The SFA welcomes the announcement of €3 million LEO Funds to enhance the productivity of small firms in every region, as part of the Future Jobs Strategy, announced today, by Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
Sven Spollen-Behrens of the Small Firms Association said: “The LEO Competitive Fund and the Competitive Pilot Scheme will support small businesses in their Brexit readiness and enhance productivity by stimulating research and innovation and promoting lean business practices.
“These funds are needed to address the lagging productivity of our domestic firms and reduce our increasing reliance on multinationals.
The SFA also welcomes the Government’s announcement that it is developing a major new policy on SMEs and entrepreneurship under Future Jobs Ireland. “It is clear to those of us working with small businesses that more can be done to improve the design and implementation of national SME and entrepreneurship policies and programmes. The SFA is calling for a national Small Business Strategy, that places a clear focus on the 98% of businesses employing half the private sector workforce, which are the lifeblood of towns and villages around the country. It is time for a plan to boost the number and performance of small businesses”, Sven Spollen-Behrens continued.
Article Published: 16/07/2019