THE man behind an Antrim-based assistive software company for people with dyslexia was named International and overall 2022 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. Martin McKay, founder of TextHelp, was among seven NI business leaders in the final of the Ireland segment of the global recognition programme.
Aer Lingus admitted its base at Belfast City Airport will close in 2023 over a Brexit-related impasse, putting 29 jobs at risk. The airline commenced consultation with staff in Belfast and the Fórsa trade union in December in an effort to avoid, reduce or mitigate the redundancies. The Irish News first revealed in October how regulatory changes following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU had impacted Aer Lingus’ traffic rights as a carrier within the UK market.
Dublin-based construction giant CRH Group put its Farrans operation in the north up for sale. The Irish News reported that CRH, which last year had revenues of €31bn (about £26.5bn), has already notified senior staff internally about the move. Farrans is part of the Northstone Group, which is in turn a subsidiary of CRH plc.
The Derry-based Martin Property Group confirmed plans to develop a new ‘high-end boutique hotel’ in the centre of Belfast after acquiring the Scottish Mutual Building. The listed building was placed on the market over the summer by the administrators appointed to the collapsed George Best Hotel project. The family-owned Derry company said it was planning a “significant investment in the restoration, preservation and enhancement of the building’s original features and the creation of a world class hotel”.
HSBC announced plans to close its branches in Coleraine and Portadown. The move leaves Belfast as the last remaining HSBC branch in the north.
Donegal drinks firm Mulrines has confirmed plans to create 54 jobs over the next three years in a new manufacturing facility in Co Tyrone. The Ballybofey-based business, best known for its range of juices, bought 22 acres at the former Herdman's Mill in Sion Mills. The company confirmed plans to establish a new drinks and liquid food manufacturing facility.
More than half of businesses in the north believe the Northern Ireland Protocol is supporting their growth, according to a survey. The research carried out by the Northern Ireland Chamber and Invest NI showed while a considerable number of firms are experiencing some concerns and challenges around the protocol, most believe the positives outweigh the negatives
A week later, official data from the Northern Ireland Statistics and research Agency (Nisra) confirmed the value of sales between Britain and the north increased by 7 per cent in the first year under the Protocol. Critics of the post-Brexit settlement, which retains Northern Ireland’s access to the EU’s single market, argued that trade across the Irish Sea had suffered as a result of new checks and controls. But Nisra said the £14.45bn in sales between Britain and the north last year was £1bn more than both 2020 and 2019.
Lufthansa announced plans to launch a new service linking Belfast and Frankfurt in 2023. The German flag carrier will begin operating at Belfast City Airport from April 23. It marks the airline’s first entry into the Northern Irish market. Flights are due to operate up to four times a week.
Armagh company Madlug bagged a role in the new John Lewis Christmas ad campaign in December. Set up in Richhill by Dave Linton during 2015, the social enterprise endorses a ‘buy one, give one’ model, which involves a pack-away travel bag being donated to a child or young person in care every time one of their own bags is purchased. It has helped donate more than 60,000 bags to vulnerable children. The business model has earned Madlug a place in the John Lewis festive campaign for 2022, which raised awareness of more than 100,000 children and young people currently in the UK care system.
