Lidl Northern Ireland strikes £24m supply contract with Fermanagh’s Crust & Crumb
19/05/2020
Lidl Northern Ireland has awarded Fermanagh’s Crust & Crumb, the island of Ireland’s largest manufacturer of ambient, chilled and frozen dough-based products, an annual contract worth an estimated £24 million to supply an expanded line of pizza products across more than 1,000 UK and Ireland stores.
Based in Derrylin, Fermanagh, Crust & Crumb employs more than 300 staff and has been a preferred long-term supplier to Lidl Northern Ireland since 2013.
The new, dramatically-expanded Lidl Northern Ireland supply contract will see the leading local bakery supply 20 varieties of Deluxe range sourdough pizza, selected for its premium quality and craft ranges, six Chef Select pizza lines chosen for its supreme taste range, and two flavours of its Simply pizza value range – something to cater to every shoppers’ budget.
Visit Belfast puts the City on the Digital Map for Audiences at Home and Away
30/04/2020
Belfast’s tourism appeal is reaching the homes of millions of people both near and far, thanks to a range of targeted digital activity aimed at keeping online users regularly engaged.
As travel restrictions continue to impact on the global tourism industry, destination marketing organisations around the world – including Visit Belfast – have moved quickly to capitalise on the big leap in the number of consumers who are spending significantly more time online and on social media to fill their time.
The move by Belfast’s official destination marketing and management organisation is part of a number of measures designed to support local tourism businesses and to keep Belfast front-of-mind for those planning future visits when the time is right. For now, Visit Belfast’s aim is to encourage people to stay safe and stay home.
Capturing a significant uplift in online activity and social media engagement as people spend more time online, Visit Belfast has worked quickly to maintain brand awareness, sustain interest, loyalty and trust.
As a result, its reach and engagement has been growing strongly in recent weeks, reflecting the 40% jump in social media use across the UK*.
Last year, Visit Belfast reached a local and global audience of 27.3 million online users, demonstrating the power of web and social media channels in promoting the city to both local and international audiences.
New NI campaign launched to encourage more people to ‘Make It Click’ online
15/04/2020
A new campaign was launched today to provide people across Northern Ireland with the tools to upskill their digital abilities and improve online confidence as thousands of people turn to the internet to help navigate the COVID-19 crisis whilst tackling isolation at home.
New independent research commissioned by leading UK charity Good Things Foundation reveals a worrying gap in digital skills and confidence levels across Northern Ireland. More than one in ten people in Northern Ireland (14.2%) have little or only some of the digital skills they need to experience the benefits of being online.
Backed by Google.org, the charitable arm of the global tech company, and driven by Good Things Foundation, the new ‘Make It Click’ campaign aims to help adults understand how digital skills can change their life.
Through a curated collection of free tools and resources available online, Make It Click will help to upskill users with only limited digital skills to gain the knowledge and confidence they need to thrive online.
The campaign is particularly pertinent for people currently self-isolating, with many relying on the internet to keep working from home as well as for everyday necessities such as food shopping, ordering prescriptions and staying in touch with family and friends.
The new research also reveals the stark impacts of living life offline – many respondents felt socially isolated from friends and family and reported lower levels of confidence from being digitally excluded – and compared to people who are not online at all, they are more likely to be seeking work or in low-paid employment. Amidst the current COVID-19 crisis, this is surely only to be exacerbated in the weeks and months ahead.
Many of those surveyed also say their lack of digital aptitude has made them feel disadvantaged when looking and applying for jobs to feeling underdeveloped in their career.
Charles Hurst Putting Frontline Workers First
15/04/2020
Charles Hurst has announced it will open its Jaguar Land Rover workshop from 6th April to provide car repairs for frontline and essential key workers.
The workshop, located at Charles Hurst’s flagship site on the Boucher Road, will facilitate critical repair work for all makes and models of cars to help keep all essential workers on the road. Frontline NHS, health and social care workers can also avail of any labour free of charge.
Andrew Gilmore, Aftersales Operations Director commented on the decision to open the workshop:
“Charles Hurst recognises the dedication of essential workers in Northern Ireland, and we are committed to ensuring our most important workers remain mobile to carry out their critical work in this time of crisis.
I am delighted that our team of highly-skilled technicians will be on-hand to carry out necessary repairs for all essential workers – from delivery drivers, to childcare staff. Here at Charles Hurst we would like to say thank you to our frontline workers in particular and so we are offering free labour to any NHS or health and social care worker.
We’re delighted to play our part in the national effort to tackle this crisis and provide essential workers with the reassurance that we are here to support them should they experience any issues with their vehicles. We will continue to work tirelessly to provide support where it is needed.”
The move is part of a series of initiatives undertaken by Charles Hurst Group to support local and wider communities in these difficult times. Recently, the dealership announced the donation of two Land Rover Discovery models to the Red Cross in Northern Ireland to facilitate deliveries, whilst Carsmetic NI have undertaken deliveries of Personal Protective Equipment to NHS staff at Craigavon Area Hospital.
Galgorm Says Thank You to Frontline NHS Workers
15/04/2020
Galgorm Collection will be donating a staggering £750,000 worth of experience vouchers to the Northern Health & Social Care Trust frontline staff in recognition for their hard work, bravery, and commitment to helping patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Galgorm Collection is rewarding key workers with a range of experiences – from overnight stays, spa days and meals in their award-winning properties across Northern Ireland – to cement its commitment to the community and bring some much-needed respite to key workers.
Colin Johnston, Galgorm Collection Managing Director, said:
“The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything we have seen before and it is placing huge pressure on our NHS. We wanted to find a way to sincerely thank our brilliant NHS staff who are on the front line of the fight against this outbreak and coping with unbelievable situations in a remarkably professional and brave manner.
We recognise how difficult it must be for every NHS staff member working to manage this crisis, with many separated from their families and working long hours. That’s why Galgorm Collection has decided to donate 5,000 experiences to Northern Health & Social Care Trust frontline workers, to show our appreciation and give our frontline heroes the chance to rest and recoup once this emergency is over.
The voucher donation represents a charitable contribution of over £750,000 by Galgorm Collection to our local communities and we look forward to welcoming each and every NHS worker through our doors once we can safely reopen. Until then, we will continue to clap for our carers each week and provide whatever support we can to our key workers. We are forever in their debt.”
Galgorm Collection is actively engaged in corporate social responsibility and works with numerous local community groups and organisations including the long standing relationship with Simon Community and more recently the Community Rescue Service raising in excess of £100,000.
Frontline First
30/03/2020
Carsmetic NI, part of the Charles Hurst Group, has completed delivery of its first batch of essential protective equipment to medical staff at Craigavon Area Hospital.
An initial 12 PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) suits and 30 masks were donated by the company to help in the collective fight against Covid-19 by protecting frontline workers. The important donation is part of a series of initiatives undertaken by Charles Hurst Group to support local and wider communities.
Andrew Gilmore, Group Aftersales Director, said:
“Saving lives is a shared responsibility and our frontline NHS staff deserve everyone’s support. We all have an important role to play and we will continue to provide support where it’s needed.”
Charles Hurst has also this week donated use of two Land Rovers to the Red Cross to assist with vital deliveries during the crisis.
New Armagh SRC Campus Secures Top Rating For Sustainability
24/03/2020
Southern Regional College’s new £35 million landmark campus in Armagh has secured an official BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating for sustainability, contributing to the College’s ambition to become among the most sustainable in the UK and Ireland.
Designed by WYG Group with Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects, the new 14,000 square-metre campus, which is under construction at Lonsdale Road in the city, will welcome thousands of new and current students to its world class facilities when it opens in September.
BREEAM is the world’s leading independent sustainability measure for major infrastructure and building projects and the top rating achieved by Armagh SRC means the development will provide a sustainable environment which will protect natural resources and enhance the well-being of students and staff attending.
Volunteers Sniff Out Opportunities with Launch of New Online Search Portal
18/03/2020
Volunteer Now, the lead organisation for promoting and supporting volunteering across Northern Ireland, is urging people in Belfast to get into volunteering and find their perfect match through its brand new online search portal.
Supported by Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey, the online platform is based on new technology and is the first of its kind to be adopted in Northern Ireland, making it easier than ever to find volunteering opportunities.
Boasting hundreds of unique volunteering opportunities across a range of sectors, volunteers can ‘find their fit’. From treading the boards at a local theatre, to caring for guide dog puppies, to helping some of the most vulnerable members of society, the Volunteer Now platform searches and finds locally based volunteering opportunities matched specifically to the volunteer’s skills and interests.
La Mon Signals New Conference and Events Strength After £2m Investment
27/02/2020
La Mon Hotel & Country Club has completed a £2 million multiphase investment across all its banqueting, conference and events facilities with a major telecommunications and unlimited superfast fibre broadband upgrade.
The award-winning four-star hotel, conference venue and Country Club already boasts one of the largest Conferencing and Events Suites in Northern Ireland and this latest investment brings a new, premium and unlimited digital provision to ensure all its visitors, delegates and hotel guests are best connected.
The work was undertaken by Northern Ireland’s largest independent telecoms provider, Rainbow Communications.
CastleCourt Leaps into Creative Learning with Launch of New Kid’s Club
26/02/2020
CastleCourt today launched its brand-new ‘Shopstars’ kid’s club – a free, monthly educational workshop kicking off this Saturday 29th February from 12-4 pm.
Suitable for children aged five and over, the club aims to encourage creative learning in a fun and inclusive environment, whilst younger children can join in the fun on the day with face painters and entertainers.
Taking place on the last Saturday of the month, each session is focused on a different topic, with the first in the series featuring a Lego Animation Workshop to develop digital skills and encourage creativity using mixed media.
CastleCourt has a number of family-friendly facilities available at the centre. Most recently, the centre invested in the upgrade and refurbishment of its ‘Playworld’ soft play facility for children aged 2-5 years old. In addition, the centre boasts a parent room fully equipped with bottle-warmer, change-table, private feeding room, nappy dispensers and microwave oven, as well as a free Kiddy-Car service. The centre also holds many family-friendly events throughout the year, particularly around the festive season.
For more information please visit www.castlecourt-uk.com