More than 6,500 SMEs have been directly supported by the National Enterprise Hub (NEH) in the first year since its launch.
The National Enterprise Hub is an initiative of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and Enterprise Ireland and brings together information and resources on over 250 Government supports from 30 different departments and state agencies.
It said the top grants availed of by businesses ranged in value from €3,000 to €7,000 and focused on supporting businesses with cashflow, expansion and productivity to help them deal with concerns around rising costs, and competitiveness.
It has attracted over 220,000 active online users to its website over the last 12 months, while it also offers a full-time dedicated phone line, connecting business owners with specialist advisors who can discuss potential grant options over the phone.
The businesses are from a range of industries with the majority operating in the Tourism & Hospitality sector, retail & consumer products, food, health & beauty, professional services and the construction sector.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said the National Enterprise Hub has proven effective in streamlining and simplifying access for SMEs to government supports, equipping them with vital digital and sustainability resources to navigate rising costs and stay competitive.
“My focus now with the NEH is on reducing administrative burdens and red tape for businesses by consolidating multiple grant applications into a single, simplified process,” the Minister said.
“We must redouble our efforts to simplify processes for businesses and make sure that we think about small businesses first,” he added.
Conor O’Donovan, Head of Start-Ups and the National Enterprise Hub, said that SME engagement with the National Enterprise Hub has met and exceeded targets to date, supporting 6,500 businesses within its first year of operation.
“One of the main aims of the Hub was to engage with businesses who haven’t availed of government supports to date and to make the process of availing of government supports faster and easier,” he said.
“We know that Irish SMEs are operating in a complex environment and being able to access grants and supports is more important than ever,” Mr O’Donovan said.
“Small businesses who are engaging with the National Enterprise Hub are concerned about rising cost of business and competitiveness – that is why a single source of government supports for businesses is important to ensure that accessing the right information is made easier,” he added.
Article Source – Over 6,500 Irish SMEs helped by National Enterprise Hub in first year