I was delighted to see so many members at the Greater Newry Area Business Awards last week. The event has got fantastic feedback and demonstrates the vibrancy of the local economy despite the many challenges faced over the last two years.
A significant part of the Chamber’s work is to connect businesses, share ideas, best practice and encourage collaboration. So the return of in person events is positive news for us. We have a number of events taking place over the next 6 weeks. These will provide networking opportunities and I look forward to meeting more members.
AUTUMN EVENTS PROGRAMME
Recruitment Webinar
Friday 29th October 2021 (More Details To Follow)
Walk, Talk & Connect Networking Series
Sunday 31st October 2021 – BOOK HERE
Meet Newry’s Young Entrepreneurs
Thursday 11th November 2021 – BOOK HERE
President’s Banquet & 200th Anniversary Lunch
Friday 19th November 2021 – BOOK HERE
Workplace Health & Wellbeing Conference
Tuesday 30th November 2021 (Full Details TBC)
Newry Chamber AGM
Thursday 9th December 2021 – BOOK HERE
Also in this week’s update, we have included information on:
► Newry Chamber’s, ‘Meet Newry’s Young Entrepreneurs’ Event.
► EU Proposals to Address the NI Protocol Disruption.
► Calls for Urgent Reform of Cross-Border Tax Rules.
► NI Businesses Urged to Take Part in Rates Revaluation.
► Southern Regional College Upcoming Webinars & Programmes.
► HMRC Webinar: One Stop Shop (OSS) Scheme.
Tony McKeown
Chief Executive Officer
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade
REGISTER NOW: MEET NEWRY’S YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
Newry Chamber is delighted to host a FREE breakfast seminar to promote entrepreneurship. The event is part of Newry, Mourne and Down Enterprise Week and will feature four young entrepreneurs who were finalists in at the recent Greater Newry Area Business Awards 2021.
They will share their inspiring stories so far, giving an insight into how they started, how they have created employment and what they have learnt along the way.
A panel discussion and audience Q&A, hosted by MC Deborah Loughran will follow.
The event is aimed at those who have recently started their own venture, those who are considering it and Business Studies Students from local schools and colleges. The seminar aims to highlight self-employment as a career option and how to do it.
Our panel speakers will include:
► Brendan Doherty, Connex Offsite Ltd
► Natasha Daryaie, The Gym Guru
► Aaron O’Malley, GreenQube Sustainable Living
► Dr Emma Cunningham-Idowu, Dr Emma Clinics
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
EU PROPOSES DIFFERENT MODEL TO ADDRESS
THE NORTHERN IRELAND PROTOCOL DISRUPTION
The EU proposals to address practical difficulties around the implementation of the NI Protocol cover four specific areas, with a paper dedicated to each.
These four specific areas include:
► Agri-Food Goods
► Customs
► Movement of Medicines
► Engagement with Northern Ireland Stakeholders
Combined, the EU claims the proposals amount to a ‘different model’ for operating the post-Brexit trade arrangements.
Please click on the link below to read an in-depth overview of what the EU is proposing.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.
NEWRY CHAMBER PRESIDENT, EMMA MULLEN-MARMION
CALLS FOR URGENT REFORM OF CROSS-BORDER TAX RULES
Newry Chamber President, Emma Mullen-Marmion is calling for urgent reform of cross-border tax rules.
Rules on cross-border workers mean that they can be double taxed depending on their work circumstances. The Chamber President said the attractiveness of border areas for foreign direct investment could be jeopardised.
Chamber President, Emma Mullen-Marmion said:
“To promote prosperity across the Greater Newry Area, it is imperative that tax regulations are fair, harmonised and grant cross-border workers the flexibility they need to meet the demands of the local economy.”
“This flexibility, however, is currently not attainable. Irish home-working tax rules mean that, if Republic of Ireland-based cross-border workers perform any work-related activities from home, be it checking an email or taking a phone call, their income faces a ‘double tax’.”
“These personal tax rules were suspended for the pandemic but are set to re-introduced from January 2022. The ‘double tax’ burden for those who work remotely makes it very difficult for local employers to attract and retain skilled workers who live on their doorstep and must be addressed urgently.”
“Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade supports the proposals of the Cross-Border Workers Coalition and calls for urgent action from the Irish Government to address these damaging cross-border tax laws.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.
NI BUSINESSES URGED TO TAKE PART IN RATES REVALUATION
The process of revaluing commercial properties in Northern Ireland for rates has commenced recently.
Business owners will receive an online code or paper questionnaire to provide Land and Property Services (LPS) with all the information required to revalue their properties.
The pandemic has had significant impact on the value of different types of property. Some of the longer-term impacts are not yet clear, such as how working from home will impact office valuations.
The rateable value of a property is worked out using its Net Annual Value (NAV). NAV is an assessment of the annual rental value that the property could reasonably be let for at a fixed point in time.
The NAV is then multiplied by the “rate in the pound” to produce the annual bill. Currently the NAV is based on 2018 values. The new valuation list will be based on October 2021 rental values.
This new list will then be used to calculate rates bills from 1st April 2023. The valuation of pubs and hotels is partially based on their turnover.
LPS is working with industry groups to deal with the complications arising from the facts that those businesses were closed or restricted for long periods during the pandemic.
If you any have queries about NI Reval2023, get in touch with Dept. of Finance via the contact form below:
CLICK HERE FOR REVAL2023 ONLINE CONTACT FORM.
SRC: UPCOMING WEBINARS & PROGRAMMES
WEBINAR: Tools To Create Content
DATE: Friday 15th October 2021
TIME: 9:30am – 10:30am
Discussing the best, must have FREE tools to create professional content for your social media channels to make you stand outfrom the crowd.
The facilitaor, Jill McDowell, Infulencer & Blogger has an online following of over 25,000 and has worked with businesses such as Spar, Morphy Richards, Dromona, Power NI and Tommee Tippee. Jill will provide demos on Canva to show how to make professional graphics and SPLICE free video editing software.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
PROGRAMME: Future Leaders Graduate Academy
Last few places now remaining on the Future Leaders Graduate Programme, starting on 18th October 2021.
Join this 24-week programme for quality training and relevant work placement, £150.00 per week training allowance and walk away with an ILM Level 5 Award in Leadership & Management.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
HMRC WEBINAR: ONE STOP SHOP (OSS) SCHEME
DATE: Tuesday 19th October 2021
TIME: 10am – 10:30am
This webinar will focus on the One Stop Shop (OSS) scheme introduced in Northern Ireland as part of the EU’s e-Commerce Package launched on 1st July 2021. (See guidance for more info on the changes introduced).
CLICK HERE FOR PRESENTATION SLIDES.
Elements to be covered include:
► Overview of the OSS Scheme
► How to register for the OSS Scheme
► Frequently asked questions
► Signposts to guidance/contacts
A 10-15 minute presentation will be given, followed by a 15-20 minute Q&A. HMRC would also welcome feedback on the following questions:
1. Has your business registered for OSS scheme?
(Yes/No)
2. If yes, how have you found the registration process?
(Easy/Ok/Difficult)
3. How have you found comms from HMRC on OSS?
(Good/Ok/Not Very Good)
Answers to the above questions or any other OSS questions businesses have, can also be directed to vatstakeholderengagementhub@hmrc.gov.uk.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN MEETING.