Experts help more than 300 firms through business advice programme

More than 300 small businesses have gained specific, free and confidential expert advice as part of a programme given its formal national launch yesterday in Dublin.

The Small Business Advice programme has already seen 100 experienced business professionals offer tailored free advice to help small businesses ride out the recession.

On smallbusinessadvice.ie, firms can confidentially outline their specific problems and an expert in that area is matched with them to tackle the issue.

The brainchild of Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney before he took up his ministry, the initiative is sponsored by Bord Gáis Éireann and supported by Plato.

It was rolled out in Cork, then moved to the South-East and the Mid-West before its launch in Dublin.

Dublin board member Bobby Kerr said: “This is about business helping business. We are here to help those who feel they have nowhere else to go.

“We are talking about sole traders, small retailers and service providers who are not members of any representative organisation. They are the backbone of our economy, yet they have no voice as they may work in totally different sectors.

“The consistent message you get from small business owners is that they are looking for quick, confidential help on specific problems.

“The experts we’ve brought together are giving their time voluntarily and will be matched to businesses seeking assistance in tackling the difficult challenges they face.”

Yesterday’s launch in The Little Museum of Dublin on St Stephen’s Green, was also attended by John Perry, the minister for small business, and by John Mullins, chief executive of Bord Gáis Eireann.

Mr Mullins said: “The majority of businesses we help have less than six persons employed and a turnover of less than €500,000 per annum.

Around 50% are either sole traders or a partnership. We work with businesses from a wide range of sectors which include services, retail, manufacturing and wholesale.

“We have over 100 volunteer advisers on our panels in the four regions,” he said.

* Any small business can apply by logging on to www.smallbusinessadvice.ie where they detail the area where they are seeking help.

A task-specific adviser is matched with each applicant to tackle their issue. Alternatively, lo call 1850 763763 for advice.