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Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade is delighted to kick start its busy 2012 events calendar with a business information seminar, titled ‘Communications in a Digital Age’.
This informative and inspiring workshop will be delivered by PR and Digital Marketing experts, Deborah King, Stakeholder Communications and Niall McKeown, iON.
The key topics addressed in this seminar include; the fundamentals of Digital PR, the Digital Channels that Work, Getting Attention, Converting the Opportunity and Evidence Based Decision Making.
The speakers will explain the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of digital marketing and provide practical case studies highlighting effective use of this important marketing medium.
This Newry Chamber event is geared towards CEO’s, CFO’s, Marketing Directors, Web Managers, Communications Directors, PR Professionals, Web Agencies and Business Owners.
It will take place on Wednesday 25th January from 4pm-6pm in the Canal Court Hotel. The event is Free of Charge for Newry Chamber members and £10/pp for non members.
For further details please email:info@newrychamber.com or book online at www.newrychamber.com
Write a comment
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade is delighted to kick start its busy 2012 events calendar with a business information seminar, titled ‘Communications in a Digital Age’.
This informative and inspiring workshop will be delivered by PR and Digital Marketing experts, Deborah King, Stakeholder Communications and Niall McKeown, iON.
The key topics addressed in this seminar include; the fundamentals of Digital PR, the Digital Channels that Work, Getting Attention, Converting the Opportunity and Evidence Based Decision Making.
The speakers will explain the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of digital marketing and provide practical case studies highlighting effective use of this important marketing medium.
This Newry Chamber event is geared towards CEO’s, CFO’s, Marketing Directors, Web Managers, Communications Directors, PR Professionals, Web Agencies and Business Owners.
It will take place on Wednesday 25th January from 4pm-6pm in the Canal Court Hotel. The event is Free of Charge for Newry Chamber members and £10/pp for non members.
For further details please email:info@newrychamber.com or book online at www.newrychamber.com
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Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson has reiterated the need to inspire confidence to build a better future for Northern Ireland.
The Minister was addressing members of the business community last night in the Canal Court Newry at an event hosted by Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade.
Welcoming the Chamber’s invitation Sammy Wilson said: “It’s important for me to speak directly with business men and women to get a real sense of how economic conditions are impacting on the ground.
“It’s clear that trading conditions are difficult given the current economic climate. That is why the Executive has made rebuilding and rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy its principal goal in the draft Programme for Government (PfG) for 2011-15.
“We want to restore growth and revert recent rises in unemployment. The PfG sets out the full range of actions we plan to take to achieve this including job promotion, infrastructure investment, skills development and support for R&D and innovation.”
The Minister continued: “The Executive is also working to have powers for varying corporation tax devolved to the Assembly which would enable our local firms to invest more in their business. I know this issue is very important to the business community of Newry who are often competing directly with firms from across the border."
The Executive has also agreed a number of changes to the business rates system, to help the local business community.
Outlining the details the Minister said: “Subject to Assembly approval there will be an expansion of the small business rate relief scheme, which will roughly double the amount of rate relief for small businesses.
“Next year around £6million could be provided for up to 8,300 additional small business premises across Northern Ireland. My Department’s analysis suggests that round £675,000 relief could be awarded on over 1,300 properties in the Newry and Mourne District Council area under both the current and the expanded small business rate relief scheme.”
The Minister concluded by urging local stakeholders to consider the PfG and associated Economic and Investment strategies and to submit any views they have during the public consultation which is due to conclude on 22 February 2012.
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Housing Minister Nelson McCausland is urging Newry homeowners and heating installers to submit installer forms for the Department's Boiler Replacement Scheme as soon as possible.
The Minister issued the reminder during a visit to Portadown where he met pensioner Mildred Cooper who has had a new oil boiler installed as part of the scheme, which is being administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Minister McCausland said: "I set aside £2 million to deliver a pilot Boiler Replacement Scheme which will assist in the region of 1,330 householders who previously have not been eligible for assistance from other energy efficiency schemes. I am delighted with the success of the pilot to date.
"The scheme will close on 31 March and therefore I would urge anyone still waiting for work to be carried out in their home to make contact with their preferred installer urgently to ensure the work is completed as soon as possible."
Ms Cooper is delighted with her new boiler, she said: "Thanks to DSD I've had loft and cavity wall insulation put in, and my forty year old boiler replaced. My home is now as warm as toast and the whole process was hassle free."
Richard Gilpin from Newell Boiler Services installed Ms Cooper's new boiler, he said: "Replacing an old boiler can make a real difference to the efficiency of your heating system. This scheme is a great opportunity to take advantage of the support offered by DSD for those who have old and inefficient boilers. Installer forms need to be with the Housing Executive by the end of March and once they have approved it, the installation can take just a few days."
Full details of eligibility and application process are also available at www.nidirect.gov.uk/boiler-replacement-allowance
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Over 140 business delegates attended a Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade Business Dinner with a Minister Sammy Wilson, Department of Finance and Personnel in the Canal Court Hotel last week.
President Cathal Austin, Newry Chamber opened the event raising key issues with the Minister including the devolving of Corporation Tax, Government Departmental underspend, the need for a funded regeneration for Newry City and the importance of investing in the future of Daisy Hill hospital. Positive initiatives were raised including Green New Deal, a marina at Warrenpoint and the Minister’s decision to extend the Small Business Rates Relief Scheme.
In the Minister’s speech he gave a frank and open account of the Northern Ireland economy and the pressures that both he and his Assembly Ministers were under to work within increasingly limited budgets. The Minister referred to Government investment in the Newry region, including investment in Daisy Hill Hospital, local schools, Invest NI’s development at Carnbane and the benefits which the A1/M1 Motorway has delivered to Newry.
A ‘Let’s Talk’ interview with the Minister was facilitated by Tom Kelly, media commentator and columnist for the Irish News. Mr Kelly posed topical questions to the Minister on issues including, the Programme for Government, NAMA and its impact on the Northern Ireland economy, the DUP’s policy on business, the large business rates levy and the reality of a ‘Joined up’ Government.
This event was generously sponsored by CRASH Services. Mr Michael McKeown, Managing Director of CRASH Services presented the Minister with a copy of the Book for Newry to commemorate his visit to City.
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Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade headed up a recent delegation of local representatives to Stormont Castle to meet with the Permanent Secretaries of the Departments of Enviroment, Health, Social Development, Enterprise, Trade & Investment. This meeting of Northern Ireland’s top senior civil servants was hosted and facilitated by Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
The Newry delegation lobbied the Permanent Secretaries on key agenda items; including the need for a Regional Regeneration Office located in Newry, a Southern Relief Road, the threat of Out of Town retail developments, support for health care services in this Cross Border region and support for economic development opportunities in the South East of Northern Ireland.
President Cathal Austin stated, ‘Newry Chamber was delighted to be afforded the opportunity to meet with the Permanent Secretaries to press them on issues of importance to the people of South East of Northern Ireland. This was our second engagement with the Permanent Secretaries in the past six months and we look forward to meeting with their Departmental Officials to discuss in further depth areas of priority for the local business and civic community. These engagements are part of Newry Chamber’s ongoing lobbying campaign with key stakeholders including Ministers and Senior Officials to put the needs of the Greater Newry Area further up the political agenda’.
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Members of the Executive of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade recently toured Daisy Hill Hospital. This special visit to the Hospital was hosted and facilitated by Mrs Mairead McAlinden, Chief Executive of Southern Area Trust and Dr Gillian Rankin, Director of Acute Services.
During their tour, the Chamber members were shown the Hospital’s new investment projects including the refurbished A&E and Maternity wards. The Chamber delegation also visited the renal unit, which caters for a large number of patients from across the border. Members were also introduced to senior medical and nursing staff working in the Hospital.
Cathal Austin, President of Newry Chamber stated, ‘the tour of Daisy Hill Hospital was a great opportunity for colleagues and I to see and fully appreciate the extent of recent investment that has taken place in the hospital. We were also able to gain a valuable insight into the Southern Trust’s commitment to the long term future of Daisy Hill Hospital. Management and staff at the hospital are to be commended for their foresight in acquiring new state of the art technology to improve services at the hospital and create greater links between the hospital network in the Southern Trust area’.
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Exciting Initiatives Announced at 1st Anniversary Celebrations
In March 2011, Louth Local Authorities and Newry and Mourne District Council signed a unique Memorandum of Understanding committing the Joint Local Authorities to promote, strengthen and stimulate social, cultural and economic links between the people of the region.
Described by Senior European Officials, Members of the European Parliament and local political and economic leaders as a first in Europe, the Memorandum of Understanding also commits the Joint local authorities to support and promote the economic development and competitiveness of the region.
One year on the Louth / Newry and Mourne Joint Committee are celebrating their achievements and performance in delivering the objectives set out in the agreement.
Since the signing of the agreement, the joint local authorities have been busy putting in place the necessary structures to deliver on the agreed objectives. These include:
At a special event to celebrate the first anniversary of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, the Louth / Newry and Mourne Joint Committee made three significant announcements:
The promotion of sustainable development to include energy efficiency and the use of renewable technology is a further pillar of the Memorandum of Understanding between Newry and Mourne and Louth.
Building on the previously acknowledged successes of the Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone and the EU Concerto project, Newry City has established its own Newry Low Carbon City Zone. One of the most recent achievements in the Newry initiative has been the creation of 21 Charging Points for electric vehicles throughout the City which will be launched formally in the near future.
The Louth / Newry and Mourne Joint Committee would take this opportunity to acknowledge the key roles played by the East Border Region, Special EU Programmes Body and Mourne Heritage Trust in supporting the aims and objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding.
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Newry Web Design’s placement students, Paul Smith and Leanne McCaughtry developed a video project for their foundation Degree Interactive Multimedia which has now gone viral via YouTube and their media seeding SEO skills.
On their placement Paul Smith and Leanne McCaughty focus on Search Engine Optimisation and Web Design for Newry Web Design and their clients.
The students created a clay motion video on 'the evolution of mobile phones' not only did this video gain worldwide attention, but the students won the local Science, Technology; Engineering & Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) Awards competition.
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Last clocked the video had reached 14,835 views on YouTube
After uploading their work to YouTube and some local forums, they utilised their SEO skills gained from their placement at Newry Web Design and were approached by the American TV/Website company www.rightthisminute.com asking permission to use their clay-motion video on their website.
Following this, the mighty CBS News in America snapped up this video and projected our students' work worldwide.
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