Business

BUSINESS DIARY . . . events coming up

Deloitte partner Marie Doyle (left) and Belfast Chamber chief executive Clare Guinness launch the 2023 Belfast Chamber Economic Forum, which takes place on Friday November 17 in W5
Deloitte partner Marie Doyle (left) and Belfast Chamber chief executive Clare Guinness launch the 2023 Belfast Chamber Economic Forum, which takes place on Friday November 17 in W5

TECHTALKS

:: Electrical wholesaler CEF, which has a UK national network of more than 390 stores, is bringing the third series of its popular ‘TechTalks’ to the Culloden Hotel on Wednesday October 25.

The free and informative technical seminar aims to educate trade professionals by including the latest news and regulations with CPD-accredited training.

In partnership with the Institute of Engineering and Technology, the new series will plug into current industry trends, with seminar topics including the electrification of heat, thermal imaging, safe isolation and DC system safety.

At the end of each TechTalk, the CEF Renewables team will offer a Q&A, designed to help tradespeople looking to expand their knowledge, and businesses, into the renewables market.

Attendees can view and trial a range of CEF supplier’s latest products and innovations, while CEF will also be showcasing its new Renewables division, equipping trade professionals with the insights and tools they need to address their customers’ needs.

Entrance is free and a complimentary breakfast and refreshments will be served. For more information and to secure a place, visit your local CEF branch or register for free at: www.cef.co.uk/tech-talks.

CHAMBER ECONOMIC FORUM

:: Belfast Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual economic forum in W5 Belfast on Friday November 17, bringing together leading industry figures and economists to examine the state of the city’s economy.

Speakers at the half-day event will blend economic experts from London Economics, PropertyPal, and the NI Civil Service with leaders from the key institutions across the city including Belfast Harbour, Invest NI, Queen’s University, and private sector companies including Denroy, Lacuna Developments and Halo Bodycams.

Supported once again by global professional services firm Deloitte, the conference will explore both the macroeconomic environment and the opportunities in Belfast’s microeconomic environment, including dual market access, internationalisation, and key transformative investments. The conference will also hear from Deloitte’s AI futurist Varvn Aryacetas.

The forum will explore the economic impact of the student community on the city of Belfast and innovative ways to attract and retain talent to the city.

For further information and tickets, go to www.belfastchamber.com/events/upcoming-events

GIFT CARD WEBINAR

:: The team behind the successful Mid Ulster Gift Card is encouraging businesses to register for a free 30-minute webinar looking at how the initiative can be used in staff reward and incentive programmes, boosting the area's economy at the same time.

Hosted by Mid Ulster District Council on Wednesday November 1 at 11am, the webinar will feature several guest speakers including Leanne Ferguson, senior HR officer in Specdrum; Bronagh Carney, ESG manager in Viberoptix; and Orla Gallagher, director of Le Jardin Luxury Spa.

Attendees will have the chance to hear from the speakers about why and how they have used the Mid Ulster Gift Card - which is accepted in more than 220 businesses in the area - to make employee or customer rewards and incentives matter in the local economy.

Businesses can register for the free webinar at www.bigmarker.com/miconex/Lock-in-Local-Spend-with-The-Mid-Ulster-gift-Card

EXPLORING WORKING CAPITAL

A virtual event exploring working capital in Northern Ireland will take place on Wednesday November 8 (2pm-3.30pm)

Hosted by British Business Bank and part of Business Finance Week, the free event will explore topics such as asset finance, invoice finance, export finance and more with an expert panel, along with an opportunity to hear how local businesses are using these types of finance to support their working capital needs.

The British Business Bank is 100 per cent Government owned, but independently managed, bringing together expertise and capital to the smaller business finance markets. Its mission is to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK and to enable the transition to a net zero economy, by improving access to finance for smaller businesses

The event features a stellar line-up of speakers all of whom will be sharing their expertise and experience, from the current local landscape, the options that are out there, what you need to consider and exactly how local businesses are putting that support to best use right now.

Speakers include: Roger Pollen, head of external affairs at FSB NI; Paul Millar, Chartered Accountants Ulster Society chair; Judith Totten MBE, managing director, Upstream; Liz McCrory, senior export finance manager, UK Export Finance; Rhona Barbour, investment director, Whiterock Finance; Gary Coburn, head of sales, Simply Asset Finance; and Declan Gormley, managing director, Brookvent.

For more information and to secure a space, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-working-capital-in-northern-ireland-tickets