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The Rug House based at Carnbane in Newry took the Exporter of the Year Award at the Business Eye Small Business Awards held in the La Mon House Hotel last week.
As well as taking the top exporter award the company was also nominated for Small Business of the Year and they received a Highly Commended Certificate in that category.
Rug House owners Clare and Paul Vallely collected the prizes at the First Trust Bank sponsored event.
Twelve categories attracted hundreds of entries representing all that is good about SME's in Northern Ireland.
After a record breaking 2014 The Rug House have continued their success with this latest award adding another bit of sparkle to their brimming trophy cabinet.
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To mark Autoline’s 40th year in business and, to celebrate the milestone, the broker six months ago launched a year-long series of fundraising initiatives and customer reward promotions, setting the ambitious target of raising a total of £40,000 to be donated to 40 Northern Ireland-based charities across the year.
Thanks to a Gala dinner in Newry attended by nearly 400 people the Insurance group has smashed its £40K charity fundraising target just half way in to the initiative!
Over £25,000 was raised from the Gala dinner, a sum which included monies raised from ticket sales and donations as well as an auction and raffle on the night. This takes Autoline’s fundraising total achieved to date in excess of the ambitious £40,000 target set at the start of 2015 by the broker’s Managing Director, Michael Blaney.
A wide range of local companies were represented at the dinner, which took place in the Canal Court Hotel on Friday evening, as well a number of the 40 charities set to benefit from the fundraising initiative.
Michael Blaney, Managing Director of Autoline Insurance Group, said“To have raised £25,000 from one event is truly astonishing, but the fact that this takes us above our target for the entire year makes it even more remarkable. This is the biggest standalone event Autoline has hosted in our 40-year history – we’ve been overwhelmed by the support we received and would like to thank everyone who attended or donated money.
“It was fantastic to see the local business community come together in support of a number of extremely worthwhile causes. We have a programme of events scheduled to deliver over the next six months, and given the fundraising success achieved to date, we will be in a strong position to offer each of the 40 charities selected more than the £1,000 we had originally hoped.”
Charities were invited to apply to be one of the beneficiaries and receive £1,000 from the anniversary fund, with charities such as NI Cancer Fund for Children, Diabetes UK, Cry and British Heart Foundation among those who were successful.
Autoline Insurance Group is headquartered in Newry, with branches across Northern Ireland. For further information about Autoline’s fundraising events and activities, visit autoline.co.uk
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Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association has met with Cllr Naomi Bailie, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and discussed the challenges facing independent retailers in the current economic climate.
Mr Roberts outlined the principles of the ‘Local First’ policy priorities for local economic development as identified by NIRTA and encouraged Council to develop and deliver initiatives which promote local goods and services.
Councillor Bailie confirmed her support for ‘Make it Local’ initiatives and highlighted the need for Council to work in partnership with local retailers. Cllr Bailie said, “I intend to work with Council officials and representatives from the local chambers of commerce to develop a culture of ‘make it local’, thereby enhancing the sustainability of our vibrant city and various town centres across the district. I would encourage as many businesses as possible to embrace the ‘make it local’ approach to trade practices.”
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Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade along with principle sponsors CRASH Services are all set to tee off with this year’s Business Golf Classic taking place in Greenore Golf Club on Friday 21st August.
Orla Jackson Chief Executive, Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade stated, ‘we are delighted once again to be hosting this great networking and social event for our members and the wider business community. We would like to encourage all local businesses to put in a team, soak up the atmosphere and benefit from the networking on what promises to be a greats days outing’.
Speaking on behalf of CRASH Services, Tony McKeown, Marketing Director and avid golf enthusiast, commented ‘CRASH Services is delighted to support the 2015 Newry Chamber Golf Classic. We look forward to a great day out with Newry Chamber and its members’.
Prizes for the four ball competition include rounds of golf at some of Northern Ireland’s top golf resorts including Belvoir Park, Malone and Ardglass; as well as individual prizes for ‘Nearest to the Pin’ and ‘Longest Drive’
Entry to the four ball competition costs £160 (includes meals and goody bags). To book team please contact Newry Chamber on (028) 3025 0303, or email: info@newrychamber.com
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The 2015 Greater Newry Area Business Awards launched this week at the Canal Court Hotel and businesses from throughout the greater Newry Area were urged to put their best foot forward and “show confidence” in the future by entering the competition.
Speaking on behalf of event organisers of this biennial business awards competition, Deborah Loughran, President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade stated, ‘We are proud to announce the launch of the Greater Newry Area Business Awards 2015. This Business Awards competition will recognise the efforts made by businesses to promote the Greater Newry area as a place synonymous with entrepreneurship, innovation, growth, customer service and business excellence’.
With 19 Awards Categories there is ample opportunity for all businesses in the Greater Newry Area to enter. Deadline for Entry is Noon on Friday 7th August with the Gala Ceremony to take place in the Canal Court Hotel on Thursday 24th September.
Speaking at the launch Chairperson of Newry Mourne & Down District Council, Naomi Bailie said ‘The Council is delighted to endorse the Greater Newry Area Business Awards 2015. These awards support our new Council’s strategic objective of attracting investment and creating jobs by recognising business excellence, entrepreneurship and celebrate all that is good within the Greater Newry business community’.
Principal Sponsors and supporters of this biennial business awards competition include B/E Aerospace, the Canal Court Hotel and Newry Mourne & Down District Council, together with individual category sponsors.
Martin McGinley, Managing Director and Vice President of B/E Aerospace (Kilkeel), principal sponsors of the 2015 Awards, welcomed the search to identify, recognise and reward some of the region’s top businesses. He said, ‘This is a very natural association for us, for we know from our own experience that our region is wonderfully rich in business and manufacturing talent. We are eager to share our confidence with others and look forward to the Greater Newry Business Awards providing a fantastic showcase for innovation, entrepreneurship and excellence.’
Owner of the Canal Court Hotel & Spa, John McParland added, ‘We are delighted to support this event as a principal sponsor. Sponsorship of these Awards allows us to show our gratitude to the local community for their ongoing support and also assist Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade with their continued efforts to promote business and tourism in the Greater Newry Area’.
Individual Award Sponsors include: S&W Todays, Mourne Mountain Brewery, Ulster Bank, Power NI, First Trust Bank, Bank of Ireland, First Derivatives, BT, The Quays, PKF-FPM, firmus energy, Autoline Insurance, O’Hare & McGovern, Newry & Mourne Enterprise Agency, Parker Green International, Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Canal Court Hotel, ITS New Media and Newry Junior Chamber.
A free information seminar will be held on 9th July in the Bank Bar from 1pm-2pm to provide businesses with all the tips and advice they need to enter an award winning application. If you would like more information on the Awards or request a brochure contact Newry Chamber office on (028) 3025 0303 or email info@newrychamber.com. Organisations can also enter online at www.newrybusinessawards.com
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Newry and Armagh MLA Megan Fearon has criticised Invest NI for neglecting council areas outside of Belfast saying the economic development body had a duty to seek investment and jobs for all areas of the north.
Although recently released figures showing that last year Invest NI promoted some 964 jobs in Newry, Mourne and Down and secured £106m in investments the MLA commented "While this is of course to be welcomed, in the same period they secured more than four times the investment for Belfast City Council and promoted more than five times the jobs.
"Belfast City Council serves a population around twice the size of Newry, Mourne and Down so this clearly shows where Invest NI feel their priorities should be.
"Newry, Mourne and Down has enormous potential to be a real economic powerhouse in Ireland if it could receive the right investment. It has an educated, capable workforce, one of the north's four cities and is excellently positioned between Dublin and Belfast on the Eastern Economic Corridor.
"Add to that the historic under-investment across the district and it's quite clear that Belfast should not be receiving more than four and five times the investment it is.
The MLA continued “The failure of Invest NI and the former Minister Arlene Foster to tackle the growing issue of regional imbalance is causing serious societal problems and this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgent priority by the new DETI Minister, Jonathan Bell.
“The Executive set tackling regional imbalance as a priority in the last programme for government. While some ministers have made progress by decentralising public sector jobs to rural areas, others have failed to even consider addressing this issue.
“Whilst the overall performance of Invest NI is to be commended and the success of attracting investment to Belfast is very positive, this cannot be done at the expense of other areas.
“The Executive must bring forward sub-regional targets for Invest NI as a key component of the next Programme for Government."
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The High Court today has dismissed a challenge by some traders in Newry on the granting of planning permission for the £47 Million mixed use development at Carnbane Way in Newry.
Speaking after the decision Orla Jackson from Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade said “Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade is deeply disappointed with Court’s decision not to issue Directions to the Department of the Environment regarding the Carnbane Way decision.
The Chamber continues to be concerned for the future of Newry City Centre when or if this major out of town development proceeds. This is and remains in our opinion, a bad planning decision.”
“The Chamber will continue to work with the Newry retailers and wider business community to protect and to maintain the vitality of Newry City Centre.”
On their website lead Consultants Ostick and Williams describe the project as “Extending to a site area of almost 16 hectares the development consists of a 10,000m2 foodstore and petrol station, a 10 screen multiplex cinema, restaurants, office accommodation, industrial units, housing, and a public park, all integrated into an extensive landscape and siteworks proposal. The scheme provides a comprehensive integrated scheme, which addresses the existing character and features of the site and make a positive contribution which extends beyond the local area.”
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Newry's Station Works Brewery the producers of Finn Lager and other craft beers have been bought by animal nutritional multinational Alltech in their first major expansion outside the United States for it's brewing division. As well as the Station Works premises they also acquired parent company Cumberland Breweries Ltd. in Great Corby, Cumbria in the deal.
Dundalk-born entrepreneur and founder of Alltech, Dr. Pearse Lyons purchased the breweries from the family of the late Lord Ballyedmond owners of Norbrook Laboratories.
The deal reinforces Alltech as one of the fastest growing craft brewers in the USA and their aim is to be one of the top 50 craft brewers in the world.
The purchases represent a significant investment by Lyons in the future of the rapidly expanding craft brewing sector in Europe. Alltech’s core animal nutrition business has achieved annual sales greater than $1.6 billion and recently spent approximately $400 million acquiring Ridley, Inc. with operations in the U.S. and Canada.
With a capacity to produce 40,000 hectolitres, the two new breweries add several new brands, including Finn Lager and Foxes Rock Ale, to the growing Alltech portfolio.
Alltech are already producers of several award-winning beers and spirits including Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale® and Town Branch® Bourbon.
“These new purchases will allow us develop already established European brands while at the same time introducing our Kentucky Ale range to new markets,” said Lyons, who achieved his doctorate in brewing and distilling before founding Alltech.
“We are dedicated to offering the consumer real choice in the beer sector. Since our first investment in the Alltech Craft Brews & Foods Fair in Dublin three years ago, the sector has mushroomed and our Fair is now the largest in Ireland, attracting more than 10,000 visitors annually,” said Lyons.
With three new breweries under construction in the United States, and a major investment in a new distillery in the heart of the liberties at the former St James Church, where his grandfather is buried, Lyons is set to continue the family history.
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If you want to enter the Greater Newry Area Business Awards now is the time to do it as entries will close on Friday 7th August at 12 Noon.
With just days to go, Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade is making a final call for entries. Businesses are urged to make their application to the 19 award categories. There is ample opportunity for businesses to enter from all sectors.
President Deborah Loughran, Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade stated, ‘We are proud to be hosting the Greater Newry Area Business Awards 2015. This Business Awards competition will recognise the efforts made by businesses to promote Newry as a place synonymous with entrepreneurship and business excellence’.
‘I would like to remind those Businesses who have not yet returned the applications that the deadline is looming and to ensure you do not miss out on getting recognition for you and your business, not only does winning a business award mean acknowledgment for the management team, it is a major morale boost for employees at all levels’.
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade along with Principle Sponsors and supporters B/E Aerospace, Canal Court Hotel and Newry Mourne & Down District Council, along with category Sponsors would like to wish all businesses in the Greater Newry Area the very best of luck in this prestigious awards process.
For Further Information please logo on to www.newrybusinessawards.com
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