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Newry Mourne and Down Enterprise Week 2022 makes a welcome return from Monday 14 November to Friday 18 November 2022.
The theme of ‘Make it Your Business’ underpins the week-long initiative which aims to foster local entrepreneurship and nurture small businesses and talent. Led by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in partnership with Newry and Mourne Co-Operative and Enterprise Agency and Down Business Centre, a week-long programme of events will be available to support established businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs across the district.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said “Council work in partnership with key stakeholders to deliver enterprise and business-related events throughout the year. NMD Enterprise Week provides us with an opportunity to combine our efforts and in partnership promote the support that is available for the local business community. This initiative provides a real opportunity for our entrepreneurs to actively engage and participate in a range of initiatives aimed at helping to start up, develop and/or grow their businesses. NMD Enterprise Week has become a real highlight in the local business calendar and provides a great opportunity for networking and information sharing.
Cllr Savage continued, “NMD Enterprise Week 2022 comes at a time of unique challenges and uncertainty for the local business community, caused by a combination of Brexit, Covid Recovery, Cost of Living crisis and international market instability. We are very fortunate to have a strong network of partners who offer a wealth of support across a range of industries and NMD Enterprise Week offers a fantastic platform for local businesses to connect directly with these partners. Whether you’re a fledgling start up business taking those first cautious steps, or an established enterprise in need of some advice and guidance, support is here.”
Over the coming weeks further information will be issued on key events. The week will support businesses in the areas of: sustainability and energy efficiency, financial well-being, skills and career choices, business start-ups, social enterprises and key tips on methods to sustain and grow. NMD Enterprise Week 2022 will help to showcase the range of support available from organisations including: our Local Enterprise Agencies, South Eastern Regional College, Southern Regional College, InterTrade Ireland, Invest NI, Newry Chamber, Newry BID, Community Advice NI and the Rural Health Partnership and many more.
To make the week as accessible as possible, all events within NMD Enterprise Week will be free of charge and will be delivered as a series of in person or online events. So, make it your business to get informed, to engage and to connect and visit the wide range of events on offer at www.newrymournedown.org and follow the hashtag #NMDEW2022
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As part of a European initiative the WIN Think Lab in Newry hosted a EU Giggin Policy Lab today. Policymakers from different levels of government and other influential people in society were involved in discussions with young people working or thinking of working in the gig industry.
Investopedia explains A gig economy as "a labor market that relies heavily on temporary and part-time positions filled by independent contractors and freelancers rather than full-time permanent employees. Gig workers gain flexibility and independence but little or no job security."
Todays event gave local gig workers an opportunity to talk about their experiences working as freelancers, both positive and negative, as well as a chance to discuss the implications for them and society more generally of the changing labour market, with a panel who have experience of the policy arena, how “the system” works and the challenges that need to be overcome to achieve change.
Conor Patterson, CEO of Newry and Mourne Co-Operative and Enterprise Agency explained "Today was about a dialogue between a group of citizens, young people who are trying to make a living and carve out a life for themselves on the one hand, and those that have influence in shaping how society is structured, how the economy is structured, because at some levels in government the pace of change isn't fully appreciated."
The panel included President of Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade, Julie Gibbons; representatives from SRC in Newry; Dundalk Institute of Technology; Cllr David Taylor representing local government, Council officials from Newry, Mourne and Down and Louth County Council's; Conor Murphy and Justin McNulty representing the Northern Ireland Assembly and Mickey Brady MP.
Mr Patterson continued "The young gig workers heard advice from influential people that have been around, helping people start businesses, either just as self employed individuals or to become employers in the future. But also I suppose as older people that have a bit of experience around the importance of making financial provision for the future, even in a small way, to be putting money aside."
He added "Freelance work is a global phenomenon. Since the pandemic there's a phenomenon that's been described as 'the great resignation', literally millions of people not going back to the jobs that they were employed in before, not because the employers didn't want them, but because they decided there's a better life that I can lead and I either will go back on a different basis, working from home and if the employer doesn't want me to do that I'll move in to self employment. I'll follow the dream that I've always had, and just felt trapped in my job. This has been millions of workers, literally millions in the US and Canada but it's been a phenomenon across the European Union."
This underlying change is accelerating across all EU member states partly because of the opportunities provided with new technology. Many EU countries are currently holding policy labs like the Newry one to see what the giggin model looks like in their patch.
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Kilkeel aircraft seating manufacturer, Collins Aerospace has recognised the dedication and commitment of its longest serving employees by hosting a Long Service Awards evening at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry.
The awards evening, which was held last month welcomed over 100 of the company’s current and former employees. It was an opportunity to recognise their contribution to the company’s growth and subsequent success in manufacturing innovative seating solutions for commercial and business jets, which fly on many of the world’s leading airlines.
Since initially launching on the site in 1966, almost 60 years ago, the company has contributed heavily to the economic prosperity of Kilkeel and its surrounding areas, and throughout its evolution, many of its employees have been a constant.
Its longest serving current employee is master assembler, William Wilson, who has celebrated 43 years of service. Speaking about his time with Collins Aerospace, William said, “I started working at the facility as an assistant storeman back in May 1979, but throughout the years, I’ve been lucky to have a number of different roles. The company has created jobs for many within the immediate and surrounding areas, and contributed to our local economy, not to mention local businesses and charities. It has been a great place to work – I’ve had a lot of job satisfaction and had the pleasure to work with many great people.”
Managing Director of Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel, Stuart McKee, who himself was recognised on the night for 26 years of service, spoke about the dedication and commitment of the company’s workforce. Stuart said, “The success of Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel is primarily attributed to the efforts of all those who are in attendance here this evening.
“Our products would not be the success they are without the contribution of each person that has walked through our doors and become part of the Collins family in Kilkeel. I’m delighted to recognise each long service employee, all of whom have collectively contributed approximately 2500 years to the company. I would like to personally thank you for your efforts in establishing Collins Aerospace as one of the leading aircraft seating manufacturers, not only in Northern Ireland, but globally.”
Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel employs 750 staff over its two sites at the heart of the Mournes. The company is currently undertaking an aggressive recruitment drive across Northern Ireland.
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Haldane Fisher has been shortlisted for an award at the at the prestigious Builders Merchants Awards. The business with premises at Carnbane in Newry has been shortlisted in the Builders Merchant of the Year (6 – 20 Branches) category.
Recognising those that have shown commitment to innovation, delivering excellent customer service, and boosting the success of the company, the awards will celebrate the best of the best at a ceremony in Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, in November.
David Haldane, Managing Director of Haldane Fisher, said “As one of only three builders merchants to be shortlisted, we are thrilled to have been recognised for our dedication to going to above and beyond to place the customer at the heart of everything we do.
“We pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service and encourage our team to take part in regular training, helping us to provide trusted advice for both trade and general public undergoing any type of construction project.”
Haldane Fisher has 20 branches across Northern Ireland, England, and Scotland and offers customers over 13,000 products across 800 brands.
David continued “In addition to striving for excellence across the business, we continually invest in innovation and growth to ensure we embody best practice and remain at the forefront of the industry.
“Being shortlisted for this award is a testament to our team who are committed to working together to facilitate the continued development of not only the business, but the sector as a whole.”
Also shortlisted for the Branch of the Year is TG Builders Merchants and EH Smith Builders Merchants.
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A brand-new Boots Opticians store has opened in the Buttercrane Shopping Centre in Newry, offering a wide range of frames, from stylish own brand ranges to designer brands and sustainable ranges. The new store also offers NHS and private eye tests, free contact lens fitting, trials and aftercare, as well as Boots Optometrists on hand to provide expert advice and support and to help people stay on top of their eye health needs.
The new store also offers OCT eye scans, a cutting edge, non-invasive tool which allows the Optician to see what’s going on under the surface of the eye. The scan only takes a couple of minutes and can help to detect underlying conditions such as diabetes and glaucoma before any symptoms occur.
As well as eye care needs, the new store has a dedicated Boots Hearingcare facility with an expert team of audiologists who can offer free hearing checks and provide advanced solutions for hearing loss.
The store is the first Boots Opticians standalone store in Newry, designed to create the very best shopping experience for customers, with its modern interiors and open plan design. Customers can browse the extensive range of premium and designer brands including Mulberry, Emporio Armani, Hugo Boss and Ted Baker, as well as stylish frames from the Boots own brand range, with prices starting from £40.
Boots Opticians is calling upon people in Northern Ireland to check their eye health and wants customers to see what’s possible with better vision. With its accessible and convenient location - perfectly situated between Dublin & Belfast – the new store offers customers easy and convenient access to regular all-important eye tests and eyecare.
Boots Opticians recently a commissioned a survey amongst glasses-wearers as part of its new ‘See What’s Possible’ brand campaign. The research revealed that a quarter of those in Northern Ireland (28%) feel their quality of life has improved since they started wearing glasses or contact lenses, with almost four in 10 (37%) saying they can now ‘see the world’ around them. The research also revealed that people found a new lease of life since improving their eyesight, with more than half (52%) of those in Northern Ireland saying they have been able to try a new activity. Learning/studying something new (43%) was the top activity people took up since wearing glasses.
James Arrow, Managing Director at Boots Opticians said: “We are delighted that the Newry store is now open, and we are really looking forward to helping the local customers with their eye care needs. Eye tests not only determine whether you need glasses or contact lenses, but they also play an important role in checking for potential serious health conditions, which is why it is so important that people have a routine eye test every two years.”
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have launched their final workshop as part of the NMD Business Growth programme. Focusing on the ‘power of people’, it will offer SMEs from across the district advice on employment tools and opportunities, as well as how to ensure your business is attractive to the right candidates.
Facilitated by the NMD Business Growth programme the ‘Recruiting and Retaining the Right People’ workshop is, one of a series of support initiatives which aims to help local SMEs enhance their knowledge and skills, to grow their businesses to create more employment opportunities. The NMD Business Growth programme is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth and Jobs Northern Ireland (2014 -2020) programme.
The online workshop takes place on Tuesday 29 November at 9.30am and it is open to local businesses based in the Newry, Mourne and Down District area who employ less than 50 employees and have a capacity to grow their team.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage outlined his support for the workshop and explained why it is important for businesses to take part saying,
“We are lucky to have such a highly skilled workforce in Northern Ireland, so it is important that businesses know how to attract new recruits, especially in competitive markets. To stand out from the crowd, there are a number of things businesses can do to ensure that they are the employer of choice when it comes to attracting the right people. This workshop aims to help equip businesses with practical support to become just that.
Cllr Savage continued, “Employment markets and employment practices have changed a lot over the last number of years. A more flexible workplace culture, including remote working and further training opportunities, is what more and more employees are looking for now. Sometimes employers may even find they already have the right person; they just need to look at how best to up-skill those within their teams. I would encourage anyone involved in recruitment or businesses who wish to grow their team to attend this workshop.”
For more information or to register for this free workshop businesses should visit www.recruitingandretaining.eventbrite.co.uk.
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Killeavy Castle Estate has been named as an AA four-star hotel in acknowledgement of the County Armagh venue's exemplary offering. The restaurant also was awarded two AA rosettes for ‘Culinary Excellence’, further acknowledging the quality of Killeavy Castle Estate’s food and drink offering.
In just four short years, Killeavy Castle Estate has won multiple awards including a spate of industry award wins in recent weeks. This latest recognition from the AA Awards is a testament to the strength of the team and quality that Killeavy Caste Estate strives to deliver for every guest.
The inspector described his dining experience in the restaurant as “impressive with thought and imagination shown” and the meal experience as “worthy of note.”
Commenting on their visit, the AA inspector said: “This is a wonderful property from both the physical point of view with the combination of the heritage of the location blended seamlessly with the new buildings. Service and hospitality were both on point. Two AA Rosettes are confirmed in recognition of the Culinary Excellence.”
Jason Foody, General Manager of Killeavy Castle Estate adds: “This is a proud day for everyone in the team at Killeavy Castle Estate. Our goal is to deliver an unparalleled experience to our guests seven days a week and receiving this feedback following an unannounced and secret visit from the AA is recognition of the high standards that our team sets for itself. It is this commitment to excellence that makes Killeavy Castle Estate a truly special place.”
Killeavy Castle Estate’s Restaurant and Bistro Bar is open daily, serving local and seasonal dishes created by Killeavy Castle Estate’s Executive Head Chef, Darragh Dooley, Head Chef, Dario Percic and team.
“To be recognised by the experts at the AA is a true honour for my team and I. We’re passionate about the food and drink experience that we have created at Killeavy Castle Estate and to have the stamp of approval of two AA Rosettes is a reflection of our standards, quality of ingredients and use of local produce,” says Darragh Dooley, Executive Head Chef at Killeavy Castle Estate.
“Over 90% of the food served throughout the Estate is produced within the grounds of Killeavy Castle Estate or sourced within a 20-mile radius, and it’s this commitment to local sourcing that underpins the strength of our offering at the restaurant. This, combined with hard work and determination from a passionate team has paid off and we look forward with optimism for the future.”
The recognition from the AA Awards is just the latest in a string of award wins for Killeavy Castle Estate, which has swept the board at recent industry and tourism awards.
The quality of the hotel and its offering has been recognised with the Estate receiving the title of ‘Hotel of the Year’ (up to 75 rooms) at the LCN Awards and most recently, its AA four-star rating which further compounds the high standard and unique experience on offer for guests of the Estate.
The team at Killeavy Castle Estates’ commitment to delivering exceptional customer service and guest experiences was acknowledged at the Newry Chamber Employee and Team awards where the team from the Estate scooped the Best Tourism & Hospitality Team Award.
In addition to being awarded two AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence, the Estate received the award for Best Food and Drink Experience (Large) at the prestigious Northern Ireland Giant Spirit Awards, where owner of Killeavy Castle Estate, Mick Boyle also received the ‘Local Spirit’ Award in recognition of the significant difference that he has made to the tourism sector and community in recent years.
To top it all off the Estate was also awarded the National Intimate Wedding Venue of the Year 2022 at the recent Irish Hotel Awards held in Athlone.
The AA Awards were first introduced as a star rating system to classify hotels in 1912, and in 2006, the AA developed Common Quality Standards (alongside the main tourist boards) for inspecting and rating accommodation.
The long-established Rosette scheme celebrates successful cooking at different levels and Rosettes are awarded by the AA’s team of inspectors who have an unrivalled wealth of experience in assessing quality throughout the UK. Only around 10% of restaurants across the UK are of a standard that is worthy of one Rosette and above.
Opening its doors in April 2019, Killeavy Castle Estate is set within 350 acres of mythical woodlands in the heart of the Ring of Gullion in South Armagh, combining an idyllic location with luxury accommodation, award-winning dining, and spa facilities for guests.
For further information on Killeavy Castle Estate, see killeavycastle.com
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A collaboration between Newry-based Around Noon and world-famous condiment maker Ballymaloe Foods has seen over four million sandwiches being made to date by the Newry-based company using the County Cork firm’s much-loved relish. And the volume is set to grow significantly due a series of new contracts won by Around Noon with leading names in the retail sector.
Ballymaloe Foods has supplied Around Noon with over 42 tonnes of its relish since the firms formed a relationship six years ago, and the volume is expected to increase by more than 20 percent as a result of new business won by Around Noon. This includes a deal to supply sandwiches, made on the island of Ireland, using Irish ingredients to Marks & Spencer.
Gareth Chambers, CEO of Around Noon, explains: “Sourcing quality ingredients from great suppliers and creating strong, sustainable relationships with them is a really important part of our business. Ballymaloe Foods is a world-renowned provider of great produce. We have had a fantastic relationship with them over the past six years and we look forward to the relationship going from strength-to-strength.”
Donnacha Ryan, Foodservice Manager, Ballymaloe Foods, explains: “Around Noon is a major producer of quality sandwiches for the hospitality and retail sectors and we are delighted to be a trusted supplier to them. Our relationship has developed and grown over the past six years, and we are delighted to have had our relish used in over 4 million Around Noon sandwiches that have been eaten across the UK and Ireland. With the new contracts that Around Noon has won, we look forward to the relationship with Ballymaloe Foods continuing to develop in the years ahead.”
Around Noon has been in business for over 30 years and employs over 400 people. It supplies a broad range of high-quality chilled, hot, frozen and bakery products to customers including forecourt, convenience and multiple retailers and coffee shops throughout the UK and Ireland.
The story of Ballymaloe Foods dates back almost 100 years to the 1930s when Ivan Allen was growing tomatoes at his glasshouses in Shanagarry. Ivan’s wife Myrtle began to create a delicious relish from the rich yield of tomatoes, naturally preserving them so they could be used all year round with cold meats and sandwiches.
Using her mother’s recipe, Yasmin Hyde, Myrtle’s daughter, began producing Ballymaloe Relish in her own kitchen. This led to Yasmin establishing Ballymaloe Foods in 1990. Starting out as a very small operation, the company now exports to several countries including Canada, Germany, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. The original Ballymaloe Relish has become an iconic Irish product and is stocked in kitchens all over the world.
Now producing a wide variety of award-winning relishes, sauces and pickles from its purpose-built kitchens in Little Island, County Cork, Ballymaloe Foods remains a family-run business.
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Local social enterprise Newry Cycle Recycle has appealed for local people to Re-Cycle their unwanted bikes by donating them in the run up to Christmas.The company is based at WIN Industrial Estate in Newry and they pride themselves in offering a wide range of restored bikes at a reasonable price.
Director Gerard Hughes said “Every year we see hundreds of old and unwanted bicycles of every size and model sadly sent to landfill. At Newry Cycle Recycle CIC, we take pride in transforming bicycles of any size and state so that they can be used again.
“Our qualified team undertake an extensive service on each bike to ensure that they are ready and able to Re-Cycled.”
Justin McNulty, MLA has thrown his support behind the campaign “Christmas can put a lot of pressure on people, and particularly so this year. If you have an old or unwanted bike, I would urge you to bring it down to the team at Cycle Recycle rather than taking it to landfill.
“The team at Cycle Recycle will be able to get your old or unwanted bike back in working order and looking good as new, which could take a bit of pressure off for those houses where there’s a new bike on the Christmas list."
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