Leading businesses to promote the value of work experience

Allstate NI, EY and Herbert Smith Freehills are back with the fourth instalment in the virtual ‘Your Child, Their Future’ series, this time to promote the value of work experience.

Industry experts from Career Ready, The Prince’s Trust and Business in the Community NI will share their knowledge on how on-the-job placements can prepare school leavers for the world of work in the informal virtual discussion on Wednesday 12 May.

Work experience is often the first contact young people have with the professional world. After a year of remote learning and staying apart, many teenagers due to enter the labour market in the coming months are without any occupational experience.

As global leaders that employ over 4,000 people in Northern Ireland, Allstate NI, EY and Herbert Smith Freehills are bringing together industry specialists to give parents and pupils the chance to ask questions, explore opportunities and learn about the merits of work experience.

In order to meet the developing needs of businesses, the firms believe it is time young people step away from the computer screen and gain a taste of the workplace that will promote inspiration for future career aspirations and enhance their social and communication skills.

Given the trajectory of local industry, the leading employers hope to encourage real-life experience in the most in demand occupations, particularly across science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Hosted by former BBC journalist Sarah Travers, the free online event will feature three industry experts, who are parents themselves, to engage in dialogue with families about the best route to successful, well paid employment.

Speakers will include:

• Tony Madden, Regional Manager for Career Ready, a charity that works with local employers to support 17-18 year olds to build employability skills.

• Aoife Moody, Senior Head of Operations at The Prince’s Trust Northern Ireland, who has 14 years’ experience in supporting young people to realise their potential.

• Joanne Mehaffy, Business in the Community’s Programme Manager for Work Inspiration, an initiative to make work experience more meaningful, relevant, and inspiring.

John Healy, Vice President & Managing Director at Allstate NI said:

“We are thrilled to be hosting another ‘Your Child, Their Future’ event to promote the concept of work experience among young people and their parents. Teenagers preparing to leave school have been living with a question mark over their future careers as Covid-19 placed aspirations and plans to enter the world of work on hold.”

“As society reopens, it is essential that we engage with school leavers and their families, particularly with young women, to give them a flavour of what a career in tech can really look like. Across all sectors, it is important that we invest in the development of our future leaders to secure the best skills and talent to meet business needs going forward.”

Aoife Moody, Senior Head of Operations at The Prince’s Trust Northern Ireland said:

“Many young people go through education with an idea of where they will work when they grow up. Often influenced by parents and older siblings, it is only when teenagers leave the comfort of the school classroom for their first work experience that they get a true picture of the world of employment.”

“The chance to experience potential work environments first-hand was unfortunately taken from many during periods of remote learning, however it is now time that we consider a return to vocational experience. Young people rely on these experiences to inform their subject choices and extra-curricular activities going forward and it is essential that we do everything we can to help them realise their full potential.”

To register for this event please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/your-child-their-future-the-value-of-work-experience-tickets-149683709003?fbclid=IwAR3NjpJFE5OASlwYUbCtzrh5tLde9J4iQd4FntWQIKsbVgXzFbcQxOio-EU

DEC charities respond to Covid-19 surge in India with appeal to fund medical supplies, treatment facilities and logistical support

A family member looks on as several funeral pyres of patients who died of Covid-19 burn during the mass cremation at Ghazipur cremation ground in New Delhi, India. Credit: Naveen Sharma/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

In India, a second wave of coronavirus is having a devastating impact. With a health system struggling to cope, hospitals overrun and oxygen supplies falling short of demand, thousands of people are not able to receive potentially life-saving treatment. Several cities have imposed lockdowns and curfews, which have a knock-on effect for people’s livelihoods and leaves the poorest and most marginalised communities hit hardest.  

The DEC Coronavirus Appeal has been extended to include India in response to the devastating surge. DEC member charities, including Tearfund, Concern, Save the Children and the Red Cross in Northern Ireland have a long history of working with the most vulnerable communities in India and, together with their local teams and partners, they are playing a critical role in supporting the country’s health services, assisting efforts to slow the spread of the virus, and providing further assistance to the most vulnerable households.  

DEC-funded aid delivery will include medical supplies, treatment facilities and logistics assistance to support India’s health system, as well as helping vulnerable families protect themselves from the virus with water, soap, handwashing stations and information. 

Please donate now to help the most vulnerable people in India as they face a devastating coronavirus surge. 

How to Donate

Online: dec.org.uk  

Phone: 0370 60 60 900 

SMS: Text SUPPORT to 70150 to donate £10. 

Post: Send a cheque to DEC Coronavirus Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA. 

Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 3 May 2021

Forward Look

• Arlene Foster MLA announced she will resign as Leader of the DUP on 28 May and will step down as First Minister at the end of June. The process to appoint her replacement will take place in due course. While a new leader is likely to be elected by the end of May, a senior DUP source has told BBC NI that there are likely to be negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Féin before Sinn Féin agree to the appointment of a new First Minister.

• Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has announced his candidacy for leader of the DUP.

• The Disasters Emergency Committee has extended its Coronavirus appeal to help India manage the surge in Covid-19 infections. Donate here: LINK.

• The Executive Office confirmed applications for the Troubles victims’ pension scheme will open on 30 June 2021.

• Parliament was prorogued yesterday ahead of the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday 11 May.

• Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA has announced the High Street Stimulus (HSS) Scheme is expected to open at the end of the summer. The HSS Scheme will allow every person in Northern Ireland aged 18 and over to apply for a £100 pre-paid card to spend on their local high street. The Holiday at Home Voucher Scheme will be launched in the autumn.

• EmTech Europe has announced the speaker line up for the 2021 conference held in Belfast. The headline speakers include Kenneth Chien, co-founder of Covid-19 vaccine company Moderna, and Nicole Eagan, co-founder and CSO of Darktrace.

• Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney TD has announced the first British-Ireland Intergovernmental Conference may take place “in the coming weeks or months”. This will be the first conference since 2019.

• Sinn Féin Foyle MLAs Martina Anderson and Karen Mullan have been asked to consider their positions as the party aims to rebuild in the city after poor electoral performances, according to the Irish Examiner.

• The Executive Office and the Agriculture Minister will face the Assembly for Question Time on Tuesday. The Pension Schemes Bill has reached the Consideration Stage and will also be considered on Tuesday and the Executive Office will vote on motions regarding The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.

• The Infrastructure Committee will meet on Wednesday to receive a briefing from the NI Local Government Association and SOLACE NI on EU Successor Funding.

• The Economy Committee will receive a briefing from the Department for Infrastructure on regional planning issues on Wednesday. The Finance Committee will also meet on Wednesday to receive oral evidence from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on fiscal council options.

• On Thursday the Health Committee will receive a departmental briefing on the vaccination programme and on health inequalities. The Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee will also meet on Thursday to receive a closed written briefing on consideration of the work plan for the Climate Change Bill and will hear oral evidence from the PSNI on the withdrawal of DAERA and Local Authority staff from the ports.

Other Stories this week

• The Alliance Party published its 2021 Green New Deal manifesto, proposing the creation of 50,000 inclusive and green jobs aimed at economic and social recovery over the next decade: LINK.

• Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA has announced £21m in Covid grants will be issued to over 850 manufacturing businesses.

• Former Housing Minister and Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South, Eoghan Murphy, resigned his seat in the Dáil to pursue a career in international affairs. There will be a by-election in due course.

• The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to approve the post-Brexit trade deal between the EU and the UK. 660 voted in favour and 5 voted against.

• The Department for the Economy has opened applications for the position of Chair to the Board of NI Screen. The application deadline is 7 May 2021.

• Belfast City Council’s new Standards and Business Committee will be made up on 20 members and has delegated authority regarding Notices of Motion. It is due to sit in the coming months.

• A cross-departmental report on the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Action Plan was published showing progress for 2020/2021 and setting out the action plan for year six of the seven year strategy plan: LINK.

• An official inquiry has been launched by the Electoral Commission into the source of funding for Boris Johnson’s refurbishment of his 11 Downing Street flat.

• Health Minister Robin Swann MLA announced a further expansion to the current asymptomatic testing programme for workforces. All organisations with 10 or more employees or volunteers, who cannot work from home, can now access the workforce asymptomatic testing programme. The Covid-19 vaccination programme is now open to the 35-39 age group, with an early opportunity for the 30-34 age group to book their vaccine from 10am today.

Upcoming key political and business events

• 6 May, Scottish and Welsh Parliamentary Elections, English Local Elections

• 11 May State Opening of Parliament

• 27 May, FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards

• 1 June, Belfast City Council Meeting

• 10-11 June, BelTech 2021

• 1-2 July, EmTech Europe, MIT Technology Review

Consultations

• Consultation on Modern Slavery Transparency in Supply Chains Department of Justice. Deadline 12 May 2021.

• Inquiry into the Experience of Minority Ethnic and Migrant People in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. Deadline 21 May 2021.

• Consultation on proposals to include teachers in fair employment legislation Chris Lyttle MLA, Alliance. Deadline 10 June 2021.

• Consultation on review of the Northern Ireland Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan Department for the Economy. Deadline 25 June 2021.

• Consultation on policy options for the new Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. Deadline 30 June 2021.

• Consultation on pre-school education admissions criteria Department of Education. Deadline 12 July 2021.

• Consultation on a Statutory Duty of Candour and Being Open Framework Department of Health. Deadline 2 August 2021.

‘Time to get people active again,’ says GLL as gyms reopen

Users return to the gym at GLL’s Better Leisure Centres.

Social enterprise GLL has hailed the reopening of gyms and swimming pools as a crucial step forward in rebuilding public health and wellbeing.

As indoor leisure reopens in line with Covid-19 regulations, the Belfast leisure operator says vital work to get people living active and healthy lifestyles again can now get underway.

 Individual training in gyms and swimming pools is now permitted, including one-to-one coaching with social distancing in place.

 Before the pandemic, GLL facilitated over 180,000 centre visits per month and is looking forward to welcoming back families, school-aged children and patients referred from GP and cancer care services.

 The social enterprise believes if we are to truly learn lessons from the pandemic, we must get more people, more active, more often to mitigate the impact of conditions like Long Covid, obesity and diabetes on local people and services.

 Plans are in place to resume group fitness classes and swimming lessons in limited numbers on May 24, in line with indicative dates published by the Executive.

 Welcoming the return of indoor leisure, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA encouraged citizens to enjoy a safe and responsible return to training.

 Minister Hargey MLA said: 

 “It is fantastic to see gyms and swimming pools open their doors again after such a challenging year. As we take these cautious steps out of restrictions, it is vital that leisure services step in to support and protect citizens and I am delighted to see so many operators doing so.”

“We recognise that restrictions on public life, including our ability to exercise and swim, have been extremely difficult. It is essential that we prioritise our health and wellbeing as we emerge from lockdown.”

Regional Director of GLL Gareth Kirk said:

“This week marks the first time since December that citizens have had the ability to train in the gym or enjoy a swim, activities which we once took for granted. Given the huge demand for outdoor fitness classes in recent weeks, it is clear there is appetite among the public to get back to training.” 

“Just as the economy needs our attention, the physical health of our population must be prioritised if we are to avoid overwhelming our health trusts going forward. We at GLL have been preparing to welcome members old and new back to safely kickstart their training and challenge themselves to be healthier, stronger and more resilient than ever before.”

Irish Government must listen to border workers' concerns and address damaging tax laws, urges Cross Border Workers Coalition

The Cross Border Workers Coalition has urged the Irish Government to reform unfair tax laws which harm border workers and their communities.

The Coalition has called on the Irish Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe TD, to shift his focus from international tax reform to addressing damaging domestic tax laws which can penalise cross border workers, who live in the Republic of Ireland but work in Northern Ireland, with a ‘double tax’ on their income if they work remotely.

This comes as Minister Donohoe has recently accepted the loss of €2 billion of corporation tax revenue by adopting new OECD tax proposals. The Coalition has urged the Minister to display the same level of flexibility for disadvantaged frontier workers.

Temporarily waivered tax requirements in the Republic of Ireland can deny cross border workers the ability to claim tax relief on their income if they work remotely. The Coalition argues that despite introducing several policies promoting remote work in the last year, the Irish Government have ignored the need for a permanent solution to this issue which can deny thousands of cross border workers modern-day working practises.

While an NI resident employee can work in the Republic of Ireland for up to 60 days without triggering a tax liability, a Republic of Ireland resident employee working in Northern Ireland loses the ability to claim Cross Border Workers Relief for carrying out any work-related activities from home.

Based in the North West, the Coalition is an alliance of individual employees who live in the ‘necklace’ region of the Republic of Ireland but work in Northern Ireland. It represents businesses and trade bodies who rely on a cross border workforce including Londonderry and Newry Chambers of Commerce.

The leadership of the Coalition warn that, left unchanged, current income tax laws in the Republic of Ireland will discourage foreign investment in the border areas, sharpen the regional imbalance in the all-island economy and unfairly penalise cross border workers.

Cross Border Workers Coalition Co-Chair, Aidan O’Kane, has said:

“Recent proposals from the Irish Government such as the National Remote Work Strategy and Our Rural Future plans have shown Ministers’ commitment to accommodating remote work for all. Despite this, no action has been taken to change cross border tax laws which can effectively prohibit thousands from home-working. If the Government is serious about protecting borderland communities and addressing regional imbalance in the economy as set out in the Shared Island Unit, this issue must be urgently addressed.”

“The Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe TD has recently led discussions on international tax policy reform whilst ignoring the dire need for reform in domestic tax rules. The Minister has said that up to €2 billion of the Irish Government’s tax revenue will be lost under new OECD tax proposals. We urge the Minister to display the same level of flexibility in permanently resolving this issue for the thousands of cross-border workers his Government represents.”

“As public and private sector organisations across the island move towards permanently introducing remote working provisions, the Irish Government must act now and introduce new, flexible cross border tax rules which uphold the rights of cross border workers and protect the interests of borderland communities. We look forward to this issue being raised at relevant all-island platforms including the North South Ministerial Council, the newly established Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor and in our future meeting with Finance Minister Donohoe.”

Londonderry Chamber of Commerce CEO, and member of the Steering Group of the Cross Border Workers Coalition, Paul Clancy, has said:

“Given our proximity to the border with the Republic of Ireland, many of our members are cross border workers themselves, or employ them. The ‘double tax’ burden for those who work remotely makes it difficult for many North West businesses to attract and retain skilled workers who live on their doorstep and must be addressed.”

“A permanent change in cross border tax laws to solve this issue would encourage foreign investment, stimulate job creation at a time of significant economic uncertainty, and grant a better work/life balance to frontier workers. The Chamber fully supports the proposals of the Coalition and echoes the call for urgent action from the Irish Government.”

Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade President, and member of the Steering Group of the Cross Border Workers Coalition, Emma Mullen-Marmion, has said:

“The last 12 months have seen a fundamental shift in our working practises. Remote working is here to stay, and for businesses across Newry City, flexible working arrangements will be instrumental in future growth. Left unchanged, these restrictive personal tax rules in the Republic of Ireland will disadvantage local businesses and put undue financial and personal pressures on the lives of many cross border workers.”

“The Chamber reiterates its call for a permanent, pragmatic solution to this issue and urges the Irish Government to imminently consider proposals to change current, damaging tax laws.”

Londonderry Chamber urges businesses to avail of workforce testing

Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive Paul Clancy

The Londonderry Chamber has welcomed the further expansion to the current asymptomatic testing programme for workforces by the Department of Health and has urged North West businesses to make use of the programme.

Organisations and workforces with 10 or more employees, who cannot work from home, will now be able to access the workforce asymptomatic testing programme. Previously this scheme was only open to businesses with more than 50 members of staff.

Provision has also been made to enable small businesses or organisations with 10 or fewer employees who cannot work from home to access rapid Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests. The range of options will be expanding over the coming weeks but currently includes an LFD Collect service from Local Testing Sites and a Home Delivery service. Currently, LFD tests can be collected from Magee Ulster University between 3pm and 8pm.

Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive Paul Clancy said:

“The expansion of the workforce testing programme by the Department of Health is a very welcome step which will enable our businesses to get back to work and our economy to reopen. Extending this vital scheme down to businesses with 10 or more employees is a common sense decision which reflects the importance of small and micro businesses to the Northern Ireland economy.

“This expansion is particularly timely as we prepare to reopen our retail, hospitality, and tourism sectors post-lockdown. Even with the successful roll-out of our vaccine programme, schemes like regular rapid testing will be key in identifying and stamping out Covid cases and will play a crucial role in ensuring our businesses can remain open and trading.

“I would urge any and all eligible businesses in the North West to avail of this free scheme which will keep your staff safe and give your customers confidence as they return in the coming weeks and months.”

Further details of the programme, and information on what it means for employers, are available on the Department of Health website and NI Business Info.

Londonderry Chamber welcomes Economy Minister to North West

(L-R) Gary Middleton, MLA for Foyle; Selina Horshi, Managing Director, White Horse Hotel; Dawn McLaughlin, President, Londonderry Chamber; Paul Clancy, Chief Executive, Londonderry Chamber; Diane Dodds MLA, Minister for the Economy; and Paul Curtis, Partner, Curtis Opticians.

The Londonderry Chamber has welcomed Economy Minister Diane Dodds to the North West ahead of the further reopening of the Northern Ireland economy from this Friday.

The Minister met with local business representatives to hear an update ahead of the reopening of all retail, outdoor hospitality, and gyms and leisure centres from Friday 30 April.

The Minister also met with a Chamber delegation to discuss ongoing Covid support, the full reopening of the economy and, the recovery of the North West economy post-pandemic.

Londonderry Chamber President Dawn McLaughlin said:

“We welcomed the opportunity to host the Minister in the North West. We discussed a range of issues affecting the regional economy here in the North West, in particular the lifting of further Covid restrictions this week, ongoing Executive support for our hardest-hit businesses, and the recovery of the economy post-lockdown.

“It is promising to see the economy begin to reopen and there is an air of excitement and anticipation as we inch closer towards normality once again.

“We urged the Minister to continue financially supporting our businesses as they get back on their feet and until such time as they are able to trade freely and fully. We welcomed the Minister’s commitment to keep open the financial support schemes for hospitality businesses until they can fully reopen, especially as only a small percentage of our pubs and restaurants will be able to serve outdoors. We urged the Minister and the Executive to remain focused on the May 24th date of the full reopening of the hospitality and tourism sectors and we hope that everything is done to ensure that we can stick to this date.

“The Minister’s Economic Recovery Action Plan, which includes the High Street Stimulus Scheme and the Tourism Voucher Scheme as well as boosting Northern Ireland’s skills capacity and delivering a greener and more sustainable economy, will go some way to rebuilding our economy. The voucher schemes will provide a much-needed stimulus to our retail and tourism sectors, two vital areas of the North West’s economy, and we look forward to their roll-out later this summer.

“I thank Minister Dodds again for visiting the North West and I look forward to further engagements with her and her department over the coming months as we recover and rebuild.”

Further Education Colleges mark second annual Apprenticeship Week

Chair of the Further Education Colleges Principal’s Group, Ken Webb

To mark the second annual Apprenticeship Week, Northern Ireland’s six Further Education Colleges, together with local employers, are encouraging young people to look outside of academic pathways and consider an apprenticeship.

In a week-long celebration, in partnership with the Department for the Economy, each College will look at ‘What it is to be an apprentice’ while highlighting the opportunities and benefits on offer through the many apprenticeships available with employers in Northern Ireland.

Over the last 8 years more than 40,000 people have undertaken an apprenticeship that has led to full time employment in a wide range of sectors. The introduction of Higher-Level Apprenticeships has transformed the landscape and is helping to address the current and future workforce development needs of local companies.

Today’s apprenticeships exist in an increasing range of professional and service sectors from Applied Science, Accountancy, FinTech, through to Digital Marketing, Mechatronics and Cloud Computing. Apprenticeships now offer clear progression pathways from Level 2 (GCSE) through to degree level apprenticeships which offer an alternative to the more traditional academic pathway to obtaining a University degree.

As restrictions begin to ease and people begin to return to and seek employment, the Further Education Colleges are urging younger people to contact them to find out about the hundreds of apprenticeship opportunities in their locality. 

Ken Webb, Chair of the Further Education Colleges Principal’s Group said:

“Apprenticeship Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate all the fantastic learners who have chosen an apprenticeship.

“Across Northern Ireland, thousands of young people each year are learning through apprenticeships schemes. The practical, on the job nature of these programmes, combined with the knowledge base and qualifications gained, means a young person is set up to begin their career with the right skills for the right role.

“As the Economy begins to open up again the value of Apprenticeships in supporting economic recovery cannot be underestimated. Apprenticeships are the first step to gaining the vital knowledge and skills that are being sought by employers who often state ‘experience needed’ when recruiting. Across the six Colleges, we offer a range of opportunities for our learners to begin their career progression.

“With close links to over 9,000 employers, there is a range of apprentice options in an array of sectors. From Higher-Lever Apprenticeships in emerging sectors like FinTech and Cybersecurity to programmes in the core sectors of our economy including health and social care, engineering and ICT, the opportunities are endless.

“On Apprenticeship Week, all six colleges encourage any young person looking for career opportunities to consider an apprenticeship. It is an open door to a promising career in your chosen industry.”

Co-Founder of leading Covid-19 Vaccine, Moderna joins stellar EmTech Europe 2021 line-up

EmTech Europe today announced its first group of headline speakers who will take to the virtual stage when it comes to Belfast on 1-2 July 2021.

Some of those confirmed to speak at this year’s EmTech Europe conference will include:

• Kenneth Chien, Co-founder of Moderna, one of the leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies at the heart of the Covid-19 vaccines, based in Boston, USA and Stockholm, Sweden.

• Dr Nora Khaldi from Dublin, Ireland who is the Founder and Chief Executive of Nurtias, the world leader in AI-based natural molecule discovery.

• Peter Rawlinson, Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer of Lucid Motors in Newark, California, USA.

• Marga Hoek, Author of the best-seller ‘The Trillion Dollar Shift’, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

• Nicole Eagan joining from Miami, USA, is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at international AI Cybersecurity company Darktrace.

EmTech Europe - Forging a Brighter Future will bring Europe’s brightest and best technology leaders, researchers, and innovators together to discuss how technology can create an equitable economy and society with sustainability and inclusivity at its core.

The two-day conference will focus on artificial intelligence, health and sustainability under the themes of an Intelligent Future, a Healthy Future, and a Sustainable Future.

Senior AI Editor at MIT Technology Review, Karen Hao said:

“EmTech Europe is a must-attend event for anyone who seeks to play a role in a shaping our collective future. This year’s program features some of the leading thinkers on the most important global challenges today: from tackling climate change to securing our health to regulating artificial intelligence.”

Lead curator of EmTech Europe, Tom Gray said:

“The aim of EmTech Europe is to give a platform to those most influential voices in the technology, policy and business spheres, and to help spark new ideas and conversations about how technology can create more prospects and opportunities in our post-pandemic world. The caliber of talent coming to EmTech Europe exemplifies the experts we have across the continent who are collectively pushing the boundaries of what technology can do in our world.

“I’m thrilled to be welcoming such high-quality speakers like Peter Rawlinson, Marga Hoek, Nicole Eagan, Kenneth Chien and Nora Khaldi to our virtual Belfast stage.”

Featured speakers:

A Healthy Future: Practitioners and thought leaders examine emerging solutions in connected health and telemedicine, and breakthroughs in the development of Messenger RNA vaccines for Covid. They will also explore how these advances can be applied to tackle other healthcare delivery issues and disease states.

Co-founder of leading Covid-19 vaccine company Moderna, Kenneth Chien will look at how top biotech countries like Sweden are leading examples of life sciences enterprise which can be copied by other regions, and what societal and governmental structures are in place to foster and encourage the growth of health technologies.

Kenneth Chien, Co-Founder of Moderna

A Sustainable Future: Meet the engineers, entrepreneurs, politicians, polemicists, funders, futurists, and founders who are leveraging emerging technologies to stave off planetary meltdown assess the breakthrough technologies, from renewables and green energy solutions, optimizing manufacturing processes.

Peter Rawlinson, Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer of Lucid Motors, and formerly Chief Engineer of Tesla will look at how European carmakers are under pressure to sell more electric cars or face huge fines for breaching new emissions rules aimed at tackling global warming. Peter will also look at the significant barriers to widespread adoption of electric batteries in vehicles remain in relation to cost, energy storage efficiency and recharging and question if society is exploiting the full potential of the electric vehicle revolution to accelerate a societal green shift.

Peter Rawlinson, Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer of Lucid Motors

An Intelligent Future: AI is increasingly affecting every person and every human activity. Leaders in the industry will examine how AI related technologies are being applied to society’s challenges and in what ways AI research can be directed to have an instrumental role in building a better, more sustainable and equitable future for all.

 Dr Nora Khaldi, Founder and Chief Executive of Nuritas will lead EmTech Europe’s "View from the Labs" session which highlights exciting research that is driving significant advances, which for Nora and Nuritas is the use of AI to identify peptides in everyday food that can have a beneficial effect on health outcomes. 

Dr Nora Khaldi Founder and Chief Executive of Nurtias.

Co-founder and Chief Strategic Officer of Darktrace, Nicole Eagan, will discuss the drivers and impacts of invisible AI, looking at how we are interacting more and more with AI without awareness and what that means for the future of the industry.

Nicole Eagan, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Darktrace

Author Marga Hoek will delve into the battle to save the planet by meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals and how tech for good can be implemented in all strands of technology and business.

 EmTech Europe 2021- Forging a Brighter Future will explore the themes of A Sustainable Future; An Intelligent Future; and A Healthy Future and encompass how ethical tech can work for good in the world.

The conference is supported by Belfast City Council and Invest NI and will take place virtually in July 2021 before returning to Belfast in 2022 and 2023.

To find out more and register for the virtual two-day conference which takes place on 1 and 2 July, visit: https://emtecheurope.com/

Londonderry Chamber welcomes reopening but urges caution to keep virus cases down

Londonderry Chamber President Dawn McLaughlin

The President of the Londonderry Chamber has welcomed the first significant reopening of the economy from today but has urged businesses and customers to remain cautious about the virus.

Dawn McLaughlin has said the reopening of certain businesses like close-contact services, outdoor visitor attractions and the resumption of driving tests and lessons is an excellent step forward for the economy but has reminded customers and business owners to take the necessary precautions and to continue following the health guidance to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

Mrs McLaughlin says it is important to keep in mind that later reopening towards the end of May is contingent on Covid case numbers being low and the pressure on the health service subsiding. She has urged people across the North West to remain vigilant, avoid crowded spaces and keep social contacts as low as possible, and follow the fundamentals of mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing, and ensuring good ventilation indoors.

Further reopening, including all remaining non-essential retail, outdoor hospitality and gyms, will take place next Friday 30 April, while the Executive has also provided an indicative date of 24 May for the reopening of indoor hospitality, indoor visitor attractions, and all tourism accommodation. However, this is dependent on the health and scientific advice and case numbers by that date.

Londonderry Chamber President Dawn McLaughlin said:

“It’s brilliant to see the cautious reopening of certain sectors of our economy from today and we look forward to seeing the even more significant steps being taken next Friday. Businesses of all kinds, especially those based in our city and town centres, have had a very tough start to 2021 and this will come as their first real opportunity to trade in nearly four months.

“While we are in a much different place this year as we prepare to reopen in comparison to last summer, thanks mainly to the fantastic roll-out of the vaccine programme in Northern Ireland, it’s important to remember that Covid-19 is still with us and circulating in our communities. The full reopening of our economy can only happen if the virus is dwindling and cases are driven down. To fully support our local traders, everyone must keep up the basics of hands, face, space and fresh air when they are out and about.

“Case numbers remain stubbornly high across the North West so it is incumbent on all of us to do all that we can to protect ourselves and those around us, take advantage of the vaccine when it’s available to us, and avoid taking risks which may spread the virus further. The full reopening of our economy and the lifting of restrictions on indoor mixing at the end of May are reliant on everyone doing their part. I would encourage everyone to remain sensible as we reopen and to continue supporting and shopping local.”