New guidance from the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) to help employers and HR practitioners conduct fair and reasonable workplace investigations. Handling workplace investigations can be complex, and getting them wrong can carry serious risks. The LRA has published new guidance on conducting effective employment investigations that meet legal and best practice standards. New conducting employment…
Learn how to handle subject access requests Thousands of small businesses contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) every year for help with data protection issues. Subject access requests (SARs) are one of the most common topics. On 28 January 2026, to mark Data Protection Day 2026, the ICO will be hosting a free webinar with…
Join leading UK innovators at the Social Enterprise NI Conference 2026 and discover new routes to sustainable growth Social Enterprise NI is hosting its Annual Conference in 2026, bringing together leading thinkers and innovators from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The conference aims to share strategies for building lasting organisational sustainability and moving beyond…
Proof of concept grant competition Entrepreneurs with new and innovative business ideas can apply for funding through the Regional Innovation Challenge, a Northern Ireland-wide grant competition run by Techstart Ventures. The competition supports founders at the earliest stage of development, offering proof of concept grants of up to £15,000 to help test and assess the…
Access free food safety guidance and training from the FSA The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is encouraging food businesses to make food safety a priority in 2026. Its ‘Here to Help’ resources provide free tools, training and guidance to help you keep food safe and protect your customers. Whether you run a café, takeaway, corner…
Innovate UK Innovation Loans Round 25 Loans for innovative late-stage R&D projects Innovate UK is offering up to £25 million in loans to help UK micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) progress highly innovative late-stage research and development (R&D) projects with strong commercial potential. Projects should lead to new products, processes or services that are…
📣 Calling Fermanagh & Local Businesses! Invest Northern Ireland’s Ambition to Grow programme is designed to support innovative micro, small and medium-sized businesses that want to scale, create employment and move into new markets outside Northern Ireland. Successful applicants can access up to £45,000 in funding to accelerate their growth plans. The funding package includes:…
Managing Your Business Rates Just Got Easier – New Online Services Are Here! Business owners in Fermanagh and across Northern Ireland can now take charge of their rates accounts online with a brand‑new service launched by Land & Property Services (LPS) — and it’s a real time‑saver! The Rates Online platform lets ratepayers: ✅ View…
A summary of how the Budget 2025 affects Northern Ireland businesses. The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered the Budget announcement on Wednesday 26 November 2025. We provide a summary of the announcements to help you understand their potential impact on your business. Growth forecast 1.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2025 1.4% of GDP in…
New programmes designed to help women entrepreneurs grow, innovate and scale Women entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland are invited to apply for three new programmes designed to help them grow, innovate and scale their businesses. Delivered as part of the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme and led by InterTradeIreland, in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland…
