NEWS
KPMG: UK CORPORATION TAX HIKE POSES UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR NI Northern Ireland has the opportunity to stand out from the crowd in the race for international investment if it is able to lower its corporation tax rate from 2023, KPMG in Northern Ireland has said. The firm said the combination of a reduction in corporation tax here to 12.5% – on a par with that levied in the Republic – and the unique position Northern Ireland finds itself in post Brexit, with access to both Europe and GB markets, would significantly enhance its attractiveness as an investment location. The comments come in the wake of plans laid out in the Chancellor’s Budget to increase UK corporation tax to 25% in 2023 from 19% currently for companies with profits above £50,000 a year or over. Johnny Hanna, partner in charge of KPMG in NI, said: “There is no doubt that a 12.5% corporation tax rate on trading activities in Northern Ireland from 2023 (by then half the UK tax rate and on a par with that in Ireland), if it could be delivered and justified on a compelling cost-benefit basis, would significantly enhance the attractiveness of Northern Ireland as an investment location when coupled together with its unique position as a gateway to both the GB and the EU markets.”
ESRI IRELAND NAMED IRELAND’S BEST SMALL WORKPLACE Esri Ireland, a market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has been named the Best Small Workplace in Ireland 2021 for the second consecutive year. Esri Ireland was recognised at the 19th annual Great Place to Work Best Workplaces in Ireland awards. This recognition follows a positive year for the company in Ireland, which enjoyed its most successful year ever in 2020. Esri Ireland has continued to provide essential services to the public and private sectors throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The company helped set up an interactive online dashboard, Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub, applying its digital mapping services to track COVID-19 activity in Ireland.
GALGORM COLLECTION LAUNCHES RECRUITMENT DRIVE Galgorm has announced the launch of a brand new recruitment drive to hire more than 180 additional new team members for a range of hospitality roles for its hotels and restaurants in Ballymena, Belfast and Templepatrick. Roles include chefs, bar tenders, spa therapists and managers, along with facilities staff, housekeepers, drivers and night porters. The company, who is behind the world renowned Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, said that the roles will help to meet anticipated demand when the hospitality sector reopens in the coming months. Galgorm Collection said it is investing more than £5m in annual wages creating the new roles, which include both full and part time positions and forms part of its advanced preparations for the full and safe reopening of its properties. Andrew Logan (Head Chef Castle Kitchen + Bar); Jessica Halliday (Galgorm Spa Therapist); Colin Johnston (Galgorm Collection Managing Director); Nyree Kerr (Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort Receptionist) and Peter Meehan (Bar Person at Fratelli).
DALE FARM UNVEILS REBRAND AS PART OF AMBITIOUS GROWTH STRATEGY
Dale Farm has unveiled a new identity for its brand as part of a major growth strategy for the next three years. It has completely redeveloped its consumer-facing brand to reflect a more contemporary style and better communicate its farmer cooperative credentials. Its corporate identity has Dale Farm Group Chief Executive Nick Whelan and County Down also been redesigned to align with the farmer Chris Catherwood. new look, using the strapline ‘Your Dairy Cooperative’ to place focus on the role of the 1,300 farmers who own the cooperative and supply it with milk. Group Chief Executive Nick Whelan commented: “Dale Farm is extremely proud to be owned by hardworking dairy farmers who supply us with milk to make our products. This is what makes Dale Farm the successful company it is. Our new look celebrates the central role of farmers in our products and underlines that consumers are supporting the farming sector when they choose Dale Farm.”
DEVENISH SEEKING INVESTMENT TO BOLSTER GLOBAL FOOTPRINT Global agri technology company Devenish has announced plans to raise capital in order to grow internationally. Devenish already has sites across Ireland, the UK, USA, Turkey and Uganda, employing over 750 people globally and trading in over 40 countries, but wants to grow even further. Devenish Chief Executive Richard The firm is actively exploring partnership Kennedy. opportunities within the international food and feed industries. Richard Kennedy, Chief Executive, Devenish said: “We have ambitious plans to further build on our global footprint, and we intend to secure further investment as part of that strategy. We have appointed Goodbody as our financial advisers to explore a number of options with potential financial investors and industry partners.”
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