Ulster Bank has partnered with Belfast Chamber of Commerce to deliver a series of events aimed at the city’s business community, to help provide them with support and networks needed to get back on track after a challenging year.
‘Belfast Talks Business’ will be a mix of panel discussions, one-to-one interviews, and presentations, with each event exploring a different theme to inform and inspire business owners across a range of sectors.
The first event will take place on Thursday 29 April and will focus on health tech.
During this session, speakers will explore the many benefits of having a thriving health-tech sector in Belfast, what this means in the context of a global health pandemic and what impact the City Deal’s focus on this industry will have.
Speakers will include Ulster University’s Professor Jim McLaughlin, and Dr Roisin Molloy and Julie Brien from TriMedika.
Attendees will hear how TriMedika, a Belfast-based producer of smart medical devices, experienced a huge surge in demand for their contactless thermometers during the pandemic.
The TriMedika team will share their insights and experiences of bringing innovative medical solutions to market and how they have pivoted during the last year to make these products available to consumers.
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Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber said he was looking forward to hearing from business leaders and entrepreneurs who will play a crucial role in the city’s recovery post-Covid.
“The focus of the first ‘Belfast Talks Business’ is a perfect example," he said. "Health has been to the forefront of our minds this past year.
"What we sometimes don’t fully appreciate is that Belfast has a long tradition of companies producing innovative healthcare technologies.
"With the help of Professor Jim McLaughlin from Ulster University – recognised in 2019 as one of the ‘Nation’s Lifesavers’ for his work in making a life-changing difference to our health and wellbeing – and local health tech innovators, we will examine why Belfast is a world leader and how, in the context of a global pandemic the city is well placed the lead the world in this growing sector?”
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Aileen Lagan, Director of Business Banking with Ulster Bank, is hopeful that the series will strengthen the relationship between Ulster Bank and Belfast Chamber, and is "excited" to hear the speakers' ideas.
She said: “Throughout the pandemic, Ulster Bank has been focused on providing financial support for our customers but as a purpose-driven organisation, we accept that we have a larger role to play in helping towns and cities across Northern Ireland make a recovery.
“Fostering closer relationships with organisations such as Belfast Chamber will allow us to deliver on this aim and I am hopeful that the ‘Belfast Talks Business’ series will engage local business owners and key stakeholders."
While the first session will take place virtually, Ulster Bank and the Belfast Chamber hope that as Covid restrictions ease, some of the later events can take place on a face-to-face basis.
Other event themes in the series will include Belfast’s Industrial Giants, FinTech and Cyber Security, and Green Growth.
You can register to join the first event at 10am on Thursday 29 April by visiting the Belfast Chamber website at https://belfastchamber.com/
