Local Enterprise Office Tipperary

1. Local Enterprise Office Tipperary Presentation by Rita Guinan 10 September 2014.

2. Introduction • In 1993 County and City Enterprise Boards were set up by Government as Companies limited by guarantee with 15 local directors to promote and encourage local enterprise. There were 35 Boards nationally charged with implementing local enterprise action plans funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation. • On 14 April 2014 under the Enterprise Boards Dissolution Act, the Government dissolved the 35 Limited Companies and established 31 Local Enterprise Offices within the Local Authorities. The LEO operates under a Service Level Agreement between Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authority and will continue to grow and develop micro and small business at local level. • The Local Enterprise Office is the First Stop Shop for anyone seeking information and support to start or grow a business in Ireland. • A Government initiative under the Action Plan for Jobs, the network of Local Enterprise Offices will deliver an enhanced and more integrated support service for micro and small business and will build on the significant achievements of the County & City Enterprise Boards over a 20 year period.

3. Enterprise Staff Rita Guinan Nenagh • Eleanor Forrest • Geraldine Manning • Madeline Ryan Clonmel Ita Horan Mairead English Maher Judith Dalton

4. Enterprise Supports • Selective Financial Intervention • Financial assistance is awarded under three headings • Priming Grants (<18 months trading) • Business Expansion Grants (>18 months ) • Feasibility/technical assistance Grants • Entrepreneurial and Capability Development • Enterprise awareness / enterprise culture • Advice, information, counselling, mentoring, training. • Management Development Programmes

5. Primary Responsibility • Commercially viable projects with job creation potential • Creation and development of sustainable micro-enterprises • Projects – up to 10 employees • Capital investment – unlimited • Priority to enterprises in the manufacturing & internationally traded services sector with the potential to develop strong export portfolios. • Locally traded enterprises promoted by the unemployed, those recently made redundant and women re entering the workforce.

6. Priming & Business Expansion Grants • 50% of investment to a max of €150,000 whichever is the lesser. • Note: €150,000 will be exception in most cases it will be 50% of investment to a max of €80,000 whichever is the lesser. Grants approved locally in excess of €40,000 will now be referred to Enterprise Ireland for endorsement. • Subject to the above limits a max grant of €15,000 per job created shall apply. • A Business must be in operation longer than 18 Months to qualify for Business Expansion Grant. A business that has availed of a priming grant will be ineligible to apply until 18 months after drawdown of priming grant, • Support can cover all business costs directly attributable to starting growing & developing the business i.e. Capital, Salary Costs, Rent etc

7. Feasibility Grants • 50% of investment to a max of €40,000 or €20,000 whichever is the lesser. • Eligible Expenditure includes • Product/ prototype development • Market Research Consultants fees • Financial Evaluation • Own Time €400 p.w. (Capped at 20% of study costs) • Overseas travel • Domestic Travel & subsistence • Telephone/ admin etc. Paid based on vouched expenditure & Report

8. Refundable Aid • Each Local Enterprise Office has an obligation to ensure that at least 30% of total approvals must be in refundable form. • This means that grant aid will be structured so that it is part grant and part loan. This loan is interest free and generally repaid by agreement over a maximum of 3 years .

9. The Project Evaluation Process – 6 Core Principles • Commercial Evaluation:Is there a market for the proposed product or service and can the project secure a requisite share of the market? • Financial Evaluation:Can the project secure and repay the requisite financial investment (fixed and working capital) • Management Evaluation:Can the promoters and their management team successfully address the business development and business as usual agendas of the project? • Technical Evaluation:Are there any technical barriers to successful implementation (product or process) and can they be overcome? • Economic Evaluation:Is there a potential economic and exchequer return on the taxpayers investment – jobs direct, indirect? • Funding Evaluation:How can taxpayers money best be used to support the project and optimise its potential?

10. Service Level Agreement & Metrics • The Service Level Agreement covers 4 distinct areas: • Business Information and Advisory Services • Enterprise Support and Development Services • Entrepreneurship Support Services • Local Economic Development Services • Metrics • Annual targets/ metrics are agreed with Enterprise Ireland against which performance will be measured (enterprise & LA side) • The LEO will work with an agreed portfolio of Companies to scale them and help them graduate to Enterprise Ireland.

11. BUDGETS/ Exchequer Allocations -Tipperary • MEASURE 1 – €366,808 • MEASURE 2 – €378,952 (€745,760) • Own Resource Income - €71,000 • REFUNDABLE AID – €618,384 Note : These are indicative amounts

12. Sample projects supported by LEOs Manufacturing • Food production – cheese, convenience foods, sauces, rubs, relishes, preserves, meat packaging/labelling, chocolate, confectionery. • Stainless steel- kitchen equipment, railings, shop fittings • Engineering, draught stops, flue master, components, fencing • Fashion Design / millinery • Stained glass • Jewellery/ craft / pottery/ ceramics • Furniture / specialised joinery for UK (contracts) • Software programmes (manufacturing systems, safety programmes)

13. Sample projects supported by CEBs • Service • Multi-media, recording studio/ a.v. systems/ power supply for events • Software applications/ apps/ on line businesses – Translations, Law on Line • Secure shredding • Marketing Services • Design House – web, graphic & print • Quality System Installation • Projects promoted by the unemployed / women re-entering the workforce (e.g. air fresheners, fire wood, business services, baby gifts, health care etc )

14. Progress from 15 April to date • Grants Approved €335,334 (€15,242 average) • No of Businesses supported 22 (30 applications) • Projected Investment €1,024,768 (32% average) • Jobs Approved 25 ft & 6 pt (28 ft equivalents) • 71 Individuals availed of Measure 2

15. Entrepreneurial &Capability Development

16. First Stop Shop • Advice, Information and Assistance • Access to Organisations such as • Small Firms Association • Irish Exporters Association • ISME • On line Resources • National and Local Enterprise Office Website • SME Online Tool www.localenterprise.ie/smeonlinetool/ • Tipperary Directory • NUBIE.ie

17. Programmes • Pre start up – • SYOB, • Business Boot Camps • Work life Balance etc • Existing Businesses • Business Skills Training • HR Management, • Customer Service, • Taxation & Financial Management for Small Business • Sales, Marketing & ICT • Company Specific • Mentoring, • Management Development Programme/ Accelerate • Smart Knowledge Programme

18. Mentoring / Temporary Business Advisors • On Site Diagnostic • Experienced Panel • Nominal Fee • Written Report • Financial Planning • Costing / Taxation • Production Planning • Business Structures • Sales • Marketing & Branding • Health & Safety • Prototype Development • HR Management

19. Smart Knowledge • How to commercialise an idea • Mapping your Business Model • Driving Innovation in your business • Creativity & Knowledge • Exploring the Route to Market • Service & Product Prototyping • Assessing Risk • Brand Innovation

20. Grant SchemesTailored to Business Needs • Website Development - €1,000 or 50% • Exhibition Grants - €1,000 or 50% • Export Market Support - €3,000 or 50% • Market Entry Support • Branding and Design • Community Enterprise Initiatives • Training Supports – 50% • Subject to no other Agency funding

21. Additional Activities • Workspace Study • Training Needs Analysis • Schools programmes • Link to EI Schemes such as • Get Export Ready • Hi Start • Innovation Vouchers • New Frontiers • County Networks • Women’ s Networks • Green Business Network • Food Producers Network • SMILE • Representation & Linkage (EWG, Leader, TCEC, TEA etc)

22. Micro Finance • Set up by the Government to provide loans to newly established or growing microenterprises, with commercially viable proposals that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by commercial banks. • MFI is ‘additional’ lending which would not otherwise be provided by banks. Banks remain the primary and dominant supplier of finance to microenterprises. • Applicants should have a viable business plan and be able to demonstrate that they have been refused conventional bank credit. • Loans to top up bank credit may be available in certain cases where it is clear that the business would not go ahead without MFI

23. Loans • Loans from €2k to €25k (average loan size €16k at present) • Term three years • Interest rate is 7.8% (through the LEO) • May be a start up or an existing business • Business must have Less than 10 staff & turnover and/or Bal Sheet < €2m • Loans will not be provided where venture capital or grant aid is more suitable

24. Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur • The Local Enterprise Office has been provided with a fund of €50,000 to invest in the three winning businesses. The overall winner of Tipperary ’s Best Young Entrepreneur may receive an investment of up to €25,000. • The competition is open to individuals aged 30 and under and will be judged under three distinct categories: • Best new idea • Best start-up business • Best established business with new add-on

25. Online Trading Vouchers To Support SME’s enhance their online trading presence. ONLINE TRADING VOUCHERS to the value of €2,500 are now being made available under the National Digital Strategy with a €5m fund available nationally. • Who is Eligible • Businesses – any sector (with a limited online presence) • T/o < €2 Million • < 10 staff • Chambers/ non Commercial organisations do not qualify. • What is eligible • Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website such as implementing online payments or booking systems • Purchase of internet related software • App development • ICT consultancy for developing an online strategy • Web based advertising campaigns • 50% of eligible expenditure • Applicants will receive individual Mentoring to formulate a web strategy and 2 Information evenings are planned for 17 & 22 September.

26. Retail Specific Initiatives • Fund special initiatives and activities designed to increase foot fall and spend in the County eg Christmas Promotional Campaign in Conjunction with Tipp FM . (Expression of interest form). Requirement to Add value • Provide financial resources to assist groups organise worthwhile fairs and events capable of attracting in outside visitors. • Support the Retail Sector across the County to develop a series of actions designed to attract new, retain existing customers and encourage increased spend. • Encourage the Sector to develop online trading activities to complement their existing business and enhance their profile. Maximise the New Trading on Line Voucher Scheme in Tipperary. • GIBO (Getting Irish Business On Line) training and support for retailers who lack a web presence or e-zineetc. • commission the redesign of Tipperary Directory.ie to support local business. This facility will give small scale enterprises free access to global markets. • Consultation – what can we do for you ?

27. Where do we go from Here ? • Consultation with the County’s Retailers, Chambers and Business Associations • At agreed Locations across the County • Time Frame before year end • Respond

28. Thank You Rita Guinan Head of Local Enterprise Tipperary Ballingarrane House, Ballingarrane Science & Technology Park, Cahir Road, Clonmel and Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary Clonmel: 052-6129466   Direct Line Nenagh : 0761 06 6574 or 087-9207700 www.localenterprise.ie/tipperary