Belfast Telegraph today launches a local business TV service with a series of thought-provoking interviews with industry leaders on the current challenges facing SMEs.
BT Business TV contributors include Joanne Stuart, chair of the Institute of Directors (IoD); Alastair Hamilton, Invest Northern Ireland chief executive; Frank Hewitt, chief executive Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) and Liam Nellis, InterTradeIreland chief executive.
The 10 leaders, interviewed by Gary Grattan from Belfast Telegraph TV , have each tackled three issues which they believe are currently facing businesses in Northern Ireland.
Ms Stuart said: “It is a very difficult time and it continues to be so. I know we have had some talk about green shoots but it’s still very challenging for businesses.
“I think we are seeing that decline lessening slightly but we certainly do not think we have reached the bottom of this recession.”
Challenges the IoD boss identified included SMEs securing finance, winning business in the current economic climate and developing skills.
Invest NI’s Alastair Hamilton said: “It is important that companies look to the future because we will come out of this recession. I would encourage companies to look to where they want their business to be in two, three, five years time.” Mr Hewitt from NISP said Northern Ireland’s workforce needs to be equipped to take its place in the scientific and technological industries of tomorrow. He added that local businesses must develop their export potential. Although InterTradeIreland boss Liam Nellis believes that this recession has hit Northern Ireland particularly hard, he said: “We will come out of it more quickly than before.”
Sam McIlveen, Digital Publisher Belfast Telegraph, said: “Belfast Telegraph and weekly supplement Business Telegraph, have achieved a very strong position as the leading business read in Northern Ireland. Our objective is to build on this success and for our business coverage both in print and on-line to become the first point of call for local business people looking for updates on business issues, intelligent comment and business opportunities. We see BT Business TV as an important first step as cross platform publishers and look forward to developing this channel over the coming months.”
Other contributors include economist John Simpson, Bob Barbour, director for Centre for Competitiveness; Stephen Kingon, chairman of Invest NI; entrepreneur Alan Watts, director of Halo; Brian Ambrose, chief executive of George Best Belfast City Airport and Ian Jordan, head of Ulster Bank’s business centres. See www.belfast|telegraph.co.uk/btbusinesstv.