Slides from today's seminar  'Brexit, Resilience & Business Continuity in Uncertain Times' are available to download from the link below: Brexit Preparedness (Northern Ireland) - David West, Business Continuity Institute To download a copy of BCI's 'Good Practice Guidelines (Lite)' referenced in David's presentation please visit: https://www.thebci.org/training-qualifications/gpg-lite-2018.html 

The professional body for Chartered Accountants in Northern Ireland has announced a renewed partnership with Danske Bank. The partnership will see Danske Bank supporting a series of Chartered Accountants Ulster Society’s key events during the year, including its premier event, the Annual Dinner in March. The partnership will also see Danske Bank continue its sponsorship of the Ulster Society’s overseas Annual Conference, taking place in Madrid later this year. Danske Bank support for this event stretches back to 2001, covering sixteen conferences in cities such as New York, Lisbon, Chicago, Munich, Toronto, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Boston and Amsterdam.   The Ulster Society is a district society of Chartered Accountants Ireland, the largest professional body of accountants on the island of Ireland. It currently represents 4,600 members across Northern Ireland. Danske Bank is the largest of Northern Ireland’s local banks, with 42 branches and around 1,400 staff. The new agreement will see the two organisations partnering over the next two years. Zara Duffy, Head of Chartered Accountants Northern Ireland said: “Danske Bank is a key partner for Chartered Accountants Ulster Society, and we are delighted to extend that relationship. “Danske Bank brings a great deal of experience and insight which our members greatly appreciate, whether they work in practice, in industry or the voluntary sector. This partnership has allowed us to improve the profile and member experience at some of our most prestigious events and to draw on the expertise of key personnel at a challenging time for the local business sector.” Shaun McAnee, Managing Director of Corporate & Business Banking at Danske Bank added: “We are proud of our longstanding relationship with Chartered Accountants Ulster Society, and it is more relevant than ever. “We are seeing evidence of disruption in every sector of the economy, including financial services, and are preparing for a post-Brexit world.  By combining the expertise within Danske with that of our accountancy colleagues, together we can help to ensure NI businesses rise to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and help drive the Northern Ireland economy forward.” Pictured at the launch of the partnership are Niall Harkin, Chairman, Chartered Accountants Ulster Society; Zara Duffy, Head of Chartered Accountants Northern Ireland; and Shaun McAnee, Managing Director of Corporate & Business Banking at Danske Bank.

Ulster’s Chartered Accountants and Barclays have come together to raise a significant sum for local charity Autism NI. Chartered Accountants Ulster Society raised £8,500 for Autism NI at its Charity Lunch. This total was doubled to £17,000 by the event sponsor Barclays.   The charity event also raised over £7,000 worth of toys for the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul.   Niall Harkin, Chairman of Chartered Accountants Ulster Society said: “The Charity Lunch is a tremendous opportunity for the local business community to come together and help to make a difference for local charities. This year we had a record attendance of over 500 people and so we’re delighted to have raised this amount for Autism NI which is helping so many families across Northern Ireland.   John Mathers, Corporate Development Director of Barclays said: “Barclays is delighted to, once again, sponsor the Ulster Society Charity lunch. Ulster Society members are extremely generous in their donations of toys and money, helping to make a real difference. We know that the funds raised will help Autism NI to provide its excellent family helpline service.”   Kerry Boyd, Chief Executive of Autism NI said: “This is a fantastic amount of money that the Ulster’s Chartered Accountants and Barclays have raised and will make a huge difference as the need for autism support services in Northern Ireland is greater than ever.   “This money will be specially used for Autism NI’s Helpline service which is invaluable to local families, autistic individuals and professionals; receiving over 4,000 calls annually. Events like this are vital to the work the charity carries out and helps provide life-changing services and support to the 30,000 families living with the daily challenges of autism in Northern Ireland.”   Pictured at the cheque presentation in Belfast are Zara Duffy, Chartered Accountants Ireland; John Mathers, Barclays; Niall Harkin, Chartered Accountants Ulster Society; and Kerry Boyd, Autism NI.