Economy Minister Conor Murphy has announced the SME Productivity Booster, a new £350,000 initiative aimed at increasing productivity and skills in small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). The SME Productivity Booster aims to equip more than 70 businesses across the north with the skills and insights they need to boost their productivity and, in turn, their competitiveness and prospects for growth. Mel Higgins, Principal and CEO of Northern Regional College and chair of the Further Education Principals’ Group, says, “As Chair of the Further Education Principals’ Group, I am pleased to see the launch of this initiative which will further strengthen ties between the further education sector and local employers whilst increasing productivity levels across the region.