It's Better Business in Northern Ireland

Top 100 Companies

Monday, April 28, 2008

Hugh Donnelly, head of Bank of Scotland (Ireland) in Northern Ireland

BANK of Scotland (Ireland) is proud to be the sponsor of the Belfast Telegraph Northern Irelandís Top 100 Companies, the definitive guide and essential reading for those focused on business success in Northern Ireland.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate all companies that have gained the prestigious status of being a “Top 100 Company” in Northern Ireland.

From the new entrant firm making its debut to the established multi-national retaining its position, all who are featured in the "Top 100" have not only met, but successful overcome, those unique challenges resulting from the rapidly changing business environment over the last 12 months.

To have continued to experience economic growth when faced with a challenging global economy is indeed a testimony to the management and leaderships skills of those involved in any of our top 100 performing firms.

This is a feat of which all should feel rightly proud.

These are without doubt exciting times as an optimistic Northern Ireland increasingly becomes an international destination to live and work.

Unprecedented opportunities continue to arise especially within the retail and services sector as inward investment is more focused towards a normalised society in the backdrop of political stability.

Yet such encouraging signs welcomed locally will pose a new set of questions to be answered by the business elite in Northern Ireland, especially in the context of volatile global markets.

At Bank of Scotland (Ireland) we look forward to further opportunities in Northern Ireland and take great pride in our ability to understand and support local firms as they strive to gain market leading positions within truly global economies.

Over the next 12 months there is no doubt competition will be fiercer than ever.

But these are the times to stand up and be counted, with the rewards higher than ever in a flourishing private sector.

The "can do" approach currently emanating across all sectors of Northern Ireland business has long been witnessed at the very heart of The Bank of Scotland (Ireland), so we are ideally positioned to respond to the changing needs of local business, through innovative, and flexible service offerings.

"Better" business is taking place in Northern Ireland and all companies featured in the Top 100 are again to be congratulated on their successes over the last 12 months.

But beyond reflecting on past glories, now is the time to take stock and consider the challenges that lie ahead, to ensure you grasp future opportunities for business growth, repeating your success in the next 12 months.

In Bank of Scotland (Ireland) we are ready to support the needs of your business.