Businesses invited to Clipper information event

12 January 2016
Next week local businesses will have the opportunity to attend a special event to find out how they can get involved in the massive Clipper Race 2015-16 homecoming celebrations set to take over Derry in July 2016.
This is the third time the city has been asked to host one of the stopover visits in what has become one of the most significant global sporting events, followed by millions worldwide – the Clipper Race.
In 2014 the Foyle Maritime Festival generated visitor numbers of almost 150,000, as the riverside was thronged with spectators who greeted the arrival of the 12 strong Clipper 70 fleet.
This year’s festival will take place from July 9 – 17, and will include a packed programme of both quayside and river based events, presenting major opportunities for local businesses particularly those in the tourism and hospitality sectors, but open to all sectors.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Elisha McCallion commented “Our partnership with Clipper Ventures has been of major significance for the local economy, providing the opportunity for us to stage a world class festival and be a part of a major global sporting event.
“It has opened us up to new audiences and, building on the success of the previous two homecoming events, we have the opportunity to attract even more visitors this year. I would recommend that all local businesses find out more about the programme and their chance to play an active role in what promises to be the biggest event in the North West for 2016.”

In 2014 the Foyle Maritime Festival generated £3,183,208 throughout the city and district, providing a significant boost to the local economy.clipper

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Derry merger generates £1m jobs investment

13th January

Two leading creative companies based in Derry have joined forces as part of a global expansion by Wurkhouse.

Creative design company Blue Splat has been subsumed by the rapidly growing Wurkhouse in a merger deal which will see an investment of £1m and job creation in Derry.

The fusion of the digital firms is regarded as having cemented the Wurkhouse stable as the largest creative agency in the North West.

As a result of the merger Wurkhouse now employs 16 people at its Derry base in the Northern Ireland Science Park’s Innovation Centre.

As part of a £1m investment, the firm has plans to rapidly expand its Derry workforce in the next three years through sustained growth, particularly in export markets, notably in the US.

Managing Director Andy Sheen, founder and former director of Blue Splat, describes the merger as “a perfect fusion of skills under the roof of a truly complete creative agency”.

“Our headquarters in Northern Ireland is buzzing with creativity and digital know-how. Our new office in London is ready to go and our New York office is set to open for business in early 2016 – setting in motion our big push to expand our export capabilities to the US. We currently have a great team of people at our headquarters in Derry and our three year plan for growth envisages doubling our workforce here by 2019,” he adds.

Wurkhouse is currently in the process of acquiring a company in the US as part of its expansion programme.

“We are actively working on other mergers and acquisitions and hope to close something in the US in the coming months as we push to expand into that market,” he explains.

Wurkhouse has its headquarters in The Innovation Centre, Northern Ireland Science Park, Derry. The company creates, develops and markets brands both online and offline.

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New Ryanair Base at Belfast International Airport

7th January

The announcement that Ryanair will open a new base at Belfast International Airport has been warmly welcomed.

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell said: “The announcement that Ryanair will open a new base is very positive news for Belfast International Airport and for the whole of Northern Ireland. Ryanair’s decision to base three aircraft at Belfast International Airport sends a very positive message that Northern Ireland has a lot to offer airlines and Belfast International Airport is to be congratulated on securing this important investment.

“Ryanair’s new Gatwick service will be important for both business and leisure passengers and I am encouraged by the airline’s intention to open five additional new routes before the end of 2016. This investment by Ryanair is not only important for Northern Ireland’s connectivity; it will also result in the generation of new jobs and revenue.”

The Minister continued: “I have met with Ryanair to discuss route opportunities and will continue to take a keen interest in how we can maximise this important investment by both Ryanair and Belfast International Airport. Air connectivity is an important driver for economic growth and I have a strong commitment to developing the economy through prioritising business travel and inbound tourism connectivity for Northern Ireland. Work to progress an Air Route Development Fund for Northern Ireland is ongoing and I intend to be in a position to announce the way forward before the end of the financial year.”

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Foyle Maritime Festival Begins Promotional Campaign at London Boat Show

06 January 2016

Visit Derry, in partnership with Derry City & Strabane District Council, Foyle Port and the Loughs Agency preparing for a busy year of marketing the destination and this year’s Foyle Maritime Festival, starting with exhibiting at the London Boat Show, 8th – 17th January 2016.

The countdown is on to the highly anticipated Clipper Round the World Yacht Race stopover and Foyle Maritime Festival which will be hosted in the city from 9th – 17th July 2016 and the London Boat Show is the ideal platform to kick start the festival’s promotional campaign to a captive audience with a keen interest in sailing.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Elisha McCallion says the London Boat Show provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the festival and the city and district as a tourism and maritime destination. “The Boat Show attracts a huge audience of people who are interested in maritime activity and is the ideal location for us to promote our tourism offering, our maritime facilities and our up and coming Foyle Maritime Festival.”

John Pollock, CEO Loughs Agency, welcomes the prospect of Clipper returning to the Foyle, and Captain Bill McCann, Harbour Master at Foyle Port also commented “There is no doubt that the city’s Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Stopover and Foyle Maritime Festival has firmly established itself as one of the best in-port events on the global Clipper circuit. We look forward to welcoming the race and festival back to Foyle Port Marina this summer.”

 

 

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