News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Take-up of the Restart Grant is low at 4%

44% of SMEs have laid staff off or are using supports

Over two fifths of small businesses here have laid-off some staff or have some employees on the wage subsidy scheme due to Covid-19, a new survey has found.

Business • 10 Sep 20

Spark helping start-ups access investment via crowdfunding

The start-up giving start-ups the help they need to access investment. Fiona Alston hears from Spark Crowdfunding's CEO Chris Burge on how their platform puts Irish start-ups in front of investors.

Boost My Business • 08 Sep 20

Pestle & Mortar launched their Vitamin C 2 Phase Serum

Forward planning benefited Naas skincare company during lockdown

Naas based skincare company Pestle & Mortar have continued to flourish despite all the issues Covid has thrown their way. CEO Sonia Deasy told Fiona Alston of how past experience and forward thinking has helped them thrive.

Boost My Business • 30 Aug 20

Irish Biltong made an appearance on Dragon's Den in 2017

It's back to basics for Kildare's Irish Biltong

As lockdown in Kildare continues, Fiona Alston speaks to another local business that has had to return to basics in order to keep things ticking over.

Boost My Business • 27 Aug 20

Nick Ashmore, chief executive at SBCI, said this is an exceptionally difficult time for all businesses

SBCI announces new €17.5m funding source for SMEs

The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland has launched a new source of funding for SMEs with a €17.5m hire purchase and leasing programme through regional lender SME Finance & Leasing Solutions.

Business • 30 Apr 20

SFA is calling for the immediate launch of the new national SME and Entrepreneurship Strategy

Small firms call for launch of state's new SME strategy

The Government must take concrete steps in 2020 to ensure promised economic growth is delivered according to the Small Firms Association (SFA).

Business • 27 Dec 19

59% of SMEs believe that e-commerce will bring business opportunities, a new survey reveals

59% of SMEs believe e-commerce will bring opportunities

A new survey reveals that Irish SMEs feel resilient in the face of challenges such as Brexit, business running costs and cashflow.

Business • 03 Oct 19

A new survey shows that SMEs are concerned about the sharp fall in consumer sentiment as well as a fall in retail sales for the third month in a row

Brexit uncertainty hitting confidence of SMEs

A new survey shows that the unprecedented uncertainty arising from Brexit is finally affecting the Irish SME sector.

Business • 08 Mar 19

Research carried out Bibby Financial Services in its latest SME Confidence Tracker suggests almost nine out of ten smaller companies feel they should be getting more help to deal with Brexit

SMEs call on Govt for more support to deal with Brexit

Small and medium-sized businesses are calling on Government to give them more support to fend off the challenges brought on by Brexit.

Business • 01 Nov 18

Jonathan McMillan, Manager of Enterprise Ireland Brexit Unit; Fionnuala Meehan, Head of Google Ireland; Miniser Pat Breen, and Caroline Dunlea, CEO of Core Optimisation

Google launches digital roadshow for SMEs

Google has launched its Staying Ahead Digital Roadshow which aims to upskill and educate Irish SMEs in reaching new customers, expanding their businesses, and future-proofing their operations for a digital world.

Business • 28 Aug 18

The demand for bank credit increased by 6 points year-on-year to 26%, and is up three points from September 2017

61% of SMEs say banks are lending

There is a significant increase in the numbers of small and medium enterprises that believe banks are lending to business, according to the latest SME Credit Demand Surveys published by the Department of Finance.

Business • 27 Aug 18

Head of Business Banking with AIB Catherine Moroney said it is difficult for businesses to plan because of the uncertainty over Brexit

SMEs worried about Brexit but very few are prepared

Well over half (58%) of Irish SMEs believe Brexit will have a negative impact on their future business, with seven in ten of them predicting an adverse effect on the wider economy.

Business • 20 Aug 18

Technology based SMEs raised €177m in the fourth quarter 2017, up from €154m the same time last year

Irish tech firms raised almost €1 billion in 2017

Irish technology firms raised €994m in funding in 2017, the latest Irish Venture Capital Association VenturePulse survey shows, up 12% on the previous year.

Business • 14 Mar 18

Mark O'Rourke, Head of Business with Bibby Financial Services Ireland, says the write-off figures are 'shocking'

€1.7 billion lost to Irish SMEs in bad debt a year

A "shocking" €13,780 is the average amount written off by every SME in Ireland a year due to customer non-payment or insolvency, a new study shows.

Business • 08 Jan 18

Irish SMEs will receive EU grants of up to €2.5m each from the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Phase 2 funding

€10m in EU funding for five Irish SMEs

The EU's scientific research fund today said it has awarded a total of €10m in funding for five small Irish companies who wish to bring their ideas to market.

Business • 10 Mar 17

Irish SMEs