Support for Micro-enterprise in the Border, Midland and Western

Region of Ireland

9th October, 2003

Kieran Moylan,BMW Regional Assembly

Presentation Outline

• Micro-enterprise in the B.M. W. Region

• Role of the County Enterprise Boards

• Details of Supports provided

• Outcomes of the programme to date

• Conclusions

Micro-enterprise Measure OverviewObjectives

• Provide employment opportunities in less developed and remote areas so as to acieve more enduring and value-added balanced regional development

• Support greater participation of the unemployed and women in the promotion and development of enterprises

• Broaden and strengthen the base of micro-enterprises across the Region reduce dependence on traditional or declining economic sectors

• Maximise the employment and value added potential of micro-enterprises contribute to national competitiveness

Micro-enterprise Measure OverviewBudget

– Structural Fund (ERDF) co-financing €19.43m– National Public co-financing € 6.49m– National Private co-financing €29.32m– Additional non co-financed public €42.39m– Additional non co-financed private €24.99m

€122.62m

Role of County Enterprise BoardsThe focus of the Board is strategic and the key task of each

Board is to identify employment opportunities in the County

– Developing and implementing an Enterprise Action Plan for each County

– Providing enterprise supports to promote and assist commercially viable small enterprise projects

– Creating local enterprise awareness of developing and enterprise culture to ensure locally based enterprise activity

– Influencing the allocation of resources to and within the County from EU, private and public funding

CEB Structure

• The Board

• The Evaluation Committee

• Staff

Board Membership• 14 Members• Balance of Interests

– 4 Elected Representatives– 4 Public Officials– 1 IBEC (Business)– 1 Farming– 1 Trade Union– 3 Community/Others

Enterprise Support Services

• Measure 1 – Selective Financial Intervention

• Capital Grants

– Max. 50% of cost of fixed assets (€63,500)

– Partially/fully refundable (min. 25% refundable)• Employment Grants

– €6,350 per job created (max. €63,500)• Feasibility Study Grants

– 60% of expenditure (max. €6,350)

Measure 2 – Enterpreneurial and Capability Development

• Promoting Enterpreneurship– Schools Programmes– Women in Enterprise Programmes– National Enterprise Awards

• Capability Development– Business Skills Training

» Financial» Marketing

– Management Development– Mentor Programme– Information Technology Skills

Programme OutcomesMeasure 1

Selective Financial

Intervention

Cumulative to end 2002

Mid Term Target(2003)

Final Target(2006)

No. Enterprises Supported

1,353 1,000 2,000

Total Private Investment

36,149 25.65 51.13

* Net New Full

Time Jobs

3,637 4,000 8,000

Programme Outcomes Measure 2

Entrepreneurial & Capability

Development

Cumulative to end 2002

Mid Term Target(2003)

Final Target(2006)

No. of recipients in training

(Male/Female)

9,686

(4662/5054)

8,000

(3440/4560)

12,000

No. of participants, recognised certified courses 1,326 2,000 3,000

Conclusions• Overall, the success rate and performance of the measure has

been quite high, in both outputs and impacts. Successful features of the Measure are as follows:

Selection of suitable projects is devolved to the County level (lowest administrative unit in Ireland)

Local Boards are partnerships in natureEach Board develops a 3 year Enterprise Development Action

Plan for their CountyEach Board employs a CEO and Enterprise Development staff

(typically a total staff of 4 per County)Training Programmes are developed locally to respond to local

demandsCentral Government provides financial resources and

develops policies for the general activities of the Boards