Doors open at new Primark store in Rushmere Shopping Centre, Craigavon with 140 jobs created

Primark’s Northern Ireland Area Manager Jacqui Byers, Head of Sales ROI & NI Damien O’Neill, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council Cllr Paul Greenfield, Primark Craigavon Store Manager Cherie McCord and Martin Walsh, Rushmere Centre Manager.

Christmas came early for shoppers in Northern Ireland as Primark opened the doors to its brand-new store in Rushmere Shopping Centre, Craigavon on Friday 16 December.

Hundreds of eager customers queued from early that morning to enter the new store at 10am, which is the retailer’s 9th location in Northern Ireland.

A brand-new location for Primark, the new store has created 140 jobs for the local area and represents a £6 million investment by the fashion retailer, becoming a new anchor tenant at Rushmere Shopping Centre.

Customers were greeted by a tunnel of Primark employees as they entered the 30,800 sq. ft. store, which offers customers the latest everyday trends across womenswear, menswear, kidswear, beauty, lifestyle, and homewares all on one floor. Just in time for the festive season, customers can also look forward to shopping partywear and winter essentials, all at affordable prices.

The new Primark Craigavon-Rushmere store is part of the retailer’s recent announcement to invest £140 million in its UK business over the next two years, by growing its store estate in addition to store upgrades and refurbishments planned for existing stores across the UK. 

The entrance to Primark Craigavon at Rushmere Shopping Centre.

Speaking at the Primark Craigavon-Rushmere opening, Lord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Councillor Paul Greenfield said:

“It is fantastic to be here today to mark the opening of this wonderful new Primark store in the popular Rushmere Shopping Centre. This has been a long-requested addition to the area, and it is clear from the excitement here this morning that the people of Craigavon and the surrounding areas have been looking forward to its opening. We welcome this investment by Primark and are pleased to see the creation of 140 new retail jobs which will no doubt be a boost to the local economy.”

Jacqui Byers, Area Manager for Primark Northern Ireland added:

“We are delighted to open the doors at our brand-new Primark Craigavon store today, just in time for Christmas! This is an exciting new location for us, and we are proud to have expanded our presence across Northern Ireland and to see the people of Craigavon and surrounding towns in shopping with us today. Following the amazing reopening of Bank Buildings last month, our teams have worked tirelessly to get this new store up and running in time for Christmas, and I would like to thank my colleagues who have been working so hard to make sure we deliver the best in-store experience to our customers. So, whether it’s festive fashion, winter homewares or everyday essentials, there is something for everyone at Primark Craigavon!”

Martin Walsh, Rushmere Centre Manager concluded:

“We are thrilled to see the doors open at the fantastic new Primark store in Rushmere. This has been long requested by our customers and is a real boost ahead of Christmas. We are very confident that it will be a great success and have no doubt the new Primark employees will receive a warm welcome at Rushmere.”

 The opening of Primark Craigavon-Rushmere follows just six weeks after the newly refurbished, five-storey flagship store at The Bank Buildings, Belfast reopened to the public on 1st November. This represented an investment of £100 million to renovate and restore this iconic building in the centre of Belfast city and bring it back to its full glory, while also creating 300 new jobs, as part of Primark’s ongoing commitment to retail in Northern Ireland. Since its grand reopening, customers have returned to visit the new flagship store in record numbers with queues forming at weekends outside the store by customers wanting to come in and see Primark’s unique in-store experience and fashion offering.

Primark Craigavon-Rushmere will stock popular licensed ranges including NBA, Disney and NFL as well as popular fashion trends and winter essentials. It will also offer a wide range of clothes and products under its growing Primark Cares label, as part of the retailer’s pledge to make more sustainable fashion affordable for everyone. Already, 45% of Primark’s clothes are made using recycled or more sustainably sourced materials, up from 25% when the retailer launched its sustainability strategy in September 2021.

Taoiseach rotation and Irish Government reshuffle

This Saturday, Fine Gael leader and current Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will once again become Taoiseach, taking the reins from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin who has been in post since June 2020. The arrangement, brought about by the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Green coalition, sees the role of Taoiseach rotate between the coalition’s two largest partners half way through its term.

Can we expect much change?

While it is clear that Varadkar will become Taoiseach and Martin will take the Tánaiste role, the future of other key cabinet positions remains up in the air. Talks on the reshuffle have now begun between the leaders. Aside from the confirmation that current Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath will swap roles, given their strong working relationship over the past two and a half years, no other roles are yet confirmed.

 

Following a special Dáil sitting on Saturday to rubber stamp Varadkar, the reshuffle will begin. Alongside the Tánaiste role, it is believed that Martin has his eyes on the Foreign Affairs portfolio, which would shunt Simon Coveney out of the job. In a recent interview with the Irish Independent, Varadkar declared that Coveney would “absolutely” retain a cabinet role.  This will potentially lead to Coveney taking up his leader’s former post as Enterprise Minister, leaving him to begin implementing the new Enterprise White Paper launched this month as well as navigating challenges like foreign direct investment dependency and tech job losses.

 

However, as Irish Independent Ireland editor Fionnán Sheahan writes, “a shortage of major change is on the cards – stability is the order of the day.” Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is now expected to stay in his position, given a recent stronger performance in the role. Leaders will also be conscious of upsetting a delicate gender balance, with only four female senior ministers in the Government. The smallest party within the coalition, the Greens, are also expected to be immune to the reshuffle and all their ministers will likely keep their current portfolios.

 

What’s been achieved and what’s to come?

Micheál Martin has navigated Covid, Brexit, war in Europe, the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, and a housing crisis that just won’t go away for successive governments. Under his leadership, however, the Government has moved to amend electoral law and establish a new Electoral Commission; introduced gender pay gap monitoring and reporting; banned ticket touting; introduced a bill to regulate gambling; and committed half a billion euros to cross-border, all island projects through his Shared Island Initiative.

 

With Varadkar back at the helm, it is likely there will not be any major change in the Government’s agenda. Focus will remain on areas like health, housing, and the cost-of-living crisis. As we move into 2023, calls for a general election from Sinn Féin in particular will continue to grow. Varadkar’s biggest priorities in the early months of next year, however, will be stamping his authority on the Government, maintaining a grip on his party and backbenchers, and quelling the threat of the opposition.

Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 14 December

  • This Saturday, Leo Varadkar will become Taoiseach. Talks to finalise the Cabinet reshuffle are not expected to conclude until Friday night or Saturday morning.

  • Taoiseach Micheál Martin is facing calls from Fianna Fáil backbenchers to create a post of deputy leader in the party if he plans to take on to the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet reshuffle.

  • The Government have agreed on plans to overhaul the planning system with new laws set to go before the Dáil in early 2023.  

  • The Taoiseach has also called for stricter regulations on social media regarding privacy.

  • The Cabinet has approved measures which would see a 30% tax imposed on developers who make substantial profits due to land being rezoned.

  • The Government has approved four members of the first independent Electoral Commission. Included in the appointments is the former Fianna Fáil minister John Curran and SDLP MLA Alex Attwood.

  • Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath will seek Cabinet approval to publish a review of ethics legislation and start the process of drafting new laws on ethics in public office.

  • New research from the Economic & Social Research Institute has suggested that aligned renewable energy targets for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland would support lower energy costs across the island.

  • US President Joe Biden is expected to appoint a special envoy for Northern Ireland in the coming weeks.

  • €650m in funding is being provided for the recently launched Temporary Energy Support Scheme.

  • Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has sought approval to publish the first progress report of the Governments employment strategy Pathways to Work.  

  • The Government is to rebrand its overseas development programme from Irish Aid to the Government for Ireland Development Programme Overseas.

  • The EPA aims to speed up decision-making on data centres requests for fossil fuel licences.

  • The Dáil will enter Christmas recess on 17 December and recommence on 18 January.

 

Other Stories this week

  • SIPO is facing calls for further clarification regarding the ruling on the planned inquiry into Leo Varadkar as it is revealed there was dissenting opinion on the ruling.

  • The Government is to rebrand its overseas development programme from Irish Aid to the Government for Ireland Development Programme Overseas.

  • Over 500 corporate insolvencies have been recorded in Ireland in the year to date. This is a rise of 29% from last year. 

  • 32,426 new jobs were created by multinational companies with operations in Ireland over the past year, the highest level of annual growth ever. This is an increase of 9% up from last year.

  • Business confidence among Irish SMEs slipped again in the third quarter of the year.

  • An Post CEO David McRedmond has criticised Royal Mail for not supporting small Irish businesses post-Brexit. He blames the UK Post Office for the 52% decline in postal trade between Ireland and Britain since the implementation of post-Brexit trading arrangements.  

  • The Government has won a Dáil motion of confidence in the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien.

 

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 7-8 December, Dublin Chamber London Trade Mission.

  • 17 December, Leo Varadkar TD becomes Taoiseach.

  • 17 December, Dáil will enter Christmas recess.

  • 18 January, Dáil returns Christmas recess.

  • 20 January, Chartered Accountants Ireland Annual Dinner, Convention Centre Dublin.

  • 25 January, BioPharma and Lifesciences Connected, Radisson Blu Hotel, Cork.

 

Consultations

Financial regulation specialist Alison Donnelly named ‘Fintech/Payments Leader of the Year’ by European Women in Payments Network

Alison Donnelly, Director at fscom (left) pictured with Regina Lau of the European Women in Payments Network.

The European Women in Payments Network (EWPN), an organisation which unites women working in finance, cards, fintech and payments across Europe, has named financial regulation specialist Alison Donnelly as ‘Fintech/Payments Leader of the Year’.

A Director at governance, risk and compliance consulting firm fscom, which is based in Belfast with offices in Dublin and London, Alison was awarded the title at the annual EWPN Conference & Awards ceremony in Amsterdam.

The award recognises one woman in the European fintech community who has led the way in financial services and helped shape fintech across Europe while also promoting diversity and inclusion within the sector.

With a career background in financial regulatory policy, Alison is a former Financial Conduct Authority e-money specialist and works across fscom’s client base in Belfast, London, and Dublin to ensure fintech and payments companies are meeting their growing regulatory obligations.

Within fscom, Alison established the payments division of ex-regulators, ex-bankers, and in-house compliance experts, drawing on her governance, risk, and compliance consultancy expertise.

The EWPN awards are designed to celebrate individuals and organisations in financial services who dedicate time to advancing and impacting the industry positively.

As a Director at fscom, Alison has supported the development of a diverse and inclusive workforce in line with company growth, while working to achieve Diversity Mark accreditation for the company every year since 2020.

Alongside her role, she works to raise the standards of financial compliance professionals through her work as a Fintech Corridor Ambassador, as Payments Association (PA) Project Regulator lead, and with the Association of Compliance Consultants, the Compliance Institute and the Fintech and Payments Association of Ireland.

Alison is a previous winner of The Payments Association 2021 ‘Industry Contributor of the Year’ Award and was also featured on the Innovate Finance Women in Fintech Powerlist 2021.

fscom Director & EWPN’s Fintech/Payments Leader of the Year 2022 Alison Donnelly said:

“It is an incredible honour to be named Fintech/Payments Leader of the Year by the European Women Payments Network. The EWPN is a forward-thinking organisation doing important work right across Europe to not only build a community of women in the industry but empower us to take the fintech and payments space forward in a wholly inclusive way.”

“Collaborating with peers across the sector is the best way to achieve real change, and I am thrilled to be connected with the EWPN community in this way. It is a privilege to be recognised after another busy year at fscom and I thank the whole team for their encouragement and support.”

fscom Managing Director Jamie Cooke added:

“It is fantastic to see Alison’s contribution to the fintech and payments industry recognised at such a prestigious level by the European Women in Payments Network. Alison is a well-known, respected policy expert whose work has driven change right across the regulatory landscape for payments companies. She is a strong voice and advocate for diversity and inclusion within the company and we at fscom are not surprised to see her named Fintech/Payments Leader of the Year and are delighted to celebrate with her.”

Donal Laverty, Consulting Partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore: Not your typical recession as talent squeeze set to continue

As first published in the Irish News, 13 December 2022

There is no escaping the recession we are slipping into. The UK economy will shrink by 1.4% in 2023 and unemployment will jump to 4.9%. Yet simultaneously, businesses are aggressively recruiting to fill vacancies and almost three quarters still plan to take on more staff.

It may seem paradoxical, but this won’t be a recession characterised by high unemployment. In fact, it will be the opposite.

Some 63% of businesses say they are struggling to grow due to high staff turnover. We will remain in the grips of a hiring boom for this reason, alongside growth stimulated by pandemic recovery; a tendency among employees to change jobs more frequently; a reduction in available workers following Brexit; and a battle for real-terms wage increases to make a dent in the heightened cost of living.

What we will see next year will be an entirely different recruitment market to what’s typical of recession. No drop in demand is coming anytime soon, and businesses, public and third sector organisations must prepare accordingly. 

That’s not to say some sectors won’t feel the pain of layoffs. The 2008 financial crash saw sharp declines in numbers employed in construction, some manufacturing sectors, the gambling industry, and hospitality. Recession hits different industries differently, so the impact will be sector specific.

Some individuals, particularly the over 50s, are returning to the workforce. In part down to the squeeze on household budgets, this will plug gaps and address short term skills shortages. But it does little to mitigate the long-term issue.

Employment levels are close to their peak in Northern Ireland, meaning there aren’t many more people to be enticed back. Employers are chasing the same talent pools, so the surplus of vacancies will remain high and number of candidates comparatively low.

Typically, a recession will reduce the number of vacancies due to less money in the economy. We will see a lag in job creation; however the current surplus means job opportunities will be plentiful, even when the economy enters the negative.

Despite high inflation, high interest rates and current economic volatility, employers will still need to up their game and deliver value if they want to attract in and retain their existing staff.

This is where HR policies that might previously have been considered perks have serious value. Flexibility to offer remote-capable jobs; attractive pay and benefits to cover the cost of living; help with travel and childcare; a healthy company culture and a focus on diversity and inclusion all feed into that all-important Employer Value Proposition.

We are in a time of impatience, as people seek to climb the ladder quickly. The enormous labour market churn will not therefore simply be cancelled out by recession.

It’s a scary prospect, but those who thrive in 2023 will be the ones who keep their eye on the long-term trends and implement change, particularly regarding their approach to training and upskilling.

The alternative, as seen in previous recessions, is hanging onto workers that no longer fit the business rather than letting them go because talent is scarce. It’s a concept known as labour hoarding and has plagued employers for several years.

Sourcing in different talent pools and reducing time-to-hire will become even more relevant throughout the next year to avoid this labour hoarding and stay competitive. A strong Employer Value Proposition will no longer be attractive, but a necessary offer to maintain staffing levels as the UK slips into recession.

New documentary Yer Men in Spain lifts the lid on Northern Ireland’s 1982 World Cup experience

Footage of the Northern Ireland football squad sending shockwaves through the 1982 World Cup will be on show in a new documentary created by Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive. To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Northern Ireland reaching the World Cup, Yer Men in Spain will screen on Sunday 11th December at 7.30pm in the Odeon, Belfast.  

The film is edited from over eight hours of footage of the late Billy Bingham’s squad featuring Gerry Armstrong, Pat Jennings, Martin O’Neill, Billy Hamilton and Norman Whiteside on and off the pitch. It features interviews and vox pops from fans in Spain and in pubs and venues across Northern Ireland captured by UTV. This includes footage never seen before.  

Camera operators from UTV were granted access to all areas of the 1982 squad’s movements in Spain for the World Cup where Northern Ireland beat home country Spain and reached the quarter finals. They were also welcomed into the family home of Gerry Armstrong and caught fan reaction at home and abroad as the team defied expectations.  

The team at Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive reviewed 21 cans of footage before assembling this fly-on-the-wall style feature-length documentary.  

Screened in partnership with Belfast Film Festival, the documentary screening will be followed by a Q&A with footballers Gerry Armstrong and Billy Hamilton.

Richard Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Ireland Screen commented:

“The purpose of the Digital Film Archive is to safeguard moving image heritage in a way that is stimulating, entertaining and sustainable and the Yer Men in Spain documentary does just that. By unearthing and piecing together never before seen footage of the Northern Ireland World Cup squad in 1982, the Digital Film Archive team has created a way for local football fans to immerse themselves in such a historic celebration forty years later.”  

Former Northern Ireland international footballer Gerry Armstrong added:

“This feature-length documentary will showcase the greatest football moment in the history of the Irish FA and it really is a must watch for the fans. I’m really looking forward to watching the behind-the-scenes footage I’ve never seen before with all the fans next Sunday.” 

Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 30 November

Forward Look                                

  • Preliminary talks on Cabinet reshuffle are to begin later this week. It’s understood the focus of initial talks will be on the decision of which Department will work best in the long term to house those fleeing from Ukraine.

  • Sinn Féin is down four points in the polls in the most recent Red C survey. It is the party’s first decrease in over a year.

  • Siún Ní Raghallaigh is the new chair of RTÉ. Ní Raghallaigh is the former chief executive of Ardmore Studios and a founding member of TG4.

  • A new consolidated Planning Bill will be brought before cabinet early next month. It will radically overhaul the planning process by speeding up An Bord Pleanála process and reduce the number of judicial review challenges.

  • Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe TD is set to serve a second term as Eurogroup President due to no other candidates coming forward. Current Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath TD will serve as Ireland’s representative to the group.

  • New research from Fintech group Wise business revealed that 7 out of 10 SMEs in Ireland fear closure over the next year. 76% of businesses polled believe the baking sector requires greater competition to meet their needs.

  • 660 Irish based businesses will have to report to the Department for Equality after findings showed men at Irish based companies are earning significantly more than their female colleagues.

  • European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen will address both houses of the Oireachtas tomorrow.

  • A planned increase in motorway tolls will be delayed until July 1, 2023. The decision was made by the three Coalition leaders on Monday night.

  • Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD has said he would be in favour of a universal levy to replace the TV licence.

  • On Thursday, IBEC’s Business Leaders Conference and the Irish Business and Finance Awards will take place in Galway and Dublin, respectively.

Other Stories this week

  • The Government has regained a majority in the Dáil after Neasa Hourigan TD and Patrick Costello TD were readmitted into the Green Party last week after losing the whip for six months.

  • The Central Bank has put a 60% borrowing limit on Irish property funds.

  • The Economic and Social Research Institute think tank has reported that Ireland’s productivity levels have grown to 40% above Northern Ireland’s in the last twenty years.

  • Yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD brought an update on the Shared Island Initiative to Cabinet. He outlined the €132m spent to date on cross border initiatives such as the Narrow Water Bridge and Ulster Canal projects and further upcoming plans.

  • Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe TD has lifted the €500k pay cap on pay at the Bank of Ireland and allow bonuses of €20k in the banking sector overall.

  • Ireland and France have signed the €1.6bn Celtic Interconnector agreement. This will join both countries’ energy grids and will supply energy from whichever country’s is cheapest at the time.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 1 December, Ibec’s Business Leader’s Conference, Galmont Hotel, Galway.

  • 1 December, Business Post Property Summit, Croke Park, Dublin.

  • 1 December, National Food and Drink Business Conference, Blanchardstown Sports Arena.

  • 7-8 December, Dublin Chamber London Trade Mission.

  • 17 December, Leo Varadkar TD becomes Taoiseach.

Consultations

WE'RE HIRING: 2 New Roles in Public Affairs & Strategic Communications at Brown O'Connor Communications

New Roles

Public Affairs and Strategic Communications – Brown O’Connor Communications

Client Manager & Senior Client Executive

 

About Brown O’Connor Communications

Brown O’Connor Communications is one of Ireland’s most trusted and respected communications advisory firms.

Specialist in Public Affairs, Corporate Media Relations, Issues Management & Crisis Communications, the agency was awarded the CIPR Best Public Affairs Campaign 2022/2023 and was named the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Northern Ireland Consultancy of the Year (Small) 2021/2022.

We have a growing track record for managing and delivering complex communications programmes for some of the UK and Ireland’s leading businesses, professional services, charities, trade bodies, interest groups and public-sector organisations.

We help our clients gain impact and outcomes through specialist insight and influence with editors, government ministers and corporate decision makers. 

We are trusted advisors based on our:

Extensive experience working for high-profile, public facing organisations and delivering our services on a range of sensitive issues.

Credibility through the people who make up our team and the approach they take.

Clients who provide endorsement on the reliability and professionalism of our work.

Our Location

Our central office is based in Belfast City Centre managing clients based in Northern Ireland, London, Dublin and the US.

Our Specialist Areas

We are highly regarded for our specialist Public Affairs and Corporate and Strategic Communications services which includes Crisis Communications, Property and Planning Communications, Litigation Communications, Event Management, Political Monitoring and Communication Strategy Development. 

Our Clients

Our consultants work across a range of areas including legal, commercial, financial, financial technology, industrial, manufacturing, public inquiries, regulators, commissions, non-departmental public bodies and the third sector.

Our clients includes global professional services companies such as Allstate, Eversheds Sutherland, Baker Tilly Mooney Moore, huge brands such as Domino’s Pizza, Primark, Amazon, GLL and the Disasters Emergency Committee and important organisations such as the HM Treasury FinTech Envoy for NI, the Electoral Commission, Northern Ireland Screen, Bar Council NI and Hospitality Ulster.

Our Approach and Company Culture

The success of Brown O’Connor Communications is based on the performance of its people.

Our rigorous approach delivers positive outcomes for our clients, and we go out of our way to ensure success.

We deliver excellence in all that we do and our team is accountable and responsible for all activity they undertake.

What we offer

22 Days Annual Leave and 11 Public Holidays

Paid Annual CIPR Membership

An exciting and dynamic working environment in a city centre-based office

Regular team social events

Training opportunities

Mobile Phone allowance

Flexible working 1 day per week

Due to the expansion of the advisory firm, we are now seeking 2 new roles in the areas of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications.

ROLE 1: CLIENT MANAGER

  • Experience: Min 3+ years

  • Area: Public Affairs & Strategic Communications

  • Salary: Highly Competitive

  • Based: Adelaide Street, Belfast City Centre

The Person

Brown O’Connor Communications is seeking a talented and ambitious Client Manager to join the team.

This is an exciting and demanding role within a leading consultancy and requires a resilient individual with demonstrable client management and leadership ability.

You may be already working in public affairs or corporate communications in an agency; as an in-house communications manager; in politics; or as journalist.

You will have a deep professional interest in business, the media and politics and have a detailed understanding of the role that media relations, public affairs, and stakeholder relations plays.

Client Manager Role Specification

Strategic Counsel

Proven client handling skills with experience in managing large accounts, providing proactive strategic advice and great ideas.

Ability to manage a high level of client interaction and be able to design and implement strategies.

Day to Day Delivery

Proven ability to work in a fast paced, often pressurised, outcome orientated environment.

Manage political lobbying campaigns securing policy change, legislative change and the smooth running of political engagement programmes.

Manage public awareness campaigns integrating various methods to create significant public interest.

Write strong editorial content on behalf of clients including press releases, opinion/platform pieces and blogs and ensure coverage across a range of media outlets.

Manage an entire range of suppliers such as photographers, graphic designers, videographers, economists and sectoral experts integral to the successful delivery of client activity campaigns.

Be able to create engaging social media content across multiple platforms.

Forward plan to ensure smooth running of client campaigns on time, and within budget.

New Business Development

Take a leading role in new business development and organic growth opportunities alongside company directors and be comfortable in pitching and proposal development.

Supporting successful tender writing from start to submission.

Experience in identifying and converting new business opportunities.

People Management

Line management duties with wider members of team.

Understanding the requirement to work with efficiency and profitably.

Manage team members on client accounts to ensure work is carried out successfully and within allocated budgets.

Work as a team player with Brown O’Connor colleagues to ensure success across client accounts.

Deliver outcomes for clients and work to raise their profile in the media and with key stakeholders in a positive way.

Criteria

3+ years working in the areas of Public Affairs and/or Corporate or Strategic Communications or within a communications environment (Agency experience preferred).

Third Level Degree or equivalent in the preferred areas of Communications, Law, Politics, Business, Social Science or Humanities.  

Possess strong writing and editing skills with ability to write attention-grabbing media material, client correspondence and reports.

An excellent communicator both written and oral.

Commercially and politically aware.

Outstanding organisational skills and ability to manage multiple projects at the same time.

Strong initiative, leadership skills and work ethic.

Ability to hustle to make things happen.

Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required by client and other activity. 

Clean driving licence and access to a car.

Desirable Criteria

Experience in working in a similar communications role in the Republic of Ireland.

Role 2: SENIOR CLIENT EXECUTIVE

  • Experience: 1+ years

  • Area: Public Affairs and Strategic Communications 

  • Salary: Competitive

  • Based: Adelaide Street, Belfast City Centre

Day to Day Delivery

Proven ability to work in a fast paced, often pressurised, outcome orientated environment.

Working on political lobbying, strategic communications and public awareness campaigns

Political and Policy Monitoring of the NI Assembly, Westminster and Oireachtas.

Writing editorial content on behalf of clients including press releases, opinion/platform pieces and blogs and ensure coverage across a range of media outlets.

Working with suppliers such as photographers, graphic designers, videographers, economists and sectoral experts integral to the successful delivery of client activity campaigns.

Be able to create engaging social media content across multiple platforms.

Well organised to ensure smooth running of client campaigns.

Work as a team player with Brown O’Connor colleagues to ensure success across client accounts.

Deliver outcomes for clients and work to raise their profile in the media and with key stakeholders in a positive way.

Criteria

Around 1 year working in the areas of Public Affairs and/or Corporate or Strategic Communications or within a communications environment.

Third Level Degree or equivalent in the preferred areas of Communications, Law, Politics, Business, Social Science or Humanities.  

An excellent communicator both written and oral.

Outstanding organisational skills..

Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required by client and other activity. 

Clean driving licence and access to a car.

How to Apply

To apply in strict confidence, please send your detailed CV, covering email and the completed response to the set question below, by email, to Brown O’Connor Communications at hello@brownoconnor.com by 5pm Friday 6th January 2023.

QUESTION: Please outline, with examples, how you meet the Criteria as outlined in the Job Specification (Word Limit 300).

For Client Manager role please state your name and ‘Brown O’Connor Client Manager 2023’ in the subject line.

For Senior Client Executive role please state your name and ‘Brown O’Connor Senior Client Executive 2023’ in the subject line.

Application Process: Initial shortlisting and Two stage interview

Northern Ireland hymn-writing duo Keith & Kristyn Getty secure first GRAMMY nomination

Northern Irish Christian hymn-writers Keith and Kristyn Getty have earned their first GRAMMY nomination for their album Confessio – Irish American Roots in the Best Roots Gospel Album category.

Described by the couple as their “love letter to Northern Ireland”, Confessio showcases 15 modern and timeless hymns including renditions of Be Thou My Vision, Amazing Grace and It Is Well With My Soul, as well as their own In Christ Alone and Immigrant’s Song.

Recorded on the North Coast as the Getty’s spent time at home during the pandemic, Confessio traces their journey back to Northern Ireland to explore the connection between the island’s enduring faith music heritage and its legacy in America, from St Patrick and Be Thou My Vision to their own work and Kristyn’s duet version of “In Christ Alone” with Alison Krauss.

It highlights traditional Irish melodies and instrumentation and features performances from an array of guests including multiple GRAMMY-award winning artists Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs and Kirk Whalum as well as their daughters making an appearance. 

The Gettys are nominated in the Best Roots Gospel Album category alongside Willie Nelson, the Gaither Vocal Band and Karen Peck & New River. The category is for albums that feature more than 50% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional gospel music, including country, Southern gospel, bluegrass, and Americana recordings.

The 65th GRAMMY Awards 2023 will be held on Sunday 5 February at Los Angeles’ Cyrpto.com Arena.

To Download “Confessio – Irish American Roots” please visit: www.gettymusic.com/confessio.

Commenting on the nomination, Keith Getty said:

“We made this album when we were home with our four daughters in Northern Ireland during Covid. It started one day as I was at Ballycastle harbour looking out to sea, thinking of our heritage and the gift it is to be from here. The album is a love letter to our home: the place that gave the origins and the meaning to why we write hymns; from its first hymn writer St Patrick and his ‘Confessio’, to ‘Be Thou My Vision’, to our own journey writing ‘In Christ Alone’ and other modern hymns. Some of the tracks were simply recorded in the outdoor ‘Cove’ in our home outside of Bushmills, with one even recorded at ‘Harrys Shack’! So it’s funny but also lastingly beautiful to think we’re going to the Grammys because of it!”

“Kristyn and I are grateful to have contributions on this album from legends such as Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, and Kirk Whalum as well as many of our own team. We are honoured to be nominated for our first Grammy award, and we hope the project shines a greater light on the Christian heritage of the West, the importance of hymn singing, and the beauty of Christ.”

Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 23 November

Forward Look                                

  • Index provider Standard and Poor’s have forecast that Ireland will avoid recession next year and continue to outperform other advanced economies while running budget surpluses through 2025.

  • On December 5, Paschal Donohoe will stand for election for a second term as President of the Eurogroup.

  • Planning has begun for a referendum on diaspora voting rights for future Presidential elections. A civic forum will take place next Spring in Dublin.

  • Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has confirmed that Heather Humphreys TD will take the Justice Minister post while Helen McEntee TD takes maternity leave from the end of November. This will not impact the expected cabinet reshuffle on December 17.

  • The European Central Bank has warned the property market in the EU is at a turning point. They warn indebted households are at serious risk due to high inflation, low growth and tighter financial conditions.

  • The Government has approved a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. The sale of nicotine inhaling products will be prohibited from vending machines, temporary premises and event places for children.

  • Despite nearly €500m of the Government’s housing budget for the first nine months of the year not being spent, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD says this year’s overall housing target will be met.

  • The National Minimum Wage will be raised from 1 January 2023 to €11.30 per hour. Stephen Donnelly TD has made it clear in an interview with the Irish Independent that he would like to remain in his position until the next general election.

  • Climate and Environmental Minister Eamon Ryan TD has called on Ireland to use its corporation tax take to contribute to the ‘loss and damage fund’ created at COP27 for the most vulnerable nations to global warning.

  • Energy firm SSE Airtricity has said it will forgo profits this year due to spiking energy prices and greater focus on customer support programmes, despite making €17m profit in the first half of the year.

  • Tomorrow, the Central Statistics Office will publish its third-quarter labour market survey.

  • Leading tech conference AI Con, hosted by Kainos, will be held on Thursday 1 December at Titanic Belfast.

Other Stories this week

  • Sinn Féin has published its policy paper Schools as Catalysts for Climate Action amid criticism that the party lacks any substantive climate action policy.

  • Ireland has risen from 14th to 7th place in PwC’s EMEA ranking of countries where private business can thrive.

  • At Fine Gael’s Ard Fheis on Saturday Tánaiste Leo Varadkar praised Micheál Martin’s time as Taoiseach.

  • Taoiseach Micheál Martin has made a statement that the UK government was “correct” to defer a fresh Stormont election.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 24 November, American Chamber Thanksgiving Day Lunch, Clayton Hotel, Dublin.

  • 25 November, Research Excellence Awards, Shelbourne Hotel.

  • 1 December, Ibec’s Business Leader’s Conference, Galmont Hotel, Galway.

  • 1 December, Business Post Property Summit, Croke Park, Dublin.

  • 1 December, National Food and Drink Business Conference, Blanchardstown Sports Arena.

  • 7-8 December, Dublin Chamber London Trade Mission.

  • 17 December, Leo Varadkar TD becomes Taoiseach.

Consultations