NEWS

Pictured (L-R) is Deirdre Steele (Group Head of Maple and May), Chris McGrath (Head of Legal Services), Shona Burke (Head of Customer Service Operations), Ken Ryan (Head of Facilities Management) and Leeanne Magee (Regional Head of Tenant and Client Services). One of Northern Ireland’s largest social housing providers has expanded its senior leadership team from 13 to 18 people as it prepares for further growth in housing, tenant services and its private rental business. Choi

Aerial CGI visualisation of the approved redevelopment A largely vacant former BT headquarters in Belfast city centre is set for a major transformation after plans were approved for a 135,931 sq ft office and retail development. Capital House, prominently positioned at the corner of Wellington Place and Upper Queen Street, will be extended and completely reclad to create 97,393 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation alongside three ground-floor retail units. The Belfast City C

(L-R) Laura McMinn, Tesco Northern Ireland Buying Manager, Alvin Donaghy, Commercial Manager at K&G McAtamney, Kenneth Herron, Tesco Northern Ireland Lead Fresh Buying Manager - Northern Ireland Product, Gordon McAtamney, Managing Director at K&G McAtamney, and Clare McCormack, Tesco Northern Ireland Assistant Buyer. Two long-established Ballymena meat businesses are supplying 12 products for Tesco Northern Ireland’s summer barbecue range, bringing decades of local butchery e

Petrol stations in Ballymena were among 87 Northern Ireland premises subjected to unannounced inspections as Trading Standards tested whether motorists were receiving the amount of fuel they paid for. Twelve of the 371 pieces of equipment examined between April and July were found to be outside the permitted margin of error. Any equipment presenting an issue was immediately withdrawn for repair, recalibration or adjustment. The Trading Standards Service has not disclosed whic

Staff from Pilgrim’s Europe announcing the opening of the company’s new Legacy Fund Charities, schools and community organisations in Ballymena can now apply for £5,000 to support projects intended to make a lasting difference locally. Food company Pilgrim’s Europe has opened applications to its new Legacy Fund, which will support initiatives in communities surrounding its sites across the island of Ireland. Who can apply? The fund is open to a broad range of applicants, incl

Galgorm Collection has announced a new three-year sponsorship partnership with Cullybackey Blues FC. Georgie Briota, Business Development Manager at Galgorm Collection is pictured alongside Joel Barr and the team from Cullybackey Blues FC. A new three-year partnership with Galgorm Collection will help Cullybackey Blues FC invest in player development, training and facilities as the club begins life in the second division of the Kinecx Energy Ballymena Saturday Morning League

Dobbies has confirmed that its Antrim garden centre will close at the end of October after its new landlord, Frasers Group, decided to redevelop the site for new retail and leisure uses. The retailer said its immediate priority is supporting colleagues affected by the closure, although the number of jobs involved has not been disclosed. Redeployment opportunities and individual support options will be explored. The store opened at The Junction Retail and Leisure Park in 2023

Ballymena BID is bringing businesses, families and visitors together for two major days of town-centre celebrations as Ballymena prepares to mark its 400th birthday. An End of Summer and Ballymena 400 Street Party will take over Greenvale Street on Saturday 22 August, before businesses across the town join the official birthday celebrations on Tuesday 25 August. The programme, with support from Department for Communities (DfC), will run alongside a number of anniversary event

Josh Hall, Head of Category and Trading at Sysco Ireland, Bronagh McQuail, Moocha Kombucha, Pamela Martin, Category Manager at Sysco Ireland, Kyle Greer, Development Chef at Sysco Ireland, Ruchira Rangaprasad, FibreUp, Alastair Bell and Kathleen Bell, Irish Black Butter, John Sloan, Loada Balls, Claire O'Kane, Mussenden Sea Salt, Amy Stewart, Glens of Antrim Group, John Sloan and Curtis Sloan, Loada Balls A County Antrim food producer is among six Northern Ireland businesse

Residents from Abbeyfield & Wesley’s Ballymena house kicks off festivities as the housing association, built on companionship and community, marks 70 years of ‘family-style’ living with celebrations across Northern Ireland. A pioneering approach to housing which has helped generations of older people remain independent while enjoying companionship and a sense of family is marking its 70th anniversary — with the celebrations beginning in Ballymena. More than 50 residents, rela

Jo Bamford CBE flanked with the Ryze Power team - Head of Engineering Pratik Nayek, Head of Power at HydraB Steven Hardman and Ryze senior engineer Jay Acanthe. Ballymena bus manufacturer Wrightbus has played a supporting role in a remarkable feat of British engineering after a hydrogen-powered supercar smashed a world land speed record at more than 406mph. Wrightbus owner Jo Bamford CBE said expertise developed through almost a decade of hydrogen work helped provide the refu

Power NI’s Senior Marketing Manager Amy Bennington pictured with some of Antrim’s All-Ireland Junior Football Championship winning team. A £1,200 Helping Hands boost from Power NI helped Antrim’s ladies prepare for a day to remember at Croke Park — one that ended with the Saffrons lifting the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship trophy after a breathtaking last-gasp victory over Carlow. The funding, provided by Power NI, part of Energia Group, was used by the Antrim LGFA

North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows talks with RetailNI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts during a visit to Fullan’s Foodhall in Portglenone North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has urged people to support independent retailers on their doorstep, saying local shops remain a vital source of jobs and community services at a time when many businesses are facing “significant pressures”. Mr Burrows made the comments following a visit to EUROSPAR Portglenone as part of Retail NI’s High Street Heroes c

Aldi has hundreds of supermarkets across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, yet Northern Ireland remains a conspicuous gap in its network — and a new competition ruling involving both Aldi and Lidl has put the reasons for that absence back under the spotlight. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that Aldi, Lidl Great Britain and Lidl Northern Ireland should be brought under rules designed to prevent major supermarket chains using land

(L-R): Paul Frew MLA, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, Paula Campbell of Fullan’s Food Hall Portglenone, RetailNI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts and Jon Burrows MLA. People across Ballymena and the wider Mid and East Antrim area are being encouraged to put their favourite shops, retail workers and high streets in the running for recognition on the Northern Ireland stage. The public vote is now open for the High Street Heroes Awards 2026, giving customers th

Immigration officers have carried out more than 100 visits targeting suspected illegal working across Northern Ireland in the first half of 2026, resulting in 123 arrests as enforcement activity reaches record levels. New Home Office figures show released today, Friday, August 6, Northern Ireland Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) teams carried out 103 visits across Northern Ireland during the first six months of the year — a 43% increase — while arrests rose by 16%

Ballymena artist Nigel Allison A Ballymena artist whose paintings are now hanging in private collections across the UK and overseas is continuing to expand his business while showcasing the landscapes of Northern Ireland to an international audience. Nigel Allison, who is based at Ballymena Business Centre in Galgorm, has built a growing reputation for expressive seascape paintings inspired by the North Antrim Coast and the Wild Atlantic Way. From local inspiration to interna

Ballymena Pet Vets on Henry Street, Ballymena For most pet owners, there are few decisions more important than choosing the right vet. Whether it’s an excited puppy’s first vaccination, an ageing dog beginning to slow down, a rabbit refusing to eat or the heartbreaking moment a beloved companion becomes seriously ill, every visit comes with one thing in common: trust. It’s that trust that Ballymena Pet Vets has worked to earn since opening its independent practice on Henry St

Preparations are continuing to get the premises in Ballymena town centre ready for the new coffee shop and amusement arcade. Planning permission has been approved by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the change of use of a retail unit into a coffee shop and amusement arcade in Ballymena town centre. The proposal relates to a vacant retail premises at 41–43 Church Street, which planning documents say has stood empty for several years after accommodating a number of diffe

CGI showing elevations of approved plans to create 19 town centre apartments at a historic former bank building in Ballymena. Planning permission has been granted to transform a historic former bank building in Ballymena town centre into 19 apartments. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved the application at a meeting in The Braid on Thursday morning. The proposal will see the partial demolition of the building at 97 Mill Street, alongside its ada