1. Art and Diseño

Northern Ireland’s
Young Business Leaders
2014
40
under
FORTY
sponsored by
he inaugural Business First 40 under 40 list is an
impressive testament to the vitality of our up and coming
business leaders.
Sponsored by Abbey Bond Lovis, the list includes individuals
as varied as company founders and directors to young employees
who are making a marked difference within their company. The
list is representative of a positive approach to business of all kinds
and across all sectors throughout Northern Ireland
As the founding members of our Business First Under 40 Club,
we are pleased that the line-up is so multi-talented and working
hard to secure both their own, their company’s and our
community’s economic futures.
They are all champions of business and are ready to launch
themselves into a positive and exciting future in Northern Ireland.
We at Business First wish them all well.
T
Gavin Walker
Managing Director
Business First
www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
15
Aidan Flynn
Brian Reilly
Aidan Flynn (39)
Brian Reilly [39]
Maurice Flynn & Sons Ltd, Managing
Director
Born in 1974, Aidan Flynn was quick to work
alongside his father Maurice (who remains
active in the business), and gain a ground-up
understanding of every aspect of the firm’s
business activities. The rapid growth of this
West Belfast based firm, to £30m turnover
and nearly 300 employees has been achieved
through Aidan focusing on selected markets
that have proven recession-proof, namely
maintenance of public sector estates such as
schools, hospitals and social housing. MFS has
gained leading clients such as BELB, BHSCT,
UU, housing associations to become a leading
force in Northern Ireland maintenance.
www.mauriceflynn.com
@MFSmaintenance
Production Services Ireland
Brian started Production Services Ireland,
now Northern Ireland’s largest stage and
events lighting rental and sales business, in
1996 as a sole trader; the business became a
Company limited by Guarantee in 2010 with
the addition of two new Directors, and
opened its Dublin branch in 2011. Brian had
the vision to add a Training Unit to the
business in 2013 to satisfy the need for
highest quality training for the industry, to
promote the industry to young people and to
deliver the new Technical Theatre
Apprenticeships in a strategic partnership
with other key players in the sector.
www.productionireland.com
Christine Watson
Chair: Chartered Institute of Marketing
Owner: Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing
Christine successfully combines two busy
roles – she is the energetic Chair of The
Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Ireland
Board and also a determined and successful
business owner working with a wide range of
clients. She is a strong believer in Continuing
Professional Development, holding numerous
CIM qualifications and has been awarded CIM
Chartered Marketer status. A licensed
WorldHost customer service trainer and
performance focused marketing mentor
Christine has delivered double and triple digit
growth across large and small private sector
organisations.
www.watsonsmarketing.com
@watsonmydear
Christine Watson
16 www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
Chris Simmons [38]
Continu
Chris Simmons joined Continu, based in
Belfast in 2011.The company specialise in
Uninterruptible Power Supplies including
batteries/racks and accessories for small
business and large projects in the public and
private sectors throughout Ireland. Despite
the recession and having no previous
industry knowledge Chris has significantly
contributed to the growth of the company,
opening up new markets for customers with
multi-site operations in both N.I. and the
R.O.I. Chris has the rare ability to quickly
understand the customer requirement on a
practical level and ensures customers
relationships are maintained long after the
initial order. www.continuu-ups.com
Gareth Walls (39)
Partner, A&L Goodbody, Northern Ireland
Together with his Co-Partners, Gareth is
responsible for growing the now market-
Chris Simmons
Gareth Walls
leading Belfast practice from a headcount of
30 staff in 2010 to 70 in 2013. A true leader in
his field, Gareth has over 14 years' experience
practicing as a specialist employment lawyer.
Gareth is consistently ranked as a leading
lawyer by legal directories. He is the sole NI
representative on the globally recognised
Employment Law Alliance, as well as being a
board member of the European Employment
Lawyers Alliance. He is described as "one of
the best employment lawyers in Northern
Ireland", providing "hard-hitting, robust
advice" (Chambers UK 2014). Gareth is
praised for his "ability to formulate innovative
strategies expert knowledge balanced with a
practical, commercial approach" (Chambers
UK 2014). www.algoodbody.ie/Belfast
Ricky Wilson [35]
Director of Wilsons Auctions Group
Ricky has played a key role in expanding the
business over Ireland, the UK and
Internationally, with the business doubling in
size and staffing over the last seven years, it is
now the largest independently owned auction
house in the UK and Ireland. Ricky is
continually working at developing a strong
senior management and staff culture with the
group to ensure future growth of the business
in new sectors and markets. Ricky has
personally conducted over 2000 auctions, off
all kinds of assets and has handled and
advised on some of the largest auctions ever
conducted on the Island of Ireland including
Ireland’s only ever aeroplane auction!
www.wilsonsauctions.com
Andrew Cuthbert [31]
Chief Executive, Omnisoft.
At 31 Andrew Cuthbert founded an enviable
business in Northern Ireland’s tech sector. A
leader in the application of Information
Ricky Wilson
Andrew Cuthbert
Technology. Omnisoft has a particular focus in
the provision of informal and formal training
solutions and offerings in the healthcare
space. Andrew has capitalised for the
requirement for complete solutions for
enterprises who do not focus efforts on IT
within their own businesses. “The key to my
success has been my focus on supplying
solutions rather than products, and building
products from the solutions I have formed.”
“Ubiquitous” computing is everywhere
customers demand to consume data and not
be restricted based on the device types they
use. It’s always important I get the priorities
of my clients right if I am to deliver a solid
solution. www.omnisoftservices.com
Russell Kennedy (37)
Director, RealTime Recruitment
Bringing 13 years specialist IT recruitment
experience, Russell opened realTime
recruitment in Belfast during 2011 with no
previous UK trading history. Grown to six
members of staff and 1.6m turnover. Will add
a further four staff in 2014 and move into
larger bespoke designed offices. None of our
employees join with previous recruitment
experience all undergo a two year training
plan to develop into specialist recruiters
taking ownership of a technical stack. We
have a clear career path from Trainee to Team
Leader and eventually opportunities to open
up offices in new countries for our rising
stars. www.realtimeltd.com
Fearghal O'Loan [36]
Partner, Head of Finance & Restructuring,
Tughans Solicitors
Fearghal trained and qualified at Norton Rose
in London where he specialised in finance,
and in particular in restructuring and
insolvency. Fearghal joined Tughans in 2005
Russell Kennedy
Fearghal O’Loan
and has developed that firm's finance
capability to provide a full service offering for
banks, financial institutions and borrowers.
Fearghal was made partner and head of the
Finance & Restructuring Team at Tughans in
2010. Some of Fearghal's career highlights
include advising Drax Power on the
restructuring of its bank facilities, advising
Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland on a club
facility which refinanced the Medicare group
of companies' debt, advising the Department
of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the
restructuring package made available to The
Presbyterian Mutual Society and advising a
number of Northern Irish financial
institutions on their participation in the Bank
of England's Discount Window Facility.
www.tughans.com
Philip Bain
Co-founder ShredBank
Shredbank is a multi award winning on-site
shredding company that he established with
his friend James Carson. Philip graduated
with a First Class degree in Business Studies
from the University of Ulster, and became the
youngest Marketing Manager at that time at
the age of 22. He was awarded the Business
Leader of Tomorrow Award by Lord
Sainsbury in 2002 and has won Entrepreneur
of the Year 2010, Young Businessperson 2011
and Young Business Personality 2011. Philip
is Chairman of the Chartered Management
Institute, a Council member of the Northern
Ireland Chamber of Commerce and an active
ambassador of The Prince’s Trust having
risen over £20,000 for them to date.
www.shredbank.co.uk
Christie Gregg [38]
Store Manager, IKEA Belfast
Since Christie took on this role two years ago,
Philip Bain
Christine Gregg
IKEA Belfast has seen accelerated growth in
footfall and sales, and is currently one of the
best performing stores in the UK. In her short
time at the helm, Christie has introduced a
number of new initiatives including extensive
customer engagement activities. Under
Christie’s leadership, IKEA Belfast has been
widely praised for its commitment to the
environment, charities, schools and the local
community. www.ikea.co.uk/belfast
Robert Carnahan, [35]
Director, Northern Ireland Business
Communications.
Robert set up NIBC when he was 23 with his
business partner Sean Butcher. Over the past
12 years he has built & maintained
relationships with all the UK Mobile
Networks enabling NIBC to offer independent
advice & solutions to businesses on their
Mobile Phone Contracts. In 2005, Robert
identified a gap in the market for a locally
owned & hosted Web Based Vehicle Tracking
solution. NIBC Track Smart was developed in
house, further development enabled the
launch of NIBC Fuel Smart, an online tool that
not only tracks vehicles, but enables their
customers to improve mpg and benefit from
in vehicle CCTV. There are now 5000 vehicles
tracked through NIBC, who employ 20 people
in their Antrim office. www.nibc.co.uk
Ronan Donaghy [33]
Actuary, Xafinity
Ronan is one of Northern Ireland’s most
innovative Pensions Actuaries. Employed by
Xafinity, one of the UK’s leading Employee
Benefit & Pension Consultants, Ronan not
only leads the firm’s Actuarial team in Belfast,
but also Xafinity’s national Actuarial Software
Development team. Ronan plays a leading
role in advising many of Northern Ireland’s
largest companies, helping them to navigate
Robert Carnahan
www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
17
Ronan Donaghy
the complexities and risks associated with the
provision of defined benefit pension schemes
for employees. With his assistance, Xafinity
clients have reduced the costs and risks
associated with these schemes, saving
millions of pounds and securing long-term
benefits for employees and pensioners.
www.xafinity.com
Mike Hesketh (29)
Director, We Are Duo
Mike is a graduate of Visual Communication
from the University of Ulster. Having always
had an ambition to establish his own
business, Mike accommplished this at 25 with
the set up of We Are Duo, a graphic design
studio with a focus on providing bespoke,
high quality design, both in the web and print
industries. As the Company Director and Lead
Designer at We Are Duo, Mike has established
both a strong customer base, and a reputation
for unique, beautiful design and hard work,
while providing the results his clients need,
and We Are Duo continues to grow and
develop as a business.
www.weareduo.co.uk
@weareduo
Chris Love
the UK. As Marketing and Business
Promotions Executive, Chris promotes the
company’s portfolio of products throughout
the globe and assists with the PR activity of
sister company Cumberland Breweries.
www.norbrook.com
Jacqui Jolmes (37)
Operations Manager, Parity Professionals
Jacqui Jolmes is Operations Manager with
Parity Talent Management, based in the
Northern Ireland Science Park. Jacqui has 9
years experience of creating training
solutions, developing and delivering training
or coaching solutions. Having been a
participant in Parity’s Premiere programme
in the late nineties, Jacqui returned to Parity
in 2005 and since then has been delivering
training and coaching solutions in the area of
sales performance, negotiations, business and
commercial awareness, effective recruitment,
effective communication and creative
problem solving. Jacqui is a real people
person and dedicates herself to helping
Parity’s customers to unleash their full
potential. www.parityprofessionals.co.uk
Richard Willis
and H & S advice. We are excited about redefining our role as business risk advisors”.
www.willisinsurance.co.uk
Eimear Amir (36)
Group Finance Director, The Blackstaff
Group
The Blackstaff Group was recently founded to
bring together the four Blackstaff companies
operating within the ICT and
Telecommunications Sectors. Eimear has
been instrumental in the development and
growth of The Blackstaff Group ensuring
sound financial leadership across all of the
group companies operating not only in the UK
and Ireland but also further afield. Having
trained and worked extensively in the United
States, Eimear brings a wealth of
international experience to the Group Board.
www.theblackstaffgroup.com
Richard Willis (34)
Chris Love (33)
Chair of the Chartered Institute of Public
Relations (CIPR)
He started his career working in the fast
paced world of fashion on international
brands such as Versace going on to establish
his own PR consultancy, Love PR,
representing household names such as CocaCola, House of Fraser, Gordons Chemists and
masterminding Mencap’s Polo in the City
event. Last year he picked up CIPR
Outstanding Freelance Practitioner before
being head hunted by Lord Ballyedmond of
Norbrook Laboratories Ltd, the largest
privately owned pharmaceutical company in
Mike Hesketh
18 www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
Managing Director, Willis Insurance and
Risk Management
In a sector dedicated to management of risk
for its clients, surprisingly few insurance
brokers have been prepared to venture
outside their traditional comfort zone.
Recently appointed MD of Willis IRM and
public face of the family firm’s second
generation, Richard Willis is thinking and
investing outside the box. “Protecting
businesses against those things that can really
hurt them is ourraison d’etre therefore our
new Consulting & Employment Services
Division begins earlier in the risk chain
providing before the event tailor made HR
Jacqui Jolmes
Eimear Amir
Michael McKervey (38)
Director, Fresh Interior Design
Consultants
Fresh is an interior design/Architectural
practice based in Co. Down. This is a Fresh,
Exciting and Up & Coming Design practice
which has recently delivered many high
quality projects within Belfast Cathedral
Quarter. As principal and Senior Designer at
Michael McKervey
Christine Adams
Fresh Interiors, I along with my teamwork
closely with our clients to provide a
completely bespoke design service, fully in
accordance to their needs and budget.We
would be delighted to work with you on
future projects and would be happy to discuss
future plans/schemes at a time most
convenient to you, please get in touch via
www.freshinteriorsni.co.uk and keep it
fresh!
Christine Adams (31)
Director of Marketing and Business
Development, Tughans Solicitors
Christine joins Tughans after a successful
period with Abbey Insurance and Abbey Bond
Lovis as Group Marketing Manager. In this
time sales increase by 45 per cent, retentions
91 per cent and Christine collected a CIM
Marketing Excellence award and the Women
in Business Best Marketing campaign award.
Christine’s career has spanned many sectors
included Arts, as Head of Audience
Development for Audiences NI and Sport as
Marketing and Communications Manager
with Ulster Rugby. A Chartered Marketer
Christine is focused on CPD and has gained
professional qualifications in both Marketing
and Management in addition to her BA Hons
in Business. Additional she is a Board
Member for GAUGE NI. www.tughans.com
Ashleigh Johnston (32)
Director, Copper Square Communications
Following ten years of working in-house
marketing roles both locally and
internationally, Ashleigh established Copper
Square Communications, a young, dynamic
and strategic thinking communications
company. A graduate of Queen’s University,
Ashleigh began her career in Public Relations
Ashleigh Johnston
Graeme Moore
working with a leading mental health charity.
Three years later, and still in her early
twenties, she was appointed Marketing
Manager of the respected Campbell College
and went on to work internationally for the
University of Adelaide. Copper Square
Communications offers a bespoke service to
develop strategy, improve brand awareness
and connect with customers using both
traditional and digital marketing.
www.coppersquarecommunications.co.uk
@coppersqcomms
Rachel Doherty
Ireland enterprise centres and is a STEM
Ambassador with the Stemnet Network.
Founder of the DANI Awards & Digital
Exchange, Naomh's key strengths include
online marketing and developing strong
customer relationships.
www.digitaladvertisingni.co.uk
@naomhs
Rachel Doherty (23)
Partner, Kennedys Solicitors.
Having joined the firm in 2001, Graeme was
promoted to partner level in 2013. Kennedys
is a top 30 UK global dispute resolution firm.
With more than 15 years' experience, he
specialises in defending various local
businesses in professional negligence and
personal injury claims. His client base
includes insurers, architects, surveyors,
insurance brokers and accountants. Graeme
also has significant experience in defending
local businesses in personal injury claims,
including high value and complex claims. He
regularly writes articles for the insurance
press and runs practical training sessions for
businesses. www.kennedys-law.com
HSQE & Marketing Manager, GES Group
(Grants Electrical Services Ltd.)
Rachel joined GES Group on a graduate
programme in July 2012 with BSc(Hons)
Public Relations from University of Ulster.
Upon completion of the programme, her
achievements secured her a permanent
position as Group HSQE & Marketing
Manager, holding a seat on the company
Management Team. In the past 18 months,
Rachel has guided the company through
significant change, resulting in NQA
accreditation to ISO 18001, 9001 and 14001
Standards, Investors in People recognition
and the introduction of a strategic Balanced
Scorecard. In recognition of her
achievements, Rachel was presented with
Employee of the Year at the Ballymena
Business Awards 2013. David Moore, GES
www.ges-group.com
Naomh McElhatton (32)
George Sleator (26)
Managing Director, DANI
Naomh created DANI to help business access
the online marketplace. Now Northern
Irelands Digital Champion for GO ON UK,
Naomh is an Associate Lecturer at the
University of Ulster on their Post Grad Digital
Marketing & Communications course, acts as
the ICT / Social Media mentor in association
with Derry City Council and various Northern
Sales Director , Precious Packaging
George always knew he wanted to run his
own business. He first began his business
career by selling printed stationery, however,
on receiving an order from a customer for
printed bags he saw a gap in the market and
took the risk by expanding our product range.
He is renowned for providing high quality
products and excellent customer service. He
Graeme Moore (38)
Naomh McElhatton
George Sleator
www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
19
Karen Carmichael
is no stranger to long hours, dedication and
hard work and is provides a great example of
how entrepreneurs should seek to develop a
strong team culture in their business, support
others and be prepared to take the risk to win
new business.
www.preciouspackaging.co.uk
@paperbagsuk
Rhonda Montgomery
Rhonda Montgomery (34)
Wesley Jameson
major local players, SMEs and B-2-B trade
shows in both Northern Ireland and Republic
of Ireland. In its fist year, the agency won 100
per cent of all new business pitches, had its
work featured in PR Week, and exceeded its
targets by 70 per cent. For 2014, plans are
underway to build a ‘sustainable hub’ for
creative communications.
www.segwayni.co.uk
@RNNComms
Managing Director, mxb
MXB is a leading creative agency specialising
in Shopper Marketing. Working with an
impressive list of global clients including
Procter & Gamble, Twitter, Kingspan and
Brett Martin, Karen has overseen the
company’s significant growth. As Northern
Ireland IOD’s ‘Young Director of the Year’ for
2012-2013, Karen was shortlisted for UK
Young Director of the Year in 2013. She is the
first woman in Northern Ireland to achieve a
Double Distinction in the Institute of
Directors Diploma in Company Direction and
is currently working towards Chartered
Director status. www.hellomxb.com
Director and Principal Trainer,
Montgomery Food Consulting
In 2010, Rhonda set up Montgomery Food
Consulting in a bid to become one of Northern
Ireland’s leading food consultancy providers
in food safety, quality management, training
and interim technical support services. A
qualified food technologist, Rhonda has
grown her business 400 per cent since its
first year’s trading and Montgomery Food
Consulting now employs three other
professionals. In 2010, 100 per cent of the
company’s business was local Northern
Ireland clients but with foresight and
expertise in UK, Irish and European
legislation, clients now hail from across the
UK and Ireland, with many of Rhonda’s food
safety programmes and systems being
implemented in customers’ plants across
Europe. Rhonda and her team have helped
many businesses in Northern Ireland and
Republic of Ireland raise their standards and
in turn increase their business.
www.montgomeryfoodconsulting.com
Laura Jackson, (34)
Riki Neill (33)
Rick Smith (38)
Audit Principal, BDO Northern Ireland.
Laura’s portfolio of clients includes many of
Northern Ireland’s leading companies and she
has built a reputation as an advisor who’s
style is enriched, ‘hands on’ and honest.
Always accessible and approachable, her
work with her team is driven by a belief that
the best environment for development is one
in which exceptional client service is
witnessed in action. For Laura, a deep
understanding of her clients and their issues
is fundamental to this objective.
www.bdoni.com
@BDONI
Director, RNN Communications
Former MD in Ireland for a UK Integrated
Communications agency, in late 2012, Riki
Neill, founded RNN Communications.
Embracing the new developments in
technology and the ever-changing world of
integrated communications, RNN
Communications was established to deliver
strategic, results-driven solutions for clients
across Ireland. Through a holistic approach,
that delivers both for clients and consultants,
the agency has grown and now represents
many clients includinginternational FMCG
brands, companies in the renewables sector,
Managing Director, Smith Design Agency
Smith Design Agency is one of Northern
Ireland's leading providers of design and
advertising, specialising in creative solutions
for successful businesses. Rick believes in
providing quality, creative and affordable
advertising solutions for companies of all
sizes. Rick currently supply to Invest NI
clients and the company’s portfolio continues
to grow domestically and internationally.
Rick Smith, founder and Managing Director of
Smith Design Agency has over 15 years’
experience and has won numerous awards.
www.smithdesignagency.co.uk
Karen Carmichael (33)
Laura Jackson
20 www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
Riki Neill
Wesley Jameson (33)
Director Segway NI Ltd, Adventure
Holdings NI Ltd, USA NI Ltd, Portadown
Recycling & Skip Hire Ltd, Paintball NI Ltd,
Itera Properties Ltd
Wesley operates within the construction,
recycling, tourism and outdoor adventure
sectors. Segway NI Ltd has won the best
newcomer and the best outdoor experience in
Northern Ireland in the past two years. His
latest company (USA NI LTD), opening in
March/April 2014 will be a unique sports
park in Belfast City Centre on an eight acre
site. www.segwayni.co.uk
Rick Smith
Jill Robb
Chris Hughes
Jill Robb (35)
Chris Hughes (26)
Managing Director, Ambition Digital
Jill started the Award Winning digital
Marketing Agency Ambition Digital Ltd in
2009 using just her existing laptop and her
passion for digital marketing. Ambition
Digital today provide digital marketing
services to some of Northern Ireland and the
UK’s largest ecommerce retailers. Since then
Jill has grown the business ten-fold with
unprecedented growth being recorded within
the last 12 months through diversification,
partnership and good governance- for which
she has won individual awards. Jill is a wellknown Ecommerce Veteran and resident
Ecommerce Expert for SmartInsights.com as
well as being an Econsultancy Trainer in
Ecommerce.
www.ambitiondigital.com.
@JillLRobb
Managing Director, Hughes Leisure
Chris is becoming one of the foremost
entertainment producers in the UK.He started
in 2008 by running a teenage disco in a
church hall loaned to him by the parish and
within four months had attracted 6,000
people to the Odyssey for such an event. In
Boxing he has brokered a world title contest
for Amir Kahn, co-managed sell out shows in
Wembley and Odyssey Arenas for Sky Sports
and Channel 5, and made history staging the
first ever professional boxing contest in
Belfast’s City Hall (2013). In Music he has
managed entertainment for big and small
venues in UKand Ireland and worked on
MTV’s European Music Awards. He’s
currently managing singer songwriter Jordan
O’Keefe and delivering Enterprise Factory, an
events management training programme for
schools, taking Chris to the next level up.
Chris was twice finalist in Invest NI’s Young
Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2009 &
2011). www.hughesleisure.co.uk
Allan Armstrong (35)
Global Director of Operations, CIGA
Healthcare
Allan joined CIGA in 2007. He has been
responsible for the direction of the
operations, developing the purchasing,
production, logistics, quality control functions
and installing complex management systems.
These allowCIGA to purchase products from
more than 10international companies in 3
continents and to process and distribute
products in 15 languages over 70 countries.
He extended them to the new CIGA subsidiary
based in the USA which has recently been
awarded an $8,000,000 contract for the
supply of diagnostics. His management
andsystems ensure CIGA meets strict
international regulatory rules and still makes
deliveries on time and within budget.
www.cigahealthcare.com
@armstrong_allan
Lindsay Workman (36)
Director Luxe Day Spa
Lindsay is a 36 year old mother of two who
opened a luxury Day Spa in a recession.
Having been in the beauty industry for 20
years, the time was right to go it alone. We are
situated in the heart of the Clandeboye Estate
ownde by Lady Dufferin. Where I always
managed spas that gave excellent treatments
and customer services the location was
always high street. We now have a purpose
built luxury spa in the heart of the
countryside. Bliss. We offer cutting edge
brands which are at the forefront of the
beauty industry. I lead a team of highly
experienced therapists who are all over 30!
We think outside the box and our customer is
always priority. Make up is my passion and I
have an unhealthy obsession with eyebrows.
My aim is to make Bangor a more beautiful
place, and with my team, its happening!!!
www.luxedayspa.co.uk
@Luxedayspalove
Gemma Caldwell
business in 2011 called Yoink Discount aimed
at students and businesses in her local area.
She is currently working in the Bayview Hotel
as Marketing, Conferences and Wedding Coordinator, while focusing on increasing
revenue and occupancy rates and specialising
in social media. Gemma’s future holds many
possibilities including hotel ownership and
consultancy work within the hospitality
industry. She was also nominated for the
Local Woman Female Entrepreneur of the
Year 2013. www.bayviewhotelni.com
Lisa McLIlvenna [30]
Deputy Managing Director, Business in the
Community, Northern Ireland
Lisa is passionate about responsible business.
Specialising in supporting companies to
achieve best practice in Corporate
Responsibility (CR), she has led Business in
the Community, Northern Ireland to achieve
its highest ever levels of membership. Lisa
believes business is a force for good, and has
driven the creation and implementation of a
range of impactful programmes including
GAP (Graduate Acceleration Programme) and
CORE: The standard for responsible business.
Lisa lectures on CR and governance at an
undergraduate, postgraduate and MBA level
and her research has been recognised both
nationally and internationally. She is a
Trustee of Artemis Schools NI
Robert Bodill [35]
CEO and Founder of Jyrobike
Jyrobike is an exciting new company based in
Holywood, who design and manufacture the
worlds only range of Auto Balance Bicycles.
Using patented gyroscope technology, each
Jyrobike contains a powered control hub in
the front wheel. When turned on, it helps
keep the rider brilliantly balanced even if they
Gemma Caldwell (27)
Allan Armstrong
Marketing Co-Ordinator , Bayview Hotel
Gemma is a graduate of Queen Margaret
University, Edinburgh with a BA (Honours) in
Events Management. She started up her first
Lisa McIlvenna
www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
21
Robert Bodill
tip or wobble. Bodill discovered this
interesting invention unfolding in San
Francisco, USA in 2011 and became the
product distributor for the entire EU. He
immediately advanced the US product,
originally named Gyrowheel, by developing a
complete children’s three in one balance bike.
A year later Bodill successfully negotiated the
purchase of the global intellectual property,
bringing significant inventive technology,
global patents and future export benefits to
the Northern Irish economy. Bodill has
secured initial seed funding from a group of
angel and institutional investors, built a head
office team in NI, a sales office in the US,
commissioned a R&D project to develop a
vastly improved Jyrobike Version 2 and plans
on a global launch in May 2014 via crowd
funding platform Kickstarter.
www. jyrobike.com
Stuart Carson [35]
Director of Sales, Rainbow
Communications
Stuart started working for mobile phone
network Orange before joining Rainbow
Communications, Northern Ireland’s largest
independent business telecoms company over
13 years ago. Working his way up through the
company, including heading the Account
Management team for four years, he was
appointed Director of Sales and Marketing in
2011. Rainbow Communications now have 80
employees in Northern Ireland and Scotland,
with 5,500 public and private sector clients
across the UK. Stuart heads a team which
Stuart Carson
supplies telecoms requirements to over 40 per
cent of Northern Ireland’s Top 200.
www.rainbowtele.com
Anthony Sinton[34]
Director of Sales, Business First
Tony is originally from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
and took up a post in Dungannon straight
from University at Philip Rogers Design
where he specialised in hotel and leisure
design and was able to work on projects such
as Slieve Russell Hotel and the Grand Opera
House. He decided to start his own business
with a partner in April 2008. They started
business with help from friends and family,
and were lucky enough to secure an small
office space in North Down Development
Organisation. They have since moved into
their new purpose built office andshowroom
and have developed a large client base
ranging from the BBC to Frankfurt Airport to
shopping centers in Jordan (Middle East).
www.creativecommercialinteriors.com
by Maurice Boyd, Managing Director,
Abbey Bond Lovis, sponsors of 40
under 40
Anthony Sinton
Have you developed
your generousity
gene?
by Peter Martin, Director Development
At the Institute of Director 2013 Annual
Convention American business sage and
former head of GE, Jack Welch, talked about
“the generosity gene” as being essential for
those wishing to reach the top – he said those
who help others along for no immediate
personal benefit tend to do very well and
those who are not so generous only get so far
and then their careers stop.
So it is important as one is working one’s
way up the tree to find someone above who
has that generosity gene – the person who
will give advice, put you on special projects,
propose that you go on training programmes
22 www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
If you want to
develop
leadership
potential in your
team - give
them a PEP talk
Peter Martin
etc. That person might be your boss – but
perhaps even better it they are your boss’s
boss! Good too if you can learn from good
examples of how to approach work – too
often we see bad management and learn from
that –but that is a bit like learning to drive by
constantly crashing –not ideal as you are
perpetually bruised!
So you’ve got a good team of intelligent,
driven people, but you want a team of
intelligent, driven leaders?
At Abbey Bond Lovis, we have given a group
of employees the chance of their own ‘startup’ with the Prince’s Trust Million Makers
programme. In addition to raising money for
the Prince’s Trust, they are quickly learning
the challenges and rewards of being in control
without any of the risk.
But, without access to such a scheme, how
can an ordinary business create leaders of the
future?
A PEP talk is a a great way to start: Plan short, medium and long term, think it over,
write it down and keep looking at it.
Empathise - people aren’t machines.
You need to understand their thought
processes and their individual circumstances
to gain their trust and motivate them to
succeed. Perspective With heavy admin burdens, or unpleasant
internal politics, talented people can easily
walk. Regular one-to-ones will keep them
focused and see beyond the frustrations of the
daily grind.