Could your staff benefit from fully funded ICT or NEBOSH Training?
Could YOU benefit from another pair of hands?
COVID-19 Equity Investment Fund
COVID-19 Advice from NI Direct
Brexit: Information Sources
11th September 2020
Hi there
We wish to share details of free online training that is starting in September. This includes NEBOSH Training as well as Essential Skills in ICT.
Northern Regional College have a free, online Essential Skills ICT course starting on 21 September for 10 weeks.
The course will be delivered fully online and include webinars, reading content and 1-2-1 support with a specialist tutor throughout. Fully funded by Dept for the Economy for anyone who has been impacted by the pandemic, including those currently furloughed, made redundant or at risk of redundancy.
To register, and for further information, click here
North West Regional College (NWRC) Business Support Centre (BSC) are delighted to offer a fully funded Nebosh General Certificate course.
The 33 week course will be delivered mostly online with limited classes in the Strand Road Campus.
It will commence on Tuesday 15th September 2020 (Tues evenings from 6pm - 9pm) and is fully funded by the Department for the Economy Skills Focus Programme.
Please note that spaces are limited.
For more information and to apply please email marc.mcgerty@nwrc.ac.uk or call Call 07830 361640
Business & Tourism Courses
at Northern Regional College
We still have a few places available on our #Business courses!
As per announcement earlier in the week, from the Dept for the Economy, £3,000 per apprentice will be available to employers for each new apprenticeship opportunity created between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 under the Apprenticeship Recruitment Incentive Initiative and £3,700 for every apprentice that they bring back from furlough and retain until they have completed their apprenticeship, through the Apprenticeship Recovery Package Scheme.
Could your business take on an accountancy apprentice and help a young person at the start of their career? You do not need to be an accountancy practice to take on an accountancy apprentice. If you would like to find out more, please contact Anne McCallum at Northern Regional College anne.mccallum@nrc.ac.uk
Do you need another pair of hands?
Consider an Apprentice from NWRC
Are you a #mechanicalengineering business? Has #covid19 left you needing another pair of hands? Or perhaps you would like to up-skill a member of your staff? @mynwrc HLA in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by @ulsteruni and fully funded by @Economyni
Call 07436 839960
Are you a #childcare business? Has #covid19 left you needing another pair of hands? Or would you like to up-skill a member of your staff? @mynwrc
Leadership for Children’s Care, Learning & Development #HLA is accredited by @CACHEORG & fully funded by @Economy_NI
Call 07436 839960
Are you a #hospitality or #tourism business? Has #covid19 left you needing another pair of hands? Or would you like to up-skill a member of your staff? @mynwrc International Hospitality & Tourism #HLA is accredited by @UlsterUni and fully funded by @Economy_NI
Call 07436 839960
Are you a #softwaredevelopment business? Has #covid19 left you needing another pair of hands? Or perhaps you would like to up-skill a member of your staff? @mynwrc#HLA in Software Development is accredited by @UlsterUni & fully funded by @Economy_NI
Call 07436 839960
Other Apprenticeships Not Listed?
Are you interested in taking on an apprentice in any other field of work?
Please get in touch with:
NRC at business.engagement@nrc.ac.uk or
NWRC at businesssupport@nwrc.ac.uk
or any Further Education College in Northern Ireland.
Or visit NIBusinessInfo to find out more about what's involved as an employer.
Ballycastle Firm gets
Tailored Export Support from Invest NI
to offer Virtual Roadshow
Invest NI launches new £5m COVID-19 Equity Investment Fund (CEIF)
CEIF will help early stage high-growth potential businesses in NI access financing to progress their business plans and prepare for recovery and growth.
Support, up to a maximum of 50% of the funding round, is available:
through equity investment or convertible loan notes of up to a maximum of £700,000; and
on pari passu terms (meaning on substantially the same terms) as other investors in the funding round.
Support in excess of £700,000 may be available by way of a commercial loan.
Applications for CEIF are now open. All legal documentation must be completed by 12 noon on 31 December 2020.
Eligibility
CEIF is open to all early stage high-growth potential businesses in Northern Ireland unable to access funding after maximising investment from all other funding sources, including institutional investors, private investors, the Future Fund and Invest NI’s Access to Finance funds.
Who is eligible?
As an early stage high-growth potential business, you are eligible if:
The majority of your business operation is based in Northern Ireland.
Your business is an unlisted small and medium-sized business (SME) operating in a market for less than seven years following the first commercial sale.
Your business was not in financial difficulty or subject to insolvency procedures at 31 December 2019, but is adversely impacted by COVID-19, including its ability to raise financing.
You can quantify the impact CEIF support will have on your business such as research and development into new products and/or helping you access new sales and marketing opportunities.
You can demonstrate your business has innovative technology, a significant international market opportunity, export growth prospects, credible promoters and a scalable business model.
You can demonstrate how the funding will increase the value of your business and outline potential exit opportunities.
You have already sourced investment from other investors but still have a shortfall in what you need to achieve your business plan.
CEIF supports technology and innovative businesses with a focus on the following sectors:
advance manufacturing, materials and engineering, including materials handling
digital and creative technologies
life and health sciences
cyber security
precision medicine
big data, internet of things and analytics
Who cannot apply?
The following businesses are not eligible to apply:
Banking and insurance companies.
Businesses operating in coal, steel or shipbuilding.
Businesses involved in decommissioning or the construction of nuclear power stations.
Manufacturing businesses associated with the processing and marketing of tobacco and tobacco products.
Businesses investing in airport infrastructure unless related to environmental protection or accompanied by investment necessary to mitigate or reduce its negative environmental impact.
Agricultural producers associated with the processing and marketing of agricultural products supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Agricultural producers in fisheries and aquaculture supported by the European Fisheries Fund.
Businesses providing general education to children of school age.
Businesses supporting or refurbishing retail facilities.
Businesses working in the synthetic fibres sector.
Businesses operating in defence and safety.
How to apply
Applications can only be made online.
If you have reviewed your funding needs with existing and potential funders and can confirm there is a gap as a direct result of COVID-19, please contact Invest NI to progress an application.
If you are an existing Invest NI customer, you should contact your Client Executive.
If you are not an Invest NI customer, you should use the enquiry form to contact the CEIF Team at Invest NI who will assign you a Client Executive.
How you can prepare to apply
CEIF is now open to applications and detailed guidance notes (PDF, 410K) are available.
You will need the following information to complete the online application:
Your business name.
Your contact name and number.
Your business address and postcode.
The date you established your business in Northern Ireland.
If applicable, the group structure of your business.
Number of people you currently employ in Northern Ireland and other locations.
The financial year end of your business.
The annual turnover of your business.
The balance sheet total of your business.
Your company registration number or CRN issued by Companies House, beginning with NI followed by six numbers, for example NI123456.
You will also need to provide the following documentation electronically:
Your latest financial statements, management accounts, capitalisation tables and financial forecasts.
After completing your funding proposal, the online application process should take approximately one hour, providing you have all the necessary information available. You can save your application and return to it at any time before the closing date.
More information
If you have any enquiries about the COVID-19 Equity Investment Fund please complete this enquiry form.
Following last night's ministerial briefing, we wish to share links to the official government advice in relation to COVID-19, as many of these have been updated in recent weeks and days.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice for Businesses and Workers
For many of you, we only hold an email address, and that's perfectly fine. However we'd love to know a little more about your business, so that we can send more relevant emails to you. e.g. Type of business, nearest town. All data is securely held, used only for Council business support purposes and not shared outside of Council.
