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Restriction of irresponsible alcohol promotions
2010-10-27 09:43:00
The Department for Social Development (DSD) have launched an eight-week consultation on their proposals to prohibit or restrict irresponsible alcohol promotions.Subject to this consultation, certain drink promotions may become banned in the future. This may affect: happy hours discount nights, where drinks are sold to particular groups of customers at a discounted price special offers, such as 'two for the price of one' or 'women drink for free' all-inclusive deals, such as 'all you can drink for £10' other types of drink or price promotions which encourage alcohol misuse The Department is keen to address harmful drinking and would like to hear from everyone who will be affected by the changes, including consumers of alcohol, trade associations, criminal justice workers or those who run or work in pubs, clubs, supermarkets or other outlets selling alcohol. Consultation seeks business views by 6 December 2010.Click here to read more about the restriction of irresponsible alcoh...
More About: Alcohol , Promotions

Safe maintenance is vital to workplace safety
2010-10-27 09:37:00
This year's European Week for Safety and Health at Work focuses on accident-free maintenance.European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2010 takes place from 25 to 29 October 2010 and focuses on raising awareness of the risks associated with maintenance activities.During the week, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and local district councils will be promoting the message that safe maintenance is the key to safety in the workplace.Maintenance -related accidents are a major cause of concern in Northern Ireland. In 2009-10 one third of all reportable fatalities in Northern Ireland were connected with maintenance-related activities.Click here to read more about European Week for Safety and Health at Work on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Workplace , Vital

Loan fund available for local SMEs
2010-10-26 11:45:00
Loan Fund provides loans to individuals looking to start, or already running, their own business.The Enterprise Northern Ireland (ENI) Loan Fund was originally established in early 2002, to make funding more accessible to those starting or operating a small business and since then has provided over 1,050 loans totaling in excess of £6.2m to help businesses across the whole of Northern Ireland.The ENI Loan Fund products are geared towards helping businesses get started and to develop a profitable trading history prior to obtaining mainstream finance. They are also there to help existing businesses with the costs associated with growing and expanding the business, but can not be used to settle/consolidate existing business/personal debt.Click here to read more about the Enterprise Northern Ireland Loan Fund on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Loan , Local

Programme helps businesses with IT and broadband
2010-10-26 09:11:00
Northern Ireland businesses can access free IT and broadband advice through the Logon.ni programme.The programme is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment under the European Regional Development Fund Sustainable Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013.Logon.ni staff deliver IT training and workable business solutions which can help local businesses to cut costs, save time, increase sales and expand current market. Logon.ni aim to help businesses get the most out of IT and broadband with advice on:getting a broadband connection internet telephony instant online banking online sales business templates and documents getting a business website website optimisation social media finding contracts Click here to read more about Logon.ni on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Broadband

Additional paternity leave regulations in force
2010-10-23 11:24:00
Employment rights of parents are extend to include additional paternity leave and payRegulations introducing additional paternity leave and additional statutory paternity pay in Northern Ireland came into force on 3 October 2010.The provisions will affect parents of children due on or after 3 April 2011 and will give employed parents, mostly fathers, the right to take up to six months' extra leave when the mother returns to work.The right to take additional paternity leave and pay will also apply in relation to children matched for adoption on or after 3 April 2011.Our employment and skills section now contains new guidance on this recently introduced right.Click here to read more about the additional paternity leave regulations on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Force , Leave , Paternity

Export finance made clear
2010-10-23 11:12:00
Free workshops across Northern Ireland to offer practical help to local businesses on export finance.Every business is under pressure to maximise opportunities – make sales and make money – but the two do not always go together. Part of the challenge for your company selling in international markets is ensuring that once you have got the order, you get paid and maximise the impact on your bottom line. This is where Invest Northern Ireland can help.Invest Northern Ireland are hosting 'Export Finance Made Clear ' workshops in a variety of locations throughout Northern Ireland. The free workshops will offer businesses, practical help and advice on dealing with all issues relating to export finance.Click here to read more about the export finance workshops on nibusinessinfo.co.uk

How to turn passion into profit
2010-10-23 11:08:00
Free event to help women turn their skills and interests into a profitable business.If you are considering starting your own business and are either unemployed, or working or studying less than 16 hours per week, Women into Business invites you to learn from examples of three successful business women.An event entitled Passion into Profit will feature local guest speakers, and will enable you to network and find information about programmes and support services which may be available to you free to help set up your business.Women into Business' Passion into Profit event will take place on 28 October 2010 from 9.30 to 12.30 in the Ten Square Hotel in Belfast.Click here to read more about the Passion into Profit event on nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Government Spending Review presented by Chancellor
2010-10-22 11:05:00
The Government has announced spending plans for each department up to 2014/15.The Chancellor, George Osborne, has presented the Government's Spending Review , which fixes spending budgets for each Government department up to 2014/15.The Government has prioritised its Spending Review decisions to support growth, fairness and reform.Click here to read more about the Government's Spending Review on nibusinessinfo.co.uk

New fire safety legislation for businesses
2010-10-20 11:29:00
From 15 November 2010 all non-domestic premises must hold a valid Fire Safety Risk Assessment.Previous fire certification process will cease and all non-private dwellings will have to have a current fire risk assessment carried out and periodically reviewed.When the new fire safety legislation comes info force on 15 November 2010, the responsibility for fire safety in the workplace will rest with the employer, or those with any degree of control over premises, such as managing agents, owners and landlords.Click here to read more about the new fire safety legislation for businesses on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Legislation

High speed broadband could boost your business
2010-10-19 12:07:00
More local businesses can take advantage of Northern Ireland's advanced telecommunications network to innovate and grow.High speed broadband is spreading deeper into towns and villages across Northern Ireland, as BT engineers rapidly roll out the ambitious Next Generation Broadband Project for the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment (DETI).The project involves the introduction of new technology, predominantly fibre, to increase broadband speeds and is targeted at areas, both urban and rural, which will deliver the greatest economic benefit by receiving high speed broadband.50 per cent of the project has now been completed and faster broadband services will be made available in many areas across Northern Ireland. However, not all businesses will be in scope to receive faster broadband under this project.Click here to read more about the benefits of faster broadband for businesses on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Business , Speed

Help for businesses with sustainable development
2010-10-19 11:55:00
Invest Northern Ireland are running a free sustainable development workshop in partnership with Ards Borough Council which aims to help businesses reduce overheads through energy and resource efficiency.Businesses attending can benefit from:advice to help reduce waste and save money through more efficient use of resourcesnew business opportunities in the growing sustainable energy marketup to 5 days free consultancyinterest-free energy loanThe workshop is open to all businesses and will take place on Wednesday 3 November 2010 from 18.30 at Sketrick House in Newtownards.Click here to read more about the sustainable development workshop on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Development , Sustainable Development

Support for Craigavon businesses
2010-10-16 09:14:00
Product Transfer Programme launched to help support and accelerate the growth of businesses in the Craigavon area.The programme will allow small to medium sized businesses to source products and services from outside of Northern Ireland. It will also assist local companies in establishing connections with other businesses.Ten businesses have already signed up for the two-year programme. They will benefit from working with experts in product, service, systems and technology transfer as well as having access to a bank of market experts across Europe and the USA.Click here to read more about the support for Craigavon businesses on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Support

Help and advice for employers and self-employed
2010-10-14 09:16:00
Free workshops to help Northern Ireland businesses with tax issues will be held throughout October 2010.Today's businesses are facing tough times and the most successful know when to make use of the available help. The HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) programme of free workshops aim to help new and existing small and medium-sized enterprises understand what they need to do with regards to their business taxes.The workshops are aimed at employers, sole traders and those in partnerships and they will range in topics from VAT to international trade.Click here to read more about the HMRC free workshops on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Advice

Phasing out of the default retirement age
2010-10-13 09:07:00
The Coalition Government's Programme for Government commits the Government to phasing out the Default Retirement Age (DRA). The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are currently carrying out a consultation about the removal of the Default Retirement Age (DRA).This consultation document sets out the background to the DRA, outlining their proposals including a regulatory impact assessment for the phasing out of the DRA from April 2011 with transitional arrangements covering the period until October 2011. The consultation also seeks views of the type of support individuals and employers might need in managing it.The deadline for submissions is 21 October 2010.Click here to read about the default retirement age consultation on nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Can staff turnover affect your business?
2010-10-09 12:30:00
Losing competent staff will cost you time and money, and can even affect your bottom line.According to a new study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the actual costs of replacing a competent member of staff are often underestimated, and usually equate to approximately one year of that person's salary. Overall, UK businesses are paying £42 billion per year for failing to retain talent, according to the study.Time and money are the obvious costs involved in staff leaving and recruitment exercises. However, this study considered a number of other factors that contribute to the overall costs required for replacing staff.Click here to read more about managing staff turnover on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Business

Business opportunities in bioenergy
2010-10-07 09:38:00
Event to highlight how local businesses can exploit opportunities in the expanding bioenergy sector.Bioenergy is becoming increasingly important in the development of a more sustainable energy mix in Northern Ireland. The conference will help Northern Ireland businesses gain a foothold in the fast-growing bioenergy sector. The event will identify opportunities for organisations to capitalise on biogas and biomass technologies and help build a platform for growth.The 'Opportunities in Bioenergy' conference has been organised by the InnoTech Centre and funded by the Department for Employment and Learning. The conference takes place on Tuesday 12 October 2010 from 11.45 to 16.15 at the South West College in Omagh.Click here to read more about the Opportunities in Bioenergy conference on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Business

Turn your waste into a quality product
2010-10-07 09:26:00
New guidance to help businesses turn certain waste materials into valuable, high quality products.The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has launched new guidance on their latest waste quality protocol, which took effect across Northern Ireland on 4 October 2010.The NIEA's new guidance sets end of waste criteria for the production and use of pulverised fuel ash and furnace bottom ash, which arise from the combustion of coal in energy production.The guidance suggests how these materials can be reused in construction and manufacturing products such as bound and grout applications, cement, ceramic tiles, bricks, paints, plastics and rubber.Click here to read more about the NIEA guidance on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Product

Three new tax agent toolkits launched
2010-10-07 09:19:00
Free toolkits to help tax agents avoid common errors when filing clients' returns have been published.HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have launched the downloadable toolkits to help tax agents avoid common errors on:VAT Input Tax Inheritance Tax Expenses and Benefits from Employment These have been added to the six other toolkits that had been launched earlier in the year.Click here to read more about the new tax agent toolkits on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Agent

Fund available for innovative social entrepreneurs
2010-10-06 09:14:00
€1 million fund supports social entrepreneurs with innovative, impactful and sustainable projects.The Arthur Guinness Fund has re-opened for applications from social entrepreneurs around Ireland, with up to €1 million available to social entrepreneurs who have projects that are innovative, impactful and sustainable.A new dimension has been added to the Arthur Guinness Fund this year in the form of a 'Challenge Grant', which invites applications from start-up projects with grants of up to €25,000 per annum for two years.The closing date for applications is 10 November 2010.Click here to read more about the Arthur Guinness Fund on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Social , Entrepreneurs

Businesses urged to connect with FE and HE sectors
2010-10-05 10:41:00
The £4 million programme supports businesses to engage with local universities and colleges.Connected is the first knowledge transfer project in the UK to be delivered between higher education (HE) and further education (FE) sectors. Following a successful pilot phase, the Department for Employment and Learning is continuing to invest in Connected and has put aside £4 million to run the programme over the next four years.Connected provides a 'one-stop-shop' for businesses wishing to access research and technical expertise within Queen's University, the University of Ulster and Northern Ireland's six further education colleges.Click here to read more about the Connected programme on nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Explore business opportunities in the Baltics
2010-10-02 12:42:00
Free seminar will highlight opportunities for local companies interested in doing business in Latvia and Estonia.Invest Northern Ireland is hosting Exploring the Baltics seminar: Latvia and Estonia to highlight new business opportunities in the Baltic region.The Baltic region as a whole was the fastest growing region in the EU in recent years with the economies enjoying double-digit GDP growth rates. Latvia and Estonia offer excellent opportunities to Northern Ireland's businesses looking to expand in new markets within a number of sectors.The seminar will take place on Wednesday 20 October 2010 from 10.00 to 12.30 at Invest Northern Ireland Headquarters in Belfast.Click here to read more about the exploring the Baltics seminar on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Business , Opportunities , Explore

HSENI warns of asbestos risk in the workplace
2010-10-01 12:32:00
If you are responsible for maintenance and repair of non-domestic premises, you have a duty to manage the risk from asbestos.The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is reaching out to all non-domestic dutyholders to remind them of their legal obligation to manage and minimise the risk of asbestos exposure in their premises. During a month-long 'Duty to manage' campaign, the HSENI will deliver an information pack to nearly 60,000 premises across the province. The pack incorporates a basic eight-step guide to help you manage the risks from asbestos and stresses the importance of maintaining an up-to-date asbestos register for your building.The HSENI has also set up a dedicated website to support the campaign and make information, advice and other resources readily available.Click here to read more about the 'Duty to manage' campaign on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Workplace , Risk

Increase in national minimum wage rate
2010-10-01 12:20:00
From 1 October 2010 new national minimum wage (NMW) rates come into force.The NMW applies to nearly all workers and sets hourly rates below which you must not allow pay to fall.For pay reference periods beginning on or after 1 October 2010, you will have to pay all eligible workers the following:£5.93 an hour to workers aged 21 and above £4.92 an hour to workers aged 18-20 £3.64 an hour to workers aged below 18 who are no longer of compulsory school age Click here to read more about the increase in the national minimum wage rate on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: National , Minimum Wage

31 October deadline for tax returns
2010-10-01 12:15:00
Anyone filing their Self Assessment tax return on paper must do so by 31 October 2010.HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued an alert to remind those filing Self Assessment returns on paper that they could face a £100 penalty if they fail to meet the 31 October deadline.If you normally file on paper, you could file your return online instead. It is easy to file your tax return online and you get three months longer to file than those filing on paper. Online tax returns are due on 31 January 2011.Click here to read more about 31 October deadline for paper tax returns on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Deadline

Easy to follow steps for online filing
2010-10-01 12:11:00
Quick guide to help businesses understand the processes involved with online filing.Company directors must file a range of information to Companies House in return for limited liability. You can use the Companies House WebFiling service to file a range of forms online. Companies House have produced a quick guide to help businesses complete their online filing.The Companies House guide explains how businesses can register for and use the Companies House WebFiling to file a range of forms including annual returns and company accounts.Click here to read more about the guide for online filing on nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Online

Tender for London 2012 Olympic Games contracts
2008-03-12 09:48:00
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will generate significant new business opportunities for Northern Ireland companies.Although the games are several years away local companies need to act now to prepare themselves for the challenging tendering process involved in competing for London 2012 contracts.To find out more about the London 2012 Olympic tender opportunities for Northern Ireland business click here.
More About: Olympic Games , Contracts

New charges for Northern Ireland business
2008-03-12 09:33:00
Water, sewerage and trade effluent charges for Northern Ireland businesses from April 2008From April 2008 all businesses in Northern Ireland will be subject to three sets of charges:* water charges* sewerage charges* trade effluent charges These charges will be phased in for the first year from April 2008 to March 2009 at 50 per cent of the full charge. From April 2009 the full amount will be charged. The charges will be set by NI Water and approved by the NI Authority for Utility Regulation (the Utility Regulator).To find out more about Water, sewerage and trade effluent charges for Northern Ireland businesses, click here
More About: Business

nibusinessinfo.co.uk Newsletter - Summer '07
2007-08-13 12:31:00
Click here to view the nibusinessinfo.co.uk Newsletter - Summer '07

Find businesses in Northern Ireland
2007-07-26 10:50:00
Search or browse our directory of contact details for over40,000 companies located throughout Northern Ireland .Our companies directory will enable you to do a quick search for companies by name or perform an advanced search using a combination of business name, location, business type, number of employees, turnover and industry sector.To search our directory of Northern Ireland businesses visit nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Find , Businesses

Common business scams and how to avoid falling for them
2007-05-21 13:18:00
Small businesses are often vulnerable to unfair business practice. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's Trading Standards Service is urging businesses to be wary of a number of scams which are operating across Northern Ireland.Some recognised scams include: * Bogus registration mailshots * Cold calls * Bogus invoices * Deceptive directory mailshots * Bogus website registrationsTo learn more about how to protect your business from scams visit nibusinessinfo.co.uk
More About: Business , Scams , Common , Avoid