sync ni magazine - winter 2013

Northern Ireland’s Tech & Business Community

WINTER 2013

Issue 12GET INVITED 06DOKOO DIGITAL 08GENDER BALANCE 16SEEDCORN AWARDS 17

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www.syncni.com visit us online Northern Ireland’s Tech & Business Community

Web Summit 2013

10 Q-Con XXINot Just Your Average Convention

14 MATRIXThe growth of the NI economy

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3SYNCNI MAGAZINE WINTER 2013

As Lord Mayor of the great city of Belfast, it gives me great pleasure to open this foreword.

As with most cities around the world, global economic conditions have and continue to impact significantly on our local business, communities and residents and we at Belfast City Council have set ourselves the challenge to do what we can to battle this recession.

Supporting the development of the city and its local businesses – and especially those working in the fields of technology, science and innovation - is a role the council takes seriously. This is no more evident than in our support for the development of the creative industries, which is a key focus in our economic development plans over the coming years. This was shown by the recent, highly successful tech mission to Silicon Valley, via which we exposed 20 of our most exciting young start ups directly to one of their key marketplaces: the mission is already starting to reap results, and I look forward to sharing some very good news stories in the near future.

Last year, we announced our most ambitious programme of support to date - our £150 million Investment Programme, which outlines how we will contribute to

Welcome to the Winter edition of the Sync NI magazine

foreword from Mairtin-O-Muilleoir, Belfast City Lord Mayor

Northern Ireland’s Tech & Business Community

CONTENT & EDITORIALEmma LeahyEmail: [email protected]: 028 90820944

ADVERTISING Sales and Advertising:Nicola McNairPhone: 028 90820941 Email: [email protected]

Caoimhe McKennaPhone: 02890820942Email: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS Email: [email protected]

GENERAL ENQUIRIES Sync NINorthern Ireland Science ParkQueen’s IslandBelfastBT3 9DT Phone: 028 90820944 Email: [email protected] Website: www.syncni.com

COPYRIGHTNo part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the copyholder and publisher. SyncNi accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of SyncNi , unless otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress associated to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this magazine can be accepted by the authors, contributors, editors or publishers. SyncNi does not endorse any goods or services advertised, nor any claims or representations made in any advertisement in this magazine. The recruitment agencies listed are acting as employment agencies on behalf of their clients.

the growth and revitalisation of the city, by supporting the local economy and providing the appropriate investment in the city’s infrastructure.

To date, one of the significant achievements has been securing £13 million to make Belfast a super-connected city, which aims to make Belfast one of the top cities in Europe in relation to ultrafast broadband access and availability, providing local businesses greater access to new global opportunities.

We are also developing plans to establish a creative hub facility in the Cathedral Quarter area, which will provide flexible workspace to accommodate start-ups and micro businesses (working in the key sectors of film, television, music and digital content) who are developing their own creative intellectual property.

As a city, we are fortunate to have a young population, a highly skilled workforce and a plethora of creative SMEs making their mark in the global media industry: be it the creation of groundbreaking children’s television programming to state of the art animation and visual FX, Belfast is home to a new breed of creative entrepreneurs, proving that the years 2013 – 2020 have the potential to be the most exciting in our city’s history.

Mairtin-O-MuilleoirBelfast City Lord Mayor

4 SYNCNI MAGAZINE WINTER 2013

03 Foreword06 Start up - Get Invited08 Start up - Dokoo Digital09 Weaving a new heritage10 Q-Con XXI12 Web Summit 2013 14 Matrix - NI economy16 Tapping into All your Talent17 IntertradeIreland Seedcorn Awards18 New innovative thinking by EDF19 BNI - £10 million trade20 Business property22 Upcoming Events

0812

16

10

14

Contents

19


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Get Invited (http://getinvited.to) is a beautifully designed web service for online ticket sales and event management. It enables event organisers to

seamlessly sell tickets, promote events and perform post-event analysis.

WHAT DIFFERENTIATES YOU FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?Our competitors restrict event organisers to pre-event

activities such as ticket sales, offering very little value to event organisers and attendees, during or after events.

Get Invited changes this, providing a service for the entire life-cycle of an event. Our new social timeline tracks online social activity around an event, so attendees can view all of the conversations, photos and videos around an event in real-time. These features offer huge value to event organisers for performing detailed post- event analysis,

allowing them to gain insight into customer feedback and reactions.

As a company, we are intensely focused on creating beautifully designed and engaging user experiences. Our product is focused on ease of use, and it works perfectly across all devices, offering a seamless experience on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers. This allows event organisers to manage their activity on the move and enable customers to purchase tickets on the go.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO DATE?David and myself recently graduated from the University

of Ulster’s MFA Multidisciplinary Design course. Although the course is business-focused, running a company has been a huge learning curve, but we’ve learned a great deal in a short period of time, and received a tremendous amount

Get Invited?What is


of support along the way.

WHAT SUPPORT HAS THE UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER PROVIDED YOU WITH?

During our time on the MFA we received a huge amount of support from our course director, Christopher Murphy, who is a co-founder of Get Invited. Christopher goes above and beyond his role as a lecturer to help his students, and we are very privileged to have him as a mentor.

We’ve also received an enormous amount of support from Innovation Ulster Ltd. In particular from CEO, Tim Brundle. Tim has provided business mentoring and opened many doors for us, he is always on hand to provide advice and help which has been hugely beneficial and reassuring. The University have also invested in Get Invited, which has played a pivotal role in getting the company off the ground.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS IN FIVE YEARS TIME?

We’d love to see Get Invited become a global brand. Our goal is £100 million of gross ticket sales in 2018, but of course, we’d like to sell even more tickets.

It’s a ‘David and Goliath’ situation as we’re competing head-to-head with Eventbrite, a very dominant force in the market. This provides a great deal of motivation

for us, especially coming from Northern Ireland. We’re passionate about building the reputation of our country and demonstrating that local companies can compete on a global stage.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING CURRENTLY IN THE PIPELINE?We recently closed a £175,000 investment deal which

is enabling us to pursue a lot of exciting plans. We’ve just hired our first employee, who is now leading product design and we’ll be further growing our team over the coming months.

We’re also very excited about our recent launch. We’re now officially open for business, so if you’re an event organiser looking for a beautifully designed, easy- to-use online ticketing solution, you should sign up today: http://getinvited.to

GET INVITED SYNC NI ARTICLE

WHAT IS GET IN

VITED?

Get Invite

d (http://g

etinvite

d.to) is

a beautifully designed web service fo

r online

ticket sales and event management. It

enables event organisers to

seamlessly sell

tickets, promote events and perform

post-event a

nalysis.

WHAT DIFFERENTIATES YOU FROM YOUR COMPETITORS?

Our competito

rs restric

t event o

rganisers to pre-event a

ctivities such as tic

ket

sales, offering very litt

le value to event o

rganisers and attendees, d

uring or a

fter

events.

Get Invite

d changes this, providing a service fo

r the entire

life-cycle of a

n event.

Our new social tim

eline tracks online social activity around an event, s

o attendees

can view all of th

e conversations, photos and videos around an event in

real-tim

e.

This features offers huge value to

event organisers fo

r perfo

rming detailed post-

event analysis, allowing th

em to gain insight in

to customer feedback and re

actions.

As a company, we are intensely fo

cused on creating beautifu

lly designed and

engaging user experie

nces. Our p

roduct is fo

cused on ease of use, and it w

orks

perfectly across all d

evices, offering a seamless experie

nce on smartphones, ta

b-

lets and desktop computers. This allows event organisers to

manage th

eir activity

on the m

ove and enable customers to purchase tic

kets on the go.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO DATE?

David and myself r

ecently graduated from th

e University of Ulster’s M

FA Multid

isci-

plinary Design course. Alth

ough the course is business-fo

cused, running a com-

pany has been a huge learning curve, but w

e’ve learned a great deal in

a short

period of tim

e, and received a tre

mendous amount of support a

long the way.

WHAT SUPPORT HAS THE UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER PROVIDED

YOU WITH?

During our ti

me on the M

FA we received a huge amount o

f support from our

course director, C

hristopher Murphy, w

ho is a co-founder o

f Get In

vited. C

hristo-

pher goes above and beyond his ro

le as a lecturer to help his students, and we

are very privileged to have him as a m

entor.

We’ve also received an enorm

ous amount of support f

rom Innovation Ulster Ltd.

In particular fr

om CEO, Tim Brundle. Tim has provided business mentorin

g and

opened many doors fo

r us, he is always on hand to

provide advice and help which

has been hugely beneficial and reassurin

g. The University have also invested in

Get Invite

d, which has played a pivotal ro

le in getting th

e company off the ground.

Get Invite

d Ltd.

Midtown Business Center

25 Talbot Stre

et

Belfast

BT1 2LD


Do Go for Dokoo Digital! Andy Hill Discusses Running his Digital Agency

Isetup Dokoo Digital in January 2013 with the vision to provide digital marketing services that produced results for my clients. I am from a marketing background, I am

on the board of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and I ran a successful advertising agency for many years. I have been using digital marketing from an early age setting up communities on MySpace and Bebo that had thousands of connections.

I located our office in Holywood, which is a thriving scene for the creative and digital industry. I called the new company Dokoo Digital and I employed Matt and Peadar within the first of month at Dokoo. Matt is a software developer who specializes in building enterprise software and has a keen eye for detail. Peadar was brought on as project manager to become the point of contact for several of our accounts.

Dokoo’s USP is simple; we have built up huge communities online across various social networks. We possess over 100,000 fans/likes/connections across our own pages and this number doesn’t even include the accounts we manage for our clients. At Dokoo we love building communities, we enjoy taking a Facebook page from a couple of hundred likes to a couple of thousand engaged users in a few months.

Our clients include national tourist authorities, recruitment companies, tech start-ups, premier league football clubs, global law firms, medical device companies and software companies to name but a few. We have managed projects across the UK, USA and Australia. At Dokoo we don’t look at our market as N.Ireland, we look at our market as global.

We offer services such as managed social media, social

Andy Hill, Dokoo Digital

media training and social media consultancy. Any marketing activities that plan to use social media we can add value to.

One of the key components of social media that we love talking about is story telling. In Northern Ireland we are lucky to have produced such literary greats as CS Lewis, Seamus Heaney and Samuel Becket. Telling stories is in our DNA. If you travel around the world you will always meet someone who is from Northern Ireland and has a story to tell. Story telling works well in social media, as people want to hear good news, they like hearing information about how a company has grown or new contracts it has won. By story telling we don’t mean writing reams of text, it can be a story in a 140 character tweet that delivered at the right time can engage large audiences.

What next in 2014 for Dokoo? Over the past few months we have spent more time outside NI and that looks to continue in 2014 with London being a location we find ourselves in every couple of weeks.

For more information on Dokoo and what we do go to www.dokoo.com


N orthern Ireland’s weaving heritage could see a 21st century revival

thanks to a pioneering 3D weaving process which produces parts for boats, buses, aircraft, tanks and wind turbines.

University of Ulster spin-out Axis Composites, one of only six organisations in the world that has the capability to weave 3D carbon fibre, has just installed a bespoke 3D weaving loom.

”Just when traditional weaving is all but finished in Belfast, we are starting it up again to produce high performance materials and create new high quality jobs,” said Dr Alistair McIlhagger, Research and Development Director.

”We are now able to manufacture prototype 3D fabrics and build 21st century technologies for aircraft, space vehicles and surveillance drones on the back of hundreds of years of Ulster’s industrial weaving heritage.”

Dr McIlhagger, a Reader at the University of Ulster, was speaking at Frontiers in Science & Technology, a lecture series which aims to enhance dialogue between the business community and NI’s leading scientists, engineers and researchers.

The event, run by the NI Science Park CONNECT programme, was held

Weaving a new heritage… moving Frontiersbefore an audience of hi tech experts at the NI Advanced Composites and Engineering Centre in Belfast, where Axis Composites is based.

Dr Norman Apsley, Chief Executive of NI Science Park, said: ”If we are to grow the Northern Ireland economy into one of the leading knowledge economies in Europe, we need to connect the dots between theory, practical use and commercialisation. That’s the ultimate aim of all the NISP programmes.”

Research by Axis Composites, which spun out of the University of Ulster two years ago, shows that 3D composite is significantly lighter and stronger than 2D reinforced epoxy laminates. The impact resistance is also dramatically improved.

Until recently, the company concentrated on advanced modelling techniques for its prototype designs and trade studies which demonstrate the productivity advantages that could be realised on adoption of the technology.

However, they recently commissioned a 3D weaving loom to manufacture prototype 3D fabrics and demonstrate the advanced performance properties of these hi-tech textiles. ”We are planning to revolutionise the world of carbon fibre, which can now be woven into

a multitude of widths, thicknesses, patterns and strengths to create new product shapes from materials which are stronger and lighter than metal,” said Dr McIlhagger.

”Composites from 3D fabrics are

also highly resistant to damage and that makes them very appealing to manufacturers with strength and weight challenges - and that means not just aircraft companies, but boats, buses, wind turbines and lorries too.

”In addition, 3D weaving means some of the traditional conservatisms can be reduced, including the cost of manufacturing, while our new loom gives Axis Composites an important new capability in becoming a volume fabric producer.”

NISP CONNECTNISP CONNECT is an independent,

non-profit organisation that supports the development of innovative technologies and early stage companies through a series of educational seminars, mentorship programmes, capital competitions, and public policy advocacy

A joint effort between the Northern Ireland’s academic research base, the University of Ulster, Queens University Belfast, AFBI (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute), and Northern Ireland’s private sector, the CONNECT programmes are designed to facilitate a culture of collaboration between the region’s highest quality science and technology entrepreneurs, research institutions, professional services providers and investors.

NISP CONNECT is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland 2007 – 2013.


Q-Con XXI: Not Just Your Average Convention…”By fans, for fans – an amateur convention run to professional standards”

Situated in the esteemed buildings of the Queen’s University, Belfast, the Q-Con Gaming and Anime Convention has grown explosively over the past

decade. Now, moving into the event’s 21st year of operation, Q-Con can proudly boast its position as the premier event of its kind in the UK and Ireland.

Q-Con exists as a multi-faceted cult entertainment hub – encompassing a large array of console and computer games, traditional tabletop gaming, anime screenings and workshops, and genre based educational talks.

Utilising the captive audience, Q-Con has steadily expanded an ever popular trade hall which attracts traders from across the UK and Ireland. Along with this, Q-Con has nurtured the local creative hobby environment with a rapidly expanding ‘Artists’ Alley’ which included an array of 40 unique and independent, genre linked, small businesses. Q-Con has succeeded by opening its doors to all forms of cult entertainment. What’s more, Q-Con operates with the drive to keep prices as low as possible – giving attendees the maximum value possible for their entrance fee.

Demographically speaking, Q-Con holds a 60/40 Male/Female gender ration and is predominantly attended (50%) by the 18-24 age range. A further 20% of attendance falls into the 25-34 category. Unlike many other conventions, Q-Con recognises the value of including young people under the age of 18 and encourage our younger fans (and their guardians) to attend the convention – accounting for another 20% of attendee numbers.

Q-Con’s commitment to attendee experience, low costs and providing as much inclusion as possible sets it apart from other conventions in the UK and Ireland. Q-Con’s success is demonstrated by a footfall of over 7000 during the event, and an ever-enthusiastic online fan base.

Surprisingly, this success has not been achieved with a high degree of financial support and sponsorship. Q-Con has always existed as a volunteer led operation and it has succeeded as a product of the diligence, determination and dedication of its entire volunteer staff.

At the top level, Q-Con is driven by a team of directors who sacrifice 10-15 hours, weekly, to plan the management and operation of the event. These individuals come from a diverse range of backgrounds – Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Sales and Marketing, and even the occasional Archaeologist. This broad spectrum of livelihoods forms a team of directors who complement each other, building upon strengths and bolstering weaknesses that arise.

Directors, however skilled they may be, cannot accomplish such success alone. They rely on the help and experience of a committee of around twenty volunteers, each of which provide up to 5 hours a week of individual preparation for various aspects of the convention. In turn, these committee members are tasked with providing middle management during the convention, where a volunteer staff force of c. 70 individuals work to keep Q-Con moving.

By operating a smooth chain of command and the appropriate delegation of tasks, Q-Con’s volunteers can ensure the entropic nature of 3000 attendees can be manage and nurtured by less than a total of 100 volunteers.

So, what are some of the challenges faced by Q-Con – both past, present and future? Difficult situations can


always arise, regardless of preparation; whether it is technical malfunctions, physical and/or emotional matters, housekeeping or crime. For Q-Con, the first major step in addressing any sort of incident is to know the people you work with. The event ensures that all volunteers are trained to an effective standard, so, regardless of the challenge, everyone is capable of taking the correct action to resolve the matter. To be successful in this respect, Q-Con operates a two-way relationship with volunteers – acquiring a broad spectrum of volunteers and nurturing the individual’s capabilities.

Should the volunteer wish to take on a more demanding role, the directors will support this desire, helping the volunteer find a position that suits their background and capabilities. Should the volunteer be an ‘enthusiastic helper,’ Q-Con endeavour to place them in an area of the convention that best suits their interests - a happy working environment is a productive working environment! Ultimately, anyone who volunteers with Q-Con is welcome to ask for advice and support regarding their role and, where possible, job references and what career advice the directors can impart.

Presently, the challenges faced by Q-Con surround the development for the upcoming event. Primarily this task involves acquiring room bookings, sourcing funding and sponsorship opportunities and encouraging new individuals to join the volunteer ‘family.’

At director level, careers develop and individuals must move on – no longer being able to devote time they once had. As such, it is imperative to constantly be on the lookout for individuals with a broad level of professional and life experience who have the enthusiasm to help drive Q-Con into the future. At committee level, there is a much more dynamic level of individual commitment. Here, long term contribution is advantageous but not necessary. Some volunteers have been with the event in excess of 10 years and such continued support is invaluable.

Naturally, Q-Con welcomes anyone who is keen to join the team. If you feel you have experiences and abilities that will help keep Q-Con dynamic, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Financially speaking, Q-Con does not operate for profit. The event exists as a result of capital generated via self-funding exercises, as opposed to awarded grant money. Therefore, any profit is reinvested into provisions for future Q-Con events. As such, Q-Con is always available for corporate sponsorship to help keep the event on the leading edge of the convention circuit.

In previous years, Q-Con has been supported by BT, Microsoft and Digital Circle – each of which has contributed

to prizes or the promotion of education in the creative industries. Associated with such funding, Q-Con runs a series of lightning talks based on creativity and media, as inspired by TED. The aptly named Q-ED talks, attracts industry professionals, from a variety of genres, to discuss their work, experiences and tips for other professionals, those career beginners, and enthusiasts alike. Where we can build our funding sources for such events, Q-Con and Q-ED helps to develop the creative industries at the ground level.

Should you, or your company wish to consider supporting Q-Con in this manner, the event can offer an ever growing targeted public audience and social media presence. As a result of having such a specific audience, Q-Con is proud to have developed a media partnership with SyncNI. Naturally, both groups will be keen to work with sponsors who wish to avail of our bright future.

As we prepare for Q-Con XXI and for years beyond, the directors strive to keep Q-Con growing – providing the highest quality entertainment that money and time can buy. By keeping abreast of our fans’ desires and the dynamic convention market, Q-Con aspires to provide continued greatness in the heart of Belfast.

Q-Con XXIWhen: 20th – 22nd June 2014Where: Queen’s University BelfastWebsite: www.q-con.org.uk Twitter: @qub_qconEmail: [email protected]


On October 30—31st something special happened in Dublin, for a couple of days the city played host to some of the most innovative minds from around the

world. Dublin became the focus of the technology world when over 10,000 delegates arrived at the Dublin Web Summit. With a line-up of more than 350 distinguished speakers and the attendance of nearly 900 early-stage startups The Summit was one of the highlights of our calendar. We want to share some of the best bits of the two day extravaganza, it was difficult to compile our favourite list as there was so much going on but these are the talks and companies that stood out for us!

Gary Vaynerchuk took to the stage on Wednesday, his talk was hotly anticipated and there was a palpable shift towards the Main Stage as his slot approached. Let’s just say we were not disappointed, his talk was concise, inspirational and filled with realistic advice, all presented in his unique style! Gary Vaynerchuk is an entrepreneur, bestselling author and a social media expert, he rebranded his family business as Wine Library, boosting revenue from $4 million to £60 million. In 2009 he went on to co-found social media brand consulting agency, VaynerMedia. Gary focussed on how to succeed in the saturated startup market, he highlighted the huge competition that a startup will face and advised that ”the biggest differentiator is your work ethic”. His recipe for success in technology included

Web Summit 2013: All the Craic!

two main ingredients “execution and patience“ he went on to say ”If you and your team have the ability to execute your idea then you will win”. Gary emphasised that although your idea has to be good, it is how you act upon it that will determine your success.

The other speaker that really stood out for us was a surprise, that’s what we love about the Web Summit, discovering the little gems. The speaker was Lars Silberbauer the Global Director of Social Media at LEGO, Lars presented on the Library stage on Wednesday afternoon. Lego are known for their fun, visual and engaging social media strategy, their strategy is centred on conversing with their customer base and providing a place where people can share their


Lego creations. When developing a social media strategy, Lars encouraged us to consider both customer needs and company strategy. This is an area where Lego have excelled, their “Brickmented“ reality campaign capitalised on the value of an emotional bond between a product and customer.

Lars also emphasised the importance of responding to real-time across your social media platform, Lego have again and again capitalised on this, many of their tweets have gone viral because of their relevance to what is happening in the world. Like Gary Vaynerchuk, Lars stressed the importance of your work ethic, he stated ”don’t just invest your money, invest in yourself”.

The unique attraction of the Web Summit is its focus on startups, with so many industry experts, designers, founders and investors in one location, everyone is looking to make connections. With such a diverse selection of promising startups to choose from it was pretty tough narrowing down our top picks!

ViddyAD: Viddyad is the world’s first cloud based video ad creation tool, with access to over 10m + videos and images to choose from. They say ‘We’re the platform, you’re the producer’, Viddyad allows you to create a video commercial in seconds for use online, through social media, blogs or websites. This company is set to make it big, they were arguably the startup of the Web Summit winning the 2013 ESB Spark of Genius award.

FabAllThings: FabAllThings is a social design platform that puts the power of making in the hands of designers and consumers. The startup use new trends in manufacturing, like 3d printing, to make product creation easy, fast and social. They managed to get to the finals of PITCH, the €500k Startup contest at the Web Summit. They were the only Irish startup and the only female-led startup to make it to the finals!

Vintagers: Vintagers is a one stop shop for lovers of all things vintage, providing a platform from which enthusiasts can sell and share. Only 5% of vintage business is on the web and the rest is on the streets, this startup is aiming to capitalise on this gap in the market. At the Web Summit these guys definitely stood out amongst all the men in suits and their enthusiasm and passion for what they do was infectious. We loved them!

Juke: Have you ever been to a place and have really wanted to change the song? Well look no further than Juke, the app that allows you to control the music around you! This virtual jukebox allows customers to choose a song from a playlist that has been preselected by say the bar or

restaurant owner.

Table Crowd: TableCrowd is a real life social network where you can meet people over food for business networking, common interests, romance or friendship. People join ‘crowds’ that interest them (e.g. startups or new to town) and then members of the ‘crowd’ organise dinners for the group to meet offline in restaurants. With TableCrowd, users turn online connections into real life relationships.

AllSquare: Designed by golfers for golfers, All Square is engineered to bring golfers together from all parts of the world connecting people who share the same passion for the beauty of the game. They do this through their platform which acts essentially as a social network and trip advisor for golfers allowing golfers to connect and share their experiences on and off the course.

Eliademy: Eliademy is an online classroom that allows educators and students to create, share and manage courses for free. The simplistic interface of Eliademy engages the 21st century teacher and student by providing them with new ways of creating courses, viewing course materials and receiving notifications.

The Web Summit surely has to be the ultimate startup

success story, since its humble beginnings in 2010 when 500 people attended, it has ballooned to an event which attracted 10,000 delegates from across the globe. It has now established itself as one of the must attend events for startups and tech companies. The chance to connect with people from around the world who have a shared passion for innovation clearly has a powerful lure and The Summit’s success will continue to be built on this. We had a fantastic time this year and look forward to The Summit 2014!


Over the past two decades Northern Ireland’s industrial landscape has changed from traditional manufacturing base to more knowledge-led industries, dominated by indigenous micro, small and medium sized enterprises. These companies are the lifeblood of our economy but MATRIX, the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel believes that for these companies to drive economic growth in the future, there needs to be a shift in emphasis to innovation and R&D and this requires companies to exploit their intellectual capital effectively.

Encompassing the key categories of human capital, intellectual assets and intellectual property contained within industry – understanding just how companies use their intellectual capital for sustainable competitive advantage is an area which MATRIX identified as requiring greater understanding, by industry, policy makers and business support agencies. In response the

MATRIX Report into the Exploitation of Intellectual Capital by SMEs in Northern Ireland has been produced.

The report gives an insight into the level of awareness of intellectual capital amongst Northern Ireland’s SMEs and makes recommendations on how best to support them to maximise it. It found that while most of Northern Ireland companies are aware of and understand intellectual capital, fewer understand how to best capture, manage and improve it. It also reports that while SMEs realise the importance of working collaboratively, mistrust is a key factor that prevents companies undertaking it. As a result, market opportunities are being lost and Northern Ireland continues to lag behind other parts of the UK and other countries.

Raising the awareness and importance of intellectual capital at all levels within companies is one of the main recommendations in the report and it advises adopting the use of Intellectual Capital Statements to complement balance sheets.

These statements have been used successfully in other EU countries and in Germany, they are regarded as being highly advantageous in aiding investor decision-making. It also advocates increasing the amount and level of training in the area of intellectual capital and in particular enhancing the training tools currently available to SMEs which allow businesses to exploit their intellectual capital.

To encourage further collaboration, the report suggests creating frameworks which will enable companies to work collaboratively and in particular it addresses the need for guidelines for joint working, encourage uptake of partnership agreements and develop and improve SME collaboration skills.

One of the roles of MATRIX is to advise Northern Ireland government on the skills and support required to grow Northern Ireland as a region dominated with high-tech and innovative companies. It has identified a number of sectors in which Northern Ireland excels and this MATRIX report on intellectual capital can be used to influence future initiatives which support businesses from all sectors exploit new market opportunities, both at home and globally. However responsibility for the implementation of these actions contained will fall to all stakeholders- SME’s, public sector organisations, academia and the NI government and the result will be the catalyst for driving innovation - new products and services delivered quickly and efficiently.

So, the race is now on for our local business to exploit their intellectual capital, show their innovative side and distinguish themselves from the competition.

This report was undertaken by the MATRIX Intellectual Capital (IC) Panel, which is a sub-committee of the MATRIX panel. It is available at www.matrix-ni.org

MATRIX Chairman Bryan Keating explains why the growth of the NI

economy is dependent on business developing and exploiting their intellectual capital.

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Gender Balance is not a “women’s issue”. There is much evidence to show that gender balance is a Business Opportunity, positively affecting Organisational Performance

The issueResearch indicates that female talent is underestimated

& underutilised due to, among other factors, stereotyping and unconscious bias. Women need to perform significantly better than their male counterparts to be seen as equally competent. Research at Stanford uncovered alarming differences in the %s of men and women with identical CVs deemed worthy of hire. For men, there is a positive correlation between success & likeability; for women, the opposite tends to hold true. Sometimes, women opt out because the responsibility of caring for children & aged parents still resides primarily with them & it is just too difficult to juggle work & family in a work environment designed for the male breadwinner model.

Women & men behave & communicate differently – for example: Women underestimate how good they are; Women don’t ask & they don’t publicise their achievements & aspirations.

Women hold only 10% of executive level roles in Europe. They earn, on average, 12.6% less than men.

Why it matters Society is missing out on the opportunity that gender

diversity offers. Numerous studies indicate a positive relationship between the number of women at senior management/board level & organisational performance. Women demonstrate more transformational leadership, characterised by establishing oneself as a role model by gaining trust and confidence, which is connected with greater effectiveness. Inclusion of women brings a different perspective and given that 80% of consumer decisions are now made by women, involving women makes sense.

Feeling underutilised & underestimated reduces motivation & performance, and is a further reason why some opt out. An EC Study reported that Diversity Programmes led to higher productivity due to improved motivation & efficiency, & attraction & retention of more highly talented people. Gender Balance programmes should benefit everyone. Men suffer from the stereotype that they should be breadwinners – it’s still much more difficult for

them to step off the career ladder or work part-time, if they so choose.

Finally, given that 60% of graduates in developed countries are now women, it is an extraordinary waste of talent if they do not progress and fulfil their potential

6 Things Organisations Can Do • Treat Gender Balance as a Business Issue, not a Women’s Issue - Full CEO support and being driven by business units rather than HR helps to change the messaging.• Engage Men and Women - Historically, women have initiated, managed and been the beneficiaries of gender initiatives, but men still hold the majority of senior positions and hence the power to implement change. Better work/life balance will benefit all employees, male and female. • Facilitate open, non-judgemental dialogue…….so that all, female and male, can be heard and have an opportunity to voice their experiences, their concerns and their aspirations. • Education - Raise awareness further among employees about the business case, the benefits of and the barriers to gender balance.• Address Unconscious Bias - Measures can include establishing and scrutinising clear evaluation criteria, being transparent, challenging one’s own decisions with “What if?” thinking and endorsing the competence of female leaders• Group Coaching to sustain dialogue and action - Formalise groups to facilitate the creation of action plans and provide ongoing group coaching to sustain dialogue and action.

Mary Carroll is the founder of “Double X“, offering a series of programmes promoting gender balance in the workplace as a business opportunity. For further information, see www.doublex.ie

Tapping into All your Talent – Gender Balance in the Workplace

NI Early Stage Regional Winner, See.Sense.

C SYNCNI MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 17

G alway companies Westway Health and Element Software were

named as Best Early Stage company and New Start company respectively at InterTradeIreland’s 11th annual all-island Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition. The winners were announced at the grand final of the competition at Clontarf Castle in Dublin. Westway Health as Best Early Stage company will take away a cash prize of €100,000 and Element Software wins €50,000 as the Best New Start company.

Two Northern Ireland companies were also recognised at the Awards. Belfast-based Blow Moulding Technologies and See.Sense from Newtownards each won €20,000 as the Northern Ireland regional winners in the Best New Start and Best Early-stage categories respectively. Their recognition at the Awards brings the total prize money secured by Northern Ireland companies in the Competition to date to €645,000.

Seedcorn is the island’s largest business competition for new start and early stage companies in any sector, from any part of the island. The competition, aimed at companies who have a new equity funding requirement, has an overall total cash prize fund of €280,000. To date, InterTradeIreland has supported over 1,950 enterprising companies through the Seedcorn process with previous finalists going on to secure more than €174 million worth of equity.

Speaking at the final, Thomas Hunter McGowan, CEO, InterTradeIreland said: ”To be truly investor ready, it’s not all about the pitch and having a perfect presentation; the proposition, the substance behind it and the team are all key for potential investors.

Westway Health and Element Software triumph at the 11th annual InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Competition

Seedcorn provides young companies, who are at a critical stage of their development, the opportunity to really put their proposition to the test.

This year we opened our master classes to all the 24 companies that were taking part in the regional finals, which was a valuable opportunity for them. Not only does this give companies an opportunity to test their proposition robustly but it also starts them off on the journey to learn from the experience of those that have already ‘been there, done that’.

”Both Westway Health and Element Software have overcome extremely tough competition throughout the Seedcorn process and their success highlights that they are the bright stars for the future. The team at InterTradeIreland and I sincerely congratulate them both and we look forward to working with them and watching them grow.”

The Seedcorn competition imitates the real-life investment process and gives companies a valuable opportunity to put their business idea to the test and ensure that it

is investor- ready and stands up to external scrutiny.

Business plans received were initially assessed and short listed companies were subjected to a rigorous investment pitch process by a panel of judges made up of entrepreneurs, investors and business experts in competing for the Best New Start and Best Early Stage Company titles on a regional basis in Connacht & Leinster, Munster, Dublin and Northern Ireland. The regional winners in each category secured an initial €20,000 share of the prize fund for their company.

Finalist companies also benefit from being part of the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Network – an extensive business and investment community that helps boost their profile, contacts and future potential investment opportunities.

Further details are available via www.intertradeireland.com/seedcorn.

Follow the Seedcorn Competition on Twitter (@ITI_seedcorn #Seedcorn) or on LinkedIn (Seedcorn Network).


Ridgeway Renewables have successfully supplied the first “Kyowa Filter Units” from Japanese manufacturer Sumisho Kyowa Limited for offshore wind turbine monopile scour protection in Europe. Using a combination of the 4 & 8 tonne type units filled with specific aggregate in a circular formation around the monopile, engineers were able to achieve tough design criteria set for sea and wave conditions.

Filter Units offer virtually-no-maintenance scour performance protection by having a flexible structure. They are easy, safe and fast to install and are made from 61% recycled water bottles and offer a natural eco habitat for marine life when installed.

Ridgeway worked closely with the developer EDF Energy and the consulting engineer Ramboll, who were responsible for the scour protection design. Following many meetings with the design engineers and the TOWF project management the green light was given to utilise the innovative solution for scour protection on 11 of the 27 turbines.

EDF Energy Renewables awarded specialist engineering and solutions company, Marske Site Services (MSS) the vital role of turnkey installation contractor for the placement of the Filter Units. From this point Ridgeway Renewables were sub-contracted to supply and fill the filter units at the Port of Sunderland. MSS utilised the 7000te subsea construction vessel, the Maersk Responder to safely and accurately place the scour protection in the Tees Bay. This represented a tremendous example of business collaboration and cooperation to move a project like this along at a pace faster than normally associated with the largest projects in this sector.

With a limited working window, Ridgeway along with their quarries and filling contractor mobilised on site within days at The Port of Sunderland, commencing the filling operation on 18th March and completing in exactly one month. During this time Ridgeway and MSS maintained and operated a strict health and safety protocol on site working to the arranged dates to complete the quantity of filter units required to follow the vessel installation schedule.

The MSS Engineering team mobilised the vessel, coming up with a unique solution for safely transporting an extra-large load of filter bags, which combined with a 50% improvement in the time taken to complete each monopile.

Stephen Kane, MD of Ridgeway Renewables, said ”it took a significant amount of team effort to make this project happen and we are particularly pleased that collectively all businesses came together to deliver the project ahead of schedule and to the satisfaction of our clients”.

John McCullagh, MD of MSS, also commented ”Ridgeway and their friends from Japan have been great to work with. Together they’ve played a key role in establishing the benefits of this unique scour protection system over traditional rock dump and concrete methods into the market and have been instrumental in persuading the client and their design team to run with the system. They have proved their capability on the filling site in an efficient, safe and professional manner. We see a great future ahead for this product and the team now established”.

On completion of the work EDF Rnergy Renewables

Project Manager Tim Bland thanked the team at MSS for the ”brilliantly executed job”.

New innovative thinking on scour by EDF

C SYNCNI MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 19

A group of business men and women, based in Belfast City

Centre are celebrating success after securing £10 million pounds of trade between them over the past 12 months.

Despite the tough economic climate and more recent issues in the city centre, including an attempted bombing by dissident republicans and continuing loyalist protests, the business network is proving that standing shoulder to shoulder and supporting each other through hard times really works.

The 24 members of Business Networking International group, “BNI Erimus“, meet in the city centre each week, passing business between them; so far this year they’ve referred trade worth a staggering 10 million pounds amongst the team, ensuring that this money remains within the Northern Ireland economy.

Craig Dean, financial advisor and the group director says it is about sticking out the challenges together: ”We are really delighted with what we have achieved in supporting each other this year. It is no secret, it is a hard time for business and of course we are concerned about recent developments, particularly in Belfast. We want the public and indeed other businesses to know that we are staying positive, that we are strong, our members are on track for a prosperous Christmas, because we are helping each other to achieve that”.

Chapter members include representatives from established Northern Ireland business such as Randox Laboratories, JD Components and estate agents CPS, but it is also nurturing new companies, such

£10 million trade - Northern Ireland Businesses standing shoulder to shoulder

as that of Business Coach, Janice Muldoon of One Result, who has just relocated from Canada: ”My business is all about setting goals and helping others to achieve them. I’m from Northern Ireland originally and one of my goals was to set up back home, which I have done! Despite the challenges we are facing here in Belfast, I look at the success of my fellow members at BNI, who managed to come through the issues last Christmas, I’ve no doubt, that together, we can do it all again if we have to”.

Group Director, Craig Dean on BNISuccess as a member of BNI very

much comes down to the law of reciprocity – if I give you business, you will want to give me business in return. In BNI, we put it even more succinctly – “Giver’s Gain“.

Members meet each week and develop working relationships and friendships. The meetings give you the platform to literally ask for your ideal referral – you are not so much selling to the room, more through the room ”Who do you know, who would benefit

Craig Dean, group director of BNI Erimus with Janice Muldoon of One Result, BNI Erimus members Emily Bailey, Michael Osbourne, Ian Maylin, Natasha Sayee, Adrian Allen, John Moore, Rick Smith, Uel Campbell, Noel Rooney, Richard Hamilton and Hugh Burgess. Photograph by Neil Harrison.

from something I do?”Any BNI chapter can only have one

of any trade or profession therefore, by joining you are automatically locking out your competition whilst eliminating the potential for any conflicts of interest with fellow members.

Once a member, BNI offer a program of ongoing training to help members hone their presentation, networking and referral generating and referral spotting techniques.

Visitors are always welcome to attend meetings (assuming their category is not already taken within the group) and can come along up to twice before they are asked to decide whether or not they would like to apply for membership. If nothing else, visitors will have the opportunity to present to a room full of proactive, positive business owners and directors and of course there is the breakfast!

For more information contact Craig Dean, 07884 116411.

20 SYNCNI MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2013

Ben Collins, Director, RICS Northern Ireland

Property costs are one of the most significant expenses incurred by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and failure to take professional advice about how to manage them could cost businesses thousands of pounds.

A new guide from RICS (The Small Business Property

Guide) seeks to help. It includes advice on things like finding the right premises; business rates; tax allowances on property; rent reviews; valuations; and other issues.

Finding the right premises is obviously one of the key

things to do. Your business will be easier to run – and more profitable if you do this well. But unless you approach the search in a logical and organised way, and take advice where necessary, you risk overlooking some points which may turn out to be vital at a later stage, such as whether to buy or lease, planning permissions, and responsibility for repairs.

If your business is very young or a complete start-up,

there might be advantages in occupying your premises under a licence rather than a lease. Property owners sometimes find it convenient to grant a licence, partly because the occupier will not qualify for ‘security of tenure’.

Licences are usually for much shorter periods than a lease

and do not require the same level of financial commitment. Licences need to be drawn up very carefully. Otherwise they might be interpreted in law as a lease. It is vital to take advice from a solicitor and a chartered surveyor before signing a licence, either as occupier or licensor.

You are almost certainly liable to pay business rates if you

occupy business premises. Business rates are a tax based on the rateable value of the property, which reflects its rental value. The rateable value can, however, be challenged. It may change in any case if the premises are altered or if their value is affected by changes in the locality. Some limited classes of property are exempt from business rates altogether.

You will probably have to pay – over and above the rent

– a service charge to cover the cost of services that the

landlord provides. Particularly if you occupy only part of a larger building. Service charges for business premises are not specifically regulated by legislation. It is up to you, with your chartered surveyor’s help, to make sure before you take a lease that you are happy with the amount of information you will receive on expenditure, which will be passed on to you via the service charge.

If you occupy your business premises as a tenant, the

lease document may provide for the rent to be reviewed at intervals: normally every three or five years. There is inevitable scope for disagreement on the level of the new rent and a chartered surveyor, with an intimate knowledge of the property market, has a vital role to play in advising and possibly, in representing you. You need to be sure that you comply – and in good time – with the various steps required by the rent review process. If you fail to do so, the rent that the landlord asks for may apply automatically.

Times are still hard for many small businesses, and

property costs are one of the most complex assets to properly manage. It’s very important that small firms understand the importance of managing their property needs properly, and take the correct advice. This article covers just some of the things that should be considered.

For more information visit www.rics.org

Business property: What’s over your head could make or break you…

www.SmartBusinessShow.com

ODYSSEY ARENA, BELFAST 29 & 30 MAY 2014

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The Smart Business Show at the Odyssey Arena,Belfast on 29th and 30th of May 2014, will be thesmart place to go to look, listen, learn and buy. The visitor experience will be second to none. A ground breaking event, packed with technologybased companies to look at, industry leadingcelebrity speakers to listen to, one to one clinics tolearn from and products to buy.

Sync NI November 2013_Sync NI Advert 22/11/2013 11:50 Page 1

22 SYNCNI MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2013

Event Preview Mobile World Congress 2014!Over the course of four days, 24-

27 February 2014, Mobile World Capital Barcelona will host the

world’s greatest mobile event. Mobile is a catalyst of change and

innovation. Mobile is creating the next connected device that transforms communication.

Advancing the next payment system that alters commerce. Launching the next must-have app that changes how we interact.

Mobile World Congress is the blueprint for the NEXT big innovation. Whatever is coming NEXT will likely be born at Mobile World Congress 2014 – either announced on stage during our Conference programme, showcased in the award-winning Exhibition, or conceived during one of the thousands of meetings taking place during the week.

1 Business Growth Coaching Strategies SeminarBY Business in the Community NIWHEN 20th January 2014WHERE Centre for SME development, Ulster Business School, University of Ulster

2 CeBIT Exhibition 2014BY CeBITManagementWHEN 10th - 14th March 2014WHERE Hannover

3 Digitising my Business and Social Media MasterclassBY Women in Business NIWHEN 30th January 2014WHERE NI Science Park Belfast

4 Smart Business ShowBY SelfBuild IrelandWHEN 29th – 30th May 2014WHERE Odyssey Arena, Belfast

Would you like your event highlighted in the Sync NI Magazine or online at www.syncni.com?

Email the Sync NI team at [email protected] to find out more.

Upcoming Events

Designed exclusively for mobile industry professionals, the Mobile World Congress programme features CEOs and industry visionaries from around the world and will focus on providing essential insights on current and future trends in the industry.

Some of the keynote speakers include: John Chambers Chairman & CEO Cisco, Michael Corbat CEO Citigroup, Michelle Gallen CEO Shhmooze, Tadashi Onodera Chairman KDD and many more!

Mobile World Congress 2014 will take place February 24 -27, 2014. The event will once again take place at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. Passes start from €749 , for more information visit www.mobileworldcongress.com

Be part of Creating What’s Next at Mobile World Congress 2014!


LAUNCHING SOON

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