1

01 Chairman’s Statement 4

02 Chief Executive’s Statement 6

03 W5 8

04 The SSE Arena, 12

05 The Belfast Giants 18

06 Trading Activities 20

07 Corporate Governance 21

08 Financial Statements 22

09 Boards of Trustees, Directors & Executive Team 23

3 01 Chairman’s Statement

The Odyssey is located at the heart The Odyssey Trust is a registered charity and was It is well recognised that there is a pressing need to established to, ‘hold, manage, safeguard and develop the enhance the knowledge and understanding of STEM of what is an increasingly important investment in the Odyssey project for the benefit of all the (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) subjects in the leisure and recreation destination people of .’ This is done through providing next generation of young people who will drive Northern in Belfast. With a million visitors a educational advancement activities at W5, the interactive Ireland’s economy in the future. It is with this in mind that science and discovery , and by offering a wide range in November W5, entered into an exciting new 10-year year to the SSE Arena, Belfast, W5 of recreation and leisure activities and events in the SSE partnership with Craigavon-based pharmaceutical giant and the Pavilion, The Odyssey Trust Arena, Belfast and the Odyssey Pavilion. the Almac Group, which aims to inspire more budding scientists through interactive learning. is proud to play a major part in 2017 was a busy year at the SSE Arena, Belfast with many making Belfast and Northern Ireland events and performances and the development of our With a global organisation as W5’s health and life sciences the destination of choice for an arena theatre format which has enabled us to explore new partner for the next 10 years, W5 is to expand its current initiatives to bring the best entertainment to Northern footprint into the Odyssey Pavilion and create a dynamic increasing number of people from all Ireland. The popularity of the SSE Arena, Belfast is set to new family learning zone dedicated to health and well- parts of Ireland and from across the continue in 2018 with a busy schedule of world class acts being, due to open late 2018. already scheduled to perform. world. Our development plans have In addition to our own investment plans, the Odyssey been prepared in coordination with It was a very successful year for W5 with record Pavilion after a number of years in administration, is set other major stakeholders to ensure attendance figures and exciting announcements of new to be transformed as part of a £10 million refurbishment developments for the science centre. In September, the proposed by the new owners. Planning permission was that the Odyssey continues to be a Trust announced a £4.5m funding boost for W5. £3m was granted for the first stage of redevelopment, which includes world class attraction for the people awarded through the Inspiring Science Fund, a collaborative a new main entrance to the Pavilion, upgrade of public initiative between Department for Business, Energy and realm and reconfiguration of the existing retail units. of Northern Ireland. Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Wellcome with £1.5m Their key objective is to improve the overall visual quality being invested by the Odyssey Trust. This investment will and tenant offering of the Pavilion, making it a more see W5 embark on a major capital refurbishment and attractive and user friendly destination. public engagement programme over the next three years, supporting and encouraging public participation.

4 W5 Partners with Almac Group Roof-mounted solar panels

The Belfast Giants continued to go from strength to World Championships in April when Belfast once Finally, I want to pay a special tribute, on behalf of the strength with former Adam Keefe now Head again demonstrated the City’s ability to host a major Board, to Chief Executive Robert Fitzpatrick and all of the Coach and assuming the responsibility of leading the international event – and one in which the Great Britain Odyssey Trust staff who have worked exceedingly hard Giants back to the League Championship – the holy grail team triumphed! in 2017 to ensure that visitors to the Odyssey have a of in the UK. I wish him every success in his best experience every time. 2018 promises to be a very endeavours. Investment by the Odyssey Trust has continued on exciting year and I am looking forward to leading the Board site and with the support of the we as we embark on another fantastic year at the Odyssey. In November we hosted the 3rd Friendship Four invested in improvements to the car park access and exit Tournament, in which four US college hockey teams join arrangements to assist visitors attending major events. ERIC PORTER - Chairman us in Belfast to play their league games at the SSE Arena, The Odyssey Trust Company Limited Belfast. Our thanks to the US colleges, the NCAA, Belfast Since we began our partnership with SSE Airtricity in 2015, City Council and the Mayor of Boston for making Belfast we have worked on reducing our carbon footprint and in the place to be at Thanksgiving for many years to come. 2017 installed 1,400 roof-mounted solar panels to offset 200 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, covering 2,300m2, The Friendship Four was closely followed in December equivalent to 12 tennis courts. Work also commenced on by the Basketball Hall of Fame Tournament, building our site wide conversion to LED lighting, as work continues on links with American sport even further. Our international our sustainability strategy. sporting events in 2017 also included the IIHF Ice Hockey

5 02 Chief Executive’s Statement

We have a lot to celebrate in 2017 The Team at W5 continue to develop the offer and in I was delighted to welcome Wendy Langham to our March 2017 launched Spacebase, the new multi-sensory team as Head of Social Affairs. Wendy is charged with across all facets of our business activity zone for 3 – 11 year olds which has been developing our social impact as well as encouraging public and I am particularly proud of our exceptionally popular. This was a precursor to the exciting participation and developing an integrated communication management and staff who have news that W5 will undergo a major £4.5m refurbishment strategy across all of the business interests. over the next two years thanks to Department for accepted the challenge of creating Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Wellcome Our third and best Friendship Four College Tournament a ‘Best Experience Every Time’ for and the Odyssey Trust. Work has commenced on the was held in November 2017 and cemented ice hockey into integration of 10,000 sq. ft. of former Pavilion space into the fabric of Northern Ireland sport, playing to an audience visitors to the Odyssey. W5, along with the new partnership with Craigavon-based of over 21,000, broadcast to over 20 million homes. I am confident that 2018 will finally pharmaceutical giant the Almac Group, which aims to The appointment of our fearless No 47 Captain, see major construction work inspire more budding scientists through interactive learning, Adam Keefe as our new Head Coach is both inspiring and creating significant opportunity and excitement for the central to the vision that we have for the development of beginning in the Odyssey Pavilion future. the sport under the leadership of , Head of and I look forward to the roll-out Hockey Operations. Together with Judith Harvey, Head of Education I am of the £10m investment proposals very excited at the prospect for a potential new Science Perhaps 2018 will be the year that sees the Giants back that will complement our ambitions Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) initiative in where they belong – at the top of Ice Hockey in the UK. for the Odyssey as a ‘World Class’ 2018 in collaboration with both the private sector and third level education providers. The SSE Arena, Belfast continues to emphasise its position family destination. as a major Arena on the touring circuit and I am especially In 2017 the Odyssey piloted its first Skills Academy, pleased that our new theatre format has been so successful providing young people with an opportunity for training this year culminating in the development and delivery of and development in employment skills, supported by the our first ever Arena style pantomime, The Spectacular businesses and managers site wide. As a major employer, Aladdin. I want to pay tribute to the Arena Team under the we were very encouraged by the opportunities we could leadership of Neil Walker, who consistently raises the bar offer the trainees, 10 of whom were offered employment and embraces the challenges that each event brings. at the Odyssey at the end of the programme.

6 Building on our ongoing commitment to educational advancement, I was delighted to take up the role of Visiting Professor at Ulster University Business School, with whom the Odyssey Trust has forged a very strong relationship in recent years. It is more important than The Odyssey site ever that students have a clear idea of what employers in Photo credit: Sub-Culture Productions industry want, so they can develop the skills and knowledge to match those needs. I believe the Visiting Professor Programme makes a big contribution by offering business school students real world insight and I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned from my own experiences with them over the next four years.

The changes in the Odyssey continue at pace and 2018 will be no exception. There are some very exciting developments in planning at the moment as we commit to making the Odyssey Northern Ireland’s number one destination for families in 2018.

ROBERT FITZPATRICK - Chief Executive The Odyssey Trust Company Limited

Ulster University Visting Professor

7 03 W5 Science Education W5

In 2017 W5 continued to grow from strength to strength, – communicating, interacting, and engaging visitors in attracting over 270,000 visitors on site and advancing conversations, entertaining crowds and making lots of new education to over 370,000 people in formal and informal friends – as well as terrifying some old ones! science throughout Northern Ireland through admissions, outreach and corporate programmes. The benefits were W5 online booking with a new fast-track entrance for evidenced by feedback from and numbers of visitors to customers was launched on 7th June 2017. This has been W5 in a busy and highly varied year. Activities covered welcomed by staff and customers, generating £269,000 of everything from live performances, cutting edge exhibitions bookings from 7th June - 31 December 2017. and the opening of a new activity zone, SpaceBase. Engagement with innovative technology continued in 2017, An extensive programme of public events, exhibitions and as W5 added a Live Avatar control system to its existing engagement activities were delivered across the year. This Augmented Reality experience enabling children and included The Wellcome Image Awards, an exhibition of adults to meet and interact, in real time, with A.L.I.E.N, a striking and technically excellent scientific images, staged computer generated character. The role of A.L.I.E.N was in partnership with the Wellcome Trust and a gallery performed behind the scenes by an actor utilising state exhibition celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Geological of the art motion capture technology. This enabled the Survey Northern Ireland Landscapes from Stone. Following audience to not only see themselves with the alien on on from the success of 2016 ‘Big Bang Theatre’ show, W5 screen, but also engage in conversations in a one-of-a-kind developed the ‘Silent Science Show!’ a combination of encounter. danger, humour, excitement and some very cool slapstick science in a unique black and white, silent stage show. ‘Big Bang Show’ returned to the Lecture Theatre for family audiences across the summer period. In Spring 2017 W5 took on a space theme, with the launch of Spacebase, a new multi-sensory activity zone for 3-11 Autumn and Winter saw the return of family favourites, year olds, and a fantastic programme of events for visitors, with some decidedly ghostly goings-on in ‘Monster Manor’ who took part in Alien Races and explored the cosmos in and the return of Santa and ‘The Winterland Express’, and W5’s Star Dome. ‘FREEZE’ post-Christmas Lecture Theatre show.

In Summer 2017 W5 introduced a new and innovative approach to engaging visitors with technology as RoboThespian, our life-sized, humanoid robot went live

8 RoboThespian W5 Education Team

In 2017 the W5 Education team of dedicated science and Community engagement also played a key role with education specialists continued to provide innovative and ongoing support from Children in Need enabling an engaging programmes to schools and groups thoughout outreach programme for patients at the Royal Belfast Northern Ireland, as in-house and outreach activities Hospital for Sick Children and work with the NI Children’s continued to grow. In addition to a daily programme of Hospice continuing with specially developed activities interactive public shows and events, new curriculum based for teenagers with life limiting illnesses. W5’s ‘Golden Spacebase programmes, workshops and activities were developed for Tickets’ enabled 15 community groups to utilise events and formal and informal groups from preschool to A-Level. facilities free of charge across the year. In addition, we held ‘Welcome Days’ for families from East and West Belfast W5’s ‘Bright Sparks’ Summer Camp ran for five weeks linked to the new investment in W5. demonstrating a continued public demand for quality STEM informal education programmes. ‘Little Sparks’, Site wide education initiatives continued to be delivered W5’s monthly Parent & Toddler programme aimed at with the third Friendship Four Festival of STEM in children aged between 18 months and 4 years, is in high November 2017. In addition to the sporting elements of demand with additional sessions scheduled, covering the tournament, there are key educational aims focused on subject areas such as Little Wizards, Farmyard Fun and Ice social inclusion and engagement delivered through a month Explorers. long programme of activities at W5. The STEM Festival included something for everyone such as digital events Funded Programmes continue to play a key role in ‘Big Data: Knowledge in the Internet Age’ and ‘How Well ensuring W5 is able to develop new, innovative and topical Connected Are You?’ exploring cyber security and potential programmes that are widely accessible to visitors, both careers. Partnership events included World Antibiotic geographically and demographically. Awareness Week 2017 with the Public Health Agency, the Centre of Excellence for Public Health, and Queen’s New initiatives for 2017 included: ‘Waste Watchers’, a University Belfast exploring the pros and cons of antibiotic The Silent Science Show programme to promote sustainable waste management usage with families and ‘Fantastic Females: The Business of commissioned by the Waste and Resources Action Success’ with Ulster University Business School, Dell and Programme UK (WRAP) delivered to six council areas Women in Business. in Northern Ireland; ‘Seismic Citizens’, exploring the natural environment and global citizenship with the British Younger visitors from SureStart in East Belfast were Council. Space continues as a key theme with ‘Explore Your joined by the Lord Mayor, Nuala McAllister, to learn Universe’ supported by and the launch of ‘Life Through a about healthy eating and lifestyles, Koulla Yiasouma, NI Lens’, supported by the Science and Technologies Facility Children’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Council exploring the wonder and the discoveries made before getting active with a very special ‘Giant’ visitor. by astronomers throughout the last 400 years using images Activities culminated with the Big STEM event on Friday from the Hubble Space Telescope and exploring the 25th November with over 800 young people engaging in upcoming James Webb Space Telescope mission. STEM activities at W5 before being led en mass by the Lord Mayor, and the Clarkson University Pep Band to the opening Friendship Four ice hockey game.

9 Lord Mayor, NI Children’s Commissioner and Little Sparks STEM Ambassador Hub

The Northern Ireland STEM Ambassador Hub contract was extended through to March 2018 enabling W5 to continue to deliver this fantastic initiative to engage young people with role models from both industry and academia across all aspects of STEM. This programme targets young people of all ages, in both formal and informal settings, and reached over 52,500 young people in 2017 with the help of over 1,300 volunteer STEM Ambassadors. Major events have included competitions such as Bloodhound Rocket Car Challenge, Drone Racing, Techknow Club Challenge, First Lego League as well as Insight Days for teachers with the Met Office, STEM Careers Days and the ever popular Interview Skills Days hosted on behalf of a wide range of Area Learning Communities and many more. The success of this initiative means that it is now built into teaching plans in schools, with over 98.5% of post primary schools Clarkson University Pep Band actively engaged.

10 Friendship Four Festival of STEM First Lego League Inspiring W5

The future of W5 looks bright following The Odyssey Trust’s announcement in September 2017 of a £4.5m investment 2018 will see the exciting start of the package that will enable a major capital refurbishment and public engagement programme. £3m was awarded through renaissance of W5. The first of the the Inspiring Science Fund, a partnership between the new exhibition areas, ‘MED-Lab’ will Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Wellcome, with a further £1.5 million invested open late 2018, supported through Inspiring Science Launch from The Odyssey Trust. In line with the Government’s our partnership with Almac, as W5 Industrial Strategy to encourage more young people to continues to thrive, grow, and to consider Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers, the investment will enable W5 to reinvigorate their ‘fire the spirit of discovery…’. visitor experience.

During September – December 2017, W5 embarked in an extensive public engagement programme consulting with a wide range of stakeholders to provide information about #InspiringW5 and to identify key themes for the new exhibition zones (8 suggested) and programmes for W5, ensuring that they are relevant to everyday life.

In November W5 got a further boost when it entered into an exciting new ten-year partnership with Craigavon- based pharmaceutical giant the Almac Group, which aims to inspire more budding scientists through interactive learning. W5 Partnership with Almac Group W5 secured the global organisation as its Health and Life Sciences partner for the next 10 years in a £1m partnership agreement that will help W5 to further expand its current footprint and create a dynamic new family learning zone dedicated to health and well-being.

2017 saw the closing of W5 Lite at The Outlet in Banbridge to facilitate the redevelopment of the centre by new owners. A move to a new unit was considered but it was decided that resources needed to be focused on the redevelopment plans for W5 itself in the short to medium term.

QUB School of Pharmacy Event 04 The SSE Arena, Belfast Recreation & Leisure

The Arena’s story of 2017 has been one of continuous introduced in 2017 alongside the ability for customers to innovation in terms of events, customer experience and see the view from their selected seat and use interactive technology to support our aim of providing customers seating charts. with the best experience every time. In 2017 the SSE Arena, Belfast hosted and presented a wide range of The second generation of the Arena’s APP has delivered events including concerts, family shows, theatre style improved functionality and we have seen its reach increase shows, sports events and leisure activities to an estimated steadily over the past year, as customers realise the benefits audience of 628,000 over 154 events. of engaging with us as a digital consumer with 76,000 downloads of the SSE APP. 2017 was an exceptionally busy year for the SSE Arena, Belfast, hosting one of the largest number of shows since 2017 was a key year in integrating relationships across the opening in 2000, a fantastic achievement and testament site. The Operations team in the Arena works collectively to the Arena’s ongoing objective to develop new event with its counterparts in W5 and site-wide facilities to opportunities and exploit the flexibility offered by the identify efficiencies in process and in the management of venue’s facilities. This has also enabled us to continue to issues that affect all areas such as security, health and safety, exceed expectations, and enhance our appeal, to both our capital projects and maintenance. internal and external stakeholders. Unfortunately, due to the tragic events in Manchester, this During the year we invested further in our in-house was also a year in which we operated against a background lighting solution to make our theatre-style format an even of heightened awareness of security issues. The Arena more attractive proposition to promoters. The in-house continues to work closely with colleagues across the lighting was used for the first time during the presentation industry, and with local security forces, applying best practice of the Arena’s first ever Pantomime production ‘The in all our event management procedures. Spectacular Aladdin’, an event which showcased perfectly the flexibility of the venue. There were many highlights among the exceptional concerts during the year, with Queen and Adam Lambert, Another key objective in 2017 was the continued focus Olly Murs, Neil Diamond, Little Mix, Liam Gallagher and on customer experience through digital innovation. The Beach Boys just a few of the major names. The winner We continue to work alongside our ticketing partner, of the SSE Reward Gig of the Year for 2017 was Nathan Ticketmaster, to be at the forefront of technological Carter as voted by SSE customers, after a titanic tussle with developments within the live events industry which will Queen and Adam Lambert! help us to develop a clearer understanding of the needs The popularity of comedy as an Arena spectacle was again and expectations of our customers. E-ticketing was demonstrated with a very strong roster including Good

12 Jake Carter in The Spectacular Aladdin Pantomime Mourning Mrs Brown, Billy Connolly, Impractical Jokers, Jack Boxing featured strongly in the Arena calendar with local Whitehall, Russell Howard, Micky Flanagan and John Bishop headlining two events and a return to the ring bringing over 90,000 customers through the doors. for under new management with a sell-out The success of the first Farmers Bash held in October fight in November. was a great example of the willingness to develop new opportunities through building relationships and The Odyssey is a large employer in Northern Ireland, encouraging innovation. It was great to see the return employing over 600 employees site wide. In 2017 The of Lush Classical with a greatly increased capacity which Odyssey Trust piloted its first Academy from February to reflected the fantastic feedback from the first show in 2016. May 2017, in partnership with Include Youth. The Odyssey Academy was designed to reach out to all sections of the The year concluded with the Arena hosting its first ever community, to give disadvantaged young people, between Steps pantomime, ‘The Spectacular Aladdin’. This brought a highly the ages of 18 and 24, the opportunity to learn about talented local team together to produce an innovative and experience the Odyssey, with the possibility of gaining and exciting new show which was proudly supported and employment and to introduce them to the ‘World of Work’, sponsored by our naming rights partner, SSE Airtricity. whilst also helping to improve their confidence and self- The number and range of sporting activities hosted at the esteem. Arena in 2017 continued to rise, supporting an increased public demand for sport in Northern Ireland. The Odyssey Academy was also supported by key employers on site Cleanevent, Eventsec, Belfast Giants and We were delighted that the Arena was chosen as the host W5 and at the end of the programme 10 of the young venue for the UK’s bid for the International Ice Hockey people were offered jobs at the SSE Arena, Belfast, 8 of Federation Men’s World Championships in April as which remain in our employment. Great Britain, Japan, Netherlands, Croatia, Estonia and Lithuania battled it out for the Division 1B world title. ‘The Odyssey Academy is seen by Include Youth as a model The presence of the Great Britain team in particular raised of best practice. It is a fantastic example of how employers the profile of the tournament and the enthusiasm of visiting like the SSE Arena, Belfast can enhance young people’s fans from the other participating countries generated a employability skills and employment prospects’. Paddy tremendous atmosphere around the Arena. Mooney, Director Include Youth. Hannon Coach Partnership

The third year of the Friendship Four ice hockey Building on the success of the 2017 Odyssey Academy, we tournament in November proved the most successful have plans to run an Odyssey Ice Academy at the Arena in yet and alongside the Belfast Giants we continue to 2018. The Academy will be aimed at increasing accessibility set ourselves the challenge of raising the quality and and participation amongst care experienced young people professionalism of the Tournament to new heights. in sport and improving their confidence and self-esteem. 2017 saw College Basketball come to the Arena for the first time with the inaugural Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast We rely on continued support from our sponsors and Classic, which brought college teams from the USA to were delighted in August 2017 when Hannon Coach Belfast with the support of Sport Changes Life and the confirmed a three-year partnership with The Odyssey Trust Rory Foundation. We look forward to welcoming them as the ‘Official Coach Partner’ to The SSE Arena, Belfast, back in 2018 as the event expands in its ambition and reach. the Stena Line Belfast Giants and W5, creating 40 new

13 The Friendship Four Tournament jobs. In December 2017 we were thrilled to announce the Titanic Hotel Belfast as the Arena’s new hospitality and accommodation partner. Many of our customers visit Belfast from further afield, including other parts of the UK, Ireland and beyond. This partnership will enable customers to avail of a World Class Hotel right on our doorstep after enjoying World Class events at the Arena. Just minutes from the Arena, Titanic Hotel Belfast is a transformation of the legendary Harland & Wolff headquarters and spectacular Drawing Offices and the world’s most authentic Titanic themed hotel.

In 2017 we achieved a Silver ‘Attitude is Everything’ award. Attitude is Everything improves deaf and disabled people’s access to live music by working in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry. We further demonstrated our commitment to improving accessibility in 2017 by signing up to NOW Group’s innovative JAM Card, giving Just a Minute to people with learning difficulties and autism. This initiative be rolled out site wide by March 2018. In 2018 we will continue to invest to improve facilities and accessibility for all Arena customers, both front of house and backstage. We are embarking on an exciting Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Ulster University on a 2 year site wide digital infrastructure and data project which will include a review of our company processes, technical review of current systems, digital integration system procurement and implementation of system across the site.

We look forward to an equally varied events programme in 2018, highlights including the return of U2 for two nights in October, and the long-awaited and highly-anticipated return of Strictly Come Dancing.

14 Rhydian in The Spectacular Aladdin Pantomime The SSE Arena, Belfast - 2017 Events

JANUARY

1 – 2 Winter Skate 2 Giants v 6 Impractical Jokers 7 Giants v 8 Giants v Sheffield Steelers 12 – 15 Marvel Universe Live 20 Giants v Panthers 21 Giants v 27 – 28 Arenacross

FEBRUARY

4 Bowie Experience 8 Giants v challenge cup Todd Kelman hands over the reins of the Giants to Steve Thornton 10 Giants v Dundee Stars 11 – 12 Billy Connolly 15 – 16 Scooby Doo 17 – 18 Giants v Cardiff Devils double header 29 Jack Whitehall 24 BAMMA 28

MARCH

4 Giants v Manchester Storm 10 Giants v 11 Stayin Alive (Bee Gees Show) 12 Giants v Nottingham Panthers 13 X Factor 17 Giants v Sheffield Steelers 18 Giants v Coventry Blaze 28 Russell Howard 31 Nathan Carter

15 Nathan Carter The SSE Arena, Belfast - 2017 Events

APRIL

1 Giants V Flyers Playoff 4 – 5 Olly Murs 15 The King is Back 20 2017 Betway Premier Darts 23 – 29 2017 World Championships Ice Hockey Division B MAY

6 WWE Live 10 The Vamps 20 Beach Boys 23 Brian Cox (Professor) 24 – 25 Micky Flanagan Arenacross JUNE

10 Boxing – Belfast Boy 13 The Stone Roses 20 Nashville in Concert

AUGUST

26 – 27 Giants v Manatoba 31 Belfast Tattoo

SEPTEMBER

1 – 2 Belfast Tattoo 5 – 7 Paw Patrol 9 Giants v Gilford Flames 16 Giants v Dundee Stars 23 Giants v Sheffield Steelers 26 Australian Pink Floyd 30 Giants v Capitals

16 Basketball Hall of Fame OCTOBER

4 – 5 John Bishop 6 Farmers Bash 7 Lush 8 Neil Diamond 14 Giants v 20 Giants v Gilford Flames 21 Burnett v Zhakiyanov 27 Picture This 28 Ben Nicky 30 Liam Gallagher

NOVEMBER

3 – 5 Disney on Ice – Passport to Adventure 7 – 8 Little Mix 9 Bananarama 12 & 14 Steps 15 Giants v Nottingham Panthers 17 The Killers 19 Giants v Guildford Flames 20 James Arthur 21 Giants v Colin Shields All Stars 24 – 25 Friendship Four 26 Queen + Adam Lambert

DECEMBER

1 – 2 Basketball Hall of Fame 7 – 9 Good Mourning Mrs Brown 10 Andre Rieu 15 – 27 The Spectacular Aladdin Pantomime 29 Giants v Edinburgh Capitals 30 Giants v Braehead Clan

17 Neil Diamond 05 Belfast Giants Recreation & Leisure

2017 was another successful year both on and off the ice Education continues to play a huge role for the Odyssey for ice hockey in Northern Ireland. The SSE Arena, Belfast Trust and the Belfast Giants are committed to advancing welcomed more visitors through the doors to watch ice education. The relationship with Ulster University has grown hockey than any other year in the history of the sport due with 10 players studying a Masters Degree in conjunction to: the continued growth of the Stenaline Belfast Giants; with their playing duties. It is also encouraging to see two hosting the Ice Hockey World Championships in April graduates from the Friendship Four Tournament on the 2017; the 3rd and most successful to date Friendship Four Belfast Giants team in 2017, a number we expect to rise Tournament November 2017. significantly in years to come.

The 2016-17 Giants’ season finished with a very close 2nd In addition to playing Ice Hockey, the Belfast Giants visited place finish in an extremely competitive league along with a over 70 schools in 2017 delivering an inspirational Healthy playoff semi-final appearance from the Giants. Despite this, Eating and Heathy Lifestyle programme to over 3,500 big changes occurred during the summer in preparation pupils, committed to supporting the wellbeing of Northern for the 2017-18 season. The long-time favourite of Belfast Ireland’s young people. Schools participating in a ‘Giant Visit’ hockey fans and 2016-17 captain Adam Keefe replaced also had the opportunity to attend a Belfast Giants game Derrick Walser as the Belfast Giants’ Head Coach. He during the year. moved quickly to fill the roster with 10 new imports on a new look Belfast Giants squad. The heavy concert schedule For the first time in over 25 years, the Men’s Ice Hockey programmed at the SSE Arena, Belfast, meant that the World Championships was played in the UK at the SSE majority of the 2017-18 pre-Christmas games were played Arena, Belfast. Over the 7-day period in late April, 15 away. Adam Keefe quickly proved that his leadership skills games of world class international hockey were played in transitioned into coaching, guiding the team to a top of the front of over 20,000 fans from all over the world. Over league table by the end of 2017, battling with the Cardiff 12,000 public tickets were issued to this international Devils for the top spot in 2018. There was also a smooth sporting event which was a showpiece event for the progression into the Semi-Finals of the Challenge Cup International Ice Hockey Federation and put a spotlight on Competition, much to the delight of the Belfast Giants’ Belfast, promoting Belfast as a top leisure destination. To fans. There is growing excitement amongst the large fan cap it off, Team GB earned promotion to Group 1A for the base in regards to the current style of hockey being played, 2018 World Championship, which will be held in Budapest along with the legendary game night atmosphere in the SSE in April 2018. Arena, Belfast which continues to improve. Over 136,000 people came to support the Stenaline Belfast Giants in 2017.

18 Giants home game The 2017 Friendship Four Tournament was undoubtedly rights sponsor. Fonacab remains the Giants’ longest serving our biggest and most successful date. The Tournament sponsor after signing up to their 14th consecutive season. attracted 278 schools, youth and community groups with 11,000 public tickets issued and an overall attendance of The media coverage for the 2017-18 season was excellent 21,727 spectators. The Tournament was televised live in with regular pre-game and post-game coverage across all North America and streamed live in the UK and the main outlets of TV, Print and Radio including BBC, UTV, through BBC Sports and Unilad to an estimated 20 million Belfast Telegraph, Irish News, News Letter, Cool FM and homes. Q Radio.

The Friendship Four Tournament is much more than sport Season pass holder membership continued to rise with Giants vs Cardiff game and featured several new ‘off-ice’ activities in 2017. A USA 5% increase in 2017-18. The Giants continued to hit new group of young hockey players from disadvantaged areas in heights during the 2017-18 season with regards to their Boston visited Belfast and participated in the event, meeting fan engagement off the ice. The Giants still comfortably local groups in Belfast and sharing their experiences. occupied the Elite League’s number one spot with over 130,000 followers across all social media platforms, over Fleming Fulton Young Enterprise company ‘Spruce It Up’ got 50,000 clear of UK teams. a Giant surprise today when Belfast Giants turned up to help them make their products. Spruce It Up made novel Christmas tree pucks for ice hockey fans who flew into We are committed to our fans and true Belfast from the USA for the Northern Irish Connections Friendship Four 2017 tournament. When asked what to our mission, ‘In the land of Giants, he thought of the Christmas tree pucks, Belfast Giant everyone is equal,’ We support public Spiro Goulakos said, “These Christmas tree decorations are totally pucker and every ice hockey fan needs one participation in recreation and leisure on their tree.” Sales and Marketing Director Jayne said, in Northern Ireland and continue to “The Directors had a busy month making and selling the develop our engagement programme tree pucks at the SSE Arena, Belfast. The support from the Odyssey Trust and Belfast Giants was amazing and both on and off the ice, with exciting Fleming Fulton Young Enterprise we smashed our target to raise £500 for our school to plans to work for an exciting 2017-18 purchase a new laser cutter.” season and the inaugural Odyssey Ice Thanksgiving dinner at the Titanic Museum attracted over Academy in 2018. 500 American visitors who also visited Titanic Belfast as part of this important celebration event.

Sponsorship for the 2017-18 season was the Giants’ most successful to date with over 50 companies now proud to call themselves official partners. Stena Line has committed as the Belfast Giants’ title partner for a seventh successive season, which makes them the longest serving naming

19 Friendship Four Tournament Finance & Governance

06 Trading Activities The trading activities of the Odyssey Trust are carried out by wholly owned trading subsidiaries that gift aid all of their profits to the Odyssey Trust. This gift aid is an essential element for the Trust to fund its charitable activities. A wide range of business interests are managed, including the commercial activities in the Arena, W5, the Car Park and all ancillary commercial matters.

The Odyssey Trust, in line with the charity’s objective to maintain and develop the to the highest standard, continues to invest in capital expenditure programme with major roof replacement throughout the site and W5’s new multi-sensory activity zone Spacebase for 3-11 year olds. With a new coffee dock located beside, Spacebase has contributed positivity to the coffee shop and dock income.

Car Park 20%

Rents Arena Commercial 2.5% Activities 70% 2017 W5 Commercial Activities 7.5%

Car Park 19%

Rents

Arena 3% Commercial Activities 2016 W5 71% Commercial Activities 7% Photo credit: RW Photography

20 07 Corporate Governance ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE W5 (also a charity NIC100112) is a wholly owned Trust delivers the strategy and that key performance The Odyssey Trust is a company limited by guarantee subsidiary and operates the Science Centre. indicators are met. with charitable status and was established under a Memorandum of Association which sets out the objects The Pavilion is operated under a lease with Matagorda 2 The Odyssey Trust maintains a high level of governance and powers of the charitable company and is governed Limited which sub-leases individual units. practice which it keeps under regular review. under its Articles of Association. GOVERNANCE Sub-Committees of the Board are Audit, Remuneration & The Odyssey Trust has four subsidiaries; the trading The Board is responsible for strategic direction and policy. Nominations. A formal risk management process operates subsidiaries gift-aid all, or substantially all of their taxable The Directors seek to ensure that a broad representation to assess all business risks and implement risk management profits to the Odyssey Trust. of skills is properly reflected on the Board. The Chief strategies. Internal Audit is carried out to assess the Executive is responsible for ensuring that the Odyssey adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal control. Overview of Financial Statements 08 Year ended 31st March 2017 The financial reporting framework that has been applied GROUP STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES The liability will be released over the next 10 years. in the preparation of the financial statements is the The Group Statement of Financial Activities for The applicable law and Accounting Standards, Odyssey Trust Group covers W5, the Arena, Car Park, GROUP BALANCE SHEET including that for charities. The results for 2016/17 show Estate Management and Pavilion head rent. The trading The Group Net Assets amount to £48.7m (£51.1m) The the continuing positive position. The Accounts have been profit before depreciation and taxation amounts to £0.1m Fixed Assets amount to £44.9m being largely the original audited in accordance with International Standards on loss (£1.1m loss 2016). building costs for the whole of the Odyssey Complex net Auditing (UK and Ireland). The Group Statement of of depreciation. Debtors, Bank balances and Creditors Financial activities and Balance Sheet extracted from the In 2015/16 the outgoing resources included £3.1m as reflect the working capital requirements of The Odyssey audited financial statements (signed on 18 September a commercial contract was entered into to benefit the Trust. The Bank balances include trading accounts and 2017), are included in this report. A full copy of the future profitibility and cash flow. Under FRS12 Provision deposits most of which are offset by short-term creditors. statutory accounts can be obtained from the Company and Contingencies the present value of the future The Funds are made up of those which are general Secretary. payments is accrued at inception of the contract, while the purpose and those that are designated and restricted for potential future benefits will accrue over the next 10 years. specific purposes set out in the agreements under which The Odyssey Trust operates.

21 The Odyssey Trust Company Limited The Odyssey Trust Company Limited Group statement of financial activities Group balance sheet For the year ended 31 March 2017 For the year ended 31 March 2017

Restricted Unrestricted Total Total Total Total Funds Funds 2017 2016 2017 2016 £ £ £ £ £ £ Incoming resources Fixed assests Incoming resources from generated funds: Intangible Assets - - Voluntary Income 5,408 - 5,408 5,266 Tangible Assets 44,944,458 45,831,904 Activities for generating funds 2,948,162 8,200,586 11,148,748 9,591,094 44,944,458 45,831,904 Investment income 364 40,618 40,982 82,310 Current assets 2,953,934 8,241,204 11,195,138 9,678,670 Debtors: Incoming resources from charitable activities Amounts falling due after one year 1,424,487 1,593,231 Other incoming resources 1,757,416 1,665,343 3,442,759 4,156,381 Amounts falling due within one year 24,616 27,078 Total incoming resources 4,711,350 9,906,547 14,617,897 13,835,051 Stock 206,760 190,622 Bank and cash 10,463,039 12,604,321 Resources expended 12,118,902 14,415,252 Costs of generating funds: Fundraising trading: cost of goods sold Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (6,161,979) (6,525,394) and other costs 3,283,948 7,623,815 10,907,763 7,909,392 Net current Assets 5,956,923 7,889,858 Investment Management costs - 23,726 23,726 42,441 Total assets les current liabilities 50,901,381 53,721,762 3,283,948 7,647,541 10,931,489 7,951,833 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (2,197,548) (2,607,365) Charitable activities 1,893,565 3,917,451 5,811,016 6,045,500 Governance costs 45,705 240,251 285,956 217,210 Net Assets 48,703,833 51,114,397 Total resources expended 5,223,218 11,805,243 17,028,461 14,214,543 Net outgoing incoming resources Funds before taxation and transfers: (511,868) (1,898,696) (2,410,564) (379,492) Unrestricted funds: Taxation: - - - (361,786) General reserve 475,903 893,911 Net outgoing resources before transfers (511,868) (1,898,696) (2,410,564) (741,278) Designated fund 9,064,370 10,076,803

Transfers Restricted funds: Gross transfers between funds (468,255) 468,255 - - Construction fund 39,049,643 40,083,477 Net movement in funds (980,123) (1,430,441) (2,410,564) (741,278) Friendship Four fund - 60,206 Reconciliation of funds: World Championship fund 113,917 - Total funds brought forward 40,143,683 10,970,714 51,114,397 51,855,675 Total funds: 48,703,833 51,114,397 Total funds carried forward 39,163,560 9,540,273 48,703,833 51,114,397

All amounts above relate to continuing operations of the group. There is no difference between the net incoming resources for the year stated above, and their historical cost equivalents. 22 The Odyssey Trust Company Limited W5 Limited Executive Team W5 Trustees/Directors Trustees/Directors Adrian Lutton/Richard Gapper Odyssey Group Chief Executive Chair Chair Robert Fitzpatrick Arena Eric Porter Greg McConnell Neil Walker Odyssey Group Corporate Services Director Vice Chair Tim Harrison Tony Payne Belfast Giants Christina Byrnes Catherine Magee Steve Thornton Jeremy Mills Odyssey Group Operations Director Chair of OML Catherine O’Mullan Adrian Doyle Education & Public Affairs Paul McMahon Judth Harvey Odyssey Group Commercial Director Chair of W5 OML - Belfast Limited Nigel Robbins Facilities Greg McConnell Directors Brian Hughes

Lesley Bourke Chair Corporate Services Mark Cuskeran Paul McMahon Julie-Anne Gillen Mark Durkin Tim Harrison Richard Ennis Social Affairs Glenn Jordan Robert Fitzpatrick Wendy Langham Catherine Magee Tony Payne Jeremy Mills Adrian Doyle Catherine O’Mullan Nigel Robbins Martin McDowell

23 Celebrating...

W5 The SSE Arena, Best Campaign in the 3rd Sector Belfast (DANI Awards 2017) App of the Year (DANI Awards 2017) Best Multi-Channel Campaign (DANI Awards 2017) Silver Award (Attitude is Everything) Family Venue of the Year (The Northern Ireland Hospitality Awards 2017)

Best Entertaining Team (The Northern Ireland Hospitality Awards 2017)

2017 Certificate of Exellence (TripAdvisor)

Over £269,000 revenue generated from W5 online bookings from 7 June – 31 December 2017

www.w5online.co.uk www.ssearenabelfast.com www.belfastgiants.com @W5atOdyssey @thessearenabelfast @BelfastGiants @W5atodyssey @SSEBelfastArena @BelfastGiants @w5belfast @thessearenabelfast @belfastgiants w5-belfast thessearenabelfast belfast-giants

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