Financial support for the local food and drink sector The 2025/26 Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme (NIRFP), run by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), is now open for applications. The objectives of the programme are to: assist the NI agri-food industry to develop and expand profitable and sustainable markets assist the…
Businesses will begin to receive their rate bills for 2025-26 by the week ending 4 April 2025. Rate bills will start to arrive with businesses by Friday 4 April 2025. The bill will set out: the amount due for 2025-26 details of any rate relief which has been applied to your account any arrears from…
Join us, along with event host Jamie Shields, Co-Founder of Disabled By Society, on Tuesday 29th April at Ebrington Hotel to hear more about how your tourism business can embark upon or continue your accessibility journey. Making Tourism accessible is about providing a warm welcome for visitors, delivering a great service and offering amazing and…
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald today announced an increase in the limits for payments and awards to workers in relation to certain employment rights. Taking effect from April 6, the limit on the compensatory award for unfair dismissal rises from £115,341 to £118,455. Also, the maximum amount for one week’s pay for the purpose of…
An opportunity to provide input into Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) policy development in Northern Ireland. The Department for the Economy (DfE) has launched a consultation on the Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan’s (OREAP) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report and Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment (RIAA). OREAP was developed to enable the ambition for offshore renewable…
Proposed increases to the minimum wage rates for agricultural workers from 1 April 2025 have been announced by the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB). The AWB for Northern Ireland has proposed to increase existing minimum wage rates for agricultural workers for all grades from 1 April 2025. New proposed minimum wage rates for agricultural workers Grade…
The Sustainable Community Building programme is now open for applications The National Lottery Community Fund accepts applications for the Sustainable Community Building programme, which provides grants of up to £50,000. This funding is to help organisations to: learn how to be more environmentally sustainable – by attending carbon literacy training understand what changes you can…
A cutting-edge initiative to support SMEs to enhance their productivity while embedding sustainable practices. The Productivity and Green Skills Accelerator Programme is a cutting-edge initiative aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ireland to enhance their productivity while embedding sustainable practices into their core operations. Delivered by the William J. Clinton Leadership…
This call for evidence seeks views, evidence and experiences of applying for and accessing debt finance in the UK for small businesses The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is seeking views, evidence and experiences of applying for and accessing debt finance in the UK. This call for evidence covers all aspects of: the lending…
New rates for statutory payments in force from April 2025. Employers should be aware that from April 2025, a number of statutory payment rates will increase for the 2025-26 financial year. All rates listed below will increase from Sunday 6 April 2025. Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared Parental and Parental Bereavement Pay The Statutory Maternity…
