Running a business in Ireland can be tough, but help is available. In this section you will find information on a range of supports to help you save money, work smarter and keep up with the competition. Whether you need a hand with a problem today, a way to manage your money better, or support to make your business even stronger, here you can find helpful resources to get started.
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Featured productivity supports
Making your business more productive is about finding smart ways to get more done in less time and with less resources.
Not sure where to start? Here are some of the most popular supports for creating a more productive business.
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13 supports based on your selections
LeanPlus (Údarás)
Apply Lean practices to improve operational effectiveness
In an ever-evolving world, businesses must always be ready for change. LeanPlus is an in-depth programme that helps you put new processes in place to reduce costs and make your business more efficient and competitive.
Businesses that want to put new processes in place to improve company productivity and reduce inefficiency
You may be eligible if:
- You are an existing Údarás na Gaeltachta client
- You are a potential Údarás na Gaeltachta client operating a small to medium business
- You have already completed LeanStart
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
LeanStart - Udaras
An introduction to Lean Thinking
LeanStart is an introductory, short-focused training programme that introduces your company to Lean thinking. Lean thinking is a set of business principles that can help staff learn new ways of working and identify inefficient processes that do not add value to a business.
Businesses looking to make practical improvements in their business to deliver better quality faster and without waste.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an existing Údarás na Gaeltachta client
- You are a potential Údarás na Gaeltachta client operating a small to medium business
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
EEN: Innovation Company Innovation Capability Analysis Tool
Unlocking Innovation: Evaluating Your Company's Journey and Strategic Growth Areas
Assessing a company's innovation capacity involves evaluating its current position on the innovation journey and identifying strategies to address specific areas within the business that need improvement.
- All organizations engaged in their innovation journey and in need of further assistance.
Skillnet Innovation Exchange
Join an ecosystem of innovative companies to fast-track business solutions
Skillnet Innovation Exchange is a skills marketplace that connects large businesses facing innovation challenges to ambitious Irish SMEs with the talent that can fast-track solutions.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a scaling technology SME company that need an instant sales pipeline as well as access to key decision makers, market intelligence and the capability to sell to large corporates.
- You are a large company looking for access to Ireland’s most talented solutions providers and to collaborations that accelerate digital transformation.
Lean for Business
Make your small business more efficient with Lean principles
With this support, find out how Lean principles can transform your business by helping your staff find new ways of working and identifying inefficient practices to increase productivity.
Businesses that want to improve their performance, reduce their costs and be more competitive.
You might be eligible if:
- You are a small to medium business
- You employ up to 50 people
- You have been operating for at least 6 months
- You have generated revenues of at least €30k
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
HR & OD Community of Practice
Nurturing HR & OD excellence for scalable business growth.
The HR & OD CoP is a collaborative platform bringing together HR and OD leaders to share knowledge, address challenges, and drive innovation. Through interactive roundtables and peer learning groups, we foster a dynamic community focused on exploring and overcoming HR and OD challenges, exchanging best practices, and uncovering emerging trends and solutions.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an Enterprise Ireland client company.
- Targeted towards HR Managers, HR Directors, Chief People Officers, who are responsible for leading the people function within their business
- Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Operational Excellence
Help to improve efficiency and competitiveness
Your business must be able to respond, adapt and improve in response to constant changes in customer needs, suppliers, and your own day-to-day operations. This support helps you to invest in a major transformation project which could help your business be more competitive on an international level.
Businesses redesigning their business to make it more efficient and competitive.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an existing Enterprise Ireland (EI) client
- You are a potential EI client operating a small to medium business
- Have been trading for at least 5 years, with revenues of at least €500,000
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Cyber Security Review Grant
Take the first or next step to improving your company’s cyber security in a fluid world
Enterprise Ireland, in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre, offers the Cyber Security Review. This initiative provides companies like yours access to cyber security experts who will conduct an independent review of your company’s cyber security status, identify vulnerabilities, and develop a clear roadmap for you to enhance your security measures.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an existing Enterprise Ireland (EI) client
CMS (Commercial Marketing Strategy)
Develop your own market-ready strategies to grow your business
The Bord Bia Commercial Marketing Strategy helps food and drink businesses create marketing plans–with marketing tools and resources–for brand visibility and growth.
Food or drink businesses that need support building their strategy for growth, at home or in export markets.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a Bord Bia client
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
LeanPlus
Apply Lean practices to improve operational effectiveness
In an ever-evolving world, businesses must always be ready for change. LeanPlus is an in-depth programme that helps you put new processes in place to reduce costs and make your business more efficient and competitive.
Businesses that want to put new processes in place to improve company productivity and reduce inefficiency.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an existing Enterprise Ireland (EI) client
- You are a potential EI client operating a small to medium business
- You have already completed LeanStart
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Featured cashflow supports
Maintain a healthy cash flow to keep your business running smoothly.
From budgeting advice to funding to tide you over, here are some of the most popular supports that can provide financial help to keep your business running.
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48 supports based on your selections
Irish Feature Film Development
Development funding for Live Action or Animated feature films
Feature Film Development Loans enable Irish producers to commission screenplays with a view to developing feature films to production stage.
- Irish producers with a feature film project they wish to develop, with clear access to the necessary rights
First Stage Documentary Development
First Stage Documentary Development Funding is for feature film documentary projects
First Stage Documentary Development Funding is for feature film documentary projects intended for festival and/or cinematic release and documentary series intended for international broadcast.
- Irish producers with a documentary feature film or documentary series they wish to develop
Fiction: Creative Co-Production
Funding for live-action or animated feature films originating outside Ireland in which an Irish producer (ROI) is involved as a creative collaborator
- This funding is for live-action or animated feature films (live-action or animated TV projects are not eligible) originating outside Ireland in which an Irish producer (ROI) is involved as a creative collaborator, not merely a service producer and provider of a minority of the finance needed.
- The film must be structured as an official co-production with third party funding from the leading territory in place and must employ key Irish talent.
- Priority will be given to projects that utilise Ireland as a film location, depict Ireland for Ireland, and where a number of key Irish HOD's and/or Irish cast are employed.
- Reciprocity from funding agencies in other jurisdictions will be sought in appropriate circumstances.
- Irish producers with a live-action or animated feature film structured as an official co-production with third party funding from the leading territory in place
Screenplay Development (Established Talent)
Development funding is provided by Screen Ireland for the making of films predominantly in English or Irish, or a combination of the two
Screenplay Development Loans support experienced writers/directors to write a live action or animated feature film from initial idea stage in the form of treatments or early script draft to a viable first draft screenplay.
- Experienced Irish talent with at least one produced fiction feature film credit as a writer
Fiction: Irish Production
This funding is for feature films originated and creatively led by Irish talent including directors, writers, and producers
Applications will generally express Irish culture in some way and the practical management must be primarily in Irish hands. This programme is open to live-action feature films or animated feature films.
- Teams of Irish Producer(s), Writer(s) and Director(s) with a live-action or animated feature film they wish to produce
Television Drama Development
This scheme aims to provide opportunities for Irish talent to create original drama content
This funding enables Irish producers with a track record in TV Drama production to originate live action TV drama projects.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an Irish producer with a television drama project you wish to develop, clear access to the necessary rights in any material that is to be adapted for the screen, and an agreement (at least in principle) with the screenwriter you wish to commission
Documentary Production: TV Series
This funding is for documentary series originated and creatively led by Irish talent - directors, producers and writers
The emphasis is on documentary series with high production values which are capable of reaching an international audience and have already received market backing in this regard.
You may be eligible if:
- You are in a team of Irish producer(s), writer(s), and director(s) (if applicable)
Digital Discovery
Develop a digital plan and introduce new technologies
To be competitive in today’s market, businesses need to understand what digital technology can offer. This grant incentivises and supports companies to introduce new digital technologies and solutions into their operations. Leading to greater efficiency, improved customer experiences, better decision-making, and an enhanced ability to bring better and more diverse products to market
Companies looking to introduce new digital technologies to their business to boost efficiency, improve services and create a better customer experience.
You may be eligible if:
You are an Údarás Na Gaeltachta client
- You are an Irish owned business operating in the manufacturing/internationally traded services sectors employing 10 or more.
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Animation: Television
This funding is for animated TV series originated and creatively led by Irish talents - directors, writers, producers, animators
Funding under this programme is generally provided by Screen Ireland for the making of projects predominantly in English or Irish, or a combination of the two.
You may be eligible if:
- You are an Irish producer with an animated TV single or series you wish to produce, clear access to necessary rights and broadcaster support
Documentary Production: Creative Co-Production
This funding is for documentary feature films
The film must be structured as an official co-production with third party funding from the leading territory in place and must employ key Irish talent.
You may be eligible if:
- You are in a team(s) of Irish producer(s), writer(s), and director(s) (where the Irish producer is the minority co-producer)
- Priority will be given to projects with an Irish theme, Irish subject matter or Irish diaspora inclusion, and where a number of key Irish HOD's are employed. Reciprocity from funding agencies in other jurisdictions will be sought in appropriate circumstances.
Featured upskill supports
Help your team to learn new skills to keep your business moving forward.
Here are some of the most popular supports for skills development that will help to keep your business on track.
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65 supports based on your selections
Strategic Consultancy Services Grant
Cover the cost of expert advice on business development
You might be eligible if:
- You are a small to medium business
- Your business is developing, expanding and located in a Gaeltacht region
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
Document designed to help suppliers considering selling to government in the public procurement process
Top Tips for Tendering
Top Tips for Tendering outlines five key phases and information to support through to the tendering process for government contracts. It has been designed by the Office of Government Procurement to help suppliers through the public procurement process.
All businesses
Glossary of public procurement terms
ABC's of Public Procurement
The ABC's of Public Procurement provides a glossary of common terms businesses will come across during the procurement process and provides an explaination for each. Useful links are included to provide further information.
All businesses
Specialist Infrastructure- Moorepark Technology Limited
Moorepark Technology Limited (MTL) operates an ultra modern plant covering 5,000 sq. metres floor area.
The facility contains the most up-to-date and versatile pilot scale processing equipment for food research and development, and commercialisation.
You might be eligible if:
- You are a company engaged in research/development and pre- commercial scale manufacturing in product areas such as;
Dairy Products
Dried Food Ingredients
Bioprocessing
Beverages
Liquid foods & Ingredients
Yellow Fat Spreads
Specialist Infrastructure
Access to specialist know-how, facilities and services
The National Prepared Consumer Food Centre supports research, development and innovation in the Prepared Consumer Food and wider food sector.
You might be eligible if:
You are a company involved in the development and manufacturing of:
Meat products
Bakery products
Fruit and vegetable-based products
Savoury snacks
Food preparations including ready meals, sauces, confectionary
Non-alcoholic beverages
Consultancy and Auditing on Food Safety and Quality Management Systems
To further support innovation and development within the Irish food sector, we offer a range of activities on a consultancy basis
Independent consultancy and auditing services providing objective assessment on both the adequacy, and the effective implementation of current food safety and quality management programmes.
You might be eligible if:
- You are a food industry/manufacturing company.
Food Industry Training
Food Programme Courses
Delivery of in-company and public training programmes to address specific industry needs.
You might be eligible if:
- You are entrepreneurs or small food business owners interested in building knowledge and upskilling.
- Established food companies that want to improve the skills and knowledge of their workforce.
Skills to Advance: Hospitality and Tourism - General
Advance your business with accredited, subsidised upskilling for Hospitality and Tourism
Skills to Advance provides flexible, accredited upskilling and reskilling opportunities to employees and employers around Ireland. Programmes on offer for the Hospitality and Tourism sector include customer service, culinary skills, barista training, regional tour guiding, administration, and more. Skills to Advance is an initiative of SOLAS, the Further Education and Training (FET) authority of Ireland.
Enterprises and employees who want to build or improve their skills to thrive in a broad range of areas relating to hospitality and tourism through locally delivered and highly-subsidised training.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a small, medium or large enterprise
- You are in employment
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
SYNERGY
Charge up your cross-border collaborations with access to key networks and support
Synergy contributes to the development of clusters and networks in Ireland and Northern Ireland by supporting collaborative all-island projects, cluster research projects and cluster practitioner training.
You may be eligible if:
- You are a network or cluster of entrepreneurs
- You are a cluster initiative
- Academics
- Policy makers
- Your project aligns with InterTradeIreland's Corporate Plan
Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions
Research Ireland Enterprise Fellowships Programme
Supporting the exchange of knowledge and expertise between academia and enterprise
This programme offers funding avenues to support collaboration between academia and enterprise to drive innovation and knowledge exchange for all disciplines while supporting a skills pipeline for the knowledge economy
You may be eligible if:
Enterprise partners can include a broad range of organisations engaged in research, development, and innovation. These may include:
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Multinational corporations
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) & Charities
Public sector agencies (where justified, under the partnership stream only)