06 Nov, 2020

Ifac Funding Friday

Every Friday our Food and Agribusiness team brings to you the latest government grants and schemes that you can avail of. This is to help you and your business navigate through the challenging times that we are currently facing.

Week 36 – GradStart Support – Local Enterprise Office

The GradStart Support fund helps support businesses with ambitious growth plans to employ a graduate on a rolling basis for a 2-year contract. Graduates must have a minimum Level 6 qualification on the National Vocational Qualifications Framework or equivalent. The graduate will complete a project as defined by the company and linked to their overall growth plan. Graduates may work in any area of the business excluding roles related to sales and marketing activities.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Businesses are limited to 1 graduate on a 2-year contract at any one time.

  • The business must have a minimum of 5 full time employees to qualify for support.

  • Eligible businesses must be able to demonstrate satisfactory progress against business plan and evidence of appropriate funding for the duration of the placement.

  • Have graduated within the last four years.

Support Available:

  • For the 24-month placement financial support of €30k (€15k per year) or 50% of the graduate salary costs (whichever is the lesser) will be provided.

  • Where a company has clear requirement for a graduate with language proficiency and recruits a graduate with language proficiency, financial support of €42k (€21k per year on a maximum allowable salary of €30k per year) or 70% of the graduate salary costs (whichever is the lesser) will be provided.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 35 – Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters – Local Enterprise Office

The Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters (TAME) grant enables clients to explore and develop new market opportunities. The TAME grant part-funds the costs that can be incurred when investigating and researching export markets, e.g. developing websites specifically targeting overseas markets.

Eligibility Criteria for the business:

  • Must not employ more than 10 employees.

  • Be located within the geographic location of the Local Enterprise Office.

  • Operate in the commercial sphere.

  • Demonstrate a market for their proposed product/service.

  • Engage in manufacturing or internationally traded services.

  • Not have received any funding for their proposal from any other source.

Amount Available:

  • Grant covers 50% of eligible costs (net of VAT) to a max of €2,500 in any calendar year.

  • Applications must be made prior to any expenditure being incurred.

What is covered by the TAME Grant:

  • Development of specific Marketing Materials aimed at exploring new export markets.

  • Translation e.g. of existing material (booklets, webpages, etc. for export markets)

  • Development of export related websites.

  • Investigation of new internal or external processes to develop export business e.g. new business model of the carrying out of non-regulatory technical requirements.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 34 – Brexit Planning Voucher – InterTrade Ireland

This voucher offers 100% financial support up to £2,000/€2,250 (inclusive of VAT) towards professional advice in relation to Brexit matters. This support can help your business get advice on specific issues such as goods, services, movement of labour and currency management.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Your business must be located on the island of Ireland (North or South)

  • Trade across the border (NI/ROI)

  • Have less than 250 employees

  • Have an annual turnover of less than €50m (sterling equivalent)

  • Have a satisfactory trading history

Applications can be made on InterTrade Ireland’s website. Once the application has been submitted you will be informed of the assessment panels decision within 10 working days.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 33 – Covid Restriction Support Scheme – Revenue Commissions

The objective of the fund is to help prevent the closure of businesses which operate in the sectors most exposed to Covid-19, allowing them to operate successfully once the relevant restrictions have been lifted. Businesses can apply to Revenue for a cash payment.

Funding Available:

  • The amount payable is dependent on the corresponding period in 2019.

  • Payments will be calculated, subject to a maximum weekly payment of €5,000.

    • 10% of the business’ first €1 million of turnover

    • 5% of any excess.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Customer access to the business premises must be directly prohibited or restricted under Level 3 or higher of the Government’s restrictions

  • The business’ turnover must not exceed 20% of the turnover for the corresponding period in 2019.

More details on clarity are to follow in the Finance Bill.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 32 – Covid-19 Micro-Enterprise Assistance Scheme – Local Enterprise Office

The objective of the fund is to provide a grant in respect of vouched expenditure contributed towards the cost of reopening or keeping a business operational.

Funding Available:

  • A minimum of €500 to a maximum of €1,000 is available.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Businesses who have suffered a 30% reduction in turnover due to Covid-19 restrictions or downturn in trade provided they commit to remaining open and to hiring and sustaining employment.

  • Employed between 2 and 10 full-time employees on their payroll at the 29th February 2020.

  • Have an annual turnover of less than €2 million.

  • Have a commercial focus excluding;

    • Businesses in the primary agricultural, fishery or aquaculture, coal and steel sectors.

    • Involved in activities that the Local Enterprise Offices consider as ineligible or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk.

    • Non-commercial organisations such as community, charity, arts and sporting.

  • Businesses are not eligible for the Covid-19 Restart/Restart Plus Grant or similar Covid-19 business restarts grants.

Eligible Expenditure:

  • Adaption and reconfiguration costs of buildings and room layouts to allow for physical distancing and safe working.

  • Covid-19 related consumables such as personal protective equipment, sterilisation equipment, additional cleaning equipment, waste disposal equipment, paper towel dispensers.

  • The grants will be based on vouched expenditure net of VAT incurred from the 14th September 2020 to the 30th October 2020.

The closing time for receipt of completed applications is 5pm on the 9th October 2020.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 31 – DEMETER Open Call #1 – DEMETER

The goal of DEMETER is to lead the digital transformation of Europe’s agri-food sector through the rapid adoption of advanced IoT (Information of Things) technologies, data science and smart farming, ensuring its long term viability and sustainability.

Funding Available:

  • Up to €30,000 equity-free funding per selected project available to integrate agri-tech solutions into DEMETER’s HUB.

  • A total budget of €300,000 is available with 8-12 applications expected to be selected.

  • DEMETER will fund the integration and interoperability activities of the technology solutions.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • The DEMETER Open Call #1 – DEVELOP aims to attract and engage startups/ SMEs with technology products that can be implemented within the agro-business sector and are legally established in an EU Member State, H2020 associated countries or Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to the Member States.

  • SMEs with solutions which will enlarge and enrich the pool of technology offers/options within DEMETER, towards the co-creation of particular solutions to overcome end-users’ needs and challenges.

Open Call Topics:

  1. Soil workability and humidity monitoring.

  2. Interoperable Geo Tagged Photo App.

  3. ISOBUS enabler.

  4. Blockchain-based solutions for agricultural applications.

  5. DEMETER Business process integration (BPM).

Deadline:

  • Apply before 18 November 2020

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 30 – Supports Guide – ifac Food and AgriBusiness

ifac’s Food and AgriBusiness department recently released their 3rd annual Food and Agribusiness Report. This report focuses on data that was generated from independent research carried out among SME owners in the Agricultural and Food sector in the Republic of Ireland. Alongside analysis on the results of the research, a comprehensive interview with John Moloney was carried out on the power of strategic planning. The Report also contains lots of interesting insights from a range of people involved in the Food and AgriBusiness sector and sector specialists from ifac.

The Supports Guide, which can be found on page 46-47 of the Report, is an indicative map of some of the most frequently used supports by Irish food and agribusinesses. It includes supports from Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Office, Bord Bia, and others who provide support from start-up phase right up to expansion.

To download the full ifac Food and AgriBusiness Report visit: www.ifac.ie/report

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 29 – Sustaining Enterprise Fund – Enterprise Ireland

This fund is being provided by Enterprise Ireland to provide businesses with the funding needed to stabilise cashflow, adapt their operations, and innovate to meet new customer needs.

Funding Available:

  • Funding from €100,000 up to a maximum of €800,000, will be available.

  • Funding will be provided for a five-year period, using repayable advances, grant aid, equity or loan note.

  • Funding provided will comprise a combination of repayable and non-repayable support.

  • A non-repayable grant of up to 50% of a funding package (up to €200,000) is now available.

  • No repayments for the first 3 years.

  • Zero administration fee for the first 6 months – 4% thereafter.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Employ 10 or more full-time employees.

  • Are operating in the manufacturing and internationally traded service sectors.

  • Have seen (or expect to see) a 15% or greater reduction in actual or projected turnover or profit, or a significant increase in costs, as a result of Covid-19.

Who cannot apply:

  • Businesses who are active in the primary agricultural, fishery or aquaculture sectors.

  • Businesses in the coal and steel sector.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 28 – Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme – Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation

This scheme has been announced as part of the Government’s July Stimulus package. The scheme offers an 80% Government guarantee to participating banks to provide low-interest loans to eligible SMEs. The Scheme is operated by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) through participating finance providers.

Funding Available:

  • Loans provided under the scheme range from €10,000 to €1 million.

  • Total lending of €2 billion available to eligible businesses.

Details of Loans:

  • Loans will be available with terms of up to five-and-a-half years.

  • Interest rates on these loans will vary depending on individual characteristics. However, finance providers will offer a reduced interest rate compared to similar lending.

  • Financing will be offered through a range of products, including term loans, working capital loans and overdrafts.

  • Loans of up to €250,000 under the Scheme are available unsecured.

Eligible Businesses:

  • The Scheme is available to eligible SME and small Mid-Cap businesses, including primary producers, established in Ireland.

  • The business must have experienced an adverse impact of minimum 15% in actual or projected turnover or profit due to the impact of Covid-19.

  • The full details of eligibility criteria are available through the SBCI website.

Read our recently published Food and AgriBusiness Report here: www.ifac.ie/ifacreport/

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 27 – Key Manager/ Part Time Key Manager – Enterprise Ireland

The aim of this initiative is to provide partial funding towards the cost of recruiting a Full Time or Part Time Key Manager with skills that are critical to the future growth of the business. The individual must contribute to significant and measurable improvements in business productivity.

Examples of Key Manager positions:

  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

  • Chief Technical Officer (CTO)

  • R&D Manager

  • Production Manager

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Small and Medium Established companies employing 10 or more employees.

  • Companies that have been trading for at least 2 years.

  • The role is based in Ireland.

  • For Part Time positions to qualify they must be working a minimum of 18.75 hours per week.

  • The position is a new role and not a replacement for an existing position.

Funding Available:

  • A company may receive two Key Manager Approvals in a rolling 12 month period.

  • Funding will be by way of Grant. The maximum support level will depend on the state aid basis being applied.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 26 - The Grow with Google support package

Google is offering 60,000 small businesses in Ireland to help to recover from the effects of Covid-19. Google is providing a package of tools, supports, partnerships, and funding. The scheme aims to enable businesses to adapt and thrive by learning how to operate online.

Support provided:

  • SMEs working with Google will have access to free tools

  • Training

  • €4m in advertising credits and grants for NGOs will be available.

  • Through the website SMEs can access hundreds of training courses for free, covering a range of topics.

Google is also partnering with Irish organisations such as the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Gaelic Players Association to make additional digital skills training free and easy to access for Irish businesses.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 25 Covid-19 Adaption Fund – Fáilte Ireland

The Covid-19 Adaption Fund has been introduced as part of the July Stimulus. Its focus is to alleviate some of the costs that businesses have incurred as a result of Covid-19.

Businesses which are eligible to apply include:

  • Accommodation included on Fáilte Ireland’s Statutory Accommodation Register 2020 or Non-Statutory Accommodation Listing 2020.

  • Pubs/bars with a Publican’s Licence.

  • Restaurants or cafés with a Wine Retailer’s On-Licence or a Special Restaurant Licence.

  • Visitor attractions.

  • Adventure centres/Cruise hire companies/Tourism equestrian centres/Tourism gold clubhouses/Tourism wellness centres.

  • Activity operators.

  • Boat tour operators.

The fund has been separated into two strands.

  • Strand A Funding for Capital Costs: This strand contributes funding to businesses with visitor premises which have incurred capital costs in the adaption of their premises for re-opening to visitors/customers in line with the Fáilte Ireland guidelines for re-opening.

  • Strand B Funding for Consumables: This strand contributes funding to businesses which do not have significant visitor facing premises and/or only have expenditure on COVID-related consumables, particularly the sanitisation of equipment and safety gear in accordance with the Fáilte Ireland guidelines for re-opening.

Opening and closing dates for applications:

  • Applications can be made from the 18th of August to the 8th of October 2020.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 24 Enterprise Support Grant – Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Competitive Start Fund – Enterprise Ireland

The Enterprise Support Grant is available to assist eligible self-employed recipients who closed their COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment on or after 18th May 2020.

Grant amount available:

  • Funding will be awarded for eligible costs up to a maximum of €1,000.

Eligible costs include costs related to opening your business, including:

  • Safety measures

  • Business advice or mentoring

  • Repairs

  • Fuel

  • Wages

  • Normal business costs are not generally included

Eligibility Criteria:

The grant will be awarded to self-employed people who are:

  • Tax and PRSI compliant

  • Have reopened their business which was closed due to the pandemic

  • Employ less than 10 people

  • Have an annual turnover of less than €1 million

  • Are not eligible for COVID-19 Business Restart Grant

How to apply:

Complete the COVID-19 ESG 1 application form on the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection website.

Competitive Start Fund

The closing date for applications to the Competitive Start Fund is closing soon! The Competitive Start Fund has been developed to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capacity to succeed in global markets.

Grant amount available:

  • The maximum level of support per successful application is €50,000, for 10% in ordinary shares in the start-up company, to be released in 2 equal tranches of€25k (5% in ordinary shares for each tranche).

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Be able to demonstrate that product or service has reached Minimal Viable Product (MVP)

  • That the product or service has received validation from customers after they have trialed/ payed for it.

  • A proposition addressing a clear gap in the market with market research conducted with customers/potential customers.

  • Clear export market opportunity for the proposed product or service.

  • Clear execution plan outlines, identifying suitable channels to international markets.

Closing Date for Applications:

Applications are closing on Tuesday 18th August 2020 at 3pm. Application forms must be submitted through the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System by the deadline.

For more information on either of the financial supports above, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 23 – COVID-19 Supports – Enhanced Restart Grant

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation have announced an Enhanced Restart Grant which was introduced to provide additional support for micro and small enterprises.

Grant amount available:

  • The maximum grant available will rise to €25,000 (up from €10,000) and the minimum payment will be €4,000 (up from €2,000). Businesses that have already accessed the Restart Grant will be eligible to apply for a second top-up payment to a total payment of the revised minimum and maximum grant levels.

Eligibility criteria:

  • 250 employees or less.

  • Turnover of less than €100,000 per employee.

  • Reduced turnover by 25% as a result of COVID-19.

How to Apply:

  • Applications can be made through your Local Authority, while non-rated B&Bs will be eligible to apply via Fáilte Ireland.

Other points to note include:

  • Non-rated B&Bs and rateable sports businesses will now be eligible for a grant payment of €4,000.

  • Applications for the enhanced grant are due to open on Monday 10th of August 2020.

  • A full list of updated supports is available in our COVID section here

For more information, contact the ifac Food and Agribusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 22 Job Expansion Fund - Enterprise Ireland.

Who can apply?

  • SME companies who are Enterprise Ireland clients.

  • Manufacturing/Internationally traded service company.

  • Must have 10+ full time employees and be trading for at least 2 years.

Criteria for application:

  • Companies must be recruiting a minimum of 3 new (non-sales) employees per application.

  • The new jobs must not result in displacement of existing jobs.

  • There must be a minimum increase in turnover of €350,000 over the two years.

  • The base number of jobs at date of application plus the New Jobs created must be retained for a minimum of three years from the date of last payment of the grant package.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 21 Competitive Start Fund – Enterprise Ireland

The Competitive Start Fund has re-opened.

This call sees two competitions open:

  • Women Entrepreneurship

  • All sectors

Applications can be submitted between the 7th July and the 18th August.

As always these calls will be competitive so founders are encouraged to invest the necessary time to understand the process and create a narrative that positions their business idea in the best light.

Like previous CSF competitions, there are two parts to complete; the application form as well as a video pitch. The application must be submitted through the online systems on Enterprise Ireland’s website.

This fund was designed to promote and assist the growth of start-up companies that have the ability to succeed in markets globally. This fund is primarily created to help businesses to reach technical and commercial milestones.

According to Enterprise Ireland’s website, any company that wishes to apply should ideally be able to demonstrate the following:

  • Be able to show that product or service has reached the minimum viable stage (MVP) and is live in beta.

  • Prove that the product/service has demonstrable customer validation.

  • Demonstrate a fully articulated proposition addressing a clear gap in the market.

  • Provide support and evidence of innovation, export potential and employment capacity.

  • Display an execution plan and identify suitable channels to international markets.

At ifac Food and Agribusiness team, we have plenty of experience of working with founders to help them secure CSF funding.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 20 - Enterprise Ireland Support - Business Process Improvement Grant.

The Business Process Improvement Grant can be used to support one of three business process improvement projects:

  1. Lean Plus Assignment

  2. E-Marketing Improvement Assignment

  3. GreenPlus Assignment

    1- A LeanPlus assignment is a medium term project which will result in sustained use of Lean techniques by the company, and will achieve significant measurable gains in company capabilities and cost competitiveness. Clients are expected to have prior experience of Lean projects.

    2- e-Marketing assignments are designed to develop your company's capability to use Ecommerce as an effective channel for business development.

    3- GreenPlus assignments are designed to assist company managers to develop a high level of environmental management capabilities and achieve improved sustainability.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 19 – Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Arena Awards.

Irish agri-companies are invited to enter their products and innovations for consideration to the annual awards competition which has €10,000 in cash prizes.

Ifac are delighted to be an official partner of the event and sponsor of the Best Newcomer Award 2020. Please bear in mind the closing date to enter the competition is Friday the 10th of July 2020.

Innovators from the following industry sectors are encouraged to enter:

  • Dairy and dry-stock farming,

  • Horticulture,

  • Information and communication technology,

  • Cloud and mobile based software,

  • Animal health and genetics,

  • Water and waste management,

  • Environment and clean-tech,

  • Animal and farm management,

  • Farm safety and leading research

To enter visit: https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/2900/home

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 18 – COVID-19 Supports - Enterprise Support Grant

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection announced a new COVID-19 related support for business owners this week. The Enterprise Support Grant for small businesses.

The Enterprise Support Grant will be made available for self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme.

This will provide qualifying individuals with a one-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business.

According to Minister Humphries the support will help existing small businesses, “typically trades people or sole traders”

Once applicants have closed their PUP claim, they will have four weeks to submit an application for the Enterprise Support Grant.

The Department is developing the systems to put this support into action and will communicate how to access the grant in the coming weeks. It is expected that applications will need to be supported with receipts to match expenditure claims.

Eligibility is as follows:

  • Self-employed micro enterprises that have reopened their business

  • Employ fewer than 10 people

  • An annual turnover of less than €1 million

  • Not eligible for support from the COVID 19 Business Restart Grant

  • Are not liable for commercial rates

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 17 - COVID-19 supports -The Restart Grant for Small Businesses.

This grant will be available to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening after COVID-19 closures.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 31 August 2020.

Eligibility is as follows :

To avail of the Restart Grant, a business must be in the Local Authorities Commercial Rates Payment System and be a

  • Business with a turnover of less than €5million.

  • Business that employs less than 50 people.

  • Business that has been impacted by at least a 25% reduction in turnover to 30th June.

Businesses must commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed.

The grant will be equivalent to the rates bill of the business in 2019 with a minimum payment of €2,000 and max of €10,000.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 16 – COVID-19 Supports – Trading Online Voucher (Extended Funding)

Minister Heather Humphreys announced this week that an extra €14.2m funding is available for the Trading Online Voucher Scheme.

This government grant scheme was designed to assist small businesses who wish to trade online.

There is up to €2,500 available with co-funding of 10% from the business as well as training and advice on social media and digital marketing to make online trading for your business more achievable.

Businesses that have already received a Trading Online Voucher can now apply for a second voucher giving a total funding opportunity of €5,000.

To qualify for the scheme, businesses must have:

  • No more than 10 employees;

  • Limited or no e-commerce presence

  • Less than €2m in turnover;

  • Be trading for at least 6 months and

  • Be located in the region of the local enterprise office to whom they are applying.

Contact ifac today for more information and application details. Contact lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie today for support in your application.

Week 15 – COVID-19 Supports – Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland are providing a range of supports available to businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19.

Enterprise Ireland is calling on companies large and small with more than 10 employees to engage with it as soon as possible. The companies don’t have to be exporting or a previous client of Enterprise Ireland.

  • There is the €5,000 financial planning grant. This is for businesses to hire a financial consultant to prepare a detailed financial plan for the business.

  • There is a €2,500 Lean business continuity voucher for SME’s. The voucher may be used to obtain training or advisory services related to the continued operation of their businesses during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

  • There will be a range of other supports such as repayable loans or advances as long as companies can demonstrate the impact of COVID-19 on their business performance. Repayments on this funding for SME businesses do not need to start until 2024 and carry an administration charge of 4%.

  • For SME businesses with a turnover of less than €5m, Enterprise Ireland is offering repayable advances of up to €50,000.There are also larger loan supports available, ranging from €100,000 up to €800,000

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 14 - Microfinance Ireland Covid-19 business loans

Microfinance Ireland are making loans available to Irish businesses to help them get through the initial impact of Covid-19. Loans between €5,000 and €50,000 are available.

You are eligible if your business is a micro-enterprise (i.e. less than 10 full time employees or €2m turnover) that has faced a reduction of 15% in revenues due to Covid-19. Businesses who are having trouble finding finance from other commercial lending providers may also qualify.

Businesses can avail of reduced interest rates of 4.5% APR for LEO applications or 5.5% APR for direct applications.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 13 - COVID-19 supports -The Restart Grant for Small Businesses.

Open for applications on 22nd May.

This grant will be available to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening after COVID-19 closures. Eligibility is as follows :

To avail of the Restart Grant, a business must be in the Local Authorities Commercial Rates Payment System and be a

  • Business with a turnover of less than €5million.

  • Business that employs less than 50 people.

  • Business that has been impacted by at least a 25% reduction in turnover to 30th June.

The grant will be equivalent to the rates bill of the business in 2019 with a minimum payment of €2,000 and max of €10,000.

For more information, contact the ifac Food and AgriBusiness team at lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie

Week 12 – COVID-19 supports - The Business Continuity Voucher

*********CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATON: 15/5/2020*****

Worth up to €2,500 in third party consultancy costs, this support is for businesses across every sector that employ under 50 people. This support is 100% funded.

  • This voucher can be used by both companies and sole traders to develop strategies to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • There is one voucher available per business.

  • The voucher is not suitable for clients Enterprise Ireland, Udaras na Gaelteachta or IDA. Equivalent supports are available for those companies.

Contact lorcanbannon@ifac.ie or patrickblack@ifac.ie today for support in your application.

Week 11 - Covid-19 supports - Lean Business Continuity Voucher.

This voucher is available to clients of Enterprise Ireland as well as Údarás na Gaeltachta. It is open to small, medium and large companies.

The voucher is worth up to €2,500 andcan be used for training or advisory services support related to the continued operation of their businesses during the current pandemic.

There is a maximum of one voucher per company.

To reflect the on going travel restrictions it is envisaged that this support or training would be delivered online.

Additional links - https://enterprise-ireland.com/en/Productivity/Lean-Business-Offer/Lean-Business-Continuity-Voucher.html

Week 10 - Covid-19 Supports – The Sustaining Enterprise Fund

The Sustaining Enterprise Fund by Enterprise Ireland will enable companies who have been impacted by a 15%+ reduction in turnover and/or have faced significant cost increases due to Covid-19 to have access to short-term liquidity. This fund has been put in place to help companies return to viability and contribute to the recovery of the Irish economy.

Business will be offered a repayable advance of up to €800,000. In relation to repayment, there is a 3-year grace period and repayment should be completed by the end of year 5 on successful achievement of the project objective. Please note that this scheme is not available to primary agricultural, fishery or aquaculture sectors.

Eligibility Criteria Include:

  • Employ 10+ full time employees

  • Manufacturing & internationally traded services

  • SMEs and large companies who have applied for funding from a financial institution

Additional links - https://globalambition.ie/supports/innovation-support/sustaining-enterprise-fund/

Week 9 - Trading Online Voucher (Updated)

The Trading Online Voucher has been in the funding eco-system for quite a while but since the pandemic and the need for businesses to adapt their businesses to be digitally enabled the Local Enterprise Office has made it more accessible. This voucher applies to companies employing up to 10 employees.

It now offers financial assistance of up to €2,500 with co-funding of 10% from the client company along with training and advice to help your business trade online. This is a major drop from the 50% co-funding previously required. It is important to note that if you have received a Trading Online Voucher in the past you can still apply for a second voucher.

Examples of where funding can be spent include but are not limited to:

  • Adding payment facilities or booking systems to your website

  • Developing new apps for your customers

  • Subscriptions to low cost online retail platform solutions, to help companies quickly establish a retailing presence online.

Week 8 - Covid-19 Business Financial Planning Grant

The Covid-19 Business Financial Planning Grant, worth up to €5,000, will enable companies to access external support from approved financial consultants to prepare a financial plan to secure the company in the short to medium terms.

For more information contact businessresponse@enterprise-ireland.com

Week 7 - The new Business Continuity Voucher

Worth up to €2,500 in third party consultancy costs and is for businesses across every sector that employ under 50 people.

  • This voucher can be used by both companies and sole traders to develop strategies to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • There is one voucher available per business.

  • The voucher is not suitable for clients Enterprise Ireland, Udaras na Gaelteachta or IDA.

Week 6 - COVID-19 Supports

Short time work support is a payment made in place of your regular salary.

  • It is a form of jobseeker’s benefit.

  • Paid for a max of 234 days.

  • To qualify: Work must be cut by at least 2 days and you must satisfy the two main PRSI conditions for jobseeker’s benefit.

  • For more information on these conditions see here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/1221b0-jobseekers-benefit/ - The quickest way to apply for Jobseeker’s Benefit is through MyWelfare.ie - You must have a verified MyGovID to use this service.

  • If you complete your form on-line, you can then send on the UP14 form completed by your employer.

For more details, visit www.gov.ie/en/service/c20e1b-short-time-work-support/

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is for employees or self-employed people who have found themselves unemployed or working less hours than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic.

  • The payment covers €203 per week for 6 weeks.

  • You can apply for the payment if you: are aged between 18 and 66 years. Students who have lost employment can also apply.

  • A simple, one-page application form is available online at www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/

  • If a person has Public Services Card one can apply on-line through the My Welfare online portal - https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/topics/out-of-work-payments/apply-for-jobseekers-payment/

  • Applicants should not attend the Intreo office in person.

For more details, visit www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/ or you can contact the Emergency line: 1890 8000 24

Week 5 - Competitive Start Fund

The applications for the competitive start fund are due to reopen on the 24th of March and close on the 14th of April. There are two parts to complete, the application form as well as a video pitch. The application must be submitted through the online systems on Enterprise Ireland’s website.

This fund was designed to promote and assist the growth of start-up companies that have the ability to succeed in markets globally. This fund is primarily created to help businesses to reach technical and commercial milestones.

According to Enterprise Ireland’ website, any company that wishes to apply should ideally be able to demonstrate the following:

  • Be able to show that product or service has reached the minimum viable stage (MVP) and is live in beta.

  • Prove that the product/service has demonstrable customer validation.

  • Demonstrate a fully articulated proposition addressing a clear gap in the market.

  • Provide support and evidence of innovation, export potential and employment capacity.

  • Display an execution plan and identify suitable channels to international markets.

Additional links: https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/funding-supports/company/hpsu-funding/competitive-start-fund-csf-.html

Week 4 - Business Expansion

The Business Expansion grant is for the businesses in their growth phase, whether its sole trader, a partnership or a limited company.

The Business may be awarded if it employs under 10 people, is a manufacturing or internationally traded service business or a domestically traded service business with the potential to trade internationally.

Expenditure is considered under: Capital items / Salary costs / Consultancy / Innovation / marketing costs

The grant payable would be 50% if the investment or €150,000 ( whichever is lesser)

Grants over €80,000 and up to €150,000 shall be the exception.

Additional Link https://www.localenterprise.ie/Discover-Business-Supports/Financial-Supports/Business-Expansion-Grant/

Week 3 - Feasibility Study Grants

Feasibility Study Grants are available in order to support the promoter with investigating market demand for a product/service and to look into the sustainability of such product or service.

The largest Feasibility Study Grant available to businesses in the Southern and Eastern Region of Ireland is 50% of the investment (or €15,000 whichever is lower). Note: A grant of up to 60% is available for businesses located along the Border, Midlands or Western regions.

Qualifying areas of expenditure include: Market Research / Consultancy costs / Technical development/ Innovation / Salary / Miscellaneous costs

Your Business qualifies if it:

  • Employs under 10 people;

  • Must be established and run within the geographic location of the LEO

  • Must demonstrate a market for the product/service;

  • Must have potential for growth in domestic and/or export markets;

  • Have the ability to create jobs.

Additional Link https://www.localenterprise.ie/Discover-Business-Supports/Financial-Supports/Feasibility-Grant/

Week 2 - Innovation Vouchers

This scheme was developed to increase interaction between universities and small businesses in Ireland.

  • The Innovation Voucher provides €5,000 vouchers to small and medium-sized limited companies

  • A qualifying company can use a maximum of three vouchers and have one ‘active’ voucher at any one time

  • The third voucher is a co-funded one which means that qualifying companies will need to match the €5,000 funding

  • All vouchers are valid for 12 months

  • Companies must be registered with the CRO office in Dublin

  • The value of the voucher is used to offset the final cost of the project activity.

Applications are made via the Enterprise Ireland Online Application system. They do not accept voucher applications via any other method.

To view more information on this scheme click here

https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/funding-supports/Company/HPSU-Funding/Innovation-Voucher-FAQs.pdf

https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/Research-Innovation/Companies/Collaborate-with-companies-research-institutes/Innovation-Voucher.shortcut.html

Week 1 - Online Trading Voucher scheme

This government grant scheme was designed to assist small businesses.

There is up to €2,500 (90% grant funded) matched funding available as well as training and advice on social media and digital marketing to make online trading for your business more achievable.

To qualify for the scheme, businesses must have:

  • No more than 10 employees;

  • Less than €2m in turnover;

  • Be trading for at least 6 months and

  • Be located in the region of the local enterprise office to whom they are applying.

To view more information on this scheme click here

Voucher numbers are limited so contact ifac today for more information and application details.

Contact ifac today for more information and application details:

Lorcan Bannon, Food and Drinks Business Specialist| lorcanbannon@ifac.ie, 086-7704304

David Leydon, Head of Food & AgriBusiness| davidleydon@ifac.ie, 087-9908227

Patrick Black,Food & AgriBusiness Executive| patrickblack@ifac.ie, 087-6371428

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