Newry BID Newsletter

    This week we are knee deep in planning for our Health in the City initiative. This is an effort to get people thinking about their health and wellbeing, while driving awareness of the services and facilities across the city to support with this.
    It will take place from Monday 17th February and will run until Friday 21st March. If you have any events, activities or promotions that you might like to run during this time, related to health and wellbeing, please get in touch as soon as possible on Eamonn@newry.com .

    We are also working on a new Country Music Festival for Newry in July, we will have more information about this in the coming weeks; while we are supporting Newry Musical Feis with new arrangements while the Town Hall is closed.
    Please also see below information in relation to the SRC Big Apprenticeship Event, the Flood Resilience Group and a NI wide drive towards improving the night-time economy.

     

    SRC Big Apprenticeship Event

    Southern Regional College (SRC) are running their BIG Apprenticeship Events once again on the 4th February in Newry and the 6th February in Craigavon.

    THE BIG APPRENTICESHIP EVENT (NEWRY)

    DATE:    Tuesday 4th February 2025
    TIME:     5pm – 7:30pm
    VENUE: SRC Newry West Campus

    If your business is recruiting Higher Level Apprentices (HLAs) for September 2025, you can now register your interest in exhibiting at the BIG Apprenticeship Events and confirm your vacancies via their SRC Portal: https://portals2.src.ac.uk/hla/

    WHY ATTEND?

    Last year, SRC had 1,750+ people in attendance across both events and the event has only been growing in popularity year on year. The FREE events are an excellent opportunity to get to know some of the applicants and start your recruitment for September 2025 so register now to avoid disappointment!

    HIGHER LEVEL APPRENTICESHIP (HLA) OPTIONS:

    SRC’s HLA options for September 2025 include courses across Accounting, Fintech, Applied Industrial Sciences, Construction, Digital Marketing, Engineering, Computing and Hospitality & Sport. You can find more information here: https://www.src.ac.uk/events/big-apprenticeship-event-newry

    CONTACT SRC FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    EMAIL: hla@src.ac.uk
    PHONE: 028 3025 9664 (Newry Office)
    PHONE: 028 3839 7778 (Portadown Office)

     

    Nighttime Economy

    This week we met with members of various Stormont Departments along with :

    • Hospitality Ulster
    • Security Industry Authority
    • Hotels Federation

    It has been set up following the success of the Night Times Industries Authority in GB in lobbying government for reform based upon collective pressure and evidenced based research.
    See www.ntia.co.uk
    Rates are one of our core lobbying issues with points raised including:

    • Newry, Mourne & Down District Council has the 6th highest rates poundage in the UK
    • NI Manufacturing Rates Relief (70%) and Agriculture (100%) don’t apply in GB
    • GB Town Centre rates reliefs (75% 2021/22 & 45% in the last budget) don’t apply here as Rates are devolved to Stormont
    • Worse still the pro rata 3% cash transfer under the Barnett Formula for these (£263 Million in 21/22 & £49 Million in November) are not being passed on as rates relief to Town Centre businesses as they were designed to be and are being swallowed up in a black hole of the Stormont Draft Budget.

    We will keep you updated on how this progresses.

    Flood Resilience Group

    The next meeting with DfI Rivers Agency will take place:

    • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH
    • 10am to Noon
    • The BANK, Trevor Hill

    This meeting will be to get an update on actions around temporary flood mitigation measures and permanent flood defences.
    Please confirm if you are attending by emailing Eamonn@newry.com

    Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF)

    There is an opportunity now for businesses to engage with advanced technologies.  Go Succeed can offer specialist mentoring to businesses that have the potential to embed DTFF technologies into their business.  DTFF opens in March for expression of interest, so it is a tight turnaround.
    DTFF will enable the purchasing of capital equipment and/or resources for ‘off the shelf’ software solutions and/or bespoke system development, based on the following advanced digital technologies/tools:

    • Smart technologies/smart environments, the Internet of Things (IoT) and simulation;
    • Process automation via robotics/cobotics, additive manufacturing;
    • Big-data and analytics;
    • Immersive technologies (AR/VR/MR/Haptics);
    • Artificial intelligence and machine learning; and
    • Horizontal and vertical system integration, distributed ledger systems/blockchain technologies.

    It is not about websites nor EPOS, a relevant example is the installation of a robotic arm into a pharmacist.
    If you would like to know more please contact eamonn@newry.com or you can register on website  https://dtff.co.uk/dtff/  to attend an information session:

    • Warrenpoint Town Hall, 27a Church Street, Warrenpoint, BT34 3HN
    • Thursday 27th February, 9.30am-11.30am