Join us for a sizzling Summer Social with the CEOs Connect network! It's the perfect opportunity to unwind, mingle, and enjoy some delicious pizza and refreshing drinks as we kick off the summer season. Take a well-deserved break, connect with fellow CEOs, and make lasting connections before the summer break. Don't miss this relaxed and enjoyable evening with your peers.

Venue and Time: TBC

Catalyst Partners EY are offering 15 CEO’s the opportunity to engaged in a 7 Drivers of Growth workshop. Based on extensive research looking into the growth journeys of highly successful businesses (including many start-ups and Unicorns) and market leading companies, EY has developed the 7 Drivers of Growth framework which will help you develop or enhance your growth strategy in a very pragmatic way.

The methodology is aimed at assessing the company’s maturity along the lines of seven critical growth drivers, defining your aspirations and developing the strategic roadmap to get there. The growth drivers cover: People, Technology, Operations, Customer, Finance, Transactions & Alliances and Risk. Please take a quick look (2 min) at this video: : 7D experience video (brightcove.net)

During this facilitated workshop the EY team will deep dive into three drivers: Customer, People and Finance  and discuss your growth driver(s) leveraging the EY 7 Drivers of Growth framework.

This event offers a dual perspective on how to attain these crucial incentives:

DIY Approach: Gain insights on the do-it-yourself (DIY) method for securing R&D tax credits. Discover the strategies and challenges involved in navigating this financial opportunity independently.

Delegating the Process: Learn about the benefits and considerations of delegating your R&D tax credit claims to experts in the field with PGR Advisory. Understand how this approach can optimise your claims from a risk and value perspective, while streamlining the process.

PGR Advisory will also provide additional insights including:

•          Latest changes to the legislation & associated guidance;

•          New additional statutory filing requirements;

•          HMRC compliance checks - the enquiry process & defence best practice.

In addition to these perspectives, CEOs will have the invaluable opportunity to share their own experiences with R&D tax credit claims. Hear firsthand accounts of successful claims, lessons learned, pitfalls to avoid, and insights into the evolving landscape of R&D incentives.

Don't miss this chance to unlock the full potential of your R&D investments whilst managing risk.

Get ready for "CEOs and Exits Unplugged," an exclusive event within the CEOs Connect network. During this unique gathering, you'll have the opportunity to hear directly from your fellow CEOs on their recent exits from their businesses. Confirmed speakers include Patricia O’Hagan, Core Systems Ashley Moore of Spatialest and Chris Armstrong from Overwatch Research. Gain valuable insights into their exit strategies, the reasons behind their timing, and a firsthand look at the exit process. After the fireside chat, the floor will open for an engaging and candid discussion where members can share their thoughts and experiences on exits.

This event promises to be an unfiltered and insightful exchange of knowledge and experiences related to the art of exiting a business. Don't miss this opportunity to tap into the wisdom of your peers and expand your understanding of the exit landscape.

Join our CEO Network for an insightful event on employee share options, featuring guest speaker Guy Kaufman from Vestd, their first visit to Northern Ireland. In this session we'll look at how to attract, retain and motivate talent using equity; the key questions to ask and the pitfalls to avoid. In particular, we'll focus on issues surrounding tax and conditionality. Hear firsthand experiences and stories from fellow CEOs about their journey with employee share options. Understand the reasons behind their decisions, whether they've chosen to implement share options or not. Don't miss this unique opportunity to expand your knowledge, connect with experts and peers, and make informed decisions regarding employee share options.

Join us for an exclusive CEO Network event focused on ISO 27001, the globally recognized standard for information security management. This event offers a unique dual perspective on achieving ISO 27001 compliance. You'll gain insights on two approaches: harnessing the power of your internal team or leveraging the wisdom of experienced consultants.

Discover the strategies, challenges, and benefits of ISO 27001 from those who have successfully implemented it. Our featured CEOs will share their experiences, shedding light on how ISO 27001 helped them win customers and enhance their organisation's cybersecurity posture.

This event provides an excellent opportunity for CEOs to network, exchange knowledge, and learn from each other's journeys toward ISO 27001 certification. Don't miss this chance to gain valuable insights and take your organisation's information security to the next level.

Mark your calendars for our Annual Summer Social at The Naut, Catalyst! Join us for a relaxed gathering with pizza and beer under the sun (weather permitting). It's a perfect occasion to unwind and socialize before we transition into the summer break period.

To RSVP, please contact adele.ward@wearecatalyst.org

DATE, TIME AND LOCATION TBC

We are currently exploring options for a 2-day retreat in June or July.

 
Meet the DIT Belfast team and learn about upcoming opportunities.

Hear from member Dan Crawford, Founder at Axial3D, on their recent funding deal success and what it took to get the deal across the line.

 
Learn more about opportunities for your business growth through grants and collaboration opportunities with Paul Malcolmson from Innovate UK. We will also hear from Andrew Woods of Catagen on their grant success story and ambitious plans. The Catalyst Open Innovation team will join the discussion.

BCC’s draft Belfast Economic Strategy is open for public consultation until 9th January 2023.The strategy sets an outline roadmap for the growth and development of Belfast’s economy from 2022 to 2030. It defines a set of levers to accelerate growth and create impact for local communities. The aim of this Economic Strategy is to deliver the promise of Belfast’s economic potential and position it as a driver for prosperity and growth across Northern Ireland. You can read the Draft Economic Strategy here.

Cathy Keenan, Enterprise and Business Growth Manager at BCC, will host a workshop for CEOs Connect members at Catalyst at 2pm on Thursday 5th Jan to gather your collective input.
 
There is also an opportunity to give your views by completing a short survey on BCC's consultation hub until Monday 9th January.

These days, companies not only have to brand themselves for customers, but also for potential employees. Employer branding helps with market positioning and to improve other HR processes – from recruiting to employee retention.

In this panel discussion we will hear about best practice from HR experts on how to develop your employee value proposition.