4 minute read
SDC Trailers ‘Love the Lorry’ Winners
by 4SMNI
TOP PRIZE: Alistair Tennant, Walter Dandie & Sons
Congratulations to Alastair Tennant who is the winner of SDC Trailers ‘Love the Lorry’ photo competition.
Alastair shared this stunning photo of his Walter Dandie& Sons 45ft SDC Flatbed trailer transporting rounds bales with their R490 Scania and added that the trailers are “well-built and reliable” for their straw, fertiliser, and general haulage operations. The family agri-business run multiple Contract Farming Agreements in the West Lothian area, allowing customers to complete work in house, having full control of their workloads and timescales and ensuring operations are carried out in professional and cost-effective manner. SDC ran the photo competition to celebrate National Lorry Week and the vital services carried out by the transport and logistics sector. Paul Bratton, SDC’s Group President said, “We had some fantastic entries showcasing the many sectors in which road haulage plays a vital role, delivering everything from breeze blocks to Christmas socks with their SDC Trailers.” TOP PRIZE: SDC 1.50 Scale truck model, jacket and goodie bag: Alistair Tennant, Walter Dandie & Sons RUNNERS UP: Branded SDC Trailers jacket Andy Davies, A Davies Transport Adam Downey, Farralls Transport Jamie Spargo, D Steven & Son Claire Hegarty, Sean Hegarty & Sons Neil Porter, Robert Porter
Andy Davies, A Davies Transport Adam Downey, Farralls Transport
BREXIT, ONE YEAR ON: ASSESSING THE COSTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS
BY ANN MCGREGOR, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NORTHERN IRELAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
The last 12 months have brought substantive changes for exporters and a recent report published by NI Chamber and Invest NI has brought into sharp focus the serious issues they are facing with regards to supply chain difficulties and additional paper-work.
The ‘Brexit One Year On’ report found that since the end of the transition period, 84% of businesses in Northern Ireland are dealing with increased costs, with 89% reporting increases in the time it takes to transport goods to or from overseas. Nine in ten of the region’s exporting firms have experienced supply chain issues including rising shipping costs, delivery delays and problems with product availability. Two in three have experienced increased paperwork, while two in five have faced HGV driver shortages. Northern Ireland businesses have also reported higher shipping container costs compared to other UK based traders. This region is not alone in facing trade disruption from the new trading arrangements. In fact, many UK businesses are facing similar constraints, particularly in terms of transport delays. However, the findings suggest that the cost pressures that have been placed on local businesses are more acute, which potentially places them at a competitive disadvantage. According to the survey, most businesses (85%) have evaluated their supply chain risk and some 59% have changed supply routes. Almost one in four have brought some or all of their supply chain back to Northern Ireland suppliers.
Ann McGregor, NI Chamber and Steve Harper, Invest NI. Knowledge of Trade Agreements
It’s clear that there is a lack of awareness from UK businesses about the Northern Ireland Protocol – only 12% of businesses in the UK as a whole know it in detail. Almost all of the NI businesses who responded to this survey know some detail about it, while 50% of local firms say they know it in a lot of detail. This clearly highlights the need for education of GB businesses to support how they trade with their Northern Ireland counterparts. There is also a general need to raise awareness and engage much more proactively with businesses in Northern Ireland around all aspects of world trade agreements.
Growth plans
Most survey respondents said they had plans to grow their business, largely within the home market (UK) and the Republic of Ireland/ Rest of EU. Around half of exporters have concrete plans to grow in NI/GB markets (46%) and 42% in Republic of Ireland/GB markets. One in five also have concrete plans to grow sales in global non-EU markets. Despite the significant challenges, this report provides further illustration of the potentially huge benefits of dual-market access. The survey findings indicate that Northern Ireland companies have much more concrete plans to grow both domestically and internationally, when compared to the UK average. While 42% of NI businesses have plans to grow in EU markets, this figure is considerably lower for UK businesses in total, at 17%.
Opportunity
One of the biggest challenges to realising the potential benefits is uncertainty around the Northern Ireland Protocol – businesses cannot trade with uncertainty. Our exporters need clarity around the Protocol, less paperwork to trade and better access to skills. If policy makers can resolve these issues quickly and in partnership with business, Northern Ireland finds itself at the starting blocks of a unique opportunity at a time when we really need it. To read a full copy of the ‘Brexit One Year On’ report, please visit the NI Chamber website.
