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New IoD HubinOmagh W The Roleofthe Chair Irish winRugbyW The T NED Registerlaunched IoD Y IoD atwork NI’ Diary dates ow yourcustomers s Directors oftheYear winterview –Jeremy Biggerstaff oung Directors Forum Page 16-19 Published formembers oftheInstitute ofDirectors Northern Ireland orld Cup 20006 - Vodafone Enterprise 95x36mm button v3.indd 2 20006 - Vodafone Enterprise 95x36mm Rainbow Communications today on0800012 1420 To enjoy competitive Vodafone businessrates call connected your calls at keeping Unbeatable January/February 2016 For verification, seevodafone.co.uk/network www.iod.com 06/02/2015 12:00 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS

New Directors Boot Camp The Annual Dinner Being an entrepreneur Diary dates (Derry~Londonderry) 11 February 6 February (CPD hours) Events 6 February Given December’s UN climate change The latest in our series of joint events with the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) Role of the Company Chairman agreement in Paris, the first of our guest is a briefing on what it means to be an entrepreneur. Local entrepreneurs will talk about 2016 Our next Boot Camp will be held at the speakers for the Annual Dinner is very their experiences of establishing, growing and selling a business – the highs and the lows. 20 January North West Science Park. The half day January topical. Leo Johnson specialises in making workshops use a masterclass format to business sense of sustainability, identifying IoD members and their guests will be joined by players from the Ulster Rugby squad, who 20 The Role of the Company Do you know what a Company Chairman provide an introduction to what it means environmental and social megatrends and are putting in place the foundations for life after rugby. Chairman (7) needs to know? The Chairman has a critical to be a director and why a company the risks and opportunities for business influence on a Board’s style, composition, needs an effective board. A panel of local 25 **New member lunch leaders. balance and performance so if you aren’t leaders share their experiences of the ups 28 Mindfulness workshop (3) sure about the answer to this question, then and downs of the director role, and there Leading for the Future Leo has hosted the BBC World Show the IoD Role of the Company Chairman is is an interactive case study session to “Down to Business” helping scale up BBC 11 March essential CPD for you. make delegates really think about a tricky World Challenges ground-breaking small February boardroom situation. An easy introduction businesses, including Green Gold in the Speakers at this year’s Women’s Leadership 09 **New Director Boot Camp – The one day course will provide practising, to the legal role of the director is provided Colombian jungle and bio-gas from waste Conference will cover such topics as agile newly appointed or soon-to-be Chairs with by an expert from Arthur Cox. Suitable for Derry (3.5) in Kenya. He has commented and written working, improving performance, recruiting an opportunity to understand the role and anyone who is new to the director role or guest columns for the BBC, CNN, CNBC, the Generation Z, tackling new markets, and 11 The Annual Dinner current good practice. The objective is to would like a refresher, whose company has Financial Times, and Wall Street Journal. the impact of changing technology. 16 Being an entrepreneur (1) help board Chairs to lead and create more not yet established a working board or who effective boards that will contribute to the is advising new start companies. 23 **New member lunch organisation’s success. Once again IoD NI and the Chief Executives’ Forum are organising the Sponsored by Arthur Cox Our presenter, Francis Bergin, is not only conference at Titanic Belfast, where the March a very experienced presenter, he has also speaker line up will include Deborah 11 Women’s Leadership served as a Chairman and non-executive Mitchell, founder of the global skincare Conference (6) director for a number of private companies empire, Heaven; Colette Kidd, Head and a national charity, and was Chartered of Talent Development at Kainos; and Secretary at Unilever plc. Dame Mary Peters, President of the Mary June Peters Trust, which supports rising new 03 Young Directors Conference (4) sports stars. The team from Planet K2 Mind Your Own Business will apply their expertise in the sporting workshop arena to performance improvement in the September 28 January workplace. 27 IoD Annual Convention Find out how mindfulness can profit your Susan Hayes Culleton will host the day, business at this half-day workshop facilitated by which will feature the popular Marketplace Leo Johnson **free to IoD members Frank Liddy of the Belfast Mindfulness Centre. showcasing the produce of companies run by local business women.

Book online at The Conference is supported by Pinsent www.iod.com/northernireland Masons, The Spa at The Merchant, Regular Boot Camp presenter Lynsey Clarendon Executive, Lexus and KMPG. Deborah Mitchell Mallon of Arthur Cox. If the event you are looking for does Are you keeping up-to-date? New member lunches not appear online, please telephone Various dates the IoD office at 028 9068 3224. Advertise with IoD activity is aimed at providing leaders with professional development opportunities to retain your Chartered Director status, contribute to CPD points You don’t have to be a brand new member IoD or hours for other professional bodies, and generally to keep you to attend the New Member Lunches up-to-date with developments relating to your role as a director and For information on advertising in sponsored by Director Development decision maker. CPD hours are indicated (in brackets) in the list of IoD Northern Ireland News or IoD Ireland, and if you haven’t been to one Diary Dates in IoD Northern Ireland News. sponsorship opportunities, contact already the lunches provide a great Linda Brown on 028 9068 3224 or opportunity to meet other business leaders IoD events also provide valuable opportunities to network with and Follow IoD Northern Ireland email [email protected] and some members of the IoD Northern learn from other business leaders. on Twitter @iodni Frank Liddy Ireland Committee.

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2 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 3 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS Success for NI directors at Chairman’s message UK Awards by Paul Terrington, Chairman IoD Northern Ireland As we prepare to bid farewell to 2015 the dramatic about-face on the tax Northern Ireland recorded our best ever results in the IoD UK Director of the Year Awards 2015 gaining wins in 3 categories, a Highly and welcome 2016, our particular hope is credit plans was the big surprise, and Commended and the overall Director of the Year for the second time. that the new year brings better fortune families across Northern Ireland, who than the old one we’re leaving behind. rely heavily on tax credits, will be hugely relieved. However, the impact of Universal We entered 2015 with the recently minted Credit should not be underestimated. Stormont House Agreement already Back in 2013 the Department of Social tarnished and rapidly devaluing and we’re Development (DSD) estimated that, for the entering 2016 in the hope that the Fresh majority of households, the introduction Start agreement does exactly what it says of Universal Credit would have either on the tin. However, always mindful of the no impact or would leave them better late Seamus Heaney’s warning that, “… off. Nevertheless, DSD suggested that a anyone born and bred in Northern Ireland substantial number of local households, can’t be too optimistic,” we should look perhaps as many as 80,000, would find carefully at some of the highlights of 2015 themselves less well-off. and be prepared for the impact of these in 2016. Challenging times

If we analyse the detail of Fresh Start in SR2015 also confirmed that, in cash comparison to Stormont House, it is difficult terms, the overall financial settlement for to see precisely where a solid year of Northern Ireland between now and 2019-20 negotiations has made a material difference is broadly flat, but in real terms inflation to the finances and economic prospects of will turn that into a 5% cut in the block First to the stage to collect her award for Public the region. And if we add the combined grant. Not the axe-wielding cuts some had Sector Director of the Year was Marie-Therese McGivern, Principal and Chief Executive of Mike Mullan of Moy Park was the second impact of the Chancellor’s post-election expected, but it amounts to a challenging Belfast Metropolitan College. The judges said Northern Ireland winner in the category Summer Budget, the Autumn Statement few years for the Executive, particularly the she displayed brilliant leadership as well as of Director of the Year for Leadership in Highly Commended in the SME category was and Spending Review, there is no shortage as Northern Ireland is not recovering as great ambition, passion and vision. Corporate Responsibility. Jeremy Biggerstaff from Flint Studios. of challenges for the Executive in 2016 – quickly as other regions in the UK. This particularly with an election just under six means that productivity - the elephant in New IoD NI months away. the room since the 1950s - needs to be Administrator The IoD UK raised substantially if we are to counteract Surprises the impact of the NLW, falling public Welcome to our newest member of overall Director expenditure and a regional economy that is staff, the IoD Northern Ireland Julie- One of the surprises in the Summer Budget not enjoying anything like the same level of Anne Clarke. of the Year was the announcement of the National recovery of most the other 11 regions. Living Wage (NLW). Due to be introduced Also on the agenda for 2016 will be A graduate in Communications and Winner of the Family Company Director at a level of £7.20/hour in April 2016 for the continued challenge of energy Public Relations from the University of the Year and the overall UK Director those aged 25 and above, the NLW will costs. Michelin highlighted the cost of of Northumbria, Julie-Anne joins us of the Year was Simon Hunter of Hunter rise to reach 60% of the UK median wage electricity as one reason for closing its from the Construction Employers’ Federation. She is a past pupil of Apparel Solutions. Simon was judged to level in April 2020. But for those aged Ballymena plant in 2018 and the recently- Belfast Royal Academy and works with demonstrate not only excellent personal 21 to 24, the National Minimum Wage appointed advisory group has to make its several charities in her spare time. achievement but also showed strong remains unchanged. The Office for Budget recommendations by 1 March as to how as leadership and the ability to deal with Responsibility (OBR) has since suggested costs can be brought “as close as possible” Julie-Anne can be contacted at difficult issues at the heart of a family that the NLW will “cost” between 60,000 to the average EU benchmark. business. [email protected] or and 120,000 jobs lost or foregone across 028 9068 3224. the UK by 2020. One welcome note was the reference in SR2015 to Corporation Tax and the ‘date Simon is pictured with comedian Miles Jupp, Osborne’s plan is to increase the NLW to and the rate’ when this will be switched- event host (right), and Patrick McGillycuddy, 60% of the level of median UK wages for on for new investors. And while some Head of Fleet, category sponsors Skoda UK those aged 25 and over by 2020. However, caveats remain around affordability and as wage levels in NI are, on average lower the implementation of the provisions of ANALYSIS than in GB, that implies a NLW higher than the Stormont House Agreement, there will the NI median, impacting on around a fifth be a collective sigh of relief that flexibility of local workers as compared to 13% UK- on Corporation Tax is finally close to being Need help driving traffic to your website? wide. So, if productivity can’t be raised to delivered. MEASURABLE compensate, we could well be looking at a Contact us today. pro rata, cost of 2,000 to 4,000 job losses/ As far as business is concerned, we’ve seen ACHIEVABLE RESULTS foregone in Northern Ireland by 2020. yet another year of political dissent, missed deadlines and lack of real strategic focus the web bureau TIMEBOUND www.thewebbureau.com Tel 028 9073 1190 Moving to the combined Autumn on recovery and growth. We can’t afford CONSULTATION Statement and Spending Review (SR2015), another one. 4 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 5 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS

MEMBER PROFILES MEMBER PROFILES Declan Cunnane Declan Cunnane Bryan Keating Declan was appointed Chief Executive levels and raise vital funds at the same time? An experienced business angel, Bryan is hugely Economy that is so vital for sustainable and of Northern Ireland Chest Heart and The 300k cycle was also a great opportunity passionate about business and academia, profitable exports. He welcomes the formation Stroke (NICHS) in 2015 having being to engage with the people involved in our inspired in no small measure by the people he of the new Department of the Economy next Deputy Chief Executive since 2012. research, those who support our campaigns, has the pleasure to work with. year that will be responsible for supporting He is an honours graduate in Business fundraisers and local businesses.” the skilling and supply of human capital with Administration from Queen’s University Bryan has recently invested in Exploristics, an its attendant economic and social impact: Belfast and a Fellow of the Institute of Anyone living in Northern Ireland and innovative data analytics company founded by in that regard, tackling the issue of youth Chartered Accountants in Ireland with suffering from a chest, heart and stroke Dr Aiden Flynn that specialises in the Health unemployment and long term unemployment is extensive experience of working at illnesses can turn to NICHS for help. The and Life Sciences sector. He continues to chair of particular importance for both the economy a senior level in both the private and organisation visits people in hospital and Learning Pool a UK leader in eLearning systems and society as a whole. voluntary sectors. For 15 years he was in their homes, providing information, and services. He is also involved with the Boys’ managing partner of an accountancy support and advice, and runs 60 support Model Bursary Fund supporting pupils to enter In addition, Bryan is a member of the Economic practice that specialises in advising the groups across Northern Ireland, providing third level education. Advisory Group (EAG), which provides advice to voluntary sector. an opportunity for people to meet others the Minister for Enterprise Trade & Investment. with the same health conditions and the As well as serving as Chair of MATRIX - the He is a member of the European Heart same daily challenges. Staff also organise Science and Industry panel * – Bryan is also chair *MATRIX Network, the UK Health Forum, the Health exercises, talks and activities at these groups of the Department for Employment & Learning’s MATRIX advises government, industry and & Social Care Special Interest Group and to promote secondary prevention and help Emphasising that good habits are developed Apprenticeship and Youth Training Forum. Both academia on the commercial exploitation of for Northern Ireland companies to exploit Honorary Treasurer and Board Member of a people manage their illness. at an early age, NICHS deliver a programme bodies are driven by industry, supported by FE, R&D and science and technology in Northern and academia to benefit from. MATRIX also number of other charities. called Chester’s Challenge to primary school HE and government, and both promote the Ireland. The group works with industry and represents the voice of the high tech industry and For many people, chest, heart and stroke children to help them make healthy choices need for an ever-increasing skilled workforce to academia to identify new high technology champions the role of science and technology as To mark his appointment, Declan recently illnesses can be avoided by monitoring in their lives. drive the economy, including the Knowledge market opportunities, IP and technologies one the key drivers of economic growth. travelled over 300 kilometres visiting their health and leading a healthy lifestyle. staff, volunteers and service users around NICHS nurses carry out health checks in the There are 206,000 people currently living Northern Ireland – using only pedal power! community and in businesses to identify high in Northern Ireland with chest heart and Karen Shearer blood pressure and high cholesterol, both stroke illness who need NICHS. To find out Karen is a director of Novosco, a cloud universities, 11 housing associations, and Explaining this unusual start to his new role, early warning signs of future illness. NICHS more about their work, go to www.nichs. managed services provider headquartered five of the island of Ireland’s largest food Declan said, “NICHS has 57 support services also deliver health promotion programmes, org.uk and the facebook and twitter pages in the Northern Ireland Science Park. companies. helping over 500 people every week– so what run health campaigns such as “Sweat the including stories from people, who have better way for me to fully appreciate the value Small Things” and “Heart Awareness” and been helped, explaining the difference Novosco was founded more than 20 years Karen is Novosco’s Finance Director, and of what the charity does, keep up my fitness fund groundbreaking research. NICHS makes to their lives. ago and now employs over 120 people, with also plays a wider role in the company. She offices in Dublin, Cork and Manchester, as is a member of the company’s board of well as its Belfast base. directors, and is closely involved in business Darren McDowell strategy and business operations. Darren is a partner in Harbinson Mulholland He regularly presents at a variety of business The company’s swift rate of growth is where he is involved in general practice, organisations including NISP Connect and highlighted by its recent appearance in the She says that she loves working with the looking after a client portfolio across a broad Belfast Solicitors Association and is a valued Deloitte Fast 50 listing of the most rapidly talented people in the company and that range of sectors. He is particularly valued in editorial contributor to IoD Northern Ireland growing tech businesses on the island of they challenge each other continually to appeared in the Sunday Times 100 Best Harbinson Mulholland for his specialist skills News. Ireland for a record 16th year in a row. improve, which is particularly important in Companies to Work for in the UK this year such as working with technology companies the fast changing area of cloud technologies. for the third year in a row. in addressing the needs of their investors Recently Darren acted as Chairman of Family Novosco’s clients include around 50 of and expertise in due diligence assignments. Business NI – Keys to Success, a unique and Northern Ireland’s Top 100 Companies, Novosco was named NI Company of the Karen has been an IoD member for 10 years He also assists Knowledge Based Enterprises innovative event jointly hosted by the Ulster 15 NHS Health Trusts in NI and GB, five Year 2015 by the Belfast Telegraph, and and is a Chartered Director. with business planning and management University Business School and Harbinson accounting. Mulholland. New IoD Members A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered We are pleased to welcome the following Cathal Geoghegan, The Mount Charles Group Ltd Jack Peel, Fusion Heating Ltd Accountants in Ireland, Darren is a past Chairman members to have joined (or re-joined) IoD Richard Hassard, Tascomi Ltd Patricia Rogers, Allen & Overy LLP of Chartered Accountants Ulster Society (a Northern Ireland since the last issue of IoD Paul Isherwood, Northern Ireland Housing Executive Austin Smyth, Transport Analysis & Advocacy Ltd district society of Chartered Accountants Ireland Northern Ireland News. Paul Lavery, Lowe Refrigeration Ltd Audrey Spence, Independent Healthcare Solutions representing over 3,500 members). Richard Lusty, Ulster Bank Ltd Gary Thompson, NI Fire & Rescue Service Niall Adams, Tascomi Ltd Stephen Martin, PSNI Tom Verner, Momentum Business Development Ltd Bonnie Anley, Londonderry Port & Harbour Ciaran McCallion, Allen & Overy LLP Suzanne Willmott, Allen & Overy LLP Commissioners Siobhan McCauley, NI Housing Executive Jacqueline Wilson, Allen & Overy LLP Karen Bailey, Business Services Organisation Christopher McDowell, Kilwaughter Chemical Co Ltd Wendy Blundell, Institution of Civil Engineers Connaire McGreevy, CTS Projects Ltd Our New Member Lunch series allows new Andrew Brammer, Allen & Overy LLP Stephen McNamee, McNamee Accounting members and any other members who have Your files. Your Records. Neil Collins, Glen Dimplex Northern Ireland Noel Mullan, Heron Bros Ltd not attended one to find out more about Our Safe Hands. Gordon Craig, Johnston Printing Ltd Brian Murray, Workspace (Draperstown) Ltd IoD membership benefits and to meet Call 028 90 73 23 33 or visit morgandocumentsecurity.com Declan Cunnane, NI Chest Heart & Stroke Association Roisin Murray, Tascomi Ltd fellow members. See page 2 for dates and Michael Dunlop, OR Training & Personal Gary Nelson, Quality Plan Ltd for information and bookings, email iod. Development Ltd Claire O’Kane, Heron Bros Ltd [email protected] The lunches are Alyson English, Lighthouse Communications Kevin Oliver, Allen & Overy LLP sponsored by Director Development Ireland.

6 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 7 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS Looking for Excellence The IoD NI The work of the IoD NI Committees The search for the winner of the 2016 Committee Connecting You Energy Framework. Members continue to IoD Lunn’s Award of Excellence began be frustrated by statements coming from Another issue of with a lunch at Belfast’s Merchant Hotel in Chairman A new series of breakfast speaker events DETI saying that we have enough secure November. Paul Terrington, PwC is being organised by the Connecting power to meet our needs in the medium serious concern is Immediate Past Chairman Committee in partnership with Queen’s term but ignoring the fact that if we want underachievement amongst Mervyn McCall, MNV Ltd Chief Executives Club and the William J to have enough secure power in the long Treasurer Clinton Leadership Institute. Starting in term, we need to be investing NOW, not school leavers and the Geoffrey Henderson, TotalMobile March 2016, four events will be held during just talking about it. Committee is working the year featuring a range of speakers Committee chairmen both local and national. These will be The committee heard of a business that with The Prince’s Trust on has been told it will take between 3 and Past IoD Lunn’s Award winner Ciaran Sheehan Jonathan Guest, Harland & Wolff great networking events and will be free of 4 YEARS to get them the increased grid a project that will bring of Care Circle Group with Peter Lunn and (Connecting) charge to members. Siubhán O’Connor of PwC Bill Beers, Beers Engineering supply they need for a proposed expansion greater involvement by Consultancy Department for the Economy of their existing facility. As one member (Business Environment) pointed out, “With the date and the rate businesses into the Trust’s now set for Corporation Tax, the issue of Geraldine Gordon, Gordon Business Dr Andrew McCormick, Permanent grid infrastructure and generation is going XL Clubs initiative. Consultancy Secretary of the Department for Enterprise to be screaming at us!” (Education & Skills) Trade & Investment (DETI), was a recent The Committee meets once every two Gordon Milligan, Translink visitor to the IoD Economic Strategy Nicholas Tarrant of NIE Networks will months at Riddel Hall and the members of (Developing) Committee. Amongst the topics discussed be attending the January meeting of were the impact of the A Fresh Start plan to the Committee are: Ian Sheppard, Bank of Ireland the Business Environment Committee to implement the Stormont House Agreement (Economic Strategy) discuss infrastructure investment needs with Brendan Clarke, Learning & Skills and the Northern Ireland Budget on Dr members. Development Network McCormick’s department and on Invest Members Carol Fitzsimons, Young Enterprise NI IoD NI Committee member Geraldine Gordon Noel Brady, Consult Nb1 Northern Ireland. If you want to comment on any Committee Connor Fitzgerald CDir (left) and Audrey Spence of Independent Colin Coffey, RDA Group activity or join one of the Committtees, Healthcare Solutions Brett Weeden, Homecare Independent Ashleen Feeney, KMPG please email [email protected] Launching the Award were IoD NI Chairman Living Paul Terrington and Peter Lunn, Chairman of Caroline Keenan, ASM Belfast Eileen Montgomery, Crane Energy Flow Lunn’s The Jewellers. The Award was created Neal Lucas, Neal Lucas Recruitment The Education & Skills Committee Solutions to celebrate individuals who have made an Marie-Thérèse McGivern, Belfast outstanding contribution to local business and Ian Jeffers, The Prince’s Trust Metropolitan College As it says on the tin, the activity of the to the community in general. 2016 will be the Education & Skills Committee is focused Jim Morrison, Antal International 15th anniversary of the award, which will be Jill Robb, Origin Digital John D’Arcy, Open University presented at the Annual Dinner in February. Rose Mary Stalker, Catagen on the skills needs of business and the Joanne Stuart, NI Science Park education of our future workforce. Kim Johnston, KJ Executives Winners of the coveted perpetual trophy and, Alan Taylor, Arthur Cox Laura Jackson, BDO this year, a prestigious Rolex watch include Chairing the Committee is Geraldine Richard Buchanan, IoD Policy Consultant 2015 winner, Marie-Thérèse McGivern of Gordon CDir, who has a background in the To contact any members of the Richard Kirk, Institution of Civil Engineers Belfast Metropolitan College, Jim Dobson of construction sector and who is currently Dunbia, David Dobbin of Dale Farm Ltd, Helen Northern Ireland Committee, Robert Pierce, RW Pierce Group Lisa McLaughlin (left) and Caoimhe running her own business, Gordon Business Kirkpatrick of Kingspan plc, and Michael Ryan McGuinness of Herbert Smith Freehills with email [email protected] Roisin McDonough, Arts Council NI of Bombardier. Consultancy. IoD NI Director Linda Brown Dr Andrew McCormick Roy Creelman, McIlveen Howard Limited The current focus of the Committee is on Sarah Orange, HNH Human Capital MEMBER PROFILES addressing gaps between the skills needed Valerie Ingram, Ulster Garden Villages The work that is underway to create by business and the skills present in the the new Department for the Economy current labour force. Following a request Nicholas O’Shiel through the amalgamation of DETI and the by the Institute to DEL, a matrix setting out Department for Employment & Learning the support available to employers to train Nicholas is Chief Executive of Omagh development and delivery of a range of (DEL) was also discussed. Dr McCormick and upskill their employees is now available Enterprise Company and has 20 years’ business start-up, growth and innovation took away a number of messages from at http://www.iodni.com/do-you-know-how- experience of working in business, programmes aimed at community, members, in particular about the fact to-build-a-skilled-workforce enterprise and economic development. enterprise and economic development. He that there appears to be little input from writes a weekly blog on enterprise, business the business community to this work, Another issue of serious concern is He joined the company in 1996 and and technology matters that appears and the fear that new ‘silos’ for Higher underachievement amongst school leavers manages 80,000 square feet of workspace on a number of digital platforms and is Education, Further Education and Economic and the Committee is working with The that includes a Technology Incubation published in the Ulster Herald newspaper; Development might be created within the Prince’s Trust on a project that will bring Centre and an Innovation Growth centre the blogs can be viewed at new department unless there is a coherent, greater involvement by businesses into the that support 60 businesses employing www.omaghenterprise.co.uk/nicks-blog. overarching strategy that will maximise Trust’s XL Clubs initiative. over 300 people. The recently opened Nicholas is a former President of Omagh the potential of bringing these three areas Innovation Centre provides incubation You can view a series of video interviews Chamber of Commerce and a Governor together. Members of this Committee regularly meet and shared workspace facilities to a range that Nicholas has held with entrepreneurs of the South West College. He holds a with senior government officials, most of start-up, growth and social economy and business owners about the challenges Doctor of Management from the University Energy – where’s the investment? recently Mary McIvor, Director of Further businesses. of starting and running a business at of Ulster, a Masters in Management from Education at DEL attended the Committee Geraldine Gordon CDir www.omaghenterprise.co.uk/60-second- Trinity College, Dublin and was awarded At the time of writing there was no sign of a to discuss the Further Education Strategy Chairman of the IoD NI Education & Skills Nicholas is also responsible for the challenge/. the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. consultation on the badly needed Strategic review. Committee

8 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 9 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD’s Young Directors Forum MEMBER NEWS With 25% of IoD members in Northern helped them to achieve a listing in the last 3 accelerated the need for a new approach to Kevin to take the lead Ellvena Graham Ireland aged below 43, it’s little wonder that years for the Sunday Times Best Companies to business. Stakeholders now demand more we have such a vibrant and active Young Work For. open, connected and meaningful relationships IoD member Kevin Kingston is to become Congratulations to Ellvena Graham who has Directors’ Forum (YDF). with organisations, and more and more Chief Executive of Danske Bank UK been appointed Chairman at ESB, Ireland’s Sponsorship support companies are taking note. (Northern Bank Limited). premier electricity utility. The aim of the YDF is to provide our younger directors with a support network that will We are delighted that Willis Insurance and This wide-ranging and practical conference Following the departure from the role of Ellvena was until recently Head of Ulster assist them in growing their businesses and Risk Management are sponsoring the Young will help delegates re-think their strategy for fellow member Gerry Mallon, Kevin will Bank in Northern Ireland and Managing developing their own skills as business leaders. Directors Forum for the second consecutive today’s world, helping their organisations take on responsibility for maintaining the Director of SME Banking across the island year. Willis Insurance & Risk Management to operate in the more open way that strong position of Danske in the Northern of Ireland. Prior to that, Ellvena held the Within the Forum there is no ‘typical’ young has built a sound reputation as a highly customers and audiences will increasingly Ireland marketplace. As a key member of position of Chief Operating Officer for director. The directors come from a diverse professional independent brokerage and demand. Covering essential topics such as the Bank team over many years, Kevin’s Ulster Bank Group. range of businesses ranging from start ups consultancy and has close to 60 staff across Social Business Strategy, Transparency, Open track record and experience in the banking to large corporates and cover a full range of offices in Belfast, Coleraine and Reading, Innovation, Open Data, Crowd Funding, as sector will stand him in good stead as he She is also Chairman of the Economic industry sectors. The common theme is that England. Each YDF event includes a 5 minute well as Digital Marketing and more, it will leads the Bank on to the next stage in its Advisory Group (EAG) in Northern Ireland they are committed to their own professional ‘hot topic’ presented by Willis Insurance and help you future-proof your business like never development journey. and is a Fellow of the Institute of Banking. development and enjoy making new business Risk Management and over the past year we’ve before. contacts through the networking opportunities gained a valuable insight into key topics that Kevin is the immediate past President of the Frank to chair Belfast Met presented by the YDF. included cyber insurance, the new flexible We’ve also committed to supporting The Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & pensions regime and SEIS/EIS funding. Prince’s Trust this year. As a charity it aims to Industry. Former IoD NI Chairman and IoD Fellow Events programme help disadvantaged young people to change Frank Bryan has become Chair of the Member engagement their lives and get into work, education or Governing Body of Belfast Metropolitan Our events over the past year have ranged training. We’re planning a family charity film College. With 6 campuses in Belfast, the from breakfasts, a lunch and an evening Encouraging member engagement is an screening in the early part of 2016. Look out College had over 37,000 enrolments and event, all with opportunities for networking important part of the IoD overall strategy and for details of the event and how you can get employed 827 people in 2013/14. before hearing from a senior business leader. therefore having members involved in the involved. These speakers have represented a variety of planning of the YDF is a vital part of its success. Frank is a senior executive coach and his business and topics spanning leadership in a Our YDF Steering Group is led by Neal Lucas IoD members do not need to join the YDF roles include non-executive Director of competitive environment from Shane Logan, of Neal Lucas Recruitment and its members are - those who fit the age criteria will be sent QUBIS Ltd, the Queen’s University spin- Ulster Rugby, the challenges of running a Jayne Gallagher, Legal Island; Patricia Herron, invitations to the events. Those who regularly out vehicle for research and innovation. family business from Brian McErlain of Genesis Regus; Chris Harrison, JPR; Jonathan Carter, attend our events see real benefit in the He chairs the TechStart NI Investment Crafty and tips for improving your leadership Corporate AV; and Lisa Keys, IoD. opportunity to meet their peers and learn Advisory Board and is a member of the IoD skills from winner of the IoD Lunn’s Award of from business leaders who are a little further UK Board, where he led on the Institute’s Excellence Marie-Thérèse McGivern of Belfast 2016 activity along the business journey. There’ll be plenty constitution and governance reform Metropolitan College. of YDF events in 2016 and we’d love to programme. Frank is also a non-executive Places are filling fast for our next breakfast welcome you along. Director of Cirdan Imaging Ltd and event on 28 January which is kindly hosted by Northern Ireland Hospice (Trading) Ltd. Ulster Bank. We’ll hear from Richard Ramsey, Ulster Bank’s Chief Economist as he gives us his thoughts and predictions for the economy Kathryn joins SIB for 2016. Kathryn Thomson has been appointed to been a Member of the Chartered Institute We’ve introduced a new event into the 2016 the Strategic Investment Board for a three of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) programme and will hold our first Young year term. since 1998. Directors’ Conference on Friday 3 June. The theme for the conference is Achieving Business Kathryn has been the Chief Operating The Strategic Investment Board helps Success in the Digital Age and this half day Officer of Tourism Northern Ireland (TNI) Government to plan infrastructure, deliver conference will begin with lunch and end with for eight years and has worked in TNI since major projects and manage assets. As part Ulster Rugby CEO Shane Logan a networking barbecue. 2005. She is a Director and Trustee on of its remit, SIB’s key responsibilities include the Board of three charities – the Simon preparing the Investment Strategy for Most recently the YDF heard from Patrick Success in the internet age requires so much Community (since 2010) of which she is also Northern Ireland, helping the public sector McAliskey from Novosco about how turning more than the simple, tick-box exercise the Treasurer; Replay Productions (since develop and deliver major programmes and their company values into real behaviours and of implementing social technologies. The Richard Ramsey of Ulster Bank is the speaker 2011) of which she is Chair; and Open projects, operating the Asset Management skills that are valued in fellow employees has revolutionary power of the internet has for the next YDF event on 28 January House Festival (since April 2015). She has Unit and helping to champion reform.

ANALYSIS Need help driving traffic to your website? Contact us today. MEASURABLE ACHIEVABLE RESULTS the web bureau TIMEBOUND www.thewebbureau.com Tel 028 9073 1190 CONSULTATION 10 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 11 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS The Chartered Director IoD launches NED Register IoD Northern Ireland has launched Northern Ireland’s first official database Programme – of non-executive directors (NEDs) with the aim of improving the effectiveness of an insider’s view... organisations at board level. The launch coincided with the release of By December, the participants on the 2015-16 Long standing Course Director Peter Martin Marketing” provided much enlightenment as findings from Ulster University research Northern Ireland cohort of the IoD Chartered has assembled, what so far has been, an we each tried to implement lessons learned commissioned by the IoD into the value of Director Programme are three modules outstanding programme of engaging and into our own organisations, whilst “Finance non-executive directors in the local economy. into the Programme. But what is it like to knowledgeable speakers, who deliver the for Non-Financial Directors” generated some experience this Programme, which is the course content in a relaxed yet entertaining head scratching even from those more fiscally The IoD NED Register has been developed only accredited international qualification format. minded. to provide companies seeking to appoint a specifically for directors? Here one of the non-executive director with a full, free-of- participants gives us his (or her!) impressions In total the course covers 12.5 days, mostly Prosecutions of company directors in the charge, list of potential candidates who so far. in two day residential blocks, beginning in Republic soared post the economic crash, but have the required competencies, skills, September with the final exam in June, with so too did IoD membership in the South as experience and knowledge to add value Do you know what you don’t know? this year’s intake hoping to pass both the directors sought qualifications and refresher to organisations. It follows a series of Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction, courses in their duties, responsibilities and recent media reports of poor corporate When is a director free of his/her before pushing on towards the final goal of liabilities as directors. governance at board level. responsibilities to a company? becoming a Chartered Director. Waiting list Value of a NED Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI (left), Laura Jackson of BDO, IoD NI Chairman Paul Terrington and Caoimhe As directors we should know - especially Camaraderie McGuinness of Herbert Smith Freehills, author of The Value of Non-Executive Directors report considering recent media coverage that has With a year-long waiting list to join the course The UU research into the value of non- highlighted a shocking lack of knowledge The 15 directors taking part hail from all in the Republic, it will come as little surprise executive directors in local business, which businesses which took part in the interviews of Business Solutions, also endorsed the regarding the basics of corporate governance sectors of the economy - social enterprises, that one participant of this year’s intake travels was sponsored by BDO Northern Ireland, have pointed to the network of contacts report findings and the creation of the at board level within the private and public utilities, media, technology, sport, agri-food, North to attend, while another flies in from revealed that all companies surveyed which non-executive directors open up, NED Register, which will provide quality sector. finance and the public sector. In fact the England. believed there was significant value to their their ability to fill knowledge gaps within assurance of the potential NEDs on the list. make-up of this cohort couldn’t be more organisation in appointing a non-executive the firm, the challenge function and the We should be aware of our duties, liabilities diverse, yet the openness and camaraderie of And I can understand why. director. ability to take an overarching view which is “Invest Northern Ireland has long recognised and responsibilities as directors, but how many the candidates is refreshing. often the preserve of the outsider. the benefits and the added value that an of us actually do? To answer my opening question, directors The IoD NED Register and UU research are effective non-executive director can bring No one knows it all and each will admit that. are never free from their responsibilities to a both part of the IoD NI’s ‘Building Better “The study helps those of us involved to the board of a growing business. This I thought I knew the fundamentals, but the But as the course has progressed we have company if fraud is involved. Boards’ campaign, which aims to provide in advising businesses and driving the register will be a valuable resource for first session of this year’s IoD Chartered identified our own strengths and weaknesses support to companies seeking a non- economy to assess the role of non- businesses. The right non-executive director Director programme entitled the “Role of the within our personal skill base. Hence the vital importance of continual executive director as well as to individuals executive directors, the advantages they can bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise Director and the Board” highlighted that my professional development if we’re to become seeking to improve their competency as a can bring to a company, and whether, and contacts to a business, as well as knowledge fell short of my own benchmarking. “The Director’s Role in Strategy and better directors, leading better organisations. director or aspiring director. overall, non-executive directors have objectivity and strategic vision, all of which indeed improved the performance of are vital for growing businesses.” MEMBER NEWS Laura Jackson, Partner at report sponsors individual businesses and the overall BDO Northern Ireland, commented: “As economy in Northern Ireland.” To find out more about the IoD NED this research shows, the non-executive Register, email [email protected] Translink move director has multiple functions. The Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI’s Executive Director or visit iodni.com.

Paddy Anderson has been appointed to the position of Chief Financial Officer for Translink. He joins Translink from the Business Services Organisation, where he was Director of Finance Why the IoD Programme worked for me and a member of the Board. by George Hamilton, Chief Constable PSNI

A Chartered Accountant, Paddy has held a number of senior Finance positions in both the Since joining policing 30 years ago all I have leadership and governance challenges to which I private and public sectors. honestly wanted to do as a police officer have to respond. I was introduced at a strategic is to ‘keep people safe’. Becoming Chief level to issues of corporate governance such as He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and completed the IoD Chartered Director Constable felt like a real opportunity to place audit, procurement, risk and strategic planning. Programme in September 2014. that simple but powerful purpose right at the heart of policing as I took on a position The opportunity to engage with serious at the most senior level within policing. players from the world of business provided ANALYSIS an informative insight and has helped develop Being Chief Constable of the Police Service my thinking on how service delivery can be of Northern Ireland is an honour for me. I best orientated to ensure the customer, or the Want to grow sales online? knew the job would come with significant challenges but, in my view, that is what community in my case, is at the centre of the MEASURABLE leadership is about. The exposure I had on the organisation’s focus when making decisions. Contact us today. IoD Company Direction Programme, which I Now, as Chief Constable, this focus is the ACHIEVABLE RESULTS undertook as an additional optional element of key issue for me. Whether it is a financial or the Police Strategic Command Course in 2007 operational challenge, PSNI keep the community the web bureau TIMEBOUND www.thewebbureau.com Tel 028 9073 1190 was an excellent foundation for many of the at the heart of all our decision making. CONSULTATION 12 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 13 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS Are you recycling and reusing mobile Corporation Tax – devices responsibly? welcome Date and a Rate by Stuart Carson, Rainbow Communications by Alastair Hamilton CDir, CEO Invest Northern Ireland

Mobile phones are a popular gift to give During a Channel 4 investigation, journalists As part of the Northern Ireland Executive’s We are already conducting research into a loved one at Christmas and with folk bought three used mobile phones from A Fresh Star : The Stormont House the new FDI markets, the types and sectors commonly upgrading at least every two a high street second-hand shop, which Agreement and Implementation Plan, a rate of those investments and the parts of the years, this can leave a large number of tells customers that all their data will be and date has been confirmed for reducing world that we should be targeting for those redundant handsets piling up at home or erased before selling their old handset. Northern Ireland’s Corporation Tax to investments. in the office. Unfortunately for these people, analysts 12.5% from April 2018. were able to recover files from their Our teams locally and overseas will be This creates an environmental issue as well devices using specialist software, revealing so perhaps you could bear this in mind the Along with the Department of Enterprise trained and equipped with the skills and as a data security risk. In 2007, the Waste SMS, browsing history, email address and next time your company upgrades your Trade & Investment, we have been specialist resources to maximise this of Electrical and Electronic Equipment password for a work account, full name mobile phones. preparing for this to ensure we maximise opportunity. (WEEE) Directive was introduced into and postal address and medical records. the opportunity that a lower Corporation UK law to try and encourage the reuse, Keep in mind that although you may think All businesses have a responsibility, to Tax rate brings. This reduced rate has the All Ministers and Invest NI will now being Alastair Hamilton CDir recycling and recovery of electronic items. you have deleted all your data, if not the company and the environment, to potential to secure new Foreign Direct going into international markets with As users of electronics, we all have a correctly erased this information can still be ensure all devices are reused or recycled Investment for Northern Ireland and to a much stronger message about what duty to safely dispose of electronic items recovered. in accordance with environmental law make it easier for existing businesses to Northern Ireland has to offer as a place to programmes, new advertising promotions, including mobile phones and tablet devices. and data security. It is vital that these grow. do business. Our message will be clear and events and meetings we will be putting our If disposed of incorrectly, electronics can Be safe procedures are adhered to correctly, consistent – Northern Ireland is the most full weight into ensuring we make the most end up at UK landfill sites where the toxic otherwise your data security could be Attracting new investment attractive location in Western Europe for of this opportunity. chemicals and metals contained within Vodafone Trade In will safely reuse or compromised. new FDI, based on a combination of tax, the devices can leak and pollute the dispose of your mobile phones in return for We are confident that a lower rate of talent and value. Helping local businesses to grow surrounding environment. money, allowing you to recover some of Stuart is Sales and Marketing Director at Corporation Tax will help Northern Ireland the capital costs associated with updating Rainbow Communications. to compete for and win a wide range of We are already working on an extensive There are also significant benefits for Where is your data? your business mobile handsets. Vodafone tax sensitive investments, creating many sustained marketing campaign to deliver our local businesses too. With reduced specialists check the devices and those in thousands of additional jobs across a range this message to our international audience. taxes, profitable local businesses will have Gone are the days when all your good working order are sent around the of sectors. Through a combination of overseas visit additional finance to invest in their future information was saved only on your SIM world for reuse. However, if your handset growth, in turn creating more jobs and card. An old mobile phone can reveal cannot be economically repaired, it can further investment in our economy. sensitive data such as email passwords, still be used for parts or recycled. Some “Northern Ireland is already the most successful business related information, images and charities can make great use of your old Ultimately, Corporation Tax has the personal text messages even after data mobile phones, recycling them for money region in the UK for Inward Investment, on a potential to create more than 30,000 deletion. or giving them to those that need them, additional jobs in Northern Ireland over the next 15 years or so. By hitting the per capita basis, based on our ability to attract ground running, we can start to see some of these benefits coming on stream in MEMBER COMPANY NEWS cost centre, service based projects.” 2018 alongside the commencement of the Northern Ireland rate. Clearbox wins in London Holywood based, public relations agency Market take-over! Clearbox has been named the UK’s Best New More than 700 young people descended of judges, who had the tough job of were Lisneal College and their company Consultancy at the PRCA National Awards, on St George’s Market in early December deciding who would be crowned Best ‘Keepsakes’ selling handcrafted, ceramic which showcase excellence in campaigns, to set up shop and sell their products to Overall Company. In the end, the winners Christmas decorations and Christmas cards. consultancies, in-house teams and individuals the public. The Big Market hosted more and highlights the innovative work of the PR than 60 businesses, all started by young industry across the UK. people aged between 10 and 25 years.

Established in 2014, Clearbox, which delivers The initiative of local charity Young PR for clients such as Amazon, Universal Enterprise and Belfast City Council gave Pictures, Digital DNA and Its4Women.ie, was Northern Ireland’s young entrepreneurs their biggest ever sales platform. Popular honoured at the glittering awards ceremony food traders from St George’s Market in London’s Hilton Park Lane, hosted by TV offered a bite to eat while singer Ellie presenter, Rachel Riley. McCreanor and the choir from Glenwood Primary School provided live entertainment. Clearbox recently scooped two Gold CIPR PRide awards for their work with Universal Young Enterprise is led by Chief Executive Pictures UK to launch Mrs Brown’s Boys Clearbox Managing Director, IoD member, Anna Morris (second from right) and Associate Carol Fitzsimons, an IoD member. She D’Movie to DVD, which saw the film become Director John Megaughin collected their award and are pictured with Penny Anderson from pointed out that on the day each company HMV’s biggest selling DVD of all time. category sponsor Precise and presenter, Rachel Riley had the chance to impress a group

14 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 15 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS

WASTEWATER COMPLIANCE the highest ever in Northern Ireland. EFFICIENCY GAP We have invested £1.7bn We have closed the gap in Northern Ireland’s water with leading companies in and sewerage infrastructure England and Wales from since 2007/08. 49% to 13%.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Our OPA* score has DRINKING WATER more than doubled QUALITY from 98 to 206. at historically high levels.

POLLUTION Delivering INCIDENTS are at a record low level.

More for Less Figures based on 2014/15 Annual Report *Overall Performance Assessment (OPA) is a composite measure of a range of targets the www.niwater.com/annual-report Utility Regulator uses to monitor the level of service NI Water provides to its customers. Pick up any newspaper or listen to any established we have had one constant natural environment, both in how we pronouncement on government direction aspiration - to deliver better services to all responsibly use the raw water for treatment on public spending and you can see that our customers – business and domestic – and onward supply to customers, through investment Northern Ireland needs and Every aspect of our cost base has been Reducing costs the UK Government is on a mission to for less money. to taking away sewage and treating it safely the improvements in our service that examined to establish improvements and reduce the UK budget deficit. It is clear in a way that protects the environment. customers today expect. We have steadily efficiencies in how we go about delivering All of these measures have allowed us that fiscal tightening is poised to play a big Established in April 2007 in the run into improved the efficiency with which we services. reduce our cost base and enabled us part in such a plan. The words “Delivering devolved government in Northern Ireland, To provide a sense of scale, NI Water operate whilst at the same time improving to reduce the amount we charge our More for Less” are increasingly common NI Water is one of Northern Ireland’s largest delivers high quality drinking water to the quality of drinking water, levels of We have been able to work with our staff customers. On average, businesses in and the Public Sector has been asked to companies. Our business is all about 825,000 households and businesses. Every environmental compliance and the services and staff representative groups to improve Northern Ireland are paying 5.6% less for look closely at what it spends taxpayers’ delivering water and sewerage services to day we provide 563 million litres of fresh provided to customers. how we deliver services and whilst we now their water and sewerage services today money on and find ways to do just that – customers, whilst investing in and improving drinking water and take away 316 million employ approximately 1,250 staff today than they were three years ago. deliver more for less. those services. Everyone depends on high litres of wastewater which is treated NI Water has reduced annual operating compared to 1,670 in 2007/08, our staff quality drinking water and the safe return of before being returned to the environment. costs from £213m in 2009/10 to £184.0m have worked hard to improve the service we NI Water has delivered £1.7 billion of Here Sara Venning, CEO at NI Water, wastewater to the environment. Literally thousands of assets, with a value in 2014/15. This equates to an overall provide. We now compare favourably to any investment since 2007/08 maintaining explains how she sees the publicly of £2.2billion are operated and maintained reduction of £28.5m or £69m if inflation is of our peers in the industry on these isles. our existing asset base, providing quality owned company she leads taking on such We see what we do as a key part of to provide these services to every home, taken into account. and service enhancements and facilitating challenges. safeguarding public health for everyone. hospital, school and business. NI Water is the largest user of electricity economic development through providing We are also a vital part of the supply chain Investing in technology in Northern Ireland and has started to additional capacity. This investment Leading the way to industry and business here in Northern Improving Performance focus on becoming more energy efficient. programme has supported thousands of Ireland, including the key agri- food sector, This has been achieved by investing in and We have also completed an office construction jobs across Northern Ireland “You could say we have been leading the as well as being an enabler to growing Looking back over the past eight years taking advantage of technology such as rationalisation programme and operate during the recent recession. challenge on doing more for customers our tourism sector. We have a vital role in since ‘go live’ in 2007, it is clear NI Water mobile work management to improve our from a reduced number of depots than we with fewer resources. Since NI Water was protecting and nurturing Northern Ireland’s has made real progress in delivering the processes and achieve operating efficiency. did back in 2007. Last year marked the final year of our 2013–

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16 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 17 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS

Sara Venning

Sara started her career as an electrical engineer with Northern Ireland Electricity. Over a 14 year period with the company she held a number of positions, latterly as Customer Operations Manager with responsibility for delivery of customer connections to the electricity distribution network. She is a qualified black belt six sigma practitioner and worked on a number of efficiency and customer service improvement initiatives within NIE.

In April 2010, Sara joined NI Water as Director of Customer Service Delivery with responsibility for water production and distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment together with all aspects of service to customers, including billing and customer contact handling. Three years later, in September 2013 she was appointed Interim CEO following the retirement of CEO Trevor Haslett and was appointed CEO from 01 April 2014. 2015 business plan otherwise known as and borrowing. The bills for domestic Holywood Sewer Network Improvements challenges will require significant further PC13. In their PC13 Cost and Performance customers are provided by DRD through Project costing £4.5 million – this project is investment and collaborative working. Sara is a native of Cookstown Co Tyrone and holds a MEng degree in electrical and Report published at the end of November government subsidy following the NI ongoing at the moment electronic engineering from Queen’s University Belfast. 2015, the Utility Regulator acknowledged Executive’s decision to defer domestic NI Water has developed a new business NI Water’s continued strong performance charges. DRD also provides loan notes to plan for the period 2015–2021 known as Our people are talented, dedicated, and tension will undoubtedly become more stating, fund the capital investment programme. work and our strong performance to date is PC15. The plan is strong and ambitious at the heart of the communities they serve. challenging, especially in the context of testament to that. and underpins our desire to continue to We remain committed to helping create having to ensure appropriate infrastructure “NI Water successfully delivered against Due to the level of subsidy and the large deliver an improved service for customers career opportunities in the water industry is in place to support growing new and the PC13 final determination and amount of public money used in providing While the pace of our transformation has at a sustainably lower cost via a highly through our modern apprentice, graduate existing sectors which will be encouraged Monitoring Plan for the period. The the company’s services, NI Water is also been remarkable in the water industry, engaged workforce. The 6-year plan will and work experience programmes. through lower corporation tax. company succeeded in reducing prices and designated as a Non-Departmental Public there is more we want to do for our cost over £2 billion, but I would stress improving service to consumers”. Body (NDPB) and is subject to public customers and for Northern Ireland. that the additional efficiency savings we We recognise that reliable provision We are proud of what we do, we know our sector spending rules. Our hybrid model are committed to delivering during PC15 of water and sewerage services is a services are essential for a modern regional Governance and Funding of regulated utility, Government Company Looking Forward will mean lower bills for most water and prerequisite to underpin the growth economy and we are committed to working and Non-Departmental Public Body can be sewerage customers, building on our aspirations in the NI Executive’s Economic with government to secure the necessary The cost of delivering water and sewerage as unwieldy as it sounds and can reduce the The water sector faces challenges from ambition to deliver value for money and Strategy. The availability of public sector medium term funding to underpin our services is around £435m per year. NI pace at which the company would like to population growth, climate change, keep bills stable in real terms. It is worth funding for water and sewerage services delivery of investment in better services for Water recovers these costs through improve services. However, it is clear from tightening environmental standards and noting the plan has secured the approval of means our capital investment aspirations all our customers.” customer bills to non-domestic customers results that we are endeavouring to make it changing customer expectations. These the Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland. have had to be constrained somewhat. This

Your files. Your Records. Our Safe Hands. Call 028 90 73 23 33 or visit morgandocumentsecurity.com

18 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 19 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS

MEMBER COMPANY NEWS Flint named Fast 50 rising star The Twinterview Flint Studios has been named Jeremy Biggerstaff, Managing Director at Flint Studios (@jeremyb918), is the latest Northern Ireland’s Rising Star person to join us for a chat about the importance of digital marketing in Northern in Deloitte’s prestigious Irish Ireland business over the IoD Twitter account (@IoDNI). Technology Fast 50, the annual awards that ranks the very best IoDNI: We’re joined by Managing Director Jeremyb918: We believe in empowering of the technology sector and of Flint Studios, @jeremyb918, for the latest our customers with the digital marketing recognises those companies #IoD #Twinterview. Welcome Jeremy! training they need to be able to do as much that have demonstrated of the work as they can exceptional growth in turnover Jeremyb918: Hello. Delighted to be taking over the last four years. part in this #Twinterview IoDNI: How important is digital marketing for business? Flint was established in IoDNI: Jeremy, can you tell us a little bit 2011 and has been enjoying about what you do? Jeremyb918: #digitalmarketing leads the phenomenal growth in a number way nowadays in terms of being able to of markets. The company Jeremyb918: I run a digital agency which promote, sell and support products and employs over 20 members of specialises in web design, web applications services to your customers. staff and has flourished into and digital marketing for customers across a full-service web solutions the UK & Ireland. IoDNI: Can you tell us a bit about what you provider in the UK and Ireland, are currently working on? with year on year double digit IoDNI: How did you get involved in web revenue and profit growth. development? Jeremyb918: We have projects in retail, insurance, start-ups, charities, Managing Director Jeremy Jeremyb918: Seems like a long time ago publishing and many, many more. Biggerstaff was recently Highly but I have been involved in software and Commended in the SME IoDNI: What does the future Flint Studios directors at the Deloitte Fast 50 awards : Mark McCann, Bill Mathers, Cormac Kernan, Pete web development since I left University. category at the IoD UK Director hold for Flint Studios? of the Year Awards. Hanlon with (right) David Crawford, Partner at Deloitte Belfast IoDNI: How important do you think it is for businesses to be online? Jeremyb918: We’ve experienced significant Jeremyb918: Very important - value is growth over our first four gained by enabling customers to engage years and we are expanding with you through self-service and easy to in 2016, so hopefully that use applications. progress will continue.

IoDNI: Jeremy, thank you IoDNI: What made you join Flint Studios? so much for your time today. Jeremyb918: The opportunity to be running a business and not part of a big Jeremyb918: Thank you corporate, as well as the great team of and I appreciate the people that I work with. opportunity to chat with the #IoD and with your IoDNI: Flint has been around for 4 years members. now, what are the most memorable moments? The interview can be Jeremyb918: Securing our first big tender, viewed on Twitter completing our first proof of concept and @IoDNI securing our biggest new business deal late last year.

IoDNI: What skills are required to be successful in software development and web design?

Jeremyb918: You need to have a desire to learn, be ready to deal with new challenges and always remain interested in improving your core skills.

IoDNI: What do you see for digital marketing in Belfast in the next few years?

20 Belfast— January/February George Best Add-8th 2016 June 2015-Final-AW.indd 1 08/06/2015 13:20 January/February 2016 — 21 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS We are all part of the Social Economy MEMBER NEWS by Maeve Monaghan, NOW Group New company will help you out Your business may have a positive with a number of businesses wanting to tell impact on the community it is working their story differently. If you are reading this while thinking in through creating jobs and supporting that you really don’t have time to read local producers and social enterprises. We are Northern Ireland’s leading Social IoD Northern Ireland News - then Kim You could also have a Corporate Social Return on Investment (SROI) practitioners. Johnston and Patricia Herron suggest that Responsibility strategy in place which SROI is an approach to understanding you should sit back and relax. They have means you raise thousands for charity and managing the impacts of a project, you covered with Northern Ireland’s first and your staff volunteer for a worthy organisation or policy that can be Business and Personal Concierge service. cause. These things increasingly make expressed in a financial return. a difference to your customers, but do WeDoo Concierge Service was conceived they know they are buying from an ethical A SROI evaluation can determine the true and set up by IoD members Kim and Patricia company? Measuring your social impact impact your investment has made into to make the lives of their clients easier, taking is a great way of telling people that they the communities in which you work. For care of their everyday troublesome tasks, are, which provides an ideal marketing example, if you donated the money to whether that is in their business or personal opportunity. local community initiatives or operate a lives as the pair explain. programme to give local young people into From CSR to measuring impact employment, imagine if you were able to “Today’s busy lifestyles mean that many track their progress and say for every £1 people don’t have time for even the Social impact measurement is an you raised £7 social value will be created, simplest of errands. We put a huge strain Maeve Monaghan increasingly popular way of evaluating you are starting to build a story of the on our working or personal time trying to do the contribution an organisation makes to difference you make. communicate that in a clear and tangible everything ourselves. Things such as taking the its end users, the community it operates way is a fantastic opportunity for you to tell family pet to the vet for a check-up, working within and to society in general. At Gauge Putting you ahead of the game your customers that your business cares out IKEA instructions, booking business travel, NI we specialise in measuring, evaluating and creates impact. Being able to talk organising gifts or doing research for a new and communicating the social impact of Knowing what impact your business has about your social impact in a credible way project all take time and energy to organise organisations and are currently working on the community and being able to is the perfect way for you to stand out from and can leave us feeling hassled. the crowd. ‘Hassle’ is defined as those frustrating, Kim Johnston (left) and Patricia Herron of WeDoo Gauge NI is a social enterprise business; irritating everyday experiences that often our profits are reinvested back into the lead to stress. Accumulation of stress then So Imagine being able to hand over all these We both decided that we needed a service work of our parent social enterprise NOW creates a persistent irritation which leads to hassles and errands to a trusted pair of hands like WeDoo and it didn’t exist in Northern Group that supports people with barriers finding other hassles more stressful. This has who will do all your tasks for you. It’s an Ireland, so we went ahead and set it up it to employment and learning into the a spiral effect and may lead to chronic stress outsourcing question really; cost v benefit - ourselves. We believe that WeDoo will make workforce across Northern Ireland. If you which can wear people out, making them the financial and personal cost to continue a significant improvement to the quality of would like to find out how we can help you even more prone to stress from hassles. doing by yourself, or asking if it would be our clients’ lives and at same time build an understand, measure and communicate better value to have someone on hand who ambitious and profitable business with real your social impact take a look at some of It is a vicious, never-ending circle; just has really knows you to call upon on demand? As integrity. our recent reports and impact cards at you think you have got over one problem, a business, providing this in your care package www.gaugeni.co.uk or get in touch on 028 another one rears its head. This is not what for your team, results in happier employees If you want to take the hassle out of your life, 90 234414, [email protected]. you want or need in your life, or indeed in who feel valued, are engaged, focused and then go to www.wedooconcierge.com the lives of your employees’. ultimately then more productive for you. Maeve is Chief Executive of the NOW Group, which includes Gauge NI and Loaf How you can demonstrate your CSR contribution through a Gauge Impact Card Catering. Quintin branches out MEMBER COMPANY NEWS Since recently gaining his IoD Diploma inter-governmental agency on Gender- in Company Direction, IoD member Based Violence in conflict arenas. It Quintin Oliver has established two new has just won an EU contract, with an All island award for companies, Stratagem International and Italian consortium, to provide political TCI Engagement. education training for Syrian exiles and refugees in Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Bryson Stratagem International, which intervenes Lebanon. in global conflict resolution, is the sister Bryson Charitable Group has won the All Ireland Business Achievers company to Quintin’s successful domestic TCIe has landed contracts in North Social Enterprise Award at the All-Ireland Ulster Bank Awards held in lobbying consultancy Stratagem NI, Ayrshire (on Quality Assurance), Dublin Dublin. Bryson had previously won the Ulster Section of the Business while TCI Engagement is a stakeholder (ICT services for consultation) and Achievers Award. management specialist, helping clients for an all-island energy infrastructure with public consultation and enhanced business (improved consultation and IoD member and UK Third Sector Director of the Year 2014, John engagement techniques. engagement procedures). McMullan (right) who is CEO of Bryson, attended the Awards with Chair, Hugh Crossey. Also pictured is Margaret Hearty from InterTradeIreland. StratInt has already delivered projects in Quintin tweets @QuintinOliver, Malawi and Pakistan, and for a worldwide @StratagemInt and TCIEngagement. Quintin Oliver

22 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 23 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS MEMBER COMPANY NEWS The most important Staffline acquires Diamond number in business Staffline Group Ireland has acquired The acquisition is in line with Staffline’s Diamond Recruitment Group, a leading strategy to expand across the island and by Mark Fegan, Bunzl local recruitment agency. IoD member will accelerate the growth of the existing Tina McKenzie is Managing Director of business, which opened offices in Belfast Staffline. in 2013 and later expanded to Dublin. As If you ask anyone ‘What is the most • Stock one of the largest recruitment agencies in important number in business?’ the vast • Debtors Staffline is a staffing and employability Northern Ireland, Diamond provides over majority will instinctively say ‘Profit’. • Creditors organisation based in Northern Ireland 2,500 workers a day from a database of providing people and operational over 59,000 candidates, adding significant If you ask them ‘What is the most important In the example below, a business brings expertise to industry across the island scale to Staffline’s local presence. number if you put your money into the stock into its warehouse. On one side, of Ireland, while Diamond specialises in bank rather than into a business?’ most will its purchasing team has secured 60 days temporary and permanent recruitment The enlarged Staffline Group Ireland will say ‘Return’ or the ‘Interest Rate’. credit. On the other, the stock sits in the solutions. Diamond brings a number of operate from 10 sites with over 3,000 warehouse, on average, 45 days before it large blue-chip clients based in Northern contractors servicing a network of hundreds What everyone automatically understands is sold and it takes a further 45 days before Mark Fegan Ireland and an excellent reputation with of clients and it is now the among the three about their own money is that: that customer pays. 10% (£100/£1,000); not as good. If on the clients. largest recruitment businesses in Ireland. Tina McKenzie 1. The return they get from an investment The business needs to find the cash to other hand our staff were able to manage is only really worth something if you can pay for the stock on day 60, but it will not stock down so that, on average, it sat there spend it. It is cash (or can be quickly receive cash until day 90. Where does this for 20 days before it was sold, we may only changed into cash). cash come from? We either need to stump need to invest £200. The return then would Members honoured at up the cash ourselves as business owners be 50% (£100/£200). 2. How good an investment is depends or borrow it. This funding gap needs to be not just on what it pays out but also on met to keep the business afloat. The profit on all cases is the same but Belfast Met how much you need to put in to get that the cash available to spend at any point Two IoD members have received Honorary Awards at Belfast Metropolitan return. If the business made £100 profit over this in time is different and the return on the College’s annual Graduation. period, what good is it? While this cash investment is different. Which business So we have two answers to the question is tied up in paying for the stock, we can’t would you prefer to own? – Cash and Return - but both are a better spend the profit we made or reinvest it. answer than Profit. Our employees are not normally in a Staff have part to play position to influence the cash investment in We can make all the profit we like, but if we buildings or machines, but our purchasing, can’t turn it into cash, what good is it? If Any profit we do make also has to be seen sales and credit control teams can all our handsome return requires us to invest in context against the amount of cash we influence working capital. If they can get huge amounts of cash, is it as good as it have to invest in the business to make better credit terms from suppliers, match looks? that profit. If we had to invest £500 in this the number of days stock we hold with the example, we would have a return of 20% number it days it takes to order more and Rowan is NIIRTA Most of a business’s employees are not (£100/£500). If we held so much stock that get customers to pay on time (or provide involved in decisions to spend cash on it took us, on average, 90 days before it deposits on large orders) the will have a capital expenditure but a lot are involved in was sold, we might need to invest £1,000. profound impact on the success of the President the core elements or working capital: In that case, we would make a return of business as an investment. The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) has elected Lisburn-based IoD member, Rowan Black, The College conferred an Honorary Marie-Thérèse McGivern with Alastair as its new President. NIIRTA has around Fellowship on Brian Ambrose, Chief Hamilton CDir, Chief Executive at CASH CYCLE 1,600 members and is regarded as the Executive of Belfast City Airport, who Invest NI, who was also awarded an voice of the independent retail and was recognised for his outstanding Honorary Fellowship for his outstanding Stock Sold Sale Paid For wholesale sector, setting the agenda for contribution to tourism and economic contribution to enterprise and economic the future of local town centres. development in Northern Ireland. Brian development in Northern Ireland. is pictured with fellow IoD member Rowan is Managing Director of JT Green & Belfast Met Principal and Chief Executive Sons Limited, which owns the leading Lisburn Marie-Thérèse McGivern. independent retail store, Green’s Food Fare. 45DAYS STOCK DAYS DEBTOR DAYS 45DAYS

60 CREDITOR’S DAYS FUNDING GAP 30 Your files. Your Records. DAYS DAYS Our Safe Hands. Call 028 90 73 23 33 or visit morgandocumentsecurity.com Stock booked into Stock Paid For the Warehouse

24 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 25 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS Royal launch for Mary’s Race to A Million The Mary Peters Trust, IoD NI’s charity of the year and Northern Ireland’s premier sporting charity, has celebrated its 40th anniversary by announcing a legacy campaign which will secure its future for the next 40 years and beyond.

The ‘Mary’s Race To A Million’ campaign was officially launched by the Trust’s Patron, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, at a gala dinner in Belfast City Hall in November last year. Sponsored by Bluefin Sport and hosted by the High Sheriff of Belfast, Alderman Gareth McKee, the black tie event was attended by almost 400 supporters, friends and athletes linked to the Mary Peters Trust.

As Eilish Rutherford, Trust Chairman, explains: “Over the last four decades the Dame Mary Peters (second left) and guests at the campaign launch greet the Princess Royal Mary Peters Trust has supported thousands of talented young sportsmen and women, athletes, financially supporting them and “We were incredibly honoured that our both able bodied and disabled, from across providing access to a team of experts who Patron, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, Northern Ireland to help realise their sporting help and support their pathway to success. came to Belfast to launch the campaign Enterprise upgrade dreams. We do this by selecting the best and were very proud that she was able to “Having reached this significant milestone meet many of the athletes the Trust has Translink NI Railways has launched fittings – we’re confident our customers will pre-purchase new carnet tickets for savings we felt the time was right to make tangible supported.” the first refurbished Enterprise train be very pleased with the stylish interiors of up 38% compared to the cost of regular financial plans to secure the future of the into passenger service as part of a and improved passenger features. Once single tickets.” charity for many years to come. With the Since its founding in 1975, the Mary £12.2 million Enterprise train upgrade all trains are completed we will also have help of our many supporters, schools, sports Peters Trust has helped over 5,000 sports programme. our new electronic seat reservation displays Refurbishment of all remaining Enterprise governing bodies, corporate Northern people in Northern Ireland. Alumni include operating. trains is scheduled for completion by the Ireland and sporting stars, ‘Mary’s Race To Graeme McDowell, David Humphreys, IoD member and Chartered Director, Chris end of 2015. The refurbishment programme A Million’ aims to raise an additional one Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlon, Kelly Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive, “Another exciting development is the new has been financed through the European million pounds to enable the charity to Gallagher, Michael McKillop, Janet Gray says the service looks and feels like a Enterprise Menu offering customers an Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, which continue helping our many talented young and Katie Kirk. modern new train with the emphasis on appetising selection of fresh food and drink. is managed by the Special EU Programmes HRH Princess Anne athletes towards sporting success. comfort, service and value: Enterprise Class passengers will be able to Body (SEUPB) with support from the choose from either a trolley service or visit Department for Regional Development and “Customers will first notice the train’s the new dining car that now includes ‘sit-in’ the Department of Transport, Tourism and striking modern new look with a stylish table service. There’s also a waiter service Sport (DTTAS) in Ireland. A rugby World Cup win for Ireland! purple, red and grey livery. Stepping on for Enterprise Plus customers to enjoy board, the transformation is incredible with delicious meals from the comfort of their Top comms team New Zealand may have won the actual Rugby vibrant, eye-catching new colour schemes seat – a truly unique dining experience! World Cup but Irish rugby did not come away and new Enterprise and Enterprise Plus Translink’s Communications Team recently from one rugby World Cup empty handed branding on board. Up to 38% savings scooped top accolades at the CIPR as a team of players triumphed in their own PRide Awards 2015 winning in 4 major version of the global tournament. “The carriages boast attractive seating “We also remain focussed on good value award categories including: Public Sector with power sockets, plush carpets, new tickets and customers can take advantage Campaign, Community Relations Campaign, Competing in the Lawyers’ Rugby World Cup tables and lighting as well as finer details of web-fares from as little as £10 day return. Public Sector Team of the Year and in London, the Irish team - led by captain like new signage and internal fixtures and We are encouraging business customers to Outstanding In-House Team. and IoD member, David Jones, a partner in Tughans - began by winning their group against Chris Conway CDir with France, Italy and Australia. They then met and guests on the newly disposed of title holders Scotland in the semi- refurbished Enterprise final before beating England in the final.

Sponsored by William Fry and Dual Insurance Underwriters, the Irish team comprised players based in Belfast, Dublin, Cork, London and The Comms team of Jersey. Alongside David Jones, who plays for Ursula Henderson, Julie Sherlock, Jenna Flynn and Instonians, Northern Ireland was represented Lynda Shannon celebrate by Luke Thompson, Tughans and Instonians; their CIPR PRide wins Adam Ervine, Banbridge and A&L Goodbody; with IoD member Gordon and Fergus Gallagher, formerly Instonians and David Jones (centre) with fellow members of the Ireland lawyers team (with rugby ball) Luke Milligan, Translink Chief Hogan Lovells in London. Thompson from Tughans and Adam Ervine from A&L Goodbody HR Officer

26 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 27 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS The Disability Discrimination Mentoring from the Chair Act - 20 years on by Kylie Hammond, CEO of the Director Institute by Dr Evelyn Collins, Equality Commission Kylie Hammond Finding the right Chairperson for the objectively, yet always with the best interests It’s now 20 years since the Disability reasonable adjustment duty is unique to the Board of the organisation in mind. Discrimination Act was enacted, giving DDA - it imposes a duty on employers and disabled people here a right to legal service providers to take positive steps to The Chairperson is a crucial figure in the The Chair’s best interests must also align redress against discrimination for the first remove barriers facing disabled people, to overall structure of any organisation, not with that of organisation; his/her goal must time. Different parts of the legislation ensure they have equality of opportunity with only because they can lead and govern the be to provide the best governance possible were rolled out over the following decade people who are not disabled. Board, but because they also provide key and develop talent for the greater good, to give greater practical effect to the mentoring and performance development rather than looking for a way to forward protections afforded by that originating This can mean that an employer may be for Board members and the CEO. their own career prospects. This means a law. Twenty years on, however, too many required to make adjustments which treat a Chairperson must be invested in the cause: disabled people are still confronted by a disabled person more favourably, in order While it is easy to take the role of the he or she is not simply offering their time in lack of understanding of their rights under to remove the disadvantage they face on It is vital that we work to improve the situation Chair for granted when things are exchange for compensation, but is instead the law and by outright discrimination, in grounds of their disability. Sometimes small and experience of disabled people – it is running smoothly, the Chairperson can directly dedicated to the ultimate success of the workplace and when they are accessing practical changes can provide the opportunity both a legal requirement and also a moral be of substantial importance when the company. services. for people who are excluded from work to obligation. underperformance is evident or when participate in productive and rewarding jobs. Board Directors require additional A great Chairperson will also be adept in Every year, our legal team receives more These might be a matter of altering working For free advice cultivation in order to master their input leading and steering Board conversations, allegations of discrimination on grounds of hours or accommodating absences for and enhance their value during Board while continuing to push discussions and develop independently of the Board; the disability than on any other equality ground. medical treatment, or it might extend to the If you want to know what you as an employer discussions. opinions into new areas, so that new and CEO will usually look to the Chairperson for In fact the trend is always gradually upwards. modification of premises or the provision of or service provider can do, ring our employer more comprehensive perspectives might be support and guidance on matters that are In the last full year, 37% of all discrimination specialist equipment. advice line for free and confidential advice A great leader in the Chair can make considered in relation to specific issues and confidential or that they want to approach complaints we received were about disability. on 028 9089 0888. We offer free training in a huge difference to the running and risks. This isn’t a matter of having an equal or resolve outside of Board meetings. An Of these, around three-quarters are to do with Around a fifth of complaints the managing disability at work, including medical performance of your Board, from how voice in Board debates as the Chairperson, ineffective or unsuitable Chair in this instance employment and the workplace. Commission receives every year about absences. And we have online guidance Board members conduct themselves but ensuring that the Board itself is achieving can result in a lack of engagement between disability discrimination are about access to publications. Many organisations successfully during meetings to how they approach and diversity of thought and addressing all angles the CEO and the Board and much less Reasonable adjustments services or premises. Again the reasonable employ people with disabilities, and deal with assess organisational plans and strategies. and positions before they either jump into an transparency and reliability on both sides. accommodation duty applies. The ‘Every their disabled customers, why not yours? A responsible Chairperson can quickly argument or quickly agree on a decision. A failure by employers to make reasonable Customer Counts’ area of our website offers stomp on operational flaws, such as too Finally, a great Chairperson does not exist adjustments for disabled staff is the most advice on making your business welcoming Evelyn is Chief Executive, Equality much Board conflict or a failure to critically Trust and respect in a limited capacity. Although you may frequent single cause of problems. The for disabled customers. Commission for Northern Ireland interrogate risks and evidence, which can not have all-hours access to your Chair, lead to insufficient governance and poor Listening intently and employing sensitivity is it is important for the CEO and other MEMBER COMPANY NEWS company performance. At the end of the also vital for any good leader and mentor. A Board members to find the Chairperson day, the stronger your Chairperson, the reliable Chairperson will listen to the Board, entirely approachable and trustworthy if stronger your Board will be. make sure all opinions are heard and balance concerns or issues need to be discussed Board dialogue between healthy conflict and outside of the Boardroom. As a mentor, PKF-FPM win Conversely, an inept Chairperson (and a debate, dysfunctional discussion and too the Chair should be easily accessible, open lack of mentoring) can also bring about much Board conformity. to feedback and comments about other top award much dysfunction or inefficiency on the members or organisational issues and Board. Directors may struggle to come A successful mentoring relationship between should be devoted to resolving any issues PKF-FPM Accountants have won the Accountancy Age to conclusions around key topics or may the Chairperson and the CEO also involves or conflicts for the benefit of the company. Top UK Accountancy Employer Award at the British instead skim over important details in order many requirements. The CEO must trust Accountancy Awards. to quickly produce decisions and results. and respect the Chair, while the Chair must Kylie Hammond is the Founder and Chief

In these circumstances, the company will instil a sense of confidence and value in Operating Officer of the Director Institute in The Best Employer Award recognises the best also suffer from lack of leadership and poor the CEO. This is critical, as the connection Australia and a leading Executive Search & accountancy practice to work for in the UK. Over the Director or CEO performances will also go between the Chair and the CEO can often Talent Management Consultant. past six months, employer and employee surveys were unchecked and unmanaged. completed, with participating firms being judged on their working environment, training, remuneration and Finding a reliable Chair The Role of the Francis Bergin employee benefits package. Company Chairman Boards and CEOs with strong leaders in the Members of the PKF-FPM team with Founder and Managing Chair have proven consistently to achieve Director, Feargal McCormack IoD Northern Ireland is running the IoD better outcomes and produce a higher Role of the Company Chairman one level of performance and governance for day course in Belfast on 20 January. the organisation. But what is required of an Presented by leading IoD trainer and exceptional Chairman? What makes him or experienced Chairman and Non-Executive her stand out not only as a good Chairman, Director Francis Bergin, the course will Your files. Your Records. but also a trustworthy Board mentor? provide existing and aspiring Chairs with the knowledge they need to perform as Our Safe Hands. A strong Board Chair and mentor must an effective leader of the Board. Call 028 90 73 23 33 or visit morgandocumentsecurity.com have the ability to influence and motivate other Board members and the CEO, Visit www.iodni.com/events for booking though without losing an ounce of authority and further information. or respect. They must be able to mediate

28 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 29 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS MEMBER COMPANY NEWS Happy customers Retail Week Interiors wins for McCue McCue Crafted Fit has won two awards at the prestigious ISG UK Retail Week Interiors equal WOW! Awards 2015. The company, led by Les McCracken, won both the ISG UK Retail by Dr Rozana Huq Interior of the Year and the Non-Food Design of the Year for the fit out of the Lush Fresh then it has to be a joint and collaborative Handmade Cosmetics flagship store in Oxford The owner of a company asked me to run effort. Your customers should be able to Street. a ‘customer care’ training course for his put forward their suggestions regarding employees. He said “I will also attend what they need you as an organisation to Both awards were in conjunction with Design the course”. I was delighted – I think it do for them to have a happy and satisfied Time architects and in addition to recognising is useful sometimes if the owner joins the experience. It is best not to compromise the design it recognised McCue’s bespoke course with employees. On the first day, Dr Rozana Huq on Quality. Listen to your customer’s voice joinery skills and fit out. The store is Lush’s I wanted to find out from participants if and give your best as a leader and more biggest in the world at 9,500 sq ft. they ever asked their customers if they are happy with their service. importantly enable your employees to give behaviours can and will have impact on your their best. business. IoD member Les McCracken is Managing Director the company, which is based in Before any of the employees could open Customer satisfaction must be everybody’s How is YOUR customer service? Carrickfergus and has over 60 years’ experience their mouths to answer, the owner said, “We priority, not just front-line staff. Even in the industry. McCue Crafted Fit is a specialist don’t ask our customers questions like that. the designer who never meets or sees By the way, how is your customer service? in high quality refurbishment and fitting out. It would be like opening a tin of worms, best the customer needs to understand the Ask your customers to rate it. Recent retail clients include Lush, Smyth’s Toys, to avoid these types of questions”. But, importance of this and to visualise how Anthropologie, Hamleys and M&S. Other these types of questions are exactly what happy or satisfied the customer is going to How can you improve it? Do your customers completed projects include various hotels needs to be asked. Only the customers can be with their new design or improvement go ‘Wow!’? Not yet? What could you do such as the Shangri-La Hotel situated within say what makes them happy. The ‘customer on it. to achieve this? Take one positive step, at the famous The Shard as well as the Lancaster care’ service is for the customers and if organisations do not want to know what least stop doing the things that makes your London, Claridges and the Savoy. The award winning Lush flagship store in Oxford Street, London makes their customers happy then they are Focus on the customer customers ‘unhappy’. just paying ‘lip service’. Furthermore, they should understand that it will actually benefit So, stay focused on the needs of your Thankfully, the owner of the company began them to know what makes their customers customer, as the customer sees it, not what to gather the confidence and courage to JPR win big at industry awards happy. you think and assume the customer needs. ask customers how to improve their services Think about this, there is a vast difference and now not only are his customers happy, Belfast PR agency, JPR, led by IoD member Jane Wells was the between the two. he himself is a much happier person. He big winner at the 2015 CIPR Northern Ireland PRide Awards It’s your duty admitted to me, he gets a ‘Wow!’ feeling taking home five Gold Awards and four Silver Awards, which Focus is not just about putting the plan on when his customers say ‘Wow!’ included Gold in the Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy Making customers happy is not just your paper; there is another important point – category. employees’ duty; as a boss or leader, it is your duty too. As a leader, if you are serious the ability to stay focused on your actions The best organisations or businesses can is crucial. Enable your employees to stay always improve and, furthermore, be The team won accolades in categories including the Low Budget about customer satisfaction and happiness focussed on their actions too in order to innovative and creative with regard to Campaign for their work with Ulster Bank and the “Stay out of Harm develop appropriate behaviours. customer service, even though they think Down on the Farm” campaign; Best Event for the Belfast Telegraph they are giving the best service. If you give Sports Awards; and Best Use of Media Relations for the From Bolshoi Stay focused on the Think of this question: “Are your employees a service that makes your customers happy - to Belfast exhibition which placed Belfast on the international cultural empowered to deliver a happy service?” you are in the ‘Wow!’. map in 2014. needs of your customer, The more empowered they are, the more motivated they will feel to provide the And remember, sometimes the smallest Another IoD member, Director Chris Harrison was awarded a as the customer sees it, service customers want. change can get the biggest ‘Wow!’. Fellowship from the CIPR on the night, making a total of four Fellows in the JPR team, more than in any other agency in Northern Ireland. The JPR team with their PRide Awards not what you think As a leader, you need to create the right Rozana is an Organisational Behaviourist, conditions and environment that enable Motivational Speaker, Leadership Educator, and assume the employees to be empowered, stay focused and Life Coach. Contact her through her Denise wins entrepreneur award on their actions and behaviours in order to website www.rozanahuq.com This and deliver a happy service. Your actions and other articles are also available on Dr Huq’s Congratulations to IoD member Denise Devlin, of handouts. So she created training delivered customer needs. behaviours and your employees’ actions and LinkedIn profile. who was awarded Female Entrepreneur of the in a ‘party style’ setting that would teach new Year at the Strabane Business Awards. methodologies using NLP, (Neuro Linguistic Programming), CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Denise is a passionate, innovative and creative Therapy), Emotional Intelligence, plus motivation * Flexible and affordable from entrepreneur who came up with an ‘out of the and productivity strategies and tools that would box’ ‘wacky’ idea to use in training and coaching be positive & fun, thus Positive Parties® ‘Training postgraduate study that has taken Ireland by storm. With a Difference’ was born.’ Clients include First Source, Allianz, Legal Island, Belfast City Council. Discounts at Ulster available Five years ago she saw a gap in the market for ‘Training With A Difference’ as business and It is now ready to be franchised in 2016. ulster.ac.uk/learnyourway companies staff were so bored with the usual *Exclusions apply. Terms and conditions apply. ‘death by PowerPoint,’ long lectures and pages Find out more at www.positiveparties.com

30 — January/February 2016 January/February 2016 — 31 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS Pedal Power Arthur Cox celebrates NI fashion IoD member Lynsey Mallon, a Partner with law firm Arthur Cox, reports that the raises over company has hosted its annual Fashion Showcase celebrating the work of local £2,500 designers at The Merchant Hotel. The Belfast Showcase is part of a series of Over 120 staff at SHS Group have undertaken a exclusive client events also organised by virtual cycle challenge to raise funds for the staff the firm in Dublin, London and New York, nominated charity Macmillan Cancer Support. which support Irish designers by connecting them with the business community and potential clients. The challenge involved two teams located in two different offices; one in Airport Road West, Belfast The autumn/winter collections of ten and the other in Manderson House, Gloucester. Each designers from across the island of Ireland team undertook a virtual cycle to the other location. were showcased with guests invited to meet The two offices are approximately 360 miles apart. the designers and view their key pieces at the pop-up boutiques after the main event. The SHS Group is one of Northern Ireland’s biggest The strong line up of creative talent, both family owned food companies with its roots firmly established and up and coming, included in Belfast. It is listed in Northern Ireland’s Top Ten Deborah Veale, Zoë Carol, Derek Lawlor, companies and enjoys regular placing on The Sunday Kymaïa, Ruedi Maguire, Gráinne Maher Millinery, Shauna Fay, Jen Kelly, Polly Times Fast Track list of top performing companies. McGettigan and Una Rodden. Outfits by Zoë Carol, Shauna Fay and Deborah Veale

Claire Brown of Macmillan Cancer Support urges Beat the Freeze on IoD member Arthur Richmond, Group Finance Winter is upon us and you never know everyone knows how to turn it off. Director at the SHS Group when a big freeze will arrive. • Have a contact number for any adjacent empty premises in case of leaks into your NI Water wants business leaders to be premises. aware of the impact of frozen and burst • Have a contingency plan for coping without pipes in their premises, especially if the a water supply for a prolonged period. building is closed for a few days. It’s not • Check your meter regularly - a higher than just the water damage – you may have normal meter reading might indicate a leak. to close for weeks for repairs, losing vital • Prepare for cold weather during closures – And if you have a burst pipe? income and your water bill is likely to be eg set a heating timer, check the premises • Turn off your stop valve (turn it clockwise) higher. regularly. • Phone your plumber Are you using • Have the number of a plumber who knows • Phone your insurance company A simple checklist: your premises and will attend out of hours. your member • Ensure pipes are well insulated. • Make sure you have adequate insurance Contact NI Water on 03457 44 00 88 or benefits? • Locate your stop valve - make sure cover in the event of a burst pipe. [email protected] ‘We’re here to support you in every way MEMBER COMPANY PROFILE we can and are proud to present to you the current range of handpicked offers’ Ulster Supported Employment Simon Walker, director general, IoD Jim McCall is Chief Executive of Ulster Supported Employment Microsoft IT and City and Guilds accredited courses in the areas To find out what’s available, Limited (USEL), which was established in 1962 to provide of personal development, work specific skills and employment supported, paid employment for people with disabilities within preparation. visit iod.com/preferred its Belfast manufacturing base. USEL also delivers direct employment to people with disabilities In 1980 it incorporated the Workshops for the Blind and became the through a 65,000 sq ft factory in North Belfast. The factory largest supporter of people with disabilities into open employment operates on a commercial basis and specialises in manufacturing in Northern Ireland. Each year USEL supports over 1800 people mattresses, bed bases, specialist sewing products and leather with disabilities in more than 750 companies to enter and sustain satchels. All products are sold on the open market to retailers, economic employment through various employment programmes. hotels and guesthouses and emergency services.

Aspire 75% of the workforce has a disability or health related condition, and the organisation spans the province with offices in Belfast, The training division, Aspire Training, offers a wide range of IT and Londonderry, Portadown and Omagh. Find out more about USEL at multi-media training courses to clients alongside existing OCN, www.usel.co.uk

32 —Generic January/February ad_DecJan.indd 20161 30/11/2015 15:41 January/February 2016 — 33 IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS IoD NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS Your IoD Member Benefits Your Belfast premises Discounted room The facilities for IoD hire at Riddel Hall members available at Queen’s University are offering IoD Riddel Hall include free members the opportunity to hire the NEW Omagh mini-Hub parking close to the smaller meeting rooms in Riddel Hall building, access to two at 185 Stranmillis Road in Belfast at IoD members already have access to Executive Lounge areas on discounted and hourly rates. both IoD and Regus premises around Omagh Enterprise the ground and first floors, the UK and worldwide for meeting and free Wi-Fi via The Cloud, Book within 5 working days of your working, and now any IoD members and meeting and function meeting to avail of a rate of £25 per hour, £80 for a half day and £130 for a full day. visiting Omagh can find a welcome base rooms that can be hired, all at Omagh Enterprise Centre. equipped with the latest IT To book rooms and catering at Riddel equipment. A wide range Hall, contact Amanda at the Riddel Hall Your IoD mini-hub located at Great of catering can be booked administration office on 028 9097 5647. Northern Road in Omagh is a modern, in advance and light refreshments are available welcoming space with casual seating areas, Check out the locations of all IoD to order from Riddel Hall on-site café and restaurant, free Wi-Fi and premises at www.iod.com/premises parking. There are also boardrooms and staff each day. meeting rooms that can be hired along with a conference room that can seat 120. Roles For more information about Omagh Who our NI members are Enterprise, check out the website at IoD is a membership organisation that focuses on the individual director, this makes Chairman/CEO/MD 38% www.omaghenterprise.co.uk us different to the other membership organisations. Director 42% Age Profile Other Senior Role 14% Partner 5% under 40 18% 14% Special offers for IoD 40 to 49 Sole Proprietor 1% 50 to 59 members 60+ 32% IoD members can take advantage of a 36% superb special offer, courtesy of Regus. Directors Liability Home and Contents Insurances Insurance The benefit entitles members to: • Free access to 3000 locations Quantum Hiscox 25% 75% worldwide Save up to 35% on leading Save 12.5% on 5-star rated home • 15% discount on all Regus private liability insurance, providing and contents insurance for the Our members lead meeting room bookings protection and peace of mind for life of your policy (subject to a organisations that employ: • Complimentary refreshments and directors. minimum premium). 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To view all of the IoD Preferred Programme benefits, visit www.iod.com/preferred. Contact IoD How IoD helps members Director: Linda Brown Head of Business 4 4 Membership of IoD equips you with Opportunities to participate in our Exclusive access to IoD premises Tax relief on IoD fees Development: Lisa Keys everything you need to stay innovative and committees and discussions with senior throughout the UK and access to Regus Do you know that you can save up to Do you qualify? Administrator: Julie-Anne Clarke competitive in an increasingly challenging business working space worldwide environment. Our range of tailor made 4 Free business information service – use of £240 per year by claiming tax relief on IoD 4 Leaders, politicians and business membership benefits allows you to be agile professional researchers membership? 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