Belfast city centre nursery provider welcomes Assembly motion on affordable childcare and calls for investment in the sector

Belfast Central Mission (BCM), the operator of Puddleducks - a Belfast city centre day nursery provider, has welcomed the motion tabled at the Northern Ireland Assembly later today expected to highlight the challenges of affordable childcare and the need for greater investment in the sector.

The move comes as many of the newly installed Ministers and MLAs state that childcare provision is one of the most urgent challenges the Assembly will face and that a clear strategy must be developed at Executive level. 

Senior management of Puddleducks, operated as a social enterprise by BCM, says that the sector needs investment to place it on a more sustainable footing due to the impacts of the covid pandemic, rising costs and changing work patterns all compounding problems such as recruitment, skills, training and staff retention, just like many key sectors across Northern Ireland.

Speaking ahead of the affordable childcare debate, Puddleducks Manager, Sharon Malcolm said:

“The return of the Assembly now allows for vital issues such as the challenges around childcare provision to be highlighted with focus and much greater attention to actual solutions.”

“This is a critical priority not just for parents by ensuring that families can meet the costs of childcare, but for the wider economy as well.”

“There are parents that have been forced out of work due to their inability to meet these costs, but there is now an opportunity for these individuals and economically inactive members of the public to get back to work if the appropriate cross-departmental strategy is put in place.”

“The early years care and education sector has been beset with turbulence and change in recent years resulting from the pandemic. Covid has permanently changed the way in which many people work – the traditional 9-5 in the office is something of the past.”

“This has resulted in additional pressures on childcare providers, where you might have had a parent sending their child to childcare five days a week, but would now perhaps only be two.”

“Our sector is an essential service which has an impact on every part of society. It must be high quality and sustainable while being both accessible and affordable for all families. We are nurturing, caring for and educating the youngest in our communities and our executive need to see this as an opportunity to invest in early years to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children's future.”

“We are supportive of the call on the Executive to deliver a strategy that makes high quality affordable childcare achievable.”

“As the only part of the UK or Ireland that does not have a childcare strategy, we have an opportunity to learn from counterparts and create a world leading early years care and education sector within Northern Ireland and this must be an immediate priority for our executive.”

Stormont Selects its Ministers

Following a successful recall of the Assembly and the election of Edwin Poots MLA as Speaker, the Assembly had its first sitting in almost two years where the following Ministers were chosen using the D’Hondt system:

  • First Minister – Michelle O’Neill MLA, Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster.

  • Deputy First Minister – Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, DUP, Lagan Valley.

  • Minister for the Economy – Conor Murphy MLA, Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh.

  • Minister of Finance – Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Sinn Féin, East Londonderry.

  • Minister of Health – Robin Swann MLA, UUP, North Antrim.

  • Minister for Infrastructure – John O’Dowd MLA, Sinn Féin, Upper Bann.

  • Minister of Education – Paul Givan MLA, DUP, Lagan Valley.

  • Minister for Communities – Gordon Lyons MLA, DUP, East Antrim.

  • Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – Andrew Muir MLA, Alliance, North Down.

  • Minister for Justice – Naomi Long MLA, Alliance, East Belfast.

  • Sinn Féin Junior Minister – Aisling Reilly MLA, West Belfast.

  • DUP Junior Minister – Pam Cameron MLA, South Antrim.

A Stormont Reboot: Politics Returns to Primetime

Ahead of Saturday’s Assembly recall, Tara O’Neill looks ahead to how tomorrow’s events might unfold.

The political version of a sitcom that got stuck in a re-run loop; this Saturday’s Assembly recall is set to mark the highly anticipated season premiere.

As the curtains rise on Stormont’s return, the question on everyone’s lips is who will take the leading roles and grace the Executive stage?

In the opening scenes, the Speaker of the Assembly will be nominated by other MLAs. This role has been tipped for none other than Edwin Poots MLA, former DUP Leader. Pasty McGlone MLA and Mike Nesbitt MLA are other considerable contenders, having both been nominated for the role of Speaker at the most recent Assembly recall in January. In a delicate dance of power sharing, it is possible that both Patsy McGlone and Mike Nesbitt could share the role as Deputy Speaker.

Following the selection of the Business Committee is the nomination of First and Deputy First Minister. It is certain that Michelle O’Neill MLA will take on the role of First Minister, with Emma Little-Pengelly MLA as the current frontrunner to take on the role of deputy First Minister. In a break from typecasting, a nationalist First Minister and unionist Deputy First Minister will produce a dynamic the likes of which has never graced our screens before.

Forming the official opposition is the SDLP, with Matthew O’Toole MLA assuming the mantle of Leader of the Opposition.

In supporting roles, we might see MLAs like Caoimhe Archibald or Linda Dillon step in to become Junior Sinn Féin Minister, with Jonathan Buckley MLA perhaps assuming the Junior Ministerial role for the DUP.

What comes next will undoubtedly set the storyline for the next three-and-a-half-year mandate.

With first pick of the ministerial positions, it is no secret that Sinn Féin have been eyeing up the Economy role, with political heavyweight Conor Murphy MLA the favourite to take this seat.

In a swap with Sinn Féin, the DUP will likely assume the Finance ministerial position, with Gordon Lyons MLA being predicted as the most likely candidate.

In a toss-up between Sinn Féin and the DUP, either party could make a bold move and seize the least popular ministerial post, Health. With former First Minister Paul Givan MLA and Linda Dillon MLA as likely candidates, the Health ministerial post will be one to watch.

The UUP are understood to be taking the Education seat, with Robbie Butler MLA, deputy party leader and education spokesperson, heavily tipped for the role.

The Department for Communities is likely to be a Sinn Féin sure start, but will Deidre Hargey MLA resume her previous role, or will the party put forward a new candidate like Áine Murphy MLA? As for Infrastructure, this post will go to either Sinn Féin or Alliance, with Andrew Muir MLA waiting in the wings to assume this position.

The DAERA Minister is also dependent upon whether Sinn Féin or Alliance take the role of Infrastructure Minister.

Lying outside of the realm of the d’Hondt formula is the Justice seat. Will breakout star Alliance take centre stage by nominating party leader Naomi Long MLA, or will former Justice Minister Claire Sugden MLA resume her role in the Executive ensemble? With the potential for a plot twist, this selection could rejig the running order and the number of seats allocated to each party.

Grab your remote, adjust your political antenna, and get ready for the return of the Assembly. If this week’s events are anything to go by, it will be a performance worth watching.

By Tara O’Neill, Client Executive at Brown O’Connor Communications

Health Minister's Hot Seat: Tackling Crisis, Shortages, and Waiting Lists – Can They Cure the Ailing System?

Vicki Caddy, Head of Healthcare Communications

As we stand-by for the nomination of Ministers in a new Executive, one particularly interesting portfolio is the Department of Health.  

As a poison chalice, this cup truly runneth over.  Let’s take a look at some of the challenges waiting in the Health Minister’s in-tray next week…

First up: People and Pay.  Our health service workers are over-stretched, over-worked and underpaid. Quick wins from the Minister on pay deals for nurses, junior doctors and health workers will bring some respite, but there’s a lot more to it. There are serious shortages of staff.  A lack of pay parity here means we are haemorrhaging healthcare staff to Ireland, GB and Australia.  Health service pay and conditions are driving skilled workers into early retirement and private practice.

Private medical care has mushroomed as a consequence of spiralling waiting lists (fine if you have the cash). NHS dentistry is crumbling, and we’ve seen private GP clinics creeping in.

The traditional vision of the family GP now looks like a thing of the past. Heaving GP practices have closed or been handed back to Health Trusts, as doctors (funny enough) aren’t attracted into General Practice. Covid has irreversibly changed how people access primary care.  With growing patient lists and less GPs, it makes sense to try to triage them over the phone first… if you can get through.

Community pharmacies have come into their own as local experts on the high street, easing the pressure on GPs.  However, they too have huge financial challenges behind the scenes: the way they’re paid for the medicines they dispense is highly volatile – and often loss-making. It’s pushing some pharmacies to the brink.  In the mix on this, a consultation on Prescription Charges as a public revenue-raising measure will be interesting, and UK Treasury is likely to drive for that soon.

Cancer waiting times are devastating.  People are waiting months rather than days or weeks for a first appointment. Then there may be chunks of weeks to wait for tests, further waits for the results, and then for the treatment to start.

And we shouldn’t forget about the other part of this Ministerial portfolio – social care.  In England, these are two separate entities with their own pots of money.  Here in Northern Ireland, they’re grouped together – and therefore jostle for their share of the same budget. 

We have an ageing population. Through the miracle of modern medicine (oh, the irony) more people are living longer.  

Given that Alzheimer’s and Dementia are now the biggest killer in the UK, we desperately need to get dementia services whipped into shape as a priority.

One of the first pieces of legislation we should see coming through is the Adult Safeguarding/Adult Protection Bill – aimed at protecting care home residents and vulnerable people in residential care.

Properly planned and resourced adult social care can be really effective in allowing older people to live independently in their own homes.  As an in-tray priority, the Health Minister must publish the findings of the consultation on the Reform of Adult Social Care and identify funding to take it forward.

The new Health Minister has some huge challenges ahead – and these are just the top line. Health promotion and prevention need visionary investment to improve our public health and ease the burden on health services.

Finally, returning to the workforce challenge – if there’s a cocktail umbrella to take the bad look off this poison chalice, it’s this: patients who do get access to health services in Northern Ireland say almost universally, that the care they receive from the dedicated and highly skilled staff is nothing short of incredible. 

Let’s see if the new Health Minister can rehabilitate our ailing services and deliver a positive prognosis for us all. 

Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead - Week Commencing 5 February

Forward Look      

  • The Northern Ireland Assembly will be recalled tomorrow after the DUP accepted new post-Brexit trade arrangements between Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK and the European Union. Legislation which passed in the House of Commons on Thursday will mean no routine checks on British goods being sold to consumers in Northern Ireland.

  • The first item of business will be the election of a Speaker. The UUP’s Mike Nesbitt MLA, the SDLP’s Patsy McGlone MLA and the DUP’s Edwin Poots MLA are among some of the likely candidates to assume the role.

  • Membership of the Business Committee will then be decided without debate. Following this, the First Minister, deputy First Minister and two Junior Ministers of the Executive Office will be selected.

  • Parties will then select Ministers using the d’Hondt system. Sinn Féin will have three ministerial picks alongside the First Minister and one Junior Minister, and the DUP will have two picks alongside deputy First Minister and one Junior Minister. The Alliance Party are entitled to two ministerial positions, with the UUP entitled to one. The SDLP has confirmed that it will opt out of the Executive, and instead form the Official Opposition.  

  • The Command Paper on the ‘Safeguarding the Union’ deal to restore power-sharing states that the UK Government will enter into exploratory talks with the United States on options for introducing pre-clearance checks on customs and immigration for passengers travelling from Belfast to the US. US Special Envoy for Economic Affairs Joe Kennedy III cautioned that getting US agreement for preclearance was a “long, detailed process that takes years and is expensive”.

  • The DUP deal also includes a commitment to revive efforts to devolve corporation tax to Northern Ireland.

  • The DUP’s Paul Givan told the BBC’s The View that they would be pulling the Stormont Brake, and “in fact we will be pulling it quite soon”.

  • UUP Leader Doug Beattie has told the BBC that he has engaged with his party officer on Thursday evening and that would continue into this morning regarding the party going into opposition. He added that a decision would be announced later this morning.

  • SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP has said he "cannot in good conscience" attend the White House's St Patrick's Day celebrations because of the US response to the Israel-Gaza war. The SDLP will instead send a delegation in his place.

  • Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP will visit Northern Ireland on Tuesday 13 February.

  • The Ulster Unionist Party has selected Diana Armstrong to run in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency in the upcoming Westminster election.

Republic of Ireland

  • Support for Sinn Féin has seen a significant decline with the latest Red C poll, showing the party on 25%, down from 29% in November. Fine Gael remain unchanged at 20%, while Fianna Fáil gain 1 point to 17%.

  • The Government has approved a proposal to hold a constitutional referendum in June on Ireland’s participation in the Unified Patent Court. The referendum will be held alongside the European and local elections.

  • Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has been selected as the party’s candidate for Ireland South for this year’s European elections.

  • Fine Gael Midlands-North-West MEP Colm Markey has called for investment in ports for renewable energy support. The MEP is hosting a conference, entitled “Europe’s Energy Future: Ireland’s Opportunity,” in Dundalk Institute of Technology, today.

Other Stories this week

  • The Bank of England has forecast that inflation could ease to its 2% target within a few months, as it opted to hold interest rates at 5.25% for the fourth time in a row.

  • The DUP has confirmed it will conduct an internal investigation into leaks shared by Jamie Bryson during their Executive meeting on Monday evening.

  • Tourism NI has launched a series of Innovation Workshops for tourism and hospitality businesses across Northern Ireland. The workshops will take place at The Everglades Hotel, Derry on 6 February, The Junction, Dungannon on 7 February, The Crowne Plaza, Belfast on 8 February and the Game of Thrones Studio Tour, Banbridge on 9 February. Further information is available here: LINK.

  • Niall McCracken will take up the role of Mid Ulster Reporter at BBC News NI at the end of March.

  • The Department for the Economy has announced the appointment of John Healy OBE as Chair to the Board of Invest NI.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 6 February, Women in Business, Empowering Women in Leadership, online.

  • 9 February, Women in Business, Women in Tech Conference, Titanic Belfast.

  • 21 February, ICCA UK & Ireland Annual Conference, ICC Belfast.

  • 21 February, Chief Executives’ Club and Engineers Ireland, Sir Bernard Crossland Lecture, Queen’s University Belfast.

  • 22 February, Women in Business, Equipping Managers for Success, Pinsent Masons.

  • 29 February, Public Sector Cyber Security Northern Ireland Conference, Hilton Belfast.

  • 2 March, Alliance Party Annual Conference, Stormont Hotel, Belfast.

  • 5 March, InterTradeIreland, Venture Capital Conference, Titanic Belfast.

  • 6 June, The Irish News Workplace and Employment Awards 2024, Titanic Belfast.

Consultations

 

Charity Inspire says it’s Time to Talk as major new mental health survey reveals one in five people polled in NI feel their mental health is ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’

Kerry Anthony, CEO, Inspire

  • Charity Inspire warns reluctance to talk is leading to isolation, social withdrawal, and worsening mental health

  • New survey reveals one in five in NI describe their mental health as “poor” or “very poor”

  • One in four in NI do not feel free to talk to friends and family about how they’re really feeling

  • Across the UK, it is people from NI who bottle up their mental health struggles the most to avoid being a burden to others

Northern Ireland mental health charity, Inspire, has announced the findings of a major new poll today (Thursday, 1 February), revealing that one in five people surveyed here have described their mental health as “poor” or “very poor”.

The findings come from a Censuswide poll of 1001 people in Northern Ireland, and more than 5000 people UK-wide, which is being revealed today as part of Time to Talk Day (1 February).

Aiming to spark the UK’s biggest conversation about mental health, Time to Talk Day was created by mental health charities across the UK, including Inspire in Northern Ireland, MIND, and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with Co-Op.

Worryingly, the survey also found that not only are people in Northern Ireland reluctant to talk about their mental health, but they are also experiencing increased isolation, loneliness, and worsening mental health as a result.

Key findings
Among the key findings for NI, were:

  • Almost a quarter (24%) of respondents do not feel free to talk to friends and family when they’re struggling.

  • NI is the region in the UK with the highest percentage of people who feel they should put on a brave face to avoid talking about their mental health. 72% of people surveyed here say they mask how they’re feeling to those closest to them, significantly higher than the 64% average in other parts of the UK.

  • More than one in five (22%) stated their mental health has worsened as a result of not speaking up.

  • Of those who did bottle things up, 41% said it led to them becoming withdrawn, 34% said they felt isolated, 31% said they withdrew from social activities, and 27% felt they experienced struggles at work.

  • When it comes to masking our feelings, the survey participants admitted that, when asked how they are, one of the most commonly used phrases to present a brave face to the world is “Good thanks, and you?” (31%) closely followed by “Not too bad” and “I’m all right” (each at 30%) and “Fine thanks” (27%).

  • A majority of Northern Ireland respondents (60%), agreed the pressures of the last few years (cost-of-living crisis, pandemic, negative news cycle) have made them less likely to open up about their mental health because they don't want to worry others during difficult times.

Why it’s good to talk
Speaking about the survey findings, Kerry Anthony MBE, CEO of Inspire said:

“So many people in Northern Ireland have been, and are going through a difficult time, and while some people may find it admirable that the empathetic people of Northern Ireland don’t want to worry others in difficult times, it is vital to remind anyone who feels this way that your mental health is important too.

“Talking about our mental health can help us feel less alone, more able to cope, and can help us feel able to seek support. Telling someone else how you are feeling is a great way to start turning things around for the better. It’s vital to have early, open, and honest conversations and I would urge everyone to find Time to Talk about how they are feeling.”

Mental health stigma lingering longer in Northern Ireland
In further findings of the Censuswide Time to Talk Day survey, respondents also indicated the ongoing impact of the perceived taboo around mental health as being a contributing factor as to why they don’t talk about it. Reasons given included an assumption that others don’t want to know (28%), a fear of being judged or treated differently (25%), and a fear of others’ reactions (26%).

Examining the wider issue of stigma around mental health, respondents to the survey were also asked if it’s become easier to talk about mental health over the last decade. While 68% agreed that the topic of mental health was taboo ten years ago, 54% think this is still the case.  In Northern Ireland, this perception exceeds the UK average (45%) by a wide margin and it is the highest of any region in the UK.

Speaking about the stigma that can be associated with mental health, Kerry Anthony from Inspire added:

“Time to Talk Day is important because the more we talk openly, the more the narrative changes, and more people will feel safe in sharing how they feel.

“We can all help challenge the stigma around these conversations, so people who are struggling know that they can confidently speak up and seek support.

“We know that, for many, talking can feel difficult. Although sometimes it may feel easier to tell people we’re ‘fine’ than to say how we feel, bottling things up is just storing up trouble and, as this research shows, it can have a negative effect. This Time to Talk Day, we would urge everyone to open up and let someone else in - a small gesture or conversation can make a big difference when it comes to improving mental health.”

“With the restoration of an Assembly and Executive a step closer we now need to see our politicians talking to each other without any further delays.  While our message today is it’s Time to Talk, it must also be ‘time for action’ as we urgently call for the new Executive to focus on the full implementation and funding of the mental health strategy.”

For information about Time to Talk Day, including tips on starting the conversation, visit: timetotalkday.co.uk. Follow the conversation on social media #TimeToTalk.

Northern Ireland Assembly coming back? – is your organisation ready?

Political Influencing Experts: Brown O’Connor Directors, Chris Brown and Arlene O’Connor

The deal is finally done to restore power-sharing to Northern Ireland after a break of almost 2 years. This breakthrough will result in the appointment of new Ministers, new Committees and new priorities for an Executive top team.

With Assembly sittings due to take place imminently to appoint those Ministers and populate the new scrutiny committees, it’s time to think about your organisation’s priorities and public affairs strategy.

Whether it’s a review of current strategy or the development of a new campaign, Brown O’Connor has the expertise, energy and trusted advisers in place for you and your organisation to be prepared well in advance.

As Northern Ireland’s leading Lobbying & Public Affairs led integrated communications agency, we’re the award-winning team that will bring Insight, Influence and Impact to the lobbying programmes and campaigns we develop and deliver.

Our Public Affairs services include:

  • Public Affairs Strategy Development

  • Political Intelligence & Monitoring

  • Policy & Issues Based Events

  • Public Awareness Campaigns

  • Media Relations and Social Media Content Generation

  • Supporting Campaign Related Strategic Litigation

  • Consultation Response Drafting

  • Issues Management

Fire Up The Ministerial Skodas...

Today is the day we expect to see the papers and text on which the DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson sold his party the road to restoration.

The information contained within is expected to be faithfully swallowed by many, but ripped asunder by others. The next 24-48 hours will not be sweetness and light for the senior leadership of the party with the ‘unionist voice’ expected to make itself heard.

The Stormont doomsday clock - already set at 90 seconds to disaster - will start to tick louder as the race is now on to get the Assembly back up and running again. There is a fear it could unravel quicker than it takes to strap a wire tap to your chest.

The perceived wisdom is that Saturday will be the day that the Assembly is recalled. The first item of business is the election of the Speaker. Candidates will be nominated by other Members of the Assembly and require cross-community support in order to be confirmed. It would be a surprise if there is not a little pre-planned choreography on Friday evening / Saturday morning between the main parties.

Patsy McGlone MLA and Mike Nesbitt MLA are some historic contenders for the role of Speaker, attempting previously to be elected. At the most recent sitting of the Assembly on January 17, the UUP and SDLP both nominated them respectively, however, neither received cross-community support. The latest craic is that former DUP leader (for a wet weekend) and Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, might be nominated.

Following the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers, the election of First and Deputy First Ministers must take place, followed by the selection of Junior Ministers. It’s obvious who will take up the FM role, but it’s a toss-up between Emma Little Pengelly MLA and Gordon Lyons MLA for the Deputy FM role (ok, ok, Joint First Minister). If Lyons doesn’t make the cut at the top of the Executive, it’s highly likely he will be nominated for the role of Finance Minister. Conor Murphy will likely take up the helm at the Department for the Economy. 

The SDLP will form the official opposition and will not be part of an Executive. It is likely that Matthew O’Toole MLA will remain as Leader of the Opposition. The big question will be if the Ulster Unionist Party decide to do the same – would that move represent a lack of ambition for the likes of Steve Aiken MLA or does he slot back in as a good high profile Committee Chair?

Chatter for some time has been that the Alliance Party might opt for the Department for Infrastructure with North Down MLA Andrew Muir MLA putting the hand up for that role - he himself coming from a professional background in transport.

It is worth keeping an eye on the Justice ministerial position. There has been speculation that it may be up for taking from another party (thrown back into the d’Hondt pot), however, it may still be likely that the role will be re-allocated back to the Alliance party, given their ‘other’ Assembly designation. Naomi Long would likely be nominated to take up the role again.

The reality is no one truly knows where the Department of Health will come in the pecking order – does the DUP lean into it and put former First Minister, Paul Givan MLA, in a command role to sort the show out, or does it get a sick note and pushed right down to the very last pick as the Ambulance case?

What does Sinn Fein do with the capable duo of Caoimhe Archibald MLA and Linda Dillon MLA with other Ministerial roles to fill (Agriculture or Communities) and a Junior Minister opening at the Executive Office.

Following this will be the appointment of the Committee Chairs, deputy Chairs and memberships before the formal first sitting of the Assembly which, if all goes according to the proposed timetable, will be Monday or Tuesday of next week – timetabling of the first Plenary session of the Assembly (and Order of Business determined by the Business Committee) and will see the first meeting of the newly formed Executive.

But first we need to get a decent tune out of a couple of Statutory Instruments in Westminster in the next few days…

Baker Tilly Mooney Moore appoints Tapiwa Mhari as Audit Senior

Accountancy and advisory practice Baker Tilly Mooney Moore has announced the appointment of Tapiwa Mhari as Audit Senior.

Tapiwa Mhari, newly appointed Audit Senior at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore

He joins the Belfast firm’s Audit and Assurance team, having recently moved to Northern Ireland from Cape Town, South Africa. Most recently, Tapiwa worked as an Audit Senior with SAPRO, an international consultancy firm with offices in South Africa, India, and the USA.

 Having worked with mid-Tier firms in the USA and Australia, Tapiwa has worked as an auditor across multiple industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, information technology, and pharmaceuticals.

 Prior to his work at SAPRO, Tapiwa held roles including Financial Accountant and Audit Senior in small and medium sized accounting and audit firms in Cape Town.

 Having studied at the University of South Africa, Tapiwa holds a postgraduate diploma in Financial Accounting and a Bachelor of Accounting Services. He is an affiliate of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and an Associate General Accountant with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

 A medium-sized accountancy practice based in Belfast, Baker Tilly Mooney Moore delivers services across Audit & Assurance, Business Services, Consulting, Taxation and Restructuring & Insolvency.

 Eimear Brown, Head of Audit at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore, said:

“It is a pleasure to welcome Tapiwa to the Audit and Assurance department at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore. As demand for our services continues to grow, I am confident that his experience will help us continue to deliver outstanding service to our wide range of clients. It is great to have Tapiwa support our team, and I wish him well in his career with Baker Tilly Mooney Moore.”

New Audit Senior at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore, Tapiwa Mhari, added:

“I am delighted to begin my new role in the Audit and Assurance department at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore. Having spent my initial weeks getting to know the client base, I look forward to working with new and existing clients across all sectors to deliver audit services. The team has given me a warm welcome following my move from Cape Town and I look forward to the months and years ahead.”

Baker Tilly Mooney Moore: Looking ahead with cautious optimism

Writes Stephen McConnell, Business Services Partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore. Article first published in the Irish News, Tuesday 9 January .

Stephen McConnell, Business Services Partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore

The New Year is the perfect time to reflect on what your business has achieved, reassess your financial strategy and plan for the year ahead. After years of economic uncertainty, it’s important to embrace it with optimism and set clear goals for long-term success in 2024 and beyond.

Though the early months of the year can feel overwhelming with self-assessment deadlines looming and audit season in full swing, it’s also a good time to consider implementing changes that might boost your efficiency or expose you to new market areas.

Despite the recent stabilisation of inflation, overhead costs will remain high well into 2024. Cashflow management, sensible budgeting, and regular income and expenditure reviews still take top of the priority list. In the new financial year, businesses need to focus on one of their biggest overheads, their staffing bill.

In April, the national living wage will increase by 9.8% to £11.44 which, despite being good news for employees, will hit struggling businesses hard.

As the cost-of-living crisis continues, consumer confidence is low, even after a busy festive period. Business owners should create detailed forecasts, factoring in scheduled living wage changes. Having a live budgeting system will allow you to react quickly to any cash injections or unexpected hits throughout the year.

To maximise deductions and incentives, individuals and business owners should take time to assess their obligations and seek out opportunities. Take account of R&D tax credits and consider whether any potential upgrades might qualify for government incentives.

Years of economic instability have created a stressful operating environment for businesses. Understanding the warning signs of a struggling business is fundamental to avoiding financial distress. Lengthening creditor payment days, struggling to pay taxes, or an inability to upgrade technologies are key signs of financial distress. If you see these symptoms, voice your concerns early to allow professionals to advise on the best course of action.

While there has been some easing in the recruitment market, curating a suitable team and striking a balance when it comes to flexible working, salary scales, and appropriate benefits to retain valuable team members remains challenging. Looking to 2024 and beyond, business owners should be open minded about their team size, structure, and culture.

Unfortunately, market uncertainty and the high cost of doing business are issues that have followed us into 2024, but the New Year also brings new opportunities for growth. Settle your business plan now for the year ahead but remember to always be flexible and take business advice when considering a new opportunity.