Today’s announcement marks an important first step in the return to normality. All businesses have invested heavily in the safety of their staff, customers and ensuring their businesses are safe spaces for everyone to enjoy the experience of being in the city centre again.
The Chamber has been calling for some time for the Executive to publish indicative dates. Today’s announcement is an important first step on the road to recovery.
The combination of close contact services opening on 23rd April and non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality on 30th April is positive news. It is good that hospitality has an indicative date of 24th May, but we hope the conditions remain that will allow the Executive to deliver on this date.
All our businesses know the importance of opening in a responsible way. They have been tirelessly working to ensure their businesses can reopen safely. This is a demonstration of their commitment to operate in safe way to ensure this hopefully is the last lockdown.
READ MORE ON THE RELAXATIONS TO COVID RESTRICTIONS HERE.
Colm Shannon
Chief Executive Officer
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade
THE RECOVERY LOAN SCHEME (RLS)
The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) provides financial support to businesses across the UK as they recover and grow following the coronavirus pandemic.
You can apply to the scheme if COVID-19 has affected your business. You can use the finance for any legitimate business purpose including managing cashflow, investment and growth. However, you must be able to afford to take out additional debt finance for these purposes.
If your business has already borrowed from any of the other coronavirus loan schemes namely:
► The Bounce Back Loan Scheme
► The Business Interruption Loan Scheme
► The Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme
RLS is open to you but the amount you have borrowed under an existing scheme may in certain circumstances limit the amount you may borrow under RLS and will run until 31st December 2021, subject to review.
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFO.
UPDATE: CROSS-BORDER WORKERS COALITION
In the opening months of 2021, the Cross Border Workers Coalition has made progress in raising awareness of the restrictive income tax rules facing cross-border workers who live in Republic of Ireland and work in Northern Ireland.
Irish Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe TD, has agreed to meet with the Coalition, and we are working with the Minister’s office to find a suitable date.
Alongside recent national media coverage, this meeting presents a potential turning point as we step up our campaign to ensure that cross-border workers domiciled in Republic of Ireland, but working in Northern Ireland, (now working from home) are freed up from the burden of a potential double tax on their pay.
Please see below for a recent summary of the work of the Cross-Border Workers Coalition.
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFO.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION: NEWRY CITY CENTRE REGENERATION
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has launched an online public consultation on its regeneration proposals for Newry City Centre. Their plans represent an important investment in our city centre.
The consultation provides an opportunity to comment on the plans for the new Theatre/Arts Centre and the Council’s new Offices. As a business, it is important that you share your views by taking part in the consultation.
There are three ways to participate including:
► Online Survey
► Online Workshops
► Direct Correspondence
ONLINE SURVEY:
You can provide feedback via the online survey HERE.
The survey opened Monday 8th March 2021 at 12 noon and will close on Monday 31st May 2021 at 12 noon.
ONLINE WORKSHOPS:
The online workshop option is delivered via Zoom.
To provide your feedback via an online workshop, please click on the link to book in to one of the five online workshops outlined below, register HERE.
► Tuesday 27th April 2021 at 7pm
► Wednesday 5th May 2021 at 7pm
► Thursday 13th May 2021 at 10am
EMAIL:
You can email or write to Otium Leisure Consultancy with your views, who have been commissioned by NMDDC to complete the public consultation.
Email: otiumlc@gmail.com
Address: 70 Main Street, Broughshane, BT42 4JW
SRC’S BIG APPRENTICESHIP EVENT 2021
The Big Apprenticeship Event goes online for 2021.
Launching on Tues 27th April 2021 there is something for potential Apprentices, Parents/Guardians, Education and Employers.
In pre-recorded panel discussions, you will hear from:
► Businesses, Council’s and Education
► Current Level 2/3 Apprentices and HLAs
► NI’s Top Science Employers (Recruiting for Sep 2021)
► Local Employers (Recruiting for Sep 2021)
There will also be Daily Q&A Chat 1-3pm and 6-8pm from Tues 27th April 2021 to Thurs 29th April 2021.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM RECOVERY TRAINING PROGRAMME
The Hospitality & Tourism Recovery Programme, funded by the Department for the Economy, has been launched to provide a skills-led approach to supporting managers in the industry as they move through the pandemic restrictions into recovery.
The bespoke training programme is aimed at hospitality and tourism industry managers and technical specialists, with an Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) and Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 3 accredited qualification on offer to eligible businesses.
The Management Spotlight Series, which will commence from 14th April 2021, will focus on Skills Support, Attraction and Retention of Staff, Building Resilience and Changing Customer Service Needs.
From May, the Technical Skills Series of masterclasses will promote skills development in areas that include both AR and VR Technologies, Podcasting for the Tourism Industry, as well as interactive specialist hospitality masterclasses in Butchery, Baking and Patisserie, Poultry, Chocolatier and Cocktail Making.
The series of masterclasses are designed to meet the needs of the sector and will be delivered in partnership across all six FE Colleges.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
WEBINAR: STAYING CYBER SECURITY – THE BASICS
Small businesses & voluntary/community organisations face challenges to ensure that their staff, digital assets and customers are protected from cyber attacks.
A successful attack can have serious consequences leading to the interruption of business functions like supply chains, financial/data theft and reputational damage.
This webinar is designed to help organisations be proactive about their cyber security. Participants can learn about common cyber threats and trends, how to prevent a cyber attack and how to minimise disruption to their business in the event of an attack.
The speakers at this FREE event will include Joe Dolan, NI Cyber Security Centre and cyber security experts from Danske Bank, PSNI and Vertical Structure.
DATE: Monday 10th May 2021
TIME: Small Business Sector from 10:30am – 12pm
Voluntary/Community Sector from 2pm – 3:30pm
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.