Call 3 is now open for applications The Made Smarter Innovation – Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH) has launched a third round of funding to support small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses on their digital journey. This element of the Digital Innovation Fund aims to help businesses develop rapid demonstrators that will: advance their transition to smart manufacturing…
National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage – rates and overview National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates Guide The National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage in the UK apply to workers in Northern Ireland. These minimum wage rates are the hourly rates that workers should be paid by their employers depending…
The Equality Commission’s employer training programme includes a number of online events to keep employers on the right side of equality law. The Equality Commission’s latest training sessions from March to June 2024 are now available to register for. The webinars focus on a number of important equality issues, laws, and best practices for employers.…
Research and development (R&D) is a key activity for growing and improving your business. Successful R&D relies on extensive market research and detailed assessment of your customer needs and behaviours, before developing new and improved products and services to fit those needs. R&D is crucial to growth, both when starting up and as a means of…
Call 2 of the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF) is now open for expressions of interest. The DTFF aims to help small and micro businesses in Northern Ireland to invest in advanced digital technologies. It establishes a grant fund to support eligible businesses with investments in capital equipment that is critical to achieving their digital…
New guidance to help employers, employees, and their representatives eradicate sexual harassment from the workplace. The Labour Relations Agency (LRA), in partnership with the Northern Ireland Committee for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU), has published new guidance seeking to tackle the continuing problem of sexual harassment in Northern Ireland workplaces. Eliminating workplace sexual harassment…
A summary of how the Spring Budget affects Northern Ireland businesses. The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, delivered his Spring Budget on Wednesday 6 March 2024. We have summarised the key points from the Spring Budget and specific issues affecting Northern Ireland businesses. Forecasts Growth forecast 0.8% in 2024 1.9% in 2025 2.0% in 2026 1.8% in…
New rates for statutory payments in force from April 2024. Employers should be aware that from April 2024 a number of statutory payment rates increase for the 2024-25 financial year. Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared Parental and Parental Bereavement Pay From Sunday 7 April 2024, Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay,…
Funding for projects to create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared space and services in rural areas. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is encouraging eligible organisations in Northern Ireland to apply to the new €50million Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion investment area, under the new PEACEPLUS programme.…
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a public consultation seeking views on new guidance relating to mechanically separated meat (MSM) The FSA has developed new guidance to provide support for food businesses following a series of court judgments on the definition of MSM. MSM is obtained by the removal of meat from bones, reducing…
