Spend Local
Newton Emerson: Brandon Lewis protocol comments more cock-up than conspiracy
Secretary of state Brandon Lewis insists his comments were misrepresented after he gave ITV’s Robert Peston an interview the night before the election.
Spend Local did not stop decline of NI retail sector in final quarter of 2021
A £136.6 million cash injection from Stormont was not enough to stop the north’s retail sector declining in the final quarter of 2021, a new official report suggests.
External organisation to evaluate effectiveness of £100 Spend Local scheme
AN external organization is to be commissioned to evaluate whether the £100 Spend Local card scheme was value for money.
Hundreds of Invest NI staff re-deployed due to Spend Local backlog
HUNDREDS of staff at Invest NI were diverted from their normal daily work in order to process tens of thousands of Spend Local applications, it can be revealed.
Economy department apologises after businesswoman receives 4,500 calls in Spend Local error
THE Department for the Economy has apologised to a Co Down businesswoman after she received around 4,500 calls in four days because her business number was accidentally emailed to Spend Local participants.
Public urged to buy Christmas gifts in support of north’s arts scene
THE Arts Council of Northern Ireland has asked people stuck for gift ideas or who haven’t used their £100 Spend Local card yet, to consider supporting their local arts scene this Christmas.
Department for the Economy to surrender millions from Covid recovery fund
THE Department for the Economy (DfE) is to surrender £41 million in unspent funds to the executive, including £21m specifically allocated for the post Covid-19 recovery effort.
Spend Local cards produced immediate footfall bounce in October - retail body
THE £100 Spend Local card scheme made an immediate and tangible difference for the north’s high street during October, a retail body has claimed.
One million still waiting on £100 Spend Local card
AROUND one million people in Northern Ireland are still waiting on a £100 Spend Local card, the Department for the Economy (DfE) has said.