Small business bulletin for Northern Ireland

Local News 17 Dec 2024

Local small business news from Roisin McAliskey, your FSB Development Manager. Updates cover Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Derry/Londonderry and Tyrone. Last updated 17 December 2024.

In summary

And there we have it...a new year in 2025! As you reflect on last year, were you able to achieve everything in your business that you hoped for? Were there any particular supports that were useful to you or something that you still struggle to find a resolution for? Please don’t be a stranger to the local team at FSB Northern Ireland, contact us at [email protected]

Featured news and events 

Green for Business opportunity for ANBC SMEs

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is excited to announce the launch of the Green for Business Pilot Programme, an innovative initiative designed to support small and micro businesses in the region as they take steps toward reducing carbon emissions and managing energy costs. This fully-funded programme will help up to 150 businesses within the Borough to access essential tools and expert guidance, positioning them as leaders in sustainability.

The Green for Business Pilot Programme is a 12-month initiative designed to help small and micro businesses within the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area take meaningful steps towards reducing their carbon emissions and energy costs. This fully-funded programme, in partnership with CarbonFit, offers expert guidance, cutting-edge tools, and practical strategies to help your business become more sustainable.

With increasing environmental regulations on the horizon, this is the perfect time for businesses to get ahead and proactively address their carbon footprint. Through this programme, your business will not only contribute to a greener future but also improve efficiency and gain a competitive edge in an increasingly eco-conscious economy.

More details here>

Northern Ireland In-Person Networking

Join us on Thursday 23 January at 10.30am for our first 2025 in-person networking event at Space NI, Antrim. Catch-up with other small businesses and explore useful connections for the future. 

Book your free place now>

In other news 

Get recognition for paying on time with the Fair Payment Code

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC), on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade, has launched the new Fair Payment Code. The initiative aims to promote timely payments and improve cash flow for small businesses across the UK.

What's new?

Replacing the previous Prompt Payment Code, the new Fair Payment Code introduces a more robust, ambitious approach to encouraging businesses to pay their supplier invoices on time.

With a clear tiered structure, businesses will now be awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze status depending on their payment practices. The award categories are designed to recognise and encourage best practices in payment performance:

  • Gold Award - for businesses that pay at least 95% of invoices within 30 days
  • Silver Award - for businesses that pay at least 95% of invoices within 60 days, with a commitment to pay 95% of invoices to small businesses within 30 days
  • Bronze Award - for businesses that pay at least 95% of invoices within 60 days

Each business awarded an Honour must also adhere to the Fair Payment Code's principles of being clear, fair, and collaborative with their suppliers.

FSB Northern Ireland has been campaigning on late payment issues and are interested in hearing from any SME who has been impacted by late payments

More details on the Fair Payment Code> 

Call 4 of the DTFF will open in March 2025

The Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF) helps small and micro businesses in Northern Ireland invest in advanced digital technologies. It offers grants to support businesses in purchasing essential equipment for their digital transformation.

The fund focuses on innovative technologies like:

  • smart environments and the Internet of Things
  • simulation, process automation and additive manufacturing
  • big data and analytics
  • immersive technologies
  • artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • blockchain technologies and more

To qualify, the investment must help transform the business, not just digitise existing operations.

Grants range from £5,000 to £20,000, covering up to 70% of project costs. Applicants must contribute at least 30% of the total project cost.

DTFF funding opens through calls. The next call is due to open in March 2025.

Registrations are now open for the DTFF pre-briefing sessions. 

Interested businesses can join pre-briefing sessions between 17 and 28 February 2025 to find out more about the DTFF. Two of the sessions will be hosted online; the remaining will take place in person in different Northern Ireland local council areas.

See the full schedule of the DTFF call 4 pre-briefing sessions>

Still in the news 

New AI webinars for the Tourism & Hospitality sector

With AI being a hot topic for a lot of SMEs, Tourism NI is hosting a new series of Digital AI webinars which have been created specially for the Tourism industry and will be delivered between January and March 2025.

The webinars will be delivered by Ciaran Connolly, founder of Profile Tree, who specialises in digital transformation, developing digital strategies and supporting businesses to introduce free and paid AI and digital tools to streamline and drive business. During these sessions he will delve deeper into a number of key areas - kicking off with an introductory session before exploring written content, visual design, video creation and data analytics, all with the support of AI technologies. Can you afford not to explore the opportunities AI might bring to your business?

Webinar details

Find out more details and register for each webinar:

This webinar series is being delivered as part of Tourism NI’s ongoing Tourism Enterprise Development (TED) Programme.

LCCC launch self-employment programme

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has launched the Vision to Venture Self-Employment Support Programme. This programme provides a £500 bursary, workshops and one-to-one mentoring for those who have a business idea they would like to progress

This programme, which begins in January 2025, provides support for the initial stages of setting up a business, along with critical skills and knowledge to venture into the self-employment marketplace. 

Training and mentoring

The Vision to Venture Programme offers one-to-one support to prepare participants for self-employment. 

Mentoring and training from trained professionals in the industry will allow individuals to explore their options, test ideas, write plans, and start their business.

Topics covered will include:

  • marketing and social media training
  • financial planning
  • HMRC assistance
  • procurement and confidence building.

Financial assistance

Grants of up to £500 are also available to participants at the initial stages of starting their business to assist in purchasing essential equipment. 

Find out more and apply for the Vision to Venture Programme>

More about FSB NI

Get in touch

Your FSB Development Manager for Northern Ireland is Roisin McAliskey. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch. 

 

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