Newry Chamber welcome the news of a deal on post-Brexit arrangements between the EU and UK Government. While we are taking time to review the details of the agreement and consider what it means for our members, it is positive news.
We are gearing up for another busy month of events in March which you can register for by clicking on the links below. We hope to see you at a number of them.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN MARCH:
Future Opportunities in the Cross-Border Economy Conference
Wednesday 8th March, 8:45am – 1pm – REGISTER HERE
IWD Cocktails & Canapés Informal Networking Evening
Wednesday 8th March, 5:30pm – 7pm – REGISTER HERE
Cross-Border Tourism Conference
Wednesday 29th March, 8:30am – 2pm – REGISTER HERE
STATSports Business Tour
Friday 31st March, 12:30pm – 2pm – REGISTER HERE
If you would like to discuss any issue, please get in touch with the Chamber team:
Tony McKeown – tony@newrychamber.com
Ursula Savage – ursula@newrychamber.com
Jarlath Meehan – jarlath@newrychamber.com
If any of your colleagues would like to sign up for our monthly newsletter and receive information on our upcoming events, they can do so by clicking HERE.
Tony McKeown
Chief Executive Officer
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade
STATEMENT FROM CHAMBER PRESIDENT, JULIE GIBBONS
EU & UK STRIKE DEAL ON POST-BREXIT ARRANGEMENTS
Newry Chamber welcome the news of a deal on post-Brexit arrangements between the EU & UK Government.
Julie Gibbons, President of Newry Chamber said:
“While we are taking time to review the details of the agreement and consider what it means for our members, it is positive news.”
“It will greatly reduce the paperwork relating to moving goods into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK and also retains the benefits under the NI Protocol of trading with the EU single market.”
“We have consistently called for a negotiated settlement in our many engagements with both sides. Businesses were very much stuck in a cycle of uncertainty and many were holding back investment decisions awaiting the outcome of these discussions.”
“It should also provide a significant platform to attract new overseas investment into NI, due to the benefits of our unique dual access to the UK and EU markets.”
“As an organisation, we want to see our members trade freely both North/South and East/West and we are hopeful, this will be case.”
“We look forward to the speedy restoration of Stormont and locally elected representatives getting back to work. Newry Chamber are committed to working with local Ministers to ensure this region fulfils its potential.”
CROSS-BORDER ECONOMY TRADE CONFERENCE
DATE: Wednesday 8th March 2023
TIME: 9am – 1pm
VENUE: Carrickdale Hotel & Spa
COST: FREE
Over 200 business representatives have registered for our Annual Cross-Border Conference in partnership with Dundalk Chamber, which will focus on future opportunities in the Cross-Border Economy.
Case studies will demonstrate how businesses, both North and South have overcome significant challenges, using the supports available to navigate the changes in trade flows and identify opportunities for growth.
Other confirmed speakers include representatives from DKIT, Enterprise Ireland, AIB, Trinity College Dublin, DELI-LITES Ireland and Kaseya.
BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE HERE
INCREASE IN PARKING CHARGES FROM 60p TO 80p
Newry Chamber are concerned at the significant increase in parking charges from 60p to 80p per hour. We acknowledge that costs and inflation has been running at around 10% so this increase is far in excess of that.
We want to encourage shoppers to come to our high street to shop, visit our hospitality venues and enjoy leisure activities. Our high street members have suffered during Covid.
We should be making it easier and more appealing for shoppers to visit Newry City Centre. This large increase is a disincentive to come in.
We work closely with Newry BID, other Chambers and NI business groups. Retail NI have requested a meeting with the Dept. of Infrastructure Permanent Secretary and we will attend this meeting when it happens.
We want an evidence based approach to future parking charges in Newry and we strongly feel this will help our high streets thrive.
COCKTAILS & CANAPÉS INFORMAL NETWORKING EVENING
DATE: Wednesday 8th March 2023
TIME: 5:30pm – 7pm
VENUE: The Oliver Restaurant, Newry
COST: £10.00 + Booking Fee
Join us in The Oliver, Newry for an informal networking evening to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Enjoy a complementary cocktail and canapés on arrival, some informal networking with other attendees and you will also have the opportunity to introduce yourself and your business as part of the evening.
All proceeds from the event will go to Bolster Community and Caring Coins, two fantastic local charities who do so much to help women in this area as part of the wide range of work that they do.
Early booking is advised as places are limited.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
PRESENTATION: BUSINESS RATES REVAL2023 INFO SESSION
Newry Chamber in partnership with Newry BID held an information event in Newry this month on Reval2023. This revaluation process will result in a new non-domestic valuation list being used to calculate business rate bills from April 2023.
Thanks to Gary Humphrey, Reval2023 Project Manager who delivered a very insightful presentation on the recent draft publication of business rates and fielded questions from those in attendance.
To check the draft list for your valuation or to learn more about Reval2023, please click HERE.
You can view the presentation from Gary Humphrey, Reval2023 Project Manager via the link below.
VIEW PRESENTATION HERE
PRESENTATIONS: NEWRY CHAMBER MEET THE MEDIA EVENT
There was a fantastic turnout for ‘Meet The Media’ event held in the Canal Court Hotel with representatives from our local and regional media outlets last Friday.
The big takeaway from the event was businesses should have a strong mix of ‘on and offline’ comms channels and that message was reiterated with the cross-over between print, broadcast and digital.
Our local and regional media do so much to support the business community and in an ever-changing climate of how we get our news and promote our business, it is so important as local businesses, support is reciprocated.
LOCAL MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES:
• Peter Bayne, Newry Democrat
• Columba O’Hare, Newry.ie
• Paul Welsh, Newry Reporter
• Diane Burke, National World plc
REGIONAL MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES:
• Peter McVerry, U105
• Gary McDonald, Irish News
• John Clarke, Q105
VIEW PRESENTATIONS HERE