AQW 13393/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 26/01/2021
Answered On Date: 04/02/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy what specific technical or financial support her Department and InvestNI are providing to assist local businesses in adapting supply chains to avoid Brexit-related friction in trade.

Answer:

While my officials, alongside InvestNI and InterTradeIreland, continue to engage with businesses to provide support and to tailor packages to issues being experienced in real time, I have also made it clear that the UK Government must step up and provide support, financial and technical, to businesses impacted by the terms of the Protocol.

InvestNI continues to engage with local companies to assist in adapting supply chains providing a range of functions including:

 supply chain webinars and specialist advice clinics where businesses can book one to one appointments for advice and expertise in relation to supply chain management, disciplines and principles;

 a supply chain checklist to assist companies: (https://www.investni.com/support-for-business/operational-excellence-solutions); and

 support via the Collaborative Growth Programme to groups of SMEs (minimum of 4) who want to work together, and with stakeholders, to address barriers to growth and secure opportunities, including those in relation to supply chain development.

Invest NI is also in the process of launching a new Supply Chain Resilience and Development Framework (SCRDF) which will provide a framework for NI based businesses to build resilience into their supply chains.

InterTradeIreland continues to support businesses to adapt supply chains through its Brexit Advisory Service which offers:

 dedicated advice in planning for and mitigating the impact of Brexit through in person and online events,

 1:1 clinics on impacts and preparation.

 Brexit Vouchers which provide 100% financial support up to £2,000/€2,250 towards professional advice to help businesses to identify supply chain exposure and map trade flows. It can also be used to support other areas, for example customs training.

The InterTradeIreland Brexit 2020 online portal has developed, in association with Ulster University, an online course in supply chain management, review and improvement: (https://brexit2020.intertradeireland.com/trade-in-goods-2021/supply-chain/)

InterTradeIreland is also developing new supply chain supports, including the development of a supply chain resilience tool, which is currently in procurement phase.