Trade groups announce plan to create 65,000 jobs

By Michael McHugh and Rebecca Black, PA

The head of one of Northern Ireland's largest business banks has warned a no-deal Brexit would cause an "existential" challenge for companies.

The region is already dealing with limited economic growth, and the largest trade delegation from Belfast ever to visit Westminster has published a 10-year plan it says will create 65,000 jobs.

The alliance of retailers, the hospitality industry and manufacturers expressed concern at uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the prospect of no-deal.

Kevin Kingston, chief executive officer of Danske Bank UK, said: "When you move down to the smaller businesses it becomes much more difficult, some of them are facing an existential challenge and it is very hard to plan for outcomes when it is that fundamental to your business model.

"For the smaller businesses, I don't think they are ready (for no deal) but I am not saying that as a criticism, I am saying that is a cold, hard reality of the challenges they face.

"Everybody needs to do more.

"This is an opportunity and a time when Northern Ireland needs to stand together and work together to find solutions to whatever the outcomes may be in terms of the Brexit negotiations."

Northern Ireland Secretary @JulianSmithUK among the crowd at Westminster as @tradenitweets event hears from key speakers from @HospUlster @ManufacturingNI and @retail_ni . They’re outlining plans to boost the economy & are calling Stormont stability and BREXIT clarity. @qnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/ukcNsoNFZi

— David Hunter (@davidhunter7) September 11, 2019

Danske lends to more than one in three of Northern Ireland businesses.

Mr Kingston said the business community was seeking realistic solutions.

He said: "My sense is that reality is growing and the desire to bring forward the solution which addresses the challenges of Northern Ireland.

"That needs to happen very quickly, all my customers are saying they need that certainty, they need that guidance so that they can move forward and plan, I hope it does."

The 10-year plan created by Trade NI aims to break the "cycle of limited economic growth" in the region.

The new alliance was formed by trade representative bodies Hospitality Ulster, Manufacturing NI and Retail NI.

The group said its economic plan will set out policy priorities with the potential to create 65,000 jobs and make Northern Ireland a high-growth economy.

It expressed concern at the uncertainty around Brexit and the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and stressed that any new executive must increase the productivity of the workforce, reduce the regulatory burden on businesses, increase skills, and deliver a clear economic strategy.

In a joint statement the body chiefs - Colin Neill (Hospitality Ulster), Stephen Kelly (Manufacturing NI) and Glyn Roberts (Retail NI) - said "we can't sit idly by".

"Northern Ireland is facing a huge challenge as it struggles politically and economically with a growth forecast of around 1% or below," they said.

"This is simply not good enough and we can't sit idly by and let events overtake us. We must break the cycle of limited economic growth.

"Our three organisations represent most of the businesses that make up private sector jobs in Northern Ireland. Therefore, a louder voice needs to be heard on their behalf so that they don't suffer in the wake of the local political issues.

"We want a reboot of the economic policy of Northern Ireland in order to benefit our economy and safeguard our growing business community."

.@tradenitweets event underway in Westminster with over 350 business owners from NI attending. New document from @retail_ni @HospUlster & @ManufacturingNI sets out how we could create 65,000 jobs by 2030. Colin Neill from the group says it can only happen with Government support. pic.twitter.com/oWkbsG7TRj

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 11, 2019

The trio, who said they want to transform Northern Ireland into an "ecosystem of innovation", said they are expecting a large turnout for the event at Westminster including business leaders and politicians.

"We are not isolated from the fact that this report has been launched at a time of political upheaval," they said.

"Our day of engagements in London should send a clear signal to our own MPs, wider elected representatives and the British and Irish governments that the economic health of Northern Ireland must be a priority."

NI Secretary of State Julian Smith welcomed the move, saying: "There is so much potential in so many sectors in Northern Ireland, and I'm pleased the Government will be able to provide support such as through city deals and growth deals.

"Now we need to get Stormont back up and running, so that important decisions can be made to support businesses and create jobs and growth."

Meanwhile, North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds was one of the hosts of the Trade NI event in Westminster. 

He says Brexit is a challenge: 

North Belfast MP @NigelDoddsDUP was one of the hosts of the @tradenitweets event in Westminster & says BREXIT is a challenge. However he believes it’s one NI’s resilient businesses can build on through plans like #Vision2030 which is aiming to create 65,000 new jobs over 10 years pic.twitter.com/gcS6zhTYbc

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 11, 2019