Author: Tina Calder

Graduates are kick starting their careers in some of Northern Ireland’s leading businesses and turning the tide of poor unemployment rates for people with disabilities.

Leading charity Leonard Cheshire are reaching out to talented university graduates with disabilities who are signing up for the pioneering GradEmployNI Programme which is placing university leavers with leading businesses in paid placements.

The scheme was launched in a bid to turn the tide of poor unemployment rates for fully qualified graduates with disabilities in Northern Ireland, with just a 38 per cent employment rate for this group compared to the national employment rate of 80 per cent for individuals who do not have disabilities.

Top businesses including Excalibur Press, leading charity Bolster Community, media and software developer Ethel Care are among the first to help launch the careers of ambitious graduates who traditionally struggle to get a fair chance of employment despite being fully equipped with the skills, qualifications, and ambition to thrive in the workplace.

Many graduates who have applied for GradEmployNI have hidden disabilities like epilepsy, depression, anxiety, diabetes and Crohn’s, among many others and are being welcomed by top business tailored to their career goals.

The project – the first of its kind in Northern Ireland – is being delivered by Leonard Cheshire with Ulster University Business School, who are providing additional workplace training for the successful applicants to empower the individuals to launch their work placements with the skills to thrive in the workplace.

Jade Hamill, 22, is kick starting her career with leading media business Excalibur Press where she is aiming to pursue her dream career as a journalist. 

She explained: “I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 16 and it reached the point where I was having chronic seizures which caused Severe fatigue and short-term memory loss.

“Throughout University it was a real struggle. In the first year I was having a seizure once a month and by final year I could be having seizures as much as four times a month.

“Despite the huge impact it was having on my life I was adamant that it was not going to affect who I was, what I wanted to become and what I wanted to achieve – although at times this seemed almost impossible.

“The physical impact that the condition takes on your body was the biggest challenge. But I just pushed on and refused to give in and last September I graduated from the University of Plymouth in English and Creative writing.

“I applied for a place on GradEmployNI and when I received the call from Leonard Cheshire to inform me that I had been placed with Excalibur Press it was an incredible moment.

“I feel like I’ve been given a golden opportunity to launch my career in journalism with a business that understands my condition and will help me thrive and achieve my goals.

“Leonard Cheshire have been so supportive and understanding from the moment I made contact with them and Excalibur Press is the perfect match for me to pursue my career ambitions.”

Employer Tina Calder, founder and director of Excalibur Press said she was delighted to be able to offer positions at the growing agency.

She explained: “As soon as I heard about the programme I offered to host a graduate. 

I have personal experience of disability in my family and know how difficult that can make it for young people to go to an interview or be successful at an interview.

“The GradEmployNI scheme is a fantastic way to engage with young talent and I’m delighted to be able to show our support for the amazing work of Leonard Cheshire.”

Graduates with all kinds of disabilities, including hidden disabilities, are being encouraged to apply for the GradEmployNI scheme by visiting Leonardcheshire.org.uk/GradEmployNI.

GradEmployNI’s Programme Manager Roisin McDermott said the project has received a diverse range of applications: “Talented graduates who have been though a tough time with their physical or mental health are getting access to work experience, without having to go through an interview process, which can be very daunting, particularly to anyone who suffers from anxiety or confidence issues.

“These individuals have the qualifications and ambitions, and we are matching them with business partners who we are also supporting to improve inclusivity and diversity in the workplace.”

“Successful graduates are placed with a business partner for four months in paid employment at no cost to the company. It is a very positive step forward in boosting the employment rate for graduates with disabilities or health conditions in Northern Ireland, which is currently the lowest in the UK.”

“We still have a number of places left on the programme and are inviting graduates with all kinds of disabilities, including hidden disabilities or conditions that have affected their ability to work, to sign up and open the door to opportunity to start paid work in positions in a career tailored to them.”

To apply for a place on the GradEmployNI programme visit: www.leonardcheshire.org/GradEmployNI

Tourism NI hosted the first face to face Annual General Meeting (AGM) for ITOA (Incoming Tour Operators Association) Council Members since 2020 at the Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort in Ballymena over the weekend.

This year’s hosting of the AGM has been made possible through the Tourism Recovery Action Plan and was held between February 18 to 20 bringing together senior executives from nearly 30 member companies as well as representatives from the main tourism agencies across Ireland such as Tourism Northern Ireland, Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, NITA and ITIC.

Guests participated in a range of meetings and engaged with local cultural experiences marking a significant step in the recovery of tourism post pandemic on the island of Ireland.

John McGrillen, CEO at Tourism NI said: “Our relationship with ITOA not only creates a unique space for our local tourism providers to generate valuable business connections, but also offers a unique opportunity for industry to tap into a global distribution network.

“International visitors are crucially important to our local economy and our partnership with ITOA will play a huge role in supporting our industry as it continues to recover.

“As tourism and travel opens up across the globe, there will be fierce competition from other destinations. Our partnership with ITOA will be an essential part of our sales effort to ensure Northern Ireland is kept front of mind and featured in future itineraries.”

The weekend is expected to showcase Northern Ireland as an attractive destination to both the international tourism market and to an influential group of tour operators whose visitors in 2019 accounted for €565m spent on the island of Ireland, of which Northern Ireland accounted for 10%.

Tourism NI is dedicated to working closely with ITOA to promote the additional programming of Northern Ireland on the members’ itineraries especially this year as the sector aims to make a full recovery attracting tourism both locally and internationally. 

In 2019, pre-pandemic, members of ITOA delivered £496 million (€595m) of business and 743,500 promotable visitors to the island of Ireland, making the association a vital part of the growth of the tourism industry in Northern Ireland.

Des Annett, President of ITOA said: “We are delighted to be having our first ITOA in-person meetings after two years in Northern Ireland at the Galgorm Hotel Resort and Spa.  Where better to experience first hand the wonderful hospitality and to have a flavour of the terrific experiences that await our returning overseas visitors in 2022.  

“Tourism Northern Ireland have kept ITOA members and the NI industry connected during the pandemic by facilitating the ITOA workshop virtually and supporting our members’ sales and marketing activities too.  

“As we get back to business in 2022, ITOA members look forward to working with NI industry and embracing that Giant Spirit to welcome overseas visitors across the island of Ireland which is key to what we sell and promote across the globe.”

This event is funded through the Tourism Recovery Action Plan (TRAP). 

For more information go to tourismni.com 

Magheramorne Estate in County Antrim

Taking centre stage in the tranquil setting of Magheramorne Estate, renowned chef Paula McIntyre MBE and internationally acclaimed Big Telly Theatre Company will take guests on a gastronomic journey filled with delicious local food, storytelling and live sounds.

The Captain’s Feast: Flavours and Folklore will run for two nights beginning on February 25 situated in the legendary coastal estate in Magheramorne, County Antrim, a popular venue for weddings, corporate events and special occasions due to its sweeping formal gardens and impressive views across Larne Lough. 

Over the course of the evening, guests will first be welcomed by a sparkling glass bubble reception and then led to the elegantly designed ballroom where they will taste the quality flavours of the five course luxury menu designed by Paula and in-house catering, Jane’s Kitchen.

Based on the modern Irish renaissance cooking style, Jane’s Kitchen have been at the top of the hospitality sector for years due to their dedication to serving up excellent quality food and they provide catering for all dining and events that take place at the County Antrim estate.

Sara Allen, Head Chef at Jane’s Kitchen said: “The Captain’s Feast is a truly unique and immersive dining experience that will blow guests away and create everlasting memories for everyone.

“I am delighted to be working alongside Paula to bring together our culinary skills to delight guests in every aspect of our menu.”

Drawing on the coastal surroundings, Paula explained how the menu will feature some special sea inspired ingredients and references to the stories from the past.

“At the Magheramorne Captain’s Feast visitors can expect a delicious range of local produce including seaweed, some smoky rum, seafood, chestnuts and gold” she said.

“The courses will delicately weave in the history and heritage of the local area, an example being the story of the Spanish Armada sailor who was buried in Cairncastle with a chestnut in his pocket.

“Diners at the Captain’s Feast will be truly immersed in a journey of the senses.”

Guests also have the opportunity to upgrade their ticket and take full advantage of their visit to the Victorian estate and add on a relaxing overnight bed and breakfast stay in one of the deluxe bedrooms which boast magnificent views of the grounds.

This event has been funded by Tourism NI COVID Market Led Product Development Programme 2021-22.

Tickets for The Captain’s Feast: Flavours and Folklore on February 25 and 26 are £85 per person, overnight packages are also available. Book now at magheramorneestate.com/experiences/the-captains-feast

About Paula McIntyre:

Having trained in Culinary Arts at the prestigious Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island, USA, Paula McIntyre MBE has dominated the Northern Irish food scene and is now the Slow Food Director of Northern Ireland. 

Specialising in fine dining and catering for events, Paula is a regular attendee to events such as Balmoral Show, Glenarm Castle Festival and Flavours of Foyle Seafood Festival.  

Last year, Paula presented her own TV programme on BBC which was filmed on the Causeway Coast, taking the area’s stunning landscape and local food provenance to a new audience. 

Paula is also an established food writer and has a regular Saturday morning radio slot on Radio Ulster featuring her favourite recipes and food stories. 

About Magheramorne Estate:

Designed in 1878 by Samuel P Close, the impressive Magheramorne Estate was built for  Sir James Hogg to mark his rise to the peerage of Baron Magheramorne in 1880 and is now an exclusive venue that can be used for special occasions, corporate events and weddings.

Nestled in the woodland of Magheramorne, the venue is near the seaside town of Larne and is just 23 miles from Belfast.

The family business specialises in providing an excellent hospitality experience and welcomes everyone to the private Victorian estate with over 40 acres of stunning grounds.

Additional information: 

Evening starts at 7pm

25^th and 26^th February 2022£85 per person

Transformational coach Deborah King has announced the first event in a series of goal setting and personal development webinars for 2022.

Her event Virtual Vision Board Workshop: Cosmically Creating The Life You Want will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, February 22 at 7.30pm.

The vision board session is for people who want to get clear on their goals and focus on practical ways they can create the change they want in any area of their life or business. The workshop is also tailored for new and/or small business owners who are open to considering alternative goal setting methods for their business development and growth.

According to Deborah, who is a qualified Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner and an advocate of the Law of Attraction teachings, participants in the workshop will get a clear understanding of what a vision board is and how to use it in their life to create practical changes in themselves and their lives.

“My intention is that you will learn something new, be inspired and motivated about attaining your current goals and have some fun along the way,” said Deborah.

For Deborah, who is also a speaker, Master Practitioner of Time Line Therapy, Hypnosis and a Reiki teacher, the session will, in many cases, redefine what people think a vision board is.

She explained: “Many people have heard of the concept of Vision Boards and think it is just a pretty way of making posters to express their goals and desires. They may call it ‘positive thinking’ and believe that it’s maybe a bit too wishy washy or woo woo to really make much of a difference in their lives.

“I can say categorically, that this is not the case.

“Everything in our lives is affected by our subconscious beliefs, our upbringing, what we have been taught growing up, our own families limiting beliefs and more.

“I have witnessed, first hand the power of vision boards and how they have helped me attract things into my life, many things which I worked towards getting, but also many things that came to me as a shock and a surprise when I wasn’t expecting it and often thought was impossible to achieve at the time.  

“As well as providing focus and clarity, vision boards can be harnessed to work in alignment with our subconscious beliefs to attract things to us and bring changes that we want in our lives, quicker and easier than we may think is logically possible.”

In Deborah’s session Virtual Vision Board Workshop: Cosmically Creating The Life You Want she will cover all the basic concepts and tools attendees need to develop their vision board for successful results.

Deborah added: “We will also work on how to get clear on what to put on your board and what NOT to put on it, the reasons you may not be getting what you want and even use some meditation techniques to help get you into the right space mentally, emotionally and physically.”

Virtual Vision Board Workshop: Cosmically Creating The Life You Want with Deborah King takes place on Tuesday, February 22 at 7.30pm.

Book your place at https://bit.ly/3uL6c4S or search on Eventbrite.com

A major campaign has launched to boost perceptions of careers in hospitality and tourism, helping to attract new talent and tackle staffing challenges.

Recruitment has been a priority concern for employers in hospitality and tourism, which when compounded by the impact of COVID-19, has left many businesses struggling to recruit a full workforce, resulting in closures and scaled back service.

To confront this head-on employer-led network the Hospitality & Tourism Skills network (HATS) has partnered with Tourism NI to spearhead a multi-channel advertising campaign to promote the breadth of exciting opportunities that the industry has to offer potential job seekers.

Going live on 31 January 2022 and running until the end of March 2022, the campaign features a series of quirky eye-catching job descriptions across billboards, outdoor advertising and social media to attract attention and highlight the dynamic and fast-paced roles available, helping to attract new recruits.

Roisin McKee, Director of HATS said the campaign seeks to encourage people to join an industry that is looking to come back, bigger and better than ever.

She explained: “There are incredible opportunities for people to join hospitality and tourism and experience rewarding careers at all skill levels and this campaign is designed to help us get that message out.

“Working with industry and partners we want to help combat the staffing challenges and support the recovery of the industry by challenging perceptions and promoting the exciting and diverse opportunities on offer right now, helping to support recruitment and drive retention.

“Many employers are working harder than ever to attract and retain talent by making fundamental changes to offer a better quality job experience, so jobseekers can expect to be well looked after.”

As part of the campaign, employers are invited to advertise their vacancies for free on the CareerScope campaign jobs portal.
Supporting the campaign, the Department for the Economy (DfE) Minister said: “This important campaign highlights the many opportunities for employment across all disciplines in the

Tourism and hospitality industry and shows an encouraging future for a resilient sector as it seeks to recover from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Attracting and building a skilled workforce to meet industry’s requirements, both now and in the future, are vital in helping to drive recovery in the sector and ensuring Northern Ireland is able to compete on the global stage and maintain its reputation as a world class tourism destination.”

The campaign will be addressing three key priorities for the sector, those are to Attract, Retain and Engage employees and jobseekers as part of a wider Tourism Recovery Action Plan and the NI Skills Strategy.

Tourism NI Director of Strategic Development David Roberts said: “Recruiting into the hospitality and tourism sector has been challenging for a number of years due to the speed at which the industry has grown, tackling this alongside reducing staff turnover, are both clear priorities for the sector.

“We are delighted to be working with the Hospitality & Tourism Skills Network to deliver this awareness campaign which will boost the message that the sector is a positive career choice. Attracting and building a skilled and sustainable workforce is key to ensuring that tourism can recover and return to the levels of success achieved in the years up to 2019.

“We strongly encourage employers to register now to take advantage of promoting their vacancies for free to benefit directly from the campaign.”

The HATS network, set up in December 2019, brings together a diverse mix of employers from across the hospitality and tourism sector alongside industry associations and key delivery partners from government and education in order to collectively address issues around sector image, attractiveness and skills development into and within the sector.

The HATS network project is supported by Invest Northern Ireland under its Collaborative Growth Programme.

Supporters of the recruitment campaign include the NI Hotels Federation, NI Tourism Alliance, Hospitality Ulster, Bus and Coach NI, Springboard, Invest NI, Institute of Hospitality, Ulster University, the six FE colleges, the Department for the Economy and Department for Communities.

Employers can upload their vacancies for free at careerscope.uk.net/employer-sign-up

Jobseekers can check out jobs available at careerscope.uk.net/jobs/NI or follow #CountMeIn

Tourism NI has welcomed the news that four towns in Northern Ireland have been awarded the friendliest visitor destinations in the UK with Enniskillen in County Fermanagh voted number one most welcoming in the UK.

Alongside Enniskillen, Ballycastle, County Antrim; Bushmills, County Antrim and Newcastle, County Down all appeared on the Booking.com top 10 most welcoming list.

Tourism NI chief executive John McGrillen said the news was a much needed boost for the tourism sector in Northern Ireland that has experienced a two year blow to an industry which was riding high after a record breaking 2019 when revenue surpassed £1 billion for the first time.

He added: “While it has been two years of unprecedented crisis for the industry, I am pleased to know that despite the enormous challenges, our towns have dominated the top 10 list of friendliest visitor destinations. The news comes in the same week as the Game of Thrones Studio Tour opens its doors to the public and will help to put Northern Ireland on the map as a must visit destination for those far and wide.”

McGrillen believes the tourism industry has been incredibly resilient in the face of the global pandemic. 

“There will be brighter opportunities in the years ahead and I have confidence that with the appropriate support, tourism in Northern Ireland will bounce back,” he said. 

Other locations which made the top 10 list were Frome in Somerset; Glastonbury, Somerset: Shetland; Wick, Highlands and Kelso, Scottish Borders.

Following research from more than 232 million verified reviews as part of Booking.com’s 10th annual Traveller Review Awards, the awards recognise more than 1.25 million travel providers around the world for their hospitality, including 53,623 in the UK.

The winning list was decided by the total share of Traveller Review Award 2022 recipients when compared to the total number of eligible properties in that town or city.

McGrillen added: “Tourism is absolutely vital for us as it provides passengers for our public transport and supports sea and air routes; it generates revenue to support our culture and heritage assets and can contribute to the protection of our natural environment; it provides revenue for central and local government and promotes a positive image of Northern Ireland overseas, supporting foreign direct investment.”

With only a few weeks left of Slow Food Causeway Events, the calendar is jam packed with a mixture of some familiar Slow Food favourites and new events.

Originally founded in Italy during the 1980s to combine the regional traditions with the slow pace of life. Since then, the Slow Food movement has evolved worldwide and hopes to preserve the ‘unique culinary heritage’ of NI. 

Taste Causeway is an accredited Slow Food destination, one of only a handful of destinations in Ireland to be awarded the accolade by the global Slow Food Movement.

Slow Food Causeway celebrates the unique food and drink culture of the Causeway Coast.

 

Here are 7 upcoming Slow Food Causeway Events happening:

1 & 2. Slow Food Causeway: Sourdough Baking Classes with Ursa Minor

Sunday, February 6 and February 20, 9am – 5pm

Come along and spend your Sunday learning the art of traditional sourdough making with the talented team of bakers at a Slow Food 2020 accredited bakery, Ursa Minor Bakehouse.

The class will cover the theory on 3 different types of bread, using both sourdough culture and yeast and all guests will have the opportunity to take home their loaves for family and friends to enjoy.

For more information, go to tastecauseway.com/event/ursa-minor-sourdough-making-class 

3. Slow Food Causeway: Broughgammon Butchery Course

Sunday, February 13, 1:30pm – 4:30pm

This hands-on afternoon is ideal for those who are curious about butchering and want to improve their skills.

Led by the highly skilled team at the award-winning Broughgammon farm, each guest will be taught everything they need to know about butchering from knife handling skills, cutting techniques.

After the event, guests can take home a complimentary boning knife and the meat cuts ready to cook.

For more information, go to tastecauseway.com/event/broughgammon-farm-butchery-course 

4. Slow Food Causeway: Smoking Masterclass with North Coast Smokehouse

Saturday 19th February, 1:00pm – 4:30pm

Join Ruairidh from North Coast Smokehouse for an afternoon of curing and smoking some seafood favourites. 

In this hands-on masterclass, you will learn the techniques involved in smoking hot and cold fish. 

From filleting, curing and hot smoking, this is a wonderful chance to learn artisan skills off an award winning smoker. 

Plus you’ll get to take home your smoked trout and your own small scale smoker to share your new skills with family and friends.

For more information, go to tastecauseway.com/event/smoking-masterclass-with-north-coast-smokehouse

5. Slow Seafood Soiree with Native Seafood and Paula McIntyre

Sunday, 20th February, 7pm 

Join in on the celebration of our local, seasonal fish with Slow Food Director Paula McIntyre MBE at Native Seafood in Portstewart where you will enjoy a seven course tasting menu, drinks and music. 

For more information go to tastecauseway.com/event/slow-seafood-soiree-with-paula-mcintyre 

6. The Spirit of the Bann Tour with Causeway Coast Foodie Tours

Saturday 26th February, 2:30pm

The award winning Causeway Coast Foodie Tours are back this Spring with their very special ‘The Spirit of the Bann’ river whiskey tasting experience along the picturesque river.

‘The Spirit of the Bann’ along with White River Charters are hosting an afternoon full of exquisite whiskey flavours accompanied by an array of tasty award-winning local Slow Food produce. 

Where better to celebrate our unique Slow Food food and drink heritage than via a journey on the River Bann alongside the beautiful site of Mountsandel, Coleraine.

For more information go to tastecauseway.com/events

7. North Supper Club by Ursa Minor at a Secret Location

Saturday 26th February, 7pm to late

Join the casual and relaxed evening with friends and enjoy a delicious feast, celebrating the best local produce with Ciara from Ursa Minor. 

Enjoy three courses of beautiful seasonal food served under twinkling lights and candlelight in an unbelievably special location five minutes from Ballycastle.

After dinner, guests will be entertained by some of the finest voices on the island right now; the stunning vocal harmonies of Lemoncello; superb Dublin poet & playwright Stephen James Smith & the enthralling experimental folk artist Joshua Burnside.

For more information go to tastecauseway.com/event/north-supper-club-by-ursa-minor-bakehouse

The Causeway Coast and Glens is Northern Ireland’s first accredited Slow Food destination, Taste Causeway, the collaborative network of local food and drink businesses was awarded the accolade by the global Slow Food Movement following a rigorous assessment process.

To launch and celebrate this prestigious award Taste Causeway is running a six month programme of events, dining experiences, tours and special menus.

Taste Causeway is delivering Slow Food Causeway with funding from Tourism NI in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. For more information go to tastecauseway.com/slow-food-causeway or follow the hashtags #SlowFoodCauseway and #TasteCauseway

When it comes to marketing your business, product or service most small businesses will depend on digital channels such as their website, social media and other platforms such as Google My Business.

According to Social Media Examiner 96% of small businesses say they use social media in their marketing strategy whilst HubSpot reveals 48% of companies in general will leverage blogging in their content marketing strategy.

In order to truly maximise the opportunities available online to market and promote your business it’s important to have a robust digital and content marketing strategy and plan.

According to Google 59% of shoppers say they’ll research a product before making an in-store or online purchase.

Belfast based multi-disciplinary marketing and communications agency Excalibur Press has launched a new webinar training series aimed at helping businesses create a social media content strategy and improve their blogging and content marketing as well as giving top tips and tricks to creating effective communications for promoting your product online.

Delivered by trainer and content strategist Tina Calder, the sessions will run every Friday over the next four weeks. They will include How To Supercharge Your Blogging & Content Marketing (January 28), Set Up Your Social Media Content Strategy & Plan (February 4), Creating Killer Comms & Content To Sell Your Product Online (February 11) and Everything You Need To know To Create Your Brand Story (February 18).

Speaking of the sessions Tina said: “Micro, small and medium businesses more than ever before need support and assistance with their marketing. 

“For many of those businesses that spend is a luxury and often the first to go when things get tough.

“There’s no question the last few years have taken their toll on business owners and the fight to survive and thrive has become a crowded space.”

Tina explained the 90 minute sessions are specifically designed to “offer business owners practical and actionable support that will help them streamline, maximise and optimise their marketing activity.”

She added: “Throughout the sessions I will be revealing all the tools, systems and processes we use at Excalibur Press to create good quality content and marketing tactics for our clients as well as lift the lid on the secrets other professionals don’t want you to know.

“These sessions will help businesses reduce their stress levels when it comes to creating a social media content strategy, improving their blogging and content marketing as well as creating effective communications for promoting their product online and honing their marketing messages and brand story.

To book on to How To Supercharge Your Blogging & Content Marketing (January 28), Set Up Your Social Media Content Strategy & Plan (February 4), Creating Killer Comms & Content To Sell Your Product Online (February 11) or Everything You Need To know To Create Your Brand Story (February 18) go to excaliburpress.co.uk/2022-training-webinar-series 

Give the gift of food this Valentines with a sweet treat from Belfast’s homemade food delivery service, Dished Up Deli, with their ‘Love In A Box’ Valentines range.

Made to order and delivered straight to your door, the collection includes a decadent chocolate brownie box and a belgian chocolate geometric heart filled with a choice of rose water sponge or chocolate brownie. 

Founder of the food delivery company which was started over the first lockdown, Philip Davison, believed there is an emphasis on buying personalised and thoughtful gifts this year due to Brexit’s influence on Northern Ireland.

“I’ve seen a definite rise in consumer demand for personalised gifts instead of the typical off the shelf items especially due to Brexit, we are now shopping more locally and supporting local businesses like myself who have the capacity to offer customisable gifts,” he said.

Philip has also created an at home Valentines meal menu for those wanting to bring the restaurant to their living rooms this year.

The luxury four course ‘Heat at Home’ meal for two features a colourful chorizo salad, mouthwatering slow cooked beef, fresh meringues and a cheese board with crackers and chutneys.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions on hospitality, Philip recognised the demand to create an at-home dining experience for couples to still celebrate the most romantic day of the year.

“There has been an increase in people renovating their homes over lockdown and creating a nicer environment to relax and enjoy a romantic meal in.

“This year due to Covid, restaurants will also be working at less capacity so trying to secure a  booking over the Valentines weekend will be much more competitive”.

After sharing images of food he made throughout lockdown, hospitality management graduate Philip decided to make the leap and complete requests from family and friends.

Since then, his business has expanded to offering rotating weekly menus, savoury and sweet snacks which are based around quality homemade cooking paired with innovation to match the needs of the seasons.

“Over the several lockdowns I shared pictures of some creation on Facebook and got slightly hounded,” he explained.

 “I finally got a call saying would you make that dinner for me and my friend and that is how Dished up Deli was born.” 

Orders received by 6pm on Wednesday 9 February will be delivered on Friday 11 February between 5-8pm.

For more information visit dishedupdeli.com or social media @dishedupdeli.

Northern Ireland company, Zymplify, has been appointed as a preferred supplier to deliver Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s digital growth plan for small and medium sized businesses, helping them to learn new skills, reach new customers and boost profits.

The Portstewart-based company has been approved to provide three innovative digital solutions to empower users to enhance their marketing and sales performance. 

After a rigorous application process, Zymplify was one of a small number of UK vendors to be awarded the contract to deliver the scheme through which eligible businesses will be able to get a discount of up to 50% on the costs of approved digital software including Zymplify Starter Package,  Zym Lite and Zym Pro.

Michael Carlin, chief executive of the Zymplify Group said the team were delighted to be chosen to support SMEs on the scheme.

He added: “From day one, our goal at Zymplify has been to help real business owners use digital technology to grow their business – a vision that is mirrored by Help to Grow Digital.

“Like the Chancellor, we believe that small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of our economy. We are a small business ourselves and created Zym and Zymplify for people like us – real business owners who want to save time, save money and grow.

“Just like the scheme we offer SMEs more than just the software. We have developed an ecosystem of three core elements – a planning framework to help users map their sales and marketing strategy, an Academy to help them master digital skills and the platform to execute, manage and measure their digital campaigns. 

“I believe that it is this approach that helped us become one of the few suppliers selected to deliver this fantastic programme.”

Zym is a complete marketing software solution ideal for small and medium sized businesses. With a continuously expanding selection of innovative tools, unlike other solutions, the Zym platform lets users take full control of every aspect of their digital marketing journey, from finding new customers to ongoing marketing communications and detailed reporting all in one place.

More suited for medium size enterprises and B2B organisations with sales and marketing teams the Zymplify platform combines marketing automation, lead generation, sales prospecting and accurate real time reporting within a single platform.

As the first ever precision sales and marketing platform on the market, the unique software allows users to create, execute and report on sales and marketing campaigns at scale. It is the only solution on the market that provides users with qualified prospects who are actively looking for their products or services; while putting users in control of connecting with their target audience and closing sales at speed.

Zymplify Group chief marketing officer, Debbie Rymer explained: “Through the Help to Go Digital Programme, business owners will be able to catch up with the technological needs of their business and access discounted prices for tech platforms. Through Zymplify and Zym, eligible businesses will also be able to access daily live classes, digital marketing training advice and guidance to help their business save money, grow and scale fast.

“I have worked as a mentor on numerous business support programmes over the years and am also the CIM Academy Course Director for Digital Marketing Techniques so have seen first-hand the positive impact good marketing and digital technology can have on a business.

“That’s why we have developed our learning Academy to provide our users with the knowledge, skills and support they need to maximise their voucher and grow their business with the support of the Help to Grow Digital scheme.”

Last year Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced that through the Government funded scheme businesses will receive expert technology advice and discounted software, as it aims to spark innovation as the UK maps out its recovery out of the pandemic.

Mr Sunak said: “Our brilliant SMEs are the backbone of our economy, creating jobs and generating prosperity – so it’s vital they can access the tools they need to succeed

“Help to Grow will ensure they are embracing the latest technology and management training, fuelling our Plan for Jobs by boosting productivity in all corners of the UK.”

The programme offers a new online platform where business owners can get free advice on technology that will help businesses to save time, reduce costs, and reach more customers.

Any eligible SMEs will be able to get vouchers offering up to 50% off the purchase of new productivity enhancing software worth up to £5,000 each for the period of one year.

Businesses interested in Zym or Zymplify will be given the opportunity to “try before they use their voucher”.

“We are committed to helping UK SMEs maximise the scheme. Anyone considering using either the Zymplify or Zym platforms won’t be pressured into redeeming their voucher without seeing our software in action first” said Debbie, adding: “we want to help them choose the right product for their business and their employees. That’s why they can take either or both products for a free 14 day test drive before making their selection. We hope that by providing the free trial and the live classes we help them to invest wisely.”

For more information on how to sign up and take your business to the next level go to zym.ai/help-to-grow-digital