Heather Morris

The Government of Ireland has rolled out a comprehensive package of measures to support small and medium-sized businesses, championed Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Here’s a snapshot of the key initiatives designed to help SMEs thrive: ◉ Reopening the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) Scheme for another 14 days. ◉Second ICOB payment for retail and hospitality sectors. ◉Doubling the Innovation Grant Scheme to €10,000. ◉Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme max increased to €10,000 and business contribution rate reduced to 25%. ◉Trading Online Voucher eligibility widened to all sectors up to 50 employees and grant doubled to €5,000. ◉Microfinance Ireland loan limit increased to €50,000. ◉Digital for Business Consultancy Scheme eligibility expanded to all sectors with up to 50 employees. ◉Launch of the new ‘Ireland’s Best Entrepreneur Programme’ to foster entrepreneurship. ◉New online National Enterprise Hub for easy access to government business supports. ◉Enhanced ‘SME Test’ implementation for better policy impact analysis. ◉ESRI research review on Statutory Sick Leave impacts. ◉Roadmap review for increasing minimum annual remuneration thresholds for employment permits. Additional Measures: ◉Employer PRSI threshold increase from €441 to €496 effective 1 October 2024. ◉National Training Fund proposals to enhance SME workforce skills. ◉No fees for outdoor dining tables and chairs until 31 December 2024. For more information please see: https://lnkd.in/enQibvVE

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Starting 4 November 2024, renewing your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) will be an entirely online process! This new system eliminates the need for in-person visits, making it easier and more convenient for applicants across Ireland. Whether you’re renewing your IRP or changing your stamp category, everything can now be done through the Irish Immigration Service Online Portal. 📲💼 In our latest blog, we break down the key steps, explain what to expect after submission, and highlight the benefits of this online-only service. 📃✨ If you’re unsure where to start or need help with the specific documents required, Future Direct is here to support you every step of the way! Feel free to reach out at 📧 [email protected] for expert guidance on the process. Read the full blog post below to learn more! https://lnkd.in/gX7XZC5H #Immigration #IrishResidencePermit #FutureDirect #IRPOnlineRenewal #ImmigrationConsultancy #Ireland #updates #departmentofjustice #change #stayupdated #stayready #futuredirect

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Common Things Most Business Owners Aren’t Aware Of! 💼 Grants and Supports: Many business owners don’t realise the number of grants and supports available through Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland. Familiarise yourself with these resources for financial assistance. Revenue Briefs: Stay updated with Revenue briefs to keep up with changes like the enhanced reporting requirements introduced in January 2024. Budgeting: Keep your budget updated regularly. It's a live document that should be reviewed and adjusted monthly to reflect your business's financial reality. Exit Strategy: Always consider your long-term goals and how you plan to exit your business. This strategic thinking is crucial, even in the early stages. Stay tuned for more valuable insights from Borgo Accounting! Discover more at borgo.ie. #BusinessTips #FinancialHealth #Grants #RevenueBriefs #Budgeting #ExitStrategy #Accounting #BorgoAccounting #BusinessGrowth #IrishBusiness #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur

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Exciting News for Chamber members Triangle Housing Association In a first of its kind consortium Prosper – five leading Northern Ireland organisations – are celebrating successfully reshaping the region’s economic landscape through an innovative approach to supporting individuals on their journey to employment. The consortium, Prosper, is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and led by Triangle Housing Association, Prosper includes Access Employment Limited, Appleby Trust, CAN (Compass Advocacy Network Ltd), and Stepping Stones NI. After 18 months of impactful groundwork, the consortium has announced that is has now supported more than 1,400 people to gain new skills, with almost 900 qualifications achieved in subjects such as World Host, Animal Care and Food Safety. It has also delivered training in Health & Safety at Work, Communication Skills and Mental Health Awareness, and supported more than 400 people to achieve employment. The organisations that form Prosper harness over 150 years of collective expertise, working across Northern Ireland to address some of the region’s most pressing challenges relating to economic inactivity and inequality. Prosper focuses on empowering economically inactive individuals including those with disabilities, neurodiversity, mental health issues, and those who have been out of employment for an extended period. Prosper is dedicated to creating lasting change for individuals, businesses, and the community. It achieves this by offering support systems, training courses, and collaboratively designed employment programmes. These initiatives empower individuals to gain skills and education that promote independence, while helping organisations meet their recruitment needs, leading to quality placements for employees and employers.

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Will the Philippines finally legalise divorce? The Philippines is one of only two countries in the world where divorce still isn't legalised, but all of that may soon change. Piece by Dr Tracy Mae Ildefonso for RTE Brainstorm. 'On 22 May 2024, the Absolute Divorce Act (House Bill 9349) was approved on its third and final reading in the Philippine House of Representatives. The bill, filed in September of 2023, gathered 131 votes in favour, 109 against, and 20 abstentions. The next step for the bill is to undergo Senate deliberations. Once the Senate approves it, it will be recommended to the president who will either veto it or sign it into law.' 'Despite strong opposition from the Catholic Church and a few members of Congress, including former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, the bill’s author, Edcel Lagman, is optimistic that it will finally become law in 2025. Lagman, a representative for the Albay province, has hinted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would approve the bill before the next Congress starts in July 2025.' Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eFHk2i_B #RTEBrainstorm #DCUResearch #DublinCityUniversity DCU Alumni DCU Global DCU Business School DCU Faculty of Science and Health DCU Faculty of Engineering and Computing DCU Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences DCU Educational Trust DCU Research

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📈🌍 Equip your business with effective strategies to mitigate currency risks. This article offers crucial insights for Irish SMEs engaged in international trade, detailing how to navigate foreign exchange volatility and protect profitability. Discover the power of focusing on robust financial practices that can shield your operations from unforeseen currency fluctuations, ensuring greater efficiency and sustainable success. https://lnkd.in/emEbCxnJ

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The 2024 ICSH Finance & Development Conference, Achieving our Ambitions: Social & Affordable Housing for the next Decade, sponsored by AIB will take place in The Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo on October 16th & 17th. This year the focus looks to the new landscape for social housing delivery and how these key changes are setting a new stage for high quality and sustainably funded housing in line with ambitious new targets. In the context of a strategic review of the approved housing body sector, welcome scrutiny and recommendations in the Housing Commission Report, a shifting political environment, and the acute challenges of the current housing supply and affordability crisis – all against the backdrop of Housing for All, the housing sector (public and private) is driven to look for innovative approaches and good practice from across Ireland and Europe as we move into the future. This year’s ICSH Finance & Development Conference, proudly supported once again by AIB, is the ninth conference focusing solely on issues of finance, development and delivery. Since its inception, this event has a core event for leaders in the field of housing delivery to discuss challenges, share expertise and develop solutions. Our expert line up of speakers and contributors will be announced in the coming weeks. As always, we hope that conference sessions will provide learning, encourage discussion and stimulate action. Please click below to register and for further information on our 2024 Conference. https://lnkd.in/ghEhgcX6

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Ireland have signed up to the new Framework Agreement on Cross-border Telework, effective 1 June 2024. This establishes new social security rules for remote work: https://lnkd.in/e4WB9mCs In a world where hybrid working is becoming more prevalent, this is a positive update and provides greater flexibility in managing the social security implications for cross-border workers 🌍 #GlobalMobility #RemoteWork #SocialSecurity

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Did you know, according to recent data, Ireland has a minimum 309,000 SMEs? What's more, as of 2022, Irish SMEs generated approximately €339 billion in total yearly revenue, representing around 46% of the total turnover in the Irish business economy. And according to recent PayPal research, 95% of SMEs polled are optimistic about their business growth in 2025. And so are we! Investing in SMEs doesn't just give back to your community. It's our mission and sits at the heart of all that we do. Supporting local small business drives positive changes. Every investment you make creates a positive impact. We can't wait to share tools to make investing in SMEs simple. Stay tuned! #InvestPositively #MashupIreland #InvestForTomorrow #InvestinYourCommunity

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The National Transport Authority (NTA) will commence work on the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) for 2024 from this Thursday 12th of September. The survey is a nationwide study of Ireland’s travel habits which is designed to provide the NTA with essential statistics to assist in the planning, development and implementation of our future public transport network to meet the needs of the population. The NTA has commissioned Ipsos B&A to conduct the 2024 survey and 4,000 households throughout Ireland will be contacted by phone between mid-September and early December to take part. Anne Graham, CEO of the NTA said: “The data will give us an insight into the latest travel habits of people in towns and townlands across the country and we can use that to inform, plan and implement improved public transport services and infrastructure for our people into the future. The survey is carried out annually and is supported by the Government’s National Sustainable Mobility Policy and the Climate Action Plan 2024. If you are contacted by Ipsos B&A on our behalf, I would encourage you to take part in the survey and have your say to shape the future of Ireland’s public transport network”. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ettAe-_v

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Small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for a whopping 99.8 per cent of all businesses in the Republic in 2022, according to the Central Statistics Office.

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Final Call to Join Bord na Móna’s Accelerate Green Programme. If you are an Irish Start-Up with a sustainable solution, or an SME looking to pivot into sustainability and ready to scale, consider Bord na Móna’s Accelerate Green programme. It is Ireland’s leading sustainability accelerator and we’re making a final call for innovative founders keen to make a lasting impact on our environment to join the 2025 cohort. This unique programme offers mentorship, expert guidance and invaluable connections with industry leaders, all aimed at empowering green businesses to scale and thrive. For more information and to submit your application, click here: www.accelerategreen.ie  Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eu6KjNed Elaine Negi, Nicola McDaniel, Resolve Partners, Angela Duffy MBA PhD, Alan Costello, David Scanlon, Mona Nezamivand, MBA #AccelerateGreen #Sustainability #Innovation #BordnaMóna #ireland 

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Cost-of-living has factored heavily in government thinking since emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, with policy makers tightening the reins on a spending hangover. In doing so, the Government is toeing a narrow line between stalling economic growth, and rampant inflation. In difficult economic circumstances, Irish Bentley is available to assist, and counsel the importance of taking early advice in relation to your business’ health. https://lnkd.in/gZd7X8v3

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🇮🇪 SMEs and AI in Ireland 🧑‍💻 Did you know that SMEs make up 67% of Irish employment and are crucial to our GDP? Because these businesses are locally rooted and major contributors to Ireland’s economy. But there’s a growing concern: could SMEs be left behind in the AI revolution? 🤔 Generative AI is changing the game. Unlike traditional AI, generative AI doesn’t just analyze—it creates. Text, images, music, code, and even videos are generated by learning from vast datasets and using advanced algorithms to recognize patterns. This opens doors to smarter content creation, improved customer interactions, and efficiency gains. Yet, in 2023, while 37% of large corporations have embraced generative AI to boost productivity, only 7% of SMEs are tapping into this potential. Imagine the growth if more of our SMEs could harness AI tools to innovate and thrive.🌱 Let’s ensure that Irish SMEs stay ahead—by exploring AI together, we can fuel even greater growth for our local economy! 💪🍀 Study Source: An Implement Consulting Group study commissioned by Google

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