Focus on aid schemes for SMEs

Richard Bruton, the minister for jobs, has announced a major campaign to reduce chronic low awareness levels amongst SMEs of the various government assistance programmes on offer.

A national and local radio advertising campaign, an online campaign and a website, www.actionplanforjobs.ie, will actively promote up to 80 government supports — including the likes of Microfinance Ireland, the Credit Review Office and the Credit Guarantee Scheme — to the start-up and SME communities, where currently there exists a huge level of ignorance surrounding such schemes.

The year-long campaign will also see nine “ambassadors” promote the offerings. These will comprise heads of successful large businesses — including Seán O’Driscoll of Glen Dimplex and Eishtec’s Heather Reynolds — leaders of new Irish start-ups and the head of representative bodies such as the Small Firms Association, Isme, and Chambers Ireland.