Looking to grow your business? InterTradeIreland helps small businesses explore new cross-border markets, develop new products, processes and services and become investor ready. They provide practical cross-border business funding, business intelligence and meaningful contacts to SMEs across the island, North and South.
To date, InterTradeIreland has worked with 25,000 SMEs, generating 3,000 new jobs and £700m worth of trade and business development. Here we review some of the supports and services on offer to small businesses. Read on to find out more....
Explore new cross border markets
(1) Trade Accelerator Voucher - Get help with costs of professional advice or consultancy
The Trade Accelerator Voucher allows businesses access financial support worth up to £1,000/€1,200 towards professional advice in areas such as finance, regulation, employment law, currency, sales & marketing and tendering. The voucher can help a business get advice from participating expert providers and can be redeemed against the cost of practical advice and expertise on specific issues. It also be used for market advice to help a company scope the potential business opportunity in their opposite jurisdiction.
For more information
To find out how the vouchers work and to apply visit InterTradeIreland's website.
(2) Elevate – Consultancy Support
The Elevate programme provides small businesses with £5,000/€6,000 worth of consultancy time. Businesses can choose an expert from a panel of almost 100 consultants offering specific expertise to identify and capitalise on the significant cross-border sales opportunities. The expert will work with the company to develop a winning sales plan and fast track their cross-border exporting and success. Support is available for identification of sales leads, sales negotiations, market research and advice on the development of marketing materials.
For more information
To find out more about the Elevate programme and to apply, see InterTradeIreland's Elevate webpage.
(3) Acumen – Up to €18,750 funding available
If yours is an established business, InterTradeIreland can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales North or South, right here on the island, to help you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.
For more information
For eligibility criteria and more information on how to apply, see InterTradeIreland's website.
Take on the innovation challenge
(1) Challenge – Innovation Process
InterTradeIreland Challenge Programme is a free programme which allows business owners to transform their company’s prospects over nine months by learning and applying the most effective methods of generating innovative ideas and marketing and launching new products and services. Companies will be selected to take part in workshops and then go through a competitive process where 25 small businesses will be selected for intensive specialist in-house mentoring and support.
For more information
To find out about the application process and how to apply, visit InterTradeIreland's website.
(2) FUSION – Technology/Knowledge Transfer
Product development and innovation is at the heart of growth but often needs costly technology support. FUSION can facilitate this technology transfer and provide financial support for the specialist expertise your business needs.The graduate is employed by you and is based in your company throughout the project (12 - 18 months) with mentoring from the academic partner and InterTradeIreland FUSION consultant.
For more information
Contact InterTradeIreland's team to discuss your particular business needs and find out how the FUSION programme could help you. If you are eligible for support, one of our FUSION consultants will arrange a meeting to understand your particular needs in more detail.
Access Horizon 2020 Funds
InterTradeIreland supports companies and researchers from Ireland and Northern Ireland to collaborate on a cross-border basis to access these R&D funds with the following supports:
(1) Cross-Border Collaboration Voucher
The Cross Border Collaboration Voucher covers the cost of travel or accommodation for up to €550 when meeting with partners in the other jurisdiction to discuss potential Horizon 2020 preparations. The scheme is open to registered indigenous companies and academics. Find out more and apply here.
(2) EU Travel Scheme
Under this scheme, InterTradeIreland will reimburse up to £350/€437 to cover travel and accommodation costs incurred when attending relevant Horizon 2020 related events in Europe. The voucher also covers the cost of attending consortium and negotiation meetings for existing North South partnerships already involved in the funding application process. More information about the scheme and the requirements is available here.
More information about Horizon 2020 is available here.
For more information on InterTradeIreland
Check out InterTradeIreland's website for a full listing of their services, and who to contact for more information.
InterTradeIreland are also one of the 30 or so Government agencies that feature in the Supporting SMEs Online Tool, which brings together over 80 Government business supports into one website. The aim of this tool is to make it easier for a small business to know which supports they could possibly qualify for.