Peggy’s are using their iconic stickers to spread a very important message.
Read Time : 3 Minutes
KPMG to Develop Gov’s Economic Strategy
A gov statement said the KPMG strategy, ‘Our Big Picture’, will be constructed across five key phases.
Read Time : 1 Minutes
Chance to Showcase Manx Food and Drink
Last year’s food festival generated an estimated £432,000 for our economy.
Read Time : 2 Minutes
Get Ready to Open
The current number of active cases of Covid-19 on the island is 21.
Read Time : 8 Minutes
Do You Know Your Holiday Rights?
‘If an employer wants to ask staff to take annual leave at a particular time – even if this is during a period of lockdown – they are able to do so.’
Read Time : 5 Minutes
Advocate Training is ‘Insufficient’
The committee said that because of the relatively small size of the Manx Bar, ‘there is still a high risk of the perception of conflict of interest whenever practising advocates are deciding how to deal with matters relating to other practising advocates’.
Read Time : 5 Minutes
Gef’s Daily Roundup
A win for Cav in Turkey, a law firm moves into new digs and National Rail’s well intentioned gesture backfires.
Read Time : 7 Minutes
Myth Busting: EGaming
EGaming is a relatively new industry, but it’s one that’s taking over the island. It’s big business, with big opportunities- but how much do you really know about the industry? We chatted with our mates over at Amber Gaming to bust some of the myths surrounding one of the quickest growing industries.
Read Time : 1 Minutes
Estate Agents, Hardware Stores and Playgrounds Set to Reopen
The next phase of reopening begins Monday.
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Sixth Form Student Publishes First Novel
Mitzi Danielson-Kaslik, 17, is publishing her first novel. Palvine, is a young-adult novel, following an unnamed narrator as she becomes involved with the titular Sylvester Spence Palvine, who has been wrongly assumed to be the perpetrator of a murderer- resulting in his two-year period of hiding.
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Moorhouse Gonna Fight For Your Right To Party (After Lockdown)
Jason Moorhouse quizzes DfE on the Domestic Events Fund and Senior Race Bank Holiday.
Read Time : 1 Minutes
Business Support Scheme Pays Out
The Department for Enterprise says it paid out £2,293,000 to businesses through the Coronavirus Business Support Scheme on Wednesday. Opened on March 3, the scheme is designed to support businesses with their overheads during the March 2021 circuit break lockdown. The additional payment of £1,000 was paid to 2,293 businesses […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
eGaming Sector’s Substantial Growth
The Department for Enterprise is reporting a ‘substantial growth’ within the eGaming sector over the past year. The past 12 months have seen a huge increase to the number of applications for eGaming licences, with the Gambling Supervision Commission (‘GSC’) reporting the highest number of licences that the island has […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Improvement and Accessibility Schemes Extended
The Department for Enterprise is extending the support available under the Business Improvement Scheme and the Accessibility Grant. The additional support has been made available through the Economic Recovery Group, which is co-chaired by Treasury Minister Alfr Cannan and Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly, it aims to protect people and jobs, […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Extra Support for Businesses
Businesses that voluntarily closed on the infamous weekend before lockdown will be given £250 in compensation, the Treasury has announced. It is part of further support announced by the Treasury to support those businesses, individuals and self-employed persons who continue to be impacted by the most recent lockdown. The existing […]
Read Time : 8 Minutes
Gov Economic Recovery Programme Q&A
There was a lunchtime business briefing today featuring Treasury Minister, Alf Cannan and DFE minister, Laurence Skelly The session also featured, gov chat show host, James Davis in a flashy studio setting The Economic recovery programme was launched last Summer, as part of the IoM financial fight back 6 work […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
Tax Deadlines Extended
The Income Tax Division has announced the extension of various deadlines to ease concerns regarding their completion and submission: Individuals Where an individual has failed to submit their tax return for the year ended April 5 2020 by April 6 2021 a penalty of £200 would normally be issued. If […]
Read Time : 7 Minutes
IWD 2021: Meet The Quayside Queens
Imagine that first day out of lockdown (3.0). We’re firmly into spring. The sun is shining. And you’re meeting your mates for drinks outside a pub on the quay for a cheeky pint of a G&T. Life is good. Behind the bars of our favourite Okell’s Inns quayside pubs are […]
Read Time : 6 Minutes
Skelly – Our Brand Remains Strong
Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly has told Gef we have to keep our economy moving forward, particularly as we emerge from the pandemic. He said that every department has faced its challenges during the pandemic but that thanks to the island having a strong economy prior to the pandemic, we have […]
Read Time : 6 Minutes
IWD 2021: Meet The Pioneering Women In Law
Sally Bolton – director and advocate Law, as a profession, has traditionally been seen as a man’s world, a private old boys’ club closed to women. However, this is an increasingly outdated view and there are firms on the Isle of Man that allow women to thrive both professionally and […]
Read Time : 6 Minutes
IWD 2021: Celebrating IOM’s Women of Colour
March 8th 2021 is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is also a day to raise awareness about women’s equality and push for accelerated gender parity. We have decided to take today as an opportunity to acknowledge and pay […]
Read Time : 4 Minutes
Travel Agents Respond to Exit Strategy
Manx travel agents and tour operators have welcomed the potential opening of the borders in September, with hopes still alive for a late summer escape or making getaway plans for 2022. The gov’s exit strategy, which was published on Tuesday, points towards a full opening of our borders by September. […]
Read Time : 5 Minutes
IWD 2021: Meet Joanna Bodell, Manx-made MD
Joanna Bodell is a Manx-made MD. Since 2019, she has been the Managing Director of ZEDRA, an international Global Expansion, Active Wealth and Funds services provider. This isn’t a role simply handed to her: at 18, after leaving college, she entered the world of assurance and corporate services in a […]
Read Time : 4 Minutes
IWD 2021: Meet Sam Kneen the Vaccine Queen
The last year has been a stressful time, as life has been put on hold for many of us due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There is, however, a light at the end of the tunnel: the Covid-19 vaccine programme began on the island this year, bringing hope of return to […]
Read Time : 1 Minutes
Construction Sector Closed
The Council of Ministers has met this morning to review the ongoing response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Following discussions, CoMin has taken the decision that the island’s construction sector must stop work for an initial period of two weeks from the end of the day today (Friday 5 March). This […]
Read Time : 1 Minutes
5% Hospitality VAT Rate to Stay Until September
In line with the UK budget announcement today the temporary reduced rate of 5% VAT on hospitality services and admissions to certain attractions, which was due to end on 31 March, will remain in place until 30 September 2021. From 1 October 2021 the VAT rate on those services will […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Support For Businesses, Self Employed And Workers
Treasury has unveiled its latest round of Covid support ahead of the island’s second lockdown this year. The Salary Support Scheme will again be opened to all of those businesses that were able to claim during the original period of lock down from the March 2 to July 19 2020. […]
Read Time : 5 Minutes
ALF’S STATEMENT TO KEYS
ALF: WE DIDN’T WANT TO BE IN THIS SITUATION, SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE IF BUSINESSES CAN OPEN DURING THIS LOCKDOWN, THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE UNLESS THEY CAN PROVE DOWNTURN IF YOU HAD SUPPORT IN JAN, THEN YOU WILL BE FAST TRACKED APPS FOR BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME WILL OPEN FROM 5PM WEDNESDAY […]
Read Time : 5 Minutes
‘Two Fifths of F*** All’
Business owners have criticised the gov for leaving them facing an impossible choice over the weekend with hospitality businesses being advised, but not ordered to close. Those who chose to close will not receive any extra support, despite being left with little real choice after the government advised residents to […]
Read Time : 4 Minutes
Meet The Alpaca Who’s Helping Manx Kids Understand Anxiety
A new picture book written by a Manx mental health professional is reassuring children that it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious at times. ‘Arlen the Anxious Alpaca’ follows the story of a shy, young alpaca who experiences feelings of terror when humans come to visit his farm. The brightly-coloured book, […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
We Didn’t Flex Mussels with Brussels
Despite reports in some sections of the UK media that the Isle of Man has gone ‘rogue’ over allowing EU vessels to fish in Manx waters, the gov says this is simply not true. The London Economic said the Isle of Man had ‘moved to jettison itself from the UK’s […]
Read Time : 1 Minutes
Java Republic customers asked to self isolate.
As a precaution, customers who were at Java Express Coffee Shop & Noodle Bar on Tuesday 16 February between 12:30pm and 1:30pm are being asked to immediately self-isolate, along with others in their household, and contact the COVID-111 Service. The shop was identified as a low risk location for COVID-19 […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Whizz Wizard, A Truly Manx Invention
The Peel P50, the bimetal thermostat, the RNLI and the Panama Canal, all of which were dreamed up either by the Manx or on the Isle of Man. Now a father from Union Mills has added to our island’s great history of invention and overcoming problems. Dave Lowe, a former […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
We Must Support Small Businesses
A backbench MHK has called for more support for self employed and small business owners in her response to the 2021/22 Budget. Douglas South MHK Claire Christian said the Budget is ‘essentially a holding budget, one that will hopefully be the springboard for the next administration, as we transcend out […]
Read Time : 42 Minutes
Cannan’s Budget Speech in Full
Mr President, In February of last year I presented what i termed a budget of focus to grow the economy, deliver essential capital projects, support hard-working families and improve the lives of vulnerable members of our community. The budget was one of quiet optimism based on a five year fiscal […]
Read Time : 4 Minutes
The Cost Of The Pandemic
The Budget has delivered an opportunity to the gov to provide an update as to the cost of the pandemic and how much cash is being spent on the recovery plans. Following on the theme from last autumn’s Budget update, Alf Cannan says it is estimated that Covid has had […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
Make Strand Street Great Again
With Strand Street looking a tad sparse these days thanks to Arcadia going bust, we asked you what you’d like to see on our high street. More local shops A LOT of you were big on supporting local. To aide this, many of you wanted to see reduced rates and […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Two Banking Licences Granted in 18 Months
Two new banking licences have been granted in the last 18 months, after not one was approved in the previous 20 years, the Enterprise Minister has said. Laurence Skelly was responding to questions in Keys after Douglas South MHK Clare Christian was granted leave to ask an urgent question after […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Stores Will Not Reopen
Three Douglas stores will not be reopening after their parent companies were bought by online retailer Boohoo. Burton, Dorothy Perkins and Wallis were all part of the failed retail group Arcadia that collapsed into administration last year. It was announced on Monday morning that Boohoo had agreed a £25.2m deal […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
More Jobs at Risk as Arcadia Falls
With the news that Burtons, Dorothy Perkins and Wallis have been snapped up by online retailer Boohoo, more jobs are sadly at risk in the island’s capital. While Manx businesses and stores are doing quite well compared to our UK neighbours, the larger brands and chain stores are clearly struggling […]
Read Time : 5 Minutes
Positive Press Sees Increase in People Seeking Move
Since the island exited our circuit break lockdown, the Isle of Man has been featured heavily in the media as our way of life and corona free status has been lauded by just about every major news organisation in Britain. While it is good to see the island presented as […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
Cannan Responds to Bank Cuts
Treasury Minister Alf Cannan has responded to the mass wave of redundancies announced at Lloyds this morning, which will see up to 25% of their staff on the Isle of Man being made redundant. While these redundancies affect c120 of its c400 employees on the island, Lloyds Bank International says […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
Bank Cuts up to 25% of Staff
Lloyds International is cutting up to 25% of its staff in the Isle of Man. While these redundancies affect c120 of its c400 employees on the island, Lloyds Bank International says it remains fully committed to the island. A spokesman said: ‘As customers increasingly use the online or mobile channels, […]
Read Time : 4 Minutes
Foraging For Answers
The owner of Foraging Vintners has said that the gov’s response to the most recent lockdown was a mixed bag. MaryBeth Coll said that the decision to go into lockdown at the start of January was a positive one that was made quickly, but that we may have got ‘complacent’ […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
Post Office to Stay Open
Isle of Man Post Office has some good news for its customers in Port St Mary. After reaching agreement with the sub postmaster Jeff Calvert to extend the existing contract for an additional period, all services will be maintained until at least July of this year. The sub postmaster of […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
Trainee Advocate’s Amazing Achievements
Alex Gelling (centre) with senior advocate Liz Parkes and director Sally Bolton A trainee advocate at Corlett Bolton & Co received the highest award presented to trainee advocates for outstanding results. Alex Gelling not only passed all four of her Manx Bar exams with flying colours but received the First […]
Read Time : 4 Minutes
Manx Engineering’s Global Value
Engineering and manufacturing businesses based in the Isle of Man have continued to prove their significance on a global scale as they have stepped up to support the local and international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Turning their expertise to designing and producing essential medical equipment to help combat the […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Covid Support Extended
Covid financial support measures MERA and the Salary Support Scheme have both been extended to assist those who are unable to return immediately to work following the coronavirus circuit breaker lockdown. People who have been able to return to work over the weekend, or who will be returning to work […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Fishing Industry Falling Through The Net
Alex Ironside’s fishing boat in Peel A Manx fisherman has told Gef of his concerns for the industry as it slips through the gaps of gov support. Alex Ironside, based in Peel, said that the drop in sales as a result of the global pandemic has led to a slump […]
Read Time : 5 Minutes
Can Employers Insist Staff Have The Jab?
The Manx Industrial Relations Service is an independent, gov funded organisation whose job is to promote good industrial relations on the Isle of Man, they have shared this article with us about your rights as an employee and how they may be impacted by the vaccine rollout. Last week we […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
Changes Made to Business Support
Changes have been made to the Circuit Break Lockdown Coronavirus Business Support Scheme to provide support to more businesses and the self-employed. The revised scheme provides eligible businesses and self-employed persons with a £1,500 grant towards business overheads where they have been adversely affected by the circuit break lockdown measures. […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Covid support for businesses and self-employed
The Coronavirus Business Support Scheme (‘CBSS’) is to be reopened to a broad range of sectors and will provide a fixed payment of £1,500 for eligible applicants. The scheme is open to qualifying businesses and self-employed people who can evidence that they have eligible ongoing business overheads of at least […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
Go Wax Go
Hannah Simpson Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. When Hannah Simspon, a local beauty therapist, found warm chewing-gum-like wax covering, and thus ruining, her carseat, handbag and footwell after breaking suddenly while transporting warm wax between salons, she knew she needed a piece of equipment to help the […]