BREAKING NEWS..........
Devolution within Northern Ireland is good for Northern Ireland, new report states
Devolution within Northern Ireland, a new report commissioned by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, has said that the time is now right to extend the responsibilities of local government in Northern Ireland through greater devolution from Stormont. Devolution within Northern Ireland, authored by the independent New Policy Institute, states that the opportunity now exists […]
Treasury Committee reiterates call for Childcare Vouchers to be kept open
The Committee responsible for scrutinising the work of HM Treasury has come out, once again, in favour of keeping Childcare Vouchers open until the full impact of the scheme’s closure is known and understood. This is the latest development in the campaign to keep Childcare Vouchers open to new entrants beyond October, which Employers For […]
Lough Erne Resort appointes Justin McGreevy as Resort Operations Manager
Lough Erne Resort has added to its experienced team of senior management with the strategic appointment of Justin McGreevy as Resort Operations Manager. The new role has been created to enable the leading hospitality business to further commit to its five-star guest experience and cement its ambitions to be renowned as Northern Ireland’s most luxurious […]
Rachael McGuickin is Visit Belfast’s new Director of Business Development
Visit Belfast, the city’s destination marketing and management organisation has appointed Rachael McGuickin as Director of Business Development. This appointment will see Rachael play an integral role in the delivery of Visit Belfast’s ambitious plans to generate £130m to the local economy through increased visitor growth and spend in 2018/19. Visit Belfast’s Chief Executive, Gerry […]
Northern Ireland on course with growth of golf tourism to £40M
Golf tourism in Northern Ireland is swinging its way to success with the latest monitor results from Tourism NI revealing that the value of golf tourism in 2017 reached almost £40m per year. This represented a growth of 12% on 2016 and demonstrated that golf tourism in Northern Ireland is holding strong at a time […]
SHU launches Chef Apprenticeship Programme and scoops top employer award: VIDEO REPORT
SHU has been one of Belfast’s best restaurants for over 18 years, creating delectable dishes and nurturing world-class chefs able to work anywhere in the world. And this week sees them launch their hugely successful and award-winning ‘SHU Chef Apprentice Programme’ in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College. Now in its second year, the Programme, which […]
FEATURE ARTICLES..........
Choice Housing marks the start of £2.6m housing scheme in Monkstown
Choice Housing, one of Northern Ireland’s largest housing associations, today marked the start of a new £2.6m social housing scheme in Monkstown. Expected to be completed by the autumn next year, the Devenish Drive scheme will provide 20 much-needed new homes comprising a mix of apartments, houses and bungalows – each incorporating the very latest […]
Consulate General of St Vincent and the Grenadines opens in Northern Ireland
David Sterling, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Dr Christopher Stange, Consul General for St. Vincent and the Grenadines St. Vincent and the Grenadines becomes the first Caribbean nation, first Commonwealth Realm, first developing state and only the fourth country in the world, to establish a full resident diplomatic presence in Northern Ireland […]
Why your business should invest in SEO
With industries growing rapidly and becoming more competitive online, it’s important for any business owner to ensure they have a website that is optimised for SEO. You want traffic to flow to your site in order to be visible and enhance your online presence, ensuring that you rank as high as possible on SERPs. One […]
Expand your business premises with a steel build
If your business is going from strength to strength but your premises are outgrowing the needs of your business then it may be time to consider investing in a steel build that will give the room you need to expand and whilst not breaking the bank. Whether you are looking for a bigger warehouse space […]
Registering a Domain Name: Preparing in Advance
Registering a domain name will place you on the fast track towards developing an eye-catching and profitable website. However, you should never rush into this process. There are several suggestions to keep in mind as well as a few common traps to avoid. You will therefore need to perform a bit of homework if you […]
Is your business missing out on the smart meter opportunity?
Smart meters have quickly integrated into homes, and people are already enjoying the benefits they bring. But did you know that small businesses could also benefit from these meters? We take a look at the opportunity for small businesses to get on board with smart meters. Smart meters for all Do you know why smart […]
THOUGHT LEADERS..........
In Conversation with: Vishwanath Srinivasan, IT Director EMEA at Concentrix
As eir business NI celebrate our 10 years in business and reflect on the technological changes that have taken shape, we talk to Vishwanath Srinivasan, IT Director EMEA at Concentrix, about the evolution of the customer care sector and the adoption of technologies that will transform the way in which companies interact with their customers for […]
I’m proud to be a Gender Champion with Fujitsu – and this is why
I’m proud to be a Gender Champion says Val Risk, Global Account Managing Director at Fujitsu, – and in this blog post, I’ll tell you why. 2018 has been a tumultuous year for gender equality with the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage; revelations about the BBC gender pay gap; the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the […]
Small businesses playing the long game with long-term car hire: Europcar
Mark Maguire, Northern Ireland Sales Manager for Europcar Mobility Group reveals new research on how companies could reduce fleet costs by moving to vehicle usership rather than ownership The cost of business travel is a major consideration for organisations both large and small, which could explain why more fleet managers are considering a change to […]
European Politics give Markets Cause for Consternation, Cunningham Coates
Business First took the opportunity to speak to Jonathan Cunningham, Partner at Cunningham Coates about how issues around Brexit and European politics are giving the financial markets a serious cause for concern. “These are unprecedented times.” Advises Jonathan: “And the global focus could well be on Northern Ireland – now a potential border frontier within […]
Willowbrook Foods MD, John McCann MBE, calls on action from local politicians to save agrifood sector
John McCann MBE, Managing Director of one of Ireland’s largest salad and vegetable producers Willowbrook Foods, has called out the need for political stability in Northern Ireland, describing the local agri food sector as being ‘in grave peril’ should the current impasse continue. Willowbrook Foods has been experiencing a steady period of growth, increasing its […]
Advantages of Using an Introducing Broker
In a nutshell, introducing brokers are customer catering arms for Forex trading firms. An introducing broker is responsible for driving business to the dealing firm and provide additional customer support for the client and the dealer alike. On each trade that a client makes, the introducing broker is rewarded with a portion of the spread. […]
MOVERS & SHAKERS...
Enterprise NI has announced Michael McQuillan as its new Chief Executive.
Enterprise NI has formally announced Michael McQuillan as its new Chief Executive. The appointment comes after a highly competitive recruitment process to replace the outgoing Gordon Gough, who is retiring. Mr McQuillan takes up the post next month and will oversee the organisation which represents a total of 28 Local Enterprise Agencies across Northern Ireland. […]
Michael Walls is 2018 Young Chartered Star
Michael Walls, a young County Down Chartered Accountant, has won the ‘Young Chartered Star’ 2018 competition and will represent the Irish Chartered Accountancy profession at the ‘One Young World’ conference in The Hague in the Netherlands later this year. Chartered Accountants Ireland congratulates Michael Walls, who will represent the Institute at the prestigious international conference […]
Colm McElroy appointed Partner to Finance Team at Arthur Cox
Law firm Arthur Cox has further strengthened its Finance practice in Northern Ireland with the appointment of Colm McElroy as Partner. Colm, from Magherafelt, joined the firm in 2010 after obtaining a law degree from Queen’s University, Belfast and gaining his professional qualification at the university’s Institute of Professional Legal Studies. Announcing his appointment, Catriona […]
Alison Donnelly Scoops Two Top Industry Awards
Alison Donnelly, Director and Head of Advisory at fscom, has recently been awarded not only one, but two top industry awards. Alison picked up UK Advisor of the Year in AML and Payment Services at the Finance Monthly Fintech Awards 2018. In addition to this outstanding achievement, Alison also received an award for Most Influential Woman in AML […]
BDO Northern Ireland appoints Ivan Minn as Business Development Director
Business advisory firm, BDO Northern Ireland, today confirmed a new senior hire with the appointment of former banker Ivan McMinn as its first Business Development Director. The well-known business professional has forged a successful career spanning more than three decades in the financial services industry and most recently headed up the business acquisition and corporate […]
Ulster University appoints Mark Latuske as Deputy Director of Talent and Performance
Ulster University has appointed Mark Latuske as Deputy Director of Talent and Performance. Mark is a Human Resources specialist and has both consultancy and in-house experience. He has worked across a number of private and public sector organisations including Danske Bank, the NHS, Barclays Wealth, Permanent TSB, Lloyds Banking Group and Sainsbury’s. Mark holds a Postgraduate diploma […]
FAMILY BUSINESS..........
4 Ways The Telephone Can Increase Your Conversions
Remember the humble telephone? As businesses throw their money at the latest and greatest technology in a bid to increase conversions, many forget that a key lead generation tool is probably sitting on their desk gathering dust. Clients may be branching out to other methods of communicating with businesses in other industries, turning to social […]
Small Businesses – Uncertain times ahead but get the support you need now with Elevate and Trade Accelerator Vouchers
As the American politician Kevin McCarthy said, ‘As any small business owner knows, starting a business is not glamorous work’, but it can be tremendously rewarding! This is why InterTradeIreland currently has funding up to €5,000 available through its sales and marketing programme, Elevate and Trade Accelerator Vouchers, which are specifically aimed at micro businesses […]
Dunadry Hotel Completes Phase One Refurbishment
One year on, since the McKeever Hotel Group added the County Antrim Dunadry Hotel to its portfolio, the Group has announced the completion of the first phase of refurbishment of the hotel, with an investment of £1 million, which includes the Grand Ballroom, the Peacock Lounge and the Linen Suite. The 80 bedroom hotel with […]
Creating a Checklist: How It Can Transform Your Business
Looking to get more ROI from your business? All you may need is a structured approach to help you out. For one, a simple checklist goes a long way and can potentially help you turn your revenues around. How does a Checklist Help? A checklist has been a saviour for various people at various points […]
MAKING TAX DIGITAL: Business owners, are you ready to move online?
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is the most fundamental change to the administration of the tax system for a generation. When implemented, most businesses will be required to maintain their accounting records digitally – improving efficiency, effectiveness and ease of compliance. Coming into effect from April 2019 and impacting all VAT-registered businesses with a turnover above […]
6 Ways to Stand Out in The Business Market
Differentiation is the most integral aspect of every marketing campaign, as it will set your company apart from your rivals. Regardless of industry or niche, to make it big in the overcrowded world of business, you have to get ahead of your competition, and your customers must think of you first. To truly make your […]
HR ADVICE & IDEAS.....
How to Claim Compensation After a Personal Injury at Work
Have you sustained a personal injury in the workplace? No matter whether this is psychological or physical, as an employee it can hard to balance the feeling of responsibility between you and the company that you are working for. When you are considering a personal injury compensation claim it can be hard to know which […]
Women are happier at work than men despite being paid less, according to Gender Happiness Gap
The Gender Happiness Gap research today surveyed over 1200 UK employees about their happiness, enthusiasm, pride, and efficiency at work. The results demonstrate a significant gap in the workplace happiness between men and women across the UK. The research shows that contrary to, and perhaps in spite of the fact that the Gender Pay Gap […]
Employers need to act now on immigration law to keep their workforce in Northern Ireland
by Lisa Bryson, Head of Employment, Eversheds Sutherland, Belfast To paraphrase Mark Twain, many people complain about the weather, but no-one ever seems to do anything about it. Employers handling international recruitment could be forgiven for feeling the same way about the Brexit negotiations. It has been clear for some time that Brexit will cause major […]
Gender parity absent within Northern Ireland’s most senior roles
Northern Ireland’s business boardrooms are still facing a significant gender imbalance – despite growing awareness of a widespread female deficit, according to research released today. Of the 467 board members within Northern Ireland’s top 100 companies, just a fifth of these are women, according to Brightwater Recruitment, who examined the issue ahead of International Women’s […]
How to spot – and help – a high-functioning alcoholic in your organisation
Can you tell if a member of your team is a high-functioning alcoholic? And, once identified, what can you do to help them? Sobriety companion and coach, Dr Bunmi Aboaba, draws on her experiences to explain what to look for and what action you should take: Firstly, there are some simple signs to look for: […]
Flexible working: Why more companies need to embrace it
We’ve seen enormous technological and social changes in the workplace in recent years. These changes have forced some companies to adapt in order to attract and sustain much needed talent. Unfortunately, despite this, a lot more still needs to be done to ensure flexibility and inclusivity is addressed in every workplace and integrated into the culture of the […]
