PwContheroleour collegesanduniversities playaskeydriversof economicprosperityinNI
IN FO CUS
Thechallenges facingsocial housinghere
FE AT URE
Navigatingthe Tr umptariffsfor companies
Thelatestnewsandexclusivesfromacrossthe worldofNorthernIrelandbusiness
Coverstory
PwConhowuniversitiescanunlock regional growthtodriveaninnovation-ledeconomy 22
InFocus
AlphaHousingchairJohnGlassonthe challengestobuildmorehomeshere 35
Travel&tourism
IsthelackofatransatlanticcorridorfromNI stoppingbusinessandtourismtraffc?
45
Tax&accounting Firmshereareuncertainaboutthefutureof USexportmarketsamidtalkoftariffs
Axial3Dbossonhowhelpingacancercharity alignswithhisfrm’sground-breakingwork 63
IT&technology
TheIrishfrmusingartifcialtechnologyto protectstaffintheworkplace
72
Food&drink JohnMulgrewsaysthebestwaytodelivertop favoursisbykeepingthingssimple
77
Motoring BMW’ssportyelectricgetsanupgradewhile welookatEVcarsalesacrosstheUK 84
Photocall Alookatwhat’sbeenhappeningacross NorthernIrelandoverthelastfewweeks 92
Lifestyle JohnMulgrewgetshandsonwithBreitling’s newSixNations-inspiredwatches 94 Travel
Getawaydoesn’tdisappointMadeleineKeane whonotestheusualsaunarulesapply
UlsterBusinessisapartoftheIndependentPressStandardsOrganisation(IPSO).Ifyoubelieveyouhavebeenunfairlytreated,youcancontactIPSOinwritingviaitswebsiteforguidanceonwhattodo. Theserviceisfree.IPSOcan thenadviseonwhetherit’slikelyyouhavegroundsforacomplaintandwhattodoaboutit. Thenormalprocedureisforthecomplainanttothencontactthepublication’seditordirectly.Ifnoagreementisreached,thecomplainant cangobacktoIPSOtolookforanadjudication,orforittotakeoverthecomplaint. Fulldetailsareavailableatwww.ipso.co.uk.Alternatively,emailcomplaints@ipso.co.uk,orinquiries@ipso.co.uk,ortelephone03001232220,ortheout-of-hoursemergencynumber: 07659152656.
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EDITOR’S COMME NT S
Farewell totop tourismchief JohnMcGrillenhasannouncedhe’s steppingdownfromhis roleas chiefexecutiveof TourismNI,after a decadeatthehelm.
I’veknownJohnthroughmyprofessional lifeoverthatperiod,chattedto,and interviewedhimonmanyoccasions.
He’s alwaysbeenfrank,andtothepoint, andsomeonewhohasbeenhappytohave cleardiscussionsaboutthesectorandwider businessenvironment,where it’s goingand what’s needtogetitfurtheralongupthe road.
It’llbe a hard roletofll.There willlikelybe manyworthycandidateslininguptotake overwhatisoneofthemostinteresting, yetchallengingpublicsector roleshere in
Northern Ireland,with a burgeoninglevel of responsibility, asourtourismcredentials becomeanevermore importantpartofour economicfuture.
I wishJohneverysuccessinhisnew endeavours,andthankhimfortheworkhe didduringhistimewiththeorganisation –leadingteamsbehindbringingsomeofthe world’s largestsportingeventstoNorthern Ireland,andhelpingputthe regiononthe map.
WelcometotheMarcheditionof Ulster Business It’s anotherpackedmagazine, featuring a raftofinterviews,features, profles,analysis,exclusivenews,andmore.
OurfrontcoverthismonthfeaturesCat McCuskerofPwC.She’s taking a look
atthebroader roleouruniversitiesand collegesplayasdriversofeconomicgrowth andcommunityengagement,whichoften receivelessattentioncomparedtotheircore researchandteaching roles.
PavelBartertakes a closelookatwhat impacttariffs,andpotentialtariffs,fromthe UScouldhaveonsomeofourfrmshere inNorthern Ireland,aswellasexamining whether a lackoftransatlanticbusinessand domesticairlinkisholdingusbackhere.
I alsospeaktoJohnGlassofAlphaHousing ontheworkit’s doing,andthehuge challengesaheadtobuildmore properties acrossNIinordertotacklelengthywaiting lists. ■
JohnMulgrew
Publisher UlsterBusiness c/oMediahuisUKLtd Belfast TelegraphHouse,33ClarendonRoad, ClarendonDock,BelfastBT13BG
Printer W&GBaird GreystonePress,CaulsideDrive, AntrimBT412RS www.wgbaird.com
Editor JohnMulgrew,john.mulgrew@mediahuis.co.uk
Advertising JudithMartin,j.martin@mediahuis.co.uk
Graphicdesign SusanMcClean,MediahuisIrelandDesignStudio
Coverphoto ElaineHill
@ulsterbusiness www.ulsterbusiness.com
A month innumbers Housing waiting list ‘couldgrow to 70,000’ 1.5%
Theriseinhouseprices betweenthethird andfourthquarterof 2024,accordingto offcialfgures.
106
Thenumberofnew jobsbeingcreatedby NapierAIasitbuildsa newbaseinBelfast.
65%
Theproportionof hospitalityfrms whichwill reduce theiremployment levelsduetoarisein NationalInsurance contributions.
40
Thenumberofnew jobsbeingcreated withtheexpansionof thedutyfreeatBelfast InternationalAirport.
ByJohnMulgrew
NorthernIreland’sburgeoningsocial housingwaitinglistcouldgrowby thousandsmoreandbein“worse position”ifmorehomesaren’tbuilteach year,it’sbeenclaimed.
AndJohnGlassofAlphaHousingsays fundingcouldneedto“double”ifweareto dealwiththehugebacklogofsome50,000 peoplewaitingforasocialhome.
“Therecouldbe60,000to70,000people onthewaitinglist–wehaven’tdealtwiththe backlog,”hetells UlsterBusiness
Therearenowalmost50,000people waitingforahomehereinNorthernIreland. AndJohnsaysatthecurrentrateofnew builds,andwithagrowingpopulation,that numberisonlylikelytorise–possiblyto 60,000to70,000.
“Howdoyoucatchupon50,000people onawaitinglistifyou’reonlybuilding2,000 homesayear?
“Thepopulationisgrowing,andthereare morepeopleonthatwaitinglist–weneedto proactivelydealwiththatbacklog.
Plansareunderwayaspartofthehousing strategytobuild30,000homesinthenext15 years.
Butgiventhecurrentrateofconstruction, Johnsayswecouldbeina“worseposition”in 15years.
“[Therecouldbe]60,000to70,000people onthewaitinglist–wehaven’tdealtwiththe backlog,”hesays.
“InEngland,theHousingExecutivecan retroftproperties,andmakethemmore effcient.Ifyougetmoneyfordecarbonising housingstock,youcan retroftinsulationand reduceenergycostsfortenants.
“Ithinkthesituationlikethat shouldbelookedat[here],with fundingforthat.
“Ithinkthemodelisright hereinNorthernIrelandfor buildingnewhomes,butthere isjustnotenoughmoney.
“Tocatchupwiththisthere hastobedoublethefunding.”
AlphaHousinghasateam ofaround70people,and buildsaround100newhomes eachyear,aswellasspending around£3monmaintenance ofproperties,withsome25 shelteredschemesacross NorthernIreland.
Itoperatesaround1,000 homes,spreadacrossNorthern Ireland,andfocuseson providingshelteredhousing forolderpeople,howeverit isnowbuildingarangeof homesacrossNIthroughNIHE’s SocialHousingDevelopment Programme.
JohnGlass
Licensing laws inNI ‘not fit for purpose ’ Stormonthasbeenurgedtoactafteranindependent report intothelicensinglawsheresaysthatthecurrentantiquated systemwasstifingcompetitionand restrictinggrowth.
NightlifecharityFreeTheNightwelcomedtheIndependentReview oftheLiquorLicensingSysteminNorthernIrelandcommissionedbythe DepartmentforCommunitiesandledbytheUniversityofStirling.
The reportsuggeststhecurrent“archaic”systemisnotftforpurpose andisleadingtoadrifttowardsfewerpubsandclubs,butmoreofflicences.
ThelicensingsysteminNorthernIreland,accordingtothe review, “isnotonlysubstantiallydifferenttothe restoftheUKbutunusualby comparisontothe restoftheworld.”
It recommendsthatthe‘surrenderprinciple’–aone-in-one-out systemdesignedtolimitthenumberoflicensedoutletswhichdates backalmost120years–issubstantially reformedorcompletely replaced toprotectbothpublichealthandthenightlifesector.
Ituncoveredseveral“deep-seatedproblems”withthecurrent licensingsystem’sdesign,operationandenforcementandputforward asetof recommendationstotheMinisterforCommunities,whohassix monthsto respond.
Researchersfoundthesurrenderprincipleiscausinganongoingdrift oftheselimitedlicencesfrompubs,venuesandotherlicencedspacesto off-licences,andthathigherdensitiesofoff-licencesarecloselylinkedto increasedalcohol-relatedharm–deaths,hospitaladmissionsandcrimes associatedwithalcohol.
Calls for ‘empty homesofcer’ and strategy to tackleBelfasthouse waiting list ABelfastcouncillorisproposingthe creationofarolefor‘emptyhomes offcer’andanewstrategytodealwith housingwaitinglistshere,writes John Mulgrew
Therearecallsforanewstrategyandtheappointmentofan ‘emptyhomesoffcer’forBelfasttotacklethethousandsof familiesonahousingwaitinglisthere.
Amotionwas recentlytabledtodealwiththethousandsof householdsonthepropertywaitinglistinBelfast–withsome48,000 acrossNorthernIreland.
It’sbeingproposedthatthecouncildevelopsanewstrategytodeal withtheissue,alongsidetheDepartmentforCommunities(DfC),the HousingExecutive,andotherbodies,to“ensurethereisaco-ordinated actionplantobringdisusedhomesintopublicuse”.
ThemotionwasduetobeproposedbyPeopleBeforeProft councillor,MichaelCollins,andhasbeensecondedbycouncillorÁine GrooganoftheGreenParty.
“ThecouncilwillseektoestablishanEmptyHomesPartnership, similartotheScottishmodel,whichwillcoordinatetheseeffortswith the relevantbodies,”themotionsays.
“Themotioncallsuponthecounciltoundertakeanumberofactions in relationtoemptyhomes,includingdevelopingastrategy,establishing apartnershipandappointingan‘emptyhomesoffcer’–theStrategic PolicyandResourcesCommitteeis responsibleforstrategicpolicy, workingwithpartnerstoleadontheBelfastAgendaandalsoagreeing theLocalDevelopmentPlan.Themotionwillthereforebe referredto thatcommittee.”
Itsaysit“noteswithconcernthegrowingnumberofhouseholds (48,000)onthehousingwaitinglist”.
Quotes of the month
“TourismNIis a truly wonderful organisation driven by exceptional, hardworking people.”
Outgoing TourismNIchief JohnMcGrillenwhois steppingdownfromthe role.
“Thecouncilalsonoteswithconcernthatdespitethehugedemand forpublichousing:there remainsasubstantialnumberofhomesin Belfastwhichareempty.
“AccordingtoLandandPropertythisfguresitsat3,694forthe Belfastarea.Asalocalauthority,thecouncilcommitstoworkingwith the relevantdepartmentstotrytobringemptyhomesbackintouseas affordableandsocialhousing.CouncilnotesthattheDfCEmptyHomes strategy,whichaimedtodothis,endedin2018.
“Thisactionplanwillbefundedandappropriatemeasuressuchas anemptyhomesratespremium,strengthenedcompulsorypurchase powersandfnancingsupportforconvertingemptyhomesintosocial housingarebroughtforwardtoensureitisabletobedelivered.”
Housingassociationsherearecallingformorepropertiestobebuilt.
“Delivering1,403newsocialhomesthisyear–despitethebarriers faced–hasbeenpositive,butthatissimplynotenough,”Seamus Leheny,chiefexecutiveoftheNorthernIrelandFederationofHousing Associations(NIFHA),said recently.
“[Anew US economic envoy] ismore importantnow than ever – weneedsomebody to argue our case, ”
DarraghCullen,managing directorofEdgeInnovate, inthiseditionof Ulster Business
“AllSpirit operations must transfer together to a single entity to secure the highly-skilledjobsand manufacturing capacity.”
GeorgeBrashofUnite speakingaboutSpirit AeroSystems’sale.
TourismNI chiefstepping down frompost Theheadof TourismNIissteppingdownfromhis roleafter a decadeatthehelm.
JohnMcGrillenwillleavehispostattheendofJuly, following TheOpen – whichis returningtoRoyalPortrush.
MrMcGrillenhashadanextensivecareeracrossindustry, andjoined TourismNIbackin2015.
Hisexitfromtheorganisationmarkstheendof a 30-year-careerinthe publicsectorin a numberofhigh-profleleadership roles.
Duringhistimeaschiefof TourismNI,MrMcGrillenoversawthe return ofTheOpentoNorthern Irelandin2019,thefrsttimeinmore than60years.Healsoplayed a pivotal roleinthe recoveryofthelocal tourismindustryfromtheimpactoftheCovid-19pandemic.
Thesearchusunderwaytoappoint a newchiefexecutive.Meanwhile, EllvenaGrahamhasbeen reappointedaschairof TourismNI.
MrMcGrillenwasformerlychiefexecutiveDownDistrictCouncil before joiningBelfastCityCouncilwhere,asdirectorofdevelopment, hewas responsibleforoverseeingthedevelopmentoftheICCatthe WaterfrontHallandfor a numberofhigh-profleeventsincludingthe MTVEuropeMusic AwardsandtheGiro d’Italia.
“TourismNIis a trulywonderfulorganisationdrivenbyexceptional, hardworkingpeoplewhoare determinedtomake a positiveimpacton thisplaceweallcallhome,”MrMcGrillensaid.
JohnMcGrillenandEllvenaGraham
Indianstreet food chain opening frstNI restaurant ByJohnMulgrew
An Indianstreetfoodchainfounded by a topentrepreneurandTVchef isopeningitsfrstNorthern Ireland restaurant, UlsterBusiness can reveal.
MowgliStreetFoodis a UK-basedIndian streetfoodbusinessownedbyNishaKatona MBE,servingup a widerangeofdishes – from tiffnboxestothe‘MowgliChipButty’. It’s nowplanningtotakeontwocombined unitsonthegroundfoorof VictoriaSquare, andhasappliedfor a licencefortheunits.
MowgliStreetFoodishasmore thantwo dozenlocationsacrosstheUK,butstartedoff lifewithitsfrst restaurantatBoldStreetin Liverpoolbackin2014.
“Mowgliisallaboutthetypeoffoodthat Indianscookandeatathome;born tofeedthe rawneedIndianshavefordishesfulloffresh, bright,intensefavour,”thefrmsaysonits website.
OwnerNishaKatonaleftbehind a careeras a childprotectionbarrister –a roleshehadfor20 years – before startingupherbusinessin2014.
“Herobsessionwithtakingherancestral offeringstothemarketandbuildingan eateryservingthekindoffoodIndianseatat homeandontheirstreets,ledhertoherfrst restaurant,”thefrmsaid.“HerfrstMowgli wasborn inthehinterlandsofLiverpool’s Bold Street.
“Mowgliisaboutthesmashandgrabzing ofhealthy, light,virtuosicherbsandspices.The simpledishesontheMowglimenuare cooked
freshineach restauranteverymorning.The aromasfoatingdownthe roadshouldtellyou allyouneedtoknowaboutustrulybeingyour neighbourhoodIndianhomekitchen.”
MsKatonaalsofeaturedon a rangeof televisionprogrammes,including Top ofthe Shop,withchef Tom Kerridge,andwasalso a judgeonGreatBritishMenu.
“ItisNisha’s ambitiontocontinuegrowing MowgliStreetFoodwithanoverridingaimto enrichlivesinthecitiesshegoesto,”thefrm says,
“Thisisdonethroughcreatingjobsin a nurturingworkplace,sponsoring a childinneed foreachfull-timeemployeeanddedicating each restaurantto a localcharity TheMowgli Trusthasraisedover a millionpoundsforlocal andworldcharities.”
MowgliStreetFoodhasexpanded signifcantlyoverthelastfewyears,growing fromitsoriginalLiverpoollocationto Manchesterandbeyond.Ithas restaurants incitiessuchasLondon,Bristol,Newcastle, Edinburgh,Glasgow, andCardiff.
NishaKatonawithherMBEfollowingaceremonyat BuckinghamPalacein2019
MarkCrimmins, UlsterBank,Belfast Telegraphbusiness editorMargaret Canning,andClare Guinness,judging panelchair
Belfast Telegraph Business Awards kicks of for 2025 TheBelfast TelegraphBusiness AwardsinpartnershipwithUlster Bankhasbeenlaunchedfor2025. Foraquarterofacentury,theBelfast
Telegraphhasmarkedtheachievements ofbusinessesandbusinesspeoplearound NorthernIrelandataglitteringannualawards ceremony.Entriesforthisyear’sawardsare
nowopen,andwillculminateinanawards ceremonyonMay1attheCrownePlaza, Belfast.
MarkCrimmins, regionalmanagingdirector ofheadlinesponsorUlsterBank,said:“At UlsterBank,weareproudofourcontinued associationwiththeBelfast TelegraphBusiness Awardsand recognisetheimportanceof celebratingthemanyachievementsofourlocal businesscommunity.”
EoinBrannigan,editor-in-chiefoftheBelfast TelegraphandSundayLife,said:“We’re delightedtolaunchthe2025Belfast Telegraph Business AwardsinpartnershipwithUlster Bank.
“It’sthesilveranniversaryoftheevent thisyear,a reallyexcitinglandmark,andit’s asbiganhonourasevertocelebratethe achievementsofcompaniesaroundNorthern Ireland.
“ThankyoutoUlsterBankfortheirbrilliant supportandtoourjudgingpanelledbyClare Guinnessfortheircommitment.”
TheclosingdateisFriday,March21at5pm
Entriesopen for Responsible Business Awards for2025 Sponsorsandsupporters
helplaunchtheResponsible Business Awardsfor2025
CompaniesfromacrossNorthern Irelandwhichgoaboveandbeyond tomake a differencetosociety ortotheenvironmenthave a chanceto showcasetheireffortswiththelaunchof thisyear’s ResponsibleBusiness Awardsin Northern Ireland.
Theawards – runby responsiblebusiness networkBusinessintheCommunity(BITCNI) inpartnershipwithkeysponsorHenryBrothers – reward and recognisebusinesseslargeand smallandfromeverysectorinNorthern Ireland onexceptional,inspirationandimpactful corporate responsibilityaction.
Theawardsare openuntilMay2,are free toenter, andwinnerswillbeannouncedat the AwardsgalaeventonSeptember 4 atICC Belfast.
The13categoriescover a rangeofthemes includingdiversity, wellbeing,climate, technology, partnerships,andcommunity impact.Anindividualwillbe recognisedasthe 2025ResponsibleBusinessAmbassadorand a topprizeisawardedtothe2025NIResponsible Companyofthe Year, currentlyheldbybuilding materialsandtimberproductsupplierJPCorry VickyDavies,chair, Businessinthe Communitysaid:“Theseawardsprovide
a platformtoshowcaseandcelebratethe mostinnovativeandinspirational responsible businesses.
“Astheonlyawardsdedicatedentirelyto responsiblebusinessinNI,thisis a unique opportunityforleadersinallareasofcorporate responsibilitytobe recognisedand rewardedfor goingbeyondprofttobe a forceforgoodfor societyandtheenvironment,anditsservesas a waytoinspire otherstofollowsuit.”
Theawardstakeplaceinpartnershipwithkey sponsorHenryBrothersandinassociationwith UlsterBusiness, U105andConselloGroup.
IanHenryMBE,CSRdirector, HenryBrothers said:“As a companywithpeople,planet,and placeattheheartofitsoperations,Henry Brothersiscommittedto responsiblebusiness practicesthathave a tangibleimpactinthe communitieswhere wework.
“Nowinourfourthyearas a sponsor, we knowfrsthandhowtheResponsibleBusiness AwardspresentcompaniesacrossNorthern Irelandwiththeinvaluableopportunityto showcasetheirsustainableeffortsandpromote goodbusinesspractice.
“We understandthesignifcantvalue thatcollaborationcanhaveandbelieve itisimportanttosupportbusinessesthat
THEFULLLISTOF AWARDS NIResponsibleCompanyofthe Year Award sponsoredbyJPCorry
ClimateAction Award sponsoredby HeronEnergy
CollaborativeAction Award sponsored byArthurCox
Diversity,Equity&Inclusion Award sponsoredbyEncirc
EmployerofChoice Award sponsored byUlsterUniversity
ImpactinyourCommunity Award sponsoredbySPARNI
Nature&Biodiversity Award sponsored bySONI
One-To-Watch Award sponsoredby DanskeBank
ResponsibleBusinessAmbassador sponsoredbySSEAirtricity
ResponsibleProduct/Service Award sponsoredby Translink
Responsible TechnologyInnovation Award sponsoredbyAllstateNI
Skills&Education Award sponsoredby BelfastHarbour
Wellbeingat Work Award sponsoredby LarnePort
inspire positivechange. We wouldtherefore encouragealleligiblecompaniestoenter before theclosingdateofMay2,2025.” ■
NI radiostationson the move to new Belfastcity centre base TheownerofCoolFMandDowntownlooksettomoveintonew offcesandstudiosatBelfastHarbour,writes JohnMulgrew
OneofNorthernIreland’sbiggest radiobroadcastersis relocating andlookssettoopenupitsnew studiobaseinBelfastcitycentre,itcanbe revealed.
It’sunderstoodthatBauerMedia,which ownsstationsincludingCoolFM,Downtown andDowntownCountry,iseyeingafoorat the16-storeyCityQuays3buildingatBelfast Harbour.
Currently,theradiostationsarebasedat KiltongaIndustrialEstateinNewtownards,Co Down.
Figures releasedlastyear revealed538,000 listenerstuneintoCoolFMfor5.1million hourseachweekacrossNorthernIreland. Thecompanycouldjoinahostofbluechipfrmsatthetop-endCityQuays3offce development.
ThatincludesMicrosoftandSantander,as wellastechfrmAfac–whichmovedtoCity Quays3fromitsformerCityQuays2home–nearby.
In2021,itwas revealedthatBauerMedia AudiowastoacquireNewstalkand Today FMintheRepublic.BauerMedia’s52UK
radiobrandsalsoincludenineAbsoluteRadio stations.
BauerMediaalreadyownsaudiobusinesses insevenothercountries,excludingIreland,and hasmorethan55millionweeklylisteners.
CoolFMisBauerMedia’sbiggestradio stationhereinNorthernIreland,featuring presentersincludingPeteSnodden,Rebecca McKinneyandJohnKearns.
BauerMediadidnotwishtocomment.
BelfastHarbour,meanwhile,saidit“does notcommentonmarketspeculation”.
Anumberofmediacompaniesalreadycall BelfastHarbourhome.
ThatincludesUTVandU105,whichare basedintheCityQuays2building,while MediahuisisbasedclosebyatBelfast TelegraphHouse,whichhousestitlessuchas theBelfast Telegraph,SundayLife,Sunday WorldandUlsterBusiness.
BelfastHarbourisstillseekingtenantsforits largeCityQuays3development,withseveral foorsstillunoccupied.
“[It’s]takingslightlylongerthananticipated [tofll],”JoeO’Neill,BelfastHarbourchief, recentlytoldUlsterBusiness.
“Therearesixfoors[remaining]andwe haveanumberofenquiriesandaremanaging those.
“[AcrossBelfast]thereissomeoffcespace available,butwebelievein2028/29thatwill beexhausted,withnodevelopmentofgrade Aoffce.”
WhileagreenlighthasbeengivenforCity Quays5,furtherdevelopmentwilldependon marketdemandsforoffcespace.
TheproposedCityQuays5building,which ispartoftheCityQuaysMasterplan,will include160,000sqftofspaceoverninefoors andwillbelocatedonasitedirectlyopposite theBelfastHarbourCommissionersoffce.
ThewiderplansalsoincludeCityQuays4,a 325-unitbuild-to-rentschemebesidetheAC HotelandtheM3bridge.
WorkisalsowellunderwayonCityQuays Gardens,whichwillseetheareadevelopedas apublic realmspace,whichincludesan“urban garden”,greenspace,seating,extensivetree planting,lawns,amphitheatreseatingand outdoorworkspace.
Theprojectisalsodesignedtohelppromote activeandsustainabletravel. ■
Inacompetitiverecruitment processthere’snoroomforCVerror ByJohnMoore,managingdirector,HaysNI
Anyoneworkinginthe recruitmentindustryor responsible forhiringandHRintheirorganisationwillhaveraised aneyebrowlastmonthwhenawell-knownpolitician becamethelatestinalineofhighproflefgurestohavetheirCV calledintoquestion.
Thestoryraisedanimportantpointabouttheneedforclarityand accuracyonbothCVsandthemodernequivalent–ourLinkedIn profles.
ItshouldgowithoutsayingthatitisnotagoodideatolieonyourCV –anoutrightfabricationwillrightlybefrownedonwhendiscovered.
Butinthedigitalage,whereexaggerationofourachievementsis activelyencouraged,it’sprobablynosurprisetolearnthatalotof peoplearebendingorstretchingthetruthonline.
Youmaythinkthere’snoharminmakingthat roleyouheldforayear and11monthsintoatwo-yearposting,bumpingupthejob,ormaking ashortcourseyoudidsoundjustafewmodulesshortofaMaster’s.
Butemployersdonotwelcomemisleadinginformationaboutyour levelsofexperienceorqualifcations–itcanultimatelydamageyour reputation.
WritingaCVcanbediffcult,andwhileyourLinkedInprofledoesn’t needtohavethesamelevelofdetail,it’scrucialthatbothcontainthe rightinformationtobenoticed.
Moreoftenthannot,withtheexceptionofsomeapplication processes,yourCVisstillthemainmeansofapplyingfor roles.Agood CVgivesthe recruiterafactualandchronologicalsnapshotofyourskills andexperience. Typically,yourCVwillalsobemoretailoredtothe role thanyourLinkedInprofle.
ItisimportantthatyouadaptyourCVtoftthe roleyouareapplying forby:
• Tweakingyourpersonalstatementtooutlinewhyyouwanttowork forthisparticularindustryandorganisation
•Streamliningyourskills,educationandexperiencetohighlightonly themost relevantinformation
•Identifyingthekeywordsusedtodescribethedesiredskillsonthejob description,suchas“stronganalyticalskills”,andensuringtheseare incorporatedonyourCVwherepossible
DifferentiatingyourCVforajobspeciscrucialtopasstheapplicant trackingsystems(ATS)softwareusedbymanyemployers.When scanningaCV,an ATSidentifeskeywordsandphrases,assigninga higherscoreorrankingtothatapplication.Failingtoincludetheright keywordswillloweryourscore.
ThenatureofLinkedIngivesyoutheopportunitytobringyourskills andexperiencetolife. Yourprofletellsthe recruitermoreofastory aboutwhoyouareandwhatyouarelookingfor.
Recruitersuseadvanceddataanalyticstoolstofndandengagewith suitablepassiveandactivejobseekers.So,anup-to-dateprofleand frequentonlineactivitycangetyounoticedbytherightpeople. ForastrongandengagingLinkedInprofleyoushould:
•Uploadanup-to-dateandprofessionalphoto
•Addacompellingheadlinethatmoreaccurately refectsyour specialismandinterests
•Makesureyourskillsandexperiencesectionsareup-to-dateand supportedbyvisualexamples
•Includeendorsementsand recommendationsfromother professionalsinyournetwork
•Optimiseyourprofleusing relevantkeywords
•Sharecontent relevanttoyourexpertiseandindustryviablogsor updates
•Like/share/commentonyourconnections’updates
•GetinvolvedinforumdiscussionsinLinkedInGroups
•Whereappropriate,adjustyourprofletoshow recruitersandhiring managersyou’re‘opentohearingaboutnewopportunities’
•Ensurethechronologicalorderofyouremploymenthistoryplotted outonyourLinkedInprofleexactlymatchesthatofyourCV.
CVsarestillyourmostimportantpersonalsalestoolwhenitcomesto gettingajob.ButagoodCVshouldbecomplementedbyastrong, professionalandactiveLinkedInprofle–onewhichbringsalltheclaims youhaveonyourCVtolifeandshowcaseseverythingyouhavetooffer asapersonandasaprofessional.Justmakesurebothareaccurate.
How ouruniversitiescan unlock regionalgrowth to drive aninnovationledeconomy Recognisedgloballyfortheiracademicexcellenceandworld-leadingresearch, ouruniversitiesarekeynationalassets.However,theirbroadercivicroleas driversofeconomicgrowthandcommunityengagementoftenreceivesless attentioncomparedtotheircoreresearchandteachingroles.Thatisstartingto change,writes CatMcCusker, PwC regionalmarketleaderinNorthernIreland
A2024 reviewbyLondonEconomics andUniversitiesUKfoundthat every£1investedinhigher education researchgeneratesnearly£5in additionalannualeconomicoutputacross theUK.
This research resultsinover£40bnof increasedprivatesectorproductivityeachyear. Universities’contributionstoeconomicgrowth andsocialvitalityisparticularlytrueinthe contextoftheUK’sdevolvednations,where regionalautonomyandlocalgovernance provideastrongfoundationforuniversitiesto enhancetheircivic roles.NorthernIreland,with itsdistinctpoliticalandeconomiclandscape, offersacompellingcasestudyofhow universitiescanactascatalystsfor regional development.
NorthernIrelandisfortunatetohavetwo outstandinguniversities:Queen’sUniversity Belfast,aprestigiousmemberoftheRussell Group,andUlsterUniversity, recently recognizedasthe TimesHigherEducation Universityofthe Year2024.
Aprimeexampleofuniversitiesembedding themselveswithintheir regionaleconomic ecosystemistheBelfastRegionCityDeal (BRCD)–a£1bninvestmentprogramme aimedatenhancinginnovation,skills,and infrastructureacrosssixcouncilareas.BRCD aloneisa£1bninvestmentprogramme aimedatenhancinginnovation,skills,and infrastructureacrosssixcouncilareas.Funded bytheUKGovernment,NIExecutive,local councils,anduniversities,thisinitiativeplaces Queen’sUniversityandUlsterUniversityatthe heartofgreaterBelfast’slong-termeconomic strategy.
OneofthefagshipprojectswithintheBRCD istheAdvancedManufacturingInnovation Centre–a£100mhigh-techmanufacturing hub.LedbyQueen’sUniversityBelfast,in collaborationwithUlsterUniversityand NewtownabbeyBoroughCouncil,AMICisset tocreateupto1,500jobs,contribute£1bn totheeconomy,andtrain300apprenticesby 2050.ManufacturersacrossNIwillbeableto usethis‘FactoryoftheFuture’totryoutnew ideaswiththeverylatesttechnology.
TheUKgovernment’scommitmentto regionaldevolutionandthedevelopment ofanewIndustrialStrategyunderscores theimportanceofplace-basedgrowth.This strategyemphasisestheneedforuniversities toaligntheirmissionswith regionalpriorities, therebyfosteringeconomicgrowthandsocial cohesion.Ashighlightedinajoint reportby LloydsBankingGroupandPwCUK,universities areatapivotalmomentwheretheycan redefnetheircivic rolestobetterservetheir communitiesand regions.
InNorthernIreland,universitieshave embracedthisopportunitybyforming strategicpartnershipswithlocalgovernment, businesses,andfurthereducationcolleges. Thesecollaborationsaimtoaddress regional skillsgaps,enhanceinnovation,andattract inwardinvestment.
Thebeneftsofcollaborationaremultifaceted: •TheSharedIslandInitiativeaimstofoster collaborationandmutualgrowthbetween
NorthernIrelandandtheRepublicofIreland •International reachandopportunities areemphasisedthroughcollaboration withglobalpartners,openingdoorsto newmarkets,providingaccesstodiverse expertise,andcreatingamoredynamicand innovativeenvironment
•CollaborationwithGreatBritainiscrucial, leadingtojoint researchprojects,shared knowledge,andincreasedfunding opportunities,ultimatelybeneftingboth regions.
NorthernIrelandcontinuestoaddresstheskills shortagethatmustbe resolvedinorderto attractsignifcantinvestmentandencourage majorindustryplayersintothe region.This comesatatimewhenUlsterUniversity’s EconomicPolicyCentre recentlypublisheda reportshowingthatNorthernIrelandneeds morethan5,000additionalworkersayear inordertogrowtheeconomy.TheNorthern IrelandSkillsBarometer2023-2033highlights thatthefastestgrowingoccupationsinterms ofdemandare“highvalue”jobssuchas roles indataanalytics,cyber-securityandIT–all areasthatouruniversitiesareinvestingheavily in.
Theskillsagendaalsopresentsacrucial opportunityforgreatercollaboration betweenhighereducationandfurther educationproviders.Thishasbeeneffectively demonstratedthroughpartnershipsbetween UlsterUniversity,Queen’sUniversityBelfast, andfurthereducationcollegesthroughthe AssuredSkillsAcademies,aprogramme designedtoequipindividualswiththe expertise requiredbyemployers.
FundedbytheDepartmentfortheEconomy, theseacademiesprovidefullyfundedtraining inhigh-demandsectorssuchassoftware development,cyber-security,andengineering. Onesuchexampleofcollaborationisthe DataAnalyticsAssuredSkillsAcademy, deliveredbyBelfastMetandUlsterUniversity incollaborationwithPwC,whichoffers specialisedtraininginAI,machinelearning, anddataanalyticstoprepareparticipantsfor careersintechandfnance.
PwCwasencouragedtoformthis collaborationbasedonthefrmbelief thatchangeandtransformationskillsare increasinglyneededtosupportourclients throughcomplexchange. We wanttosee
CatMcCusker,PwC regionalmarketleader inNorthernIreland
thistypeofdemandledskillsdevelopment scaleduptosupportourfutureworkforce needs.
Beyondteachingand research,universities alsodrive regionalprosperitybyspinning outnewcompaniesandcommercialising leading research.UlsterUniversitycurrently has19activespin-outcompanies,which collectivelygenerateover£50minannual turnoverandemploymorethan700staff.At Queen’sUniversity,approximately100spin-out companieshavebeencreatedthroughQUBIS Ltd.,itscommercialarm.Thesecompanies havecollectivelydelivered£396min revenue andcreatedalmost4,000jobs.
Moreover,universitiesinNorthernIreland areplayingacrucial roleinaddressingsocietal challengessuchaschronichealthissues, healthinequalitiesandsocialmobility.Aprime exampleisiREACHHealth,a£62mintegrated clinical researchcentreundertheBRCD,ledby Queen’sUniversityBelfastincollaborationwith theBelfastHealthandSocialCare Trustand HSCResearch&DevelopmentDivision.
Bybringingtogetherexpertsfromacademia, healthcare,andindustry,iREACHwilldrive thedevelopmentandtestingofmedicines, technologies,andtherapies,withtheultimate goalofimprovingclinicalcareoutcomes.
Thelong-termfnancialsustainabilityof universitiesiscloselylinkedtotheirabilityto drive regionalgrowth.Formingpartnerships with regionalstakeholdersnotonlyenhances ouruniversities’ relevanceand reputation butalsoenablesuniversitiestodiversify theirincomestreams, reducing relianceon traditionalfundingmodelswhile reinforcing theircivicmission.Astrategicpartnership betweenUlsterUniversity,RandoxLaboratories, InvestNorthernIreland,andHeartsine Technologiesledtotheestablishmentofthe AdvancedBiomedicalEngineeringLaboratory atUlsterUniversity.
Itiscrucialtoexpandthesectortocontinue toattractand retainyoungpeopleinNorthern Ireland.Thiscanbeachievedbycreatinga vibrantandsupportiveenvironmentthatoffers amplecareeropportunities,modernfacilities, andahighqualityoflife.Effortsshouldalso bemadetocounterthe‘braindrain’by attractingyoungpeoplefromGreatBritainand internationally,showcasingNorthernIreland asanattractivedestinationforeducationand careergrowth.
Unfortunately,thecurrentfundingmodel forhighereducationinNorthernIreland isunsustainable,withtuitionfeescapped lowerthanotherUK regions.Thiscreates
afundinggapthatlimitsinvestmentin teaching, research,andstudentsupport. Despitethis,ouruniversitiesexcel,butthe imbalancethreatenstheirsustainability, reducesopportunitiesforlocalstudents,and underminesNorthernIreland’sabilitytoattract and retaintalent.Afairsolutionisneededto enableouruniversitiestothriveasdriversof economicandsocialdevelopment.
Universitiesinthedevolvednations,and NorthernIrelandinparticular,haveaunique opportunitytodrive regionalgrowthand prosperity.Byaligningtheirmissionswith regionalpriorities,formingdeep,long-term partnershipsbetween regionaleducation institutions,businessesandpublicbodies arecentraltouniversities’abilitytocreate increasedvalueforboththemselvesandtheir regions.
AstheUKgovernmentcontinuesto emphasise regionaldevolutionandplace-based growth,universitiesmustseizethismoment to redefnetheir rolesascatalystsfor regional development. We believethatwehavethe capabilityinNorthernIrelandtocapitalise inthisopportunity,andthatcreatingthese clustersofinnovationshouldbeattheheart ofalongtermeconomicplanforNorthern Ireland. ■
COVE R STORY
CatMcCusker,PwC regionalmarketleader inNorthernIreland
Creating giant experiences across Northern Ireland Deliveringworld-classtourismexperiencesunder theEmbraceaGiantSpiritbrandiskeytobringing growingvisitornumbershere,writes Eimear Callaghan of TourismNorthernIreland
Quitesimply,creatingthingstodo andseeisthestartingpointofany tourismdevelopment.
When recallingamemorableholiday,it’s veryoftenthemomentsofdelightandsurprise thatwillbethehighlightoftheexperience. Morethanevernow,peopleareseeking authenticandimmersivetourismexperiences thatconnectwiththelocalculture,placeand people.
RecentstatisticsfromGet YourGuide’s2024 TravelExperience Trend Trackershowthat98% ofholidaymakersrateexperiencesasveryor extremelyimportantwhenconsideringwhere togo.Around70%ofvisitors reportedhigher satisfactionwhenparticipatinginimmersive experiences,leadingtoa30%increasein repeatvisitstodestinationsandactivitiesare thetop reasonholidaymakerswouldextend theirstay.
EmbraceaGiantSpirit In2019, TourismNIlauncheditsexperience brandNorthernIrelandEmbraceaGiant Spirit,acollectiveidentityforthetourism industryandpromisetovisitorsofunique, authentictourismexperienceswhichallow themtoparticipateandgettotheheart
ofthedestination.Thebrandisdesigned todeliverasustainablegrowthinvisitors, establishNorthernIrelandasaninternationally compellingdestinationandencouragelonger staysandspendlocally.
Thebrandisbasedupontheessenceof thevisitorexperienceforthosewhovisit NorthernIreland–thegiantspiritofthe people,authenticlocalexperiencesandthe magnifcenceofthelandscapes.Ourgiant promise,NorthernIrelandEmbraceaGiant Spiritmeanstwothings:sharingthegiantspirit ofNorthernIrelandandawakeningthegiant spiritinourvisitors.
Establishedtourismexperiencebusinesses havetheopportunitytoparticipatein Tourism NI’sEmbraceaGiantSpiritExperiencePortfolio; acontinuouslearninganddevelopment opportunityforestablishedtourismexperience businesses,aimedtoincreasetheproftability, visitorappealandcommercialisationofour tourismexperienceindustry.
Throughparticipation,businessescan accessenhancedlearninganddevelopment opportunitiesstructuredaroundareasof scalability,growth,keymarketidentifcation, marketingskills,commercialskillsand traveltrade readiness.Theycanalsoavail ofnetworkingopportunities,enhanced communicationandproductknowledge buildingopportunities.
Currently,97experienceoperatorsacross theNIareengagedwiththeprogramme,of which87%aremicro,smallormediumsized businessesand68%arebasedoutsideof Belfast.
Foodanddrinktourism Foodanddrinkareanimportantelementof theoveralltourismexperience. Visitorsare
keentoseekoutandenjoylocalspecialties thatareuniquetoNorthernIreland.Theyare alsobecomingmorediscerning,interestedin theoriginsofingredientsandproduce,aswell asthejourneytheytaketo reachtheirplates.
Thepromotionoflocalfoodanddrink hasthepotentialtoraisevisitorsatisfaction andhelpusdeliveronourpromisethat NorthernIrelandisaworld-classdestination. Recenttrendsindicatethatfoodanddrink areincreasinglybecomingkeymotivators fortravellerswhenchoosingdestinations. Peoplearespendingmoretimeandmoneyon uniquefoodanddrinkexperiences. Visitors toNorthernIrelandarespending£1.2bn annually,withfoodanddrinkaccountingfor approximately35%oftotalvisitorspend, approximately£420m.
Deliveringworld-class,well-designed experiencesthatembodythebrandacross NorthernIrelandwill requireacollaborative effortfromourtourismindustry.Sharing thegiantspiritofNorthernIreland refects consumerperceptionsofawarm,engaging andbig-heartedplace.Ithighlightsourlandas onebuiltbypioneersandentrepreneurs,with arichculturalhistory, refectedinwords,music andcraft,andwoventogetherbyaunique, elementalbeauty. ■
EimearCallaghan
AI frm creating 100 new NIjobs AUKfrmspecialisinginusing artifcialintelligenceincompliance solutionsiscreatingover100new jobsinhere–payingaveragesalariesof morethan£46,000.
NapierAIprovidesanti-moneylaundering andanti-fnancialcrimecompliancesolutions, andspecialisesinusingAIandmachine learningtechnologiestoimprovefnancial crimecompliancefortopbanks.
Theinvestment,includingtheopeningof anewoffceinBelfast,wassupportedby economicdevelopmentagencyInvestNI.
AndNapierAIsaidithadpassedupon opportunitiestoopeninlocationslike Warsaw, PortoandLisbontolaunchinBelfastinstead.
Around25ofthejobshavebeenflled already,butthecompanysaiditwillbe recruitinginfuturefor rolesincludingsoftware developers,businessanalysts,andprogramme managers.
Welcomingthecompany,EconomyMinister CaoimheArchibaldsaid:“Napier’sdecision toestablishabaseinthenorthisavote ofconfdenceinourskilledworkforceand
thrivingfntechecosystem.
“AIandmachinelearningaretransforming fnancialcrimeprevention,andthis investmentenhancesthenorth’s reputation asanemergingcentreforAI-drivenfntech innovation.
“InvestNIhasworkedcloselywithNapier AItosecurethissignifcantinvestment,which willcreate106high-qualityjobswithaverage salariesofover£46,000.
“These rolesprovideexcellentopportunities forlocaltalent,whilehybridworking arrangementswillhelpensuregreater regional balanceandaccessibility.”
Accordingtothecompany,thenewBelfast offce“willplayakey roleinadvancingits cutting-edgetechnologieswhilefostering innovationwithinNorthernIreland’sthriving fntechecosystem”.
“Wearedelightedtolaunchournewoffce inBelfast,”Greg Watson,chiefexecutiveof NapierAI,said.
“The region’sexceptionaltalentpool,worldclassuniversities,andsupportivebusiness environmentalignperfectlywithourmission
tomaketheworldsaferthroughintelligent compliancesolutions.
“Thisinvestment representsanexciting milestoneforNapierAI,andweare committedtodeliveringlong-termvalue forboththelocaleconomyandourglobal clients.”
ThecompanysaiditschoiceofBelfast followed“rigorousevaluation”ofotherglobal locations.
KieranDonoghue,chiefexecutiveofInvest NI,said:“Attractingindustryleaderslike NapierAIisakeyfocusofournewbusiness strategywhichemphasisesdrivingeconomic growththroughhigh-valueinwardinvestment, innovationandthecreationofqualityjobs.
“AIis revolutionisingfnancialservices,and bychoosingNorthernIreland,NapierAIjoinsa dynamiccommunityofcompaniesshapingthe futureofthesector.
“Onceinplace,thenew roleswill contributealmost£5minadditionalannual salariestooureconomy. We lookforwardto workingwiththecompanyasitestablishes andexpandsitspresencehere.” ■
Greg Watson,NapierAI, EconomyMinisterCaoimhe ArchibaldandKieran Donoghue,InvestNI
Europeanaerospace company linked to deal for part ofSpirit AEuropeanaerospacecompanyhas beenlinkedtoadealforachunk oftheSpiritAeroSystemsfactory ineastBelfast,itcanbe revealed.
AerospacegiantBombardiersaidonamedia calllastweekthatitmaydoadealwithathird partywhichcouldcontinuetocarryoutwork onitsfuselagesineastBelfast.
SpeculationhasnowlinkedMontana AerospaceinSwitzerlandtothatprocess.
Anewplayercouldbe lookingattakingon aportionoftheSpirit AeroSystemsbusinessin NorthernIreland,writes MargaretCanning SpiritAeroSystemsemploysaround3,000inNorthernIreland
Awingfactoryatthefacilityistobesold bythemiddleofthisyeartoAirbus,asUS companySpiritisitselftakenoverbyBoeing.
However,therearelargepartsofthe operationdoingmanufacturingforBombardier andRolls-Roycewhichwillnotbepartof thedeal.Bombardierownedtheoperation between1989and2020.Thereareatotalof 2,700peopleemployedonthesite.
AsourceintheUShassaidthatMontana Aerospacecouldpickupthenon-Airbusparts ofthebusinessandcontinuetocarryoutwork forBombardier.
OnJanuary31,SpiritAeroSystems announceditsshareholdershadvotedto approvethecompany’sacquisitionbyBoeing withthedealexpectedtocloseinthemiddle ofthisyear.
ButSpirithastooff-loadoperations whichcarryoutworkforanumberofother companiesincludingAirbus.
Airbusitselfcameforwardlastyearto acquireawingfactorywhichisownedby SpiritAeroSystemsinBelfast,andmakes wingsforAirbusA220jets.Spiritalsoownsa manufacturingsiteinPrestwick,Scotland.
Ona recentmediacall,Bombardierchief executiveÉricMartelwasaskedabouta dealforthenon-AirbuspartsoftheBelfast business.
MrMartelsaid:“There’sapossibilitywe couldbepartofthattransactionbutalsohave theoptionthatifthere’sacrediblebuyerthat wouldguaranteethedeliveryofourfuselages forthelifeofourprogramme,wearegoingto becomfortablewiththatsolutionalso.Both scenarios remainonthetable.”
AsourceintheUSfollowingthesituation identifedMontanaAerospaceasapossible player.“They recentlydivestedoneoftheir businesses,whichhadhelpedthemraised cash,andapparentlytheyhadbeenaround theUKspeakingwithinvestorssignalling theirinterestindoingsmallermergersand acquisitions(M&A).
“Mysenseitwouldeitherhavebeenfor Prestwick,Scotlandorforthenon-Airbus Belfastpiece.
“MyunderstandingisIthinkmaybe Montanahasdonesomeworkwith Bombardierinthepastsomaybetheyhavethe
opportunitytobethatqualifedthirdparty buyer.”
MontanaAerospacehasbeenaskedfor comment.
InearlyJanuary,AirbusCommercialchief ChristianScherersaidSpiritwasmaking progressinitsbidtosellthefacilityin Prestwick.
AskedabouttheBelfastdealtobuythe wingfactory,anAirbusspokespersonsaid: “Wearestillinon-goingnegotiationstosign thetransactioninthecomingweeks.
“Whilewecannotspeculateonrumours aroundotherthirdpartyinterests,weare continuingtoworkwiththeUKGovernment andNorthernIrelandExecutivetostabilise andimproveSpirit’soperationssoasto safeguardaerospaceskillsandthesupply chaintoensurewecansupportthelongtermramp-upofAirbusprogrammes.”
BombardiersaidMrMartelhadvisited SpiritAeroSystemsinBelfast recentlyonhis waytoLondon,foranoperationsupdate ontheworkitcarriesoutfortheCanadian company. ■
‘Thehousing waiting list couldgrow to 70,000 if we don’t deal with backlog’ NorthernIrelandisfacingamajorchallengeoverthenumberofhomesbeing builthere,alackofsuffcientfundingfordevelopment,andwithinourwater network. JohnGlass,chairmanofAlphaHousing,speaksto JohnMulgrew aboutwhyadoublingoffundingcouldbeneededandthatthewaitinglist couldgrowfurtherstillifwedon’tdealwiththatbacklog
‘There couldbe60,000to70,000 people’onthewaitinglistfor a homehere iffundingisn’t doubled andmore propertiesaren’t built,saysJohn Glass.
John,whoischairmanofAlphaHousing, saysifmore homesaren’t builttotackle thebackloghere,wecouldbein a “worse position”thanweare now
Some50,000peopleare alreadywaitingfor a socialhomehere.
“There couldbe60,000to70,000people onthewaitinglist – wehaven’t dealtwiththe backlog,”hetells UlsterBusiness AlphaHousinghas a teamofaround70 people,andbuildsaround100newhomes eachyear, aswellasspendingaround£3m onmaintenanceofproperties,withsome25 shelteredschemesacrossNorthern Ireland.
Itoperatesaround1,000homes,spread acrossNorthern Ireland,andfocuseson providingshelteredhousingforolderpeople, howeveritisnowbuilding a rangeofhomes acrossNIthroughNIHE’s SocialHousing DevelopmentProgramme.
AndJohnGlassofAlphaHousingsays fundingcouldneedto“double”ifweare to dealwiththehugebacklog.
Johnisalsodirectorofinfrastructure and projectsat Translink – workingonmajor schemessuchasthenewGrandCentral Station,and a formerchairmanofthe InstitutionofCivilEngineers(ICE),
Johnsaysthecurrentcapitalfundingmodel forsocialhousinghere is“perfect”butthat “wejustneedmore ofit”.
Thatallowshousingassociationsto receive 60%ofgrantfundingtowardsthebuildingof socialhomes,andthenborrowthe remaining capitalthroughbankfnance.
“InGB,there isn’t thatcapitalfunding [model],”hesaid.“Itmeanswhenweget a 60%granttobuildhouses,weborrowthe other40%. We canchargecheaper rents…as longaswecovertheloanfacilityandmaintain costs,wecanprovide reallycheap rentsfor peopleinNI,andgoodqualityhomes.”
Ontheissueofwastewaterconnectivity –which a lackofisstymyingdevelopmenthere–Johnsayswhileithasn’t hittheorganisationyet “Iknowitisjustwaitingforusdownthelineas wecontinuetodevelop”.
“Someofourothercolleagueshavefaced problems – withnodrinkingorwastewater provision.
“Ithinkthatisdownto a lackinvestmentin thepast,and a lackofinvestmentongoing.
“Londonisn’t goingtocontinuetobailus outunlessweare raisingmoneyonourown.”
ThatcouldincludeNI Waterbeingableto borrowmore inordertofueltheworkneeded toupgradeandimproveourwastewater networkhere.
Turningtothesocialhousingbacklog, JohnsaysNorthern Irelandneedstocatchup, otherwiseitfacesthosenumbersincreasing furtherstill.
There are nowalmost50,000peoplewaiting for a homehere inNorthern Ireland.AndJohn saysatthecurrentrateofnewbuilds,andwith a growingpopulation,thatnumberisonlylikely torise – possiblyto60,000to70,000.
“Howdoyoucatchupon50,000people on a waitinglistifyou’re onlybuilding2,000 homes a year?
“Thepopulationisgrowing,andthere are more peopleonthatwaitinglist – weneedto proactivelydealwiththatbacklog.”
Plansare underwayaspartofthehousing strategytobuild30,000homesinthenext15 years.
Butgiventhecurrentrateofconstruction, Johnsayswecouldbein a “worseposition”in 15years.
“[There couldbe]60,000to70,000people onthewaitinglist – wehaven’t dealtwiththe backlog,”hesays.
“InEngland,theHousingExecutivecan retroftproperties,andmakethemmore effcient.Ifyougetmoneyfordecarbonising housingstock,youcan retroftinsulationand reduceenergycostsfortenants.
“Ithinkthesituationlikethatshouldbe lookedat[here],withfundingforthat.
“Ithinkthemodelisrighthere inNorthern Irelandforbuildingnewhomes,butthere is justnotenoughmoney
“To catchupwiththisthere hastobedouble thefunding.”
Johnhas a lengthycareeras a civilengineer, workingacrosstheconstructionsectoroverthe lastthreedecades.
Hestartedoff as a civilengineerat McLaughlinandHarvey, andthenwentto Translink – deliveringmajorschemessuchas BelfastGrandCentral,thenewstationinDerry, aswellasbeing responsiblefor Translink’s assets,suchasproperty, signallingandbridges.
“ThehighlightofthathasbeenBelfast GrandCentral,”hesays.Thenextphaseofthe projectwillincludethewider WeaversCross development –a hugemixed-usedevelopment covering1.2millionsqft.
“IhadbeenchairofICE,andthatcame toanendaboutthreeyearsago.Alphathen cameupand I thought I couldusesomeofmy buildingandboard experiencewiththem.
“It’s beenexcellent.Otherthanhaving yourhealth,thenextthingyouneedis a comfortableandsafehome – it’s beenso satisfyingbeing a partofthat.”
“It’s probablythemostsuccessfulvisionof a publicservice[socialhousing]inNorthern Irelandthatisnot a statutorybodyofthe Executive.It’sa greatmodel. We are byno meansthelargest,weare smallandbuild around100newhomes a year
“Forus,wefeelthatourorganisationis a goodbusinesswithgoodpeople – wehave lotsofentrepreneurialskills,butwewantto maintainthatsocialconscience.” ■
AlphaHousing’s RachelClarkeand chairmanJohnGlass
Paget-Brown FinancialServices: the boutiquefrm expanding its global reach inBelfast Formorethan40years, Paget-BrownFinancialServices hasworkedwitha rangeofinternationalclientsfromitsbaseintheCaymanIslands.Butit’snowset upanewoffceinBelfast,offeringgreaterreachandfexibilityforitscustomers, withthescopetogrowfurtherstillacrossEurope,theMiddleEastandAsia
Paget-BrownFinancialServicesis a boutiquecorporateservicesfrm whichisgrowingandexpandingits clientofferingand reachwith a newbase inBelfast.
Thefrm,whichhasitsheadquartersin theCaymanIslands,provides a fullrangeof fnancial, regulatoryandgovernanceservices
forcorporate,fundandtrustclients.
It’sa companywith a stronghistory –workingwithclientsrightacrosstheglobe acrosskeyareassuchascorporate,governance and regulatory, typicallywithfundsandSPVs (specialpurposevehicles)forinternational fnancingtransactions,aswellasultra-highnet worthindividualsandtheirfamilyinvestment companies.
Whilethefrm,whichhasaround40staff globally, boastsclientsbasedaroundthe world,itnowhas a baseinBelfastwith a team ofexpertsdeliveringtailoredandbespoke fnancialandcompanymanagementsolutions to a widerangeofindividualsandbusinesses.
“Ourclients reallyare global,” Toni
Paget-BrownFinancialServices’Jonny Henry,CharlottePartington-McDermott, Paul Lyons, ToniPinkerton,chiefexecutive, directorRyanCooke,Aisling Toner,and associatedirectorDarrenLeonard
Pinkerton,chiefexecutiveand a directorof Paget-BrownFinancialServices,said.
“HavingtheoffceinBelfastwillhelpus accessopportunitiesinnew regionsas a result oftheproximity, whileimprovingservicefor ourclientsoutsideofNorthAmericantime zones.”
ThattalentpoolinBelfastwillnowhelpthe frmexpand,bothlocally, andwithitsexisting clientbase – withtheextendedtimezone coveragestrengtheningthefrm’s clientservice model,especiallyforthosebasedinEurope, theMiddleEastandAsia.
“ThemoveintoBelfastalsogivesusaccess to a strongtalentbase,” Tonisaid.
“Thisis a criticalsuccessfactorbecauseit allowsustocontinuetostrengthenourclient servicemodelwhilesupportingourclients’ growthandexpandingintonewmarkets.”
RyanCooke, a director – whoisfrom Norther n Ireland – sayswhilethecompany consideredotherlocationsforitsnewoffce, theprimaryjustifcationwastheaccesstogreat people.
“YouhavebigfrmsworkinginBelfast –
pumpingout reallyexperiencedandwelltrainedpeople,andthetwouniversities,with reallyqualifedpeoplefortheareasoffocus whichwehaveas a business,”hesaid.
Hesaidthefrm’s strengthisits“boutique” nature– developing“tailoredservicesto clients”.
“We aren’t taking a square pegandtrying topushitinto a roundhole,”hesaid.“We canbeagileandadjustmore easily We forge a partnershipwithourclients,andoftengo furtherthansomeprovidersandgetmore embedded,andtherefore more entrusted –thatgivesus a greaterlineofsight.”
Hesaidit’s alsoabout“thepeople”within thefrm,whichclientswillbeworkingwith –buildingstrong relationships,rapportandtrust.
DarrenLeonard headsuptheBelfastteam, andworksacrosscorporateandgovernment services.
“We nowhave a teaminBelfastworking andbuildingoutthegovernancefunction, whichfeedsintotheoffceinCayman,”he said.
“We are growingtheBelfastoffcetobring talentinforotherareas,suchas regulatoryand complianceservices.Thecityisquicklybeing seenashaving a brillianttalentpool,with
Darren Leonardand RyanCooke withchief executive Toni Pinkerton
betteraccessto reallyqualifedpeople.
“Alotofclientsare basedindifferenttime zones.HavingthatteamintheUKtimezone meanswecandealwith a lotof requests,in realtime,before theCaymanoffcecomes online.Sothere is a realsynchronicitythere.”
Establishedin1981,Paget-BrownFinancial Serviceshasdeliveredhigh-qualityservices toclientsforover40years.Theorganisation pridesitselfonitsdeepcommitmenttoclientcentricsolutions, reliabilityandintegrity
RyanandDarrenare bothalumniofUlster University – studyingtheMScinManagement andCorporateGovernancewhichisaffliated withTheCharteredGovernanceInstituteUK & Irelandqualifcation – andbegantheircareers here before workingacrossdifferentlocations globally
“Onthe regulatoryandcomplianceside ofthings,weare fndinggreatcandidatesto choosefrominwhatmightbeconsidered nichepositions,”Darrensaid.
Thefrm’s decisiontoopenupinBelfast stemmedfrom a strategicdrivetobroaden its reachandcapitaliseontheexpertiseinthe localmarket.
AndwithNorther n Ireland’s thrivingbusiness environment, a strongnetworkofindustries, andanincreasinglysophisticatedclientbase, thecompanyseessignifcantopportunities toofferincreasedsupporttoexistingclients andbuild relationshipsandsolutionsfornew clients.
Thefrm’s Norther n Ireland’s focuswill largelymirrorthatoftheCaymanIslands offce,partneringwithclientsfortheprovision ofcorporateandgovernanceservices,fund administrationand regulatoryandcompliance services.
Theteamhasextensiveexperienceworking indifferentmarketsacrosstheworld,each withseparate regulatory requirementsand environments.
“There is a realunderstandingamongour people – it’s notjustthatwe’veseenit,we’ve alsoworkedinthosejurisdictions,implemented and,practicedlocal regulations,andfully understandthem,” Ryansays. ■
Poweringfurther growthwith freshworking capitalfnance UlsterBank isnowofferingcustomersanewtrade loanfacility,backedbyUKExportFinance(UKEF).
Manufacturer MaxfowPowerProducts isthefrst companytoavailofthenewproductasitlookstogrow andexpanditsreachacrosstheUK,Irelandandbeyond
RyanWyliehasbigplansfor expansionathismanufacturing businessMaxfowPowerProducts.
Thefrm,whichprovides a widerangeof industrialwashersandpowerproducts,is acceleratingitsgrowth – backedby a new fnancepackagefromUlsterBank,whichis guaranteedbyUKExportFinance(UKEF).
“We carryupwardsof400,000partsacross 8,000lines – it’sa largerangeofproducts,” RyanWyliesays.
“We area pressure washerandgenerator manufacturer, providingspare partsforthat range – it’s quitevast. We havethelargest selectionofpowerproductsintheUKand Ireland,andthat’s partof reasonwehavesuch a widecustomerbase.”
Maxfowcurrentlyhas a teamofaround23 staff,butas a resultofitsexpansionit’s eyeing hiringbetweensixand10newstaff members.
“We havegrownexponentiallyoverthelast fveyears – weare aboutfourtimesthesize,” Ryansays.
Ryan,whoco-ownsthebusinesswith operationsdirector, CameronHewitt,saysthe newfundingfromUlsterBank – alongside otherfnancefacilitieswiththebank – willhelp thefrmgrowfurtherstill,withfreshworking capital.
“Thefacilityallowsustocontinuetoinvestin stocktofurtherourgrowth,whilethebusiness continuestodevelopitscapitalprojects.”
TheUKEFschemesenabletheprovisionof a tradefacilitywhere thebankhasappetiteto support a viableproposition,where insuffcient collateralisavailablethroughanincreaseinthe totalvalueoftrade,orothercredit,facilitiesto thecustomer
“Tradeloanshavebeenavailableacross thegroupformanyyears,andwehavejust launchedwithUlsterBank,aligningtheproduct acrossthebrands,”RossCurrie,tradefnance directoratNatWest,said.
“It’s tailoredworkingcapitalsolutiontied directlyintothecustomer’s needsandtrade cycles.
“We seeitbeingusedtohelpfundareas suchassupplierpaymentsandstockpurchases. Theyplay a bigpartinworkingcapitalfor importsandexport,aswellassupporting domestictrade.
Rosssaysthefacilityoffersfrmsfromacross thesectors,notjustwithinmanufacturing, a strongworkingcapitalpipeline.
“We have a largenumberofface-to-face relationshipmanagers,supportedbytrade fnancespecialists,andare meetinglocal peopleandbusinesses,”hesaid.
Ryan Wylie,managingdirector ofMaxfowPowerProductswith LeonaMcNicholl,seniorrelationship manageratUlsterBank
“Theproductcouldn’t havearrivedat a bettertimeforUlsterBank. Withchallenges intheeconomyandwiththecostofbusiness goingup,theyare eatingintoworkingcapital.”
Thatincludesrisingshippingcosts,and alongsidedelays,leadingtolengtheningtrade cyclesforfrms.
“Theproductisuniversalandcanapplyto everysinglesector,”Rosssays.
“We are keentospreadtheword tofrmsin Northern Ireland,lettingthemknowthatthisis available.”
Maxfow’s abilitytogrowas a businesshas beenfurtheredbyUKEFandUlsterBank’s fnancialsupportwhichalso recentlyincluded a multi-million-poundsupportpackagefor a managementbuyout(MBO).
MaxfowPowerProductsLimitedisthefrst companyinNIthathasbeenawardedthe UKEF-backedfacilityfromUlsterBank.
RyanWylie,whois a CharteredAccountant, saidthebusinesshascontinuedtogrowsince themanagementbuy-outinMay
“Since2021,Cameronand I havehad operationalcontrol,andinthisperiodwehave rapidlyexpandedthebusinessandfacilitated the recentMBO.
“We are nowpushingintonewexport markets. Withthatbringsadditionalstock –youneedthattobeabletoservicecustomers, andthattakestimetobuildup.
“Alotofouritemsforecastwithsuppliers canhaveleadtimesofsixto12months.That’s where ourexperiencecomesin.
“Aswecontinuetogrow, ourstock continuestoincrease,andthisfacilityallows thefundingofthistradecycle.
“When a customercomestousfor something,wealwayshaveit.Maxfow’s growthisbuiltoncustomersknowingthatwe candeliver
“Thisiswhywehaveattractedcustomers whomayhavebeenwithothersuppliers,and gainedmarketshare inthelastfveyearsacross Northern IrelandandtheRepublic.”
RossCurriesaysthebankisabletodo a deepdiveinto a customer’s tradecycle,and thendevelop a suitablefnancepackageonthe backofthat.
“It’s lookingatkeytimescales:whenthey needtosortsuppliers,stockthatneedstobe
held,manufactured,thetimeto receivegoods, shippingtothecustomerandthenpayment time – buildingthatinto a facilitywhichworks forthem.
“Theavailabilityofworkingcapitalisoneof thebiginhibitorsforfrms.Knowingfacilities suchasthisare outthere andcanhelpisan opportunity.”
AnUlsterBank TradeLoancanoffer customers a more cost-effectivefnance method,andmay providehigher amountsofworking capitalcomparedto someotherfunding methods. ■
Rajesh Rana: furtherexpansionfor leadingNIhotelgroup RajeshRana,directorofAndrasHouse,speaksto JamesMcNaney aboutthecompany’slatest Travelodgeacquisition,northcoastexpansion, preparationforTheOpenandplansfornewconceptsincludinganaparthotel
AndrasHousehasbeenbusyinthe lastyear.
Thegrouphasannouncedmultiple newbuildsandacquisitions,andasNorthern Ireland’slargesthotelowner,itisseekingto growevenmore.
Thecompany’saccountsforthelastyear showedturnovergettingcloseto£50m.
Itslatestventurewasthepurchaseofa TravelodgeonBelfast’sBrunswickStreet,which willseeitbecometheonlyfranchiseoperator ofthebrandinNorthernIreland.
RajeshRana,directorofAndrasHouse,said thatitwasanopportunityhedidn’twantto passup.
“We’vepurchasedthehotel, Travelodge, BelfastCentral,andwe’regoingtoownand operateitunderthefranchisefrom Travelodge UK,”hesaid.
“The reasonisthatit’sagreatassetina centrallocationandasagoodftforour company.
“Travelodgeisaverywell-knownbrandand isverywell respected.Theyarenowembarking onaprocessofupgradingand refurbishingall oftheirestate.
“We’llbeinvestinginthishoteltomatch thatnewlook,andhopetostartthatwork nextyear.
“Wewanttobringituptothesamelook andconceptsasthe restofthe Travelodge estatesacrosstheUK.
“Therewillbenewdesignstothepublic areasandthebedrooms,afreshnewlook,
upgradestothebedroom,bathroomsandthe receptionarea.”
Thepurchasehasbeencompletedin partnershipwithDanskeBank,whichhas providedthefundingforother recentAndras buys.
MrRanaadded:“DanskeBankhavebeen verysupportive,andthey recognisethe underlyingstrengthofourcompanyandthe opportunityofacquiringthisasset.
“They’vebeenverypositiveonthis transactionandgoodtoworkwith.”
Hesaysitsgrowthplanshavemixedorganic growthandacquisitions.
“Ourgrowthstrategyisacombinationof buildingnewhotelsfromthegroundup,but alsolookingatopportunitiesastheymayoccur foracquisition.
“Wehaveacquiredacoupleofassetsinthe pastyear,suchastheIbisColeraineRiverside, whichwasaPremierInn.
“We’realsolookingtostartnew constructions. We’reonsitewiththeMarcus Portrush,whichwillbepartoneoftheHilton brandscalled TapestrycollectionbyHilton.
“We’respeakingtocontractorsatthe momenttostarttheAdagioinGreat Victoria StreetinBelfastandwejustlaunchedthe planningapplicationforahotelinShaftesbury Square.”
TheAdagiowillbeanaparthotel,partof whatMrRanadescribesasa“newconcept” of“extendedstayhotels”fortheprovince.
“Extendedstaymeansyoucanstillbookit
foronenight,buttypicallypeopletendtobook formultiplenights.
“Thismaybethreeorfournights,acouple ofweeksorevenamonthortwo.
“WithAirbnb,peopleprobablylikeabit morespaceandsomemorefacilities.
“Sotheaparthotelshavekitchenettesand separatelivingareasfromthebedspace.
“Therearestudioapartmentsandone bedroomapartments,soitgivespeoplea bitmorefexibilityandmorespaceifthey’re lookingforalongerstay.
“Wethinkit’sagoodcomplimenttoour groupandcouldftwellinthelocalmarket.”
TheShaftesburySquarehotelwillbea165roomYOTEL,partofachainlaunchedbyYO! Sushifounder Woodroffe.
It’sduetoopeninlate2026.Itwillbethe eighthYOTELintheUKandalsothefrstin Ireland.
TheMarcusHotelisoneofseveralnorth coastvenueseitherbeingbuiltorbeing extensively renovatedaheadofthe returnofthe OpenChampionshiptoRoyalPortrushinJuly.
MrRanapreviouslyconfrmedthatthework isstillgoingall-outforthe“harddeadline” ofJulyandthat“we’rehopingtofnish constructioninAprilandgetthehotelopen, certainlybeforetheOpen”.
Evenbeforelaunching,MrRanasaidthereis interestinthe roomsastheyare“speakingtoa numberofgolfoperators”.
“It’sagreatlocation,andit’sagreatasset thattheHiltonbrand reallyaddsto.It’sgoingto
beverybusythissummer.”
Hehaswatchedthegrowthofgolftourism herewithinterest.
“There’sDunluceLodgeopeningshortly, whichisverymuchgearedtowardsthegolf market,particularlythehigh-endgolfmarket.
“Thenthere’stheacquisitionoftheAdelphi andtheAtlantic.Thereareotheroperators comingin, reallyspecialistgolftourproviders. Theypackageuptheaccommodationandthe golfexperience.
“IthinkTheOpenhas reallyputPortrushon themapoftheinternationalgolfmarket.”
AndrasHousehasalargeanddiverserange ofproperties.TheCrownePlazacatersto conferencesandevents,theMarcuswilltarget golftourismandthereareluxurybrandsas wellasbudgethotels.
MrRanaseesthisdiversityasa“strength” ofthebusiness.
“MostofourhotelsareinBelfastandon thenorthcoast,butwedodiversifyacross differentbrandsandlevelsofhotelfrom
upscaletomid-scale.”
Hefeelsthatthegrowthofhotelsacross Belfastwillhelpthetourismsectorexpand.
“Belfastasadestinationsufferedfromalack ofnewbuildsandalackof roomsinthepast coupleofyears.
“TourismNIand VisitBelfasthavevery ambitiousfguresfortourismhere,thatwillonly helpthemdeliverontheirobjectives.
“Therearebodiesthattrackdemand,andif youlookatthemacroeconomicsituation,they areprojectingcontinuedincreasesindemand overthenextfewyears.
“Ithinkpeoplearestillwantingtotravel more,andasothermarketsopenupacrossthe world,Ithinkwe’reinaverystrongpositionto attractthosetourists.”
During2024,turnoveratthecompanygrew by21.5%comparedtothepreviousyear, reachingalmost£48mfrom£39m.
Thebusinesswasfoundedin1981byRajesh Rana’sfather,LordRana.Hestartedbuilding whatwouldbecomeaportfolioofproperties
withtheBelfastPlazaHotel,whichopenedin 1990.
Thiswasthefrstnewhoteltoopeninthe citycentrefor20years.Thecompanythen addedtheHolidayInnExpressonUniversity Street,whichopenedin1996,andRenshaw’s onBotanic Avenue.
InaninterviewwiththeBelfast Telegraphin 2023,LordRanadescribedhowitsexpansion pickeduppaceafter1998.
“AftertheGoodFridayAgreement,we openedothersliketheBelfastCrownePlaza, theHolidayInnatHopeStreetandthe HamptonbyHilton. We have recentlyacquired twootherhotels,oneinColeraineandonein Portrush,”hesaid.
“Forbusiness,peaceandstabilityisessential, andbecauseofthat,theeconomyinNorthern Irelandfourished.
“Tourismparticularlyhasfourished,but peopleoncethoughtIwasmadbuildinghotels inthatsituationwherebuildingswerebeing blownup.” ■
RajeshRanapicturedatthe HamptonbyHiltonhotel
SONI: expandingitskeyenergyrole andpreparingforournetzerofuture The SystemOperatorforNorther n Ireland(SONI) haslauncheditsnew fiveyearstrategyastheorganisationmanagingourelectricitytransmissionsystem.But chiefexecutive AlanCampbell saysit’splanningtoexpanditsrolehere,working closerwithindustrypartnersandgovernmenttohelpachieveourrenewableenergy goalswhilemaintainingsecurityofsupply
NorthernIrelandandthewider worldaregoingthrough considerablechangesinhowwe generateandhandleourpower–heading towardsagreen,netzerofuture.
TheSystemOperatorforNorthernIreland (SONI)hasitsprimary roleand responsibility overtheelectricitytransmissionsystemand markethere.
Butaspartofitsvisionforthenextfive
years,itwantstoexpanduponthat,withan enhanced role,collaboratingcloselywithall stakeholderswithaplan-ledapproach,and asatrustedadviserusingevidence-based methods.
Alan Campbell
“We are movingtoanevolvingenergy system,”AlanCampbell, SONIchief executive, says
“There ispolicyambitiontomoveaway fromimportedfossilfuels–it’sabouthow wedeliverthat,andhowweplanforthat energyfuture–withnewtargets[of80% renewablegenerationby2030]whichwillbe challenging.”
SONIhasjustunveileditsnewStrategyfor 2025-2031,outliningits role,andothers,in developinganenergyfutureforNorthern Ireland–withafocusonthetransitionto renewableenergy,alongwithhowthatis managed,aswellasmaintainingsecurityof supply.
Theorganisationsaysit recognisesthe importanceofenhancedcollaborationinorder todeliverdecarbonisation.
“Ourfutureworkwill requiremuchcloser workingtogetherwithNIENetworksinits capacityastransmissionassetowner,and distributionsystemoperators,aswellasthe gastransmissionsystemoperators,toensure thealignmentofinvestments.”
AlanCampbellsaysSONI’snewstrategycan bebrokendownintofourmainareas.
“Firstly,it’sabouthowweplantheupgrades tothegrid,whichareneeded,aswellas havingagridwithmorefexibility,”hesays.
“Onceitwasfourorfvepowerstations, whilenowwehaveamuchmorediverse portfolioofgeneration–suchassolarand windfarms. We havetobalancethatwith traditionalfossilfuelpowerplantsand interconnectors,lookingatsecurityofsupply acrosstheisland.”
SONIadvisesonthefuturedirectionof thepowersystem,plansthechangesand investmentsthatare required,inbothan
operationalandphysicalcontext,anddelivers ontheseplansthroughkeyprojectsand initiatives.
“Thesecondareaisarounddelivery–how dowedeliverthesechanges?”Alansays.
“Traditionalpowerplantsprovidestability onthegrid–windandsolarfarmsdon’t providethatsamelevelofstability. We haveto decarbonisethewholesystemandit’sabout howwedothatanddevelopanelectricity marketinacost-competitivewaywhichisthe bestvalueforconsumers.
“Ourjobistomakesurewecanoperatethe systemaseffectivelyaspossible.”
ThatwillseeSONIworkingcloselywithNIE Networksanddevelopinggreaterconnectivity. ThatincludesthesecondphaseoftheNorth SouthInterconnector,aswellasbringing powergenerationfrommoreruralareasinto thosewithhigherdemands.
Andonthat renewablegeneration,Alan saysNorthernIrelandwill roughlyneeda doublingofwindandsolar–risingto3GW.
“Thewinddoesn’t’alwaysblow,andweare alsocreaturesofhabit.Itwon’talwaysblowat peaktimes,soenergystorageisalsokey.”
Partofthatchallengecomeswithensuring thatSONIplaysitspartinestablishing connectionsfornewgeneration.
“Weadvocateapositioninwhichwehave amoreplanneddevelopment,”Alansays.“It’s aboutwhat’sthebestoutcomeforconsumers –makingsurewehavetherighttechnology, thecorrectplacesonthegrid,andstorage closetowherethe renewableenergyisbeing generated.”
There remainwidergovernmentgoals around regionalbalancing,andensuringthat energyisgeneratedwhereitisneeded.
Alansaysasexpertsinenergytransmission,
SONI’scontrol roominBelfast
withsignifcantdata resources,itcan alsopositionitselfasatrustedadviserto governmentandtheUtilityRegulator.
“Itisaverychallengingtimeline,”hesays. “We recogniseifwekeepupthe‘businessas usual’approachwearegoingtofallshort.
“SONIhastochangesomeofthethings itdoes. We havepublishedanactionplan lookingathowwecanaccelerateaspectsof thedevelopmentprocess,withtheoptionof streamliningthe regulatoryprocess.
“WeworkcloselywithNIENetworksonthe deliveryoftheseprojects–it’sanewwayof workingwhichbringsusalotclosertogether.”
Therealso remainchallengesaroundthe timelinesingetting renewableenergyschemes intheground.
“Therearechallengesaroundplanningin NorthernIreland–withtimelinesingetting planningconsent,”Alansays.“Wewould welcomesome reformintheplanningspace whichgivespriorityfor renewableschemes.”
Alansayswiththeultimategoalaround decarbonisationandthepolicysurroundingit stillfresh,engagementwithcolleaguesacross IrelandandUK remainkeyinunderstanding thechallengesaroundgriddelivery.
“Wewanttostreamlineprojectsasmuch aspossible,”hesays.“It’sgoingtobea challengingfewyearsahead,butultimately wearemakingstridesinhowwedeliveron the roadtonetzero.It’sabouttakingtheright decisions.”
“Ourdayjobisthatwekeepthesecurityof supplyforNorthernIreland–intheshort-term it’sachallengeaswewitnessaphaseout oftheolderfossilfuelplantsandtheissues aroundmanagingagridinwhichyouhave intermittent renewablesources.
“Aswemoveawayfromthat,theMoyle Interconnector remainsvaluable,it’swhy thesecondNorthSouthInterconnectorisso importanttous,andwhyanotherpotential interconnectortoScotlandhasbeenproposed.
“SONIisakeyenablerforeconomic growthinNorthernIreland. We areopenfor businessesinNorthernIreland. We wantto makesurethatthegridis readyandweare abletohavethatcleanenergyfuture–it’s aboutsteppingupanddeliveringthatplan.”
Huge800-bedroomstudent accommodationbuilding given greenlightonappeal Plansforanewstudent accommodation developmentinBelfast havebeensuccessfully appealedafterbeing initiallyturneddownfor permission,writes John Mulgrew
Adecisionto refuseplansforoneof thelargeststudentaccommodation buildingsinNorthern Irelandhas beenoverturned.
Thehugestudentscheme,withsome 795 rooms,was recommendedforapproval byplannersatBelfastCityCouncilin2023, locatedclosetoLibraryStreetandLittle DonegallStreetinthecitycentre, a former Belfast Telegraphcarpark.
Buttheplanningcommitteeinsteadvotedto refusetheapplication.
However, followinganappeal,themajor developmentcouldnowbebuilt – afterbeing giventhegoaheadbythePlanningAppeals Commission(PAC).
Atthetimeitwas recommendedfor approval,ColinDonaldson,directorwith developerMandevilleDevelopmentsNI,said “weunderstandfrombothuniversitiesand thefurthereducationcollegethatdemandfor qualitymanagedaccommodationinthecity willcontinuetogrowandoutstripapprovedor existingsupply.”
Hesaidthebusinesshadheld“positive engagement”withbusinessandthe communityinthearea,andwould respectthe characterofnearbylistedbuildings.
TheyincludetheformerBelfast Telegraph siteonRoyal Avenue,whileanArtDeco-style buildingnearbyistobeturnedintoBelfast Stories, a visitorscentre forthecity
Someoftheissuesraisedwiththescheme previouslyincludedthatitwouldimpactthe deliveryofhousinginthearea,publicopen spacefornewhousing,andthatitwas“outof keeping”withthearea.
Butontheissueoftheimpactonhousing, andsocialhousingschemesinthearea,the PAC saidasthere are noexpiredschemesor approvedschemesinthearea“Iamunable concludethattheappealproposalwould prejudicedeliveryofsocialhousingonthe adjacentsite”.
“Iconcludethattheappealproposalwould deliver[studentaccommodation]andpublic realm/openspacewhichwouldfurther… theintentionofcreating a newcitycentre neighbourhoodthatincorporates a mixof uses,including residential,commercial, retail andleisure allintegratedthrough a strongand cohesivepublic realm.”
Ontheappearanceanddesignofthe building,the PAC saiditdid“notconsiderthat thatthescale,formandmassingoftheappeal buildingwould represent a discordantfeature inthelocalcontext”.
Theplanswouldalsoinclude a caféand retail offering,aswellascommunalfacilitiesandan internalcourtyard.
Ifworknowbeginsonthebuildingitwill becomeoneofthelargesttobedevelopedin thecity
WatkinJonesandLacunaDevelopmentsis planningtobuild a studentschemewithmore than1,000 roomsinthe TitanicQuarter The developmentwasgiventhegoaheadlastyear
Itwouldalsoinclude a café,sharedlounges, diningareas,games rooms,studyspaces, launderettesandgyms.
Speakingatthetimeofthegreenlight, GeorgeDyer, groupinvestmentdirector of WatkinJones,said,itwould“willhelp toaddressthegrowingneedfor[student] accommodationinBelfastwhilstsupporting a sustainableandsafecommunityforliving, working,andleisure.Residentswillbeneft fromexcellenttransportlinkswhichwillbe furtherenhancedthroughthegreentravel fund,proximitytothecitycentre,andnearby developmentsincluding TitanicBelfast,SSE Arena,and TitanicStudios.” ■
Decadelow numberofmajor constructionschemes for Belfast Justfvenewmajorbuildingsbroke groundinthelastyear–markingan almostdecadelow.
Somefveschemebeganworklastyear. Thatwasdownfromsevenin2023andnine 2022,accordingtotheDeloitteRegionalCrane SurveyforBelfast.
Andnonewoffceblockswerecompleted inBelfastlastyear,forthefrsttimesincethe surveybeganin2016.
“Forthefrsttime,theBelfastCraneSurvey recordednonewoffcecompletions,with the recenttrendtowards refurbishments outweighinginterestinnewbuilds,”itsaid.
“Whenconstructionstartsonthenew KainosoffceonDublinRoadin2025it willbethefrstnewbuildoffcestartsince 2020,whenworkcommencedonThePaper ExchangeandOlympicHouse.”
Atotalof17schemeswerecompletedor underconstructionin2024.
Studentaccommodationandhotelswere thekeydriversoftheconstructionsectorfor large-scaleprojectsduringtheyear.
The reportmonitorsconstructionactivity inBelfastacrossarangeofsectorsincluding
offces, residential,hotels, retail,education andstudenthousing,andisseenasa barometerofdevelopersentimentandfuture plans.
Highereducationcontinuedtodrive changeinBelfast,withthreenewstudent accommodationprojects representing1,224 roomsunderconstruction.
The reportnotesthatthemostsignifcant projectcompletedin2024wasGrandCentral Station,thelargestintegratedtransporthub inIreland,whichbeganwelcomingpassengers towardstheendoftheyear.
Justonehotelwascompletedduringthe year–TheFlint–andonenewstart,butthe surveyalso reportedsignsofanewwaveof hoteldevelopments,withover2,000hotel roomsintheplanningpipeline.
“Thegrowthofthepurpose-builtstudent accommodationisa reminderofthe importanceofQueen’sUniversityandUlster UniversitytoBelfast,”MarieDoyle,partnerat DeloitteinBelfast,said.
“Thestudentaccommodationmarket isnowmatureandofferingsignifcant economicimpact,andwithBelfastRegion
CityDeal researchanddevelopmentprojects commencing,weexpecthighereducationto remainapositivedriverforthecity.
“Butalongsidethegrowingvisitorand temporarystudentpopulations,apermanent citycentre residentialpopulation remainsa keyobjectiveforsustainingasuccessfulcity centre.Itisalsoprovingtobethetoughest nuttocrackforBelfast.
“Tohaveavibrantandlivelycitycentre,it needspeople,socreatingappealinghomes thatencouragepeopletostayinthecentre whentheyentertheworkforce remainsthe essentialnextstep.”
ColinMounstephen,directoratDeloittein Belfast,said:“Undoubtedly,manyeyeswill beontheLoftLines residentialdevelopment in TitanicQuarter,whichwillactasaproofof conceptforthewidermarket.
“However,ifthecitywantstoattract peopleitcannotaffordtowaitandobserve LoftLines,itneedstostrengthenthe liveabilityofthecitycentre,forexamplewith morewalking,cyclingandgreenspacesto complementthecity’straditional retailand leisureoffering.” ■
ColinMounstephenofDeloitte
Flights offancy Travellersarecombiningbusinesswithpleasureon theirtripsabroad,withnewdirectroutesopening tolocationssuchasMorocco.Butisthelackofa transatlanticcorridorfromNIstoppingthetraffc? PavelBarter takesacloserlook
Businesstravellersarebecoming morestrategicwiththeirtime andtravellinglessbutforlonger periods,accordingtoNItravelagents.
Inthepast,salesdirectorsandteamsmight havetakenthreeorfourinternationaltrips ayearbut“nowthereisatrendofpeople whoaretravellingless,butgettingmorevalue forthetimetheyareaway”,ShaunaBurns, managingdirectorofBelfast-basedBeyond Business Travel,says.
Localfrmsarecombiningbusinesswith leisureoninternationaltrips.“Corporate travellersareextendingtheirbusinesstrips
forpersonaltime,”Shaunasays.“Wesee alotmorepeoplebringingtheirfamilies, doingmeetingsandthenhavingaholiday”. Asurveyof1,000SMEsin2024,conducted byCensuswide,foundthat48%planned toincorporateleisuretimeintobusiness trips.“Bleisure”hybridtripsarefacilitatedin NorthernIrelandthroughathrivingpost-Covid travelnetworkoutofthreeairports:Belfast InternationalAirport(BFS),GeorgeBestBelfast CityAirport(BHD),andCityofDerryAirport (CoDA).
Localairlinesandairportsareexpecting amyriadoftrendsin2025acrossleisure
andbusiness.A Ryanairspokespersontold UlsterBusiness thatStansted,Edinburghand Manchesteraretheirmostpopular routesout ofBFS.Theairportisheadedbychiefexecutive DanielOwens.
DemandwithotherairlinesoutofBHD forsunshinedestinationssuchasPalmade Mallorcaareperforming“exceptionallywell” in2025,accordingtoKatyBest,commercial directorattheairport.
AerLingus,despiteits recentcancellationof servicesbetweenBelfastCityandNewcastlein England,isoffering“increasedfrequencies”to Edinburghwhichhasuptofourdailyfights, Manchester(uptothreefightsaday),and Birmingham(sixdaily).AlongsideBHD’sBritish AirwaysfightstoLondonCity,easyJetfyfrom CityAirporttoLondonGatwickandLondon Luton–bringingthetotalnumberoffights perdayfromBHDtoLondonto16.
Insummer2024,easyJetoperatedtheir “biggesteverfyingprogrammeinNorthern Ireland,up14%comparedtotheprevious
KatyBest,commercial director,BelfastCityAirport
year,andwefewover5.2millioncustomers,” saysAliGayward,easyJet’sUKCountry Manager.Oversummer2025,easyJetplanto operate48 routesfromBFS,BHDandCoDAto 13countriesacrossEuropeandNorthAfrica.
“Wehaveincreasedoursummerfying programmetoSpanishbeachdestinations including Tenerife,Malaga,andAlicanteby 15%fromBelfastInternationalcomparedto lastyear,”Alicontinues.“Spain,Portugal, France,and Turkeyarecurrentlyamongthe mostpopulardestinationsthissummer.”
Theairlineextendedfourofitswinter routestooperatethroughoutsummer2025, providingconnectivityfromCoDAtoLiverpool andEdinburghandBFStoLanzaroteand Prague.EasyJetislaunchinganew routefrom BelfastInternationaltoReusinSpainon5 April.BelfastCityiscontinuinganewdouble dailyKLMservicetoAmsterdam.
KatyBestatBHDnotices“agrowing appetiteforinternationalconnectivity, especiallyviahubssuchasHeathrow,
Manchester,andAmsterdam”.ShaunaBurns hasseenanupswinginclientstravellingto SingaporeandHongKong.“SouthAmerica andRiodeJaneiroarenewtrends,”says Shauna.“Entrepreneursarenegotiatingdeals insupplychainandsales.Therearealotof resilientmanufacturingandtechbusinesses outtherewhichwefacilitate.”
TUIwillmeetsomeofthisdemandwitha new routetoMexicofromBelfastInternational thatlaunchesinJune2025.However,USA, “themostpopular[international]travel destination”forpeoplefromNorthernIreland, accordingtoShauna,isunderserviced.Outside ahandfuloffightsfromBFStoOrlando eachsummer,therearenodirectfightsto theUS.TheNIExecutive’sDraftProgramme forGovernment2024-2027,publishedlast September,commitsto“workwiththeUK governmenttosupportpre-clearancebetween theUnitedStatesandBelfastInternational Airport,promotinginternationalinvestment andinnovation.”Apurpose-builtfacility,
similartotheoneinDublinAirport,would allowpassengerstoundergoimmigrationand customsinspectionspriortotravellingtothe US.
Therehavebeennosignifcantcorridors betweenBelfastandtheUSsince2017when UnitedceaseditsNewarktoBelfast route (citingpoorfnancialperformance).Emma Little-Pengelly,DeputyFirstMinister,told theExecutivelastSeptemberthesituation haschangeddueto“hugeforeigndirect investmentfromtheUStoNorthernIreland… WhenwespeaktoUSinvestors,theywantto investmoreandtheyraisethatissueaboutthe connectivityandthedirectfight.Ithinkthatis apriorityforus.”
AspokespersonfortheDepartmentfor theEconomy(DfE)toldUlsterBusinessthey haveexplored“thepossibilityofextending pre-clearanceservicestoBelfastInternational Airport”withtheDepartmentfor Transport (DfT).“TheDfTadvisedthatthedecisionon whethertooperatesuchfacilitiesatairports>
ShaunaBurns,managing directorofBelfast-based BeyondBusiness Travel
ofBelfastInternationalAirport
overseasultimately restswithUSauthorities. DfThascommittedtoenteringintoexploratory talkswiththeUnitedStatesadministration. DfEwilldoalltheycantofacilitatethese discussions.”
Travellers–businesstravellersinparticular–prioritiseconveniencein2025,whichworksto theadvantageofthestrategicallylocatedCity ofDerryAirportandBelfastCity.“Over44% ofourpassengerstravelforbusiness,”Katy Bestsaid.
“Ourlocation[closeto]thecitycentre, combinedwithourfastsecurityprocessing times,allowbusinesspassengerstomaximise theirtimeandgettotheirdestinationfaster. Fasttrackissoimportanttobusinesstravel.” BHDhasstreamlinedpassengertravelwith improvedparkingoptionsanddrop-off andpick-upzones. Technologyimproves conveniencetoo.BelfastCity recently completeda£3minvestmentprojectwhich upgradeditssecurityprocessing.
Convenienceismatchedwithademandfor sustainableairtravel.Businessclientspresent
sustainabilitystrategiestoShaunaBurns “andweworkwiththemtobuildthat intotheirtravelpolicy.Beforetheybook[a journey],wegivetheminformationabout theirfight routeandtheCO2emissions theyaregoingtogenerate. We canthen offerthemoptionsfor reducedcarbon emissionsandopportunitiestooffset emissions. We alsogivethemthedata toensuretheycanmeettheir reporting compliance.”
Airportshaveincreasedtheirsustainability agendas.In2020,BelfastCitybecamethe frstairportinNorthernIrelandtojointhe AirportCarbonAccreditationprogramme. “Wefocusonmaximisingtheuseof renewableenergy,minimising resourceuse andeliminatingcarbonemissionsunderour directcontrol,”KatyBestsays.Thisincludes theuseofhydrotreatedvegetableoilfuel acrosstheirfeetofairsidevehiclesand equipment,a recentupgradeofmainapron lightingtoenergy-effcientLEDsystems,and theinstallationofelectricvehiclecharging
stationsinparkingareas.“Oursustainability effortsextendbeyondtheenvironmentto ourpeopleandthecommunity.Overthepast 15years,wehavesupportedmorethan226 localprojects,raisingover£651,000,”Katy says.
TourismNIand TourismIrelandare continuingaprogrammetosupportand drivedemandfordirectair(andsea)services toNorthernIreland.Lastyear TourismIreland partneredwitheasyJet, Ryanair,StenaLine, BritishAirwaysandLoganairand“will undertakesimilaractivityin2025”,according toaspokesperson.
AndthepassengercapinDublin,which limitsthenumberofpassengerswhocan passthroughtheairportto32million,may yetworkinthe region’sfavour.LastOctober, Ryanairvowedtomoveadditional routesto BelfastInternationaldueto restrictionsin Dublin.Theairlinehasyettohaveapresence inBHDthough.“Idon’tbelievethereareany immediateplanstooperateinBelfastCity Airport,”aspokespersonsaid. ■
DanielOwens,chiefexecutive
Retracing my relative’s steps inbeautiful Tahiti In1921,hisancestorthrewinajobatthebankandfed. IainMacdonald followedhispath
WhenScottishwatercolourpainter WilliamAlisterMacdonald disembarkedfromtheSSArawa in1921withhisyoungEnglishlover, DorothyMyhill,ontothepierinPapeete –theadministrativecentreof Tahitiandall ofFrenchPolynesia–hewascapturedby theviewoftheislandofMoorea.
Over100yearslater,mywifeandI, garlandedinfragrantfrangipani,gazedat thetimelessspectacleofthesunsettingover themultipeakedislandofdreams,aparadise worthyof22hoursonanAir TahitiNui Dreamliner.
Mygreat-greatuncle remarkedthat“no writingisofmuchuseas regardstheBeauty GlamouroftheIslands...theymustbeseen andfelt”.
TheAmericanwriters(andhisbestfriends) CharlesNordhoffandJamesNormanHallof MutinyontheBountyfame,andZaneGray, thenthebiggestsellingauthorintheworld, alldidtheirbesttodescribe“theseislands ofsheerfancy”(asNordhoffandHallwrote in1921),thatsoenrapturesmanytothis day.AndlikeGray,we“gazeduntiloureyes ached”.
Soherewewere, readyforthePolynesian islandexperience.
GettingtoMooreathemorningafter arrivinginPapeetecanbedonebyaquick,but turbulenthoponatwin-propellerplane,or byboardingthepowerfulAremitiferry,which takesabrisk45minutespastthe reefintothe
Pacifcswell.Andthiswasourpreferred route.
Thesundeckofferstravellerswindin theirhairandfrst-classviewsoftheislands, sometimesevenapodofwhales.
Theairisfullofanticipationamong thosetravellingtoMoorea,mostlytourists, honeymoonersandothersseekingsecond honeymoons–likeSineadandI.Therearealso localsontheboat,theretotrade,work,to spendweekendsor returnfromschool.
Whateverthe reason,awarmsmilefromthe hostesswithafowerinherhairgreetseach passenger.
We hadspentourfrstnightinafve-star hotelneartheairport.Arrivinglateatnight, wewantedtheguaranteedcomfortthat internationalluxuryhotelsmarkettoexhausted USandEuropeantravellers.
Theonebeneftofjetlagisthatyougetto thepoolfrst,toindulgeinthecoolmorning airandtheviewofMooreawhileyouhavethe placetoyourself.
Refreshedand reactivated,wewere ready toexperienceamoreindividualholidayin Moorea.
Ouraccommodationwasabeach-sidecabin bungalowwithasmallverandaandasimple yetperfectlyappointedkitchenandbathroom decoratedinmosaicsofprettyseashells,and spraysoffragranthibiscusfowersonpalm leaves.
ThedawnchoruswaslikenootherI’ve known: roosterscompetingforattention,then thegentlechirpingofthediminutivezebra
dove,andthenthecacklingofthenoddy,a palmnestingseabird.
Thenoddyisusefultonavigatorsatsea, aslikethefrigatebird,itindicatesthatlandis near.It’soneformarinerstofollowinthelate afternoon,asthebirds returntolandtonest.
Undertheshadeofcoconuttrees,ourcabin wassimilarinsizebutmore robustthanthe onewithwallsofwovenpalmfrondsanda thatched roofinwhichmygreat-greatuncle hadspenthislastyears.
HelivedinCook’sBay,wherehewascared forbyhis Tahitiandaughter Avrilandhissix grandchildren(withinthreeyearshisEnglish loverhadgonehome,tobe replacedby Tahitian-born Tipari Tuera).
Twolovebirdsinparadise,mywifeandI wereheretocelebrateratherthanliterallywalk inthefootstepsofmyancestor.
Likeanothermorefamousbanker-turned-
artistGauguin, WilliamAlisterMacdonaldhad abandonedhisEnglishwifeandsontofnda newlifeintheSouthPacifc.
TheMaisonJamesNormanHall,homeof theauthor,isnowamuseum–andIwas kindlyinvitedto returnto Tahititogivea presentationtocelebratethepublicationofmy biographyof WilliamAlisterMacdonald.
AsIpreparedtoopenmyfrstboxof booksunderhisgazefromtheportraitand watercolourshanginginmuseumlibrary,itfelt notjustapt,butprofoundlypoignanttobein thevery roominwhichhehadspenttimewith hisfriends100yearsago.
Avisittotheseislandsisnotcomplete withouttakingaday’sexcursionbyboat throughthelagoonstoswimwithstingray, andsnorkelinthecoralgardensamongstthe multitudeofbrightlycolouredfsh.
Stoppingforlunchonasmalldesertisland,
wewerewide-eyedasthefoodwasprepared foruswiththetidelappingoverourfeet.Little fshnibbledatscrapsofcoconutandrawtuna –while,onlyametreaway,black-tipsharks circled.
Itooka‘Tahitisafari’tofollowthePapeno‘o River.Iimaginedmygreat-greatunclewalking thesamepathwithhisfshing rod,employing thefy-fshingskillsheacquiredgrowingup amongthelochsandriverofThursointhe northofScotland.
Theviewsofwaterfallsandlushverdant pinnaclesof rockweremagnifcent–asharp contrasttothecommercialisationandhuman habitationaroundPapeete.
Mybookcouldnothavebeenwritten withouthavingmetmy Tahitian relativesona visittwoyearspreviously.
Thepainter’stwosurvivinggranddaughters, JacquelineandAndrine,tookmetotheir hearts,asdidmyextendedfamilyofcousins.
My return(historicallyunusualforEuropean menwithfamilythere)wasspecial,notjustto introducethemtomyIrishwife,butalsoto sharewiththemthebookof WilliamAlister Macdonald’sextraordinarylifeandenchanting work.
Stillhighly regardedinPolynesiaasa “Tahitian Turner”,hehasbeenoverlookedin Britainsince1936whenhiscriticalacclaim peakedfollowinganexhibitionofpaintingsof LondonlandmarksattheGuildhallArtGallery inLondon.
Followingasmallfamilygatheringonthe veryspotwherehespenthislastyears–he diedatthegrandoldageof95–mywifeand Ideparted Tahitigarlandedinnecklacesof shells,knowingwehadovercomeanybarriers thathadhinderedfamily reunifcationin generationspast. ■
Theseascapeatthebeach in Tikehauislandin Tahiti
More needs to be done to strengthen cross-border connectivity BolsteringlinksiscentraltotheaimsoftheBelfast Agreement,andthefactoursocietyhasnotfocused moreonitisstaggering,writes PaulGosling
DerryandDonegalarelikeconjoined twins,boundtogetherby economic,socialandculturallinks. Policymakersseekingtoimprovethe economyandqualityoflifeinonemust dosojointlywiththeother.Derrywas,in effect,thecapitalcityofthenorth-west regionbeforepartitionandit remainsso today,despitetheborder.
Theeconomicstatisticstellthestory. WorkersinDerryhavethenorth’slowest disposableincome.Donegalisthesameinthe Republic.Derryhasthelowestemployment
rateinthenorth,Donegalthesecondlowest inthesouth.
DerryandDonegaleachhasthehighest percentageof residentswithno,orlow, educationalqualificationsintheir respective jurisdictions.Itisasimilarstoryasyougo downtheeconomicstats.
Therearesignsthatpoliticiansare recognisingtheneedforthischallenging dualityindecision-making.TheIrish Governmentisproviding€44.5m(£37.3m) incapitalfundingforUlsterUniversity’snew teachingand researchfacilitiesinDerry.
Thatwasacommitmenttriggeredbythe NewDecadeNewApproachagreement thatwassigned-offjointlybytheBritishand IrishGovernmentsandtheNorthernIreland partiesatthebeginningof2020,leadingtoa (temporary) resumptionofStormont.
Andallgovernmentsandpartiesare committedtoimproving roadconnectionsin thewest.Ireland’sSharedIslandinitiativehas allocated€600m(£502m)towardstheA5 north-westtransportcorridor,linkingDerryand StrabanetoAughnacloy.
Butthisisalliedtoimprovementstothe N2beyondAughnacloyintoDublin,andalso improvementstothespur roadsfromStrabane toLiffordandLetterkenny.Itillustrateshow whatisgoodforDerryisalsogoodfor Donegal,andviceversa.
This realitycanalsobeseeninthecarparks ofthebigemployers. Vertiv(formerlyE&I)is amajoremployerinthesmallDonegalvillage ofBurnfoot,closetotheDerryborderfrom wherelargenumbersofworkerstravelevery day.Goingintheotherdirectionaremany employeesofSeagate,whichisjustinside NorthernIreland.
Despitethis,morecouldbedone–and needstobedone–toprovideafunctioning cross-borderlabourmarket.Thisapplies asmuchtoNewryandDundalkasitdoes toDerryandDonegal.Foremployers,the biggestgrievanceistheincompatibilityofrules betweenthetwojurisdictionsintermsoftax, beneftsandpensions.
Therearealsoseriousdiffcultiesfor employeescrossingtheborderforworkwho
arenotIrishorBritishnationalsandwhodo nothavepost-BrexitUK-settledstatus.
Ifyoulookathowcross-borderlabour marketsworkelsewhereintheworld–asI didlastyearforastudyfortheHolywell Trust charity–thenyoufndexamplesofhowothers supportcross-borderlinkage.Onekeyelement isstrongtransportconnectivity–notjust roads,butalsobusandraillinks.
Anotherstrengthcanbecross-border skillsplanning,includingdevelopingthe rightundergraduateandvocationalcourses thatemployersinthe regionneed. Withthe beneftofhindsight,itissurprisingthatskills developmentandtheplanningofhigherand furthereducationwasnotatopicforoneof thecross-borderagenciesestablishedbythe GoodFridayAgreement.
Skillsdevelopmentneedstobeapriority alongtheborder region,onbothsides.A recentIrishGovernment reportpointedto below-averageproductivitylevelsalongthe borderwithintheRepublic,whichisatsimilar levelstothatofNorthernIreland–substantially laggingaveragelevelsinthesouth.
Intermsofthenorthwest,thereisfartoo littlepartnershipbetweenInvestNIandIDA Ireland,despitethe realityofacross-border travel-to-workarea.Incompatibledataacross thetwojurisdictionsisonediffculty.But, historicallyatleast,theagencieshavealso beenconstrainedbythephysicalborderbeing mirroredbyaborderpsychology.
Internationally,cross-borderco-operation oftengoesmuchfurther,includingjoint environmentalmanagementofadjoiningareas andevensharedphysicalinfrastructure,such aselectricity,telecoms,watersuppliesand sewerage.
Theseareallchallengesthatcanbe overcomewithpoliticalwill.Therearealready anassessed10,541dailyjourneysnorthto southforworkand7,777south-to-northwork journeys. Togetherwithjourneysforuniversity, collegeandschoolstudy,thereareatleast 30,000peoplecommutingdailyacrossthe border,alongitsentirelength.
Andthesizeoftheall-islandeconomy hasexpandedrapidlyfollowingBrexit–sales ofgoodsfromthenorthtothesouthgrew by17.6%in2023,andthoseinservicesby 25.9%.ThesaleofgoodsandservicestoGreat Britain remainssignifcantlylargerandalso rose in2023,thoughatalowerrate.
Growthofthecross-bordereconomy neednotbeseenassignifcantwithinthe constitutionaldebate–UlsterUnionist politicianswelcomedtheHolywell Trust report. BothCBINorthernIrelandandIBEChave statedthateconomiclinksbotheast-westand north-southneedtobestrengthenedforthe goodoftheNorthernIrisheconomy.Andin manyplacesalongtheborder,notjustinDerry, connectionsarestrongercross-borderthan theyarewithBelfast.
Recognisingandstrengtheningcross-border connectivityiscentraltotheaimsoftheGood FridayAgreement.Supportingitisasignof politicalmaturity,puttingmoreofthepast behindus.Whatshouldbeastonishingisthat, 27yearsaftertheGoodFridayAgreement,our societyhasnotfocusedalotmoreonit. ■
Thelatestfguresshowretail footfallroseduringJanuary
NI retail footfall picks upin January Thelatestfguresshowretailfootfallroseatthestart oftheyear,withBelfastoutpacingNorthernIreland asawhole,writes MargaretCanning
ShopfootfallinNorthernIreland climbed3.5%inJanuarycompared tothesamemonththeyearbefore,a reporthassaid.
AccordingtothedatafromtheNIRetail Consortium(NIRC)andSensormatic,footfall inhighstreetstoresandshoppingcentreshere hadstagedastrong recoveryafterafallof 5.8%inDecember.
Inshoppingcentresaroundthe region, footfallhadincreasedby5.2%yearonyearin January,animprovementonthe5.7%decline ofJanuary.
AndfootfallinBelfasthadsurgedby4.8% yearonyear,turningaroundadeclineof7.2% inDecember.UK-wide,footfallhadsurgedby 6.6%.
Butbadweathertowardstheendof themonthwhenStormÉowynstruckkept shoppersathome.
AndBelfast’sperformancewasactually seventhoutof11UKcities,withBirmingham topoftheleaderboardwithafootfallriseof 14.3%.
NeilJohnston,directoroftheNorthern IrelandRetailConsortium,said:“Bargain hunterswerehittingtheshopsacrossthe countryinJanuaryhoweverwhilstthe numbersinNorthernIrelandwerestrongly positive,theywereunderstandablyheldback byStormÉowyn.
“Thenumbersofshoppersoutandabout wasupby3.5%acrossNorthernIrelandand by4.8%inBelfast.Thiswasencouraging albeitsomewhatbehindtheUKwidefgure of6.6%.
“Oncloserinspectionitseemswhile thenumberofshopperswasupacrossthe boardinJanuarythenumbersinNorthern IrelandandScotlandwerenotablylowerthan elsewhere.
“StormÉowynimpactedhardestinIreland, northandsouth,andinScotland,sothis clearlydeterredshoppers.Inadditiontothe actualstormontheFridaytheimpacton road andpowerinfrastructuremeantthatmany peoplehadotherthingstofocusonother thanshopping.
“Overall,Januarywasanencouraging month,andwehopethatthingswillcontinue toimprove.”
AndySumpter, retailconsultantEMEAfor SensormaticSolutions,said:“Afteradreary December, retailerswillwelcomeJanuary’s footfalljump.
“Theuptickwasboostedbyaverystrong weekone,helpedinpartbyNew Year’sDay fallingona Wednesday,whichmayhave promptedambientstoretraffcasconsumers boltedonadditionaldaysofleave,aswellas retailersextendingpost-Christmasdiscounting wellintoJanuary.
“Noteventhesignifcantdisruptionfrom StormÉowynwasenoughtodampenoverall footfallperformance.Whilewelcome,after monthsoferraticandconstrainedfootfall, thejury’soutastowhetherJanuary’sstore performancesignalsthestartofasustained highstreet revivalorifitwillbeafashinthe pancomeFebruary.”
Buthesaidtherewasachallengeaheadfor retailersonsolvingtheconundrumofhowto maintainfootfallwhilebalancingtheeffects ofrisinglabourcostswiththecontinued consumerappetitefordiscounts. ■
Navigatingthe Trumptariffs AftertheUSPresident’s introductionofa25%tariff onsteelimportstotheUS, NorthernIrelandfrmsare uncertainaboutthefuture oftheirexportmarkets, writes PavelBarter
Businessleadersarecallingforthe introductionofanewUSeconomic envoytoNorthernIreland. ThelackofaUSappointeetothe region, followingthedepartureofJoeKennedy III,whoservedinthe roleundertheBiden administrationbetween2022and2024, coincideswithaperiodofuncertaintyover President Trump’sintroductionoftariffs.“[A newUSeconomicenvoy]ismoreimportant nowthanever–weneedsomebodytoargue ourcase,”saidDarraghCullen,managing directorofEdgeInnovate,aDungannonbasedmanufacturerofquarrying,miningand recyclingequipmentthatexportsproductsto theUS.
StephenKelly,chiefexecutiveof ManufacturingNIsaidtheindustrywas “pleasedwiththeattentionandtheaccess thatJoeKennedyprovidedforus.Inthepast therehavebeenpositive relationshipswithall oureconomicenvoys.Anybodythatcanopen doorsandcarryourcaseforus[in Washington] istobewelcomed. We wouldhopethisWhite Housewouldseethevalueofdoingsomething similaragain.”
TheremaybeaglimmerofhopeinPresident Trump’sappointmentasspecialenvoyto theUK:MarkBurnett,aBritishTVproducer. Burnett,whocreatedtheApprenticeseries whichlaunched Trumptofameinthemedia, ismarriedtoRomaDowney,anactressand producerwhowasbornandraisedinDerry.
KeirStarmer,theUKPM, recentlymet BurnettatDowningStreet.“WhileMark BurnettistheUK’seconomicenvoyfrom theUnitedStates,hewillhaveaninterestin NorthernIreland.Sowehopethathewould
paysomeattentiontohere,”Stephensays. “ADerrygirlalwayshasaninfuenceonher husband.”
Concernsarefeltacrosstheprovinceafter Trumpannounceda25%taxonsteeland aluminiumenteringtheUStobeintroduced fromMarch12,2025.“Thisisabigdeal:the beginningofmakingAmericarichagain,” Trumpsaid.“Ournation requiressteeland aluminiumtobemadeinAmerica,not inforeignlands,”addingthatthetariffs wouldbeenforced“withoutexceptionsor
exemptions”.NorthernIrelandhasnosteel manufacturersbutithasaclusterofservice centresintheMidUlster regionthatworkwith steelandcreateintermediategoods. Tariffs couldpotentiallymakethemuncompetitivein theUSmarket.
“Alotofourinternationally-owned, includingUS-owned,manufacturersare servicingmarketsintheUK,Europeandthe MiddleEast,”StephenKellysaid.“Thereare alsolotsofhomegrownengineeringfrms whoselldirectlytocustomersintheUSand
Businessleadersarecallingforthe introductionofanewUSeconomicenvoy toNIintoassistinbusinessrelations
elsewhereandtheyareunsurewhat[steel tariffs]couldmeanforthem.”
Inmid-February,2025,NImanufacturers heldacrisissummittoexplorewhatthetariffs mightmeanfortheirbusiness.“There’sa balancebetweenkeepingundertheradarand havingsomebody representouropinions,” saidoneMidUlsterexportertotheUSwho participated.“It’sprobablybetterjusttokeep undertheradarhereforawhileandseewhat happens. Youdon’twanttobeattracting undueattentionbecauseattheminute-it’s
likeavoidingeyecontactwiththeteacher.”
BusinessesarewaitingtoseehowtheEU andUKwill respondto Trump’stariffs.During hisfrsttermin2018, Trumpintroduceda 25%tariffonsteelwhichpushedpricesup inEUmarkets.“TheEUbecamefearfulthat Europewouldbeadumpinggroundforsteel thatsuddenlybecameavailablebecauseit wasuncompetitivetosendtotheUnited States,”explainedStephen.“Inorderto protectEuropeansteelproduction,including theUK,Europeapplieda25%tarifftoforeign
imports.”InMarch2022,theUSunderthe Bidenadministration removedthosetariffs.
Businessesacrosstheboardwhoimport totheUSareworriedaboutfurthertariffs. AccordingtoNorthernIrelandEconomic Trade Statisticsfrom2023,theUSisNI’stopexport partnerwithintheRestofthe World(ROW) category, representing£1.9bn.UlsterCarpets, forexample,whichsupplycarpetsforhotels andcasinosacrosstheUS,announced“record turnoverintheUScontractmarket”inthe fnancialyearof2022/2023.>
“TheUSisNorthernIreland’ssecondlargest exportmarketformanufacturedgoods,”saida spokespersonforInvestNI.“It remainsunclear whatthenewUSadministration’stradepolicy willbetowardsboththeUKandEUandany resultingimplicationsontradeforNorthern Ireland. We continuetomonitorthesituation.”
Duringhisfrstterm,President Trump targetedconsumergoods,includingIrish whiskiesandFrenchcheese;theEU responded inkind. Trumphaspledgedto“defnitely” placetariffsonimportsfromtheEUdueto atradedefcitwiththe regionthatwasover $200billionin2024.“[TheEU]takesalmost nothingandwetakeeverythingfromthem,” hesaid,describingthedefcitasan“atrocity”.
Despite Trump’spledgetointroducetariffs “withoutexceptionsorexemptions”,heseems willingtocuttheUKslackduetoitsmore balancedtradepositionwiththeUS.“UK isoutoflinebut…Ithinkthatonecanbe workedout,”thePresidentsaid.
JonathanReynolds,theUKBusiness Secretary,saidhehad“constructive
conversationswithkeypeopleinthe Trump administration”includingMarkBurnettin recognitionoftheUK’s“different” relationship withtheUS.Thisstancemayworktothe advantageofNIbusiness,saidDarragh CullenofEdgeInnovate:“Inthenorth,we’re probablyabitmoresecurebecausewe’llsoon playtheUKcardintermsoftariffs.Ifhe’s goingtotariffEurope,we’llgothatway.”
StephenKellyconcurs.“IftheEuropean Unionishitwithtariffs,theUKhasa competitiveadvantage.NorthernIreland isthebestplaceintheUKtohavea manufacturingbusinessasa resultofour post-Brexitarrangements.”However,tariffs poseaparticularthreattotheRepublicof Irelandwhichexported$58bnofproducts (predominatelypharmaceutical), representing 27%ofthecountry’stotalexportsin2023. TariffsontheEUcouldalsohaveaknockback inNI,saidStephenKelly.“Ourgoodsfreely circulateintheEUmarketbecauseofourdual marketaccess.Someofourcomponentsare treatedasEUcomponents.”
Intheeventofaglobaltradewar,therewill benowinners.“Nobodywinsinwar,whether it’sintradeorinphysicalbattlesoverterritory. Everybodyloses,”Stephensaid.“Whether it’sachallengetoonenationlikeChina,or aunilateralapproachtoallnationsandall territories,thosethingshaveanimpactonus. Moreimportantly,theyhaveabigimpacton USdomesticconsumers.Theyelected Trump onthebasisthathewascuttingpricesbutin realitythisisgoingtomakeeverythingmore expensive.”
Rightnow,businesseshavenoideawhat isgoingtohappennext.“Theonlything thatneedsimprovedforusisthelevel ofuncertainty,”DarraghCullensaid.A spokespersonfortheDepartmentforthe EconomydescribedtheUSas“animportant marketandtheDepartmentwillcontinueto advocateonbehalfofinvestmentin,andtrade with,thenorth”.Asforthedecisiontoappoint anewUSeconomicenvoytoNorthernIreland? That,saidthespokesperson,“isamatterfor theUSadministration”. ■
USPresidentDonald Trumppicturedoutside the WestWing
Danske Bank posts rising profits of £218.2m ByJohnMulgrew
DanskeBankhaspostedpre-tax profitsof£218.2masitsmortgage bookanddepositscontinuetorise.
Meanwhile,thepotentialforUStariffsto impact firmshere remains a “waitandsee” situationamiduncertaintyforsomecompanies, accordingtothebank’s chiefs.
ItcomesasDanskeBank revealeditsannual results – postingpre-taxprofitsof£218.2mfor 2024,up17%,withdepositsandloansboth upyear-on-year Deposits rosefrom£10.7bnto £11.4bn.
Thebanksawmortgageapprovalsrising bymore than a third,withmore than60% ofthoseoptingfortwo-year fixedrates.That demandforshorter-term fixedratemortgages isexpectedtoincreaseamidfurtherpredicted interestcutsonthehorizon.
Italsowelcomed16,000newcurrent accountcustomers,alongwith1,500new smallbusinesses – uptwo-thirds,year-on-year Turningtothemarketplaceandthe challengesahead,ontheissueofpotential tradetariffswiththeUS – PresidentDonald TrumphasalreadyimposedtariffsonChina –
DanskeBankchiefexecutive VickyDaviessaid: “Theconcer n istheimpactonourcustomer base – thosewhoare tradingto a largedegree, directlywiththeUS,orbeingpartof a parent company It’s verymuch a watchandsee.
“It’s partofcustomerconversationswith our relationshipmanagers,butwedon’t have a groundswellofbusinesses[bringing concerns]…it’s tooearlytojudge.”
StephenMatchett,deputychiefexecutive andchief financialofficer, said“tariff isthe word ofthemoment”.
“That’s creating a hugeamountof uncertaintyoutthere,”hesaid.“Thenegative ofthatisstallinginvestmentandpotentially stallinggrowth.”
Onitsown results,MsDaviessaiditwas a strongyearforDanskeBank – withincreased incomedrivenbylendinganddepositsin a highinterestrateenvironment
Andonthehousingmarket,Richard Caldwell,managingdirector, GreatBritain andcorporatestrategy, hesaidit remained strong,withrisingpricesandstrongdemand “underpinnedbylowunemployment”.
“We had record levelofmortgageapprovals in2024 – £730m,”MrCaldwellsaid.“That’s
reallystrong – weare up35%year-on-year
“We are seeingmore customersmovingto two-year fixed…63%took a two-year
“We expectthattocontinueinan environmentwhere ratesare goingtofall.”
Hesaidtheaverageageofthosetakingout their firstmortgagehadgotten“alittlebit older”.
Thebankcontinuedtoinvest,including initsdigitalinfrastructure,accordingtoMr Matchett.
MsDaviessaysthatwithsomebusiness concernsoverthefuture economiclandscape, includingtheimpactoftheAutumnBudget, thatdespitehigherdepositsamong firmsthey maynot“movethingstothefrontburner”.
“Itallcomesdowntoconfidence,for businesses,homeowners,to a degree,having theconfidencetoputonthefrontburner thingstheymayhaveputonthebackburner
“Idon’t thinktheenvironmentatthe momentmeansthatwewillsee a significant shiftinthat…butthatuntappedpotentialis definitelythere.
Lookingahead,MsDaviessaidthelatest resultsforthebank“leavesusentering2025in a verystrong financialposition”. ■
Vicky Davies
‘Tarifs area very blunt instrument’: NIfrms feel efectof US policies PresidentDonald Trump’slatestroundofleviescould putNorthernIrishfabricationinadiffcultposition.
Producersandleadersfromherespoketo James McNaney abouthowshockstotheinterconnected globaltradewillreverberateinNI
TheUSPresidenthashisfxations, includingdeals,walls,peoplebeing unfairtohim,andsteel.
Donald Trumpassociateshimselfwithsteel, perhapsbecauseofhisbackgroundinthe constructionbusiness.
Hefamouslydeclaredhisborderwallatthe
USPresidentDonald Trumphas alreadyannouncedtariffsona numberofnations
frontierbetweentheUSandMexicowould bebuiltofsteelslatsthatwouldbe“totally effectivewhileatthesametimebeautiful”.
Hisinterestinsteelhastakenon renewed globalsignifcanceasheannouncedonSunday thathewouldintroducea25%tariffonall steelimportedintotheUnitedStates.
Trump’sconcernsaboutsteelarebasedon theUS’owndecliningdomesticproduction.
TheUSwasthefourthlargeststeelproducingnationintheworld,withanoutput of81.4milliontonnesin2023,lessthan10% thesizeofChina,theworld’sbiggestproducer.
AndtheUShasatradeimbalancewiththe metal. WorldSteelrankstheUSastheworld’s second-largestimporterofsteel,butonlythe 17th-largestexporter.
TheUKindustryissmallcomparedtomajor producers,rankedonly26thintheworldin 2023.
NorthernIrelandisasmallersliceofthat. AHouseofCommons reportinOctobersaid NorthernIrelandhadjust440outofthe 34,000jobsintheindustryUK-widein2022.
Trump’stariffswillhaveanimpacthere, however,duetotheinterconnectednatureof theglobalsteeltrade.
Aspokesmanfor Walter WatsonLtd,a steelfabricationcompanyinCastlewellan,Co Down,saidit’stalkingtosuppliers.
“Weareatpresenttryingtogatheras muchinformationaspossible.It’saveryfuid situation.
“Wehadcommunicationwithoneof thelargeststeelmillsintheworldthis morning,ArcelorMittal,tosaythattheyare reviewingthesituationandwilladviseallof theircustomersinduecourseofanyaction necessary.It’sstillverymuchupintheair.
“Wewouldanticipatethattherewillbea fall-outfromthisandwhateverneedstobe recoveredwillbepassedaroundtheglobe. Steelisagloballytradedcommodityand there’sonlyacertainamountofmillsinthe industrythatwouldbelargeenoughtosupply globally.
“BecauseofthestatusoftheUS,inan indirectway,itdoeseventuallyflterdownto thelikesofus.”
HedealswithArcelorMittalinFrance,but theLuxembourg-basedcompanyhasmillsall overtheworld,includingGreatBritain.
Thespokesmansaidheanticipatedmore conversationswithotherinternationalsuppliers
inthenextcoupleofdays.
StephenKelly,thechiefexecutiveof ManufacturingNI,saidtariffsintroduced during Trump’sfrsttermhadnegatively impactedNI.
“TheEU respondedtothatbyintroducingits own25%tarifffor rest-of-worldsteelcoming intoEurope,mostlytoprotectEuropefrom beingadumpinggroundforsteelproduced elsewhereintheworld.
“Ifitbecamemoreexpensiveormore diffculttosendstufftotheUSbecauseof theirtariffs,theworrywasthattheEUwould bethenextlocationforthatsteelthatwould ordinarilyhavegonetoAmerica.
“Toprotectitsowndomesticproduction throughoutEurope,includingatthatpointin theUK,Europeintroducedthattariff.Itmeant thatallsteelimportsintoNIwere25%more expensive.Thataddscosttoeverything.
“Whenyouthinkabouthowsteelisa criticalcomponentfornotjustourengineering sector,ourenergyindustry,construction, thereareawholeraftofareasthatthishasan impacton.”
Theglobalsteelindustryhas,accordingto theHouseofCommons report,hadanissue withexcesscapacityfordecades,wherethere ismoresteelproducedthanthereisdemand touseit.
MrKellyisconcernedthat Trump’stariffs couldexacerbatethisproblemfortheUKand NI,harmingdomesticproduction.
“TheUKproduceslotsofsteel,andsomeof thatdoestraveltotheUnitedStates.
“It’sthehigh-valuestuffbecausethecostof productionissomuchhigher.TheUKandthe EUcompeteveryfavourablyonthehigh-value stuff.
“TheEUwill reacttoprotectitsownmarket inordertoavoidstuffjustbeingdumped belowcostpriceintoEurope,damagingits ownproduction.
“TheUKthenisexposed.Ifthesteelcan’t travelfromIndiaorChinaor Turkeytothe EUorUSbecauseit’stooexpensive,then thenaturalnexthomeforthatistheUnited Kingdom.
“Marketswillgo,‘we’veproducedallthis stuff,weneedtofndamarketforit,’sothey sellittotheUKforclosetofree,wreckingthe UK’ssteelindustry,whichhasabadimpacton usaswell.
“Wedon’tgetalotofsteelfromtheUSbut
it’saboutsteelcomingfromotherpartsofthe worldthatsuddenlyseesitsmarketintheUS closedoff,sotheyneedtofndsomewhere elsetosellit.
“Thenitgetsintoa reallystickyplacewhere othercountrieswillhavetointroducetheir owntariffaswell.
“Theonethingthatisclearisthat Trump iskeentoprotecthisdomesticproductionas itis.
“Hismethodfordoingthatismaking thingscomingfromelsewhereintheworld moreexpensive,togivetheAmerican producersacompetitiveadvantage.
“TheproblemwiththatisthatAmerican productiondoesn’tdothethingsthattheUS needs,soitstillwillneedtoimport,which makeseverythingmoreexpensive.
“Tariffsareaverybluntinstrumentthat tendtohaveanegative responsefromthe othersideaswell.
“Wejustendupindisputeswhichare unnecessaryandunhelpfulandaddcosts andburdentobusinessesandeventuallyto consumers.”
Tariffsgoagainstthe receivedwisdomof mucheconomicpolicyofthepastsixdecades. Institutionscommittedtofreetradehave respondednegativelytotheUS’turntowards protectionism.
ChrisHayward,thepolicychairmanofthe CityofLondonCorporation,was recentlyin NorthernIrelandtopromotethefnancial industryhere,andmadehisviewsontariffs quiteclearwhenspeakingtotheBelfast Telegraph:“Iwouldrathertheydidn’thappen.
“They’reverybadfortrade,andopentrade isvitalfortheUnitedKingdom.
“IfItakejustUK/UStrade,thatispivotal. It’sworthover£300bntotheeconomy.
“IntheUK’scase,Icannotseehowtariffs canbe reallyveryapplicableanyway,because weare,wehaveasurplusinthat respect.
“Wedon’tactuallyexportconsiderable amountsofthings,andweareverymucha services-basedeconomy.
“Theywould reduceourabilitytotrade withtheUnitedStatesandthathastobebad.
“Wehaveasmallishdomesticeconomy,so wehavetohaveglobaltrading. We haveto competeacrossthewholeworld,andtariffs wouldputa restrictiononthatforus.
“ItwouldbebadforNI.Itwouldbebadfor theUnitedKingdom.” ■
Downturn inbusinessactivity in January ‘steepestin two years’ Theconstructionand retailsectors droveanoveralldeclineinbusiness activityinNorthern Irelandlast month, a reporthassaid.
ButtheUlsterBankRegionalGrowth Tracker saidmanufacturingandserviceswere driving economicgrowthandjobcreation.
Andemploymentgrowth,whileslight,had continuedduringJanuary, withincreasingin staffnglevelsnowenteringitsthird year
However, theheadlinebusinessactivityindex wasstillbelowthe50‘nochange’mark,and haddroppedto45from47.7inDecember –thesteepestdeclineintwoyears.
SebastianBurnside,chiefeconomistatUlster BankparentcompanyNatWest,said:“NIs labourmarketisthemost resilientofanypart oftheUKatthestartof2025.
“That’s buildingonthemomentumoflast year, whenjobgrowthwastwicethepace ofthenextfastest region.Butemployersare startingtheyearin a more cautioussetting.
“Privatesectorfrms reportedrapidlyrising costpressuresandprices.
“Combinedwithrisingwagecostsand upcomingincreasestonationalinsurance contributions,thishascooleddemandandthe fowofnewwork.
“ManywillbehopingthattheBankof England’s interestrate[recently]meansthat policyisnowless restrictive,withfurther looseningexpectedintheyearahead.”
TheBankofEnglandslashedthebaserate ofinterestto4.5%.However, businessesare bracingthemselvesfortheimpactof a risein employernationalinsurancecontributionsfrom April,whentheratewillgoupfrom13.8%to 15%.
UlsterBanksaidnewordersatNorthern Irelandcompaniesdecreasedforthethird consecutivemonthinJanuary
Confdenceintheyear-aheadoutlookfor businessactivitydroppedsharplyinJanuaryand wasthelowestinjustovertwoyears.Plansto launchnewproductsandhopesthatneworders andmarketshare willgrowsupportedoptimism intheoutlook.
However, thatwascurtailedbyconcerns
aroundwidereconomicconditions, a lack ofconfdenceamongcustomersandthe forthcomingriseinemployernationalinsurance contributions.
Althoughstaffnglevelsincreasedforthe25th consecutivemonthduringJanuary, therateof jobcreationwasonlymarginalandtheweakest inthecurrentgrowthsequence.
Risingwagepressureswere themainfactor behindanincreaseininputpricesinJanuary, accordingto respondents.Therateofinputcost infationacceleratedandwasthefastestsince March2023.Thelatestincreasewasalsosharper thantheseriesaverage.
Risingstaff costswere oftenpassedthrough tocustomers, resultingin a furtherincreasein priceschargedbyNIcompanies.Sellingprices rosemarkedly, andat a slightlyfasterpacethan inDecember
ManyUKcompanybosseshavebeenspeaking outagainsttheincreaseinnationalinsurance. WritingintheSunday Times,M&Schiefexecutive StuartMachinsaid:“Retailisbeingraidedlike a piggybankandit’s unacceptable.” ■
Developingnext generation3D medicalprinting Axial3Dwasaspin-out successstoryfromQueen’s University
Axial3Dboss RogerJohnston tells Margaret Canning howhelpingachildren’scancercharity alignswithhisfirm’sground-breakingwork
“I’vehadapropermid-lifecrisisover thelastfewyearsandthechoice wasgettingfat,oldanduseless, ordoingsomethingaboutit,andfor whatever reason,Ichosethelatter.”
RogerJohnston,chiefexecutiveofmedical device3DprintingcompanyAxial3D,is discussinghispassionforcharityhikes, mostprominentlyraisingmoneyforCancer FundforChildren.He’shadaproductive corporatecareer,startingoutatconsultancy firmAccentureandworkingatanumberof companiesbeforejoiningAxial3DinBelfastas chiefexecutivein2019.
However,thecorporateladderdoesn’t necessarilymeanahealthyorfulfillinglifestyle, hefound.“Upuntilmymidtolate20s,Iwas
intosport.ButthenIgotcaughtupinwork andthoughtgettingolderandfatterandmore uselesswasagoodplan,ifIfocusedonmy work.
“ButthenIgottomyearly50sandthought, this reallyisn’tagoodplan.IfoundthatIcan’t runanymorebutIcanwalkuphills,sowe’ve beengoingtoamazingplacesaroundthe worldtodoKilimanjaroandMountEverest BaseCampandplaceslikethat,hikingthe AndesandNorthAfrica.
“It’samazingbecauseofthepeopleyou meet,anditgroundsyou.Ifyouthinkyou’re importantatworkandthisnextvideocallis important,it’snot.”
InJune,Rogerwillheadateamof20 businessleadersfromIreland,theUKandUS
onthe26Mountains2Mayochallengeinaid ofCancerFundforChildren.They’reaiming toraisenearly£1mforchildren,youngpeople andfamiliesimpactedbycancerbyclimbing tothehighestpointineachcounty,startingin DonegalbeforemovingtoUlster,Connacht, LeinsterandthenMunster,beforeafinallegin Connacht.
Hehaswalkedonasimilarfundraising effortledbyformerIrelandrugbycaptainRory Bestforthecharity.“Itwas remarkableand probablygavemetimetowalkwithfamilies whohadbeenaffected.”
Itwasalearningexperience.“Atevery schoolwepassedthekidscameoutandthey’d beenfundraising,too.Icouldhavecriedthe wholeway round,itwassoemotional.Rory
haddonetwooftheseandcouldn’tagain forwork reasonssoIsaid‘letmepickupthe batonhere’.
Andhesaysthere’sa“hugelink”withwhat Axial3Ddoes–manufacturing3Dorganand body-partmodelsbasedonscansthrough3D printingsothatsurgeonscanpreparefullyfor surgeryusingsomethingthat’sasclosetothe realthingaspossible.
Thecompanyhasaprintinglabataformer restaurantpremisesonOrmeau Avenue,and offcesinnearbyAlexanderHouse.Itsproducts arenowusedbyover400hospitalsaround theworldinmorethan40countries.Major customersincludemedicaldevicesgiantslike Stryker,MedtronicandBostonScientifc.
Rodgersays:“Thesetypesofcompaniesare allmovingtreatmentsawayfromjustbeing solelyonesizeftsall.Ifyouneedanewknee replacement,insteadofgettingsize10,11or
12,youcouldgetapatient-specifckneeso thatit’sgoingtoftbetter.
“Weenablemedicaldevicecompaniesto dothisatscalewithoutincreasingpricesform theirstandardlevel.That’sourcrusadeforthe nextfewyears.
“I’mveryfortunateatmystageinmycareer tohaveamission-basedbusinesslikeAxial3D. Theamazingthingisthateverytimewetake anMRIorCTscanandturnitintosomething, thatisa realpersonwho’ssick,andwecan affectfundamentallytheoutcomeoftheir lives.”
Itsworkisparticularlyimportantin operationsforcancertreatmentwhereits modellingcanbring“crystal-clearclarity”of theboundaryofatumour.“Ifyou’resurgically removingatumour,theywilltypicallytakealot ofhealthyanatomybecauseyoucan’tseethe boundary.Butwecangiveyousub-millimetre
accurateviewofwhereatumourstartsand endssoyoucanbemuchmorediscriminatory aboutthedamageyou’reinfictingon someone’sbody.
“There’sahugecarryoverwithCancer FundforChildrenasmanyofthechildrenit supports,theirtreatmentscouldbesupported ironicallybyanAxial3Dcareservice.Itall makesmeemotional.
“Youknowasyougetolder,youjustcryfor no reason,lotsoftimes.Anyway,it’sahuge carry-over.”
Roger,who’sfromFinaghyinsouthBelfast, joinedconsultancyAccenturein1986after studyingbusinessdevelopmentandaccounting atQueen’s.Hewastrainedinsoftware programming,developmentanddesign,before arrivingonsitewithclients,andlatersalesand marketingandbusinessdevelopment.
Histrainingfrstbroughthimto Lytham>
Roger Johnston
StAnne’sinBlackpool.“Wewereactually workinginanoldSecond World Warbreeze blockfeldhospitalandautomatingbenefts systemsattimeofMargaretThatcher.
“Atthattime,shewaschallengingthe unionswhetherprintunionsin Wappingor civilservicewhodidn’twanttointroduce computersandastheysawit replacingstaff.”
Hecontinuedtobuildhiscareeracrossa numberofcompanies,includingayearatIT frmKainosplc,theonlyNIfrmlistedonthe FTSE250.
“BackwhenIstartedwehadsofew businessesexporting,butnowwehave anincredibleecosystemofearlystageand growthstagecompaniesandcompanieslike Kainostradingall roundtheworld.”
Hisenthusiasmforexportingsawhim appointedasanexportchampionbytheUK’s DepartmentofBusinessand Trade–though hejokesthatmanymotoristswerealarmed atthelargebillboardsfeaturingacut-outof Rogerbrandishinga3D-printedorgan.“Ilove encouragingormentoringcompaniesjustto
havetheconfdencetobelievethatactually we’reatleastasgoodasourequivalentsinthe Silicon Valleyorwherever.”
Thecompany recentlyannouncedan £18.2mfundingboostfrominvestorsincluding Clarendonand TechStart–bothofwhichhad supportedthefrmbefore–andnewinvestor 57Stars.“They’vebackedanumberofNI companiesandmostexcitinglyhaveafund actuallydedicatedtoNI….
“Ourmissionistomakesureanychild oradultwhoneedspreciseimagingaround theworldcanhaveaccessto3D,whetherin frstworldorthirdworld,andwecan’tdo thatwithoutfnancialfuelandpartnersand customerswhogiveusthat reach.Thisbacking givesusa reallyincredibleopportunitytodo that.”Heenvisagesaddinganother15staff toitsheadcountof60thisyear.“Thegreat bitisbecauseofourautomationandourAI andmachine-learning,wedon’tneedtohire hundredsofnewpeopletobuildwhatwe’re going.
“Thisisasmuchaboutusbeingableto
acceleratethingslikeourpatents,ourR&D, whichisthelifebloodforus,andgettinginto internationalmarkets.80%ofourmarketis theUS.”
RogernowlivesjustoutsideAnnahiltand spendstwoweekseverymonthintheUS.He talkstousonthephonefrom Tampa,Florida afterfyingtherefromNashville.
Around90%ofitsproductareexported, mainlytotheUS,andRodgeradmitsthenew tariff regimebeing rolledoutbyPresident Donald Trumpmayhaveanimpactoncethe positionforUKandEUfrmsbecomesclearer.
“It’ssomethingwe’regoingtohaveto reacttowhenwehavethatclarity. We’revery awareit’sapotentialissueandthewayweare structured,weareaUKcompanybutwehave anIrishsubsidiaryfortradinginEuropeanda USsubsidiaryfortradingintheUS.
“Andbecausewe’reasoftwarebusiness wehopethatwithinthosecombinations,we’ll beabletocontinuetoinvestintheUS,we’re notanetdrainontheUSsowehopetofnda waythrough.” ■
PublisherofBelfast Telegraph sues X over scamadverts thatlink tofake news stories MediahuisIrelandsaysitstrademarkshavebeenused topromotecryptocurrency
Ireland’slargestmediagrouphassued ElonMusk’sXovertheproliferationof scamadvertisementsdesignedtolook likegenuinenewsarticlesonthesocial mediaplatform.
MediahuisIreland,whichpublishesmany
titlesincludingtheBelfast Telegraphand UlsterBusiness,issuedproceedingsallegingits trademarksandcopyrightswereinfringedand trustinitspublicationsrisksbeingundermined byfakearticlespostedonX,formerlyknown as Twitter.
Thecomplaint relatestoadvertisements containinglinkstofictitiousarticlesbearingthe IrishIndependent’slogoandthebylineofone ofitsjournalists.
ThearticlesincludeapiececlaimingTánaiste SimonHarrisisbeingsuedbyBankofIreland forcommentsmadeduringalivebroadcast.
Anotherfakearticlemakessimilarfalse claimsin relationtoGreenPartyleaderRoderic O’Gorman.
PublicExpenditureMinisterJack Chambershasalsofeaturedinsimilarscam advertisements.
InHighCourtproceedingsinitiatedagainst TwitterInternationalUnlimitedCompany (TIUC),thepublisherisseekingordersto compelXto removeordisableaccesstoall advertisementsthatinfringeonitscopyright andlinktofalseIrishIndependentnews articles.
WhileX recentlysuspendednineuser accountsforviolationofitsfinancialscam
SomeofthefakearticlesthatappearedonsocialmediaplatformX,bearingthelogoofthe‘IrishIndependent’andevensometimesjournalists’bylines
policyfollowingcomplaintsfromMediahuis Ireland,themediagroupclaimsthesocial mediaplatformhasbeenunableorunwilling totakeproperorsuffcientactiontoaddress theissue.
Itsaysthematteriscompoundedbythe promotionofthepostsontheplatform,with thefakeadvertisementsbeingsharedby “verifed”usersandpublishedasbonafde advertisements.
Themediagrouphascomplainedthe advertisementsclearlyseektoexploitthe reputationoftheIrishIndependent,andthird parties referredtointhem,tofraudulently misleadthepublicintoinvestingina cryptocurrencyscheme.
Inastatement,MediahuisIrelandsaidit hadbeenforcedtoinitiatetheproceedings duetowhatitclaimedwasX’s repeated refusaltotakepropermeasurestoprevent thepublicationandpromotionoffake advertisementsbyusersofitsplatform.
“Theseadsaredeliberatelytargeting membersofthepublicforfnancialfraud.In doingsotheyareusingthe reputationand brand recognitionoftheIrishIndependent,
oftenincludingwell-knownpublicfgures,to gainattention,”thestatementsaid.
“Theseadsareharmfultothepublicand theyriskdamagingthetrustandintegrityof theIrishIndependentthathasbeenhardwon throughmorethan100yearsofcommitment anddiligencefromitsjournalistsand employees.”
TheCompetitionandConsumerProtection Commissionisanoticepartyinthecase,due totheconsumerprotectionissuesinvolved.
TIUC,viaitslawyers,has rejectedthe allegationthatitisunableorunwillingto tacklefraudulentadvertisements.Itclaims tohaveacteddiligentlyandexpeditiouslyin responseto reportsaboutsuchcontent.
AmongorderssoughtbyMediahuis Irelandisone requiringTIUCtoimplement effectivetechnicalmeasures,includingimage banking,keywordflteringandalgorithmic amendments,todetectandprevent publicationofadsthatinfringeoncopyright, linktofakearticlesandmisappropriatethe goodwillenjoyedbythebrand.
Thepublisherwantsproposed advertisementsorpromotedpoststobe
subjecttopre-publication reviewconductedby human reviewerstrainedtoidentifyunlawful contentif redfagsareraisedbythetechnical measuressought.
Thepublisherisalsoseekinganorder requiringTIUCtoimplementappropriateand effectivemeasurestoverifytheidentitiesand paymentmethodofindividualswhoplace advertisementsorpromotedpoststhroughthe XAdsservice.
Afurtherorderissought requiringTIUCto provideMediahuisIrelandwithinformation identifyingthepeoplewhoplacedthescam advertisements.
AdeclarationisbeingsoughtthatTIUChas, initsoperationorcontrolofX,infringedon MediahuisIreland’sEUtrademarks.
AfurtherdeclarationissoughtthatTIUC hadknowledgeofillegalactivityorcontent onXandfailed, refusedorneglectedtoact expeditiouslyto removeordisableaccessto thiscontent.
MediahuisIrelandisthelargestpublisheron theislandofIreland,withtitlesincludingthe Belfast Telegraph,SundayLife,Sunday World andIrishIndependent. ■
Major changes required to tackleeconomic inactivity andlift the labourmarket PaulMacFlynn,economistandco-directorof theNevinEconomicResearchInstitute(Neri),says weneedtolookatwhyourbaselevelofeconomic inactivityissohighhere
Inacolumnattheendoflastyear
Iwroteaboutthefactthat recent revisionstotheNorthernIrelandlabour marketdatashowthatouremployment situationwasactuallyagoodbitbetter thanwefrstthought.
Specifcally,thereweremorepeopleinour labourmarket,andmoreofthosepeoplehad employment.ThisisgoodnewsforNIbecause labourforceparticipationisoneofthebiggest weaknessesinoureconomy.
Therearemany reasonspeoplechoose to remainoutsideofthelabourmarketand manyofthemareperfectlynormalandarenot problemsthatneedtobefxed.Studentsand peoplewhoarecaringforfamilyareoutside thelabourmarketandthereisnoobvious reasontowanttohavefewerpeopleineither ofthosecategories.
Atpresent,themain reasonforpeople beingoutsidethelabourforce,oreconomically inactive,isduetolong-termillness.While theoverallnumbersofeconomicallyinactive mayhavedeclined recently,theproportionof peopleoutsideofthelabourmarketduetoill healthhassteadilyincreasedin recentyears.
Butitmayjustbepossiblethatthe remedy forthissituationmayberightinfrontof us.Oftenwhenwelookattheproblemof
economicinactivity,wefocusonthespecifc reasonswhytherateissomuchhigherhere.
Manyaspectsofapost-confictsociety cancontributetohigherlevelsofeconomic inactivityand recentsurveydata releasedby theNIExecutiveonchildhoodtraumasand mentalhealthshowsthis.
Tacklingthis requiresaproperpublichealth approachtomentalillnessanditisoneofthe mostimportanteconomicpoliciesNIcould enact.
However,beyondthefactorsthatareunique toNI,weneedtolookatwhyourbaselevelof economicinactivityisalsosohighhere.Even ifweweretoclosethegapininactivitywith the restoftheUK,wewouldstillhaveamong thehighestratesinEuropeamongdeveloped economies.
ThisisbecausetheUKratehasincreased signifcantlyovertheyearssincethepandemic. Thisstandsinstarkcontrastwiththe experienceintheRepublicofIrelandwhere ratesofinactivityarenowlowerthanthey werebeforethepandemic.
Morepositively,thefactthattheUKrate ofinactivityhasrisensomuchin recentyears haspromptedmuchmoreinterestinthe reasonswhypeople remainoutsidethelabour market.Inadditiontotacklingtheissuesthat
areindividualtoNI,weshouldalsofocuson themorecommonplacebarrierstopeople rejoiningthelabourmarket.
Policiesto removebarrierscanrangefrom providingaffordablechildcaretomakingsure thatthebeneftssystemdoesn’tpenalisethose wishingto returntowork.Thebeneftssystem issomethingthatismorelikelytobeeffective atnationallevelandthereislimitedscopefor theExecutiveheretomake realchange.
ChildcaresubsidiesintheRepublichave beencreditedwithmuchoftheimprovement inactivityratesthereandthisshouldlendeven greaterimpetustotheExecutiveindeveloping itschildcarestrategy,butitwillultimatelycost money.
Anotherfactorthathascometothefore
Childcareshouldbe improvedtotackle economicinactivity
inthedebateatUKlevelisthelinkbetween higherratesofinactivityandthequalityofjobs thatareavailable.Simplyput,manypeople whohaveleftthelabourforcedidsobecause ofworkwhichisofsuchpoorqualitythatit affectedtheirhealthandwell-being.
Poorqualityworkisnotjustaboutpay,it coversmanyotheraspectsandspecifcallythe natureoftheworkitself.Poorqualityjobs canbethosewhichareinsecureorwherethe hourscanbeuncertainandevenexcessive.
Theycanbejobswherethepaceofwork ishighlyintenseandcontrolledandwhere peoplefeeltheyhavealmostnocontrol overtheirworkinglives.Addtothatpoor management,lackofsupportandnochance of recognitionorprogression.
A recent reportbytheOECDontheUK’s labourmarketmadeadirectconnection betweentheissueofeconomicinactivityand jobquality.The reportsaidthat“byimproving jobqualityforallages,amoredynamic andinclusivelabourmarketcanbecreated, maximisingworkforcepotentialandpromoting economicgrowth”.
AstudyfromLeedsUniversitywentfurther statingthat“badwork–workthatdoesnot payenoughandisunrewardinginotherways –canleadtoeconomicinactivity”.
A reportfromthe WorkFoundationlaments thefailureofgovernmentpolicytotacklethe rootcausesofeconomicinactivitywhichit listsas“theunderlyingquality,securityand fexibilityofwork,ortheprovisionofhealthrelatedsupportonoffer”.
Itisclearthatimprovingjobqualityiskey totacklingoneofNI’sgreatesteconomic weaknessesandunlockingourpotential.This isalsoanareawherewedohavethepowerto effectchangeandwherethereisnoneedfor additionalfunding.
To thisend,theNIExecutivehasnow broughtforwardtheGoodJobsand EmploymentBillwhichseekstomarkastep changeinthequalityofemploymentthatis availableinNorthernIreland.
Economicinactivityis,andhasbeen,one ofthemostpersistentandenduringofNI’s economicproblemsanditwillnotbesolved throughhalfmeasuresorwishfulthinking.It requiresagamechange. ■
Word FROMTHE Wise Thecolumnwithan earforexperience... Howdidyoustartoutinyourbusiness?
Ifounditverydiffculttogetintothelegal industryasIdidn’thavethetraditionalmix offamilyhistoryinthelaworan“oldschool tie”connection.Essentiallyitinvolvedwriting toanumberoflawfrmsinBelfast,andI wasfortunateenoughtogetaninterview withO’ReillyStewart.Havingservedasan apprentice,mycareergrewfromthereandI’m stillwiththebusiness,29yearslater.
Whathaveyoufoundthemost challengingduringyouryearsofbusiness, sofar?
Idon’tthinkanyonewhowasinbusinessin 2020willsayanythingotherthanCovid.The uncertaintyintheearlyweeksofthepandemic wasveryunsettlinganddiffculttohandle onbothpersonalandprofessionallevels. Thankfully,wearewellontheothersideof itnowandourpracticehadgreatsystems inplacethatwere resilientenoughtoseeus successfullynavigatethatveryfuidtime.
Howwouldyoudescribeyour managementstyle?
I’veonlybeenmanagingdirectorforless thanayear,soIsupposeIwouldsay‘awork inprogress’.Whenfacingdiffcultissues,I remaincalmandputmyselfinthepositionI wouldtakewhenadvisingaclientratherthan takingthingsonapersonallevel.Ingeneral termsIwillalwaystrytoseekagreementand consensusratherthanissuingorders.
Whatwouldyouchangeifyoucouldgo backanddoitallagain?
Ihaveneverfoundithealthyorproductive
tohave regrets,exceptperhapsaspartofa learningexperience.Ibelievethatmostofus fndourselveswherewehaveendedupas the resultofanaccumulationofdecisionsthat werethebestchoiceforusatthetimewe madethem.
Haveyoudoneitallonyourown?
Absolutelynot.Ihadtremendoussupportfrom myparents,JohnandPamela,throughoutmy educationandearlycareerandtheymade greatsacrifcestohelpmeout.Iamluckyto haveaveryunderstandingwife,Bronwen, whogenerallydoesn’tcomplainthatmuch aboutthelonghoursandconstantchecking ofemails.OnaprofessionallevelIamvery gratefultohavebeenpartofagreatfrmthat looksafteritsstaffanddoesthingstheright way.Ilearnedalotfromthetwofounders
ofourpractice,GarrettO’ReillyandBrian Stewart.Ourpreviousmanagingdirector,Joe Moore,wasalsoagreatmentorandtaught memostofwhatIknowaboutleadingabusy frmofsolicitors.
Howwouldyoulikeyourbusinesstobe remembered?
Asasolicitors’practicethatdoesthings right.Afrmthatlooksafteritspeople,acts professionallyandproactivelyandgivesgood advicetoitsclientsbutneverlosesthepersonal touch.
Whatpieceofadvicewouldyougivetoa 20-year-oldyou?
Keepatit.Ifyouworkhard,persevere,and fndyourselfanichethatyoustandoutin, you’llgo(reasonably)far. ■
StuartGilmore O’ReillyStewart
IT & TECH NOLOGY Thetechfirm usingAItoprotect workplaces IT & TECH NOLO GY
ProtexAI,athree-year-oldDublin start-up,hasjustcompletedaSeries Bfunding roundof$36m(€34.8m).
Itbringsto$54mtheamountraisedby thecompany,whichemploys60peopleand wasco-foundedbyDublinerDanHobbsand Limerick-bornCiaranO’Mara.
The roundwasledbytheUKinvestment frmHedosophiawithparticipationfrom Salesforce Venturesandexistinginvestorssuch astheIrishinvestmenthouseElkstone.
Protex’sotherinvestorsincludeNotion CapitalandFlexport.
ProtexAImakesasoftwareplatformthat plugsintoCCTVcamerasandothersensors toofferon-sitesafetytipsandaccidentpreventionanalysisforfactoriesandother workplaces.Itcountsindustrialgiantsincluding DHLamongitscustomers.
Thestart-upwillusetheextramoneyto expand,particularlyintheUS,accordingto chiefDanHobbs.
It’snotthefrstforayintosuccessful company-buildingforHobbs,whosoldathird levelsoftwarestart-up,BetterExaminations,to thetechfrm TerminalFourin2019.
HobbsspoketotheIrishIndependent abouthowProtexAIisgoing,howartifcial intelligenceisnowjudged,andhisownstartupjourneysofar.
Adrian Weckler[AW]: Wheredidthe companyideacomefrom?
DanHobbs[DH]: Oneof[co-founder] Ciaran’sfamilymemberswasworkingonasite andtherewasafatality.Theythoughtitwas afreakaccident,butwhentheywentback throughtheCCTV,theysawsomebehaviour patterns,whetheritwasspeedingforkliftsor ergonomicissues,leadingtoit.Theydidn’t knowaboutthisstuffbecausetheydidn’thave visibility.
AW: SoProtexAIincreasesawarenessof futureaccidents?
DH: Sortof. Takenearmisseswithforklifts, whichcanweighalmosttwotonnes.When someonegetshitwithone,peoplethink they’refreakaccidents.Buttherearetimes whenpeoplearealmostgettinghitbyforklifts againandagain,aseriesofconstantlittlenear misseswherenobodynotices.Ifthey’renot identifedandfxed,they’regoingtoleadto somethingthatcouldbeafatality.
DanHobbs,chiefexecutive ofworkplacesafetyfrm ProtexAI,saysthecompany’s accident-preventionanalysis saveslives.Hespeaksto Adrian Weckler
Thinkofitliketryingtospotacarcrash beforeitoccurs.It’s reallyhard.Butwithour system,clientspickthesemovementsup,and areabletodosomethingassimpleastomove something10feettotheleftsothatthey’re notinasituationwheresomeonecouldalmost die.
AW: Whatsortofimpactisithaving?
DH: Onaverage,clientstellusthattheysee a64% reductioninrisk,whichwedidn’tthink we’dgetstartingoff.Thebiggestbehaviour changeisn’tnecessarilytheworkersonsite oranythinglikethat.It’sactuallyhowpeople arelookingatthedata.Usually,whenan injuryhappens,it’sonlythenthatsomething isdoneaboutit,becausethat’swhenallthe datapointsarelookedat.Whatwe’redoing isfippingthatonitsheadandsaying,‘ifwe canlookattheleadingindicators,thesesmall datapointsthatleadtoit,maybewecanstop thingshappeningbeforetheyactuallyoccur’.
AW: You’veraisedquotealotofmoneyina relativelyshorttime. Wasthathard?
DH: We actuallyfounditquite straightforward,tobehonest.Itwasalmost allinbound. We didn’thavetogooutbound atall. We weren’tplanningtoraiserightnow, butwehadalotofVCsgettingintouch withus.Ithinknomattertheenvironmentor theclimateoftheinvestmentscenes,good companiesalwaysraise.Idefnitelythinkwe’re inthatbracket. We weretoptierwhenitcame tobeingperformance-trackedagainstother portfoliocompanies.
AW: Isincludingtheterm‘AI’a superchargingeffectwhenraisingmoney?Or mightitevenbetablestakesin2025?
DH: We’reonlythreeandahalfyears old,butwe’venowraised$54m.Whichis abitcrazyandsomeofthe reasonforthat isbecauseoftheAI,wherethere’sthisdeep curveoradoptionthat’shappeningwhere peoplearetakingtoitalotfaster–andyou
ProtexAIchief executiveDanHobbs
don’thavetooversellorover-engineerwhat you’retalkingabout.Ithinkthefactthatthat’s happeningishelpinghugelywith regardsto our roll-outsandpeoplesigninglong-term contractswithus.
ButIalsothinkthatit’smovingawayfrom justinvestinginanyGenAIcompanyandmore intoapplicableAI. We’reseeingalotmore peoplebemoretargetedaboutwherethey’re investing.
AW: You’refocusingsquarelyontheUS marketnow. Withallthat’sgoingon,how
feasibleisittodothatbasedinIreland?
DH: We wanttobuildoneofthebiggest companiesinIrelandandbeheadquartered here. We haveoperationsintheUS,andwe’re buildingoutintheUSalot,butthereisspace forthat.Like,youhavetheIntercomsofthe worldandyousee Tinesdoing reallywelltoo. We’vegotanincrediblysmartworkforcein Irelandinthisspaceaswell.Sowe’re really tryingtoutilisethatandbuildoneofthe behemoths.
AW: YouandCiaranO’Marahaveknown
eachothersincetheBT YoungScientistevent in2010,whenyouwerecompetingas15-yearolds.
DH: Thecoolthingisthatwestillgoevery singleyear.Theidea[forProtexAI]actually camewhenwewereatthe YoungScientists. Thateventissobrilliant.It’safrsttasteof businessandinnovationforstudents.Even whenwe’reinterviewingpeople,wecantell ifthey’vedonethe YoungScientistsornot. Thosewhohavethatkindofsavvythatcomes withbeingabletotalkaboutaproject.And
justfromaconfdenceperspective,they’reall smartkids,sowelovethat. We goeverysingle year,andweowealottothe YoungScientists forintroducingourselvestoeachother.
AW: Andwhatwasparticipationin(start-up accelerator) Y-Combinatorlike?
DH: Itwasgreat,althoughbecauseitwas duringthepandemic,itwasdonefromwestof Ireland,ratherthanthewestoftheUS.Sowe didn’tgettheglamourofSanFrancisco,itwas moretheglamourofCastletroy[Ciaran’shome town]. ■
IT & TECH NOLO GY
US fntech frm creates 20 new Belfastjobs AnAmericanfntechfrmis investingover£2mherewiththe creationof20newjobspaying around£55,000onaverage.
SpiderRock TechnologySolutionsisadding anengineeringdevelopmentteamtoitsBelfast offces,locatedinDonegallSquareEast.
Thecompanyworkswithhedgefunds, banksandothertradingfrmsaround theworld,supplyingthemwith“highperformance,cloud-basedtradingsystemsand low-latencymarketdatasolutions”.
Thejobswillbehybrid,meaningthatthey areopentoapplicantsbasedacrossNorthern Ireland.
EconomicdevelopmentagencyInvestNI andtheDepartmentfortheEconomywere involvedinsecuringtheinvestment,including duringformerEconomyMinisterConor Murphy’striptoAmericain2024.
MrMurphysaid:“Thisinvestmentbysuch aprestigiouscompanyistestamenttothe internationalstatureoftheNorth’sthriving fntechsector.”
“InvestNIandImetSpiderRock’sleadership teaminChicagolastyeartodiscussthe beneftsofinvestinginthenorth.
“I’mdelightedthecompanyhasnow decidedtocreate20newpositionsoffering averagesalariesof£55,000,almostdoublethe privatesectormedian.
“Thehybridnatureofthe rolesmeanthey
Our Northern Ireland team will play a critical roleinsupporting our trading platform, extending operational coverage during non-US hours
willbeaccessibletopeoplerightacrossthe region.”
GeorgePapa,chiefexecutiveofSpiderRock, said:“Wehavebeenincrediblyimpressedwith thetalentandexpertiseavailableinNorthern Ireland,aswellasthestrongpartnershipswith universitiesandsupportfromInvestNI.
“OurNorthernIrelandteamwillplaya critical roleinsupportingourtradingplatform, extendingoperationalcoverageduringnonUShours,andenablingourexpansioninto Europeanmarkets.
“Recruitmenteffortsareprogressingrapidly, andwe’rethrilledtohavealreadyflledalmost halfoftheplanned roles.
“Thisinvestmentmarksasignifcant milestoneforSpiderRockaswegrowour presenceinEurope,buildourbrand,and deliverinnovativesolutionstonewmarkets.”
AndreaHaughian,InvestNI’sheadof Americas,said:“Securingthisinvestmentfor
NorthernIrelandisatestamenttothehard workofourlocalinvestmentmanagerandthe collaborativeeffortsofourin-marketteamin theUS.
“SpiderRock’sdecisiontoestablish operationsinNorthernIrelandhighlightsthe region’sgrowing reputationasafntechhub, offeringaskilledworkforceandacompetitive businessenvironment.
“Thenewteamwillplayapivotal rolein advancingSpiderRock’sglobalstrategyandwe lookforwardtosupportingSpiderRockasit growsitsoperationshere.”
Theannouncementislikelytobeoneofthe lastmadebyMrMurphyinhiscurrent role,as heseekselectiontoSeanadÉireann.
Hehasbeennominatedfortheindustrial andcommercialpanel,andwillgobefore theelectorateofcurrentandTDs,current membersoftheSeanadandmembersofcity andcountycouncils. ■
NowformerEconomyMinisterConorMurphy(right)withSpiderRock’sGeorgePapaandAnnabelleBaldwin,Andrea Haughian,InvestNI,andJulianneCox,InvestNI
School phoneban trialpushing aheaddespite claimit ‘doesnot improve gradesorbehaviour’ ByJohnMulgrew
AGovernmentschemetoprevent mobilephonesbeingusedin schoolsisbeingpushedforward, whileapeer-reviewedstudyshows banningdevicesisnotlinkedtopupils performingbetter.
EducationMinisterPaulGivanannounced aplantospend£250,000onlockablephone pouchesforatrialin10schoolsatthestartof lastSeptember.
AllianceMLAMichelleGuysaidwhilethe issueofphoneandsocialmediause remains aconcern,“Idon’tthinkspendingover £200,000ofdesperatelyneededcapitalmoney onphonepouchesistherightwaytoapproach this”.
Now,afreshtenderonbehalfofthe EducationAuthorityisseekingtosecure thedevices,whichwouldbeonatrialbasis acrossthe10schools.Thetenderisvaluedat £230,000.
Buttheprogresscomesasnew research shows restrictingsmartphoneusedidnot appeartohaveanegativeimpactonstudent health,wellbeingandfocusinlessons.
Itclaimsthatclassroombehaviour,exercise andsleep,alongwiththetimespentontheir phones,appearednodifferentforschoolswith phonebans,comparedtothosewithout.
TheUniversityofBirmingham’sfndings, whichwerepeer-reviewedandpublishedby TheLancet’sRegionalHealthEuropejournal, lookedat1,227studentsacross30schools.
“Thereisnoevidencethat restrictiveschool policiesareassociatedwithoverallphoneand socialmediauseorbettermentalwellbeingin adolescents,”itsaid.
“Thefndingsdonotprovideevidenceto supporttheuseofschoolpoliciesthatprohibit phoneuseduringtheschooldayintheir currentform,andindicatethatthesepolicies requirefurtherdevelopment,”the research said.
EducationMinisterPaulGivanistriallinganewschemetobanphonesat10schoolshere
AspokespersonfortheDepartmentof Educationsaidthe“headlines”fromthestudy are“misleading”asthey“focusonwhether schoolsmartphonebansareeffective,however the reportconcludesthattheissueismuch biggerthansimply removingsmartphones fromschools”.
Itsaidthe restrictionofmobilephoneuse, whilenotenoughonitsown,asawider element“canplayanimportant rolein deliveringpositiveimpactsforpupilsandtheir learning”.
“Havingconsideredtheevidence,and listenedtotheconcernsofparentsand teachersabouttheuseofmobilephonesin schools,theEducationMinisterannounceda phone-freepilotforNorthernIreland,which willpreventpupilsfromusingtheirphones duringtheschoolday. Tenschoolsfromacross NorthernIrelandwillbeparticipatinginthe pilotwhichwillbegininSeptember2025.”
Itsaidthenewsurveyintothe restrictionof phoneuseinschools“didfndalinkbetween moretimespentonphonesandsocialmedia andworseoutcomes,withworsemental wellbeingandmentalhealthoutcomes,less physicalactivityandpoorersleep,lower educationalattainmentandagreaterlevelof disruptiveclassroombehaviour”.
Itsaidithas“consideredagrowingnumber of researchand reportsthathighlighthowthe useofsmartphonesinschoolsisanareaof concern”.
LastSeptember,MrGivansaid:“Growing evidenceshowsthatphonesdistractchildren fromlearningandthatlimitingaccessto mobilephonesduringtheschooldaycanhave apositiveimpactonacademicengagement andachievement.
“Manycountriesacrosstheworldare increasinglytakingstepstostopphoneuseat school.” ■
Jumon East review: Somesolid cooking at Asian fusion hotspot… but please turnthe volumeup TheoriginalJumoninBelfastcitycentreprovedthatvegetariancuisine couldpackasmuchfavour,ifnotmore,thanthosewithmeat. John Mulgrew paidavisittoitssisterrestaurantJumonEast,butfoundthings werealittledifferentandthedishthatputitonhisregularlist,missing…
Muchhaschangedinchunksofthe eastinthelastfewyears.
Crystalballinhand,you’reunlikelyto havepredictedthataformerlinenhallwould becomeaneventsandartscentre,Detroit-style pizzawouldbe reveredbycriticsandbrash TikTokersalike,andtherewouldbenotone, buttwoindependentbeerbarsandbreweries withinwalkingdistanceofoneanother.
TheEastBelfastConstitutionalClub, adjacenttooneoftheaforementioned drinkingspots, recentlyshutitsdoors.Farfrom highlightingachangingdemographiccloseby, perhaps,insteadmoreametaphoricalsignpost oftheevolutionofBelfast’sNewtownards
Roadandwiderexpandingsuburbs–within hospitalityatleast.
Closeby,there’stheEastSide VisitorCentre, andjustafewyardsawayagrandbrass leoninehomagetoNarniaauthor–andlocal boy–CSLewis,whosenotableworkschartthe fantasticalstoriesofagaggleofposhkidsina magicalworld,accessedthroughanenchanted wardrobe.
Andjustafewstepsawayfromthatsitsthe secondchapterintheJumonchronicles.
There’ssomethingtobesaidaboutthe repurposingofthehumbleshippingcontainer.
Lookingoutoverthedocks,nottoofarfrom whereweare,you’llseehundredsofthem,
awaitingtransportbylorries,ortightlypacked aboardashipboundforwarmerclimates.
JumonEastisthelatestculinaryendeavour tocallthemhome.Thestructureissomewhere betweenBrutalistarchitecture–theHarland & Wolffyellowandbrandingofonecontainer sittingatopthreeothers–andsomething you’dbefamiliarwithshiftingsmashburgers intheheartofShoreditch.
Jumonstartedofflifeasoneof,ifnotthe only,trulyinterestingvegetarian restaurantthe cityhadtooffer.Theoriginallocationbrought alengthylistofbig,bold,Asianfavours,took risks,andrampeduptheumami.Itbarelyput afootwrong.
Kundancurry atJumonEast
Despitethecoldmetallicexterior,Jumon Eastisawarmandwelcomingenvironment.
It’sdarkandmoreatmosphericthanyou mightexpect,givenitshomeisamultitonnestructurewhichmayoncehavebeena passengeronthehighseas.
ANegroni-esquecocktail,insteadpacked withwarmingbourbon,isastrongopening act–clever,balancedandkeepingthepalate entertainedforlongerthanmost.
Themenuitselfappearstobeacutdown versionofwhathadbeenonofferjusta coupleofmilesaway,duringmylastvisit–a selectionofsmallplates,mains,andthena coupleofsweets.
AplateofBombaypotatoestoppedwith yoghurtforthatcutofacidityiswell-spiced, rich,andbalanced,asitshouldbeforaquid shyofatenner.
Themisohoumousisabigbagof savouriness,withalittleoilandaccoutrements atoptokeepthingsslipperyandinteresting, bringingaddedrichnesswhenscoopedup
withtheaccompanyingcrispanddeckled poppadoms.
Spring rollsaresolidandhearty,providing somevegetalandcarbysustenance.
AKundancurryarrivesshortlyafter–a moderately-sizedbowlwithaburntorangehuedsauce,afewgreens,ahandfulof red chillisandfoursmallchunksoftofu.
It’sentirelyfnishableandthere’snoobvious cookingorfavoursamisshere.Butit’salla littleunderwhelmingandmuted,especiallyat £17.
Acoupleofspoonfulsofthecompany’s Hungleydishwithramennoodlesinacreamy peanutsauceagainfailstolightthefrewhich helpedputJumononthepersonal restaurant shortlist–underseasonedandabitlifeless.
Serviceisadept,sharpandfriendlywith foodanddrinksarrivingpromptly,andwith littlefafforfuster.
Ashortmenuoftendrawsfocusonthebest akitchencanoffer,allowingittogetthose fewdishesasnailedonaspossible.
THEBILL
Misohoumous£9
Springrolls £8
Bombaypotatoes£9
Hungleypeanutcurry£17
Kundancurry£17
Cocktailsx2 £23
Total £83
WhiletheoriginalJumonfailedtoaputa footwrong,thevolumefeelslikeit’sjustbeen turneddownjustalittlehere.
Whysomeoftheclassicswhichhelpeddraw plauditsfromkinandfriendsalikehavebeen leftoffJumonEast’smenu–atleastduring ourvisit– remainssomethingofamystery;for example,theturnipanddoenjangdip,alesson inhowtoturnanunpopular rootvegetable andfermentintosomethingworthturningup atthedoorforalone.
Therearestillsomeinterestingthingsat workhere,andsolidcooking.Justbring backthatturnipdip,crankuptheMSGand seasoning,andthrowinafewmorepiecesof tofuwhileyou’reatit. ■
KarenMaguire,the founderofRelinea, tells JamesMcNaney howshehasbecomea championofemployee ownership,andaPilates teacher
Thesedays,KarenMaguire doesn’t have a typicalchiefexecutive schedule.Theformermanaging directorofRelineanowspendsmuchof hertimeteachingPilates.
“Ionlystartedteaching recently, andI’m lovingit,”shesays.“I’mapplyingengineering principlestoit,and I thinkthebodyisan amazingpieceofengineeringandweneedto lookafterit.”
It’sa changeofpacefromherformerjobas theheadof a successfulfrmthatshefounded, butKarenhasnotexitedthebusinessworld entirely
Shestillhas a rolewithRelinea,which designsandmakesglass reinforcedplastic products,andheadsupEmployeeOwnership Ireland(EOI).
Thebusinessgroupwantstocreate a communityaroundthemodelofbusinessthat hercompanytransitionedtoin recentyears.
KarenwenttoschoolinCrumlinand Belfast,before travellingtoKingstonUniversity inLondontostudychemistryandbusiness administration.
Aftergraduating,sheworkedsomeodd jobswhilesavingmoneyfortravelling.She eventuallysetoff toIndiawith a coupleof friends,andspent a fewyearstravelling throughIndia,Nepal,Thailand,NewZealand andAustralia.
Shemovedhomeandfound a jobwith a frm“involvedinthemanufacture ofchemical tanks”.
“Thatgotmeinvolvedinthewholeglass, freeglass,fberglass, reinforcedplasticindustry
‘Thisisnota co-op...it’s abouthaving a sustainable business’ WhatRelineawouldultimatelybecomewas glass reinforcedplasticstructuralproducts,” Karensays.
RelineacameaboutduetofrustrationsKaren hadwiththesectorwhere sheworked,and a feelingof“Icoulddo a betterjobmyself”.
A bighelpinfoundingRelineawasKaren’s father Sheadds:“Thatwasthestartanditwas justessentiallymeandmyfather
“We setthebusinessupjustbesidewhereI grewupinCrumlin.Myfatherhadrunhisown businessandhewas a bigsupporttome.
“There were plentyofargumentsoverthere, overthekitchentableandwhatnot.Buthewas mywingman.”
Karenfeelsthatwatchingherdadrunhis businessas a childwaspartofwhyshewanted tostartherownfrmasanadult.
“Igrewupin a householdwhere hewas outrunning a business.Hehad responsibilities,
butthrivedonthat. I thinkbeinginthat environmentandhavingthatsupportnetwork defnitelygavemeconfdencetomoveforward withit.”
Relineagrewconsistentlyoveritsearlyyears, andKarensaysshewasfocusedonsustainable growthforthecompany
“Bringingsomeonein,they’re leaving a job. I needtomakesure thattheirjobissustainable. Makingsure wecanhonourthecommitments we’re makingtothepeoplewhoare comingin.
“I’m a risktakerto a certainextent,but I’mnot a risktakerwhenitcomestopeople’s jobs.”
Relineawasperformingwell,nearlydoubling turnoverandsecuringprojects,when a major lifeeventchangedKaren’s feelingsabouther future.
“Whenmyfatherpassedaway, thatwas a bigblow Itwasgoingin a reallygood
trajectory, andthenthatbombshellhitme,” shesays.
“Thepassionwent,andifyou’re running a businessandyou’vegot responsibilityforall thesepeople,youhavetohavethatpassion.
“Ifoundthenextcoupleofyearsquite diffcult,andthenCovidcame.In2020,my mumpassedaway, itwasanotherblow.I startedto refectonwhere mylifewasand what I wantedtogetinlife.
“Ifeltitwasotherpeoplewithinthebusiness whowere muchmore capableoftakingitto thenextlevel.”
Karenbeganexploring a potentialsaleof thebusiness,butsaidmeetingswithlarger companiesabout a buyoutleftherfeeling “dirty”.
Shewasalsoupsetbythenewsofother localbusinessesbeingclosedafterbeing boughtoverbyforeigncompanies.
Itwasherdesire toensure thecompany stayedproftableandlocalthatmadeherbegin tothinkaboutemployeeownership – when a companyhasanemployeetrustthatowns a signifcantshare ofthebusiness,andhas a say inhowitisrun.
Sheexploredtheoptionbytalkingto differentfrmsthatusethemodel,andfeltit wasthecorrectpathforRelinea.
“Itjustfeltlikeitwastherightthingtodo frommyperspective,itwasinlinewithmy values.
“Itwas rewardingfortheemployeesandthe managementteam.Itwassecuringthefuture ofRelineainNorthern Ireland.Itjustseemedto tickalltheboxesforme.”
Karenhasbeenabletotransitionin recent yearsfrombeing a managingdirectorto a muchsmaller rolefocusedonhelpingthenew ownershipmodelbeviable.
“Whenwetransitioned,there werea lot ofquestions.Whatdoesitmean?Whatdoes employeeownershiplooklikeforRelinea?
“We’vebeenworkingourwaythroughthat, justmakingsure we’vegot robustgovernance frombothboardsandprogressinthebusiness.
“There’sa plangoingforward,notonlyin termsofhowitgrowsandhowitdevelopsas a business,buthowweensure theemployees asowners,andtheirneedsandwants,are addressedin a waythatissustainable.That’s thekeyhere.
“Thisisnot a co-op.Thisisaboutactually having a sustainablebusinessforthelong term.”
Karenhassetup a newgroup,EOI,to helpsupportotherbusinessesconsidering transitioningtoemployeeownership.
“ThepurposeofEOIistogetthemessage outthere,ifcompaniesare considering succession,thatemployeeownershipis a very successfuloption.
“IlookatNorthern Ireland,andwehave amazingfamily-runbusinesses.Andforone reasonoranother, theymightbeconsidering sellingthebusinesson. I wantthisjusttobeon thetable.
“Aslongasit’s onthetable,iftheyexclude it,that’s fne,butaslongasit’s onthetable.”
Kareniskeepingbusywithmore thanjust EOI.
“AlongsidemyworkinPilates, I provide mentoringsupporttofemaleleaders,”shesays.
“I’mcurrentlymentoring a womanin KenyathroughtheCherieBlairFoundation for Women,whichempowerswomenin developingcountriestobuildsuccessful businessesandaccessequaleconomic opportunities.
“Thisexperiencehasbeenincredibly rewarding,givingmevaluableinsightinto thechallengesfacedbyfemaleentrepreneurs indevelopingcountries.I’malsoproviding mentoringsupportthroughtheInvestNI leadershipprogramme.
“Supportingpeople,especiallythose whohavefacedbarriersduetogenderor economicbackground,issomethingI’mdeeply passionateabout.” ■
KarenMaguire
Why simplicity matters whenit comes to food Frombaconwrappeddatesto dry-agedsteak, JohnMulgrew believesthebestwaytodelivertop flavoursisbykeepingthingssimple, anddoingthemwell
You’llwalkintoa restaurantatsome point,whetheritbeposh,casual, orelbowsonthetable,andbe greetedwithadescriptionandcollection ofingredientsanddetailswhichwillhave youlongingforsimplicity.
Byitsverynature,complicationisn’tadirty word. Werevelintheabilityofthosebehind thepassinbeingabletoconjureupdishesand cookingwecouldn’tpossiblycomprehend.
Buttheverybest,atallendsofthe spectrum,putperfectprecisionandsimplicity atthecore.
Takeaspotservingjumpedupramenfor thosewholikeassertivesocialmediaandwear cooltrainers.
Ifyouhaven’tbeensomewherebeforeand
you’regreetedwithsomethingassimpleasa bowlofnoodles,yetit’sburstingwithsmall textonthestyledandperfectlyformatted menu,thenyou’reoftenaslikelytobeas disappointedasyouarecontentedand nourished.
Alitanyofingredients,eachsoundingas punchyasthelast,butwhenactually realised palesincomparisonwithsomethingyou’llfind onDonegallPassoranynumberofquickand walletfriendlyspots.
Turn yourattentiontothosewhobestknow eachcuisineanddish.
Takefriesorchips,atthecheaperendof things.
Loadedfriesareforthosewhohaven’t theconfidencetoservethecoreproductand
ingredientattheirepicentre.
That’softenbecausetheytaketime–lotsof time–skillandeffort.
Let’sinsteadpilealitanyoffatandfatty proteinatoppoorlymadefries,andcharge atennerforit–ifyou’relucky. You’llfind considerablybetterversionsatadecentchippy, whodon’tutilisethatawful‘dudefood’ moniker.
TakeStoveinBelfast. Yougetamodest servingofdeeplydecked,crispshardsof potatoeswhichhavebeenshownthe respect theydeserve.Andwhilethatmaynotworkfor thefoodpop-uporstall,burgerspotBunsen makesitworkwithsimple,cleananduniform spudswhichworkperfectlyalongsideits equallyasperfectencapsulationofthaticonof
fastfood–theburger.Thedry-agedburger atMinetta TaverninNew Yorkisessentiallya lessoningoodbutchery.Sandwichedbetween twobunslicesandtoppedwithonions cookedinbeeffat,it’lllivewithmeuntilthe dayIdie.
TheformerOchos Tapas restaurantin Portrushformerlyserveddateswrappedin thick,dry-curedbacon. You’dgobackfor thosealone.
ThebonemarrowatStJohninLondon.A simplesaladofparsleyandshallotaside,it’s twoingredients.It’sadishwhichputmarrow onthemodernmenumap.
Themadeleinesat WineandBrineinMoira. Alittlesurprisealongsideastrongespressoat theendofameal.Asimplesideshowoffour,
eggandsugar,treatedwiththeutmost respect andtechnique.
ThegarlicnaanatMumbai27.Thelasttime Iwasthereitappearedtheyhadforgottenthat partoftheorder.Sowhatemergedfromthe kitchenafewminuteslaterwasstraightoutof thetandoor.Bubbling,supremelylight,aerated andentirelyimpossibletostopeating.
Equally,whilecomplextobringtogether andonlyfortheskilledchef,aterrineorpate encrouteisasimplecombinationofdifferent partsofthepig,encasedinheftypastrywith alittleaspic.Itdoesn’t relyonmanynounsto sellitself.
Attheevenhigherend,you’llnotfndoverly convoluteddescriptorsonthemenuatOX.
Thetechniquesareconsiderablyloftierthan thoseofeventhemostadepthomecook,but
ifyou’veeverhadoneofitsgougeres,then you’llknowthatsimplicityisatitsheart.Even somethingwhichappearsmorecomplexstill putsthekeyingredientstothefore.
Withsome restaurantsathome,youmight seeahyperbolicuseofprovenanceand sourcing.ThewordIrishmakinganappearance infrontofanymammal,herbageorshrubbery, theCVoftheindividualwhopickedit,or celebratedtheanimal’sfrstbirthday.Itmight beplayingthegameatouchtosellourfareto thetouristcrowd,butit’softenoverkill.
Chineseporkbellyinblackvinegar,souffe, awell-cookeddry-agedsteak,crispykaraage, lambkoftacookedquicklyoverhotcharcoal, orasmartlycuratedcheeseboard.Allofthese thingsputsimplicityatthecore.Andtheyare allthebetterforit. ■
Dry-agedbeef ribeye
Roastedbonemarrow
Cheese gougeres
Five essential desserts you should always order wheneating out Agooddessertcanputapositivefullstopattheend ofadecentmeal. JohnMulgrew takesalookatthe puddingswhichreignsupremewheneatingout
1
CRÈMEBRÛLÉE
I remembergoingthroughthegutsofa litreofcreamoneslightlytipsyChristmas Day,tryingmyverybesttogettheselittleset custardgemstodoexactlythat…set. Whileittakessometimetoperfect,the crèmebrûlée remainsoneofthecleanest andperfectsweetfnishestoameal,when executedwell.Poorlyexecuted,andyou’re eithereatingrunnycustard,orswallowing somethingmoreakintosweetscrambledeggs thananythingelse.
backallthewaytotheendofthe19thcentury –CharlesRanhofer,thepastrychefatthe historicNew YorksteakhouseDelmonico’s attributedtoitscreation.
TheclassicFrenchcustardisamustorder onanymenu.It’sasimplecombinationofegg yolks,cream,vanillaandsugar–combined andthensetbycookinginabain-maire(water bath)intheoven,beforefnishingoffwitha scatteringofsugar,crispedandcaramelised withthehelpofablowtorch.
2BAKEDALASKA Whileaversionofthisdishmayhave hitsomethingofitspeakinpopularity hereinthe1970s,itsoriginsappeartodate
It,likemanyotherdishes,hashada resurgencehere.Andifa restaurantistaking thetimetomakeit,it’sprobablyworthyour time.Alittledomeoficecreamatopsponge, encasedinaperfectly-shapedmoundofItalian meringue,torchedalittleforsomedrama.If somewhereisstickingthisonamenu,they likelyknowwhattheyaredoing.StoveBelfast offeredastunningpineappleversionofthis shortlyafteritopened,andIstillthinkaboutit tothisday.
3 STICKY TOFFEEPUDDING Therearefewheartierwaystocomplete adiningexperiencethanwiththe ubiquitousstickytoffeepudding.Eveninits poorestexpression,it’snormallystillpalatable.
Cremebrulee
Butwhenthemixtureisjustright,notoverly dense,packedwiththenaturalsweetnessof datesandthentoppedoffwithabutter-rich sauce,it’sanimpressivecrowd-pleaser. It’snotforthosewhoarealreadyfeelinga littlefullorbloatedafteraheavymaincourse, butit’scertainlyonetotopoffamealwhen there’s roomleft. Youwillfndsomespots servingyouupsomethingwhichhascome fromthesuppliers,ratherthanthekitchen (thegiveawaycanoftenbethelittledimple leftbehindintheturnedoutpuddingfrom theplasticcontainerinwhichitcame).Butifa kitchengoestotheeffortofmakingitsown, it’slikelysomethingyoushouldorder.
4CUSTARD TART Marcus Waring’siterationofthisclassic bakedcustardtartwonhimmanya plauditwhenhechoseitforhisdessertduring theBBC’sGreatBritishMenu.Itwon,and
wassubsequentlythedishservedtoQueen ElizabethII.
Again,Ibangonaboutsimplicity,andthis fallsintothatcategory.It’sjustasetcustard andpastry.Butalongtheway,thoseelements arewhatseparatesanaveragecookanda chefwithsupremeability.Thecustardtart isasperfectanexpressionofpastryworkas possible–thatlittletouchofnutmegbringing someaddedwarmingspicetoproceedings.
IfyoudogetthechancetovisitFallowin London,thendonotleavewithouttryingits Chelsea Tart.It’savariationonthecustardtart whichusesleftoverwheyfromthecheesemakingprocessandproducesacaramelised sliceofperfectionthatmakesitworththe£14 pricetag.
5PANNACOTTA There’ssomethingofa recurringtheme hereinvolvingsetcustardandcream.
Andwhileyou’llfndthepannacottaon menusallovertheplace,andacrossthe pricingspectrum,donewellit’sasublimely cleanandlightwaytofnishamealoff.
Theclassicversioncombinesmilk,cream, sugarandvanilla,setwithalittlegelatine –oftenturnedoutto revealtheappealing jigglingmound.Butit’salsoonewhichyou cangetwrong.IknowIhave.Aimtooshort onyoursettingagentandwhenit’stimeto turnyourpuddingout,it’llpresentitselfas amessofsugar-ladendairyonyourplate. Overdoit,andit’sanoverlyfrmandalmost chewydisaster.
Butwhenthestarsalign,it’sasmooth, rich,yetairyandlight,littlefullstopto proceedings.Whileit’snotnecessary,I’ll givea restaurantmore respectiftheyhave thecouragetosetitandthenturnitout forservice,ratherthanleavingitinitsown dish. ■
Stickytoffeepudding
Howdidyougetstartedinthe industry?
Myjourneyinpropertybeganat Propertynewsaspartofthesales andmarketingteam.After a brief detourintoprimaryschoolteaching, I developed a more hands-onapproach – buyingand rentingoutproperties.An opportunitytocovermaternityleave at a localestateagency reignitedmy passionforthepropertymarket,and I remainedthere untillaunchingHMK PropertyinJanuary2020.
TheideaforHMKPropertystemmed fromthelackoffexiblemanagement optionsforlandlordsandinvestors.
Mygoalwastocreate a fresh,tailored approachtopropertymanagement.
Workingfrom a renteddeskinmy brothers’city-centre offce, I built strong relationshipswithlandlords andtenants,graduallygrowingthe business.
Typically, whoare yourclientsor customers?
OFTHE We offer a widerangeofservicesacross the residentialpropertysector, cateringto a diverseclientbase. Typically, ourclientsinclude individualslookingtobuyorselltheirhome orinvestmentproperty, aswellas a growing numberoflandlordsseeking a more fexible, hands-onapproachtopropertymanagement.
We don’t have a specifc‘type’ofclient –ourdoorsare opentoeveryone.However, it’s always rewardingtosee repeatbuyers,sellers, andlandlords returningtous,alongsidenew facesbeginningtheirpropertyjourney
Doyouenjoywhatyoudo,andwhatin particular?
I’mfortunatetodowhat I love – workingwith peopleandhelpingthemnavigateproperty sales, rentals,andmanagement.Notwodays are thesame,and I thrivein a collaborative environment,workingcloselywithsolicitors, surveyors,andcontractorstoensure seamless transactions.
Mypassionliesin residentialsalesand propertymanagement. I lovethethrillof launching a newpropertyandsharinginmy clients’excitementastheirhomeorinvestment grows.As a small,independentlyrunestate
Entrepreneur Month agency, wetreateveryclientlikeouronlyclient. Ourcustomer-frstapproachhasbuilt a strong reputation, refectedinourachievements. We’re proudtohavewonHighly CommendedAgencyofthe YearattheBelfast TelegraphProperty Awards,andtobefnalists intheKPMGPropertyExcellence Awardsand thehighlycompetitiveBestinProfessional Servicecategoryatthe WomeninBusiness Awards2025.
Whatisthemostdiffcultpartofyourjob?
Oneofthebiggestchallengesismanaging theemotionalattachmentpeopledevelop to a propertytheyhopetobuyor rent. Unfortunately, sometimestheymissout onwhattheyconsidertobe‘theirhouse,’ andafterworkingsocloselywiththem,we genuinelyfeeltheirdisappointmentwhen they’re pippedtothepost.
Mybestadviceforanyonehopingto move?
Getallyourducksin a row early Speakto
yourmortgageadviser, appointyoursolicitor atthesametimeasyouragent – thiswill paydividendslater Ifyouneedtoselltobuy, get a valuationonyourcurrenthomeandbe preparedtolistit.Havingyourhomeonthe market,preferablywithanofferplacedor saleagreed,willputyouin a muchstronger positionthanthosewhohaven’t yettakenthat step.
Whatare thechallengesfacingyoursector andtheeconomy?
Thebiggestchallengerightnowisthelack ofnewstock.Demandforqualityhomesin boththesalesand rentalmarkets remains exceptionallyhigh,drivinguppricesand puttingpressure onbuyers.That’s whyit’s crucialtospeakwith a mortgageadvisorbefore biddingonyourdreamhome.
Lookingahead,theupcomingchangesto StampDutyinApril2025willhave a signifcant impactonthepropertymarket,potentially reducingaffordabilityformanybuyersand affectingtheirabilitytomove. ■
HannahMaryKennedy HMKProperty
Motoring ByPatBurns
SevenseaterSorento getsanupdate TheSorentoisaconsistentlypopular modelforKiahereandhashelped totransformperceptionsofthe brandin recentyears.
Thecurrentfourth-generationmodel hasjustbeengivenamajorupdate,witha refreshedexteriorandinteriordesign,andan expandedspecificationline-up.
TheupdatedSorentotakesdesign inspirationfromthebrand’sall-newflagship SUV,theEV9.Thisincludesnewvertical headlightsand‘starmap’daytimerunning lights,with redesignedalloywheelsanda newbonnetdesigntofurtheremphasisethe Sorento’sruggedappearance.
Inside,theSorentoisnewlyalignedwith Kia’slatestSUVmodels,fullyembracingKia’s ‘OppositesUnited’designphilosophy.Thenew Sorento remainsoneofthebest-equipped modelsinitssegment,benefittingfromseveral newpremiumfeatures,dualcurved12.3-inch displays,ambientlighting,andfingerprint recognitionandacustomisablehead-up displayon‘4’grademodels.
TheSorento’sinnovativeinterior packagingmeansitcanofferallthiswhile accommodatingKia’s‘Smartstream’diesel, hybridandplug-inhybridpowertrain,making itoneofthefewmodelsofferedasadiesel, HEVandPHEV.
TheSorentoalso retainsitspredecessors’ characterasatrueSUV,capableinalldriving
conditionsandidealasalong-distancefamily cruiser. Tunedtofindahappybalancebetween performanceandcomfort,theSorentooffers oneofthemostengagingdrivingexperiences initssegment,whilealsoofferinghugecargo capacitywhenneeded.
ThenewSorentoisequippedwithKia’s ‘TerrainMode’system.ThisprovidesSorento driverswithimprovedtraction,stability andcontrolonmud,snowandsand,with dedicateddrivingmodesforeach.Thesystem makestheall-wheeldriveSUVhighlycapable inarangeoflow-grip,low-tractiondriving conditions.
Ontheplug-inhybridmodel,placingthe 13.8kWhbatterylowdowninthecentre ofthebody,betweenthetwoaxles,keeps thecentreofgravitylowandaidsweight distribution.Locatingthemassofthebattery closertothecentreofthevehiclecontributes totheSorento’sbalanceddynamiccharacter, on-andoff-road,andenhanceshandling agility.
TheSorentohybridispoweredbyKia’s ‘Smartstream’electrifiedpowertrain,pairing a1.6-litreturbochargedpetroldirectinjection (T-GDi)witha1.49kWhlithium-ionpolymer batterypack. Withthebatterylocatedunder thefrontseat,theelectrifiedpowertrainhas minimalimpactoncabinandcargospace.
Theelectrifiedpowertraincombineslower CO2emissionswithstrongperformance,
producingpeakpoweroutputof212bhp andpeaktorqueof367Nm.Theengine featuresKia’sContinuously Variable Valve Duration(CVVD)technologytoboost performanceatlow-to-midengineranges andenhancesfuelefficiency.Powerissent throughasix-speedautomatictransmission throughatransmission-mountedelectrical device, resultinginimmediacyinacceleration responseatanyspeed,withdirectaccessto batterypowerathigherspeeds.
TheSorentoPHEVisthemostpowerful andlowestemittingmodelintheSorento line-up,thankstoitsplug-inpowertrain andzero-emissionselectricdrivingrange. Featuringthesame1.6-litre T-GDiengineas the regularHEVmodel,thelargerbattery packandelectricmotorgivetheSorento PHEVa36bhpboostinpeakpower.The engineandmotorarepairedwithahighcapacity13.8kWhlithium-ionpolymer battery.
TheSorentoisalsoavailablewithKia’s 2.2-litre‘Smartstream’dieselengine, featuringanaluminiumblockforlightness. The190bhp,440Nmengineispairedwithan eight-speeddual-clutchtransmission(8DCT). Designedtoofferthesmoothshifting characteristicsofaconventionalautomatic, the8DCTenhancesfuelefficiencyovera conventionaleight-speedautomatic.Prices fortheSorentorangestartfrom£41,995. ■
TPowerandcharging boostsforiXrange heBMWiXwasintroducedin2021 asthemanufacturer’sfirstpurposebuiltallelectricsportsactivity vehicle.
Thisnewmodelfor2025buildsonits successwith a refreshedsportierdesign, increasedsystempoweroutputand a significantboostinrange – nowofferingupto 426miles(WLTP)on a singlecharge.
Newmodeldesignations reflectthenew BMWiX’s increasedperformance,available astheiXxDrive45;xDrive60 M Sportandthe range-toppingM70xDrive
Thanksto redevelopedelectronics, advancementsinbatterytechnologyandnew measurestoimproveoverallefficiency, power consumptioninthestatutoryWLTPtestcycle hasbeenimprovedbymore thaneightper cent.InthenewiXxDrive60(whichsucceeds thexDrive50)thiscorrespondstoaround34 milesofadditionalrange.
A redesigncontributestowards a bolder exteriorpresencewhichcontinuesinsidethe cabin.Themostsignificantchangescome withanenhanced M Sporttrim,which
bringssculptedfrontand rearaprons,new aerodynamicallyoptimised21and22-inch M light-alloywheels,amongotherexclusive designfeatures.
Throughadvancementsinbatterycell technology, netenergystoragecapacityis significantlyimprovedacrosstherange.The xDrive45 receivesthemostsubstantialuplift withanincreaseofaround30%to94.8kWh. NetenergycontentinthexDrive60risesto 109.1kWh,whiletheM70xDriveprovides 108.9kWhofusablecapacity
Inaddition,newinvertertechnologyfor theelectronicsacrossallmodelsenhances theenergyefficiencyofthedrivesystem.This ensures a highlyefficienttransferofenergy fromthehigh-voltagebatterytotheelectric motor Theseimprovements,incombination with a largerbatteryforthexDrive45and otherefficiency-enhancingmeasuresacrossall models, resultsin a rangeincreaseofupto40 percent,dependingonthemodel.
With a WLTPrangeofupto426miles,the newxDrive60 M Sportsets a benchmarkinits class,whilethexDrive45cantravelupto374
mileson a singlecharge,andupto366miles isachievableintheM70xDrive.Inaddition,by activatingtheMaxRangefunction,driverscan boosttheirvehicle’s remainingrangebyupto 25%beforea chargestop.
Withanelectricmotoronboththefrontand rearaxle,allmodelsare nowall-wheeldrive.
ThexDrive45has a poweroutputof408hp – an82hpincreaseoverthexDrive40 – shaving 1.0secondoff the0-62mphsprint,whichnow takes5.1seconds.Thetotaloutputforthe xDrive60risesby21hpto544hp,enabling a 0-62mphaccelerationof4.6seconds.Both modelshaveanelectronicallylimitedtopspeed of124mph.
TheM70xDriveoffersanevenmore thrilling drivingexperiencewherea systemoutputof 659hpcanbeunleashedinSportmode. A maximumtorqueof1,100Nmisavailable whenLaunchControlisactivated.Itaccelerates from 0 to62mphin3.8secondsandcan reach a topspeedof155mph.
Firstcustomerdeliverieswillarrivehere from May2025.ThenewBMWiXispricedfrom £74,400. ■
NewSwiftisautomaticchoice Salesofautomaticcarsare ontherise here withmanyyoungdriversnow applyingforan‘automaticonly’ licence.
Giventhedeclineinnewcarswithmanual gearboxesaswellasthefactthatallelectric vehiclesare automaticit’s easytoseewhynew driversare sokeenonautos.
Suzukiisaheadofthegamehere withtheir newSwift.Launchedlastyear, theawardwinningSwiftHybridhasnowaddedan automaticgearboxtothenewrange.There are notmanysmallautomaticcarsonthemarket soit’s onto a winnerhere with a carthat’s funtodriveandisveryeconomicaltoo.The newSwiftlooksbothsportyandstylishwith a youthfulexuberancethatappealstodriversof allages.
Suzuki’s CVTautomatictransmissionis availableonbothMotionandUltragrades andiscombinedwiththenew1.2-litre threecylindermildhybridpowertrain.The CVTsystemcanvarytheactualgearratio continuouslyfromlow-speedtohigh-speed rangedependingonthedrivingconditions. OntheUltramodel,gearscanalsobeselected manuallyupordownviasteeringcolumn
mountedpaddles.
CVTmodels remainextremelyeffcient withfuelconsumptionof60.1mpgandCO2 emissionsofjust108g/km.Thenewandhighly effcientthree-cylinderpetrolenginewith multi-pointfuelinjectionhasbeendeveloped forthenewSwiftwhichoffersenhancedfuel economy, improvedtorqueandevenlower CO2emissionsthanbefore.Themaximum poweroutputis82PSwith a slightlyhigher torquefgure of112Nmatjust4,500rpm, accelerationtimeto62mphis11.9secondsfor theCVT
Fueleffciencyisfurtherenhancedwhen pairedwiththeself-charginghybridsystem poweredby a lithium-ionbatterywithcapacity of10Ahtoimproveenergy recoveryeffciency Fittedasstandard equipmentforthenew Swift,the12Vmildhybridsystemis a compact andlightweightunitthatincorporatesan integratedstartergenerator(knownasISG) whichactsasboth a generatorandstarter motor, theISGisbeltdrivenandassiststhe engineduringvehicletakeoff andacceleration andalsogenerateselectricitythrough regenerativebraking.TheISGunithas a power outputof2.3kWwith a torquefgure of60Nm.
Insituationsthat require higherfueluse, suchaswhenstartingfrom a standstill oraccelerating,thehybridsystemhelps suppressfuelconsumptionbyproviding electricmotorassistusingelectricity generatedthrough regenerativebraking. BecausetheISGuses a beltdriveratherthan a conventionalstartermotorto restartthe engineafteranautomaticenginestopit allowsfor a quietandsmoothstart.
Standard equipmentforMotiongrade isverycomprehensiveandincludesheated frontseats,16-inchalloywheels,LED headlamps,navigation, rearviewcamera, rearparkingsensors,adaptivecruisecontrol, wirelesssmartphonelinkdisplayaudio, keylessentryandstart,drivermonitoring system,dualsensorbrakesupport,lane departure warningandweavingalert, rear crosstraffcalert,blindspotmonitorand enhancedtraffcsign recognition.Pricesstart at£19,199.
Ultragradeadds16-inchpolished alloywheels,automaticairconditioning, rearpassengerheateroutletandelectric foldingdoormirrorsincorporatingsideturn indicators. ■
EVsalesrisingbutremain behindgovernmenttargets ByJohnMulgrew
Electriccarsalescontinuetorise acrosstheUK – withoneinevery fvecarssold,freshfguresshow
However, at21.3%ofthemarket,sales remainbehindlastyear’s governmenttargetof 22%andconsiderablyshortofthisyear’s 2025 numberof28%.
Electriccarsaleswere up41.6%year-onyear
ButsalesofEVshere remainlowerthanthe UKas a whole.
Overall,thenewcarmarketintheUKfellby 2.5%inJanuary, accordingtotheSocietyof MotorManufacturersand Traders(SMMT).
InNorthern Ireland,salesfellfurtherstill –droppingbymore than6%.
TheKiaSportagewasthetopsellingcar here,with162vehiclesshifted.
ThatwasfollowedbythePeugeot3008, with140units,andtheNissanQashqaiwith 137vehicles.
TheSMMTsaidthefallinthenew
carmarketcameamid“weakconsumer confdenceandtougheconomicconditions combinedtodeliverthefourthconsecutive monthofdecline”.
There remainindustrycallsfor a halttoEV taxhikesaslatestoutlookanticipates23.7% marketshare for2025 – belowgovernment targets.
“January’s fguresshowEVdemandis growing – butnotfastenoughtodeliveron currentambitions,”MikeHawes,SMMTchief executive,said.
“Affordability remains a majorbarrier touptake,hencetheneedforcompelling measurestoboostdemand,andnotjustfrom manufacturers.Theapplication,therefore,of the‘ExpensiveCarSupplement’toVEDon electricvehiclesisthewrongmeasure atthe wrongtime.RatherthanpenalisingEVbuyers, weshouldbetakingeverysteptoencourage more driverstomaketheswitch,helpingmeet government,industryandsocietalclimate changegoals.”
ItsaystheExpensiveCarSupplement(ECS)
– dubbedthe‘luxurycartax’whenlaunched – has remainedunchangedat£40,000since itwasseteightyearsago,whentheoverall marketwas30%largerthantodayandbattery electricvehicles(BEV)barelyfeatured.
“Withmore thantwiceasmanyBEVs registeredthisJanuarythaninthewhole of2017,raisingtheeligibilitythresholdfor EVs – orexemptingthemfromtheECS entirely – wouldsendthemessagethatEVs are essentials,notluxuries,andensure vehicle taxation remainsfairandappropriatefor today’s marketconditions,”theSMMTsaid.
“Despitetheincreaseinthemonth,BEV marketshare still remainsshortofthe22% targetsetbygovernmentforlastyear, andeven furtherbehindthe28% requirementfor2025.
“Thisgapbetweendemandandambitionis whythe reviewofthe VehicleEmissions Trading Schemeanditsfexibilitiesisessentialandmust delivermeaningfulchangesurgently, elsethere willlikelybesignifcantnegativeconsequences forthemarket,industryand,potentially, the consumer.” ■
APPOIN TM EN TS StevenDugganisnowapartneratlaw frmA&LGoodbody.MrDugganjoinedthe frm’sBelfastcorporateandM&Ateamas apartnerinNovember,havingspentthe pastfouryearswithaninternationalfrm inDublin.
CatherineIrvineisnowapartneratlaw frmA&LGoodbody.Havingjoinedthe frmasatraineein2012,CatherineIrvine advisesawiderangeofclientsacrossa varietyofbusinessandindustrysectorson corporatetransactions.
MulrineshasappointedPaddyMurneyas chiefcommercialoffcerasthecompany seekstogrowitscommercialsalesand deliversustainablebusinessgrowth.
OrlaMcGivernhasbeenappointedasPR accountexecutiveatElevator.Sheworks acrossanumberofconsumeraccountsand sheputsherknowledgeofsocialmediato gooduseinidentifyingcreativeinfuencer partnerships.
ErinMurphyhasbeenpromotedtothe positionofsenioraccountexecutive atElevator.Sheoverseessocialmedia managementforclientsacrossvarious platforms,includingcontentcreation, scheduling,andpaidadcampaigns.
HNHhasappointedPeterWillisas associatedirectorwithinthedealadvisory department.Hewillspecialiseindelivering fnancialduediligenceandothersupport servicesforclientsinacrosstheUKand Ireland.
MartinGillespieisthenewdirectorof assetmanagementatRadiusHousing. Withover25yearsofexperienceinthe facilitiesmanagementsector,MrGillespie hasheldseniorandoperationalboard rolesinmulti-nationalorganisations.
MichaelMcCroryhasbeenappointedas directoratElevator,bringingnearly30 yearsofexperiencetotherole.Inthis role,hewilloverseethedeliveryofa comprehensiverangeofPRservicesfor clients.
Nicola Averellhasbeenappointedas anassociatedirectorinthetaxteamat SumerNorthernIreland.Shehas14years’ experienceworkingina‘BigFour’frm whereshewasanintegralpartofthe privateclienttaxteam.
1. TheLadiesGaelicFootball Associationhasannounced DFIBedsastheassociation’s frstOffcialSleeppartner. PicturedareHelenO’Rourke, MarionHayden,Róisín Ambrose,BrianMcCann, ÁineMcCann,andCharlene Tyrell.
2. NeighbourhoodCaféhas reopenedinnew,largerpremises onDonegalStreet,following asignifcantinvestmentby itsowners,supportedbythe InvestmentFundforNorthern Ireland(IFNI),managedby WhiterockCapitalPartners.
3. ChefsLaurenShimminfrom The Tailor’sHouseBallygawley andMark WilsonfromFrielsBar andRestaurantSwatraghhelp launchthisyear’s TasteMidUlster Restaurant Week.
4. Countingdowntothe2025 BalmoralShowinpartnership withUlsterBankisRhondaGeary, groupoperationsdirector,RUAS, withCormacMcKervey,senior agriculturalmanager,UlsterBank.
5. LibertyIThaslaunchedits annual recruitmentdriveand isseekingfvenewapprentice softwareengineers.Robyn Lakesispicturedwithapprentice softwareengineersAndrew SkillingandBreaDonachy.
6. TheNorthernIrelandSocial CareCouncilhasshowcased anewandinvaluabledigital learning resourceseries aimedatsupportingchildren andyoungpeopletothrive.
7. Catalysthasannouncedthe appointmentofoneofNorthern Ireland’sbest-knownscience andtechnologyleaders,DrRob Grundy,asitsnewdirectorof innovationpartnerships.
8. HaganHomeshasstarted workonits£18mSpringwater DevelopmentinBallyclare. PicturedareKateDempsey, architecturalconsultantand AndreaSinclair,planner,Hagan Homes.
9. Thepublichashaditschance tocontributeideasforthenew BelfastStoriesproject,whichwill seetheformerBankofIreland buildingdevelopedasanew visitorattraction.Picturedare LisannePol, WendyLangham, LordMayorofBelfastMicky Murray,andAidanMullholland.
10. StephenDonnelly,Arthur Mallon’scommercialdirector,is joinedbyRachelReid,headcoach ofTheLaganDragonsandwinner oftheBBCSportNI’sUnsung Heroaward.
11. Anewinteractiveonline learningtool,Classroom RevivR,hasbeenlaunched byBritishHeartFoundation NorthernIreland(BHFNI). PicturedareCatherine McGourtywithpupilsPhoebe Deazleyand TorinDeeney andFearghalMcKinneyof BHFNI.
12. LawrenceBannon,Black SheepCoffee-Ireland,Michael Stewart,LordMayorofBelfast MickyMurrayandArthur Schumann,BlackSheepCoffee,at thelaunchofitsfrstcafeherein Belfastcitycentre.
13. TheFederationofSmall Businesses(FSB)hasappointed RachelMcCorristonasthenew headofpolicyforNorthern Ireland.SheispicturedwithRoger Pollen,headofFSBNI.
14. BGFisontrackto reach £100mofinvestmentintothe NorthernIrishmarketin2025. PicturedareMattJonesandChris Nixon,BGFBelfast.
15. Magherafelt-based constructioncompanyHenry Brothershasannouncedthe renewalofitssponsorshipof RaineyHockeyClubforthenext threeseasons.
16. Belfastcitycentreis celebratingthe renewalofits PurpleFlagstatusfortheffth yearina row. Picturedare MartinaConnolly,Michael Stewart,DamienCorr,and ChrisMcCracken.
17. StephenMilfordfromNisa ShankillispicturedwithEurospar ShankillRoadstoremanager, Jenna.TheformerNisaPostOffce hasmovedtothestoreafterbeing acquiredbyHendersonRetail.
18. FionaBrownfromBelfastis picturedwithherdaughterElleas shelauncheshernewonline retail venture,VOCÊ,whichoffersa collectionofnon-slipsiliconegrip socksforPilates,yogaandBarre.
19. Maxfow,aNorthernIrelandbasedmanufacturerofindustrial pressurewashersandpower products,hassecuredafnance packageissuedbyUlsterBankand guaranteedbyUKExportFinance (UKEF).Picturedare RyanWylie andLeonaMcNicholl.
20. MournePark,issetto reopen followingdamagefromStorms DarraghandÉowyn,witha signifcantfnancialwindfallfrom TheNationalLotteryHeritage Fund.PicturedareDrPaulMullan withDaveScott.
21. EconomyMinisterDr CaoimheArchibald(centre) haslaunchedtheNorthern IrelandSkillsBarometer 2023-2033.Sheispictured withKathleenO’Hare, MarkMagill,ProfessorPaul Bartholomew,andSuzanne Wylie.
22. Picturedatthelaunch ofMaxolFortwilliamService StationareMaxolFortwilliam licensee,MarkNelson,Sarah Halliday,HendersonGroup,Brian Donaldson,chiefexecutive,The MaxolGroupandKevinPaterson, retailmanagerNI,TheMaxol Group.
23. Ateamofover20business leadersfromacrossIreland, UKandtheUS,havelaunched their26Mountains2Mayo challengeinaidofCancerFund forChildren.PicturedarePhil Alexander,RogerJohnstonand GraemeNeill.
24. NineSquaredBelfasthas openedatthePrintworksbuilding followinga£300,000investment andthecreationof10newjobs. PicturedareownersNeilColeand SeanMcDonnell.
25. GaelscoilnaDaróigePrimary Schoolhaswontheinaugural BrennansBreadsustainability competition,DoughIt Yourself –TheGreatBreadChallenge,an initiativeforKeyStage2children.
26. VisitBelfasthasunveiled itsnewfoodanddrink brandposition,designedto enhancethecity’svibrant gastronomictourism.Pictured areAnneMcMullan,Glenn Stewart,LordMayorof BelfastMickyMurray,and AndrewDougan.
27. HMKProperty,an independentestateagency ineastBelfast,marksitsffth anniversary.PicturedareHannah MaryKennedy,founderof HMKPropertyalongside Lynn Stevenson,estateagent.
28. AirAmbulanceNorthern Irelandisproudtohavebeen re-accreditedtheprestigious Investingin Volunteers accreditation,theUKquality standardforvolunteers.
29. M&Sand YoungMindslaunch acompetitionforyoungpeople tocreateawinningdesignfor thisyear’sM&Sand YoungMinds Hello Yellowkidswearcollection. PicturedareHarryandEsme Towers,alongside RyanLemon.
30. CompareNI.comFintech ScholarshipwinnerBronagh Cassidy,aneconomicsstudent fromUlsterUniversity,asthe searchforthisyear’sscholarship candidatebegins.
31. MidSouth WestRegion GovernanceSteeringGroup chair,KevinSavage,Ben Craig,CarbonFit,andAbigail McConville,executivedirector atSimplyfruit,launching theSMEBigBreakfast Briefng,whichishappening attheGlenavonHotelin CookstownonMarch6.
32. Mary Waide,SVP regional president,andAnneMcLarnon, SVPNorthernRegion retail committeechair,launch Vincent’s SharetheLovecampaign.
33. The Tasteof TourismSummit, organisedbytheNorthernIreland HotelsFederation(NIHF), returns totheCullodenEstateandSpaon March10-11.PicturedarePamela BallantinewithMarkBegley, CullodenEstateandSpa.
34. SarahBurnsofDundonald PrimarySchoolandNursery UnitacceptstheEastside Award forExcellenceinHealthand WellbeingfromEmmaMcConkey ofsponsorPhoenixEnergyand TaraMillsattheEastside Awards 2024,inassociationwithBelfast CityAirport.
35. LewisSilkinBelfasthas appointedtwonewstaffamid itslatestexpansion.Picturedare Emma Wightman,MeganKerr, MathewForde,KerryNeelyand MathildaArnett.
36. ActiveHealthisproud toannouncethesuccessful handoverofa£2,098 donationtoAlzheimer’s Society,raisedthroughtheir festivefundraisingefforts duringDecember.Pictured areJenayMcCartanfrom Alzheimer’sSocietyNI,Rachel SaligariandSusanMorrison fromActiveHealth.
37. DanskeBankislookingfor17 newapprenticestojoinitshigher levelapprenticeshipprogramme, DanskeFutures.PicturedareMark Clements,AdilHanif,Jonathan Copeland,BeccaMillar,SianBlair andJessSilcock.
38. PhoenixEnergyhaslaunched itssponsorshipofpopularradio show‘U105Drive’withJohnny Hero(right),whichairson weekdaysbetween4pmand 8pm.He’spicturedwithEmma KernohanfromPhoenixEnergy.
39. TheCullodenEstateand Spa,GrandCentralHoteland EuropaHotelhaveeachpicked upaMerit AwardattheCIE ToursInternational Awardsof Excellence,whichtookplacein Dublin.
40. O’ReillyStewartSolicitors hasannouncedtheappointment ofStuartGilmoreasitsnew managingdirectoranda signifcantnewadditiontoits healthcaredepartmentwith the recruitmentofAine Tyrrell asapartner.Theyarepictured withPatrickMullarkey,headof healthcare.
Breitling hoping to answer Ireland’s call with new Chronomat range Breitlinghaslonghadtiestosport,includingitsrelationshipwiththeSixNation Rugbychampionship.It’snowunveiledanewlimitedrange,availableatits boutiqueatQueen’sArcadeinBelfast,foreachoftheteamsinvolved
Sportandhorologyhavearguably oneofthestrongestpartnerships andbusinessbonds.
Rolexlonghadits relationshipwithFormula 1–althoughithas relinquishedthatin 2025–alongwithitsPGA role, TagHeueris synonymouswithmotorsports,aswellastie-
inswithothersportingevents,whileOmega hasservedastheOffcial Timekeeperofthe OlympicGamessince1932.
Breitlingalsohashadsimilar relationship, nonemoresothanwithitslong-term partnershipwiththeSixNationsRugby,and remainsitsoffcialtimingpartner.
Andforthistournament,it’sunveileda seriesofwatchesinitsChronomatline–two modelsforeachofthesixEuropeansides competingforvictory,limitedto150piecesfor eachpieceintherange.
Now,atthetimeofwritingthis–orwhen youare readingit–we’llhopethattheboys
Breitling’srangeofnew
FACTFILE
MODEL:BreitlingChronomat
GMT40mm
MOVEMENT:Breitling32
CASESIZE:40mm
MATERIAL:Stainlesssteel
PRICE:£4,950
ingreenhavemanagedtoliftthetrophyonce again.Here’shoping.
EachsharesacommonDNAandlook,but, asidefromtheobviousdialcolourdifferences, therearelittlenuancesandtoucheswhichset eachapart.
There’sa40mmoptionandasmaller32mm onoffer,bothwithstainlesssteelcasesand bracelets.Theformer,inparticular,isaclever choice.It’sthatperfectsizewhichrarelylooks tooheftyonmost,butwillhaveenoughwrist presencetokeepeventhosewithchunkier dimensionshappy.
TheChronomatisawatchbathedina combinationofpolishingandbrushing.There’s agleamingpolisheduni-directionaldivebezel withfourraisedmarkersatthe3,6,9and12 positions,withanonion-shapedridgedcrown.
Thebraceletfollowsthesamespecasthe standardrange–abullet-styleofferingwith twolittlepointsofpolishing,butotherwise brushed.
Itsitsverycomfortablyonthewrist,thanks tothelugswhichcomeinatjustover47mm. Thelugsare20mmwhichoffersyouplentyof rangeifyou’reastrapfend,andcomesinata relativelythin11.8mmincasedepth.
Forthesemodels,however,it’sallabout thedials.Whetherit’sthedeep,richblueof Scotland,thesubtlewhite/silverfnishofthe Englandvariant,ortheverdantpopofthe Irelandoption,eachhasitsownmerits.
Asforthedialfnish,astandardsunburstor
There’sa gleaming polisheduni-directional dive bezel with four raisedmarkers at the 3,6,9 and 12 positions, with anonion-shaped ridgedcrown
texturedoptionisout.Instead,therearesubtle thicklines,variationsinthewayitplayswith thelight,evokingthepitchesonwhichthe gamesareplayed.
It’salittletouchofseparationfromthe brand’sstandardmodels,butnotenoughto putanyoneoffoptingforoneiftheyhavelittle interestinthesportitself.
Thehandsaresharpandpolishedsilverfor hours,minutesandseconds,whiletheGMT handcomesindifferinghues,dependingon themodel.
InsidebeatsaBreitling32inthe40mm variety,anautomaticmovementbasedoffan ETA2893-2,whilethesmallermodeloptsfora Breitling77,whichisaquartzmovement.
The40mmvariantisabalancedand attractivepiece,wearableinmostscenarios. Thegreen referenceislikelytobethemost popular,notonlygiventhatit’sIreland’s,but alsobecausethecolour remainsparticularlyen vogueamongthewatchcommunity. ■
Breitling’sIreland Rugby-inspiredwatch
Getting hotand coldin the Alps Serene Austrianwellnessgetawaydoes notdisappoint MadeleineKeane who notestheusualsaunarulesapply
Asaddictionsgo,itisn’ttheworst. Thelatesttoaddtomylonglistis, inanewdepartureforme,avery healthyone.Ihavefallenforsaunas.
They’remuchvaluedinmanyculturesand intandemwithour recentsea-swimming craze,havebecomeaboomingbusinessin Ireland.So,forthishotpodfan,itwasajoyto experienceatraditionalLaplandversionona recenttriptoAustria.
MysisterandIwerestayinginPriesteregg, afamily-owned retreatinthemountainsof Leogang,inZellamSee.Ourjourneyhad takenus,viaFrankfurt,toSalzburg,where wecollectedour rentalcar.Drivingthrough verdant,velvetvalleysdottedwithplumpcows feltlikelivinginanadforachocolatebarand eventhedirectionstoourdestination(such aspecialsecretsatnavwon’tfndit)evoked this regionofwesternAustria’squaintcharm: “Turnrightatthebakery.”
Thealmostabsurdlevelsofpicturesque continuedwhenwearrivedatavertiginous hillsidepunctuatedwith16chalets,each onefrontedwithawindowboxofscarlet geraniums,woodendeckchairsdrapedwith sheepskinrugs,aplethoraofcandlesandalog fre readytolight.Charmingdoesn’tcoverit.
Smilinggirlsinforaldirndldresseshanded usglassesof roséfrizzantetosmooththe check-inprocessandthenitwasstraightinto ourwellnessprogramme.
LivingsouthoftheArcticCircle,inSwedish Lapland,HenryandPiaHuuvaaresauna buildersandhostinga retreathere.Fullof energyandjoiedevivreintheir70s,theyare proofpositiveofthemanybeneftsofsweating
awaythetoxinsandstressesofmodernlife.
Mydaughter,anothersweltershelter enthusiast,hadfaggeditwouldprobablybe anakedaffair,andshewasright.Theladiesin our16-stronggroupmaintainedtheirmodesty withtowelsbutamongthemalestherewas notonlyfullnuditybutsomemanspreading–asunnecessaryasitwasunappealing.
Still,thiswasasuperbexperience.Asmoke sauna,itgotveryhotandaromatic.After every15-minuteblockofintenseheat,Henry encouragedusoutintothecrispmountain airtoanicywaterfallshowerandshotsof lingonberryandchickenliverpateoncrackers to replenishoursalt,sugarandmoisturelevels.
Anexhilaratingevent,theeffectslingered longafterandIsleptbrilliantlyformany subsequentnights.
ItwouldbehardtobeatthePriesteregg breakfastshowwhichisservedinyourchalet. Youawaketothesoundsofhushedeffciency andwhenyouemergefromyourbedroom, it’sallthere.Thecandlesarelit,thecoffee steaming,andthetableissetwithplattersof ham,cheeses,fruit,yoghurtsandavarietyof freshlybakedbreadsandpastries.It’sthebest ofallbreakfastworldsbecauseyoudon’teven havetogetdressedforit.Allyouneedtodois cooktheeggsandbacon.
Afteracoupleofdaysswimming,hikingand yoga,itwastimeforachangeofaddress,so weheadedtoSaalbach-Hinterglemm,some 30kmaway.Awintersportswonderland,this areawithits270-kilometreskicircusofslopesis verypopularwithIrishvisitors.
Inadifferentmoodentirelyfromourearlier lodgings,thehotel Wiesergut,whichwasbuilt
12yearsagoonthegroundofa14thcentury manorhouse,wasveryArchitecturalDigest. Ourvastbedroomwhisperedurbanchic–all doubleheightceilingsandanelegantblendof naturalfabrics(wood,stoneandlinen),with Aesoptoiletriesand,delightofdelights,a Dysonhairdryer.
Asweweredeepinskiterritory,therewas afreinthebedroom,ahottubontheterrace facingthepiste,anditwasashortstrolltothe Zwolferkogelcablecar.
Mid-Octoberitwasquietandanunseasonal 20C,sowesunbathedand readbythepool. Thehotelwasabouttoclosecompletely forthemonthofNovember,aheadofthe hecticskiseason.Thecomingonepromises tobeevenbusierwiththeAlpineSki World ChampionshipstakingplaceonFebruary 4-16.Agiantspectators’standwasunder
constructionbesidethe Wiesergutwhilewe werethere,sothiswillbeanidealplaceto stay.
Forourlastsupperwewentfull-on Austrianmodeandundidofallthebenefts ofourexerciseandsaunasbyfeastingon crunchywienerschnitzelandfries,followed byKaiserschmarrn–bestdescribedasasort offuffypancaketornintobite-sizedpieces servedwithapplesauceandplumcompote –accompaniedwithadivineGruner Veltliner, thepopularlocalwhitewine.Thefoodhere issuppliedbytheirfarmandisuniformly excellent:aspecialnoteofpraisefortheala cartebreakfastwhichseemstohaveabout10 courses.
AndsofnallytoSalzburg.Mentionitsname toanyonewhohasvisited,andawistfulsmile crossestheirface.Myfather remembersbeing
thereasastudentintheearly1950swhenit wasintheAmericanZoneandoccupiedbythe Allies.SituatedontheborderofGermany,it hasfneviewsoftheEasternAlps.
TheSalzachriverslicesthroughthecity whichisdominatedbyFestungHohensalzburg, theimposing900-yearoldclifftopfortress. Asweonlyhadafewhourstoscopeout Salzburg,weheadedtotheleftbankandthe pedestrianisedAldstadt.Thisbeautifulbaroque quarterofcourtyardsandchurcheswas designateda WorldCulturalHeritageSiteby Unescoin1996.
Ourfrstportofcallwasthecity’snumber oneattraction:Mozart’sGeburtshaus.Itwas disappointingtoseeaSpartackedonto thegroundfoor,butthemuseumitselfhas beenmeticulouslymaintainedanditwasvery movingtowalkthroughthesesmall,lovingly
curated roomsandimaginetheyounggenius livingandworkinginthem.Bornin1756, WolfgangAmadeusspentthefrst17yearsof hislifehere.
Oneportraitofthefamedcomposer, dressedinamagnifcentcostumegivento himbyagratefularchdukeafteraconcerthe performed,caughtmyeye.Ipeeredatthedate onthepainting:theboywonderwaseightat thetime.
Mytravellingcompanionisabotanist,so naturallyshewasdrawntoMirabellgarten;the exquisitefowergardenswheretheDo-Re-Mi scenefromTheSoundofMusicwasflmed.
Coffeeandcakeareanationalpastimein thiscountry–Austriaisfamousforitscoffee houses–soinCaféKonditorei,overlattesand slicedofSachertorteweplannedournextvisit tothisgorgeousplace. ■
Takinginsomeoftheviews atPriesteregginAustria
Itmakessensetoprepare homeback-upsystems forwhenthenextbig stormrollsin,writes
Adrian Weckler
The recentstormshaveleft hundredsofthousandsofhomes withoutpower,withmanyoutof connectivityforsignifcanttimeafterthe weather.
Suchstorms,we’retold,willonlybecome morecommon.
Whatifyouhadyourownhomegenerator? Somethingyoucouldfreupandwouldpower yourfridge,wif,somelightsandmaybeeven aheater?
Orhowaboutasolarbattery?Agas superser?Orevenawind-upchargerorFM radio?
Here’salistofemergencystorm-prooftech thatcouldhelpexposedhomesout.
1HOMEGENERATORS Homegeneratorscomeineitherportableor largerstationaryformatsandcostfromaround £420uptoabout£2,500fornormaldomestic usage,dependingonwhatyouneedthemfor andhowmuchtheiroutputwillbe.Mostare poweredbyeitherdieselorpetrol.
Smallerportablemodelscanbeusedto operatethingslikekettles,smallstoverings, wi-f routers,fridges,lightsandtellies–althoughmaybenotallatthesametime.
Largerones,especiallywhenintegratedinto yourhome’sfuseboardbyanelectrician,can powermuchofthe restofthehouse.
Youcanbuytheminbuildingproviders’ outlets,withsmalleronessometimesavailable inlargehardwarechains.
PopularbrandsincludeHondaandHyundai, althoughthereareahalf-dozenothermarques commonlysold.
They’renotespeciallycomplicatedtouse,
From generators to chargers and solarbatteries: how to survive a blackout butneedsomegettingusedto.
Manyoperateusinganinitialcord-pull, whilesomehaveanelectricstartingbutton.
Becausetheyusepetrolanddieselmotors, theytendtobequitenoisyandareoperated outdoors,withthe requisitecablingintothe home.“Inverter”petrolmodelsareoften quieter.
Likemostmotors,theyneedtorunfairly regularly,typicallyonceamonth.Theyalso needsemi-regularmaintenanceandfuelcan’t belefttoolongintheunits,either,asitgets stagnantandhastobedrainedfromthe engine.
To powerasmallhome’sessentialneeds requiresaunitanywherebetween2,000 and6,000watts,accordingtoPeterFinn,a contributortothepopularTVprogramme
HomeRescueandalsoknownasPeteThe BuilderonInstagram.
However,smallercheapermodelsstartwith smalleroutputlevels. To integrateoneinto ahouse’sexistingelectricityset-upwillcost between£170and£420toanelectricianfor thejob.
2SOLARBATTERIES(PLUS PANELS) Analternativetoapetrolordiesel generatorisadomesticsolarset-upwithbackupbatteries.Thisis relativelyexpensive,even includingtheSEAIgrantsavailable.Atypically basichouseholdarraywillcostfromabout £4,000tosupplyandinstall.
Anaccompanyingbatterysystem(forwhen there’snosunlight,likeatnight)thenalso costsaround£3,300.Theadvantage,though,
Solarpanelsandbatteriesareoneform ofback-upifthepowergoesout
isthatthisisn’tjustablackoutsolution,but somethingthatwillpermanentlyloweryour electricitybillsallyear round.
Ingeneral,asolarbatteryshouldkeep yourhomepoweredforaboutadayofbasic householduse.They’reavailablethroughthe solarinstallationservicechosen.
3PORTABLEPOWERSTATION Ifyoujustwanttheabsolutebasicsoutside ofheating,suchassomelighting,awi-f router andaphonecharger,a retailportablepower stationcanbeuseful.
Itcontainsbetweenfveand10timesthe back-uppowerofa regularmobilepowerbank foratablet,phoneorlaptop.
OneexampleisEnergizer’s72000mAh portablepowerstation–£225fromDID
Electrical.Whilesuchdeviceskeeptheir batterychargesforalongtime,oftenyears, it’sworthtoppingthemupaboutonceevery sixmonthstobesure,particularlyheading intowintermonths.
4 SUPERSERGASHEATER Get readyforatripbacktoyournan’s houseinthe1970s.Astandalonegasheater canbeaveryusefulthinginanextended powerblackout.They’re relativelyaffordable, too,typicallycostingaround£125,orless, plusthecanisterofgasyou’llneed.Although they’reavailablefairlyeasilyinmany hardwareandhomeimprovementstores, theiroutage-erapopularitycanbeseenby thefactthatthey’resoldoutinmanyplaces atpresent.
5
HAND-CRANKCHARGER/RADIO/ LIGHT Whatifyoufndyourselfwithnopowerat allandyouforgottobuybatteriesforthe onlytorchyouhave?Hand-crankdevicescan providetemporary respitebygivingyouabit oflightorallowingyouchargeanotherdevice forafewminutesthroughfveto10minutes ofwindingthegadgetup.
Youcangettheminsomehardwareshops andonseveralonlinestores.Forexample, FosPower’s WindUpRadio,anAM/FMbattery radiowitha2000mAhpowerbank, reading lampandsolarradiobuiltin.
Aswellashavingahand-crankmechanism, italsotakesbatteriesandhasasmallsolar arrayincaseyouwanttobuilduppower reservesthatway. ■
TECH NOLO GY
my day 7.30am
Mydayalwaysbeginswithacupofcoffee.I don’teatbreakfastuntilIgetintoworkand usethistimetocheckoutwhat’shappening inthenews.Imightalsohavequicklookat myemailsandthelatesthotelsales reports, althoughItrynottountilIgetintowork.
8.30am
I reallyenjoythedrivetoworkwhenIthink abouttheday’sprioritieswhilstlisteningto musicorapodcast.Myworkingdayusually beginswithacatch-upwiththehotel’sgeneral manager,PaulaStuart,andthesalesand marketingteam.Iamveryfortunatetowork withsuchahardworkingandmotivatedgroup ofpeople. We willdiscusscurrentbookings, upcomingeventsandanypotentialchallenges. Communicationisvitalforunderstanding currentbusinessperformance,aswellasthe guestexperience,toensureweareexceeding customerand revenueexpectations.
10am
Themorningisoftenflledwithbrainstorming sessionsforupcomingmarketingcampaigns. We willtalkthroughthelatestinitiatives,from onlinepromotionstosocialmediaactivity andprintcollateral,ensuringthateverything refectsourbrand’scorevaluesandtarget markets.Iamalwaysexcitedaboutshowcasing thehotel’smoderndesign,citycentrelocation andviewsofthe TitanicQuarterwhichoffer auniqueexperienceforbothbusinessand leisuretravellers.
12pm
Iliketostepoutoftheoffceforlunchand oftengoforashortwalkwithacolleague alongtheMaritimeMile.Inevertireofthe viewsoftheBelfastskyline,anditclearsthe mindfortheafternoonaheadwhichisusually focusedonmeetingwithpotentialclientsor attendingnetworkingevents.Asdirectorof salesandmarketing,building relationshipsis
keytokeepingthehotel’sproflehighand creatingnewopportunities.Iwillmeetwith localcompanies,eventplanners,tourism andotherpartnerstodiscussexistingand newopportunities.It’sgreattoseethehotel beingconsideredforimportantcorporate hotelprogrammes,entertainmentgroupsand conferences,aswellasspecialevents.
3pm
The restoftheafternoonofteninvolves coordinatingwiththesalesteamtoconfrm largerpiecesofbusiness.Iam responsiblefor drivingthesalesandmarketingstrategyfor ourbedroomsandeventspaces,generating businessfromcorporateandothersectors. Whetherit’sa residentialconference, corporatemeeting,privatedinneroran incentivegroup,ourhotelcanprovidethe perfectvenue,togetherwiththehigh standardsyoucanexpectfromaglobalbrand likeMarriott.
6pm
Bythistime,Iamtypicallywrappingupmy daywithaquick reviewofthe‘todo’list, completingany remainingurgenttasksand prioritisingthenextday’sobjectives.Ialso haveaquickdebriefontheday’sperformance withour revenuemanager,FionaHamilton. We arealwayslookingforwaystomake improvementstoperformance,soitis importanttotalkaboutwhatisworkingand whatisn’t.
Afterabusyday,itisalsonicetotakea momentto refectonwhat’sbeenachieved. It’salwaysfulfllingtoseethehotel’ssuccess growthroughourcombinedteamefforts. Thenit’stimeforhome. ■
