Reacting to the meeting with the First Minister Arlene Foster MLA and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA, Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster said today:

Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster

“We welcome the opportunity to engage and brief the First and deputy First Minister at Parliament Buildings today on the very serious situation the hospitality sector is currently in with regard to COVID19.”

“The meeting was constructive and they are fully aware that the sector is facing catastrophe in the coming days and weeks. There is no doubt that they, and the wider Executive, understand just how grave this situation is, and that we simply don’t have time to see how things might pan out.”

“There was unilateral agreement that protecting our staff in the sector is of paramount importance, and that we will be working closely with the Ministers as the situation develops. This is about the health, wellbeing and overall livelihoods of people who work in our sector who have families to feed and bills to pay, and our priority is to ensure that they have jobs to go to.”

“We have made it clear that if there is any decision by the government to close businesses in the hospitality sector, that it must be done with a financial package that allows our staff to put food on their tables and that they have jobs to return to.”

“As a sector, we continue to play a responsible role and will ensure that we adhere to all government guidance and public health authority advice.”

Staff are immediate priority says Hospitality Ulster and ICTU as serious impacts mount on hospitality sector

In a joint statement today, Hospitality Ulster and ICTU have urgently called on government to bring forward an urgent package of measures to assist staff in the hospitality sector as serious impacts mount with the spread of COVID-19.

The call comes as the hospitality sector has been hit first and will be hit the hardest in light of COVID-19.

Both organisations have expressed extreme levels of worry about how staff will survive. 

In a joint statement today, Hospitality Ulster and ICTU said:

“We are now in unprecedented times and the impact of COVID-19 on staff in the hospitality sector will be devastating. This is now time for exceptional measures to be implemented.”

“We are about to see the jobs and livelihoods of many in the hospitality sector go to the wall. We need our elected representatives to move fast to support our people.” 

“The hospitality sector is being hit first; will be hit the hardest; and may not recover at all, if Government does not act now.”

“Government needs to ensure that funding is put in place immediately so that our people can put food on the table. This is a real and present issue and we only have hours if not days to sort.”

“Both organisations are at one in wanting to ensure that the staff in the sector are protected and can survive through this very difficult period. We need business organisations, Unions and government to come together and get around the table and find solutions very quickly.”

“Other countries around the world have taken measures to support staff in various sectors and we must do the same here.”

Community Pharmacy issue advice to public as tens of thousands of extra patients per day present at local pharmacies across Northern Ireland

CEO of Community Pharmacy, Gerard Greene

The body that represents community pharmacy across Northern Ireland has said that thousands of extra patients per day are now presenting at community pharmacies across NI as a result of COVID-19.

Community Pharmacy NI has said that last week some pharmacies dispensed almost four times the amount of medication they normally would dispense in a week.

Community pharmacists are now urging the public to recognise the pressures on community pharmacy teams and to work with any of the new arrangements pharmacies are having to introduce in order to deal with the surge in patient and prescription requests.

The body is asking members of the public to understand that services may need to be restricted to prioritise those most in need as pharmacy teams manage supplies of medicines.

Speaking after an emergency meeting of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene, Chief Executive said:

“There has been an incredible surge of thousands of patients per day going to local community pharmacies across NI to seek advice on COVID-19 type symptoms, or to obtain supplies of prescription medicines.

“This issue has been compounded by the fact that a lot of GP surgeries have closed to the public and this has had the effect of shifting additional pressures into local pharmacies.

“We are also seeing many people seeking to purchase supplies of over the counter medications such as paracetamol and other analgesic medications.

“The public should not stockpile medicines and they should be assured that pharmacies are working hard to manage the stock levels. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring that medicines and prescriptions are not over-ordered. We must all think of each other to ensure that there are enough medicines for everyone and especially for those in our community who are most in need.

“We would also ask members of the public with COVID-19 type symptoms – that is a raised temperature or persistent new cough – not to come into a pharmacy and to self-isolate for seven days. This will avoid putting pharmacy staff and other patients at risk.

“If your symptoms worsen during your home isolation or you are no better after seven days, seek medical advice by telephone. If you have an underlying health condition and develop symptoms do let your GP know. This action will help protect others in your community while you are infectious.

“At this time, it is hugely important that we all work together to get through this health crisis. Pharmacies are trying to ensure that there is enough medicine for everyone, and the community pharmacy network is working with colleagues in primary care and the Department to ensure the service provides essential medicines to those who need them most.”

Chamber support calls for special measures to help businesses in the North West

Chamber President Redmond McFadden

The Londonderry Chamber of Commerce has jointly called on Executive to implement special measures that will help businesses survive the COVID-19 crisis.

Chamber President Redmond McFadden has signed a joint letter to the First and deputy First Ministers, along with other Chambers of Commerce and trade organisations, calling for special measures to be implemented swiftly.

The letter outlined serious concerns voiced by businesses across Northern Ireland to the rapid development of COVID-19 and the need for leadership to be shown to help mitigate against far-reaching impacts.

Reacting to recent developments, Chamber President Redmond McFadden said:

“Events around COVID-19 have completely overtaken everyone in the past few days and we are now at a point where serious and quick decisions need to be taken. We have already seen many businesses take the decision to close their doors until this is over, and others are seeing huge drops in customers numbers and trading.

“It is now vital that the Executive talk to business leaders and agree a package of special measures that will help offset the enormous challenges COVID-19 presents. Businesses now need to see certain measures adopted, for example the rates exemptions that are being implemented in England, Scotland and Wales for businesses there.

“In addition, our proximity to the border, the primacy of cross-border trade and travel, and the fact that Donegal in the Republic of Ireland has received different government advice from Northern Ireland means businesses here need more support and guidance from the Executive. Peripheral regional economies like the North West will feel the impact more acutely and are likely to face slower recovery.

“We would like to pay tribute to our members and local businesses who are serving the public in so many ways during these uncertain times. Those in the retail sector we know have been faced with huge volumes of people and increased demand for certain goods in recent days.

“We would also would urge any of our members, or indeed business working in the North West region, to please contact our office if they need help. We are available and ready to give advice, guidance and support to those who need it.

First Minister Arlene Foster to meet with Hospitality Ulster on Monday regarding deepening financial crisis in the hospitality sector due to impact of COVID19

The First Minister, Arlene Foster MLA, is set to meet Hospitality Ulster on Monday to address the devastating impact that COVID19 is having on the sector.

The urgent engagement comes soon after Hospitality Ulster set up the Industry Response Group to monitor and analyse the financial impact of the developing situation on a weekly basis, to identify the necessary practical support needed to alleviate any financial and operational pressures that may arise in the coming weeks and months.

Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster said today:

“We are now at a financial tipping point. Our sector is being hit first; will be hit the hardest; and may not recover at all, if Government does not act now.”

“We are about to see the jobs and livelihoods of many in the hospitality sector go to the wall unless Government takes some of the pain and introduces measures to match the unprecedented times we are in. We need our elected representatives to move fast and save our industry and the people who they representative right across Northern Ireland.”

Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster

“This isn’t an issue that is happening elsewhere, this is a disaster on our doorstep, and the NI Executive has it within its power to take decisions to help. Failure to assist will see significant job losses; establishments having to be sold off or boarded up; and the economy suffering with VAT and Tax takes down massively as many outlets will be no longer around. They simply can’t let that happen.”  

“We are seeking a range of urgent interventions from the NI Executive and Westminster to take swift and decisive action so that we can stave off the biggest disaster our sector has faced in living memory.”

Hospitality Ulster is seeking Government interventions specifically:

• Shift the Rates calendar to June to March (currently April to January) and if required introduce a ‘Rates Holiday’

• Allow Tourism NI and other Government Departments to ‘carry forward’ unspent budgets at the end of the financial year

• Create / widen existing financial schemes such as a small business loan guarantee scheme to include small businesses and also look at short term working capital loans

• Abolition of domestic Air Passenger Duty for Northern Ireland

• A cut in Hospitality / Tourism VAT

• Time to Pay - Deferred payments on all HMRC taxes e.g. VAT, PAYE, and Corporation Tax

• Engagement with local banks and lenders

• NI Government to be ready with additional hospitality and tourism marketing funds

Reacting to the UK Budget delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer this lunchtime, Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster said:

Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster

Coronavirus Package:

“We give a cautious welcome to the significant package announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to deal with the Coronavirus situation. It is a very necessary response in recognition of the financial implications which many sectors, particularly hospitality and tourism face and are already experiencing in Northern Ireland.”

On mitigations and support during the current outbreak of Coronavirus:

“We welcome that the Chancellor mentioned in his statement that he has asked HMRC to scale up the ‘Time to Pay’ service as people struggle to pay salaries and bills. No matter how well a business is run, many will face problems with their cash flow during this period. Allowing businesses to defer tax payments over an agreed period of time is the right thing to do, especially for those in the hospitality industry, who will be worst hit.”

On Business Rates:

“We note that the Chancellor has made the decision to abolish business rates for properties with a NAV of £51,000 or less and want to ensure that small businesses in Northern Ireland are afforded the same treatment. Our devolved administration must immediately deal with this issue and ensure our sector benefits from the same financial measures which our colleagues in Great Britain will experience. We demand that the Department of Finance match the rate cuts in GB with immediate effect.”

On Beer and Spirit Duty:

“We welcome the decision by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to cancel the planned rise in Beer and Spirit Duty. We also welcome the decision to freeze Duty on Wine and Cider.”

“This is the common sense decision and is really important for the hospitality sector here in Northern Ireland. We have seen a record number of pubs close in recent years and together we need to do everything we can to encourage people to enjoy our world class hospitality which remains a key part of our tourism offer.”

On Air Passenger Duty:

“Despite the collapse of Flybe, the Chancellor has failed to address the issue of regional connectivity in Northern Ireland. Rail operators in Great Britain receive subsidies and support from the Government which needs to recognise that we live on an island, and that, in reality, aeroplanes play the same role as trains for us. We need the Government to maximise the opportunity that we have by lowering or eradicating barriers when it comes to getting on and off this island. No change means that we continue to face the difficulties this tax presents.”

Two Belfast-based female founders disrupting charitable giving through Fintech

Ailís Mone and Carol Rossborough, founders of pocket-to-pocket giving app, ESTHER.

Fintech is not widely recognised as the most ‘female friendly’ sector. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical) sector, more generally has struggled with gender diversity.

Even though Fintech is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK and contributes £7 Billion annually to the economy, females remain underrepresented. Statistics from Deloitte show that less than 30% of the UK’s Fintech workforce is female.

Despite this disparity, two females are challenging the status quo and spearheading the Fintech revolution locally.

Carol Rossborough and Ailís Mone have recently set up ESTHER, a pocket-to-pocket giving app which allows users to give directly to individuals living in poverty. 

Currently 250 donors and 18 charity partners are signed up with ESTHER and they launched an Empowering Mothers Programme on International Women’s Day. They are also focused on firmly positioning this as a white label product to be replicated in the US market.

It is the mission of ESTHER to see 100,000 families lifted out of poverty in the next five years and it is this driving focus on the good which Fintech can have that motivated Carol and Ailís to enter this market. Speaking from their base in Catalyst Belfast Fintech Hub, Carol said:

“We quickly concluded that despite the great sustainable development work happening across cities, inner city poverty is getting worse. We recognised that there was a gap in the market to develop a product that was relevant especially to millennials that enabled peer-2-peer giving. It became clear to us that Fintech was the solution to a major problem and that this could be harnessed right here in Northern Ireland. We knew that the technology existed, but it is ultimately the application of this which is innovative.”

Recently, Northern Ireland has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence for Fintech and a leading global location for Fintech Investment. For Ailís, this recognition is due to the quality of talent and resources. She said:

“A number of factors contribute to our success. The talent coming through the local colleges and universities allows us to compete on a worldwide scale. Both the Catalyst Hub and Ormeau Baths have been incredibly supportive of us personally and have allowed us to use Belfast as our test market while focusing on growing our product in the US.”

Despite the under representation of females in the Fintech industry, Carol and Ailís both described the sector as ‘gender neutral’ and believe that in many cases, their gender has helped them and their business concept. Carol added:

“In many ways, when we have been seeking finance and support, there has been a recognition of the lack of females in the sector. We are also very lucky to have been championed by male figures in the sector particularly Seamus Cushley, Alex Lee, David Allister and Fintech Envoy, Andrew Jenkins. This has been crucial to our progress.”

Regardless of this, more needs to be done to encourage females into the industry and to break down the barriers to entry. Ailís said:

“Often when we are telling other women about our job, they automatically assume it's all about coding and that’s not the case. To succeed, you need to be a problem solver and an opportunist who is willing to put yourself out there. If you have an idea, start small and most importantly, never disqualify yourself.”

Praising the innovative work of Carol and Ailís, Fintech Envoy for Northern Ireland Andrew Jenkins said:

“The innovation which is at the heart of the ESTHER product is really groundbreaking and is evidence of the good which Fintech can bring to wider society. The success Carol and Ailís have achieved is really encouraging and is evidence of the exciting opportunities which exist.”

“However, it is important that we acknowledge the gender disparities while working together to encourage females into the sector. As Fintech Envoy, I am committed to engaging with all stakeholders and doing everything to break down the barriers to a career in this growing sector.”

To view the ESTHER app, go to - app.esther.org.uk.

Hospitality Ulster establishes Industry Response Group to monitor and support hospitality sector in light of ongoing impacts

Brian Murphy, Chair of the Hospitality Ulster Industry Response Group which met today to monitor and support hospitality sector in light of ongoing impacts.

The cancellation of St Patrick’s Day celebrations will obviously have financial implications for the hospitality industry, but it says it supports the decisions made and will respond positively to any directions issued by Government. It remains business as usual, with an increased emphasis on hygiene standards and hand washing to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.

As this is a developing situation, Hospitality Ulster has established an ‘Industry Response Group’, Chaired by Brian Murphy, Managing Partner BDO NI - one of Northern Ireland’s leading business advisory firms -  which includes representatives from Tourism NI, Industry Legal Specialists, MTB, and the hospitality industry.

The Industry Response Group has been set up to monitor and analyse the financial impact of the developing situation on a weekly basis, to identify the necessary practical support needed to alleviate any financial and operational pressures that may arise in the coming weeks and months.

Hospitality Ulster has already issued industry guidance and practical information to support the already high hygiene standards within the hospitality industry. These reinforce the messages from the Government, whilst also recognising the need to not add to unnecessary concern. It has also increased collaboration with partner organisation, UK Hospitality, with regular conference calls to ensure the Northern Ireland hospitality industry has strong representation at Westminster and continues to liaise with both the UK and NI Government at the highest level, and will support the industry in following all Government advice.

Brian Murphy, Chair of the Industry Response Group said today:

“The establishment of this group is in swift response to a series of issues which are threatening the sustainability of the hospitality sector  -  a key driver of our economy. We are bringing forward a range of real and practical measures that could be implemented straight away to ensure that the sector and the economy can weather this current storm, which is worsening by the day. We want to preserve and ensure the ongoing livelihoods of everyone in the hospitality sector. We only have to see the decisions that are being taken hourly around the cancellation of St. Patrick’s Day parades to note that we are in a really concerning period for the industry. We are asking the government to consider a number of actions and to intervene immediately to alleviate the situation.”

The first meeting of the Industry Response Group which took place this morning agreed to the following:

• Instigate a weekly financial impact survey in partnership with Tourism NI

• Seek Government interventions on;

  • Abolition of domestic Air Passenger Duty for Northern Ireland

  • A cut in Hospitality / Tourism VAT

  • Time to Pay - Deferred payments on all HMRC taxes e.g. VAT, PAYE, and Corporation Tax

  • Engagement with local banks and lenders

  • Allow Tourism NI and other Government Departments to ‘carry forward’ unspent budgets at the end of the financial year

  • Shift the Rates calendar to June to March (currently April to January) and if required introduce a ‘Rates Holiday’.

  • Create / widen existing financial schemes such as a small business loan guarantee scheme to include small businesses and also look at short term working capital loans

  • NI Government to be ready with additional hospitality and tourism marketing funds

• Hospitality Ulster to engage with suppliers re: supply chain resilience, fewer deliveries and time to pay

• Businesses to be encouraged to engage with Banks / Lenders early

Inspire opens nominations for Workplace Wellbeing Awards 2020

Acclaimed singer Brian Kennedy with Kerry Anthony, Chief Executive of Inspire and John Conaghan, Group Director of Professional Services.

Leading mental health charity Inspire have opened the nominations for the Workplace Wellbeing Awards 2020.

The awards recognise the efforts made by many organisations that go the extra mile to safeguard and nurture the mental health and wellbeing of employees.

Nominations open today, Monday 9 March, and close on Thursday 23 April, with the Inspire Workplace Wellbeing Awards Gala to follow on 18 June at Titanic Belfast.

The gala will include a guest appearance from acclaimed Northern Irish singer Brian Kennedy and will be hosted by broadcaster Tara Mills.

Inspire Workplaces delivers a number of workplace wellbeing prevention and intervention services throughout the island of Ireland including counselling, training and the Inspire Support Hub, an online wellbeing resource.

Over 750,000 employees across Ireland are being offered timely support for a range of wellbeing issue.

Previous winners of awards include, PSNI, Northern Ireland Civil Service and Queen’s University Belfast.

John Conaghan, Group Director of Professional Services at Inspire said:

“The employers we work with at Inspire Workplaces are ahead of the game when it comes to understanding that investing in the wellbeing of staff is good for your employees and your business.”

“The very best employers are making the crucial link between physical, psychological and social wellbeing and investing in creating a cultural change within their workplace.”

“The awards allow us to recognise employers that are doing extraordinary work across Ireland an celebrate these achievements.”

Brian Kennedy added:

“I’m thrilled to be supporting the Inspire Workplace Wellbeing Awards this year and to be able to talk about my own journey through illness to recovery both physically and mentally. It’s amazing that so many businesses now see the value in supporting employees at work. Mental Health and Wellbeing is now increasingly in the spotlight and we must do all we can to be kind and support each other.”

“I encourage everyone to nominate their workplaces for the outstanding work they do for wellbeing.”

There are nine awards open for nomination:

• Excellence in Local Government Workplace Wellbeing

• Excellence in Public Sector Workplace Wellbeing

• Excellence in Private Sector (large) Workplace Wellbeing

• Excellence in Private Sector (small) Workplace Wellbeing

• Excellence in Community, Voluntary or Social Enterprise Workplace Wellbeing

• Excellence in Outstanding Employee Led Workplace Wellbeing

• Excellence in Promoting a Positive Workplace Private Sector (small) Workplace Wellbeing

• Workplace Wellbeing Innovation Award

• Outstanding Leader (individual) in Workplace Wellbeing

For further information on the nomination’s process contact Laura McCarthy via l.mccarthy@inspirewellbeing.org or visit www.inspirewellbeing.org

Belfast Film Festival celebrates 20 years with film’s finest

Belfast Film Festival celebrates its 20th year as it launches a programme packed with award winning guests and special events.

The programme launches today and will run from 1-9 April. Organisers hope to draw a record number of people to the city for the 2020 programme, full of premieres, new local film, special events and international guests.

The 20th annual festival will showcase 114 screenings and events including a range of creative and interactive activities over the 9-day period, kicking off with the Irish premiere of 1990’s inspired comedy drama Our Ladies, which will be introduced by director Michael Caton-Jones.

Special guests include multi award winning star of theatre, film and television, Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, Ordinary Love). Lesley is an Academy Award nominee and is currently starring in the National Theatre production of the critically acclaimed production, The Visit.

Film and TV lovers will also have a chance to attend an ‘In Conversation’ event with BAFTA winning writer and producer, John Lloyd, (Blackadder and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy). Oscar winning producer, Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) will participate in a special event with filmmaker Mark Cousins. Actor, Michael Smiley (Luther, Spaced) will be in town as well as Kim Newman (film critic and writer), and Academy Award winning cinematographer Christian Berger (The White Ribbon) will host a masterclass for a small group of lucky aspiring filmmakers.

The programme will showcase new feature films from around the world including Mark Cousin’s epic 14 hour Women Make Film - an exploration of cinema history through the lens of some the world’s greatest directors – all women; Arracht a tense Irish drama/thriller set in 1845 on the eve of The Great Hunger, from directors Tom Sullivan and Tomás Ó Súilleabháin and Adam, from Moroccan director Maryam Touzani’s which made its international debut at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Movie fans can expect the usual range of the weird and wonderful in the popular Altered States strand and there will be live and interactive film inspired events including The Red Balloon at the MAC with live soundtrack from French musicians, François Ripoche, Lætitia Shériff and Stephanie Louvain. Say Amen, Somebody with the Belfast Gospel Choir will take place in the atmospheric surroundings of Rosemary St Church, and Footloose will kick off in the Titanic Ballroom.

The festival will close with the hotly anticipated gala screening of Black Medicine, a thriller filmed in Northern Ireland which is the debut feature of director Colum Eastwood who is the latest film-maker to come through NI Screen’s New Talent Focus Scheme. 

Director of Belfast Film Festival, Michele Devlin, said:

“I am thrilled to unveil the programme for the 20th Belfast Film Festival. It includes an eclectic mix of international and local talent, with a wide range of special events, from a Footloose extravaganza at the Titanic Ballroom to an in-conversation event with one of the greatest actresses of our time, the wonderful Lesley Manville.”

“Over the past two decades we have seen Belfast Film Festival grow from strength to strength, showing off the very best of indigenous film-making talent and introducing international talent to the City.

“Since the launch of the festival in 2000, the film and TV industry in Northern Ireland has flourished and we have world-class film and TV projects now filmed here by the likes of HBO and Netflix. This has not happened by accident and our sector has been working steadily over the past two decades to ensure Belfast is an attractive location for production companies to make films.

“We might be small, but our talent and abilities far exceed our size. The sustained growth of Belfast Film Festival year on year also shows the passion and desire for quality cinema here in Belfast.”

Chair of Belfast Film Festival, Mark Cousins added:

“Twenty years of Belfast Film Festival is a cause to celebrate and this year what better way to do that than bring together 20 or so of our finest local film-makers to showcase how much we punch above our weight in the international film-making industry. In the past two decades, these people have helped put this place on the international film-making map.

“Every year we see our audiences increase in size and diversity. Last year, we brought global Indian film sensation Aamir Khan to Belfast, which helped introduce our local Indian community to the film festival. We want to continue to welcome a range of new audiences and showcase Belfast as the culturally diverse and welcoming city it can be, where so many of us have a great love for film that we can celebrate together.”

Belfast Film Festival 2020 highlights include:

1 April – Opening night film, Our Ladies by Michael Caton-Jones at the Odeon

2 April – The Red Balloon Live Soundtrack at The MAC

3 April – Say Amen, Somebody at Rosemary Street Church

8 April – Lesley Manville in conversation at The MAC

9 April – Gala screening of Black Medicine by local film-maker Colum Eastwood

Festival Pass and Tickets can be purchased at: www.belfastfilmfestival.org