Presentation: Cross Border Co-operation
Best Practice and Future Opportunities from across the
European Union
by Sharon Daly, ASPIRE Programme Co-ordinator
13th June 2013
Project partners
Overview
• The background to ASPIRE
• ASPIRE as an economic solution
• Unique features of ASPIRE
• ASPIRE Funding (INTERREG IVA)
• Key objectives for ASPIRE
• Benefits of ASPIRE
• Progress to date and next steps
Background
• 26,500 businesses in the EBR area
• 89% micro businesses
• Micro businesses struggling to achieve
growth, sales and profit
• 178,000 graduates aged 20 - 29
• 20,000 (11.2%) unemployed and rising
• Identified need for support
ASPIRE
ASPIRE is a unique cross border economic
development programme, designed to tackle
some of the particular problems associated
with the current economic downturn,
primarily:
• Increasing pressure on small businesses to
innovate, survive and remain competitive
• Increasing levels of graduate
unemployment
ASPIRE is unique
• Designed for micro businesses not
engaged in mainstream programmes
• Supports both technical and commercial
business projects
• Investment in owner/manager training
• Development of a business plan for
sustainable growth
• Supports and grows the bottom line
• Creates employment for graduates
• Cross border delivery
Funding available
Eligible costs
£ Sterling per
graduate
ASPIRE Graduate
Salary
Employer NI
Contribution
Total £
Total cost
Company
contribution
ASPIRE support
(INTERREG IVA)
17,500
3,600
13,900
1,575
0
1,575
19,075
3,600
£15,475
Funding available
Eligible costs
€Euro per
graduate
ASPIRE
Graduate Salary
PSRI
Total €
Total cost
Company
contribution
ASPIRE support
(INTERREG IVA)
20,750
4,200
16,550
2,230
0
2,230
22,980
4,200
€18,780
Performance targets
Business
support
Assist 45 businesses within East Border
Region to employ a graduate for 12
months (70% from NI and 30% from ROI)
Turnover
30% increase in turnover for businesses
Cross Border
Trade
33% of businesses to increase cross border
trade by 5%
Graduate jobs
50% of graduates offered full time jobs
Additional Jobs
45 additional jobs to be created e.g.
admin/production
Programme Delivery
Stage 1
Business Recruitment
Jan –
Feb
2013
Stage 2
Identify the business need for a graduate
and define the associated project and job
role –
March –
May
2013
Stage 3
Recruit, select and appoint the graduate
June – Sept 2013
June –
Sept
2013
Stage 4
Mentor, monitor and measure project for
12 months against financial and
performance targets
Ongoing
Benefits to Businesses
• Support to businesses to draw up an
effective business development plan
• Support to businesses throughout the
graduate recruitment and selection process
• Provides businesses with affordable graduate
skills for 12 months – 80% of salary funded
by ASPIRE
• On-going advice and support from ASPIRE
mentor
• Experience and training in project
management
• Cross border networking opportunities
Benefits to Graduates
• Real, identifiable employment
opportunities within the East Border
Region – 45 posts available
• Opportunities for sustained employment
and/or career progression
• On-going advice and support from ASPIRE
mentor
• Experience and training in project
management/ Committee
management/Presentation skills
• Cross border networking opportunities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Progress to Date
Letter of Offer Issued April 2012
Managing Agent appointed - Dec 2012
Programme launched - Jan 2013
Information sessions - Jan/Feb 2013
181 expressions of interest - Feb 2013
139 businesses eligible to apply to ASPIRE
90 businesses attended ASPIRE Master Classes
56 applications received by closing date
45 Projects approved
45 Jobs advertised on 7th June 2013
Next Steps
• 45 graduate posts advertised on a
cross border basis
• 45 graduates appointed and in post
by October 2013 – October 2014
Thank yo
www.aspireprogramme.com