
Economy Minister Diane Dodds has announced that a skills development support scheme will remain free for businesses until the end of March 2022. Skills Focus is a post-employment training programme that is open to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including social enterprises, with fewer than 250 employees. Last May the Minister […]
Mar 4 2021 | Posted in
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Self Assessment taxpayers have less than one week to submit their late tax returns to prevent a £100 penalty, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has urged. While 10.7 million taxpayers filed their return by 31 January, more than 1.5 million taxpayers missed this deadline and are still to file their tax return. […]
Feb 25 2021 | Posted in
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A £1million capital grant scheme to help existing micro food and drink manufacturing businesses to upscale production to secure new markets for their products will open in March, Rural Affairs Minster Gordon Lyons MLA has announced. The aim of the scheme is to enable eligible businesses that are processing primary agricultural or horticultural […]
Feb 22 2021 | Posted in
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Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced a reduction in fees for the renewal of entertainment licences to alleviate the hardship being experienced by the industry as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. The move could save hundreds of venues, which have been forced to close their doors to the public, between £50 and £2,000. […]
Feb 19 2021 | Posted in
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Economy Minister Diane Dodds has announced amendments to the eligibility criteria for the Newly Self-Employed Support Scheme (NSESS). The NSESS is supporting those who commenced self-employment in 2019/20 and have been adversely impacted by Covid-19. Eligible applicants receive a one-off taxable grant of £3,500. Minister Dodds said, “The NSESS has been […]
Feb 18 2021 | Posted in
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Economy Minister Diane Dodds has announced KPMG, one of the world’s top four accounting firms, is investing £14million in its Belfast operation and will create 200 new jobs. The investment will see the audit, tax, consulting and deal advisory firm establish a new Centre of Excellence in Belfast, which will deliver a new […]

Newry’s Mulkerns EUROSPAR has started the year as they mean to go on, bagging an array of awards from two top UK-wide retail award schemes. The family-run supermarket picked up the top awards for Community Engagement at the Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards and Sustainable Initiative of the Year, Community Retailer of […]
Feb 11 2021 | Posted in
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Three of Co. Down’s homegrown artisan food producers are set to receive a business boost from Lidl. The trio were selected by the retailer as three of 26 artisan producers from Lidl’s 2020 Kick Start Supplier Development Programme to have their locally crafted products stocked in 208 Lidl stores across the island of […]
Jan 28 2021 | Posted in
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Lidl Northern Ireland is calling budding young artists across the region to unleash their inner Picasso and create an eye-catching design to feature on the retailer’s brand new heavy-duty plastic shopping bags, due to hit stores later this year. Lidl is set to introduce durable, reusable shopping bags, made from 100% recycled plastic, […]
Jan 27 2021 | Posted in
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Peter Mark has announced that this year’s Petermarkathon has raised an outstanding £5,000 for Autism NI. The Petermarkathon is an annual fundraising initiative, which takes place every October in all Peter Mark salons across Northern Ireland. Each salon was tasked with coming up with its own unique way to raise money […]
Jan 22 2021 | Posted in
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