Radio presenter Carolyn Stewart of U105 joined Robin, Alan and Edith Mercer to launch their Weber® World showroom at Hillmount which offers barbecue fans an extensive range of barbecues and accessories, all displayed in a stunning new showroom.

Robin Mercer, Hillmount, said, “We’re really excited to be launching this experience to our customers. Our Weber® World store showcases the full range of Weber® barbecues and our expert staff can help you find the right barbecue. We regularly host BBQ cooking demonstrations to show barbecue enthusiasts how to enjoy the most from their barbecue and we provide servicing to help keep your barbecue in great condition.”

Cooking demonstrations will be hosted on 8th, 15th and 29th April and on 13th and 27th May. Celebrity chef Paula McIntyre is also hosting a special cookery demonstration on 26th May and further details on how to book can be found at www.hillmount.co.uk.

Hillmount has two prime locations, nestled in the Castlereagh Hills in Belfast and on the main Belfast Road in Bangor. One of Northern Ireland’s leading family owned garden centres, the business recently celebrated its 75th birthday and offers a bespoke range of plants and garden furniture. The Gardener’s Rest in Bangor seats 80 diners and 200 in Belfast. At Hillmount Belfast guests can reserve a private function room for any occasion and the store also boasts Northern Ireland’s only garden centre BBQ Academy which hosts regular hands-on BBQ cooking courses.

For more information visit www.hillmount.co.uk, www.facebook.com/hillmountgardencentre.

Tourism Ireland joins forces with Condé Nast Traveller magazine to bring London foodies a ‘feast from Northern Ireland’

On St Patrick’s Day, OX Belfast ‘popped up’ in London, at the very hip Carousel restaurant in Mayfair, as part of Condé Nast Traveller’s ‘Chefs World Series’.

Tourism Ireland joined forces with Condé Nast Traveller magazine for a special pop-up dinner event, which was themed “A Feast from Northern Ireland in London” – with Stephen Toman, head chef and joint owner of OX Belfast, in the kitchen for the evening. It’s all part of Tourism Ireland’s programme of promotions to highlight Northern Ireland in Great Britain and, in particular, to raise awareness of Northern Ireland as a destination for some of the best food, drink and hospitality on offer for visitors anywhere.

David Boyce, Tourism Ireland’s Deputy Head of Great Britain, said: “We were delighted to have Stephen Toman with us in London on St Patrick’s Day, helping to spread the word about Northern Ireland’s superb food, wonderful chefs and world-class restaurants and, of course, what makes a holiday in Northern Ireland unique and truly memorable. Our message is that Northern Ireland is a superb choice for ‘foodies’ for a holiday or long weekend break.”

The Conde Nast Traveller ‘Chefs World Series’ involves bringing top chefs from around the world to create a not-to-be-missed feast in London. On 17 March, some 60 London foodies got to sample a special St Patrick’s Day feast. Stephen Toman served three courses of delicious flavours, including a starter of celeriac, scallop and Northern Ireland sea urchin with truffle; followed by Chateaubriand beef, asparagus, smoked potato and black garlic; and a dessert of Bushmills jelly, lavender, oats and baked apple sorbet. Guests also got to sample a Jawbox Gin cocktail and Co Couture chocolates and received a copy of Belfast on a Plate, a guide to Belfast’s restaurant scene by David Pauley.

This event – and a number of other Tourism Ireland promotions this spring – are highlighting the wonderful culinary offering of Northern Ireland and building on the legacy of our special Year of Food and Drink in 2016. Last year, Tourism Ireland undertook a packed programme of activity to highlight Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink in Britain, and elsewhere around the world.

YEAR eleven of the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards will break fresh new ground with the introduction of TWO new categories.

And other elements of the initiative have been revised and revitalised as the political and economic landscape enters a fascinating period of change.

The Awards were launched at Titanic Belfast at a reception attended by a range of business organisations as well as representatives of our main business partners.

This year’s business partners are Mount Charles, Henderson Group, Ulster University, Queen’s University, Phoenix Natural Gas, Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, Carson McDowell and Titanic Belfast.

Irish News editor Noel Doran praised the pivotal role they play in the initiative, adding: “Some have been associated with the awards for many years, while this year in particular we have a number of partners who are joining us for the first time.”

He said that “I’m pleased to confirm that despite the changing and challenging economic and business climate we are expanding our Irish News Workplace and Employment Awards through introducing two new categories and announcing our biggest ever range of business partners.

“The new sections will recognise the employer for the future, which reflects how businesses and organisations are reinventing themselves to cope with the astonishing pace of changes out there, and also the team of the year, which emphasises the vital importance of working together creatively.” They are:

:: EMPLOYER FOR THE FUTURE – it will focus on, and reflect, how businesses and organisations are ‘future-proofing’ themselves to cope with the astonishing pace of change in the world right now.

:: TEAM OF THE YEAR – this category focusses on the vital importance of working together creatively, which is fundamental for businesses/organisations to succeed and thrive.

Guest speaker at the launch was Claire Colvin, talent & organisational development director with CDE Global in Cookstown, a significant player in the wet processing industry, making equipment which helps quarrying, recycling and mining businesses extract material out of the ground.

The company won the Managing Talent category of our awards three years in a row and in 2016 clinched both Entrepreneurial Spirit and Innovative Employer gongs.

Customers of CDE – which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary – include producers of the specialist sand used in the bunkers at the 2014 US Open, and also one of the world’s largest wine bottle makers, based in Australia.

Claire said: “CDE has fantastic growth plans, with our 2020 vision including doubling revenue and recruiting at least 100 people.

“We operate in a highly competitive environment, and if we can’t deliver talent into our business, it can’t grow. So winning these Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards has been fantastic for us.

“We attach tremendous importance to these awards, and the publicity which goes with it has been noticed by our customers in 15 countries. We’re extremely proud and thrilled at that – and we’ll be back again this year, trying to add to our impressive collection and having a go at those two new categories.”

Irish News business editor Gary McDonald, who also spoke at the launch, said: “Technology may have infiltrated every aspect of our business and is front-and-centre in today’s corporate world, the human element remains by far our most important and valuable business resource.

“Every part of our business boils down to people. We need to value and reskill our people and think strategically about how to deploy all that talent. It’s exactly what these unique awards have been all about since 2007, where entries have increased year on year.

“And in the current climate the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards – with the straplines of STRIVE, GROW, SUCCEED – have never been more relevant. There really is a compelling argument to enter.”

Members of a number of business organisations attended the launch, including the CIPR, Young Enterprise, Food NI, NIIRTA, the NI Chamber, CBI, Hospitality Ulster and the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

The launch was hosted by BBC presenter Karen Patterson, who will again be compere at the awards in Titanic Belfast on Thursday June 8.

Entries for the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards close on May 4.

For your 2017 entry pack and awards information visit www.irishnews.com/wea or follow the build-up on Twitter at @IrishNewsWEA.

The “Northern Ireland Food Manufacturing Awards 2017” sponsored by Henderson Food Machinery will be staged at the Stormont Hotel Belfast on Friday 28^th April 2017.

Due to demand closing date for nominations has been extended to Friday 17^th March 2017

The event will gather around 250 Food & Manufacturing Industry guests and professionals spanning the width & breadth of the industry and sets out to recognise and reward leading suppliers in the following 12 categories:

• 1. Customer Service Award
• 2. Best Provider/Supplier of the Year
• 3. Export Initiative/Company of the Year
• 4. Innovation Award
• 5. Best Training Initiative of the Year
• 6. Best New Service/Product of the Year
• 7. IT & Digital Initiative of the Year
• 8. Best Community Retailer of the Year
• 9. Young Talent of the Year 
• 10. Small Producer of the Year
• 11. Outstanding Food Manufacturing Business of the Year
• 12. Special Recognition Award

A judging panel will meet to decide the winning entries in April.

Henderson Food Machinery would like to offer you the opportunity to be part of this prestigious event – you can do so in one of the following ways:

Nominate your business for deserved recognition / Attend on the evening

For further information on judging criteria and categories and to find out how to enter or book a seat or table please contact Donna Hosking on:

Mobile: 07892 406262 or email: donna@strategicbusinessplanningandevents.co.uk

 

Front-line hospitality staff took part in a WorldHost Food Ambassador training programme which was launched at Bishop’s Gate Hotel on March 9th as part of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Enterprise Week.

A total of eight training sessions, supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council Skills Team, will take place throughout the month to provide recognised and accredited training to become a WorldHost Food Ambassador.

Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Alderman Hilary McClintock, encouraged food and drink businesses in the city and district to avail of the half-day sessions which have been developed by Tourism NI, People 1st and Food NI/Taste of Ulster in partnership with Council.

She said: “WorldHost Food Ambassador has been specially tailored to bring front-line hospitality staff up to speed on all that is happening in our growing food and drink industry and help them make the most of Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016.”

Tina Gillespie, Skills Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, explained that the training is aimed at showcasing the region’s top local produce and selling Northern Ireland as a foodie destination. The sessions will include a wide range of local food and drink tasting to enable participants to familiarise themselves with the unique home-grown products available to their customers.

“This training programme presents a golden opportunity for front-line staff to develop their customer service skills and knowledge to equip them to tell the stories of our local produce with confidence and passion and spread the word about our amazing chefs and restaurants,” she added.

Places on the WorldHost Food Ambassador training programme are being part funded by Tourism NI and Derry City and Strabane District Council, cutting costs to just £20 per person. Upcoming dates in March are Saturday 18^th March 9.30am-2 pm, Monday 20^th March 11am-3pm, Tuesday 21^st March 9.30am-2pm, Wednesday 22^nd March 9.30am-2pm, Saturday 25^th March 9.30am-2pm, Saturday 1^st April 9.30am-2pm, Monday 3^rd April 11am-3pm and Saturday 8^th April 9.30-2pm.

To register for a place, please contact Michelle Simpson michellesimpson829@btinternet.com