‘Brexit SME Scorecard’ now available for LEO clients

‘Brexit SME Scorecard’ now available for LEO clients– Minister Breen

Local Enterprise Offices will be the “first-stop-shop” for micro and small businesses for Brexit guidance and supports

Minister Breen urges LEO clients to be Brexit ready and announces suite of Brexit supports for micro and small businesses totalling €3.4 million. Minister of State for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen T.D. has urged micro and small businesses to prepare for Brexit and to talk to their Local Enterprise Office (LEO) about the range of LEO supports now available.

The Minister was in LEO Dublin City at the Dublin City Council Civic Offices, Wood Quay to announce a suite of Brexit supports totalling €3.4 million, now available to micro and small businesses through the 31 LEOs nationwide. These include:

  • Access to the ‘Brexit SME Scorecard’ online tool where micro and smaller businesses can self-diagnose their readiness for Brexit; 
  • A ‘Technical Assistance for Micro-enterprises’ grant to help LEO clients to find new markets and exports; 
  • Rollout of ‘Lean for Micro’ nationwide which will make small businesses more efficient and competitive; 
  • A ‘LEO Innovation and Investment Fund’ pilot programme to support innovation in micro-enterprises and get them investor ready to scale their businesses; 
  • Tailored mentoring to address Brexit related business challenges; 
  • Training on specific Brexit challenges, including financial aspects; and 
  • Continued information, advice and guidance across all 31 LEOs and regionally.

Speaking at the announcement, which was attended by a number of LEO client companies Minister Breen said “I am delighted to announce this suite of important Brexit supports which will be available for small and medium enterprises. These are important resources as SME’s have fewer internal resources to draw on in meeting the challenges posed by Brexit.

It is imperative that micro and small businesses have the tools and supports needed to navigate through what is uncharted territory. This is part of the Government’s Brexit planning and I am very pleased that my Department through Enterprise Ireland has been able to accelerate the rollout of these new LEO offerings worth up to €3.4 million, and I urge small and micro business owners to get in touch with their LEO to see how they can help.” he said.

Also at the announcement, Brendan Flood, Divisional Manager, Regions and Entrepreneurship at Enterprise Ireland said: “All companies large and small will be affected by Brexit, and there are both opportunities and challenges arising. Preparation is crucial. The LEO supports being announced by the Minister today will help to build resilience in micro and small enterprises so that they can better cope with the challenges that are ahead. We are particularly pleased to be able to offer the Enterprise Ireland online Brexit SME Scorecard to the micro and small enterprise sector today. The scorecard will enable these companies to take a first step in preparing for Brexit by conducting their own assessment of areas of potential risk and opportunity, and to then to develop a plan of action in response.”

Speaking on behalf of the LEOs, Sheelagh Daly, Chairperson of the Network of LEOs commented: “We are very pleased to be able to offer these Brexit supports to micro and small companies through every Local Enterprise Office nationwide. The Local Enterprise Offices are the first stop shop for anyone wishing to start or grow their business. If you are a start-up, micro or small enterprise, make your Local Enterprise Office the first port of call for Brexit support and advice”.

Also in attendance at this morning’s announcement representing the County and City Management Association (CCMA) was Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly Co. Council who commented: “We very much welcome the Minister’s announcement this morning of the full suite of supports available from the LEOs to help local enterprises prepare for Brexit. The Local Enterprise Offices are readily accessible in every Local Authority in the country so Brexit advice and supports are very close at hand wherever your business is located.”