The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unparalleled impact on societies across the world. Communities, enterprises and individuals have all been affected, some more than others, either personally, financially or both. Whilst today’s objective is to have an open, fully-functioning economy, we also need to support enterprises and employees to work safely in a new environment – alongside COVID-19 and Brexit – as we begin to plan the first steps to recovery in the months ahead.

The intensified restrictions announced by the NI Executive last week are a real blow to many businesses who have put hard work and money into ensuring that they are COVID-secure.

The need for additional restrictions cannot be blamed on a lack of care by hardworking people in businesses, who have worked tirelessly to implement government guidance and create a safe environment for their employees, visitors and customers. Despite these conscientious efforts, many are now in the midst of a four week period of trading restrictions. At NI Chamber, we will fully support our colleagues in hospitality, retail and close contact services over these coming weeks.

Infrastructure is a critical long-term societal investment that can make Northern Ireland a more efficient, better functioning society and boost economic growth. It has the ability to improve quality of life and wellbeing by offering good transport links, safe water and sanitation, connectivity, communication, housing and energy. It can address equality of opportunity and poverty […]

By Ian Henry, President, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Labour market figures published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) earlier this month revealed a concerning decline in the number of employees on payrolls, with almost 2,000 proposed redundancies in July, following a record high of 2,500 in June. There is no doubt […]

VIEW FROM THE CHAIR Ian Henry, President, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Many businesses depend on trade with the home nations more than any other partner. According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), Great Britain remains the “most significant single market” for external sales for businesses in Northern Ireland, accounting […]

By Ian Henry, President, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry The coronavirus pandemic has been a seismic shock to the economy – and as more and more of our members continue to reopen, we are under no illusions that things will go back to “business as usual” any time soon. In fact, any plans to […]

By Ian Henry, President, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As businesses continue to deal with the fallout from COVID-19, arguably the biggest economic shock on record, they also face another mammoth task over the next six months – the ending of the Brexit transition period. With many unknowns in terms of agreeing, understanding […]

The coronavirus pandemic has been a seismic shock to the economy – an unprecedented situation in both scale and impact. What we now understand is that we will not be going back to “business as usual” any time soon. First, we will have to learn to live and work in a ‘new normal’ as restrictions ease but […]

Since my contribution to this page just four weeks ago, the business landscape in Northern Ireland and indeed globally, has changed almost beyond recognition. The impact of COVID-19 has catapulted businesses leaders and employees into a place few could have prepared for.