Business First talked to Jonathan Martindale, Director of Business Development, Phoenix Natural Gas, about doing business and the company’s support as a sponsor of the Eastside Awards.
Tell us about Phoenix Natural Gas Jonathan
Phoenix Natural Gas was established in 1996 to bring natural gas to the Greater Belfast area of Northern Ireland, where there was no natural gas distribution. Since then local, national and international partnerships across the natural gas industry have delivered an investment of over £1bn into the Northern Ireland economy and the wider natural gas industry now provides employment to over 2,500 people.
How have you navigated your business through 2020?
Ensuring a safe and secure supply of energy for consumers throughout this time has been the driving force of our business, coupled with continuing to provide a high-quality experience for consumers making the move to natural gas from more polluting fuel sources. As a local business we have invested in our Responsible Business programme throughout the year ensuring we continue to help, support and add value in the communities we serve.
Why is Phoenix Natural Gas sponsoring Eastside Awards?
We are proud to support the Eastside Awards and to help shine a light on the incredible community spirit and resilience that makes East Belfast so special. While 2020 has been a difficult year for so many there have been some incredible acts of kindness and community spirit which deserve to be celebrated and shared.
Finally Jonathan, what are you hoping ‘East Belfast – Our Story 2020’ will achieve?
East-Belfast – Our Story 2020 will be a celebration of the unsung heroes, people, businesses and community organisations who have gone the extra mile to make their community better during a very difficult year, showing how a community comes together to overcome adversity.
This year’s Eastside Awards is taking on a new format. People are being asked to contribute to ‘East Belfast – Our Story 2020’, a film which will be broadcast in early 2021 celebrating those who have been an inspiration in the local East Belfast community this year. The organisers want to hear powerful stories from education, sport, the arts, business, health and social care, stories of how children were nurtured during lockdown, extraordinary stories about community spirit and innovative stories about business survival. If you would like to share the story of how your business responded to the pandemic or a story about someone you know who displayed about human kindness, if you know a teacher who has gone the extra mile, if you have an exceptional neighbour, if your community group risked their health to help others during lockdown or you know of a volunteer who should be recognised, send your story via video to i[email protected] or visit www.eastsidewards.org for further information.
East Belfast – Our Story 2020 has been made possible by George Best Belfast City Airport, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, East Belfast Enterprise, East Belfast Mission, EastSide Partnership, Fleet Financial, Kainos, Millar McCall Wylie, The Open University, Phoenix Natural Gas, Solv Group, The Urban Villages Initiative, We’reSure Insurance Services, Wolseley Plumb and Parts Center and media partner, Belfast Live.
Closing date for story submissions is 5.00pm on Friday 18 December.
#EastBelfastStory2020
