Among the series of Covid-19 business supports recently announced by the Government, Enterprise Ireland’s Lean Business Continuity Voucher can specifically help Irish companies operating in the manufacturing and/or internationally traded services sector make a return to work in line with social distancing restrictions and safety protocols. Social distancing, increased hygiene and health and safety checks for employees are becoming real issues for many businesses looking to reset. The €2,500 fund can help Covid-19 impacted companies quickly access expertise in reviewing and optimising operations to identify the measures needed to ensure continued operations. This fund can also be used to avail of consultancy expertise to assess a business’s preparations to adhere to back to work protocols.
Over 1,700 Irish companies have engaged with Enterprise Ireland since March and a large number are experiencing a critical impact on their business as a consequence of the covid-19 pandemic.
Additional supports available from Enterprise Ireland to help Covid-19 impacted businesses include:
• The €180 million Sustaining Enterprise Fund is available to assist companies in the manufacturing and/or internationally traded services sectors, employing 10 or more people who have suffered, or expect to suffer, a 15 percent or more reduction in turnover or profits or an increase in costs as a direct result of Covid-19. Funding of up to €800,000 will allow eligible businesses to access the necessary funding to sustain their businesses in the short to medium term.
• The Sustaining Enterprise Fund for Small Enterprises will provide a €25k to €50k short term funding injection to eligible smaller companies in the manufacturing and/or internationally traded services sectors employing 10 or more people to support business continuity and to strengthen their ability to return to growth. Eligible companies will have suffered, or be projected to suffer, a 15 percent or more reduction in actual or projected turnover or profit as a result of Covid-19.
Enterprise Ireland Regional Director for Dublin, Eoghan Hanrahan said, “Our focus is on supporting companies through this period, to get the right advice and access to funding that they may need to get back up and running. The Lean Business Continuity Voucher can be used by businesses of all sizes to avail of consultants who will assess your business’s readiness and advise on the steps to put in place to make sure your business is fully compliant with the regulations to make a gradual return to operation.
“We have been working with businesses and health and safety consultants to help businesses get back to work. Businesses may require external advice to understand the measures that are required of businesses in the new normal. Enterprise Ireland’s Lean Business Continuity Voucher is available for businesses who need assistance.
“The Enterprise Ireland Regional Teams are in constant contact with businesses of all sizes, not just existing clients, about the wide range of Enterprise Ireland and wider Government supports available to them during this unprecedented time. I urge any business owner to contact the dedicated Covid-19 Business Response Unit or directly get in touch with the Enterprise Ireland office in Dublin to discuss the next steps to getting back to business,” Eoghan Hanrahan added.
For further information, please contact Enterprise Ireland Office in Dublin on 01 727 2000.
