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Responding to the news that Debenhams has gone into liquidation, Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade President, Emma Mullen – Marmion said “The collapse of Debenhams, following so quickly from the Arcadia Group going into administration, is devasting news for the many employees working for the businesses in Newry City.
“This news is a further blow for our retail sector here, who have been scrambling to adapt and prepare their businesses to comply with social distancing measures since March 2020. Retail is at a tipping point and we need to focus on a recovery plan, for retail in our towns and cities.
“Speaking to our members today, the news of the roll out of a vaccination programme is very welcome and an opportunity to start thinking positively about a plan for the future. The impact of COVID-19 is expected to take us well into 2021, but we should not wait to the spring to start planning for when COVID 19 is behind us."
The Chamber President feels COVID -19 has accelerated the move to online and undermined some of the biggest brands on the High St while Covid-19 measures have dented consumer confidence.
Ms Mullen Marmion added “Our vibrant Retail and Hospitality Community is at the heart of Newry City life. We still have some very strong national brands and an equally vibrant independent retail sector, as well as a great hospitality offering. We need to plan now for 2021 and think of imaginative ways of encouraging people back into our city centre in the short, medium and long term. “
“Once we reopen again, there are short term opportunities for working with our retailers and hospitality sectors to provide a boost for businesses. The NI Executive’s recently announced voucher scheme will have a part to play in this.
“To be sustainable, we need a long-term plan built around a combination of leisure, retail and living. Projects like the District Council’s Regeneration Plans and in particular the new Theatre and Conference Centre and the associated public space can be a real game changer for both our daytime and night-time economy.
“Urgency is the key. The NI Executive has announced its High St taskforce, but we still await to hear the details. Newry is a significant part of the North’s retail economy and Newry Chamber is ready to work with the taskforce to ensure the voice of the Greater Newry Area is heard.”
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A management buy-out (MBO) proposal has been submitted to the administrators of fashion retailer Peacocks which if successful has the potential to prevent UK-wide store closures and save 4,908 people from redundancy. Peacocks has a store at Cornmarket in Newry.
The bid from a senior eCommerce manager at Peacocks Stores Ltd in conjunction with a private investor, follows the announcement (18 November) that Peacock’s parent company EWM Group had placed the company into the hands of administrators, FRP Advisory.
The MBO proposal which sets out to purchase the full company, its employees and its stores, also promises to strengthen Peacocks digital offering with a clear plan of investment into developing the eCommerce element of the business.
Given the proposed new owner has a strong digital background, it follows that their aim is to deliver a true omni-channel offering within the family value sector, prioritising a clear focus on good customer service. In addition to developing its online presence, their proposal also sets out to rejuvenate the in-store experience for Peacock’s long-established, loyal customer base.
Peacocks Stores Ltd is based in Cardiff, employs 4,908 staff and has 470 stores and concessions across the UK. A representative from the MBO says that if their submission is successful, the company will keep its base of operations in the South Wales area and will continue to support the Welsh economy and employment.
The MBO team is confident that with the right investment, they can drive forward innovation, bring about brand recovery and achieve a quick return to financial sustainability. With plans for short-term investment coupled with longer-term reinvestment, they propose injecting a fresh sense of purpose into Peacocks, safeguarding its future in spite of the on-going challenges high street retailers across the UK are facing.
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Support Local NI, a free to use website encouraging Northern Ireland consumers to buy from local producers, is now supporting over 100 businesses across the country – with more benefitting every day. The website, which was set up last month, has already been used by thousands of consumers in Northern Ireland to support and sustain local creators, entrepreneurs and families.
To celebrate this milestone, Support Local NI has teamed up with Guilt Trip Coffee + Donuts, a local artisan bakery, to give 100 local business owners listed on the website a free donut and cup of coffee.
Matt Stevenson, Founder of Support Local NI, said: “Support Local NI has been live for less than a month and has already been used by over 7,500 consumers looking to support local businesses in Northern Ireland.
“In addition to this, I am proud to announce that Support Local NI is now home to over 100 local businesses, with more being added every day. The website, which is free to use, allows consumers to browse and buy hundreds of locally made products from the comfort of their own home. This includes handmade jewellery from the North Coast, craft beer brewed at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, and so many more items that would make great Christmas gifts.
“To celebrate this truly incredible milestone, I have partnered with Guilt Trip Coffee + Donuts to provide a free donut and cup of coffee to 100 local business owners listed on Support Local NI. With all of the recent bad news and uncertainty, I am hoping this small gesture can provide even a few minutes of bliss for any stressed business owners out there.”
Rachael Heron, Guilt Trip Head Baker, said: “We were thrilled to be asked to get behind Matt’s initiative. He is a true inspiration to small artisan businesses who often struggle to achieve market recognition for what they do. As a small artisan bakery, we look forward to welcoming more local businesses in to have a taste of what we do and we wish all businesses on Support Local NI a successful festive season.”
Use Support Local NI to browse over 100 local businesses and support creators, entrepreneurs and families across Northern Ireland: www.supportlocalni.com
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As the retail and hospitality sectors prepare to reopen this Friday 11 December, the message from Newry BID and Newry Chamber is Shop Safe – Shop Newry.
In a joint statement, Newry Chamber Chief Executive Colm Shannon and Newry BID Manager, Eamonn Connolly said “It’s great news that retail and most of the hospitality sector is reopening again on 11th December. Given what we have all come through this year, many families are working to make this a special Christmas at home.
“This Christmas we would ask the people of Newry to think of the retailers and hospitality business that have been at the heart of our city for generations. They need your support at this challenging time. If you are out and about this week, support local retailers and hospitality businesses.
"Shopping in Newry this Christmas represents great value, so you do not need to go online. It will help to keep our local businesses open and protect the jobs of the many local people who work in the retail and hospitality sectors."
Emphasising the measures taken to make shopping safe the statement adds “Newry businesses have invested heavily in measures to protect customers, so it is safe to shop locally. For your convenience and added safety many shops will have extended opening hours.
“It is disappointing that non food pubs are not allowed to reopen on the 11th, and we hope that the NI Executive will reconsider this decision before Christmas. However, on Friday all your favourite cafes, restaurants and hotels will reopen and hopefully you will get a chance to enjoy some of their festive fayre in the run up to Christmas.
“Be safe this Christmas, stay close to home and support Newry businesses.”
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The business support programmes, provided by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have helped Newry businesswoman Grainne McCoy keep her focus and develop a robust business plan when she started out in her 'Give Us Beauty' store in Newry.
Even with a wealth of international business experience, Grainne a Star of BBC show The Apprentice recognised the importance of taking a step back, reviewing her plans and simply asking for help when it comes to business. She signed up to the NMD Business Growth Programme which provided her with a dedicated mentor. The programme helped Grainne get her new business venture off the ground and in September she opened her new shop, Give Us Beauty, on Monaghan Street in Newry.
The NMD Business Growth programme is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland (2014 -2020) programme.
Speaking from her new store in Newry, Grainne said “When I started out, I had a million ideas of what I wanted to do with my business knocking around my head. The problem was I couldn’t see the wood from the trees and struggled to make a plan to turn those ideas into a reality.
“I did ask myself ‘What would I need a mentor for?’ But when I did take the step of joining the programme I found that having someone to bounce ideas off, keep me focused and offer expert professional advice was invaluable. My mentor was fantastic, he helped me develop a clear strategy to take my business to the next level and made sure I was accountable.
“With the programme support, I developed a robust plan and a new, thriving online shop, which allowed me to then take my business to the next stage. I couldn’t have done that without the support of my mentor and now here I am, standing in my own store, with ambitious plans for next year too.
“Programmes like those provided by the Council give you access to experts with local knowledge and advice that is relevant to your business and market. I would urge anyone who is eligible to apply and see what their team of experts might be able to do for you. You never know, it could transform your business!”
Councillor Laura Devlin, Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council outlined their commitment to supporting local businesses “Supporting our local business community is more important now than ever. Between the impacts of the pandemic and the ongoing uncertainties around Brexit, businesses are facing more obstacles and pressures every day. It is crucial that they are able to overcome these challenges and adapt where necessary to grow.
“By sharing our resources and expertise, we are committed to providing these essential support programmes for businesses in our area. We hope they will not only help sustain more businesses and protect jobs, but will help them thrive in the months ahead. I was delighted to meet Grainne in her fabulous new store and to hear firsthand her support for this very important scheme. To have someone of Grainne’s calibre and experience speak out in support of the programme is testament to the quality of the mentorship.”
The NMD Business Growth and Tender for Growth programmes involve tailored one-to-one mentoring and targeted online workshops. Support is open to any small business located in the Newry, Down and Down District Council area with less than 50 employees and registration is free.
Businesses can register for business support via the programme by visiting the website NMDBUSINESS.ORG
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Well known Newry Businessman Dr Gerard O'Hare has been appointed Chair of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Board.
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon made the announcement at the weekend and his appointment will begin in February 2021.
Dr O’Hare is currently Managing Director of The Parker Green Group. He also is a current Non Executive Member on the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, and his second term will finish early 2021.
Commenting on the appointment Minister Mallon said “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Gerard O’Hare to this important post. Brexit will bring new opportunities and challenges for Warrenpoint Harbour Authority and I am confident that Gerard’s experience will be of significant benefit to the work of the board, in his role as Chair.”
The appointment will take effect from 1 February 2021 and will be for a maximum of four years.
Minister Mallon went on to say “I want to take this opportunity to put on record my thanks to the outgoing Chair, Stanley McIlvenny: his contribution has been invaluable to WHA during his tenure.”
The WHA Board currently have a membership of a Chair, two Executive Members, three Non-Executive Members and three Councillor Non-Executive Members. The Chair of the WHA Board currently receives remuneration of £22,854 per annum.
Welcoming the appointment David Holmes, CEO Warrenpoint Harbour Authority said, “As a local person, we have no doubt that Dr Gerard O’ Hare will be an asset to the Port. We look forward to getting to know him and to working with him going forward. I know he brings a wealth of experience to the role and he will be made very welcome in February 2021.”
Paying tribute to the current Chair David Holmes said “In the meantime we have a significant amount of work to do in relation to Brexit and Covid recovery as well as day to day operations; supporting our customers; and building on our relationships in the local community. We are incredibly grateful for everything that Stan McIlvenny has brought to the Port as Chair of the Board.
“We have no doubt his support will continue to be invaluable as we navigate the next couple of months. He will be a significant miss to the team when he steps down next February but we deeply appreciate his effort and commitment up until that time.”
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MLA Liz Kimmins has welcomed the announcement from the Finance Minister that more than £20 million will be made available for the community and voluntary sector from the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Finance Minister, Conor Murphy launched the £20.5 million Dormant Accounts Fund at the weekend. The fund will provide vital funding to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors.
The Dormant Accounts Fund will be delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund. Multi-year grants of up to £100,000 will be available to build organisations’ resilience and sustainability.
Visiting Footprints social enterprise in West Belfast Minister Murphy said: “The establishment of the Dormant Accounts Fund is great news for the community, voluntary and social enterprise sectors. While the Fund currently is £20.5 million it will increase as further Dormant Funds are made available each year.
“Third sector groups are often limited to annual funding, causing constant uncertainty and hindering long-term planning. By offering multi-year funding, this Fund will give groups a bridge to become more financially sustainable. Ultimately this allows them to have an even greater impact on people’s lives.”
Alongside the grant fund, the Dormant Accounts Fund will also support larger, strategic projects that will enable collaboration right across the sector and develop new and creative approaches to sustainability. These could be NI-wide or sector specific proposals which might focus on a particular issue such as diversity and inclusion, social finance or volunteering.
Highlighting what the Dormant Account Fund will support, Kate Beggs, The National Lottery Community Fund’s NI Director, added: “The launch of this fund is a milestone for the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland. While 2020 has been a year of emergency funding, we know many organisations are trying to plan for the long term and thinking about the changes they need to make to become more sustainable. Those changes require leadership, strategic planning, new skills and strong governance – and also time to stop and think. Those are things for which funding often isn’t available and that’s where the Dormant Accounts Fund comes in. It will provide flexible, multi-year funding and allow a diverse range of organisations to plan for a more secure future.”
The Dormant Accounts Fund will open for applications at noon on Tuesday 12 January. Further information is available at WWW.TNLCOMMUNITYFUND.ORG.UK
Speaking of the fund Newry and Armagh MLA, Liz Kimmins said "This £20.5M fund will provide funding to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors with grants of up to £100,000.
"This is great news for these groups, particularly as it includes multi-year funding, which will allow groups to plan into the future.
"Community groups and social enterprise organisations carry out vital work across society and it is great to see them being supported with this fund."
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Administration and support staff at JMK Solicitors are benefitting from the legal firm’s decision to increase their employee’s minimum wage.
With offices in Newry and Belfast, JMK Solicitors has committed to paying all full-time members of staff a minimum annual salary of £20,000, effective from 1 November 2020.
The UK Government's National minumum wage for Over 25’s is £8.72 per hour, while the popular law firm has confirmed a minimum wage of £12.80 per hour, based on a 30-hour work week."
The news comes just five months after JMK Solicitors received widespread praise after announcing a workweek reduction for all staff. The 20% curbing of working time saw the highly engaged team moving from a 37.5-hour workweek to 30 hours – with no reduction in pay.
Head of Operations and HR, Michelle Murphy says that with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting workplaces and employment practices both locally and globally, JMK Solicitors has again prioritised its people.
“We are committed to offering the best benefits and remuneration package to all of the dedicated members of our company. Our Administration team is vital to our continued success; they provide essential support to our legal advisors as well as an invaluable service to our clients,” said Ms Murphy.
Michelle says the legal firm was always “fully committed” to the concept of a living wage but says JMK Solicitors was keen to take it a step further.
“We are committing not only to meet that target set by the government but beating it.”
This, Michelle says, has been achieved by paying all staff members an appropriate salary for the work they carry out.
Michelle speaks of her pride at how the company has led the way with innovative work/life balance initiatives and salary increases.
“We are proud that we have the best team at JMK, and we want to reward our existing staff members and attract the best in the future.”
JMK Solicitors has worked hard to provide a range of exceptional perks for those lucky enough to get through the selection process.
These include the 20% workweek reduction without reducing pay, allowing flexible and romote working to all, and additional annual leave.
Other initiatives have even allowed the business to work remotely from outside the UK and Ireland, medical insurance, and access to a wellbeing programme.
Michelle adds, “We are lucky to have such a professional and skilled set of people to work with, and we know that making them feel rewarded makes for a happy workforce and our clients really appreciate and benefit from that in what is often a very stressful time following an injury or accident.”
To find out more about JMK Solicitors, visit WWW.JMKSOLICITORS.COM or call 028 9032 0222.
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Newry Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement detailing their concerns regarding the latest six week lockdown, which comes into to force on St Stephen's Day.
Responding to the NI Executive’s decision the Chief Executive Officer for Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade, Colm Shannon said “The Executive’s decision is devastating news for the many retailers, hospitality businesses and their suppliers who have been struggling to survive. Many businesses were focused on surviving to the end of the year. Now there will be real questions over their future. Job losses will undoubtedly follow the decision to introduce a six-week lockdown.
“If we are to protect businesses and avoid further redundancies, the Executive must immediately revisit the support packages for businesses and ensure it is delivered in a timelier way.
“This must be the last lockdown, and everyone needs to work hard on minimising unnecessary contacts. With hospitality and most retail closed, the focus is now on households abiding by the rules. The business community wants to see firm action against those flouting the rules."
The Chamber believe that by investing heavily in PPE and closing when asked to the sector has played its part and called for firm action to be taken against households who ignore the regulations.
Mr Shannon continued "As a business community we have real concerns about the mental health and wellbeing of business owners and their employees. Many business owners will worry about whether they will have a business to open at the end of January and employees are concerned about whether they have jobs to return to. It is important that the issue of mental health and wellbeing is not overlooked in the coming weeks and support is provided to help businesses and their employees cope with the added pressures they face.
“It is also important that the Executive uses this period of closure to put a clear plan in place for next year. Realistically, the business community is looking at the period post Easter as a time when we hope we can begin to turn the corner. We need support packages in place to keep businesses going until then and a recovery plan for when life slowly begins to return to normal.”
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