Minister Harris announces €11 million in support for small and medium businesses post-Brexit

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD has today announced €11 million funding awarded to Skillnet Ireland to support small and medium businesses in a post-Brexit world.

Focused on supporting business recovery and growth post-Brexit, the funding will address several priority areas including:

• Digitalisation: Supporting businesses integrate digital technology and change the way businesses operate and deliver value to customers.
• Innovation: Facilitating new business models, delivery models, customer engagement tools, learning technologies, Research and Development, and the management of innovation and collaboration.
• Sustainability: Developing the capacity to create sustainable business models, job types and career pathways, and to integrate existing frameworks and standards.
• Leadership Development: Strengthening the capacity of owners and managers in key areas including planning, finance, talent management, process management and supply chain management.

Speaking on the announcement Minister Harris said: “The Government is committed to supporting small and medium businesses who are facing unprecedented challenges as a result of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“As businesses tackle these challenges, this funding channelled through Skillnet Ireland will play a vital role in helping businesses adapt to compete and grow. I am encouraging Skillnet Business Networks to apply for this funding and use it to meet the challenges SMEs in their sector or region are facing.”

Paul Healy, Skillnet Ireland Chief Executive, said: “Our Skillnet Business Networks have made an extraordinary difference throughout the country in the past two years, offering support that has been instrumental in keeping businesses trading through unprecedented challenges. With today’s announcement of an additional €11 million in funding under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve, we have an exceptional opportunity to collectively support the SME sector in Ireland in 2022. It will allow our Skillnet Business Networks to help SMEs plan for success in key areas including digitalisation, sustainability and innovation.”

The talent development and upskilling solutions funded through this BAR funding will be available to all SMEs nationwide.

These programmes will be delivered by Skillnet Ireland Business Networks across a wide range of sectors and all regions.

Businesses can avail of these supports through Skillnet Business Networks and are invited to join a network relevant to their sector and region at www.skillnetireland.ie/our-networks.