Thelatestnewsandexclusivesfromacrossthe
ClearerGrouponitsnewfactoryand
JohnMulgrewspeakstoBelfastHabourchief
Jobs&recruitment
Arebudgetconstraintsimpacting recruitment withinthevoluntaryandcharitysectorshere?
Motoring How’sthemovetofullEV,onemonthin?
DanielDaveylooksatsomeoftheworkhe’s doingandhisjourneysofar
Wordfromthe Wise
UlsterBusiness hearsfromBelfastChamber chiefexecutiveClareGuinness
Amidlife refreshforHondaandFordunveilsits latestfullelectricPuma
Photocall Alookatwhat’sbeenhappeningacross NorthernIrelandoverthelastfewweeks
JohnMulgrewspendsafewdayswith Tissot’s latestiterationofitspopularPRXrange
Samsung’s TabS10UltraistheonlyAndroid optiongivingtheiPadProarunforitsmoney
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It’s timefor a proper chaton keyissues It’s hard tobelievewe’re stilltalking about a probeinto a Co Tyrone goldmineandhaven’t yet really progressedmuchfurther
Settingasidewhetheryou’re forsuch a development,orstaunchlyopposedatthe veryideaofit,it’s beeninoursystemforthe bestpartof a decade.
Delaystothepublicinquiryfurther continuedonceagainlastyear Anissue aroundlicencesmeantthePlanningAppeals Commission(PAC)pushingtheproposed startdatebackfromSeptember, toJanuary thisyear
That’s despitemultiplegovernment departmentstellingthe PAC thatitshould continuetogoonasscheduled.
Andastheinquiryfnallystartedlastmonth, itwasquicklyputoniceagainasthe DepartmentforInfrastructure (DfI)failedto properlyconsulton‘transboundary’issues relatingtotheproposals.
There are issueswithplanninghere,that’s more thanobvioustoanydeveloperor businesshere.
AndI’llhopefullybespeakingtothe Infrastructure Ministerinthenextfew weeks.
There are many, manyissueswhichneed addressed,andwhichfallwellwithinthe minister’s purview, includingtheissues aroundwaterconnectivityandfurther investmentneededinourwastewater systemshere.
WelcometoFebruary’s editionof Ulster Business Ourcoverstoryfeaturessomeof theteamatClearer Water, and I chattocofounderRossLazaroo-Hoodaboutitsplans for a majornewfactorytobolstergrowth, andbigannouncementsonthehorizon.
I alsospeaktoJoeO’NeillfromBelfast Harbouraboutitsfocusontargeting offshore renewableworkaspartofan overall£300minvestment,whilePavel Barterlooksatthe recruitmentchallenges facingthevoluntaryandcharitysectors,as wellashowco-workinginNorthern Ireland continuestogrowandexpand.
Enjoythisedition,andwe’llcatchupvery soon. ■
JohnMulgrew
Publisher UlsterBusiness c/oMediahuisUKLtd Belfast TelegraphHouse,33ClarendonRoad, ClarendonDock,BelfastBT13BG
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A month innumbers BelfastHarbour ‘well positioned’ to secure majoroffshore wind work £300m
Theinvestmentbeing plannedbyBelfast Harbouracrossthe estateoverthenext fveyears.
1,000
Thenumberofnew jobsbeingcreatedby homecareprovider ConnectedHealth.
£80.4m
Theturnoverof TobermoreConcrete Products,accordingto itslatestfledaccounts.
£55k
Theaveragesalaries ofjobsatSpiderRock TechnologySolutions, whichiscreatingthe new rolesinBelfast.
ByJohnMulgrew
BelfastHarboursaysitis“wellpositioned”tosecureworkforupto 20offshorewindschemesasoneof thefewportsabletohandlethescaleand sizeoftheprojects.
ChiefJoeO’Neillsaidsome50GWof offshorewindisbeingearmarkedacross theUKintheyearsahead,with5GWinthe Republic.
“Wethinktherearearound20projects within200kmoftheportandwearewellpositionedtoserveanumberofthose,asand whentheyare required.”
Meanwhile,growingcruiseshipvisitsto 200ayearandworkingonmajoroff-shore renewabledevelopmentswillhelpBelfast Harbourexpand revenueintheyearsahead.
ItcomesasBelfastHarbourannouncedit wouldinvest£300macrosstheestateoverthe nextfveyears.
Thatwouldseeitbuildingadeepwater quaytodealwithbiggercruiseships.Itwill
alsoallowittoexpandtheport’scapacityand capabilitiesforoffshorewindturbineassembly andinstallation.
Meanwhile,aconsultationonBelfast Harbourandothertrustportsisaimingto allowittohavetheabilitytoborrowmoreto fuelfurtherdevelopment.
“Wearenowthesecondlargestcruiseport,” JoeNeillsaid.
“Wehandle140-150cruiseshipcallsayear –afterSouthamptonthelargestinUKand Ireland.”
Hesaidhewantsthatnumbertogrowto 175-200eachyear.Butitalsowantstofocus on‘turnaround’cruises,wherepeoplewillbe inthecityforastartorendpoint,andasa result,spendmoreandstaylonger.
Onitsabilitytoborrowmorefreely–somethingwhichitislimitedbyastrustports areclassedasapublicentity,despitenopublic moneybeinginvolved–MrO’Neillsaid:“The Scottishportshadasimilarsituation,andwere abletodeliverasolution.
“[We’vehad]goodengagementwith theDepartmentforInfrastructurewitha consultationout.”
Initsnewstrategydocumentfor2025-29, MrO’Neillsays“itwouldallowustoprudently borrowmore,andsodrivegreatereconomic growth”.
“Importantly,thistechnicalchangewouldnot alterourgovernanceorourtrustportstatus.
“EnablingtheONStochangeourstatus wouldbringusinlinewithseveralotherports intheUK.ThisincludestheScottish TrustPorts andseveral TrustPortsinEnglandthathave alreadybeen reclassifed.
“Changingourclassifcationwouldputus onanequalfooting,increasingourabilityto compete.Crucially,once reclassifedwewould still reinvestallpost-taxproftsforthepublic good.”
The£300mearmarkedforthenextfveyears outpacestheharbour’sprevious10-yearplan, whichinvested£374moveradecade.
Readthefullinterviewonpage22-24
BelfastHarbour chiefJoeO’Neill
Bottled water firm building new multimillionpound factory ACoAntrimbottledwaterfrmissettobreakgroundona newmulti-millionpoundplantasitgrowssaleshereand abroad, UlsterBusiness can reveal. ClearerGroup,whichisbasedinMagheramorneoutsideLarne, isplanningitsnewfactorytorampupproductionofitsranges considerably.
Thatwillseeitincreasingproductionfrom1,000bottlesanhourto 19,000–assistingititsowngrowthplansbutalsodevelopingsister companySoileirPackingandDistributionforcontractpackingforthose large retailpartnersandsuppliers.
“Myco-founderSitkiGelmenandIhavealreadyinvestedsignifcant timeand resourceintotheClearerGroupoverthelasttwoyearsandwe believeNorthernIrelandandmyownhometownofLarnearetheright placetofurtherinvestandweareveryexcitedaboutthisnextstepin ourevolution,”RossLazaroo-HoodofClearerGroup,says.
“Successfully receivingthegreenlightwithplanningpermissionfor
ournewwaterbottlingplant,basedonlyafewyardsfromourexisting oneandournaturalsource,MagheramorneinLarne, requiresasevenfgureinvestmenttoboastsustainablegrowthintoanewinnovative facility,scalingouroperationsfornewlocalmarketsandthoseabroad.
“Wewillnotbelookingtoinvestinautomationforitssakebutinstead forgingcareerpaths,continuingourbeliefinlearninganddevelopment forindividuals’skillsandhelpingthemachievetheirgoalssotheycan assistinourgrowthtogether.”
Readthefullarticleonpage16-18
Ross-LazarooHood
Belfastbeerbarlaunching new cofee spotandbrand ByJohnMulgrew
Abreweryandcraftbeerbaris expandinganddevelopinganew coffeeshopandbrandatitseast Belfastbase,itcanbe revealed.
BullhouseEast,runbyBullhouseBrewCo, isopeningupNookatitsNewtownardsRoad locationinabidtoattractacoffeeandwork crowdearlierintheday.
“Theplanwouldbeputtingsomegood coffeeintoourbarBullhouseEast,” Willy Mayne,founderofthebarandbrewery,said.
“Nookisanewbrand,sothere’sthatpoint ofdifference.It’sabouttakingitseriouslyand beingquality-led.”
Thecoffeesectionofthebarwillbeopen from10amto5pm.ThenameNookstems fromaformercaféwhichusedtositbehind thebar,calledCoffeeNook.
“Peopleknowusforbeer,sowehave developedthenewbrandtodistinguishwitha coffee[brand].
“Wearehopingtobeopenmid-February andwehavehadgoodtractiononsocial media.”
Willysaystheyarecurrentlydecidingon whichcoffeetouseforthebar,andsaidthey maywaituntiltheyhiretheirleadbarista beforechoosingone.
“Therearelotsoflocaloptions,whichareall verygoodquality,” Willysays.
Quotes of the month
“Ifwecoulddoaguestcoffee,andkeepa themefromthebeersideofthings,that’swhat we’dliketodo.
“Wehavebeenworkingonaconceptfora [standalone]caféatsomestage,butthisisn’t thatyet.”
Willysaidhe received22applicationsforthe postofleadbaristainthespaceoftwodays.
“Therehasbeendemandfrompeopleto leadthat role,andthereisagoodfeldof candidates,”hesaid.
“Theoutputs of apprentices also typically exceed their costs,ultimately providinga netbeneftinmost cases. ”
JohnMooreofHays NIwritingabout theimportanceof apprenticeships,inthis editionofthemagazine.
“Wewillbedoingthird-wavecoffeein Bullhouse–extendingthebar,withnew furnitureandmoreofafrontsectionwhere thecoffeemachineis–andmakingitmore comfortableforpeopletodowork.
“Wearealsolookingtafoodoptions, expandinghours,andthelunchtimeoffer.”
BullhouseBrewCoexpandedfrom productioninsouthBelfasttolaunchinga standalonecraftbeerbarontheNewtownards RoadineastBelfastinJune2022.
“While the broader economic backdrop remainsuncertain, recentpositiveinfation data should ofer some relief to the Bank of England.”
PropertyPal’sJordan Buchannanwritingabout thecurrentgrowthinNI’s housingmarket.
“This £45m fundwillhelp the actions the partnerships bring forward to drive economicdevelopment in theirarea...”
EconomyMinisterConor Murphyspeakingaboutthe newRegionalBalanceFund forcouncils.
WillyMaynepictured atBullhouseBrewCo
TitanicHotel donates £12,000 to cancer charity OneofBelfast’stophotelshasdonated£12,000tothe CancerFundforChildren.
TitanicHotelBelfastraisedthemoneyfortheorganisation whichfocusesonchildrenoryoungpeoplediagnosed,orlivingwitha parent,whohascancer.
Theaward-winningvenueoffersupoffersforbothvisitorsand corporateandbusinessusers–locatedintheoriginaloffcesofthe formerHarland& Wolffdrawingoffces.
“WithitssevenHeritageRooms,thehoteldeliversversatilespaces tailoredtosuitawiderangeofoccasions,fromintimategatheringsto grand-scaleevents,”itsays.
“Thecrownjewelof TitanicHotelBelfastisDrawingOffceOne–a breathtaking,cathedral-likespace.
“Thishistoricvenuecanaccommodateupto300guests,making itidealforlarge-scaleconferences,corporateevents,andgrand celebrations.
“Itssoaringceilings,naturallight,andawe-inspiringarchitectural detailscreateanatmosphereofgrandeurthatelevateseveryoccasion. AdjoiningDrawingOffceOneisthePavilionBarand receptionarea, whichprovidestheperfectspotforpre-functiondrinks,networking,or guestarrivals.”
“Forthoseseekingamoreintimatesetting,thehoteloffersthe originaloffcesoftheHarlandand Wolffdirectors.Beautifully restored, thesespacesexudesophisticationandprovideanelegantbackdropfor executivemeetings,privatedining,orexclusiveevents.”
AdrianMcNally(centre),generalmanagerof TitanicHotelBelfast,andstaff fromthe hotel,celebrateraising£12,000forCancerFundforChildrenwiththecharity’s LisaHartle
Nationalinsurance rise ‘could costNI charities £200,000 a year ’ Ariseinnationalinsurance contributionscouldcostsome NIcharitiesandvoluntary organisations“over£200,000ayear”,it’s beenclaimed.
CelineMcStravick,chiefexecutiveofthe NorthernIrelandCouncilfor VoluntaryAction (NICVA),said:“Wherearetheygoingtofnd thatmoney?Theydonotknow.Theyhaveno ideawhatthey’regoingtodo.”
ThevoluntaryandcharitysectorinNorthern Irelandisnostrangertobudgetconstraintsand amyriadofchallengesforceittobeagileand innovative.
“Wehavetheprivatesector’sentrepreneurial approachandthevaluespaceassociatedwith thepublicsector,”MsMcStravick,said.
“Alotofourmoneyismaybeonlyfunded acrossoneortwoyears. We aresocial entrepreneurs. We havetobeinnovative,fast andeffcient.”
This requiresagreatworkforce.Thesectoris madeupofanestimated200,000volunteers andanother50,000salariedemployees, accountingfor6.7%oftheworkforce, accordingtoNICVA.ChrisBunce,operations directorofCharityJobsNI,which recentlyheld NorthernIreland’sfrstcareersfairdedicated exclusivelytocharities,illustratesavibrant arrayof recruitmentopportunitieswithinthe volunteerandcharitysector.
Onthewiderimpactofnationalinsurance rises,frmsherehavealsosaiditwillharm bothindividualfrmsandNorthernIreland’s economy.
ThelatesteconomicsurveyfromtheNI Chamberfoundmembershavesignifcant concernsaboutthecontentsoftheBudget.
InthefrstbudgetfromthenewLabour PartyGovernmentlastyear,ChancellorRachel Reevesannouncedariseinnationalinsurance foremployers,alongwithanincreaseinthe
NationalLiving Wage.
ButdespiteBudgetdiscontent,thesurvey foundbusinesspeople’soutlookherewas generallypositiveabouttradeinthefnal quarterof2024.
However,increasedbusinesstaxationand thecostoflabourweredrivingexpectations thatpriceswouldhavetogoup,withthe resultthatprospectsforthisyearweren’tas goodastheycouldbe.
TheChamber’s research,carriedoutwith businessadvisoryfrmBDONI,foundthat memberstendedtobemorecheerfulabout theirownprospectsfortheyearthanthewider NorthernIrisheconomy.
Whilehalfofmembersexpectedtheirown businesswouldgrowovertheyear,only25% expectedtheeconomytogrow.
Readthefullarticleonpage35-38
Celine McStravick
Five-star hotel announcesnew generalmanager Anewgeneralmanagerwho’sworkedinDublinandNew YorkhasbeenappointedattheCullodenEstateandSpa. CormacFaddenhasjoinedthefve-starluxury resort followingthreeyearsinthe roleofhotelmanageratCastlemartyrResort inCoCork.
MrFaddenalsoworkedas revenueand residentmanageratThe FitzwilliamHotel,Dublinformorethansixyears,andwaspartofthe teamattheHiltonDoubleTreeinthecity.HealsoworkedatFitzpatrick’s HotelinNew York.
HehasbothaBScandMScinhoteland restaurantmanagement from TechnologicalUniversityDublinaswellasadiplomaindigital marketing.
CullodenEstateandSpa,whichispartoftheHastingsHotelsGroup, wasthefrstNorthernIrelandhoteltobegivenfve-starstatus,backin 1996.
JamesMcGinn,managingdirectorofHastingsHotels,said:“We aredelightedtowelcomeCormacFaddenasgeneralmanagerofthe CullodenEstateandSpa.
“Withhisextensiveexperienceinluxuryhospitalityandaproventrack recordofexcellence,weareconfdentthatCormacwillcontinueto enhancetheCulloden’s reputationasNorthernIreland’spremierfve-star retreat.
“Hisleadershipandpassionforguestexperiencealignperfectlywith ourcommitmenttodeliveringworld-classservice,andwelookforward toseeinghimdrivethehotel’scontinuedsuccess.”
Numberofhomessold rises by 11% Thenumberofhomessoldin NorthernIrelandisuparound11% year-on-year,fresh researchhas shown.
Thevolumeofagreedsaleswasupinthe lastquarteroflastyear,basedonthesame periodayearearlier.
Andthatgrowthwasdrivenbya12% boostinnewly-listedhomesforsale, accordingtoPropertyPal.
“Thesituationwithhousepricesisalso robust,withthepriceofanaveragehomein NorthernIrelandincreasingby6.4%onan annualbasiswhencomparingquarterfour 2024againstquarterfour2023,”itsaid.
“Pricegrowthwasobservedacross allcouncilareasonbothayearlyand quarterlybasis,withDerryCityandStrabane experiencingthehighestriseasaverage pricesincreasedby12.3%overtheyear.”
JordanBuchanan,chiefexecutiveof PropertyPal,said:“Apersistentchallengein recentyearshasbeenthelackofnewsupply, buttherearesignsofcautiousoptimism. Newlylistedpropertiesforsaleincreased by12%overthepastyear.Onthepricing front,theaveragehomenowcostsaround £220,000,markinga6.4%annualincrease anda1.7%riseoverthepastthreemonths.
“Lookingahead,buyersentiment remains positive,withsearchactivityonPropertyPal up15%andenquiriestoestateagents increasingatsimilarlevels.Whilethebroader economicbackdrop remainsuncertain, recentpositiveinfationdatashouldoffer some relieftotheBankofEnglandasthey considerfutureinterestratemovements.”
HousepricesarecontinuingtoriseinNorthernIreland
Cormac Fadden
Tesla building‘supercharging’ electric carstationsinCo Antrim ByJohnMulgrew
Cargiant Teslaisplanningtobuilda hostofnewelectricfastcharging stationsinCoAntrim.
TheUSfrm,whichisheadedbyElonMusk, isplanningtobuild‘superchargers’closetothe B&QcarparkatSprucefeldShoppingCentre, locatedoutsideLisburn.
Thechargerswillbeabletopowerelectric vehiclesatmorethan150KW–someof thefastestratesatchargingstationsherein NorthernIreland.
There’scurrentlya Teslasuperfastcharging stationattheBoucherRoad,closetothecar maker’smaindealershipbasehere.
Plansshowthenewchargerswilltakethe CCS2connections,commoninmostelectric carssoldacrossEuropeandbeyond.
Citingaclimatechange reportpublished toParliamentlastyear,thosesubmittingthe plansaidwhileit“confrmsthatthetotal
salesofnewelectriccarshavecontinuedto grow,however,despitethegrowthinoverall sales,electriccars’marketsharefailedtogrow in2023andhasfallenofftrackforthefrst time”.
“Until2022,thisindicatorhadbeen growingquickly.Bycontrast,2023hasseen goodprogressininstallationofcharging infrastructure,withthepublicnetwork expandingbymorethanathird,whichison trackforwhatis required.”
Andturningtocharginginfrastructure, the reportsaysthatthe“roll-outofcharging infrastructurewillbecrucialtoenableEVsales togrowrapidly…2023sawstronggrowth, witharound17,000newpublicchargepoints beingaddedtothenetwork.”
Itsays“thisgrowthwillneedtocontinue, withannualinstallationratesneedingto reach treblethisnumberbytheendofthedecade to reachtheGovernment’sgoalof300,000by 2030”.
Anumberofcompaniesarenowexpanding andgrowingtherapidchargingnetworkhere inNorthernIreland.
Thatincludes Weev,whichnowhas locationsacrossNorthernIreland,alongwith othercompanies,suchasBP.
EVsalesinNorthernIrelandandtheUK havebeenontheup,butstill remainasmall percentageofthetotalnumbercarssoldhere.
AccordingtoEVANI,therewerealmost 23,000electriccarsonthe roadshereatthe endof2023.
TheUKGovernmentisalsoplanningtoend thesaleofnewtraditionalpetrolanddiesel carsby2035.
However,aconsultationiscurrently underwaywhichcouldbringthatdateforward to2030.
NewEVsaleshere remainunder20%but strictnewgovernmenttargetswillseethe percentageofthenumberofvehiclessold risingto28%thisyear. ■
Teslaisplanningtobuildeight newchargersatSprucefeld
Titanic ExhibitionCentre shutting permanentlyfollowing ‘storms andsevere weather’ ByJohnMulgrew
AhugeBelfasteventscentrewhich hostedeverythingfrommajor tradeshowstoelectioncountshas shutdownpermanentlyamidstormsand “severeweather”,itcanbe revealed.
TitanicExhibitionCentre(TEC)wasbuiltnot farfromtourismhotspot TitanicBelfast,almost adecadeago.
Sincethen,ithashostedawidevariety ofevents–fromtheannualHoliday World ShowBelfast,tothe WorldSnookerHome NationsSeries,aswellasactingasamajorhub forCovid-19vaccinations,andlocationfor electioncounts.
Butitisnowshuttingdown,withthe managementcompany,alongwithvenue shareholders,takingthedecisionto“wind downoperations”.
Itsaysthat“despiteanongoingprogramme ofmaintenanceatthevenue,theincrease insevereinclementweatheroverthepast numbersofyearsandthe recentstormsin JanuaryandApril,havehadadetrimental impactofthefabricofthevenue”.
TECBelfastwasa6,000sqmvenuewith spaceforexhibitions,tradeshowsandlarge-
scaleeventsfor6,000visitors,aswellas banquetsforupto3,000people.
ItwasrunbyTBLInternational,whichalso operates TitanicBelfastandtheSSNomadic.
Workhasalreadybegunto removethe tensionedfabricexteriorofthecentre,withthe frame remaining.
Sinceitwasfrstlaunched,thecentrewas successfulingettingplanningpermission extensions–which remaininplaceuntil October2027.
“TBLInternational,themanagement companythatoperatesTECBelfast,along withthevenueshareholderstookthedecision towinddownoperationsofTECBelfastin December2024,”aspokesmantold Ulster Business
“TheteamatTBLInternationalhavebeen workingwithitslongstandingclientsoverthe pastfewmonthstosecurealternativevenues fortheirfutureevents,withthemajorityofthe eventsbeingkeptwithinthecity.”
Initialplanningpermissionforthecentre wassubmittedbackinMarch2015.Itwas thengiventhegreenlightinJuly,foraperiod ofthreeyears.
It receivedsubsequenttemporaryplanning
approvals,includingoneforafveyearperiod inJuly2017.
Atthetimeitwasawardedpermission,a spokesmanforthecentresaidthat“giventhe levelofinterestgenerated,weareconfdent thatapermanentcentre,similartoGlasgow’s ScottishExhibitionandConferenceCentreor Dublin’sRDS,willfollow”.
Inaseparatestatement,itsaidthat“itis ourbeliefthattheproposed TitanicExhibition Centre(TEC)willbeamajorboosttothecity’s economy,helping retainexistingexhibitions andattractonespreviouslynotheldin NorthernIreland”.
The recentHoliday WorldShowBelfastwas initiallyscheduledtotakeplaceattheTECin Januarythisyear,butwasinsteadhostedat ICCBelfast–theeventscentrewhichispartof the WaterfrontHallcomplex.
TheTECalsohostedotherevents,including theannualIFEXfoodanddrinkshow,aswell asbeingatemporarymassvaccinationcentre amidtheCovid-19pandemic.
SouthEasternHealthandSocialCare Trust setupthesiteinfvedays,anditwasopened bytheformerHealthMinisterRobinSwannin December2021. ■
Apprenticeshipscan play a big roleinaddressing skills gaps ByJohnMoore,managingdirector,HaysNI
Iwassurprisedtofndout recentlythattheTVshowThe Apprenticeisstillgoing.
Oneoftheoriginal realityshows,itstarted20yearsagointheUS withagroupofwannabebusinesspeoplecompetingtoworkforDonald –nowPresident– Trumpandquicklytransferredtothissideofthe AtlanticwithLordAlanSugarinthe‘you’refred’chair.
Despitetheshow’senduring,andsomewhatsurprisingpopularity, whenyoumention‘apprenticeships’,mostpeoplestillimmediatelythink oftradeslikeplumbers,joinersorelectriciansratherthanoffcebased, professionaljobs.
Thismaypartlybedowntothemisconceptionsheldbysome employers regardingtheseschemes.TheHaysSalary&Recruiting TrendsGuide2025showedonly31%ofUKemployersareleveraging apprenticeshipstosolvetheirskillsshortages,eventhoughitisa route thatcouldgivethemlongtermsolutionsthathiringtemporaryor contractstaffdoesn’t.
However,theDepartmentfortheEconomyestimatestherearealmost 13,000peopleonapprenticeshipsandhigher-levelapprenticeshipsin NorthernIrelandandsaysmorepeoplethaneverarechoosingtopursue acareerthatcombineslearningonthejobwitha recognisedvocational qualifcation.
So,asweapproachNationalApprenticeship WeekinFebruaryit’s perhapsworthdebunkingsomeofthecommonmythsandlookingat whyapprenticeshipmodelsarenowaprovenwayofbuildingskillsfor thefuture.
Firstly,whileapprenticeshipprogrammeswerehistoricallyadoptedin practicalindustries,apprenticeshipschemesarenowalsocommoninthe professionalworld.Assignifcanttechnologicaladvancementscontinue towidenthedigitalskillsgap,hiringforpotentialoverexistingskillsetis growinginpopularity.
Thetechindustryisaprimeexampleofwhereemployerscanbeneft fromfocusingontransferableskillsratherthanpreviousexperience. Over90%oftechemployers reportedskillsshortagestouslastyear andthechangingnatureoftheindustrymeansit’snotalwayspossible tofndprofessionalswithextensiveexperienceinasimilar role. Apprenticeshipprogrammescanbeaneffectivesolution.
Apprenticeshipprogrammescanproviderapidandsubstantialvalue tobusinessesandbecost-effectiveinvestmentsduetotheirtailored nature.Apprenticeslearnskillsdirectly relevanttoanorganisation’s needs,enhancingtheirabilitytoaddvaluequickly.Inmostschemes theycanbeginapplyingtheirskillsandknowledge–andhaveanactive contributiontothebusiness–almostimmediately.
Theoutputsofapprenticesalsotypicallyexceedtheircosts,ultimately providinganetbeneftinmostcases.Andiftheapprenticestayswith
theiremployeraftercompletingtheirtraining,thefnancialvaluewill increaseevenfurtherasapprenticeshipcostsareeliminatedandtheir productivityislikelytobehigher.
Anothercommonmisconceptionisthatapprenticeshipprogrammes onlyattractschool-leaversaged16-18orthathigherapprenticeships arejustfornewgraduates.In reality,governmentstatisticsshowunder 19saccountedforlessthanaquarterofapprenticeshipstarterslastyear. Havingadiverserangeofagescanbebenefcialasdifferentperspectives andamixofskillsetsarebroughttothetable.
To ensureyourapprenticeshipprogrammeattractsatrulydiverse rangeofapplicants,startbyimplementinginclusive recruitmentpractices thateliminatelanguagebias,usinginclusive recruitment,andhaving diverseinterviewpanels.Overhalfoftheapprenticesthatweplaceinto programmesarecareerchangers,andwealsoseeawiderangeofage demographicsandexperiencelevels.
Apprenticeshipprogrammes–whendoneintherightway–havethe powertogreatlybeneftboththeapprenticesandtheorganisationby fosteringaskilledandloyalworkforce.However,hostinganin-house apprenticeshipprogrammecomeswithitschallenges:maintaining high-qualitytrainingandmentorship,navigatingcomplex regulations andcompliance requirements,andkeepingapprenticesengagedand motivated,tonameafew.Overcomingthesehurdlescanbetimeconsumingand requireinvestment.
Apprenticeshipsdon’tworkforeveryorganisation.Butweareseeing abroadrangeofprogrammesbeinglaunchedbydiverseemployersin multiplesectors,suggestingthevalueinapprenticeshipscontinuestobe recognisedbyorganisationswhowanttoattractthebestrawtalentand shapethemintothekeyemployeestheyneed. ■
ClearerGroup: major expansionandgrowthwith a strong teamatits core ClearerGroup isasociallyresponsibleemployerwhichisundergoingsignifcant growthandexpansioninitsnativeLarne,amidplansforamajornewproduction site.It’salsorampingupsalesacrosstheglobeandmarkingitsfrstyear sponsoringtheIFA’sClearer WaterIrishCupanditshydrationpartnership. RossLazaroo-Hood speaksto UlsterBusiness abouttheteameffortin growingabusinesswithaphilanthropicfocus,andwhat’snextin2025
Whatstartedlifeasasmallsocial enterpriseoutsidehisnative Larnehasblossomedintoa philanthropicbusinessexpandingacross theglobe–withpartnershipsthroughout sportandculture.
“Wechampionpeopleandinnovationin oursector,withtheambitiontobeseenasthe shininglighttootherbusinessesandindustries toempowerthosewithmixedabilitieswithin theworkplace,”RossLazaroo-Hoodtells Ulster Business
“Wehavebeenblessed–throughthe growthofClearerGroupsinceacquisition tohavedoubledourcolleaguenumbers alongwithanumberofsuccessfulinternal promotions.”
Clearer Waterisasocially responsible employer,buildingonitssustainabilitymessage andchampioningitsmixedabilityteam–providingtrainingandcareerdevelopmentfor
additionalneeds,plussociallydisadvantaged youngpeople.
And2025isalreadysettobeabigyear forClearerGroup.It’smarkingoneyearof theClearer WaterIrishCupanditshydration partnership,andisabouttobreakgroundon anewmulti-millionpoundproductionfacility closebyitscurrentsite,overlookingLarne Lough.It’salsotargetingyetmoreglobal expansion.
“Wearealreadybeing recognisedasanew challengerbrand,helpingbartendersbring avarietytotheirskillsetandoptionstotheir clientstoenhancechoices,”Rosssays.
“Weseeourpositioninthemarketplace forthemassandmid-markets.Successes includebeingexportedtoGreatBritain,with plansalreadyinplaceforinternationalgrowth in2025withnewdistributionandstocking partners.
“Theteamhaveinvestedheavilyin research
Clearer Waterhead ofplantWilliam Macauley(right)with operativesNicole GantandOliviaBlain. PicElaineHill
anddevelopmenttomakesuregreattasteis paramount.Also,astheworldistakingnotice oflo/noalcoholbeverageswewantedtobe leadingthewayourselvesand‘raisingthebar’ withourbeverages. We believethatquality shouldnotcosttheearth,beingabletoelevate anydrinkforanyconsumertoaccessthat experience, regardlessoftheirbudget.”
Clearer Waterisbottledatsourceat Maghermorne,situatedontheshoresofthe picturesqueLarneLoughwhichleadsoutto theIrishSea.
“Deepbeneaththeancientlandsof Magheramornethereliesanuntouchedpure naturalgroundwater resource,”Rosssays. “Buriedbeneath65-145millionyear-old thicksequenceofvolcaniclava,apurewhite limestone–knownlocallyastheUlsterWhite LimestoneFormation.”
Thisyearthatdemandforitsproductswill seeClearerGroupdevelopanewfactoryto rampupproductionofitsrangesconsiderably.
“Myco-founderSitkiGelmenandIhave alreadyinvestedsignifcanttimeand resource intotheClearerGroupoverthelasttwoyears andwebelieveNorthernIrelandandmyown hometownofLarnearetherightplaceto furtherinvestandweareveryexcitedabout thisnextstepinourevolution,”Rosssays.
“Successfully receivingthegreenlightwith planningpermissionforournewwaterbottling plant,basedonlyafewyardsfromourexisting oneandournaturalsource,Magheramorne inLarne, requiresaseven-fgureinvestmentto boastsustainablegrowthintoanewinnovative facility,scalingouroperationsfornewlocal marketsandthoseabroad.
“Ourcolleagues’individualgrowthis cementedgoingforwardwiththisinvestment butwillalsobolsterourfantasticlocal communities.”
Clearer Wateristhenumberoneethical waterbrandinEurope,accordingtotheGood ShoppingGuide.
Thenewfactorywillincreaseproduction from1,000bottlesanhourto19,000–assistingitsowngrowthplansbutalsodevelop sistercompanySoileirPackingandDistribution forcontractpackingforthoselarge retail partnersandsuppliers.
“Wewillnotbelookingtoinvestin
automationforitssakebutinsteadforging careerpaths,continuingourbeliefinlearning anddevelopmentforindividuals’skillsand helpingthemachievetheirgoalssotheycan assistinourgrowthtogether,”Rosssays.
“Ourplansaretransformational,developing thenewplant,technologyandproduct rangesincludingthosestillandwithbubbles ishappeningatafantastictimeforthegroup withnewenquiriesforClearerproductsbeing receivedfromnewclientseachday.”
Rosssaystheexpansionwillseenew roles beingcreated,acrossarangeofskillsets.
“OurClearerteamcolleaguesareour greatestasset–theyarebrandambassadors andchampionsofClearerGroup’smixed-ability teamprinciples,”hesays.
“Allofoursuccessesandtoourimmense pride,isowingtoourcolleaguesandtrusted partners.Clearer Waterbeganasasocial enterpriseandisnowaprovensocialimpact leaderamongothersocialimpactcorporate companiesforchampioningamixed-ability team.
“Guidedbyourheadofpeopleandculture, JoshOzcan,weaimtoinspireotherbusinesses toembracethebeneftsofamixed-ability team.”
ClearerGrouphasexpandeditsrange overthelastfewyears–bringinginnewand innovativeranges.
“Ithasbeenadynamicjourneytodate withwinningthreeinnovationawards,not forgettingouradditionalawardsforboththe Clearer WaterandClearer Twistbrands,atthe BritishBottlersblindtastingawards.”
TheClearerGroupincludesClearer Water, mixersClearer Twist,premiumworkplacewater solutionHydrationHub,Soilèirpackagingand distributionandhisfamily’scharityTheRUSA Foundation.
Itlauncheditsmixerrange–Clearer Twist Premium Tonic,Clearer TwistFrenchPinkand Clearer TwistGingerAle.
Clearer Twistisnowhittinghotels,barsand restaurantsacrosstheUKandIreland,Cyprus and Turkey.
Andit’sanotherimportantyearforClearer Groupandsport–markingitsfrstyearofa decade-longwaterandhydrationpartnership withtheIFAandNorthernIreland’snational footballteams.
“Thispartnershipincludestheinaugural Clearer WaterIrishCup,whichconcludedwith thefastestsellingoutofafnalinthehistoryof thefourtholdestNationalCupintheworld,” Rosssays.
“Praisemustgotosupportersofboth CliftonvilleFC,LinfeldFCandallinvolved withintheIrishFootballAssociationwho
playedapartinthemarvellousfnal.”
Lookingahead,Rosssaysinternational expansion remainsonthecardsthisyear,and theyears,tofollow–whiletherewillalsobea afewbigannouncementsduring2025.
“Ofcourse,wewouldliketobethe recognisednumberonewaterbeveragegroup inIreland–thatisnotoutofthequestionfor aladwithambitionoriginatingfromacouncil estateinNorthernIrelandandasingleparent mum,”Rosssays.“Thisisanambitionthatall atClearerGroupseektoachieve.
“Internationalexpansionisatargetfor2025 andinyearstofollow,ourgoalistodevelop ourbrandsandourmessagetohelppeople,so astochampionthosedisadvantagedandthose withmixedabilitytobringinclusion,diversity andequalitytobethe‘normal’withinall industries.Thefutureisopenforourjourney atClearerGroup,entrepreneurslikeusthat wanttobringpurposetotheirindustrieshave abrightfutureaheadandourshasstartedin Larneandwillgrowinternationally.
“Wehaveamajorheadlinepublicpartner announcementhappeninginthesecond quarterof2025whichwillbringboth internationalbrandawarenesstoClearer Twist andwithourpartner,helpusworktogether withalong-termagreement–butnospoilers asofyet.” ■
COVE R STORY
Ross-LazarooHood
NI constructiongiantposts strong profits following ‘major restructuring’ JohnWilson,chiefofNorthstoneGroup,DominicLavery,managingdirectorofFarrans ConstructionandDarrenMcMillan,managingdirectorofNorthstoneMaterials
ByJohnMulgrew
ANorthernIrelandconstruction gianthaspostedstrongpre-tax profitsofmorethan£8mduring ayearwhichsawitundergoamajor restructuringprogramme.
Northstone(NI)LtdispartofoneofIreland’s largestbusinesses,andhadincludedthree divisions–FarransConstruction,Northstone MaterialsandCubisSystems.
However,thefirmsaidinMay2023 it“carriedoutamajor restructuring programme”.Thatsawittransfersomeof thebusinessesintonewlegalentities,with Northstone(NI)LtdnowonlytradingasFarrans Construction.
Itwas reportedin2022thatFarrans Constructionhadbeenputupforsalebyits Dublin-basedownerCRH.
Northstone(NI)Ltdpostedpre-taxprofitsof £8.2mfortheyearendingDecember2023. Duringthesameperiodturnoverstoodat £512.5m,downslightlyfromthepreviousyear.
Thatperiodincludesfivemonthsoftrading withallthreecompanies,whilesevenmonths arebasedonFarransConstructiononly.
John Wilson,chiefexecutiveofNorthstone
Group,told UlsterBusiness:“Wehaveworked throughanumberofchallengesinthepast12 monthsbuthaveahealthyorderbooklooking aheadwithaconsciousfocusongrowth sectorsintheUKandIreland.”
Thenumberofstaffsitsat1,049,according tothelatestaccounts,downfromtheprevious year.
Northstone(NI)Ltdisawhollyowned subsidiaryofCRHplc–abusinessemploying around79,000people.
Speakingaboutthe restructuringof Northstone(NI)Ltdinitslatestaccounts,the firmsaid:
“Aspartofthe restructuring,thetrade, assetsandliabilitiesofthematerials,materials testing,andCubisdivisionsweretransferred outtoseparatelegalentities…Northstone (NI)LtdtradingdivisionisnowonlyFarrans Construction.
“Marketconditionscontinuedtobevery challenging.
“However,throughthemanagement ofcostsinacompetitiveenvironment,the company remainedprofitableduringtheperiod endingDecember31,2023,andtogether withstrongworkingcapitalmanagement thefinancialpositionatDecember31,2023
remainshealthy.”
Thebusinesssaysthe“outlookfor2024is similarto2023”.
Initsprevioussetofaccounts,Northstone (NI)LtdsaidtheimpactofthewarinUkraine andinflationsawincreasedcosts,suchas energyandmaterialsincludingbitumen, alongwithlabour.
Speakingaboutitsenvironmentalimpact, thefirmsaysitsparentcompanyhasatarget to“delivera30% reductioninabsolute carbonemissionsby2030(froma2021base year),whichisalignedtoitsambitiontobea netzerobusinessby2050”.
Breakingdownitssalesfiguresby region, thecompanysawturnoverof£402.2minthe UK,followedby£102.5mintheRepublic, withthe remaininginEuropeandthe restof theworld.
Towardstheendoflastyearitwas announcedthatBangorMarine,a partnershipbetweenKarlGroupandFarrans, wouldstartworkonMarineGardensin Bangor.
MarineGardenswillcover5.25acresand willincludeanewplaypark,twopavilions, kioskswithfoodandbeverageofferings,an eventsspaceandassociatedlandscaping. ■
Millar McCall Wylie: continuing to excel in realestate LawfrmMillarMcCallWyliehas,for severalyears,beenexperiencing ongoinggrowthacrossallits services,withnotablesuccesswithin property,andparticularly,theareaof commercial realestate.
Lastyearwasanimportantoneforthefrm overallasitmoveditscitycentreoffceinto the recently restored,impressivePrintworks buildingonBelfast’sQueenStreet.Themove waspartofthefrm’songoinggrowthand expansionplan,aimedatincreasingitsclient servicesandemployeebase.
Forits realestateservices,thisexpansion includedthe recruitmentofexperiencedlawyer ChrisPhillipsatdirectorlevelandadditionof newlyqualifedsolicitorRachelMcCullough. Nowoneofthelargestandmostexperienced realestatedepartmentsinNorthernIreland, theteamisablysupportedbyleadingbanking andfnancelawyersJohnFinneganandPatricia Arrell,whoprovideclientswithexpertadvice onborrowingandassociatedsecurity.
MillarMcCallWyliehascarvedoutan impressiveportfolioofworkintheshopping centreand retailsector,havingbeentrusted
toactinsomeofthemarket’smostpivotal transactions.
Signifcant recentdealsforthefrmincluded theacquisitionofCentralPark,Mallusk;the saleoftheformerParkInnHotelinBelfast; thesaleofoffcespaceUrbanHQandthe acquisitionofOrritorRoadRetailParkin Cookstown.Thefrmcontinuestoprovide ongoingservicestoRushmereShopping Centre,withlettingstoMango,JDSports, PureGym,Mountain WarehouseandSchuh bringingvaluablefootfallandprofle.
“The realestateteamatMillarMcCallWylie hasgonefromstrengthtostrengthin recent yearsandarenow retainedononeofthe largestportfoliosofshoppingcentresand retail parksinthejurisdiction,”ChrisPhilips,director, said.
“Thefrmhasanexceptionalclientbase andourinvolvementinsomanyhighprofle transactionshasstrengthenedourposition asamarketleader.Iamproudtohavejoined theteamduringthisdynamicphaseandlook forwardtohelpingitcontinue.”
Further recognitionforthe realestateteam cameintheformofits recent‘Band1’ranking
inthelatesteditionofChambersandPartners, addingtoMillarMcCallWylie’sgrowinglistof ‘Band1’servicesandindividuals.Chambers’ rankingsarebasedonindependent research withclientsandpeers,andconsiderfactors suchastechnicalability,clientserviceand commercialastuteness.
SimonFleming,directorwithMillarMcCall Wylie,says:“Weareparticularlyproudtohave attaineda‘Band1’rankingfromChambersfor our realestateservices.Thisistheculmination ofyearsofdedicationtolegalexcellenceand clientsatisfaction.It refectsourstrategicfocus onfosteringdeepindustryknowledgeand fndingeffectivesolutionsforourclients.”
Asthefrmmovesinto2025,co-founder andheadof realestateatMillarMcCallWylie, PeterMcCall,believesthefuturelooksbright.
“Wecontinuetoidentify,secureand developfrst-classtalentatalllevelsand, combinedwiththecalibreofourclientbase, wefullyexpectthispositivetrendforour real estateservicestocontinuethroughouttheyear aheadandbeyond,”hesays. ■
Formoreinformationvisitwww.mmwlegal.com
ChrisPhilips,PeterMcCall andSimonFlemingof
MillarMcCall Wylie
BelfastHarbour: cruise ship expansion and renewables ‘to helpdrive growth’ aspart of £300m investment BelfastHarbourhaslauncheditsnewfve-yearstrategywhichwillseeit investingmorethan£300macrosstheestate. JohnMulgrew speakstochief executive JoeO’Neill abouttheplans,ongoingplanstoallowittoborrowmore, stillsearchingforoffcetenantsand‘strongleads’foritsflmstudios
Growingcruiseshipvisitsto200a yearandworkingonmajoroffshore renewabledevelopments willhelpBelfastHarbourexpand revenue intheyearsahead,itschiefhassaid.
ItcomesasBelfastHarbourannouncedit wouldinvest£300macrosstheestateoverthe nextfveyears.
Thatwouldseeitbuildingadeepwater quaytodealwithbiggercruiseships.Itwill alsoallowittoexpandtheport’scapacityand capabilitiesforoffshorewindturbineassembly andinstallation.
Meanwhile,aconsultationonBelfast Harbourandothertrustportsisaimingto allowittohavetheabilitytoborrowmoreto fuelfurtherdevelopment.
“Wearenowthesecondlargestcruise port,”JoeNeill,chiefexecutiveofBelfast Harbour,told UlsterBusiness
“Wehandle140-150cruiseshipcallsayear –afterSouthamptonthelargestinUKand Ireland.”
Hesaidhewantsthatnumbertogrowto 175-200eachyear.Butitalsowantstofocus on‘turnaround’cruises,wherepeoplewillbe
inthecityforastartorendpoint,andasa result,spendmoreandstaylonger.
Hesaidsome50GWofoffshorewindis beingearmarkedacrosstheUKintheyears ahead,with5GWintheRepublic.
“Wethinktherearearound20projects within200kmoftheportandwearewellpositionedtoserveanumberofthose,asand whentheyare required.”
Onitsabilitytoborrowmorefreely–somethingwhichitislimitedbyastrustports areclassedasapublicentity,despitenopublic moneybeinginvolved–MrO’Neillsaid:“The
JoeO’Neilland DrTheresaDonaldson
Scottishportshadasimilarsituation,andwere abletodeliverasolution.
“[We’vehad]goodengagementwith theDepartmentforInfrastructurewitha consultationout.”
Initsnewstrategydocumentfor2025-29, MrO’Neillsays“itwouldallowustoprudently borrowmore,andsodrivegreatereconomic growth”.
“Importantly,thistechnicalchangewould
notalterourgovernanceorourtrustport status.
“EnablingtheONStochangeourstatus wouldbringusinlinewithseveralotherports intheUK.ThisincludestheScottish TrustPorts andseveraltrustportsinEnglandthathave alreadybeen reclassifed.
“Changingourclassifcationwouldputus onanequalfooting,increasingourabilityto compete.Crucially,once reclassifedwewould
still reinvestallpost-taxproftsforthepublic good.”
The£300mearmarkedforthenextfve yearsoutpacestheharbour’sprevious10-year plan,whichinvested£374moveradecade.
WhileagreenlighthasbeengivenforCity Quays5,furtherdevelopmentwilldependon marketdemandsforoffcespace.
BelfastHarbourisstillseekingtenantsforits largeCityQuays3development–withsome sixfoorsstillunoccupied.
“[It’s]takingslightlylongerthananticipated [tofll],”hesays.
“Therearesixfoors[remaining]andwe haveanumberofenquiriesandaremanaging those.
“[AcrossBelfast]thereissomeoffcespace available,butwebelievein2028/29thatwill beexhausted,withnodevelopmentofgrade Aoffce.”
ThewiderplansalsoincludeCityQuays4, a325-unitbuildto rentschemebesidetheAC MarriottHotelandtheM3bridge.
Lookingtowardsgrowth,hesaiditexpects opportunitiesacrossthe renewablessector, cleantech,cruiseships,aswellasitscore‘roll on, rolloff’ business.
Onitsharbourstudiodevelopments,>
BelfastHarbour
whichhavebeenusedforaraftofbigname productions,includingGameofThrones,Mr O’Neillsaidwhiletherearesmallerproductions usingthefacilitiesatpresentthereare“strong leads”foralargerdevelopmentintheworks.
Theharbour’s£300minvestmentis describedasthelargestinthehistoryofBelfast Harbour,andaimstoincreasethescaleof thecruiseshipbusiness,whichtheharbour estimatesasbeingworth£20-25malreadyto thelocaleconomy.
MrO’Neillsaidthingsarewellinmotionfor the£90mdedicateddeepwatercruiseship quay,andtheyare“dottingIsandcrossing Ts.”
“We’regoingtodevelopanewdeepwater keyfurtheralongairport roadonasitecalled D3tosupportthefurthergrowthofthe tourismindustry.”
BelfastHarbouralsoexpectstofullydeploy ‘TheHarlander’autonomouspassengervehicle acrosstheestatein2029,withon-roadtrials duetobeginlaterthisyear.
Theorganisationisalsotargetingaseries ofnewproductionsatBelfastHarbourStudios aimedatdelivering£200mtotheeconomyby theendofthedecade.
“ThroughthisstrategyBelfastHarbourwill continuetocontributetothegrowthofthe NIeconomy,”DrTheresaDonaldson,chairof BelfastHarbourCommissioners,said.
“Byinvesting£313m,wewillbuildon
ourstrengthsasthe region’sleadingport andavitaleconomichub,deliveringforour customersandtenants. We willcontinueour pioneeringeffortstodiversifyanddecarbonise, helpingto reimagineand regeneratethecity andbringadditionalprosperitytothe region. Crucially,wewillenhanceour reputationasa leadingportforcruisetourismandleverage ourexpertiseastheonlyportontheisland withoffshorewindfacilities.
“Asatrustport,BelfastHarbour reinvests everypennyofpost-taxproftsbackintothe businessandthecommunity,ensuringlongtermvalueforthe region.Ourinvestmentto datehascreatedjobs,strengthenedsupply chains,raisedsustainabilitystandardsand attractedmajorforeigninvestorstothecity. Our2025-29strategyaimstocontinuethis transformationandadvanceprosperityforthe region.”
Thestrategy–AdvanceRegionalProsperity 2025-2029–outlinesBelfastHarbour’s planstoinvest£208minsignifcantport improvementsand£105mintheongoing regenerationanddevelopmentoftheHarbour Estateandwaterfront.
JoeO’Neill,chiefexecutiveofBelfast Harbour,saiditsgoalisto“drive regional prosperitybydevelopingtheportandestate, sothateveryonebenefts”.
“Thisstrategywillseeusoptimiseour
strengths,innovateforgrowth,andinvestin newopportunitiesthatmeettheneedsofour customers,tenantsandcommunities,”hesaid.
“Theadditionofanewdeepwaterquay willnotonlyaddtothe[approximate]300,000 cruisevisitorswelcomedbyBelfastHarbour eachyear,italsogivesustheopportunity toexpandourcapacityintheassemblyand installationofoffshorewind.Thisstrategywill putBelfastHarbourattheforefrontofthe cleanenergytransition.
“OurstrategywillalsosupporttheNI ExecutiveandBelfastCityCounciltotackle keyissuesincludingthesupplyofhousing, respondingtoclimatechangeandhelping growamoresustainableandglobally connectedeconomy.”
AndEconomyMinisterConorMurphy,said: “IwelcometheplansforinvestmentinthePort andtheHarbourEstatewhichBelfastHarbour hasdetailedinitsnewstrategy.Theproposed investmentssupportmydepartment’sstrategic objectivesofcreatinggoodjobsand reaching netzeroby2050andwillprovidetangible beneftsfortheeconomy.
“Investmentinnewfacilitiesthatwill advancetheenergytransition,aswellas improvingtheattractivenessoftheportasa cruisedestination,showsBelfastHarbour’s commitmenttogeneratingaprosperousfuture forall.” ■
BelfastHarbour
First Ireland-wideprivate healthcare awards‘to unite sector’ The PrivateHealthcareExcellence Awards,whichwilltakeplaceinBelfastthis May,willrecogniseexceptionalpracticeandoutstandingspecialistpractitioners workingintheprivatehealthcaresectoracrossIreland,whilebridgingthegapfor governanceandregulation
OneofNorthernIreland’stopGPs hasjoinedforceswithanevents businesschieftolaunchthefrst Ireland-wideprivatehealthcareawards.
DrCarlaDevlin,oneofNorthernIreland’s leadingNHSGPs,whoalsorunstwoawardwinningprivatehealthcareclinics,hasjoined forceswithexperiencedeventsprofessional Sarah Weir,inconsultationwithDrJenny Addley,nationalclinicaldirector,Hospitalat HomeVHI,tocreatetheawards.Theywillbe judgedthrough26categoriesbyanesteemed panelofmedicalandbusinessprofessionals.
“Theawardswillfacilitatecollaborative, crossbordersharedlearningopportunities, shiningalightonpracticesandindividuals deliveringoutstandingspecialistcarewhile alsoprovidingimprovedmedicalknowledge ofdigitalcare,focusedspecialtiesand pharmaceuticalservices,”DrDevlinsaid.
“Thegrowthwithintheprivatesector hasbeenexponentialinthepastfveyears, particularlyinNorthernIrelandwheretheNHS continuestofacesignifcantdailychallenges. ThisacceleratedgrowthacrossIrelandhas, however,leftgapsintermsofgovernanceand careandthereisaneedto regulatetheprivate sectortoensureequitablehealthcareforall.”
ThejudgingpanelismadeupofProfessor KenAddleyOBEMD,consultantoccupational physicianandvisitingprofessorintheUlster UniversityBusinessSchool;Dr TomBlack, aGPwithadistinguishedcareerspanning overthreedecades;DrTham,consultant gastroenterologistandpresidentoftheUlster SocietyofGastroenterology,andProfessorRita Devlin,executivedirectorofRCNNI.
ThepanelalsoincludesProfessorMark Taylor,NHSandprivategeneraland hepatobiliarysurgeon;DrNick Young,group healthcareOffceratVHIclinic;Cathryn
Edwards,honoraryprofessorLincolnUniversity MedicalSchool;DrAideenKeaney,Public HealthAgency;andprivatedentistDrJoeMc Enhill,whoisalsoamemberoftheFaculty ofDentalSurgery,RoyalCollegeofSurgeons, andafellowoftheInternationalCollegeof Dentistry.
Alsoonthepanelfromthehealthand businesssectorareAmyKelly,chiefoperating offceratCrohn’s&ColitisIreland;Suzi Murtagh,principalproductleaderatAllstate andJohnHealyOBE,chairatInvestNI.
TheGoldPartnerfortheawardsis CarsonMcDowell,NorthernIreland’slargest independentlawfrm,EventPartner,Ebrington Medical,aleadingmedicalsupplycompany servingprimaryandsecondarycareand CategoryPartner,ChurchPharmacy,oneof theforemostsuppliersofmedicalaesthetics andpharmaceuticalproductstomedical professionalsacrosstheUK.
RogerMcMillan,managingpartnerand headofhealthcareatCarsonMcDowell,said: “Theincreasing relianceonprivatehealthcare hasledtoitbecomingarapidlyexpanding sectorandonethat requiresspecialisedlegal representation.AtCarsonMcDowell,we haveoneofthelargestteamsofhealthcare solicitorsinIreland,withunrivalledknowledge andexperienceinthisfeld.Supporting thefrsteverall-islandPrivateHealthcare Excellence Awardsprovidesuswithawelcome opportunitytoaddtothediscussionaboutthe keyissuesimpactingthoseoperatinginthe sectorandtocelebratebestpracticeinprivate healthcare.”
ThePrivateHealthcareExcellence Awards willtakeplaceattheCrownePlazaHotel, BelfastonSaturday,May17,2025andwillbe hostedbyPamelaBallantineMBE. To enter, visitphexcellence.com.Entriesclose5pm, Friday,February28. ■
RogerMcMillan,managingpartnerandheadofhealthcareatCarsonMcDowellispicturedwiththePrivateHealthcare Excellence AwardsorganisersDrCarlaDevlinandSarah Weir
Future ft: executive teamadditionsat Fibrus key to next level growth ColinHutchinson,newly-appointedmanagingdirectorat FibrusGroup discussesnewadditionstotheexecutiveleadershipteamasthebroadbandprovider eyesgrowthinitshomemarketofNorthernIrelandandinCumbria,England
Onthebackofa record-breaking yearthatsawuspassour100,000 customermilestonewe’ve demonstratedthatwhenyoupush boundaries,bigthingshappen.
Fasterspeeds,unbeatable reliability, exceptionalcustomerservice,anda commitmenttoscalingourbusinesswith customersandcommunitiesattheheart ofourplans–that’swhatFibrusstandsfor. We’veshakenupthebroadbandmarketin fveshortyears,establishingourselvesasa householdnameandnumberoneproviderin ourfootprint.Nowwe’relookingtothefuture whichincludeswelcomingfreshnewfacesto ourseniorleadershipteam.
Ourpeoplearethedrivingforcebehindour success.Thepassion,thedrive,thediversity ofourteamandthe relentlesspursuitof excellence–that’swhatpowersus.Andnow, we’retakingittothenextlevel.
I’mverypleasedtoannouncethe appointmentoftwonewmanagingdirectors, KeavaMcHughandJennyLennon,whowill joinourseniorleadershipteam.Thesearetwo new rolesalongsideourfounders,Dominic Kearns,chiefexecutiveandConalHenry, chair,ConorHarrison,chairat Viberoptix, ShaneHaslem,chiefoperatingoffcer,Linda McMillan,chiefpeopleoffcer,andmyselfas groupmanagingdirector,andchieffnancial offcer.
JennyandKeavaknowthebusinessinside outandhaveplayedakey roleintheFibrus journey,bringingexperience,perspectives, andunstoppableenergythathasbeen instrumentalinoursuccessstorysofar.As
JennyLennon
partofourexpandedseniorleadershipteam, theywillbolsterplanstoacceleratecustomer growth,continuallyinnovate,and retainour competitiveedge.
Andwe’vebigambitionsto realise.
We’reontrackto reachourambitioustarget of500,000connectedpremises,whilebuilding onourstrongmomentumtodoubleour customerbaseto200,000!
Thenewappointmentsandleadership structurefollowsastrategicdecisionto reorganiseFibrusGroupintothreedistinct businesses:FibrusBroadband,Hyperfast Networks,and Viberoptix,allwhichsitwithin FibrusGroup.
KeavawillheadupFibrusBroadband,our retailbrand.ReportingtomeshewillhaveP&L responsibilityforFibrusBroadband,shaping andleadinginitiativestodeliversustainable customergrowth,scaleour retailoperation, andprovidetop-tierservicetoourgrowing customerbase.
Keavahasextensivestrategicmarketingand commercialexperiencewithestablishedand challengertelecomsbrandslikeEir, Telefonica O2,and TescoMobile,successfullydriving marketshareand revenuegrowth.
Formerlyourdirectorofsalesandmarketing, inthis roleshewillcontinueoverseeingthe Fibrusbrand,whichshehasledfromits start-upphasetoatrustedhouseholdnamein NorthernIreland.
JennywilltakethehelmatHyperfast Networks, responsiblefortheoperationand maintenanceofourgrowingnetworkinNI andGB,developingourwholesaleproposition andmanagingthedeliveryofourgovernment fundedprojects.
Jennyisuniquelypositionedtolead HyperfastNetworks,havingdelivered transformativedigitalinfrastructureprojects atBTandOpenreachNI.Shehasbeenatthe forefrontofNorthernIreland’sdigitalevolution forovertwodecades.Duringhertenureat Fibrusshehasbeeninstrumentalinthesuccess ofour‘fbretothepremises’(FTTP) rollout includingthedeliveryofProjectStratumone ofthemostsignifcantdigitalinfrastructure projectsinNI.
The passion, the drive, the diversity ofour teamand the relentlesspursuitof excellence– that’s whatpowers us Ournewseniorleadersandtheir respective businesseswillsitalongside Viberoptix–led byConorHarrison.Responsibleforthedesign, construction,andprogrammemanagement ofgovernmentfundedandcommercialFTTP network roleout, Viberoptixunderpinsthe successofourfbrenetworkexpansionand iswellplacedtosupportthebusinessinits ambitions.
Ournewoperatingmodelisdesignedto setthegroupupforsuccessinafast-moving environmentandtoenablefuturegrowthand expansion.Itgivesusthefexibilitytogrow
eachbusiness,whilefollowingacoordinated strategyand respondquicklytoshiftsinthe marketandcapitaliseonnewopportunities.
Ourambitionsfor2025andbeyondarean extensionofthevisionDominicandConalhad whentheyfoundedthisbusiness–tobreak boundariesandchallengethestatusquoin thebroadbandmarket.Reachinghalfamillion homesand200,000customerswillbenosmall feat,butasweknow,truesuccessisnever achievedwithoutboldambitionsand relentless effort.Afterall,webuiltthiscompanyduring theheightofaglobalpandemicandovercame everyobstacleinourpath.
So,havewemadeanimpactinNorthern IrelandandCumbriasofar?Undeniably.As westepintoanewera,freshlycrownedas thefastest-growingtechcompanyinNorthern IrelandandsecondfastestontheIslandof Ireland,we’reproudtobeleadingthecharge forinnovation,championingcustomers, bridgingthedigitaldivide,andconnecting communities.Thebestisyettocome. ■
KeavaMcHugh
ColinEdgar
‘Smallormicro businesseslike ours aren’t fully in UK internalmarket nor EUsinglemarket’ ColinEdgar ofCETCyroSpastells James McNaney ofhissupplywoesduetothemess leftbyBrexitandiscallingforlowlevelfrmslike histobegivensomecustomsexemptions
TheheadofanNImanufacturingfrm sayshehasfacedmajordiffculties gettinggoodsfromcertainsuppliers duetotradingdiffcultiesafterBrexit.
ColinEdgar,managingdirectorofCET CyroSpas,saidtheadditionalcostsinvolved innavigatingcustoms requirementshaseaten intohismargins.
Heiscallingforsmallcompaniesto begivenexemptionsfromsomeofthe
foricebathshasgrown.
Ithasalsodevelopedpalmcoolingproduct CoreTx,whichhasbeenusedbyManchester United,baseball’s TorontoBlueJaysand basketball’sBrooklynNets.
Despitetherangeofoperations,the company remainssmallwitheightemployees developinganddeliveringproducts.
MrEdgarsaidBrexithadbroughtan increaseinsupplydiffculties.
Hesaid:“Ourmainsupplierscomefrom England,wealsohaveabigsupplierfrom Germany.
“Whatwe’refndingisalotofthesuppliers wewereusingpre-Brexitstoppedsellingto NorthernIreland.
supply restrictionsinvolvedinthe Windsor Framework.
CETCyroSpasbeganoperations22years ago,aimingattheelitesportsmarketwithits icebathsforcoolingdownafterexercise.
Clientsacross47countrieshaveincludedthe All-England TennisClubat Wimbledon,Arsenal FC,ACMilanandBayernMunich.
Ithasgainedanincreasedamountof everydayclientsin recentyearsasthemarket
“Alotoftheseproblemsoccurbecauseof theorderingsoftwareusedbycompaniesto handleordersandsalesnotbeingdesigned withouruniquecustomspositioninmind.”
NorthernIrelandisstillpartoftheEUsingle marketforgoods,whilealsobeingpartofthe UK’sinternalmarket.
Underthe WindsorFramework,manygoods movingtoandthroughherearesubjectto additionalcheckstoensuretheycomplywith EUstandards.
TheissuesbusinesseslikeMrEdgar’s encounterareduetohowcompaniesinBritain
andtheEUprocessorderscominghereasa result.
Heexplained:“Saytheywereimporters distributingwithintheUKandIreland:their stockhandlingsystemandtheirinvoicing systemwouldn’tneedto recordthecustoms code,itwouldn’tthecountryoforigin.
“ButtoselltoNorthernIrelandnowthey needbothofthose.
“Andiftheyonlyareselling1%or2%of theirturnovertoNorthernIreland,they’re notgoingtospend£20,000changingtheir software.
“It’sthesamewithsuppliersinFrance, BelgiumandGermanywhonolongersupply us–theyonlyhaveUKorIrelandforthe address.
“You’rebuyingmostlyonline,andyou can’tputyouraddressin,becauseassoonas youputinUK,itsays,wedon’tsupply[there despite]thefactthatNorthernIreland’sinthe singlemarket.”
Itishardforasmallcompanymakinga relativelylowamountoforderstopersuade supplierstochangetheirpractices.
Headded:“Ifyou’reaSainsbury’s,you’re buyingloadsofstuff,andyoursuppliersare goingtomakeaneffort.
“It’sthemicrobusinessesthatarebuying
hundredsofpoundsworthofproductand thereforearenotbigenoughtojustifythecost ofsupplyingNorthernIreland.
“Whatwe’rehavingtodoisgetthemsent toafriendlysupplierinEngland,andthen collectthemfromthere.
“Effectively,we’renot reallyintheUK internalmarket,andwe’renot reallyinthe singlemarket–we’renotfullyineither.
“We’vehadtheridiculoussituationof buyingsomethinginFrance,sendingittoa friendlysupplierinGermany,andthenwe collectitfromGermany.
“We’reinasituationwhere,forsomeof ourconstantpurchases,wehavetosendthem toanothersupplier,andthenwearrangethe transport.
“That’snot reallyasustainablewayofdoing business.”
Hesaiditwashardtocalculateprecisely howmuchmoneytheseissueshavecosthim, butsaidtheadditionaloutlayincurredby navigatingthesecustomsissueshavealready forcedthecompanytostopsellingcertain products.
“There’sdefnitelyarangeofwaysthatit hurtsyourcompetitivenessinbusiness,noneof ourcompetitorshavetheseadditionalcosts,” hesaid.
“Wealwayshadanadditionalcostinterms oftransport.
“Ifwe’resellingsoftware,ofcourse,there’s noproblem.Butbecausewe’resellingstuff thathastogooutonpallets,therecanbea signifcantcost.
“ForustogoonMondaytoEngland,it’s around£600intheferry,plusyourfuel,plus yourovernightaccommodation.
“Wehavealotofextracostscomparedto ourcompetitors.Andwesellalotofstuffin Germany,FranceandtheFarEast.
“We’restartingwiththishighercostbase. OurcompetitorsinFrance,inEurope,they don’thavetheseextracosts. We trytobe premiumpricedanyway,whatwe’refndingis thatwhereitusedtobethatpeoplewouldpay forourproduct,nowthey’remaybebuyingan inferiorproduct,becausethere’sacertainpoint beyondwhichtheywon’tgo.”
Hebelievesthecurrentarrangements negotiatedbetweentheUKandEUdonot takeaccountofthechallengesfacedbysmall andmicrobusinesses.That’swhyhe’scalling foranexemptionfromcertaincustomsrules forfrmsofthissize,similartothesmall businessexemptionsgivenforcompany accounts.TheCabinetOffcehasbeen contactedforcomment. ■
ColinEdgarandJeffFarr at TeamGB’sathletes’ recoveryroom
New spot fromBelfast chef ‘on hold’ due to rising employer nationalinsurance ByMargaretCanning
TopBelfast restauranteurNiall McKennasayshe’sputting investmentonholdafterarisein employernationalinsurance.
ButNiallMcKenna,whowasawardedan MBEintheKing’sNew YearHonours,hopes tocashinwhenTheOpengolftournament returnstoRoyalPortrushinJuly.
Hesaidhe’llabandonthetraditional Twelfth shutdownandopenlongerhourstohost hungrygolffansstayinginBelfast.
In2024,theownerofJamesStreetand Watermansaidhewould relaunchanew venueintheCathedralQuarterpremiseswhich oncehousedhisformerventure,Hadskis.
Buthesaidthatthose restaurantplansare nowonholdandthattheriseinnational insuranceemployercontributionswasto blame.
IntheLabourParty’sfrstBudgetsince returningtopowerlastyear,ChancellorRachel Reevesannouncedthatthemainrateof employernationalinsurancecontributionswill increaseby1.2%to15%fromApril6.
MrMcKennasaidtheincreasewouldbe hardtobearforanysmallemployer,with the resultthatpriceincreaseswould beadded.
“You’retalking10pto15pper dish,”hesaid.
“Itdoesn’tsoundlikealotofmoney,but wheneveryouhavesomanyofthosedishes goingouteveryweek,there’syournational insurancecovered.
“Butyou’restillputtingmoneyonadish.”
Theuncertainimpactonbusinessmeant thatinvestmentattheoldHadskison CommercialCourtwasupintheair.
“We’veno realplansforthatatthe moment,”hesaid.“We’rejustlookingatit atwherenationalinsurancegoes,atwhere Belfastgoes.
“I’mstillverycautiousaboutinvestingin anythingelseinBelfast,beinghonest.It’llbe onholdforthewhile,anyway.
“Everybodysays,‘I’mgoingtoopena
restaurant,’butthenyouthink:‘Where’s Belfastanditseconomy?Where’sthemarket? Where’stheclientelecomingfrom?Who elseisopening?’Therearesomanydifferent variations.”
MrMcKennasaidthebusinesshadtaken ahitfromtheautumnopeningofTheIvyat DonegallPlace–thefrstbranchofthefamed London-basedchaininNorthernIreland.
“It’sdefnitelyaffectedus,there’snopoint lyingaboutit,andaffectedeverybodyin Belfast.It’sabig,bigmachine,”hesaid.
“Itiswhatitis…Ifyou’reintoTheIvy, you’reintoTheIvy–andthat’swhatIcansay aboutit.
“Salesweredownwhenitfrstopened, butpeoplewhoarefoodiescometoour restaurant. To me,it’saboutlocalproduce.”
ButhesaidTheOpenonJuly17-20would beabonanzafor restaurants:“TheOpento usislikeChristmas.It’ssoimportanttothe industry.”
MrMcKennasaidhisMBEwas recognition forstaff,morethanforhisownendeavours.
“It’sfortheteamIworkwith,andallthe restofit.It’sajointeffortandthat’spurelythe wayIlookatit.” ■
NiallMcKenna
UKBudget‘willharm NorthernIrelandfrms’ Ariseinnationalinsurance contributionsalongwithother measuresunveiledintheAutumn Budgetwillharmbothindividualfrms andNorthernIreland’seconomy,it’sbeen claimed.
ThelatesteconomicsurveyfromtheNI Chamberfoundmembershavesignifcant concernsaboutthecontentsoftheBudget.
InthefrstbudgetfromthenewLabour PartyGovernmentlastyear,ChancellorRachel Reevesannouncedariseinnationalinsurance foremployers,alongwithanincreaseinthe NationalLiving Wage.Therearealsochanges toinheritancetaxwhichwillaffectbusiness, withalltheincreasescomingintoforcein April.
ButdespiteBudgetdiscontent,thesurvey foundbusinesspeople’soutlookherewas generallypositiveabouttradeinthefnal quarterof2024.
However,increasedbusinesstaxationand thecostoflabourweredrivingexpectations thatpriceswouldhavetogoup,withthe resultthatprospectsforthisyearweren’tas goodastheycouldbe.
TheChamber’s research,carriedoutwith
businessadvisoryfrmBDONI,foundthat memberstendedtobemorecheerfulabout theirownprospectsfortheyearthanthewider NorthernIrisheconomy.
Whilehalfofmembersexpectedtheirown businesswouldgrowovertheyear,only25% expectedtheeconomytogrow.
Justunder30%expectedtheirownbusiness tocontractin2025,while47%wereofthe viewthattheNIeconomywouldshrink.
SuzanneWylie,chiefexecutiveoftheNI Chamber,saidthe reportoutlinedtheBudget’s “signifcantimplications”.
“Whilemanyofourvery resilient members remainoptimisticabouttheir businessprospectsfortheyearahead,the consequencesofthealarmingacceleration ofthetaxburdenonbusinessesaredeeply concerningandarelikelytohavesignifcant longer-termimplicationsoncetheytakeeffect fromApril.
“Whilebusinessesacknowledgetheneed tostabilisepublicfnancesandsupport investmentinpublicservices,intheabsence ofmaterialgrowth,theincreasedtaxburden, withsignifcantincreasesinemployerNational InsuranceContributions(NICs),willadd
toalreadyhighbusinesscosts.This report provideskeyinsightsintothesignifcant concernsemployershaveandhighlights theimpactitwillhaveonconfdenceand investmentintentions.”
Butshesaidthatthereweresome“green shootsofpromise”.
“NorthernIreland’s regionalperformance isgenerallygoodandimportantindicators, includingexportbalancesareencouraging relativetotheverylowUKaverage,particularly formanufacturers.
“Toencouragemoreexportandinvestment, businessesinNorthernIrelandneedanurgent injectionofconfdencefromtheNIExecutive.”
Sixoutof10businesspeoplesurveyedsaid taxchangeswouldnegativelyimpacttheir investmentplans.Andnineoutof10saidthey wereunderpressuretoputuppricesbecause ofrisinglabourcosts.
Justunderthree-quartersof respondents werehighlyorveryconcernedaboutthe increasetoemployerNICs,whichwillgo upby1.2%to15%.Nearlythree-quarters ofmemberssaidtheBudget’staxchanges wouldharmtheirownbusinessgrowthand recruitmentplans. ■
MaureenO’Reilly,economist, BrianMurphy,BDONI,and StuartAnderson,NIChamber
Farmer ByAbdullahSabri
ACo Tyronefarmerhaswarnedof thedevastatingconsequencesof foot-and-mouthdiseaseamidan outbreakinGermany.
GlenCuddy,deputypresidentoftheUlster FarmersUnion(UFU),whofarmsbeefand sheepandhaswarnedanoutbreakwould “decimate”farmershere, recallinghow hugenumbersofanimalswereculledin ordertocontainthediseaseduringthe2001 epidemic.
ThepreviousoutbreakcosttheUK economyacombined£8bnandmorethan 50,000livestockwereculledinNorthern Ireland.
ItcomesaftertheUFUandthe DepartmentofAgricultural,Environmental andRuralAffairs(DAERA)issuedawarning urginglivestockfarmersto“remainvigilant” followingcasesofthediseaseinaherdof waterbuffaloinGermany.
Foot-and-mouthdiseaseisahighly contagiousviraldiseasethatprimarilyaffects cloven-hoofedanimals,seriouslyimpairing theirabilitytomoveandeat.
warns of ‘decimating’ foot-and-mouth disease amid overseasoutbreak “Footandmouthisverycontagious,itwill spreadevenbythewindifyou’recloseenough toit,”MrCuddysaid.
“Itcostabout£8bnthelasttimeto rectify itacrossthewholeofEuropein2001.Farms weredecimatedandalotofstockwasgone. Sowecertainlydon’twanttogobacktothat scenarioagain.”
A reportfromtheNationalAuditOffice (NAO) revealedtheepidemiccostthepublic sectorover£3bnandmorethan£5bntothe privatesector.
TheDungannonfarmersaidifasitepicked upaninfectionthegovernmentwouldbe notifiedbeforea“restrictedzone”isformed ontheirfarm.
“Allanimalsinsidethat restrictedzone wouldbeslaughtered.Allofthem–anything frompigs,cattletosheep.”
Wherebodiescan’tbetransported,“huge fires”takeplaceonfarmstoincineratethe carcassesoftheinfectedanimalsinorderto furthercontainthespread.
In responsetothe recentoutbreak,theUK andIrelandhave restrictedimportsofcattle, pigsandsheepfromGermanytosafeguard fromcontamination.
MrCuddysaidlivestockfarmersherehave alreadybeguntakingpre-emptiveactionby keepingacloseeyeonimports.
However,illegalimportsbyairandseapose asignificantthreattointroducingthedisease.
“We’daskthe restofthepublictobevery vigilantaboutitbecausefootandmouthcan becarriedinuncookedmeat,”MrCuddysaid.
“There’salotofillegalimportswhichcan comeinthroughtheairportsandtheportsby peoplecarryingmeatproductsintheirluggage orbaggageandwecertainlydon’twantto encouragethat.”
DAERAMinisterAndrewMuircalledthe emergenceofthediseasea“significant concern”fornotonlylivestockfarmershere buttheagriculturalsectoracrossthecontinent.
Heassuredthatsurveillanceisongoingwith across-borderstrategybeingimplementedand saidhewillmeetwithIrishofficials“todiscuss theapproachacrosstheislandofIreland.”
“IamalsomeetingwiththeSecretaryof StateforNIandthe relevantUKGMinister, BaronessHayman,andwillbeworkingclosely withmyministerialcounterpartstoensurea collaborative responsetothisissueacrossthe UK,”hesaid. ■
EY opening Ebrington Plazaofce inDerry ProfessionalservicesfrmEYNorthern IrelandhaschosenEbringtonPlaza inDerryforanew regionaloffce.
Itfollowsanannouncementbythefrmat theNorthernIrelandInvestmentSummitin September2023thatitwouldcreate1,000 newjobshereoverthenextfveyears.
Thebusiness,whichwillmakethemoveinto EbringtonPlazabyJune,saidtheoffcewould playacrucial roleinexpandingits regional presence.
Itaddedthatthelocationwouldalso harness“exceptionaltalent”acrossthenorth westaswellasgrowingclientdemand.The recruitmentofnewstaffwillalsodoublethe frm’sheadcountinNorthernIreland,itsaid.
EYsaidthenorthwestwasknownfor its“diverse”businesslandscapeandwould bringopportunitiestoworkwith“leading indigenousandinternationalbusinesses, entrepreneursandpublicsectororganisations, aswellasaccesstoworldclasstalentfromits educationalinstitutions”.
Thecompanysupportsorganisationsacross arangeofindustriesandsectorssuchasaudit,
corporatefnance,taxandlaw,consulting,AI anddataanalytics.
Itcurrentlyemploysmorethan1,000people inNorthernIrelandandover5,100peopleon theislandofIreland,withoffcesinBelfast, Dublin,Cork,Galway,Limerickand Waterford.
RobHeron,EYNorthernIrelandmanaging partner,said:“Weare reallypleasedto announcetheselectionofEbringtonPlazaas ournew regionaloffceinDerry.Thismove alignswithourstrategytogrowthebusiness andtapintothepoolofworld-classtalent acrossthenorthwest.
“Wearedelightedtohavetheopportunity tocollaboratewithstakeholdersinthe region andbecomeanintegralpartofthisvibrant community.
“TheselectionofEbringtonPlazaisa signifcantmilestoneforEYinNorthern Ireland.It refectsourongoingcommitment toinvestinginthe regionandsupporting economicgrowth.
“EYhasbuiltanincrediblebusinessin NorthernIreland,proudlyprovidingasuperb servicetoabroadrangeofclientsacrossthe islandofIreland,theUKandourglobal network.”
FrankO’Keeffe,EYIrelandmanaging partner,said:“Anoffceinthenorthwest haslongbeenthemissinglinkforEYonthe islandofIreland,andweare reallyproudto confrmthatwewillbeopeningouroffcein thenorthwestlaterthisyear.
“ThiswillbeEY’sseventhlocationon theislandofIrelandandweare really lookingforwardtobeingabletoserveso manyincredibleclients,organisationsand entrepreneursinthe regionaswehelpto shapetheirfutureswithconfdence.
“Itwillenableustoharnesstheworldclasstalentthatislivingandworkingright acrossthenorthwest. We can’twaittoget started.”
LastOctober,Alchemy TechnologyServices wasannouncedasthefrsttenantof EbringtonPlaza.In2021,technologygiant Allstateabandonedearly-stageplanstomove tothesite.
EbringtonPlazaisalsothelocationofthe EbringtonHotel,whichopenedin2023. ■
StephenMcNally,chairmanofthe TourismPartnershipBoardwith EconomyMinisterConorMurphy
‘Peacetourism’partof10-yearplan toboostNIvisitorspendingto£2bn ByMargaretCanning
‘Peacetourism’andmorefunding fortheindustry’scross-border bodymayhelpboostNIvisitor spendingto£2bnby2035,Economy MinisterConorMurphyhassaid.
MrMurphyunveileda10-yearplanon Wednesdayforincreasingspendingby overnightvisitorsfrom£1.2bnto£2bn,an increaseoftwo-thirds.
Buttheindustrywillalsobefghtingthe impactoftheHomeOffce’snewElectronic TravelAuthorisation(ETA)scheme,introduced lastweek.It requiresinternationalvisitorsto theUKtohaveanadditionalpermit.
TheplanwasunveiledbytheSinnFein ministeratthe TitanicQuarter,homeofoneof NI’smostvisitedattractions, TitanicBelfast.
It’salsothelocationofaBelfastMetcampus wheretourismstudentsdevelopskillsforthe industry.
Theminister,who’sduetostepdownfrom the roleinordertorunfortheSeanadinthe Republic,said:“My Tourism Visionandaction plansetsouthowweplantocreateathriving,
sustainabletourismindustryforthefuture, enrichinglocalqualityoflifeandcreatinga year-rounddestination,acrossthenorth,that willstandoutininternationalmarkets.
“Todriveourambitionforthenext10years, Ihavesetastrategicgoalthattheeconomic valueofourtourismexpenditurefrom overnightvisitorswillexceed£2bnby2035. Thisisambitiousbutachievable.”
Actionsinclude restoringfunding for TourismIrelandinitsdrivetodraw internationalvisitorstoNorthernIreland,and ensuringthere’senoughaccommodationto meetvisitorexpectations.
AnditalsoincludeswhattheDepartment fortheEconomydescribedas“expanding ourvisitorexperienceportfoliothrough thedevelopmentandpromotionofpeace tourism”.
Inaddition,itwouldinvolveanaviation policytoimproveinternationalconnectivity, andpressingforasolutiontotheETA’simpact onNorthernIreland.
MrMurphypreviouslyannouncedanew tourismpartnershipboardtohelpachievethe plan’stargets.
Hesaidhewas“indebted”totheboard andsaidithadhelpedidentify17activitiesto helpachievethe£2bnambitionwhilemeeting hiswideraimsofpromoting regionalbalance, raisingproductivity,creatinggoodjobsand loweringcarbonemissions.
“Wehaveauniquestorytotell–weare renownedforourauthenticexperiences, landscape,heritageandcultureandour welcomingpeople,”hesaid.
“Thisvisionandactionplanaimstohelpour tourismindustrythriveandgiveourvisitorsan experiencetheywillneverforget.”
StephenMcNally,chairofthetourism partnershipboard,said:“Iamgratefulto MinisterMurphyforinvitingmetosteer theworkoftheTPBwhichhasbeenmost rewardingespeciallygiventheextensive breadthofindustryexperienceacrossthe group.
“Collaborationhasbeencentraltoshaping thisvision.Iamexcitedabouttheopportunities thatimplementingthisvisionandactionplan willpresentforensuringlong-termeconomic, social,andenvironmentalbeneftsforfuture generations.” ■
JOBS & RECRUI TM EN T
Thecostofcaring JOB S& RECRUI TM EN T
Thereareplentyofjob opportunitieswithinthe volunteerandcharity sectors,butarebudget constraintsimpacting recruitment? Pavel Barter takesacloserlook
CelineMcStravickwasinDowning StreetlastOctober,meetingwith thecultureministerwhenKeir Starmerwalkedintothe roomandbegan talkingabouttheimportanceoftheUK voluntarysector.
ThiswasnotnewstoCeline,thechief executiveoftheNorthernIrelandCouncilfor
VoluntaryAction(NICVA),butshewaspleased tohearwordsofencouragementfromthetop tierofgovernment.
Soitcameasashockaweeklaterwhen thatsamegovernmentannouncednational insurancerisesforallemployers.Thischange willimpactanestimated76%ofNorthernIrish voluntaryorganisations,costingsomeofthem “over£200,000[ayear],”Celinesays.“Where aretheygoingtofndthatmoney?Theydo notknow.Theyhavenoideawhatthey’re goingtodo.”
ThevoluntaryandcharitysectorinNorthern Irelandisnostrangertobudgetconstraints andamyriadofchallengesforceittobeagile andinnovative.“Wehavetheprivatesector’s entrepreneurialapproachandthevaluespace associatedwiththepublicsector,”Celine says.“Alotofourmoneyismaybeonly fundedacrossoneortwoyears. We aresocial
entrepreneurs. We havetobeinnovative,fast andeffcient.”
This requiresagreatworkforce.Thesectoris madeupofanestimated200,000volunteers andanother50,000salariedemployees, accountingfor6.7%oftheworkforce, accordingtoNICVA.ChrisBunce,operations directorofCharityJobsNI,which recentlyheld NorthernIreland’sfrstcareersfairdedicated exclusivelytocharities,illustratesavibrant arrayof recruitmentopportunitieswithinthe volunteerandcharitysector.
In2024,6,000charityjobswereadvertised onCommunityNI,awebsitededicatedtothe sector.Opportunitiesrangefromcareworkers tosocialwork,mentalhealthworkersand frontlinehealthdeliverypractitioners.There isalsoabackoffceneedforprofessional rolessuchasmarketing,fundraising,HRand fnance.Arangeoforganisationsarehiring–
ChrisBunce
AutismInitiatives,SimonCommunity,Inspire Wellbeing,etc–fromsmallplaygroupsupto hugeemployers.Barnardo’s–ahealthand socialcarecharitythatdeliversservicesto children,youngpeopleandtheirfamilies–employsalmost500staffinNorthernIreland. Theseorganisationsplayapivotal rolein localcommunities.“Theservicestheyoffer arepillarstooursociety,”ChrisBuncesays. “Theykeepthingsrunning.”CelineMcStravick “dreadstothink”whatNorthernIreland wouldlooklikewithoutthissector.“Lookat ourcurrenthealthandsocialcaresystemyoucan’tturnonthenewswithouthearing aboutthewaitinglistsandpeopleonbedsin corridors.Canyouimaginewhatitwouldbe likeifwedidn’thaveavoluntarycommunity sectorsupportingpeople?”
Whatkindofcandidatesdoesthesector suit?Stafftendtobepassionate,according
totheNICVAchief.Somearestartingtheir careers;othersmightbelaterinlife.“Maybe they’rethinking,‘I’minajobthatdoesn’t makemethathappy–itpaysthemortgage butI’mlookingforsomethingmore.Iwantto makeadifference’,”Celinesays.Barnardo’s employsmanyhighlyexperiencedpeople withinitsworkforce,accordingtoMichele Janes,chiefexecutive,although“people’s valuesandtheircommitmenttochanging childhoodsandtoworkingalongsideothersto affectgreatoutcomes”isthemostimportant asset.
HomelesscharitySimonCommunity has21hostels(temporaryaccommodation sites)scatteredaroundNorthernIreland andiscurrentlyseekingtofllanumberof vacancies.Theseincludeanaccommodation andcommunitysupportworkerinLisburn, apositionwithsalaryofbetween£22,675
and£24,108,andanassistantdirectorof children’sservices(salarybetween£54,457and £70,016).
Thesesalariesarenot,admitsAndrea McCooke,directorofHRatSimonCommunity, aslargeastheymightbeinthepublicsector. Yetcharitiesinsisttheymakeupfortheirlower paygradeswithagreaterwork-lifebalance. OrganisationslikeSimonprovidearangeof benefts(privatehealthcare,pensionscheme, annualleaveallowance,occupationalsickpay, etc).In2024,SimonCommunityNIachieved theGreatPlaceto Workcertifcation.Around 80%oftheiremployeesdescribedthecharity asagreatplacetowork:25%higherthanthe averagesatisfactionrateforaUKcompany. AndreajoinedSimonthreeyearsagofroma localgovernmentsector.“Theatmosphere andpersonalityofthisorganisationmakesa difference.Frontlinestaffcouldbegoing>
CelineMcStravick
JOB S& RECRUI TM EN T
homeatnighthavingdealtwithallsortsof things,butthe rewardtheygetfromtheir workisevident.Itishardworkbutit’svery rewarding.”
CelineMcStravicksays:“Wecan’tofferyou highsalariesbutwecanofferyouothervalues: work-lifebalance,learninganddevelopment andacareerpathway.Ifyoucomeintoa charityit’smostlikelythatyou’lllearnand movewithinitbecauseweinvestinourstaff andwebelievethatonceyougetagood numberofstaff,it’simportanttotreatthem well.”
EmployeesatBarnardo’susuallyworktheir wayuptheladder,saysMicheleJanes.“Some peoplewillcometoworkinNorthernIreland andthenworkforthewiderorganisation inGB. We encouragecolleaguestoavailof furthertrainingwhetherthroughleadership management,coachingorsupportingother stafforjusttryingsomethingdifferent.Ihave colleagueswhostartedwithusasvolunteers andarenowinmanagementandleadership roles.”
However,NICVA releaseda reportintothe
voluntaryandcommunitysectorworkforcein 2024whichfoundthat49%oforganisations faceddiffculties recruitingstaff.Afurther 75.8%ofparticipantsidentifedsalarylevels asabarrierto recruitment.Almost50%of participants reportedincidentsofburnout, whichcharitiesattributetolowwagesand short-termfundinginstability.Theincreasein EmployerNationalInsuranceContributions (NICs)threatenstofurtherdestabilisethe sector.Governmentneedstoaddressthelack ofconsistencyaroundfunding,insistcharity organisations.
Theannualbudgetisaconstantconcern “becausewearewaitingonnewsfromyear toyearintermsofwhetherwearegoing tobeawardedthebudgetswe requireto keepgoing,”saysAndreaMcCookeofthe SimonCommunity.“Weneedmoresecurity aroundbudgetsandfunding.Iftherewas morepermanency,andbudgetsweresecured overlongerperiodsoftime,itwouldgiveus morescopetostructureourofferingasan employer.”
CelineMcStravickwantstoseestructural
reform:stable,long-termfundinganda workforceplanfromgovernment.“Our ministerfortheeconomysupportsthe privatesector’sgrowth,developmentand innovation.Iwouldliketoseethesamelevel ofinvestmentingrowingtheskillsbaseof oursectortohelpustransform.Thereneeds tobeacultureshifttoseeusascore,notjust tothedeliveryofservices,buttothetraining ofstaffandtheemploymentpathway.”
Volunteerandcharitysectoremployees, despitetheirfundingdiffculties, reporta leveloffulflment–makingameaningful differenceinpeople’slivesandinlocal communities-thatisperhapsnotfeltin otherjobs. WorkersatBarnardo’s“seethe differencetheymakeonadailybasis,” saysMicheleJanes,“evenifit’sasmall difference.Thatis reallypowerful.”“People areinterestedinthecharitysectorbecause theywanta rolethathasapurposeand meaning,”saysChrisBunce,Operations DirectorofCharityJobsNI.AndreaMcCooke ofSimonCommunityconcurs.“Thesejobs notonlyimpactsociety,theychangelives.” ■
Private hospitalat former B&Q warehouseinBelfast gets the greenlight Anewprivatehospitalataformer B&QwarehouseinBelfasthas receivedthegreenlight.
Affdea,Europe’sbiggestmedicalcare provider,announceditsbidforthenewfacility onBoucherRoadin2023–potentiallycreating upto120newjobs.
Theapplication,submittedbyNorlinEV,was recommendedforapproval,andgrantedit,at a recentplanningcommitteemeeting.
It’sunderstoodserviceswouldcoverminor injuriesandillness,surgicalcapacityand endoscopy,withtheprojectbringing120new jobs.Itwouldalsoaddadiagnosticimaging facilitywhichcouldhandleupto50,000 patientsayear.
Theapplicationisforaprivatemedical facility,whichwouldincludethechangeofuse ofpartof retailwarehouseandtheextension ofthebuilding.Thefacilitywillincludea “signifcantelementofovernight residential care”,accordingtoplans.
Plannerssaidtheapplicationis“considered acceptable”andthatitis“recommended thatplanningpermissionisgrantedsubjectto conditions”.
Noobjectionswere receivedforthescheme, however,NI Waterhad recommendedits refusaldueto“insuffcientcapacityatBelfast Wastewater Treatment Worksandassociated sewernetwork”.
Thosebehindtheschemehavesaiditwill addtoexistingservicesinNorthernIrelandand addresswaitinglistsaffectingtheNHS.
TheplanswouldseeunitsAandBat48 BoucherRoadbeing redeveloped.
Speakingabouttheplanswhentheywere frst revealedlastyear,BarryDownes,chief executiveofAffdeaIreland,said:“Weare excitedtobringforwardourplansforanew medicalfacilityontheBoucherRoad. We have longfeltthattherewasagapintheNorthern Irishmarketforamodern,patientcentric, digitallyadvancedmedicalfacility.
“Wearehopingtobringthebestofwhat medicalservicesweprovideinothercountries, suchasadvancedorthopaedicprocedures fromourFortiusclinicinGreatBritainandthe expertiseofourwomen’shealthbusinessin Switzerland,tothepeopleofNorthernIreland.
“AkeyfocusforAffdeaistheprovisionof increasedaccesstoworldclassmedicalcarein
modernclinicalenvironments,andwehope thatthepeopleofNorthernIrelandwillsoon beneftfromthemostmodernpatient-centric facilityofitskind.”
Elsewhere,workisunderwaytoexpand anddevelopamajorhealthcareparkatthe formerKing’sHallsite.
Andlastyearamajorhealthfacilitywas giventhegoaheadforBelfastcitycentre.
HealthworksonGreat VictoriaStreetis beingdevelopedbyO’ConnorMcCann (OCMC)toincludeoccupationalhealth services,pharmaciesandGPpractices.
OCMCsaidthedevelopmentwouldserve thegrowinginner-citypopulationaround WeaversCourt,andstudentslivingbetween Queen’sUniversityinsouthBelfastandUlster Universityinthenorthofthecity.
Meanwhile,KingsbridgeHealthcare GroupisNorthernIreland’sbiggestprivate healthcareprovider,withtwofacilitiesin Belfast,oneinthenorthwestandanother inSligointheRepublicofIreland.Itprovides healthcaretoprivatepatients,andhas contractswithstatehealthcareonbothsides oftheborder. ■
PrimeMinister Keir Starmerhasbeenbruised andweakenedinaseries oftweetsfromtheworld’s richestman,writes RichardCurran
ThenewIrishgovernmenttaking shapeinformationtalkscould learnalotabouttheperilsof mismanagingthepublicfinancesfrom whatisunfoldingwithournearest neighboursacrosstheIrishSea.
InaweekwhentheDepartmentofFinance reported recordtax revenues,billionsinsurplus andaround€34bnsittinginthebank,fewwill wanttoheedanywarningsthatthingscango southveryquickly.
IntheUK,theBritishgovernmentisin turmoilinaweekwhentheworld’srichest manElonMuskwasabletostrikeatits credibilitywithjustafewtweets.
ChancellorRachelReevesisseeingherown fiscalheadroomtoborrowextradisappear,as thecostofsovereigndebtinthebondmarkets rosetonearly5%onThursday–itshighest levelsince2008.
Thepoundfelltoa13-monthlowand Reevesislikelytohaveto revisitherbudget forecastsaspartofathree-yearspending strategywithinthenextcoupleofmonths unlessthereisasignificantchangeofdirection onbondmarkets.Assumptionsbehinda budgetshewrotejusttwomonthsagomay havetobe rewritten.TheBritishgovernment saysitisstickingtoits2025budget.
UKPrimeMinisterKeirStarmerlooksso bruisedandweakenedthateventhefamous “six-weekPM”Liz Trusshaswrittentohim throughherlawyerssayinghemustdesist fromstatingeverywherethatshe“crashedthe economy”.
Athomethegovernmentmightfeelalittle smugabouttheburgeoningpublicfinances andthependingpoliticaldebateonhowto spendtheApple€14.1bn.
Butwhenyoustripthingsback,evenjusta littlebit,thereisno real roomforcomplacency.
Ireland’s new government shouldlearn from upheaval Musk is causing in the UK SubtracttheApplewindfallalongwiththe percentageofcorporatetax receiptsdeemed tobeuncertainintothefuture,andour exchequerpositiongoesfromasurplusof nearly€13bntoadeficitofover€6bnforlast year.
Whatdoesthatmatterwhenwehave around€34bnincashstuffedinthebank? Thatrainydayfundcouldgetusthrougha monsoon.Maybe,buttherecouldbesome realstormscoming.
Votedexpenditurewentupbynearly10%
lastyear.Ifthatgrowthistobe reinedinover thenextcoupleofyears,whowillbewillingto takethehit?
Ournationaldebtprofileisbothgoodand bad. Withanationaldebtofover€200bnwe arestilloneofthemostindebtedcountriesper headofpopulationintheworld.Luckily,the debt repaymentprofileandinterestratelevel hasbeencarefullymanagedbytheNTMA, whichmeantweonlypaidaround€3bnlast yeartoservicethoseborrowings.
Thisyearandnextyearacombined€29bn
TeslaandXowner ElonMuskhas criticisedPrime MinisterKeirStarmer inaseriesofposts
Don’t panic. Employmentis very high. Income tax receipts are buoyant, as is the Vat take. But this is where Donald Trump could comein.
comesupfor re-fnancing.Itwillmostlikelybe re-fnancedatmuchhigherrates.Thenextbig paybackdatesfallin2030and2031whena totalof€40bnhastobe refnanced.Itisn’tso farawayanditcouldcoincidewithapotential costof€20bnforcarboncreditsifwedon’t meetouremissionstargets.
Don’tpanic.Employmentisveryhigh. Incometax receiptsarebuoyant,asisthe Vat take.ButthisiswhereDonald Trumpcould comein.IfhesucceedsinunsettlingtheEU statusquoandforcesUScompaniestoinvest
moreathome,wecouldseea realeconomic impacthere.Throwinthepossiblenegative fnancialhitfromourforeignpolicyonIsrael, wherewecouldbeeconomicallypunishedbya TrumpadministrationorcorporateAmerica. TherearealsotheimplicationsofAIon jobsandaglobaleconomy reelingfromthe uncertaintyofanew,disruptiveworldorder. Thenewgovernmentmaylookalotlikethe oldonebuttheworldaroundusischanging rapidlyandwewillhavesometoughdecisions tomake. ■
PureFitouthascarriedoutworkforarange ofclientsacrosstheUKandIreland
More than 100 jobssaved atBelfast ft-outfrm after takeoverdeal Over 10 0 jo bs have be ensave d at a Be lfast ftout frm that ha s be en re scue d from admini strationbya take over deal
Pure Fitout, which is run by west Belfas t man Ronan Higham, and it s fre safety business Halt are being bought over by DamienGaffney, the principal of Dublin -bas ed real es tate frm Tetrarch Capital.
Client s of the frm include burrito restaurant chain Bo ojum, American burgerbrand Five Guys and hotel business St aycity Group, while Halt ’s client s include the London Underground.
The Belfas t business saidit had gone into adminis tration this month in what it is callinga “prote ctive measure to stabilise op erations.”
It encountered fnancialdiffculties af ter “signifcant unpaid invoices”, and had begun to look for investmentto save the business
As part of the sale, boththe Pure Fitout and Haltbrands will continue, as will the senior
management of both frms The company says it has an “exciting port folio of projec ts planned for the months ahead”
DamienGaffney, new ow ner of Pure Fitout, said : “After an intens e few we ek s, I am delighted to announce that Ihave acquired the business and as sets of Pure Fitout and Halt, whichhad re cently entered adminis tration
“T his strategic moverefe ct smy commitment to pres er ving op erations and ensuring continuity for all of it s employe es.
“M y immediate aim is to stabilise and revitalise the business by workingclos ely with the management team
“W ith a well -c apit alis ed balance sheet and a sound,sustainable business strategy,I am confdent in my ability to overs ee Pure Fitout, ensuring it continues to deliver exceptional projec ts throughoutthe UK and Ireland.”
Yvonne Loughran, as so ciate dire ctor at profes sional services frm Deloit te, said : “We are pleas ed to have been able to delivera
succes sful outcome that safeguardsall jobs and pres er vesa well -respec ted brand in the interiorftout sec tor.
“T headminis tration proces s was us ed to prote ct the trading business es and provid e space and funding whilst a sale was being negotiated
“We are grateful to the employe es and wider stakeholder s for their patience during thisuncert ain time and wish Pure Fitout and HA LT ever ysucces s for the future.”
Working across hotels, restaurants, bars, fast-food es tablishments, leisure, heritage regeneration projec ts and of fces, Pure Fitout has delivered high -quality interior s for The Dean Hotel, The Mayson Hotel in Dublin, EastCheap Re cords in London, Five Guys in Belfas t, Craigavon and Dublin, Bo ojum, The Gray son in Dublin, the awardwinning Stella Theatre in Dublin and of fce space for the Pres s Up Group in Dublin and London ■
OF FICE EN VI RONM EN T& FI T- OU T Theco-workingclass Traditionalleasearrangementsaremakingway forever-expandingfexibleandco-workingoffce environments,withsomenowwithwaitinglists,due totheburgeoningdemand,writes PavelBarter
Flexibleoffcespacesaretakingoff acrossNorthernIreland.
Attheonsetof2025,64such premisesarelistedonCoworkingCafe,which monitorsthemarketforco-workingspaces, 30ofwhichareinBelfast.Providersofthese spacesbelievelandlordshavetobemore competitivein2025becauseofthegrowthin thefexibleserviceoffcemarket.
“Whenwestartedout[in2007]thiswasan unusualconcept,”ChristineJames,founder andchiefexecutiveofBlickSharedStudiosin Belfast,says.“Nowwehaveawaitinglist.”
Forcompanieswhonolongerwantto committolong-termletsoflargebuildings, co-workingisanobrainer.“Afveor10year leaseisalargeoverheadespeciallywhen youdon’tknowwhatthefutureholds,” RichardMcLaughlin,siteleadanddirectorof engineeringforOptiva,atelecommunications serviceproviderbasedatGlandore’sArthur HouseinBelfast,says.
Optiva,aCanadiancompany,has beenatArthurHouseforthreeyears alongsideamyriadofotherbusinesses.“It provideseverythingweneedwithoutextra commitment,extraoperationalexpenditure andcapitalexpenditure,”Richardsays.“A coworkingspacegivesyouastartingpoint.It’s ready-made, readytogo,turnkey.Openthe
doorandyou’vegoteverythingsetup.Italso givesyouthefexibilityofgrowingovertime.”
Accordingtoa recentsurveyof250offce landlordsintheUK,byworkspaceprovider InfnitSpace,10%oflandlordspredicttheir portfoliowillbealmostentirelyfexibleby 2030.Co-workingspacescomeindifferent shapesandsizes.Businessescanhirededicated desks:fxedworkspaceswheretheycan personalisetheirenvironmentwhileaccessing amenities.Hotdesks,ontheotherhand,are sharedbymultipleusers.
BlickSharedStudios,whichhastwo co-workingspacesinBelfast’sCathedral QuarterandoneonGreatNorthernStreet, caterssolelyindedicateddeskspaceforthe creativeindustries(flmandTV,design,media, advertising,software,illustration,fneart, etc).“Weonlyprovidededicateddeskspaces becausemostcreativesneedtheirownIT equipment,”Christinesays.“Youbasically rent adeskandyoucomeinandoutwheneveryou want.
SomeofNorthernIreland’sleadingft-out frmsarebehindtheworkdevelopingsuch spaces,fromco-working,tobespokeoffces.
ThatincludesAntrim’sCalibro Workspace, whichhas recentlycompletedworkforMCSat TheEwartbuildingonBedfordStreetinBelfast citycentre.
Formation WorksisNorthernIreland’s biggestprovideroffexibleoffcespace.It has12spacesinNorthernIreland,including TheKelvinonCollegeSquareEastbeside GrandCentralinBelfast.“Wehavesolutions foreveryonefromgrowingstart-upsthrough toestablishedenterprisesandweworkwith aselectionofsoletraders,”DarrenDalzell, marketingmanager,says.
“Theycan rentahotdeskortheirown privatespaceintheoffce.”Flexibleworkingis agrowingconcept.”
GlandoreoperatesArthurHouseand ArthurPlaceinBelfastandhaslocations inDublinandCork.Thetwobuildingsin Belfastconsistofaround900desksand 36,000squarefoot,accommodating40to 50companies–small,medium,large,local
InsideTheKelvinin Belfastcitycentre
andinternational–coveringabroadrange ofsectors.Charityorganisationsandindustry associations,including WomeninBusinessNI andRenewableNI,arealsoonsite.
“Wedefneourselvesasafexible-service offceprovider,”NialBorthistle,business developmentandpartnershipsmanager atGlandore,says.“Wefocus98%ofour businessonprivateoffce rental.Individuals andcompaniescan rentadeskonamonthly basisinourco-workingsuite.Companiescan alsotakeavirtualoffce.”
TheaverageleaseatGlandoreisabout 12months:anarrangementthatsuitssome companieswho requiretemporaryspace whiletheirownfacilityisbeingfttedout. AtFormation Works“leasescanrangefrom monthlycontractsuptoyearorlonger,”says
DarrenDalzell.“Wecanworkwithclientson theirindividualneeds.”BlickSharedStudios hasaminimumtermofthreemonths.
Whendiditallbegin?Serviceoffces–multipleoccupancyhousesinparticular–have beenaroundforyears.Glandorehasbeenin Belfastsince2006.Butin2020,thepandemic acceleratedthedemandforalternativesto traditionaloffcesandhybridworking reshaped offce requirementsforcompanieslikeOptiva. “Somepeopleareintheoffcethreedaysa week.Somepeopleareintwo,somepeople fve,”saysRichardMcLaughlin.“Those twoyearsofCovidcompletelychangedthe landscapeofworking.”
Withinthefexibleandco-workingmodel, companiesdon’thavetoworryaboutdealing withutilities.Instead,theycanfocuson
theircoreactivities.“We’vegotthehighest tech,wi-fandsecurity,”DarrenDalzellof Formation Works,says. We haveversatile meeting rooms:ourmeeting roomspacesare fullycustomisable.Everythingisbespokeand customisablefortheneedsofourmembers.” Formation Worksdesignedoffcespace forLambertSmithHampton,a realestate consultancywhomovedintoafullfoorof TheKelvin.Intapp,aglobalsoftwareprovider, recentlymovedintoa2,500sqftspace inArthurPlaceandthus“didn’thavethe headacheofhavingtosourceacontractor,” saysGlandore’sNialBorthistle.“Weworked withthearchitecturefrmandbuilding contractorandsortedeverythingoutfor them.”
Phonebooths[asmall roomsound>
OF FICE EN VI RONME NT & FI T- OU T
TheentrancetoThe KelvininBelfast
OF FICE EN VI RONME NT & FI T- OU T proofed roomforoneperson]collaboration spaces,breakout rooms,clusterhuddle rooms areamongft-outoptions.Glandoreinstalled aneightpersonmeeting roomforIntapp.Coworkingenvironmentscanbecosteffcient. “Weworkalotwithcreativesandfreelancers whomaybedon’tearnthatmuchmoney.It wouldn’tmakefnancialsenseforthemto rentawholeoffce,”ChristineJamesofBlick SharedStudios,says.
AccordingtoCoworkingCafe’slastquarterly report,NorthernIrelandisgoodvalue.While adedicateddeskaverages£210amonth
intheUK,inNIitis£200.Openworkspace membershipscost£160acrosstheUK.InNI theyare£135.Co-workingenvironmentsare notentirelycity-basedeither.Formation Works issettoopenanewlocationinNewtownards in2025.CraigavonIndustrialDevelopment Organisation(CIDO)hasthreeco-working spacesandthe WorkhouseinEnniskillen recentlyopened.
ForalargeorganisationlikeFormation Works,“oneofthekeybeneftsisaccessto allofoursites.Soifyou’rebasedinTheKelvin andyouhaveaclientmeetinginCookstown,
oryouneedtodobusinessinLisburn,youcan movebetweenthelocations. Youwillhave directaccesstoanyofour12locationsand youcanworkfuidlybetweenanyofthem.”
Mostproviderspridethemselvesontheir communitynetworks:sharedspacesthat allowdifferentbusinessestoconnect,swap ideasandperhapsevencollaborate.Formation Workshosts regularnetworkingeventsand theiroccupierscanavailofotherbusinesseson site:healthandwellnessstudiosandanonsite nurseryandcrècheinArmagh,forexample. Glandoreofferswellnessprograms,learning developmentcoaches,nutritionists, refexology andyogafortheiroccupiers.“Glandorehas acommunityspirit,”saysOptiva’sRichard McLaughlin.“We’vegotourownprivateoffce butoutsidethereareotheroffces,employees, companies,communalspacesand regular eventsthatallowustogettogether.”
Despitetheupsurgeindemandforcoworkingandfexibleoffceenvironments, rumoursofthedemiseofthetraditionallongtermleaseareexaggerated–atleastfornow. “Therewillalwaysbeaneedfortraditional offcespacebecausesomecompaniesmight wanttoowntheirownbuildingorhavetheir ownturnkeysolutions,”NialBorthistlesays. Forothercompanies,themodelappearstobe reaping rewards.Forcompaniesofoursize,10 to15to30people,”RichardMcLaughlinof Optiva,says.“Thismakesabsolutesense.”
InsideBlick SharedStudios
High-speedinternetdeal to connect 11,000 NIproperties ‘to be awardedin coming months’ ByJohnMulgrew
Amajorgovernmentcontractto develophigh-speedinternet connectionsforsome11,000 homesandbusinessesinrural communitieshereissettobeannounced “inthecomingmonths”.
ProjectGigabitispartofaUK-wideplanto enable“hardto reachcommunitiestoaccess fast, reliablegigabit-capablebroadband”.
Followingapublic review,some59,000 premisesacrossNorthernIrelandwere classifedas‘white’–withnogigabitnetwork infrastructurepresent,andnonelikelytobe developedwithinthreeyears.
Theinitialcontractisdesignedtoconnect some11,000homesandbusinesses.
“Afurther60,000premisesareunder review;thesearepremiseswheresuppliers have reportedcurrentorplannedcommercial broadbandcoverage,butwhereclaimed currentgigabitcoveragehasnotbeen verifed,or,in respectofplannedbuild, whereevaluatorsareconfdentthatgigabit
infrastructurewillbedelivered,butsomerisks todelivery remain,ortherearesomegapsin evidence,”theDepartmentfortheEconomy (DfE)hassaid.
Procurementfortheschemeherestarted inNovember,withaninvitationtointerested supplierstocompleteaselectionquestionnaire todemonstratetheircapacityandcapabilityto deliversuchacontract.
“Thosesupplierswhomeetthepublished criteriaoftheselectionquestionnairewill beinvitedtosubmita responsetothe requirementsoftheInvitationtotenderforthe project,”EconomyMinisterConorMurphysaid ina responsetoanAssemblyQuestionfrom Alliance’sJohnBlair.
“Theprocurementwillseekasupplierto addressaninitialscopeofapproximately 11,000premiseshere.
“Mydepartmentexpectstoawarda contractforProjectGigabitinthecoming months,subjecttocompliantbidsbeingmade, bidsmeetingthepublishedcriteria,andall necessaryapprovalsbeingagreed.”
Thedepartmenthassaidit“recognisesthat
thereisaneedforgovernmentintervention inthepartsofthecountrythatarenot commerciallyviable”.
“TheUKGovernmenthascommitted£5bn forthehardestto reachpartsofthecountry, ensuringthatallareasoftheUKcanbeneft.
“Thiswillbespentthroughapackage ofcoordinatedandmutuallysupportive interventions,collectivelyknownasProject Gigabit.
“AspartofthisDfE,alongwith BuildingDigitalUK(BDUK),isdeveloping aprocurementapproachtoincentivisethe telecomsmarkettoinvestindelivering gigabitcapablewholesaleinfrastructurein areasnotconsideredtobecommercially viablefornewinfrastructure.This procurementapproachwillbeasuccessor tothemuch-neededsuperfastbroadband programmeandDfE’sbroadband intervention,ProjectStratum.
“Basedontheoutcomeofthepublic review,DfEintendstolaunchanexercise toprocureacontractorforthedeliveryof ProjectGigabitinNorthernIreland.”
ProjectGigabitisaiming tobringfastinternet connectionstohomes andbusinesseshere
Calibro Workspace: predictionsonworkplacedesign trendsfor2025andbeyond Aswelookbackonlast year,itseemsitwasa perioddominatedbythe returntotheoffcedebate, writes RonnieCrawford,
managingdirectorof
Calibro,asheturns towardsto2025
We sawmanylargeorganisations take a stanceonewayor anotheronthephysicaloffce withseveralhigh-proflecompaniesopting togopublicwiththeir‘return tooffce’ policies.Thiscreated a lotofmovement intheoffcemarketandleftcompanies wonderinghowtogetthebestoutof theirpeople.Itwas a reallyinteresting developmentforthefuture ofworkand onethatguidednewideasandpractices withinworkplacedesign.
Whatthisachievedwill reallytakeshape in2025astheoffcehasbecomemore of a destinationthaneverbefore.Thekeytothis destinationworkplacehoweverishowtounite peopleandcreateharmonybetweenallthe differentelements. We’veallseenhowquickly designtrendsevolveand respondtotheneeds ofoccupierssostayingaheadofthecurve requiresconstantinnovation.Here are some trendswe’veobservedgatheringmomentum thatwethinkare onestowatchin2025.
Embracingthe‘resimercial’aesthetic
Whilstnot a newconcept,weanticipatethe resimercialaesthetic – bringing residential elementsintocommercialspacestocreate a more homely, welcomingenvironment - will be a keycomponentofworkplacestrategiesin 2025.
Resimercialismore than a designapproach, it’s aboutthefeelingyoucreateamongthose whoworkinthespace. A comfortable, relaxed environmentthatfosterscollaborationand community, andmakespeoplefeelgood aboutcomingintotheoffceis a muchmore attractivepropositionthanthetraditional offce.
More inclusiveworkplaces Creatingspacesthatare accessibleandinclusive forallisanareathathascometothefore inthelastfewyears,asbusinessesprioritise employeewellbeingandseektocreate a sense ofbelongingforallteammembers.Growthin theawarenessandprevalenceofneurodiversity hasalsoledtomore discussiononthetopic and a recognitionthatdiversityofthoughtand livedexperiencesleadstogreateroutcomes.
Thishasledtosomeorganisations realising thattheirpeopleworkbestwhentheyare givensomecontrolovertheworkenvironment, suchashaving a choiceofwhere theyworkon a givenday(athome,orwhenintheoffce, a focuspodortaskdeskforexample)or accesstoadjustablelightingandtemperature controls.Flexiblesettingsthatprovide a variety
ofseatingstylesincludingfdgetfurniture and workstationswithsit/standdeskscanalsobe benefcial.
We expectthisareatocontinuetogrowin importanceasbusinesses refnetheirdiversity, equity, andinclusion(DEI)policies,andconsider theindividualneedsoftheiremployees.
Prioritisingbetterbuildings Astheworkplacecompeteswiththehome offceandcompaniesincreasinglymust‘earn thecommute’theneedforhighquality workplaceexperienceshasgrown.
Thisnowextendsbeyondyourindividual offcespace,tothequalityofthebuilding, communalareasandamenitiesinthe surrounds.Developersare also recognisingthis need,withmanynewergrade A developments introducingmixedusesintotheirprecinctswith retailandhospitalityspaceonthegroundfoor, andthingslike roofterraces,shower rooms, gymsanddryingracksavailableforthosewho workintheprecinctforexample.
AccordingtoGensler’s 2024Global WorkplaceStudyhigh-qualitybuildings signifcantlycontributetobetterexperiences, unsurprisinglyso.Havingaccesstodiverse
ArecentworkplacedesignandftoutcompletedbyCalibrofortheHUBGroupinTheEwart,Belfast
spaceswithinthebuilding – whetherfor meetings,creativedevelopment,or relaxation –givesemployeesthechoiceandfexibilitythey value.
Movinginto2025,theconvenienceoffer willbecomemore of a focusforemployers. Offeringserviceslikein-housechildcare,dry cleaning,parcelpointsandbikemaintenance and repair, willgrowinpopularity
Designingformodularity Themovetowardsfexibilitywillcontinue. We anticipateindividualworkstationswillphase out,with a movetounassigneddesksand more fexspacesformany
Modularityisbecominganincreasingly importantpartofthewayoffcesare being designed. Withfewerpeople requiring a dedicateddeskeveryday, there are more opportunitiestousefurniture thatmakesthe mostofavailablespace,thatcanfexand changewiththeneedsoftheteam.Desks won’t disappearentirely, butmovingto unassigneddesksand reallocatingsomespace canleadtosignifcantsavingsandmuchmore dynamicenvironments.
Bringingmodularityintotheworkplace meanssourcingfurniture productsandother designsolutionsthatare easytomoveand reconfgure.Thisapproachmeanswecanmake
This year willbe about making the workplace anenjoyable place to be, encouraging employee engagement, participation andsocial connections, to fostercreativity, collaboration, community andproductivity. betteruseofavailablespace,introducemore collaborativespacesandsocialsettingswhere teamscanconnectandinnovatetogether
Wellbeingatwork There hasalwaysbeen a pushforemployee wellbeingtobeimprovedintheworkplacebut thewayorganisationswillapproachthisinthe future willbring a totallynewleveltowellbeing atwork.There are more exercisespacesand gymsbeingdesignedintoworkplacesthanever before andnotonlyare thesespaceshelping peoplegetactive,theyare well-equippedand helpingpeoplecreate routinesfortheirworking day
From a designperspectivethesespacesrange
basedonthesizeoftheoffcetheyare inbut there’s somanywaystocreatethesespaces. Whetherit’sa smallmultipurposespacethat allowsforyogaclassesorlargeftnessfacilities withexerciseequipment,we’re goingtosee more uptakeinallowingforwellbeingspaces intheoffce.
Investinginin-housefunctionality We’llseeanincreaseindemandforspacesyou mightnotusuallyexpecttofndinanoffce in2025.Thingslikepodcastand YouTube studiosforcontentcreation,cinemascreens toencourageemployeesto relaxand recharge andfosterconnectionwithpeers,forexample. Everycompanyisgoingtobedifferentand it’s importanttoconsiderwhatalignswith yourpurposeandculture,buttheconceptof installingspacesthatcanoffer realbeneftto employeesissoimportant.Thesefeaturesnot onlysettheoffceapartfromthehomebut alsofostercreativity, wellness,and a stronger connectionamongemployees.
We’vealreadytalkedabouthealthand wellnessspaceswhichare oneofthein-house featuresweare seeinggointoworkplacesmore andmore.There isnorightorwrongfeature toinstallifthere is a rationalebehinditand remember, itpaystoaskyouremployeeswhat wouldimprovetheirexperienceatwork. ■
Co Tyrone goldmineprobe ‘postponedagainuntil March’ AprobeintoDalradian’splansforagoldmineintheSperrinsisfacingfurther delaysasitawaitsfreshsubmissionsfromtheIrishGovernment
Along-awaitedpublicinquiryinto agoldmineintheSperrinshas beensuspendedforasecond timetoawaitsubmissionsfromtheIrish Government.
Themovecameafteritwasfoundthatthe DepartmentforInfrastructure(DfI)failedto properlyconsulton‘transboundary’issues relatingtotheproposals.
It’sseenasanecessityfortheIrish Governmenttohaveinputtotheinquiry.
Theinquiry,whichbeganonJanuary13,has beenadjourneduntilMarch26.
Dalradian’splansforamajormineat Curraghinaltwerefrstsubmittedbackin 2017.
InMay,the PACdecidedtoputtheinquiry –whichwassettocommencelastSeptember –onholdbecauseofconfusion relatingtotwo licenceapplicationsforwaterabstractionand storage.
Thealreadydelayedinquirywasduetofnish onMarch26,butthedelaysinproceedings willlikelypushthatbackfurther.
TheprobewaspushedbackfromSeptember despitetwogovernmentdepartmentswhich itliaisedwithtellingthePlanningAppeals Commission(PAC)thattheybelievedthe inquiryshouldgoaheadasplanned.
Thebodydecidedtopostponetheinquiry overtwolicenceapplicationsdealingwith waterabstractionandstorage.
Anewdatefortheinquirywasthen plannedforJanuary13attheStruleArts CentreinOmagh.
However,othereventsarebookedintouse thatsamespacejusttwoweeksafterit’sdue tostart.ThatincludestheCommemorative andPersonalStatementHearingsaspartofthe OmaghBombInquiry.
“Thefrstdayofhearingswillbeonthe
January27,2025andweexpectthemtorun foraroundfourweeksafterthatintoFebruary 2025,”aspokesmanforthatinquirysaid.
Thegoldmineinquirywasthenduetobe brokenupacrossJanuary,theendofFebruary andintoMarch,whereitwasexpectedtoend onMarch26,howeverthatislikelytochange amidtheprobe’spostponement.
Whencontactedbythe PACaboutthetwo abstractionlicenceapplications,plannersat theDepartmentforInfrastructure(DfI)said “thedepartmentseesnoobvious reasonto delaytheinquiryprocess”,whiletheNorthern IrelandEnvironmentAgency,partofthe DepartmentofAgriculture,Environment andRuralaffairs(DAERA),said“suspending thecurrenttimetableisnotaproportionate response”.
Whenaskedaboutthedelayinproceedings,
andwhythe PACpushedbacktheinquiryuntil nextyear,despitetheStormontdepartments recommendingitgoaheadasplanned inSeptember,aspokespersonsaid:“The commissionsettheoriginaltimetablewitha viewtotheconjoinedinquiriesprogressing.”
Shortlybeforetheinquirywasdueto takeplaceonJanuary17,DonegalCounty Councilraisedcross-borderconcernsabout the“potentialrisk”posedbyaproposedgold miningoperationinCo Tyrone.
The PACwasaskedwhethersubmissions fromDonegalcouncilcouldcausefurther delaysastheconsultationprocessendson January6,afterwhichaformal response hastobesubmittedtotheDepartmentfor InfrastructureNI.
In response,the PACsaidthesematterswere tobethesubjectofthepublicinquiryprocess
DalradianisplanningtodevelopalargegoldmineinCo Tyrone
andthecommissioncouldnotcomment.
AttheheartofconcernsforDonegal CountyCouncilisthe“potentialrisk”posed totheRiverFinn,whichisaspecialareaof conservation.
Stormontdepartmentshavebeencriticised followingthesuspensionofthepublicinquiry intoanapplicationfortheproposedgoldmine inCo Tyrone.
TheprobebythePlanningAppeals Commission(PAC)openedattheStruleArts CentreinOmagh,buthearingsstopped amidclaimstherehadnotbeenenough consultation.
ItwascontendedthattheIrishgovernment hadnotbeennotifedabouttheinquiry,and thatDonegalCountyCouncilhadnotbeen givenadequatetimeto respondafteracrossborderissuewasidentifed.
CommissionerJacquelineMcParlandwas criticalofStormontdepartments,particularly
theDepartmentforInfrastructure.
Shesaiditwas“deeply regrettablethat membersofthe PAChavebeenputinthis positionbytheinactionofgovernment departmentsparticularlytheplanning departmentoftheDFItofollowtheirown legislativeprocedures”.
Shealsosaidthattheinquiryhasbeen “besiegedwithdiffculties”andthiswasa “necessaryjuncture”,addingthatthecostto thepublicpurseandimpactoncommunities “cannotbeunderstated”.
TheminingfrmDalradianhasbeenworking ontheCurraghinaltsitenearGreencastlein theSperrinMountainssince2009.
Ithasappliedtodevelopanunderground goldmine.
Therehasbeenoppositiontotheproposal, whichconcernsanAreaofOutstanding NaturalBeauty,intermsofitsimpactonhealth andtheenvironment.
However,somelocalpeopleareinsupport forinvestmentandjobsinthearea.
Dalradiansaidtheprojectcouldbring1,000 jobsanddeliver£5bntothelocaleconomyin NorthernIreland.
AlliancecouncillorStephenDonnellyhas saidthereisa“deepdisappointment”across thelocalcommunityatthedelay,whichhas increasedconcernsthat residentswerealready feeling.
“Itdidnotcomeasasurprisetoanyone herecross-borderconsiderationswouldcome intoplay,soitisastonishingthedepartment didnotseemtotakethisfactorintoitsplans,” hesaid.
“Theinquirywasanopportunityforthe peopleof Tyroneandfurtherafeldtoinput theiroppositiontothisproposedgoldmine.
“Thankstothedepartment’sfailings,this hasnowgroundtoahalt.Itshowsacomplete disrespecttoourentirecommunity.” ■
Harland & Wolfsuppliers may lose ‘signifcant’ money’ ByJamesMcNaney
SupplierstoHarland & Wolff risk losingsignifcantsumsofmoneyas thegroupcompanyanditsshipyards enteradministrationaspartofitssale,it hasemerged.
Navantia, a shipbuildingfrmownedbythe SpanishGovernment,hasagreedtobuyallfour oftheshipyardscurrentlyownedbyHarland & Wolff,inBelfast,ScotlandandDevon.
Thejobsassociatedwiththeyards,andthe majorcontractwiththeMinistryofDefence tobuildFleetSolidSupport(FSS)ships,willbe carriedoverinthesale.
Howeverithasemergedthatthegroup company, andthefourshipyardsitowns,will stillenteradministrationaspartofthesale.
AccordingtotheBBC,legalnoticesof intentiontoappointadministratorstothefour yardswere publishedthisweek.
Thisisnotexpectedtoaffectanyofthe 1,000jobsinshipbuildingassociatedwiththe yards,howeveritdoesmeanthatsuppliers owedmoneymaymissouton“signifcant”
sumsofmoneythatare owedtothem.
Harland & Wolff ispartofthewinning consortiumon a contractfromtheMinistryof DefencefortheFSSships.
Thispublicationhasspokento a senior memberofonecompanyowedmoneyfor supplyingHarlandand Wolff.
Theyexpressedshockthatdetailofthe shipyards’administrationwasnotmentionedin thegovernment’s press releaseannouncingthe saleonDecember19.
Theyfurtherexplainedhowthelossofthe moneycouldhaveseriousimplicationsfortheir business.
Themoveisnotexpectedtoputtheir companyoutofbusiness,butcouldstilldeliver a signifcantblowtotheirprofts.
GavinRobinson,DUPMPforEastBelfast andpartyleader, saidthatthenewsabout thecompany’s administrationwas“deeply concerning.”
“While I expectthejobsineastBelfastand thenewcontractswillbesafeguardedunder theownershipoftheNavantiaUK,thesudden fnancialuncertaintywillleavemanybusinesses
intheHarland & Wolff supplychainin a precariousposition.
“Thiswillbe a hammer-blowtothose companieswithsomeowedsignifcantsums.
“Iurgeallinvolvedparties,includingthenew ownersand relevantauthorities,toengage urgentlyandfndwaystomitigatetheimpact onourlocalsupplychain.
“Supportingthesebusinessesiscriticalto maintainingtheirviabilityandthecompletion ofthecontract.”
TheDepartmentforBusinessand Tradesaid SecretaryofStateforNorthern IrelandHilary BennhadsetouttheGovernment’s position.
Asked a questionabouttheprocessbyMr RobinsonintheHouseofCommons,MrBenn saidthesaletoNavantiahadbeen“verygood news”,
“Ultimatelythequestionofhowto relate tothosesuppliersis a commercialmatterfor Navantia,but I amsure thatitwantstobuild a good relationshipwithfrmsthatwillhelp Harland & Wolff tobuildthethreefeetsolid supportships.”Navantiawasapproachedfor comment. ■
TheHarland& Wolff shipyardinBelfast
ENERGY, WA ST E & EN VI RONM EN T
Goingfull electric: amonth livingwith anEVin Northern Ireland JohnMulgrew tooktheleaptoanall-electricvehicle justbeforeChristmas,afterspendingweeksand monthsdoinghisresearch.Buthowhaslifebeenwith afullEV,fromrange,tohomecharging,fllinguponthe go,andthedrivingexperience?Hetakesusthrougha monthofEVownership
NeversayIdon’tdoenough research.
Ifthere’sanarticleor YouTubeI haven’twatchedonthemeritsofparticular electriccarsIhadmyeye,thenthealgorithm isn’tdoingitsjob.
Anotherissuewithasomewhat temperamentalolddieselGolfmeant expeditingmymovetoleavingthegas-guzzler behind.
I’llprefacethisbysaying–Iboughtused. NewEVsareexpensive,asarecomparable petrolmodels.Theoptions reallyboildown totakingonhigherpurchase,or,personal contractpurchase(PCP).
Butatthesametime,therearealotof vehiclescomingoffPCPdealswhichcanbe hadforconsiderablylessthanthenewprice.I
optedfora VolkswagenID.3with reasonably lowmileage.
Firstly,let’sjustsay,it’saparticularly enjoyabledrivingexperience.I’veneverowned anautomatic,buttheinstanttorqueandlack of revsmakeeverythingutterlysmoothand buttery.
I’msurepeoplewhohavedrivenmodern automaticsforsometimewillbealready familiarwithmostofthistechnology,butit stillimpressesintermsofitsabilitytotakethe hassleawayfromdriving.
TheID.3hasafairlysmoothautohold function,meaningonceitcomestoacomplete stopitwillholdthehandbrakeonuntilyou accelerateaway.There’sno rollingbackhere, atanystageoronanyinclineI’veexperienced sofar.
Onthe roadtheID.3isacomfortableand smoothexperience.Thatontaptorquemaking pullingontoa roundaboutorgettingupto speedwhilemerging,atruebreeze.It’snippy, thesteeringisbalancedyetlight,andwhileit’s heavierthanitspredecessor(theoldGolf),it hugcornerswell.Theadaptivecruisecontrolis alsoextremelyusefulondailycommutes.
Ifconditionsaren’tidealorthere’ssome turninthewheelsandyouacceleratetoget tospeed,youcanfndthetractioncontrol warningpoponforamomenttoletyouknow it’snotentirelygotthissituationinitsgrasp.
Butoverall,it’saverysmoothandenjoyable placetospendanhourortwoonalonger journey.I’mnotgoingtodelveintothe featuresofthecaritself,theentertainment systemandthelike,butfocusontheEV experienceitself.
Let’sturntorangeandbatterycapacity. Idothinkthatsomemotoringjournalists
The VolkswagenID.3
needtobemorecriticalofthequotedWLTP estimatedranges.Ididalotof researchinto EVsbeforemakingthejumpandwasacutely aware,butstill,itshouldbelaidoutinmuch clearerterms.Whileit’sthemodernequivalent ofmilespergallon,it’ssignifcantlymore importantwheneyeingapurchase.
ThisparticularID.3hasaclaimedrangeof 268miles,withausablebatteryof58kWh. You’llnotachievethat, regardlessofhowyou drive.Butinmyexperience,dealershipsin generalhavebeenupfrontwithactualranges, whichisimportantifyou’renotdoingweeks ofhomeworkinadvance.Luckily,there’sa clearbatterypercentageontheID.3display, alongwiththerange.Thelatter reallyisvery muchjustaguide,though.Ifyou’vebeen drivingfrugallyforacoupleofweeks,then afullchargewillshowwellover220miles range.
Ifyou’vebeenblaringtheheatanddoing
motorwaymiles,thatrangeestimatewillbe lower.
Temperaturetrulydoesimpactrange.Ona warmerdayI’destimateIcanget220miles outofthiscar–althoughit’sbeenparticular nippyonmostdayssinceI’veownedit. However,motorwaydrivingandfreezing temperaturescouldseethatdropto160miles. It’sjustsomethingyouhavetobeawareof, ratherthananythingofadealbreaker.
Whilesomecarshaveheatpumpsandthe abilitytopreconditionthebatteries,you’llface therangedroppingwithallEVs.
Youwillneedahomecharger.Thecost savingsandconvenienceofferedbyanEVare, inpart,ledbygettingthatcheaperrateand alsobeingableto‘fuel’upwithouttravelling anywhereelse.
Somethingyoumightnotbeacutelyaware isoftheneedtousethatdreadedenergydrainingairconditioningandheatingmore
thanatraditionalICEcar,becausethere’sno heatbeinggeneratedbyanengineupfront.
Ifoundthatestimatedrangedropped byaround20%orsowhenIstuckonthe heatingata reasonablesetting,orchosea specifcoptiontodefogthewindows,whichis inevitablewiththreepeopleinthevehicleona longjourneyonanippyday.
Butmostofthisconcernisonlyaligned tostretchingoutwhat’spossiblewithrange. Onaday-to-daybasisIusethecarwiththe airconditioningonacomfortablesetting, anddon’tconsiderwhetherIcanmakea returnjourneywhichisonthecuspofwhat’s possible.
Technologyisyourallyinthisjourney.This isbyadistancethemosttech-heavycarI’ve owned,butit’lllikelyfeelfamiliarifyou’ve beendrivinganythingwithdecentspecinthe lastcoupleofyears.
There’sanenjoyablesatisfactioninbeing>
ENERGY, WA ST E& EN VI RONME NT
abletoblasttheheatingandclearyouricecoveredwindowsfromthecomfortofyour sofa,usingthe Volkswagenapp. Youcanalso schedulethecartoheatupatspecifctimesso it’scomfortablewhenyouenterit,orcharging periods–utilisingcheapertariffsintheevening tochargethevehicle.
Thechargernetworkandinfrastructureis somethingEVownersoftenbemoan,andit’s alsotheelementwhichmaygosomewayin puttingdriversoffmakingthegreenerswitch.
Let’ssay,thingshavegottenconsiderably better.Companiessuchas Weev,BP,and Ionity,havedevelopedasolidnetworkofrapid chargersacrossNorthernIrelandandbeyond.
Thatbeingsaid,however,you’llstillfnd hugegapsinthenetworkupanddownthe country.
Forexample,takealookatoursecond city.Therearequiteafewchargersaround Derry,butthemajorityarenotfastchargers –runningonAC–andwilltakeconsiderable plug-intime.Thatincludesthoseyou’llfndat Lidl,whichonmy Volkswagenonlychargedat 11kW–whichwouldmeanhours,ratherthan minutes.
Infact,inthecityitself,Ionlyfoundtwo locations–almostbesideoneanother–which offeredrapidchargingspeeds.
Ihadjustaboutenoughjuicetomake
itbacktoBelfastfollowingourChristmas visit,butthoughtI’dtopup. Turningintoa largeforecourt,IseefourBPPulsechargers squeezedintoafarcorner.
Threearenotworkingwhenwearrive,the fourthisoccupiedandthere’sacarwaiting.
AvisittotheMaxolnearbyonlyhasone CCSattachmentforfastcharging(usedby mostcarsnow)andthere’sa Tesladriver spendingagoodfewminutesjusttryingtoget itgoing. We leaveand returntotheBPPulse thefollowingday.
Thedifferenceinpricewithchargingat homeisstark. Youcangetoff-peakratesfor £14p/kWh.ButtheBPPulserapidcharger willsetyoubacksixtimesthat–85pfor contactlesspayment,but69pforsubscribers.
Thereisaliteralcostattheheartofthis. WhatCar? recentlydidafairside-by-side comparisonofelectricmodelsandtheir compatibleICEcounterpart.Itfoundthat chargingonthegoactuallyworkedoutmore expensivethanfllingthecarupwithpetrol.
UsingsomethinglikeZapmap,orABRP(A BetterRoutePlanner),willgiveyouadetailed guideastowhatisaround,aswellaswhether it’sworkingorinuse–althoughthisisn’t alwayscorrect.I’dalso recommendchecking outEVANI’swebsiteforlotsofusefulEV informationfromNorthernIreland.
Really,ifyouhaveahomecharger–which you reallydoneedwheninvestinginan EV–youshouldonlyneedtorapidcharge whengoingonalongjourney.Andifyouare continuingonajourneyinonego,you’llwant somethingofatleast50kWcharger,ifnot 100kWplus.
MostaverageEVscanchargefrom20%80%inaround30minutesonthese.Faster chargersandpriciervehiclescanalsoseethat reducefurtherstill.
Theredefnitelyisasatisfactionbeingable topoweryourvehiclewithouteverhavingto visitapetrolstation(mostofthetimeandlong journeysaside).IoptedfortheZappi,which waspurchasedandinstalledbymyenergi.It’ll allowyoutochargeat7KW,whichmeans plugginginwhenyougethomeandyou’llbe backuptofullchargeinaroundeighthours.
Thisisallbecomeseasierifyouhavea driveway.Andit’stheissuethatpeopleare facinginbigmetropolitanareassuchas London. Youmighthaveamulti-millionpound townhouse,butyou’llnothaveanywhereto parkyourcarorinstallachargerwithanygreat ease.
We’veadecentspacetotheleftofthe house,sopickedaspotclosetothefrontof theproperty.Thecablesconnectingtoyour fuseboardinsidearefairlychunky,butthe
installersmanagedtorunthemunderthe windowsillandthenintothewall.Thereis nowaslightlyunsightlycableontheinsideof thehall,butit’llgetboxedoffsoonoratthe veryleastpaintedtomatchthewallitself.
It’sverymuchplugandplay. Youmay wishtohaveyourscheduledchargingsetup (eitheronthemyenergiapporyourcar’sown platformtoscheduleforoff-peakhours,for example)butyoucanliterallyjustplugthe thinginandhitstart,andit’llbegin–showing youhowmuchpoweritstakingin. Yourcar
willalsoshowyourbatterypercentageand roughideaofhowlongit’lltake.
Onethingto rememberisthiscurrent generationofbatteriesprefersitslifebetween 20%and80%.So,mostEVsarebestto chargeto80%forgeneraluseona regular basis,thenchargingto100%whenneeded forlongerjourneysandwhenthecarisn’t goingtojustsitthere,idle,foralongtime.
Iinitiallyhadsometroublegettingpast 2.4KWintermsofthepowerIwasdrawing down.Itwasn’tthecharger’sfault,butturned outitwasasettinginthecaritself. Youcan alsosetyourcarupsoitwillonlychargeto 80%(oranyotherdesiredchargestate).
Theappalsoletsyoumonitorany renewable energysourcesyouhave(primarilysolar),but alsoallowsyoutoseejusthomemuchpower youaredrawingfromthegrid,whichmight makeyoualittlelesskeento re-boilthatkettle whenyouseejusthowmuchenergyituses.
Italsotracksyourchargesandenergyusage, andisagoodwayofknowingmuchyou’re bespendingwhenthebillcomesthroughthe door,assumingyouknowyourcostperunit fromyourelectricitysupplier.
TheID.3joinsarangeof VolkswagenEVson itsbespokeelectricplatform–it’sessentially
itsfrstEVbuiltfromthegroundup,rather thanthemajorityofthosefromtheStellantis Group,whichusuallyhaveoptionsrightacross EVandICE.
It’sasharp-lookingmotor–aslightlytaller Golfwithahigherdrivingposition,butstill very roomyinside.Thisisathree-year-old modelwith reasonablylowmileage,and comesinanunmistakablemetallicturquoise. You’llnotmissitwhenlookingforitinthe carpark.Oneofthedesignattributesfor meisthatitlookslikeanEV.Somedrivers, especiallytraditionalists,wouldpreferthe switchtoelectricisafuidone.Theylikegrey saloonsandthey’dlikeittostaythatway.
Sofar,it’sbeennothingbutapositive experience.There’salottolikeabout thesmoothness,easyofuse,day-to-day practicalityandmodernfeelofgoingelectric. There’snevergoingtobetherighttimeto switch.ThefrstEVIdrovewasaNissan Leafwhichcouldgoabout50miles.Now, a reasonablypriced Volkswagenwilldo220 miles.Thosewithdeeperpocketscanavail ofallmanyofhugebatteryvehicleswith realworldrangeinthehigher300s.They arealwaysgoingtobegettingbetterand cheaper. ■
ENERGY, WA ST E& EN VI RONME NT
InsidetheID.3
Themyenergihomecharger
Review: the Filipinospot cooking upbigfavours inanunlikely location Kubostartedofflifeasapop-upat Trademarketin
Belfastcitycentre,buthasnowrelocatedtoanew unitatGreatNorthernMall,whichusedtoconnect thousandsofcommuterseachdayfromthebusdepot tothecitycentre. JohnMulgrew paysitavisitand discoversbigfavoursanddeftcooking
I’minameetingwithacolleaguefrom Dublinandfeeltheneedtomakeit clearthatthelengthofmysomewhat unrulymaneisnottypical.
Thehair,infact,goneuntendedtoforfar toolong.Itisdenserthanacollapsingstar, withtheweight,warmthandheftofadamp Aranjumper.
Andthus,wearriveatasituationinwhich
wecankilltwobirdswithonestone.
Belfast’sGreatNorthernMallhascertainly neverbeenabastionoffoodanddrink.It’s nowaverydifferentplacetowhatitoncewas –asomewhatageingnecessarythoroughfare tooneofthecity’sbusiestbusandtrain stations.
Butthatpublictransportnetworkhasmoved the relativelyshortdistancetothenewGrand
CentralStation,whilesomeofthebusinesses whichhavecalledtheareahome remain,and othershavetakenup recent residency.It’sa toughsell,giventhe reductionincommuter footfall.
Thereareplanstodevelopafoodmarket withinthenowvacantstationitself,butdetails havenotyetbeenconfrmed.
Oneofthe recentadditionstothemallismy hairdresser,nowlocatedatthesiteofaformer newsagentsatthecorneroftheentrance. Butwhilewe’ll returnheretosortoutthehair situation,lunchawaitsafewdoorsdown.
Kubobeganitsjourneywithapop-upstall atthenowdefunct TrademarketontheDublin Road–thesitenowbeingturnedintothe shinynewheadquartersoftechgiantKainos.
TheFilipinospotwasalsogivensomething ofaPRbumpthankstoanotableappearance onRickStein’sBBCseries,alongsidesomeof themodernstalwartsofNorthernIreland’s widerfoodscene.
Insideitsnewlocation,it’sasstraightforward asitneedstobe–tablestotheleft,asmall passfororderstopopthroughwhen ready, andacounterforservingandpayment.The
Kubo’s ‘jolli’ chicken
Total: £43.50
wallbehindsportsthemenuonoffer–a tight,butwell-balancedselectionofthingsI’m familiarwithfromKubo’spreviousincarnation, alongwithacoupleofothersI’veyettotry.
Anordergoesinforthechickenwings. We’reinformedthebonemarrowsupplierhas letthemdown,thusthechickenwingswillnot includethatrichestoffatsfortheirsignature coating.
However,theyinsteadarrivedousedin Kubo’spineappleandbananaketchup, alongsidetherich,fatty,andsomewhat oceanicheftofthecrabfatmayonnaise.
It’sasymphonyoftextureandlessonin balance.Thecrispexteriorissuitablydeckled, pocked,andcraggly.There’ssomeacidand sweetnessfromthesauce,andthatkickof intensesavourinessfromalittlefishsauce.All iswell.Thisstand-invariationofthewingis everybitasperfect.
Theporkadobobringsforthasizeableyet attractiveplateofwell-renderedandslowcookedswine,bathinginadeepmaroonsauce andcookingliquor,averdantstripeofbanana leafdownthecentreoftheplate–suitably starchyricetothelefttosoakthingsupand alittlemoundofpickledvegetablestocut through.
It’saheartycombinationofsoy-richumami, heftfromthefatandleanermeatofthepork, andthatvinegarsharpnessbalancingout proceedings.It’salsoalotoffoodfor£11.50.
We’vealreadyseenKubo’sdeftnessat preparingpoultry.The‘jolli’chickenshowcases equallevelsofskill. Twochickenthighs areshownthecorrecttreatmentandhave crispnessinspades,while retainingmoisture. Thelemongrassandgingersauceissticky, sweetandfragrant,andprovidesanideal sparringpartneralongsidetheaforementioned
umami-richsuidae,ifyou’reinthemoodto share.
Anorderofthe‘pancitcanton’spring rolls bringsforthaneatstackoffourcrispcylinders –insidesitsaheartyfillingofeggnoodles, seasonedwithgarlicandsoy.Theyprovidea welcomestarch,butifyou’reeyeingonesmall plate,makeitthewings.
Porkadobo,spring rollsandchicken wingsatKubo
It’saratherovercastThursdaylunchtime,but wehaveeaten,andeatenwell.
Whileadatedmall,oncethrongingwith travellersbutnowconsiderablyquieter,isfar fromwhatcouldbeconsideredanarchetypeof welcominghospitality,Kubomanagestoboth satisfywithawelcomingembraceandalso turnoutplatesoffoodwhichimpressfortheir skill,deftnessandboldnessofflavour.Don’tlet thesomewhatsterilesurroundingsblindyou–thebestthingsareoftendiscoveredintheleast likelyofplaces.Thisiscertainlyoneofthem. ■ THEBILL
Lasagne: how to perfect the classichearty Italianstaple JohnMulgrew takesalookathis takeonlasagneandhowtoperfectthis classicItalianbakedpastadish
Pizzafallsintothecategoryof–when it’sfairlypoor,it’sstillfairlygood. Anovercookedcheapdeeppan cheesepizzaaside,evenasliceofsomething thatmightnothaveallthe requisiteboxes tickedcanprovidesuitablesustenance, especiallyastheclockticksontothenextday.
Whilelasagneisn’tquiteasclearcut,a decentpubbashatitcanstillbesomething worthyourtime.IntermsofIreland’sinsistence onservingitwithfurthercarbsandawhackof mayo-heavycoleslaw,that’stobedebated.I’m sureanItalianwouldstruggleto recogniseour owninterpretationofthis reveredbakeddish, butithasitsownplaceinmyheart.
Also,apieceofadvice.Ifyou’revisitinga pubhereanddon’tknowwhat’sgoingtobe freshoroutofafreezerbag,you’lloftennot gowrongwithalasagne.It’shardtofakethat it’sbeenmadeinhouse.I’verarelybeenlet downbyit.Justdon’texpectsomethingyou’d fndinNaples.
Therearedifferentwaysofapproaching it.I’veaddedandtakenawaythingsover theyears,someofwhichcertainlystrayfrom tradition.Butoverall,it’sthatcombinationof arich,slow-cookedragu(essentiallywhereall
theworkis),creamybechamel,andasuitable additionofcheese.Sometraditional recipes leantowardsasturdier,drieroutcome. You wantsomethingwithalittlestructureand rigidity.Asloppymessonaplateisnotthe desired result.
Fortheragu,I’vea recipewhichhasn’t steeredmewrongforyears.WhileIusegood groundbeefformostofmyragus,ifyou’re goingtoallthateffortforalasagne,using somethinglikebeefshinwilladdmoredepth offavour,texture,andrichness.Beefcheek willalsoworkforthis.
Startbycuttingacoupleoflargeslicesof beefshinintolargechunks,aroundtwoinches thick.Searinaheavybottompot(whichwill soonbegoingintotheoven)inalittlebeeffat, alongwiththeboneandmarrowyou’llhave after removingthemeat.Thisisanotherlittle keyingettingthatextralayeroffavour.
Addinsomegoodporksausage,squeezed outofthecasing,andbrown.Then,you’re addingyoursofritoofveryfnecarrot(lotsof carrot),onionandcelery.Cookdownalittle beforeaddinginalittlegarlic,followingbya goodsqueezeoftomatopuree.Cookdown foraminuteortwothenaddinafewvery
healthyfewglugsof Worcestershiresauce, around500mlofhomemadeorshopbought beefstock,acoupleofstalksoffreshthyme, acoupleofbayleaves,aheapedteaspoonof dijonmustard,alargeglassof redwine,anda canofpassata.Seasonwithsomeblackpepper andalittlesalt,butwaituntiltheendbefore thefnalseasoning.
Cookthisforaroundthreetofourhoursin alowoven.Whenyou remove,pushoutthe marrowfromthebonesandmixin,andgently breakupthemeatandcombineintoyour
sauce.Ifit’salittlewet,just reduceatouchon thehob.
Forthebechamel,followtheclassic recipe. Addinfourandbutter,cookingdowna littleonalowheatbeforeaddingwholemilk andacoupleofbayleaves.Keepstirring,or whisking,andaddingmilkuntilthefouris cookedandit’sthick,butnotcloying(it’lldry outand reduceintheoven).Seasonwithsalt, whitepepperandatouchofnutmeg.
Now,getyourlargestanddeepestoven dish. Youcanbuyfreshpastaforthis,or
blanchdriedsheets,butaslongasyoucover withenoughliquid,drysheetswillwork.
Startwithsomeraguandbechamelatthe bottom,thenlayerinthepasta(breaking inhalftoftneatlyifneeded). Youcanadd parmesan,too,butIfnditcandrythingsout. Then repeatasmanytimesasnecessary –addingragu,whitesauce,andtopwith pasta.Oncefnished,topwithlotsofraguand bechamel(ensuringallthepastaiscovered well)beforegratingonparmesan.Ifyouwant toaddalocaltouch,anothercheesethatmelts
Lasagnetakes timesbutis worthit
wellwilladdsomeadditionaltexturalcontrast. Now,bakethelasagneonamediumoven forbetween45-60minutes. Youcancover withtinfoilforsomeofthecookingtohelp avoiditgettingtoomuchcolour.Useaknifeto checkthepastaiscookedthrough,particularly ifyou’recookingfromdry.
Remove,andletitsit.Thetemptationisto justdigrightin,butitwillbebothscorching hotandalsonotholdtogether.Giveitalittle timetosettle,thenplateupandtopwithsome additionalfreshlygratedparmesan. ■
Charity taking on old Belfastbank building for community centre StreetSoccerNIhasrevealedplansformulti-usefacilitytohelphomeless,thoseon lowincomes,andrefugeesinthearea,writes
JohnMulgrew Acharitytacklinghomelessness iscreatinganewmulti-use communitycentreataformer prominentsouthBelfastbankbuilding,it canbe revealed.
CharityStreetSoccerNIisturningthe formerUlsterBankatShaftesburySquare intoamulti-usecentre.Thatcouldseeit developingashop,supermarketandfood bankonthegroundfoor,withtheupper foorsusedforlanguageclasses,workshops, socialareasandagym.
Thenewcentre–whichwillbebranded StreetNI–willhelpthosewhoarehomeless oronlowincomes,and refugeesinthelocal area.
“Weareusingthegroundfoorfora charityshop,targetingthoseonlowincomes –withcheaperprices,freeclothestothe community,hygieneitems,vouchersfor people. We arealsostartingafoodbank,” JustinMcMinn,chiefexecutive,told Ulster Business
“Upstairs,wewillbemostlydoing communitystuff–support,Englishclasses, workshops,abiggames room,asocialarea, andagym.”
StreetSoccerNIisacharitywhichuses footballandsporttobringpositivechangeto
people’slives–aimingtotacklehomelessness, unemployment,addictionandmentalhealth issues.
TheShaftesburySquarebranchofUlster Bankoccupiedthegroundfoorofthelong vacantbuilding,whichhasoffcesabove,from 1964untilitshutitsdoorsinJune2013.
In2023theAirborneMensculptures by renownedartistDameElisabethFrink–popularlyknownasDraftandOverdraft–that wereonthesideofthebuildingweregiftedby thebanktotheUlsterMuseum.
“WehavebuiltupabigbasewithStreet SoccerNI–peoplecancomehereandhang out,thereareworkshops,socialnights,or iftheyneedclothesorfurniture.Also,the generalpubliccanbuystufffromtheshops.”
Justinsaidtheorganisationwillberunninga rangeofclassesforthecommunity,including languagelessonsandfoodhygiene.
It’sunderstoodtheorganisationhasagreed aninitialnine-monthleasetothebuildingbut hopestoextendthatfurther.
AndJustin’skeenforpeopletogetinvolved rightaway.“Weneedtomakemoneytokeep thisgoing,”hesaid.
“Wewantpeopletogetinvolved. We are nowsixdaysaweekwiththeshop,sowewill needvolunteers.”
AswellastheStreetNIproject,the organisationalsorunsavanservice,forthose whoneedit,calledStreetMove.“Wehavea ‘manwithavan’ removalservice,whichwe operatefvedaysaweek,”hesaid.
“Wearesomuchmorethanjustfootball now–it’sabouttacklinghomelessness.”
Hesaiddemandforservices,suchasthe needforafoodbank,ishuge.
“Wehavebeengivingoutvouchersfor supermarkets,andtherehasbeenqueuing downthestreet.Alotof refugeescomehere, too.
“IftheyarelivingintheBT7areatheycan accessavoucher.Aswearesettingupandthe signageisgoingup,peoplewillstarttosee us.” ■
JustinMcMinnatStreetNI’snewbaseattheformer UlsterBankbuilding
HE ALTHCA RE ‘Iworkedwithtop
DanielDavey,aperformancenutritionist whoworkedforLeinsterRugbyandtheDublin footballers,isalsoauthorof‘EatUp,Raise Your Game’and‘EatUp,TheNextLevel’.Helooksat someoftheworkhe’sdoingandhisjourneysofar
Schoolwasnotagoodexperience forme.I reallystruggledandhad diffcultexperienceswithteachers whojustdidn’tlikeme,andwhomaybe didn’t recognisethatIwasn’tthereyetin
termsofmaturityorability.Iwaspicked onandIthinkIwasabitofalostcause insomeclasses.Whenpeoplegiveupon you,that’ssomethingthatneverleaves youandyou’rekindofscarredbyit.
Mydadpassedawaythreeyearsago,buthe hadaprofoundlypositiveimpactonme.Iwas borninaverysmallcottageinChaffpool,Co Sligo,andhewasafarmerwhoalsoworked inthelocaldairy,whilemymum,Eileen, workedfortheDepartmentofAgriculture. Mydadcalledhimselfapractical realistand wassomebodywhoalwaysnurturedany ambition,buthetalkedabouttheworkand thecommitmentthatwasneededtoachieve anything.
Ihadanambitiontodo reallygoodthings whenIgotolder,butIalmostthoughtyou
couldskipthehardworkatschool,sothere wasahugeamountofnaivetythere.Ifailed myLeavingCertmaths,butmanagedtoget theextra3.5%ona recheckandgotinto collegetodoadegreeinagriculturalscience atUCD.
Ifeellikethingsmassivelystartedtochange withmywholemindsetaroundthevalueof educationthere.Iwentontodoamaster’s innutritionandphysicalactivityatBristol University,andwhenIcamebacktoIreland,I playedfootballwithBallybodenStEnda’sand triedtofgureouthowtomakeacareer.
Ispenteightmonthsdoinganunpaid internshipinUCDwhileworkingformarketing agenciesandthenIgotanopportunitytowork inasportssupplementcompany.Itturnedout tobea reallypositiveexperiencebecausewhile Iwasthere,IwasworkingwiththeDublin hurlersandthatbegantobuildmyexperience togoafterthejobIwanted.
Ayearlater,anopportunityasperformance nutritionistcameupwiththeDublinsenior footballteamandLeinsterRugby,andaftera six-weekperiodoffairlychallenginginterviews withJimGavinandGuyEasterby,Imanagedto
Youhavetobereally clearaboutwhether youwanttobeagood parent,asportsperson orwhateveryourgoal is,andnotbeafraidto say,‘ThisishowIwant toliveandthisiswhoI wanttobe’. securetheposition. IfeltlikeIwas readytostepintothose environments,butIwasincrediblynaive aboutwhattheexpectationsofworkingin professionalsportwasgoingtobelike.
Ididn’t reallyunderstandthatit’snotjust aboutcommitmentorthequalityofthework, it’sabouthowyoudevelop relationshipsand buildtrustwithpeople.Imadewhatseemed likeend-of-the-worldmistakesduringthefrst fewmonthsaseverythingwasmagnifed.
I rememberIdidn’tleaveoutthecupsfor thehydrationtestingtobedonebeforea bigmatchandIgotacallfromtheheadof performance.Mymouthwasdryandmyheart ratehadgoneto150,andIwaswonderingifI wouldevercomebackfromthis?
Itwasatoughphaseasthepersonyou’re goingtobeatupthemostisyourself,butthe environmentwillnotstandforsubstandard workeither. Youcometotermswiththatand youfndyoursystemandprocesses.
Ithinkthattherehasalwaysbeenan honestyabouthowIapproachthings,and mythingwastochangetheattitudestowards food,asitissomuchmorethanfuel.It’s aboutenjoyment.It’saboutsharing.It’sabout nurturing.
It’saboutaninvestmentinyourselfandit’s aboutbeingableto reallyclearlylinkgood foodchoicestofeelingbetterandhaving betterenergylevels.Thebyproductofallof thosethingsisbetter recoveryandbetteronfeldperformance.
Ihadsomeearlywinsinthat.Therewere verysignifcantplayersthereatthetime,like JamieHeaslip,JohnnySexton,SeánO’Brien andJackMcGrath,whoboughtintohow>
HE ALTHCA RE
DanielDavey
HE ALTHCA RE muchIwantedtohelp,andthatbuiltasense ofwhatIcoulddoandhowIcouldinfuence thisenvironment.
Ispentnearly10yearsinthosepositions, andwaswiththeDublinseniorsthrough winningsixAll-Irelandsina row. Buteveryjob hasitstimeandIknewthatminehadcometo itsendinbothenvironments.
ThebigthingIlearnedaboutmyselfwas Iloveautonomy,andIhadavisionforhowI wantedtohelppeople.I’dwrittentwobooks andexperiencedfeedbackaroundhowpeople wereengagingwithmyphilosophyaround food.
LeinsterRugbyisoneofthebest professionalorganisationsintheworldandit standsoutonyourCV.Forsixmonthsafter Ileft,therewasanticipationandexcitement aboutwhatwastocome.Inthebackofmy head,Ithought,well,nowI’mavailableand surelytherearesomeopportunities,butthere werenophonecallsfromotherbigsporting organisations.Iwentforacoupleofthings thatdidn’tworkoutandwasstartingto wonderwhatwasnext.
Abig realisationaboutmyselfwashow importantconversationswerewithlikemindedpeople.IdecidedthatwhatI really wantedtodowasstillbeapartofateam,so Ibegantobuildmyownteamandlaunched daveynutrition.com.Istartedtofeelthe chemistryandtheenergyagainwhenIwas workingwithdifferentteamsondifferent projects.
Ihaveasocial-mediafollowingwhereIshow atinyelementofwhatourphilosophyisand whatwedo,andI’vegotmy relationshipswith thelikesofGlenilenFarm,whichare really positiveexperiencesastheyhavesimilarvalues andareveryalignedtomywayofthinking.
I’mhelpingpeopleunderstandthat nutritionisnotjustaboutthemacro-and micronutrients.I’dlikethemtounderstand thatfocusingonyourhealthtakesalotmore thanjustlookingatoneaspectofyourlife, andyouneedtobecomeclearinwhatitisyou wanttoachieve,aseverythingisconnectedin ourlives.
It’showwefeel,ouremotions,ourpurpose andourvisionforhowwewanttolive. You
havetobe reallyclearaboutwhetheryou wanttobeagoodparent,asportspersonor whateveryourgoalis,andnotbeafraidto say,‘ThisishowIwanttoliveandthisiswho Iwanttobe’.Soifyou’reeatingwell,moving well,sleepingwell,andmanagingthestressin yourlife,you’reabletoconnectthosesmaller decisionstoalifethatyou’vethoughtabout andcreated.
We aremaybealittlebitmoredisconnected fromnaturenowbecauseofourphones, digitaltechnologyand remoteworking,but youcanstripawayallthedistractionsand saythisiswhatmakesmehappy,theseare thefoodsIliketoeat,thisisthewayIliketo exercise,andthesearethepeoplewhomake mefeelgoodandIwanttospendmytime with.
Sonutritionhasbecomeafarsmaller percentageofthetypeofconversationsI’m havingwithpeoplethesedays.Inorderto reallyunderstandwhatimpactsourhealth,we haveto reallyconnectwiththefundamentals ofwhatmakesushappy,andIthinkthat’s reallyimportant. ■
DeloittepartnersChris
Sloan,JackieHenry,Marie DoyleandAisléanNicholson atthenewBelfastoffce
Deloitte moves1,300 staf to new Belfastheadquarters ProfessionalservicesfrmDeloitte haslauncheditsnewBelfast headquarters,withover1,300 NorthernIrelandstaffinthesameoffce forthefrsttime.
ItisnowbasedatTheEwartonBedford Street,closetothelocationoftheoldoffce whereitwasbasedforover30years.
Deloitte,whichhasahybridworkingpolicy, isoccupyingatotalof46,000sqftonthe second,third,15thand16thfoorsofThe Ewart’smodernoffcetower.
Thesecondfooralsoconnectstothe historicpartofTheEwartdevelopment,Ewart Warehouse.It’saformerlinenwarehouse datingfromthe19thcentury.
After reachinganalmostderelictstate,the warehousehasbeen restoredto retainfeatures suchasarchways,pillarsandstaircases.
Andotherhistoricdesignfeatureshavealso beenincorporatedintothenewoffcetower attachedtothewarehousebuilding.
Thefrmsaysitshybridworkingapproach givesemployees“fexibilityandchoice”inhow
theyworkbetweenclientsites,Deloitteoffces andhome.Itdoesnot requirestaffatattend theoffceforasetnumberofdayseveryweek.
JackieHenry,managingpartnerforpeople andpurposeatDeloitte,andDeloitteNorthern Irelandoffceseniorpartner,said:“Thisnew offceisanamazingspaceforourpeopleand givesusaplatformtocontinueservingour clientsandpartnersinNorthernIrelandand beyond.
“AfterhavinghadapresenceonBedford Streetmanyyearsago,thisfeelslikea return toour rootsforDeloitteBelfast.
“Theinvestmentthefrmhasmadein ournewheadquartersistestamenttothe highqualityofourteamsinBelfastand demonstratesourcommitmenttoplayingan active roleintheNorthernIrelandeconomy andwiderbusinessecosystem.
“It’sbeenbrillianttoseetheincredibletalent inour regioncometogetherinthenewspace, andwelookforwardtohostingourclientsand partnersinTheEwartthroughout2025.”
Deloittesaidithaddesignedthenewoffce
toenablea“cultureofengagementand inclusivity”withmoresharedspacesforteams andcollaborativeworking.Thereisaclient suiteonthe16thfoorwithviewsoverthe city.
Therearealso‘wellnessspaces’suchasa nursing roomandmulti-faithspace,anda games roomandoutdoorterraceonthe15th foor.
TheBelfastmovefollowsDeloitte’steamsin Edinburgh,ManchesterandBristolallmoving intonewoffces.
ThenewBelfastoffcealsoincorporates environmentalfeatureswhichprioritiselow carbonuseandproductswithhigh recycled content.
InOctoberlastyearDeloitteannounceda newpartnershipwithscienceandtechnology organisationCatalyst,whichwillseeit establishanewhub‘CatalystBedfordStreet’ forstart-upsandscale-upsontheground foorofTheEwart Warehousebuilding.The newhubwillincludeacaféoperatedbysocial enterpriseTheNOWGroup. ■
Whyyoushould actnowbefore stampduty changesthisyear Janet Williamson,directorofcommercialand propertyatO’ReillyStewartSolicitors,onwhynowitis thetimetodealwithstampdutybeforechangestothe ratesin2025
TheNorthernIrelandhousingmarket continuestooutperformtheother regionsoftheUK,withfguresfrom NationwideBuildingSocietynotinga7.1% year-on-yearpriceincrease.Thatputsit topoftheUKleaguetable,wherehouse pricesonaverage roseby4.7%in2024.
Behindthisupwardtrendisafamiliar imbalancebetweensupplyanddemand,as agents reportrisinginterestatatimewhen housebuildinginNorthernIrelandhasfallento a60-yearlow.
Carefulplanningiskeyforallthoselooking tomakeamove,particularlyasthe revised stampdutylandtax(SDLT)ratesloomover thehorizonwhichitselfwillspellsignifcant changesforbuyersas2025stretchesout beforeus.
Thenewratescomeintoeffectforall purchasescompletedonorafterApril12025 andcouldpotentiallyaddthousandstoyour homemove.ButwhatistheSDLT?Andhow willitimpacthomebuyersinNorthernIreland?
Bywayof recap,inSeptember2022,the Governmentannouncedatemporaryincrease tothethresholdsabovewhichstampduty mustbepaid,thereby reducingtheamountof stampdutypayable.
Stampdutyisalumpsumpaymentmade bypurchasersofpropertyorlandbuyerstothe governmentaftercompletionofthepurchase. SDLTshouldbepaidwithin14daysof
thecompletiondate.Howmuchyoupay dependsonthecorrespondingSDLTratesfor thepropertyorlandbeingpurchasedand yourpersonalcircumstancessuchas,areyou afrst-timebuyer,areyousellingandbuying a replacementmain residence,areyouan investororareyouanon-UK residentbuying intheUK.
Thatperiodoftemporaryincreaseis comingtoanendonMarch31thereby increasingtheamountofstampdutypayable backtowhatitwaspre-September2022.
Whilethisdatemayseemfaroffin real terms,consideringtheaverageturnaround timesfora residentialpropertytransaction tendtorangebetweenthreetofourmonths, andinsomecircumstancesmaylastlonger, timeisoftheessenceastheindustrybraces itselfforastrongandbusyspring.
Investorshavealreadyseenanincrease inSDLTratesfromOctober31lastyear, asanyonepurchasingasecondproperty willnowpaya5%surchargeontheentire purchasepriceforpropertiesover£40,000.
Takingacloserlookatthefurtherchanges whichwillcomeintoforcefromApril1, endingthestampdutytax‘holiday’,there willbeimplicationsforawiderangeof buyersfromfrst-timehomeownerstochain movers.
Thestandard residentialSDLTnil-rateband willdropfrom£250,000to£125,000for
thosechainmoversbuyingtheirnextmain placeof residence,meaningbuyerswillpay taxonpropertiesover£125,000ratherthan £250,000amountingtoanadditionalstamp dutylevyof£2,500.
First-timebuyerswillseetheirnil-rate band reducedfrom£425,000to£300,000. Therefore,ifyouareafrst-timebuyer,youwill paytaxonanypropertyover£300,000.
Itisalsoimportanttonotethatifyouare afrst-timebuyerandarebuyingaproperty over£500,000,youwillnotbeclassedasa frst-timebuyerandthestandardratesand thresholdswillapplyandyouwillpaystamp dutyover£125,000.
Thereisnodoubtthattheimpactwillbe
signifcantwithallbuyersacrosstheboard facinghighertaxliabilitiesontheirpurchases.
First-timebuyersmayfndthesechangeseat intotheiraffordability,especiallyinareaswith higherpropertyprices.
NavigatingthesenewSDLTchangesiscrucial tomakinginformedpropertydecisionsthat’s rightforyou.Indeed,forbuyersconsideringa propertypurchasein2025,carefultimingwill becriticalgiventheaverageturnaroundtimes mentionedabove.
Whetheryou’reafrst-timebuyer,an investor,orplanningtomoveuptheproperty ladder,it’simportanttounderstandthe changescomingdownthepipeline,aswellas bepreparedfnancially.
AgoodfrstportofcallistheupdatedSDLT calculatorontheGovernmentwebsite,which willhelpyouunderstandexactlyhowmuchtax you’llowebasedonthenewratesalthough dobecarefultoinsertthecorrectdateof potentialcompletiontoobtainanaccurate calculation.
Thosewhofndthemselveswithoutachain, namelyfrst-timebuyersorthoseplanning tobuyanadditionalproperty,consider completingyourpurchasebeforeApril1, toensureyou remainwithinthecurrent thresholds.
Apurchasetakesonaveragebetween10-12 weekstocompleteandthereforeitishighly recommendedthatasaprospectivebuyer,you
starttheprocessassoonaspossible.
TheNorthernIrelandhousingmarket remainsbuoyant,andwhilestampduty changesareexpectedtotriggerajumpin transactionsduringthefrstthreemonths,with amanicMarchofmovesthereisexpectedto beacooling-offperiodtowardstheendof 2025asoccurredintheaftermathofsimilar stampdutychanges.
Asalwaysconsultwithasolicitorortax advisortonavigatethesechangeswith confdence.Legalandfnancialprofessionals canensurethatyouunderstandanytax technicalitiesfullyandarewell-equippedfor whatisshapinguptobeanotherbusyyear ahead. ■
Ireland’skeytourismtrend isescapingtheheat… whileplungingintoluxury DonaghDavern,aformerhotelgeneralmanagerandalecturerinhospitality managementatMunster TechnologicalUniversity,looksatwhat’saheadforthe Republic’stourismsectorin2025
Therewas$8.6trn(€8.3trn)spenton travelin2024,around9%ofglobal GDP,withtheluxurytravelarea growingfasterthananyother,according toconsultantsMcKinsey,
Asamarketsegment,the“aspiringluxury traveller”demographicisontheincrease. Thesearetravellerswillingtospendlarge portionsoftheirdisposableincomeonluxury travel,eventhoughtheyhavenot reached
millionairestatus.
Thoseagedbetweenthe40and60should beaparticularfocusforthoseinthetravel sector,asthesearedeemedtobetheprime agesfortravel.Theseaspiringluxurytravellers
wanttosplurgeonspecialoccasions.
Thehottemperatureexperiencedacross partsofEuropein recentsummersmeansthat manytravellersareoptingfor‘coolcationing’ options,wheredestinationshavemore moderatetemperaturesandwheretheyare lesscrowded. Travellersalsoprofessadesirefor authenticity,seekingtoimmersethemselvesin alocalcommunityandculture.
ThisisgoodnewsforIrishtourismastourists moveawayfromthesoaringtemperaturesof theMediterranean regioninthepeaksummer months,lookingforamoremoderateclimate. Eco-tourismisbecomingincreasinglymore popular,withthetouristcaringmoreabout theircarbonfootprintandtheirimpacton theenvironment.Thismeansthatproviders suchashotelsneedtobecognisantoftheir environmentalimpactandtakestepsto mitigatenegativeactionsinthearea.The
desireformoresustainablefoodoptionsis ontheincrease,withlocallysourcedfooda priorityforeachmenu.
Thereisalsoatrendtowardslocationswith lesslightpollution.This“astro-tourism”allows visitorstostargazeorexplorephenomenasuch astheNorthernLightsoraneclipse–good newsforlocationssuchasKerry’sInternational DarkSkyReserveontheIveraghPeninsula.
Othergeologicalphenomena–suchas volcanoes,hotspringsandevenlavafelds andblacksandbeachesinIceland–arealso provingtobepopulartouristdraws.
Solotravelisamarketnichethatisonthe increasein recentyears,whileothersseek like-mindedtravelcompanionsingrouptravel experiences.
Thoseseekingindependenceandachance forspontaneitywillcontinuetoembracethis trend.Itmayevencausehoteliersto reconsider theirsingle-supplementcharge–longabone ofcontentionforthosetravellingontheirown.
Anincreasein“softtravel”–encompassing simplicityandease,alongwithaninwardfocus –willmeanariseinthepopularityofquality timespentwithfamily,walksinforests,maybe evensleepingundercanvas.
HarpingbacktothedayswhenmanyIrish wentshoppingtoNew YorkpriortoChristmas, “goodsgetaways”–atrendnamedbyonline travelagentExpedia–arealsoontheincrease. Thisiswhereatraveller’smainfocusison shopping,andtherewillbespace reservedin theirluggagetopackitemstheyhaveseen advertisedinadvanceoftheirtrip.Many ofthesepurchasesareinspiredbycelebrity endorsementsonline.
MoviesandTVshowsarealsoheavily infuencingtraveldestinationchoice,withone examplebeinglocationsinScotlandbeing soughtoutbypeoplewhofollowtheseries Traitors.Thistravelexperiencehasbeentermed “set-jetting”.
Aneedforadigitaldetoxorasimple desiretodisconnectfromthebadnewsinthe worldmayalsobeaconsiderationformany travellers.
Wellnesstourismcontinuestogrow inpopularity–oneoftheonlypositives emanatingfromthepandemic.Spendingfrom
wellnesstouristsishighandthephenomenon of“secondarywellnesstourism”–where travellersseekoutawellnessexperience whentravellingonacorporateorleisure trip–isalsoanimportantconsiderationfor destinationswhichfocusonthisarea.
Outdooractivities,suchasexploring greenways,hikingandcycling,arealso increasinglypopular.Physical,mentaland spiritualhealthareallontheprioritylist fortouristsin2025.Thesearchforunique experiencesandculturalexperienceswill alsobepopular,with54%of respondents ina recentsurveybyglobaltravelsearchsite Skyscannercitingcultureasanimportant factorwhenseekingaholidaydestination.
Theseimmersiveexperienceswillsee travellersseektoparticipateinlocal communityactivitiesandtherichhistoryand heritageofaparticularlocation.
Traveltoseeafavouritesingerperform, attendamajorsportingeventorexperience aparticular restaurantarealsofactorswhich travellersareconsidering.
Theintegrationofadvancedtechnologies intothetravelexperiencecontinuestobe animportantconsideration. Virtual reality, AIchatbots,augmented reality,self-driving vehicles,virtualassistantsandeven robotics areallbeingutilisedtoprovideamore bespoke,improvedandstreamlinedguest experienceinadvanceoftravel,while travellingandinthepost-travelperiod.
Travellers,therefore,canlookforwardto moreimmersive,meaningfulandexperiential offeringsin2025,aidedbythelatest technologicalinnovationstoenhancetheir overallexperience.
Sustainability,luxury,culture,natureand wellnesswillencompassmanypopulartourist offeringsintheyearaheadastravellersseek outsomethingdifferent.
Less-crowded,quieterdestinationswith amoderatetemperaturemayalsoseea riseinpopularitybasedonpreviousyears travellerexperiences,withamoveawayfrom overcrowdedpopulardestinationswhich haveexperiencedextremetemperaturesin recentsummersastraveltrendscontinueto change. ■
BusinessisinthebloodforKieran Walsh,bossofNationalBeauty Distribution, a distributorandcocreatorofinternationalcosmeticbrands suchasBare by VogueWilliams.There was neveranythingelseheconsidereddoing.
“Ididn’t lickitoffa stone,”Kieran(42)says aboutsettingup a distributionbusiness.
Hegrewuparoundhisdad’s engineering equipmentsupplybusinessandsoldthe latestNokiahandsetsatschool.Inhis20s,he appearedonTVhitshowTheApprenticeand thenlaunched a beautydistributiongroup, whichhe’s grownfrom a smallcupboard in Corkto a vast27,000sqfthubbuildinghugely successfulbrandswiththelikesof Vogue Williams.
“Igrewupwatchingmydadbuildhisown business,”hesays.“Ineverthoughtthatyou couldworkforsomeoneelse; I justthought thatyoumadeyourownway.”
FromitsbaseinBlarney, KieransaysNational BeautyDistributionhassalesofover€20m (£16.6m),withnetproftover€10m(£8.3m).
Thefrmhasseveralstrandstothebusiness. Thelongest-standingandlargestisits professionalbusiness,which representsmany beautybrandsintheIrishmarket,including KevinMurphy, theluxuryhaircare brand,and Aveda.Ithasalsoexpandedinternationally, openinganoffceinPortugal,where it distributeshaircare productsfornamessuchas ElevenAustraliaandK18.
NationalBeautyDistributionalsohas a stable ofbrandsitcreatedorco-created,suchas thosewithsocialmediainfuencers,likeLuna byLisaJordan.
TheinsatiableappetiteforNational BeautyDistribution’s cosmeticproductsfrom professionalsalonsand retailers – fuelled byKieran’s cannysocialmediainfuencer marketingadoption – continuesunabated.
“Nextyear, weare targeting€25.7m (£21.3m),andthefollowingyear, wewould
How Apprentice starbecame abeauty industry giant AschiefexecutiveofNationalBeauty Distribution, Kieran Walsh boastsBareby Vogueand Avedaamonghisfrm’sbiggest names,writes SeanPollock
hopetogetcloseto€30m(£24.9m),”hesays.
“Theyare ambitiousgoals,becauseyou starttalkingabout reallybignumbers.Itis easytotalkaboutpercentages,butthisis€5m (£4.2m)thathasgottobespentbypeople. Thatequatesto€10m(£8.3m)thatpeopleare spendingin retailandonlinewithourshops.It isnotinsignifcantbyanymeans.”
ItwouldbefairtosaythatBare by Vogue, a tanningrangehesetupalongsidecelebrity Vogue Williamsin2018,hasbecomethejewel inthecrownofNationalBeautyDistribution. Italreadyaccountsforaround€7m(£5.8m) ofsales,quicklyestablishingitselfas a market leaderinIreland.
KieranalreadyhasBare intheUK,sellingin Sainsbury’s supermarkets.However, hehopes toland a game-changingdealforBare with
BootsinthelucrativeBritishmarket.
Despitesalesgrowingby24%on2023this year, Kieranacknowledgesthatthepast12 monthshavecomewithchallenges.Bricksand-mortar retailhasfeltthepinch,ashas e-commerce,whilesalons,thecompany’s largestsourceofsales,havealsofaced diffculties.
KierangrewupnearKanturk,CoCork, surroundedbybusiness.Hisdadhadhisown company, WalshEngineering,whichsells weldingandengineeringsuppliestobusinesses inpharmaceuticals,breweries,dairyfarmsand constructionsectors.
Theexposure tothedistributionbusiness rubbedoff:“ThatwasalwaysinmyDNA. I was always a bit‘hustley’inschool,alwaysbuying orsellingsomething.”
Kieranworkedwithhisdad’s frmforyears andlearned a lotfromtheexperience.Hegot a realtasteforbusiness.
Whenheturned26,hetook a puntand enteredTVshowTheApprentice.Despite IrishbusinessmanBillCullensackinghimon weekfouroftheshow, Kieranenjoyedthe experience.
Intheyearsaftertheseries,Kieranstarted building retailwebsites.Theseincluded DogCollars.ie,whichheeventuallysoldfor €20,000(£16,600).
ThebeautyindustrysooncametoKieran’s attention.Armedwithhisknowledgeof thedistributionbusiness,he reachedoutto hundredsofbrands,lookingtogetthem onboard,butitwasinitiallychallengingto convincethem.
AlongsidefellowformerTheApprentice contestant WillMcCreevey, hesetupNational BeautyDistributionin2012.HeboughtoutMr McCreeveyin2021.
Earlydoors,Kieranspottedthepotential forsocialmediato revolutionisemarketingin thebeautyspace.Hewatchedinfuencerslike SuzanneJacksonandAnnaSacconeposton Facebooktobuildtheirpublicprofles.They were attracting a considerableamountof interest.
“Ijustthought:‘Look,there isanother avenuehere tograbattention,’”hesays.“A lotofpeoplewere migratingtosocialmedia. Advertisingwasstillstuckinthedarkagesat thattime.”
Kieranwould reachouttoinfuencerstouse hisproductsandpostaboutthem.Come2014,
theseinfuencerswere nowbignames.
In2017,hetooktheplunge,helping infuencerLisaJordansetuphermakeup brand,Luna.Ithassinceexpandedinto haircare,withKieranplanningtobringitinto theinternationalmarkets.
ThesuccessofLunahadKieranthinking aboutotherwaystoshakeuptheIrish beautyindustry Hehadlongfeltfake tanwasripefordisruption,notinghowit smelledbadand regularlydestroyedbed sheets.
Knowingthatmuchoftheproduct wasmadeinIreland,Kierancameupwith a differentformulationtofxwhathe considered a “brokencategory”.
Whilethebrandlaunchedin2018,it wasn’t untiltheCovidpandemicthatBare cameintoitsown.
Off thebackofthepandemicsurge, NationalBeautyDistributionhascontinued itsgrowthstory
Kieranhashiseyesonmore opportunities, notleast TikTokShop.Mergersand acquisitionsare anotherareaKieranis lookingat.Heiscurrentlytalkingto a brand intheUK,whichhasan“A-listcelebrity” attachedtoit,abouttaking a minoritystake.
Hehasalso receivedapproachesfromthe othersideofthedealtable,withenquiries fromsomeaboutbuyingbrandsandtaking a minorityormajoritystakeinhisdistribution business.
“Ithinkneitheristherighttimeright now,”hesays.
Asthe100%ownerofNationalBeauty Distribution,Kieranadmitsitcomeswith pressure andcanalsobe a lonelyplace.
“There mightbe a timewhereI mightsay itwouldbegreattobringin a 30%or40% investorand releasesomeequitymyselfso myfamilycanbeverycomfortable,but,for now,I amlovingtheautonomyandfreedom I have.” ■
Kieran Walsh
Threeeasy heartyrecipesto getyouthrough thechillymonths Christmasislongoverbuttheweathercontinues tokeepusinsideandseekingsomethingwarmand hearty,writes JohnMulgrew
■ ORANGECHICKENANDGARLIC BROCCOLI
Whileit’ssomethingofanAsianAmerican mainstayacrosstheAtlantic,orangechicken inthisformdoesn’toftenmakeitoverhere. It’sa relativelynewcreation,developedbythe USchainPandaExpressinthe1980s,Iimagine inanattempttoappeaselessadventurous
Westernpalates.
Butit’salsoapunchyandcrunchylittledish wellworthyourtime.
Startoffwithsomedebonedchickenthighs andcutintochunks(somewherebetweena nuggetandatender).
Stickinacontainerwiththejuiceoftwo oranges,asplashofvinegar,garlic,gingerand
soysauceandleaveforatleastanhour,buta fewhourswilladdmorefavour.
Forthebatter,combinefour,twoeggs,salt, pepperandwateruntilyougetaconsistency you’rehappywith.
Now,dredgeyourmarinatedchickeninplain fourandthenintoyourbatterbeforeadding tooilatamediumtemperature.Cookthese inbatchestoensuretheygetenoughspaceto movearoundandgetcrispy.
Forthesauce,you’relargely replicatingthe marinadeagain,soaddthesameingredients toasmallpotalongwithacoupleof teaspoonsofsugar.Cookdownand reduce untilyougetsomeviscosity.
Removeyourchickenonceitgetslight brownandiscookedthrough.Breakoffafew broccoliforetsandfrylightlyinalittleoil, beforeaddingsomegarlic.Lowertheheatand cookuntiltenderbutsomebite remains.
Now,tossthechickenwithsomeofyour orangesauceandplateupontopofwhite rice,alongsideyourbroccoli,andtopwith sesameseeds.
Orangechicken andgarlicbroccoli
■ HANGERSTEAKCURRY Thisisthesortofthingwhich,whiletaking alittlewhiletosimmerandgettenderinthe pot,takesnexttonotimetoprepare.It’sabout asimpleasacurrycangetandmostly relieson itemsfromthelarder,ratherthanlotsoffresh aromatics.
Startoffwithyourhangersteak.Whenyou getthiswholeitalmostlookslikeathinfllet, butit’sfromanentirelydifferentpartofthe animalandcostssignifcantlyless.It’snormally oneconfnedtoquickcookingtomediumrare, butIfndthelargemusclestructurecanmake ittough,evenwhencookedcorrectly.Despite beinglean,italsoworkswellwhenstewed.
Cutintobigchunksandsearinaheavy bottompotwithalittlebeeffatuntilyou’ve gotanicecrust.Thenaddinafew roughly choppedshallots,andbrownalittle.Addin somejarredgingerandgarlic,andthenagood coupleoftablespoonsofcurrypower–entirely yourownpreference.
Cookforaminuteorsowithyourmeat,but turntheheatdowntoavoidburning.Now, addinachickenstockpot,halfacanoffullfat coconutmilk,adashoffshsauce,andtopup withenoughwatertocovermostofthemeat.
Stickthisonalowsimmerforaround90 minutes.Thattimeshouldallowthemeatto begintobreakdown,butstill retailstructure andalittlebite.
Oncefnished,addinthe restofyour coconutcreamandseasontotaste.Serveup withsomewhitericeandtopwithlittlecubes ofpickledcucumber.
■ CREAMYBEEFCHEEKWITHSPAGHETTI I’vebeenwavingthebeefcheekfagformany ayearnow,andwithgood reason.There’sno betterbovinecutforslowcooking.Thisisa simpletakeonit, requiringsomeoventime, butverylittleeffort.
Getawholebeefcheekandtrimoffthe excessfatand removeasmuchsilverskinas possible.
Now,searinahotheavybottomedpotwith alittleoilorbeeffat.Addinsomeshallotsand brown.Foryouraromatics,addinsomefresh thyme,acoupleofbayleaves,onestaranise, plentyofblackpepper, Worchestershiresauce, aroundhalfatubeoftomatopuree,aglugof booze(sherryorwineworkswell),abeefstock potandatablespoonofdijonmustard. Addinsomewatertocovermostofthe meatandstickintoa150Coverforaround threehours.
Oncecookedyoucan reducethesaucea littleifneededonthehob,but removeyour hardherbsandaromaticsfrst.Finishoffwitha glugofdoublecreamandcombinewithsome aldentespaghetti,mixingwell,butkeeping themeatfromshreddingtoomuch.Seasonto taste.
Foralittlekick,topwithagremolataof veryfneshallots,parsleyandorangezestwith someoliveoil. ■
Creamybeef cheekwith spaghetti
Hanger steak curry
Word FROMTHE Wise How did you start out inbusiness?
I completeda fnancedegreeatLoughborough University, with a scholarship fromNatWest, which provedtobethe platformfora 17yearcareerinbankingwithBankofIreland.I workedincorporateandbusinessbankingin Belfast,aswellasfveyearsin realestatein London,beforeleavingtheindustry10years ago.Ihavesinceenjoyedarangeofexecutive roles,includingdirectorofcorporateservices atFane ValleyGroup,chiefof Warrenpoint HarbourandinnovationdirectoratStrategic InvestmentBoard,andtookupmycurrent roleaschiefexecutiveofBelfastChamberin September2023.Mycareerhasalsoincluded spellsasanon-executivedirectoratProgressive BuildingSocietyandpro-bonoboard membershipsat VisitBelfastandcommunity charityPeacePlayers.
Whathaveyoufoundthemost challengingduringyouryearsofbusiness sofar?
Ihavedeliveredsubstantialchange programmesacrossafeworganisationsthat reallyimpactedbothpeopleandculture, from refning rolesandchangingtermsand conditionstomergingoperationalunits. Changeisanecessitybutnoteveryone likesit.Implementingnewstructuresand implementingsizeablechangeswhilstensuring you retainthesupportofyourteamisa challenge,andonethatoften requiresalot ofenergy.Clearcommunicationandprecise planningarekeyintheseinstances,andyou needtobefullycommittedtothechangesyou aretryingtoimplement,otherwisenobodyelse willbe.
Howwouldyoudescribeyour managementstyle?
ThatverymuchdependsonthebusinessI
ClareGuinness Chiefexecutive,BelfastChamber
ammanaging.Ithinkthebestleadersmust havetheversatilityandfexibilitytotailortheir managementstyletotheorganisationand situationtheyareleading.Ibelieveyoumust beabletoadapttoever-changingbusiness environmentsandbecommittedtocontinuous improvement.Icanbequitepersuasive,and prefertotakealaissez-faireapproachasIhave never reactedwelltobeingmicro-managed myself,nordobelieveittobeeffective.
Whatwouldyouchangeifyoucouldgo backanddoitallagain?
OnethingIdefnitelywouldchangeifIhadmy timeagainisthatIwouldhavetravelledalot more.IwishIhadstudiedorworkedoverseas, perhapsintheUS.Thatsaid,Ihavealways lovedhome,stilldo,andbelievethatevenif IhadgoneawayIwouldalwayshavesettled backinmyhomecityofBelfast.
Haveyoudoneitallonyourown? No,notatall.Idon’tthinkanyonecan.I havebeenextremelyluckytohavehadthe supportofaclosefamilyandastrongnetwork offriendsthroughoutmycareer.Iamalso
veryproudofthe relationshipsIbuildwith colleagues–workingwithpeoplethatyouget alongwithmakesdoingyourjobmuchmore enjoyable.Iamapeopleperson.
Howwouldyoulikeyourbusinesstobe remembered?
Ithasbeenatimeofsignifcant transformationatBelfastChambersincemy appointment.In2024welaunchedanew strategy,welcomednewboardmembers, establishedaChamberCouncil, recruiteda newteam,movedtoanewtopqualityoffce inCustomHouse,delivered26eventswith over2,700attendeesand–mostimportantly –welcomedalmost100newmembersacross allsectorsthisyear. We arethevoiceof businessinBelfastandthatvoiceisgetting louder.
Whatpieceofadvicewouldyougivetoa 20-year-oldyou?
To takethatyeartotravelaftergraduating, thatmyparentstalkedmeoutof,andtosee moreoftheworldbeforesteppingontothe careerladder. ■
Thecolumnwithan earforexperience...
Motoring ByPatBurns
Midliferefresh for HondaHR-V To keepitatthetopofthefercely competitiveSUVsegment,Honda has refresheditsHR-Ve:HEVrange.
Allmodelshave received a faceliftaswell asinteriorandexteriordesignchanges,an updatedcolourrange,andimproveddrivability – plus, a newspecialedition.
The resultisanevolutionofHonda’s current best-sellingmodelinEuropethatdirectly addressescustomerfeedback,whilestill offeringallthebeneftsof a mid-sizedhybrid SUV
Allgradesfeaturea new, sharperfront bumperand revisedgrilledesignwith a new crystalblackuppermouldinganddarkened headlightinternalsthatcreate a more defned face.
Thesculptedfrontbumperfeaturesmore pronouncedlines,complimentedby revised lowertrimsectionsfnishedin a high-gloss blacktogivetheHR-V a more purposeful andpremiumappearance.Alongsideare newheadlightunitswhileAdvancegrades onwardsalsogainadaptivedrivingbeam(ADB) technology
Thepowersystemistheimpressiveand veryeconomical1.5litre i-VTECpetrolengine
poweringtwoelectricmotorsthatproduce 131PSand253Nmoftorquedrivingthrough a smoothCVTauto‘box.Itmightnotsetthe worldonfre like a Civic TypeR,butit’s allyou needforeverydaydriving.
The revisedinterioris a lovelyplacetobe withjazzyseatsand a more traditionaldash layoutwiththeradioandheatercontrolstaking centre stageandnotburiedawayindifferent screenslikesomeothermanufacturerstendto do.They’veobviouslynevertriedtoadjustthe heatingorradioon a bumpy road – thegear leveriswhere youwoulditexpectittobetoo asHondahasn’t gonefor a rotaryknobburied awaysomewhere.
ThelatestHR-V retainsthehighlyfexible interiorspacethathasproventobethe hallmarkofpreviousgenerations.Keyto maximisingcabin roomisthepositioningofthe fueltankinthecentre ofthechassisbeneath thefrontseats.Thisenablesthemodeltoutilise theexceptionallyversatile rearseatsthatoffer both‘fold-fat’or‘fip-up’fexibility, depending onthecargospace required.
Thee:HEVset-upincludesthree interchangeabledrivemodes,automatically selectedforthedriving requirements.For
ultimateeffciency, theHR-Vpullsoff inelectric mode,seamlesslychangingtohybridmode whentheengineisunderhigh-torquedemand, withthepetrolengineusedwhendrivingat higher, more constantspeeds.
Thelevelofenergy regenerationand thestrengthofthedecelerationeffectcan beadjustedtosuitthedriver’s preference byusingDecelerationSelectorbehindthe steeringwheel,toprovide a varietyofdriving experiences.
Inaddition,thenewAdvanceStylePlus gradefeatures a glass roof,whilegreater securityandcabincomfortonwarmerdays isofferedbyprivacyglassasstandard onall grades.
To marktheintroductionoftheupdatedHRV, HondahascreatedtheAdvancePlusgrade withexclusivestylingdetails.Basedonthe AdvanceStylegrade,itfeaturesanexclusive extendedpaintfnishand a uniquesetofalloy wheels.
TheHR-Ve:HEVcontinuestoprovidesome ofthemostcomprehensiveadvancedsafety featuresanddriveraidsinitsclass,including theadditionof a multi-viewcamerasystem. Pricesstartfrom£30,705. ■
Fordunveilsits electricPuma FordislaunchingitslatestEV–the PumaGen-E.
ThePumaisFord’stopsellerandthe companysaystheelectricPumaGen-Estill hasthefuntodrivecharacteranddistinctive designthathavemadethecompactcrossover ahitwithcustomers.
AnewelectricpowertraindrivesthePuma anddeliversimpressiveeffciencyof13.1 kWh/100km.ThePumaGen-Eoffersupto 233milesonafullchargeandpriceswillstart from£29,995.
Connectedtoafastcharger,a10-80% chargetakesapproximately23minutes,while seamlessaccelerationof0-62mph/hin8.0 secondsandquickersteering responsedelivers theessenceofPumaST,thistimeinelectric form.
ThePumaGen-Eoffersevengreaterspace thankstothecompactelectricpowertrain. Puma’sinnovative‘MegaBox’bootstorage spacehasbeenboostedtobecome‘GigaBox’, meaningupto574litresof roomforluggage
withthe rearseatsinplace–morethansome largerSUVscanoffer.A43-litre‘frunk’(front trunk)makesgooduseofthespacevacatedby thepetrolengine,idealforstoringaccessories sotheycanbe retrievedevenifthebootisfull.
Theexteriordesigncapturesthespiritofthe latest-generationPumawithtwiststhatmake itmoredistinctiveandaerodynamic.Abold ‘shield’design replacestheconventionalgrille, takinginspirationfromtheMustangMach-E electricSUV.Asporty rearspoilerandunique alloywheeldesignsaddtotheelectricvibeand improveaerodynamics.
Inside,themoderndesigncontinueswith twohigh-defnitiondisplayscreenswithineasy reachofthedriver.Ford’slatestgeneration SYNC4infotainmentsystemhascloudconnectednavigationtogivethePumaGen-E theedgeovertraffc,withwirelessApple CarPlayandAndroidAutomeaningappsand informationsyncbetweensmartphonesand thecarwithoutusingcables.Alexabuilt-in allowsdriverstousevoicecommandstoo.
Anelectronicgearshifterislocatedbehind thesteeringwheelwhileselectableone-pedal drivingmakesdrivinginstopstarttraffceven moreconvenientnomatterwhichofthefour drivemodesyouarecruisingin.
AvailableIntelligentadaptivecruise controlwithstopandgoandlanecentring acceleratesandbrakessmoothlyandcan usepredictivespeedassisttoadjustcruising speedforcurvesinthe road, roundabouts, andwhenenteringorleavingmotorways.A 360-degreesurround-viewcamerasystem candisplayabird’seyeviewforgettingin andoutofthoseawkwardparkingspaces.
OptionalDynamicMatrixLEDheadlight technologyusespredictivedynamicbending lighttomonitorthe roadaheadandshine morelightwhereit’sneededmost,and adjuststhebeampatternforthebest viewwhethercrossingthecityoronan unlithighway.ThenewPumaGen-Ecan beorderednowwithfrstdeliveriesinthe spring. ■
MOTORI NG
AnothernewSUVfromVW Volkswagenhasjustlaunchedthe new TayronSUV.
Availablewitheitherfveorseven seats,pricesstartfrom£39,850forthe Tayron Life1.5eTSI.Thetop-of-the-rangeR-Lineand R-LineEditionvariantsare availableforjustover £50,000.
The Tayronsitsbetweenthemid-sized Tiguan, Volkswagen’s best-sellingmodel worldwide,andthe Touareg,thebrand’s fagshiplargeSUV Itissevencentimetres longerthanitsforebear, the TiguanAllspace, whichtranslatesintomore spaceforpassengers inthethird row ofseats(whenftted)and a 850-litre bootwhenthethird row ofseatsis foldedfat.
Builtin Wolfsburg,Germany, the Tayron hasfamily-friendlyfeaturessuchassun-blinds inthe reardoorsandanoptionalelectronic childsafetylockthat’s operatedfromthe driver’s door;italsooffers a usefultowing capacityof2,400kg. Volkswagen’s Trailer
Assistmanoeuvringsystemcomesasstandard inconjunctionwiththeoptionalfoldingtowing bracket,helpingtomakeevenlargehorse boxesandtrailerseasytohandle.
Fivetrimlevelsare available – Life,Match (eHybridonly),Elegance,R-LineandR-Line Edition(eHybridonly).
LEDheadlightswithautomaticmainbeam control(LightAssist)are includedasstandard, asare nineairbagsand,oneHybridandTSI variants, Volkswagen’s DCCPro adaptivechassis controlsystem.Alltrimsalsocomewiththreezoneairconditioning,10-colourbackground lighting,an‘infotainmentsystem’with 12.9-inchscreen,and a multi-functiondriving experienceswitchforadjustingdrivingprofles, audiovolumeandcabinatmospheresusingpreprogrammedlightingandaudiomoods.
Standard assistsystemsincludeadaptive cruisecontrol(ACC),theoncomingvehicle brakingwhenturningfunction,lanechange system(sideassist),lanekeepingsystem(lane
assist),andanautomaticemergencybraking systemwithpedestrianandcyclistmonitoring (frontassist).Parkassistplus, a rear-view camera,dynamic roadsigndisplayand a new exitwarningsystem,whichpreventsdoors beingopenedifanother roaduserapproaches frombehind,alsocomeasstandard.
There are sixenginesavailableforthe Tayron. Eachispairedwith a six-orseven-speed automaticdirect-shiftgearbox(DSG),and2.0 TSIvariantsare combinedwith4Motionallwheeldrive.Poweroutputsrangefrom150PS to272PSinthe1.5eTSI,150PSinthe2.0diesel and265PSinthe 2 litre petrolallwheeldrive model.
The19.7kWhbatteryineHybridversions opensthedoortoelectric-onlydrivingthanks to a rangeofupto75miles(WLTPcombined). Itcanbechargedwithupto11kWACand 40kWDC,thelatterofwhichmeansthecar canbetoppedupfrom10%to80%in26 minutes. ■
Teslasalesdrop16%inNI Therewasan8%increaseinnewcarregistrations lastyear,writes MargaretCanning,butthe arrivalofaChinesecompetitorhasleftnoroomfor complacencyforElonMusk’sEVcreation
Hemayhavetheearofthesecond termUSPresidentDonald Trump, butsalesofElonMusk’s Tesla electricvehiclesinNorthernIrelandfellin 2024.
Andtherewasfurtherturbulenceinthenew carmarketduringlastyear,with Volkswagen dislodgingFordasourfavouritebrand.
In2024,thelatterhaditslowestsales numbershereinoveraquarterofacentury, analysisbyeconomistRichardRamseyfound.
AccordingtodatafromtheSocietyfor MotorManufacturersand Traders(SMMT), therewere278 TeslassoldinNIduring2024, amountingtoafallof16.3%fortheworld’s mostfamouselectricvehicle(EV)brand.
HyundaiKonawasthemostpopularallelectriccarsoldlastyearinNorthernIreland, with1,008findingnewowners.
Itsmarketgrowth,alongwiththearrivalof newmade-in-ChinamarketentrantBYD,has likelyeateninto Teslamarketshare.
Therewere118BYDssoldovertheyear, withthebrand’sarrivalinCharlesHurst showroomsinNIaccountingforatleastsome ofthefallof54fromthe332 Teslassoldhere in2023.
Regardlessofthewinnersandlosers,Mr Ramsey,whohasanalysedtheSMMTdatafor theentireyear,summedup2024as“agood yearforlocalcarshowrooms”.
Butwe’renotquitebacktothehalcyondays ofpre-pandemicsalesfigures–nevermindthe headydaysof2007beforethecreditcrunch hit.
MrRamseysaid:“In2024,newcar registrationsinNorthernIrelandincreasedby 8%year-on-yearto49,000, representingthe fourthconsecutiveyearofimprovement.
“Despitethislatestrise,thevolumeofnew carsalesisalmost5%belowpre-pandemic levels(2019)and11%belowthepre-Covid long-termaverageof55,240.
“And2024’ssalestotalwasalso29%below
NorthernIreland’s recordyearfornewcarsales backin2007(69,000).”
Hesaidthepositiveheadlinefigurefor thecarmarkethereconcealedcontrasting performances”bymeasuressuchasfueland brandtype.
“Inmanywaysthecarsalesmarketisa microcosmofthewidereconomywithwinners andlosers, recordhighsandmulti-yearlows andallshadesofperformanceinbetween.”
MrRamseysaidthesaleofnewpetrol carshadrisenby4%overtheyear,whilethe registrationofnewdieselvehicleshaddropped 15%in2024,comparedto2023.
Combined,hesaidthetwotraditionalfuel typesnowaccountedforlessthan65%of marketshare.
Butnewerfueltypeswereexperiencinga surgeinpopularity,withPlug-inHybridElectric Vehicles(PHEV)andBatteryElectric Vehicles (BEV)up39%and27% respectivelyin2024.
Andtherewereplentyofmakesstealingthe heartsofEVdrivers.
MrRamseysaid:“Thepureelectric,orBEV segment,haswitnessedsalesgrowthof83% inthelasttwoyearswithBEVsaccountingfor 13.6%ofthenewcarsalesmarket.” ■
MOTORI
Teslasoldaround278vehicles inNIoverthelastyear
APPOIN TM EN TS TheCentreforCompetitivenesshas appointedMarianneCushleyasheadof marketingandoperations.Shehasover35 yearsofexperiencesupportingbusinesses inNorthernIreland.
ProgressiveBuildingSocietyhasappointed anewbusinessrelationshipmanager,John McGuinness,toprovidededicatedsupport tolocalbusinesses.
Gray’shasappointedJennyDevineasits newcreativedirector.Shehasrelocated hometoDerryandjoinsGray’sfrom Holywood-basedSmarts,aglobalPRand creativeagency.
John-FrancisCollinshasjoined3TPower assalesmanager.Hebringswithhim12 years’experiencewithintheenergysector, beginninginfossilfuelsbeforespecialising insustainableenergy.
GlentoranFootballClubhasannounced theappointmentofchiefexecutive Tony Webstertotheboardofdirectors.
PaulineMulliganisthenewchiefexecutive oftheLocalGovernmentManagement Agency,andisaformerassistantsecretary attheDepartmentofEnterprise, Tradeand EmploymentintheRepublicofIreland.
DonitePlastics,theSaintfeld-based thermoformingcompany,hasappointed RobbieMarshasitsqualityandprocess improvementmanager.
NIChamberhasappointedJohnny Tremlett totheroleofbusinessdevelopment manager.Hejoinsthebusinesses membershiporganisationfromPinnacle GrowthGroup.
DrJasonMcKeown,chiefexecutiveof Neurovalens,hasbeenappointedasa visitingscholarattheDepartmentof NeurosurgeryatStanfordMedicinein California.
1. BelfastHarbourprovided £315,000ofsupporttolocal communityorganisations in2024.PicturedareZach Elwood,LaurnaBurnsand AmyPricefromBelfast FormidableSeaCadets, Holywood,withJenniBarkley.
2. NIscienceandtechnology hubCatalysthassuccessfully completedatwo-yearinclusive innovationpilotprogramme, Stryve.Picturedare Avila Kilmurray,StryveparticipantLeo McGlinchey,andAllyArmstrong.
3. TheUlsterFarmersUnion(UFU) hascarriedoutprotestsagainst theinheritancetaxchangesto AgriculturalandBusinessProperty Relief.Picturedisdeputypresident WilliamIrvine.
4. White’sOatsbeen recognised foritsexemplaryfoodsafetyand qualitystandardsasitisawarded theBRCAA+standard.Pictured areCatherineMcCartanand SharonLeathem.
5. Blair’sHolidayParksisto expandsignifcantlyfollowing investmentfromprivateequity frmMeliorEquityPartners. PicturedareEsmondGreenefrom MeliorEquityPartners,Colin MayrsofBlair’sandPeterGarvey.
6. RobbieGrant,Henry Brothers,KieranHarding, BusinessintheCommunity (BITC),DeborahO’Hanlon, HenryBrothers,Grainne Long,HannahCrawford, HenryBrothersandMatthew Barton,asHenryBrothers hasachievedPlatinumLevel intheNIEnvironmental BenchmarkingSurvey.
7. Martin Walsh,centremanager, RushmereShoppingCentre, haswelcomeda recordnumber ofshoppersinNovemberand expects10millionvisitorsthrough thedoorsin2025.
8. McConnell’sIrishWhisky haspartneredwithJapanese distributorOyamawiththe supportofInvestNI.Pictured areMegumiHatsuta,Invest NI,Mamoru Tsuchiya,Whisky ResearchCentre,JohnKelly, McConnell’s,withChikakoKanishi and TakuyaOhtogeofOyama.
9. TheInvestmentFundfor NorthernIreland(IFNI)has deployedalmost£6mofequity investmentinitsfrstyearof operation.PicturedareGavin ShieldsfromStora,MarkSterritt fromBritishBusinessBankand SianMcLaughlinfromClarendon FundManagers.
10. Productdevelopmentfrm Instilhasannouncedplansto doubleheadcountatitscybersecurityarmoverthenext18 months.PicturedareSimon Whittaker,Instilandfounder of VerticalStructure,andInstil founder, TaraSimpson.
11. Some18start-up companiessupportedby EnterpriseIrelandwere approvedinvestment, totalling£3minNovember 2024.PicturedareRory McEvoy,MichellePedreschi, RogerCourtney,JennyMelia, JamesHannigan,andRoisin O’Connell.
12. ValeoFoodshassecuredan extensivesurgeinproductlistings across Tescostores.Picturedare PeterRodgers,businessmanager at ValeoFoodsNorthernIreland, withMichaelLogan,buying manager,Impulse.
13. Dr TowfeeqFairoozfrom Hyderabad,India,graduateswith aPhDfromUlsterUniversity.Dr Fairoozcontributedimportant researchonCovid-19testingto advancehealthcarediagnostics usingartifcialintelligence.
14. Angokahaslauncheda collaborative researchprogramme withQueen’sUniversity’s CentreforSecureInformation Technologies(CSIT).Picturedare RobertMcCausland,Angoka,and ProfessorPaulMiller,CSIT.
15. Gilbert-Ashistargetingthe hundredsofconstructionworkers wholeaveNorthernIrelandeach weekforprojectsaroundtheUK inthelatestphaseofitsMake YourMarkcampaign.
16. The‘InThis Together’ teamwereamong recent recipientsoftheOpenreach CommunityFund,whichis managedbytheCommunity FoundationforNorthern Ireland(CFNI).
17. BangorCastle WalledGarden hascelebrated WorldSoilDay andInternational VolunteerDay. PicturedareNoelPootsandLiam Harrington.
18. IrishLeadershipcoaching company Towardhassigneda newsponsorshipdealwithUlster Rugby,committingtosupporting theteamuntil2027.Picturedare JohnCooney,JohnnyParks,Hugh McCaughey,andRichieMurphy.
19. BankofIrelandUKhasmade amajorinvestmentintechnology forcorporate,businessand commercialcustomers.Pictured isLizMcKee,headofcommercial fnance,BankofIrelandUKwith StephenClarke,chiefexecutive, ProfastGroup.
20. Digitalcontentfrm Eightyfve90,saysithas experienceditsmostsuccessful yearyet,witha28%growthin turnoveroverthelastfnancial year.PicturedisfounderAndrew Kelly.
21. PaulineMooreand RichardRobinsonfromBT NorthernIrelandwith Dr TonyScott,co-founder ofthe YoungScientist,who wereonhandtolaunchthe 2025BT YoungScientistand TechnologyExhibition.
22. TheSirGeorgeQuigley AnnualMemorialLecture hasbeendeliveredjointlyby MargaretHearty,chiefexecutive ofInterTradeIreland,andAlice Mansergh,chiefexecutiveof TourismIreland.
23. Belfastchefand restaurateur NiallMcKennahasbeennamedin theKing’sNew YearHonoursList. Thepopularchef,whohasbeen attheforefrontoftheNorthern Irelandfoodsceneforovertwo decades,will receiveanMBE.
24. NIChamberpresident CaitroinaMcCuskerhasoutlined whypolicymakersneedto‘get downtobusinessondeliveringfor theeconomy’,aspartofhernew yearmessage.
25. TheSparOmaghHalf Marathonand5KRunis returning thisApril.PicturedareMichael Ward,GaryHegarty,andDarcey Wilson.
26. Staffandcustomersof GordonsChemists’branches acrossNorthernIrelandhave cometogetheronceagain toraise£16,570forAction Cancer.
27. ParkCentreinBelfasthas announcedtheappointmentof JohnKennedyasitsnewcentre manager.He’spicturedwithJohn Lowry,associatedirectoratCBRE NI.
28. TheEikonExhibitionCentreis gearinguptohosttheLove Your HomeShowandLove YourFood Showfrom.Theteamispictured withTheresaMorrissey,RUAS groupexecutivedirector.
29. BelfastCookerySchoolhas chosenFavouritasitsoffcial herbsandspicespartner.Chef IanHunterispicturedwith ScottMcIlroy,accountmanager, Favourit,andLaimisMinelga, marketingexecutive,Favourit.
30. PicturedhelpinglaunchArts &BusinessNI’sCreativity Week areMrH,MaryNagele,chief executiveofArts&BusinessNI, andNickiCahill, Translink.
31. Three-year-oldErin QuinnandhermumMarie helpAfacNImark reaching £70,000infundsraised forchildren’scancercarein NorthernIreland.
32. DanskeBankiscelebratinga signifcantmilestone,a70-year partnershipwithLunn’sthe Jewellers.PicturedarePeterLunn, FionaKing,SuzanneLunnand JohnLunn.
33. CastleCourtShoppingCentre has reporteda12%year-on-year riseinfootfallduringDecember 2024.PicturedisLeonaBarr, centremanageratCastleCourt ShoppingCentre.
34. NorthernIreland’sbiggest holidayfairhas returnedto Belfast.Holiday WorldShow BelfastinassociationwithBookit byNI TravelNewstookplaceat ICCBelfast.PicturedareMaureen Ledwith,JonathanAdairand MariaHourican.
35. CharmaineDickey,David McFallandMikeBuxtonfrom EurosparDouryRoadarepictured atthestore’soffcialopening alongside representatives fromRadioCracker,Helping HandsFoodbank,DouryRoad DevelopmentGroupandSlemish CareHome.
36. Furthereducation studentsarebeing encouragedtoapplyfor StudyUSA.PicturedareSRC CreativeMusicandAudio ProductionstudentsDanny NugentandSophieBullock, withEconomyMinisterConor Murphy.
37. CarolineRowan,headof retailoperationsandDesiDerby, directorofmarketingatMusgrave NI,launchtheSuperValuand CentraSpendandSavecampaign.
38. Proparamedicshasbeen appointedmedicalproviderat Belfast Waterfront,UlsterHalland ICCBelfast.PicturedareStephen McCourtandCharlieMcCloskey, withMelissaPauley,Megan Hamill,MalcolmDuckworthand TeresaDunlopofProparamedics.
39. FinTrUchiefandfounder DarraghMcCarthy(right)ashe receivesanhonorarydoctorate fromUlsterUniversity,pictured withvice-chancellorPaul Bartholomew.
40. LinusMurray,AndreaMcCann andChrisRossofMcKeesare picturedasthecommerciallaw frmannouncesthat2024has beenayearofsignifcantgrowth withthecreationofeightnew jobs.
TissotPRX: Forged carbonhorology atanentry level price Tissothashadahugesuccesswithitsintegratedbracelet-led PRXline,alongwithhigher-enditerationsandthosesporting rubberstraps.It’snowaddedaforgedcarbon-casedreference toitsline,whichisbothatalkingpointandstillaverywearable andversatilepieceonwrist,writes JohnMulgrew
Tissotprobablycouldn’thave imaginedthesuccessitwouldhave onitshandswhenitlauncheda largerandmoderninterpretationofits PRX.
Whatstartedlifeasarangeof40mm quartzandautomaticmodelshasblossomed intoasignifcantlywiderselection–includingasmaller35mmrange,goldPVD casesandspecialeditions.
Andit’stheforgedcarbonedition inwhich Tissothasputitsfaithin providingasteptowardssomething moremodern.
It’sthesame40mmcase, withthe TissotPowermatic80 movementbeatinginside.But insteadofsteelforthecase,craft forgedcarboninitsplace.Thedial alsofeaturescarbon,alongside someSuper-Luminovalumeonthe handsandindices.
Itcomesonarubberstrapwith steelPVDbuckle,asIimaginea carbonversionwouldbecloseto impossibletocreate,andsignifcantly addtotheoverallcost.Thispiececomes inunderagrand,andasidefromthe real goldbezelandchronographmodels,isthe mostexpensiveinthePRXline.
There’senoughheft,thankstothe mechanicalmovement,andmetalcaseback, butatthesametimeit’sconsiderablylighter thanthesteel-casedversion.
Inadarkerenvironment,thediallooksfairly subtleandpairedback,whilethere remain littlefecksinthecaseitself.
Butwhenthelighthitsit,thecomplexity ofthecarbonstructurebecomesconsiderably moreapparentandinteresting–catching littlepiecesandmakingeverythingentirely moreinteresting.
Eachwatchwillalsolookalittle bitdifferent,giventhemethodof construction,whichhelpssellitin termsofitbeingverymuchyourown piece.
Therubberstrapis,asyou’d imagine,verycomfortableon wrist,withthesame40mmcase sizewearingwellonmostwrists. Fromadistance,itmaylookjustlike anyPVDblackwatch.Butuponcloser inspectionit’samuchmoreappealing piece,worthyofstrikinguptheodd conversationamongbuddinghorologists. Iboughtthequartziterationofthe TissotPRXwithasilverdialafewyears ago,andwhileacoupleofothershave takenitsplacemoreoftenthannotin
termsofwristtime,itstill remainsabalanced andextremelygoodvaluepropositionfor someoneaftertheirfrsthalfdecentwatch–notwantingtobreakthebank.
TissotfrstunveiledthePRXmodelin 1978–athensmallerquartzofferingas watchmakersturnedtothecheaperandmore accuratemovement,whichalmostbrought themechanicalindustrytoitskneeswiththe proliferationoftheJapanesemarket.
Thesteelrangealsobearsconsiderable resemblancetoRolex’sOysterquartz.
ButasidefromthoseobviousOysterquartz comparisons, Tissothasmoregenerallyseized onthesoaringdemandforGeraldGenta designed,orinspired,sportswatcheswith integratedbracelets.
Thatrapidexpansionofthe rangefollowingthe release
From a distance, it may look justlike any PVD black watch. But upon closerinspection it’sa much more appealing piece, worthy ofstriking up the odd conversationamong budding horologists. oftheinitial40mmquartzoptionsonbracelet isa refectionofhowimportantthePRXis becominginthe Tissotstable.Andit’sclear why.
It’llbeinterestingtoseeif Tissotexpands anyotherwatchesintherangetoutilise carbon(theexpanded516chronographline forexample)butasitsits,thisisaneveryday watchwithathatbitmorecharacterandfair thanitssteelbrethren.
Therearefew,ifanycarbonwatches–Casio anddigitalaside–aroundatthispricepoint, sothePRXiscertainlyfyingthefagforan entryintothatmarket.The TissotPRXrangeis availableatLunn’stheJewellers. ■
Museums,muralsand some trulymemorable tacos FromcultureinthecapitaltothewhitesandsofCancun, Mexicohastreasureforeveryone,writes HilaryFennell
Aftera12-hourbusridefrom Guatemala,Iarrivedtiredand jadedinSanCristobaldelasCasas foramonth-longbackpackingadventure throughMexico.
NestledintheCentralHighlandsof Chiapas,SanCristobalwasagoodplaceto begin,offeringalaid-backintroductionto thecountry.Thewelcomingatmosphereof SanCristobalencouragesstrollingaround
thenarrowcobblestonestreets. Withitslively grafftiartandrichcolonialpast,it’saplace wherehistoryandcreativityconverge.
AlotofthecityhaspreservedtheSpanish colonialstyle,withbrightly-colouredbuildings likethevividyellowbaroquecathedral,the maincentrepieceofthecity’slargestsquare, PlazadelaPaz.Ispentafewdaysdiscovering off-the-beaten-trackmuralsandechoesof recentpoliticalunrestthathaveshapedthe town’scharacter.
Don’tmisswalkingthe280zigzagstepsto SanCristobalitoforagreatviewofthe redtiled rooftops.
Then,itwastimeforthe16-hourbusride totheffth-largestcityintheworld:Mexico City.It’seasytogetaroundMexicobybus,as longasyou’renotinahurry.Privatecompanies offercompetitivelypricedoptionsforlongdistance routesandthebusesarecomfy
enough,althoughfewhadsleeperoptions.
MexicoCityisanimmense,cosmopolitan metropolis.Foreignershavebeenbeguiledby theplaceeversinceSpanishconquistadors arrivedintheancientAzteccapitalof Tenochtitlan,thesiteonwhichthemoderncity nowstands.
Onarrival,itfelttomelikepartsof Barcelona,New YorkandLAhadbeen blended.Thevastnessisbothoverwhelming andexhilarating.
IstayedinRoma,ahipareabrimming withgalleries,shops,cafes, restaurantsand beautifulsquaresandparkslikeParqueMexico andParqueEspaña,andtheninCondesa,a more relaxed residentialneighbourhoodwith gorgeousArtDecobuildings.
Thebestwaytoexploreisonfoot andIcoveredanaverageof15kmaday,
Palaciode BellasArtesis aprominent culturalcentre inMexicoCity
supplementedbyUbersforthe reallylong journeys. Youcanalsogetaroundbymetro, taxiorbike.OnsomeSundays,partofthecity hascar-freestreetsperfectforcycling.
Thecityisburstingwithmuseums.Frida KahloandDiegoRivera,20th-centuryartists whohelpedshapeMexico’sculturalheritage, arestarattractions.
There’salovelywalkfromtheretoSan Angel,throughparks,cobbledstreetsand tree-lined roadswithbeautifuloldhouses,to visitthetwostarklymodernisthomesdesigned forFridaandDiego,amongthefrstfunctional housesinMexicoandinitiallyhatedbythe public.DiegoRiverawasattheforefrontofthe Mexicanmuralismmovementwhichbeganin the1920safterthe revolution,andhiswork canbeseeninseveralplaces,includingthe PalaciodeBellasArtes,wherethebreathtaking Man,ControlleroftheUniverseisthemain draw.
Foritsextensiveartcollection,from pre-HispanictomodernEuropean,Museo SoumayaintheNuevoPolancodistrictis astunnerofagiantsilverbuilding.Built bybusinessmanCarlosSlim,itoffersfree admission,butwithover66,000piecesover fvefoors,Ifounditoverwhelming.
OthermuseumhighlightsincludetheMuseo NacionaldeAntropologia,whichprovidesan in-depthlookatMexico’sancientcivilisations. NearbyChapultepecPark(Bosquede Chapultepec),whichhasa restoredfairy-tale castlehousinganimpressivehistorymuseum, isworththesteeptrekupthehillforviews overthecityalone,andtheMuseodeArte ModernowherethecollectionincludesFrida Kahlo’s TwoFridas.Theadvantageofvisiting slightlyoff-season–besidesaccommodation beingcheaper–wasthatIsometimeshad, partsatleast,oftheseplacestomyself.
LaCiudadelacraftmarketistheplace forhandcrafts,giftsandsouvenirs,butfor aglimpseintoMexico’shigh-endlifestyle, wanderaroundtheaffuentshoppingdistrict ofPolanco.
MexicoCityhasavibrantculinaryscene, withthousandsofoptionsrangingfromquaint taqueriastobustlingmarketstalls.Cantinas, withtheirold-schoolinteriorsandcustoms, havebeenfxturesoflocallifeforgenerations, fromthetraditional,likeourlocalCantania elCentenarioinCondesa,whereyoucan haveabeeroratequila,accompaniedby somesnacks,totheopulentLaOpera.For
memorabletacostrySalonCoronaandfor deliciouschurrosvisitElMoro,theoldest churreriainMexico.
The TeotihuacanPyramids,40kmnortheastofthecity,areamongthemosticonic intheworld,andahotairballoonride overthisonce-thrivingcityfromthefrstto seventhcenturieswasanexperienceI’llalways remember.I’mnotusuallyafanofheights,but Ilovedthis.The4amstart,beforethewinds becometoostrong,wasworthit.
Nextupwasa22-hourbusride,thelongest ofthetrip,toMerida,capitalofthe Yucatan Peninsula.Thefrstthingtohitmewasthe heat.MexicoCityinJunehadbeengenerally warm,withtorrentialafternoonshowers,but Meridawasascorching40C.The rooftoppool attheoldcolonial-styleHotelCaribewasa welcometreat.
BeforetheSpanisharrivedinthe1500s, MeridawasknowntotheMayapeople asT’ho,andforabrieftimeinthe1800s, Yucatanwasanindependentnationwith Meridaasitscapital.Mayaculturestillprevails. Thoughcharmingandaccessible,thecentre isundergoingsignifcantdevelopment,with manyofthehistoricalbuildingsbeing restored, givingitadustywork-in-progressfeel.
Iwantedtoendthetripona remotebeach andfoundthatsuchplacesdostillexist in Yucatan–thankstoatipfromafellow travellerwho recommendedElCuyo.
Withamajorhurricaneapproachingearly (theyusuallydon’tbeginuntilSeptember),it appearedasifthestormwouldpassjustbelow thistinyfshingvillage. We tookagamble andaneight-hourbusridetoarrivejustas everythingwasshuttingdown.
Afterhavingsurvivedtwodayswithout electricity–oraircon–itwasa reliefwhen thestormeventuallypassed,leavingblueskies, turquoiseseas,whitesandsand romantic sunsetsinitswake.
ElCuyoisapopularkitesurfngspot,but waspracticallydesertedduringmyvisit.The onlydrawbackswerethemosquitoesandthe 98%humidity.
SandraandFausto,thewelcomingowners ofCanCocal,havecreatedasereneoasisat thisboutiquehotel,tastefullydesignedwith localcrafts,textilesandfurniture.
Havingfoundtheperfectplacetounwind,it wasacaseof“pool,hammock,beach,write, walk,backgammon, repeat”untilitwastime tofyhomefromCancun. ■
Samsung’s Tab S10 Ultra: the only Androidoption that givesiPadProa run for its money Thisimpressivelargescreentabletfrom Samsunghasthe‘wow’ factor,writes Adrian Weckler
ThisistheonlyAndroidtabletthat reallycompeteswiththeiPad Proasatop-tierentertainment andproductivity-compatiblelaptop replacement.Evenifitdoesn’tmatchthe
numberofworkappsavailable,forsheer rawappealinitsdesignandlargescreen, the TabS10Ultrastandsoutonitsown. Samsunghasn’tactuallyupdatedtoomuch comparedtoitsS9Ultra.
Sothemaindraw,thatgorgeousOled14.6inch120hzdisplayinaridiculouslythinframe, isalmostexactlythesame.That’sstillenough tokeepittop,though.
AsgoodasApple’siPadProlineis,theS10 Ultra remainsthemostimpressivelarge-screen tabletforsheer“wow”factor.Anditcomes withanS-Peninthebox.
Therearesomeupgradestothephysical device.There’sanewanti-refectivecoating onthedisplay,thesametypethat SamsungusesontheS24Ultra.This isverywelcomeandisthekindof thingthatrivalssuchasApple oftenchargeextrafor. Itmeansyoucanusethis inabrightly-lit roomor outsidewithmuch lessdistraction from refections bouncingoff thescreen. Andthere arealltheAI
featuresandbeneftsthatSamsungcurrently pushesonitshigh-endGalaxydevices.Sothat meansimagegeneration,“magic”editing, helpwithwriting,callsandabunchofother things.Underneaththehood,Samsunghas alsoswitchedtoadifferentchiptopower thetablet,Mediatek’sDimensity9300.For thoseintosuchthings,thisissomethingof abigmoveforSamsung,especiallygivenits relationshipwithQualcommandthefactthat itactuallymakesitsown(Exynos)chips,too.
Anyway,there reallywasn’tanylagatall foranythingIdidontheS10Ultra,including photoand(light)videoediting.Iwouldn’t putitinthesameleagueforvideoandphoto editingasApple’siPadProM4,butthat’sata professionallevel–formessingaroundwith yourownprojects,it’sprettygood,especially withitsminimumof12GBofRam.
Thereareafewotherthingsthatgivethe TabS10UltraanedgeovertheiPadProin someareas.Forexample,whileitmaxesout at1TBofstorage,youcanaddanadditional 1.5TBusingaMicroSDcardinamemorycard slot.
Audioquality,whichisaveryunderrated featureforatabletyou’relikelytousealotfor video,isexcellent,thoughnotbetterthanan iPadPro.
Ataroundeightto10hours,thebattery lifeisgood,thoughnotasgoodasahigh-end laptop,someofwhichcangoupto20hours onasinglecharge.
Itcanbechargedatupto45watts,a mediumtofaststandardthat’ssomewayoff whatthefastestdevicescansupport.There’s nochargerinthebox.
Therearetwo rearcameras,whichare excellent,butpossiblyunnecessary.The mainfront-facingwide-anglecameraisvery good.Forsecurity,there’smoderatefacial recognitionandanunder-screenfngerprint reader.AndithasanIP68rating,meaning it’sallbutwaterproofinmostconventional situations.
Ifyouwanttouseitasalaptop,which thescreensizelendsitselftonicely,there’s anoffcialkeyboardyoucanbuy,althoughI haven’thadtheopportunitytotestit.
Sowhowouldbuyoneofthese?Ithinkit wouldbesomeonewholikeswatchingalot ofvideosontheirtablet,likeentiresporting matchesormovies,aswellasthedexterity thatallthatextrascreenspaceoffers.For comparison,Iwatchentirefootballmatches ona13-inchiPadPro.
It’salsosomeonewhoeitherusesastylus forcreativepurposesorwhoiscomfortable
usinganattachablekeyboardforlightwork.
Inotherwords,it’saniPadProuserwho wantsalargerdisplayanddoesn’tquite needthevarietyofappstheiPadhasover Androidtablets.Asapowerful,thinpiece ofcomputerglass,it’shardtoaskformuch morefromthisthanthe TabS10Ultragives. IfIhaveonecriticism,itisthe relatively plainnessoftheuserinterface.
It’sactuallyabitboringuntilyougointo anapplicationthattakesadvantageofthe largedisplay.Ascreenthissizeshould really haveitsown“feel”thesecondyouturnit on,notjustlooklikeagiantversionofthe smallermodel.
Giventhatit’sveryniche,Samsung obviouslyisn’tgoingtodesignadifferent lookandfeeltotheoperatingsystemthanits othertablets.Butwhenthescreenisliterally twicethesizeofa regularSamsungtablet, usingthesametypeofapp-screenlayout looksderivativeandstretched.
TheonlyotherquibbleImighthaveisa familiarAndroidone,thattherestillaren’tas manyappsforAndroidtabletsasforiPads, andthereprobablyneverwillbe.Granted, thisprobablywon’taffectmostpeoplewho justuseahandful,includingOffce,social media,gamingandafewothers. ■
TECH NOLO
TheSamsung TabS10Ultra
my day OrlaCopeland Fundraisingmanager,NIand Wales, BritishHeart Foundation
5.20am
On a goodday, I’muptodoBrazilianjiu-jitsu atNewGroundJJAcademy Havingtwosmall kidsmeans I needtodoitbefore theygetout ofbed.While I train,myhusbandgetsthekids readyfornurseryandcreche.Beingableto startmydaywithsomethingthat I lovealways makesfor a positiveday I’mlucky I havethe fexibilitytoworkathomeorfromourBelfast offcedependingonwhatI’muptoeachday
8am
Myworkdayoffciallystartsand a coffeeis needed.I’llstartthedaycheckingmydiary, prioritisingtasksandpreppingformeetings.As theonlymemberofthefundraisingteaminNI fortheBritishHeartFoundation(BHF), I work alongsideourlovelyteamin Wales. We have regularcheckinsandbrainstormingsessions andare currentlyplanningforHeartMonthin February
10am
I couldbemeetingwith a prospectivecorporate partner, fndingoutwhatisimportanttothem
andsubsequentlybeginwriting a proposalto encouragetheirsupportfortheBHF’s lifesaving research. I mightalsomeetwithcurrent partnerstoplanfuture activityandexplainnew opportunitiesandeventstheycantakepartin. Atthemoment I amworkingwithorganisations whoare ‘GoingRed’forHeartMonthby planningfunactivitiesfortheirstaff tohelp fundraiseforBHF, alongsidelearningCPR throughourfreeonlinetrainingtoolRevivR.
12pm
I’llhavelunchandifI’mathome,I’lltakemy dogoutfor a shortwalk.Somefreshairalways helpssetmeupfortheafternoon.
1pm
Theafternooncanbespentmeeting,chatting andsupportingpeoplewhoare fundraisingfor BHFNI.Thisisbyfarthebestpartofmyjob. We havefantasticsupporters,manyofwhom haveexperiencedunimaginableheartbreak.It istheirexperiencesthatinformalloftheBHF’s workandvital research.Andit’s theirwillto keepgoingandtheirpassionforhelpingothers
insimilarcircumstanceswhichinspiresmeto workashard as I caneveryday
5pm
Myworkdayoffciallyfnishes.Meetingthe people I doeverydayandhearingwhatsome ofthemhavebeenthroughmakesmeso gratefulforeveryone I haveinmylife.Being abletoworkfromhomemeans I canenjoy dinnerandqualitytimewithmyfamily We mightgetoutsidefor a shortwalkorjustwatch a movie, readsomebookstogetherordance inthekitchentoDisneymusic.Ortheevening mightendintearsandtantrums – butwe roll withit.
7pm
Theeveningtimeismyhusband’s turn totrain soasheheadsout I runthebathformylittle onesandhavetheminbedfor8pm(iftheyplay ball)BythistimeI’musuallycompletelyspent so I aimtogettobedfor9pmwhere I’llcatch upwithmyhusband,we’llwatchsomething togetherandtrytoget a fullnight’s sleep before tomorrowbegins. ■
