SMEs

Northern Ireland financial advisory company HNH has appointed Pam Gillies, one of the sector’s most respected and experienced business strategists, as partner as it drives its local and regional growth ambitions across the UK and Ireland

NI financial advisory firm appoints new partner to support ambitious growth

Mark Johnston, Director of Johnston Financial Solutions

Practical strategies for manufacturing growth funding to be featured at upcoming...

Mark Johnston, Director of Johnston Financial Solutions

Practical strategies for manufacturing growth funding to be featured at upcoming...

A study by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre has highlighted critical insights into the state of management and leadership (M&L) training among SMEs in Northern Ireland

Study: Critical insights into state of management and leadership training in NI

SERC's Emma Tate, launches a programme of free courses designed to boost confidence in maths

Free courses offer digital marketing metric skills to local companies

View from the Chair with FSB NI's policy chair, Alan Lowry

Marking 50-years, FSB calls on NI firms to converge at Stormont

Ian Bendelow, chief executive officer of the KCS Group pictured with Northern Ireland entrepreneur Draven McConville founder of Klipboard

NI tech founder’s company acquired for undisclosed sum in major deal

Klipboard acquired by KCS.

Northern Ireland tech founder’s field service company acquired in major deal

With over 20 years of experience in human resources, BeyondHR chief executive officer Neil McLeese is on a career-long mission

NI leader recalls his journey 'from efficient recruiter to trusted advisor'

View from the Chair with FSB NI’s policy chair, Alan Lowry

View: It’s important to find the box and put a cross in it for business

Made in the UK celebrated the most innovative and successful manufacturers (Image credit: Guzelian for Insider Media)

Northern Ireland manufacturers recognised at prestigious UK awards

Chief executive officer Neil McLeese and chief operating officer Helen Hardy celebrate BeyondHR’s 10 years in business with ambitious growth plans after a record-breaking 2023

NI HR services firm celebrates 10 years of success with record-breaking year

The Belfast office of ASM Chartered Accountants, has announced that it is joining the prestigious Sumer Group at the end of this month, to become Sumer Northern Ireland. Pictured is Brian Clerkin, managing director of Sumer Northern Ireland and Warren Mead, CEO of Sumer with the directors of Sumer Northern Ireland

One of Northern Ireland’s largest accountancy firms to join Sumer Group

Record amount of start-up and small business loans issued in Northern Ireland in 2023/24. Pictured is Michael McQuillan, chief executive, Enterprise NI

New data: Record amount of start-up and small business loans issued in NI

In 2023, there were 121,900 SMEs reported in Northern Ireland, the fewest of all UK regions. Pictured is Ifty Nasir, founder and CEO of Vestd. Credit Vestd

New data: Workers in Northern Ireland are missing out on company benefits

Family enjoys using VR headsets to explore Belfast’s history. Ten tech innovation companies and entrepreneurs have been awarded funding from Belfast City Council’s Augment the City competition to help enrich the Belfast region’s visitor experiences

NI immersive tech innovators awarded funding to help capture Belfast stories

Major new funding competition supporting 10 local SMEs to innovate in immersive technologies to enhance visitor experiences in the Belfast region

Claire Cartmill

Belfast-based Chartered Accountancy firm, RBCA, has announced it has made a £50,000 investment in artificial intelligence (AI). Founder, Ross Boyd, says that the decision will support his team of 20 to focus more of their time servicing and consulting existing clients

Northern Ireland accountancy firm invests £50,000 in artificial intelligence

Many UK small businesses expect little growth over the next two years

Many UK small businesses expect little growth over the next two years

Susan Nightingale, director, UK network devolved nations, British Business Bank

Report reveals over one in five NI SMEs experience barriers in accessing finance

Economy Minister Conor Murphy

Breaking down barriers will help all entrepreneurs - Murphy

The Augment the City Challenge Fund, led by Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office and funded by the Belfast Region City Deal, is now open and will support local SMEs to explore the future role of immersive technologies in visitor experiences

New Augment the City Challenge Fund opens for NI tech innovators

Changes to wages and National Insurance for Employers

Employers to pay thousands more in National Insurance from April

Changes to wages and National Insurance for Employers.

Employers to pay thousands more in National Insurance from April

Whiterock’s Growth Capital Fund team Graham Ferguson, Sarah Toner, David McCurley; (seated) Jenna Mairs and Paul Millar

The fund will also be bolstered by a number of external consultants

Business start-up success stories hailed at Belfast venture capital conference

View from the chair with FSB NI’s policy chair, Alan Lowry

​View: NI`s special relationship with US cemented in Washington

Economy Minister hails start-up success stories as entrepreneurs gather in Belfast for 2024 InterTradeIreland Venture Capital Conference. Pictured are Laura Haldane, SciLeads, Conor Murphy, Margaret Hearty, Deirdre O'Neill, Hertility and Richard Kennedy, chair, InterTradeIreland

Economy Minister hails start-up success stories as entrepreneurs gather in NI

Over 600 delegates gather at Titanic Belfast for 2024 InterTradeIreland Venture Capital Conference

Claire Cartmill

Newtownabbey’s Qualcom has announced an unprecedented 10% year-on-year revenue increase for 2022/23, along with the creation of eight jobs in Northern Ireland and 25 in the Republic of Ireland. Pictured are Ken Ryan, managing director at Qualcom Steven Norris, deputy director of regeneration and infrastructure at Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, councillor Mark Cooper BEM, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Leeann Saunders, managing director NI at Qualcom

NI IT services provider announces growth as it unveils refreshed brand identity

Chris Turton, online sales expert and founder of specialist Amazon agency Ecommerce Intelligence

Northern Ireland firms could be missing out on millions, retail expert warns

View from the chair with FSB NI’s policy chair, Alan Lowry

View: ​Celebrating 50 years of representing great SMEs

SMEs in NI who trade globally could be celebrated in the prestigious Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards 2024. Picture – supplied

Ad Feature Entries now open for NI SMEs: Firms urged to bid for prestigious DBT awards

Cathal Geoghegan, president, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry

View: ​No game changing economic initiatives for NI

View from the Chair with FSB NI’s policy chair, Alan Lowry

​View: Address common concerns with marginal gains and seismic change

Many SMEs have reinvested their profits just to stay afloat this year

Lidl Northern Ireland procured a record £455 million worth of goods from the local agri-food industry last year (FY22/23 ending February) according to its annual Supplier Impact Report. This is an increase of more than 30% from £347 million in FY21/22. Pictured are Ivan Ryan, regional managing director, Lidl Northern Ireland and J.P. Scally, chief executive officer of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland

Lidl Northern Ireland ploughs record £455million into local agri-food industry

Stakeholders in the new Investor Readiness Programme at Ormeau Baths, Belfast

Initiative to give NI firms 'a strong head start on their fundraising journey'

Top 10 challenges SME owners face

Top 10 challenging things about running your own business

Belfast-based Displaynote has announced the acquisition of the company to Volaris Group. Pictured are Niall Devlin, head of business banking NI at Bank of Ireland, Denise Sidhu, partner, Kernel Capital, William McCulla, Invest NI’s director of corporate finance and Paul Brown, founder and CEO of DisplayNote

Belfast-based Displaynote has been acquired by Volaris Group

SME owner

Top 10 things SMEs think they should be doing to stay afloat

Three Businesses in Northern Ireland to receive £300,000 in funding from the Space Technology Exploitation Programme

Three Belfast firms secure £300,000 in space tech funding

View from the Chair with FSB NI’s policy chair, Alan Lowry

View: Replace late payment with prompt payment

Barclays is to cut opening hours of hundreds of branches across the UK

Barclays to cut opening hours of hundreds of branches across the UK

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has announced the list of finalists for Northern Ireland in the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2023

Businesses hope for title at FSB Northern Ireland Small Business Awards

Pictured at the Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown alongside Alan McKeown, Invest NI’s executive director of regional business and Invest NI board member, Kieran Kennedy are some of the successful companies of Invest NI’s Ambition to Grow Programme

Invest NI commits £1.3m to grow exports by £12m and create over 150 jobs

Many SMEs affected by the rising living costs have said this time has been the ‘...

Decision to freeze non-domestic regional rate removes one of the threats hanging over businesses says policy chair of FSB Northern Ireland, Alan Lowry

Business leaders praise the freezing of the non-domestic regional rate

Are apprenticeships in danger?

SME apprenticeships under threat due to cost-of-living burdens

Belfast start-up and workspace innovator Hubflow is spearheading a rapid expansion of its bespoke office network across London as part of a major launch to take its successful brand and model to cities across the world. It now plans to open 100 new London locations as part of a targeted five-year campaign. Pictured are Hubflow managing director Declan Mellan and chief executive Gary McCausland

Northern Ireland workspace innovator plans to open 100 new London locations

Owner of eightyfive90, Andrew Kelly and Rose with Glynis Hobson from Cavaliers in Need and Suzy. Both dogs were rescued from puppy farms by the charity and subsequently adopted by Andrew and Glynis

NI digital content creation firm hits 100 clients milestone

Category winners FSB Northern Ireland Awards 2022

Are you Northern Ireland’s next top small business?

Many employees will get an extra 2.5 days of annual leave at Christmas - equatin...

Paul Millar, chief executive, Whiterock Finance and Ben Stocks, managing director, BLK BOX

NI's Whiterock Finance hits £100m funding milestone on 10th anniversary

Joseph Gillan, James Logan, Jack Fullerton from Atlas Smart Technologies pictured with InterTradeIreland CEO Margarety Hearty and chair Richard Kennedy

Ballymena firm pockets €50,000 at InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Awards

Lidl Northern Ireland, the region’s fastest-growing supermarket retailer, has ploughed a record £347m into the agri-food industry here in the last financial year ending February 2022 and supported 60 local producers to success, a new impact report has revealed. Pictured are J.P. Scally, chief executive of Lidl Ireland and Lidl NI and Conor Boyle, regional managing director Lidl NI

Lidl NI ploughs £347m into local agri-food industry and grows 60 NI producers

Fibrus has launched a new product which aims to fight the ever-rising cost of doing business for small businesses. Retail NI is partnering with the local full fibre broadband provider to highlight the offer. Pictured are Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI and Colin Hutchinson, chief financial officer at Fibrus

Fibrus launches SME broadband to combat NI's ‘cost-of-doing-business’ crisis