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Northern Ireland’s largest insurance broker AbbeyAutoline has marked 50 years in business with the launch of a series of community outreach activities across the province.
2023 marks a major milestone for AbbeyAutoline as it embarks on its 50th year in business in Northern Ireland.
At a special event hosted in Belfast, Managing Director Julie Gibbons launched a 50th Anniversary campaign designed to, “celebrate this major milestone, commend our staff and connect with local communities.”
Speaking to members of the Senior Management team, Julie Gibbons said she was immeasurably proud to lead the insurance brokerage into its 50th year as it continued on its acquisition growth strategy.
Most recently AbbeyAutoline acquired BMG Insurance, Portadown and Newtownbutler, growing their branch network to 15. Representatives from branches across the province where in attendance at the anniversary event.
“It’s a huge achievement for any company to mark 50 years in business, and it’s my honour to guide AbbeyAutoline through its 50th year celebrations.
“As we embark on a special programme to mark this anniversary, it’s only right that we credit Abbey founder George Storey and Autoline’s previous owner, Michael Blaney for their vision, leadership and focus on people, in developing such successful Northern Ireland companies.
“Companies which we continue to build through the Prestige Group’s ambitious growth strategy, led by CEO Trevor Shaw, with the backing of US investor Capital Z.
“This campaign also gives us a platform to say thank you to our staff – both past and present - for their support and dedication which has delivered us to this significant milestone.”
Part of the Prestige Insurance Holdings, AbbeyAutoline currently employs some 440 staff in branches across Northern Ireland.
At the launch event, Julie Gibbons outlined an ambitious programme for 2023 which will see AbbeyAutoline undertake a series of community outreach activities and support a number of local charities to ‘give back to the communities’ which have supported the growth of AbbeyAutoline over the past 50 years.
These initiatives include a company-wide ‘50k in May’ Health and Wellbeing Challenge to mark Mental Health Awareness month, and the business will also embark on an enterprising plan for staff to assist in the delivery of 50 community projects across the province during 2023.
This community programme, entitled ‘50 Ways to Give Back’, would see 50 initiatives delivered across Northern Ireland supported by AbbeyAutoline staff - from volunteering at a local food bank, Community Garden, Charity, or Animal sanctuary, to supporting Tidy Towns initiatives and local beach cleans.
Julie said: “As a local company, connected with local communities we want to bring tangible and positive benefits to the areas that we work and live in through this Anniversary programme.
“For many years, the NI Hospice has been our chosen charity. In our Anniversary year we will also commit 50 voluntary hours to support the efforts of the NI Hospice fundraising team.”
“This year is a celebration for our company, for our staff and customers in equal measure. We look forward to rolling out this exciting programme to mark 50 Golden years of AbbeyAutoline as we look forward to our future growth,” Julie concludes.
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Joseph Doherty, Managing Director at Newry recycling company Re-Gen Waste, has been assessing the latest waste collections’ statistics by Northern Ireland Councils. The recycling, landfill, and energy recovery figures are published every quarter by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the July-September 2022 have been released this month.
Overall the recycling rate has gone down from 52.3 per cent in 2021 to 51.5 per cent in 2022 although in Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area they have managed to increase household recycling. Household waste makes up around 86 per cent of all Locally Authority collected waste. On another positive note all 11 Councils in Northern Ireland reported decreases in total waste collections between July and September 2022.
Doherty said “ Newry, Mourne & Down Council which reported the largest increase in their household recycling rate compared to July to September 2021 at 1.4 percentage points. The largest contributing factor to this rise was the increase in waste sent for dry recycling. The Council also had the highest waste energy recovery rate at 42.9 per cent. Newry, Mourne and Down Council had the second lowest rate of landfill (at 5.2 per cent), just after Mid Ulster Council at 3.3 per cent.
“In my opinion, the best option for the householder is a commingled bin collection like that in Newry, Mourne and Down, in which they can place their plastics, paper, cardboard, glass and metals.
“Glass in particular can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. We’re able to recycle over 90 per cent of glass which is melted down into new bottles and jars. I believe that manufacturers, recycling companies and re-processors should keep all recyclates in circulation where possible, and out of landfill sites.
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon and Causeway Coast & Glens also showed an increase in their household recycling rates. The rate decreased in Mid Ulster District Council but the remaining seven local authorities reported similar rates to those in July to September 2021.
Doherty continued “The landfill rate has dropped from 23.7 per cent in July-September 2021 to 22.8 per cent. This is great news. Methane from landfill is 21 times greater than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. There is a viable alternative to landfill and, in Newry, we’re manufacturing refuse derived fuel which is exported to highly efficient heat and power plants. This fuel has a low carbon cost and it is going to energy plants with district housing networks where the fuel is used most efficiently.
“There are three top performing Local Authorities when it comes to landfill and they are Mid Ulster; Newry, Mourne and Down Council; and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council. These three Councils landfill the least waste in Northern Ireland. They are managing their waste effectively and in line with the new waste hierarchy. The DAERA report shows that energy recovery has increased by 12 per cent to 24.4 per cent, and that is a better solution than landfilling material.
Concluding Doherty said “I believe that we all need to work together to ensure that recyclable material gets to the correct bin. The range of facilities such as household kerbside collections, amenity sites, household recycling centres and street recycling bins all have their part to play in increasing the rate of recycling and reducing the level of material landfilled. Householders are to be commended for their part in placing recycling materials in the right bin.”
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Chris Platt has joined Re-Gen Robotics as Commercial Director. He brings extensive senior-level and technical experience in oil and gas operations, health and safety, and project management to the no-man entry robotic tank cleaning company, based in Northern Ireland.
A Chemical Engineer with over 35 years’ experience in world-scale oil and gas processes in refineries and storage terminals, Chris has a track record of delivery in multi-national and rapidly growing businesses.
Aidan Doherty, Managing Director at the Newry-headquartered company, said: “Chris is a respected leader in the oil and gas industry, having held positions in Petroplus, Greenergy, Navigator and latterly, VARO Energy and is very welcome to the Re-Gen Robotics team.
His track record of delivering safety and technical solutions will take our company to the next level. Chris will lead on our strategic plans, develop commercial opportunities, and establish effective relationships with current and new commercial partners.”
Chris is a Chemical Engineering Graduate from the University of Birmingham, holding a Diploma in Business management, a NEBOSH safety certificate, and is dedicated to continuous professional development.
He said: “Re-Gen Robotics is revolutionising safety in industrial oil tank cleaning, and it’s an exciting time to join the company. I’m looking forward to working with Aidan and the team on delivering solutions to tank storage owners, reducing confined space entry cleaning by staff, and promoting the safety benefits of the robotic tank cleaning system.
“I’ve previously held leadership roles in Group Safety, Health and Environment Management and Tank Storage line management, which have helped me understand the challenges of tank cleaning. I will bring my expertise to develop new markets for the business and I’m looking forward to the challenge being Commercial Director will bring.”
Since 2019, Re-Gen Robotics has eliminated over 15,000 hours of confined space entry and has completed tank cleans with oil majors including Shell, Phillips 66, Vermilion Energy, ExxonMobil, and Valero using its innovative no-man entry robotic system.
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Newry Chamber of Commerce hosted local and regional media outlets on Friday morning in the Canal Court for one of their regular member gatherings. The Meet the Media event included representatives from the Newry Reporter, Newry Democrat, Newry.ie, U105, Q Radio and the Irish News. Around 50 local business representatives attended the event.
Each speaker spoke on their own outlet, what they offered and a little bit of their history. The event also included discussion panels hosted by Deborah Loughran from King Communication with questions from preparing a press release to mental health and well-being.
Chamber President, Julie Gibbons welcomed everyone and spoke of the importance of local media.
A spokesperson from Newry Chamber of Commerce said on Friday "Businesses should have a strong mix of 'on and offline' comms channels and the message was reiterated with the cross-over between print, broadcast and digital.
"The big takeaway from today is that our media do so much to support the business community and in this ever-changing climate of how we get our news, it is so vital as local businesses, that support is reciprocated."
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An EU funding programme initiative that has increased the number of firms participating in cross-border and interregional research projects was celebrated at an event in Killeavy Castle this week.
The Interreg funded Co-Innovate programme received €19.6m from the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme and is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It has supported over 1,400 businesses in Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland, and Western Scotland.
Speaking of the programmes success Margaret Hearty, Chief Executive at InterTradeIreland in Newry said “The success of the Co-Innovate Programme can be attributed not only to the businesses that have benefitted but also the partner agencies that formed part of the Co-Innovate partnership. This event provided an opportunity to celebrate the amazing achievements of the Co-Innovate Programme and hear from the companies who have benefitted from the support, whether that be through the value of a dedicated project manager, support for an innovative idea, a solution to an industry problem or a clear project plan to drive a culture of innovation throughout the organisation. I have no doubt that this culture of innovation and collaboration is now embedded in these SMEs and that it will continue to push them through their innovation journey.”
The event was attended by the Northern Ireland Deputy Permanent Secretary Shane Murphy and joining by video address was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney T.D as well as Richard Lochead, Scottish Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work followed by CEO of Scottish Enterprise, Adrian Gillespie. As a key funder for the Co-Innovate Programme, Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of the Special EU programmes Body (SEUPB) also addressed the event to support all the partners involved in the delivery as well mark the projects key achievements. Businesses taking part in the programme, as well as key delivery partners attended the event and listened to key insights and experiences of keynote speaker, Brody Sweeney, founder of Camille Thai and former CEO of O'Brien's Sandwich Bars, from his 25 year career.
Participating businesses benefited from innovation workshops, business health checks, innovation audits, sectoral networks, project management placements and one-to-one expert mentoring. Delivery of the programme was led by InterTradeIreland, in partnership with Enterprise Northern Ireland, East Border Region, Local Enterprise Offices in the border region, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Shane Murphy, Deputy Permanent Secretary from the Department for the Economy NI said “The Co-Innovate Programme has supported our SMEs through encouraging new partnerships between business and relevant research institutions, and enabling them to work towards turning innovative thinking into tangible results. It is clear to see that much can be achieved by working together. I was delighted to attend the Co-Innovate event to acknowledge the achievements of the Programme and its participants is an opportunity to remind ourselves of the terrific work that can be done where interventions encourage positive support, partnering and innovation.”
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, TD said “I would like to thank everyone that was involved in the Co-Innovate programme. This programme, led by InterTradeIreland in partnership with agencies from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland, has had a tremendous impact, supporting over 1,400 SMEs and micro-businesses.
"The success of Co-Innovate can be attributed both to the businesses that have benefitted and the hard work of the partner agencies. By working together, the partners were able to harness their knowledge of their respective regions to ensure that the project achieved its goals.
" Their success helps to show the benefits of the continued collaboration on this island and beyond.”
Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive Officer of the Special EU Programmes Body also spoke of her delight at the programme results “The region has been characterised by low-levels of development and innovation, but this EU INTERREG VA project has gone a long way to address these concerns. It is clear from the results of Co-innovate just how effective the project has been. The small businesses involved have participated in cross-border partnerships involving transnational or interregional projects. Companies have been given a pathway to open their doors to collaboration, development and innovation across the Programme area. I am delighted to see such noticeable results which will in turn drive economic growth and prosperity across the region allowing it to become more competitive and profitable on an international stage.”
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Over £2m is being invested in Newry by a company that manufactures under stairs storage that was showcased on Dragons Den back in 2012
Clever Closet, has announced plans to open a new base in Newry that will create up to 25 new jobs. The company provides under stairs storage solutions which help to maximise the overlooked and often inaccessible space beneath the stairs. It is the sister company of one of Ireland’s most successful participants in the popular RTÉ series.
In 2011, former construction engineer and now CEO of Clever Closet, Paul Jacob, designed his own under stairs storage in a bid to address a family storage crisis at home and provide smart, affordable home storage units. Paul’s success in securing investment in the 2012 series led to expansion across Ireland followed by the UK.
Currently based at The Hub in Margaret Street, the Newry expansion of Clever Closet is part of the company’s wider strategy to service the UK’s 11.5 million semi-detached homes. Jobs will be created in a range of areas including operations, administration, sales, business development and their expert fitters as well as training and development across all areas.
Paul Jacob, Clever Closet CEO has welcomed the expansion and sees his storage units as a great space optimiser bot under the stairs and in the loft. "Our customised storage units are specifically designed to tackle this 21st Century living problem, by optimising the storage space available, while integrating these clever units seamlessly within the design of the home environment. The days of excessive shelving, unattractive hanging space and overflowing shoe cupboards are over."
Ciara Reel is the new Sales Manager at the new Clever Closet base in Newry.
For more information about Clever Closet, visit: Clever Closet
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One of Newry's longest established businesses is celebrating 125 years in operation this year. Fisher & Fisher with offices in Newry, Newcastle, Kilkeel, Rathfriland, Belfast and Donaghadee are looking forward to hosting a variety of celebration events at all their locations.
Ronan McGuigan, Fisher & Fisher said, “We are delighted to reach this momentous milestone in the company’s history. This would not be possible without our clients or our fantastic team. We really are a firm at the heart of the community, dealing with generations of families and local businesses both large and small. We hope to celebrate our achievements and our people throughout the year, across each of our locations.”
Fisher & Fisher was started back in 1898 by Alexander Fisher and his brother John. Alexander was joined in 1927 by his daughter Margaret and two years later by his other daughter Dorothy. Mrs Margaret Reside (nee Fisher) was a pioneer of her time in the legal field, being one of the first female solicitors in Northern Ireland.
The firm was acquired in 2016 by local solicitors Ronan McGuigan and Jacqueline Malone who retained the Fisher & Fisher name and the Newry headquarters.
The firm is going from strength to strength with a team of 40 working across the six locations specialising in a range of fields from property, estates and wills and family work, to criminal, litigation, and corporate law.
Jacqueline Malone, Fisher & Fisher added, “We are very proud of the history and the reputation of the firm in this locality. It is at the heart of everything we do. Mrs Reside was a visionary of her time and we hope we have continued to build upon her legacy. This year as part of our celebrations we are proud to be supporting Newry Chamber’s International Women’s Day celebrations at Killeavy Castle amongst other events and activities. I too, would like to thank our team and our clients for their dedication and support over the years. I hope we are continuing to build on the past into the future, which will see the firm flourish for at least another 125 years to come.”
For further information please follow their social media channels and see local press.
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is hosting a series of free lunchtime employer engagement events in the district in March. The ‘NMD - Food for Thought’ event will take place Tuesday 21 March from 12 noon until 2pm at the Burrendale Hotel in Newcastle while the second event ‘NMD - Our Place in the World’ will take place Tuesday 28 March from 12 noon until 2pm at The Canal Court Hotel in Newry.
The events are part of the ‘Great Place to Work’ strand of the NMD Labour Market Partnership. Labour Market Partnerships are funded by the Department for Communities and create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
Local jobseekers, budding entrepreneurs, careers teachers, students, and other businesses are invited to come along to events across the district to learn from industry experts and to network over lunch.
Attendees will hear from industry experts about building and growing a business; while job seekers or those looking at career options can find out what opportunities there are with the individual businesses.
The first event called NMD- ‘Food for Thought’ is looking at the exceptional food production and manufacturing sector in Newry, Mourne and Down. Attendees will hear from Deli-Lites about their growth from one café to becoming a multi-million pound exporter. Bronagh Lennon, Chief People Officer will also talk about the many roles available in food innovation and production and well as sustainability with the business.
Guests will hear from Finnebrogue Artisan about the significant investment they have made into the business and varied career opportunities available with the Downpatrick based company. Neary Nogs Artisan Stoneground Chocolate will also be talking about their entrepreneurial journey; and the opportunities and challenges presented when setting up your own business.
At this session attendees will hear from businesses employing people locally to work globally. We have a thriving export sector in Newry, Mourne and Down and at this event we will hear from MJM Marine about their work in the global cruise ship industry. They recruit from apprenticeship level upwards with opportunities to work in Miami, The Bahamas, and major cruise refit ports across the world.
Kukoon Rugs will be talking about their export journey from starting out with a basic shop on eBay to exporting product across Europe and beyond. There is a host of opportunities with this retail and logistics-based business right in the heart of Newry.
Thirdly we will hear from Mourne Dew Distillery about the work they are doing in different markets including GB, ROI, France, USA and Italy.
Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Michael Savage said, “This series of lunchtime engagement sessions with businesses across the district is vital to show people just what we have to offer here. There are so many companies based here that you may have heard of, but yet you may not know what they do.
“This programme of events allows people at all stages of their career to find out a bit more about Newry, Mourne and Down as a great place to work. I would strongly encourage you to register to attend these events, if you can. If successful, this is something the NMD Labour Market Partnership will seek to continue to deliver, throughout 2023 and beyond.”
At each of the events a free lunch will be served and attendees will have the opportunity to ask the business representatives questions via a facilitated Q&A session.
Spaces are limited so early booking is advisable.
Booking
NMD- Food for Thought: Food for Thought
NMD-Our Place in the World: Our Place in the World
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Newry based Gray Design has been appointed by Kaseya US IT management and security software provider, to help design its new premises in Ireland.
Gray Design, which also has offices in Dublin, and Belfast has been tasked with designing a state-of-the-art office space, for 250 employees in Dundalk, County Louth. They will lead a team responsible for the delivery of grade-A office provisions to meet the company’s needs for the next three years.
Kaseya announced back in July 2022 that it plans on creating these 250 new jobs in Dundalk over the next three years and since then it has been ramping up recruitment ahead of the opening of its new centre of excellence.
Barry Gray, CEO and Co-Founder of Gray Design said: “We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Kaseya and this collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to continue providing our services across the entire island of Ireland.”
"The new innovative space has been designed to house 250 new employees and this will be delivered on a phased approach over the next 12-18 months.”
Shane Mulholland, Global Head of Recruitment at Kaseya said: “It’s fantastic to be collaborating with an experienced firm such as Gray Design. We believe that their expertise will be invaluable in creating a facility that meets our unique needs and we are looking forward to bringing our vision to life with them.”
“This project represents a major investment in the future of our company in Ireland and will further enable us to better serve our clients and attract top talent as we plan to employ 500 people in Ireland by 2025”.
Kaseya is currently recruiting for a wide variety of roles, including engineers, technical support, and sales staff. It will also be liaising with the Dundalk Institute of Technology and DCU to recruit for graduate roles.
For more information on the roles available in Ireland at Kaseya visit www.kaseya.com
To learn more about Gray Design visit www.graydesignltd.co.uk
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