James Mcnaney

Holywood-based insulation company Energystore says its thermal lightweight aggregate (TLA) was used throughout Everton’s 53,000-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool and in the Riverside Stand redevelopment at Fulham’s Craven Cottage. The company says the product reduced required screed thickness, lowered material use and cut the estimated carbon impact of the Everton project, while also meeting acoustic and technical requirements at Fulham. Managing director Connor McCandless called the work a proud moment and an endorsement of Northern Irish innovation. Energystore reported £24 million in turnover, £3.8 million in pre-tax profit and 103 employees in 2025.

Boots has opened a new store at Belfast City Airport, creating 13 permanent jobs. The location will sell health, beauty and wellness products, including summer travel essentials, and is intended to give passengers convenient access to everyday items before flying. Airport and Boots representatives said the store expands retail choice and improves the passenger experience.

Belfast Tradfest opened with a large outdoor Titanic Céilí attended by thousands despite heavy rain. The eight-day festival will feature almost 600 events across 40 venues, including concerts, céilís, traditional-music sessions, crafts and a summer school with 1,100 students. Organisers expect more than 40,000 visitors from over 30 countries, with the festival forming part of a two-week celebration of traditional music alongside Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Performers and participants highlighted the growth of the city’s traditional-music scene, its Irish and Scottish influences, and its potential to foster cross-community connections.

Around 100 Belfast businesses have received permission to trade during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, including 60 operating within the city-centre pedestrian zone and 40 elsewhere. Additional outdoor, indoor and entertainment licences have been granted, while Belfast City Council expects the festival to boost jobs, international exposure, footfall and sales. Shuttle buses, park-and-ride services, designated taxi points and late-night buses will support visitors, particularly during the busiest period from August 6 to 9.

Wrightbus is expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region by promoting three zero-emission bus models at a major Sydney trade expo as part of efforts to boost sales in Australia. The company is showcasing its StreetDeck 6x2 battery-electric double decker, recently ordered by Hong Kong’s Citybus, alongside two Kite single-deck models. Company leadership and UK trade representatives emphasised the strategic importance of the Australian market, the firm’s role in supporting clean transport goals and the broader opportunity created by rising investment in decarbonisation across Asia Pacific.

Oakleaf Contracts has launched a modular building division in a new 65,000‑square‑foot factory in Lancaster, creating 50 jobs. The facility has secured a contract to supply 3,300 modular bathroom pods for a student accommodation project and plans to serve residential, hotel and healthcare sectors. Company leaders emphasize the benefits of offsite construction, including reduced labour demands, improved quality control and sustainability gains, positioning the firm for long‑term growth and wider sector partnerships.

Beggs and Partners plans further growth in southeast England as managing director Neil Bleakly highlights recent acquisitions and shifting consumer preferences in the plumbing and bathroom market.

David Watson, a developer from Belfast’s Shankill Road now living in Brighton, created the web-based game Superprod as both a nostalgic homage to his 1980s childhood and a tribute to his daughter Charlie, who died after a five-year battle with Neuroblastoma. The game features surreal recreations of 11th night celebrations and includes Charlie’s image as a memorial. Watson describes the project as a way of coping with grief while celebrating the community he grew up in and the positive memories that shaped him.