Derry Chamber expresses frustration after another Executive delay

Paul Clancy, Chief Executive, Derry Chamber

After a further delay to a decision by the Executive on the current Covid-19 restrictions, Paul Clancy, Chief Executive of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, said: 

“The lack of a decision this week is beyond frustrating. 

“We have members spread across multiple sectors including close contact retail and hospitality, who have no idea what is happening on Friday. That is an impossible position to be in.  

“If there won’t be a lifting of restrictions on Friday then this must be communicated to businesses urgently. 

“Financial support must also be guaranteed so that businesses can stay closed and keep people in jobs before Christmas.

“We understand that these are grave issues and this is not an easy task, but tough decisions must be made today without further delay.”

Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 9 November 2020

Forward Look

• Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA has said restrictions on hospitality should be extended for two weeks to rescue the Christmas period. The Executive is expected to make an announcement on Monday about the current restrictions.

• Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has extended the furlough scheme for businesses affected by Covid-19 restrictions until the end of March 2021.

• The UK and EU have said serious differences remain over a post-Brexit trade deal, as the latest talks came to an end in Brussels. UK Chief Negotiator Lord David Frost has said “wide divergences” remained in some areas. The European Commission’s latest economic forecast also assumes no deal will be reached.

• First Minister Arlene Foster MLA is to recruit a new Special Adviser. It comes after communications professional and former journalist Michele Canning has been appointed as a new Special Adviser to deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA.

• A report by the National Audit Office has raised concerns that widespread disruption is likely after the EU transition period due to changes required to systems, infrastructure and resources to manage the border.

• The British-Irish Council is expected to meet later this morning to discuss the economic response to Covid-19 and discuss an agreed approach ahead of Christmas.

• Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín MLA has announced that the NI Housing Executive is to be split into two with its landlord arm becoming an independent mutual organisation, meaning it will be able to borrow money and start building houses again.

• Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA has commissioned a feasibility study to consider the introduction of half hourly services on the Derry – Belfast railway line.

• Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA told the Assembly this week that the Executive hopes to appoint an interim Head of the NI Civil Service in the coming days.

• Health Minister Robin Swann MLA has launched a full public consultation on Northern Ireland’s new alcohol and drug strategy. To respond, visit here. Deadline to respond is 5 February 2021.

• A new consultation on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland has been launched. To respond, visit here.

• The UUP is to bring a Private Members’ Motion to the NI Assembly on the Northern Ireland Manufacturing Sector during Covid-19 on Monday 9 November, calling for greater financial support from the Executive.

• The Consideration Stage of the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill and the Final Stage of the Budget (No.3) Bill will take place in the Assembly on Tuesday 10 November.

• Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA introduced the Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Bill this week which will speed up the justice system.

• Oral questions to the Economy and Education Ministers will take place on Monday 9 November. Oral Questions to the Finance and Health Ministers will also take place on Tuesday 10 November.

• The Ministerial Advisory Panel on Infrastructure will brief the Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday 11 November.

• The Finance Committee will hear evidence on the SEUPB – PEACE PLUS programme from departmental officials on Wednesday 11 November.

• Representatives from five local councils will give an oral briefing to the Executive Office Committee on the impact of Brexit on Wednesday 11 November.

• The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will meet on Wednesday 11 November to continue its inquiry into Brexit and the NI Protocol The committee will hear oral evidence from pharmaceutical industry representatives.

• The second annual AI Con takes place virtually this year on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th December. To register and for more information, visit here.

• Docs Ireland begins on Monday 9 November. For more info, visit here.

Other Stories this week

• Two new High Court judges have been appointed for Northern Ireland. David Scoffield QC and His Honour Judge David McFarland were sworn in earlier this week.

• Sinn Féin has selected Nicola Brogan to replace Catherine Kelly as MLA for West Tyrone.

• The Bank of England has announced it is to provide the UK economy with an extra £150bn in response to the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Interest rates have also been kept at 0.1%

• US manufacturer Caterpillar is to cut up to 700 jobs at its Larne plant.

• Secretary of State for NI Brandon Lewis MP told the House of Commons this week that the Government plans to establish a Northern Ireland Hub in London.

Upcoming key political and business events

• 5 November, Voices of Leadership, Women in Business

• 5 November, Northern Ireland Infrastructure Investment Conference agendaNI

• 10 November, Brexit and the Economy in Northern Ireland Economic and Social Research Council

• 11 November, In Camera with the Health Minister NI Chamber

• 12 November, Digital Government 2020 agendaNI

• 25 November, SONI Energy Forum NI Chamber

• 27 November, An audience with Northern Ireland’s Political Leaders – One Year On CBI Northern Ireland

• 30 November, In Discussion with the Bank of England CBI.

Consultations                                                                                            

• Zero Hours Contracts Bill Consultation NI Assembly. Deadline TBC.

• Consultation on the creation of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland NI Assembly. Deadline TBC.

• New SEN Regulations Department of Education. Deadline 22 December.

• Public Realm Project Department for Communities. Deadline 22 December.

• Establishment of a Regional Care and Justice Campus Departments of Health and Justice. Deadline 15 January 2021.

• Consultation on the New Substance Use Strategy Department of Health. Deadline 5 February 2021.

Derry Chamber welcomes feasibility study into fast train services between Derry and Belfast

Paul Clancy, CEO, Derry Chamber

Reacting to the announcement by Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA that her department is to carry out a feasibility study into half hourly train services between Derry and Belfast, Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive Paul Clancy said:

“This is very welcome news which will improve the connectivity and travel links for our region. Secure, reliable, and speedy connections in and out of the North West are crucial to the prosperity and success of the region and improved connectivity brings with it investment and jobs. Half hourly services between Northern Ireland’s two largest cities and main economic hubs will help lead to greater investment in the North West, the creation of new jobs, and address decades of regional inequality.

“We welcome Minister Mallon’s commitment to the North West and her recent engagements with her counterpart in the south, Minster Eamon Ryan TD, to invest in our region. The introduction of half hourly train services between Derry and Belfast, in tandem with the improvements to the A5 and the A6 roads and the proper backing of the City of Derry Airport, will go a long way to unlocking the full potential of the North West.”

Derry Chamber welcomes furlough extension

Paul Clancy, CEO, Derry Chamber

Reacting to the Chancellor’s announcement that the furlough scheme has been extended until the end of March 2021, Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive Paul Clancy said:

“It’s a massive relief that the Chancellor has extended the furlough scheme until the end of March 2021. This provides certainty for businesses, workers, and families across the North West at a time of concern and anxiety for thousands of households. It is a common sense decision which will give families one less thing to worry about over the Christmas period and will hopefully go some way to protecting jobs and livelihoods.

“The Chancellor, however, must confirm that he is open to extending the scheme again next year if businesses are still under the same pressure. There’s no point in keeping the scheme open now for businesses and workers to face a cliff edge again at the end of March. Businesses must also be involved in the development of a strategy to live with the virus. Going in and out of lockdown is the last thing any business owner wants and it’s time to find a way to deal more effectively with Covid-19 that doesn’t involve shutting doors and wrecking consumer confidence.”

FE College Principals Group welcome findings from Department for the Economy survey of FE Leavers

Commenting on the survey of Further Education College Leavers from 2018/19 which has been released by the Department for Economy today, Ken Webb, Chair of the College Principals Group said:

“This report is very encouraging and once again highlights the real value which our FE Colleges offer to learners completing and achieving a qualification at Level 3 or below. We are all committed to ensuring that each of our learners are equipped with the skills to succeed in a future career and it is heartening to see an increased number of these students (up from 47.4% to 50.2%), in employment six months after achieving their qualifications.”

“As the job market becomes more uncertain, we know that challenges exist but we are confident our learners will continue to benefit from choosing to study at their local FE College. Our close links with the business community across all sectors ensures these learners can readily gain employment and we will continue to strengthen these. As we can see from this report, the subject areas with the highest proportions of leavers in full-time employment were Construction, Planning and the Built Environment, Business, Administration and Law and Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies. Our programmes in these subjects are vital not only for our learners but also employers who require a skilled workforce with the technical skills and expertise to meet the challenges of the future and it is crucial that these are continually supported.”

“Choosing to study in a FE College is about so much more than learning – it is about that wider experience. Figures which show that more than two thirds of our learners would choose to study again in the same College is really positive. Collectively, we all have to continue to champion the benefits and value of choosing to study in our FE Colleges and as Principals’ we remain committed to further improving these findings next year.”

Soft skills to be one of the most important attributes for the workforce in the next ten years says leading businesses

Allstate NI, EY and Herbert Smith Freehills are set to hold the second event in their ‘Your Child, Their Future’ virtual series focused on ‘soft skills’

The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and the World Economic Forum have identified soft skills as being crucial to the future jobs market. With significant unemployment expected in Northern Ireland because of Covid-19, the positive impact which a focus on skills can have on economic recovery through increasing productivity, competitiveness and innovation is being capitalised on by Allstate NI, EY and Herbert Smith Freehills.

Despite the growth in modern technology, the importance of so called ‘soft skills’ such as emotional intelligence, communication, creativity, empathy, listening and collaboration have been underlined as being crucial for overall success in the workplace.

In their assessment and recommendations for the upcoming Northern Ireland Skills Strategy, OECD have noted that developing relevant skills and using them effectively is crucial for Northern Ireland’s ability to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world.

Following on from a hugely successful first event - these local firms will once again come together to host this bespoke event focused on the soft skills required to succeed in future employment.

This free, virtual event which will take place on Tuesday 10 November at 6pm will be delivered by leading professionals from the three companies who themselves are parents and are having similar conversations with their own children.

Hosted by Sarah Travers, it seeks to help parents begin early discussions with their children on career aspirations, specifically highlighting why certain soft skills are vital and how they will aid employment opportunities in the future.

Allstate NI, EY and Herbert Smith Freehills represent three diverse sectors of the Northern Ireland economy bringing together renowned expertise in IT, Legal and Professional Services.

The three companies currently employ more than 4,000 people across Northern Ireland.

Paul Cassidy, Head of L&D at Allstate Northern Ireland commented:

“After the success of the first event, we’re thrilled to be collaborating again to make sure parents and children right across Northern Ireland know what skills are required to succeed in future careers. It is in the interest of all us, both parents and business leaders that the future generation are equipped with the necessary skills in the various industries.”

“Soft skills are of increasing importance to all businesses. Due to the exponential growth in technology such as Artificial Intelligence in recent years, there is sometimes a misconception that emotional intelligence, communication, and collaboration for example are not crucial to success. However, from our perspective, these are absolutely crucial regardless if the work takes place in front of a computer screen or not.”  

Ian Edwards, UK & Ireland Tax Partner, EY Northern Ireland added:

“Since the start of the pandemic, the world of work has changed dramatically therefore the skills required will also change. What we hope to show through this event is that while certain technical knowledge can be learnt quite easily, there needs to be a focus on those vital soft skills from an early age. Without strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly, listen to colleagues and empathise with certain situations, it will be more difficult to succeed.”

Suzanne Cowan, Senior Manager, Legal (Corporate), Alternative Legal Services (UK, US, EMEA), Herbert Smith Freehills concluded:

“As parents and business leaders, we all recognise the difficult position our children are in as a result of Covid-19. The normal working environment has changed pretty dramatically in recent months which of course brings new challenges but also opportunities.”

“We hope that this event can direct parents and children to the skills required to achieve success in their future careers. In most jobs, technical skills alone are not enough to be truly effective and it is also true that the soft skills required can take longer to perfect. Therefore, we hope this event can give all children a head start in their career.”

To register for this event please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/your-child-their-future-tickets-119283256431

AI Con returns to look at the future of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, Fintech and creative industries

Launching the second annual artificial intelligence conference ‘AI Con’ are conference curators Austin Tanney, Kainos, Ruth McGuinness, Kainos and Adrian Johnston, Digital Catapult.

Northern Ireland’s leading conference on artificial intelligence, AI Con, is set to take place on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 December.

AI Con brings together world leaders from AI companies such as Kainos and Datactics together with the AI community in Northern Ireland, to discuss advances in AI and what it means for companies, government and the world in which we live.

This year’s conference will also look at how AI is working to transform key public services such as health care, in the wake of the pandemic.

Speakers at AI Con include:

• Dr Joanne Bryson, Professor of Ethics and Technology, Hertie School, Berlin

• Marten Kaevats, National Digital Advisor, The Government Office of Estonia

• Dame Wendy Hall Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton

• Dr Marieke Navin, Head of Programming, Cheltenham Science Festival.

In a new initiative, AI Con has also partnered with Northern Ireland Screen and Future Screens to launch a competitive funding call aimed for filmmakers to create a three-minute film or animation to capture the AI Revolution on Screen.

The conference will be led by Tom Gray, Chief Technology Officer of Kainos and is sponsored by Matrix, Allstate NI, Liberty IT and Digital Catapult.

Speaking at the launch of AI Con, Tom Gray, Chief Technology Officer at Kainos said:

“The success of the first AI Con last year proved that Artificial Intelligence activities in Northern Ireland are growing significantly – AI is becoming part of every sector and Northern Ireland is focused on leading in the application of AI to business.

“AI is a rapid growth area with a huge amount of work being done locally by very exciting tech companies. The importance of AI as a tool for improving how we do business is still emerging, and as we look to rebuild our economy, the conference will provide an opportunity to showcase new developments in AI that can support economic recovery.

“This year, we will examine how the use of AI can support improvements in our public sector and other significant sectors within the Northern Ireland economy such as Finance, Agri-food and the Screen Industry.  Across these areas, the application of AI will allow both increased efficiency and productivity, and the creation of completely new products and services

“With Belfast being recognised  as one of the Top 10 cities for Fintech growth, and with more and more businesses choosing Northern Ireland as  a UK base, AI Con provides the perfect platform to bring debate, discussion and the sharing of new ideas to a bigger audience.”  

David Anderson, Director of Technology at Liberty IT said:

“We are thrilled to support AI Con this year on the back of a hugely successful first conference in 2019. It was clear to see the appetite that exists for knowledge sharing and networking between tech companies and business leaders in this area of technology.

“AI is changing all of our lives and the conference showcases how Northern Irish companies are bringing their expertise to the world stage and making our region a highly competitive one in the technology arena.

“These important conversations between technology and business are needed now more than ever as our thoughts turn to the economic recovery of Northern Ireland post-Covid. AI can provide innovative solutions that mean companies can work more effectively and more efficiently, and it opens up new possibilities for businesses.”

AI Con brings together business leaders, chief executives and technology experts to celebrate advancements in the NI tech sector, whilst also inspiring and engaging a new generation of technology leaders.

The conference this year is free, but those who would like to attend must register.

Public encouraged to ‘Ask Your Pharmacist’ during awareness week

Gerard Greene from Community Pharmacy NI joins Brian Austin and Sharon Austin at Austin Pharmacy in Belfast to mark ‘Ask Your Pharmacist Week’.

The public is being encouraged to ‘Ask Your Pharmacist’ as part of an awareness week on the value and importance of community pharmacy.

The initiative by the National Pharmacy Association, will highlight the important services provided by local pharmacies in our communities and the role community pharmacists play as part of the wider Health and Social Care family.

Community Pharmacy NI, the representative body for all community pharmacies across Northern Ireland, is reminding the public of the variety of services available at local pharmacies this winter and encouraging greater use of these services to take pressure off other parts of the health service during the second COVID wave.

The community pharmacy network has expanded its services in Northern Ireland to deal with the pandemic, including offering flu vaccines to all health and social care workers this winter and the resumption of the Minor Ailments and Pharmacy First Service.

Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene said:

“Ask Your Pharmacist Week is a welcome opportunity for us all to take a step back and look at our health service and the hugely important role that is played on the ground by local community pharmacies, as part of our Health and Social Care family.

“This year we have seen the remarkable dedication and resilience of community pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland who have stepped up as leaders within health and social care.

“From the very beginning of the pandemic, our network came up with innovative ways to remain open and carry on with the high standard of care and support they offer in their local areas.

“A visit to a community pharmacy gives patients the opportunity to have a face-to-face consultation with a health professional at a time and location close to home, without the need for an appointment. This has proved to be vital in the midst of this pandemic.

“With many patients at home self-isolating or shielding, they can still have a face-to-face discussion with their pharmacist via a video call. We ask the public to speak to your local pharmacy for more details.

“As we approach the winter months, we expect to see another surge in patient numbers due to flu season and COVID, but community pharmacy remains open and ready to support our patients throughout this period and we are putting plans in place to deal with increased demand. Community Pharmacy will be here for everyone this winter.”

Brain Austin, a Community Pharmacist from Belfast also commented:

“From the earliest stages of the pandemic, community pharmacists were all too aware that we were the frontline of the health service and we did everything we could to keep our doors open for patients at that time. The crisis has highlighted the agility of our network and how much trust people place in their local community pharmacist.

“Our pharmacies changed overnight in many cases. New layouts were designed, Perspex screens erected, social distancing measures were implemented, and PPE became normal attire to ensure both public and staff safety so we could continue to do our job. We are now working through another wave of Covid.

“There is no doubt, this second wave of the pandemic, coupled with the expected winter pressures adds multiple layers of pressure to our pharmacy teams. However, with new service provisions we are ready for it and we are taking on even more responsibility to provide accessible and available healthcare within our communities.”

Brown O'Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead: Week Commencing 2 November 2020

Forward Look

• Finance Minister Conor Murphy MLA has announced additional funding worth £790 million for Executive Departments as part of Covid-19 and October monitoring round allocations. Of this package, £560 million has been allocated to the Department of Health.

• The Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has announced that he will deliver the 2020 Spending Review on 25 November which will set out spending plans for the next year.

• Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU will continue next week in Brussels until Wednesday 4 November. Progress is said to have been made in a number of areas with a joint document on state aid expected to be finalised next week. However, substantial disagreement remains over the level playing field, enforcement and fisheries.

• The Budget (No. 3) Bill is scheduled to have its Consideration Stage in the Assembly when it returns on Monday 2 November. The Second Stage of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill which will modernise liquor licensing legislation in NI will also take place on Tuesday 3 November.

• The Department of Education has begun the recruitment process for a new Permanent Secretary. The deadline for applications is Friday 13 November.

• The Northern Ireland Office is currently recruiting for a new Head of Business Engagement.

• Former UUP Mid and East Antrim Councillor John McDermott has announced that he has joined the DUP. Mr McDermott represents the Carrick Castle DEA. The UUP has also co-opted former councillor and MLA Derek Hussey onto Derry City and Strabane District Council.

• Question Time for the Executive Office and Justice Minister will take place on Monday 2 November. Questions to the DAERA Minister and Communities Minister will take place on Tuesday 3 November.

• Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA will brief the Justice Committee on key issues for her department on Tuesday 3 November.

• The Education Committee will hear from departmental officials and the Education Authority on area planning for special schools on Wednesday 4 November.

• Representatives from six local councils will give an oral briefing to the Executive Office Committee on the impact of Brexit on Wednesday 4 November.

• On Thursday 5 November, the Health Committee will receive an update from Health Minister Robin Swann MLA and CMO Dr Michael McBride on Covid Response.

• The Communities Committee will hear from departmental officials on Thursday 5 November on proposed changes to NI’s gambling legislation. The APG on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling will also meet on Thursday 5 November.

• The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will meet on Wednesday 4 November to continue its inquiry into cross-border cooperation on policing, security and criminal justice after Brexit. The committee will hear oral evidence from the PSNI.

Other Stories this week

• Sinn Féin Senator Elisha McCallion has resigned after three party offices incorrectly received payments of £10,000 under the Small Business Grant Scheme.

• The Stormont Executive has agreed that schools in Northern Ireland will reopen on Monday. Face coverings will be mandatory on public transport for all post-primary pupils.

• The Department for the Economy has begun the recruitment process for a Chair and four new Board Members to the Board of the Labour Relations Agency (LRA).

• Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA has announced a £14 million funding package for taxi drivers and a package worth £5 million for bus and coach operators.

• The CBI Northern Ireland has published a report outlining recommendations to reform major planning processes and to establish an independent infrastructure commission. The full report can be read here.

• The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has published an interim report into addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past. The report calls on the UK Government to conduct meaningful consultation with victims’ groups, NI political parties, and the Irish Government before publishing legislation.

• The Irish Government has launched an online Brexit Readiness Checker to advise and assist businesses in their Brexit preparations.

• Jeremy Corbyn MP has been suspended from the Labour Party following a report into anti-Semitism within the party under his leadership.

Upcoming key political and business events

• 5 November, Voices of Leadership, Women in Business

• 5 November, Northern Ireland Infrastructure Investment Conference agendaNI

• 10 November, Brexit and the Economy in Northern Ireland Economic and Social Research Council

• 12 November, Digital Government 2020 agendaNI

• 27 November, An audience with Northern Ireland’s Political Leaders – One Year On CBI Northern Ireland

• 30 November, In Discussion with the Bank of England CBI

Consultations                                                                                          

• Zero Hours Contracts Bill Consultation NI Assembly. Deadline TBC.

• Online Political Transparency The Cabinet Office. Deadline 4 November.

• New SEN Regulations Department of Education. Deadline 22 December.

• Public Realm Project Department for Communities. Deadline 22 December.

• Establishment of a Regional Care and Justice Campus Departments of Health and Justice. Deadline 15 January 2021.

81% of Derry and Donegal businesses not planning on hiring staff in the next year, major new survey reveals

L-R – Toni Forrester, Chief Executive, Letterkenny Chamber; Redmond McFadden, President, Derry Chamber; Jimmy Stafford, President, Letterkenny Chamber; and Paul Clancy, Chief Executive, Derry Chamber

Joint survey between Londonderry and Letterkenny Chambers reveals significant worries over Covid and Brexit and urges new Shared Island Unit to prioritise North West investment

81% of businesses on both sides of the border in the North West have said they will not be hiring new staff or expanding their workforce within the next year, a major new survey has found.

A joint survey of over 130 North West businesses between the Londonderry and Letterkenny Chambers of Commerce revealed serious challenges for companies in the region over key issues like Covid-19 and Brexit. A further 58% of companies have said they envision making cuts this year to protect their business and already badly hit revenue streams.

The Chambers are calling on the governments in Stormont, Westminster and Dublin to work collaboratively with business to reach solutions around pandemic restrictions which allow companies to continue trading, or to properly compensate them if their doors are forced shut or they experience a fall in trade.

Despite the current dominance of Covid-19 for businesses on both sides of the border, firms are still seriously concerned about the potential impact of the end of the transition period at the end of this year also.

72% of respondents said Brexit would have a damaging and negative effect on their businesses in both the short and long term. Businesses have several outstanding concerns ahead of 31 December including increased paperwork and bureaucracy, barriers to trade, loss of business and customers, exchange rates fluctuations, supply chain interruptions, and access to skills and workforce.

A significant proportion of North West businesses – over a fifth – have not made any specific preparations ahead of the end of the transition period, while only 5% have reported signing up to the UK Government’s new Trade Support Service.

In a joint statement, Paul Clancy, Chief Executive, Londonderry Chamber and Toni Forrester, Chief Executive, Letterkenny Chamber said:

“The results of this survey make for sobering and deeply worrying reading. While the impact of Covid-19 has been clear for all to see, the evidence of its devastating impact on our entire regional economy has been laid bare. At a time when redundancies and job losses are unfortunately inevitable and rising, it is concerning but unsurprising that over 80% of firms will not be hiring over the next 12 months. Governments across these islands need to put in place the necessary schemes and supports which will shield one of Ireland’s historically most deprived regions at a time of growing unemployment.

“Our survey has highlighted the importance that government support schemes have played in keeping our local businesses afloat since March. 81% of respondents told us that, without these schemes, it is likely that their businesses would have been lost during the pandemic. Even with these schemes, every business reported having lost significant percentages of their revenue over the past six months.

“New restrictions imposed in the North West recently on both sides of the border are starting to take effect and we have thankfully started to see a significant reduction in Covid-19 cases. However, this has come at a serious cost to our small businesses across the region. Going in and out of lockdown will be fatal for hundreds of businesses. They are just about coping as it is. While we are grateful for the recent support measures announced by the Finance Minister and the amended Job Support Scheme by the Chancellor which will be available from November, government support needs to be dramatically stepped up for Northern Irish businesses. Committed, comprehensive and sustained state support is needed - and needed immediately - to save jobs and protect livelihoods.”

The business leaders continued:

“Covid-19 remains the immediate anxiety for business owners, but a slightly higher percentage of respondents – 84% - said that Brexit posed the greatest challenge to the North West region over the next 12 to 24 months. Despite the huge problems that Covid presents, this finding is no surprise. Just over two months until the end of the transition period, the future trading environment is as an unclear as ever. 62% of businesses said that they were either unprepared for Brexit or unsure what they needed to do. There are so many unknowns remaining and, with business capacity now focused almost exclusively on responding to the impact of the pandemic, time is quickly running out to prepare local companies. We are again pleading with the UK Government to deliver clarity and certainty for our local economy and ensure every effort is taken to guarantee uninhibited trade across our islands.”

The Chambers have also welcomed the recent funding allocation of €500m over five years to the Taoiseach’s Shared Island Unit and said the Irish Government should commit to investing public funds in the North West.

Mr Clancy and Ms Forrester said:

“The Shared Island Unit is a welcome commitment from the new coalition government to the prosperity of the entire island, north and south. The North West has been promised much by successive governments in both Dublin and Stormont over the years but with little delivery. This ringfenced funding is a refreshing signal of intent by the Irish Government and we will be writing to the Taoiseach to ensure that the North West gets its fair share of this investment. Enhancing our infrastructure, improving our connectivity, strengthening links between our higher and further education institutions, and creating investment opportunities for our local companies can transform our region for the better at a time of significant upheaval and uncertainty.

“The Londonderry and Letterkenny Chambers are committed to closer working for the benefit of the entire North West region. By combining our energies and our expertise, we can tackle the challenges of Covid-19, Brexit and everything else in between in partnership.”