Wednesday 19 June 2013
Controversies over pay are often in the headlines, and the last few weeks has seen a furore over the salary of Invest NI chief Alastair Hamilton, whose basic package has gone up from £160,000 to £190,000.
It will be hard to undo the damage wrought to the image of Northern Ireland by the protests over flags over the last few weeks. The image of a shiny, optimistic capital with all its cosmopolitan, money-making boasts - Titanic Belfast, the Merchant Hotel, Victoria Square - has been compromised.
As business journalists in the relatively small market of Northern Ireland, we get to know many PR firms north and south, and can quickly identify those hardy souls who can cope with any challenge.
It's tough for a cafe chain to make a deep impression on the public, especially a public too often swayed by the uncomplicated and familiar charms of the Starbucks (no stranger to this column) and Costa Coffees of this world. But Northern Ireland is now seeing impressive growth from indigenous chains, like Co Antrim-based Ground Espresso Bars, whose proprietor Darren Gardiner has been taking to Twitter to vent his exasperation at the disruption being caused to business by flag protesters in Belfast. Its businesses have been mainly located inside others, such as Waterstones, Next and DV8.
Despite a substantial difference in the cost of their clothes, Arthur Ryan of Primark and Armancio Ortega Gaona of Zara have much in common.
Global coffee chain Starbucks faces being out of pocket after its low corporation tax habits were uncovered and the business was prompted by ensuing bad publicity into vowing to pay up to £20m to HMRC over the next two years, regardless of profits.
Public perception would appear to be all for some companies. Upset the general public who you depend on to buy your products and you'll find yourself in all sorts of difficulties.
If you're a motorist, as many of us in Northern Ireland are, you should have an extra £40 in your pocket next year. That's because the Chancellor has at last seen sense and scrapped the 3p increase in fuel duty.
December 5 was touted as the day when all would be revealed in the great race to have Northern Ireland's corporation tax devolved.
Some up and down news from the Chambers of Commerce.
These pages are no stranger to debates over pay packets, particularly those comparing the various fortunes of both private and public sector workers.
News the Northern Ireland farming industry has been impacted by inclement weather over the last couple of years will hardly come as much of a shock.
While the rest of us are trying to start doing business with the world's biggest economy, some more established operators are getting their wrists slapped in a fairly major fashion.
Zut alors! After a period of reporting some fairly negative news from the Northern Ireland economy it seems we've hit a rich seam of positivity.
In two days of business news there's one country which features heavily. Canada's contribution to the economy here has been apparent for all to see since 1989 when Montreal-based Bombardier took over airplane maker Short Brothers.
Not only has Canada given our aerospace industry a boost, it's also provided us with the new governor of the Bank of England.
A plethora of new data to get stuck into over the last 24 hours means the economists' calendar has been well thumbed.
That was quite a day for the Northern Ireland economy and quite a turnaround for Fermanagh.
News that Dutch Vion Group has put its UK food business up for sale is worrying, but the Cookstown plant seems to have plenty going for it to attract a buyer.
As Northern Ireland's finest continue their charm offensive around the world's second biggest economy, the deals are trickling in but maybe not in the flood that some had expected, especially for such a high profile trip.
Movers and shakers in the Northern Ireland business world showcase their latest ideas and products.....
Netflix is to air original television programming from Dreamworks Animation in a deal described as a major coup for both companies.
Barclay Communications raised over seven thousand pounds for the Jonjo Bright Trust at the tenth annual Barclay Communications’ Race Evening.
EDWARD Haughey, also known as The Right Honourable Lord Ballyedmond, established his veterinary pharmaceutical business in 1968.
A fledgling aerospace firm headed by heavy metal legend Bruce Dickinson has announced a key £5m investment.
Katy Best, commercial and marketing director at George Best Belfast City Airport
Hi °C | Lo °C