£21m package to help North's apprentices and beleaguered businesses

A £21m (€24m) package to support businesses and apprentice tradesmen struggling in the economic downturn was announced by the Stormont Executive today.

Manufacturing and tradable services companies finding it hard to keep their heads above water will be eligible for grants of up to £450,000 (€513,000) to help them pay the salaries of key staff under a £15m (€17m) scheme run by Invest NI.