If approved, we can provide you with:-

(1) Funding New Appointments
(2) Management Development
(3) Strategic Consulting

(1) Funding New Appointments

The aim of this initiative is to provide partial funding of the cost towards recruiting a Key Manager with the skills that are critical to contribute to significant and measurable improvements in company productivity or changes in its output to meet defined market requirements.

What costs are eligible?

The basic salary cost (less employer's PRSI) of the key person is eligible for assistance, based on a maximum salary of €100,000 p.a.

Retrospective expenditure?

Expenditure incurred prior to the approval of the project is generally considered ineligible.

Maximum support limits?

Under the Industrial Development (SFI) Act 2003 (Sections 28 & 29), Enterprise Ireland may approve funding by way of salary support of:

2007 Rates

Existing Rates

*Capital assets at 45%.  Job Creation at 50%.

Note: On 1st January 2007 new % aid rates will apply to all projects approved based on a maximum salary of €100,000 p.a. provided over a one year period.  Support is restricted to the employment of one key person.

Please note that support under this initiative will form part of the €65,000 combined maximum level of support available for all funding awarded under Category 1 (Exploring New Opportunities) over a rolling two-year period.

Category 1 funding includes grant support for various types of consultancy and feasibility studies, market research, participation at trade fairs, mentors, training and recruitment of a key manager for one year.

Who can apply?

• manufacturing or internationally traded services SME companies employing 10-249 people
• new High Potential Start Up companies

Prior to commencement of the Project, completed application forms should be returned to the HRD team below:

Mairéad Dunne, Consumer Foods, Tel: + 353 1 727 2578

Wesley McGrath, Industrial Markets, Tel: + 353 1 727 2785

Eugene Connolly, Software Services & Emerging Sectors, Tel: + 353 1 727 2596

(2) Management Development

Can now be funded up to 70% for all companies, irrespective of size or location.  This will impact on training, funded under Exploring New Opportunities, IC training proposals and Productivity Improvement Fund training proposals.

Retrospective expenditure

Expenditure incurred prior to the approval of the project is generally considered ineligible.

Maximum support limits

Under the Industrial Development (EI) Act 1998: Section 7 (1)(i), Enterprise Ireland may offer funding of up to €65,000 or 50%  of eligible expenditure subject to a maximum of €130,000 over a two-year rolling period.

Please note that support under this initiative will form part of the €65,000 combined maximum level of support available for all funding awarded under Category 1 (Exploring New Opportunities) over a two-year period.

Category 1 funding includes grant support for various types of consultancy and feasibility studies, market research, articipation at trade fairs, mentors, training and recruitment of a key manager for one year.

Review

A review of the projects assisted under this initiative may be completed three years after the commencement of the initiative.

Who can apply?

• manufacturing or internationally traded services SME companies employing 10-249 people
• new High Potential Start Up companies
• not eligible to receive the support applied for from An Bord Bia or An Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

Prior to the commencement of the Project, completed application forms should be returned to the team leaders below:

Mairéad Dunne, Consumer Foods, Tel: + 353 1 727 2578

Wesley Mc Grath, CleanTech Industrial & Life Sciences, Tel: + 353 1 727 2353

Eugene Connolly, Software & Retail Consumer, Tel: + 353 1 727 2596

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(3) Strategic Consultancy

The Strategic Consultancy Initiative is aimed at improving the strategic capability of SMEs by  encouraging the engagement of outside consultants to assist in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives.  It will facilitate business growth as such consultants can act as coach, mentor, counsellor, facilitator, analyst, negotiator and/or operator in the development and implementation of these initiatives.

What costs are eligible?

Support may be provided towards the cost of fees paid for specific development consultancy connected with the development and implementation of initiatives that are of strategic significance, provided the consultants are not engaged as an integral component of a training or R&D project. Programmes in the training and R&D area are governed by specific EU regulations and EI has developed a number of funding solutions that satisfy these restrictions.

The initiative is not intended to provide funding towards:

• the costs of consultants hired for continuous or routine consultancy activities such as legal, financial, market research and PR
• nor will it be used as a mechanism to subsidise regular operating expenses

Eligible expenditure can include the costs if consultants hired by firms to conduct market research activities, web design etc. provided that the initiatives involved are strategic in nature.

The maximum expenditure limit is:
Consultancy -  €1,500 per day (to include Travel and Subsistence)

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