NI Chamber News

eBay supports small businesses in Northern Ireland through cost of living crisis
Online marketplace announces latest Business Roadshow with opportunities for mentoring and funding Support comes as a survey of eBay’s UK...

Fiscal challenges puts business rates back in the spotlight
The good news, relatively speaking, is that after a significant drop across all indicators in Q3 22, NI Chamber’s recently...

Public Affairs Update
December 2022 – January 2023 It was a busy end to 2022 and start of 2023 for the Policy and...

Business performance remains steady, but weak
Most businesses say they are currently trading well (31%) or reasonably (49%) 55% of NI Chamber members believe their business...

Ann McGregor to step down after 15 years at NI Chamber
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) Chief Executive Ann McGregor has announced she is leaving her role...

New Year message from NI Chamber President
2023: A significant milestone The message from investors is clear; 2023 is the year we must turn targets into action...

NI Chamber welcomes appointment of US Special Envoy
Welcoming the appointment of a new US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Gillian McAuley, President, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce...

Comment on veterinary medicines extension
Following confirmation that there will be an extension to the grace period for veterinary medicines until 31 December 2025, Stuart...

NI businesses report increasing international trade
Businesses in Northern Ireland are reporting a strong appetite for international trade, according to the findings of a recent survey...

A Place where big ideas are thriving
Last week, I had the enormous privilege of addressing one of the highlights of the business calendar; NI Chamber’s Annual...

NI Chamber President praises leadership of the business community
The President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gillian McAuley has praised businesses across the province for their...

Statement from NI Chamber
Commenting on today’s statement from the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber...

Energy Forum to examine the year ahead
NI Chamber’s next Energy Forum will examine the outlook for 2023, discussing future trends including electric vehicles and how the...

NI Chamber comments on Autumn Statement
Commenting on the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) said:...

International Champions to support global business growth
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) and its International Champions Queen’s University and Eversheds Sutherland have launched a...

President’s Banquet to celebrate big ideas
NI Chamber’s 2022 President’s Banquet is set to be a celebration of ‘Big Ideas’, marking the positive contribution that ‘light-bulb’...

Statement following Secretary of State’s confirmation that there will not be an election in December
Following confirmation from the Secretary of State that there will not be an election in December, Gillian McAuley, President, Northern...

Alarm bells signal need for decision making
Last week, NI Chamber’s Vice President Cathal Geoghegan and I released a joint statement outlining why this is a pivotal...

Have your say: International Trade Survey
Today we are opening our International Trade Survey in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland. Political change at Westminster means that...

Public Affairs Update
October has been another busy month for the Public Affairs team with the timeframe for local parties to form an...

A pivotal moment for the NI economy: Statement from the President and Vice-President
In a joint statement, the President and Vice-President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) have said:...

New PM needs to deliver stability and certainty
Following Rishi Sunak MP’s election as the new leader of the Conservative Party, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber...

NI Chamber responds to the Chancellor’s statement
Responding to the Chancellor’s statement, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), said:...

Balcas is new NI Chamber Patron
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) has announced that Balcas is the latest organisation to join its...

Calls for action as economic survey shows clear slowdown in demand
More businesses were trading positively than negatively in Q3 22 28% of firms were trading well, although this is down...

Gilbert-Ash to share sustainability insights
NI Chamber is inviting member companies to a Successful Sustainability event which will focus on the importance of stakeholder engagement...

Solving the productivity puzzle
The recent UK Government “Plan for Growth” and the events that followed have dominated headlines in recent weeks. There are...

Chamber Awards 2022 – Winners and Highly Commended
Recognising and rewarding excellence in local business, the Chamber Business Awards are one of the UK’s most contested and prestigious...

NI Chamber comments on mini-budget
Commenting on the Chancellor’s mini-budget, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “Businesses will welcome...

Exploring the next frontier in finance
NI Chamber is inviting finance professionals to join a business breakfast on Friday 23 September at 8.30am in Kingspan Stadium....

A statement following the death of Her Majesty the Queen
9 September 2022 “On behalf of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we tender our deepest sympathy to His...

Julian Smith CBE MP to address NI Chamber’s new Public Affairs Forum
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) has launched a new Public Affairs forum, designed to help member...

Comment following appointment of new Secretary of State for NI
Commenting after the appointment of a new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber...

Business leaders call on industry to help 100,000 young people to develop work skills
It’s back to school time and after two years of disruption Young Enterprise is planning a full return to the...

Engagement, Agreement and Certainty: Priorities for the new PM
Today, after a summer dominated by the Conservative leadership election, Liz Truss will assume the role of Prime Minister with...

Eakin Healthcare Group is new NI Chamber Patron
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) has announced that Eakin Healthcare Group is the latest organisation to...

Festival of business roars into St George’s Market
NI Chamber is set to host Northern Ireland’s biggest business networking event in St George’s Market on Wednesday 14 September...

Kukoon Rugs to discuss business growth at NI Chamber event in Newry
NI Chamber and Danske Bank are inviting growing companies to hear from Clare Walsh, Managing Director at one of Northern...

Suppliers invited to ‘get onboard’ for Meet the Buyer
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) is inviting suppliers from all industries across the province to register...

Why childcare is key to positively progressing women in the workplace
In a recent interview on BBC’s Inside Business programme, I was asked about the significance of holding the position of...

BT renews NI Chamber Partnership
BT has renewed its long-standing partnership with NI Chamber in a deal which will see the telecommunications company stay on...

Statement: NI Chamber responds to interest rate rises
Responding to the Bank of England’s decision to raise interest rates, Gillian McAuley, President, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and...

PwC is new NI Chamber Patron
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) has announced that professional services business, PwC is the latest organisation...

NI Chamber achieves Cyber Essentials certification
NI Chamber is proud to announce that it has recently achieved certification under the government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme. Certified by...

People, Prices and Political Uncertainty
Recently, we published the findings of NI Chamber’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey with BDO and while it was encouraging to...

Business growth slows as cost pressures continue to impact
Most key business indicators around sales and jobs remained positive in Q2 2022 but growth appears to have slowed 72%...

Festival of business takes flight
Dublin Airport is set to be the headline sponsor of NI Chamber’s Festival of Business, which returns to St George’s...

NI Chamber Public Affairs Update
It has been a busy month on the Public Affairs front with the Northern Ireland Protocol dominating much of the...

NI Chamber President calls for an Executive that “focuses on what they agree on, rather than what divides them”
The President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) has called for the return of an NI...

Tee up for NI Chamber Annual Golf Day
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) is set to host its popular Annual Golf Day on Friday...

Enter the 2022 NI Chamber Awards
NI Chamber is inviting businesses across Northern Ireland to enter the 2022 Chamber Business Awards before the deadline of 8...

New President shares priorities for year in office
Last month, I had the great privilege of becoming the 176th President of NI Chamber. It is a personal and...

Response to publication of NI Protocol bill
Commenting on the publication of the Northern Ireland Protocol bill, Stuart Anderson, Head of Public Affairs, Northern Ireland Chamber of...

Planning System Key to Successful Clean Energy Transition
The planning system has a key role to play in facilitating Northern Ireland’s clean energy transition. That was the message...

NI Chamber’s annual lunch returns to Belfast City Hall
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) is set to host its flagship Annual Lunch in Belfast City...

Outsource and Re-Gen Waste to speak at NI Chamber event in Newry
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) will host an event focusing on digital transformation in Newry on...

Gillian McAuley is new NI Chamber President
Gillian McAuley, HR Director at agri-tech company Devenish is the newly elected President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and...

NI Chamber to host event in Dungannon for growing businesses
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) is inviting ambitious businesses in all sectors to learn how CK...

Statement on behalf of Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group
Commenting on the proposals announced today (17 May 2022) in respect of the Northern Ireland Protocol, a spokesperson for the...

View from the Chair
Paul Murnaghan, President, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Right now businesses in Northern Ireland are being tested like...

NI Chamber welcomes Grand Central Station progress
Translink has welcomed representatives from the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry on-site to a briefing on Belfast Grand...

Statement from NI Chamber on the failure to elect a Speaker
Commenting on the failure to elect a Speaker today (Friday), Paul Murnaghan, President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and...

Diageo MD to speak at leadership conference
Catherine Toolan, Managing Director at Diageo Irish Brand Homes will address local businesspeople at a leadership event in Belfast on...

Stuart Anderson is new Head of Public Affairs at NI Chamber
Stuart Anderson has been appointed as Head of Public Affairs at Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber)....

Distilling the marketing mix
Michael Morris, International Sales Director at Hinch Distillery is set to be one of three guest speakers at NI Chamber’s...

NI Protocol: Why a united political voice is key
Gillian McAuley, Vice-President, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Next week, voters across Northern Ireland will head to the...

Get ready to Meet the Buyer
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) and Bank of Ireland UK are inviting procurement professionals and suppliers...

Mounting costs leads to challenging start to the year for NI businesses
Inflation is a concern for 86% of NI Chamber members 77% of respondents expect to raise prices in next 3...

Sinn Fein on plans for jobs and the economy
Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O’Neill addressed an audience of businesspeople today (Tuesday), where she outlined her party’s economic mission....

Alliance on plans for jobs and the economy
Alliance leader Naomi Long addressed an audience of businesspeople today (Monday), telling them that “Despite the challenges facing us, Northern...

UUP on plans for jobs and the economy
Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Doug Beattie addressed an audience of businesspeople today (Friday), where he discussed the party’s election manifesto,...

SDLP on plans for jobs and the economy
Claire Hanna addressed an audience of businesspeople today (Thursday), where she outlined the SDLP’s core principles ahead of the assembly...

Cautiously Optimistic about Energy Reform
Patrick Anderson, Chair of NI Chamber Infrastructure sub-committee It may seem unorthodox to be discussing long term policy development at...

DUP leader sets out plans for jobs and the economy
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson addressed an audience of businesspeople today (Monday), where he outlined his party’s five-point plan for Northern Ireland ahead of the assembly election.
NI Chamber responds to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement
Responding to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) said:

Chancellor must act now to ease ‘cost of doing business’ crisis
When Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivers his Spring Statement this week, businesses in Northern Ireland and across the UK will need to see bold and decisive action to address what is now an escalating ‘cost of doing business’ crisis.

NI Chamber Energy Forum to discuss rising costs
NI Chamber and SONI are hosting a special edition of the Energy Forum, focusing specifically on energy costs and the impact on local businesses.

NI Chamber launches pre-election series
NI Chamber is providing businesspeople with the opportunity to engage directly with party leaders ahead of the Assembly election.

NI Business Alliance: ‘Restoration of Political Stability Should Be Paramount Concern’
Restoring political stability should be a “paramount concern” to enable a litany of urgent issues to be addressed, the Northern Ireland Business Alliance has said.

NI Chamber hosts breakfast for HR professionals
NI Chamber is inviting those working in HR roles to start their day with a Business Breakfast on Friday 25 March.

A vision for education in the 21st century
From a business perspective, we know that the world’s most competitive economies have forward looking and resource efficient education systems.

Learn about manufacturing growth from Wrightbus
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) is inviting those working in the manufacturing sector to learn how Wrightbus has successfully grown in new markets.

Statement from the President and Chief Executive
In a joint statement following the resignation of First Minister Paul Givan, NI Chamber President Paul Murnaghan and Chief Executive Ann McGregor said:

Businesses need certainty, support and the right conditions for sustainable growth
In my New Year message at the start of this month, I set out why addressing issues including skills challenges,...

UK launches India negotiations to kick-off Year of Trade
The UK and India will today (Thursday 13 January) launch negotiations on an ambitious Free Trade Agreement at an event...

Business confidence holds up despite significant cost pressures
All key economic indicators positive in Q4 21, signaling improving trading conditions 70% of NI Chamber members expect their business...

NI Chamber President delivers 2022 business priorities
Political stability, the completion of negotiations between UK Government and the EU, the upcoming review of education and the UK...

Brexit, one year on: New report assesses the costs and opportunities for business
84% of NI businesses have experienced an increase in the price of goods and services 89% have experienced an increase...

Time to shake off the shackles and focus on opportunity
Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting NI Chamber’s annual President’s Banquet. At the event, we were joined by...

NI Chamber President: It’s time to shake off the shackles and focus on opportunity
The President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), Paul Murnaghan has hailed the benefits of dual...

Sowing the seeds for global business growth
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) and Danske Bank are inviting export focused businesses to learn from...

Sir Mo Farah to address NI Chamber President’s Banquet
Inspirational Olympic, World and European Champion Sir Mo Farah CBE is set to be guest speaker at NI Chamber’s 2021...

Have your say: Quarterly Economic Survey for Q4 2021
NI Chamber and BDO have opened the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q4 2021. We will use the results to tell the NI...

Tackling barriers to business growth
Paul Murnaghan, President, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Last week, Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled his autumn budget and...

Statement: Response to the Autumn Budget
Commenting on the Chancellor’s autumn budget and spending review, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, NI Chamber said: “The Budget contains some...

NI Chamber strikes gold at Pride Awards
The Communications & Policy team at NI Chamber picked up the Gold award for ‘Corporate and Business Communications Campaign of...

Political Strategist Alastair Campbell to speak at NI Chamber leadership event
Well-known political strategist and media commentator, Alastair Campbell will speak to business leaders at an NI Chamber event in the...

NI Chamber to host business networking event in Dungannon
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) and Mid Ulster District Council are inviting businesspeople in all sectors...

NI’s business recovery risks losing momentum as price pressures mount
1 in 3 companies are performing better than before the pandemic 58% of businesses have seen costs rise by 6%...

NI Chamber Responds to EU Proposals on NI Protocol
Following the EU’s proposals announced yesterday, Paul Murnaghan, President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), said: ...