JPRNI

Andrews sets out plans for NW200

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Honda TT Legends team member Simon Andrews has signed up to compete in the new Supertwins class at this year’s Relentless International North West 200.

The Evesham rider is already booked to take part in both Superbike races and the Superstock race alongside Legends team mates John McGuinness, Gary Johnston and Cameron Donald and is hugely excited about getting on the grid for the Supertwins race, where he’ll ride for Paul Shoesmith’s Ice Valley BMW team.

“There’s been a lot of chat about the Supertwins particularly with local hero Ryan Farquhar giving the race great profile! It’s definitely a growing class and I think it’s a brilliant idea for NW200 organisers to launch the Supertwins at the new Thursday evening race programme.”

Andrews was set to make his debut at last year’s event and had successfully completed both practice sessions and feels he is very familiar now with the 8.9 mile course.

“I really enjoyed the North Coast circuit and was looking forward to getting stuck into racing. It was unfortunate that the weather just didn’t play ball but I can’t wait to compete this year on both Thursday night and Saturday Race Day.

“I’m recovering really well after sustaining injuries at Snetteron at the end of June and am currently training every day. The cage on my leg is due to be removed on Monday and I’m looking forward to building up my strength and getting into gear for my first competitive race in early April. I’ve had a lot of support from my team, family and friends as well as the medical experts and everything is currently progressing on schedule and I should be fully fit and ready for NW200 Race Week!”

Welcoming back Simon to the NW200, Technical Director Mervyn Whyte MBE said: “We’re delighted that someone of Simon Andrews talent and standing is adding his name to our Supertwins line-up for Thursday night’s race programme. We’re also thrilled that top local rider Michael Dunlop has confirmed that he will compete in the Supertwins race alongside Andrews and Jeremy McWilliams. This is an ‘A star’ line up to date and augurs well for an entertaining race evening on Thursday May 17.

For up to date race details visit www.northwest200.org

Northern Ireland firm makes investment in new fleet

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

County Antrim-based transport and logistics company Woodside Group has completed the purchase of 45 new Volvo trucks, an investment worth £4.1 million.

Believed to be the largest single fleet vehicle purchase of the last 12 months in Northern Ireland, the new trucks join the 200-strong Woodside fleet to perform a variety of specialist transport functions. The trailer fleet includes curtain-siders, box vans walking floor trailers, liquid tanks, powder tanks and car transporters.

Director Mark Woodside says this is the largest order placed with Volvo in the last 10 years and it is due to a number of factors .

“We have developed a great relationship with Volvo dealer Dennison Commercials which is based five miles away from the Woodside distribution depot and hub – this makes maintenance much more convenient,” says mr Woodside.

“But we were also impressed by the fuel consumption figures of the new Volvo units. We expect at least five years service and an average annual mileage of 140,000 kms from each of these vehicles so fuel economy is a critical criterion.”

Dennison Commercials, which employs 130 people at four plants around Northern Ireland including Ballyclare, Newry, Coleraine and Dungannon, say the vehicles have been delivered with a five-year repair and maintenance package.

“The flexibility of the service agreement offered by Dennisons was an attractive feature of the deal,” says Rob Ireland, truck sales manager at Dennison Commercials.

Dennison also recently undertook the conversion of two Woodside vehicles at the company’s body-shop, transferring existing car transporter superstructures to the new rigid/trailer combination trucks each capable of carrying 13 cars or vans.

Northern Ireland golf links course given green light

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The first golf links course to be built in Northern Ireland for almost one hundred years has been given the green light by Minister Alex Attwood.

Plans for the £100m Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort & Spa which will create approximately 360 direct jobs and an estimated further 300 ancillary jobs through suppliers and construction were approved today. It will be located just outside the village of Bushmills.

An 18-hole championship golf course designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd will be supported by environmentally sensitive accommodation provision including a 120 bedroom world-class hotel and 75 garden residences. A golf academy and a unique eco sensitive club house with full restaurant and bar will also be provided, together with conference facilities catering for up to 400 delegates.

David McLay Kidd is famed for his designs which include The Castle Course at St Andrew’s, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon, the TPC in San Francisco Bay and Macrihanish Dunes across the Irish Sea in Scotland.

The world-renowned designer says this part of the coast is ideal for an international standard and eco-sensitive golf development .

“Golf was born on the rugged coast of the British Isles,” he says. “That’s where it will always be most at home.

“Bushmills Dunes Resort & Spa offers the opportunity for golf to fit so beautifully, so naturally, so comfortably in the landscape that it will obviously be ‘at home’.

“The very best golf courses in the world rarely owe their acclaim to the architect but instead to the landscape, this will never be more true than at Bushmills Dunes.”

The Bushmills Dunes Resort & Spa investment and advisory team which is led by US-based Northern Ireland man Dr Alistair Hanna includes architect Richard Hunter and Sir Desmond Rea.

Dr Hanna, who owns the award-winning Ardtara Country House Hotel in Upperlands, Co Derry, says: “Bushmills Dunes is exactly the kind of destination resort needed to complete the island of Ireland’s internationally acknowledged portfolio of links golf courses.

“We aim to match the quality of Royal Portrush and Royal County Down, both of which are acknowledged to be among the top ten golf courses in the world. We have excellent relationships with our colleagues at Royal Portrush, and Portstewart, and hope to have the same with Castlerock, Bushfoot and Ballycastle so that we can take part in establishing Northern Ireland as the gold standard in links golf. There are very few places in the world where someone will be able to play four world class links golf courses, all within half an hour of each other. St. Andrews is about the only other one.”

Dr Hanna says the Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort & Spa will be of significant benefit to the area in general as well as to the World Heritage Site. In addition the resort will provide global standard accommodation as well as all the golf support infrastructure expected by a discerning international golfing public and events and conference organisers.

“If we are to attract large numbers of international visitors we have to provide the highest quality offering and that’s what Bushmills Dunes pledges to do through top class design, facilities and golfing challenge,” he says.

Northern Ireland Business Live tour set for Cookstown

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

A major tour of business events for potential exporters in Northern Ireland is set for Cookstown.

Stories of local, cross-border and international business success will be shared with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and aspiring entrepreneurs from the Mid-Ulster and South Tyrone areas at the gathering, which is part of a major free event being organised by Ulster Bank in association with Small Business Can.

All local business people are invited to attend Business Live at the Burnavon Arts Centre, Cookstown on March 5th which will feature a panel of successful local business people, chaired by a co-founder of the influential business website www.smallbusinesscan.com.

Business people who will be discussing and sharing their experiences and successes at the event include:

John Meenan, Managing Director of Cookstown-based FSL Electronics Ltd which has developed and sold sports scoreboards for use in all kinds of sports grounds in over 100 countries, including for the West Indian Cricket Board, and for the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa

Brian Taylor, co-founder of Cookstown-based TES (NI) Ltd which manufactures control panel and switchgear equipment for system applications mainly within the water and quarrying industry internationally

Willie McKeown of Yardmaster based in Draperstown which specialises in the manufacture of steel garden sheds and storage units especially for the caravan sector, sold mainly into Europe

Business Live features 14 dates in total across the island – five in Northern Ireland – of which Cookstown is the finale.

All types of business people will hear at the event that trading outside of your home market is probably easier than many think. They will hear that the advent of the internet and subsequent advances in technology have changed the world of commerce enabling small businesses and entrepreneurs to quickly and efficiently market and sell their products to a global audience. And that, now, exporting, once the preserve of bigger business, is accessible for business of all sizes.

The event, which is free of charge to attend, will centre around an informal panel discussion chaired by entrepreneur and co-founder of Smallbusinesscan.com Ron Immink, and will feature the opportunity for questions, networking and the chance to engage one-to-one with experts from Ulster Bank and other organisations, including InterTradeIreland.

Sharing the panellists’ stories and experiences at the events is intended to provide motivation to other SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs, says Girvan Gault, acting Head of Ulster Bank’s Mid Ulster & Fermanagh Business Centre.

He continues: “I would encourage all SME owners in Mid-Ulster, South Tyrone and Fermanagh to come to the event, including aspiring entrepreneurs, as there will be something for everyone to learn from the discussion, and the potential to meet and network with a wide range of like-minded business people and experts, including business people from across the border”.

“Doing business cross-border and internationally will feature as part of the discussion. When you can communicate with potential customers and suppliers across the island and around the world 24/7 at little cost through the internet, it opens significant opportunities. This is one of the reasons why more and more SMEs are able to widen their customer-base and enhance their business by trading outside of their home market”.

“As an all-island bank, and as part of an international group with people on the ground in 37 countries, we feel that Ulster Bank is very well placed to help SMEs to explore and capitalise on their potential to do business successfully at home and outside of their home market,” Mr Gault adds.

More information about Business Live is available from Ulster Bank branches or at www.smallbusinesscan.com/business-live-events

Ulster Bank campaign to kick-start Northern Ireland mortgage market

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The local housing market is set to get a kick-start for 2012 with the help of a major campaign by Ulster Bank to stimulate and support demand.

As the post-Christmas period, when housing market activity is generally lower, comes to an end, the bank announces that it is removing arrangement fees across its range of residential mortgage products from today until March 31, 2012.

This follows the success of a similar initiative by the bank during the second half of 2011, which saw an increase in applications of over 25%.

As part of the latest move, Ulster Bank is also reducing rates across its fixed rate products to further motivate local home buyers and re-mortgagers.

The bank is reducing four of its offerings, including a two-year deal for lending up to 75 per cent of the property value which is being cut from 3.35% to 3.19%.

Stephen Cruise, Head of Branch Banking, Private and Financial Planning NI at Ulster Bank says: “Ulster Bank has led the way in making innovative mortgage offerings available and customers are responding to the simple pricing structure, competitive pricing and good service we provide. We would be delighted to see increased demand for mortgages in 2012.”

Derek Wilson, Head of Lending Products at Ulster Bank says: “The success of our initiative in 2011 has shown that there is demand in the market that can be stimulated with innovative initiatives that make life easier for borrowers and deliver significant value. We are confident that we can again encourage and support a significant number of people to enter the housing market, move home, or remortgage to a better deal.”

To help customers make an informed decision on the properties they can afford, Ulster Bank has trained mortgage advisors in every branch who can give customers an indication of how much they are eligible to borrow.

Ulster Bank’s reduced rates are launched today and are available through the Bank’s branch and intermediary network across Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Financial Capability Awards launched

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The enterprising spirit of post-primary school students from across Northern Ireland is set to be rewarded in a brand new category within Northern Ireland’s only major financial capability awards scheme.

This year, the Ulster Bank Financial Capability Awards, in association with CCEA, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessments, is giving local schools the chance to showcase their excellent work in four categories.

The new award for ‘Enterprising Spirit’ adds to the three existing categories: ‘School Award’, ‘Student/Team Award’, and ‘Teacher Award’.

The awards, which are open to post-primary schools across Northern Ireland, aim to celebrate excellence in financial capability teaching, and build on Ulster Bank’s long-standing commitment to financial education through its flagship MoneySense for Schools programme, the largest financial education programme for post-primary schools in Ireland.

Schools can enter any of the four categories at www.fc-awardsni.co.uk, with the deadline for entries being 20th April 2012.

Judging will take place during April, and the awards ceremony for winning schools will take place in May.

Jill Smyth, Head of MoneySense, Ulster Bank, got the awards underway for 2012 at a special event in Riddel Hall, the new executive education centre at Queen’s University Belfast, of which Ulster Bank is a founding partner.

She says: “Last year, the awards were a big hit with schools from right across Northern Ireland. We had entries from every county which gave great encouragement with regard to the quality and extent of financial capability teaching in many schools.”

“We were very pleased to partner with CCEA last year to create the first awards programme of this kind in Northern Ireland, and we very much look forward to again recognising the excellent work that is being done in Northern Ireland’s post-primary schools to equip young people with the skills and knowledge to make good financial choices and to deal with the challenges of being independent adults.”

“Ulster Bank’s commitment to financial education through our MoneySense for Schools programme is longstanding and these awards are a natural extension of that. We think it is important to showcase the good work that is already happening in Northern Ireland’s schools, to reward the best examples of their work and to encourage and support other schools to prioritise financial capability teaching,” Ms Smyth adds.

Richard Hanna, Director of Education Strategy at CCEA, says: "CCEA is delighted to support these awards again this year, following their success in 2011 in recognising the many schools working hard to lay the strong foundations their pupils will need to effectively manage their own personal finances. We congratulate Ulster Bank on the initiative and look forward to seeing the good work of schools across Northern Ireland in this area continuing to be highlighted.”

In addition to a specially commissioned trophy and certificate, the winners will also receive a cash prize including School Award £1,000; Teacher Award £500; Student Award £250 and Enterprising Spirit Award £250 - with runners-up prizes also up for grabs in the four categories.

Judges will be looking for submissions that demonstrate an ongoing and sustainable commitment to financial capability teaching; go the extra distance to engage and enthuse students; develop the skills/knowledge of students; highlight enterprise skills and demonstrate a particularly innovative or creative approach to financial capability teaching and learning.

The School Award seeks to find the best and most effective all-round approach to financial capability teaching. This might involve the use of varied resources, innovative and creative teaching methods or running an event that engaged and inspired students. The nomination for the school award should come from a teacher at the school.

The Student/Team Award seeks to recognise a student or group of students who have taken the lead on a financial education event to contribute to their school or community. The students will need to show how they have built on the original lessons or project and developed their knowledge and ideas further to benefit their own school or other young people in the local community. Teachers are invited to make the nomination and students are asked to complete their entry form.

The Teacher Award will be given to a teacher or group of teachers who inspire and promote financial education in their school. Nominations are open to teachers who feel that they have developed a programme to develop the personal finance skills of students.

This Enterprising Spirit Award recognises a group of students who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit in their financial capability initiative. Students will need to show how they have developed their business idea, and taken it through the stages of research, marketing, production or service delivery and launch to market. There will be a focus on new skills developed as part of this project and also how they have overcome challenges and demonstrated innovation and customer insight.

Entries for all the awards can be made at: www.fc-awardsni.co.uk

Further information about MoneySense for Schools is available at: www.ulsterbank.co.uk/moneysenseforschools

Northern Ireland pubs purchased in Ulster Bank-backed deal

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Three of North Down’s best-known pubs have changed hands in a deal backed by Ulster Bank which is worth almost £3million.

The Carmichael Group has purchased The Stables in Groomsport, The Esplanade in Ballyholme and The Bryansburn in Bangor, supported by finance from the bank.

The Carmichaels, who also own the Rosspark Hotel in Kells and Morrison’s Bar in Belfast, will take over day-to-day operation of The Bryansburn, whilst The Stables and The Esplanade will continue to be run by existing tenants.

The purchase of the three pubs from North Down Leisure Ltd represents a reinvestment in the pub sector by the Carmichael Group, which had sold the majority of its portfolio – including The Stables and The Bryansburn - in 2006.

Ulster Bank corporate banking manager Gordon Davidson says that the purchasers saw an ideal opportunity to re-enter the sector in a significant way.

“The pub trade is going through well-documented challenges, but we have confidence in the long-term viability of good sites under experienced, able operators,” he points out.

“The Carmichaels have an excellent track-record in the sector, having successfully built and run some of Northern Ireland’s leading pubs, including Morrison’s, over many years, and we are pleased to support this important deal,” he continues.

“These are excellent sites with lots of potential and our customer is confident that the purchase price offers the opportunity to achieve significant long-term value,” Mr Davidson adds.

Ian Carmichael says: “We are very pleased to add the three pubs to our portfolio and to have the support of Ulster Bank to do so. With the bank’s backing and expertise, we are confident we can add further value to these landmark businesses.”

Mr Carmichael says that the group is about to start a refurbishment programme at The Bryansburn. He says that the group is also hopeful of completing another purchase this year and will look at the possibility of further acquisitions.

Horwood & Holmes Corporate Finance and PricewaterhouseCoopers advised The Carmichael Group on the acquisitions.

Wayne Horwood from Horwood & Holmes Corporate Finance added: “The Carmichael Group is a long established brand name in the Northern Ireland pub and hotel sector. Having exited the majority of their outlets in 2006 it is a tremendous boost to see the Carmichael’s reinvesting in the sector in 2012 with the support of Ulster Bank. It is a testimony to their confidence in the locations and prospects for the sector in the future. Fundamentally it is evidence that transactions in the right structure for the right team are still capable of achieving bank funding support. Hopefully 2012 will see more positive news in the Northern Ireland leisure sector.”

The Carmichaels were advised by solicitor Simon Murray of Murray, Kelly and Moore in Bangor.

The Carmichael Group’s main business is the 40-bedroom Rosspark Hotel in Kells on the outskirts of Ballymena which also boasts impressive dining, conference and wedding facilities.

Northern Ireland firms hear about doing business in Asia

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Over 100 local companies discovered how the fast growing economies of the Far East represent an excellent opportunity for Northern Ireland companies to increase sales and boost their prosperity at an Ulster Bank-backed event held in Belfast.

The 'Doing Business in Asia' event, held in Riddell Hall, featured a range of experts from Ulster Bank's global parent company, RBS, Invest NI and UKTI as well as local companies who are already trading successfully in the Asian market.

Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI’s Trade Director, said: “Asia has long been recognised by Invest NI as an important marketplace for the very broad range of products and services provided by our companies. This is demonstrated by the presence of Invest NI in-market advisors in a number of these markets, as well as our office in Dubai from which Northern Ireland companies can focus on the surrounding markets. By working in partnership with Ulster Bank and UKTI at this event we can help Northern Ireland companies to take advantage of the export opportunities.”

Ian Jordan, Head of Business and Commercial Banking at Ulster Bank, said: “The Asia Pacific region is home to almost half the world’s population and its economies are predicted to continue experiencing strong growth, offering great opportunities for Northern Ireland businesses.”

“Advances in technology and the growth of the internet now enable businesses to communicate 24/7 with customers and suppliers at a relatively low cost, which has opened a world of export accessibility for companies seeking to do business outside of their home market. Ulster Bank is delighted to support this event which will give an invaluable insight into doing business in Asia,” he added.

Carl Fogarty set for North West 200 return

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Organisers of this year’s Relentless International North West 200 have secured road racing legend Carl Fogarty MBE to return to the event to perform demo laps between races on Race Day, Saturday 19th May. He will also be in attendance in the Hospitality marquee throughout Race Day.

It will be Carl’s first visit to the North West for 19 years. He last attended the North West 200 in 1993, when he won both Superbike races. Carl's father George was also a motorcycle racer and raced at the North West in the 1970's.

Carl Fogarty, who now lives in Blackburn, is the most successful World Superbike rider of all time, having gained four World Superbike Championships in 1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999. In 1998, he was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Honours list before retiring in 2000 following a crash in Phillip Island, Australia.

Speaking about his return to the famous nine-mile circuit, Carl Fogarty said, “I am really looking forward to coming back to the North West after all these years. I have always been a keen supporter of this great road race and no doubt it will be incredibly nostalgic for me to return to the North West 200.”

North West 200 Technical Director Mervyn Whyte MBE said, “It is a feather in our cap to bring Carl back to the North West 200. I was instrumental in bringing him here back in 1993 when he thrilled the crowds with his skill and won both Superbike Races. It was a memorable Race Day and we are very much looking forward to having this all-time road racing legend return to the North West 200 to once again wow the spectators.”

Carl will be supplied with a new Ducati from James Murray from Millsport Motorcycles, Ballymoney.

For further information on the 2012 Relentless International North West 200, visit www.northwest200.org

RBS 6 Nations and Triple Crown Trophies arrive in Northern Ireland

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

More than 300 young rugby players and fans from Regent House School in Newtownards had a special sneak preview today of the prestigious RBS 6 Nations Trophy and Triple Crown courtesy of Ulster Bank, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), sponsors of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.