Update your subscriptions for Grant Thornton publications and events.
-
Corporate Finance and Deal Advisory
We offer a dedicated team of experienced individuals with a focus on successfully executing transactions for corporates and financial institutions. We offer an integrated approach, with our corporate finance specialists working seamlessly with tax and other specialists to ensure that every angle is covered.
-
Digital Risk
Grant Thornton offers solutions to the digital risk issues you are sure to face. Our skilled and experienced security team can helping by advising and consulting, giving you peace of mind, clear value for money and an enhanced ability to react to attacks.
-
Technology Consulting
Motivating and assisting our clients to pursue, maintain and secure the benefits of digital solutions is at the core of our Digital Transformation teams' agenda and goals. We work with business leaders to deliver efficient digital strategies and operating models that provide new or enhanced capabilities.
-
Economic Advisory
Our all-island Economics Advisory team combines expertise in economics and business with a wealth of experience across the public and private sectors.
-
Forensic Accounting
We have a different way of doing business by delivering real insight through a combination of technical rigour, commercial experience and intuitive judgment. We take pride in delivering responsive and tailored solutions to all our clients, capitalising on the wealth of experience housed within our Belfast and wider Forensics team
-
People and Change Consulting
The Grant Thornton People & Change Consulting practice works with clients on these issues as well as on all aspects of how they attract, retain, engage develop, deploy and lead their people.
-
Restructuring
We work with a wide variety of clients and stakeholders such as high street banks, private equity funds, directors, government agencies and creditors to implement solutions which provide the best possible outcomes.
-
Corporate and International Tax
Northern Ireland businesses face further challenges as they operate in the only part of the UK that has a land border with a country offering a lower tax rate.
-
Employer Solutions
Our team specialises in remuneration and incentive planning and works closely with employers, shareholders and employees to ensure that business strategies are aligned and goals achieved in the most tax efficient, cost-effective manner.
-
Entrepreneur and Private Client Taxes
Our team of experienced advisors are on hand to guide you through any decision or transaction ranging from the establishment of new business ventures, to realising value on exit, to succession planning and providing for loved ones.
-
Global Mobility Services
Grant Thornton Ireland offer a different approach to managing global mobility. We have brought together specialists from our tax, global payroll, people and change and financial accounting teams across Ireland and Northern Ireland, while drawing on the knowledge and insights of our global network of over 143 offices of mobility professionals to provide you with a holistic approach to managing global mobility.
-
Outsourced Payroll
Our outsourced service provides valued service to over 150 separate PAYE schemes. These ranging from 1 to 1000 employees, working for micro, SME and global employers. The service is supported by the integrated network of tax and global mobility teams and the wider Grant Thornton network delivering a seamless service. Experienced staff deliver a personal service built around your business needs.
-
Tax Disputes and Investigations
Our Tax Disputes and Investigation team is made up of tax experts and former HMRC investigators who have years of experience in dealing with a variety of tax investigations. Our expertise and insight can guide you through all interactions, keeping your cost at a minimum while allowing you to continue with the day to day running of your business.
-
VAT and Indirect Taxes
At Grant Thornton (NI) LLP, our team helps Northern Ireland businesses manage their UK and global indirect tax risks which, as transactional taxes, can quickly become big liabilities.
![insight featured image](/globalassets/1.-member-firms/northern-ireland/insights/2024/featured-banners/skills-development-takes-centre-stage-1000x500.jpg)
Highlighting that skills are the backbone to creating good jobs, increased productivity, regional balance and in achieving Net Zero, his plans include a new ‘Skill Up’ programme and an expansion of the apprenticeship system. A timely update, as students are set to receive their GCSE and A-Level results this month and select a path which will ultimately determine their ‘skills set’.
Despite the good news story of a strong jobs market and low unemployment rate across the Northern Ireland economy, attention has turned to skills and the skills gap challenge faced by many sectors and employers across the region.
Skills are generally broken down into three categories:
- Basic skills – those which everyone needs, including literacy, numerical and basic digital skills.
- Essential skills – those which are transferable and applicable to almost any job, such as communication and teamwork.
- Technical skills – those which are specific to a sector or role and are not easily transferred.
But how important are skills to the Northern Ireland economy? Arguably, there is nothing more important for our economic success.
For an economy to thrive, it needs a sufficiently skilled workforce across all three of the above categories. It also needs a high level of productivity – something Northern Ireland has struggled with, consistently falling behind that of its UK counterparts. Education and skills development are key drivers of productivity. Increased well-being also contributes to local economic development, with skills significantly correlated with life outcomes.
However, there are challenges to achieving a sufficiently skilled workforce. Given the rate of acceleration of new technologies, sustainability targets, an ageing population, and the growing emphasis on placemaking, developing the skills pipeline and closing the skills gap will not be an easy task.
For employers specifically, it can be a struggle to attract the right people with the skill sets required. The 2024 Business Barometer report published by Open University in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, has found that nearly a half (44%) of organisations in Northern Ireland are still reporting worrying skills shortages.
In recognition of the skills imbalance and the challenges employers face, the IOD in partnership with Grant Thornton, MCS and SONI, established a Skills and Workplace Forum to identify key skills issues. To promote prosperity and flexibility to respond future opportunities, the report made 5 recommendations:
- Reduce economic inactivity;
- Greater engagement with schools;
- Improve access and widen participation;
- Make childcare work for everyone;
- Change access to the apprenticeship levy.
As we look towards the future of the Northern Ireland economy, it is imperative that skills shortages remain to the fore. To make progress in closing the skills gap, there must be a genuine partnership between business, government, education, and training providers.
All parties must play a key role in stimulating the local skills system through strong collaboration and engagement to work towards a better future and, as the IOD’s Skills Workforce Forum report put it, ‘realise the full potential of our workforce, which is our greatest asset’.