News

April 2022

Manufacturing Month to showcase best of industry in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector will be showcased as part of the return of a major industry event.

---

Urban HQ set for expansion with a £7m investment

A flexible workspace business is planning to develop a new second Belfast location as part of a £7m investment, it has been revealed.

---

Pret A Manger opening first stores in Northern Ireland

Coffee and sandwich chain Pret A Manger will open stores its first stores in Northern Ireland amid its roll-out across the island, it has emerged.

---

Lisburn students walk away with top Young Enterprise award

An entrepreneurial student team from St Patrick’s Academy in Lisburn have been named Young Enterprise Northern Ireland Company of the Year 2022.

---

Soaring food prices see cost of an Ulster fry rising by 6.4%

Soaring food prices fuelled by the war in Ukraine and rising energy costs have seen the cost of an Ulster fry jump up by 6.4%.

---

March 2022

New online platform aims to bring together property sector businesses

A new online platform is aiming to bring together a host of businesses involved in Northern Ireland’s property sector.

---

Business in the Community Responsible Business Awards now open for 2022

This year’s Business in the Community Responsible Business Awards now open for entries.

---

Northern Ireland SMEs see 4% rise in profit

Northern Ireland’s leading SMEs have seen profits rising by 4% amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Ulster Business can reveal.

---

New commission ‘should be set up to fix Northern Ireland planning system woes’

Northern Ireland’s planning system is “not working” and a new independent commission should be set up to carry out a root and branch review, a Stormont committee has said.

---

Barry’s in Portrush to reopen this Easter under new operator

The former Barry’s business in Portrush is due to open this Easter as Curry’s Fun Park following a takeover by new operators.

---

‘World class’ wellness centre and 150-room hotel planned for Bushmills

A new ‘world class’ wellness resort and 150-bedroom hotel could be coming to Co Antrim, it can be revealed.

---

IT giant FD Technologies expands with 500 new staff

One of Northern Ireland’s most successful companies says it’s supporting a small number of firms in navigating challenges brought about by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

---

Red diesel ban ‘could cripple Northern Ireland businesses’

The removal of a rebate on red diesel for many industrial uses is premature and risks financially crippling businesses already under severe cost pressures, it’s been claimed.

---

Northern Ireland economy to reach pre-Covid levels this year but facing global headwinds

Northern Ireland’s economy is predicted to grow by 4.2% this year but will be mired with global headwinds and soaring energy and input costs, one survey has said.

---

Mills Selig named ‘corporate law firm of the year’ at industry awards

Law firm Mills Selig has walked away with the title of corporate law firm of the year at an industry awards show.

---

Northern Ireland water brand sold to new investors

A Northern Ireland-based water brand has been sold for an undisclosed sum.

---

February 2022

Boulevard sales up on pre-pandemic levels

One of Northern Ireland’s leading out-of-town retail parks says its seen sales rising by almost a quarter from pre-pandemic levels, it can be revealed.

---

Just 1% of business chiefs rate Stormont performance as ‘good’

Just one in a hundred business bosses believe the Government here is performing well, one new survey has shown.

---

Montblanc opens new boutique in Belfast city centre

Watch and luxury goods maker Montblanc has opened a new boutique in Belfast in partnership with Lunn’s.

---

Two new businesses move into Belfast’s Vantage office development

Two new businesses will move into one of Belfast’s newest city centre office spaces, it can be revealed.

---

Royal Mail raises noise concerns over new Belfast apartment scheme

Royal Mail has raised noise concerns which it says could impact residents of a newly-proposed major apartment scheme in Belfast city centre, Ulster Business can reveal.

---

Danske Bank sees profits rise to £61m

Danske Bank posted pre-tax profits of more than £61m last year amid an “improving economic outlook”.

---

Belfast Harbour posts record trade levels following introduction of NI Protocol

Belfast Harbour has seen trade levels reach a record high following the introduction of the NI Protocol here, it has emerged.

---

January 2022

Home care firm Connected Health creating 500 jobs in Northern Ireland

A home care business is creating 500 new jobs across Northern Ireland, it has emerged.

---

New £1.6bn a year Northern Ireland investment strategy unveiled

A long-awaited new investment strategy for Northern Ireland will inject around £1.6bn a year in key infrastructure for the region, it’s been revealed.

---

Construction and materials giant Northstone posts £6.8m loss

One of Northern Ireland’s biggest construction and building materials firms has swung from profit to posting a loss before tax of more than £6.8m amid the impact of Covid-19.

---

New council websites aimed at boosting tourism spend

Seven Northern Ireland council websites have been successfully redeveloped by Tourism NI as part of its digital transformation work programme.

---

Half of NI construction firms facing ‘serious impact’ of material shortages

Almost half of Northern Ireland construction firms say material shortages are having a “serious impact” and causing significant project delays.

---

Staff shortages now trump NI Protocol concerns for manufacturers

Fewer than 15% of Northern Ireland manufacturers see the NI Protocol as their biggest business challenge while many are now facing a staffing crisis, a fresh survey has shown.

---

Kainos takes on US firm as it’s named ‘top place to work’ in NI

IT services giant Kainos has expanded its global reach further still after taking on a new US business.