These are the words of Greg McKinley, director of operations at The Gallaher Trust, who was speaking after the Making A Difference (MAD) Business Breakfast event, which was hosted in conjunction with Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Tullyglass House Hotel last month.
In a packed room of almost 100 representatives from local businesses, charities, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations, attendees heard success stories from delivery partners including Northern Regional College, Triangle Housing, the Northern Ireland Hospitality School and Harmony Studio. Skye Hanley, a graduate of the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, Maia White, from The Ticket Bakehouse and Connor Martin, founder of the Jaq Group and the Essence Vault, also shared their experiences of completing delivery partner programmes and their hopes for the future.
“It was very inspiring to hear from our delivery partners and programme participants today and I would like to sincerely thank them for their input,” continued Mr McKinley.
“At The Gallaher Trust, our mission is to support projects that create jobs, develop skills and assist disadvantaged adults and we’re delighted to see that we have made a real difference to people living within the Ballymena area, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our delivery partners.”
Delivery partner applications are set to reopen in January 2025 and since The Gallaher Trust’s inception in 2017, the organisation has already committed £2.8 million to support projects which have created over 360 jobs, upskilled over 1,500 people and assisted over 1,600 disadvantaged adults.
“We’re very keen to hear from any businesses, charities, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations that may have ideas that fit within the Trust’s ethos,” explained Ian Paisley, chairman of The Gallaher Trust.
“We have already positively impacted our community in recent years, and we are determined to continue our mission, but we cannot do this without the help of delivery partners. I would encourage anyone who may be interested in working with The Trust to get in contact and we’ll help get your project off the ground.”
Meanwhile, Mark Wiggins, president of the Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry, added: “We were delighted to showcase the success of The Gallaher Trust and its delivery partners during the MAD Business Breakfast event. It was a unique opportunity for attendees to learn more about the Trust and how it can help them create jobs and upskill individuals, which is essential to bolster the wider business economy within Ballymena.”
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Greg McKinley, director of operations at The Gallaher Trust, takes centre stage Photo: PAUL FAITH
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Representatives from some of The Gallaher Trust’s delivery partners are pictured alongside Greg McKinley, far left, operations director at The Gallaher Trust, James Perry, second from left, trustee at The Gallaher Trust, Roy Douglas, fourth from left, trustee at The Gallaher Trust, Ian Paisley, fifth from left, chairman of The Gallaher Trust and Mark Wiggins, fourth from right, president of the Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry Photo: PAUL FAITH
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Gordon Kane and Pamela Steele from Northern Regional College discussing the NI Manufacturing Academy Photo: PAUL FAITH
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Discussing the NI Hospitality School are, from left, Ashley Douglas, Skye Hanley, who is a recent graduate of the School, Shauna Kerr and Ian Paisley, chairman of The Gallaher Trust Photo: PAUL FAITH