Derry Chamber is proud to shine a light on the outstanding work being carried out by our Partners and Patrons, which are organisations and individuals who are not only excelling in their own fields, but also helping to shape a stronger, more sustainable and more prosperous North West.

This month, two integral Chamber supporters, Benchmark Financial Planning and SONI, are making headlines for demonstrating leadership in innovation, sustainability and professional excellence.

Chamber Partner Benchmark Financial Planning is celebrating a major professional achievement by one of its own. Lisa Rutherford, based in Benchmark’s Derry office, has been named in Citywire’s prestigious “35 Under 35: The Next Generation of Advisers”, recognising the high professional standards she brings to financial planning in the North West.

Lisa is a Chartered Financial Planner, one of the highest standards in the profession, reflecting exceptional technical knowledge, ethics and a strong commitment to client care.

Lisa’s recognition also reflects her dedication to financial education and community engagement. Lisa has played a key role in delivering wealth-planning workshops at Northern Ireland Maths Fest to help young people understand the importance of financial wellbeing, demonstrating the passion for education and client empowerment that sits at the heart of her work.

Meanwhile, Chamber Patron SONI, Northern Ireland’s electricity Transmission System Operator, has reached a major milestone in the region’s transition to clean energy with the launch of cutting-edge new technology that will allow significantly more renewable power to be used across the electricity system.

Working alongside EirGrid, the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO), regulators and industry partners, SONI has introduced major upgrades through its Scheduling and Dispatch Programme (SDP); the biggest update to Single Electricity Market rules and systems since 2018.

The new technology allows renewable energy to be managed more efficiently in real time. One key development, SDP-02, enables large-scale battery storage to capture surplus renewable energy during periods of high wind or solar generation and release it when demand is highest. This will result in less clean energy going to waste, and less reliance on fossil fuels when demand peaks.

A second upgrade, SDP-04, enhances how wind power is managed on the grid, reducing the need to “dispatch down” wind generation when supply exceeds demand. The result is that more wind and solar power can be used to meet Northern Ireland’s energy needs.

SONI Chief Executive, Alan Campbell, said:

“Northern Ireland has excellent renewable resources. By investing in cutting-edge technology, we can make the most of them, delivering benefits for bill payers, businesses, and the environment.

“These improvements will also benefit the wider economy by creating new opportunities and making Northern Ireland more attractive to investors.”

Together, these stories highlight the strength and diversity of Derry Chamber’s business community, from industry-leading energy innovation to award-winning professional services.