BELFAST RESTAURANT WEEK
Belfast Restaurant Week returns from October 4 to 12, inviting food lovers to discover the best of the city’s vibrant culinary scene, whether you’re a seasoned foodie or simply curious to try something new.
After a successful 2024 edition and a recent short-listing for Best City Partnership at the ATCM Awards, the theme for 2025 Restaurant Week is “Taste of Belfast”, celebrating exciting new collaboration between the city’s leading chefs and local artisan producers - from craft cheese-makers and bakers to small-batch distillers, brewers, produce growers and farmers.
Curated by Business Improvement Districts (BID) Belfast One, Cathedral Quarter and Linen Quarter, the event is a chance to explore Belfast’s hospitality scene through exclusive menus, collaborative pop-ups, and unique dining experiences that highlight local talent and Northern Irish produce.
Belfast Restaurant Week was launched at the magnificently refurbished Margot Belfast with a panel discussion hosted by restaurant critic Joris Minne.
Shining a light on Northern Ireland’s fresh local produce, it highlighted the powerful partnership between producers and chefs, featuring top voices from the food scene including Michele Shirlow, founder of Food NI; Marion Lanciale, chef at the Dark Horse; Damian Tumilty, head chef at Grand Central Hotel; and Stephen Ferris, head chef at Margot Belfast.
One of the stand-out moments of Belfast Restaurant Week 2025 will be an exclusive Q&A session with celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli at his signature restaurant Novelli’s in the AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast.
Across the city, diners can look forward to a wide range of delicious offers from stylish set menus and lunchtime deals, to cocktail and sharing platters inspired by Belfast’s local flavours.
Highlights include Roam’s £35 lunch, Henrys’ great-value dinner menus, and casual bites at Moxy Hotel featuring Belfast-inspired drinks. There’ll also be limited-edition street food collabs at Halt and a five-course gourmet evening at Morning Star, showcasing the best of local produce and hospitality.
More details - including a full list of participating venues, special events, and booking info – is available on: www.belfastrestaurantweek.org
CHARITY CAREERS & VOLUNTEER JOBS FAIR
An event celebrating careers, jobs and volunteering opportunities in the third sector is returning to Belfast for its second year.
The Charity Careers & Volunteer Job Fair, taking place on Wednesday November 5, will bring hundreds of people together in the city to explore the best opportunities the charity, voluntary, and social enterprise sectors have to offer.
The brainchild of recruitment company Charity Jobs NI, the event will run from 10am to 2pm at the Assembly Buildings Conference Centre in Belfast.
The fair, which is free to attend, is the UK and Ireland’s only event of its kind, bringing charities and community-minded people together where purpose meets opportunity with visitors able to meet leading organisations across health, social care, housing, education, environment and community development, explore current paid roles and volunteer opportunities, and leave with clear next steps.
The last fair showcased more than 190 employment opportunities and 260 volunteer roles, generating over 450 applications on the day and turning conversations into real hires and volunteer placements across Northern Ireland.
Previous exhibitors included Positive Futures, NOW Group, NI Hospice, Choice Housing, Inspire, MindWise, Simon Community and Cancer Focus NI, with new organisations joining each time.
Expressions of interest for exhibitors are open, with space for around 50 stands on the day. Allocation will be managed on a first come, first served basis.
To book your free ticket to attend or find out more about how your organisation can exhibit and take part go to charityjobsni.com/charity-careers-fair.
CROSSING THE AI FRONTIER
MIT entrepreneur in residence Paul Cheek will address businesses, start-ups and public sector leaders during a two-day conference taking place on Tuesday September 30 and Wednesday October 1 at locations in Belfast and Derry.
Jointly facilitated by NI Chamber, Catalyst and Software NI, ‘Crossing the AI Frontier’ has been curated to help rapidly transform how organisations across Northern Ireland harness the potential of artificial intelligence.
A series of sector-specific, hands-on sessions will teach proven frameworks used by MIT start-ups and Fortune 500 companies to drive revenue growth, improve public services, and accelerate business transformation.
Encouraging leaders to embrace the opportunity to learn from a global exemplar, NI Chamber chief executive Suzanne Wylie said: “AI is no longer a future trend - it’s a current reality which is rapidly shaping how we deliver services, drive innovation, boost competitiveness and rethink our business models.
“Having Paul Cheek from MIT share his expertise is a unique opportunity for both business and public sector leaders to understand not just the technology and its capabilities, but how to practically use the tools and seize the opportunities.
“This conference is about equipping leaders with the insight and confidence to harness AI rapidly and strategically. I would urge encourage anyone with responsibility for business strategy and transformation to attend. None of us can afford to be left behind.”
Crossing the AI Frontier is delivered with the support of headline sponsor AWS, along with session sponsors Ergo, Slalom, EY and Microsoft. It is also delivered in partnership with Invest NI, Department for the Economy and Matrix.
To book tickets, visit www.northernirelandchamber.com
TCI GLOBAL CONFERENCE
The 28th TCI Global Conference, the flagship event for clusters and innovation ecosystems comes to the island of Ireland in October, hosted by InterTradeIreland, in partnership with Invest NI and Enterprise Ireland.
Taking place from October 14-16, the conference will offer a unique opportunity for policy-makers, researchers and academics, industry leaders, network and cluster members and entrepreneurs to explore practical, inclusive and sustainable strategies for regional innovation and economic transformation.
A powerful line up of speakers has been announced including Dr Christian Ketels, lead economist at the World Bank; Mariella Masselink, head of unit for Industrial Forum, Alliance and Clusters at the European Commission; Dr Mark Esposito, economist and public policy expert; Arantxa Tapia-Otaegi, former minister for the Basque Government and Joan Marti Estevez, leading cluster practitioner.
Hosted by ‘The Positive Economist’ Susan Hayes-Culleton, the conference will blend strategic insight into clusters and innovation ecosystems through speaker presentations and panel discussions, with practical engagement during interactive cluster visits and dedicated workshops.
To find out more or register, visit https://tciglobalconference.com/tciglobal25/ before registrations close on Monday October 6.
VOICES OF LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Paralympic champion and BAFTA-winning documentary maker Ellie Simmonds will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 Voices of Leadership Conference in Belfast, hosted by Women in Business with NIE Networks as title sponsor.
Now in its ninth year, the event will take place in Mandela Hall on November 18, when an audience of over 400 women, including senior leaders, founders and public sector influencers, will come together to discuss the theme of ‘Courageous Leadership’.
An advocate for inclusion in sports, Simmonds tops an impressive line-up of speakers including Marie Doyle (Deloitte UK) Jessica N Grounds (Corporate Directors Forum), Carol Ann Whitehead (The Zebra Tribe), Professor Deirdre Heenan; Tina McKenzie MBE (Staffline) and Q Radio presenter Cushla Rice.
Rooted in the heart of Northern Ireland’s thriving business ecosystem, the one-day conference will be hosted by Donna Traynor and provide an international stage for purpose-driven leadership conversations that resonate far beyond the room.
NIFDA ANNUAL DINNER
Stuart Machin, chief executive at Marks & Spencer, will be the keynote speaker at the 29th Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) annual dinner, being held in partnership with Ortus Energy and taking place on Thursday October 16 at the Hilton Hotel, Belfast.
The event is the largest annual gathering of Northern Ireland’s food and drink processing industry, with around 300 attendees expected at this year’s dinner. It offers a valuable opportunity to network and discuss the sector’s future and key challenges with a leading UK retail chief.
NIFDA executive director Michael Bell said: “The food and drink industry is a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s economy, a sector worth £8bn, supporting 113,000 jobs across every part of the region, and still our largest manufacturing industry.
“But more than that, it is a critical national resource, feeding 10 million people and contributing approximately 25% of the UK’s overall food supply. An extraordinary role for a region that makes up just 3% of the UK population.
“I’m delighted that we are welcoming Stuart Machin to our dinner, which is an unique opportunity for an open conversation between food and drink manufacturers and retail leaders.”
AICON RETURNS IN OCTOBER
AICON is back for its seventh year, reaffirming its position as the largest and most influential AI conference in Ireland.
As AI is increasingly adopted in all aspects of life, the two-day conference will draw together technologists with business leaders and researchers, to show how getting to grips with AI can help businesses achieve further success and growth.
AICON Belfast 2025 will return on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 October, with events taking place across two of the city’s most iconic venues.
Day one, hosted at Titanic Belfast, will set the stage with high-profile keynotes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities showcasing how AI is reshaping industries and society.
Dr Stephen Spinelli Jr, president of Babson College, will deliver the keynote address, highlighting how entrepreneurship education can restore stability in a turbulent world. He will explore how artificial intelligence can amplify Entrepreneurial Thought & Action, driving solutions at scale.
The conference will once again feature its signature ‘twin-track’ format, with two programmes running in parallel: AI Now and AI Next.
AI Now will explore the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, with a strong focus on practical takeaways. Sessions will provide actionable insights and best practices for adopting AI in a safe, transparent and accountable way.
Among the highlights is a fireside chat, Reimagining Business: AI, Leadership, and the Future of Organisational Transformation, featuring Gareth Workman, Kainos, and Dr Stephen McKeown, Allstate. Drawing on McKeown’s experience driving digital transformation at Allstate, the session will examine how AI is reshaping business models, workforce dynamics, and leadership.
On Friday 3 October, the conference will move to W5 Belfast. Hosted by the AI Collaboration Centre (AICC), this day will offer a deeper dive into academic breakthroughs, cross-sector collaboration, and emerging technologies driving progress across healthcare, fintech, manufacturing, and beyond.
AICON Belfast 2025 is hosted by Kainos, and supported by Matrix, Allstate, Options Technology, Deloitte, Software NI, Danske Bank, Belfast City Council and the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC).
For further information or registration details, visit: https://ai-con.ai/.
PR AWARDS 2025
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has officially launched the CIPR Northern Ireland PR Awards for 2025, a hallmark event designed to celebrate outstanding achievements and innovation within the region’s dynamic public relations profession.
The awards were officially launched at The Foundry Bar in Belfast in partnership with major drinks brand Freixenet, courtesy of United Wines.
The programme offers 22 award categories that showcase the wide-ranging creativity, strategic excellence and the impact made by PR campaigns and practitioners across Northern Ireland.
The 2025 awards recognise a broad spectrum of PR activities, from strategic corporate communications and public sector campaigns to vibrant consumer, healthcare, and not-for-profit initiatives. Categories also highlight excellence in integrated campaigns, digital and social media innovation, media relations, content creation, and event management.
This diversity reflects the evolving PR landscape and the vital role communications play across sectors including business, tourism, arts, culture, sport, STEM and more. Additionally, the awards celebrate important individual and team achievements, spotlighting outstanding young communicators, independent practitioners, and high-performing in-house teams and consultancies.
These categories honour those who are driving professional growth, overcoming challenges, and delivering measurable results that contribute to the success and reputation of their organisations and clients.
Entries are now closed, and the shortlist will be announced on Tuesday October 21 and winners will be honoured at a prestigious ceremony on November 28 at Belfast’s Europa Hotel.
APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS 2026
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards, which recognise apprentices, their mentors, employers and training organisations who have demonstrated exceptional progress as well as personal achievement and commitment.
The awards ceremony is due to make place on March 25 next year at Belfast’s Titanic Hotel.
Economy minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “The Apprenticeship Awards 2026 categories will highlight the outstanding achievements of apprentices, the invaluable support of employers and learning providers, and the essential role of apprenticeships in supporting my economic vision.
“I encourage everyone involved in apprenticeships to participate in this year’s awards. Your stories of success can inspire others to embark on this rewarding career path and contribute to our region’s economic development.”
There are seven award categories for 2026 - Apprentice of the Year (Levels 2-3); Higher Level Apprentice of the Year (Level 4+); Public Sector Apprentice of the Year; Mentor of the Year; Large Employer in partnership with a Training Provider; SME in partnership with their Training Provider; and Public Sector Employer in partnership with a Training Provider.
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday October 24.
More information, including full details on application criteria for each of the awards, along with how to apply, can be obtained at https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/articles/northern-ireland-apprenticeship-awards.
RISING STARS OF HOSPITALITY
The Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) has announced the return of the Rising Stars competition, a celebration of emerging talent in the north’s hotel and hospitality industry.
Now a key fixture in the sector’s calendar, the initiative shines a spotlight on young professionals making a meaningful impact and highlights the exciting career pathways available within the industry.
Forming a central part of Hospitality Exchange 2025, the Rising Stars Awards Lunch will take place on Tuesday October 14, hosted by broadcaster Pamela Ballantine and headlined by hotel icon Alex Polizzi.
The competition provides a high-profile platform to celebrate exceptional individuals, acknowledge their contributions, and raise awareness of the industry’s potential as a long-term career path.
HALLOWEEN BLOOD RUN
Belfast will host its first-ever Halloween Blood Run on Sunday October 26, organised by Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI in association with the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service. The event will celebrate the life and legacy of much-loved political broadcaster and former UTV Political Editor, Ken Reid.
A dedicated patron of Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI, Ken was diagnosed with leukaemia and sadly passed away in November 2024, aged 69.
Male and female winners of the 5km race will each receive the Ken Reid Trophy, honouring his lifelong dedication to people, politics, community, and his steadfast support for blood cancer awareness and research.
The event will take place on the Stormont Park Run route and offers two options: a 5km race and a 2.5km family fun run/walk. Alongside awards for the fastest male and female, there will be prizes for Best Fancy Dress individual and family. Participants are encouraged to don their best Halloween costumes and are welcome to run, walk, or even creep their way around the course.
Opportunities are available for corporate partners to support the event through a three-tier sponsorship package - for details, contact LLNI’s fundraising manager on info@llni.co.uk or 02890 972928.
Tickets for the Halloween Blood Run are available now at: llni.co.uk/event/halloween-blood-run. All proceeds will fund blood cancer research at the Centre for Cancer Research in Belfast.
CASH FOR KIDS CHRISTMAS BALL
Cash for Kids Northern Ireland is rolling out the red carpet for its Christmas Nostalgia Gala Ball, in aid of the Mission Christmas Appeal 2025, on Saturday 29th November at the Europa Hotel, Belfast.
The Mission Christmas campaign is now in its 16th year in Northern Ireland, ensuring that no child wakes up to an empty stocking. In 2024 alone, the campaign brought joy to over 17,000 local children - but the need is growing fast. By sponsoring a table at the Gala, your business could help provide gifts for up to 180 children this Christmas.
Donations have the power to bring joy to up to 180 local children this festive season. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our suppliers, every £1 can be tripled in value - turning into £3 worth of support for disadvantaged children across Northern Ireland
Entertainment will include live music, comedy with a series of unforgettable moments - including a very special Live Bid Auction with exclusive prizes, to be revealed soon. And that’s just the start - we have more exciting announcements coming in the weeks ahead.
To sponsor a table, please get in touch with the team at Cash for Kids on 028 91815555 or email ni@cashforkids.org.
CO3 GALA DINNER
Northern Ireland’s membership organisation for third sector leaders, CO3, celebrates its 40th year milestone this year with a gala dinner event which will celebrate past achievements and look ahead to future opportunities.
The CO3 Ruby Anniversary Fundraising Gala at Titanic Belfast on November 20 will acknowledge the collective impact of the leaders who have shaped the voluntary, community & social enterprise sector in Northern Ireland. The event is supported by Evelyn Partners.
To book a table for the event visit here.
PANI AWARDS RETURN
The Publicity Association of Northern Ireland (PANI) has opened entries for the 2025 PANI Awards, Northern Ireland’s premier celebration of creative excellence in the advertising industry.
The 16th edition of the awards will be held on Thursday November 20 at the Culloden, featuring 26 categories across a range of mediums, including television, press, outdoor, radio, digital, and magazine. The contribution of media owners will also be recognised as will work on an international platform.
This year’s theme, The Wonderful World of Advertising, celebrates ground-breaking creativity and the extraordinary talent in the advertising, marketing, and allied media industries that are innovating memorable and engaging campaigns in the local market.
Pioneering advertiser Sir John Hegarty will chair of the judging jury. One of the industry’s most respected creative minds, he is perhaps best known as one of the founding members of Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH), the agency that originated “Vorsprung durch Technik”, now one of the most recognised German mottos in popular culture.
Sir John will preside over an esteemed panel of judges whose experience spans global agencies such as BBH, Havas, Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, AMV BBDO, and more.
COSMETIC MEDICINE AWARDS
The 2025 Cosmetic Medicine Awards (CMAs) will return to the Culloden Estate and Spa on Saturday November 29.
Now in their fourth year, the CMAs are Northern Ireland’s only Trust Mark-accredited awards dedicated exclusively to recognising excellence, innovation, and clinical leadership in the aesthetics sector.
Co-founded by aesthetics industry expert Lesley McGarrity and PR and event management professional Michelle McTernan, the awards were officially launched at the recent Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress (AMWC) in Monaco.
BTL Aesthetics will return as this year’s headline sponsor.
The 2025 CMAs will be hosted by aesthetic industry authority Amanda Cameron and local broadcaster Robin Elliott.
One lucky finalist will also win a luxury two-night break to Monaco, courtesy of LG Travel, with proceeds supporting this year’s chosen charity, Sense.
To enter the awards, visit: nicosmeticmedicineawards.com.
DIVERSITY MARK SUMMIT
Northern Ireland’s premier event for diversity and inclusion leadership will be hosted by Diversity Mark at its annual summit on October 8 in Titanic Belfast, focusing on the theme of ‘Driving Value: Inclusion in an Ever-Changing Landscape’.
A transformative one-day event, the 2025 Diversity Mark Summit will bring together over 300 thought leaders, business executives and inclusion advocates from across all sectors with attendees engaging in a full day programme featuring expert keynote speakers and insightful breakout sessions.
For more information and to book tickets for this year’s summit, visit https://diversity-mark-ni.co.uk/diversity-mark-summit or contact Christine White at christine@diversity-mark-ni.co.uk.
MARY PETERS TRUST LUNCH
A Sport Inspires lunch will take place on Friday November 21 from noon in Belfast’s Europa Hotel in support of the Mary Peters Trust, which has been funding sporting greats for half a century from 1975 to 2025.
The uplifting afternoon will bring together business leaders, sporting legends and community champions to celebrate the power of sport in transforming lives – all under the inspirational presence of Lady Mary Peters.
Tickets are now available at £120 for individuals or £1,200 + VAT for a table of 10.
The afternoon includes a welcome drinks reception, a delicious three-course lunch, and insights and stories from a panel of accomplished athletes and sports leaders
There will also be a live charity auction with prizes including a signed guitar from Van Morrison and a ‘Sheeran by Lowden’ guitar signed with your own personal message by Ed Sheeran.
The organisers said: “By attending, you’ll be supporting the next generation of Northern Ireland’s athletes while networking with like-minded individuals and organisations.”
For more information on tickets, email events@asgcomms.com.
HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW
Organisers of Holiday World Show Belfast have announced that the north’s biggest annual celebration of travel and tourism will be returning to ICC Belfast at The Waterfront Hall in the heart of Belfast’s city centre in January 2026.
Last year, for the first time in its 33-year history, Holiday World Show Belfast was hosted in the city centre and saw more than 10,000 holidaymakers visit ICC Belfast at The Waterfront Hall to check out the latest holiday trends, talk to operators and hopefully grab a bargain break.
The dates for next year’s highly anticipated show have also been confirmed, with the three-day event scheduled to run from Friday January 9 until Sunday January 11, 2026.
For more information and all the latest event updates, visit https://holidayworldshowni.com
KNIT + STITCH IS BACK
The UK’s biggest and best textile craft show Knit + Stitch (formerly the Knitting & Stitching Show) returns to Northern Ireland in the autumn, taking place at the Eikon Exhibition Centre near Lisburn from November 13-16.
Exhibitor applications are now open for businesses and artisans interested in showcasing their products and expertise. For more information and to stay updated on ticket sales, visit the Knit + Stitch website.
NI FOOD TO GO AWARDS
The NI Food To Go Awards, sponsored by Henderson Foodservice, will return for the second year in a row this November.
Spearheaded by the NI Food To Go Association, the awards were launched in Belfast’s Malmaison Hotel, with over 80 prominent figures from across Northern Ireland in attendance, including Junior Minister Pam Cameron.
The NI Food To Go Association is the only official organisation that solely represents the food to go industry, providing an expert voice, advice and advocacy under its “unite, support, grow” ethos.
The inaugural Food To Go Awards were launched in 2024, providing a benchmark of excellence to celebrate and highlight the businesses which create the food to go industry here.
Entries for the 2025 awards are now open, with the gala ceremony taking place at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Tuesday November 18, hosted by Q Radio presenter Ibe Sesay.
For more information and to enter an award category, visit www.foodtogoawards.co.uk
