Business Support
Programmes
Grant Gilmore, InterTradeIreland
InterTradeIreland
Encouraging SMEs to energise their Businesses

• InterTradeIreland helps small businesses capitalise on the extraordinary possibilities that
exist right here on the island of Ireland, where cross-border trade exceeds £2bn/ €2.8bn
annually.
• Over 25,000 companies have accessed services and intelligence that has energised
their business.
• 6,000 companies have taken part in InterTradeIreland programmes and have
generated £700 million of trade and business development value plus 3,000 jobs.
•In a challenging commercial world, business energy makes all the difference.
InterTradeIreland can provide businesses with that energy, through a strong mix of
business intelligence, meaningful contacts and funding support.
Discover What’s Possible
Funding
• Sourcing specialist advice or finding the right person with the right skills can be a
challenge for businesses, while partnering with academic institutes can be complex.
• InterTradeIreland can support companies financially in these areas, assisting not only
with funding, but also with specialist expertise and vital introductions.
• InterTradeIreland helps early stage companies become more ‘investor ready’ with a
range of Equity and Venture Capital Advisory Services and links to key Business
Angel networks on the island.
• For more established businesses looking to grow then our Funding for Growth
Advisory Services and expertise can help guide them to the most appropriate form of
finance for their business stage.
Discover What’s Possible
Intelligence
•
InterTradeIreland provides valuable business & policy intelligence on opportunities,
regulation, market trends and important influencers.
• InterTradeIreland also provides access to a strong knowledge base through Graduates,
Universities, Company collaboration and specialist advisors to support innovation
and product development.
• InterTradeIreland produces the largest all-island Business Monitor survey quarterly,
publishes insightful research reports and provides a unique all-island trade statistics
portal.
Discover What’s Possible
Contacts
I
nterTradeIreland’s extensive networks and partnerships, formal and informal, are central
to its purpose to grow business in Northern Ireland and Ireland.
• A series of business events including conferences, seminars, workshops and
masterclasses on various topics and themes, most of which are free to attend, offer
companies the valuable opportunity to make those all important connections across the
island.
Know-How To Tender Successfully
Know-How to Tender
How InterTradeIreland can help
•Go-2-Tender Practical workshops to help you tender more successfully for public
sector contracts.
•Meet the Buyer Events giving businesses unique face-to-face access to key public
sector buyers.
•Consortia Advisory Service - Helping businesses source tender partners and
collaborative opportunities
•Information & Advice FAQs, tender guides, videos and presentations to help you
tender more successfully.
•Trade Accelerator Voucher - Financial support towards professional advice re crossborder trading and regulation.
•Tender Alerts - Get all the latest tender information to your phone – FREE. Download
the Go-2-Tender iPhone app or Android app.
Know-How to Tender
Go-2-Tender workshops
•Go-2-Tender is a workshop programme which aims to give your business the confidence,
knowledge and practical skills to tender successfully for public sector contracts across the
island.
•Companies get two days of workshops and an additional 1/2 day mentoring for every
company taking part.
•Eligible participant companies can also apply for up to a further three days of mentoring
from an experienced consultant to help with tender development, scoping potential
markets and tailored advice and guidance
Know-How to Tender
Advanced Go-2-Tender
Advanced Go-2-Tender is a workshop programme aimed at SMEs with tender
experience who need specific tailored support to increase their success in public
sector contracts across the island.
•
Companies get 2 days of workshops and an additional 2 days of mentoring.
•
Companies must demonstrate experience and capacity to undertake the course.
Know-How to Tender
Pilot Go-2-Tender Lite
Go-2-Tender Lite is a pilot workshop for micro-enterprises (<10 ‘ees) giving confidence,
knowledge and practical support to public tender novices.
 Half day workshop followed by one hour advice clinic /mentoring for very
participant.
 Participants are then encouraged to develop tender know-how, look for
opportunities and new potential markets.
 Partnership with Wicklow & Fingal Local Enterprise Offices and the Local
Government Strategic Procurement Board.
Know-How to Tender
Meet The Buyer Events
The aim of these events is to provide SMEs with an opportunity to engage with some of
the key public sector buyers across the island as well as the main business support
agencies.
Two events planned for 2015 – dates to be confirmed in Oct & Nov
All key Public Sector Buying organisations are present; OGP, CPD, HSE, Local
Government, Education, Semi-States, CoPE’s, new Super Councils (NI)
Business Support Zone, Information Workshops, eTenders / eTenders NI seminars.
For more information go to www.intertradeireland.com/tendersuccessfully
Know-How to Tender
Consortia Services
The aim of the service is to support smes who are considering collaborating for upcoming
public tenders.
Smes must be experienced in submitting tenders and demonstrate commitment to
working collaboratively.
Mentoring / Consultancy Support of up to 5 days is available.
FOR INFORMATION ON ALL OUR SUPPORTS VISIT
www.intertradeireland.com
Sales Growth On Your Doorstep
Sales Growth
Acumen
• 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.
• Employ a Salesperson
Funding towards 50% of their cost to a maximum of £15,000/€18,750 for a full time
position or £8,000/€10,000 for a part time position.
• Marketing Graduate
50% funding for a skilled graduate to the value of £13,750/€17,150 plus the graduate will
earn a fully funded post graduate diploma in sales development during their 12 month
contract with your company.
• Marketing Research
Specialist consultancy support of up to £4,000/€5,000 to research cross-border
opportunities and implement a cross-border strategy.
Sales Growth
Elevate
•
Designed specifically for Micro-Businesses.
•£5,000/€6,000 worth of consultancy time is available to you.
•Expert panel of almost 100 consultants offering specific expertise to identify and
capitalise on the significant cross-border sales opportunities that exist on your doorstep.
•You choose the expert.
•They will work with you to develop a winning sales plan and fast track your cross-border
exporting and success.
Sales Growth
Trade Accelerator Voucher & Simple Guide
•Trade Accelerator Voucher
Financial support worth up to £1,000/€1,200 plus VAT towards professional advice in
areas such as finance, regulation, employment law, currency, sales & marketing and
tendering.
•Simple Guide To Cross-Border Business
A simple guide on everything you need to know about expanding your business into
a new cross-border territory - all the do’s and dont’s as well as valuable information
on setting up a cross-border business as well as up to date regulatory information to
keep your business compliant. Download from InterTradeIreland website.
www.intertradeireland.com/salesgrowth
The Key To Innovation Success
Innovation Success
FUSION
•FUSION is an innovation partnership between an SME, third-level institution in the
opposite jurisdiction and a high calibre science/engineering or technology graduate.
•You can choose an 18 month project (typically for new product or service development)
or a 12 month project (typically for process improvement) depending on your business
needs.
•Funding is available up to £44,250/€52,800 for 18 month projects and up to
£31,000/€37,000 for 12 month projects.
www.intertradeireland.com/innovationsuccess