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Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has an upbeat outlook on this year’s Borderlands film, and said that the “disappointing” movie hasn’t hurt the Borderlands video game series. In fact, it gave it a boost.
It’s fair to say that the Borderlands film did not take off to the degree many had hoped and will not exactly go down in a Hall of Fame alongside the likes of HBO’s The Last of Us or Amazon’s Fallout, both of which were praised by fans and critics alike.
Alas, for poor ol’ Borderlands, this year’s Cate Blanchett-fronted film was instead branded a “disaster” and “huge misfire” by viewers. In fact, one review called it a “lifeless, unfunny, and visually repulsive dud”. Eesh. The adaptation generated just $4m across 3125 locations on its opening day, before quickly getting shifted onto streaming services.
Trailer for the Borderlands film. Watch on YouTube
Zelnick commented on the film’s performance last night during an earnings call for Take-Two. When an investor asked about the project and how it contributed to the company, Zelnick stated Take Two didn’t “really need to break out the contribution from the film because while it was economically positive, it wasn’t material” to the company’s results.
“Even though the film was disappointing, it actually benefited our catalogue sales,” he continued. “So that is a sign that making a movie or a television show based on our very high-quality IP can drive catalogue sales and that can be a good thing.”
That’s not to say Take-Two is now going to go all in on film and television adaptations for its various IPs.
“All that said, we’re really selective. And one of the reasons we have been so selective about licensing is we would really prefer that everything that comes out with our brands in it is really, really successful,” Zelnick stated. “And we can’t guarantee that, especially when it’s out of our hands. So we have licensed other titles, we’ll continue selectively… emphasis on the word selectively.”
I now wonder what could be next…?
Image credit: Lionsgate
Earlier this year, founder of Borderlands developer Gearbox Randy Pitchford defended the studio’s recent flops such as the film by comparing the company to The Beatles. Writing on social media, Pitchford stated he was “going to keep making stuff” and subsequently brought the English rock band into the conversation.
As for what is next from the series, Borderlands 4 was announced back in August. While the team at Gearbox has not announced a release date yet, it has said the game will be coming in 2025. It will be available across PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Investing in occupational health not only helps in managing absenteeism and cutting costs but also ensures businesses fulfil their legal and moral obligations. Ultimately, as Elaine Kerr writes, employers need to recognise – and be reminded – that OH services play a pivotal role in safeguarding the health, safety, and wellbeing of employees.
Occupational health (OH) providers, as OH professionals will be well aware, support businesses in understanding the relationship between work and health (Nicholson 2022).
This article will identify and analyse the strategies required to manage an OH service, appraise the use of quality and audit management systems and discuss the impact of policies and laws on OH services.
The introduction of OH services to a large supermarket, Linton’s, will be explored within the article. The author, recently appointed as OH manager, will address the implementation of OH services, their role in mitigating the high staff turnover at the supermarket, and strategies to support employees with chronic health conditions.
These OH services will be provided externally from ‘s supermarket, encompassing onsite and remote support to enhance business operations.
Strategies to manage OH services
When implementing an OH service within this large supermarket, much of the literature advises that a business case should focus on three main factors.
These include the financial, moral, and legal benefits of OH services to a business (Nicholson 2022). Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM 2022) concurs that a business case should provide stakeholders with valid, transparent, and compelling reasons for investing in OH services.
They can help a company manage absence and reduce costs, businesses have a legal duty of care to their employees and a moral obligation to help improve employee health and well-being (SOM 2022).
Nicholson (2022) suggests that OH can add value to a business by reducing costs by managing and preventing absenteeism. SOM (2022) highlights that sickness absence can cost UK businesses in the region of £28.8bn per year and work-related ill health affects 1.3 billion workers in the UK.
SOM (2022) further suggests that investing in OH services is the most efficient and effective way to manage long-term sickness absence. Nicholson (2022) suggests that organisations should consider the cost of OH provision in the light of the broad value that OH provides to a company, including supporting a faster return to work, health promotion, keeping workers healthy and compliance with their legal responsibilities.
NHS Employers (2023) define OH as a specialist service focused on improving the productivity of an organisation by investing in the health and well-being of their employees. The World Health Organization (WHO 2002) advocates that implementing effective OH services requires planning, good management, strategy, and vision.
This helps to guarantee services are balanced, needs and priorities are met, and financial sustainability assured. Facilitating a strategy helps foster accountability, focus, and better results for a business.
While this reference is dated, Gilbey (2014) agrees that a strategy needs to include identifying the problem to be solved, how big the problem is, what research is provided to back this up and what return on investment this will provide.
Concerning Linton’s, the problems identified are a high turnover of staff and employees with chronic health conditions. Therefore, implementing an OH service will support employees in managing long-term health conditions by providing health promotion and advising reasonable adjustments or recommendations which may allow them to remain or return to work (Work and Health Unit (WHU) 2019b).
Smaller OH providers can lack a depth of knowledge and struggle with clinical governance. Outsourced services have a larger pool of staff to cover absences and to provide a wider range of skills and knowledge but have less awareness about local hazards and risks, and may lack continuity of provision.”
When preparing a business case, stakeholder analysis should be conducted, starting with the OH board representative, usually an HR director, as ultimately, they are the main stakeholder requiring evidence to support implementing OH services (Gilbey 2014).
The author successfully acquired Linton’s supermarket as a client to provide OH services by bidding during the tendering process. According to the government’s Work and Health Unit (WHU 2019a), 63% of OH providers conducted some form of marketing; however, targeted marketing was rare and found mainly in sectors requiring legal requirements, such as engineering industries.
WHU (2019a) also found that 37% of OH providers did not conduct any form of marketing, citing they had enough business without the need for this; however, these results were limited to 103 participants and are therefore not representative of all OH providers in the UK.
Carnall (2014) suggests that market research can assist in understanding the needs and aspirations of customers. Tjalvin and Moen (2019) explain two main models of OH delivery: internal and external OH services.
An internal service is delivered by personnel employed directly by the company and remains onsite at the business. This approach allows the OH practitioner to gain valuable information on the work environment and to build relationships with employees. It can be difficult to implement workplace change, and internal OH providers must ensure they keep their integrity.
Alternatively, an external OH service is managed by an outside company, such as the author’s OH service which will be implemented for Linton’s supermarket.
Higher Educational Occupational Physicians/Practitioners (HEOPS 2016) believe that the different models of OH services can present advantages and disadvantages; in-house services can have a better understanding and knowledge of an organisation, allowing for open dialogue.
However, smaller OH providers can lack a depth of knowledge and struggle with clinical governance. Outsourced services have a larger pool of staff to cover absences and to provide a wider range of skills and knowledge but have less awareness about local hazards and risks, and may lack continuity of provision (HEOPS 2016).
Impact of law and policies on OH services
Kloss (2020) defines OH services as both a therapeutic and preventative branch of medicine, where the OH professional has a duty of care to the employee and the employer while meeting standards set by their governing bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or the General Medical Council (GMC).
Oakley (2008) recognises that OH professionals must manage their practice by considering their professional duties and responsibilities. OH nurses are governed by the NMC 2018 Code, which holds nurses to a professional standard and identifies that nurses should adhere to relevant laws and policies to safeguard those they care for (NMC 2018).
Furthermore, Schultz (2018) agrees that governance is a process by which organisations are controlled, directed, and held to account. Implementing governance in the workplace allows for confidence from stakeholders, allows organisations to perform to a high standard and ensures that organisations can cope with changes.
Kloss (2020) suggests that the role of an OH clinician involves the development of policies, cultures, and practices within organisations to maintain and promote the health and well-being of workers.
The requirements of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the primary legislation that underpins the management of workplace OH and safety within the United Kingdom (HSE 2024).
Maintaining records is essential to OH practice, as these records capture baseline health information of employees and facilitate the identification of patterns in the factors contributing to ill health.”
OH clinicians will use this legislation to provide appropriate advice and recommendations to employers in managing ill health in the workplace (Oakley 2008). Furthermore, SOM (2017) reflect that OH services can help businesses manage their health and safety within work to meet the regulatory requirements set out by the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which requires that a competent person should be in place to implement health and safety in workplaces.
While this regulation does not stipulate that a competent person is a clinician, the OH provider can be required to help manage and support work-related health problems and support the competent person in managing health and safety in the workplace (SOM 2017).
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD 2024c) defines HR policies as guidance documents formulated to manage a range of issues which may arise within an organisation.
Policies ensure that organisations are fair, inclusive and support trust between employees and employers. Some HR policies are necessary to ensure companies comply with laws, for example, a business with more than five employees must provide a written health and safety policy for their organisation (CIPD 2024c). Furthermore, Nicholson (2019) states that absenteeism and work-related ill health management are more easily managed with the support of OH services and clearly defined HR policies.
Maintaining records is essential to OH practice, as these records capture baseline health information of employees and facilitate the identification of patterns in the factors contributing to ill health (Oakley 2008).
The NMC (2018) states that all nursing professionals must ensure that data, including medical records, are kept securely and that all clinical records are clear and accurate. The Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO 2024) highlights that. under the UK GDPR (2018) legislation, data must only be collected for legitimate purposes and held confidentially.
Oakley (2008) explains that OH records belong to the OH company that holds them. The OH record belongs to the clinician who makes these records, this is referred to as a data controller. The data controller has a responsibility to keep these records confidential on behalf of the employee (Oakley 2008).
The use of audit and quality management systems within OH
To provide a robust, safe, evidence-based and effective OH service, quality management systems and audits are vital.
The purpose of monitoring quality and conducting audits is to assess need, measure quality and identify gaps in knowledge. Any audit should be used as a tool to improve practice and should be measured based on a set of standards or criteria (Thornbory and Everton 2018).
Nicholson (2018) concurs that quality clinical audits are essential for quality management, recognising that clinical audits help to identify strengths, areas to improve, and promote best practices. Quality improvement tools are fundamental for those in leadership or management roles to achieve high standards of clinical practice.
Leaders play a role in implementing quality improvement and promoting individuals to be engaged in developing their clinical practice (NHS Education for Scotland 2024). Thornbory and Everton (2018) observe that one weakness of clinical audit is that it can become a meaningless exercise if the methods or standards used to assess the work are not relevant to practice.
The NHS (2024) formulated a benchmark tool to aid with auditing clinical practice within OH services. Management of Health at Work Knowledge (MoHaWK) is a web-based tool developed to improve clinical practice in OH. This tool can be used by NHS and external OH providers and strives to ensure the quality of OH services. This tool allows areas of improvement to be identified and ultimately improves the quality of clinical practices in OH.
SOM (2019) recommends that, when implementing an OH service to a new company, the OH provider should provide the client with regular monitoring, quality, performance, and statistical information to help measure and define the progress of operational goals.
They highlight that key performance indicators (KPIs) are required, KPIs should focus on aspects of the OH services provided, such as the time between referral and consultation, presenteeism figures, customer satisfaction and sickness absence figures.
Moreover, service level agreements (SLAs) should also be defined and agreed upon between the OH provider and the client as to what service provisions are required. SLAs will be used to measure the performance of the OH service; however, they will remain flexible initially and may change as the contract grows.
SLAs may include managing referrals, timescales for arranging appointments and when cases are closed. NHS Employers (2023) agree that organisations must ensure that what is expected of the OH service is clear and that regular monitoring is undertaken. KPIs and SLAs are critical for the success of OH services, and facilitating these allows for the contract to run smoothly as both parties understand the requirements to support the organisation (Paton 2012).
An action plan specific to the organisation can be a helpful tool when commissioning an OH service. Action plans are good practice and allow the employer and OH provider to agree on what is required to support business goals (Paton 2012).
Governance, collaboration, and change
To provide a high-quality OH service, governance must be implemented; this allows for an honest and open organisational culture which is led by leaders who are compassionate and inclusive.
Leaders should ensure that in supporting staff to provide high-quality OH services, they remain transparent about decision-making by promoting a positive team culture, acting as role models, and championing workplace diversity and equality issues (NHS Education for Scotland 2024).
Craig and McKeon (2015) agree that great organisations are formed when team dynamics are positive, and teams are most productive when they feel supported and understand their purpose. Furthermore, teamwork takes constant work and attention, using good communication and ensuring the individual wellbeing of each team member.
Ronquillo, Ellis and Toney-Butler (2023) suggest that a leadership style involving a collaborative, dynamic and multifaceted approach has been proven to be the most effective way to successfully manage a team.
Transformational leaders typically inspire shared vision, encourage innovation and creativity, fostering an environment of trust and lead by example. Appointing a new OH provider is a change for Linton’s and their staff that may be accepted positively. However, some staff members may find this challenging.
CIPD (2024a) suggests that when implementing change, this is best achieved by positive social interactions and negotiations rather than by authority and control.
Furthermore, change management is a process critical for a business; change can be difficult, and consideration should be given to the use of change models; these models can help organisations coordinate and structure any changes to meet the organisation’s vision (Ovington 2023).
CIPD (2024a) also recognises that organisations will benefit from using techniques such as change models to implement organisational changes; these changes will be effectively implemented by positive leaders who are committed and supportive of their team.
Making changes in organisations can meet some resistance; however, managing communication and considering change management should avoid significant resistance from employees (James and Lewis, 2020).
Craig and McKeon (2015) support that leaders should combine their leadership skills with organisational policies and practices, this ensures teams feel supported, perform better and promote open communication.
Johnson (2017) suggests leaders must approach and manage any crisis effectively and quickly. Mikusova and Horvathova (2019) describe crisis management as when a disruptive or unexpected event happens which can threaten to harm an organisation. OH professionals will have the clinical knowledge to support organisations navigating crisis and can develop an action plan to support and inform businesses (Nicholson 2020)
CIPD (2024b) found in a recent study that one-third of employees had experienced some form of conflict within the workplace. In a supermarket such as Linton’s workplace, conflict is likely to arise. A large part of people’s life is spent at work, and conflict can occur due to various factors, including behaviour, harassment, or bullying.
While not all conflicts are negative, they can fester; therefore, they should be resolved as early as possible (CIPD 2024b). HR policies should be used to manage equality, diversity, bullying and harassment; these policies are important and should remain visible across the business to promote respect and positive attitudes (CIPD 2024b).
Furthermore, Thornbory and Everton (2018) suggest that companies should have clear, accurate policies and protocols to manage workplace conflict. OH practitioners have a unique opportunity to work alongside line managers and HR to help facilitate policies to manage workplace issues (Oakley 2008).
Conclusion
In conclusion, this article has explored the strategies essential for effectively managing an OH service. It has explored the introduction of OH services at Linton’s supermarket, emphasising the advantages they offer to the business.
Moreover, it has highlighted that investing in OH services not only aids in managing absenteeism and cutting costs but also ensures businesses fulfil their legal and moral obligations.
Ultimately, this article highlights the pivotal role OH services play in safeguarding the health, safety, and wellbeing of employees in the workplace. By implementing efficient OH systems and strategies, businesses not only save costs but also demonstrate their commitment to their employees’ health and wellbeing.
References:
Carnall C (2014). ‘Managing change in organizations’. 6th ed. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) (2024a). ‘Change management’. [online[. London: Available from: https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/factsheets/change-management-factsheet/Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), 2024b. Managing conflict in the modern workplace. [online]. London: Available from: https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/reports/managing-workplace-conflict-report/Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), 2024c. HR Policies. [online]. London: Available from: https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/people/hr/policies-factsheet#grefCraig M and McKeon C (2015). ‘Teambuilding 1: How to build effective teams in healthcare’. Nursing Times; 111: (14), pp.16-18.Gilbey A (2014). ‘The business case for OH Part 1: making the business case for occupational health’. Occupational Health at Work, 11(2), pp 14-16.Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (2024). ‘Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974’. [online]. Bootle: HSE. Available from: https://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htmHigher Educational Occupational Physicians/Practitioners (HEOPS), 2016. Guidance on the Provision of Occupational Health Services for Higher Education Institutions. [online]. London. Available from: https://heops.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2019/09/1521729941HEOPS_Guidance_for_Occupational_Health_in_Higher_Education_Institutions_v14.pdfInformation Commissioners’ Office (ICO) (2024). ‘UK GDPR guidance and resources’ [online]. Cheshire: Available from: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/James M and Lewis J (2020). ‘How to fail at Change Management: A Managers Guide to the Pitfalls of Managing Change’. New York, USA: Business Expert Press.Johnson T (2017). ‘Crisis leadership; how to lead in a time of crisis, emergency and uncertainty’. London: Bloomsbury.Kloss D (2020). ‘Occupational Health Law’. 6th ed. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.Mikusova M and Horvathova P (2019). ‘Prepared for a crisis? Basic elements of crisis management in an organisation’. Economic research, 32, 1, pp 1844-1868.NHS Education for Scotland (2024). ‘Leadership in Quality Improvement’ [online]. Edinburgh: Available from https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/72138NHS Employers (2023). ‘Commissioning Occupational Health Services’. [online]. Leeds: NHS Employers. London: Available from: https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/your-occupational-health-serviceNHS (2024). ‘Clinical Governance – MoHaWK’. [online]. London: Available from: https://www.nhshealthatwork.co.uk/clinical-governance.aspNicholson P (2018). ‘Managing quality in occupational health. Part 1: the principles of quality management’. Occupational Health at Work, Vol 15(3), pp 17-21.Nicholson P (2019). ‘Managing long-term sickness absence. Part 1: the challenges’. Occupational Health at Work, 16(2), pp 14-18.Nicholson P 2020. ‘COVID-19 – point checklist. Ensuring employers readiness. Part 1’. Occupational Health at Work, 16(6), pp 13-14.Nicholson P 2022. ‘Occupational Health: the value proposition’. [online]. London: SOM. Available from: https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/Occupational_Health_The_Value_Proposition_March_2022.pdfNursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), 2018. ‘The code: professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates’. London: NMC.Oakley K (2008). ‘Occupational Health Nursing’. 3rd ed. Chichester: Wiley.Ovington T (2023). ‘The 5 Best Change Management Models for 2023’. [online]. Available from: https://change.walkme.com/change-management-models/Paton N (2012). ‘Creating service level agreements for occupational health’. [online]. Sutton:DVV Media: Available from: https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/creating-service-level-agreements-for-occupational-health/Ronquillo Y, Ellis V, and Toney-Butler T J (2023). ‘Conflict Management’. [online]. StatPearls Publishing: Treasure Island FL. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470432/Schultz M (2018). ‘Good Governance: what are the basic principles and why is it important?’ [online]. Armadale VIC: Governance. Available from: https://governancetoday.com/news-articles-item/53825/good-governance-what-are-the-basic-principles-and-why-is-it-important/?type_fr=1456Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) (2017). ‘Occupational Health: A guide for line managers and HR professionals’. [online]. London: SOM. Available from: https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/Occupational_health_A_guide_for_line_managers_and_HR_professionals.pdfSociety of Occupational Medicine (2019). ‘Suggested steps to take when commissioning an occupational health service’. [online]. London: SOM. Available from: https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/Suggested_steps_commissioning_OH_service.pdfSociety of Occupational Medicine (2022). ‘Occupational health A guide for line managers and HR professionals’ [online]. London: SOM. Available from: https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/Occupational_Health_The_Value_Proposition_March_2022.pdfThornbory G and Everton S (2018). Contemporary Occupational Health Nursing. 2nd ed. Routledge.Tjalvin G and Moen B (2019). ‘Organisational models for occupational health services’. [online]. University of Bergen: Future Learn. Available from: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/occupational-health-developing-countries/0/steps/13157Work and Health Unit (WHU). ‘Understanding private providers of occupational health services’. [online]. London: DWP&DHSC. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/848173/understanding_-private-providers-of-occupational-health-services.pdfWork and Health Unit (WHU), 2019b. ‘Employers’ motivation and practices: A study of the use of occupational health services’. [online]. London: DWP&DHSC. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/789894/employers-motivations-and-practices-a-study-of-the-use-of-occupational-health-services.pdfWorld Health Organization (WHO) (2002). ‘Good Practice in Occupational Services: A Contribution to Workplace Health’. [online]. Copenhagen, Denmark: WHO. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/107448/E77650.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
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The Department of Tourism, UT of DNH&DD is participating in World Travel Market (WTM) London which will be held from November 5-7, 2024 at Excel, London as a co-exhibitor at Indian Pavilion, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The Pavilion was inaugurated by the High Commissioner of India, Vikram Doraiswami and Director General of Tourism, Ms. Mugdha Sinha. Many transformative reforms have been initiated in the UT under the charismatic leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi which have been instrumental in leading the progress of the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is due to relentless efforts of Administrator Praful Patel that the UT Administration is aiming to position DNH&DD as a premier tourist destination in India and also has developed world class infrastructure in the last 8 years that has boosted tourism exponentially.The DNH&DD Tourism can be visited at stand number N10-220 at WTM London. The Stand was visited by Director General of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Ms. Mugdha Sinha. The Department of Tourism, UT of DNH&DD highlighted the Administrations commitment to developing World Class infrastructure to boost tourism. The state-of-the-art sea front NAMO Path at Devka inaugurated by Prime Minister of India is a prime example of this development. The Director General of Tourism assured full support and cooperation of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in promoting the UT of DNH&DD as a prime tourist destination. Moreover, All the major tourist attractions of UT of DNH&DD and Lakshadweep will be showcased during the WTM event.The Department of Tourism, UT of DNH&DD also joined the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and State Governments at the ‘India Chalo’ Press Conference held during the event by the Ministry of Tourism. The Department is seeking to attract foreign tourists and investors, forge partnerships with global travel industry players, showcase and project tourist attractions of both UT of DNH&DD and Lakshadweep. It was a proud moment for the UT of DNH&DD to participate at the WTM, 2024 along with other State Governments.
Northern Ireland is a region which offers an exceptional investment location for companies looking to expand their operations and export ready world-class products and services. All combined with Northern Ireland’s unique position of having tariff-free market access to both Great Britain (GB) and the European Union (EU)
Place – the perfect location
Over 1,500 international companies have set up operations in Northern Ireland. The reasons for this include a young, well-educated, highly skilled, English-speaking workforce, and the result of a first-class education system. Moreover, government departments work closely with industry and academia to ensure the workforce is equipped with the skills that local businesses and investors need.
Northern Ireland also has a cost-competitive business environment, offering companies much lower overheads than many other European countries. And significantly, it’s the only place in the world that offers seamless tariff-free access to both Great Britain and European Union (EU) markets. This offers a unique advantage to businesses located in Northern Ireland.
64% of new inward investors go on to reinvest and companies like Terex, Citi, Baker McKenzie, Ernst & Young, and Seagate, have found that establishing an operation in Northern Ireland is so advantageous to their success that they have reinvested and strengthened their presence here.
Northern Ireland has built up clusters of excellence across several sectors including Tech, Life and health sciences, and Advanced manufacturing and engineering. We have a strong manufacturing heritage and have always been home to great engineers and a pioneering spirit, and that centuries-long tradition is still going strong. Our engineering DNA and world-leading tech sector expertise, in areas such as cyber security and software development, make Northern Ireland the ideal location for international business expansion.
There are also reliable and experienced supply chains, with over 100 companies within a one-hour drive of each other that link supply chains in key sectors including Aerospace, Materials handling, and Food and beverage. Businesses benefit from seamless shipment to GB and EU markets, free from tariffs, customs documentation and declarations. Companies also benefit from access to UK trade agreements.
It’s also a region committed to a sustainable future, promoting eco-friendly practices across industries. Northern Ireland is a leader in the connection of distributed renewable energy to the grid with over 49% of all energy used in the region coming from a renewable energy source.
World-class innovation
Northern Ireland has a rich heritage of innovation stretching back to at least the nineteenth century when Lord Kelvin created the absolute temperature scale and John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic tyre. Since then, innovators have created products and services
that have driven progress across Fintech, Cyber security, Aerospace, Materials handling, Financial and professional services, Life and health sciences, Green technologies and Construction.
Northern Ireland companies export their goods and services to over 100 countries around the globe and many have become internationally recognised brands.
Wrightbus created the world’s first double-deck hydrogen bus, and the world’s most efficient double-deck electric bus, helping to green public transport and advance sustainability. Wrightbus supplies hydrogen buses to Germany and earlier this year announced a new deal to provide a further 46, ordered by Cottbusverkehr GmbH to serve the city of Cottbus.
Pharma companies Randox and Almac have made a significant impact in the areas of diagnostics and drug development and are recognised worldwide as leaders in their fields, helping to create the healthcare of the future.
In Fintech and Data analytics, FD Technologies is working with some of the world’s largest Finance, Technology, Automotive, Manufacturing and Energy institutions to help them optimise business performance. Added to these are thousands of other Northern Ireland companies that are exporting innovative products and services worldwide, from award-winning Food and drink to Materials handling and Recycling equipment, as well as sophisticated cameras that have been used to find planets.
Unparalleled collaboration
Northern Ireland’s compact size makes it ideal for collaboration between industry, academia, and government. Its two world-class universities – Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University – are internationally recognised for the quality of their research and provide investors and local businesses with high-calibre research and development partners.
Invest Northern Ireland, the local economic development agency, provides comprehensive support and works alongside companies as a trusted business partner.
Financial and advisory support offered by the agency ranges across all aspects of business operations from increasing productivity and efficiency to improving skills, developing products and services and finding new markets.
Find Out More
To find out more about how Northern Ireland can support your business ambitions visit investni.com/Europe-And-Great-Britain.
By Gloria Methri Today Acquisition News Allianz Direct Allianz Group Swiss Re has agreed to sell iptiQ’s European P&C business to Allianz Direct, in line with its strategic decision to withdraw from iptiQ. Allianz Direct, the pan-European online insurer, will take over the risk carrier based in Luxembourg. iptiQ is a digital insurer that partners…
Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Stock photo: Getty Images
Representatives of Ukrainian business were invited to join the development of an internal plan for strengthening Ukraine.
Source: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Kyiv International Economic Forum, writes Interfax-Ukraine
Quote: “We offered business to join the development of an internal plan of the economic strategy. Yuliia Svyrydenko is the one spearheading this work. And the strategic vision of [Ukraine’s] business will be taken into account. Just like one of our key geopolitical aims will be in Europe. This is the foundation,” Zelenskyy said.Advertisement:
According to the president, an internal plan is being prepared these weeks, one of its key points will be the economic element, “where we can release the internal economic power of Ukraine through regulation, adequate competition, in order to empower Ukrainian sovereignty and protection from external aggression.”
Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief instructed its participants to prepare an internal plan for strengthening Ukraine.
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J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is known by everyone and loved by many but one installment of the series stands out above the others for its popularity.The first novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, has sold in excess of 120 million copies, making it one of the bestselling books in history. The Harry Potter brand has been estimated to be worth as much as £19.34 billion.Rowling’s books have sold more than 600 million copies worldwide, making them the best-selling book series in history.The last four books all set records as the fastest-selling books ever, with the final installment selling roughly 2.7 million copies in the United Kingdom and 8.3 million copies in the United States within twenty-four hours of its release.Harry Potter became increasingly popular after the films were made, adding value to the franchise.Surprisingly, twelve publishers had rejected the first Harry Potter book, Philosopher’s Stone, until Bloomsbury decided to pick it up.Deathly Hallows broke its pre-order record, with more than 500,000 copies pre-ordered through Barnes & Noble. This record statistic was broken by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, with 8.5 million copies sold, which was then shattered by Half-Blood Prince which sold 10.8 million copies.Rowling’s series has established itself as one of the most successful fictional works of all time, with an incredible amount of sales.The most successful books of the series are:Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – 120 millionHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – 77 millionHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – 65 millionHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – 65 millionHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – 65 millionHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – 65 millionHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – 65 million
One of the best animated films of all time has just been made available at no extra cost to Netflix subscribers.No, it’s not a Disney classic – it was actually released 10 years ago and hails from Ireland rather than Hollywood.Produced by the lesser-known studio Cartoon Saloon, they’ve been behind cult favourites like Wolfwalkers and the Netflix Original My Father’s Dragon.Now, their second animated feature, Song of the Sea, is available to stream and Netflix subscribers shouldn’t miss out.It’s widely considered one of the most beautifully crafted animated films of the 21st Century, and possibly ever made.Set in 1980s Ireland, the sweeping fantasy story follows a 10-year-old boy named Ben (played by David Rawle) who discovers his mute sister Saoirse is actually a selkie, a magical being who can shapeshift between human and seal.They’re whisked on a magical adventure along with their Old English Sheepdog Cú to help save the faerie from the Celtic goddess Macha and discover the secret behind the death of their mother.Song of the Sea already has a devoted cult following which is only set to grow now it’s been made widely available on Netflix – check out what some of its fans had to say.Carlos Aguilar of the Toronto Review wrote: “Watching Song of the Sea it is easy to assert that this is one of the most blissfully beautiful animated films ever made.“It is a gem beaming with awe-inspiring, heartwarming magic.”One of the film’s fans on Reddit said: “Song of the Sea is delightful. [It’s] such a beautifully crafted piece of animation that I initially mistook it for a Studio Ghibli project.“Every scene is enjoyable to watch, and any given frame could be displayed as its own work of art.“The story was good, the music was amazing, and the characters were all well rounded. I can’t believe it took me this long to watch it.”One five-star review on the film social media platform Letterboxd reads: “Song of the Sea has a fairly simplistic and straightforward story, but some of the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous animation I’ve ever seen.“In an age where mainstream animated films are computer animated, it’s a nice change of scenery to see something as artistically liberating as this.“The story and the art style feel like the Irish folk tale that it’s supposed to be, and it has a beautiful soundtrack to boot.”Another user wrote: “My experience watching this is equivalent to waking up from a pleasant dream: I’m in such a blissful state but I’m sad it’s over so quickly.”“My heart is so full with love after watching this,” a final fan said. “Everything about this was absolutely beautiful.“The animation was stunning and the story was so beautifully made. This entire film was hand drawn and that actually blows my mind. This was also nominated for the academy award for best animated feature, rightfully so.”Will you be giving Song of the Sea a go this weekend?Song of the Sea is available to stream on Netflix.