It has been a very busy period for the Chamber and its members with extensive lobbying work being carried out across these islands alongside a number of highly successful events and stakeholder engagements.
Newry Chamber continues to lobby the NI Executive at Ministerial Level, the Irish Government and Shared Island Unit as well as the UK Government across our key lobby platforms of Meeting the Infrastructure Deficit across our region and Finding Collaborative Solutions to our Skills Challenges on a North-South & East-West basis.
This month both the Chamber President and I travelled to Dublin to address the Oireachteas Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee and meet with the Shared Island Unit urging the Irish Government to become a Development Partner in the North and provide funding gap solutions to key capital needs in NI especially wastewater infrastructure.
We also travelled to London to support the Trade NI Lobby of the UK Government to help businesses here meet the challenges around the cost of doing businesses and we met with the Secretariat of the Migration Advisory Committee in the Home Office to discuss the potential expansion of the ETA Travel Permit Exemption for EU citizens living in the Republic post 2020 to a Work Permit to allow those EU citizens with ETA Exemptions to commute to work in the border counties of the North.
There has also been extensive preparations ahead of our inaugural Greater Newry Sustainability Conference & Expo on Thursday and we were delighted to launch the 2026 Greater Newry Business Awards last weeks, which entries are now open for.
In this month’s newsletter, we have included information on:
- ENTRIES NOW OPEN: Greater Newry Business Awards 2026
- Chamber Hosts Positive Engagement with NI Ministers
- Chamber Addresses Oireachtas Committee
- Chamber Attends Engagements in London Around Trade NI Event
- Newry, Mourne and Down Cross-Border Job Fair
- CBPES Seminar on Business Supports for SMEs
- Newry Chamber Annual Golf Classic at Cloverhill Golf Club
Michael Savage
Chief Executive Officer
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade
ENTRIES OPEN: GREATER NEWRY BUSINESS AWARDS 2026
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: FRIDAY 17TH JULY 2026
Entries for the Greater Newry Business Awards are NOW OPEN.
2026 marks the 11th edition of the prestigious awards which recognise, celebrate and reward the success of local businesses, organisations and people at the top of their game.
The Greater Newry Business Awards have become the district’s premier celebration of business excellence since their inception in 2004 and are kindly supported by this year’s Principal Sponsors:
There are 23 award categories to choose from, with the addition of 2x NEW categories this year:
‘Best Healthcare & Wellbeing Business’ and
‘Best Construction Sector Business’
The awards are FREE to enter and every business and organisation located in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area can enter up to 4 categories.
The Greater Newry Business Awards the perfect platform to showcase the strength and depth of our local business community, shining a spotlight on the outstanding innovative entrepreneurship that makes our city and district a place apart.
The awards provide local businesses with a benchmark of quality, providing a chance to examine how customers view them and how they measure up against their competitors.
The Chamber is delighted to organise these awards and showcase the best of local entrepreneurship, innovation, excellent service, product quality and customer care across the district.
We want to hear your success story and celebrate your business and the individuals driving your pursuit of excellence and growth, so start preparing your entries and get them in before the deadline.
KEY DATES:
ENTRIES CLOSE:
Friday 17th July 2026 at midnight
SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED:
Thursday 3rd September 2026
TICKET SALES CLOSE:
Friday 18th September 2026
GALA AWARDS NIGHT:
Thursday 24th September 2026
in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry
ENTER THE AWARDS HERE
NEWRY CHAMBER HOSTS POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT
WITH NI ECONOMY & INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTERS
The Greater Newry Area can capitalise on huge opportunities for economic growth in the coming years if significant challenges can be overcome through a partnership approach with local Ministers and greater funding collaboration with the UK & Irish governments.
That was the message that resonated from a positive ‘Meet The Ministers’ Newry Chamber Corporate Patrons Event with the Infrastructure & Economy Ministers at The Whistledown Hotel on Thursday 21st May.
The event provided the opportunity for the Chamber’s 40+ Corporate Patrons, which includes many of the leading employers across the Greater Newry Area, to meet with Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins MLA and Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald MLA to discuss the economic and infrastructure challenges facing local businesses in Greater Newry and explore the huge opportunities available to our region through Dual Market Access, Cross-Border Trade and Innovation.
The event focused on the theme, ‘Developing Greater Newry into a Sustainable Economic Powerhouse on Dublin-Belfast Corridor’ and during the discussions, both Ministers answered questions and engaged with Corporate Patrons across a broad spectrum of issues.
Following the Ministerial Fireside Chat, an informative panel discussion on the theme took place with contributions from panellists including Anthony McVeigh, S&W Wholesale, Ronan Callan, The Exact Group, Cathal O’Neill, Kilmorey Care and Lee Campbell, SRC.
Despite facing some significant obstacles on their development journey, each panellist outlined their belief that if key infrastructure and strategic planning needs can be met by the NI Executive with the support of the UK and Irish governments, then the Greater Newry region has a positive economic future.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:
READ MORE HERE
NEWRY CHAMBER ADDRESSES OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE ON
CROSS-BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE & SKILLS COLLABORATION
Newry Chamber President, Conor Patterson and CEO, Michael Savage travelled to Dublin to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement on Tuesday 21st April to discuss cross-border trade and highlight the challenges faced by businesses across the Greater Newry Area, alongside other Chambers from the Border region.
Conor stressed that deeper engagement from the Irish Government in the future development of the North would help to strengthen the All-Island Economy, unlock Greater Newry/Greater Dundalk’s potential to become an economic powerhouse on the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor and create development headroom to build new homes to ease growing housing pressures on the eastern seaboard of Ireland.
Michael outlined the engagement Newry Chamber in partnership with Dundalk Chamber has been involved in with NI Water and Uisce Éireann in developing a Cross-Border Wastewater Project Funding Mechanism which has potential to unlock huge development opportunities for the Greater Newry/Greater Dundalk Cross-border Region and protect our Shared Waterways that flow from the Newry River Estuary to Carlingford Lough and Dundalk Bay.
They urged the Irish Government to support a Newry Chamber led initiative promoting an All-island Work Permit for EU workers living in the Republic permitting them to work in the North. This permit, if developed, could potentially help to alleviate some of the current recruitment challenges across key sectors such as hospitality, manufacturing, agri-food, construction and the care sector.
The Chamber also held discussions with the Shared Island Unit in Dublin around the potential role of the Shared Island Fund in future development of the area.
READ MORE HERE
WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE
NEWRY CHAMBER ATTENDS ENGAGEMENTS
IN LONDON AROUND TRADE NI EVENT
Newry Chamber President, Conor Patterson and CEO, Michael Savage travelled to Westminster on Wednesday 13th May for two days of engagements aimed at lobbying the UK and Irish Governments on key issues relating to Greater Newry’s economic future.
They attended ‘Trade NI’s Advancing Northern Ireland’s Economic Future Event’ at Surveyor’s House in Westminster on the 13th and later that evening attended the Trade NI Reception hosted by the Irish Embassy in London, where the Newry Chamber Team spoke at length with Ambassador Martin Fraser about the need for a more structured approach to the Shared Island Fund as a vehicle for the Irish Government to become a development partner in the North.
On Thursday 14th May, Conor and Michael met with officials from the Migration Advisory Committee Secretariat at the Home Office to discuss the potential development of a cross-border workers work permit for EU citizens resident in the Irish Republic, based on the current ETA exemption database.
At the centre of this year’s event, sponsored by Danske Bank, was policy paper, Advancing Northern Ireland’s Economic Future, produced with BDO Northern Ireland.
READ MORE HERE
NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN CROSS-BORDER JOB FAIR
WEDNESDAY 3RD JUNE, CANAL COURT HOTEL
We encourage our members who are currently recruiting in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and cross-border area to register their interest in attending and exhibiting at the NMD Cross-Border Job Fair on Wednesday 3rd June in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry.
Employers need to make sure to include details of the vacancies they will have at the time of the recruitment fair and they will need to be available to attend for the duration of the event.
To be considered for a stand at the event, employers will need to complete the online registration form via the link below and as stands are a limited at this event, a further email will be issued to inform employers who have been successful in securing a stand.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:
- Department for Communities
- Department for Social Protection
- Cross-Border Partnership Employment Services
- NMD Labour Market Partnership
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE
SEMINAR: CBPES EVENT ON BUSINESS SUPPORTS
FOR SMES IN THE CROSS-BORDER REGION
To help SMEs navigate the supports that are available, Cross-Border Partnership Employment Services who are hosting a FREE seminar on Wednesday 10th June in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry focused on ‘Business Supports for SMEs in the Cross Border Region’.
Businesses operating in the cross-border region face unique opportunities and challenges when it comes to recruitment, growth and accessing supports.
During the event, you will receive practical information and guidance on a range of important topics including:
(1) Advice on recruiting cross-border workers in Ireland
(2) Support grants for SMEs in cross-border region
(3) How to tap into the skills pool across the border
(4) Financial supports when recruiting new staff
This event will provide a valuable opportunity for business owners, managers and HR professionals to learn about the supports available to help them grow while connecting with agencies that provide assistance to businesses operating across the region.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:
- Cross-Border Partnership Employment Services
- Department for Social Protection
- Department for Communities
- InterTradeIreland
- Local Enterprise Office Louth
REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE
BOOK FOUR-BALL TEAM: CHAMBER ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC
FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, CLOVERHILL GOLF CLUB
We are delighted to announce the details of this year’s Newry Chamber Golf Classic which will take place on Friday 21st August and is kindly sponsored by our long-term sponsor of this event, Brown & Brown.
A range of attractive individual and team prizes are on offer, as well as prizes for the ‘Nearest To The Pin’ and ‘Longest Drive’ competitions.
Entry costs £200 + VAT for a Four-ball, including a goody bag, two-course meal and refreshments for each player.
Your business can also avail of hole sponsorship at this successful corporate business at a cost of £100 + VAT.
This is a great opportunity to reward your staff with a round of golf or entertain clients.
Anthony Boden, MD of Brown & Brown added:
“Brown & Brown is delighted to be associated with one of Ireland’s oldest regional Chambers. Newry’s success as a business destination is down to a strong network of local businesses.”
“Brown & Brown is all about making connections and we welcome the opportunity to support Newry Chamber in this popular networking event at Cloverhill Golf Club and I look forward to celebrating with the winning team at the 19th hole.”
BOOK YOUR TEAM HERE