Latest news with #NIChamber
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Phoenix Energy boss appointed NI Chamber president
He was ratified in the role at the Chamber's agm in Queen's University Belfast on Friday, and succeeds Cat McCusker, regional market leader at PwC Northern Ireland in the role. Nick Whelan, the group chief executive of Dale Farm, has been appointed vice-president. Mr Chada has worked at the energy company since 2017, and was previously the interim CEO of a division of Ulster Bank. With more than three decades experience, he has held roles in PwC in Edinburgh along with several positions in finance and banking in London. Mr Chada said: 'It is a tremendous honour to be appointed as NI Chamber president. I am deeply invested in this place. I want the best for Northern Ireland's economy and its people and believe vehemently in the opportunities that we have to shine. 'In a testing economic environment, it is not a small responsibility. Businesses face immense challenges, none less so than the impact of our changed geopolitics, particularly the potential implications of US trade tariffs, as well as increased cost burdens from increased National Insurance contributions, difficulties in recruiting and more red tape than we feel is necessary when it comes to trading with our nearest markets. 'Members have my commitment that NI Chamber will work hard to be ahead of the game, helping companies in all sectors to address challenges and find wider solutions where we can.' He added: 'I see Northern Ireland not just as a participant, but as a leader in global commerce. We have the talent, the creativity, and the resilience to rise to any challenge. 'To that end, my presidency will be dedicated to creating an environment where businesses of all sizes can flourish. 'I want us to think big, embrace competitive advantages like dual market access, find ways to be more cost competitive on this island, get behind high-growth sectors and turn our need to decarbonise into a compelling opportunity. 'And of course, I will advocate for the adoption of renewable energy practices, and support businesses in transitioning to low-carbon models. 'By working collectively, we can position Northern Ireland as a region that thrives on sustainable growth and create a legacy that will benefit generations to come.' Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of NI Chamber, said: 'Kailash brings a tremendous depth and breadth of experience to NI Chamber's Board of Directors. As President, his stewardship and leadership will be of immense benefit to our members. 'I know that he will continue to champion our collaborative approach and help us deepen engagement across government, business and academia. 'At NI Chamber, we have ambitious plans for the year ahead and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together.'
Belfast Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Plan to overhaul Northern Ireland employment law ‘does not go far enough'
Susan Fitzgerald said the Good Jobs Bill was 'far from a revolutionary document' and the implementation of the legislation involves a long transitional period. Last week, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said the 'ambitious' proposals in the Bill included tackling zero-hour contracts, improvements to family-related leave and strengthened rights for trade unions. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. The proposals also aimed to enhance protections for agency workers, ensure tips were passed on to staff in full and introduce easier access to flexible working arrangements. Ms Fitzgerald, Unite Ireland regional secretary, said the union is discussing the minister's proposals with union representatives and activists. 'We will be guided by the discussions we have with workers, who will be on the receiving end or otherwise of the proposals,' she told BBC NI's Sunday Politics show. 'I suppose our point is it's far from a revolutionary document, to be fair, where it doesn't go far enough from a trading perspective, or hasn't addressed at all. 'But there's no question that, you just take a sample of some of the items – tips, flexible working opportunities, neonatal leave and pay for pregnant workers, protections against unfair redundancy for pregnant workers, movement on zero hour contracts, movement on fire and rehire – I actually don't know how anyone can disagree with any of those areas. 'I think one of the key things for us now is what are – in some cases mostly just headlines – is getting behind the detail of what we need to see implemented. 'But I have to say an area of concern is – maybe it's an attempt to reassure people – but it's the proposal to have what feels like a long transition period, and presumably that would only commence after the process has gone through Stormont. That's not good enough. 'It's actually unconscionable to say to someone, we know your rights are not currently protected, we know you're not currently being treated with respect, You're currently very vulnerable, but bear with, we don't want to scare the horses.' Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of NI Chamber, said that a 'very complex' set of regulations of codes of practice are being proposed. 'It is, as the minister has said, the biggest overhaul in employment law in decades, and so our businesses across Northern Ireland really need to be prepared for that,' she said. 'There's a lot in these, and this is really about putting right these proposals. There's a lot more to the creation of good jobs than just aspect of employee rights.' Ms Wylie said that similar legislation is going through Westminster, which is estimated to cost businesses some £5 billion. 'If we think about the challenges that businesses here are facing at this point with increases in tax, increases in minimum wage, living wage, etc, AI, that's disrupting how we work our days, the cost of energy, etc. Really, really challenging time for business. 'We really do have to think about how these proposals are going to be implemented, and how that balance will be achieved between ensuring that we have viable businesses that can grow and a growing economy that we can really create good jobs for the future.'
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Northern Ireland businesses making connections in North Carolina
Businesses from Northern Ireland in North Carolina say they are in the US for "strategic reasons, not just lip service".The NI Chamber delegation is in the city of Raleigh alongside representatives from Queen's University Belfast, Invest NI, Catalyst, Software NI - as well as the first and deputy first ministers and the head of the civil comes after NI Chamber signed a collaboration agreement last year with North Carolina Chamber, known as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU.)One of the companies taking part in the trip is B-Secur, a Northern-Ireland based company that makes medical devices used to monitor heart health. The United States is its biggest customer base. 'Blown away' by the talent CEO Alan Foreman said: "USA is a real target for us, but it's a very, very large place. "We have some customers in the west coast, east coast, in the middle in Minneapolis, but it's really difficult to pin down where your entry point is. "As a relatively small company, you have to grow from somewhere."He said the feedback they have been getting, so far, in Raleigh is that many are pleasantly surprised."Typically, from North America they think of London or Dublin as an entry point into the western part of Europe and we have been in the shadows, perhaps. "Bringing delegations as we did and the chamber did last year, they were just blown away by the talent."My number one feedback that I've been receiving is the access to quite a vast amount of talent from both universities."It's unbelievable, it's on par to some of the really large universities over in North America," he added. How do Northern Irish businesses compete? Mr Foreman said what was important was that he was not there on his own, but part of a delegation."I bumped into the first minister this morning. These things are so powerful as I walk in to customers today and potential customers tomorrow."It's not just lip service that we are coming over for a single transaction, we are here for strategic reasons." Geopolitical uncertainty NI Chamber CEO Suzanne Wylie said the visit was part of a long-term process and they would be inviting a trade mission back to Northern Ireland in the summer from North said some of their upcoming businesses, particularly the entrepreneurial businesses, have already had doors opened to them in the particular, she said parallels could be drawn between some sectors like health and life sciences, MedTech, healthtech and financial there has been more geopolitical uncertainty this year than last year, including President Trump's introduction of some said that while there's uncertainty across the globe right now, "businesses really just want to create the relationships and get on with doing business with each other and continue to look for further investment in some of our innovative companies"."We still have a long way to go until we know where this is all going to land," she added. First Minister Michelle O'Neill will not be heading to the White House after Monday's North Carolina event, as she is boycotting the St Patrick's Day festivities there due to President Trump's stance on she will be heading home, while Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will travel on to Washington will be present at the White House reception on Wednesday and is likely to meet President Trump.
The Independent
10-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
US remains ‘indispensable partner at time of great peril', says Irish premier
The US remains an 'indispensable partner at a time of great peril in the world', the Irish premier has said as he travels across the Atlantic for a week of engagements. Taoiseach Micheal Martin will visit Austin, Texas, before heading to Washington DC for the traditional St Patrick's Day celebrations in the US capital. He is set to take part in a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. The leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues, including the ties between the US and Ireland, the economic relationship, the war in Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East and Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach will present Mr Trump with the traditional shamrock bowl, extending St Patrick's Day greetings from the people of Ireland to the people of the US. A host of Irish Government ministers will also travel to the US, including Tanaiste Simon Harris, who will visit Philadelphia and New York, at a time which has been described as a key juncture in European-US relations. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will lead an NI Chamber business delegation to North Carolina. Ms Little-Pengelly will later travel alone to Washington DC for engagements. Ms O'Neill, along with her Sinn Fein party colleagues, said she would not travel to Washington DC for St Patrick's Day as part of 'a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza'. Speaking in advance of his US visit, the Taoiseach described St Patrick's Day as an 'opportunity to celebrate Ireland's international connections and partnerships'. 'The US is one of Ireland's strongest partners, a partnership built on a rich foundation of ancestral ties and close economic, diplomatic and political links,' he said. 'My visit will aim to further strengthen the bonds between our two countries with a focus on economic, political and people-to-people connections. 'Many of the events in Austin and Washington DC will be an opportunity to recognise their invaluable contribution both to the US across the fields of innovation, creativity, community development, business, and academia, and to deepening the close bonds across the Atlantic. 'My visit is also an opportunity to highlight our strong and growing trade and investment relationship, a relationship that is increasingly two-way. 'Ireland is the sixth largest source of foreign direct investment in the US, supporting hundreds and thousands of jobs across the US. 'I am delighted to be meeting with President Trump and to have an opportunity to reflect with him on the bilateral relationship. 'President Trump knows Ireland well, having visited on a number of occasions, and I know that his beautiful golf club in Doonbeg is very close to his heart. 'I will update him on the situation in Northern Ireland and express our deep appreciation to the US for their continued support for peace and reconciliation on our island. 'My visit to the US comes at a moment of great peril for the world. 'The US remains an indispensable partner and global actor. I look forward to discussing with President Trump how Ireland, together with our EU partners, can work with him and his administration to end conflict and to secure peace, whether in the Middle East or in Ukraine.'
