There was a good news report out today (13th August 2024), from the Ulster Bank Northern Ireland Growth Tracker, which showed that business activity had really ramped up last month. The business growth was in the main coming from the manufacturing and services sectors, with retail and construction rather lagging behind. A number of companies …
High Proportion Of Workers In NI Being Paid Below The Real Living Wage
Paying what is known as the Real Living Wage is a voluntary action for businesses to take. As long as they are paying the national minimum wage they are quite within their legal obligations. The Real Living Wage is currently set at £12 an hour (outside London that is), whereas the national minimum wage is …
High Proportion Of Workers In NI Being Paid Below The Real Living WageRead More
Key Economic Indicators Are Positive Moving Into 2nd Half Of The Year
The NI Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with BDO NI, have just published their economic report on the 2nd half of this year, and all key economic indicators are looking reasonably rosy, which is great news to hear. Overall business performance has been classed as steady as she goes, with some shoots of growth around …
Key Economic Indicators Are Positive Moving Into 2nd Half Of The YearRead More
Violent Anti-Immigration Protests Hit Belfast
Despite Northern Ireland having relatively low levels of immigration this did not stop it from being affected by the protests that have spread throughout the UK over the weekend. Bolton, Tamworth, Rotherham, Liverpool and Middlesbrough to name but a few were all hit badly, and many Belfast businesses were also targeted in violent attacks. The …
More Businesses Showing Signs Of Financial Distress In 2nd Quarter
The latest report by independent business rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor shows that more businesses were showing signs of financial distress in Northern Ireland in the 2nd quarter of this year than in the 1st quarter. This mirrors the rest of the UK and is a real concern. It does show that the turmoil …
More Businesses Showing Signs Of Financial Distress In 2nd QuarterRead More
Unemployment Rate Falls As Pay Rises
It is heartening to see that the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland fell to a record low of 2% in the month of May, according to the latest statistics from Nisra. Allied to this average monthly pay has been rising, by 3.7% in June, up to £2,329 per month. Over the course of the last …
Private Sector Shows Strong Growth In June
The latest figures from the most recent survey by the Ulster Bank seem to show that the private sector performed very well indeed last month (June 2024). In fact the order books grew at the fastest rate for over two years, with business activity showing strong momentum which will hopefully run through into the next …
New Legislation On Debt Relief Orders
There has been new legislation introduced to the Debt Relief Order (DRO) scheme in Northern Ireland which it is hoped will provide more valuable support to individuals who are struggling with debt. These new measures have brought Northern Ireland more into line with how the system operates in England and Wales. A DRO is basically …