Lookers Completes Senior Management Appointments
25/03/2021
Lookers plc has confirmed the appointment of Chris Whitaker to the role of Chief People Officer, effective immediately, completing a series of Senior Management appointments.
One of the UK and Ireland’s leading motor retail and aftersales service groups, Lookers plc said this key appointment marks a new and important milestone in the company’s plans for new growth and development.
An accomplished Group HR director with almost 30 years’ experience, Chris joined Lookers in August 2020 and has been acting as Interim HR director since October. Chris will now lead the company’s HR and internal communications operations in his new role as Chief People Officer.
Lookers’ Executive Committee now comprises Chief Executive Mark Raban, Chief Operating Officer Duncan McPhee, Chief Financial Officer Anna Bielby, Chief Information Officer Andy Garrett, Chief Risk Officer Marcus Kenny and Company Secretary Phil Kenny.
Mark Raban, Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the appointment:
“I’m delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Whitaker to the role of Chief People Officer, further consolidating our senior management team and providing a strong base from which to drive new growth and development.
“Our people are our most valuable asset and I have every confidence that Chris will continue to harness the outstanding talent, skills and experience we seek to build further on this unrivalled core strength.
“With his fresh impetus, Chris has already made a fantastic contribution to the Group and he will bring invaluable experience to the role as we prepare to safely scale up our operations again when restrictions are eased. I am delighted that Chris is joining our Executive Committee and I look forward to working closely with him in the weeks and months ahead.”
A graduate of the University of Huddersfield, Chris is a forward thinking, strategically focused and pragmatic leader with proven expertise in attracting, retaining and developing talent.
Chief People Officer, Chris Whitaker, said:
“I’m thrilled to be joining the senior team at Lookers at an important, exciting time in the company’s development and I look forward to assisting in delivering a new, shared growth right across our network. This appointment is a privilege, and I would like to thank my colleagues for their support as I embark on this new and focal role.”
Earlier this month, Lookers announced the appointment of Paul van der Burgh as a non-Executive Director from 1 April, joining the Board with non-Executive Chairman Phil White CBE and non-Executive Directors, Heather Jackson, Vicky Mitchell and Robin Churchouse.
Lookers represents 31 vehicle manufacturers, selling and servicing a wide range of new and used vehicles from a network of 160 dealerships in the UK and Ireland.
Lidl Northern Ireland & McCulla Launch Fully Green Transport Fleet
25/03/2021
Lidl Northern Ireland has become the first retailer in the UK and Ireland to launch a fully green transport fleet powered by waste-to-energy generation, in partnership with leading local logistics company McCulla Transport.
The new fleet of eight bio-methane powered trucks marks the first significant business integration between the transport and retail sector in Northern Ireland and represents a major step forward for Northern Ireland in its move to slash carbon emissions.
In the coming weeks, using food waste collected from all 41 Lidl Northern Ireland stores, McCulla will start to create fully renewable bio-methane gas at its anaerobic digester (AD) plant in Lisburn to power a sustainable, next generation transport operation which then delivers produce to Lidl stores across Northern Ireland every day.
The new sustainable transport fleet will deliver improved efficiencies and reduce the retailer’s carbon emissions of these vehicles by up to 93%.
Conor Boyle, Regional Director of Lidl Northern Ireland said:
“This partnership with McCulla underlines our commitment to developing sustainable and innovative solutions which create real impact in every area of our business. From using renewable electricity to power our stores to advancing our Plastic Pledge and introducing numerous in-store initiatives to reduce waste, Lidl Northern Ireland is leading the way.
We’re thrilled to now be the first supermarket retailer to successfully integrate the first waste-to-energy sustainable transport model. McCulla’s fleet covers more than 2,300 road miles per day, ensuring the safe and timely delivery of fresh and chilled foods to more than 300,000 weekly customers across our regional store network. The introduction of this new ‘green fleet’ operating on fully renewable biomethane as its primary fuel source will save more than 93% in carbon emissions due per bio-methane truck.
We’re proud to work alongside McCulla to pave the way for the sector and for Northern Ireland in driving a cleaner, greener economy through responsible business practice.”
With more than 50 years’ experience in the haulage industry, McCulla is one of the leading providers of ambient, chilled and frozen logistics solutions throughout the UK and Ireland and has been working with Lidl Northern Ireland for the last 5 years. Remaining family-owned and operating from Lisburn and Dublin, McCulla employs 235 staff across a variety of roles, the most recent being employed to manage the company’s new customs clearance division.
Ashley McCulla, Chairman of McCulla, said:
“Since 2017 we have been producing all of our own electricity from an anaerobic digester (AD) plant at our site in Lisburn but our ultimate goal was always to use energy produced by the AD plant to power our logistics fleet as well. Working with Lidl Northern Ireland, we’ve delivered on that ambition and we’re honoured to be part of a real first for the industry, and for Northern Ireland.
For many retailers dedicated to decarbonisation, transport and logistics can be challenging. However, with our expertise and experience and dedicated partnership with Lidl Northern Ireland, this milestone initiative will deliver major environmental benefits for years to come.
Working with a likeminded and forward-thinking partner like Lidl Northern Ireland has been key in the successful delivery of this project. The circular economy nature of the partnership relies on both organisations being fully committed to integrating sustainable new business practices. After months/years of planning and preparation, we’re proud to see our new green fleet finally roll out across the region.”
Commenting on the announcement, Economy Minister, Diane Dodds, said:
“I very much welcome the announcement by Lidl and McCulla Transport today which is another tangible step in Northern Ireland leadership in decarbonising our energy system, in this instance in the ground-breaking displacement of fossil fuel in our transport sector. It is also a concrete example of the circular economy in action, which is an important part of our green economic recovery.”
Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Edwin Poots welcomed the announcement:
“I am absolutely delighted to see the introduction of Northern Ireland’s first green logistics fleet by one of our biggest supermarket retailers. Low emissions transport has been a long-term goal for many businesses and its widespread adoption is a key goal in helping us reach our goals for tackling climate change.
Today’s announcement demonstrates how industries can work together cohesively to deliver practical solutions for businesses, consumers and communities and I applaud McCulla and Lidl Northern Ireland for their work in realising this ambition. Achieving emissions reductions means we must work collectively, and I’m delighted to see responsible businesses stepping up to the challenge. This is good for our climate, will create green jobs and will benefit our environment.”
The introduction of the new green transport fleet is the latest move by the retailer in delivering on its dedicated sustainability commitments as part of its overarching corporate social responsibility framework ‘A Better Tomorrow’.
In December 2020, Lidl Northern Ireland received Silver level CORE accreditation through Business in the Community – a prestigious accreditation in recognition of its commitment to doing business in a way that is better for employees, the planet and communities.
Lidl Northern Ireland was also announced as a climate champion and the retail sponsors of the Business in the Community Northern Ireland Climate Pledge. By signing this, Lidl Northern Ireland will be one of the first companies in Northern Ireland to commit to reporting GHG emissions, reviewing progress towards targets and implementing a strategy to meet sustainability targets.
The retailer was also awarded ‘Green Company of the Year’ at the 2019 Business Eye Awards, and has previously been awarded the coveted ‘Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility’ at the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards, retained the award for Excellence in Environment and won the Excellence in Community.
McCulla Ireland has also received a number of accolades in recent years, with recognition at five separate industry events for its commitment to environmental protection, including the prestigious 2019 Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Awards for Excellence. Ashley McCulla has also been commended as Family Business Director of the Year at the Institute of Directors Awards and was a finalist in the 2019 EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition. The company also won the Entrepreneurial Spirit award at the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards in 2019.
For more information on Lidl Northern Ireland’s commitment to sustainability visit www.abettertomorrow-lidl-ni.co.uk/
For more information on McCulla visit www.mcculla.co.uk
Galgorm Collection launches recruitment drive for over 180 new hospitality jobs
15/03/2021
Galgorm today announced the launch of a brand new recruitment drive to hire more than 180 additional new team members for a range of hospitality roles for its hotels and restaurants in Ballymena, Belfast and Templepatrick.
From chefs to bar tenders, spa therapists and managers, to facilities staff, housekeepers, drivers and night porters, the company behind the world renowned Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort said the roles will help to meet anticipated demand when the hospitality sector reopens in the coming months.
Galgorm Collection said it is investing more than £5m in annual wages creating the new roles, which include both full and part time positions and forms part of its advanced preparations for the full and safe reopening of its properties.
Colin Johnston, Galgorm Collection Managing Director, said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to confirm more than 180 brand new jobs and to commence recruitment for a wide range of hospitality roles across our collection of properties. This new initiative will expand our team by an additional 25 per cent and bring our total workforce to 900 team members.
“Today’s announcement confirms our commitment to further developing our world-class hospitality provision and reaffirms our confidence in the sector’s recovery. We are currently working towards an April start date for our first new team members and we look forward to the Executive confirming a reopening date for hospitality and tourism sector so that we can begin onboarding our new recruits and facilitating a return to work as soon as possible.”
The announcement was welcomed by Economy Minister Diane Dodds:
“I warmly welcome the jobs announcement made by Galgorm Collection today and their commitment to recovery. This is positive news and represents a strong foot forward in Northern Ireland collectively forging a path to recovery. The hospitality industry has faced unprecedented challenges over the last 12 months and our focus now is on ensuring a safe and sustainable reopening of the sector when the time is right. Galgorm has continued to demonstrate strong leadership for the industry and this announcement will provide a beacon of light for the rebuilding of the sector.”
Tourism Northern Ireland Chief Executive John McGrillen also welcomed the news:
“The closure of the hospitality sector across Northern Ireland has been sorely felt and the full impact of this still remains to be seen. Today’s announcement will provide a much-needed
lifeline for many hospitality workers in an industry hard-hit by the pandemic and I hope this important announcement will help provide renewed confidence and momentum in working towards the sector’s recovery.”
The world-renowned and multi-award-winning Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, located in Ballymena, is set to hire an additional 94 team members across its accommodation, spa and restaurants. Recently named Best Spa Experience within the UK and Ireland at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2021 and crowned Resort Spa of the Year at the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2020, the new hires will bolster its 720-strong team and build upon its award-winning credentials.
In Belfast, 60 new team members will join Galgorm’s two city centre restaurants, the iconic Café Parisien located in the former Robinson & Cleaver building, offering unrivalled views of Belfast City hall, and family favourite Fratelli’s restaurant located in Great Victoria Street. The new roles include a mix of chefs, servers and food and beverage managers.
An additional 26 team members will be recruited to support the opening of Galgorm Collection’s newest venture, The Rabbit Hotel, located in Templepatrick. With a planned June opening, the new roles span across the hotel’s front of house and accommodation offering as well as roles within its brand new spa area and popular restaurant and bar.
For more information on the roles available and to apply, visit galgorm.com/work-with-us.html
Rainbow Communications embarks on new plan for growth with Radius
11/03/2021
Leading Northern Ireland IT and telecoms solutions provider Rainbow Communications is on new path for renewed growth after being acquired by Sunday Times Top Track 100 company Radius Payment Solutions.
Rainbow, founded in 1998 by Eric Carson and Martin Hamill, and which has more than 10,000 customers across Britain and Ireland, is one of Northern Ireland’s biggest tech successes.
The acquisition by Radius Payment Solutions provides Belfast-based Rainbow Communications with a new and solid platform for growing its brand across the island of Ireland and an expansion of the range of innovative services on offer for a wider range of companies.
With Rainbow’s experienced and committed delivery team, it delivers and implements vital communications, including cloud computing, mobile networking and high tech telecoms services for many of the region’s Top 100 companies and SMEs of all sizes.
Rainbow Communications founder Eric Carson said:
“For more than two decades, Rainbow has been at the forefront of tech innovation, driving digital connectivity for businesses right across the region and beyond, making it easier to communicate, to do business better and to compete effectively.
“For 2021 and beyond, I’m also excited to be passing the reins to a invigorated team who will lead a new and successful period of growth for the company.”
The Rainbow Communications brand and delivery team remains intact following the acquisition.
Rainbow Communications’ Stuart Carson added:
“We are delighted that by working alongside our new Radius team and our own long-established staff, Rainbow’s future growth and ambition is secured with a company which has the same forward ambition and ethos as we have always had and we look forward to the benefits of such a compelling integration will bring for new and existing clients in the weeks and months ahead.”
Earlier this year, Rainbow was accredited as a global Microsoft Silver partner, putting it in the top five percent of companies in the world which holds the award. It followed a rigorous audit of its operations by Microsoft which determined its top ranking for providing the best solutions for its customers.
Its newly-acquired silver status puts Rainbow Communications ahead of its competition, demonstrating a specific, proven skill set to clients alongside high quality, consistent delivery. It also means its staff are now part of Microsoft’s global network and support hub, sharing resources, training, and best practice advice.
Ray Ferris, Managing Director, Telecoms, Radius Payment Solutions, said:
“The acquisition of Rainbow Communications gives us a greater platform to provide non-mobile services to our growing customer base in Ireland. Rainbow has an excellent reputation in the local market and compliments our growing mobile business to give customers more choice with their transition from legacy technology to cloud services.
We are really looking forward to working with the teams and integrating the business with our Radius Connect team in Belfast.”
Radius Payment Solutions features in the 2020 Sunday Times Top Track 100 list, which is sponsored by HSBC and Linklaters.
Having achieved a turnover of £2.6 billion last year, Radius ranked 24th in the list. This is the ninth consecutive year that Radius has received this accolade, which recognises the contribution to the economy made by Britain’s largest 100 private companies.
Lidl prices this Mother's Day
06/03/2021
Lidl Northern Ireland is your one-stop shop this year for the ideal luxurious Mother’s Day gifts. Whether your mum is a candle or diffuser lover, a flower queen or an espresso enthusiast, Lidl has affordable but chic options to spoil your mum this year with prices starting at just £3.59.
Scent Lover
Exclusively for Mother’s Day, Lidl Northern Ireland is debuting its brand-new Black Luxury Collection range of candles and diffusers. You can pick up a designer-inspired scent at Lidl to suit every mother as the Black Collection comes in a range of musty scents including Spiced Vanilla & Patchouli, Mandarin & Cedarwood, Plum & Rosewood and Burnt Amber & Coffee.
Or why not pick up one of Lidl’s popular candles or diffusers from their original Luxury Collection? This range comes in soothing Lavender, rich and warm Pomegranate, fruity Nectarine & Orange Blossom or zesty Citrus & Herb.
All Luxury Collection scents are available as both Candles (£3.59) and Reed Diffusers (£3.59) meaning you can pick up the full set of your favourite fragrance for less than £8 with 1,400 hours of scented bliss guaranteed.
Flower Queen
Show your mum just how much she means to you with Lidl Northern Ireland’s Elegance Bouquet – it’s as stunning as it sounds and all for just £13.99. Want to hear the best part? Customers can avail of Lidl’s exclusive Mother’s Day offer and receive 50% off any candle or diffuser from the Luxury Collection with every Elegance Bouquet purchased.
Espresso Enthusiast
If you want to go that extra mile to make your mum feel special, why not shake it up this year with Lidl Northern Ireland’s exclusive ‘Espresso Mum-Tini’ cocktail? It’s the perfect balance of Lidl’s Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur, espresso and vodka for those coffee lovers who are taking the day to relax. You can pick up all the ingredients at your local Lidl Northern Ireland store including Lidl’s Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur for just £6.99.
Armagh streams six-day Home of St Patrick Festival to the world
04/03/2021
Ireland’s real home of St Patrick, Armagh, has kicked off its packed six-day schedule of events to celebrate the island’s famous patron saint with the world.
Armagh, Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital and the historic, legendary city which St Patrick founded on his mission of change, wants millions of people at home and away to join in on an enthralling showcase of events designed to inspire a new global audience.
Starting today, Friday 12 March and concluding on St Patrick’s Day (Wednesday 17 March), this fully online ‘At Home with St Patrick Festival’ will take you through a thrilling showcase of rousing events themed with snakes, shamrocks, history and culture, traditional music and dance – and plenty of inspiring food and drink ideas.
From the iconic Navan Fort – one of Ireland’s most iconic archaeological sites and steeped in myth and legend – to its famous orchards, cathedrals, theatres and libraries, few will be untouched by the spirit of a city that St Patrick made his home.
“Built, shaped and steeped in St Patrick, Armagh remains the true home of Ireland’s first citizen and we’re proud to celebrate his iconic legacy from a remarkable city that will bring laughter, enjoyment, reflection and hope to the world in this challenging year, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Cllr Kevin Savage, said.
“Famed for its orchards, its warm hospitality, friendly people, history, culture and outstanding food and drink, Armagh will continue to surprise many for its must-visit destination appeal and we really hope that this local and global celebration will inspire and engage many people of all ages to experience this place for real when all of us can.”
With 19 free-to-attend events planned, the festival line-up includes:
- Irish dance masterclass from Riverdance’s Jason O’Neill: Irish dance sensation and Riverdance lead, Jason O’Neill takes centre-stage to present a high-energy dance masterclass from Armagh’s Market Place Theatre. Jason is joined by two inspiring local female dancers, twelve-year-old world champion Blaithin Mohan from Armagh City and Ciara McGivern from Markethill who is placed ninth in the world.
- The Story of St Patrick & Daire: An exciting online dramatisation at Navan Fort which will uncover St Patrick’s early life and his discussions with lord chieftain and legend Daire as he searched for a site in Armagh to establish his first church.
- The Staff, The Snake and The Shamrock: An illustrated talk of by Dr Rachel Moss of Trinity College Dublin will be providing an illustrated presentation that gives insights into the iconic symbolism and arts linked with St Patrick.
- Réalta – Live from The Market Place Theatre: Réalta take a lively, exciting and respectful approach to Irish traditional music at this must-visit event. Reared on a staple diet of The Bothy Band, Planxty and other such classics, this big-name band captures the timeless aspects of the tradition and presents it in its raw form – fresh and beautiful.
- St Patrick’s Day Breakfast Cook-Along with Simon Dougan & May McFettridge: Simon Dougan from Yellow Door cooks up a storm with leading theatre entertainer May McFettridge to share hearty Ulster breakfast using the finest ingredients from across the region’s food heartland.
- All Folk’d Up – Live from The Market Place Theatre: One of Ireland’s most popular groups who play a mix of classic sounds from folk and country music traditions, while still sprinkling their own unique, modern twist.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Cllr Kevin Savage, added:
“From our home to your home, our ‘At home with St Patrick Festival’ will safely delight and excite everyone from near and far. Let us awaken your senses!”
All events are free to attend, however some events require registration in advance. To download the full programme of events, visit visitarmagh.com/stpatrick.
Irwin’s Bakery Proves a £50m Success with Lidl Northern Ireland
03/03/2021
Irwin’s Bakery has proven a big success with Lidl Northern Ireland as the region’s fastest growing supermarket today confirmed a new and expanded contract for the full year ahead after a successful 20-year partnership deal worth more than £50 million.
Established in 1912 and employing more than 450 staff, the bakery has been a long-term supplier to Lidl Northern Ireland since it opened its first store in Cookstown in 1999.
Under the new supply deal, worth £2.7 million annually, the family-run bakery will continue to supply customer favourites including Nutty Krust batch bread, Irwin’s Veda malted loaf and Jammy Joeys buns to 202 Lidl stores across the island of Ireland.
With a focus on innovation, Irwin’s has also introduced an expanded new product range to Lidl Northern Ireland this year including traditional buttermilk soda bread and a low-calorie wholemeal sliced bread at only 59 calories per slice.
The supply deal is the latest move by the retailer in its ongoing support and commitment to local food suppliers.
An independent report into the economic impact of Lidl Northern Ireland’s operations revealed that the retailer spends at least £290 million annually with suppliers across the region while also supporting 3,500 jobs.
In 2018, Lidl Northern Ireland struck a deal with Northern Ireland’s Dale Farm, the UK’s largest farmer-owned dairy co-operative, to supply locally made cheddar cheese to 8,000 Lidl stores across 22 countries in the UK, Europe and the United States.
In 2020, Lidl Northern Ireland announced a £24 million contract with Fermanagh-based bakery, Crust & Crumb, to supply an expanded line of pizza products across more than 1,000 UK and Ireland stores whilst top Northern Ireland horticulturalist Greenisland Flowers secured a new supply deal with Lidl Northern Ireland to ship over four million stems of freshly cut tulips, lilies and scented stocks, building on their existing partnership worth more than £7.2 million.
The Irwin’s bakery range at Lidl includes a selection of batch bread, fruit bread, rolls and muffins, pan bread, wheaten bread and Veda malt loaf alongside sweet favourites, Jammy Joeys, Snowy Joeys and Iced Diamonds.
Schools Score £120,000 Sports Investment with Lidl Northern Ireland
02/03/2021
Lidl Northern Ireland has gone to top of the class after awarding 40 secondary schools £3,000 worth of vouchers each to secure essential brand-new sports equipment as part of the retailer’s Sport for Good initiative, which aims to encourage and support young people to make the most of the physical and mental benefits of sport participation.
Representing an investment of £120,000, 40 schools – one for every Lidl Northern Ireland store in December 2020 – across all six counties are set to benefit from the boost.
Championed by sporting legends including Commonwealth pommel horse champion Rhys McClenaghan, national record-holding runner Ciara Mageean, Paralympic swimmer Bethany Firth MBE and Irish national hockey team captain Katie Mullan, the programme aims to shine a light on mental health and the positive role sport can play.
Sport for Good Ambassador and Commonwealth and European Champion gymnast Rhys McClenaghan said:
“With 1 in 4 young people in Northern Ireland struggling with their mental health, I am passionate about championing participation in sport as a great way to boost your self-esteem, body confidence and social skills. Not only that, but sport is a great way to build up a life-long support system of friends and mentors.
Sport played a massive part in my life growing up and it’s really important that young people from all backgrounds are given the same opportunities to access sport, particularly those who are disadvantaged. That’s why I’m proud to be an ambassador for Lidl’s Sport for Good initiative, working together to inspire and encourage the next generation of elite athletes, or simply introducing young people to a new hobby that will help develop them physically and mentally and build positive, life-long relationships.
Thanks to Lidl Northern Ireland and the Sport for Good programme, thousands of pupils will have access to the best new sporting equipment, and I look forward to seeing all of the athletes progress in achieving their personal goals.”
Launched in 2019, the Lidl Community Works Sport for Good programme has now delivered funding of almost £300,000 to local sports clubs and schools across Northern Ireland.
Angela Connan, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Lidl Northern Ireland commented:
“We’re delighted to announce this year’s Sport for Good winners and provide 40 secondary schools right across the region with a funding boost which is set to benefit thousands of young people. We know that this school year has been a difficult one for many pupils adapting to remote learning and that wider curriculum activities, such as physical education, have been significantly impacted.
The benefits of sports participation on young people’s mental and physical health are well documented and, as a local retailer invested in its community, Lidl Northern Ireland is keen to ensure young people stay engaged and active in sport through our dedicated Sport for Good programme.
Now in its third year, Sport for Good is a cornerstone of our wider Community Works initiative and demonstrates Lidl Northern Ireland’s ongoing commitment to providing local support where it matters most. We’re proud to be contributing to the ongoing development of our young people right here in Northern Ireland and to help the next generation of home-grown, world-class athletes like Rhys, Bethany, Ciara and Katie, on their way to sporting success.”
The Sport for Good programme is just one of Lidl Northern Ireland’s many initiatives to support communities across Northern Ireland. In October 2020, the retailer announced a second extension to its charity partnership with NSPCC Northern Ireland to 2022 and committed to an increased funding target of £600,000 in this time. Initially established in 2017, the partnership has delivered more than £400,000 worth of funding to date in support of the vital services that NSPCC Northern Ireland delivers across the region.
For more information, please visit lidl-ni.co.uk/lidl-community-works.
Visit Belfast maps out city tourism recovery in new three-year approach
12/02/2021
At a virtual event attended by Visit Belfast’s tourism industry partners and key city stakeholders, the outline strategy highlighted the importance of tourism to the local economy and the opportunity for regrowth inside of three years. In 2019, Belfast accounted for £417m of tourism spend, representing more than 40 percent of the region’s visitor economy and supporting almost 22,000 jobs.
The official destination marketing organisation for the Belfast city region said that while the Covid-19 pandemic had dealt “a hammer blow” to Belfast’s visitor economy, the city is “well placed” to meet the challenges ahead in its new targeted yet flexible approach to marketing the destination.
Speaking at the event, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Frank McCoubrey said:
“Belfast’s tourism industry has played – and will continue to play – a leading role in attracting high value, high spending visitors to the city and beyond, which are so essential for growth. Belfast City Council is committed to working in partnership with Visit Belfast and the tourism industry to ensure that this happens and that we build back better as we transition out of the current health crisis.”
The strategic marketing blueprint is part of a partnership-led approach designed to sustainably reengage with Belfast’s key tourism markets as part of a drive to rebuild the visitor economy in the city in a more sustainable and resilient way.
In a new tourism landscape, Visit Belfast said there would be a priority focus on delivering inclusive growth and protecting and enhancing the local environment by increasing collaboration and partnership across communities and neighbourhoods.
Raindrop targets self-employed with new all-in-one online pension solution
26/01/2021
A new fully digital, flexible and smart pension platform, designed specifically for self-employed workers, has officially launched today.
In a major first for nearly five million self-employed UK workers, Raindrop is a brand new, standalone, unique solution, bringing together all the crucial aspects of a pension into one platform designed for the specific needs of the self-employed. The fully digital, fully flexible, and secure solution ensures that even more of the workforce can avail of the government’s 25% tax top-up.
Operating as an appointed representative of an FCA regulated principal and supported by access to funds of global investment manager BlackRock, the Raindrop platform was developed by seasoned city professionals and tech entrepreneurs Marco Ross, Phil Fortio, Raul Tudor and Vivan Shridharani.
Sweeping the competition aside, the founders pinpointed a major gap in the market for a bespoke digital and flexible pension solution which brings all the crucial elements needed by self-employed workers into one easy-to-use platform – and raised significant investment capital to ensure it gets to market.
The Raindrop leadership team is also advised by renowned UK pensions industry expert, Raj Mody, and financial technology adviser, Nic Lenz.
A major tech and financial development for 2021, Raindrop offers investment options which empower users to choose a pension plan carefully designed to be invested in a way that meets their desired retirement date.
In addition, Raindrop provides a unique pension AI bot service which can assist with finding old pensions, even for customers with minimal information on their old plans. Through the pension bot service customers can find the old plans and consolidate them into one pot, although they are under no obligation to do so.
Raindrop Chief Executive, Marco Ross, said:
“Self-employed workers have long been forgotten when it comes to the current and complex pensions landscape. We know that there are many barriers for people in saving for their future and few solutions that solve them, until now. We also know from recent research that the pandemic has had a big impact on the ability of self-employed people to save and they want to do so flexibly.”
“Raindrop goes much further than what is currently available in that it has been developed specifically for the millions of self-employed workers across the country, but also provides one easy-to-use platform to empower them to plan and save for their retirement in a way that suits their circumstances. Future financial planning has never been more important, but it has also never been easier with Raindrop.”
The new platform can be set up in less than ten minutes and allows millions of savers who are self-employed, but who have been left out of benefits of auto-enrolment, to directly invest in a pension in a way that suits them.
A recent report published by the UK government-backed pension scheme, Nest, revealed that more than 80% of self-employed workers had no pension – yet three quarters of those polled still wanted to set aside money for their future. Further research shows that 57% of self-employed people like the idea of being able to automatically, but flexibly, divert a proportion of their income into a pension.
While the mandatory introduction of auto-enrolment from 2012 helped to gradually boost pension savings for payroll workers, self-employed workers were left out, with many unclear about where to start.
Chief Product Officer, Philip Fortio, said the new platform would transform pension provision for a new generation.
“Raindrop is flexible, secure and smart and works for every freelance or self-employed worker, from accountants and plumbers to architects and vets. As well as bringing together all the important aspects of pensions for self-employed people into one, easy solution, Raindrop empowers people to pick a pension plan based on the date they want to retire.”
Savers also have the option to flexibly adapt their pension payments whenever they want, opting for regular or one-off payments, or even pausing contributions.
“I was self-employed for almost a decade and know first-hand how complicated and difficult to navigate the pensions landscape can be, which is why accessibility is such an important aspect for us at Raindrop. With Raindrop, setting up a pension can be much quicker and even easier than tackling your online shopping, giving you all the flexibility and choice you need at your fingertips, and has the potential to transform the financial futures of millions of people across the country.” the company’s Chief Technology Officer Raul Tudor said.
The technology also uses a range of already well-established investment options from investment manager BlackRock to ensure consumers can be confident that their money is appropriately protected.
Vivan Shridharani, Raindrop’s Chief Commercial Officer, spoke about the company’s ambitions:
“We’ve had excellent feedback from customers who have already used Raindrop as part of our testing and development. As well as appreciating the flexibility and automated features, they know that their investment is secure. We’re also in the process of developing a series of educational resources and building new partnerships with other organisations so our customers have access to an even wider range of expertise and support.”