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abc sports awards launch 2022

ABC Senior Sports Awards 2022

Sports Awards Sponsorship

Ulster is proud to be the Headline Sponsor for the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Senior Sports Awards 2022.

“Organised by the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Sports Forum in association with the Council, the annual awards recognise the wealth of sporting talent in the borough and celebrate the achievements of those who have excelled in their chosen sport, as well as recognising the invaluable contribution from our coaches and volunteers.”

At Ulster, we have always had a deep-rooted relationship with sport, and it is great to be associated with something that recognises the achievements of local sportspeople.

abc sports awards launch 2022

At the launch of the awards, our Managing Director, Nick Coburn said, “Since the company was established, our ethos has been to support our local community in any way that we can.  Sport plays such an important role in bringing people together from all walks of life and in instilling values such as fairness, discipline, perseverance and respect, values we also admire in our employees.  We are very much looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our sports stars at the ABC Senior Sports Awards.”

The awards will take place on Thursday 3 March 2022 at the Belmont House Hotel, Banbridge. In the meantime, nominations are open online until Friday, December 31st at 5 pm.

If you’d like to nominate, go to https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/resident/abc-sports-forum/#sportsawards

For more information on the awards and our sponsorship, click here.

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CDPB Fellowship Launch

CDPB FELLOWSHIP LAUNCH

SUPPORTING PEACE AND DEMOCRACY

Ulster Carpets is supporting a prestigious new Fellowship programme by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building.

Our Managing Director, Nick Coburn, is on the Fellowship’s Advisory Board and he recently joined business, political and civic leaders at Stormont to launch the new programme. Nick was also part of a panel discussion exploring the Spirit of Possibility along with Belfast Lord Mayor, Kate Nicholl, UN Youth Delegate, Tara Grace Connolly, and FinTru CEO Darragh McCarthy.

The aim of the fellowship programme is to support, develop and build the capacity of 24 mid-career leaders in civic society, business, and politics in Northern Ireland.

“Ulster Carpets was established to create jobs towards the end of the 1930’s Depression and this is another step in that journey,” explained Nick. “We don’t see Ulster Carpets as just a business but part of the fabric of our community.

Nick Coburn Ulster Carpets
Nick Coburn, our Managing Director, speaks at the Fellowship launch.

“That ethos has led us to developing links within the community and supporting local ventures. Through this, we have seen the positive impact this has had and, by supporting the work of the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building we believe we can create more optimism and hope for the future.”

The leadership symposium at Stormont is the first step in the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building’s ambitious plans.

The programme aims to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure that current and future political and civic leaders in Northern Ireland are best placed to lead us into the next decade.

The Fellowship is delivered by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building (CDPB), working with key stakeholders and facilitators from the business sector and leading academic institutions. As well as Ulster Carpets, the programme is supported by Allstate NI, Devenish, FinTrU, Fujitsu NI, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For more information on their work, visit https://democracyandpeace.org/

You can also keep up to date with all things Ulster by signing up for our newsletter here.

MINISTERIAL VISIT FOCUSES ON SUSTAINABILITY

Ulster Carpets have reaffirmed their commitment to sustainability during a visit by UK Government Business Minister Paul Scully MP to our Portadown headquarters.

Ulster are the premier supplier of Axminster and Wilton carpets to the world market and the focus of the visit was our ongoing sustainability initiatives that have targeted areas such as water reduction, resource efficiency, waste management and energy usage.

Nick Coburn, Managing Director of Ulster Carpets, commented, “The Minister’s visit is a great opportunity to outline our continuing commitment to protecting the planet.

“Through innovative thinking and a long-term investment strategy we have developed efficient and sustainable processes without compromising on performance and luxury. We have made great strides forward in recent years and through further targeted investment we plan to cut our carbon footprint even further.”

UK Government Business Minister Paul Scully, added, “The UK Government’s on a mission to build back better and greener from the pandemic and sustainable businesses like Ulster Carpets are at the heart of this. I look forward to seeing where their next innovation takes them.”

UK Government Business Minister Paul Scully MP tours the innovative Dyehouse and Energy Centre at Ulster Carpets.

During his visit, the Minister learned more about the sustainable processes at Ulster Carpets, ranging from the use of wool, which is a rapidly renewable material, in their carpets through to the manufacture of Axfelt, a luxury underlay made from 100% waste materials.

Plans are now in place to build on the success of Ulster’s Recycling Hub and to power the company’s manufacturing facilities using green energy.

 

Read more about our sustainability commitments HERE

SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH OLIVIA MEHAFFEY

Ulster Carpets have become sponsors of leading Northern Ireland golfer, Olivia Mehaffey.

Following a highly successful amateur career, the 23-year-old made her professional debut at Symetra Tour’s Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship in Orlando at the end of May.

Olivia made it clear that a connection to home was a necessity when it came to her sponsors and she is proud to be representing Ulster Carpets whose headquarters are less than 10 miles from her family home in Northern Ireland.

Nick Coburn, Managing Director of Ulster Carpets, commented, “Olivia has shown real dedication in building a successful amateur career and has become such a positive ambassador for Irish golf. As she moves onto the professional stage, we are delighted to become one of her sponsors and to support Olivia in her ambitions of inspiring more girls to take up golf and to attract more women to sport.”


Olivia has also announced her signing with Dublin based sports management company Sigmoid Sports, which was co-founded by high performance coach, David Kearney alongside Rob Browne. Sigmoid Sports offers a slightly different approach to sports management where the performance and overall care of the athlete is the absolute number one priority.

In addition to Ulster Carpets, Olivia will also be sponsored by the globally diversified industrial company, Carlisle Companies, New York headquartered entertainment venue, Five Iron Golf, Dublin and Belfast based IT recruitment experts, Realtime, and Belfast’s Aktivora.

A former player at Tandragee Golf Club, in recent years Olivia has been based at Arizona State University where she is only the third, four-time All American in ASU history. Her representative honours include numerous appearances for Ireland as well as two Curtis Cup and Palmer Cup team selections.

Olivia intends to play tournaments in both the US and in Europe through sponsor invites until she heads to Q-School in August with the aim of gaining full status on the LPGA Tour.

 

 

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Ulster Carpets have become a Patron of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber).

As a new NI Chamber Patron, we join a select group of leading businesses who lend their support to the development of the region’s economy and business community. The partnership offers mutual benefit and will see Ulster Carpets now benefit from increased brand exposure among the business community and close association with a leading membership organisation.

Announcing the Patronage, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, NI Chamber said:

“Ulster Carpets has a strong relationship with NI Chamber and has lent its support to our Learn Grow Excel business support programme for a number of years. Off the back of this success, I am delighted to announce that the company has decided to strengthen this association further, by coming on board as one of our Patrons.

“Ulster Carpets is a significant employer and one of Northern Ireland’s best-known export success stories. We really value its support and look forward to continuing to work with the team as we support businesses across the region to reach their full potential.”

Nick Coburn, Group Managing Director and Deputy Chairman at Ulster Carpets, and Board Member and Past President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, added:

“Ulster Carpets are delighted to become a Patron of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce. We have supported the Chamber for many years and have first-hand experience of how the essential work they undertake on behalf of businesses across Northern Ireland positively impacts on the local economy.

“Ulster’s global outlook is balanced by a focus on supporting our local community and the Northern Ireland economy and these are attributes that we share with the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”

Ulster Carpets joins a list of NI Chamber Patrons which also includes Caterpillar, Danske Bank, DSV, fonaCAB, Investec, Moy Park, Pinsent Masons, Power NI, Randox, Queen’s University, Ulster Bank and Ulster University Business School.

Widad Neiroukh, Head of Design in the Middle East

ULSTER DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT TO MIDDLE EAST MARKET

Ulster Carpets have strengthened their position in the Middle East market by appointing a new Head of Design for the region.

“Our customers in the Middle East appreciate the unique design capabilities that we can offer and the high levels of quality we deliver,” commented Elaine Patterson, Contract Sales Director for Europe and the Middle East at Ulster Carpets. “Having a dedicated and knowledgeable sales team in the Middle East has been integral to our success in this important market and this latest announcement further demonstrates our commitment to the region.

“We are currently working on a number of exciting projects in the Middle East and, as the hospitality sector continues to reopen, we are confident of adding to this.”

Ulster Carpets, B2B Tower, Al Abraj Street, Business Bay, Dubai

In a move that will promote further growth, relocating to the B2B Tower at Al Abraj Street, in association with local on-shore company, Al Ghetaa Trading LLC, places Ulster at the heart of the important Business Bay and Design District in Downtown Dubai.

Ulster has also boosted an already successful team with the appointment of Widad Neiroukh as Head of Design in the Middle East. Widad has extensive experience in the carpet industry and she has worked on a range of high-profile projects across the world.

“Ulster’s reputation for innovative design and the highest quality carpets attracted me to the company,” said Widad. “I also share their philosophy of building successful relationships and I am excited to be working with such a forward-thinking company.”

Widad joins Ulster’s dedicated Middle East team that includes Sam Khodr, General Manager Middle East Office, Isaac McElroy, Regional Sales Manager, and Marilou Pantila, Sales Administrator.

Sam is well respected in the industry for his knowledge of the Middle East market while Isaac has global sales expertise, having worked in the Middle East, Central Asia and Russia before joining Ulster Carpets. They are backed up by Marilou, in our sales administration department, who ensures the highest levels of customer service.

The Middle East team is supported by design, planning and manufacturing expertise at Ulster’s head office in Northern Ireland.

As the premier supplier of Axminster and Wilton carpets to the hospitality sector across the world, Ulster have worked on a wide range of projects for all the leading hotel brands right across the Middle East, including in Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

To contact the Middle East team CLICK HERE or for a closer look at some of our Middle East projects, CLICK HERE

ULSTER NAMED BEST LUXURY COMMERCIAL CARPET MANUFACTURER

The judges at the 2020 Hospitality Awards have named Ulster Carpets as the Best Luxury Commercial Carpet Manufacturer 2020.

Established by LUXlife Magazine, the Hospitality Awards are designed to reward and recognise the firms, and the individuals behind them, that have worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to achieve industry leading success, client satisfaction and market growth.

Ulster’s submission to the awards was judged alongside information collated by an independent research panel. To receive an award, there had to be evidence of expertise within our industry, a dedication to customer service and client satisfaction, and an ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation.

Recognising our success in the hospitality industry across the world, the award once again demonstrates our unique combination of design, quality and service.

Take a closer look at some of our projects – www.ulstercarpets.com/contract/projects

Need Help? We are Here!

To our clients worldwide

Firstly we hope and trust that you and your families are safe and well in what is a very uncertain time for us all.

We are all adapting to new ways of working and communicating with each other and remain committed to providing the support for your projects that you have come to expect from Ulster.

Our designers, planners & sales staff across the world are working actively from home to bring your projects to life. Design work, colour support, plans & commercial specifications are all available through our highly skilled teams.

Our online portal provides you with endless design inspirations, access to our wide range of colours and the opportunity to bring your creative ideas to the fore.

Handtrials and colour tufts are also available for despatch, on our fast 3 day turnaround, from our head office to assist you with your project development.

We are here to do our part in keeping your projects on track so please don’t hesitate to contact your local sales representative if we can help in any way.

Above all stay safe and well.

A Flying Carpet that Breaks the Boundaries

JAN BOWMAN

A Flying Carpet that Breaks the Boundaries

Ulster Carpets has contributed to the forthcoming ‘Woven Forms: Breaking the Boundaries’ exhibition by weaving artist, Jan Bowman, which is being held at the Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster.

This summer exhibition of contemporary and traditional woven forms – which runs from 29 June to 18 September, 2019 – sees Jan break the boundaries of weaving by creating woven spatial divides, panels and sculptural pieces.

Her work – which also appeared at the Saatchi Gallery in spring – embraces a high level of craftsmanship and aims to challenge the conventional limits of the discipline by transforming traditional woven forms into contemporary installations.

These themes will be incorporated into a display during the exhibition by Ulster that showcases a past collaboration with artist, Seyed Alavi, to design and weave a bespoke carpet for Sacramento Airport.

This extraordinary carpet design will be on display, giving visitors a chance to see the stunning design for this ambitious project, without having to travel to California.

Seyed used aerial photographs of Sacramento as the basis for his design, recalling the experience of flying to create a luxurious welcome for visitors. By depicting the larger geographical area, the carpet reinforces a sense of belonging and creates a connection with the local landscape for the traveller.

Seyed provided aerial images and design concepts to Ulster’s design team, who translated them into a format suitable for woven Axminster carpet.
Weaving this large, complex design also demonstrates how Ulster continues to break boundaries. The Sacramento Airport carpet is completely unique and it would have been impossible to create this design without using Ulster’s patented PSYLO™ weaving technology.

PSYLO™ has revolutionised the carpet industry by offering total design freedom, without the need for a repeating pattern, and an unsurpassed range of colours.
This combination of Ulster’s design expertise and patented technology provided Seyed with the opportunity to turn his vision into a reality by creating a design that breaks the boundaries of traditional woven carpet.

The Woven Forms: Breaking the Boundaries exhibition will incorporate Jan’s vast expertise in the textile industry with Kidderminster’s heritage as a weaving town. Cloth has been woven in the town from the 13th Century and Kidderminster eventually became known as the ‘woven carpet capital of the world’.
Jan’s background as a commercial woven textile design consultant spans interior, fashion and automotive design and her research explores the heightening of people’s sense of ‘well-being’ through the integration of textile artwork within public spaces. During the exhibition, Jan will give two lectures and will also lead weaving workshops which will give participants the opportunity to learn how to weave using table-top looms.

The Museum of Carpet is based in Kidderminster, the ‘Woven Carpet Capital of the World’. A centre of heritage, art and industry, it celebrates the history of carpet weaving and Kidderminster’s global contribution. The residential design team of Ulster Carpets is based within the Museum of Carpets building and the company is proud to support this exhibition.
If you’d like to find out more about the Museum of Carpets or the Woven Forms: Breaking the Boundaries exhibition, visit museumofcarpet.org . You can also read more about the Sacramento Airport project here.

 

Ulster Carpets named as one of Northern Ireland’s Top 50 companies

Ulster Carpets has jumped 24 places in this year’s prestigious Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies.

Listing Northern Ireland’s leading profit-makers, employers and business people, the Top 100 is compiled by top economist John Simpson and is based on pre-tax profit levels.

This year Ulster Carpets moved from 70th in the 2018 table and back into the top half of the list, being placed in 46th position thanks to pre-tax profits of £10.7m. The company is also one of the top five highest movers on the list.

Nick Coburn, Group Managing Director & Deputy Chairman of Ulster Carpets, commented, “We are delighted to once again feature on this list and to be named as one of Northern Ireland’s top 50 companies.

“We enjoyed a highly successful 2018 and we have already commenced our biggest ever investment capital and regeneration programme, so this is continuing good news for our staff and, of course, our customers.”