NI SME Business Conference and Expo 2023 Launched

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are delighted to be Principal Sponsors of Newry Chamber Annual NI SME Business Conference and Expo. The half day event has been running for almost a decade and attracts over 250 delegates. It will take place on Thursday 28 September at the Canal Court Hotel and Spa, Newry.

Supporting Sponsors of the Conference and Expo are the Federation of Small Businesses NI, British Business Bank and Southern Regional College. Organisations from across Northern Ireland, not just the Greater Newry Area are welcome to attend.

The conference is FREE of charge for Newry Chamber and FSB NI Members and £50.00 + Booking Fee for Non-Members. Breakfast and Lunch will also be provided on the day and the full conference programme will be published in the coming weeks.

The conference will include over 20 expert speakers from specialist organisations and will feature case studies from successful local companies. There will be six one-hour workshops covering the most topical issues for SMEs as well as sectoral workshops and one dedicated to start-ups.  

The workshops will also include topics such as Finance and the Economy, Smart Business Practices, Sales and Marketing, Recruiting and Retaining Talent and there will be two sector workshops covering Future of High Streets and Tourism as an Economic Driver. 

Newry Chamber President, Julie Gibbons said, “We regularly engage with our members to understand what the current challenges they face are and the opportunities they see. This conference is all about connecting our SME business community with each other and with organisations that can support them.

“The Greater Newry Area is a vibrant business region. Despite the challenges of rising interest rates, high inflation, skills and staff shortages, there is a still a huge ambition for growth. The conference allows businesses to learn from each other and raise awareness of what supports are available to them. 

“We are extremely grateful to our sponsors Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, FSB NI, the British Business Bank and SRC. Without their support we could not run this, not to be missed, conference.”

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said, “We are delighted to support Newry Chamber with this important initiative. One of the Council’s key objectives is to support the development and growth of our businesses. This conference provides a vital opportunity for businesses to learn about the range of business supports which is on offer right across our District. The Council’s own business support programmes will be promoted at the event and I encourage local companies to contact the Council to find out more on the support which is available.”

British Business Bank Northern Ireland Senior Manager Susan McKane said, “There is such a rich tapestry of smaller businesses right across Northern Ireland, forming the backbone of our local economy. There is a strong entrepreneurial spirit in Newry and the British Business Bank is proud to be supporting the Chamber’s annual NI SME Business Conference and Expo.

“As the government’s economic development bank, the Bank is dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses. So whether you’re looking for finance to start a business, scale up in a sustainable way or take steps on your net-zero journey, we can support you and point you in the right direction.

“Events like this are so important for knowledge sharing and networking, so if you are attending and think we can help your business then we would really like to speak to you.”

Northern Ireland Federation of Small Business (FSB) Regional Chair Brendan Kearney said, “The business community have shown remarkable resilience over the last three years. For many it was about survival. However, we are now looking to a better future. The FSB are here to help and this conference is a fantastic way to come together and discuss how we can work together to create a better economy for all. In Northern Ireland, we know that the economy is driven by small and medium enterprises. So please get involved and see what help is available."

Southern Regional College (SRC) Head of Business Engagement Tracy Rice, commented, “SRC are delighted to be sponsoring this important conference and work with Newry Chamber and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to support local businesses. We are thrilled to see small businesses in the Greater Newry Area taking such a proactive approach.

“We work with many local firms and feedback from employers is that initiatives like higher level apprenticeships and upskilling current workforce is making a positive difference to their bottom lines.”