In this episode of the NI Business Podcast, we feature Colm O’Farrell. Colm is the Managing Director of Deluxe Group, a family business founded in 1969 that has evolved from a decorative painting company into a global leader in themed entertainment, specialist fit-outs, and marine interiors. Having joined the company in his early twenties, Colm helped pivot Deluxe toward high-profile international projects, including landmark work for Disney and Universal. Looking ahead, the company is preparing for major growth across the Middle East and Europe, with plans to double its turnover and workforce in response to a surge in themed entertainment demand.

Connect with Colm on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/colm-o-farrell-3b049625

We hope you enjoyed this episode!

#business #advice #podcast #businessowner #businesstips #growth #businessgrowth #businesslesson #businessessentials #howtostartabusiness #businessstrategy #businesspodcast #motivation #success

In this episode o the NI Business Podcast, we feature Ross Harvey. Ross is the  founder of Rockford Security with over 25 years in the fire and security industry. Starting out as an electrical engineer, Ross turned his passion for protection and risk mitigation into a mission - helping others build safer environments through competency, training and consultancy. As a business owner, he's learned that resilience and cash flow are just as critical as technical know-how. Today, Ross is expanding his work through a new academy focused on upskilling the next generation of security professionals. His goal? To leave a legacy of empowerment, education and continuous improvement in an ever-evolving industry.

Connect with Ross on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-harvey-uk-security-consultant/

We hope you enjoyed this episode!

#business #advice #podcast #businessowner #businesstips #growth #businessgrowth #businesslesson #businessessentials #howtostartabusiness #businessstrategy #businesspodcast #motivation #success

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast, we feature Kevin Corrigan. Kevin is the CEO of Neueda, a rapidly growing training and learning solutions company serving global tech and financial institutions like Citibank, Dell and Ericsson. With over 30 years in IT, Kevin stepped into the leadership role 18 months ago and has since helped scale the business from a small associate model to a 50-person team. His biggest lessons as a founder centre around the importance of thoughtful hiring and trusting both his team and himself. Looking ahead, Kevin aims to expand Neueda’s reach into new sectors and deepen their impact through apprenticeships and partnerships with schools and universities.

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast, we feature Declan Kelly. Declan is a medical doctor turned tech founder and the CEO of Eolas Medical, a fast-growing platform transforming how healthcare professionals access medical knowledge at the point of care. With a background in emergency medicine and software engineering, Declan built Eolas to solve a problem he and his colleagues experienced daily - finding critical clinical information quickly and reliably. Today, Eolas supports over 300,000 users across 500+ sites worldwide, including 80% of NHS hospitals. Declan’s biggest lesson as a founder has been learning the value of patience and long-term thinking, especially in the healthcare space. Looking ahead, he’s focused on scaling Eolas to reach 50 million healthcare professionals globally, with the mission of powering every medical decision with real-time knowledge.

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast, we feature Paolina Hawthorne. Paolina is the Managing Director of Diversity NI, one of Northern Ireland’s leading interpreting and translation companies. Originally from Bulgaria, Paolina built the business from the ground up, offering face-to-face and remote language services in over 200 languages, with a focus on rare and hard-to-source dialects. Her journey has been marked by resilience, adaptability and a deep commitment to accessibility and inclusion. As she reflects on 15 years of entrepreneurship, Paolina continues to refine her company’s strategic direction while also working on two exciting books - one on interpreting and another chronicling the real-life highs and lows of running a small business.

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast, we feature Stuart McAllister. Stuart is the founder of Belfast Storm, an esports and gaming organisation rooted in community and competitive excellence. With a background as a former player and deep passion for the gaming world, Stuart has built his business to support young talent across Northern Ireland and beyond. As a business owner, he's learned the value of consistency, resilience, and investing in people - all while balancing the challenges of funding and growth. Looking ahead, Stuart’s focus is on building out coaching programs, school partnerships and creating infrastructure that gives gamers the resources they need to thrive.

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast we feature Mark Gilligan. Mark is the founder of Wizso, an innovative start-up tackling water waste with a simple yet effective product designed to reduce unnecessary toilet flushes. Drawing from his background as a civil engineer and global experience in water-scarce regions, Mark developed Wizso to help individuals and businesses lower their environmental footprint by avoiding the flush for small uses. His biggest learning as a business owner has been the importance of patience, realism, and trusting others. As Wizso prepares for full market launch, Mark is focused on expanding into commercial sectors like hospitality and exploring international opportunities. Be sure to turn into Mark's fascinating business journey!

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast we feature Ed Morgan. Ed is the CEO of DisplayNote, a collaboration technology company that simplifies content sharing in classrooms and meeting rooms around the world. Having joined the business in its earliest days, Ed has worn many hats - from marketing and sales to operations - before stepping into the CEO role following its 2023 acquisition by Velaris. His journey as a business owner has taught him the value of reflective decision-making, humble leadership and letting go to let others lead. Now focused on scaling the company’s global reach, Ed is steering DisplayNote toward smart, sustainable growth rooted in purpose and product excellence.

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast we feature Neil Bradley. Neil is the founder of KitchenOS, a tech company that develops software and solutions to help professional kitchens run more efficiently, reduce costs and improve profitability. With nearly 30 years of experience as a chef and restaurant owner, Neil’s first-hand understanding of the hospitality industry has been the foundation for building practical tools like Food Safe System and Waste. Transitioning from the heat of the kitchen to the world of technology wasn’t easy - Neil had to adapt to the slower pace of development and learn to lead in an unfamiliar space. Looking ahead, he aims to establish KitchenOS as the go-to technology partner for chefs and kitchens worldwide. Be sure to listen to Neil's business story

In this episode of the NI Business Podcast, we feature Seán McDermott. Seán is the founder and managing director of LoughTec, a cybersecurity and IT services firm based in Tyrone. A self-described 'accidental entrepreneur' with nearly two decades, Seán has built LoughTec from a two-person operation into a 30-strong team serving both local businesses and global enterprises with cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. Seán credits his growth to surrounding himself with experienced mentors, embracing continuous learning and fostering a strong team culture. Looking ahead, he aims to grow the company to 50 employees, focusing on managed security services and scaling sustainably through strategic planning and operational excellence. Be sure to catch Seán's Business story!