NI FOOD AND DRINK CONFERENCE
Sustainable growth and industry innovation are among the topics to be explored as the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Conference returns to Belfast.
Organised by the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) and held in partnership with Invest NI and the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the conference will take place on Tuesday March 4 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast.
The interactive event will cover areas including investment, growth, sustainability, innovation, retail trends and much more, while also providing delegates with the important opportunity to connect, network and learn industry insights.
Speakers include Invest NI chief executive Kieran Donoghue; FSA chief executive Katie Pettifer; retail market expert Dr Clive Black and key representatives of major UK retailers, with collaborative panel discussions taking a closer look at the issues facing the food and drink industry today. For further information visit nifda.co.uk/nifda-conference-2025.
TOURISM NI TO ‘POWER UP’ THIS SPRING
Tourism NI has launched a new programme of business opportunities for the tourism sector this Spring.
On February 4, a virtual `Meet the Industry’ workshop will present tourism businesses with the opportunity to engage and network with industry peers. On February 5, an in-person `Maximising Marketing Channels’ workshop will take place at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast. On February 25, Tourism NI is hosting a `Get Open Ready’ webinar ahead of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club in July.
Finally, on March 27 and 28, Tourism NI’s flagship `Meet the Buyer’ event will provide industry with an excellent opportunity to showcase their business offering to around 200 international buyers at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn. Businesses are also being encouraged to sign up for an ongoing `AI in Tourism’ digital webinar series. More information is available at Tourismni.com/events-webinars
ALL-ISLAND PRIVATE HEALTHCARE AWARDS
Organisers of the first ever private healthcare awards to take place on the island of Ireland say the event will aim to unite healthcare through the standardisation and promotion of the highest professional levels.
Dr Carla Devlin, one of the north’s leading NHS GPs, and owner of two private health clinics, has joined forces with events professional Sarah Weir to establish The Private Healthcare Excellence Awards, which will recognise exceptional practice and outstanding specialist practitioners working in the private healthcare sector.
The awards will have 26 categories judged by a panel of experienced, independent healthcare professionals and leaders within their respective fields. The event will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast on Saturday May 17 2025 and will be hosted by Pamela Ballantine MBE. Entries are now open via www.phexcellence.com.
FUTURE HIGH STREETS SUMMIT
Retail NI has announced that it is to hold a High Street Summit looking at the 2025 challenges and opportunities facing our local town and city centres.
The summit, which is being hosted by Belfast Harbour Commissioners and supported by Titanic Quarter, takes place on Tuesday February 24 at 9.30am.
The keynote speakers include Alex Norris MP, Minister in the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Minister has responsibility for high streets, investment zones and local and regional growth. Alex Burghart MP, the newly appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will also set out the opposition’s economic priorities.
YOUNG WOMEN’S NETWORK
Queen’s Business School (QBS) has announced a new partnership with the Young Women’s Network.
Formed by Women in Business, the Young Women’s Network is a platform available to all women aged 28 and under who are still in education or just entering the business world. Through inclusive events, webinars and online roundtables, the network equips members with the tools and insights to help them accelerate their careers.
With QBS on board as 2025 sponsor, Young Women’s Network will expand its impact in the year ahead and continue its mission of fostering connections and opportunities for young women across all sectors.
Membership to the Young Women’s Network is available at a discounted rate to Women in Business members, while employees under 28 at corporate members of Women in Business are enrolled automatically. Details of how to get involved along with the five Young Women’s Network events planned for the year ahead, can be found at www.womeninbusinessni.com/membership/
EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Entrepreneurs from emerging, established and international businesses across all industry sectors on the island of Ireland are being invited to submit their nominations for the annual EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme.
This year, the programme celebrates entrepreneurs from across the island of Ireland whose vision and innovation are creating long-term value and helping to shape the future with confidence.
The 24 finalists will be selected by an independent judging panel comprising of former winners and chaired by Harry Hughes, CEO of Portwest. Nominations will remain open until Feb 27 2025. Those nominating someone else must do so with the entrepreneur’s consent. For more details, see eoy.ie.
IOD WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
The Institute of Directors (NI) is inviting female entrepreneurs to put themselves forward for the association’s annual business pitch competition.
Held during the Women’s Leadership Conference, which takes place in Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday March 7, the pitch competition has become a highlight of the event and involves five female founders taking to the stage to deliver a 60 second pitch for their business. After a live audience vote, one lucky business owner will walk away with a cash prize of £4,000.
The competition is open to female founders across all sectors, the only requirement is that the business is based in NI and has been in operation for less than two years. To be considered, interested entrepreneurs are invited to apply online before the deadline of January 31. Those who have successfully made the shortlist will be contacted directly by the IoD NI.
Tickets for the Women’s Leadership Conferencecan be purchased via iod.com/events.
LIDL KICKSTART SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Lidl Northern Ireland has opened its 2025 Kickstart Supplier Development Programme for applications to local food and drink producers across the region.
Now in its eighth year, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Kickstart programme is backed by the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association and is designed to give artisan producers a foot up in breaking into the competitive supermarket retail sector, by having the opportunity to see their products stocked in Lidl Northern Ireland stores across the region.
Successful applicants undertake a six-month development programme offering suppliers dedicated business support from Lidl Northern Ireland’s in-house experts, advancing their product, brand and business with practical guidance on production efficiency, product development and packaging and how to scale for success.
Applications for Kickstart 2025 are now open until January 31st 2025. Interested producers can visit www.lidl-ni.co.uk/c/kickstart/
NORTHERN IRELAND HUMMINGBIRD AWARDS
The inaugural Northern Ireland Hummingbird Awards have been launched to recognise and celebrate the exceptional efforts of individuals and organisations dedicated to advancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) across the region.
The awards luncheon will take place on Thursday March 20 2025, at Belfast City Hall, showcasing 10 carefully curated categories designed to honour and celebrate outstanding contributions to EDI in workplaces and communities throughout Northern Ireland.
The awards includes categories such as diverse employer, recognising organisations that champion diversity at every level, and workplace EDI champion, celebrating individuals driving transformative inclusivity.
Entries are open now with a deadline of 5pm on February 3. For more information or to submit an entry visit nihummingbirdawards.com.
CIPD AWARDS
Over thirty of Northern Ireland’s top employers and HR talent have made the shortlist for the CIPD Awards in Northern Ireland, 2025 which recognise organisations with the most outstanding HR talent and teams, shaping better work and working lives in Northern Ireland.
The awards – which take place on March 6 2025 at The Titanic, Belfast - celebrate the achievements of HR professionals and people teams who play a leading role in delivering workplace initiatives and strategies to better support employees and improve business performance.
Tickets for the black-tie gala, hosted by Emer Maguire, are available at cipdniawards.co.uk
WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS
Northern Ireland’s outstanding businesswomen will be recognised at the 2025 Women in Business Awards when the prestigious ceremony returns in March.
Taking place at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Thursday March 13 2025, the awards are an annual celebration of NI’s best-in-class businesswomen and their significant achievements across the broad range of business. Entries are now open.
For a full list of award categories, entry forms, and to book a ticket for March’s event, visit womeninbusinessni.com/events/
HOUSEKEEPING AWARDS
The Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) has launched its 14th annual Housekeeping Awards.
This year’s awards include two major competitions: Housekeeping Team of the Year, judged by a surprise inspection of the premises, and Housekeeper of the Year, an individual competition judged during an assessment day.
The assessment day will take place on February 18 at Room2 Belfast Hometel, where participants will showcase their skills. The winners will be announced at a glittering awards dinner on March 19 at La Mon Hotel, Belfast. Teams and individuals are encouraged to register via the NIHF website by January 31.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE
Business in the Community (BITC), in partnership with the NI Council for Voluntary Associations (NICVA), is hosting a half-day conference in Belfast on January 29 that will bring businesses and the voluntary and community sector together to explore the pivotal role that effective partnerships play in addressing critical societal challenges.
The Community Connections Conference at Allstate NI in Belfast (9.30am-1.30pm) will feature a host of expert speakers, panel discussion, and best-practice examples that will inspire on how attendees can leverage cross-sector partnerships to meet ESG goals, improve employee engagement, and make a positive societal impact.
To find out more about the event visit www.bitcni.org.uk/communityconnections.
CONSTRUCTION GALA DINNER
The Construction Employers Federation will host a Northern Ireland Construction Gala Dinner on March 27 to mark the organisation’s 80th anniversary. Star guest for the night is television presenter Kevin McCloud, with Pamela Ballantine hosting, comedy from Neil Delamere and live music to entertain guests. Students and apprentices will be special guests as the gala dinner recognises their place in shaping the sector into the next century. To book a table or find out about sponsorship opportunities contact TracyW@cefni.co.uk
4 CORNERS FESTIVAL
The annual 4 Corners Festival is back for another year with a range of art, music, discussion, sport and faith-inspired events, runs from January 31 to February 9 in venues across Belfast. The 2025 festival is once again set to inspire connection, reflection and community through a dynamic line-up of events spanning a wide range of disciplines, such as art, music, discussion, sport and other activities. See 4cornersfestival.com for more.
LOVE YOUR HOME SHOW
The Eikon Exhibition Centre is gearing up to host the ‘Love Your Home Show and Love Your Food Show’ from March 7-9. Renowned as Northern Ireland’s premier home event, the Love Your Home Show will feature over 180 exhibitors presenting the latest products, services, and expert insights to help home-owners, gardeners, and design enthusiasts elevate their living spaces. A haven for food lovers, the Love Your Food Show will showcase over 100 food exhibitors and stalls, featuring everything from freshly baked goods to artisanal cheeses and handcrafted preserves.
SCHOOLS’ BUSINESS CHALLENGE
More than 100 students from various schools throughout the north will showcase their entrepreneurial abilities at the 2025 NI Schools’ Business Challenge 2025. The initiative is a collaboration among Queen’s Business School, Henderson Group, BDO Northern Ireland, and is supported by CCEA, inviting AS/A-Level Business Studies students to take part. It will take place on February 19 at Queen’s Business School in Riddel Hall.
The initiative will see students challenged to work as a team to develop – in real time – a business strategy based on a case study provided by Henderson Group. The judging panel, which is made up of representatives from BDO NI, Queen’s Business School and Henderson Group, will evaluate each submission and school presentation with the winner being revealed on the day.
For more information on the initiative – or to register a teams(s) for the challenge, contact Professor Ciaran Connolly at Queen’s Business School via c.j.connolly@qub.ac.uk or 02890 974796.
TASTE OF TOURISM 2025
The Taste of Tourism Summit, organised by the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF), returns to the Culloden Estate and Spa on March 10-11. This two-day event offers a dynamic platform for the tourism and hospitality industry, celebrating Northern Ireland’s rich food heritage while addressing key challenges and future opportunities. For further information and to register, visit tasteoftourism.com.
ICE CONFERENCE
ICC Belfast is set to host set to host ICEXTRA, an ICE conference for in-house corporate event planners on Friday January 29.
ICE brings together a community of over a thousand corporate event professionals from some of the biggest national and international companies, charities and brands. Its activities are aimed at fostering collaboration, sharing best practice and driving innovation to elevate the whole events industry across the world.
Bookings for ICEXTRA at ICC Belfast are live now and tickets are free for corporate event planners.
