In our latest business update, we have provided information on the Micro-Business E-commerce Grant which closes Friday 12th March 2021 (TOMORROW) at 6pm.
If you weren’t at our Post-Brexit Conference 2021 yesterday, we have included links to the videos and slides from the event.
We were delighted to have Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD and our Finance Minister, Conor Murphy MLA, speak at the conference and placing on record their commitments to the region.
With their input and the attendance of key officials from both governments, it was a valuable opportunity to set out the strategic importance of this area and the need for further investment.
Next week, we should hear on Tuesday a further update from the NI Executive on the COVID-19 Recovery Plan.
Businesses need dates, even indicative dates, when they might be able to reopen. Hopefully, the NI Executive will be able to give further details on Tuesday.
Also, don’t forget to join our three Facebook Groups, which have been set up by the Chamber to support local businesses.
1. SHOP, DINE & STAY NEWRY – JOIN GROUP HERE.
2. NETWORK NEWRY – JOIN GROUP HERE.
3. JOBS NEWRY – JOIN GROUP HERE.
Colm Shannon
Chief Executive Officer
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade
POST-BREXIT CONFERENCE: VIDEOS & POWERPOINT SLIDES
Please see below the videos/slides from our contributors from our Annual Post-Brexit Conference 2021 yesterday in conjunction with Dundalk Chamber of Commerce which was virtually attended by over 250 people.
VIDEO: Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD
WATCH HERE
VIDEO: NI Finance Minister, Conor Murphy MLA
WATCH HERE
SLIDES: Kerry Curran, InterTradeIreland
Looking To The Future – Opportunities For Growth
VIEW SLIDES
SLIDES: Thomas McEvoy, Louth Local Enterprise Office
Supports Available To Louth SMEs
VIEW SLIDES
SLIDES: Robert McConnell, Pinnacle Growth Group
Managing North-South Supply Chains
VIEW SLIDES
SLIDES: Oliver Mangan, Chief Economist, AIB
Vaccine Powered Economic Rebound Expected
VIEW SLIDES
SLIDES: Emma Kerins, Chambers Ireland
Building The Cross-Border Economy
VIEW SLIDES
SLIDES: Deirdre Maguire, InterTradeIreland
Supports Available From InterTradeIreland
VIEW SLIDES
SLIDES: Marie Ward, NMDDC & Joan Martin, LCC
A Gateway Region Positioned For Growth
VIEW SLIDES
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
► Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
► Louth County Council
► InterTradeIreland
► Louth Local Enterprise Office
► M1 Corridor
REMINDER: MICRO-BUSINESS E-COMMERCE GRANT
We would like to remind members that the COVID-19 Micro-business E-commerce Grant (MBEG) is closing this Friday 12th March 2021 (TOMORROW) at 6pm.
The Micro-business E-commerce Grant (MBEG) is open to any micro-sized retailer that wants to prepare for growth, develop their customer base and find new markets by enhancing their digital offering, building their e-commerce capability and increasing online sales.
The Micro-business E-commerce Grant (MBEG) was developed and is operated by Invest NI.
Businesses can access up to a maximum grant of £5,000 to support 80% of eligible costs (projects must have a minimum of £1,250 of eligible expenditure).
IS YOUR BUSINESS ELIGIBLE?
To find out if you are eligible to apply for this scheme, please complete the eligibility checker HERE.
DEADLINE TO APPLY:
Applications close on Friday 12th March 2021 at 6pm.
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFO.
WORKPLACE COVID TESTING – KEY SECTOR EMPLOYEES
Employers from key sectors within Northern Ireland can now access the national testing programme as part of a targeted expansion of asymptomatic testing.
Asymptomatic Testing Programme in Northern Ireland is being extended across public and private sector employers based on a series of prioritisation and principles, ensuring this is made available through a phased approach and to essential services to begin with.
Organisations who may wish to access the national testing programme and meet the prioritisation criteria are being invited to contact the Department of Health to register their interest.
Find out if you’re eligible and what you need to do to access workplace testing support HERE.
Requests for further information or expressions of interest should be submitted to:
asymptomatic.testing@health-ni.gov.uk
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFO.
UPDATE: FIRMUS ENERGY GAS WORKS, NEWRY CITY CENTRE
Newry Chamber is continuing to engage with our member, Firmus Energy, in order to expedite works around Newry before re-opening.
Work on Sugar Island is due to commence today, Thursday 11th March 2021 and this should take 10-14 days to complete before moving into Bank Parade for approximately 1 week.
Following this phase, Firmus Energy will fall back onto The Mall for 3 weeks to complete this section.
Please note, whilst sometimes restricted, traffic will be kept flowing at all stages.
TRADE ADVISERS ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO INCOTERMS
he Small International Commercial Terms or “Incoterms”, identify where the responsibility lies between the seller and buyer – including for the completion of export and import declarations, insurance, paying import VAT and liability for customs duty and where the risk passes.
DATE: Wednesday 24th March 2021
TIME: 9:30am – 12:30pm
COST: €299 per person
(You may be eligible for funding, please enquire.)
This half-day course provides clarity around:
- Why choosing the right Incoterms is so important for your business.
- How choosing the right incoterms can benefit your business financially and practically.
For more information about this training, to book a place or to find out about an in-house session, please contact Fiona Luciani from Trade Advisers via:
EMAIL: fl@tradeadvisers.org
PHONE: +353 87 701 3807
SURVEY: COVID-19 IMPACT ON LOCAL SELF-EMPLOYED
The COVID-19 crisis has had a major or severe impact on two-thirds of small businesses located within the NMDDC Council Area and over a third of business owners have experienced major or severe mental health problems as a result.
These are the findings of a Down Business Centre survey, which focussed on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local self-employed sector.
105 local business owners responded to the survey from the Local Enterprise Agency which was conducted online during the last week of February 2021.
VIEW THE FINDINGS HERE.
VIES & SUPPLEMENTARY DECLARATIONS
XI VAT Numbers
The Department for the Economy (DfE) have recently become aware of a VAT issue with NI businesses operating under the NI Protocol and trading with the EU.
The issue concerns a business’s ability to access the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES).
It is easily remedied. If a business has not received a letter from HMRC and hasn’t notified HMRC that they are operating under the NI Protocol, they need to take action and apply for an XI VAT number by completing and returning a G form.
The XI VATnumber is required to ensure the correct tax is paid when trading under the NI Protocol, there is no requirement for the business to be located in NI.
The best action to take in order to address this issue is for all NI businesses trading with the EU under the NI Protocol to apply for an XI VAT number using a G Form.
This is straightforward but it can take up to 48 hours to take effect after applying.
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFO.
Supplementary Declarations
The Department for the Economy (DfE) are also interested in hearing from you about your experiences to date in relation to the completion of supplementary declarations and assessment for tariff liability.
DfE would like to be in a position to raise any emerging issues with HMRC at the earliest opportunity and would welcome information on your experiences to date.
Please respond by 24th March 2021 to:
Dfe.EUEXITCMB@economy-ni.gov.uk