Be Prepared Grant
The Be Prepared Grant supports Enterprise Ireland clients in preparing an action plan. It is designed for SMEs who would benefit from further research and the use of external expertise in developing this plan.
The grant— which offers up to €5,000 in support— can be used to help cover consultancy, travel and travel expenses associated with researching the direction of their action plan. This might involve investigating the feasibility of diversifying into new markets and market segments; investment in innovation; improvement in operational competitiveness; and/or enhancement of strategic financial capability.
Clients should complete the Brexit Scorecard before making their application.
Am I eligible?
The grant is open to existing clients of Enterprise Ireland that meet the following criteria:
- Actively trading
- Engaged in eligible activities
- Will be impacted by Brexit
- Have completed the Brexit scorecard
Clients of Udarás na Gaeltachta should apply directly to that agency which has a similar offer for its clients.
Ineligible Companies
Companies whose products are listed in Annex 1 to the EU Treaty (TFEU) which include:
- Horticulture companies
- Fish processors
- Other primary producers
What costs are eligible and what is the maximum funding available?
The maximum grant available is €5,000. The grant is calculated at a maximum of 50% of eligible expenditure incurred by the successful applicant.
Eligible Costs
- Fees of external consultants to cover the following areas: Strategy, market development, innovation, operations, people and finance.
- Employee travel and travel expenses (domestic and international) related to research as outlined above.
Ineligible Costs
- Expenditure prior to date of application
- Consultant expenses
- Sales related expenses
- Trade Fair participation costs
- Salaries
- Overheads
How do I apply?
You can apply via the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System.
Prior to applying you should complete the Brexit Scorecard at www.prepareforbrexit.ie
Key contact/more information
For more information, please contact your Enterprise Ireland Adviser.
Brexit Mentor Programme
The Brexit Mentor Programme is designed to support LEO clients identify key areas of exposure because of Brexit and assist Owner / Managers in developing robust strategies to address issues and maximise potential opportunities. The Programme matches up the knowledge, skills, insights and entrepreneurial capability of experienced business practitioners with small business owner/ managers who need practical and strategic one to one advice and guidance on planning for the impact of Brexit. The mentor contributes independent, informed observation and advice to aid decision making.
All applications for mentor assistance are dealt with individually and must be preceded by the business completing the Brexit SME Scorecard to assess the key needs of the business to determine the most essential mentoring objectives.
Who Qualifies?
The Brexit Mentor Programme is open to both new and existing businesses located ithin the LEO area.
The Role of Mentor
Mentors provide Enterprise Ireland and LEO Clients with advice and guidance based on their own commercial experience. They are not consultants. Mentors are CEOs, senior executives, entrepreneurs & founders with international, commercial export business development experience. They volunteer to advise and guide our
client companies, with the key objective of accelerating growth and building client capability.
Their role is to:
- Listen, advise and provide direction to support analysis & assessment of impacts Help the promoter identify potential risks and opportunities of Brexit Discuss solutions and innovative ways of improving business activity
- Help with the decision-making process and provide support to progress actions
- Share experience and knowledge
- Advise on scenario planning, situation assessment and impact evaluation
(contingency plans to sustain and grow business).
Brexit Supports:
Mentoring
Areas of mentor advice in terms of the impact of Brexit typically include:
Business Strategy
Advise businesses to
- Undertake Situation Analysis,
- Develop new strategies to address implications to current business strategies, priorities and operations models,
- Implement Action Plans.
Financial Planning
Advise businesses to
- Examine the impact of currency fluctuations,
- Review supplier costings,
- Review existing customer pricing models
Assess impact of additional administration costs such as customs, tariffs, tax etc. to supply chains, - Identify new capital requirements,
- Establish equity and credit needs.
Sales & Marketing
Advise businesses to
- Assess the impact on current sales and marketing plans,
- Undertake customer needs analysis to determine effects on key customers,
- Undertake competitor analysis,
- Evaluate changes to value proposition.
Market Research
Advise businesses to
- Establish requirement to develop New Markets,
- Examine opportunities for New Product Development.
Intellectual Property & Compliance
Advise businesses to understand
- Impact of new product standards and regulations,
- Are there potential consequences to the validity of trademarks (EU trademarks), designs and possibly copyrights?
Supply Chain Management
Advise businesses to understand What are the potential impacts of:
- regulatory changes,
- increased compliance checks,
- new documentation/licenses
- application procedures,
- rules of origin principles.
