Responding to assurances made from the UK Treasury over the weekend, relating to funding for structural and investment projects, FSB Policy Chair for Northern Ireland, Wilfred Mitchell commented:

“FSB welcomes the UK Government’s assurances on the continuance of funding levels as we move towards exiting the EU. This should allow small businesses, particularly agri-businesses on which the Northern Ireland economy relies so significantly, to continue to plan and invest.

“EU funding has helped a number of significant projects in Northern Ireland including improving transport links between Belfast and Dublin and supporting a large number of community groups working to rebuild a more stable society. Enabling the continuation of this work will increase business confidence and help to rebalance and grow the local economy.

“FSB will be watching progress carefully to ascertain what the finer detail will mean for the day-to-day running of smaller businesses who have relied heavily on EU funding in the past.”