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Newry-headquartered food-to-go manufacturer Around Noon has appointed Noel Culbert as its new Chief Financial Officer as the company pursues its next phase of growth in Ireland and the UK.
The appointment follows the recent announcement that Around Noon has secured investment from Whiterock to support its expansion plans. Culbert joins from Kyte Powertech Limited, where he served as CFO, and brings extensive senior financial and commercial leadership experience to the role.
In his new position, he will work closely with Around Noon chief executive officer Gareth Chambers and the company's board.
Chambers said: "We are delighted to welcome Noel to Around Noon at an exciting time for the business. He brings significant financial, commercial and strategic experience, having worked with a range of highly successful businesses across manufacturing and industry.
"As we continue to build on our growth trajectory across the UK and Ireland, Noel's expertise and leadership will be invaluable in helping us realise our ambitions."
Culbert said: "Around Noon is a hugely impressive business with a strong culture, an ambitious leadership team and significant growth potential. I'm excited to join the company at such an important stage in its journey and look forward to working with Gareth, the board and the wider team to support the next phase of growth."
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A Newry optician has gained a new qualification that will allow him to treat urgent eye conditions in store, cutting the need for patients to wait for a GP appointment or attend hospital. Will Stevenson, optician director at Specsavers Newry, spent two years training in local eye hospital clinics to qualify as an independent prescribing optometrist, meaning he can now diagnose and treat urgent eye conditions and prescribe medication where needed.
In 2026 alone, 800 people with urgent eye care needs have visited Specsavers Newry, with many referred on to the RVH eye casualty in Belfast. Most of those patients can now be treated locally instead, giving them faster access to care while easing pressure on GPs and emergency departments.
Stevenson said timing was critical when it came to eye injuries, infections and other conditions. He said: "With longer waits at local A&Es and more patients needing referral to eye casualty in Belfast, I wanted to make sure we could provide treatment there and then for our local customers."
His colleague Kerri Rafferty, an optician director at the Buttercrane practice, has also gained a professional certificate in glaucoma, giving her greater expertise in detecting, monitoring and managing one of the most serious eye conditions. Rafferty said the qualification meant she could identify the early signs of glaucoma, interpret more complex test results and better understand the different types of the condition and their risk factors, helping to protect customers' long-term vision.
She said it also meant referrals for specialist treatment could be made more accurately and with greater detail, helping to speed up the process. "It means fewer unnecessary hospital visits, while ensuring faster access if a hospital referral is needed," Rafferty added.
Specsavers Newry is locally owned and run by Sharon Fegan, Michelle Linden, Will Stevenson and Kerri Rafferty. Appointments can be booked at specsavers.co.uk or by calling 028 3025 0011.
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Three Newry based businesses have helped raise £16,000 for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, enough to fund the service for three critically ill patients anywhere in Northern Ireland. Granite Exchange, a co-working and office space provider joined CRASH Services and JMK Solicitors in the fundraising effort, which ran from January to June 2026.
The three companies took part in a range of challenges throughout the first half of the year in support of the charity's life saving mission. A record 27 colleagues from across the organisations took part in the Belfast City Marathon in May. Staff also took part in the Derry City Airport 5K runway run and competed in the Dragon Boat Race, while a company wide raffle added to the total raised.
Employees also contributed through regular monthly salary donations, and for every download of the CRASH & JMK app, the companies donate £1 towards the charity's work. Plans for the remainder of the year include the Belfast City Airport 5K runway run, along with further team led initiatives, breakfast mornings and challenge events.
Colleen O'Hare, Managing Director of Granite Exchange, said the firm was pleased to be part of the partnership. "We are delighted to play our part in this partnership. Knowing that our fundraising efforts contribute to the rapid response and medical care provided by the Air Ambulance team motivates us to keep pushing towards our annual target."
Michelle Murphy, Operations Director at CRASH Services, said the cause was a personal one for her. "At CRASH Services, we believe in giving back, and supporting Air Ambulance NI is a mission that unites our teams across all locations. It is rewarding to see our staff's collective efforts translate into support for a charity that makes such a tangible difference to people in their most vulnerable moments. This is a cause very close to my heart; the Air Ambulance team saved my brother's life following an accident last August, so I know personally just how vital the impact they make truly is."
Louise Mone, Managing Director at JMK Solicitors, said the team's dedication over the past six months had been wide ranging. "Air Ambulance NI provides a critical, life-saving service that is essential for the community in Northern Ireland. We are incredibly proud of our team's dedication over the past six months from marathon running to dragon boat racing and look forward to continuing our support for the charity throughout the remainder of the year."
Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising at Air Ambulance NI, thanked all three organisations for their support. "We are so grateful for the continued support from JMK Solicitors, CRASH Services, and Granite Exchange. As a charity, we rely heavily on the support of the public and local businesses like these. This £16,000 will have a lasting impact, fully funding the service to reach 3 future patients anywhere in Northern Ireland. We thank all the staff for their incredible energy and commitment over the past six months."
Those wishing to support the fundraising effort can donate via https://www.gofundme.com
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Newry based tiltrotator manufacturer Versaffix has announced the appointment of Hyreco in the Netherlands as its first authorised dealership partner in Europe. The agreement marks the company's first official dealership outside Ireland and the UK and forms part of a wider expansion into key European construction markets.
Versaffix designs and manufactures advanced tiltrotator systems that give excavator operators greater flexibility, control and efficiency on site. By enabling attachments to rotate and tilt simultaneously, the systems allow operators to complete complex tasks more accurately, reduce machine repositioning, minimise fuel consumption and increase productivity in a wide range of excavation and construction applications.
Under the new agreement, Hyreco will provide sales, technical support and aftersales service for the Versaffix range throughout the Dutch market, bringing the company's tiltrotator technology to contractors and plant operators seeking greater excavator productivity, precision and versatility. The appointment reflects the company's commitment to building a strong international dealer network while delivering high quality local support to contractors, plant operators and equipment owners in Europe.
Gerard Doherty, Managing Director of Versaffix, said the Netherlands was an ideal starting point for the company's European expansion. "We are delighted to welcome Hyreco as our first European dealership partner. The Netherlands is a highly respected market for construction innovation and excavation technology, making it an ideal starting point for our European expansion. Hyreco has built a strong reputation for customer service, technical expertise and industry knowledge. We are confident they will provide the high level of support and product knowledge customers expect while helping establish the Versaffix brand across the region."
Auke de Vries, Owner of Hyreco, said the partnership aligned closely with the needs of his customers. "We are pleased to partner with Versaffix and introduce their tiltrotator solutions to customers in the Netherlands. Their commitment to product quality, innovation and operator efficiency aligns strongly with the needs of our customers. We look forward to working together to grow the brand and support customers throughout the Dutch market."
Versaffix designs and manufactures advanced tiltrotator solutions for the construction, civil engineering and earthmoving sectors. The company's products are engineered for durability, precision and ease of operation, enhancing excavator performance by improving manoeuvrability, reducing downtime and increasing productivity. Its technology enables operators to complete jobs more efficiently while reducing machine wear and operating costs.
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Newry Computer Centre has launched a brand new website, complete with an AI powered chat assistant to help customers find the right device. The Monaghan Street business, which has traded since 1983, has gone live with a completely rebuilt ecommerce site at www.newrycomputercentre.co.uk.
The new AI assistant helps customers navigate the site, answers product questions and guides shoppers to the right device for their needs and budget, offering the kind of advice the shop is known for at any time of day. The site's range covers laptops, desktop PCs, printers, monitors, tablets, gaming gear, accessories and printer ink, from brands including HP, Lenovo, Dell, Asus, Acer and Apple.
To celebrate the launch, Newry Computer Centre is offering 10% off sitewide using the code NEWRY10 at checkout.
The business, which has been trading from 12 Monaghan Street since 1983, believes it offers customers a different experience to the larger national retailers. Every device is set up, tested and ready to use before it leaves the store, with advice provided by local staff rather than commission driven sales teams. Repairs and upgrades are carried out in house by the company's own technicians on Monaghan Street, while custom PC builds are specced and assembled to order. The business has more than 40 years of local service and holds 4.8 stars across over 430 Google reviews.
Owner Brian McElvanna said the new website allowed the business to offer the same standard of service online. "We've always believed in giving people honest advice and standing behind what we sell. The new website lets us do that online too, and the AI assistant means customers can get the right answer at any time of day."
Customers can visit the new site at www.newrycomputercentre.co.uk and use code NEWRY10 for 10% off, or call in to 12 Monaghan Street, Newry, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5.30pm. Tel: 028 3026 5600.
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JMore than 100 business representatives from the Greater Newry area and beyond attended the NI Digital Marketing Conference at the Canal Court Hotel on Thursday 18 June. The event was hosted by Newry Chamber and supported by Southern Regional College, IRP Commerce and SJ Henderson Fulfilment.
The conference aimed to be as practical as possible, leaving attendees with ideas to take back and implement in their own businesses. Speakers covered a wide range of areas, from AI and social media strategy to content creation, building a brand online, ecommerce, fulfilment and paid ads. The sessions were overseen by Chamber Board members Deborah Loughran, Managing Director of King Communication, and Maeve Finnegan, Managing Director of Mitso.
Keynote addresses were delivered by John McAreavey, Director of Banbridge based Clearhill, who spoke on how the company is transforming its business with AI, and Stephen Henderson, CEO of Kilkeel based SJ Henderson Fulfilment, who spoke on creating a fulfilment and ecommerce hub in Greater Newry. Other speakers included David Dickson, Head of Merchant Success at IRP Commerce, who spoke on the tactics behind 250% ecommerce growth in a year, Lidia Magliocco, Founder of Parl Studio, who spoke on building a brand without having it all figured out, and Mairead McKibbin, Founder of Crossbox Marketing, who spoke on simplifying social media and content.
The conference also featured two panel discussions. The first, on what it takes to run a successful ecommerce operation, included David Dickson of IRP Commerce, James Cave, Co-Owner of FWD Commerce, Michael O'Hare, Director of f10Marine, and John Walker, Founder of Vend Digital. The second, on maintaining authenticity in an AI world, included Callum O'Neill, Owner of HEAT Health & Fitness, Gareth Creaney, Sales and Marketing Executive at Paul Feely & Associates, Milena McArdle, Manager of Snaubs Boutique, and Graham McCalmont, Lecturer in Computing at Southern Regional College.
Dr Conor Patterson, President of Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade, said the turnout reflected the importance of the topic to local businesses. "Newry Chamber was absolutely delighted to have a packed house in the Canal Court for this year's NI Digital Marketing Conference, illustrating the importance of this topic to local businesses, an area that continues to constantly evolve at an unprecedented rate." He thanked the conference's principal sponsors. "We are extremely grateful to our Principal Sponsors, Southern Regional College, IRP Commerce and SJ Henderson Fulfilment. Without their support, we simply couldn't run events such as this important annual conference." He added that the event aimed to give local businesses practical information. "The conference was all about providing our local businesses, who are the lifeblood of our economy, with the information they need when it comes to all things digital marketing, keeping them up to date with all the latest trends in this area and giving them practical steps they can start to implement right away within their businesses." He also thanked the speakers. "The conference included a top line-up of speakers, and I would like to thank all of them for taking the time out of their busy schedules to come and speak at the event on topics including social media strategy, creating content, eCommerce, AI, email marketing, paid ads and much more."
Tracy Rice, Assistant Director of Business and Economic Engagement at Southern Regional College, said the conference continued to provide valuable support to SMEs. "Southern Regional College was delighted to sponsor the NI Digital Marketing Conference, in partnership with Newry Chamber, IRP Commerce and SJ Henderson Fulfilment. This annual conference continues to provide SMEs with up-to-date information on digital marketing practices and associated technologies. Attendees benefited from an engaging programme of speakers, each offering valuable insights and practical takeaways. The College offers many upskilling opportunities, mentoring programmes and apprenticeship pathways to support SMEs to establish and build effective digital marketing strategies."
Brian McLaughlin, Partner Development Manager at IRP Commerce, said the event was important for the region. "IRP Commerce is proud to support initiatives that drive the online economy forward. As a sponsor of the NI Digital Marketing Conference, we were delighted to see a strong turnout and high-calibre discussion on profitability, performance and innovation in eCommerce. Events like this are vital for sharing knowledge, sparking new ideas and building a connected digital ecosystem in Newry and Mourne region."
Stephen Henderson, CEO of SJ Henderson Fulfilment, added that he was pleased to return to the conference as a speaker. "It was a privilege to return to Newry Chamber's NI Digital Marketing Conference, this time not just as a sponsor, but as a speaker. To stand on that stage and look out at a room full of business owners, retailers and entrepreneurs all asking the same questions about growth and opportunity, that's exactly the kind of energy Greater Newry needs more of." He said Northern Ireland's dual market access presented a significant opportunity for local businesses. "My message was simple: the opportunity sitting on our doorstep is unlike anything available anywhere else on this island. Northern Ireland's dual market access, the ability to trade freely into both the UK and the EU, is a structural advantage that no other city, no other region, and no other country shares. And from the 1st of July, with the EU removing its duty-free exemption on small parcels, that advantage becomes sharper still. The businesses in that room who move first on this will be the ones telling the story from the stage in five years." He added that SJ Henderson Fulfilment remained committed to supporting such events. "At SJH Fulfilment, we are proud to sponsor and support events like this because the conversation matters as much as the infrastructure. Awareness, ambition and action, that's what moves a city forward. Greater Newry has all three, and we are committed to playing our part in making this vision a reality."
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Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has visited Resonate Testing in Newry for the official launch of the company's new Thermal Vacuum capability. The new facility allows Resonate Testing to simulate the harsh conditions of space, including vacuum and extreme temperature environments, giving customers a fully integrated solution to qualify hardware for launch and operation in orbit.
The launch also marked ten years of the company's operation. Speaking at the official opening, Minister Kimmins said the milestone reflected the company's reputation for innovation. "It is a real pleasure to be here today to mark not only the official opening of this impressive Thermal Vacuum facility, but also to celebrate ten years of success for Resonate Testing. Over the past decade, this company has built a strong reputation for innovation, technical excellence and customer focus. The launch of the Thermal Vacuum places Resonate Testing and Newry firmly on the map as a leading provider of advanced environmental testing, not just locally, but across these islands and beyond."
She said the investment would help support the wider regional economy. "Importantly, this investment strengthens our regional economy by supporting local skills development and enhancing our reputation as a centre for advanced engineering and innovation."
Minister Kimmins also pointed to the company's location within the Belfast-Dublin corridor as a key strength. "Resonate's location in Newry also positions it perfectly within the Belfast-Dublin corridor, a corridor that is increasingly recognised as a key driver of all island economic growth and cross border collaboration. Facilities like this help connect our economies, ensure regional balance, attract investment, and ensure that we can compete internationally in sectors like aerospace and space technology. This is exactly the kind of ambition and forward-thinking we want to see, a local company scaling up, innovating and contributing to a globally significant industry."
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A new thermal vacuum testing facility has been opened in Newry, giving Resonate Testing the largest and most capable chamber of its kind on the island of Ireland. The facility allows the company to replicate the harsh vacuum and extreme temperature conditions of space, supporting local organisations in the expanding "New Space" economy with a one-stop solution to qualify satellites and spacecraft hardware for launch and on-orbit operation.
The facility was opened by Liz Kimmins MLA, Minister for Infrastructure, who cut the ribbon alongside Tom and Donna Mallon, the company's founders, to mark the official launch of the Thermal Vacuum capability. The project was supported by Invest Northern Ireland, reflecting the region's commitment to developing space-sector infrastructure and high-value engineering jobs.
The investment also marks Resonate Testing's ten-year anniversary, as the company builds on a decade of experience in mechanical and environmental testing in the aerospace, automotive, energy and other advanced engineering sectors.
Minister Kimmins said: "Over the past decade, this company has built a strong reputation for innovation, technical excellence and customer focus. The launch of the Thermal Vacuum places Resonate Testing and Newry firmly on the map as a leading provider of advanced environmental testing, not just locally, but across these islands and beyond."
Tom Mallon, Founder and CEO of Resonate Testing, said: "We're proud to launch the island's largest thermal vacuum chamber to simulate real space conditions right here in Northern Ireland. This major milestone expands what we can do to help innovative companies ensure their satellites and space hardware will survive launch and operate reliably in orbit, and it strengthens our role as a leading test partner for advanced engineering and New Space organisations."
The launch of the TVAC service comes amid surging demand for space hardware testing, with established national test centres in the UK and Europe facing long wait times that create bottlenecks for fast-moving satellite and space-tech programmes. With more than 40 New Space clients, Resonate Testing's expanded capability positions the company as the No.1 independent test facility for New Space in Ireland and the UK, offering a fast, flexible alternative for companies seeking timely, high-fidelity environmental testing without leaving the region.
Mallon added: "New Space companies often endure significant pain and are forced to wait, facing months-long waitlists at big test labs. Our one-stop TVAC service gives them a faster, independent alternative to congested national facilities, helping keep their projects on schedule and de-risk hardware before launch."
Resonate Testing is an independent mechanical and environmental test facility based in Newry. The company provides vibration, shock, fire, battery, climatic and thermal vacuum testing services to customers in the space, aerospace, automotive, industrial and other safety-critical sectors, helping them validate product performance under extreme conditions.
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More than 2,500 young people have taken part in a enterprise programme designed to introduce them to entrepreneurship over the past year. The Future Founders initiative, run by Go Succeed in partnership with Young Enterprise NI, has engaged 2,583 students through a series of interactive workshops since launching twelve months ago.
The programme was delivered in partnership with all 11 councils in the north and the region's six further education colleges, and was structured around three key elements. These consisted of an introduction to entrepreneurship, an Innovation Camp in which students worked in teams to develop a business idea and pitch it in a Dragons' Den style format, and an Entrepreneurship Hub where participants met and learned directly from local entrepreneurs alongside their academic studies.
Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise NI, said the organisation had seen the creativity, confidence and potential of young people throughout the year. "Future Founders has provided a platform for students to develop essential skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication, while also opening their eyes to the opportunities that entrepreneurship can offer," she said. She added that the programme was about nurturing a generation of innovative thinkers and leaders who could make a meaningful impact within their communities and beyond, and said Young Enterprise NI was proud to work alongside Go Succeed and its partners to continue inspiring the next generation.
Alderman Thomas Gordon, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, which is delivering the programme on behalf of Go Succeed, said the initiative gave young people in Northern Ireland the confidence to explore entrepreneurship and consider launching their own businesses. "We are incredibly proud to deliver programmes like Future Founders, which give young people in Northern Ireland the confidence to explore entrepreneurship and consider launching their own businesses, knowing they have the support of initiatives like Go Succeed NI and Young Enterprise NI behind them," he said. He added that by providing young people with the tools, networks and confidence to explore enterprise, the partners were building the foundations for a stronger, more innovative economy for the region.
Joanne McCourt, Principal Lecturer and Entrepreneurship Hub Manager for the FE Sector at Northern Regional College, said the success of Future Founders over the past year highlighted the importance of embedding entrepreneurship within further education. "Our students have greatly benefitted from engaging directly with entrepreneurs, gaining practical insights and developing skills that will support them in their future careers," she said. She said programmes of this kind helped to bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring young people were inspired as well as equipped with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in an evolving world of work.
Future Founders took place at campuses in all six further education colleges in Northern Ireland: Southern Regional College, Belfast Metropolitan College, North West Regional College, Northern Regional College, South Eastern Regional College and South West College.
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