Press

Reacting to today’s announcement that the Executive is to provide further funding for local City and Growth Deals and Infrastructure projects, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

“This is a very welcome announcement which makes a significant step towards a post Covid-19 economic recovery plan for our local economy”

“Retail NI has always been a strong champion of City and Growth Deals as we believe they can be the catalyst for the regeneration of villages, towns and cities”

Reacting to today’s announcement of a £17 million support package for ferry operators, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

“This is a very welcome development as it is vital that our supply chain from Great Britain continues to operate and provide consumers with food and other vital products”

“Retail NI wholesale and retail members rely on the ferry companies to deliver goods and we hope that this package will ensure continuity of the supply chain for the whole of the Northern Ireland economy”

“Glyn Roberts 07515710517

The jobs and livelihoods of thousands of workers and the future of the firms that employ them depends on the extension of the rates holiday for the businesses worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic.  That’s the message that three of Northern Ireland’s leading business groups are sending to the Northern Ireland Executive.

In a joint statement, Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster and Belfast Chamber Chief Executives, Glyn Roberts, Colin Neill and Simon Hamilton said:

Retail NI has urged the NI Executive to adopt a ‘triage approach’ to further measures to support businesses struggling with the Covid-19 crisis.

The call comes after the conclusion of positive discussions on support for businesses such as CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) with the senior leadership of the four main banks. The representative body stressed the need for a speedy turnaround on CBILS applications from small businesses and interest free overdrafts to assist companies experiencing cashflow problems.