Noticias de la Cámara

NI Connections Spanish Roadshow 2023/24

22/02/2024 Proyectosnuevos s2024 02 23T104141.323

Connecting with our Northern Irish friends!

Since our last catch up in September 2023, the Invest Northern Ireland Madrid team has been busy catching up with people from Northern Ireland and those with a connection to Northern Ireland who are living in Spain, to find out what they are up to and explore how we can be of mutual support/benefit.

NI Connections is very successful in markets such as the US, UK and Asia, where people from Northern Ireland often get together. There are lots of people from Northern Ireland living in Spain too and we wanted to help make those connections and seek out our Northern Irish friends.

This year, to coincide with planned work trips around the country, we organised a few ‘meet and greets’ to see if we could identify people keen to get together and of course, have a bit of craic! 

We reached out to people from Northern Ireland that are known to us, posted messaged on NI Connections and Invest NI’s social media channels, contacted GAA clubs around the country and the Spanish Irish Business Network. We also contacted Queens University Belfast and Ulster University to ask them to spread the word among students currently on placements in Spain or alumni living here.  

Our first stop was Marbella, where our efforts were supported by Derry-born long-term resident Justin Parks. Justin is very involved with the GAA in Andalucia and told us that a high and increasing percentage of players now come from Northern Ireland. Newer residents Jonathan McCloskey, a business leader and coach, whose brother works for Invest NI in Belfast, and Anne McGuinness, a BACP accredited counsellor and psychotherapist, also connected with the GAA on arrival and enjoy the hybrid Spanish and ‘Norn Iron’ community based in the region. We also attended a business breakfast with the Andaluz chapter of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain

In Málaga, where we attended Green Cities, we met with Glenda Brady who co-founded the recently launched Padel 54 Degrees North Centre in Moira and Beth McFerran, who works for Allianz. We were also delighted to see Climate Essentials, who had earlier that day won the II Open Call for Startups at Green Cities.  

In November, during a trip to Barcelona to attend the King’s Birthday Party, we were lucky to be able to link up with Wky Regal, a premium drinks importer who recently started representing Two Stacks and Killowen whiskey in Spain. Wky Regal hosted a professional whiskey weekender in the fabulous Whiskería and generously offered to provide a professional whiskey masterclass to our group.  Those who attended included students on placements, such as Tamzin Johnston from Ballynahinch, on a placement in Barcelona as part of her studies in Amsterdam and residents John English, who works in the construction industry and Jonathan Duff, who helps senior managers with corporate communications campaigns and thought-leadership ghost writing. Andrew Dobbin also travelled into the city from Tarragona where he runs language schools and a restaurant. Some Barcelona Gaels GAA members also joined the group, including the Gaels’ chairperson, Eoin McCall.  

As a result of this get-together, people expressed an interest in keeping in touch and a meet-up has been proposed for Monday 18th March at 19.00h in La Whiskería. Let us know if you are interested in coming along and we will put you in touch with the local group. 

Next up in 2024, we hope to organise events in:

  • Madrid 4 March
  • Bilbao 18 March
  • And, potentially Zaragoza mid February

So, let us know if you’d like to find out more and please help us to spread the word if you know people who live in these cities.  

Do not hesitate to contact us to find out more: paula.delasota@investni.com emma.naismith@investni.com

If you would like to stay in touch with the best news from Northern Ireland, sign up for the quarterly NI Connections electronic newsletter at this link.


Socios Patrón

  • Sage
  • Lopez Landa Interiors
  • Selier Abogados
  • Plain Concepts
  • HSBC Bank
  • Cuatrecasas
  • Telefónica
  • Hays España
  • Banco Sabadell
  • Iberdrola
  • GSK
  • NH Hotel Group
  • EAE Business School
  • Mitie
  • Pearson
  • Gleeds Ibérica
  • Canon
  • Diageo
  • JCB
  • AstraZeneca
  • Brico Depôt
  • Santander
  • El Corte Inglés
  • Savills
  • Oxford University Press
  • PwC
  • Arriva a DB Company
  • Mondragon Corporación

Socios Corporativos

  • Gómez-Acebo & Pombo
  • BT Global Services
  • Boult Wade
  • EGD Logistics
  • Pinsent Masons
  • Flutter
  • Croda Ibérica
  • Agencia de Innovación y Desarrollo de Andalucía IDEA
  • Lightsource bp
  • Cubico Sustainable Investments
  • British Council
  • BDO
  • ERM
  • Engage Independent School
  • Safetykleen
  • Grant Thornton
  • Schüco
  • Cabrera Rodriguez ETL Global
  • Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía
  • BSI Group Iberia
  • Aon España
  • McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Málaga
  • Oak House School
  • ETL Global
  • Uría Menéndez Abogados
  • Arup
  • Herbert Smith Freehills
  • IQS
  • Haleon
  • Baker Tilly
  • Presstour
  • Ayming España
  • H10 Hotels
  • Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA, Sucursal en España
  • Sacyr
  • Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance
  • Menzies LLP
  • Currencies Direct
  • Control Group
  • Roman
  • De Cotta McKenna y Santafé
  • Gilmar Real Estate
  • Agbar
  • Management Solutions
  • Araex Grands
  • Talan
  • Brunswick Group
  • IESE Business School
  • PageGroup
  • Barclays
  • BAT
  • Allergy Therapeutics Iberica
  • PKF Attest
  • Colt Technology Services
  • Cognita Schools
  • David Lloyd
  • Barrilero & Asociados
  • CaixaBank
  • Uhy Fay & Co
  • Bunzl Distribution Spain
  • AFI, Analistas Financieros Internacionales
  • Holiday World Resort
  • ISP Schools
  • UAL Awarding Body
  • Ferrovial
  • Berkeley Energía
  • Rentokil Initial
  • Brand Finance
  • Globeducate British International School
  • Adlanter
  • Byevolution Creative Factory
  • MARCO Agency
  • EY
  • TSL Projects Spain
  • Kreab Worldwide
  • Redshaw Advisors
  • Value Retail
  • CMAC Group
  • Gamma
  • Segro Spain Management
  • A&O Shearman
  • Indra
  • Mazars
  • Kensington School
  • Invest Northern Ireland
  • Spectrum IFA Group