NEWS

Pictured (L-R) are: George McKinney, Interim Director of International Business, Invest Northern Ireland and Brian Graham, Managing Director of Leyton UK and Ireland. Tuesday 06 October 2026 An international consultancy firm has chosen Northern Ireland over alternative locations across Great Britain and Ireland for a new professional services hub, creating 12 specialist jobs in Belfast over the next two years. Leyton UK, the GB office of French-owned consultancy firm Leyton,

Alex O’Hara, centre, from The Castle Kitchen and Bar, Galgorm Collection, was crowned Cocktail Bartender of the Year at the inaugural Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition. Alex is pictured alongside judges, from left, Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, Paula McIntyre, celebrity chef, Paul Flynn, MCM Spirits and Giffards and Ryan Brown, Edward Dillon. Monday 05 October 2026 A Galgorm bartender has been crowne

Jason Lorimer, Manufacturing Director (left), and John McLeister, MD Sales, UK and Ireland, with Tracy Brabin. Monday 05 October 2026 A new fleet of almost 200 zero-emission buses destined for West Yorkshire is beginning to take shape at Wrightbus in Ballymena, ahead of a major overhaul of the region’s public transport network. The first buses were viewed on the production line by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin during a visit to the Ballymena factory, where the vehicles ar

Coleraine Magistrates’ Court Friday 02 October 2026 A 24-year-old Coleraine woman has been fined £1,500 after admitting offences involving the unlawful possession of unauthorised prescription medicines intended for sale or supply. Alana Dalton, of Kenton Drive, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court today in relation to five offences under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. She received fines totalling £1,500 along with a £15 offender levy. Medicines seized from Colerain

Hannah McDowell, Centra, Phoenix Antrim Road, Ballymena, with Lauren Stewart, Green Field Marketing Friday 02 October 2026 Two Ballymena convenience stores have won prizes worth a combined £1,200 through a drinks supplier’s retailer incentive scheme. Centra on Antrim Road secured one of AG Barr’s top £1,000 prizes, while Centra on Frosses Road received £200. MACE in Cloughmills also picked up a £100 prize. The stores are among 12 Northern Ireland retailers to have shared £5,2

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir addressing the All-Ireland Sustainability Festival of Sustainable Impact Thursday 01 October 2026 Northern Ireland businesses that cut waste, use resources more efficiently and invest in innovation will be better placed to grow and attract investment, Environment Minister Andrew Muir has said. Speaking at a sustainability festival in Belfast, the DAERA Minister argued that environmental action was becoming central to business success, with implicati

Thursday 01 October 2026 Pilgrim’s Europe says around £155 million of potential investment in Northern Ireland farms is being held back by planning delays, warning that future growth and jobs could depend on speeding up decisions needed to expand poultry capacity. The warning comes as the food giant, which incorporates Moy Park, reported increased revenue and operating profit for 2025 and highlighted the scale of its Northern Ireland operations, including four food plants and

Pictured at the Giant’s Causeway to launch this year’s competition is Alderman Thomas Gordon, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and founder of Noord and winner of last year's Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch, Sander Van Eck. Wednesday 30 September 2026 Ten entrepreneurs from across Mid and East Antrim will put their business ideas before judges this Friday, competing for £1,000 and the chance to represent the borough at a Northern Ireland final. From artisan baking a

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, helps launch the new Go Succeed AI Advantage Programme at the Ecos Hub in Ballymena Tuesday 29 September 2026 Small businesses across Mid and East Antrim are being offered practical help to use artificial intelligence in everyday work, from handling customer enquiries and processing documents to marketing and planning. The new AI Advantage Programme will combine five specialist workshops with tailored one-to-one mentoring,

Galgorm Collection will become the first hospitality employer in Northern Ireland to provide its employees with access to subsidised childcare. Pictured from left: Katherine Baillie and her daughter Lily; Bronagh Creery, Senior Director, Sleepy Hollow Group; Nikolai Koplewsky, Director of Sleepy Hollow Group; and Laura Millar, People and Development Associate Director at Galgorm Collection. Monday 28 September 2026 Galgorm Collection is introducing subsidised childcare for it

FEAT4’s new premises opening soon in Belfast Monday 28 September 2026 Two Dungannon brothers are preparing to open a major new padel and wellness destination in Belfast next month following a multi-million-pound investment that will create 15 jobs. FEAT4, developed by brothers Charlie and Edward Conroy, is transforming the former Ulster Tatler headquarters at 39 Boucher Road into an indoor sport, recovery and social venue combining padel courts with Pilates, physiotherapy, re

Site for Lidl’s proposed new concept store in Ballymena Thursday 24 September 2026 Plans for one of Northern Ireland’s largest Lidl stores have come under fresh scrutiny after independent retail experts said they are not yet satisfied that the need for the major Ballymena development has been demonstrated — or that it would avoid significant adverse impacts on the town centre. The findings are contained in a detailed independent Retail Audit commissioned by Mid and East Antri

McDonald’s Ballymena where McHappy Day will be celebrated this upcoming weekend Wednesday 23 September 2026 Northern Ireland has emerged as one of the UK’s most generous regions in a new survey released ahead of the first McHappy Day in the UK and Ireland this weekend. McDonald’s commissioned the research before the fundraising day on Saturday 26 September, when £1 from every qualifying main meal sold will be donated to Ronald McDonald House UK and Ronald McDonald House Irela

Tuesday 22 September 2026 A Ballyclare builder has been given a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of six fraud offences in a case involving a Belfast homeowner who paid more than £32,000 for an extension that was left substantially unfinished. The homeowner had agreed a £32,000 price with Kyle Agnew, 38, of Charles Drive, Ballyclare, who was trading as KA Building Services. By February 2022, £31,825 had been paid, but major elements of the project remained in

Tuesday 22 September 2026 Ballymena’s Merchant Fish and Chips has been named among the UK’s top 40 fish and chip takeaways, putting the local business back in contention for one of the industry’s biggest national honours. The Merchant is one of just four Northern Ireland businesses to make the longlist for Takeaway of the Year at the National Fish & Chip Awards, which are now in their 39th year. Ballymena chippy back in national spotlight The recognition continues a strong ru

CGI showing the newly approved Warehouse set to bring investment and jobs in County Antrim with the arrival of James Latham Timber PLC Tuesday 22 September 2026 A new £10 million warehouse and distribution facility has been approved for County Antrim, with the investment expected to create around 10 jobs and contribute an estimated £2.76 million a year to the local economy. The development at Houston’s Corner, Newtownabbey, will become a new facility for James Latham Timber P

Monday 21 September 2026 Glens of Antrim Potatoes has ceased trading after administrators were appointed to the long-established County Antrim business, with almost all of its 95 employees made redundant. The company, which has operated for more than 50 years and has sites in Cushendall and Ballymena, supplied potatoes to major retailers across Ireland and also produced the Glens of Antrim Crisps range. Administrators appointed Stuart Irwin, Ian Leonard and Robin Coughlin fro

Monday 21 September 2026 McDonald’s customers in Ballymena will be able to help families with seriously ill children simply by ordering a qualifying meal this Saturday, as the restaurant chain brings McHappy Day to Northern Ireland for the first time. The fundraising day takes place on Saturday 26 September, with £1 from every qualifying main menu meal sold at participating restaurants donated to Ronald McDonald House charities. Money raised will help provide free accommodati

Ballymena Business Centre is marking the achievements of two highly successful projects, Enabling Enterprise and 4i Innovation, funded by The Gallaher Trust. Pictured are, from left, Stephen Scullion, Ballymena Business Centre Manager, Ryan Burton from Peak Shaving, Ian Paisley, Chairman of The Gallaher Trust, Taig Brookes, from Airtac and Melanie Christie-Boyle MBE, Chief Executive, Ballymena Business Centre. Monday 21 September 2026 Two Ballymena business support programme

Sunday 20 September 2026 M&S has confirmed its newly expanded Aldergrove store will reopen at 9am on Thursday 8 October following a major transformation that has increased the shop by 50%. The expansion into the neighbouring service station unit will bring more than 2,000 additional products to the store, alongside new facilities and a significantly wider M&S Food range. Bigger store and wider food range Among the changes will be a larger in-store bakery, upgraded coffee-to-g