roman.beguns

01.03.2022

Lookers creates 80 jobs in new ‘Jump Start’ trainee scheme

Leading car retailer Lookers has launched a new employee trainee programme that will create 80 new sales roles across the UK and Ireland.

The new, innovative six-month ‘Jump Start’ programme will include dedicated classroom and on-the-job training for every candidate keen to carve out a rewarding career in the thriving UK motor industry, appealing to individuals of all ages with previous experience in a customer-facing role.

Mentorship will be a key component of the pioneering programme, with each candidate allocated a dedicated, specially-trained mentor from the start, ensuring every recruit gets the best support and guidance available.

Boasting an annual starting salary of £25,000 plus company car – and uncapped earning potential after training – Lookers promises best-in-class learning and skills development, as well as the opportunity to work with some of the world’s biggest car brands including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Audi and more.

The fast-growing motor retailer is investing heavily in its employees as part of its ‘people first’ strategy which underlines its commitment to promoting and nurturing talent and capability at all levels.

Last month, Lookers confirmed its largest-ever intake of apprenticeships, with plans to take on a record 208 young people in maintenance, servicing and parts across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In addition to a competitive kick-start salary and company car, Lookers is also offering a range of significant benefits to be a part of its growing sales teams, including access to its health and wellbeing platform ‘Smart Health’ which gives employees round-the-clock GP access and a range of support in wellbeing, fitness and nutritional advice.

07.02.2022

Lookers launches nationwide drive to find 208 new apprentices

Lookers is seeking a record number of apprentices in aftersales, servicing and parts

Leading motor retailer Lookers is on a fresh nationwide hunt to fill 208 newly-created aftersales apprenticeship roles this year as part of company-wide plans to develop a new generation of skills and talent.

The 2022 recruitment drive represents Lookers’ largest annual intake of apprentices to date and is designed to kick-start new and exciting careers for ambitious young people with one of the UK’s top motoring groups.

Offering an empowering opportunity to work with some of the world’s biggest motoring brands including Jaguar Land Rover, Audi and BMW, a successful apprenticeship with Lookers also promises unrivalled training in an all-electric driving future and a dynamic and rewarding long-term career.

Lookers has a long and established reputation for nurturing talent and supporting young recruits to build lifelong careers with the industry and this latest drive unlocks a wide range of opportunities for candidates in every region keen to upskill in vehicle maintenance, servicing and in parts advice.

09.02.2022

Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good Schools Programme to tackle mental health head on in new partnership with Youth Sport Trust

Lidl Northern Ireland has selected 25 secondary schools across the region to each benefit from a dedicated Mental Health Athlete Mentorship programme and receive £1,000 worth of brand-new sports equipment as part of the retailer’s established ‘Sport for Good’ initiative.

With 45 per cent of young people in Northern Ireland saying their mental health has worsened since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic*, the Lidl Northern Ireland Sport for Good Schools Programme is focused on teaching students about the long-term physical and mental health benefits of sports participation.

Delivered in partnership with Youth Sport Trust, the UK’s leading sports charity supporting young people’s education and development through sport, the Sport for Good Schools Programme is set to reach thousands of secondary school pupils right across the region over the coming years.

Specially trained athlete mentors will run workshops and take sessions with the students that will help increase their confidence and resilience while also providing them with tools to help manage their own mental health into adulthood.

A stellar line up of eight leading local athletes will deliver the schools programme, including four-time Paralympic athletics champion Michael McKillop and Olympian steeplechase gold medallist Kerry O’Flaherty, Olympian hockey heroes Shirley McCay and Eugene Magee, Northern Ireland netball international and an Armagh ladies’ Gaelic footballer Caroline O’Hanlon, female rugby union champion and Olympian Ashleigh Baxter, Ulster Rugby midfielder and Jiu Jitsu champion Stacey Sloan and Commonwealth Shooting Champion Kirsty Hegarty.

Representing a strong cross section of sport and boasting an impressive array of achievements, each athlete is at the top of their game and will bring a wealth of experience to the classroom.

This week, the retailer announced 25 winning schools – hailing from every county across the region – who were selected for the programme following a call out for competition entries in October last year and were nominated by local shoppers.

Established in 2019, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good programme has supported more than 80 sports clubs and schools across Northern Ireland and provided more than £220,000 in funding to encourage more young people into sport.

27.01.2022

Lidl Northern Ireland announces 180 new jobs and pay rewards of £1.5 million

Lidl Northern Ireland is creating 180 new local jobs this year and awarding pay increases worth £1.5 million to all employees in recognition of their efforts throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

With 180 new jobs available in a variety of operational and office-based roles across its store network of 41 store locations and regional distribution centre in Nutt’s Corner, Co. Antrim, the new roles are being created to support Lidl Northern Ireland’s growing footprint that will see the retailer increase its store count to 50 by the end of the decade and will expand the retailer’s workforce to over 1,300 employees.

The new jobs announcement is in addition to a recruitment drive last year of more than 300 roles and affirms Lidl Northern Ireland’s established position as the region’s fastest-growing supermarket. Successful candidates will be offered Lidl’s market-leading benefits packages and award-winning learning and development opportunities within the business.

Also confirmed today, the retailer is investing £1.5 million in additional pay increases to all of its employees which will take effect from March 1.

Lidl Northern Ireland has already paid more than £300,000 in Covid-19 bonuses to all employees throughout the pandemic in recognition of their efforts, commitment and dedication during a challenging period. In November 2021, the company committed again to paying the new recommended Living Wage, exceeding the advisory rate by a further 20p to £10.10 for more than 450 employees and building on its commitment to fair pay for all employees. Lidl became the first nationwide retailer on the island of Ireland to introduce this back in 2015.

The new jobs and salary investment forms part of a wider announcement by Lidl Ireland today to recruit more than 750 new employees to its Irish operations this year across 214 stores, 4 regional distribution centres and Dublin head office, adding to its team of 6,100 across the island of Ireland. Lidl also announced a €10 million investment in pay increases for all employees. The announcement was welcomed by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.

26.01.2022

New Executive Chef Ryan Stringer appointed at top Belfast restaurant James Street

Acclaimed chef Ryan Stringer has returned to Belfast to take the lead as Executive chef at Belfast’s award-winning, fine dining restaurant, James St.

Previously Executive Chef at the ground-breaking ELY group of wine bars and restaurants in Dublin, the Dungannon native returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in over a decade with exciting plans ahead for the celebrated restaurant.

One of Belfast’s most renowned and well-loved restaurants, James St., which is owned by culinary legend Niall and his wife Joanne McKenna, first opened in 2003.

Since then, the entrepreneurial pair have been credited with helping to drive Belfast’s thriving hospitality scene after growing their restaurant portfolio to include James St. Bar and Grill in 2011, Hadskis in 2014 and earlier this year the hugely popular Cookery School located in the stunning surrounds of Waterman House inside the bustling Cathedral Quarter.

Stringer has already been working at the flagship James St. restaurant since late last year and is excited about bringing his own style and passion for food and wine to the menu in 2022 as part of this new appointment.

Stringer acknowledges the legions of loyal customers who are so important to James St. and reassures that their beloved classic dishes will not be going from the menu anytime soon. However, he is keen to inject his own experiences from ELY, as well from his stages at Raymond Blanc’s world-famous Michelin-starred restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxford and at Copenhagen’s 108 restaurant, the affordable sister to world-renowned three star Michelin restaurant “Noma.”

From his years in ELY, he has a love for matching great wine with exceptional food and he is excited for James St customers to enjoy the same.

He is looking forward to his next chapter as he returns to his roots, this time with a whole new wealth of knowledge and influences to draw upon.

“I’ll definitely be taking my experiences in Ely with me to James St. I was there for over a decade and it shaped me. It was part of me for so long. I’m really excited to bring all the experiences I’ve had back home to Ulster with me in my new role,” Ryan said.

18.01.2022

The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat revs up with launch of exclusive new health and wellness membership

Northern Ireland’s newest spa hotel welcomes local motorcycling legend Jonathan Rea OBE as first member of exclusive new £2 million spa and gym offering

Northern Ireland’s newest luxury hotel The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, part of Galgorm Collection, today launched an exclusive health and wellness membership package for guests to enjoy unlimited access to its Relaxation Burrow spa and state-of-the-art fitness centre.

Opened in June 2020, the 33-bedroom boutique hotel and spa located in Templepatrick has been dramatically transformed to include a £2 million Relaxation Burrow spa area which completed construction last year.

Perched by the edge of a stunning lake, the spa area offers total tranquillity and boasts unique attractions including Swedish saunas, an aromatherapy steam room, halotherapy salt chamber and Roman inspired baths and hot tubs. The Rabbit is also the first hotel in the island of Ireland to offer a heated lakeside beach complete with a Lake Bar, sunken lounge and plush cabanas for a laid back, luxurious experience.

The exclusive memberships will include full access to all areas of the spa and modern fitness suite, discounted rates on food and beverages across Galgorm Collection and exclusive Rabbit merchandise. Gym goers can enjoy complimentary fitness classes including sunrise yoga on The Rabbit’s heated beach, personalised fitness checks, gym induction and tailored fitness plans and private events as part of the membership offering.

Membership to The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat is available annually on an individual or joint basis, starting from £2,000 annually with an exclusive introductory offer. Memberships are strictly limited and early booking is advised.

For more information please visit www.rabbithotel.com/membership.html or follow @therabbit_hotel. To secure an exclusive membership, please contact member@rabbithotel.com .

13.01.2022

LK Communications’ Kayleigh Tinney has been named as Chair of Northern Ireland’s first ever PRCA NI NextGen Committee.

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) is the world’s largest professional PR body and PRCA NextGen NI will be the first of its kind here in Northern Ireland, giving 18–30-year-old professionals a voice, as well as continued best practice advice and resources and an invaluable support system as they navigate careers in the industry.

Highly established across other regions of the UK, this is an exciting opportunity for young NI professionals in public relations.

The NextGen Committee harnesses the energy and insights of its members all the way from graduate level to senior account manager, reflecting their needs and encouraging the industry’s continued evolution.

Kayleigh is at the helm of the committee’s active recruitment as they are encouraging new members in Northern Ireland to join.

Six months after graduating with a Communications, Advertising and Marketing degree from Ulster University, Kayleigh secured her first graduate role as Client Executive with LK Communications and she was recently promoted to Senior Client Executive.

LK Communications Managing Director, Nikki Larkin, said:

“Kayleigh’s new role as Chair for PRCA NI NextGen highlights her incredible tenacity, ambition and passion in her career in the public relations industry.”

“This exciting role, which is a first for Northern Ireland, will undoubtedly give her invaluable insight into the communications landscape here, and globally, as well as offering her unique expertise on what PR professionals are experiencing. It is also a platform to support them and voice their needs to ensure a responsive, modern and vibrant PR industry for all of us.”

“Kayleigh has been a brilliant addition to the team at LK Communications, showing exemplary professionalism, dynamism and dedication since she joined us, and we are delighted to announce her recent promotion to Senior Client Executive.”

Kayleigh Tinney said:

“I am honoured to become the Chair on the first ever PRCA NI NextGen Committee. It comes at a such an exciting time for me professionally with my promotion to Senior Client Executive at LK Communications.”

“It is particularly special for me because it is the first ever NextGen Committee here in Northern Ireland which has been established at such an important time for the industry which has seen remarkable changes in the last two years.”

“I think it will be a fantastic way to learn and support other 18-30 year old professionals in our careers. I can’t wait to bring my insights from working in LK Communications to my role, and vice versa. I hope the work we do within the PRCA can inform the industry to continually evolve and become a “go to” resource, as we reach out to encourage more members to join us.”