Business

BUSINESS DIARY . . . events coming up

'Club 1896', inspired by the year organised hockey began in Ulster, is forming a new membership networking forum aimed at creating connections and business growth through a shared passion for sport. The forum will officially launch at a lunchtime event on Friday September 22 in Titanic Belfast, when cricket icon Lord Ian Botham takes to the stage for an exclusive Q&A with the audience. Pictured launching the new forum are (from left) Ulster Hockey chief executive Marc Scott, broadcaster Denise Watson, and hockey star Shirley McCay
'Club 1896', inspired by the year organised hockey began in Ulster, is forming a new membership networking forum aimed at creating connections and business growth through a shared passion for sport. The forum will officially launch at a lunchtime event on Friday September 22 in Titanic Belfast, when cricket icon Lord Ian Botham takes to the stage for an exclusive Q&A with the audience. Pictured launching the new forum are (from left) Ulster Hockey chief executive Marc Scott, broadcaster Denise Watson, and hockey star Shirley McCay

AI SUMMIT

:: GenAIEdu 2023, a national conference on generative artificial intelligence in education, will explore the cutting-edge world of AI in an educational context in Derry in September.

The three-day conference at Ulster University’s Magee campus on September 11-13 will bring together world-leading educators, researchers, teachers, students and industry professionals, to understand how generative AI is revolutionising the way we learn, teach and assess.

Some of the leading voices from the UK and Ireland on AI in education have been confirmed to speak.

They include industry leaders from Microsoft, the National Centre for AI at JISC, the UK digital, data and technology agency focused on tertiary education, research and innovation, ICS: UK's first Microsoft AI Inner Circle Partner, TransformEducation, as well as researchers from Ulster University, Dundalk Institute of Technology and the University of Manchester.

Attendees will explore cutting-edge technologies and large language models such as ChatGPT, Bard and Claude.

The conference (details at www.ulster.ac.uk/conference/genaiedu-2023) will be hosted by UU's School of Computing, Engineering, and Intelligent Systems.

CAN YOU DANCE?

:: Movie star Alisha Weir is set to make a star-studded appearance at the highly anticipated CYD? Northern Ireland convention on November 12 at the Eikon Exhibition Centre.

The CYD? (can you dance) convention is dedicated to nurturing the talents of dancers, offering them an array of exciting opportunities.

Dancers from aged five upwards will have the chance to participate in master classes led by a top-class faculty, including an exclusive collaboration class between Alisha Weir and Meesha Garbett, famously known as the "red beret girl" in a first-time- ever event!

The convention will also host a group dance competition, providing dance schools with the perfect stage to showcase their talent and creativity.

Alongside this there will be a mini industry exhibition, where dancers can indulge in shopping, networking, and exploring additional areas such as the Circus and Acro zones.

DRIFTERSTYLE TRUCK SHOW

:: Drifterstyle Truck Show will launch the largest indoor truck show in the UK and Ireland covering an area of over 10,000 square metres!

The event in The Eikon Exhibition Centre on Saturday October 7 (10am- 7pm) and Sunday October 8 (10am-5pm) will provide the public with an opportunity to see the best UK, Irish and continental show trucks on home soil.

Drifterstyle director David Henning said: “This show has been in me since childhood. From being in the passenger seat with my dad to driving trucks and now cleaning them for a living. Passion has and always will be the driving force behind Drifterstyle.”

Ticket information at www.ticketsource.co.uk/drifter-style-ltd

TEAMBUILDING SERIES

Award-winning US small business expert Brian Moran will lead a four-week workshop series in September for new and existing Northern Ireland business owners designed to help them build solid foundations for their companies.

He will be joined by his co-founder at Bricks or Sticks (www.bricksorsticks.com), top branding and leadership expert Jocelyn Ring.

The first three classes will be held online starting September 4 and the final full day event will be held in-person at Innovation Factory in Belfast on September 29 from 10am to 4pm.

With years of experience in the corporate world as executive director of sales development at The Wall Street Journal and associate publisher with both Inc Magazine and Entrepreneur Media, Brian has gone on to build his own company supporting business growth and development.

Supported by Invest NI, Innovation Factory and Belfast International Homecoming, the workshop’s objective is to help 25 Belfast business owners solidify the foundations of their companies to weather any storm and to ultimately help them achieve their annual goals.