Campaign launched to encourage greater diversity in public life ahead of 2023 local council elections

NILGA Chief Executive Alison Allen

A new campaign has been launched today to encourage greater diversity in public life ahead of next year’s local government elections.

Led by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), the ‘Be A Councillor – Make A Difference’ campaign is encouraging people from underrepresented communities to get involved in public life and frontline politics to make Northern Ireland a more inclusive and representative place to live for all communities.

These include people of colour, those with caring responsibilities, women, young people, people from the LGBTQI+ community, and people with a disability.

NILGA is the voice of local government in Northern Ireland, with membership from elected representatives from all 11 councils and all political parties.  This campaign has the full cross-party support of elected representatives in NILGA.

A series of seven videos have been developed with a wide-ranging and diverse group of current councillors from across Northern Ireland and across the main political parties. NILGA will also be writing to all political parties in Northern Ireland to encourage them to do all they can to ensure greater diversity ahead of candidate selections for next May’s local government elections.

‘Be A Councillor, Make A Difference’

Speaking as the campaign launched, NILGA Chief Executive Alison Allen said:

“The people of Northern Ireland will go to the polls next May to elect 462 councillors across 11 different council areas. However, while people from incredibly diverse backgrounds and all different types of communities will elect their local representatives, our councillors have not always been fully reflective of our communities. The latest census figures published recently show that Northern Ireland is more diverse than ever before, whether that’s different ethnicities, ages, abilities, political opinions, sexualities and gender identities, or religious beliefs.

“Councils are our closest and most accessible form of elected representation. Our councillors are community activists and leaders who are on the ground, delivering for their constituents day in, day out. Therefore, it’s only right that our councillors are fully representative of the people they speak up for and give a voice to.

“NILGA’s exciting ‘Be A Councillor – Make A Difference’ campaign is a significant and timely campaign which aims to encourage people from all walks of life to get involved in public life. A more diverse and inclusive society brings benefits for all of us. More diverse politics brings better policies, better legislation, and greater inclusivity with wider perspectives on how to improve our communities for everyone in them.

“Ahead of parties making their selections for next year’s election, NILGA has written to all political parties to encourage them to ensure they are doing all they can to facilitate and foster proper diversity and inclusion among their candidates. Our political parties have an important role to play to make sure our elected representatives are as reflective of the people they serve as possible. NILGA will work closely with all parties ahead of May 2023 to make this a reality.

“This campaign is vital to encourage people from all underrepresented communities that there is a place for them in politics in Northern Ireland. A more inclusive and diverse cohort of elected councillors will bring untold benefits and make everyone in our communities believe that politics works for them.”

Restored Primark Bank Buildings reopens to the public with the creation of 300 new jobs

Four-year £100 million restoration project of the 237-year-old listed building is finally complete

  • Almost 300 new jobs created by Primark, providing a major boost to the local economy of Belfast

  • Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Tina Black officially opens the new 88,200 sq ft. five floor flagship store in the heart of Belfast City Centre

The long-awaited reopening of Primark at The Bank Buildings in Belfast took place yesterday, officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tina Black. The newly refurbished flagship store represents an investment of £100 million to renovate and restore this iconic building in the centre of Belfast city and bring it back to its full glory, as part of Primark’s ongoing commitment to Northern Ireland. 

The retailer has created almost 300 new jobs at the bigger and better Primark store, including permanent and temporary seasonal positions, which will provide a significant boost to the local economy. This brings the total number of employees at Primark Bank Buildings to 500, making it one of the biggest retail employers in the city.

Shoppers queued from early hours to be first through the doors of the newly refurbished five-storey beautiful retail space in the heart of Belfast city centre, which opened its doors to excited customers at 10am.

The reopening is a poignant moment for Primark, and the city of Belfast, following the August 2018 fire that gutted the interior of the 237-year-old heritage listed building and left the feature façade badly damaged. Over the past four years, major building renovation works were undertaken by Primark with the support of hundreds of crafts and tradespeople, including over 40 expert stone masons from across the UK and Ireland, who were tasked with carving new stone works and repairing existing stone as part of the restoration.  All the stone and marble on the building’s new façade was sourced from quarries in Finland, Scotland and Portugal, the same quarries from where the materials for the original structure were sourced in the 18th century.

Commenting at the reopening of Bank Buildings, Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Tina Black said: “It’s really wonderful to be here today to see the reopening of this iconic Belfast building. As a former Primark employee myself, I have many happy memories of working here during my university years, and now a new chapter begins for the staff. When the fire devastated Bank Buildings back in 2018, it was hard to imagine ever reaching this point; but over the last few years, we’ve witnessed the painstaking work that has gone in to restoring this beautiful heritage building and like everyone, I’m thrilled to see it reopen its doors today, with the added boost of creating new jobs.

“While the fire was undoubtedly a devastating event for our city and businesses, it also marked something of a watershed moment because it brought together elected members and city partners to work together to find solutions. Over the last number of years, we have been able to trial new ideas and initiatives to support recovery and regeneration, and I know that partnership working will continue in the weeks and months ahead.”

Primark Northern Ireland Area Manager Jacqui Byers added: “Today is a great celebration, not only for Primark, but for all of Belfast following years of hard work to recover and rebuild Bank Buildings. It is fantastic to have reached this day and return to our home in Belfast, bringing our colleagues back together under one roof with a store that is bigger and better than ever before.

“As we finally reopen, we wish to thank our colleagues, customers, the business community, and the wider city of Belfast once again for their continued support over the past four years. Restoring Bank Buildings has been a passion project for Primark, completed in partnership with the wider city of Belfast and our amazing team of crafts and tradespeople - it has been a true team effort. This is a proud moment for us, and it is a testament to every individual involved that we welcome shoppers back today.”

Returning to its original site in Belfast City Centre, Primark Bank Buildings has now merged with the existing Castle Street store to create a new flagship store, which is 76% bigger in size compared to the original site. The store features 88,200 sq. ft. of fantastic retail space, including a brand-new immersive Disney experience, the first of its kind in a Primark store setting, where customers will find a Primark Café with Disney, Disney photo moments, and a dedicated Disney department for adults, kids and homeware, all located on the second floor of the store.

The store will also feature a new nail and beauty studio for customers, operated by Nails™, and a new fifth floor space which is home to a brand-new Home department offering Primark’s full homeware range of accessories, bedding and small furniture to customers in Belfast for the first time. 

Customers can also shop the full range of Autumn Winter trends, partywear, Christmas gifting ideas and its great value essentials across women’s, men’s, kids’ and homeware, beauty, and accessories all in one place at Primark Bank Buildings.

Committed to investing further in Northern Ireland, Primark also recently confirmed details of the opening of its brand-new store in Rushmere Shopping Centre, Craigavon, which will open its doors on Friday 16th December to customers and will be the retailer’s 9th store in Northern Ireland.

Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland: Wednesday 2 November

Forward Look                                

  • Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD is expected to become Taoiseach several days after 15 December to allow Micheál Martin TD to attend the final European Council summit of the year, according to media reports.

  • At today’s cabinet meeting, Justice Minister Helen McEntee TD updated colleagues on the creation of a new division of the High Court to deal with planning issues.

  • On Saturday 5 November, Sinn Féin’s Ard Fheis will take place at the RDS, Dublin.

  • The latest Irish Times/Ipsos poll sees Sinn Féin’s lead drop slightly to 35% (-1) followed by Fine Gael on 22% (+4) and Fianna Fáil (+1).

  • On Tuesday 8 November, the Dáil will return from Halloween recess.

  • Enterprise Minister Leo Varadkar TD will publish the Government’s White Paper on Enterprise Policy later this month. Digital transition, skills, competitiveness and trade policy will be included.

  • Environment Minister Eamon Ryan TD has said he will bring recommendations for a new Energy Security Policy to cabinet in the next month.

  • Cabinet has given approval to Ireland’s first-ever hate speech legislation to be introduced to the Dáil in the coming weeks.

  • Today and tomorrow the Central Bank will host a Financial System Conference at the AVIVA, Dublin. For more information, click HERE.

  • Tomorrow, the deadline to apply to the Board of the Electoral Commission closes.

  • On Monday 7 November, the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council will take place.

  • On Thursday 10 November, Business in the Community’s Annual CEO Breakfast will take place at Mansion House, Dublin. For more information, click HERE.

  • On Thursday 10 November, the Central Statistics Office will publish the Consumer Price Index for October.

Other Stories this week

  • The Government has accepted 49 of the 50 recommendations made by the Future of Media Commission, except for scrapping the RTÉ TV license.

  • Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry has resigned over the party’s handling of bullying claims made against him.

  • The annual Procurement Reform Report has been published, detailing government contracts and the cost of implementing policy. To view, click HERE.

  • The Irish Planning Institute has said that capacity issues at An Bord Pleanála is causing significant delays to the approval of housing developments.

  • Eurozone inflation reached a record high of 10.7% for October.

  • Business confidence has fallen 27 points since this time last year, according to Bank of Ireland.

  • The temporary Eviction Ban Bill has been signed into law deferring evictions until April 2023.

  • The value of merchandise bought from the Sinn Féin website trebled last year to €300,000, according to the Irish Independent.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 3 November, Invest in Ireland Awards.

  • 5 November, Sinn Féin Ard Fheis.

  • 11 November, Small Firms Association Annual Lunch.

  • 16 November, Ibec Financial Services Ireland Dinner.

  • 16 November, LVA and VFI Irish Pub Awards.

  • 7-8 December, Dublin Chamber London Trade Mission.

  • 15 December, Leo Varadkar TD becomes Taoiseach.

Consultations

28 October Deadline – where do we stand now?

4pm, Friday 28 October: Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris MP has confirmed that he intends to call an Assembly Election following the passing of the deadline to restore the Assembly and Executive. The SoS did not set a date but said he will be giving a further update next week.

8am, Friday 28 October: The deadline for the restoration of the Assembly and Executive passed at 00.01 this morning. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris MP is now obliged to call an election which must take place within 12 weeks.

This comes six months on from May’s Assembly Election. The Assembly and Executive has remained in cold storage since then due to the DUP’s position on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Several attempts to recall the Assembly and elect a Speaker and deputy Speaker have failed in that time, the most recent being yesterday, when bids to gain cross-community support for the election of a Speaker and nomination of a First and deputy First Minister failed.

Following the deadline, the remaining caretaker Ministers are no longer in position. Power has now shifted to the Secretary of State and civil servants, who will oversee the running of day-to-day matters.

What can we expect?

·        The earliest an election can happen is Thursday 8 December and latest Thursday 19 January. With the Northern Ireland Office keen to avoid a Christmas campaign, it looks likely to take place on 15 December.

·        The Electoral Office is making plans for this, and the cost will be £6.5 million.

·        If an election takes place on 15 December, the count will happen that weekend. The Assembly would be expected to meet shortly after that to appoint a new speaker and ministers.

·        In the event of another six-month period without the restoration of the Executive, the law stipulates that a further election must be called.

·        In the interim, the Secretary of State has indicated that he will pass a budget for Northern Ireland at Westminster “concurrently” with elections and give civil servants at Stormont powers to take decisions in the absence of ministers.

·        The idea of ‘Joint Authority’ between the Irish and British Governments in the governance of Northern Ireland without an Executive has also been mooted in recent days. All parties except the DUP, UUP and TUV welcomed it, however the Northern Ireland Office later ruled it out and said “joint authority is not being considered”.

What does it mean?

·        We are on course for another election, yet the restoration of the Executive after that is not a foregone conclusion. It is unknown whether this further poll will change things given that the NI Protocol Bill and negotiations with the EU are now directly linked to restoring power-sharing.

·        Alongside the potential for a second Assembly Election before we see out the year, campaigns will also reignite early next year for the Local Government Elections on 4 May 2023.

Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland: Wednesday 26 October

Forward Look                                

  • Cabinet has approved a radical overhaul of pub and nightclub opening hours as part of the General Sale of Alcohol Bill, proposed by the Justice Minister Helen McEntee TD.

  • A total of €850 million in European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) has been secured by the Department for Public Expenditure to support regional economic competitiveness and innovation.

  • A forthcoming report into An Bord Pleanála will reveal widespread governance and decision-making issues, according to the Irish Examiner.

  • This week, the Dáil will scrutinise the Emergency Electricity Generation Bill and the Temporary Eviction Ban Bill.

  • This afternoon, officials from the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure will brief the Committee on Budgetary Oversight on Budget 2023 commitments.

  • Tomorrow, the Government will make a statement on Ireland’s Energy Security. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment will respond to Questions.

  • Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is set to commence construction on a new €1 billion Dublin facility next summer, according to the Business Post.

  • Tomorrow, the Central Statistics Office will publish credit and debit card transaction statistics for September.

  • Tomorrow, Financial Services Dublin will host its Financial Services Industry Awards in the Mansion House, Dublin. For more information, click HERE.

  • On Friday, AIB will publish it’s third-quarter trading results.

  • On Friday, the Irish Start-up Conference 2022 will take place at Trinity College, Dublin. For more information, click HERE. The Irish Law Awards will also take place at the AVIVA Stadium, Dublin. For more information, click HERE.

  • Deirdre Ní Choistín has been appointed Head of News and Current Affairs at TG4.

  • Mary Buckley has taken up post as interim CEO of IDA Ireland.

Other Stories this week

  • On Monday, the 62nd meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly took place in County Cavan.

  • Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD has said he will give consideration to establishing a taskforce to rejuvenate O’Connell Street in Dublin, working with Dublin City Council.

  • The value of goods handled in Irish ports during Q2 rose 1% year-on-year. Dublin Port accounted for 63% of all activity.

  • The Central Bank of Ireland has announced an easement of mortgage lending rules for first-time buyers, coming into effect 1 January 2023.

  • Yesterday, Energy Minister Eamon Ryan TD met with European counterparts in Luxembourg to further discussions on an agreed energy price cap.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 28 October, Irish Start-up Conference.

  • 28 October, Irish Law Awards.

  • 2 November, Food and Drink Business Conference.

  • 3 November, Invest in Ireland Awards.

  • 5 November, Sinn Féin Ard Fheis.

  • 16 November, Ibec Financial Services Ireland Dinner.

  • 15 December, Leo Varadkar TD becomes Taoiseach.

Consultations

BelTech wants to hear from future leaders in the tech industry

BelTech will return on 9 and 10 March 2023

BelTech, the conference that unites technologists right across the tech sector, is looking for the industry’s future leaders as it officially opens its call for speakers ahead of the conference taking place in 2023.

Returning on 9 and 10 March 2023, BelTech will continue to lead the way in gathering, informing and inspiring Northern Ireland’s technology practitioners of today and of the future.

BelTech is aiming to give as many emerging technologists as possible the opportunity to bring their ideas to a domestic and influential global audience.

The themes and tracks of the next BelTech will focus on distributed enterprises, mesh architecture and artificial intelligence. Talks focusing on sustainable computing practices across these tracks are encouraged.

Curated by technologists, for technologists, BelTech 2023 is supported by Kainos, Allstate NI and Expleo.

Applications close on Wednesday 2 November.

Kyle Davidson, Lead Curator of BelTech 2023 said:

“The aim of BelTech is to celebrate our growing sector and give a platform to new, emerging voices to help spark ideas and collaboration within our sector by inspiring the next generation of tech professionals

“Next year’s BelTech is all about breaking down barriers and empowering people from all walks of life. The beauty of working in tech is that it nurtures diversity and that is what BelTech 2023 is all about.

“We would urge everyone in our sector to get involved, put their name forward or even encourage peers to apply to speak at the region’s leading tech conference.”

FinTech NI announces appointment of Chris Jessup as Chairperson

FinTech NI Chairperson Chris Jessup

FinTech NI, the not-for-profit industry association representing the £392 million fintech sector in Northern Ireland, has announced the appointment of Chris Jessup as Chairperson.

Chris comes to the helm after serving three years on the Board of the FinTech NI Association, succeeding outgoing Chair and Northern Ireland FinTech Envoy Andrew Jenkins.

A Partner at leading corporate law firm A&L Goodbody, he has a background in financial services and years of experience advising fintech companies and financial services institutions on UK and EU regulatory matters.

The appointment will bolster the organisation’s work in showcasing Northern Ireland’s excellence in fintech on the world stage. A not-for-profit industry association, FinTech NI represents the workforce of over 7,000 individuals and 75 companies, and exists to champion the ecosystem on a local, national, and international level.

Chris’ term as Chairperson of the Association will further the implementation of the three-year Northern Ireland FinTech strategy and roadmap. Published last year, it validated the Treasury’s identification of Northern Ireland as one of ten leading UK fintech clusters and estimated the creation of 25 new fintech companies, the attraction of £25 million in additional Foreign Direct Investment and generation of thousands of new jobs in the next three years.

Working to implement the strategy, FinTech NI is focussed on attracting young people into the sector, connecting SMEs to investors and large institutions, and promoting Northern Ireland on the world stage.

Speaking after his appointment, Chris Jessup said:

“I am excited to take on the position of Chairperson of FinTech NI at such an important time for the sector. The possibility for growth in Northern Ireland is very evident, yet strong leadership from all stakeholders is required to ensure the companies that make up our dynamic ecosystem are represented on the local and international stage.”

“We are facing into a turbulent time on several fronts. It has never been more vital for the Northern Irish economy to support our SMEs, build a sustainable talent pipeline, and encourage scaling among entrepreneurs so that we can reach our full potential.”

“These are the areas I intend to focus on as I embark on my term as Chairperson. I wish to thank my fellow Board members for their ongoing collaboration and support and pay tribute to outgoing Chair Andrew Jenkins for leading us through another hugely successful year at FinTech NI. The depth of expertise on the board, as well as the quality of our ecosystem, will undoubtedly help us deliver on our key aims and cement Northern Ireland’s position as a world leader in fintech.”

Pathway to success for emerging leaders looks different following years of challenge

Writes Ryan Connor, Senior Management Consultant at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore in the Irish News on Tuesday 25 October

Ryan Connor, Senior Management Consultant at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore

The quick succession of the Covid pandemic into an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis means our world has been disrupted for some time now. Throughout this, adapting and pivoting at a strategic level has become a necessity and has at times been what saved organisations from being overwhelmed. 

As companies continue to transition into new ways of working, leaders in all sectors are under increasing pressure to fully understand how the expectation around leadership continues to evolve, and in doing so, successfully navigate their own organisation through the change and uncertainty that the modern working world brings.

Those aspiring to be leaders, therefore, must be equipped to lead in today’s business environment while also building their profile, skills, network, and accelerating the impact of the work they deliver.  To support this, there are several common factors at play.

Firstly, talent and ambition must be evidenced through the quality of work delivered. Having the confidence to seek higher opportunities is vital, yes, but performance must be there to back it up. You may be fortunate to have a line manager who supports your development, but if not, you must articulate clearly and with the right people what you are hoping to achieve.

Successful leadership is difficult without a strong network of support. Building this within both your personal and professional life is important for when pressures do emerge and can be achieved easily and inexpensively in the hybrid world with communication technology.

A common misconception of leadership, however, is that those at the helm always have the answers. In any situation, it may feel like a sign of weakness to seek advice from others, yet it is better than providing the wrong answer. Similarly, good leadership comes with the expectation that failure will happen, and an organisation requires strong direction when things aren’t easy. Taking responsibility and owning your mistakes builds personal resilience, while your example can cultivate a growth mindset among employees.

If there’s one thing the last few years has shown us, it’s that creative and innovative thinking have an essential place in high level decision making. Challenges can emerge overnight, and we saw during the pandemic that those who were open to new approaches were first to minimise the impact on their productivity. Creating an open-minded environment rather than instinctively dismissing new ideas will breed creativity and allow others to thrive there too. 

Most importantly, leadership growth is based on the ability to engage in continuous learning and development. Investing in training opportunities and seeking out development within your role, such as suggesting more challenging targets or taking the lead on a new initiative, will ensure you are never standing still. Individuals serious about evolving into a leadership role will want to consider coaching, mentoring or peer support groups and the development they can gain from external training, networking, and volunteering.

Finally, intuitive successful leadership takes practice, experience and adding to your skillset. In time, taking major decisions and managing confidently becomes the norm. However, those who are successful know when to challenge their own practice, regularly identify their own capability gaps and can therefore pivot when their organisation encounters complexity, uncertainty or change.

Two thirds of North West businesses affected by lack of an Executive, new Londonderry Chamber survey warns

Londonderry Chamber President Aidan O’Kane

Over two thirds of businesses surveyed by the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce have said their business has been negatively affected by the lack of a functioning Executive and Assembly.

86% of North West businesses have also said that rising costs and inflationary pressures are the biggest challenges they face currently in the ongoing cost of living crisis.

A survey completed by members of the Chamber has shown that rising energy and material costs as well as decreasing consumer demand due to the cost of living are the biggest pressures to local business, while 94% said they expected to increase their prices in response to rising costs.

Three-quarters (75%) of respondents said it was “extremely important” to have the Executive and Assembly return at this time to provide assistance. Looking ahead to the medium and long-term outlook, Chamber members continue to view investment on the North West region as central to unlocking the region’s economic potential, featuring in 59% of responses, followed by improvements to regional infrastructure (43%).

Ahead of this Friday’s 28 October deadline to restore the Stormont Executive, the Chamber is calling on the parties to urgently get round the table to ensure local power-sharing returns, that another election is avoided at all costs, and to deliver supports for businesses and households ahead of the winter.

Aidan O’Kane, President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce said:

“This set of results is an alarming snapshot of the pressures facing businesses in the North West. What we are seeing is that across the board, businesses big, small and from every economic sector are facing unprecedented financial strain, whether it’s rising material costs, exorbitant energy bills, or simply depleted demand from consumers with less disposable income.

“In the nine months since our last survey, rising costs have jumped from being the ninth biggest concern for business, to now unquestionably the biggest, featuring in nine out of ten responses. This is further illustrated by the fact that almost one in five say they are not confident of business growth set against these economic conditions.

“Our findings also highlight clearly and unambiguously that there simply must be more done to support businesses in the wake of these pressures. Our members have listed the types of interventions that would relieve pressure at this time, be it rates reductions, help with energy bills, or direct financial support to help with materials and products.

“There’s simply no getting away from the fact that the lack of an Executive is worsening the situation for our local businesses and this should serve as a wake-up call for our local elected representatives. The fact that 67% of respondents have said that political inaction has damaged their business should be a clear signal that the prospect of further delay is totally unthinkable. The Secretary of State has been clear that he will call an election if the parties do not restore the Executive by the end of this week. This is last chance saloon for local political decision making – now is the time for action to deliver for our communities.”

'Another fiscal statement but still little certainty for businesses' writes Angela Keery, Head of Tax at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore

As originally appeared on Belfast Live, Monday 17 October

Head of Tax at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Angela Keery

Business leaders and individuals alike will today be considering what the words of another new Chancellor mean for their financial position following the second fiscal announcement in 24 days.

Delivering the medium-term fiscal plan two weeks ahead of schedule, Jeremy Hunt MP was quick to reverse almost all of the tax cuts delivered in last month’s mini-budget.

While those initial changes had appeared to put a little money back in everyone’s pockets, what followed was weeks of instability across the financial markets that had a heavy impact on businesses and individuals as interest and inflation levels rose and mortgage rates went through the roof.

This was an unsustainable position, therefore the move to expedite the recovery plan by the new Chancellor was an entirely necessary intervention. What is unclear, however, is just how much strength it will have in settling the markets in the immediate term.

Off the back of an announcement to press ahead with the planned increase in Corporation Tax rates to 25%, the Chancellor also today announced the reversal of planned cuts to Dividend Tax Rates and confirmation that the basic rate of Income Tax will remain at 20%.

Due to take effect in the next financial year, these changes are a hit for businesses in real terms but do come with over five months of lead in time to allow individuals and business owners to factor them into their plans.

With all eyes on the markets and whether these interventions will settle things, the concern now is whether company and personal finances can be sustained under an already difficult economic climate.

Prolonged uncertainty is good for no one, yet the constant dramatic measures pursued of late are taking businesses and members of the public through a grueling period of economic volatility as they attempt to respond to increased costs in all areas, particularly soaring energy prices.

What we need is a settled market with clear fiscal policies and time for business owners and individuals to forecast and budget appropriately and most importantly seek help where they need it most.