National Enterprise Hub supports thousands of SMEs in its first year

More than 6,500 SMEs have been directly supported by the National Enterprise Hub (NEH) in the first year since its launch, according the the Government.

An initiative of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and Enterprise Ireland, the NEH brings together information and resources on over 250 Government supports from 30 different departments and agencies. Staffed by experts and trained advisors, it can be accessed online or by speaking to a member of the team of advisors by phone or via live chat.

In the last 12 months, the NEH has attracted over 220,000 active online users from a variety of sectors, including health and beauty, and tourism and hospitality. The top grants availed of by businesses ranged from €3,000 to €7,000, and focused on supporting businesses with cashflow, expansion and productivity to help them deal with concerns around rising costs and competitiveness.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said the NEB has proven effective in streamlining and simplifying access for SMEs to Government supports, equipping them with vital digital and sustainability resources to navigate rising costs and stay competitive.

“My focus now with the NEH is on reducing administrative burdens and red tape for businesses by consolidating multiple grant applications into a single, simplified process,” he added. “We must redouble our efforts to simplify processes for businesses and make sure that we think about small businesses first.”