JUNE: DIGITAL DNA LANDS IN BELFAST
Digital experts from organisations such as google, twitter, youtube, adobe, motorola and microsoft attended northern ireland technology summit digital dna, supported by the belfast telegraph, at belfast’s st george’s market on june 6 and 7.
The UK general election left the conservative party without an overall majority. but the dup entered into a confidence and supply agreement with the conservatives, with its 10 mps giving their support to the government on key matters. it’s hoped the agreement will bring extra funds to the northern ireland economy.
It was announced that castlecourt Shopping Centre in Belfast would be taken over “within weeks” in A £125m deal led by Co Down property firm Wirefox, headed up by BJ Eastwood.
It had been owned by the Hermes property fund since 2012. The Wirefox deal became the highlight of a slow year in the commercial property investment market. Many agents observe that Brexit is causing investors to hold back on committing to deals. However, Wirefox made other key acquisitions later in the year, including two office properties in Scotland.
It was another year of upheaval in the banking sector. Northern Ireland’s four major banks announced branch closures, and in June, Ulster Bank announced it’s seeking 51 redundancies in its debt management operation and 13 in its contact centre team.
Growth in the hotels sector wasn’t limited to Belfast. The Silverbirch Hotel revealed it completed a £3.5m refurbishment. Other hotel developments include plans for an extension at the Tullyglass House Hotel in Ballymena.