Confidence must be rebuilt if reopening is to lead to recovery There must be a review around self-isolation rules, because Northern Ireland cannot afford mass self-isolation in its workforce when staff shortages are already acute
Angela McGowan
AS the days and weeks go by, more and more of our businesses are re-opening. That s great news for them, their staff and Northern Ireland s economy. Many also have their sights fixed on securing a safe, phased return to the office in September.
Yet it would be a mistake to assume it s all going to be plain sailing ahead.
As case numbers rise, so do vaccinations too, yet understandably there will be plenty of nerves around reopening. Every business has a duty to safely support their staff and their customers through it. Question is, how do we secure a confident transition, to unleash the kind of economic recovery we need?
What NI cinemas will look like when they reopen at the end of May
Plans are in place to ensure staff and customers are kept safe
Updated
Cinemas are set to reopen on May 24
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It s fair to say that most of us have missed making a trip out to the cinema with friends or family.
Northern Ireland pilots security training plan for 16-25s
Pilot scheme in Northern Ireland aims to widen access to cyber security careers
Share this item with your network: By Published: 29 Apr 2021 12:15
The Northern Ireland Department for Economy (DfE) has enlisted the support of Immersive Labs and Capita to pilot an initiative aimed at providing specialist, enterprise-grade cyber security training for 16 to 25 year-olds who may not otherwise have been able to afford it.
The scheme will initially aim to upskill 1,000 people and prepare them for roles in areas such as incident response, security and vulnerability analysis, and security architecture in large organisation, using Immersive Labs’ online training platform, which gamifies security training with browser-based tasks covering multiple aspects of the cyber world.
Ports set out Freeports priorities ahead of application deadline
The British Ports Association has set out three priorities for the establishment of freeports for UK governments ahead of the deadline for bids closing in England this Friday.
The application window for ports in England to apply for freeport status closes on Friday 5 February. The BPA is aware of approximately 35 organisations or consortia that have expressed an interest in bidding, publicly or privately, including 27 in England.
The industry has welcomed the recognition of governments across the UK that ports have an important role to play in industrial policy, supporting innovation and prosperity in coastal communities and beyond. The BPA has been making the case for several years that ports are more than just gateways for passengers and freight but are and have the potential to be hubs of industrial activity, jobs and growth.