Small Businesses: Northern Ireland
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Northern Ireland Office
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of the Northern Ireland economy, spurring local innovation, creating jobs and driving prosperity. The Government is determined to ensure that NI SMEs are fully supported to grow, export and share in the benefits of wider UK economic growth in the months and years ahead.
That is why in last year’s Budget, the Government announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market and help Northern Ireland boost trade with Great Britain. This includes dedicated funding to deliver an enhanced ‘one stop shop’ advice service for SMEs, beyond what is currently available on GOV.UK. This will ensure such firms have all the support and guidance they need to trade across the UK and EU markets and benefit from Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access.
In addition, SMEs sit at the very heart of the £50 million Defence Growth Deal for Northern Ireland, with a primary focus on how we can improve their access to defence contracts by providing them with a skilled workforce and the tools they need to succeed.
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