HERE TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS
Agency / Initiative
Action Plan for Jobs
Athlone Institute of Technology
Bord Bia
Citizen’s Information
Companies Registration Office
Credit Review Office
Credit Guarantee Scheme
Department of Social Protection / Intreo
Design and Crafts Council of Ireland
EnterpriseIreland
EmployAbility Midlands
First Polymer Training
Intertrade Ireland
Local Enterprise Office Westmeath
Mullingar Chamber of Commerce
Microfinance Ireland
Opportunity in a Million
Patents Office
Revenue Commissioners
Skillsnet
Teagasc
Westmeath Community Development
ACTION PLAN FOR JOBS
This is an online SME Support Tool. This will help you find out what supports are available to help your business grow. There are over 80 Government supports available to Irish start-ups and small businesses. Use of this online tool will quickly help you discover which supports will help your business.
To use the tool simply log on to
Click on the button ‘Try SME Support Tool’. This will lead you into a short series of simple questions including queries about your location, business sector, size of business (employees), type of business structure, stage of business, type of support required, if you exporting and if you have you applied for bank funding. The tool will then provide you with a list of agencies that may be able to advise and support your business, contact details and names of appropriate staff members to contact. This tool is very useful to signpost you towards the best agencies and people within those agencies to make contact with to give you the support you need.
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ATHLONE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (AIT)
AIT - DEPARTMENT OF LIFELONG LEARNING
The AIT aim to assist the adult learner (over 23 years of age) with many flexible and innovative routes, enabling the learner achieve a third level qualification while also recognising they have work, family and indeed life commitments.
Our role is to partner with the students to ensure that both their third level learning and normal daily lives can co-exist as they attain their qualification.
Contact DetailsHead of Dept of Lifelong Learning - Dr Michael Tobin
Tel: 090 648 3050 / E-mail:
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MIDLANDS INNOVATION & RESEARCH CENTRE
The Midlands Innovation and Research Centreat Athlone Institute of Technology provides incubation facilities for innovative and knowledge-based enterprise, the New Frontiers Enterprise Programme for entrepreneurs and start-ups, and makes available the resources and expertise of AIT to support client companies.
The MIRC assists and advises entrepreneurs and client companies - and provides access to its enterprise network - at every stage of a project’s development.
Whether you are a prospective entrepreneur, a startup, an existing company committed to ongoing innovation or an academic interested in commercialising your research, the MIRC is open to you.
Contact Details:Midlands Innovation & Research Centre
Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Athlone
Tel:090-6471882
Contact People: Michael Lonergan, MIRC Manager 090-646471882
Nick Allen, Programme Manager, New Frontiers 090-6483043
Richard Blake, Enterprise Development Manager 090-6468279
Dr. Marc Cashin, Director InnovAIT 090-6468267
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BORD BIA
Bord Bia is the Irish Food Board. It works on growing the success of Irish Food and Horticulture. It provides services to consumers, industry and corporates.
Entrepreneurswith ambitious export targets might be interested in the Food Worksprogramme that is run in conjunction with EnterpriseIreland and Teagasc. This programme starts in April each year and provides a structure to explore your idea and develop it to a business plan designed to secure external investment.
Bord Bia has a dedicated site, Vantage, for smallerfood businesses that will also be useful to those considering starting a food business. As well as describing the role of the different agencies that can assist such enterprises, it also has plenty of advice on marketing your food business.
Whether you are considering starting a food business or are in the early stages, you might be interested in the Food Academywhich was launched in recent years in conjunction with the Local Enterprise Offices and Musgraves and is described on our Vantage web site. Many of these are accessible from your Local Enterprise Office through our FoodAcademy programme.
Finally, Bord Bia's Enquiry Service can help you identify marketing information that is pertinent to the development of your new business. Use our Enquiry Form to submit a request and we'll see how we can help.
Marketing Assistance Programme – This programme provides agri-food enterprises with assistance towards improving their marketing capabilities.
For further information see or
Tel: 01-6685155
e-mail: / /
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CITIZEN’S INFORMATION
Citizen’s Information provides information on public services and entitlements in Ireland. It is provided by the Citizens Information Board.
See -
Information can also be obtained by phoning the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm, or by visiting your local Citizens Information Centre.
Mullingar Citizens Information Centre, County Buildings Complex, Mount St, Mullingar Tel: 076-1076660 / e-mail: /
Athlone Citizens Information Centre, Elliot House, St. Mary’s Square, Athlone Tel: 076-1076610, e-mail: /
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COMPANIES REGISTRATION OFFICE
The CRO has a number of core functions:
- The incorporation of companies and the registration of business names
- The receipt and registration of post incorporation documents
- The enforcement of the Companies Acts in relation to the filing obligations of companies.
For further information contact:
Email:
Tel: 01 804 5200 or Lo call 1890 220 226
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CREDIT Review office
The Credit Review Office provides a simple, effective review process for Small and Medium Enterprises, including sole traders and farm enterprises, who have requests for credit refused or existing credit facilities reduced or withdrawn.
1 850 211 789
e-mail: /
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CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME
(through Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation)
This Government scheme enables the State, in certain circumstances, to act as a guarantor to the bank for your loan application. The purpose of the scheme is to guarantee commercially viable SMEs that have been declined credit due to inadequate collateral and/or lack of understanding of the business model.
01-6548885
e-mail: /
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Department Of Social Protection / INTREO
The Dept of Social Protection provides advice and support both to jobseekers and employers on a range of employment incentive schemes and income support schemes.
The Department of Social Protection has three offices in Westmeath
- Social Welfare Branch Office, The Square, Castlepollard 044-9662230
- Intreo Centre, Government Offices, Grace Park Road, Athlone 090-6449600
- Social Welfare Local Office, Bellview, Dublin Rd, Mullingar 044-9334220
It provides the following services:
RECRUITMENT:
Jobs Ireland:Enabling you to advertise your vacancy nationally and across the EU through the network of Employment Services Offices.
Contact Details:Jobs Ireland at freephone 1890 8000024, your local employment service office or Intreo office or
Employment Support Services, Unit 8, Inish Carraig Business Centre, Golden Island, Athlone Co. Westmeath
090 6473489
Mullingar Employment Services Office, Church Ave, Mullingar 044-9334550
JOBSPLUS:
Jobs Plus is an employer incentive which encourages and rewards employers who offer employment opportunities to job seekers on the Live Register. (This incentive replaces the Revenue job Assist and Employer Job (PRSI) Exemption Scheme since the 1st July 2013). The incentive will provide two levels of payment: a payment of €7,500 over two years to the employer for each person recruited on a full time basis who has been unemployed for more than 12 but less than 24 months and €10,000 over two years to the employer for each person recruited on a full time basis who has been unemployed for more than 24 months. The incentive will be payable monthly in arrears over a two year period.
Under the Finance Bill 2013, grants paid to companies participating in the JobsPlus Incentive which encourages employers to hire the long-term unemployed will not be subject to tax.
For further information:
/ by contacting the Department at 1890 927999 or 071-9672535 or e-mail:
JOBBRIDGE:
JobBridge is a National Internship Scheme that provides work experience placements for Interns for a 6 or 9 month period.
The aim of JobBridge is to assist in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience and provides the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, relevant knowledge and skills in a working environment. Interns receive an allowance of €50 per week on top of their existing social welfare entitlement. This will be payable for the period of the internship by the Department of Social Protection to the Intern.
For further information: or
Email:
Tel: 046 9738080 or Freephone 1890800 024.
First Steps – the Youth Development Internship is currently being put in place (March/April 2015). It is aimed at young people aged from 18-24 years.
Gateway – is the Local Authority labour activation scheme. Participants work for an average of 19.5 hours per week and the placement lasts 22 months. Work includes village enhancement, landscaping, tourism ambassadors, control of animals, libraries etc. For further information e-mail:
The Work Placement Programme is a Government supported programme that brings employers and the unemployed together for a nine month work experience placement.If you are unemployed and have not secured paid work, the programme allows you to apply your skills and gain valuable experience in a workplace setting. This could give you an edge when applying for jobs in the future. Employers benefit from having someone contribute to their business, whilst also enhancing the skills and career prospects of the individual. The placement is unpaid and voluntary. However, if you are already in receipt of certain social welfare payments, you may be allowed to retain your payment while on a placement.For further info see or phone 1890 800024
Skills to Work is a new Irish Government jobs campaign which brings together key Government initiatives to support jobseekers access the training and work experience they need and to help and encourage businesses employ people currently on the Live Register. The campaign aims to make it easier for jobseekers and employers to know what Government skills initiatives are available to them.
The Skills to Work campaign promotes in particular five initiatives introduced since 2011 which are run by the Department of Education and Skills and Department of Social Protection: Springboard, Momentum, Skillnets, JobBridge and JobsPlus.As part of this campaign an online tool has been developed,
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Schemes:
(1)B.T.W.EA: Is designed to encourage the long term unemployed to take up self employment opportunities by allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their social welfare payment plus secondary benefits over two years.
The allowance is paid on a reducing scale over a two year period, i.e. 100% of a person’s social welfare payment in year one and 75% in year two.
(2)The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) gives support to people who have lost their job and want to start their own business.
To qualify you must be getting jobseeker’s Benefit. There is no qualifying period, which means you do not need to have been getting jobseeker’s Benefit for a certain period of time. However, you will not qualify if you are getting jobseeker’s Benefit and working part-time.
From 4the April 2013 the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance is paid instead of your Jobseeker’s Benefit for a maximum of 9 months. It ends when your entitlement of Jobseeker’s Benefit ends (that is at either 9 or 6 months)
To qualify you must first check your eligibility with the Department of Social Protection and thereafter visit the offices of the partnership companies to be assisted in the completion of relevant documentation. Contact details as follows:
Mullingar - Dan 044 - 9348571
Athlone - Seamus 090 - 6494555
Enterprise Support Grant - In addition to income support (your weekly payment), you can also get financial support with the costs of setting up your business. These supports are provided under a scheme called the Enterprise Support Grant (ESG). (The ESG replaced the Technical Assistance and Training Scheme (TATS) from 16 April 2014.)
You can only get the ESG if you have been approved for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance or the Short Term Enterprise Allowance. The business plan you submit as part of your application for the scheme must set out the rationale and requirement for financial support. The ESG can pay a total of €2,500 in any 24-month period (The ESG is paid to people getting the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance on a pro-rata basis). You must be able to make a matching contribution of at least 20% to access grant support. You need to provide documentary evidence of the costs (quotations from at least 2 suppliers or, if a single supplier, the reasons for choosing a single supplier).
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DESIGN AND CRAFTS COUNCIL OF IRELAND
The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland has a range of supports in place for enterprises in this sector. These include:
-Continuing Professional Development Fund
-Funded Masterclasses
-Future Makers Awards and Supports
-International Fair Fund
-Fuse Product Development Clinics
-Building Craft and Design Enterprise Programme
-Enterprise and Innovation Workshops
-Design and Product Mentoring
-External Exhibitions Fund
Contact details: Design and Craft Council of Ireland, Castle Yard, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny. Tel: 056-7771804,
Emer Ferran, , 056-7796144
Mary Whelan, , 056-7796131
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ENTERPRISEIRELAND
EnterpriseIreland's priority is the achievement of export sales growth from Irish-owned companies. Export sales growth leads to an increase in demand for Irish goods and services, and increases the flow of income into the Irish economy. This is fundamental to job creation and maintenance in Ireland.
EnterpriseIreland works with entrepreneurs and business people across the full business development spectrum - from early-stage entrepreneurs, to established business owners and Irish multinational companies. Our clients include:
- High Potential Start-Up companies with the capability to start a business and sell in export markets.
- Established manufacturing and internationally traded services businesses that are Small or Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs).
- Large companies (employing more than 250).
- Irish-based food and natural resource companies, that are overseas-owned or controlled.
EnterpriseIreland does not work with locally traded service companies or with micro-enterprises such as sole traders. Support for these companies or individuals is available from Local Enterprise Office and FÁS.
Our priority is the achievement of export sales growth from Irish-owned companies. All our services are geared toward helping Irish companies win international sales.
Our range of services is extensive, from funding, to making introductions in key international markets.
- Funding supports - a range of supports, for start-ups, expansion plans, and R&D business plans.
- Export assistance - including the provision of in-market services, local market information and the facilities of our international office network.
- Supports to develop competitiveness - helping companies to become leaner to make them more competitive in international markets.
- Incentives to stimulate in-company R&D – new product, service and process development to ensure sustainability, and growth through the evolution of products and services.
- Assistance with R&D collaboration - with research institutions, to develop and bring to market new technologies, products or processes.
- Connections and introductions to customers overseas -we provide access to a global network of contacts - from heads of government to end customers.
Many of our clients tell us that while the funding they received from EnterpriseIreland was helpful, the non-financial assistance, like introductions to experts, buyers and potential customers, was most valuable.
Some initiatives offered by EnterpriseIreland include:
Innovation Voucher Initiative – EnterpriseIreland
Enterprise Irelands Innovation Voucher initiative was developed to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers (i.e. higher education institutes, public research bodies) and small businesses. Innovation Vouchers worth €5,000 are available to assist a company or companies to explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider. More details are available on the call schedule and closing dates for 2015.
Competitive Start Fund (CSF) 2015
The purpose of the Competitive Start Fund is to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capability to succeed in global markets. The fund is designed to enable those companies reach key commercial and technical milestones, for example:
Evaluate overseas market opportunities and reach firm conclusions regarding the viability of the proposed business.
Build a prototype.
Secure a reference site.
Develop a market entry plan for exploiting international opportunities.
Secure partnership deal or strategic alliance.
Identify suitable channels to international markets.
Secure third party investment e.g. business angel, Venture Capital.
All applications to the Competitive Start Fund must be made via the Enterprise Ireland online application system during call open dates.For further information on the 2015 call open dates see
EnterpriseIreland has a network of Regional Offices. The Midlands office details are:
Enterprise Ireland, Auburn, Dublin Rd, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Tel: 090-6487100
Contact Details:Mark Atterbury
090 6487128 or 087 0570445
Contact Details: Denis Duggan -
090 6487125 or 086 1681848
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EMPLOYABILITY MIDLANDS
EmployAbilityService Midlands exists to support people with disabilities into paid employment while providing effective solutions to employers staffing needs. Employability Midlands is funded through DSP (Department of Social Protection) to deliver the National Supported Employment Programme throughout the counties of Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.
Employability Midlandsprovide support to:
People with disabilities inCountiesLaois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath who want to work or avail of work experience. This includes people with physical/sensory, intellectual disabilities and people who have mental health difficulties.