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ABP Northern Ireland which has a processing site at Greenbank in Newry is championing a new Business in the Community (BITC) campaign - Business Action on Climate - that challenges organisations in Northern Ireland to address the climate crisis by working to achieve ambitious reduction targets for their greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.
A cornerstone of the campaign is the Climate Action Pledge which invites signatories to commit to cut their GHG emissions by 50% or 30% by 2030, ahead of the UK government trajectory to achieving Net Zero by 2050. ABP is part of the campaign steering group of Climate Champions, made up of leading business representatives that support the campaign and have been instrumental in setting and agreeing the terms of the Pledge.
The Campaign puts Northern Ireland businesses at the forefront of action on the climate crisis. George Mullan, Managing Director, ABP Northern Ireland said, “We are delighted to be collaborating with like- minded businesses across Northern Ireland on this project. It is a natural step for us as we have already adopted a science-based target measuring model to our environmental strategy across our business here and the wider group.
We have a number of projects underway, including a new dairy beef partnership with Dale Farm which is supporting the sustainability of dairy beef production through the reduction of emissions using the very latest in animal genetic research. Response from farmers to date has been excellent.”
“This campaign and the Pledge is a way for our organisation to demonstrate to our communities, stakeholders, customers and staff that we have made a serious commitment to reducing our impacts on the environment. We’re delighted to be working with a team of climate champions and the wider BITC network to inspire others to do the same”.
To support signatories to achieve their targets, Business in the Community will provide a range of guidance and support including: climate literacy training; workshops and advisory support on climate related risks and opportunities; and GHG foot printing and guidance on measuring emissions. Through the campaign, BITC will share best practice examples from organisations in Northern Ireland and beyond and provide opportunities to network and collaborate with organisations in similar and different sectors, as well develop links to local carbon offsetting initiatives.
Kieran Harding, Managing Director, BITC, said: “We’ve had warnings about the very real threat of the climate breakdown for decades, but the COVID-19 crisis has shown that, even in a world stopped in its tracks, our GHG emissions have not decreased enough to meet the Paris Agreement and limit global temperature rise under 1.5°C.
“As we invent a new business norm, bolder, collaborative, and practical action is not only necessary, it’s urgent. Addressing climate breakdown and reducing our GHG footprint is integral for business, to enable us to build back better after COVID-19 for the benefit of business, our communities and the economy. Not only that, it’s necessary to ensure a liveable future and to create new opportunities that generate greater prosperity and wellbeing for all.”
For more information on the Business Action on Climate campaign and the Climate Action Pledge NI, please visit WWW.BITCNI.ORG.UK/CLIMATE or email environment@bitcni.org.uk
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The HR Elephant, a local HR and people management consultancy, is celebrating its first anniversary, trading in Newry City Centre. The consultancy which was set up more than three years ago by Drumaroad lady Aine Crilly, has been operating from its premises on Monaghan Street since June 2019.
The HR Elephant works with local businesses on both sides of the border as an outsourced Human Resources function and works with in house HR teams to assist with projects. It has been a particularly busy time for Aine and her ‘herd’ as businesses deal with the fallout from Covid-19.
Aine Crilly, Managing Director said, “We are not able to mark our first year in our office on Monaghan Street in the way that we would like to. I did, however think that it was worth marking the occasion in some way to thank my team and the fantastic companies who we are working with; not only this year but those who have been with us since we started back in 2017.
“It has been a particularly tough time for businesses, navigating all of the issues impacting their people during Covid-19. We have been extremely busy working with businesses, large and small, through these tough time with everything from advising on the Job Retention Scheme to unfortunately advising on redundancy consultations.
“I come from the border area and many of our businesses trade north/south, east/west so while dealing with all the Covid-19 stress, we are also working with clients on preparing for Brexit.”
Aine continued, “We have been busy working on our own business in the last year also. We are delighted to have brought on a new member to The HR Elephant ‘herd’ just this week- Courteney Magee and we are expanding our reach in the Republic of Ireland in the coming months.
“I would like to thank all of our clients for their support over the last year. It is great to be in the city centre and to have coffee shops, restaurants, and shops on our doorstep. I look forward to seeing the continued, safe return to some sort of normality for businesses in the weeks and months ahead. I am also very positive about having many more years of successful trading for The HR Elephant in Newry city centre.”
EDIT 29/3/2021: New Address: Office 14, Linenhall House, WIN Business Park, Canal Quay, Newry, Co. Down, BT35 6PH
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Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots, has heard first-hand how adopting Re-Gen Waste’s co-mingling recycling services model across all councils in Northern Ireland, could help them save money and meet a 65% recycling target by 2035.
Minister Poots and Re-Gen also discussed how the state-of-the-art facility focuses on landfill diversion and processing recyclables so that local companies such as egg carton maker Huhtamaki, can repurpose the materials to help achieve a circular economy.
The visit provided an opportunity for the Minister to take a tour of the plant which has undergone a £9 million investment in the last four years, to become one of Europe’s leading waste management companies and one of the first MRF’s in the UK to create the technology capable of accepting glass in blue bin waste collections.
According to Managing Director Joseph Doherty, their key objective is to “transform waste, whether it is domestic or commercial, into a sustainable solution,” and in the process, protect the planet.
He said: “It was a pleasure to have the Minister visit Re-Gen Waste as we are really proud of this facility and how it’s transforming the way the general public sees ‘waste’.
“There’s recycling and then there’s revolutionary recycling and we want to demonstrate that revolutionary recycling is what the world needs. There was a good debate around the recent ‘Future Recycling and Separate Collection of Waste of a Household Nature in Northern Ireland’ consultation and how we can meet a recycling target of 65%.
“Local councils are zoning in on the cost of their waste and recycling service, which can account for up to half their annual budget. They are finding that residents prefer household friendly co-mingling schemes as opposed to pre-sort schemes and that working with advanced MRF’s like Re-Gen, can lift dry recycling performance and improve their recycling rates.”
“Today’s sorting technology is developing at such a fast pace, it is unrecognisable from a few years ago. At Re-Gen, we are capable of producing high quality materials that would have been unachievable three years ago. We are investing heavily in new technology and are actually developing the processing equipment of the future.
“We care about getting it right and at the heart of our business is a commitment to genuinely make things better – to create a cleaner future and in doing so, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill each year”, he said.
Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA said: “It was great to visit Re-Gen Waste today to see their facility and discuss the issues that are facing the waste sector. Re-Gen have been vital to keeping our waste moving during the Covid crisis and I also recognise the level of employment they have brought to the local area.”
Re-Gen employs 250 staff across a wide range of disciplines and operations include Waste to Energy (WtE), Mixed Dry Recycling (MDR) processing, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) processing and engineering.
The company operates its purpose-built installation 24 hours a day and currently processes up to 300,000 tonnes of household waste annually, including 150,000 tonnes of Mixed Solid Waste. Ninety-five per cent of which is converted to Refuse Derived Fuel and Solid Recovered Fuel, via their waste to energy operation, which is exported on to Europe.
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Cllr Mickey Larkin has said that Newry Mourne & Down District Council need to proactively support local businesses as they prepare for life after the Brexit Transition Period.
The Slieve Gullion Cllr was speaking following this week's Council Brexit Forum meeting at which an update from Warrenpoint Harbour Authority and Council's Environmental Health Department was delivered. Councillor Larkin said “At this meeting I voiced serious concerns regarding the apparent lack of support, training, and guidance available to local businesses. Our local economy and businesses are already under immense pressure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Added to this, the growing uncertainty over Brexit is making matters worse”.
The Sinn Féin elected representative continued “There are serious concerns relating to a dearth of information and engagement from both the British Government and the Department for the Economy. Local firms have no idea what a post- transition trading environment will look like nor what it will mean for businesses here.
"The recent uncertainty surrounding customs and checking facilities at our ports has compounded concerns for companies. Disruption to supply chains and access to markets will ultimately affect their business model which may be unrecognisable six months from now”.
Concluding Councillor Larkin said “Newry Mourne & Down District Council need to proactively support local businesses as they prepare for life after the Brexit Transition Period. Council officers are preparing for a number of different scenarios and it is essential that they engage with all key stakeholders and businesses. I would support and encourage all avenues of help that can be offered to our local businesses to mitigate against the disaster of Brexit."
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Killeavy Castle Estate, County Armagh, has won the coveted All Island Award of Castle Hotel of the Year 2020 at the Irish Hotel Awards.
The Estate, which has just opened its doors for the second time in its first year, took the title after being rigorously inspected by independent assessors from the prestigious awards group. The Irish Hotel Awards recognise and reward excellence in hospitality and service across Ireland and represent one of the only awards programmes that takes an island-wide approach to the hospitality industry.
Offering guests a beautifully restored castle, boutique hotel accommodation, a stunning spa and superb cuisine with ingredients sourced from the onsite farm, Killeavy Castle Estate is the jewel in the crown of 350 acres of mixed farm and woodland in County Armagh’s stunning Slieve Gullion.
Since opening, the 45-bed boutique, luxury hotel, has received four-star accreditation from Tourism NI, been awarded the National Winner Newcomer of the Year 2020 at the Georgina Campbell Irish Food and Hospitality Awards and won Romantic Getaway of the Year and Hotel Restaurant of the Year at the 2019 Northern Ireland Hotel Awards.
Jason Foody, General Manager of Killeavy Castle Estate,said “We are delighted to have been awarded Castle Hotel of the Year at the Irish Hotel Awards. This accolade is a true testament to the hard work and efforts of all our staff, our commitment to providing excellent class customer service and the magnificent facilities on offer here at Killeavy Castle Estate.
“It’s been a strange few months but this award comes at the perfect time, as we open our doors for the second time within our first year and welcome guests to explore and enjoy the Estate once more.”
Killeavy Castle Estate opened one year ago on the 4th July, after the Grade A listed building, derelict for over a decade, was transformed following a £12 million investment.
To book a stay or find out more information, visit www.killeavycastle.com or call +44 (0) 28 3044 4888.
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Three high profile positions have been filled at First Derivatives this past two months with the further appointment this week of David Collins as Managing Director, managed services and consulting.
The company is one of Newry's major business success stories, employing over 2400 people worldwide.
MD Managed Services and Consulting Appointment for David Collins
First Derivatives have appointed David Collins as Managing Director, managed services and consulting. Mr Collins will report directly to Seamus Keating, CEO. In this role.
David will have global responsibility for all aspects of FD’s managed services and consulting operations.
David started his career in banking, spending 10 years in derivatives trading at DLJ, BNP and Standard Bank. He then joined City Practitioners, a newly-formed professional services firm, where he built the trading systems business in London and New York. In 2007, the firm was sold to Capco and David joined the executive team of SuperDerivatives. There, he held various leadership roles across product strategy, strategic sales and business development. Prior to joining FD, David was Managing Director of the UK, US and Canada and member of the group executive board of GFT.
David Collins commented: “FD has a strong reputation for its exceptional people and deep expertise of capital markets. It’s an exciting time to join as we look to accelerate our growth by building on the success FD has achieved across its practice areas serving the financial services industry.”
Seamus Keating, CEO of FD, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome David to the First Derivatives leadership team. He brings extensive expertise in the business processes and technology underpinning capital markets as well as a successful track record leading professional services organisations serving trading firms.”
Non Executive Director Appointment for Ayman Sayed
Ayman Sayed has also been appointed earlier this month as a Non-Executive Director of the Group with effect from 1 July 2020. This Board appointment supports the Group’s strategy to continue to enhance its product engineering capability, deliver world class solutions and grow its software revenue.
Ayman is the President and CEO of BMC Software Inc., a global enterprise software company headquartered in Houston, Texas. He brings extensive experience in enterprise technology and a track record of driving business success through growth strategies focused on product innovation to the Group. Prior to his current role he was President and Chief Product Officer of CA Technologies Inc., a Fortune 500 company acquired by Broadcom Inc., where he was responsible for the vision, strategy, development and success of the company’s portfolio of products and solutions. Ayman holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Cairo University.
“I am excited to join FD, a company with world-leading technology operating in several valuable and high growth markets”, said Ayman Sayed of his appointment. “The world of technology continues to evolve at a pace that requires faster delivery of innovation. I am pleased to join the Board and look forward to working with the management team to drive business growth through world-class products.”
Donna Troy, Chairman of FD, said: “Ayman’s CEO experience at leading enterprise software companies and his deep engineering background bring highly relevant and valuable skills that will assist the Group’s strategy. I am delighted to welcome him to the Board.”
Chief Operating Officer Appointment for David Humphries
David Humphries was appointed in June as Chief Operating Officer at First Derivatives reporting directly to Seamus Keating, First Derivatives’ Chief Executive Officer.
Humphries will have global responsibility for First Derivatives’ operations including its business systems, methodologies, processes and controls. In this role, he will drive the company’s operational efficiency and effectiveness aligned to its strategy and in support of First Derivatives’ strong growth goals.
David has worked for more than thirty years across the professional services, software and financial services markets in a series of financial, operational and M&A leadership roles. Prior to joining First Derivatives, David was the finance director of Group Transformation for the Lloyds Banking Group. Before that, David held a number of senior finance and operational roles across software and professional services at Logica plc and at Axiom Systems Limited. David started his career at Deloitte in London where he worked for ten years in their corporate finance and insolvency practices.
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Over 900 companies from Newry, Mourne and Down and further afield, were urged to reimagine business and leadership at a virtual summit on Tuesday 30 June.
The event called ‘re:launch’, was created by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in partnership with the Management & Leadership Network, featured world-renowned business strategist, Declan Kelly and was chaired by local business leader, Feargal McCormack.
The virtual summit was part of a wider Council campaign, ‘re:NMD’, which is focused on reinvigorating communities, businesses and the local economy. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Laura Devlin said, “This summit was designed to help businesses and leaders from this district, and across the island, reimagine new opportunities and a prosperous future. The insights shared by Declan and Feargal have provided the inspiration and impetus for us all to do just that. They are proven business leaders on the international stage and their content was genuinely world-class. My sincere thanks to both speakers and to the Management & Leadership Network for working with us on this event”.
Speaking after the event, Feargal McCormack commented, “Declan Kelly is the man that the world’s top CEOs call when they need advice. Having previously served as US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland, he is also a passionate champion of business growth and economic prosperity in both the North and the South of Ireland. It was a privilege for me to explore his views on how the world is changing and how local businesses might seize the opportunities that this change will bring. The message is clear, leaders must apply tomorrow’s logic to today’s turbulence in order to succeed going forward”.
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Tandragee based White’s Speedicook Ltd has secured contracts in the Middle East estimated to be worth over £1M
White’s Speedicook a Fane Valley company is a brand leader of porridge oats and granola across Ireland and the UK. Its range of porridge oats and oat cereals are now on shelves in Carrefour stores across the Middle East and Union Coop in the UAE.
Announcing the successes during a visit to the company, Economy Minister Diane Dodds said“I commend White’s Speedicook on winning such lucrative contracts. Its fierce export ambitions are testament that hard work and persistence can indeed pay off.
“As we rebuild our economy, it is essential that companies are actively working on plans to boost export sales, enter new markets and safeguard jobs. My Department is working closely with Invest Northern Ireland to ensure that companies, both large and small, continue to access the support and advice they need to be more resilient and succeed in international markets.”
Commenting on its recent contract wins, James Mathers, General Manager at White’s Oats, said “The Middle East region is a dynamic and vibrant market with a large international community for which demand is growing for high quality oat breakfast cereals.
“We have developed a number of new trading relationships with partners who value our provenance and authenticity. These values ensure we continue to produce high quality products, the key pillars of our success in these markets.
“The support from Invest NI has been invaluable in helping us scope out opportunities, develop relationships and allocate appropriate resource to maximise the opportunity.”
The new contracts follow a number of years of trade support from Invest NI including market visits and attendance at Gulfood in Dubai, which is the region’s largest food and drink show.
Steve Harper, Invest NI’s Executive Director of International Business, said "It is always great to see the support and valuable business advice we provide companies come to fruition. We have worked with White’s Oats for many years to help it develop new routes to market, particularly in the UAE. This has involved expert advice from our in market team in Dubai, market intelligence research and support to attend global exhibitions.
“In these uncertain times it is more important than ever that businesses look to exporting as a way to grow their businesses. We have prioritised new ways to assist businesses with Covid-19 related export challenges, which has included a range of online solutions. I would encourage companies to make use of this support and seize the export opportunities on offer.”
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MLA Liz Kimmins has said it’s vital that we support local retailers and help boost the local economy as Covid19 recovery begins. The public have an opportunity to vote for their favourite retailer or employee in a new campaign.
The campaign launched by Retail NI includes an online vote to find the people’s favourite independent retailer, local high street, independent retail employee and to recognise a retailer who has gone the extra mile for their customers during Covid-19.
The Newry and Armagh representative speaking after the launch of Retail NI’s Independents’ Day earlier this month at Stormont said “As parts of society begin to re-open from the Covid19 crisis, it’s vital that people show their support to local and independent businesses.
“They will be among the hardest hit by the pandemic through loss of earnings and having to close their doors to play their part in helping save lives”.
Vote for your favourite Independent
The online public vote opened on Independents’ Day, 4 July and will continue until 31 July and you can vote at WWW.IRISHNEWS.COM
Echoing his colleagues sentiments, Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan said “From the local shop keeper to the local barbers and hairdressers, they are the beating heart of our communities. Now more than ever, we must celebrate them.
“We are proud to support Independents’ Day and encourage others to do what they can to boost our local economy as we move towards recovery from Covid19.”
Camelot is the keynote supporter of Independents’ Day.
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