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Local Enterprise Week 04-09 March

Recent articles

The Irish Times Innovation Awards 2018

The Irish Times Innovation Awards 2018 invites Ireland's innovators to showcase their disruptive new services. From start-ups led by enterprising individuals, to the island's multinationals and every scale of business or organisation in between and every sector of business, this is a chance to showcase and get rewarded for excellence. The overall winner receives a high profile communications package worth in excess of €150,000 plus a scholarship for short courses in Executive Development in the UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business. The awards are split into five categories.

Enterprise Ireland announces Graduate Entrepreneurship €500,000 Competitive Start Fund to accelerate growth of start-ups

Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start Fund (CSF) for recent graduates will open for applications on Tuesday 10th April 2018. The €500,000 fund will provide up to €50,000 in equity funding for up to 10 successful applicants. The fund closes to applications at 3pm on Tuesday, 24th April 2018.
 
The purpose of the Competitive Start Fund is to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capability to succeed in global markets and the graduate entrepreneurship call specifically is to encourage entrepreneurship among graduates.
 

Competitive Start Fund 2018

The next opening date for Competitive Start Fund – Regional Entrepreneurship is   Tuesday 27th Feb 2018
The Competitive Start Fund (CSF) aims to support early stage start-ups.  This fund is open to early stage companies in manufacturing & internationally traded services, including the following subsectors: Internet, Games, Apps, Mobile, SaaS, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Lifesciences, Food, Cleantech and Industrial Products. 

Ballyhaunis Employees need to support local businesses at Christmas

Ballyhaunis employs approximately 2.500 people locally in various industries and the local chamber of commerce would like to see employees supporting local businesses this christmas. Lots of activities are planned in the run-up to the festive season . The Mayo SPCA will kick off celebrations with a market in the Parochial Hall on November 19th. On sunday November 26th the chrismas lights will be turned on by Santa and the blessing of the Crib will be performed by Fr. Farragher. December the 2nd is the annual Christmas Market day showcasing a wide range of local arts and crafts.

Home Energy Information Evening

The Abbey Partnership will be hosting an  information evening at the Abbey (The Friary) about how to make your home more energy efficient and warmer. This event will take place on Saturday November 25th at 8 pm. Two representatives from (SEAI) will speak on the opportunities for locals to make their homes more energy efficient and outline the grants available to make such improvements. Tea and coffee will be served after the talk and everyone is welcome.

Standard Innovation Voucher

 The next opening date for the Standard Innovation Voucher will be Weds 6th September with a closing date of Wednesday 20th September 2017 at 3pm.

Innovation Vouchers worth €5,000 are available to assist a company or companies to explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider.

The Innovation Voucher initiative was developed to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers (i.e. higher education institutes, public research bodies) and small businesses.

How to prepare for WRC (Workplace Relations Commission)

How to prepare for WRC inspections
 
Employers are often visited by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) asking to inspect employee records such as payslips, employment contracts, annual leave entitlements, public holidays, etc. Here’s our advice on making sure you’ve got everything covered…
 
In order to ensure compliance and avoid fines, employers paying below the National Minimum Wage for training purposes must implement a structured training programme which allows the lower payment.

Vacant Homes

Mayo County Council has launched an iniative through a new national website designed to gather information on vacant homes throughout the country. Local government wants to engage with owners to assist in bringing these homes back in to use.

To see how it works, log on to www.vacanthomes.ie

Regional Enterprise Development Fund

The Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) of up to €60m which was launched back in May, closing dates are looming.
 
The funding is being delivered through two Scheme calls, the first call will fund projects under the Regional EnterpriseDevelopment Fund of up to €35m in grant support. The second call under this Scheme will fund projects from the remaining balance of the €60m budget available.
Please note the closing date for the first call for Stream 1,2,3 and 4 is 3pm Friday 18th August 2017.
 

CETA Ratification Pivotal to Future of EU Trade Agenda

Today (14th February 2017) on the eve of the European Parliament’s crucial vote on the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada, Chambers Ireland and national Chambers from across Europe call on EU leaders and governments to stand firmly in favour of an inclusive and forward-looking EU trade agenda, while also warning that recent complications around the deal have highlighted that the effectiveness of the EU’s common commercial policy is at stake.
 

Enterprise Irelands 5k Innovation Vouchers Now Open for Application

The Innovation Voucher initiative was developed to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers (i.e. higher education institutes, public research bodies) and small businesses. 
 
Innovation Vouchers worth €5,000 are available to assist a company or companies to explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider.
 
Am I eligible?

Business Mentoring

TheLocal Enterprise Office Castlebar  provides business advice and mentoring to existing and potential clients. 
 
Business Meeting
 
This free service is geared towards those who are considering starting their own businesses, those who have recently done so and existing start ups that are moving to the next stage of their development. A business advice and counselling meeting will initially point you in the right direction and help you prioritise the actions you need to implement to make progress.
 

Interest rate cut for small business

New mentoring assistance available for micro-enterprises through Local Enterprise Offices

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell-O’Connor T.D., today (17th June) welcomed the news that Microfinance Ireland (or MFI), the not-for-profit Government Agency providing funded finance to micro-enterprises, is offering micro-businesses the opportunity to avail of a cut in its interest rates (down by 1%) from 1st July 2016.

R&D Fund Standard Projects

Overview of the R&D Fund Standard Projects (Maximum Grant of €650,000)
The R&D Fund exists to support projects which have the potential to develop novel products and services with a clear competitive advantage in their target market. This will enable companies to increase employment through sustainable and substantially increased sales.
The R&D Fund will help companies to achieve the following:
A demonstrable connection between R&D and the overall business objectives.

Would you like to do business in the US? Ireland West International Trade Centre

The ‘Ireland West International Trade Centre’ is a collaborative partnership developing a soft landing platform in the US for companies, businesses and entrepreneurs based in the West and North West of Ireland. Our strategy is to assist indigenous companies explore export opportunities in the US.
 
Our objective with our partners in Rhode Island is to provide a cost-effective client based service to identified companies in the region. Supporting our companies with direct support, networking and connectivity with US based Diaspora.
 

Ballyhaunis Chamber Local News