both domestic and commercial customers in Northern Ireland."

Addressing concerns about the impact on those people living in the shadow of the pylons, he said: "It is important that the land acquisition required for the proposed new network construction is carried out with full consultation with the local farmers and the rural communities to ensure the work is carried out efficiently and effectively, while assuring a fair return for all parties involved in this huge investment within our energy infrastructure."

Residents in border areas of Tyrone, Armagh and Cavan are opposed to the scheme, arguing that the electricity cables should be laid underground, but SONI (System Operator for Northern Ireland), which is overseeing the northern half of the project, has said that is not feasible.

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Ellvena Graham, president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the project has been among "the top infrastructure priorities for our members since 2009".

"We therefore welcome the department's decision to grant permission for the project despite the lack of an Infrastructure Minister at Stormont. It is an action which will significantly speed up the delivery of the project," she added.

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the decision was "excellent news for our economy".

"It is an investment in the future of our energy infrastructure, securing electricity supply and, in the longer term, lower energy bills for our members," he said.

"Despite no minister in place, the Department for Infrastructure made the right call to give full planning permission for this vital scheme."

Strangford Alliance MLA for Kellie Armstrong said approval for the project "will help create a vital piece of infrastructure for Northern Ireland."

"The interconnector is crucial to ongoing energy security, diversification and keeping costs as low as possible for domestic consumers," she said.

"Energy infrastructure is a clear demonstration of practical North-South cooperation. We must remain vigilant against a hard or no-deal Brexit putting that in real jeopardy."

Roger Pollen of the Federation of Small Business Northern Ireland said the interconnector had the "potential to ensure security of supply, while at the same time creating downward pressure on energy prices and relieving the cost burden on small businesses."

Angela McGowan, director of the Confederation of British Industry in Northern Ireland, said it "represents a critical piece of infrastructure for the Northern Ireland economy.

"It offers the potential to secure our electricity supply for years to come, drive down energy prices for everyone and deliver tangible benefits to an array of important sectors," Ms McGowan added. ■

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BGF: Investing in NI for the long term Ulster Business talks to Paddy Graham from BGF to find out how its investments have helped four local businesses and how it plans to grow its footprint in Northern Ireland

P

addy Graham knows a good business when he sees one. He and the team at BGF have so far invested around £25m in four Northern Ireland companies since making its first investment here two years ago, and each one of them has outperformed.

Now, sitting in the company’s new offices at the Scottish Provident building in the heart

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of Belfast, he’s able to reflect on the detail behind each investment but is by no means ready to rest on his laurels.

“Our goal is to emulate where we’ve got to in Scotland,” he told Ulster Business.

“There we’ve invested over £160m over the last six years and I would like see us get to £100m-plus as soon as possible in Northern Ireland.

“I believe there is the opportunity to do that because the quality of companies here is second to none when compared to the rest of the UK.” As a seasoned investor, Paddy is speaking from a position of knowledge of the wider UK and Ireland business world and also more personally - as a Northern Ireland native - of the companies he has encountered here.

COVER STORY

One of the most important aspects when the company is deciding whether to invest in a business is the management team; not just their business acumen but also their fit with the BGF team.

and managing the challenges that come with growth, the chairs become invaluable.

“Being a minority investor, there’s a different approach to other mainstream funders. We focus very heavily on the management team to make sure we have an alignment of interests.

For instance, BGF introduced house building stalwart Mike Stansfield, former CEO of David Wilson Homes and Non-Executive Director of Bovis Homes, as Non-Executive Chair of Braidwater, the first company the fund backed in Northern Ireland back in December 2015.

“It’s important that, we like the team and fully understand their long-term goals.

However, this has to work both ways - the business owners and management need to be comfortable with the investor and its goals.

Therefore we invest time upfront to ensure this is achieved.”

Finding that fit has paid dividends.

“Once we get involved with the individuals we’ve backed we quickly see how capable they are. They never fail to impress and have already done some great things.”

Gemma Hamilton, Paddy Graham, Graham Clarke and Euan Baxter

He and the BGF Northern Ireland team – Euan Baxter, Graham Clarke and Gemma Hamilton - have “worn out a lot of shoe leather and driven down a lot of country lanes” in order to spread the message about BGF and its ambitions to Northern Ireland business owners.

It is a minority long-term investor – normally making an initial investment of between £2m and £10m - so needs to get under the skin of a potential partner business to make sure its investment will help promote growth.

“When we initially meet with a business we ask ourselves if our funding will make a difference, does it unlock opportunities, drive shareholder value or perhaps unlock deadlock situations. If it doesn’t make a difference then it won’t work for the management team and it won’t work for us.

“We’re very upfront on what we believe the investment could deliver.”

FEBRUARY 2018

That’s important because while the BGF team is deeply involved in providing capital to the companies they back, they leave the day-today operations to the management team.

“We don’t profess to know every sector we invest in inside out, and nor should we. We provide the capital and we provide access to our network of 4,000 individuals across all the sectors we invest in in the UK and Ireland.

“But fundamentally we’re backing the existing team and leave the day-to-day management to them.”

However, BGF recognises that industry experience can be invaluable to growing companies so have used those extensive networks to introduce some key individuals to the Northern Ireland companies they’ve backed at non-executive Chair level.

“When it works well it’s a very powerful combination.”

“

When we initially meet with a business we ask ourselves if our funding will make a difference. If it doesn’t make a difference then it won’t work for the management team and it won’t work for us.

Paddy Graham

”

The north-west housebuilder is a good example of a company which BGF has not just invested in once, but has reinvested in as the business has grown.

“What we saw two years ago was a business with a very experienced team, a good reputation in the market and a land bank which needed funding to develop. We provided that funding to enable the team to do that and since then the business has gone from strength-tostrength, quadrupling in size.

“They’re a sounding board to the management team as and when issues arise,” Paddy said.

“That is the beauty of our model; we can follow our money and continue to fund for the whole journey however long that may take.

For Braidwater, this patient approach, plus the fact that we have no fixed timeline to exit, fits perfectly as Joe McGinnis and his team want to build a business of scale over the long-term.

“Management would often pick up with me or the team in relation to key corporate activity such as M&A or exit but for advice and guidance on more day-to-day operations

RiverRidge was the fund’s second investment in Northern Ireland and again was sealed as a result of time spent with Chief Executive Officer > Brett Ross.

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COVER STORY

Paddy Graham

to 40 in Northern Ireland while also moving into the Scottish market, where BGF has deep connections.

“It’s the same story; we met the guys, liked them and their ambition and we believe there’s a market for what they’re doing,” Paddy said.

“I sit on the board of the largest opticians in Scotland which also targets market towns so there is plenty of existing contacts we have to help Bob and Berts with its Scottish expansion.”

The latest investment is Audit Comply, a Belfast firm providing enterprise risk management software across the engineering, manufacturing, food and logistics industries.

Although an earlier stage business than the norm, it comes with a heavy hitting endorsement.

“Audit Comply came to us through our relationship with First Derivatives,” explains Paddy. “Effectively First Derivatives presented us with an interesting business which their Kx Technology platform could really help scale.

“From our point of view the endorsement of First Derivatives was an invaluable piece of diligence as it gave us a good sense of the potential of the technology. We also saw the Audit Comply team as very backable and this combination gave us confidence that there was a strong growth opportunity.”

Four very different companies in terms of sectors, but with very similar ‘backable’ attributes and Paddy Graham says further investments are on the cards in the coming months, despite Brexit and other political uncertainties.

“Brett is a very capable operator and someone we really liked as an individual. There was a lot of interest in that deal but the key reasons he chose us was the strength of relationship, our follow-on capability and the fact we’ll always be a minority.”

Three months after first investing in RiverRidge, BGF provided a second round of funding to help with the acquisition of another recycling business called Wastebeater.

“That’s an example of how we can move quickly to deliver further funding once we’re in a business. There was a window of opportunity to secure the acquisition and, with BGF’s

16

support, RiverRidge was able to quickly deliver a deal that worked for all parties,” says Paddy.

BGF also introduced Jim Meredith to the RiverRidge board, an ex-CEO of waste management behemoth Shanks Group, and Non-exec Chairman of Augean Plc.

“When Brexit was announced BGF had its strongest six-month period in history in terms of new deals. Our view is there will be both challenges and opportunities from it, but fundamentally it doesn’t change the view of the attractiveness of a business or management team in the long term.”

BGF’s investment in Bob and Berts was completed in early 2017 and while it is in a very different sector, the business has the same attributes as the first two portfolio companies.

“We have a strong pipeline and our goal is to apply as much time and resource as we can to get interesting deals done in 2018 and beyond.”

A chain of 16 speciality coffee and food bars targeting market towns, it has plans to grow

So, expect much more from BGF in Northern Ireland very soon. ■

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BREXIT

Brexit sectoral analyses highlights extensive cross-border links

By Colm Kelpie

N

orthern Ireland exports around £20m of fish products to the Republic annually, the UK exports around twice as much freight to Ireland than it imports, and Ireland is the fourth most visited country by UK travellers.

These are just some of the detail contained in the UK government's sectoral analyses prepared in advance of the country's departure from the EU and published ahead of Christmas by the House of Commons Brexit Committee.

Sectors examined range from agriculture and food, to defence, tourism, aviation, haulage and construction. The government has been pilloried, though, for the perceived lack of detail in the documents, which broadly paint a statistical picture of the composition of the various sectors.

Instead, it is left largely up to the reader's imagination to guess the potential impact, or otherwise, of Brexit on each area. That was expected after Brexit Secretary David Davis' incredible admission before the House of Commons Brexit committee last month that the government hadn't carried out any formal impact assessments on each sector of the economy. But the documents do highlight some important statistics about the close nature of the relationship between the UK and Ireland.

The most staggering is the scale of the Republic’s dependence on the UK market for agri-food exports. Just over 43% of its agri-food products went to the UK in 2015. This has been well flagged, but the figure is considerably out of kilter with other countries. After Ireland, the state with the greatest dependence on the UK market is the Netherlands, with 10.3% of its agri-food products exported, followed by Denmark, France and Belgium, all of which are around the 9% mark.

Northern Ireland is also the most heavily dependent geographic region in the UK on food and drink manufacturing.

The percentage of geographical gross value added (GVA) for food and drink manufacturing is the highest in Northern Ireland at 5%, compared with 3% in Scotland, 2% in Wales and 1% in the south east of England.

For agriculture, the share in GVA was 0.6% for the UK in 2014, increasing to 1% and 1.4% for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.

Jobs-wise, Northern Ireland is more dependent on agriculture than any other part of the UK. Agriculture represents 5.7% of overall employment

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in Northern Ireland, compared with just 1.1% in England. The reports also touch on the importance of Ireland as an export market for the UK's construction sector, topping the table, followed by Germany, France, the US and Netherlands.

In 2016, the UK exported £918m worth of construction materials here.

"The top five export markets for construction materials in 2016 are the destinations for 49% of total construction materials exports," the reports state.

"Ireland remains the largest market, despite having shrunk from a prerecession peak of 27% of total exports in 2007, to 14% in 2016."

Ireland also makes it into the top five UK export countries for fish by value, coming in at 4th place after France, the US and Spain. Interestingly, the reports note that Northern Ireland exports around £20m worth of fish products to the Republic each year, with imports from the Republic worth around £10m.

We make the top five when it comes to higher education staff also. There are around 4,000 Irish people employed in UK third level institutions, compared with 5,500 from Germany and 3,300 from Greece.

The reports also, of course, reference cross-border traffic. UK-registered HGVs carried 7.5m tonnes of freight between north and south in 2014.

In 2016-2017, it is estimated that 900,000 cross-border coach passenger journeys were made. ■

Is your business having problems with cashflow?

Bibby Financial Services can help Cashflow issues weigh heavily on the minds of SME owners across the island of Ireland with 57% saying collecting payment from customers on time is the most problematic area of their business.

That’s according to the 2017 Global Business Monitor produced by Bibby Financial Services.

The survey also highlights that almost a third of SME’s in Ireland (32%) have suffered as a result of bad debt in the last year and the average amount written off by businesses each year due to customer non-payment or insolvency is £12,200 (€13,780). When you consider that 36 days is the average length of time that SME’s have to wait before receiving payment, it’s no wonder that issues arise with cashflow.

There are a number of practices SME owners can put in place to ensure cashflow challenges don’t arise, including: KEEP UP TO DATE RECORDS Whether you have a finance specialist within your business or not, you should have some level of financial reporting so that you can keep a close watch on payment times. Keep an accurate and up-to-date record of your business’s cashflow so you can keep an eye on the movement of money to and from your company. This will ensure that you can identify payment issues earlier, helping you to take steps to resolve them.

OFFER PAYMENT INCENTIVES Although this may not work for every business model, payment incentives

can sometimes encourage customers to make payment more quickly. You could offer an early payment incentive, giving customers a discount on their invoices if they pay promptly or within a few days of an invoice being raised.

DIVERSIFY YOUR CUSTOMER BASE Although this is easier said than done in an increasingly competitive environment, ensuring that you have a good spread of customers is the best way of reducing your exposure to bad debt.

EFFECTIVE CREDIT CONTROL Due diligence and effective credit control are paramount to understanding your customers and ongoing monitoring can help you to identify potential signs of bad debt before the problem arises.

CONSIDER CASHFLOW FUNDING AND CREDIT CONTROL SUPPORT An in-house or outsourced credit controller or credit control team can ensure you have effective terms and conditions with your customers, in addition to ensuring that outstanding money owed is chased when required.

Sean Dolan, recently appointed Business Development Manager at Bibby Financial Services, says: “We’re aware that there are many challenges for SME’s, particularly when it comes to cashflow and this is where we feel we can assist businesses around the country. Our goal at Bibby Financial Services is to help businesses to thrive

Sean Dolan

and grow in domestic and international markets by providing a range of financial solutions which will help with cashflow.”

Bibby Financial Services Ireland (BFSI) is a leading provider of financial support and funding solutions to SME’s in Ireland.

The company helps businesses to thrive and grow in domestic and international markets by providing bespoke financial assistance and a wide range of specialist and working capital funding options.

For more information about Bibby Financial Services Ireland, please visit: www.bibbyfinancialservices.ie Follow us on Twitter at @ BibbyFinanceIE Or call Sean Dolan on Tel: (0044) 79 17 006 051

ANALYSIS

New Secretary of State faces challenging task as politics more polarised than ever

By Colm Kelpie

I

magine being an eager young MP, hoping to get that much sought promotion to the ministerial ranks, only to be told that you’re being dispatched off to be Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland drifts along essentially rudderless, facing funding challenges in health and education in particular, with the two big parties abdicating responsibility. Talks have taken place.

Deadlines have been missed and were extended by Mr Brokenshire, before being missed again.

Your task includes breaking a deadlock between two political parties so diametrically opposed, that they have become incapable of solving their own problems.

That, and the delay in tackling the issue of MLA pay, arguably cast a shadow over Mr Brokenshire’s authority and credibility.

Ms Bradley would do well not to make the same mistakes.

Throw Brexit, the border conundrum, and the Tory deal with the DUP into the mix, and you have a tough job.

Karen Bradley

That role now falls to Karen Bradley, a Conservative MP for just under eight years representing a constituency in Staffordshire, who takes over the role now vacated by James Brokenshire.

Ms Bradley, a chartered accountant and the former Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, will be little known in Northern Ireland, much like her predecessor. Whether she has any particular interest, or even detailed knowledge of Northern Ireland remains to be seen.

She takes on the job at a hugely challenging time, with politics in Northern Ireland stuck in a rut from which there appears no escape, polarised as never before.

Last month marked the one year anniversary of the collapse of Stormont when Sinn Féin pulled the plug on power sharing over a scandal surrounding a green energy scheme and questions about DUP leader Arlene Foster’s involvement.

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Since then, though, the RHI scandal has dissipated, and Sinn Féin’s main demands are more around the need for a standalone Irish language Act and the legalisation of gay marriage. On neither front has the DUP or Sinn Féin conceded.

In Westminster, the DUP form of unionism dominates, and is the loudest voice from Northern Ireland. With the loss of the SDLP's seats, and Sinn Féin's continued abstentionism, nationalism is no longer represented.

But even if, either through the involvement of an independent chair or some other diplomatic feat, power sharing is restored, the ability, and willingness of Sinn Féin and the DUP to hold it together, is under question.

Brexit also looms large on the horizon.

Questions remain as to how the agreement secured last month between Brussels and London - lauded by Dublin as a means of ensuring the border remains open - will work in practice, or whether a final deal can be secured at all.

Ms Bradley has pledged to meet the various parties and groups over the coming days, as she argues forming an Executive is her "top priority".

While that will largely be dealt with by Brexit Secretary David Davis, the new SoSNI will be needed by her political masters to keep the DUP happy while also ensuring she avoids any suggestion of favouring one community over another.

The Conservatives, though, whom Ms Bradley represents, are hardly blameless either. The unfolding Brexit process and the Tory/DUP pact have complicated matters further.

Northern Ireland has been quietly sinking deeper and deeper into a political hole.

It’s hard to see what Mr Brokenshire’s replacement can do to change that, even if she has the ability or interest. ■

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201 8

Glider services will start in September 2018 providing direct cross-city services between east and west Belfast, linking into Titanic Quarter

NI Commuters get ready to Glide P ublic transport in Belfast is transforming. This autumn, Translink will launch Glider services – a new innovative mode of travel for an energised Belfast.

As this inaugural ‘NI Year of Infrastructure’ builds momentum, it’s widely recognised that high quality transport infrastructure is a critical determinant of a country’s economic competitiveness.

And it’s anticipated this striking new rapid transit Glider service will help unlock Belfast’s potential as a forward-thinking, dynamic and ambitious city with a competitive edge attracting talent and investment.

Commuters will enjoy enhanced connectivity providing direct cross-city services between east and west Belfast, linking into Titanic Quarter.

Representing an investment of over £90 million, Glider is an Executive Flagship Project that supports the delivery of the draft Programme for Government and Belfast City Council’s Belfast Agenda which both recognise the crucial role transport plays in delivering a successful economy.

“An effortless and smooth way to travel.”

Over 800,000 Translink passenger journeys are already made every week in Greater Belfast, keeping people connected for work, retail, leisure and tourism. Glider will help deliver further passenger growth as more people make public transport their first choice for travel.

Glider customers can expect an effortless and smooth way to travel with a modern,

high-capacity and high-frequency rapid transit service which integrates into the existing bus and rail network.

Additional features include free onboard Wi-Fi, USB charging facilities, audio next stop and destination announcements, CCTV and air-conditioning.

“Free onboard WiFi and USB charging.”

An easy-to-use, off-vehicle ticketing system at Glider Halts will speed-up boarding times and offer excellent value-for-money fares with a focus on integration, flexibility and convenience.

Glider services will operate every 7-8 minutes throughout the working day and each vehicle can accommodate up to 105 passengers with three sets of doors minimising time spent at halts and reducing journey times.

Work has already been completed on the new 520 space Dundonald Park & Ride Facility and work is underway on the construction of the Colin Town Centre Transport Hub & Public Square on the Stewartstown Road as well as a Service Centre to maintain the Glider vehicles. Both the Colin and Dundonald sites will facilitate a new ‘Park & Glide’ journey option for Translink customers.

“Reducing

journey times by 25%.”

Introducing Glider alongside other bus, coach and rail services reflects Translink’s ongoing commitment to keep people on the move, boosting the economy and creating a healthier, greener and less congested city.

Find out more at www.translink.co.uk/ gliderbelfast/.

Energy, Waste & Environment

ENERGY

Tax payers win on RHI costs John Simpson

John Simpson take a look at the legality of amending the subsidy payments made to businesses under the infamous RHI scheme

T

he RHI (Renewable Heat Initiative) continues to generate controversial debate. Why was the scheme launched with a major built-in flaw which over incentivised the generation of heat, sometimes where it was not needed, and can the RHI scheme be amended to reduce excessive subsidy payments? The former is now being investigated by an enquiry lead by Judge Sir Patrick Coghlin. The latter has been tested in a judicial review conducted by Judge Colton.

Judge Colton was asked, in a test case on behalf of a number of businesses that have installed heating systems using renewable fuel chips, to examine the legality of regulations made early in 2017 which amended (reduced) the tariff payable to registered biomass boiler operators. From the renewable heat businesses, the challenge to the amended regulations was not a surprise.

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There was a frequently repeated lay argument that the businesses that became accredited to the RHI scheme had been given an assurance of a 20-year contract and, even when the degree of excess subsidy payment was recognised, payments at the contracted rates would continue for the 20-year period with the tariff being adjusted to reflect the RPI (Retail Price Index). New entrants to the scheme would be rejected but the ‘grandfathered’ rights for those already registered would be protected.

The amended regulations challenged the assumption of an unbreakable contract applicable to all registered users (one of the last acts of the Assembly before its closure).

They introduced a structure of biomass tariffs which were tiered at lower rates and subject to a cap on the allowable heat usage.

The net effect of the reduced tariff payments is that registered users would be likely to earn a return of about 12% on the capital invested which is nearer to the business expectation when the RHI was being designed. The accredited users are, at best, disappointed and for some now face a much less attractive business opportunity.

Central to the judgement rejecting the challenge to the reduced tariff payments is a simple defence for the Stormont Government. When designed the scheme was acknowledged and intended to earn a reasonable rate of return, hence the reference to the prospect of 12%, and there is a defensible logical basis for an

ENERGY

argument, first, that the official scheme should not, by an accident of mistaken decisions, offer outcomes that are wildly different at unexpected costs to taxpayers and, second, that accredited users should have no reasonable expectation of excessive returns. The RHI was launched to encourage a greater use of biomass instead of fossil fuels, not to incentivise artificially created new businesses to make large profits from burning biomass fuel.

FEBRUARY 2018

In summary, the regulations were flawed and Government had a duty to correct the error.

The wider informal assurances given when the scheme was described as ‘grandfathered’ were, at best, flawed when linked to an aspiration that the tariffs would not be changed. The central objective of a reasonable fair return took precedence in determining tariffs.

Interestingly the judgement does not open the door to any retrospection which asks for refunds of payments at the excessive rates prior to the amendment of the Regulations. Also with potential for further debate, the judgement defends the amended Regulations which were approved only for one year. A further decision on approved tariffs beyond the one year horizon is now awaited. >

25

ENERGY

The judgement dismissing the challenge to the amended Regulations offers a comprehensive review of the legal issues but also introduces an understanding of commercial processes and incorporates useful references to the implications for this scheme of the existing EU rules on State Aid for enterprises.

In addition to the possible impact of ‘grandfathered’ assurances, the challenge to the amended Regulations came with other critical suggestions.

Was the amended regulation ‘ultra vires?’ This was tested by asking the question whether there were exceptional circumstances to give special justification.

The judgement concluded that the amendments were consistent with the expressed will of the Assembly so that this attack failed.

Did the amended Regulations constitute a breach of personal rights to receive payments under the guidelines of the European Court of Human Rights? This suggestion was denied by drawing attention to the continuing right to receive payments: the right had not been removed. Payment continues but at a lower level under the new tiered formula.

The claimants suggested that the amended Regulations should have been confirmed after a process of consultation and a possible regulatory impact assessment and that this had not taken place. The Judge was not persuaded that this was a requirement and emphasised that urgent action to approve the Regulations was needed and the Regulation had been supported by a business case with options that had considered the impact of the remedy proposed on the registered users and on the wider economy.

of the amendments, the possible exposure to an enquiry, or enforcement proceedings, had been avoided. In other words, the amendments served to keep the scheme within the constraints of acceptable State Aid.

When the payments under the RHI scheme were demonstrated to be so large as to distort the scale of the scheme and make unexpected excessive payments, the judicial review asked how this would impact on the approval of the original scheme by the European Commission. The Commission approved the amendments and this is consistent with an argument that, because

A critical part of the judicial review examined the financial evidence of the effects of the amended Regulations. It quotes the argument by the Department that the original tariffs were so generous that ‘they were plainly being used to support and sub-vent private businesses opposed to the intended purpose of providing financial support to promote the use of

26

renewable sources of energy’ .. resulting in over compensation. The review restates the validity of the aim to pay a 12% rate of return and points to the further assessment of the impact of the amended Regulations when the next steps are under consideration.

Judge Colton has dismissed the appeal made on behalf of the renewable heat accredited users against the lower tiered tariffs. Whether that decision finally disposes of this argument remains to be seen. The issues have been carefully examined and the rejection of the Judicial Review is a logical outcome. ■

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NEWS

Brexit sparks risk of higher energy bills and power outages

By Gavin McLoughlin and Colm Kelpie

B

rexit means a higher risk of electricity bill hikes and power shortages across the island of Ireland, a report published last month has warned.

This is because of uncertainty over the future relationship between the UK energy market and its Irish counterpart.

The report by the UK House of Lords European Committee calls on the Westminster government to clarify what its energy policy would be if the UK leaves the EU's internal energy market (IEM), of which Ireland is a member.

A departure from the IEM could disrupt the all-island market for electricity, raising the prospect of higher bills.

The Republic and Northern Ireland share an all-island market for electricity, which is due to take a new form in late May. Under the new arrangements, Northern Ireland and the Republic are set to benefit from increased energy security and lower prices. However, the report warns that maintaining the arrangement will be tougher if the UK leaves the IEM.

28

In addition, a UK departure from the IEM risks tariffs being applied to energy sold by countries remaining within the EU to the UK. Ireland imports much of its electricity from the UK and is currently only connected to the European market via the UK. The report warns that after Brexit: "The UK may be more vulnerable to supply shortages in the event of extreme weather or unplanned generation outages."

It found that tariffs on electricity were unlikely, even in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

However, tariffs could be levied on the equipment needed to keep the UK energy system in operation, it warned.

Lord Robin Teverson, a member of the committee that produced the report, said it was "very unlikely" that the UK would be able to stay in the IEM. He said: "That's a problem. After Brexit, you're going to have a situation where the Republic will still be in the IEM and the UK outside."

Industry sources said there was a possibility that the all- island market could become a negotiating point in the general UK-EU talks.

"Whether we are in the EU or not in the EU, it is in the interests of both Northern Ireland and the Republic to continue a shared electricity system," UK Energy Minister Richard Harrington told the committee.

Fergal O'Brien, director of policy and public affairs at Ibec, said Brexit "presents significant risks".

He continued: "UK withdrawal from the IEM would leave Ireland physically disconnected from the wider European market and undermine the functioning of Ireland's single electricity market (SEM).

"While negotiations have yet to begin, there are grounds for optimism. The UK has expressed the importance of the continued facilitation of the SEM and the need to prioritise discussions on North-south cooperation, including energy.

"UK commitments to protecting the all-island economy hopefully point to limited future disruption."

A spokesperson for EirGrid, which operates the Republic's power grid, said "any withdrawal by Britain from the IEM will have to be carefully reviewed and understood, such that any changes can be implemented with minimal impact." â–

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Flogas is official energy supplier for IFEX 18

F

logas is delighted to be the Official Energy Supplier for IFEX 18, taking place on 20-22 March at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast. At the official launch were l/r Brian Hermin, group accounts manager for Flogas, Sean Owens, Salon Culinaire Director, IFEX, Paul Ruegg, senior marketing officer, Flogas and Caroline McCusker, IFEX event manager.

Commenting on the news, Paul Ruegg of Flogas said, “Professional chefs always prefer to cook on gas and as the Show’s official energy supplier, we’re delighted to be providing LPG for the Salon Culinaire, which incorporates the International Street Food Concept Village and the ChefSkills Theatre. We are also pleased to support the latest addition to IFEX, the brand new Meat@IFEXExpo, which is taking place alongside IFEX.” IFEX is Northern Ireland’s premier food, drink, retail and hospitality event, and will be showcasing the latest food and drink products, catering equipment, interiors and technology. A must-attend event for anyone in the foodservice, retail and hospitality sectors. Over 140 exhibiting companies and 5,300 key buyers from NI and beyond are expected to be there.

This year’s Salon Culinaire at IFEX will have the Street Food International competition, where teams of competitors will create and serve modern, exciting dishes and the Chefskills Theatre, a three-day

competition with over 15 culinary classes for senior and junior chefs.

The Salon will also feature the ‘Edible Art’ gallery, a range of stunning edible exhibits that will showcase the skills and talents of the industry.

IFEX 18 will also run alongside Meat@IFEX, a brand new international butchery and meat expo, at which the World Butchers Challenge will take place, with 14 international teams competing in a variety of highly skilled competitions. Meat@IFEX will be run in partnership with the Irish arm of Butchery Excellence International and will attract over 50 exhibitors showcasing the latest in food, packaging and equipment. ■

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COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Strongest results in a decade for 2017

By Mark Carron, Director, Osborne King

A

new year and a new auction beckons, and as we look forward to another successful event, it’s worth reflecting on how far we have come since taking our first tentative steps into the realm of commercial and residential auctions back in 2011 at a time when anyone involved in property was still feeling the effects of a lengthy and bruising recession.

At the time, it was perceived to be a foolhardy venture, and truth be told, the majority of lots featuring in that first auction catalogue were indeed distressed sales in keeping with the times and mood within the property landscape.

Fast forward seven years and it is extremely encouraging to note a steady if gradual movement away from distressed sales with the

32

percentage of private sales rising with every auction. That’s not to say that it hasn’t been challenging trying to persuade clients that auctions are one of the most efficient and effective means of buying and selling property.

The proof of this is evident in a consistent overall success rate of 95% and a cumulative total of over £68 million worth of sales generated since 2011. All in all, auctions have become an integral and important part of our business, which is supported by the fact that Osborne King has been placed 6th in the UK Top Commercial Auctioneers for the second half of 2017 according to Essential Information Group published in Estates Gazette Magazine.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Last year’s auctions offered prospective purchasers a tremendous variety of commercial and residential properties: hotels, shops, office buildings and industrial units in addition to residential development land and house opportunities. Interestingly, residential development land accounted for over a quarter of our auction sales during 2017 indicating movement within this previously sluggish sector, which is to be welcomed.

certainly enhanced the atmosphere in the room and is something we plan to develop more in 2018.

As we gear up for our first auction of the year, which takes place on Friday 16 March at 11.00 in the Clayton Hotel on Belfast’s Ormeau Avenue, (closing date for entries Monday 5 February), we are confident that there will be something for everyone in terms of quality, price range and value. One thing is clear: auctions offer sellers and buyers a straightforward, transparent and effective means of buying and selling property and, as such, look set to remain an integral part of the property landscape for the foreseeable future.

In 2017, which was our best year in terms of auction, we raised £20 million in sales reflecting a success rate of 92%, which is well above the national average.

While the bulk of sale prices achieved were between £0 - £100,000, roughly 25% of the properties we sold fetched between £100,000 and £500,000 with two substantial office buildings selling for over £5 million combined in 2017. The average lot sale figure was in excess of £165,000. We also had a wide geographical spread of properties and land last year across Northern Ireland in addition to a small number of lots from border counties Monaghan, Donegal, Louth and Leitrim.

Our auctions last year as ever attracted an eclectic audience ranging from first-time buyers and buy-to-let investors to developers and investors, many of whom were no strangers to our auctions, keen to pick up a potential bargain or acquire an attractive investment/ development opportunity. A new feature of last year’s auction was the introduction of a live on-line stream of the auction day, which

FEBRUARY 2018

Looking forward we expect to have at least three auctions again in March, June and November. The certainty that our auctions offer in terms of getting into contract with a non-refundable deposit is very attractive compared to the traditional private treaty method which on recent evidence can entail protracted negotiations.

Our catalogue will be live online on 16 February 2018 for anyone considering a purchase. ■ Mark Carron can be contacted on 028 90270016 or at mark.carron@ osborneking.com.

To find out more about our next auction, visit www.osborneking.com/ auction or join our Twitter feed @OsborneKingNI

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RECRUITMENT

Reaching Generation Z G

eneration Z, Gen Z or Millennials are the children of Generation X and have been born between the mid-1990s to the mid 2000s.

Justin Rush

This is a group which do not know life before the internet, breathe social media and have a level of connectivity that is unprecedented.

As many organisations now look to expand and grow, they are actively seeking to appoint new graduate level staff from this demographic. The challenges of recruiting from this group in the Northern Ireland marketplace are more significant than many would perceive. Here is what you need to know: Unemployment is currently at a 10-year low. NISRA statistics on the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the period August-October 2017 was 3.9%, the lowest reported figure since 2007. The pool you are fishing from is shallow.

Graduate job opportunities are on the rise. Guess what? You are not the only employer who feels that the time is right to invest in some new young blood to help support your growth. Northern Ireland now has a number of larges scale employers whose business models centre upon the appointment of high volumes of graduates each year. If you are planning to appoint business, IT, accountancy & finance, law and engineering graduates you need to make sure you benchmark your offering.

The grad gap. On average 20% or more of local graduates want to travel and work outside of Northern Ireland upon graduation.

On average 70% or more of Northern Ireland graduates studying in the UK & Republic of Ireland don’t return here after graduation.

I estimate we are losing between 4,000 to 6,000 of our best and brightest each year.

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Traditional attraction methods don’t work with this group. This is a demographic which believes in the power of the recommendation. It does not matter, how much you say about your awards, your training programme, your corporate social responsibility (CSR), your culture, etc. This group wants to hear validated opinions from others like them before considering you, this is how you will gain your applications. (But of course, you still need to have the awards, training, CSR, etc).

Salaries are on the rise. Long gone are the days when £14,000 would secure the

appointment of a 2:1 graduate. Not only are salaries higher, the expectation for provision of benefits has jumped forward.

For example, fully supported training programmes.

If you are struggling to understand Gen Z attitudes visit youtube and type in ‘Millennial job interview’ it will bring you to a video created by LA Reel House Media. This video is a parody of a job interview between a Millennial interviewee and a Baby Boomer interviewer. It speaks volumes about expectations of this group and it is equal parts scary and funny. ■

Executive Search & Recruitment

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How to succeed in a job interview Thorough preparation and a smile are key to performing well in an interview, writes Fiona McBennet

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atest jobs data shows the rate of unemployment has fallen sharply over the last few months and looks to continue to do so in 2018.

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While this indicates a rise in the amount of interviews set to take place here over the coming months, it also means there will be an increase in sweaty brows, dry throats and

shaky hands - as interviewees around the country attempt to secure their dream job.

However, is it possible to enjoy an interview?

INTERVIEW SKILLS

"There are two types of CV - the one that gets you an interview and the one that doesn't - it's as simple and brutal as that. At this stage in the economy, you need to be career smart and recognise the importance of a CV that is focused on the job you are applying for. If you get your CV wrong, chances are you are going to kiss that interview opportunity goodbye."

The ability to summarise in a CV is vital, says Downes, as is having an online presence.

"It's really important to look for the key words in the job spec and then weave them into the CV. Also, make sure your CV is upto-date and digitally up-to-date. A LinkedIn profile is part and parcel of a CV now, we call it a cloud CV. You have got to know how your skills translate into the role you are applying for. Don't even attempt to go to an interview without examining the job spec."

Making sure there is nothing on your socialmedia accounts that you wouldn't want a future employer to see is an important part of the interview prep; however, using social media as a research tool is also important, according to Paul Mullan, founder of Interview Solutions.

"Not enough jobseekers are using social media to check out the people that they are going to be interviewed by," he explains. "It is very important to build a rapport during an interview and social media can help to give you that extra bit of enhancement and help you to find some common ground."

And are there fail-safe tips guaranteed to make the job-selection process go smoothly?

"I tell my clients to enjoy the interview, because if you are enjoying it, then the interviewers are too. If you have done the necessary prep work then you will be able to enjoy it and the results will be a lot better too," says Jane Downes, principal coach with Clearview Coaching Group and author of The Career Book - Help for the Restless Realist.

According to Downes, a strategicallyconstructed CV is an essential starting point when applying for a job.

FEBRUARY 2018

A good first impression is key to getting interviewers on your side from the start, Mullan says. While skills and ability are important when being considered for a job, being likeable is crucial.

"An interviewer has to know that they will be able to work with you for 40 hours a week, so your ability to be able to fit into their organisation and the culture there is really important. It is something that employers are assessing throughout an interview.

"A lot of companies will deny it, but if they like you, you are more likely to get the job.

Be confident, keep eye contact, smile and

give a nice firm handshake to get yourself off to a good start."

Through working with clients, Mullan has noticed that many jobseekers find it difficult to sell themselves. However, not all the focus in an interview should be on skills and achievements.

"An employer will always want to know if someone can do the job and that is the part that most interviewees concentrate on.

However, employers also want to know if you are interested in the job and if you want it and people often forget about this."

"Your interest can be seen in your body language and your tone. Always have a question ready to ask at the end - not asking questions can be interpreted as not having an interest. If they don't think you are interested, they are not going to hire you."

While the majority of interviews are still conducted in the traditional face-to-face manner, Skype and phone interviews are on the rise as a convenient, cost-effective alternative for employers. The same interview techniques apply, says recruitment manager with Sigmar Recruitment Consultants, Niall Foster.

"While the basics are the same, there are a few extra considerations for phone and Skype interviews, such as ensuring that you have the setting right.

"Make sure to choose a location where there will be no distractions such as your mother coming in asking if you want a cup of tea.

"With Skype, make sure you set yourself up in good lighting and in front of a neutral setting like a blank wall - you don't want an interviewer forming an opinion of you simply because they can see a pair of socks on the radiator behind you or a towel on the floor."

Checking your device in advance will ensure that there are no technological glitches during the interview, which can be off-putting for both the interviewer and interviewee.

"If it's a phone interview, make sure you have good reception and try use a landline if possible," says Foster. >

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INTERVIEW SKILLS

“For a Skype interview, make sure you have high-speed internet connection and test it a few times in advance to minimise the chances of anything going wrong.

“Most interviewers will be patient and understanding if there is some technological problem during the interview that is out of your hands and not caused by something you overlooked, like charging a device.”

Going for an interview for the first time can be an especially daunting experience.

Guidance counsellor Andree Harpur works a lot with preparing graduates for the experience and says that it needn’t be as overwhelming as it may seem.

“Some graduates worry that they have nothing to put on their CV or refer to in an interview, but I would say to them that they started their career in transition year.

“Referring back to projects they were involved in, work experience and extra-

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“

If you volunteered abroad, make sure that is clearly visible on your Facebook or Twitter page, so that when someone looks you up they will see that you are a really committed person.

Andree Harper

”

curricular activities, can be tremendously important. College is a huge experience and graduates have done an awful lot in those years.”

Harpur’s advice to graduates is to make sure that their social-media accounts highlight the positive things they have done.

“If you volunteered abroad, make sure that is clearly visible on your Facebook or Twitter page, so that when someone looks you up they will see that you are a really committed person,” she says.

Being able to provide clear examples of skills and abilities is a central part of every interview, and Harpur says that part-time jobs or college projects can serve as good reference points.

“Jobs like working in a bar can be great - you can talk about earning good tips by being a good people person or dealing with difficult customers. Any experience can be used well.

“It’s always good to refer to a time when you resolved a problem of some sort. You want to stand out and become a real person to the interviewer and show them what you can bring to the job.” ■

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2018 off to a strong start for mid-Ulster engineering and manufacturing firms

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ecent research by Hays suggests there is a sense of optimism among employers going into 2018.

The Hays UK Salary & Recruiting Trends 2018 guide found that more than threequarters (76%) of organisations plan to recruit staff over the coming 12 months.

That optimism is broad-based and is reflective of sentiment from across the region.

Previously, ambitious professionals may have looked towards Belfast as the location to further career development and for more attractive salaries.

But this is changing and - with confidence high in the mid-Ulster business community we’re seeing talent considering opportunities beyond the urban setting.

Engineering and manufacturing firms are clear that (whilst demand for their products is global), the workforce and therefore the branding and profile – both physical and online – is local. So company profile and image has been strengthened to reflect this.

By Eamonn McCance, Senior Manager at Hays Engineering

Our Portadown office is seeing a steady flow of talent into the area, with strong demand for structural and mechanical engineers as well as for support services in operations, engineering, procurement and finance.

With a greater emphasis on talent attraction, engineering and manufacturing firms are investing in improving the office infrastructure, systems and culture.

Reflecting healthy order books for 2018 and 2019, many of the larger export firms are moving ahead with significant site and office expansion plans in a bid to create improved working environments.

Firms are also thinking strategically about their online presence and are exploiting social media to raise their profile and communicate more proactively with target audiences. There are innumerable success stories throughout

Portadown, Cookstown, Dungannon, Omagh and Armagh, and the international customer base is growing annually.

Engineering professionals are responding and have demonstrated their willingness to forego higher city salaries in order to find a role closer to home which meets both their career objectives and their need for improved work-life balance.

Beyond engineering and manufacturing, our Portadown team is working closely with local agri-food businesses which are going from strength to strength.

Overall 2018 has started well, and particularly so for firms in the mid-Ulster area. ■ To find out more about Hays Northern Ireland log on to hays.co.uk/ni, follow us on Twitter @ HaysN_Ireland or call 028 3844 5800.

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CBRE: NI commercial property market holds big draw for investors

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nvestors in Northern Ireland’s commercial property market can expect some of the highest rates of return compared to other regions of the UK or in Dublin, according to latest research from CBRE.

cushion and there is a wide arbitrage between Belfast and the likes of London and Dublin.”

Prime yields – the annual rent achieved from a property divided by the property’s value – are higher across all sectors in Northern Ireland compared to GB and also the Republic of Ireland, Andrew Marston, the leading commercial real estate firm’s Director of UK Office & Industrial Research said today.

The biggest capital market sale last year was the £123m purchase of Castlecourt Shopping Centre in Belfast by Holywood-based Wirefox, backed by funding from China.

He was speaking at CBRE’s Northern Ireland Outlook 2018 event at the Waterfront Conferencing Centre in Belfast attended by over 400 professionals from the Northern Ireland business world where he delivered an update on the commercial property market here.

Prime yields for high street shops in Northern Ireland stand at 5.75% compared to 4% in GB and 3.15% in the Republic while for

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That has helped draw overseas property investment to Northern Ireland, as recent sales have shown.

Launching CBRE’s Northern Ireland Outlook at the Waterfront Hall are (from left) Brian Lavery, managing director of CBRE’s Belfast office; Oliver Rees, cofounder of cyber security platform Hook and freelance innovation consultant; Will Church, CBRE Capital Advisors; and Andrew Marston, CBRE’s director of UK Office & Industrial Research

offices, yields in Northern Ireland stand at 6% compared to 4% in the City of London or 4% in Dublin. Yields are also higher here for shopping centres, retail warehouses and industrials.

Elsewhere in the commercial property market, Mr Marston said waning consumer confidence is weighing on the retail lettings market while the hotel sector is enjoying growing demand from a rise in tourists to Northern Ireland and will soon see an increase in supply from the 1,100 hotel bedrooms currently under construction.

Andrew Marston said: “On a global basis, we’re beginning to see rising interest rates in the US and elsewhere and that will start to weigh on prime yields for commercial property.

But in Northern Ireland yields have plenty of

In the industrial sector, rents for existing stock are stable at £4-£4.50 a square foot while there is a significant premium for design and build options and in the office sector with take-up reaching 430,290 square feet in 2017. ■

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Standing in front of members of the Mid Ulster Skills Forum is Council Chair Cllr Kim Ashton and Mr Alan McKeown Chair of the Mid Ulster Skills Forum

A novel approach to tackle employability and skills in mid Ulster How Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland’s most entrepreneurial region, is blazing the trail to address employability and skills issues through a new Skills Forum

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ecently re-confirmed as Northern Ireland’s most entrepreneurial region, Mid Ulster is home to significant global business, cutting-edge industries and ambitious SMEs across a broad range of sectors from agri-food to retail.

So just how is the area planning to ensure that one of the key drivers for its continued strong economic growth – a high-performing workforce, equipped with the right skills to meet current and future industry needs – is assured?

Northern Ireland and has its roots firmly in both the Council’s progressive economic development strategy and the region’s Community Plan.

The 30-strong partnership, which draws its membership from local businesses, colleges, universities, enterprise agencies, key sectoral business organisations, government departments and the Council, is speaking as one voice to take forward its skills agenda in a focused and co-ordinated manner.

The answer: an industry-led skills forum.

Established in 2017 by Mid Ulster District Council, the Mid Ulster Skills Forum is the first industry-led, area-based body of its kind in

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Business at the helm was the obvious option, according to Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Kim Ashton: “While as a council we have a direct role

to play in growing our local economy, we recognise that it is the business community which must drive this aspect of our economic development strategy and that is where the Skills Forum has its origins.

“There is a clear commitment and a desire to effect tangible change which ultimately will bring growth and prosperity for the district.”

Alan McKeown, Corporate Services Director with Dunbia, Dungannon, who has been appointed Chair of the Skills Forum said: “I commend the Council for being pro-active and establishing the forum, which is another great example of the Council following through on the commitments it has made in its economic development strategy.

Discussing Brexit - Kerry Curran (InterTradeIreland) giving a presentation to the Forum’s Brexit Working Sub-Group

“As one of the largest employers in the Mid Ulster district, Dunbia already collaborates with a number of local education and training partners to develop skills in our people.

‘To date much research has been undertaken at a regional level. However, there is a significant gap in information on this issue at a subregional level.

“Through the Forum we see the opportunity to work alongside the Council, other employers and our education partners, to help shape the future strategy for skills development in Mid Ulster, which is vital if we are to sustain economic growth in our area.”

“We know from previous Mid Ulster-based consultations that we need to address the specific needs of Mid Ulster to benefit our competitiveness, our ability to sustain and increase employment, and our economy’s success.”

So what is the forum’s skills and employability agenda? It is working towards two long-term outcomes:

Alongside the research, the Forum is also prioritising its consideration of other issues, specifically apprenticeships, engagement and linkages with education, and, unsurprisingly, Brexit – with other areas of work including lobbying, fundraising and ensuring skills development supports inward investment in the medium-term plan.

1. Closing the skills gap through stronger partnership working with business, education providers and relevant government agencies.

2. Positioning the Mid Ulster region as a stronger place for business and investment.

As befits an industry-led body, one of the Forum’s first tasks has been to commission a piece of industry-led research.

Designed to clearly define the gaps in workforce skills, the research is tailored to key business sectors in Mid Ulster including agri-food, manufacturing and engineering, construction, retail, IT and hospitality, as well as new and emerging sectors with growth potential.

The resulting skills report and action plan will, according to Mr McKeown, be a critical piece of work:

FEBRUARY 2018

Mr McKeown says: “One of the key challenges is to promote stronger engagement and cooperation between education and industry.

“Everyone and, in particular young people, must be encouraged to reach their full potential and to do that they need access to clear and relevant pathways, including apprenticeships, to employment which reflect their own interests and skills, as well as the workforce needs of the local economy.

“We can only create that environment by forging strong, practical and measurable linkages between employers, educators and future employees.

And Brexit?

“Undoubtedly, Brexit will bring both unique challenges and opportunities given Mid Ulster’s location and, among other things, the fact that our unemployment benefit claim rate is one of the lowest in Northern Ireland,” he adds.

“This means we have a strong demand for labour and a low availability of unemployed.

Mid Ulster could suffer a disproportionality high impact if access to migrant labour were to become a problem as a consequence of Brexit “The Forum is considering the impact of Brexit holistically with business and education, as well as sectoral bodies including FSB, Manufacturing NI, and NIFDA”.

Concluding, Mr McKeown says: “We all know the challenges that the Mid Ulster District faces as a largely rural area, but also know that we are a region with unprecedented entrepreneurial spirit and success.

“The newly formed Skills Forum has a unique opportunity to develop an industry-led approach to employability and skills which will help to achieve future economic prosperity in the Mid-Ulster area.” ■ For more information please contact Fiona McKeown, Head of Economic Development, E: fiona.mckeown@midulstercouncil.org, Tel: 03000 132 132.

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RECRUITMENT

Senior executive hires: securing the right appointment

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hen companies make critical senior-level appointments, the financial investment is sizeable with candidates typically stepping into roles that carry a significant amount of responsibility and power. The costs of not getting it right can be considerable.

The positive influence of a great hire at executive level on the overall performance of a company cannot be overstated, so what should companies be doing to help ensure the right appointment?

Clarifying the role Whether a new position or not, the process of hiring a senior executive must start with a deep understanding of the role – as seen through the lens of company culture, business strategy, future delivery expectations and market challenges.

During this stage the specific demands of the role as well as the type of skills, leadership profile and experience required must be clearly defined.

It’s also important to consider how the position will evolve over time so that the successful candidate understands the opportunities to progress their career.

Candidate pool In developing a strong candidate pool an organisation may seek assistance from external recruitment partners who will ideally be fully briefed at an early stage to ensure a focused search that targets the best candidates. They can also crucially tap into networks of potential candidates who are not actively looking for their next role. Targeting more passive candidates and presenting the opportunity will build the quality of the applicant pool.

Interview processes Once the candidate pool has been established, organisations need to ensure they have a robust assessment process in place.

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reference can be undertaken to highlight any additional risks, including potential offences.

It can include a review of social media to understand aspects of a candidate’s background that might potentially impact the reputation of an organisation.

Ciaran Sheehan

Conducting both structured formal and less informal interviews, led by a range of decisionmakers who each bring their own perspective, will allow the organisation to more broadly verify technical competence and experience and also assess a candidate’s work ethic, values and leadership qualities to ensure they are the right ‘fit’ for the senior team and company.

Further assessment Increasingly organisations are turning to assessment tools and exercises to provide a more rounded and multi-dimensional perspective on a candidate.

When used properly and tailored to the specific role, psychometric assessment also introduces more rigour and objectivity into the recruitment process and supports more accurate identification of the personal and occupational characteristics that the organisation requires.

In-depth referencing One of the leading causes of executive hiring mistakes can be traced to inadequate reference checks or waiting until the final step in the hiring process, perhaps even after a formal offer has been made.

A candidate should be asked to provide contact details for up to three referees, two of whom should be direct reports and it’s important to speak to each one in person.

For the most senior hires, a full forensic

Closing the deal When a decision has been made and the organisation is ready to make an offer, key stakeholders should be involved in the process – not just HR but also the wider senior management team.

Maintaining close and regular contact with the candidate is essential at this stage, demonstrating active support and commitment to the candidate and to their future success.

Post-appointment integration Research shows organisations that systematically integrate new employees enjoy lower turnover and report higher engagement and job satisfaction. It’s worth considering a mentor or external coach who is experienced in providing transitional support for new executive hires to accelerate their onboarding to the new organisation.

Reflecting and improving New hires can provide valuable feedback on the process and help highlight good practice or where there is room for improvement.

Feedback from those that were unsuccessful can also prove valuable.

When seeking to continuously improve, each hiring process should be reviewed, feedback sought, and areas for improvement identified. Good hiring practices will enhance the corporate reputation and ensure the organisation is seen as an employer of choice, which in turn will attract the best candidates. ■ Ciaran Sheehan is Managing Partner at Clarendon Executive, Northern Ireland’s leading specialists in executive search & selection and executive assessment & development. www.clarendonexecutive.com

LIFESTYLE ECONOMICS

Slim down: shrink your waistline with The Economists' Diet Two economists shed nearly 10 stone by applying financial expertise to their eating, writes Niamh Horan

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t was a cold January morning in 2004 when JP Morgan stockbroker Chris Payne stepped on the scales. It had been a Christmas of wining and dining in fancy restaurants and he had rounded off with a takeaway curry when the horror of the number clicked beneath his nose: 15 stone 10lb. He recalls: "I just thought: 'Enough! This has got to stop.'"

Not knowing where to turn, he called on the only area of expertise he had: economics. And he decided to apply the principles he learned to track and manage money to his waistline.

Within a year he had shed four stone and 14 years later - it has stayed off.

At a new job in Bloomberg in Washington DC, Chris shared his story with colleague Rob Barnett. Rob had just come off a TV appearance, bemoaning his obese appearance and was blaming his poor

FEBRUARY 2018

metabolism. But Chris told him to give up the excuses and imparted the economic dieting principles to give him a push. Rob shed fiveand-a-half stone and kept it off. Together the pair fine-tuned their method and wrote The Economists' Diet.

Chris shares his main principles: 1. Know your number The economist Peter Drucker says: "You can't measure what you don't know." The golden rule for managing your finances is to check your bank account the moment you wake up. Similarly, to manage your weight, weigh yourself every morning. Conventional thinking says you shouldn't but we believe that is 100pc wrong.

The connection we have noticed between our behaviour one day and our weight the following morning is stunning. The power of the number in the morning to keep you on

the straight and narrow during the day is intense. It works because it reminds you of what you are doing and what you can - or more importantly - can't afford.

2. Balance your budget Back in the day when I was a banker I would go out for big lunches with friends who were generally slim. I always thought they were blessed with a quick metabolism, but after speaking with them about it I realised they weren't eating a lot again for the rest of the day. Slim people naturally adopt this behaviour.

Now if I know I am having a big lunch, I will have a small breakfast and dinner.

Pay off the calorie debt afterwards. If you spend too much you have got to cut spending, if you have eaten too much, then skip your next meal or make sure it is light. >

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LIFESTYLE ECONOMICS

3. Abundance and scarcity The 1970s revolution in food preservation, an abundance of cheap and high-calorie foods and rising incomes have all led to a classic case of market failure: unbounded demand and an unlimited supply of food.

To counteract this, dieting is a self-imposed austerity. However, scarcity (hunger pangs) can act like what economists call a "bandwidth tax on thinking" leading to short-sighted, stupid decisions. Being short of money and rolling over pay-day loans is the equivalent mistake of grabbing a chocolate bar an hour before lunch - don't leave yourself too short-changed and have a healthy snack before you get too hungry.

Knowing your weight each day can also act as a powerful motivator.

4. The meta-rule This is a term borrowed from behavioural economist Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. I know businessmen who eat out in restaurants a lot and have the ability in the face of peer pressure to say, "You know what: I have a rule, which is to only eat fish and

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only have fruit or a sorbet for dessert". So rather than having to make a decision every time they go out, they say 'this is my rule' and it sort of sits above all the decisions they have to make. You can have a tonne of different versions, like skipping the breadbasket or saying no to carbs, so whatever works for you.

5. Variety is bad for your waistline The more we have of something, the enjoyment we get from the last unit of what we just consumed gradually decreases. But in our consumerist world we are constantly inundated by opportunities to try something new.

This constant search for new taste means that the enjoyment from each thing we are tasting we want to have more of it because it is stimulating. The same breakfast every day might get boring but you know what? You won't over-eat it!

It's the same with a lunch of grilled chicken and veg - it's nice but I am not tempted to overeat it and it's healthy long term. That

then leaves room for enjoying the really unhealthy food when I want to from time to time as a special treat. Any diet that says give up your favourite food is doomed to failure.

6. Data symmetry 'Information asymmetry' is a concept in economics that is one of the reasons the financial crisis happened, ie: the banks knew too little about the borrowers.

A lot of economic problems arise because we don't have enough information on one side of the transaction, so as a consumer of food when we don't know what is in the food you that causes problems. You can solve this data asymmetry problem by weighing yourself every day to connect behaviour to the effects and also being calorie conscious.

When the information is there, use it to 'nudge' yourself to a better position. I live in the 'good enough' world. I haven't got a perfect physique I could probably still lose a few pounds but that's good enough for me.

I just need to eat well enough to keep myself on the straight and narrow. It's what you do most of the time that counts. â–

Risk Management & Security

RISK MANAGEMENT & SECURITY

The lowdown on GDPR The deadline for compliance with the general data protection regulation is fast approaching. We hear from the organisation which implemented the legislation, the European Union, to find out what it means to you When is the GDPR coming into effect?

The GDPR was approved and adopted by the EU Parliament in April 2016. The regulation will take effect after a two-year transition period and, unlike a directive it does not require any enabling legislation to be passed by government; meaning it will be in force May 2018.

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In light of an uncertain 'Brexit' - I represent a data controller in the UK and want to know if I should still continue with GDPR planning and preparation?

If you process data about individuals in the context of selling goods or services to citizens in other EU countries then you will

need to comply with the GDPR, irrespective as to whether or not the UK retains the GDPR post-Brexit. If your activities are limited to the UK, then the position (after the initial exit period) is much less clear.

The UK Government has indicated it will implement an equivalent or alternative legal mechanisms. Our expectation is that any such legislation will largely follow the GDPR,

RISK MANAGEMENT & SECURITY

given the support previously provided to the GDPR by the ICO and UK Government as an effective privacy standard, together with the fact that the GDPR provides a clear baseline against which UK business can seek continued access to the EU digital market.

Who does the GDPR affect?

The GDPR not only applies to organisations located within the EU but it will also apply to organisations located outside of the EU if they offer goods or services to, or monitor the behaviour of, EU data subjects.

It applies to all companies processing and holding the personal data of data subjects residing in the European Union, regardless of the company’s location.

What are the penalties for noncompliance?

Organizations can be fined up to 4% of annual global turnover for breaching GDPR or €20 Million. This is the maximum fine that can be imposed for the most serious infringements e.g.not having sufficient customer consent to process data or violating the core of Privacy by Design concepts. There is a tiered approach to fines e.g. a company can be fined 2% for not having their records in order, not notifying the supervising authority and data subject about a breach or not conducting impact assessment. It is important to note that these rules apply to both controllers and processors -- meaning 'clouds' will not be exempt from GDPR enforcement.

“

If you process data about individuals in the context of selling goods or services to citizens in other EU countries then you will need to comply with the GDPR, irrespective as to whether or not the UK retains the GDPR post-Brexit.

”

the processing of personal data, while the processor is an entity which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.

Do data processors need 'explicit' or 'unambiguous' data subject consent and what is the difference?

Any information related to a natural person or ‘Data Subject’, that can be used to directly or indirectly identify the person. It can be anything from a name, a photo, an email address, bank details, posts on social networking websites, medical information, or a computer IP address.

The conditions for consent have been strengthened, as companies will no longer be able to utilise long illegible terms and conditions full of legalese, as the request for consent must be given in an intelligible and easily accessible form, with the purpose for data processing attached to that consent - meaning it must be unambiguous. Consent must be clear and distinguishable from other matters and provided in an intelligible and easily accessible form, using clear and plain language. It must be as easy to withdraw consent as it is to give it. Explicit consent is required only for processing sensitive personal data - in this context, nothing short of “opt in” will suffice. However, for non-sensitive data, “unambiguous” consent will suffice.

What is the difference between a data processor and a data controller?

What about data subjects under the age of 16?

A controller is the entity that determines the purposes, conditions and means of

Parental consent will be required to process the personal data of children under the age

What constitutes personal data?

FEBRUARY 2018

of 16 for online services; member states may legislate for a lower age of consent but this will not be below the age of 13.

What is the difference between a regulation and a directive?

A regulation is a binding legislative act. It must be applied in its entirety across the EU, while a directive is a legislative act that sets out a goal that all EU countries must achieve. However, it is up to the individual countries to decide how. It is important to note that the GDPR is a regulation, in contrast the the previous legislation, which is a directive.

Does my business need to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO)?

DPOs must be appointed in the case of: (a) public authorities, (b) organizations that engage in large scale systematic monitoring, or (c) organizations that engage in large scale processing of sensitive personal data. If your organization doesn’t fall into one of these categories, then you do not need to appoint a DPO. How does the GDPR affect policy surrounding data breaches?

Proposed regulations surrounding data breaches primarily relate to the notification policies of companies that have been breached. Data breaches which may pose a risk to individuals must be notified to the DPA within 72 hours and to affected individuals without undue delay.

Will the GDPR set up a one-stop-shop for data privacy regulation?

The discussions surrounding the onestop-shop principle are among the most highly debated and are still unclear as the standing positions are highly varied. The Commission text has a fairly simple and concise ruling in favour of the principle, the Parliament also promotes a lead DPA and adds more involvement from other concerned DPAs, the Council’s view waters down the ability of the lead DPA even further. A more in depth analysis of the one-stop-shop policy debate can be found here. ■

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ANALYSIS

The next curveball

By Steve Dempsey

I

t’s no surprise that last year, many businesses weren’t prepared for the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Hopefully, they've got to grips with it in the intervening months, because straight after the GDPR there's another curveball coming from the EU. It's the ePrivacy regulation. While GDPR aims to strengthen and unify data protection for all EU citizens, ePrivacy focuses more on specific communications. As a result, it has even more potential to cause headaches for the digital media and advertising industries.

Why? Because the new directive means that businesses operating in Europe must get explicit consent to use cookies. These are small files that websites leave on browsers that them to remember your preferences.

They also facilitate those creepy ads that follow you around the web. But the new directive means that users must be given clear opportunities to opt out.

A host of media brands publishers have complained that the legislation will hamper their ability to make money online. And the World Federation of Advertisers have warned that restrictions on cookies may impact innovation, jobs and growth. But they would say that, wouldn't they?

Marju Lauristin, is a former Estonian Minister for social affairs, and former MEP who was the European Parliament's rapporteur for the ePrivacy Directive. She was in Dublin last week to discuss ePrivacy at an event hosted

by McCann Fitzgerald and the Institute of International and European Affairs.

She is bullish when asked if new regulation will prevent legitimate business practices that allow advertisers to reach online consumers and whether the new regulations balance

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"This will become a competitive advantage.

Remember 20 years back, green issues and ecological concerns around the composition food production? Who cared? Some fanatical greens. Now every consumer is informed.

Mainly this is because European Union demanded high standards in food production and transparency around the composition of food. Similarly, we need European technology production to be privacy safe by design."

Steve Dempsey

the needs of businesses against individuals' rights?

"I want to ask businesses why they feel that they are not obliged to find this balance," she says.

"Why do they think they should have free access to people's private lives, feelings, diseases and sexual inclinations to gain profit. People have the fundamental right to privacy. If businesses can sacrifice privacy for profit then that is a problem. People will gladly give consent to all kinds of contacts with businesses where they feel that it is good for them. And business will be obliged to clearly explain that value exchange."

The aim of the new legislation is to give the consumer full access to their information; control over the cookies stored in their browser and the ability to configure their devices according to their preferences.

Lauristin believes this will put European businesses in the vanguard of personal privacy.

"With this legislation we've tried to motivate European businesses to develop technology and hardware that is privacy friendly by design," she says.

But the big question is, do consumers value their privacy? Or will they submit to surveillance capitalism if they get free, convenient services in return? Lauristin believes that attitudes vary from nation to nation.

"I come from a country which was under Soviet control," she says. "We knew every minute of our lives that there was someone tapping, someone listening, that our telephone calls were monitored. In these countries people are very sensitive. In other, happier countries, people don't have this experience. But I don't think we should wait for people in these countries to have unhappy experiences. We need to prevent them from happening."

But one big issue that's yet to be solved relates to how privacy is explained so that consumers immediately understand what they're agreeing to. "New language is needed," says Lauristin.

"It needs to be as simple as traffic lights. You shouldn't have to stop on the corner of the street, get out of the car and read five pages to understand where you can turn. There needs to be a yellow, green and red light and this has to happen on our information highways. People get tens maybe hundreds of these messages every day. It's not realistic to think that we can put all our privacy rules in text for people to read.

"And it's up to the service provider and not the consumer to find that language." â–

4 LETTERS THAT COULD COST 4% OF YOUR TURNOVER WE CAN HELP YOU MEET THE INCOMING GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION BY SHREDDING DATA YOU LEGALLY MUST DESTROY.

GDPR

Outsource Solutions asks: “Is your business ready for GDPR ?”

O

utsource Solutions are a long established Managed IT Services Provider, focused on delivering premier Customer Service to our customers, who all experience Better Business Through Better Technology.

We are delighted to have recently hosted another successful event in our Thought Leadership Programme this time covering GDPR, at Titanic Belfast on 18th Jan 2018.

Our Key Speaker and recognised GDPR expert Orlagh Kelly was joined on stage by our partners from 8x8, Pure and Microsoft, who all provided practical advice and guidance on how businesses can and need to address their GDPR obligations. The positive feedback and exceptional turnout by business leaders from a diverse range of sectors (industry, legal, finance, service providers etc) underpinned the success of the event.

As a Managed IT Services Provider, Outsource considered it a basic requirement that every member of its own staff were independently GDPR trained and certified, in order that they can provide informed advice and support around the implications of GDPR on our customer’s businesses. The event allowed us and our guest speakers to spend some time explaining the importance of GDPR, what it actually means and how it will impact all businesses going forward, with living examples throughout the day of issues and remedies.

It also provided us with an opportunity to highlight how with correct support and guidance technology offers solutions and assistance for businesses on their GDPR compliance journey.

With the GDPR enforcement date of 25th May 2018 fast approaching the simplest advice from Outsource is spend time understanding

the impact GDPR will have on your business and plan your next steps to ensure you are fully complaint. With the introduction of new fines of up to 4% of global annual turnover or up to £17m, a breach of GDPR by your business could have significant financial and reputational consequences. Key decision makers in every organisation need to be aware of the implications and ensure policies and procedures are in place, that staff at every level are trained and that security and systems are all fully compliant.

Outsource currently supports businesses across the United Kingdom and Europe in the design, implementation, and pro-active support and management of their IT infrastructure.

We pride our business on developing long lasting relationships with customers, based on integrity, trust, honesty and a dedicated team which works hard to understand, identify and develop personalised solutions to meet your business requirements.

Our highly successful Fully Managed Contract offers a rolling managed service, underpinned by three core pillars Recovery, Security and Performance. FMC allows businesses to focus on running and growing their own businesses, safe in the knowledge their IT is

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being monitored and managed 24x7x365.

With continuous growth since 2000, we shall continue to develop our expertise, service offerings and key technology partner relationships, to ensure Outsource customers are always leading the way. ■

For more information contact: Outsource Solutions (NI) Ltd, Tel: 028 9448 5112 Email: info@osgroup.co.uk Web: www.osgroup.co.uk

Have you found the right combination for your data protection requirements?

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And for instant, secure digital file access, our cloud-based Morgan iView allows for online storage, filing and retrieval, safe and sound.

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GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION – SECURE YOUR SECURITY SYSTEM The long awaited EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect on 25th May 2018.

Organisations need to be aware of the changes to the law and understand how the new requirements will impact upon their security systems. The new rules will increase privacy for individuals and represent a unique challenge to any organisation operating and managing security systems including CCTV and access control.

COLLECT, STORE OR USE DATA? Under the new GDPR requirements all employee data must be protected – so if your company collects, stores or uses employee data in any form, then GDPR applies to you. The penalties for non-compliance are tough with fines of up to 4% of annual global revenue or €20 million, whichever is greater.

So what can you do to help prepare your organisation?

1. Review your data protection policy and processes. Ensure that you have clear policies in place to prove that you meet the new GDPR requirements.

2. Get ready to respond to data requests. Individuals have the right to request copies of data held, including images captured on CCTV. Companies must comply with data requests and be able to provide redacted images that blur out any other personal data captured.

3. Adopt “Security by Design” processes. Design GDPR compliant solutions that integrate data protection and encryption into the design of new security systems from the outset.

4. Review CCTV data – justify storage of footage and set compliant storage limits.

5. Consider the cloud - Mitigate your storage risks by using an approved cloud storage provider.

It is important for all organisations to prepare for the introduction of GDPR and review their obligations to ensure the protection of personal data.

If you are responsible for your organisation’s security systems and would like further information or advice on how to meet your GDPR compliance obligations, get in touch today.

STANLEY SECURITY IS A TRUSTED LOCAL PROVIDER OF SECURITY SOLUTIONS THAT ARE FULLY INTEGRATED WITH YOUR BUSINESS PROCESSES. We design, install, monitor and maintain integrated security solutions, so whether you need CCTV, access control, intruder alarms or time and attendance systems, we can provide solutions to improve the safety and security of your business.

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Office Environment & Interior

Sponsored by

INTERIOR

Why office interior design W Clement Stone’s famous quote “you are a product of your environment. So choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective...” is one that the new wave of employees are living by. Emma Deighan explores how to get your office millennial-ready...

T

he American business man, philanthropist and advocate of positive mental attitude, W Clement Stone, knew a thing or two about the relationship between productivity and the environment.

And today employees, as well as some forward-thinking employers, are realising the impact office surroundings have on the workforce.

From mood-enhancing lighting to energy derived from natural daylight, breakout spaces and colour pops to privacy pods, the traditional office format is changing, and not just to accommodate the influx of self-aware Millennials joining the team but to boost the morale of existing generations in the workforce.

It was in the 1960s when Herman Miller invented the office cubicle. The semi-openplan setup that segregated employees with sound-muffling beige boards might have appeared revolutionary back then but today, in our technologically-advanced office spaces, the need for wall muffling and staff compartmentalisation is a thing of the past.

Your office interior shoulid, according to the pros, be an extension of your brand. And beige and boring isn’t cutting it as a dealclincher nor a recruitment tool.

And although an interior overhaul may, in times of austerity, seem like a luxury, the reality is it’s an investment. And Building Interiors managing director Ian Brough whose job it is to work his magic on the fifty shades of grey dominating offices spaces in the UK, agrees.

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His work starts at the doorway. “Millennials are the future of your company, which is why it is important you attract and retain the best at your business,” he told Ulster Business.

“Many of our clients, when redesigning their office space start with altering their entrance to make more of an impact and lasting impression on visitors, staff and prospective staff. How your workplace looks, feels and operates does have a huge impact on your employees,” he said.

Mr Brough says the modern workforce is adverse to restrictions, preferring a more flexible working model and he advises employers to change their environments to “amplify a collaboration between employees”.

“Recreation areas are also becoming increasingly important,” he added. “Fill these ‘break out’ spaces with soft furnishings, sofas and beanbags to help employees take a few minutes out of their day to switch off physically and mentally. Stimulate the senses of your employees with colour and ensure there is plenty of natural light.

“By making a few simple changes to your office environment, you will see an improvement in workforce satisfaction, as well making employees feel valued.”

Kevin Murphy, partner at law firm TLT, has seen a trend in tenant demands that correlates with the idea that employees are seeking to blur the lines between work and chill out zones.

He said: “Tenant companies are becoming just as concerned about amenities for

employees as they are about infrastructure and connectivity.

Belfast has seen a number of refurbishment properties come to market recently, with several new builds in the pipeline such

INTERIOR

is key to success

as Erskine House and Paper Exchange.

Features like a high end interior finish, larger and more efficient desk space, better facilities and more breakout areas are dominating the market as tenants want a ‘cool’ work space that’s going to

FEBRUARY 2018

inspire their employees. These days more than ever, office surroundings need to add to rather than inhibit productivity.”

As usual it’s the big tech companies that are leading the way with interior fashion

with Groupon’s Chicago breakout areas incorporating swings, Google New York City’s recreational space includes climbing walls while Skype Stockholm’s office colour scheme reads like an IKEA brochure. >

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INTERIOR

Simon Bell, Director of HLM, architect and office design professional believes ‘fluidity’ between spaces is also important for the next generation of employees.

approach’ that increases performance levels and productivity as well as reducing absence levels and improving staff retention,” he informed.

“As the boundaries between work and life seem to blur, there is a need for a more relaxed working environment. Like many employers, we aim to make our workplace a fun place to work and know that design is an intrinsic part of achieving that. Recently more workspaces we have designed have included cafés, gyms and games rooms, supporting a better work life balance and flexibility required for the modern workplace,” he said.

Eszter Gulacsy, built environment project principal at Mott MacDonald a global engineering, management and development consultancy with offices in Belfast, agrees that daylight and fresh air are always a must for a productive working environment as well as spaces that reflect a mix of job roles.

“Millennials are accustomed to a ‘work where you are’ environment, with multi-use spaces and breakout lounges, supported by reliable Wi-Fi. Our architects are already incorporating this level of connectivity and new ways of enhancing group performance in our designs.”

Beyond the breakout zones and a flexible, hot-desking seating format, Simon says there are trends to bring the outside in to benefit general wellbeing.

He calls this ‘adopting a biophillic design

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“The physical work environment needs to be tailored to the kind of work people do – for instance, some jobs require more social interaction than others, where potentially total silence is preferred. Most people benefit from access to daylight and views and a good amount of fresh air is necessary to ensure a productive workforce.”

She also added that those poorly ventilated, lit and inadequately cleaned office spaces compromise health causing headaches, eye strain as well as poor ergonomics.

And if your environment doesn’t allow for floor-to-ceiling panoramic views then lighting expert Billy Knight, CEO of LUX365 says opt for the next best thing - LED. ■

Office Interiors The Big Six Trends 1. Casual ‘breakout’ areas that inject fun into the workplace including cafes, gyms and games rooms.

2. Larger desk space with a ‘hotdesking’ policy to accommodate an increasingly flexible workforce.

3. Multitasking spaces that meet the Four Cs - collaboration, contemplation, communication and concentration.

4. Biophillic design - bringing nature inside including greenery and as much natural light as possible as well as natural materials, temperature control for maximum comfort levels.

5. Colour - wooden and grained materials make way for white desks and coloured seating and fabrics.

6. Paperless office environments where smart screens replace presentation printouts.

The Kelly family, Fiona, Rebecca, Michael and Clare who are behind Glandore

Glandore: A family business offering flexibility and scalability for the future of work

T

he way that we work is changing.

One family business that has led this change is flexible workspace provider, Glandore. For new companies expanding and growing in Northern Ireland, finding a space to work that is flexible and can accommodate unpredictable pace and scale of growth is important.

“Companies today are scaling and failing at a rapid pace and so it is essential to have flexibility in both space and the length of term they are required to lease,”

Managing Director Michael Kelly spotted this when he set up the leading flexible workspace company Glandore, initially in Dublin in 2001 and later in Belfast in 2006.

“While this is great for investors, such leases don’t work for many companies who are growing or where they simply require shortterm overflow space for a specific project,” he said.

Michael Kelly founded the company when he noticed a gap in the market for flexible office space in Dublin.

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As Kelly points out, traditional commercial property leases in the city centre are generally longer than in most continental markets, typically 10 years with a break after 5 years.

“What they want is speed to market with minimal risk or upfront costs.”

Over the past number of years, Michael’s three daughters, Fiona, Clare and Rebecca joined the business and are now directors of the company. Today the family have seen the business grow from one employee to nearly 60 employees, and from offering 75 desks to now offering nearly 2,000 desks in Dublin and Belfast.

Glandore has, over the last 17 years, housed and facilitated the growth of many wellknown local and international companies including Facebook, Twitter, Cayan, Rapid7, Worldpay and Bloomberg.

“We offer companies and individuals a space to grow in our flexible workspace buildings.

Some use a day-pass then work month-to-

PROFILE

The Arthur Place building

The family business provides a full business support team, including an internal members network and online portal, a facilities management team and in-house IT support.

month from a coworking hot-desk. Others start off with a smaller space initially then scale to our private offices for up to 120 persons.

This allows people to have complete flexibility and we even have some Glandore Members who have been with us for over ten years.”

“No business model is stagnant — you have to evolve and, by meeting our members’ demands, we did,” Kelly said.

“The modern workplace is changing and there’s a huge demand for flexible offices and coworking spaces now. We’ve been in business since 2001 and in that time we’ve learned a lot from our members with regards to changing trends in workspace design and maximising employee engagement.”

Located in the heart of Belfast, Glandore’s specifically designed Grade A flexible workspace buildings are positioned in the city’s business district and just two minutes from City The sense of community is crucial for Hall. On Arthur Street in Belfast, the Arthur companies relocating or expanding their House and Arthur Place serviced offices offer business in any country. They connect space for up to 600 people. their members with others across their buildings, as well as with service providers These two Glandore-owned and family-run that they may require access to such as tax, buildings offer fast-growing companies peace recruitment, legal or accountancy services. of mind that their space requirements can all be accommodated within coworking desks, single or open-plan office suites and dedicated Speaking of how Glandore creates a fun, healthy and supportive work environment, full floors.

Kelly says that it was inspired by the culture of many of Glandore’s current and alumni In some cases, flexible office spaces have also members. proved very popular for project or overflow work purposes. For many start-ups and new “Modern workplaces are no longer about up-and-coming businesses, having a resource how many hours people sit at their desks, such as Glandore can be crucial in allowing but more about measuring productivity and them take their first steps on the corporate output,” ladder.

FEBRUARY 2018

“At Glandore, we list wellness as one of our core values and completed a successful and balanced wellness programme for all of our member companies in Dublin during 2017. We look forward to introducing this to all of our members in Belfast this year.”

Kelly believes that working in an environment where one feels safe, respected, and valued, where the demands of the job are reasonable, and where growth and interpersonal development are supported are most important for wellbeing in the workplace.

He has also found that simple changes in workspace design can have a positive impact on workplace wellness. Focusing on elements such as ergonomic office furniture, light settings, natural light points, thermal comforts and air quality are simple measures companies can take to ensure employee health and wellbeing, he said.

Encouraging flexi-hours and regular breaks, offering healthy food options and creating breakout and social spaces to encourage employees to take time away from the desk are also some ways in which Kelly advises that companies can foster workplace wellness.

With Glandore’s new collaborative coworking and event space in Belfast underway, it’s clear that it’s not only workspace that Glandore provides. Creating space for business to grow, Glandore is a family-led business who treats the companies they house like one of their own. ■

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OKTO Technologies Managing Director Philip Dowds and Business Development Manager Corin Hawthorne

Future buildings for future work OKTO Technologies are a leading technology specialist providing cognitive building technologies and Audio-Video installations to commercial office, residential and hospitality spaces nationally and internationally. Managing Director Philip Dowds and Business Development Manager Corin Hawthorne give their thoughts on future technology in the workplace We’re here to discuss future technology in the workplace. Do you think the sector has changed over the last few years.

Yes. We’ve noted that office clients are moving towards ‘people-centric’ environments, leveraging hospitality, technology, wellness and experiential amenities to enable a highly collaborative, innovative and inspired workforce.

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We’ve developed bespoke new technologies BMSButler® and Return2Analogue® which provide game-changing technology to the market and really enhance the client’s experience.

in a single day. This is unheard of in this market.

But clients also need certainty in delivery so we’ve developed One Day Magic to carry out large, complicated installations in a single day. In fact we’re gearing up to deliver a £475k install in Central London next week

OKTO are working with these new operators to provide cognitive building technologies which use Artificial Intelligence to autonomously control the heating, cooling, air quality, lighting and energy in

How is that changing how you work with your clients?

PROFILE

the most efficient and effective way which alongside our cutting edge communication installation provides a hugely more engaging experience for the users. These systems provide automatic and specific management of the office environment aligned to external factors such as the time of day, the season, or the noise and pollution levels in the street outside. Where required individual members of staff can even manage their own microenvironment.

Cognitive? Is that the same as smart buildings?

It’s the next generation. Smart buildings are like a servant, they will follow instruction to the letter. Cognitive buildings are more akin to a butler – they anticipate what you want before you even realise you need it.

The building control system knows how the property is being utilised by using a combination of discrete sensors, artificial intelligence, and clever programming. This enables context awareness of, for example weather conditions, or the occupancy levels at that moment, and through artificial intelligence allows the system to learn tenant and building behaviour to manage the building management systems in real time.

How do you help staff productivity?

Our technology can help to increase staff productivity through simple and subtle measures including using context-aware automated tuneable white light to change the colour temperature of artificial lighting, improving air quality and improving the temperature management according the context.

control to be available soon – that will be a real game-changer.

the body’s circadian rhythm. In the morning natural light has a cooler tint and we can replicate this to boost alertness and focus. Similarly simulating the warm light of evening is conducive to relaxation and reducing stress.

It all sounds very complicated, how do you train the building tenants how to use the systems?

It is extremely simple. Where technology is used it should be invisible, both aesthetically and functionally. Aesthetically in that if should be hidden from view when not in use. Functionally in that it should be so intuitive that you almost forget that you’re using technology. We refer to this as ‘the disappearing computer’ where processors become smaller and our interaction with them becomes so intuitive we forget that we are using a computer at all.

Our user interfaces are designed for each client on a bespoke basis so it is simple, friendly, and unique to the client. Our two unique new technologies BMSButler® and Return2Analogue® take this concept to the next level and will remove the need for a user interface for 90% of a systems functionality.

When will these technologies be available?

They are available. Right here, right now.

When whole life costs are analysed it is suggested that construction, or rent, and energy typically equate to about 10% of a company’s office costs with the remaining 90% accounted for by staffing and associated costs. By extension a 1% increase in staff productivity can be as cost effective as a 10% reduction in energy costs.

Research has shown that these are strongly linked to worker productivity. We can use tuneable white light to match or influence

FEBRUARY 2018

If these systems are available now – what more can we expect in the future?

Technology is moving faster and faster and it is our job to keep ahead of the curve. We are focused on cutting through the latest fads to find the technology that brings real benefits.

Voice control is continuing to gather pace but we expect full conversational voice

We’re at the forefront of an Artificial intelligence revolution. You will soon see it becoming more commonplace and effective and then it will really start to deliver change in the workplace.

Other future technologies to look out for are edge computing where processors are built into the sensors rather than centralised, effective virtual assistants, and most exciting of all brain-computer interfaces.

Does this mean you’ve moved away from Audio-Video Installation?

Not at all. AV is just one aspect of the experience we provide for the client.

The latest technology can offer so much more than just screens and speakers – these are simply commodities. To stay relevant in this extremely fast-paced and competitive market we continually innovate in the technology hidden behind the scenes which offer game-changing experiences for our client base.

Its now more important to be always connected than to be always present.

Time is often our client’s most valuable resource therefore even small time savings through minimal start-up and fast response times from equipment can add significant real world value and reduce frustration.

Its all about making life as easy as possible for the users. For example, at All State’s new offices in Belfast we’ve developed cutting edge bespoke conditional logic coding. This allows one action automation for a range of complicated uses while understanding the context – for example the layout of the room. The programming is extremely complex but for the user it is totally intuitive and incredibly simple.

The key to success is in providing total simplicity and reliability for the client, no instructions required, and making it work first time, every time. ■

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OFFICE ENVIRONMENT

The emergence of the circular office

By Ian Nuttall, Head of Environment, Business in the Community

I

n contrast to the traditional ‘take, make, dispose’ economy, the circular economy is a new approach that aims to retain resources, and the value provided by them, in ‘closed loops’, reducing demand for raw materials and the need to dispose of waste. This includes designing products to be easily recovered and used again or refurbished, and adopting new business models in which ownership of products is replaced by purchase of services.

Companies from all sectors, from construction to manufacturing, are experimenting with the opportunities presented by more ‘circular’ thinking, aiming to eliminate waste and the associated costs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of their business. An estimated £474 million of annual economic opportunities have been identified for Northern Ireland from implementing circular economy approaches, as well as the potential to create a wide range of new jobs to service these new ways of working.

However, the circular economy is broad and it can be difficult to know where to begin. The vast majority of businesses have office premises at some level – so it’s the ideal place to start making a difference. By experimenting with new ideas and engaging employees, the office can serve as a real catalyst for change.

At the simplest level, a circular approach in the office includes ensuring we reduce waste and implement effective recycling – a step many of us have already taken with regard to office consumables, food waste, packaging etc. However, moving beyond this, a truly circular approach requires us to think about how we design, use and operate to ensure more efficient, resilient offices – environments that contribute not only to the sustainability of the business, but to the wider economy and the community.

There are growing numbers of companies already taking an innovative circular approach to their workplace.

Professional services firm PwC looks at every possible opportunity to increase the sustainability of its premises through a circular office approach. For example, recovering over 91% of its waste and generating an income from circular solutions including refurbishing and reselling its laptops and smartphones brings the company a recoverable value of more than £500,000 a year. Looking forward, PwC is embedding circularity into procurement, employee engagement and community activities. A great example of this is its sourcing of environmentally-friendly office chairs from local company Orangebox –

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Ian Nuttall

these are designed to last, but also take into account disassembly and re-manufacturing at end of life.

Along with the likes of Liberty IT, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Baker McKenzie and George Best Belfast City Airport, PwC is one of a number of organisations that have begun working with Business in the Community in Northern Ireland to bring the circular economy into the office.

DID YOU KNOW? Your business can get help to develop its own circular office.

Business in the Community has established a new network for any organisations wishing to learn more about and share their experiences of the Circular Office. ■ To find out how you can join the Circular Office Network, contact Business in the Community on (028) 9046 0606 or visit http://www.bitcni. org.uk/what-we-do/planet/circular-economy/

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PROFILE

Tara Simpson, left, from Instil with David Wright from lettings agent CBRE

The new workspace W

alk into the Instil office on Belfast’s Adelaide Street and its instantly apparent that this is no ordinary company.

The on point design, soft furnishing and clean lines are more reminiscent of a highend apartment than the usual corporate office in the business district, but are also a far cry from the bean bags and pool tablestrewn work spaces which have become common in IT companies over recent years.

It’s a very deliberate strategy, founder Tara Simpson told Ulster Business in the boardroom of the weeks-old office.

“There’s been a real trend to turn software offices into a playground but we’ve never been in to that,” he said. “It’s where you work, it’s where you spend a lot of time so we’ve tried to keep this as homely and comfortable as possible.”

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“We could have stayed in to the old office which when we opened it was the coolest office in Belfast but we wanted to lift it another level again to create something new and fresh.”

Focusing on the office fixtures and fittings at the beginning of a profile piece may seem like an odd introduction but offers a seamless segue in the beating heart of this digital engineering consultancy.

That’s because each of the fittings in the office are bespoke, designed specifically for Tara and the team at Instil to fit their taste and need.

That, in a nutshell, is the basis of what the company provides, but in a software engineering sense: bespoke transformational software development and training.

“We have three legs to the business: consulting, project delivery and training,” Tara

said. “The three complement each other really well as we might go into a firm to provide training but end up adding on some project work or vice versa.”

Like most things in this well-thought out business, it has evolved over the years rather than been forced.

Started by Tara in 2005 after a career working in the industry spawned from an interest in programming which began at the tender age of 14 (his first computer, a ZX Spectrum, is behind a frame in the office kitchen and will bring back fond memories for those of you of a certain age), Instil began as a contracting vehicle and has steadily grown over the years to now number a headcount of 22.

“We’ve grown by referral rather than overselling the proposition,” he said. “We have a team of trusted staff who deliver and

PROFILE

manage to create value to the client at a sensible price.

“We don’t hire to meet demand; we hire when we find the right people,” Tara said.

“Our customer range from all sectors, from banking to insurance to telecoms where we’ve been doing a lot of work in the security space with video streaming and mobile devices.”

“That could be a limiting factor but in reality it has made us a happier place and one which clients can trust.”

Tara stressed the importance of the people working within the business.

“People are the lifeblood of this company.

There’s a lot of competition for talent so we have to work hard to support the people we hire.

“It’s not just about salaries but about keeping hold of the people we have with a strong culture and making sure they feel valued.”

And finding the right people is something which is taken extremely seriously.

Ensuring Instil remains a happy place to work is key for Tara who has been programming since 1981 (a framed ZX Spectrum in the office kitchen is the actual computer where he started), and he wants to make sure that future growth for the firm isn’t compromised.

“In two or three years’ time if we’re 40 people and we’re all happy then I’ll be happy. I want to grow a business which genuinely makes a difference of our clients, myself included.

“That contentedness is a very valuable thing. Balancing sales against delivery is key, Tara said.

In its own words…

Formed in 2005, Instil's experience was forged in the world of compilers and emulation software, building large scale systems software in C and C++. These days our team draws from a broad range of technology and industry experience; Java, Kotlin, C#, telecoms, medical and much more.

“We thrive on diversity but we all have one thing in common - a shared passion for building great solutions that transform how our clients work and that make a difference to the world we live in.”

“We can’t let them get out of kilter with each other,” he said. “We’ve been very good at delivery and will make sure we don’t ease up on that particular pedal as we feel so strongly that quality matters.” ■

‘City hub’ Launches in Lisburn City Centre

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isburn`s ‘city hub’ was launched recently offering co-working and meeting facilities in the heart of Lisburn City Centre. Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council understand that setting up a new business can be a stressful experience particularly when looking for premises, negotiating leases and connecting with utilities. ‘city hub’ removes that burden, offering a flexible working space at a competitive cost where you can create, innovate and grow your business.

FEBRUARY 2018

‘city hub’ provides superfast broadband connection, hot desks and secure storage space with printing facilities on-site. A private room is also available for meetings with business clients and colleagues. Staff will also be on hand to welcome ‘city hub’ users and clients into the building with free tea and coffee.

Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee Alderman Ewart MBE attended the recent launch and welcomed interested businesses, “It is fantastic to see the Council pioneering a shared workspace like this in Lisburn City Centre. ‘city hub’ is a place where people can work with no distractions, where they don’t feel isolated, but also somewhere where like-minded people from all sorts of businesses can bounce ideas off one another. We want this to be a relaxed environment for home workers, freelancers,

Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee Alderman Ewart MBE with the Council’s Director of Service Transformation Mr Donal Rogan and ‘city hub’ users, Melanie Coey, MC Business Accounts and Jamie Trimble, Jamie Trimble Photography

entrepreneurs and the self-employed. We would also encourage these users to avail of the existing retail and hospitality offering in the City Centre during their working day. ■ For information, please contact Melanie Finn 11-13 Market Square, Lisburn, BT28 1AE by emailing Melanie.finn@lisburncastlereagh. gov.uk or telephone 028 9244 7542.

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INTERVIEW

Business

Breakfast

By David Elliott

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

BREAKFASTEER: IAN SHEPPARD, REGIONAL DIRECTOR NORTHERN IRELAND AT BANK OF IRELAND BREAKFASTING VENUE: ROSS’S CAFE

R

egular readers of this esteemed publication will know that we at Ulster Business love a round table.

Not necessarily one which is actually circular in shape but one where we get some titans of industry to sit down for breakfast and a chat about the big issues impacting their business.

As you can imagine, these start off relatively measured and polite as everybody gently expresses their opinions on subjects as varied as corporation tax, apprenticeship levies and infrastructure before the coffee kicks in, the momentum picks and the volume lifts as business leaders from different sectors and geographies realise they’re coming up against the same obstacles and frustrations.

At these events some of the strongest and most important opinions to be found in Northern Ireland are eked out, transcribed verbatim and then locked in a darkened room with the editor to make sense of and to cut down in size from 30,000 words to 2,500.

Aside from this column – obviously - the roundtables are one of the most-read parts of the magazine and despite the mega editing job they require, they are one of the most fun to take part in.

This seemingly long-winded introduction (something Business Breakfast has been perfecting for nearly four years now) and

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advert for another feature in the magazine is a rather clumsy way of introducing Ian Sheppard, Regional Director Northern Ireland at Bank of Ireland.

The link (you’ll be glad to hear there is one) is that Ian has hosted a good number of these roundtables in the boardroom at Bank of Ireland’s Donegal Square headquarters in Belfast and we’ve both enjoyed some of the best mental ping pong from the brightest brains in Northern Ireland business.

Today, however, we’re not on the top floor of the bank at a round table but in the basement of an auction house at a rectangular table.

Yes, you’ve guessed it, having discovered a breakfasting venue we liked last month, we’ve returned to Ross’s Café on Montgomery Street for a rerun.

It was hard not to given the sumptuous breakfast we enjoyed on the previous occasion and the fact Ian’s office is barely 100 yards away.

This time the editor got stuck into one of the biggest bowls of porridge outside the three bears’ house, while Ian enjoyed poached eggs on toast, the editor’s choice last month.

It was good, but what you really want to know is how one of the most influential

people in the Northern Ireland business world got where he is.

A chartered accountant by training, Ian put his time in at a small accountancy practise in East Belfast during holidays from university – picking up real world business experience as he did so – before joining what was then Coopers & Lybrand after qualifying.

Spending time seconded as an interim accountant to companies such as Guinness and University of Ulster added to that experience, as did two years at IDB doing corporate finance appraisal work where his interest in funding businesses was piqued.

Two years at Northern Bank followed before an opportunity presented itself at Bank of Ireland where David McGowan, Stephen Kirkpatrick and Gerry McGinn “wanted to grow the business.”

“I was given a set of car keys and three customers and told to get on with it,” he said. “That was 20 years ago and I’m pleased to say that two of those are still my customers.

“It’s that continuity of relationship which is fundamental to what we do.”

That one of those customers was Wrightbus, one of Northern Ireland’s greatest export and manufacturing success stories, says a lot.

INTERVIEW

Ian Sheppard

How has the world of business banking changed since then?

“The fundamental tenants are still the same,” Ian said. “It’s all about getting to know your customer and getting to know their business.

“I drink more coffee for the bank than anyone else and a lot of it is about getting to know the customer. I try to meet the chief executives or chief financial officers of our customers at least twice a year and that really helps.

“When a customer calls you and says ‘I’m thinking of doing something will you come and talk to me’ then you know you’ve moved from being a banker to a true partner in their business.”

This approach has helped him and the team build a strong business banking arm at Bank of Ireland and since then he has made his way through the bank in various senior roles before taking up the position of Regional Director in 2016 and now Managing Director for Northern Ireland.

FEBRUARY 2018

With these latter roles he’s broadened his involvement in other aspects of the bank’s remit.

“That’s why we should have no fear around Brexit. We have been given two year’s notice where our business can plan accordingly – there aren’t any other major market movements where we get such an opportunity – and we have some great leaders to make sure we thrive after Brexit.”

“I’ve now moved to cover the whole breadth of the banking side of the business including branches and retail and I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said. “It’s a fast-changing market for the consumer and by working with the great people On that buoyant note it’s time to bring this in the bank we’re making sure that we’re front not-so-round-table to a close, Ulster Business and centre of all the changing face of banking.” to head back to UB Towers and Ian to get back to keep the wheels of industry turning in Ian is also coming to the end of his two-year the Northern Ireland economy. ■ tenure as Chair of the Institute of Directors THE BILL Northern Ireland, one which he said he has enjoyed fully.

It has certaintly given him a good insight into the standard of leadership and standard of businesses here.

“As I’ve dealt more and more outside of Northern Ireland I’ve realised our business leaders are world class. You just have to look at the number of Northern Ireland directors who have outperformed in the IoD national awards for proof.

Ross’s Ca fe

Porridg ePoached £3.95 e toast - £ ggs and 4.50 Flat whi te - £2.5 0 Tea - £2 .50 Total - £ 13.45 73

PROFILE

Job

My

The column which gets under the skin of the most interesting roles in Northern Ireland business. This month, Colum Egan, Master Distiller for Bushmills Irish Whiskey

Name and job title: My name is Colum Egan and I am Master Distiller for Bushmills Irish Whiskey. My main role is to ensure the whiskey we make today has the same taste and quality as it had all those centuries ago.

I am responsible for all stages of our whiskey creation process at The Old Bushmills Distillery and I lead new product development.

What was your first paying job? I’ve had a variety of different jobs in the drinks industry but all involving people, from engineering to finance to tasting. Each one has given me different skills that have helped shape my job as a distiller today.

My very first job was as a greens keeper at a golf course. As a keen golfer, this was a great first gig.

What do you like most about your current role? I’ve fallen in love with the history, heritage and sheer magic of The Old Bushmills Distillery and it really is a dream job to travel the globe, educating and entertaining whiskey lovers and introducing them to our tripledistilled single malt whiskeys and exciting blends.

We’ve been innovating with our whiskeys for centuries, so it’s great to also have the opportunity to introduce bold and exciting Bushmills Irish Whiskey products to the market.

For example, we introduced BUSHMILLS RED BUSH™ to the Ireland market at the end of 2017, following a successful launch in the U.S. It was the first new expression from the distillery for the domestic market in nearly five years, so it was definitely highly anticipated and was an exciting time.

Who or what has been your biggest influence or inspiration? My biggest inspiration has been the generations of Master Distillers that have preceded me. The history and knowledge that has been passed down from each has to be preserved. I like to learn from the past but also look to the future.

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If you hadn’t been a distiller, what would you have liked to have done? I grew up in the heartland of Ireland’s barley-growing country so part of me believes I was always destined to become a whiskey maker. I’m not sure what else I would have done!

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most important) how important is money to you? Money is important to maintain a standard of living for my family however, it is not the reason I work. I’m immensely proud of my role in helping to create the global reputation Bushmills Irish Whiskey has earned for its superb quality and that’s the reason I do what I do.

What has been your toughest challenge to date? The toughest challenge is maintaining the high standard Bushmills Irish Whiskey is known for while remaining bold and innovative. Consumers are discerning about what they drink, and that’s why creating new, daring products can be challenging but it’s a challenge my team and I thrive on.

With RED BUSH, it was something new for the Irish whiskey category with sweet tasting notes of vanilla, caramel and toasted oak, but

we were confident that it would resonate with both whiskey enthusiasts and first time whiskey drinkers. And it did!

What does the future hold for you? Every day is a sensory journey of sight, smell and taste as I sample and choose whiskeys for blending. I plan to continue innovating with our whiskeys and introduce more people around the world to the distinct character of Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

It’s also an exciting time for the Irish whiskey category. Irish whiskey has become more popular, and consumer demand for relevant and different whiskeys has grown – our Bushmills Irish Whiskey team is ready to embark on a journey with the new whiskey drinker.

What advice would you give the 18-year old you? One piece of advice I was given when I was young was to be true to who you are and to do what makes you passionate.

I love what I do now and I feel very privileged to be Master Distiller for Bushmills Irish Whiskey, especially with all the great history that has come before me. This advice has definitely served me well over the years. ■

Motoring

By Pat Burns

MOTORING

Vauxhall’s Grand Day Out…

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ith a sporty design and rugged looks, Vauxhall’s latest SUV, the Grandland X, is the largest SUV in Vauxhall’s range, offering even more cabin space than the 20 centimetreshorter Mokka X and Crossland X. The Grandland X is priced from £22,310 on-the-road and standard equipment includes LED daytime running lights, camerabased lane departure warning, road sign recognition, intelligent cruise control, and air conditioning with particulate and odour filter. It is also one of the first new cars to be launched from Vauxhall now that is part of the Peugeot PSA Group.

The Grandland X also introduces Vauxhall’s innovative IntelliGrip traction control system to the range. The optional electronic system ensures optimum road grip in diverse driving situations, and adapts the torque distribution to the front wheels depending on which of the five driving modes has been selected. This ensures the best traction and stable handling on any surface.

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The driver selects the preferred driving mode via a centre dial and the electronics immediately adapt engine and transmission control, torque distribution and ESP settings to the selected mode, ensuring optimum contact to the driving surface.

There are five modes available to the driver to select from ranging from Normal to Mud, Snow and Sand.

Vauxhall customers will have the choice of two engines – a 1.2-litre turbo petrol with 130PS (NEDC fuel consumption urban 44.1-47.1mpg, extra-urban 57.662.8mpg, combined 51.4mpg-55.4mpg, 127-117 g/km CO2) and a 1.6-litre turbo diesel with 120PS (NEDC fuel consumption urban 55.4-60.1mpg, extraurban 67.3-80.7mpg, combined 61.470.6mpg, 118-104 g/km CO2). Both turbo units can be combined with either the six-speed manual or a friction-optimised six-speed automatic transmission and come with Start/Stop as standard.

Meeting the stringent Euro 6 emissions standards and returning impressive fuel consumption, the Grandland X is one of the most frugal compact SUVs on the market. However, this is not to the detriment of performance, as the 1.2 direct injection turbo produces 130PS from three cylinders and generates maximum torque of 230Nm at 1,750rpm. The 1.6 turbo diesel unit generates 120PS from four cylinders and delivers 300Nm maximum torque at 1,750rpm.

The Vauxhall Grandland X will initially offer the choice between a precise sixspeed gearbox and a smooth six-speed automatic transmission, available with both engines. The newly developed, frictionoptimised transmissions help reduce fuel consumption and running costs, while also delivering a refined ride. The Quickshift technology of the six-speed automatic gearbox enables quick up-shifts under acceleration, and also offers the function to manually change gears to suits drivers as necessary. ■

UP TO 5 YEARS Available with

0

% APR

FLEXIBLE FINANCE

Visit your local Vauxhall Northern Ireland Retailer or search Vauxhall Northern Ireland Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall Grandland X Sport Nav 1.2 (130PS): Urban: 47.1 (6.0), Extra-urban: 62.8 (4.5), Combined: 43.5 (6.5). CO2 emissions: 149g/km.# Model shown Grandland X Sport Nav 1.2 (130PS). Offer subject to availability, on selected models at participating Retailers only. Conditional Sale. Finance subject to status. Ts&Cs apply.

Applicants must be 18+. Finance by Vauxhall Finance, CF15 7YT. 24-60 month term. Offer applies to private individuals, Vauxhall Partners and small businesses 1-24 vehicles (purchase only excluding B2B supported vehicles). All other customers are excluded. Offer available on orders or registrations between 19 December 2017 and 02 April 2018. #Fuel consumption information is official government environmental data, tested in accordance with the relevant EU directive. Official EU regulated test data is provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Vauxhall Motors Limited reserves the right to change, amend or withdraw this offer at any point in time. Correct at time of going to press.

MOTORING

This IS it…

By Pat Burns

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exus’s third generation IS sports saloon is the first IS to be equipped with Lexus Hybrid Drive which combines a petrol engine with electric power. It remains a rear-wheel drive model and the range includes an F Sport version equipped with a dedicated sports styling and handling package.

The model underwent significant revisions recently, with changes that are not simply cosmetic; they demonstrate a commitment to achieving the best possible dynamic performance, matched by refined styling, quality, comfort and functionality.

The new IS also introduces customers to the benefits of Lexus Safety System+, equipping the car with a raft of advanced technology features that can help prevent accidents happening and reduce the consequences should the worst happen.

Features such a Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert provide the driver with

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improved warnings of potentially unseen hazards and the LED headlights provide a deeper and wider field of illumination in night-time driving.

The third generation IS has been engineered for sporting performance, agile handling, accurate responses and excellent feedback to the driver. Its driving dynamics have been engineered to help deliver the best possible driving enjoyment – a principal goal in the car’s original development programme.

The IS 300h reinforces Lexus’s commitment to the future of petrol-electric hybrid technology.

It is powered by Lexus Hybrid Drive, which achieves significant reductions in fuel consumption CO2, NOx and particulate emissions, with no loss of performance.

The system combines a 141bhp electric motor with a 2.5-litre, 178bhp four cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine, equipped with D-4S fuel injection, Dual VVT-i intelligent variable valve timing and high-efficiency exhaust gas recirculation.

The powertrain drives the rear wheels via an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. Total system output is 220bhp, enabling nought to 62mph acceleration in 8.3 seconds (IS 300h SE) and a 125mph top speed. Combined cycle fuel consumption is from 67.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 97g/ km (IS 300h SE) – among the lowest in the car’s class.

As with all Lexus hybrids, the IS 300h is a full hybrid that can be driven in petrol-electric or purely electric modes.

The new IS’s Drive Mode Select system features up to five switchable driving modes, engaged using a rotary control on the centre console: Eco, Normal, Sport and, on models equipped with Adaptive Variable Suspension, Sport S and Sport S+. The new IS extends the system’s functionality with a new “customised” option that lets the driver adjust the control of chassis settings, throttle response and air conditioning operation to suit their personal preference.

Prices start at £30,105. ■

MOTORING

For the good times: baby Jag mixes reality and illusion

By Eddie Cunningham

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o, we've never had it so good. Things are just great, we're told. Frankly, I don't see it and I know lots of others who don't either. Claims like that can get right up people's noses. Which is why I'm not going to proclaim that you've never had it so good with new cars. But let me whisper it (if such an option is available in print) that things are moving rapidly in that direction.

I mean a few years back, I could never have envisaged driving a baby Jaguar SUV, yet, I've just been doing just that with a salubrious version of the new 'cub' - the E-PACE. It attempts to do several things at once but mostly tries to make you feel you've never had it so good in, and with, a car. I think it succeeds in maintaining some parts of that illusion much longer than others. First off, there is the undoubted vibe you'd expect from anything bearing the Jag name. Then there's the appealing chunky look, 20ins wheels, wide tyres - all essential on a thoroughly modern sporty SUV from the posh side of town.

And my First Edition version was specced to the gills to sustain the illusion with all sorts of hi-tech luxury.

They reckon 80% of those who buy a 'cub' will never have had a Jaguar before. See why I'm whispering why we've never had such choice?

I didn't fancy the colour (black) of my First Edition. A bit gloomy. It's a different car in red where design nuances flourish. Same goes for the dark interior leather. But, in a decently roomy cabin, some passengers loved it, which shows how varied tastes can be and why people resent being preached to when they know what they know. Me? I sat low and 'engaged' at the wheel, a position designed to make you feel 'part of the driving' vibe. I'm not a fan. I got the seat as high as possible, but

my position was a compromise between overviewing the high dash and the limited vertical adjustment on the steering wheel. I prefer the driving position in Audi's Q3/Q2 and BMW's X1 (though I still favour the Jag's looks).

The centre-dash spread and interface of instruments, buttons (thankfully a few), etc slopes nice and smartly, avoiding the eyesore of a big block of plastic with a jutting screen. The large touchscreen/infotainment system, Touch Pro, looked/worked exceptionally well for me.

There are up to four 12-volt charging points and five USB connections. Dare I ask: Were you ever as well connected?

Some passengers, rear-seat admittedly, were not as enthusiastic about their surrounds. They felt the cabin was dull. Again, no accounting for taste. They weren't cramped back there, though, because room is quite reasonable.

And a high score goes for the large boot (577 litres), thanks to the car's 4,395mm length and 2,681mm wheelbase.

Much of the E-PACE's sportier-driving ambitions are linked to the dynamics of the great F-TYPE sports car. On the face of it,

that should make the E-PACE a cracker. But as with many things (like being told you're well off) it wasn't quite. It's a solid motor but, for me, lacked the handling verve I'd hope for. Handling and ride are not major tick-boxes for many buyers but they are important in a Jag. Men, reputedly, attach greater importance than women to such matters. I don't agree but as there is a push for more male buyers of the 'cub', it was a tad disappointing; the ride at low speed felt a bit harsh, too.

My 180PS 2-litre diesel was powerful and a wonderful cruiser, but in city driving it was still a bit too noisy for my liking.

Overall then, the E-PACE is far from faultless but there is a charm, an energy, about it that most rivals (Audi Q2 excepted) lack. Making it so relevant is lower-end pricing that courts those buying upper-end mainstream motors.

And let's be honest: a 'baby Jaguar SUV' has a ring to it that's hard to ignore. For me, reality intrudes on a number of fronts but the E-PACE is still good enough to maintain a 'good-times' illusion on many others. â–

PROFILE

A word from

Name: Stephen McCann, Position: CEO, P2V Systems

The Wise

The column with an ear for experience...

How did you start out in business?

I studied at Mari College in Belfast, which specialised in the practical elements of IT and provided work experience as well as training to students. During my time there, I was given a placement at Lisburn Tech (now SERC) as an IT Technician. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience as it gave me firsthand insight into a working environment and cemented my interest to pursue a career in IT. I went on to hold increasingly senior IT roles with large organisations including Keith Prowse and Sureskills, then took the leap to set up my own IT solutions company, P2V Systems, in Lisburn, in 2008.

What did you find the most challenging during your years in business?

I think every start up is faced with a steep learning curve. You can read all the books you like, but nothing can fully prepare you for launching a new business. Setting up P2V Systems in 2008, against a tough economic backdrop, was particularly challenging and ultimately made me even more determined to succeed. Thankfully I stayed focused on the end vision and worked hard to develop and grow the business.

starting out in business again I’d be less reserved in my decisions. I’d try to take that leap and start my own business sooner – to trust my vision and not let the fear of failure hold me back.

How would you describe your management style?

I encourage people to take ownership of and pride in their work. Giving an individual the chance to take responsibility, whilst providing oversight and guidance as required, allows them to challenge themselves, step outside their comfort zone and ultimately fulfil their potential.

Motivation and reward is also crucial - as well as maintaining an open and approachable attitude at all levels.

Have you done it all on your own?

I don’t believe anyone in business can attribute success solely to themselves. I have been lucky enough to have talented people around me from day one at P2V Systems. I have built a strong senior management team who continue to help me steer the company in the right direction.

Importantly, my wife’s unwavering support has been instrumental in me building the business.

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

I try not to have regrets, but if I were

How would you like your business career to be remembered?

I’d like to be remembered as someone who

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built and led one of the best technology companies in Ireland.

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

Be patient, stay focused – everything will work out for the best. ■ With presence in Lisburn, Dublin and London, P2V Systems provides the IT solutions and infrastructure that can make a real difference to the business operation, turning IT into an asset.

The company’s IT solutions include Cloud, IT Security, Professional and Managed Services.

Working across the UK & Ireland, P2V Systems has a wealth of experience in both the private, public and third sectors. Customers include professional services organisations including the Insurance, Finance and Legal sectors and local Government, Health and Education authorities and Charities.

René Carayol MBE

Niall McGrath and Tom Gannon

Professor Phil Scraton

World-Renowned Leadership Coach

Co-Founders of Fulfil Nutrition

Criminologist, Social Researcher & Author

Friday 2nd March 2018 Mark Gallagher Formula One Leader & Business Author

Cathriona Hallahan MD of Microsoft Ireland

The Management & Leadership SuMMit The Pinnacle of Management Month Friday 2nd March 2018 | 8.15am –1.30pm | Titanic Belfast When did you last take time to think about the bigger picture for you and your organisation?

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APPOINTMENTS

Kerry Calvert has joined HLM as a Senior Architect. Kerry is a graduate of the Mackintosh School of Architecture and has extensive experience delivering awardwinning architecture projects.

Amy McConnell has been appointed to the role of Solicitor in Carson McDowell’s Real Estate team where she will assist in all aspects of commercial property.

Katie McAllister has joined Carson McDowell’s Media Law team where she is involved in all aspects of media and entertainment law including defamation, privacy, data protection and intellectual property.

In her new role as Service Reporting Analyst for eir Business NI, Una McDermott will provide administrative and reporting support. Una previously held positions at Void Gallery Derry-Londonderry and the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

TLT has appointed Andrew Jennings as a corporate partner in its Belfast office, completing the firm’s full service offering in NI and demonstrating its ambitions in the NI legal market.

Newry sports-tech firm STATSports has appointed Andrew Mawhinney as Business Development Executive. He has developed a specialism in sports marketing and business improvement.

David Egan has been appointed Chief Executive of Hughes Insurance. David previously held the role of Managing Director at Post Insurance, and prior to this was CEO and Company Secretary at AON. Hughes Insurance has appointed Richard Fulton as Chairman. Richard has 25 years’ experience practicing corporate law and has held a range of board level appointments across many of Northern Ireland’s best-known companies.

Gordon Carson joins the 4c Executive Search team as Managing Director. Gordon has over 25 years’ international business experience in senior roles across the UK and Ireland, Europe and the USA.

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APPOINTMENTS

Orla McGreevy has been promoted to Senior Business Development Executive at 4c Executive Search where she delivers support to the company and develops customer relationships.

Laura has been appointed as Business Support Executive at 4c Executive Search.

Laura has extensive experience working closely with clients across a number of sectors.

In her new role as Group Head of HR, Tracey Blacker is responsible for delivering human resource services across the Almac Group, including Europe and Asia Pacific.

Tracey joins Almac from Dunbia.

Thomas Bell has been appointed as Planning Director at Clyde Shanks.

Thomas is an RTPI chartered planner with 12 years’ experience. He leads on a range of development projects managing a diverse workload.

Clare McParland has been appointed Associate in Clyde Shanks. She is a chartered member of the RTPI with substantial experience in co-ordinating and managing planning applications across a number of sectors.

Gavin McGill has been promoted to Senior Planner at Clyde Shanks. Gavin is a chartered planner and works across a wide range of development sectors.

Helen McErlean joins Danske Bank as a Mortgage Consultant where she is responsible for looking after the mortgage needs of customers in Greater Belfast. She brings to the role 12 years’ experience.

Matthew Jeffrey has been appointed as an Associate at Lanyon Communications.

He will continue to service the firm’s growing portfolio of high-profile clients across a range of sectors.

Tracy Flannigan has been appointed as Director, Advisory & Transaction Services at CBRE. She will be advising both landlord and tenant clients in respect of lease renewals and rent reviews.

FEBRUARY 2018

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PHOTOCALL 1. From left, Invest NI CEO Alastair Hamilton, Mayor Cllr Paul Reid and CEO Mid & East Antrim Borough Council Anne Donaghy, pictured at the Amplify launch event held in Galgorm Resort.

2. IFEX, Northern Ireland’s premier food, drink, retail and hospitality event, returns to the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast from Tuesday 20th – Thursday 22nd March 2018.

Launching the event are Gary Gamble, IFEX Chairman of Judges; Sean Owens, IFEX Chef Director; Dolan Heaney, IFEX Judge Caroline McCusker, IFEX Event Manager with The Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Sonia Copeland.

3. The inaugural Infra2018: NI Year of Infrastructure event took place in the Titanic Hotel with over 100 delegates from a range of industries including education, finance, construction, architecture, medical and digital in attendance. Pictured at the launch is Richard Kirk, Regional Director of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

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4. Finalists of the second annual Eastside Awards have been revealed following a rigorous assessment process by a panel of independent judges. Pictured are Jonathan McAlpin, Chair of Eastside Awards Committee; Geri Wright, Phoenix Natural Gas and Stephen Patton, George Best Belfast City Airport, who are sponsoring the awards.

5. Fusion Heating was made a sizable donation to the Newtownards Foodbank in lieu of giving corporate gifts this Christmas.

Staff are pictured with the children’s Christmas presents they also bought and donated to struggling families.

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PHOTOCALL 6. Fusion Heating and Calor Gas teamed up to sponsor weather-proof training tops for the budding sports stars of Killinchy Primary School. Pictured are Jill Jack of Calor Gas, Chris Currie, Principal of Killinchy Primary School and Pippa Mitchell of Fusion Heating with some of the young sports stars.

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7. Titanic Belfast has launched its largest recruitment drive since it opened in 2012. In 2017 Titanic Belfast won the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction and experienced its busiest year, month and day to date. Pictured are crew members Jonny Kelso and Shirley Jones with Chief Executive Judith Owens.

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10 FEBRUARY 2018

8. Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID) has become the first in NI to purchase defibrillators which have been placed in various locations throughout the town centre.

Pictured are Eleanor McKay, from Cameron’s Ballymena; William Alexander, Ballymena BID Director and Trevor Parker, Development Manager of Ballymena Retail Against Crime (BRAC).

9. Waste management specialist RiverRidge has recently taken delivery of five new Mercedes-Benz Econics from MBNI Truck & Van, in a deal facilitated through RentaMerc.

Pictured (left to right) are Tony Kirkpatrick of RiverRidge and Norman McBride of RentaMerc.

10. Six top local science students have been recognised for their excellence through awards set up in memory of two of Northern Ireland’s most famous scientists - the Hans Sloane Medal and the Sloane McClay Award.

Pictured are Matthew Vennard and Jamie Brannigan with Professor Tim Harrison.

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PHOTOCALL 11. Northern Ireland’s only ‘Red Dress Run’ is set to return to Stormont Estate this February.

Chris Henry, local and international rugby player joined Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke to encourage the public to take part. Chris is pictured alongside the first two entrants, Gillian Abraham and Graham Ross.

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12. Retailer Musgrave has introduced chip shop franchise, Chipmongers, to Lisburn, with more planned for Northern Ireland. Michael Ferris (centre) owner of Chipmongers Lisburn is pictured with staff members, Kim Irvine (left) and Caroline Alexander.

13. Northern Irish health foods business, Linwoods, won a Gold Award for Innovation at the SIAL Middle East Show in Abu Dhabi for its ‘Sprouted Flaxseed’ product. Pictured are John Woods, MD of Linwoods, and Sarah Murphy, International Sales at Linwoods picking up their award.

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14. Ulster Bank has become the first bank in Northern Ireland to offer a dedicated sign language interpreted banking service for deaf customers. Pictured from left are Roisin McGonagle, Action on Hearing Loss; Jason McBurney, Karen Dixon and John Mulhern, Ulster Bank.

15. M&S employees across Northern Ireland have raised more than £850,000 for the region’s charity fundraising campaign in aid of Action Cancer’s counselling and therapeutic services. Pictured from left are Dougie King from Action Cancer and Ryan Lemon from M&S.

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PHOTOCALL 16. Family-run Glenluce Fishing Company, has added a new boat to its fleet following a multi-million pound investment in Marine Fishing Vessel, ‘Unity’, with support from First Trust Bank. Pictured from left are Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation (NIFPO) CEO Harry Wick and Kevin Fitzpatrick from First Trust Bank.

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17. Irwin’s Bakery has presented Cancer Focus NI with a donation of £20,000. Irwin’s Bakery staff - David Holmes, Ruth Sloan, Caragh Mullan, Karen Nixon and Rachel Campbell - are joined by Irwin’s Bakery Executive Chairman, Brian Irwin, and Cancer Focus NI Corporate Fundraising Manager, Rosie Forsythe.

18. A football team from Belfast-based financial services firm FinTrU has been crowned champions of the first ever Onecom Business League. Pictured with the winning FinTrU team is Paul Lawther, Head of Onecom in Northern Ireland.

19. Belfast Harbour has teamed up with Queen’s Students’ Union to help hundreds of children from inner-city Belfast aspire to university-level education. 130 Queen’s students have volunteered to help out at 17 homework clubs across the city, provide one-to-one tutoring and support recreational activities.

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20. CBI Northern Ireland supported efforts by the Greggs Foundation to raise money for breakfast clubs at St Joseph’s and Taughmonagh primary schools in West Belfast. 20 children from St Joseph’s performed a series of popular Christmas carols outside the Greggs store in Twin Spires.

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PHOTOCALL 21. Invest Northern Ireland is supporting the creation of five new jobs at Ballymoneybased Groundsman Industries. The company is investing over £220,000 in additional resources. Pictured from left are Bill Montgomery, Invest NI, and Billy Warke, Groundsman Industries.

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22. Passengers travelling through George Best Belfast City Airport have supported World Duty Free’s festive ‘Buy a Bear’ initiative for the Children’s Cancer Unit. Joanne Deighan, the airport’s Commercial Manager and Ciara Hamill from World Duty Free met with Naomi Spence, Play Specialist Nurse, to hand out some of the bears to Zara Salme and Seanin Kelly.

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23. Recently the Campbell College Charity Team, and parent Laura Delaney, presented a cheque for £7,000 to Macmillan Cancer support for money raised during their annual Macmillan Coffee Morning.

24. Business advisory firm Grant Thornton’s Belfast office has chosen to support learning disability charity Mencap through a strategic fundraising partnership for 2017/18.

Pictured are employees, Nichola McCabe, John Blair, Tori Hawthorne and Alicia Havlin with Fiona McCann from Mencap NI and Eryn Duff, Grant Thornton’s Sustainability Representative.

25. SSE Airtricity’s annual Community Fund has hit the £1.5million mark, supporting over 500 community groups and more than 70 students in the areas around their wind farms.

Pictured is Alannah Mayes of Two Castles boxing club, one of the groups to have benefitted from the fund.

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PHOTOCALL 26. Shortcross Gin, produced in Northern Ireland, is now being stocked in all World Duty Free stores across the UK. Pictured is Cara Hamill from World Duty Free, Shortcross Gin’s David Boyd-Armstrong and Joanne Deighan, Commercial Manager at George Best Belfast City Airport.

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27. Templeton Robinson’s Ballyhackamore office is celebrating a decade of business in the heart of East Belfast. Pictured from left are Lisa Nesbitt, Brent Howell, AnnMarie Magee, Phil McVitty and Neil Templeton, Director, Templeton Robinson Ballyhackamore.

28. Motor retailer the Agnew Group handed over a £100,000 gift for local children with cancer this Christmas. Employees at the firm raised the money through a range of fundraising events and activities. Pictured are Agnew Group’s Managing Director, Yuile Magee and Chief Executive of Cancer Fund for Children, Gillian Creevy.

29. Ulster’s Chartered Accountants presented hundreds of toys to the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal at their annual Christmas Charity Lunch. Pictured with kids from the John Paul II Primary School Choir are Pamela McCreedy; John Mathers and Zara Duffy.

30. AC Hotels by Marriott is set to open its first hotel in Northern Ireland in Belfast Harbour’s landmark City Quays development in April and has confirmed the appointment of Lisa Steele as General Manager of the new £25million property.

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CHAIRMAN

the next mag but suffice to say the Northern Ireland’s art world and appreciators were out in full swing.

The Chairman He’s been out and about at the best events of the last month and might have spotted you...

W

hile most people find the first month of the year a time to hunker down following the festivities of the Christmas and New Year period, The Chairman prefers to throw convention to the wind and embrace January with enough gusto to make up for everyone else.

Away with your fad diets, your trips to the gym and your protein shakes and hello to restaurant openings, catching up with old chums and generally tripping the light fandango light it’s 1999.

So it was we found ourselves at one of the hottest tickets in town, the launch of Gilbert & George’s Scapegoating Pictures show at that venue with the heart and soul of a cultured ox, the MAC in Belfast’s Cathedral quarter.

It was so hot and so close to deadline for this publication that photos are due to follow in

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Having filled in the brothers on The Chairman’s thoughts on the exhibition – a hit, despite wanting to find some small flaw – there was time to chat to John McGrillen from Tourism NI who was cock-a-hoop about the duo being in Belfast, with Claire Bailey, with Suzanne Lyle, with Noelle McAdlinden and with PR guru Brendan Mulgrew.

Chairman of The MAC Joe O’Neill knew he had a winner but if he needed further proof he only had to look at the snaking queue for book signing by G&G. That was too much effort for The Chairman who sufficed with a G&T.

in Export Award. Shannon Deit from DHL, the company that sponsored the awards, was chatting to The Chairman and remarked that the Armagh company is one of the most impressive she has come across.

At the same event there was another Northern Ireland winner with Dunmurry company Flynn picking up the UK Health & Wellbeing Award from Westfield Health’s Fiona Lowe. A hearty pat on the back to Declan Kearny, Ryan Cairnduff, Dean Gordon and Mark Spence from the firm, and of course the team back at home.

One of the first awards ceremonies of the new year as the Allianz Art & Business NI Awards 2018 where The Chairman stretched his arts credentials even further and enjoyed a great night so many congratulations to Mary Nagele and the team at Arts and Business.

Without wanting to hark back to 2017 too much, it would be remise of us not to round up last year’s final award ceremonies which saw a host of Northern Ireland’s finest pick up gongs in the some of the most prestigious competitions around.

It was great to also meet with chair of the business Martin Bradley and sponsor Sean McGrath and a joy to see Michele Hatfield pick up Business of the Year for Belfast City Airport.

First it was off to the Sustainable Ireland Awards where odds-on favourite Adrian Logan was playing host and recycling company RiverRidge were picking up a the Waste Management and Environmental Excellence 2017 prize.

And KPMG justly picked up the Long-Term Partnership Award alongside the Royal Ulster Academy, a collaboration that has worked so well and truly borne fruit. Big congratulations to John Hansen and the team at KPMG in Northern Ireland.

It was great to chat to boss Brett Ross and the team including Gavin McDonagh, Tony Kirkpatrick and Pamela Jordan.

From there it was back across the Irish Sea to the British Healthcare Trades Association awards ceremony where none other than old friend Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson was in sparkling form. She handed over a gong to Resond Healthcare’s Regional Manager (NI and Scotland) and Chris Cochlin, Director of Home Deliveries for Respond Healthcare. ■

Then it was across to London village for the Chamber Business Awards where the splendid Patrick Woods and Brian Brannigan from Linwoods picked up a well-deserved Excellence

CHAIRMAN

The team from recycling company RiverRidge are pictured accepting Waste Management and Environmental Excellence 2017 at Sustainable Ireland award ceremony. Pictured (LR) Adrian Logan, Host of the Sustainable Ireland Awards, Brett Ross, CEO of RiverRidge, Pamela Jordan, Senior Business Development Manager of RiverRidge, Elliot Martin, Managing Director of Ulster Shredders, Tony Kirkpatrick, Logistics Director of RiverRidge and Gavin McDonagh, Senior Contracts Manager of RiverRidge.

Fiona Lowe, Director of HR at category sponsor Westfield Health (far right) presents Flynn’s Declan Kearney, Ryan Cairnduff, Dean Gordon and Mark Spence with the UK Health & Wellbeing Award at the Chamber Business Awards in London.

Ernest Culley, Managing director of Impro Printing, and his daughter Caroline Irvin, General Manager, win Book Printer of the Year at the Irish Print Awards 2017.

Respond Healthcare has been awarded a prestigious British Healthcare Trades Association. Pictured at the awards ceremony are (left-right): Mike Lord, President of BHTA, Julie Comsa, Respond Healthcare’s Regional Manager (NI and Scotland), Chris Cochlin (Dir of Home Deliveries, Respond Healthcare) and event host Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

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Shannon Diett, VP of Marketing at category sponsor DHL (far right) presents Patrick Woods and Brian Brannigan from Linwoods with the UK Excellence in Export Award at the Chamber Business Awards in London.

Pictured with David who is working on the assembly of a Brookvent ‘aircycle’ ventilation unit are: (l-r) Donal Rogan, Director of Transformation, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council; Alderman Allan Ewart MBE, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee and Declan Gormley, Managing Director of Brookvent.

John Woods, MD of Linwoods, and Sarah Murphy, International Sales at Linwoods, are pictured picking up their Gold award for Innovation from the organisers at SIAL Middle East Innovation Awards.

Harvey Donnelly from Wellington College receiving the ‘BT Northern Ireland Best Project’ award at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

Senior Health Care Assistant Helen Riordan picked up the prestigious Heart of Peninsula Award for Peninsula Care at The Marine Court Hotel last month. Helen also won the outstanding achievement award on the evening.

Pictured with Helen is Jonny Cook, owner of Peninsula Care.

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ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI AWARDS

Celebrating Creative Connections at 2018 Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards

Allianz staff celebrating at the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards with Allianz CEO, Sean McGrath

T

he MAC, played host to over 250 guests for the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2018. Guests were privileged to get a sneak peek of the Gilbert & George exhibition.

Master of ceremonies for the evening Dr Wendy Austin MBE steered the proceedings, nine awards were presented in total to winning arts-business partnerships. The award pieces were designed and created by local artist Karen Daye-Hutchinson.

The awards showcased examples of creative connections between the business community and the arts sector, delivering a diverse range of tangible business benefits.

The entertainment on the night was a remarkable line-up of local creative talent.

Including a distinctive dance performance by Vasiliki Stasinaki and David Ogle of Maiden Voyage Dance.

Dumbworld’s ‘Drive by Shooting’ was a captivating performance written and directed

by John McIlduff, with a soundtrack composed

by Brian Irvine, who recently won a British Composer Award.

Stage Beyond presented a powerful mix of music and theatre it has produced over the past 15 years.

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Allianz CEO Sean McGrath presented the awards. “Our heartfelt congratulations go out to all the nominees and winners of this year’s Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards,” he said.

“Their efforts demonstrate yet again how business and arts organisations have successfully collaborated to create real and lasting value for themselves and for society at large.

“We never fail to be impressed by the substantial economic and social dividends that come from all of the nominated engagements. Cultural output not only reflects and defines who we are as a people, but when combined with the genius that exists within our commercial sectors, develops real financial and community benefits for us all.”

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT AWARD BOOKTRUST & BELFAST HARBOUR The partnership began with a small project gifting Bookstart Baby packs to 500 families in North and East Belfast. The launch event and subsequent feedback from families was extremely positive, with 92% of parents saying that they had fun with their child while using the Bookstart packs and 80% felt more confident about reading with their child. This year’s partnership encompassed another Babies Need Books project, a Teenage Author event and support for National Bookstart Week.

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI CULTURAL BRANDING AWARD YOUNG AT ART & TRANSLINK Young at Art & Translink continue to build on a successful partnership. This year they collaborated on an extensive marketing campaign encouraging families to embark on a creative journey with Translink to the Belfast Children’s Festival including special on-board and in-station activity. The partnership continues to go from strength to strength, with connections flourishing through building of the new Transport Hub Area community, working with targeted inner city schools. The overall partnership brought Translink’s brand identity to life, supported their Corporate Responsibility Strategy and helped them meet core commercial objectives.

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI NEW SPONSOR AWARD EASTSIDE ARTS & CONNSWATER SHOPPING CENTRE & RETAIL PARK Connswater Shopping Centre had planned a weekend festival to engage with the local community, and realised that it very much complimented the EastSide Arts Festival scope and programme. Both partners had the insight to realise that by working together, they could reach more audiences and create bigger impact. With shared values in terms of making East Belfast a great place to be, the EastSide Circus Bunting Project and Connswater Urban Art Workshop brought the two organisations together to animate two public East Belfast areas.

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI ARTS BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD STEPHEN DUNLOP AT THE OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL Stephen had the vision to see the long term social and economic benefits the festival could have on Bangor. His inherent understanding of the local business community, acquired through his years as Town Centre Manager, was invaluable in developing and sustaining relationships. As a Bangor resident, Stephen wanted the festival to not just succeed, but to ultimately re-establish the town as a thriving tourist destination; Stephen’s guidance, counsel and practical support helped to make that a reality.

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI AWARDS

Winner of the Allianz Art & Business NI Business of the Year Award was George Best Belfast City Airport. From left: Sean McGrath, CEO, Allianz; Martin Bradley, MBE, Chair, Arts & Business NI; Michelle Hatfield, George Best Belfast City Airport and Mary Nagele, Chief Executive, Arts & Business NI

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP AWARD RUA & KPMG In 2007 Arts & Business Northern Ireland brokered what would become a long and lasting partnership between RUA and KPMG. With over £1.3mn of sales generated at the RUA annual exhibition over 10 years, the relationship has gone from strength to strength. The partnership has delivered much more than financial support.

KPMG’s support has allowed RUA to develop and deliver a unique Education Outreach programme, opening up access to visual art across a diverse group of people, young and old. The relationship has supported thousands of artists and kickstarted the career of many young artists with the introduction of the Emerging Artist of the Year Award.

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI CULTURAL FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR AWARD CARA MCCARTNEY, MILLENNIUM FORUM THEATRE & CONFERENCE CENTRE Cara is a very active sponsorship manager.

Recruiting sponsors by attending a huge

amount of private sector events and servicing partnerships including Foyleside Shopping Centre, Specsavers, Curtis Opticians, Nicholl Oils, Virgin Media, Diamond Corrugated, Richmond Centre, Danske and Dunnes Stores. Cara collaboratively works with these businesses to align Millennium Forum’s activity to their business objectives.

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI COMMUNITY ART AWARD ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY Singing for the Brain is a service provided by Alzheimer’s Society for people with dementia and their carers, which uses singing to bring people together in a friendly and stimulating social environment. The area of the brain associated with music appears to remain responsive long after the ability to speak is lost, as engaging with music requires little cognitive processing. The Award will fund a weekly Singing for the Brain session in Northern Ireland for two months, giving people with dementia and carers access to this supportive service.

Winner of the Allianz Art & Business NI Arts Award was Young at Art. From left: Sean McGrath, CEO, Allianz; Eibhlin de Barra and Maria Lee both Young at Art; Martin Bradley, MBE, Chair and Mary Nagele, Chief Executive, Arts & Business NI

FEBRUARY 2018

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD GEORGE BEST BELFAST CITY AIRPORT Through its Community Commitment Plan George Best Belfast City Airport shows strong commitment to investing in the future of young people through the arts by working with many local arts organisations, including a long-standing partnership with Cinemagic. To date, Belfast City Airport and Cinemagic have delivered festival workshops for more than 4,000 young people connected to the airport’s Adopted Schools programme and over 20,000 young people have been engaged from across Northern Ireland through the airport’s support of the Cinemagic festival. But in addition to the Cinemagic partnership, Belfast City Airport has engaged with a range of other arts organisations across Belfast to deliver new and exciting projects over the last year, including Young at Art, Belfast Children’s Festival, Voluntary Arts Ireland and Ashfield Creatives, NOW Group and Culture Night Belfast. The airport has also committed to people development by placing three employees on to the boards of arts organisations via our Young Professionals on Arts Boards programme.

ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI ARTS MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD YOUNG AT ART Young at Art is NI’s leading arts provider for children & young people. Established in 1998 as the creator of the region’s first international arts festival for children and young people, they deliver the annual Belfast Children’s Festival and a year-round programme of workshops and outreach activity. In 2016-17, Young at Art engaged with 46,000 adults and children. Young at Art has forged lasting relationships with a range of partners across the private sector that support its work with schools and families.

Special thanks to: Allianz, Diageo, JTI, Aaron McCracken Photography, Nicholson & Bass, Whitenoise, Translink, the MAC, Batty’s Hire Services and Third Source.

Arts & Business NI’s principal funder is the Arts Council of NI. Find Arts & Business NI at: T: 028 9073 5150; www. artsandbusinessni.org.uk; Facebook: Arts & Business NI; E:info@artsandbusinessni. org.uk; Twitter: arts_businessni; YouTube: ArtsandBusinessNI. Check out digital supplement for all the partnerships http:// supplements.independent.ie/?xml=Allianz_ NI_Awards&iid=157433#folio=1

93

TECHNOLOGY

Meltdown?

Run for your lives!

By Adrian Weckler

P

anic! Calamity! Action stations!

Yes, the first big security scare of 2018 has arrived and it sounds apocalyptic. Prepare for the worst, folks.

Because the newest, horriblest computer flaws are here.

They are suitably named: 'Meltdown' and 'Spectre'.

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Are you still sitting down reading this?

I can't really blame you.

If so, what are you doing? Why aren't you rushing to search for an online patch for your laptop or phone?

Every week we're told of a new bug, virus, piece of malware or exploit that is set to change computing as we know it.

Depending on which story you pick over the last year, your computer is all set to sell you out to the Chinese, get locked up for bitcoin or become part of an online bot army.

Oh, I see - you want to see how it settles.

Maybe it'll all be grand if you just sit and do nothing?

TECHNOLOGY

Neither can I blame you for casting a sceptical eye over some of the coverage that we in the media give this type of topic.

I say this as someone who writes fairly regularly about it: as an industry, we pump out an unsteady mixture of responsible reporting and hyped-up terror pieces.

For instance, a recent front page of the Financial Times warned companies to replace all their computers "or risk a Spectre attack".

All of them, FT? The FT, as well as everyone else, knows that this wholesale replacement of PCs is completely unfeasible and won't be happening. But a line in an advisory notice from a US college (the Carnegie Mellon University) said that "the only way" to fully remove the vulnerability was by replacing hardware. So that, together with plenty of enthusiastic doomsdaying comments from IT security consultants, creates a front page to scare the bejesus out of its corporate readers.

Lest readers think I'm being snotty here, that is not the intention. We're all a little guilty of this.

Part of the issue is that many IT security experts, upon whom we invariably lean for guidance and direction, sometimes have a vested interest in people being worried.

Concern generates business for them. The doomier the prognosis, the boomier it could be for their sales leads.

It's the same with surveys that inform us how bad our lack of preparedness is against IT security malware. Mostly (though not always) they are undertaken by companies with a vested interest in getting you to buy an IT security product, service or consultancy contract.

FEBRUARY 2018

Even the most credible, highly-decorated practitioners in the industry have some commercial upside from heightened tension over IT security fears.

(I have written this before and been taken up on it by some IT security professionals, who say this is too cynical an interpretation.

They say that while IT security news events do bring business to them, it should be regarded as proper, constructive awareness rather than cheap fear-mongering. I accept the point, but still think there's an issue.)

Don't get me wrong, here. This doesn't quite mean that the Meltdown and Spectre computer flaws we're all reporting on don't deserve attention.

To be clear, they absolutely do. Apple, for instance, never issues public guidance on issues that aren't deadly serious. On Friday, it took the rare action of putting out an advisory notice on Meltdown and Spectre, confirming that they could potentially affect iPhones and iPads, as well as Macs.

(The company said that Apple Watch devices aren't in the line of fire for the moment, but that it would probably include protection anyway in future updates to WatchOS.) Even this fact alone represents quite an event. Remember the basic tenet of computers we've gotten used to over the last 20 years, that "Apple devices don't get viruses"? It turns out they might.

So regardless of those who are, once again, catastrophising on an IT security worry, the Meltdown and Spectre 'flaws' are certainly worthy of discussion and, probably, some action.

That can largely be summed up as follows: update your stuff. You know all of those pop-ups from your Windows or Mac laptop, or your iPad or iPhone, telling you that the new release is ready to be installed?

Stop telling yourself you'll do it some other time when you're not busy. Do it right now.

This goes double if you're one of those who skipped an OS generation, such as not bothering to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 or from Mac OS Yosemite or El Capitan to High Sierra. Seriously, do that as soon as you can. It's a generallyobserved principle that big companies such as Microsoft and Apple prioritise safety implementation for the most modern versions of their systems.

And yes, that does mean that if you're one of the holdouts who stubbornly still uses something ridiculously outdated such as Windows XP, you are sort of asking for it. At the risk of sounding like one of the sirens I lampooned above, you're genuinely living dangerously with Windows XP or similar old, unpatched, unsupported computer systems.

The kicker is that with new rules on data breach disclosure coming in later this year, you may not get away with keeping any problems you experience on work computers secret. Yes, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules are lurking behind this whole process, as they will many issues you may not have thought them applying to. So if you have a bunch of vulnerable work PCs that cede customer information out into the wild because you didn't secure them, that's a paddling.

Or, to be more precise, up to â‚Ź20m (or 4pc in turnover) as a fine from the Data Protection Commissioner.

But here I am, reverting to Scaremaster General again.

You see? It's built in.

In conclusion: protect yourself. But don't have to throw out all your existing PCs. â–

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TRAVEL

Japan: Kyoto's garlands and pathways

By Hilary A White

F

rom the Daimonjiyama hilltop overlooking the city, Kyoto in the sunset has the dimly lit charm of a spotlit rock garden. The carpet of rooftops reflects like quartzite with patches of hill breaking it up, cutting the city into quiet neighbourhood pools.

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We had taken a bus to the north-eastern city suburb of Higashiyama and walked a leg of the 2km Philosopher's Path. Lined with gushing cherry blossom at this springtime of year, this canal-bank footpath was named in honour of the great Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who would do his best thinking while walking this route on his daily commute to Kyoto University. Tucked in

behind quiet leafy laneways of ornamental residential calm, we find the trail and climb, passing students, hillwalking clubs and other day-to-day Kyotoites enjoying their city.

It's my second time in Kyoto and my return finds the city's charms no less potent. Like New York or Seville, it just feels like one of those places that you want to experience life

TRAVEL

in, even just for a fleeting couple of months, before you die.

More than any other city in Japan, Kyoto is the one that sings to something deeper inside. It is the one that has best preserved its old architecture and customs in a century where post-war Japan has been utterly obsessed with tearing down the remnants of its older days and erecting a shiny and fiercely modern identity. Still you find the tea houses, the babbling fountains in small Shinto shrines and the clacking wooden sandals of scurrying geisha. Here, these things ring that bit brighter than they do anywhere else. The bowing spirits of Japan, of Hokusai and Kurosawa, live on just a little more persistently in Kyoto.

To be here during the cherry blossom season amplifies these effects to another degree altogether, almost jarringly so. It is the reason that the city finds itself so besieged during these heady weeks in the calendar when simple splodges of floral pink from the national tree light up the nation like a birthday cake.

On my last visit five years previously, I stumbled upon an effortlessly cool conveyorbelt sushi joint called Musashi that played Miles Davis and served cold beer with its sumptuous wares. We arrive there on a Thursday evening and find a queue out the door that is thronged with sakura tourists who have caught on. We are eventually seated at the counter and stacks of small empty plates immediately start to grow like bamboo as eyes and bellies run amok.

Because you're in Japan, there are almost too many options available when it comes to filling a stomach. In between the international high-street shop fronts are the lengthy city centre market halls of Teramachi Dori. ere, you won't find quite the same epicurean bonanza of Osaka but you will find enough to cause a heated argument with your significant and equally peckish other. Ramen joints for something quick and easy, barbecue restaurants for meaty decadence, family-run izakayas that greet you with the sight of tipsy salarymen taking

FEBRUARY 2018

the edge off after a long Tuesday. You can, however, loosen wallet and belt and go for something altogether extraordinary.

Stroll over to the riverside Ritz-Carlton Kyoto and you're met with water, rock and polished marble assembled with stunning taste and cleanliness into one of the most incredible hotel environments ever dreamt up by an architect.

Our lunch here in their flagship restaurant Kaiseki Mizuki, a simple philosophy holds - five flavours, five colours, five cooking methods.

You've left behind a world where food is a thing that goes in and delivers a bit of nutrition and a nice flavour to your palette.

This is artistry without pretension that makes you question what you really know about food. We love to think we have a good grasp of what is out there, what goes together, where in your homeland does the best this or that and how to rustle up something above average. A lot of this goes out the window in establishments such as these as your mouth happily negotiates combinations of texture and flavour that you never imagined could work so well.

Wasabi with strawberries, cherry blossom tempura and lotus root, soy milk skin and conger eel, clam and egg yolk are just some examples. Each of our seven flamboyant plates arrives like a mini event, but with that typical Japanese sweetness underlining the service. Our wine glasses, meanwhile, are filled with a selection of chilled green teas, each displaying different complementary characteristics and fragrances.

The plan the following morning is to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace that lies in the verdant city centre parklands. If we get up early, however, we can beat the tourist rush and get down to the Fushimi Inari Shrine, also known as the Fox Temple.

Here, framing every metre of a large hillside circuit of pathways, are thousands of bold vermilion "torii" gates. Fox imagery is used throughout to reference the spirit messengers of the Shinto god Inari.

We get there just as dawn is breaking and have only one or two other early risers to share the Fox Temple's otherworldy ambience with. We climb and descend on undulating pathways straddled by gate upon gate. Together, they create a hypnotic corridor that feels like a portal, and yet you're ever aware that each individual gate, donated by a family or business, has a story.

By the time we leave, the sun is up and the droves are arriving. We push through and make for the Imperial Palace and the crisp splendour of those landscape gardens, precisely raked gravel courtyards and swooping eaves and gables.

For 1,200 years, these magnificent grounds at the heart of Kyoto and the collection of buildings crouched in the middle of them was the seat of Japanese imperial power.

Then, in 1868, the Emperor relocated to Tokyo which, of course, is still the capital to this day. With our departure from the city soundtracked by talk of a return visit, our only conclusion is that he really should have stayed where he was. ■

Getting there Hilary flew with Turkish Airlines, which has a daily service to Tokyo Narita from Dublin via Istanbul (connections are usually no longer than three hours). Prices for roundtrip economy class Dublin-IstanbulNarita begin at €596 (including taxes).

Business class travel prices for the same route start at €1,932 (including taxes). See turkishairlines.com.

From Tokyo to Kyoto: Purchase the JR Railpass online or through your travel agent before arrival. This covers most rail travel in Japan and will save you a fortune.

The Kaiseki Mizuki restaurant is located at the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto.

For more information on menus and accommodation rates, see ritzcarlton. com/kyoto. ■

97

MY DAY Uncovering the 9-5

providing an update on project progress or just generally keeping the lines of communication open to ensure 4c is working hand in glove to deliver on their executive search assignments.

2pm There is typically a face-to-face client meeting at some point in the day, either an initial project kick-off meeting to take on a new assignment or a shortlist meeting to discuss the candidates we have presented, both of which can take 1.5-2hrs. When we take on a new assignment we spend a lot of time getting to know the client, the organisation and the role as this forms the basis of each project and ultimately steers our approach to the entire project. This investment at the outset helps cement our relationship with the client and determine success later on.

Name: Claire Reid Position: Head of Delivery at 4C Executive

6am My day typically starts around 6am.

Sometimes much earlier depending on the internal clock of my four year-old twins.

I aim to be out of the house by 7.45am but getting out requires planning and military precision, as well as bit of chaos as anyone with small children knows. Thereafter I leave the children with the childminder before heading into work.

I use this time in the car for catching up on the news and what is going on in the world.

Normally I am at my desk for 8.45am and will try to blast through a few urgent emails before catching up with the team to go through the various projects we are working on. I discuss resource allocation, review project timings and ensure the priorities of the team are aligned. We also use this time to get each other’s input into our assignments, whether that is discussing potential candidate profiles to research into or how we can improve and enhance our approach to search and the project as a whole. We have so much collective knowledge and experience and,

as such, it is vital that we tap into this to both support each other and deliver the best quality shortlist for our clients.

As Northern Ireland’s largest and fastest growing business, business development is a crucial aspect of our success and during these team meetings we also explore what opportunities exist for our business and how we can tap into new opportunities.

As Head of Delivery my role is a mix between general management of the office and team as well as delivering on my own executive search assignments. As such I try to balance these priorities however delivering on the projects for clients is always the highest priority for me and this sometimes creates a back log in terms of internal office work.

11am I dedicate some time to making calls to candidates, getting or providing post interview feedback or following up with candidates who I have placed and who are currently working their notice before commencing a new role. Likewise I spend time catching up with clients, this could be

4pm At some point in the day my focus has to switch to the internal workings of the business, whether this is reviewing management accounts and budgets, renewing insurances or reviewing internal process. With the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) due to come into effect in May of this year, I know this will likely take up a good proportion of my time going forward.

5pm My office based day has a hard stop at 5pm as I need to collect my children from the childminder. In order to assuage the panic that comes with worrying about being late for the childminder I typically spend my time during the drive home making calls to clients, candidates and my own staff that I didn’t get the opportunity to speak to during the day.

Once mouths are fed and children are tucked away in bed I would switch on the laptop at around 8pm and use this time to catch up on paper work, for example drafting interviews and assessment frameworks, preparing tender proposals or reviewing documents for the rest of the team.

My day is about balancing priorities. I strive to give as much of myself to 4c and my work but equally I need to give the time and attention to my children and family a balance that is often difficult to get right.

E V E RY C LO U D

INSURANCE BROKERS & RISK ADVISORS ABBEYBONDLOVIS.CO.UK