Business

Company linked to controversial Glasgow awards firm in process of being liquidated

National Campaigns Limited, understood to be a trading entity of Creative Oceanic, had net liabilities of almost £350k last year

Many wine glasses on a table at a dinner party.
Two companies linked to the day-to-day operations of Creative Oceanic are in the process of being wound up. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
By Ryan McAleer

A Glasgow-based company linked to dozens of awards events across Ireland and UK is in the process of being liquidated, The Irish News can reveal.

A liquidator was appointed to National Campaigns Limited by the Scottish courts in June 2024.

Sources familiar with the business confirmed it was one of the registered trading entities used by the Oceanic Group, also known as Creative Oceanic.

The former registered address of National Campaigns Limited is the same address in Glasgow (48 Darnley Street) listed by Creative Oceanic’s website.

The controversial Scottish awards and marketing business is behind events including the Food Awards Northern Ireland, the NI Hair & Beauty Awards, NI Wedding Awards, NI Hospitality Awards, NI Restaurant Awards and NI Women’s Awards, among others.

The events typically involve hundreds of businesses nominated in dozens of categories, including businesses which are no longer trading.

The latest ‘finalists’ announced last month for The Northern Ireland Hospitality Awards include a number of licensed premises in Magherafelt, who have been short-listed for Co Tyrone pub of the year.

The Chimney Corner Hotel in Newtownabbey has been short-listed for hotel of the year.

The Co Antrim hotel has been closed to the public for the past two years.

Creative Oceanic runs dozens of similarly branded events across the Republic, Scotland, England and Wales.

The company has to date refused to respond to requests to disclose its registered company name and number.

But it’s understood that in day-to-day operations, Creative Oceanic used both National Campaigns Limited and a second registered entity, Ethnic Advertising Limited.

Companies House lists Samia Younis (45) as majority owner of both entities.

Separate applications were made by Ms Younis to strike both companies off the register on February 8 2024.

A court order to wind up National Campaigns Limited granted on May 23, with Sheriff BM Cameron determining the company did not have enough capital to pay its debts.

Creative Oceanic currently lists its address as 48 Darnley Street, which is the address for McCormick House Business Centre in Glasgow.
Creative Oceanic currently lists its address as 48 Darnley Street, which is the address for McCormick House Business Centre in Glasgow.

An interim liquidator from Dunedin Advisory was appointed.

Unaudited accounts published by Companies House show National Campaigns Limited had net liabilities of £346,244 at the end of May 2023. It listed 12 staff.

The application to wind up Ethnic Advertising was suspended in March following an objection.

Companies House has offered no further update on the striking off action, but accounts for the business show Ethnic Advertising Limited had net liabilities of £107,529 at the end of May 2023. It listed nine staff.

Bizarrely, two companies owned by Samia Younis with the same names, were both dissolved in May 2018.

The companies involved in the ongoing insolvency proceedings were incorporated in Glasgow during the same month.

It’s understood Ms Younis is the wife of Irfan Younis, the public face of the Oceanic Group along, with Yasmin Mahmood.

In correspondence to The Irish News last year, a spokesperson for Creative Oceanic claimed Mr Younis was not the owner of the business.

Companies House links Mr Younis to more than a dozen dissolved entities bearing the Oceanic name.

He also owns National Campaigns International Limited and National Advertising Limited, which share the same address as National Campaigns Limited.

Samia Younis was listed a director of both companies until recent weeks.

Creative Oceanic was contacted for comment.