IN FO CUS
DoesBelfastneedmore buildtorentproperty?
FE AT URE
WhynewtaxonEVsis
slapinfacefo rd rivers
HowBelfastCityAirport
isshapingNorthern
Ireland’ sb usines sf uture
Contents Thelatestnewsandexclusivesfromacrossthe worldofNorther nIrelandbusiness
20
Coverstory
TimHalleyonBelfastCityAirport’smajornew ambitiousvisionofitsfuture
24
InFocus
JohnMulgrewspeakstoAdamBurneyabout thenewLoftlinesdevelopmentinBelfast 37
Outsourcing Howwebecame ago-todestinationfor businessesandtheinternationalbackoffice
47
STEMfocus TheNItechfirmshelpingourlocalfarmingand agrisectorimprovehowtheywork 53
IT &technology IsBig Techstartingtoeliminatejobsand roles duetoartificialintelligence?
63
Netzero &greenenergy JohnMulgrewsaysgovernmentplanstotax EVsis aslapinthefacefordrivers
77
Motoring PatBurnstakesBYD’slatestlittlefully-electric hatchbackfor aspin
84
Photocall Alookatwhat’sbeenhappeningacross Norther nIrelandoverthelastfewweeks
92
Lifestyle JohnMulgrewtakes alookatsomeofthetop watch releasesduring2025
94
Travel LucyWhitehad abemusingstayinMaltabut findsitallchangethesecondtimearound
96 Technology Adrian Wecklerlooksathowitallwentright forNvidia’sJensenHuang
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EDITOR’S COMM EN TS
Reaching thenew precipice forwork Wheredoesthetimego?It’s trulyhardtobelievewe’re closetocallinganendto 2025.
It’s notbeenaneasyoneformany businesses.There’salwayssomethingto makethingsthatlittlebitmorecomplicated, ortougher
Certainsectorshavefeltthatmorethan others.Theimpactoftheincreasein employerNationalInsurancecontributions hashitmanyinthehospitalityand retail trade,butalsoothers,leadingtoincreased billsandinmanycases,causingfirmsto pausehiringtodealduetotheadditional financialburden.
Manyarealsodealingwiththeproliferation
of artificialintelligence(AI),andwhat impactthathasintheworkplace.
Atitsmostbasiclevel,largelanguage modelsareallowingustospeedup processes,compareandcontrastdocuments anddata,andinsomecases,generate images,mostlyforhumorous reasons.
ButthewiderimplicationsofAIarestillyet tobefelt.It’shavinganimpactonhiring requirementsinthetechsectorandbeyond, already
It’sdifficulttoknow,looking afew yearsdowntheline,ifittrulywillbe a processof‘replacement’formany roles, orwillthathumanexperiencebecome a desiredpremiumforbothconsumersand companies.Ittakesmeback atimewhen
computingmovedfrombeingsomething usedalongsideyourjob,tosomethingat thecoreofalmosteverythingwedo.
Irememberbeingkeentopursue acareerin IT,butwasstudyingwhenthebubbleburst. We werealltoldbyoneteacher‘there’llbe nojobsinIT’.Howwrongshewas.
Butwe’renowatthatnextprecipiceof uncertaintyoverthefuture. Watchthis space.
I’dliketothankeveryoneforthesupport we’ve receivedthisyear.It’sbeen abusyone andmanystorieshavebeentold.However, thereare moretotell,andplentytocomein thenewyear ■
JohnMulgrew
Publisher UlsterBusiness c/oMediahuisUKLtd Belfast TelegraphHouse,33ClarendonRoad, ClarendonDock,BelfastBT13BG
Printer W&GBaird GreystonePress,CaulsideDrive, AntrimBT412RS www.wgbaird.com
Editor JohnMulgrew,john.mulgrew@mediahuis.co.uk
Advertising JudithMartin,j.martin@mediahuis.co.uk
Graphicdesign SusanMcClean,MediahuisIrelandDesignStudio
Coverphoto ElaineHill
Amonth innumbers 7.1%
Theriseinaverage housepricesin
Norther nIreland duringthethird quarter.
£65k
Theaveragesalaries ofupto100new rolesbeingcreated herebyBillerGenie.
£4.1bn
Theclaimedbenefit ofDalradian’sgold mineplansfortheNI economy,according totheUSambassador totheUK.
40
Thenumberofjobs beingcreatedbyCo TyronefirmKESGroup.
Loftlinesschemeand others‘canhelpaddress NIhousing shortage’ Majorbuildto rentschemessuch asLoftlinescanhelpaddress housingshortagesinNorthern Ireland,it’sbeenclaimed.
Madeupof778apartmentsacrossthree blocks,theprojectis ajointventurebetween LacunaDevelopmentsand WatkinJones, fundedbyLegal &General.
AdamBurney,headofbuildto rentatLegal &General,sayshebelievesthereis“huge potentialforsupply”inBelfast.
“Weare hopingforotherinvestmentby otherparties,”hesays.“Weare notafraidof that.It’sagoodthingandmutuallybeneficial tous.
Hesaysit’salsolookingat“other opportunities”inthecitybutit’saboutgetting thefirstdevelopmenttostartwith.
“It’ssomethingwearelookingat.Thisisa bigscheme,anddefinitelyontheupper-end.
“[Weare]oftentalkingtodevelopersand landownersaboutwhatwecoulddo,not justabouthousing,butinvestmentinto commercial realestate,purpose-builtstudent accommodation.
“Itprovidesmorehousingandthat’sagood thing –addingmoresupplyintothecity,”he says.“It’senablingaffordablehousing,and
whencomplete
takingpeopleoutoftheexistinghousing stock.
“[Weare inthe]uppertomidsegmentin termsofsupply,andcapturingthatmarket.
“Thesolutiontothehousingmarketismultifaceted –affordable[properties]forsale,and rental.
“Whatwearedoingwith rentalhousingisa strongsolutionforthatsupplyproblem.They aren’tbeingsoldtopeoplewhoneverputthe lightson –overseasinvestorsspeculatingon capitalgrowth.”
MrBurneysaysLegal &Generalhasinvested in ahostofschemesacrosstheUK,with northof10,000homes,includingstudent developments,intotal.
“Wehavebeenworkingwithlocalpublic sectorbodiestodeliverhousing,”hesaid.
“[InNorther nIreland]thatstartedwiththe WatkinJones/LacunaDevelopmentsJVfor [Loftlines].”
In arecentupdate,AnthonyBestofLacuna DevelopmentssaidLoftlineswill“redefine moder nliving”inBelfastand“set aprecedent forfutureurban regenerationprojects”inthe city..
“Byaddressinghousingneed,both rental andsocial;supportingeconomicdevelopment and regeneration;enhancingpublic realm andgreenspaceinfrastructure;andthrough promotingsustainable,connected,urban living,Loftlinesdirectlyalignswith anumberof keypoliciesforNorther nIrelandandBelfast,” hesaid.
Readthefullinterviewonpage24-25
AdamBurney
JohnMulgrew
WhattheLoftlinesdevelopmentcouldlooklike
Museum tellingstory ofIrishsoldiersin BritishArmytakesmajorstep forward Anambitiousmuseumaimingtotellthe350-yearhistory ofIrishsoldiersin theBritishArmyhastaken amajorstep forward
Plansareunderwayfor‘Untold:TheMuseum’,witha freshapplication submittedfortheBelfastdevelopmentat28BedfordStreetinBelfast Theplans,partofa£13.6mscheme,arealsosettoinclude acentrein Enniskillen.
TheBelfastgalleriesareplannedtoopenbysummer2027inthe restoredlistedlinenwarehouseatBedfordStreet.
“Theproposalseeksthechangeofuseofthefirst,secondandthird floorsofthebuildingfromofficeaccommodationto amuseumusewith associatedcaféandancillaryfacilities,”planssay
“ThedevelopmentispartofUntold:StoriesoftheIrishinthe BritishArmy, amajornewdual-sitemuseuminitiativewhichwillunite regimentalcollectionsandnarrativesacrossBelfastandEnniskillen
“TheBelfastmuseumat28BedfordStreetwill provide aworld-class culturalattraction,deliveringimmersivevisitorexperiences, object-rich
displays,andeducationalfacilitieswithinahistoricallysignificantlinen warehouse.
“ThefirstmajorphaseofUntoldinvolvescreatinganewmuseum spaceinthe restoredlinenwarehouseat28BedfordStreet,Belfast,part ofthecity’sLinenQuarter
“TheprojecthassecureddevelopmentfundingfromtheNational LotteryHeritageFundtomovetheplanninganddesignforward,with planstoapplyfor afullNationalLotterygrant.”
JohnMulgrew
Whatthenew
Bankof AmericannewNIbase ‘win win’ forfirm and region BankofAmericacreatingupto1,000jobsforNorthern Irelandis a“winwin”situationforthebankandNorthern Ireland,it’sbeenclaimed.
ItplanstobeginhiringstaffinBelfastinthecomingmonthsasitsets upananti-moneylaunderingteamemployingupto1,000peoplein Belfast.
AccordingtoJohnMcIvor,headofcommunicationsforthebank, theBelfastfacilitywillcontributetothelocaleconomy, createnew opportunitiesandfosterlongtermpartnerships.
“BankofAmericaalreadyhasexperiencewiththelocalcommunity,” hesays.“WehavebeenworkingcloselywiththeBelfastMetsince 2023,funding athreeyeardigitalskillsandemployabilityprogramme for600participantsfromsociallyandeconomicallydisadvantaged backgrounds.”
AmongthepositivesofsettingupshopinNorther nIreland,Bank ofAmerica’s JohnMcIvordescribesas“astrategiclocationthat complementsBankofAmerica’sexistingglobalfootprint”.Strategically locatedbetweenNorthAmericaandEurope,NIprovidesconnectivity throughairandsea.
Itisoneof anumberofUSfinancialinstitutionstocollectivelypledge around£1.25bnofinvestmentintheUKaheadofDonald Trump’sstate earlierthisyear.
ThebankalreadyoperatesinDublin,whereithas1,000staff,andhas operationsinEngland.
BankofAmericahasstartedscoutingofficespacefortheanti-money launderingteam,whowillmonitortransactionsforanyillegality.
Asmanyas1,000staffcouldbehiredfortheBelfastoperation.
Speakingatthetime,BankofAmericachief,BrianMoynihansaid: “AtBankofAmericawearefocusedonhelpingourclientsadvance economicopportunityandprosperityonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.
“TheearlyUS-UKtradeagreementthatthepresidentandthe primeministerbegandiscussinginFebruaryhasprovidedthebusiness communitywiththecertaintyandframeworkitneedstostrengthen
Quotes of the month “There were signs of recovery in theNorthernIreland privatesector inOctober as ratesofdeclineinoutputand neworderseased over the month.”
SebastianBurnside,chief economistforUlsterBank, speakingaboutthePMI.
transatlanticcommerce.
“Weare pleasedtobeabletoextendBankofAmerica’sinvestmentin theUKwiththecreationof anewBelfastoperationsfacilitytosupport ourglobalbusiness,bringingupto1,000newopportunitiestoNorthern Ireland.”
TheUK’sfinancialservicessectorhas received acommitmentof £1.25bnfromUScompanies,withLondon,EdinburghandManchester joiningBelfastinbenefitingfromthisinvestment.
CompanieswhichhavepledgedmoneyincludePayPal,CitiBankand S&PGlobal,andthedepartmentsaysthis“willsupportjobcreation, driveinnovation,anddeliverimprovedservicesforconsumersinthe UK”.
Readthefullfeatureonpage37-40
“The restorationofthe Executivelastyear,and the fundingsettlement... from the UK Government,havehelped givebusinesses thecertaint y they need to flourish.”
SecretaryofStatefor Norther nIreland, HilaryBenn.
“NorthernIreland’s housing marketremained robust throughout thethirdquarter, withgrowthinbothprices andsalesvolume.”
JordanBuchananof PropertyPalcommentingon thequarterthreehousing market report.
BankofAmerica’s JohnMcIvor
Farm livestockapp ‘now dealingwithquarterofNIcattle’ Afarmin glivesto ck ap phas grow th to dealwith around aquarter of thec at tleher einN or thern Ir elan d, it canber eveale d.
Farmdrive, alives to ck management app, wonBes tTechStart-U patthe 2025 NI Te ch Awards last Oc tober.
ForGarethM cDonaldand Gareth Gordon, theyoung co -found er softhe soft ware (w ho also picked up aN ew Produc tI nnovation gong at 2025’s Balmoral Show ), theaward illus trated theradic al evolutionoffarming in Northern Ireland.
TheFarmdrive concepts tarted in 2022 whenthet wo Gareths, both of whom have backgroundsinfarming,s et outtocreatea prac tical, easy-to- us eapp forfarmers
“T henthe neighbours st ar tedusing it and nowwe’ve gotoveraquarter of thecountry ’s cattle on thes ys tem,”GarethM cDonalds ay s.
“Peoplelikeour selves arespringing up from ourown ex periencesand innovating in
differents ec tors within agriculture.”W illiam Ir vine,president of theUls terFarmerUnion (U FU ), re co gnis es thegrounds wellof young entrepreneur screatingtechnolog yand making life easier on family farms. “T he next generation of farmer sare more comfor table incorp oratingallof that into theirwork,”he says
AccordingtoarecentRes earchand Market s Report,the global agri -techmarketwas valued at €24.42bn in 2024 andispredicted to double to $4 8.98 bn by 2030.Acropofagrite ch firms have emergedinN or thernI reland that us etechnolog yinnew andinnovative ways
They includeslurr ying companieslike SlurryKatand Lely Robotics,bas ed in Dungannon, whichprovidesrob otic milking, fe edingand barn equipment. Automatic milkingrob ot sare widely availableinNIand eggpro ducers us erob otic sfor eggpacking AnotherisCat tleEye.Itutilisesvid eo
analytic stod etec thealthissuessuch as lameness in dair yherds.Itcurrently monitors around “a quar termillioncow s, from UkrainetoKazakhs tantoPakis tanto Argentina,”according to co -found er and chiefTerry Canning.
Mr Canning, whogrewuponadairy farm betweenN ew ry andA rmagh, st ar ted hisprofessionallifeworking forcloud computingcompanies in SiliconValley, Canada andChina,b eforereturning to Northern Irelandtoapply hisknowledge to dair yfarming.In200 4, he founded FarmWizard,the world’sfirs tsof tware servicefor managing livestock, whichhe sold to theDukeofWes tminster ’s Gros venor Groupin2015.
In 2019,Terry foundedCat tleEye with fellow entrepreneur Adam Askew.
Re ad thefullf eatu re on page 47-5 0
WetherspoonusingIreland‘as springboard forEuropeexpansion’ JDWetherspoonisusingIrelandasa springboardforitsexpansioninto mainlandEuropetoavoidBrexitinduced redtape,ithasemerged.
Thestockmarket-listedgroup,whichowns asmallnumberofpubsintheRepublicof IrelandandthreeinNorther nIreland,hasbeen eyeinglocationsinSpainforitsdebutonthe Continent.
Thenewventureswilltypicallybeoperated on afranchisebasis,followingthesuccessof franchisepartnershipsthegrouphasintheUK withuniversitiesand aholidayparksfirm.
Thefirstpremisesonthecontinentisdueto opennextyear.
ButUKtradewiththeEUnowsubjectto significantbarriersas aresultofBrexit.
JD Wetherspoonfounderandchairman Tim Martin,whoattendedCampbellCollegein eastBelfast,wasastrongadvocateforBrexit,
donatinghundredsofthousandsofpounds tothecampaignfortheUKtoleavetheEU. Followingthe2016vote,theUKwenton toleavetheEUalmostsixyearsago,hitting businessbetweenBritishfirmsandthetrade bloc.
AspokesmanforJD Wetherspoon, whichoperates atotalofabout800pubs, confirmedthatthepubscompanywillnow use anewlyestablishedsubsidiaryinDublin tolaunchitsbusinessinmainlandEurope.
“Givenourcurrentplansfor anumber offranchisesitesinEurope,itismore straightforwardiftheagreementsare betweenEU-basedcompaniesandJD WetherspoonEuropehasbeensetup[in Dublin]as aresult,”hesaid.
JD Wetherspoonopeneditsfirstpubin Norther nIrelandin2000.Expansionintothe RepublicofIrelandfollowedin2014,with TheThree TunTaver ninBlackrock,CoDublin. Laterthesameyear,itopened apremisesin
DúnLaoghaire.
Itlateropened ahandfulofpubsinCork, Carlowand Waterford.However,in2023it putthoseproperties,aswellas apremisesit plannedtoopeninGalway,upforsale.
JD WetherspoonalsosoldTheThree Tun Taver nin2022.Itstilloperatesfivepubsin Dublin.
“Businessesnever regretincreased democracybecausedemocracyandprosperity areinextricablylinked,”hesaidinaninterview withtheBBCatthetime.
AddressingtheInternationalMonetaryFund recently,theUK’sChancelloroftheExchequer, RachelReeves,saidthatBrexithascaused long-termdamagetotheUK’seconomy.
TheUK’sOfficeforBudgetaryResponsibility recentlyclaimedthatBrexitwill reducetheUK’s productivityby4%inthelongterm.
MrMartin,whowasknightedin2023,said inJanuarythisyearthatJD Wetherspoonis lookingatexpandingoverseas.
TimMartinof JD Wetherspoon
JohnMulligan
Housepricesarecontinuingto riseinNorthernIreland
Housepricesand rental costs ‘risingfasterin Northern Irelandamidsupply shortage’ Hou se prices an dr entalcosts in Nort hern Ir elan dare ri sing fa ster than el sewher eint he UK ,fre sh figur es show
Theaverage hous eprice forN or thern Irelandwas £193,0 00 in quar terthree (July to Sept)2025, up by 7.1% (£13,0 00 )from quar terthree last year,according to national government figures
Meanwhile, rent al cost sare also on the rise here
AveragerentinN or thernI reland was £8 66 in August 2025,upby6.6%( £5 4) from ayearearlier.T hisannualris ewas lowerthaninthe 12 months to July 2025 (7.1%) .N or thernI reland’s annual inflation rate hasb eengenerally slow ingsince the re cord -highannualris eof9.9 %inA pril 2024
However,average rent levels hereremain
consid erably lowerthanthe UK as aw hole –whichincludesmajor cities,suchasLondon.
Andthe rise in hous eprice grow th here is “b eing underpinnedbyasupplyshort age” accordingtoone economis t
Sp eaking on X, RichardRamseyofQ ue en’s Univer sity,s aid: “A legacy of underbuilding, follow ingthe bigges thouse pricecrash in UK histor y, is beingcompoundedbyalackof inad equate wastewater infrastruc ture –2023 sawthe fewest homesbuilt in NI since1959.
“T here wassomemod es timprovement in hous ecompletions (built unit s) in 2024 [T hisyear] ]s eessomeslippageincompleted unit sbut housings tart shavepickedup. Completionst ypic ally lags tart sbynine months.[Thethird quar ter] of 2025 sawjus t 1,379completions –that’s-15%, year-onyear.”
Theaverage hous eprice forEngland was
£293,0 00 in September2025, up by 2% (£ 6,00 0) from ayearearlier.T hisannualris e waslowerthan in the12monthstoAugus t 2025 (2.9 %)
Meanwhile, theaverage hous eprice for Waleswas £209,0 00 in September2025, up by 2.7% (£5,00 0) from ayearearlier.T his annual rise washigherthaninthe 12 months to August 2025 (1.8 %)
AndinS cotland, theaverage hous eprice forS cotlandwas £194,0 00 in September 2025,upby5.3%( £10,00 0) from ayear earlier. This annual rise washigherinthe 12 months to August 2025 (3.9 %)
Turningtorent, theaverage UK monthly privaterents increasedby5.0 %, to £1,360,in the12monthstoO ctob er 2025 (provisional es timate.T hisannualgrowthrateisdow n from 5.5% in the12monthstoS eptemb er 2025
Empty commercialproperty rates relief‘to endinmoveraising£20m’ Landlordsofemptycommercial buildingsaretostartpayingfull rates,generating£20mforStormont andlocalgovernment,theFinanceMinister hasannounced
Atthemoment,vacantcommercial propertiesareliableforjust50%oftheirrates.
Thathascontributedtolargebanksof vacantproperties,suchasthederelict buildings whichformpartoftheproposed Tribeca project inBelfastcitycentre.
ButFinanceMinisterJohnO’Dowdhassaid theratesbillforvacantcommercialproperties willincreaseto75%before theendofthe currentAssemblymandatein2027.
Fullrateswouldthenbepayablefornondomesticvacantpropertiesduringthenext mandate.
Themovefollows areviewof ratesrelief measures,withtheMinisteralsoannouncing a newbusinessgrowthaccelerator
MrO’DowdtoldtheAssembly recently: “Whatwasclearfromthe reviewwastheneed tochallengetheblightofvacantpropertiesin ourvillages,townsandcitycentres.
“Itismyviewworknowneedsto beginto elevatenon-domesticvacantratingliability
from50%to75%andthento100%.
“Ihavethereforeinstructedmyofficials totakeforwardthepolicywork requiredto implementthesechangeswhichhavethe potentialtounlock afurther£20mof revenue betweencentralandlocalgovernment.”
Hesaidthatbytheendofthe2027/28 ratingyear,everyformofrates reliefwillhave been reviewed.
MrO’Dowdsaidthatitwasnowhim ambitiontoprogress“enhancedsupport forsmallbusinesses,tacklethehighlevelof vacanciesinourtownsandcitycentres,support businessesstartingoutandhelpaccelerate businessgrowth”.
Hesaidherewouldbeenhancementsof smallbusinessrate reliefsupport.
“Smallbusinessesarethebackboneofour economy.Iwanttoseeextrahelpgoingto thosebusinessesthatprovidevitalemployment supportingworkers,families,andcommunities
“Thesmallbusinessrate reliefcurrently providesvitalsupportforoperatingcostsfor around30,000smallbusinesses.Thesupport deliveredunderthatschemehas,however, remainedunchangedsince2012.
“Iwanttocreate afairenvironmentforall
businessesandplantoconsultbeforethenew year,givingbusinessesthechancetosharefinal viewsbeforechangesareputtoministerial colleaguesonenhancementstothesupport.”
“Bytakingthestepsannouncedtoday,we continuetodeliver afairer,moreprogressive ratingsystem –onethatdrivesgrowth, supportsnewenterprises,andstrengthens communities.
“Weallknowourfinancesareunder significantpressurewhichiswhy Iaimto deliversavingsinpartsoftheratingsystemand redirect resourcestoprovideadditionalsupport tothosebusinessesthatneeditmost.
“Deliveringpositivechangewill require buy-in,partnershipworkingandthebackingof ministerialcolleaguesandtheAssembly.”
GlynRoberts,chiefexecutiveofRetailNI, said:“TheMinister’sproposalsareasignificant stepforwardinenhancingthevariousrates reliefschemes,andhehasclearlylistenedto theconcernsofourmembers.”
ColinNeill,chiefexecutiveofHospitality Ulster,said:“Thesearesmallbutpositivesteps intherightdirectionthatwillprovidesome breathing roomforhospitalitybusinessesthat continuetofacemountingpressures.” ■
Thedelayed Tribecaschemeis continuingtoleave alargepart ofBelfastcitycentreunused
Why agoodrecruitmentprocess isessentialtosecuringtoptalent Iwasintriguedby astorythatappeared ontheBBCnewswebsite recently about awriterandcomedianwhosaidhehad turneddownajobinterviewafterhewas toldsomeofthequestionsintheinterview wouldcomefromartificialintelligence(AI).
AIis,asweallknow,increasinglybecoming afactorinsomanyaspectsofworkinglife –withcompaniesincorporatingAIplatforms likeCoPilot,GeminiandChatGPTintotheir day-to-dayoperationstoincreaseproductivity –andemployeeshavingtorapidlylearnskillsto enablethemtouseAIeffectively
Thisparticularstoryfocusedonthefactthat thepersongoingforthecopywritingjobfelt thatiftheemployerwaslettingAIleadthe interviewprocess,thenitsuggestedtheydidn’t feelitwasworththeirtime –sohedecidedit wasn’tworthhistimeeither
It’s anunderstandable,ifslightlykneejerk reactionto acompanyusingtechnology in awaythatthecandidatefeltwas abit disrespectfulandwouldn’t takeintoaccount factorssuchashispersonalityorhowhemight fitintotheirteam.
Evenwhenhiringfor abrilliant role, employerswhodon’truntheirprocesstheright wayrisklosingout.
ResearchforHays’What Workers Want reportlastyearfoundthatmorethanhalfof allprofessionalssurveyed reportedhaving a negativeexperiencewhenapplyingfor ajob. Manyjobseekershadbeensubjecttopoor communication,unpreparedinterviewers,and a generallackofclarityandstructure.
The researchalsosaidthat along recruitment processis asignificantissueforworkers,with candidatesbecomingdisengagedandaccepting other rolesduetoslowcommunicationand delays
Nearlythree-quartersofapplicantstoldus theywouldabandonanonlineapplication after15minutesifitwastoolong,and40% ofemployersadmittedtheironlineapplication takeslonger.Thisdisconnectalsoappliesto
thenextpartoftheprocess –with57%of candidatesexpectingtohearbackwithin a weekaboutmovingtotheinterviewstage,but onlyabout athirdofemployerscanmeetthis expectation.
WhenHaysisrunning aprocessfor aclient wewillsiftandscreenCVsandapplications beforeaninitialtelephonescreeningcallwith applicantstogaugetheirinterestin avacancy, theirmotivationforapplyingforthe roleand whytheythinkitisrightforthem.
Thisisnormallyfollowedby acompetencybasedInterviewwithlonglistedcandidatesto furtherassesstheirtechnicalandculturalfit withthe role,afterwhich ashortlistforfinal interviewsisproducedandagreed.
Whatthatinterviewlookslikeisslightly differentforeveryorganisation,butwe strongly recommendtoallofourclientsthat verbaloffersaremadewithin24hoursof a finalinterviewfor apost,bothtomaintain momentuminthehiringprocessandto reduce theriskoflosingthefirst-choiceapplicantto anotheropportunitytheymaybepursuing. We
thenworkwithclientstoacceleratetheissueof writtenoffersandemploymentcontracts.
In acandidatescarcemarket,wearestill seeingnineoutof10 rolesofferedinsome sectorssubjectto acounterofferfromthe candidate’sexistingemployer. We manage thistypeofcounterofferscenarioalltheway throughthecandidatejourney.
Withmostprofessionalcandidatesatall levelshaving anoticeperiodtoservice,itis importanttomanagethepostofferprocessand tomake acandidatefeelthattheyare already partoftheirneworganisation.Thismight bethroughinformalmeetingsorattending plannedbriefingsorsocialmeetings.
WhileAIisundoubtedlybeingusedtomake someelementsofthe recruitmentprocessmore efficient,thehumanelementisstillhugely importantinsecuringtherightcandidate.In achanginglandscapewhereautomationis becomingthenorm,wemustall recognisethat thereisstillanadvantageinmakingpeoplefeel valuedifyouwantthemtochooseyouastheir employer
Mark Wade,director, HaysNorthernIreland
NewNI council EV charge point contract ‘willboost numbersbyone third’ Norther nIrelandelectricvehicle infrastructurefirm Weevhaswona contracttosupplyover250charge pointsacrossninecouncilareashere.
Thecontractwillincreasenumbersofpublic chargingpointsbyone-third,fromthepresent levelof738.
Thecontractincludesnearlyallcouncilsin Norther nIreland,withtheexceptionofBelfast andCausewayCoastandGlens.
Ithasbeenawardedto aconsortiumledby DerryCityandStrabaneDistrictCouncilaspart oftheOfficeforZeroEmission Vehicles’(OZEV) onstreet residentialchargepointscheme (ORCS).
TheORCSprojectispart-fundedbyOZEV, theDepartmentforInfrastructureand Weev.
MsKimminssaid:“Iamdelightedmy departmenthasbeenableassistinthefunding ofover250chargepointswhichwillwiden theelectricvehiclechargepointofferingacross ninelocalcouncilareasforthepublicandlocal businesses.
“Thisshowsmyongoingcommitmentfor mydepartmenttosupport,wherepossible, theexpansionofEVchargingfacilitiesacross thenorth,astheadoptionofelectricvehicles gatherspaceaswemovetowardsnetzero.”
MrMcMorrissaid:“Improvingaccessto chargepointsisanotherpositivestepin progressingthemovetowardssustainable, cleanertravel.Itwillmakeelectriccharging moreaccessibleandconvenientforusersand encouragetheswitchtoelectricvehicles.
“Councilhasbeentakinganactive roleas leadoftheconsortiumandalongwithour partnercouncilswewillcontinuetolobbyfor moresupportfortheimprovementoflocalEV
InfrastructureMinisterLizKimmins,ThomasO’Hagan,Weev,deputyMayorofDerryandStrabaneNireeMcMorris, ConorCanning,headofenvironmentandbuildingcontrol,DerryCityandStrabaneDistrictCouncil
infrastructure.”
WorkontheEVchargepointsindifferent townsandcitiesaroundNIistostartoverthe nextfewweeks.
ThomasO’Hagan, Weevchiefcommercial officer,said:“Weare delightedtobeawarded theORCScontractandplayourpartin growingNorther nIreland’sEVinfrastructure.
“ThegrowthofEVchargerinstallationsand EVcaruptakeisvitalifwearegoingto reach thenetzerotargetssetbytheGovernment.
“InitiativeslikeORCS,drivenbylocal councils,willhave ahuge roletoplay.”
MarkMcCall,chairofElectric Vehicle AssociationNorther nIreland(EVANI)said: “Weevsecuredthetopspotasthemost
reliableEVchargerinourannualEVANIsurvey wherewepolledelectricvehicleownersacross Norther nIrelandfortheiropinion.
“Itwas awell-deservedaccoladefor Weevtoberankednumberoneagainsta growingnumberofchargepointoperators, astheirdedicationtotheservicedoesn’tgo unnoticed.”
Fundingof£1.4mforORCSwasprovided bytheOfficeforZeroEmission Vehicles,with £470,685providedbyDfI. Weevaddeda minimumof10%annualfunding.
AccordingtotheDepartmentfor Transport, NIhas738publicchargingdevices –afigure MrMcCallsaidwasmorethandoublethelevel ofthreeyearsago. ■
Strategicconnectivity: how BelfastCityAirportisshaping thefutureofbusinessinNI Withaviationanalystssuggestingthatdemandfortraveltoandfromtheislandof Irelandwillmorethandoublefrom45millionpassengersin2024toover90million in2040, TimHalley,chiefdevelopmentofficerat BelfastCityAirport,speaksto UlsterBusiness abouthowitwillfuture-proofcorporateconnectivitywhileensuring theairportremainsanassetfortheregion’seconomyforgenerationstocome
WithNorther nIreland’s ProgrammeforGovernment 2024-2027outlining afutureof prosperity,productivity,andconnectivity, BelfastCityAirportispreparingtoplaya pivotal roleinenablingitsdelivery. Its recently-publisheddraftMasterPlan2040 showcases along-termvision,notonlyforthe airportitself,butforhowBelfast –andthe businessesthatpoweritseconomy –could connecttothe restoftheUK,Europe,and beyond.
Fewareclosertothatvisionthan TimHalley, chiefdevelopmentofficeratBelfastCityAirport, whohasspentmorethan adecadeofhis careerincommercialaviation,aligningairport strategyanddevelopmentwiththeneedsofthe business,community,andeconomy.
Following a10-yeartenurewithLondon CityAirport –oneofonlytwoairportsinthe UKthataccommodatescomparablelevelsof businesstraffictoBelfastCityAirport –T imhas aclearvision:totransformBelfastCityAirport into aworld-classassetthrough asignificant privateinvestmentofupto£200m,while drivinggrowth,economicopportunity,and socialvalueacrossNorther nIreland.
BelfastCityAirporthaslongbeen regarded asthegatewayofchoiceforcorporate travellers.Itsproximity,onlyfiveminutes fromBelfastcitycentre,combinedwithits efficientsecurityprocessingtimes,hasmadeit
TimHalleypicturedat
departuresinBelfast CItyAiport
especiallyattractiveforprofessionalswhovalue speedand reliability.
For Tim,thisexistingstrengthisthe foundationoftheairport’sfuturegrowth.
“BelfastCityAirporthasconsistentlyserved astrongbusinesstravelmarket”,hesays.“Our draftMasterPlanisn’tabout reinventingthat–it’saboutembracingit. We’replanningahead tomeettheevolvingneedsofbothbusiness andleisuretravellersinthecoming15years.”
Approximatelyone-thirdofBelfastCity Airport’spassengersarecurrentlytravellingfor business,connectingNorther nIrelandwithkey marketsforgrowthandinvestment.
Ofcourse,itscontributiontoNorthern Irelandextendsfarbeyondthefacilitationof tradeandcommerce –BelfastCityAirport currentlygenerates£800minGVAacross Norther nIrelandandsupportsmorethan 12,000jobs,1,120ofwhicharethroughdirect employmentontheairportsite.
Shoulditsfutureblueprintbe realised, itspositionas akeyemployeranddriverof economicactivitywillonlyheighten.
“Byachievingourvisionforthefuture, BelfastCityAirportisprojectedtogenerate £1.7bninGVAacrossthe region,supporting over23,000jobs,” Timsays.
“Over1,100newjobswillbecreatedatthe airportsite,morethandoublingthenumber ofpeoplecurrentlyindirectemploymentat BelfastCityAirportwith15%ofthosecoming throughapprenticeships.”
Atitsheart,thedraftMasterPlan2040 provides aframeworkforsustainable,carefully managedgrowth.
Ratherthanpursuingexpansionforitsown sake,BelfastCityAirport’splansarecentred aroundmeetingthelong-termneedsof passengersandbusinesses,whileensuring thatinvestmentisfocusedonmodernisingits infrastructuretoimprovejourneysforthose who relyontheairportandconnectivityevery day.
“Themarketforairtraveltoandfromthe islandofIrelandisexpectedtodoublefrom45 millionpassengersin2024toover90million passengersby2040,” Timsays.
“Forecastssuggestthatdemandtouse BelfastCityAirportwillincreasetoseven millionpassengers ayear,andourobjective istomaintainourpositionasthemost convenientandefficientgatewayontheisland.
“Todothat,wemustthinkstrategically abouttheinfrastructure,technologies,and partnershipsthatwilldefinethenext15 years.”
Asignificantpartofthatstrategyfocuses onconnectivity.WhileLondonandother keydomesticdestinationswill remaina criticalcorridor,servinggovernment,finance, legalservices,technology,andthewider professionaleconomy,theairport’snetworkof short-haulEuropean routeswillalsoplay avital roleinNorther nIreland’sgrowthstory.
Asnewsectorsemergeandexisting industriesscale,the flexibilityandfrequencyof connectionsbecomeincreasinglyimportant.
“Connectivityunderpinsour competitiveness,” Timsays.
“Accesstotalent,capital,andcustomerswill shapeNorther nIreland’seconomicfuture,and ourjobistoensuretheairportsupportsthatby offering aproductthatcontinuestomeetthe evolvingneedsofbusiness.”
To achievethis,BelfastCityAirport’sdraft MasterPlanwilldelivernewterminalfacilities, aircraftstandsandinfrastructure,andsurface accessimprovements –allwhilemakingthe mostofitsexistingrunway.
Thisinvestment, Timsays,isdesignednot justtoaccommodatefuturedemandbutto enhancethepassengerexperiencein away thatalignswiththeexpectationsofmodern travellers,particularlythose flyingforbusiness.
“Today’scorporatepassengerexpectsa seamlessjourney,reliablepunctuality,and facilitiesthatallowthemtoworkproductively throughouttheirtimeattheairport,”hesays. “OurdraftMasterPlan respondsdirectlyto thoseexpectations.”
AstheUK’smostpunctualairportfor2023 and2024,BelfastCityAirportalreadyprovides asmoothandhassle-freejourneyforits passengers.
“Efficiencyisoneofourgreateststrengths,”
COVE RS TORY Timsays.“And,aswegrow,wemustprotect that.Ouraimistoensurethat apassengerin 2040canmovethroughtheairportwiththe sameeasetheyenjoytoday.”
ThedraftMasterPlanalso reflects amajor shiftintheaviationlandscape:thetransition towardsmoresustainableflight.
Withmanufacturersacceleratingthe developmentofquieter,cleaneraircraft,and withtheindustrymakingsignificantstridesin sustainableaviationfuels,BelfastCityAirport ispreparingitsinfrastructuretoaccommodate thenextgenerationoftechnology.
“Responsiblebusinessisnot afuture consideration–it’sapresent-day requirement,” Timexplains.
“Weare alreadyinvestingininitiativesthat minimiseourenvironmentalimpact,butour 2040visionallowsustotake amuchlongertermviewat alargerscale.Cleaneraircraft, greeneroperations,andsmarterenergy systemsarecentraltohowwewilloperateby 2040.”
Givenitscentrallocation,theairporthas longplacedanemphasison responsible
growth,balancingoperationalneedswithits commitmentstolocalcommunities.
ThedraftMasterPlan reinforcesthis, outliningmeasuresaroundkeyenvironmental considerations,includingnoisemanagement andsurfaceaccessimprovements,aswell asongoingengagementwith residents, government,andbusinessstakeholders.
Aspartofitsvision,BelfastCityAirportis workinginpartnershipwith Translinkona feasibilitystudythatidentifiedanopportunity
for anewrailhaltdirectlyconnectedtothe extendedterminalbuilding.
Ifdelivered,itwouldseeBelfastCityAirport potentiallybecomethefirstrailconnected airportontheislandofIreland.
“Itiscrucialthattheairportcontinuesto evolvein awaythatsupports –notdisrupts–thecommunityarounduswhilstdeliveringthe infrastructurecrucialtosupportingNorthern Ireland’sgrowth,” Timsays.
“Consultationis acriticalpartofthis process. We wantourplanstoreflectnotjust whatisrightfortheairport,butwhatisright forNorther nIreland.”
AsNorther nIrelandlooksaheadto adecade definedbyproductivity,globalpositioning,and innovation,the roleofBelfastCityAirportisset tobecomeevenmorepronounced.
“Airportsdon’tjustmovepeople,” Timsays. “Theymoveideas,investment,andambition. BelfastCityAirportalreadyplays avitalpartin Norther nIreland’sstory –andwiththedelivery ofourfutureplans,we’repreparingtoplayan evenlargerone.
“Wehaveanopportunitytostrengthenour positionas akeygatewayforbusinessand tourism,tosupportthousandsofnewjobs, andtoenhanceconnectivityforthe region. TheMasterPlanis ablueprintforachieving thatin aresponsibleway.”
With aclearstrategy,acommitmentto innovation,and afocusontheneedsof corporatetravellers,BelfastCityAirportis charting aboldpathto2040 –onethat positionsitnotonlyasanessentialtransport hub,butas adriverofambition,investment, andeconomicopportunityacrossNorthern Ireland. ■
WhattheairportcouldlooklikeaspartofitsambitiousnewMasterPlan
‘Peoplewill take diferentview on Loftlinesdevelopmentwhen it’s unveiled’ LoftlinesisfirstmajorbuildtorentschemebeingdevelopedinNorthern Ireland,bringingalmost800newhomestomarketintheheartofthe Titanic Quarter. JohnMulgrew speaksto AdamBurney aboutwhyhethinks it,andothers,willhelpaddressourhousingsupplycrisis,whyNIneeds morelikeit,andwhyhethinksthepublicwillthinkdifferentlyaboutits appearanceandvisualimpacton TitanicBelfastwhenit’scomplete
AdamBurneyisconfidentthat oncethecranesleaveandthe scaffoldingcomesdown,thewider publicwilltake adifferentviewonits majornewapartmentdevelopment.
LoftLinesisa 778build-to-rentscheme–thefirstofitskindinthecity –whichnowsits justinfrontof TitanicBelfast.
Themajorityofthosewillbe“upper-mid” apartments,some627,with81socialhomes, and70“discountedandprivate rentalhomes”.
Andthosebehinditclaimthebuilding,and othersinfuture,willbe a“strongsolution”in helpingaddressingNorther nIreland’shousing shortage.
“GiventhelackofsupplyinBelfast Ithink itshuge,”AdamBurney,headofbuildto rentatLegal &General,tells UlsterBusiness It’sbackedthedevelopmenttothetune of£150m.It’sbeingbuiltaspartof ajoint venturebetween WatkinJonesandLacuna Developments,withthefirstbuildingduetobe completedbyAprilnextyear.
BuildtorentisnewtoNorther nIreland atthisscale.Thisiswhereonedevelopment istypicallyownedbyonesingleentity,and rentedout,ratherthanhavingindividualunits soldtoprivatehomeowners.
Whilethereare severalschemesplanned, thisisthefirstmajoronetoemergefromthe ground.
“Itprovidesmorehousingandthat’sagood
thing –addingmoresupplyintothecity,” Adamsays.“It’senablingaffordablehousing, andtakingpeopleoutoftheexistinghousing stock.
“[Weare inthe]uppertomidsegmentin termsofsupply,andcapturingthatmarket.
“Thesolutiontothehousingmarketis multi-faceted –affordable[properties]forsale, and rental.
“Whatwearedoingwith rentalhousingis astrongsolutionforthatsupplyproblem.They
aren’tbeingsoldtopeoplewhoneverputthe lightson –overseasinvestorsspeculatingon capitalgrowth.”
AdamsaysLegal &Generalhasinvested in ahostofschemesacrosstheUK,with northof10,000homes,includingstudent developments,intotal.
“Wehavebeenworkingwithlocalpublic sectorbodiestodeliverhousing,”hesaid.
“[InNorther nIreland]thatstartedwiththe WatkinJones/LacunaDevelopmentsJVfor
AdamBurney
WhattheLoftlines developmentcouldlook likewhencomplete
[Loftlines].”
Hesaysthefirstblockshouldbecomplete bytheendofMarch,orearlyApril,withJuly forcompletion.
ThepriceofBelfast,andinparticular,city centrerentals,issomethingwhichanyonein thatmarketisacutelyawareof.WhileBelfast isn’tLondon,orevenDublin,pricesfor rentals inthecityhavesoared.
AsforLoftlines,thepricehasyettobe determined,accordingtoAdam.
“Wedon’tactually…it’showwetendto launchthese–not a‘forsale’product,”he says.
“Weare dealingwith residentswhotypically have atenancyagreement,anddon’tmarket untilclosetothelaunchdate.
“Weare scratchingheadsaroundwhere rentsits –[itwill]probablybe aFebruary launchdateintermsof rentallevels.
“Wetendtooperateattheupper-mid partofthemarket…costsareallinclusiveof amenities,gym,andspacefor residents.”
Intermsofleaseperiods,Adamsaysthese willtypicallybe12months,butcanbefor longerperiods.“Weare happytodoaslongas residentswant,”hesays“…ittheywantfiveyeartenancy,wecandothat.”
Onthebuildto rentmarkethere,whichis initsinfancy,Adamsayshebelievesthereis “hugepotentialforsupply”inBelfast.
“Weare hopingforotherinvestmentby
otherparties,”hesays.“Weare notafraidof that.It’sagoodthingandmutuallybeneficial tous.”
Hesaysit’salsolookingat“other opportunities”inthecitybutit’saboutgetting thefirstdevelopmenttostartwith.
“It’ssomethingwearelookingat.Thisisa bigscheme,anddefinitelyontheupper-end.
“[Weare]oftentalkingtodevelopers andlandownersaboutwhatwecoulddo, notjustabouthousing,butinvestmentinto commercial realestate,purpose-builtstudent accommodation.”
AndonthevisualimpactoftheLoftlines development,whichmeansthefamous
TitanicBelfastmuseumcannotbeseenfrom manyanglesinthecitynow,Adamsays“the relationshiphasbeensomethingwehavebeen verysensitiveto”.
“Thenameis anodtohistory,and somethingtobeproudof,”hesays.“It’sa naturalconsequenceofdevelopment.When thecranesandscaffolding[comedown],there is alotofarchitecturalmeritinthebuilding, andpeoplewillseeitascomplementary to TitanicBelfast.“It’sstarkatmoment,as adevelopmentsitenexttothemuseum. Butoncewegetgroundfloorusesandit’s revealed,peoplewilltake adifferentviewon it.” ■
Musgrave NI: drivingeconomic impactandcommunity valuein 2025 MusgraveNorther nIrelandhas reinforceditspositionasa keycontributortothe region’s economyandsocialfabricthroughout 2025,combiningcommercialgrowth with astrongcommitmenttocorporate responsibility.
Its recenteconomicimpact report,which detailed a£1.2bnannualcontributionto theNIeconomy,sawMusgrave’sretailand wholesalebrands,SuperValu,Centra,Mace, MusgraveMarketPlaceandDrinksInc.launch their‘LoveLocal?SoDo We’campaign.The initiativeunderpinsMusgrave’spartnership withover250suppliersand3,000farmersand thatitchannels£240mannuallyintolocally producedfoodanddrink –asignificantboost forNorther nIreland’sagri-foodsector.
Charitableengagement remainsa cornerstoneofMusgrave’sapproach.Earlier thisyear,thecompanyannounced amajor milestone:£4mraisedforActionCancer throughitsSuperValuandCentrabrands since2001.Meanwhile,Mace,Musgrave MarketPlace,andDrinksInc.contributed £418,000toNorther nIrelandChestHeartand Stroke(NICHS).
“Iamextremelyproudofourlong-term relationshipswiththeselocalcharities–thedifferencetheymaketopeopleacross Norther nIrelandisphenomenal,”says Trevor
TrevorMagill,MusgraveNImanagingdirector,ActionCancerambassadorNicolaSomerville,SuperValuFruitfield ownerPhilip Woods,andActionCancerchiefexecutive,GarethKirk
Magill,MusgraveNImanagingdirector.“With over200SuperValu,CentraandMacestores locatedintheheartofcommunitiesacrossthe country,wehaveanoutstandingnetworkof retailpartnerswhogetbehindourfundraising campaignsaswellasdotheirownfundraising. Iwouldliketothankthem,theirteams,and theircustomersfortheirunwaveringsupport.”
Severalhigh-profilecampaignsandevents haveamplifiedthisimpact.TheEspresso We Careinitiative,whichdonated50pfrom everyFrankandHonestCoffeesoldover fourdays,raised£30,000.Sponsorshipof
flagshipeventssuchasNICHS’sRedDressRun (£74,000raised)andActionCancer’sBreast FootForwardWalk(£80,000raised)further demonstratesMusgrave’scommitmentto communityhealth.Centra’s ownRun Together eventattracted1,600participantsand generatedalmost£40,000forActionCancer, despitechallengingweatherconditions.
Beyondfundraising,Musgravecontinues toadvanceitssustainabilityandinclusion agenda.Throughitspartnershipwith FareShareNorther nIreland,thecompanyhas donatedseventonnesoffood,equatingto 16,314mealsfor595charitiesandcommunity organisations.
CollaborationwiththeNOWGrouphas createdsustainableemploymentforsixadults acrossSuperValuandCentrastores.Inline withitssustainabilitystrategy,Musgrave planted5,000nativetreesin2025,bringing thetotalto20,000since2022,withfurther plantingscheduledforearly2026.
“Musgrave’sdedicationtolocaland charityinitiativesisnotonlyaboutfinancial contributionsbutalsoaboutbuilding resilient communities.Fromeconomicinvestmentto grassrootsengagement,2025hasbeen ayear ofimpactfulactionandcontinuedprogress towards amoresustainableandinclusive future,” Trevorsays. ■
EmmaMorris: Helping powerSONItowards Northern Ireland’senergyfuture Almosttwodecadesafterjoining SONI asitsfirstgraduateengineer, Emma Morris nowleadsoperationsattheheartofNorthernIreland’selectricitysystem. Astheenergylandscapetransformstowardsrenewablesanddecentralisation, she’sensuringthelightsstayon,andthesystemkeepsevolving
WhenEmmaMorrisjoinedthe SystemOperatorforNorthern Ireland(SONI)as ayoung graduatealmost20yearsago,littledid sheknowshe’ddevelophercareerthere andbe akeypartofthebiggestenergy transitioningenerations.
“IcameinasSONI’sfirstevergraduate,”she says.“Almost20yearslater,andI’mstillhere. It’sbeensuchanimportantjourneyandI’ve lovedworkingcloselywiththecontrolcentre.
“Ididn’treallyknowmuchaboutSONI when Icamein,butveryquicklyworkedoutit was aprettyamazingplacetobe.”
Overtheyears,Emmahasheld arangeof roleswithinoperations –fromimplementing SONI’snewenergymanagementsystemto leadingoninnovationprojectssuchasDS3, whichfocusedonincreasingtheamountof renewablesthatcansafelyrunonthegrid.
“I’ve reallyspentmywholecareerwithin operations,”shesays.
SONIhasitsprimary roleand responsibility overtheelectricitytransmissionsystemand markethere.
Today,Emmaoverseestheteams responsible forthe real-timeoperationofNorthern Ireland’selectricitysystem.It’sataskthat hasgrownfarmorecomplexas renewables, batterystorageandmicrogenerationhave surged.
“Real-timeoperationisallaboutkeepingthe lightson,”shesays.“Wemanagegeneration andmakesuredemandismeteveryminuteof theday,workinginconjunctionwithEirGrid’s controlcentreinDublin.”
Beyondbalancinggenerationanddemand, thecontrol roomco-ordinateswithNorthern IrelandElectricityNetworkstograntsafe accessformaintenance,upgradesandnew connections.
“Safetyiscritical,”Emmasays.“During majorstormsthatdeskcanbeunderhuge pressure,althoughyou’dneverknowit, lookingathowcalmtheteamstays.”
She remembersthe2013snowstorms vividly,whenNorther nIrelandwashitwith someofitsworstweatherinyears.
“WelostallsuppliestoBelfasttwicethat day,whichisunheardof,”shesays.Thoseare themomentsthat remindyouhowvitalthe controlcentreis.”
Emmaalsodealswithmarketsandsystem support,includingeverythingfromcompliance
testingandmarketsettlementto“blackstart” readinessintheeventof afullsystemoutage. “Wemakesurethatifthere’sever amajor incident,wecan restorethesystemsafelyand quickly,”shesays.
Ontopofthat,EmmanowoverseesITand cyber-security.“It’sanareaI’mgettingmy headaroundveryquickly,”shesays.
WhenEmmabeganhercareer,Northern Ireland’spowersystemlookedverydifferent. Thegridwasdominatedby ahandfulof conventionalgenerators;nowitmustmanage thousandsofsmaller renewablesourcesand localproducers.
“When IcameintoSONI,wehad ahandful ofwindfarms,nosolar,nobatteries,andno dispatchdownissues,”shesays.“Everything’s changed.Nowwe’retryingtomaximise renewableswhilestillkeepingthesystem safeandstable.”Thatbalancingactisoneof SONI’sgreatestoperationalchallenges.
Majorprojectssuchasthelong-awaited North-SouthInterconnectorwillbevitalin easingthosepressures.“Itwillallowusto bringmorerenewablesontothesystemand relieve alotofconstraints,”shesays.
Securityofsupply remains akeyfocus, particularlyin asystemdesignedtorunlean andavoidunnecessarycoststoconsumers.
“Werunquite atightsystemintermsof capacity,”Emmasays.“Wehaveenough,but it’swhenthingsgowrongthatitbecomes difficult.”
SONIhas recentlyunveileditsnewStrategy for2025-2031,outliningits role,andothers, indevelopinganenergyfutureforNorthern Ireland–with afocusonthetransitionto renewableenergy,alongwithhowthatis managed,aswellasmaintainingsecurityof supply.
Withartificialintelligence(AI)now ahot topicacrossindustries,Emmaisoftenasked howfarautomationcangointhecontrol room.
“There’sdefinitely aroleforAIin automating routinetasks,”shesays.
“Butwe’llalwaysneedpeopletomake decisions.Ourcontrol roomengineersare incrediblyexperienced.
“They’reweighingupinformation,making judgmentcalls,thinkingaboutwhatcould happennext.”
AsSONIpreparesto rolloutitsnext corporatestrategy,itcontinuestoemphasise its roleas atrustedadvisertogovernment, regulatorsandthewiderenergysector.
“Weknowwhatneedstobedone,”Emma says.“It’saboutbringingtherightpeople togethertomakeithappenasquicklyaswe can.”
She’salsobecomeanimportantvoicefor diversityinengineering.
“As afemaleengineer,Itrytodomybestto encourageyoungpeopleintoSTEM,especially girls,”shesays.
EmmahasmentoredthroughtheSistersIN programmeandhelpedhostanEngineers WeekeventatSONIforstudentsfromlocal colleges.
She’salso recentlyspokenattheupcoming Re[act]Festivalfor aSustainableBelfast, focusedonfemaleleadersinclimateand sustainability.
Andalmost20yearsafterjoiningSONIas ayoungengineer,Emma remainsenergised bythepaceofchangeandthepurposeofher work.
“Thechallengesarebig,butsoisthe opportunity –we’rerightatthecentreof Norther nIreland’scleanenergyfuture.” ■
Insidethecontrol roomatSONI
Newryinnovationmoves into bigleagueafterSony buys into STATSports Sportssciencehascome alongwayfromoranges athalf-time,and Sean O’Connor ofSTATSports inNewrylooksatits genesis,writes John Burns
Irememberbeinglaughedat,”saysSean O’Connor,co-founderofSTATSports inNewry.“Peoplewerelookingatus, going:‘Whatarethosetwoheadersat?’”
Seanisdescribingwhathappenedin 2008whenheandAlanClarketurnedupat GlenmuirUtdinDundalkwithsomestrangelookingsensorstotestthefirstteam’sspeed and reactiontimes.
Backthen,theideathat“data”could
O’ReillyofManchesterCityin action.Bothclubshaveused STATSports’technology
improvesportingperformanceseemed comical.Nobody’slaughingnow.
Recently,theDundalkpairsoldtheir sportstechbusinesstoSony,afterturning downotheroffers.Nofinancialdetailswere disclosed,but asalespriceofatleasttwice STATSports’annual revenueof£20mis plausible.
Thedealdidn’tmakebigheadlines –andyet it’sastunningtriumphforIrishinnovation.
MoSalahofLiverpoolandNico
HowappropriatethatSTATSports’ headquartersisinarenovatedlinenmill inNewry,whichclosedin1961during“a traumaticperiodintheindustrialhistoryofthe region”,as alocal-historywebsitedescribesit.
ButwhydidtwoladsfromDundalkcross thebordertosetuptheirbusinessinNorthern Ireland?
“Atthetime,weweredealingwith ManchesterUnited,Liverpool,Arsenal.Itmight soundsillynowon reflection,butitseemedto makemoresensetobe aUKcompanydealing withthem,”Seanexplainedwhen Imethimin thecompany’sNewrybase.
Itfeelsmore like adressing roomthanan office,withtrophiesonshelvesandsigned footballshirtshangingonthewalls.These arefromwell-knownplayerswhoinvestedin STATSports,andwhoarealsobenefitingfrom thesaletoSony.
Butbacktothestart.Itbeganwitha
chatbetweenAlanandSeanoneSaturday morningin2008onthesidelinesof aMeath DistrictLeaguefootballgameatBellurganFC’s groundsintheCooleyPeninsula.
Alanwasanengineeringgraduatewho workedinthemusicindustry;Seanhadfailed tomakeitas afootballer,did asportsscience degreeinsteadandwassettobecome aPE teacher.
Afewweeksearlier,hehadappliedtobea developmentofficerintheFootballAssociation ofIreland(FAI),andwasnowdiscussinghis prospectswithGerryGorman, alocalfootball officialwhohadinterviewedhim.
“Gerrywastellingme Iwasnotgoingtoget thejob,andwewerehaving aconversation aroundthat,”Seansays.“TheMeathDistrict Leaguehadputin anumberofsmallAstroturf pitches,and Iwassuggestingtheycreatean areaforfitnesstesting,which Ihadtouchedon inmyinterviewforthe FAIjob.
“AndGerrysaid:‘Wouldyoulookintothat? Maybeoffersomething?’Alanwasonthe othersideofme,andwhile Iknewwhohe was, Ididn’tknowhimwell.Alancutinand said:‘Yeah,Gerry,noproblem.MeandSean willlookintothatforyou.’Alancalledmethe nextday,andhascalledmeeverydaysince. Thatwastheaccidentthatstartedthewhole thing.”
Theinitialideawastobe asportsscience company –goingtoteamsandclubswith equipmenttheyhadborrowed,doingfitness testingandofferingadviceonthe results.
GPSwasinitsinfancy,Sean recalls.Maybe oneortwoteamshad acoupleoftrackers.He andAlangot aloanof13GPSunitsfroman Australiancompanytotryout.
“Itwasmeanttobefortwoweeks,but weheldontothem,andusedthemtogoto everyGAAteamandrugbyteam. We alsogot 13heart-ratebeltsand13vests,”hesays,
STATSportsfoundersAlanClark,left,andSeanO’Connor,right,arepicturedwithJeremyFitch,andformerSecretaryofStateKarenBradley
jokingthat13certainlywasn’tanunlucky numberforthefledglingcompany.
“Iwasteachingin acollegeorworking [byday],andthengoingoutintheevenings totheteamsandtellingthem:‘Thisiswhat ManchesterUnitedandArsenaldo.Thisisthe equipmenttheyusetomonitortheirplayers.’ Nobodywaspayingusatthispoint.”
ThebreakthroughcamewithLeinster Rugby, whichsawmeritinusingdata:“They wontheirfirstHeinekenCupin2009 –not becausetheyusedus,butbecausetheywere coachedwell.Theywereopentothingsand
werebeingprogressive.Usbeing asmallpart ofthatsuccessmeantwemusthavehelpedin someway.
Theirbigleapwasmovingfromdistributor toinventor.In2012theylaunchedtheirown ViperGPStrackingsystem,wor nbetweenthe shoulderblades.Beforelongthedistinctive blackvestsunderplayers’jerseysbecamea familiarsight.
“WebroughtourclientstoIreland,and in abuildinginDKIT[DundalkInstituteof Technology]welaunchedthesoftwareand hardwaretothem,andtrainedthemupfora
coupleofdays.
“Liverpoolwerethere,Manchester United,Arsenal, Wolves.Thentheyallleft withtheirbagsofequipmenttostartusing STATSports’ Vipersystemforthefirsttime.”
Sean remembersbeinginthe managementdug-outattheEllandRoad stadiuminLeedsworkingwith arugby leagueteam.Thedatashowedwhichplayer wasthemostfatigued,andhewasduly substituted.
“Theplayerfired awaterbottlevery closetomyheadafterhewastakenoff.
TheCincinnatiBengals areoneoftheNFLsides whichhaveusedthe STATSportstechnology
Heassumeditwasmyfault.Thatwasin2010 whenthiswas anewconcept.”
SomeoftheearlyinvestorsinSTATSports werefootballersAlexOxlade-Chamberlain, RaheemSterlingandPhilFoden.Thiswasa powerfulendorsementfromtheplayerswho worethevestseverydayandsawthepotential ofthetechnology.Theirstarpoweralso helpedwhentheNewrycompanylauncheda consumerversionoftheproduct.
STATSportseschewedthetraditional route ofraisingmoneyfromprivateequityorventure capitalists.Instead,SeanandAlandidn’tpay
themselvesforyears, re-investinganyprofits backintothebusiness.
“I rememberpeopleaccusingusofbeing toocautious,sayingweshouldhavegone faster,takenmorerisks.Theyweresayingwe weren’taggressiveenough,thatweshould havetakensomebodyelse’smoneyand spentit.Butthenwewouldloseallpower anddirectionoverwhoweareandwhatthe companyis.Thatwasnothowwewantedto doit.When Ilookback,I’mgladwedidn’t.”
Butinbusiness,youbuyoryou’rebought. WorkingintandemwithcompanieslikeApple andMicrosoft,STATSportswasboundtobe noticed.
“We’vebeenin aspacewherethosepeople areveryawareofwhatwe’redoing,and there’salwayslotsofconversationsandthings beingfeltout,”Seansays.
“Afriendofoursoncesaid:‘Good companiesaren’tsold,they’rebought.’ We weren’tactivelysettingup astallsaying:‘Who wantsSTATSports?’ We hadanideathat wemightraisemoneyourselves,growthe businessandacquireothercompanies.
“Butthemarketshifted,anditbecame obviousoverthelastcoupleofyearsthat somebodybiggercominginandmakingus partoftheirwheelhousemademoresense.”
SonywaswellknowntoSTATSports,asthe ownerofHawk-Eye,thecomputersystemthat cantellif aballwentoverthebarorcrossed theline.
Sean remembershisfirstmeetingwith RufusHack,chiefofSonySports,inLondon onOctober31,2023:“Theconversationwas never‘OK,wewanttobuyyouguys’.Itwas aboutwheretheywereintheindustry,where wewere,theobvioussynergies,andbuilding that relationship.
“Itwasjustshyoftwoyears,fromthat firstconversationtotheacquisition.Theword ‘culture’cameupquite abit.Themgettingto knowusandviceversawas abigpartofhow weendeduptogether.Wewantedtomake suretheirculturewassomethingwewantedto bepartof.
“TheJapaneseareverymuchabouttrust andloyalty,andthey’reaveryhonourable people.WhileSonyis ahugeinternational business,atthecoreisthatethosandculture.”
Sonywanted amajoritystake,butSeanand Alanarekeepingpartofthebusiness,and theSTATSportsbrandwillcontinue.Thetwo foundershaveearn-outperiods,butSeansays it’sfluid:“Wecanbehereaslongaswewant. Andthere’snoway Idon’twanttobepartof what’shappeninghere.” ■
TheIRFUhasbeenworkingwithSTATSportssince2018
Howdidyougetstartedinthe industry?
IfoundedQuinnEstateAgentsin 2010with aclearambition:toraise standardsin residentiallettingsand propertysalesbydelivering aservice builtonprofessionalism,transparency, andtrust.Initially,wespecialisedin lettings,butafteracquiringanexisting estateagencyinBallynahinch,we expandedintopropertysalesand became afull-serviceagency.Overthe years,we’vegrownfromonebranch tofour:Ballynahinch,Downpatrick, Banbridge,andmost recently, Carryduff,supportedby ateamof16 propertyprofessionals.
Typically,whoareyourclientsor customers?
Ourclientsrangefromfirst-time buyersandfamilieslookingfortheir idealhousetocall‘home’tolandlords seeking reliablepropertymanagement. We alsoworkwithinvestorsand tenantsacrossNorther nIreland. Withover 456fullymanagedtenanciesand128let-only tenancies,weserve adiversecustomerbase thatvaluespersonalserviceandlocalexpertise.
Entrepreneur Month OFTHE untilthekeysarehandedover.
Doyouenjoywhatyoudo,andwhatin particular?
Yes. Ienjoyhelpingpeoplenavigatewhatis oftenoneofthemostsignificantandcostly decisionsoftheirlives -bethatbuyingor selling ahome. We dosomuchmorethan justsellinghomes –weworkwithourclients topresenttheirhomeinanattractivemanner, marketthepropertyandsecurethebest possiblepriceforanassetthatthey’veinvested somuchtimeandmoneyintoovertheyears. Forbuyers,wetakethetimetounderstand theirlives,theirneeds,theirwishlistand theirbudget. We workthroughhundredsof propertiestomatchthebuyerwithpotential homesandwe’residebysidewithourclients
Seeingourclientssecuretheirdreamhome andknowingwe’vemadetheprocessas smoothaspossibleisincredibly rewarding fortheteamandI,butultimatelyprovidinga servicethat’smorethanjust atransactionis whatwe’reallaboutatQuinn’s.
Whatisthemostdifficultpartofyourjob?
Themostchallengingaspectismanaging marketfluctuationsandexternalfactors beyondourcontrol,suchaseconomic uncertaintyorunexpectedworldorweather eventslikethedevastatingfloodsin Downpatricklastyear.Thesesituations require resilienceandquickdecision-makingtoprotect ourclientsandourbusiness.
Whatarethechallengesfacingyoursector andtheeconomyingeneral?
Thepropertysectorfacesrisingoperational costs, regulatorychanges,andtheneed forcontinuousdigitalinnovation,asdoall businesses.
However,forpropertyinparticular,there’s somuchspeculation.Economicpressures,such asinterestratefluctuationsandaffordability issues,impactbuyerconfidence,whichinturn has aknock-oneffectacrosstheboard.
Demandforhousinghasbeengrowingyear onyear,withdemandoutstrippingsupply–that’swhatwe’reseeingacrossouroffices. We have alistofpeoplewaitingforhomesin ourlettingsdivision,andthere’sstillplentyof movementinhousesalesacrossalloffices. ■
JonathanQuinn
QuinnEstateAgents
BrianMoynihan,chiefofBank ofAmerica,whichiscreating upto1,000jobshere
HowNorthernIrelandbecame ago-to destinationforglobalbusinessesandthe internationalbackoffice,writes PavelBarter
BankofAmericawillhire500people toworkaspartofitsglobalantimoneylaunderingteamatitsnew facilityinNorther nIreland,aspartof 1,000jobsitaimstocreateinthe region.
AccordingtoJohnMcIvor,headof communicationsforthebank,theBelfast facilitywillcontributetothelocaleconomy, createnewopportunitiesandfosterlongterm partnerships.Hedescribeditasa“winwin” forboththebankandNorther nIreland.
Themovefollows afloodofUSfirms whohavesetupofficesinNI.“Overthelast decade,theUnitedStateshasconsistently beenNorther nIreland’slargestsource offoreigndirectinvestmentprojects,”a spokespersonforInvestNItold UlsterBusiness TheyincludeCitigroup,thebankinggiant, whichhaspledgedtogrowitspresenceinNI aspartof a£1.1bninvestmentacrossitsUK operations.InSeptemberthisyear,Seagate, along-terminvestor,announceditsdecision
toinvest£115min aR&DprojectatitsDerry facility.InNovember,newsemergedthat BillerGenie, aFlorida-basedtechcompany, wasestablishinganofficeinNIfollowinga “rigorousevaluation”ofothergloballocations, includingIndiaandSouthAmerica.Americais nottheonlyinterestedparty.
“Wehave astrongpipelinefromdiverse sources,”anInvestNIspokesperson.“Last year,newinvestorscamefromGB,RoI,India, Canada,USandCaymanIslands.”
JennyMonaghanisanassociatedirector whomanages ateamattheBelfastofficeof Hawksford,whichprovidescorporateservices, includingsettingupandadministeringentities. Historically,Norther nIrelandwasoverlooked comparedtootherUK regionsandIreland. Todayshesees“agrowinginterestfromfirms seekingtoestablish afullbusinesspresence inNorther nIreland,ratherthanlimiting theiroperationstotraditional‘backoffice’ functions…[which]underscoresthe region’s
emergenceas astrategichubforinternational business.”
Theoriginsofthisinterestcanbetraced backtotheGoodFridayAgreement.American insurancecompanyAllstatewasoneofthe firsttocometoNorther nIrelandin1999,a yearafterthesigningoftheAgreement,with themodestambitionofcreating50jobs.In 2025Allstatehas1,700employeesinBelfast andDerry.
StephenMcKeown,globalvicepresidentat AllstateandmanagingdirectoratAllstateNI, describesthedecisiontocometoNIin1999 aspioneering.“Itsignalled aconfidenceinthe potentialofthe regionandhelpedcatalyse inwardinvestment.Theoriginalbusiness casefocusedonaccessingskilledtalentand
reducingvendordependency,whichproved successful.”
BusinessesfromtheUSandelsewherehave alistof reasonsformovingtheiroperationsto Norther nIreland.AmongthemiswhatBankof America’sJohnMcIvordescribesas“astrategic locationthatcomplementsBankofAmerica’s existingglobalfootprint”.Strategicallylocated betweenNorthAmericaandEurope,NI providesconnectivitythroughairandsea.“Its timezoneconvenientlyoverlapswithboth AsianandAmericanworkinghourstoo,which isappealingforbusinesseswithinternational operations,”saysJenny.
BetweentheBrexitvoteof2016andthe agreementofthe WindsorFrameworkin 2023,therewasuncertaintyaboutNI’spolitical
status,butintimetheabilityofbusinesseshere toshipbetweenGBandall23EUmarkets withouttariffsorcustomsdocumentation becameappealing.“Norther nIrelandenjoys theadvantagesoftheUK’sextensivenetwork offreetradeagreements,whilemaintaining regulatoryalignmentwiththeEUforgoods [and]thatofferscertaintyandcompetitive advantageforglobalfirms,”JennyMonaghan says.
Allstateconsidersthe region’sworkforce itsgreatestcallingcard.Over42%of theworkforceinNIholds adegree-level qualification,accordingtoHawksford,and thepresenceofleadinguniversitiesincluding Queen’s(whichisrankedinthe Top140 globallyforgraduateprospects)andUlster
University,Norther nIreland’slargestuniversity, is akeycontributortothisdynamic.”Stephen McKeowndescribesthetalentcomingthrough theseinstitutions,aswellasapprenticeship programmes,asexceptional.“There’san appetiteamongyoungpeopletoengagewith technology,innovation,andproblem-solving,” hesays.
ManyglobalfirmssettingupinNIhave createdpathwaysforpeopleatvariousstages oftheircareers.Earlierthisyear,Allstate launchedEarly Tech TalentMeet-Up,an initiativedesignedtoconnectandinspire studentsandearlycareerprofessionalswhich “givesthemthechancetobuildskills,explore emergingtrendslikeAIandengagedirectly withindustryleaders.”Theinitiative’s>
StephenMcKeownoutside AllstateNI’s Belfastbase
inauguraleventinBelfastbroughttogether over100attendees,including representatives ofKainos,LibertyIT, BT,andAflac.
AllstateisalsoinvestingintheNorth West DigitalHubandFutureInnovatorscompetition, whichisexpectedto reach3,500pupils acrosssevenschoolsinDerryandStrabane (combiningdigitalskillswithsocialimpact,and challengingstudentstousecodingtopromote roadsafety).
“BankofAmericaalreadyhasexperience withthelocalcommunity,”JohnMcIvorsays. “Wehavebeenworkingcloselywiththe BelfastMetsince2023,funding athreeyear digitalskillsandemployabilityprogrammefor 600participantsfromsociallyandeconomically disadvantagedbackgrounds.”
Aperceivedpro-businessenvironment aroundcompetitiveoperatingcosts (particularlyaroundofficespaceandutilities), infrastructure,connectivity,andsupport isanotherincentive.TheDepartmentfor Businessand Trade’s(DBT)Norther nIreland teamdrivesinwardinvestmentincollaboration withInvestNorther nIreland,InterTradeIreland, andtheUKgovernment,says aspokesperson forDBT.“Norther nIrelandisburstingwith creativity,talentandopportunity,whichiswhy itiscrucialtoourIndustrialStrategy.”
InvestNIprovideassistancebefore,during andpostinvestment,includingfinancialand advisorysupport.“Wehave anetworkof globalofficeswhichidentifyprojectswithin internationalcompaniesandshowcase
Citi’sTitanic Quarteroffices inBelfast
whatNorther nIrelandcanofferasanideal locationforbusinessexpansion,”continues aspokesperson.“Ourteamsfacilitateinward visits,introducecompaniestoexistinginvestors andwiderindustryandacademianetworks.” InvestNIalsohelpscompaniesfindemployees throughitsAssuredSkillsProgramme.
Alongsidefinancialincentivesandgrants, globalgiantscanavailoftailoredassistance. Allstate,forexample,isundergoing a£16m investmenttoupskilland reskillitsworkforce inBelfastandDerry.“We’vealreadyinvested over£6.5mwithInvestNI’ssupportandwe havecommitted afurther£9.5moverthenext threeyears,”saysStephen.“Thatpartnership hashelpedusbuildtheexpertiseandworld leadingproductandAIskillstopositionhereas aDigitalCentreofExcellencewithinthewider Allstategroup.”
Whilethe regionisprovingsuccessfulin attractinglargescalebusiness,there’sno timeforcomplacency.“Thepaceofchange isblisteringatthemoment,especiallywith advancementsinAI,”saystheAllstatechief. “Forthe regiontosucceed,itwill require continuousfocusonskillsatalllevelsfrom primaryschool,throughfurtherandhigher education,andintheexistingworkforce. We havebeenpartneringwithschoolsinthe north-westtodojustthat.”
JennyMonaghanofHawksfordbelieves Norther nIrelandcanmaintainitsmomentum becauseit“hastheingredientstodoso… We anticipatethatinternationalbusinesseswill increasinglyestablishfull-serviceoperations, notjustbackofficefunctions, reflectinga growingconfidenceinNorther nIreland’sprobusinessenvironment.”
Continuedinvestmentininfrastructureand talentwillbevitalforNorther nIrelandto retain itsglobalappeal.“Whatwehavehereisonly goingtogrowindemand,”saysStephen. “It’saprivilegedposition,butnotonewecan takeforgranted.Stayingaheadwill require continued,proactiveinvestmentin aspace that’smorecompetitivethanever.” ■
Word FROMTHE Wise Howdidyoustartoutinyourbusiness?
Myjourneyintoperfumerybeganat universitywhereacolleaguewasstudying marketingandoneofhissemesterswas aroundfragrances.Although Iwasstudying criminologythemakingofperfumefascinated me. Iwassuretherewas agapinthemarket forhigh-quality,long-lastingscentsinspired bypopularperfumesbutofferedataccessible pricepoints.
Recognisingthisopportunity,Ibegan experimentingwithvariousingredientsto develop acuratedcollectionoffragrances. Aftercreatingmyinitialrange, Itestedthem atlocalmarkets.Whenthepandemicstruck, itforcedmetopivotonline, Iwouldmakea batch,listtheperfumesforsalewithlimited stockandoncetheysoldout,I’dbeginthe processagain.
Fromtheseearlydays,thecompanyhas nowevolvedtothreeindividualbrands,The EssenceVault,LiquidLondonandThomson Carter –eachofferingtheirownuniquerange ofperfumesandproducts.
Whathaveyoufoundthemost challengingduringyouryearsinbusiness sofar?
Mostchallenginghasbeenscalingproduction whileworkinginuncertaineconomictimes. FromtheW indsorFrameworkandtariffs,I’ve hadtocontinuallypivotandchangein respect ofourpackagingandmailpartners,tothe extentthatwehavesetupourownlogistics armofthecompany,JAQFulfilmenttohave greatercontrol.Additionally,navigating thecomplexworldofcosmetic regulations andsafetycertifications requiredsignificant investmentandexpertise.
ConnorMartin The JAQ Group Howwouldyoudescribeyour managementstyle?
Ibelieveinfosteringcreativitywhile maintainingrigorousstandards.Myapproach iscollaborative –Iencouragethewhole seniormanagementteamtoexperimentand innovate,butwithin aframeworkthatensures consistencyandquality.I’minvolvedinthe creativeprocess,alongsidemybrother,R yan, andalsoworkalongside aspecialistperfumier todevelopnewscentprofiles.Buildinga culturewherecreativityandbusinessdiscipline coexisthasbeenessentialtooursuccess.
Whatwouldyouchangeifyoucouldgo backanddoitallagain?
I’mnotsureIwouldchangeanythingasevery decisiongoodorbadhasledmetowhere am Itoday.However,Imighthavefocusedon buildingourbrandstoryanddigitalpresence sooner –intoday’smarket,connecting emotionallywithcustomersthroughauthentic storytellingisasimportantastheproducts themselves.
Haveyoudoneitallonyourown?
Farfromit.TheJAQGroupanditsbrands existbecauseofanincredibleteamwhoshare myvision.I’vecolleaguesinthefragrance
industrywhogenerouslysharetheirknowledge ofperfumerytechniquesandingredient sourcing.Ourearlycustomerswhoprovided honestfeedbackhelpedshapeourproduct line.Familymemberswhobelievedinthe conceptwhenitwasjustanideaprovided additionalsupportduringuncertaintimes.
Howwouldyoulikeyourbusinesstobe remembered?
IwantTheJAQGrouptobe remembered asanorganisationthatbroughtluxuryinto everydaylifewithoutcostingtheearth.Beyond creatingbeautifulfragrances, Ihopewe’realso rememberedforourcommitmenttodelivering goodproductsthroughsustainablepractices, proudlymadeatourfacilityinCoAntrim,and supportingourlocalcommunitiesthrough employment.
Whatpieceofadvicewouldyougivetoa 20-year-oldyou?
Trustyournosebutlistentoyourcustomers. Perfectionistheenemyofprogress –launch thatproduct,getfeedback,and refine.Build relationshipswithsuppliersandtreatthemas partners.Mostimportantly,rememberbuilding abrandis amarathon,not asprint. ■
Thecolumnwithan earforexperience...
R&D fundingis important to fuel innovation…but claimsmustbe robust PaulEastham,director, tax,atKPMG, sayswhilekey Research &Development(R&D)taxrelieffromthe governmentremains abooninhelpingfirmsinnovate, claimsmuststanduptoscrutiny
Formanyyears,theUK’s Research &Development(R&D) tax relief schemeshavebeen avaluablesource offundingtohelpcompaniesreinvestin innovation.Butwithgenerositycomes risk–andHMRChasgrownincreasingly concernedaboutfraudanderrorinthe system.
Thescaleoftheproblembecamestarkly clearwhenHMRCestimatedthatin2020-21, around£1.13bn– 16.7%ofthevalueofall R&Dclaims –wereincorrect.Mostofthese irregularitieswerelinkedtotheSMEscheme, wheresmallerbusinesseswereseenasmore vulnerabletopoor-qualityadviceor,insome cases,deliberateabuse.
Againstthatbackdrop,HMRChasacted decisivelytotightenitscomplianceactivity Overthepasttwoyearsithassignificantly rampedupitsscrutinyofclaimsandthedays of“rubberstamp”approvalsarelonggone Companiesnowfaceincreasedcompliance checks,withmore challengestoclaimsfrom HMRCand requestsfordetailedsupporting evidence.
Atthesametime,thedesignoftheschemes hasbeen reformed.Rateswerereducedfor SMEswhilebeingincreasedunderthelargecompanyRDECscheme,aheadofthemove to asinglemergedRDEC-styleframework. Newpre-notificationrules requirefirst-time claimants,andforsomewhohavepreviously claimedonlyviaamended returns,to register theirintenttoclaim,beforesubmitting Thishascaughtoutmanybusinesses unaware ofthechange,meaningsomeclaims havebeen rejected.Additional reporting obligationsnow requiretechnicalandfinancial detailstobesubmittedintoHMRC’sR&Dtax credit“portal”andHMRChaswrittendirectly tocompaniesinsectorsitconsiders“high risk” –includinghairdressers,beautysalons, hospitalityandcarehomes –toclarifywhat does, anddoesnot,qualifyasR&D.
Unsurprisingly,andperhapsinmanycases alsoappropriately,thesemeasureshavealready hadanimpact.ThenumberofSMEclaims, particularlyatthesmallerendofthescale,has fallensharply.Additionally,inHMRC’smost recentaccounts,theestimatedleveloffraud
anderroracrosstheschemesfor2024-25has droppedto£481m,(5.8%oftotalclaims).That is amarkedimprovementonearlieryearsand suggeststhattheclampdownisbeginningto deliver results.
Forbusinessesgenuinelyinvestingin innovation,thesechangesshouldnotbe a deterrent.Reliefs remaingenerous,andthe governmentisstillcommittedtoencouraging R&Das adriverofgrowth.Butwhathas changedisthestandardexpected.Claims mustbe robust,fullyevidencedandcapableof standinguptoHMRCscrutiny
That requiresclarityaroundthequalifying work,accurateallocationofcosts,awareness ofthelatestrules,andconfidencethatthe claimcanbedefendedifchallenged.Formany companies,thisisnotstraightforwardterritory Theschemeshavebecomehighlytechnical,and therisksofgettingitwrong –whetherthrough errororomission –are greaterthanever
ThepictureinNorthernIrelandunderlines boththechallengeandtheopportunity
AccordingtothelatestHMRCR&Dstatistics, analysedbyKPMG,businessesherehave continuedtoinvestininnovationdespite
economicpressuresandtightercompliance rules. To March2024,NorthernIreland companiesmade1,305claimsworth£140min taxcredits.Whilethatis areductionfromthe 1,670claimsand£155mseenintheyearto March2023,the regionactuallyincreasedits shareofclaimsnationally,from2.6%to2.8%.
Thispointsto resilienceand adetermination amonglocalfirmstomaintainaninnovative edge,evenin amoredemandingenvironment. The reductioninwhataremostlysmaller claims,mayalsoindicatethatcompaniesin Northern Ireland,likeotherareasacrosstheUK,
weresusceptibletomakingincorrectclaimsin thepast.
Inthisnewclimate,expertiseandcredibility mattermorethanever,whichisoneof the reasonswhyHMRCnowaskclaimant companiestonametheirR&D TaxCredit advisorwhensubmittingtheirclaims.HMRC isclampingdownhardonfraudulentor poorlypreparedclaims,andonlyhigh-quality, evidence-basedsubmissionswillsucceed.For thosewillingtoapproachtheprocessdiligently, theR&Dtaxcredit remains avaluablesourceof fundingtofuelfutureinnovation. ■
PaulEastham
Sparlaunches 18 new products alongsidethreefirms SparinNorthernIrelandhaslaunched 18newproductscreatedin partnershipwiththreelocalsuppliers.
Thelaunchoftherangemarksthe retailer’s intentiontogrowitspresenceacrossthe‘food forlater’conveniencecategory,delivering a rangeofquick,qualitymealsolutionsforlunch anddinner,alongsidelimited-editionseasonal productsforChristmas.
WorkingwithBigPotCoinArmagh,under Spar’sTheKitchenbrand,fourheartysoups havebeendeveloped,idealfor aquicklunch oreasydinner.IncollaborationwithCrust & CrumbinFermanagh,threelimited-editiontear andshareChristmas-themedbreads -cinnamon butterbriochedoughballs,garlicand rosemary breadwreath,andadoughballChristmastree willlaunchalongsidethreeSpar-brandedpizzas.
FromCloughbaneFarmFoodsin Dungannon,TheKitchenrangehasbeen extendedtoincludethreefamily-sized,straightto-ovenmealslasagne,cottagepie,andchicken andbroccolibake,classiccomfortdishesthat haveproventobetopsellersforeasyfamily dinners.
Inaddition,SparNI’sdevelopmentchef, CarlJohannessonhasproducedfivenew crispychickenproductstoaddtoTheKitchen range.Thelines,whichincludeSouthernfried minichickenfillets,hotandspicychicken tendersandcrispyshreddedchicken,canallbe quicklycookedintheairfryerandtapintothe growing‘fakeaway’trendofferingconvenient, crowd-pleasingoptionsforstudentsandbusy householdsalike.
“Ournewproductsshowcasethebestof NorthernIreland’sproducersworkinghandin handwithourlocaltradingteamtoprovide outstandingmealsolutionsforour retailersand shoppers,”StevenKennedy,tradingmanagerat HendersonWholesale,said.
“Eachproducthasbeendesignedtooffer quick,qualitymealsolutions,helpingshoppers geteverythingtheyneedfortonight’steaat greatvalueprices.”
AshleyHillary,newproductdevelopment manageratHendersonWholesale,said:“These productshavebeendevelopedtomeetshopper demandinlinewithsignificantgrowthacross keycategories.
“Recentanalysisfrom Worldpanelby NumeratorestimatedconsumersinNorthern Irelandcontributed£4.4bntothegrocerysector intheyeartoAugust2025,with£2.5mmore spentonchilled readymealsandantipasti, reflectingconsumerdemandforquick, comforting,andqualitymealsathome
“Withthesenewadditions,weare actively growingourfoodforlatercategorywhile strengtheningourconsumer-facing Tonight’s Teaoffering,todeliveraneasilyaccessible, value-drivenmealsolutionforeveryoccasion, allwhilesupportingourlocalfoodproducers.”
Over270Spar,Eurospar,Vivoand Vivoxtra independent retailersweresomeofthe firsttoexperiencethenewproductsatthe Wholesaler’sChristmasShow,heldatthe TullyglassHotel recently
Theeventshowcased awiderangeof productsandservicesfromacrossHenderson Group,alldesignedtohelpdrivesales,increase profit,and reducecostsinthebusyfestive seasonahead,withbusinesssessionsfromkey HendersonGroup representativesdelivering valuableinsightsforbusinessimprovements ■
JackCoulterfromCrustandCrumbinFermanaghispicturedwithAshleyHillaryandStevenKennedyfromHendersonWholesale
ST EM FOCUS
Frommudto microchips AgrowingnumberoffirmsfromNIarehelpingour hugelocalfarmingandagrisectorimprovehowthey work,usingtechnology,writes PavelBarter
WhenFarmdrive, alivestock managementapp,wonBest TechStart-Upatthe2025NI Tech AwardslastOctober,someobserverswere surprised –it’snotoftenagricultureleads thewayfortechinnovation.
ButforGarethMcDonaldandGareth Gordon,theyoungco-foundersofthe software(whoalsopickedup aNewProduct Innovationgongat2025’sBalmoralShow), theawardillustratedtheradicalevolutionof farminginNorther nIreland.TheFarmdrive conceptstartedin2022whenthetwo Gareths,bothofwhomhavebackgroundsin farming,setouttocreate apractical,easy-touseappforfarmers.
“Thentheneighboursstartedusingitand nowwe’vegotover aquarterofthecountry’s cattleonthesystem,”saysGarethMcDonald. “Peoplelikeourselvesarespringingupfrom ourownexperiencesandinnovatingin differentsectorswithinagriculture.” William
Irvine,presidentoftheUlsterFarmerUnion (UFU), recognisesthegroundswellofyoung entrepreneurscreatingtechnologyand makinglifeeasieronfamilyfarms.“Thenext generationoffarmersaremorecomfortable incorporatingallofthatintotheirwork,”he says.
Accordingto arecentResearchandMarkets Report,theglobalagri-techmarketwasvalued at€24.42bnin2024andispredictedto doubleto$48.98bnby2030. AcropofagritechfirmshaveemergedinNorther nIreland thatusetechnologyinnewandinnovative ways.Theyincludeslurryingcompanies likeSlurryKatandLelyRobotics,basedin Dungannon,whichprovides roboticmilking, feedingandbar nequipment.Automatic milking robotsarewidelyavailableinNIand eggproducersuse roboticsforeggpacking.
Drones(usingsensorstocollectdataoncrop healthandsoilconditions)andautonomous tractors(whichhandletaskslikeplanting,
weeding,andharvesting)havelimitedusages inNI,onaccountofthe region’ssmallerarable areas.Butasthetechnologycheapens,says theUFUpresident,“Iimagineitwillcome”. Artificialintelligenceleadsthewayfortheagritech revolutioninNorther nIreland,spurned by awiderthrivingAIsectorthatencompasses e-commerce,cybersecurityandfintech.A skilledworkforce,whichstartedlifeinthose specialisedfirms,isnowmigratingtoward businesseslikeBelfast-basedCattleEye.
CattleEyeutilisesvideoanalyticstodetect healthissuessuchaslamenessindairyherds. Itcurrentlymonitorsaround“aquartermillion cows,fromUkrainetoKazakhstantoPakistan toArgentina,”accordingtoco-founderand chief TerryCanning.Canning,whogrewup on adairyfarmbetweenNewryandArmagh,
WilliamIrvine
startedhisprofessionallifeworkingforcloud computingcompaniesinSilicon Valley,Canada andChina,beforereturningtoNorthern Irelandtoapplyhisknowledgetodairy farming.In2004,hefoundedFarmWizard, theworld’sfirstsoftwareserviceformanaging livestock,whichhesoldtotheDukeof Westminster’sGrosvenorGroupin2015.
In2019, TerryfoundedCattleEyewith fellowentrepreneurAdamAskew.£500,000 infundingfrom Techstart Venturesallowed themto recruit ateamandbuildtheirfirst model.TheCattleEyesysteminvolves asecurity cameraovertheexitof amilkingparlour. Specialisedsoftwareanalyseseachindividual cowmovementastheydeparttheparlour, givingfarmersinsightintothehealthoftheir herd.
“It reflectswhetheranimalsareproperlyfed andingoodphysicalcondition,” Terrysays. “Nexttomastitis,lamenessis amajordisease indairycowsthatcanleadtoinfertilityand ultimatelyaffectmilkyield.ByusingthisAIbasedsoftware,farmerscantakeimmediate actiontoimprovetheanimalwelfareand productivity.”
TheUFU’sW illiamIrvineis adairyfarmer fromMountnorrisinCoArmaghandheuses monitoringtechnologytoobservethehealth ofhisindividualcowsandfollowtheir real-time position,aswellastracksignsofheatinorder tooptimiseinsemination.
“Allourcowshavetransponders.When acowcomesintotheparlourit’sidentified anditsmilkyieldis recorded.”Thecow managementpackage recordshealth
interventionsandmedicineusagesofindividual animals.“Mysonand Ibothhavetheapp onourphones.Ifwe’restandinginfrontofa cow,thatinformationisallontheapp.Onthe dairyfarmwearelegally requiredto recordall medicineusage. We enterthatin amatterof secondsandifwearebeinginspectedthose reportsareallthereatthetouchof abutton. When Istartedmyfarmingcareerallthiswas doneon agrubbynotebookandthestubofa pencil.”
Byspeedingupthefarmingprocess,these technologiesincreaseproductivityandsave time.Farmdrive –byaggregatingcompliance (registeringlivestockbirthsanddeaths),farm administration, aliveherdlist,medicinesuite, weight records, abreedingsuite, receipts andfeedtracking –isdesignedtomake a>
farmer’slifemoreconvenient.
Thereare profitabilitybenefitsto technologieslikeCattleEye,says Terry.“One ofthebiggestcoststo adairyfarmerislame cows.Academic researchsaysaround30%of cowsintheworldhavelamefeet.There’s an economiccostforthefarmerbecausethatcow produceslessmilk.Byusingoursystemyou can reducelamenesslevelsusuallybyabout 10%.Itsaves afarmerabout£120percow peryear. That’sabigfinancialsaving.”
Agri-techalsohas asustainabilityincentive. Wilson’sCountry, apotatoprocessingfirm inCraigavon,claimstohavecut400tonnes greenhousegasemissionsoverthepastyear, afterteamingupwithLisburn-basedlogistics providerMcCullaIrelandLtd.SUSNEO,a Belfast-based,technologycompany,helped themcreate realtimemetricsofthefirm’s sustainabilitylevelsthroughAI.
WilliamIrvinehasnoticedsustainability savingsonhisfarm.Byidentifyingandfixing lamenessproblemsthroughtech,hiscowslive longer.“Inthefirsttwoyearsoflife, acow has acarbonfootprintbutproducesnomilk.
Sothelongeryoukeepitalivethelongeryou repaythattwoyearinvestmentofcarbon footprint.Moreproductivecowsproducemore milkbuthavethesamecarbonfootprint[as lessproductivecows].Soyou’vegot atriple winthere:thefarmermakesmoremoney,the cowisbettercaredfor,andtheplanetisbetter off.”
GarethMcDonaldandGarethGordon aredesigningFarmdrivefrom acarbonnet zeroperspective.“Wewanttobethebuffer betweenwhat’scomingdownthechainin termsofcompliance. We willenablefarmers toinputdatathatwilltracktheirprofitability withsupermarketswhilealsokeepingthe governmentand[netzero]legislationofftheir back.”
TheFarmdriveentrepreneurspraisethe acceleratorprogrammeatBelfast’sOrmeau Labs,fromwhichtheyemerged,butbelieve moreshouldbedonetonurturetheagri-tech sectorinNI.IntheRepublic,AgTechIreland spansstakeholdersacrossmultiplefields (farmers,government, research,finance, environmentalgroups,skillstraining,etc)and
holds regularmeetingsandconferences(such as a2025eventthemedaroundAIinfarming). “Yetthere’snocentralplaceinNorthern Ireland,noagritechcommitteeorcentral voice,”saysGarethMcDonald.“Everyone’s veryspreadoutandisolatedinthatsense. Somethingsimilar[toAgTechIreland]would reallyhelpbenefitthesectorhere.”
Thereisnostemmingthetideofprogress, though.AIislikelytobecome asignificantpart ofDAERA’s RuminantGeneticsProgramme, whichwill requireeveryanimalinthe region tohave aDNAtest,providingfarmerswith dataandtoolstoimprovetheirbreeding decisions.“IenvisageAIcomingintoitsownin interpretingallthatdata,”says WilliamIrvine.
CattleEye,whichwasacquiredbythe GermangroupGEAin2024,leadstheway. “Weseeourselvesdoingmore withinGEA aroundartificialintelligence,usingAIfor thingslikeveterinary-assistedchatbots,”says TerryCanning.“Afarmercanaskthechatbot, ‘basedonyesterday’smilk,ontheamountof feedtheanimalshave,whatshould Ibedoing today?’” ■
GarethMcDonald
GarethGordon
BillyMoore,HendersonGroup,ClaireScottMcAteer,Queen’sBusinessSchool, LauraJackson,BDO,JillArmer,CCEAandBronaghLuke,HendersonGroup
Studentshavechanceto showcaseentrepreneurial skillsat freshschools challenge Secondaryschoolstudentsfrom acrossNorther nIrelandarebeing giventhechancetoshowcasetheir entrepreneurialskillsatthisyear’sNI Schools’BusinessChallenge
Over100ASandA-levelstudentswill secureaplaceattheeventinthestriking RiddelHallinBelfast,homeofQueen’s BusinessSchool.There,theywillbetasked withsolvingademanding real-lifebusiness briefsetbyleading retailandwholesale business,HendersonGroup.Throughsheer innovationandfocusedteamwork,groups willsetabouttransformingtheirsolutioninto aviable,actionableplan,beforepitchingtoa panelofexpertjudges.
Registrationisnowopenfortheevent, whichtakesplaceinFebruary.
ThechallengeisledbyQueen’sBusiness School,HendersonGroupandBDONorthern Ireland,supportedbyCCEA.
Onewinningteamwillsecure£500for theirschooland aVIPicehockeyexperience towatchBelfastGiants,courtesyof
HendersonGroup.
“Weare thrilledtoseethisspecialevent retur nforitsninthyear,”LauraJackson, partnerandheadofauditatBDONI,said.
“TheNISchoolsBusinessChallengeoffers youngentrepreneurs auniqueopportunity tolear nfromindustryprofessionalsandto putthelessonstheylear ninBusinessStudies directlyintopractice.
“Eachyear,wewitness alevelofambition, creativity,andtenacitythatistrulyinspiring and areflectionofthebrilliantyoungminds wehavehereinNorther nIreland. We are passionateaboutnurturingyoungtalent inoursectorthroughinternships,trainee programmesandspecialinitiativeslikethis withourpartnersincommerceandeducation. We wouldencourageasmanyschoolsas possibletoapplytojoinusnextFebruaryfor whatwillnodoubtbe afun-filled,fiercely competitiveand,importantly,hugelyenjoyable day”
ClaireScottMcAteer,seniorlecturerof practice(accounting)atQueen’sBusiness
School,said:“Itwillbewonderfultohave A-levelstudentsfromalloverNorther nIreland backontheQueen’sBusinessSchoolcampus.
“Thisyear’scasestudywillbringtheir learningtolifeby requiringthemtoput themselvesintheshoesofthetrusted businessleadershipoftheHenderson Grouptotackleandadviseoncurrentissues includingsustainabilityandcorporatesocial responsibility,recentbudgetaryimpacts, threatsincludingcyberconcernsaswellas ongoingfinancialandcashflowoversight. We lookforwardtoseeinghowtheteams applytheirknowledgeandsharetheirideas inthefriendlyandsupportiveenvironmentof Queen’sBusinessSchool.”
Speakingaboutitssupportoftheevent,Billy Moore,groupfinancedirectoratHenderson Groupsaid:“Eachyearweareexcitedtobring acasestudythatis reflectiveofthecurrent tradingconditionsinNorther nIrelandtothe tableforourchallengerstotakeon,andeach yearweareimpressedbytheirinnovative thinkingandentrepreneurialskills.” ■
NIcarsalesmarketin‘onceina generationcrisis’ due to post-Brexit rules NorthernIreland’scarmarketisinthe gripof a“generationalchallenge” as aresultofpost-Brexittrading rules,it’s beenclaimed
CardealerslikeCharlesHurst, Donnelly GroupandAgnewGrouptoldMLAsonthe StormontEconomyCommitteeon Wednesday thatruleswereimpactingcustomerchoiceand increasingprices.
Theysaidtherulesonspecificationsof vehiclesweredesignedtoensurea freeflow ofvehicletradebetweenGreatBritainandNI –butwereinsteadhavingtheoppositeeffect.
Thecar retailers,whoare membersof theNationalFranchisedDealersAssociation (NFDA),saidthestipulationsunderthe Windsor Frameworkwerehitting asectorincreasingly worriedaboutitsfuture
Theysaidtherulesrisked investmentin asectorworthmorethan£3bn ayearand employingmorethan17,500acrosstheregion.
FromJanuary, newcarsregisteredin Northern Irelandmusthave“EUtypeapproval” insteadofGBtypeapproval.
Thatmeansnewvehiclesapprovedforsalein GreatBritainwillnotbeabletobe registeredin NorthernIreland.Thechangeswillonlyapplyto new andnotusedvehicles.
CarmanufacturerscanseekbothEU,GBor “dual” approvalstosellacrosstheentire UK.
ButtheNFDAsaidthatmajorbrandslike Vauxhall,Renault,Citroen,PeugeotandJaguar LandRoverwerealreadyonlyproducingcars forGreatBritainonly,usingGBtypeapproval.
TheNFDAclaimedthatfromnextyear,many oftheirnewmodelswouldbeabsentfrom forecourtshereduetotheimpactoftherules
AlastairPeoples,theNFDA’s Northern Irelandspokesman,said:“What’shappening isnothingshortof agenerationalchallengeto ourlocalindustry,withlesschoiceforanyonein Northern Irelandwhowantsaccesstothesame rangeonofferinthe restoftheUK.
“Theserulesalsomeanhigherpricesfor vehicleswhichdomanagetomakeitthrough.
“Wehavealreadystressedourconcernsto theSecretaryofStateforNorthernIrelandand totheCabinetOffice,aswellastheStormont
EconomyCommitteenearlysixmonthsago, withwarningsthatthissituationwasgoingto occur,and,asweheadintonextyear,theissue isnowcritical.
“We’reasmallmarketin relativetermsto theUKand,commercially,carmanufacturers arenowstartingtomakevehiclesonlyfortheir biggestmarket,GreatBritain.
“Shorttermarrangementsare nowurgently neededwhilelegislationisdevelopedtoalign NorthernIrelandwith regulationswhichare alreadyappliedinGreatBritain.”
NorthernIrelandMPshavealreadybeen urgingtheUKgovernmenttointerveneand arecallingonofficialstoensurethatGBtype approvalsarerecognisedinNorthernIreland.
TheStormontEconomyCommitteehasalso askedNorthernIreland’sSecretaryofState HilaryBenntourgentlylookattheissue.
InJuly,JeffMcCartneyfromCharlesHurst said:“Theironyiscustomerswillbeableto gotoGBandbuy anewcarbutdealersin NorthernIrelandwillnolongerbeableto sourcethevehiclesforthem.” ■
IT &T EC HNOLOGY IsBig Tech eliminating jobswithAI? Payissky-highand bananasarefree…that’s thedealintheUSsince theboominartificial intelligence,writes Adrian
Weckler
Techcompaniesdon’tactivelywant toeliminateyourjobwithAI –but forsome,itishappeninganyway.
Recently,IwalkedthecorridorsofAmazon’s Seattleheadquarters.
It’snotjustoneoftheworld’sbiggest companies,butisalso abellwetherforthis age’sgreatworkplacedebate:AIandjob replacement.
AWSisreportedlycutting14,000 managementjobs,includingatleast150in Ireland,partiallybecauseofAI.
Speaking recently,AWSchiefexecutiveMatt Garmansaidthecompanywillcontinueto remove“layers”ofmanagementandthatAIis changingcompanies’workforces.
“That’sjustthewayitis,”MrGarmansaid. “We’regoingtohaveto,as asociety,adapt andlearn.”
AWSisn’talone.Microsoft,Seattle’sother techbehemoth,isalsoon ajob-slashingspree witharound15,000peopletargeted.Like AWS,AIisalso apartialmotivator.
Neithercompanyparticularlyneedsto
savemoney.Inthelastweek,bothtech giantsreportedhigherquarterly revenueand earnings.Amazon,inparticularly,sawsales surge20%.Thedaysof“notmaking aprofit” arelongbehindit:itsquarterlyprofitforthe lastthreemonthswasalmost$2bnperweek, approachingApple-stylelevelsofriches. Andyetit’sonitsmostruthlessjob-cutting programinyears.
WhereAWSgoes,othercompanieslook settofollow.Asseniorcompanyexecutives putittomelastweek,theissueisn’tafetish
overhavingfewerpeople.It’ssimplyfollowing howtechnologyischangingjobsand,thus, company rosters.
“Thereare somanyotherfactorsinvolved whenitcomestowhatishappeningwith jobs,”saidMai-Lan TomsenBukovec, technologyvicepresidentat AWS.
“It’shardtojustsayAIthisandAIthat. Butcompaniesjustdothingsnowthatthey couldn’tdobefore.They’remodernisingthings usingtheirowndataandsaving alotoftime andmoney.”
That,the AWSexecutivespointout, inevitablymeans achangeinthewaythat companiesaresetup.
Amazon’scurrentinterpretationofthatis thatthereare fewerwhitecollarjobsneeded. When acompanycangenerate reports, insightsandpatternsin afractionofthe timeittookdepartmentstodoit,itposes fundamentalquestionsaboutwhyyouneedso manymanagerstooverseethings.
“Ourgoalistohave aflatterorganisation withfewerlayers,”MrGarmansaid.
“Oneofthethingswecandoforthisis removelayersofmanagement. Youmove faster.Ithinkyou’regoingtoseemore companiesmakechangeslikethat.”
Walkingaround AWS’scity-centreSeattle campus,thereseemstobeanacceptancethat thisisjustthewayoftheworld.
Atitsfamousbiosphere-themedbuilding, poison-dartfrogsandexoticplantssurround workersloungingonsofaswithlaptopsand noise-cancellingheadphones.
Nearby,atAmazon’siconicbananastand, whichoffersfreefruittothepublic,smiling staff(called“baristas”)keepgivingoutupto 8,000bananas aday.
Overhere,fluctuatingstaffingnumbersare acompact:theever-presentpromiseofhigh wages(muchhigherthaninEuropeantech) bringsanunderstandingthatit’salldependent ontheunderlyingcompetitivesystemsinthe firstplace.Andrightnow,thatisundergoinga fairly root-and-branch restructuring,duetoAI.
Recently,MicrosoftchiefexecutiveSatya Nadellasaidthatitsemployeeswouldstartto “unlearn”and“relearn”theirworkfunctions throughthespectrumofAI.Thisisn’tthe samethingasstaffautomaticallybecoming redundant.
“Doesthismean robotsaregonnahave allthejobsandthere’snojobsforhumans anymore? Iseethatnowhereinthenear term,”said AWSchiefexecutiveGarmaninan exchangewiththisnewspaper.
“Particularlybecause Iactuallythinkthat, inmanyways,thetechnologysupercharges peoplethataregreatattheirjobstoday.”
Viewedthroughthisprism,theupending effectthatAIishavingonjobsisn’tcynicalor evenparticularlydestructive.It’sjust anew cycle.Andit’sonitswayhere. ■
AI works… but thewider markets around itareoverhyped andithasreal consequences AIcompaniesareinvestingtrillionsincomputational infrastructurewithoutreallyestablishinghowto monetiseit,writes
GeoffMcGimpsey,founder of FoundryMarketingPartners
Financialmarketsarebubblingup. Artificialintelligencestockstrade atvaluationsdisconnectedfrom revenues.Majorinstitutionsareissuing warningsandwe’realreadyseeingsome corrections.Norther nIreland,withour
198AIfirmsattheheartofoureconomic developmentstrategy,hasparticular reasontopayattention.
Earlierthismonth,PopeLeoXIVaddressed anAIconferenceinRome.Inthemessage, heaskedtechnologydeveloperstoconsider
notjustwhatartificialintelligencecando, butwhetherthey’rebuildingtherightthings fortheright reasons.It’sagoodquestion.A similarquestioncouldbeposedtofinancial marketsrightnow,wherebillionsflowtoward AIcompaniesthathaveyettodemonstrate sustainablebusinessmodels.
Aretechstocksbuiltontheright fundamentalsandareinvestorsgoinginfor theright reasons?OrinAIterminology,how farareinvestorsengagedintheirownformof hallucination?
Thedisconnectbetweenwhat’srealand
whatisn’thasbecomesostarkthat73 scientistsfromacrossEuropeandtheUS recentlywroteanopenlettertoEuropean CommissionPresidentUrsulavonderLeyen. TheycalledherbullishsentimentsaboutAI “unscientificandinaccurate,”sayingshehad reliedonclaimsfromtechchiefsthatwere “marketingstatementsdrivenbyprofit-motive andideologyratherthanempiricalevidence”. Thescientistswarnedspecificallyabout“a significantspeculativebubbletowhichbaseless AIhypeiscontributing”.
We’redefinitelyinthe realmsofhype,and
SamAltman’s OpenAI isreportedlylayingthe groundworkforapotential IPOthatcouldvaluethe companyatupto$1trn
ithas realconsequences.Estimatessuggest OpenAI’snetlossesinthefirsthalfofthisyear maybeintherangeof$11.5bnto$13.5bn, andthecompanyappearstohavespentthree timesmorethanitearned.Thisistheflagship firmoftheentireAIrevolution.Andit’svalued bymarketsatlevelswhichassumefuture profitsthatnobodyhasyetdemonstratedcan begenerated.
Theproblemisn’tnew.In1956, researchers proposingtheDartmouthSummerResearch Project(thatwouldbirthmoder nAI)concluded that“themajorobstacleisnotlackofmachine capacity,butourinabilitytowriteprograms takingfulladvantageofwhatwehave”.
Now,70yearslater,companiesareinvesting trillionsincomputationalinfrastructurewithout reallyestablishinghowtomonetiseit. We don’tyetknowhowtotakefulladvantageof whatwehave.
Everyindicatorpointingtobubbleconditions isnowbeingsatisfied.TheBankofEngland FinancialPolicyCommittee(FPC)isstartingto getworried.Equitymarketvaluationsappear “stretched”,itsaid,withthefivelargestUS techfirmsnowcommanding30%oftheS&P 500index, aconcentrationnotseenin50 years.TheFPCwarnedthere’sriskof a“sharp marketcorrection”.
Sowhatdoes aspeculativebubblemean forus, aregionplacingAIatthecentreof itseconomicfuture?ThePfGandassorted policydocumentsdescribetransformation andopportunity.The regionispreparingfor theAIfuture–programmes,collaborations andcoursesarebeinglaunchedweekly (fulldisclosure:I’mdevelopingoneatUlster University).Butwe’rebuildingthisfuture around asectorwhosefinancialfoundations currentlyappeartobelessthanstable. Whentheinvestmentclimatechanges,and ifmorecorrectionhappens,venturefunding candryup.Thatmeansearly-stagefirmsrun outofrunway.Corporatespendingondigital transformationinitiativesgetspostponed. “Let’swaitandsee”becomestheprevailing mood.Businessleaderswho’vebeencautious aboutAIadoptionfeelvindicated.Thenegative energyof amarketcorrectioncanrippleout farandwide.
Norther nIrelandraiseslessthan£1inevery £20ofitstax revenue,andwhenUKtax receiptsfall,ourBlockGrantshrinks.TheUK has(limited)capacitytoabsorbshocks.NI, alreadyrunning asubstantialstructuraldeficit, hasnone.Whenexternalshocksarrive,there’s nodomesticcapacityto respond,andnofiscal cushion.Morefiscallyautonomous regions willhaveoptionsNIwon’t.Dublincandeploy stimulusmeasuresthroughitsown resources. EdinburghandManchesterexistwithinlarger, morediversified regionaleconomies.NI, dependentontheBlockGrantandlacking substantial revenue-raisingpowers,willhave farless roomtomanoeuvre.
So,I’mmorethan alittleconcernedabout themarkets,butI’moptimisticaboutAI.The capabilitiesarerealandthelong-termimpact onproductivityisundeniable.Overthelonger term,thetechnologywill reshapehowwork getsdone, regardlessofwhathappensin financialmarkets.
Our73Europeanscientistsaren’tdismissing AI’spotentialeither.They’redemandingwe distinguishbetweengenuinecapabilityand marketingstatements.Marketscanbewrong aboutvaluations,whiletechnology remains sound.Anyonepeddling a“straightahead, anddamnthetorpedoes”attitudehasn’t beenhitby atorpedo –orbyameaningful economiccrisis. We shouldbewaryof concentrating regionaleconomicpolicy aroundassumptionsofcontinuousupward trajectoriesandsustainedinvestorenthusiasm, particularlywhentechstocksstartcircling theplughole.Arewediversifyingenough? Areweensuringothersectorsaregettingthe attentiontheyneed?
PopeLeohasspokenaboutapproaching powerfulAItechnologieswith“responsibility anddiscernment”.AsAIexpertsfromacross Europesuggest,weoughttomakedecisions basedonevidenceratherthanenthusiasm.
Ourmarkets,andnolesserperson thanUrsulavonderLeyen,appearto haveoverlookedthis. We shouldembrace technologywithdiscernment,bemeasured andavoidthehype.Thentryhardnotto hallucinatewhenweopenour Wealthify apps. ■
NorthernIrelandhouseholdsenjoy best full-fibrebroadbandin UK:report Norther nIrelandnowhasthebest full-fibre broadbandcoverage amongUK regionswith95%of homesabletoaccessit,a fresh reporthas said.
Ofcom’sannualConnectedNations report saidaround780,000homesherehaveaccess tobroadbandfromfibre-opticcables,which isfasterandmore reliablethanfromcopper lines.
Full-fibrenetworks,aswellascable,can deliverspeedsofonegigabitpersecond (Gbit/s)orhigher,whichmeans abetter experienceforactivitieslikestreaming,gaming andmakingvideocalls.
AccordingtoOfcom,78%ofUKhomes haveaccesstofull-fibrebroadband,upfrom 69%inSeptember2023.
Takingfull-fibreandcablenetworks together,96%ofhomesinNInowhaveaccess
to agigabit-capablebroadbandconnections.
Andtake-upoffull-fibrebroadbandinNIis increasing,Ofcomsaid,risingfrom53%inJuly lastyearto62%thisyearcomparedto42%in theUKas awhole.
Ofcom’sreportalsosaidtheavailabilityof 5GcontinuestogrowinNIwithestimated outdoorcoverageprovidedbyatleastone mobilenetworkoperatornow97% –a5% riseonlastyear.
However,4Gcoveragecontinuestoprovide thebackboneofmobileexperiencefor consumerswithindividualoperatorsproviding 4GcoverageacrossmostofNI.
Morethan99%ofpremisesareableto connectviaatleastoneoperatorand97%of premiseshaveoutside4Gcoveragefromall fourmobilenetworkoperators.
JonathanRose,Ofcom’sdirectorforNI,said: “NIalreadyenjoysthebestfixedconnectivity intheUK,andwearestartingtoseemoreand
moreconsumerstakeupthesewidelyavailable fullfibreservices.
“Whenitcomestomobile,foryears operatorshavebeendelivering5Gservices whileusingold4Gnetworkstodomostofthe legwork.Butnow,theracetodelivertheUK’s full5Gfutureison.
“Investmentinthistechnologywillhelp todeliverbetterandmorereliablecoverage acrossNorther nIreland.”
InMay,broadbandinfrastructureprovider Openreachannouncedithadhit90% coverageofitsnextgenerationUltrafastFull FibrebroadbandinNI.
ActingdirectorLaurenMcGaugheytoldthe Belfast Telegraphitsambitionwastogetto 97%.
Andthedeliveryofthe£200mProject StratumbyitsrivalproviderFibrusinAugust broughtfull-fibrebroadbandto81,000 premisesinruralcommunities. ■
MargaretCanning
StormHarvesternamedIT ServicesCompanyofthe Year Belfast-basedAIanalyticscompany StormHarvesterhaswontheIT ServicesCompanyofthe Year, andwasalsohighlycommendedinthe DevelopmentTeamofthe Yearcategoryat thisyear’s Belfast TelegraphIT Awards.
Theawardsceremonytookplaceatthe MACTheatre inNovember,celebratingthe successofITcompaniesacrossNorther n Ireland.
“WinningtheITServicesCompanyofthe Yearawardisanincredibleachievementanda testamenttothehard work,dedication,and creativityofourentireteam,”BrianMoloney, chiefexecutiveofficer, said.
StormHarvesteris amarket-leading softwaresolutionadoptedby11ofthe 12utilityprovidersintheUK,delivering actionableinsightsacrosswastewater networks.Byanalysingdatafromsensorsat keyinfrastructurepoints,suchascombined seweroverflows(CSOs),pumpingstations,and wastewatertreatmentworks,StormHarvester leveragesAIandmachinelearningtotransform streamsofdataintoactionableintelligence.
Historicaldataisanalysedagainstrealtimedatatoidentifyanomalies,predicting anyissuesbefore theyarise.Thispredictive
capabilityempowersutilitiestoshiftfrom reactivetoproactivenetworkmanagement, significantly reducingenvironmentalincidents andcostlyemergency repairs.
Whilemanyutilitiescandeploysensors acrosstheirnetworks,the realchallengelies inconvertingrawdataintoactionableinsight. StormHarvestertransformsutilitiesfrombeing “informationpoor”to“dataandinsightrich”, enablingthemtomakeinformed,proactive decisionswhilst remainingcompliant.
Briansaid:“Utilitiesareunder alotof pressurewithCSOdischarges,andit’s verydifficulttosolve aproblemunlessyou understandwhat’sactuallyhappening.Using oursoftwaremeanstheycanseeclearlywhat’s happeningrightacrossthenetworkand identifywhat’snormalandwhat’sabnormalto ensuretheydon’thaveanyoperationalissues which resultinlong-termpollutionincidents.”
Thejudges recognisedStormHarvester’s commitmenttoworkingcollaborativelywith utilitycustomerslikeAnglian Water,ontheir dynamicsewervisualisation(DSV)programme, whichisthelargestproactivesewermonitoring initiativeintheworld.Over50,000sensors havebeendeployedandintegratedwith StormHarvester,whichhasfacilitatedover
5,000proactiveinterventions.
This recognitionhighlightsStormHarvester’s roleinshapingthefutureofwastewater networkmanagement,andtheimpactthat meaningfulcollaboration,advancedanalytics, andinnovationcanachieve.
Arecent£8.4mseries Afunding roundhas enabledStormHarvestertoexpanditsteamand productrange,acceleratinggrowthbeyondthe UKintoAustraliaandNewZealand.Following theinvestment,thedevelopmentteamat StormHarvesterhasgrownby103%tosupport theexpansionplansandincreasedcustomer demand.Theplatformoperates anetworkof over280,000sensors,withmorecontinually beingadded,generatingdataacrossits customersinfrastructures.Collectivelyeach year,StormHarvesterisenablingcustomers toclearover10,000blockages,significantly reducingsewerfloodingandpollution.
Briansaid:“Aswelookaheadtoour expansionintotheAustralian,NewZealand andUSmarkets,we’reexcitedaboutthe opportunitiestogrowandextendtheimpact oftheworkwedo.I’mincrediblyproudof whatwe’veachievedsofarandlookforward tobuildingonthissuccessaswecontinueto grow.” ■
NiallHurson,SeanO’Rourke, ConorRyanandSeanMcBride picturedattheBelfast TelegraphIT Awards2025
Whyeconomy departmentin NorthernIreland needstoupits game to restoreconfidence ColinLewis,formerDeputyPermanentSecretary
attheDepartmentfortheEconomy,saysthatthe departmentmustdomoretoimproveitsaccountability obligationstothewiderpublic
Stormont’seconomyportfoliohas historicallybeenoneofthefirst ministrieschoseninthepower sharingprocess.Ithasbeensought-after becauseitoffersgenuinepowertoshape NorthernIreland’sfuture,delivertangible benefitstothepublic,andenhance a politicalparty’sstanding.
Further,theEconomyMinisteris regarded as ahigh-profileposition,ofteninthemedia spotlight,andcanusethe roletobuild apublic profileandinfluencecross-departmentalpolicy Theministerhassignificantinfluenceover policiesthataffectemployment,investment, andtheoverallprosperityofNorthernIreland.
EarlyinthenewyeartheExecutivewillgive areportontheprogressthathasbeenmadein addressingthepriorityobjectivesoutlinedinthe ProgrammeforGovernment2024/27‘OurPlan: DoingWhatMattersMost’.
Ofparticularinteresttome,andnodoubt tothebusinesscommunityatlarge,willbe tohearabouttheheadwaythathasbeen
madeingrowing a‘GloballyCompetitive andSustainableEconomy,’andinparticular, thestridesmadebytheDepartmentforthe Economy(DfE),underSinnFein’sleadership,to improveproductivity,creategoodjobs,achieve decarbonisation,andimprove regionalbalance.
Lookingback,DfEhasstruggledto rebuild its reputationandcredibilityinthewakeofthe RHIdebacle,inwhichthefailuresofofficialsin managing abusinesscaseprocesswasvividly exposed,andwhichcontributedtothecollapse ofdevolutionin2017.
Itcanillaffordfurther reputationaldamage andquestionmarksastoitscompetency, asitseekstoachieveitsambitiousstrategic objectives.
Disappointingly,negativenewsheadlines relatingtoitsperformanceoverthelast12 monthsleadsonetoquestionifitisactually capableofdoingso.
Anumberofindependent reportshave pointedtoseriousfailingsinitspolicy formulationanddelivery,andalsowith regard
toitsaccountabilityobligations
Twohighlycritical‘valueformoney’ reports bytheNorthernIrelandAuditOffice(NIAO)in quicksuccessionontwoofthedepartment’s keypolicyareas(skillsandenergy),inaddition to ascathingopinionbytheNIAOonthe department’s2024/25annualaccounts,have donelittletoinstilconfidenceinitsabilitiesand competency
Firsttherewerethe recommendationsinthe NorthernIrelandAssembly’sPublicAccounts Committee(PAC) reporton‘Developingthe SkillsforNorthernIreland’sFuture,’whichwas publishedinMay
The reportdelivered awitheringcritiqueof theeffectivenessofDfE’sskillspolicy,which describedslowprogressandgovernance challengesandurgedformoreeffective coordinationandbetteruseofdatatomeet strategicgoals.
Inparticular,itnotedthatdespitethe rangeofskillsprogrammesprovided,andthe substantialfundingandstaffing resource,there
hasbeenlittleprogresstowardsachieving strategicgoals.
Andnowin recentweeks,theNIAO reported thatthedepartment’senergystrategy,which waslaunchedinDecember2021,andhas a pivotal roleinensuringNorthernIrelandmeets itsambitionsandobligationsin relationtonet zero,energyefficiencyandtacklingclimate change,hasfallenwellshortinachieving targets.
Ithighlightedsignificantshortcomingswith regardtogoodgovernanceandeffective oversight,andconcernthatkeytargetswillnot bemet.
Andthenthere wastheNIAOopiniononthe 2024/25accounts.
Suchwasthepoorqualityoftheinformation providedforaudit,theAuditorGeneral DorinniaCarvillesaidthathadthedepartment been aprivatesectororganisationit wouldhave withdrawnfromtheaudit.Insteadittookthe extremelyrarestepofissuing a“disclaimed opinion,”whichmeansitwasunabletoobtain
sufficientevidencetosupporttheinformation inthedepartment’sfinancialstatements.Asfar as Iamaware,thisoutcomehasnoprecedent. Further,whatseemstobe agenerallackof urgencytogetthingsdone,mostnoticeablyin drivingforwardits regionalbalanceinitiatives andhelpingtoprogressCity &Growth Dealprojects,suggeststhatallisfarfrom satisfactory
Assomeonethatworkedfor anumberof yearsinDfE,andpreviouslyintheDepartment forEconomicDevelopment, Itakenopleasure in readingdepressingheadlinesaboutitsoutput andperformance.But Ihavetoconcludethat the recentfailingsareofsuch amagnitudeand frequencythatthepowersthatbemaynow havetotake astepbackandthinkhardabout theadequacyofleadership,organisation,and generaleffectivenessofthedepartment.
DfE requiresseniorleadersthathaveyears ofexperienceandsubject-matterexpertise workingineconomicand/orbusiness developmentinordertogivetheverybest
advicetotheirpoliticalmasters.Itisnotan environmentforgeneralistadministrators.
IfNorthernIrelandistobesuccessfulasan economicentity,itneedsaneffective,efficient, andprofessionaleconomydepartmentthat, amongstotherthings,isstronginevidencebasedpolicyformulationanddelivery, strong ingovernanceandaccountability, andhas a strongleadershipandorganisationalculture thatdemonstratesurgencyandambition.
Further,itspolicy-makersmustbeproactive andopentodevelopingeffectivecollaborative partnershipswithothergovernment departments,industry,academia,andcivil society
Theissuesoverthepastyearhaveshown thatitsperformanceappearstohavefallen shortofwhatis required, revealingsignificant weaknessincorecompetencies.Itneedsto urgentlyupitsgameifitisto restore public confidenceinitsabilities,andifitistomake anyappreciableheadwayinmeetingits ProgrammeforGovernmentobjectives ■
ParliamentBuildings atStormont
BelfastHarbourchief
JoeO’Neillandchair
DrTheresaDonaldson
BelfastHarbourlaunches consultationinto25-yearmasterplan BelfastHarbourhasstarteda publicconsultationonexpansion ambitionsforthenext25years whichitsayswill requirechangestoits accountingstatusto realise.
Itsaidthe2025-50draftmasterplanaimsto improveitsabilitytodrivetrade,tourism,clean growthandinnovation,whileshaping“new placestowork,visit,liveandinvestin”.
ThemasterplanincludesBelfast’sfirstland reclamationprojectfor25yearstobuilda newfreightterminal;shorepowerfordocked ships;wharf redevelopmentforlargercargo vessels,regenerationtocreate residential neighbourhoodsand anewcleanenergyhub.
Butitsaidlargepartsofitsplans relyonits accountingstatusas apubliccorporationtobe changedsothatitcan“prudentlyborrowto fundbiggerprojects”.
Itsaid:“TheNIExecutiveissupportiveof
changeandBelfastHarbourishopefulfor legislationfromtheAssemblytoenablea solution.”
BelfastHarboursaidthemasterplanwas informedbyforecaststhatitstradevolumes couldgrowfrom24milliontonnestodaytoup to40millionby2050 –whichwould require additionalcapacity.
AccordingtoUlsterUniversity research,the harbourhandlesgoodsandfreightvaluedat £26.7bneachyear.
DrTheresaDonaldson,chairofBelfast Harbour,said:“BelfastHarbourbenefitsfrom having alargelandareawithprimedeepwater access.Thisgivesus roomtogrow.
“Ourplanshowshowwecouldusethat advantagetobecometheleadingporton theDublin-BelfastEconomicCorridorwhile deepeningtradeandtransportlinksglobally andwithGreatBritain.
“Withthehelpofthisdraftmasterplan,we areontracktobecomeoneofthefastestgrowingportsintheUKby2050.”
Shesaidtheplanwas“bothambitiousand practical”.“ItshowshowBelfastHarbourcan continuetogrowas acompetitivegatewayto globalmarketsandstillbesomewherepeople areproudtolive,work,study,orvisit.”
Andshesaiditwouldbe a“living document”whichwould respondtochanging needsinthenext25years,adding:“Thedraft iswrittenforeveryonewhohas astakein BelfastHarbour,noworintheyearsaheadand theconsultationprocessisdesignedtomake sureeveryvoicecanbeheard.”
Andeightweekpublicconsultationruns fromnowuntilmid-January.
Fourtemporarydrop-inexhibitionswillbe heldatvenuesacrossBelfast,supportedbya displayatBelfastHarbouroffices. ■
NETZ ERO& GR EENENERGY Aslapinthe faceforEVs Whilethegovernmenthasbroughtingrantsandtax incentivesforelectricvehicleownership,it’salso nowincreasingroadtaxoncars,aswellasproposing chargingdriversforeachmiledriveninone,while doingnothingtomakebuyingusedanyeasier. John Mulgrew says,withsaleswelloffthegovernment’s owntargets,it’stimetopulloutallthestops,andnot givewithonehandandtakeawaywiththeother
Foryears,governmentshavetaxed andleviedgoodsandservices, which,they’dpreferwedidn’t consume,orwhichareparticularlyharmful toindividuals,orwidersociety.
Ontheoppositeside,incentivesareinplace topersuadepeopletoconsumemorepositive goodsandservices.
Whenelectricvehicles(EVs)firsthitthese shores –theNissanLeafleadingthecharge–theyweren’tviewedasseriouscontenders,or
anythingthatwouldrattlethewiderpetrol anddieselindustryatthetime.
Therangewasn’tthere,chargingspeeds slow,infrastructurealmostnon-existent, andcostshigh.Governmentsthoughtthem, perhaps, asteppingstone,butnotimportant –certainlybackintheearly2010s.
Cutto2025andthiscurrentgovernmentis sendingmixedmessages.
Thisgovernment,andprevious governments,wantustoditchthepetrol,and
buyorleaseanEV.
Andwhilesalesarerising,theycurrentlysit ataround22%ofnewcarssold,UKwide. InNorther nIreland,thatnumberislower, however.
Butthegovernment’sowntargetis28%. So,howdowegetthere?
Itverymuchgiveswithonehand,andtakes awaywiththeother.There’snowanEVgrant of£3,750offthecostof anewcar,uptoalist priceof£37,000.
Andthereremainstrongtaxincentivesfor organisationstoditchthepetrolordieselcars, andlease,orbuy,anEV. It’spartofthe reason youseeconsiderablymoreelectricvehicles onthe road,includinghigher-pricedmodels, drivenbyexecutives.
You’llseeelectricchargersatthemajority ofourforward-thinkingbusinesses,allowing driverstochargeupwhileatwork,whileother companieshaveswappedouttheircommercial fleettogoclean.
Thesearethegoodthings.Butwhatabout thebad?
Well,ifyouaren’tfortunateenoughto beabletoaffordanewvehicle,orget acar throughwork,thentheseabovelargelywon’t apply.There’stheElectricCarScheme,which allowspeopletobuy anewcarthroughwork, andthus,savingontax.Butagain,thisis fornewcars,only,andforfirmswhichare involvedinthescheme.
Manyofusbuyusedvehicles.Andoneof themainadvantagesofbuying ausedEV,is thedepreciation.It’ssomethingwhichwill likelyeaseaspeople realisemanyofthemwill outlasttheircombustionengineequivalents.
Butbuyingused,thereare notaxincentives, orgovernmentassistance.So,puttingEVsin thewiderpopulationisbeingstifledhere.
Thegovernmentalsogotridofincentivesto installhomechargers –somethingwhichmost peoplewillneedwhentheybuyone.
I’manEVdriver,andhavebeenforthe lastyear.Iwouldn’tgoback. Iboughtused, butdidseeitassomethingofanadvantage havingzeroroadtax.Notthatdriversshouldn’t
contribute,butwe’restillatthestagewhere peopleneedtobeconvinced,enmasse,that choosinganEVis apositivethingtodo.
Now,thegovernmenthasintroducednew VehicleExciseDuty(VED)whichwillmean driverstendingtopay£195 ayearfortheir electriccar.Toputthatintoperspective,myold smoky2010 VolkswagenGolfonlycosts£35a year.Tryandgetyourhead roundthat.
Then,there’sthebigone.I’mwritingthis beforetheBudgethasbeenannounced,but itappearsthattheChancellorisplanningto bringin a3pamilechargeforelectricdrivers.
Iimagethegovernmenthaslookedatthe long-termimpactoflost revenuethrough fuelduty,andthought,‘weneedtoplugthis revenuehole’.
Howthiswillworkhasn’tbeenconfirmed, butitseemsit’llbesomethingakintoa self-assessmentofannualmileage.Keepin mindwhatthisistaxing. You’retaxing azero emissionvehicle,andone,whichpotentially, isbeingpoweredbyzeroemissionenergy –althoughthelikelihoodourgeneration, whetherathomeoratpublicchargers,isa mixtureofgasandwind.
Youmightbethinking,wellEVdrivers needtopaytheirway,too.Ofcourse.Butthe governmentwantsyouand Itobuyone –new orused. Yet,we’rewayoffthegovernmentsettargets.It’sslappingthewristsofthose whohavealreadymadetheswitch,and swaying adecisiontostickwiththetraditional combustionvehicle.
Manydrivers,eventhose Ispeaktowho arestrongadvocatesforprotectingthe environment,arestillnotentirelyenamoured bysomeoftheperceiveddrawbackstogoing electric –rangebeingthebigone.Ifyou’re buying amoder nfamilyelectricnow,you’re lookingat250-350milesofrangeinmost cases,moreinothers.It reallyisn’taproblem for99%ofpeople,plus,wehave agrowing rapidchargingnetworkacrossIreland.
Butifpeoplelikethatareonthefence, howdoyouconvincethosewhostillhave thatidyllic rose-tintedfondnessforpetrol>
NE TZ ERO&G RE EN EN ERGY
TheChancelloroftheExchequer
RachelReevescouldbringina chargepermileforEVdrivers
ifyouaren’tdoingyourutmosttomakeitan attractiveprospectforthem?
“Withmorethanoneinfournewcars soldintheUKlastmonthbeing afullbattery electricvehicle,more andmoredriversare discoveringthebenefitsofcleaner,cheaper, andmoreefficientelectricmotoring,”Mark McCall,chairmanoftheElectric Vehicle AssociationNI,told UlsterBusiness
“Thisiscertainlynotthetimetoconsider introducingadditionalcostsforEVdrivers, whichcouldriskslowingthismomentum.A consistentandsupportivepolicyframeworkis essentialifwearetomeetourelectricvehicle adoptiongoals.”
Andlookingatsomeofthe recent research, two-thirdsofpeopleheresaythe3pa milechargefordriverswouldputthemoff switchingtoanEV.
Furthermore,81%of respondentssaid theybelievedNorther nIrelandisnot readyfor
electricvehicles.
AsurveybyCompareNI.comfoundthat 67%ofdriversherewouldbe reluctantto switchtoEVsifthenewschemecomesinto force.
Thepollof800NImotoristsalsofoundthat 60%of respondentswerenotinfavourof theproposedlevy,suggestingthemajorityof driversbelievethe Treasuryshouldfindother waystofilltheholeinpublicfinances.
Whilethegovernmentplanstobanthesale ofnewpetrolordieselcarsby2030,80% ofpeoplesurveyedbyCompareNIsaidthey wouldn’twanttochangetoelectricvehiclesif therewasn’tapendingban.
“EVsarequicklybecomingmore mainstream,withdriversincreasinglyaware ofthepotentiallong-termsavingstheycan offerduetolowerrunningcosts,”Ian Wilson, managingdirectoratCompareNI.com,said.
“However,assomeEVcampaignershave
rightlypointedout,thisproposedpay-per-mile taxcoulddiscouragedriverswhoareonthe fenceaboutgoingelectricandmayleadto themstickingwiththeirpetrolordieselmodels for afewmoreyears.
“Althoughthereare severaladvantagesto switchingtoanelectricvehicle,manypeople arestillunderstandablyhesitanttomake thechange.Oneofthebiggeststumbling blocksformanydriversisrangeanxiety.While Norther nIreland’schargingpointinfrastructure hascome alongway,thenetworkstilllags behindthe restoftheUK.
“Theinitialupfrontcostofthevehicleis anotherkeybarriertowiderEVadoption. Withthehighcostoflivingcontinuingto squeezehouseholdbudgets,itisnotsurprising thatmostdriversinNorther nIreland remain scepticalaboutmovingtoEVownership,with manyputtingitoffforaslongastheypossibly can.” ■
JohnMetcalf,UpstreamABL’s acquisition managerwithIainLees,StrategicPowerGroup’s financedirector
Lendergivesmulti-millionpound backing to renewablesfirm’sexpansion Anasset-basedlenderinNorthern Irelandisbacking arenewable powerfirm’sdevelopmentsacross theborderin amulti-millionpound investment.
UpstreamABLinBelfastsaiditspartnership withStrategicPowerGroup(SPG)meantitwas helpingcreatesomeoftheRepublic’sbiggest solarandbatterydevelopments.
ThedealisoneofUpstreamABL’s largest todatesinceitannounced£150minfunding fromLondon’sPollenStreetCapital,following amanagementbuyout(MBO)earlierthisyear.
SPGboughtout aLondoninvestorthisyear andwillusethenewfinancetofurtherdevelop itspipelinesolarPVandbatterystorage facilities,includingoneatSwordlestown,Co Kildare.
It’sinvestinginseveralsitestodevelopsolar PVandbatteryenergystoragesystems(BESS) acrossIreland.
JohnMetcalfe,UpstreamABL’s acquisition manager,said:“Across awidespectrumof
industries –frommanufacturing,hospitality andwholesalethroughtoengineering, technologyandnow renewableenergy–structuredasset-basedlendingworks.”
“Flexiblefundingsolutionsthat release capitaltoigniteprojects,ideas,andinnovation tohelpcompaniesdeliveronopportunities thatcouldotherwisebelost.
“SPGhasalreadyestablisheditselfasa future-focused,worldclasssolarPVand batterystoragedevelopmentbusinessthat willsupporttheIrishgovernment’srenewable energyambitions,andwe’redelightedtojoin Paulandtheteamas afundingpartnertohelp enableitssuccess.”
IainLees,financedirectoratStrategicPower Group,said:“Weare delightedtobeworking withUpstreamABLonthisexcitingpipelineof projectswhichhelpstounlockanimportant opportunitytosupporttheRepublicofIreland andNorther nIrelandincreaseenergysecurity, contributetotheir renewableenergytargets, andsupporteconomicgrowthandjobs.
“DevelopmentssuchasSwordlestown arenotonlyessentialtomeeting renewable energygoals,butalsotoachievingthe widergoalofdecarbonisingtheeconomyin IrelandinlinewiththeClimateActionPlan.
“StrategicPowerGrouphasgrown substantiallyoverthelastfiveyearswhich includesthesuccessfuldevelopmentand saleofthreemajorprojectssofaranda substantialpipelinestillindevelopment.
“Nowthatweare100%locallyowned bythemanagementteam,we’reexcited thatUpstreamABLhasjoinedusinthis importantsustainabilityjourney.”
Meanwhile,UpstreamABLissupportinga newgenerationofrugbyplayersbyramping upitsbackingofCIYMSRugbyFootball Clubandcommittingtothe1stXVSenior Squad.
It’spartneringwiththeeastBelfastclubto becomeitsmainjerseysponsor,integrating itsnewUpstreamABLbrandwithplayerson andoffthepitch. ■
Nobigupgrade forMacBook ProM5… butit’s stillatthe topofthe class TheAppleMacBookPro’spricehascomedownfromthe2024 model,butitnolongerhas acharger,writes Adrian Weckler
Apple’sMacBookProhas,forsome time,beentheworld’sbest-selling premiumlaptop.
ThenewlyreleasedM5modelwon’tchange that –it’sstillthebestoveralllaptopyoucan buy, evenifverylittlehaschangedsincelast year’sM4version.
Onethingthathaschangedquite abit, however,overthelasttwoyears,is theprice.
In aworldwherethecostoflivingseems tobespirallinguncontrollablyup,it’s notable thattheMacBookPro’spricekeepsfalling.
£1,599isn’texactly abargainfor alaptop,but it’s£100cheaperthanlastyear’sM4MacBook Pro.
Thelowerpriceisbasedontwomainthings. Thefirstiscurrencyfluctuations.Thedollar, whichApplepricesitsproductsin,iscurrently weak.Secondly,forthefirsttime,thiscomes without achargingadapter
Thissecondbitis alittlecontroversialin thatitonlyappliesintheUKandEU.Andit’s notanykindof regulatorything –itmayjust beApplestartingtocutoutchargersfromits
laptopsinthesamewayitdidforiPhones. WithiPads,youstillget achargerincluded. WiththeMacBookAir,whichstartsat£1,149, achargerisstillincluded.
I’vebeenusing anear-basemodelM5 MacBookProforover aweek.It’salmost identicaltolastyear’smodel,exceptforsome extracapabilityfromtheupdatedM5chip.
That’snot abadthingforanyone consideringthismachine,and anewcomerto MacBookswillbeblownawaybyhownicethe experienceis,aswellashowlongthebattery
lastscomparedtomostotherlaptops.
ButthisisaMacBookupgradeonlyfor peoplewithpre-M-chipMacBookPros(2019) orthosewhoseworkneedshaveevolved intomultipleexternaldisplaysormuchbetter laptopscreens.
ThenewM5modelhasthesameexcellent display, sameamountofRAM,samebody, samekeyboard andsameconnectionsasthe M4version,whichitselfwasverysimilartothe M3version
ItsM5processorismarginallyfaster –around15%to20% –thanlastyear’sM4chip formostoperations,thoughstillsomeway behindthemoreexpensiveProandUltrachips ofpreviousgenerations.
Batterylife, Ifound,issimilaratbetween eightto12hoursofnormalworkuseifyou alternatebetweenbrowsingandOffice-style applications,includingvideocalls.Applesaysit canlastupto24hoursofvideostreaming,but that’s not ausecasemanypeoplewillhave.
To beclear,thereare somebenefitsto theM5machineoverlastyear’sM4model forthoseintomoreintensiveuses.TheM5’s additionalmemorybandwidth(153Gbps versus120GbpsofM4)means aroughly25% capacityboostforthingslikevideoeditingand
gaming.Andthebuilt-inneuralaccelerators aregoingtobeusefulwithAIapplications becomingmorecommon.
Inotherwords,it’salittlemorefuture-proof thantheMacBookProsthathavegonebefore. Butformostpeople,it’sessentiallythesame laptop,updatedsolelywith anew,slightly betterchip.
Butonceagain,it’scheaper.Andifyou alreadyhave achargingpoweradaptor,it’s £200cheaperthanthestill-excellentM3model youwouldhaveboughttwoyearsago.
Acommonquestion Ioftengetabout MacBooksiswhethertogofor aPro oranAir Andtypicallythepersonaskingthatwillbe someonewhoisnotdoinggraphicsorvideo editingas ajob.Theywouldpick aPro every time.
Thereare threemaindifferentiatorsbetween theProandtheAir:screenquality,batterylife andconnectionports.
TheProisbetterinallthree.ItsProMotion LiquidRetinaXDR120Hzdisplayisnoticeably betterthantheAir’sdisplay.Itsbatterylifeis slightlylonger-lastingthantheAir,too,even thoughtheAirstillhasfarbetterbatterylife thanmost Windowslaptops.AndtheProcan chargemorequickly(96wattsversus70watts).
Youalsogetmoreconnectionportsonthe Pro–threeThunderbolt 4USB-Cports,one HDMIport, a3.5mmheadphonejack,anSDcardslotand aMagSafe 3chargingport.
WhiletheProusedtoeasilybeattheAirin externaldisplayconnectivity,theAirhascaught upsomewhatinthelastyear,exceptforvery high-endmonitors.Theonlyareawherethe Airis really abetterdealisinbeinglighterand alotcheaper.Thebase13-inchM4Aircosts £700lessandcomeswith achargingadaptor
Whilemytestmodelwas a14-inchspace blackMacBookProM5,italsocomesin a larger16-inchvariant,whichstartsat£2,699 foranextra8GBofRAM,morepowerfulCPUs andGPUs,and a140-wattpoweradapter included.
Youcanmaxthatmodeloutforaneyewatering£8,199with128GBofRAM, a40coreGPUand8TBofstorage.
I’veused a16-inchMacBookProquite abit anditsmainstrengthistheextrascreen real estateforthingslikevideoeditingandphoto work.Foreverydaycomputing,itmightmainly actas adesktop replacementwhereyoudon’t useadditionalmonitors.
TheMacBookProM5comesin achoiceof eitherspaceblackorsilver ■
ThenewAppleMacBookPro
Briochewithmarmite butter,croquettesand gougeresatArtis
JohnMulgrew pays avisittooneofDerry’s fine-diningspots, Artis,toseeifPhelim O’Hagan’srestaurantis stillimpressingdinersfive yearsafteropeningits doorsintheCraft Village
Artisdiningexperiencestarts with martini …andends with oneof theyear’sbestmeals AsIsitwith amartiniinhand,it feelslikeI’minsomenon-existent wealthy relative’sspaciousliving room.
AndPhelimO’Haganshouldtakethatasa compliment.
Inthelastfiveyears,hisfine-dining restaurant,Artis,hasbecomepartofDerry’s emergingculinarytapestry,despitehospitality’s widertumultuousbackdrop,andthebigger citytothesouthtakingintheplaudits.
It’ssituatedintheCraft Village, alittle
conclave,nestledoffamaincitycentre thoroughfare.ShipquayStreetisoneofthe Derry’smanystreetswhichwillmakeyouthink longandhardaboutwhetherthathandbrake ison,duetoitsstarksteepness.
Thevillageis avistaofcuteshopsand businesses,supportinglocalentrepreneurs —oldbrickwork, athatchedcottage,anda convivialspacetospend alittletimeawayfrom neighbouring retailbustle.
InsideArtis,onthisdampestandwindiestof autumnevenings,it’sawelcomingatmosphere withplentyofspace —quietwhenwearrive, butconsiderablylivelierwhenweleave,as laterbookingsshowup.
That referencetothespaciousliving room bringsforthmutedwhiteandgreys,carpeted, woodentables,banquettes,andtheoddpiece ofartadding alittlecolour.
Somethingshortandboozyfeels appropriate. Iaskif adryginmartiniisan option,despiteitnotbeingonthecocktaillist. Butanordergoesin,and afewshortminutes later ashortstemmedglassarrivesonthetable with alemontwist.
Aselectionofsmall‘snacks’propupa strongearlyinnings.Thecroquettesmay
boastfamiliarflavoursofporkandGubbeen chorizo,buttheseareelevated,spherical iterations,andtoppedwithanalpacahaircut ofchives —pockedwith alevelofintensity whichoutshinesothers.Astheyarriveinodd numbers,there’sceremoniousfauxpoliteness astowhowillget asecond.
Gougeresemploytherichpunchofsome ofourbestdairy,Coolattininthiscase,to greateffectwithdiminutivepopsofsoft andlightlycrispchouxpastry,whilethe‘tear andshare’briocheisanotherwarminghitof carbohydrates,alongsideanumami-packed Marmitebutter.
Aslow-cookedvenisonis alayereddishwith asomethingakinto araguatthebottom,fine cabbage,alongwithanarrayofcrispwalnut granola,and afewlittledriedflowers,sitting atopanimpeccablysmoothandlightlyaerated curriedparsnipespuma.Thelatterbringsitall togetherasonecohesivemouthfulwithplenty oftexturalcontrastonthejourney.
Apigeonmainisonceagainanevocationof autumn,andsolidseasonalsourcing.It’sdeeply pink,gameyandorgan-rich,liftedbylittle popsofsweetnessandacid,alongwithcrunch andcontrastfromthefriedkale.Itfeelslike
somethingfromaclassicfine-diningplaybook.
In asimilarveintothedeeplyrichand layeredpavefrieswhichonceheldcourton themenuofJoeMacken’slong-defunctbeefcentricDublin restaurant,Bear,Artis’spotato gratinalsoundersellsitself.
Whilevisuallynotdissimilartosomething Iate recentlyatSimonRogan’sthree-star Michelin-starred L’Enclume,ithasheftand familiarflavours.Thinkaboutthegreatest cheesychipyou’veeverhad.
Artisonceagainshows adefttechnicalhand withpuddings.Anapplesouffleisaslightasa cloud,with atouchofspiceandaccompanying warmingdairythankstobothyoghurt,anda
milkice-cream.
Italsoplays aclevermovewiththecheese course —platedas adessertwithsomesoft andtoastedgingerbread,St Tola’sgoatcheese, brittleshardsofhoneycomb,and roastedfig. It’sasuccessfulandplayfulmarriageofsweet andsavoury.
Presentationisclean,andArtisemploysa swatheofdifferenttypesandsizesofcrockery, withoutanythingtakingawayfromtheactual actofeating,whileserviceiswarmand efficientthroughout.
Thewinelisthas afewwell-priceddrops bytheglass,and afewslightlyheavierhitters onbottle.Andunlikeother restaurantsin
thistypeoffine-dining,itstillofferscasual brewedhittersondraft,likeGuinness,and somedecentlocalmicros,forthosewhoaren’t enamouredbythegrape.
Artismanagestobalance afewthingswell, withgreatproficiency.Whileitmanagesto nailflavours,seasonality,presentation,and technique,itdoessowithouteverfeeling stuffy,orfeelinglikeit’sonlygoingaftera crowdwith aparticularlysurgicalfocuson gastronomy.
Whilecertaindishesshinebrighterthan others,thereare veryfewmisstepshere,and it’stheentiretyoftheexperiencewhichlingers onboththepalateandthemind. ■
PigeonatArtis
This chickenand grapesrecipeis arichand easy dinnerparty winner Meatandfruitis acombinationwhichdoesn’talways work,butthischickenandgrapesdishis asimpleand warmingdinnerpartywinner,writes JohnMulgrew
I’vesaidbeforethatmemories, particularlychildhoodmemories,havea greatswayonbothwhatwecookand eatwhenwegetolder, andthrustthose positivetimestothefrontofourminds. Mostofushavethem.Andit’snotalways abouthome-cookedtriumphs. Iremember beinginMcDonald’s when Iwasinsingledigits andgetting aBigMacwithmydadforthe firsttime.Theburgerturnedouttobefairly coldwithin,but Imanagedtomakemyway throughatleasthalfofitbeforeraisingan issue,andsubsequentlygotanotheronthe house.
But alotoftime,it’sthedishesathome whichstaywithus. Irememberfor aspecial occasion,mygrannycookingus acouple
ofsmallfilletsteaks.Itwasintothepanfor severalminutes,andthen,into ahotoverfor manymore.Thosewerecertainlythedays beforemediumrareenteredthelexicon.
Andanotherdishwhich recentlypopped intomyheadwaschickenwithgrapes.It wassomethingmymummadeontheodd occasion.
Poultryworksverywellhere.I’veoftenhad anuneasy relationshipwithintroducingfruit into asavourydish. Texturally,I’mnot abigfan ofraisins,pineappledoesn’tworkformeona pizza,andmyotherhalfalmostkilledthevery ideaofanyfuturetaginesinourhousehold aftergoinglightonlamb,andinstead,used afullbagofdriedapricots.Eachbite,the promiseofsomegameyprotein,instead,a
sweetandchewyhunkof rehydratedfruit.
Mymum’spoultryandfruitinterpretation, however,was acomfortingcombinationofa creamychickenandgrapes,stemmingfrom theclassicChicken Veronique.Thatinitselfisa morehumbletakeonAugusteEscoffier’sSole Veronique.
Thisversionisstraightforward,andit’sworth yourtime.It’snotpushingculinaryboundaries, but relyingonthatclassicbringingtogetherof proteinanddairyfat.
It’squicktopulltogetherandisthesortof thingthatwillworkwellifyou’recookingfor family,oralargergroupofpeople.
Startwithchickenthighs.Intermsofyour pocket,you’rebestbuyingthem,bone-in,and takingthemoutyourself.Butifyouprefer,you canoptforthosealreadydeboned.
Ifyou’reafter adecentcrust,thebestthing istosaltyourchicken,well,aboutanhour beforecooking,leavinginthefridgeuntil you’reready.
Take alargefryingpanwith atouchofoil, addyourchicken,andbringupto amedium heat.Thiswillhelpthefat renderoutandleave youwith agreatcrustandcolour.
Cookuntilyou’regetting agoldencrust andthenflip.Now,addinonefinely-chopped smallonion,andcontinuecooking.Don’tadd much,ifanycolourtoit.Thisis adishabout
subtle,gentleflavours,with arichandbuttery mouthfeel.
Whenit’ssuitablysoftened,seasonwith blackpepperandthenadd agoodglugof vermouthorwhitewine.Reduceandcookoff beforeaddingchickenstock.Half astockpot shouldworkalongside alittlewater.
Add ateaspoonofdijonmustardanda squeezeoflemonjuice. Youcanalsoadda littlefreshherb,suchastarragon,andsome zestifyouwish.Normally,I’mallforthrowing lotsoffreshherbsliketarragoninto adish,as Ithinkmeatlikebeefandchickencan really dealwithit,butonthisoccasionyouonly want alittlebitofthatherbaceousandfloral character.
Cookuntil reduced alittlethenaddina goodhandfulofgrapes,halved.Thesejust need averyshortperiodoftimetoheat throughandslightlysoften.
To finishthedishoff,add aglugofdouble cream.Bringbackuptotheheatandonce you’rehappywiththeconsistency,you’re done.
Youcanservethiswithmoststarches,and youcouldgooutofyourwaytogodown somesortoflayeredpotato route.Butkeeping itsimple, Ithinkitworkswelloversome basmatiricewith alittlebutterforkedthrough attheend. ■
FromIrishstewtoa grilled cheesesandwich: My topsix comfortfoodpicks Astheweathergets
cold, JohnMulgrew takes alookathissix topcomfortfoodpicks toprepareathome
Irishstew
Mymother recoiledinhorrorwhenshe discoveredI’dadded adropof soysauceto her belovedIrishstew.She’dbroughtsomeupfor usall,andkepttheseasoning atclosetozero asthesmallmanwasgoingtohave abowl. I thought,adding alittleumamialongtheway aswellas ahitofsodiumwouldbe awin-win scenario.But Iwaswrong.Despiteit being subtleandworkingwell,I’ddefiledit. Regardless,thisclassicoflamb,vegetables, potatoesis aclearchoiceforcomfortfood choices.Someiterationsoptfor amince-based stew,whichalsoworkswell.Butheftychunks oflambwithenoughcollagenandfatto remainmoistareyourbestfriendhere.
Abigbowlofpasta
Classiceveningstaplessuchasbolognesefall intothiscategory,too,butit’samuchwider swatheofanythingparticularlystarchy,often accompaniedbytheheftofdairyandanimal fats.
Acarbonaracanbethrowntogetherin alittlemoretimethanittakestocookyour
Beefmeatballswith rigatoniiscertainly comfortfood
Carbonarais arich andwarmingdish
pasta,whilesomethinglikecaciode pepe issimplyamagicalcomingtogetherof fiery pepperandpecorinocheese,with alittlepasta watertoemulsifythingsinto aheart-warming bowl
Throwsomethinglikemeatballsintothemix, andyou’lladdanotherlayerofrichness.
Youcouldinclude aclassicwhiterisottointo thesamecategoryasitticksmanyofthesame boxes.Addin alotofparmesan,finishwith butter,andyou’reincomfortfoodterritory
Grilledcheesesandwich Cheese really doestheheavy-liftingifyouwant tocreate adishoutofverylittle. Awell-made grilledcheesesandwichreallydoeshitthespot Youcanuse,ormake,thebestsourdough, sourcethebestcheesewhichisbothperfectfor melting,andalsohas adeep,richfunk.Butyou canalsoturn twoslicesofwhitebreadandlots ofmaturecheddarintosomethingalmostas equallysatisfying
Justmakesuretobutterwellontheoutside, addalittle hotmustardforkick,andcookina mediumpanuntildeepbrownandcrisp –the
cheese,oozingandtryingitsbesttoescape.
You’llfindtwoofthebestversionsofthisat MaegdeninBushmills,andtheGratefulBread attheAmericanBarinBelfast.Bothunderstand thatgoodbread,cheese,andthecutof alight pickleontheside,is acombinationwhichis hardtobeat.
Abigbowlofnoodles
I’ve apenchantforKorean-brandedinstant ramen.IfyoupoptoyourlocalAsian supermarket,orlookonlineforbrandssuchas Samyang,you’llfind amyriadofflavour-packed noodles –fromseafood,toblackbean,andthe seeminglyubiquitous‘hotchicken’iterations. Theseallworkwellontheirown,butcanalso formthebasisof aheartymeal.Stick afried eggatop, alittlemisothroughthenoodles,add afewpicklesandshop-boughtcrisponions, andyou’ve adecentplateoffood.
Ofcourse,noodlesinallformsfitintothis category.Awell-madebowlofspicybone brothramen –checkout316MeininBelfast –willdowonders,whilehugeservingofclean andfragrantbeefbrisketphofromMadame
Phowillhugyoufromtheinside.Throw alittle hoisinandchillioilinthereandyouhaveatruly winningcombination.
Anythingwithlotsofmashed potatoes
Starchis arecurringthemehere,obviously. Potatoesarecertainlyupthere withdishes whichenvelopyouwhenit’s coldouthere,or youneedsomethingsimpleandhearty
Afewdecentsausagesand asavouryonionheavygravy,andyou’venailedthecomfort experience.Or,somethingwhichcanactually workonitsown,isaligot.Thereare few dishesasrichandgluttonous.Essentially,the creamiestmashyou’veeverhad,withthepull andfunkyheftofgoodcheese
Lasagne
Whileit’spasta,lasagnedeserves acategoryall byitself.It’sabitlikepizza –evenin aformless thanperfect,it’sstillprettydecent.Mycheat sheetforeatingin apubyou’re notfamiliar withisorderinglasagne.It’shardtofakeit beinghomemade,soitalmostalwaysis,and I’veyettohave atrulybadone.
Thisperfectcombinationofrichragu,hefty sheetsofpasta,and acreamywhitesauce, makeitoneoftheperfectcomfortfoods. Makingitathomeisworthyourtime. ■
Beefnoodles withcoconutmilk
RobertRyan,chiefexecutive ofLidlIrelandandLidl NorthernIreland,with GordonCruikshanks, regionalmanagingdirector, LidlNorthernIreland
LidlNIprocures £557m of goods fromlocalfirms LidlNorthernIrelandprocuredgoods worth£557mfromsuppliersand businesspartnershereovertheyear toFebruary2025,itannouncedtoday
Accordingtothediscountgrocer’ssupplier andbusinesspartnerimpact report,thefigure marksanadditional£27mspendcomparedto theyearbefore.
LidlNorthernIreland’ssuppliershereinclude giantsoftheagri-foodsectorlikevegetable growerGilfresh,potatogrower Wilson’s Country,dairyco-opDaleFarm,bakeryCrust & CrumbandWDMeats.
While£75mofitsgoodsweresoldinLidl storeshere,morethan85%,or£413m,were exportedtoLidlstoresinBritain,Europeand internationally
Oneofitsbiggestinternationalsuppliersfrom NorthernIrelandisDaleFarm,whichsupplies cheddartoLidlstoresintheUK,Europeand theUS
LidlNorthernIrelandsaidithadalsoinvested morethan£4msince2018tohelpsmaller producersboostitsbrandsthroughitsKickstart supplierdevelopmentprogramme.
GordonCruikshanks, regionalmanaging
directoratLidlNorthernIreland,said:“Every year,oursupplierandbusinesspartnerimpact reportdemonstratesoursignificantinvestment intheNorthernIrelandeconomy –through longstanding,meaningful relationshipswith ourgrowingnetworkofmorethan115local suppliersandbusinesspartners.
“Throughouroperations,we’reproudto playanimportant roleinshowcasingthebest homegrown,NorthernIrelandproduceglobally, and bringhigh-qualityfoodanddrinkfromour regiontomillionsofshoppersacrossEurope every day.”
RobertRyan,chiefexecutiveofLidlIreland andLidlNorthernIreland,said:“Withsome ofoursuppliersworkingwithussincewe openedourdoors26yearsagoin1999,tonow exportingmillionsofpoundsworthofNorthern Irelandproduceacrosstheglobe,weverymuch seeoursuppliersasanextensionofourown operations.”
InaccountsfiledatCompaniesHouselast month,LidlNorthernIreland reported record turnoverof£523mfortheyeartoFebruary28 2025,an
InaccountsfiledatCompaniesHouselast
month,LidlNorthernIreland reported record turnoverof£523mfortheyeartoFebruary 28,2025,anincreaseof5%.However,pre-tax profitsdeclinedby12%to£19.4m,though employeenumbersrose4%to1,329.Thepay bill roseby£4m,from£31.6mto£35.6m.
LidlNorthernIrelandsaidithadbeen reinvestingintoNIthrough refurbishingstores inlocationslikeNewcastleandCookstown,and reopening anorthBelfaststoreatBallysillanlast month.
In2024,itmarkedits25thanniversarywith a reportstatingithadcontributed£360mtotheNI economythatyear,andsupportednearly7,000 jobsaroundthe region.
Initsaccounts,thecompanysaidithad increasedinvestmentinitsstorenetworkby £43.1mintheperiodwiththeacquisitionof newtangiblefixedassets,andexpansionand improvementstoitsstores.
“Thecompanycontinuestobeambitiousinits long-termexpansionprogramme.Byinvestingin newandexistingstores,aswellas afocusonits distributionnetwork(warehouse),thecompany ensuresithastheinfrastructuretosupportand sustainitsgrowth.” ■
Motoring PatBurns
Too6e for aBEV Mazdawilllaunchanallnew electric 5doorhatchbacknext year.Itscoupé-inspiredprofile enhancesitssleek,sportycharacterwhile maintainingtheversatilityandcomfortof ahatchback.
Theall-newMazda6e represents afresh takeonitspredecessors,featuring amodern flowingexterior,sleekcabindesign,and Mazda’stypicallyseamlessexperiencebehind thewheel.
TheMazda6esetsforththecompany’s commitmenttojoyofdriving.Highlights includeanairyinteriorthatiselegantly minimalisticyetstilloffersanabundanceof conveniencewithitsinnovativecockpitand cabinlayout.
Thepowertrainsdeliversmooth performancewithcompetitivebatteryranges andchargingtimes,whilethechassisensures intuitivehandling.Simplyput,thesortof road behaviouronewouldexpectfromMazdawith itsdecadesofexperiencecreatingfun-to-drive cars.
Launchedwithtwopowertrainoptionsto allowforcustomersdifferingpreferences,the Mazda6eisofferedwith achoiceof68.8kWh or80kWhbattery.The68.8kWhversionoffers arangeofupto300milesandwith200kWDC chargingitchargesfrom10to80percentin just22minutes,meaning arangeof145miles canbeaddedin15minutes.Theelectricmotor delivers258psfor a0-62mphperformanceof 7.6seconds.
Forcustomersprioritisinglongerrange usagethe80kWhversionenables arange ofupto345milesandwith244ps reaches
62mphin7.8secs.Bothversionsproducethe same320Nmoftorquewith arear-wheeldrive layout.Thelongerrange80kWhMazda6ewill chargefrom10to80percentin45minutes andlikethesmallerbatteryversionsupports DCrapidcharging.
TheMazda6e’sshort reardeckandstylish sedanshapesconcealthefactthatitisa practical five-doorhatchbackwith a964 mmwideand619mmhighbootopening –muchlargerthan aconventionalsedan. Supplementingthe466-litrebootcapacity(up to1,074 lwithsecond-rowseatsfolded)isa convenient72-litrefrunkwhichcanstorean extrabagorthechargingcable.
Theelectricallyextendable rearspoiler notonlyaddsanotherathletictouchbut alsoenhances roadstability.Belowit,newly designedMazdalettering replacesthebrand logo,makingthevehiclemorerecognisableas aMazda.
ThesmartcockpitoftheMazda6eis designedaccordingtoMazda’sHumanCentric philosophy.Importantinformationispositioned inthedriver’sfieldofvisionto reduce distractionandimprove reactiontime.
Alargehead-updisplayprojectsactive drivingdata,suchasspeed,navigation prompts,andsafetyalerts,ontothe windscreenatanoptimalviewingdepthof7.5 metres.Driverscancustomisetheamountof informationdisplayedviathreemodes:Classic, Minimal,orCustom.Inwinter,theadditional SnowModechangesitemsnormallydisplayed inwhiteinto abluetonetoenhance readability againstbrightwinterbackdrops.
Directlybehindthesteeringwheel, a10.2-
inchdigitalmetreset repeatstheactivedriving informationshowninthehead-updisplayand addsvehiclestatusinformationincludingtyre pressure,mileage,batterystateofcharge, outsidetemperatureandopen-dooralerts.
Inthecentreofthedashboard, a14.6-inch centraltouchscreenprovides arefinedinterface forcommunication,entertainmentandvehicle settings. With alayoutandfunctionality inspiredbysmartphones,userscanpersonalise theirexperiencesettingwidgetsandshortcut keysforquickaccesstofrequentlyused features.
Additionally,thedrivercancontrolselected HMIfunctionswithtwocustomisableshortcut buttonsonthesteeringwheel.
TheMazda6eisequippedwith aSony audiosystemfeaturing14highperformance speakers,includingsubwoofers.Anexterior speakerlocatedbehindthefrontbumper allowstoplaymusicoutsidethevehicle.
Areartouchscreen,allowspassengersin thebacktoadjustclimatesettings,operate theelectricsunshade(standardonTakumiPlus grade)andadjustthefrontpassengerseat position.
Asmentioned,thesignaturewing,front logoandtaillightbarpulsatewithlightto indicatethebatterychargingstatus.Besides fastDCchargingwithCCSconnectors,both powertrainssupport11kWhthree-phaseAC chargingviatype 2plugsandcantowtrailers weighingupto1,500kg. ■
TSur f’sup heDolphinSurfistheeighthpureelectriccartobelaunchedbyBYD inEuropeinlessthanthreeyears.It is anewsmallcaraimedatmakingelectric motoringmore affordable.
CleveruseofitsBYDe-Platform3.0chassis deliverscabinspaceand abootcapacitythat arecomparablewithcarsfromtheclassabove, makingtheDolphinSurfanidealsinglecaroptionforbothprofessionalsandsmall families.
AllversionsofthecarfeatureBYD’s signature10.1-inch rotatingtouchscreen, incorporatingthebrand’slatestuserinterface (including apermanentcustomisableshortcuts barandthree-fingergesturecontrolfor heatingandventilation)aswellasApple CarPlayandAndroidAutoconnectivity.
ThebootcapacityoftheDolphinSurf showsthebenefitsofitsbespokeEVplatform, alongwithitsspace-efficienttorsion-beam rear-suspensionconfiguration.Thestandard capacityis308litres,morethanthesize offeredbymanycarsintheclassabove –and thisspacecanbeextendedto1,037litres whenthe rearseatsarefoldeddown.
Thisflexibilityisenhancedfurtherby atotal
of20storageareasdottedthroughoutthe vehicle –everythingfrom apairofcup-holders betweenthefrontseatsto ahandyarea beneaththebootfloorthat’sidealforkeeping chargingcablesoutofthemainloadspace.
TheDolphinSurfalsofeaturesintuitivevoice controlvia a‘HiBYD’commandthatallows youtoaccessmanykeyfunctionswithout takingyourhandsoffthewheel,thoughit doeshaveanover-zealouswarningtellingthe driverto‘Keepeyesonthe road…’
Thissmallcarismoreconvenientand connectedthanmanyothercarsinitsclass. Youcanholdyoursmartphoneagainsta sensoronthesidemirrortounlockthevehicle viakeylessentryandyoucanusetheBYD applicationonyoursmartphonetocoolor warmthecabinbeforeyougetin.
TheDolphinSurfallowsdevicestobe powered,atupto3.3kW,bythecar’sown battery,makingitpossibletouseeverything fromacoffeemachinetoanelectricgrillon location –perfectfordaysoutatthebeachor inthecountryside.
TwocapacitiesofBladebatterywillbe offered –30kWh(Activeversion)and43.2kWh (BoostandComfort),deliveringasmuchas
200milesofWLTPCombinedrange.The WLTPCityrangeisashighas305miles.
Theentrypoint,Active,pairsits30kWh batterywith a65kWmotorfor a0-62mph timeof11.1seconds,whileBoost,the versionwiththelongestrange,featuresthe samemotorbut a43.2kWhBladeBattery(062mphin12.1seconds).Therange-topping Comfortthentakesthelargerbatteryand pairsitwiththemostpowerfulmotorinits class(115kW/220Nm),cuttingthe0-62mph timeto9.1seconds.Performanceismore thanadequate,butwithitslooksandstyling, ahothatchversionwith abiggerbattery wouldsoundveryappealing.
Eventheentrylevelmodel,Active, gets a10.1-inch rotatabletouchscreen infotainmentsystemasstandard,alongwith rearparkingsensorsand arear-viewcamera, LEDdaytime-runninglights,vehicle-to-load (V2L)capability,NFCkeylessentryandstart, adaptivecruisecontrol,airconditioning, veganleatherseatsandelectricallyadjustable sidemirrors.
Pricingstartsat£18,650fortheDolphin SurfActive,Boostmodelsareavailablefrom £21,950andComfortstartsfrom£23,950. ■
TMid-liferevisionsfor topsellingSportage heKiaSportage –oneofNorthern Ireland’sfavouritenewcarsin recentyears –hasundergonea significantmid-life refresh,with anew exteriordesignandinteriorequipment andtechupgrades.
Thenewmodelispricedfrom£30,885 forpetrolmodels,withtheSportageHybrid (HEV)availabletoorderfrom£34,425.The PHEVpowertrainwillalso retur ntotheline-up shortlybutthereisnolonger adieselmodelin therange.Kiaisalsointroducing asimplified three-tierline-uptotheSportagerange, comprising‘Pure’,‘GT-Line’,and‘GT-LineS’ models.Forthe firsttime,allthreepowertrains –petrol,HEVandPHEV –willbeavailable acrosseverytrimlevelintheSportageline-up.
TheSportagefirstwentonsaleherein 1995,andthroughfivegenerationshasproved itselftobe afirmfamilyfavourite.Overits30yearlifespan,Kiahassoldmorethan450,000 SportagevehiclesintheUKalone,andmore thansevenmillionglobally.
Consistentlythebrand’sUK,Europeanand globalbest-seller, sofarin2025theSportage makesup37.8%ofKiaUK’syear-to-datesales total.Itiscurrentlythebest-sellingSUVinthe countryandtheUK’ssecondmostpopular vehicle.
Atthefront,thenewSportageintegratesa newfrontbumperandstackedLEDheadlight design,andLED‘StarMap’daytimerunning lights, replacingtheboomerang-styleDRLsof itspredecessor.
Atthe rear,the revisedmodelboastsa redesignedbumperandskidplatetowidenthe appearanceand roadpresenceofthecar.Its rearlightshavebeen redesignedwiththe‘Star Map’aesthetic,whilethetailgatehasbeen given amoredefinitiveprofile,with astrong creaserunningacrossthepanel’smid-section.
Inside,theSportage remains awellthoughtout,familyfocusedSUV.Thetouchscreennow featuresKia’snewconnectedcarNavigation Cockpit(ccNC),andnewdual12.3-inch screens.‘Pure’and‘GT-Line’models receivea 4.3-inchdriverdisplay.
ThenewSportagealso receivesanupdated two-spokesteeringwheeldesign,similarto thatoftheEV3andnewEV6,withplenty ofphysicalbuttonsand rollingswitches.The controlstoadaptthedrivemodesandterrain modes(AWDonly)havealsomovedfromthe centreconsoletothesteeringwheel.
Whenitcomestotechnologies,thenew Sportagenowaddsnewdisplayscreenswith integratedccNC,AIchatassistantpowered byChatGPT,acustomisableHead-UpDisplay
(on‘GT-LineS’models)andDigitalKey2.0 technology.W irelessAppleCarPlayand AndroidAutoarestandardacrosstheline-up. NewfortheupgradedSportageisa regenerativebrakingsystemonHEVmodels. Previously,thepaddleshiftersonHEVmodels allowedthedrivertochangegearinalldriving models.
Now,in‘Eco’mode,thepaddleshifters enabledriverstocyclethroughvaryinglevelsof regenerativebrakingtoaidefficiencyandplace chargebackintothehigh-voltagebatterypack, allowingformoremilesonEV-onlypower. ‘Sport’mode revertsthepaddlesbacktotheir earliergear-changefunctionality.
Fromlaunch,allthreevariantscanbe orderedwitheither a1.6-litreT-GDipetrol engine,oras a1.6-litreT-GDiHybrid(HEV).The SportagePlug-inHybrid(PHEV)willbeoffered shortlyandisaimedparticularlyforcompany carusersandfleetcustomers.
The1.6-litrepetrolengineiscapableof producing147bhpand250Nmoftorque. Likeitspredecessor,asix-speedmanual transmissionorseven-speeddualclutch transmission(7DCT)areavailable,withthe manualbeingofferedexclusivelyonthe‘Pure’ petrolvariant.Customersalsohavetheoption offront-orall-wheeldrive. ■
Isthisluxury SUVreadyfor everydayuse? GeraldineHerbert
Thereare carsdesignedforcity drivers,someforracers,andsome forpeoplewhojust reallycare aboutcupholders.Andthenthere’sthe Mercedes-BenzG-Class, acarthatlooks squarelyasthoughitwasdesignedsolely formen.Myteenagerscametocollect itwithmeandthenspenttheentire drivehomeinventinganimaginary, extravagantlygeneroushusbandwho’d “treatedme”tothisenormous,squarejawedmonumenttooverengineering.
TheMercedes-BenzG-Classwasbor nin 1979,atimewhencarswereeitherpractical orglamorous,butrarelyboth.Mercedes decidedtobuildsomethingthatcouldscalea mountain,survive awar,andstilllookathome outside achicDublin 4restaurant.Originally intendedforfarmersandfirebrigades,the Gquicklyevolvedfrommilitaryworkhorseto
luxurymust-have.ProductionbeganinGraz, Austria,wherethe600,000thG-Class rolled offtheproductionlineinAugust.
Outside,the GClassisunapologetically squarebutnowsportsanupdatedgrilleand freshbumpers.TherangespansthedieselG 450d,thepetrol G500,andthethunderous AMG G63.Thenewestadditionistheallelectric G580EQ.
Our G450 dtestcarproduces270kW,750 Nmoftorque,andanannualtaxbilllarge enoughtofund asmalllibrary.The3-litre inline-sixdieselenginemanages0-60mph inabout5.8seconds,whilethenine-speed automaticgearboxshiftssmoothly.Thanks topermanentall-wheeldrive,adaptive suspension,andthreedifferentiallocksthat willpreventthewheelsfromspinningorlosing traction,youcanessentiallyclamberoverjust aboutanythingwithoutwrinklingthewhite leatherinterior.
Inside,it’sfamiliarMercedes-Benzwith
allthetechyouexpect,includingBurmester sound,massagingseats,andtemperaturecontrolledcupholdersthatensurewherever youventure,youwillarrivehydratedand relaxed.Onthedownside,thereare afew niggles.Thedoorsneedtobeslammedto ensuretheyareclosedproperly,it’snotas spaciousinsideasitlooks, rearlegroomis limited,andit’sonlyavailableas afive-seater withnoseven-seatoption.
Takeitonthe roadandthereisnoshortage ofpower.Butwhile arefinedmotorwaycruiser, oncountry roadsyouwillfeeleverybump. Aroundtownitlacksthemanoeuvrabilityof somethingliketheRangeRover.
Off-roadis,ofcourse,whereittrulybelongs, anditscapabilitiesarelegendary.Buthonestly, howmanyownerswill reallyriskscratching £180,000worthofangularperfectionon actualmud?
TheG-Classbeganlifeas aworkhorse andgrewintoanicon,buttodayit’soneof themostglamorousand recognisableboxes onwheels,andoffersunmatchedoff-road capabilityand roadpresence.
Itsappealisclearlyuniversalandwhen itcametimetohandthekeysback,my teenagerswerebereft.Naturally,theydecided itwastimefor amantostepinandbuyme another.Andsotheydid,well,sortof –my replacementwasmadeofLego.Intruth,it’s theonly GClass Icanaffordtorun. ■
APPOIN TM EN TS RossClarkehasbeenappointedasan associateinthedisputeResolution departmentatCleaverFultonRankin.He studiedlawatQueen’sUniversityBelfast, andthenundertookpostgraduatestudies atUlsterUniversity.
PeterLockharthasbeenappointedasa solicitorintheplanningandenvironment departmentatCleaverFultonRankin.He studiedpoliticsatGlasgowUniversity beforetrainingas amathsteacherinSouth Tyneside.
RebeccaCargillhasbeenappointedasa solicitorintheemploymentdepartment atCleaverFultonRankin.Shestudiedlaw atUlsterUniversity,priortocompletinga postgraduatediplomaattheInstituteof ProfessionalLegalStudies.
TheBedfordHotelBelfasthasappointed NoelMcMeelasitsexecutiveheadchef. MrMcMeelpreviouslyworkedat arange oftoprestaurantsandhotels,including LoughErne.
RossGallagherhasbeenappointedas asolicitorinthebankingandfinance departmentatCleaverFultonRankin.Mr Gallagherworkson awidespectrumof bankingmatterssuchaspropertyfinance, corporatefinanceandasset-basedlending.
OliverHamiltonhasbeenappointed as asolicitorinthedisputeresolution departmentatCleaverFultonRankin.He joinedCleaverFultonRankinasa traineesolicitorin2023.
BordBiahasannouncedtheappointment ofSinéadKennedyasitsnewChina manager.ShejoinsBordBia’sglobal businessdevelopmentteaminShanghai.
ICWGroup, aleadingproviderofA-rated structuralwarrantiesandbuilding controlservices,hasstrengthenedits UKoperationswiththeappointmentof LloydWilliamsassalesdirectorUK,ICW InsuranceServices.
HealthMattersOccupationalHealthhas announcedtheappointmentofDrGary Fergusonasmedicaldirector,markinga majormilestoneinthecompany’sgrowth andevolution.
1. SecretaryofStatefor Norther nIreland,HilaryBenn, hasaddressedtheBelfast Chamber’sannualEconomic Forum.He’s picturedwith SeamusMcGuckin,AIB, MarieDoyle,Deloitte,Clare Guinness,BelfastChamber, JimFitzpatrick,andDavid Jones, Tughans.
2. Pan &Pourhasbeenlaunched, strengtheningitslongstanding partnershipwithICCBelfast. PicturedareGavinAnnon,Mount CharlesGroup,AndrewDougan, Pan &Pour,RobMcConnell,ICC Belfast, WaterfrontHallandUlster Hall,andStephenMurray,Pan& Pour.
3. TheFitzwilliamHotelhas launcheditsholidaycampaign ‘The12StaysofChristmas’. Selectedguestswhohavebooked directlywillbetreated,atrandom, to aseriesofluxurioussurprises. Picturedisgeneralmanager,Cian Landers.
4. Bell’sSuperValuinCrossgar wasawardedOutstanding CustomerServiceofthe Year NeighbourhoodRetailer Awards. PicturedareGabrielBell, SuperValuCrossgar,withAlison McCloskeyfromRichmond Marketing.
5. EconomyMinisterDrCaoimhe Archibaldhasvisitedthenew teachingandlearningspacesin TimberQuayatUlsterUniversity inDerry.
6. PicturedatBankof Ireland’sAIWorkshopat theHiltonHotelareAdrian Carville,BankofIreland, MarkKelly,AIIreland, CharlotteMcCann,Jamie Renehan,andPaulSwift.
7. InfrastructureMinisterLiz Kimmins(right)hascongratulated DavidPorterashestartshisyear aspresidentoftheInstitutionof CivilEngineers(ICE).
8. Fermanaghbusinesswoman CatherineMaguire,ownerofThe Vineyardoff-licenceandCastle Archdaleservicestation,has launched anewventure,Oaks andArchdale, aluxuryhamper brand.
9. PaddyDoodyfromHenderson GroupispicturedwithConor O’KanefromMarieCurieNI andPeterMcBride,tocelebrate themillionpoundmilestonein donationsfromSparNItoMarie CurieinNorther nIrelandsincethe partnershipbeganin2017.
10. AdrianMcNally(right),general manager,and WilliamMcIlroy, Concierge,celebrate TitanicHotel BelfastbeingnamedNorthern Ireland’sLeadingHotelbythe World Travel Awardsforthe eighthconsecutiveyear.
11. EconomyMinisterDr CaoimheArchibald(centre) hasattendedtheWorld Travel MarketinLondon.She’s picturedwithChristopher BrookeandAliceMansergh, TourismIreland,PeterBurke TD,MinisterforEnterprise, TourismandEmployment, andKarenSugrueHennessy, TourismIreland.
12. GMMarketinghasannounced TheEvoraHospiceasitsnew charitypartner.Picturedare HeatherNeill,MeabhAustin, SarahKennedy,andLaimis Minelga.
13. BelfastpizzachainPizzaCrew iscelebrating anewpartnership asthe‘pizzapartner’ofthe BelfastGiantsforthe2025/26 EliteIceHockeyLeagueseason. PicturedisPizzaCrewfounder, CiaranKelly.
14. Highbury Vintners,the London-basedindependentwine merchantownedbyNorthern IrelandwinemerchantJN Wine, hassecuredtwomajorawards attheannualInternational Wine Challenge(IWC)industryawards.
15. FearghalCampbell, Pitchbookingco-founder,Shea O’Hagan,co-founder,Cecil Hetherington,investorand chairofPitchbooking,andChris McCann,co-founder,mark theannouncementofCecil Hetherington’sinvestment.
16. TheUtilityRegulatorhas launcheditsenhancedSmall BusinessEnergyCharter for Winter2025/2026,part of awiderprogrammeof Norther nIreland’sConsumer EnergyChartersaimedat supportingelectricityandgas consumers.
17. Hafner’shasjoinedforces withcomedianPaddyRaffand hischaracterNigelfor anew campaign.He’spicturedwith StephenDonnelly,commercial directoratHafner’s.
18. Vila’sfirststandaloneUKstore hasopenedatTheBoulevard outsideBanbridge.Pictured areVanessaPreston,Louise Hart,AggieOgarekandLucja Skwarczynska.
19. Following a£1minvestment, BankRoadBusinessParkinLarne hasundergone arefurbishment. PicturedatthesiteareSimon McDowell,AoifeButler,Phelim Sharvin,andKenNelsonMBE.
20. BillyMoore,Henderson Group,ClaireScottMcAteer, Queen’sBusinessSchool,Laura Jackson,BDO,JillArmer,CCEA andBronaghLuke,Henderson GrouplaunchtheNISchools’ BusinessChallenge.
21. UlsterUniversity haslaunchedTRACE (TechnologicalRevolution towardsanAgri-Food CircularEconomy).Pictured areDavidHanna,Ulster University,EconomyMinister DrCaoimheArchibald,Gina McIntyre,SEUPB,andJoan Condell,UlsterUniversity.
22. HealthMattersOccupational Healthhasannouncedthe appointmentofDrGaryFerguson (centre)asmedicaldirector.He’s picturedwithShaunDoran, managingdirector,andConnor O’Rourke,director.
23. Family-runconstruction businessHenryBrothershas appointedJody Wilkinsonas itsnewmanagingdirectorfor Norther nIrelandandScotland.
24. ILIMEXhasannouncedthe conclusionof afunding round whichhasraisedadditionalequity financeof£600,000.Picturedare TimBrundle,UlsterUniversity, GerryCorrigan,ILIMEX,andSian McLaughlin,ClarendonFund Managers.
25. MemoryTellhasbeencrowned theoverallwinnerofthe2025 Inventawards.PicturedareFiona Bennington,Catalyst,Corrina Grimes,Memory Tell,andNiall Devlin,BankofIrelandUK.
26. ArmaghCity,Banbridge andCraigavonBorough Councillaunchingthisyear’s Enterprise Week.Theweek includedworkshopsand networkingevents.
27. KingPinshasmarkedits openingforbookingsforitsnew locationwith aspecialpre-launch offer,seekingoutalllocal‘Colins’, whoareentitledto afreegame.
28. NeilLarmourofGreenField MarketingandRicky WattsofKP Snacks(NI)areofferingNorthern Irelandsnackloversthechanceto winanallexpensespaidtripto nextyear’sSuperBowlLX.
29. EasyJethaslauncheditsfirst flighton anewdomestic route fromBelfastCityAirportto Edinburgh.PicturedareStephen McGuinness,James,easyJet pilot,JasonWhiteside,Belfast CityAirport,Keshia,easyJet,and RobertCampbell.
30. GilfreshProducehassupplied more70,000pumpkinstoall 17AsdastoresacrossNorthern IrelandforHalloween.Picturedare RichardGilpin,GilfreshProduce, andLorraineDrennan,customer servicemanager,AsdaPortadown.
31. Glentoranhashosted amatchdayexperiencefor youngfansandtheirfamilies thisHalloween.Picturedare LeoandRemyJenkins,Bowie Kane,HarperBurt, Willow StewartandMeaStewart.
32. ReadyEggisinvesting £2.9mtoboostproductivityand acceleratesalesgrowth.Pictured areCharlesCrawford,ReadyEgg withGráinneMoody,InvestNI, EconomyMinisterDrCaoimhe Archibald,andJennaCrawford, ReadyEgg.
33. Glentoranhasannouncedthe appointmentofformerPremier Leagueperformancecoach RichardMooreastheclub’snew leadphysicalperformancecoach.
34. EYIreland’sCyberLeaders Index revealsthat83%ofIrish organisationshavestrengthened cyber-securitymeasuresinthe pastsixmonths.
35. BrianO’Neill,DrCaoimhe Archibald,EconomyMinister,Ken NelsonMBE,Gordon LyonsMLA, CommunitiesMinisterandDavid Hunter,afterthe releaseoffresh communityfunding.
36. GenesisAdvertisinghas received49nominations across23categoriesatthe 16th PANI Awards.Pictured areRuthLaverty,Gareth Hammond,Darren Lyttle,Jim Adams,andEoinAlexander.
37. CommunitiesMinisterGordon Lyonshassigned aMemorandum ofUnderstandingwiththeUS SemiquincentennialCommission attheUlsterAmericanFolkPark. He’spicturedwithJenCondon andJoeCrowley.
38. BelfastMediaFestival(BMF) issettogenerateanadditional incomeof£35,000forBelfast. PicturedareEddieDoyle,BBCNI, RichardW illiams,Norther nIreland Screen,SineadRocks,Channel 4,andJenniferJohnston,Belfast MediaFestival.
39. TheGallaher Trusthas committed£170,000offunding tobespentoverthenextthree yearstosupportHabitatfor HumanityIreland’sRetailReadyat ReStoreprogramme.Picturedare MattRobinson,GregMcKinley, IsobelKerr,andJamesPerryMBE.
40. Abbeyfieldand Wesley,the not-for-profithousingassociation providingshelteredlivingfor olderpeopleacrossNorthern Ireland,hasbecomethefirst organisationheretobeawarded theIndependentLivingStandards accreditationfromEROSH.
PatekPhilippe6196P-001
Hodinkee’sBenClymersaidhethinksit’sthe bestCalatravaPatekhas releasedduringhis timecoveringwatches,and aunderstandthe sentiment.
Thislatestdress-focusediterationofPatek’s Calatravawillflyundertheradar(andthe cuff),whilestillbeutterlybeguiling.
It’sabeautifulthing.Theopaline rose-gilt dialplayshosttocharcoalgreyhourmarkers, dauphine-stylehands,and asecondssub-dial. Andthat’sit.
Themanual30-255PSmovementishoused in a38mmplatinumcase,andthankstothat lackof rotor,anddressstyleofthepiece,the comesinjust alittleover9mmthick.
On ashinychocolatebrownleatherstrap, without adeployantasthisis adresswatch keepingbulkdown,itpops,whilenotshouting fromthe rooftops.
Thisis awatchforpeoplewho’vebeen aroundtheblockandbackagain.Ifyou’re awell-offcorporatetypewhocomesinto contactwithallsortsofwealthyfolk, brandishingbig,shinypieceswithlotsof complications,thiswillbe amuchmore beautifulandsubtletonic.
OmegaSpeedmaster38Milano Cortina2026
IstillspendtheoddeveningperusingJapanese watchdealersonlineinsearchof asmaller,or ‘reduced’,OmegaSpeedmaster.
WhiletheflagshipMoonwatchiswellproportionedandextremelyhandsome
Ayearin review: my pickof2025’s best watches Itwas ayearofbothsmallercases,and larger,beefedupmodels,moreintegrated bracelets,andsomequirkypiecesalongthe way. JohnMulgrew looksathistopfive watchreleasesin2025
piece,cominginat42mm,I’vealwayshada penchantforthesmallerchronograph.Lookat thevintageRolexDaytonas,forexample,going formadmoney.Mostofthemcomeinatjust 37mm.Ifthebrand released amodel,smaller chrono, Ithinkitwouldfly.
ButOmegahasunveiled aspecial iterationofitsowniconicchronograph–theSpeedmaster38MilanoCortina2026, celebratingnearly acenturyofOlympictiming heritage.Thebrandhasbeentimingthe Olympicssince1932andthe WinterGames since1936,andforMilanoCortina2026.
This38mmwatchiscraftedinstainless steelwith ablueceramicbezelthatfeatures awhiteenameltachymeterscale. To createa wintrylook,thevarnishedwhitedialincludes afrostedbluetransferandfingertracepattern inspiredbytheMilanoCortina2026emblem. It’sa veryprettything.
Fears xStudioUnderdog Manhattan
IwasactuallyatBritish Watchmakers’Dayin Londonearlierthisyearwhenthefirstiteration ofthiscollabwas released,andinlimited numbers. Itriediton,andwhileimpressed,I wasn’tinthemarketforanythingnew,andit worealittlesmallonmywrist.
Thatbeingsaid,itwas aprettythingwith cleverdesignhues,whichcaughtmyeye.But
whenthefollow-up,Manhattanwas released, the referencecametolife.Again,limitedin numbersandonlyavailableon afirstcome firstbasisinNew Yorkthisyear,thepiece followsthesameFearscaseshape –asortof roundedsquare,with abeautifullayereddialin adeepambertone,withgradient.
TudorPelagosUltra
Thisisn’tthefirsttime aTudorPelagoshas mademyendofyearlist.Theoriginalcame inat42mm. Ipreferredthesmaller39mm iteration.Butthisisactuallythebiggestinthe range,the43mmUltra.Ithasalsothebenefits fromthelightnessof afulltitaniumcaseand bracelet.
Infact,despiteitsdimensionitdoesn’t weighmuchmorethanthesteel-cased39mm BlackBay58.
ThePelagosUltracertainly hastheclouttodojustthat. Itboasts a1,000mwater resistancerating, alongside ahelium escapevalue.
Onwrist,it’s familiarterritoryfor anyonewhohas dealtwiththe Tudor line-up.Whilethe lug-to-lugis52mm,
itsitssnugly,withperhaps alittlemoredepth andheftthanothermodels. Themarkersandlumearemorepronounced thaninpreviousmodels –thedialhasbeen scaledupforlegibility,thehandsandmarkers arebigger,andtheminutehandboastsgreen luminescencealongwiththepiptoeasilytrack elapsedtime.
A.Lange &SöhneOdysseusin Honeygold
Imean,justlookatit.Somewatchesare aspirationalforthelikesofnormalpeople. SomethinglikethisnewA.Lange &Söhne, remainaccessibleforallbartheluckyfew.
Thishigh-endboutiqueGermanwatch househasproducedsomeofthemostvisually astoundingandcomplicatedpiecesover thelastcoupleofdecades,andthe HoneygolditerationofitsOdysseusis nolessstunning.
There’sadeep,richbrowndialanda honey-goldbracelet,withLange’schunkyday anddatedisplayedatthethreeandnine positions,with asmallsub-dialforthe seconds.
Thisisprobablythemostluxurious high-endintegratedsportswatchyou’ll findonthemarket. Atrulymajesticthing, andoneyou’reunlikelytoeverseeinthewild, duetoitscost(priceon requestby reportedly intosixfigures,indollarsatleast)andthatits limitedto100pieces. ■
Fearsx Studio Underdog Manhattan
A.Lange& Söhne Odysseusin Honeygold
TudorPelagosUltra
Could Malta winmeback afteran odd firsttry? BackintheNoughties, Lucy
White had abemusingstay.
ISecondtimeround,though, shefindsit’sallchange
wasintwomindsaboutvisitingMalta, nearly15yearsaftermyinauguraltrip –for reasonsI’llgetto,andinvolvethe ScissorSisters.Butthenif Ihadhopefully evolvedinthemeantime,surelytheisland had,too?
Thehotel Iwouldbestayinginthistime wasthedeal-breaker,itbeingneatlytucked inlabyrinthineValletta(previouslyI’dbeenin anondescriptmultinationalinStJulian’s Bay). OnmyfirsttripI’dtakena daytimewalking tourofthismedieval,walledpeninsula,and enjoyedlearningaboutitshistoryandunique architecture,evidentlyofItalianinfluence but
uniquelyMaltese,suchasthegreen-painted enclosedgallarijibalconies.Butafter-hours werecuriouslyquietthere–aUnescoworld heritagecity –with adistinctlackofbuzz. SurelythistimeI’dfindsignsoflife?
FirstimpressionsofMalta2.0werepromising afterashorttaxifromtheairport,past magnolia-huedsuburbstothebrightbluecoast beforearrivalatCasaEllul, aformer VictorianerapalazzooppositetheBasilicaofOurLady ofMountCarmelonOldTheatreStreet, a shortwalkdowntoBoatStreetoverlooking MarsamxettHarbour
Anyurbanhotelwithfewerthan100 rooms
cancallthemselves“boutique”,butCasaEllul reallyistheticket.There’sa small,elegant restaurantRisetteonthestreetfront, abijou receptionatthebackandjustninesuites, eachwith adifferentdesignandcharacter –mine,suiteone,hadgloriousmid-century furnitureand afull-lengthfriezeofamberglass separatingthewet room.
Itoucheddownwith aguidedtourof Valletta.Secondtimelucky,acleanslate.
“InMalta,everythingis20-30minutesaway, it’slikeonecitysplitintodifferentsections,” explainedourgarrulousMaltesehostStan,who gaveus acomprehensivehistoryoftheisland,
fromitsswathesofcolonisers(Phoenicians, Romans,Arabs,Ottomans,Sicilians,French) tothefleshpotsofStrait Street,theMontoof VallettaduringBritishoccupationinthe19th andearly20thcenturies.
Speakingoffleshpots:Vallettahasmajor linkswithCaravaggio,themad,badand dangerous-to-know15th-centuryMilanese painterwhocreatedshockinglyphotorealist masterpiecesofbiblicalsceneswhen he wasn’t brawlingintavernsandcarousingwith prostituteswhowere oftenimmortalisedinhis works.
Caravaggio’sMaltesesojournbeganin
TheBasilicaof OurLadyof MountCarmel in Valletta 1608,whentheislandwastheheadquarters oftheKnightsoftheOrderofStJohn,hence theisland’smotifofStJohn’sCross.Despite havingtwoyearsearliermurderedanartist in apubbrawlandfledtoNaples –beyond Rome’sjurisdiction,wherethecrimehappened –CaravaggiowasacceptedinMaltaas a knightofobedienceafterthepope’sapproval inRome.
It’showStJohn’sCo-Cathedralin Valletta hastwoCaravaggiopaintingsinitspossession, BeheadingofJohntheBaptistandSaintJerome Writing,althoughitnearlywasn’tso.Whenthe artistwoundedfellowknightsinyetanother skirmish,hewasarrestedandimprisonedin FortStAngelo,and“expelledandthrustforth like arottenandfetidlimb”fromtheOrder, wrotePhilipFarrugiaRandon.
Clearlyhewasforgivenoncemoreby theCatholicChurch;today,hispaintings are amongthecathedral’sbiggesttourist attractions.
Maltainto aRomanCatholicenclave, strategicallyclosetoSicily –nowonly a 90-minuteferryrideaway.“It’slikeDonald Trump’sliving room…”whispersStanofthe baroquecathedral’snineblingchapels,each dedicatedtothepatronsaintoftheOrder’s eightlanguagesandwherethemostimportant knightswereburied.
Onthecobblestonestreetsbeyondare echoesof VeniceorGirona,withtheirnarrow streetswindingtopiazzas,suchasthe palatialStGeorge’sSquareuponwhichisthe GrandmastersPalace.It’ssurprisingthatany ofitsoldlandmarksarethereatall:persquare metreitwasthemostheavilybombedcity duringtheSecond World WarwhenMaltawas knownas“thehospitalofEurope”,nursing tensofthousandsofinjuredtroops.
VallettaisthesouthernmostcapitalinEurope –blazinghotduringmyvisitlastNovember –andalsothesmallestwithintheEU,which makesiteasytogetaround.
MaltahasalsothefastestgrowingEU population,with adiversifiedeconomyby necessity.It’snot alushisland,andhasscant natural resourceswhichmeansaround80pc ofitsfoodisimported.Thegoodnewsisthat it’smostlyfromSicily,asismuchofitsyoung workforce,duetohighunemploymentintheir mothercountry
ThistranslatesintosomegorgeousItalian restaurantsandbarsaroundOldTheatreStreet Grabanoutdoortablefor alimoncellospritz, ortoSottoPinsaRomana Vallettaforpizza,and
acasualnightoutin Vallettadoesn’tgetmuch better
Therewas aleisurely,sun-kissed rooftop lunchoverlookingGrandmaster’sSquareat Gracy’sArtsandSupperClub(gracysmalta. com), a450-year-oldmemberspropositionin a flashy17th-centurypalazzo.
Don’tmiss,either,ahalfdaystrollingaround thecharacterfulMdina,thefortifiedMoorish cityonthewestoftheisland,wheretheclopclopofhorsehoovesondrawn-carriagetours areintermittentwithpeelingchurchbells.
Thecherryontopofmyepicurean adventureswasbackatthehotel,atRisette wherechefSteveScicluna –whoworkedwith theMichelin-starredMickael‘Greenhouse/ ChapterOne’ ViljaneninDublin –wasprocured bytheCasaEllul’sownerMatthewEllul. Matthew’sfamilyhasownedthepalazzosince 1836andEllul Wines &Spiritssince1878 –whichmeansRisette’swinelistisasdiscerning asitsknockoutfood.
Itwasall afarcryfrommyfirstvisitwhen theonememorablemealwasmyboyfriend beingstaredoutby aplateoftinyoctopi (hehadanticipatedcalamari;nothingwith completelegs,headsandeyeballs).
Andsonow abitofcontextaroundthe ScissorSistersname-dropearlier.It’s2013 andI’minterviewingJakeShearsforMetro newspaper’s60SecondInterviewatDublin’s Morrisonhotel.Aroundhalfwaythrough,he shakeshisheadandsays,“Wait,sorry,havewe metbefore? Youlooksofamiliar.”
“Um,no,we’venevermetbut Iwason a weirdpressjunketwithyouguysfor amusic festivalinMalta...”
Cuepausingtheinterviewtoswapnoteson howoddtheeventinJuly2010hadbeen –the subduedcrowd,despitebothScissorSistersand Kelisgivingitsocks –whichhadsomehowleft usunderwhelmedbytheislanditself.
I’dstayedonafterthefestival,mypartner joiningmeforwhatbecamethatyear’s summerholiday.Wewereinourearly30s,too youngtoaffordchichi restaurants,toooldfor Paceville’sStGeorge’sRoad, astripoflate-night Eurobeats-barswheredrinksmenuspeddled photosofluridcocktailsandcheapshots. We wereatsuch alossoneeveningofwhattodo –thebeautifulwalledcapitalofVallettamore orlessshuttingupshopafterdinner –thatwe wenttothecinema.
Thefinaldampenerwas asnorkellingtripoff CominoIslandwheretheonlysignsofsealife thatJulywereswarmsofjellyfish. ■
From reform schoolinKentucky to masteroftheSiliconuniverse: howit allwentrightfor Nvidia’s JensenHuang Nvidia recentlybecamethefirst companytosurpass a$5tn valuation.
That’sworthmorethaneverycountry’s GDP,exceptfortheUSandChina.It’sworth morethantheentirecryptomarket,theentire goldmarketand,accordingtoonecolourful estimate,everypizzaeversoldinhistory.
Nvidiaismakingvastamountsof real,hard cashfromtheAIboom.It’snotpotentialor futurerevenue,likeOpenAI,Google,Microsoft orAnthropic.It’sbillionsinsalesofitsAIchips, whichalmosteverytechcompanynowcraves.
SittingatopthisnewempireisJensen Huang,the62-year-oldleather-jacketwearing Singaporean-American,whohasgonefrom being anerdygraphicscardbosstothemost powerfultechchiefexecutiveintheworld.For themoment,atleast,hetopspeerssuchas ElonMusk, TimCookandMarkZuckerbergin influenceand relevance.
Intheaward-shortlistedbiographyThe ThinkingMachine:JensenHuang,NvidiaAnd The World’sMostCovetedMicrochip,which isthebestaccountofHuangpublishedsofar, authorStephen WittdocumentsHuang’slife from anewly-arrivedimmigrantintheUSto being afrequentvisitoratDonald Trump’sMar ALagocompoundinFlorida.
Hisjourneyfrom achildhoodspentina reformschoolinKentucky,wherehemixed withtroubledstudentswhohadbeenstabbed orbeaten,tobecomingmasterofSilicon Valley’suniverse,isn’tparticularlyunusualasa USimmigrantsuccessstory.
There’salsoananti-climactic reasonfor hisever-presentleatherjacket –hiswifeand daughtersimplydecidedheneeded anew personalbrandimage adecadeago,sothat’s whathedid.
Nowit’sarguablyupthereinsartorial iconographywithSteveJobs’sblackpolonecks
Withitsmind-boggling$5trnvaluation,theNvidia boss’scompanyisnowworthmorethanevery countryintheworld’sGDP –bartheUSandChina–andeverypizzaeversold,writes AdrianWeckler
orMarkZuckerberg’sgreyt-shirts(alooknow largelyabandoned).
ButHuangisspokenofinmostlypositive termsbythosewhoworkforhim,despite hispenchantforshoutingatemployeesas amotivationaltactic.(As Wittdocuments,, thisrarelyleadstoanyfallingoutepisodes, withHuangloyallybackingstaffoncehe’s b****ockedthemoutofit.)
Hebetsbigonesoterictechnicalinterests,a motivationthatspurredhimtotriplingdown
ongraphics-intensivechipboardswhenthe restoftheindustrycouldn’tsee auseforthem beyondgeek-chicgamingPCs.
Recently,Huanghasshifted achunkofhis energyintogeopolitics.Thechipshiscompany makesaresopowerfulandsouniquethatthey havebecomecentraltotherivalambitionsof theUSandChinaintheirquestforindustrial supremacyoverthenextdecade.
It’snotjustthataccesstoNvidia’slatest BlackwellUltraprocessorscanliterallyswinga
company’scommercialprospectsinAI,orthat exportlicencestodothatarenow amajor weapontheUSadministrationuses.
Thelocationofwherethey’remadehas becomepivotal,too.Upuntilnow,almost allofNvidia’schipshavebeenmadein Taiwan,andparticularlybyTSMC(Taiwan SemiconductorManufacturingCompany.)
Thathadseemedlike areasonablebetfor amiddletechcompanycompetingwithmany others.ButbecauseNvidia’sprocessorsare nowsodominantandcovetedbysomanyin industryandpolitics,thatnowseemslikean imprudentconcentrationof resourcesinanera whenChina’swilltoinvade Taiwanmustsurely begatheringsteam.
Upuntil recently,Jensenhasstubbornly
refusedtoacknowledgethisrisk.However,he haschangedtack,nowstartingtoproducethe chipsintheUSaswellas Taiwan.
Nvidia’smainrisk,accordingtobiographer Stephen Witt,ishowdependenteverythingis onhim,personally.
“There’sno-oneelse,”hetoldmeina recentpodcastinterview.
”Hehasnosuccessor.Hedoesn’tevenhave asecondincommand.Nvidiawouldsurvive butthereisn’tanyone remotelylikehim.”
Inotherwords,thereisn’tanobvious TimCooktotakeupthe reinsastherewas whenApple’sSteveJobspassedaway,or aSatyaNadellatotakeoverashappened whenMicrosoft’sBillGatesandSteveBallmer steppedaway.
Unusuallyforsuch adominanttechnology, Irelanddoesnothavemuchconstructiveskin inthegamethatNvidiaisleading. We have Google,Meta,MicrosoftandAmazon,which allhavesizeablepositionsnowinAI.Butfrom anationalinterestperspective,it’ssecondary. Ifanything,ourbreadmaybebutteredmore favourablyifNvidiastalledsothatourown long-time(andoncedominant)semiconductor giant,Intel,couldcatchup alittle.
AndAI’ssoarawayjourneybeyondIreland’s currentcorecompetenciesmayyetproveof limitedinteresttous,especiallyiftheindustry provestobe alittlemorehypedup,sustaining morelosses,than realitycansustain.
Butforthemoment,it’sNvidia’sworld. We’rejustlivinginit. ■
TECH NOLO GY
JensenHuang picturedduringa pressconference inSouthKorea
my day GeorgeDiamondis Headofbusinesssolutions, TourismNorthernIreland 6.20am
Thedayusuallystartswith acupofcoffee beforethe restofthehouseholdwakesup. We liveconvenientlyclosetoschool,sothe morningruniseasyenoughatthestartofthe day.Itypicallytrymakemyselfusefulbuttend toalwaysbe acoupleofstepsbehindmywife whoruns averyslickoperation.
8am
Thecommuteiseitherbytrainor Icycle, dependingontheday.Weare ahybrid workingorganisationat TourismNorthern Ireland,sowehavetheflexibilitytoworkat home acoupleofdays aweekwhichismuch appreciated.Noteverydayinworkisofficebasedasoften Iwillbeateventsormeetings acrosstheislandortravellingoverseas.
9am
Istarteachdaywithemailsand aquick lookatthediarytogetanideaoftheday and remainderoftheweekahead. We are responsibleforallbusinessdevelopment activitieswithintourismcoveringthetravel
trade,businessevents,golfandluxury segments,sothe rolevariesgreatlydepending onthetimeofyearandwhether Iam travelling. Typically,eachdaystartswith acatch uponsomedeskworkand aquickcheckin withtheteamtogetanupdateonthecurrent projecttheyareworkingon.
10.30am
Callsormeetingsusuallykickoffmid-morning. Typically,itwillbeindustryengagementwith hotels,touroperators,golfclubs,transport providersorlocalcouncils. We workvery closelywith TourismIrelandandFáilteIreland oninternationaltradeshowswhichprovidea platformforthetourismindustrytogetout inthemarketandpromotetheirofferingto internationaltouroperatorsordestination managementcompanies.Thereare alsosector specificevents,andtheteamwouldmanage the recruitmentanddeliveryoftheseevents whichoftentakeplaceoverseas.
We alsodeliverfamiliarisationtripsduring whichwehostinternationaltravelbuyersin Norther nIrelandtoshowcasethetourism
productwehavetooffertheirclients.This isanimportantpartofhowwepromote thedestinationanddemonstratewhatan incrediblecountrythisistovisitandeachtrip requiresdetailedplanninginlinewithour governance.
12.30pm
Iusuallyhave aquicklunchinthecanteen whichprovides agoodopportunitytocatchup withstafffromotherteams. Iwouldtendto onlyleavetheofficeif Ihaderrandstorunin town,butlunchbreakstendtobeshort.
1pm
Oneofthegreatperksofworkingfor Tourism NIisthatweareoftenoutoftheoffice attendingmeetings.Thetourismindustryhere areallfantasticpeople,sogettingouttomeet themintheirplaceofworkandsupportthem ingrowingtheirbusinessisthemost rewarding partofmyjob.Afternoonsareoftensetaside foronsitemeetings,varyingfromgolfclubsto hotels,eachengagementissodifferentwhich makesthis rolesointeresting.
5pm
Thecommutehomeisusedas amomentto decompress. Ihavetwochildren,Harleyand Ellie,andwehavesomethingoneverynight withvarioussportsclubs. Ialsocoachmini rugbywhich Ireallyenjoy.
8.30pm
Oncethekidsareinbed, Ieitherfinishoffany workneedingtobedoneorspendanhouron thesofawithmywifecatchingupontheday. We usuallywatch alittleTVor read agood bookbeforeit’stimeforbed. ■
