Business

First minister opens trade association group's new offices

BUSINESS group the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) has opened new offices in east Belfast. The Upper Newtownards Road premises were officially opened by first minister Peter Robinson at an event attended by senior politicians, business leaders and retailers. He said the association had "firmly established itself as a passionate champion for independent retailers across Northern Ireland". NIIRTA chief executive Glyn Roberts said the new office "gives us more space and better facilities to help us to support our members with an improved service. "As a business organisation which is actively lobbying for a better deal for its members, our new office being such a short drive away from Stormont will be a big time saver. "At our launch, we outlined the need for every political party to give their full support to Small Business Saturday on December 7.

"We have also urged the executive to establish a Northern Ireland town team to tackle the growing challenge of Northern Ireland having the worst shop vacancy rate in the UK, with one in four shops empty." Alliance MP Naomi Long welcomed the opening which she said would be situated in an area with "a growing number of independent retailers".

? 'BETTER FACILITIES': NIIRTA chief executive Glyn Roberts