What a difference a year makes

Northern Ireland's 2014 was nothing if not eventful.  Plenty to mull over, much to forget and out of it more than a beacon of hope that change and opportunity may come.  Politics, the economy and ongoing societal issues, as ever, lead the charge.  More so than ever before, they have become much more closely linked, a sign that with all the challenges and lack of consensus that an issue based environment is emerging.

But of course we did get some consensus through the Stormont House Agreement, a deal of sorts where widespread compromise and commitment is needed to see it through to some form of fruition. Movement on these issues have been a long time coming and centered on a tale of two Christmases.  Two American envoys with the same people, the same issues, the same agenda, an ill timed intervention by Enda and Dave, but hopefully with a different outcome.

In between, in no particular order, there have been many foreseen and unforeseen events.  There was the proclamation and passing of Ian Paisley, John Downey and the OTR's, no great change in the Council and European elections, NI21's implosion, the No vote, the cake, the pastor, Maria, curried yoghurts, Trojan horses, Paxman's insults and of course the budget, the budget, the budget.

TS. Eliot said, "Last year's words belong to last year's language.  And next year's words await another voice."  We'll wait in hope to see if a new voice and a new narrative evolves in 2015.  Important though to build on the positives of 2014, the deal, the Giro, increased employment, Rory and the Open, 20 years of ceasefires and relationship building events such as President Michael D's visit to the UK.

Part of the challenge for all of society is seeing the bigger picture.  Something that we can rightly be accused of, at times, is taking ourselves a little too seriously and forgetting that there is a vast world out there which has its own set of persisting and prevailing challenges and opportunities.  A more outward looking Northern Ireland as opposed to an insular focused region has helped us prosper economically through foreign direct invest and job creation.  When we look beyond parochial parameters we see that, actually, we have a lot to offer and that must continue to be the mantra for 2015 not only from a business but from a societal perspective also.

It's true to say that we don't live in a utopian society where everything is just as it should be - relentless economic growth, complete political stability, a dearth of unemployment, high earnings, an abundance of natural revenue raising resources nor is our happiness and well being at the very top of the United Nations second World Happiness Report.  But if you look at that long list of assets a little closer, you can take something positive from every single one and, at worst, some solace from the potential that we have to improve and grow.  While not earth shatteringly good the UK's positioning of 22nd and Ireland's 18th in the 'World Happiness Report' is ahead of the historical European economic juggernaut that is Germany and France, a country that many habour a romantic view of its laissez faire lifestyle.

While 2014 wasn't an indelible year, or indeed one in which any economic or societal rubicon was attained, it wasn't exactly annus horribilis either. The North once again managed to position its outstanding natural beauty on the North Coast with Belfast also being lauded as a modern, dynamic and exciting city during a very well run Giro D'Italia.  I think Jeremy Paxman must have been on holidays at that time! The Giro follows on the heels of one of the most successful ever G8's in Fermanagh in 2013 with both demonstrating the ability of central and local government to deliver events of the highest caliber.  With a view to maintaining this momentum, there must be an unstinting resolve to make good on the very important infrastructural investments that the Executive has committed to delivering, such as Casement Park and continuing to provide the facilities and events that can dispense economic windfalls, be they locally or internationally generated income.  The pending cuts particularly in areas such as education, where it has been claimed that 17,000 education and training jobs could be lost, is the single biggest threat to longer term prosperity, making the corporation tax asset a poisoned chalice in the long term as opposed to only the short term.

As for the general economy in 2014, it was unemployment figures that brought further evidence of economic recovery which were down by 9,000, with the highest level of employment since 2009 recorded. Property markets also recovered and economic growth was in the region of 2%, the best for many years.  Forecasts for 2015 vary depending on who you talk to but the consensus is that it will be just under 2%, down a little due to more Euro zone economic tribulations and those not insignificant cuts we all know are coming.  Some larger sectors such as manufacturing are expected to grow by between 2% and 3% and the burgeoning success in software development and IT support here, is expected to bolster ICT by over 5%. 

So while the biggest challenges remain, with the Northern Ireland Executive closer to an austerity process just as the Irish coalition claim that theirs is coming to an end, there is much to be positive about.  Key areas of our economy are growing with further expected FDI, the Irish Open is coming to the Mountains of Mourne and there is a very strong sign that Northern Ireland PLC is open for business with many events and conferences planned throughout the year.  The outlook for 2015 must be that our glass is half full!  

Claire Aiken is Managing Director of Belfast and Dublin based Public Relations and Public Affairs company Aiken PR.