Ambition November/December 2019 by Ulster Tatler

Magazine of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE 37 Â£2.95

ENERGISING ENGAGEMENT NIE NETWORKS ON BUILDING INTERNAL CONNECTIONS AND RAISING VITAL LIFE-SAVING FUNDS.

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November/December 2019 Issue 37

Contents NI CHAMBER COMMUNICATIONS PARTNER

Food for Thought Garvan Rice, Director of The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn talks to Emma Deighan.

Managing Editor: Christopher Morrow Features: Emma Deighan Publisher: Chris Sherry Advertising Managers: Lorraine Gill & Gerry Waddell Editorial Assistant: Kellie Burch & Joanne Harkness Email addresses: Christopher.Morrow@northernirelandchamber.com/ lorraine.gill@ulsterjournals.com / gerry.waddell@ulstertatler.com Websites: www.northernirelandchamber.com / www.ulstertatler.com Publisher: Ulster Tatler Group, 39 Boucher Road, Belfast, BT12 6UT Tel: 028 9066 3311 Printed by: W&G Baird, Antrim. Cover by: Andrew Vaughan

NI CHAMBER PATRONS

At a Glance News: 06 Ready For ‘Action’ Ahead of NI Chamber President’s Banquet 08 Smiley Monroe Announce New US Expansion 10 JComms Named NI’s Outstanding PR Consultancy 12 Bringing 5G to Belfast Harbour

68 76 80

Columnists: 16 David Clements 20 Laura Jackson 22 Andy Borthwick 24 Conor Coyle 26 Robert McCullough 100 Brendan Drain

Chamber Chief: 35 CEO Update 36 Chamber News 37 Annual Golf Day 38 Social Round Up 40 Annual Networking Conference 42 NI Chamber Office Opening 44 Quarterly Economic Survey 46 Firms Scoop NI Chamber Awards

Features: 14 Stairway to Seven 18 The Techy 10 28 My Ambition 54 Ulster Bank’s Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme 56 The Drive to Thrive 60 Getting the Job Done 64 Education That Makes Perfect Business Sense

Powering The Future Cracking the Talent Shortage Business Education – Why Engage?

Appointments: 86 Stand Out From The Crowd

Lifestyle: 91 Business Class Motoring James Stinson 102 Fashion: The 70’s Revival Joanne Harkness 103 Dine & Wine - Chris Rees and Andrea Mola

50 Cover Story

editorial

President’s Perspective

Safeguarding the local economy

s EU leaders agree to extend Brexit until 31 January 2020, our members are telling us that they are relieved and frustrated in equal measure. As frustrating as it will be for many, avoiding a messy departure is critical. A short extension, which unlocks complexities and allows for a smooth transition is infinitely preferable to a no-deal exit. As attention now shifts towards the upcoming General Election on 12 December, this provides an opportunity to end the political instability and enable a renewed focus on domestic priorities that have sat in the sidelines post EU-referendum. It also represents an important opportunity for us, as voters and business representatives, to examine the policies of the local parties. We have a duty to challenge the political parties on those policies and to encourage our politicians as they propose new means of regenerating our economy. The underperformance of the Northern Ireland economy in particular has been highlighted over the past number of weeks as a wave of new data has been released from economists, official sources and through surveys such as our own Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) held in partnership with BDO. The QES, which is Northern Ireland’s largest private sector business survey, alarmingly showed signs that the local economy is starting to ‘slip’ into recession. Business confidence is declining, and many key economic indicators fell to an eight-year low. The survey brings to light serious concerns around economic and particularly political instability in Northern Ireland and the UK, with almost 4 in 5 local business leaders believing that a recession in Northern Ireland is likely in the next 6 to 12 months. Significantly, around half of members also scaled back or put on hold investment and growth plans on the back of the UK’s vote to leave the EU. Similar to the QES, the latest PMI published by Ulster Bank, indicated that the Northern Ireland private sector moved deeper into contraction. Output, new orders and employment all fell at sharper rates, while business sentiment dropped to a new record low. It is important to stress that this is not scaremongering – it is a stark reality check for business leaders, employers, politicians and anyone with a vested interest in the Northern Ireland economy. Behind each and every one of these statistics sit thousands of real, local businesses who are feeling the harsh impacts of this uncertainty and the political vacuum at Stormont. Therefore, as our politicians head towards the December election, they must come with proposals that will safeguard people’s livelihoods, the prosperity of our communities and the fortunes of our businesses. An election of any kind is an opportunity to test new ideas, to interrogate

policy positions and, indeed, to encourage policy makers to explore new initiatives and proposals. If we want the parties to keep the economy at the heart of the political agenda we need to let them know that – loud and clear.

John Healy President Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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KEVIN HOLLAND APPOINTED CEO OF INVEST NI Invest Northern Ireland has appointed Kevin Holland as Chief Executive to replace Alastair Hamilton who is stepping down from the role after ten years in the post. Kevin officially joined Invest NI on 21 October 2019 for a period of transition through November, after which he will take full responsibility as CEO.

BOMBARDIER NI OPERATIONS SOLD TO US-BASED SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS Bombardier’s Northern Ireland operations have been sold to US firm Spirit AeroSystems. Kansasbased Spirit is a major supplier to Airbus and Boeing. It is also buying a Bombardier factory is Morocco and a repair facility in the US.

ULSTER UNIVERSITY SIGNS UP WITH BARCLAYS Barclays has been appointed as the new banking partner of Ulster University. As preparations continue at pace for its new Cathedral Quarter campus in Belfast, alongside significant investments on the Coleraine and Magee campuses, the University has stated that Barclays has been selected as the partner to support its future innovation and vision for cashless campuses.

READY FOR ‘ACTION’ AHEAD OF NI CHAMBER PRESIDENT’S BANQUET

Final preparations are underway for the arrival of documentary filmmaker, Louis Theroux, who is set to entertain guests at the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Annual President’s Banquet. The sold-out gala event will Mark Owens (Civica); Paul Murnaghan (BT); John take place in ICC Belfast on Healy (NI Chamber); Naomh McElhatton (Grafton Thursday 21 November and is Recruitment) and Patrick Brown (Tughans). set to be attended by over 900 business people, making it NI Chamber’s biggest Banquet to date. Guests will hear the multi award winning television star share his extraordinary insights and experiences during a live stage interview with host, Mark Simpson. The President’s Banquet is sponsored by NI Chamber’s Communications Partner BT, along with supporting sponsors Tughans, Civica, Tourism NI and Grafton Recruitment.

EMBRACE A GIANT SPIRIT Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland have launched a new destination brand – ‘Embrace A Giant Spirit’ – that will be used to promote Northern Ireland on the island of Ireland and internationally, with the aim of increasing visitor numbers and ensuring economic impact across all regions. The launch marks the start of a ten year journey to support the tourism industry and local economy by developing new authentic experiences that can be promoted to the travel trade and to consumers throughout the world. Tourism in Northern Ireland has grown over the past decade into a £1 billion industry. Tourism NI is projecting a doubling of tourism Tourism NI’s Chief Executive John McGrillen, Tourism revenue by 2030. Ireland’s Head of GB Julie Wakley and artist Colin Davidson.

KINGSBRIDGE OPENS THE DOORS TO NEW 1M WARD

The first phase of expansion plans has been completed by Kingsbridge Healthcare Group with the opening of a new million pound 6-bed ward at Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast. Over the next 18 months, the Group will be increasing patient capacity by 30% and taking on 30 new staff to service a range of innovative facilities and services. These include an onsite pharmacy and luxury rooms with flat screen TV, ensuite facilities and bespoke reclining chairs for patients and settee bed should visitors require. Local artist Kathryn Callaghan was commissioned to create a vibrant Mark Regan, CEO is pictured with artwork of the Mournes for each General Manager Sarah Marks. room.

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NEWS

RE-GEN WASTE INVESTS £5M IN FOSSIL FUEL ALTERNATIVE

Re-Gen Waste has invested £5m in the development of its existing processing facility, to produce a high specification replacement for traditional fossil fuels, for use in cement kilns and power stations. Located at Newry’s Carnbane Industrial Estate, the expansion has generated 20 construction jobs in the build phase with a further 30 permanent positions when up to full production upon completion in November.

MALLAGHAN ENGINEERING WINS MULTI-MILLION POUND RYANAIR CONTRACT

Mallaghan Engineering has announced a multimillion-pound contract to build a fleet of airport buses for Ryanair. It follows the launch of the “Mallaghan 50W” which is the largest capacity airport bus in the world, carrying up to 125 passengers. 60 jobs will be created in Dungannon as a result.

FORTRESS DIAGNOSTICS ANNOUNCES £8M INVESTMENT Fortress Diagnostics has announced an £8million investment in new UK headquarters to enable more patients to receive better healthcare globally. Located in Antrim Technology Park, the brand new custom-built 30,000 square-foot facility will be a centre for research & development and manufacturing and will support the delivery of over 1,000 diagnostic testing products to more than 100 international markets. It is due to open in early 2020.

BARRHEAD TRAVEL REINVESTMENT REACHES £500,000 Barrhead Travel has revealed a reinvestment of over £500,000 into their retail network, technology and training as they prepare for further growth during 2020. During 2019, the Glasgow-headquartered agency added an Edinburgh-based branch to their portfolio and invested a six-figure sum in upgrading existing stores through refurbishments and store expansions.

SMILEY MONROE ANNOUNCE NEW US EXPANSION

Leading conveyor belt producers, Smiley Monroe, has announced the opening of a manufacturing facility in Franklin, Kentucky. In a move driven by customer demand and strong industry forecasts, the $2m investment, assisted by Danske Bank and the Ryan Wright, Chris Monroe and Jayne Peters from Commonwealth of Kentucky, Smiley Monroe. will create 30 new full-time jobs in the local area, as well as safeguarding jobs at the company’s headquarters in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. The firm currently exports to over 60 countries and supports leading customers such as Powerscreen, Terex, Wirtgen, McCloskey, Astec Industries, Sandvik and CDE. It currently employs 170 people between Lisburn and India.

CINEWORLD AND HOLLYWOOD BOWL CONFIRMED AS PART OF ODYSSEY REDEVELOPMENT The UK’s largest cinema operator, Cineworld, and the UK’s largest bowl operator, Hollywood Bowl, are the first anchor tenants to confirm their position in The Odyssey, Belfast, as work gets started on a £17m redevelopment to transform it into the number one leisure destination for families in Northern Ireland. Construction work, carried out by Matagorda 2, working alongside The Odyssey Trust Company, is scheduled to last for 17 months with an anticipated completion date in late Spring 2021. More than 80 construction jobs will be created during the project, Eric Porter, Chair of The Odyssey Trust Company, and which is managed by real Guy Hollis, consultant for Matagorda 2.E Network. estate consultants Hollis.

CO. ANTRIM MANUFACTURER GOES FOR GROWTH WITH MICHELIN DEVELOPMENT Antrim-based Macpac Refuse Bodies, is expanding following a £40,000 cash injection from Michelin Development. Michelin Development offers subsidised, unsecured loans of up to £50,000 for projects that have the potential to create high-quality, sustainable jobs in the County Antrim area. Macpac builds and fits specialist Macpac’s Drew Stewart and Noel units to waste and recycling vehicles Mulholland of Michelin Development. operated by local authorities and private companies across the UK. Growing demand for the bespoke units has seen the creation of eight jobs at the company since 2018 with the business developing a new, 15,000 sq ft manufacturing centre at its base in Springfarm Industrial Estate. Macpac applied to Michelin Development to help fund the new workshop area, including the installation of an overhead crane to boost productivity.

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NEWS

FINTRU LAUNCHES LATEST ACADEMY INTAKE FinTrU, in conjunction with the Department for the Economy, is offering 20 more high quality training places to graduates in its latest Assured Skills Academy in Belfast. The Academy will provide successful applicants with six weeks of industryrelevant pre-employment training at Belfast Met and Ulster University, with a guaranteed interview for those who complete the course.

CHARLES HURST BRANCHES OUT WITH ‘BOLT’ CAFÉ Charles Hurst Group, is opening a new 80-seat café and restaurant at its Boucher Road site in Belfast following a £300,000 investment. The new ‘BOLT’ eatery has also awarded Hospitality Belfast, a joint venture between Mount Charles and Yellow Door, the contract to run the new facility, creating up to 30 jobs.

ULSTER BANK BOOST FOR BALMORAL Ulster Bank has announced a new deal to continue its sponsorship of Northern Ireland’s largest agricultural event, The Balmoral Show. The announcement will see the partnership extended until 2022, with the Show continuing to be referred to as The Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank. The 2020 event takes place from 13th -16th May.

CENTRA EXPANSION CONTINUES WITH £920K INVESTMENT Centra is bringing enhanced convenience to customers across Northern Ireland with new stores opening at Bradbury Place and York Road in Belfast and the Millennium Forum in Derry~Londonderry. The three stores represent an investment of £920,000 by the leading NI retailer, creating an employment boost of 40 jobs.

JCOMMS NAMED NI’S OUTSTANDING PR CONSULTANCY

JComms has been named Northern Ireland’s Outstanding PR Consultancy at the 2019 Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards. The Belfastheadquartered company took the Gold prize in The JComms team celebrates winning Outstanding the category, which is PR Consultancy at the CIPR PRide Awards. considered the most prestigious in the scheme and is presented as the final award on the night. Jago picked up awards across a total of nine different categories, including being recognised with the Outstanding PR Consultancy sliver award for the second year running. In addition, Jago Communications Manager, Fiona Hanna, was presented with the Outstanding Young Communicator sliver award at the event.

ALLSTATE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF BUSINESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Allstate Northern Ireland, one of Northern Ireland’s biggest employers, is marking its 20th anniversary in business. Now with three offices across the country, Allstate Northern Ireland was Allstate’s Mark Lilburn, Pauline Lilburn, Jayne Workman founded in 1999 in support and Paddy Warnock with Vice President and Managing of its parent company, The Director of Allstate John Healy (centre). Allstate Corporation – one of the largest publicly owned property and casualty insurance companies in the United States. In the years since, the technology company has been recognised for multiple awards for its high-quality software development and business solutions services. The company now has over 2,400 employees based in offices in Belfast, the North West and Strabane.

POWER NI COMMUNITY PROGRAMME RIDING HIGH WITH 20TH AWARD BMX club Belfast City is the 20th recipient of Power NI’s popular Brighter Communities Funding programme. Brighter Communities was launched back in April 2018 and each month it awards a £1000 grant to a community group or club who are aiming to roll out a creative and impactful project to help improve the community they live in. Belfast City BMX was formed to both ride and develop BMX facilities in Belfast and it also caters for cruisers and children’s stryder racing. The club which has 58 members aged between 5 and 50 plans to use their £1000 Brighter Communities funding to provide additional training sessions and purchase helmets for children Pictured are BMX club members with Peter Caldwell, participating in the sport. Grants Funding Officer (left) and Chairman, Jonathan Reid.

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BRINGING 5G to belfast harbour

Belfast Harbour and BT have showcased the tangible benefits that 5G can deliver to business and industry at an event in Belfast. The first demonstration showed a member of Belfast Harbour’s operations team wearing an augmented reality headset connected to a 5G device. They were able to inspect one of the Harbour’s cranes and receive step-by-step maintenance guidance and remote support through video collaboration with a remote expert. The potential industry and business benefits of 5G-enabled applications like this are vast, from improved operational efficiency and

productivity, to fast and reliable knowledge transfer and higher employee satisfaction and engagement. The second demonstration showed a 5G immersive experience, illustrating how 5G can make virtual reality “boundaryless” by allowing geographically dispersed participants to draw virtual reality content down from the cloud. Immersive experiences enable companies like Belfast Harbour, with large fixed infrastructures, to take the Harbour to the customer, letting them experience the environment and services in a much more

captivating and immediate way. Immersive 360-degree experience makes the brain feel like the user has experienced a situation, creating a memory that leads to higher levels of engagement and retention. Gerry McQuade, CEO of BT’s Enterprise unit, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Belfast Harbour, to explore the benefits that 5G can bring to the Port and to the City of Belfast. “Over the next 15 years, 5G technologies are expected to contribute 2.2 trillion dollars to the global economy. It will deliver far more than enhanced mobile broadband services and will have a far bigger impact in the enterprise space, by transforming entire industries. “The demonstrations we’ve shown today are a powerful illustration of what 5G can do for business. They’ve shown that 5G will be the catalyst for a revolution in how technology supports people, enables workplaces and simplifies operations.” Joe O’Neill, Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour added: “Working with BT on this initiative has opened our eyes to a whole new world of 5G possibilities. We have a strong ambition and motivation to become the world’s best regional port and create an iconic waterfront district for Belfast, making it an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest in. Using the very latest technologies and collaborating with expert partners is a key part of how we will deliver that vision for Belfast.”

BT SIGNS WITH IRISH FA AS NEW LEAD PARTNER BT has signed a deal to become the lead partner of Northern Ireland men’s international football teams until 2024. The partnership will see the BT logo appear on all training kit worn by all Men’s, Boys’ and Disability Teams from November. The partnership with Northern Ireland football will aim to connect the nation at every level of the game, and especially at grassroots level. More details about the broader ambitions of the partnership will be revealed in the coming months and is part of a wider new BT brand and sponsorship strategy, to champion the UK. Marc Allera, chief executive of BT’s consumer division, said: “To be the lead partner for Northern Ireland is a proud moment for BT and is part of our ambition to be a national champion across the UK. Our partnership will reach all areas of football, including grassroots football and communities.” Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson said: “We are delighted to welcome BT as the title sponsor of our men’s, boys’ and disability teams. The deal with BT will also allow us to develop the game further at all levels in Northern Ireland and we are confident it will be a positive partnership for both ourselves and BT. We are confident BT’s support will be of immense benefit to the association as we strive to promote, foster and develop football for all in Northern Ireland.” The partnership is part of a wider move by BT to partner with all the Home Nations for the next five years. The partnership with all the nations will start in November when the men’s teams will be aiming to qualify for next summer’s Euro 2020 tournament.

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FEATURE

Stairway to Seven My seven steps for business success.

Denny Elliott is Head of Self Help Africa in Northern Ireland. Formerly War On Want NI, the charity is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in rural Africa while providing a community for its volunteers in its retail shops across Northern Ireland. Denny’s vision for the charity into the next decade includes promoting the work of Self Help Africa with the women who, in Sub Saharan Africa, tend the farms to change the lives of them and their families for future generations.

1. A LISTENING EAR

I began my career in Mechanical Engineering and, after completing a programme in Boston College on the ‘Sustainability of Non-Profits’, I changed career to work in the voluntary sector. I can truly say that I find my work so rewarding when I visit projects where I can see the difference we are making. It is so important when working with staff and volunteers whether it be in Northern Ireland or Africa that their opinion and knowledge are listened to, especially if they are on the ground as they know what will work in their own region etc. I believe that, as a manager, having a listening ear helps staff and volunteers achieve and brings out the best in what we can collectively do together to change lives.

Africa or at home and consider that they could be facing personal challenges which require consideration. And I like to remind others when we are working together as a team of the Maya Angelou quote that ‘people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel’.

2. STRATEGIC APPROACH

4. EMPOWERMENT

Before beginning any campaign, task etc I believe we should all take a step back and consider the why, what, how and purpose. I always point the team towards the mission, as in our case it is ‘Supporting sustainable livelihoods for Africa’s smallholder farmers’. This is the reason we get up in the morning and the purpose behind all decisions we make and actions we take.

3. EMPATHY

I learned at a very young age that we should be empathetic. This applies not only in business but to life in general. I am mindful to be empathetic to our stakeholders whether in

Denny Elliott, Head of Self Help Africa.

Given our drive to empower women farmers in rural Africa, I ensure that all stakeholders working for Self Help Africa feel empowered and that the decisions they make can and will have a powerful impact on those communities for which we provide resources and a voice. I like to think that I work with the team to encourage and bring them along with me.

5. CELEBRATE OTHERS

Throughout my career I have always been mature enough to realise my limitations and I have been lucky enough to have a number of great people around me. Some of the best advice I have been given is to employ people

for their expertise. We should never feel threatened by someone bringing a different skill to the organisation. In fact we should embrace it.

6. MENTORING AND NETWORKING

Another of my seven steps to success is regarding mentoring. Find a mentor who can help give direction, advice and support and be a sounding board for what you intend to do in life. This is a two way street. Never be afraid to be mentored or to offer your knowledge as a mentor and give back to others. I’ve also found that networking is so important, especially in Northern Ireland where everyone is connected in some way.

7. BE YOURSELF

I dabble at writing poetry and plays and I find that by losing yourself in another world temporarily, leaving problems and issues to the side, creates a renewed energy which helps to drive me towards the goals in life that I have set and want to achieve. It also increases my productivity when I return to the task at hand.

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COLUMnIST

David Clements, Client Director, Fujitsu

Protecting the precious commodity that is trust David Clements, Client Director at Fujitsu NI examines what public sector organisations can do to align its digital credentials with consumer expectations.

very industry is facing digital disruption and one thing is certain, there is no sign of it slowing down. Throughout this year’s digital sector events – from Digital DNA to Big Data Belfast – a number of key questions have continually been raised by organisations; how to harness and use data effectively, and how to do this while meeting customer demands. These demands include expectations around product and services as well as security and most importantly, trust. Our latest research to explore what’s holding organisations back from true digital transformation surveyed over 800 business leaders and 3,000 consumers across the UK and the Republic of Ireland and shows that these issues are of particular concern in the public sector. The “Driving a Trusted Future” report finds that leaders of public sector organisations are amongst those most likely to describe the changes of recent years as ‘radical’ (57%) with a quarter seeing that change as ‘negative’ (26%). As far as technology is concerned, public sector leaders are the least likely to have felt the impact of technological advances, with a quarter reporting no benefit at all (26%), yet an overwhelming 79% of leaders in government said that technology is vital to the future success. The opportunity for the public sector to embrace technology is immense, with citizen demand driving pace and expectations for a

chance to mirror their consumer experiences. Members of the public want to access health records and order driving licences as easy as they do online banking; however, only 19% of citizens interviewed feel that the UK public was prepared for change and 54% feel that the gathering of personal data should be more closely regulated. Public sector nervousness to implement digital change centres around a number of critical areas – keeping up with regulation, skills and knowledge to cope with change, and employee and citizen apprehensiveness. On the one hand, consumers and citizens benefit from technology but on the other, there are obvious concerns. There needs to be a clear understanding that business and public sector leaders will implement technology with trust and responsibility in mind. To achieve that, making the business case for change and planning how to implement that change is key. Working with the Northern Ireland Civil Service to restructure its entire HR ecosystem and Northern Ireland Water to integrate its operational work management and financial systems, we know first-hand how transformative and innovative Northern Ireland’s public sector can be. Both these organisations took a holistic approach to transformation and leaders should endeavour to find balance between respect for customers’ feelings towards technology and accelerating technology adoption. In our experience, we believe choosing a co-creation approach – working together with your ICT expert to start with the business problem not the technology – will propel organisations forward into an arena of trust and lead to successful adoption of emerging technologies. That’s why we as a business provide highly interactive and immersive workshop experience through our DTCs aimed to empower organisations to think about the future and develop plans to accelerate digital transformation. Our analysis shows that government

has only scratched the surface of digital transformation, with positive impact being felt in the delivery of workplace solutions to enable more flexible working, as well as in front-end delivery of services. However, true transformation is yet to be achieved, and in order to do so, the public sector needs to tackle the thorny issue around legacy before it can achieve deep transformation. Legacy infrastructure and technology systems can seem overwhelming to even the most forward-thinking business. They have typically been the lynchpin of the organisation since technology was introduced, and the key system employees and consumers have been raised on. Blending ‘old’ and ‘new’ is possible though, and organisations should approach this as a change of culture and technology. Last month, together with the Head of Digital and Causeway at Department Justice NI, we presented at the first ever UK Data4Good conference in Birmingham, designed to inspire and build confidence in the possibilities of data. Here we discussed how adopting a holistic approach to this change – moving to the cloud can join up applications, process and systems and working with a partner who understands critical systems – helps the public sector accelerate its plans. Crucial to achieving this process is addressing the gulf between the public and leaders’ feelings towards change. Citizens are excited about the potential to do things differently, but nervous at what this means for their privacy, security and day-to-day lives. Leaders are at least aware of this issue and are keen to contribute to society outside of their organisations, with over half (53%) stating that they are seeking to consciously drive positive change through CSR activity, demonstrating trust and purpose to consumers and citizens. The ability for the public sector to ‘bring people with them’ and achieve buy-in from employees, partner organisations as well as citizens is a step change process and one organisations should embrace.

GREENCORE’S GARY KENNEDY SUPPORTS DIVERSITY MARK NI Diversity Mark NI is Northern Ireland’s only independent not-for-profit Charter Mark for diversity and inclusion. At their second Business of Diversity Lunch they were thrilled to welcome special guest Gary Kennedy, Chair of Greencore. He is also co-chair of Balance for Better Business, a business group launched by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to improve gender balance in senior leadership in Ireland. The lunch, sponsored by Danske Bank and First Derivatives plc, welcomed over 100 of the country’s CEOs and senior business leaders to the Canal Court Hotel in Newry and they gathered in support of working together to achieve a better diversity in business. Gary Kennedy, who is also Chairman of Connect Group plc and Green REIT plc, was interviewed by journalist and broadcaster, Wendy Austin, and spoke passionately about the impact of gender disparities in the workplace across Ireland and the importance of implementing diversity and inclusion programmes to drive business growth. Head of Business at Diversity Mark NI, Christine White said, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Gary Kennedy to our event to learn about Balance for Better Business, where government and businesses are working together to achieve cultural change in business leadership that will ultimately position them as market leaders in corporate decision-making. “I’m delighted to see the Diversity Charter Mark continue to grow with sixty progressive organisation now signed up for the Mark of Progress. The businesses that address their culture and understand the power of diversity will have the competitive edge moving into the coming years. At our event we presented the Diversity Charter Mark to First Derivatives, The Consumer Council, Denroy, A&L Goodbody, Outsource Solutions and our first school; St. Ronan’s Primary School Newry. These organisations are leading the way with some very important diversity initiatives and we congratulate them on this achievement.”

Guest Speaker Gary Kennedy, Wendy Austin and Christine White.

For more information visit: www.diversity-mark-ni.co.uk or contact christine@diversity-mark-ni.co.uk

Organisations recently awarded the Diversity Charter Mark included Outsource Solutions, St. Ronan’s Primary School Newry, First Derivatives, Denroy, A&L Goodbody and The Consumer Council.

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FEATURE

The Techy 10... Rich Dale, CEO and Co-Founder, Flowlens.

1. What phone do you have? An iPhone XS. 2. What piece of technology could you not live without and why? I’m slightly biased here, but I couldn’t live without the Flowlens CRM Task feature. Every opportunity we are working on moves at different speeds, but getting reminders when follow-ups are due make sure things don’t slip through the cracks. I catch up on my tasks every morning and can prioritise from there. 3. What is your favourite app for business? I love Google’s G Suite both because it’s a great tool for sharing and collaborating without fuss, but it also inspires how we think about the Flowlens product. Between it, Gmail and other cloud products, we’ve never needed the cost or hassle of physical server and backup infrastructure in our business. This has allowed us to grow and adapt our offering around the needs of customers much faster. 4. And for personal use? My Kindle, although this crosses over business and personal. I always have a few books on the go, fiction and non-fiction. I read every night, but it’s great to dip into the Kindle app when you’ve 20 mins waiting for a train. 5. How much of your work life involves the use of technology? This is a really thought provoking question. Given that Flowlens builds and sells a cloud CRM and MRP system, technology runs through everything. However the soft skills in understanding customer’s needs, establishing trust and building success can often be better without technology. Similarly, the creative side of our business, whether it’s problem-solving features like inventory forecasting or planning, or refining our marketing, starts with nothing more technical than a whiteboard and marker.

6. If you could recommend one item of technology for any business what would it be? Most of customers save about a day per week per person by removing manual processes and paperwork. Despite this, I’ve heard many MDs claim that CRM systems are overkill for their business…. Whilst in the background the people who run the processes shake their head. Not every business is a good fit for Flowlens CRM. But there’s software out there that fits most business processes. Used properly these products create a focal point, and a fall back, for teams to serve customers better, faster, cheaper. 7. If you could make one piece of technology disappear what would it be? Email. It’s such a flexible communications tool, but it has a huge cost. We’re constantly refreshing our inboxes waiting for a reply, depleting our finite mental resources. It doesn’t switch off, so we don’t. From a business perspective, we all run processes in our email, but if we got hit by a bus, all that information is stuck in there unavailable to anyone else. Using systems to reduce email traffic is a simple way for any business to save time, and make the working day less stressful!

8. How do you keep your technology skills current? I read a lot and talk to a lot of customers and people across industry which is great for understanding trends. Today with time poverty being the greatest challenge, the choices you make about which skills you need, and which you outsource is vital. 9. Are you able to detox and switch off from technology completely? If so, how? It’s harder and harder these days. Even watching TV has now become ‘Netflix and chill’ with so much choice you don’t know where to start. The best way I’ve found to switch off is plan time to do so, and physically switch the phone off. We need time away from work (and tech) to recharge the batteries. Keep the notifications bleeping and you’ll come home from holiday wearier than when you left. 10. What piece of technology are you most looking forward to seeing in the future? My brother runs Daleway, a highly successful driving school based in Portadown. He’d kill me for saying this, but for me, safe and ubiquitous self-driving vehicles could transform the way we live and spend our time. Combined with electrification, better AI optimisation of journeys and passenger load, this tech could save millions of lives both in terms of road safety and the effects of pollution.

“...there’s software out there that fits most business processes. Used properly these products create a focal point, and a fall back, for teams to serve customers better, faster, cheaper. ”

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Laura Jackson, Partner, BDO Northern Ireland

Don’t Believe the Hype

BDO Northern Ireland’s Laura Jackson discusses how organisations can avoid falling victim to ‘hype cycles’ when it comes to risks.

n a world of increasing noise and information volumes, professionals involved with risk identification and mitigation need a high level of intensity and focus to distinguish the difference between true risk and the hype. A recent BDO report on the Global Risk Landscape 2019 found that 76% of respondents believed their organisation’s risk register was being influenced by ‘hype cycles’ and that their risk register is at least partly based on media stories rather than clear-sighted analytical data. Of course, human tendency means that it is easy to become influenced by social media and the 24-hour news cycle and this has a consequential impact upon decision making. So, faced with a diverse range of nontraditional risks that are now more fluid concepts, such as damage to reputation and brand value, how can organisations prevent themselves falling victim to ‘hype cycles’? • It is a cultural thing – each organisation should ask, is risk engrained in its culture? Or, is it simply a task orientated job that raises its head every now and again? All employees must understand not only what the potential risks are, but what to do if they spot them, thus making risk a way of life. The appetite for risk and the risk management statement should be communicated organisation-wide and not limited to the risk officer; empower all staff for risk identification.

• Diversity – if decision-making rests with a concentrated grouping of like-minded individuals who are all exposed to the same media, it will be more difficult to spot the hypes. The greater the level of board diversity, the greater the ability of the board to cut through and challenge the fast moving information. • Knowledge is power – where you can, ensure that directors who are appointed to the board have a degree of literacy in risk as well as finance. Directors need to ensure they are risk ready and risk management is at the forefront of corporate thinking. • Do not replace old risks with new risks – new emerging risks are not replacing old risks of fire and flood. Unfortunately, risks are growing in number and this may require a detailed look at upskilling the risk function. • Do not let familiarity breed contempt – complacency around risks means that risks will stay on the risk register for too long. Risks need to be assessed proactively and regularly and not in response to an external event. Make the risk review process a continual one and

ownership of the review process being bottom up, from the front-line employees to the entrepreneurs, future-proofing the business. As always, the dichotomy that exists with risk is opportunity. It’s not all doom and gloom all of the time, and one way to switch the narrative from the negative to the positive is seeing every risk as also an opportunity. This is a good way of catching the attention of the entrepreneurial leader and ensuring the qualitative aspects of risks as well as the quantitative are captured. Just make sure, as the organisation assesses the impact of risk, neither the novelty or the familiarity of the risk dictates the response. At BDO Northern Ireland our governance, risk and compliance teams can help you to identify, manage and mitigate the risks your organisation is likely to face. If you have any questions or want to talk with someone about the risks facing your business and how you can prepare for them, call the BDO team on 028 9043 9009.

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Andy Borthwick, Solution Architect, Enterprise Services at Neueda

The Low Down on ‘Low Code’

Neueda’s Andy Brothwick explains low-code and its tools for IT development.

taying ahead of the newest trends in tech is vital in today’s digital world. For organisations with in-house software development capability, and a need to deliver faster and better digital outcomes, one of the biggest emerging developments is ‘low code,’ an approach that is disrupting the area of digital transformation worldwide. With the sheer pace of change, technology, apps and data, organisations are faced with an increasing amount of challenges and choices. To describe what low code is, you can picture traditional software development as the process through which applications are ‘hand coded’ or developed ‘from scratch’. At the other end of the scale is ‘no code’ – where end users act as ‘citizen developers’ and develop their own applications through a ‘dragand-drop’ builder. Essentially, this provides ready-made and reusable components as required. Low code is a midway point between ‘no code’ and traditional software development approach. Through low code, manual processes are automated, making it up to six times faster to develop an application, but still allows developers to be flexible. Crucially, developers still use all their analysis and design skills, and collaborate to make enterprisegrade applications, which can be supported

and extended to add value much faster than before. Gartner predicts that by 2024, threequarters of enterprises will be using at least four low-code development tools for IT application development and citizen development initiatives. But what does low code mean for an organisation seeking to transform itself digitally? Whilst using low code requires a specific set of skills and expertise, it also allows organisations and software developers to be more productive and deliver results more efficiently. “Rapid development” and “speed to deploy” are becoming the new buzz phrases. There is also a much lower barrier to entry provided by a low code platform that allows developers with some coding background to be productive within a week and non-coders can begin usually within around a month’s training. It is a way of designing and developing software applications with minimal handcoding, meaning value is delivered more rapidly and reliably. This is a great attraction to many enterprise organisations facing the growing challenge of accessing scarce skillsets. Ultimately, low code allows Enterprise Development teams to be more agile in the future, which is an approach that Neueda is offering more regularly to our customers, particularly those who are faced with rapidly changing and uncertain circumstances. Some reasons your tech team or tech partner may wish to consider using low code may include the following: • A need to simplify Low code is useful for an organisation that is wishing to simplify and automate inefficient, manual, complex or paper-based processes digitally. Such examples may be an insurance company that processes a large amount of claims forms or a Government department that deals with planning permission applications in high volume. • A need to improve When an organisation is seeking to improve the digital experience for customers or employees,

low code offers an effective solution to achieve this quickly – creating web and mobile applications from the same source. • A need to transform If you need to extend or integrate new systems with existing ‘legacy’ systems, low code allows developers to connect and integrate with these easily. Neueda has partnered with OutSystems, a globally recognised low-code platform provider, to more rapidly deliver software solutions for its customers. To find out more about low code and how it can help transform your business digitally, contact the team at lowcode@neueda.com

“Ultimately, low code allows Enterprise Development teams to be more agile in the future, which is an approach that Neueda is offering more regularly to our customers, particularly those who are faced with rapidly changing and uncertain circumstances.”

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Conor Coyle – SEO Specialist, Loudmouth Media

The Rise of Zero-Click Searches

Loudmouth’s Conor Coyle explores the growing trend of zero-click searches and what it means for SEOs.

oogle has been working hard over the past three years to present the best possible answer to a query without the user having to click further and visit another site. However, this has meant a significant decrease in clicks with more than 50% of all searches not ending in a click, despite there being over 60,000 search requests per second. The reason for this lies in the increasing incidence of zero-click searches as Google continues to improve and own the user experience. The phenomenon of zeroclick searches is growing rapidly, but what exactly does this mean? A zero-click search is one where the answer is displayed at the top of a Google search result page (SERP), meaning that the user’s search intent is satisfied without having to click any links. Traditionally, Google Search worked by using an algorithm to return relevant links that were most relevant to a query. Now there are all sorts of other results available when a query is submitted, including ads, local business information, featured snippets, job listings and media elements that answer questions directly on the SERP. For example, a search for ‘how old is Madonna?’ will display an answer that doesn’t require another click. With all sorts of extra information available directly on the SERP that could impact your

business, what’s an SEO to do to safeguard organic visibility? Clickthrough rates for organic search have been falling steadily since 2016, particularly on mobile as Google packs its results pages with extra information. While this is great for the user as they now have a higher likelihood of getting what they need with fewer clicks, some have been quick to diagnose zero-click search as a critical blow to SEO. However, we see it as a chance to ensure that you have a strong presence on Google as competition for SERP real estate increases. There are a variety of tactics that you can implement to not only compete with these new zero-click results, but also to become a part of them. For example, providing useful, informative content on your site and maintaining a Google My Business profile are

now critical to any digital strategy. Adding structured data to your web pages will also allow Google to understand your site content better, and increase your chances of appearing as part of these new types of search results. Whether it is fair for Google to shift its search engine experience in this way has been a matter of contentious debate – the Silicon Valley giant was recently summoned to a US congressional committee to answer questions on it and related topics. Despite this, the likelihood is that zero-click results will continue to become more prominent in the years to come. Keeping on top of this trend should now be a key part of any digital marketing strategy, both in terms of your paid search ads and optimising your site pages for the keywords that matter to your business.

“Clickthrough rates for organic search have been falling steadily since 2016, particularly on mobile as Google packs its results pages with extra information.” 24

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Robert McCullough, Head of Belfast Business Centre, Danske Bank

Turning to Innovation for Export Growth

Danske Bank’s Robert McCullough discusses how innovation and export growth go hand-in-hand.

BLK BOX told us that a bank that could be flexible in its lending and match the ambition of their fast-growing company was a necessity. Managing Director Greg Bradley and his team are creating unique pieces of equipment for an impressive clientele such as Montpellier Rugby, Arsenal FC and most recently the New South Wales Institute of Sport in Sydney. The global fitness industry is predicted to be worth $99.9bn in 2019 and opportunities abound if companies are brave enough to dream big.

are produced, firms need to be open to the idea of change. Companies who embrace change instead of sticking to what they’ve always known, are reaping the rewards. Sometimes customers need a little encouragement and that is why we like to get a true understanding of their business and how we can help them break into new markets. Our platforms and expertise offer small businesses all the right tools to help them achieve their goals. BLK BOX Fitness continues to go from

Gregory Bradley, BLK BOX Fitness and Julie Skelly, Danske Bank.

hile it is hard to ignore the fact that some high profile local manufacturing businesses have had a rough ride lately, this should not mean that the region places any less importance on exporting as a means of growing the economy. Even amidst current economic and political headwinds we know there are many SMEs who have invested in innovation to create new products and services that will enhance overseas sales. Growing exports is acknowledged as one of the key drivers for sustainable economic growth and even in times of uncertainty we are finding that are still plenty of good examples of businesses who have identified opportunities in the new and exciting markets. Most recently, we part funded an investment in Belfast-based BLK BOX Fitness. Operating from a 60,000 sq ft unit in the Titanic Quarter, the business specialises in the design, manufacture and delivery of strength and conditioning equipment to customers around the world. Since switching their banking to us in December 2016, the company’s strategic focus has been on growing and expanding the business at a steady rate.

It’s no fluke that BLK BOX Fitness’ growth over the past 18 months has been on a steep incline. Over £1m has been invested in new machinery and processes to reduce production time and increase efficiencies. That means the company can take larger, more complex orders and complete them in a shorter timeframe. At the heart of the business is innovation and an ability to adapt and change with the times. That is a lesson many companies who want to export could take note of, whatever sector they are in. The more customers we speak to, the more apparent the need is to be creative and innovative in the way we do business. From sales to marketing to how goods

strength to strength and is just one example of the many small businesses who are flourishing in today’s export market. Whether it is baby products, savoury snacks or gym equipment, our SME’s continue to punch well above their weight. As a local provider, we continue to work with many of these companies as they commit to investing in their abilities to export beyond our shores.

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FEATURE

My Ambition is to... LEANNE MCCRYSTAL, ASSISTANT WEALTH MANAGER AT DAVY.

he middle of five children, I credit my parents for instilling a strong work ethic in me from a young age. Having always worked part-time jobs, whilst studying at Queens University, I was fortunate to spend a summer working in a partner practice of one of the largest wealth management firms in the UK. This experience was pivotal in my desire to become a Financial Adviser.

After completing my degree in Finance & Economics, I was determined to gain some international experience. In 2015, I travelled to Boston to work for JP Morgan as a hedge fund accountant. This was a great experience and after a year, I returned to Northern Ireland to begin my career with Davy, a long-established wealth management company. Upon joining Davy as a Portfolio Analyst, I was quickly exposed to the vastness of the industry. Having recently acquired PFC, Davy was in the midst of a period of significant growth, which I had the opportunity to experience first-hand. My first role involved working with advisers to support them in maintaining existing client relationships, rebalancing client portfolios and ensuring client satisfaction. After a year and a half, I was promoted to the Paraplanning team where I developed my technical knowledge by compiling suitability reports and engaging with product and platform providers. Davy is a firm that prides itself on its people and offers the ability to develop personally and professionally. As a firm they have offered me both financial and study leave support towards my Chartered Wealth Management exams. Having recently been promoted to Assistant Wealth Manager, one aspect of my job which I most enjoy, is the opportunity to get to know clients and their families personally. Each client that comes to Davy has a different goal that they want to achieve, whether they’re looking to get the most from the assets they’ve spent a lifetime building or they’re

seeking to take their business to the next level of growth. It’s our philosophy to get personal and recognise client’s individual circumstances. Ultimately, our aim is to deliver world-class outcomes, so it’s important from the outset to listen and take the time to understand what really matters to our clients, whether that be growing investments, addressing inheritance tax issues, establishing pension provisions or putting protection in place for clients and their families. At Davy, our vision is to be the financial

services partner most trusted by our clients and most admired for our people. My ambition is to be an excellent financial adviser with a reputation for sound financial advice and a high level of integrity. I hope to be trusted as the first point of contact for my clients, giving them peace of mind that their financial needs are taken care of. Working in a predominantly male sector, I also hope to be an advocate for females in this industry. I know my career will continue to grow and evolve in Davy and I hope to become a senior professional within the firm.

CHRISTMAS AT TITANIC HOTEL BELFAST Leave the organising to us at Titanic Hotel Belfast this festive season. Whether it be a special dinner in The Wolff Grill, or a more private celebration in our enchanting Heritage Rooms, their relaxed spaces are perfect for gatherings large and small; or perhaps you would prefer a luxury soirĂŠe with a few friends overlooking the majestic Drawing Office Two from the sanctuary of our Presentation Room. Whatever your reason for celebrating, discover the excitement of Christmas at Titanic Hotel Belfast. Simply get in touch today by emailing christmas@titanichotelbelfast.com or call us on +44 (0) 28 9508 2000 to ďŹ nd out about our exclusive Christmas packages. www.titanichotelbelfast.com/christmas-2019

NEWS

PROPERTYPAL LAUNCHES UNIQUE ECONOMIC AND HOUSING FORECAST MODEL Jordan further commented on the impact Brexit might have on the market’s outlook: ‘Until a Brexit deal is secured, economic and political uncertainty will restrain buyer sentiment. The UK wide housing market will remain price sensitive and beyond that, depending on what deal is agreed, will have an impact on the path of interest rates, wage growth and house prices. PropertyPal’s ‘Housing and Economic Outlook’ and ‘Residential Property Review’ Series are available online now at PropertyPal.com/insights – and are the first in a regular series of detailed economic forecasts and property market reviews. Further publications are scheduled throughout the year. • Forecast models show economy will grow by 1.2% this year, 1.3% next year and between 1.5%-2.0% until 2023. • Median house prices grew 3.6% last year, and assuming a soft Brexit arrangement, are forecast to grow by 2.9% this year, 3.6% next year and between 3.0%-4.0% until 2023.

Jordan Buchanan, Chief Economist at PropertyPal.

PropertyPal, Northern Ireland’s largest local property portal, has recently released a series of new reports, including its ‘Housing and Economic Outlook’ alongside Northern Ireland’s first comprehensive ‘Residential Housing Review’ and accompanying 11 council area reports, offering granular detail about the local property market. The property portal’s ‘Housing and Economic Outlook’ report forecasts critical economic indicators including GDP, wages, jobs and house prices. In the Residential Housing Review, PropertyPal subdivides Northern Ireland’s 11 council areas into almost 500 ‘micro-areas’, showing neverbefore seen data on local market, including the most popular locations to buy a home as well as including detailed property price information by different property styles. Jordan Buchanan, Chief Economist at PropertyPal commented on the reports’ findings: “The Northern Ireland economy has been performing particularly well in recent years despite an increasingly challenging backdrop. Firms have been hiring at record rates, economic inactivity is falling, unemployment is exceptionally low by historical standards and amongst the lowest of any advanced nation in the world. However, the outlook remains cautious with many forward leading indicators suggesting the local economy is close to a recession.” Despite recent events in Northern

Ireland, generally speaking, employment rates are also improving: “Since 2012 there has been an impressive 95,000 jobs created, equivalent to over 37 new jobs per day and to date, there are more people in work than there were at peak levels in 2008. The latest employment rate is at record highs of 71.7% alongside a low unemployment rate of 3.1% which is feeding through to above-inflation levels of wage growth. This in turn is supporting household finances and helping aspiring homeowners save towards their deposits.” Focussing on the housing market, Northern Ireland remains amongst the most affordable places in the UK to buy a home as Jordan continues: “Today the median house price in Northern Ireland stands at £134,200, 29% below the highs of 2007 and over 40% lower than the UK average (though a more sensible comparison is 34% lower that Great Britain excluding London). In terms of affordability, this represents house prices about 5x full time salaries and significantly more affordable than a decade ago when prices were more than 10x salaries. For context, across the UK as a whole, the ratio is currently 8x salaries and reaches as high as 13x in London. Affordable housing should not be overlooked as a key selling feature of the region and should appeal to retain and attract a talented workforce wishing to get on the housing ladder.”

• 21,500 net new jobs forecast to be created in Northern Ireland by 2023, with approximately 2 in every 3 roles requiring full time workers. • The median house price in Northern Ireland stands at £134,200 – 29% below the highs of 2007 and over 40% lower than the UK average. • New ‘micro-area’ analysis shows the top 5 most popular locations to buy a home last year were in Carrowreagh (just outside Dundonald – with almost 180 homes sold), Windsor (171), Bloomfield (137), Connswater (126) and Central Craigavon (125). • Cultra and Malone are the most expensive areas to buy a home across the country with median property prices in the areas costing over £400,000. • There are over 80 locations in Northern Ireland where median property prices are under £100,000 reflecting widespread affordability across the country. • Figures were released as part of new research series which includes 13 publications: Housing And Economic Outlook, Residential Housing Review and 11 individual council reports.

epic 80’s new year’s eve party night “Another one bites the dust”- say goodbye to 2019 and join us for our 80’s themed end/ start of year party at the Park Inn by Radisson, Belfast. In true A-ha style, Take on 2020, with a classic mix of 80’s tunes provided by QRadio D.J. Ibe Sesay and “Dance All Night Long.” Leg warmers at the ready – Come on Eileen!

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Epic 80’s New Year’s Eve Party Night includes: - Entrance to event - Complimentary glass of Prosecco at midnight Contact our Christmas co-ordinator for further information and to purchase your ticket Dates available: Dec – Tues 31st Times: 9pm til late

Park Inn by Radisson Belfast Hotel 4 Clarence Street West BT2 7GP Belfast United Kingdom T: +44 (0)28 9067 7710, E: christmas.belfast@parkinn.com

BELFAST

COLUMNIST

GETTING ON THE PROPERTY LADDER BY TERRY ROBB, HEAD OF PERSONAL BANKING, ULSTER BANK. The ‘dismal science’ (economics) and people’s dreams of buying a home may not seem like happy bedfellows, but the reality is that understanding figures is an important part of getting a foot on the property ladder. From knowing the going rates for houses in your chosen area to having a handle on savings rates and mortgage rates, there are plenty of numbers to get your head around. (The £6,000 bonus that first-time buyers could secure from a Help to Buy ISA is one number that you should be aware of and which we’ll come back to later.) Supply and demand – one of the most fundamental rules of economics – even comes into play. When demand in the housing market is high and supply is low, prices will rise. Conversely, when demand is low and supply is plentiful, prices will probably fall. Those in the know in the local residential property sector will tell you that in recent years the market has had something of a supply problem and no real shortage of demand. There have been lots of potential buyers but not enough houses available for sale to satisfy the interest. This helps explain why house prices have been rising here. Part of the solution to this supply challenge involves building more houses. The other aspect is vendors having the confidence to put their homes on the market. In recent months, it seems that uncertainty in the economy has led some to take a wait and see approach. But whilst increasing supply is essential, supporting the demand is also something that needs to be done in an effective way. Ulster Bank of course has an important role to play in

this; helping all kinds of homebuyers to make the purchase that meets their needs. First-time buyers have been one of the most important segments of the housing market in recent years and we continue to see strong demand from first-time buyers for mortgages. According to the latest figures from UK Finance, Northern Ireland registered a 4.1 percent annual increase in mortgages for first-time buyers to the end of June. And this was already from a pretty high base. The challenge for first-time buyers is that as house prices rise at a faster rate than wages, it becomes more difficult to get onto the property ladder. In particular, saving for a deposit is something that many struggle with. That’s why the Help to Buy ISA is something that potential homebuyers should be aware; particularly now as the deadline for availing of it is fast approaching. The Help to Buy ISA offers first-time buyers the chance to save tax-free for a deposit on their first home and to gain a further 25 percent from the government, up to a maximum of £3,000 on savings of £12,000. Fully availing of the scheme provides a potential boost to many first-time buyers as well as potentially to the Northern Ireland housing market as a whole. The Help to Buy ISA deadline is on 30 November 2019, which means there’s limited time if you want to use it to invest money towards buying your first house. In summary (back to understanding numbers), you can use to a Help to Buy ISA to buy any home worth up to £250,000 (or up to £450,000 in London). You can use it with any mortgage; you’re not restricted to a Help to Buy mortgage.

You need to be a first-time buyer. And you must be aged 16 or over. The minimum amount you need to save to qualify for a government bonus is £1,600 (which gives you a £400 bonus). You can start off your ISA with an initial deposit of up to £1,000 which also qualifies for the 25 percent boost from the government. And importantly for some, Help to Buy ISAs are available to each first-time buyer, not each home. So, if you’re buying a property with your partner, for example, you’ll be able to get up to £6,000 towards your deposit. Definitely not a dismal return.

UPDATE Chamber Chief’s

From networking events to meetings with government ministers and in-camera dinners with leaders in business, the hectic round of activity spearheaded by NI Chamber for the benefit of members never stops. NI Chamber Chief Executive Ann McGregor gives a taste of what’s coming up and what’s taken place recently with a picture gallery over the following pages.

eptember and October have been incredibly busy months for NI Chamber, as we continue to deliver a wide range of events, programmes and business support initiatives. We have also launched some new events including our CEO Spotlight Series supported by KPMG and partnered with Deloitte on a series of events specifically for the agri-sector. NI Chamber’s new International Division has hosted the first in a number of scheduled events that form part of this exciting new support service. ‘Growing International Business in a Challenging Marketplace’ and ‘Doing Business in China’ provided a platform for greater collaboration and peer learning between NI Chamber members, and the initiative is already benefitting from the expertise of our International Champions, A&L Goodbody, Grant Thornton and Queen’s University Belfast who are on-hand to assist firms who are focussing on international growth.

Pictured at the recent In Camera event are Noel Lavery (Department for the Economy), Ann McGregor (NI Chamber), Denis McMahon (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs), Sue Gray (Department of Finance), David Sterling (NI Civil Service), Ian Henry (NI Chamber & Henry Group) and Katrina Godfrey (Department for Infrastructure).

Away from events and programmes, despite it now being over 1,000 days since Northern Ireland last had an Executive in place, NI Chamber continues to engage regularly with political parties and highlight the profound impact that the impasse is having on the local economy. Most recently we hosted a roundtable lunch for members with the DUP’s Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and met with Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill, Conor Murphy and team to highlight our concerns. Over 50 NI Chamber members also met with the Head of the Civil Service David Sterling at an NI Chamber dinner

at Belfast’s Europa Hotel. David was joined by the Permanent Secretaries from Infrastructure and Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs,

NI Chamber in partnership with Deloitte launched a series of events specifically for businesses operating within the agri-food sector. Pictured are Robert Irwin (Farm Week); Martin Agnew (Henderson Group); Jason Starbuck (Deloitte); Neal Kelly (Henderson Group) and Louise Turley (NI Chamber).

as well as Economy and Finance. The message from NI Chamber remains unchanged – firms need certainty so they can plan and invest for the future. The Northern Ireland economy cannot flourish without the support of an Executive to create an environment which is conducive to this. Our latest Quarterly Economic Survey provided evidence that the ongoing Brexit uncertainty is being felt more harshly in Northern Ireland than anywhere else. It is also alarming that almost 4 in 5 of our members believe a recession in Northern Ireland is likely in the next 6 to 12 months, something NI Chamber President John Healy addresses earlier in this magazine. On a positive note, NI Chamber was delighted to reveal the winners of the 2019 Chamber Business Awards in early October. Congratulations to Fathom; Nitec Solutions; Musgrave Northern Ireland; FinTrU; Ryobi Aluminium Casting (UK); Henry Brothers; Farrans Construction and Christies Direct who all go forward to the national finals in London in November. I am also delighted that our annual President’s Banquet is now sold out, with over 900 people from business and government scheduled to join NI Chamber and documentary film maker Louis Theroux at the ICC Belfast on 21 November. I look forward to seeing many of you on the evening and at other events over the coming months.

NEW ESSENTIAL MEMBERS 54 North Appian Fasteners Ltd Bell Architects Ltd Bitwise Limited Blazin Digital CATAX Core Impact Ltd Diamond Chauffeurs EcoHog Envisage Cloud Fourum Gewardz Glow Metrics Grenke Agency Jark Healthcare Mac Animal Health MSM Contracts Ltd Quadra Consulting Scaffold Digital Telestack Ten Minutes More Thomas Ferguson & Co Visual Edge Wagestream Workpal NEW GROWTH MEMBERS Anaeko Limited Beneden Health Elmfield Fleet4U Timber Builds Travel Ireland Coaches NEW CORPORATE MEMBERS Kilwaughter Lidl Lowe PropertyPal Ulster Rugby MEMBERSHIP UPGRADES ABL (Growth to Corporate) OCO (Essential to Growth) Safeguard AEO (Essential to Growth) *To become a member of NI Chamber join online at www. northernirelandchamber.com or phone the membership team on: 02890 244113.

NEWS

NI Chamber puts CEOs under the spotlight NI Chamber has launched its ‘CEO Spotlight series’ – a new series of events aimed to inspire business growth in local companies through sharing the leadership stories of successful entrepreneurs and senior managers. Supported by KPMG, the inaugural event took place in October with Dr Dennise Broderick, Managing Director of global pharmaceutical company Galen Ltd. Targeted at senior business people and high potential young leaders, the three-part series is an opportunity for those at the forefront of local business to exchange views and learn from their peers in an intimate setting. The next event takes place with Adrian Curry, Managing Director of Encirc on Wednesday 4 December 2019 from 08:30 to 10:30 at KPMG in Belfast.

Ann McGregor (NI Chamber), Dr. Dennise Broderick (Galen Ltd) and John Poole (KPMG).

Welcoming SONI’s next generation power plans Firms from across Northern Ireland were given an insight into SONI’s new five-year strategy to transform the region’s power system at the latest NI Chamber & SONI Energy Forum. In direct response to climate crisis, the £500m strategy for decarbonising the NI power system will see structures upgraded Christina Bates (Allstate NI); Chris McAlinden (Dale Farm); Peter Baillie (Energia Renewables); Jo Aston to handle world-leading levels of renewable (SONI); Christopher Morrow (NI Chamber) and Richard Rodgers (Department for the Economy) energy, supplied through a combination of wind and solar power. Hosted in Allstate NI, the forum gave over 100 businesses, representing both energy users and suppliers, the opportunity to engage directly with the System Operator for Northern Ireland on the plans and how they will impact industry. Christopher Morrow, Head of Communications and Policy at NI Chamber commented: “NI Chamber welcomes SONI’s commitment to decarbonising the NI electricity system. It will ensure that Northern Ireland’s businesses have access to secure, quality, green electricity. However, an ambitious strategy such as SONI’s must also be met with investment in the Northern Ireland grid and the urgent approval of the North South Interconnector. The North South Interconnector is a vital piece of infrastructure that will ensure the effective operation of an efficient all-island electricity market, exert downward pressure on electricity prices for business and domestic consumers throughout Northern Ireland, and utilise renewable energy resources.” Other speakers at the event included Chris McAlinden, Group Operations Director at Dale Farm; Richard Rodgers, Head of Energy Group at the Department for the Economy and Peter Baillie, Managing Director of Energia Renewables.

Glasgow trade visit Sixteen Northern Ireland businesses recently attended a trade mission to Glasgow designed to help them identify and exploit new business opportunities in Scotland. The trip was organised by NI Chamber in partnership with Ulster Bank. Representing a wide range of sectors including construction, engineering, management consulting, software and travel, delegates visited Procurex Scotland - an event which was attended by 1,500 decision makers working in Scottish public procurement. Part of NI Chamber's Learn Grow Excel Programme, the intensive two day visit also provided an opportunity for companies to meet representatives from Construction Scotland, the body responsible for leading the Scottish Construction Industry Strategy and exchange best-practice with members of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Ann McGregor (NI Chamber); Nigel Walsh (Ulster Bank) and Stephen Wilkinson (ASSA ABLOY), one of sixteen local companies who participated in the visit.

Annual Golf Day

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Suzie Mooney (Forde May Consulting), Ann McGregor (Chief Executive of NI Chamber); Gerry May (Managing Director at Forde May Consulting), Valerie Reid (Founding Director at Forde May Consulting) and Brendan Catney (Principal Consultant at Forde May Consulting). Kenny McAleenon (Fabrite Engineering), Graham Thompson (Agnew Leasing), Dave McEwan (Agnew Leasing) and Alan Neill (SHS Group). Mark Fagan (BT), Mark Owens (Civica), Paul Murnaghan (BT) and Mike Cormican (BT). Sam Corbett (A&L Goodbody), Seamus McGuckan (First Trust Bank), James Neill (HNH Group) and Chris McCann (Bank of Ireland) pictured with Valerie Reid and Gerry May of Forde May Consulting. Event partner, Forde May Consulting. Phil Murray (NI Chamber), Andrew Neill (JJ Loughran) and Clifton Bower (Rossi Gearmotors). James Neill (HNH Group) winner of the Forde May Perpetual Golf Challenge Trophy with Valerie Reid (Founding Director at Forde May Consulting).

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Danske Bank Export First Forum with Randox

Growing International Business in a Challenging Marketplace

Randox hosted the latest NI Chamber & Danske Bank Export First Exporter Forum in Antrim. Pictured are Col. Mark Campbell (Randox), Jonathan Elder (Danske Bank) and Tanya Anderson (NI Chamber).

NI Chamber’s new International Division hosted its first event for members who are focusing on international growth. Pictured are Peter Legge (Grant Thornton); Nola Hewitt-Dundas (Queen’s University); Mark Thompson (A&L Goodbody); Tanya Anderson (NI Chamber) and guest speaker Richard Hill from the Deluxe Group.

Regional Networking Series with NIE Networks

Business spotlight: Johnston Bell of ARCEN.

Guest speaker David Henderson, Managing Director of Tobermore.

Almost 100 businesses joined NI Chamber & NIE Networks for the latest ‘Regional Networking Series’ event which took place at the Burnavon Theatre in Cookstown. Pictured are Cllr Martin Kearney (Chair of Mid Ulster District Council); David Henderson (Tobermore); David McDonald (NIE Networks) and Valerie McConville (NI Chamber).

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NI Chamber & SSE In Camera with NILGA

Grow Agri Event with Deloitte

John Healy (NI Chamber); Karen Smyth (NILGA) and John Young (SSE Airtricity) at the recent NI Chamber In Camera with NILGA Head of Policy Karen Smyth and the Chief Executives of local Councils.

NI Chamber in partnership with Deloitte held a business growth event specifically for businesses operating within the agri-food sector. Pictured are Louise Turley (NI Chamber); Neal Kelly (Henderson Group); Donna Hemphill (Deloitte) and John Brolly (Farm Week).

Growing Something Brilliant with Cricket Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gary1. Ann Keegan McGregor (Chief Executive, NI Chamber); Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Niall Gibbons (President, Dublin Chamber) and Mary Rose Burke (Chief Executive, Dublin Chamber). 2. Niall Gibbons; Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Siobhan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shea (Cpl); Richard Kennedy (Devenish Nutrition) and Dr Dennise Broderick (Galen). 3. Jo Aston (SONI); Mary Rose Burke (Dublin Chamber); Brendan Foster (Grant Thornton) and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Gary Keegan, Chair of High Performance Advisory Group at Cricket Ireland (left), is pictured with Dermot McArdle (Electric Ireland) and Louise Turley (NI Chamber) at the leadership themed event.

Gary discussed how to build structures within a business to ensure repeat success.

Almost 150 members attended the event which was held in partnership with Electric Ireland.

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Annual Networking Conference 2019

Guest speaker Cathy Thompson (Hostelworld), Vincent Harrison (Dublin Airport) and Ann McGregor (NI Chamber).

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SUPPORTING SPONSORS

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Ann McGregor (Chief Executive, NI Chamber); Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Niall Gibbons (President, Dublin Chamber) and Mary Rose Burke (Chief Executive, Dublin Chamber). Niall Gibbons; Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Siobhan O’Shea (Cpl); Richard Kennedy (Devenish Nutrition) and Dr Dennise Broderick (Galen). Jo Aston (SONI); Mary Rose Burke (Dublin Chamber); Brendan Foster (Grant Thornton) and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

11. 1. Keynote speaker Naomh McElhatton, Group Sales & Marketing Director, Grafton Recruitment. 2. Cathy Thomson, Global Head of Customer Experience Management at Hostelworld Group. 3. Event Partner Dermot McArdle, Head of Business Markets at Electric Ireland with NI Chamber’s Louise Turley. 4. NI Chamber’s Petrina McAuley (l) and Catherine Crilly (r) with Paul McGarrity, Trainer for Google Digital Garage. 5. Gareth Irvine (Copeland Distillery), Orlaith Blaney (Ervia), Mairead Mackle (Tarasis Enterprises), Catherine Crilly (NI Chamber), Becky Mercer (Zymplify), Sarah Travers and Gavin Annon (Mount Charles). 6. Anne Phillipson (Grant Thornton); Martin Tierney (Seating Matters); Patrick

Leggett (Xperience Group); Michael Bower (The Open University) and Michelle Connolly (ProfileTree) on the Electric Ireland Future of Work Stage, with host Camilla Long. 7. Mark Lilley, Co-Founder and Director, Groundswell. 8. Dr Nicola Millard, Head of Customer Insight and Futurology at BT. 9. Karen Fitzsimmons and Gareth Macklin from Obbi Solutions. 10. Panellists Rich Dale (Flowlens); Dermot McArdle (Electric Ireland) and Stephen Donnelly (Bazaarvoice) with host Camilla Long from Career Encode. 11. The Dublin Airport Team - headline sponsors of the event. 12. Over 100 members exhibited at the event.

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NI Chamber Office Opening

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Ann McGregor (Chief Executive, NI Chamber); Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Niall Gibbons (President, Dublin Chamber) and Mary 10. Rose Burke (Chief Executive, Dublin Chamber). Niall Gibbons; Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Siobhan O’Shea (Cpl); Richard Kennedy (Devenish Nutrition) and Dr Dennise Broderick (Galen). Jo Aston (SONI); Mary Rose Burke (Dublin Chamber); Brendan Foster (Grant Thornton) and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

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Ann McGregor (NI Chamber) and John Healy (NI Chamber) with Arlene Foster MLA (DUP). Roger Henderson (NIE Networks) and Ian Henry (Henry Brothers). Rose Mary Stalker (Invest NI) and David Watson (Ryobi Aluminium Casting). Ann McGregor (NI Chamber), Councillor John Finucane (Lord Mayor of Belfast), Máirtín Ó Muilleoir MLA (Sinn Fein) and John Healy (NI Chamber). Kevin Conmy (Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Ann McGregor (NI Chamber). Mark Sweeney (Past President, NI Chamber) and Vicky Davies (Danske Bank).

Adrian Poucher (Hollis), Arlene Foster (DUP), John Healy (NI Chamber) and Eamonn Cregan (Hollis). 8. Tanya Anderson (NI Chamber), Jo Aston (SONI) and Gillian Morris (HSBC). 9. Ellvena Graham (ESB Group) and Jonathan Ireland (Lanyon Group). 10. NI Chamber President John Healy welcomes guests to the new premises on Linenhall Street. 11. Adrienne Brock (Elliott Duffy Garrett), Andrew Greer (SSE Airtricity), Phil Murray (NI Chamber) and Stuart Hollinger (NI Chamber). 12. Ann McGregor (NI Chamber) and Chris Ingle-Finch (1080).

Key Economic Indicators Fall to an Eight-Year Low The latest Quarterly Economic Survey published by NI Chamber and business advisors BDO suggests the Northern Ireland economy shows signs of ‘slipping’ into recession.

Ann McGregor (NI Chamber); Michael Jennings (BDO); Chris Morrow (NI Chamber) and Maureen O’Reilly (Economist for the QES).

The latest Quarterly Economic Survey published by NI Chamber and business advisors BDO suggests that Northern Ireland’s economy is in decline, as businesses felt the harsh effects of the Brexit impasse and the fall out and frustration from the protracted absence of a functioning Executive at Stormont. The survey brings to light serious concerns around economic and particularly political instability in Northern Ireland and the UK, with almost 4 in 5 local business leaders believing that a recession in Northern Ireland is likely in the next 6 to 12 months. Significantly, around half of members also scaled back or put on hold investment and growth plans on the back of the UK’s vote to leave the EU. The latest QES provides evidence that much of the Northern Ireland economy’s post recovery gain has been eroded following the Brexit vote. Order books in both the manufacturing and services sectors are very weak for both domestic (UK) sales and exports, with more firms in both sectors reporting a fall in orders over the next three months compared to those reporting a rise. Cash flow has been a persistent problem for both manufacturing and services and the cash flow position of both also deteriorated this quarter.

However, employment indicators remain positive with more services businesses taking on people than those who are not. There are still some signs of confidence in the sector with more businesses believing that turnover will grow than contract in the next 12 months. Commenting on the results, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “These figures are tangible warning signs about current economic conditions in Northern Ireland, with this quarter’s performance being arguably the weakest in almost a decade. When compared to other regions across the UK who undertook the same survey, Northern Ireland ranked bottom for 8 of the 14 key manufacturing balances and 10 of the 14 key services balances. This is clear evidence that the ongoing Brexit uncertainty at that time was felt more harshly in Northern Ireland than anywhere else. The lack of a functioning Executive visibly adds to this uncertainty and combined with Brexit, creates an environment where key strategic business decisions are being abandoned or delayed. The Northern Ireland economy cannot flourish without investment by our local businesses and they need the support of government to create an environment which is conducive to this.”

ANALYSIS

BY MICHAEL JENNINGS, PARTNER, BDO NORTHERN IRELAND We have seen the confidence of our businesses seriously challenged over the last three months, with talk of uncertainty around a range of key issues continuing to test the resolve of our manufacturing and services sectors. Results from our latest Quarterly Economic Survey make for difficult reading with our regional performance against many of the key indicators not favourable. For many businesses, particularly within manufacturing, investment plans have been on hold since the EU referendum in 2016, with the hope that clarity around issues such as tariffs, the border and

customs would be provided. This approach has meant many businesses have been limited in their capacity for growth, which would have in turn had a positive impact on our local economy, employment and product offering. Although it feels like we have been calling for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;certaintyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for a considerable amount of time, these latest results demonstrate exactly what type of impact the lack of clarity had on our economy and this cannot continue if we are to improve our regional performance.

With a significantly weaker trade performance in both domestic and export markets, Northern Ireland has lost ground compared to other parts of the UK. A significant concern lies in the issues around cash flow. In order to proactively plan for a post Brexit market, many businesses had been investing in larger stock quantities than they normally would. Although it is important for businesses to plan, this has left many companies in a delicate position â&#x20AC;&#x201C; managing their cash flow versus a need for stock reserves. Encouragingly, there has however been a

consistent commitment within both sectors to recruit, with around 2 in 3 businesses still trying to do so. There needs to be a priority to not only build the capacity of our own talent pool to fit these positions, but to ensure NI is an attractive proposition for talent outside of NI. Our local businesses are not lacking in ambition or indeed entrepreneurship. They are willing to invest to grow their specific sector, but they need decisions to be made on key issues to allow them to progress their plans.

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Firms Scoop NI Chamber Awards

The winners of the 2019 Chamber Business Awards.

Eight companies from across Northern Ireland have been announced as the winners of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual Chamber Business Awards. Financial Services Company FinTrU received two awards – High Growth Business of the Year and Employer of the Year whilst Henry Brothers scooped Family Business of the Year – a new award added for 2019. Following an independent judging process, carried out by a panel of business editors and senior business figures, NI Chamber has revealed the following category winners:

Highly Commended awards were also claimed by: • Environmental Street Furniture (Export Business of the Year) • Hagan Homes (Small Business of the Year)

• Small Business of the Year - Fathom • Best use of Technology - Nitec Solutions Ltd • Customer Commitment Award - Musgrave Northern Ireland • Employer of the Year - FinTrU • High Growth Business of the Year - FinTrU • Export Business of the Year - Ryobi Aluminium Casting (UK) • Family Business of the Year - Henry Brothers Ltd • Workplace Wellbeing - Farrans Construction • E-Commerce Business of the Year - Christies Direct

• Henderson Group (Workplace Wellbeing Award)

They will all now compete against other regional winners in the national finals in a bid to take home the top UK business accolade in each category.

• Woodside Logistics Group (Family Business of the Year).

• IceMos Technology (Best use of Technology) • KME Steelworks (High Growth Business of the Year)

National winners are set to be announced at a ceremony at the Chamber Awards Gala Dinner on 28 November 2019 at the Tobacco Dock in London.

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1. Ann McGregor (Chief Executive, NI Chamber); Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Niall Gibbons (President, Dublin Chamber) and Mary Rose Burke (Chief Executive, Dublin Chamber). 2. Niall Gibbons; Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Siobhan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shea (Cpl); Richard Kennedy (Devenish Nutrition) and Dr Dennise Broderick (Galen). 3. Jo Aston (SONI); Mary Rose Burke (Dublin Chamber); Brendan Foster (Grant Thornton) and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

7. 1. Daniel Christie and Kathryn Williamson from Christies Direct receive the award for E-Commerce Business of the Year from NI Chamber President John Healy. 2. Conor Donnelly and Darragh McCarthy from FinTrU receive the High Growth Business of the Year and Employer of the Year award. 3. Andy Robinson and Gareth Dunlop from Fathom receive the Small Business of the Year award. 4. Joanne Lennox and Lisa Haycock from Farrans Construction receive the Workplace Wellbeing award. 5. Kathy Simpson and Nigel Maxwell from Musgrave Northern Ireland receive the Customer Commitment award. 6. Ian Henry, Julie McKeown, Mrs Henry and Jim Henry from Henry Brothers receive the Family Business of the Year award. 7. Stephen English, David Watson and Rachel Latham from Ryobi Aluminum Castings (UK) receive the Export Business of the Year award. 8. Michael Hutchinson and Laura Ard from Nitec Solutions Ltd receive the award for Best Use of Technology.

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NI Chamber Awards

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Beyond Ideals and Dreams

FEATURE

NIE Networks Paula Leathem and Jim Copeland with Air Ambulance NI paramedic, Emma Boylan.

Engaged for the future Although there is a natural affiliation between the work of NIE Networks and Air Ambulance NI, Paula Leathem, Senior HR Business Partner at the electricity distributor, tells Emma Deighan pairing up with the charity this year is about much more than just fundraising.

his year NIE Networks has chosen Air Ambulance NI as its official Charity of the Year. It’s a partnership that will see the organisation’s 1,200 employees aim to raise a target of £25,000 in just 12 months, for the trauma response service. It’s also a move that not only supports a vital emergency service that can give the NI public quicker response times in hours of need, but it’s a decision that has boosted team building, morale and staff engagement at NIE Networks Paula tells Ambition. “Our Employee Engagement Board meets bi-monthly and every one of our 13 sites and depots are represented at that meeting. We got a lot of feedback that staff wanted to see more company wide charity activity, so we formed a small sub group and the outcome was the reintroduction of an annual charity voted for by our employees. “As an organisation the nature of our business means we have employees working remotely or in rural locations in all weather conditions and undertaking high risk work on a daily basis. The medics in the Air Ambulance NI crew similarly overcome serious geographical, environmental and weather challenges on a daily basis to help those in their hour of need. Safety is at the core of our work and while we hope we never need to use the service, it’s hugely reassuring for us as an organisation to know that if any of our teams were ever in trouble, Air Ambulance NI would be there to support us. “No one can fail to be inspired by the tremendous work that they do in saving hundreds of lives across Northern Ireland every year and this is reflected in our vote to nominate them as our charity partner.” The organisation kicked off the year of fundraising with a three-day cycle event across Northern Ireland. The ‘Tour de Network’ as it was dubbed, saw over 25 employees clock up over 6,000 miles in just three days. To support the cycle team every one of NIE Networks’ sites and depots organised spin-

a-thons, coffee mornings and raffles, with the heart of those activities reinforcing engagement and team building within the organisation. “We have a very diverse workforce and this gives everyone, at every site, the chance to get involved,” adds Paula. “Our MD and executive team are actively taking part, we have a charity champion in every location and the company is giving employees time to fundraise, so it all sends out a positive message that this is as much about building relationships internally, as well as with Air Ambulance.” “As an organisation we place huge importance on investing in our employees at all levels, professionally and personally and that reflects in the accolades we have picked up including accreditation as an Investors in People Gold Company, the CIPD Employee Engagement Award and most recently the CIPD Best Change Management Initiative 2019.” The company has also just scooped the coveted title of Best Apprenticeship Scheme for 2019 at the national CIPD People Management Awards UK. Staving off competition from some of the UK’s leading business providers including, Openreach and Lloyds Banking Group, the judges hailed NIE Networks for the integrated approach towards its Apprenticeship Programme and highlighted the clear success rate it has demonstrated with regards to staff development and progression. It’s evident from Paula’s delight talking about the award that the recognition means a great deal to the organisation. “Our Apprenticeship Programme has been well established in Northern Ireland for some time, but to receive UK-wide recognition by CIPD is on another level. We invest in the region of £1 million annually in the programme which provides the highest level of development to our apprentices, the majority of whom stay with the business long-term and add significant value.” The company is reaching out to future employees not just through the Apprenticeship Programme, but through a broad

FEATURE range of educational initiatives. It’s a drive that safeguards its workforce of the future and promotes the roles available within the utilities arena. “The talent pool in Northern Ireland is shrinking,” Paula begins on the subject of recruitment. “In addition to our annual apprenticeship programme which focuses on industrial employees for overhead lines, plant maintenance and electrician roles, we also have a graduate programme. It’s our own NIE Scholarship delivered through Queen’s University and we developed that because we are finding it difficult to get talent, so we are trying to encourage more people to get into STEM and that will help get that pipeline through.” She adds: “The problem is, with the nature of utilities the sector wasn’t recruiting as actively but that’s changed and now we have a gap. Electrical engineering is such a dynamic career choice and the opportunities are incredibly diverse, including working in operational field based roles, design and investment.” Paula says the focus towards a zero carbon emissions society by 2050 will see many new exciting roles in this sector. “Roles for the future are going to be very different. It will be a whole new landscape around renewable energy and decarbonisation, so it’s a fantastic time for young people to consider a career in this industry.” Young people aren’t the only focus for the firm, however. Paula and her team are keen to boost the female workforce at NIE Networks. Since 2015 over one third of the company’s apprenticeship and graduate intake has been female.

“The number of women coming in is growing. Strong partnerships with Women In Business and the IoD have been invaluable to helping us on that journey, alongside a focussed outreach programme engaging with 18,000 young people annually. We also have recently registered with the Diversity Charter Mark, with a view to achieving the initial bronze level for gender. But we have a way to go yet.” For the last number of years NIE Networks has been the headline sponsor of Skills NI. The free two-day interactive event sets out to inspire 14-19 year olds and their teachers, parents and influencers to help them pursue “the career of their dreams”. It’s attended by employers, training providers, colleges, universities and career sector companies. “We use both male and female apprentices at our stand and that helps engage better with students. There has been a shift in the interest and movement in women taking on roles here. We do have females working on overhead lines, but this shift has been very gradual, so Skills NI allows us to showcase what’s on offer.” The outreach activity all feeds into the company’s strong engagement theme both internally and externally and it’s one that is set to continue says Paula. “It’s all about engagement for us. Listening to our staff and actually doing something about their feedback, as well as creating opportunities for them to engage with each other, whether that’s through attending events or helping to fundraise.” she says. “We’ve an exciting year ahead with our new charity partner but importantly for us we’ve an exciting year ahead for connecting and engaging our employees.”

Team building - Paula Leathem and employees from NIE Networks taking part in fundraising activities that have been raising funds as well as supporting engagement.

“Roles for the future are going to be very different. It will be a whole new landscape around renewable energy and decarbonisation, so it’s a fantastic time for young people to consider a career in this industry.”

Our experienced and ambitious team has over twenty years’ experience in delivering events in Northern Ireland’s only purpose-built international convention centre. “On the day it was brilliant. It was the best event outside London that we’ve done. The way everyone bought into it wholeheartedly, it was off the scale to what we’ve done in any region before.” KELLIE WHILE, HEAD OF

CREATIVE

FEATURE

Ten out of ten for Ulster Bank’s Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme By John Ferris, Entrepreneur Development Manager, Ulster Bank.

Ulster Bank’s Entrepreneur Accelerator has come along way since we first opened our doors to entrepreneurs back in 2016. Back then, our focus was attracting early stage entrepreneurs and we were part of an international movement to encourage and support start-up businesses, while helping Belfast as a city become more hospitable to entrepreneurship. Three years later, and while we are still very much driven by creating an eco-system for entrepreneurs, as we welcome our 10th cohort of

business owners on to our Accelerator programme, there have been significant changes to the landscape. Last year we took the decision to bring the Belfast Hub, which is one of 12 Entrepreneur Accelerator Hubs located across the UK, in to our Ulster Bank headquarters which has enabled us to better align the work of the Accelerator programme more closely with the rest of the bank, while ramping up Ulster Bank’s support for entrepreneurs across every division. 2018 was also the year we introduced our new entrepreneurship team. If we are to be the leading drivers of entrepreneurship, then we need to have the right people with the right skills to facilitate this. Every day in our Belfast Hub we have a team of four providing coaching and mentorship to 80 entrepreneurs while also working hard to improve the overall landscape for these businesses to grow and succeed. But to what impact? Pleasingly, the figures speak for themselves and we are proud of the significant impact the Belfast Hub has made to our local economy. In 2018, we helped create £3.4m in investment, £2.7m in turnover and supported more than 110 businesses. As we approach the last quarter of 2019, all indicators are positive and we expect last year’s figures to be outperformed. Of course there is still much work to be done and our team remains committed to ensuring we

can continue to make advancements. Supporting female-led businesses is at the top of our priority list and we are working hard to level the playing field. 53% of our entrepreneurs in 2018 were female and we hope to continue to grow this figure. In September we organised Northern Ireland’s first Female Investment Day; an opportunity for female business owners to come together and learn from other entrepreneurs who have been successful while establishing that all important network of contacts. Supported by QUB; Invest NI; Belfast City Council; DELL Technology and InterTrade Ireland, the event brought together more than 100 entrepreneurs, business leaders and funders who pledged to work together to confront the Gender Investment Gap. As we begin to start the process again with our 10th intake of participants to the Accelerator programme, pausing for reflection has been a useful exercise. Belfast has transformed itself into a vibrant city for entrepreneurs and slowly but surely, we are narrowing the gap between ourselves and other UK cities when it comes to measuring entrepreneurship. Life in the Belfast Hub is as busy as ever but it’s still incredibly rewarding to see an entrepreneur who has given their all get a huge deal over the line and appreciate that we played a small part in helping him or her unlock this potential. • For more information about the Belfast Hub or to speak to a member of Ulster Bank’s Entrepreneurship team, contact: www.ulsterbank.com/accelerator

Belonging to a network which is built on peer support One entrepreneur who participated at the female investment conference was Professor Adele Marshall, founder of Advanced Analytics Labs and Professor of Statistics at Queen’s University Belfast. Advanced Analytics Labs exists to empower businesses through data so for owner Adele Marshall, it’s important to attend learning and networking events, such as the Female Investment Conference, to empower herself. Here, she explains why she decided to start her own business, on top of a busy career in education and how crucial

being connected to a network of likeminded entrepreneurs has been to the success of Advanced Analytics Labs. “As a Professor of statistics, it’s fair to say I know a thing or two about data. It’s my passion and I’ve spent a lot of my working career encouraging others to view their existing data as valuable asset to their business. Eventually, I decided to take the plunge and set up Advanced Analytics Labs, turning my long-held passion into a business. The mission at Advanced Analytics Labs is a simple one; we want to empower our customers by

making their data do the hard work for them so they can access real value from this. Based in Belfast, we very much consider ourselves to be an ‘innovationdriven’ enterprise and use our own expertise to engage with customers and implement solutions we know will work for them. The end goal for us is always to help business owners make betterinformed decisions and we put bespoke packages in place so they can make educated predictions and remove some of the guesswork from decision making. Starting any business can be a daunting

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John Ferris, Entrepreneur Development Manager, Ulster Bank, Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive, Belfast City Council, Claudine Owens, Portfolio Manager, Clarendon Fund Managers and Shane O’Hanlon, InterTrade Ireland.e Ireland. experience but it’s absolutely been worth the risk. Of course there were times when the challenges seemed insurmountable, not least because of trying to juggle managing a new start-up with my day job, but the long hours and sleepless nights have definitely paid off. At the beginning of this year, not long into my journey as an entrepreneur, a friend recommend I join the Ulster Bank’s Entrepreneur Development Accelerator. I applied for the programme and was delighted to receive the news that I had been accepted to join in April 2019. Advances Analytics Labs was very much a micro SME at this stage. We were too small to justify acquiring our own office but knew we needed to be in the right environment if we were going to make this business work. Being accepted onto the programme gave me access to state of the art office space in Belfast city centre with room and facilities to hold meetings, carry out research and even find a quiet space to think when things were becoming too much. On top of the great facilities, my business benefited from being surrounded by so many other entrepreneurs and their drive and motivation

certainly rubbed off on me. You often hear that people find starting a business to be a lonely experience, especially if they are working from home, but my own journey could not be more different. When I needed help with website design or marketing, there was always someone in the hub who had the skills and expertise I was looking for and perhaps more importantly, the time and patience to share those skills with someone like me who was eager to learn. Having access to one on one mentoring from a business development expert has been also been a huge benefit and the one thing I would definitely encourage other entrepreneurs to take advantage of. Undergoing regular coaching has transformed the way I approach certain tasks or situations and I feel like talking through my ideas or growth plans with a trusted advisor helps to hold me to account. I have a better understanding of my role as CEO and what other people expect from me thanks to these sessions and knowing there’s someone I can always approach for support or advice gives me great piece of mind. The conference was very focused on addressing the problems associated with the Female

Investment Gap and of course this is something I am aware of, both in the business world and also across many other sectors. Throughout my 20year career at Queen’s, I have been involved in many studies examining gender imbalance so the findings of the Rose Review come as little surprise to me. The important thing is though that the scales are shifting – albeit slowly. I speak to investors regularly about ways they support female CEOs and if this isn’t something that’s on their radar or that they feel strongly about then perhaps they aren’t the right people to invest in my company. My advice to anyone who is feeling disadvantaged by the imbalance or perhaps feels like their voice isn’t being heard as a female entrepreneur is to look closely at the network you surround yourself with. This is something I’ve always believed in but it’s become even more apparent since joining the Ulster Bank Accelerator Programme. I cannot overstate how much I have gained from belonging to a network which is built on peer support and I’m at the stage now where I want to pass the skills I have learned onto those entrepreneurs who are coming behind me.”

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The Drive to Thrive 56

One of Northern IrelandĂ s top 100 companies, Sensata Technologies, is going through something of a change. Here Eric Sorret, General Manager, Global Chassis Business, talks to Ambition about the firmĂ s drive forward. 57

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ntil 2014 Sensata was known in industrial circles here as Schrader Electronics. It was taken over by global firm Sensata, which has since invested heavily in R&D to up its game here. With its NI Operation capacity Sensata is a pioneer in tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) from Northern Ireland. It creates a vehicle safety feature that is standard in all cars. In layman’s speak, the work that Sensata Technologies does here “helps drivers avoid serious accidents, reduce environmental impact and save money at the pump”. It can count the majority of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers among its customer base. It’s a global leader in the design and manufacture of valve, mechanical and electronic system components as well as sensing technologies and these world-leading credentials have been consistent since the firm’s beginnings here in 1988 when it operated as Schrader. Globally Sensata Technologies employs 20,300 staff. Here, between its two sites, it employs over 1,100 staff. Since the acquisition of Schrader, Sensata has strengthened its position as a leader in its field, making it a leader in technology for many sectors including aerospace, agriculture, energy and more. It’s a position that allows it to have a greater hold on what is a $2bn market. And with that leading position comes a duty to keep growing and developing and here, in Northern Ireland, Eric Sorret is leading the way for such things. “We continue to grow the business and more importantly expand our capabilities in tyre and battery systems,” he begins. “We are smart and connected and we will pursue new business within the engineering sector,” he adds. Sensata continues to invest in research and development, not only in the development of RTPMS and associated technologies, but also in MEMS and other low-pressure applications. In fact only last year it invested around £26 m in R&D which it hopes will lead to new products to address engineering requirements in the motoring sector. Eric adds: “We are working on new systems and creating opportunities to generate additional features.” Eric talks of bluetooth technology and other revolutionary ways of moving the brand forward during the interview and says bigger and better is on the horizon. “We do have major plans,” he says, “but we are not able to disclose them.” What he does reveal is more recruitment is in the pipeline. “We want to continue to develop the NI tech centre and that will mean more highly-skilled

engineering jobs. What we do will continue gaining traction in production capability.” Indeed its relatively new STEM program and technical apprenticeships will pave the way to safeguard that future workforce for the firm. It also has strong links with Queen’s

develop here is that we find good talent in electronics and software engineering and we see some benefit of growing and developing our technical centre here, not only because it’s cost effective but because it’s strong on skills,” Eric says.

“We are smart and connected and we will pursue new business within the engineering sector. Sensata continues to invest in research and development, not only in the development of RTPMS and associated technologies, but also in MEMS and other low-pressure applications. ” University and Ulster University to further protect its skill set of the future. “We are developing intense collaboration with more than 30 internships from universities and a high percentage of those apprenticeships are employed by the company,” Eric reveals. “We engage in schools too and invite them to come and visit so we can have that interaction and allow them to understand what it’s all about.” To ramp up its community presence and exposure of its operations here, Sensata has stretched beyond educational confines and into the community. With diversity one of its core principles, the company headlined sponsored the Belfast Mela this year. The move between the technology firm and the cultural event was dubbed as “the perfect partnership” and one that allowed it to showcase a STEM Zone aligned to the work of the Sensata Foundation to help “empower the next generation of engineers”. Staff took part in the celebrations. And because Northern Ireland is responsible for £400m of Sensata’s annual sales it makes sense that future employment protection is high up the agenda at the company’s NI operations. “One of the reasons we do continue to

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Getting the

Tina McKenzie is a firm believer that if “people are doing well, the economy will do well too”. As the CEO of one of Ireland’s leading recruitment agencies, Grafton, she knows a thing or two about how to nurture a workforce, writes Emma Deighan.

ina argues that from education to healthcare, there is a lot of work to be done to build the kind of society that can truly thrive. Central to making that vision a reality is narrowing the skills gap, creating employment opportunities and securing inward investment: “The economy is only the icing on the cake, society is the foundation and it is vital to get that right first”. At present the employment figures for Northern Ireland are among the lowest in the UK. ‘The Economic Inactivity in Northern Ireland topic paper’ released recently indicates that there were 318,000 economically inactive people of working age here in 2018, which accounted for over a quarter of the working age population. Northern Ireland’s economically inactive rate

sits at 27.2% – the highest in the UK, which has been the case for over 30 years. The average rate in the UK as a whole sits at 21.7%. “This figure has dropped slightly which is always welcome. However, it only dropped by around half a percent. There’s still much more work to do,” says Tina. “That number includes couples, the elderly and students, as well as people who often for legitimate reasons are in receipt of benefits. Among this group are many who desperately want to get into work, but they just need the right kind of support. “Historic levels of inter-generational unemployment in Northern Ireland, much of which is a legacy of the past, can lead to a real sense of hopelessness. Addressing that perpetual cycle of despair will take a concerted effort from everyone right across society, including political leaders. Through

“Teachers in this part of the world work extremely hard. They need unstinting support from the Education Authority, and crucially educators need a curriculum that is fit for purpose in 2019.”

the PeoplePlus part of our business we try to tackle this issue through the implementation of our Steps2Success programme which helps people into work.” Tina says that education is intrinsic to creating a pathway into the world of work for the unemployed, including those seeking a route back into employment after a period of absence. In her capacity as Honorary Consul to Finland she has seen first-hand the benefits of the Nordic model of education: “In many of the Nordic countries, children start school around the age of seven, there is less of an emphasis on homework and testing doesn’t take place until much later. There is no taboo around pursuing a trade rather than third-level education. “Teachers in this part of the world work extremely hard. They need unstinting support from the Education Authority, and crucially educators need a curriculum that is fit for purpose in 2019 and beyond. Such a curriculum will prepare students for a radically different and ever evolving world of work.” So if we begin to see improved trends in education and investment, is the recruitment sector equipped to deal with those opportunities? Tina, who is the CEO of Grafton Recruitment Ireland, says they stand ready. Through the business Tina and her team help to get 2,000 people into permanent work every year and 8,000-10,000 workers out every day on a temporary basis. With 10 branches across Ireland, Grafton has ambitious plans for expansion over the next six months with new office spaces opening in Cork, Galway, Dundalk, Limerick and Sligo, creating jobs and providing a gateway to work for those living nearby. Tina is overseeing this radical growth strategy at one of the most uncertain times for politics and business, but is undeterred. Championing and guiding new start-ups is also something that Tina is passionately committed to, through her role as Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses NI. Northern Ireland has the lowest business birth rate of any region in the UK. There were 6,855 business births in Northern Ireland in 2017, an increase of 16 per cent on the previous year according to NISRA statistics. There were 4,940 business deaths in Northern Ireland in 2017. “Small businesses are the life-blood of our local economy and we need to ensure that they are adequately supported, particularly postBrexit.” Looking to the future of Northern Ireland’s economy, Tina believes in addressing the skills gap through good quality and imaginative education, and coming up with inventive ways of attracting investors as essential. Tina also adds: “We desperately need political stability and progress. Anytime there is political uncertainty it plants a seed of doubt in an investor’s mind. Our economy is small but that means we can control it and begin to grow it with targeted steps and interventions. We need to concentrate on building the future society and prosperity we want. In 2025, what do we want to be excelling at and how can we pitch that offering to the wider global economy? That is a question for which we all must have an answer.”