FSB Northern Ireland (Federation of Small Businesses)

📌 Calling all women in business based in Northern Ireland! Join the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with FSB Northern Ireland (Federation of Small Businesses) and Women in Business NI, for a free webinar on taking the first steps to grow your business internationally. Considering selling overseas but not sure where to start? This is the session for you. This short, engaging webinar will provide an overview of the valuable resources available to support you to take your first steps in international trade. The highlight will be a dynamic and interactive panel discussion featuring three accomplished Northern Ireland Export Champions who will share their experiences, challenges and successes in building global businesses. If you’re looking to kick off the new year with a fresh approach to business growth, this is the perfect opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired! Register here: https://lnkd.in/eZu6jmMw Jessica Todd Christina Murphy

We had a fantastic session at our first in-person networking event of 2025 at the amazing Space NI in Antrim, hosted by our members Antrim Enterprise Lots of great engagement and a diverse variety of business sectors represented. The group heard from Steven Norris Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council about the SME support provided by the council and Antrim Enterprise Great to hear about another forthcoming "SPACE" project happening in Glengormley. Thanks to everyone who attended and participated so enthusiastically. Hope to see many more at our February event in CONNECT Dungannon https://lnkd.in/eAwPj_DS Jennifer McWilliams Adrian Kelly - Federation of Small Businesses Declan Barry FSB Northern Ireland (Federation of Small Businesses)

💭 Whether it’s on data protection, product development, or workplace health and safety - we want to hear your views on how regulators and the Government can support small firms. Click the link to take our survey, and help drive policy change on regulation 👇 🔗https://lnkd.in/eUCWgu4b #BigVoiceFSB #Regulation #SmallBusinesses

Big news for technology-related SMEs! Our new programme, delivered in partnership with MaRS Discovery District is open for applications from Monday 20 January, 9:00am GMT. It will provide you with the tools and support you need for success in the North American market. Can your enterprise benefit from the programme? Find out more today 👇 https://okt.to/04I3TH

ℹ️ GENERAL PRODUCT SAFETY REGULATION: The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is a set of regulations that ensure consumer products are safe for use. The GPSR applies to products sold in the European Union (EU), Northern Ireland (NI), and the European Economic Area (EEA) The following support can help small businesses understand what GPSR means for them and provide guidance and advice. -For GB businesses selling to NI, the UK government has published guidance here: https://lnkd.in/eiHKrGh6 -The Export Academy is continuing to run a series of webinars on GPSR. The next is taking place on 24 January and the link to register can be found here: https://lnkd.in/efMdp3zv -There will be a European Commission webinar for businesses on 30 January; registration should be possible soon on the GPSR webpage here: https://lnkd.in/eUmHSBGa FSB Northern Ireland (Federation of Small Businesses)

🚨Proposals in Stormont’s Employment Rights Bill risk overburdening businesses with bureaucracy and cost Alan Lowry, FSB’s NI Policy Chair writes in the @derryjournal to urge all employers to familiarise themselves with the contents of the Department for the Economy NI’s proposals for a new Employment Rights Bill. The proposals, as they stand, could have a massively negative impact on businesses, crushing growth and hindering the economy at precisely the time we need business to be unleashed. Read Alan’s full article in the Derry Journal 👇 Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) | FSB Westminster (Federation of Small Businesses) | Tina McKenzie MBE | Brendan Kearney | Niall Parfitt CMktr FCIM MSc | Hannah Marshall | Sophie Johnston | Lorna Muldoon | John Moore |

🚨How do you feel about the current regulatory environment? 📣We would like to hear from you about any regulatory barriers you may experience including costs (financial and time). The survey closes at 9.30am on Wednesday 29 January. Take the survey here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eWYUPg3J

Earlier today, I had the opportunity to meet with the Chancellor Rt Hon Rachel Reeves in Number 11, to discuss the pressing challenges facing businesses across the UK. These are undeniably difficult times, but it is vital to engage directly and ensure the business voice is heard at the highest levels. As we all work towards economic growth, some key priorities I highlighted included creating a better regulatory environment with less red tape and ensuring any new economic policies are subject to a thorough small business risk assessment. This will yield higher confidence and ultimately drive the much-needed growth our economy depends on. Collaboration between government and industry remains critical to achieving this. I’m committed to continuing these important conversations to ensure businesses of all sizes are supported in 2025 and beyond. https://lnkd.in/ewbiyaEu

🚨The Assembly’s Economy Committee begins scrutinising the Department for the Economy NI’s ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill today ✍️ FSB Northern Ireland (Federation of Small Businesses) Policy Chair Alan Lowry writes in the Belfast Newsletter that the objective of seeing good terms and conditions for employees must not come at the expense of making Northern Ireland overly bureaucratic and uncompetitive, slowing growth and hindering the economy at the precise time business should be unleashed. Tina McKenzie MBE, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) UK Policy Chair has already warned the UK Government that the proposals in its own Employment Rights Bill will fail to motivate small businesses to hire more workers and, with growth flatlining, that the economy is in no fit state for a ‘war on work’. 📉 The NI Executive needs to get this one right. READ the full article here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eujBc5gv

Meet Karly Greene, Deputy Director in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)  🤝 Through people, partnership and mentorship, "so much can be done when we do it together." Read Karly's Member profile here: https://bitl.to/3eiL Look out for the Department for Business and Trade event on Wednesday 29th January in partnership with Women in Business NI and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), specifically designed for women in NI who want to take the first steps in their exporting journey. You can find out more and register here: https://bitl.to/3eiR