In a special piece of work commissioned by the Federation of Small Businesses NI, businesses both here and in GB have said the Windsor Framework is “impossible to navigate”.

Over the course of the summer, retailers experienced a variety of issues with paperwork required by the Windsor Framework, with many having their supplies stopped at the ports, pallets returned or supplies halted completely meaning they were unable to provide items to their customers.

The Windsor Framework Realities report is the first of its kind examining how the Windsor Framework is working on both sides of the Irish Sea. Almost 800 UK-wide businesses responded to the survey from across a variety of sectors including retail and wholesale, manufacturing and logistics, with over half of respondents (58%) who trade GB and NI stating they have experienced moderate or significant difficulties operating across the UK Internal Market.

Of those who move goods or provide services between NI and GB, 34% have halted trade with the other region entirely rather than contend with the Windsor Framework’s demanding requirements.

This pattern is most pronounced for GB firms cutting off NI customers (32% halted from GB to NI and 2% from NI to GB), a trend that could accelerate if compliance costs remain high.

Ongoing regulatory changes have undermined business planning, with the survey showing that of those affected by the Windsor Framework, 56% are “not confident” or only “slightly confident” in shaping their business strategy for the next 12 months, while only a minority (4%) felt completely confident.

As Head of FSB NI, Roger Pollen told NR, there are at least three cost layers to this.

“When a specific shipment goes wrong and has to be returned and brought back again, there is the cost in that. There could be the loss of the product and there is also the opportunity loss – if you do not have the product you are wanting to sell, there is that loss,” said Roger.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ROGER POLLEN IN THE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER, COMING SOON

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Marking its most successful year since expanding its operations on the region, Bakers Basco, the membership scheme formed by the UK’s leading plant bakers, recovered 4092 items.

Over the course of 2025, Bakers Basco’s investigations team recovered 2,414 Omega baskets and 1,678 dollies – totalling 4,092 items compared with 2,900 in 2024 – as part of a series of targeted recovery and enforcement efforts. The team also investigated 48 separate leads, resulting in multiple unsecure equipment collections and numerous charges issued to businesses misusing bakery assets.

Among the more notable findings, the team saved 50 Omega dollies from being crushed in a compactor at a retail store in Belfast, discovered Omega dollies being used to prop a trailer in place, and identified a growing trend of equipment being sold online by businesses either closing down or attempting to make quick profits. Recent listings were traced to Newtownabbey and County Antrim, where significant quantities of Omega equipment were being advertised for sale.

“This year’s results show real progress in our efforts to protect and recover industry equipment – but they also highlight just how widespread the misuse still is,” said Stacey Brown, National Investigations Manager at Bakers Basco.

“Recovering over 4,000 pieces of equipment in Northern Ireland alone is a huge achievement. However, every misused dolly or basket has a knock-on effect across the supply chain, disrupting deliveries, increasing costs and undermining the circular economy we’re working so hard to maintain.”

Bakers Basco continues to collaborate closely with Worthingtons Law to pursue cases of persistent misuse, with two legal cases now settled in Northern Ireland this year. Alongside its enforcement work, the team recently completed a driver briefing at the Hovis site in Belfast to help educate logistics partners on identifying and reporting cases of misuse before they escalate.

Looking ahead, the organisation plans to strengthen its engagement with retailers and transport partners to tackle misuse at source and to continue raising awareness about the impact of equipment loss on the wider bakery sector.

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The NR Awards gala dinner was held on Friday 17^th October at the Crowne Plaza Belfast, with Marie Curie the chosen charity partner for the 2025 event.

Hundreds of guests enjoyed the occasion, the biggest night in the industry calendar, with Donna Traynor ensuring the proceedings all with went smoothly as she returned to host the annual awards event.

A vitally important charity, Marie Curie’s work has touched the lives of many people right across Northern Ireland, with the nurses and staff at the hospice in Belfast providing essential care and support for people living with a terminal illness and those close to them, as well as offering a range of community and outpatient services and holistic family support.

Through their hospice care at home, Marie Curie’s nurses, healthcare assistants and other healthcare professionals bring nursing, medical and emotional help to people in their own homes. They offer support to the people looking after patients too, with reassurance and practical information available and some respite time to allow them to have a break.

Following a night which was enjoyed by all, a fantastic total of £3025 was raised for Marie Curie, with Marie Harris, Community Fundraiser at the charity subsequently presented with a cheque by Bill Penton, MD of Penton Media Group.

“I am thrilled to donate this significant sum to this Northern Ireland charity, enabling them to support those affected and their families,” said Bill.

“We are thankful to all those who contributed at the gala awards night to this total and are already looking forward to next year’s event.”

Marie Harris, Community Fundraiser for Marie Curie NI said: “Thanks to the generous support of everyone at the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, your donations will help bring Marie Curie’s end of life care and support to more people across Northern Ireland.

“Every pound raised makes a huge difference in helping the charity to provide expert nursing care as well as emotional and practical support to people living with a terminal illness and their families.”

The post Thousands raised for charity at 2025 NR Awards night first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

John O’Dowd set out plans to accelerate the strategic review of rates and progress changes in the business rates system, following the Review process over the summer.

It is now his ambition to progress enhanced support for small businesses, tackle the high level of vacancies in towns and city centres, support businesses starting out and help accelerate business growth.

“Less than a year ago, my Department committed to reviewing all rates support to deliver positive and progressive change to the rating system,” said the Minister.

“I can announce that every single rates support will have been reviewed by the end of the 2027-2028 rating year.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I want to see extra help going to those businesses that provide vital employment supporting workers, families, and communities.

“The Small Business Rate Relief currently provides vital support for operating costs for around 30,000 small businesses,” added the Minister.

“The support delivered under that scheme has, however, remained unchanged since 2012. I want to create a fair environment for all businesses and plan to consult before the new year, giving businesses the chance to share final views before changes are put to Ministerial colleagues on enhancements to the support.”

Mr O’Dowd added that what was clear from the Review was the need to challenge the blight of vacant properties in villages, towns and city centres across Northern Ireland.

“It is my view work now needs to begin to elevate Non-Domestic Vacant Rating liability from 50% to 75% and then to 100%,” he said.

“I have therefore instructed my officials to take forward the policy work required to implement these changes which have the potential to unlock a further £20 million of revenue between central and local government.

“We all know our finances are under significant pressure, which is why I aim to deliver savings in parts of the rating system and redirect resources to provide additional support to those businesses that need it most.”

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The calls come during Respect for Shopworkers Week, which began on Monday 10^th November, with PSNI officers set to conduct planned operations and engage with local businesses across the week.

They will also conduct high visibility patrols across town and city centres across Northern Ireland.

The action comes as retail trade union, Usdaw launched shocking statistics from its annual survey with unacceptable levels of verbal abuse, threats and assaults against retail staff.

Interim results from over 3000 retail staff across the UK show that in the last 12 months 71% have experienced verbal abuse; 48% were threatened by a customer and 9% were assaulted.

Northern Irish voices from the frontline shared their experience of abuse with the survey, with countless stories of abuse told:

• “Abuse on doorstep as a delivery driver”.
• “Because we didn’t have an item in stock, I was deemed f**king useless”.
• “Customer hit me from behind while I was reaching shelves”.
• “Refused to serve as they had no ID, they then verbally abused me”.
• “Was told I should have been aborted”.
• “Threatening language from youths at night time”.
• “Someone high on drugs, threatened to end my life”.

Usdaw general secretary, Joanne Thomas said these experiences from Northern Irish retail workers make very difficult reading.

“Retail workers deserve far more respect than they receive. This year’s UK-wide annual survey interim results show a welcome, but slight, downturn in the level of incidents retail workers are experiencing while doing their jobs,” she said.

“However, it remains shocking that nearly three-quarters of those working in retail are regularly facing abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.

“Violence and abuse are not an acceptable part of the job and much more needs to be done to protect retail workers. We welcome that the Northern Ireland Executive has agreed to introduce a new offence of assaulting a person providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing services to the public. Usdaw and NIRC made representations on this matter and we look forward to continuing to engage with the Executive as this legislation passes through Stormont.”

As part of the proactive approach by the PSNI, officers will be holding Safer Business Action Days (SaBA) to deliver focused operations with patrols, a range of crime prevention activity and the targeted intervention of offenders.

“This year, we will be focusing on encouraging businesses to report criminal activity to police, to help tackle some of our most prolific offenders,” said Superintendent Allister Hagan.

“We are aware that our business community do not always contact police when dealing with this type of offence, but through increased engagement and crime prevention initiatives; we hope this will provide reassurance that our officers are there to help.

“Through our local Neighbourhood policing officers, we want retailers and businesses to engage with police to help us target our approach to reducing business crime. Under reporting is an issue that police are aware of, but we want all members of our local communities to come forward if they have been a victim of crime or see something suspicious.

“This information is vital in apprehending offenders, focusing resources and ultimately reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

“We have an extremely diverse range of businesses for shoppers visiting our town and cities. This is one of the key elements that makes Northern Ireland a great place to work, live and socialise. We hope that further businesses will see the potential of making towns and cities across Northern Ireland their home.

“Our towns and cities have some of the lowest crime rates in the UK. We want retailers, businesses and the local community to feel safe when shopping and doing business across Northern Ireland. Working closely with our key stakeholders and partner agencies, we will continue to make towns and cities desirable and prosperous where business crime is not tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”

The interim results of Usdaw’s 2025 survey are based on 3271 responses from retail workers – the final results of the survey will be published in March 2026.

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