02-08-2025
July has been a brilliant month for Northern Ireland, not least because of the return of The Open to Royal Portrush. We were lucky to enjoy a few fantastic days at the tournament, with Friday being a standout — spent in great company with clients and friends of Diamond. The hospitality was superb, and a young woman named Anna (who, I believe, normally works in a restaurant on the north coast) gave us impeccable service. The professionalism and warmth of the young people working the event was so impressive. Whatever training they received will undoubtedly enhance the standard of service they bring back to their day jobs. The atmosphere throughout was electric — friendly, relaxed, and welcoming. I hope many visitors left inspired to return and explore more of what our beautiful part of the world has to offer.
It’s also been a huge month for our Projects Team, with several key handovers and completions. After many weeks on site, we proudly completed the life safety and security systems at St Ronan’s College in Lurgan, handing over the main building to Nugents in July. Due to open in September, this 21,000m² school will amalgamate three existing schools and accommodate 1,750 pupils — a fantastic facility for the local area. We’re incredibly proud to have played our part in creating a safe environment for generations of students.
Elsewhere, we also completed works at Odyssey Place, which continues to transform with the stylish new bar and restaurant Char and Mash now open, alongside the ever-popular Little Wing. It’s exciting to see these projects come to life.
From a compliance perspective, July was a significant month. We successfully completed our annual NVIR-O-CERT audit for the 10th consecutive year — part of the CEF environmental management scheme. Each year, we take away fresh insights for continual improvement. We also renewed our membership with Fire Aware, a community I’m proud to be part of. It’s growing stronger — especially following the recent Netflix documentary on Grenfell. Having previously read Peter Apps’ powerful book Show Me the Bodies, the documentary didn’t shock me — but it did sadden me deeply. It strengthened my resolve to push our industry forward.
That said, it’s not just the fire industry that needs change. Those procuring systems must also take a hard look at their role. When price becomes the only factor, corners are cut — and life safety is devalued. Until we collectively start prioritising value over cost, real progress will remain elusive.
This month also reminded me how much family businesses in Northern Ireland support one another — something I always try to do. In July, we worked with Jahn Media to refresh our audio branding. If you’ve called the office recently, you may have noticed the updated voiceover — thanks to Aaron and the team for a great job.
On the subject of audio, I took a leap outside my comfort zone this month and recorded my first ever podcast interview! I’ve been putting it off for far too long, but thanks to Peter and the NI Business Podcast team, I ended up really enjoying the experience. Sometimes, it’s good to pause and reflect on how far you’ve come — and if it sparks some ideas for others, all the better. The episode will be available on YouTube sometime in August.
In terms of personal development, I’ve been reading some brilliant books by Mark Leruste and Daniel Priestley, thanks to recommendations from my Scalex community. Both authors highlight the power of storytelling in business and the importance of showing up as your authentic self. That really resonated. We’re a locally owned, family-run SME — and I believe that’s what sets us apart from the larger players in our sector.
There’s been more acquisition activity in the local fire and security space this month, and it’s becoming increasingly rare to find independently owned NSI Gold companies here in Northern Ireland. That’s why I’m even more proud of what we stand for at Diamond.
Finally, I’ve just started reading Karren Brady’s autobiography. She’s long been a role model of mine — especially as a working mother. Like me, she was fairly average at school but driven in ways only those with a growth mindset will truly understand. I admire her perspective on feminism, which she defines not in terms of division, but in terms of equality of opportunity. That resonates deeply with me. I’ve never felt out of place working in a male-dominated sector like fire and security — even at industry meetings where I’ve been the only woman in the room. Feminism, to me, is about fairness. And I’m proud that both my daughters share that view.
Here’s to another month of progress, purpose, and staying true to who we are.
— Angela
