We are now well into the holiday season and after a year and half of dealing with COVID-19, many business need a break. I hope you get an opportunity to do so over the coming weeks.
COVID-19 remains a challenge, particularly with the increase in the Delta Variant, but we hope this won’t impact on the progress businesses have made in the last few months.
I would like to remind members that there is now just over 1 week left to get your entries in for the Greater Newry Area Business Awards 2021.
This is a real opportunity to showcase your business and your staff. Each business can enter up to 4 different categories and I hope you take the opportunity to enter the awards in the week ahead.
Enter Greater Newry Area Business Awards 2021: ENTER NOW.
Closing Date For All Entries: Monday 19th July 2021 at midnight.
Brexit and the Protocol still remain important factors for businesses. We can see the impact it is having on the availability of labour in our area and it is something we will engage with the government about on your behalf, in the weeks ahead.
Finally, 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
ENTER NOW: GREATER NEWRY AREA BUSINESS AWARDS 2021
The past 18 months have been amongst the toughest many local businesses have ever experienced.
Here in the Greater Newry Area however, we have heard story after story of resilience and recovery.
Now is the time to celebrate these success stories and to recognise the efforts of your team by entering the Greater Newry Area Business Awards 2021.
The event will take place at Gala Awards Ceremony on the 9th September 2021 in the Canal Court Hotel & Spa, signalling a return to in person events for the Chamber.
The Greater Newry Area Business Awards 2021 are kindly supported by our principal sponsors:
► Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
► Shelbourne Motors
We would also like thank our 24 category sponsors for their generous support of the awards. Keep an eye on our social media channels over the coming weeks as we will profiling our principal and category sponsors.
The awards are now open for entries and there is a category for every type and size of business, a total of 25 categories to choose from and you can enter up to 4.
CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES:
Monday 19th July 2021 at midnight.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER NOW.
SAVE THE DATE: NMD BUSINESS ‘MEET THE BUYER’ EVENT
The NMD Business ‘Meet the Buyer’ event has been scheduled for Thursday 23rd September 2021.
This is a unique chance for local suppliers to engage with a range of major local buyers from both the private and public sectors.
Don’t miss out on hearing from potential new business partners and gaining expert insight into the best ways to win tendering and procurement opportunities.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW.
UPDATES & QUESTIONS – EU SETTLEMENT SCHEME DEADLINE
Wednesday 30th June 2021, was the deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members, who were resident in the UK by 31st December 2020.
The statistics released last week show there have been more than 98,400 applications from Northern Ireland.
The update below addresses the following:
► Pending applications
► How to access and update digital status
► Applying for children
► Applications made after 30th June 2021 deadline
CLICK HERE TO VIEW UPDATE.
GUIDE: HOW MUCH ANNUAL LEAVE TO GIVE YOUR STAFF
Most workers are legally entitled to paid holidays/annual leave under the Working Time Regulations (NI) 2016.
Worker’s statutory paid holiday entitlement is 5.6 weeks (28 days for a worker working a five or a six-day week). This can include public and bank holidays.
The entitlement for part-time workers is calculated on a pro-rata basis.
This guide shows you how to calculate a worker’s holiday entitlement and pay. It also explains notice requirements, how you may impose restrictions on when workers can take their holiday and the relationship between annual leave and sick leave.
Finally, the guide demonstrates how to pay leavers for any unused holiday.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW GUIDE.
UPDATE: APPORTIONMENT GUIDANCE
Making a declaration for goods you bring into Northern Ireland from Great Britain based on expected outcomes.
If you cannot make a declaration based on knowledge of the specific destination of the goods in a consignment, you may still be able to declare based on expectations of which of your goods should be considered ‘not at risk’ at the point you bring them into Northern Ireland.
For example, if you do not know at the point of entry which item within the consignment will go where but do know that 70% of your goods consignment typically moves into the EU, but 30% goes to end customers in NI you can declare 30% as ‘not at risk’.
The approach is known as ‘apportionment’.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW GUIDANCE.
PHA: CURRENT COVID-19 PRIORITY MESSAGING
The current COVID-19 priority messaging from the Public Health Agency (PHA) are as follows:
► Get vaccinated
► Get tested when you need to
► Beware complacency
You can read the latest update from the PHA below.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW UPDATE.