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During an awards ceremony in London last week, leading IT firm MCS Computer Solutions was celebrated by SAGE, the leading business software and services provider, as one of their top service providers in the UK.
In a network of over 1500 SAGE Partners, MCS made the grade for the third time to reach the top 5 best SAGE partners by excelling in customer service. This SAGE Circle of Excellence 2010 award is voted for by customers and only the top 1% of partners receive this prestigious status.
The firm with offices in Newry and Craigavon, specialises in Sage Financials, CRM and Manufacturing software in addition to providing Microsoft neworks to small and medium enterprises.
The accolade means that customers can be confident that MCS delivers a level of service and expertise that exceeds expectations.
Paul Lyness , Director, MCS said “It’s something that’s crucially important in the context of challenging economic times”
He continued “Sometimes, gaining new business starts with price, but I think asthe business world feels pressure economically, people want to be sure they get what they pay for. They demand value, proven products and excellent service – and it’s even more vital to provide that in the current economic climate.
“At MCS, we pride ourselves in building relationships with our clients that continue over years as their business needs change so they continue to be our clients, five and 10 years down the line.”
It’s an approach which continues to provide dividends for the firm as they have reported a rising turnover after a slight dip when the recession first started.
On presenting the awards, Paul Stobart, CEO, Sage UK & Ireland commented: “I’m delighted to present these awards and my congratulations go to all involved. Our vision is to be the business software company that everyone recommends and our Business Partners are a fundamental part of this. The Circle of Excellence rewards the Business Partners who support this vision by providing our customers with a fantastic customer experience.”
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A recent report by business development body InterTradeIreland has shown that the all-island public procurement market is still worth approximately £15billion with scope for new entrants – particularly on a cross-border basis.
Despite the continued effects of the recession, the all-island public procurement market is a major business opportunity for local SMEs according to Margaret Hearty, Director of Programmes and Business services.
“The all-island procurement market offers much needed opportunities to business in an economic environment which has become increasingly volatile and hard to predict,” she said.
There is a commitment from Government in both jurisdictions to make the public procurement market more accessible to SME’s. The two main barriers to entry in this market are capability in terms of completing a tender effectively and awareness in terms of how to access the market.
Go-2-Tender workshops offer companies expert advice on how best to do just that.”
Go-2-Tender is an InterTradeIreland programme which gives SMES the confidence, knowledge and practical skills to tender successfully for public sector contracts particularly on a cross-border basis. To date the programme has helped 510 companies North and South secure contracts valued at £41million.
InterTradeIreland is delighted to be working with the Newry and Dundalk Chamber of Commerce to bring Go-2-Tender to local companies who are trying to remain competitive in a challenging market place.
The Go-2-Tender workshop is taking place on the 30 November and 07 December 2010 at the Crowne Plaza, Dundalk.
Orla Jackson, Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade stated, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with InterTradeIreland and Dundalk Chamber of Commerce to deliver this initiative. Projects such as this have an important role to play in growing the local economy, as they assist companies to gain the confidence and skills to successfully tender for goods and services throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland.”
For more information about the workshops contact Jenny Williamson at InterTradeIreland on 028 30834173 (048 from Ireland).
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Newry Business Grand Prix Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade hosted the 3rd annual Newry Business Grand Prix in association with Formula Karting at their premises in Greenbank Industrial Estate on Thursday 11 November.
Over 70 people from over 20 local businesses attended the full filled and action packed event.
The Omniplex team took pole position winning the Grand Prix, followed in a close second place by the Cove Bar team and the PSNI team came 3rd.
Ms Orla Jackson stated, ‘I would like to thank all the teams and companies that participated in the 3rd Newry Business Grand Prix, this very popular and fun event was a great hit with all who took part.
I would like to thank event sponsors Formula Karting, who made this event possible and so enjoyable for everyone involved’.
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Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson MP was the Special Guest of Honour at the Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade’s Annual Gala Dinner on Thursday 18th November in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry on what was his first official engagement in Newry since his appointment to Office. The audience consisted of a who’s who of business and political leaders including Adrian Toner of First Derivatives, Brian McConville of the MJM Group, Dr Gerard O’Hare of Parker Green International, the new Minister of Employment and Learning, Danny Kennedy, SDLP leader, Margaret Ritchie, the US Consol to Northern Ireland, Kamala Lakhdir, as well as leading public sector officials including Liam Nellis, Chief Executive of InterTradeIreland.
The Secretary of State commended Newry City, its citizens and business leaders on having a strong self help ethic that had endured and br
ought success through the most adverse of circumstances.
He had earlier met with civic leaders to discuss their concerns about funding cuts and the economic crisis south of the border. They also discussed his ideas on reducing corporation tax in Northern Ireland and designating the region as an Enterprise Zone.
The Secretary of State told the assembled audience of business and civic leaders that Northern Ireland had got a very good deal from the UK exchequer. But, he said, Northern Ireland would have to contribute its fair share in his Government’s effort to reduce “unsustainable” levels of public expenditure in the UK. There would inevitably have to be cuts. Cuts in “waste” which would, he contended, deliver “monster savings”. He cited the doubling up of provision to facilitate the separate education of children from the two communities as one example. He went on to outline how a reduction in Northern Ireland’s rate of corporation tax in exchange for a further cut of between £100m and £200m from the Block Grant each year would be a “game changer” making Northern Ireland and Newry much more self reliant and the best place in Western Europe for overseas investors to put their money.
Dr Conor Patterson, President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade told the Secretary of State that there were a number of export businesses in Newry doing exceptionally well despite the domestic economic climate and that no other area had had catalysed every £1 of public investment allocated to it like Newry: “There can be few places which have taken the self-help ethic as far as Newry”, he said.
The Chamber of Commerce President added that in the context of the unprecedented economic collapse in the South, the public recognition by the British Chancellor, George Osbourne, that the Irish Republic was one of the UK’s most important trading partners and that its having a thriving economy was vital to UK national interests, had been a very important statement for Newry. Conor Patterson said: “Perhaps nowhere in the UK jurisdiction is more linked to the fortunes of the Republic’s economy than Newry.” He added that this alongside uncertainties as to what Northern Ireland’s capital expenditure budget would be during the next eight years had generated great local concern:
“Stakeholders in Newry have drawn up a Vision for the area with infrastructure improvements as its central plank, most importantly a Southern Relief Road which would allow traffic to flow more easily through Newry from South Down and Ireland’s fifth largest port at Warrenpoint to the main north/south trade route on the edge of the City. This and other related investments in park and ride and City Centre regeneration have been economically and technically appraised and costed. Our fear is that a reduction in Government capital investment resources over the next 10 years could stymie such projects without which Newry and Northern Ireland could not achieve your vision of a dynamic and self sufficient economy. The development deficit, Secretary of State, has a price tag if it is to be addressed.”
Conor Patterson pointed out that it was more costly in Northern Ireland to provide services per capita, not just public services but private services as well, such as electricity and gas. Economies of scale could not, he said be achieved in Northern Ireland like they could in Finchley or Sussex.
This alongside the decades of violent turmoil which the region had endured and the barriers to all-island trade and economic co-operation which had only really begun to break down in recent years, meant that Northern Ireland’s circumstances were unique: “It is, therefore, perhaps a little unfair, Secretary of State to liken the public sector in Northern Ireland to that in Gorbachev’s Soviet Union, with all that that implies in terms of waste and inefficiency”. The principle sponsor of the event was the locally owned and managed global business, First Derivatives. The venue sponsor was the Canal Court Hotel.
Mayor Mick Murphy, Newry & Mourne District Council officially welcomed the Secretary of State to the region.
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Last week around 70 participants representing over 60 companies from the Newry Dundalk region attended a Cross Border Speed Networking Event hosted by Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by InterTradeIreland in the Carrickdale Hotel.
In this unique, fast-paced and exciting business-networking event, attendees were allocated 4 minutes in which to network with a fellow participant before a bell rang signally them to move onto the next 3-minute meeting with another company. Master of Ceremonies, Mr Yanki Faulkner, ensured that the event ran smoothly, on-time and was entertaining for all participating.
Ms Orla Jackson, Chief Executive, Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade stated, ‘this is the Fourth year we ran this event and it has proved to be very successful with all attendees making excellent contacts and some even securing lucrative business deals’. Ms Jackson added, ‘I am delighted with this year’s attendance; the attendees were representative of the wide and varied mix of businesses within this Cross Border region.
Feedback from the previous annual speed networking events have been extremely positive, some companies reported the value of contracts earned as a result of the event ranging from £2k to £40k – not bad for a mornings networking!
I would anticipate similar results from this year’s event. In this current economic climate the importance of making good long term contacts cannot be underestimated, valuable contacts are essential for a business’s short term and long term success’.
Speaking on behalf of the event sponsor’s, InterTradeIreland, Ms Margaret Hearty stated, “Success in business today depends on making the right connections. Events such as these give local companies the opportunity to network and to identify new business opportunities by, for example, finding new customers, suppliers, partners and distributors.
“Due to current economic conditions many companies are cautious about the future but our research shows that almost 75% of businesses are looking for potential new markets as a way to combat the downturn. They are keen to be supported to pursue opportunities in cross-border markets with 59% seeking assistance towards cross-border trade and 43% wanting information on the same.”
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Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade are joining forces with Invest Northern Ireland to host a valuable and informative business breakfast seminar highlighting how an effective branding and communications strategy can increase sales and improve business growth.
Ms Orla Jackson, Chief Executive of Newry Chamber stated, ‘Newry Chamber is delighted to be hosting this event with Invest NI. In today’s challenging and highly competitive business environment it is essential that businesses portray the right image of their organisation and product offering in the marketplace. This free business seminar will provide local businesses with the information and tools required to enable them to begin consider how they can create and adopt an appropriate branding and communications strategy for their businesses.
Mr Richard Christie, Design Manager at Invest NI stated, “A company’s brand identity can transform how they speak to their customers. At this seminar delegates will hear how a focused brand identity delivered through effective design provides a consistent message to the end user about their business. This seminar will highlight a number of local companies who have successfully rebranded and the change this has made to their business.”
This free business breakfast seminar and networking event is open to all local businesses. It will take place on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 from 7.45am – 9am, in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry. To register for this event, please contact Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade on tel: (028) 3025 0303 or email: info@newrychamber.com
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Social Development Minister Alex Attwood today attended a workshop in Newry to encourage better working relationships between Government and the voluntary and community sector. Alex Attwood met with voluntary and community organisations, businesses, other statutory organisations and the public to consider a proposed new framework for good working relationships between Government and the voluntary and community sector. The main aim of the framework or Concordat is to help develop civil society within Northern Ireland. Alex
Attwood said: "A good working relationship between Government and the voluntary and community sector is vital to the public interest. It helps to deliver better public services to those who need them most.
"My Department has worked closely with the Joint Government/Voluntary and Community Sector Forum to produce a new Concordat. I encourage all stakeholders to give the proposed framework their consideration and to respond constructively to DSD and the Joint Forum. I look forward to hearing your views.”
During the event, the Minister also listened to views on his department’s draft budget. He said: “I want local organisations, residents and families to have an influence over the budget. It is the most severe for a generation and I want as many people as possible to have their say on its content.”
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Development Minister Conor Murphy and southern Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Éamon Ó Cuív today announced that a joint consultation on a Framework for Collaboration on Spatial Strategies for the Island of Ireland will begin on Tuesday, 15 February for two months.
The linked cities and towns of Derry and Letterkenny, and Newry and Dundalk are important locations because of their role as administrative, educational or commerce centres or as gateways to other places and regions.
Minister Murphy said: "Issues, opportunities and challenges in relation to spatial planning and future development are frequently shared, North and South. Understanding this relationship can help economic recovery through more effective planning and prioritisation of investment. “These strategies emphasise the importance of working together for the development of urban and rural areas and for the provision of infrastructure and services. They can deliver real mutual benefits at both a local border level and at the larger Island level.
“In order that all parts of the Island can compete in the global market, spatial plans have an important role to play in ensuring we meet our infrastructure needs in a strategic, planned, integrated and sustainable manner." Both spatial strategies identify Dublin and Belfast as key economic drivers.
Research commissioned in 2006 by InterTrade Ireland and undertaken by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) highlighted the advantages of a collaborative approach to spatial planning on the island of Ireland, particularly in the context of globalisation and the need to enhance our collective competitiveness.
The consultation document is available on the internet at http://www.drdni.gov.uk/shapingourfuture/
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The Enterprising Women’s Network (Armagh and Down) has announced motivational speaker and business consultant Ruth Badger (The Apprentice) as guest speaker at their annual celebration of International women’s day. The lunch event will be hosted in the Carrickdale Hotel, outside Newry on Thursday 3rd March 2011 (12.30-3pm).
The network is a not for profit organisation supporting female entrepreneurs in this region and women who are thinking of starting a business. EWN is supported by Invest NI.
This is the networks’ fourth annual event which is designed to celebrate, support and inspire women in business. Each year the event attracts hundreds of women to network and celebrate the achievements of women in business. The event is sponsored by Mary Mackle Chartered Accountants, Portadown, Advance Coaching, Banbridge and Lee Opticians, Warrenpoint & Crossmaglen.
As part of the celebrations, Ruth will also delivering an exclusive ‘Trouble shooting’ session from 10am on 3rd March with a limited audience of 30 business women allowing women the chance for one to one advice on problem solving and energizing their business to increase productivity.
EWN coordinator Catherine McGinn says: “We’re delighted to secure Ruth as our speaker. She is a very current, with real passion for working with SME’s and knowledge of the day to day challenges they face. We are looking forward to tapping into her sales ability and being inspired by her confidence and self belief.
“At 16 she left full time education, with just three G.C.S.E.’s, to join a Youth Training Scheme in the Civil Service. After her success in The Apprentice, she worked with Sir Alan Sugar for 6 months before leaving to set up her own business consultancy. Now, at just 32, she owns three businesses and runs a highly successful consultancy advising SMEs, which is testament to her ability, honesty and self belief.”
EWN Chairwoman Roisin McAleenan added: “With a speaker of this calibre we’re expecting this to be one of the largest events in NI so we’d urge businesses who are interested to book early.”
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